The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor

by Scott, Regina

  They had never danced in public before. On one occasion, she remembered, he’d capered across the grass while they both laughed, but that was as close as they had come. She wasn’t surprised to find him graceful and accomplished. Indeed, he excelled in the little extra flourishes—skipping when he might have walked, pointing his toe when others merely took a step. The looks being directed her way from some of the other ladies could only be called envious.

  And when he took her hands and twirled her, her heart danced as well.

  Perhaps she should have refused to partner him. She’d only raised her mother’s expectations anew, and after this, half of Upper Grace would be gossiping as well. Yet dancing with Rob felt so good, so free, that she allowed herself a moment to forget her concerns, lost in the joy of simply being with him.

  The relatively few dancers meant they must stand out for a measure at one point. Hester became aware of Mrs. Greer pacing along the edge of the dancefloor, as if ready to pounce on Rob the moment the music stopped.

  “Why did you refuse her?” Hester asked. “I don’t recall your father having a post of great import in the government.”

  He kept his face toward her, but she could see his gaze following the Spa Corporation Council president’s wife. “In truth, I didn’t think it my place. Who am I to say what Grace-by-the-Sea’s famous spa should be?”

  Hester stared at him. “Who are you? You are Viscount Peverell, owner of most of the property in the area.”

  He tugged at his cravat again, wrinkling the material beyond redemption. “That is what I try to tell myself.”

  She could not believe his humility. “What happened to that brash young man who pretended to court me one summer?”

  He met her gaze, his own dark and determined. “He became a more solid fellow who no longer has the luxury of pretending.”

  The music required their attention then, and she did not have an opportunity to question him further. He only had a moment to return her to her chair before Mrs. Greer captured him and dragged him off on some errand. Hester watched as he consulted with Lord Featherstone and Mr. Greer, Mr. Donner hovering nearby. It was all very civil and proper. The sort of steady fellow she applauded.

  What was she to do with the new Rob?

  Chapter Ten

  She did not have another opportunity to speak to Rob before her mother and Rosemary collected her to return home. For a moment, in the coach, it was like yesterday—the three of them united, making plans, strategizing actions. But as the coach approached Upper Grace, their mother directed her attention to Hester.

  “Lord Peverell was quite solicitous,” she ventured. “Even if Mrs. Greer saw fit to monopolize his time.”

  Rosemary cast Hester a quick glance. “She must toady while she can, Mother. He’ll likely be leaving soon.”

  The fact was not as encouraging as it once had been.

  As soon as they returned to the house, they all retreated to the room Hester and Rosemary had once shared, where Rebecca waited, stockinged feet sticking out below her pink flannel nightgown and arms hugging Esmeralda, who was also dressed for bed in a matching nightgown. Hester sat on the bed and tucked her daughter close as her mother and sister examined the new gowns, which had been delivered that afternoon.

  Their mother alternated between beaming and bawling, though she insisted they were tears of joy.

  “At least one of my daughters will be happily wed,” she explained, dabbing at her eyes as if fearing her tears would fall on the fine silk.

  “Hester was happily wed, too, Mother,” Rosemary reminded her with a look to Rebecca, who was watching her grandmother with obvious concern.

  “Of course she was,” their mother agreed with a sniff. “But we all know what happened to Lieutenant Todd.”

  “My papa was a hero,” Rebecca chimed in, hugging Esmeralda. “He was very brave. I must be very brave too.”

  Hester slipped an arm about her daughter’s shoulders where she sat next to her on the bed. “Right now, let’s just be happy for your aunt Rosemary. You remember your part in the wedding?”

  Rebecca nodded solemnly. “I carry a basket of pretty leaves in front of Aunt Rosemary all the way to the vicar. And I walk like a lady, no running or skipping.”

  “Very good,” Rosemary said. “And then where do you go?”

  “To Grandmother,” Rebecca said.

  “That’s right,” Hester told her. “I’ll be walking right behind you, but I’ll need to stay at the altar with Aunt Rosemary. You’ll sit with your grandmother in the very front pew on the side opposite the pretty glass windows.”

  “Oh, it will be so lovely,” their mother said, tears starting to flow again.

  “Now, Mother,” Rosemary said, wrapping her arms around her. “Why don’t you get some rest? I’m sure Rebecca would love to have you tuck her in too.”

  Rebecca looked up at Hester. “Must I go? I want to stay with you and Aunt Rosemary.”

  Hester kissed the top of her head. “It’s already far past your bedtime, and tomorrow will be a busy day. Go with your grandmother now.”

  With a sigh, her daughter suffered to slip from the bed and pad beside Hester’s mother from the room.

  Rosemary came to sit on the bed next to Hester. “Hurry, before the maid comes to help us change. Why are you encouraging Lord Peverell?”

  Hester’s fingers knit into the soft materials of her ballgown. “I haven’t been encouraging him, but I cannot find it in me to completely discourage him, either.”

  Rosemary sighed. “You are one of the gentlest souls I know, Hester, but there is a time for standing your ground. You know him to be a scoundrel. Send him packing.”

  Hester glanced up at her with a frown. “Is it not possible that he has changed? And if he has, shouldn’t he be given the opportunity to prove as much?”

  “No,” Rosemary said. “I won’t see you hurt again. I thought about striking his name from the guest list, but, as the new countess of Howland, I must at least attempt connection with the only other title in the area.”

  “Very wise,” Hester said. “And I’m glad you didn’t. His sister, Elizabeth, is delightful. I know you’ll like her. And he is…tolerable, as Rebecca says.”

  “Tolerable.” Rosemary rolled the word around on her tongue. “Well, I guess I will have to be content at that. Just make sure you guard your heart this time, Hester.”

  Easier said than done, particularly at a wedding.

  Hester had attended several weddings in the little chapel of St. Andrew’s, including the one for her brother and Jesslyn. No other wedding had surpassed the number of attendees. Some of the villagers had waited outside the packed church to offer their best wishes to their spa hostess and daughter of their former physician.

  The Earl of Howland had planned a smaller affair. His family—including his mother, the dowager countess; his daughter, Lady Miranda; Eva Howland, his cousin’s wife; and the earl’s aunt, Mrs. Marjorie Howland—filled the first pew near the stained-glass windows his ancestors had donated. His servants filled the last three rows on that side. Lark, Jesslyn, Aunt Maudie, and Jesslyn’s brother, Alexander Chance, sat behind Hester’s mother on the opposite side of the aisle along with friends from the villages, such as Abigail and her husband, the spa physician; Mr. Carroll; and Mrs. Mance. The magistrate stood up with the earl as his attendant and witness.

  And then there was Rob. From her place off the vestibule, Hester saw him and Elizabeth attempt to slip into the back row on Rosemary’s side of the church, but her assistant teacher motioned him forward.

  “You should be the guest of honor, my lord,” Mrs. Mance whispered loud enough for Hester to hear. “You must sit higher.”

  Rob had looked around, met Hester’s gaze, and winked before leading Elizabeth closer to Lark and Jesslyn.

  Hester’s cheeks heated. She busied herself in making sure the bow on Rebecca’s silky dress was secure. Mrs. Peters, their nurse, had gathered Rebecca’s curls into a cluster behind her
head and tied them with a ribbon the same color as the gown. The little girl looked almost grown up. Hester’s eyes misted.

  Beside her, Rosemary fanned herself with one gloved hand, her own cheeks pink.

  “You look breathtaking,” Hester assured her, straightening to eye the silver-grey gown with its simple lines and dusting of lace across the bodice and along the hem.

  “I feel breathless,” Rosemary said. “Oh, for some vinaigrette just now.”

  Rebecca held up her reed basket of red autumn leaves. “You could sniff these.”

  With a smile, Rosemary bent over the basket, then straightened. “Thank you, sweetheart. That was just right.”

  As she paused, the quiet bore down on them. Hester turned with a jerk to find the entire congregation watching them, waiting. The vicar wiggled his fingers, beckoning her and Rosemary. It was time.

  “Off you go, now,” she whispered to Rebecca. “Just like we talked about.”

  Rebecca started down the center aisle, head high, basket steady, and steps stately.

  “Ready?” Hester asked Rosemary.

  Her sister beamed at her. “More than ready. You lead, and I’ll follow.”

  Hester raised her head and stepped into the aisle. For much of her life, she had led, and her little sister had followed. But Rosemary’s studies with their uncle had separated them, and Rob’s romance and Hester’s marriage had only widened the gap. Now Rosemary would be even farther away, as she started a family of her own.

  Yet Hester could not begrudge her sister finding love. Rosemary deserved to be happy. That the earl intended to do everything in his power to make her happy was evident by the tender look on his handsome face as he watched her approach.

  Rebecca reached the altar and turned to the right as planned, but she walked past the door of the pew her grandmother was holding open for her. Hester hurried her steps just the slightest to try to intercept her daughter, but it was too late.

  Rebecca pushed on the door to the third pew down and slipped in to sit beside Rob.

  ~~~

  Elizabeth stared at the little girl, then narrowed her eyes at Rob. “Was this planned?” she hissed.

  Rob shook his head even as Hester’s daughter snuggled up against him, still clutching her basket of scarlet autumn leaves. He glanced up to meet Hester’s wide, panicked gaze. The last thing she and her sister needed right now was to worry about anything.

  He sent her a nod and a smile to let her know he had this well in hand.

  If only he believed that.

  Rebecca gave a happy sigh. “I like weddings. Do you?”

  “Yes,” he whispered. “Now, watch to see what happens next.”

  Elizabeth shook her head as well before bowing it to join the vicar in the opening prayer of the service.

  In truth, he hadn’t attended all that many weddings. His older brother hadn’t yet chosen a bride, and many of Rob’s friends were avoiding getting leg-shackled until they’d had their fill of frivolity. Still, he hadn’t realized the celebration would be such a solemn occasion, with a great deal of pontificating by the vicar between recited vows by the happy couple.

  Who truly did look besotted.

  The vicar was partway through his sermon when Rebecca began fidgeting. She set her basket on the pew, rearranged the leaves to her liking, set it on the floor, then picked it up again. Some of the attendees from across the aisle frowned in his direction, as if certain he had something to do with her behavior. Perhaps he did. But how did one go about occupying a six-year-old child?

  He nudged her with his elbow, and she directed her big blue eyes to his face. Rob put a finger to his lips, then dropped his hand below the top of the pew to form something approximating a rabbit’s head with his fingers and thumb. Rebecca’s eyes widened.

  He hopped the head closer to her, then away, and she watched avidly. When he hopped it closer again, she snatched at it. Rob jerked out of reach. She stilled, waiting.

  The second time, she grabbed him and held on tight. “Got you!”

  “Sh!” some lady from behind them warned.

  Rebecca glanced over her shoulder. Rob pulled out of her grip and bounced the bunny away.

  She caught him three more times before the vicar invited the congregation to acknowledge the Earl and Countess of Howland.

  As Rob rose, he met the gaze of Mrs. Greer, who was frowning at him as if wondering how the paragon she’d praised could have allowed a little girl to disrupt the service.

  “I should like to see you remain silent, madam,” he said, “if you caught a rabbit in church.”

  She blinked so rapidly he was certain the candles flickered with the breeze.

  The earl and his bride made their way down the aisle to congratulations on all sides. Hester followed on the magistrate’s arm. As she passed the pew, she held out her other hand for her daughter. Rebecca clung to Rob and shook her head.

  For a moment, Hester looked stricken, as if he’d taken her last hope. Then she was past, and it was all he could do not to shout after her.

  “Why didn’t you want to go with your mother, Rebecca?” he asked.

  She glanced up at him. “They’re all so big.”

  He remembered that feeling. His brother and Elizabeth had reached their heights early. For a few years, Rob had been the shortest member of the family. He had always felt as if they were all looking down on him.

  “We can fix that,” he told her, and he bent and hefted her high in his arms, so her head was above even his.

  “I can see Grandmother!” she cried.

  As the church began to empty, Mrs. Denby came to join them. “Whatever were you thinking, Rebecca, to bother the viscount and Miss Peverell?”

  Rebecca shrank against him. “I wasn’t a bother.”

  “Indeed she was not,” Rob assured her grandmother. “It was the most delightful service I have ever attended.”

  Elizabeth coughed into her hand. It sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

  “That is very kind of you, my lord,” Hester’s mother replied. “What do you say, Rebecca?”

  Rebecca toyed with the velvet on his coat collar. “Will you come to the party? There will be dancing.”

  “Well, then, I wouldn’t want to miss it,” Rob told her.

  Her grandmother held out her arms. “Come now, Rebecca.”

  Rebecca met his gaze. “Do I have to?”

  Her grandmother drew herself up, for a proper scold, no doubt.

  “You should,” Rob said. “Your grandmother would probably very much like to spend this special day with her beloved granddaughter.”

  Her head swiveled. “Am I your beloved granddaughter, Grandmother?”

  Mrs. Denby’s round face melted. “Oh, sweetheart, of course. Now, hurry! What would the wedding party be without the attendant who carried the basket?”

  Rob set her down, and she slipped her hand into her grandmother’s. He thought she would abandon him without another thought, but she glanced back. “Come along, Lord Peverell.”

  “It seems you’ve been summoned by the queen,” Elizabeth murmured beside him as Rebecca skipped out, hand in her grandmother’s, seemingly without a doubt that he would follow.

  “Would you mind attending for a while?” Rob asked.

  Her smile was content. “I’ll be fine. I didn’t notice Mr. Donner in the crowd, but surely someone will be willing to dance with me.”

  She’d been looking for Donner? Guilt sank its teeth into him. He’d explained to his sister that the fellow had requested a moment of his time to ask about a business arrangement rather than suggest a courtship, but apparently that hadn’t stopped Elizabeth from hoping. He’d have to have another word with the agent the next time they met. And he still needed to have a conversation about the possible capture of the Lord of the Smugglers.

  For now, they exited the church and rode up to the assembly rooms for the wedding breakfast. He’d never understood why the celebration was called a breakfast when it might be he
ld even in the middle of the afternoon as it was today, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying the roast tongue, baked ham, sweet rolls, and other delicacies the footmen served to the guests at tables set across the top of the hall. For all Howland was hurting financially, he hadn’t skimped on feeding his guests.

  Rob’s rank allowed him a prime place near the head table, where the bride, groom, and their families congregated. It also allowed him a prime view of Hester. She’d styled her hair so that little tendrils curled around her cheeks, caressing them in a way he’d once had leave to do. The warm color of her dress matched the color of her lips. She kept her head down, seeing to Rebecca’s needs, conversing with the little girl. No matter how long he watched, he couldn’t seem to will her to raise her head and favor him with a glance.

  “You should ask her to dance,” Elizabeth said as a quartet began warming up in the musicians’ alcove above the main floor.

  Rob dragged his gaze back to his sister. “The bride and new countess? I’m certain her husband might have something to say about that.”

  “You can pretend to misunderstand me all you like,” his sister warned. “But if you don’t ask Hester, someone else will, and I refuse to see you moping about again.”

  Rob tore open a sweet roll with his fingers. “I do not mope.”

  “Or frown prodigiously, apparently.” She nodded to where Rebecca had wiggled off her mother’s lap to go speak to the earl’s daughter. “You could always ask Rebecca instead. She seems to like you. I can’t imagine why.”

  Neither could he.

  In the end, he girded up his loins to approach Hester. She was laughing over something her sister had said, and he wanted to sit and soak up the sound. Unfortunately, it shut off abruptly as she glanced his way at last.

  He bowed. “Mrs. Todd. Would you care to dance?”

  She regarded him a moment, and he held his breath.

  “I fear I’ve eaten too much of the earl’s fine ham,” she said, and he sagged with disappointment.

  “But I’m certain you’re not too full for a promenade, dear,” her mother put in.