by Bree Verity
She was angry and worse, she was right. It wasn’t proper for a mentor to kiss his student. In fact, it was against all the rules.
“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “You’re right.” Immediately, all the passion drained from him, and the glow turned blue again.
“Of course, I’m right,” she stormed. “You took advantage. I was vulnerable.” Something seemed to snap inside her, and the red sparks disappeared from around and in her. “I was vulnerable,” she whimpered. The black smoke dissipated. “I am never vulnerable.” She looked up at Lachlan, tears in her eyes. “What is happening to me?”
He smiled ruefully, and gathered her back into his arms, this time in a comforting, brotherly way.
“Perhaps you’re coming to understand what the rest of us take for granted,” he said. “Everyone has their vulnerabilities. Yours is this blackdark magic you can wield. And it will be your undoing if you wield it, Fen. Trust me.”
She nodded, leaning her head against his chest. “Okay,” she whispered.
He leaned his cheek against the top of her head.
“It’ll be okay.”
But right at that moment, Lachlan wondered whether anything would ever really be okay again.
Chapter Twelve.
“I think we should hold a dinner party.”
Theo surprised even himself a little when he made the pronouncement at the breakfast table the following morning. He obviously surprised Caroline as well, because her eyebrows almost disappeared into her hairline.
“A dinner party?”
“Yes, for our friends and family. Nothing too big, maybe fourteen or sixteen guests?”
“We can do that,” Caroline replied with a slow nod. “I shall speak to Mrs. Benson after breakfast. Did you have a date in mind?”
Theo grinned sheepishly. “No, I had not considered any of the details. I just thought we should have a party. Our first official function as man and wife.”
Caroline gave a little, distracted smile. Theo was not quite sure how to interpret it - it frustrated him that he could not tell if she was pleased about the proposal, or if she thought him a nuisance and a party a dreadful idea.
“Unless you do not want to hold a party? We can do it some other time…”
“No, a dinner party is a wonderful idea.” This time when she smiled at him, it reached her eyes and Theo could do nothing but smile back and reach his hand out to her, his heart filled with warmth.
He had been trying to find the right moment to tell Caroline that he loved her, ever since he had the realization on his sickbed the other day. He had thought it would be a simple enough thing - three words that could be uttered at any time.
Only, it was never the right moment. Either he was rushing away for business, or she was rushing away to take care of some household matter or another. Breakfast did not seem the right time, nor did supper. And invariably, when he steeled himself to make the declaration, one of the servants would approach or a visitor would arrive at the house.
He had said that he loved her at the height of their lovemaking one night, but he was not certain she believed him. Admittedly, she had said the same thing, and he did not believe her. It was surprising the things one said when one was in the throes of passion.
So, how did one declare one’s love? He did not want to ask his friends at the club. While he thought he might get a reasonable answer out of Quincey, he was sure that Freddie would only tease him, and offer dubious suggestions. He needed to get Quincey alone. That was it.
“Why are you smiling?” she asked, and Theo realised that all of his thoughts had played across the emotions in his face. He colored.
“I have just determined who I must speak to regarding a pressing matter of business.”
She nodded and pursed her lips. Theo knew she would not ask him what it was - while their discussions at breakfast were permitted, she had discovered that as soon as they veered into the actual day-to-day activities of business, he would not permit her involvement.
One thing that he could identify was his wife’s displeasure. Still, that was preferable to him telling her what his real line of thought was.
“Did you have anyone in mind that you wished specifically to invite to the dinner party?” She turned the conversation back, and Theo was gratified.
“Freddie of course. Perhaps Quincey and his wife. Ridgely too. Some of my other business acquaintances. You?”
She counted on her fingers. “Well, there’s Emily, you remember Emily Fotheringham, from the wedding?” At Theo’s nod she continued. “I am not certain my mother would be able to manage a dinner party. The close conditions might upset her, so it might be better for her to have a platter in the parlor that night.”
“That sounds wise. Shall we invite someone to keep her company? Does she have any friends?”
“Of course. Mrs. Littleton might like the invitation. She is an impoverished widow who is a little afraid to be seen in society, but who would probably enjoy an evening with mother.”
“So, your mother is taken care of. What’s next?”
“We should invite someone you wish to impress.”
The side of Theo’s mouth lifted in a smile. “And I am certain your dinner party will impress them, my dear. That would be Sir Allan Peabody.”
Sir Allan was Theo’s hero. A financier by trade, Sir Allan had taken a tiny business, built it into an empire, then sold it with the express view of using his funds to finance other enterprises. It was a well-known fact in the business world that Sir Allan never made a bad investment. Theo knew there was much he could learn from the man, if he did not simply stare at him in adoration all night.
“Oh!” Caroline smiled. “I am already acquainted with Sir Allan.”
“You are?”
“Yes. He was one of my trustees. I was sure you would have known.”
“Yes, yes I did.” Theo had only had a written correspondence with Caroline’s trustees, but in the back of his mind, he realised he had known Sir Allan was one of them. He felt a little deflated. It seemed unfair that Caroline had the advantage over him in matters such as these. Still, if she had a previous acquaintance with Sir Allan, that could prove useful. “By all means, then, you should send him and his wife the invitation.”
She nodded, but he could see that her heart was no longer in the conversation. She picked at her toast; her head bowed.
“What is it?” he asked gently.
Caroline sighed and, without looking up, replied, “Sir Allan was one of those who allowed me to take care of my own investments when Papa died.”
A little niggle of irritation started between Theo’s shoulders. Caroline had no right to be sad over the one rule he had imposed upon her. She had an entire household to manage, to say nothing of a dinner party that would have to be impressive and splendid. She could hardly find the time to be involved in business, even if he did allow it.
And it was one rule. One! He knew of plenty of other husbands who put all kinds of strictures on their wives and expected them to obey without complaint. Why did Caroline continue to mope around over it?
His jaw tightened, but Theo refused to acknowledge Caroline’s change of mood. “So,” he said with false gaiety. “I can leave the dinner party in your capable hands?”
She looked up at him and nodded listlessly.
“Wonderful. Then I am off to my study for a few hours, then to the office.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Tell Benson that I shall require coffee late morning.”
Standing, he moved over to his wife’s side to drop a kiss on her hair before he left the room.
It only took a dozen long paces to reach his study, a sanctuary of dark wood paneling and heavy furniture. Theo arrived in the room and sat in his large leather chair, which squeaked when he did. He looked without seeing at the pile of unread correspondence that lay on his desk on a silver platter.
Is it not incredible that you can love someone so much and be so very irritated by them at the same time?
Then, with a sigh, he retrieved his letter opener from the desk and started to slice open the letters.
Chapter Thirteen.
Caroline had escaped the house for a few hours, ostensibly to go shopping with her oldest friend, Emily Fotheringham, but really, to get away from the house where Mrs. Benton had all the staff in a frenzy of cleaning to make the place spick and span for the dinner party in a few day’s time.
Not that she didn’t love to see the house sparkling. It was a lovely place and Caroline was proud of it. She just didn’t care so much for the constant bustle around her.
“Strangely,” she said to Miss Fotheringham after greeting her with a kiss on the cheek, “the bother and fuss does not seem to affect Mama at all. She is quite pleased just to ply her needlepoint and look on. I think she feels as if she is overseeing the entire operation!”
“That’s lovely,” replied Miss Fotheringham in her soothing voice. She was a quiet blonde beauty, far more interested in matters of church and charity than society, but who held a deep fondness for Mrs. Cheswick whom she had known since before her brain injury. “It is nice that she feels needed.”
Caroline nodded. “As for me,” she said ruefully, “I feel like a fifth wheel. I offer to help with the cleaning or the polishing, and Mrs. Benton gives me a certain look and tells me to sit down, that it is being taken care of. She is really quite severe about it!”
“It is wise management to remain on the good side of one’s housekeeper,” replied Emily knowingly.
“Yes,” sighed Caroline. Then she smiled and looped her arm through Emily’s. “And it gives me reason to come out and meet you. Shall we away to Gunther’s?”
“Could we perhaps first go to that new milliners’ shop on Hay Street? I had hoped to find a new bonnet to wear with my blue velvet.”
“That blue velvet looks so lovely on you, I suspect you would be forgiven for not wearing a hat at all, still, if we must peruse a milliner, I suppose I could bring myself to rise to the occasion.”
Caroline laughed as Emily elbowed her, and together they set off, chatting and giggling between themselves.
Caroline was still smiling hours later when she returned, but the smile soon left her face as she climbed the steps to the door to hear a heated argument beyond. With a worried look to Emily, she pushed the door open.
“What in heaven’s name is going on here?” she asked.
Benton, Mrs. Benton and James turned guilty faces toward her voice.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Longshore,” Benton said, falling easily into butler mode. “May I take your coat and gloves?”
“Mrs. Benton?” Caroline turned to the housekeeper while handing her outer garments to Benton and indicating that Emily should do the same. “What was that noise I heard?”
“I do apologize, madam. We should not have raised our voices. It is Mrs. Cheswick.”
With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Caroline asked, “Where is she?”
“In the parlor. She won’t come out. We heard things breaking. We were… attempting to decide what to do.”
Caroline nodded. “Very well. I can take care of this.”
James looked relieved as he scampered away, but Mrs. Benton continued to look concerned. “It was that brother of hers,” she said scathingly to Caroline, walking beside her to the parlor door, Emily bringing up the rear. “He said something to her and now she won’t come out of there.”
Caroline put a hand on Mrs. Benton’s arm and smiled reassuringly. “It is not uncommon, Mrs. Benton. If my mother is frightened or feels at all threatened, she will close herself in. And in some instances, she does not know how to channel her anger. But I cannot imagine anything Uncle Harold said had anything to do with it. He is always so careful with her. Has she locked the door?”
“No, but she has barricaded it.”
“Leave it to me. I have extricated Mama from several of these situations.”
A smile crossed Mrs. Benton’s tired face. “Thank you, Mrs. Longshore. Will you excuse me? There is still plenty to be done before the dinner party?”
“Of course.”
As Mrs. Benton walked away, Emily said under her breath, “Well, you seem to have gained her trust rather swiftly.”
Caroline chuckled. “It was not so difficult when I told her I wanted to throw away all of Sir Theo’s sheets and bed coverings and start afresh. I believe she started to worship me just a little on that day.” Then she sighed. “I had hoped Mama’s tantrums would have subsided, but they seem to be increasing.” Emily squeezed her arm in a sympathetic gesture that brought quick tears to Caroline’s eyes. Of all people, Emily knew how Caroline’s heart broke over her mother’s condition.
She turned to the door and rapped quietly on it. “Mama? It is Caroline.”
There was silence from inside the room.
“You need to let me in Mama. I need to be certain that you are safe.”
“Go away.”
Caroline caught Emily’s eye and gave a wry smile.
“Mama, I have Emily here, she wishes to see you.”
“Tell Emily to come back tomorrow.”
“Now, Mama, what kind of a hostess would you be if you were to turn away your guests? Especially your favorites? And Emily bought a new hat she wished to show you.”
There was a pause, and Emily stepped in, saying eagerly, “Yes, Mama, it is to go with my blue velvet. You know the one? With the silk ribbon detailing on the bodice and sleeves? I should like your opinion as to whether the hat will go well with it.”
There was scraping noises behind the door, and it opened to Mrs. Cheswick’s excited face, which was a little pink from exertion.
“May I see the hat?” she said.
Caroline and Emily entered the parlor and while Emily kept Mrs. Cheswick entertained with tales from their shopping expedition, Caroline checked the room. She was sad to see a lovely Sevres vase was smashed against the floor, and one of the teacups had not survived Mrs. Cheswick’s tantrum.
“Mama,” she called, making her way back to where Mrs. Cheswick and Emily were standing. “Why did you block the room?”
Instantly, Mrs. Cheswick’s eyes darkened, and she seemed to shrink inside herself. She wandered to her flowered chaise and picked up her rag doll, sitting down and plucking at the doll’s dress.
“Mama?” Caroline sat beside her and was saddened to see her mother wince as she did. “What happened? Why are you upset?”
Mrs. Cheswick ignored Caroline, smoothing down the doll’s dress and speaking to it. “We must be ready, must we not? We have a lovely ride ahead of us.”
Caroline looked over at Emily who looked as confused as Caroline felt.
“What ride, Mama? Did Uncle Harold say he would take you for a ride in the carriage?”
Her mother shook her head, no.
“Then where are you riding to?”
“Far away from here.”
At this, Caroline and Emily’s gazes fell sharply on each other. Caroline was alarmed. Just what had Uncle Harold been saying to her mother?
“Is Uncle Harold taking you away?”
“There are a few urgent matters to take care of first.”
“Do you want to go away, Mama?”
At this, Mrs. Cheswick turned enormous, frightened eyes on Caroline. “Oh, no, Caro. I never want to leave you.” She flung herself into Caroline’s arms, sobbing.
Bewildered, Caroline let her mother cry for a few moments. She and Emily held a silent conversation wondering what had happened to agitate Mrs. Cheswick to such a degree, before Caroline gently pushed her mother back so she could look her in the eye.
“Mama, did Uncle Harold upset you with his words?”
Almost as if she was ashamed, Mrs. Cheswick hung her head and nodded silently.
“You know he means well, though. Uncle Harold can be… gruff sometimes.”
Another nod.
“Very well. I am here now. And Emily is here too, and we shall h
ave some tea and forget all about silly old Uncle Harold, does that sound like a good idea?”
Mrs. Cheswick looked up with a small smile and a small nod and Emily came closer and sat on a nearby chair.
Caroline called for tea, her mind whirring. What could Uncle Harold have said that would upset her mother so very much? Especially over a simple carriage ride?
She looked over to her mother who was now chattering happily in her childlike way to Emily about the shopping trip. She had been like this earlier, when Caroline had spoken to her before she went out. Chirpy and chattery. What had happened to change her mood so drastically? Was it the exacerbation of her symptoms the doctors had warned her about? She desperately hoped not.
She needed to watch her mother a little more closely, for the telltale signs that her condition was worsening. And if it was, she needed to start making arrangements for her care. She swallowed. The thought of her mother requiring more care than she could offer made her feel a little ill.
Caroline realised she was frowning and schooled her features back to a mask of calm, attempting to pick up the thread of conversation between Mrs. Cheswick and Emily.
But it was difficult with the heavy rush of heartbreak sounding in her ears.
* * *
Later that evening as she dressed for dinner, Caroline sat before the glass in her chambers, looking at herself but thinking about other things.
In her hand she held the sapphire charm - the one that gave Theo such bad headaches. She no longer wore it, preferring instead to have it locked at the bottom of her jewelery box. She wanted to use it one more time on Theo, to get him to let her in on his business, but it did not feel right to offer him so much pain along with it. She had been prevaricating the use of it for days. But she also wondered if she could perhaps use it just once on Uncle Harold, to ask him to guard his tongue when he was around Mama.
It bothered her that her Uncle could upset her mother with just a few words. And it bothered her more that she did not know exactly what those words were, so she could not buffer her mother against them.
She had mentioned the incident to Theo when he arrived home and he had become angry, almost to the point of insisting that Uncle Harold never darken the doorstep of his home again. A tiny part of Caroline agreed with him. Uncle Harold was… well… it could not be said of him that he had a calming influence over people.
