Gavin propped his feet up on the table and leaned back on the sofa, linking his hands behind his head. “If I know your sister at all, she’s probably regaling your guest with every embarrassing story from our youth that she can remember.”
Aidan turned from the window in horror. “Gad, you’re right! Hadn’t thought of that.” He poured them each a brandy, handed one to Gavin, and joined him by the fire. “Cheers.”
“I can’t wait to meet this girl,” Gavin said, taking a good swallow. “She must be quite something if you are thinking of her so very often.”
“Not so often,” Aidan defended, sinking further into the comfortable leather chair.
“Aidan,” Gavin said, casually crossing his ankles. “You’ve made some mention of her every day since we arrived.”
Aidan’s gaze snapped to his friend. “Have I?” When Gavin nodded, Aidan shrugged and sipped his brandy. “I can't help it, I feel responsible for her injuries. I did something incredibly stupid and she got hurt.”
“Are you sure that’s all you feel?”
“I owe the girl my life, Gav. I’ll admit, she’s on my mind. She’s...an enigma.” Aidan let his head fall back on the chair. “What the hell am I supposed to do with her? Let her wounds heal and put her back on the street?”
“You know you wouldn’t do that. Besides, Lainey wouldn’t let you even if you wanted to.”
“My point exactly. So what do I do with her? I can't just set her up in a house. She's not my mistress, for God's sake. She’s a complication I don’t need in my life.”
Gavin studied his friend. “I don’t know, Aidan. I think you need a good complication.”
“A woman is not a good complication.” Aidan waved his glass in Gavin's direction. “Especially this one.”
Gavin was silent for a moment. It was clear this girl had really ruffled Aidan’s feathers. The question was, why? “I'm sure Lainey will have some idea of what to do with her. You needn’t worry about a solution.”
“I suppose.” He frowned. His life was infinitely messier than it had been just a week ago.
Gavin swirled his brandy, letting the crackle of the fire fill the silence. “When are you planning on marrying, Aidan?” he asked without warning.
Aidan snapped to attention. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’m serious. You need an heir. You just turned thirty. Do you want to be an old man when you have your first child?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what is it? You're not looking for love, so what’s holding you back from just choosing someone?”
Aidan's jaw tightened. "A promise." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, studying his drink intently. He should never have made that blasted promise. “Besides, you know I need to get Lainey settled first," he said, shaking off the memory. "It’s my duty as her brother.”
“With all due respect, that is a lousy excuse.”
"Lainey needs a husband.”
“Just as you need a wife," Gavin pointed out. “Lainey will settle down when she wants to and not a moment before. You gave her that choice. She’s more concerned about you right now.”
“Gav, my sister is a romantic. She wants someone to sweep me off my feet, and that’s not going to happen.”
“Well, it sort of did. Perhaps not with the results Lainey wanted, but Miss Townsend did knock you down.” He waggled his eyebrows at Aidan.
“Miss Townsend? Are you drunk?”
Gavin laughed. “I’m jesting, of course. But you gave me such an opening.” He plunked his feet on the floor and leaned forward. “All Lainey wants is for you to be happy.”
“Why do people keep insisting I’m not happy? I am perfectly content.”
“That’s a very different thing entirely.” Gavin’s blue gaze fell on his friend. “You were a very different man in your youth, Aidan. We all miss your ready laughter.”
Aidan regarded him for a long moment, lost in thought. “Things change,” he finally said.
“Yes, I know. The weight of the world fell on you when your mother died.”
“I was just a child myself, but suddenly, all the responsibilities fell to me. You must remember. My father was useless! Lainey and I were forgotten entirely. She was eleven, for God’s sake. She needed her father. And he wasn’t there. He just—" Aidan stopped and glared down into his drink, a muscle twitching in his jaw. Several seconds ticked by before he could speak past the lump in his throat. “Have you ever watched someone die from a broken heart?”
“Actually, I have,” Gavin said quietly.
Aidan sighed, scrubbing his hands through his hair. He was such an arse. How could he have forgotten Gavin’s own mother? “Of course you have. Please forgive me for such a careless remark.”
“Aidan.” Gavin reached over and squeezed Aidan’s forearm. “You’ve done well. Your estates are profitable. The business has thrived. Your good name weathered Lainey’s broken engagement scandal with nary a black mark. You will do right by her, we all know you will. You gave up your youth to responsibility, and you are a great success. It is time to relax and find happiness once more.”
Aidan’s brow furrowed. “When did you become so philosophical? Is there something you’re not telling me?” His eyes widened in alarm. “Oh good God, you’re not in love, are you?”
Gavin burst out laughing. “Gad! Perish the thought!” He shrugged. “Perhaps I’ve let Lainey bend my ear a little too much lately.”
“Ah, my meddling sister.”
“She’s worried about you. Be glad you have someone so special to care for you.”
“I am. And you’re right, I suppose. It is time to get serious about searching for a wife. Trouble is, I haven’t met anyone I even like enough to consider. Debutantes were just the thing when I was twenty, but I’ve matured a bit since then. Now I just find them annoying.”
Gavin chuckled. “Perhaps you should look beyond the debutantes, then.”
“You mean widows?”
“Maybe. Or perhaps women who once might have been considered not so suitable a match for an earl. You said yourself, times are changing. Pedigree isn’t quite as important as it used to be. I’m sure there are any number of governesses who would be thrilled to marry above their station. All intelligent women, which I believe is one of your criteria.”
“A governess? Are you daft?” Gavin’s expression told Aidan he was serious. “I can’t marry a governess! I’m an earl, for Chrissake.”
Gavin burst out laughing at his friend’s indignation. “You may be an earl, Aidan, but sometimes, you are also a pompous arse!”
Aidan’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline.
Then he roared with laughter and grinned at his friend.
“Bugger off.”
Chapter 7
London
One week later, Elizabeth took her first steps out of bed. She was supported on either side by Mrs. Bartlett and Lainey, for she could hardly stand on her shaking legs. She mentally cursed her weakness for the hundredth time.
“You're doing wonderfully, Elizabeth. Keep going,” Lainey encouraged. The two women had, at Lainey's insistence, dispensed with the formal form of address. It had taken quite a bit of coaxing to get Elizabeth to call Lainey by her given name, but Lainey was not a woman who was easily deterred.
“I can already tell we are going to be good friends, Elizabeth, so we might as well save ourselves the trouble of being so exceedingly polite,” she had said. “And absolutely none of my friends call me Elaine. I hate it! So it will have to be Lainey or nothing, as I will cease to answer to anything else.”
That had settled it. It went against Elizabeth's upbringing to use the Christian name of someone she barely knew, but truth be told, she was glad to have things on the familiar level. However, she wasn't at all sure how Lainey's brother would take to her using the name Lainey's friends and family used.
They had talked about Aidan in his absence. Elizabeth was not entirely convinced Lainey's
glowing reports weren't simply sibling bias, but Mrs. Bartlett and Mary seemed to hold him in high regard as well. He appeared to be a well-respected man, despite the fact that he “dirtied his hands” with trade, which even Elizabeth knew was frowned upon among peers. But he clearly had a successful business if this guest room was any indication of his wealth. No matter what her companions thought of him, Elizabeth was terribly glad that he wasn't around to hover over her and make her nervous.
Elizabeth had taken great care over the past week not to reveal much about her past at all, though Lainey had tried to get her to talk. Elizabeth always answered as honestly as she could, but gave very vague answers, letting Lainey fill in the blanks in her mind. Elizabeth hated to hide things, especially since she and Lainey had grown close over the past seven days, but she didn't dare tell anyone the truth—the Lockwoods would have her tossed out on the doorstep in no time at all. Plus, she'd been prevented from meeting Betsy, and therefore hadn't gained any information as of yet. Elizabeth was desperately worried that something had happened to her—she was a sweet girl who had a talent for uncovering information, but it was sometimes a dangerous pursuit. She was the only friend Elizabeth had known in London, so when Elizabeth had received Betsy’s letter saying she may have discovered some information pertaining to Elizabeth’s parents, she had returned to London immediately. She had tried to keep a low profile for several days, and was supposed to have met Betsy the night of the accident, only she had run into Smythe instead. That wretched man! Elizabeth worried that Betsy may have encountered foul play, and that Smythe had had something to do with it, and now here she was, trapped in this house in her invalid bed, not able to do a thing about it. The longer she stayed here, the closer she came to being discovered. She knew people had witnessed the carriage accident, possibly even Smythe, and he knew people of all classes. He could out her at any moment. All it would take was one word whispered in someone’s ear in St. Giles, and the tale of Elizabeth’s London past would wend its way through the grapevine up to the ton, and scandal would land itself on the Lockwood’s doorstep. She’d either hang for what she’d done, or the man who she was sure had been chasing her for years would finally catch up with her. She was desperate to leave before any damage was done to this family who had taken her in and cared for her. She willed her body to heal faster.
She made it as far as the chair by the fire and gave up. Her legs were shaking so badly she had to sit down, but the bending motion hurt her side.
“For heaven's sake,” she growled. “I can't even sit down on my own. Nothing seems to want to work!”
“Beggin' your pardon, Miss, but that's to be expected. You came to us half-starved, took a beating, and then spent the past two weeks lying in bed,” Mrs. Bartlett pointed out. “Did you really think you were just going to pop up and be on your way?”
“No,” Elizabeth grumbled. “It's just frustrating. I'm used to being independent.”
“Well,” Lainey said, “I guess it's about time you just relax and enjoy having someone take care of you.”
“I'm sorry, Lainey. I don't mean to sound ungrateful for your hospitality, it's just…well…”
“I understand, Elizabeth. But you are making good progress. Dr. Lambert will be here soon, and he'll be happy to see that you are up and about. I'm sure you'll get your strength back in no time.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I hope so, because I'm going to go mad lying in that bed!”
Four more days had passed. Dr. Lambert had been pleased with Elizabeth's progress and had bound her ribs to make her more comfortable. Her shoulder seemed to be healing, and although she still couldn't lean much weight on it, she could move it a little. Cook made sure their guest was well fed, and Elizabeth was beyond grateful for the meals that were prepared for her. She hadn't eaten this well since she had fled her burning home, and the effects of good nutrition were just beginning to show.
Mary strode in with the morning tea, Lainey right on her heels.
“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. Did you sleep well? Wait till you see what a lovely day it is outside!” Mary set the tray down and threw open the balcony door. Elizabeth felt the slight brush of warm air float over her.
“Goodness, that feels heavenly! But how unusual for this time of year.”
“Perhaps spring will come early,” Mary observed, taking a deep breath.
“Perhaps.” Elizabeth fell silent as she looked from Mary to Lainey and back again.
“What is it that you need, Elizabeth?” Lainey asked. “I can tell it’s something.”
Elizabeth glanced down at the sheet as she twisted it in her fingers. “I was hoping...if it wasn't too much trouble...I haven't had a real bath in a very long time, and would desperately like to soak in one. I thought it might help ease the ache in my muscles, and Dr. Lambert said my wounds were healed enough to—”
“Elizabeth!” Lainey laughed. “Don't be ridiculous! You may take a bath whenever you so choose. You do not need permission.”
“But I do need help…I don't want to be a bother.”
“Stop. Mary, have Meg help you prepare a bath for Miss Elizabeth. Make sure it's hot, and put some lavender oil in it, too—no, make it lilac,” she mused, a mischievous glint coming into her eyes. “It suits her more.”
“Yes, ma'am. Miss Elizabeth…”
“Yes, Mary?”
“Might we also see to your hair? Beggin' your pardon, but it's a frightful mess.”
Elizabeth laughed out loud, grabbing her side. She loved Mary's straightforward ways. “Yes, I'm sure that it is. It may take you hours just to get a comb through it.”
“I've never met a head of hair I can't handle, Miss.”
Elizabeth giggled as Mary dashed from the room. Lainey helped Elizabeth sit up straighter and stayed with her while she ate her breakfast. Mary and Meg bustled in and out of the room while the two women chatted.
“You know, Elizabeth, we're going to have to get you some clothes. My brother is due back in a few days. Now that you can get out of bed, it wouldn’t do to have you wandering about the house in a nightgown.”
Elizabeth turned pink at the thought.
“You can borrow some of mine until we can do something about that.”
“Oh, Lainey, I couldn’t—”
“I insist.”
“Miss Elizabeth, we're ready for you,” Mary announced. She and Lainey helped Elizabeth out of bed and they slowly made their way into the bathing room, where they removed her nightgown and bandages and assisted her into the bathtub. Elizabeth sank down into the hot water gratefully as Mary took the soap and cloth and began to scrub gently. Elizabeth was in heaven. She closed her eyes and let the heat ease the ache from her body and the lilac soothe her senses. If she died in this very spot, she'd be happy.
When Mary was done bathing her, she moved on to Elizabeth's mass of dark tresses. Mary lathered her hair, rinsed, and began with the comb. She sat and worked diligently for the next half hour while Lainey entertained Elizabeth with more stories of her youth.
“It sounds like your brother was a bit of a scoundrel,” Elizabeth mused, a lazy smile on her face.
“He still is a scoundrel, if you ask me. He just hides it better now.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I'll keep that in mind.” She paused, not sure if she should ask the question in her thoughts, but her curiosity overwhelmed her. “Tell me, Lainey, how is it that someone like Lord Ashby isn't yet married? He's titled, and it seems he’s wealthy…and he’s…erhm…”
“Attractive?” Lainey's eyes danced.
Elizabeth stared down at the bath water to hide her embarrassment and shrugged her good shoulder. “I would think that he would be descended upon at every moment.”
Lainey waved her hand. “He is. He and Gavin both are. But they both manage to resist. I don't know what Gavin's excuse is, but I know Aidan is determined to not fall in love.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Why on earth would he want to avoid love?” That was all Elizab
eth had ever wanted.
“I’ll let him explain it to you. I think he’s being ridiculous. And of course, he doesn't realize that he has no choice in the matter anyway.” Lainey laughed. “Nevertheless, he's looking for a specific kind of woman, and he just hasn't found her. Yet,” she added, sending a sideways glance at Elizabeth. “Someday he may surprise himself and discover that what he thinks he wants and what he really needs are two very different things,” she mused.
Lainey didn't supply any more information, so Elizabeth was left wondering what type of woman would interest Lord Ashby. She didn't wish to be any more impertinent than she already had been, so she changed the subject. “You mention Mr. Mayfield’s name often. Is he an old friend of the family?”
“I've known Gavin my whole life. He's Aidan's best friend and his business partner. He's quite charming, as I'm sure you'll see when you meet him. The two of them are a couple of heartbreakers, if you ask me. Many scheming mamas have tried to snare them for their daughters, but they refuse to be caught. I swear, men can be such bloody idiots about love.”
She grinned cheekily, and Elizabeth giggled while Mary stated that Elizabeth's hair was finally free of tangles. She lathered and rinsed it again, and then pronounced Elizabeth presentable.
Getting in the tub had been the easy part, Elizabeth soon discovered. She gritted her teeth, but still yelped as they hauled her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel. Once she was dried off and rebound into her bandages, Lainey helped her into a simple cotton wrapper that absolutely hung on her. Lainey laughed out loud.
“Well, it's not exactly a perfect fit, is it?”
“It is just a hair too big, I think.” Elizabeth giggled.
“No matter. You'll fill it out soon enough.” Lainey held her arm out to Elizabeth. “Come and sit by the fire while I brush your hair.”
Chapter 8
Aidan arrived home later that afternoon, grateful to be off of ships and trains, and out of carriages at last. Tibbs met him at the door, taking his coat and hat.
All That I Am: A Victorian Historical Romance (The Hesitant Husbands Series Book 1) Page 5
