“Hades’ breath. He has nerve to attack Helen. He was into the punch at the assembly quite a lot.” Poppy’s eyes narrowed.
“It’s a pity your mother was not in the carriage to see this side of him.” Mercy sighed but then added, “Though, your mother might not see anything wrong with his scolding a woman of no title.”
Aurora started to drag a chair from the corner so they all three could sit at the table.
Poppy jumped up to help her and they managed the task.
“My mother would not have said anything about it. Still, I don’t think his temper was within reason. It was far more vicious than the situation deserved, even if he disapproved of the school and our plan to have more than the wealthy attend.”
“You don’t think he would do more than scold, do you?” Mercy crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t know. Once Garrett put him in his place, he sulked the rest of the drive.” Aurora hadn’t been afraid, but she gave that credit to Garrett, not her faith in the fact that Hexon was a decent man.
Poppy opened her mouth, but the door opened and Gillian and a girl from the kitchen brought through two large trays of breakfast.
With a loud mew, George scurried out the door.
At the aroma of yeasty bread and savory sausage, Aurora’s stomach growled. “Thank you, Gillian.”
“Enjoy your breakfast, my ladies.” Gillian shooed the wide-eyed girl out as she left the ladies to eat and talk.
As soon as the door closed, Poppy reached for a piece of toast. “I wonder that Helen didn’t put him in his place.”
“I think it was in deference to Garrett rather than her desire to halt any confrontation. She looked ready to burst with indignation.” Aurora spread fresh jam on her toast.
Mercy filled her plate with coddled eggs and sausage. “I don’t imagine Helen is accustomed to holding her tongue. She’s going to be a very good headmistress: fair, in control, smart and wise. I’m glad Garrett brought her to you.”
“I agree.” Aurora sipped her tea. “Poppy, tell me what you have in mind to teach Mother a lesson?”
Mouth full, Poppy chewed, swallowed, then drank some chocolate. “In order to show your mother how terrible her taste in men is, we shall have to get Hexon to show his true self in front of her. Also, his lashing out at Mercy, Helen, or me will not be enough. She thinks very little of any of us. He will have to lash out at you.”
“This is sounding too dangerous,” Mercy said, putting down her toast and giving Poppy a scolding look. “I’m not going to rile up a duke who might be violent just to prove a point.”
Aurora shuddered at the thought of having a man harm her in the way her husband used to. But she was no longer that girl, Hexon wasn’t her husband, and she had friends who would protect her.
Poppy rolled her eyes. “We won’t leave her alone. One of us, Wesley, or Garrett have to be with her at all times. Ideally, we want to push him far enough that he behaves badly in front of my mother-in-law. She might not believe it if she doesn’t see it.”
“There is the possibility that the Duke of Hexon is a perfectly respectable gentleman, and will not crack even under the pestering of Wallflowers.” Aurora continued, “Many men can behave themselves under extreme situations.”
Shrugging, Mercy said, “For short periods of time perhaps. If he’s a good man, he has nothing to fear. If he’s the kind of man we suspect, at the very least he’ll have this coming to him for his behavior toward Helen.”
Aurora nodded. “I don’t like anyone under my roof having to endure what she did last night. It had been such a pleasant evening up until then.”
“I wish Faith were here. She’s always so clever about things.” Poppy stuffed the last of her toast into her mouth.
They finished their breakfast and chatted of the assembly. There was no need to discuss how to rile the duke. The Wallflowers of West Lane had plenty of experience annoying people who deserved it.
Garrett sat with Helen at breakfast. “The other ladies have decided to eat above stairs?”
“It would seem so.” Helen buttered a piece of toast. She kept her head down and didn’t look up at him when he spoke.
“Are you angry with me or with Hexon?” Garrett knew that Hexon had taken a horse and gone riding after breaking his fast. He expected Wesley would join them at some point in the meal. It was better to get whatever needed saying out while they were alone in the breakfast room.
Finally, she pulled her attention away from the plate. “I’m furious with that arrogant ass and even more angry that I was not permitted to tell him so.”
“I apologize, Helen. I didn’t want things to get uglier inside the carriage, and I don’t know Hexon well enough to be sure of his reactions.”
Her red hair was arrested into a tight bun and she pierced him with her green eyes. “I am capable of fighting my own battles, Garrett, and you should be well aware of that.”
He’d overstepped. “I am, and I apologize.”
“If I call him out for his prejudice now, I’ll sound like an unreasonable banshee.” She shook her head. “I need to school myself in letting annoyances go. This will be a test of my resolve.”
“You are too good, Helen. You really are. Why is it some man has not scooped you up and married you?” Garrett teased.
She favored him with a smile. “You would not ask, and those who did were not worthy of my regard.”
“Alas, my heart was already taken.” He let the mood be light despite the truth of his statement.
Wesley walked in. “Good morning! I think it will be an interesting day.”
Garrett gave Helen a wink and when she grinned, he turned his attention to Wesley. “Why do you think so, Wes?”
“The Wallflowers are plotting.”
A knot formed in the pit of Garrett’s stomach. “What are they up to?”
Shrugging, Wesley took a plate and filled it from the dishes on the buffet. “They keep their own council when they are like this. Mercy won’t tell me anything. If Rhys were here, he might be able to wheedle it out of Poppy or his sister, but they won’t tell the likes of us.” He gave Helen a long look. “You might be able to find out.”
Helen picked up her coffee, sipped and then looked at Wesley over the rim. “Well, even if that was so, I would not divulge a confidence.”
Garrett chuckled. “I suppose we shall just have to wait and see how the plot unfolds.”
“I hope Geb arrives soon. He will be a fine addition to our party.” Wesley sat with his plate.
Cocking her head, Helen narrowed her eyes. “I’m a bit surprised that Aurora’s mother tolerates Mr. Arafa.”
Wesley laughed out loud, nearly spitting his coddled eggs across the table. He wiped his mouth and apologized. “She detests him, but it is of no real significance. He’s a fine man and part of our happy circle of friends. I’m sure Aurora would say he is far more welcome than her mother. Though I suppose I shouldn’t say it aloud.”
“As it is just the three of us, no one will be offended by the truth.” Garrett loved to see Jemima Draper in a fit over silly things. She was one of the most bigoted people he knew and with no reason for her biases. She fought in no wars and lost no one close to her in war. Her prejudices were based in ignorance. Though, Garrett found all such evils tended to be the product of stupidity.
Garrett put down his cup. “I’m going for a walk if either of you would like some exercise.”
Wesley chewed a mouthful and shook his head.
With a sigh, Helen rose. “I have some letters to look over. Her ladyship and I are meeting in half an hour to discuss our first students.”
“Very exciting. I’ll be in the near gardens if either of you should change your mind.” With a bow, Garrett left.
Shuddering at the thought of whatever the Wallflowers might be up to that required a private breakfast in Aurora’s room, Garrett made his way to the garden. He had thought of leaving Whickette Park at the end of the
week, but that was before Hexon and Malcolm Renshaw arrived. He’d not remove himself while men of questionable character were so near to Aurora. Though, he imagined she could take care of herself.
Since he was on his own for the morning, he climbed the hill to the walnut trees. The place made him feel like a failure for not protecting Aurora, not that she’d been his to protect. These thoughts led him to realize what an ass he was for sparing a thought to his own failures when Aurora had suffered so much.
“Am I disturbing you, Garrett?” Poppy’s day dress had a brown and green smudge near the knee area. She cocked her head, waiting for an answer.
“Not at all. Did you injure yourself?” He turned fully toward her and pointed at her damaged skirt.
Waving off his concern, she looked down at the stain. “I stumbled. My poor maid suffers much from trying to keep me in clean dresses and gowns.”
He forced a smile, his mind still on what Aurora had shared with him when last he was in this stand of trees. He looked back over the rolling hills. “It is quite pretty here.”
“Yes. This is my first time in Cheshire. It’s very nice. Have you come up here to think on something? I feel I have disturbed you.” Poppy remained on the outskirts of the trees as if she might go back to the lower garden at any moment.
He turned to her. His thoughts a jumble of do’s and don’ts. “May I ask you a question, Poppy?”
Stepping into the circle, she nodded. “Of course.”
How to begin? He paced to the edge of the trees. “I don’t know what to ask.”
“Mercy told me there is an ancient circle of stones close by. Would you care to walk and see it? Perhaps you can find the words while we walk.” Poppy’s face was open and friendly as she smiled warmly at him.
“Did Mercy tell you the direction?” He liked the idea of a destination rather than the maddening stagnation.
“To the west a mile, perhaps two.”
He bowed. “If you are up for the exercise, I would be pleased to accompany you.”
When they reached the hollow between the first two hills, Poppy said, “I think Rhys will join us next week. Will you be staying long, Garrett?”
“Honestly, I hadn’t planned to, but I’m hesitant to leave now.” He forced himself to release the fists he’d been clutching. His knuckles ached from the strain.
“You don’t like the Duke of Hexon.” She said it plainly and not as a question.
He shrugged. “I don’t know him well, but he and Renshaw have agendas that may be dangerous to certain parties. I’m certain Aurora told you and Mercy about Hexon’s outburst in the carriage last night.”
“She did,” Poppy confirmed, frowning. “So, you will stay. Is that what you want?”
The weight in his chest was like an anvil pressing down. “What I want seems to have little bearing on the matters at hand.”
Stopping, she stared at him. “I’m sure that’s not true. Is that why you were brooding in the walnut trees?”
“Was I brooding?”
She shrugged. “It was what it looked like to me. However, if you do not wish to stay, then go. Wesley will keep everyone safe from unwanted attentions, if need be.”
“Staying here with my friends does not trouble me. I’m happy to have a good excuse to stay.”
“But?” She prompted.
“I may have done something foolish and caused a strain between myself and someone I care about.” It was the truth, but he’d left enough out to feel he wasn’t exposed.
“I see. And you were going to leave to resolve the issue, but now you feel you must stay?” Poppy maintained a good pace as they headed west.
“Not exactly, but close enough.” The pressing weight did not lessen with Poppy’s misinterpretation. If anything, it got worse.
“Is the rift with a very close friend? I mean to say, is it someone you believe cares for you as well?” She squinted into the distance.
“I believe this person’s feelings for me are strong and true.” Half-truths and part of a story would have to do. Sun shone from behind them as it climbed the sky and glinted off the gray pillars half a mile ahead. “I think those are your stones.”
With a gasp, Poppy rushed forward, skipping toward the monoliths. She stopped when she reached them but didn’t enter right away.
Picking up his pace, Garrett joined her at the edge of the circle. “It is quite something to stand with these ancient stones and know that others stood in the same place so many years ago.”
She stepped inside the circle and pressed a hand to one of the stones. Twelve in all, they were in different stages of decay, but still there was something alive about this place. It made one lower their voice as if it were a church.
Silently, Poppy went around and touched each stone before she returned and stood in front of Garrett. She whispered, “May I be frank?”
Taken aback, he almost laughed. “I much prefer it.”
“If the person you care for cares for you, they will understand and forgive whatever error you made. They will have forgiven you, as I can’t imagine it was much of a faux pas. You are always very considerate and thoughtful. However, if you wish to give me more information, I will offer my advice.”
He stepped out of the circle, not sure why it bothered him to speak of such things within the stones. “I divulged my heart to someone who does not or perhaps cannot share my feelings. I think it has put a strain on our friendship.”
Poppy’s eyes were wide as saucers. “I could pretend I don’t understand your meaning. Would that make you more comfortable?”
Letting out a long sigh, some of the weight lifted from his chest. “Not particularly.”
“Good.” She grinned. “I’m not good at subterfuge.”
Even he had to laugh at how true that was. “Go ahead. Let me have the full force of a Wallflower’s censure.”
There was a tree not far off, and they walked to it. “I don’t censure you for loving Aurora, Garrett. I think you could not love a better person. No one deserves to be loved as much as she. She needs someone who will worship her and whose highest priority is to make her happy. I know you would do that.”
His face must have shown his shock at her directness.
With a giggle, she brushed at the ruined spot on her skirt. “I see how you look at her. Don’t look so surprised that her closest friend would notice.”
“She is not of a like mind.” His heart actually might break like some stupid sod in a novel. How he had come to this pass, he didn’t know.
“I’m not certain that’s true. Aurora doesn’t think she wishes to marry. Marriage to her means losing everything she’s gained as a widow. It means turning all of her possessions over to a man, trusting he will not abuse all she has relinquished.”
Garrett hadn’t even considered assets beyond his passion and ardor for Aurora. “Why must it be one thing or the other?”
“I beg your pardon?” Poppy’s mouth made a little O.
“Why must I get all of her assets or none? Why should any of that matter when a match is made?” Frustration rang in his voice.
“There are laws to that effect. When a woman marries, all her property and even her body belongs to her husband. It may not be fair. In truth, it is most definitely not fair, but it is a fact.” Poppy cocked her head, studying him.
“You married, Poppy, and I have never known a more independent girl than you.” His voice held more accusation than he intended.
She held up her hands in a helpless gesture. “I fell in love and knew that Rhys would keep me safe while never smothering me. He is the other half of me. Besides, I had very few worldly possessions to lose.”
A notion formed in Garrett’s head. “So, if I could make Aurora see that I would not steal what she owns or make her a possession, she might consider me.”
“I think she will fight you at every turn, Garrett, and you would be happier in the short term to find a nice woman with a good fortune to be your duchess.” Sorrow filled P
oppy’s eyes. “However, if you really love Aurora, and you’re willing to suffer the trials of courtship with a woman who has suffered much, and no longer thinks she can love, you are the perfect man for my friend and need not fear the wrath of the Wallflowers.” She winked.
Something that felt a bit like hope bloomed inside Garrett, pushing aside some of the hurt that weighed on him. “I don’t know what I will do, Poppy, but knowing you approve of me is very comforting. I know how protective you Wallflowers are of one another.”
“I can’t help you with your quest.” She seemed to have known what he would do.
Standing, he offered her his hand to help her up. “I understand. I do hope you will keep this conversation to yourself though.”
“You can trust me, Your Grace. You have my support, just not my assistance. Aurora will have to work it out without any nudging from my direction.” Poppy walked beside him back toward Whickette Park.
They reached the gardens near the house speaking of Geb’s arrival and then her expectation of Rhys finishing his business in London and joining the party. It was a pleasant walk back, but Garrett was completely distracted by the possibility of courting Aurora.
Could he court her? Would she see him as more than a brotherly friend? He needed time to think it through.
Chapter 12
Excited with news, Aurora had searched the house for someone to tell, but found everyone except her mother had gone out. Mother would not have appreciated her news, so she rushed out to the garden in search of a friendly face.
Walking toward her looking like old friends were Poppy and Garrett.
Poppy grinned when she spotted Aurora. “We walked to the stone ring. It’s quite something, Aurora.”
“It is amazing. I visited when Mercy and I traveled here before.” She loved Poppy’s enthusiasm. “Garrett, did you find the site worth visiting?”
He inclined his head. “I am always astounded by the longevity of such places. The company was quite good as well. Lady Marsden and I had a good talk and a fine bit of exercise. I can’t think of when I’ve had a more pleasant and illuminating morning.”
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