by Rue Allyn
It was the first day of pleasant weather since Soleil and Philippe’s arrival. The rain had afforded them many hours to enjoy each other’s company from the comfort of Kingsley Manor. But now, as the skies cleared and the roads dried, they prepared to set out for the gardens.
Audra was to join them, as her quick attachment to both Soleil and Philippe, combined with her inseparableness from Rhianna, left this singular option open to them. Barely did they avoid extending an invite to Desmond, who without actually asking was very blatant in expressing his desire to accompany them. In the end, their wish of being without him was greater than his wish of joining them, and when a carriage — provided at Guilford Kingsley’s insistence — awaited them at the door, they were a final group of four.
As they prepared to leave, a visitor detained them. “Miss Braden!” he called from his saddle.
Urging d’Artagnan forward, Thayne halted his steed before her. With a quick glance at the Vallières, he removed his hat and bowed. His sudden appearance set Rhianna’s heart aflutter.
Since the night of their kiss — so uncertain was she of his meaning by it — she had often imagined their next meeting and what his behavior would reveal to her. Each reverie left her guessing as to its significance, and she was anxious to see what impression he would leave her with. Surely, she anticipated, the next time they were brought together, she would see in his manner, in his speech, if he regretted it — and if such was the case, the sooner she knew, the better for her own heart’s sake.
With the reality of this moment thrust upon her, she opted to curtsey, not rushing any sentence from her lips, as there was none fully developed.
“It is a pleasure to meet you this morning,” he said, smiling. “Of course, that goes without saying, as you are always a pleasure to meet.”
His flattery was a welcome surprise, whereas his presence, his very being, was all consuming. Were Soleil, Philippe, and Audra still behind her? She knew not.
“You are too kind, Lord Brighton,” she managed. “I am glad to see you have returned safely from London.”
Thayne dismounted. As a servant led away his horse, he approached Rhianna. With each step, it was as if Cupid struck her with another arrow. Was she imagining it, or was Thayne Brighton suddenly standing a little closer to her than perhaps he ought?
“I returned to Thornton as soon as I was able,” he confessed to her, in a tone that seemed only for her ears. “Had the weather been more cooperative, you would have seen me sooner.”
She felt a warm flush of color rise in her cheeks as Thayne threw a glance at the rest of the group, which included a giggling Audra.
“I almost missed you,” Thayne observed, raising his voice for the group. “Miss Kingsley, good day to you!”
In that moment, as introductions were made and civilities exchanged, Rhianna wished with all her heart they were not going to Thornton Gardens.
“How long will you be staying in England?” Thayne asked the Vallières. “If I know Miss Braden,” he added, casting her a furtive glance, “I daresay she would have you stay infinitely.”
“I would, indeed,” Rhianna professed, smiling at his hint of intimacy.
“Our plans are uncertain,” Philippe answered, “but as long as possible, of course. The company alone could certainly keep us here infinitely, but my sister has a wedding to plan.”
Thayne congratulated her and Soleil thanked him, grinning with all the joys of prenuptial bliss.
“Well, I insist you all come to dine at Ravensleigh as soon as possible,” invited Thayne.
“And me, as well?” cried Audra, excitedly.
“Of course,” he confirmed. “Crispin would never forgive me otherwise.”
“It would be an inestimable pleasure,” declared Soleil, with a glance at her brother.
“Yes, we should like very much to come,” echoed Philippe.
“Well, that settles it, then,” Thayne smirked. “What say you all to tomorrow evening?”
“Rhianna,” asked Philippe, “does that interfere with any other plans?”
The sound of her Christian name from Philippe’s lips seemed to take Thayne by surprise. Rhianna, for her part, had long been accustomed to the sibling-like liberties they took with each other, but Thayne’s ill-masked reaction did not leave her unaffected.
“Lord Brighton could never interfere with my plans,” she daringly responded.
Her smile followed this, and Thayne seemed quickly recovered. The date was happily fixed upon and, as Thayne had business to discuss with Lord Kingsley, they prepared to part without further delay.
“Good day, Lord Brighton,” said Rhianna regretfully, as Philippe assisted Soleil and Audra into the carriage.
Thayne bowed, and with that single act sealed Rhianna’s fate. Her day would go on without him, and Thornton Gardens was drained of all its appeal.
• • •
This brief exchange rendered Rhianna conversationally useless. She found herself able only to respond to others’ observations and, even then, it was perfunctory. At last, she steered the conversation toward a subject Soleil could command for some time — her engagement to Armand — while Rhianna battled her own inattentiveness.
It worked precisely as planned. Soleil was delighted to express every detail of the proposal, as well as events before and after, with all the original enthusiasm of her first communication of it, until the subject was exhausted. Having this to occupy them was of some relief to Rhianna, though it could not ease her completely. The closeness of the topic to one she wished to avoid with Philippe kept her stomach in constant knots, and she felt sure he must bring it up at any moment.
Philippe Vallière did not, however, raise any such disastrous matter to her. Romantic a setting as Thornton Gardens was, Philippe attempted not to engage her in talks of past declarations nor their significance one year hence. Rhianna even fleetingly imagined him disinterested in her as a wife, but such thoughts were entirely of her own invention. The way Philippe looked into her eyes, the way he held her arm in his, quickly dispelled any such idea from proceeding further. He was more devotedly attached than ever, proving once again, that absence unfailingly does make the heart grow fonder.
As they stopped while crossing over a bridge, admiring the view of a rocky stream, Soleil concluded her musings. “I must say, I find the country very much to my liking,” she declared. “If only Armand was here, I might never leave.”
Philippe agreed with her. “There is much to like,” he confessed, looking affectionately at Rhianna. “I could see having a home in the English countryside to visit a few months out of the year. It would be the best of both worlds. What do you think, Rhianna?”
Briefly, Rhianna found herself considering his vision. She felt she owed him at least that, and Philippe’s clear intention of inducing her to see the possibilities with him had its effect. A home in France and another in England was no small thing. Her heart lay in both places and it was no empty promise. Philippe was more than able to provide this, and more.
This last altered the path of her thoughts. That she should have someone in Philippe’s position … a count, no less … offering her all the love and comfort of the world, should she really imagine that more than one such man would come along in her lifetime? More specifically, that the Lord of Ravensleigh should see her as a prospective mate, as Philippe did? Was it not more reasonable to believe that Thayne, unlike Philippe who had already proposed marriage, was interested in her in the way that Desmond Kingsley had implied?
Philippe Vallière was not the most handsome of all men, but he was not unattractive. He was kind, he was generous, he was well-bred, and his family had welcomed her as one of their own. Rhianna knew in her heart that though she would not be passionately in love, she would not be unhappy if married to him.
“I think it sounds lovely,” she told him.
It was as much as Philippe seemed to expect in this public setting. Rhianna could see him mulling things over, and she made
an attempt at nudging the conversation in a less serious direction. In the end, their day at Thornton Gardens proved just as pleasant as each day had been with them all along and any awkwardness Rhianna feared never made its appearance.
• • •
Soleil and Rhianna were anxious for a moment to speak privately. So the two young women arranged that when all had retired for the evening, Soleil would meet Rhianna in her room — a frequent pastime for the girls as of late. That night, as Kingsley Manor slept, she quietly tiptoed to Rhianna’s bed, placed her candle on the nightstand, and crawled into the sheets beside her friend.
“I must know two things,” she whispered to Rhianna. “First, where are you getting your gowns? I insist you take me to your dressmaker at once!”
Rhianna laughed under her breath. “You will never guess, but they are Lord Kingsley’s mother’s.”
Soleil did not say a word in response, but simply stared with disbelief.
Rhianna continued, “The seamstress altered them for me at his request. It does sound rather odd when I say it aloud, but he insisted on it.”
Soleil thought for a moment, before asking, “Can he have an ulterior motive? You must imagine why I would think it.”
“No, none whatsoever,” she assured her. “Lord Kingsley is an honorable man. He has never given me reason to feel uncomfortable. It is only his giving nature, I am sure of it.”
“Lady Kingsley has not said anything of the matter?” Soleil questioned, with one chocolate eyebrow arched suspiciously.
Rhianna shook her head. “She does not seem to recognize them. Also, the mention of Lord Kingsley’s mother only arose once with Lady Kingsley, and she did not seem to like her very much.”
“I see,” Soleil allowed. “Well, Lord Kingsley has been nothing but wonderful since we arrived here. He must truly be one of the most generous persons I have ever known.”
Rhianna agreed, and Soleil did not press the matter any further. Instead, she addressed a different subject.
“As to the second thing I must know,” Soleil said, “Lord Brighton is very handsome.”
Rhianna’s heart stopped at his name. With wide eyes she looked at Soleil, not at all having suspected Soleil would mention him.
“Rhianna, you know there is nothing that could part us. There is no choice in life you could make that would separate me from you, no matter what country you live in or whom you choose to marry.”
“Soleil!” cried Rhianna, “I am not marrying Lord Brighton. We have no understanding at all. You know I would have told you as much.”
“Yes, of course,” she told her, “but I hope that, if any particular gentleman were to catch your eye, you would feel comfortable confiding in me.” She paused, before adding, “I would not tell Philippe.”
Rhianna’s shoulders fell and she sighed — with relief. She could never hide her feelings from Soleil and she found comfort in having someone to whom she could unburden her heart.
With one, fair hand held against her cheek, she asked, “Am I blushing?”
Both girls laughed together and Soleil put her arms around Rhianna. Little could she know how invaluable was her support.
“Does he know how you feel?”
Rhianna shook her head. “We have discussed nothing.”
Soleil waited for further details. Her eyes were wide with anticipation, her aura was all excitement.
“He can have no interest in me, Soleil,” Rhianna hurried. “I am a curate’s daughter, remember. A governess.”
Soleil dispelled this thinking at once. “Gentlemen marry governesses all the time. And one as lovely as you, surely, he must know what a treasure you are. Has he given any signs? Any reason to believe he may share your sentiments?”
Rhianna smiled shyly. “We kissed.”
Soleil’s mouth fell and she reached excitedly for Rhianna’s hands. But Rhianna was quick to calm her.
“It does not mean he wants to marry me, Soleil.”
“What of his invitation to dinner?” she pointed out.
“He is friendly,” Rhianna excused.
Soleil gave her a knowing glance that Rhianna tried to ignore. It was the same look she gave her anytime Rhianna was being completely and utterly ridiculous.
“Well,” said Soleil, after a moment’s thought, “tomorrow we dine at Ravensleigh and I shall be watching Lord Brighton very closely. We shall see what his intentions are.”
Rhianna smiled, but could not but feel tranquil as she thought of Philippe. Soleil seemed to understand her immediately, but said nothing.
“I do love Philippe, Soleil,” Rhianna expressed solemnly. “Has he said … ?”
Soleil hesitated. “Although I believe what you are looking for is seen plainly in his behavior, I’m afraid that is still a subject you will have to discuss with Philippe.”
Rhianna nodded ascent. Soon, another thought came to her mind.
“Soleil,” she began, curiously, “what does true love feel like?”
“Ah, love!” she mused, falling back onto the pillows. “Love is not one feeling or another. Love is a collection of many emotions. Love evolves. Young love is entirely different from mature love and one person’s experience of love is not the same as someone else’s. All in all, love is mysteriously indescribable.”
“How did you know you were truly in love with Armand?”
“I just knew,” she said, with a sly smile. “That is what makes love, love.”
• • •
A hint of a French accent had returned to her voice and it tortured him. Rhianna must have lost the faint inflection when she returned to England, but in the company of the Vallières it was plainly distinctive. The painful effect of hearing it surprised Thayne, who thought every utterance from those lips a pleasant sweetness, for it was the product of time spent with him. It seemed, however, each time it nearly overwhelmed him with jealousy, she would relieve him of his sufferings by catching his glance and curling her lips at him. The weeks apart made it easy for him to become hopelessly lost in her smallest gesture, and he was sufficiently alleviated — that is, until Philippe leaned over and whispered something in her ear not meant for the rest of the dinner table.
“Do you hunt, Count Vallière?” Thayne asked him, on one such occasion.
Philippe turned to him, a comment from Rhianna no doubt still tickling his ears and a smile spread across his face.
“Indeed, no,” he told him, with a friendly air. “Of course, I see the occasional necessity of it, and I hold no grudge against those who practice it, but I prefer shooting to hunting.”
“A shame,” returned Thayne. “I was hoping you might join me on a lawn meet at the Gatewood Estate, just west of here. They run regularly this time of year and have a very good pack of hounds.”
“Yes, and my brother has a fine collection of pistols,” announced Crispin.
Philippe thanked him and politely declined.
“Are you a very reckless hunter, Lord Brighton?” Soleil asked, teasingly.
“Only occasionally,” he grinned, catching Rhianna’s gaze.
“Thayne knows better than to discuss his high speed gallops and dangerous leaps before a worrisome mother,” Lady Brighton remarked, smiling.
“I am sure,” whispered Rhianna to her, loudly enough for all to hear, “Lord Crispin hopes someday to join him and Lord Brighton is eager not to ruin his chances.”
“You know me too well, Miss Braden,” Thayne bantered.
Overhearing his name across the table, Crispin concurred. “I very much look forward to my first hunt. Now that I am sixteen, I hope my brother will allow me to accompany him soon.”
Audra crossed her arms at once and cried, angrily, “Well, if you harm one, single, helpless little fox, I shall certainly never speak to you again.”
Crispin stared at her blankly, while her comment drew laughter from the rest of their small party. This particular evening, the Brightons enjoyed the company of only Rhianna, Audra, and the Vallières. Thayne’
s attempts at reconciliation with Desmond had not gone as hoped and both he and Lydia had refused to come to Ravensleigh. Guilford Kingsley, on the other hand, was not only willing to let go of the other week’s altercation, but was more than wishing to join them for dinner, had his health not prevented it.
Thayne hoped, in having the Vallières at Ravensleigh, that his curiosity would be mollified. Instead, Philippe’s close relationship and level of comfort with Rhianna raised only feelings of doubt as to her own emotions and, though she did not openly flirt with Philippe as Philippe did with her, Thayne allowed himself to think the worst.
• • •
A conversation with Thayne had been Soleil’s goal from the start of the evening and the opportunity presented itself in the drawing room after dinner. She found herself in a far corner near the piano when Thayne commented to her that he was glad the weather was fine enough for them to come, despite a sudden drop in temperature.
Soleil glanced upwards at him and agreed. “If it were the gloomiest day of the year, I could not be unhappy,” she added. “I can hardly believe I haven’t seen Rhianna for over a year.”
“Such exceptional friends are few and far between,” expressed Thayne. “With Miss Braden alone I considered myself indeed privileged; only now I have two more in addition. I wonder at how I came to be so fortunate.”
“Well,” responded Soleil, sotto voce, “between you and me, it is my hope that soon I shall have her as closer than a friend.”
Soleil watched Thayne carefully after this, taking note of his every movement. There was one thing, and one thing alone, that could comfort Soleil if she could not have Rhianna as a sister. Indeed, she would rejoice if the man who kept Rhianna’s heart from Philippe had himself given his own heart completely to Rhianna.
