by Esther Hatch
“Thank you,” Jonathan said.
“And now I shall leave you with your new vase.”
Jonathan sputtered. He had waited weeks for this moment, and it was only to last a moment? He had thought...well, he had thought he might even get the chance to kiss her. And now she was leaving. “You won’t stay for tea?”
“No.” She turned and strode to the door. Her movement spurred him into remembering his manners and he followed her. Howard was waiting in the foyer. The door had been left open and the servant must have heard at least some of their conversation. How was Jonathan going to explain the vase to him?
Howard opened the door for Miss Duncan while Jonathan gave her a low bow and just as quickly as Miss Duncan had arrived, she was gone.
For a moment the day had seemed bright, but it was back to being gray again. The door closed behind Miss Duncan and Howard stayed where he was. Jonathan turned to head back to the library and Howard cleared his throat.
Jonathan spun back around. “What is it?”
“What is what, my lord?”
Jonathan hated it when Howard ‘my lorded’ him. “Why are you clearing your throat? Did you need something?”
“I suppose not.”
“Brilliant.” Jonathan continued on his way to the library.
“I’m just going to do some tidying in the parlor.”
Jonathan paused again. Of course he was. And he wouldn't miss Jonathan’s new decoration. But as he would see it eventually one way or another, he might as well see it now. Jonathan waved his hand behind him and continued on his original path.
However, when Howard’s footsteps sounded on the foyer floor, Jonathan cursed and wheeled back around, jumping ahead of Howard and entering the parlor first. They both stopped just a few feet into the room. There was his new vase, in all of its armed and legged glory, standing like a creature rising from a lake or a cave to devour young maidens.
He blinked.
Was that what she had meant? He had risen from a pond in front of Miss Duncan, but he was no hideous beast, was he? He wasn’t graceful like Oliver, but his experiences in ballrooms had shown him that a title and the protection that came with it were usually more important than an impeccable visage.
Not to mention the vase didn’t have a visage at all. It was constructed entirely out of appendages. No, that couldn’t have been what she meant.
Howard cleared his throat again.
Jonathan ran his fingers through his hair. “Out with it. What is it you are wanting to say?”
Howard shuffled back and forth on his feet. “Only that I think I understand why it took her so long to get you a gift in return.”
“Because it was hard to find something so…interesting?” He couldn't call it monstrous in front of Howard.
Howard shook his head. “More likely because she must have had it shipped from…” His eyebrows furrowed. “Somewhere. I don’t think they make vases like this in England.”
Howard was undoubtedly right. Of one thing he was certain, and that was that the vase was decidedly not British. “I do not understand this woman, Howard.”
“I do not understand that vase. Would you like me to move it somewhere less…visible?”
Jonathan closed one eye and squinted the other. He tilted his head back and remembered the look of joy on Miss Duncan’s face as he had opened it. It wasn’t so bad, actually, if you looked at it from far enough away. “No, leave it there.”
“Are you certain?”
“Miss Duncan thought it should go there.”
Howard nodded as if that explained everything.
And perhaps it did.
Chapter 12
Sally closed her eyes and rolled up the long strip of paper before setting it down on the floor. This empty room with tall windows was to be Victoria’s sitting room, and while most of the other papers had not been to Sally’s taste, this one, now that she was seeing it unrolled, was making her dizzy.
The sample she and Victoria had looked at together hadn’t done this one credit.
She strode out of the room. She hadn’t seen Victoria for over half an hour, which could only mean one thing: she was in the garden. Victoria had been spending more and more time outdoors the last few days. Since she was inclined to ask questions about the man in the hunting lodge when she was indoors, Sally hadn’t minded doing a few things in the sitting room on her own.
Victoria’s stamina and color had improved greatly with the sunshine, so it wasn’t as if Sally was doing her any harm by allowing her so much time to roam free. But now she needed her help. There was no possible way they could hang those papers in the sitting room; the two of them would faint if they had to spend time there.
She started out of the room and then stopped and returned to retrieve the paper. Victoria would need to see it for herself. Sally strode out of the manor and stood on the balcony overlooking the garden. She saw Victoria in the statuary with Mr. Ashton, and—she rubbed her forehead and pushed her eyes closed tightly—Lord Farnsworth.
What in the world were those three doing in her statuary?
And when exactly had Lord Farnsworth met Victoria, and why hadn’t she been told about it?
She stomped down the stairs, not caring that each time her foot landed on the marble it sent a shock up her legs. Had the three of them been speaking of her? Did Lord Farnsworth tell Victoria about the vase? Were they all having a good laugh at Sally, the crazy woman who laughed at the idea of giving such a hideous gift to a man?
Victoria’s laughter pierced the air around her. Victoria had brightened when they worked together, but she didn’t laugh like that. Before Sally had even fully entered the statuary, she couldn’t hold her questions back any longer. “What exactly is going on here?”
Victoria spun in her chair. Wisps of hair had escaped the braids on each side of her head. Her eyes were bright and everything about her demeanor was different from who she had been in London. In London she had been a desperate, lonely girl. Here she was blossoming into a vibrant young lady.
And it wasn’t the swirling wallpaper or the Sphinx statues that had changed her; it was spending time outside in the fresh air, being independent. At fourteen, Sally had already been helping her grandfather examine bolts of silk for imperfections, yet Victoria had never had much of a chance before now to even leave her own bedroom.
She took a deep breath and slowed her pace. Perhaps it was better to hold back judgment and see what exactly they had been doing with Victoria for the past few days.
“John and Mr. Ashton are teaching me how to box.” Victoria’s enthusiasm was palpable. It spread over Sally, and as the sunlight hit Victoria's dark braids, a deep understanding calmed the last bits of her anxiety.
This was the reason Sally had bought Greenwood Manor. This was where Victoria would thrive, and if it took two rather strange men to do it, she would not overreact.
But John? Who gave her permission to call Lord Farnsworth John?
“Lord Farnsworth, I knew you were an accomplished boxer, but I had no idea Mr. Ashton was also a pugilist.”
Victoria snorted. “Who is Lord Farnsworth?” She turned to Lord Farnsworth accusingly. “Did you tell my sister you are titled? Sally, you can’t believe anything he says. He calls me the queen of England.”
Lord Farnsworth lowered his head and kicked his toe on the path below them. He could be contrite? Sally would have never guessed. He should be, though, to tell her sister his name was John, and on top of that, to teach her to box. She had never met a man with so few manners.
Victoria hadn’t noticed the way he wouldn’t look her in the eye. “I am sorry, Highness. I should have told you.”
“You should have,” Victoria continued. “And how could you pick the name Farnsworth? Didn’t you know that was the name of the man who owned this house before we—” Victoria stopped, then swallowed. Her gaze shot back and forth between Sally and their pesky neighbor. “You are Lord Farnsworth.”
Lord Farnsworth looked as if he had
tasted something amiss. “I’m afraid I am.” He stepped to Victoria’s side. “Does that disappoint you very much? I'm not a typical lord. I do love to box and spend time with Mr. Ashton. Bernard doesn’t care what title I have; I hope you won’t either.”
Victoria pulled back her head. “Did you just compare me to a dog?”
Now he was going to get it. Victoria’s tempers were rare, but they were also magnificent. Lord Farnsworth squinted one of his eyes. “Y-yes.” He stretched out the word as if he wasn’t sure he should give the answer.
There was silence for a moment and then Victoria’s shoulders relaxed. “You are lucky I like Bernard.”
Sally threw her hands up into the air. She was the one who was supposed to be bonding with Victoria. Why was it Lord Farnsworth could tease Victoria and she would forgive him happily? Why did spending time with Lord Farnsworth make Victoria so happy? Why did no one take Lord Farnsworth to task? Her gardener loved him, Victoria was practically swooning at his feet; did no one else see through his charm? He was a lord. A baron. It was easy to be charming when every one of your needs had been met for your whole life. And when he actually ran into trouble then voila, he just had to sell a property and all of those problems disappeared. She took a deep breath. Hadn’t she only just reminded herself to be happy for the situation she found Victoria in? But now that she was here, she could take over doing…whatever it was they were doing. Boxing? She could learn that. “Shouldn’t you be heading back to the hunting lodge?” she asked Lord Farnsworth.
Victoria made a strange choking sound in her throat. “John, you live in the hunting lodge?”
Oh, dear.
Victoria spun her right wheel so she could face Sally head on. “John is Lord Farnsworth and the unattractive man from the hunting lodge?”
“Unattractive?” Lord Farnsworth’s eyebrows bunched up like fabric pushed together on a table. This whole situation was getting out of hand.
“Oh, calm yourself, Lord Farnsworth.” Did she really just say that? To a baron? “I didn’t say you were unattractive, just that you were...” She struggled to know a better way to word what she had said. But there wasn’t one. “...not handsome.”
His eyebrows unfurled and raised high on his forehead. Every expression seemed to belie her declaration; no matter the contortions he put his eyebrows and forehead through, there was something compelling about his face, as if he could be a friend to trust in. But that wasn’t the same thing as being handsome, was it? Mr. Harrison, at least by London’s standards, was more handsome, certainly. Lord Farnsworth's hands went to his hips. “That seems to be roughly the same thing. I’ll have you know, women all over town think I am handsome.”
“Well, then, it shouldn’t bother you that I don’t.” Heat ran up Sally’s cheeks. She was usually quite adept at twisting truths to her advantage. If she didn’t get her blushes under control, it would only be a matter of time before Lord Farnsworth discovered that she did not indeed think him unattractive. She had only said that to keep Victoria from being suspicious. Sally huffed and said to Victoria, “How many men do you think would be running around Greenwood Manor? A baron, a hunter, and some boxer named John? It isn’t as though we live in a city; we are miles from the nearest village.”
Victoria leaned forward and in a voice that was soft like a whisper, and yet somehow also loud enough to carry halfway to the manor she hissed, “First of all, you never told me Lord Farnsworth was here; secondly, John is handsome.” She gave the two men a smile. “Why would you say he was not handsome?”
Sally would not look at Joh—Lord Farnsworth. She slid her jaw to one side, teeth grinding. Heavens, but her sister's manners were starting to wear off on her. She would not think of him as John.
Lord Farnsworth chuckled. “Thank you, Queen Victoria. You make some very good points.”
Sally finally dared to turn and face the men. “Oh, get on with your boxing lesson.” She cleared her throat, wanting the attention off of her. “Did you say Mr. Ashton boxes as well?”
Lord Farnsworth winked at his old friend. “Mr. Ashton taught me everything I know.”
It must not be much if Mr. Ashton had taught him. The man was one of the gentlest creatures she had ever met. Of course it wouldn’t take much skill to teach Victoria a thing or two about boxing. Her eyes traveled back and forth between Victoria and the two men. How much of Victoria’s change in countenance had been because of them and how much because of boxing? If she returned to London for the winter to spend some time with Mama, Sally would find her a proper teacher. It was rare for women to learn to box, but not completely unheard of.
“John says many young ladies take boxing lessons, but they aren’t allowed to box. So they thought it would be all right to teach me.”
That sounded exactly like the type of rule a baron would impress upon a young lady.
“Of course. Like you said, many young ladies take lessons, so I see no reason why you shouldn't. And some women do box, but likely not the women in a baron’s circle.”
“And do they box in your circle?” Mr. Ashton asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. “My grandfather regaled me with stories of Elizabeth Wilkenson and her career, but I certainly haven’t heard of any reputable ladies boxing in my time.”
No, she did not know any boxers personally, but she couldn't help but get her shackles up when ridiculous rules were placed on women. It made no sense to be allowed to learn to box, but not to actually do it. “I suppose I haven’t either; I only meant to encourage Victoria. If she would like to box, let her box. But I won’t have any silly ideas forced on her of what she can and cannot do with that skill.”
Lord Farnsworth raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Really?”
“What? You won’t teach her if she doesn’t promise to not use the skills you are teaching?”
Lord Farnsworth furrowed his eyebrows. “No, I was only surprised you would allow her to continue.”
“I have no objection to it.”
Victoria pushed on the wheels of her chair and brought herself closer to Sally. Even in the few days she had been here, her arms were getting stronger. “You should try it too. John will teach you.”
Sally huffed. “I’m certain Lord Farnsworth has better things to do.”
“He doesn’t,” Victoria and Mr. Ashton said at the same time that Lord Farnsworth said, “I don’t.”
The three of them looked at each other and laughed.
So that was how it was. Sally had been slaving away putting up papers and rearranging rooms and stairs for Victoria while she had been having fun with these two. How had they become so close in just a few short days? Sally jutted her chin forward. “It just so happens I do have a few minutes. Mr. Ashton, could you teach me a jab or two?” She eyed Lord Farnsworth. “Who knows when it might come in handy?”
“Mr. Ashton is helping me, and honestly he is the better teacher. Since I am more advanced, I think John will have to teach you.” Victoria smiled smugly at Lord Farnsworth. “Honestly, I’m not even certain why he is here for my lesson at all.”
Lord Farnsworth turned to Victoria and gave her a frown, as if she had wounded him. Sally scoffed. It would take a lot more than a word to wound the type of man who would walk out of a pond with a woman watching. He was much too self-assured to allow anything she said to hurt him.
Lord Farnsworth leaned over Victoria. “I’m here teaching you to box, of course.” He lifted an arm and swung it at Victoria. It was exaggerated and slow, but Victoria’s reaction was not. Her arm flew up and blocked his fisted hand, causing it to land on the back of her chair just to the left of her head. Lord Farnsworth nodded and Mr. Ashton clicked his tongue in approval. “But if you don’t appreciate my skills, then I suppose I can teach your sister to box.”
Lord Farnsworth twisted and leaped toward her. Were they starting? Now? His movements were not exaggerated and showy like they had been with Victoria. She had no idea which fist he would strike her with. Without thinking of blocking like Vict
oria had, she pulled the roll of paper tight to her chest with her left arm and then slammed her right fist into Lord Farnsworth’s middle.
He stopped, eyes wide and blinking. He didn’t bow over or even bend at the waist to gain his breath. But when he did breathe, it was a little short. What had she done? Wasn’t there a law against striking a lord? Everything had happened so quickly, she hadn't had time to think through her actions. He blinked again and then turned to Victoria. “It appears your sister has already been taking lessons.”
Victoria laughed, the sound cascading around the garden. Her laugh had always been the same ever since she was a baby, bubbling out from her throat as if it couldn't be contained. Sally hadn’t heard this full-bodied laugh for years. It might have even been worth risking a prison sentence for, but blast Lord Farnsworth for being the one to bring it out in her. That was Sally’s responsibility.
Although, she had been the one to deck Lord Farnsworth, so perhaps some of the credit could still be hers. “It is good to hear you laugh, Victoria. Should I punch Lord Farnsworth a second time? For not telling you his true name?”
“I told her my name.”
She pulled back her fist and Lord Farnsworth was suddenly light on his feet, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Sally had never seen a boxing match, for ladies of good standing were not allowed to watch them, but she had seen drawings of the men with their arms up and their feet positioned just like Lord Farnsworth’s were now.
Was he actually a pugilist?
And a baron?
“But you didn’t tell her who you were. In fact, when we first met, you didn’t tell me who you were. I am starting to see a pattern here. Why would you be so unwilling to share who you are?”
The same expression of surprise he had shown after she hit him returned. His jaw clenched, and if she had been in the ring with him during an actual match, she would have turned and run. He was not dangerous, exactly, but not safe either.
“I share who I am.”
“Not very willingly.”
“People who share too willingly aren’t to be trusted. And they aren’t likely to be telling the truth, either. I haven’t loved the name Farnsworth, it is true. It reminds me too much of my father.” He turned back to Victoria and Mr. Ashton. “So, thank you for calling me John. I hope someday Miss Duncan will be friendly enough to do the same.”
