“I’d be delighted, Mr. Halford. Thank you.”
“It will be my pleasure, my dear. Well then, I’ll be by to fetch you at seven o’clock this evening, if that is acceptable.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Excellent.” Philip turned his attention to Finn. “Taggart, you’d better be on your way, hadn’t you?”
Finn pinned Lucy with a glare that, far from his intention, she was sure, made Lucy bite her lip to keep from grinning. Then he smiled at her and stepped closer, grasping both her arms as he pulled her to him. “Be well, cousin,” he said. He kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger a fraction longer than was polite. He pulled back slowly, keeping his cheek pressed against hers for as long as possible. “I shall see you when I return.”
His eyes burned into hers and she pulled back a bit, startled by the intensity. “Take care, Lucy.”
Lucy nodded dumbly, unable to come up with a single coherent retort. Finn’s chuckle as he hopped into the carriage broke the spell and she glared after him. Then again, she’d definitely gotten a reaction out of him. One she quite enjoyed. If agreeing to a simple soiree aggravated him this much, she’d have to make it a point to attend a few more.
…
Lucy sat before her vanity table while Lilah, a maid the hotel had found for her, dressed her hair. She’d been kept busy lately as Philip had been squiring her all over town. She enjoyed his company more than she’d anticipated. He was charming, funny, and flirtatious. She found it surprisingly enjoyable. Still, she missed Finn. He’d been away nearly two weeks and Lucy was in a fever of anticipation to see him again.
Tonight, Lucy was accompanying Philip to a ball he was hosting. It was apparently one of the social events of the season and everyone of any note would be attending. Though Lucy only cared about Finn. Philip had mentioned that Finn had returned. If he was going to be at the ball, she wanted to make sure she looked her best.
The thought of seeing Finn again brought a blush to her cheeks. Lilah caught sight of it.
“Your young man won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
Startled, Lucy met the maid’s eyes in the mirror. “Pardon?”
“Nothin’ puts a blush to a girl’s cheeks like the thought of her love.” Lilah winked at her and turned her attention back to the strands of hair she was braiding.
Nothing would make her happier than to see Finn’s face alight with pleasure upon seeing her. But she knew that wouldn’t happen. Even if he appreciated her appearance, he’d most likely frown and glower as always. Why did she keep torturing herself? She was growing fonder of Philip. Perhaps she should give up on Finn and try to move on with her life.
But she didn’t think she could.
“No, I don’t…I don’t have…he doesn’t…” Lucy was horrified to hear the hitch in her voice. Tears burned behind her eyes, and for the first time in weeks, they spilled over, running down her cheeks.
“Oh, Miz Lucy! I’m so sorry. I shore didn’t aim to upset you.”
“No, no, it’s not your fault.” Lucy took a deep, shuddering breath. “It’s just…oh, I’ve just bungled everything.”
Lilah listened intently as Lucy filled her in on the complexities of her relationship with Finn, and the added complication of Philip.
When Lucy had finished, Lilah pursed her lips, her deft hands weaving in and out of Lucy’s hair.
“Well I hope you pardon my say so, miss, but why are you still hankerin’ for a man who says he doesn’t want you?”
Lucy laughed, though there was no happiness in the sound. “Yes, that is the question, isn’t it?”
She didn’t answer for a moment and then finally shrugged. “I love him. I’ve always loved him. And I can’t imagine ever not loving him. When he left, he took a part of me. And now that I’ve found him again…it’s as though I’m whole once more. As melodramatic as this will sound,” she said with a wry smile, “I was merely existing when he was gone. And now that he’s here, I feel alive again. Like I’m finally myself. I can’t go back to the way things were. I can’t live like that anymore. And despite what he says, I think he still loves me, too. Whatever his reasons for not wanting me here, I don’t think a lack of love is one of them.”
“Well, then. I suppose you have yo’ answer.”
Lucy’s mouth opened to protest. But she couldn’t make the words come out. Lilah was right. There were only two options. Go back to Boston, back to her old life. Or stay, and try and talk some sense into Finn. And the first option wasn’t really an option.
She nodded. “Fight it is, then.”
Lilah placed her hands on Lucy’s shoulders and turned Lucy on the stool so she was looking full in the mirror. “I think the battle is more than half won already, miss, if’n I do say so myself. Even if the man had no feelin’s for you, he’d be sore pressed to resist you tonight.”
Lucy’s stomach somersaulted. “Well, I don’t know about that. But I’m going to do my damn level best to make Finn remember what he’s missing.”
“Finn? Finnegan Taggart?”
“Yes. Do you know him?” Lucy asked, surprised.
“Yes, miss. Very well. He’s a mighty fine man. You couldn’t do better and that’s the God’s honest truth.”
“I agree, but I hope you don’t mind my asking why you think so. How do you know him?”
Lilah looked down, her face carefully blank. “I run a school. At night. I teach folks how to read a little, write some.”
“I think that’s wonderful,” Lucy said, giving the maid a warm smile.
“You do?”
“Of course. I’m sure there’s a great need for that.”
“Oh yes, miss, there surely is. My first master let me be educated with his daughter. She never wanted to sit with her tutor, but if I was there, she’d behave all right. So I got to learn right along with her. And now, well, I thought, if’n I could help others learn, maybe that could help their circumstances. They could go up north maybe, get jobs. Somethin’ better’n what they got.”
“And Finn?”
“He helps me sometimes. Comes in and helps teach. There’s so many that want to learn and I only know a little. Don’t have room to teach many neither. So they take turns. Some come one week, some another. Mr. Taggart, he comes in a couple times a week and helps out when he can.”
Lucy’s heart warmed. That sounded like the Finn she’d known. “Well you sound like you could use some more help. I’d be happy to assist in any way that I can.”
Lilah’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, Miz Lucy, that would be wonderful. Truly. But surely you don’t have time.”
Lucy laughed. “Actually, I’ve got nothing but time. Until our dear Mr. Taggart warms to the idea of me being here, I have no intention of leaving. But the last thing I want to do is sit around the hotel all day. I’d love to do something useful with my time, and I can’t imagine anything more worthwhile than helping to educate those who need it.”
“You…you understand that the folks I teach…they…they former slaves. All of them.”
“Well yes, I assumed as much.”
“And that don’t bother you none?”
“Should it?”
Lilah’s face went carefully blank again. “There’s a lot of folks out here that want things back the way they were. They don’t take very kindly to those who tryin’ to change things up, no matter what the laws might say now.”
“Well, those people can just go kiss my great-aunt Fanny. I do what I like and there is nothing more that I’d like than to help you with your school.”
Lilah nodded with a cautious grin. “We’d sure be grateful.”
“Wonderful! Well, how about tomorrow morning we can go down to this school of yours and have a look-see.”
Lilah’s face fell. “I work at the hotel during the days. That’s why folks only come by at night.”
“You let me take care of that. I’m sure the hotel will agree to let me hire you out for the remainder of my stay. I’ll just
tell them I have need of a lady’s maid. I’m sure they will be accommodating.”
“If Mr. Taggart don’t just fall at your feet, that man is a fool.”
Lucy laughed. “On that, we agree.”
She stood and took one last look in the mirror. “Well, let’s see if we can get our stubborn Mr. Taggart to see reason.”
Lilah smiled and Lucy took a deep breath.
…
Lucy spun in Philip’s arms, the room whirring by her in a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. All the laughing women, the grinning men, the fancy dresses with their enormous hoops, flew past her vision in a blur. One face stood out. One smoldering, fuming face stood out from all the rest. Would always stand out. But his bad humor was his own fault.
It was obvious, from the way Finn had been glowering at them all night that he’d heard about her little excursions with Philip while he’d been away. She’d made sure they’d been seen together often enough. Or if that wasn’t the case, Finn was at the very least, unhappy about how comfortable she seemed with Philip. Or maybe he was just nursing the old gripe that she’d ignored his wishes and stayed in town for the single purpose of attending this ball.
Well…tough beans for him. They hadn’t had an opportunity to speak in private again since he’d returned, so she had no idea what his exact complaints against Philip were and at the moment, she didn’t care. She hadn’t seen any untoward behavior, nothing that raised any alarms. In fact, even though she’d never feel for Philip what she felt for Finn, she rather enjoyed his company. She even found it pleasant being in his arms, though the slight warmth she felt in Philip’s embrace did not come close to the smoldering burn that scorched her with a mere look from Finn.
But if Finn didn’t want her with Philip, all he had to do to was admit that he loved her. She wasn’t asking for much. She didn’t care if they married or not. She’d very happily live in sin with him for the rest of her mortal days. Burning in hell would be worth it if she could spend her life in Finn’s arms. Not that she believed they’d suffer those consequences. The worst that would befall them would be possible ostracism from society. And society, in Lucy’s humble opinion, could take a flying leap into a cactus patch. She’d gladly give up her good name if it meant being with Finn.
Whatever catastrophic issues Finn thought he had, she would deal with. Why couldn’t the stubborn man just see that if he’d let her help him, his life would be so much better?
“Stubborn mule,” Lucy muttered.
“Pardon me, my dear?” Philip asked, leaning in to better hear her.
“Oh, nothing. I think I could use a bit of air, couldn’t you?”
“Ah,” Philip said with a chuckle. “It is rather warm in here. Shall we venture out into the gardens for a moment?”
“Oh yes, let’s,” Lucy said, smiling up at him. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder at Finn, who, as usual, was right on their heels.
They stepped out onto the terrace and Lucy took a deep breath of the cool night air. Philip placed his hand on her lower back to guide her toward the steps and Lucy could have sworn she heard Finn’s jaw popping, he was clenching so hard.
Serves him right. She stifled the twinge of guilt she felt for using Mr. Halford to make Finn jealous. Though Lucy had no illusions that Philip was truly interested in her. After all, who was she? As far as Philip knew, she was merely the cousin of his employee. Hardly a suitable companion for someone from such an old family, someone who could very likely be sitting in the White House conversing with President Johnson in the near future.
From what she’d heard, Philip always had some pretty young thing on his arm, each more beautiful and richer than the last. She didn’t fit into his frame of interest, at least as far as he was aware, so Lucy didn’t know why he seemed so eager for her company. She didn’t care to know, truth to tell. His interest gave her a convenient way to stay close to Finn, so his suitability as a potential match was irrelevant. He seemed to genuinely enjoy her company, but Lucy was very certain his attentions, his honorable ones at any rate, didn’t stretch further than that.
They spent a few moments strolling about garden paths lit with colorful lanterns. Servants in brightly colored dresses and handsome suits wandered among the guests offering refreshments.
“Oh, there’s Judge Thomas. I really should say, hello. The old curmudgeon hardly ever pries himself from his comfortable armchair. He’d be quite put out if I didn’t make a fuss over him.”
Philip deposited Lucy on a bench and bent to kiss her hand. “Now, don’t go running off, now. You sit right there and have some refreshments,” he waved a girl over, “and I’ll be back before you even have time to miss me.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Lucy simpered.
Finn stared at her, his eyebrows raised. All right, perhaps she was laying it on a bit thick. But Philip didn’t seem to notice. He simply smiled, kissed her hand again, and hurried off.
“I don’t know what game you are playing at, but it’s revolting.” Finn stood beside her, his gaze moving around the crowd, never lingering on her for too long.
“Who says I’m playing?”
“Philip Halford is not the type of man you want to trifle with. You need to go have fun elsewhere. Preferably back in Boston where your sisters can keep an eye on you.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I am not a child. I don’t need anyone to keep an eye on me. Besides, I assure you, I’m not having any fun. Mr. Halford is a means to an end. And don’t start lecturing me about that either. You and I both know there isn’t a genuine bone in his politician’s body. Especially not where a pretty face is concerned. So no one is going to get hurt here.”
Finn just shook his head. “I have half a mind to tell your sisters what you are up to, so they can come fetch you back home.”
Lucy felt a momentary qualm at his threat but stamped it down. “They already know what I’m up to. They are fully aware I came down here to find you. Besides, you wouldn’t dare contact Brynne. You’re afraid she’ll skin you alive if she were to ever clap eyes on you again. You’re more scared of her than I am.”
Finn snorted, but he didn’t deny it. Both of her sisters were fierce on the best of days. But Finn had crossed an unspoken line when he’d kidnapped Brynne’s daughter, no matter what his reasons. Finn was lucky he’d escaped her wrath the first time. He’d never willingly face her again, especially since he knew he deserved her fury.
Lucy took a small cake from the serving girl Philip had summoned and thanked her with a smile. The girl gave her a quick curtsy and moved off.
Lucy lifted the cake to her lips and bit down just as Finn leaned down to speak in her ear.
“They used to be his slaves, you know.”
Lucy inhaled a cake crumb and had to cough a few times to dislodge it from her throat. She’d known Philip must have had slaves, of course. This was North Carolina. Practically anyone with any sort of means did. Still, being confronted with it was a bit startling.
“They aren’t slaves any longer.”
“They aren’t much better. Just because the laws changed doesn’t mean they are enforced. And changed laws don’t change people’s beliefs. I’m surprised you are courting a man who owned slaves.”
Lucy shifted on the hard bench, brushing invisible crumbs from her skirt. “We aren’t courting.”
A couple passing by glanced at Finn and Lucy, their faces alight with amused curiosity, obviously assuming the two were having a lovers’ tiff. Which, Lucy supposed, they were.
“Why are you mentioning all this?” she asked.
“Because if you are determined to continue with this game you are playing, I want you to understand who it is you are playing with. You are toying with a man who felt, and still feels, I might add, no matter what he says in his pretty speeches, that it is his right to own other human beings. A man whose sole purpose in life, at the moment, is to convince a state of like-minded men to vote him into a position of power so he can fight for their ri
ght to continue their way of life down here. And I am not just speaking of his servants. Halford uses any means necessary to get what he wants and that includes the people in his life. You have no idea what type of man he really is, what he’s capable of. And you are treating him like he’s some green boy in a misguided attempt to make me jealous.”
Lucy’s growing trepidation at Finn’s words made her anxious, but she shoved her unease down deep and focused on the last part of his statement.
“If it is a game I’m playing, I’m doing it rather well, I think. You are jealous, aren’t you?”
Finn blew out an exasperated breath. “You are acting like a ridiculous, childish brat, refusing to do what’s best for you because it’s not what you want. You have no care for anyone else’s feelings in this matter. Not mine, not even Halford’s, if the man were capable of any. I’m just waiting for you to stamp your little foot and proclaim that life is unfair.”
Lucy flinched from the anger in Finn’s voice, from the derision in his eyes. Is that how he really saw her? As a spoiled child? Ridiculous?
Hurt and embarrassment flooded through her, made worse by the fact that he wasn’t wrong. She was being childish. No matter what Philip’s true feelings toward her, it didn’t excuse her behavior toward him. She honestly didn’t know what was coming over her. It was like seeing Finn again had completely erased all common sense and decency in her, leaving her a raw, emotional mess that would do anything to anyone as long as it meant spending one more day with her love.
She didn’t know how much longer she could take it. Neither her so-called relationship with Philip or Finn’s continued rejection. She couldn’t let Finn go without a fight. But how long could she fight before she’d have to admit that there wasn’t anything there worth fighting for? The thought made her stomach churn.
Blood Blade Sisters Series (Entangled Scandalous) Page 46
