Love Only Once

by Love Only Once (lit)

  At the far end of the hall on the left was the library, and this was where Hallie led her. Forty feet long and twenty wide, the library had tall windows along the far wall, giving ample light in the daytime. The other three walls were covered with books, and huge portraits hung high up above the bookcases.

  There was a fireplace, and sofas to either side of it. Beautifully crafted chairs, lounges, and tables were spaced near the windows for reading. There was an ancient reading stand in gold lacquer. A carpet in rich browns, blues, and gold covered the floor. A pedestal desk occupied the far end of the room, with chairs around it, and there was a painted leather screen which would turn that far corner into a cozy study set off from the rest of the room.

  “It shouldn’t be long, mum,” Hallie said. “The Countess… oh, dear, the Dowager Countess now, isn’t she? Just like the old one, his lordship’s grandmother. But Lady Miriam will be eager to welcome you, I’m sure,” she said politely, not sounding at all convinced. “Can I get you something? There’s brandy there on the table, and mulberry wine, too, that the Countess likes.”

  “No, I’ll just make myself comfortable, thank you,” Reggie replied with a smile.

  “Very good, mum. And can I be the first to say I’m glad you’ve come? I hope you like it here.”

  “I do too, Hallie,” Reggie sighed. “I do too.”

  Chapter 21

  REGGIE looked at the morning sun that was just barely peeking into the corner of her bedroom. Directly below her south windows was the round dome of the conservatory. Beyond was the servants’ court, and beyond that, hidden behind a clump of trees, the stables and carriage house.

  She was in the master bedroom in the rear right corner of the central block of the house. That allowed her two walls of windows, all draped in bloodred velvet with gold fringe and tassels. All the colors in the room were dark except for the powder blue wallpaper. Still, when it got later and all the windows let in light, the room would be cheery.

  Her other wall of windows looked out over a vast parkland. The view was stunning—trees dotting the lawns, a forest to the left full of orange-and-gold autumn leaves. A small lake to the right was a riot of color, too, with a carpet of late-blooming wildflowers lining its banks and the blue lake sparkling in the sunshine. What a peaceful, tranquil scene, undisturbed at this early hour. It might almost have made Reggie forget her troubles. But not quite.

  She rang for a maid, hoping she would not get Mrs. Oates, the housekeeper, who was just as Hallie had described her, a dragon. What a crass, pretentious, annoying creature she was. Imagine, insisting on showing Reggie to a guest room, and a small one at that. Reggie had set her straight quickly. Conceding that the rooms meant for the lady of the house were occupied by Miriam Eden, who couldn’t be expected to vacate them overnight, she pointed out that the master’s rooms were empty and would do very well.

  This had appalled the housekeeper. Only a sitting room separated the two large bedrooms, each of which had a door into the sitting room. Lady Miriam had one of the bedrooms.

  Reggie won her way after subtly reminding Mrs. Oates that she was the new mistress of the house. Miriam Eden might have continued to run Silverley after her husband’s death, but Silverley actually belonged to Nicholas, and Reggie was Nicholas’ wife.

  Mrs. Oates cautioned her to be quiet when they passed through the sitting room next to Miriam’s room. Reggie was told that Miriam wasn’t feeling well and had retired early, which was why Reggie hadn’t been properly greeted.

  Truth to tell, Reggie was relieved. She was exhausted, embarrassed by the absence of her husband of only a few hours, and so full of bitterness that she was unfit to meet anyone.

  She settled into Nicholas’ room, and found it was utterly devoid of personal items. Somehow, that made everything worse.

  The servant who answered Reggie’s call was dark-haired and dark-skinned and just the opposite of talkative Hallie. She said hardly a word as she helped Reggie dress and arrange her hair, then showed her to the breakfast room.

  This room was at the front of the house and had full benefit of the morning sun. The table was set for one. A slight? On a side wall was a large rosewood china cabinet filled with fine gold-rimmed china with a floral design of pink and white. Between the windows on the back wall was a lovely carved oak and ebony buffet.

  Hallie came in, smiling brightly, carrying a large covered platter which she set on the buffet.

  “Mornin‘, mum. Hope you had a pleasant night.”

  “Indeed I did. Has the Countess come down yet?” Reggie indicated the single setting.

  “She’s off on her mornin‘ ride. She never eats this early, mum.”

  “Neither do I, really. Why don’t you show me the rest of the house now instead?”

  “But there’s all this food,” Hallie said in surprise, removing the lid on the platter to reveal eggs, sausage, kippers, ham, jellies, toast and rolls, even two delicious-looking tarts.

  “Heavens!” Reggie gasped. “I wasn’t supposed to eat all of that, was I?”

  Hallie giggled. “Cook was out to make a better impression, seein‘ as how she only sent up cold dishes for you last night.”

  “Well, then I’ll just take this with me, and one of these,” Reggie said, wrapping a fat sausage in a roll and taking one of the tarts. “And now we can have that tour.”

  “But shouldn’t Mrs. Oates-?”

  “Yes,” Reggie interrupted conspiratorially, “I suppose she should. But I can let her show me around again later. Right now I would like to see just how big Silverley is, and I would like pleasant company along.”

  Hallie giggled again. “There’s none of us likes Mrs. Oates too well, but she does run a tight ship, as she’s so fond of sayin‘. Come along then, your ladyship. But if Mrs. Oates should come upon us—”

  “Not to worry,” Reggie assured her. “I’ll think of something to explain why you’re with me. You won’t be blamed.”

  The house was indeed big. Near the entryway they passed a billiard room with not one but three tables in it. There were more rooms than Reggie could remember, each filled with lovely Chippendale furnishings and Queen Anne pieces. Many of the high ceilings were arched and decorated with lovely gilded plasterwork. Some had large, gorgeously crafted chandeliers.

  There was a music room decorated in green and white and, to the right of the drawing room, an antechamber with floor-to-ceiling stained-glass windows bathing the room in colors which were sharply set off against the white marble floor. Plush red benches hugged the walls. Reggie was astonished by the beauty of the place.

  At the back of the house, off the large, formal dining room, was the conservatory. Along a walkway that circled the room were chairs and sofas and statues on pedestals. There were potted plants at the sides of wide stone steps leading down to a fountain in the center of the room. Everywhere were trees and autumn flowers. Reggie was sorry she had missed seeing the room in summer when the indoor garden would have been in full bloom.

  Upstairs, the whole length of the back of the house was taken up by the master suites. From right to left were the lord’s chamber, the sitting room, the lady’s chamber, and then a nursery. There were rooms for a nurse and lady’s maid.

  The tour took just under an hour, and Hallie was able to escape back to the servants’ domain in the center of the house right of the main hall before anyone discovered what they had been doing. Reggie settled in the library then to await Lady Miriam.

  Her wait was short. The Countess came in straight from her riding excursion, dressed in a deep violet habit and still carrying a riding quirt. She showed only a moment’s surprise at finding the room occupied. She then proceeded to ignore Reggie while she removed her hat and gloves.

  So that was the way it was to be? Well, it helped explain Nicholas’ propensity to rudeness.

  Reggie was able to study Miriam Eden while she was being ignored. For a woman likely nearing fifty, she was holding up remarkably well. She was trim and youthful,
her posture stiffly erect. Her tightly wound blond hair was fading, but there was no gray in it. Her eyes were a wintry gray. Hard, cold eyes, but perhaps they smiled sometimes? Reggie thought not.

  There was a slight physical resemblance to Miriam’s sister Eleanor, but the physical similarity was where it began and ended. The younger sister exuded warmth and gentleness, and there was none in the Countess. How could she possibly live with this woman?

  “Should I call you Mother?” she asked suddenly, and there was a perceptible start from the Countess. She turned and looked at Reggie squarely. The gray eyes were frigid, the lips pursed. She most likely wasn’t used to being addressed before she condescended to speak, Reggie reflected.

  In a brittle voice Miriam replied, “Don’t. I’m not your mother any more than I’m—”

  “Oh, dear,” Reggie interrupted, “I gathered there was an estrangement between you and Nicholas when you didn’t come to our wedding, but I—”

  “I was needed here,” Miriam said stiffly.

  “—didn’t realize you had disowned your son,” Reggie finished.

  “What are you doing here, and without Nicholas?” Miriam asked.

  “Nicholas and I simply don’t suit, you see, and so we couldn’t possibly live together,” Reggie replied.

  There was an astonished pause. “Then why marry?”

  Reggie shrugged and gave her a dazzling smile. “It seemed a good idea. For me anyway. I was tired of the constant whirl of parties and such. I much prefer the country life.”

  “Which doesn’t explain why Nicholas would marry.”

  Reggie raised a brow. “Surely you know why. I wasn’t present myself when Nicholas agreed to marry me, but your sister and motherin-law were there.”

  Miriam frowned. Of course she wouldn’t ask the same question again. Nor would she admit that she didn’t communicate with Eleanor or Rebecca. She was being left to wonder about the marriage, which was just what Reggie had intended.

  “We are rather isolated here,” Miriam warned.

  Reggie smiled. “That sounds wonderful. My only regret is that I must ask you to select other rooms for yourself.”

  Miriam drew herself up stiffly. “I am told you have taken over Nicholas’ rooms.”

  “But they won’t do for long, you see. I must have the nursery close at hand.” She patted her belly lovingly.

  The Countess appeared ready to choke. “Nonsense. You can’t be expecting. You were married only yesterday, and even if you stopped at some inn after the wedding, you couldn’t possibly know—”

  “You are forgetting your son’s reputation, Lady Miriam. Nicholas is an expert seducer. I was quite helpless against his charm. I am now four months along.”

  The Countess stared at Reggie’s belly, and Reggie said, “Isn’t it fortunate I am not showing?”

  “I don’t see how you can think any of this fortunate in any way,” Miriam said with stiff hauteur. “People can count, you know. It’s shameful that you don’t even blush when you— just shameful.”

  “I don’t blush, madame, because I feel no shame,” Reggie replied coldly. “No shame, no guilt. And if my child is born five months after the marriage, well, other babies have been born early. At least I have a husband, even if he won’t be around very much. And my child has a name. Considering your son’s reputation, no one will be surprised that Nicholas could not be held off for the four long months of our engagement.”

  “Well, I never!”

  “Haven’t you?”

  Miriam Eden turned crimson at the innuendo and stalked out of the room. Reggie sighed. Well, she had made her own bed, so to speak. She shouldn’t have alienated the sour old bird, but… Reggie smiled. That last look of outrage on the Countess’ face had been worth whatever unpleasantness she could expect from the woman.

  Chapter 22

  “PUTTING on a little weight, aren’t you, puss?” Anthony asked as he kissed Reggie’s cheek and then sat down next to her on the lawn. “Must be eating because you’re miserable. And no wonder, living with that cold fish.”

  Reggie put down her sketch pad and smiled fondly at her uncle. “If you mean Miriam, she’s not so bad. After our first two rows, we reached an agreement. We simply don’t speak to each other.”

  “I suppose that’s one way to get along with someone,” Anthony replied in his driest tone.

  Reggie laughed delightedly. “Oh, Tony, I’ve missed you this last month. I really did expect you sooner. Everyone else has been here.”

  “You wouldn’t have cared to see me right after I heard what was going on. It has taken me this long to cool off.”

  She sighed. “I suppose you wanted to kill him again?”

  “Damned right. I tried to find the blackguard but he has disappeared.”

  “I could have saved you the trouble of looking,” she told him levelly. “He told me he was leaving England. I guess he meant it.”

  Anthony’s temper rose. “We had better talk of something else, puss. Your husband is not my favorite subject. What is that you’re drawing?”

  Reggie handed over her sketch pad. “Just a hound chasing falling leaves. He ran off into the woods a few minutes before you arrived. I’ve been getting some good poses of the gardeners, though, and the grooms exercising the horses.” He turned the pages and admired her work. “That’s Sir Tyrwhitt, a neighbor,” she said when he got to her sketch of a middle-aged dandy. “Would you believe he and the Countess—?”

  “No!”

  “Well, I don’t know for certain, mind you, but she’s like a different person around him, actually girlish, if you can believe that.”

  “I can’t,” he said firmly.

  Reggie laughed. “And that’s Squire Gibbs and his young wife Faith. I like her a lot. Miriam is furious that she and I have become friends. An invitation to Silverley has always been an honor, you see, and so when I gave Faith an open welcome, the Countess took to her room for two days to express her displeasure.”

  “Likes to lord it over the lesser gentry, does she?” he asked.

  “Oh, she’s very serious about it, Tony.”

  Anthony turned another page. “Good God, who are those characters?”

  “Two of the gardeners, I guess. There are so many servants here I haven’t met them all yet. I drew these men yesterday down by the lake.”

  “You must have been particularly gloomy yesterday. You made them look so sinister.”

  Reggie shrugged. “It wasn’t my mood. They were sinister-looking. They moved on when they saw me drawing them, so I had to finish the sketch from memory.”

  “They look like waterfront brawlers,” he said, “not gardeners.”

  “Oh, stuff. All the people here are really nice, once you get to know them.”

  “Except the cold fish.”

  “Don’t be unkind, Tony. I don’t think she’s led a very happy life.”

  “That’s no excuse for forcing her unhappiness on others. And speaking of—”

  “Don’t,” she said stonily. “I’m perfectly fine, Tony, really.”

  “You can’t lie to me, puss. Look at you. You wouldn’t be putting on weight if you were exercising, and the only time you mope about and ignore your health is when you’re unhappy. I know you, remember? You’re just like your mother in certain ways. But you don’t have to stay here, you know that. You can come home.”

  “I know I’ve made a mistake, Tony, but I don’t want the world to know it. Do you understand?”

  “For his sake?” he asked sharply.

  “No,” she replied, then added hesitantly,

  “The weight you keep harping on isn’t what you think, Tony. I’m pregnant.”

  There was a moment’s startled silence. Then he said, “You can’t know this soon. You’ve only been married a month.”

  “I am pregnant, Tony. Very, very pregnant.”

  His cobalt-blue eyes, so like hers, grew wide, then narrowed furiously. “He didn’t! I’ll kill him!”

  “N
o, you won’t,” she replied, vetoing his favorite solution. “This is going to be your first great-nephew or niece. How could you explain to the child that you’d killed his father?”

  “He deserves a sound beating at the very least,” growled her uncle.

  “Perhaps,” she agreed. “But not for seducing me before the wedding. I was a willing participant in the making of this child.”

  “Don’t bother defending him, puss. You forget he’s just like me and I know all the tricks. He seduced you.”

  “But I knew exactly what I was doing,” she insisted. “I… it was foolish in the extreme, I know that now, but I thought it would help to change his attitude. He kept trying to get me to break the engagement, you see. He never deceived me into thinking he was willing to marry me.”

  “He agreed!”

  “Yes, but he thought he could make me jilt him before the wedding.”

  “You should have.”

  “Should haves don’t count, Tony.”

  “I know, I know, but blister it, Reggie, how could he desert you, knowing—”

  “I never told him! You don’t think I would try to keep a man that way, do you?” She sounded genuinely shocked.

  “Oh,” Anthony said, brought up short. Then he said somberly, “Honestly, puss, you really are just like your mother. Melissa gave birth to you only a few months after her wedding, too.”

  Reggie gasped. “Really? But… why didn’t any of you tell me that?”

  Anthony turned red and looked away. “Well, were we to say, ‘By the way, dear, you only just made legitimacy.’ ”

  She giggled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Well, thank you for telling me. I’m glad to know I’m not the only promiscuous one in the family—besides Uncle Jason, I mean,” she teased.

  “Promiscuous! At least your father didn’t desert Melissa. He adored her. He would have married her sooner if her stiff-necked pride hadn’t kept them apart.”

  “I never heard any of this,” she whispered, shocked.

  “They had some terrible rows, they did. She broke the engagement three times, swearing each time that she never wanted to see him again.”