by Fanny Finch
“Are you sure everything is all right with you, Federline? You are very quiet.”
Federline grunted in response, said nothing, and lifted the glass to his lips to take a sip. The sip turned into a gulp and a few seconds later, Federline turned the glass up and emptied it into his mouth. He turned back toward the bar.
When he did not take any steps, The Marquess turned his head and stared at him. Jasper had his head turned away. His eyes were fixated on a lamp on a table nearby. The Marquess could not tell whether he was lost in thought or in a confused daze.
“Federline?”
Jasper’s head snapped around and he glared at the Marquess as if he had said something confrontational. When Jasper looked at the Marquess, his face and shoulders relaxed. He shook his head.
“I was just thinking. I would like to get out of London soon. Not to my estate. Perhaps to somewhere much warmer.”
“Have you given any thought as to where you might like to go?”
“I would like to travel. If I had it my way, I would be traveling with my parents at this very moment. I know they are somewhere warm, basking in the heat of the sun. It is not winter everywhere.”
“That is true.” The Marquess nodded, fondly remembering his travels during the winter to a much warmer climate. He had always thought sunshine was one of the best ways to refresh one’s soul. It made a body feel good when the warmth of the sun washed over it
“I would like to visit America. I hear New York is a bustling place, filled with action.”
“I believe it is not much different there than here in London, though.” The Marquess, unable to stand the heat of the fire any longer, moved away from it and took a seat nearby. He watched as Jasper moved across the room to the bar. He poured himself another glass of wine with visibly shaking hands.
The Marquess watched as a bit of wine splashed over Jasper’s hand. At that moment, Jasper took a step to his left, blocking the Marquess’ view of his shaking hands. The Marquess felt a deep sense of sympathy wash through him. There was more to this mystery. Jasper was his friend. He intended to find out what was bothering him so much.
When he returned, his eyes fell directly on The Marquess, who gave him an inquiring look.
“Do forgive me, Federline but it does appear you have much on your mind.”
“I apologize, Arlington. I will be well soon enough.”
The two men spent the rest of the day in the parlor, chatting about inconsequential things. As time went on, The Marquess continued to notice peculiar things about his friend’s behavior. He did not want to believe his friend could have gone mad but there were several indications of it.
Jasper jumped when a horse neighed outside on the street, his eyes darting to the window as if he was expecting someone to come dashing in wreaking havoc.
The Marquess watched his friend’s reaction, concern on his face. His head snapped toward the window or the door to the parlor every time there was any kind of noise in either direction.
He continued to pour glasses of wine for himself until The Marquess had lost count of how many he had drank. Jasper’s behavior rarely changed when he consumed a great deal of liquor. He was the same calm and generally happy person he always was.
But things were different now. Jasper did not look happy at all.
When he moved, it was with deliberation, several times slamming his hand down on the table beside him or the armrest of the chair he eventually sat in when he tired of standing.
The Marquess would almost have called Jasper craven, though he did not want to believe he was. It was hard not to notice the way his friend jumped at the shadows that crawled across the floor as the sun lowered in the sky.
The world outside had gone dark when The Marquess decided he had seen enough. So he thanked his friend for having him over and made for the parlor door.
When he looked back, Jasper had not gotten up from his chair. He was staring into the crackling fire. The Marquess moved his eyes to look at the dancing flames. He had to admit they were fascinating. But Jasper had stared into that fire most of the evening, that mysterious distraction on his mind removing all social graces from his behavior.
He let himself out into the foyer and went across the room to where the coat closet sat on the other side of a large potted plant. A maid was standing in front of the closet, her back turned to The Marquess.
He stopped in place when he heard her voice and realized she was speaking to someone on the other side of the potted plant.
“I think what he needs is a woman around here,” the maid was saying. “A wife. Perhaps he would not be so miserable if he had a woman to love.”
“I have heard he has set his sights on one of the ladies of the ton,” the man behind the potted plant replied. The Marquess did not recognize him. He did not take a step forward but continued to listen to their conversation for a moment. “But it is not a certainty at this point.”
“He has a plan. I know he does. What else could he be contemplating with such quiet reserve? He has a plan. I am certain of it.”
The Marquess cleared his throat, making his boots sound heavy on the shiny hardwood floor.
The maid spun around and looked at him with wide eyes. A man, a stranger to The Marquess, leaned forward so he could be seen on the other side of the plant.
“My lord!” the maid said. “I did not hear you coming.”
“I apologize. I did not mean to sneak up on you. I would like my clothing from the coat closet please.”
The Marquess watched her as she left, rolling the words he had heard around in his mind. Jasper has a plan, according to the servants. Servants were often the first ones to hear of such things their masters schemed.
With a guilty heart, the Marquess wondered if it could be possible that his good friend might be the one attempting to run off any other suitors for Lavinia and sending himself letters in order to blame someone else.
Chapter 13
Lavinia’s heart was hammering inside her chest as she rode in the carriage, seated next to her mother. Anna had come over before the ball that night so she and Lavinia could get ready together.
Lavinia knew her plan for the evening would have angered both Anna and The Marquess so she did not mention it to either of them.
When the event was announced, her mother had jumped at the chance to have Lavinia made yet another lavish dress to wear. She was insistent that Lavinia look her finest in order to find the best possible match.
Lavinia had not told her mother her plan either. She had not given her mother any of the information The Marquess had shared with her, fearing the notion that there was a dangerous man vying for Lavinia’s hand would frighten her mother. She did not want to put any extra burdens on her mother.
If all went as planned, she would be able to get some needed information from Sir Franklin, simply by feigning an interest in his advances.
It was her intention to find out exactly what intentions he had of her. She had not thought of him before as an aggressive suitor. She had seen him less frequently than Sir Henry and he had always been a gentleman in his dealings with her. But The Marquess had put doubts in her mind about his character and she felt the only way she could find out for herself was to speak to him directly.
“I am so excited for tonight’s dance,” Anna said, drawing Lavinia out of her thoughts. Lavinia looked at her friend’s happy smile and returned it with one of her own. She would not let her apprehension show. She anticipated it would be an eventful evening for her, if her plan went as it should.
If the Marquess attended the dance, he would surely see what she was up to. She knew it would upset him if he found out she wanted to speak with Sir Franklin. She would carry out her plan regardless. The Marquess would not say anything to her unless they were alone anyway.
Her heart raced faster the closer they got to the mansion where the ball was being held.
“We’re almost there,” Anna said in a sing-song voice.
“Are you e
xpecting to meet someone there, Anna?” Lady Bronson asked, amusement in her voice.
Anna giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. “No, my lady, no one in particular. I am just excited because there are so many possibilities.”
Lady Bronson nodded. “I see. I do hope you have a good time.”
“I know I will,” Anna responded. “Lavinia and I will both have a good time tonight, will we not, my friend?” Her eyes danced when she looked at Lavinia.
Lavinia nodded at her. “Yes, I do believe it is going to be an eventful night.”
“I am so glad you are feeling it, too, Lavinia. It is as though the air itself is sparkling tonight.”
Lavinia did not know if she would have described the night that way but she was pleased Anna was so happy.
The carriage pulled up in front of the entrance to the mansion. There were many people arriving at the same time and they waited patiently until it was their turn to get out. Holding her skirt up with one hand, Lavinia stepped down from the carriage.
She waited until Anna and her mother were next to her before ascending the wide steps leading up to the front doors. She nodded at several people she knew, who greeted her with a smile. It would not be long before Sir Franklin found her. She was sure he was waiting for her with baited breath.
The thought made her feel nervous. If her plan did not work, and she did not gather any more information about Sir Franklin’s true intentions, she was fearful his advances would be more frequent.
Lavinia had a feeling that would happen whether or not she gathered more information. In the back of her mind, she hoped the Marquess would be there. If she got into a precarious situation with Sir Franklin, he would surely intervene.
After all, how he looked in front of society apparently meant less to the Marquess than protecting Lavinia from possible harm. He had approached her the first time at the worst possible moment, generating rumors about the two of them.
Lavinia looked around the ballroom. As soon as the three women entered and were announced, she spotted Sir Franklin making his way quickly toward her. He was a handsome man, and the smile on his face was nothing less than charming. But Lavinia already knew she would not be accepting any proposal of marriage from the man.
At that point, all she wanted to know was whether or not he was dangerous. If his intentions were to marry her and sell off her estate, she would find out ahead of time somehow and confront him with what she knew. If he was threatening the life of his rivals, it would ruin his reputation forever.
“Miss Bronson, you are looking quite stunning this evening,” Sir Franklin said the moment he was within earshot. He held out his hand to take hers. He bowed at the waist, touching one hand to his forehead as he stood up straight. “I would be honored to have my name on your dance card.”
Lavinia just smiled awkwardly, handing him her card. “Thank you, Sir Franklin. The honor is mine. I am glad for this opportunity to talk and… know each other a little more.”“Yes, that would be appropriate, would it not? The first dance will not begin for a few minutes. Shall we mingle?”
Lavinia did not want to mingle with Sir Franklin by her side. It gave the impression they were together. She did not want new rumors spreading around the ton about her. She was not fond of the limelight.
It seemed the Marquess was not either, she thought, thinking of the lengths he went to meet her in private.
Lavinia was not surprised her mind strayed to the Marquess. It seemed to do that more often than not these days. She worried about how he would feel, knowing she had accepted Sir Franklin to dance with her when he had told her not to do so.
Why had he not come? It was true in the past he did not attend many of the dances but now that he felt obligated to watch over her, would it not be wise to show up wherever she was?
Lavinia almost laughed at her own thoughts. The Marquess was in no way obligated to attend every dance she went to. She only wanted him there because she wanted to see him and talk to him.
She was glad when the music began. There was enough time for her to go to the dance floor with Sir Franklin. She had looked around the parlor, the dance hall and the game room but the Marquess was nowhere to be found.
She felt disappointed and tried to hide it from Sir Franklin as the dance started. He was being charming but overly so. It made it difficult for Lavinia to feel comfortable. She found her muscles tensed and her spine was rigid as she danced, only because she was on edge with Sir Franklin.
“How well did you know my father, Sir Franklin?” she asked, after they exchanged the normal pleasantries. She had many questions and would attempt to make them sound innocent. “I have always wondered but have never asked.”
Sir Franklin nodded. “I did know him for a short time at the end, Miss Bronson. A fine man, if I do say so. I knew our business would go well together when I worked with him. You should be proud of him.”
“I am proud to be his daughter,” Lavinia nodded. It had been some time since his passingand she was still unable to really speak of him without tears rising into her throat. She swallowed them down and forced herself to push on. “I am afraid he never mentioned you to me.”
“That is a pity,” Sir Franklin said, his voice low and sultry. “I am sure he would have blessed a union between us.”
Lavinia was shocked when she felt Sir Franklin’s hand trailing slightly down her waist. . Her eyes widened. She was seconds away from slapping his face but instead pushed her hand behind her back, and returned his hand to the proper position.
She pretended nothing happened until the dance was over. But her mind had taken a completely different turn. All the questions she had flew from her mind. There was no need to ask them now. She could tell what kind of man Sir Franklin was by that simple movement of his hand.
With the final notes of the song playing, Lavinia felt relief flood through her. Sir Franklin did not look apologetic for his actions. He had a sly look on his sculpted face. She tried to give him a friendly look but knew it probably leaned more toward awkward repulsion.
“It has been lovely dancing with you, Miss Bronson,” he said when the music ended and all around them couples were smiling at each other as they left the dance floor.
“Yes… yes… I apologize, Sir Franklin, but I am feeling somewhat overheated. I wish to get a breath of fresh air.”
“I will walk with you.” Sir Franklin held out one hand so she could proceed in front of him.
She gave him another forced smile and fanned herself. “I wish to be alone, if you do not mind, sir. I must gather my thoughts.”
He did not look like he thought her excuse was good enough but he did not argue with her. His face changed from irritation to smugness. He narrowed his eyes.
“I am glad I gave you something to think about, Miss Bronson. Your father would have wished for us to be joined in union. Please continue to consider me as a suitable husband. Your mother would approve.”
Lavinia did not appreciate the addition of her mother into the equation. If Sir Franklin thought that way, it was likely he would approach her mother himself. She already knew what her mother thought of having a baron for a suitor. She would approve of Sir Franklin, Lavinia thought, and that would be devastating.
She turned away from him with a polite curtsy. She tried not to look like she was hurrying across the dance floor to the large double doors that would let her into the parlor. On the other side of the parlor was the veranda, which was where she wanted to be right then.
She wandered around on the veranda, avoiding the couples that were here and there, talking in low voices. She felt restless, trapped. Humiliated.
She went to the railing of the veranda and leaned against it, folding her arms in front of her. It was a beautiful night, though a bit chilly. She hugged herself when a gentle breeze blew over her. The lawn in front of her had several walkways stretching throughout, with lit torches lighting the way. It looked peaceful and calm.
She pulled in a deep breath but fail
ed to find calm. Still upset, she stepped out on one of the walkways and looked up as she wound her way down the path. The light from the torches cast dancing shadows across the path as they flickered in the breeze. Lavinia was amazed by the blackness beyond the torches, in between the trees, where she could see absolutely nothing.
She gazed into the darkness as she passed by, thinking it would be a good place for someone to hide. She wanted to hide. From Sir Franklin, from her mother, from society’s expectations. Hide and dream her secret dreams in peace.
Just as the thought passed through her mind, she felt fingers close around her upper arm and pulled her into the shadows.
She squeaked like a mouse just before a hand closed over her mouth.
Chapter 14
