To Be by Your Side

by Lilybeth Zefram

  ‘I have no dishonourable intentions, I assure you, Dalton. I would never ruin Lady Evelyn’s reputation.’

  ‘As long as we are on the same page, Windermere.’ Dalton’s expression was rather severe. ‘My sister has been hurt in the past by a gentleman who preyed on her because he saw her lack of sight as a weakness. She may be past the age of consent, but it is my intention that she never goes through such a thing again.’

  ‘And that is both understandable and commendable.’ George knew he must step lightly when it came to the brother of the lady, who had his attention well and truly captured. ‘However, I do not intend to hurt your sister.’

  Dalton studied him for a long moment. George found it disconcerting despite the fact he was a duke and Dalton was an earl. However, once more he found himself seeing the similarity between brother and sister.

  ‘I wonder if you harbour a tendre for my sister.’

  ‘I daresay that that is between the lady and I,’ George said with dignity. ‘And in addition to that, Dalton, I would think that the lady should know anything before the rest of Society.’

  The Earl studied him again.

  Then Dalton nodded, satisfied. ‘Very well, Windermere. In that case, I shall see you at the Rushmore house party. I trust my sister looks forward to seeing you again, too.’

  George knew that this was about as good a blessing that he would get unless he went so far as to wed Lady Evelyn.

  ‘Thank you, Dalton. And indeed, I shall see you at my cousin’s house party.’

  And that was it.

  The men had come to somewhat of an agreement for now.

  After the conversation, though, with the fleeting thought of marriage and in consideration with George’s conversation with his good friend, George began to wonder. He also wondered about the previous heartbreak suffered by Lady Evelyn, because he wanted to find and beat the rogue bloody for hurting and not appreciating such a divine gift. But that didn’t matter, because events had led to their acquaintance this Season. He knew if he persisted much longer there would be talk, and if nothing did happen between him and Lady Evelyn, it would be her reputation to suffer.

  Unfortunately, there had been no scandal larger than his divorce at the end of the previous Season as well as this Season. He was very much still under scrutiny of Society. He already knew there were whispers that he spoke with Lady Evelyn because everyone else found him de trope. In fact, the lady knew because she had thought it herself when he first approached her. That was grossly untrue. Nevertheless, there would be no way to stop the gossip. George had simply assumed someone would do something to take their attention from him. With his divorce official for ten months, gossip also turned to discussing his next bride.

  George prayed that someone else would suddenly cause a right proper scandal that would get him out of the matrons’ gossip circles.

  * * * *

  George’s cousin and her family resided, naturally, at the Duke of Rushmore’s primary estate just outside of Figheldean, a mere ten or twelve miles from Salisbury Plain. Wooded areas seemed to be evenly split with farming area with thousands of years of history to be found in the soils. On the Rushmore estate there were known Roman and Medieval ruins, which without fail always were a draw when one attended house parties.

  Upon arrival, George found that he was one of the first guests to arrive. He greeted Rushmore and spoke the usual niceties with the man before being dragged off by his cousin. She announced that she was taking him to see her sons. It wasn’t something that his cousin always did, but he saw that her husband was full of pride at the mere mention of his children.

  ‘I am so glad that you attended this year, George,’ Lady Lauren Rushmore said as they went to the nursery. ‘Of course, I want you to see the boys. They have grown a lot in the past month. However, I also wanted to speak to you in another regard.’

  ‘Yes, Lauren? Should I be concerned?’ he queried.

  His cousin seemed to think on this point, which meant that he knew he should well be frightened.

  ‘No,’ the Duchess finally decided. ‘Indeed, George, you should not be surprised at all but I do want you to think on the future. I am sure that you are still hurting after that...that...hussy you first married. However, you have a second chance to find real love.’

  ‘Don’t tell me you are going to play matchmaker, Lauren.’ He groaned.

  Lauren sighed. ‘Edward,’ she said of her husband, ‘told me that I should not meddle, as he calls it. But rather I feel I am showing concern for people who are dear to me.’

  ‘I will not be angry, Lauren,’ George interjected, ‘just tell me what it is that is on your mind.’

  ‘Very well.’ She nodded. ‘I notice, like many, that you have paid certain attentions to Lady Evelyn Mayhew during the Season. She is a dear friend of mine—’

  ‘I have already had a conversation with her brother about me not hurting Lady Evelyn or harming her reputation,’ George interrupted.

  ‘That is not what I was going to talk about but it goes without saying since she is a dear friend,’ Lauren said. ‘My point is that you, George, seem to have the ability—unlike many men who presume to call themselves gentlemen—to not see her blindness as an unattractive impediment. I also saw that you both rubbed along well, so to say.’ She paused a moment before continuing. ‘I simply want you to know that I think that you and Evelyn could be very well for each other. She is shy and she overplays her blindness because of what she expects and has experienced from Society in regards to her eyesight.’

  ‘So what is this? Are you giving me your blessing?’

  ‘If you wish to court Evie and the feeling is mutual,’ Lauren said and nodded, ‘you will do well for each other. There is a certain spark between the two of you.’

  ‘Then this is not so much as a blessing but you telling me that we would be well matched.’ George frowned at his cousin. ‘I don’t know if this is subtle or outright matchmaking because you seem to be giving me a choice.’

  Lauren laughed softly, picking up her baby son. ‘Of course you have a choice. As does Evie. I just have not told her who I think would be best for her. She is rather stubborn.’

  ‘I trait that I’ve noticed,’ George said dryly, ‘but don’t find it at all unattractive.’

  Lauren giggled. ‘Then, are you smitten?’

  ‘Smitten?’ George smirked. ‘No, I don’t know about smitten. But as you said, there is a spark.’

  His cousin was more than pleased with his answer and quickly moved along to showing him her adorable children once more.

  Chapter 7

  Evelyn smiled when she heard someone approaching her in the drawing room at the Rushmore estate. She and James had arrived only a couple of hours prior. She had duly brought Ruby to the nursery to be with the other children and nannies. The Duchess promised her nanny would also keep an eye on Ruby since Evelyn still refused to hire a nanny for her daughter. Katie had helped her get refreshed and told her where everything was set so as to make things easier on Evelyn. Katie helped her downstairs and, as usual in such a setting, was now never too far from her cousin. She was softly reading and describing prints of the latest fashions from France which the Duchess had insisted that both women needed to see.

  She could tell that it was a man from the shape and the colour of the clothing and he was followed by a second man. After he stepped through the door she had not needed Katie to tell her that it was Lord George in the lead. Evelyn had become quite accustomed to his silhouette and the way in which he walked.

  ‘Lady Evelyn,’ Lord George said clearly as he came to a stop in front of her. ‘I did not know you and your brother had arrived.’ He bowed slightly toward Katie. He was no stranger to Lady Evelyn’s companion. ‘Miss Mayhew,’ he added, ‘a pleasure to see you both here.’

  ‘Thank you, Your Grace,’ Katie said softly.

  George turned back to Evelyn. ‘And I am of course pleased to see you, too, Lady Evelyn.’

  ‘Pleasu
re to see you, Your Grace.’ Evelyn smiled up at him.

  The snort from the stranger made her frown.

  ‘Leonard Sutton,’ George muttered. He cleared his throat. ‘I apologise, ladies, this rude gentleman is my good friend, Lord Edmund, Duke of Ralston.’

  Both ladies murmured a kind “Your Grace.”

  ‘And Leo, this is Lady Evelyn Mayhew and her companion—and cousin—Lady Katelyn Mayhew.’

  ‘Ladies,’ the Duke of Ralston said smoothly. ‘I apologise for my horrid behaviour just now.’

  ‘That is quite fine, Your Grace,’ Evelyn replied. ‘I am used to such things. Many simply do not apologise, though, once they realise that I have taken note of actions.’

  ‘Evidently they think you are deaf as well,’ the Duke of Ralston said not so smoothly. ‘Devilish thing people can do at times, I am sure.’

  ‘Very true, Your Grace.’ Evelyn nodded. ‘And I thank you for your apology. I appreciate it.’

  Lord George cleared his throat. ‘We interrupted you, ladies, so we will see you both soon.’ He bowed once more. ‘Lady Evelyn, Miss Mayhew.’

  Lord Leonard Sutton did likewise.

  Much to George’s annoyance, Leonard placed a kiss on the back of Evelyn’s palm. He followed this by lingering over Katie, briefly speaking to her before making the lady blush and also placing a lingering kiss on the back of her palm. George really wanted to roll his eyes at his friends. It wasn’t so much that Leonard had lingered over Miss Mayhew, but had given Lady Evelyn a very frank perusal while he had been at it.

  ‘I have to say, George,’ Leonard told his friend heartily as they walked outside after seeing the two ladies. ‘I thought that I had doubted you, but you were right. Both Lady Evelyn and her cousin are delightful.’

  ‘Miss Mayhew is Lady Evelyn’s much beloved and very illegitimate cousin,’ warned George. ‘Even if she is deemed improper, Miss Mayhew is still cousin to Lady Evelyn.’

  Leonard frowned at his friend. ‘And I cannot think for a tumble with the cousin because you are interested in the lady. God’s balls, George, the woman is illegitimate, therefore it follows naturally that she is likely to be more than interested in a quick tumble.’

  ‘And you are painting every one woman with the same brush,’ George said dryly. ‘No wonder you’ve not found a woman who could handle your antics. By your theory, most gentlemen are also illegitimate, although it is undeniable that a good number would be so.’

  George knew his friend was attracted to Lady Evelyn’s companion. Gentlemen always viewed dallying with a lady’s companion as a good roll in the hay. But because the lady in question was dear to his lady, George found himself rather protective. Not to mention that he knew Dalton would not be impressed either.

  Leonard guffawed. ‘I do declare that you are completely taken by the lady!’

  ‘It will be your head when Dalton confronts you about his cousin.’ George shuddered. ‘I’ve gone through that once already with the man. He has protective brother down to an art.’

  That evening, George and many of the party’s guests were greatly entertained by various ladies playing the piano. He had finally got to hear Lady Evelyn tickle the ivories, so to speak, after hearing that she could play. Lady Evelyn played once on her own, a piece by the Beethoven. She then played a second time when her companion opted to sing. The Duchess of Rushmore had announced that the two were an impressive duo because when Lady Evelyn didn’t learn music by ear at concerts and musicales, it was Miss Mayhew who taught her more.

  George had been tempted to give Lady Evelyn a standing ovation but opted to save them both from embarrassment. Instead, he resolved to find her and have a private word in order to congratulate her the next day.

  The ladies that performed, even the gentleman, afterwards really held no fascination to George. Mostly because he still found himself marvelling at how well Lady Evelyn learnt pieces from ear.

  * * * *

  The next morning, George decided to forgo the horse ride a good half of the small house party—maybe twenty people in all—had opted to go on. Most others had decided to take a walk along the local river walk. He had noticed that Lady Evelyn had not decided to go with either party, although he knew she would have been more than capable.

  The children were in the nursery for the morning before they would join the adults for a picnic at lunch.

  Instead, he went off to his cousin-in-law’s library.

  It was looking outside the window that he then saw Lady Evelyn. She was walking with her companion in the direction of the pre-Roman and Medieval Saxon site that was nearby, heading toward an even more ancient site that often brought up bones and pottery, horridly called Barrow Clough.

  Making the decision with a moment, George decided that he would go and catch up with the ladies. It would be impolite to rebuff his presence but George genuinely knew that Lady Evelyn would be receptive to his presence.

  It took him some twenty or so minutes, but he did indeed catch up to the solitary ladies. It was a wonderful day, the sun was shining, and there appeared to be no rain in sight. To top it all off, Lady Evelyn looked particularly beautiful this morning. He didn’t know how she did, as he had heard that she fussed over her adoptive daughter, even during the night.

  ‘Good morning, ladies,’ he called out. ‘I hope that you do not mind my intrusion?’

  ‘Lord George.’ Lady Evelyn smiled in his direction, shielding her eyes from the sun. If one did not understand how she saw, he knew that they would be confused by the gesture. ‘I, for one, do not mind the intrusion. Katie knows that I’m stubborn and that I do so love to go to the medieval ruins.’

  ‘Miss Mayhew.’ George bowed slightly to the lady in question. ‘I trust that you take some enjoyment, too?’

  ‘Thank you, Your Grace.’ Lady Evelyn’s companion smiled. ‘But Evie does forget that I read a lot of history to her and I find myself quite taken.’

  ‘Don’t tell anyone,’ Lady Evelyn tittered, ‘but I have convinced my cousin to be positively scandalous and read the new gothic romance novels to me. I find them rather enlightening and the heroes quite dashing.’

  Miss Mayhew blushed but her cousin kept on grinning.

  George laughed at their ladies’ antics. ‘Ah, that is the Lady Evelyn I know best. You know, I don’t think much could shock me when it comes to you.’

  Lady Evelyn kept on smiling. ‘So, will you join us on our walk?’

  ‘I have no qualms about escorting two lovely ladies to the medieval ruins,’ he replied and stepped closer. ‘Shall I allow you to lead the way?’

  A look that George could only describe as devilment entered Lady Evelyn’s eyes just at that moment. She turned to her companion and spoke once more.

  ‘Katie, since Lord George is accompanying me, you do not need to join us. He can escort me.’

  ‘Evie!’ Katie gasped. ‘You can’t be with the gentleman on your own.’ She sheepishly turned to George. ‘I apologise, Your Grace.’

  ‘I understand your concern.’ He inclined his head, though knew there was a certain thrill in knowing that Evelyn wanted to walk alone with him.

  ‘Katie, you don’t need to be with me all the time. If you keep to yourself no one will notice,’ Lady Evelyn reasoned. ‘Besides, you know very well my being blind deflects all speculation. Add to that being a spinster, and then everyone is merely an escort to me.’

  Katie eyed Lady Evelyn and the Duke of Windermere.

  ‘Evie, that is all true but since you and His Grace’—she motioned needlessly to George—‘spend a considerable amount of time together during the Season—’

  ‘Yes, yes, but Katie...please.’

  Katie made a frustrated noise. ‘Very well. You know I cannot say no to you, Evie,’ she said with resignation. ‘As long as you are both back before midday. At least, before everyone else is due to come back.’

  ‘We will essentially walk there and walk back,’ Lady Evelyn said. ‘That is no more than an hour, maybe two i
f we stop and explore or we choose to just stroll. I promise we will not become antiquarians and start digging.’

  George found himself pinned by the stare of Lady Evelyn’s companion. She frowned and said, ‘Very well, Evie. If that takes your approval, Your Grace.’

  ‘I will. As always, take care of Lady Evelyn and lend assistance when requested, Miss Mayhew.’ George knew that the penetrating gaze was a strict warning from the lady’s cousin. ‘And if not, you can tell Lord Dalton so he can dispense of me as he pleases.’

  ‘You do not have to go that far, Your Grace,’ Lady Evelyn chided. ‘Katie is overprotective of me, as I am her. She is, after all, my cousin and my best friend, as well as my maid and companion.’ Lady Evelyn held her hands out to her cousin, who grasped onto them. Looking straight at Katie, Evelyn said, ‘Honestly, there isn’t much that we may get up to out here and near the ruins. And I want you to have some fun and some time to yourself.’

  ‘Very well.’ Katie sighed. ‘I will meet you in the gardens.’

  ‘Indeed, say, eleven thirty? Is that doable, Lord George?’

  ‘I have my pocket watch, Lady Evelyn,’ he replied, glancing at the piece. ‘It is just on nine now, so it gives us two and a half hours.’

  ‘There, we have a plan, Katie,’ Lady Evelyn said to her cousin. ‘We will probably get back earlier than that.’

  ‘That is very well. I think I might explore the gardens.’ Katie nodded.

  Despite her objections she quickly retreated toward the estate’s main decorative garden which included a very fashionable wooded area made to look wild but perfectly manicured along with a grotto and a small, carefully constructed cave at the end of the wooded walk.

  ‘I liked the smell of the gardens just before,’ Lady Evelyn murmured as her cousin disappeared out of earshot and around a bush.

  ‘We may walk there later today or in the coming days,’ George reassured her.

  ‘I hope you do not mind me being forward and suggesting a walk on our own, Lord George?’

  ‘No, I do not mind,’ he replied with a smile. ‘And since we are totally alone, just call me George.’