“What did you need, Miss?” Cook asked.
“I wanted to borrow a cup. I’ll bring it right back.”
“A cup? You wanted a cup of tea? You know you can ring for that.”
Hetty realized her faux pas. She’d spent a lot of time in the kitchens as a little girl and Cook even let her have the bowls to lick after she used them in her baking. Now that she was out in society, Hetty shouldn’t be here.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted an empty cup I could use for something. I’ll leave you alone now.” Deeply disappointed at the strictures society put on women even in their own homes, Hetty turned to go.
“Wait, Miss. If it’s a cup you want, you may have one.” Cook came around the table with a dainty piece of china covered in tiny red flowers.
“I’ll return it as soon as I’m finished.”
“Just have your maid bring it back down, Miss.”
Hetty understood. She need not come to the kitchens again. It made her sad, but she knew Cook was right. There was no need to upset the staff by her unannounced appearances.
Carrying the cup out to the same shed where she’d conducted her kite experiment, Hetty made her way to the water barrel that was outside to catch rain as it fell. She reached in to test the temperature. Nice and cool since it was in the shade.
Taking the cup in her hand, she dipped it into the liquid.
She put a hand on each side of the vessel and stood there for a few minutes. Almost before she knew it, the water was warm. Instead of letting go as she had earlier in the day, she continued to hold the cup tightly against her hands.
Eventually, it got too hot for her to hold and she dropped it.
Luckily, when it fell, it caught on her skirt and tipped most of the water out. She was able to grab the cup and save it from shattering on the ground.
Of course her day gown was now wet and she’d have to sneak back inside to change for dinner.
And it was time for that anyway. Hetty took the now empty cup with her inside and to her room. She didn’t see anyone on the way and in a few minutes, her maid came in to dress her.
She made her way down to the drawing room where everyone gathered before going in to dinner. Happy to see there were other guests besides Mr. Fortescue so if he came he wouldn’t be uncomfortable being tête-à-tête with the family, Hetty glanced around the group to see if Laurence had arrived yet.
He wasn’t there, but she did see someone she wasn’t happy to recognize. Henry Hammond.
She didn’t care for Henry at all. He’d been saying he wanted to marry her since she was ten-years-old. Not only was he fifteen years older than her, but he was not very kind. For a man of now thirty-two to her seventeen, he was still not appealing. And she knew it was shallow of her, but his name of Henry Hammond and hers of Hetty Hale just seemed to offer too much of a chance for someone to make a cartoon in the papers. She certainly didn’t want to have that happen, especially since he was a politician so he was often the object of those ridiculous drawings all by himself.
Wondering why her parents would have invited him to dinner with what appeared to be a group of her father’s friends who dabbled in science, Hetty was surprised when John spoke at her elbow. “I don’t see Mr. Fortescue. I must have scared him off yesterday.”
“Maybe so.” Hetty wasn’t going to let John know of her and Jane’s morning call on the man. There was no need to have her brother angry at her for that. Mr. Laurence Fortescue made her feel enough like an unwanted woman, she certainly didn’t need John’s censure as well.
“I asked Simpkins if Mr. Fortescue had canceled, but he said there was no word,” John said.
Hetty found it intriguing that John had asked the butler as well. How strange was that? Did John fear Laurence would tell their father about John’s snobbery of the evening before? Her father might be a gentleman, but he never looked down on the other classes—unless he was talking about a match with his children—and wouldn’t tolerate such behavior in his son.
“Was there a reason you asked Simpkins if Lau—I mean, Mr. Fortescue was coming?”
John clamped a hand on her elbow and squeezed. “Did he give you leave to address him by his first name?”
“No,” she shook her head, “why?”
“You almost called him Laurence just then.”
“Did I?” Hetty batted her lashes.
“Don’t act innocent with me. If Fortescue has behaved in an inappropriate manner, you must tell me.”
“What has Fortescue done?” Henry Hammond stepped over to stand beside John. “And which Fortescue are you discussing?”
To change the subject, Hetty deflected the question by fluttering her lashes at Henry. Much as she hated to lead him on with flirting, she needed John not to talk about Laurence with this man.
The butler announced Laurence in the moment his name passed through Hetty’s mind. She turned to look at him.
He looked wonderful in his dinner jacket, breeches and Hessian boots. She ducked her head in case anyone noticed how much she admired his physique. It wasn’t seemly, but she couldn’t help it, could she?”
“Are you all right, Miss Hale?” Henry asked.
“I’m perfectly fine, Mr. Hammond. Why do you ask?”
“I wish we could go back to the days when you were young Hester and I didn’t have to call you Miss Hale. If you’d only agree to be my bride, we could be on first name basis as we were when you were a child.”
Hetty repressed a shudder. Was he some kind of strange man who liked only very young girls? Why would he want her to be younger again? Now that she was of marriageable age, did he think her less attractive? For that matter, that would be better in her mind. Her being too old for his tastes now.
She almost laughed, but stopped the sound from coming at the last moment.
“You haven’t answered my question,” Henry said.
“Was there a question there, sir? All I think I heard was an inappropriate declaration about marrying someone merely so you could use her first name.”
Henry threw his head back and laughed. “That’s why I adore being around you. You know how to put me in my place.”
She inclined her head, but didn’t respond.
Laurence came to stand beside the group. “What’s so amusing? May we all share in the laughter?”
“Miss Hales has made sure to let me know I was being inappropriate,” Henry said.
“The lady has a knack for that, doesn’t she? In fact she’s recently done the same for me. Perhaps she should operate a trade. She could make sure we all stick to what society expects. I know I can sure use some lessons.” Laurence smiled, but Hetty wasn’t amused.
Hetty would have flounced off in anger if she felt safe in leaving the three men alone. But she couldn’t chance Laurence telling them she was at his rooms that very morning. Better for her to stay where she was in order to stop that conversation if it started.
When Laurence entered the drawing room at the Hale’s home, he was surprised to see the politician Henry Hammond across the room. He had no idea Mr. James Hale was friendly with Hammond.
He watched as Hammond made straight toward the daughter of the house. Was there a special attachment there? Based on his little bit of knowledge about the lady, he thought that unlikely, but one never knew with parents. Perhaps her father and mother wanted an alliance with the politician for some reason.
He knew James Hale was interested in finding government funding for some of the things he wanted to do with his laboratory. But would the man sell his daughter to such a man as Hammond for that price?
Who was he trying to fool? Men sold their daughters for less than that every day.
Still hopeful to make amends for his behavior that morning, Laurence made his way to Miss Hale’s side in time to hear the end of the conversation she was having with Hammond.
Before he could ask Miss Hale how she was feeling and if she were still over-warm, the butler announced dinner was served.
M
rs. Hale came through the crowd assigning men to escort certain ladies. When she pointed to Mr. Hammond to escort her daughter, Laurence presumed his earlier supposition to be true. Miss Hale would shortly be betrothed. And to someone who certainly didn’t deserve her. He could only hope she didn’t lose her position in society when his deeds came to light, but he knew she would. There was no way to warn her though without betraying his country.
He allowed the young lady Mrs. Hale assigned him to escort to take his proffered arm.
Dinner passed quickly as he discussed various innocuous subjects with first the lady on his right and then the lady on his left.
When Mrs. Hale announced that the ladies would go through to the drawing room, the men stood and waited for them to vacate.
Once they were out of the room, Mr. Hale had the footmen pass around cigars and brandy and the scientific discussion began in earnest.
“Mr. Fortescue and I have decided to write a paper together,” Mr. Hale said.
Everyone turned to look in Laurence’s direction and he almost choked on the gulp of brandy in his mouth. He wasn’t ready to discuss their findings and wondered why Mr. Hale would bring it up when he’d just asked him the day before to keep it quiet.
Since all the men at the table were staring at him, Laurence said, “Yes, we are, but we’re not at liberty to discuss the particulars of what we’re doing as yet.”
“So you brought us here to tease us with secret knowledge?” a man with a big red nose seated at the far end of the table asked.
“I was merely letting you gentlemen know there are some new exciting findings coming soon and if we can get government funding, we may be able to explore further,” Mr. Hale said. He then looked at the man on the end who Laurence didn’t know and added, “Surely you know, William, that not all scientific findings are ready to be shared with the world immediately.”
“Then why bring us here before they are? Couldn’t you have waited until you were ready to present the paper?” William asked and Laurence realized the speaker was actually William Roundtree, a prominent Member of Parliament. One who somehow managed to stay out of the papers.
“You know Mr. Hale has been trying to get the government to assist in some projects for a while, William, and I for one, am in agreement,” Hammond said.
“But with no idea of what we’re buying for the money?” Roundtree asked.
“Can’t you trust Hale to do the right thing?” Hammond responded.
Laurence knew then that the young lady with spunk enough to call on a single man in his quarters with only another girl her own age was doomed to a life with the boorish man defending Mr. Hale for not disclosing Laurence’s findings. What other explanation could there be for his behavior?
Mr. Hale stood. “Gentlemen, I suggest we rejoin the ladies before one of us ends up with a bloodied nose.” He laughed. “I’ll invite you all to return for a celebratory dinner when Fortescue and I are ready to share the findings.”
It suddenly dawned on Laurence that Mr. Hale kept stating the findings, not Fortescue’s findings. Was the man planning to take credit for his work? Laurence certainly hoped not. That would be a battle he’d be willing to fight.
As they stepped through the dining room door, Mr. Hale came around to Laurence’s side and threw an arm over his shoulder. “Are you excited to begin our work?”
Laurence didn’t know what to say. He didn’t like the sound of our work, but he also didn’t want to alienate his host. There would have to be an agreement between them as to credit for the experiment as well as the paper. But tonight was not the time to discuss it.
Finally, he said, “I hope we’re able to work together well.”
“Why wouldn’t we? We’re both avid men of science. What could go wrong?”
“I’m sure it will be fine, sir.” Laurence was never more grateful to see the door to a drawing room than he was at that moment. It meant he could be free from Mr. Hale and all his questions. At least for a few moments.
“Come in and take a seat,” Mr. Hale called out to his guests.
When everyone was inside and disbursed with some of the ladies and gentlemen over by the piano watching the lady Laurence had escorted into dinner play a mournful tune, he found himself an unobtrusive spot and sat.
Miss Hale came and sat on the chair next to his. “You seem to be hiding over here. Is there something wrong?”
“No. I’m always afraid to stand too close to a piano.”
“Why? They won’t come to life and bite you.”
“It’s not that.” He leaned in and whispered, “I can’t sing and I live in terror that someone will ask me to.”
She laughed.
“I’m not speaking in jest, Miss Hale. I really do frighten small children and dogs when I try to sing. Or even when I hum.”
“You really are speaking nonsense now. I’m convinced of it.”
“If you will forgive me for this morning, then I will say I am jesting.” He smiled.
“I forgive you for this morning. Mainly because I really need your advice.”
“I’ll take it either way. I cannot abide a lady being angry with me.” He took a proffered drink from the footman circulating the room. “What kind of advice do you need? Is it about marrying Hammond?”
She paled. “What? Marry Henry Hammond? What makes you think that I’d ever consent to marry him?”
“Sorry, I know I was being impertinent, but I somehow got the impression tonight when he escorted you in to dinner that you had some kind of understanding.”
“He may want to marry me and has made no secret of it since I was a child, but I won’t go along with it.” As if she realized she’d said too much, Miss Hale put her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be discussing this with you.”
“You’re right. It’s my fault. Like I said earlier today, I’m socially inept.”
“Never mind that. I want to see what you think about what’s happening to me. Physically. Since the lightning strike.”
“What more has happened?” Laurence asked.
Hammond strode toward them.
“I can’t talk about it in front of him, but in a minute, I’ll call one of the footmen to bring me a drink.”
Laurence tilted his head, confused.
“Then I’ll hand you the glass.”
“What’s the big secrecy over here in the corner?” Hammond pulled a chair from what seemed to be its normal location in a cozy nook next to the fireplace to place it next to Miss Hale’s.
“No secrets. We’re discussing the expected weather tomorrow. Miss Hale said she heard some word that there may be another storm coming.”
“I hope you’ll be somewhere protected if it’s as bad as the one we had the other day,” Hammond said.
“I’m sure I’ll be safely ensconced here by the fire.” Miss Hale darted a glance at Laurence as if daring him to contradict her statement. It almost seemed as if she thought he might tell Hammond about her conduct with the kite and key.
A passing footman stopped when Miss Hale held her hand up. She removed her gloves, took a small glass from him and sipped from it.
Laurence took one himself to see what it was since she said she was going to pass hers over to him. He was unsure what she wanted him to notice so he took a chance and tried a glass of his own in case she asked him to make some kind of comparison.
As he watched her from the corner of his eye, she placed both hands around the glass with her fingers meeting as she cupped it.
“I say, Miss Hale, would you like to take a turn around the room?” Hammond asked.
“No, thank you. I prefer to rest here. I find I’m not feeling so well.” She turned to Laurence and held out her glass. He set his down before attempting to take hers. “Please hold that for me for a moment, Mr. Fortescue. I should hate to spill it on Mama’s chairs she just had redone.”
Laurence took the glass from her hand and almost dropped it. His eyes widened.
Chapter
Five
When Hetty knew Laurence understood exactly what had been happening to her, she stood, pulled on her gloves and pretended to almost lose her balance. “Please excuse me for a few moments.”
“Would you like me to escort you out to onto the veranda where you can get some fresh air?” Hammond asked.
“No, thank you. I think I will go to the ladies retiring room and will soon be all right.” Hetty walked out of the drawing room, hoping Laurence would find a reason to leave as well. It was imperative that she learn what he thought about her turning a cool drink into a warm one.
Taking a hiding spot behind the door leading to the morning room, Hetty stood alert and waited for what seemed to be an eternity for Laurence to appear.
To her dismay, the first person out of the drawing room was Hammond. He appeared to be searching for her, but in a moment, another man came out and they had a hurried discussion on the opposite side of the hall than she was.
She wished she could have overheard what they said, but they were too far away. Unsure which of her father’s friends the other man was, Hetty couldn’t even begin to think what they would have been talking about so urgently.
Soon, Hammond called for his coat and after a brief return to the drawing room, she presumed to say goodnight to her parents, he left. As soon as he was gone, the other man to whom he’d been speaking reentered the drawing room himself.
The next time the door opened, it was finally Laurence. She stepped out from behind the door. “Over here.”
He joined her by the door and opened his mouth to speak.
Before he could, she held up her hand. “Please whisper, but we need to stay in the main hall as we can’t be anywhere alone as you well know.” She hoped he didn’t take what she said as her still being mad at him, but he was the one to say he didn’t want to be caught in a compromising situation with her.
“How long have you been aware that your touch can make water heat itself?”
“I noticed it yesterday morning, but thought I was imagining it. Today when Miss Gresham and I returned from seeing you, I borrowed a cup from Cook and tested it outside with water from the rain barrel.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t believe it. Remember when I said I felt like my blood was boiling? I guess it actually is.”
Lightning Strikes Twice (The Heart of a Hero Book 4) Page 4
