“I understand, sir and I will do my best.”
“My wife seems to think if we indulge Hester a bit in this that she will tire of it sooner rather than later.”
“You may be right, sir. Not being a parent myself, I don’t really know the intricacies of raising children.” Laurence smiled. Miss Hale may be young, but she wasn’t a child by any means.
“Someday you will and I hope you don’t have one as obstinate as my Hester can be.”
Not knowing exactly how to respond to that statement without either causing offense or concern about his motives in defending the lady, Laurence chose merely to nod.
“Must be getting the women home now. I have other business to attend to this afternoon.”
“Good day to you then, sir.” As he watched the carriage leave, Laurence realized with shock that Hester Hale really was more than a child he'd gotten used to being a nuisance around her father's laboratory. Sure, he'd known on some level that she was a comely female, but this realization she was actually quite attractive hit him in the gut as if someone had thrown a wild punch in a boxing match and hit the wrong part of his opponent's anatomy.
With effort, Laurence pushed thoughts of Miss Hale to the recesses of his mind. Dwelling on her would certainly do him no good and perhaps even harm his work. Not only because of the distraction, but because of the hopelessness of the situation. She was not above him in station, but she was as out of reach as if she were.
He returned to his rooms, determined to ignore his inclination to dwell on the pretty blonde worth the attractive bosoms and focus instead on his work, both as a teacher as well as a scientist. To say nothing of his duties to crown and country.
Chapter Eight
Hetty’s family left Oxford for their London house on Wednesday and on Friday late in the afternoon, Hetty's parents announced they were meeting some friends at Vauxhall Gardens. The entire family was invited. Hetty could barely tamp down her excitement at the news. She presumed her father held back the information earlier on the day as he knew how she would react.
Vauxhall was one of her favorite places. She didn't get to go as often as she would like as Oxford was too far away when they were there and her father wasn't nearly as fond of the Gardens as Hetty and her mother. He thought it gave young people too many opportunities to slip away from chaperones and get into trouble.
He was right of course, but that was part of the excitement of the place to that very same group of patrons.
As soon as she was excused from her father's presence, Hetty dashed up the grand staircase to her room. Thoughts of which gown to wear and which ribbon color would best set off the color of her hair in the evening light warred with thoughts of who else might be there. Could Laurence Fortescue possibly be attracted to the diversions offered at the Gardens? Oh how she hoped so.
"Hetty," her brother called to her from behind.
She turned to face him. She'd almost made it to her door. Drat. He'd surely have something to say about her expected conduct. Sometimes he acted as if he was another father rather than a brother. "Yes?"
"Can you please behave with decorum this evening?"
"I don't know. Can you?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" John's frown might have quailed another woman, but not her. He could look like the god Saturn poised to throw a bolt of lightning at her, but she'd already survived a real one so she had nothing to fear from this boy.
“I’m merely trying to point out that I don’t have to explain myself to you in the same way you don’t have to have my approval. Father is the only one I must please.” Hetty reached for the doorknob to her room.
“You’re wrong there, little sister. If you besmirch the family name, it affects us all. I have every right to expect good behavior from you.”
“I’ve never done anything untoward in public. It may be that I love science and experiments, but I’ve always been proper in society. You cannot even imagine the dullness of some of the silly conversations I must listen to and remark upon as if they are of the greatest importance.”
“Women like to prattle on about baubles and ribbons. Don’t pretend you don’t enjoy that. I’ve heard you and your friend Jane Gresham go on for hours about them.”
She opened her door. “I’ve never talked about any subject for hours, John. Please excuse me. I have to get changed and so should you if we’re going to make it to Vauxhall in time for dinner.” Stepping out of the hallway, she shut the door with an audible click.
Through the wood, her brother called out, “Yes, you have. Science. Always science.”
Hetty ignored him and rang for her maid, Mary. She’d decided on the off-white gown with the gold threads. It should be lovely in the evening light and especially so when the fireworks started.
She fidgeted in the chair as her maid tried to fix her hair.
“Please, Miss. You must be still. I can’t make your curls stay woven in the ribbon if you keep moving about.”
“All right. I’m excited. We haven’t been to Vauxhall yet this year and I wasn’t sure if Father would allow us to return since he doesn’t particularly care for it.” Hetty pressed her sweaty palms against the fabric of her gown before she realized it.
“Ah, Miss, you’re going to ruin yourself before you even leave the house.” Mary handed her a small scrap of linen. “Wipe your hands on this.”
“I wasn’t thinking. Maybe I don’t need to wear this color after all. It may turn out to be a mistake. What if I run into something?”
“You’ll be fine. It’s a lovely color and will sparkle in the night.” Mary sighed, a kind of longing in her voice. “You’ll be charming all the men.”
“I don’t want to charm them all.” Hetty hugged herself and Laurence’s face flashed through her mind.
“Does Miss have a young man in mind then?” Mary finished Hetty’s hair and patted it as if to make sure it wouldn’t wilt in the outdoor air. “All done.”
Hetty leaned forward to get a closer view in the looking glass. “It’s perfect, Mary.” She smiled at her own reflection, satisfied that she was at her best. Now she merely had to hope Laurence would somehow be there and see her.
In the reflection, she could see Mary waiting expectantly for an answer to her question. Hetty grinned and ducked her head to keep from making eye contact with the maid as she confessed, “Yes. There is, but I can’t talk about it. To anyone.”
“Yes, Miss.” Mary curtseyed. “Will that be all then? I’ve got your shawl ready at the foot of the bed.”
“That’s all.” Hetty stood as her maid left. She took the thin shawl in her hand and debated with herself about it. Should she take it or not? She was already sweaty and hot. But if she didn’t take it and wear gloves as well, she would be doing exactly what she’d told John she would never do. Violate the rules of society.
Deciding to do as was expected wasn't difficult. She always did. Grabbing the shawl, she slid on her slippers and went downstairs to meet her family.
The drive to the Gardens was uneventful other than one hair raising moment when the coachman almost hit another that had swerved to avoid a street urchin who'd darted into traffic.
Baxter yelled at the boy, "Get out of the road, you bloody brat."
Hetty's father tapped on the roof with the knob-end of his cane. "Remember, ladies are present."
"Sorry, sir, but the little bugger--"
"Baxter," her father shouted.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry."
Hetty bit back her giggles. She was sure neither her parents nor John would approve of her laughter. Baxter better hope her father forgot about his cursing before they returned from their diversion. She’d hate to see the round little man lose his position.
"It was actually easier when we had to take the water route, wasn't it, dear?" Hetty's mother rested her gloved hand on her husband's thigh.
He covered her hand with his. "It's easier to me to stay home, but since you desired the outing and I like to see you smile, I a
greed to escort you."
"And the children and I are grateful for the evening out." Their mother nodded at Hetty and John seated across from her. "Aren't we?"
Hetty bounced on the bench as she realized they had arrived at their destination. "Look." She pointed out the window. "We're here."
Barely able to suppress her excitement, she allowed herself to be handed down from the carriage.
While her father paid for their admission, Hetty searched the other arrivals for a sign of her beloved. Oxford was a long ride to London and she had no idea if Laurence had a place to stay in the city, but she couldn’t help but hope he would be spending his Friday evening at the Gardens. Let him be here. Let him be here.
Laurence had ridden back to London for the second time in a week in order to meet with his supervisor at the War Office. He arrived in the afternoon Friday and was distressed to find that he would be expected to accompany his mother and brothers to Vauxhall Gardens. He’d hoped to be able to spend an evening in the London house in his room reading before his morning meeting.
How was he to know his two married siblings would choose the same time to visit? And now his mother wanted to make an event out of it. Too bad his father was at the country house or he could perhaps stay and keep him company.
“Come along, Laurence. No need in looking as if you’re a highwayman on his way to Tyburn. It’s supposed to be a pleasure garden, you know. It’s not punishment.”
“Sorry, Mama. I was looking forward to an early evening with Papa by the fire.”
“He had to return to the country. A letter came from the steward and he left before your brothers even arrived. It’s a shame since we’d have the whole family here if he hadn’t had to go.”
“I’ll go if you promise if it gets too tedious I can return home by myself.”
“I know you well enough to know you’ll take less than a quarter-hour to say it’s tiresome so I’ll agree to allow you to return home a half-hour after dinner is over.” Laurence’s mother smiled.
“That would be acceptable.” He could manage this. Being back here in a couple of hours would give him time to rest well from the second ride to London before his appointment.
His two brothers and their wives came down the stairs and he followed them out to the carriage.
It was a tight fit, but they all managed to get in. Too much feminine fragrance in the conveyance threatened to overwhelm Laurence. Luckily, they didn’t have far to go.
As soon as they disembarked from the carriage, Laurence stepped aside to await his turn to pay to enter.
“Mr. Fortescue,” someone called out.
Laurence turned and noticed the brother closest in age to him turn as well. Of course his older brother, the viscount, didn’t look around. No one called him Fortescue.
“I’m surprised to see you here. Aren’t you an Oxford man?” The speaker was Henry Hammond.
What a stroke of luck. One of the men he was tasked with watching was in the very place Laurence hadn’t wanted to visit. Maybe the evening wouldn’t be wasted after all.
“I am usually in Oxford, but I came to town to visit my family. They’re buying their tickets.”
“I need to purchase mine as well. Perhaps we’ll see each other inside,” Hammond said.
“That would be nice. Please excuse me while I join my mother and brothers.” Laurence bowed and approached the ticket seller. As soon as he could possibly escape from his familial duties, he was determined to see if Hammond’s other suspected co-conspirators were with him somewhere inside.
It dawned on Laurence this place was a perfect spot for not only romantic assignations, but also for spies to secretly meet or exchange information. Why he hadn’t thought of it before bothered him a bit, but he was grateful for having seen Hammond now.
When he caught up to his mother, she asked, “Who was the man you were speaking with? I don’t recognize him.”
“He’s a man I met at a dinner in Oxford. No one you would know.”
“Another academic?” She placed her hand through his arm at the elbow as they strolled along behind the others.
“No. A politician.”
“Ooh,” his mother shuddered, “don’t get involved with politics or the men who like them. They’re not to be trusted.”
Laurence wanted to laugh at his mother’s words since the only reason he’d ever spoken to Hammond was to find out what illegal activities he was involved in. “What do you know about politicians, Mama?”
“What I read in the papers and those terrible cartoons your father loves to share at the breakfast table.”
“That’s as good a source as any, I guess.” Laurence did allow himself the luxury of laughing then.
“I should say so.” She quickened her pace. “Come along, we’re letting the others get too far ahead.”
Hurrying up the path, Laurence and his mother arrived at the outdoor dining area where his siblings had already claimed a place for them.
“Come along, old chap. Surely you aren’t embarrassed to be seen with us?” Robert, his older brother called out.
“Of course not. Mama moves at a more sedate pace than you and your wife. I was merely taking Papa’s place as her escort.”
“The perfect son.” Robert practically sneered.
“We all know she always liked you best as her last baby,” his other brother, Thomas said. “You don’t have to try too hard to make her adore you.”
And here it was again. One of the main reasons he didn’t enjoy being around his siblings. They never seemed to be able to behave as a normal family. Or what Laurence thought one would act as. They always wanted to bicker and argue.
“I wasn’t trying.” He held out one of the chairs for his mother and once she was seated, he took one for himself.
One of his sisters-in-law spread the food out from the basket they’d acquired. He didn’t pay attention to which one. Not that he had anything against either one of them, but he never could keep them separate. They both were dark-haired, small of build and had beauty marks in the same place on their cheeks. It was hardly worth figuring out which was which when he so rarely saw them.
He sat up straighter as he realized his thoughts were uncharitable. Vowing to make a better effort to set them apart in his mind, Laurence paid strict attention to the dinner conversation around him.
Until he noticed Hammond skulking in the woods across from where Laurence sat.
Hammond had his back to Laurence’s table, but it was clear who he was from his body type and the side angle of his face. What wasn’t as easy to ascertain was exactly who was with him out there and what they were doing.
“Would you excuse me for a moment, Mama?” Laurence asked.
“No. I told you that I would not allow you to leave until a half-hour after dinner.”
“I mean only to be absent for a few minutes. I see someone I should speak with.” He patted his mother’s hand where it rested on the table. “As I don’t get to town often, I’d like to say hello to an old friend I haven’t seen in a very long time.”
She sniffed. He could tell she was perturbed and wasn’t sure she’d give her permission. What would he do then?
“Fine, dear. You go ahead, but be sure to return soon. We’re going to the music pavilion. I heard there will be a magnificent string quartet playing. I shouldn’t want to miss that.”
“I will return almost immediately then.” Laurence stood.
As he turned to move away, he heard Robert say, “And so the favorite child gets to do what he wants again.”
Laurence walked toward the woods and shook his head. The man was a viscount and would eventually take their father’s place as the earl. Why would he be jealous of the little bit of love their mother showed to her third son? It certainly didn’t take anything away from Robert.
He shrugged off the family issues and crept down the pathway to the copse off the path where he’d seen Hammond. Hoping he would learn something to share with Jones the next day, Lau
rence’s heart beat faster as he neared where the two men stood. He leaned forward and squinted in their direction in an effort to determine who the other man was with Hammond. His spectacles didn’t seem to be helping at all out in the near-dark sky.
“Mr. Fortescue, how strange to see you here? Are you quite all right?”
Laurence whirled around at the sound of the voice. More than a little disappointed that he may have made his move to determine what Hammond was doing too soon.
Chapter Nine
Hetty couldn’t believe Laurence was there at the Gardens. Her prayers had been answered.
Until she saw the expression on his face as he turned at the sound of her father’s voice. He seemed startled when he laid eyes on her entire family. What had he thought was happening? That her father would be there without them? What kind of men came here alone?
“I say, are you quite fine?” her father asked him again.
“Oh, yes. Sorry. You startled me. I was focused on a small creature I saw run off in that direction. I couldn’t tell if it was a fox or a badger.”
Her father laughed. “Did it matter?”
“No, sir. Not in the least. It’s these spectacles. Sometimes, I wish I could see as well as others.”
“I can understand that.” Her father clapped him on the shoulder. “Won’t you join us for supper?”
“Much as I would like to, I’m here with my mother and brothers and I must rejoin them shortly.”
“I wondered why you were in London. You didn’t mention a trip when I saw you earlier in the week.”
“Duty, I’m afraid. My mother summoned me, so I came.” Laurence bowed. “Now, please excuse me as I believe they are waiting for me in order to listen to the string quartet who is supposed to be playing soon.”
“String quartet?” Hetty couldn’t resist saying. “I love a quartet. May we join you?”
“Dear girl, you mustn’t be so forward. I am sure the pavilion where they’re playing is open to all. We’ll make our way over there in a moment and find some seats.” Her mother held Hetty’s upper arm.
Lightning Strikes Twice (The Heart of a Hero Book 4) Page 7
