by Kari Edgren
“Then why did you resist?” I laughed. “You’ve kissed me in public before. I know it isn’t ladylike to admit outright, but I would have welcomed your affections.”
Henry settled into the corner of the carriage and pulled me onto his lap. He put his arms around me and I snuggled closer, nestling my head against his chest. “The moment I left you in Philadelphia, I have dreamed of little else than holding you again.” He tightened his arms around me and brushed a light kiss on my cheek. “I had to wait today because I was not the only one with men stationed at the docks. Since I revealed my intentions to marry you, my father and the king have also been awaiting your arrival. The Callisto has been the most anticipated ship in London this fall.”
His words should have scared me, and probably would have if I weren’t sitting so snugly on his lap. “James said the king might try to arrest me for treason. I almost believed him until I saw you waiting.”
Henry gave a heavy sigh. “James may have been right. The king threatened so much a week ago when we last spoke.”
This revelation disheartened me. “Then I assume you have not yet been released from your betrothal.”
“I’m afraid not, though the news is not all bad. My father showed considerable understanding when I told him about you, which is most surprising since he was the greatest proponent of my marriage to the princess before I was pressed into service last spring. With his support, I believe the battle is half won.”
Which still left the other half. “And the king?” I asked.
“His majesty was very displeased when he heard that I had chosen a lady from the Colonies over his daughter. He has refused to act until after you arrived.”
My heart fluttered nervously. “Why should my arrival have any bearing on his decision? Is he so concerned that I’ll prove an embarrassment to the crown?”
“I’ve no idea what the king is thinking,” Henry said. “For the time being, I’ve been commanded to honor the betrothal with Amelia, and notified that any actions to the contrary would be considered an insult to the house of Hanover. His spies arrived at the docks shortly after me, I presume under orders to witness our first encounter. If I had done as my heart bid and publicly shown my preference for you, I believe the king would have taken action. Rather than risk my father’s anger by arresting his only son and heir, he would have had you arrested instead.”
I sat up a little straighter. “But Henry, what if we’re being followed? Surely they saw us get into the carriage together.”
“What I do in private is my own affair.” He laughed bitterly. “As a matter of fact, the king has even encouraged it. I would never insult you by sharing such vulgar notions, but I believe you deserve the entire truth. The king suggested that I marry the princess and keep you for my mistress.”
I pulled in a sharp breath. James was a bloody soothsayer! Or else he was exceptionally good at guessing the king’s mind. Whichever, the man had been uncanny in detailing what would happen once I arrived. I felt a twinge of guilt for even asking my next question. “And what do you think of the king’s idea?”
Henry stiffened behind me. “I think my uncle is a damned fool, and if he were any other man I would have challenged him to a duel right then and there.”
“Are you insane?” I cried, trying to twist my head around to look at him. He was holding me so tightly, my movement accomplished very little other than bringing my cheek closer to his own. “You might have died! And then where would you have been, with me stuck in the middle of the Atlantic too far away to help?”
Henry was undeterred by the rhetorical nature of my question. “Dead, I guess.” He laughed, his deep voice tickling my ear. “Don’t worry, Selah, there is not a man in England who can stand against my sword, the king included.”
Cocky bugger. I would have laughed except for the severity of the situation. “I thought dueling was illegal in England.”
“Only for those careless enough to get caught. Otherwise it’s perfectly acceptable.”
“And if one happens to be careless?”
“Fines for the most part unless a death occurs. Then it’s considered murder and tried accordingly.”
I swallowed hard, grateful I hadn’t yet shared James’s thoughts on my being a mistress. Best friend or not, I had a bad feeling that Henry would feel compelled to act on the insult. “Others are sure to disapprove of me and may even share the king’s opinion. You must promise never to duel on my account.”
“I’ll not stand by and let people make a mockery of our love.”
“Good heavens, Henry! What will it matter if you are dead?”
“You’re here now, my guardian angel, come to keep me safe.” He buried his face in my hair and inhaled deeply. “I’ve missed the way you smell. It’s so different from other women, sweet like violets, with something wild mixed in.”
“Be serious. If you get hanged for murder there will be nothing I can do but stand by and watch it happen.” He nuzzled my neck, sending warm tremors all over my skin. “Stop that,” I said, pulling away. “Unless you promise not to duel, I’ll sail back to the Colonies this very evening. Some conceited dolt is sure to insult me, and I’ll not live in fear of losing you. I would rather you marry Amelia than die protecting your stupid honor.”
“You don’t mean it.”
“Yes, I do, so you best let me know right now whether or not I should seek passage.”
Henry laughed again. “I would lock you in the Tower myself if I thought you would really try to leave. All the same, I solemnly pledge not to duel without good cause.”
“You’re jesting! You might as well swear not to breathe for all the good it will do. I assure you, someone is going to insult me before this is done. I almost think you’re hoping for a fight.”
“How about profound cause? Will that suffice?”
“Hardly,” I huffed, resting back against him. “I’ve promised you my heart, yet you refuse to do the same in return. Maybe you should marry Amelia after all if satisfying your pride means more than my love.”
“Merciless woman,” he said, in between nibbling my ear. Then he took my hand and placed it over his heart. “Can you feel that?”
I closed my eyes, pressing my hand flat against him. “Yes, I feel it.”
“It belongs to you, Selah. I gave it freely and have no intention of taking it back. You are the only woman I love and the only woman who will ever bear my name. The king may bluster and threaten all he wants and I promise to behave myself on your behalf. As for any other man who is fool enough to insult my future wife, I’ll be hard pressed to show the same patience. But for you, I will do my utmost to seek other recourse before submitting to a duel.” He bent his head down and kissed me again, his warm mouth emphasizing the point. My hand was still over his heart, its rhythmic thump beating softly in my own chest.
“Very well,” I said, near breathless when he had finished. “That seems the best I can expect and so I must trust in your sensibility.” Finding his hand, I laced our fingers together. He flinched unexpectedly.
“What is the matter?”
“Nothing much, just a small cut from this morning.”
My power had grown so sluggish, for the past week now it seemed insufficient to heal even a hangnail. But then Henry had kissed me, bringing up a reserve I thought long spent while sailing on the Callisto.
“Take off your glove,” I said, eager to see if I was up to the task.
“You must be tired. It can wait until later.”
“Take it off or I shall heal it right through the leather.”
“Very well,” he laughed, pulling off the glove. “There is a nice gash in between my thumb and index finger.”
Even in the heavy shadow, I could make out the blood stained bandage that had been hastily tied in place. “How did it happen?”
He paused before answering. “I cut it on your father’s pocket watch.”
Loosening the knot, I gently pulled the bandage away and squinted at the wound. It was deep all right, cutting almost to the bone from what I could tell. “I never knew a watch could be so dangerous.”
“Usually they’re not. Mine just happened to be in my hand when the messenger arrived with news of your ship. I expected the worst at first and inadvertently tightened my hand into a fist. The glass facing broke before I realized what I was doing. A goldsmith should be able to fix the damage.”
“I am more concerned about your hand,” I said as Brigid’s fire stirred inside me. It was a fraction of what I had felt while kissing Henry, but certainly enough to heal such a simple wound. With some prodding, the warmth moved down my arms into my fingers before suddenly receding back to my core.
“Are you too tired?” Henry asked.
I shook my head. “My power is just being stubborn.”
Renewing my concentration, I focused directly on the gash. More power stirred this time and I willed it up to my fingertips. The carriage had grown uncomfortably warm while I worked, causing a thin coat of sweat to form on my forehead. Feeling the power begin to pull back, I snapped my eyes shut and forced it from my hands.
The moment it flowed into Henry, my insides prickled unpleasantly. The sensation lasted only a few seconds while I mended the various layers of tissue and rethreaded the nerves and vessels. Once done, I opened my eyes to inspect his hand. The blood still needed to be cleaned up, but the skin looked good as new.
Henry flexed his hand several times. “That is amazing. Thank you, Selah.”
“My pleasure,” I said, which was partly the truth. The other part was more than I wanted to consider at the moment. The carriage wheels clattered along the cobblestones, reminiscent of a clock ticking down the seconds. “Are we near Lansbury House?”
“I’ve arranged for different accommodations with a young widow by the name of Lady Catherine Dinley. She’s a dear friend and a well-known favorite at court. If she likes you, she may even be willing to help with our cause.”
“And if she doesn’t like me?” I couldn’t help asking.
“How could she not?” Henry laughed. “My judgment is impeccable.”
“Just with women or in every aspect of your life?”
“In everything,” he said, kissing my neck playfully. “But especially in women.”
The carriage slowed to a stop, and I scooted off of his lap to straighten my skirts. Henry smoothed the wrinkles from his own clothing. “I sent word of your arrival before I left for the docks so she is expecting you.”
My heart filled with dread for what lay ahead. “Will you be treating me like before once we are in public?”
He reached over and took my hand, pressing it in his own. “Seeing you today nearly undid me after so long apart. But now that I’ve been...reassured of your safety, I needn’t employ such extreme measures to keep my emotions in check. We may act as any friends, and hopefully even that charade will soon end once the king meets you and the betrothal is canceled with Amelia.” He pressed my hand again. “Are you ready?”
I nodded, ready as I would ever be.
Chapter Four
Two Letters
I stood in the street and stared up at the redbrick mansion of Lady Catherine Dinley. The enormous Georgian townhome was perfectly symmetrical, each half a mirror reflection of the other. From the rows of large rectangular windows, I counted three full stories in addition to another floor built partially below ground level, most likely to house the servants. The front door stood dead center, framed on either side by decorative square stone columns. Four more square columns, two on either side of the home, ran along the brick façade some distance from the front door, stretching majestically from the ground up to the roofline.
The other carriage arrived shortly after us. A footman opened the door and Nora was the first to tumble out. She came up to me, her neck craned just as mine had been in an attempt to take in the entire house.
“Is this our humble lodgings?” she asked.
“Yes,” Henry answered. “I hope you find it to your liking. Lady Catherine Dinley is a most obliging woman.”
“Oh, dear,” Nora said, somewhat dismayed. “Another noble I am bound to offend with my simple ways. Do you think she will toss me out the first time I use her Christian name?” She turned toward me. “Don’t get too attached yet as we may be seeking another place to stay tonight.”
James stood on Nora’s other side. “Just be yourself,” he said kindly. “I’m sure Lady Dinley will understand.”
My mouth fell open with an indignant breath. Just be yourself! I could have strangled him as he looked at Nora with a sympathetic smile. Since our first meeting, I had tried to be myself and had only managed to earn James’s contempt for my efforts. As a fully committed Quaker, Nora posed ten times more of a threat to the peerage than I ever did, despite my strong dislike for the system. All I wanted was to marry a single lord. If she had her druthers, the entire noble class would be abolished, yet somehow I was the villain.
Clearly, the man was an idiot.
“You will find that Lady Dinley is not a typical noble,” Henry said, “which is probably why we get along so well. For a widow, she is quite liberal minded, and will not object to being informally addressed any more than I do. Besides, I’ve already warned her about your customs.”
There was a time, I thought, when Henry might have had a very different opinion regarding the use of titles, especially when being addressed by a commoner. Though not so long ago, that was before he had come to the Colonies and lived among the Quakers. For Nora’s sake, I hoped he was right about Lady Dinley.
“I’ll trust your opinion, Henry Fitzalan,” Nora said, still somewhat skeptical, “and will be prepared to duck all the same.”
Henry laughed and placed a hand on my elbow. “Shall we go inside?”
Six stone steps led to the front door where another powdered footman greeted us. Bowing deeply to Henry, he guided us through a large vestibule with a polished stone floor and high domed ceiling, into a formal drawing room. The richly papered walls and gilded furnishings exceeded anything I had ever seen before, and I had to fight the urge to turn a slow circle in awe. I settled instead for stealing surreptitious looks while attempting to keep a disinterested expression. Brighmor looked a beggar’s hovel in comparison.
“I will inform her ladyship of your arrival, my lord.” The footman bowed again to Henry, and left the room.
Nora rolled her eyes. “I’ve never seen so much bobbing in my entire life,” she said, apparently more concerned with the social customs than the beautiful room. “It’s a wonder the man isn’t half bent by the end of each day.”
“There is a rack below stairs for just that purpose,” a woman said, her pleasant voice catching us by surprise as she came into the room. “Some swear the device is only suitable for torture, but there’s nothing better to work the cricks out after a day of bobbing.”
I turned toward her, my breath catching in my throat. She was a stunning creature, about my height with rich auburn hair and fair skin set to perfection by an apple-green silk gown. Judging by her youthful complexion, she couldn’t be a day above twenty-one years.
“Don’t worry your mind,” the lady continued, looking at Nora. “A few turns of the handle and he’ll be good as new. The screaming can be rather trying on the nerves though, which is why I’ve always kept it in the servant’s quarters.”
Nora blushed, her cheeks turning a faint pink. “Please forgive my rudeness. I’ve a very bad habit of speaking my mind.”
Our hostess’s dark blue eyes sparkled with gaiety. “A habit I hope you will never lose.” She gave Nora a subtle wink, then turned to Henry, a smile playing on her mouth. “Good day, Lord Fitzalan. Will you
be so kind as to introduce me to your party?”
“My pleasure,” he said. “Lady Dinley, this is Miss Selah Kilbrid and her traveling companions, Nora and Lucy Goodwin. And that shy creature is Beth, their maid, I believe.” Beth stood a few paces behind Lucy, staring fixedly at the floor as though willing herself to disappear. Upon hearing her name, she bobbed a quick curtsey without lifting her eyes.
Lady Dinley looked at each of us in turn before bringing her attention back to me. “So this is the mysterious girl from the Colonies who has stolen Lord Fitzalan’s heart. All of London has been abuzz with your name these past months.” Smiling, she extended a delicate hand to me. I accepted, putting my gloved hand in her palm. She placed her other hand on top of mine and stared at me in silence. “It is very good to meet you Miss Kilbrid,” she said after a moment, releasing me from her stare as she let go of my hand. “It is a pleasure to make all of your acquaintances, and I welcome you to my home.”
“And you, Catherine Dinley,” Lucy said, “You are very kind to offer us lodging.”
I tensed at the first challenge to Lady Dinley’s rank. “Please call me Cate,” she said to Lucy. “Catherine is much too formal for my liking.”
I let out a slow breath, relieved to know that we would not be looking for another place to stay tonight. From Nora’s pleased smile, I knew she was thinking the same.
Lady Dinley, or Cate as she had just requested, walked over to a small Queen Anne table that held a servant’s bell. One ring brought two young ladies scurrying into the drawing room. “Sophie and Fanny, please see our guests up to their rooms. And have tea trays sent up.” She turned to Lucy. “I’m sure you would like to freshen up and rest after your journey.”
“Thank you,” Lucy said, obviously pleased by the suggestion. “I’m afraid we are all feeling a bit frayed around the edges.”
