“The losers, of course.”
“And if said wish is not grantable?” he asked.
Harriett shrugged. “Then the wish will not be granted. So the winner had best keep that in mind and make sure to ask for a grantable wish.”
Lady Drayson pressed her fingers to her temples as though she already felt a headache coming on. “I have a feeling this is to be the longest night of my life.”
“Who wants to play whist?” Harriett beamed.
And so it began. The four of them played whist for hours until Lady Drayson cried off and returned to the sofa to rest her mind and her eyes for a bit. At that point, the cards were put away, and Lucy, Colin and Harriett began a game of riddles. Twice, Lucy’s eyes grew heavy, but a slight nudge from Colin’s elbow jolted her back awake. Why he bothered, Lucy could not understand. She felt sure that Harriett would be declared the winner.
But Lucy had underestimated Colin, who never seemed to tire. At some point during the wee hours of the morning, Harriett’s head finally flopped against the wings of the large chair where she had curled up. Her mouth parted slightly and a light snore escaped, making Lucy giggle. Poor Lady Drayson had been asleep for hours. Harriett had propped a pillow under her head and lifted her feet to the sofa, so that she could sleep more peacefully in a reclined position. Colin had tucked a rug around her as well.
Blinking against the dryness in her eyes, Lucy stood and stretched her arms overhead, feeling utterly exhausted. “I declare you the winner, Colin. Shall we see if we can help your mother and sister off to bed?”
Colin’s hand reached for hers, and he tugged her back down next to him.
“Since you have declared me the winner,” said Colin. “I have earned a wish. And it is my wish that I have you all to myself for a few moments longer before I have to return you to your mother.”
Lucy was more than happy to grant his wish. She smiled and snuggled into his side, murmuring with pleasure when his arm wrapped around her. He kissed her lightly on the forehead and settled back.
“Have you missed your mother?” he asked.
“Of course,” she answered. “And Mr. Shepherd as well, if you can believe it. He has become a father to me. While I miss my natural father a great deal, and always will, Mr. Shepherd is quite wonderful, is he not?”
“Yes,” Colin answered. “And I must admit, Yorkshire is rather lovely, especially this time of year.”
“I am glad to hear you say as much.” Lucy smiled, forcing her eyes to stay open. “I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. It’s the only home I’ve ever known.”
The earl said nothing more, so Lucy snuggled in a little closer and murmured, “What about you? Do you miss your father?”
A few moments passed before he answered. “I do miss him. Or rather, I miss the relationship we could have had if I had been a better son. We were not so close as I would have liked, but I did value his opinion on certain matters. I feel as though he left me a great weight to manage, and I wish I would have cared a little more to learn from him.”
Lucy twisted to look up at him, but his eyes had a glazed look, as though he were far away from the drawing room at Tanglewood. There was a rawness in his expression, a vulnerability that Lucy had never seen before. Even when his memory had fled him, Colin had always exuded confidence, assurance, and strength. But now, whatever weight he carried could almost be seen, and it saddened her.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked quietly, running a finger over one of the lines near his eyes.
He captured her hand and kissed it, and the vulnerability was replaced with warmth. “You can stay exactly as you are.”
There is something you are not telling me, Lucy thought, wishing that he would. She wanted to pry whatever had caused those worry lines out of him, ease it from his shoulders, and figure out a way to lighten his burdens, but he said nothing more. He merely clasped Lucy’s hand and leaned his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. Lucy studied the angles on his face, his rigid nose with a slight bump in the middle, his textured lips, and every line. There were smile lines and worry lines, thinking lines and teasing lines. Lucy recognized all of them. She had fallen in love with each one.
What would happen to their “friendship” once she returned to Knotting Tree? Would it begin to fade? Would this closeness they shared eventually become a great distance? Or could Lucy dare to believe that this was merely the beginning of something wonderful? Was it possible for her, impoverished daughter of a vicar, to have a future with Colin Cavendish, the fifth Earl of Drayson? It felt so right, being with him. So normal. So comfortable. So . . . perfect.
Lucy couldn’t help but think that the Draysons had once, long ago, called Tanglewood their home. Was there any hope at all that it could be their home again?
With such thoughts on her mind, Lucy closed her eyes and drifted into a wistful sleep.
Bright light invaded Lucy’s wonderful dream. She closed her eyes against it and rolled away from the window. Another drape flew open, and more light entered the room. Lucy groaned in protest.
“Are ya ill, Miss Lucy?” Georgina’s anxious voice sounded from somewhere, invading yet again. Lucy very nearly told poor Georgina to go to the devil until she caught herself in time and moaned instead.
“I’m fine, Georgy. I’m simply wishing you would go away.” Lucy squinted out of one eye to see her maid readying her gown. Apparently Georgina wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’m afraid I can’t, Miss Lucy. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd ’re ’ere ter collect ya. Probably best not ter keep ’em waitin’ too long.”
Sleep forgotten, Lucy bolted upright. “Mama is here? Already?”
“Yeah, Miss. ’Tis nearly noon.”
Noon already? Lucy could scarce believe it. She shoved the covers aside and slid from her bed. “Gracious, Georgy, why did you not wake me sooner?”
“I tried, Miss,” said Georgina with a grin. “But ya said somethin’ about leavin’ ya be with Lord Drayson, so leave ya be I did. Seemed ter me loike ya was in the middle of a sweet dream. ’E carried ya ter your bed last night, ya kna.”
Lucy’s eyes widened as the memories of the night before returned to her mind. She glanced down at her nightdress with wide eyes. “How did I come to be wearing this, Georgy?”
“Lord Drayson awakened me, Miss. You was ’alf asleep, but I managed ter get ya dressed proper-loike.”
Lucy sighed and enfolded Georgina in a hug. “Thank you for always being so good to me, Georgy. I am a perfect wretch to have barked at you a moment ago.”
“’Tis nothin’, Miss. Nah one loikes ter be awakened from a ’appy dream.”
“Which is precisely why I am so grateful you accepted the job as my lady’s maid. Whatever would I do without you?”
“I might not ’ave a job much longer if’n I don’t get ya dressed soon.”
Lucy capitulated to her maid’s ministrations, trying to sip her chocolate and eat a few bites of toast in the process. Perhaps the food would help settle her stomach, which was currently a wad of nerves. Her time at Tanglewood had felt like a beautiful dream, but now that dream was about to come to an end, and she had no clue as to what her future held.
Not twenty minutes later, Lucy rushed down the stairs to greet her parents. Lady Drayson was already in the morning room, looking fresh and beautiful, as though she had not been made to stay awake so late the night before. Colin and Harriett were nowhere in sight.
“Mama, Papa.” Lucy hugged each in turn, pausing in front of Mr. Shepherd. “I am free to call you Papa now, am I not? Mr. Shepherd is such a mouthful and Stephen is far too staid.”
“Papa will suit me just fine,” he said, returning her hug. Both parents glowed with a happiness Lucy could now understand.
She ushered them back to their seats. “You must tell us all about your trip. I am anxious for news.”
Her mother smiled and took a seat on the sofa once again. “I am afraid we have already bored Lady Drayson with
the details, so I shall wait to repeat myself until we have returned home.”
“Your mother was just telling me about the ball they wish to host for you on Friday next.”
“Oh, yes. The ball.” Lucy sank down slowly beside her mother, wondering how she felt about it now. Her thoughts went to Colin and what it had felt like to dance in his arms. Perhaps a ball would not be so distasteful after all, so long as he would be in attendance.
“Try not to sound too thrilled, my dear,” Mrs. Shepherd teased, patting Lucy’s hands. To Lady Drayson, she explained, “For Lucy, balls are more of a thorn than a fragrant flower.”
Lady Drayson laughed. “I understand completely. I never did enjoy them the way other young ladies of my acquaintance seemed to. They were always stifling affairs where I was forced to dance with more than one young man who either bored me to tears or tread on my slippers.”
“And yet every young lady ought to experience at least one ball thrown in her honor, wouldn’t you agree, Lady Drayson?” said Mr. Shepherd.
“Most definitely,” answered Lady Drayson. “My own comeout ball was quite an enjoyable experience, I must say. It was there that I was introduced to the late Lord Drayson, which also happened to be the first and last ball he ever attended.” She laughed. “I quite lost my heart to him that night, but I was such a timid thing back then that he didn’t spare me a second thought. I had to do some sleuthing and put myself in his path numerous times before he finally began to notice me during my second season.”
“Truly?” Lucy said, delighted at the story.
“Truly,” she answered with a soft smile. “Those were wonderful times. I envy you, Mrs. and Mr. Shepherd. Most people do not get a second chance at love. One need not look far to see that you are both very happy together.”
“Yes, we are,” Mrs. Shepherd said, clasping her husband’s hand. “Very happy. It was a lucky coincidence that I had to look only as far as the neighboring estate to find him. I feel very blessed indeed.”
Lucy studied Lady Drayson with a new perspective. She seemed so strong and unwavering, and yet underneath that exterior, Lucy could see that she may not be quite so impervious as she let on. It tore at Lucy’s heart.
Lady Drayson didn’t seem to be one to dwell on sad things for long. She smiled brightly. “I think a ball is a splendid idea. Harriett and I would be thrilled to assist you in any way that we can.”
“I would love your help,” said Mrs. Shepherd. “I really have no notion how to go about it, and I’m afraid if I left it in Mr. Shepherd’s hands, instead of dancing and merriment, our guests would be subjected to discourses on medicine, politics, or the various patterns in the weather.”
“I believe you are spreading it on a bit thick, my dear.”
“Perhaps.” She smiled.
Lady Drayson laughed. “I must warn you that if you allow Harriett to be involved, there will be mountains of merriment.”
“Mountains and mountains,” Lucy agreed.
They discussed plans for the ball for a few moments longer before Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd rose to leave, thanking their hostess one last time for welcoming Lucy into their home.
“It was truly wonderful having her here,” said Lady Drayson. “Our family has taken quite a fancy to her.”
Lucy smiled, wanting the opportunity to say goodbye to Colin and Harriett before she left. “Is Harriett still abed?” she asked.
“I’m afraid so. Her maid attempted to rouse her and was struck by a large pillow as a result. But we will be sure to call on you tomorrow morning.”
Lucy nodded, wanting to ask about Colin as well, but unsure if she should. He was likely still in bed as well. She twisted her hands together in a moment of hesitation before Lady Drayson seemed to guess what was on her mind.
“Colin would be here to say goodbye, but his bailiff arrived an hour ago with some urgent business. They have been shut away in the library ever since.”
Lucy nodded again, struggling to keep a happy countenance. “Tell them both goodbye for me, and . . . thank you. I enjoyed my time with your family immensely.” She gave Lady Drayson a parting hug and followed her parents to the waiting coach, where her small trunk had already been added to the rest of the luggage, thanks to Georgina.
Lucy climbed inside, settled into the seat next to Georgina, and watched Tanglewood grow smaller and smaller as they rode away.
True to Lady Drayson’s promise, the family called at Knotting Tree the following morning. As soon as Lucy received news that they had come, she dropped her watering can on the marble tile in the conservatory and rushed to greet them. It had only been a day, but it seemed like weeks since she had seen them.
They were already seated in the salon with her parents when she found them. The men stood when she entered.
“Hello.” She greeted them with a warm smile, her gaze lingering on Colin. He looked as handsome as usual, but his smile seemed a touch strained. She tried not to worry herself over it as she sat down in the chair next to his. “It is wonderful to have you here. It feels like an age since I have seen you last.”
“I feel the same,” said Harriett. “Yesterday was the dreariest of days. I awoke with a headache that refused to dissipate, Colin spent the entire day shut in the library with Mr. Graham, and Mother wanted to try her hand at arranging flowers again. I’m sorry to say that my second attempt fared even worse than before.”
“I don’t believe you for a moment,” said Lucy, remembering how dreadful Harriett’s first arrangement had looked. But Lady Drayson’s subtle nod had Lucy reconsidering.
“Mother!” Harriett had noticed the nod as well and wasn’t at all happy about it.
Lady Drayson’s lips twitched. “I’m very sorry to have to say it, Harriett, but you are in the right of it. I believe you took your headache out on those poor flowers.”
Lucy couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of her mouth. She glanced at Lord Drayson to share the moment with him, but although he smiled, his eyes had that faraway look about them, as though his mind was focused on far less trivial matters than a ruined bouquet.
Lucy wanted to pull him aside and question him, force him to share his burdens with her, but she knew he would not appreciate such a scene. When the talk soon turned to the ball, Lucy joined in with the other ladies to plot and plan. But all the while, she stole glances at Colin and tried not to worry. Where had the teasing gone? The warmth in his expression? His excuses to be near her? Already, it felt as though he was drifting away.
Perhaps it is merely a difficult day for him, and tomorrow will be different, she thought hopefully.
But tomorrow was not much different. Or the next day. Or the next. With each new day that came and went, Lucy felt the distance between them lengthening. Her worst fears were being realized, and she felt powerless to stop it from happening.
The few times Lucy and her mother called at Tanglewood to discuss the upcoming ball, not once did Colin grace them with his presence. According to Lady Drayson, he was always away on business, and Lucy could only wonder what sort of business took him away so often. It was a side to him that he had never really shown Lucy. But now it seemed to be consuming him. Was something wrong? Had an investment failed? Was he having financial difficulties?
Please talk to me, she thought when she caught a glimpse of him riding away as she was coming.
Lucy’s entire being ached to understand the reason behind his distance, but try as she might, nothing understandable came to mind. Had his feelings toward her changed so drastically in so short a time?
The day of the ball finally came, and Lucy was quite on edge. It was a day most young ladies dreamt about, but she couldn’t shake the dreadful feeling that hovered around her heart, reminding her of the day the doctor had visited their home for the last time and explained that there was nothing more he could do for her father. It felt like a vicious storm was on its way, and rather than face it head on, Lucy wanted to hide away in her bedchamber and not come out until the ski
es had cleared.
Lady Drayson and Harriett called in the morning to see to the final details of the ball. They were to create a few flower arrangements and add the finishing touches to the ballroom that had not been used once in all the years Mr. Shepherd had lived in Askern. For a few hours, Lucy was able to forget her worries and get lost in the merriment of arranging flowers with the Draysons. Harriett still couldn’t pair flowers together without it looking misshapen or lopsided, but with a few adjustments, Lucy made her arrangement look informally beautiful, like Harriett.
“It is quite frightful, isn’t it?” Harriett said. “Perhaps we should display it in a dark corner of the library where no one will be subject to its imperfections.”
“I think it is charming, and I shall display it in the ballroom along with the others,” said Lucy. “As it is my ball, I should get whatever it is I wish.”
“You are perfectly right.” Harriett took Lucy’s hands and gave them a squeeze in a rare gesture of affection. “You really ought to get whatever it is you wish tonight. And I hope and pray you shall. I hope we all shall.”
If only life could be so magical, thought Lucy. Close your eyes, speak a wish, and suddenly what you wanted most appeared. But if it were that easy, Colin would be here now, taunting Harriett about her flowers and telling Lucy that he planned to instruct the orchestra to play a waltz so that they could shock the entire village by dancing it together.
But he was not here, and . . . Lucy refused to dwell on it a moment longer. Despite the feeling of dread, she would attempt to make this a wonderful, memorable night for herself and all those attending.
“Only wait until late summer, when Queen Anne’s lace is in bloom,” said Mrs. Beresford. “Last year, Lucy created the loveliest arrangement I have ever beheld with that flower. It looked like a large ball of delicate lace.”
Rather than brightening at the prospect, Lady Drayson and Harriett appeared saddened.
“If only we could see such a creation, Mrs. Shepherd. Unfortunately, we will not be here in August,” said Harriett. “Has Lucy not—” Harriett stopped abruptly when she caught sight of Lucy’s wide eyes.
The Fall of Lord Drayson (Tanglewood Book 1) Page 21
