“Then we are in sympathy with one another, Miss Marfont.” Lucas smiled as he led the two young ladies out to the entrance hall.
Once he had said good evening to Florence and made his way out into the cold air, Lucas wondered quite when he might ever see the captivating and beautiful young woman again. After all, if she was the niece of an attorney, it might be true to say that she would not go out and about much in society. He would simply have to hope to find her once again at an evening of interest.
“Oh, I say!” Lady Cordelia said rather loudly as they approached the carriage. “I have rather left my little drawstring purse on one of the tables in the drawing room. I shall just dash back in for it if you would both excuse me just a few moments?”
“Certainly, Cordelia,” Davina said brightly.
Lucas walked Davina Marfont around the side of the carriage and made ready to open the door and assist her inside. The moon was almost full and really rather bright that he could see her quite clearly in its shining glow. She really was so very beautiful.
“You did not enjoy the poetry reading, did you, Miss Marfont?” Lucas said quietly.
“In truth, Sir, I did not. It did not somehow feel … faithful?” She shook her head little. “No, that is not the word I am looking for,” she said, almost under her breath.
“It did not have the intended passion,” Lucas said, helpfully. “You see, what I have rather learned from my study of John Keats’ work is that you can read it gently if that is your want. His work can be taken as calmly romantic, something to be soothed by. But if you read it in a different way, if you interpret it with passion, I rather think you can unleash something so very much more potent; so very much more real.”
“I believe you are right, Sir,” Davina Marfont said in an almost tremulous voice.
Something about the moonlight and the fact that Lady Cordelia Cunningham would be returning at any moment, rendering his one chance entirely lost, made Lucas just a little reckless. He suddenly found himself reaching for her hands, and he took them both firmly in his own before he began to recite his favourite stanza from La Belle Dame Sans Merci.
“I saw pale kings and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried—‘La Belle Dame sans Merci
Hath thee in thrall!’
Lucas spoke the words with the depth and urgency he had always known they ought to be spoken with. He recited that one stanza with more passion than he had ever done before; perhaps the passion of the poem was intertwined with the beauty and uniqueness of the young lady before him.
Before Davina Marfont had any opportunity to respond, they were both startled back into reality by the sound of Lady Cordelia Cunningham’s hastily approaching footsteps.
“I shall bid you ladies goodnight,” Lucas said simply as he helped each lady in turn into the carriage.
Chapter Five
“Lady Cordelia Cunningham is here to see you, Miss Marfont.” Violet, one of only two maids in the small Marfont household, led Cordelia into the sitting room.
“Thank you, Violet. Would you be so kind as to bring us some tea?” Davina asked with a smile.
“Of course, Miss Marfont.”
“Oh, do come in, Cordelia. Take a seat opposite me here by the fire, for it is roaring, and it is such a cold day.”
“I shall be very pleased of it, my dear, for I rode all the way here.”
“Cordelia, it is but one mile!” Davina said and laughed jovially.
“But it was a very cold mile, Davina.” And with that, both women began to laugh.
“I am so very pleased you have come over this morning, Cordelia. I should be very glad of your company.”
Davina truly meant what she said, for she had felt a little out of sorts all morning. It was not a feeling that was particularly unpleasant, in truth, rather it was more confusing. From the very moment that Lord Lucas Farrington had seized both of her hands and recited the stanza, she had not known a moment’s true peace. The young man had upended her most dreadfully, and she could not entirely work out if the feeling was excitement or fear.
“I must admit to being a little concerned for you,” Cordelia began, standing in front of the fire and rubbing her hands together somewhat dramatically. “For you were most dreadfully quiet and withdrawn for the entire carriage ride last night. I cannot think that you spoke two words together all the way from Miss Nelson’s home to Horndean.”
“I beg you would forgive me, Cordelia,” Davina began. “I do hope that I did not worry you too much, my dear.”
“I must admit to being a little concerned, although I knew in my heart that if you had something worrying you terribly you would have said.” Cordelia stopped for a moment and turned to look at Davina. She was chewing on her bottom lip, almost as if she were building herself up to make a speech of some kind. “Forgive me for prying, my dear, but did your curious mood have anything to do with Lord Lucas Farrington?”
Davina hardly knew what to say; every time she remembered those few moments in her mind, she almost felt every emotion and physical feeling she had experienced at the time. Lucas Farrington had spoken the poem just exactly as it should have been spoken, with even more passion and fervency than she could ever have imagined. He was not simply reading it or reciting it, he was speaking it from his very core; from his very heart. That was how poetry was meant to be done, and he certainly did it very well indeed.
His voice was beautifully deep, and as he spoke each word, he seemed to draw ever closer to her until, by the final line, their faces were just inches apart. It was the most curiously intimate experience of her entire life, and she could hardly think about it without blushing.
Furthermore, she knew how deep the rift between the two families went, and she knew that she ought to firmly come down on the side of the Cunninghams, come what may. Davina could not help fearing that her friend, her very dearest friend, was about to chastise her for her interest.
“Perhaps just a little, my dear. But I do not wish to insult you by appearing too enthusiastic over the young man. I must admit, I found his manners and conversation very agreeable indeed, but I should not wish to drive a wedge between us. Your friendship is more important to me than anything in this world, Cordelia.”
“Oh, my dear friend.” Cordelia turned bright and surprised eyes upon her. “I did not come here to chastise you for getting along so very well with Lucas Farrington. Rather I have come to find out exactly what it was that happened in between my going to collect my velvet bag and returning to the carriage. It is sheer prying, my dear, and nothing more respectable than that.” Cordelia laughed heartily. “I have come to satisfy my own dreadful curiosity, Davina, not to admonish you in any way. It is just that I sensed a certain romance in the air, and I have come here to indulge myself, full of hope all the way that you would have something exciting and delicious to tell me.”
“Oh, if only I had known. I could have spoken of it all in the carriage last night and at least found some relief from my thoughts,” Davina said as she let out a great sigh of relief.
And in truth, it really was a great relief. Not only was she pleased that she had not in any way upset her dear friend, but she was equally pleased that her friend seemed not at all interested in a decades-old feud, but rather more interested in the prospect of some romantic tale or other. At least now Davina would have somebody to tell.
“Then there is something to tell?” Cordelia hurriedly sat down in the chair opposite her friend. “Then you must tell me everything. Really you must.”
Before Davina had a chance to say anything further, the maid returned to the room with a heavily laden tea tray. The two young women remained utterly silent, and Davina could see that Cordelia’s eyes were shining with excitement and impatience.
“Tell me!” Cordelia said the very moment the maid left the room.
Davina told her the entire thing from beginning to end, leaving nothing out, not even the part where Lord
Lucas Farrington had held her by the hands.
“I knew he had an interest in you, my dear,” Cordelia said, her eyes wide with excitement. “And I had always wondered if there was a passion within that man’s breast. He really is so very different from his brothers. There is something so very silent about him, and yet so very deep. He is an interesting man, is he not?” Cordelia went on excitedly.
“In truth, I think him very interesting indeed. His manners and his conversation were very pleasing, and it is rare to find a young man these days who is so very knowledgeable about poetry. I mean, he understands what is at the heart of it; that it is more than words.”
“Goodness me, it seems almost like fate that you met.”
“Oh, Cordelia, you really are so very fanciful!” Davina laughed heartily, and Cordelia joined in.
“You must not deny me, my dear. I do so love romance,” Cordelia spoke wistfully, even as she continued to laugh.
“I should deny you nothing, Cordelia.” Davina smiled. “But you say he is so different from his brothers. Do you know the other Farringtons?”
“In truth, I do not know them so well as I know Lucas Farrington. So, I daresay what I have just said seems a little curious. I think when I say he is so very different from his brothers it is something in his manner which sets him apart. Certainly, his older two brothers seem intent upon this dreadful feud that exists between our families. In that respect, they rather remind me of my own brothers, and I do not like it. I know much less of the younger ones, except to say that perhaps the very youngest of them is not quite so tainted by it all. But you see, these are simply silent observations, for I have never held two minutes’ conversation with any of the Farrington brothers barring Lucas.”
“Does he attend many society functions?” Davina asked with interest.
“He does but rarely, Davina. One is very much more likely to see Lucas Farrington in the home of Florence Nelson or some other such similar wonderful intellectual hostess than at the very most fashionable ball in the middle of the London season. He has always struck me rather as a man out of place, in many respects. And whilst he and I have a somewhat tenuous relationship, still, we have managed to forge some sort of relationship that exists outside the bounds of the dreadful quarrels of our families. I am not quite sure what that is, but I must admit that I am awfully glad of it.”
“I think it is simply because of the types of events that you both attend,” Davina said thoughtfully. “It is rather a wonderful thing, but I think that perhaps a shared enjoyment of art and other intellectual pursuits rather transcends the basic instincts of us all, does it not?”
“I believe the very same thing myself, Davina. Intellectual pursuits bind us in the manner of a community and, within that community there may be no distinctions between persons in terms of class, wealth, and allegiances. That is truly, as you say, wonderful.”
“I was so worried that you might be angry with me for my high regard of Lord Farrington.” Davina smiled.
“So, you do like him then?” Once again, Cordelia looked excited.
“Only in as far as I have said, Cordelia. He is very interesting and his manner and conversation most pleasing. He is a very nice man, and that is all.”
“How can that possibly be all there is to it?” Cordelia looked disappointed. “After all, he gripped you by the hands and recited poetry to you in the moonlight!”
“Oh, Cordelia!” Davina began to laugh heartily and much more unguardedly than she might have done were they in public. “With prose like that, you ought really to write poetry yourself.”
“Yes, I am rather good, am I not?” Cordelia laughed, not minding to be teased at all. “But I do so like to hear of the romances of others; especially my friends.”
“You think that Lord Farrington and I are on a pathway to romance, do you?” Davina smiled indulgently.
“I do hope so, my dear.” Cordelia rubbed her hands together in an almost manly fashion before daintily picking up her cup and saucer and sipping her tea.
“Do you not think it a little dangerous, Cordelia? After all, my uncle is your family’s attorney, and I cannot begin to imagine that either he or any other member of your family should be at all pleased by the idea of romance between myself and anyone of the Farrington family.”
“I suppose it is a little dangerous, my dear, but perhaps that is what draws me to enjoy it so.”
“You should not speak so, Cordelia.” Davina tried to look scandalised but, in truth, was rather enjoying the turn of conversation.
“Perhaps it is not even the danger of the thing that makes it more romantic. Perhaps it is something else altogether.”
“Such as?” Davina did not want the conversation to end.
“Perhaps it is simply the fact that attraction between two people transcends age-old resentments. Almost as if it were a healing balm on the wounds of two families.”
“You mean love conquers all?” Davina smiled.
“If I were to put it as succinctly as you then yes, that is what I would have said.” Cordelia laughed.
“Unfortunately, I do not think my uncle will see it the same way as you do, Cordelia. I would not even dare approach the subject with him, for I know that he should never understand it.”
“No, and that is the sadness of it all, is it not? When love seeks to conquer all, hate and bigotry seem to find extra fortification from somewhere.”
“I am rather afraid that you are entirely correct in the matter.”
“But clearly it is not a thing which much concerns Lord Lucas Farrington. He rather strikes me as a man who would, if his heart instructed him, defy his own family altogether.” Cordelia was still excited by the idea.
“But where he might defy his own family, there is no way that I shall be able to defy mine. My uncle would turn me out of his home without a penny nor anywhere to go. You know the dreadful man as well as I do, and you know what I say is true.”
“Then we shall have to take very great care that your uncle does not discover it until it is too late.”
“Too late?”
“Well, just imagine this,” Cordelia began. “If you can find ways to continue to develop your acquaintanceship with Lucas Farrington, then you need only keep things secret up until the point he asks you to marry him. What does it matter then if your uncle turns you out of his dreadful home?”
“Cordelia, do you not think you are, perhaps, jumping ahead just a little?” Davina shrieked at the idea. “I have been but two hours in the man’s company, and already you talk of marriage. And let us not forget, Cordelia, that I am not of his station. I am not a member of the aristocracy, nor even the upper classes. I am the orphaned charge of an attorney, hardly the sort of woman that the Duke of Calgarth would see marrying into his own family!” Davina laughed and shook her head.
“I cannot begin to imagine that that would matter one bit to Lucas Farrington. After all, did we not just say that within intellectual circles there are no such distinctions?”
“Well, you said that, Cordelia.” Davina was still laughing. “And I do believe, to a large extent, that what you say on the matter is true. But perhaps not with a family as great as the Farringtons. After all, we are talking of the Dukedom, and you know yourself of the expectations which weigh heavily upon each and every member of a Duchy family.”
“That is true, Davina,” Cordelia said thoughtfully. “And of the two of us, I do believe you are the more sensible. However, I am not ready to let go of this idea just yet. It pleases me greatly and appeals very much to my passionate and romantic heart.” Cordelia finished with a dramatic flourish which once again had Davina laughing.
Chapter Six
Dusk was falling by the time Lucas had arrived home and was warming his hands in front of the drawing-room fire. He had not stopped smiling throughout the entire ride home, and even the cold of the autumn evening could not cool his burning heart.
Lucas Farrington had just had what he thought was likely to be
the finest day of his life so far. He had spent the entire day out in the cold, beautiful, rugged countryside with Davina Marfont and had found her the most wonderful company. Even more so than he had found her on that evening in the home of Florence Nelson.
Finally judging himself warm enough to remove his cloak he did so and draped it over the back of one of the fireside armchairs. Striding across the room, Lucas poured himself a generous helping of brandy and returned to the fire to take a seat.
With at least an hour before dinner, the remainder of the Farrington family were undoubtedly either taking some rest or beginning to get themselves dressed in readiness. Whatever they were doing, they were doing it elsewhere, and Lucas was inordinately glad for finding privacy without having to resort to retiring to his own rooms.
The fireplace in the drawing room was several times larger than the one in his rooms and roared with an intensity that seemed to match Lucas’ very insides.
Lucas took a great gulp of the fiery brandy and winced as it rapidly warmed his throat and belly. He leaned his head back against the armchair and closed his eyes, all the better to savour the delights of the day in his memory.
Having been quite unable to stop thinking about Miss Davina Marfont since he had met her at the poetry reading, Lucas had spent day after day thinking how he could contrive to meet her again. At first, he had thought that he would simply have to attend every interesting and educational social event in the County in the hopes of bumping into her at one of them. And yet, there was something about Davina Marfont which stoked a passion within him. It was a passion that he could not quite account for, and yet he knew that it was a passion that he had waited and longed for his whole life. It was the sort of passion that created the very best poetry.
Deciding that simply waiting and hoping would not be enough for either Lucas or his determined heart, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Dressing a little roughly to ride out, almost as if in disguise, Lucas had tentatively made his way onto the bounds of the Horndean lands. He knew that Davina lived on a small estate within the Duchy of Horndean estate, and he intended to look for her.
Regency Romance Collection: Regency Fire: The Historical Regency Romance Complete Series (Books 1-5) Page 16
