“Well then, you must call me Adeline, or Addie if you prefer.”
“Addie; how endearing. And you really don’t mind?”
“I insist.” Addie didn’t understand why it was important for this woman to approve of her, but she had a sneaking suspicion it was because of her relation by marriage to Jack.
“Now, didn’t Jackson tell me that he has been acquainted with you and your father for many years back in the colonies?” Beatrice took Adeline’s arm and strolled with her over to the pastry table as she chatted. “I believe he mentioned something about your being involved in some of those suffragette meetings. Do tell me all about it, won’t you? I’m ever so interested but, being stuck out here in the country away from London, I don’t have any opportunity to find out how that cause is going.”
“Beatrice, will you please sit down.” Henrietta scolded the young pregnant woman. “Adeline and I will bring you some food, and then you can discuss reform to your heart’s content.”
Addie was surprised this proper English lady was so progressive, but she supposed that times were changing and everyone was interested in the future. She wondered what else Jack had told his family about her, but decided that it really didn’t matter since she wouldn’t be staying long anyway. So she filled her new acquaintance in on the latest progress both in America and London.
* * *
Jack watched his sister-in-law and Lady Huntingdon sitting with Adeline, deep in some conversation that was completely absorbing the three women. He was glad he had a moment to observe Addie when she was unaware of his presence. He was a bit worried how she would react to him today after their encounter in the wee hours this morning.
As if she could sense his scrutiny, she turned to look in his direction. Beatrice saw that her companion’s attention was diverted and looked up from their conversation. Marcus’s wife waved and beckoned her husband, Jackson, and Winston to approach. The brothers obeyed the only current Mrs. Bradley, and lady of the house, and came to stand by the women.
Jack watched Adeline as she smiled and acknowledged his brothers and himself and decided that she wasn’t at all affected by his presence. He was both relieved and somehow irritated by that fact. After that kiss, he’d been sure she had some feelings for him, even if only a physical attraction. But maybe she was fickle in these things and he had simply been a convenient passing fancy.
Excusing himself, he went to find a footman who was serving champagne. He didn’t want to let her indifference bother him, but he had to admit that it did. Jack’s mind kept wandering back to that kiss. It had been like nothing he’d experienced before. So passionate and fiery, it had been filled with Adeline’s independent spirit in a tangible way. Nothing like his Clara had been. Clara’s kisses were sweet and enduring, kind and adoring. Clara’s love had been singular; there had never been anyone else after they met.
Now Jack was angry with himself, comparing the two women. He had no right to think of Adeline that way and he was being disrespectful to Clara even entertaining such a comparison. Drinking two glasses of champagne maybe a bit too quickly, he wished he had something stronger to stop his wandering thoughts. He glanced over at Adeline again and saw she was now flanked by her lords, each vying for the heiress’s undivided consideration. She appeared to be enjoying the male attention and it was obvious her father was pleased with the scene as he looked on, grinning from ear to ear.
“Why are you in a mood?” Winston asked quietly, having come up next to his brother while Jack was visibly fuming.
“I think I might have found something in Father’s accounts last night.” Jack said, neatly changing the subject and focusing on his brother. He needed to regain control of his emotions or everyone would start to wonder what was wrong with him.
“Did you find the money? Or the killer?” Winston asked, keeping his voice down so no one could overhear them.
“Maybe both, but I can’t be certain until I speak to a few more people; Father’s solicitor and secretary for starters.” Jackson purposely turned his back on the Jameses so he wouldn’t see Adeline laughing, although he could hear the musical sound even from across the lawn. “Do you think it would be convenient for them to come by the house anytime soon?”
“Well, obviously not during the party, Jackson.” Winston said, showing his pompous side. “Utterly inappropriate to conduct business during such affairs.”
“Well, then maybe we can telephone them and they can come out next week, after the guests have gone home.”
“We could try.” Winston said thoughtfully. “But then again, a telephone call is a bit public, don’t you think? Maybe a letter would be more appropriate. Besides, it will reach them by Monday at the latest if we post it today; plenty of time for them to prepare and make arrangements.”
“You’re right, of course.” Jack said, wishing he could think straight this afternoon. But his mind kept wandering back to the library and the lovely blond American who he had tasted but would never possess.
“Jackson, you’re acting strangely.” Winston observed. “Are you torturing yourself over Clara again? You must put those memories to rest at some time, little brother. I know it’s difficult, but you will be able to love again someday. I speak from experience.” Winston got a dreamily faraway look in his eyes and a smile played at his lips. “You must think I’m crazy.”
“Me? Please, Winnie, I married a tavern wench, as Father so eloquently put it. Who would I be to ever judge any man?” Jack scoffed at the very idea of being such a snob. No one knew better than Jackson Bradley what it was to be in love with the most inappropriate woman imaginable.
Winston smiled at his younger brother. “I haven’t forgotten how unfairly Father treated you for your choice. I always admired that you gave up your life here for Clara. It was a brave and noble thing to do, Jack. I wish I had told you that ten years ago.”
“Well, I’m glad you told me now.” Jack said, feeling a new love and respect for his older brother.
“Lady Huntingdon is running out of time to pay the taxes on her boy’s estate.” Winston nodded in her direction and Jackson looked over to see the countess, who had been a regular visitor at Basildon Park recently. She hadn’t pried when Jack had refused to talk about his last encounter with Adeline aboard ship and for that he held Lady Huntingdon in high regard. “She’s not wealthy like Miss James, so if Father really has lost the family fortune, a marriage between us would not be practical.”
“If I’m right, you won’t have to worry about that.” Jack put an arm around his brother’s shoulder and squeezed it with affection.
“Stop that now,” Winston shrugged him off. “My guests will think we’ve gone soft.”
Jack pulled away but smiled, knowing he and Winston were both weak as toddlers when it came to the women they loved.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen.” A tall dark-haired man approached the brothers. “Lovely party, Abingdon. Too bad those four are making such fools of themselves over the American. I mean she’s lovely, no doubt, but they’re really behaving quite desperately and you must admit it is not becoming to men with their lineage.”
Jackson tried to hide his fury at what he perceived as a slight against Addie as he waited for his brother to introduce him to this pompous gentleman. A peer, no doubt.
“Suffolk, do not disparage Miss James. Jackson, here, is a friend of her and her father’s.” Winston said the man’s name and Jack realized this was the Earl of Suffolk, O’Neill Mansfield.
“Ah, Jack, so good to meet you finally.” The earl bowed his head. “Please, don’t think I meant any harm to the lady, indeed the insult was intended for the gentlemen. They are not fit for her regard, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Indeed,” Jack said, deciding he might actually like this nobleman upon closer acquaintance. “They aren’t fit to be in her presence, let alone ask for her hand.”
“So, are you gentlemen looking forward the entertainment I’ve arranged for this evening?” Suffolk asked casuall
y, politely ignoring the way Jack had been staring at Adeline.
“You arranged for the psychic to be here?” Jackson asked, trying not to laugh. “I wouldn’t have guessed you were a believer in mysticism, Lord Suffolk.”
“Do, please drop the ‘Lord’, Bradley. I hate pretentiousness. And yes, I commissioned the spiritualist to travel to the party tonight. But whether or not I’m a believer is yet to be determined. All I know for certain is that this particular medium intrigues me like no other I’ve witnessed.”
“And why is that, old friend?” Winston asked. “You do realize that I wouldn’t have allowed anyone other than you to bring such a creature into our midst.”
“Thank you for trusting me, Abingdon,” the earl said, then lowered his voice so only the two brothers could hear what he said next. “I have seen this woman—this gypsy—commune with dead souls like no other spiritualist I have witnessed before. She uses no tricks or special effects; she simply speaks for the deceased after entering a sort of trance.”
“But I don’t understand, Suffolk; why would that be so extraordinary?” Winston looked confused by his friend’s description. “It doesn’t sound nearly as entertaining as the ones I’ve heard about with bumping in the walls, floating tables, lights flickering and all sorts of other interesting illusions.”
“True,” O’Neill admitted. “But what is unique about this clairvoyant or whatever you want to call her is how utterly accurate Madame Lou is with her otherworldly communications. And that she has an uncanny ability to somehow bring about unexpected marriages.”
Jack had not anticipated such an odd conclusion about a psychic. And now that he thought about it, he wondered again if this was the same Madame Lou that Clara had been babbling about at one point during her sickness. He had tried to forget a lot of those heartbreaking moments, but now that he thought about it, he was almost certain Madame Lou had been the other spiritualist that Clara had spoken of. How odd that the woman was some sort of matchmaking medium. It must be a coincidence, Jack thought, Clara couldn’t have known anything about this woman, having never actually met her.
“I don’t know about Jack, here, but I’m certainly looking forward to being amazed this evening. Now if you’ll excuse me, Suffolk, I’d better circulate among my guests for a while. I’m afraid you and my brother have kept me from my obligations as host.” Winston wandered off, leaving the two gentlemen alone.
“So, Bradley, your brother told me about your loss.” Suffolk said, obviously trying in his own way to be considerate. “I hope you’ll join us for the séance tonight, despite that it was so recent. I wouldn’t want the woman to inadvertently upset you, old chap.”
“Appreciate your concern, Suffolk.” Jackson said, wondering if perhaps he should skip the evening’s festivities. “But I’ve finally been able to put my wife’s passing behind me. I realized how angry she would be with me if I continued to mourn her. It was her greatest fear. She was indeed the love of my life, but if I don’t accept that she is gone, then I might as well die myself.”
Jackson surprised himself by confessing something so personal with a man he had only met a few minutes ago. “I must apologize, Suffolk. I had no intention of taking such intimate liberties with your time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Bradley.” The earl was grinning at Jack in what could only be perceived as a charming manner. “I tend to bring it out in people. No idea why, but there you have it. Come on then, friend,” he said, putting an arm around Jack’s shoulder and turning him back towards the house. “Let’s you and I go find ourselves something a wee bit stronger to toast this new, mutually-agreeable alliance.”
Jackson allowed himself to be removed from the picnic. He was actually quite relieved not to have to observe Adeline and her suitors any longer. Besides, a strong drink was exactly what he’d been longing for.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Cassiopeia was hot and uncomfortable, sitting all decked out in her Madame Lou garb on the train headed for West Berkshire. She had wanted to change later, at the train station before the carriage came to fetch her to the estate, but there hadn’t been time as she’d slept in because of Clara waking her in the middle of the night. Not only was she sweltering from the heat of the August day and poorly-ventilated carriage car, but added to that were the curious stares of the other passengers. Cassiopeia did not enjoy making a public spectacle of her Madame Lou persona, which was why she only did readings either in the tea room or at private parties. But the public deception had been unavoidable, as she would not have time to change her appearance in so short an interval. Damn Lord Suffolk and his infernal curiosity. Of course, that was ridiculous, she knew, because if the earl hadn’t arranged for her to be present at Basildon Park, she may have never been able to garner an audience with Jackson Bradley. So in reality, she should be grateful to the earl. But for some reason she could not seem to pinpoint, the man never ceased to annoy her, and yet she couldn’t deny that she also found herself looking forward to their encounters. Curious.
Adeline felt his absence from the picnic as soon as Jackson walked away with the Earl of Suffolk. She had been introduced to the earl and thought that, although he was quite charming as well as handsome, there was something distant about his regard. He had no need of her inheritance, and he didn’t appear to want to end his state of bachelorhood, so she did not spend too much time thinking about him until she saw the man pull Jack away.
“Miss James, can I get you some more champagne? Or perhaps some ice cream?” the duke asked, trying to outshine his competitors.
“I think Miss James would prefer some tea and biscuits,” the marquis chimed in, not willing to be outdone by a man who barely outranked him.
The baron, on the other hand, knowing he couldn’t compete with the other gentlemen when it came to titles, simply kept up his amusing banter that made Adeline laugh with delight. But keeping up her end of the three-way flirtation was becoming exhausting and eventually Addie had to beg the gentlemen’s forgiveness and excuse herself.
“I so admire your fortitude.” Beatrice said as Adeline joined her hostess at a linen-covered table in the shade of one of the fruit trees that dotted this part of the property. “I’m fatigued just from watching you.”
“It is like watching a train wreck; you just can’t look away.” Henrietta added.
Adeline smiled and waited for the footman to pour freshly-made lemonade into their ice-filled glasses.
“Thank you, Henry.” Beatrice addressed the young man by name. “Why don’t you take a break and have a few cakes while you rest? I think you’ve more than earned it.”
“Thank you, milady,” Henry responded without inflection and bowed in assent, but like any proper English servant, did not obey his mistress’s inappropriate advice.
“They work so hard,” Mrs. Bradley sighed, waving her hand at all the busy footmen ensuring everyone had a full glass of champagne or icy lemonade and plenty of tasty things to eat. “I do so worry that we don’t do enough for them.”
“It’s not these men and women who you should spend your time and concern on.” Adeline said, sipping her cold drink. “The people who really need our attention are the factory workers, especially the women and children who are forced to work even when sick or injured. If they refuse or don’t show up one day, they are simply fired and replaced, even if they were hurt at the factory due to the owner’s negligence.”
“Oh, how awful!” Beatrice exclaimed. “I had no idea things were so unpleasant for the working class in the city. Somehow I had convinced myself that just having an occupation was better than starving, but I can see now that it just isn’t that simple. Tell me more about what we can do to help, Addie.”
“Yes, Addie, what can we do?” Lady Huntingdon was eager as well.
Pleased to be sharing her passion for reform with these lovely women, Adeline launched into a discussion of labor reform and her other progressive ideas. Beatrice was eager to learn more and they lost track of time as they
ate cakes, jellied aspics and small sandwiches, and drank more lemonade. Soon, though, their pregnant companion’s eyes began to droop and, realizing how late the afternoon had grown, Adeline finally insisted it was time for them to return to the house.
“Beatrice, dear, you need to rest before dinner.” Henrietta said.
Addie motioned for the footman from earlier to approach. “Henry, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Miss.” Henry answered, only showing slight surprise that she had remembered his name. “Would you find a conveyance for Mrs. Bradley? She needs to return to the house, please.”
“Of course, Miss, right away.” Henry dashed off and found a buggy and a driver. After he handed his mistress, the countess, and Adeline up onto the leather seats, he then climbed up next to the driver to accompany them home. Addie admired his loyalty and dedication to his mistress.
After Adeline saw that Beatrice’s lady’s maid had taken her mistress under her capable wing, and Lady Huntingdon retired to her room, she wandered out into the rose garden at the back of the house, wanting to be alone for a moment to think about the day. The smell here was quite magnificent, with many of the roses in full bloom. The beautiful blossoms were in every shade imaginable and the garden was arranged in several configurations.
As she walked along the paths, she considered her suitors and wondered what they really thought of her. Did they only see her fortune when they looked at her? Or did they really see her, Adeline Margaret James—suffragette, and labor reform activist? Of course, they probably knew nothing of her private interests. And since last night, she could add one more thing to her list; passionate, vibrant woman. Jackson had shown her that side of herself. Only Jack knew that woman.
Watching the sun sink lower in the sky, Adeline thought about the three gentlemen vying for her hand. Would any of them set her pulse racing and inflame her senses with their kisses? She knew there was only one way to find out. Making the decision that until she knew which of the three would satisfy this newly-discovered wanton side of her personality, she would only then be able to choose which one would become her husband. It only seemed fair that if this man were to get her inheritance as his incentive that she should have something in return.
Heaven Bound (A Blakemore Family Book: Madame Lou Series Book 2) Page 16
