Dinner had also been a little easier, less stilted than the first night. They’d actually had a smooth conversation, but perhaps that was because they’d kept the subject on neutral ground and discussed their children. Either way, it had been rather pleasant and when they’d finally parted ways, he had been looking forward to their trip into Yarmouth.
But as a new day dawned, so did the reservations that came with it. He might have had one good day with Albina, but he was afraid that sparkle of excitement would soon fade from her gaze, that the enchantment of being back in the country would pale all too quickly when compared to her life back in the city.
He wanted to win Albina back at all costs, only not at the expense of her happiness.
A light knock came at the study door and Michael glanced up to see Jeffries standing in the frame. Michael gestured him inside as he set his glasses on the ledger before him. It wasn’t as if he was getting much work done at this point anyway.
“A missive just arrived for you, sir.”
Michael accepted the neatly folded paper and quickly tore the seal to read the few, hastily scribbled lines. “Damn,” he muttered.
“Bad news, my lord?”
“You could say that.” He blew out a breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Would you be so kind as to tell Lady Beauley that I won’t be able to join her this afternoon?”
“Of course, my lord.”
As the servant bowed and left, Michael grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair and shrugged it on as he headed down to the stables.
For every step he was taking forward with Albina, it seemed as if something always occurred to set him back two.
***
Albina had just finished dressing for her outing with Michael when she looked out her bedroom window and saw him riding away. A frown touched her brow about the same time there was a light knock at her door. She opened it to reveal the butler on the other side.
Jeffries bowed respectfully. “The viscount asked me to relay his regrets as he is unable to accompany you to the village today.”
“Has something happened? Where is he going?”
“He did not inform me of his whereabouts, my lady.”
Albina’s frown deepened. “Very well, then. Thank you.”
As she shut her door after him, she began to pace the room, her mind racing. What could have possibly called him away on such an urgent matter that he had to cancel our plans? As far as she knew, the tenants weren’t having any problems, but she supposed that could change.
For a brief moment, she entertained the idea of a mistress, but dismissed it almost immediately. Surely if Michael was taking his pleasures away from the house, he would cease such activities while she was in residence.
Wouldn’t he?
Doubts swirled, teasing and taunting, until she gave up and grabbed her bonnet. She was tying it on her head as she marched downstairs. Whether Chael chose to accompany her or not, she was determined to go ahead on her own.
Having noticed the day before that her husband had a phaeton in the stables, she asked for it to be brought around. The butler eyed her uncertainly for a moment, until she lifted her chin. Thus, he sent a footman to the stables to alert Mr. Epperson of her demands. While she wouldn’t admit that she hadn’t driven anything more difficult than a London chaise, and that was only because Lydia had one and had let her take the reins in Hyde Park one day, she was determined to set out on her own. It wasn’t as if she required a cumbersome coach, nor a maid to accompany her, to ride a couple miles into the village.
As the black with yellow trim vehicle was brought into view, Albina was delighted to see that another lovely mare had been harnessed to the front. She knew that she would be just as docile as Lulu, and she thanked Mr. Epperson for his thoughtfulness.
She took a moment to coo to the animal, before she climbed into the driver’s seat. As the stable master handed her the reins, she snapped the leather straps and set into motion.
It took Albina a moment to get used to the height of the carriage wheels, but once she did, it didn’t seem that different from Lydia’s open chaise, which also only took one horse to maneuver. Thankfully, it was also another unseasonably sunny and warm day. There were a few clouds building in the distance, which might mean a slight shower later on, but that would likely be well after she was back home.
At this rate, it was turning out to be a rather pleasant trip indeed, so long as she didn’t allow thoughts of Michael to linger.
***
The village of Yarmouth hadn’t really changed in all the time she’d been away. It was still a bustling seaside resort that relied heavily on their fishing industry. Herring was such a valuable commodity, in essence the town’s foundation, that most of the villagers built their houses right on the water, so that they might be the first out at sea.
Because of this success, money had been raised by the local magnates to build the Norfolk Naval Pillar; the columned statue standing proud and tall right at the edge of town. The lady Brittania stood atop a globe inscribed with the motto from Nelson’s coat of arms, “Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat,” translated to “Let Him Who Has Merited it Take the Palm.” It was a true testament to the determination in battle that the English possessed. If Albina had never felt like a patriot to her country before, as she paused to admire the statue, she certainly felt it now.
She eventually moved on and stopped at the local stables for her horse to enjoy some hay while she looked through some of the shops in town. Many of them were just the same as she remembered, some of the local villagers even going so far as to recognize her from nearly a decade ago.
Although none of them seemed as pleased as the modiste, Mrs. Brandt. “Oh, my lady! How lovely it is to see you again!” She offered a slight curtsy. “I daresay I’ve missed making your gowns.” She paused. “You are here to have a special one made, no?”
Albina didn’t have the heart to decline. “Of course.”
“Wonderful!” The woman clasped her hands together in delight. “I have just the material in mind. Wait just a moment.” She held up a finger and then disappeared behind a curtain that led into her work area. She reappeared seconds later, carrying a lovely gray silk that caught the light from the window, making it appear to sparkle with a myriad of colors.
“It’s breathtaking,” Albina breathed as she reached out and rubbed a section of the fabric between her thumb and finger.
“And perfect for the celebration on St. John’s Eve!”
The woman literally beamed, although her words gave Albina pause. “The viscount still holds the celebration each year?”
“Naturally.” The woman bobbed her head excitedly. “Lord Beauley makes sure of that. The entire village looks forward to it every summer solstice. It’s only a fortnight away. I do hope you will be joining us this year, my lady. That would be ever so nice. Now, if you’d just step into the back of my shop, I can get your measurements.”
The lady continued to prattle on as she pinned and murmured numbers to herself, but Albina was sadly distracted, so she participated very little in the conversation.
She’d had no idea that Michael had continued to host such an extravagant annual party and not even invite her. It rather stung that he had excluded her. Granted, they might not have been on intimate speaking terms for the past five years, but they’d still corresponded, and they were still husband and wife.
Did that not account for anything?
While she had always enjoyed St. John’s Eve before, at this point, she wasn’t sure if it would be something to celebrate this year — or if it would be just another day that passed.
She bid Mrs. Brandt goodbye shortly thereafter, the woman’s well wishes following her out the door.
Albina stood in the street, the excitement of the day marred by the realization that Michael had obviously moved on with his life. Without her.
Her thoughts were miles away as she headed back to Beauley Hall. She had to make a decision about whether her h
usband was worth fighting for, if their marriage was worth fighting for, or if it was time to abandon this quest before it was too late and there was no recovering from it.
She’d known all along that the true reason she’d returned to Yarmouth wasn’t because she was trying to find the writing inspiration that had deserted her, but because she’d wanted to try to repair things with Chael. But even she was smart enough to know when there was nothing left to salvage. Ever since her arrival, things had been strange and…detached, as if she didn’t belong there.
Perhaps it was time she returned to London.
Albina was moving along at a clipped pace when a flash of brown fur suddenly ran out in the road. The rabbit startled the mare enough that she reared back and pawed at the air with her forelegs. Set off balance, the phaeton tipped to the side. Albina heard the sickening sound of an axel breaking right before she closed her eyes and was thrown out of the vehicle.
CHAPTER FIVE
A lady must exercise proper dress…
Lady A’s Advice Column
Albina landed on the ground with a hard thud, the impact temporarily knocking the wind out of her. By the time she’d gathered her wits, a loud crack of thunder shook the ground beneath her and a fat drop of rain splashed the tip of her now scuffed boot. She laid there for a moment, trying to decide if anything was broken, although her muscles screamed in so much protest that it was hard to tell.
She could definitely tell that she was getting older. When she was a child, a similar situation would see her jumping right back to her feet. Now, as a wave of dizziness assailed her as she slowly rose to a seated position, she had to groan. No doubt her entire body would ache in the morning.
As the rain began to fall in earnest, Albina finally rose to her feet, but she stumbled when the heel of her boot snapped off. Unsteady, she reached out and grabbed the side of the phaeton, which was listing heavily to one side. Dripping wet, she shivered inside of her thin cloak, as a brisk, north wind sent a chill up her spine. She would have worn something heavier, but then again, she hadn’t known she was going to be stranded in the middle of a rainstorm.
Albina limped over to the horse, who was prancing in place rather anxiously. After patting her coat and speaking a few soothing words in the mare’s ear, she slowly calmed enough where Albina could assess the damage to the vehicle. She winced, for the phaeton wasn’t going anywhere for a while. Not only was the axle broken, but the back left wheel was stuck in a rut that was now several inches deep in mud.
I’ll simply ride back. Albina set about trying to unhitch the mare from the broken carriage, but her fingers were so wet and numb that she only fumbled with the straps, getting them in an even more tangled shape than before.
She stood back and set her hands on her hips as the rain continued to lash out at her. What now? She certainly didn’t want to leave the horse unattended, but neither did she care to spend the night on the road waiting for someone to happen to come by and assist her. Or rob her.
She shivered again, but this time it was for a different reason entirely.
***
Michael was exhausted. Not only had this been one of the most trying days of his life, but he was riding back to Beauley Hall in the pouring rain. It hadn’t taken long for the roads to become a muddy mess, nor for his greatcoat to be drenched. At least his head was still dry. Thank God for a wide brimmed, tricorn hat. It might not have been all the fashion anymore, but it served a good purpose, and he was grateful for it.
He kept imagining a cheery fire waiting for him when he returned home, and a nice, warming glass of brandy. Fortunately, trying days like these were few and far between. But then, when a man was doing all he could to save a drowning marriage, some sacrifices had to be made.
Michael rounded a bend in the road and had to squint his eyes against the lashing rain that tried to obscure his vision. Tucking his head down farther into his coat, he frowned as a dark shape began to take form ahead. He was only about a mile from Beauley Hall, and to see another carriage wasn’t much of a common occurrence. Most travelers stuck to the main road.
As he began to draw closer, he frowned, for it was evident that he was coming upon a wreckage. The black and yellow phaeton was clearly—
He blinked. Then blinked again.
That phaeton was his.
What the devil —?
And that was when he saw her. Dress torn, bonnet drooping rather pathetically, and huddled next to one of his horses, was his wife. He could tell she didn’t recognize him at first, for her hazel eyes were wide and uncertain, trying to determine if he was a friend or foe.
He knew it wouldn’t endear her to him, but he couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled up from his chest.
She stared at him as if he’d gone mad, until his identity became clear. “Michael?”
He crossed his wrists over the pommel of his saddle, intending to enjoy this moment. Suddenly the rain didn’t seem nearly as annoying. “You seem to need some assistance, my lady.”
Albina folded her arms, irritated now that she knew he wasn’t a highwayman. “What gave it away?” she returned sarcastically.
“You seem rather uncharitable for someone who could use some help,” he countered, although he slid off of his mount and walked over to her.
“Oh, just stop aggravating me and unhitch this animal so that I can get home and into some dry clothes before it gets dark and any manner of creature might come out of those woods.” She indicated the thicket in question.
Michael smiled, although the idea of her calling Beauley Hall home once again hit him squarely in the chest. He knew it meant nothing, just a mere slip of the tongue, but it made him want to shout at the moon nonetheless.
Once he’d freed the mare from the broken phaeton, he held his hand out to Albina. She would have to ride bareback the rest of the way, but he had no doubts as to her ability to do so. She was an accomplished horsewoman and had been the one to teach their daughters, Mary and Sarah, how to ride.
But as for her driving abilities…
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you manage to break my phaeton?”
That question earned him a glare, but she replied evenly, “A rabbit ran out into the road and scared the horse.”
“Ah.” He nodded.
“It could have happened to anyone,” she added primly.
“Indeed, it could have,” he agreed. She had obviously been waiting for him to argue her point, but when he didn’t, he could tell he had her at a loss for words.
“I’m relieved you’re unharmed.” He set his hands about her waist. “Up you go.”
Without a sidesaddle, Albina was forced to sit astride. Unfortunately for Michael, this caused her dress to ride up to her calves, and he was faced with the creamy curve of her bare leg. How many countless times had those long limbs been wrapped around his waist?
He swallowed heavily and returned to his horse. His manhood was already swelling with the delights that he recalled so vividly. As he swung up into the saddle, he had to wince slightly.
Not until he was settled did he turn back to Albina, only to find that her hazel eyes were alight with a similar inner turmoil. Hope mixed with fear and caused him to say abruptly, “Are you ready?”
When she nodded, he urged his horse into motion, and prayed that his mount didn’t sense the tension in his body and toss him onto the ground.
***
Albina’s heart was pounding. That heady sense of desire had returned with a vengeance. Just that single glance from those fascinating chocolate eyes, and she was reduced to a puddle of nerves.
Perhaps hope was not lost after all.
When they pulled up into the Beauley Hall courtyard, the stable master came running toward them. “My lord. My lady! What happened? Was there an accident?”
“We are well, Mr. Epperson, although I cannot say the same for my phaeton.” Michael said as he dismounted.
“I will make immediate arrangements to have it retrieved, my
lord.”
“Thank you. You’ll find it on the side of the road about a mile or so toward the village.”
As Mr. Epperson ran off to the stables, Michael walked over to Albina to assist her down. Her fingers trembled as she set them on his strong shoulders, relishing the feel of those muscles rippling and bunching beneath her fingertips as she slid down to the ground.
She was still unsteady as he set her on her feet, her knees threatening to buckle, either from the scare of the earlier incident, or because of Michael’s hands upon her waist she wasn’t sure. But either way, he slid an arm around her legs, and lifted her into his arms. Two stable hands returned at that moment to lead the horses away as they went inside.
It had been years since Albina had been cradled against her husband’s chest. And while she enjoyed the feel of the heat emanating from his body, his arms around her, she still had that niggling doubt in the back of her mind…
***
The entire staff was in a tizzy when Michael carried his wife over the threshold. They immediately thought something was wrong with their mistress. He assured them all with a curt explanation that things were fine, and ordered a warm bath for both of them. While he wouldn’t have minded sharing a tub with Albina, for it would certainly be the quickest way for them to heat up, he refrained, carrying her to her chamber instead.
But as Michael sat Albina down, he was reluctant to let her go. Even though he was leaving a trail of water wherever he went, leaving a small puddle on the floor of her room, he wanted this moment to linger. Her clothes were plastered to her body, giving him a generous view of the curve of her breasts and the indentation at her waist.
But he knew all of those hills and valleys of her body without even looking. He’d tasted her and caressed her to the point he knew her as well as he knew himself. That had never changed. Nor the fact that he still wanted her.
Second Chance Love: A Regency Romance Set Page 22
