His invitation was the last thing Evangeline expected. Her expression resembled a gaping fish, so Lily intervened and handed her friend over to Mr. Monroe. “Of course, she would.” It was far better for her friend to dance and distract herself from Lord Davonshire. “Enjoy yourself, Evangeline.”
Adrian tucked her gloved hand in his arms and winked at Lily. “And will you save a later dance for me, Lady Lily?”
“If you wish.” It did seem that Monroe had recognized that she wanted only friendship, and she was grateful for that.
For a moment, she stood among the wallflowers, watching over the dancing. There had been a time when she had remained among them because she had not wanted any man to court her. Now, she wasn’t so certain. When she glanced back to where she had last seen Lord Davonshire, she now saw Matthew.
His heated gaze fixed upon hers, and she felt the echo of an invisible caress upon her bare skin. The very sight of him unnerved her. He knew her intimately, and it was as if the rest of the crowd had disappeared, until only the two of them stood before one another.
Lily had made a conscious effort to distance herself over the past few weeks, declining all invitations. She needed him to trust her with the truth before she could give him her heart without reservations. And indeed, with each day she was apart from Matthew, she found herself missing him more and more. He had been kind enough to continue sending her the books on veterinary medicine, but the books only augmented her loneliness.
Right now, she wanted to cross the room and embrace him, feeling his strong arms around her.
You are so weak, she told herself. She wanted to believe that his mind had healed from the torment he had endured. And yet, his unwillingness to tell her anything about India suggested that he had buried the past instead of trying to face it.
He watched her for a time, a slight smile curving upon his mouth. She met his gaze, realizing how much she cared for this man.
Lily heard a slight sound behind her, a woman’s cry of dismay. It distracted her enough that she turned to see what it was. She saw her mother standing in the hallway, just beyond the ballroom. What on earth was Iris doing here?
“I did not realize you were attending the soiree this evening, Mother.”
But when she came closer, she saw that Iris was wearing a day dress and not an evening gown. Around her neck, she wore a chain of dried daisies, and her gaze was distant. “The wolves are circling, Lily. And I fear they have come for me.”
Lily’s heart froze, and she moved beside her mother immediately. “I am here, Mother. I am sorry you aren’t feeling yourself. I’ll summon the carriage and take you home.”
“No, you mustn’t leave,” Iris said. “He will be here soon.”
Lily didn’t bother to unravel the mysteries of her mother’s conversation, nor did she ask who “he” was. Instead, she reached out to take her hand. Iris was not wearing gloves, and her palm was ice cold. “Will you walk with me, Mother?”
“They’re circling. . .all around,” she breathed. “Don’t you see them? They will devour us all.”
Desperately, Lily looked around in case Matthew had come any closer. Or even her brother, but neither could be found. She needed someone to help her escort Iris outside before anything happened. Right now, the madness had overtaken her mother, suffocating out all reality. If Lily tried to force her to leave, Iris might protest and make a scene.
When she tried to tuck her mother’s hand in her arm, Iris pulled back. “It’s not safe here, Lily.”
“What isn’t safe?” came a deep baritone voice. Lily turned and saw Lord Davonshire standing nearby. He smiled warmly, but she was afraid of what her mother might do. “Is everything all right, Lady Penford?”
“It’s nothing,” Lily answered on her mother’s behalf. She needed to send him back to the ballroom before her mother’s condition worsened. “Lord Davonshire, I fear my mother is not feeling well. I am about to take her home.”
But then her mother took another step back. “Who is that man, Lily? Why is he here?”
She tried to keep a serene expression on her face. “I know you remember John Wilson, the Earl of Davonshire, Mother.”
But there was no response at all. Her mother was staring off into the distance, one hand upon the stair bannister. Oh no.
“Forgive me, Lord Davonshire, but I really must take my mother home. She is quite ill.”
He inclined his head. “I understand. But before you go, you should know that Louis misses you.”
The tightness in her gut twisted, and she wished he had never mentioned the dog. “I miss him, too,” she confessed. While she spoke, she kept an eye on her mother, in case Iris attempted to run.
“He seems to be searching for you,” Lord Davonshire said. “And he keeps trying to sit in my lap.”
Lily managed a smile. Though she wanted to ask him more questions, her attention was focused upon Iris. “I am glad to hear that he is well.”
Lord Davonshire turned to Iris and saw that the older woman was still staring off at the end of the hallway, utterly silent now. “I beg your pardon, but your mother seems—”
“Yes, I know.” Though she was trying not to panic, Iris’s behavior strongly resembled that of a woman caught within a trance. “I really should be going now.”
“Then allow me to accompany you both home. It would be no trouble.”
No doubt Evangeline would be terribly disappointed if she agreed to such a thing. “Thank you, but no. We will be fine.” Then she added, “When we met the other day, my friend Evangeline Sinclair was too shy to meet you. She is here this evening, and I know it would mean the world to her if you asked her for a dance.”
The earl’s attention rested upon her for a moment. “And would it mean a great deal to you if I did?”
This conversation was not at all going the way it should. She didn’t understand why he would be so attentive. Their engagement two years ago had been concocted by their fathers, and after George died, they had mutually ended it. Lily needed to make it clear that she was not at all interested. “Lord Davonshire, I think you should know that—”
A piercing scream tore from her mother’s mouth. “No! Please! Help me!” Iris clenched her hands at her sides and broke into a run toward the ballroom.
Lily raced after her. The moment Iris entered the crowd of people, all conversation ceased. Her mother continued to scream, and Lily felt utterly helpless. The madness was upon her, and nothing she said or did would make any difference.
But then, Matthew emerged from the crowd. He crossed the room and caught hold of Iris, speaking in a low voice. Gently, he guided her away from everyone. Lily had never been more glad to see him. She hurried to catch up to them and overheard him murmuring apologies to their host.
In that moment, she realized that this was the sort of man he had always been. He didn’t care about what others thought or about what they would say. He knew her mother needed help, and he gave it without hesitation. And despite her fears that his mind had not healed from his ordeal in India, she was grateful to him now.
When Lily reached them, she lifted her eyes to his and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Do you want to stay?” he asked. “I can take her home for you.”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Behind her, she was well aware of the whispering. While many of the ladies knew that her mother had retreated from society, the family had managed to carefully hide her madness—but no longer. Lily wished she could undo the past few minutes, but the damage was done. They needed to bring her back to Penford into seclusion. And it hurt to think of it.
Matthew rested his arm around her mother’s shoulders while Iris sobbed about the wolves. “They’re here. All around me, ready to devour me alive. And I cannot stop them.”
“We will protect you,” he said, as they guided her outside. Lily asked a footman to bring around the carriage, and he did so.
She had mistakenly believed that he
r mother’s condition was improving, for she’d had more moments of clarity. But now it was clear that Iris would never be the same.
Lily wanted to weep for the mother she’d lost, wishing she could bring back the woman who had taught her how to dance and how to make daisy chains.
They guided her inside the carriage, sitting on either side of Iris so she could not break free again. Her mother’s gaze was fixed outside the window, and beneath her breath she was murmuring to herself.
“I need to take her back to Yorkshire, to Penford,” Lily said. “We cannot stay in London.”
“I will go with you,” Matthew said.
She ventured a smile. “Now what sort of scandal would that cause? Though I appreciate your offer, we both know you cannot.”
“I am not staying with you,” he pointed out. “I will make other arrangements with my cousin Amelia. She does not live far from you, I believe.”
His offer took her by surprise, and she studied him in the darkness of the carriage. “Why would you do this, Matthew?”
“Because you need help. Your sister is married and in Ireland. Your brother has the estates to manage, and this has fallen upon your shoulders.”
He meant it. He truly intended to come with her to Yorkshire, whether she wanted him to or not.
“James will accompany us, since Parliament is out of session,” she reminded him. “It isn’t necessary.”
“Do you want me to come, Lily?” His voice was low and deep like a caress in the darkness.
Her wayward heart soared, for she could not deny the feelings that continued to rise up. She ought to tell him no, that her family would manage her mother and do what was best.
And yet, she could not stop the whisper. “Yes. I do want you to come with us.”
His thumb slid against her palm, making gentle circles. It felt as if he were touching bare skin everywhere, though it was only beneath her glove. Had her mother not been with them, she believed he would have kissed her.
“Then I will be there with you.”
“I understand you are leaving for Yorkshire.”
Matthew turned at the sound of his cousin’s voice. He was walking toward his London townhouse when he spied Adrian approaching. The man wore a russet striped waistcoat and a black coat with dark trousers. He carried a walking stick with a silver handle, while a sly smile spread over his face.
“I am traveling for a short time,” he agreed. “A fortnight or so.” In fact, he had ordered his servants to begin packing his belongings for the visit. God willing, he would return to announce an engagement between himself and Lily. But he knew his cousin was not here to exchange pleasantries. More likely, the man intended to ask for money, given his gaming debts. “What is it you want, Adrian?”
“A question that is best explained over a drink and perhaps a round of cards,” his cousin suggested. “Let us go and talk at White’s. We will toast your good journey.”
Matthew wanted to refuse. He had no desire to spend time with Adrian, especially given the threat of Miss Carlisle’s blackmail. His cousin might try to use that information to his advantage. But Matthew still didn’t know the entire truth. He should have pressed his mother for the answers, but she had been so distraught, he had held back.
Worst of all, Charlotte had not denied the rumors. It felt as if his entire childhood had been a lie, and he didn’t know how to react. Though Matthew doubted he would lose his inheritance, Adrian could cause a scandal that would destroy his mother. The man was a wastrel who would ruin the family. Matthew could not stand aside and let him do such a thing.
“Well?” his cousin prompted. “Shall we go?”
“Fine.” He followed his cousin along the street, the tension stretching taut within him. The London air was thick with the scent of poverty and unrest. When he passed a group of street urchins, it struck him hard that he could have come from that. He could have been born from anyone, adopted into his parents’ home.
His mother had sworn that Sarah Carlisle was not his mother. But their eyes were the same, as were their features. He had no interest in giving Miss Carlisle a single penny. . .and yet, she held the answers he needed.
Adrian opened the door to the gentleman’s club and entered the smoky room. Several men greeted them, and Matthew raised his hand in greeting. His cousin chose a table far away from anyone else and ordered drinks for them.
Once they arrived, Matthew took a drink and sat back, studying his cousin. Why had he never noticed that they looked nothing alike? He resembled no one in his family, not with his dark hair or brown eyes.
Adrian raised his glass. “To your journey, Cousin.”
Matthew did the same, noticing the gleam of interest in the man’s eyes. “Why did you want to speak with me?”
His cousin drained the rum. “I’ve heard a number of stories recently that I find fascinating. In particular, about your mother, Charlotte. Did you know she was barren for over ten years? And then suddenly. . .you came along.”
He knew precisely what his cousin was implying. But he could not allow Adrian to threaten the only family he had left. Whether or not he was a bastard didn’t matter—what mattered was protecting Arnsbury and his mother.
And so, he parried Adrian’s verbal strike with one of his own. “My father was overjoyed when I was born. He was glad to have a son.”
“Is that who you truly are?” his cousin said silkily. “Or were you a convenient child adopted at the right time?”
Matthew leaned forward, making sure Adrian understood him. “My father, the Earl of Arnsbury, acknowledged me as his son to everyone. I became the earl upon his death, and he never had any doubts of who I was.”
“Perhaps he should have asked more questions,” Adrian said. He met Matthew’s stare openly. “I understand a mutual acquaintance of ours, Miss Carlisle, was most disappointed that you refused to pay her annual pension. I, on the other hand, am prepared to reward her handsomely for her assistance.”
It was time to end this conversation. Matthew stood from the table and looked down upon Adrian. “Lies and stories will not change what is. I am the Earl of Arnsbury, and nothing will alter that.”
Adrian rose from his place and gave a mocking smile. “We shall see.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It was a hard truth for Lily to accept that her mother was not getting better. Although Iris had experienced periods of melancholy before, none had been as bad as this.
The leaves had fallen from the trees, and Lily admired the beauty of late autumn as she walked through the estate at Penford. Her mother had secluded herself from the outside world, although Lily had tried to coax her to take walks. Her sister had promised to visit from Ireland soon, and perhaps that would lift Iris’s spirits.
In many ways, Lily rather wished she had Sebastian with her, for the dog had been a gentle presence in their lives. She still felt the ache of loss, though she knew he belonged with his owner. One day, she would get another dog of her own.
She shielded her eyes against the morning sunlight and saw a rider approaching. The sight of Matthew made her smile. True to his word, he had accompanied them to Yorkshire, and he was staying at the residence of his cousin Amelia Hartford, the Countess of Castledon.
Lily waved, and he dismounted, leading his horse by the reins. He wore a chestnut riding coat and a black silk hat. She found herself studying the horse, noting the animal’s health. She had mailed in the remainder of her assignments for the correspondence course under Matthew’s name, and the newest books involved the health and care of horses.
“You are looking beautiful today, Lady Lily,” Matthew greeted her. “Would you like to come riding with me?”
“In a little while,” she agreed. “But first, there is something I would like to show you.”
Matthew gave his horse over to the coachman, Nelson, and followed her. “I have been asked to bring you to Castledon for tea today. Amelia’s daughter Verity demanded it.”
“Is something the
matter?” Lily asked.
“One of her pets is quite ill, and she would like you to take a look at it.” Though his tone was serious, Lily detected a note of amusement in Matthew’s bearing. “Iris is welcome to join you, of course.”
“We both know my mother is incapable of making such a journey now.”
He nodded. “I suspected as much, but the invitation stands. Bring your maid, Hattie, if you want.”
She led him toward the walled garden, wanting him to see it. “I suppose, but it is a long ride.”
“Amelia would be quite grateful if you could examine Verity’s. . .pet.”
Again, the odd smile on his face. She was instantly suspicious of it. “What is it you’re not telling me, Matthew?”
He shrugged. “You’ll find out for yourself soon enough. And I look forward to seeing your methods of helping the animal.”
“It’s not an ordinary pet, is it?” She suspected that whatever ailment the animal possessed would be one she was incapable of curing.
“Not precisely.”
Lily could have pressed the subject but decided not to. “All right. I will come for tea.” She led him inside the garden, pushing open the doorway. The grass had turned brown, and the rosebushes had been pruned down to bare canes. Still, the chrysanthemums and primroses offered color amid the dying plants.
A pool of water rested near a willow tree. Lily pulled her shawl across her shoulders and leaned down to dip her fingers into the water. “I wanted you to see my parents’ garden. It’s even more beautiful in spring.” She lifted her dripping fingertips from the water and smiled at him. “What do you think?”
Matthew barely looked at the garden, and instead, his attention was focused upon her. “It is beautiful, yes.” He moved closer to her and framed her face with his hands. “Just as you are.” He brushed a fallen lock of her hair back, leaning in to steal a kiss. “I want you to marry me, Lily.”
Her heart should have rejoiced at his words. Yet the shadows of the past were still there, and she could not forget the haunted man he had been.
What the Earl Needs Now (The Earls Next Door Book 2) Page 17
