Charity, recovered from her surprise, laughed. "Can you really not, Fleur? This is Julia we are speaking of, and besides, it is the perfect excuse, somehow my habit was torn and I had nothing suitable to ride in."
"We could have just said it was ruined," Prudence protested, hating to see such a beautiful frock ruined.
Fleur, her eyes still locked on Julia, wondered what on earth she was to do with her sister now she wouldn't be able to keep an eye on her. She shook her head, clearing her worry. Julia was no longer her responsibility, she was a young woman now, and Fleur needed to learn to let go.
Charity fiddled with the edging of her sleeve and shoulder, no doubt seeing if it could be mended later. "I will need to change back into an afternoon dress. Fleur, would you mind ringing for the maid on your way out?"
"Of course," she said, ushering the group out. Things had gone well, considering Charity had unveiled her unstoppable temper, but she had not been offended too greatly. Overall, she would say it was a roaring success.
GOOD INTENTIONS & INTERFERENCE
Evan stood waiting with the rest of the party as they watched for the ladies to come down. The horses had been brought around and the carriages were packed, and all that was left was to find his wife.
Needing to put his thoughts in order, he was actually glad they had not come down as of yet. He was definitely looking forward to the ride, knowing he could steal a few moments of her time today, but the previous night had been a bloody failure. They were stuck in the music room for hours, not a situation conducive to talking when one was meant to be listening.
He heard chatter from above and saw the ladies descending the stairs. His eyes searched and settled on the one he was looking for, and for a moment he was stunned.
Beautiful, he thought.
The grey brought out the lightness of her eyes and the pink of her cheeks. She looked happy, and he hoped he would manage to keep that smile upon her face today.
"Shall we depart?" his father asked, his mother taking his arm to be led outside and put up in their carriage.
He turned and offered his own to Fleur, and she did not hesitate to take it as she smiled. He tried to smile in return but felt like a fool. He walked her outside, stopping in front of her mount. Placing his hand on her elbow he steadied her as she stepped onto the wood box, then moving to grasp her waist, he helped set her down upon her side-saddle.
Evan looked over the saddle and thought the thing looked dangerous and unsteady and was glad he never had to sit upon one, but that was soon forgotten as he realized his hands were still upon her waist.
His hands lingered there, his fingers moving with the motion of her breath, the warmth of her skin reaching him from underneath her habit.
He raised his eyes and she was still looking at him. He quickly removed his hands and after restraining his urge to run his hands through his hair, he asked if she was well situated. She said she was, so he walked away and mounted his own mare.
He looked down at his reins, vaguely hearing the conversation around him. Oliver telling Nathan that he hoped there was a decent tree to nap under. Edward talking to his father about the best place to find shade while they lunched. His mother inquiring after why the Preston girl was not riding with the others, the answer something about torn habits and he knew not what, nor did he care. These were nothing but distractions to keep him from making a fool of himself and staring at Fleur until it was time to ride on.
When the time came, his horse shouldered hers while they walked on behind his family.
"I'm sorry we missed our walk last night."
Surprised she had started the conversation, he eagerly replied. "Should we try again? Tonight?"
She smiled, the simple gesture making his stomach flip. "Yes, provided there are no impromptu performances this evening, we should be able to get away."
"Lord, I hope not, Felix has not the talent for singing he thinks he has," Evan shuddered.
She laughed. "That is unkind. I especially enjoyed the performance when he kept switching the tempo and Charity had to rush along, changing her piano playing to catch up to him."
Evan shook his head. Only Felix would do such a thing. "She must have been so vexed with him."
"I think it was quite the opposite. That is the most enjoyment I have seen her have in ages. I think they could be great friends."
"A man and woman, friends? Is there such a thing?"
She looked at him, a small knowing look. "You know there is, yet you say you disagree?"
"In most cases I would tend to disagree, but in Felix's case? No, he makes friends almost instantly and keeps them just as easily. I have often envied his talent for charm and conversation, thought I must confess, I am not one for clubs and parties and keeping up appearances."
Fleur tightened her grip on her reins when the party veered left and led her horse to follow. "That is me as well. I'm much more at ease at home in the country. Town is so harrying, it is exhausting."
"Exactly. Nathan is always rushing me off to do something or another, or trying to, anyway. I just want some peace and quiet and he's dragging me off to the theatre or some other dull thing."
Fleur grinned at the thought of Evan being led around by Nathan. "You don't like the theatre then? I guess I should not expect to see many plays from now on, unless I accompany Julia or your mother. I had no idea I was to be so cloistered."
Evan's eyes widened. "That's not ... I did not mean to imply you could not —"
"I was only teasing, Evan, I owe you from years past, you know," she said, her eyes shining.
He was again surprised: Fleur teasing him? Things had definitely changed.
"You are different," he said, just as the party was stopping at their destination.
"I should hope so." She smiled brightly, and he wondered if she had any idea how much it affected him to see her so unguarded, so open to him.
He wondered what else about her had changed, what her life had been like these past years. He wanted and needed to know her again, and he vowed he would listen to every detail of every day he had missed with her.
***
The Duke of Norfield sat with the earl, scrutinizing every move his daughter and new son-in-law made. Was she content? he wondered. She did not look unhappy, sitting on the blanket, her parasol shading her from the harsh summer sun. He thought they might have gone with the others to walk along the path by the pond, but they had stayed. It worried him greatly. The young just did not stay with the old at these things. Why did they not want to go and frolic with the others?
He needed to find a way to spark their interest in one another, and fast, because at the end of a few scant weeks he would have to let her go, to say goodbye, and he would no longer be able to help her.
"Do they look happy?" he leaned over and quietly asked the earl. "They seem relaxed, but I cannot tell."
"They look ... content. They are at least speaking to one another now."
"Content," he mumbled. "That not good enough. A newly married couple should be more than content. We're running out of time."
"Julian, we've a fortnight to make sure all is as it should be. Why don't you relax as well?"
"I cannot."
"Why in God's name not? We're at a picnic, the whole point is to relax."
"Because, Lord Blackburn," he whispered through clenched teeth. "When we had the idea of our children marrying long ago, they were to be betrothed before marriage. They were to court. Do not you think they might just be the smallest bit uncomfortable with one another?"
Charles laughed, his head held back and his hand upon his chest, drawing the curious gaze of his wife. "Of course they are. Just as they would be even if they did have a betrothal. Come now, tell me you were not terrified of your wife the first days of your own marriage."
Julian smiled at the memories. "You have a point, but this is Fleur and Evan, she is not trying to gain his attentions and he's —"
The duke stopped, catching a warning eye
from the earl. "Also shy," he continued. "Should not we help them along? They need to be alone so they can talk freely. We both know romance cannot blossom under the watchful gaze of your parents."
Charles stood swiftly from his seat on the ground. "Come then, I have a plan."
Julian jumped up and made to follow, grasping the earl's shoulder to stop him. "A plan? What plan?"
"Don't worry, just follow my lead."
"Absolutely not, the last time you said that I ended up leg-shackled!"
"And later you thanked me for it and you have two beautiful daughters to show for it, so shut it, and come along."
Julian snuck a look at Madeleine, who sat with an exasperated look on her face. He looked up to the sky, praying for patience. This could not end well.
***
Evan looked at his father and became suspicious when he and the duke asked if they would join them for a walk.
"The old become stiff when idle, so we must stretch our legs." He raised his leg, as if to demonstrate his infirmity.
"The others are down by the water," the duke added. "Why don't we join them?"
Evan rose and helped Fleur to her feet and they walked between the two older men.
"Evan, have you told Fleur about the pretty little estate you bought last winter?" his father asked.
Evan looked at Fleur, her face open and curious. "Oh, is it near Blackburn Hall?"
"It's about half an hour by carriage, quarter of an hour or less if you're on horseback and moving swiftly."
"That close? Then we shall be able to meet your family often."
"Yes, you and my mother will be able to —"
Evan stopped talking and raised a brow when his father started shouting. "OH! Oh, my leg!"
His father hopped on one foot and held the duke's shoulder to keep from falling, all while wailing loud enough for Prinny himself to hear all the way in London. Evan eyed his father's dramatics while Fleur tried to help steady him from his other side.
"Did you turn your ankle?" Evan asked, knowing damned well he didn't.
"No, no, just a leg spasm, it will pass. Norfield here can walk me back. Why don't you go on without us and show Fleur the gardens before joining the others, won't you, Evan?"
"But you should have someone hold your other side," Fleur protested as the earl pushed her forward towards Evan.
She walked over, and Evan's eyes widened when he saw his father wink and point at his leg while her back was turned.
Evan walked towards her and took her shoulders in his hands, keeping her facing toward him while the duke shooed them away with his free hand.
"Stupid," he mouthed to them. Her turned her direction and offered his arm. "He will be all right, Fleur, it is only a leg spasm."
She nodded as they moved onward. He could hear the two featherbrains talking and laughing as they walked away. They thought they were so clever.
"You realize that my father is fine, don't you? And that was all just a ploy to get us alone?"
Fleur's head jerked towards him. "And last night as well? Arranging for us to sit together during the musical performances?"
"So you noticed too?" He asked.
Fleur laughed. "Yes, but to go as far as to fake a leg injury. I had no idea your father was such a performer."
"Or that yours could play along so well?" Evan shook his head. He had to admit he was surprised at the duke.
"Oh, no, that is not surprising at all, really. I have seen my father act quite silly when it comes to Julia."
"For example?"
He watched as she tilted her head, the sun low in the sky, setting the dark strands escaping her bonnet to flame.
"I once saw my father wade into a pig pen and help the servants clean out the troughs."
Evan laughed. "His Grace? Why on earth?"
"Because Julia had been causing trouble for the maids. She was very opinionated, even as a young child - you must remember. It was her opinion that since we had servants, she could paint all over the walls in our nursery, after all, the maids would wash it away. My father told her it was very unkind to create extra work for the servants and exceptionally rude to draw on the walls, and that it looked like we now lived in a pigsty. Julia said, 'Speaking of pigs, you create more work for the servants by keeping them at all.'"
Evan laughed. "Sounds like Julia.
Fleur nodded with a smile. "My father was of course baffled as to how to reply. Julia reasoned he could keep more chickens or any other animal and that pigs were they dirtiest therefore created more work. My father marched outside and dove right in to help clean. Afterwards he told Julia that even a person of rank and wealth has their duty to others, and that includes respecting and taking care of the people who serve us daily."
"I'm surprised."
She grinned. "That my father would get his hands dirty?"
"No, at your sister. She is very headstrong, yet I'd have never thought she'd torture servants."
"Oh, she didn't, not really, but people do things that are mean and hurtful when they are young, before they understand that it is wrong and that they will come to regret their actions." She avoided his eyes, her words too close.
Evan stopped walking and turned towards Fleur. He let her arm slide from his and grasped both of her hands in his own. "Like myself?"
She looked into his eyes, slightly hooded from the glare of the sun. "Do you regret it?"
He leaned down, his face so close to her own that she could no longer make out his features. She felt his breath upon her lips as he answered. "Every single day."
He slowly leaned into her, his lips barely brushing hers, when he stopped suddenly, hearing the pounding of hooves and the whine of a horse. He looked up to see a great Byerley Turk, the horse black as night and its rider wearing the dark blues of a naval uniform, the gold glistening like flames. His hair was dark, his brows knitted together in anger, the scar on lip prominent as he came barreling towards them. He pulled Fleur behind him as the man came to an abrupt stop, yanking his reins and throwing grass and dirt at their feet when the horse dug in its hooves.
Evan looked up and his mouth almost dropped as he stared into the very angry eyes of Andrew Osborne, Fleur's cousin. Oh hell, Evan thought as he watched the man dismount and come striding towards them in all his military glory.
"Andy!" Shouted Fleur, surprise and elation lighting her face as she ran to him. Evan tried his best not to look displeased when he lifted and spun her around.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "I thought you could not come." She reached up, wiping the dirt of the road from his face with her hands, dirtying her white gloves.
"What have I told you about calling me Andy?" he asked as he laughed, not really vexed with her. "I was in London and saw the marriage announcement, not that it was needed. You are the talk of the town, Fleur."
He smiled down at her, and Evan was struck by how a man he considered to be a loose cannon could be so loving towards his cousins.
"Oh," Fleur cringed. "I suppose we did leave a bit of an uproar behind."
"Everyone is just bitter they missed all the delicious details, myself included," he added. Evan shrank back a bit at the cold look he was receiving, then gripped his over coat, yanked it down, and tried to stand taller. Osborne had two good inches on him, but what of it?
"Where were you two off to before I arrived?"
"Walking down to the pond to meet the rest of the party. Oh, Andy! Julia will be so happy to see you," she said. "Would you care to join us?"
Osborne looked around. "How far away is this pond?"
Fleur looked to him to answer, and Evan sighed. "It's just a few more minutes, you can see it just over that way," he pointed, and sure enough they could make out the water and their friends sitting on blankets laid upon the ground.
Osborne nodded. "Fleur, why don't you go and join them? I wish to have a word with your husband."
Fleur hesitated, the disdain evident in Andrew's voice. Evan felt his stomach drop
as she looked him in the eyes. "No. I think I would prefer to stay here," she answered.
Evan nearly laughed at the shocked look on Osborne's face. He could tell he was not accustomed to disobedience, being a military man and the heir to her father's title. Not to mention he would head her family one day.
"No?" Osborne asked.
He felt proud when Fleur didn't back down. Apparently she was not half as afraid of him as he himself was.
"That is right, no. Do you really think I don't know what is going to happen the minute I walk away?"
"Fine," he conceded. "What if I promise not to punch him in the nose?"
Fleur looked skeptical, and Evan almost wanted her to stay, but she did not need to be witness to this conversation.
Evan gave him a stiff smile. "I'll be fine, Fleur. We're just going to have a chat, right, Osborne?"
"Of course," The other man agreed, his own false friendliness unnerving.
She looked again between them and sighed. "Fine, I will go, but don't think I won't send the other men back here as soon as I meet them, so you have roughly ten minutes for your foolishness."
Evan watched the grey of her dress twist as she abruptly turned and walked swiftly away. At that pace they had roughly five minutes.
Evan looked at Osborne, who was now walking towards him. "So get on with it, tell me how much you hate the fact I married her —"
Evan crumpled, the fist drove into his stomach and sent him doubling over. Andrew stepped back, giving him a moment. He grasped his knees and spit onto the ground, breathing slowly in and out through his nose, trying to regain his breath. "That was foul play, Osborne. Breaking your promises to Fleur already?"
Andrew sneered. "That is Captain Osborne to you, and I only promised not to pop you in the nose."
Even stood up straight and leveled him with a stare. "Well, luckily," he said, swinging high and hitting Osborne right across his face. "I didn't make the same promise."
His fist came down swiftly and he felt his knuckles crack and his skin tear, but he didn't have time to look at the damage before Osborne, crazy man that he was, started laughing of all things. "I knew you would fight dirty, Woolf. Too bad you didn't come into the military like a good little spare, we could use men like you. Unfortunately, the Crown will have to make do, because I'm going to obliterate you." He growled and ran at him full speed.
Marriage to a Mister (A Daughters of Regency #1) Page 17
