The Desires of a Countess

by Jenna Petersen

  “They’re your family, too. By law.”

  “They are not my family,” she said with venom. Then the anger faded, though what replaced it seemed false. For the first time since she’d stormed into the office, Virginia smiled. “But now we must discuss where you’ll be staying during the short time you’ll be here to look over Henry’s books.”

  Simon nodded. There was no use telling her that he had no idea how long or short his visit would be. Judging from her manner, his stay might involve more than a cursory look over the finances of the estate. It might include investigating her fitness. An exercise that suddenly didn’t seem so very unpleasant.

  “Of course you cannot stay here in my home. That wouldn’t be proper.” Her smile fell. “So I’ve arranged for you to stay in the little cottage on our property. It isn’t large, but it will house you and your staff.”

  Simon wrinkled his brow. This sudden sweetness and accommodating manner was as confusing as her earlier rage. But he had to admit, he was drawn to the act all the same. Even a false smile increased her beauty tenfold. He could only imagine what a genuine one would do.

  “Of course I wouldn’t want to be a burden. And staying on the estate makes sense. The sooner I can be done with my business, the sooner I can leave you to your normal life. I appreciate your offer.”

  She turned away, but not before Simon saw her smile had turned to a smirk. What in the world was he getting himself into?

  “Very good. I assume you can take care of yourself for the most part. Since the household is still in mourning,” she paused with a grimace. “We don’t have formal suppers every night. I’ll have the cook bring down food for you and your men. How many are there?”

  Simon glanced at her gown. The pale, spring blue was anything but mourning attire and he hadn’t missed how she’d accentuated the household was in mourning, but had said nothing about herself. He wondered why. Only a few short months had passed since Henry’s accident.

  “Mr. Webber?”

  “I’m sorry.” He shook his head. Maintaining focus around this woman was a difficult order. “There will only be two of us. Just me and my valet.”

  Her brow wrinkled and her eyes moved over him again. “I would have thought you’d need an army of men...” With a gasp, she shut her mouth and turned away. “If you need anything, please bring it up with my butler. Ingram will be happy to assist you. Good day.”

  With that, she gathered up her skirt and all but fled the room. Simon watched her go with a shake of his head. In the span of twenty minutes Virginia Blanchard had confused, aroused, and infuriated him. He found himself wondering when they would meet again, and if he would ever find out who the real woman behind the mask was.

  Chapter Two

  “So what does he look like?”

  Ginny turned from the rain-streaked window to glare at Harriet. “You’re missing the point.”

  Her friend shrugged. “You said he was younger than you thought he’d be, I was simply curious.”

  With a sigh, Ginny sat back down in a comfortable chair by the roaring fire. “I said he was unexpected in many ways, not only in his appearance.”

  Still, despite her protestations to Harriet, thoughts of Simon Webber had crept into her mind since their meeting a few hours before. And not just because of the heated words they’d exchanged.

  “Which was…?” Harriet prodded.

  “You’re exasperating. He was very handsome if you must know.” The image of Simon Webber standing in her husband’s office as if he owned that and every other room flashed into her mind. “He’s very commanding. Hard, like a man who works outdoors, except for his eyes. I’ve never seen a color like that before. Blue-green like the ocean.”

  She trailed off. What was wrong with her? Talking like that about a man she’d only just met? It wasn’t like her.

  Harriet arched an eyebrow, and Ginny shook the images from her head before she continued, “He looked like a man who could take what he wanted.”

  “You were looking closely.” Harriet’s tone was low, as if that fact signified.

  “Why shouldn’t I? He holds the keys to my future and my son’s life. I must learn everything about him that I can.”

  She frowned. They were pretty words, but she hadn’t been thinking about those very rational things when she’d been with Simon. No, instead of concentrating on the problem – him, she’d been flustered by the odd feelings he’d inspired. It had taken all her strength to maintain distance and control. Her instinct had been far different. She’d wanted to run from him, from the strange curl of heat that had begun in the pit of her stomach and eased its way throughout her body when he looked at her.

  Harriet’s expression made it more than clear that she didn’t believe her rationalizations any more than Ginny did herself.

  “And what do you know about him now that you’ve spent a few moments in his company?” her friend asked with a wry smile.

  Ginny paused to contemplate the question. “Well, he doesn’t have that coldness most of his family does. His eyes weren’t just amazing, they were warm. Not cruel like Henry’s. Even when Simon was angry, they didn’t become hard.”

  “Are you admitting I was right, then?”

  Ginny wrinkled her brow. “About what?”

  “That he isn’t as much of a threat as you thought. That perhaps he isn’t here to destroy you or your son’s independence. Perhaps he’s here to help you, just as he claimed.” Her friend tilted her head while she waited for an answer.

  It was one Ginny found hard to come by. Yes, she’d been furious when she came into Henry’s office to find Simon Webber sitting there like he was lord and master of the estate. It had been too much of a reminder of her late husband in that very spot, drunk, his voice harsh as he listed her faults as a wife and lover. Henry’s cruel hands wrapping around her arms, dragging her to their room for punishment for unknown crimes. She shivered at the unwanted memory.

  “Ginny, you look as though you’ll faint away. Breathe.” Harriet rose to her feet with a look of concern.

  “I’m sorry.” Ginny shook her head. She was being weak. Simon Webber didn’t hold any special power over her. “My mind wandered.”

  Her companion arched an incredulous eyebrow. “I would say so, and I’d hate to be on that journey if it makes your eyes fill with such terror.”

  Ginny ignored her friend’s words and forced her mind back to the subject at hand. “Mr. Webber isn’t what I thought he would be. He doesn’t seem to be a monster, but that could be part of his act. One way or another, it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want him here. I don’t want him, or any other person, involved in my or my son’s life.”

  “Is that all you’re afraid of?”

  Ginny shrugged at her pointed question. “We both know that the longer he stays, the more likely he’ll be to find out…”

  She trailed off and for a moment the two women sat with locked gazes. Finally, Harriet broke the uncomfortable pause. “So where is he now?”

  Ginny didn’t answer, but shifted in her chair.

  Her friend stared at her with wide green eyes. “You put him in the cottage, even though you aren’t as certain of his motives as you were before?”

  “That was my plan.” Ginny squirmed under Harriet’s disapproving gaze. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  Harriet shook her head in utter disbelief. “I can’t believe you’d send him all the way down there when you aren’t even sure if you have a true reason to fear him.”

  “I can’t take any chances.” But even as she said the words, the pang of guilt grew to a full-blown ache. Perhaps she had made a hasty decision. “I only need a bit of time to figure him out before I come up with a new plan to get rid of him.”

  Harriet opened her mouth, then shut it with a shake of her head. Ginny was just as happy. She was confused by this turn of the situation already, she didn’t need her friend twisting it even more.

  Harriet simply didn’t understand how de
sperate she was. She couldn’t. After all, the two women were completely different. Sometimes Ginny was amazed they could be so close. Unlike her, Harriet wanted to believe the best in people. Ginny knew better. Simon Webber was probably a devil under those good looks and calm demeanor. He was waiting for his moment to strike once she dropped her guard.

  “Would you like my advice?”

  Ginny shrugged. “Perhaps.”

  “You should invite him back up to the house for supper tonight.”

  She stood up with a gasp. “Do you not remember the plan?”

  Harriet rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes. Bread and water from the kitchen, preferably damp. The cottage. Make him want to go back to London. But don’t you think that’s a little obvious? Besides, it will do nothing to endear you to him, and that’s what you’ll need to do if you want to find out what he’s really about and what’s the best way to make him go away.”

  Ginny had to admit the wisdom in both her friend’s statements. “So you’re suggesting a truce just long enough for me to find out his weaknesses.”

  Harriet nodded, though she looked unsure. “I suppose that’s one way to look at it. Though I’m rather hoping you’ll find out he’s not an inhuman monster and forget your whole plan to keep him away.” When Ginny opened her mouth in protest, she shrugged one shoulder. “Jack needs a male figure in his life, and this man could even become a friend to you if you needed one.”

  Ginny laughed. Simon Webber, a friend? Now why didn’t that idea feel as ridiculous as she wanted it to feel? She didn’t need another friend, and she certainly didn’t need another man.

  “I doubt that. But I do see the value in your suggestion. Will you accept an invitation for supper if I ask him to join us?”

  Harriet glanced at the little clock on the mantle. “I’ll need to dash home for a few errands, but I’ll come back for supper if you need me. I’m actually quite interested to see this man whose presence has captured your attention so.”

  Ginny sighed loudly. “I don’t want you here to size him up! I want you here as a buffer in case he’s more angry about the state of the cottage than I anticipated. And to help me procure information from the man.”

  “Very well.” A knowing smile tilted Harriet’s mouth up at the corners. “I am your servant for the evening.” She gave Ginny a brief hug then disappeared into the hall.

  Ginny sat back down to stare into the fire. Harriet was right, she needed more information. Even Simon had said she should have investigated him. And that’s exactly what she would do. Once she knew the man better than he knew himself, she’d surely have enough ammunition to keep him from ever harming her or her family.

  ***

  “This is ridiculous.”

  Simon let out a laugh of agreement before he looked up from the gaping hole in the west wall of the cottage to stare at his friend. Adam Scott was irate as he stalked from one structural problem to another. He barely dodged a waterfall of rain coming from the roof as he turned to Simon.

  “This is where she’s putting us for the duration of our stay?” Adam sniffed. “It’s worse shelter than she’d give a dog.”

  Simon smiled. It was just like his best friend to be more upset by their current situation than he was. His protectiveness had come from their years aboard ship together. Sometimes he acted more like a father or older brother than a friend, though Adam was only ten years older than Simon’s own thirty years.

  “Well, this explains that little smirk she gave me before I left the main house,” Simon said with a shrug.

  To him, this was just one more piece to the puzzle that was Virginia Blanchard. And he had to admit, he admired her spirit, even if he didn’t understand why her anger was devoted to him.

  Adam grunted a reply as he crouched down to examine some of the damage to a wall. The cottage was a small building. It had two bedrooms and a sitting area with a large fireplace. Aside from the leaky roof and hole-ridden walls, it wasn’t a bad dwelling. In fact, Simon wondered why there would be such an accommodation on an estate like Westdale. The main house had large servant quarters, so there was no reason for servants to be housed here. And it was too close to be used for hunting.

  He fingered the damp fabric on the chaise before the fireplace. It was expensive. This was a place for someone important to stay. Or had been before it had been damaged so severely by the elements.

  “Well, I’ll be…”

  Simon turned to look at Adam who was pointing to one of the holes. “What is it?”

  “On purpose!” his friend muttered. “Some of this damage was inflicted on purpose. As if someone took a sledge to the wall.”

  “No!” Simon crouched down to look at the hole. Indeed, it did look purposeful. The wall was smooth around it, like there had been one blow and nothing else to damage the surface.

  With a soft laugh, he stood back up. “Well, she certainly has a plan to get rid of me, I have to acknowledge that.”

  Adam pursed his lips. “I don’t see anything funny about this. We would have fared better aboard The Keeper, even in a hurricane.”

  Simon nodded, though he was hardly listening to his friend as he ran his hand along the damaged wall. What game was Virginia trying to play with him?

  “I’ll send a post to Havers right away and see if he can swing her around and put her in port over in Bridlington.” He lifted twinkling eyes to his friend. “Then you can have the luxury of familiar surroundings while I attempt to solve out the mystery of Virginia Blanchard.”

  “It’s too far for me to be of any service to you.” Adam grinned. “But I can’t say I’d be sorry to see your ship if The Keeper pulled into port today. But don’t you already know the cause for Lady Westdale’s behavior?”

  Simon wrinkled his brow. At this point he knew nothing about the Countess except that she was beautiful and strange.

  “What cause?”

  Adam shrugged one bulky shoulder. “Didn’t your aunt say the Countess was daft?”

  Simon let his hand drop from the wall as he considered that possibility. Again he flashed to the strong anger and equally intense fear Virginia had shown him that afternoon in the few moments when her guard was down. But there had been a purpose behind her emotions, even if it wasn’t one he could determine. At worst, Lady Westdale was highly emotional behind that disconnected mask she wore, but not mad.

  “I think my Aunt Cordelia was merely spouting more of her poison, Adam,” he said with a sigh. “If Lady Westdale is daft than I’m a saint. No, there’s something else behind her behavior, I’m almost sure of it.”

  Adam shook a stream of water from his wet coat as he glanced up at Simon. “Then what do you think of her?”

  “Well, she’s stunning.”

  His friend winked. “Yes, you’ve mentioned how beautiful her ladyship is several times since you left the house.”

  Heat darkened Simon’s skin. Had he been prattling on about Virginia’s looks? That wasn’t wise, even around a friend. Not only would Adam rib him mercilessly about it, but putting a voice to the feelings she’d inspired in him would only open him to harm. Desire, when controlled, could be pleasurable, but Simon hadn’t exactly felt control when he’d leaned in close to Virginia and breathed in her scent. In fact, he hadn’t experienced a reaction quite so strong in a long time, let alone for a woman he didn’t even know.

  “What else, then?” Adam prodded.

  “Yes, my impressions… I’d almost forgotten.” Simon sighed. There was no avoiding a question with Adam. “She’s very complex. She seems to believe I’m here for some nefarious purpose.”

  “Like what?” his friend scoffed. “You don’t want to be here at all. You get no pleasure from this!”

  “Which I tried to tell her, but my mention of family duty only seemed to upset her even more.” He rubbed his chin. He was accustomed to the beard he kept on board his ship. The smooth shave felt odd. But nothing in his current situation felt normal. Nothing except that dreaded sense of obligation to his
family. He shook his head. “And there’s one more thing that troubles me.”

  “What’s that?”

  He paused as he considered what he was about to say. “She isn’t in mourning, Adam. My cousin died only a few months ago. By the rules of Society, she should still be in full black. But she wasn’t. She wore a blue gown that matched the exact shade of her eyes.”

  Adam smirked.

  Simon winced at the realization that he’d once again revealed too much to his friend. He shot the other man a glare, then continued, “Though she mentioned the household was in mourning, the look in her eyes told me plainly that she doesn’t feel Henry’s death is much of a loss to her personally.”

  Adam twisted his mouth. “Curious.”

  “Yes. It’s just one more mystery I’ll have to solve while…”

  He trailed off when there was the soft sound of a throat clearing behind the two men. Both turned to see one of Lady Westdale’s footmen standing in the creaking door of the cottage. Though the man held an umbrella, he was soaked through and looked utterly miserable.

  “I beg your pardon, gentlemen,” he said as he stepped inside and lowered the protective barrier. When the gash in the cottage roof continued to drop rain onto his forehead, he lifted it again with an apologetic smile. “But her ladyship has asked that I bring you a message.”

  “Well, I can’t wait for this,” Adam muttered under his breath.

  “What is it, young man?” Simon asked.

  “Lady Westdale has requested the pleasure of your company for supper this evening. She will expect you at eight sharp. And your man is also welcome to take a warm and dry supper in the house.” He gave a short bow. “Would you like to send a message in reply?”

  Simon looked around. The room didn’t appear to have anything to write with, or even a decent place to lean. “Even if I did, it doesn’t appear that a missive would survive your wet ride back to the main house. Please tell her ladyship that I shall be there at eight and I look forward to sharing a meal.”