Miss Lacey's Love Letters

by McQueen, Caylen

  "You're interacting with me right now," she pointed out. "You must hate the fact that my aunt and I are here."

  "Not at all. In fact, I have been enjoying your company thus far."

  "Tolerating my company is more like it..." Valeria amended his word with a sigh. "You really won't come? Your estate is quite vast, Mr. Worthington. It seems very unlikely that we would cross paths with another living soul."

  "I..." Though he hesitated, she thought she could see his reluctance crumbling. "I would really rather not."

  "And I will simply not take no for an answer!" Valeria took him by the arm and proceeded to pull him along with her. A stubborn man like Noah Worthington needed some extra coaxing.

  "You're remarkably persistent, you know."

  She smiled proudly. "I know."

  "Are you sure we should be alone together?" Noah was trying to think of some excuse—any excuse—to spare him from the unwanted activity. "Surely you have some concern for your reputation?"

  "At my age?" Valeria snorted. "I am too old to worry about my reputation, Mr. Worthington."

  "Really?" He studied her profile intently. Unlike him, her face was without a single wrinkle. "You look very young."

  "I am two and thirty."

  "Ah. I thought you were a bit younger than that."As they approached the stables, he added, "Nevertheless, that is still young to me."

  "A lady should only worry about her reputation if she intends to find a husband."

  "You don't want to be married, Miss Woll?"

  "Alas, I am a hopeless spinster." It didn't seem like an appropriate time to mention Harold's recent proposal.

  They entered the stables, where they were greeted by the musky smell of horse, a whinnying mare, and a wiry young groom. "I cannot believe you got me to agree to this," Noah grumbled. "Miss Woll... your name is very appropriate. Woll. I think you might be a wolf in sheep's clothing."

  "My name is Woll, not Wool."

  "Close enough."

  The groom, who was shocked to see them, quickly prepared two horses for their ride. Noah mounted his horse so fluidly, he looked like a man who rode every day. Valeria, on the other hand, struggled to climb onto her side saddle.

  They rode their horses side by side, Noah on his bay stallion and Valeria on her white mare. Valeria quickly discovered it wasn't the most ideal afternoon for a ride. The previous night's rain had turned the ground into something marsh-like. She pitied the horses as they were forced to slog onward.

  "I am sorry about your aunt. I hope her condition improves."

  "As do I." Lydia claimed her poor health was a ruse, but Valeria knew better. Her aunt had been in chronic pain for a very long time.

  "Do you know what ails her?"

  "A bad back. That is what she says, but I am concerned it might be more serious than that."

  "Well, she is welcome to stay as long as she needs to." With a soft smile, he added, "And you are welcome to stay with her."

  "Thank you, Mr. Worthington. Your kindness has been a blessing." Her mare snorted, so Valeria gave her head a gentle scratch. The poor horse's hooves were already caked in mud.

  "I am still trying to make amends for my previous behavior. When you first arrived, I was horrible."

  "And you will have to forgive me if I do not disagree with you. You were quite horrid."

  "Honestly, it had been so long since I had encountered another human being," he confessed. "One who did not work for me, that is."

  "How long has it been since you've spoken to someone who wasn't a servant?"

  "Six months. Maybe a year. The passage of time is no longer a concept I care about."

  "What about your family? They don't visit you?"

  "I am nine and forty, Miss Woll. My parents are gone. I have no kindly uncles or caring cousins. My sisters are married with children, and those children are grown... unfortunately, I have not seen them for several years. I have a brother who visits on occasion, but his visits are few and far between. Not that I blame him. I am sure I can be a difficult man."

  "Perhaps you could try reaching out to them?" Valeria suggested.

  "I am afraid the damage is done." With a sigh, he added, "But I appreciate your efforts to change me."

  "Is that sarcasm?"

  "No. I'm quite serious. You're the first person to show concern for me in nearly a decade. I am sure you are right. I do need to change my lifestyle."

  "You're on a ride with me. That's progress." She tried to smile at him, but he wasn't looking in her direction. "I would be happy to call myself your friend, Mr. Worthington."

  "Then I count myself lucky."

  As their conversation continued, Valeria and Noah rode to the top of a hill. Dense forest laid beyond the hill, so they opted to end their journey there. Valeria wanted to take a moment to enjoy the view, so she dismounted her horse. In doing so, a few flecks of mud leapt onto her gown, sullying the hem. Her boots were soiled in an instant, but she wasn't the sort of woman to fuss over a bit of mud.

  "Look!" she gasped. "That's beautiful!"

  "What is beautiful, Miss Woll?"

  "The sunlit forest. Do you see the rays sparkling through the leaves?" Valeria's smile broadened as she basked in the serenity of their surroundings."It's lovely. You can feel the warmth of the sun on your cheeks."

  "And I'm sure you can feel the soggy earth on your feet."

  When she turned to him, Valeria's lower lip protruded. "That doesn't quite have the same effect." She cupped a hand over her brow, shielding her eyes from the dripping golden sun. "Are you not enjoying yourself, Mr. Worthington? Even a bit?"

  "Perhaps." He didn't want to sound too grateful, but he enjoyed her company.

  "If it wasn't so muddy, I would lay on the grass and enjoy the moment. I used to do that when I was a child. I would lay on the ground and stare at the sky, and marvel at the clouds passing overhead."

  "It sounds like you were a whimsical child."

  "I suppose I was. At some point, my spirits must have been crushed by my unfulfilled dreams."

  "I know the feeling. As you must know, I am no stranger to unfulfilled dreams."

  "I wish I could--"

  Before she could finish her thought, her white mare darted away, kicking up mud on Valeria's gown as she ran. Valeria immediately regretted her mistake. Why hadn't she held onto the horse's bridle?

  Damn and blast. In her mind, she cursed the situation. Now she was covered in mud, Noah had lost a horse, and it was entirely her fault. She had half a mind to chase the animal, but she knew it was a hopeless pursuit.

  Noah, who was sitting astride his own horse, asked, "Do you think I should go after her?"

  "I... don't know." When she lowered her eyes, Valeria saw the extent of the damage. Over half of her gown was covered in mud, and she was without a change of clothes. "I am so, so sorry!"

  "I doubt I would be a very good horse wrangler. I'll have my groom search for her later." To Valeria, he said. "And you needn't apologize."

  "Yes! Yes I do need to apologize! I must be such a nuisance! I made you remember your painful past, my aunt is sick, and now I've let your horse escape. Ever since I've arrived, I've been nothing but trouble for you." With her eyes still fixed on her feet, she added. "All things considered, I can hardly blame you for trying to avoid human interaction. When you put your faith in others, you are too often let down by them."

  "You're not a let down, Miss Woll. Here." He extended a hand. "We can ride back together."

  "Together?!" Valeria squealed. "On the same horse?!"

  Noah snatched her hand and pulled her onto the horse in front of him, leaving her no choice. He could feel the tension in her shoulders, so he tried not to hold her too tightly, for fear that he would make her more uncomfortable.

  "Are you alright, Miss Woll?"

  "Um..." Valeria couldn't remember the last time she had been so close to a man—or if, indeed, she had ever been so close to one. "I'm... I'm fine, thank you."

  N
oah turned his horse around and headed down the hill. "I haven't made you uncomfortable, I hope?"

  "A... bit." She couldn't lie.

  "Well, it will all be over soon."

  And she regretted that fact, because it wasn't altogether unpleasant to have his arms wrapped around her. Valeria could only imagine what her aunt would say if she saw them. More than likely, Lydia would think it was a success.

  "I'm glad you convinced me to go for a ride."

  "Oh... surely you jest!" Valeria erupted with a nervous chuckle. "It ended in tragedy! My horse ran away! I feel terrible."

  "Nevertheless, I am glad you got me out of the house," Noah said. "And I'm glad you came here...to Steeridge. It is nice to know, for once, I am not so alone."

  "Well, I'm glad you feel that way. I assumed you would think I was vexing and foolish."

  "No. I think you're kind and carefree, and I need more of that in my life."

  "Carefree?" Valeria shook her head in protest. "I am sure Aunt Lydia would disagree with you. She is always saying I am too tense." Even so, she could feel herself relaxing in his arms.

  "Miss Woll?"

  "Hmm?"

  "I am trying to thank you for coming to visit me," he said. "Thank you for taking the time to seek me out."

  "Well..." How was she supposed to respond to that? "You are... welcome... I suppose."

  "I am happy to know you, and happy to call you a friend," he said. "Having you here... you may yet change me for the better."

  Chapter Eight

  For the second night, Lydia and Valeria dined with Noah Worthington. Lydia had wandered out of her sick bed, at least for a moment. As they consumed their food, she tried to hide the fact that she was feverish, and that she had a slight case of chills. She wanted to appear strong, as if her health was improving instead of declining.

  Dinner was generally a quiet affair. There was a bit of conversation about the weather, specifically the never-ending rain and unseasonal heat. Noah explained that Steeridge was acquired by his grandfather, who made his fortune through trade. For the most part, the night's discourse was appropriately light and pleasant.

  Valeria kept tugging at the sagging bustline of her gown. Because her dress had been sullied during their ride, she agreed to borrow a gown that belonged to one of his sisters. Noah's sister was considerably larger than Valeria, particularly in the area of the bosom. As a result, she displayed a bit more decolletage than usual. If nothing else, she was glad Noah did not mention the runaway horse to her aunt. She felt foolish enough as it was.

  At the end of their dinner, Lydia said, "Argus... what an interesting man."

  "Interesting?!" Valeria nearly spat her potato when she heard her aunt's words. "I seemed to think he was a bit... sour."

  "Oh, he's not so bad... if you can chisel beyond his crude exterior," Lydia explained. "I was enjoying his company while you were on your afternoon ride, dear. He's actually a fascinating storyteller." To Noah, she added, "He had quite a bit to say about you."

  "Ohhhh." Noah groaned. "I shudder to think of what he said."

  "It was nothing bad, I assure you. In fact, Argus had nothing but praise for you, Mr. Worthington," Lydia said. "He's been with you for a very long time."

  "That he has." After a moment's hesitation, Noah suggested, "If you would like, Mrs. Langley, you may call me Noah."

  "Noah." Lydia smiled as she uttered his name. "And you may call me Lydia, of course."

  "Lydia."

  "Noah!" she spoke his name again, with exaggerated enthusiasm.

  As Noah and her aunt discarded formalities, Valeria kept her silence. She was afraid to get too familiar too soon. She did not want to get close to Noah, only to have him disappear from her life. That had happened to her too many times, and she had learned from experience that it was best to keep a safe distance.

  Valeria wondered if she was also a recluse, in a sense.

  "Well..." Lydia's fork clattered against her plate, signaling that she had finished her meal. "Valeria, do you mind accompanying me to my room? I need to speak with you."

  "Of course." Valeria rose from her chair, wrapped an arm around her aunt's shoulders, and said to Noah, "Good night, Mr. Worthington."

  "Good night."

  As soon as they were out of the dining room, her aunt asked, "Now tell me... what happened between you and Noah?"

  "What?" Valeria's brow was creased with confusion. "What do you mean?"

  "You don't have to play coy with me. There's an obvious tension between you."

  "No, there isn't!"

  "Are you certain? Did nothing happen during your ride?"

  "Nothing happened."

  "He did not attempt to kiss you, or anything of the sort?"

  "No." Valeria rolled her eyes as she nudged open the door to her aunt's room.

  "Well, that's a shame. I was hoping for a romantic and slightly scandalous story."

  "That's enough about Mr. Worthington and myself. I am more curious about you and Argus," Valeria teased her aunt. "You seemed to warm up to him rather quickly."

  "Oh, hush!" Lydia gently plowed an elbow against her niece's side. "The same could be said about you and Noah! Don't think I didn't see you batting your eyelashes at him from across the dinner table!"

  "I did not bat my eyelashes!" The prospect made Valeria roar with laughter. "I am actually incapable of batting my eyelashes! I would never engage in such foolish behavior."

  "Well... Noah Worthington has had some effect on you, I am sure of it." Lydia collapsed in her bed with a sigh. "I can understand why Miss Lacey might have fallen for him. If he is this handsome now, I can only imagine how handsome he was in his youth."

  "And I am sure Argus was handsome too." With a wink, she added, "You cannot hide it from me, Lydia. I know he sets your pulse racing!"

  Without warning, Lydia swung a pillow at her niece. When it collided with Valeria's arm, a few feathers escaped its confines. "You are terrible, girl!"

  "And I would say the same thing about you!" Valeria leaned down and brushed a kiss across her aunt's forehead. She was a bit surprised to discover it was burning hot. "You really aren't well, are you?"

  "What makes you say that?"

  "You're burning up!"

  "So I have a slight fever," Lydia said with a shrug. "I am sure the fever will break soon enough."

  "You really shouldn't hide this from me. I know you aren't faking your illness. If you were, why would your skin be so sallow?"

  "I never said I wasn't ill... only that I exaggerated the extent of it." It would have been more accurate to say she was downplaying the severity of it, but she did not want to trouble her best friend. "And I must say, I am quite pleased with my plan. You and Noah have certainly bonded."

  "It's been a day, Lydia. One day."

  "And it only takes a day to fall in love. I fell in love with Henry the moment I saw him!"

  "Lydia..." Valeria dragged a hand down her face and groaned into her palm. "I am not as fanciful as that."

  "Well, nevertheless, you should not keep your heart closed to the possibility of love. I think Noah needs you as much as you need him."

  "And you need rest." Valeria was shaking her head with disbelief as she rose from the bed. No matter how much her aunt wanted to plant the idea in her head, it wasn't going to happen. She would be happy to have Noah Worthington as a friend, nothing more. "Good night, Lydia."

  "Good night, dear."

  After returning to her room, Valeria soon discovered her night would be a sleepless one. As she tossed and turned in her bed, her mind swelled with restless thoughts. More than anything, she worried about Lydia's health. How much was she hiding from her?

  There was only one remedy for Valeria's sleeplessness. When sleep eluded her, she usually found a book to ease her mind and dull her thoughts. Just after midnight, she wandered down to the library in search of a literary remedy.

  Unfortunately, an awkward encounter awaited her in the library. Noah was sitting at
one of the tables, hunched over a book. He looked more rugged than ever, with his unkempt hair and open shirt, which revealed a portion of his neck and chest. As soon as she saw him, Valeria froze. When his gold eyes landed on her, she could feel her pulse quickening. Lydia was right: he was a handsome man. Why didn't she see it before?

  "Miss Woll," he calmly acknowledged her presence. "Couldn't sleep?"

  "I'm afraid not." Their chance meeting was making her hands tremble, so she laid her candle on a nearby table. "I find that I cannot sleep in strange places."

  "Strange?" Noah repeated the word with a smirk. "Is Steeridge really so strange?"

  "Unfamiliar places," Valeria amended her word. "I cannot sleep unless I am entirely comfortable."

  "I'm sorry to hear that."

  "And what of you? Has sleep eluded you as well?"

  "My waking hours are a bit unconventional. I will still be awake for another hour or two."

  "I...see." Valeria eyed her candle, and eyed the door. She was wearing a borrowed nightrail, sheer and white, and her dark hair was spilling over her shoulders. It seemed inappropriate to linger, and yet, she was anchored to the ground. "Should I excuse myself?"

  "That isn't necessary. The library is large enough for both of us."

  "So it is." She took a few timid steps in his direction. "What are you reading?"

  "Nothing fascinating, I'm afraid. I am sure I will not finish it." He turned his gaze to a nearby shelf. "I might be trading it for another book."

  "If I wanted to read a book, what would you recommend?"

  "I don't know." Noah pinched his chin as he pondered her question. "Henry Fielding's Tom Jones is a favorite of mine."

  "I've never read it." Against her better judgment, Valeria's eyes wandered to his chest. They lingered on his bronze skin and muscular neck before landing on a long scar above his collarbone.

  "You've noticed the scar?"

  Valeria's heart momentarily stopped. If he knew she was looking at his scar, he must have known she was eyeing his bare skin. "I... um..."

  "The recklessness of boyhood," he explained. "A friend accidentally sliced me with a sword when I was very young."