by Elaine Hart
“My lady,” Lord Erasmus suddenly said, breaking the silence, as well as her train of thought, and she glanced at him. He glanced at her with a slight smile, but it soon faded when she did not respond.
Not wanting to be rude, she smiled after an elongated moment and said, “My lord.”
“My apologies. I was merely returning a book I had read.”
“Was it good?” she asked.
“It lacked a certain appeal.”
“I know what that feels like,” she scowled.
“I was not aware you were here, or that anyone was here in fact,” he said and glanced around him. “Harriet?”
“She is not here. His Grace wanted to speak with her in his study.”
“My father called on her?”
“Indeed.”
“That is interesting. Usually that can only mean one thing.”
“And what is that?”
“My father is discussing me or my brother with her.”
“Why would you think that?” she asked.
“That is usually what happens when she is called to his study,” he answered.
“Why does he not speak with you and your brother personally?”
“For two reasons. One, we are as stubborn as he is, and two, his questions are very misleading. I could never quite figure out his motives behind his questions,” Lord Erasmus explained.
“Perhaps he does not have any.”
Lord Erasmus chuckled and shook his head. “He does, always.”
“Perhaps he is worried.”
“There is nothing in my life he needs to worry about. Thomas, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish.”
“Indeed,” Lady Caroline scoffed with thick distaste and turned away.
“I do not mean to pry, my lady, but—”
“But what, my lord? What is it that you wish to know?” she asked as she turned to him and without any warning, her eyes filled with tears.
Chapter Four
July 1812
Northern Library
Fursdon House
Exeter
Devonshire
England
Lord Erasmus felt rather bad as he gazed upon such a beautiful woman as Lady Caroline, who had tears in her eyes and was clearly broken-hearted over a man who did not even deserve a shred of emotion.
“My lady, I apologise. I did not wish to upset you,” he said softly and slowly approached her.
“You are not the one who has upset me, my lord. I apologise for my inability to control my emotions,” she said as she lowered her gaze and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“You should never apologise for such a thing, my lady,” he said and she glanced at him. “Emotions are not there to control. We succumb to them, as we are only human after all.”
“These are wasted tears, and the reason is as unworthy as a barren field,” she muttered.
“That sounds rather poetic,” he said.
“Pathetic is a more accurate description.”
“My brother causes these tears.”
“No, I am at fault. I should not have allowed myself to believe the things he said to me,” she said and glanced at him, his alluring green eyes permeating her soul. She lowered her gaze and stepped away from him. “I was such a fool.”
“Perhaps you were, but you need not be any longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“My brother came to speak to me last evening.”
“About what?” she asked.
“About you.”
“Why?” she asked in disbelief.
“He feels remorse for hurting you.”
Lady Caroline raised a wary eyebrow and burst out into a fit of bitter laughter. “My lord, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life.”
“I thought the same.”
“Please do not tell me that you are here to encourage me to forgive him of his actions,” she said and crossed her arms.
“Not at all. He does not deserve you.”
Lady Caroline’s bitter expression faded and she smiled slightly. “Then why are you here?”
“I simply returned my book, as I had told you earlier. I would certainly never lie to you, my lady.”
She smiled and nodded. “I am aware of that. Thank you, my lord. I know I have not been the kindest person to you lately, especially not when it came to your brother. You tried to wan me of him and I did not listen. You were merely concerned about me and I threw your concern back in your face.”
“My lady...”
“I am sincerely sorry, my lord. I know now that everything you had said was right. Your brother is...”
“Not deserving of a woman such as you.”
His words were kind and gentle and Lady Caroline nodded with gratitude. “Thank you, my lord.”
He smiled at her, and after an elongated moment, he turned away and reached for a book on the shelf beside her.
Lady Caroline felt slightly overwhelmed by how close Lord Erasmus was and she held her breath for a moment.
“I am convinced you will enjoy this,” he said and held the book out to her.
“What is it?”
“It is the tale of an intellectual traveller who is on a path that at some point splits in half. He must then decide which direction he should go,” he answered, his words slow and meaningful.
“It does sound rather intriguing,” she answered. “Have you read it?”
“Indeed. It was particularly meaningful to me at the time. I had just arrived in Oxford and felt rather lost. My determination had withered for a short while, and this,” he said as he placed his palm on the book, “was of great help to me.”
She smiled and glanced at Lord Erasmus's hand on the book she held. She noticed the veins under his skin and for some unknown reason, she had an insatiable urge to touch his hand, and run her fingertips along the length of this hand.
She glanced up at him and their eyes met for a short while.
“I do hope it assists you in finding your way as it has helped me,” he whispered.
“I hope so as well,” she whispered back.
“And if you ever have any questions regarding the book, I would be more than happy to answer them,” he said.
“I will most definitely. I love asking questions.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled as he lifted his hand off the book and gently touched her chin.
“Caroline, you will never—” Lady Harriet’s voice suddenly interrupted their moment and Lord Erasmus and Lady Caroline both stepped away from one another. Lady Caroline clutched the book against her chest and glanced at Lady Harriet with an awkward expression on her face.
“Harriet,” Lord Erasmus smiled.
“What is going on here?” Lady Harriet asked.
Lady Caroline glanced at Lord Erasmus, unable to say a single word, and Lord Erasmus cleared his throat.
“I was telling Lady Caroline of The Traveller.”
“The Traveller?” Lady Harriet asked.
“The book Mother packed in my trunk when I arrived in Oxford,” Lord Erasmus said and raised his brow expectantly.
“Oh, yes. That book. I had forgotten all about it,” she answered. “Erasmus loves that book.”
“I could certainly tell by the passionate way he spoke of it,” Lady Caroline said and briefly glanced at Lord Erasmus with a slight smile before glancing back at Lady Harriet.
“Perhaps you should read it together when you are in Oxford,” Lady Harriet suggested with a smile.
“What are you talking about, Harriet?” Lord Erasmus asked.
“Did Caroline not tell you yet?”
“Tell me what?”
“Harriet...” Lady Caroline sighed and shook her head.
“What?” Lady Harriet asked, smiling innocently.
“My father has agreed that I may attend Oxford at the start of the next academic year.”
Lord Erasmus’s jaw dropped and he gazed at Lady Caroline in awe. “That is wond
erful news. Why did you not tell me?”
“I did not think it would have you as excited as you seem at this moment, and I did not want to say anything before it was official,” Lady Caroline answered modestly and shook her head at Lady Harriet.
“Your father's approval is as official as it comes,” Lady Harriet pointed out.
“That is not true,” Lady Caroline chuckled.
“We must celebrate,” Lord Erasmus said.
“Hold on. Nothing is official.”
“She is right, Erasmus.”
“Thank you, Harriet. Now what was it that you wished to say when you entered the library?” Lady Caroline asked.
“Before I interrupted a rather intimate moment?”
“Your timing is rather impeccable,” Lord Erasmus muttered but turned away before Lady Harriet was able to respond.
“I spoke with my father and he wishes to host a ball,” Lady Harriet answered, ignoring the mutter of her brother, although it had confirmed her suspicions.
“For what reason?” he asked.
“I am not certain, but let us be honest, does Father require a reason to host a ball?” Lady Harriet answered.
“No, but—”
“Who are we to argue?” Lady Harriet said with a cheerful smile.
“His Grace is hosting a ball. That sound delightful.”
“It is more than delightful, my dearest friend. An evening of exquisite gowns, wonderful music, dancing and conversing, being social,” Lady Harriet swooned, swaying to the sound of imaginary melodies.
Lord Erasmus and Lady Caroline exchanged perplexed glances and Lord Erasmus stepped forward.
“Sister, when did you become such a socialite?” he asked.
“I am not turning into anything. Caroline and I promised to have the most wonderful summer and that is precisely what we will do.”
“We did promise,” Lady Caroline admitted to Lord Erasmus.
“I see,” he said with a smile.
“Father has agreed to send us shopping for gowns, Caroline,” Lady Harriet said.
“That does sound like a wonderful outing,” Lady Caroline agreed.
“You can be such typical women when the occasion arises,” Lord Erasmus sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Is Father still in his study?”
“He is, but he is not available.”
“And why not?”
“I cannot say,” Lady Harriet said with a cringe.
“Harriet?”
Lady Harriet gritted her teeth and sighed. “Thomas is with him.”
“Why?”
Lady Harriet bit her bottom lip and shook her head.
“Harriet,” Lord Erasmus sighed. “What did you say to Father?”
“Nothing, I swear. Father showed me a letter that he had received from Paris.”
Lord Erasmus's brows shot up and his jaw clenched.
“Paris? Who is in Paris?” Lady Caroline asked and glanced at the two siblings.
Lady Harriet huffed and glanced expectantly at her brother, motioning towards him to answer her question.
Lord Erasmus sighed and took a deep breath.
“What is going on?” Lady Caroline asked. “Is it a family matter in which I am not included?”
“It is a rather complicated story, my lady.”
“Regarding Lord Dundee, I assume,” Lady Caroline said and crossed her arms.
“Indeed, but I do not think it is a good idea for you to know.”
“Why not, Erasmus?” Lady Harriet asked. “It is not as if Caroline and Thomas...”
Her voice trailed as she noticed the expressions on both her brother and her dearest friend’s faces and she gasped. “No. Please tell me it is not true.”
“Harriet...”
“Caroline, please tell me that you have not been fornicating with my brother,” Lady Harriet exclaimed angrily. “And please tell me that you are not having his child as well!”
“Harriet, stop,” Lord Erasmus exclaimed.
“I cannot believe you,” Lady Harriet exclaimed angrily and stormed out of the library.
“Harriet, wait,” Lady Caroline called after her, but when she reached the doors of the library and glanced out into the hallway, Lady Harriet was gone.
She sighed miserably and glanced at Lord Erasmus.
“Wait, did Harriet say as well?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“She said that I should please tell her that I am not having his child as well,” she said.
“You caught that.”
“My lord, what is going on? Is there another woman carrying Lord Dundee’s child?” she asked. “Please answer me honestly.”
“Yes, there is. She lives in Paris.”
“I figured as much,” she answered.
“I am sorry.”
“Why are you apologising? Your brother is the one who should. In fact, so am I. I kept this from Harriet, and now I have upset her.”
“It is not only your fault. I should not have said anything.”
“Please excuse me. I must speak with Harriet and explain,” she said with a sigh.
“Of course,” Lord Erasmus said with a slight smile.
She approached him, retrieved the book that he had given to her and kissed him swiftly on the cheek. “Thank you for the book, and everything else.”
“Only a pleasure, my lady.”
She smiled at him before she turned and left the library. Lord Erasmus smiled for a while after she left and glanced down at his hands, wondering whether her heart also pounded as fast as his did at that moment.
His smile immediately faded when Lord Dundee stepped into the doorway of the library.
“I am surprised you are still alive,” Lord Erasmus said and raised a brow at Lord Dundee.
“Of course,” Lord Dundee scoffed. “Harriet informed you already?”
“Harriet had known for a while.”
“How?”
“She found the letter from Miss Genevieve in your trunk,” Lord Erasmus said.
“The letter I burnt two days later?” he asked.
“Indeed.”
“You could have warned me, Erasmus,” Lord Dundee muttered.
“Warned you? Why on earth would I do that? You brought this upon yourself,” Lord Erasmus said.
“I deserve that.”
“No, you deserve nothing but ill-fortune, because that is what you spread. That and heartache, misery, and lies of course,” Lord Erasmus said and stepped towards his brother. At that moment it did not matter whether Lord Dundee was taller than him, or stronger than him. “Do you enjoy hurting women the way you do?”
Lord Dundee’s jaw clenched as he glared at Lord Erasmus. “What has gotten into you?”
“I have grown tired of your nonsense, your arrogance, and your ignorance, brother. You claim to be such a man, but you cannot even do what is right, what is honorable. That does not make you a man, that makes you a coward,” Lord Erasmus said in a low and menacing tone.
“You are very brave to say such things to me,” Lord Dundee growled.
“What is going on here?” the Duke’s deep voice echoed through the library and the two lords backed away from one another.
“I will not have my sons behaving like a couple of brutes. Thomas’s behavior is bad enough, and I certainly do not need any more drama in my life, or the family’s name being dragged through the mud.”
“Father—”
“Not a word, out of either of you,” the Duke said firmly, his tone thick with authority.
Lord Erasmus and Lord Dundee nodded wordlessly.
“Where is Harriet?”
“I am not certain. She left rather abruptly.”
“What did you say to her, Thomas?” the Duke asked Lord Dundee.
“Why do you always assume that I am the cause of all the trouble and strife in this place?” Lord Dundee asked exasperatedly.
“It is always you,” Lord Erasmus said as he walked past the Duke towards the door. “Pardon
me, Father. I have something to attend to.”
The Duke nodded as Lord Erasmus left the library and he glared angrily at Lord Dundee.
“I did not do anything, Father. I swear it.”
“I think we must speak once more,” the Duke said with a sigh.
“Personally I think there is nothing more to speak of, Father. You said all you needed to say.”
“Perhaps not,” the Duke said and his jaw clenched. “Sit down, Thomas.”
Chapter Five
July 1812
Lady Harriet’s chambers
Fursdon House
Exeter
Devonshire
England
Lady Caroline stood in front of the wooden door of Lady Harriet’s bedchambers and knocked softly on the door.
“Harriet, are you in there?” she asked softly.
“Please leave, Caroline. I do not wish to speak with you,” Lady Harriet’s voice sounded from inside.
“Please, I must speak with you. I must explain,” Lady Caroline begged. “You are my dearest friend, Harriet. Please open the door.”
There was silence for a few moments until the door opened slightly. Lady Harriet stood in the doorway and glared at Lady Caroline.
“What is it?”
“Please allow me to explain. That is all I ask,” Lady Caroline begged.
Lady Harriet studied her for a moment and opened the door, allowing Lady Caroline inside.
Lady Caroline stepped inside and Lady Harriet closed the door behind her.
Lady Caroline took a deep breath and turned to her dearest friend. “I have known you ever since I was four years old, Harriet, and you are my longest and dearest friend. We had shared everything together and you were the first person who I had told most of the things that happened in my life.”
“Yet you failed to tell me of your relationship with my brother,” Lady Harriet said and crossed her arms.
“It was never a relationship,” Lady Caroline admitted, “but I am not carrying his child.”
“You are not?”
“Of course not, Harriet.”
“I did not even think you liked him at all.”
“I did not, to be honest. Then he paid me more attention, and I thought...” Her voice trailed off and her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and resentment and she glanced at Lady Harriet.
“You thought what?”
