Secrets of a Spinster

by Rebecca Connolly

  Mary’s brows rose in surprise. “Well, no, I suppose we don’t. I only have the note from Felicity and it seemed fairly certain, but as there has been no sign of the ship or any crew…” She shook her head once more. “It is highly unlikely, Geoff.”

  He sighed and sat back a bit. “Yes, it is.” But he didn’t look convinced. “It was considerate of Felicity Wyndham to write Cassandra about it.”

  Mary nodded, feeling grateful for one friend of Cassie’s who was not casting her off. “She has always been a sweet girl, without the presumption of her family. She must obey their restrictions, naturally, but she makes every effort she can where Cassie is concerned. I cannot imagine what they must be feeling at this time.”

  “What will happen now?” he asked quietly, looking back at Mary. “Will the feelings against Cassie become worse?”

  Mary sighed and rubbed at her head. “More than likely. I had hoped that my little scheme might help to smooth over some of those feelings, but now this…” She shook her head. “I’m not even sure I can bear to know.”

  Geoff smiled sadly at her. “I know. I’ll do what I can, you know that.”

  She returned his smile. “You always do.”

  He shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly. “What will you do?” he asked her, turning serious. “Have you made any plans?”

  She shook her head and looked towards the doorway. “I’ve been thinking about it all night, and I can’t decide. Part of me wants to rush her off to the country right this minute, and part of me wants to wait and see. But waiting… I’m afraid waiting might make things worse.”

  “But you are determined to leave?” he prodded.

  She looked back at him. “That was always the plan. Enjoy the season, and then leave for the country. George’s house in Hampshire is available while they tour the continent.”

  “That’s not so far away,” he murmured, nodding slowly.

  “The more I think about it,” she said on a sigh, “the more I think we should just leave now, as soon as we can. Things are only going to get worse for Cassie, and I have no ties to bind me here.”

  “Not even your splendid conquests?” he teased with a grin.

  She laughed softly and shook her head. “No, there was never anything serious. I thought perhaps there might have been, but…” She shrugged. “Nothing ever went beyond a surface flirtation.”

  He made no comment, which was probably wise, given their history of disagreements on the subject, but she distinctly saw a strange light steal into his blue eyes for a moment.

  She cleared her throat. “Not to say I didn’t enjoy myself, because at times I did.”

  “I know you did,” he murmured, smiling. “I could see it.”

  “But not all the time,” she admitted, feeling the color in her cheeks rise again, remembering all the times she had intentionally spurned him, how he had glowered at her, how they had fought.

  “No, no, no,” he scolded, shaking his head at her. “We’ve already discussed this. None of that.”

  “I was horrid,” Mary protested, wringing her hands in her lap. “I was the worst sort of creature imaginable. I was vain, and cruel, and frivolous…”

  “And I was rude, inconsiderate, and heartless,” he interrupted firmly, looking faintly exasperated with her. “Not to mention immature, inappropriate, disrespectful, disloyal…”

  “Stop!” she said with a laugh, covering her ears. “No more, no more.”

  He grinned, and sat back.

  She removed her hands, and gave him a warning look.

  “And I made a complete arse of myself, as Colin would say.”

  Mary couldn’t hold back a laugh and clamped a hand over her mouth. Geoff didn’t laugh, but she could see the mirth in his eyes.

  “Would he really say that?” she asked when her laugh had subsided.

  Geoff snorted. “He did say that.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really?”

  “It was very distressing to find that all of my friends were on your side of the matter,” he said with mock-annoyance, smiling a little.

  She couldn’t help it; she smiled back. “I’m sorry, Geoff.”

  He shook his head and held up a finger. “As I’ve told you, I’m the one who needs to be sorry.”

  “Well,” she said, “it’s all behind us now, and all is forgiven.”

  “Is it?” he asked, looking at her with concern.

  “Of course,” she replied simply.

  “It shouldn’t be this easy,” he scolded with a stern look. “I have a lot to make up for.”

  She heaved a sigh. “Very well, I begin with reversing your ban on being in the house. We’ll start there.”

  He nodded, fighting a smile. “Excellent, I’d hate to think I’m breaking rules by being here.”

  “And… you must help me pack up the house.”

  He sobered considerably. “Completely?”

  She nodded and shrugged. “I see no reason to leave it open at this point. We’re the only ones who use it, and none of my nieces or nephews are old enough to desire to come to London yet. It won’t be good to anybody until then.”

  “Yes,” he said slowly, “yes, I suppose you are right. Very well, I will help you, on one condition.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “What condition?”

  “Don’t look so suspicious!” he laughed. “I only ask that you give yourself a little bit of time. Cassie will need to be strong before you remove to Hampshire. See how she does, and allow yourself a little bit of amusement. Not quite the extent as before,” he warned, a teasing half-smile on his lips, “but a little.”

  Mary pretended to think it over carefully.

  “And if you do,” Geoff added, leaning forward, “then I will personally help with your removal to Hampshire and will have my friends assist as well.”

  “Even Colin?” she asked dubiously.

  He quirked his brows. “Especially Colin.”

  “Hmm…” she mused, tapping her chin. “I agree to your condition, upon one of my own.”

  He tilted his head in query, but said nothing.

  She smiled shyly. “Would you agree to be my escort once more? I need to laugh more, and nobody makes me laugh the way you do.”

  The smile that spread across his face would have made the sun seem gloomy, and it made her toes tingle.

  “That I can most certainly agree on,” Geoffrey said, holding out his hand.

  Mary took it, and shook firmly. “Done.”

  “Done. Now, you need to sleep yourself,” he said as he stood and pulled her up.

  “Oh, but I…” she tried.

  He silenced her with a look. “You are dead on your feet. You need rest.” He pushed her towards the stairs and shooed her up. “Go on, be off with you.”

  She started up, then looked back at him. “What are you going to do?”

  He grinned and shrugged. “I’m going to rest myself. If I am going to be your escort, and I have to help you pack up the house, I’m going to need all the rest I can get.” He bowed very smartly then turned for the door. “I’ll call on the both of you tomorrow. Let me know if I am needed sooner.”

  “And if you are?” she asked, not entirely sure why.

  He turned slightly and looked at her in surprise. “Then I’ll come, of course. I am yours to command.” He bowed once more and departed with a smile.

  Mary remained on the stair for a moment longer, staring at the door. Then, almost without her noticing, she smiled too.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I don’t want to go.”

  “Mary, nobody turns down the Rivertons once they have already accepted.”

  “I don’t want to go!”

  Geoff growled rather uncharacteristically. “Mary, so help me, if you are not in the carriage in five minutes, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out myself.”

  She looked up at him, her blue eyes narrowing. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.”

  She frowne
d, then looked towards the door and sighed. “I don’t want to leave her.”

  Geoff resisted the urge to sigh himself. They had been arguing over this event for the past two days, mostly because Mary couldn’t make up her mind. One minute she wanted to go, the next she didn’t. They had been over this time and time again, and up until half an hour ago, he thought it was settled. He had arrived to fetch her only to be told that in the middle of getting ready, she had yet again changed her mind. Now he was standing in her private sitting room while she fidgeted and paced around fully dressed, but hair only half done. It actually looked rather becoming, now that he studied it. The top half of her hair had been twisted up and pinned, while the bottom half hung long and loose down her back.

  It was actually very becoming…

  He forced himself to look away and clasped his hands behind his back, just in case he were more tempted than he already was to reach out and touch.

  “She’ll be fine,” he reassured her kindly. “She is sleeping better, she ate a full meal today within my view, and I presume she ate others?”

  Mary scowled, but nodded. “Yes, she did,” she mumbled as she paced.

  He gave her a look. “Then I think we can safely leave her for a few hours. Mrs. Evansdale is here, Winston is here, and I have asked Christian to stop by this evening and read to her.”

  That stopped Mary in her tracks. “You did?”

  He nodded, unable to stop a smug smile from appearing. “I did. He has plenty of experience reading, you know. Our nieces and nephews beg for it often.”

  “Do they?” she asked, her voice ringing with suspicion.

  “Would I lie to you?”

  “Yes.”

  He chuckled and spread his hands out. “I promise you, he really does read well. We thought it would entertain her for a bit. If nothing else, they can play cards.”

  Mary chewed her full bottom lip in indecision.

  He looked away then as well. Just to be safe.

  “Mary?”

  Both Geoff and Mary turned to see Cassie in the doorway, looking pale and small, but her eyes were clear and her long hair braided over one shoulder. Her shawl was wrapped around her tightly, though it was a warm evening. Still, she looked a good deal better than she had this morning, which was a good deal better than she had looked the day before.

  Cassie stepped further into the room. “Mary, you should go.”

  Mary watched her with sad, concerned eyes. “Cassie…”

  She shook her head. “I don’t need a nanny. I’ll be fine. Go to the Rivertons. Geoff is right, no one refuses them. It would be in very poor taste.”

  Mary stared at her sister for a long moment, her eyes searching her face and expression. Then, at last, she sighed and her shoulders relaxed. “Very well. I’ll go.”

  Geoff nearly sighed himself with relief. Not that he was particularly desiring to go dine with the Rivertons, but he did have something to accomplish that would be much easier to do if he were there. And he much preferred to spend an evening with Mary without being reminded of the pall that was on Cassie during this time.

  “Shall I prepare a report for you?” Mary asked, a small smile on her lips.

  Cassie tried for a weak smile. “That would be lovely.”

  “Right,” Geoff said, clapping his hands once. “Fix yourself up, Mary. You have five minutes or it is the shoulder for you.”

  Mary glared at him, then spun back into her room, her hair flying behind her.

  He grinned and looked over at Cassie, who met his eyes.

  “Make her have fun, Geoff,” Cassandra told him softly. “I know she’s thinking of moving us to Hampshire for a while, and being cooped up with me in George’s house will hardly be enjoyable for her.”

  Geoff sobered at the thought, and he looked at Cassandra with a newfound appreciation. She was more astute than he had expected her to be. Perhaps a bit of Mary was rubbing off on her sister after all.

  “So please,” Cassie continued, “make sure she enjoys herself while she can.”

  He smiled and nodded. “That I can do, Cassie.” He went to her and pressed his lips into her forehead, which earned him a smile. “Christian will be here in an hour,” he informed her, patting her hair. “So pick your most disgraceful novel for him to read aloud and scold him soundly if he does not do it justice.”

  Another weak smile flickered across Cassie’s face and she nodded, making her way out of the room.

  Geoff smiled fondly after her, then turned to leave the room himself. “Four minutes, Mary!”

  “Ten!” she hollered.

  “Six and a half!”

  “Go away!” she laughed from her bedchamber.

  He grinned and went down to the foyer to wait.

  Almost precisely six minutes later, she appeared at the top of the stairs and made her way down to him. She was watching her feet as she descended, which meant he could look at her the way he wanted to. Her gown was simple but elegant in its cut, and the pale green color made her skin positively luminescent. Her hair was twisted and pinned elegantly, which he found miraculous, given the state it was in only six minutes prior. He felt a twinge of sadness that it was completely up, but then she turned her head slightly, and the line of her throat was so graceful, so elegant, that he found himself swallowing.

  What was the matter with him? He needed to have control or he was very likely to blurt out his feelings right here and now, and he could hardly do that. She would never believe him.

  When she looked up at him, he was perfectly composed, and gave her an approving smile. She blushed with pleasure, and perhaps a touch of embarrassment, but smiled back at him.

  “Impressive,” he said in a low, teasing voice.

  “What’s impressive?” she asked with a tilt of her head as she neared him.

  You, he nearly said. But he only smiled more broadly up at her. “You have gone from panicked and unkempt to poised and incomparable in six minutes.” He shook his head and held out his hand. “No shoulder for you tonight, Miss Hamilton.”

  “More’s the pity,” she murmured, placing her gloved hand in his.

  Her words and the teasing light in her eye sent a shocking jolt of pleasure into his chest, and it was only due to his long practice of polite and gentlemanly behavior that he managed to avoid dwelling overlong on the image of him carrying her over his shoulder into more entertaining spheres.

  He would probably revisit the idea later, however.

  For now, he merely smiled at his best friend and escorted her to their waiting carriage.

  “How well do you know the Rivertons?” Mary asked as they began to move.

  “Not particularly well,” he replied with a shrug. “Not personally at all. Lord Riverton is well respected, and has a great deal of influence in the political scene, I understand. Lady Riverton is known for her vivacity and generosity, as well as being a fashion leader.”

  “My, my,” Mary murmured, “however did I manage an invitation?”

  Geoffrey grinned a bit devilishly. “They have a son.”

  That earned a dramatic roll of the eyes. “Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

  “Now, now, Miss Hamilton,” Geoff scolded with a warning finger, “you must not blame the poor viscount for his parents being overeager to see him well matched. I understand he is a very handsome man, and he’s not yet thirty so he is right within your grasp.”

  “A viscount, did you say?” Mary mused, looking mildly interested.

  Geoff nodded soberly. “A handsome one.”

  “Well,” she replied, adjusting her gloves, “I shall be on my best behavior, then.”

  “Good girl.”

  She grinned at him, and he grinned right back.

  “Well, attractive viscount or not, I’m glad you’re the one taking me tonight, Geoff,” she murmured, averting her eyes. “I… I missed you.”

  His heart stopped in his chest and he couldn’t breathe. “I missed you, too,” he finally managed, though there were three
other words that he’d rather have said.

  Their eyes met and held, and suddenly breathing was all but impossible. She was so beautiful he could hardly stand to look at her, but he would dare walking through hellfire before he would look anywhere else. Did she feel the heat that he did as it coursed between them? Was he the only one that had begun to feel a bit light-headed? Or was it possible that she could feel it too, that the bumps and rattling of the carriage had ceased to exist and all that remained was the two of them in this heady moment?

  The carriage halted then, breaking their connection. They had arrived before a grand building, windows alight with candles, servants standing at attention all along the grand stairs of the entrance. Other carriages were emptying, their inhabitants excitedly making their way up, everybody in their finest ensembles. Geoff recognized a great many, all powerful in their own realms, whether they be lords or rogues, gossips or debutantes. It was a collection of the great influences of the London season.

  He was fortunate that Derek had managed to get him an invitation. Powerful friends were convenient indeed.

  “Heavens above,” Mary breathed as he helped her down, her eyes taking in the spectacle before her. “They spare no expense, do they?”

  He smiled and offered her his arm. “The Rivertons have always had a taste for finery. Which is undoubtedly why they have invited you this evening.”

  She glanced up at him with a half-smile. “You are full of compliments this evening. What are you planning?”

  He gave her a look of pure innocence. “I’m not planning anything at all! Can’t a man compliment a beautiful woman when she is on his arm and not have any ulterior motives?”

  “Not when that man is you.”

  He chuckled and patted her hand. “I have much to make up for, my dear Miss Hamilton, so forgive my abundance of accolades where you are concerned, true though they all may be.”

  She giggled and held his arm a little more tightly. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing. I merely point out that you’re doing it.”