Tabitha narrowed her eyes at her cousin. “Wait just a moment. Why is Lord Leith calling on you? You’ve been cordial with him forever, but he hasn’t entertained the notion of courting you in a very long time. What is going on there?”
“I haven’t the faintest. But he knows nothing can ever come of it.”
“I never thought you’d be one to lead any man on a merry chase,” Tabitha said. “It is not your normal style.”
Jo looked out the window wistfully. “Lord Leith is a grown man, Tabby. If he is determined to end up with a broken heart again, I can’t stop him. Come on. Let’s get this over with. I don’t fancy wounding a gentleman’s tender sensibilities any more than you do.”
~ * ~
“Is Lady Tabitha still feeling unwell?” Oglethorpe asked Raynesford. “I’d hoped she would be better today, after a night’s sleep.” The Lothario sat there and seemed almost to preen himself, checking to be sure his dandified attire was flawless at every moment.
Noah was certain she’d feel better if she didn’t have to face Oglethorpe. Perhaps he only hoped that to be the case. He knew he would feel better if Oglethorpe, the dratted interloper, would leave.
Raynesford merely grunted, but Elaine smiled. “I’m sure she is feeling quite the thing, my lord. She will be down in no time.” She looked across the sea of daffodils and caught Noah’s eye. “As a matter of fact, I could go up and see what’s keeping her.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Leith said from behind a grin. “Miss Faulkner will hurry her cousin along.”
The doors opened and Noah rose, but it was only a maid with the tea service Elaine had ordered. He sank back down to the loveseat where he’d been stationed since the butler ushered him into the Shelton Hall drawing room. Discovering Oglethorpe already there had riled his temper, but he tamped it down. It would not do to have a fit of pique before the lady he was trying to court.
He had forced his anger back further when Elaine and Raynesford entered, followed soon behind by Leith. They would all be on Noah’s side, even if they weren’t all aware of Oglethorpe’s base perfidy.
“Tea, Lord Oglethorpe?” Elaine asked sweetly. The cur accepted a cup and took a sip.
Several more minutes passed with no sign of Lady Tabitha or her cousin. Elaine played the part of the perfect hostess: directing the four gentlemen present in polite conversation and being certain no one was left out, refilling cups of tea, and offering scones and sandwiches. She ignored the fact that Noah and Leith were glaring in Oglethorpe’s direction at every given opportunity, and that he seemed almost to gloat in return. On top of it all, Raynesford seemed oblivious to the fact that there was any friction in the room, or even that there were other people in the room aside from himself and Elaine.
In fact, more than a few times, Noah caught a glimpse of Raynesford watching his wife with a combination of awe and desire. It struck Noah like a dagger through the heart. He wanted that. Not with his sister, of course. But he wanted a wife he could banter with, one who would be by his side as they entertained. One who would still amaze him after years of marriage. One he could still feel hunger for after quite some time had passed.
After another few minutes, Oglethorpe rose. “I’m afraid I have a pressing engagement, and must go.” Thank the Lord. It was about time. Oglethorpe faced Elaine and Raynesford. “Will you please offer Lady Tabitha my apologies, and beg that she allow me to call upon her another day?”
“Of course,” Elaine said. “I’m sure she’ll be devastated that she missed you, my lord.”
Not if Noah had anything to say about it.
Oglethorpe bowed to the room and took his leave. Good riddance. Leith caught Noah’s eye, and there could be no doubt he felt exactly the same as Noah.
“Well,” Elaine said cheerfully, “that was rather uncomfortable. Anyone care to fill me in on why you all treated Lord Oglethorpe like a rotten turnip?”
Noah kept his silence and Leith likewise seemed disinclined to speak. They couldn’t risk saying too much in front of Raynesford, so their words had to be chosen with great care.
“No one?” Elaine prodded.
“Tabitha ought to marry,” Raynesford finally said, “and soon. There is no doubt about that. But if she so much as entertains the notion of marrying that piece of filth, I’ll have to knock some sense into her.”
Noah had to wonder what would cause such a reaction in Raynesford, but didn’t have a chance to ask. The double doors to the drawing room opened, allowing Lady Tabitha and Miss Faulkner to enter. Lady Tabitha was a vision, with her yellow dress almost precisely matching the shade of the daffodils that filled the room.
He rose to his feet too abruptly, knocking his knees against the low table before him. Leith and Raynesford stood like men who had not been startled out of their wits. Elaine winked at Noah.
“I thought Lord Oglethorpe was here as well,” Lady Tabitha said.
Noah’s heart, which had been pounding out a swift rhythm somewhere in the vicinity of his Adam’s apple, nearly stopped entirely as it plummeted to lodge itself between his toes.
“He was,” Elaine said. “But he had a necessary appointment and could not stay. He would like to call on you again another day.”
Lady Tabitha nodded. Noah tried to determine how she felt about this turn of events, but she didn’t give him enough reaction to gauge.
She turned to him, then. “Thank you for the daisies, Lord Devonport.”
Miss Faulkner leaned in and whispered loudly in her ear. “Daffodils.”
“The daffodils,” Lady Tabitha said more forcefully. “Thank you. They’re lovely.” Her words came out clipped.
Only half as lovely as she. “You’re quite welcome. I see they match your gown. I can only wish I had planned it that way.”
Leith brought forward a small bouquet of red poppies and presented them to Miss Faulkner, whose smile could have lit an entire ballroom, yet was seductive and sly at the same time. “You haven’t brought me flowers in a long time, Lord Leith. Thank you.”
“I had hoped you would join me this afternoon for an ice at Gunter’s,” Leith said. “Perhaps Devonport and Lady Tabitha would agree to accompany us?” Brilliant. Noah would have to thank Leith later for his brisk thinking.
Lady Tabitha started to shake her head in denial, but Miss Faulkner quelled her with a look. “We’d love that,” she said. “Wouldn’t we, Tabby?”
“Of course.” She looked like she’d enjoy nothing less.
“Shall we go then?” Leith held out his arm for Miss Faulkner to take. “I brought my barouche for just such an occasion.”
Lady Tabitha’s eyes widened. “Right away?”
“Why wait?” her cousin asked. “We’re all ready, are we not?”
Elaine leapt to her feet and took the poppies. “I’ll just have these put in water for you, then. I’d hate to see them wilt before you return.”
Before Lady Tabitha could change her mind, Leith led Miss Faulkner from the room toward the front door. Noah held out his arm and waited for Lady Tabitha to take it. She looked to her brother, and then to Elaine when Raynesford did nothing. Elaine smiled and took the poppies from the room.
Noah could have kissed his sister for not helping Lady Tabitha find an excuse not to go. Another thing he would save for a later moment.
Finally, with no one left to appeal to, Lady Tabitha put her hand on his arm. The butler stood by the door, holding out her pelisse and parasol in one hand, and Noah’s greatcoat and hat in the other. She took her articles and scurried outside, donning her pelisse as she went. “Thank you, Livingston,” she called out over her shoulder, only to draw up short when she came upon the barouche.
Leith and Miss Faulkner had already taken up their seat—their one seat—leaving the other for Noah and Lady Tabitha to share. Perhaps that was the cause of her apprehension.
He had no such qualms.
Noah came up behind her. “Ready?” he asked, holding out a hand to assist her up. Sh
e didn’t respond other than to nod, but accepted his aid. Once she was settled, he joined her. Leith signaled the driver that they were all set to go.
The seats of Leith’s barouche were narrower than Noah’s. His body touched alongside Lady Tabitha in various places...thigh against thigh, arm against arm, hip against hip. Her heat was heady, even through the fabrics of their attire. The contact sent jolts of desire straight through his body.
She squirmed against him until he felt less pressure against his body. He looked over, and she was holding herself as firmly as possible against the side of the barouche. Was he that repulsive to her? Thankfully the journey to Gunter’s would be brief.
Noah needed to get her alone somehow. He needed to discover what he’d done to offend her, so he could set it right. They would never be able to move forward with their relationship otherwise, let alone return it to where it once was.
Leith smiled across the carriage. “So, Lady Tabitha, how is your plan progressing?”
She winced, but tried to hide it. “My plan? What plan would that be, my lord?” She turned a pointed look upon her cousin, who shrugged.
“Miss Faulkner told me all about it, so there is no point in denying what you’re doing. Have you found an appropriate young miss with whom to antagonize your brother? Tell us all about her.”
Color rose up the back of Lady Tabitha’s neck, drawing Noah’s eye to just that spot. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said.
“I told you Tabby would repudiate her involvement.”
“You are a vile, hateful cousin,” Lady Tabitha said on a laugh. “Fine, yes, we’re trying to find Toby a bride. I’m sure even you can’t deny marriage has helped Owen’s temperament. I just want the same thing for Toby.”
“So very kind of you to look out for your brothers’ wellbeing,” Noah said. “As I’m sure you’ve done this all for their benefit, not for your own.”
She turned her smile on him for the first time in days. “Of course. He’ll be far better off with a wife to look after him.”
“Like Devonport’s sister looks after Raynesford?” Leith asked.
“Well, I suppose you could say she manages him more than looks after him. But yes, that is the general idea.”
“So you want a female of the managing sort like my sister, for your twin,” Noah surmised. “Or would you say one like yourself?” He oughtn’t to have added that on the end.
As the barouche slowed and came to a stop, Lady Tabitha lifted her lips in a teasing grin. “You think me managing, my lord?”
Leith climbed down and turned to assist Miss Faulkner before leading her off to a spot on the Square, leaving Noah and Lady Tabitha alone. Since she was in a better disposition with him at the moment, Noah did not immediately follow them.
“I think you take some perverse pleasure in managing your brothers.”
“And are you opposed to females of the managing sort?” Her eyes challenged him to answer in the wrong way.
“I have a mother and five younger sisters, Lady Tabitha. What do you think?”
“Back to answering questions with questions, are we?”
Noah laughed. “I suppose we are.” He climbed down from the carriage before offering Lady Tabitha his arm. “So you’ve married Raynesford off to my sister, and you’re looking for a bride for Shelton. Who will you manage then?”
She linked her arm in his and they joined Leith and Miss Faulkner. “There is always Father. He needs me. I don’t know how he’d manage his household accounts without me, now that Mother has passed.”
“Surely he could have his secretary take that responsibility,” Leith put in. “I hardly think he will shrivel up and die, should you need to leave him.”
“And why would I need to leave him?” she scoffed.
Noah thought her protest a bit too vehement. “Your husband might have something to say about that when you marry—”
“I won’t marry,” Lady Tabitha interrupted. “That’s all there is to it.” She sat back from the table and folded her hands in her lap. By Jove. What if she intended to follow in her aunt’s path?
“I hear the bergamot ices are lovely,” Miss Faulkner said, her voice cutting through the sudden silence. “I think I should like to try one today, Lord Leith.” She turned a pointed look upon Lord Leith.
So there would be no more discussion of marriage, at least for the time being. Noah knew when to put a topic to rest. “And for you, Lady Tabitha? What flavor would you like?”
She knitted her brow, as though the decision were terribly difficult. “Maple, please,” she finally said.
Noah and Leith excused themselves to cross the street and purchase the ices. On their way back, Noah turned to his companion. “How on earth am I to convince her? She seems wholly opposed to marriage.”
“After we’ve eaten these, I’ll take Miss Faulkner off for a walk so you two can have some time alone. Try to talk to her then. You’ve got to convince her. Maybe not today, but you’ll have to at least convince her to allow a courtship.”
This was not the most helpful advice Noah had ever received.
But Leith stayed true to his word. After they’d all finished with their ices, he rose and turned to Miss Faulkner. “I feel the need for a bit of exercise after that, as delicious as it was. Would you care to join me?”
“Of course,” she replied. “If Tabby and Lord Devonport do not mind our leaving them alone, of course.”
Lady Tabitha stood and fought against the wince that took her face captive. “Oh, I should like to walk with you as well.” Even putting the slightest pressure upon her ankle was clearly causing her a great deal of pain. She must truly loathe his company, if she would be willing to take exercise in such a state.
“But your ankle,” Miss Faulkner countered. “I think it would be best for you to stay seated. Lord Devonport, you’ll stay with her, will you not?”
Lady Tabitha’s face fell. Her look of defeat could have splintered him into a thousand pieces.
“I’d be delighted.” He only hoped he could cajole more smiles from her, that he could set things right between them.
Leith and Miss Faulkner strolled down the way, leaving him alone with Lady Tabitha amidst the hustle and bustle of Mayfair. Noah watched her for a few moments. She looked anywhere, everywhere, but at him.
“Have I offended you, Lady Tabitha?” he asked. His breath seemed caught in his throat while he awaited her answer.
“Pardon? Of course not.” Her response was too swift, too terse. She had no intention of clearing the air between them, of telling him how he had wronged her.
Noah exhaled slowly. He couldn’t allow her to sidestep the issue at hand. “Ever since Raynesford and Elaine married, we’ve been friendly with each other,” he said. “Our relationship used to be easy. You would banter with me, and you offered smiles freely. That’s changed recently. You’re guarded now.”
“Yes. I suppose I am.” Her eyes slowly met his.
Perhaps she would talk to him. “What happened? What did I do?”
“I...you...” Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to explain it. We were fine, and then you asked me to dance, and you never ask me to dance, and I—” The torrent of words stopped with a sharp intake of breath.
“Go on,” he prodded. “And you what?”
Lady Tabitha’s gaze lowered to the table between them. Her neck colored up again, and he couldn’t force himself to look away. He wanted to touch her there. To kiss her there. Then she shook her head. “No, I shouldn’t. I couldn’t.”
He wanted to keep her talking, if for no other reason that he loved seeing her shy and embarrassed. “What’s so bad? Did you not want me to dance with you?”
“Yes. No. Oh, damnation, I don’t know what I’m saying.”
Noah burst out in laughter. He loved that she’d lost control in such a way.
The blush crept around to cover her face. “I must apologize. I shouldn’t have used such languag
e in front of you.”
“Usually, a gentleman might apologize to a lady for his use of language, not the other way around.”
“Usually, a lady would want to be danced with,” she said. “Usually, a lady would know whether or not she is being flirted with. Usually, a lady would know how to respond.” She set her jaw, clenched it. “Usually, a gentleman would not play such games with a lady.”
Aha. There was the rub. “You think I’ve been toying with you?”
“What else should I think? If you have been flirting with me, it is because Toby put you up to it, though I daresay I don’t understand why he would do so. There could be no other reason for it.”
“Could there not? Am I such a poor flirt as that?” He wished he’d been honest with her at the ball. Why hadn’t he just told her what her brothers had suggested? But even then, she would believe him only after her dowry. “I’m so bad at it that you can’t even tell that I really am flirting with you. That I want to.”
“You’re lying to me.”
“I would never lie to you,” Noah said vehemently. He waited for her eyes to reach his. “Never.”
Lady Tabitha tried to speak, but her voice cracked. “So you want to flirt with me?” she asked when her voice would cooperate.
Noah had thought her cheeks couldn’t possibly turn redder than they already were. He had been wrong. “Yes. Is that all right?” He couldn’t quell a grin.
She nodded.
“Good. Don’t forget that.” Not that he had any intention of allowing her to.
Chapter Eight
Walking along the path to Shelton Hall, Noah had to suppress the urge to whistle. In the two days since he and Lady Tabitha had sorted their differences out, his life could not have taken a better turn.
She had begun to smile and laugh with him again. They’d attended another ball and she had waltzed with him (and, as luck would have it, there had been no sign of either Oglethorpe or Eggerley), though Noah had limited himself to one dance due to her still tender ankle. During another set at that ball, she had consented to sit with him along a well-lit path of the garden, where they had flirted.
Wallflower (Old Maids' Club, Book 1) Page 10
