Oh, Cherry Ripe

by Claudy Conn

  Felix had nodded. “Aye, knew it from the start, a right ’un.”

  Tea had been consumed and the tray laden with delectables cleared during the lively discussion that ensued, and it was with some regret that James stood up and announced, “Well, then, as you won’t return with me, I shall set myself up at the local inn.”

  As it turned out that was precisely what he did, and he became a constant and most welcome visitor at Bromley.

  Once Freddy established that no danger to his precious Miss Cherry existed, he was very willing to fall under James’ easy charm, and the two became fast friends. The twins found they too, enjoyed the newcomer, for he was certainly lively.

  Three days had passed since Sky had left for London, and Cherry would have been devastatingly heartsick had she not both James and Freddy to pick up her spirits with their antics.

  James, however, knew her very well, and he was not fooled by her false air of merriness. They were sitting on the stone bench by the duck pond watching the twins feed the ducks when he asked, suddenly serious, “What is it, Cherry? Why so blue-deviled?”

  “Not so,” she answered quickly, too quickly.

  “This is me you are talking to, my child,” he responded on a superior note. “Can’t fool me.”

  “Child indeed!” She attempted to divert the subject.

  “I have eight months on you and a vast deal more experience, and besides, I am a man.” He put up his hand to halt the tirade he could see she was about to let loose on him. “That’s right, superior, my dear, in every way, as you are but a woman.”

  His teasing was mitigated with a brotherly kiss dropped on her nose. “Now, tell me, what has you so low?”

  “Naught,” she answered quietly. She had always confided in James. She had told him about her first kiss and every kiss after that, much to his jibes and lectures. She had told him about every scrape and lark she had ever kicked up, including all her notorious adventures in London. She had never held back before. But how could she tell him that she was in love with Sky and had broken all the rules …?

  “Indeed?” He was taken aback and slightly hurt by her reticence.

  “It is just so very difficult to speak about …” She allowed the sentence to trail off. Something kept her in check. She couldn’t speak about her feelings for Sky and have James tease in his usual fashion. This was not larking—this was something else altogether.

  “Is it?” He prompted her to go on. “Try one word at a time. One sentence following another. It often works.”

  “I can’t this time, James … I just can’t,” she answered and felt the heat enter her cheeks.

  “Damnation, boy!” James was on his feet and rushing towards the pond. “Don’t go on those rocks!”

  Too late. Felix’s foot had already slipped on the slimy surface, causing him to do a split between two rocks. He released a yell of some proportions, lost his balance, and went bodily into the pond.

  A great deal of commotion ensued because of this mishap, and for some hours afterwards Felix’s escapade was the butt of much joking. Cherry’s blues were set aside for a time, but only for a time.

  * * *

  The next morning brought James boldly into the breakfast parlor. He was heartily greeted by all and told to join them at the table. He declined, advising them that he had been up for hours, breakfasted earlier, and was now ready for a tour of Bromley lands.

  Freddy jumped up immediately. As of late, it had been evident that he had taken on a new sense of responsibility, and this excursion was just what he needed to lighten his mood. He had remarked to Cherry more than once that her friend James was a top sawyer Corinthian.

  “Right you are!” Freddy agreed, going towards the doors.

  Cherry laughed as she waved them off. Her depression once again descended, but time was limited, and she hadn’t enough to spare for that. She had the twins and their lessons to attend to for the remainder of the morning, but although she went through the motions, it was not with her usual enthusiasm.

  It was nearly noon as she ushered the twins into the dining room for a meal of cold collation. They took to munching, but Cherry only picked at her food.

  Francine watched her and said, “What you need, Miss Cherry, is a visit to see the baby ducks. We were there first thing this morning when you were busy with something or other, and they are so adorable.”

  Cherry smiled indulgently and agreed to it when the dining room door opened and both James and Freddy strode boisterously inside.

  “Well,” Cherry said, laughing, “don’t you both look … er … healthy.” She eyed them up and down, for both young men looked a bit disheveled.

  “We raced, you see,” Freddy explained, going to the sideboard table for a plate.

  “Did you?” Cherry sensed more to the story.

  “For the … love of a woman,” James put in with a hand to his heart.

  “Never say so,” Cherry returned on a giggle.

  “Indeed. Said she would have the winner, and she did!” James chuckled.

  Freddy blushed brightly, and Cherry looked into his eyes and said, “And there, Freddy, you swore me love to your last breath or some such nonsense, not so very long ago. Men … such fickle beings.” Laughter was in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth.

  “Yes, well, it wasn’t my fault, and I didn’t win her. James won her.”

  “James … et tu, Brute?”

  “No, no. I won her, but I gave her to Freddy.” He was grinning broadly. “Ain’t in the petticoat line, as you well know. Besides, she wasn’t in my style …”

  “Freddy?” Cherry teased unmercifully. “What have you done?” She now put a hand to her heart. “You are a dreadful heartbreaker …”

  “One doesn’t kiss and tell, Cherry—you know that,” James stuck in.

  Freddy threatened him with a fork, and much jesting followed, so that no one noticed as a tall, striking man entered the dining room to survey the scene.

  Felix was the first to exclaim, “Sky—well met, brother!”

  Cherry almost gasped as she turned around and found his dark blue eyes all over her. She did in fact stop breathing for a moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed James, who looked from her to his lordship with a puzzled frown.

  James moved to Cherry’s side. “Don’t worry, girl, I’m here,” he offered in way of protection.

  She turned and looked up at him doubtfully. What could he mean? He further confused her by adding, “I had no idea, Cherry, that Lord Westbrooke was somehow connected to Bromley … no idea at all.”

  “Why should that matter?” she asked in an aside and a whisper. She noted Sky was looking from her to James with a growing dark expression. What was happening here?

  Sky was diverted by Felix. He picked his young brother up and then put him down with a pat to his head. He then dropped a kiss on Francine’s waiting cheek before she hugged him round his waist. Then once again his dark blues found Cherry’s bright aqua eyes.

  * * *

  Sky sucked in air. He had to catch his breath. He had to get his feet on the ground. The sight of Cherry made him feel weak and stirred him all at once. How was it possible for one woman to affect him so profoundly?

  “Welcome home, my lord,” Cherry said as she stepped towards him and inclined her head, though his lordship noted how she glanced towards the young man by her side.

  “Welcome home?” The young man repeated this and frowned down at Cherry as though no one else were in the room. “What do you mean? Are you already acquainted with Lord Westbrooke?”

  “Why, of course. He is the twins’ guardian,” she answered briskly.

  “Yes, but …” And then he went silent with sudden dawning.

  “Thank you,” Sky answered her with a look at the man.

  “Sky, we are going to go and have a look at the ducklings. Want to join us?” Francine pulled on his jacket sleeve.

  “You two go on. Perhaps I’ll join you in a bit,” he answered, loo
king towards the stranger again. He looked familiar, and Sky rather thought they had met somewhere. What was he doing at Bromley, and why did he stand so possessively beside Cherry?

  Cherry moved suddenly and said, “Where are my manners? Lord Dartford—James, who is my very dear friend.” She smiled at him and then at Sky. “His lordship, Skyler Westbrooke.”

  Sky felt a pang of jealousy rattle his composure. He stood speechless for a moment as his mind went over the possibilities. He felt his teeth grit against one another. What the devil did she mean, her ‘very dear friend’? What sort of friend? Damn, but he stood too close to her … she smiled too sweetly at him … what the hell was all of this?

  A black mood descended over him, and he was scarcely civil as he moved towards Freddy and made a fist to softly hit his shoulder. “Well, brother … you look fit.”

  “Aye, James and I have just had a great outing.”

  His lordship’s mood blackened. Apparently the entire household was enthralled with this new interloper. He wouldn’t have it. He started towards the door. “I think I’ll go look in on the twins and the ducklings.”

  “I’ll come with you, Sky,” Freddy said cheerily as he fell into step with him.

  Sky looked back at Cherry. Leaving her alone with the interloper was not what he had in mind, but now there was nothing for it. He grumbled something, and Cherry found herself alone with James.

  * * *

  “Whew, Cherry … I can’t believe it,” James said, his voice hushed. “Don’t you know who that is?”

  She laughed. “Yes, he is Lord Westbrooke. James, whatever is the matter?”

  Felix came running in and blurted hurriedly, “Sky says you are missing a wonderful sight, and you are. Come on then, Miss Cherry … the ducklings are all moving about!”

  She laughed and started after him, frowned, and turned towards James. “Talk to you later, yes?”

  “Yes, go on then … we’ll talk later because we must.”

  She cocked a look at him then, a bit taken aback and just a bit curious as she followed Felix to the ‘duckling habitat’.

  Sky walked towards her and touched her arm as she entered the enclosure that had been hastily erected for the ducklings. “Precious things,” she said softly as she watched the ducklings play with each other.

  “Hardly,” Sky answered with a chuckle. “However, the twins are fascinated with them. Francine told me in that ‘grown-up’ way she has about herself that they were ‘utterly divine’.”

  They laughed together, and Cherry found it a good moment to bring up the subject she had on her mind. “My lord, a notion has occurred to me that I should like to discuss with you.”

  “Certainly,” he said as he fell in step with her.

  “I think it would do the twins a great deal of good to spend some time in London. There is much to be learned in town that is important to their education.” She discovered that she couldn’t look away from his warm blue eyes. She felt as though he couldn’t look away from her.

  He had clasped his hands together at his back, and she could feel his restraint. Did he want to take her into his arms? Did he want to kiss her as much as she wanted him to?

  He said softly, “An interesting proposition. I shall consider it.”

  “Thank you.” She stopped then and felt a moment’s awkwardness. She could find nothing else to say, so she moved to return to the children and the ducklings.

  He stopped her. “Is that all, Cherry?”

  She smiled. “Should there be more?”

  “How did you go on while I was gone?” He answered her question with one of his own.

  She laughed. “We managed.”

  “Ah, even with Felix’s escapade?” His eyes twinkled.

  “You know then?”

  Sky chuckled. “Felix told me about his adventure. He enjoyed it immensely.”

  “Oh, Sky, I wish you could have seen his face before and after. It was so comical. But he was such a good sport and took a great deal of ribbing from Freddy and James.”

  “Ah, I was forgetting James.” Sky stopped and looked at her intently. “An old flame come to visit?”

  “An old friend,” she said and looked away to find James coming towards them. She could see a thoughtful expression on his face as he spanned the distance and wondered what he was thinking.

  “Hallo,” he called out with a wave.

  “Oh no, James, never say you are leaving us already?” Cherry exclaimed.

  “No choice. Time ran away with me. Freddy has to hit his books, and I am promised to friends in Southampton, just a bit down the road. Drop in on your tomorrow, sweetheart, and then you and I must have some private conversation.” He nodded at Sky and went after his horse. To Cherry it was obvious he had a great deal on his mind.

  He looked to be disturbed by something, and she imagined it was about her situation. He might be determined to talk her into returning to London with him. And the truth of it was, she admitted to herself, he was right, it was time.

  ~ Nineteen ~

  TRUE TO HIS WORD, James arrived the next morning in time to join the Bromleys at breakfast. He piled his dish high with food and kept a lively banter going with both Freddy and Cherry. During this time, Cherry caught him eyeing Sky in what she could only assume he thought was a discreet manner. She knew him, and it wasn’t discreet at all. Something about Sky troubled him.

  Then if that were not enough to make her nervous, she noticed Sky watching James from time to time. They appeared like two bucks about to challenge for territory …

  She wondered hopefully if Sky was jealous. He couldn’t know she and James were more like brother and sister. She had never had the pleasure of a sibling, nor had he, and from their early days that was how they saw one another. Sky couldn’t know that, she mused to herself.

  Suddenly Sky put threw down his napkin and pushed away from the table. Cherry said, “Leaving us already?”

  “No, just stretching my legs.” He smiled at her.

  She blushed because the look in his dark blues flashed through her. She could feel his desire, and it matched her own. When he moved near her chair, his thigh brushed against her shoulder and she felt a spark sizzle through her blood.

  She looked across the table to see James studying her face with great interest and hurriedly looked away. He would know. He knew her too well, and he would guess that she was ‘taken’ with Sky Westbrooke at the very least.

  A moment later she was gathering up the twins and ushering them off with her to the schoolroom for lessons. Felix grumbled, but Francine skipped happily along.

  “She is really good with them,” James remarked thoughtfully. “Absurd chit—who would have thought it?”

  “What is that you say?” Sky rounded on him, wondering what the devil the scamp meant talking about his Cherry in that familiar way.

  “Well …” James attempted to cover his slip. “What I meant was that, well, Cherry and I have been friends ever since we started toddling about … same age nearly … and well, I have never before realized how capable she is with children. Most charming.”

  “Miss Cherry is more capable than most women in her position,” Sky returned frostily, liking James much more than he wanted to.

  “Right. Well,” James answered as he got to his feet. “I think I’ll go join them in the schoolroom and watch her in action.”

  “What?” Sky snapped, irritation covering his face.

  “Oh, I know the way,” James replied lightly, already out the door.

  Sky turned to his brother and noted to himself that Freddy had been strangely quiet during this entire exchange.

  However, at this juncture Freddy said, “Getting damned possessive of our little governess, aren’t you, Sky?”

  “Impudent boy. I don’t think so … just making certain she has our protection,” Sky said carefully, but he couldn’t miss the look in his brother’s eyes—the look of sudden thoughtfulness.

  Freddy pushed away from the tabl
e and got up. “He is the best of good fellows, Sky … don’t know why you dislike him.”

  Sky stared at him for a long moment. Was Freddy goading him? “He may be that, but it seems to me he is here to take Miss Cherry away from us—away from the children, I mean.”

  “Is that what you think? Well, he won’t because he can’t. He tried already—Miss Cherry wouldn’t go.”

  “What?” Sky exclaimed. “How do you know?”

  “I was there, the first day he arrived. Came here to take her back with him. She wouldn’t go—said the twins needed her. So you don’t have to worry. Said she wouldn’t go until the twins were able to get on without her, and the way I see it, they never will be. Very attached to her.”

  Sky began to pace. So it was true—this Dartford fellow had come to steal his darling, his very own …? He couldn’t, wouldn’t put the word to that sentence. Was he wrong to want to keep her? Dartford was titled; he was young and wealthy and could take care of her.

  He had found nothing about a young woman by the name of Sarah Parker, other than the Parker family was one very respected. Country gentry. Dartford had no doubt offered her marriage. It was the only thing he would offer in front of Freddy and the twins. Marriage … a thing Sky could not offer because he had virtually promised himself elsewhere.

  Cherry was going to be lost to him. With this burning notion in his brain he made his way to the stairs, turning only once to note to himself that his brother had a very odd smile crossing his face. He ignored it because he was going to damn well join the party in the schoolroom.

  * * *

  The twins were quietly working on a writing assignment when James appeared and cocked a brow, indicating to Cherry that he wanted private speech with her. She went with him into the hall and whispered, “What is it, James? You have been acting oddly since yesterday.”

  “Cherry—we need to talk. There is something you have to know.”

  “Now?” She was surprised.

  “Obviously we can’t talk … really talk right now, but soon, very soon. There is something I must tell you, for if I don’t, I think you might kill me, and rightly so.”