“I do not allow anyone to speak ill of my employer,” said Stemple. “Even my employer. And you must admit he certainly made a good hire to run his kitchen.”
“Truer words have never been spoken,” said Colin. “Miss Conway, I wonder if I might have a word with you in the library.”
“It is time for Lady Leticia’s lessons, my lord.”
“I am sure the world will not end if you begin them fifteen minutes late.”
“I have been teaching your sister the importance of punctuality.”
“And what better lesson is there than by demonstrating what it means to be late? I’m sure she can get along without you for a quarter hour. She can spend the time with her demonic cat.”
Ava both dreaded and treasured time spent alone with Colin. And if Clayton followed through with his damnable plans, she would only have one last week with him. She did not intend to waste a minute of it. “Very well, my lord.”
As soon as they entered the library, Ava realized she should have asked to move their meeting to the sitting room. For the library filled her with memories of Christmas night. “What did you wish to speak to me about?”
For a moment, he said nothing. And Ava wondered whether Colin was also thinking of that night. “I wanted you to know I have taken your advice.”
She acted surprised, since she couldn’t very well tell him Clayton had already informed her of Colin’s queries. “In what way, my lord?”
“Must you ‘my lord’ me in private, Ava?” When he received no answer he continued. “I have sent letters to several publishers and broadsheets, inquiring whether anyone might wish to employ me. I haven’t heard back from anyone yet, so I cannot get my hopes up. But I must confess I am somewhat invigorated by the process. I have even begun writing on my own. It is one way to channel my frustration, instead of spending every night getting foxed. Although, I must admit sometimes I write and drink. Those are the more interesting pages, by the way.”
“I am proud of you, Colin.” And she was. She knew he would be a success. She only regretted she would not be there to witness it. “You are very talented and I am certain the world will soon recognize it.”
“I don’t know if that will happen. But I am glad to be doing something to change my circumstances.”
“I would hate to see you forced into a loveless marriage, though I know it is not unusual for your lot.”
“I wish you would stop pretending there is a difference between our stations.”
“But there is. Even if the differences in our birthright do not matter to us, they would matter to your peers.”
“Hang my peers.”
“It could affect your sisters’ future.”
“I do not see why it should. You are a gentleman’s daughter.”
“I am employed in your household.”
“You are helping me with Letty, but if you’ll recall, you haven’t been paid. Perhaps I won’t ever give you money. Mayhap you will have to marry me if you’re to support yourself. And, lest I get myself into trouble again, I cannot at this time ask you to marry me. But I wanted you to know that I am trying to become a paid author. Now will you kiss me?’
“But you are still courting Miss Babcock.”
“I have not officially declared myself.”
“That sounds like a technicality.”
“Perhaps I should apply for a position as a solicitor.”
He kissed her hand, then pulled her to him, putting his arms around her waist. His lips met hers, then gently supped before truly kissing her, allowing their mouths to meld. He pulled her closer so she could feel how hard he was.
She sank into him. She had only these few days to forge a lifetime of memories. And perhaps he was right. Perhaps he could gain employment from someplace other than Clayton’s company. Mayhap, she had naught to worry her.
They continued to kiss and gently explore. Then Colin all but bolted from her, striding across the room toward the windows. Ava was about to ask what was wrong when the door opened and Jasper ran in.
“Jasper has found you, Miss Conway!” said Letty, as she ran in. “I waited for you in the sitting room, but you didn’t come. I hoped you weren’t cross with me because I did so poorly at maths yesterday, so we went in search of you so I could apologize. Did you hear me calling? What are you looking at, Colin? Is something happening in the garden?”
Colin kept his back to his sister as Ava turned to tuck away a few curls that had fallen from their pins. She hoped her lips were not as swollen as they felt.
“Lady Leticia, of course I am not cross with you. We all need a little practice when we learn something new. You must have more patience with yourself. But let us go to the sitting room now and attend to your studies. Perhaps we should bring Jasper with us.”
The cat was staring at Colin and hissing.
“That is an excellent idea,” said Colin. “I believe you were going to teach the importance of punctuality.”
“Indeed, which means I owe Lady Leticia an apology.”
Letty grinned at her. “I’m just glad you’re not cross with me.”
Letty hugged her and it was everything Ava could do not to cry. Letty was a dear, sweet girl. And if Ava had been fortunate enough to marry Colin, she would have loved Letty like a daughter. Ava would miss her terribly when she left. But she would hurt her grievously if she stayed.
Even if Colin got his contract from someone other than Clayton, Ava still had to leave.
*
Myra was confused and quite disappointed. Lord Clayton had returned to his estate. He’d left that very morning. She would have liked the chance to get to know the viscount better. Much better. And she was surprised that he hadn’t stayed to court Nora. Because that’s what gentlemen did. Upon meeting Nora, they never saw beyond her sister’s exquisite looks. They all believed the outer casing reflected the inner soul. She was beautiful to look at, so it was assumed that she possessed kindness, honor and a generosity of spirit to make her a paragon of womanhood.
That was their initial impression.
The fact that Nora was still unmarried after being courted by every eligible gentleman in Boston showed that while New Englanders were initially fooled by her looks, they did not remain so for long. That was why the Babcocks had come to England, in hopes that the family fortune could buy Nora a husband.
Yet Clayton had departed after breaking his fast, without even taking his leave of Nora, who was still asleep. Myra wanted to congratulate the man on being able to detect Nora’s true nature faster than anyone ever had, though she didn’t think they’d spent enough time together for that to happen. God knew Ridgeway was still fooled by her. Of course, their mama had told Nora not to show her true self to Ridgeway unless she could find a better husband. But Ridgeway seemed impoverished enough that he would have to take anyone, even Nora at her worst. Myra almost felt sorry for him.
Myra had overheard Clayton’s scandalous proposition to Miss Conway, of course. That was the advantage to moving with some stealth. She often heard things she wasn’t supposed to. And she always used them to her advantage.
Who cared if he was going to employ the governess as his mistress? That was really none of her concern, since she was only intent on marrying him. She wasn’t that interested in Clayton himself, but she was anxious to be married as a means of escaping her parents’ constant criticism. And she very much wanted to steal him out from under Nora’s nose. Myra didn’t often have the chance to best Nora, so she always put considerable effort into it when an opportunity presented itself.
She found Nora in the ballroom, where she was practicing her curtsey in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
“I thought I’d find you here,” said Myra, startling her sister. “You always did like a big mirror.”
“I was just practicing my curtsey. I would so hate to embarrass his lordship.”
“Which lordship? I’m sure you don’t mean the poor one. And the other is gone. Tell me what you did to frigh
ten Clayton away.”
“I’m sure if anyone frightened him away, it was you. You might take care with your meals, Myra, you’re beginning to resemble a cow.”
“That’s the Nora I’m used to. I daresay Lord Ridgeway will get to know this side of you soon enough. After the wedding of course.”
“Who says I’ll marry Ridgeway? Perhaps I’ll choose Clayton. I’m sure he’ll be back. I’d be a countess once Clayton comes into his title. In the meantime, I’d be a viscountess.”
“Assuming he’ll marry you, of course. Shall I ask him if he will? Oh, that’s right, I cannot because he isn’t here. Why did he leave, do you suppose?”
“It’s probably that Conway creature’s fault. They had quite a long tete a tete last night and she looked positively ill the rest of the evening. I’m surprised you didn’t learn anything about it, skulking about the way you always do. Do you think she’s his mistress? I wouldn’t tolerate Clayton having such a mistress once we are wed.”
“Most men have them.”
Nora made a beautiful moue of distaste. “That may be true, but I object to her in particular.”
“Do you think she’s Ridgeway’s mistress?” Myra had been wondering, but there was no one else to ask. However, there was something in the way the earl spoke of Miss Conway that had always raised her suspicions.
“It doesn’t matter if she is, for the first thing I shall do upon becoming Lady Ridgeway – if I choose to do so – will be to get rid of Miss Conway.”
“I would think the first thing you’d do would be to ship the bastard sister off to some sort of boarding school.”
“That would be the second thing. I’m glad she’s not his real sister, as I could not abide having a child with that garish red hair.”
“What about the other sister? I cannot imagine you would like to be compared to a beauty like Lady Rosemary.”
Nora wrinkled her nose. “I do not think she is all that attractive. She is not bad looking, I suppose. I would not be ashamed to be seen with her, as I have been with you. But I would ask papa to dower her so she could get a husband who would take her far away. I wouldn’t want anyone else in residence with us.”
“When do you plan to inform Ridgeway of your plans?”
“If I marry him, I would tell him soon after we are wed. But, as I said, I might marry Clayton.”
“Even though he has run away from the estate?”
“No one runs from me, Myra. And make no mistake. If I want him back, he’ll come.”
“Like the gentlemen in Boston?”
Nora’s eyes flashed so angrily that Myra almost took a step back. “You would do well to never bring up Boston again. Unless you want to find yourself married to some old man and sent far away.”
That, thought Myra, didn’t sound so very bad. At least she would be gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
It was the perfect day for a walk. The sun was shining brightly, making the snow sparkle, and the crisp, clean air was refreshing. Colin had asked Ava to walk to the village with him. Ava had accepted, then brought along Rose and Letty as chaperones. Colin had smiled wryly at her, but it was obvious he liked spending time with his sisters. At the moment, he and Letty were engaged in a snowball fight. His aim was quite deplorable and he somehow had the misfortune to be hit by almost all of Letty’s snowballs, which required a great deal of work to be in the right place at the right time.
Ava and Rose looked on and laughed.
“This is beautiful country,” said Ava.
“I have always liked it,” said Rose. “There is a grandeur to the land that appeals to me very much. I am glad you like it since you will be staying here.”
Ava didn’t have the heart to tell her she would not be staying long at all. She was lost in her thoughts and did not see the rut in the road until she’d stepped in it. Fortunately, Colin was able to catch her before she fell.
For a moment, time was reduced to the feeling of being in his arms. Ava was so close to him, she could feel the warmth of his breath. His steely arms had her locked to his chest. She had the irrational thought he might kiss her, though of course he couldn’t with both of his sisters there.
He finally released her. As she stepped away, she saw Rose and Letty grinning.
“Colin,” said Letty. “You should marry Miss Conway.”
Ava’s face flooded with color.
Colin cleared his throat. Twice. “Why do you say that, poppet?”
“I like her very much. So does Rose. And I think you do, too. And besides, if you marry her, I won’t have to do maths.”
Colin picked up his sister and held her over a snowbank. She squealed with laughter when he feinted like he would drop her. “Leticia, if I married Miss Conway, you would have to do even more maths.”
“Why?” Letty was giggling so much, even Ava and Rose had to join in.
“Because I said so!”
He finally put her down and they resumed their snowball fight.
“You really must marry him,” Rose said to Ava. “And before you tell me you’re the governess and he’s the earl, I have studied the two of you together. It is obvious that you care for each other very much. I daresay you love each other. And if there’s one thing this family needs it’s a marriage that is also a love match.”
Ava could not deny her feelings for Colin. Not to Rose. “I care for your brother very much. But, sweet, practical Rose, you know he must marry an heiress.”
“He must do no such thing. He must marry for love. He deserves it. You both do. We will find a way to make do. We will…”
Rose stopped talking and her expression was so arrested, Ava was worried she’d suddenly been taken ill. Rose was staring at something in the distance. It was a rider coming their way.
“Who is that?” asked Ava.
A black stallion and his magnificent rider walked through the lane. The horse was enormous and the man was dressed all in black, which was a contrast to his fair hair and blue eyes. But a closer look revealed that the man wasn’t quite steady in the saddle. He seemed to sway just a bit, though he still seemed just as dignified. Perhaps it was the cut of his greatcoat, which was obviously expensive. Or the horse itself which, even to Ava’s untrained eye, was unmistakably valuable.
The man was staring at the horizon with a grim look, as if on his way to a date with the executioner. Ava could not be sure, but it looked like he was not much older than she, perhaps in his late twenties.
She was just about to ask Colin about the man, when Rose called out.
“Grayson!” she called. She had her hands on her hips and for all the world looked like she was a teacher scolding a pupil.
The man in the saddle turned to look at her. It took a moment for his eyes to focus, but when they did, he showed a quick succession of expressions from confusion, recognition, surprise and something else. It was difficult to identify that last one since no sooner had Ava begun to study him, than the man fell from his horse, face down into a snowbank.
*
Rose was terrified. She ran to Nathaniel Gage, Marquess of Grayson, afraid he’d broken his neck in the fall. And it would be her fault for startling him. Well, he might have had something to do with it since it was obvious he was foxed and in no condition to be riding. It wasn’t the first time, of course. Nor would it be the last. Fortunately his horse was so well trained that it was used to his master’s drinking habits. When Nate fell, the animal bent his great head to snuffle him. Then, satisfied his master was not in mortal danger, he slowly backed away from the crazed woman who was running toward them.
Rose carefully rolled Nate over, though it was quite a task considering he was a good six inches taller than she and hewn of solid muscle. Only Grayson could spend so much time debauched and not have a spare ounce of fat upon him.
She held her breath as he lay motionless, then finally he opened his eyes. “Thorn? That you?”
Thank God the man was alive, though his breath reeked of spirits. She kn
ew she shouldn’t have startled him, but she’d been shocked to see him in the lane. He hadn’t come home for Christmas so she’d assumed the earliest he would make an appearance would be at Easter. The last person she’d expected to see today was, unfortunately, the one who made her heart beat faster and heated her dreams at night. For she’d been in love with Nate since she was a little girl. And he called her “Thorn.” As in a Rose’s thorn.
“Grayson, is that you?” Colin was standing beside them and looking down at his old friend.
“Ridgeway?” asked Nate, as he struggled to sit up. “Heard you were in London looking for a bride.”
Colin pulled him to a standing position, then did the same for Rose. “Seems like I might be losing my touch. None of the ladies in London seemed to recognize my appeal.”
“You wouldn’t want to get leg-shackled anyway,” said Nate, looking aggravatingly handsome. “Not a state I ever want to be in.”
“Does his grace know that?” asked Colin with a grin.
“’Fraid so. One of the reasons I’m here. Though dreading the visit.”
“Well, leave it to Rose here to divert you from your purpose,” said Colin, who tugged one of her curls fondly.
Just like she was ten years old again. It was mortifying.
“Thorn didn’t mean me any harm.” Nate turned the full force of his grin on her. He was having trouble focusing again and this time his eyes seemed to drift over her form, then back up again, like he couldn’t quite comprehend what he’d seen.
Rose’s eyes locked with his. She could barely breathe. She could not look away.
Colin was oblivious to it. “Remember that day when Rose wouldn’t stop pestering us and fell into that bog? James and I could not stop laughing and she was sputtering mad about it. Then you waded in and pulled her out. The sight of you two makes me laugh even now.”
Rose could not believe her brother had chosen that moment to do his best imitation of a braying ass.
Always Come Home (Emerson 1) Page 21
