The Viscount in Her Bedroom

by Gayle Callen

  Louisa looked between them with interest.

  Miss Wade darted her an embarrassed look, then said, “Grandmama, perhaps you could discuss this at another time.”

  “Of course, of course,” Lady Wade said. She smiled confidently at Louisa. “Simon, allow me to introduce Miss Louisa Shelby.”

  Louisa saw his every muscle stiffen. She did not want to be the cause of his dismay.

  “You met her before in London, did you not?” his grandmother continued.

  But Louisa’s attention was centered on Lord Wade, and she saw just a moment of embarrassed anger before his expression changed into the mask of pleasantry one would grant a stranger in a crowded ballroom. Did he wear that mask all the time, even around his family?

  “Ah, I thought I smelled a different perfume,” Lord Wade said smoothly. “Yes, I remember you, Miss Shelby.”

  He sounded as if they’d only met in passing, instead of sharing a conversation or two. She was surprised to feel hurt. She curtsied, then winced. He couldn’t see it. “Good afternoon, Lord Wade.”

  He cocked his head toward Miss Wade. “Georgie, did she pass the curtsy test?”

  Miss Wade covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. “Yes, Simon.”

  Louisa looked between them in confusion and saw Lady Wade’s frown.

  “The curtsy test, my lord?” Louisa asked.

  “I’m always curious to see who curtsies to a blind man. So unnecessary.”

  She flushed, though she knew he was trying to be amusing. “Good manners are never unnecessary. They keep us civilized.”

  Oh heavens, had she just hinted that he wasn’t? Miss Wade gaped at her, Lady Wade grinned, but Lord Wade only continued to focus his attention on her, wearing a half smile, as if she had not offended him. His regard was a different feeling than being stared at. This was an awareness that went deeper, as if he were…focusing on her with his other senses. It felt far too intimate, a reminder of a time when the two of them had been different people.

  “Good response, Miss Shelby,” he said. “I like a woman who’s not afraid of me.”

  And were so many? How distressing, especially for a man who had always been at the center of feminine attention and admiration.

  “And is there a reason a woman should be afraid?” she asked.

  “A certain amount of people seem to believe blindness can be contagious.” Again, he tilted his head toward Miss Wade and laughed, as if she understood the irony.

  But Miss Wade couldn’t respond because she was blinking back tears.

  “Simon!” his grandmother said sternly. “Save such foolishness for the men, who might understand your sense of humor. Sit down and have tea with us.”

  A maid had just entered, pushing a cart laden with a teapot and cups, and an array of biscuits. Louisa forced herself not to look at the viscount. She didn’t think it proper that she be there while he did something so personal as try to eat.

  “I am not hungry, Grandmama,” Lord Wade said.

  Lady Wade frowned, but said nothing.

  “Manvil,” he added, “guide me to a chair, and I’ll release you to rest for a while.”

  The only other nearby chair was next to Louisa. The servant expressionlessly guided his master there.

  “It is just behind you, my lord,” he said quietly.

  Lord Wade took a small step backward, and Louisa saw out of the corner of her eye the moment when his lower legs brushed the seat. Then he sat down smoothly.

  Simon Wade controlled his resentment and frustration with a mastery that had been hard earned. How dare his grandmother hide the presence of a stranger from him? Even after all this time, he still felt shocked and strangely exposed whenever he discovered someone in his presence that he hadn’t known about. As if he were an actor in a play he was unaware of.

  He told himself he was being ridiculous; he had not embarrassed himself this time. Only a few sentences had escaped his mouth while he was ignorant of her. And if his grandmother had a secret motive in hiring Miss Shelby, the woman might as well know it. And why hadn’t he trusted his own poor excuse for sight? Sometimes he could see vague shapes, and from where he’d entered the room, Miss Shelby would have been lit from behind by daylight. He’d probably seen a gray blob and thought it was furniture.

  He could hear the clink of the china, smell the cinnamon in the biscuits. His grandmother was pouring tea and handing out plates. Georgie always refused to serve, since she inevitably spilled something.

  He only hoped his stomach wouldn’t rumble with hunger. He was not eating in front of them, especially not in front of a stranger, not until he knew he wouldn’t make a fool of himself.

  Miss Shelby wasn’t exactly a stranger. He’d conversed with her at David Thurlow’s home, and before that, seen her from across the room at several parties, although they hadn’t been introduced then. But how could any man not notice her? She had flaming red hair, the color unfashionable yet wildly alluring. She’d worn it up in exotic twists and curls pinned to the back of her head, and he wondered if she still wore it so. Surely every man had fantasized about letting it down. And then there were her eyes, as blue as the lake he still rowed across, fringed in brown lashes.

  For a moment, he wondered how long he would remember what people looked like. Would it all fade away some day?

  He shook his head to clear it of such maudlin thoughts. He was trying to learn to take each day one at a time, to not dwell on things he couldn’t change.

  So he would think about Miss Shelby. Besides eating several family meals together, he had spent several hours playing croquet with her and her sisters at Banstead House, after her sister Victoria’s marriage to his friend. He’d been impressed that a woman with stylishness and beauty had had such a ready opinion that she expressed with easy humor. She had talked of everything from railroad investments to fashionable bonnets with an interest that had been contagious.

  He remembered her healthy laugh, no missishness for her. And while she’d bent over to play croquet, he’d found himself studying her as if they’d never met before. She had a compact figure on her small frame, but her breasts had pleasantly bounced when she laughed. And the smell of her perfume, roses and something else, even now teased him with its subtlety. He’d been resigned to his celibate life, but this wasn’t helping.

  Why had his grandmother hired her? Didn’t she know about the subtle rumors that had swirled around Louisa Shelby?

  As the ladies discussed the delicious flavor of the biscuits, he tried to remember everything he’d heard. More than one man had claimed her fast, though his brother Leo had been first with the gossip, as usual. She had the artistry of a born flirt, and allowed several men to call on her regularly. Someone had even kissed her, and it was said that it was only a matter of time before she became even bolder. Every man was hoping to be the one she chose for that experiment.

  Ah, but it was only the men who talked of her, not the women. That’s why Grandmama wouldn’t have heard the rumors.

  When he heard Georgie laugh at something Miss Shelby said, his concern deepened. Should his sister associate with her too much, it would not reflect well on Georgie. And Georgie was no beauty, to easily overcome such rumors. It could damage her chance at a good marriage.

  If Georgie hadn’t damaged it all on her own during her first Season.

  He suddenly realized that his grandmother was calling his name. He’d been sitting there ruminating like a fool, and they’d just talked around him as if they were used to his silences.

  “Forgive me, Grandmama,” he said. “My head is full of business today.”

  “If you weren’t going to entertain us,” she said pleasantly, “and you don’t want to eat, why did you come?”

  “I was working far too hard today and needed a distraction. And Miss Shelby is certainly that.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a compliment,” Miss Shelby said dryly.

  “Oh, it’s a compliment.” He had always liked the sound of her vo
ice. He could hear her intelligence, her sense of humor. There was even the faintest huskiness that resonated inside him far too pleasurably.

  But he couldn’t dwell on that. He tried to remember the social niceties, which had become infrequent when one didn’t encourage company. “And how is your family, Miss Shelby, and of course my friend David?”

  “Lord Thurlow is well, my lord. My sister Victoria tells me it’s a shame you do not accept their invitations.”

  He worked hard not to stiffen with uneasiness. “Then perhaps I should invite them to visit me here.”

  “Ah, but they’ve already left on their honeymoon.”

  He felt a twinge of self-pity that he quickly squashed. Of course the world went on without him. David and Victoria had struggled hard to find love; he was glad they were enjoying each other.

  “So she got him away from his railway,” Simon said, shaking his head with amusement. “He must really love her.”

  Lady Wade said, “Simon, did you hear that Miss Shelby’s other sister is also married now, to the duke of Thanet’s uncle?”

  He tilted his head toward Miss Shelby. “So you’re the last unmarried Shelby sister. Is that difficult?”

  He heard Georgie gasp, and he sent an annoyed look her way.

  “Miss Shelby,” he said, “I merely meant that I know how close you are to your sisters, and with both of them newly married, you must not be able to see them often. Is that why you accepted my grandmother’s offer?”

  There was an awkward silence that he kept expecting his grandmother to interrupt. But whatever she saw on Miss Shelby’s face seemed to stop her.

  “You are very perceptive, my lord,” Miss Shelby said softly.

  She didn’t sound angry with him. “I’m only blind, not stupid.”

  “Simon!” Georgie said reprovingly.

  “No, it’s all right,” Miss Shelby said. “Lord Wade is correct. My sisters have busy lives, and my old friends decided that my reduced financial circumstances last year made me unappealing.”

  Now she sounded embarrassed. Maybe she hadn’t meant to reveal so much. It made him uncomfortable to be a part of such feelings. He’d forgotten that in pushing people away, he’d removed himself from emotions.

  “Oh, Miss Shelby,” Georgie said softly.

  Their grandmother snorted. “Stupid girls.”

  Simon could only wonder if her lack of a dowry made all the men go away, too. But knowing David Thurlow’s generosity, surely Miss Shelby had a dowry now. Then why wasn’t she actively searching for a husband? Or had her dubious reputation become too well known?

  “So when I received Lady Wade’s kind offer,” Miss Shelby continued, “it seemed the perfect opportunity to be of help to someone.”

  He concealed his frown, and had a startling moment of clarity where he realized that he was growing used to hiding what he felt. From his own family. “Grandmama, what do you have planned for Miss Shelby?”

  “I have nothing planned,” his grandmother said too brightly. “With Georgie soon to be busy with her next Season—”

  He heard Georgie sigh.

  “—and you distracted with your work, Simon,” Lady Wade continued, “I need someone to keep me company. I am getting on in years, you know.”

  The two young ladies protested her statement in unison, but Simon wasn’t fooled by the distraction. His grandmother was up to something.

  “Georgie my child,” said Grandmama, “I imagine Miss Shelby would like to rest before dinner. Why don’t you show her to the blue guest room?”

  Ah, now the old girl was trying to sidestep his questions by temporarily removing the problem. As if he was going to forget.

  He heard Miss Shelby rise to her feet, and as she walked past him, he felt the brush of her skirts along his lower legs, inhaled the sweet scent that trailed behind her. These days, that was all it took to arouse him.

  “Excuse me, my lord,” she murmured.

  “There’s nothing to excuse.” He waited until their voices trailed away, and he had mastered his distracted thoughts of Miss Shelby. “Are we alone, Grandmama?”

  “You need not have that edge in your voice for me,” Lady Wade said. “And yes we’re alone, except for your valet.”

  “Well, I had to be certain.” He cocked his head. “Manvil, please wait outside the door for me and close it behind you.”

  He heard the click of the door latch, but before he could speak, his grandmother did.

  “Simon, forgive me for not introducing Miss Shelby earlier,” she said in soft voice. “I admit that I just…forgot I needed to.”

  He heard her sorrow, something she didn’t normally reveal. Of all of his family, she’d been the one who’d most mastered the ability to act perfectly normal, as if he weren’t blind. How could he remain angry with her? She was letting him stay in her home, when his own mother hadn’t been able to get away from him fast enough.

  “You’re forgiven,” he said gruffly. “But I still don’t understand why you hired a companion, and Miss Shelby in particular.”

  “Lady Ralston recommended her to me as a very compassionate girl. I need someone who understands that although I may be aging, sometimes I don’t want to be reminded of it.”

  He held his tongue, though he still wasn’t satisfied with her answer. It was only what she wanted him to hear. And there had to be another reason why she had chosen Miss Shelby—and why Miss Shelby had accepted.

  Chapter 3

  Miss Wade escorted Louisa up to the second floor and down another long corridor, this one lined with doors interspersed with tall paintings. This last doorway led to a lovely corner bedroom, decorated in blue. Besides the large four-poster bed and all the basic furniture, she even had her own writing desk, which she well appreciated. Tall windows looked out over an immense park.

  Miss Wade smiled at her and crossed the room. “One of these is actually a door to the balcony.” She brushed aside the edge of the curtain to show the door handle. “It runs along the rear of the manor, so it is not exactly your own private balcony.”

  Louisa laughed. “I wouldn’t need that much privacy, Miss Wade, not for the outdoors.”

  “There’s a bathing chamber through the other door, with hot and cold water.”

  “I’ll feel like a princess,” she said. Even Banstead House did not have such luxury. “But I promise I’ll remember my place.”

  Though Louisa was only teasing, Miss Wade’s expression turned serious.

  “Miss Shelby, I know that a lady’s companion is not always treated respectfully, but you can trust my grandmother to treat you as the gentlewoman you are.”

  “I never doubted that,” Louisa said.

  “My grandmother is…very different from what most people expect in someone her age. Her mind is still lively, and she has seldom been ill, so she enjoys paying her calls as much as ever. What has worried her the most is my brother. Simon, I mean,” she added.

  “You have another brother?”

  “Leo, who is between Simon and me in age.”

  The name sounded familiar, but then she’d met so many men in the last several years.

  “Leo has spent his life teasing me, and Simon has always been my protector.” Miss Wade lowered her voice. “It’s my turn now.”

  Louisa frowned. “To be Lord Wade’s protector?”

  Miss Wade sighed. “That’s the wrong word, of course. I’m more of an…assistant than a protector.”

  “I’m sure everyone wants to help him since his accident. His servant must be very dedicated. His valet, I assume?”

  “Yes, Manvil helps Simon with everything he needs to do.”

  “If it is not too forward of me, how do you act as your brother’s assistant?”

  “I help Simon with his work. He has his secretary and steward, of course, to help him with all the duties of a man of property.”

  Louise felt foolish. Of course a blind man could still oversee all his estates and investments, as long as he had his employ
ees to read the paperwork to him.

  “I function as…” Miss Wade blushed. “Well, as his eyes. I sit in on meetings, and tell him later my impressions of what things looked like.”

  “You mean the expressions on people’s faces.”

  She nodded vigorously. “Yes! You understand. And he manages so many properties, now that he’s inherited the viscountcy, so there is much to do.”

  “And you attend all the meetings?”

  She gave a cheerful nod.

  “Then how do you have time for your own interests?” Louisa knew she was overstepping her bounds, but the girl’s frank attitude encouraged it.

  Miss Wade’s smile grew sad. “I don’t have all that much to do.”

  She looked away, and her shrug told Louisa that the girl was troubled about something.

  “Except amuse Grandmama,” Miss Wade added. “And now she’ll also have you!”

  Miss Wade seemed so happy to spend her hours at her brother’s side. Louisa well understood the need for a purpose, but sacrificing one’s own life and happiness seemed the wrong way to go about it. Of course, Miss Wade seemed happy with her new position, which meant that her own daily pursuits used to make her unhappy. What young girl did not look forward to the excitement of the Season? Obviously Miss Wade’s first one was uninspiring. Perhaps Louisa could discover what went wrong, and help her blossom this year. She’d so much enjoyed helping Lady Ralston’s granddaughter. It was as if fate was leading Louisa to another troubled girl.

  Meanwhile, Miss Wade was peeking into the bathing chamber to point out the tub and all the amenities.

  “Perhaps you wouldn’t mind showing me about the house?” Louisa asked. “I would hate to get lost on my way to dinner.”

  Miss Wade laughed. “Enfield Manor is not that large. But are you certain you wouldn’t rather rest?”

  “I’m too excited to rest.”

  “Of course you are. Coming to a new place and all. And not really knowing what will be required of you. We’ll walk together and I’ll tell you about my grandmother’s schedule.”

  They walked through the house, and Louisa politely praised the conservatory, the library, and the ballroom, but she was really most interested in Lady Wade’s day. The older woman spent her mornings writing letters and occasionally visiting several dear friends. In the afternoons, when she wasn’t doing needlework or gardening with Miss Wade, she paid even more visits. After dinner, there was the occasional musicale or dance, but in the country, there was more time for simple evenings at home.