She smiled again, “I won’t. I am looking forward to dinner tonight.”
Because she truly was. She felt hope for the first time since she had awoken. With Julia here, her leg would finally get back to her normal. And she was so happy to not be so dependent on everyone. She couldn’t wait to walk and show Aidan that she wasn’t incapable. And she wanted to prove that she could handle her own.
The family left, and Julia helped her walk for a little longer in her room before Rhia needed a break. She was still tired and Julia helped her to lie down for a nap. Rhia wanted to be rested for her night of normal.
Chapter Fourteen
Aidan
Northumberland, England 1812
Getting ready for dinner that night, Aidan pulled his hair back into a queue, getting it completely out of his face. He really needed to look into cutting his hair, but he liked the added protection from the staring that people did.
Pulling on a waistcoat and a dinner jacket, he did up the buttons, feeling like he was overdressed. He wanted this night to be wonderful for Rhia, so he dealt with the feeling and finished getting dressed. He wanted to look his best for her as well, so he made certain his knee-high Hessians gleamed.
Drawing in a breath, he turned and looked in the mirror that hung in his room. He normally avoided mirrors at all costs. Not wanting to see the dreaded reminders of his past.
Seeing his scarred face on display, Aidan looked at it with a critical eye. He had a few scars from the whip slashing into his left cheek.
There were three of those silvery lines etched forever into his skin. They had happened long enough ago that they were no longer pink, but white.
He looked next at the scar that stretched from his left temple, through his eyebrow, under his eye, across his nose and down his right cheek.
He was lucky he ducked the blow, or it would have taken his eye and his nose. As it was, it was just a raised line across his face. Aidan hated that his face was not the one he wished it was. One that was unmarked. Like Cole’s. But he would rather be the one scarred, than have Cole go through what he had.
He didn’t want these thoughts going through his head right now. There was a time and place, and now wasn’t it. He had a beautiful woman waiting on him.
Sighing, he left his room to head towards Rhiannon’s. Knowing that she would be joining them for dinner bolstered his spirits.
He knocked on her door and it was opened by Lily, who looked lovely in a light blue gown.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek, “I am here to escort our lovely guest to dinner.”
Lily giggled and moved out of the way to let him enter the room, and she left with a smile.
His breath caught in his throat at the vision of Rhiannon sitting at the dressing table, dressed in a pink gown and her hair pulled up in a loose bun at the back of her head.
Julia had done a marvelous job on making her look even more beautiful than she did earlier. Which was a feat, since Rhia was utterly divine normally. His gaze landed on Rhia again and when he looked down, he was again struck at her beauty.
She smiled at him, “Hello Aidan.” Then she looked down as a blush raced up her cheeks. He smiled as well and walked to her side.
Dropping to his haunches in front of her he placed his finger under her chin, “What is the matter?”
She shook her head, but met his eyes square on. “I just thought how handsome you look.” She whispered.
Aidan smiled again. “Your thoughts are similar to mine then. I was thinking I had never seen anyone quite as beautiful as you.”
Aidan took one of her hands in his and brought it to his mouth. Pressing a kiss there, he stood and pulled her slowly to her feet. “May I escort you to dinner?”
She nodded and smiled at him. “I would love that. Thank you.”
Aidan walked with her slowly, noticing she was still not able to bend her left leg very well.
It also didn’t take her weight on it for long before giving way. They made it out to the hallway and he looked down to notice she was biting her lip again. “Rhia, does it hurt very badly?”
She looked up at him with a start. Letting her lip out of her teeth, she said, “It normally doesn’t, but being in bed and not moving it for several days has taken its toll. I do not know if I can make it all the way there. Already my leg feels like it won’t take another step.”
Aidan stopped walking. “Rhi, do you trust me to not let anything happen to you? To get you where you need to go without it hurting?”
She nodded as she looked at his face. “Yes. I do.”
“Then you won’t mind my doing this.” He picked her up in his arms, one arm under her legs the other supporting her back.
She let out a squeak of surprise and settled her arms around his neck. “Well, this certainly was not what I expected. I don’t think it is at all proper.”
Aidan laughed out loud. “We haven’t done one thing properly since you arrived. I think my carrying you down to dinner won’t shock anyone at all.”
She smiled at him, “Very well, Your Grace, carry on then.”
He laughed lightly and walked down the hall, to the stairs.
As he made his way down them, Cole was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, a big smile on his face. “Well, brother looks to be excellent cargo.”
Rhiannon laughed and looked down; her face warm.
Aidan squeezed his arms tighter around her, “Most excellent. Too bad you don’t have some of your own.”
Rhia squeaked again in laughter and Cole laughed out loud as well. “Too bad indeed.”
Lily and Rose emerged from a room a few doors down from the stairs.
Seeing Rhia in Aidan’s arms they both smiled. “Well come on then, we don’t want the food getting cold.”
Aidan started walking forward, but Rhiannon cleared her throat. “Will you put me down please? I want to walk into the room with my dignity intact.”
Aidan smiled down at her. “Of course. But, not one person in my family will begrudge you the help, nor the fact that you were in my arms.”
She smiled at him as well, “I know Aidan. Thank you. But, can we try? If my leg gives way beneath me, then you have my permission to carry me the rest of the way.”
Aidan smiled again and chuckled. “All right. Let’s give it a try?”
He lowered her to her feet and kept his arm about her back in a protective gesture.
She put her weight down on her leg slowly, and held Aidan’s arm to balance herself.
When her leg twinged, but didn’t give her too much pain, she very slowly stepped forward. Nothing happened. Her leg held. She let out a tiny breath and was beyond grateful her leg was cooperating this night.
Aidan dropped his arm from behind her back and held it out so she could loop her arm through his. With a smile, they walked slowly into the dining room for dinner.
She gasped when she saw the large room, the chandeliers lit with candles and sparkling at them from above, and the beautiful table laden with food. She couldn’t believe the opulence of the room. It was just so beautiful and large.
The walls were covered in pretty silk wallpaper in a cream shade, and the table and chairs were a dark colored wood. With the few place settings on the long table it looked magnificent, also strangely bare. But, it felt cozier this way.
There was a large fireplace with a fire blazing merrily in its hearth.
Aidan walked her carefully, and slowly to the place that had been set for her and she sat down.
Aidan took his place at the head of the table and she noticed that she was seated to his left, where the Duchess should normally sit.
Looking around she saw that Lydia was sitting across from her and Rhia tried to stand, “I think Aidan put me in the wrong seat. This is your place is it not?”
Lydia smiled and laughed a little. “My dear sweet child. Aidan wished to sit by you, and being the mother, I am, I indulged him. Since this is simply a meal with my children, we don’t stand on cerem
ony. Nor do we care to. I often sit next to my daughters as we usually have quite a bit to discuss, and more often than not, that chair goes without an occupant. Do not worry yourself over it.”
Rhiannon looked to Aidan for confirmation, but he was looking down at his plate and studying his wine glass very carefully.
However, she did notice that his neck was rather red. This made her smile.
“Thank you, Lydia, for allowing me to sit in this revered spot. I truly appreciate feeling like an honored guest, instead of like an invalid patient.” Rhia said to the mother of the man whom she held dear to her heart.
“You are welcome. And you are an honored guest. We get them rarely, and love having them.” Lydia answered in return.
Rhia smiled and looked down and fought to keep from blushing. Someone squeezed her fingers that were positioned on the arm of the chair and she looked to see who it was. Cole. He smiled down at her and winked.
She smiled right back and sat up tall, knowing that she belonged here. At least for the time being this night.
The same servants whom Rhia had seen several times helping Aidan and Cole; came into the room, followed by several footmen in liviried garb. They each carried a covered tray and set them down delicately on the table.
Then they lifted the lids and the most delicious smells spilled forth. Rhiannon was starving. She had eaten a small amount of her lunch, but her body was still not up for the amount of food that was on her tray to eat.
So she had picked a little and had eaten what she could, knowing it would help her strength to regain.
But, sitting here, seeing this lovely arrangement of food before her, her mouth watered and she couldn’t wait to try several of the dishes. Cole stood and grabbed Rhiannon’s plate for her.
Smiling down at her, he asked, “What kind of food are you looking to try first?”
Rhia put a finger to her chin and tapped. Then she said, “I would love to try the small bird there with the red potatoes.”
Cole nodded and reached for the serving fork and knife and filled Rhiannon’s plate.
He set it in front of her and then got himself some food. A footman came in with a bottle of wine and poured everyone a glass.
Rhia ate everything with small bites. The food was delicious and she savored the flavors bursting on her tongue.
After eating her fill, she turned to ask Cole to get her some more when Aidan cleared his throat again, “Is there something I can get for you Rhiannon?”
Her eyes widened a fraction at this, but she nodded, “I would love to try any of the dishes, but I am afraid this might be the last one. My stomach is not used to all this food again. Would you pick for me?”
Aidan grinned wide. Heavens it changed his face so. He was a very handsome man, but when he smiled? Like he was now? It was unbelievable. Lord, but it was sinful to have a man that handsome.
Her breath caught in her throat and as Aidan stood to fill her plate, she had to drop her gaze. She was a ninny. He was a DUKE for heaven’s sake. She shouldn’t be having these kinds of thoughts about him. He would marry a Lady of the ton and she would never marry. Men weren’t looking for crippled orphans with hardly a penny to their names.
She tamped down the disappointment this statement caused and tried to lift her eyes again as Aidan placed her plate back in front of her again.
“Here you are Rhia.” He said to her in a quiet voice. “I picked you my favorite dish.”
She looked down at her plate that had small carrots, green beans and a small amount of meat on it. With a taste, Rhia discovered it was lamb. She used to love lamb, but, after everything, it was too expensive and she wouldn’t push for something so trivial.
She savored everything on her plate and sipped the wine slowly. This night was perfect. Beyond that. Since the accident, Rhia hadn’t had the chance to eat a lovely dinner with anyone. More often than not, Rhia ate alone in her bedchamber.
So, this night was the first for her, and she wanted to savor every single moment.
Chapter Fifteen
Rhiannon
Northumberland, England Sept, 1812
They were just finishing up the main dishes, and having them cleared away when the door to the dining room crashed open.
Everyone was startled, and a loud, grating voice said, “How do you like that? You are having a family dinner without us? How dare you?”
Aidan rose slowly from his chair, “I believe, Aunt Koryn that you were not invited. We are having a welcome home dinner for Cole. And you aren’t immediate family. You may be a guest here, but that doesn’t mean you get to be included in every single function that happens in our home. I don’t have to answer to you.”
Koryn looked offended and the other one, a young woman of exceptional beauty said, “If it is a dinner for just family then what is that woman doing here? I have never seen her before.”
Aidan looked down at Rhia, “Rhiannon is my guest and she received an invitation, at my request; to be included in this dinner.”
The young one looked just as offended as the older one when Aidan spoke. Rhia looked closer, they had a similar face shape and Rhia could tell they were mother and daughter.
“She is a guest? Right, I am certain you tell yourself that to convince your family and others around you. Certainly. I will play along. A guest. I have never heard such a ridiculous thing in my life. Men don’t have women ‘guests.’ It isn’t done.”
She sneered down at Rhia and Rhia clenched her hands together in her lap. She wanted to speak up in her defense, but was raised to be polite. She knew what they were insinuating about her.
Koryn spoke again, “Although you never act like the men of the ton, so how is this any different. A woman guest. She isn't Cole’s intended, since he never speaks to anyone of the ton. And I doubt she is Aidan’s. He is the Duke after all. He would never marry someone so far below his station. Which she most obviously is. Trying to pass her off as a guest.” Koryn tsked and shook her head, sneering at Rhiannon.
Aidan sucked in a sharp breath, his face a mask of fury. “And just what is that supposed to mean Koryn? Of course, she is my guest, and if you are trying to insinuate that she is more than that, or just flat out trying to say she is a mistress of one of us, that would be a horrible slander against Cole and I, and Rhiannon. I don't need to explain myself to you about my guest in my own home. And, Rhiannon is a guest in my home. I found her all alone out in the storm that happened a few days ago. She got caught out in the elements and has been very ill since she arrived. She is still recuperating from that illness. We have all been caring for her since she was so ill. You don’t get to come in here, interrupting our lovely evening and start accusing people of things you have no right to accuse someone of. Nor do you get to make assumptions about her when you know nothing of her, or her station in life.”
Koryn sneered at Aidan. Hatred and contempt in her eyes. She sniffed, “Well, seeing this person here causes much concern and questions. She is a random stranger, what if she was sent here to harm us? Or sent here for some diabolical reason? She isn't a member of the ton. I would know because I know all the influential families that live there. I have never seen her before. But, if you insist she is simply here to recuperate from an illness, and wish to keep trying to get me to believe you, then there isn't anything more to do than do just that.”
Rhia blushed hard, and spoke quietly, “I only came here a few days ago and am passing through as Aidan said. If it wasn’t for the sickness that laid me low, I wouldn’t be here now. Aidan found me in the storm, and I am not his mistress. It is unbelievable that you would speak about me that way. I may not be a member of the peerage, but even I know you don't make assumptions about someone like that.”
Hearing this woman say such awful things without knowing anything about her, hurt. Badly. She had never had someone make an assumption like that before, and didn’t know what to say. Being a man’s mistress wasn’t a bad thing, but you also weren’t paraded around in front of t
he ton. You were kept at home and used for one thing. Although there were some men who cared not what people said and paraded their mistress around despite everyone.
“Rhia, don’t listen to them. You don’t need to explain yourself to them or to anyone. Nor should Aidan have to explain who you are. It isn’t done. Questioning someone of his rank. But they are just hateful and selfish. They wouldn’t speak to someone of your station if we were in London, because that is how they were raised. You should know that not everyone feels as they do. Don’t let this bother you, we don’t listen to their gossip or slanderous words.” Lydia leaned over and whispered in her ear.
Rhia knew she wasn't as regal as these women were, but she had lived a good life, and knowing this woman thought she was nothing more than a mistress bothered her.
She looked down at the beautiful pink gown that Lily had so graciously let her borrow. She was never up to date on style, not since the accident, she thought this gown was one of the finest she had ever worn. She didn’t think she looked like anything more than a young woman eating dinner.
But, next to the woman spewing her hate filled words, she looked down right dowdy. The other woman had beautiful blonde hair that shone in the light. She had little beads woven in her hair, and her gown looked expensive.
Her breasts were pushed so high in her dress, that they looked ready to spill from the top if she took a deep breath. She also was quite small in stature and she had a tiny waist that looked like it hardly needed a corset. When Rhia looked closer at her face, it was perfect, not a spot or flaw in sight.
She had full perfect lips, just the right shade of pink. Full dark lashes, and a small nose that fit her perfect face.
She had brown eyes that sparked malice in them and that was what made her perfect face not so perfect. Her glare was directed at Rhia. Rhia flinched back at the pure hatred that was directed her way. Never before on the receiving end of such a look.
The Duke Who Loved Me Page 17
