Cole smiled at Aidan, until he looked at the room and saw the table overturned, and the broken dishes and bits of food littering the floor. Cole’s eyebrows drew down in confusion and the smile faded from his face, “Is everything all right?”
Rhia looked down at her burned hands and sighed, but before she could voice her thoughts, Aidan said, “Actually Cole. No. Everything is not fine. A strange maid came into Rhia’s room this morning, slamming her door open and leaving a tray for her. She was rather rude and abrupt. She also said horrible things to Rhia. Unforgivable things, Cole. Do you think you could find out who she is?”
Cole looked stunned, “Who would do that? Never has any of our staff been anything but polite. The few who have helped Rhia already like her and are so happy to help her in anyway. But regardless, I didn’t think you had any maids employed Aidan. And the only staff I brought with me is a few footmen, and my valet. I don't employ young maids in my home either.”
Aidan shook his head, “You are right, I don’t have them. Which is why I need you to see about this problem. I only have a skeleton staff most of the time. Most people are too afraid to come here, let alone work here. Find out please Cole.”
Cole nodded and left the room. Aidan looked down at her, “Let me get you a cloth and we can see about getting the worst of the jam and tea off while we wait.” Rhia nodded at him and Aidan walked behind the screen where the pot of water lay next to her chamber pot.
A minute later, without knocking, the door opened to reveal Koryn. She swept in, looking regal in a light blue gown, with her hair in an elegant bun at the nape of her neck. She glared at Rhia, “Ah, still here I see. Well, I just came to let you know that you aren’t welcome here.”
Aidan walked out from behind the screen, “And just why is that Koryn? I believe I told you last night that Rhia is my honored guest?”
Koryn sighed, “Yes, you said as much, just as you said she isn’t your mistress, but my daughter and I do not like that there is a woman here, one who isn’t part of the ton, and one who wouldn’t be accepted amongst our guests. We will have people assume the worst about her, and I don’t need a single whiff of scandal attached to our names. Katarina is too important for that. She has a lot of opportunities open to her because of her spotless reputation. But here this girl is, and she not only has traveled alone, but has a man in her bedchamber with no chaperone. What would people say if they knew?”
Aidan glared at his aunt, “I am here because a maid left a tray for Rhia, and treated her badly as she did so. I am trying to clean up that mess and help the only guest I care about in my house. So, I suggest you leave now Koryn. I am not in the mood to deal with you right now.”
Koryn sneered at Rhia, “She was treated badly by someone of your staff? Oh dear, how awful. Maybe she should realize that she isn’t welcome here. If your staff can’t even treat her like a guest.”
Aidan stiffened, “No one on my staff would ever have treated Rhia in that way. They have done nothing to indicate otherwise. You on the other hand have brought staff with you. Tell me Koryn, if I went to your staff right now, there wouldn’t be a single maid on there that didn’t just bring Rhia her breakfast and call her a whore?”
Koryn gasped in outrage, “How dare you speak to me like that? If someone on my staff brought her a tray it was at the behest of your over-worked staff. They also know that this girl,” Koryn gestured to Rhia, “Is more than a ‘guest’ and everyone knows it. Someone of her station would not be allowed in such a room as this.”
Aidan put the cloth he had down, “Once again Koryn, you make assumptions of something you know nothing of. You also make slanderous accusations that are uncalled for and untrue. I suggest you walk away now before I do something I won’t regret.”
Koryn put her hands on her hips, “I can speak to her in anyway I wish. You may be in charge here, but this also was once my home. Your mistress shouldn’t be around my guests or my daughter. I don’t need her staining Katarina’s perfect reputation.”
Aidan growled and Rhia finally stood, not wanting to hear any more. “I am not Aidan’s mistress. We told you this last night. I have never in my life had someone treat me the way you have. I was raised in a wealthy home and though I don’t have a title, I’m not less than you. You don’t get to come in my room and start telling me how unwelcome I am. I didn’t ask to come here, but I am here nonetheless.”
She took a step toward Koryn and another before her leg gave out. Koryn watched with a critical eye and then a devious smile overtook her face. “She is a cripple? Oh, this is too rich. But of course, she is. You certainly know how to pick them don’t you Aidan?”
Aidan growled at her, “What does that mean? Rhia is perfect in every way, she may have had a hard life, but she is a better woman than you.”
Koryn sneered, “I’m certain you believe that, but a girl like her would never be accepted in the ton.”
With that she turned and walked away, not letting Aidan say anything else. Aidan cursed under his breath and Rhia wanted to cry. She knew her leg was something that made people stare, but she had never had someone use it to make her feel as though she was nothing. It broke her heart.
Aidan pulled her close to him, “Don’t listen to her Rhia, she is nothing but a miserable woman who never got what she thought she deserved. And now she is trying to live through her daughter. But, after this, I will send them away. I don’t want to deal with them any longer.”
Rhia put her hand up, “Don’t send them away Aidan. If you do, I have a feeling that they would never let it go. It would always be something that would be brought up. And, your mother and sisters have all worked so hard on the ball. Let them stay, and when this is over, they can leave and you won’t have to deal with it anymore.”
Aidan shuddered, “I can just imagine the hell they would raise if we sent them away. You are right in that regard. But I hate that she came in here and treated you badly, again. There is no reason for it, so I don’t understand it. And I am sorry.”
“Aidan, you shouldn’t apologize. You didn’t say those things, nor do you think them. You are nothing but good and kind. You certainly didn’t invite her into my bedchamber to speak to me in such a way. I wish to thank you though for coming to my aid and not letting her keep throwing her accusations around. I am not used to someone coming to my rescue. I have had to rescue myself.”
Aidan turned his head, kissed her fingertips, “Rhia, I am here to protect you. I won’t fail you again. Let me rescue you. Help you when you fall. I won’t let you down. And if you insist, they stay,” he sighed and rolled his eyes, “and that we host this godforsaken ball, then that’s what we shall do.”
Rhia smiled, “I know you will rescue me. You have gotten quite adept at it. Thank you.”
Aidan smiled, “You are welcome.” He sobered, “I truly am sorry Rhia. I will make certain she will not bother you again.”
Rhia smiled, “That is all I ask.”
Aidan smiled at her and looked like he wanted to lean in to steal a kiss. A knock sounded, and Rhia heard Aidan groan softly, but he stood and went to the door.
His mother and sisters were on the other side and they looked up at him, and his mother said, “Is everything all right? Julia came and got us, and she said something happened to her?”
Aidan let them in the room, “Rhia fell and the breakfast tray landed on her, her hands got scalded with hot tea, and she is covered in food.”
Lydia gasped and pushed past him, hurrying to Rhiannon’s side. Lifting her hand gently to see the burns, and she let out a sigh. “My poor dear! I am so sorry. I have some excellent burn medicine that will help take the sting away.”
Rhia looked at Lydia. “Thank you, Lydia. It wasn’t your fault. I hurried when I should have gone slow. And the tray was so far from my bed, I struggled to get there. Sometimes my leg just doesn’t want to hold my weight. Even after all these years. I thought it would be better after yesterday, but I should have remembered that it takes time
to work properly. I must have over done it.”
Lydia shook her head, “Rhia, you astonish me. I have no idea how you are so strong. That injury should have taken your leg, but here you stand, walking and doing things that most people wouldn’t believe. If you take a fall, no one here will judge you for it.”
Rhia looked around, and Lily, Rose, and Aidan all nodded their agreement.
Cole knocked on the open-door frame. “I found the maid. It was one of Katarina’s and Koryn’s, I told her in not so gentle of terms that she is not allowed in this room, or this wing of the house again, and she overstepped her bounds doing what she did. She is just lucky she isn’t employed by us, or she wouldn’t be anymore.”
Aidan walked to Cole’s side. “I know who did it brother. Koryn came here in person, barging right in the room like she owned the place. She said some nasty things to Rhia, and made horrible accusations against her. I couldn’t believe the things that came out of her mouth. They have pushed me too far and I want to just cancel the damn ball, but Rhia pointed out how hard everyone has worked and I shudder to think of what Katarina will do if we cancel it.”
Cole shook his head, his mouth pulled into a tight line. He leaned in close to Aidan and whispered, “We need to be careful Aidan. She is dangerous. If we aren’t, I am afraid of the consequences.”
Aidan nodded and went back to Rhia’s side. A knock sounded on the door frame again, and Mr. Peabody and two footmen were there waiting to dump out buckets of water for Rhia’s bath.
Rhia forced a laugh, “I feel like all I do is bathe in this house.”
Everyone else joined in her laughter and she turned to Mr. Peabody and said, “Thank you for taking your time to bring me water.”
Mr. Peabody gave her a small smile, “‘Tis my pleasure miss.”
Aidan and Cole helped them situate everything and then the men left, and Rhia was once again put into the bathtub.
Julia helped this time, and she was able to wash all the sticky food off of her body. Clean again, she got dressed in another of the dresses that Aidan’s sisters loaned to her.
Lily helped to fix her hair in a simple chignon on the back of her head and they carefully helped her go down the stairs to the day room.
She was relieved to get out of her room and all the hideous things that she had been accused of. She hated replaying what happened, but there was no hope for it. She kept hearing both women accuse her of being nothing other than a whore.
She knew she wasn’t good enough for Aidan. Knew it deep down, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to get to know him nonetheless. She had to stop that train of thought. He was getting too deep under her skin.
She needed to get her head on straight and remember that she didn’t belong in this world, no matter what Aidan said, or if his kisses melted her resistance.
Today just reaffirmed it. Talking with Koryn and Katarina, she knew she was nothing to women like them. A lady of the ton. And she never would be.
Yes, she had told Aidan to not cancel the ball, but it was only to keep the peace. She knew without a doubt that if Aidan cancelled the ball, it would cause such a problem that she didn’t want it to happen.
She just hated that all people saw or assumed when they saw her, was someone not worth their time, or their attention. Someone who was beneath them all. Someone to be looked down upon.
Someone not worthy of the man who was very quickly stealing her heart. When she knew better than to give it to him. It was all she had to give.
All people saw when they looked at her was a crippled woman. Not someone of worth.
They didn’t know her story, but they made assumptions nonetheless. And that was why she needed to not get lost in this world. To not let herself be influenced by the handsome Duke and his drugging kisses.
She knew that she needed to leave as soon as she could. She just needed to take control of her body and shake the remaining sickness so she could do just that.
It broke her heart knowing she would leave, and soon, but it was something both Aidan and she needed to do. To not let their feelings, go too far. Because if she kept letting him in, and breaking down her walls more, she would be crushed.
She already knew it was going to take her a very long time to get over Aidan. She knew she would never in her life feel for someone the way she felt for him. And that scared her the most. He was someone important to her, more than she realized and she had to try to make her heart remember that he could never be hers.
Chapter Eighteen
Rhiannon
Northumberland, England, Sept 1812
Rhia needed to get away from it all. Looking out the window, the day was sunny and bright. She needed to feel it on her face. It was what she wanted after seeing the beautiful sunlight.
Turning to Rose, she asked, “Is there a garden I may see? I would love to walk around a bit, and the sunshine is calling to me.”
Rose stood, “Of course, would you like some help there? I know Aidan would be cross if you went alone.”
Rhia shook her head, “I know he would, but I need some time to myself. I would love to see the gardens and enjoy them before I have to leave.”
Lydia came to her side, “All right dear, but at least let us get you there. Then we shall leave you in peace.”
Rhia nodded and they walked outside to a large garden filled with flowers and other plants. There was a small fountain in the middle of it all, long pathways branching this way and that and a few benches situated throughout. Which she was grateful for.
Lydia squeezed her hand when she was seated on a bench, “I know you need time, and that you are possibly questioning your stay here, but know this my sweet. You are changing this family for the better. Aidan hasn’t been like this, well, ever. But it’s a good thing. He needs someone like you in his life. Don’t push him away over the words of some callous, spoiled women.”
Rhia’s eyes filled with tears and she looked away. “Thank you, Lydia.”
Lydia gave her one last squeeze and left. Lily and Rose did the same and finally, Rhia was alone. The day was a beautiful one. Rare for this part of England, and for that Rhia was grateful.
She needed the sun and the outdoors to figure out her heart and mind and what she truly wanted. She knew when she started out on her journey, this was the last place she would have ended up.
She never expected to meet Aidan. Had only heard awful things about him from the townspeople. But he was wonderful and he was handsome, kind, strong, full of life, and a good man.
She knew without a doubt she could fall in love with him, even felt like she was a little. Which was strange for her. She barely knew him, and he barely knew her, but yet, there was something between them that she couldn’t ignore.
It was like a piece of thread connected their bodies, and someone kept pulling it tighter until they had finally come together.
She was scared of feeling this way for him though. She may have grown up in London, had met some of the gentry, but she didn’t belong there.
Her father was only in some social circles because of his company. His money and the prestige of his name caused that. But after the accident, the friends he thought he had abandoned him to his fate. The money dried up and he was left without his family, his friends, or his life.
She knew that good people in the ton were there, you just had to find them. And she would never fit into their ranks.
She knew that Aidan needed someone who was a better fit to his station. She wasn’t it. It broke her heart to know that a few stolen kisses were all she would know of her love of Aidan.
She put her head in her hands and cried. Cried for her family; her dear mother, whose face was quickly fading from her memories, her sweet father who had suffered so much at the end of his life. How he longed for his wife and often said he wanted nothing more than to be with her again. Her own life, how it had forever changed that fateful day all those years ago.
How she went from a carefree girl; to someone with the weig
ht of the world on her delicate shoulders. The weight a normal girl her age shouldn’t have had to bear.
Her leg, how much she hated her twisted limb, how she hated that it wouldn’t just hold her weight. That even though it was better than the alternative of having no leg at all, she wished she could walk normally. To run again. To be whole again. To have people look at her like they would with someone who had value, and not someone to be pitied and ridiculed.
Her future, how up in the air, everything was.
And finally, the love she just knew couldn’t go any further. Trying to get over Aidan was not going to be easy. It would take a long time, and she knew she would never fully do it. Never try to find love elsewhere. He was it for her and that made her cry the most. Because he wasn’t for her. No matter what she wanted or thought, the woman who had insulted her twice in the same number of days, was the one Aidan was meant to be with. And that was the end.
She cried until there were no tears left, only then did she just sit in the garden. Depleted. Exhausted. Her heart heavy, and not feeling better in the least.
She normally wasn’t a girl that just cried over every little, insignificant thing, but this had been building in her for a while. For several years now, in fact.
She always had to be so strong and something just snapped inside of her, and she couldn’t hold it inside any longer.
Her eyes were red and puffy, her throat felt sore, and she was drained. Her body just exhausted from the stress of the day, of the illness she still felt deep in her body, and the longest walk of her life.
Sitting in the sun, she looked up to the sky, not thinking, just feeling. She loved to have the warmth of the sunshine dry the tears left on her face, and to help her decide her next step.
She knew she couldn’t stay here for too much longer. It would hurt too much to leave when she needed to. Knew that the longer she stayed the harder it would be to stay away from the handsome Duke. All she wanted was to spend her every waking moment with him. To see his handsome face, and to feel the butterflies swarm in her stomach whenever he was near.
The Duke Who Loved Me Page 21
