by Lisa Campell
Lavinia had only good in her heart, so it made him wonder deeply who had wanted to harm her.
He pulled his fingers through his hair and sighed. If she had been awake, he would have been in the courtyard with her. She would have been painting. He laughed. He recalled that she demanded that he painted her one day.
He was sad once again, when his eyes met her closed eyelids. He wished he could see her beautiful eyes again. He took her hand in his and bowed his head. He missed her so much. He felt the need to caress her face, to hold her, so that no more harm came upon her.
His eyes widened as this thought graced his mind. He swallowed hard. His eyes moved to where their hands were held together. His heart beat fast. He felt so strongly for her. His gaze raised, so that he looked at her face once again, and then it hit him like cold water. He was in love with her.
What he felt for her was not what he was supposed to. At that realization, he found himself afraid. His stomach twisted in knots he felt a shiver run down his spine. He wondered how it had happened. How was it possible that he had fallen in love with her? He knew that it was wrong, for she was his stepsister by marriage, however he could not help himself. She treated him like no one had ever done. She paid attention to him. She wanted the very best for him. She had been like a light when he had been in a very bad place. How could he not fall in love with her?
Feeling the soar of his emotions, he felt the need to tell it to her. So he did. He held her hands in his and kissed them. "I love you, Lavinia."
The door to the bed chamber opened. Startled, Colin turned, and let go of Lavinia's hand gently. He was surprised to see Spratt walking in. Rebecca was behind him.
Colin rose. "Spratt."
"My Lord." His gaze fell on Lavinia. "How is the Lady?"
Colin sighed. "Mr. Rufus said she would be fine in a few days."
Spratt sighed. "Such good news."
Colin nodded. "Indeed."
Spratt kept his gaze on Lavinia. He stared at her, his chest rising and falling. Colin creased his brows. "Is there a problem, Spratt?"
Spratt shook his head, as though realizing something. "I simply worry for the Lady. Such a tragedy, that such a thing happened at her debut."
Colin nodded. "Indeed."
His eyes narrowed. It seemed that Spratt was the only one who openly acknowledged what was quite obvious, someone had done this to her.
"I wonder who would have such evil intent? Lavinia is so innocent and kind. She would never hurt anyone," Colin said.
Spratt nodded. "Indeed."
They were both quiet for a while, until a voice behind them called out of their thoughts.
"My Lord. May I be excused, I have been asked by the Duchess to clean the Lady." It was Rebecca.
She looked between Spratt and Colin as she spoke. Spratt looked at Colin for a response. He clenched his teeth. He was uncomfortable leaving the room at all. Anything could happen.
"My Lord..." Spratt called.
Collin shook his head. "I do not wish to leave the Lady."
Spratt sighed. He moved in closer to Colin and whispered, "Rebecca has been her lady’s maid since she arrived at the estate. She will do no harm to her. You must let her clean the Lady, you should also prepare for the day yourself, My Lord."
Colin closed his eyes. Spratt was right. His mind raced. At this point he had no idea who to trust. But then, he recalled that Lavinia had been about to tell him something, and she had mentioned Spratt.
A few nights ago, Spratt told me something...
Colin turned to Spratt. He creased his brows. She had said that the butler had told her something. Did that mean that Spratt knew something as well? Could Spratt be trusted?
Spratt bowed. "I shall take my leave now. I simply came to see how the Lady is doing."
Colin forced a smile. "Thank you, Spratt."
He watched as the butler walked out. He would have to watch out for Spratt. In the meantime, he trusted that Rebecca would do no harm to Lavinia. To her, he said, "Do not let anyone close to her. Do not leave her side until I return."
Rebecca nodded. "Certainly, My Lord. I worry for the Lady as well."
Colin sighed and walked out of Lavinia’s bed chamber. There were so many secrets in this household. He hoped to uncover them all, one by one.
Chapter Thirteen
After he had prepared for the day, Colin headed out of his bed chamber with his valet, Phillip, behind him. He gave instructions to him as he headed down, towards the west wing, where Lavinia's bed chamber was located.
"Have the footmen bring my breakfast to the Lady's chambers."
"Would that be appropriate, My Lord?" Old Phil asked. "Breaking your fast in the Lady's bed chamber?"
Colin clenched his teeth. He really did not care.
"I understand that you fear for the Lady, My Lord. We all do, but have your breakfast down at the dining room with the Duchess and the Duke, and then return to the Lady," Old Phil suggested.
Colin stopped walking. He trusted Old Phillip. He had known him for many years. He had shown Colin him more affection than even his own father had. "Phil... pray tell, who do you think would want to poison the Lady?"
Old Phil shook his head. "She has such a kind heart, and everyone loves her. I do not know who would do this. Perhaps, someone at the ball, and not even from this household. She must have been poisoned during the ball, My Lord."
Colin doubted that it was anyone from the ball. He had a feeling that it was someone who was still there in the manor. He sighed.
Old Phil smiled. "The Lady will be fine, My Lord."
"Of course." Colin turned and continued on his way down the hall.
"My Lord, you intend to join the Duke and the Duchess for breakfast, do you not?"
Colin stopped walking. He had no intention whatsoever of joining them. But Old Phil did have a point. It would not be appropriate to eat in Lavinia's bed chamber. The smell of the food might make her sick. He would have to forfeit breakfast then.
"I shall have luncheon with them," he said over his shoulder and continued walking. He heard Old Phil sigh.
When he reentered Lavinia's bed chamber, Rebecca was by Lavinia's bed side, brushing her hair. Colin had to laugh at that. Lavinia would be hysterical if she saw that Rebecca doing this. The lady’s maid had not noticed him yet, so he simply stood by, watching her. Lavinia seemed so peaceful. With her eyes closed, her hair splayed out across the pillow, her breathing slow. She looked so surreal. She looked so beautiful.
Colin wondered how it was possible that even in this state, he still found her beautiful. Her skin was bright. Rebecca had put her in a fresh nightgown, and pulled the duvet up to her waist.
Rebecca attempted to pin her hair back, but he stopped her. "No...no."
Colin found her perfect and he wanted to capture the moment with his brush.
A startled Rebecca rose and curtsied. "I was unaware of your arrival, My Lord."
Colin nodded. "Ask Old Phil to bring up my painting canvas, along with brushes and a paint."
Rebecca looked up, her brows furrowed. "Do…do you mean here, My Lord?"
"Yes. Here."
He knew that she was confused and found it unusual, because of the way she moved her eyes about and stuttered. He was also beginning to find a lot of things he was doing strange, but this was about Lavinia. He wanted to paint her.
Before Rebecca walked out of the bed chamber, he said, "Did anyone come here while I was away?"
"No, My Lord. No one at all."
He had expected that at least the Duchess would come to see her daughter this morning. But she had not. He wondered why. He nodded. "Alright then."
Rebecca left the bed chamber then. He took his place beside Lavinia and took her hands in his. He kissed her hands and smiled.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered. He simply could not help himself. After realizing his feelings, all he wanted to do was share them with her. He wanted to spend his time showing her how he felt.
Old Phil walked ahead of Rebecca and a footman, who carried a new canvas, a stand and some painting materials. Once the footman placed it before him, he bowed and left.
Old Phil raised both his brows. Colin smiled. "While I watch over her, I would like to paint her."
Old Phil gazed at him for a while before he said. "The Lady will recover soon enough, My Lord."
He walked out after that, and Colin was left in the bed chamber with Rebecca. He did not like that she was there. It felt as though she were interrupting a special moment, but nevertheless, he went about doing what he wanted. He began to paint Lavinia as she lay there.
He had only just begun and was still trying to get her nose right, when he heard the door open again. However, he was so engrossed in his painting that he refused to look up. He went about painting. He was so deep in, now, so focused, until he heard a voice.
"You paint just like her. In the same way, with the same focus, with the same zeal," his father said.
Colin froze when he heard that. He did not need to turn to know his father stood behind him. His father had never seen him painting before, because Colin always avoided letting him see.
"I had no idea that like her, you too are an artist."
Colin shrugged. He recovered from his shock and kept painting.
"Your mother used to have a room for her paintings. She used to paint in there at times, when she wanted some quiet, and when she wanted to feel nature, she would head out to the garden."
Colin froze again. He could not believe that the Duke was talking about his mother. He had never done that before. He had never said anything to Colin concerning her. All Colin knew about her, he had heard from Old Phil and his nurse maid before him. But nothing from his father. He wondered what prompted him to speak now. Colin had always wanted to hear stories about his mother.
"Your mother was... immersed in her art. She would have been a great painter. She often sent out her work to Paris. Did you know that?" the Duke chuckled. Although he sounded sad and withdrawn.
"I never knew that. I was never told," Colin replied. His tone was cold. He had stopped painting.
"Ah...well." The Duke tittered. "It is quite difficult talking about her. You have to understand what that felt like for me. I was not over her death, not until Augusta," the Duke said.
Colin had known that his father had been hurting for a very long time, but for him to admit it, it hit him differently. He moved his gaze to Lavinia. If she had been awake, she would have a solution to whatever he was feeling. She would know what to say to him. She always knew.
Colin turned to his father. He had been keeping his feelings in for years, but now he could not do that any longer. He wanted to confront his father about it all. About all those years he had been neglected.
"Were you angry at me, Father?" he asked. His paint brush still hovered over the canvas.
He heard the Duke sigh. "I was drowning in my own feelings, of regret and anger. I was never angry with you."
"It felt as though you were angry at me for years. For all my life, you never spoke to me about my mother. This is the first time you are ever doing that, Father."
The Duke was quiet for a while. Colin realized that perhaps, his father had been hurt that he had lost his wife in such a manner. He had lost his wife and gotten a son in the process, perhaps his feelings had been a mix of anger, hurt and happiness. Because of his mixed feelings, he had not known how to approach his son. Colin wished that the Duke would have realized that it was also hard for him, to be so neglected.
"When did you start painting?" The Duke asked.
"Long ago. Before I left. Before you were wed to Augusta."
"I never knew."
"You have never known anything about me. You still do not."
"Colin —"
The door opened then. They both turned as the Duchess walked in. Her gaze flickered between them before they settled on Lavinia. "How is she?"
"Better,” Colin said. “Her breathing seems to be returning to normal."
A small smile graced her face. "Thank goodness."
"There is no need to worry," said the Duke. "Mr. Rufus already assured us that she would be awake in a few days."
The Duchess rested her head on the Duke's shoulders. " Yes. He did."
When she saw the canvas, she raised her head and slowly walked over. "You are painting her," she stated.
Colin nodded. She smiled. "You have not painted in a long time, dear. Last I saw you painting was before you left."
"You knew that he painted?” asked the Duke.
The Duchess nodded. "Indeed. He was always locked away in his room, painting."
Colin's face flushed. He had never known that Augusta had noticed. She reminded him of Lavinia. Only much older, and perhaps, her wild spirit had been tamed long ago.
"Lavinia had wanted a portrait before…this," Colin murmured. "And so I decided to paint her."
"How sweet of you. She will love it."
Colin nodded. She certainly would. Almost immediately, the Duchess turned to the Duke and said, "I came here to inform you that there is a letter you need to read, for the business proposal."
The Duke creased his brows. "What business proposal?"
"The...one with the Earl..." Her eyes searched his.
The Duke seemed perplexed, but eventually, as the Duchess continued to stare at him, his eyes widened and he nodded. "Oh, yes...the one with the Earl... ah... of course."
Colin narrowed his eyes. They were acting strange. The Duke turned to him and said. " Colin. Excuse me."
The Duchess walked out after the Duke.
Colin simply stared at the closed door. Something seemed to be wrong. The Duchess was behaving quite strangely. His gaze moved to Lavinia. Something was certainly wrong, and he had a feeling it had to do with her.
He took Lavinia’s hand in his again. He knew that Rebecca was sitting in an armchair close by, doing some mending, so he did not want to do anything inappropriate like kissing her hand. But he wished he could.
"I want you to fight this, Lavinia," he whispered. "I know that you can. I promise to protect you. No harm will come to you ever again."
He bowed his head. Perhaps Lavinia knew who did this to her. He was certain that she would. She was trying to tell him something before she fainted. He exhaled. It was frustrating that he had a feeling in his gut that something was happening, only that he did not know what. He dreaded having to leave Lavinia alone for a moment, for he knew that the enemy lurked nearby.
Chapter Fourteen
It was dark when Lavinia opened her eyes, except for the flames in the fireplace at the other end of the room. She looked towards her window and wondered how long she had been asleep. Her head pounded as she tried to sit up, and when she tried to raise her left hand, she realized that it was clasped in the hands of another. Her gaze moved to her side, and her eyes widened when she saw that it was Colin. He was sitting slumped forward in a chair. His head was rested on the bed beside her, and her hands were in his.
Her cheeks burned. She watched him sleep. The way he breathed out softly, the way his lashes fluttered at intervals and the way he held on to her caused her heart to flutter. She felt the need to pull her fingers through his hair. Her eyes widened at her thoughts, her feelings. She shook her head and tried to remember what had happened.
As Lavinia made an attempt to rise, she could not help her growing feelings of curiosity about the situation she had awoken to. She wished to ask Colin why he was by her bedside, as well as inquire to the events that led them there, as her memory was hazy.
Lavinia felt a sharp pain in her stomach at that moment. She groaned and lay back against the pillows heaped behind her.
Colin stirred beside her. Slowly, his eyes opened. Her heart pounded in her breast as he became fully awake. He took a lazy look at her and rubbed his eyes. Then, as though realizing something, he jerked up<
br />
"Lavinia! You’re awake," he said. His hold tightened on her.
Her stomach twisted again but she managed a smile nonetheless. She felt weak. "Colin."
He took her hand and began to kiss it all over, his expression filled with joy and enthusiasm. "Oh Lavinia. I am so pleased."
