“Good morning, Lady Vigilia. Did you sleep well?”
Vicky almost groaned when she recognized Ashford Northcott’s deep voice to her right. She had been too preoccupied with her own embarrassment to truly take note of who was in the room. She had hoped her time being out in Society would have helped her to grow more accustomed to being in the company of men, but clearly, having grown up in a predominantly female household wasn’t so easy to overcome. When the only man you had ever associated with was your father, it didn’t really set you up for easy discourse with gentlemen.
Blinking herself back to the subject at hand, Vicky tried not to make a fool of herself again that morning. She offered what she hoped was a relaxed smile as she nodded and took a sip of the rather strong coffee the earl preferred.
“Thank you. And what about you?”
“Being on country hours, I found myself retiring earlier than I’m used to, but thankfully the rigours of the day caused that to not be an issue.”
“Yes, the rigours of the day. That is exactly what happened to me. I suppose it all caught up to me.” Vicky hoped her nodding wasn’t too vigorous.
“Do you feel restored from the night?”
His concerned tone was doing nonsensical things to her insides, which Vicky tried valiantly to disregard.
“Much more the thing, yes, thank you, Mr. Northcott.”
When she forced her eyes to finally leave their position glued to her plate, she almost faltered when she saw the watchful worry that was creased into his face. How can he possibly be even more handsome than usual, she wondered with despair. Perhaps, it was the unexpected intimacy of sharing the breakfast room.
Vicky finally forced her eyes away from his and pinned a polite smile to her face as she looked around at the other gentlemen and tried to include them in conversation. It was a strange pleasure to see them leaning back in their chairs as they, too, sipped their coffee. It would appear the men had finished their meal already, if the discarded plates being collected by the footman was anything to go by.
“Did Lady Crossley tell you what we’ll be doing today? I sought my bedchamber so early last night that I wasn’t present when it was decided.”
“I believe the morning was to be free for anyone to do whatever they wished, while we are to go exploring some old Roman ruins this afternoon.”
Vicky tried not to allow her amusement to show when Lord Clifton’s tone revealed his lack of enthusiasm for the expedition.
“Oh, I’m glad we’ll be doing that. I’ve been hoping to see them ever since Crossley told me about them. Have you been before my lord?”
“No, my lady. This is my first visit to Crossley. Perhaps it will be more interesting than I had at first thought.”
The young viscount visibly brightened at the thought. Vicky was glad to see that he was so easy to convince, but she wasn’t sure if she could possibly consider spending her life with someone quite that simple to please. Perhaps this breakfast experience as the only female present wouldn’t be so bad; she could learn a lot about the gentlemen this way.
She wasn’t to remain the only female, though, as Lady Crossley soon entered the room. The countess quickly gestured for the gentlemen to resume their seats, as they all stood respectfully upon her entrance.
“Good morning all,” Georgia called breezily as she sailed toward Vicky. “I do hope you all are well rested and are ready for the good times we are to have this week.”
There were murmurs of assent around the room, but Vicky could see that Georgia wasn’t really paying attention. All her focus was on trying to ascertain if Vicky seemed to be doing all right, which strangely had the opposite effect of what Georgia was obviously trying to do. Vicky hoped no one else noticed. She shook her head with a slight frown, hoping to dissuade Georgia from looking at her with such searching concern. As though light had dawned on her, Georgia’s face suddenly broke into a bright smile, and she sat down beside Vicky while a footman hurried to fill a plate for her.
“Thank you, Thomas,” she murmured as her breakfast was placed before her. “You always know which are my favourite items.”
The servant grinned with delight over the slight praise and hurried over to stand at attention to serve his mistress.
“Lord Clifton was just telling me that it has been decided that we’ll explore the ruins this afternoon. I’m very much looking forward to the excursion.”
Georgia grinned at her friend. Vicky knew full well that all the excursions that would be on offer were ones she would enjoy, as they had agreed together what sort of entertainments there were to be.
When Lord Bertram walked into the room, Vicky was glad that she had already consumed most of her meal, as suddenly her mouth was too dry to be able to chew comfortably and her stomach felt as though it were tying itself up in knots. She pushed her plate away, and the attentive footman immediately whisked it away. Vicky made sure not to meet Georgia’s gaze, as she again didn’t want her friend worrying over her. But then she felt the scrutiny of Ashford Northcott on her other side, and her stomach pitched anew.
Vicky got to her feet. “I suppose if we’re to be enjoying ourselves all afternoon, I ought to get my letters written before hand,” she said with a smile as way of an explanation. “I shall see you all a bit later.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Georgia offered, about to get to her feet.
“No need, my lady, surely you ought to finish your repast,” Vicky hurried to assure her friend. “I shall be in my chamber. If you’d like, you can visit me there when you are finished.” Even as she said it, Vicky hoped the busy hostess would get sidetracked and not come looking for more explanations from her. But she wasn’t overly optimistic that Georgia would drop her concerns. In any case, Vicky would rather have privacy for any interrogations Georgia might wish to bring upon her.
Chapter Ten
Ashford hoped his focused attention upon Vigilia wasn’t obvious to anyone else in the room, especially not Lord Bertram. The bounder’s efforts to undermine Ash were creative enough without Bertram going after the young woman in an effort to hurt Ashford. But her behaviour the previous night made him worry that he might be too late in those hopes. He wondered when he might be able to discretely question her. Perhaps, during their explorations that afternoon. If he could catch her when they were too far away from others to be overheard it would be ideal.
He wondered when his life had become so very complicated.
Not that he would truly want a simple life. For the most part, he thrived on challenges. But Ashford hated the thought that his dispute with the blasted viscount might be tainting Lady Vigilia in some way. With a shake of his head, Ash resolved to put it from his mind for the time being. Worrying about it when he couldn’t do anything about it would only consume him needlessly.
“You have hired exceptionally skilled cooks even out here in the country, my lady,” Ash complimented as he wiped his mouth with the napkin.
The young countess appeared pleased with his words. “Thank you, Mr. Northcott, we were delighted that he was willing to join the household. It was only when we promised to entertain regularly that he agreed to our offer of employment. So, I ought to thank all of you for making it possible.” She looked around the table with a charming smile before gaining her feet. “I trust you will all be able to keep yourselves occupied for a time this morning.” Even though it wasn’t a question and the young countess was trying to appear confident in her role as hostess, Ash could hear her voice rising as though to ask if they’d be all right in her absence. “If you haven’t anything to do, see the butler. He has some ideas.” She concluded with a cheerful grin as she left the room. Ash chuckled as she left and was gratified when she glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze with a brief wink.
Ash allowed his own gaze to roam around the table. He wished Crossley was there. Lord Clifton wasn’t a bad sort, but he was under the influence of Lord Bertram, which was regrettable. Sir Branson seemed independent and personable enou
gh. Ashford thought to invite him to go riding before he remembered he ought to let his horse rest a bit longer, since they had come so far yesterday and would be riding again that afternoon. Perhaps, he ought to see to his own correspondence just as Vigilia had said she was going to do. The pace of the activities was sure to pick up in the coming days, and he had a couple things he ought to see to. His heart wasn’t really in it though. He didn’t feel as though he would be able to settle until he had spoken with Vigilia and ascertained for himself that she was fine. He would go for a walk, he finally concluded.
When he returned to the house an hour or so later, it was abuzz with more activity than when he had left. Clearly, the ladies had left their chambers and were filling the rooms with their chatter. Ash went in search of Vigilia.
Most of the party were in one of the retiring rooms at the back of the house that had the doors open to the grassland beyond. Some were sitting inside studiously engaged in needlework or other such activities. It amused Ash to see one gentleman trying valiantly to help a young woman sort her threads, even though he so clearly hadn’t the first idea how.
“No, sir, that isn’t the same shade,” the young woman insisted with a giggle even though to Ash’s eyes he couldn’t tell any difference either.
Due to the busy activity within and without, Ashford at first couldn’t see Vigilia. He wondered if she had remained closeted in her room. His concern mounted. The girl he had once known would never have stayed away from a party. Having spent time with her this Season, he didn’t think she had changed so very much, even if she didn’t appear to welcome a friendship with him.
Another careful sweep of those gathered, though, showed him he had been lax in his first assessment. Vigilia was just beyond the group playing shuttlecock and appeared to be deep in conversation with Lord Bertram. It was clear to him that she was distressed by whatever they were discussing, even though it appeared she was doing a reasonably good job of hiding it from observers. Ash looked around to see if Lady Crossley was present. He knew she would be able to see that her friend was in distress, and it would be better for Vigilia if it were the countess who intervened.
But Ash couldn’t see Lady Crossley, and he couldn’t wait to see what happened. If nothing else, he needed to know what Bertram was telling Vigilia. He tried to be discreet as he approached the pair, feigning interest in the game that was in progress.
As though she sensed his approach, Lady Vigilia glanced up, and their eyes met. For the briefest moment it felt to Ash as though he could read her every thought, and he felt her panic before she blinked her reaction away. She leaned in closer to Bertram before the two of them set off at a sedate pace to stroll along the garden paths. Ashford would have to either wait until later or join them and interrupt whatever they were discussing. It was clear they didn’t welcome his intrusion.
Frustration threatened to well in him but Ash swallowed it down; he could wait until later to get the information he sought. So, he turned his attention in truth to the energetic games being played on the lawn.
~~~
Vicky’s stomach was threatening to dispense with the contents of her breakfast. She was glad she had been forced to stop eating when she had. It would draw far too much attention to her discomfort if she were to cast up her accounts in front of everyone. She only hoped her feelings were not etched all over her face for everyone to see. It had seemed for a moment as though Ashford Northcott were about to intervene in her conversation with Lord Bertram.
With a sigh, Vicky dragged her thoughts away from Ashford even though he was part of the subject of their discussion.
“But my lord, I really don’t see how it is any consequence to me or my family even if what you say about Mr. Northcott is true.”
“He is known to be a friend of your family, especially your sisters and their husbands. If he is tried for treason, they will surely be tarnished by it. And rumour has it the bounder is courting you. You will be ruined.”
Vicky didn’t think the viscount’s gleeful tone quite suited the words his message contained. But she stifled her instinctive response.
“For one thing, my lord, Mr. Northcott is not courting me. And for another, I really don’t see what you think I could possibly do about the matter if he does happen to have republican aspirations. As I’ve told you, I am not close with Mr. Northcott. I cannot influence him. And I couldn’t report on him even if I wanted to, as I know nothing of his whereabouts.”
“But you could find out, couldn’t you?”
“I beg your pardon?” Vicky was fairly sure she knew what the man was asking of her, but she needed him to spell it out.
“Allow Northcott to court you and find out whatever you can about his activities.”
“And then what? Tell you what I’ve found out?” Everything in her was repulsed at the very idea, but she forced herself to find out exactly what Lord Bertram was after. While she stood by her conviction that her family couldn’t possibly be in any danger from this corner, she felt it was her responsibility to find out everything she could. Family was everything. If it was in her power to protect her family, she would do whatever she could. Perhaps she would do as Bertram bade and find out what she could from Northcott, but she wouldn’t be reporting back to his lordship if she did.
“Yes, exactly. I knew you were bright enough to understand.”
“But to what end, my lord?” Vicky persisted. “Are you an agent of the Crown? Will you be able to stop him if there is a scheme afoot? What will happen to Mr. Northcott? And my family?”
“You needn’t worry about all of that, my dear lady. I will do what needs to be done. You just need to get me the information.”
Vicky wanted to scoff at him but with a concerted effort, she kept her reaction to herself. It felt as though he were patting her on the head like a small child. She only wondered if he were going to offer her a treat for her efforts. She almost laughed when he did exactly that.
“If you partner well with me in this, perhaps you would allow me to court you.”
Even though every instinct in her revolted at the very idea, Vicky’s smile was noncommittal.
“I will see what I can find out, my lord.”
She only hoped she hadn’t agreed to a betrothal then and there by not slapping him in the face as he deserved. Vicky looked around, absently wondering if there was anywhere she could turn for assistance in this matter. She suspected she would have to keep it all to herself. But how was she supposed to keep such a secret from Georgia? Despite her misgivings, though, she really didn’t want to involve Georgia in her condition. For all the countess’ protests about how well she was feeling, Vicky knew how much her own mother had suffered from losing her pregnancies. Vicky couldn’t risk something like that happening to her dearest friend.
Vicky was just about to walk away from the reprehensible man when she thought of something else. “We probably ought to be careful not to draw too much attention to ourselves, my lord. It might be best if you don’t approach me again.”
Lord Bertram narrowed his eyes at her, and Vicky almost quailed. She lifted her chin instead. “I, of course, have no experience in such matters. But it’s unlikely a gentleman would confide in me if he thinks I am courting with another, I would think.”
This seemed to strike the viscount. “You could be correct, my lady, I hadn’t thought of that. But I shall remain close by in case you run into trouble, have no fear.”
Vicky’s stomach pitched anew at the thought of the oily man keeping watch over her. She hoped her disgust didn’t show itself upon her face. She didn’t even bother to nod in acknowledgement. She just turned around and walked away.
It took effort to keep her pace sedate when all she wanted to do was lift her skirts and run all the way back to Glendale. Surely, her father and the baby viscount could use her help upon the estates. Nonetheless, Vicky controlled her urge to run and repressed her longing for home. She now had an obligation to dispense. Her family needed her to remain here.
But she could perhaps enlist the assistance of one of her sisters or brothers-in-law. Slowing her pace even more, Vicky set her mind to the task of deciding how best to sort this matter out.
She still hadn’t quite come to any conclusions before it was time to assemble for their excursion.
Vicky was dressed comfortably in her favourite riding habit and was looking forward to exploring the ruins, even if the thoughts swirling through her head were going to interfere with the experience. There were so many ladies and gentlemen and horses milling about in the stable yard that she was beginning to wonder how she was going to mount her horse when a deep voice behind her almost made her yelp in surprise.
“Can I be of assistance?” It was almost a relief to have Ashford speak to her, even though she wanted to avoid him completely and the amusement she could hear in his voice set her teeth on edge.
“As a matter of fact, you can, thank you,” she answered with a grin. “It would seem all the mounting blocks are occupied.”
Ashford’s chuckle nearly offset her equilibrium, but Vicky ignored the ridiculous sensation as he laced his fingers together and crouched down for her to put her foot in the cup he had created. When he lifted her up into her saddle as though she weighed little more than goose down, it created a delicious sensation in the pit of her stomach that she added to the things she was ignoring that day.
“Might I have the pleasure of your company as we ride out?” he asked.
After his offer of assistance, she couldn’t very well deny his request. But she tried. “I don’t really see that it will be a pleasure.” It was a rude thing for her to say. Her mother would be aghast if she were to hear of it. Vicky was almost ashamed of herself. But her feelings toward the man were so very conflicted that she could never be certain of what made sense and what didn’t when she was in his company.
He laughed again, ignoring her effort. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Vicky could feel Lord Bertram’s heavy stare between her shoulder blades but tried not to even look in his direction. She knew he would think she was doing his bidding and couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not but either way, it couldn’t very well be helped. She was stuck with Mr. Ashford Northcott for a good portion of the afternoon. She reminded herself that she ought to be disappointed, but she didn’t believe herself.
A Gentleman to Avoid: Sweet Regency Romance (Sherton Sisters Book 3) Page 9
