by Liz Tyner
Everleigh stared at his father and tried to read beyond the façade. He wasn’t sure this statement wasn’t on the same level as putting in a gaming house, because his father had never said such a preposterous thing before.
The actual comments had run closer to suggesting Everleigh stay in London and they wouldn’t ever have to speak again, and were peppered with oaths. Even the letters had to be burned on occasion as he’d not wanted anyone else to read what his father had written to him.
The maid arrived with tea. The ladies’ dresses fluttered while everyone rearranged themselves to allow the servant enough space to enter.
The distraction gave Everleigh and Rothwilde a chance to speak.
‘Truce,’ his father muttered from the side of his mouth to Everleigh.
‘Agreed,’ Everleigh responded, teeth together.
‘Cards.’ His father brightened, raising his voice. ‘Wouldn’t a game of cards be an enjoyable way to spend the evening?’
* * *
The evening was as convivial as one could hope for. In fact, it had been years since he’d seen his father so at ease on the estate. His father was on his best behaviour and he suspected Vivian’s father was the same.
Then he realised Vivian and her mother contributed only an audience to the conversation.
He stepped away from the group as a servant glided in with more refreshments and a tray of macarons.
As the maid moved from blocking his view of Vivian, he saw the glance between her and her mother. A second conversation was going on in his presence and he’d been totally unaware of it.
Joining the group again, he paid less attention to what was being said, than what wasn’t being said.
Rothwilde and her father were indeed getting on well. In fact, better than he would have expected.
‘Wait until you hear this...’ Rothwilde shook his head, speaking to Darius. ‘The cook had befriended a cat without my knowledge and it escaped into the main rooms. I sat on it and that infernal beast attached itself to me using all its claws and teeth. I was ready to send the cook packing, but I could not lose out on these macarons.’
Vivian and her mother were smiling at the right places, commenting pleasantly and enjoying their tea.
When the conversation slowed, Everleigh spoke to Vivian and her mother. ‘I wish we had music tonight. The local blacksmith is an accomplished musician. He carries his flute with him more than he does his hammer. I’ll send someone to see if he and his wife might slip away for a few moments. She has a beautiful voice and they often have a few songs prepared for events.’
‘That isn’t necessary.’ Vivian’s words brushed the idea away, but he saw the interest in her.
‘You should not go to any trouble,’ Darius added. ‘Your father has been showing us around the estate and I must say we’re impressed. He says all the recent renovations have been at your suggestion.’
‘True. Did he mention a gaming house he has planned?’
Lord Darius shuffled his feet. ‘No. He didn’t.’
‘Just in the planning stages,’ Rothwilde inserted. ‘The more I think about it, the less enthusiasm I have for it.’ Rothwilde took a drink from his wineglass and spoke to Everleigh first, then directed his conversation to include the others. ‘Now that I consider it closer, I’m discarding it. It would take away from the carriage house.’
Darius nodded. ‘You do have a fine estate, Rothwilde. We’ll take you up on your offer to see more of it tomorrow.’
‘That would be wonderful,’ Vivian’s mother said, a ton-worthy smile on her lips. ‘Of course, if the weather isn’t too cool for Vivian.’
Everleigh knew then that neither woman cared about walking around the fields or seeing the size of the grounds.
Lady Darius patted her daughter’s arm. ‘I don’t think I’m up to such an adventure. We might enjoy the indoors.’
Chapter Fifteen
‘If you and Vivian would like,’ Everleigh said to her mother, ‘I will be pleased to show you the library. You may even find a book you would like to read.’
‘That’s thoughtful of you,’ her mother said, but her attention was diverted by a newspaper on the tabletop. ‘But I’ve missed reading the latest news for the past few days. I’d rather catch up on that. Vivian might like a book, however.’
They walked into the library. Vivian noticed that the martyr book wasn’t there, but now she saw about twenty books, including some novels. She stepped forward, reading the spines. Some of the books she would like.
‘It appears that in honour of your visiting Father has added some from his collection in case you might wish to read while you’re here.’
‘Last time, all the books seemed in the vein of the martyrs and I’m pleased to see books with happier endings.’
‘Has the scandal been a problem for you?’ he asked. ‘It concerns me—the thought of your reputation being sacrificed just as you have recovered.’
Putting her head down, she tried to hide her smile. ‘Not at all. Some of my friends searched me out. They were pleased to find that I was well enough to be out of my home, and they wanted to know whether I was betrothed or not, as everyone was convinced, of course, that we had been courting.’
She moved away. ‘It’s given me notoriety. Alexandria had offended many families when she stole daughters’ beaus and then abandoned them one after another. Everyone thinks her actions were shameful. She is ruined. I am a surviving victim. I have been asked many times if she shot at me. I have always said no, but I’m being seen as generous. The tale has been spread too many times that she pointed the gun at the carriage.’ She patted her palms together. ‘Everyone thinks Mavis was in the vehicle. After all, her hat fluttered out of the carriage and was left in the street when you and I were leaving. No one noticed she wasn’t there. They were watching the gun and Alexandria.’
He moved his right foot behind him and rested his weight on it. His expression lightened. ‘You’ve enjoyed it?’
‘Most certainly, except for when my parents are near.’ She angled her head. ‘I don’t want to cause them any grief at all. I really don’t. But it has been enjoyable visiting with people who have been by to see that I am doing all right.
‘One of my old friends married in her first season,’ Vivian explained. ‘I had hardly seen her since. She has been to my house to make certain I am well. She visited a second time to give me a note from her brother also wishing me well. I don’t even remember him, but apparently he wants me to save a dance for him.’
Pausing, she glanced at him. ‘You understand, I do have to think of my parents, first and foremost. I can’t cause them any more embarrassment, so I do need to be extremely careful not to do that again. But my mother told the details to a few close friends. The news travelled from ear to ear. Everyone is enthralled about my promising to marry so I could get a lifesaving cure, and my concern for Mother’s health. She’s probably checking the newspaper now to see if there is mention of the story. She has hopes.’
She interlaced her fingers and clasped them at her chest. ‘We’ve not told Father but the invitations have been pouring in. He refuses to talk about it and probably doesn’t know Mavis was only there...in spirit.’
He stared at her. ‘No one told me about this.’
‘Your friends probably don’t tittle tattle much. They would hardly think anything of it. After all, they’re probably envious and see the story as two women fighting in the street over you. At least, that is what Mother has heard.’
‘With my friends, I only talk politics.’
‘That’s important, too.’
* * *
Invitations?
He didn’t want her to be ruined and was happy that everyone accepted the truth of the event, but he didn’t want her flittering from dance to dance to man to man without a backwards glance for him.
His hand move
d out, touching the small bit of her earlobe and resting on the pearl below. ‘Lovely earrings.’
‘Thank you.’ But he barely heard the response. Instead, he perceived the reflection of emotion in her voice.
Holding the small of her back, feeling the silk under his palm and the swirl of her lavender soap plunging into him, he guided her to the doorway, fighting with all his strength to rid himself of his awareness of her.
At each of her steps, his hand moved slightly, feeling the change of the fabric, and her skin beneath it. He would have said he could have touched a hundred dresses, blindfolded, and been able to select the one which was now under his palm.
Without a single movement, his thoughts told him the feel of her entire back, down the swell of her bottom, and robbed him of any ability to do more than walk behind her. She moved apart from him as she glided away, each step lingering, prolonging his delicious agony.
He wondered how the pearls would feel if his cheek were against hers, resting against her skin. He imagined his teeth grazing the jewels and the softness of her lips against his.
Then he started thinking about more than her first kiss.
‘Vivian, I’m not the person you might think.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m pleased you aren’t ruined.’
‘I thought you would be happy.’
He took her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips, dropping a kiss on them. ‘But I keep thinking about what it would be like to spend the night with you. To touch you. To hold you. To wake in the morning with you.’
‘I told you. I don’t want to talk about marriage.’
‘I’m not.’
He put a fingertip against her lips. ‘Don’t answer.’ He stepped back. ‘Forget I said that. You deserve a life of dancing with a man who wishes to journey with you to Bath and do all the things you wish for.’
‘I do.’
‘I’ll join the others.’
He left to find his father and Darius. He had to stay away from Vivian. She had narrowly escaped ruin before. He could not destroy her plans just when she was finally able to pursue her life as she wished.
Chapter Sixteen
Vivian lay in the bed, wide awake, reflecting on Everleigh. She couldn’t be still. Too much energy resided in her, pent up from all the moments she’d been exhausted.
She jumped to the floor, slipped her corset half on and did a haphazard knot at the top of the back before tugging it into place. She wrenched the bottom strings close so they could be tied. Then she struggled into her dress, pulling it high in the back so she could reach over her shoulders to get the top two hooks, then sliding it into place and reaching behind to do up the lower hooks.
Leaving the bedroom, she pulled the door shut and tiptoed down the stairs and through the hall. Peering around the library entrance, she saw Everleigh, sitting at his desk and watching the doorway as if he’d heard every footfall. He held a pen above paper. The ink bottle sat at the side.
His waistcoat was open and his cravat was loosened. His dark hair, perfectly combed, fell lightly at the side of his face. His eyebrows arched in question. ‘Couldn’t sleep?’ He rose, taking a step towards her. ‘Neither could I.’
‘You should leave the estate,’ she said. ‘You know what Father expects and I can tell your father does also.’ She put out a hand towards his chair. ‘You can. I can’t without causing an upheaval in my parents’ lives. If you go, they will not get their hopes up so high. It will be best for everyone.’
‘I’m not certain I can leave either.’ He put down the pen and pointed to the hard-backed chair, indicating she sit. ‘There’s this angelic vision in my home. So fetching. I’ve kissed her and I keep thinking about her.’
She walked over, lifting the chair and putting it in front of his desk, but to the side. Facing him completely seemed too precarious. ‘That’s a good reason to stay.’
He crooked his head and motioned to her as if challenging her to ask an amusing question. But she didn’t speak. Instead, she examined a sheet of paper on his desk. A blank sheet.
‘I was thinking,’ he said. ‘About you. Then I heard your footsteps.’
‘I don’t make much noise.’
‘You don’t even tiptoe quietly. You squeaked again.’
‘I did not,’ she muttered.
‘Perhaps,’ he agreed. ‘But your door did snap when it closed and you took thirty-four steps.’
Her lips parted. She examined him. ‘You could not hear my steps.’ She’d crept down the stairs.
‘Maybe not all thirty-four, but you did hesitate just before you stopped in my doorway.’
She stared at him, wondering how well he could hear.
‘I’m glad I didn’t write a letter,’ she grumbled. ‘The pen scratching against the paper might have deafened you.’
He laughed softly, the sound almost turning him into someone different. Someone she didn’t know. ‘I learned from my grandfather, Vivian. Tell people words confidently and, if they are the least unsure, they will believe you. Especially if they do not know you well and you bluster better than them.’
Unease flickered inside her. ‘What else did you learn from him?’
‘To play with the finances and property as a game. I must realise, and accept, losses, but still play to win. Always play to win. I must anticipate all the movements and counter what I can when needed.’
‘You didn’t even check to see what my dowry might be. Mother asked Father.’
‘So this has been a topic of conversation between your parents and you?’
‘It is as if we are in the past, considering whether the Magna Carta is to be shared or not.’
‘The decision?’
‘Father has his. Mother is trying to remain impartial.’
Her mother did appear impartial, but was dead set that Vivian not be pushed into a marriage she didn’t want. She said she could never be happy if Vivian wasn’t, so she wanted Vivian to tread lightly.
‘I had thought your mother might be aligned with your father.’
Vivian smiled. ‘Mother hardly lifts her own spoon and says a wife should be subservient to her husband. But when Father was drinking, she would take the glass out of his hand on Saturday night. She made sure he was aware on Sunday and was at Sunday Services, and he was still a member of the family. She would have got two footmen to drag him from the drink if she had needed to for events. He knew it. Father leads the household, even if Mother is behind him pushing him in the direction she wants, and convincing him to change his mind when she disagrees with him.’
‘So, what does she wish for you?’
‘She is not so impartial that she doesn’t see my perspective.’ Vivian frowned.
‘Do you know the particulars of your dowry?’ he asked, straightening the pen he’d put on the desk. ‘I don’t need to know. I just wondered if you do.’
‘I’m unfamiliar with the details, just that Mother says it will be tied up in such a way that a husband will see none of it. After the first time, she decided that would be best. An allowance for me, should I wish it. Bequests for any children. Mother says mathematicals make her brain hurt.’
‘Finances are rather like a confectionery to me.’
‘They are very confusing to Mother and me. When Father was foxed, Mother read his man-of-affairs’s ledgers. She said they were jumbled. So jumbled that she talked Father into replacing the man. She says she hates financial matters and we are not to concern ourselves with them. That is what a man-of-affairs is for, so we must hire good ones. If Father is unable to read the ledgers, then she must do so for him.’
‘Are you the same?’
‘I have never given them much attention, but suppose I could if I had to. Mother believes she shouldn’t have to worry about such things. She would prefer not to, but she has had no choice. Sh
e has always said I will have a home and that there will be enough to take care of the expenses for the rest of my life should anything happen to either of them.’
‘It’s fortunate you do not have to make a decision that’s financially based.’
Vivian straightened her skirt. ‘Mother says I am not to concern myself with her future. Only my own. She talks to me as if I were a son. She said she would not force a son into marriage. During the time Father wasn’t paying close attention, our finances did diminish until the man-of-affairs was replaced, but Mother reassured me many times that we would manage just fine.’
Vivian straightened her sleeve, staring off into the distance, reconsidering her mother’s actions.
‘Mother said she didn’t particularly care for the size of their house. So, Father rented it to someone else. She selected a smaller town house that she loves as it is right in the middle of London society. She thought it would be better for my marriage prospects. I did receive a proposal rather quickly.’ She grimaced. ‘Too quickly. He was more concerned about my finances than my health.’
Everleigh stretched back in his chair and contemplated her. ‘I would half-expect household costs to diminish with your mother taking charge.’
‘They might have. She has told me there is no reason to toss funds into the sky and expect them to grow there.’
‘Your mother is making sure you are provided for.’
‘Of course. That is just being practical and considering the future. A future that I almost lost hope of having, but is now at my fingertips.’
She hesitated, and rose. She moved to the doorway. Then paced back to stand at his side. ‘I would like to...perhaps ask a favour.’
Chapter Seventeen
He remembered the first favour she had asked of him. He remembered it as well as if it were happening in that instant.
She stopped beside him, her hair tumbling from her knot after a day of travel.
His brow quirked up. His concentration increased, raising his awareness to new heights.
