aunt would be pestering me to accept each offer! She's set on having me
married off, regardless of the gentleman. Well . . . I say that, but she has
different ideas on what is suitable. A man may be the veriest beast, but if he
has fifteen thousand a year, then he is Hercules come to life!” she finished
mockingly.
“Mayhap you're right, miss. Well, I've done my best and grand you're
looking too. Your aunt will probably be waiting for you, so I'd best be on my
way. I hope you have a lovely evening, Miss Lily.”
Smiling, Lily walked towards Janie and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She was
pleased to see the gruff maid blush at the gesture of affection and bob an
unnecessary curtsy. “Thank you, Janie and thank you for allowing me to rest
longer than my aunt wanted.”
She moved away and to her bedside table and then sought her penny purse.
Lily fingered through the few coins in there and retrieved a shilling, which
she then passed on to Janie.
“Buy yourself something pretty, Janie,” she murmured as she curled Janie's
fingers about the coin.
“Miss Lily! That's far too much!” the maid protested.
“You deserve it! I've been difficult these last few months, and the situation
must have tried you, yet you've had the patience of a saint and if mama
were here, she would have given you this herself!” she said, easily waving
away Janie's remonstrations.
With a smile, she exited before Janie could find the words to reply and left
the cream and gilt bedroom that had been her home for the last months of
her Season.
She alighted into the hallway and swiftly moved along the plushly carpeted
floor and down the grand oak stairs to the front entrance, where her uncle
stood waiting with his hat and cane in his hands.
“Ah, niece, you look delightful! Your aunt will be most pleased, I'm sure,” he
remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
“Yes, I'm sure, uncle. I believe dear Aunt Millie has decided that tonight I
shall find the gentleman for me, yet I fear she shall be disappointed!”
“I have long since discovered that one of your aunt's grandest talents is the
ability to be positive and enthusiastic in the face of adversity!”
“And I am that adversity?” she commented, amused.
“I'm afraid in this matter you are indeed, Lily.”
“I fear that I'm not as easy to match as she'd believed! I do promise that
I'm not purposely choosy, however I've yet to meet any man who can hold
my interest for more than two minutes!” Lily admitted with a laugh.
There was a snort from the stairs and both Uncle George and Lily turned to
behold their aunt, resplendent in tear-inducing chartreuse, tutting her
displeasure at Lily's words. “Honestly, niece! You do not even give the poor
gentleman a chance! Two minutes indeed! Pray, do not tell me that you are
one of these chits, who believe in love at first sight! Poppycock!”
“Aunt, I fear you have misinterpreted my words. I do not believe in anything
as foolhardy as that, but I do believe that I should at least enjoy my future
spouse's company. Just as you and Uncle George do and how my dear
mama and late papa also did. Surely you would not wish less for me than
you yourself have had the good fortune to experience?”
Millie turned her head to the side and Lily could see the battle taking place
behind those pretty features. She did not want to admit that Lily deserved
the same but she couldn't lie either. Instead, she sighed roughly and rolled
her eyes irritably. “Come! We must go!”
They were handed into the carriage and delivered smoothly to Lady
Rutherford's house, passing the various crowded streets as they traversed
from one end of London to the other. Uncle George's footmen lay wooden
boards upon the floor to protect Lily and her aunt's skirts from the horse
mess on the ground and they quickly stepped on to them and into Lady
Rutherford's mansion.
They were greeted by the Lady and her Lord and swiftly led into the
ballroom, where Uncle George soon left them to enjoy the party.
“I know you are more difficult than I ever imagined, dear child, but I
wouldn't change this for the world. While I wish your dear mama was here, I
cannot help but enjoy acting as your chaperone.
the Lord never blessed me with little George’s or Millie's of our own, but you
know I've always thought of you highly, my dear,” Millie murmured, her
voice faintly tearful as she gripped Lily's hand to impart the strength of
feeling behind her words.
“I know, aunt. I thank you for your patience!”
“I say all this, not to ruin my maquillage or both of our composure, but to
impart upon you my greatest wish for both you and your mama. I want to
find you the most eligible man available this Season. Coarse and crass it
may be, Lily, but it is the truth. You're a wonderful girl and I want nothing
less for you.”
“Thank you, aunt,” Lily replied with grateful eyes.
“You know, your mama and papa's engagement was discussed for years. It
was quite a scandal when they became affianced,” Millie murmured in a
confiding manner.
“It was?” Lily retorted, shocked by this revelation and unable to believe her
careful mama could be at the center of any scandal!
“Oh yes,” Millie imparted with glee. “It was quite the on dit and almost had
your grand papa close to apoplexy! I had never seen him so furious until the
day your papa asked him for my darling sister's hand. He was a notorious
rake, you know.”
“I certainly didn't, but I can imagine it! He was always the center of
attention at the balls we attended, but then mama was too.”
“Why, of course, they were quite the crème de la crème of any set,” Millie
replied without a whiff of jealousy. Lily could see it was the reverse. She
reveled in her sister and brother-in-law's notoriety. “While I was scornful of
love at first sight earlier, dearest, your parents met and in that instant, they
had fallen in love, for indeed, your papa would never have wed had he not
been deeply enamored by his fiancée.”
“Their love for another was as plain as the nose on my face. It was
wonderful to be raised in such a relationship as theirs and yet, Devlin and I
were never excluded.”
“No, of course you weren't. You were a manifestation of their feelings for
one another, my sweet. That is why it is such a shame your mama lost him
so soon. Twenty years pass in the blink of an eye,” Millie murmured, her
voice melancholic. “I myself have been blessed with George for a good four
and twenty and it is not enough. When one is in love, time travels so swiftly
for one is content. So how my dear sister must be coping is quite beyond
me.”
As they traversed the length of the ballroom, nodding and quivering their
fans as they acknowledged friends and acquaintances, Lily turned
unobtrusively towards her aunt. “Was grand papa truly set against father?”
she asked gently.
It took a gr
eat deal of strength for her to discuss her papa, but her mama
had rarely discussed their courtship and Lily highly doubted she ever would
now. Discussing the depth of love they had had for one another ensured that
Lily could continue to understand, regardless of how much or little time had
actually past, how her mother could and would continue to mourn her
father's passing. They had been true soul mates.
“Indeed! Papa was certain that he would discredit Julia's name, that Martin
wouldn't marry her and ruin her marriage prospects. He was convinced until
the actual day of their wedding, that Martin would do something to destroy
Julia and her reputation. My father loved your mama and I very much. He
was a gruff bear of a man and found it difficult to demonstrate his love and
so, when it was our Season, we were put through the trials and tribulations
of finding a man of whom papa trusted. It was impossible! To this day, I
believe that even though Julia and I made wonderful marriages, your grand
papa would still disapprove of our choices! No one was good enough for his
daughters,” she finished with a reminiscent smile.
“I wish I'd met him.”
“He would have loved you, my dearest,” Millie replied tenderly and gripped
her hand tightly. “You look just like your mama did at your age, almost the
spitting image.”
“Oh, Aunt Millie, I wish my papa were here. I wish Devlin and mama were
too. My entire family! It isn't fair. All the other girls have hordes of family
here yet I don't. I feel like a child for missing them, but . . . .”
“I know, darling. There, there,” she murmured and patted Lily's hand
comfortingly. “I know how difficult it must be for you. But I can't say I'm
surprised that your mama is as devastated by Martin's loss as she is. You
only had to see them together to understand the depth of their love for one
another. And because of that, because tonight your talk reminded me of
your mama and papa, I shall not be as pushy with the eligibles who are here
tonight. You are correct, when you say that you deserve the same as Julia
and I had.”
Lily squeezed her aunt’s hands. “Oh, Aunt Millie, you truly are the best aunt
a girl could ever hope for. I know that I've been difficult, but I'm so grateful
that you've taken the time and effort to help me. Thank you, aunt and you
do know that I love you, don't you?”
“Of course, my dear, and those sentiments are shared, Lily. But you don't
have to thank me. It's an honor.”
They smiled at one another and both knew that a truce had been made
between them. Lily would try to not be so difficult and Millie not so pushy.
A sense of peace fluttered through her and it was with relief that Lily knew
she would no longer be pressed into the bosom of every suitable gentlemen.
She wanted what her parents had had, what her aunt and uncle still had.
And if she had to fight for it, then so be it. She would prefer to be a spinster
than face a life of misery with a man whom she detested and who disliked
her in turn.
A part of her felt jubilant by the prospect, but another was distinctly somber.
As they continued their promenade through the ballroom, Lily's eyes would
glance about the room as she sought the man, who had so frightened her
the night before.
Every part of her hoped that it had indeed been a hoax. But in her heart of
hearts, Lily knew that it hadn't been. That the man wanted something from
her and to go to the trouble of meeting with her in such a clandestine
manner, it could be nothing to the good.
The bright and pretty ballroom had been transformed into a decadent
display of the Rutherford's wealth, the thousands of candles, the huge array
of refreshments, the large orchestra . . . they were all signs of opulence and
frankly, it failed to impress her. Especially as she truly didn't see it, for she
was seeking the shadows and the dark places where men, evil men with
horrid intent, could hide and try to frighten her.
Suddenly, she felt very, very young.
And as one of the eldest unmarried misses on the Marriage Mart that was
not a sensation she was accustomed to feeling!
A man stepped before her and bowed. “Dear Ladies, may I mark your
niece's card for a dance, ma'am?” he asked politely.
Aunt Millie looked unobtrusively at Lily as though waiting for her approval
and delicately, she nodded in silent retort. “Why, of course, dear sir! Pray
do.”
With the pencil and card that was attached by a ribbon to her wrist, he
marked her card for the next set, which started almost immediately. With a
gallant hand, he led her away from her aunt and on to the floor.
In truth, she had seen Mr. Derricks before at many functions and had
danced with him many times. He was rather sweet and charming enough,
but was not for her and even though she knew that it was mean, she had
accepted so quickly because she did not want to be alone during any part of
this evening.
It went against her normal routine to dance every dance, but tonight she
would be doing just that!
The quadrilles and cotillions were long dances and by the time she had
completed her first dance, her skin felt flushed and she had to be honest in
saying that she was enjoying herself. The complex routines and steps
ensured that her mind was not focused on what could happen this evening.
She traversed from the quadrille and before she could be delivered to her
aunt, a crowd of men surrounded her and begged to fill her card. Moments
later, she was led into a country dance and from there, on to another
partner and another cotillion.
At the end of that particular dance, Mr. Derricks swept down and grabbed
her arm. “Lady Lily, allow me to procure you some refreshment,” he
murmured.
“Why, kind sir, I must thank you,” she replied, smiling up at him for she was
rather thirsty.
He led her through the crush and out on to the verandah, where the air was
cooler. Although, not that much, considering the thick and dense mist that
settled over London of a night, but it was still more refreshing against her
flushed face.
“I will just let you regain your breath, as I fetch you some punch.”
Realizing that the verandah was sparsely populated, she reached for his arm
with faint desperation. “No! Please! Don't leave me!” she begged, her voice
harsh.
Lily could see from his face that he had taken her words the wrong way.
That he thought she was interested in him in a romantic way and that was
certainly not the case, but what choice did she have? She had inadvertently
given her mystery man the perfect opportunity to communicate with her!
Licking her lips, she tightened her hands about his forearms. “Please,” she
pleaded.
“Dear lady, I shall return momentarily but with some punch to quench your
thirst!”
“I do not need anything to drink, sir!”
“Tosh. Permit me,” he murmured suavely and bowed his head before
returning to the crush of the crowd and leaving her to herself.
Nervously,
she peered around the darkened verandah and then, believing
herself to be alone, Lily breathed out with a deep sigh of relief. It had been
almost two hours since her arrival and the man had yet to seek her out.
She looked out on to the tiered gardens and although the visibility was very
poor, she could hear the slight tinkling of running water. She wished, quite
dreadfully, that she could rush out into the garden and flee this silent scene,
but Lily knew that that was most impractical.
As Lily looked out on to the misty stretch, she heard him. How she knew it
was the man of the night before, Lily did not know. But every part of her
seemed to freeze as her very soul shuddered with recognition and she was
quite, quite sure that her heart stopped.
Closing her eyes, she felt every part of her body start to stiffen with terror.
Lily felt almost as though she had turned to stone so deep was her
abhorrence at this situation and as the sibilant hiss started once more, Lily
could easily recall why he so terrified her.
“Do not move. Do not turn around.”
She felt a whoosh of air that told her he was quite close to her back and she
felt hideously vulnerable in this position.
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice a plea.
“Do you know of Earl fforbes-Hyde?”
“I-I . . . yes, a little. The widower?”
“Indeed. His return to London is imminent. Upon his arrival, I want you to
seduce him.”
Shocked, she gasped and raised her hand to clutch at her throat. Lily almost
spun around to stare at the man's absurd suggestion, but instinct kept her
still. The result however, was that her heart began to beat like a trapped
bird in the cavity of her chest.
“Why should I agree to do that?” she asked huskily.
Why on earth was he asking her to seduce the Earl? And why should he
believe she would go through with this . . . suggestion?
The Earl was almost reclusive, from the little she knew of him, Lily did know
that. He was almost hermit-like and had been ever since he'd lost his wife,
who had died in childbirth and lost the babe also.
Unfortunately, it was the curse of any debutante to know of all and any
single and eligible men, so upon her arrival in London, her aunt had seen fit
to counsel her of all the information. Or gossip as Lily herself classed it!
As far as she knew, he'd been in love with his wife and was devastated by