But those weren’t the things he’d truly cherished about the way she looked. What he’d loved were the things that reminded him of his wife. Her high cheekbones, her dimples, the faint line in her forehead when she smiled.
Since his wife had left, seeing those things brought him nothing but pain. And with every day that passed, she looked more and more like her mother. In his sleepy daze, it was almost too easy to forget that he’d woken up alone, without Amelia beside him.
Henry sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard and rubbing at his eyes. “Why aren’t you with your nurse?” He asked.
“I wanted to see you, papa,” she answered. She was smiling up at him, trying to scramble up the side of the bed so she could join him.
“I’ve told you not to sneak away from the nurse.”
He’d been an attentive father in the beginning. Fatherhood had changed him. He’d found himself drinking less, spending far less time in his study. All he’d wanted to do for the first four years of Alicia’s life was be with her.
Now he could hardly stand to look at her.
“Go back to your nurse.”
“But papa-” She was struggling to get up onto the bed, because it was too high. Henry picked her up, but instead of bringing her into the bed, he stood her on her feet.
“Nurse!” He called, loudly.
Alicia’s lip started to wobble, as the nurse appeared in the open doorway. She looked extremely flustered. No doubt she’d been searching for Alicia for a while. In that way, Alicia was quite like how he’d been as a child. Always running off.
“I’m so sorry, my Lord!” The nurse said, frantically, as she quickly approached and took Alicia’s hand. “It won’t happen again.”
It would, but Henry didn’t say that.
Alicia let the nurse lead her to the door, but she looked back over her shoulder at Henry. It hurt to see her go almost as much as it hurt to have her stay. Before they disappeared through the door, Henry said, “Alicia, I’ll have a surprise for you later today.”
Alicia stopped, her eyes brightening. “A surprise?”
Henry tried to smile for her and nodded. “That’s right. But you shan’t know what it is until this afternoon. Can you be patient?”
She nodded, smiling from ear to ear. Appeased by her happiness, he looked at the nurse, to indicate that it was time for them to leave.
In their absence, Henry lay back and looked up at the ceiling. He rubbed at his sternum, because his chest was feeling tight and sore. He remembered a time when waking to the sight of Alicia’s face would have made his day.
Amelia had ruined so much more than his life. He felt like she’d taken his heart away. Like she’d made it incapable of feeling the things he’d once felt. Like she’d taken Alicia with her when she’d left.
***
Miss Magdalene Riley, Daughter of the Baron of Brambleheath
“If you’d like to come this way, please,” an elderly gentleman, the head butler, said to them as they walked inside. “I’ll take you to Lord Rivers’ study.”
Joseph thanked him and they fell into step behind him. They could hear his knees creaking as he climbed the stairs, which concerned Maggie. She had to wonder if the old man should still be working, or if he might be better off retiring. As far as she was concerned, it didn’t bode well for them that their new master kept such an old man working for him.
“Stay quiet,” Joseph whispered to her, as they approached the study.
“My Lord,” the old butler said, as he opened the door. “Your visitors are here.”
Joseph cleared his throat and pulled his waistcoat down a little, making sure he looked neat. Maggie could see a bead of sweat on his forehead. They stepped into the room, which had high windows and was flooded with light.
“Ahh,” the gentleman said. He stood and extended his hand across the desk. He gave Joseph a firm handshake, then put his palm out towards her. Uneasily, Maggie put her hand in his and watched him kiss her knuckles lightly. “I am pleased you decided to come.”
He looked different in this light. In the pits, he’d been handsome. But here, he was almost too good-looking. The light caught in the dark waves of his hair, revealing lighter hues that reminded her of the color of hazelnuts.
She tried to remind herself that the circumstances under which she’d first met this man were very telling indeed. He may be handsome, but he was not good.
“Thank you, my Lord, for inviting us. Radingley is quite wonderful,” Joseph said. Maggie noted that his voice was less steady, less confident, and saw that he was shuffling the rim of his hat between his hands.
The man waved off the remark and took his seat again, gesturing to the chairs opposite him as he did so. “Please sit.”
As Joseph lowered himself into the seat, he said, “My Lord, please pardon us but we don’t believe you gave us your name yesterday.”
“Did I not?” He put his hands on the armrests of his chair and leaned back. “It’s Lord Henry Rivers, the Earl of Radingley” he said, with an inclination of his head. “And you are Joseph…?”
“Riley, my Lord.”
“And you?” Henry looked at Maggie as he said this.
She opened her mouth to answer, but Joseph cut her off.
“Magdalene,” Joseph said.
Henry didn’t take his eyes off her. “Is that correct?” He asked. It was a peculiar thing to say, and it made Joseph blink in surprise.
“Actually,” Maggie answered. “I prefer Maggie to Magdalene.”
“Maggie,” Henry echoed. She could practically hear his tongue wrapping around her name. It made her feel strange, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Of course, I would ordinarily call you by your titles, but I think it best that the other staff remain unaware of your circumstances. We wouldn’t want word to get out, would we?”
“That’s very kind of you to consider that,” Joseph replied, with clear incredulity.
“How do you propose that we manage that secret?” Maggie interjected, feeling dubious. “I am sure one of your guests is bound to recognize us eventually.”
Henry smiled, but his lips looked tight. “I don’t have many visitors, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Why?” Maggie blurted, thoughtlessly.
“Maggie,” Joseph hissed under his breath.
Henry put up his hand to silence Joseph, without taking his eyes off of Maggie for a single moment. She felt like there was a challenge in his eyes. Like he was playing some secret game with her that existed only in his head.
“I prefer to keep to myself,” he replied. “Now, shall we discuss what your responsibilities would be?”
“Certainly,” Joseph answered, quickly, before Maggie could speak again.
At last, Henry looked at Joseph instead of her. She exhaled and realized that she’d been holding her breath. “You will be my valet,” he said. “With the usual duties, though there will be times when I prefer to dress myself. Alfred will warn you of these occasions. Is that clear?”
“It is, my Lord.”
“And your sister,” he went on. “She will be my daughter’s governess.”
Daughter? If Maggie hadn’t been so surprised, she would have questioned him on that subject. Thank God she didn’t. Joseph wouldn’t have been able to cope with such a display of impudence from her. Maggie knew that it would take time to learn how to behave as a servant might. Time and a great deal of effort.
The endeavor was made even more challenging by the fact that Lord Henry Rivers was exactly the sort of man she would have tried to outsmart. She didn’t appreciate arrogant gentlemen, and she’d always enjoyed running circles around them with her wit.
But Henry wasn’t just any gentleman. He was their master now. And she had to start acting like it.
“How old is she?” Maggie asked, in a soft and surprised voice.
“She’s five, and I think it’s about time she started her education. Do you have any experience?”
“
She’s highly educated,” Joseph said, abruptly, just as Maggie opened her mouth. “Extremely well-read. Fluent in French and Latin. Your daughter will find her a magnificent teacher, I assure you.”
“I would prefer it,” Henry replied. “If she assured me herself.”
Joseph blundered out an apology, while Henry regarded her. “Well?” He pressed.
“I haven’t had any experience as a governess,” she admitted. “Though I do love children, and I am well-educated as my brother has told you.”
“Do you have the heart for discipline?”
Maggie’s brow lifted. “Is that your priority in a governess?”
“My daughter is full of mischief. She can be quite the handful.”
Maggie started to smile. “I can manage,” she replied. “I prefer encouragement over discipline.”
Maggie heard Joseph’s breath catch, and she knew that he wasn’t exactly happy with Maggie’s answer. But Maggie wouldn’t take it back. She wouldn’t lie.
Henry stared at her for several moments, as if he was trying to work out a puzzle. And then he nodded and stood. “Very well. I wish you the best of luck.”
Joseph stood too, and Maggie followed suit. “Do you need anything else from us, my Lord?”
“Nothing at all,” Henry replied. “You’ll start today. The pair of you.”
“And the-” Joseph stuttered, but it was clear that when Henry was finished speaking, he would not dawdle about.
“You may speak to Alfred outside if you have any questions,” Henry interjected, with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“But regarding – well – I had a question regarding-”
“Regarding pay?” Henry said, with an arched brow. “I will pay seventy pounds per annum for the valet, and thirty pounds for the governess. Any further details can be discussed with Alfred.”
“Seventy and thirty pounds?” Joseph blurted.
It was practically unheard of for servants to be paid so well. But before Joseph could conquer his speechlessness and express his gratitude, Henry gestured once more towards the door.
This time it was Maggie who took the hint. She touched Joseph’s arm and coaxed him out of the study. As she shut the door behind her, her eyes met with Henry’s.
Her heart stuttered strangely, and the door closed.
Chapter 6
Lord Henry Rivers, the Earl of Radingley
“It has been a year, Henry.”
“I don’t need to be lectured.”
Henry was out riding with Lord Jeremy Crawley, an old friend of his and one of the only friends he had left. When Amelia left, and the rumors about Henry had started spreading, many of his friends had stopped visiting. And Henry had made no effort to rectify that. He’d been surly and sour, so it was no wonder they hadn’t wanted to see him.
But Jeremy did want to see him, though God only knew why. He didn’t seem to mind Henry’s temper. If anything, he seemed to find it amusing. They went riding and hunting together occasionally and, though he’d never tell Jeremy this, he appreciated the company enormously.
What he didn’t appreciate was the regular lectures.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw you in civilized company.”
“Is this not civilized?” Henry retorted.
“You know what I mean. You should get out more. See people.”
“I get out, perhaps more than you might think.”
“To taverns and illegal fighting pits.”
“I see people.”
“Whores and anyone else you can persuade.”
Henry expelled a gruff breath. “Do you only visit me to criticize?”
“I visit because you are my friend, and I criticize for the very same reason. It has been long enough, Henry. And what about your daughter? Have you been spending enough time with Alicia?”
Instead of answering, Henry nudged his horse into a gallop back towards Radingley. Jeremy meant well, but he couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to be left. It was more than a scandal. It had entirely obliterated him. He wasn’t the same man anymore, despite Jeremy’s efforts to revive him.
When they arrived back at the estate, they dismounted and walked their horses towards the stables. As they approached the paddocks, Henry caught sight of Maggie and Joseph lurking in the dark. They appeared to be whispering.
Henry put a hand out to stop Jeremy from moving, keeping him from alerting the pair to their presence for a moment. He listened, but he couldn’t hear what they were saying. “Joseph,” Henry called, continuing to lead his horse towards its paddock. “Shouldn’t you be inside? Or did I hire a stable boy?”
“Lord Rivers,” Joseph replied, dipping into a bow. “Of course, my Lord. I’ll go inside right away.”
“And you, Maggie? Should you not be with my daughter?”
Maggie did not curtsy. She turned to face him and lifted her chin slightly higher. “That is why I am here, my Lord. I have been asking all the household staff if they have seen the nurse, and I enlisted Joseph’s assistance.”
A stable boy rushed forwards as she said this, taking both Jeremy and Henry’s horses by the reigns and leading them into their paddocks. “Do you mean to tell me that you don’t know where the nurse is? It is early afternoon. Your lessons should have commenced hours ago.”
“I couldn’t agree more, my Lord. But nevertheless, I cannot find the nurse, who I can only assume is with your daughter.”
Henry pursed his lips, staring at her suspiciously. He wasn’t quite sure he believed her. Before he could question her further on why she was whispering with her brother in the stables, Alfred arrived, looking breathless.
The nurse stood behind him.
“My Lord,” Alfred said, quickly. “I am afraid we can’t find Miss Alicia.”
“Can’t find her?” Jeremy said. “How the devil does one lose a five year old?”
“With great ease, I’m afraid,” Henry replied. He didn’t sound worried, only annoyed. “Alicia goes missing very regularly.” He then leveled the nurse with a cold stare. “But it is your responsibility, nurse, to keep that from happening.”
“I-it is, my Lord,” she stuttered. “But I- she-”
“Now, now,” Maggie interjected, as she stepped up beside Henry. “Should we not commence the search, rather than waste time talking?”
Without waiting for instruction, she picked up her skirts and walked out of the stables with haste. “She’s quite right of course,” Henry said, after a moment spent watching her walk. “Joseph, cover the downstairs. Nurse, the upstairs. Alfred, the stables. Jeremy, the gardens to the west of the house.”
He did not wait for an answer, but walked swiftly out of the barn so that he could catch up with Maggie. He walked briskly beside her and said, “We must have a discussion, you and I, about the appropriate way to speak to your master.”
Maggie stopped walking quite suddenly and faced him. “Is that really something you think we should discuss now? While your daughter is missing?” She replied, almost curtly.
He knew that she didn’t appreciate being reprimanded. She’d been raised a lady, after all. But she was his child’s governess, and she would act like it. In fact, the more that she resisted the behaviors required of the position, the more he wanted to bring her to heel. She was like an unruly stallion, needing to be broken in.
“She will not have gone far,” Henry responded. “Afterwards,” he concluded. “Come to my study.”
He saw a twitch in her cheek, which made it clear that she was clenching her teeth. “Very well.”
“Search the gardens to the east of the house. Jeremy has the west, and I’ll cover the north, then the south if she has yet to be found.”
“Certainly.”
Henry nodded, and Maggie started walking again, down a path leading east. He watched her for a few seconds, enjoying the way her hips moved and her skirt swished around her ankles.
***
Miss Magdalene Riley, Daughter of the Baron of Brambl
eheath
“Abysmal man,” she muttered to herself as she walked away. She knew what his game was. To squash the spirit out of her. To make her into a common governess. To degrade her and take pleasure in that, just as he’d taken pleasure in watching her brother fight.
Title Sinful Tales of Desirable Ladies Page 62