by Regina Darcy
“But you have come,” Charity continued, seeing that he wasn’t going to respond. “I suppose the sensible thing is to be grateful that you have chosen to grace us with your presence.”
“Do accept my apologies,” came the muttered reply. “I temporarily forgot that it is a gentleman’s duty to provide succour to a lady in distress, whether that distress is real or otherwise. I beg your forgiveness.”
Charity sniffed. “It is not mine that you need, my lord, it is Miss Hemsworth’s. I cannot tell you how upset she was. Do you not understand the predicament she is in? She has turned to the only man she knows might be able to help her and he, in turn, introduces you to her. Your belief that she is either making things up or embellishing the truth does her a disservice.”
Tears clogged her throat but she refused to allow them to make their way to her eyes. She would not cry in front of this man.
“My two sisters have already been sent away and I have not heard from either of them. Miss Hemsworth was desperate to save them but could not. Now that I am next, to be sent to the colonies no less, she has searched high and low for assistance so that I might be saved from such a fate. Is that not a noble thing, my lord?”
“It is,” he admitted, his hazel eyes locking with hers. Her heart momentarily skipped a beat.
How was this man doing this? Was he a sorcerer in a previous life…or even in this one?
She smoothed down an invisible wrinkle on her skirt and took a deep breath. She would not let his hazelnut eyes distract her.
“You might want to let go of your preconceptions my lord and come to our aid. In fact, I am sure that when you meet her uncle, you will feel even more convinced that something is amiss.” She lifted her chin and swallowed twice, desperate to hide her tears from the gentleman before her. Rex wriggled in her arms, but she held him tightly, keeping him as a barrier between her and the Viscount.
The man cleared his throat and looked at her with such a piercing gaze that Charity trembled at the heat he held within. Although she was innocent, she knew that no man should gaze upon a young maiden as he had. She turned her eyes away and concentrated on the fold of his lapel.
“You have shown me the error of my ways,” he replied, nodding, his face betraying no expression. “You have my word of honour that I will look into Robert Savage and his credentials.”
“Secretly.”
He gave a short bow. “But of course.”
“If he discovers anything, then it will be the worse for Miss Hemsworth and the other girls that live here,” Charity warned, shifting Rex in her arms. “You must be discreet.”
A slight smile lifted one side of his mouth.
“As you were, in the general goods store,” he answered, his eyes twinkling at her. “I believe you dropped a book of poetry?”
To her consternation, Charity felt her cheeks flush with heat.
“Yes, I did.”
“Do you read poetry much?” He could not quite hide the note of astonishment from his voice but Charity did not mind it too much.
“As much as I can get my hands on,” she admitted, smiling back despite herself. “It speaks to my soul.”
The flash of surprise in his eyes made her smile widen.
“Then perhaps we might discuss our favourites some time, Miss…..?”
“Worthington.”
“Miss Worthington. I shall return your book to you as well, I assure you.”
Charity opened her mouth to protest, to say that it was not her book but his, given that he was the one who had purchased it, only for the door to open and Miss Hemsworth and Robert Savage to walk in.
At Mr Savage’s disapproving look, Charity quickly bobbed a curtsy to Lord Cunningham, anxiety clawing through her belly, before exiting the room with Rex still in her arms.
She had to hide him.
***
“Lord Cunningham!” Miss Hemsworth exclaimed, evidently astonished to see him. “Whatever are you doing here?”
David took in the surprise on her face and bowed deeply, before turning to her uncle who was gazing at him with a slight frown on his face.
“I do apologise for calling on you like this,” he explained. “But I confess that I considered myself quite rude when I was introduced to you yesterday, so I have come to make my apologies.” He saw the flash of understanding on the lady’s face, accompanied by a quick smile.
“How very good of you,” Miss Hemsworth murmured, turning to her uncle. “Uncle, this is Viscount Cunningham. I was introduced to him yesterday by an acquaintance at the general goods store. Viscount Cunningham, this is my uncle, Mr Robert Savage.”
“I see,” her uncle replied, still frowning. “And you were rude, were you?” A grin spread across the man’s face, making David’ skin prickle. The man turned towards him and continued, “Not that it matters too much. It is only Martha after all.”
Not knowing what else to say, David cleared his throat and gave Miss Hemsworth a quick smile, hoping she would understand his true intentions for being here. He had to admit that Charity had quite correct. He was not enamoured by Miss Hemsworth’s uncle in the least, finding him rude and quite distasteful. There was something about him that told David to be careful and, as yet in his life, David’ instincts had not been proven wrong.
“Should you like a tour of this establishment?” Miss Hemsworth asked, her eyes widening just a fraction.
David nodded at once.
“I would be delighted. I have heard you educate a great many young ladies here.”
“We do,” Mr Savage interrupted, refusing to allow them both a moment’s peace. “In fact, there are at least six whom I intend to find….good marriages for.”
The pause in his words made a frisson of anger climb up David’ spine, as everything Miss Hemsworth had said only yesterday suddenly began to ring true.
“That is quite true, uncle,” Miss Hemsworth countered, her voice overly bright. “In fact, I was just thinking that a ball might be quite the thing.”
“A ball?” her uncle spluttered at once, sounding as though it was the worst idea he had ever had the misfortune of hearing. “I don’t think—”
“A ball sounds like a wonderful idea,” David interrupted, smiling at Miss Hemsworth. “I am aware that, without being indelicate, these young women cannot hope to marry titled peers or the like, but that does not mean they should not have the opportunity to marry as well as they can.”
Miss Hemsworth beamed at him, relief in her features. “Yes, that is just what I was thinking. They do have a significant stipend each, given their circumstances, and I am sure there might be some knights or even baronets who might seek their hand.”
“I doubt it,” boomed her uncle’s voice.
David, aware of what Miss Hemsworth was attempting to do, nodded fervently. “I may even request invitations for some of the local clerks,” he replied, ignoring Robert Savage’s comment. “They deserve a night such as that. In fact!” he exclaimed, seeing a way forward where Robert Savage might not refuse. “I shall assist you financially with the ball if you will allow me to bring some choice gentlemen in attendance. What say you?”
Miss Hemsworth clapped her hands together and beamed at him, joy colouring her features. David held his breath as her eyes turned to her uncle, waiting to see what judgment he might make.
“Very well,” came the grudging reply. “You shall have your ball.”
FIVE
To David’ very great delight, Robert Savage muttered something under his breath and excused himself from them both, leaving him quite alone with Miss Hemsworth.
“We are to continue with our tour alone, it seems,” Miss Hemsworth commented, looking up at him with a mixture of delight and puzzlement on her face. “Quite improper, of course, but then again, my uncle does not seem to be one for propriety. If you give me a moment, I shall fetch someone.”
David opened his mouth to protest that he did not feel in the least bit in danger from Miss Hemsworth’s company alon
e, only to close it again when Miss Worthington entered the room.
“Ah, just in time,” Miss Hemsworth exclaimed, smiling broadly. “I was just about to come and fetch you. Charity – I mean, Miss Worthington, this is Viscount Cunningham.”
“We’ve met,” Charity replied in a cool voice. “What are your intentions now, my lord? Are you to leave us once again and decide that Miss Hemsworth is still filled with ridiculous ideas?”
“Charity!” Miss Hemsworth exclaimed, shocked that a student would speak so bluntly to one of their guests.
David let his gaze linger on Miss Worthington, her piqued visage wringing an imperceptible smile from his otherwise stern face.
“No, she is quite right, I’m afraid, Miss Hemsworth. And, no, Miss Worthington, I have no intention of returning home and leaving you to your fate.”
He saw Charity lift one eyebrow.
“I have to confess that, upon meeting Robert Savage, I find that I do not find him an agreeable man in the slightest. It is more than obvious that he does not wish anything good for the girls you are housing here, Miss Hemsworth.”
“Quite,” Miss Hemsworth replied, her smile tinged with sadness. “I would not have been able to persuade him about the ball without your help, however, so I must thank you for that.”
“A ball?” Charity exclaimed, astonished at the idea. “Who is to host a ball for us?”
“Why, I believe that is where I come in,” David replied, his eyes taking in Miss Worthington’s surprise. “I mean to prove it to you, Miss Worthington – to you both, that I have no longer decided to turn my back on your situation. It was quite wrong of me to assume that there was nothing of importance here, for I can see now why you have your suspicions about the man.”
He watched as Miss Worthington’s face slowly grew less astonished, with a sheen of relief in her eyes. She inclined her head in a small gesture of thanks.
“You are planning to assist us with this ball, then?”
“Indeed I do,” David replied, firmly. “I cannot imagine what kind of man would wish to send a young lady to the colonies, simply to pay a debt he owes.” He shook his head. “In truth, I did not believe the story when it was first told to me at the general goods hop, but after a brief acquaintance with the man, I can see now that he is quite disinclined to help anyone but himself.”
To his surprise, Miss Hemsworth let out a gentle snort of derision, most unladylike but quite understandable.
“My uncle may not even be my uncle, Lord Cunningham. But I thank you for your involvement.”
“I am more than happy to give it,” David replied, honestly. He smiled at Miss Worthington and was thrilled to receive a small smile back in return. His heart turned in his chest, surprising him utterly.
His eyes locked on the flickering of the young woman’s pulse, the one just along her slender delicate neck. Unbidden, his thoughts went where no gentleman would dare in the presence of mixed company. Uncomfortable, he pulled on his necktie.
When was the last time he had stopped to admire the beauty of a woman? More poignantly, when was the last time the sight of a pulse had unsettled him?
Too long ago it would seem.
“Shall we continue with the tour of the school?” Miss Hemsworth asked, warmly. “Now that Miss Worthington is with us, we need not worry about our lack of propriety!” A bitter laugh left her. “Not that my uncle would care, unfortunately.”
“No, he would not,” Miss Worthington muttered, walking to the door and opening it, only to reveal the small terrier that David had seen her with earlier.
“I hope you do not mind if Rex joins us. He hates being left alone.” Enquiring eyes met his, and David beamed at once, bending down to pat the small dog.
“Of course not, Miss Worthington. Truth be told, I am something of an animal lover, dogs especially. I do have a hunting dog of my own, although he is a little too old for hunting these days. He prefers to spend his time in front of the fire these days, sleeping a lot more than he used to.”
“How lovely,” Miss Worthington murmured, a smile on her face as she saw how happy Rex was to be around Lord Cunningham. “It appears Rex likes you and I think that says a great deal about a man.”
“I take it the creature does not care for Savage, then?” David inquired, nodding towards where the man had disappeared.
Charity laughed. “No, he does not, and neither do the other two dogs we have homed here. We have to work hard to keep them out of his sight so that he does not force us to remove them.”
David shook his head, a frown pulling his brows together. “I can promise you that, should that ever happen, they would have a home with me. I cannot imagine what would happen to them if they were simply let out on the street.”
“That is most kind of you.” Miss Worthington’s voice was gentle, and, for a brief moment, their gazes locked. It was as though they were the only two beings in the room… in the world. He took her in, seeing the beauty in her oval face, her blue eyes burning brightly with some inner fire.
“Shall we perhaps dine together after the tour?” Miss Hemsworth asked, breaking the spell surrounding David and Miss Worthington. “My uncle will, no doubt, have dined already by the time we are finished and I am sure the meal will be all the more pleasant without him.”
David cleared his throat and looked to Miss Hemsworth, wondering why his palms were suddenly sweaty. “That would be most kind, Miss Hemsworth, so long as it is not an intrusion.”
“Not in the least,” she replied, smiling at him. “We might discuss the plans for the ball as well. A sennight, I think my uncle muttered before he left.”
“That gives us more than enough time,” Miss Worthington added, calling Rex to her with a low whistle. “I must say, I am feeling a little more hopeful now. It is such a great relief to have you here to support us, Lord Cunningham.”
“Of course,” he replied, his mind suddenly scrambling for what he could say next to Miss Worthington.
He looked at her, mutely, for a brief moment, seeing the way that Rex was sitting by her obediently, clearly quite secure in her affection for him. Only yesterday he had been quite content in his life, putting his time into his firm, making sure his clerks were all happy and secure – only to now feel quite adrift.
This lady before him had both surprised and unsettled him, although David considered a good thing. He had not been challenged in a long time, something that often came with the title he carried, but Miss Worthington had been refreshingly honest, candidly true to her beliefs and utterly passionate in her defence of her former headmistress.
Now that he been forced to see the truth of the matter, the willingness to help both her and Miss Hemsworth ran straight through him, giving him one purpose, one intention. He could not bear the idea of Miss Worthington being sent to the colonies on one man’s whim, promising himself that he would do everything in his power to stop that from happening.
What David had not expected was for her smile to take his breath away, or for the sparkle in her eyes to capture him almost immediately.
She had the same love of poetry as he, it seemed, and was quite well educated by all accounts. Even the way she smiled down at the dog at her feet warmed his heart.
Here was a lady who brought out all kinds of emotions and sensations within him that he had never really experienced before. It confused him, of course, but David found that it was not unwelcome.
Something in him was desperate to find out more about her, to spend more time in her company and, with the upcoming ball to plan as well as his investigations into Robert Savage, it appeared he was going to be able to do just that.
SIX
Charity swung her leg idly over the side of the chair, while Miss Hemsworth set the tea tray out carefully. She smiled to herself at Miss Hemsworth’s careful deliberations as she put together the perfect cup of tea, which Charity gratefully accepted.
“Uncle Robert has gone to his club,” Miss Hemsworth sighed, sitting down gracefully.
“He should be out most of the night and possibly will rise late tomorrow also.”
“Good,” Charity replied. “The less we see of him, the better as far as I am concerned.”
Miss Hemsworth did not reply but gave an answering nod before taking a sip of her tea. Charity too, sat quietly, looking into the flames of the fire that burned in the grate. Her mind pondered over all that had happened, and, in addition, the peculiar feelings that were sparking in her heart on account of Viscount Cunningham.
A short knock on the door interrupted their silence, making Charity look at Miss Hemsworth in surprise. It was late, and she had thought what little remained of the staff were finished with their duties for the day.
“Begging your pardon, ma’am,” said a quiet voice. “But this just arrived for Miss Worthington and I thought I would bring it before I retire.”
Miss Hemsworth smiled and nodded, waiting until the message boy had handed the small, wrapped parcel to Charity before thanking him.
“Thank you,” Charity murmured, looking down at the parcel in her hand. She had never received a gift before now, which made this her very first parcel.
“Whoever is it from?” Miss Hemsworth asked, sounding surprised.
Charity shook her head, turning the parcel over in her hand. She did not recognise the writing, although the light pink silk ribbon that bound the parcel was a delicate touch. “I cannot say.”
Charity was not in the habit of receiving gifts and certainly not at the school under her current circumstance. She and her sisters were recent pupils at St Bernadette school for girls. They had been sent to live there by their cousin, Edgar Herbert, upon the death of their father.
Cousin Edgar was a wealthy estate owner who lived in another part of the country. A confirmed bachelor, he was shut away in the refuge of his manor, some ten miles from the nearest town and was to remain there, sublimely indifferent to the welfare of his close relations. Had it not been for his estate manager, who suggested sending his cousins to boarding school, coupled with Cousin Edgar’s inattention and distracted accord, the girls’ situation in life would be dire indeed.