When Two Rivers Meet (Regency Romance)

by Deborah M. Hathaway

  "Well, if rumors do occur," Mrs. Crosgrove said, "they shall cease quickly when the rest of Bath discovers why you have severed all ties with him."

  Lilyanna frowned. "You cannot mean to tell others of what you have heard about Mr. Bainbridge, can you, Mother?"

  "I shall not have to, shall I?" Mrs. Crosgrove said with a smile. "Mr. Quigley has already taken care of that."

  Lilyanna's head spun with worry as she feared what further harm might be done to Elijah through Mr. Quigley's ungentlemanly behavior.

  "And speaking of Mr. Quigley," Mrs. Crosgrove continued, "we will be seeing much more of him now."

  "Mr. Quigley?" Lilyanna managed to mutter as her mind blurred continuously.

  "Yes, Mr. Quigley," Mrs. Crosgrove said, impatience laced thickly in her tone. "He has risked much in warning us of Mr. Bainbridge's true self, and in so doing, he has shown his great concern for you, and that is quite amiable, I daresay."

  "Amiable?" Lilyanna exclaimed, forcing her mind to clear as much as possible before the situation spun completely out of her control. "Amiable, Mother? Would you like to know how 'amiable' Mr. Quigley truly is?"

  "Whatever can you mean?" Mrs. Crosgrove asked, her eyes wide with shock at Lilyanna's outburst.

  "Weeks ago, I overheard him speaking of the great flaws I must possess since I am not yet married," Lilyanna blurted out. "He failed to mention those flaws to you, Mother, did he not?"

  Her mother's silence answered the question, so Lilyanna continued. "And do you know who it was who defended my character, even though he knew not I was there to hear every word transpiring between them?" she asked. "Mr. Bainbridge. Mr. Bainbridge did, while no one else said a word, including your amiable Mr. Quigley."

  "This…this proves absolutely nothing, Lilyanna," Mrs. Crosgrove stammered, her eyes darting around the room, "except for the fact that you should not have been listening in on their private conversation."

  Lilyanna watched her mother walk across the room and pause at the doorway. "And Mr. Quigley was not altogether wrong," she said to Lilyanna's turned back. "You have many flaws that have kept you from marriage, eavesdropping being one of them."

  Lilyanna kept her back turned toward her mother, tears gathering in her blue eyes as she heard Mrs. Crosgrove's footsteps retreating from the room.

  "She defends a deceiving gentleman more than she does her own daughter," she whispered aloud, not wanting to believe her own words though she knew them to be true.

  She sat on the sofa, feeling an emptiness inside her as her mind swirled with anger, confusion, and despair, wondering what she was supposed to do then.

  Chapter Eleven

  Mixed feelings arose within Lilyanna when she saw Elijah approaching her a few evenings later in the Upper Rooms' ballroom. She was delighted to see him, but her mother's words echoed in the recesses of her mind, causing her heart to fill with dread.

  "Remember what I told you, Lilyanna," Mrs. Crosgrove had said earlier that evening as Lilyanna prepared to attend the ball, "I do not want you to speak with Mr. Bainbridge."

  Lilyanna had not responded, simply stared blankly off in the other direction, but Mrs. Crosgrove had apparently taken Lilyanna's silence as an acceptance to her wish.

  And as Elijah came ever closer to her that evening, Lilyanna felt relief at her mother's absence, due to a sudden weak constitution.

  Lilyanna excused herself from Charlotte Rosebury's company just before Elijah reached her. With a smile and a bow, he said, "Miss Crosgrove, you look beautiful."

  "Thank you, Mr. Bainbridge," she sputtered out, clearing her throat of emotion.

  "Is something wrong?" Elijah asked, his frown appearing almost instantly.

  "No, indeed," she replied, though she knew he had seen her frantically attempt to blink away her tears.

  He continued to eye her warily, even when the Bainbridges appeared behind Elijah, smiles stretching across their faces.

  "Good evening, Miss Crosgrove," Mrs. Bainbridge said. "You look quite fetching tonight, and what a beautiful gown. It is almost as lovely as your stunning hair."

  Lilyanna mustered a smile and curtsied, but she remained silent, afraid her quivering voice would betray her. She wondered where all her emotion had come from, for she had thought she had very nearly cried away all her tears the previous nights.

  "Why, Miss Crosgrove," Mrs. Bainbridge said, her voice lowering and her eyes filling with concern, "is everything all right? You look quite pale."

  Lilyanna nodded her head but remained unable to speak. She looked helplessly to Elijah, and he acted immediately.

  "You will have to excuse us, Mother, Father," Elijah said, holding out his hand to Lilyanna. "I have made Miss Crosgrove promise to be my partner for the first dance, and I see they are nearly ready to begin."

  "Oh, all right, if you must," Mrs. Bainbridge said, her voice back to its normal jolliness. "But do return as soon as possible. I need to speak with Miss Crosgrove about our dinner party plans. Oh, and we must converse about who makes your splendid dresses."

  Lilyanna returned Mrs. Bainbridge's smile, albeit weakly, before she allowed Elijah to escort her to the dance floor.

  Only a few moments had passed when Elijah placed a gloved hand over Lilyanna's, slowing their step. "I do not wish to pressure you, Miss Crosgrove," he began, "but if you need someone to speak with, I would like you to know I am always here to listen."

  Lilyanna nodded, swallowing the lump forming in her throat. "Thank you, Mr. Bainbridge," she said. "I would appreciate a moment of your time."

  He immediately stopped, looking down at her with concern.

  "But…" she hesitated, looking around, "perhaps we may speak after this dance."

  The dance they shared was the first one Lilyanna did not enjoy, for each touch, each glance, each smile from Elijah proved to break her heart piece by piece.

  They walked down the center of the set, holding hands lightly as they moved through the couples, and her stomach flipped to feel Elijah's thumb softly stroking the back of her hand.

  She felt a swirling in her chest as she recognized his obvious attempt to comfort her, and she tried to distract herself from their inevitable conversation by focusing on the movements of the dance. However, her confusion as to what she would say to Elijah afterward threatened her resolve to remain strong. She knew she could not willfully disobey an express command from her mother, but she wondered how she could manage never seeing Elijah again.

  The music ceased, and Elijah instantly led Lilyanna off the floor.

  "Where would you like to speak, Miss Crosgrove?" he asked.

  Lilyanna looked around for an empty spot when she felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach. There, positioned across the room and looking directly at her, stood her mother.

  Lilyanna glanced away, then up to Elijah. "Mr. Bainbridge," she said, fear replacing her despair, "would you mind bringing me some lemonade? I believe that will help me, if you would be so kind. I shall wait here for you."

  She felt Elijah look suspiciously at her sudden change in demeanor, but he nodded anyway, walking away to the table filled with refreshments.

  As soon as he disappeared into the crowd, Lilyanna made her way to her mother, her eyes focused on the floor.

  "Mother," she said, when she reached her, "I thought you were feeling unwell."

  "I was. However, I found my spirits improving as the evening progressed, so I thought I might join you. Unfortunately, I have come only to discover you in the very act of disobedience."

  Lilyanna looked up to see a coldness in Mrs. Crosgrove's eyes. "Mother, before you—"

  "No, Lilyanna," she said, "there is nothing more you can say to me unless it is an apology."

  "Mother, I am sorry, but I was—"

  "Stop your prattling on, child," she hissed through clenched teeth.

  Lilyanna waited in silence as Mrs. Crosgrove glanced around her to ensure her reprimand had gone unnoticed. "I am thoroughly disappointed in you, Lilyann
a. I simply do not understand why you insist on being with such a man…and such a family!"

  "Last I heard, Mother," Lilyanna said softly, "you approved greatly of his family."

  "I was gravely mistaken," Mrs. Crosgrove said. "It is true, Mrs. Godfrey is agreeable, but I so happened to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bainbridge, and I must say, I am appalled. You should have warned me. It would be a grave matter, to be sure, if our family considered them anything above that of strangers."

  Lilyanna shook her head to disagree, but she knew it would not help.

  "Mrs. Bainbridge is an embarrassment with the way she carries on so loudly," Mrs. Crosgrove continued. "And how Mr. Bainbridge insists upon holding her hand in public? Why, it is positively sinful. I will not have you cavorting with such people, parent and son alike."

  Lilyanna tried to maintain a level head as her mother finally paused. "I understand your desire, Mother. However, I have already accepted a dinner invitation from them."

  "Then I am afraid you shall have to decline."

  "I have already accepted," Lilyanna repeated. "It would be very rude to decline now."

  "And yet you must, Lilyanna. I forbid you from associating with the Bainbridge family ever again."

  Lilyanna's mind swirled with ways she could possibly go around her mother's wishes, however, all hope vanished when she heard Mrs. Bainbridge calling her name from behind them.

  She turned her head, seeing the small woman across the crowd waving boisterously and knocking a feather out of one poor girl's hair.

  Lilyanna longed to laugh at the humorous sight, but her mother's cold tone behind her made any notion of laughter disappear.

  "You will decline her invitation right now, Lilyanna," she said. "Do not give her any hope as to your acquaintance continuing from this point on."

  The joyful music signaling the next dance seemed to taunt Lilyanna's dejected state as she awaited Mrs. Bainbridge's arrival. Any calmness she felt before had fled, leaving her world unraveled, and she wondered how else she could react, what with her mother's watchful eye causing her to feel like a child.

  "Miss Crosgrove!" Mrs. Bainbridge exclaimed prior to reaching them. "I am so glad to have caught you and your mother together!"

  Lilyanna smiled weakly, hoping Mrs. Bainbridge would not notice Mrs. Crosgrove's condescending stare.

  "I had the pleasure to meet Mrs. Crosgrove as you and Elijah danced," Mrs. Bainbridge said. "I instantly spotted her beauty from across the room, and I knew at once who she was, for you both glow with handsomeness!"

  Lilyanna listened to her speak, wishing the woman would continue forever so she could put off telling her what Mrs. Crosgrove wished.

  "You are both so fair-skinned. I never was, for my love of the sunshine on my face far outweighs my desire to wear a bonnet. Yes, I have terrible skin, always have, always will, but you will never hear me regretting my time in the glorious sunshine!"

  Bubbling laughter exuded from her mouth. "Now, I have some thoughts about the dinner party. How do you two feel about hare? Roddy says it is necessary, but I do not care for the taste. However, if you approve, it is sure to be served, for you two shall be our honored guests. Do you like hare, Miss Crosgrove?"

  Lilyanna stuttered. "Well, I…I suppose I am more inclined to other foods."

  "Oh, well, that settles it," Mrs. Bainbridge said, reaching out to briefly squeeze Lilyanna's hand. "I shall not be serving it if my prized guest does not enjoy it. That would certainly be terrible hosting, would it not?"

  Her laugh carried throughout the ballroom again, and Lilyanna longed to join in.

  Mrs. Crosgrove's voice soon cut through the jovial sound. "I am afraid my daughter has some disappointing news for you. Lilyanna, go right ahead."

  Mrs. Bainbridge's smile faded. "Oh, no, what is it? Do not tell me you are ill? Faint? Have you contracted something? Or is it about the party? No need to worry yourself over what we shall be eating. We will have something more trustworthy. Pheasant, perhaps, or goose? Or maybe I—"

  "No, that is not it," Mrs. Crosgrove interrupted before looking expectantly at her daughter. "Lilyanna?"

  Lilyanna begged her mother with her eyes one last time, but Mrs. Crosgrove's firm gaze did not change.

  "I am afraid, Mrs. Bainbridge," Lilyanna began as both women stared expectantly at her, "we must decline the offer to attend your dinner party."

  "What was that, my dear?" Mrs. Bainbridge said, leaning in closer and putting a hand on Lilyanna's arm. "I could not hear you above the noise of the crowd."

  "We cannot attend your dinner party," she said in a louder, although quivering, voice.

  "Oh," Mrs. Bainbridge said, her brows drawing together, "how terrible. Would I be intruding too much to ask you why you will be unable to attend?"

  Lilyanna refused to say anything more. She looked to the ground, feeling so ashamed with both herself and her mother that she was unable to look anywhere else.

  "We have accepted an offer from Lady Burstow that we could not pass up," Mrs. Crosgrove said.

  "I see," the tiny woman spoke. "Well, then, I suppose we will simply have to reschedule. What about next Monday? I think that it might—"

  "I am afraid we will not be able to make it then either."

  Lilyanna looked up to see Mrs. Bainbridge's perplexed face as she continued.

  "I am sure we will find a day that works for both of us," she said.

  "I do not think it is possible," Mrs. Crosgrove said, and Lilyanna looked over to see her chin raised unnaturally high. "Lilyanna and I are both excessively busy as it is. We do not have time to socialize with you or your…kind. Now, if you will excuse us, our more distinguished friends are awaiting our company."

  Lilyanna stood there, staring at her mother with wide eyes, shocked at her cruel words. She looked at Mrs. Bainbridge's dark, brown eyes, so like her son's, and wished she could apologize then and there for how she had been treated.

  However, Mrs. Crosgrove's firm, "Come, Lilyanna," left her no room to do so. She obediently turned her back on the small woman only to come face-to-face with the same dark eyes, only this pair scowled fiercely down upon her.

  "Mr. Bainbridge," she began, her heart plummeting, "I—"

  But her words stopped as Elijah abruptly walked past her, ignoring her attempt to speak with him.

  "Good," Mrs. Crosgrove said with a satisfied smile, "he must have heard, as well. That will save you from having another unpleasant conversation."

  Lilyanna stood rooted to her spot, watching Elijah walk away with his mother, guilt and disappointment raging within her heart."Come, Lilyanna," she heard her mother repeat. "Mr. Quigley is waiting for us."

  Lilyanna did not see Elijah or his family the rest of the evening, and she was glad of it, for she could not bear the thought of facing Mrs. Bainbridge's saddened eyes, or Elijah's disappointed glare, ever again.

  ***

  Elijah sat on the edge of his bed, staring into the fire on the far side of his room. He held his head in his hands, trying to subside the pounding in his temples before realizing he enjoyed the distraction it brought from the pain inside his heart.

  Flashes of Lilyanna and her kind blue eyes mixed with images of his past, of Miss Billings, and his stomach churned.

  He stood, beginning to pace the length of his room over and over again to walk out his frustration, but the thought of his being fooled again by a woman, the thought of Lilyanna being exactly who he had feared she would be, kept his disappointment fresh in his mind.

  Has Lilyanna truly been pretending to be kind since I met her? he thought until he shook his head.

  The woman could not have falsified such kindness for so long, so what was it that had changed within her?

  His anger only proved to increase as he thought back to the night so long ago when Hazel had warned him to be cautious in pursuing Lilyanna.

  Had I only listened to her, he thought.

  His rage peaked as he grabbed a small, wooden chair next to the window an
d threw it against the wall. One of the chair legs broke in half, and the cushion flew through the air before hitting the porcelain pitcher and basin near his bedside, causing the delicate china to crack against the carpeted floor.

  His shoulders slumped as he perused the destruction he had caused in his anger, and his breathing finally slowed. He made his way to where the broken pieces of porcelain rested on the floor, picking them up to place them carefully on his desk.

  Hearing footsteps outside his doorway, Elijah paused in his movements.

  "Elijah?" he heard Hazel say through the door. "Is everything all right? We heard a loud noise."

  "Yes, Hazel," he said, after clearing his throat. "I only tripped and knocked over my wash basin. I am able to clean it up, though."

  Silence ensued until she said in a quiet voice, "Are you quite certain you are well?"

  "Yes, I assure you."

  "All right. Goodnight then, Elijah."

  "Goodnight."

  He heard her footsteps retreat down the long hallway before he slumped back down onto his bed, his anger dissipating to leave behind only an empty sadness he could not abolish.

  ***

  Sleep eluded Lilyanna until the early morning, even then only receiving a few hours of the welcome oblivion until the first light of day broke through her curtains and interrupted her dreamless state.

  After a few failed attempts to resume her sleep, Lilyanna found herself dressing to make her way out the doors of Heatherhill, hoping fresh air would help her in some regard.

  She walked slowly toward the stables, greeting Silhouette upon her arrival by scratching his gray hair. After a moment of silence, she rested her forehead on his, saying, "What have I done, Silhouette?"

  "Miss?"

  Lilyanna did not jump hearing Mr. Lowick's soft voice behind her, somehow knowing he would find her there.

  "Are you all right?"