“No, you will not!” Kathleen cut in.
“Watch me! I’ll ride to London right away,” Vanessa said, and began to remove the dress to put her pants back on.
Kathleen sighed. “His son—in marriage. That is what he offered. He had the gall to say he wouldn’t ruin us if his son was a member of our family.”
“Did Father divorce you without telling me?”
“Divorce! Of course not. He left to save us from scandal, not to cause one. Rathban wasn’t talking about me. He wants my heir for his son.”
“And I’m your heir?”
Chapter Twenty
“YOU KNOW YOU ARE.”
Kathleen said more, lamenting that William’s lack of curiosity had cost them dearly, that he could have been home by now if he’d just read her letters. Vanessa had stopped listening. She was stunned—and alarmed that she might have to marry a member of the ruthless Rathban family to win her father’s freedom to come home. It was ironic that she’d have to give up her freedom and independence to attain what she’d wanted most these past six years—her father back at home and her family reunited. As awful as it sounded, she reminded herself it would be a solution to her biggest problem, and she hadn’t come up with another solution. But still . . .
“You can’t give them the sordid details,” Kathleen said, wrapping up her long list of complaints. “Unlike you—apparently—they are too delicate for that.”
Vanessa focused on her mother again, though it took a moment to catch up to what she was saying and to realize Kathleen was talking about the twins now and comparing them to her. Disparagement and concern in the same breath?
And then Kathleen added, “This is the most exciting year of their lives. Don’t ruin that for them, Vanessa, just because you don’t like telling a few minor lies to spare them, especially when you could simply avoid saying very much about where you’ve been.”
She hadn’t considered that, so she said, “I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Now return to your old room. You can’t stay in this wing any longer with strangers.”
There was the disapproval again, but she pointed out, “They aren’t strangers.”
“But they are men. And while they are welcome guests, we are due a private family meal. Join your sisters and me in my suite for luncheon.”
Vanessa hadn’t said yes to any of that, but Kathleen left her room with the assumption that she had agreed to all of it. Her mother ought not to assume anything where she was concerned.
With the room to herself again, Vanessa fell back on the bed with a frown. She had been prepared to bargain with Albert Rathban herself, but marriage certainly wouldn’t have been on the table when she wouldn’t have known that he was shopping for a wife for his son. But with Kathleen making that bargain for her, would he even be open to an alternative—if she could think of one? But this arrangement was the exact opposite of what she’d hoped for in a marriage. She would be giving up her dreams of romance and the perfect husband who would agree she could retain her independence. How could she do that? And why would Albert Rathban even need to arrange a marriage for his son, a wealthy nobleman from a powerful, prestigious family? Was there something wrong with the boy that he couldn’t find his own wife? Perhaps a hideous deformity? That would be unfortunate. She’d been so stunned she didn’t get a chance to ask her mother. What if the boy would actually sign her contract? She ought to at least find out before she weighed all her options.
When she vacated the guest room with her valise repacked and in hand, Monty walked out of his room as well and was suddenly blocking her way. Had he been listening for her? Surely not, but it still felt like an ambush. But she paused—and he approached.
“I may miss the pants,” he remarked, his eyes moving over the pretty dress she was wearing. “Then again, probably not.”
He’d added that when he was close enough to look down at the low cut of the bodice. She had the urge to laugh, but he was being too risqué, and her protective instincts rose instead—for her sisters. Was he like this only with her? It better only be with her.
“Still no blushes, sweetheart?”
“Why would I? You’re a professed rake. I anticipate rakish nonsense to come out of your mouth. But if you try to make my sisters blush . . .”
“I won’t. I don’t misbehave with ladies,” he assured her as he moved forward enough to maneuver her back against the wall. “But I’ll make an exception for you because you’ve worn pants from the moment we met. It’s going to be very difficult to forget that you’re incredibly bold and resourceful. Please don’t punch me again.”
She did laugh this time. “Should I thank you for the reminder?”
“No! But yes, I did say I would behave once you were dressed like a lady, however—you’re still wearing boots, not quite transformed yet.”
His hand caressed her cheek, then moved up through her hair, then down to the back of her neck, making her tingle with anticipation and tilt her head back so his mouth could more easily reach hers. But he hesitated when his mouth was a breath away. What a tease! She boldly bridged the gulf herself and was enraptured to taste him again, to hear his groan at her acquiescence. If there weren’t a loveless marriage looming in her future she would have protested—or would she? But the firm decision she’d made to wait for the right man and stop kissing the wrong one might be quite irrelevant now that marriage to the Rathban scion could turn out to be her father’s salvation.
Utterly unconcerned about the risk of discovery there in the corridor, she dropped the valise to put her arm around Monty’s neck, but he heard it drop and leaned back to look down by her feet, then met her eyes to accuse, “You were abandoning us without saying goodbye?”
“No, just moving to my old room,” she replied. “You didn’t actually think Mother would let me remain in this wing with male guests, did you?”
“What a shame.”
He feigned a sigh and braced his hands on the wall, one on either side of her head. She didn’t find his physical proximity threatening. In fact, she found it thrilling and deliciously improper because his leg was touching hers.
But he continued, “I thought about sneaking in on you one night for a little more of that activity, which my losing the bet yesterday forbids me to mention, but now I won’t be able to.”
She chuckled. “No you didn’t.”
“ ’Course I did. The bet didn’t say I couldn’t do it, only that I couldn’t mention it.”
“Ah, but it sounds to me like you did just mention it,” she said, and ducked under his arm to back slowly away from him down the corridor.
He didn’t pursue her, instead leaned a shoulder against the wall and asked, “So you completed all your reunions? How did it go with your mother?”
She paused for a moment to reply, “Not exactly how I expected.”
“Do I need to hide from the theatrics?”
“She’s not angry. Not pleased about some things, but not angry.”
“Splendid. I missed you at our meals.”
She wouldn’t admit she’d missed him, too. With a wave, she turned to continue on her way to the east wing.
The man still fascinated her in too many ways. And she enjoyed his banter—and his kisses. But she ought to start thinking of herself as affianced since she might be headed for an arranged marriage. Then again, would a man let a little thing like an engagement stop him from flirting and kissing elsewhere? Maybe if he loved his intended. However, she would be consigning herself to a marriage of convenience with a Rathban if she agreed to the match. But she wasn’t married yet . . .
Chapter Twenty-one
HER OLD ROOM WAS being cleaned again, which was hardly necessary, but Vanessa entered it anyway, telling the two maids working there to just ignore her. It had been a little jarring when she’d come here earlier to get her dress and she had seen that the room appeared the same as when she’d left it. But she hadn’t paused to look at everything, all the things she hadn’t taken
with her the night she’d run away to be with her father. Now she did. All her dolls, which she had stopped playing with but had been too sentimental to get rid of, still sat on the mantel. Her ice skates were still at the bottom of the wardrobe. But at least all the clothes she’d left behind had been removed to make room for her new clothes. Only one of her trunks from Scotland was still there.
She didn’t notice when the maids left because being in her old bedroom was bringing back so many childhood memories. When she opened the first drawer of the bureau, she realized the twins hadn’t unpacked the last trunk because they hadn’t wanted to empty the bureau when it might contain things she wanted to keep. And she most certainly wanted to keep all the ribbons that filled the drawer. She’d picked them out one day when Kathleen had taken her and the twins shopping in Dawton town, every white ribbon in the shop for Layla, all the pinks for Emily, but Vanessa got to have one of every color.
In the next drawer she found the rack of parasols her mother had bought for each of her daughters because they couldn’t leave the house without one, along with the wide-brimmed hats with netting they’d had to wear when they were allowed to garden. Kathleen didn’t object to floral gardening, a genteel hobby, as long as her daughters were outfitted in accoutrements that would protect them from the sun. But she adamantly objected to her girls riding, being rambunctious, swimming, fishing, or doing anything that kept them out in the sun too long.
At least she’d gotten to enjoy all that and more in Scotland. And she supposed the twins’ not having had the same fun experiences hadn’t hurt them. What they didn’t know, they wouldn’t miss.
And then in another drawer she saw a few items from Scotland that the twins had unpacked, including the box in which she’d packed her father’s portrait. It wasn’t a miniature, though it wasn’t large, about the size of a dinner plate, but it was such a good likeness of him she hadn’t wanted to risk its getting damaged on the trip and had wrapped it in linen before putting it in the wooden box. Had the twins peeked when they’d unpacked for her and stuck it in a drawer? Wouldn’t they have mentioned it if they had?
She opened the box, unwrapped the portrait, and held it in her hands. And the tears fell silently as she gazed at William’s likeness. She missed him so much! With all her heart she wished he could be home, too—and he could. She’d known, deep down, that she was willing to do whatever it would take to bring her father home, even marry a man she didn’t love. And Albert Rathban himself was handing the solution to her—if it wasn’t too late. It better not be too late.
A little while later, there was a knock on the door and she was surprised to find her sisters there. They’d never knocked on each other’s doors when they’d been children, but the twins were proper ladies now, so of course they wouldn’t barge in on her as they used to do.
“So here you are,” Layla said as she took one of Vanessa’s arms.
“Weren’t you told we’re having lunch with Mother in her rooms?” Emily asked, taking her other arm.
“We’re already late, so do come along.”
They were merely dragging her across the corridor. Vanessa didn’t laugh when she realized they might have thought she had no intention of joining them. They knocked on Kathleen’s door, too. A footman opened it. Two others were in the large room as well, having brought in the first course already placed on the table that would seat four.
“I’ve sent for our seamstress,” Kathleen said as the girls took their seats.
Since she didn’t doubt the seamstress was for her, Vanessa replied, “Inspect my wardrobe, Mother, if you must. It’s perfectly—”
“More of those ridiculous pants?” Kathleen cut in.
Vanessa laughed. “No, what you would consider appropriate—and just a few pair of pants.”
“The twins said you have only two ball gowns. Hardly sufficient.”
“Why ever not? They can be worn more’n once.”
“No, Nessa,” Layla said.
“Unheard of,” Emily added.
“And not necessary,” Kathleen said. “You will be fitted for at least four more, and you can pick the colors and fabrics, if you like. The twins will guide you if you aren’t sure what is appropriate.”
Vanessa shrugged. “Do as you like.”
“No ‘thank you’?” Kathleen asked. “Have you even forgotten common courtesies?”
“Not a’tall. But I didn’t ask for more clothes, because I already have a very nice new wardrobe. It feels as if you’re forcing this on me.”
“Your father should have known that you would need more than two ball gowns. Six may not be necessary, but there is no reason you shouldn’t be prepared for more than a few balls.”
Faulting William for her supposedly inadequate wardrobe rubbed Vanessa wrong and brought out the lie, “I hadn’t even decided on having a Season, if you must know.”
Everyone gasped at that point—except Vanessa. But she regretted the lie immediately. She just couldn’t help getting contrary with her mother. How was she going to deal with Kathleen if she couldn’t shake off this defensiveness? And she was being provoked. Kathleen’s stiff hauteur, the disparagement. Was this how she was with the twins? Was she this way now because they were present? Or did she somehow think that Vanessa would “behave” with them listening to every word?
It was the twins who both said in unison, “But you must have your Season!”
“Of course she will, darlings,” Kathleen assured the girls. “Our Vanessa is merely being difficult because she didn’t prepare sufficiently for the Season, but it’s an oversight that can be easily rectified.”
Must she really? Now, when she already had a husband lined up? Before she could mention that, Kathleen asked, “Did your father at least teach you how to dance?”
Hearing yet another disparagement of William, Vanessa stood up abruptly. “This was a mistake. When you can act like a mother instead of a bloody taskmaster, perhaps we can try this again.”
“Wait,” Kathleen said quickly. “I apologize, Nessa. I’ve let my disappointment get out of hand, but it was such a surprise that William sent you home alone. I thought surely he would return with you for your Season, but I understand why he can’t.”
Well, Kathleen certainly had no trouble keeping up the lies. But she did sound sincere in the apology, making Vanessa realize she was being far too antagonistic, especially after she’d heard a new version of what happened six years ago. Both parents determined to stave off scandals? Ironic if that was so. But the trouble was, she wasn’t sure if she could believe Kathleen’s excuse. After all, she’d just heard how guilelessly her mother could lie.
But she nodded and sat back down, then amazingly, Kathleen went right back to complaining. “There’s no time to get a dancing instructor here to teach Vanessa.”
“We can teach her,” Layla quickly offered.
“You don’t know how to lead, which is what a gentleman does,” Emily pointed out, though she added, “But we’ve got two presently in residence.”
“So we do,” Kathleen agreed. “If they won’t mind.”
“We’ll ask!” the twins said in unison again.
Which brought Kathleen’s censure. “You certainly will not. Ladies are never that bold.”
“But I am,” Vanessa said, and was proud that she managed not to smirk.
“No, you will not!”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “It’s a little late for comportment lessons, Mother. I won’t embarrass you in public, but I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not in private. Besides, I know them well enough for it not to be the least bit bold to ask for something as harmless as dancing lessons.”
Kathleen actually conceded. Even the twins seemed surprised by it. But they got through the rest of the lunch without any more combat, so Vanessa waited until dessert was set before her to mention, “By the by, Mother, I agree to your arranged marriage for me.”
Layla gasped. “Arranged?”
And Emily exclaimed, “You sa
id we could pick our husbands as long as you approved!”
“And so you shall,” Kathleen replied. “This particular match for Vanessa was merely too good to turn down when it was offered years ago. Leave us. I need to speak to your sister alone about it.”
Layla immediately stood up to depart, but Emily stayed in her seat and her expression had turned mulish. Vanessa almost laughed. This twin had definitely gained some courage over the years.
But there was no doubt that Kathleen was angry when she repeated, “I said, leave us.”
Emily instantly rose with a loud huff and headed for the door. She still wouldn’t confront Kathleen’s anger, but apparently she didn’t mind displaying some of her own these days.
Once they were alone, Vanessa said, “That wasn’t necessary. You could have waited to speak to me alone after they were on their way out the door.”
“And you could have waited until then to make that incredible announcement, but you didn’t. What do you mean you agree? I told you, I haven’t heard back from Albert Rathban yet and found out if the offer is still available. His boy doesn’t want to marry, ever.”
“Why not?”
“He didn’t say, only that he had arranged for five other brides before you and they were all rejected. It might just be his son’s shyness.”
“What else can you tell me about him?”
“I met the boy only briefly years ago at a horse race. He’s not especially good-looking, but certainly not ugly. However, his shyness makes him appear socially awkward, perhaps even a little dull, but I still thought he was a nice boy. I’m not trying to put you off by having nothing wonderful to say about him.”
Vanessa was actually pleased by Kathleen’s description because marriage to such a compliant fellow might not be all bad. He might sign her contract, and she might even gain the upper hand in the marriage. But she wasn’t going to mention that to Kathleen.
“You haven’t put me off,” she assured her mother. “Is he Albert’s only son?”
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