“You’ve never been inside then?” Richfield asked as he dismounted. He moved to help me down.
“No, I haven’t,” I said honestly. The Vanderson house had last been occupied by the elderly and grumpy, Mr. Vanderson, who had died five years ago. His surviving relatives had promptly sold the estate to the Knightons.
“Then, let me be the first to show you,” Richfield said, holding his arm out to me.
There was a slight musty smell as we walked in. The rooms were light and airy. Richfield had something positive to say about every room we entered, something to point out to me. He made sure I noticed the intricate details in the molding, and then remarked on the view from the window, though i’m not sure why he was so delighted with a view of the stableyard.
“What do you think?” he asked when we once again stood in the entrance hall.
“It’s even more lovely than I had ever imagined,” I said, looking around once again.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. I bought it.” My heart stopped, and I brought my attention back to him. “I knew you would want to be at least within riding distance of your family. Mr. Knighton was willing to negotiate, and we completed the business last night.”
So that’s why he and Mr. Knighton had not joined us in the drawing room with everyone else. It took me a moment to realize exactly what he had done for me. He’d bought a house for me, not far from Mother and Father. I wouldn’t be completely separated from my family when I married, but there would be enough distance for me to start the next chapter of my life. It was, quite simply, perfect.
“I—I thought you already had an estate.”
“I do, but it is much smaller than this one,” Richfield said, looking and sounding pleased with himself. “I knew it would make you happy to be close to your family and the investment is a sound one.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I covered my mouth with my fingers. A laugh bubbled up as my betrothed began to look concerned. “It’s perfect.” For the second time that day, I threw myself at him, winding my arms around his neck. “Thank you!”
My face ended up close to his, and the scent of his cologne―a tangy lemon, a far cry from the bay rum scent I’d smelled on my father— filled my senses. His pulse beat in his neck and I swallowed hard, a feeling of nervousness overtaking me. Slowly, I lifted my gaze until my eyes locked with his.
Everything else, the sound of the repairs, faded away. John’s eyes shifted to my lips, and he lowered his head. For a moment, I felt his warm breath on my lips. “I would like to kiss you now,” he said, his voice low.
And then, he did. His lips pressed against mine and my eyes closed. His left hand came up on my back and pulled me closer to him.
Something clattered nearby, and we broke apart. My eyes must have been as wide as saucers, and I couldn’t look away from him. It took me a moment to regain my balance. I cleared my throat after several seconds.
“I should return home,” I said, my voice unsteady. If I stayed here, I knew I would definitely kiss him again.
“Right,” Richfield said, sounding just as off balance as I felt. “Of course. Your father warned me he would count the minutes until I returned you.”
“How long did he give you before he would start a search?”
“About four hours.”
That long? Odd. I would have expected Father to make it a bit more of an impossible time limit. A great deal can happen in four hours. “How long has it been?” I asked, glancing around in vain for a clock. It felt like it had been no time at all since we had arrived.
Richfield pulled his watch out. “Three hours.” His eyes met mine.
I definitely needed to get back home. Mother would need to be told, and we should start planning for my new home. There was no doubt much advice I would need to take note of for running my own household, and—.
“I didn’t show you the garden,” Richfield said all of a sudden, interrupting my thoughts.
Any idea of returning home vanished. “I would love to see it!”
“YOUR FATHER WON’T BE angry, will he?” Richfield asked when we were finally riding back.
We were going to be at least an hour late. The garden at Vanderson Cottage had provided several little nooks where Mr. Richfield could steal a kiss. I considered the situation carefully. “No, I don’t think so. But there’s been no situation that can serve as a basis of comparison, so I can’t be completely certain.”
Richfield laughed. “You’re so amusing sometimes, Diana.”
Making a face, I focused on the bridge we were crossing: the place where I had been attacked. “I wish I could remember what happened here,” I said softly. What was it I had picked up and then lost? I knew it was important,but my mind wasn’t cooperating!
“You will. Even if you don’t, I will never let anything happen to you. There hasn’t been sign of the man since then, besides one last attack on Mr. Sandwood. Perhaps the search your father and every other man has made finally convinced the man he ought to take himself elsewhere.”
He could speak of it so calmly. Was that the proof he wasn’t the villain of the story?
“Sarah said it was you.” I hadn’t meant to say it. I had sworn not to think about it at all. There was no truth in it.
Richfield gave a startled laugh. “She did?” he asked. “She thought I was the highwayman? Why?”
It made me laugh to think of the whole thing. Had it only been a few weeks since Sarah had made me so furious with her wild theory? “She became suspicious when you said you were in Bath at the time of the highwayman terrorizing the gentry there. It just spiraled from there. I had such a hard time keeping her from telling people.”
“The interrogations she’s put me through have been because of this?”
There was a strange note in his voice, and I focused on him again to see a frown on his face. “Yes,” I said slowly. “She, Miss Sandwood, and Will were all set on proving the theory.”
“Well, I suppose that explains why the Sandwoods and the Knightons felt the need to write to London about me.”
My breath caught in my throat. What? “They did?” was all I could think to stay. Sarah was going to be in so much trouble when I saw her! I knew our parents were aware of it, but Miss Sandwood had obviously talked! “I—I didn’t know that.”
“Your sister truly believed I was the one to harm you? Why would she have thought that?”
No longer did I think it amusing. Richfield struggled to control his anger. “She said it was because you were there so fast after they found me.” Maybe I wouldn’t be the one to scold Sarah. John’s eyes were narrowed, his forehead furrowed. He wouldn’t “She didn’t mean anything by it! It was just idle speculation!”
“Idle speculation?” Richfield scoffed. “Did she have no care to what ‘speculation’ can do to a man’s reputation?”
“You weren’t supposed to find out,” I said before I could think better of it. I shouldn’t have said a word. How this had become so negative, I didn’t understand, but I had to try to smooth over the damage. I’d been incensed when Sarah had first mentioned the matter, but I’d never dreamed John would be this angry. “No one was! It was to go no further than Sarah and Miss Sandwood.”
His gaze landed on me. “But you knew? This whole time?”
“Yes, but I did everything I could to keep her from speaking of it!”
“Did you not think I would need to know this?”
“It was just a theory! I didn’t think anyone would have believed her!” I said defensively. “I didn’t believe her when she told me.”
“When she told you.” His eyes narrowed. “But you did believe her at some point.”
“No! Of course not. I tried to prove your innocence to her.”
“‘Tried to prove’? Then, you didn’t succeed? You still accepted my offer, thinking I was a man who would purposely harm you,” Richfield said, his tone a mix of disbelief and fury. “Did you imagine I would be the only man to ever offer for
you? Were you so desperate to be married you would accept a man under suspicion of being a criminal?”
Desperate? Me? “Why would you ask me that?” I asked, feeling my temper rising. “I accepted you because—.”
“But that’s what you did, didn’t you?” John said, interrupting me. “You accepted my offer despite knowing what was thought of me. Was it because of my family’s wealth? Was the money worth the risk of marrying a criminal? ”
Tears of anger, and not joy as they had been a few hours before, filled my eyes. It was what I had done, but not for the reasons he implied! “No,” was all I could choke out. What could I say? “That is not why I accepted you.”
“You believed I would hurt you?”
It was clear he was in no temper to listen to me. Or, at least, he wouldn’t believe a word I said. I couldn’t even think straight anymore.
Regardless of the safety of such a move, I slid out of my saddle. My skirt caught on the pommel, and I ended up hitting the ground. Lady Juliet was kind enough not to move as I struggled to my feet. I was sure to have bruises from that. I jerked my skirt free, ignoring the sound of cloth ripping at my actions, and began to run for my family home.
“Diana!”
He was following me. “Just go!” I said sharply, spinning to face him one last time. “I’m sorry you were hurt. I’m sorry you believe me to a fortune hunter. Think the worst of me! I cannot stop you!”
“Diana, what’s wrong?” James was rushing towards me. I hadn’t realized I was so close to home, but I was. “What happened?”
Tears were streaming down my face, and I made no move to brush them away. I had nothing to say to my brother, even if I didn’t feel choked. Whirling back around, I ran past James. Barely slowing, I pulled the door open in my rush to get to my room.
I heard Sarah call after me, but I definitely did not want to speak to her. Throwing myself onto my bed, I buried my face in a pillow. How could Richfield think such things about me? Why had I brought the subject up? Should I have let the matter die with my engagement to him?
Never had I felt so miserable.
“Diana, Mr. Richfield has gone.” Mother. It felt like it had been hours since I’d feld from John, but it could only have been a matter of minutes. Mother sat beside me on the bed, her hand on my shoulder. I twisted my head to look at her. “Your brother managed not to provoke a fight in defense of your honor. Now, dry your eyes and tell me what has happened.”
“It was terrible,” I said, rubbing my face. “He said such awful things.” Well, I couldn’t assign all the blame to him. “And it’s all my fault!”
“Tell me.”
Mother would help me make everything right. So I told her everything.
Chapter Nineteen
To her credit, Mother listened patiently as I poured out the whole situation to her. “It seems to me what we have here is a miscommunication,” she said when I finally ran out of things to say and just sat there sniffing in what I’m sure was a pathetic way. “On both sides.”
“Miscommunication?”
Firmly, she nodded. “I understand you wanted to make a clean breast of things, and if it had been bothering you so much, it was quite right of you, but simply running away as you did was not wise.”
“But he wouldn’t listen to me!”
“Were you listening to him?”
I paused, rubbing the side of my head. I had such a headache. “Yes, I was. He said such angry things.”
“He spoke in anger, but he had reason to do so,” Mother said, her tone gentle. “His reputation has been tarnished. The Sandwoods are friends of his family, and they felt the need to investigate whether he was respectable or not. That cannot be easy for a man to learn. And then to learn his betrothed has had doubts about his character as well?”
Fresh tears welled up. “But I didn’t doubt his character, which I tried to explain to him. I tried to prove he was innocent. What am I to do?”
“You and he must sit down and discuss this as the rational adults you are,” Mother said. Groaning, I covered my face with my hands. “Tomorrow, we dine with the Sandwoods. You can put all things straight between you then.”
“I never should have listened to Sarah! Why did she have to say such ridiculous things and ruin everything?”
Perhaps it was wrong of me to blame my sister. Sighing, Mother got to her feet. “But you did listen to her, Diana, and after you were warned you not to do so. You knew better than to let her imagination affect you. Sadly, this is the consequence you must face.”
I was reminded of the first argument with Richfield I had ever had. He had said I would allow my siblings to lead me into trouble and the idea had annoyed me at the time. Though, it hadn’t been the trouble he could have been referring to, how right he had been! I was such a fool.
Sitting up, I rubbed my face. “Did James try to defend my honor?” I asked, remembering what Mother had said earlier.
“Your father managed to keep him from doing anything he would regret later on,” Mother said with a slight smile. “Wash your face. Your father will want to talk to you once I have explained the situation to him.”
That would not be an enjoyable conversation. I nodded, and Mother left the room. Pulling the pins from my hair, I took off my riding hat. Going to the water basin, I poured out some water and splashed it on my face.
“Diana?”
I forced myself to take a deep breath before I faced my sister. “Sarah,” I said quietly, rubbing my face dry. Folding the towel, I replaced it on the stand.
“I overheard what you and Mother were talking about,” she said slowly.
Of course, she had. And there was nothing I had to say in answer. “I know you think this is my fault,” she said. She wasn’t wrong, and I still had nothing to say to her. “I just want to tell you I’m sorry.”
Sorry? After everything that had just happened, that she had just heard, “sorry” was all she had to say? I felt a sharp burst of anger but then felt too tired to argue with her. All I could do was stare and hope she would leave.
“Please don’t look at me like that.”
Still, I had nothing to say, and I shifted my gaze to the hat in my hand. “For goodness sake, Diana, say something!” Sarah said, her tone sharp.
“What do you want me to say?” I asked equally as sharp. I threw my hat at the bed and watched as it bounced to the ground.
“Tell me what you’re thinking!”
DIdn’t she realize that was a dangerous topic? “That would not be wise.” My poor hat. It was not to blame for what had happened. I stooped to pick it up and dust it off. “I have nothing to say to you, Sarah.”
Sarah stood in the doorway and stared at me for several moments. “Fine,” she finally said. She spun around and slammed the door shut behind her.
What a mess this had all become! My movements slow, I changed out of my dirty riding habit into a clean gown. Inspecting my knees, I discovered bruises forming from my ungraceful dismount. I sighed again and shook my head.
It served me right.
WHEN FATHER SAT ME down in the library, all he asked was what had happened. Instantly, my composure broke, and I started crying again. It took longer to tell him than it had for Mother and I could only be grateful Father was the most patient man I had ever known. He heaved a sigh when I finally came to an end.
“Your mother told me what she has advised, and I agree with her assessment,” he told me as I wiped away my tears. “You have been foolish, Diana.”
“Yes, I know, sir,” I said quietly, for how could I argue with my father? I hesitated. I needed to know one thing. “Mr. Richfield said Mr. Sandwood and Mr. Knighton wrote to London about him because of the rumors being spread. Is this true?”
Again, Father sighed. “They mentioned they intended to do so, though they did not give an exact reason behind it.”
I covered my face with my hands. No wonder Richfield had been so furious. “I should have told him sooner.”
“D
iana, if you recall your mother and I advised you not to do so.” Father shook his head. “Looking back, perhaps that is not the advice we ought to have given you. Still, I don’t think there would have been any time he would have taken it well.The whole thing seems to have been blown out of proportion. ”
With that, Father dismissed me. I left the library, astonished there was still some daylight left. I went to the drawing room and sat down at my pianoforte in the hopes some music would calm me. At least, it would give me something to focus on other than my problems.
I found the most complicated piece of music I had and set up the sheets in order. Working through the notes, I increased my tempo each time I began. Learning the piece kept me from overthinking.
“I figured this is where you would be.”
Will. In the middle of the piece, I stopped playing. “Is there something you want?” I asked, straightening the music to keep from looking at him. After all, he had played a small part in this whole thing.
“Sarah thinks you hate her,” Will said as he leaned against the pianoforte.
That made me look up. “She does?” I asked. My brother nodded, and I sighed. “I don’t hate her, Will, but I am perilously close to it.”
“I wanted to see James hit Richfield.”
Of course, he had. I couldn’t stop a bitter laugh from leaving my throat. “Forgive me if I say I am glad he did not hit my husband-to-be.”
“Are you sure you can still call him your ‘husband to be?’” Will asked, his expression holding disappointment. “From what I heard, you and he fought.”
I couldn’t tell if his reaction was a little-seen brotherly instinct of ‘no one makes my sister angry except me’ or if he only because he wanted to see a fistfight. “We may have fought, but that doesn’t mean I want you or James to hit him for me,” I said firmly. “We’re still going to be married, you know.”
“Really? Because I thought you told Richfield to leave.”
My hands came down on the pianoforte keys, making a loud crash of noise. He was right. That’s precisely what I had said! I dropped my head to my arms. I hadn’t meant it! “What have I done?”
A Chaotic Courtship Page 20