“You promise, a week, see me every day? I want you to promise.”
“Yes. Why not,” Lilly weakened. “I’m sure you can teach me many things about recognizing a cad. Lessons I might need later in life. Come tomorrow morning before the major, before someone else talks to me, or sleep in and forget the whole idea. Whatever you want.”
“I’ll be here,” he promised.
Strangely Lilly believed him, but she would give nothing away.
“Forgive me if I doubt it. Now let go.”
Reece released her mare, who tossed its head and whinnied.
“I’ll be here,” he said again and she nodded.
……….
CHAPTER THREE
The Mistress
Lord Castleford Manor
Residence of Viscount Castleford
Suffolk, England
Lilly woke up to the rooster’s crow. She had not slept well. What was she doing agreeing to meet with that blackguard Lord Randall for a week? What if the major was serious and asked her to marry him, did she want that? Lilly felt unpleasant thoughts in marrying Major Sheridan. It was selfish and she tried to resist it, but she knew the major had deeply loved his wife, loved her still. If she married him she would be second in his heart forever. Lilly did not want to live her life competing with a dead woman.
Of course, if she married this rogue of an earl, he would have hundreds before and after her. He’d probably call them all ‘dear’ because he couldn’t keep their names straight.
She’d never be truly loved or cherished by either of them. If it wasn’t for father and aunt, she would run away. The responsibility of the last five years since her mother died, weighed heavily on her. Too much trouble, too little joy.
I will have fun, just this one week, Lilly thought. It had been a long time since she’d felt like a young lady and she did have all those new clothes to wear.
Lilly dressed carefully and left half her hair down. If vanity had any touch on Lilly, it was her hair. It was very thick and curled in lovely big waves down her back. She dressed in her favorite new morning gown, tight at the waist, her corset pushing her bosom higher and firmer against the fabric. It had tight sleeves, with a beautiful fabric of pattern over dark peach muslin. She looked into her eyes and smiled.
“Just enjoy life. Mend your heart. Don’t expect anything good from either of the gentlemen, just allow yourself a few days of courtship. Something you will never have again,” Lilly said to her mirror’s reflection.
Lilly had an early country breakfast and sat in the morning room. She waited and watched out the window. She took up some sewing and carefully stitched French knots around a flower. No one came. Lilly went to the small music room and practiced her pianoforte softly, as not to wake her late sleeping aunts. No callers arrived. She danced around the music room, humming to herself and thinking how nice it was not to work on account books, but she soon grew bored and checked the windows one more time. The drive was empty and her aunts were arguing upstairs. The morning had passed, without any lingering belief either man was capable of telling the truth or keeping a promise. Lilly didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry.
She ordered the small open gig to be brought around and decided to go to the village. She went about daily in her little carriage, handling the horse with skill. Being caught waiting for gentlemen callers who never arrived was embarrassing.
“I’m off to the village,” Lilly called up to her aunts.
“Have a good time Lilly.”
They both replied, before commencing their argument. Lilly laughed, feeling mischievous.
“I’m taking the snow sled, I’m going bear hunting,” she laughed as Aunt Mary called down.
“Good Dear.”
“Fine sweetheart, have fun. Do take a maid with you,” Aunt Ellen suggested.
Lilly rolled her eyes, but motioned for Kitty, the kitchen girl to grab the cook’s shopping list and accompany her to the village.
The short trip was amusing with Kitty telling stories of her brothers, her fellow workers, her crush on the footman Bob, and the new blister on her foot. Lilly nodded and laughed, but felt at odds and sixes about her own life and where she would end up.
Kitty went to the vegetable stalls and Lilly admired the new fabrics the milliners had to offer, they both ate pies at a stand, then sat by two little girls on a bench and played guessing games with them while their mother shopped. Lilly thought of looking inside the pub, to see if the major was there, but decided that would appear desperate.
Lilly glanced up at the sound of hooves and saw Lord Randall together with another person, a lady arriving near the pub. This woman was dressed in red, with blonde hair, older, perhaps thirties but voluptuous.
That must be one of his mistresses. Did the earl have her brought down for the wedding? How outrageous. It really made no difference now. This woman was here and that was proof enough of what he was and what his word was worth. He wanted a week with Lilly, and brought his mistress with him? Lilly wondered if the earl was mad.
Lilly sat lower on the bench, trying to hide. She gathered the young girls around her, but Lord Randall noticed her and rode in her direction.
“Come, let’s find your mother, I have to go,” Lilly said, taking a small hand in each of her own.
The little blonde girls giggled and obeyed. The foursome walked away and into a store before Lord Randall could dismount.
“Janet I have to go, but I did enjoy spending time with your daughters,” Lilly said.
“Thank you for watching them Lilly. You are always so nice to my girls, they love you,” Janet said with a grin.
“I love them too,” Lilly replied rubbing their shiny heads.
She thought of sneaking out the back door, but motioned for Kitty to go out front, to the gig. Lilly gathered her courage and walked out behind her and right into the path of Reece and his woman.
Lilly smiled and curtsied, “Greetings.”
The older woman wore too much rouge and her lips were thin and dry. Up close, her eyes were lined with black and wrinkles pulled at the corners. She looked ill-tempered and proud. She was short, curvy slipping to plump with light blonde hair. She wore an overdesigned red riding habit, trimmed with black satin, braid, buttons, and lace.
“Your aunts said you would be in the village Lilly,” Reece said, taking her arm before she could dodge him.
“Introduce us,” Marlena ordered.
Reece would rather jump off a stable, but he made the introductions.
“Lady Castleford, this is Marlena Sims, an old friend of mine.”
Reece was used to women fighting over him and prepared himself for the spectacular battle about to begin. Only nothing happened.
“A delight to meet you. Excuse me, but I’m off to join father and my fiancé at the pub. Have a pleasurable stay,” Lilly said, her voice totally void of emotion. She twisted loose of his hand and shook out her skirts.
Lilly winked and walked around them, as if they were paint chipped pillars holding up an old porch.
“Was that her? I thought you said she was a brown country mouse!”
Marlena’s temper was heating up and for once Reece was not affected by it. He was wondering if he’d heard Lilly correctly, what fiancé?
“Don’t start one of your fits. No one invited you down here,” Reece replied, showing temper of his own.
“She seems not the least interested in you Reece, are you sure that’s the right one?” Marlena purred, noticing his eyes following the young lady walking away and not liking it.
Reece had a chance to view the two women side by side and Marlena gained nothing in the comparison. She had never looked so old and haggard, her degenerate lifestyle and French cigarettes had caught up with her. Lilly looked like a statuesque goddess with her fresh skin and when she turned and walked down the street, her waist long, dark hair curling around her back and hips, made his pulse race hot and fast.
“Marlena, you’re going back to Lo
ndon,” he ordered. “I mean it, right now and not to my house but your own.”
Real fear came into Marlena’s eyes and she blinked to force tears.
“You think to dismiss me on a dirty village street!”
“Good a place as any. Go back to the Park and get your things, take my coach back to town.”
“You do not mean it?” she cried in earnest now.
“I do. We’re over Marlena, I’m an earl and you’re a mistress. You don’t follow me, give me orders, arrive uninvited to my home, and question me. Do you understand?” He shouted.
They both noticed several heads turned in their direction and Kitty’s eyes were as big as plates. The earl walked Marlena back to her horse and helped her mount.
“I’ll go back, but I know you don’t mean it,” Marlena tried again.
“Hell’s bells Madame, I do mean it. I’ll send word to have you barred from my townhouse. Goodbye Marlena, you pushed me too far one too many times.”
Marlena knew Reece spoke with certainty now. He was serious. She thought to beg, but he slapped the back of her horse and she trotted back down the street.
Reece sighed and rolled his shoulders, he felt lighter already. He looked over at Lilly’s maid and grinned.
Lilly was coming out of the pub, alone thank the gods, and he walked up to her.
“What do you mean, your fiancé? I thought we’d agreed you’d give me a week.”
“You broke your word first. You never came to call this morning. Have a late night?” Lilly asked, winking at him again.
The jade, she wasn’t the least bit possessive. A new experience for him. Irrationally, he wanted Lilly to be jealous.
“No, detained by the arrival of unwanted company, which I’ve now dismissed.”
“Hope not on my account, though she looked incredibly old. What was she forty five?”
“Thirty five.”
“Ah, old like you. Well, got to run.”
“Wait, stay here with me.”
“I’ve been in the village for hours, I’m hungry. You stay. Look over there by the bakery, the Bainbridge girls. Go have a look, perhaps you’ll find your bride.”
He studied her face, trying to see if this was some devious woman’s plot of forced indifference. It wasn’t. Lilly looked at him as if he were an old swaybacked horse she pitied.
“I’ll go back with you.”
“Suit yourself, I’m sure you always do.”
……….
Reece rode his horse beside Lilly’s open gig. He’d never had this much time to stare at Lilly before, he could feel himself falling under her spell with each of the horse’s strides. He watched her for any reaction. Finally, Lilly looked over at him and smiled.
“You could be such a better person if you tried. What made you into the man you are?” Lilly asked.
That wasn’t the reaction he was looking for.
“I don’t normally answer personal questions,” he huffed.
“Not even from me, your future bride?” She joked.
“I fell into it I guess. It started at Oxford. All rich and titled, we got used to living high. No one ever demanded more of me.”
“I can tell. Now I’ll tell you something about me. I haven’t had a free day like this since I was fifteen.”
He turned to glance into her marvelous brown eyes and asked, “Why not?”
“My mother died and then someone had to balance the expenses, order the food, and run the manor. Father is an inventor. He thinks big thoughts, not little ones, like noticing we are out of butter. Now my turn.”
“What do you do beside chase women, have affairs, play cards, and watch horse races?” Lilly asked, watching his expression.
Reece went to answer, but had to think first. He hadn’t realized he’d drifted into such a rut.
“I ride, go to Tattersall’s and trade horses, spend some time with my brother.”
“Tell me about him.”
“His name is Robert, thirty, practical, careful, thoughtful, different than me.”
“Does he look like you?” Lilly asked, thinking it impossible for two men to be this handsome.
“Why?”
“I might like him better, is he married?” Lilly asked.
“No,” Reece answered, feeling put out.
“He sounds more my age and personality. Would you invite him down?” Lilly asked, adding extra sweetness to her voice.
“Whatever for?” Reece asked, growing huffy.
“For an introduction to me, I still need to marry. You know you and I won’t suit.”
“Why not?”
“Lord Randall, you are only capable of hurting a lady. You have enough charm to make me like you, handsome, impressive, of course you know that. Only after I like you, you’d bring your mistresses down for a visit, or stay away for years, and you would break my heart.”
Kitty sighed and patted Lilly’s shoulder. Reece wished her to Hades.
He looked at Lilly deeply. He breathed in her newly mixed scent and noticed how the material over her bosom pulled.
“What if I wouldn’t have any more mistresses? I’m thirty five, I need a son, what if you were enough?” Reece asked, surprising himself.
She looked at him in astonishment and wonder.
“My, you are good. No wonder women fall like trees in a gale at your feet. One would almost think you were serious, if they hadn’t been forgotten this morning for our planned meeting or witnessed you with your mistress just minutes ago. Really Lord Randall, you must think me a goose.”
Before he could answer, they arrived back at Castleford Manor and her Aunt Ellen came outside to greet them.
“Major Sheridan is here, he’s been waiting on you for hours Lilly.”
Ellen raised startled eyes seeing Lord Randall dismount and stand beside Lilly.
“What’s he doing here?” Her aunt hissed.
“Just passing a boring day I’d imagine. I must go inside and see the major. I fulfilled my agreement, I saw you today. Now I must go inside,” Lilly said, turning to Reece.
He grabbed her arm and turned her.
“This Major Sheridan, who is he?”
“My other gentleman,” Lilly whispered and smiled.
She removed her arm again. Lord Randall really did like touching her, how annoying Lilly thought as she rushed inside. Reece turned to her aunt.
“Is she serious, is this major open to marrying Lilly?”
“Yes,” Aunt Ellen beamed. “He is a handsome, rugged gentleman and would make her content. Something you cannot do. Leave Lilly alone, I should never have encouraged the match, I thought too much of your fortune and too little of your faults.”
Reece watched Lady Ellen storm back into the manor and sighed. It seemed all the Castleford ladies were outspoken. Reece felt like he’d been horsewhipped.
……….
“Lilly, I’m sorry I wasn’t here this morning, a problem came up, but I wanted to talk to you,” Major Sheridan said taking her hands and kissing them in a courtly manner unlike him.
“Major, come into the drawing room, would you care for a brandy?”
“Yes. Who is that outside talking to your aunt?”
“Oh that’s the earl, the one who plans on marrying me, then stranding me here.”
“The one you told me about, the man who paid a clerk to write you love letters?” The major asked in disbelief.
“Well, they weren’t exactly love letters, more lists of possessions, stories, tales of trips, now I think on it, the poor boy probably had no idea what to write. It must had been a silly task for him.”
“You’re forgiving,” the major said, still watching Lord Randall from the window.
“It wasn’t personal, Lord Randall had never laid eyes on me before. His solicitor picked me I believe. He just agreed. Now he’s seen his brown mouse, he thinks he’ll still go through with it,” Lilly said, pretending lightheartedness.
“So it is true, he still thinks to marry you?”
“I think he’s playing a game, stalling, perhaps filling time so when he returns to London and his crowd, he’ll have a new adventure to tell.”
“He sounds like a child. How old is he?” The major asked gruffly.
“Five and thirty and could we stop talking about him. What did you want to say to me?” Lilly asked, sitting and arranging her skirts.
“I think you know Lilly, but I talked to your father and he said he could not entertain my suit, as funds were exchanged.”
“What?” Lilly asked, truly surprised.
“It seems your grand lord out there had his solicitor send funds to your father’s accounts yesterday and his creditors have been paid with it. It was a large amount Lilly, I cannot match it.”
Lilly was never so surprised.
“Father has creditors? I manage our funds, we don’t owe creditors.”
“Lord Castleford arranged it without telling you Lilly. He’s had the gun tested several times, a foundry hired to make parts, he got in too deep; he avoided telling you. He arranged a transfer of funds in the post, money lenders. He’s spent all the earl’s money to repay them Lilly.”
Lilly stood and raced out of the drawing room and into the drive where Lord Randall still stood.
“Did you send father money?” Lilly asked, not believing her father would deceive her so.
“My man Mr. Commons did. I thought you knew.”
“No, I didn’t know. How much?” asked Lilly, wondering how she was ever going to pay it back.
“Ten thousand pounds. Your father signed a promissory note, other papers. The loan becomes a gift when we marry.”
“Ten thousand?” Lilly whispered. It might as well be ten times that, for she could never repay it.
She looked up at Lord Randall in horror. She would really have to marry him. She was truly attracted to him, and he meant to mistreat her, if aunt’s stories were true. He would use her for gaining children, abandon her here. If she didn’t like him, or if she could hate him, she might be protected. Lilly was afraid he already had power over her, this marriage would wound her every day she faced being deserted. What tales from town would she hear over the lonely years, the parties, the women, it would break her. She needed to know the extent of his plans for her.
Lilly Page 4