by Kate Pearce
She looked up to find Benedict coming down the staircase. He paused to study her.
“Art thou well?”
“Did you make that roof tile fall?”
He shrugged. “Aye. ‘Tis a good thing that your Edwin was looking after you, eh?”
“But it was supposed to be Charlie who saved me.”
“Aye, that is true. I forgot.” He removed his hat and scratched his head. “I will think up another attempt. Do not despair, Mistress!”
“But—”
He disappeared back up the stairs, leaving her alone again. She should have told him not to bother, that Charlie was so obviously besotted with Letty that he was beyond help. But Letty would never be allowed to marry a younger son, and Edwin would make her a far more suitable husband. Was she willing to sacrifice the happiness of three people she cared about simply to get her own way?
Violet picked up her skirts and started down the hall. Her stepmother often scolded her for being managing. Mayhap she had a point.
Chapter 4
The next morning the weather had cleared up nicely, and the younger members of the party decided to make an excursion to the village of Bocka Morrow while their elders dealt with the complications of the will. The visit was sanctioned by the attendance of several chaperones, including Mrs. DeLisle, which gave Edwin hope that his brother would gain some sense and keep away from Miss Letty.
Edwin wore his heaviest coat, stout walking boots, and brought a scarf just in case the weather turned again, which was an all too common occurrence in Cornwall. As he joined the assembled guests in the great hall, he spotted Violet equally well-garbed and carrying an umbrella.
He walked toward her, and for the first time ever she blushed and hurriedly looked away. His steps slowed. Had he embarrassed her yesterday? Why would she not look at him?
“Good morning, Violet.” He bowed. “I mean, Miss DeLisle. I see you are ready for all that nature might unleash today.”
To his relief, her blush faded and she smiled up at him. “This is a new bonnet. I must confess that I am vain enough to not want it to be ruined if it rains.”
“It is quite charming and frames your face to advantage.”
“Thank you.” She was back to blushing. She gestured at his heavy coat. “I see you don’t trust the weather, either.”
Charlie came up behind him and slapped him on the back. Edwin winced. “My brother is always conservative about his actions and his choices.”
Violet raised her chin. “There’s nothing wrong with that. A man in Edwin’s position has a responsibility to those around him. He will make an admirable viscount one day.”
Edwin blinked. Had she just defended him against Charlie’s casual dismissal? If so, that was unheard of. She always took Charlie’s side. His brother looked rather taken aback, which was also unusual.
“I’d never realized how much you and Edwin have in common, Vi.” Charlie winked at her. “Both terrible stick in the muds.”
“The thing is, my dear brother, that neither of us would get stuck in the mud because we have come prepared.” Edwin patted Charlie’s shoulder. “When you need rescuing, don’t expect us to heed your call.”
“Vi would rescue me.” Charlie grinned at Violet. “Wouldn’t you, love?”
Edwin held his breath as Vi considered his brother.
“I thought you were the one who was insisting you would slay dragons yesterday.”
“Oh, that was for Letty. You don’t need that nonsense, Vi. You’re made of sterner stuff.” Charlie patted her cheek and looked around the gathering. “Where is Letty? Ah, I see her over there with your mother and your cousin, Clare.” He tipped his hat and sauntered off.
Edwin summoned a smile. “I think he meant that as a compliment, Violet.”
“I’m sure he did.” She hesitated. “Did you smell the brandy on his breath?”
“Yes.” Edwin frowned.
“He seems to be drinking quite heavily. Did something happen to him in London this Season while I was off attending my sister?”
He took her arm and started down the steps to the castle courtyard. The noise of horses, hunting dogs, and raised voices was deafening in the enclosed space. “Nothing in particular. I think he’s just getting older, and not as… capable of maintaining his current way of life.”
“You mean drinking, gambling, and womanizing?”
“Exactly.”
“What he needs is someone to steady him down, to provide him with a purpose.”
“Someone like you, you mean?” Edwin asked.
Her startled gaze flew to his face. He must have sounded terser than he’d intended.
“You know I’ve always… cared for him, Edwin.”
He held onto her arm as the others milled around them. “And you are willing to give up your own chance of happiness in order to give Charlie his?”
“You make me sound like some kind of deluded martyr.”
He could hardly frame a reply that would satisfy her, and the silence lengthened.
“You do think that, don’t you?”
“I think you deserve better.” He released her elbow and bowed stiffly. “Now, if you will excuse me, I must attend to our hostess and ascertain the route for this excursion.”
Violet remained standing alone as Edwin marched away from her, and pressed one hand to her bosom where her heart was thumping fit to burst. What had happened to her best friend? He’d sounded almost angry, but whether it was with Charlie or with her she wasn’t quite sure. The fact that he thought she was a fool to chase after his brother was remarkably hurtful. He loved Charlie and would do anything for him, but apparently she was not allowed the same privilege.
He saw her love as a sacrifice and not in a positive light at all. Was he correct? Would marrying Charlie—a dream she had held close to her heart since she was eleven—help him or harm him?
“Are you coming, Vi?” Charlie called out as he came down the steps, with Letty on one arm and her stepmother on the other.
She retied the ribbons of her bonnet against the snap of the wind and waited for them to reach her.
“Yes. I do believe it is going to be a lovely day.”
The earl’s hunting dogs had been brought into the courtyard by two of the young servant boys, and were barking and whining as if they scented prey. Violet noticed Benedict kneeling down amongst the pack of waving tails, one arm around the neck of an enormous wolfhound as though they were having a conversation. No one else seemed to take heed of his presence.
He raised his head and winked as the hound bounded forward, setting a path straight for her. She took a step backward, and then another as the dog kept coming, his massive jaws snapping at her skirts, drool flying from his sharply pointed canines. Violet looked around desperately, but the earl’s staff seemed unaware of what was happening. She wasn’t afraid of dogs, but this one didn’t seem very friendly.
She tried to stare the dog down, and spoke in her most authoritative manner. “Stop immediately! Go away!”
The dog growled and snapped at her again, narrowly missing her gloved hand. Violet squeaked as her back hit the wall of the castle, leaving her nowhere to go unless she fancied attempting some vertical climbing. She frantically called out.
“Charlie! Help!”
He half-turned toward her and then balked, his face pale. She’d forgotten that since being bitten as a child, he was terrified of big dogs.
“Edwin!” he yelled.
Violet flinched as the dog reared up on his hind legs and pawed the wall at her shoulder, its claws leaving scratch marks in the soft stone.
“It’s all right, Miss DeLisle. Stay exactly where you are.”
She recognized Edwin’s calm voice as he eased between her and the snarling dog.
“Sit down, sir!” he snapped.
Violet felt her knees give way, but the dog immediately did as it was told, tongue lolling out of his mouth as if he was grinning and had just been playing the whole time.
Stuttering her thanks, Violet did exactly what Edwin suggested.
The village was stone-built, with steep, narrow cobbled streets and overhanging roofs that reminded Violet of the medieval streets called the Shambles in the town of York. At the bottom of the village, where it leveled out, was the fishing harbor. The cove was too shallow and rocky to allow big ships to moor, but there was a fishing flotilla that went out early every morning to catch the pilchards and other fish that made up the bulk of the local diet.
Edwin had chosen to walk with her cousin, Clare, and seemed to be having a very pleasant time. A shaken Violet trailed behind Letty, her stepmother, and Charlie, like some forgotten child or maid. To be fair, Benedict hadn’t known that Charlie was afraid of dogs when he’d unleashed his plan. It was lucky Edwin had intervened again.
She focused her attention on the remarkable scenery and the sight of the fishing boats bobbing up and down in the water like corks, sails singing and snapping in the wind. The thought that she had annoyed Edwin bothered her far more than she had anticipated. He had always stood her friend. Perhaps Charlie wasn’t the only Sutton brother to have changed during the last year…
“Oh, my goodness!”
Violet almost collided with Letty, who’d stopped dead in front of her and brought her lace handkerchief to her nose.
“What is that appalling smell?”
“Fish guts,” Charlie said. “It’s not very pleasant, is it?” He pointed to the far right of the harbor where a solid stone-built inn catered to the more genteel of the locals. “I believe our hosts have organized a private room for us at The Mermaid’s Kiss. Shall we avail ourselves of their hospitality?”
Violet pretended she needed to tie her bootlace, and let them move on without her. She found a stone bench and sat down, allowing the beauty of her surroundings to calm her spirits. The sea was sparking, the sky was blue, but there were some ominous clouds approaching on the horizon, which made her wonder how long their good fortune would last. It had taken over an hour to walk down to the village, and the return journey was mostly uphill.
“May I join you?”
She looked up to see Edwin standing over her, and stumbled to her feet.
“That’s not necessary. I was just about to go down to the inn.”
“Then I will accompany you.”
He offered her his hand, but she pretended not to see it and resolutely set off down the path.
“Where is Clare?”
“I deposited her in the private parlor, realized you were missing, and, after consulting with Charlie, came to find you.” He paused. “You must be shaken by your encounter with that dog.”
“There was no need to worry. As your brother pointed out, I am hardly a damsel in distress. The dog was only… playing.”
Even as she spoke, she knew her airy comments were unworthy of the real service he had given her. But nothing was happening as it was supposed to, no one was behaving as they should, and the wrong brother was emerging as her unlikely hero.
Keeping her gaze on the path, she tried again. “What I meant to say was thank you for rescuing me.”
And now she sounded petty and ungrateful… Violet wished she could somehow reverse time and start the whole conversation again.
He kept pace with her, his hands behind his back. “To be honest, I never thought of you as being in need of rescuing. I just intervened… instinctively. I apologize if my actions offended you.”
And what was she supposed to say to that? He was far too good to her.
“You did not offend me. But I am quite all right. There was no need to come looking for me.” She closed her mouth, aware that she was behaving terribly but unable to stop herself. “I can hardly lose my way from here.”
He went still, his brown gaze meeting hers. “Miss DeLisle, Violet—if I have offended you in some way, I offer you my abject apologies.”
“There is nothing to apologize for, sir.”
“This isn’t about the dog at all, is it?” He studied her for a long moment. “You are still cross with me for my insensitive comments about Charlie.”
He was correct, but she couldn’t think of a single way of agreeing with him that wouldn’t start the argument again.
“I think very highly of you, Violet.” He paused. “I wish the best for you in everything.”
“And you don’t think your brother is good enough for me.” She gave him her best company smile. “I appreciate your thoughts on this matter and shall consider them at length.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up, making him look more like her best friend. “Which is your very polite way of telling me to go to the devil, I take it?”
“Exactly.” She curtsied, relieved to see him smile. “Now, I suppose we should walk down to the inn. I am quite famished after all this exercise.”
After a long luncheon and a walk around the rather limited shops in the village, the party divided itself up into those who wanted to be driven back to Castle Keyvnor, and those who intended to walk. Edwin kept a close eye on Violet, waiting to see which option she chose, and wasn’t surprised when she decided to walk. A complaining Letty went with her mother in the first carriage, which meant that Charlie grumpily decided to accompany her.
The remaining guests set off and gradually became strung out along the path as the extremes of the slope increased. Edwin easily kept pace with Violet, who forged ahead pretending he wasn’t there. Seagulls wheeled and dived on the warm air currents; their wings almost touched Violet’s bonnet as they squawked and fluttered, coming in to land.
“Miss DeLisle?” Edwin called out.
She stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“I understand that there is a shorter route through the wood to the rear of the castle. Would you care to accompany me?” He glanced up at the gathering clouds. “I fear we might be in for a soaking. If we were beneath the shelter of the trees, we might at least stand a chance of staying dry.”
She waited until he reached her side and finally looked up at him.
“I was wondering about the weather myself. Will it be safe if there is a thunderstorm?”
“By my reckoning there is no sign of an approaching storm, just the chance of rain. If it thunders, we can retrace our steps and follow the cliff path again.”
“Then I shall accompany you.”
This time she allowed him to take her hand and show her the way to the stile that crossed the boundary wall into the castle grounds. Within moments, the sound of the sea was replaced by the gentle rippling of the leaves and a quiet peacefulness that calmed his spirits.
“Are you certain of the route?” she asked.
“Yes, I’ve taken a walk every morning, and this is one of my favorites. It is far more direct.”
“Then one wonders why more people don’t use it.”
“There are normally very few visitors to the castle, and the locals prefer to avoid the woods. They believe they are… enchanted.”
“Enchanted? As in a fairy tale?”
“I believe so, although I haven’t personally seen any Cornish pixies or fairies. I have spotted some fairy rings in the grass, and was careful not to wander inside them.”
She turned a slow circle. “It does feel quite magical.”
He paused as she lifted her face to the green-tinted sunbeams slicing through the tree branches. For a moment, she looked quite ethereal. He took a step toward her, hand outstretched, but she was already in motion again.
A few minutes later he heard the first patter of rain, and the sunlight abruptly disappeared, leaving them in a deepening gloom. He reached for her hand.
“We should hurry.”
He led her deeper into the forest as he sought the correct path. The mass of trees kept most of the rain away, and there was no sign of thunder.
“Do you really think Charlie would make me a bad husband?”
He almost stopped walking but decided
to keep going. “He would be very lucky if you married him.”
“That’s not what I asked you.”
“Violet, he’s my brother, and I love him very dearly, but—”
“But, as you said, you wouldn’t consider us a good match.” She cleared her throat. “Please tell me the truth. I thought we were friends.”
He reluctantly came to a halt and faced her. “If Charlie married you, I know you would do everything in your power to make him happy.”
“That is correct.”
“The trouble is that he would let you.”
A small frown marred her brow. “I don’t understand.”
“He would let you manage him and fight his battles. He would let you scrimp and save while he spent money like water. He would remain as he is rather than taking on the responsibilities of a husband and a father.”
“You think I would treat him like a child?”
“In some ways he is still a child, and he’ll stay that way unless he finds a purpose in life.”
“You don’t think a person can… change?”
“Not unless they do it themselves. I don’t think I can change him. Lord knows I’ve tried, and so has my father.”
Her clear grey eyes fixed on his face as he talked.
“Do you think he would be unfaithful to me?”
Edwin sighed. “Please don’t ask me that.”
She nodded slowly. “My stepmother suggested that a man like you would be a good influence on Letty—that you would be able to mold her into the wife you wanted.”
For a moment he just stared at her as he tried to catch up with her sudden change of subject.
“What, pray, does that have to do with our current discussion?”
“Just that, at first, I couldn’t understand why you would be attracted to Letty, but maybe my stepmother is right, and you want a wife you can… mold into what you consider appropriate to her new rank and station.” She hesitated. “But why is that any different to what I wish to do for Charlie?”
He took a hasty step toward her, and she backed up against one of the trees.
“First, I have no interest in marrying your half-sister.”
“But you said—”
“Second, I would never wish for a young, malleable wife. How could you think that of me? Do you not know me at all?”