Taming The Viscountess

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  She’d only thrown up twice in her life, and each time, she had vowed she would do everything possible to avoid having to go through it again. She hated throwing up. There was that horrible period leading right up to it where the pain in her stomach was so intense she thought it would never end. And she was afraid she was heading in that direction right now.

  “I can’t do this,” she finally blurted out, putting her fork down. She turned to Sebastian. “I can’t eat the rest of this.”

  “Would you rather have the Cook make you a full course meal that you can take to your bedchamber?” Anthony asked, not hiding his sarcasm. “Perhaps you’d rather take a couple of bites of the food up there before ordering the butler to throw the rest of it out.”

  She might have assured him she was not lying except her stomach twisted in pain, causing tears to spring to her eyes. She wanted to bolt out of the room, but she couldn’t move. This was about to get very disgusting. She was going to throw up. If anyone had any idea, they’d back away from the table at once.

  “I think she really doesn’t feel well,” Damara said, rising to her feet and hurrying over to her.

  “I don’t believe this, Celia,” Anthony muttered. “You haven’t changed at all. You’re still manipulating everyone around you.”

  “I agree with Damara,” Sebastian said as he stood up. “She wouldn’t be doing this unless she wasn’t feeling well.” He looked at Damara. “Will you help me take her out of the room? Maybe she’ll feel better if she can lie down.”

  Celia waved them away. It was too late. She was going to throw up, and there was nothing she could do to delay it. With the small amount of strength she had, she grabbed the nearest bowl and threw up in it.

  Damara pulled back Celia’s hair so she wouldn’t get any vomit in it. “Oh dear. She really is sick.”

  Sebastian grabbed a cloth napkin and waited until Celia was done before he wiped her mouth.

  Anthony, meanwhile, threw his fork down, turned away from them, and put his hand over his mouth as if he might throw up just by having watched her do it. Well, Celia had warned him. It wasn’t her fault that he didn’t believe her.

  Sebastian took the bowl and set it on the table. “Do you think you can make it to the other room? You should be lying down.”

  Too weak to say anything, Celia nodded and let him and Damara help her up. Though she felt immensely better, she experienced a wave of embarrassment. Imagine doing this in front of everyone…even the servants! She couldn’t even look at the maid and butler as they hurried to remove the bowl and her plate from the table.

  After Sebastian and Damara helped her lie down on the settee in the drawing room, Sebastian went to get a wet cloth to put on her forehead. Meanwhile, Damara fussed over her gown to make sure she wasn’t showing her ankles.

  Anthony came into the room just as Damara finished making her presentable. As if he wasn’t sure she wouldn’t throw up on him, he slowly approached her. “Do you feel better?”

  “I’m fine,” Celia said. “I’m not going to vomit again.”

  Not hiding his relief, he picked up his pace. “I had no idea you were really sick. I thought you were faking it.”

  “I know.” She noted the sympathetic expression on his face as he knelt beside her. “I don’t blame you for thinking that. I did a lot of things to manipulate people. I suppose I manipulated you more than I manipulated anyone else. I can’t blame you for being angry with me.”

  After a moment, he took her hand in his and squeezed it. “I don’t like being angry with you, Celia. I want us to get along.”

  “I want that, too.”

  Sebastian came into the room, and Damara ran over to him to take the cloth from him.

  “It’s just that...” Anthony sighed as Damara put the cloth on her forehead. “Corin might not have wanted to marry this Season, but he did want to in another year or two. You took that choice away from him.”

  “I’m sorry,” Celia said. “I realize now he never wanted to marry me. But,” she hurried to add before he thought that was the only reason she was sorry, “it wasn’t right for me to try to trap him into a scandal even if he had wanted to marry me. The choice to propose should have been his.” And that was when she realized he had been someone she had forgotten to apologize to. She knew she’d been forgetting people when she made up her list. “Do you think I should apologize to him?”

  “No,” Anthony said. “I think you should leave him alone. He has enough to contend with right now.”

  “All right. Then I won’t. But when you see him again, will you do it for me?”

  Anthony thought it over and then nodded. “I can do that. Staying away from him will be the best thing you can do.”

  Eyebrows furrowed, she grabbed the cloth on her forehead and sat up. “What do you think I’m going to do? Sneak into his bedchamber and have my way with him?”

  By the expression on her brother’s face, she realized he thought she might actually do something like that.

  “Oh, that’s just ridiculous,” Celia said, both shocked and annoyed. “I would never do such a thing. Besides, I love Sebastian. I don’t want Corin anymore.”

  “Celia, do you really mean that?” Sebastian asked.

  She turned her attention to him. “Of course, I mean it. Corin’s led a very boring life. When I think of it, he hasn’t done much of anything but mope about how much money he doesn’t have. He’s not very interesting to talk to. You, on the other hand, are exciting and fun. I can talk to you for hours and never get bored. You have no idea how glad I am that the scandal didn’t work out the way I planned. I’d much rather be with you.”

  Smiling, he sat next to her and brought her into his arms. “I love you, too, Celia. I didn’t think I could love anything more than the sea, but you proved me wrong.”

  Celia rested her head on his shoulder, beyond thrilled that he shared her feelings. She knew he had considered her to be a friend, but to know he loved her as his wife made things that much more special between them.

  “Are you sure you should be holding her right now?” Anthony asked Sebastian. “What if she vomits again?”

  “I’ve been at sea with a new crewman who couldn’t keep anything in his stomach,” Sebastian replied. “A little vomit never bothers me.”

  “Well, it bothers me. I’d feel better if you’d get away from her, so she can use this if she needs it.” Celia’s brother held out an empty pot to her. “The maid brought this in while you two were expressing your undying love for each other.”

  “Don’t be difficult, Anthony,” Damara playfully admonished. “I thought it was sweet to watch them.”

  “It won’t be sweet if she vomits on him,” Anthony replied.

  With a good-natured groan, Celia pulled away from her husband and took the pot. “I’m feeling much better. No one is in any danger of being covered in vomit. Really, Anthony, I’m fine now.”

  “Was it nerves that made you sick?” Damara asked.

  “I thought so at first,” Celia admitted, “but I’ve never gotten sick because a situation was uncomfortable.”

  “You don’t look ill,” Damara said.

  “I’m not. I feel fine,” Celia replied.

  Damara paused for a moment then asked, “Are you expecting a child?”

  A child? In all her planning to get another social group established and trying to make amends for upsetting so many people, Celia had forgotten all about her monthly flow. She last had her flow about two weeks before she married Sebastian, and it had been well over two weeks since then.

  Celia’s eyes lit up. “That’s what it is. I’m with child.” She turned her gaze to Sebastian. “That was quick, don’t you think?”

  “I’m a captain,” Sebastian said, not hiding his proud smile. “I know how to get things done in a timely and efficient manner.”

  Celia laughed and jabbed him in the side. “You can’t will something like this. It either happens or it doesn’t.”

  He chuckle
d and gave her another hug.

  “What wonderful news,” Damara said, hugging Celia when Sebastian was done. “Isn’t it wonderful, Anthony? Your sister is happily married, and she’s going to have a child. Everything worked out well for her.”

  Anthony nodded. “It is wonderful.” He hesitated, as if he was still afraid Celia might throw up on him.

  Celia stood up and hugged him. “You needn’t worry. I won’t make you sick, and I’m not going to vomit again.”

  He finally returned her hug. “I’m glad it’s nothing serious. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

  Pleased he should say such a thing, she pulled away from him. “You don’t?”

  “Of course not. You might do things to upset me, but I still love you. You’re my sister. Nothing is ever going to change that. I don’t like things being awkward between us.”

  “I don’t like it, either. Anthony, I know I haven’t been as kind and sweet as Damara.” She glanced at her sister-in-law. “I might not ever be as kind and sweet as her. I think only a saint could do that. But I am trying to stop being manipulative. From now on, I want to be honest with people. They might not like what I have to say, but I’ll try to be nice while I’m stating my opinion.”

  “That’s all anyone can ask of you.” With a smile, he squeezed her shoulders. “I want us to be close again.”

  “I do, too. Growing up, we only had each other.” She glanced at Sebastian and Damara. “And things should be even better now that we have love matches.”

  “Yes, it should be. It will be.”

  “I’m glad that’s resolved,” Sebastian said. “Maybe now we can have a pleasant evening.”

  “I agree,” Damara replied.

  “Do you want to finish dinner?” Celia asked. “I don’t have an appetite, but I can sit and talk to everyone while you eat.”

  Anthony grimaced. “I can’t eat anything right now.”

  “I’m full,” Damara said.

  Sebastian patted the small of Celia’s back. “Well, I’ll have some wafers and peppermint tea brought in. Those should be easy on your stomach should you feel up to drinking or eating anything. There are things we can do to ease your stomach. I learned all sorts of tricks while at sea.” He directed his gaze to the others. “Anthony, you look like you could use some brandy. Help yourself to the decanter. I’ll be back as soon as I assure the staff that everything is well with their mistress.”

  As he turned to leave the room, Damara asked Celia, “Do you feel up to playing charades?”

  “Yes, I do,” Celia said. “I am feeling much better.”

  And that was true. She was feeling better about everything. Her relationship with her brother, her marriage to her husband, and her upcoming motherhood. She had a lot to be thankful for.

  Joining Damara, she moved aside the table and a couple of chairs so it’d be easier to play the game. Anthony, meanwhile, poured himself and Sebastian some brandy. When Sebastian returned, they played charades and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

  Epilogue

  One year later (August 1819)

  “Will you be going back out to sea in autumn?” Loretta asked as Celia put her four-month-old son, Daniel, in his bassinet.

  Celia supposed she could have the nursemaid do it, but she didn’t mind doing it herself. While on the ship with Sebastian from October through January, there was no one to do anything for her, and she was surprised by how quickly she’d gotten used to being self-sufficient.

  Now she could appreciate all the times when Sebastian had called gentlemen soft and weak when they insisted on having a servant do everything for them. She didn’t think she could ever go back to having others do everything for her, though she certainly didn’t mind letting the nursemaid change Daniel’s diaper. That was a task she had no desire to do all the time. In this case, the nursemaid would watch her son and Loretta’s daughter while they attended the ball that was downstairs.

  Turning her attention from her sleeping son, Celia went over to the bassinet she had purchased for Loretta’s one-month-old daughter, Rosamond. Someday, Celia hoped Daniel and Rosamond might marry. After all, it couldn’t be a coincidence she had a son and Loretta had a daughter. Surely, fate had a hand in this. Their children would marry, and Celia and Loretta would get to have the same grandchildren. It was the only thing that made sense since Loretta’s engagement to Anthony hadn’t worked out.

  But Celia chose to keep quiet on the matter since Loretta would only tell her it was too soon to know if their children would ever marry. Besides, Loretta was right. Daniel and Rosamond would have to make the decision for themselves. Celia might do something once in a while to help nudge them toward each other. One couldn’t blame her for wanting to see the two together, and a little matchmaking never hurt anyone.

  “Celia,” Loretta said.

  Celia blinked away her thoughts and turned to her friend. “I’m sorry. I got caught up in the pure joy of watching our children sleep. What did you ask?”

  “I asked you if you and Sebastian will be going back out to sea this autumn?” Loretta asked.

  “Yes. I really enjoyed it, and he’s so much happier on the ship than he is on land. We didn’t hunt for whales like he was used to, but we did do some fishing. He made a profit from it, and since he owns the ship, he didn’t have to share it with any investors.”

  “That was a risky venture he did by paying for the ship out of what was left of your dowry.”

  Celia shrugged. “He had a good reason to believe he would make the money back.”

  Celia couldn’t come out and tell Loretta about the wager he’d made at White’s, but he had claimed the money upon their return to London in January. From there, they had gone to the country where she gave birth to Daniel. She didn’t think she’d ever be happy spending time in the country, but it was nice to spend time alone with Sebastian and Daniel for a while. Come May, however, she was more than eager to return.

  She didn’t know if she’d want to go back to the country after the three of them were on the ship this autumn. With her and Loretta’s group finally gaining some traction in London, she might stay here. Damara had decided to join their group shortly before Celia and Sebastian had left for the sea. From there, Iris had joined, and that had been the end of the ladies who had decided to be a part of the group, though she was hoping to change that with tonight’s ball.

  She still didn’t know which lady from Ladies of Grace had a secret friendship with Iris. Neither Damara nor Iris would say anything about it. Maybe she would never know. But she supposed it didn’t matter. The important thing was that she and Loretta were no longer under Lady Eloise’s thumb.

  There was a long way to go in convincing ladies that Enduring Friendships was worth being in. Their focus wasn’t so much on impressing the Ton as it was to have a place where ladies could enjoy each other’s company. That sort of thing didn’t go over very well with the elite, and Lady Eloise often called the group pitiful. But Celia was sure the group could some day rival Lady Eloise’s group.

  This evening was a chance to talk to more ladies about her and Loretta’s group, and Sebastian, being the wonderful husband he was, agreed to host the ball tonight. Being out at sea and exploring parts of the world she’d never seen before had made her aware that life was bigger than London. Having Daniel had made her aware that family and friends were more important than her reputation. She had learned so much in the past year about the things that really mattered, and she suspected she would learn even more in the years to come. But she still enjoyed the social life.

  She enjoyed being at balls because it gave her a chance to dress up in her best gowns and keep up on the latest fashion. She would never completely get away from the desire to look attractive at all times. Even on the ship, she had endeavored to look her best. But balls were the perfect excuse to wear the fancier gowns in her wardrobe, and it was also a way to see who was who and catch up on the latest news in London.

  “Lady Eloise f
orbade anyone in her group to come to your ball tonight,” Loretta said.

  Celia stepped away from the bassinets and shook her head in wonder. “I’ll never know how you can read my mind. Sometimes I think it’s a bit spooky.”

  Loretta chuckled. “I don’t know how I do it, either. I suppose it’s a gift.”

  “It’s a shame you can’t do that with everyone.”

  “I don’t know if I’d want to. Some of the things you think are frightening enough as it is.”

  Celia was ready to take offense at the comment, but then she caught the teasing spark in Loretta’s eyes and chuckled. “Well, I don’t care if Lady Eloise forbade the members of her group to come here. It’s their loss that they won’t get to have the best punch in London or get to enjoy the fine music that will be playing tonight. Lord Edon helped Sebastian arrange the music, and I don’t have to tell you that Lord Edon has excellent taste in music.”

  “No, you don’t. A lot of people in London envy his ability to pick the best music for balls.”

  “That’s why it’s good he and Sebastian are friends.”

  “I don’t think our group will ever be as influential as Lady Eloise’s. Neither Lady Eloise nor Lady Cadwalader approve of Lord Edon or Mr. Robinson, and Sebastian spends a lot of time with them.”

  “Well, I don’t approve of either Lady Eloise or Lady Cadwalader, so it’s fine with me if they refuse to associate with me. I’m tired of trying to impress people who aren’t worth impressing.”

  Loretta smiled. “It’s nice to hear you say that.”

  Celia returned her smile. “We should get to the ball. Our group is going to compete with Lady Eloise’s group. It won’t be today. Maybe not even this year. But it will happen. I can feel it.”

  “Celia, there are some things you will never change, and your determination is one of them.” Taking her friend by the arm, Loretta smiled. “But I don’t mind it. Somehow you get things to work out.”

  “I do. And this will work out, too. You’ll see that I’m right.”

  Together, they left the room.