by Meara Platt
He didn’t care about these frivolous girls.
His thoughts were all on Honey.
He’d given his oath he wouldn’t touch her while they read the book in her bedchamber. He’d given his oath and meant to stand by it no matter how desperately he wished to take her in his arms and kiss her. Still, it would be a mistake to be alone with her. There would be no getting out of the scandal if they were found out.
He’d offer to marry her, of course.
It would be no hardship for him.
He was long beyond sowing his wild oats and was ready to settle down. The more time he spent with Honey, the more certain he was he’d found the one.
Of course, he’d catch no end of hell from his sister. Even he ought to be kicking himself for his rash behavior. Two days. Of course, he’d been observing her for months. But eyeing someone from a distance hardly counted. Was he ready to marry this girl only upon two days’ acquaintance?
Hadn’t he been warning himself to take it slow?
His heart didn’t seem to care.
He’d made Anne wait six months.
He now understood the torment he’d put her through.
He’d apologize the next time he saw her.
Of course, there remained the problem of Honey’s secret. He still did not understand why she wished to remain unmarried.
But if the choice were taken from her? Not that he would ever stoop to such a thing, but if they were caught together and it was either marry him or be forever ruined?
Would she accept his offer of marriage?
To his dismay, he wasn’t certain she would. So, the question remained. What secret shame was she hiding from him?
Chapter Seven
Honey knew there would be trouble from Lady Sarah and her cohorts, Lady Amelia and Lady Jenna. Unfortunately, she didn’t know where or when they’d put their mean-spirited schemes into action. She had no doubt they were plotting something. They had been casting her sly glances throughout supper and were now smiling smugly as everyone walked to the music room for this evening’s entertainment. It was to be a music recital, and all the young ladies would take a turn to sing or play a tune on the pianoforte.
Whoever had thought up this torture?
The men, if they were anything like those in her family, would find any excuse to hide until it was over. But since they had nowhere to run, she supposed most had already numbed themselves by drinking heavily at supper and during their after-supper smokes.
“Are you ready?” Poppy asked, taking the seat beside her.
“Yes, I can’t wait to get it over with.” Since Poppy was married, she no longer needed to be put on display. But they often gave recitals together during family events, so they’d arranged to sing a duet of one of their favorite country tunes.
“It won’t be so bad. We’ll get through it. Too bad my sister isn’t here. She’d show up those peahens.”
“Indeed, Violet would put them to shame.” No one had a lovelier voice than Poppy’s sister. But she wasn’t here, so they’d have to put those pampered debutantes to shame on their own. Their voices were fairly good. They would not embarrass themselves.
When their turn came, they walked up to the pianoforte, feeling quite relaxed. They’d performed this tune many times before, although to a family audience. But it was a pleasant, lively lilt, and the two of them knew how to put the song over. In no time, they had their audience joining in and clapping along with them.
Lady Wycke was seated in the front row with Dora, Lavinia, and Pip. Of course, Periwinkle was perched on Lavinia’s lap, his tail wagging and tongue dangling as he yipped along with the tune.
Honey was pleased to see them all participating and obviously enjoying themselves. Tom and Nathaniel were standing off to the side. When she spared a glance at Tom, she thought her heart would melt.
The smile he cast her was so loving and intimate.
It felt as though their souls knew each other.
Words weren’t necessary to convey the pride, happiness, appreciation, and so much more he was feeling in that one smile.
Lady Jenna bumped into her shoulder as they passed each other when exchanging places. It was Jenna’s turn to sing, and Honey felt a twinge of satisfaction knowing the girl’s recital would not be nearly as well-received as hers had been.
But it worried her that these three had grown so bold as to openly intimidate her. Lady Amelia had bumped into her on their way into the dining room earlier. Those little shoves were nothing. It was what would come next that had her worried.
She needed to make Tom aware of her concerns, but she couldn’t do it now. She’d have to climb over others to get to him. It would simply have to wait until the musicale was over. However, he was keenly aware of all that was going on and very little escaped his notice. He’d probably seen Lady Sarah’s friends bump into her as they passed.
She’d leave it to him to deal with them.
After the last debutante sang, the onlookers gave them all a hearty round of applause before making their way to the drawing room where the card tables had been set up. Ordinarily, the music room would have been used for this purpose, but the recital took precedence this evening.
Several families came over to congratulate her on her performance. Some of the other young ladies came over as well, offering their sincere compliments.
Truly, were it not for Lady Sarah and her toadies, she would be having a lovely time.
She meant to go over and join Lady Wycke’s foursome for whist, but Lavinia, Poppy, and Nathaniel had already taken charge. She was about to quietly slip away when Tom came up behind her and took her arm. “Come join my table. We need a fourth.”
He didn’t give her the opportunity to refuse before leading her across the room. “You know Lord Jameson,” he said, since they’d been introduced earlier. “And have you met his cousin, Lady Phillipa?”
She smiled at the pretty brunette. “Yes, we met at supper last night. I saw you won the archery prize. Well done.”
Phillipa laughed. “Thank you. And your recital was so much fun. You have a lovely voice.”
Tom held out a seat for her at his table. “I’ve always suspected women were far more accomplished than we simple men. You ladies have proved it. What do you say to ladies against the gentlemen? What do you think, Jameson? Can your fragile pride take the loss?”
His friend laughed. “Phillipa has been running circles around me for years. I’m quite used to losing to her.”
The men won the first game, but she and Phillipa won the second. The hour was getting late, and many of the older guests had retired to their chambers. Tom’s mother had gone up about half an hour ago, escorted by Nathaniel and Poppy.
“Shall we play a third?” Jameson suggested.
Tom glanced around. “No. Let’s leave it as all even. Seems most everyone has finished their card games, and different games are about to start.”
Jameson nodded. “Bad lot, those three.”
Tom cast him a grim glance. “You noticed.”
He and Phillipa nodded. “Hard to overlook. Miss Farthingale, they seem to have taken a dislike to you. My cousin and I will do our best to keep an eye on them, but they’re up to something.”
Tom rose. “I know. I meant to talk to Lady Sarah’s father this evening, but he turned in early complaining of a headache. I’d better go see what she’s up to. Would you two mind escorting Miss Farthingale upstairs?”
Phillipa rose as well. “Not at all. Come along, Miss Farthingale. My cousin and I will see you safely back to your quarters. I almost hope we encounter Lady Sarah in the hall. I wouldn’t be averse to poking that girl in the nose…or shooting her in the backside with one of my arrows.”
Honey laughed. “She does bring out the best in everyone, doesn’t she? I was plotting to toss water balloons at her head.”
“Far too gentle. I would have filled them with paint and hurled them at her. I saw what she did to your lovely gown. What a pity. Is there an
y chance it can be salvaged?”
“No, unfortunately.” They continued to chat as they climbed the stairs and started down the hall, their conversation now about tomorrow’s activities. “Lord Wycke has invited me to go fishing in the morning. I gather he’s put together a small party of avid anglers. Will either of you be going?”
Lord Jameson shook his head. “Not me. Too early. Too much sunshine and fresh air,” he jested. “It isn’t good for my dissolute constitution.”
Phillipa poked him in the ribs. “You’re not nearly as bad as you make yourself out to be. But I will admit, you can be heartily irritating at times.” She turned to Honey. “I won’t be there either. Too quiet a sport for me. I’ll see if anyone is interested in a rousing game of shuttlecock.”
Honey bid them good evening, but as she went to open her door, she saw that it was already open.
“What’s wrong?” Lord Jameson asked.
She frowned. “I’m sure I closed it earlier.”
“Perhaps your maid came in to turn down your bed and scurried out to tend to something else,” Phillipa suggested.
“Yes, it could be.” But the little hairs on the back of her neck began to prickle. “Will you stay with me a moment?”
They both nodded.
She entered, lit the lamp on her bureau, and immediately went to her wardrobe to open it and peer in. Next, she peered under her bed. No one was lurking in either of those places. She checked behind her drapes and then behind the door.
“Do you think someone broke in here, Miss Farthingale?” Lord Jameson asked.
“I don’t know. I have an odd feeling…” Something felt wrong, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. Nothing seemed to be out of place.
She opened her drawers to check if any of her jewelry was missing, but she didn’t have anything all that expensive, and every necklace, bracelet, pin, and set of earrings seemed to be exactly where she’d left them. She had nothing else of value. No one was going to steal her shoes or undergarments.
She opened up the wardrobe again and sighed. “Everything seems to be in order. I think Lady Sarah just has me on edge.”
Neither of her companions was smiling. “Lock your door,” Phillipa cautioned.
“I will.”
Lord Jameson glanced down the hall. “I’ll make sure no one’s lurking about. Will you be all right?”
She smiled at him. “Yes, I’m sure I will be. I’m sorry I alarmed you.”
“Not at all.” Phillipa bussed her cheek. “Goodnight, Miss Farthingale. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Once they’d left, she locked her door and fell onto her bed with a groan. “Ugh!” She was letting that horrid debutante get to her. The hour was late, and she did not wish to disturb poor Lottie, who must have gone to bed hours ago. She slipped out of her gown and corset, then donned her nightgown and robe.
After washing her face and hands, she decided to read in bed. Tom had asked her to wait for him so they might read The Book of Love together. She needed something to occupy her mind. It wasn’t cheating, really. Nor was it breaking a promise since she hadn’t given him one. Besides, she doubted he’d come to her chamber tonight, even though he’d said he would.
They’d had a long day, and he needed to remain alert and well-rested for whatever mischief Lady Sarah and her friends were planning tomorrow.
As for herself, she wouldn’t manage more than a few pages before dozing off.
She absentmindedly reached for the book she’d left in the drawer of her nightstand. It wasn’t there. “Oh, no!” This is what the little witch had taken! But how was she to prove it? “No, no.” She had to stay calm. Perhaps Lottie had tucked it away elsewhere.
A search of all her drawers turned up nothing.
Her heart was now beating erratically.
She had to find the book.
Was it possible Tom had taken it? She didn’t think so, but she’d ask him first.
She quietly knocked at his door and received no response. He wasn’t in his room.
No, he would not have come up to bed without knocking at her door first. Likely, he was still downstairs. Who else was down there with him? She couldn’t wander the halls in her nightclothes. But this was no time to be coy. She needed to find him quickly, or she’d never recover the book.
He was just coming up the stairs when she hurried down. He caught her in his arms to stop her from careening into him. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“The Book of Love is gone. I think Lady Sarah’s taken it.” She didn’t know why she was so overset, for it was merely a musty, old book. But to her, it was more than that. It was a pathway to love. As she stood on the steps beside Tom, his arms lightly around her shoulders, his eyes gleaming with intelligence, and his gaze comforting and affectionate, she understood what this book had opened her eyes to…the wonder of love.
Yes, she had fallen in love with Tom.
He roused all the right feelings in her, just as the book described. She felt safe. Protected. Secure within his arms.
Oh, she had always been able to take care of herself. Able to run a successful business. But sharing her life with a man? This was so different. This was about opening her heart. Risking her heart.
How could she? To admit she loved him would also mean revealing her secret, so there was no escaping it.
How would he feel then?
It didn’t matter. If she wanted him, she had to confide in him. And yes, she wanted him desperately. He was becoming as important to her as the breath of life.
“Honey, you’re shaking. Go back to your room and let me take care of this.” He caressed her cheek. “She can’t hurt me, but she is not above hurting you. I’ll make sure she doesn’t.”
“But—”
“It is my house. My guests. My mistake for inviting them.”
She arched an eyebrow. “So, this makes it your problem to fix?”
He nodded. “Lottie is assigned as maid to you and Lady Sarah. I’ll let her know to keep an eye out for the book and bring it to me immediately if she finds it. That red leather binding is hard to miss. Lottie’s sister, Glenna, was assigned to her two companions for the duration of the party. I’ll give her the same instructions and pass the word to all my staff. We’ll get it back for you.”
“Thank you, Tom. The worst of it is that my sister and cousins trusted me to keep it safe. They believe it has magical powers. Ridiculous, of course. But how can I let them all down by losing it?” Tears welled in her eyes. She did not want him to see her crying, but a stray tear or two fell onto her cheek. “I didn’t even want the book. As many times as they handed it to me, I tried to give it back.”
“And then you brought it here.”
“Only to keep them from bothering me about it. But I was wrong.” She sighed and rested her head against his warm, solid chest. “Just reading those first chapters opened my eyes to so much.”
“Ah, I think we’ve made a breakthrough,” he teased.
She nodded. “Not quite, but almost.”
“Almost?” He kissed the top of her head. “That’s a monumental step forward for you, isn’t it? We’ll explore this further tomorrow, with or without the book. There is wisdom in it, but it isn’t a living being, just words on a page. Intelligent, helpful words, but they can never replace what we feel in our hearts.”
He eased her out of his arms. “Go to bed, Honey. I’ll knock at your door if I’ve had any success in finding it.”
She returned upstairs, and he followed her to see her safely to her room. “Thank you, Tom.”
He remained watching as she entered.
She’d left her lamp turned on, not thinking to douse it before running off to find him. She was glad now that she hadn’t, for she did not want to be walking into a darkened chamber. But she cried out softly the moment her gaze fell on her night table. “Tom! Tom!” she cried in an urgent whisper. “Look! How is it possible?”
He hurried in.
She pointed to the book, n
ow sitting atop the table. “I don’t understand. How did it get back in here?” Picking it up, she began to leaf through the pages. “Upon my oath, it was not here before. I wasn’t making it up.”
“I believe you.”
But he was frowning as his gaze fell on her and then the book. “Someone must have slipped it back in while we were talking on the stairs.”
“What if they’re still here?” She ran to her wardrobe to make certain no one was hiding in there. Then she peeked under her bed. Lastly, she checked behind the drapes. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’ll ask around tomorrow.” He quietly shut the door behind him and stepped into the room. “Now that you have it back, would you like to read more of it this evening?”
She shook her head. “Do you mind if we put it off until tomorrow?”
“No, it’s fine.” He ran his hand along the back of his neck, obviously wanting to say something more. “Before I go, I want to thank you for what you did today for my mother.”
“It was nothing, truly.”
He grunted. “You saved the day. It meant everything to me. What was I thinking, having her paint when she hadn’t touched a brush in years? And to force her to do it now? All she did was dither and stare at her supplies as though she had never seen them before and didn’t know what they were.”
“Sit down, Tom.” She could see he was getting wound up again, trying to fix something he had no power to fix. For a man used to being in control, the feeling of helplessness had to be agonizing. “I don’t have anything to offer you to eat or drink, but we can talk.”
He gave a mirthless laugh. “Yes, let’s talk. I gave you my oath I wouldn’t touch you and I won’t. It’s a good thing because right now, all I want to do is devour you.” He settled in the offered chair and buried his face in his hands for a long moment. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“I know. You’re a gentleman.”
He grunted again. “No, I’m not really. Even a few months ago, I would have taken up Lady Sarah’s invitation and been romping in bed with her and her dim-witted, toady friends. But meeting you changed me. The moment I set eyes on you, it was as though all the pieces of my life suddenly fell into place. I hadn’t even spoken to you yet, but I knew you were someone special. And you are. You’re the light that shines in dark times.”