by Cheryl Bolen
The lowlife! He was trying to sway Glee to favor his proposed arrangement. “You must know, Colonel, I care for you as a very dear friend. Nothing more.”
“I have told you for four years now that I shall wait And I mean to.”
Glee attempted to change to subject. “Is there something wrong with your leg tonight?” Then she amended herself. “I mean, is your injured leg troubling you?”
“I daresay it’s going to rain tomorrow,” he said. “It always acts up when rain’s in the air.”
“How very interesting,” an embarrassed Glee uttered.
The colonel’s carriage came close to the front door of Felicity’s home, and the coachman assisted the two ladies to their door while the colonel stayed within the coach, excusing himself because of the pain in his leg.
Felicity actually felt tired. This was, after all, the first time she had been from home all week. She yawned the whole time she was dressing for bed; then she blew out her candle and climbed atop her featherbed. But sleep would not come.
She kept picturing the handsome Thomas Moreland, a broad smile on his face, waltzing around the Assembly Rooms with Carlotta Ennis.
And despite her resolve to hate him, Felicity’s eyes grew moist.
Chapter Nineteen
The colonel was wrong about the rain, Felicity thought. Despite the man’s many kindnesses to her, she took a perverse pleasure in the idea of his fallibility. He was, after all, tediously pompous. She found herself wondering why she had tolerated him all these years but came to realize her mistrust of him had only recently crystallized. Not until Thomas Moreland had come to Bath had she been aware of the colonel’s mean-spiritedness.
Because it was so lovely a day, she encouraged Glee to walk with her up to Crescent Fields. The two young women donned pelisses, gloves, and bonnets and strolled down Gay Street, the hills north of the city in the background.
“I declare, Felicity, the best part about today’s walk is the opportunity it affords us to look into the shop-windows.”
“That’s because, pet, your favorite activity is spending money. I fear your happiness will be greatly thwarted if you do not marry a rich man.”
“ ‘Twould be nice to marry a man of wealth,” Glee agreed. “Speaking of marrying a rich man, I believe Carlotta has her sights on Mr. Moreland.”
“Don’t tell me you have only just now observed this!” Felicity said with a laugh. “I believe she was determined to make a match with him from the day she learned a nabob had taken Winston Hall.”
“Before she ever saw him?” Glee asked incredulously.
“Yes. I daresay she would have desired a match with him had he been eighty.”
“Then she must have been totally bowled over when she finally met him. He is ever so handsome,” Glee said.
“A pity he couldn’t have a wart on the end of his nose. The man has far too many assets.”
“You’re making a terrible mistake in letting him get away. Mark my words, Carlotta will stop at nothing until she has snared him for herself,” Glee said. “Though I am certain he cares for you.”
“Of course he cares for me! I saved his life.”
“At what Lettie claims was great risk to yourself.”
Felicity laughed. “You mustn’t credit what Lettie says. You, of all people, know how she is.”
Glee nodded. “I also know Mr. Moreland cares romantically for you.”
“You mistake romance for sentiment. The man tolerates all of us purely from gratitude toward me.”
Glee turned from looking in the window of a fine glove shop. “If you believe that, you are more the fool than ever I thought you could be.”
“You’ve said yourself many times that Mr. Moreland is kindness itself. His actions toward me are merely a reflection of his amiability.”
“I can see there’s no reasoning with you,” Glee said, shaking her head in dismay. She stepped down into the street in order to cross to the other side where a linen draper’s shop caught her attention. They had to wait for a phaeton to pass. “ ‘Tis wonderful what Mr. Moreland is doing for the poor little lad in front of the milliner’s shop.”
Felicity shrugged. “We don’t know for certain Mr. Moreland is the lad’s benefactor.”
Glee came to a halt in front of the linen draper’s. “Can you doubt it?”
“All I said is that we cannot be absolutely certain.” Felicity shrugged. “What if he is the boy’s benefactor? I agree that helping the lad is a very kind thing to do, but Mr. Moreland has a great deal of money. He has been extremely generous to our family.”
Glee’s eyes rounded. “Do you mean it was his generosity that paid for all my new gowns and hats?”
Felicity hadn’t meant to let the cat out of the bag. “Surely you guessed as much when you learned of his indebtedness to me.”
“I just never thought your pride would allow such . . . such charity.”
“Of course, he didn’t put it that way,” Felicity defended. “He pretended to be repaying me for helping to launch Dianna into society, which you must own would have been difficult without our family’s sponsorship.”
“Oh,” Glee said without expression.
“I was certainly a fool not to see through his ridiculous proposal.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Glee defended.
“I would!”
Now they both strolled into the shop and examined bolt after bolt of lovely fabric in every pastel color.
“A pity I already have a dress this color,” Glee said as she fingered a light silk the color of dried oregano, “for this silk is even finer than what I have.”
Felicity agreed. “Though really, pet, we don’t need anything in here at present.”
Glee sighed. “You’re right.”
They strolled from the shop. And saw Thomas with Carlotta, her arm draped possessively over his. Felicity’s stomach plummeted.
Why were they not in his carriage or phaeton? Carlotta did not enjoy walking as Felicity did. To make matters even worse, they appeared to be going in the same direction as Felicity and Glee. Felicity had a good mind to turn back, but she decided if she and Thomas were to live in the same city she could not very well avoid seeing him.
Though Carlotta pretended she did not see them, Thomas caught sight of them. He halted, turning to watch the sisters as they came nearer.
“Good day, Miss Pembroke,” he said first. Then, dropping his voice and his gaze, he added, “Mrs. Harrison.”
“A lovely day, is it not?” Felicity said with false friendliness.
Carlotta smiled, revealing lovely white teeth. “To be sure,” she said, moving closer to Thomas, the side of her generous breast brushing against his arm.
“What is your destination?” Thomas asked Felicity.
“Glee and I are going to Crescent Fields,” Felicity said.
Thomas looked down at Carlotta. “Should you like to go there?”
A look of jealousy flashed in Carlotta’s eyes for but a second, then she smiled, all amiable. “If it pleases you, my dear Mr. Moreland.”
Mr. dear Mr. Moreland indeed! Felicity fought a strong urge to stuff a large handkerchief into Carlotta’s mouth.
The foursome headed north toward the Royal Crescent. Felicity had the unwelcome view of Thomas and Carlotta strolling in front of her. The two were engaged in casual conversation, which sent Carlotta into peals of laughter at every block.
Felicity longed even more for a handkerchief. A very big one.
The street they walked on intersected Cheap Street, and she glanced at the milliner’s shop there. Little Jamie was in front of it; but instead of sitting as he usually did, he hobbled about on a crutch. For a moment she thought he could move his legs, then she realized his legs were still incapable of movement Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. The poor little fellow had never known what it was to run and play as other boys did. She hoped, with Mr. Moreland’s aid, one day he would. ‘Twas just another example of Thomas’s many a
cts of kindness. Genuine kindness.
She saw that Thomas ever so slightly checked on little Jamie with a quick glance; then he was careful to keep his head turned away from Jaime. Thomas obviously did not want the boy to recognize him. Felicity swallowed. Still another example of Thomas’s nobility.
She really must remove her mind from him. “Tell me, Mr. Moreland,” she said, “where is your sister today?”
“When I left Winston Hall she, too, was enjoying the lovely day. She and her maid were taking a turn about our gardens—with your brother and his friend Mr. Blankenship.”
Glee pouted. “How I wish I were there.”
“The trees must surely be filled with birds now,” Felicity mused.
“Our brother appears totally besotted with your sister, Mr. Moreland,” Glee said.
“What’s there not to be besotted about?” Carlotta added, smiling up at Miss Moreland’s brother. “Miss Moreland is so lovely—and such a lady.”
At the mention of George and Dianna, Thomas had noticeably stiffened—a fact that did not escape Felicity’s notice. Did he object to George for his sister? Her stomach flipped. Of course he would! Hadn’t he been the one who settled her brother’s gambling debts and other debts accrued through George’s irresponsibility? Didn’t Mr. Moreland give haughty disdain to idle lords? But had he not wanted his sister to mingle in the society of our idle class? Now Felicity had another reason to detest Thomas Moreland. The nabob obviously thought his sister too good for George!
Had not Mr. Moreland observed George’s constancy and maturity these past two months? He had sold his mount. He doted on Miss Moreland. And he had even managed to drag poor Blanks to any manner of somber activities, a difficult task, indeed. Couldn’t Mr. Moreland understand that when George set his mind to settling down, he would make a most loyal husband for Dianna?
Which reminded Felicity of how constant her father had been to her mother. Even after she’d died, he’d never wanted another woman, for none could ever have measured up to his cherished wife. Then, Felicity’s heart clenched. Her father’s loyalty to his loved ones was not as great as was his desire to gamble. And Mr. Moreland knew that, too.
With every tap of her feet against the pavement, Felicity grew angrier with Thomas Moreland. He obviously felt superior to her family!
When they reached the Royal Crescent, Carlotta ogled over me fine town houses there, then said, “Of course nothing can compare to Winston Hall. You must be very proud of your home.”
“Actually,” he answered, “I find the house quite a bit too formal for my tastes, but the lovely park and wood more than compensate for the coziness the house lacks.”
He put into words Felicity’s exact impressions of Winston Hall, although she was certain she had never voiced them to him or to anyone before.
Another subject upon which she and Thomas Moreland were in complete agreement.
“Oh, Mr. Moreland, how can you say that about Winston Hall?” Carlotta implored. “It is one of the loveliest buildings in all of England. Why, the painted ceiling in the saloon is magnificent.”
Had Carlotta been to Winston Hall recently, or was she remembering it from when Lady Catherine lived there? Felicity wondered.
“If one likes cherubs floating about on heavenly ceilings in one’s saloon,” Thomas quipped.
Felicity was unable to hold back her laughter.
He turned around and smiled at her. And she felt as if a pin had pricked her lungs, completely eliminating her ability to breathe. Why must the man have such an effect on her? Why didn’t he leave his cold mausoleum of a house and live elsewhere? These meetings with him were entirely too painful for Felicity.
When he turned back, she found herself attending the conversation he conducted with Carlotta.
“Do you like Shakespeare, Mrs. Ennis?” he asked.
“I adored Taming of the Shrew. It was so terribly romantic.”
Felicity watched the side of his face as he turned to Carlotta, raising his brow.
“What a clever take you have on it,” he said.
Must he continue to find things to compliment Carlotta on? Felicity doubted her friend had ever read a single word of Shakespeare in her life. All Carlotta knew of the great author she had gleaned in the theater.
The foursome crossed the street to stroll through Crescent Fields, where the daffodils were beginning to bloom. Felicity dwelt on how ill suited were Thomas and Carlotta. The woman’s superficiality would bore him within a week. Thomas was substance itself. He needed a woman equally as solid.
Felicity thought of Carlotta’s refusal to care for her own son. Surely Thomas would not condone such lack of maternal devotion. But then she realized Carlotta had no doubt failed to mention the little boy who was being raised by her grandmother. Felicity was sure Thomas would not approve.
How was it she had learned so much of him in so short a time? It wasn’t just that they had been together every day for a month. It was so much more. She had come to understand him in a way a woman understands the man who is her husband. She not only knew of and shared his love of Shakespeare, but she loved her siblings as he loved his. She knew he had had an affinity for horses since he was a lad, and she was aware of his facility for learning languages. She understood his urge to make a fortune and his disdain for idle men. She was keenly aware of his satisfaction with his own class. Now that she thought on it, she realized she and Thomas were close in so many ways. Or had been close, she amended with remorse.
Though Thomas had endeavored to draw Glee and Felicity into their conversation a number of times, not once did Carlotta. For the first time in her life, Felicity understood the expression “to scratch her eyes out,” for she had a very strong desire to maim Carlotta in such a manner.
After she stuffed a huge handkerchief in her former friend’s mouth.
Carlotta reached up and ran a seductive finger along the ridge of Thomas’s nose. “I declare,” she said, “even though you are so dark, I do believe the sun has made your nose pink!”
It was like flame to paper on Felicity’s already bruised feelings. She wanted to shout, “Get your hands off him. I had him first.”
Felicity snatched her sister’s hand. “We must go home at once,” she told Glee. “I just remembered something very important that requires my attention.”
During the somber walk back to Charles Street, Felicity came to a daunting conclusion. She had fallen totally in love with Thomas Moreland.
Chapter Twenty
One would think him quite ill indeed, Thomas thought as he entered the Pump Room and strolled with his sister to receive his daily glass of water. Why else would he persist in drinking the obnoxious water?
The things he did for Felicity Harrison. Though by far the most distasteful thing he had done for her was to suffer Carlotta Ennis’s company. His attempts at making Felicity jealous with Carlotta were taxing his patience. Carlotta was not his type in the least, but then no one was, save Felicity. Carlotta was a fortune hunter, pure and simple. She lacked intellect, maligned her dearest friend, and spoke in hyperbole. He detested every minute he spent with her.
As he waited for the water, Thomas gazed up at the orchestra. Once the attendant waited on him, Thomas handed the first glass to his sister; then he drank his, wrinkling his nose at the foul odor as he handed the glasses back to the attendant.
Still thinking about his plan to use Carlotta to make Felicity jealous, Thomas prided himself on how well the plan was working. Felicity had become so upset yesterday she had nearly run away from Carlotta and him at the park. And she had not made an appearance at the Pump Room last night, although her sister and brother did.
If he could just keep up his pretense with Carlotta a bit longer. Soon, he would make Felicity listen to him as he told her how deeply and for how long he had loved her.
Despite her coolness toward him the past month, Thomas believed Felicity cared about him. It was to him she had come for help when her sister attempted to elope.
Felicity had relied on him as a woman relies on her husband. The very idea of being wed to Felicity sent his heart racing.
Then, too, there were her kisses. A woman who did not have the warmest feelings toward him could never have kissed him as Felicity had. The memory caused his breath to grow short.
He and Dianna had just finished drinking the water when he saw Carlotta shooting across the room toward him.
Without invitation to do so, she tucked her arm into his. “Shall we walk about the room, Mr. Moreland?” she asked, moving forward as if to the music without waiting for Thomas’s reply.
He was amazed at how many different shades of lavender and lilac there were. For Carlotta wore no other color, and she seemed to wear a different dress every day.
By the time they had circled the room once, quite a few acquaintances had gathered around Dianna. Most important, Felicity. Then there were her siblings. And that damned colonel.
He forced Carlotta into the group, and they all began to speak of everyday topics. If the colonel referred to Felicity as my dear one more time, Thomas swore he would plant his fist into the man’s face. Most of the talking was done by Carlotta and the colonel, the two he was certain had the least to say, but both of whom were intoxicated by the sound of their own voices.
Soon they were joined by one more, Lady Catherine Bullin, who formerly resided at Winston Hall. She had not spoken a word to him since the day he took possession of her ancestral home. It was as if she felt that a lowly born man like himself would defile her home. He found it odd that she went out of her way today to attract his notice.
She met his gaze, and to his surprise, spoke to him. “Mr. Moreland, I beg that you will call on me at noon tomorrow at the St. George Hotel. There is a personal matter I wish to discuss with you.”
He swept into a bow. “You may consider it done, my lady.”
Then she said her farewells and left the Pump Room entirely. So, he mused, she had come here only to see him. He wondered what personal matter she wished to discuss. Could she wish to regain some family possessions? They would, of course, be hers for the asking, though he doubted her lodgings at the hotel afforded much space for any of her family’s grand portraits or statuary or massive Turkish rugs.