by Fanny Finch
Lavinia blinked rapidly and he feared she might cry. “Which is why,” he continued quickly, “he would have liked to be certain of the character of the men who seek your hand. And since he is not here to do so…”
“He bestowed this mission upon you,” Lavinia said with dawning realization.
Myles didn’t deny it, although the details of his promise to Sir Edward were more complicated than that.
Lavinia considered his words thoroughly. At last, she took a deep breath. “Then I shall abide to my father’s wishes,” she declared. “I shall trust you as he did. What is it you can tell me about my suitors, my lord?”
Myles sighed in relief at this change of attitude. “There are men whose intentions are less than pure,” he said.
“Are yοu referring to someone in particular?”
“I have information about one of them. Lord Ashdown. He does not have the best of reputations.”
“Not everyone is what rumors paint them to be,” she countered, giving him a meaningful look. It almost made him laugh.
“This is true, Miss Bronson. However, these are not just rumors. Many incidents of wrongdoing on his part have been verified by others.”
“What type of wrongdoing?”
Myles struggled to express his misgivings in a way appropriate for the ears of a lady. “His… priorities remain that of a man with little interest in the finer things in life, things that create happiness, rather than luxury.
“I saw you dancing with him at the ball. I know Lord Ashdown and there is much about him you do not know. It is important that you try to understand who he is before you make any kind of move toward allowing him to court you for marriage.”
The Marquess could not tell her directly the motives he suspected Lord Ashdown of having to pursue her hand in marriage. But his duty bound him to warn her to be careful of the man, simply because his reputation dictated it.
Lavinia looked straight ahead. He could almost see the wheels turning in her mind. “I have heard a few negative things about him.”
The Marquess felt a streak of satisfaction. Perhaps she was listening and understood what he was trying to say. His hopes were dashed when she continued.
“But I do think it would be best for me to speak to Lord Ashdown about it. I want to hear what he has to say to about his… priorities.”
Anger rose inside Myles. His intention had not been to push Lavinia to meet with Lord Ashdown. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“That is not a good idea, Miss. You must understand the nature of the man. He will be remiss to speak the truth to you, if he feels it will not help his agenda. I fear you will believe whatever he says.”
Lavinia swiveled wide eyes to look at him. “I beg your pardon, sir? Do Ι seem so gullible to you?”
“This is not what I meant.”
“It is because of your warning that I am taking this measure,” she continued with her own temper rising. “I may be able to glean information from him about his true intentions, which to me is a mystery I would like to solve.”
“Why?” he couldn’t help but challenge. “Why would you wish to do that? Is your stubbornness so strong that you cannot simply heed my advice?”
Lavinia pursed her lips. “It is not a matter of my stubbornness. It is a matter of preference. My mother’s preference, to be exact. She is favorable towards Lord Ashdown. I believe that, quite soon, she may arrange for him to court me.”
A single tear slipped down Lavinia’s cheek. Myles let out the heavy, angry sigh he had been holding in.
The sight of the tear made the Marquess feel terrible. His shoulders slumped briefly and he whipped out the handkerchief from his jacket breast pocket. He held it out in front of her but she ignored it.
She looked shocked when he reached out and turned her face toward him. He was just as surprised to see that the single tear he had seen was not the only one.
He felt a tightening in his chest.
Gently, he used the handkerchief to wipe away the tears.
“I promise you,” he said, “you shall not do anything you do not wish to do, see a man you do not wish to see, marry someone your heart does not desire.”
She gazed at him with her innocent, hazel eyes and at that moment he knew he had surrendered to the storm he had wished to weather.
“How can you promise me such a thing?” she asked.
“It is what your father would have wanted. And I am here to see his wishes through.”
Chapter 9
Three days had passed and Lavinia was preparing to meet with Anna and two other young women for their monthly poetry reading. She was excited to be going out, to see Anna, and enjoy themselves.
Her mind had been busy the past few days. Busy with the memory of two inky blue eyes, a promise, and the feathery touch of a handkerchief on her cheek.
She had contemplated whether she should take the Marquess’ advice and not speak directly with Lord Ashdown. She hadn’t lied. Her mother did consider him more favorably with every passing day. If there was a reason to put an end to these thoughts, Lavinia had to discover it soon.
In the end, she decided she would take another route before speaking to the man himself.
Anna had mentioned Lord Ashdown. Perhaps she could give Lavinia more insight into the man than the Marquess had been willing to do.
She thought about it as she rode in the carriage to the Astor townhouse in the heart of London. How could she approach the subject with subtlety? Would it perhaps be best for her to just ask Anna outright? She did not think speaking about such a matter in front of the other ladies would be a good idea,. She would need to pull her friend to the side and have a conversation with her there.
Her hand clutched the paper on which her poem was written. She had taken it from a book of her favorite poems. Her father had stocked the library with every poetry book he could find just for her.
Lavinia looked through the window at the lively action on the streets of London. People walking, passing by while chatting with their companions. Children ran down the street, holding sticks with ribbons tied to the end that flew in waves through the air behind them.
She smiled to see the fun they were having. She remembered doing similar things when she was a child. It was a fun time. She missed it.
But the pressures of society and its rules had taken that frivolous joy from her, never to return. She was a proper young lady and would hold on to that ideal out of respect for her parents, if nothing else.
She could see the townhouse as they got closer and her excitement about seeing Anna again returned. Now that the Astors were back in London for the season, each prolonged time between their meetings seemed like forever to Lavinia.
The butler opened the door for her and took her jacket and gloves.
“The ladies are in the parlor, Miss Bronson,” the older man said.
“Thank you.”
“Allow me.” The butler moved to lead her to the parlor, though she knew where it was.
Lavinia hurried behind him. She could already hear the other ladies inside, talking and laughing. She did not think she was late. Perhaps the other ladies arrived early. If she had thought about it, she would have come earlier so she could speak with Anna alone.
The butler pushed open the door and announced her arrival. Anna and their two friends, Caroline and Lucinda, all stood up and rushed over to greet Lavinia.
“Here you are! I am so glad you came, Lavinia! I would have missed hearing you read your poem.”
“It is a joy to see you today, Caroline, Lucinda. I do hope you are enjoying your day.”
Lucinda’s smile was warm, reaching to her eyes and making the corners crinkle. “It is always enjoyable to spend time with the most amiable ladies in the city.”
Anna and Lavinia grinned at the young woman.
“What a lovely thing to say,” Caroline said. “I do hope I am included in that category.”
Lucina laughed softly. “Of course, Caroline! You are a dear
friend.”
“And you, Miss Lavinia? I assume you are looking forward to reading your poem to us.” Anna asked, her eyes twinkling at her friend.
Lavinia smiled at Anna. “I have chosen a poem about the many stars we see at night.”
“It does sound quite beautiful.”
“It is one of my favorites.”
“May I see it, Lavinia?” Caroline asked. Lavinia chuckled, holding the paper to her chest.
“You will have to hear it when I read it, Miss Caroline,” she teased.
Caroline laughed. “Well, if you insist. It will probably sound better the way you read it than the way I would hear it in my mind.”
“Will we be having anyone else joining in today?” Lavinia looked at Anna as the four women went to their chairs. She had noticed two more set up in the room.
“Why yes,” Anna answered, leaning forward to pick up the tea cup from the table in front of her. “Susanna and Victoria were interested in coming today. We are waiting for them.”
“So you are not the only one who is late!” Caroline said with a laugh.
“More of an audience, I say,” Lucinda put in. “It makes it even more fun.”
“I agree,” Caroline nodded. “And we can compare notes after. It will be longer than usual, though, if they have also brought poems to read.”
“They will bring poems,” Anna said. “I am sure of it. There are very few women I know who would attend a poetry reading without one of their own.”
Chuckles filled the room.
“Oh, I just remembered.” Caroline stood up, looking at Anna. “Would you mind if I showed Lucinda a painting in your foyer that we were discussing earlier? It will only take us a few minutes.”
“Why of course, by all means.”
Anna and Lavinia watched the two ladies chatting as they walked to the parlor door and disappeared on the other side.
Lavinia would not let this opportunity be wasted.
“Anna, while they are gone, I wish to ask you something that is of vital importance to me.”
Anna raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“Yes. I am thinking of speaking with Lord Ashdown. He has asked to court me.”
Anna’s eyebrows stayed in the middle of her forehead. “Yes, Lavinia. I am well aware of his intentions toward you.”
Lavinia felt apprehensive. Anna’s demeanor had changed. She now looked tense, her smile gone.
“I have heard… I have been warned to approach Lord Ashdown with caution. I have been thinking about sending him a message to meet me in public so we may walk and talk about these issues.”
Anna scowled. Lavinia was surprised by the forcefulness of it. “You should not do that, Lavinia. He is a rake. He does not tell the truth often and when he does, it is generally to further his own goals. He has no regard for others.”
“Anna, I am so confused by what I have been told. He does not seem like a rake to me when I dance with him or speak with him. Why do you feel the way you do?”
“You must understand that he does not make decisions for the benefit of anyone but himself, Lavinia. He is determined to fulfill his goals and his goals alone.”
“But…”
The conversation ended abruptly when the parlor door opened and Sir Henry came in. He spotted Lavinia and smiled in greeting.
“Miss Bronson. I thought I heard your voice. Are you enjoying your day?”
“I am, thank you, Sir Henry. And you?”
Sir Henry nodded. “Yes, it has been a lovely morning. However, may I speak with you in private for a moment?”
Lavinia noticed Anna’s frown, which turned in the direction of her brother. She made to push herself from the chair she was sitting in but Lavinia stopped her, putting one hand up in the air.
“No, you don’t have to go, Anna. I will speak with Sir Henry in the hallway.”
Lavinia stood up, thinking she would not be comfortable in the room alone with Sir Henry, now that he had made his intentions toward her clear. It was inappropriate for him to request such a thing and the thought of it made Lavinia uneasy. She clenched her jaw in frustration.
Lavinia followed Sir Henry to the door. He let her pass in front of him and they met in the hallway just outside. Lavinia was pleased one of the maids was nearby, dusting the candleholders.
Sir Henry did not look pleased. “Have you given any more thought to what I spoke of the last time we met each other, Miss Bronson?”
Lavinia knew she was blushing and could not help it. She had always thought of Sir Henry as a friend, not anything more. She had never even considered it. Although Anna had spoken of her brother in passing and Lavinia had spent time with the two of them on many occasions, she had thought of Sir Henry only as the brother of her best friend.
“I have contemplated it, Sir Henry,” Lavinia said politely. She did not know what to say in response to his attention.
“I have dreamed of asking you this for some time,” Henry said, sounding hurt. “My love for you has grown to a proportion where it is no longer easy for me to control. I think of you constantly. You have not left my mind since our reunion at your home. It saddens me to think our friendship has changed because of this.”
What friendship? Lavinia was deeply confused. There had never been a friendship between them. Why was he acting so odd?
And why now, all of a sudden? Why were so many suitors interested in her now?
Lavinia nearly gasped. There was more to the Marquess’ warning, she realized. She suspected so, but now her belief solidified. There was also something else, something he had artfully avoided telling her, that was concealed behind his concern about her suitors.
Lavinia cleared her throat. “I apologize, Sir Henry. I must confess this was very unexpected.”
Sir Henry lowered his head. His face was turning red, the blood filling his face all the way to the roots of his light, curly brown hair. He pulled in a deep breath. Lavinia noticed when his eyes flicked to the maid.
Lavinia knew the maid could hear them and her responses to Sir Henry were likely to embarrass him in front of his own servant. But she could not take the risk that they would be left alone and something untoward would be assumed. She did not welcome more rumors and as it was quite inappropriate, that would be the obvious outcome.
“I know that Anna would be very pleased with our union,” Sir Henry continued. “I would like to be married as soon as it can be arranged. Please say you will agree to my proposal. We would be a real family and you would be Anna’s sister. Would that not please you?”
Lavinia thought the idea of having Anna as a sister was very appealing. The thought of having Sir Henry as a husband for the rest of her life did not. Her mind kept taking her back to the Marquess and his insistence that she be cautious with her affections.
It would not have mattered if the Marquess had not warned her. She did not see Sir Henry the way he wanted her to see him. She had never had any interest in him as a husband and did not crave his attentions. She wished to be in love with the man she married. She did not love Sir Henry and was doubtful her opinion of him would ever change.
She found herself wishing she was not where she was, standing in a hallway, feeling uneasy and anxious. She did not enjoy feeling pressured.
As they spoke, Caroline and Lucinda approached from down the hallway. They had been chatting and abruptly stopped when they saw Sir Henry and Lavinia.
“Good morning, Sir Henry,” they said in unison. They looked at each other with a shared smile.
“Good morning, ladies.”
They passed by, giving the two in the hallway a last glance before going into the parlor. Lavinia caught the looks on their faces and knew what they were thinking. She almost wished Sir Henry would turn his attentions to one of them. They were both attractive, intelligent women of the ton.
“What do you say, Miss Lavinia?” Sir Henry asked, lowering his voice even more.
Lavinia pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly, biting her bot
tom lip. She could not think of anything to say in return. She cared for Sir Henry with the same love she would feel for a brother. She did not know how to tell him that.
“It is a very sweet proposal, Sir Henry. But I am afraid I cannot accept.”
Sir Henry glanced at the maid, whose back was turned to them, and suddenly, with a horrible certainty, Lavinia knew he was going to attempt to kiss her.
“Oh dear, I must return to the parlor,” she said quickly, stepping backwards from him. “I am sure the ladies are waiting for me to read my poem. I am sorry, Sir Henry. Truly sorry. I must go .”