* * *
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland
Adam watched as Magnolia, her Aunt Dorothy, and Caroline Johnson took their leave together. Richard was also beside him on the top floor, looking down at everything that was happening below.
“Well, now that they have gone, can we go home as well?” asked Richard.
Adam did not respond. Instead, he quickly gulped down the glass in his hand before signaling to the nearest footman.
“You are drunk,” Richard stated.
“As if I did not know that,” Adam replied.
The footman filled his glass. In one gulp, Adam finished that, too. He hated the way he was feeling. He felt like slamming the glass against the wall but right now he had to behave.
Adam could later do that for his stupidity. Why tonight, of all nights, would his tongue cease to work? He had said lots of things that had swept ladies off their feet and straight to his bed. But even though that wasn’t his intention with Magnolia –
Well, maybe it was. But it was also something more.
He wanted her. For a moment, he lost himself in the dream of how she would taste. And she’d stared at him unblinking with those damned lovely eyes!
“Footman!” he shouted again.
He shouldn’t be having these impure thoughts, especially for his friend’s sister. Get a hold of yourself, Adam! He shouldn’t be thinking that way. Society forbids it! He gulped down the rest of the drink.
“No more!” Richard warned, snatching the cup from him. “Whatever is wrong with you, you can sort it out at home. I would hate if I had to carry you there.”
“I have to speak with Magnolia about James’ death,” Adam mumbled after a while.
“Oh, I see,” said Richard. “But what can someone like her know about her brother’s death? No one would believe her even if she does know something.”
“Well, I will believe her, and she can believe me, too. I just need to get over this madness of being speechless when I am with her.”
Richard turned to face him. “Admit it, then. Admit that she is no longer the little girl you were used to. This is someone else, a very beautiful lady who has many men falling over themselves just to talk to her. Once you accept that, other things will go smoothly.”
* * *
“I had the most delightful evening!” Aunt Dorothy gushed as they got home. “Really an excellent ball. It seems like years since I last had one!”
Magnolia and Caroline exchanged glances and laughed at the same time.
“I do hope you two had as pleasant an evening as I did,” Aunt Dorothy went on.
“Well, I did,” replied Caroline. “While Magnolia was gone, I could not attend any balls, but tonight I am truly happy. I danced with handsome men and they were all so nice and charming.”
Then Magnolia realized they were quiet and looking at her. She frowned. “I do not understand. What is it?”
“Well, go on,” said her aunt. “Tell us how your evening went!”
“It was…” Magnolia thought for a while. “It was . . . nice.”
“Oh, I am certain it was more than merely nice,” Aunt Dorothy trilled. “I saw Adam Avery speaking with you, and so many other men falling over themselves just to fill your cards!” “Whatever happened between Adam and me was nothing. He simply mistook me for someone else.” Magnolia stood up. “I shall excuse myself. I am too tired, and I badly want to sleep.”
Saying this, Magnolia left the parlor and walked to her room. She closed the door, got out of her clothes, and hurried into the tub where warm water was waiting for her.
She closed her eyes as the warm water washed over her naked body. The image of Adam, looking at her but unable to speak, came back to her.
Magnolia could read something in those deep blue eyes as they stared at her. She thought she could see lots of questions and confusion, and very much wondered why he just couldn’t say something.
Perhaps she should have apologized for being too cold the last time they had seen each other. She would have done that, except that he had mistaken her for someone else!
Magnolia climbed out of the tub, dried herself with a towel and changed into her night gown.
Caroline had been right. She should have been prepared, but at least, she did try to speak with him. Things were becoming more awkward between them and he was only adding to it with his strange attitudes. The last time, he had held her hand without saying anything; and now, at the ball, he had become suddenly mute.
She sighed and walked out of her room. There was one more thing to do before she retired for the night.
* * *
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland
Adam got back home at some minutes close to midnight. Before he went to his room, he went to check on his mother and there he met Mrs. William, one of their maids, tucking her in.
“My lord,” she said, curtseying.
“How is she?” he asked, moving closer to where his mother lay sleeping peacefully.
“She asked of you. I told her you went to Lady Stewart’s ball,” the woman said. “She took her medicines before she slept.”
“Thank you, Mrs. William.”
The woman curtsied and left while he sat down on the edge of the bed. “I hope you get better soon, Mother,” he said quietly, taking her hand and stroking it. “I need your help, if I am to make you happy. I am so confused right now.”
While he was talking, his mother stirred. “Are you back?” she said weakly.
Adam was surprised. Immediately he regretted talking so loudly. “Yes, Mother. But why are you awake? You should be sleeping.”
“No, my son. I should be resting, and that is what I’m doing. How was the ball?”
He nodded. “It was quite nice.”
“I see. Did you at least dance with anyone?”
Adam shook his head.
“And why not? That is the whole essence of going to a ball,” she said, and began coughing.
“Would you like to ask one of the servants to get a cup of water?”
“No,” she replied. “I will be fine.”
“Mother, I don’t think it is wise for you to be talking.”
“The physician never said I should not talk, my son. Besides, I have never missed Lady Stewart’s ball so you will have to tell me all about it.”
He frowned. “I got there late. I thought I could find someone to marry. I am sorry I disappointed you.”
His mother stared at him and started to sit up. “You went to the ball to find – someone to marry?”
Adam was surprised at his mother’s question. “I thought that was why most men and women would go to a ball. Particularly the women.”
His mother chuckled and laid back on her pillows again. “Well, that’s the truth, but it’s not enough. Your father and I had an arranged marriage but in the long run, we ended up falling in love. This is why I have refused to marry all this time that he has been gone. I love your father so much…”
“But I do not really believe in anything that has to do with love,” Adam said. “I think it is just a waste of time and energy.”
His mother laughed before beginning to cough again. Afterwards, she relaxed, and just smiled at him.
“Mother, we shall talk about this in the morning. Right now, you must rest.”
His mother nodded and he kissed her forehead. “Marry for love, son,” she whispered. “It is the finest thing in the world.” With that, she drifted off to sleep.
Adam sighed and left for his room. He took a warm bath and then retired for the night.
But as he lay in bed, everything that had happened that night went through his mind again and again and he was unable to get Magnolia’s picture from his head.
He had failed, again, in telling her about his last discussion with James, and again felt angry at himself. Being tongue-tied in front of a lady had never happened to him before. He always knew the right thing to say and how to say it, but this time it was different. Staring a
t those beautiful eyes had compelled him to forget everything he wanted to say to her.
Adam grimaced as he recalled what Richard had said. Could he really be infatuated with his friend’s sister?
Richard’s advice came back to him. “Admit it, then. Admit that she is no longer the little girl you were used to. This is someone else, a very beautiful lady who has many men falling over themselves just to talk to her. Once you accept that, other things will go smoothly.”
He breathed deep and then covered himself with the blanket. He must get used to the fact that he found Magnolia very beautiful and he was, indeed, attracted to her. Once he was able to admit that, he would finally be able to ask her everything she knew about James’ death.
When he closed his eyes for sleep, it was Magnolia’s eyes that flooded back to his memory. He wished he had gotten close enough to her to smell the fragrance of her hair . . . to hold her . . . to kiss those red, full lips . . .
Blimey!
Adam turned over in the bed as he realized he was doing it again. It was wrong! He gave himself one last warning before drifting off to sleep.
Chapter 11
Miss Magnolia Richmond
Magnolia took her last bite of the bread before the maid packed the leftovers away. She was sipping from the glass of wine in her hand when Aunt Dorothy glided down the stairs.
“Letters for you, Magnolia. And oh, my goodness! Two of them came with flowers!”
Magnolia almost choked on her drink and was left coughing. Gently she put down the cup. Did her aunt just say she had received flowers?
She looked up as Aunt Dorothy came into the room. True to her words, in one hand she waved several letters and in the other she clutched two beautiful bouquets.
Her aunt excitedly handed her the four letters. Magnolia didn’t even know what to say, for she had not expected any of this.
“Well, go on. Open them!” cried her aunt.
Magnolia sighed. Apparently, she didn’t share the excitement with her aunt. Slowly she opened one of the letters and saw that it was from Joe Brackish, the Duke of Wateread.
Aunt Dorothy waited anxiously as she read the letter. She couldn’t even remember who the Duke of Wateread was among the several men she had danced with that night. “Well, what did he say?”
Magnolia took a deep breath and summarized the letter for Aunt Dorothy. “It seems that the Duke admired me greatly and complimented me well enough. He sends the bouquets of edelweiss and asks for a walk in the next three days when he will be back from his journey.”
“Splendid! This is great news!” said Aunt Dorothy. Quickly she handed Magnolia the next letter, which proved to be from Lord Jonas Eddington. Magnolia did remember him and as with the first letter, he also complimented her and desired to go on a picnic with her in the next three days.
“Wonderful!” cried her aunt one more time, before handing Magnolia the third and the fourth letters. They all contained similar messages from men who desired her company.
“This is too good to be true. Just one ball and the men are throwing themselves at you!” gushed her aunt. “Do you at least find one of them appealing?”
She shook her head. “I am afraid not. But it is all for the best.”
This surprised her aunt. “They cannot be all bad, Magnolia. Do you even remember their faces? Why don’t you spend time with them and get to know them more?”
Magnolia smiled. “Aunt Dorothy, none of them appeal to me. There is no need to rush at all. I shall honor their invitations but please, do not expect too much. There will be more balls to attend where I will get to meet more men.”
“Oh, just imagine it! If this could happen just after one ball, I would wager you would get your hands full in subsequent ones!”
Magnolia merely nodded, with a smile.
“Well, I shall go take care of these flowers for you,” said her aunt. She started to take her leave, but then stopped and turned to look back at her.
“Lest I forget, I intend to visit the Averys tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?”
Magnolia immediately remembered what had transpired between herself and the earl the other night. She wondered what might happen if she went to his house – and nodded.
“Wonderful! We shall leave in an hour’s time. I already wrote a letter telling Lady Strickland to expect us.” Aunt Dorothy went back the way she had come.
Magnolia thought about her decision. Was it really wise to go again, after what happened between them?
She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to be angry with Adam or simply confused about everything – and then she realized that she was actually hoping to see him again. But that was insane! Should she not be trying to avoid him, just like she’d planned?
There was something about him that kept pulling her to him, and it was something she could not explain. For no reason, she found herself wishing things would at least be better that day. She had once promised not to visit the Avery’s townhouse again, but now that was exactly what she was about to do.
Magnolia could vividly remember what had happened the last time she was there. That had been on Adam’s birthday, several months before James died.
She had been looking forward to the day, after battling with her emotions and the way she felt for him. They had grown far apart but it was his birthday and she had made him a special gift which was unknown to James.
That morning, the whole family had arrived at the Avery’s townhouse. There were a few of his friends around, but Adam was not in sight.
Magnolia remembered how her parents and his parents had moved to the courtyard. James had joined the friends in the parlor, but Magnolia had left the house.
She was still trying to be convinced that she was doing the right thing by giving him a knitted cravat. They hadn’t spoken for some time and here she was about to give him a cravat she’d spent time making for him.
It was stupid, she thought, as she walked in front of the townhouse. What if he didn’t like it? What if he was able to finally realize she had feelings for him, what would he think of her?
All these thoughts ran through her mind until she heard a noise beside her. She had been walking by the side of the house and now she was close to a window.
Magnolia heard female laughter, followed by a voice … and then froze when she recognized that voice as Adam’s. Her heart beat frantically as she turned around to see who he was laughing with.
The curtain was drawn, but not entirely. This gave her the opportunity to see him standing with Trista Hatheway, who was giving him a little velvet box.
“You must not be here, Trista. You know that,” he had said.
“Nonsense! I wanted to give you your birthday gift,” she had replied excitedly.
He had chuckled and opened the velvet box. They were standing sideways next to the window so, within the little space between the two curtains, she was able to see them…especially when their lips came together.
Only then did Magnolia realize how foolish she had been. The cravat in her hand dropped to the ground and she did not bother picking it up.
Magnolia had felt the throbbing of her eyes and the trembling of her hands as she ran. Fear and shame had consumed every part of her nerve. She had known if she’d stayed even a moment longer, she might have burst into tears.
Magnolia ran all the way back to their carriage and stayed inside, refusing to leave. When they had finally returned home, she pretended as if all was perfectly fine.
“I asked Adam about the gift you had been hiding from me all day,” James had said to her that night. “But I was surprised. He said you never gave him any gift. So, what was in that box you were holding this morning?”
“Nothing,” she had responded dryly, before leaving for her room. That night, she had promised herself that she would never go back to Adam Avery’s house again; but now, that was exactly what she was about to do.
What she saw that night was the one thing she had promised herself to forget. She could st
ill feel the pain and anger of that day as strongly as ever. The most frustrating part was that she was so very hurt, and Adam knew nothing about it.
He was still going on with his life, quite oblivious to the effect his dalliance had had on Magnolia. For days afterwards, she avoided him more and refused to speak to him. James could not understand, and neither could Adam.
“You and Adam used to be close,” James said to her, a few nights before he died. “Whatever happened between you two? I must say you have been acting rather strange lately. You always leave the parlor each time he was around. What is wrong?”
A Mysterious Quest of a Seductive Lady: A Regency Historical Romance Novel Page 8