by Liz Tyner
His hand touched the handkerchief in his pocket.
‘Did you order the handkerchiefs?’ he asked Gaunt, who walked a little to one side and frowned.
‘Yes, all the servants have received the new silk ones.’
‘Thank you, Gaunt. I appreciate that and the service you provide to me, and the way you watch over the others in the household.’
‘I could not work in a better household,’ Gaunt said and his voice wavered. Then he smiled. ‘And don’t be surprised when I knock, and pause, before waking you on future mornings.’
‘I suppose that will be much easier for you than waiting until I return from escorting Lily across the way.’
‘You were getting later and later, sir. It’s a good thing you married today, otherwise the secret of your visits might have slipped out. Because none of the servants, of course, were aware of the trail to her garden in the morning dew or the earring the scullery maid found, and the request for twice as many orange biscuits as you’d eaten before.’
‘I was hungry,’ Edge said.
‘Of course, it often sounded as if voices could be heard talking when you were alone. I’ve told the others you walk in your sleep and had selected a gift and lost part of it. The voices in the early hours are merely ghosts because a tragedy happened on the grounds long before the house was built and it was too terrifying to be even spoken of by the living and the only way I know of it is that I overheard one of the spirits swearing when he hit his toe in the dark—which makes no sense, but I won a pence for being able to come up with the best explanation the quickest.’ He lowered one brow and lifted the other. ‘But I’d expected the need to explain, as I tend to notice things before the others do.’
‘And did you give that one pretty maid two silk handkerchiefs?’
‘Yes.’ Gaunt nodded, trying to puzzle out the reason the maid was given an extra gift.
Edge shrugged, but he didn’t turn away. Gaunt bowed and, when he did, a concerned look passed over his face. But he left without another word—walking as if a maid had put a burr in his trouser seat. Edge smiled. Soon Gaunt would be preoccupied with a romance of his own and Edge would tell Gaunt that they were even.
When he left, the connecting door opened.
Lily walked in, lips upturned. ‘Are you ready yet?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded and noted the ring on her finger, which didn’t sparkle as much as her eyes. He’d never thought about how wondrous a gold band could look until he saw it on his wife’s finger.
Together they left for Andrew and Beatrice’s house. Along with the charity event, Andrew and Beatrice were unveiling his mother’s portrait.
* * *
When they arrived, Edge’s hand at the small of Lily’s back lifted her courage and she was pleased to walk into the centre of the room.
Beatrice bounced over, her heels clattering, and she whispered to Lily, ‘I even invited my very worst friend, Agatha Crump. She tried to shred me under her talons when I was at Drury Lane once and I decided to repay her evil with kindness. And poison her punch.’
She handed Lily a glass. ‘This one’s safe. But really, the best way to swipe at your enemies is to be kind to them—if you don’t poison them. And it’s much more enjoyable to see them cringe at your happiness.’
Then Beatrice turned and whispered, ‘She’s heading this way. A perfect chance for me to grab the poison.’ And she darted away.
Agatha Crump joined them, holding her own glass. She sniffed the air. ‘So much romance and happiness around,’ she said. ‘Does me good to see all the love floating about. Life’s dust motes that give us hope.’ She took a drink. ‘Lovely portrait of your mother, Edge. Lord Andrew’s wife is quite the artist. I’ve yet to see the portrait of Andrew, though I did see the engraving. From what I hear there is no foliage in the original. Is that true?’
‘I’ve not seen it,’ Edge said.
‘I hear it is what caused their love to blossom. His posing.’ She looked at Edge. ‘And when did you fall in love?’
‘I don’t remember the moment,’ he said. ‘I remember working on my studies and thinking quite highly of her, so perhaps I fell in love early on. Or perhaps it was when we were children and she gave me an orange biscuit.’
Crump’s brows lifted. ‘How inspiring. And did you fall in love with him at that moment?’ Crump turned her attention to Lily.
‘I cannot say the exact moment. But I did wish to eat all of those orange biscuits and I shared them, so perhaps I loved him even then.’
‘Let us not bore everyone with our private life.’ Edge turned from Lily to Agatha. ‘Have you a particular favourite among the paintings?’
She shook her head and lowered her voice. ‘Teeth should not be shown in a painting. Lawrence doesn’t do it.’
‘Happiness showing on a face brightens the portrait,’ Edgeworth said.
‘Some of us don’t have as much to be happy about as others,’ Crump said, chin going up. ‘I’ve heard she painted a very indecent Boadicea and displayed it Somerset House,’ she stated, shuddering.
‘I didn’t see it,’ Lily said. In fact, she’d not even heard of such a painting by Beatrice.
‘I particularly like the way Beatrice captured Mother’s earrings,’ he said. ‘Though I thought them a little sedate.’
Crump’s eyes widened, she nodded and walked away.
* * *
After the guests left, the men remained in the ballroom.
Now Edge’s brother Andrew sat across from him and his cousin Foxworthy perched on a chair arm. He didn’t understand how his mother’s sister could have produced such a rogue. Well, yes, he did. Fox’s father hadn’t instilled the necessary responsibilities in his son. The earl had raced off on some quest and hadn’t returned.
‘What is the fondness for these biscuits?’ Foxworthy asked. He stared at the one in his hand, eyes narrowed as if looking for a bug. ‘Lemon. Lemon is good. When I stayed with Edge—every day, I would see a plate of orange biscuits somewhere about.’
He tossed the treat in his mouth, swallowed and put one palm flat to his chest, and with the other patted in semblance of a beating heart. ‘My two cousins, Edge and Andrew, have been smitten by Cupid’s sword, straight through the nether regions, I would assume.’ He rested one hand on his knee.
‘You should be so lucky,’ Andrew said and immediately turned to his brother. ‘So how did it happen?’
‘The usual way.’
‘I actually brought them together,’ Fox said. ‘At that event a few months back. I danced with her and the jealousy rampaged through Edge. I could tell. His eyes moved. That’s how I know when he’s jealous of me.’ He paused. ‘See,’ he said to Andrew. ‘His eyes moved again.’
‘Next it’ll be my fist.’
‘Aunt Ida didn’t instil proper manners in the two of you, I’m afraid,’ Fox said. ‘You’re both always wanting to resort to fists or rude gestures. I rely on looks alone and, of course, my good nature.’
‘Not intelligence, obviously,’ Edge said.
‘I’m happy for Edge and Lily,’ Andrew said. ‘Beatrice is hoping to paint a portrait of the two of you soon.’
‘Um...’ Fox looked at Andrew. ‘Has she mentioned when she plans a portrait of me?’
‘Yes,’ Andrew answered. ‘Not planning it any time soon. Afraid to paint you. Says her true feelings show on the canvas and she’s concerned you’ll end up looking like a flea-ridden rodent.’ He studied Fox. ‘Even if her feelings didn’t show, you’d end up looking the same.’
‘Beatrice has the right view of him,’ Edge said.
Andrew eyed his brother. ‘But you didn’t answer how this marriage came about.’
‘He doesn’t have to,’ Fox said. ‘Time to marry. Produce the offspring.’ He swung his head to the window. ‘The
sad lot of inheriting a title. Must continue on with the line. I have to consider the same path.’
‘Perhaps you should make an exception, cousin,’ Edge said. ‘All of London would thank you.’
Fox crossed his arms. ‘Eyes moved again, Edge.’
‘Don’t mistake disdain for jealousy.’
‘You should both be so happy as I am.’ Andrew stood and smiled. ‘But I do want to wish you well, big brother.’
‘And I wanted to offer condolences,’ Fox said, ‘as I hope you’d do for me.’
‘I’m extremely happy with Lily as my wife.’
‘I think she’s an excellent choice.’ Andrew moved to the door.
‘Me, too,’ Fox said. ‘I should have asked her to marry me. I just didn’t think of it. But I could ask Abigail.’
‘Don’t even get near Abigail,’ the Duke ordered. ‘I’ve been introducing her to eligible men who will treat her well.’
Fox smiled. ‘That advice usually doesn’t stop me.’
‘It will this time,’ Edge commanded Fox.
‘I was just having a jest.’ Fox laughed. ‘You’ve always been Edgy.’
‘You are forbidden to court the Duchess’s sister.’
‘Blast,’ Fox said. ‘I just realised. If I inherit the earldom, the former Miss Hightower—Lily—will outrank my wife should I ever marry.’
‘Don’t worry about that. Beatrice has been a countess, but she says I’m better than any peer that ever walked the earth.’ He strode to the door, then stopped, and his eyes brightened as he added, ‘I must say, I think she’s the smartest woman that ever walked the earth.’
A chuckle sounded from the hall, and Beatrice walked into the room, followed by Lily.
‘Marriage turns men’s words into gibberish.’ Fox meandered behind Andrew, but bowed to the ladies and gave each a kiss on the back of the hand. ‘But had my cousins not found you two gems first, I would be pleased to ask either of you to be my bride.’
At that moment, a scuffling noise sounded in the hall. Jakes, Andrew’s valet, walked into the room carrying a squirming brown bundle of puppy at arm’s length.
‘And did I mention that I have a present for you, Beatrice?’ Andrew said.
Jakes put the puppy on the rug and it ran underneath a chair. ‘Sir. He put a very rude puppy deposit in my room.’ He dusted his hands. ‘But I was able to clean it with your cravat.’
‘As long as it was one of those you left scorch marks on when you ironed,’ Andrew said.
‘That could be any one of them.’ Jakes shuddered, removed a hair from his coat and sprinkled it to the floor.
‘You can grow to love a cuddly little beast quite quickly,’ Andrew said.
‘Not me,’ Jakes said, turning to leave. ‘Nothing that bites.’ Then he shuddered and left.
Andrew glanced at Edge while Beatrice tried to coax the puppy from under the chair. ‘I heard that you were carting around a ladder, trying to find your lady love’s window the other day. Stairs broken?’
‘The ladder was faster,’ Edge said. ‘I wanted to present her with a handkerchief as a token.’
‘So you climbed a ladder to hand her a handkerchief?’
‘Yes,’ Lily said. ‘And it was a special handkerchief. His.’
Fox put his hand to his head, gripping, eyes shut. ‘Blast it, Lily. A man can’t be climbing ladders to give a woman his handkerchief. Stairs are much more durable. Love and marriage turn a man’s mind to mush.’
‘You should not find a wife, Fox,’ Lily spoke. ‘It is not for you. You would wither and die. All your man parts would fall off. Vultures would swarm, thinking you dying because of the agonising screams coming from your lips.’ She looked at Edge. ‘Have I left anything out?’
Fox answered for his cousin, ‘No. I think you’ve convinced me.’ He bowed. ‘I believe I must leave now. It appears that I must go somewhere to wash the sight of all this happiness from my mind.’ He left, whistling.
‘Why did you tell him such?’ Edge asked.
‘To save some unfortunate miss whom he might propose to.’
‘Foxworthy will not propose willingly until he is so old the miss can happily look forward to becoming a widow.’ Edgeworth looked at Lily. ‘I should have told him that you’d planned to marry me since you were a little child.’
‘I did not, Your Grace.’
‘Sweet.’ He clasped her hand and pulled it to the crook of his elbow. ‘I remember. You and your sister were playing and you told her you were going to marry a handsome man who had a big spotted horse.’
She grinned. ‘So I was half-right. You don’t have a spotted horse.’
‘I once did.’ He led her to the hallway.
She looked deep into his eyes. ‘Truly?’
With a quick flick of his wrist, he pulled her against him. ‘Of course. At the country estate. I thought, well, if Miss Hightower thinks a spotted horse is quite appealing, then I should have one.’
‘I have no particular fondness for spotted horses and can’t remember ever saying such a thing. But I do have a fondness for a certain handsome duke.’
‘A fondness?’
‘Yes. Mixed with love, it is quite a pleasant feeling.’
‘Ah, I like pleasant feelings,’ he said, rocking her in his arms. ‘And you’re the most pleasant feeling ever.’
She looked into his eyes and saw the lightness reflected back, and he smiled and she knew it was with his whole heart.
* * * * *
THE WALLFLOWER DUCHESS
features characters seen in Liz Tyner’s
THE NOTORIOUS COUNTESS.
And don’t miss these other
great reads from Liz Tyner!
THE RUNAWAY GOVERNESS
(part of THE GOVERNESS TALES quartet)
SAFE IN THE EARL’S ARMS
A CAPTAIN AND A ROGUE
FORBIDDEN TO THE DUKE
Keep reading for an excerpt from THE COWBOY’S ORPHAN BRIDE by Lauri Robinson.
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The Cowboy's Orphan Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Chapter One
Central Kansas, 1877
“Those damn cowboys!”
Bridgette Banks tightened every muscle against the way she’d flinched at Cecil Chaney
’s outburst and how he slammed the door. Neither was unusual, she just hadn’t expected him to be home so soon. He’d barely been gone an hour, probably less. Which should not have surprised her. He had to be the laziest man she’d ever encountered.
“I’ll shoot the lot of them if a single one steps foot on my property!”
She dried her hands with her apron before turning away from the boards nailed to the wall to form the crude counter barely large enough to hold the dishpan. “A cattle drive is near?”
“Of course a cattle drive is near,” Cecil barked. “I just said as much, didn’t I?”
“No, you said you’d shoot every cowboy.” She didn’t point out there wasn’t a reason anyone would want to step on his property.
The chair creaked as Cecil dropped his heavy frame on the seat. “Same thing.”
“No, it’s not,” Bridgette insisted. Arguing, especially with Cecil, got her nowhere, but she’d quit caring about that. His constant complaining had frazzled her nerves since the moment she’d arrived. He complained when it was hot. Complained when it was cold. Complained when it rained. Complained when it didn’t. His attitude was exhausting. As had been living in his house the past six weeks. Keeping her voice hushed, she said, “You may want to see if they have a cow you can buy. One nursing a calf. The milk is needed, as is the butter and cream.”
“Where am I supposed to get the money to buy a cow?” he snarled.
She bit her tongue to keep from saying he could forgo a few bottles of the hooch he bought from Graham Linkletter and kept stashed behind the barn. Turning around, she picked up the water basin. “Perhaps you could make some sort of bargain with them.” Walking to the door, she added, “Emma Sue could use the nourishment, even more once the baby arrives.”
“I’ve used up all my bargaining on you.”
Bridgette ignored the disgust lacing his words. Telling him she could leave at any moment would be the most wonderful thing ever. Except for Emma Sue. Goodness, what that woman saw in Cecil, how she’d ever lain with him, become pregnant, took more imagination than Bridgette had. She’d rather bed down in a den of snakes than next to Cecil Chaney. His breath alone was enough to make her eyes water.