Why had he ever agreed to come here?
“I did not know you’d be joining us, Lynwood,” said Lady Elling.
Liam bowed to her. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw a passing maid roll her eyes. That was most unusual.
Lady Elling was joined by Lady Montpelier, whose hair seemed to be a rather unnatural shade of red.
“Lynwood,” said Lady Montpelier, “I’m rather surprised to see you here. I had heard you were preoccupied with matters in town.”
Lynwood bowed to her. His visit was worsening by the moment. Montpelier’s wife was a horrible gossip. “I cannot imagine the matters to which you refer, Lady Montpelier. I have come to discuss business with Lyman.”
“Business?” asked Lady Montpelier, as if it were a most foreign notion. “I have never heard of one wishing to conduct business when there is so much hunting to be done. Have you, Valencia?”
Lady Elling’s smile for her friend was brittle. “As you say, Darva, it is unusual, although his grace is not a common man. Speaking of which, how is Montpelier?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea, darling. It is ever so bad form when husbands and wives are in each other’s pockets. One does need a diversion ever so often. Wouldn’t you agree, Lynwood?”
With unmatched clarity, Lynwood realized he’d be bolting his bedchamber door from both of these women. “As I am not married, I shall leave others to answer that query. If you will excuse me, ladies, I would like to change before the dinner gong.”
Lady Elling looked like she wished to have a word in private, but Lady Montpelier was steadfastly sticking to her side. Liam breathed a sigh of relief because he was not of a mind to revisit their previous association. But he had a feeling avoiding her would be a challenge.
When the waiting butler became distracted by a scream from the kitchen, Liam asked a footman for directions to his chamber, then assured the man he could find the way himself. He followed instructions, then opened the last door in the hall only to find a maid fluffing the pillows. And not just any maid. The one who’d rolled her eyes at Lady Elling’s comments.
“Oi!” she said, startled. She then followed this up with a much more proper “Your grace” and a curtsey.
Liam looked around the room. It was still being prepared, which was odd, since he’d sent word to Lyman that he’d be arriving that day. “I would like a bath, as soon as possible,” he told the maid.
“Here, your grace?”
“I cannot take one in the hall,” he said in exasperation, then immediately regretted his words. He was never one to rebuke a servant unnecessarily and it wasn’t the girl’s fault that he’d had a bad day. He would make sure his vails were generous enough to make up for his sharp tongue.
She looked for a moment as if she wanted to roll her eyes again. But instead she asked, “Will there just be the one of you in the bath?”
Who was this chit? “Just what do you mean by that?”
“This is, after all, Lady Elling’s bedchamber. If she’s to join you, I’ll call for the larger tub.”
Liam took a quick, panicked look around and saw the tell-tale signs of perfume bottles and brushes. “Trust me, that won’t be necessary. I was looking for my chamber and must have come to the wrong room.”
“You’re the Duke of Lynwood?”
“I am. And you are?”
“Olivia.”
“Well, Olivia, I would be most appreciative if you would direct me to my chamber.” He walked toward the door to the hall and was surprised when she did not follow. Instead, she opened the door to the adjacent chamber. “This is your suite, your grace.”
“It cannot be.”
“It is, your grace.”
“It is most inappropriate.” The girl shrugged her shoulders, but only slightly. She’d probably seen her share of impropriety if she’d been in service with Lyman for any length of time. “I cannot take that chamber. There must be another.”
Olivia mulled it over for a moment. “I could have someone moved, but there’s no vacant chamber in this wing.”
“Another wing, perhaps?”
“None that’s acceptable for a duke.”
“You shall find me more accommodating than your average duke. Please take me to another chamber before Lady Elling returns.”
The girl hesitated. “She’ll have my hide, her ladyship will.”
“But I cannot allow her to have mine. If you please…”
He motioned toward the hall. Moments later, Olivia delivered him to a small room facing the stables. The bed would not be long enough for his height and there was no dressing room. To make matters more inconvenient, he was travelling without a valet, not having expected to stay long. But he would just have to make do, considering the alternative. “Have my bags delivered and a bath sent up. I may need someone to see to my clothes. I had not expected to dress for dinner three nights.”
“I shall send someone up directly, your grace. And you may need this.” She handed him the key. “I expect your location won’t be kept from Lady Elling for long.”
“Thank you, Olivia.”
“I’m sorry the room isn’t more grand, your grace. I can still have someone moved, if you’d like.”
“Don’t bother. This shall do nicely. I expect to be on my way again as soon as possible.”
Olivia curtsied, then headed to the door, stopping only long enough to say, “You are rather accommodating. For a duke, that is.”
She closed the door after her, and Liam had his first chuckle in weeks.
CHAPTER SIX
“Can anyone tell me what six plus six equals?”
Rosalind was with her charges in the corner of the building that served as the village pub. They were seated by the fireplace which was especially welcome on a cold winter day. The pub itself was generally quiet until noon, when her students went home to eat. They returned for another two hours at two of the clock, thereby getting roughly four hours of instruction per day.
Rosalind had initially been hesitant to use the pub as a classroom. She’d rarely been in such an establishment and certainly didn’t think it was a proper place for children. But the proprietor, Mr. Hammons, had generously offered use of the space and the church was in such disrepair she actually feared for the children’s safety. The church looked like a good swift wind could blow it down. When she’d mentioned as much to Gabriel, his countenance had darkened. It was but another example of the earl’s neglect. He and the other men did what they could to shore it up, but building material was in short supply and funds to make the repairs almost non-existent.
So they’d settled on the pub. Gabriel had a few primers from his own education, which were passed around to the children. But Rosalind had to rely heavily on oral instruction and finding ways to keep the children interested.
There were usually about a dozen children in attendance, but rarely the same twelve. Sometimes children would be needed at home and others worked odd jobs in the small village. None of the children had had any formal education, so while their ages ranged from four through fifteen, their skills at reading, writing and sums were roughly on par with one another.
Despite her earlier talk with the ladies, there had still been some resistance to setting up a school. Some parents didn’t understand the need for it, since even in winter there were chores for the children. But Gabriel had visited each family and stressed the importance of educating the children, if for no other reason than they’d be better prepared to deal with the earl’s men. Most had needed no further encouragement. The earl, Rosalind learned, was a negligent landlord, given to increasing rents on a whim and ignoring the tenants’ needs. The condition of the church was but one example of work that needed to be done. It was only by working together as a village that the families were able to stay on their land in houses that did not crumble down around them.
Some of the children had been highly skeptical of the idea of school, although they certainly enjoyed the independence of leaving home and bei
ng with their friends for a few hours. And as they overcame their shyness with Rosalind, they began to show some real enthusiasm for their studies.
Of course, no one was as enthusiastic as Daisy. She and her brother usually arrived at school first and it was little Daisy who raised her hand to answer nearly every question Rosalind asked. So, Rosalind was not surprised in the least when Daisy raised her hand once again to answer the sums question.
“Yes, Daisy?”
“Six plus six equals twelve, miss. And Miss Rose?”
“Yes, Daisy?”
“A lot of us would like to know why you’re not married.”
“Daisy!” hissed her brother. “That’s not polite to ask!”
Daisy looked so chastened that Rosalind wanted to hug her, even if she was still bright red from the question.
“I am sorry, miss,” said Daisy, genuinely contrite. “I didn’t mean to not be polite.”
“I know you did not,” said Rosalind.
Daisy smiled, secure again in her teacher’s regard. “So why did you never marry, if you please?”
“I am not sure this is something the other children are interested in,” said Rosalind gently.
“Sure we are,” said Beatrice, the twelve-year-old daughter of Mrs. Milton, the village gossip. While Rosalind firmly believed in not judging one by their relatives – she was Calvin’s sister, after all – the younger Milton showed every sign of following in her mother’s footsteps. “That’s all the women folk can talk about. Some say you’re on the run from a scandal.”
“My ma says you’ve run away from a husband who beats you,” offered eleven-year-old Tyler Smith.
His nine-year-old sister Missy added, “Our pa thinks yer pa is a toff.”
Rosalind froze, wondering how Missy’s father could have guessed.
The girl continued. “He thinks yer ma was an opry dancer.”
Rosalind almost had to laugh at the very thought of her mother being any such thing.
“We shouldn’t be talking about this,” said Tommy. “Miss Rose is our teacher and it’s nobody’s business who she is or where she comes from. Even if we all do want to hear about it.”
“Yes, miss,” said Daisy. “Tell us more about you, will you?”
The other children looked most interested in her story, but they were interrupted by the arrival of Gabriel.
“I confess to being confused, Miss Rose,” he said softly from the door. “I thought the children would be doing sums or reciting for you. I never dreamed they would take it upon themselves to pester you with questions.”
Daisy looked up at him. “I’m sorry, father. But we wanted to know.”
“I am sure you did,” he said. “But, as Tommy said, it’s no one’s business. And it’s not me you should apologize to.”
Daisy quickly made her apology to Rosalind as did the other children, though Beatrice Milton looked none too happy to do so. Rosalind graciously accepted their apologies, then reminded them to practice doing sums in their head. She dismissed the children and they ran off to play for the few minutes that were left before they would be expected home.
Daisy came up to Rosalind, with the usual bright smile on her face. The little girl took Rosalind’s hand. “I’m glad you’re our teacher.”
“I am, too,” said Rosalind, squeezing the girl’s hand.
“Go outside and play with your friends,” said Gabriel. “There are a few things I need to discuss with Miss Rose.”
Tommy bowed, then Daisy curtsied before they ran off to join their friends. Rosalind began putting the room back to order.
“Here, let me get that,” said Gabriel as he pushed the chair she’d been using back to its place. Their fingers brushed against each other, and he blushed from the contact. He cleared his throat. “I apologize for the children. Living in a village like this, you know everything there is to know about your neighbors. Sometimes too much. I guess they couldn’t help themselves asking you for your story.”
“It is quite all right,” she said, ensuring the tables and chairs were back in place for the customers who would be coming in for lunch.
“It’s your right to keep your story to yourself,” continued Gabriel. “’Tis no one else’s concern, where you came from or why you left. The only thing that matters is you’re here now and teaching the children.”
Rosalind smiled at him, then put on her cloak. “Thank you.”
“It’s just,” he continued as he offered his arm as they departed the tavern. “Well, if you’re in trouble or need any help, you need only ask.”
Rosalind kept her head down, both from the cold wind and the tears that were pooling in her eyes. Gabriel Mills was such a kind man. Such a good man. But she could not confide in him. Fallmoor could make life very difficult for him if he ever learned of her time here. She also was loath to tell him she was a viscount’s daughter. She didn’t want a barrier between them. He was the first real friend she’d had other than the Kellingtons. She didn’t want to lose that.
Gabriel must have sensed her reluctance to speak so he changed the subject. “I have a favor to ask. We have a tradition here in the village to begin the Christmas celebrations early. There’s a bonfire on the green with hot drinks and sweets, along with dancing. The ladies have been coming to me asking various questions and I’d, uh, rather not be involved.”
Rosalind smiled at him. “Do you feel under siege by your admirers?”
Here, he blushed even redder. “I would not say they’re admirers, but…”
“Surely you cannot be blind, Mr. Mills.”
“Gabriel.”
“Gabriel.” It felt odd to call another man by his Christian name, but somehow right. He’d been so kind to her. He’d given her a future. It seemed ungrateful to keep a formal distance between the two of them. “You are very popular among the ladies in the village. I must admit I have used it to my advantage. Whenever a woman wishes to pull her child from the school, I casually mention how important you think education to be. You have proven quite useful that way.”
“Miss Rose, I never knew you were the scheming type,” he said with a grin. “But I must say I approve. And mayhap you could use your power of persuasion to plan the celebration with the ladies.”
“And get them to leave you out of it?”
He grinned. “I’ll help set up, of course. And I’ll provide the meat to be roasted. But, I would like to be less involved with the day-to-day planning of it.”
“Very well, I shall attempt to relieve you of some of the responsibilities, though I’m sure none of the ladies will thank me for it.”
“But I will!” Gabriel was so relieved, he went to give her a hug, then drew back at the last minute as he seemed to think better of it.
She smiled at him, not wanting him to be hurt. “I have only one word of warning, Gabriel. If I must spend much time with Mrs. Milton, I fear you shall have to increase my wages by giving me an extra loaf of your cook’s delicious bread.”
“It will be my pleasure,” said Gabriel. “Mayhap I can get you to take care of all my interaction with the ladies.”
“Do not press your good fortune, sir. I shall run your poor cook ragged.”
They continued in good humor all the way to Rose Cottage, where Gabriel parted with her, then continued to his own house. Rosalind entered her cottage, glad as always to be home.
* * *
Liam had only been at Lyman’s estate for a few hours, but he was already cursing his decision to remain. After dressing for dinner, he’d timed his arrival downstairs so that he would get there just as they were going in. As luck would have it, he ended up escorting Lady Elling to the table, then was seated next to her. Lady Montpelier was across from him and, just as he’d feared, she’d set his sights on him, despite her almost certain knowledge of the affair he’d had with her good friend Lady Elling.
The entire meal was spent dodging Lady Montpelier’s wandering foot and Lady Elling’s drifting hand. He nearly choked when Lady El
ling truly threw caution to the wind by pressing her palm against his cock as he took a sip of Lyman’s middling wine.
He was extremely grateful when the ladies excused themselves from the table and he wanted nothing more than to bolt from the room himself via the servants’ entrance to avoid being seen. But Lyman pressed him to stay for the gentlemen’s conversation, which consisted of little more than ribald comments about the hunt that would take place in the manor’s many bedchambers later that night. It was all Liam could do to keep a civil tongue. It wasn’t that he was offended by the talk. He’d attended a few house parties such as this shortly after university, though the company at those had been decidedly more intellectual. At least that was the way he remembered it. In truth, it had probably been much like this, but he’d been too foxed to care.
Even if he weren’t in love with Rosalind, he wouldn’t have enjoyed this party. Lady Elling was becoming more brazen and he felt he ought to apologize to Montpelier on his wife’s behalf except Montpelier had spent most of the evening staring at Lady Sinclair’s bosom.
Liam was also realizing that Valencia’s interest in him might be more than purely physical. If she did have designs on his title, she could use this party for her plans. While everyone here more or less turned a blind eye to the philandering of husbands and wives, it could be a different matter if two eligible partis like he and Valencia were known to frequent each others’ rooms. He was glad Olivia had given him the key. She would be a good deal richer at his departure.
Liam finally made his excuses to the other gentlemen, then retired. After reviewing the latest report from Lyman’s steward, Liam blew out his candle shortly after midnight. He was annoyed yet unsurprised to be awakened a scant hour later by someone trying the handle of his door. He had a good idea who it was.
At first, Liam lay in bed, hoping Valencia would go away. But his wish was dashed when there was another knock at the door, this time louder and more likely to gain the attention of others. Knowing there was no hope for peace, he slipped on his dressing gown and opened the door.
Never Deny Your Heart (Kellington Book Five) Page 7