Yet he could hardly wish to see her lose her land and fortune.
The more vexing issue was that the only man he wanted her to marry was him. Which was ridiculous in so many ways. He did not begin to deserve her, yet he recognized her for the treasure she was and, in his own way, would treat her accordingly. He did not give a whit for her land or blunt. He would feel this way if she were an orange seller.
If only she were that instead of an heiress.
He’d never thought he would marry because of his profession. But if she were of his class, he would find a way to make it work. And he could not help but think that with the right wife awaiting him at home, the burdens which were so heavy at work – the atrocities he witnessed – could somehow be made bearable.
He had watched each of the Kellingtons find true love and marry. He’d envied them. And now he did so, even more. Because there was no way a union with Evelyn was possible. She was too far above his reach.
But he would make the most of the time he spent with her.
As he dressed for the assembly, he took special care to look his very best. He’d considered wearing the evening clothes he’d brought for his upcoming trip to Lynwood Manor for Christmas. But after consulting with Thompson, he did not want to be overdressed. Just about every family in the county would be attending the assembly, with all manner of dress, from Sunday best to gowns purchased in London. But he did not want to put on airs. He was a working man from London. He did not belong in the finery of the ton.
But he would look his best for who he was. For Evelyn.
After checking his appearance a final time, he left his room, then walked to Lady Evelyn’s chamber and knocked.
It was opened by the lady herself. She was dressed informally by ton standards, wearing a dark green washed silk gown with red velvet trim. Her hair was simply styled, with most of it artfully arranged in a low bun at the back of her neck, but with long curls escaping down, as if they could not resist the temptation of touching her shoulders.
Joseph could hardly blame them, since he longed to do the same thing. Their searing kiss from that afternoon was burned into his memory. He suspected it always would be. And now that he saw her, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her once again.
Instead, he took a deep breath and smiled. “You look beautiful.”
“So do you,” she said, then blushed. “I suppose ‘beautiful’ is not the term I am looking for. But you do look quite handsome. And…I should probably stop speaking now, lest I embarrass myself again.”
“I assure you I do not mind.”
“Yet, I would rather keep my blushes to a minimum.”
“What a pity, since I have not yet given you something to blush about.”
“I blush just to think that is true.” She cleared her throat. “I believe the carriage awaits.”
* * *
The coach ride to the assembly was quick, with the servants following along in another coach and a wagon behind them. Sconces had been placed on the grounds of the modest assembly hall, giving an ethereal light to the cold winter night. The room itself was decorated with greenery, complemented by the holiday gowns of the ladies in attendance. Even those of lesser means had taken the time to add a touch of Christmas with sprigs of holly pinned to their gowns. The small orchestra was playing Christmas songs with great enthusiasm.
Joseph was proud to enter the assembly with Evelyn on his arm. While he knew he was still on duty, he could not help but be caught up in the festive spirit.
“Christmas is my favorite time of year,” she said. “And this assembly is a highlight for everyone in the county.”
“I can understand why you would look forward to it,” he said, as he carefully escorted her through the excited crowd.
“How do you usually spend the holiday?”
“I usually work the day to give the other men more time with their families.”
“That is very kind of you. But I have to imagine it can be lonely.”
“It can be. But I am invariably busy on that day, which helps keep my mind off what I am missing.”
“How will you spend the holiday this year?”
“The new Duchess of Lynwood has invited me to come to their estate. I would never want to encroach on them so soon after the wedding, but the entire family will be there, as well. And I am given to understand my attendance is not what one would call optional.”
She must have picked up on the wistful tone in his voice. The one he thought he’d hidden. For she said, “You do not wish to go?”
“It isn’t that. I like the Kellingtons very much. They are as close to family as anything I have. And it will be nice to be away from Bow Street duties on that day. It is just….”
“It is just what?” asked Evelyn.
He turned back to her. “It is just that sometimes you can feel the lack of family most acutely when in the midst of someone else’s. I know it sounds ungrateful of me, for I am touched to be included. But at the end of the night, they will all retire with their wives and I will be on my own.” He looked at the others in the room. He hadn’t meant to say so much.
“I understand more than you could possibly know. I always give my servants the day off. Many of them have family in the village and no one should have to work on Christmas. Though, of course, Cook always manages to disregard the order and never fails to have a lovely meal prepared for me and any servants who stay in the house. We all attend church in the morning together, but as they go off to their separate lives and I to my library, I cannot help wishing there was someone I could spend the day with, as well.”
“Perhaps this directive for you to marry will not be so bad, after all.”
“It would be lovely if that were true. But the only thing that would make me feel worse than being alone on Christmas would be to share the day with someone in a loveless marriage.”
There was a real sadness in her eyes that Joseph knew only too well. “Evelyn,” he said, as he moved closer to her.
“Evelyn!” said Kensington, the blasted squire’s son. “How splendid you look tonight. I do love dressing up for Christmas, though I could not decide which waistcoat to wear and was late because of it. I hope you were not waiting for me long.”
“We have only just arrived,” she said with a slight smile.
“Good. Did I make the right choice, do you think? I could not decide between the silver embroidered with red and green or the gold sewn with green triangles.”
Joseph could not imagine anything uglier than the gold with green triangles that he was wearing. But knowing what he did of the man, he imagined the silver was something best burnt in a rag pile, as well. Evelyn, however, was much more charitable.
“I believe, Mr. Kensington, that it is not what we wear, but how much we enjoy the night that matters the most.”
“How wise you are. Though one day I hope to show you my entire collection of waistcoats. Ah, it appears the first dance is about to begin and you did promise it to me.” He held out his arm and Evelyn placed her hand on it.
Joseph wanted to snatch it away. But in the end all he could do was watch as she stepped into the dance with the bumpkin.
* * *
Evelyn knew it was the height of bad form to think of one man while dancing with another. But then Kensington stepped on her foot and she didn’t feel quite so guilty. Her heart had ached for Joseph as he told her of his loneliness, something she understood all too well. If only they could be there for each other on this Christmas and all the ones to come.
“Dare I hope I have put that smile on your face, Evelyn?”
“Who could possibly not be smiling at such a lovely assembly, sir?” She really had to discourage his suit sooner rather than later. “How is your family?”
“Mama was quite beside herself because my sisters couldn’t decide what to wear. Father and I spent the time in the library with brandy. I would have been happy enough had my sisters kept us waiting another hour. It is quite warm in here. Next year t
hey should limit the number of people who are allowed to attend.”
“But this is a celebration for the entire village. Surely we cannot deprive anyone of the joys of being here.”
“I think we probably could if we planned accordingly. Shall we step outside for some cool air?”
Evelyn’s mind had been so far from her partner that she hadn’t realized until that moment that he’d very neatly maneuvered them to the French doors that opened out into the back garden. She was about to protest when a deep voice spoke up.
“Good evening, Kensington,” said Joseph. “We did not get the chance to speak earlier.”
Kensington bristled. Perhaps it was because of the interruption. Perhaps it was because he had to tilt his head back to look Joseph in the eye. And not just a little bit. “You are disturbing our dance.”
“But it appears you have stopped dancing. Indeed, it seemed like you were going to escort Lady Evelyn outside.”
“Regardless of how it seems, I cannot think how it is any business of yours.”
Evelyn took that opportunity to extricate herself from Kensington’s grasp. “It appears the song is ending. Thank you, Mr. Kensington, for the dance.” She smiled at him while offering her arm to Joseph, who took the opportunity to escort her away from a fuming Kensington.
“I hope you do not mind my interference. It looked like he was trying to take you outside.”
“And why would you have objected?” she asked, hoping he might give some indication of jealousy.
“Because I would not have wanted you to catch the ague, of course,” he said with a half smile. “It is quite cold outside.”
Drat the man and his practical thinking.
For the next hour, Evelyn danced at each opportunity. The assembly was known for treating everyone as equals, though no one quite did that with the squire’s family. But Evelyn took joy in partnering with the blacksmith, the rector, several of her farmers and Thompson.
At the same time, she kept a close eye on Joseph, who was proving to be quite popular with the village women. Mrs. Trowbridge, with Anna and Merida in tow, took every opportunity to corner Joseph, singing the praises of her daughters.
The girls both looked quite pretty and Evelyn could not like how Joseph seemed to enjoy dancing with each of them – twice. Mrs. Trowbridge would surely have tried for a scandalous third pairing, except it seemed every other mama with an eligible daughter had also discovered the handsome visitor.
Evelyn could not fault their taste, though she wished them all to perdition, which was most definitely not in the spirit of Christmas.
After asking Mr. Keegan’s permission, Joseph danced with Mrs. Keegan, who blushed like a young girl. He also danced with Oates, as well as the maids from Evelyn’s household. Soon every woman between sixteen and eighty was angling for an introduction to the handsome police inspector.
It became apparent that the one woman he had no interest in dancing with was her.
Attention was taken away from Joseph for the moment as Viscount Smithton arrived. There was almost an audible sigh as the handsome viscount entered the room. He seemed rather oblivious to the attention, for instead of doing the decent thing and favoring a few fortunate women with a dance, he went straight to the squire and began talking about the spring crops.
Professor Dodson’s arrival didn’t cause as much of a stir, in part because he wasn’t nearly as dashing. But he wasted no time in asking ladies to dance, which made him much more agreeable than Smithton, who had committed the unpardonable sin of being at the assembly for three-quarters of an hour without dancing even once.
As Evelyn watched her neighbors dance, her attention was drawn to two giggling girls nearby. Holly was the daughter of the blacksmith. Laura was the daughter of a farmer and they were both looking admiringly at Joseph, who was dancing with Anna for, perhaps, the third time?
The nerve of Mrs. Trowbridge to importune him so.
“He’s quite handsome,” said Holly. “And with no sweetheart in London, either.”
“How do you know that?” asked Laura.
“My father asked him. I was not supposed to be listening. I was embarrassed that Papa had asked that, but I also wanted to hug him for it. Imagine a man that handsome with no one to cook or clean for him. Especially with all the danger he faces in London. Such a shame it is.”
“I would cook and clean for him. And do other things a wife should. ‘Twould be no hardship, I can tell you that.” The two girls giggled.
Evelyn thought it highly inappropriate that the girls would be gossiping about her guest. Especially since they so clearly echoed her own thoughts. The song ended and the musicians warmed up for the next, which was to be the one waltz. Since it was the country, the waltz was still considered a bit fast, which meant everyone looked forward to it all the more. For a moment, Evelyn wondered what it would be like to waltz across the floor in Joseph’s arms. And, more importantly, whether he would remember he asked her to dance it.
She was interrupted from her reverie by Mr. Keegan. “Lady Evelyn, please come with me,” he said with a smile. But instead of leading her to the dance floor, he delivered her to Joseph, who was standing with Mrs. Keegan.
“Lady Evelyn, how beautiful you look tonight,” exclaimed Mrs. Keegan. “Does she not, Inspector?”
“Yes, Mrs. Keegan, she is quite lovely.”
“Mr. Keegan is about to ask me to dance, so I think it would be quite the thing for you to ask Lady Evelyn, as well,” said Mrs. Keegan, all but shoving him in the lady’s direction, before being whirled onto the floor by her husband.
Joseph and Evelyn were left standing close to each other. He held out his hand. “Shall we?”
* * *
It was the height of lunacy and not at all the mission Lynwood had assigned him. But Joseph had never known such pleasure as holding Evelyn in his arms as they waltzed across the assembly room.
He had learned to waltz early in his career as a means for him to blend in at assemblies in London in order to gather information. But at the moment, gaining intelligence was the furthest thing from his mind. All he could think about was the feel of Evelyn’s body beneath his hand and her fingers on his shoulder.
Neither spoke for the first few minutes.
He was not a particularly skilled dancer, but it was easy to move through the room with Evelyn as his partner. It was as if their bodies fit together by design. As he moved, so did she. He held her just a bit closer than he knew was proper. She did not object, which was just as well since he wasn’t sure if he could loosen his hold after feeling the heat of her throughout his body.
After a few revolutions around the room, she spoke. “You waltz beautifully, Joseph.”
“It is easy to do so when you are in my arms. Are you enjoying your evening?”
“I am right now.”
She smiled at him and the full force of it hit him like a velvet-wrapped club. He stumbled the slightest, but he simply pulled her closer and was righted again.
He cleared his throat. “It is unusual to see a social event in which all classes are welcome.”
“I am sure that is the case in London, but it has long been the tradition in Caversham. My father often organized assemblies such as these.”
“Well, it is certainly a lovely night and I cannot think of a better way to spend it.” At least in a public forum. He would like to kiss her again, but that would have to wait until later, if at all.
“You have been very popular tonight,” she said.
“I believe people are simply being polite to Lynwood’s guest.”
“Perhaps your deductive skills are not quite as sharp as I believed,” she said with a smile, which was met with Joseph’s raised brow. “These mamas would dearly love to find you a wife. I believe Mrs. Trowbridge would have you marry both of her girls if possible.”
“Mayhap that was why she tried so hard to sell me the vitality elixir.”
They both laughed and it was the feel of Evelyn enjoyi
ng herself in his arms that made Joseph curse the things that could not be.
The waltz ended too quickly and Evelyn was off to dance with one of her tenant farmers. Joseph walked the perimeter of the room, keeping his eye on her. Truth be told, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He also watched Dodson, Smithton and Kensington, none of whom appeared to be acting oddly. Or, at least, more oddly than usual.
Mrs. Trowbridge took the opportunity to once again speak to him of her daughters. “Inspector,” she said, as she suddenly popped up from behind a collection of greenery, “Anna looked particularly graceful as she waltzed with young Kensington, did she not?”
“I am afraid I did not get the chance to study her, since I was otherwise occupied.”
“That’s right, you were dancing with Lady Evelyn. I wondered why she did not dance with her soon-to-be-betrothed.”
“Her what?”
“I am never one to gossip, but it is all but certain that she will soon be the Viscountess Smithton.”
“I did not realize she and the viscount had an understanding.”
“How else will he pay the taxes on his estate? Lady Evelyn is an heiress, you know,” said Mrs. Trowbridge, pronouncing “heiress” as if it were a most distasteful disease.
“I thought the viscount’s estate was prosperous.”
“It is, to an extent. The timber most of all. But his father has the worst of luck with investments and his younger brother is an inveterate gamester, though quite handsome.”
“You said he has timber on his property?”
“Yes. He has been quite helpful in Caversham, identifying trees that are diseased or in danger of falling down. He’s been a veritable godsend in what he’s done for the village. I always thought Anna would make a particularly good viscountess, but it seems he has a partiality to Lady Evelyn’s blunt. Would you like to spend Christmas with us? My cook can do wonders with a goose.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Trowbridge, but I expect to be gone by then.”
“Oh,” she said, with some disappointment. “Anna and Merida will be sorry to hear it.”
“Yes, well, it is unavoidable. If you will excuse me,” he said bowing, then quickly departing. He wanted to learn where Smithton was in relation to Evelyn. If he was an expert on trees, he could easily have cut through the tree and made it fall near Evelyn. Smithton had been in Caversham that day. It was unlikely but not impossible that he’d caused the accident.
Never Turn Away (Kellington Book Six) Page 9