“I’m afraid I wasn’t able to acquire Crawley Hall.”
“What?” Lily jerked her head up to stare at him in amazement. “You said it was as good as ours. I’ve already spoken with a contractor about the improvements needed.”
“It sold to another bidder.” Hands clasped behind his back, he shrugged, deliberately keeping his expression neutral. He didn’t elaborate that he knew the other bidder. The last thing he wanted was Lily asking him questions about Ruth. “There are other properties equally suitable for our needs. I’ve already arranged with Smythe to view two of them tomorrow. I’ll have something finalized by next week.”
“Are you telling me that someone actually outbid you?” His sister’s incredulous tone made him frown as she completely ignored his reassurance that he would find a replacement for the Hall in a few days.
“I always have a price I’m not willing to exceed.”
It was only a slight deviation from the truth. He set limits in everything he did. But in this case, he’d not even bothered to bid on Crawley Hall. A fact that said his interest in Ruth was far more reaching than it should be. He’d practically given the estate to her. No, he’d tried that and she’d refused. He hadn’t realized it until now, but that day in the hothouse, he would have willingly bought the Hall and presented it to Ruth as a gift.
He’d never been that extravagant with any woman, not even when he’d settled a sizeable dowry on Mary as a wedding gift. The knowledge made him resolve to strengthen his self-control when it came to Ruth. The mocking laughter resounding in his head made him wince. Even his subconscious found it easy to scoff at him.
“Blast.” Lily’s disappointment pulled him out of his thoughts. At least she didn’t probe further. He inhaled a deep breath then released it as his sister turned to a spot in the ledger. “Well, if we have to put off moving the children another few months, I suppose we could consider Doctor Lawrence’s suggestion about bunk beds.”
“Bunk beds?” This wasn’t the first suggestion the good doctor had made, and it was a good one. Even more impressive was Lily’s willingness to consider the man’s recommendation.
“Yes, he said we could increase the number of children we take in and that the boys would vie for a top bunk. We could free up at least two rooms for the girls, while adding more beds for the boys.”
“The cost?”
“It’s a rather small amount, but unless we receive a sizeable donation in the future, it’s not the cost of the beds that concerns me. The more children we take in, the larger our food bill. At this rate, we might be forced into drawing from the foundation’s savings before the end of the year.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem. The dairy in Grantham is beginning to show a profit, and the cotton mill in Northwick will be operational at the end of the month. The profits from both properties are designated strictly for the foundation.”
“I’m worried we might also have to reduce the apprenticeship age down to twelve to make room for more children. Mrs. McGrath took in two more babies this week that we really don’t have room for, but how could she say no? How could I?”
“If it comes to that, then we’ll hire a teacher for each of the properties. The children will continue their schooling as they learn their trade. We’ll care for the children as we always have.”
“I couldn’t bear it if the younger children were sent away from the home too soon.”
Lily’s worried expression prompted him to cross the room and place his hand on her shoulder. All of his siblings took an interest in Caring Hearts Home, but Lily was the one who’d invested her entire being into the orphanage. She’d been almost thirteen when their mother had abandoned them, and she’d taken it hard.
Worse, she’d been born a beauty and suffered for it. Their uncle had made her marriage to the Earl of Lynmouth doomed from the start. Beresford had more to pay for than the humiliation Garrick had suffered at his hands. The pain and trauma he and his siblings had endured had driven him to open the orphanage. Not only had he wanted to protect other children from men like his uncle, he’d wanted them to have a chance at a better life by learning a trade.
Over the past eight years, the orphanage had ensured that every child it took in had a basic education and didn’t start working until the age of thirteen. An age that was higher than the current child labor laws allowed. The children were taught a trade and paid from the proceeds of the businesses where they worked.
“You worry too much, Lily. The children will be fine.” He squeezed his sister’s shoulder. “Now show me the financials you’ve prepared. I’m sure the picture isn’t quite the doom and gloom you’re convinced it is.”
As he bent over her shoulder, he reviewed the meticulously kept ledger, pointing out where concessions could be made to address needs elsewhere. After more than an hour, Lily closed the book and smiled up at him.
“All right. I concede things aren’t as bad as I made them out to be.”
“You’re a worrywart,” he teased as he bent and kissed her brow. “But the best kind. You worry about others.”
She squeezed his hand in sisterly affection as she got to her feet and looked at the small watch pinned to her dress. “Good heavens. I didn’t realize it was so late. I’ve a dozen things to do before I leave here today. Shall I tell Cook that you’ll be with us for supper? The Hamiltons are joining us.”
“No. I’ve other plans this evening.”
“The Lady Ruth?” The sly question caught him off guard as he met his sister’s curious gaze.
“And if I said yes, would that matter?” he asked in a neutral tone.
“She’s hardly marriage material, and isn’t she a bit old for you?” There was just a hint of scorn in Lily’s voice, and he sent her a harsh look.
“That’s the sort of comment I would expect from others of a less generous nature, Lily. You don’t even know the Lady Ruth.”
“I know that she seems interested in making you her latest conquest.” Cheeks flushed from his disapproval, his sister tipped her head upward in a stubborn pose. He looked at her in disbelief before laughing out loud. When Lily’s mouth fell open in surprise, he laughed harder.
“Up until this morning, the lady in question found my company less than amenable. I can assure you that she’s not set her cap for me by any means.”
“We’ll see,” his sister muttered. “You’re a good catch, and there are dozens of women who would be happy to have you pay them attention.”
“I am quite content with my life as it is.” He sent Lily a warning look. “And I like the Lady Ruth.”
“How much do you like her?” Lily eyed him pensively. It was a question he wasn’t sure he wanted to answer. Not because he didn’t want to talk about Ruth, but because he didn’t want to think about how easily he’d become enamored with the woman. He averted his gaze.
“I like her enough,” he replied. “Now I have other business to attend to, and I believe you do as well.”
He quickly moved toward the office door in his desire to escape his sister’s inquisition. Behind him, Lily released an unladylike snort.
“You like her a lot more than you want to admit, and if she knows what’s good for her, she’d better be kind to you.”
“As I said before, you’re a worrywart,” he said as he tugged the door open and left her standing alone in the office. He frowned as he strode down the hallway to the orphanage’s front door. Maybe Lily had good reason to worry about him. Ruth was beginning to present some unexpected problems for him, and for the life of him, he didn’t seem capable of staying away from her.
5
The stairs leading to the exit of the Royal Opera House were crowded as Garrick guided Ruth downward from the balcony above the Grand Tier. He’d always enjoyed the opera, but tonight was the first time he’d found himself watching the woman he was with more than he had the stage. Seeing her enjoyment had given him more pleasure than he cared to admit. Then there had been the occasional glance she s
pared him at different points during the performance. Over the course of the evening, it had created an unexpected intimacy between them as she silently signaled her appreciation of the music.
They reached the wide landing of the Grand Tier to join the rest of the Marlborough Set making their way out of the theater. A flurry of activity in front of them signaled the departure of the Prince and Princess of Wales from the royal box. The crush of people forced Ruth into his side, and he unconsciously wrapped his arm around her waist in an effort to protect her.
As the crowd parted for the royal couple and their entourage, he felt Ruth go rigid against him. Puzzled, he turned his head to see a look of distress on her features. His gaze followed hers, and he saw an elderly gentleman with the royals staring back at her. Disgust darkened the man’s features before he quickly dismissed her without another glance.
Garrick turned back to Ruth to see a smooth mask of composure fall over her face, but her violet eyes were dark with a pain he immediately wanted to ease. When the crowd around them began to surge forward again, she didn’t move until he gently pushed her toward the stairs leading to the lobby.
“Are you all right?” he whispered in her ear as they followed the royals and their entourage.
“What?” She turned her head, and immediately closed herself off to him as she met his gaze. With a shake of her head, she looked away. “No. Not really, I’ve the beginnings of a headache.”
“Then the sooner we’re out of this noise, the better.”
He knew damn well it wasn’t a headache that had her out of sorts. Whoever the gentleman was who’d dismissed Ruth so coldly, he had upset her deeply. An old lover perhaps? His icy behavior had struck Ruth to the core, and Garrick didn’t like that someone had hurt her. He ignored the warning that echoed in his head at this possessive thought.
With his hand at Ruth’s elbow, they made their way through the crowd toward the first flight of steps. Behind him, a feminine voice commented about the scandal of older women and younger men. If he hadn’t been so close to Ruth, he wouldn’t have noticed the small stumble she made. A quick glance in her direction showed she’d heard the observation.
She’d been insulted twice in the span of minutes, and despite her obvious effort to ignore the slights, they were taking their toll on her composure. The need to protect her swelled inside him, and he leaned into her.
“Should I be worried?” he murmured. At the startled expression on her face, he arched his eyebrow at her in mock irritation. “My vanity would be deeply insulted if I discovered I was vying with a younger man for your attentions.”
For a moment, she simply stared at him in amazement before she laughed. It was a vibrant sound that said he’d managed to ease the pain others had caused her. Amusement sparkled in her eyes, and her mouth curled upward in sweet temptation.
“You sound like a jealous suitor rather than a friend,” she said with a smile. It irritated him that she could discount him so easily.
“Perhaps I’d prefer something more than just friendship.”
It was a ridiculous thing to say, especially when he knew nothing of the kind would ever happen between them, no matter how much he might desire her. And he did desire her. It wasn’t a fact he enjoyed admitting. But it didn’t keep the tension between them from accelerating until a primitive rhythm pounded its way through his veins.
As her mouth formed a small oh of surprise, he suddenly wished they were alone so he could kiss her. The dangerous thought didn’t stop him from noting the telltale sign of her excitement in the fluttering pulse on the side of her neck. She wasn’t immune to him. His gaze moved back to her mouth, and he watched in fascination as the tip of her tongue darted out to wet her lips. The sudden stirring of his cock inside his trousers immediately set him on edge.
He recognized the treacherous ledge he was standing on, but it didn’t stop him from imagining Ruth in his bed. Tension ricocheted through him as he realized how easily she was drawing him to her without even trying. God help him if she ever decided to actually try and seduce him. His jaw tightening with self-control, he forced a smile to his lips and continued to guide Ruth down to the lobby where he recovered her wrap for her.
Outside, the night air was unseasonably warm for the beginning of April. As they reached the sidewalk, he looked down the row of carriages in search of his driver. When he failed to see Jasper, he frowned. He would have to leave Ruth in front of the opera house to search for his carriage.
“It appears that my driver had difficulty securing a spot close to the theater. Wait here and I’ll be back in a few moments.”
“Should I come with you?”
“No,” he said firmly. “You’ll be safer here.”
“Are you saying I won’t be safe with you?” The mischievous smile on her face sent a jolt of electricity through him. The ambiguity of her statement made him search her face intently for a long moment. She blushed in the soft yellow glow of the gaslight and quickly clarified her comment. “As I understand it, you’re an excellent pugilist.”
“And I think you were implying that you wouldn’t be safe with me for an entirely different reason.”
“Then you’re mistaken.” There was the slightest note of panic in her voice that convinced him otherwise. Arching his eyebrow, he saw her blush deepen, but he refrained from arguing with her.
“I’ll return in a moment.”
His stride quick, he moved along the long line of carriages looking for Jasper and his Berline carriage. He’d passed more than ten vehicles before he saw his driver standing on the sidewalk straining his neck in an attempt to see over the crowd. The moment he caught Jasper’s eye, he waved to the man then turned back to collect Ruth.
The return trip to the Opera House steps was quick, and as he approached the theater’s entrance, he saw Wycombe talking to Ruth. He couldn’t be sure, but from the rigid line of Ruth’s back, he knew it was a strong bet that she wanted nothing to do with the bastard. The moment Wycombe saw him approaching, a nasty smile curled the man’s lips. As he reached Ruth’s side, he sent his nemesis an icy glare and gently gripped her elbow.
“I’m surprised to see you here, Wycombe. I thought your entertainment preferences ran to less sophisticated tastes, such as—brawling.” His comment made the other man narrow his eyes at him.
“Hardly, my dear boy. I find the opera quite stimulating when in the company of a woman. Particularly one as lovely as the Lady Ruth, although what possessed her to accept your escort is a mystery to me.” Wycombe nodded toward Ruth with a charming smile.
If it were any other man, he would have taken the earl’s comments as good-natured rivalry. But this was Wycombe, and the man was being deliberately insulting. Few people could anger him to the point of losing control, but this man could. There was no love lost between them, and they both knew it, along with everyone else in the Set. The earl’s attempt to charm Ruth simply deepened his antipathy for the man. Suddenly, he wanted to give Wycombe another pounding, just as he had in school years ago. Tension rolled through his limbs as he eyed the man coldly.
“Why don’t you run along and find sport elsewhere, Wycombe.”
“Perhaps we should allow the lady to choose whether she prefers my company or yours, Stratfield.” The earl looked at Ruth with a confident expression. “My dear Lady Ruth. Might I have the pleasure of calling on you tomorrow?”
“I . . . I’m afraid I have—”
“She’s already agreed to accompany me on a drive out of the city tomorrow, Wycombe.”
“Then the day after perhaps?”
The earl persisted as he took Ruth’s hand in his and sent her a confident look. Wycombe’s arrogance sent a blast of fury through him. The bastard simply wanted Ruth because she was with him. The moment Wycombe secured her attention he’d discard her without a second thought.
“The lady will be occupied for quite some time to come, Wycombe,” he said between clenched teeth.
“You seem quite certain of her,
Stratfield.”
“Ruth is an intelligent woman. Even if her time wasn’t going to be occupied, I am confident she’d have the good sense God gave her not to accept the attentions of a buffoon.”
Garrick immediately regretted losing his temper. Despite the fact that he’d kept his voice low, he was suddenly aware of the curious eyes watching them. Bloody hell, the Set will be rife with gossip by morning. Outrage darkened Wycombe’s face. Either the earl didn’t realize they were being watched or he didn’t care.
“If the woman were intelligent, she’d know she was being used by you to make everyone think you a womanizer, when we both know you’re something else entirely,” Wycombe sneered with contempt.
He barely heard Ruth’s gasp of shock as a lethal fury blazed through him at Wycombe’s insult and its veiled implication. It didn’t matter that the bastard hadn’t outright denounced him as a sodomite. It was enough to seed doubt, and the man had said it within hearing distance of at least a dozen people. The bastard had also insulted Ruth. He took a quick step toward the earl, who went rigid with surprise and more than a hint of fear.
“Apologize, Wycombe, or God help me, I’ll make you regret your words in the worst way possible,” he said in a deadly tone that made the man blanch. Despite his evident fear, the man hesitated and Garrick released a low growl of fury. “Now.”
The earl turned to Ruth and gave her a slight bow. “My apologies, my lady. I allowed my temper to get out of hand and insulted you unintentionally.”
Then with a defiant look in Garrick’s direction, the earl whirled around and stalked away without expressing any regret for the innuendo he’d openly made in public. Garrick watched him retreat with an icy rage he’d not experienced since the day he’d found Tremaine threatening Mary. He wanted to kill Wycombe. The bastard hadn’t apologized for implying he was a sodomite, and the speculation and curiosity on the faces of the small crowd that had observed the altercation angered him even more. His fingers tightened on Ruth’s elbow as he caught the eye of an acquaintance from the Marlborough Club. The man gave him a nod of greeting, but the obvious support did little to ease his fury.
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