Serena

by Claudy Conn

  He laughed. “People will always gossip and stare.” He inclined his head. “If you like, however, I can lead you off the floor, and we can go find something to eat.”

  She smiled mischievously. “No, oh no, I really do love this dance. I suppose I can weather the storm of a little ‘talk’. This is just too beautiful to forgo.”

  He gave her an arched look and said softly, “You do that so well that I cannot help but wonder, Serena, how is it my nephew hasn’t already whisked you down the aisle?”

  “I do what so well?” she asked, ignoring the rest.

  “Innocence,” he answered glibly.

  She stiffened and took a moment to collect herself before she said sharply and with a measured taunt, “Are you saying that I am not innocent?”

  He was fractionally taken aback but recovered. “No, I am saying that your smile, your glittering eyes, your manner of speaking should have seduced a more innocent man than me.”

  She pulled a face at him. “Somehow you have found a way to offer me insult.” She shook her head, “Allow me leave to tell you, my lord, that first of all, I have not flirted or tried to seduce your nephew in any way. And as to walking down the aisle, my lord, I have a very strong opinion. And it is this—in my estimation, it takes two willing individuals to take that journey. It is a journey that will last them a very long time and should not be taken lightly. I am fully aware of that fact and, thus, very determined to only take that walk with the man I love.” As soon as the words were out, she bit her lip. What had she just done? She shouldn’t be telling him such things. Who, when, and why she would marry was her own business.

  He frowned. “Yet my nephew remains completely attached to you. Why, he hangs on your every word.”

  He had not heard or perhaps had heard but not believed her. It was her turn to frown, and she answered, “If he hung on my every word, he would presently be up at school. You mistake. Very thoroughly, you mistake.”

  “It is difficult to believe that the lad would stay at your side without encouragement,” he pursued scathingly.

  She broke from his hold. She would not listen to more of this from him. She thought it was to her credit that she held back the hand that twitched to slap his face. He seemed to bring out all the ire in her. Why?

  She started to turn away and said nothing to him. Why should she bother? Why should she be put in a position to defend herself? The truth was the truth. In the end, it would force itself to be seen. If he could not see it now, then he was not really worthy of her company. She turned back to give him a hard glare and wondered how he could have kissed her if he believed what he had just said to her.

  She was spared making a scene by the good reverend, who appeared at that moment to offer her his bent arm. “My dear, you looked … displeased. I have come to take you to dinner.”

  “Oh, Eustace, thank you, but …” She hesitated. If she went to dinner with him she would be trapped into listening to his prosy conversation. She said, “I would so much rather wait for the next country dance.” She totally ignored Lord Arrogant.

  Daniel Pendleton’s eyes narrowed, and she saw by the look on his face that he was displeased with the outcome of their conversation as well as with Eustace’s interference. She smiled to herself and tried to ignore the fact that he was bowing himself off and moving away. Even an unpleasant argument with Lord Arrogant was better than a quiet conversation with almost anyone else. However, she was still seething, and it took her a moment or two to collect her temper.

  A country dance was struck up, and the reverend said, “Look there, Serena. You are acquainted with that young woman, are you not?”

  “Yes, I am. Sarah is a lovely person.” She eyed him, and both her expression and her stiffness challenged him to say otherwise. She knew the rumors. She knew what people were saying. She had bumped into Sarah in town only last week and had offered her support and friendship.

  “Then you know, of course, what she has done … and—”

  “Stop, Eustace. I will not hear a word against her,” Serena said.

  “That is because you are so good … so innocent—”

  She cut him off again. “I am neither, but I am her friend and won’t listen to anything anyone has to say that is not complimentary to her.” She eyed him disapprovingly. “Eustace, I should think a man of the cloth would not either.”

  If this discomposed him, he showed no sign of it as he simply sighed and said, “Sinners are not given the same consideration as others. Besides, it isn’t gossip, is it?” His chin indicated the young woman in question, standing between her parents. Serena frowned because the young lady appeared both sick at heart and ill at ease.

  The reverend said, “She is with child … and will soon be showing, yet no one has offered to make an honest woman of her. Does that not speak volumes?”

  “It does. It speaks to the deplorable nature of a man who would leave a young woman in such straits. We all make unwise decisions from time to time, but, Eustace, I take leave to tell you that I do not fault her. What of the so-called gentleman who has left her in such a predicament? It is unthinkable that he should have pleasured himself and then turned his back on her.” Serena shook her head. “Life is harsh when a woman does no more than the man does and yet is held to a higher—different standard.”

  “Serena, you shock me!”

  “Why? You brought up the subject,” she snapped.

  “Well, as to that … it has nothing to do with the fact that she shouldn’t be flaunting her situation here at the ball. I have even heard that she and her parents were not invited, and yet here they are!”

  Serena frowned. “If they were not invited, how is it no one in the Merriweather clan has asked them to leave?” She waved this consideration off. “It must be that they were invited, and I applaud the Merriweathers for their kindness.”

  “Not so, Serena. You are an innocent—”

  “I am not,” she cut in. Was that not what she had just taken affront about with his lordship? She almost chuckled but said, “Why should you think they were not invited?”

  He indicated with his chin. “Look there—one of the servants has been sent to escort them out of the ballroom. Dear me … how unfortunate. It appears we are about to witness an ugly scene. Why ever did they come here?” Eustace said, frowning with obvious disgust.

  At that moment a commotion broke out.

  A shout was heard, and Serena turned to find a young man whom she knew to be Wendell Merriweather, only son and heir to the Merriweather title and fortune, rushing forward. “Get your filthy hands off her!” he snapped at the servant who had taken Sarah Delmore by the arm.

  A hush went around the room as Wendell reached Sarah and the servant bowed himself out of the way.

  “Sarah, Mr. and Mrs. Delmore, I beg that you will forgive me, my cowardice. I ask no forgiveness for my parents as they do not deserve it.” He shook his head. “I had thought I must put my father’s wishes above my own, but I have come to realize that I can’t. I simply can’t. His wishes are wrong.”

  The young woman’s adoring, sad eyes looked up at him, and it suddenly dawned on Serena—Wendell Merriweather was the father of Sarah’s child!

  Of course! It was why the Merriweathers had not put them out of the ballroom. They had been worried lest Sarah name their son as the father of her child. They must have been overcome by the whispers and sent the servant to see the Delmores out of the house.

  Wendell suddenly went down on one knee before Sarah and begged, “I would that you could find it in your heart to forgive me. I adore you, Sarah, and would be honored if you would accept to be my wife.”

  “Oh, Wendell … I would, but I fear you do not really want me,” Sarah said haltingly, as though only she and young Merriweather were in the room.

  No one spoke. The music had already stopped. No whispers could be heard. Everyone watched and listened as though it were a tragic love story being enacted for their benefit.

  “I was a fool,
but no more. I found it difficult to disobey my father, but, Sarah, I am my own man. I love you. I love the child we have made together, and I want you to be my wife. I promise to be worthy of you and spend every single day from here on proving to you that I love and cherish you and regret these months apart.”

  “Oh Wendell …” Sarah said and tugged on his hand. “Do get up.”

  “Do you accept?”

  “I do,” she said softly.

  He took off his insignia ring and slipped it on her finger, and they laughed nervously as it spun freely around her delicate finger. “I shall be cut off, without a sou … but I have a trust fund that is solely mine. We shall manage very nicely with that.”

  Sarah’s father put a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “You will not be cut off from us. I think, however, whatever else you two young people have to say should be said in private. Do come along.”

  The little family held their heads up as they gave their backs to the world and started off.

  Some of the gentlemen in the ballroom began to slowly clap their hands, and Serena felt a tear flow down her cheek.

  Freddy had rushed to her side in time to hear Eustace proclaim, “Disgraceful. The lot of them, disgraceful.”

  “You mean, of course, delightful, I think,” Serena told the reverend sharply.

  Freddy bent over her hand, raised his eyes to hers, and said, “Was that not grand? True love will not be denied!”

  “True love, bah. No, you are both quite out. That young man was brought to point non plus—” Eustace said.

  “I do not agree,” Serena interjected. “He did the right thing, as did her parents. It is obvious what sort of situation their daughter must have been suffering, and unashamed they brought her to confront the father of her child, and he did the right thing before all our censorious society. Hang the world, his actions said, and I for one, as did others here, applaud him.”

  “I agree,” Freddy said gleefully and offered his arm to Serena. “Let’s go get a bite to eat, I am starving, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, all at once, I am.” Serena laughed. “I am ravenous.” It was at that moment she looked across the room and noted his lordship’s blue eyes staring in their direction. She immediately turned a cold shoulder to the man, all too aware what effect he had on her. He had the power to turn her brain into pudding pie. He had the power to make her body tremble. He had the power to make her dream. She sighed, all too aware that he simply had the power.

  She wondered what his opinion of the scene everyone had just witnessed was, and then asked herself why should she care? Just why should she care—but she knew the answer.

  * * *

  His lordship had stood back and watched her with Eustace, his arms folded across his chest. He was awash in a mixed stew of emotions.

  What the devil was wrong with him these days? Why had he led Serena into the garden and kissed her? Why the deuce did that kiss set him back on his heels? He had kissed and made love to any number of women, exquisite, delightful women over the years, but this one drew his soul from him and hung it out with her name engraved across it.

  Nonsense. Absurd. She was but a woman … much like any … no, that wasn’t so. She wasn’t like any other woman. She stood out, glowing like a shiny object, and drew his eye to her constantly.

  Then suddenly the party was thrown into confusion.

  His lordship had heard the rumor about the young Delmore chit earlier when the Delmores first arrived. He had then put the face to the gossip that he had heard being bandied about at the inn where he and Freddy were staying.

  Evidently the servants had taken sides, most of whom declared young Sarah an innocent taken advantage of by a wealthy nobleman who wasn’t very noble at all. They seemed to know who the father of Sarah’s baby was.

  The scene enacted before him pulled on his heartstrings.

  He had just witnessed something he thought was, while unfortunately public, still heart-warming. He was often saddened by the principles to which his peers held others but rarely adhered themselves.

  He sighed as he hoped Lord Merriweather would reconsider and not cut his only son out of his life or his entitlements. After all, Merriweather’s only objection must be that the Delmores were not high enough in the instep for him nor wealthy enough in land or money. So often that was the case.

  Sarah Delmore, however, and most obviously, was the mother of their future grandchild. His lordship genuinely hoped that matters could be worked out in that quarter in the near future. If he had a son—and suddenly the notion made him smile—he would never, not for any reason, turn his back on him. Sighing, he told himself he was probably a sentimental fool.

  Deep in cogitation over the matter, he still watched Serena. He smiled as he saw her all but wag her finger at the reverend, who apparently disapproved of the scene that had just been enacted in the ballroom. Eustace was completely ill-suited for Serena.

  She was a feisty creature, ready to take on the world. He could see that she had no interest in Eustace—how could she? Odd that she should want a youth at her side instead of a man. Freddy, for all his youthful charm, was not capable of taking care of such a woman. Serena, his lordship decided, needed a man.

  A voice in his head laughed at him. Does she, indeed, that voice asked, and who would that man be? He grunted to himself, for he was getting maudlin.

  Suddenly a familiar and masculine shout interrupted his thoughts. “Danny! By all that is famous, Danny ol’ boy!”

  His lordship looked over his shoulder and then made a complete turn about to face a tall, lean, and pleasant-faced Corinthian with a pair of sharp gray eyes and a fine hawk nose grinning at him.

  “Jasper!” his lordship said jovially and clasped the man’s shoulders in a firm grip. “Zounds! What the devil are you doing here in the middle of nowhere?” Sir Jasper was the favorite of all his dearest cronies. “I thought you told me last week you were off for the coast?”

  “Aye, and the coast, ol’ man … is just over the hill,” he said and chuckled.

  “But I assumed you meant Bath.” His lordship shook his head.

  Jasper sighed. “M’brother insisted I visit him here in the New Forest.” He winked at his friend. “So, thought I’d get the two birds with one stone. Coast and a visit with m’brat of a sibling. Lewis says the hunting in the New Forest is splendid, and the season is nearly upon us.”

  “Indeed. I hadn’t realized Lewis and his new bride took up residence here in the New Forest. I would have called on him …”

  “Aye, you know Lewis is the youngest of m’brothers.” He frowned. “Father was a stickler about his will, left Lewis only a pittance of a living. There was plenty for the three of us, you know.” He shrugged. “I repaired the problem and bought him a lovely estate here in the New Forest as a wedding present. Set the lad up with a trust that gives him a decent living.” He grinned. “And that boy has a head on his shoulders. He is doing quite well breeding, raising, and selling carriage horses.” He winked. “Loves it nearly as much as he does his bride.”

  “’Pon rep, that is good news. How is his lovely young bride?”

  “A dear of a girl.” He leaned in. “Betty is a friend of that young Sarah Delmore, you know. She and m’brother went to see them out and extend any help they could give. For one, I am glad to see that young chap thumb his nose at his father and do the right thing.”

  “You are a good-hearted man, Jasper,” his lordship said quietly.

  Jasper shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I do know what is right is right.”

  “What an outrageously generous man you are as well—setting your brother up with an estate … commendable,” his lordship added.

  “Nothing … it was nothing ol’ boy.” He grinned broadly as he put out both his hands in the way of explanation. “Lewis is my baby brother, and unfortunately m’father didn’t provide for him properly. Though,” he said with a grimace, “you see that m’mother was … well, heard him
accuse her once of … well, the long and the short of it was that he thought Lewis wasn’t his.” Jasper shrugged. “He doesn’t look like the rest of us, that is for certain, but he is m’brother and a splendid young man.”

  “Aye … like I said, good man.” His lordship smiled warmly.

  “But what the devil are you doing here?” Jasper asked.

  “You know my nephew, Freddy? Well, m’sister asked me to try and take Freddy in hand.”

  “Take Freddy in hand? Isn’t he a grown man already?”

  “Nearly, not quite …”

  Jasper’s eyes suddenly opened wide. “Hold on a minute … look there. Coming from the dining room. Damn, if she isn’t the most beautiful creature I have ever clapped m’eyes on.” Jasper’s chin moved towards Serena, who was then in lively motion as a cotillion had been struck up.

  Freddy was involved in minding his steps in time with the lively cotillion that kept them both on the move. Freddy would have no opportunity to hold her as a waltz would have allowed, and his lordship grinned to himself over this fact.

  “Ye gods!” Jasper continued. “But that is your nephew, Freddy, isn’t it … dancing with the beauty?”

  “Precisely, and that is why I am here. He should be up at Oxford, but instead he is dancing attendance on Miss Moorely,” his lordship said ruefully.

  Jasper eyed him quizzically. “Well then, I have the perfect solution. I shall steal her away from him.”

  His lordship felt a wave of irrational irritation. “Not a good idea.”

  And why not? Don’t you think I can?” Sir Jasper’s eyes narrowed.

  “As to that, you are a devilish charmer, but she is not the sort to be taken in. She is not your usual miss and will see through you in a thrice.”

  He eyed her again and sighed. “Ah, but who says I wouldn’t be sincere? She is just the sort a man should take hold of and never let go. Damn, but only look at her!”