Serena

by Claudy Conn

  Eustace called out with an accompany wave, “Hallo, you two!” He crossed the avenue and bent his head towards Serena. “Shopping, are we?”

  “How nice to see you, Eustace,” Serena allowed with a smile.

  Warren grinned wickedly. “Is it?”

  Serena glared at him. “I was just on my way to the apothecary to pick up a package for Uncle, and Warren suggested I might enjoy a trip to the sweet shop afterwards to satisfy that dreadful tooth of mine.”

  “Indeed, I would have thought Warren busy with Miss Parker? I saw her but two moments ago going into the dress shop.”

  “Well, there you are, have no interest in dress shops,” Warren said glibly.

  Serena laughed and looked up to find his lordship walking towards them. Everything around her ceased to exist. No traffic, no pedestrians, Eustace and Warren, gone, no sound but the flutter of his lordship’s cloak in the wind. His top hat was angled on his fine, handsome head. His blue eyes bright like sparkling gems glittered in her direction. His shoulders were so broad, and those muscular thighs … oh, what was she going to do? She was lost to him.

  He ignored the two gentlemen surrounding her as he took up her gloved fingers and bent to place a kiss on her wrist, “Serena,” he said in a low, intimate tone. “I cannot believe my luck at finding you here. Poor Freddy is by now at Moorely being told you are out.”

  She laughed. “Ah, have you released him from confinement?”

  “No, he escaped, but at least he has a very fine militant with him, quite capable of keeping him safely out of the woods.”

  Warren frowned and broke in on them. “What is that you say? You have Freddy confined? But why?”

  “Not quite confined, but well guarded, and it is a bit of a long story,” his lordship answered, giving Serena an imperceptible warning look.

  “Well, the story is already running amok,” Eustace said. “One of my servants at the rectory confided in me yesterday that young Frederick was in grave danger because he and Serena saw some murdering scoundrel. This is a small town, and the news has already traveled.” He frowned. “You could not think it would be kept a secret?” Sighing he added, “At any rate, I have some business to discharge and must be off.”

  They watched him make his way across the avenue, and then his lordship turned to say softly, his eyes on Serena, “I hadn’t realized how quickly it would spread all over Lymington.”

  Serena eyed him. He was plotting something. His eyes told a story, at least to her. She had already discovered how they would click into different expressions and what those expressions might mean.

  Everything about him drew on everything in her. What was she going to do? She would forever dream about him and about their lovemaking. She sighed to herself, as she was sure she was destined to be a spinster with only her memories to serve her.

  “Serena … you are unusually quiet, and your eyes look sad,” he murmured.

  “Sad? Oh no,” she said and tried to smile.

  “I don’t think we should keep Serena standing here on the curb …” Warren put in, looking from her to his lordship with a frown.

  “No, of course not. Where do we go next?” his lordship answered Warren, looking directly at him, a challenge evident in his stance.

  Serena laughed. “Well, if you must, then it is to the apothecary.” As an afterthought she added, “However if you two have something else you might like to do … I can meet you at the Sweet Shoppe.”

  “Sweet Shoppe?” his lordship inquired softly. “Is that what lured you to town, beauty?”

  She smiled. “No, the apothecary lured me to town, and when I bumped into Warren here, he was kind enough to remember that I am hopelessly addicted to desserts and coffee.”

  “And yet you appear as though you scarcely even eat, let alone sweets,” his lordship complimented her.

  Warren snorted with the humor and liberty of an old friend. “Have you ever seen her at the dinner table …?”

  Serena rapped his arm. “Off with you … I shan’t be but a minute.”

  They insisted, however, on accompanying her and waited outside for her to pick up her package of medicine for her uncle. When she stepped outside, each offered his bent arm and she laughed and took neither.

  It was only a few steps to the Sweet Shoppe, but Warren was halted by the shout of a seaman at his back. “Mr. Beverly … aye then … Mr. Beverly?”

  Warren frowned and sighed heavily. “Ah Serena, I am afraid I have to beg off. I have been awaiting a shipment, and I see that it must have arrived. I shall have to go and attend to it.”

  “Of course, go on then,” she said amiably.

  He bent over her gloved fingers. “Another time … soon?”

  “We’ll see,” she answered.

  “Cruel girl,” he said and laughed before he turned and crossed the busy avenue.

  His lordship bent his arm again. “Will you take it now?”

  She didn’t answer but placed her hand on his arm. He took it, slinked it through the crook, and held her close as he bent and asked softly, “I am curious about our good minister. Would you, Serena, tell me a bit about him?”

  Surprised, she answered hesitantly, “I don’t really know very much about him.”

  “But you don’t like him?” he returned.

  “Are you telling me that or asking me?” she said.

  He laughed. “Incorrigible minx. I shall put it to you another way. I have noticed that you don’t seem to like him.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Hmm. I am quite ashamed to admit that I don’t. It is odd … but there you are. My uncle can’t abide him, and I often have to caution him to be polite when Eustace is about.” She sighed. “I suppose it is because our interests are so divergent and he is not tolerant of anything that does not meet with his approval.” She eyed him and waited for his response.

  “I find your reasoning very logical and feel much the same as your uncle.” They stopped, and he opened the door of the shop and waited for her to pass through. “Now to feed a hungry woman with a need for sweets.”

  She peeped at him and said, “Ah, but you see, Warren was quite right about me, and I fear I shall shock you when you see for yourself just how much I can eat.”

  He laughed and said as he bent to whisper in her ear, “I want to see to all your needs, always.”

  She felt a sharp intake of breath and chided herself as she tried not to look into his eyes and then did just that. “Outrageous—you know that you are quite outrageous.”

  “Do I offend? For I tell you truly, that is never my wish. Quite the opposite, Serena, quite the opposite.”

  What was he doing? He was driving her mad—giving her false hopes. She looked away and studied the counter full of three-tiered plates of fresh baked pastries—many of which were her favorites.

  “Oohh,” she said, diverting his attention as she stared at the delectables, “Decisions must be made.”

  He laughed out loud and tweaked her nose. “Precious woman … order anything you like.”

  With childlike bliss, that was just what she did. They were seated as directed by his lordship in a quiet corner. He placed an order with the mature woman who came to greet them, and it wasn’t long after that they found coffee for both and a plateful of little cakes and tarts placed in front of her, while his lordship had only a scone and jam.

  “Now tell me, Serena, what have I said or done that has upset you, for you must know I can feel your reserve towards me.” He eyed her, and she stared at her cake. “Shall I have myself flogged and beg your forgiveness?”

  She felt the heat rush to her cheeks and stuffed her mouth with a small iced cake, and then as soon as this was swallowed she stuffed her mouth with an apple tart. She didn’t want to talk.

  He laughed and shook his head. “Eat them down whole like that, my beauty, and you will get fat.”

  She swallowed, took a gulp of her coffee, and said, “Indeed. That was most unkind, and I think you should order yourself to b
e flogged immediately.”

  He laughed. “Ah Serena …”

  She eyed him wonderingly, and because his gaze was so intense, to divert him she hurriedly asked, “Where is Sir Jasper today? What more has been done about this awful business?”

  “As it happens, Sir Jasper left for London yesterday,” he said on a low note.

  “And Freddy is safe …?” she asked tentatively.

  “Indeed, although I am certain quite chagrined to find you not at home.” He grinned.

  “And that pleases you?”

  “It does. He needs to get back to school,” he said in no uncertain terms. “Although I have arranged for him to be guarded, it is still dangerous for him to be here.”

  “Yes, he does need to get back to school,” she agreed.

  He eyed her thoughtfully and took her hand, stalling her from putting her coffee cup back to her lips. Her gaze met with his, and a spark sizzled through her blood. Looking into his eyes filled her with wonder because she was sure she saw something in their depths that spoke to her. Could she be so wrong?

  “Tell me, my lord …” she started, wondering all the while if he was thinking of her in his arms. Why could she not get the image out of her mind? How could she sit so coolly with him as though they had not made passionate love only a short while ago? She wished she could read his thoughts.

  “Danny or Daniel, whichever you prefer,” he interjected. “I have been wanting to hear my name on your lips since I heard it so sweetly the other day.”

  Were her cheeks on fire? They felt as though they were being singed by cruel flames. She managed to compose herself and bravely said, “Danny then, answer me this, if some dreadful woman had not broken your heart, would you feel differently about love and all that goes with it?”

  “No,” he answered sharply.

  “Then you think it all a hum?”

  “Love? Yes, except for the lucky few. I have a friend who married some years ago, and he is blissfully happy, so I must concede that love does exist for some.”

  “But not for you?” She felt her heart begin to split in two all over again. She heard the sound of it breaking filling her ears.

  He looked at her then and answered, “Love, as I said, exists for the lucky few. When I look at you … but tell me, do you believe in true love?”

  “I do, yes, I do. I believe in it and have been waiting for it since from the time I left school,” she answered as honestly as she could.

  “And what of your history with Warren? What was that? Was that true love?”

  “Ah, no, of course not. I was young and I fancied myself in love, but it wasn’t long before I realized it was no more than a schoolgirl’s crush. He liked me a great deal, but he needed to marry the richest girl in the county. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to propose to the poor little thing, but it was too late. When he turned with an eye to me, well, you see, I had already recovered from the malady.”

  His eyes were twinkling. “Had you? I am glad of it.”

  The mature woman in the mobcap and pretty apron appeared again and asked if she could fetch them anything else, and Serena said, “Oh yes, I would like that bit of chocolate cake …”

  His lordship sat back and laughed. “Where do you put it all?”

  She smiled and sipped her coffee.

  Oh, but he was everything she could want in a man. Could she win his heart? Could she?

  ~ Fourteen ~

  LORD DANIEL PENDLETON and his nephew had left the inn that same afternoon and taken up residence as Lewis had begged them to do in his charming Tucker Manor.

  Restless, Freddy had taken a turn about the grounds with Lewis chattering at him. Lewis was only a few years older, and as they had the same interests it wasn’t long before they became very good friends. The two had returned to the house, still going on about a variety of subjects, when his lordship heard Lewis tell Freddy that Oxford was the best of places and that he had some very great times while a student there.

  Freddy agreed with youthful exuberance, and his lordship listened as the two began comparing adventures.

  Well pleased to see the two young men with their heads together and laughing, he retired to the library and took up a book he had been meaning to read. As he sat back and warmed himself by the fire, the library door burst open and a road-weary Sir Jasper entered with a grunt.

  He smiled at his lordship and said, “Ah, Lewis finally dragged you here. Good. Where is he?”

  “They walked in, and then Lewis remembered that he hadn’t given Freddy a tour of the stables … out they went.” His lordship grinned.

  “Good, good.” He turned to the butler and said, “Be a good man and see if you can put together a tray of cheese and bread and anything else you can find. I am half starving and shan’t make it to dinner.”

  “Very good, sir,” the retainer said and withdrew.

  Sir Jasper rubbed his hands as he moved to stand by the fire and remarked, “Chilled to the bone. Probably should have taken my coach but thought it would be quicker to ride and change horses at Hathborne.”

  “You look fagged to death,” his lordship remarked, frowning.

  “Aye.” He drew a chair closer to the fire and plopped heavily into its massive cushion. “Lewis’ bride, a good sort. I liked her from the start. Like the way she furnished the place, chose suitable chairs, comfortable,” he said and sighed again.

  His lordship got up, went to the sideboard, poured a brandy, and brought it to him. “Here, take this, ol’ man.”

  Jasper did indeed take up the snifter, swirl, and sip before sighing again and saying, “Well, Danny, ’tis done. All we can do now is keep a sharp eye.”

  His lordship eyed him. “Do you mean to explain what that means?”

  “All I can tell you is that the Crown means to have this settled one way or another. The Treasury Department is bent on finding the leak in their armor, and they don’t care whose head is sacrificed in the process. It is and will be an ugly business. I am glad I am not connected to the branch of government that is conducting this affair.”

  “Did you find out what precisely they mean to do?”

  “No, I am not privy to that, only to the information that heads are about to roll. I did, however, arrange the little matter we discussed. That is taken care of,” he added in a low voice.

  A servant appeared with a tray laden with food, and he set it on the coffee table before bowing himself out.

  Jasper thanked him and tore off a piece of bread and munched for a moment. The quiet of the scene then exploded as Freddy, followed by Lewis, entered, saw the arrangement of cheese and bread, and exclaimed, “Food!” He turned to his new friend and said, “Lewis, what a wonderfully efficient staff you have here at the grange.” After patting first his uncle and then Sir Jasper on their backs, he dove in, found a tart, and stuffed it into his mouth.

  Sir Jasper pulled a face at him and said, “Young barbarian. I had an eye on that particular tart.”

  Freddy grinned. “Did you …?” He extended what was left towards Sir Jasper unselfishly and said, “Here, then, sir, do take it.”

  “Certainly not, you absurd boy,” Sir Jasper answered on a chuckle.

  His lordship burst out laughing and poured himself another glass of wine before taking a seat and a piece of bread.

  Sir Jasper saw his brother in the doorway drop a kiss on his young bride’s lips and pat her rump as he entered the library. “Gentlemen, my wife tells me that we shall observe early country hours for dinner tonight.”

  “Excellent, scamp,” remarked his brother as Lewis went directly to him and put an affectionate hand on his shoulder.

  “You look road weary, Jasper … why not go up and take a nap before dinner?” Lewis said.

  “I am not quite that old, youngster.” Jasper laughed. “Tell me about your day. What have you and Freddy been up to?”

  Freddy answered, with a great deal of excitement making him move about, “Zounds, but, you will never credit
it. Before we went to the stables we took a walk near the woods bordering the property and came upon the Forest ponies. Clever little beasts. Small, but strong in the works, full of sport. Prime, I say, simply prime.”

  His uncle frowned. “I would prefer it for now, Freddy, if you would stay away from the woods.”

  “Forest ponies—prime?” Sir Jasper laughed. “Deuced ugly, if you ask me.” He turned to his younger brother. “Lewis, never say you mean to breed a New Forest mare to that splendid American of yours?”

  Lewis laughed. “Now, now, Jasper, don’t look down your hawk nose at our ponies. Splendid horses, and they make famous good hunters here in the New Forest. They know enough to stay away from the bogs for one thing and can manage through the trees with great agility.”

  “Bah! There isn’t a one I would care to take to hunt the Quorn,” Sir Jasper said with a shake of his head.

  “Well, but you are wrong. They have heart and make excellent jumpers. I was in a sight of trouble as Caldwell and I got separated from the huntsman and the pack once last season. There the two of us were with four or five hounds that ran a false scent. The ground on the north end is boggy—you can’t make it out until it is too late. Well, thought it was only mud you know and took my little Blackie, a Forest Pony, right into it against his will. He tried awfully not to go forward, but I made him. Slurped us right up to his knees. I stood in my stirrups to take my weight off, and damn if Blackie didn’t pull himself right out with his fores. Something to see. Got those fores on solid ground, and strong little prime he was … heard that slop suck at him, but out he got. I stayed off his back, and he was able to pull us both to safety. Caldwell came up behind to see it and immediately gave me an order for one of my new foals. What do you say to that?”

  Sir Jasper mumbled unintelligibly for a moment, but his lordship laughed and raised his glass of wine in a salute. “Here then, to the new breed you have created.” He turned to his nephew and said, “So I take it that you both had a splendid but otherwise uneventful day?”