After the last toddler had finished her aerial escapades, Drew waved to Blevins. Moments later the staid butler went off on some unknown errand.
“My, my.” Vanessa, Lady Summersborne, sat just next to her. “Have you taken that man to bed yet?”
Marianne felt the heat rise over her breasts and into her face. “Vanessa, really, he’s been home less than a week. We hardly know each other.”
Vanessa looked over to her and winked. “Would you like me to warm him up for you?” Chuckling, she murmured, “Just joking, of course.”
Alice, Lady Mumsford, chimed in, “I wish my husband would go off for a few years and come back looking like that. I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off him.”
“Yes, indeed,” Catherine, Lady Dewitt, said as she picked up her teacup.
“Why wait?” Leah, Lady Norton, added, “After all you’ve had to wait for years.”
“Ladies, stop it. There’s Robert to consider. And I don’t even know if the earl is interested in me.” Marianne took a sip from her own teacup as she watched Blevins return with what looked like a board drilled with holes and two lengths of rope.
“Excuse me if I put my two pence in, Marianne,” Gertrude, Lady Pickett, said, “but Robert can’t hold a candle to that. And we’ve all seen the way the earl looks at you. Wouldn’t you all concur he is only too interested in his wife?”
Following avid agreement, Vanessa drawled, “Based on the way he looks at you, Marianne, I expect the man would eat you for breakfast, then lunch, and dinner, too.”
The gathering of ladies giggled.
Marianne grew uncomfortable. When her friends spoke of married life, she always felt they knew so much more than she did. Their conversations seemed to be filled with innuendo and subtle hints of knowledge she should have but didn’t. Unlike so many of the marriages of the ton, these ladies had either married for love or grown into loving and comfortable relationships with their husbands.
Could that even be a possibility with Drew?
The laughter of the children brought her mind back to the activities in the garden.
They all watched as Drew folded one piece of rope in half, then easily sailed it over the sturdy limb of an old oak tree. When the loop came back down, he threaded the two ends through it, then pulled the rope up tight against the limb, the two dangling lengths separated about the width of the board. Next he threaded the loose ends through the holes at each end of the board and tied some type of intricate knot on the underside. Taking the second length of rope he started weaving and tying the cord around the board and the ropes hanging down from the tree.
“Look at those fingers work, will you? My, he is facile, isn’t he?” Vanessa watched intently while Drew finished his labors.
Drew tugged hard on each side of the rope, placed his feet up on the board to test the strength of the swing and the ropes, then turned to his daughter. “Andrea, are you ready?”
The little girl ran up to her father, the big bow in her hair flopping wildly, as she shrieked, “Uppy, uppy!”
In moments, she sat in the newly made swing tethered inside the newly woven rope basket that would keep her from falling out. “Now hold on tight, little one.” Drew gave her a little push and up she went, laughing and giggling.
“Higher, Papa. Higher!”
“All right, my pet, but not too high. We don’t want to scare your mama.”
After giving his daughter a full turn in the swing, he gave each of the other children a ride. He was about to start a second go-round when Blevins approached once more. After a brief consultation, Drew turned back to the expectant group.
“Children, Andrea’s present has just arrived so we must stop the swing rides for now. Everyone wait here while I go fetch it.”
Marianne watched as Drew went out the back garden gate into the alley. What in the world had her husband found to buy their daughter on such short notice? And what would need to be delivered at the back garden gate?
She hadn’t long to wait as the gate swung wide admitting Drew and the prettiest roan pony with a swishing tail and a mane all bedecked in braids and ribbons.
Another loud screech came from their daughter as she ran to her father, her arms raised. “Uppy, uppy, Papa. Horsey. Horsey. Mine!”
Drew lifted the little girl into his arms and gave her a heartwarming hug. With great care he settled her onto the little leather saddle, placed her hands on the horn, and told her once again to hold on tight. Leading her around the grassy backyard, each of the other little ones stepped back, eyes agog, as the birthday girl rode by.
Alice picked up her fan from her lap. “Well, will you look at that. I think there’s no doubt in Andrea’s mind that she is happy to be Papa’s little girl.”
Marianne fumbled for her handkerchief and dabbed a tear from each eye. He was so thoughtful, so kind. He had found the time, made the effort, to buy a pony for their daughter. Andrea beamed from her perch on the little saddle.
But, where did he get the funds for such a purchase? Of course, any tradesman would extend him credit just on his name and title alone. Still, his estates were not in such fine form after his father’s death that he could go out and spend with abandon. She would have to find the time to broach the subject. How does one rein in the spending of an earl? Especially when it was on his own child?
“Really, Marianne.” Vanessa broke her reverie. “If you decide not to keep him, please, will you give him to me? I’ve never seen a man dote on a child with such love and sincerity. How can you give him up?”
Marianne swallowed the huge lump in her throat. “I don’t know,” she murmured, “he is just so not what I expected. He’s a totally different person than when he left.”
“I’ll say.” Gertrude watched each of the children getting a pony ride. “Not one of us would have him as the fop Dandy Andy before he left. Now I think there’s not one of us who would turn him down if the circumstances were made available. Marianne, you have the catch of the ton!”
Marianne stared at her husband. His enthusiasm over his newly discovered daughter was heartwarming. He was so full of life, so handsome, so stable, so masculine, so very different from what she remembered.
“My lady,” the butler interrupted her thoughts, “Mr. and Mrs. Durand have arrived.”
“Thank you, Blevins. Please show them in.”
“We’re here!” Marianne looked up to see her mother waving and her father escorting her onto the veranda. Setting down her teacup and rising, Marianne gave each of her parents a warm hug as Blevins arranged chairs for them.
Blevins hesitated before taking his leave. “My lady, the cake is ready and set up in the dining room. We will light the candles at your command.”
“Very well, Blevins. Just let me see if I can round up the earl and the children. I’m not sure which will be the more difficult.” She heard a round of muffled chuckles from her friends.
Margaret settled in beside her. “That’s the earl? The exquisite gentleman running around with the children as if he were one of them? Your father tried to tell me but—”
“Yes, Mama. My husband returned and I hardly recognize him myself. I know you’ve just sat down but we should probably have the cake before the children get too tired and cranky.”
Marianne looked over to the gathering of playmates, her husband included, and hesitated as she realized all the children were laughing and pointing. Following all the little fingers, she saw that the new pony had dropped a small but stinky load in the grass. Drew held his nose in dramatic fashion and led the tykes, who copied his dramatic nose-pinching actions, away from the smelly mess.
Taking this as a strong hint the time had come to change activities, she waved a hand at her husband until he took notice and strode over to the crowd watching the antics.
“Georg
e, Mrs. Durand. Good to see you once again,” Drew acknowledged the arrival of his in-laws.
Margaret blushed prettily. “Good to have you home, my lord.”
“Andrew, or Drew, please.” He turned to Marianne. “Time for cake? Please say yes as I’ve done about all I can to entertain the little ones and they have much more energy than I.”
Marianne heard Vanessa mumble beside her, “I doubt that. He looks like he could go for another hour or two at least. What do you think, Marianne?”
Marianne hissed at her friend. “Hush, Vanessa, everyone will hear you.”
Marianne smiled warmly at her husband. “You’ve done a fine job, my lord. Gather them up and we’ll go in for cake.”
“Is Gentilly not coming?” Drew casually asked.
“I expected him by now,” Marianne rose to her feet, “but we’ll go ahead before the children get cranky.” She nodded to her guests and Blevins who stood by the French doors. “Time for cake. Everyone please round up your little ones and bring them inside.”
After shuffling chairs and gathering toddlers and tykes, a small procession ambled to the dining room. As Drew came along with Andrea in his arms, the little girl reached out to her mother. “Mama, Mama!” Passing her over, Drew entered the town house last.
~ ~ ~
Running a hand through his hair and trying to regain his composure after his exertions with the youngsters, Drew was about to turn into the dining room when he heard Blevins at the front door.
“They’ve just entered the dining room for cake, sir. I’m sure you can join them there.”
Walking farther down the hallway, Drew found Gentilly doffing his hat, then turning to head toward the celebration. He hesitated once more before turning back to the butler to unstrap what looked like a sword from his side.
“Fencing, Sir Robert? Glad you had the wits to remove that weapon before entering the party.”
Gentilly relinquished his sheathed blade to Blevins before he came up beside Drew. “I wouldn’t think of bringing such a thing near the children. Do you fence?”
“Not if I can help it any longer. I had enough of that aboard ship. It could be the French or brigands or just something to do on a slow day but I’d rather leave that skill behind.” Drew and Gentilly entered the dining room.
“You should come to Angelo’s with me some time,” invited Gentilly. “He could teach you a thing or two I’m sure.”
“Thank you for the offer, but, as I said, I’m no longer interested. I plan to make serious studies into more pleasant pastimes.” Drew’s attentions fell on the table where both sides were lined by adults and children. Walking over to the head of the table to stand beside his wife and daughter, he gave Blevins a nod and the candles were lit.
“Four candles, Papa? I’m three,” said Andrea.
“The fourth candle is to shoo away evil spirits and keep you safe. Now, my pet, take a big breath, make a big wish and blow out all the candles.”
In short order, the candles were blown out and the cake cut. The little ones were supervised by their parents while Drew, Marianne, Margaret and George entertained Andrea as they all devoured the sweet chocolate concoction.
Drew could not help but notice Gentilly made little effort to interact with Andrea. Nor did Andrea make any warm gestures to the man who might someday be her stepfather. The interloper stood just to the side eating his cake and glowering as if he were somehow being slighted.
As the feasting completed, the little ones wound down, making it obvious they were all exhausted. One by one, Marianne’s friends came forward with her son or daughter to give final birthday wishes to Andrea and thank them for the afternoon’s festivities. Most of the children were carried, as it had been a very active afternoon.
After the last toddler left, Andrea gave a big yawn as if she had been stifling it for most of the afternoon.
Marianne, holding their daughter on her left hip, gave the little girl a hug. “Well, my love, I do think it’s time for a nap for you. Let’s take you up to bed.”
“No, no. More party,” demanded Andrea in her sweet voice, her bottom lip pushed out in a pout, the big blue bow in her hair wilting and unraveling.
Drew came forward to gather his daughter up into his arms. “Nap for now, little one. Then, if you are very good, maybe we can celebrate a bit more before bedtime. We’ll see what Mama says. All right?”
“Papa, do I have to?”
Drew looked toward Marianne who nodded a firm yes. “Mama says yes, my pet, and we know Mama is in charge.”
After hugs all around, even one for Gentilly that was less than enthusiastic, Jane, who had remained in the background all this time, came forward to take the sleepy toddler off to nap.
An awkward silence fell over the crowd. What should they speak of now?
Marianne broke the stillness. “Shall we go to the drawing room for tea? I’m sure Blevins already has the tray prepared.”
Chapter 12
Marianne sighed as she went through the house looking for Drew. Thinking back over the previous day and much relieved that Andrea’s party had gone so well, she had had no fears about the children but had worried how Drew and Robert would rub together.
After all, she didn’t feel she could instantaneously cut Robert from her life just because her husband had reappeared. Drew seemed to understand.
The man, too perfect by half, must have a flaw or two. What were they? Where were they?
Her extended search did not turn up Drew in his bedchamber or the drawing room. Even the library showed no indication of his presence.
Yesterday, after having finished tea, her parents and Robert had politely made their excuses and left. Guiltily glad of their early departure, she had been as exhausted as Andrea. Lord only knew how Drew had kept going all afternoon. She had taken a nap of her own and stayed in for the evening, even dining in her room, with no idea what Drew had done or even if he had gone out.
But where was he now?
She came across the butler in the kitchen. “Blevins, have you seen his lordship? I’ve searched the entire house and found neither hide nor hair of him. Has he gone out for the afternoon?” Has he been kidnapped once again? she thought to herself. No, that would be impossible. Not only intimidatingly large, he probably knew many people at the docks after sailing the seas so long.
Maybe he’d had enough of family and volunteered for travel this time. Maybe returning and finding a daughter as well as a completely different type of wife pushed him over the brink.
The butler stopped polishing a silver candlestick. “Why, no, my lady. I saw him head out to the back gardens after Lady Andrea went down for her nap. I believe he is still out there. Shall I fetch him for you?”
“No, no. I’ll go find him. You don’t need to bother.”
As Blevins returned to his polishing, Marianne made her way through the outside door to head for the gardens. The sun, bright and unseasonably warm on this spring day, had nurtured the earliest of the bulbs so the newly blooming daffodils contrasted richly with the newly green grass. The brilliant yellow flowers flaunted their happy faces in the warm breeze that floated by. She inhaled deeply, thankful no coal fires were required on such a fine day, so that little soot fouled the air.
Looking around, she saw Drew sitting on the grass leaning against the same old oak he had tied the swing on only yesterday. His knees bent and his legs crossed in front of him, his eyes were closed and a book lay next to him. He must have tired of reading and decided to take a nap himself.
Relieved, she had second thoughts about interrupting him, but there was no help for it. She would have to wake him. They needed to discuss finances before things got too far out of hand. Did he have a spendthrift streak like his father had? Could this be one of the flaws she needed to worry about?
Standing in front of him, looking down, she had to admire his strong features and good looks, his skin bronzed from the sun, his hair longer than fashionable but sun-kissed and rich with auburn and blond streaks. He had become quite the handsome man during his sojourns, even if they were unplanned and unwanted.
She wanted to reach out and touch him, stroke his cheek, his hair.
Instead, she knelt in front of him, gathering her courage to rouse him and discuss finances, highly agitated about the prospect of having their financial future squandered after all her hard work. She studied his face.
His eyelids fluttered, then slowly raised to leave her gazing directly into his fathomless midnight blue eyes.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart skipped a beat. She seemed to be both cold and hot at the same moment. She lost thought as to what she wanted to say. Her body swayed toward his.
“Hello,” he said simply, softly.
She swallowed hard and tried to regain her wits. How did he do this to her with no effort whatsoever?
“Hello, my lord.”
“Andrew, Drew. Please, not so formal, especially when we are alone.”
“Drew, I’m sorry to wake you but we need to talk.”
“I’m not sleeping, Marianne. I’m meditating.” He reached out a hand to assist her to the ground.
She placed her small hand in his large, calloused, warm and gentle one. “Meditating? What is that?”
“A way of calming the mind and focusing one’s thoughts. A technique I learned in China.”
“Well, that’s very nice, my lord. Drew. But we need to talk. I’m sorry to be so crude but we need to discuss finances.” Marianne finally relented and fully settled onto one hip on the grass. She could only hope she would not stain the fine silk of her gown.
Drew released her hand as she came to rest.
“What is there to discuss?” Drew pulled a few blades of grass and rolled them between thumb and forefinger, studying them as if they contained a hidden world of information.
Seduced by the Dandy Lion Page 8