by Dawn Brower
“Well,” she said followed by a hefty sigh. A muscle in her jaw twitched before she continued, “I suppose that is better than an outright no. Let’s head back now.”
She pressed her knee into the side of her horse and flicked the reins. Her mount sprinted forward, and she was gone before he could respond. William shook his head and followed after her. Maybe, when they arrived back at the main house, his sister and her family would be there.
The ride back didn’t take long. William debated going to the stable first or going straight to the house. The stables made more sense. They were located in the rear of the house, and he could put his horse back in its stall before greeting everyone. As he hesitated, an autocar traveled up the drive and stopped at the main house. It was probably his family, but he couldn’t tell whom. William made a decision and turned toward the stable. He could greet them later after he made sure his horse was properly taken care of. Besides, he wasn’t fit for polite company yet.
The car came to a stop outside the main house. Traveling on the steamship to New York, shopping on Fifth Avenue, taking a train at Penn Station, and now finally arriving at Lilimar—all of it had been exciting. Victoria was amazed by everything she had seen. It somehow seemed…busier. She couldn’t really explain it. As far as cities went, it wasn’t any different than Paris or London, but it was all new to her. That was what she truly found amazing. To see something she’d never had a chance to before and may never again. They stepped out of the car, and she turned around to examine her surroundings.
Lilimar was a gorgeous estate. It was a house depicting a bygone era with huge pillars, a long sweeping balcony that ran along the whole outside edge and large windows. It even had lush gardens and landscaping to add to the appeal. Victoria couldn’t wait to explore every inch of the plantation.
“This is lovely,” she said a little breathlessly. “You actually grew up here?” She turned to meet Brianne’s gaze.
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s not all that great when it’s normal to you. I wish I could see it through your eyes.” There was a hint of whimsy in her voice.
“I’m jealous of you,” Victoria admitted. “You have so many things I’ve dreamed of having. A wonderful family, a loving husband, an adorable daughter… Even your childhood was picturesque.” She sighed. “But I can’t hate you for things you had no control over.” Victoria chuckled softly. “If you were a horrid elitist, perhaps I could, but you’ve been nothing but kind to me.”
The sound of horses caught her attention. She turned to glance behind her. Two people rode toward the stables. A man and a woman, but Victoria couldn’t make out their features. She frowned. “Is she wearing trousers?”
Brianne blew out an exasperated breath. “That would be my mother.”
“That’s awfully daring of her,” she said. “I would never be able to do that.” It might be more…freeing to wear men’s clothing. She almost wished she was brave enough to try.
“That’s nothing,” she said and waved her hand. “Mother doesn’t believe in doing anything conventional. She has moments where she pretends to be a proper lady, but for the most part, she does the exact opposite of what is expected of her.”
The bravest thing Victoria had ever done was enlist to work as a nurse during the war. That had been more from a need to help other’s than any thought about her safety. When she had a chance at love, she had run from it. “I envy that.”
“She should be here soon,” Brianne said. “She’s going to want to hug Vivian and steal her away. I’ll try to make her stand still long enough to introduce you to her.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m surprised she hasn’t harassed my brother into marrying and giving her more grandbabies to spoil yet. I don’t know how he lives here with her every day. She has to be annoying him.”
Victoria smiled. “He sounds as if he loves her. We deal with a lot for the ones we care about the most.”
“You’re probably right,” she said. Her lips twitched a little. “Though a large part of his tolerance is because of Lilimar. He’s put a lot into this estate. He’ll inherit it one day, and he lives here because he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
“I can see why.” She stared at the house. “It’s all so beautiful.”
“We should go inside.” Julian came around the car with Vivian in his arms. “She’s still sleeping. It’ll probably be better if we lay her down. You know how she is when she first wakes up.”
“Yes,” Brianne said with a long sigh. “She’s a demon child and not fit for polite company.” She turned toward a servant. “Do you know what rooms my mother ordered prepared for us?”
“Of course he does,” her mother announced as she came from inside the house. She was pulling off her riding gloves as she walked. “Why wouldn’t he?” She lifted a brow.
“Did you run from the stables?” Brianne asked with amusement echoing through her voice. “We’re you in that much of a hurry to see Vivian? She’s asleep, and I don’t advise waking her.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. A lady doesn’t run.” Her lips tilted up into a half-smile. “I took a shortcut through the house. Your brother was brushing his horse when I left, so he’ll be here shortly.”
“Well,” Brianne said. “I can speak with him later. We will be here for a while. Julian and I are going to take our daughter into the house so she can finish her nap in peace. You may visit with her when she wakes.”
Lilliana Marsden narrowed her gaze. “I can take her.”
“No, you can’t,” Brianne said sternly. “You cannot be trusted to leave her sleeping.” She waved her hand at Julian. “Take her inside; I’ll follow in a moment.” Her husband did as she suggested, leaving them alone.
Victoria didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t acquainted with Brianne’s mother, and she felt incredibly out of place. Perhaps she should ask one of the servants to show her to the room assigned to her. This was a family matter, and she shouldn’t be involved in it.
“You’re unreasonable,” Lilliana Marsden said. “All I wanted was to hug my granddaughter.”
“How about a hug from your daughter instead?”
Lilliana tilted her head to the side. “It’s not the same, but I guess it’ll do.”
Lilliana pulled Brianne into her arms and hugged her tight. A man stepped out of the house and said, “I didn’t realize that hugs were being passed around. Did I miss the opportunity for one of my own? Where’s my niece?”
“Not you too,” Brianne said and laughed. “She’s asleep. Come here, you big oaf.”
Victoria froze in place the moment he spoke. She forced herself to glance in his direction. It couldn’t be. A small part of her had hoped she might encounter him on this trip, but she never expected he would be Brianne’s brother. Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t recall her ever mentioning his name. Why hadn’t she asked?
William stepped out of his sister’s arms and glanced over at Victoria. The muscles in his jaw clenched. He recognized her. A small part of her thought he might not, but of course he had. She shouldn’t have doubted him. Victoria didn’t know what to do, so she did the one thing she could think of—she walked past them all and went right into the house. Where she hoped to disappear to she didn’t know, but at least she was away from his scrutiny. A servant crossed her path, and she asked to be shown to her room. Once there, she was able to breathe a little easier. What was she going to do? William was there, and she could potentially have him in her life again. Somehow, she didn’t think it would be that easy. She sat on a nearby chair and let her head fall into her hands.
It was going to be a long month…
Chapter 6
William stepped out of his sister’s embrace. Stunned didn’t even begin to express the feelings rolling through him. If anyone had asked him what he expected when he walked outside, it wouldn’t have been to find the woman he loved conversing with his mother and sister. There was no reason he should have believed Victoria would be in South Carolina, let alone
at Lilimar. He should go after her…
“William,” his mother said. “Are you all right?”
How could he answer that? He wasn’t certain he would ever be all right again. “I’m fine,” he gritted the words out. “I’m a little tired is all.” That was a lie, but he couldn’t very well tell her the truth.
“You’re working too hard,” Lilliana said. She walked over to him and cupped his cheek. “You need to take better care of yourself or you might fall ill.”
He was definitely sick to his stomach, but it had nothing to do with overdoing anything and everything to do with Victoria. He glanced back at the house. Where was she? Had she gone inside to avoid a confrontation? Of course she had. She probably believed he would make her uncomfortable and ask her questions she didn’t want to answer. In that, she wasn’t entirely wrong, but he’d never do it in front of his entire family. They would have questions of their own, and he refused to let them interrupt him and Victoria when he finally had the opportunity to speak to her. They needed to sort through their problems without an audience putting their own thoughts into the mix.
William would win her back. They would find their way back to each other. Now that she was here, at Lilimar, he finally had the chance to convince her they belonged together. They didn’t have a war and an entire country standing between them. He loved her. Had always loved her. It was kind of ironic that his mother had asked him if he’d ever marry earlier. At the time, he hadn’t thought it possible. Now though… He could see it as a very real possibility.
Before he could do any of that, he had to convince his mother he didn’t need to be coddled. He forced himself to smile. “I promise I am very thorough in seeing to my needs.”
Brianne rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure she meant that when she said to take care of yourself.”
William turned to meet his sister’s gaze. “What is that supposed to mean?”
She bobbed her head from side to side and shrugged at the same time. “You know…” She held up her hands. “Relations with a woman.”
“Brianne…” He groaned. “That’s…” God. How could she have jumped to that assumption? William couldn’t recall the last time he’d… He shook his head, brushing away that thought. None of that mattered. He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Even if that was what I was referring to…” William held his hand up when Brianne opened her mouth to interrupt him. “And I’m not saying it is. I would not even remotely hint to that possibility to my mother.” The very idea of discussing his love life with her horrified him.
“Look, he has a little more color in his face.” Brianne smirked. “Is that a blush, brother dear?”
Heat filled his cheeks. He couldn’t get Brianne’s accusation out of his head. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s cold outside, that’s all.” He had to leave. If he stayed any longer in his mother and sister’s company, who knew what else they might inadvertently make him admit. Brianne already had him blushing like a schoolboy.
“I do believe you are protesting a little too much.” Brianne nearly cackled the words as she spoke. She took far too much pleasure in making him uncomfortable.
He stepped forward, tempted to strangle her. Instead, he picked her up and swung her over his shoulder. She formed fists and pounded him in the chest, but he ignored her attempts at thwarting his efforts. William walked to the pond, located several feet on the side of the house, and dumped her into a shallow area. She sat up, spitting out pond water, and glared at him. “How’s the water?” he goaded and then burst into laughter. God, he’d needed a little merriment.
She glared at him as she wiped water from her face. “Do you think this is funny?”
“I do.” He held up his thumb and forefinger keeping them a tiny bit apart. “At least a little.”
His mother came to stand next to him. She let out a long sigh. “This isn’t the kind of weather to drop your sister into the pond. It is December.”
William snorted. “It’s not like England, Mother. There is no snow on the ground.” He reached out and held his hand out to Brianne. “Come on, I’ll help you into the house so you can change into something dry.”
She held her hand to him, but instead of coming to her feet, she yanked his arm until he fell into the pond next to her. He sat up wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. William should have expected his sister to pull him into the pond. She was the type to hold a grudge.
Brianne grinned. “You’re right. It is funny.”
He scowled at her, but then he chuckled. “I have missed you.”
“It’s too bad you can’t find a nice English lady to marry and move to England.”
His smile fell. He did love a nice English lady. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way.” He had no intention of leaving Lilimar. “Come on.” William stood and then held his hand out once again to Brianne. “We both need a change of clothes now.” This time, his sister stood when he helped her.
They walked back to the house in silence. William had a lot to think about. The first chance he could he’d have a long conversation with Victoria. He prayed she would be open to being with him. To having a future together—the one she’d denied them when she sent him away. He refused to believe fate had brought them together again to separate them once more.
Victoria should leave her room. She kept hiding and ignoring the people who’d invited her into their home. She’d done it at Seabrook, and now she was doing it at Lilimar. At least at Seabrook she hadn’t hidden to elude anyone. It had been more because she’d been too melancholy for polite company. Now though, she had to admit she stayed in her room to avoid William. She couldn’t discern the best way to approach the situation. What must he think of her? She’d stayed in her room since she arrived yesterday afternoon. Claimed fatigue as an excuse and had a dinner tray brought up to her, but that wouldn’t work a second day in a row. She would have to face everyone soon.
A knock echoed through the room. She froze. Victoria was very much afraid to find out who was on the other side of the door. It could be anyone… She should go and open the door, but she was afraid. What if it was William? She braced herself and headed to the door, then opened it.
“There you are,” Brianne said. “I was starting to think I had the wrong room. Did I wake you?”
She shook her head. “No,” she said. “I’ve been awake a while.” She’d been too scared to leave her room... Her stomach rumbled. “I was debating if I wanted to roam the house and search for the breakfast room.”
“Well then,” Brianne began, “I guess it is good I decided to come find you. I hope you forgive me for my neglect the previous day. My brother decided I needed to take a dip in the pond. It left me a bit indisposed for the rest of the day.”
“He pushed you in the pond?” That didn’t sound like her William. He’d always been kind and sweet. The perfect gentleman in every way... “Why would he do that?”
“I may have…” She nibbled on her lips. “Provoked him into it.”
“I see.” Victoria didn’t, but it seemed like the thing to say. She didn’t have any siblings and wasn’t certain if that was normal behavior or not. “I thought you liked your brother.”
“Oh, I do,” Brianne said reassuringly. “I adore him. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t need to be poked every now and then. Otherwise, he would turn into a beast, all grumbly and irritable. He needed to…relax. I helped him do that.” She wrinkled her nose. “Though it did mean ruining one of my favorite traveling dresses.” Brianne waved her had dismissively. “But that’s enough about William. Let’s go downstairs. I’ll introduce you to everyone you haven’t met yet. I was informed everyone else arrived while we were both resting.”
Victoria took a deep breath. She hated being surrounded by people she didn’t know. Why had she agreed to this? When she worked as nurse, she’d been able to handle it because she’d been in charge and a lot of her patients had been unconscious. They didn’t ask questions. Brianne’s family was not going to be so easily dissuad
ed from doing the same. She’d been a fool to agree to come to Lilimar. Now she also had to face William. He’d have the most probing questions of all. “Let’s go eat.”
They left the room and went down the stairs. Brianne led her down a long hall and then opened a set of double doors. The breakfast room had an extended dining room table with at least eight chairs on each side and one on each end. On the far side of the room was a large banquet set out of various breakfast foods—eggs, bacon, sausages, ham, oatmeal, biscuits, sliced peaches, and several different jars of jelly and jams. There was so much food Victoria didn’t know where to begin. Brianne grabbed a plate and added some fruit, biscuits, and eggs to it then went to the table to sit. They were the only ones in the room. She wasn’t sure if they were late coming to breakfast or early.
“You look a little overwhelmed,” a man said quietly from behind her.
Victoria recognized that voice… She whirled around and met William’s gaze. Victoria swallowed hard and glanced away. “Not at all,” she said and grabbed a plate. She filled it with eggs, ham, bacon, and biscuits… Honestly, she stopped paying attention and randomly kept putting food on it.
“You must be starving,” William drawled.
“What?” Victoria glanced at him and then back at her plate. Drat. She had added way to much food. How was she going to eat all of that? She couldn’t admit she’d been foolish and inattentive. “Are you judging me?” she asked in the most superior tone she could manage. “I thought you were above such pretentious beliefs.”