Forgotten Friend (Roselund Heights)

by Miranda D Nelson

  The dance separated them for a short time. When brought back together, Mr. Farnsby drew her close for another turn. “Do you know what I love most about the Christmas season, Miss Fairchild?” he asked.

  “The warmth of the Yule Log fire?” she asked with a grin.

  “No, although I do imagine it would be quite pleasurable with the right company.”

  “I would imagine so.”

  He looked at her as if pondering the possibility of such an evening with her. “Hmm, but no. My favorite aspect of the Christmas season is mistletoe.” The dance brought them close together and he lowered his voice. “How unfortunate that the holiday decorations are not yet up. I would certainly enjoy stealing a kiss from you.”

  Coralyn felt her face flush scarlet, but she could not withhold her smile. “Mr. Farnsby!”

  He tilted his head. “Perfect honesty, Miss Fairchild, I promised you that.”

  Coralyn was spared from response by the dance ending.

  He took her arm and led her away from the set. “Would you take a turn about the room with me, Miss Fairchild?”

  Before she could answer, Christopher stopped in front of them. “Miss Fairchild, I wondered if you might honor me with a dance.”

  His words came almost as a demand, and Coralyn resented him for it.

  “Good evening, Lord Eversley.” Mr. Farnsby’s tone was cool, but it could not match the coldness in Christopher’s.

  “Mister Farnsby.”

  Coralyn could not have been more surprised if he had physically lashed out at Mr. Farnsby. She elected to accept the dance if for no other reason than to reprimand him for his behavior.

  “Thank you, Christopher.” She looked up at Mr. Farnsby through her lashes. “Perhaps you’ll save another dance for me, sir?”

  The coolness left his expression. “I would not dream of denying you, Miss Fairchild.”

  He released her hand and Christopher took it the moment it became free. There was no lurching of her heart this time; only frustration lingered there. The music began, but before she could begin her chastisement, Christopher spoke.

  “What do you think you are doing, Miss Fairchild?”

  Coralyn was stunned. What have I done? “Pardon me?”

  He scoffed. “You have been here all of ten minutes and have selected Roselund’s leading rake to spend your time with.”

  She crinkled her brow. “Mr. Farnsby?”

  “Yes, Mr. Farnsby. Everyone knows his reputation.”

  “Forgive me, but you must be mistaken. My friends seem acquainted with him and showed him no ill regard.”

  “It is called being polite, Miss Fairchild.”

  Coralyn narrowed her eyes at him. “Why should you care who I spend my time with?”

  He faltered for a moment, and Coralyn did not bother to withhold her smile of triumph.

  “It matters because who you associate with reflects not only on you, but also on your family. Your flirtations could discredit your aunt and uncle as well.”

  Coralyn rolled her eyes. “You are being ridiculous. It was a harmless flirtation. It is not as if I threw myself into his arms,” she said as she turned away from him.

  His gaze snapped to her, a look of disgust on his features.

  They came together. “As it is, you would do well to remember the same advice.”

  He shook his head. “Yes, I’ll give it my best effort to avoid flirting with Mr. Farnsby.”

  She gave him a withering look. “You ought to remember that your actions reflect on others as well.”

  The look he gave her was confused and something else she could not place. Haunted, perhaps?

  “You were so cold to him, I nearly had to fetch my coat. What has he done to deserve your derision?”

  Christopher did not answer for a long while. Each followed the steps of the dance, careful to avoid the other’s gaze. At last he spoke. “He has done nothing to me in particular. But I do not favor his methods of securing female attentions.”

  “Then do not speak to him about them. I am certain you can manage not speaking to someone.”

  You have done plenty of that just recently.

  As if to prove his capability, Christopher did not speak for the remainder of the dance. Coralyn was happy to oblige him with silence and was more than relieved when the dance ended. Christopher led her back to where Edith and Fanny stood together, watching the dancers. Coralyn made the proper introductions, then all stood around in awkward silence.

  As Coralyn watched the crowd mill around the floor, she spotted the Duke of Cravenhurst across the room. Perhaps she could secure her introduction now and free herself from the commitment she’d made to her mother.

  “Do either of you happen to know the Duke of Cravenhurst?”

  Edith’s eyes instantly turned to Fanny, who nodded, though with less enthusiasm than Coralyn might have expected. “I do. Why do you ask?”

  “I must secure an introduction to him.” She turned to Fanny. “Would you be so kind?”

  Fanny stared at her unabashedly. “Why are you so eager to meet him?”

  Coralyn smiled and arched one brow. “It is my sole purpose in coming to Roselund.”

  Fanny’s eyes widened and Edith watched her warily. Christopher made a low noise in his throat before bowing. “Please excuse me.”

  Coralyn watched him walk away for a moment before turning back to the women. “At least, my mother believes it is why I am here.”

  “What do you mean?” Edith asked.

  “My mother’s condition on my visit was that I find a way to be introduced to the duke. I couldn’t care less about meeting him, myself. But I did promise my mother.”

  Fanny’s expression relaxed and she offered a simple smile. “I’d be happy to introduce you.”

  After sharing a less than noteworthy greeting, Coralyn smiled. “Forgive me for intruding on your evening, your grace, but my mother will not be pleased until I can write that I have met you.” She looked up at him with genuine interest. “I’m certain you are as weary of such endeavors as I am.”

  He chuckled. “It does get tiresome.” A smile slowly spread to his dark eyes. “But a simple introduction does little to please mothers such as yours.” He held out his hand. “A dance, on the other hand, may keep her satisfied for a time.”

  Coralyn curtsied. “Why, thank you, your grace. You are most considerate.”

  The duke kept her laughing throughout the lively dance and Coralyn enjoyed herself more than she had in a long while. When the dance ended, the duke led Coralyn to her aunt’s side before offering a bow and bidding her goodnight.

  Aunt Agnes smiled, one corner of her moth lifting higher than the other, and leaned close. “I see you’ve met the Duke of Cravenhurst.”

  Coralyn returned her smile. “Indeed I have. Mother’s wishes are satisfied and I can spend the rest of my visit doing just as I please.”

  Aunt Agnes chuckled. “Wonderful. Then come meet some of my friends.”

  Coralyn spent the next hours of the night meeting the residents of Roselund, dancing with more enjoyable gentlemen than she could ever recall, and feeling more joyful and free than she had in years.

  She stood with a small group, more listening to the conversation than actively participating, when she caught her name spoken by a familiar voice behind her.

  “Yes, I knew Miss Fairchild when we were children,” Christopher said. “Our families spent summers and Christmases at Lynwood. But this is the first time she has visited in eight years.”

  Coralyn did not often eavesdrop, but could not keep her attention from the conversation now.

  “It must be nice to see an old friend again,” a woman said.

  “It has been interesting,” he replied.

  Interesting? Our exchanges have been anything but interesting.

  “A lot can change in eight years,” the woman said.

  “Yes, it can.” His tone turned thoughtful. “There are times when she reminds me of the ten-year-ol
d girl I knew so long ago, and then there are times when she’s so different I do not even recognize her.” He chuckled. “Though she often acts more like the ten year old.”

  Anger rose in Coralyn’s chest. The others in Christopher’s group chuckled before one of the woman turned the conversation to local gossip. Consumed in her own thoughts, Coralyn ignored both her own group and Christopher’s. When she heard him speak next, he excused himself from his group, and she followed him out of the ballroom.

  The hall was empty except for Christopher and herself. As soon as she was out the door, she called out, “Perhaps I have not changed as much as you originally suggested.”

  Christopher turned, obviously startled, before swiftly regaining his composure and lowering into a formal bow. “Miss Fairchild.”

  “Well?”

  His raised a single brow. “Well, what?”

  Coralyn walked toward him, her tone falsely sweet. “You have been cold to me since our first night at Lynwood. Please tell me what I have done that offends you so.”

  Christopher remained silent for a moment. She could sense him fighting something and a storm brewed in his eyes. “You changed!” he burst out. “You became one of them!” He took a deep breath, but continued on.

  “Despite having parents so obsessed with titles, high society, and the finest things in life, you never cared. As long as I’d known you, you never cared about any of it. You never cared about being fashionable and look at you.” He flung his hand toward her. “Dressed to perfection and as glamorous as they come. You never cared to be the center of attention, and all I hear is how popular you were in London. And most of what I’ve heard from you is gossip and worthless chatter. Even as a child, you said more of importance than you’ve said since you’ve returned to Roselund. You took that precious girl and threw away everything that made her special. Everything that made you perfect. You threw away yourself to become like everyone else.”

  The anger flowing through Coralyn’s veins made the one compliment he’d paid her pale in comparison to the judgments he threw before her.

  He stood a few feet away, breathing heavily. He said nothing more, but turned to walk away.

  “And what about you, Christopher?”

  He paused.

  “Forgive me. Lord Eversley.”

  When he turned to look at her, she curtsied in as exaggerated a manner as she was able. When she rose, she came to her full height and met his gaze evenly. Something her mother had forbidden, yet she was fairly certain Mother would forbid all she was about to do.

  “You used to be someone people loved, someone they looked forward to speaking to. You were a friend to everyone, even to a girl far below you in age and station. And look at you now — hard and unyielding, stiff and unsociable. So puffed up with pride in your title that you ignore the person you once were.”

  She saw the anger in his eyes, but she did not relent.

  “The Christopher I knew could find delights in the little things, and helped others to see them as well. He was kind, merciful, full of life. The Christopher I knew would never have insulted me the way you just have. I may have grown up, but I am not so different than I used to be.”

  A surge of satisfaction swelled inside her at his look of surprise.

  “But you, you are far different than the person I knew.” She shook her head. “And it breaks my heart.”

  She swallowed against the sudden tears pressing against her eyes. “You were my best friend. And now I do not even know you.”

  Before he could respond, Coralyn turned and strode down the hall in the other direction. Once certain she was outside of Christopher's sight, she leaned against the wall and allowed a few tears their freedom.

  Curses!

  She shook her head, willing the tears away.

  Curses!

  When the Brickleys and their company arrived home that evening, the butler greeted them at the door.

  “Lady Alice Eversley arrived while you were away, sir,” he said to Uncle Brickley.

  “Oh, my goodness! I thought she would not arrive until Monday,” Aunt Agnes cried. “Has she been here long, James?”

  “A few hours, ma’am. But we showed her to a room and ensured she had a good meal. I believe she’s been resting since.”

  Lady Eversley hurried to the stairs, clearly excited to see her daughter again. “I’ll check in on her.”

  “May I attend you?” Aunt Agnes asked.

  “Of course.”

  The two women went up the stairs together, Lady Eversley offering her apologies for her daughter’s unexpected arrival, and Aunt Agnes reassuring her there was no need.

  The others moved in the direction of the drawing room, no doubt for one last cup of refreshment, but Coralyn fell behind. Christopher did not even glance back. Rupert’s wife, Helen, let the others go on a ways before turning back to Coralyn.

  “Are you not joining us?”

  “I do not believe I will.”

  Helen offered a courteous smile. “Tired from the ball?”

  Coralyn smiled stiffly. “Something of that nature.”

  Helen nodded, the look in her eyes knowing, but she said no more.

  Coralyn took a step away. “Please make my excuses to your mother-in-law and Lady Alice.”

  “Of course.” Helen offered a brief curtsy and followed the others into the drawing room.

  Coralyn trudged up the stairs to her room. She had not been tired until the argument with Christopher and the tears which had followed. Now she felt exhausted. Without even calling her maid, she removed her shoes and laid on the bed. Sleep overcame her in moments.

  When she awoke the next morning, the sun shone brightly through the window, promising a warm day. Coralyn called her maid and hoped she would not remark on the fact that she’d slept in her gown. She certainly did not need a reminder that her mother would not condone such behavior. Thankfully, the maid remained silent, though Coralyn did not miss the look of surprise in her eyes when she saw Coralyn had not changed for bed.

  Coralyn entered the breakfast room and was herself surprised to see Christopher seated there, as he had not been at breakfast once during their stay. He sat beside a woman with shimmering blond hair, laughing blue eyes, and rosy cheeks, who was dressed in the latest of London’s fashions.

  This must be Alice.

  The look the woman gave Coralyn confirmed her suspicions. Though already seated and eating, she leapt from the table with a squeal of delight and hurried toward Coralyn. When Alice wrapped her arms around her, Coralyn could only laugh and return the embrace.

  “Oh, my dear Miss Fairchild, I am so pleased to see you at last.” She ended the embrace, but took Coralyn’s hands instead. “You cannot know the depth of my joy! I looked for you all year in London and never did come across you. Though I am certain we enjoyed some of the same acquaintances. I often heard of you from the young men I knew. You struck quite a fancy with them.”

  Coralyn darted her gaze over Alice’s shoulder in time to catch the look of disapproval on Christopher’s countenance.

  “Come, you must sit beside me. We have much to discuss.”

  Coralyn found that with Alice, there was much less discussion and far more listening involved. She did manage to inquire after Coralyn’s family and how she had been faring these last eight years. But such courtesies were followed by Alice’s naming each person in London with whom she believed they were both acquainted, discussing the fashions Coralyn wore, and relating all the gossip any good busybody ought to know.

  By the end of breakfast, Coralyn was nearly as exhausted as she’d been the night before. She found herself craving the solemnity and silence church attendance demands. In the parish chapel, she made certain to place herself away from Alice, so the young lady might not be tempted to converse with her during the sermon.

  As soon as the service was over, Alice’s whispered voice could be heard throughout the chapel. On exiting the building, Coralyn stopped before the rector.

>   “Thank you, Reverend Beeton, for your remarks. Your meeting has a wonderful feeling of peace.”

  The graying man looked at her sternly. “Church is not a place for peace, child. It is a place to learn of your sins and seek to correct them.”

  Coralyn struggled to keep her smile at bay. “Of course, sir. Thank you for reminding me.”

  Once in the safety of the company of her aunt, Coralyn relayed the story and shared a modest but relieving laugh with Aunt Agnes.

  Alice soon began on a comparison of London weather to that of Roselund Heights. As soon as was polite, Coralyn extracted herself from her company and found Rose and her friends.

  “I dare say, I’d never heard one person speak as much in a day as I’ve heard Lady Alice speak in an hour,” she said to Rose quietly.

  Rose laughed, turning her head to look around Coralyn. “Has she arrived, then? I heard so much about her in London, I was always anxious to meet her. She sounds delightful!”

  Coralyn shook her head. “She is certainly lively.”

  “Hold your tongue, she comes this way,” Rose said.

  Alice approached the group and laced her arm through Coralyn’s. “Well, my dear friend, the weather is so lovely, I’ve convinced everyone to walk down to the beach. Are you prepared to join us?”

  “That sounds perfect,” Coralyn said honestly. “Before we go, may I introduce you to some friends?”

  Coralyn made the introductions. Rose was, without doubt, the most pleased to meet Alice, though all offered polite greetings.

  “I believe you know my sister, Mariah Leighton,” Joanna said.

  “Oh, yes!” exclaimed Alice. “Dear Mariah! How saddened we all were that she could not join us in London this season.”

  “Yes,” Joanna said, though it was clear she did not share Alice’s disappointment. “She looks forward to next season, though, when she’ll be able to attend.”

  “Oh, how wonderful! I am already in great anticipation!” Alice looked around the group. “Our party is ready to depart, but if any of you are eager to join us, we’d be delighted to have you.”

  When everyone but Joanna had declined, her fiancé smiled down at her. “What say you, my dear? You wouldn’t favor a walk to the shores, would you?”