“Audrey, this is a lovely home,” she said politely, guardedly.
“I’m glad you came, Blythe.” Audrey reached out her hand, and Miss Collins took it. “Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to visit? I thought you were staying in London.”
Miss Collins shrugged, glancing at Robert again. “It’s not the Season yet, and so many people aren’t in Town. I made my rounds and then . . . I wanted to see the house you inherited. Rose Cottage is the name?”
Audrey smiled and nodded, as if she’d never had a problem with her sister. Robert suspected that Audrey would do anything to improve her relationship with Miss Collins. He felt a rise of anger on her behalf, that she would have to be so desperate for her family’s approval. But was that all it was? He had no family at all but distant cousins, and would give much to have the companionship and shared past of close kin. Perhaps Audrey wanted to preserve that, rather than take whatever abuse her sister handed out.
Robert would make certain that Miss Collins understood that he would not tolerate poor treatment of Audrey.
“Are you just stopping by,” Audrey began, “or might you visit for a while? You’d be my first overnight guest.”
Miss Collins glanced at Robert with speculation. “Lord Knightsbridge did not stay?”
What did the woman think they were doing, conducting an open affair? Not that Robert would have minded for himself, but he minded on Audrey’s behalf.
“My home is only eight miles away,” Robert said coolly. “It would be inappropriate for me to spend a night here, do you not think?”
Miss Collins’s eyes widened. “Oh, forgive me. Of course you’re right. But you’re engaged now, and I thought Audrey might wish for your help.”
“We do much together, it is true,” Audrey said, before Robert could answer. “He has been a good friend, especially since Molly’s illness has confined her to her room.”
“I’m sorry to hear about Molly’s illness, and hope she’s recovering, but friend?” Miss Collins said with interest.
“Shouldn’t those about to be married do well to be friends?” Robert asked dryly.
Audrey tilted her head toward him, and he already knew her particular warning look. She wanted to handle this, and she didn’t appreciate his interference.
Sometimes it was damned annoying to be involved with an independent woman. It made him not want to find his own wife.
But a lover, on the other hand . . .
“Please sit down, Blythe,” Audrey said warmly. “Robert, please ask Francis to bring a tea tray to stave off our hunger before luncheon.”
Robert stepped out the door and relayed the request to Francis, then returned. Audrey and Miss Collins were seated side by side on the sofa, so he took an upholstered chair across the low table from them.
“London was quite boring,” Miss Collins said, heaving a dramatic sigh.
As if Audrey had any idea what London was like, Robert thought angrily. This wasn’t going well already. It was amazing how the passing of just a few days made him even more defensive and irate on Audrey’s behalf.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Audrey murmured. “I know how much you usually enjoy it there.”
“Yes, well, it gave me such a good opportunity to see your inheritance. I know how excited you always were. Could it possibly have lived up to your expectations?” Miss Collins asked, her voice laced with doubt.
He admired Audrey’s forbearance more and more as she remained the gracious hostess.
“It has been more than I ever dreamed,” Audrey said quietly, hope evident in her shining expression. “I feel like this inheritance is Mr. Blake’s gift to me, an apology, the chance to start my new life.”
“But you won’t be here long,” Miss Collins pointed out. “Soon you’ll be the mistress of Knightsbridge Hall.”
Robert awaited her response to that one, lobbed as if from a mortar and targeted precisely.
“We haven’t set a wedding date yet,” Audrey said, without even a momentary hesitation. “And this will be one of our properties, as well, and my dower property, so I want to see it thriving.”
“Already planning for my death?” Robert asked with faint sarcasm.
To his surprise, it was Miss Collins who answered.
“Every woman must be prepared for that, my lord. Our father would never dream of allowing a marriage contract that did not grant Audrey protection in her elderly years.”
Surprised and bewildered, Audrey thought upon her sister’s words, even as a tea tray was set before her and she began to pour. It was true, her father wanted to make sure she was taken care of, and she’d always assumed it was because he wanted more property to control. But did he actually care about her future after he was gone? It was a novel concept.
“I do not need Father’s assistance in the contract,” Audrey said, holding out a cup and saucer to her sister, “since I am a widow who can retain her own lawyers. But I appreciate your sentiment, Blythe, and I agree with you.” To change the subject, she said, “Lord Knightsbridge tells me our engagement has become common knowledge in London.”
“Was it a secret?” Blythe asked.
Audrey could hear her surprise, and knew she had to tread carefully. She offered Robert his cup, then poured her own. “No, it was not. We were simply surprised he had received congratulations already.”
“I mentioned it at a dinner party,” she admitted. “People were taken aback that, so soon after returning to England, Lord Knightsbridge would commit himself.”
Audrey heard the suspicions Blythe didn’t bother to hide. Now that Blythe no longer thought she could win Robert for herself, she was not being as careful around him.
“Were they surprised you had a sister?” Robert asked coldly.
Audrey caught her breath. She tried to picture Blythe’s expression, but all she saw was the innocent little girl who’d once been her doll baby. “Robert—”
“No, Audrey,” Blythe interrupted. “He has the right to say that if he cares about you. Yes, my lord, my London friends have always known I have a blind sister. What was so surprising to them was that you would offer marriage, when you’d only just returned, and it was obvious you had not known her in your youth.”
Audrey’s cup rattled briefly in the saucer as she lifted it to her mouth. Was Blythe worried about her, rather than simply jealous? Audrey wasn’t such a fool as to forget the jealousy, but maybe her sister had more complicated emotions than she’d ever suspected. It gave her such a spark of hope that they could one day have a sisterly relationship, but she tamped it down, knowing it was too soon.
“Do you believe your sister unable to inspire my respect, admiration, and love?” Robert asked sharply.
“Perhaps you have other motives,” Blythe countered.
“Blythe, I have no great dowry or beauty, and I am blind,” Audrey said firmly. “I’m not sure there can be other suspicious motives. So let us put this argument behind us. Would you like a tour of my home before luncheon?”
“That would be lovely,” Blythe said stiffly.
As Audrey rose, she felt Robert touch her arm, and knew he was offering his guidance, but after their kiss and his open offer of a love affair, she was afraid she’d blush or stammer or forget herself, simply at his touch. So she concentrated on counting her steps, and touching the occasional piece of furniture as they moved from room to room, and prayed the servants had not left something out of place. More than once, Blythe fell into her old habit of constantly warning Audrey about anything in her vicinity, as if Audrey usually blundered over everything. Of course, she’d recently blundered over a coal bucket and fallen off Erebus, things she wasn’t about to mention . . .
But Blythe did ask interested questions throughout, and Audrey found herself relaxing. When Blythe was shown to her room to change before luncheon, Audrey left Robert in the study and went to look in on Molly.
When she tried to feel Molly’s forehead, she touched her shoulder instead. “Ah, you’re propped
up a bit higher in bed today,” Audrey said, feeling even more relieved.
“It makes my head pound, but I want to be up and about as soon as I can.”
“So anxious for me to work you to the bone?” Audrey smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Anxious to see what your sister is up to.”
“News travels fast.”
“Francis came to tell me.”
“Did he now?” Audrey asked, amused.
“This isn’t a good thing, Miss Audrey,” Molly said, her voice serious. “Why is she here, when she never had much use for you before?”
“She said she wants to see my home.”
Molly made a dismissive sound.
“It’s a good thing I don’t hold you to a maid’s subservience,” Audrey said dryly. “But also . . . she seemed concerned about Lord Knightsbridge’s motives, as if she might be trying to put her jealousy aside.”
“You be careful, miss. Miss Blythe has only ever thought of herself, and didn’t care how she hurt you. I can’t believe that’d change so suddenly. I’ll talk to Charlotte and see what she knows.”
“Thank you for your concern, Molly, but since I’ve decided to take chances with life, this is one I can’t let pass. If my sister and I could have some sort of real relationship . . .” She let the words die as her throat tightened.
“You have a new relationship now, miss,” Molly said with kindness. “You’ll soon have a husband and family of your own.”
Audrey barely withheld her own dismissive sound.
Luncheon was strained, Audrey thought, and it was crazy that both Robert and Blythe found themselves angry on her behalf. It was all such a new experience for her. She didn’t know how to handle it, except to charge forward as if it didn’t bother her. She talked about her tenants, and asked both Blythe’s and Robert’s opinions of having a meal for them.
It wasn’t until they were served custard for dessert that Robert gave a sigh and said, “I’ve held my tongue throughout, because I know you like to handle things yourself, Audrey. But Miss Collins is being a good sport about the fact that Francis didn’t see fit to give her any forks, even when she subtly reminded him.”
Hot with embarrassment, Audrey turned toward her sister. “Why wouldn’t you tell me this?”
“I didn’t think it very important. The poor young man was obviously nervous about serving an earl.”
“He’s been serving me for days,” Robert said dryly. “I think he was nervous for another reason, one which Audrey wishes to handle on her own.”
“What is going on?” Blythe demanded.
Audrey took a moment, still rather shocked that her sister hadn’t complained—loudly—about the servants’ neglect. “I . . . don’t really know. The servants seem to have a reason to wish me gone, and are doing little things to annoy me.”
“Such servants deserve to be let go,” Robert said.
“But it doesn’t make sense,” Audrey insisted. “They’re a family—it would be terrible if all of them were asked to leave. They could very well starve.”
“Unless they’ve been hiding money away all these years,” Robert pointed out.
“I can’t believe that. What money? The land agent has shown us every penny spent—”
“And now the ledgers are missing.”
“This cannot be a conspiracy,” Blythe said.
Her voice was full of an amusement that didn’t quite ring true, Audrey thought.
“And why do you say that?” Audrey asked.
“You’ve introduced me to them. With my own eyes I could see their helplessness. Maybe they’re afraid you’re going to let them go, and are making mistakes because of it.”
“Just because I’m blind doesn’t mean I can’t understand that something is wrong. I won’t let such behavior continue in my own household. But your reason has merit.”
“Well, it is your decision, of course,” Blythe murmured.
Was her sister backing down from an argument? What was wrong with the world?
“Do you have plans this afternoon?” Blythe asked.
It took Audrey a moment to leave her concerns temporarily behind. “Nothing that cannot wait.”
“I would like to see your gardens. You know how I adore arranging flowers.”
You do? Audrey almost said, and stopped herself. It was a feminine pastime, and perhaps Blythe was still playing up to Robert.
“I’ll leave you ladies to the gardens,” Robert said. “I have ledgers to look for.”
When he had left them, Audrey took her sister’s arm to go outside. She did not remember the last time she’d had to do so. She’d known her way so well around their childhood home.
And as if Blythe were thinking the same thing, she said, “And where is your ever-present Molly?”
“She came down with a terrible fever several days ago.”
Blythe’s arm tensed within Audrey’s. “You had mentioned her illness, but I hadn’t realized it was serious.”
“Don’t worry, she was the only one to take ill, and she is recovering well, just still too weak to perform her usual activities.”
“Then who’s your unofficial secretary?” Blythe asked.
Audrey hesitated. “Lord Knightsbridge graciously offered his assistance.”
She felt Blythe lean forward, heard the sound of the door opening, and then the cool breeze and the sun on her face.
“If you need your shawl . . .” Audrey began.
“No, I’ll be fine.” Blythe’s voice seemed a bit strained. “This man seems too good to be true.”
“I sometimes think that myself,” Audrey admitted.
“I talked to people in London about him.” Before Audrey could respond, she hastily said, “Oh, look, you have so many azaleas and rhododendrons.”
“But not in bloom at this time of the year. Why did we really come out here, Blythe? Was it simply to be free of Lord Knightsbridge?”
“Don’t you want to know what people are saying?”
Audrey hesitated. “No. Gossip is never a good—”
“Gossip is unfounded rumors. Facts are . . . facts. Here, sit down. There’s a bench right behind you.”
Audrey felt it with the backs of her knees and sat, letting go of Blythe’s arm. “Why do you care who I marry, as long as I’m no longer embarrassing you? Or will my being a countess embarrass you even more?”
She wasn’t going to be a countess, of course, but she wanted to hear the truth from Blythe’s own lips.
“You’ve been used by a man before,” Blythe said coolly. “I didn’t think you wanted that again.”
“He’s not using me—in fact, I—” She stopped, biting her lip at what she’d almost revealed.
“You what?”
“We have not set a date, Blythe. I am being patient and learning all I can, and at the same time, I’m enjoying the first freedom of my life. Why are you trying to disrupt that?”
“Disrupt—I’m not!” She sounded honestly bewildered. “But just like Lord Knightsbridge told you about the servants’ treatment of me—because you wanted to know—I have to tell you this. He’s been gone almost his entire adult life, Audrey, and no one really knows him.”
The wind whipped a curl free, and Audrey caught it behind her ear. “But I’m learning to know him. Doesn’t that count? Maybe I’m the only one who wants to.” She thought of his kisses, and his honesty about wanting her as a lover. My heavens, he could have his pick of any woman. She didn’t have to see his face to know that he desired her—
But she was conveniently available to him, and he’d already admitted he wanted to help her. She didn’t want to send him away.
“How can you forget about his partner who killed himself?” Blythe demanded. “Did you ask him?”
“No,” Audrey admitted, “not yet. It is so very painful, I imagine.”
“Maybe it isn’t.”
“Blythe,” she said her sister’s name sharply. “Thank you for your concern, but I am handl
ing everything as I see fit.”
“Including marrying a man you don’t love—again.”
Audrey stiffened. “If an earl asked you to marry him, you’d jump at the offer. I know you too well.”
Blythe said nothing.
“Me taking a risk is different, though, isn’t it?”
More silence.
“Let’s walk, shall we? And we can pretend everything between us is fine.”
They walked down a path, and Audrey estimated they were heading toward the pond.
“There’s a man in your gardens,” Blythe said at last.
“Mr. Sanford, the groundskeeper. He is married to the housekeeper.”
“Your little servant family, that’s right. I imagine he must be a helpful fellow. He’s following us about in case we need assistance.”
And Audrey felt a chill that had nothing to do with the approach of winter.
Chapter 14
They were called back inside by the arrival of another guest, and Audrey wouldn’t have been surprised if it was another member of her family. Instead, it was the vicar’s wife awaiting her in the drawing room.
“You already went into the village?” Blythe asked Audrey with surprise evident in her voice as they walked through the house.
“I did. People went out of their way to be kind.” She did not say that it had been Robert’s idea to go so quickly, and he who escorted her.
In the entrance hall, Audrey spoke to Francis about having tea sent in, and then without holding her sister’s arm, entered the drawing room.
“Mrs. Blake,” a woman’s voice intoned in a nasal manner, “it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Audrey could hear the interest the woman didn’t bother to hide. “Mrs. Warton, it is surely my own pleasure. I enjoyed my conversation with your husband several days ago. May I introduce my sister, Miss Blythe Collins?”
“How do you do?” Blythe asked.
Gayle Callen - [Brides of Redemption 02] Page 14