The Townsbridge's Series

by Sophie Barnes

  “Of course, sir.” Simmons departed and William set about taking his hat off and removing his gloves.

  “You’re back.” Athena’s terse voice prompted him to turn as if he’d been pushed. Displeasure dimmed the usual brightness in her eyes to a murkier shade of brown. “Mama and I would like a word.”

  William set his hat and gloves aside on the hallway table. “Can it wait until after breakfast?”

  “Considering there’s a good chance there won’t be any, no.”

  William laughed. “Of course there’ll be breakfast. To suppose there won’t is absurd. Why, even during Eloise’s absence we received something. Nothing as wonderful as her fare, I’ll agree but—”

  “William.” She gestured toward the parlor door.

  He gave a weary sigh and walked through it, surprised to feel his heart jolt the moment the door clicked shut behind him. His gaze settled on his mother, who appeared unusually stiff this morning. His mind scrambled. Good lord. Had something dire transpired?

  The very idea gave a raspy edge to his voice. “Is everything all right?”

  “Not at the moment,” his mother said, “but I hope it will be.”

  “Have you spoken to Eloise since her return from France?” Athena asked.

  A nervous prickle spread like a rash beneath his clothes. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because she has quit her position,” his mother told him with the exacting bluntness of an executioner’s blade.

  A painful jolt tore its way through him. “She’s gone?”

  “She departed about twenty minutes ago with admirable haste.”

  William wasn’t sure how he managed to cross to the nearby chair when he couldn’t feel his legs or his feet. Indeed, it was almost as if his consciousness was hovering somewhere above his body, watching his tragic life unfold from a distance.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered, finding the seat and relaxing against the sturdy frame the chair offered. “I’d no idea this would happen. It’s not at all how it was meant to be.”

  “So you did speak with her?” Athena prodded.

  William shrugged. “She wanted to open a culinary school, and I thought to make that dream of hers come true.”

  His mother regarded him with unnerving sharpness. “How?”

  “I planned on using the house Papa helped me buy. The idea was for Eloise to turn it into her business.”

  Athena and Mama both stared at him in stupefied wonder.

  “That’s actually a sweet gesture,” Athena eventually said. “Ridiculously generous, but wonderfully romantic.”

  “I thought so,” William grumbled, “but Eloise didn’t agree. She fled when I showed it to her this morning and—”

  “Hold on,” his mother said. “You said you meant on moving out.”

  “I do,” William replied.

  His mother narrowed her gaze. “So what you’re saying is that this incredible gesture you made involved you taking up residence in that house together with Eloise while she…cooks for you?”

  “And teaches her students,” he added since this was a very important point.

  Mama raised her eyebrows. “I won’t even bother addressing how you planned on poaching one of my servants, because there are clearly far more important issues to discuss, like the fact that you are an absolute dolt, William Townsbridge.”

  William sat up a little bit straighter. “I beg your pardon?”

  “Frankly, I don’t think there’s anything less sickening to a woman’s ears than being told she can have her heart’s desire as long as she’s willing to warm a man’s bed.”

  Athena gasped. Her features transformed into stark disappointment. “You asked her to be your mistress?” And then she was suddenly upon him, hitting him wherever her hands could reach while William shielded himself as best as he was able. “How could you? How could you suggest such a thing when she deserves so much more? How could you mistreat her so? How—”

  “Athena.” Mama’s voice broke through her daughter’s angry tirade. “You’re not helping.”

  Athena brushed a stray lock from her forehead and took a step back. “I ought to call you out, William.”

  His mother almost choked on her own voice. “There will be none of that. Good grief. As if the situation isn’t bad enough without my youngest daughter challenging her brother to a duel.”

  “What’s that?” Roxley stood in the doorway, his soothing gaze sweeping across each person.

  A sigh of exhaustion left William’s mother, then she quickly explained the situation while Roxley patiently listened. Once she was done, he looked straight at William. “How do you feel about her?”

  “What?” William asked. His father’s calm voice, coming on the heels of Athena’s abuse, was startling.

  Roxley rolled his eyes and gestured with his hands as if William needed the added movement to help him comprehend basic English. “How do you feel about Eloise Lamont, Will?”

  “I don’t know. I…” He gave his father a helpless look.

  Roxley offered a sympathetic smile. “Be honest with yourself and know that no matter what, your mother and I are on your side. Our children’s happiness is of the utmost importance to us, even if there may be a scandal. We’ll weather that storm together if we must.”

  “Charles and James warned me to keep my distance from her,” William said. “They urged me to forget her unless I loved her.”

  “That’s not the worst advice,” his mother said. “Love is a powerful emotion. A great deal can be overcome in its name.”

  William swallowed. His gaze drifted away from his mother and toward Athena, then back to his father. All three regarded him with rapt expectation, like spectators watching a tightrope dancer, waiting to see if the artist would make it across the void in one piece or fall to their death.

  Closing his eyes, William did his best to block them out – push everything from his mind until only Eloise filled it. He wanted to protect her and keep her safe. He wanted to be there for her, not only today or tomorrow, but always. And he wanted to make sure she never experienced heartache again. Or if she did, then he wanted to be there to help her through it, to give her strength and whatever comfort she needed.

  The idea of her being out in the world somewhere alone caused his heart to lurch with immediate dread. He hated it, hated the not knowing where she was or if she was even all right. Where would she find work next and with whom? Would they treat her kindly or would they be cruel?

  She was a young woman, stunning and willful, yet too small to overpower a man who might force himself on her. William balled his hands into fists. She was his. She would always be his because…

  He opened his eyes with a start. “I love her.”

  Athena grinned, Margaret smiled, and Roxley emitted a satisfied grunt.

  Panic charged through William with the force of a runaway carriage, not because of the emotion itself – that part was oddly freeing – but because of how badly he’d botched things. He loved her – the way she joked with him until he laughed, the carefree happiness he experienced in her company, how normal she made him feel – yet all he’d offered was an indecent position as his lover. And to make the matter more insulting, he’d tried to bribe her by dangling her dream in front of her nose. If her feelings for him were even a fraction as strong as his feelings were for her, she would have been crushed by what he’d proposed.

  “God, I’m awful,” he muttered. “I’ve treated Eloise abominably.”

  “Then I’d suggest you try righting that wrong,” Roxley said.

  Mama nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “You must go after her, Will,” Athena exclaimed with bubbly excitement.

  William stood, ready to do precisely that – prepared to travel as far and wide as it would take in order to bring her back. He frowned. “Did she say where she was going before she left?”

  Silence replaced all sound.

  Eventually his mother whispered, “My conversation with he
r was so swift I did not think to ask.”

  William looked at Athena while quiet despair filled his lungs.

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’ve no idea.”

  He glanced at the clock. Hell and damnation. “It’s been almost an hour since her departure. For all I know, she could be on her way back to France by now.”

  “She’ll need to gather her wits first,” Athena said with reassuring confidence. “Eloise isn’t the sort of woman who acts without thought. She came to England because she was better able to find good employment here among the upper class households. So I believe her first course of action will be to rent a room somewhere, after which I expect her to list her availability with an employment agency.”

  William tried to dismiss the annoyance he felt at the thought of Eloise having to find lodgings on her own. He’d put her in an awful, possibly even dangerous, position.

  Focus.

  “In other words, if I search the employment agencies in the area, I ought to be able to track her down.” After all, she was a French cook – the best he’d even known – with a salary only few could afford. This limited her opportunities to a very specific part of Town. “I’ll start right away.”

  “Why are you all in here?” Sarah asked as she entered the room. “Is breakfast not ready yet?”

  William groaned. He hadn’t the energy to go through all the details again.

  “I’ll explain it later,” Athena told Sarah.

  “I should go,” William said.

  “Have a slice of toast first and some tea,” his mother suggested. “Every task is more easily accomplished on a full stomach.”

  “I’ll ask the maid who managed the cooking while Eloise was away to start on it right away,” Athena said. “It won’t be as good, but at least we won’t go hungry.”

  William sighed. Instinct told him to race off immediately in search of the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. But his mother was right, and if Athena was correct in her estimation, Eloise would try to find a place to stay first, which meant she probably wouldn’t visit the first employment agency until later in the day.

  Calmed by the fact that he was sure to find her somewhere nearby at some point today, he agreed to have some breakfast before heading out.

  Two weeks later, William wanted to strangle Athena for giving him false hope. He also wanted to stab the next person who told him to calm down. Especially when they suggested all would be well.

  Nothing was well. He certainly wasn’t and neither was his search for Eloise. The woman had vanished – disappeared – as if she’d never existed at all. Except she had. When he closed his eyes he could still taste her skin on his lips, could still smell her sweet fragrance like some sort of torturous memory imbedded in his brain. And not knowing where she was, if she was healthy or ill, safe or in danger, able to make ends meet or struggling to get by, was putting him in a crazed state. Never in his life had he worried so much about another person or longed for someone so dreadfully much. It was like having his heart ripped from his chest and tossed into an empty void.

  Pushing his horse into a faster gallop, he rode across the far side of Hyde Park with Charles and James close behind. His brothers had stepped in to help inquire after Eloise at the various employment agencies. When that idea had failed, they’d searched every tavern, inn, and potential boarding house London had to offer while also asking the men at their various clubs if their wives had recently hired a new French cook. The answer was never what William hoped for.

  “Perhaps you should get away for a bit,” James suggested once they’d slowed their horses to a trot. “You look haggard.”

  William sent him a scowl. “I’m not sleeping well.”

  “Of course you’re not,” Charles said. “This search for Mrs. Lamont has taken over your life.”

  “I hope you’re not suggesting I stop looking for her,” William growled.

  “Of course not. But you must take care of your health and sanity. Allowing this to destroy you will be of no use to anyone, certainly not to Mrs. Lamont once you find her.”

  William gave him a woeful smile. He appreciated the use of when as opposed to if. “Perhaps a brief reprieve wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.”

  “Abigail and I have been invited to attend a house party next Friday at Mr. and Mrs. Bertram’s estate,” James said. “It’s near Dartford, which isn’t so far, so you could return to London within a few hours whenever you please, and since it’s only for the weekend it won’t interfere with your work. I can ask if you might be allowed to join us.”

  Spending time with a bunch of people who’d all be in a cheerful mood, wanting to play games and have fun, was frankly the last thing William was in the mood for. But much like the foul tasting cod-liver oil he’d been spoon fed as a child, it might be what he needed.

  “Thank you,” he said while trying to sound at least somewhat enthusiastic. “I’d appreciate that.”

  What he failed to predict was that the house party would turn out to be more hellish than he’d expected. Every guest, without exception – save him – belonged to a couple. He discovered this when he chose to go for a walk sometime after his arrival. Savoring the fresh air, he strolled past the lake while taking pleasure in the sound of ducks splashing about.

  The setting was wonderfully romantic. He wished Eloise were there to enjoy it with him. The thought of her sliced right through him with startling swiftness, and he decided to try and locate some gentlemen with whom to enjoy a game of billiards. But when he returned to the house, he realized everyone else was paired off and that he was the only bachelor present.

  Which only made Eloise’s absence all the more poignant. Christ, he missed her. He wished she was there to throw flour in his face, to upbraid him for stealing a bread roll, or simply to share her excitement over a mushroom.

  He sighed as he lowered himself to a corner armchair in the parlor later that evening in order to await dinner. Coming here had seemed like a good idea last week, but he was certain now that it had been a mistake. Honestly, he ought to have gone to France instead and attempted finding her family. If she hadn’t returned there, then at least he’d know to keep looking in England.

  The idea grew within him until he began tapping his foot. He was suddenly quite impatient to leave. First thing in the morning he’d pack his bags and depart. Portsmouth was less than a day’s travel from here. He could be in France the day after tomorrow and—

  “What are you doing gathering dust over here by yourself?” James asked, interrupting William’s thoughts. He and Abigail had somehow materialized before him as if conjured out of thin air.

  William stood and smoothed his jacket. He’d been so caught up in his own imaginings, he’d failed to realize the room had filled to capacity during the last few minutes. “Just contemplating my next move.”

  James raised an eyebrow. “Nothing too drastic, I hope.”

  “There are times when only drastic measures will do,” Abigail said with a wry smile. She glanced up at her husband. “You know that better than anyone.”

  James cleared his throat. “Yes. Well. Extraordinary circumstances and all that.”

  “Quite,” Abigail murmured.

  The pair shared a secretive smile that made William’s heart fill with longing. Oh, how he hated being around people in love right now. Not that he begrudged them the deep emotion or wished them ill, he just wanted what they had for himself. He wanted Eloise, needed her with a desperation he feared might damage his health.

  A gong sounded and a double door opened. The guests bustled forward, entered the dining room, and tried to locate their seats. William found his easily enough. He’d been placed between his sister-in-law and a baroness with whom he’d danced once years ago before she’d married.

  “It’s lovely to see you again,” she said. “I understand from your brother that you’ve been away in Portugal this past year. How exciting.”

  William did his best to muste
r some enthusiasm with the subject she wished to discuss, but by the time he began describing the food he’d enjoyed in Lisbon, all he could think of was how much he wished he could taste Eloise’s cooking once more. Without even thinking, he began describing each meal she’d prepared – each more tasty than the last.

  “Oh,” the baroness sighed a few moments later. “You were just telling me of your fondness for salmon mousse and look what we have here.”

  William frowned and stared down at his place. Sure enough, a soft pink pyramid sat before him with a twisted lemon slice and a piece of dill adorning the top. His chest automatically tightened even though reason informed him it had to be a coincidence.

  And yet when he took his first bite the explosion of flavor upon his tongue was precisely the same as it had been each time he’d tasted Eloise’s cooking. He shook his head. His mind must be playing tricks on him. Obviously, he was so determined to find her he was prepared to believe she’d created this meal and was somewhere nearby. It was the only possibility.

  But then the main course arrived and the beef melted in his mouth, leaving behind rich flavors of herbs and wine. His heart knocked wildly against his ribs. Both the first and the second courses were identical to a couple of the dishes he’d had at home while Eloise worked there. And when a moist chocolate cake filled with nuts was served for dessert, he no longer had the patience to remain seated.

  Leaving his cake half eaten, he stood. It was almost a crime to squander such a perfect delicacy, but the urgency within him compelled him to seek out the cook who’d made it.

  With a hasty apology directed primarily at his hosts, he quit the dining room and made his way toward the stairs leading down to the store rooms and kitchen. If Eloise was in this house, then he was bloody well going to find her.

  Chapter 6

  Tea and coffee would have to be served next. Eloise had prepared macaroons earlier in the day which she now proceeded to pile onto several serving dishes. A scullery maid worked nearby on cleaning the plates, cutlery, and glasses that had been brought down earlier. She was a swift worker, and Eloise admired her speed and thoroughness.