by Fiona Miers
It had been a week since their departure from Woodlock Manor, but the memories lingered. Her heart did not ache any longer, her eyes did not shed tears, but her mind still wandered. Through the meadow, down the hallways, and finally to James, where she had laid curled up in his embrace sharing a bed, if only for one night.
The faint sound of knocking on their front door spun her head from the clouds, yet she didn’t move. Perhaps it was the clergyman from the debt collectors’ office? Or the collector himself? Perhaps it was Mr. Cornish from the bank?
Footsteps sounded, coming up the stairs and down the hallway, and Kitty’s brow furrowed as there was a knock on her door. She turned her head as the door opened and her mother stood in the doorway.
“You have a visitor.”
“Who on earth would wish to visit me?” Kitty inquired.
“I will have a pot of tea prepared. Do not keep your guest waiting,” her mother answered sharply and left her chambers as speedily as she entered.
That didn’t sound like good news.
Kitty stood slowly, confused as she approached the door. As she reached for the door knob, she noticed her trembling hand. She took a breath to compose herself and left her bedchamber with no regard for her appearance.
Kitty descended the narrow stairs and the voices from the parlor grew louder as she neared. She frowned. The voice sounded familiar. She walked closer and looked into the doorway. As soon as she saw the person who stood in the parlor with her father, Kitty stopped abruptly.
Kitty blinked a few times. Did her eyes deceive her?
The gentleman smiled brightly at her as he slowly approached her.
There was no doubt.
It was him.
“Edward,” Kitty gasped.
“My lady,” Lord Windham, whom Kitty had known her entire life as Edward, placed his hands against his chest and smiled at her in awe. “Your beauty astounds me, as always.”
Kitty breathed a sigh but stood completely still. He was even more handsome than the last time she’d seen him.
“Is it not lovely to see Lord Windham again? I was very much surprised to see this strapping young man as I opened the front door,” her father beamed.
“Indeed,” Kitty answered. “I am surprised myself.”
And not as happy as I expected to be.
Lord Windham grinned and cocked his head. “How are you, my lady?”
“I am well. What on earth are you doing here, Edward?” Kitty pursed her lips and corrected herself. “My lord… I was under the impression you were still residing in the north.”
He smiled despite her tones. “I am in the area tending to business for my father, and I saw Lady Dunne in town. She graciously invited me to dinner this evening.”
Surprise rippled through her. Really?
“She did?” Kitty repeated and turned to her father for clarification.
“It will certainly give us all the chance to hear what Lord Windham has been doing the past ten years, will it not, Kitty?” her father said with a happy smile.
Kitty forced a smile and nodded. “Certainly.”
“Are you well, my lady? Does it shock you to see me in your home?” Lord Windham inquired.
Kitty lifted her chin, pushing away the melancholy that had consumed her for days. “It has certainly been a long while, my lord. I am merely surprised. It is lovely to see you.”
Edward chuckled happily. “That is certainly a relief to hear. I did not wish to startle you. Your mother informed me that you received my last letter,” Lord Windham said, his eyes wide and expectant.
Kitty swallowed the lump that rose in her throat. “Indeed, I did. It was quite a letter. You certainly have a way with words, my lord.”
“I meant every word, my lady.”
Kitty opened her mouth to respond, but at that moment her mother entered the room and gasped. “My goodness, Kitty It seems as though you have seen a ghost.”
“A ghost from her past, undoubtedly,” her father winked with amusement at his wife. Edward took a step towards them. “Perhaps your daughter and I can come to some sort of agreement.”
“Regarding what?” Kitty asked.
Edward turned to her, meeting her gaze with an intensity that shocked her. “I would much rather say this to you in private, but I wish to marry you, Kitty.”
Kitty’s jaw dropped and her mother gasped beside her. “Why on earth would you wish to marry me, my lord?”
“Kitty…” her father warned.
“It is quite all right, my lord,” Lord Windham assured with a smile. “I was certain Kitty wouldn’t make it easy. After all, I was the one to leave all those years ago.”
“But it was due to your father—” Kitty’s mother burst out.
“It does not matter, my lord,” Kitty interrupted and turned to Lady Dunne. “Mother, can I speak with you privately?”
“My dear, we have a guest—”
“I do not care,” Kitty hissed as she brushed passed her mother and exited the parlor.
Lady Dunne followed her to the end of the hallway and Kitty turned to her. “You invited him to join us for dinner?”
“Indeed.”
“Why?” she inquired, annoyed now.
“Kitty, since you are no longer marrying Lord Seymour, I had to devise a plan for our family to survive. Lord Windham may not be the duke, nor have his wealth and fortune, but his lordship has known you for a long while, as well as our family, and it would be foolish not to listen to his proposition. He can offer you a good life, Kitty, and your children will be beautiful.”
Kitty stared at her mother in disbelief and shook her head. “No.”
“Kitty—”
“I will not marry him, Mother. I do not wish to marry him nor any other man whom you think would be able to save our family,” Kitty stated.
She had grown tired of her mother’s insistence she marry someone whom she did not love, or even knew, for that matter. Until she decided otherwise, the entire subject was off limits.
“Please, Mother, respect my decision,” Kitty added quietly, a wave of sadness washing over her.
Her mother’s lips pinched together. “Lord Windham is here and we will have a lovely dinner regardless. Is that clear?” Lady Dunne said, then left Kitty alone in the hallway.
Alone, with a broken heart.
At the dinner table later that evening, Kitty remained polite as she spoke to Lord Windham, insisting that he share the past ten years with her and her parents. Although she was aware of most of it, through letters Lord Windham had written to her, it was delightful—much to Kitty’s surprise—to listen to his animated tales.
Her old friend possessed a gift to tell a story so beautifully, and with so much compelling language that even the blandest of tales sounded like the greatest adventure on earth. His dark brown eyes shone with delight as he glanced at her regularly.
It was rather strange to Kitty that this handsome man, impeccably dressed in his formal attire, was the very boy beside whom she had spent many days running across the fields of wildflowers, laughing while they ran for cover from the rain.
Rain.
A vivid memory of being in James’ bed while the rain drummed against the window flashed in her mind and her body froze.
Anger rose up inside her. She would not be able to think of anything except her night with James when she heard rain outside now.
“Is everything well, my lady?” Lord Windham inquired, and his voice whirled her back to the present moment.
Kitty glanced at him, and noticed her parents’ stares were also fixed on her. “I am perfectly well, my lord. I was merely thinking of something.”
“What could possibly be on your mind that causes you to be this distracted? Kitty, you seem to be across the world.”
In all honesty, Kitty wished she were. In fact, she wished to be anywhere but the place where she found herself presently.
“I merely have a few trivial things on my mind. Not to worry, my lord. It is
nothing to concern yourself with,” Kitty stated. “Pardon me for a moment.”
Kitty stood from her seat and quietly left the dining room. Her chest ached as her heart was yet again betrayed by the memory she’d attempted to forget.
Her mother and father had disappointed her tonight. They were well aware from her harsh words on their journey home from Woodlock Manor that she never wished to have anything to do with any man, ever again.
They still only thought of themselves.
She entered the study and opened the large window, allowing the cool, fresh air to flow into the room. She took slow, deep breaths, attempting to calm the storm inside her heart. Alas, it did not work.
A soft knock on the door caused her to sigh wearily. “Please, Mother. Leave me be. Have you not tortured me enough this past week?”
“My lady,” Lord Windham’s voice inside the room made her jump and she whirled around.
“My apologies, my lord. I was under the impression it was my mother.”
“There is no need to apologize. It was rather unmannerly of me to simply assume you would allow me to speak with you privately,” Lord Windham said, and slowly approached Kitty. “I am truly sorry you have been tortured by Lady Dunne.”
Kitty scoffed and shook her head. “She seems to enjoy it.”
“If I may ask, what is the reason she torments you, my lady?”
Kitty sighed. “It is a rather long and tediously tiresome tale.”
“I wish to know.”
“I would rather not say, my lord,” Kitty answered with a frown, and walked past Lord Windham.
Much to her surprise, Lord Windham’s hand grasped her arm, yanking her backwards. Kitty gasped as she turned her head to glance at Lord Windham, and his dark brown eyes darkened even more. “Oh, I insist, my lady,” he snarled, his gaze filled with malice.
16
Lizzie pursed her lips, attempting to suppress the tears that had already started to form in her eyes.
James’ harsh eyes were focused solely on her, and with every moment that passed and she did not utter a word, James grew angrier.
“Elizabeth, tell me now!” James exclaimed.
“Calm yourself, brother,” William said, but Lizzie shook her head.
“Do not scold him, William. James has every right to be angered by what I have done, and what led to this awful situation,” Lizzie answered, a tear running down her cheek.
“Tell us, Elizabeth,” William insisted.
Lizzie James in a slow, deep breath and glanced at James. “You were right in regards to Lord Dorset.”
James narrowed his eyes at Lizzie, but didn’t respond. Was there more to the story?
“He is a rake and I should not have wasted my time on a man such as that. I was under the impression he loved me, cared for my feelings and respected me,” Lizzie whispered.
“A man like Dorset does not respect any person, let alone a woman whom he uses as he sees fit, and discards after he’s gotten what he wanted from her,” William said.
“Quiet,” James ordered and motioned to Lizzie to continue.
Lizzie nodded gratefully and cleared her throat. “Lord Dorset promised me it was different with me, that he had feelings for me. I was a fool, because I believed him. I was too infatuated with Lord Dorset, and too blinded by his charms that I failed to notice anything else.”
“What did he do to you, sister?” James asked, surprisingly calm considering the situation.
His heart pounded in his chest and his jaw tightened with each moment, but he kept a hold on the reins of his temper while he could. He needed to know the full story.
“It is not what you think, James, but it is rather unpleasant,” she answered.
Well, thank God for that. “Tell me.”
“I accompanied him for a stroll in the park last week, which I considered a wonderful opportunity as it was a public place, hence people were able to see us together. I thought it was a step in the right direction for the two of us. Being seen in public meant he was serious, and wished for people to know about us,” Lizzie said, and a bitter scowl formed on her lips. “But it was only for show. As soon as we reached the border of the park, he led me through the trees where no person was able to see us. He spoke soft words in my ear as his hands grazed over my body. I was delighted as his affectionate touch proved to me that he had changed. Lord Dorset then proceeded to kiss me—”
“Is it necessary for such intimate details?” William asked with a growl.
James agreed. He’d heard more than enough. “Did he do anything that warrants me beating him to a pulp?”
“Not in the manner in which you think, brother,” Lizzie answered. “When things became too heated, I brushed him off, as I did not feel it was appropriate. He grew angry and stormed off. I was embarrassed and ashamed as I left the park on my own, Lord Dorset nowhere in sight.”
James pursed his lips and waited for Lizzie to continue, although he had already deduced what the issue was.
“I attended Lady Bisterham’s ball at her lavish estate. I received the most gawking and judgmental glances from people whom I considered close acquaintances, as well as others whom I had never met. Their whispers grew louder and I overheard one of them say that Lord Dorset and I had shared a bed, numerous times.”
“Did you?” James inquired, simply to be certain.
Lizzie’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “Of course not, James. They are spreading lies about me and soon my reputation will be ruined, if it is not already,” Lizzie answered, the dismay evident on her face. “I cannot believe you questioned me with regards to that.”
“I simply had to be certain, sister,” James answered.
“Nevertheless, people now think I am a light-skirted woman thanks to Lord Dorset. Hence, the reason I have been hiding myself away in the manor. I do not wish to be the subject of people’s gossip or judgement.”
“And the fruit?” William asked with a furrowed brow.
“It is a way to express their distaste for Elizabeth. She is rotten and spoiled, and no man should go anywhere near her. Rotten fruit. It is the perfect metaphor,” James answered absentmindedly.
“Indeed,” Lizzie said and turned away from her brothers. “I certainly did not consider it being such a momentous thing. It is a rather outlandish act, do you not think, James?”
But James did not hear any of the words from Lizzie’s mouth. He pressed his thumb against his chin and pondered what could be done in regard to this situation.
James could not allow his sister’s reputation to be wrongfully tainted and ruined by a man who possessed a reputation for being a rake.
His thoughts immediately returned to Kitty. He hoped that her reputation was still intact. The last thing Kitty needed was rotten fruit flung at her family’s home. James hoped that she was doing well, and had forgotten about him and the night they shared together in his chambers, even though it was never far from his mind.
He thought of it every night as he lay and stared at the empty space in his bed, where she had lain in his arms.
James heard Lizzie repeatedly uttering his name, more desperate with each passing moment.
James had to take a stand on behalf of his sister. He turned to Lizzie, who was nearly frantic at that stage.
“James, please answer me,” Lizzie insisted.
“My humblest of pardons, sister. What was it you asked?” James asked apologetically.
“I am not certain what to do, James,” Lizzie’s tone was desperate and filled with guilt. “I did not think he would do such a thing to me, but I was foolish. I am sincerely sorry for allowing myself to be swept away by a man such as Lord Dorset. You and William warned me about him, yet I was under the impression that I was able to take care of myself. I am a stubborn woman and I probably deserve all the malicious things that are to happen to me because of it.”
Lizzie hung her head with a sob and James’s heart broke. What a fragile thing a woman’s reputation was.
�
�Nonsense. You are our sister, and we will do everything in our power to ensure this does not become an issue,” William stated. “True, brother?”
William glanced hopefully at James, who continued to stare at Lizzie.
Lizzie raised her brow expectantly at him.
“James?” Lizzie whispered.
“The things people are saying are untrue?” James asked, needing to make sure that he was correct before he ventured forward.
“Yes.”
“All of it?” James emphasized.
“One kiss. That was all I permitted, I vow to you, brother,” Lizzie said with her eyes wide and guileless.
“Very well. I will put an end to this matter once and for all,” James said and looked towards William. “Have my coach readied immediately.”
“What will you do?” Lizzie grabbed hold of James’s arm.
James glanced at her and grinned, his gut tight with tension. “I am saving your reputation. Please do not question as to how I will accomplish it.”
“You are not set on murdering Lord Dorset, are you?” Lizzie asked with tears glistening in her eyes.
“If it comes to that, then so be it,” James answered and freed himself from her grasp. “And have the servants clean up that ungodly mess!”
“James, wait!” Lizzie’s voice sounded frantic, but James did not turn around.
He was well aware that he could never truly murder someone, not even when that person was set on ruining an innocent young lady’s life. Despite knowing that Lizzie was, not in fact, as innocent as most people might think, it did not matter.
Spreading rumors and falsehoods of people was wrong, even when it did not involve his family, James had always been quick to put a stop to gossip while people were in his presence. He cared not for the sensationalism that rumors and lies caused, and people were well aware of that.
James marched into the manor house and called for his coat. A servant retrieved it from the parlor and helped him put it on. When he stepped outside again, his coach was ready for him. He approached the coach, but Lizzie ran towards him.