by Amanda Davis
It was becoming increasingly difficult to shift herself between the lady who wanted to save herself from a perilous life and the one who was falling in love with her fiancé.
No! She told herself sharply. There was never a plan to fall in love. Xavier has reasons of his own for wooing you so strongly. You must not fall into a trap, believing his motives are any purer than yours.
Sighing, Lise moved toward the armoire, glancing back at the door to ensure her abigail had not re-entered the room. Carefully, she counted the growing pile of notes, which she had hidden carefully among the special pearls she wore only on the most important of occasions.
Perhaps I will wear them at my wedding.
Mary did return to the suite then, and Lise hastily put aside her ill-gotten gains, stifling the moan of disappointment in herself and the situation.
It was both a blessing and a curse that her mother had not shown herself once since returning to Holden. Lise was certain that Patience had stayed away to ensure that the matter was not more difficult for her daughter. It had taken a long while for the hollow pain of her departure to ease from Lise’s gut. She was certain her mother had remained away to spare her more discontent.
Xavier helped me through that time.
“My lady, shall I help you dress?” Mary asked and Lise realized she had fallen off into a slight reverie.
“Yes,” Lise replied, turning away from the wardrobe to stand before the mirror. Mary wriggled the corset over her undergarments and cinched it tightly around her full bosom before selecting a simple but elegant dress of velvet and lace. The periwinkle was a flattering color for Lise’s fair complexion, and when Mary began to do her hair up, Lise stopped her.
“Leave it down,” she instructed. “Mr. Xavier prefers it that way.”
“As you wish, my lady.”
A blush of embarrassment and worry sprang to Lise’s cheeks. She tried to tell herself that it did not matter what Xavier preferred, that he was merely a means to an end, but that lie no longer had a semblance of truth in her own ears.
Why can I not enjoy our time together? She thought defensively as though her own mind was another person arguing her inconsistent emotions. Must I walk about in a cloud of gloom?
“Lady Elizabeth, Mr. Xavier fears he will be unable to join you for breakfast,” Mary told her and Lise whirled around, startling the servant.
“How is that?”
“I am told he has business in Luton today.”
Without a word, Lise brushed by her handmaid and rushed into the corridor, her heart thumping with fear.
“Lady Elizabeth!” Mary called after her, following close on her heels, but Lise barely acknowledged her as she knocked on Xavier’s door.
“My lady, he is already gone. He left early this morning, but he did not wish to wake you. He will return this evening.”
Lise was the color of fresh cream when she turned away from the door.
“I wish you had woken me,” she murmured, and Mary lowered her eyes.
“Forgive me, my lady.”
There was nothing to be done about it now, and Lise shuffled back toward her chambers, her pulse still racing.
In her hand, she clutched the safe key, which was to be returned to her fiancé. Now, she was faced with a dilemma.
Should she hold onto it until he returned or leave it somewhere conspicuous, leading him to believe he had lost it?”
For all she knew, he had already attempted to use the safe that very morning. If she simply slipped it back into his pocket upon his return, he would know something was amiss.
Yet if I drop it near the office, he will be more apt to keep an eye on it.
“Lady Elizabeth, is there a matter?” Mary asked, staring at her with large eyes.
“No,” Lise muttered. “I am merely disappointed that I will not dine with him this morrow. I had grown quite accustomed to our morning meals.”
Lise did not miss the swoon in Mary’s eyes.
“I do hope to find a man who adores me as Mr. Xavier adores you, my lady,” Mary murmured, and more shame flushed through Lise.
Good Lord, what am I doing? I cannot continue like this!
“Mr. and Mrs. Compton await you in the dining room,” Mary offered timidly, misconstruing Lise’s expression as annoyance.
“Very well,” Lise sighed. She was not particularly in the mood to see anyone at that moment, but she could not hole herself away in Xavier’s absence. There was still a role to be played.
She finished dressing fully, permitting Mary to pinch her cheeks for a modicum of blush and made her way to the dining room with the abigail escorting her.
“Good morrow, Lady Elizabeth,” Elias called as she arrived, rising from his chair.
“Good morrow,” Lise replied, nodding as she was seated. The young waiter, Joshua tended to the family.
“I trust you slept well despite that ice storm,” Emmeline said, and Lise looked toward her in confusion.
“Ice storm?” she echoed, realizing she had not bothered to look outside a window yet that morning.
“My word!” Emmeline chuckled. “Perhaps we should change suites! We were up all night.”
“Catherine had much to say about it,” Elias agreed, seeming surprised. “She cried all night long. You heard nothing?”
“Not a stir in the night,” Lise replied, glancing toward the windows. To her utter amazement, the outdoors appeared encased in glass beyond the panes. A pang of concern fluttered through her.
“It is hardly a safe day for travel,” she murmured. “The horses do not handle ice well.”
“Your betrothed will return to you safely, my lady,” Emmeline assured her, smiling kindly. “Unfortunately, however, you are left in our company for the day.”
Lise managed a smile despite her increasing worry. The sun had not shone through the intense gray clouds, indicating that perhaps more bad weather was on the way.
“I can think of no better way to spend the day,” Lise replied. She could not help but notice that Elias studied her with particular scrutiny.
“Will Her Grace be arriving soon?” he asked, and Lise turned her attention toward him fully.
“Certainly,” she replied. “For the wedding on Friday, of course.”
“And the duke?”
It was the first time anyone had questioned her directly about her father, and Lise was temporarily taken aback by the pointedness.
“I-I cannot say,” she replied evasively.
“The duchess did not mention it?” Elias pressed, and Lise eyed him warily. His queries were far too direct for casual conversation, but to her relief, Emmeline prevented her from answering.
“Darling, I daresay that these are questions you should save for the duchess. She and Mother are responsible for the preparations.”
Lise gave Emmeline a grateful look, but Elias seemed discontent with the response.
“Of course,” he muttered, but Lise sensed that the matter was far from over.
“Joshua,” Emmeline called, “we will have our tea now.”
“How is the baby?” Lise asked, eager to lift the slight tension over the table. “She is growing before my eyes.”
“Indeed,” Emmeline chuckled. “I have only just learned to leave her in the care of the nanny, but there is much work to be done in the hotel.”
“What is it you do about the hotel, Mrs. Compton?” Lise asked, the curiosity getting the best of her. She had no doubt that there were endless tasks to be accomplished, but Emmeline’s role was elusive.
Emmeline looked to her in surprise.
“If you wish, I can take you about with me and give you a feel for what you, too, will find yourself doing once you are Lady Elizabeth Balfour.”
A chill shot through Lise’s body, although she was unsure which aspect caused her the most unease.
“Oh,” Lise laughed nervously. “Clearly, I will have little part of the daily operations.”
“Why is that?” Elias’ brow raised,
and again, Lise was plagued by the sense he was watching her with far too much interest.
It is your own guilty conscience that makes you believe that.
“She is a lady, Eli, not a hostess,” Emmeline chided gently. She offered Lise a warm smile.
“It is not that!” Lise protested, embarrassed that the Comptons thought her spoiled. “I only meant that you already have your defined roles within the hotel. I certainly would not wish to intrude on your ways, particularly when I know so little about the business.”
“You will learn, and there is enough work for everyone,” Emmeline laughed. “Is that not so, Eli?”
“Indeed!” Elias said with enthusiasm, which surprised Lise. She would not have expected a man who wished to take over the hotel to allow insiders into his affairs. Yet he seemed relieved that there might be another set of hands to help them.
“I would prefer that Emmeline rest more,” he confided, noting her look. “Her place is with the household, not the business.”
“Of course,” Emmeline interjected, “that is only until Lady Elizabeth is with a child of her own.”
Elias blushed at the words, but Emmeline did not seem to be perturbed by her forward speak in the least.
They are upperclassmen, yet they speak so freely, Lise thought with a twinge of envy. There is a level of comfort between them that I have never seen in another pair.
Lise wondered if she and Xavier would ever become so at peace with one another.
No, she thought mournfully. You will not. You will never have the chance.
Chapter Eight
“Lady Elizabeth seems to be adjusting well to our ways,” Charlton commented as the coach made its way back toward the hotel from Luton. Occasionally, the cab would lurch precariously as the horses lost their footing against the ice, and the interior was freezing, despite the heavy blankets bestowed upon both father and son.
It was not a long journey back, but it seemed to be taking twice the time as usual because of the dangerous conditions.
“She is,” Xavier conceded, a smile touching his face as he thought about his fiancée. Every day he felt that he was growing closer to her, and he found himself looking forward to the upcoming wedding. He had missed her terribly that day. It was the first they had been parted since her arrival almost a month earlier.
“Your mother and the duchess seem to have built an unlikely friendship,” Charlton said, and Xavier cast him a stare.
“Have they? I imagine they have found common ground in the wedding preparations.”
“Perhaps,” Charlton replied in a most evasive way. Xavier’s eyes narrowed slightly as he waited for his father to complete whatever it was that was on his mind, but Charlton said nothing else.
They continued homeward in silence for a long while, cringing as they slid along.
“Are you quite certain you wish to marry, Xavier?”
Xavier whirled his head to stare at his father in disbelief.
“I should hope so, Father. The event will occur in three days.”
“I would loathe to see you regret a decision made in haste,” his father said shortly.
“It is not a decision made in haste, Father. I have grown quite fond of Lady Elizabeth. Perhaps I was propelled into action in hopes of stopping Elias, but I must confess, the match is ideal.”
“Do you believe she feels the same?”
Xavier tensed.
“I have no doubt,” he said coldly. “And I will not have you or Elias starting with your blasted theories about her intentions. She is a noble, honorable woman, who will make a fine wife.”
Again, Charlton fell into quiet, but Xavier continued to stare at him stonily.
“Father, Lady Elizabeth has done nothing to warrant your suspicion. I have spoken with Mother about her peerage, and she is not anyone but who she claims to be.”
“I am aware of that,” Charlton agreed. “When you refused to investigate the matter, I had my barrister check on your behalf.”
Xavier felt a rush of anger surge through his bones.
“You have no right!”
“The matter is done, Xavier. There is nothing to fear on that front. Moreover, the duchess is also who she claims.”
“A waste of time and funds,” Xavier snarled. “If it is not Elias overtaking our hotel, it is you throwing our money away on trivialities.”
“There is still something about Lady Elizabeth that concerns me,” Charlton insisted. “I cannot say what it is, but I will not rest easy knowing you have married her.”
The statement was blunt and struck Xavier in his heart like a blade.
“I will not terminate the engagement.”
“I did not expect that you would,” Charlton sighed. “I have seen the eyes you give her, but I must say, Xavier, she does not appear to return your affection.”
Xavier had heard enough, and he scowled at his father.
“Pray tell, Father, what is it you believe the lady wants from me, an heir to a hotel? What could she possibly desire?”
“All I can say for certain, Xavier, is that the duchess has brought your mother out of her shell. I see more of Anne now than I have in the past two decades. I wonder if the duchess is filling your mother’s head with tales.”
Xavier gaped at him, a slow understanding seeping into him.
“Are you envious, Father?”
Charlton scoffed.
“Envious of women?” he snapped. “Are you mad?”
“Envious of the fact that neither Mother nor I am constantly seeking your approval now.”
Father and son stared at one another, an identical frown on each of their faces.
“Your mother never sought my approval,” Charlton replied quietly. “And you have never needed it, contrary to what you might think.”
“You have Elias now,” Xavier told him coldly. “You need not worry about my affairs. Focus on your new son.”
Charlton’s eyes shadowed, and he shook his head slowly.
“You have never understood me,” he told his son. “All I have ever done has been for the best of this hotel, for our family.”
“Walter Greene?” Xavier retorted caustically. “Was that the best for the family? For the hotel?”
“You are rehashing ancient history to make a point,” Charlton snapped. “I am merely expressing my concern as your father.”
“You cannot even say what your concern is regarding!”
They continued to hold the other’s stare until Charlton finally broke the gaze and hung his head.
“No,” he agreed. “I cannot. Call it intuition or a terrible sense of foreboding, but I cannot help but feel that Lady Elizabeth and the duchess are wrought with trouble.”
“You are mistaken,” Xavier said flatly. “And I do not wish to hear another word on the matter. You said you would not forbid our union. You cannot recant your promise three days before the event.”
“I will not,” Charlton replied. “Nor would I without proof of my own suspicions, but I had hoped that perhaps you felt the same uncertainty when you were with her.”
“I do not.”
Xavier turned toward the fogged window and tried to make sense of where they were, but it was far too dark and the frost made visibility difficult.
He was sure they were almost back to the hotel, and for that, Xavier was grateful.
He did not wish to engage in any further conversation with his father even though he could tell Charlton had much more to say.
Elizabeth loves me. I can see it plainly in her face whenever she looks at me. She is as eager to marry me as I am her.
Yet not for the first time, he wondered why.
Why had the duchess agreed to marry her only daughter to an heir of a hotel? Surely, there were much better matches that could be made for a lady of Elizabeth’s standing.
And they did agree to a quick marriage also. Why?
Xavier did not smother the grunt of frustration that left his lips, startling his father.
&n
bsp; “What is it?”
“What is it?” Xavier echoed. “You have filled my mind with untoward thoughts, ones that would have never entered my mind if you had stayed out of my marriage.”
“I am trying to help you, Xavier, not hurt you.”
“I came to you for help, if you will recall. You sent me to Mother. Now you have too much to say on the matter.”
“I will not speak of it again,” Charlton said slowly. “Forget I spoke at all.”
“I intend to do precisely that!”
Again, he whipped his head to stare out the window indignantly, and he exhaled with relief. The lights of the hotel appeared, the lanterns lit enchantingly against the crystalline night, and the coach slipped up to the entranceway without incident.
The coachman barely managed to open the door before Xavier scurried out and toward the double doors leading into the lobby.
Before he could place a gloved hand to the handle, it flew inward, and he was staring at Elizabeth’s waxen face.
“Oh, thank the Lord!” she gasped.
“What is it?” he demanded, terror seizing him as he stared at her. “What has happened?”
She gaped at him with shock in her eyes.
“You have been gone since before dawn! It is nearing the hour of eight, and the weather is ghastly! You ask what has happened?” she almost shouted. He blinked several times, almost confused by her outburst.
“You were concerned?” he asked in disbelief.
“Naturally, I was concerned!” she choked, but slowly the color seemed to be filling her face, and Elizabeth exhaled.
“Forgive me,” she murmured. “I should not have been so shrill about it, but I have been pacing the floors for hours, waiting for you to return.”
She reached out her hands for his, and he took them eagerly.
“I am sorry you were so concerned,” he told her tenderly. “We had intended to return sooner, but our tasks took much longer than expected.”
Through his peripheral vision, Xavier saw his father saunter through the lobby. Charlton’s mouth tightened at the corners when his eyes rested on Elizabeth, but he did not pause to speak with either one of them.
You need not be jealous, Father, Xavier thought with some smugness. Even if Mother could not be bothered to worry if you were alive or dead.