Already His (The Caversham Chronicles - Book Two) (20 page)

Once she’d returned to Caversham House, she dropped her stirrup, brought her leg over the pommel and slid down without assistance. She stroked the mare’s neck before handing the reins to the groom and thanking him. Inside, she asked after the duchess and her grandmother and was told they were with the Ladies Royce and Stone in the yellow salon.

Not wanting to disturb the ladies, she went up to her room and began her reply to the stable manager, inquiring as to the health of the new foals, their mothers and the one mare yet to drop her offspring. As she finished detailing the increased nutritional rations for the mares she asked that as soon as the last foal was born, he put the four mare-foal pairs out in a pasture to themselves with perhaps an old gelding or two and keep a close watch on them.

When she handed the letter to the footman, he’d mentioned that Lady Royce and Lady Stone had departed and that Her Grace and Lady Sewell were in the yellow salon if she still wished to speak with them. Elise thanked the man, then sought out her grandmother and sister-in-law.

She sighed as she took a seat next her grandmother. “Miss your friend already, do you?” Grandmother asked.

“Yes. I got quite used to her being here with me.”

“It’s to be expected.” Her grandmother sympathetically patted her hand. “After all, Beverly’s spent the past two years with us. She’s a darling young lady and I love her as I would one of my own grandchildren.”

Elise nodded, looking from her grandmother to Lia, unsure of how to ask for what she wanted. “I’ll miss Beverly, but I wanted to ask you something unrelated.”

“Go on,” her sister-in-law prompted, her voice tinged with concern.

“Would it be considered impudent if I were to ask to leave for home in the middle of the season? I find I’m not cut out for this type of schedule and am exhausted. I was thinking to rest a few weeks at home, then return.”

“Funny you should mention leaving town,” grandmother began.

“We’ve been invited to Woodhenge for Lady Richard’s birthday celebration,” Lia finished.

“For certain, you three should attend, but my presence isn’t required, is it? I don’t know the lady well, and could spend that time recuperating with my horses at Haldenwood. I have three new foals on the ground, and a fourth due any day now.”

“The invitation included you, but if you really want to go home, then I could talk to your brother. I don’t think he will object. In fact, I doubt he’d force you to come with us, considering your history with Michael.”

“Yes. He will never let me forget my past.” Elise took a deep breath. “It pains me that Ren doesn’t believe my version of the other night’s events. And that he still thinks
I
instigated it all.”

“Michael has since corroborated your story,” Lia said. “Your brother isn’t angry any longer.”

“He hasn’t said as much to me.” Her brother hadn’t even sent a note of apology, much less come to offer one in person. He must find the act distasteful, always thinking he was right.

“I’ll speak to him for you. Meanwhile, consider coming with us to Woodhenge.” Lia gave her a somber smile. “You might find that it’ll make for an interesting and well-received turn of events.”

“Whatever you’re both thinking, it won’t work. Michael isn’t the least bit interested in me, and has told me as much. He only sees me as Ren’s little sister.” Elise pushed down her tears, refusing to allow them to flow. “He said he values his friendship with Ren too much to risk it in a relationship with me.”

“Nonsense,” Grandmother argued. “It’s obvious whenever the two of you are in the same room that he cannot take his eyes off you. I’ve watched his miserable hide these past few days.” Elise smiled, finding her grandmother’s words an encouragement of sorts. “My thinking is that a week at Woodhenge might just be what’s necessary to spur things along.”

“Do you really think so?” Elise asked.

Both Lia and her grandmother nodded. “Grandmother has pointed it out to me as well, and I agree with her assessment. He’s watches you with longing in his eyes. As though he’s....” She watched as Lia searched for the right words,
“come se dice... innamorato di te.”

“That has been my fondest wish for as long as I can remember.” Elise looked at them both with hopeful skepticism. “You know this goes against Ren’s wishes, don’t you? He’s threatened to send me to The Box on more than one occasion.”

“Your brother is too rigid and unyielding for his own good,” Grandmother said.

Lia chimed in, “Especially where you and Sarah are concerned. You know he loves you both very much. If he seems uncompromising, understand that it comes from having to take over the responsibilities of gaining a dukedom
and
raising his siblings. So while he is your brother, he’s feeling more like a father in this regard. It’s as though he’s trying to see you settled as your father would have done.”

She hadn’t thought about it in that way, but she was right. To her, Ren was a brother, not a guardian, though that became his role upon the death of their father. She could understand his blurred sense of responsibilities. But that didn’t take care of Michael, and the fact that both her grandmother and her sister-in-law wanted her to attend a party where she had a feeling Michael would attempt to make a fool of her.

“I’m not certain my heart can take another squashing,” Elise said.

“If Camden so much as says a cross word to you,” Grandmother said, “I shall pound him into the ground with my cane.”

“And if he gets up after that, I shall tear his heart out with my bare hands,” Lia said.

Elise looked at both women then wiped a tear before daring a smile. “Why are you helping me?”

“Because lovers belong together,” her grandmother said.

“And sometimes they need a little help,” added her sister-in-law.

L
ater that evening, in Beverly’s suite, Elise hugged her best friend in the entire world and said, “Good luck, my lady.” When Beverly began to tear up, so did she. They didn’t have long to be melancholy for of course Bridget was there to snap the two girls back to reality with muttering something about a new trend starting with girls wanting two dresses for their debut now—one for dinner and one for the ball.

“Your father is down there waiting for you, my lady,” Bridget stressed. “The receiving line is forming. You have to go!”

“She’s right, if you wait any longer the flowers in your hair will be wilted before you take to the dance floor.”

“I’m nervous,” Beverly whispered.

“I know you are,” Elise said. “If you weren’t, you would have reminded me that the flowers are silk.” She led her friend by the hand to the door, where the maids opened them wide, and Elise said, “I’ll go down the back steps, and wait for you in the ballroom once you’re done with the receiving line.”

When the door shut behind Beverly, Bridget handed Elise her fan and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Try and behave yerself tonight. For yer friend’s sake, if not yer own.”

“Why does everyone think that it’s
me
who’s always the cause of trouble?”

“Perhaps because ye have a history for it.”

She signaled the maid to open the door and Elise quit the room and made her way down the back stairs. Elise didn’t want to impose on Lord Hepplewhite, or Ren and Lia, as they greeted their guests. She rounded the corner to the main floor foyer, and saw Michael standing alone at the base of the steps, looking towards the front doors at the guests entering the receiving line. He appeared to be looking for someone. She wondered who it was he waited for. Perhaps he’d invited his friend from the night before.

The closer she got to him the more she realized how exceptionally handsome he was tonight, dressed in a midnight blue formal coat with his mourning arm band in place, taupe trousers, polished black shoes, and an expertly starched and knotted white cravat. The onyx tie pin peered from within its folds and when he turned, the stone caught the light for a moment, appearing to wink at her. The color of the stone and coat made his eyes appear more green than brown tonight, and more handsome than any other man she’d ever met.

But it didn’t matter. He’d said there could be nothing between them and no matter what Lia and Grandmother tried to do next week, she was holding fast to her heart because she knew better than to believe anything might come of it.

“Good evening, my lady.” He gave her a little bow as she neared.

“Good evening, my lord.” That much she said in a normal voice, in case others overheard. For Michael alone, she hissed, “Would you be so kind as to
go away?
”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Michael,” she said as she scanned the foyer to make sure no one could hear her, “my brother has threatened me with banishment to the wilds of Scotland unless
I
leave
you
alone. It irks me that he’s never nearby to see that it’s
you
that will not leave
me
be. Like the other night at the theater. You knew I would be there and with whom. Still you chose to attend and sit in my brother’s box, with of all people Lady Caroline Randolph. Who can compare to her? She’s perfect.” Awareness washed over her as she realized what he’d done that night. He’d compared the two of them while side by side. The arrogant knave. He disgusted her. Elise didn’t know why her heart longed for someone so cruel. With a huff and a dismissive toss of her head, she strode to the ballroom leaving him behind her.

“Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.” He caught up to her. “One day I’ll explain it all.”

“Save your explanations. I really don’t care.” She stood at the entrance into the ballroom, pasted on what she hoped was her most brilliant smile, and walked in. Michael was hot on her heels, still hissing something at her behind his own forced smile.

“The hell you don’t.” He reached for her hand and placed it on his arm, flashing a wide grin to those witnessing their entry. “You care so much, you’re hurt, when you shouldn’t be.”

Elise was beyond aggravated with him. Not only was Michael behaving irrationally, but she realized it was too late to pull her hand from his as there were now some two hundred pairs of eyes turning their way. “I assure you I neither require assistance down these steps,” she hissed through the smile plastered on her face. “Nor do I want your escort into this room.”

“Too bad.” His hand firmly planted over hers, he led her into the ballroom. “It’s done.” And for show, he bowed and kissed the air above her gloved hand then smiled.

She snatched her hand from his grasp, and through that same false smile of her own, said, “Go and find yourself a bride and get to work on that nursery.” She turned her back on him and headed for the safety of her grandmother’s company. Surely he’d have the good sense not to pursue her among the turbaned set. But before she left him, she had to get one thing clear to him. “I am forever out of your hair.”

S
ome in attendance at the ball in honor of Lady Beverly Hepplewhite said that it appeared that Lady Elise had given the cut direct to the new Earl of Camden. If they only knew the truth of it. Because if there was any part of that earl that Lady Elise wanted to cut, it was his heart—straight out of his chest.

C
HAPTER
E
IGHT

M
ichael watched Elise walk away from him with a determined stride, her back so straight and chin so high as to almost appear absurd. The hell she was out of his hair, he thought. Michael decided it was time to put himself out of his misery. Or deeper in it if he listened to some of his friends.

It was time to speak with Ren.

Last night it had annoyed him to see her hold court over a group of young bucks who could never appreciate her zest for life. He wanted to both control that passion and encourage it at the same time.

While unable to sleep in the wee hours of the morning, he’d devised what he thought was the perfect plan. Sending word to his sisters that he wanted to host Mother’s birthday party at Woodhenge, he closed both letters with a post-script stating that they could stop meddling now. His decision was made.

The not-so-subtle message should state loud and clear to his interfering kin that his countess had been chosen. Of course, his choice would raise the eyebrows of his mother and sisters, for they knew of the romantic infatuation the child Elise had had on him. They’d even been witness to some of her antics.

His mother might be a problem. Not that he sought or needed her approval of his choice for bride, but he would like for her to be happy with his selection. After his uncle’s funeral a few weeks earlier, she reminded Michael that a scandal chased his uncle from London, and that he needed to choose an appropriate lady who would be an asset to the title and make him proud. She must not be someone high-strung or flighty in nature. Thus, without even saying her name, she intimated that Elise would not be a good match for him for she’d used those same words to describe the duke’s sister on several occasions.

Because of her childhood infatuation with him, his avoidance of Elise over the last few years had been necessary for his sanity. Keeping his distance from her protected not just himself, but also Elise. If she would climb that trellis, who knew what else she might try to gain his attention?