Miss Lacey's Love Letters (6 page)

"A companion." Valeria's voice was flat. "You want me to have a male companion!? What exactly are you suggesting, Lydia?"

"A friendship. That is all." Lifting her chin, she added, "However, I should think matchmaking isn't entirely outside the realm of possibility. He is quite handsome, don't you think?"

"No." Valeria answered without a moment's hesitation.

"Well,
I
think he is handsome, in a rugged sort of way. And he might be a bit older than you, but I think it would be possible to reawaken his heart. If that should happen, I am sure it would be quite a romance! Judging from his letters, he's very--"

"Lydia!" Valeria exclaimed. "I have no romantic interest in Mr. Worthington, nor do I have a romantic interest in
any
man!" And it was true. She had already decided she was going to decline Harold's proposal.

"Very well, but I am sure Mr. Worthington would make a wonderful husband."

"Yesterday, you hated him," Valeria reminded her. "It didn't take you very long to warm up to him again."

"True."

"And now you think I should marry him?!"

"Well..." Lydia shrugged. "I am sure it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world."

"You're insufferable." With a roll of her eyes, Valeria rose from the bed. "And Mr. Worthington is insufferable too. And the butler... he's the worst of all! I am stuck in a house of insufferables!"

"Yes, yes. I'm insufferable. Now, if you don't mind, I really could use a rest. It has been a long, trying evening."

"Very well." Valeria moved to the door. "I should speak to Mr. Worthington about where I should stay. It would be optimal if I could stay in the adjoining room. That way, you could call on me if you needed anything."

"I'm sure that won't be necessary. I'm really
not
unwell."

"So you say."

Before her niece passed through the doorway, Lydia shouted, "Valeria!"

"Yes?"

"You will spend time with him, won't you?" She tried to look as innocent as possible as she asked the question. "With Mr. Worthington?"

"I am sure I will. Goodnight, Lydia."

"Goodnight, dear."

As soon as Valeria disappeared, Lydia collapsed on the bed and closed her eyes, squinting away tears. She wasn't in the best of health, and she was afraid. She was afraid of abandoning her niece, afraid of her pain, afraid of what might be waiting for her after death. As her condition worsened, her fears became more prevalent, and her lies became more swift.

More than anything, she did not want her niece to worry.

Chapter Seven

If she was going to be stuck at Steeridge, Valeria was determined to make the most of the situation. When she passed Noah Worthington in the hallway the next morning, they exchanged the usual pleasantries, then she pounced on him with a request.

"We should go for a ride." He was staring at her as if she had said something ludicrous, so she added, "On horseback."

"Outside?"

She had to chuckle at that. "Generally that is where one goes for a ride, although I have seen a few rooms at Steeridge that might be large enough to accommodate a horse."

"Sarcastic minx," he chided her. "As much as I hate to decline your invitation, I am afraid I must. I would rather not go out."

"Because you are a recluse?"

"Precisely."

"I thought it was people you avoided, not the outdoors."

"If we went for a ride, there is always a possibility we might cross paths with someone. I would rather avoid any scenario that might end in human interaction."

"You're interacting with me right now," she pointed out. "You must hate the fact that my aunt and I are here."

"Not at all. In fact, I have been enjoying your company thus far."

"
Tolerating
my company is more like it..." Valeria amended his word with a sigh. "You really won't come? Your estate is quite vast, Mr. Worthington. It seems very unlikely that we would cross paths with another living soul."

"I..." Though he hesitated, she thought she could see his reluctance crumbling. "I would really rather not."

"And I will simply not take no for an answer!" Valeria took him by the arm and proceeded to pull him along with her. A stubborn man like Noah Worthington needed some extra coaxing.

"You're remarkably persistent, you know."

She smiled proudly. "I know."

"Are you sure we should be alone together?" Noah was trying to think of some excuse—
any
excuse—to spare him from the unwanted activity. "Surely you have some concern for your reputation?"

"At my age?" Valeria snorted. "I am too old to worry about my reputation, Mr. Worthington."

"Really?" He studied her profile intently. Unlike him, her face was without a single wrinkle. "You look very young."

"I am two and thirty."

"Ah. I thought you were a bit younger than that."As they approached the stables, he added, "Nevertheless, that is still young to me."

"A lady should only worry about her reputation if she intends to find a husband."

"You don't want to be married, Miss Woll?"

"Alas, I am a hopeless spinster." It didn't seem like an appropriate time to mention Harold's recent proposal.

They entered the stables, where they were greeted by the musky smell of horse, a whinnying mare, and a wiry young groom. "I cannot believe you got me to agree to this," Noah grumbled. "Miss Woll... your name is very appropriate. Woll. I think you might be a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"My name is Woll, not Wool."

"Close enough."

The groom, who was shocked to see them, quickly prepared two horses for their ride. Noah mounted his horse so fluidly, he looked like a man who rode every day. Valeria, on the other hand, struggled to climb onto her side saddle.

They rode their horses side by side, Noah on his bay stallion and Valeria on her white mare. Valeria quickly discovered it wasn't the most ideal afternoon for a ride. The previous night's rain had turned the ground into something marsh-like. She pitied the horses as they were forced to slog onward.

"I am sorry about your aunt. I hope her condition improves."

"As do I." Lydia claimed her poor health was a ruse, but Valeria knew better. Her aunt had been in chronic pain for a very long time.

"Do you know what ails her?"

"A bad back. That is what she says, but I am concerned it might be more serious than that."

"Well, she is welcome to stay as long as she needs to." With a soft smile, he added, "And you are welcome to stay with her."

"Thank you, Mr. Worthington. Your kindness has been a blessing." Her mare snorted, so Valeria gave her head a gentle scratch. The poor horse's hooves were already caked in mud.

"I am still trying to make amends for my previous behavior. When you first arrived, I was horrible."

"And you will have to forgive me if I do not disagree with you. You were quite horrid."

"Honestly, it had been so long since I had encountered another human being," he confessed. "One who did not work for me, that is."

"How long has it been since you've spoken to someone who wasn't a servant?"

"Six months. Maybe a year. The passage of time is no longer a concept I care about."

"What about your family? They don't visit you?"

"I am nine and forty, Miss Woll. My parents are gone. I have no kindly uncles or caring cousins. My sisters are married with children, and those children are grown... unfortunately, I have not seen them for several years. I have a brother who visits on occasion, but his visits are few and far between. Not that I blame him. I am sure I can be a difficult man."

"Perhaps you could try reaching out to them?" Valeria suggested.

"I am afraid the damage is done." With a sigh, he added, "But I appreciate your efforts to change me."

"Is that sarcasm?"

"No. I'm quite serious. You're the first person to show concern for me in nearly a decade. I am sure you are right. I
do
need to change my lifestyle."

"You're on a ride with me. That's progress." She tried to smile at him, but he wasn't looking in her direction. "I would be happy to call myself your friend, Mr. Worthington."

"Then I count myself lucky."

As their conversation continued, Valeria and Noah rode to the top of a hill. Dense forest laid beyond the hill, so they opted to end their journey there. Valeria wanted to take a moment to enjoy the view, so she dismounted her horse. In doing so, a few flecks of mud leapt onto her gown, sullying the hem. Her boots were soiled in an instant, but she wasn't the sort of woman to fuss over a bit of mud.

"Look!" she gasped. "That's beautiful!"

"What is beautiful, Miss Woll?"

"The sunlit forest. Do you see the rays sparkling through the leaves?" Valeria's smile broadened as she basked in the serenity of their surroundings."It's lovely. You can feel the warmth of the sun on your cheeks."

"And I'm sure
you
can feel the soggy earth on your feet."

When she turned to him, Valeria's lower lip protruded. "That doesn't quite have the same effect." She cupped a hand over her brow, shielding her eyes from the dripping golden sun. "Are you not enjoying yourself, Mr. Worthington? Even a bit?"

"Perhaps." He didn't want to sound too grateful, but he enjoyed her company.

"If it wasn't so muddy, I would lay on the grass and enjoy the moment. I used to do that when I was a child. I would lay on the ground and stare at the sky, and marvel at the clouds passing overhead."

"It sounds like you were a whimsical child."

"I suppose I was. At some point, my spirits must have been crushed by my unfulfilled dreams."

"I know the feeling. As you must know, I am no stranger to unfulfilled dreams."

"I wish I could--"

Before she could finish her thought, her white mare darted away, kicking up mud on Valeria's gown as she ran. Valeria immediately regretted her mistake. Why hadn't she held onto the horse's bridle?

Damn and blast
. In her mind, she cursed the situation. Now she was covered in mud, Noah had lost a horse, and it was entirely her fault. She had half a mind to chase the animal, but she knew it was a hopeless pursuit.

Noah, who was sitting astride his own horse, asked, "Do you think I should go after her?"

"I... don't know." When she lowered her eyes, Valeria saw the extent of the damage. Over half of her gown was covered in mud, and she was without a change of clothes. "I am so, so sorry!"

"I doubt I would be a very good horse wrangler. I'll have my groom search for her later." To Valeria, he said. "And you needn't apologize."

"Yes! Yes I
do
need to apologize! I must be such a nuisance! I made you remember your painful past, my aunt is sick, and now I've let your horse escape. Ever since I've arrived, I've been nothing but trouble for you." With her eyes still fixed on her feet, she added. "All things considered, I can hardly blame you for trying to avoid human interaction. When you put your faith in others, you are too often let down by them."

"You're not a let down, Miss Woll. Here." He extended a hand. "We can ride back together."

"Together?!" Valeria squealed. "On the same horse?!"

Noah snatched her hand and pulled her onto the horse in front of him, leaving her no choice. He could feel the tension in her shoulders, so he tried not to hold her too tightly, for fear that he would make her more uncomfortable.

"Are you alright, Miss Woll?"

"Um..." Valeria couldn't remember the last time she had been so close to a man—or if, indeed, she had
ever
been so close to one. "I'm... I'm fine, thank you."

Noah turned his horse around and headed down the hill. "I haven't made you uncomfortable, I hope?"

"A... bit." She couldn't lie.

"Well, it will all be over soon."

And she regretted that fact, because it wasn't altogether unpleasant to have his arms wrapped around her. Valeria could only imagine what her aunt would say if she saw them. More than likely, Lydia would think it was a success.

"I'm glad you convinced me to go for a ride."

"Oh... surely you jest!" Valeria erupted with a nervous chuckle. "It ended in tragedy! My horse ran away! I feel terrible."

"Nevertheless, I am glad you got me out of the house," Noah said. "And I'm glad you came here...to Steeridge. It is nice to know, for once, I am not so alone."

"Well, I'm glad you feel that way. I assumed you would think I was vexing and foolish."

"No. I think you're kind and carefree, and I need more of that in my life."

"Carefree?" Valeria shook her head in protest. "I am sure Aunt Lydia would disagree with you. She is always saying I am too tense." Even so, she could feel herself relaxing in his arms.

"Miss Woll?"

"Hmm?"

"I am trying to thank you for coming to visit me," he said. "Thank you for taking the time to seek me out."

"Well..." How was she supposed to respond to that? "You are... welcome... I suppose."

"I am happy to know you, and happy to call you a friend," he said. "Having you here... you may yet change me for the better."

Chapter Eight

For the second night, Lydia and Valeria dined with Noah Worthington. Lydia had wandered out of her sick bed, at least for a moment. As they consumed their food, she tried to hide the fact that she was feverish, and that she had a slight case of chills. She wanted to appear strong, as if her health was improving instead of declining.

Dinner was generally a quiet affair. There was a bit of conversation about the weather, specifically the never-ending rain and unseasonal heat. Noah explained that Steeridge was acquired by his grandfather, who made his fortune through trade. For the most part, the night's discourse was appropriately light and pleasant.

Valeria kept tugging at the sagging bustline of her gown. Because her dress had been sullied during their ride, she agreed to borrow a gown that belonged to one of his sisters. Noah's sister was considerably larger than Valeria, particularly in the area of the bosom. As a result, she displayed a bit more decolletage than usual. If nothing else, she was glad Noah did not mention the runaway horse to her aunt. She felt foolish enough as it was.