Everleigh glanced again at the card, then pushed his chair back from the breakfast table and stood, stopping to take a last drink of chocolate. Vivian’s father.
Probably come to give Everleigh the coin back and he likely had heard of the visit, or wanted to warn Everleigh away from Vivian.
Vivian.
The kiss had been memorable. Not just for her. Pride flourished in him. Darius could grouse all he wanted. She’d relished it and her father could not be aware of it because only two people were there. Vivian wasn’t the type to discuss something so private.
Vivian had merely passed by his father’s house on the way to get her curative, and Darius might be dismayed over that, but it was too late to do anything about it.
Besides, Vivian was better.
Anyone would give respite to an ill person. Darius could not make much of a fuss because it would hurt Vivian’s reputation.
‘Who is it?’ the Earl asked, fork poised over his plate of kippers.
‘Lord Darius,’ Everleigh answered. Those were the first words they’d spoken to each other during the entire meal and almost the first time they’d conversed since his father had followed him to London.
He’d claimed curiosity at how Everleigh would handle two women vying for his attentions.
Everleigh had ignored the barb.
He’d expected his father to gamble every night, but he hadn’t. Everleigh had checked the betting books and had paid attention to his father’s excursions. The man spent more time in coffee houses than he did gaming.
When Everleigh reached the formal drawing room, Vivian was perched on the edge of the sofa, clenching the martyr book. Lord Darius appeared enthralled by his boot tops.
Ah, he realised. Her father had discovered the volume and enquired about it. She’d told him the truth.
Darius gave him a brisk bow, but his scrutiny completely erased any politeness in the greeting.
Vivian stood, gave a small curtsy and held out the tome. ‘Thank you for lending this. Very informative.’ Her smile wavered at the edge. ‘I know you said I could have it, but I thought it best to return it.’
He reclaimed the book. ‘Can I offer you both tea?’ Everleigh asked, blinking away the glare Darius was sending his way.
‘So very kind, but, no,’ Darius said. He reached to tug his daughter’s hand and bring her to his side. ‘My daughter... Could hardly get her to stop talking about all those martyrs. But we must be on our way to see about the purchase of some flintlocks.’ He tucked Vivian’s hand snug on his arm, took a step to the door, then paused. ‘And, I was wondering, when did you lend the book to her?’
‘Some time ago.’
‘I believe,’ a gravelled voice answered from the doorway, ‘it could have been the night Miss Vivian took ill and was forced to spend the night at my country estate.’
Everleigh remained still. Darius rotated to view Rothwilde.
‘It was incredibly...’ the word ‘incredibly’ had never been so long ‘...kind of you to rescue my daughter.’ Darius spoke softly, first acknowledging the older man, then fixing a stare on the son.
‘Yes. Very. We’ve lots of shopping to do.’ Vivian took a step forward, but her father didn’t move.
‘Father. Flintlocks and reticules. Remember?’ She grasped his wrist. ‘Mavis is waiting in the carriage. We mustn’t let her catch a chill.’
‘I’m pleased to see Miss Vivian doing so much better,’ the older man continued. ‘My son was genuinely concerned about her. Such a lovely young thing—and so ill that day.’
‘I’m so much better,’ Vivian agreed, bobbing on her heels.
‘I hope you didn’t visit the vagabond.’ Everleigh’s father gave a mournful groan. ‘She’s a trickster. She would gammon you for nothing more than a handkerchief. More poacher than anything else.’
Darius’s head jerked to his daughter.
She patted her father’s arm several times. ‘I did visit someone with medicinals. Please thank her for me if you see her again.’
One side of Everleigh’s mouth moved up. ‘Trust me, she takes gratitude easily from the estate and considers it her due.’
‘Let us leave.’ She tried to placate her father. ‘We’ve imposed on the Earl. Mother will expect us back soon.’
This time Darius gave a harsh nod to Everleigh and the Earl. ‘Many thanks for your hospitality to my dear daughter, who’s been ill for some time. I have taken to going about with her as she is...recovering. I can only hope the past few years have not affected her good sense.’
When Darius escorted Vivian to the door, Everleigh’s father stepped with her, quickly grasping her glove. He brought it to his lips, brushing a kiss above it. ‘You and your family are welcome to visit any time, Miss Vivian. It does my son good to leave his ledgers and have someone so lovely to speak with.’
‘Thank you,’ she mumbled and Darius pulled her away.
* * *
Vivian got into the carriage, chin high, stomach the other direction.
Darius moved into the vehicle as if he expected the wood to move aside for him. She didn’t think it would dare not to.
Mavis watched, but didn’t speak.
Darius directed his words at Mavis. ‘Last night I warned the man to stay away from Vivian when I should have had the good grace to offer him a guard for his door to keep her away from him.’
Vivian muttered, ‘I am unmarried. I am chaperoned. I am of age. I have had only one short kiss from a man in the whole of my life, and I do not see any problems with my actions. Do you, Mavis?’
Mavis shook her head, then viewed Lord Darius and nodded.
Darius repeated the statement. ‘She is unmarried, of age, barely kissed and has now taken on an obvious pursuit of a man who has questionable tastes in women,’ he complained to Mavis. ‘A man should court her, as I explained. It should not be a one-sided pursuit.’
‘Well,’ Mavis said, ‘I can see—’
‘You are sacked again, Mavis. This time it’s permanent.’
‘You do have a point, Lord Darius.’
‘Everleigh did attend the party last night.’ Vivian straightened her back.
Her father raised his forearm, one finger pointing sideways. He seemed unable to continue without his voice becoming loud. He stopped to compose himself and lowered his voice to a hiss. ‘You will not leave the house again without a trusted servant. Or me. Or your mother.’
‘Father. You cannot do such a thing.’
Mavis ducked her head. ‘If I must hope to find work elsewhere...’ she examined her fingernails ‘...I will only tell the truth. That I was with Miss Vivian when we were in search of a curative and she was ill, and we spent the night at the Earl’s extremely well-staffed house instead of venturing into the cold night. We didn’t want to risk our lives on country roads at night, which was, of course, wrong of us, and I was the, oh, so-vigilant chaperon. It was almost a house party, as another female guest arrived to speak with Lord Everleigh. After our return, I was sacked for not telling her father, as is the proper response.’
Darius calmed. ‘You’re not sacked, Mavis. Instead, I’m promoting you to take care of the chamber pots. They all need cleaning, by the way. And polishing.’
He leaned towards his daughter’s companion. ‘Why, Mavis? Why could she not just attend a soirée like the other ladies and flutter a fan?’
Mavis shrugged, then opened her mouth to speak. ‘Chamber pots?’
He waved the words away.
‘Fans?’ Vivian stared. ‘I find them belittling and hideous.’
Her father coughed his derision. ‘No. You merely go to a house to return a book that apparently was given to you. Can you not take a telltale sign as an indication?’
‘This began when I was seeking a—’ Vivian interrupted, peering sideways at her father. ‘I was hoping to be cured of my illness by a woman who lives on the Earl’s estate. Mavis knew it and went with me for protection. The trip was arduous. You cannot think an earl would let anyone corrupt stay on his estate.’
‘Please, Mavis, tell me she did not get some elixir from some poacher. Her mother’s physician has been with the family for years.’
‘It saved my life,’ Vivian insisted.
His voice softened. ‘That explains it. You have been given some poison which has altered your mind.’
Vivian raised one hand and waved it in assent. ‘There you have it.’
‘Don’t worry. I will get with the physician. We will find some way to clear that up. He will treat you as long as he needs.’
Vivian heard the doors clanging shut on her freedom. Her throat constricted.
‘Sounds like a good idea to me,’ Mavis murmured. ‘I’ll make sure she takes all her treatment.’
‘We let your ill health destroy you.’ Her father drooped.
‘Well, Everleigh seemed much more irritated at you when I returned the book than at me,’ she said.
‘Your mother will be embarrassed to think of you straying so far from the way you were raised. You’ll likely end up a spinster...chasing after a man not interested in you.’
‘That’s fine. I’ve already been one for two years... Two years of my life when I rarely left the house. I learned to dance, but hardly was allowed to walk. It’s time I enjoyed my spinsterhood.’
He thumped his head with the heel of his hand and then let it bump back against the side of the carriage, dislodging his hat. He righted it. ‘This must stop. You are pursuing a man, yet you say you don’t particularly care whether you wed or not.’
Darius growled, thumped the carriage top and, when the driver stopped, her father stepped out. But before he left, he peered inside. ‘Mavis, you are the cause of all this, I know it. Don’t miss a chamber pot.’
Then he slammed away.
Vivian waited until he was gone from sight before instructing the driver to return to Everleigh’s.
Mavis sighed. ‘If your father finds out, and he will, you may be helping me with my new duties.’
‘I hope Everleigh doesn’t mistake me for Alexandria,’ she muttered when the wheels stopped again.
‘She is blonde. You are brunette. That is the difference at this point,’ Mavis said.
‘I mean to have a talk with him and you’re going with me. I need a chaperon. Someone to tell Father the truth.’
‘You’d better hope Mrs Rush is there.’
‘I do.’
* * *
The carriage drew up to Everleigh’s house. Vivian jumped out and strode forward. Determined. It didn’t matter whether Everleigh wanted to pursue her or ignore her.
Her mother could not be involved in Ella Etta’s wrath. Who knew what the old woman might do? She’d already found Vivian’s house, and had had no compunction about making herself at home.
The driver gave both women a look between humour and horror. Vivian supposed her father would hear about this as well. She could offer the groom a bribe—which he would refuse. Her father paid better.
‘I can only hope he isn’t at home,’ Mavis mumbled, her reticule looped near her elbow. Her bonnet obscured her face, but Vivian knew that Mavis grimaced.
When the butler opened the door, he gave them a nod, but this time, he forgot his poise and did a double glance.
‘Yes, I know we’re a nuisance, but the young miss would appear to have lost a jewel when she was here before,’ Mavis stated. ‘Lord Everleigh about?’
‘I will see.’ The man left.
‘I should have just brought a few lengths of rope for you,’ Mavis said, staring at the high ceiling, and the lamps, though unlit, glittered. ‘Simpler to just tie him up and wear him away with your persistence—and you are persistent.’
‘Mavis. Lower your voice,’ Vivian insisted, moving nearer to her friend.
‘Well, after today I’m sure the man will have us worked out.’
The butler came for them, leading them to the drawing room.
At the doorway, Mavis didn’t proceed. ‘I’m going to speak with Mrs Rush,’ she said to the butler. ‘I need to see if she saw a handkerchief I could have lost here. I know the way.’
She darted down the stairs.
Vivian entered the room and Everleigh stood, a dark warrior in a dim room.
He spoke, bemused. ‘After your visit this morning, I never expected your father to allow you here again.’ Everleigh strode to the window and opened the curtains to their full width, the fabric rustling. The light brightened the room, but not the man. ‘Why are you here?’
The sight of him made her insides flutter.
‘Everleigh. I appreciated the kiss. The dance. I truly agree that you do not want to court me and I am in total accord. But I have a solution for us both that might be beneficial.’
She saw the flicker in his regard. Shock, possibly. Disbelief for certain.
He gave a small shake of his head. He didn’t seem to think the question worth a full response or explanation. ‘Your father will not like this.’
Vivian held up a hand, almost in the same pose she might adopt to grasp the handle of a teacup. ‘I have a plan. Just a few public outings with me would help Alexandria realise you aren’t going to marry her...’
She met that sapphire stare, which sent spears of longing to the pit of her stomach, where they fizzled away in despair. She did feel she was making a deal with a dark angel. But she didn’t care. ‘Just for a short time. In the meantime, I will be at soirées and having many chances to dance. I will make it obvious to everyone that we will not suit.’
‘You are persistent, too...’ He sat on the arm of an upholstered chair, one hand on his knee. ‘I’m fond of you, but I need some time to think about this.’
‘We do not ever have to kiss again. This is not about that. While it was wonderful, I am recovered now and have my mind in another direction. You would be a disguise for me. It would seem as if my heart is taken. I could dance.’
‘Vivian.’ His voice became gentle. So did his observation of her. ‘You’ve been ill and you spent a pleasant hour or two with me when you began your recovery. That’s all it is. You may somehow believe my presence made you well, I suppose. But it’s not true in any way.’
She swallowed, choosing her words carefully. ‘But you could use me to keep women like Alexandria away. I’m of passable appearance. No scandal about me.’
‘I can only think you’ve escaped scandal because of illness,’ he inserted.
She continued as if he’d not spoken. ‘It would be just an arrangement between us. A game. Like billiards. Nothing personal, binding or lasting.’
‘And the fairies will dance around with their songbooks and diamonds will rain from the sky. I cannot use you to keep Alexandria at bay. I would not put you in such a position. She is most persistent, although it is revenge as much as anything. She has a wicked sense of what is humorous and she is like a cat who toys with a mouse before it gets bored, and goes on to something else.’
He stood up and walked between her and the open window, causing the shadows to darken him again. ‘If Mavis rushes in and says we are in a compromising position, she’ll be wasting her time. The door is open and I have servants about.’
‘I would never do such a thing. Never. Ever.’
‘I told you I am not a man who believes in love and I have no wish to marry you.’
‘I’m only asking for a pretence. We do not even have to speak. My father explained the difference between martyrs and poets, and I’m not asking you to be either one. But I completely understand you’re not a poet. Never will be.’
He shut his eyes. ‘It must be something in the water that addles women in this town.’
She raised her hands out. ‘Everleigh, I have all the qualifications you need. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone as biddable as I am for a temporary courtship, for appearances’ sake only.’
‘I’m certainly feeling hard pressed, and you—biddable?’ He moved his head to the side. ‘Are you sure of that?’
She nodded. ‘You could outline the type of sweetheart you wish for. Take several days to think about it. Make a list. I could examine it and follow the requirements. If any concern me, we can then discuss it. A pretence. Just a pretence. That is all I ask for.’
‘Vivian.’ He walked towards her and put both hands on her shoulders. The caress silenced her.
This could not do. Must he stand so near? Because when he did, she forgot the business part of her discussion and savoured the awareness.
She grasped the sides of her skirts and pirouetted out of his reach. ‘You could never touch me, though. I must insist on that.’
He studied the ceiling, before clearing his throat. ‘You have been ill. You need to fully recover before you consider any conversations without your father present. It’s for your own good.’
‘Blast it, Everleigh. You are heartless. You really are. And conceivably conceited. I could not make myself any clearer that I am not interested in a courtship. Yes, I did ask you for a kiss, but that was before. Not now.’
‘Vivian. You are a dear. But you are not to visit me again.’
She took a breath. Ella Etta frightened her. And she claimed to be able to hurt Vivian’s mother. ‘You sentence me to death.’
‘No. I sentence you to living.’ He spoke softly. ‘I am more wed to my work. I can’t let anything stop me because I can make a difference in so many lives.’
He didn’t understand.
‘I’m asking you to make a difference in my mother’s life. It means a lot.’
‘I will discuss it with her, then.’
She saw the chill in him. He would tell her the curse was nonsense. He wouldn’t understand.
‘The butler will see you out,’ he said.
Before she could close her mouth, he was gone.
Later, she would find Ella Etta and tell her that the courtship had failed. Vivian had tried. But Everleigh would not co-operate. She’d done her best, but he’d refused.
She would go home, take whatever curses were hurled her way and accept them.
But her mother could not be harmed.
She ran her fingers over the place he’d clasped her shoulders. No, he could not ever hold her. He just couldn’t.