Chapter 12

 

 

Warwick turned the bedraggled hat in his hands. The formerly stiff brim flopped in his hands and the pink flowers were speckled with dirt and grass. He took one of the silk vines and twisted it until a leaf came off in his hand, held it between his fingers, then tossed the sodden bonnet on his dresser.

“Did you want me to do something with the little hat, my lord?” Taylor closed the door and looked at his master with as much surprise as Warwick had ever seen in his impassive valet. While Warwick stood in the middle of this room, staring at the soggy leaf as if it were a holy relic, Taylor looked at his employer as if he thought he had lost his mind. Not that Warwick himself was certain that he had not lost his mind.

“And these clothes, my lord?” Taylor gestured toward the pile of wet clothing on the floor. “I can do nothing to save your beautiful new jacket.” He picked up the offending article and held it before him. “Were you in the rain, my lord?” He spoke with amazement that a gentleman would even consider such an action.

But Taylor’s reaction to the ruined clothing was nothing compared to the shock with which he viewed the bedraggled bonnet on his master’s dresser.

I don’t care, Warwick thought as he rubbed his thumb over the leaf and thought of the owner of that hat, the beautiful woman who was also the most loyal and loving of people. Who was betrothed, nearly, to his cousin.

Lord, he was becoming maudlin. If this is what love did to a man, he wanted no part of it, but he feared—indeed, he knew—it was too late for him to disown the emotion. He loved her when she smiled up at him or when she told him to leave her alone or when she was blue-deviled.

Not, of course, that he could act on his feelings. She was as good as engaged to Frederick and he hadn’t come, as head of the family, to take his cousin’s intended from him. At least, he had not recognized that when he rushed to Windwillow.

He was in love. He’d had the first inkling when she laughed up at him in Mrs. Horne’s stifling parlour. His heart had leaped. Really moved within him. He’d never believed that could happen.

His friends had told him of the physically discomforting signs of love, but he had laughed at them. He had not believed in leaping hearts or broken ones, either.

“It seems, my lord, that you have dressed yourself.” Taylor’s voice chilled Warwick.

“So I did,” Warwick agreed. “But I did a very poor job and hope you will take me in hand and turn me out as the perfect gentleman once more.”

That was the rub. As a gentleman, he could not declare himself to her. Although he had, of course. If she had any intelligence, she knew he was attracted. He could not tell her how much. It was probable, after the way he had flirted with her in the past, she’d never believe that he loved her. Devil it, he wanted to marry her.

“Which jacket shall you wear, my lord?”

“Whichever.”

“Whichever, my lord?” said Taylor in frosty tones.

“Whichever.” Warwick waved a hand toward his valet.

He did love her. He really did want to marry Aphrodite. Odd how love was. The only woman he’d ever loved enough to wish to marry was engaged, almost, to his cousin. Could he live with the knowledge that another man touched her, held her naked against him, entered and planted his seed within her?

He slammed his hand down on the top of the chest with a force that made Taylor jump. Warwick himself bit his lip, but at least it dulled the pain of thinking that another man would share her smile and laughter, possess her body; that another man would bring out the passion he knew lurked within her.

Aah, well, if he couldn’t declare himself, he’d do something to help her. A poor present but the only one he could properly give his love.

He’d already asked his coachman to ready the whiskey and would soon ask Taylor to go to Crusader’s Cross to pick the puppy most likely to win a little girl’s heart and soften her father’s.

“Taylor, I need you to perform an errand of some importance.” He watched the little man puff up. “There’s a litter of puppies at Crusader’s Cross . . .”

 

• • •

 

“I heard you sent Taylor to Crusader’s Cross for a puppy.” Susannah spoke in an incredulous voice that evening.

The house party had gathered in the parlour after dinner. Frederick had seated Aphrodite next to his sleeping mother and the two chatted pleasantly around Mrs. Horne’s girth and over the thunder of her snores.

In the corner, the younger guests entertained themselves playing a lively game of Beggar Your Neighbour. They included Athena in that group, although she pouted and tossed glances of venom toward Aphrodite, who ignored her.

Warwick wondered what had happened between the sisters but knew Aphrodite would not tell him were he to ask. Another reason for the furrow between her brows, he reflected.

Close to the fireplace, Callum McReynolds sat with the squire’s older daughter, but their conversation had lapsed. She giggled, and he glowered into the fire while Terpsi flirted with Hugh Ridley and Fothergill. When her neckline gaped, she put a hand on her chest or on her shoulder to haul it back into place.

Aphrodite’s siblings offered more than enough to place his beloved deeply in the dismals, Warwick reflected.

“I heard you sent to Crusader’s Cross for a puppy?” Susannah repeated.

Warwick’s gaze flitted around those assembled in the small room. He saw Aphrodite shift in her chair, attempting to watch Terpsi as her sister’s behavior became more and more outrageous, while Callum grew quieter and his gaze colder.

“Yes, I did,” Warwick finally answered his sister.

“What do you want with a puppy?”

“I don’t want the puppy for myself.” Warwick watched Terpsi throw her head back and laugh at a remark from Ridley.

“Then why did you send for one?” Susannah’s tone became more and more frustrated.

“Because a friend is in need of one.”

“Would that friend be Lady Aphrodite?”

“Perhaps I prefer that information to remain between the friend and myself.” He raised his eyebrow.

“Don’t pull the imperious act on me, Thomas. If you remember, you tottered after me when you were in leading strings. I am hardly likely to be silenced by your noble demeanor now.”

“Susannah, please, not the ‘tottered after me in leading strings’ story.” He smiled at his sister. “All right, the puppy is for Aphrodite. Her scamp of a brother has gotten in trouble, and the puppy will help. You might want to ask your son about his role in the adventure.”

“I will do that. I suspected he had been cutting a wheedle but could not get a word out of him.” Susannah studied her brother’s face. “You are spending a great deal of time with Frederick’s future wife.”

“She is soon to be a member of our family. We were acquainted in London. I thought it only courteous to renew that acquaintance and welcome her into the family.”

“Coming a bit strong, brother. You have never been courteous to anyone unless you really wanted to be.”

“Neither insulting your brother nor speaking cant are attractive in a matron, dear sister.”

“A matron?” Susannah frowned before a smile covered her face. “Oh, but I know you, Thomas. You’re trying to divert me from the subject of this conversation, your interest in Lady Aphrodite Herrington. I notice you call her by her first name.”

“She is soon to be a cousin. As to the attention paid her, perhaps I am assuming the family duties that will soon be mine, as you have often suggested I do.”

“And, of course, you are aware that Aphrodite is engaged to cousin Frederick.”

“Almost engaged.”

“I would think—” Susannah was interrupted by the particularly loud voice of Callum McReynolds, who had stood and strode over to Terpsi.

He took hold of the sagging neckline of her dress and pulled it up and over her shoulders then began to shout. “How can you flaunt yourself before the world like this?” His face shone a brilliant red, and his deep voice shook.

A dazed Terpsi turned and stared at him, as did everyone in the parlour. A flush rose on her cheeks.

“You show parts of yourself that should be seen only by your husband to those assembled here, to other men who stare at you with lust in their hearts and passion in their eyes.” He shook his finger at Terpsi. “Put on some clothes, woman. Cover your body.”

He turned to the two men who sat, openmouthed, next to Terpsi, to continue the diatribe. “And you, Ridley and Fothergill, if a man loves a woman, he doesn’t want her to display to other men what belongs to him in marriage. You should be ashamed. All of you.” With that, he turned and left the room.

“Oh, my,” Aphrodite gasped. She dashed to her sister and took her hand.

Terpsi hadn’t moved since Callum started his harangue, but a smile spread slowly across her features. “I believe he still cares for me, Ditie,” she whispered in her sister’s ear, in a voice so soft that only one as shameless as Warwick, who had moved close, could have heard. “Oh, he still loves me, Ditie.”

Perhaps that’s one burden off her shoulders, Warwick thought. Or one more added.

 

• • •

 

“I don’t think he’d say what he did, that he’d be so upset, if he didn’t care about me, Ditie. What do you think?” Terpsi said after she and Aphrodite had reached her chambers only a few minutes later. She danced around her bedroom at the same time she brushed the copper tresses that waved and floated around her.

“Perhaps that’s why he was always angry with me. Because he was in love with me and didn’t want me flirting with other men.” She put down the brush and grinned at herself in the mirror, then whirled to look at Aphrodite. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know, but I would think you’d want to wear dresses with a little more conservative neckline if you wish to attract Callum. You could wear a shawl or one of my gowns.”

“Oh, Ditie, don’t be foolish. If my gowns awaken such passion, I’d be a fool to change.” She turned back toward the mirror and studied the creamy flesh above the neckline of her gown.

Aphrodite had known Terpsi would say that. It was, after all, exactly the type of reasoning all the other Herringtons would use. She sighed and left her sister’s room. As she passed Aski’s chambers, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.

“What have you heard about school? Has Warwick brought the puppy yet?” her brother demanded.

“I don’t know, but I feel sure he has looked into procuring the dog. Why are you so anxious?”

“Well, a house party like this is fine for you older people, but Geoffrey and I want to get back to school. To our chums there. Cricket. Those things, you know.”

“And the squire’s daughter?”

“Taking little thing, ain’t she?” Aski smoothed his curls back. “Must admit I will miss her, but we are young yet. When she comes out in two or three years, I will go to London, look her up. She needs some town bronze, you know.”

Aphrodite smiled at her younger brother. “Yes, you certainly have town bronze.”

“Well, I have more than she does, but you know I am not ready for the parson’s mousetrap, and do not tell me her father would be any happier than Papa if I were to ask for her hand now.”

“Yes, darling, you are right.” A Herrington using reasoning. Perhaps he was growing up.

“Of course, we could always elope. Is Gretna Green to the north?”

But probably not, Aphrodite reflected. “Why don’t you ask the squire for a map?” she suggested as she let herself out of the room. When she arrived in her chambers, she allowed Mignon to help her out of her gown and brush her hair, but thoughts tumbled chaotically through her brain.

Aski disguised as an Italian count, Athena cuddling a footman, and Terpsi throwing herself at one man to attract another. These incidents were not unusual. But here she was—the responsible member of the family—considering breaking her possible engagement to a perfectly nice young man because she found him boring and she hated his mother and was more attracted to his cousin, even after he had broken her heart once.

 

• • •

 

The next morning, Warwick escorted her to the stable to show her a wiggling black puppy who should steal the heart of any young lady.

“She’s darling.” Aphrodite kneeled down to scratch the puppy’s ears, then leaned back when the little creature attempted to lick her face.

“I shall deliver her this morning and talk to the magistrate to convince him of your brother’s innocent intent. I hope that this offering will soften his heart. Boy,” Warwick called to one of the grooms. “Would you please put the dog in a box and put it in my carriage?”

“Thank you.” Aphrodite stood. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this. And Aski, too.” She looked into Warwick’s eyes. The sheer power of his eyes held her spellbound. She should look away, she told herself, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. His gaze didn’t waver and warmth filled his eyes. Slowly, he moved toward her until he stood only inches from her.

He took her hand, turned it over and studied her palm for a moment before rubbing his thumb across it, from the base of her thumb, across the sensitive skin in the center and up to the tip of her index finger. Then he looked at her with such longing in his eyes that Aphrodite gasped.

The sound seemed to bring him to his senses. He dropped her hand and stepped back. “You will soon be a member of our family. Your brother will be related by marriage, by your marriage to my cousin Frederick.” He nodded. “I am glad to be of service,” he said with a bow. Then he turned and strode to his carriage, leaped into it, waved his whip at the groom to let go of the horses, and drove off, leaving billowing dust on the drive.

What had just happened? Aphrodite wondered. Warwick had looked at her with—oh, certainly not love, but what? Desire? How could she, the plain, the dull Herrington, have raised passion in the heart of a man like Warwick? She hadn’t raised it in Frederick’s heart.

She had spent her entire life avoiding passion and now she felt herself plunged into the depths of desire, wishing for it, yearning to learn its mysteries, to grab whatever it was that Warwick offered and immerse herself in it.

Foolishness, Aphrodite reminded herself. If she knew one thing, she knew that she did not arouse ardour in a man. But, if she didn’t, what was that look in his eye?

“So, Ditie, did he get the dog?”

Aphrodite shook herself and found herself still in the yard outside the stable. Aski continued to shout from the lawn as he ran toward her.

“Yes, he did,” she answered. “A lovely little puppy. I think he’ll be able to save your honour. You should be able to return to school.”

“Well, not too soon. Geoffrey and I don’t want to miss the play, you know.”

“I don’t care.” Aphrodite walked past her brother and toward the house. “Do whatever you decide.” She stopped and turned back. “But I do hope you will thank Warwick when he returns. He’s gone greatly out of his way for you.” She twirled and continued toward Windwillow.

“I don’t understand why, Ditie.” Aski hurried after her. “Geoffrey says Warwick is the best of fellows, bang up to the nines, but he’s not the kind to help other people. Most generous of him.”

“Yes, it is,” Aphrodite agreed as they strolled toward the house together.

“Why do you think he got the puppy? And he is delivering it himself, Ditie, and talking to the magistrate. He is going to a lot of trouble. Do you think he wants to court Athena?”

Aphrodite stopped and turned again, almost causing her brother to collide with her. “If you know anything about our little sister, you know a man doesn’t have to court her. If he’s well set up, perhaps wearing a livery, she is likely to . . .” Aphrodite cut off her flow of words with effort. “No, I do not believe that is the reason. He explained that he did this acting as head of the family, because I’m engaged, almost, to Frederick.” She headed toward Windwillow again with Aski running behind her.

“If that ain’t poppycock, I don’t know what is. He don’t owe me anything.”

“Do not refine on it, Aski. Just accept and be grateful.”

 

• • •

 

That afternoon, after several members of the house party had spent a restful hour in their chambers, the guests wandered down to the lake, where a picnic had been set up outside the summerhouse. Susannah sat on a bench in the shade with her younger children.

On a bench close to the lake, Athena chatted with Callum, Fothergill, and the squire’s daughters while Geoffrey and Aski stood behind them and joined in the conversation. Talking and laughing, Terpsi and Hugh Ridley strolled along the shore.

“Come join us,” Susannah called and waved to Aphrodite. “Get a glass of lemonade and sit here next to me.”

“I wonder when my brother will be back,” Susannah said when Aphrodite joined her.

The two women stitched on costumes for a few minutes before Susannah said, “We are to have a great race this afternoon. Your bro—I mean, Geoffrey’s friend Luigi has challenged Geoffrey, Frederick and James to a race, rowing their boats around the lake. I wish Thomas were here to take part.”

Aphrodite glanced up to see the four men line their boats up on the shore. Her brother, a red scarf tied around his head, his curls bouncing, laughed merrily as he pointed out the route of the race.

“If I may.” Frederick came up from the shore and bowed before Aphrodite. “Do you have a token that I may carry into the fray?”

With a laugh, Aphrodite picked up a strip of lace from the basket of sewing Susannah always had with her and tied it around Frederick’s arm.

“Be careful,” Athena said to Frederick as he walked back to the boats.

“Of course I will.” He got in the boat, then nodded at Athena as he pushed it into the water.

Aphrodite had never found Frederick so attractive. He wore a shirt, open at the neck and with the sleeves rolled up to show a bit of chest and muscular arms. Never one to dwell on a man’s physique, Aphrodite had to admit he was much more masculine than she had thought. His face glowed with anticipation and pleasure. Oh, my, for just a moment, her future fiancé made her heart flutter.

“Don’t you worry about Mr. Horne’s engaging in such a dangerous activity?” Athena asked Aphrodite. The younger sister frowned as she watched the four men lining their boats up.

“Even if I did, Athena, I could not stop him. He wants to do this. Indeed, I believe all the men look delighted.”

“Have I missed some sport?” Warwick said.

Aphrodite turned to see him behind her. “The conti has challenged the others to a race. Wouldn’t you like to join them?”

“I don’t believe so. I’ve had a rushed trip, so I’ll content myself with watching.”

“Oh, tell me, how did everything go?” Aphrodite asked.

“I believe the magistrate understands that your brother was not kicking up a lark but was motivated by his deep interest in science and meant no harm.” Warwick lowered himself on the bench next to Aphrodite.

“Hello, Susannah.” He smiled at his sister. “It looks as if you ladies have spent a busy day.”

At Susannah’s nod, he spoke again to Aphrodite. “The young lady was very pleased with the puppy. The magistrate says that he will no longer pursue Aski, which means he will be able to return to school.”

“He said he would like to, after the play is over.”

When the conversation languished, Aphrodite studied the scene around her. From the lakeshore, Susannah and James’s children watched the men moving into position. The sun shone off the water while a light breeze roughened the water and blew leaves across the grass.

The squire’s daughter Elsie stood on the shore and waved at Aski as Athena strolled down toward her. The two young ladies watched the men maneuver for the best position before the start of the race.

But even with all the activity, Aphrodite was most aware of the man who sat next to her. She peeked at his face as he watched the scene. Then he surprised her with a glance, a smile in his eyes.

Flustered, she looked back at the men on the lake. “As long as Aski is enjoying himself, I imagine it will be difficult to get him to leave, and it is certainly not my responsibility to force him to do so.”

“Well spoken,” Warwick agreed.

“We are off!” shouted Aski. At those words, the men began to row frantically.

“You are not worried that Frederick or your brother are in any danger, are you? The water is very shallow and Frederick is a good swimmer.”

“So is Aski. No, I believe they will be fine, and they are having such a wonderful time.”

The men pulled hard on their oars. The boats were close together, the rowers trying to get closer to the island to shorten their row.

James’s children shouted for their father while the other guests waved their hands and called encouragement to their favorites as the boats disappeared behind the island and their view of the race was blocked.

“I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your taking the puppy to the magistrate and rescuing Aski. I hope my disreputable brother is truly grateful.”

“I didn’t do this for your brother, fair Patience. I hoped to take a slight burden from your shoulders.”

When Susannah glanced at them, Warwick added, “So that you can enjoy this house party in your honour.”

Shouts from the group on the shore alerted them to the sight of the boats rounding the island. Aski was in front, the other three men close behind. Even the adults stood to watch the end of the race.

Then disaster struck. Geoffrey tried to overtake Aski, pushing between Frederick and James. To avoid hitting him, Frederick pulled to the left, toward the island. Then Frederick’s boat stopped suddenly, and he was thrown over the bow and into the water.

“His boat must have hit something,” Warwick shouted as he dashed toward the lake.

Aphrodite searched the water but there was no sight of Frederick. Aski and Geoffrey didn’t realize what was happening and thought the rush toward them was to congratulate the winner. They continued to row. James attempted to slow his vessel, but it began to spin in the water.

And still she could not see Frederick.

“Freddie!” a woman screamed from the shore.

“Surely the water is too shallow for him to drown,” Aphrodite said as she followed Warwick toward the lake.

“It’s not deep, but if he’s hit his head, he might not be able to stand.” Warwick tore off his boots and jacket and started into the water just as Frederick emerged, muddy and sputtering but definitely alive.

“Freddie!” the woman screamed again. Aphrodite looked over to see that the shout came from her younger sister. Athena’s face was white. She covered her mouth with her hand while tears rolled down her cheeks.

Warwick strode into the water toward his cousin, grabbed Frederick’s arm and threw it around his neck to help him to the shore.

Aphrodite rushed toward Frederick but, before she reached him, Athena ran in front of her and stood on the bank, waiting for the two men.

“Freddie!” Athena yelled when he had almost reached the shore. She waded into the water and threw herself into the arms of her sister’s fiancé, sobbing. “Oh, Freddie, Freddie. I thought you were dead. I thought you had drowned.”

Frederick reacted with great surprise, looking down at the blond head that was burrowing into his chest. He put his arms around Athena, as if to steady her, to make sure she didn’t fall. Then, for just a moment, he held her, a look of such tenderness in his eyes that Aphrodite ached for him.

“Freddie,” Athena continued to wail. “Are you really safe?”