Chapter Thirty-Nine

The guests reassembled in the drawing room. When Samantha entered with Lady Minerva, the ladies separated into small groups, busy in conversation with an air of excitement about the dinner and ball.

Samantha averted her eyes from the portrait over the mantel and noted Raven hadn’t presented himself. Brandon joined her. Everyone but Raven convened in the dining room and partook of a light informal luncheon. His aunt said Raven could not be present, and was engaged in business affairs. His absence disappointed Samantha.

Back in the drawing room as conversations continued, Samantha couldn’t help but stare at the portrait of Duchess Liana, since she bedded with that woman’s husband and felt a slight remorse. In truth, her jealousy of a dead woman was a worthless emotion.

Overwrought, she said, “Please do excuse me. I wish to refresh myself.” She arose from her chair and exited the room.

A light tap sounded on her door, Samantha opened it and saw her aunt. “Come in,” she whispered as she closed it. Words flew from her mouth, “I’m happy to see you. We haven’t spoken much. Are you content?” They were silly words so unlike her.

Before Lady Minerva could answer, Samantha said. “My head is a muddle. There’s so much on my mind.” She continued to prattle. “Life is so different here than at our country home.”

She walked to her dressing room armoire and chose a light teal muslin dress trimmed with tatted lace at the form-fitting bodice and sleeves. A ribbon of embroidered roses cinched under the breast line. She took it from the hangar and posed the dress in front of her in the Cheval mirror.

“Do you like this, Aunt Min?” She moved sideways to show her.

Lady Minerva engaged her niece’s eyes. “It’s pretty, child. I liked it when you ordered it from the modiste, and I like it still. You seem preoccupied today. Do you enjoy the pleasures of Ravensmere?”

Samantha knew her aunt probed. “Yes.” She smiled. “The pleasures of Ravensmere are of great interest.” Her mind drifted to the other pleasures Raven offered. “As do the intrigues.”

Samantha turned her head and looked into the mirror and twirled. “This has been an unexpected adventure for me. You know, Aunt Min, one reads about Raven and his accomplishments in the industrialization of his tenant farmers, but until you see everything in action, the man’s genius is hard to comprehend. He is much ahead of his time. I sometimes am in wonder of him.”

“I’m told he has that effect on quite a few people.” She reached for Samantha’s hand. “I can see he has an influence on you, also.”

“Does it show much? I have tried hard to be proper and respectful to him in public. Do you think that part of my outspokenness is because I’m so impressed with him I say what is on my mind because I want to sound intelligent?”

She knelt at her aunt’s feet and rested her head on her lap as her aunt caressed her hair. “I’m no longer a virgin, Aunt Min.”

All motion ceased. “I care for him so much it hurts me when I look up at her portrait in the drawing room. I don’t know how to compete with a dead woman.”

Aunt Min resumed stroking Samantha’s head and spoke in a soft voice. “Child, can you not see how much you resemble her?”

“No, Aunt Min. Say it’s not so.” Samantha raised her eyes, and wrinkled her forehead. “Could it be that is why he is attracted to me because I remind him of her?”

She didn’t want to be a reincarnation of Liana. Samantha reviewed their evening in the boathouse last night. He made her feel well loved in a physical way, but could it be possible she reminded him of his late wife, and that was the only attraction?

“Rise and prepare to dress. We can talk again later. You enjoyed a new circumstance, and perhaps you have experienced the sexual side for the first time in your life. What you had with Sir Percival became the infatuation of your youth, the way one falls in love with a first puppy. What you have now enjoyed is a more mature and much stronger emotion. Enjoy the pleasure for what it is, but don’t expect too much. In that way, you will not be disappointed. I do hope he took precautions.”

Even though worldly in most things, Samantha knew nothing about contraception. “Aunt Min, don’t be angry with Raven. In all truth, I seduced him. Please remember he was under the impression he engaged in a dalliance with an experienced widow. I would do the same again if necessary. I can die now, if need be, and not worry about my virginal widow status.”

“There is no need for melodrama. There are worse things in life, Samantha, but there could be consequences. I don’t want you to have to choose between your family and your duke. I shall have to instruct you on precautions. Be discreet. Love is addictive and powerful, and shows its presence on your beautiful face.”

She took Samantha’s chin in her right hand. “I love you, child. I will send in your maid to help you dress.”

“I’m so glad you’re in my life.” The chastisement without the words of admonishment spoken surprised Samantha.

On her way out, Lady Minerva muttered to herself so that Samantha could hear, “Raven will have to commit himself soon, or I will indeed shoot him, perhaps in the leg, but not too high. I wouldn’t want to ruin some vital parts.”

****

In a quiet moment before dinner, Raven went into the drawing room and closed the door. He gazed at the portrait of the duchess. The vision appeared to change in front of him. Raven blinked his eyes and looked again. The hair color on his duchess now flamed. Samantha’s green eyes invited him to wander with a smile that exuded happiness.

He placed his brandy glass on the side table, took both his hands and rubbed at his eyes. When he looked up at the picture again, the woman had changed back into his late wife.

Could it be an omen and a sign from Liana she had released him from his deathbed promise as a foreshadowing of his future? He found it hard to put his past into a compartment while he pondered the future with one strong and determined copper-haired lady.

He whispered to the portrait, “Liana, it’s time for me to let go of the past. My love for you knew no bounds. I’ve mourned for so long it invaded my life. I must break the deathbed promise I made to you. My peerage demands an heir. Your love meant the world to me. The loss of you almost caused me to lose my sanity. Now, the time has come for me to live again for I have honored your memory. Release me so that I might again feel free to love.”

Sunlight from the window crossed the picture. Those violet eyes of hers seemed to flicker. Impossible, yet thoughts appeared in Raven’s head as if etched. The words sounded soft. “Dearest, do you believe in all honesty this new love of yours has happened by chance? You have a responsibility to the future. I never wanted a lifetime of your bereavement. Because I loved you so much and will love you forever, I want you to go on and give Ravensmere its heir as the stars predicted. I release you from your promise. Reach out to your new love, dear heart. Follow your heart to your new love.”

Could it be his imagination or words his mind conjured to ease his terrible guilt? He needed to hear those words that were a balm to his wound. For the first time in ten years, Raven knelt and prayed to his God for the boon.