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Dallis enjoyed tea with Lady Beckwith and Rory’s sister. They enlightened her on stories from his childhood. It was during one tale, when she was laughing so hard with tears in her eyes, that she heard his voice. She wiped her eyes, waiting impatiently for Rory to join them. However, after a half an hour, he still didn’t come into the parlor. She tried to be polite and talk, but kept getting distracted at every noise. When another half hour passed with no sign of Rory, Dallis decided she needed to leave. She had overstayed her welcome. Also, the looks of pity she received from his mother and sister almost had Dallis in tears of a different sort. She thought to confide in Lady Beckwith about her feelings for her son, but couldn’t bring herself to speak. Dallis feared that Lady Beckwith would inform her that Rory didn’t share those same feelings toward her. She had reached her limit on rejection today. Dallis made the decision to take her leave and try another tactic tomorrow. She would see if Sidney or Sophia had any valuable advice.
After Dallis left the Beckwith home, Kathleen shared her thoughts with her mother concerning Lady Dallis.
“Mama, she came for Rory. Why did he not join us?”
“I know, dear, my heart breaks for her. It is time I have a word with my son regarding Lady Dallis. I do not understand why Rory has stayed away.”
“Let me, Mama. I can inquire as a friend of Lady Dallis, not as a mother harassing him to marry.”
“You are probably correct, my dear. Do make a point with him that if he does not have an interest in Dallis, then Lord Holdenburg would be more than pleased to make her his bride.”
Kathleen felt a sense of loss at her mother’s threat for her brother. While she wanted Rory to marry Dallis, she also wanted happiness for her new friend—and at this moment she wasn’t happy. If would serve Rory right, if Lady Dallis became engaged to Lord Holdenburg, since he had been dragging his feet. Perhaps then Rory would see what he was on the verge of losing and chase Lady Dallis. But Kathleen's own sadness was more than that. Something else wiggled in her heart at the thought of Lord Holdenburg getting married.
It must be because she detested the man and didn’t want to see him happy with anybody, especially Dallis.
~~~~~
RORY SUNK INTO THE bath, sighing as the hot water comforted his pains. His body ached from where Magnus threw him on the floor. He lowered his fists into the water and winced when the sting burned across his knuckles. He was in a sorry shape and grateful that he didn’t need to escort his mother or Kathleen to any ball this evening. Rory heard them entertaining in the parlor, but he was in no mood to be civil to anybody. Rory needed to recuperate before he presented himself in front of his mother. If he would have joined them, she would have known instantly of his pain. No, it was for the best to appear rude and pretend ignorance of any visitors.
As he rose from the tub, he dripped water on the floor. Walking to the bed with the towel wrapped around his waist he saw that Agnes had whipped him up a batch of the soothing medication for his hands. While it smelled atrocious, it did the trick. The few servants under his employ knew of his fighting to hold the household together, and kept the truth from his mother. He rubbed the ointment on his knuckles and sighed with relief as the sting disappeared from the comforting gel. Once he felt relief, he dressed and sat in the chair near the fireplace. It was an old chair which looked worse for wear, but it was his favorite. Sometimes when he sat in it, he could focus on his dilemmas and come to a conclusion on how to solve them.
Only this time there were no solutions. Rory’s life was spinning out of control and he had no handle on how to stop it. Before now, he was a sensible fellow who approached life with clear thoughts and lived on the straight and narrow. Granted, when he was younger, he had his fair scrapes of trouble. But ever since Lord Hartridge took him under his wing, Rory became determined to make something of his life. To provide for his family in a way his father never did. To do that, he became respectable, knowledgeable, courteous, and everything a lady would admire. But once Dallis entered his life, one look at her and all rational thoughts flew out the door. Rory fell off the path and headed down dead ends which never led them to her. Always further away. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, trying to figure a way to see Dallis without her grandmother knowing.
When Rory opened his eyes, it was to discover his sister had snuck into his room and sat cross-legged on his bed. Another lady he seemed to fail. He slid his hands to his sides, hiding the bruising. Kathleen eyed him with a quizzical look.
“It was very rude of you not to join us for tea. Mama is most disappointed with you.”
“Not tonight, sister.”
“It is either me, or Mama herself wants to talk to you.”
Rory released a breath. “Spill it, squirt. I have business I need to attend to.”
“You missed Dallis.”
Rory sat forward. “When?”
“She came to visit during afternoon tea. I think she hoped to see you. Anyway she left—and looked to be near tears too.”
Rory stood, running his hands through his hair, pacing back and forth across his bedroom. She came here for him. Damn. If only he had walked into the parlor and he would have seen her for himself. He had to find a way past her protective grandmother. Perhaps he should take a page out of Wildeburg’s book? If he snuck into her room tonight, he could explain his absence. Then maybe steal a kiss or two. First, he had to get rid of Kathleen.
“Mama also wanted me tell you that if you do not make a stand for Dallis, she will persuade Lord Holdenburg to ask for Dallis's hand in marriage. She thinks they make a sweet couple. If you want my opinion ...”
“I do not.”
“Well ...”
“Good night, Kathleen.”
Rory managed to extract his sister off his bed and guide her toward the door. Kathleen kept rattling on about Lord Holdenburg and Dallis, not making much sense to him. His thoughts were focused on his plans to see Dallis. Would she have on the same white nightgown that displayed her curves? Would her hair lay unbound, flowing around her shoulders? Could he tempt her into a few kisses? Rory hoped that all the answers to his questions would be yes.
“Rory!”
“What?”
Kathleen stopped in her tracks, making him stop too. If he continued, he would only be dragging her to the door. Rory didn’t want to hurt her, he only wanted her gone. Kathleen's fingers tried to peel his hand away from her arm. He grimaced in pain when her nails scraped against an open sore.
“Who did you fight? And why?”
“It is none of your business.”
“It is, if this is the result.”
“Kathleen ...”
“Tell me or I will tell Mama.”
“I needed to let off a bit of steam.”
“Did you win?”
Rory laughed, “Yes.”
“How much did you win?”
“It was only for sport.”
“Rory, I am well aware of how you earn money to support our family. I have for quite some time. Papa left us broke, didn’t he?”
“Kathleen, this is my burden to carry.”
“When will you realize it is also mine?”
“Never. It is my duty to protect and provide for you. You are meant to enjoy the life you were born into. I only wish I could provide better for you.”
In that moment Kathleen finally understood the sacrifices Rory suffered for her. And the only way to repay his generosity would be to find a way to bring coin into their home. Kathleen either would need to wed, or do what her father did best. And that was cards. Her father taught her how to play with the best of them. Kathleen knew every trick in the book and then a few that she learned herself. If Rory could fight to bring in extra money, then she must find some card games to play. Kathleen heard of a place near Vauxhall Gardens where the ladies wore masks to hide their identities. It was an exclusive club only for the well-privileged with deep pockets. She only needed to secure an invitation. After that, she would win the huge pots at the tables.
She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “You are the best brother any girl could ever hope for. Now, for me to be the best sister, I will take my leave so that you can go to Dallis. Do not keep her waiting any longer.”
Once Kathleen left, he ran to his study. Rory needed to send a payment to the grocer before his mother found out about their past due bill. He wrote a note and stuck some cash into an envelope to leave with Agnes. On his way out of the room he spotted a wrapped linen parcel on the edge of his desk. A strong scent of strawberries wafted in the air as he pulled the cloth apart. There resting inside was a piece of cake with strawberry glaze. A smile spread across his face, realizing the gift was from Dallis. She knew about his visit. She must have come today in hopes to repair her grandmother’s tongue. He took a bite out of the cake and moaned in pleasure. The strawberries tasted divine. Just like her. Rory continued to eat the cake as he left. He was on his way to her, now that he knew it wasn’t too late.
He should wait until tomorrow to see Dallis, and do it properly. However, not one minute of their relationship was proper thus far, so why start now?