Chapter Fifteen

 

The foyer of the Banner Estate was an impressive home meticulously decorated with wine-red walls and gold trim. Although the house was nowhere near the size of Scarlett Hall, it touted a decor that told the world the Banners had a vast fortune. The chandelier that hung above Rose was at least twice the size of most, illuminating the room with hundreds of candles.

What will the ballroom look like if this room is so elegant? she wondered.

Mr. David Banner spoke to nearly a hundred guests as he stood in the middle of a wide staircase, two hallways branching in either direction from the first landing. Caroline’s sighs of appreciation did not go unnoticed as he gave his welcome speech. Regardless of the woman’s denial, she was most certainly enamored with the young man.

Rose had not expected that so many people of means lived in and around Rumsbury, but it appeared every man and woman of the aristocracy had been invited and had accepted. This was not London, after all.

The guests ranged in age from that of Rose to those with hair that had turned silver many years before. A handful of men wore powdered wigs of the older fashion, more than likely to cover the baldness that lay beneath if Rose hazarded a guess.

“And now,” Mr. Banner said, bringing his speech to an end, “let us enjoy the evening.” He descended the staircase to a round of applause, and soon announcements were made as guests entered the ballroom by order of place in society.

“This is very proper for a country ball,” Rose whispered to her companion. “I certainly would have expected to go through announcements in London but not here.”

Caroline giggled. “Lord Banner is well-known for stringent etiquette. I heard this is the first party that his son has hosted without his parents, so I imagine that his father counseled him on the expectations. Many here will report back to the man whether or not Mr. Banner lived up to those expectations.”

Gentlemen surrounded them, their dark tailcoats a sheer contrast to the ball gowns of rich reds, greens, blues, and yellows of the ladies. The line of people shuffled forward, and Rose heard a loud “Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Wiltingstone” followed by “The Most Honorable the Marquess and Marchioness of Tantly.”

“I do despise waiting so long,” the old woman in front of them mumbled, although Rose suspected everyone in the room heard her. Her back was bowed with age and she carried an ornate cane, which she tapped on the floor in irritation.

Rose hid her smile behind a gloved hand.

When it came their turn to enter, Rose stood in the doorway, her legs as if filled with jelly. She never expected the introduction to be so unnerving. “Miss Thrup, Miss Skylark,” the liveried man announced, “and the Right Honorable Lady Lambert.”

Rose had refrained from including reference to her mother, especially after what Caroline had told her, and her aunt had agreed. Most would have remembered how her mother had left so suddenly all those years ago, and she had no desire spending the evening answering any questions concerning the woman. Her mother’s tale was her own, not Rose’s.

The ballroom was as wondrous as she expected. Three chandeliers hung over the guests, and in a far corner sat a four-piece orchestra playing a sweet and calming melody. Tables sat along one wall with a variety of food and drink as footmen milled through the still-growing crowd, carrying trays laden with fluted glasses or tiny morsels of food.

Rose and Caroline moved to where several chairs lined one of the walls. Caroline’s eagerness to speak to Mr. Banner was evident by her mumblings as she raised herself on tiptoe to glance about the room.

“Oh, where is he?” she demanded in a low voice. “I do not see him anywhere.”

Rose understood her friend’s concern, for she, too, wanted to search out Holden. Too often she could not hear the names of the couples as they were announced because the murmurs around them as they waited drowned out the servant’s words. Had he even come?

“I do not see him either,” Rose said.

“I see Lady Gretham,” Caroline said in a huff. “It has been at least a year since I last spoke to her. I will return in a moment.”

To Rose’s surprise, the woman walked away leaving Rose to stare after her. Then she giggled, for the lady Caroline approached was none other than the ancient woman who had stood before them in the foyer.

“Would you like something to drink?” her aunt asked as Rose continued her search for Holden. “Or perhaps something to eat?”

“No, thank you,” Rose ask absently. “I would like to wait for Holden.”

Although she knew this would be the last night they would be considered a courting couple, as negligible as their courtship had been, she found herself hoping to see him. How could she not look upon that handsome smile at least once more—well, the smile he wore when he was not being argumentative. And in such a large crowd of strangers, a familiar face was most welcomed.

Then she saw him, speaking to an older man with black and silver hair. Holden wore an impeccable tailcoat of rich blue that suited him quite well. He had a perfectly tied white cravat and a matching ruffled shirt, and his smile lit his face.

He looked in her direction, and her heart skipped a beat as he said something to his companion and then walked toward her. Without thought, Rose smoothed the skirts of her gown, glad she, too, had worn blue. Where his coat lacked any ornament outside of its gold buttons, her dress was trimmed in white and had tiny red flowers embroidered on the bodice.

“You look beautiful,” her aunt whispered. “Do not worry. I would not allow you to walk around with a wrinkle in your gown.”

Rose giggled. “Thank you,” she whispered back.

Holden stopped before them and bowed. “Lady Lambert. Miss Skylark.”

Rose and her aunt curtsied in response.

“Forgive my tardiness in greeting you,” he said formally. “I was speaking with an old friend who did not want to release me.” His smile reminded Rose of a young boy attempting to earn favor after being caught in mischief.

“Not at all,” Rose replied. She glanced around them. “The party seems to be going well thus far.”

“Indeed,” Holden replied. “David has spared no expense, but he has proven to be a spendthrift when it comes to entertaining.” Then, as if he had revealed some great secret, he opened his eyes wide. “That is…I believe it a good idea to spend money on such an event.”

“Excuse me,” Aunt Eleanor said as she looked past Holden. “It appears Caroline wishes to speak to me.” She gave Holden a polite nod, which he returned with a bow, and walked away.

An awkward silence fell between Rose and Holden, and she glanced up at him. Why did he have to be so handsome? Being in his presence like this was making their final night together that much more difficult.

Holden cleared his throat and said, “I wanted to thank you for allowing me to appease my father. I realize this will be our last night in our pretend relationship, but I wanted you to know that I will miss our time together, as limited as it was.”

Rose was uncertain how to respond. This man who stood before her was different from the arrogant man with whom she had become acquainted. Only, even when he had asked her to pose as if they were courting, he seemed different. What had come over him? Had he had some sort of change of heart? And was it worth the time to be in his company a while longer if it meant he was changing for the good?

“Rose?”

Holden saying her name brought her back to the matter at hand, but confusion still filled her. She needed time to think. “I am quite parched,” she said with a small smile. “Would you please get me a drink?”

“Yes, of course,” he said, a bit flustered. “Where are my manners?” He hurried away, leaving Rose to her thoughts. Her aunt was still in conversation with Caroline and Lady Gretham, which was for the best, for Rose could not have thought clearly while keeping up the appearance of listening to conversation.

Her heart battled with her mind. As much as she denied it, and although they contradicted one another in so many ways, she and Holden did make a handsome couple. It was not that she had an overly high opinion of herself, for she did not. In fact, she saw herself as a bit plain in comparison to the other women her age she saw in the room. Yet, beside Holden she felt beautiful.

“Miss Skylark.”

Rose started at hearing Mr. Banner, who had approached her without her noticing. She should know better than to allow her thoughts to run wild while in public. When would she ever learn?

“Mr. Banner.”

“Are you enjoying the party thus far?”

Rose nodded. “Indeed, I am,” she replied. “The music is very lively; the best I have heard since leaving London. Thank you for inviting me.”

“I am pleased you are enjoying yourself.” He glanced behind her and widened his eyes. Rose turned to see Holden speaking to another young woman perhaps his age. Mr. Banner shook his head in dismay. “I wished you to know that, although what Holden has done is wrong, I do believe he will change in time.”

Confusion filled Rose. “Excuse me?”

“Has he not told you yet?” He cleared his throat. “He told me he confessed all to you last week, but perhaps I misheard. Forget I said anything.”

“Confessed?” Rose asked. “Confessed to what exactly?”

Mr. Banner glanced around and then lowered his voice conspiratorially. “About the fake courtship.”

Rose was surprised at the tightening of her stomach. The man only spoke the truth; why would she feel a sense of…what? Disappointment perhaps? “Ah, yes. Well, it is what we agreed to.” Why was she stammering?

“And his calling on you?” he asked. “You do not mind that he has used you this entire time?”

Rose frowned. “He has only called on me twice, and then only because he chose to.”

Mr. Banner sighed and looked at the floor. “You seem like a lovely young lady, and I feel the need to be truthful with you,” he said. “Holden is a very close friend, but he tends to treat women with little or no respect. I find such actions quite unbecoming, mind you, but he calls on gentlewomen such as yourself and tells them all sorts of lies about how he is a modern man and other such foolishness. This leads them to believe him some sort of great contemporary—a rebel one might say. Later he asks them to court and promises to change his ways before he drops them like a hot ember. So many women have been duped by him, and it breaks my heart to see someone as innocent as yourself taken in by his lies.”

Rose’s heart dropped. She knew him to be callous, but to this extent? “No, I do not believe it. Surely…”

“It is all in an attempt to woo them to his…” Mr. Banner shook his head. “No, it is not right to speak of such intimate things in the presence of a virtuous woman. My apologies if I have offended you.” He lowered his voice once more. “However, do heed my warning. He even fooled me when he said he was now leading a new life he refers to as his ‘new ways’.” He glanced toward Holden and the young woman. “He has fooled us both, and it appears that, once he has spurned you, he will move on to Miss Burnsworth.”

Without waiting for her response, the man walked away, leaving Rose to contemplate what he had said. She should not have been surprised, but to think that he continued the ruse of being a changed man in order to get her…where?

She gasped. “His bedchamber!” she said in a hoarse whisper. Unable to stomach the thought that she had even considered he could be a decent man, she hurried from the ballroom. To be in the same room with Mr. Holden Bradshaw was more than she could take!

***

As Holden went to return to Rose with the two glasses of punch, he was stopped by Miss Emma Burnsworth, a young woman of nineteen who talked incessantly without saying anything of great import.

Several times he attempted to excuse himself only to have the woman move on to another subject as if he had not said a word. He had known her since they were children, and even in her younger years, the woman had been as such.

In the past, Holden had no concern for her feelings and would simply walk away, but now he found the idea distasteful. Perhaps this new man he was becoming was not worth the effort. Yet, no, he had no choice.

He glanced over at Lady Lambert, who stood speaking with his father.

What can they be discussing? he wondered. He prayed it was not an upcoming wedding. He had to convince Rose that he was worthy of her trust first.

Rose. He was pleased she had come. For some reason, he had expected her to have some sort of excuse to not attend. Yet, this was also where they were to end their feigned courtship, so perhaps he should not be surprised she was in attendance.

He glanced over to where he had left Rose and was shocked to see she was gone. Had the woman given up on him already? Well, it was his own fault for keeping her waiting.

“David’s parties never compare to yours,” Emma was saying as Holden watched their host hurrying out of the ballroom. What woman had he convinced to meet him in a shadowy corner this time?

He turned his attention back to the woman before him. “I appreciate you saying so,” he said. “I do not wish to be rude, but…”

Once again, Emma ignored him. “Is it true that Miss Skylark is residing at Scarlett Hall? I have always wanted to see what the inside of that house.” She gave him a pout. “I never seem to be invited to any of their functions, as few—and I should say small—as they are.”

“Nor have I,” Holden replied, taking advantage of the momentary silence. “I really must…”

“I do wonder why the Lamberts never have any grand parties. According to Mother, not even when Lord Lambert was alive…”

Holden’s patience was running thin, yet he feigned interest, nonetheless. His father had been watching him closely all evening, much to Holden’s annoyance. Did the man not trust him?

Then he almost laughed. Of course he did not. Holden gave him little reason to. Once he learned that the courtship was a ruse, his father would erupt in anger, and Holden would accept whatever punishment that was due him.

Holden wished he could simply be honest with his father, but he learned long ago that lying served him much better than speaking the truth. His father’s temper could be terrible—Holden’s backside had seen more lashings than the house had seen paint when he was younger—and the thought of one more look of disappointment from the man churned Holden’s stomach.

The time for lashings were long past, and if he was to prove to Rose he was a changed man, perhaps he should accept his due punishment. Lying was for children, and it was time Holden became an adult. His father would have to accept him for who he was. At least that was what Holden hoped to convey as he came to this decision.

Emma had moved on to the story of how she had gained her new horse, and much to his relief, David walked up to them. “Forgive me, but I must speak to Holden for a moment.”

“Very well,” Emma said, attempting to cover her shock at being interrupted mid-sentence. “We must speak later.”

“Indeed,” Holden replied. He bowed and followed David. “Oh, thank you! You have no idea how much that woman was driving me mad. How is she able to speak so long without taking a breath?”

“I do not know nor do I care,” David snapped, very much out of character. “I must inform you that Miss Skylark is terribly upset.”

“Rose?” Holden asked. He glanced around the ballroom but did not see her. “What is wrong with her?”

David sighed. “It appears your conversation with Emma has upset her. You know how jealous women can be. I tried to calm her but failed in my attempt.”

Holden gave a light chuckle, although his stomach clenched at the thought of Rose being upset with him. “I will go and explain that she has nothing about which to worry. Where is she?”

“She has gone to the wine cellar to select a wine,” David replied.

Holden frowned. “Wine?”

“It was either that or have her in tears in front of everyone,” David said, sounding as if he was keeping his frustration at bay. “We could not have that now, could we? Can you imagine what either of our parents would say if that happened?”

“No, I suppose not,” Holden replied. “Take me to her.”

“Follow me.” David turned and left the ballroom without looking to see if Holden was following.

With hurried steps, Holden followed his friend. Why would Rose be jealous of him speaking to another woman? Rose and he were acquaintances at best—friendship would have been stretching what they had. Plus, they were to end their mockery of a courtship tonight.

“I have never seen a woman so upset,” David said as he glanced back at Holden. “Surely her heart is broken.”

“I do not understand why,” Holden replied, fighting back the guilt that made little sense. He had forgotten that David knew nothing of the mock courtship between him and Rose. It was rare that Holden kept anything from his friend, but after their last conversation, he had not felt comfortable with telling him about their little arrangement. “I was caught by Emma, and you know how she is. I had no ill intentions.”

He followed David down the servants’ hall and into the basement. The air was cold and damp when they arrived at a large door. David smiled as he produced a large silver key. “She is in there.”

“Thank you,” Holden said as he stepped through the door, the room dark except a slight glow in a far corner. He stopped and turned around. “If anyone asks of our whereabouts, do not tell them.”

“Now, would that be a gentlemanly thing to do?” David asked.

“What do you mean?” David never equated anything he did to being gentlemanly, not to Holden, that is.

“You told me that we are supposed to be gentlemen,” David said with a sneer. “And that is what I shall be when they come searching for you!” And with that, he slammed the door closed.

Holden heard the key turn in the lock, and he stared at the closed door in utter amazement. For some reason, he still held the two wine glasses—why had he not set them on a table first?—and he placed them on a nearby barrel. Then he balled up his fists and hit them against the heavy door.

“David! Let me out of here! Why have you done this?”

There was no response, and he banged on the door again. This time when he stopped, he heard a sniffle behind him. Turning, he saw Rose standing with a candle in one hand and her other arm wrapped around her waist, tears streaming down her face.

“He said he would send my aunt Eleanor,” she said. “What is he doing?”

Holden glared at the door as if it were David himself. “He wishes to ruin both our names,” he murmured, attempting to keep his anger concealed. There was no reason to upset the woman further. “I am afraid that he is angry with me for chastising him on his motives about…a particular issue. I never thought him capable of going this far to get even with me.”

“But he told you to change your ways,” Rose said. “That is what he told me.”

Holden groaned. “I promise you, he is lying.”

“Then you did not call on me for your own gain?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “To woo me with lies in order to get me into your bed?”

He walked over to her. “I have no wish to woo you,” he said. Then his heart filled with guilt. “I will be honest with you. When I first called on you, I had no interest beyond a nicely turned ankle.” Her blush sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. “That is…what I meant to say is that my initial intentions were not to woo you.”

She placed the candle on a nearby crate. “Then why did you call on me,” she asked, her arms crossed under her breasts.

Holden pulled two crates close together. “May we sit? I believe it may be a while before anyone comes searching for us.”

“I suppose so,” Rose replied.

The music trickled beneath the door, a playful melody that belied their surroundings. “I would like to explain the entire truth to you,” he said with a heavy sigh.

“I would like that, for I am uncertain what to believe any longer.”

Holden nodded. “You see, my father has grown exceedingly angry with me for my behavior.” He chuckled. “To be honest, he has every right to be angry, for I have not been a very dutiful son. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was to find a woman to court and eventually marry…”

He told her what had transpired the day he had missed yet another meeting with his father, ending with how he had chosen her as the woman who would keep his father happy.

“So, you see, my initial purpose was to appease my father,” Holden finished. “However, the little time we have spent together has opened my eyes to the potential of what a relationship can offer. I know I have made an utter fool of myself, but I want you to know that I never intended to hurt you. I was only trying to save my own hide.”

Rose wiped at her eye. “And why did you lie to your father about my response to your proposal of courtship? And I want the truth. I know you wanted to postpone marriage, and I was one who could aid in that goal, but there had to be more that pressured you into lying to your father about us.”

Holden dropped his eyes to the stone floor, ashamed to meet her fierce gaze. “Father promised me an advance on my inheritance if I convinced you to agree to a courtship. I became greedy, and so I asked you. When you refused, I grew desperate. My father would only become angry when he learned the truth, and I would lose the money promised me.”

“So you only asked because you wanted money.”

With a heavy sigh, Holden replied, “Yes. The story I told about Father threatening to send me to the mines in Dover was a lie, as well.” How it pained him to admit this truth. Why had he been so indifferent to her feelings? “However, seeing how much this has all pained you, I feel sick. You must understand, lying has become second nature to me. I have told so many lies in the last few years, that I imagine that the truths can be counted on one hand.”

Rose turned her gaze away. “For some reason, I had hoped that you would change, that by some miracle, our courtship could take place in truth. I can see that it was all folly.” Tears glistened in her eyes once more, ripping at Holden’s heart.

“And that is exactly what I wanted to show you, that I have changed. That we indeed have something together, something we can grow.”

Rose stood and glared at him. “How can you be so blind?” she said. “You have crushed me! And now, because of you, we are locked inside this room together. What do you think will happen when they find us here? Do you think they will believe any story we tell them, no matter how innocent? I have lived my life adhering to all the rules, and now all that will be for not. Do you honestly believe I can consider any future with you after what you have done to me?”

She stomped off to the far side of the large room, leaving Holden in the dark to consider her question, and he knew the answer would be no.