15. Breakfast Comes with a Warning
CHAPTER 15
brEAKFAST COMES WITH A WARNING
M eanwhile, at Engels Mansion
Barbara inhaled deeply as she descended the stairs and made her way to the dining room. Although she thought breakfast would be ready soon, she had not expected to smell the odor of cooked bacon or to hear the voice of one of her nephews so early in the morning.
The butler, Pietro, bowed deeply before he placed a platter of coddled eggs in the center of the table. Salvers of sliced bacon, a basket of breads, including rings topped with sesame seeds, and a plate of sliced cheese were already scattered about the cloth-covered surface. “ Kaliméra ,” he said, turning to pull out a chair for her at the oval table.
“ Kaliméra ,” she replied, happy to try out the morning greeting with the servant.
“ Kaliméra , Aunt Barbara,” Randy said from where he sat. Across from him, her youngest son, David, was studying what appeared to be a map.
Before Barbara could respond, Will and Tom joined them, moving to the chairs they had used during their first dinner in the house. Will paused to buss her on the cheek before he nodded to Pietro. “Coffee?”
Pietro nodded and lifted a conical cup from where it was perched on a grate over a flame. Gripping the long handle of the briki , he poured the thick, black brew into a small cup and placed it before Will.
Barbara swallowed before giving the butler a beseeching glance. “Might there be tea?” She was relieved when he said, “ Nai, kyria mou. ” Yes, my lady .
Lifting a teapot from the sideboard, Pietro placed it next to Barbara’s serviette along with a cup and saucer.
Will chuckled. “The coffee does take some getting used to,” he said before taking a sip, “but it’s actually better than what we used to drink on the HMS Greenwich .” He had been the commander of the ship for several years before retiring from the British Navy.
David glanced up from the map. “Have you plans for the day, Father?” he asked.
Will helped himself to some eggs and bread while he shook his head. “I’ll probably take your mother for a walk to the agora ,” he said, referring to the area of Athens which included the Temple of Hephaestus. “We spent time in the Queen’s Gardens yesterday.” He passed the plate of cheese to Tom. “Did you have something in mind?”
David appeared momentarily disappointed. “I was thinking about going up the hill where the Prison of Socrates is located.”
About to place an egg on his plate, Randy suddenly straightened and stared at his cousin. “Today?”
Noting her nephew’s look of surprise, Barbara set aside her teacup. “By yourself?” she asked, directing her query to David.
For a moment, her son looked as if he couldn’t decide how to answer. “I... I wouldn’t be alone,” he stammered.
Randy scoffed. “Neither will she be,” he stated, his voice sounding a rebuke.
“I wouldn’t expect her to be,” David countered. “She’ll be accompanied by her brother, of course. And others, mayhap.”
Barbara was about to ask the name of the woman in question—and the identity of the brother—when she caught Will lifting his hand in a move to quiet the table.
“Before we start another day here in Athens, I wish to speak with you three,” Will said, his manner rather serious.
Tom and Randy exchanged quick glances with David. “Is something wrong?” Tom asked, obviously confused by the conversation.
Will shook his head. “Not yet, but... I think it best you be reminded we are in a different country now. One with different customs.”
“Has something happened?” Randy asked, straightening in his chair.
Although he seemed about to respond in the negative, Will furrowed his brows. “You tell me.”
Randy blinked as everyone else at the table stared at him. “Well, as I mentioned last night, I... I attended dinner with our cousins, the Henleys,” he said with a shrug. “We met them yesterday up on the Acropolis.”
“Your brother told us all about it at dinner last night,” his uncle said, nodding in Tom’s direction.
“As far as I know, nothing untoward happened,” Randy added defensively.
Will turned his attention to his son. “David?”
His eyes round, the viscount and future heir to the Devonville marquessate stared at his father in confusion. “Does this have something to do with Miss Jane Fitzsimmons?”
Not expecting to hear that particular name, Barbara inhaled sharply. “Is she the girl to whom you’re apparently betrothed?” she asked.
David squirmed a moment. “Sort of,” he finally hedged.
It was Will’s turn to scoff. “Betrothals aren’t something that can be a ‘sort of’ arrangement. You either are or you are not,” he stated. “Which is it?”
His shoulders dropping as if in resignation, David directed his next words to Randy. “You cannot tell Cousin Marcus.”
“Tell him what?” Randy asked, obviously confused.
David winced. “Yes, I asked Miss Jane for her hand in marriage. During that ball we attended in London before we left for Sicily,” he admitted. “But?—”
“Miss Jane Fitzsimmons?” Barbara said, a tentative grin appearing. “Viscount Reardon’s daughter?”
“Yes, Mother, but?—”
“Well, this is quite unexpected.” She had assumed David’s comment about having met his betrothed referred to Miss Diana Henley.
“Yes, but?—”
“You’re getting married?” Tom asked, his face screwed into a grimace.
“I am,” David stated, rising from his chair.
“What happened to waiting until you were at least seven-and-twenty?” Tom pressed.
The sudden silence in the dining room gave David the opportunity to provide his explanation. “My arrangement with Miss Jane is... conditional . Merely a convenience to assist her whilst she travels,” he said, “and when she is in London. Nothing more.” He visibly reddened before retaking his seat.
“Conditional?” Will repeated. “What... what sort of condition?”
David sighed. “Whilst at that ball, I discovered Miss Jane fending off an unwanted suitor in the gardens. I stepped in and... well, I might have bloodied Lord Brougham’s nose.”
Barbara inhaled softly. “He no doubt deserved it, that treacherous leech,” she whispered hoarsely.
“I escorted her back to the house, and well, before we were back in the ballroom, I told her I would offer my services—to defend her honor—should she require them again.”
“That’s not exactly a betrothal,” Will said.
“She, uh... might have... well, taken me at my word,” David stammered.
“What do you mean?” Barbara asked.
David once again seemed to squirm in his chair. “She asked if I might be willing to be her betrothed should she have need of a means to prevent future unwanted suitors,” he explained. “I agreed, of course, because... well.” He shrugged. “I would gladly marry her—and I told her I would—once I reached seven-and-twenty.”
Barbara settled back in her chair and emitted a sad sigh. “Miss Jane will be... what? Five-and-twenty?” she guessed, obviously not pleased by the details of the arrangement. “That’s terribly late for a young lady to be marrying.”
“Oh, I expect she’ll decide on someone else before she’s that old,” David admitted. “But until then, she is free to mention me as her excuse to put off would-be suitors, and I am free to?—”
“Kiss her,” Tom said, the words coming out as an accusation. “Like you did yesterday. Right out in the open, for everyone to see.”
“You kissed her?” Will asked in alarm, before Barbara could.
“On the cheek, Father. I was merely... making it clear to Cousin Marcus she was... unavailable to him,” David explained defensively.
Randy dipped his head as a chuckle threatened to erupt. “Cousin Marcus is none too happy with you,” he murmured.
David straightened. “Was it awkward for you? At dinner last night? Is he angry with me?”
Lifting a shoulder in a shrug, Randy said, “You might have warned me of your arrangement.” Turning his attention to his uncle, he said, “As for Marcus, even though he only met Miss Jane at a ball last year and then renewed their acquaintance a couple of days ago, he is quite smitten with her. Thinks he loves her.”
Will’s attention darted to Barbara, and he allowed a knowing grin.
Although she seemed to be staring at him, Barbara was remembering their first meeting. She was sure Will had been smitten with her, too, but she had been the one to encourage his attentions. The one to ask if he might kiss her. The one to coax an offer of marriage from him before he took his leave of England for a career in the British Navy.
Although she no longer regretted what had happened, there were years while Will was gone when she wished there had been time for them to marry prior to his departure. Their oldest son would then be the heir. Her life would not have been the hardscrabble struggle of a young woman banished from her father’s London home. She wouldn’t have been forced to live in a ramshackle cottage while raising an illegitimate son with dwindling funds.
She wouldn’t have grown to despise Will Slater. To hate him with every fiber of her being. To wish she had never met him.
When she sensed movement to her right, Barbara glanced up to discover Will standing over her. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “What is it?” she asked softly.
“You’re crying,” he whispered.
Blinking several times to clear the tears, she realized all three boys were staring at her, expressions of embarrassment leaving their cheeks stained red. “Whatever you all do, please do have a care in how you behave,” she said quietly. “If you have any regard at all for the young women you are sure to meet whilst we are here, you will be on your very best behavior.”
“Yes, Aunt,” Tom replied, nodding emphatically.
“Of course,” Randy chimed in.
“I... I won’t kiss her again,” David stated. “Unless... she demands it?” he added sheepishly.
Barbara gave him a quelling glance. “Only if you’re placing a betrothal ring on her finger...” She stopped speaking when she saw him wince. “You already gave her a ring?” she asked in alarm.
He nodded. “Just a small one,” he said, holding his thumb and forefinger so they nearly touched. “A ruby I bought in a London jewelry shop.”
“Did you have her father’s permission to do so?”
David shook his head. “He was at their home near Bath at the time, and we left England before he was due in London, so... no.”
Barbara scoffed, her eyes still bright with tears, but before she could say anything, David asked, “Does... does that mean I shouldn’t go to the Prison of Socrates today?”
Will returned to his chair, confusion showing on his face. “What does the Prison of Socrates have to do with Miss Jane?” he asked.
“She’s going there today,” Randy stated before David could reply. “With her brother, Antonio, and with Marcus.”
Will inhaled softly, apparently understanding the issue. “You think you should be there so that Cousin Marcus isn’t tempted to do something untoward with Miss Jane?” he asked, directing his query to his son.
David nodded.
“Even though her brother will be there?”
David shrugged.
Will straightened and crossed his arms. “I think I might have an idea of how we can spend our day,” he said before returning his attention to his breakfast.
“What do you mean?” Barbara asked, sniffling. She blinked several times in an effort to keep more tears from falling.
“I think we should all go to the Prison of Socrates,” he replied.
Randy shook his head. “I’ve already made plans to go back up to the Acropolis,” he said. “But I can see the caves on my own another day.”
“All right,” Will agreed. He knew his oldest nephew could take care of himself. “Barbara? Will you join us? It might be a bit of a climb.”
She gave him a watery grin. “Oh, I wouldn’t miss it, darling,” she said before tucking into her breakfast.
The opportunity to meet Miss Jane Fitzsimmons was entirely too tempting.