Chapter Eight
L ooking up into his gray-green eyes, her entire being flooded with happiness.
“Gladly,” Brilliance said. But she couldn’t help peering past him to make sure their walk would not be a threesome. Fortunately, Lady Georgiana was engrossed in a conversation with Lord Fincham. Thus, she followed Lord Hewitt away from the picnic.
They didn’t touch. He didn’t take her arm, yet they walked companionably close, seeming to mutually decide to go to the abbey ruins.
There was much more remaining of the medieval structure than the Roman ones. Brilliance walked along a decrepit nave, ignoring the field mouse that scuttled ahead of her. There was still a section of the altar. And on her left, the wall and roof were partially intact, containing some of the clerestory window framing, although there was no glass left.
“It’s lovely,” she proclaimed.
He smiled. “Lovely in an accidental way, I suppose. Not lovely like a female dressed for a ball.”
“Yes, that’s precisely what I meant.” She thought it a romantic place and tried to imagine the abbey when it was whole, perhaps with light streaming in through stained glass, replete with devoted nuns and clerics. Maybe they held weddings there and baptized children.
“You look far away in your thoughts,” he said.
She shrugged. “It is easier to picture what happened in the abbey than in a Roman farmer’s temple.”
“I agree, although —” he broke off as others came in behind them. “Shall we move along?” he asked.
Nodding, they left through one of the large gaps in the wall.
“Would you like to see the southern view that my cousin mentioned?” he asked.
“I would.” They began to walk up the gentle incline behind the abbey. Brilliance considered her handsome guide. “I just realized you must have seen all this before. The ruins and the view. Your home is not too far away, is it?”
“My estate is about half an hour by fast horse, and I have visited my cousin’s manor house all my life, so yes, I’ve seen the view from the knoll.” Then he added, “But not with you.”
That made her smile. Lord Hewitt was being kind and friendly. She hoped it lasted. She would try not to do anything that annoyed him. As long as they didn’t stumble across a piano, that shouldn’t be too difficult.
As if reading her thoughts, he asked, “Did you write my name on the list of performers yesterday?”
That might engender his ire, but she had to be honest. “I did.”
“Why?” His voice remained even. “What did you hope to accomplish?”
“I knew you would hear others who weren’t as talented, and thus, by the time your name was called, I hoped you would have gained the confidence needed to play for us.”
She held her breath. Instead of looking irate, however, he started to laugh. Finally, he took her arm and tucked it under his. The warmth and strength of him took her breath away.
“Is that why you humiliated yourself with your piano performance? In order to bolster me?”
“Why, yes.” And then she shook her head. “I knew it was bad, but was it truly dreadful?”
“Beyond dreadful. It was painful to listen while you picked out the notes. You nearly succeeded in your goal, by the way.”
“Did I?” she asked, relishing his body alongside her own as they continued to climb toward the plateau.
“If you had gone on much longer, I might have had to push you aside and at least play three notes in a row without pausing.”
“Your intrusion would have been welcome, I assure you. I couldn’t have continued if I had looked behind me to see the faces of my captive audience.” She ought to be mortified at how poor her musical abilities were given her companion’s great talent, but his lack of arrogance left her unbothered. “The two times I have seen you playing, you were doing so from memory. Can you read music?”
“I can,” Lord Hewitt said. Then he raised an eyebrow at her. “And a lot better than you, by the way.”
She laughed, taking no offense as, clearly, he meant none. “Have you written out your own music so others can play it, too?”
The man beside her stiffened, changing from relaxed to tense in the space of a heartbeat.
“That’s the last thing I want to do.” His tone was terse.
Lord Hewitt was a mystery, and the only way to understand a mystery was to ask questions. “Why?”
“That is not your concern,” he snapped. Then he shook his head, apparently releasing whatever tension had got hold of him. “I apologize for sounding harsh. Yet while I am mentally capable of keeping my music in my head, I shall continue to do so.”
Curious and more curious, she thought.
“Careful,” he said, drawing her past a small gully and around some chickweed bushes interspersed with purple marsh orchids. “We’re almost there.”
“I would just as soon our destination were far away and that we had hours before I had to get back in the saddle. The best horse is harnessed to a swift carriage.”
“You don’t like to ride?” he asked.
Brilliance realized it was a mark against her and perhaps even a deterrent to securing Lord Hewitt’s fond admiration. Gentlemen, especially noblemen, appreciated women who could ride with them in Hyde Park. What could she say?
“I don’t mind it,” she hedged, determined not to lie to him, “and it’s possible I shall grow more comfortable with practice. Today’s ride was a little long, and in truth, I found it rattling. Nerve-racking, if you will. Probably the way you feel about performing in public.”
He didn’t say anything to that, but after a thoughtful moment, he patted her arm.
“If we can ride out again this week, you may, as you said, feel increasingly at ease as you gain experience.”
What a generous offer! She hoped it was because he wanted to be with her, not because he wanted to spend more time riding horses.
“I would like that,” she said. “To be honest, I would like any time we spend together, be it on horseback, walking in the tall grass as we are now, or otherwise.”
Vincent halted at the top of the rise, looked up at the blue sky with its few puffy white clouds, and smiled to himself. Lady Brilliance was unlike any female he’d ever met. He had spent the entire morning in the presence of Lady Georgiana, and the difference between the two ladies was stark.
While Lady Georgiana was pretty with a practiced skill for conversing upon many topics, she was also coy and flirtatious. And where Lady Brilliance was concerned, the former was downright vindictive. Lady Brilliance, on the other hand, was forthright and honest in a direct, effortless way that most people, in his experience, simply were not. It left one far too vulnerable, but she seemed unaware of that. Or brave enough not to care.
Moreover, her emotions, sometimes even her thoughts, were plainly apparent. How did she go through life being so transparent?
“There you go again,” he said finally, looking into her indigo eyes.
“Where am I going?” she asked.
“Without an ounce of guile, speaking about us spending time in each other’s company with an utter lack of self-preservation.”
“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why would I wish to be deceitful with you, and from what would I need to preserve myself?”
That struck him funny. When he laughed, she did, too.
“You have a pretty laugh,” he told her, “and you laugh often, which is nice.”
She shielded her eyes from the sun and continued to look up at him.
“Not too much, I hope, like a braying donkey.”
With Lady Brilliance being so earnest and affable, he wanted to take her in his arms despite it being broad daylight outdoors. He also had to swallow some ridiculous words, which ought not to be spoken lightly or too soon.
Such as how attracted he was to her and how much he enjoyed her company, both amusing and refreshingly off-kilter.
Clearing his throat, he said, “That thought never crossed my mind. You are not at all like a donkey.” Vincent drew her in front of him. When she looked as though she were about to melt against him for another kiss, he turned her around so her back was to him.
“Now look out there,” Vincent ordered, letting his hands rest lightly upon her shoulders. “Do you see the next valley where the stream appears as a ribbon of shimmering gold?”
“That’s entirely accurate and so cleverly described,” she said. “Yes, I see it.”
“My home is next to those woodlands.”
“Is it?” she asked before trying to turn in his arms.
The minx! But he held her firmly in place since other guests were approaching. He could hear them chattering as they came around the gully behind them. All he had to do was move so he wasn’t touching her.
“Perhaps you can see some of my home’s chimneys,” he said and took a step backward. “It’s possible.” If one were a bird in the sky.
Lady Brilliance raised her hand to the rim of her bonnet once again, staring into the distance. But then she laughed, spun around, and barreled toward him.
Vincent had to grab hold of her upper arms before she knocked him over.
“You’re teasing!” she exclaimed. “Kiss m —”
Lady Brilliance interrupted herself, undoubtedly catching sight of other guests. He turned and groaned. Sure enough, four others had stopped to stare at them, including the sharp-eyed Lady Georgiana, Lord Patterson, Miss Newton, and Lady Martine.
While Lady Brilliance put space between herself and him, she seemed unaffected by being caught standing close.
“Come see,” she called out, her voice perfectly natural, holding her hand out to Lady Martine. “You can almost see Lord Hewitt’s home from here.”
Easing the awkwardness, the lady came forward and took her friend’s arm. Together, they looked out across the shallow valley, soon joined by the other guests, although Lady Georgiana had given him a withering glance as she’d drawn near.
“His home is past the gold ribbon,” Lady Brilliance announced. “Can you see any chimneys?”
“No,” Lady Martine said and turned back to look at Vincent with a raised eyebrow.
He coughed. The lady thought he had lured her friend up there on false pretenses. It was clear as day.
“How disappointing,” Lady Brilliance said. “Shall we have an outing to your home one afternoon, Lord Hewitt?” she asked without turning.
He startled at her boldly inviting herself and others. Hopefully, Alethia had every day booked with activities from morning till night. In truth, Vincent had no wish for a passel of strangers to descend upon his estate. Luckily, his cousin and the Colonel had just crested the hill.
Having received no response from him, Lady Brilliance wasn’t shy about asking Lady Twitchard the same.
“Will there be an opportunity to visit Lord Hewitt’s country home?”
Vincent knew he must be wild-eyed as he caught his cousin’s questioning gaze. She recognized his reluctance to play the host and deflected the eager young lady.
“Since my cousin is here,” Alethia said carefully, “and came directly from London, his home is still closed up, probably with little in the way of food or niceties.”
Lady Brilliance looked at him for confirmation.
“Sadly, it is true,” he said. And it was. After the party, he would be going to Joyden’s Wood directly. By then, his minimal country staff ought to have everything open, aired, dusted, polished, and stocked. He would be blissfully free from Parliamentary duties as well as from prying females who barged in when he was losing himself in his music. Or rather, when he was finding himself. For while playing the piano, with the notes in his head sounding clear, resonant, round, and rich through the instrument, only then was his mind at peace.
The rest of the time, he could hear any music he merely thought about. With his perfect pitch, the notes played inside his head as precisely as if he were at the piano. That almost never ceased, although sometimes he wished it would.
Vincent glanced at the most disturbing, intrusive woman he had ever met. Lady Brilliance was staring directly back at him. He felt her clear, penetrating gaze like a punch to the gut.
What the devil? She was so plainly wishing they were still alone that he feared the others would see it on her lovely face, too.
He clapped his gloved hands to distract and call attention to himself. Unfortunately, he hadn’t planned anything to say. Thus, after an awkward pause, he asked, “Are we finished here?”
His cousin shook her head. “Are you eager to get back on your horse? I know you’ve seen all this before, and no one will mind if you wish to leave. But some of my guests are only now making it this far.” She looked at the others gathering on the top of the hill.
“Was the view worth the climb?” asked Lord Fincham, cresting the plateau.
“Indeed, it was,” said Lady Georgiana, but she was staring at Vincent, not out over the valley.
“Tell us what we’re seeing,” demanded Lord Patterson. The Colonel began to point out landmarks as far as the eye could see.
Suddenly, Lady Brilliance was at his elbow. “I am ready to return and would be pleased to ride back with you.”
He sighed. She was not a strumpet, but no one would be faulted for thinking her one. Had she no sense of decorum? But her blue eyes in the mid-day sunshine bewitched him, and her hopeful smile was impossible to destroy with harsh words.
“If your friend accompanies us, then I shall happily be your guide.”
A shadow crossed her face. He’d thwarted her attempt to be unaccompanied. Oddly, he didn’t put her in the same class of female as Lady Georgiana, or the many others who tried to manipulate or coerce a man. Lady Brilliance genuinely seemed to like him and merely wished to spend time together.
As did he .
However, he would be a blackguard to kiss her again or even be alone with her. In a few days, she would be returning to London, and he didn’t want her to leave with false expectations or, worse, a broken heart.
Far worse than that would be if they let desire take them too far, and she went home ruined. Vincent wasn’t prepared for the Earl Diamond showing up on his doorstep demanding he marry this peculiar young lady.
“I will go, too,” Lady Martine said.
“So shall I,” Lord Patterson declared.
Thus, the four of them strolled back to their waiting horses. Easily, they paired up with the ladies riding ahead and the gentlemen behind.
Vincent thought he had satisfactorily deferred any and all issues until Lady Brilliance turned in her sidesaddle to address him. “Do you really think your home is in such a state of disrepair that we cannot visit?”
He cursed the range of movement that riding aside gave a female, as she could as easily turn her torso and speak with him as she could look forward.
Lady Martine coughed loudly.
“Are you well?” Lady Brilliance asked.
“Yes,” she said, “merely some dust in my throat. What is on Lady Twitchard’s schedule for this evening?”
Bless her heart, Vincent thought, for distracting her persistent friend .
“Charades,” responded Lady Brilliance. “I do so love them, although I often am stumped by the riddles.”
“Then we must be partners,” Lady Martine said, “and help one another.”
“I had hoped to partner with you,” Lord Patterson said.
Vincent eyed him. What was the man about? One didn’t show favoritism when two ladies were present.
“To which of us do you speak?” Lady Brilliance asked, now looking back at him.
“Why, to you,” Lord Patterson said.
Vincent felt a niggling prickle of propriety, which he hastily dismissed. Rather than her paying him undue attention, she ought to partner with the other man. Otherwise, tongues would start to wag.
“I am afraid that is impossible,” Lady Brilliance said, “for yesterday, Lord Hewitt asked to be my partner.”
Vincent nearly groaned. She made it sound so premeditated, as if he had purposefully claimed her for himself ahead of time. In fact, Lord Patterson gave him a sidelong look that had lost its friendly demeanor.
Nevertheless, Vincent didn’t gainsay her. He was, in fact, pleased with the arrangement. And luckily, Lord Patterson showed he wasn’t an utter looby by extending his offer to Lady Martine, thereby averting an awkward moment. While the lady accepted, to Vincent’s eyes, she didn’t seem too keen upon the idea, either.
Lady Brilliance appeared not to notice. “Aren’t we a merry foursome? If only there was a way to know the riddles in advance. Why, we would be the champions of the charades.”
Was she openly declaring she would cheat? Vincent shook his head. He was a little on edge not knowing what she might say next. When she looked back at him once again, he cringed in anticipation.
“I, for one, would not mind seeing your home even if your furniture is sheeted and your pantry bare.”
To this bold statement, all eyes turned to him, and Vincent would gladly wring the lady’s slender neck.