Chapter 13
A polka was well underway, but Edward leapt into the fray without hesitation. Snaking his arm around her waist, he spun her into the dancers, taking the hopping steps with abandon. Unlike some of the simpler versions, the choreography shifted frequently; Joanna knew it well and followed as was required, but Edward cast several glances at the other gentlemen, trying to match their steps.
“You don’t know this one?” she breathed, but rather than look chagrined, the fellow merely shrugged and carried on, appearing as though afflicted by St. Vitus’s dance. Joanna tried to whisper the steps to him, but they were intricate enough that it was a challenge to do so whilst completing her part.
And matters weren’t helped when the gentleman in question kept winking at her like a scoundrel. With overdone movements, he guided her across the floor, and when her cheeks started to heat, Edward leaned close as they turned.
“Let go, Joanna. Enjoy yourself.”
With that, he spun her about, and when his hand landed at her waist, his fingers reached for the ticklish spot beneath her ribs. Between his evening gloves and her corset protecting her, Joanna was in no real danger of him catching that tender spot, but just the thought of his hands there was enough to make her sputter a laugh.
“Don’t you dare!” she hissed when he was close enough to scold, but Edward merely winked again, and spent more time attempting to touch her weak spot than heeding his steps. And when Joanna turned to spin away, his fingertips brushed at the base of her neck, sending a skittering of gooseflesh across her skin.
The rascal!
But the more he teased and twitted her, the less attention she had to give the others, and soon she was attempting to retaliate. Unfortunately for her, Edward knew no shame and was not so easily unsettled, but that was simply part of the game.
Joanna didn’t understand how he managed it, but that carefree spirit seeped into her, loosening her muscles and banishing the blush of embarrassment from her cheeks (though the one born of exertion and laughter remained). And before she knew it, she embraced the ridiculousness of the moment. When the music finally faded and the dancers applauded, she noticed several pairs of eyes fixed on them, yet she hadn’t the space in her heart to wonder whether they were laughing at her or alongside her.
Despite having spent so much time with him of late, Joanna had never imagined just how delightful a party could be with Edward by her side. With such a hurried engagement and no proper courtship to speak of, they had never been granted this opportunity before, and it was perfect.
Edward didn’t hesitate to lead her into another dance, introducing her to the couples around them but otherwise keeping the whole of her attention for himself, as though he couldn’t bear to see it stray. Joanna’s steps grew lighter with each passing minute, and though her lungs and legs longed for a moment’s reprieve, she followed him about the floor with all the vigor she could muster, losing herself in the light and laughter he exuded.
Clapping with the others as the music ended, Joanna quickly took Edward’s arm, leaning into him and sharing a smile as they savored the brief respite.
“Enough,” she said with heaving breaths. “You are going to dance me into an early grave.”
“Not the worst of deaths,” he added with another rascally waggle of his brows.
But before Joanna could think of a witty reply (though she was certain to fall short of the high bar her husband set), a timid touch to her shoulder had her turning around to find Sadie standing there. The young lady’s gaze darted around as she tugged and smoothed her evening gloves.
With a beaming grin, Edward greeted his sister as though they’d been apart for weeks and not hours. “And how are you enjoying yourself, dear sister of mine?”
Sadie’s shoulders loosened at her brother’s warm greeting, though there was a stiffness to her movements that remained as she cleared her throat.
“I wondered…” Sadie’s words were so quiet that Joanna struggled to hear them over the noise of the party. Drawing herself up, the young lady gathered her strength before forcing the words free. “I was thinking I might introduce you to my friends.”
Joanna’s heart lightened, and it brightened her expression as she nodded. “That would be wonderful, Sadie. I would love to meet them.”
“If my lady wills it, so shall it be,” said Edward with a solemn tone. “Let us see these friends of whom you speak.”
That stripped away the last of Sadie’s reserves, and sighing as only a sister can at her brother’s antics, she scowled at him. “Not you, you goose. You have already monopolized all her time, and we do not want you hanging about when the ladies are trying to talk.”
But Edward refused to leave—even when his sister shoved at him—and remained where he was as he met Joanna’s eyes. His brows rose in question, asking what she wished without speaking. Joanna didn’t think it was possible for her to feel more for this man, but her heart burned at that kindness. Giving him a reassuring nod, she allowed Sadie to drag her away.
But not before he leaned close to whisper in her ear. “If you require rescue, just look at me and scratch your nose. I’ll take that as a sign and come posthaste.”
Sighing to herself, Joanna felt her smile fill her face as she floated alongside Sadie. Nerves tried to surge to the forefront again, but she clung to the contentment Edward had granted her, holding fast with both hands as Sadie led her along.
*
For all that Dr. Eddie Vaughn had nine and twenty years to his credit, he felt like a young mother hen watching her chick venture from the nest as he tracked Joanna’s progress across the market hall. Holding fast to hope, he prayed his efforts had calmed her enough to manage, though he wasn’t certain that was possible considering the massive tangle of fears she’d laid at his feet earlier.
Watching for the slightest sign of an itchy nose, Eddie wandered the gathering, nodding and smiling as he greeted the others. As he’d said, this wasn’t their first true foray into society, so most had already given their congratulations, leaving him free to lurk if he wished to. And though he preferred to wade back into the merriment, his eyes followed Joanna closely as she engaged with Sadie’s friends.
A silent petition turned heavenward as he watched, begging her to remain at ease. Eddie may have worded it poorly, but he’d spoken the truth before: Joanna was thoroughly enjoyable when she relaxed enough to be her genuine self, but in the grip of her nerves and fears, she was exhausting.
Joanna’s smile broadened, and Eddie hid a wince at the sharp edge to it. Despite her calm just a moment ago, that overeager expression returned to her face, displaying desperation in every inch. And though he couldn’t overhear them from this distance with all the music and noise hanging in the air around him, he recognized the signs of the brittle laugh she always employed when pretending something was amusing.
Confound it, the lady was such a fretful creature.
“Are we interrupting?” asked Father, a hint of a laugh to his tone.
Glancing toward the gentleman, Eddie sighed. “Not at all.”
“How was Mr. Parsons?”
“As well as ever,” replied Eddie with a half-smile. “Convinced his gout has returned, and his kidneys are diseased, though I think that is merely another bout of stones.”
Father gave that a considering hum as his eyes traveled the gathering. “Your mother is concerned about how much time you are spending on him.”
“As she has told me,” replied Eddie, tucking his hands behind him. Drawing in a deep breath, he steeled himself and hurried to add, “It isn’t as though I suffer a shortage of time.”
“If you need more work to do, I am certain Gregory would welcome the assistance,” replied Father.
“He has clerks managing most of the apothecary shop, and you know how much Mother enjoys producing medicines when they require more hands. I don’t want to take that away from her.” With the subject already broached, there was no reason not to venture further, so Eddie hurried to add, “I would love the opportunity to take on more patients. Heaven knows you’ve worked hard for so many years, and you’ve earned a rest—”
“I am not old,” said Father with a hardness to his tone that had Eddie’s brows rising.
“I wasn’t suggesting anything of the sort—”
“I am still capable,” he added.
Eddie nodded, glancing at the lined face that was still far younger looking than his five and sixty years. “I didn’t say you weren’t.”
“There you are,” called Mother, striding over with two cups of punch and handing one to her husband before giving her son a buss on the cheek. “Eddie, I feel as though we haven’t seen you properly since you returned from London.”
“We live under the same roof, Mother. I see you almost daily.”
“And soon, we will not even have that,” replied Mother with a sigh.
“Do you not want Joanna and me to leave?” asked Eddie with a frown. “You were the one to press the issue—”
“Yes, yes,” she said, waving his question away. “It’s good for you and your wife to have a home of your own, and I am eager to see you two establish yourselves, but I am sad to see you go.”
“Your wife.” Despite having heard people say such things for the past month, it still felt odd in his ears. Casting a glance at his parents, he furrowed his brow. “Why aren’t you at the card tables? You were looking forward to playing.”
Mother slid her free arm through Father’s and patted it. “We wanted to walk about.”
Yet that provided no more answer to the mystery. Arthur and Violet Vaughn were as close as any two hearts could be, but as much as he’d assured Joanna, it would be remarked upon if a married pair chose each other’s company over the other guests, and Mother and Father weren’t ones to insist on remaining together when they had all other days to enjoy each other’s company.
Father huffed, his eyes turning toward the crowd, lids narrowing as his gaze pointed in the same direction as Eddie, and Mother whispered something in Father’s ear.
“What was that?” asked Eddie, but the gentleman waved it away.
“And what were you two discussing?” asked Mother, glancing between the pair. “It looked very serious.”
“Mr. Parsons,” said Father.
Mother sighed, leveling a pleading look at her son. “You shouldn’t indulge his fantasies. It isn’t good practice to make people believe they are sicker than they are, Eddie.”
“That is not what I am doing, Mother. He fancies himself ill, and it brings him and his wife comfort to have me examine him. I charge them a fraction of what I ought, so what does it matter? And when he insists on medicines, isn’t it better to give him sugar pills than allow him to dose himself with whatever herbs and crackpot cure-alls he gets his hands on?”
A hesitant part of him longed to point out that the simplest solution to their concerns would be for Father to relinquish more responsibilities, leaving Eddie no time to “indulge” Mr. Parsons’ fantasies. But he wouldn’t risk provoking Father’s ire again. Clearly, the gentleman had no intention of surrendering control of his practice, and pressing the issue would only invite trouble.
“I suppose you are right,” she replied with a frown, her lips pinching together in that familiar manner she always employed when studying her middle-born child. Eddie could practically hear the worries whirling about her head; tugging at his cuffs, he shifted in place.
In a distracted tone, Mother said, “Your Joanna is a sweet girl.”
“That she is,” replied Eddie with a smile.
“I am proud of how good a husband you are to her,” she added. “So attentive and kind.”
Eddie straightened. “Thank you.”
Turning her gaze back to the lady in question, she added with a furrowed brow, “Though she is a bit tightly wound.”
Huffing, Eddie nodded. “That she is. She is desperate to secure your good opinion.”
“I don’t know why she is so anxious,” said Mother with raised brows. “Am I that terrifying? Whenever I speak to her, I fear I only fluster her further. She speaks either little or volumes.”
Eddie considered what he knew of his wife, weighing what was private (and thus not to be disclosed) against what might help his mother forge a stronger bond with her.
“Joanna tends to fear the worst,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “But with time and encouragement, she calms. She is simply…skittish.”
Father gave that a considering hum, and Mother studied her daughter-in-law from afar.
“She certainly isn’t who I imagined you marrying,” she said.
“Is that terrible?” asked Eddie with a frown.
Mother shook her head, turning her gaze to her son. “Not at all. I suppose you just remind me so much of Isaac, especially with this secret courtship and all, that I anticipated you finding someone like Lilibet.”
Blinking, Eddie swiftly dismissed the thought of marrying anyone remotely like Aunt Lilibet—who, though sweet enough, was rather a silly creature—and a chill settled in his stomach. Uncle Franklin had been true to his word and hadn’t written to Father about what had prompted Eddie’s marriage, leaving him the choice of what to reveal.
When they’d first returned home, the path had seemed clear. For both his and Joanna’s sake, deception had appeared the best course, yet every time his parents unwittingly tiptoed near the truth, his chest tightened.
If he admitted the marriage had come about by mistake, it would only confirm Mother’s belief that he was nothing more than a careless Uncle Isaac. His parents would neither disown nor despise him for it, yet to see another flash of disappointment in his mother’s gaze? The very thought weighed upon him like a great boulder.
Besides, the truth might alter their opinion of Joanna, who was still struggling to find her footing amongst his family.
Maintaining the lie was the wiser course.
That furrow of her brow deepened as Mother continued, “All those months, Isaac was sneaking away to court Lilibet and then surprised us by announcing he was engaged—”
“Ours wasn’t a secret courtship,” Eddie blurted, his throat tightening whilst he dragged out the excuse they’d used since the moment they’d decided on this course of action. “As I have told you, it was simply speedy as we already knew one another, and we didn’t wish to be separated for a long engagement.”
“Yes, but you never mentioned her before,” said Mother with a frown.
But Father saved him from answering by saying with a smirk, “And we all know that young men always tell their mothers about their sweethearts.”
Sighing, Mother nodded. “I suppose so. This is my first child to marry, and the whole thing was such a surprise.”
Nodding, Eddie tucked his hands behind him. “Yes, it was a bit surprising for us all, but will you please excuse me? I may be an old married man, but I am still expected to stand up a few times with the ladies of Thornsby.” Then, gesturing toward the dancing, he asked his father, “Care to join me?”
Father shifted, and Mother’s hold on his arm tightened, making Eddie’s brows furrow as the gentleman cleared his throat. “I fear I am not up to it tonight. Do double duty for me.”
Eddie stared at the man. “Are you certain?”
“Of course,” said Father with a strained smile that did nothing to ease Eddie’s confusion. But before he could question Father further, Mother bundled the fellow off.