Chapter Nine #2
“Now then,” the countess eventually said, “there are so many questions I have for you about America. I’ve never been, but this morning I woke thinking it might be a wonderful place to visit someday.”
“I would love to answer your questions; however, I don’t have extensive knowledge. I have been to several of the larger cities in the northeast, but there are many exciting places I’ve yet to visit.”
Ashlyn was pleased to take the conversation to a topic that made her smile. She missed her home and was happy to share what she knew. In no time, the two women found themselves comparing Boston to London.
“I also read that your father, Mr. Vickers, is among the most successful men in America, and that he and your mother intend to visit London. I should like very much to extend them an invitation here. Bath is not far; we might enjoy day trips together. I have many friends there who would delight in making their acquaintance.”
Ashlyn smiled and inclined her head. “I am certain they would be honored, my lady.” Inside, however, her heart twisted with guilt.
The deception pressed more heavily with each passing hour.
She loved Elizabeth dearly, but to mislead this kind woman, her son, and the whole household—it felt less like a kindness and more like a trap from which she could not escape.
As though sensing her unease, the countess steered the talk elsewhere. “Will you still attend Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s house party, do you think?”
“I do not know,” Ashlyn admitted. “It will depend upon the roads, I suppose…and I do not yet know the state of our carriage.”
“Do not be troubled by that, my dear,” the countess said.
“Just this morning, I received a missive from Lady Ashbourne, whose estate is to host the gathering. She has postponed the festivities, owing to the storm. It will be a shorter party than planned, but Mrs. Dove-Lyon will still preside over the dinners and entertainments. Gabriel and I were invited, though we had declined at first.” Her smile turned wry. “But given the circumstances…”
A familiar, deep voice broke in from the doorway. “Given what circumstances, Mother?”
Ashlyn’s breath caught as Gabriel entered the room, the scent of rain still clinging to his hair.
Gabriel walked into the breakfast room to find his mother and Miss Vickers chatting quietly about various places to visit in Boston, Massachusetts.
His mother had never expressed any interest in visiting across the pond, and suddenly, she was planning a sightseeing trip to Philadelphia and Boston.
He glanced at Miss Vickers, who was smiling in his direction with an expectant look on her face, as if waiting for him to say something.
He realized he hadn’t greeted them. Instead, he had been staring in her direction.
Well, of course he had, because his first instinct had been to sweep her up in his arms, knowing everything she had been through.
She had been through an ordeal as well, and he had not known the extent of it until that morning.
Lightning flashed and thunder cracked outside the window, reminding them all that Mother Nature hadn’t finished toying with them.
“Good morning, Miss Vickers,” he finally said.
“Good morning, my lord,” she replied with a soft smile.
Damn, but she was lovely.
The countess delicately cleared her throat.
“Mother, I hope I didn’t disturb your discussion.”
“Not at all, dear.” She smiled. “We’ve been discussing places to see, should I decide to visit America. And Miss Vickers has told me of its beauty. Now, you are welcome to join us. There is enough to feed an army.”
Gabriel nodded, moving to the sideboard to fill a plate.
“We were grateful for the brief respite from the thunder and lightning, but I see it’s returned. As much as I enjoy the wonderful benefits of rain, this weather has worn out its welcome.” She arched a brow at his plate.
He smiled as he set down his plate on the table and took a seat.
“I see you worked up an appetite. And so, Miss Vickers and I shall continue our discussion about America while you eat. Then I shall ask you to inform us about the accident site.”
He nodded. His mother gave him a good ten minutes before she asked him. He took a sip of strong coffee and shared with them what he and his men had seen, and what he planned to do to prevent any more accidents in that stretch of road.
“Well…what does the carriage look like by the light of day?” his mother asked.
“I left five men pulling the carriage out of the mud. It appears that a wheel broke in the accident, and one of the axles looks cracked. It may have hit one of the bigger rocks on the side of the road. Theo knows someone who he thinks can fix it, but it may take some time. The men will do their best to clean it up.”
Ashlyn frowned. “I think the entire plan to attend the house party has been messed up. Even if the carriage is fixed, I don’t have a driver.
I certainly can’t allow Billy Crutchins to drive it.
Had I any idea he was fourteen—well, it’s a lesson to me to make sure to meet my hired staff, or stew in my own juices, as they say. ”
“Oh! That is the most delightful idiom I’ve heard in a while,” the countess said. “I suppose it means to suffer the consequences.”
“Yes, I’m so sorry. I’ve been trying to be conscious of words and phrases specific to America and those I’ve tried to learn for England. But when I get rattled…” Ashlyn said.
“Oh, don’t worry about it, my dear. We’re all guilty sometimes. I actually quite like this one!”
Ashlyn’s lip twitched as she relaxed, visibly relieved at the countess’s remarks. “I think it came from our frontier, eventually making its way to Boston. And I think my father used it once, and I’ve used it a time or two.”
“Anyway, my son has planned to go to the party, so he can drive you and your maid,” the countess offered. “You will be much safer in our carriage. Isn’t that right, Gabriel?”
“Truly? That is most kind of you, Lord Ravensthorpe,” Ashlyn said. “I hope it is not an intrusion on your time.”
“It is no trouble at all,” he said. “We will have a smoother journey than the one you experienced in the carriage you contracted. However, we will require an additional day because of all the mud on the road. There are still some places that we found impassable for a carriage. Theo is getting some of the men from the village to help clear it out, and it should take at least two days to mend your carriage and clear the road.”
Ashlyn said.
“Oh, my dear,” the countess said. “You will make it to the house party, but I assure you that house parties are notoriously not smaller-scale events. You have a smaller number, yes. But you are thrown into close quarters with the group—and if everyone doesn’t get along, it could be stressful.
” She turned and smiled at her son. “But I’m certain that Gabriel will ensure your experience is wonderful and memorable. Is that not so, son?”
His mother’s words jolted him, and he realized he had been staring at Ashlyn again, remembering the middle of last night.
He just wished he had not had to end their time together so quickly.
He’d wanted to hear more about her love of cooking—or anything she wanted to speak of, for that matter.
And as though he were a schoolboy pining after his first crush, he’d hoped she would bake some of those cookies she had mentioned…
Cookies, not biscuits. He suddenly had other sorts of visions of what he would like to do in the kitchen with Miss Vickers.
Good God, what had come over him?
“Er…yes, Mother, I will make certain of that.” He didn’t know what else to say. He couldn’t very well say he didn’t plan on taking his eyes off her. Even if that might be his plan.
What was he doing? He didn’t want to get married. And he knew there would be debutantes at the party he’d have to avoid. And the infamous Mrs. Dove-Lyon, as well. He’d not fall for any of her machinations.
Maybe the right idea was to stay close to Miss Vickers. He would do everything in his power to make sure that she was well protected from fortune hunters.