Chapter 11
Two days later, Jonathan had still been unable to make his apology.
In fact, he hadn’t even seen Lady Violet since their encounter in the foyer two days ago. He was sure that meant she was avoiding him, and he couldn’t rightly blame her for it after everything they had been through. But what was he supposed to do now?
“I don’t understand how she can be dodging me this thoroughly,” he grumbled to Williams over a breakfast he was eating alone—Noah had steadfastly refused to come to the table these last two days, taking his meals in his room instead.
“I know that she’s not just hiding out in her bedchamber, because I’ve walked by and seen the door open, but I never seen her anywhere else in the house.
How is she getting around? It doesn’t make sense to me. ”
Williams looked uncomfortable. “I don’t suppose anyone has told you about the passages, have they?”
“The passages?”
“Secret passages through the house,” Williams explained. “The dowager viscountess had them put in—it was a fascination of hers. She liked the idea of taking a hidden route from one room to another, even though there was no one for her to hide from. It was the romance of the thing for her, I think.”
“And you believe Lady Violet is aware of these passages?”
“Some of them are quite old,” Williams said.
“I’m sure some of them were here when she was a little girl, and no doubt her aunt showed them to her.
So yes, I would say she probably knows them, and I would say that she is probably using them to get around.
That’s why your paths haven’t crossed in a few days. ”
“Can you show me the way into these secret passages?” Jonathan asked.
“I can,” Williams said. “There is an entrance in your bedroom, as it happens.”
“Inside my bedroom?”
“There’s a panel at the back of the armoire that slides out, and you can get in that way,” Williams told him. “From there, the passages are all interconnected.”
“I can’t believe I never knew this,” Jonathan marveled.
“It does make sense, Your Grace. After all, you haven’t been here that long. I suspect the dowager would have told you had she completed the sale of the house to you, but failing that, she’d have wanted us to let you know.”
“Well, I greatly appreciate it,” Jonathan said. “And these passages go everywhere in the house?”
“They even go to some rooms that aren’t accessible from the main house,” Williams said. He lowered his voice slightly. “The underground baths are especially nice. From the entrance I’ve described to you, you’ll turn left and take the stone steps going down. You can’t miss it.”
All thoughts of Lady Violet left Jonathan’s mind. This house had always held a fascination for him—it was the reason he was so adamant about acquiring it—but this was something new. The place was suddenly full of mystery, and it was just what he needed to take his mind off his troubles.
He made his way up to his room and opened the armoire.
He had barely looked at it so far, but he saw now that it was newly made—it must have been added to the house in recent years to connect to these secret passages.
He shifted his clothes aside and felt around the back until he found the panel, then carefully eased it to one side.
He was looking down a narrow hallway that was completely dark.
Jonathan stepped back into his room and took a candle.
Holding it aloft, he ducked back into the passage and started along it, this time able to see a little bit by the flickering light.
The walls were made of rough stone, and so was the floor—though that had been worn smooth by years of people walking on it.
He followed Williams’ directions and found the stairs.
He hadn’t brought any bathing things, but that was all right—for now, he just wanted a look at these baths.
They must be tended by the staff, since Williams knew all about them.
His heart pounded with excitement. This house was even more marvelous than he had originally believed.
Stepping into the underground cavern at the bottom of the stairs took his breath away.
It was more of a lake than a bath, though it was clearly man-made—a vast, still pond surrounded by lit candles that told him he had been right about the staff tending to this room.
Someone must have come down to light them.
He wondered whether it might be possible to encourage them to light candles in the passage as well—that would certainly make things easier.
The pool was so enticing. He was immediately tempted by it and stripped off his shirt, tossing it into the corner.
He reached for the buckle to his pants, but he was distracted by the sight of a painting on the wall—a picture of a cathedral.
He admired it for a moment. It was exquisite work, he thought.
He had always been so fond of this art form, and he could recognize good painting when he saw it. This was a good painting.
Would it be acceptable, he wondered, to move some paintings from his own collection down here?
Or would such a thing be inappropriate? He wasn’t sure exactly what this space had meant to the dowager, and he wouldn’t have liked to dishonor it.
He might ask Williams these questions, he decided.
The butler would certainly know whether or not it would be all right to modify the decor.
He would just have to make sure the question was posed respectfully.
Beside the painting stood a small statue of a lion on a pedestal.
To the right of that was a chair and a pile of towels that appeared to be freshly laundered.
He picked one up and slung it around his neck.
He would need it after he got out of the water.
But before he went for the pool, he wanted to take a moment to really experience this place—this strange location that had been part of this house the whole time, but that he had never known existed.
He was turning in a slow circle, taking it in, when, from behind him, he heard the sound of a small splash.
He whirled, thinking there must be an animal or something in the pool—maybe a toad had gotten down here somehow. But what he saw shocked him more than anything he could have anticipated. It was certainly not a toad.
Someone was in the water. In the flickering candlelight, he saw a head and shoulders sticking up above the surface. A moment later, he recognized who they belonged to. Heat rushed into his face, and he spun back around, keeping his back to her.
“Lady Violet.” His voice was stiff. “I didn’t realize you were down here.”
“What are you doing here?” she demanded shrilly. More splashing followed—was she getting out of the water? It occurred to him that he was between her and the towels, and he hadn’t spotted whether she had put one next to her or not.
“I…just found out about this place,” he said. “I was coming to see what it was, but I had no idea I would find you here. Is this where you’ve been going every day? Is this why I haven’t seen you around lately?”
As he spoke, he moved forward and picked up a towel. Awkwardly, he tossed it behind him and heard it land on the stone floor with a muffled thump.
“You had better keep your eyes averted,” she said darkly. “I’m getting out.”
“I promise,” he assured her. And of course he would.
He wouldn’t have dreamed of looking at her without her consent.
But at the same time, as he heard the water move with her motions, as he heard the light slap of her wet feet on the stone, he was painfully aware that she was right behind him, fully naked, and that if he were to turn around, he would see her.
It shocked him how powerful the yearning was. He closed his eyes, knowing that he wouldn’t give in, but still taken aback by it.
“Why did you come down here?” she asked, her voice sharp. “Did you think that you’d corner me here and force me to talk to you? Is that it?”
“No, I just told you that I didn’t even know you were here,” he reminded her. “I didn’t come down here hoping to find you.”
“How did you find this place, if it wasn’t by following me?”
“Williams told me.”
“Williams told you?” Her voice rose in pitch. “How could he do that?”
“Well, why shouldn’t he?” Jonathan was flabbergasted. “I know you and I are in contention over it, but at present this is my house too, and I have every right to walk its rooms just as you do, Lady Violet.”
“You may have the right to walk the rooms, but you have no right at all to come here and corner me—to take me by surprise like this!” she said. “It’s an utter violation and you ought to be ashamed.”
“Can I turn around yet?”
“No. Wait until I’m finished dressing! I will tell you when you can turn around,” she said. “And I just don’t see how Williams could possibly…”
Her voice trailed off.
“Is something the matter?” Jonathan asked her.
Her voice was smaller when she spoke again. Humbler. “It’s just…I remembered that I had told Williams I was coming down here yesterday, but…well, but I didn’t tell him anything about coming down today. He didn’t know where I was.”
“Ah. So you no longer think that he was trying to betray you.”
“Well…but you still shouldn’t be here,” she said. “I’m here. You should go at once.”
“Perhaps you could give you a copy of your schedule before I do?” he suggested mildly. “So that I might know when it’s going to be my turn.”
She sighed roughly. “You are the most exasperating man in the entire world,” she told him. “I just hope you realize that.”
“It isn’t a secret that you find me so,” he agreed. “Can I turn around yet?”
“I told you that I would tell you when you could!” she snapped.
“How long does it take to get dressed?”
“It’s complicated for a lady. I would never have taken my clothes off down here had I known that I was going to be ambushed!”
He could hear her moving around, and it excited him greatly.
That they were so close, and that she was still in a state of undress…
his thoughts simmered like a pot on a stove.
What would it be like to turn around and see her for himself?
How much was she wearing right now? How scandalized would she be if he turned early?
Would she be upset, or would she just be angry?
He didn’t want to upset her, of course, but the thought of bringing out that temper again was so alluring…
“All right,” she said. “You may turn around.”
And the moment vanished. He was equally pleased with himself for holding out and disappointed that he hadn’t acted when he could. He turned back around.
Her hair hung loose and damp about her shoulders. She was squeezing the ends with her towel, wringing out the water. Her clothes were tidy, but he could tell that they had been hastily put on by the way a few things were crooked here and there.
“You should have left the moment you found me here,” she said quietly, crossing her arms. “Why didn’t you do that?”
“Because I didn’t want to leave,” he said. “I’ve been trying to talk to you all week, Lady Violet. You’ve been avoiding me. Well, now I’ve found you, and I won’t leave. Not until I get a conversation.”