Chapter Six #2
She turned over again, thrusting one arm out from the covers and trying to find a cool place on the pillow.
What was it about the wretched man she found so appealing?
He was certainly handsome, in a very refined kind of way, but it was the smile in his eyes that had first drawn her attention—mischievous, almost boyish, and yet with a very adult understanding.
And he was attracted to her. She had always known that.
Dear God, how would she feel if Lily did marry him?
Oh, no, I am not so far gone that I cannot recover. I will be the perfect stepmother. Though I may not visit often...
She felt again the lingering caress of his lips on her hand.
So distant a kiss should not set her pulses racing, though there might have been an excuse outside when he had kissed her mouth with such unexpected if all too brief firmness.
He would be such a wonderful lover, tender, attentive, with his long, slender body that would look so beautiful naked, and feel so good in her arms. No rough, drunken fumbling for quick gratification or domination. ..
She yanked the pillow over her face and pushed it away again.
He was right. She had been searching for love.
That was the meaning she had sought after Sark’s death had finally freed her from the horrors of marriage.
No one since had been so cruel to her. They had all been flatteringly avid and grateful, but each of her three illicit lovers had disappointed her.
There had been no love in the loving. A transient half-pleasure did not outweigh her sense of regret, and she had almost decided to stop looking.
It would be the same with him. I am seeking something that does not exist.
He would be kind to Lily. There was nothing of the “death’s head” or even the invalid about him. The girl could do worse, much worse, than be the Duchess of Isbourne.
And like him, Tabitha would do her duty, watch him grow to love Lily as he might have loved her...
She threw herself onto her back, listening to the creaking joints of the old house.
At some point, just as the early summer dawn was breaking, she heard several equine snorts outside, and the slow, gentle thud of many hooves, as though several ponies were wearing stockings as they were led away from the inn.
Was the contraband all hidden now? Would Smith vanish silently during the night with the ponies, or move openly on his way, wherever that was, in full daylight?
She worried for Jack’s safety—the duke’s safety—but curiously she found she did not fear for him. He would find a way to deal with any situations that arose.
She just wished she were going with him. And the intensity of that longing did shock her.
***
SHE AND LILY ROSE AS soon as the inn began to stir, and it seemed all the guests at the Headless Horse had the same idea. Everyone who had been present last night was again in the common room, although this time, fraternization was kept to a minimum.
The Smiths sat where they had on the previous evening, wading through what seemed to be a fried version of last night’s mutton stew. At quite the other end of the room, Lieutenant Meade and Jack sat at separate tables, each set for one.
All the men rose and bowed at Tabitha’s amused “Good morning.” She managed not to look at Jack and was glad to be distracted by an entirely different maid coming to greet them and inviting them to the last available table between Jack and Meade.
By the time Tabitha had asked for tea and toast, the Frenchmen—if they were French —were making their exit, with polite farewells.
The guests left behind exchanged glances.
Almost immediately, the sounds of trotting hooves in the yard told Tabitha the Smiths’ mounts had already been saddled and waiting.
No one spoke. Jack gazed into his cup until the sound of the hooves had faded.
“Such an early start puts the rest of us to shame,” he said, finishing whatever was in his cup and rising to his feet. “I too must be off. Ladies, your servant. Meade, farewell and good luck.”
He picked his saddle bags off the floor beside his table and sauntered off. Would he even be able to tell which direction the Smiths had taken? At the door he paused and glanced back directly at Tabitha. A quick, fugitive smile flickered, and her heart turned over. She could not help smiling back.
And then he was gone. No saddled horse awaited him, judging by the quiet that followed.
Lieutenant Meade said diffidently, “Since our destination is the same, may I escort you, ladies?”
Beneath the table, Lily’s foot pressed on Tabitha’s. Well, it was one way of getting to know the young man, and since the outriders were with the baggage coach, an extra man might well prove useful.
“How very kind,” Tabitha said affably.
They saw no sign of their hosts as they paid their shot to the maid and departed. No doubt their late night had caught up with them. James the coachman certainly had nothing good to say about the house.
“Slap-dash care for the horses—had to do most of it meself. And a racket going on all night. They’re up to no good, my lady, mark my words. Shouldn’t even be stopping at a place like this never mind staying the night. I’m only surprised you weren’t robbed blind.”
“Well, I own I’m grateful that we had nothing of value with us. But take heart, James, we have survived. On to Hawthorn Court. Lieutenant Meade here will accompany us.”
James gave him the usual sharp-eyed stare but made no objection.
The journey, remarkably easy in the daylight, passed pleasantly enough. Tabitha even nodded off at one point, soothed by the chatter of the younger people.
It was just after midday when Lady Hawthorn welcomed them with literally open arms. In fact, she was so genuinely delighted that Tabitha remembered all over again why she was so fond of her friend.
She drew Lily forward, “Louisa, this is my stepdaughter, Lady Lily Lisle. Lily, Lady Hawthorn, your kind hostess.”
Lily curtseyed gracefully. “It was so very kind of your ladyship to invite me, especially when I am not quite out.”
“My, you are so pretty you will break hearts! You are very welcome, my dear. How ridiculous, Tabitha, that you should have a grown-up daughter!”
“There are less than seven years between us,” Lily confided.
“But I am still the strictest of chaperones,” Tabitha said lightly.
She knew Louisa Hawthorn would accept that as the warning it was, pass it on to those most likely to try to overstep, and keep her own watch as hostess.
“Oh, and I believe you know Lieutenant Meade, who has been gracious enough to escort us on the last stage of our journey.”
“Why, Nat, I would never have known you,” Louisa exclaimed.
“What a fine officer you make! You must know that your family has been prostrate with worry since you did not arrive yesterday evening.” She swung on her butler who was standing patiently to one side.
“Chivers, send word to Mrs. Meade that the lieutenant has arrived, and take him up to his room. Make yourself at home, Nat, and do join us in the garden whenever you wish. Tea is at four... Come Tabbie, I have the perfect rooms set aside for you. Your bags are already unpacked, of course, since your woman arrived with them yesterday...”
Tabitha saw at once why her old friend described the rooms as perfect for her.
She had said that she would rather share with Lily than have the girl any further away than next door, when it was her first ever house party.
Louisa had done better. She had given them rooms with a connecting door, a lockable door at that from Tabitha’s side.
As if she would indulge in any affairs, discreet or otherwise, with Lily under the same roof!
For no clear reason, Jack popped into her mind. He had been doing so all day at both convenient and inconvenient moments.
“How lovely,” Tabitha said hastily, admiring the tasteful wallpaper, picked out in blue to match the hangings. Lily’s room was decorated in palest pink.
“Then I’ll leave you to settle in. You have a view of the garden Tab. Do feel free to wander down whenever you like. Today, everything is informal since people are still arriving at all sorts of odd hours...”
She fluttered off, clearly enjoying the sheer busy-ness of her first ever house party.
Lily came dancing through the open connecting door. “My room is delightful! Perfectly charming. But so is yours. Everything looks so smart and new compared to Sark Park. Do you think Ralph is a penny-pincher?”
“Either by inclination or necessity. Let us not think of him when we are here to enjoy ourselves.”
Tabitha lay down on the bed and stretched luxuriously, but any intentions she might have harboured of indulging in a short, reviving nap, were thwarted almost at once by a knock on the bedchamber door.
Sighing, Tabitha sat up and climbed off the bed. “Come in.”
The door flew open and her brother Barty sauntered in, grinning. “Well met, Tabs!” he said carelessly before his eyes widened as he noticed Lily. “Greetings, Squib, you brush up pretty well, don’t you?”
Lily laughed but repressed her usual retort to Barty’s teasing since someone else had followed him into the room.
With annoyance, Tabitha saw that it was Lord Carily, who had pursued her in Brighton.
She had considered being caught, for he was an attractive man and entertaining, but she had chosen to leave the town for Sark Park and keep her appointment with Lily.
“My lord,” she said distantly. “I did not expect your presence here.”
“Fortunately, fair Lady Hawthorn was won over by my charms,” Carily said winningly. “Or at least, she took pity on me languishing in the outer darkness of separation from you.”
“Well, languish elsewhere,” she said, making shooing motions with her hands. “Barty, my bedchamber is not a salon for meetings of your friends. Go away.”
“Fair enough,” said Barty, who clearly had no real desire to be there.
“But cruel,” Carily complained, clutching his heart as though wounded. “If I may not stay, at least come and walk with me in the garden.”
“No,” Tabitha said bluntly.
Barty was already opening the door while Carily tried to stare Tabitha down. She sighed wearily, and a hint of colour seeped into his face. At last he turned smartly and followed Barty from the room.
I do hope you are not going to be troublesome...