Chapter Four #3
Lately, her uncle and Caroline had rarely been at home, a fact which greatly pleased Audrey.
She no longer knew what to say to her cousin, who was much more worldly than was she, but Audrey did not wish to raise the subject of the kiss for fear of sounding foolish.
Moreover, what could she say? It would be better to pretend the kiss had not happened.
Gratefully, Caroline, too, avoided speaking of the incident.
“I desperately wish to retain my cousin’s regard,” Audrey told her reflection in the window. “Yet…”
She walked away towards her bed. Yet, I am making too much of what occurred.
It was a simple kiss. Caroline likely meant to kiss my cheek and missed as I turned my head.
Obviously, Caroline was not embarrassed by the demonstration of affection.
Have I not observed men kissing each other upon the Continent?
Nothing untoward was considered then, and nothing requiring embarrassment happened to me.
Obviously, Caroline has not thought twice of my mortification, for she did not consider her actions beyond the pale.
Surely, if I spoke of it, she would again call me a pea goose.
Without a doubt, she meant to kiss my cheek, and, as such, she has forgotten those few brief seconds. It is just…
Audrey sighed heavily as she sat hard on the edge of the bed. I always thought my first kiss would come from a gentleman, just as my mother described in the tales she told of the Cinder maid. My mother always said she fell in love with my father when they shared their first kiss.
Audrey stretched out across the bed and mused aloud, “What if Uncle Jacobi continues to know disappointment in me and sends me away? What if Caroline insists on my leaving, especially as I have acted less than as a beloved cousin of late? I have no one else who cares whether I live or die. I owe Uncle Jacobi and Caroline my loyalty, and I shall do all possible to prove myself worthy of being part of their family.”
As the days ticked slowly away, Audrey had come to despise the meals shared with her uncle and Caroline. Since arriving in England, she felt Uncle Jacobi wished to be rid of the responsibility of her. Of late, he barely spoke to her with any civility.
“Are you prepared for the midday meal?” Caroline asked from the open doorway.
Audrey purposely placed a smile upon her lips as she turned to greet her cousin. “Absolutely.” She crossed the room to accept her cousin’s outstretched hands. “I was just considering how we have not spent much time together of late.”
Caroline smiled widely. “I thoroughly agree. Perhaps we might call upon the bookstore later.”
Audrey would have enjoyed a venture outside, for it had been a week or more since she had been permitted to be beyond the small garden on the left side of the house; yet, she said, “Do you and Uncle not have an event this evening?”
Caroline sighed heavily. “Unfortunately. I suppose Father will insist I rest before this evening. I swear, if I must dance with another insipid Englishman, I may declare war myself.” Her cousin’s native French tongue had overcome her practiced English.
The two were the opposite in that manner: Audrey often stumbled with expressing herself in French, while Caroline stumbled when using English.
Audrey disagreed with her cousin’s perception of an English Season for courtship.
Naturally, her one and only dance had been with Lord Marksman, but she imagined even dancing with Lord Bacggart would have been equally as pleasurable, especially considering the number of solitary evenings she had spent since then.
Perhaps equally was not the correct word however, for her first dance with an English gentleman had been magical.
She could not imagine any such gentleman courting her.
“Have you thought to accept any of the gentlemen desiring your time?” she asked as she turned to claim a clean handkerchief from a drawer.
Caroline’s face screwed up in disgust. “Just entertaining them on the dance floor and during afternoon calls is trying enough. I have no desire to tie myself to any of them. They are insipid creatures with narrow views.”
“But will not Uncle expect you to choose among your suitors? I understood such was the reason we traveled to London,” Audrey inquired, a bit stunned by what her cousin shared. “I thought this was to be your opportunity to make an appropriate match.”
Caroline stiffened. “Do you not think I deserve more than an appropriate match?”
“Most assuredly, I wish you happiness and someone who shall love you,” Audrey declared.
“Have you not taken the acquaintance of anyone for whom you might know an affection?” In their one brief encounter, Audrey had thought Lord Beaufort quite handsome and very approachable, though she would not dare to say so.
They had exchanged only a few words, but there was something about the man she could not name.
She simply imagined him a most courteous and loyal partner, if one could be so fortunate as to claim him.
However, before Caroline could respond, the maid tapped on the door. “Pardon, Lady Caroline. Miss Moreau. Lord Honfleur begs you to join him. The meal awaits.”
“Thank you, Clara. We were on our way.” Caroline caught Audrey’s hand as they rushed through the passageway to descend the stairs. “Promise me,” her cousin said when they reached the top of the stairs. “You will not tell father what I just said.”
“You have my word,” Audrey rushed to say.
“You are late!” Her uncle’s voice carried through the foyer.
“I apologize, Uncle,” Audrey said in compunctious tones. “The ribbon on my gown’s closure broke free. Caroline assisted me with a new one.”
Uncle Jacobi eyed Audrey with what she could only call a newfound contempt, an emotion which had begun to permeate all their interactions of late—a fact which continued to confuse her.
“I knew you would have an excuse, poor as it may be. You should have sent your apologies and kept your excuses. Instead, you involved my daughter in your little gambit.”
Audrey instinctively assumed an obedient stance.
“It was not executed with such a purpose in mind, my lord.” She wondered why Caroline did not defend her, but Audrey supposed her cousin was as fearful of Lord Honfleur’s most recent dudgeon as was she.
Audrey worried for what would become of Caroline if Honfleur forced her to marry where no love existed, and she worried for what would become of her should her uncle decide to abandon her.
“Your actions are never purposely done,” he mocked. “Perhaps it might do you well to return to your quarters and meditate on your lack of responsibility to this family. You must decide what you owe to me as your uncle and your benefactor.”
“A tray for Audrey?” Caroline asked softly.
“I do not think so,” Uncle Jacobi said. “A bit of hunger will clear my niece’s mind.”
After an hour of boredom with Lady Caroline Moreau, Beaufort returned his gig to the mews and claimed his horse to travel to the watch house, the one across from Amgen House, where the delightful red-headed sprite currently resided.
He had asked only one question of Lady Caroline today of which he fully paid attention to the answer.
“I have not viewed your cousin up close until the first time I called upon you. I saw her at your father’s side at the masque, but I was not in her company.
She reminded me of the lasses in my homeland—in Ireland. Does she possess Irish ancestors?”
“Would that make a difference, my lord?” Lady Caroline asked with a sour tone. “Would you prefer to be chauffeuring around my cousin instead?”
“No, nothing of the sort. I am quite interested in discovering my ancestors. For example, I am an Irish earl representing my country in the British Parliament, but my ancestors are French. Norman French. Such is the reason I am also heir to an English barony. Your father holds a French marquisate, but you both have very English cheekbones. Do you not think it is interesting how all of humankind, upon meeting someone from Sardinia, for example, we immediately recognize him from the Mediterranean countries. The same goes for many other nationalities. I suppose I am a person who is curious about civilizations.”
Lady Caroline did not appear happy with his explanation, but she made no further comments. Navan suspected the lady would be more on guard when next they rode out together, but he did not mind, for those on guard were more likely to make a mistake than those who were not.
“Should I come back later?” James Kepper asked once Navan climbed the stairs to the two rooms used to watch Amgen House.
“No, I think I will avoid tonight’s entertainments. I would not wish Honfleur and his daughter to find me too predictable. I spent well over an hour with Lady Caroline this morning.”
“I noticed when you returned her to the house,” Kepper remarked as he retrieved his jacket. “Are you assured you have no need of me?”
“Absolutely,” Beaufort told him. “With Honfleur and Lady Caroline out, there will be time for a nap and a meal. Hartley will be here for a few hours. Claim your rest while you may. I have an early call at Duncan Place tomorrow so if you could return by, say, seven in the morning, I would appreciate it.”
“Absolutely, my lord. I will claim a bit more sleep for myself.”
With Kepper’s absence, Beaufort settled at the long glass and refocused it for his own purposes. He was looking for a red-haired goddess that had unexpectedly not only caught his attention, but had held it for more than a fortnight.