Chapter 38 - Dahlia #2
Dahlia felt she could read his mind. What kind of an asinine question had that been? Who didn't like biscuits?
Lord Shaw said, “The weather has been excellent. I went riding through the park only yesterday afternoon. Are you fond of riding, Miss Warrington?”
“I confess I much prefer driving my gig to riding horseback.” She gave a serene smile. “However, in my opinion, every individual must be free to pursue their own hobbies.”
“Well said, indeed.” Lord Shaw nodded. “It’s wonderful to know that you don’t begrudge someone an innocent diversion, even if it doesn’t align perfectly with your own.”
“I see no purpose in doing so. For example, my sister has always enjoyed books far more than the average person.”
In response, Rachel waved enthusiastically from across the room without lifting her eyes from her page.
“Do you enjoy reading, Dahlia?” William asked.
His expression was all that was polite. He was doing as she'd asked of him—playing the part of a suitor who was unsure of his position. Surprisingly, it didn’t satisfy her as she thought it would—the bland question sounded completely wrong from his lips.
Besides, he already knew the answer. Though in his defence, he knew all the answers to the sort of benign inquisitions gentlemen typically made while courting. The knowledge momentarily staggered her; she shifted in her seat.
“Indeed, I do.”
“What kind of books do you like to read, Miss Warrington?” Lord Shaw said.
“I enjoy books relating to textiles and the construction of garments, mostly.”
Lord Parr frowned. “That's very unusual.”
William's head snapped to the side. “Hardly a wonder, considering that nothing about Dahlia could be considered usual.”
His tone held a clear, dangerous warning. Dahlia smiled behind her teacup, a smug sort of feminine satisfaction rising within her. She quite enjoyed William playing the role of a knight at her defence—even when the topic was as small as her preference for books.
“I only meant—what could a noble lady possibly want to know about the construction of garments? Isn't that more appropriate for a dressmaker?”
Dahlia saw William’s patience disintegrating thread by thread, like silk left too long in the sunshine.
He gave a smile that was little more than a baring of his straight teeth.
“Yet, a lady of intelligence and emotional maturity such as Dahlia certainly is smart enough to know her own mind on the topic. And if you’re insinuating that her interests are in any way inappropriate, that’s a discussion that you and I shall engage in at a different time and place.
Perhaps five minutes’ hence, in the park across the street. ”
“No,” Lord Parr stammered, “not at all. I only meant—”
“William, would you like another biscuit?” Dahlia held the plate aloft.
William grinned, took one from the plate because to do otherwise would have been considered rude, and turned his full attention to Lord Parr.
“I thought you were already engaged,” he said bluntly.
The man leaned back at the force of William's tone and blinked.
“Yes.” William tapped his chin. “I recall hearing something about a lady in Bath.”
“No. That is, there was no formal understanding between us.”
“Then perhaps that’s a matter that should be resolved with the utmost urgency.”
Lord Parr stared, stunned.
“Get up and go to her, man,” William snapped. “Now.”
Lord Parr placed his teacup upon the low table with a clatter and jerked out of his seat. He sketched a bow in their general direction and fled.
Across the room, Rachel laughed lowly behind the cover of her book.
Lord Shaw appeared amused by the entire thing, but not at all put off from his visit.
He sipped his tea calmly. Then again, Dahlia thought, the man had seen battle.
Surely anything that happened in an English drawing room couldn't compare with the stress and danger of warfare.
“What were we speaking of?” Lord Shaw said. “Ah, yes, books. I prefer histories and dissections of military battles myself. What of you, Lord Cavendish?”
“I read my own ledgers, mostly. Those and my business correspondence keep me quite busy indeed.”
Lord Shaw nodded. “I confess I wasn’t prepared for the amount of work that went into managing an estate. I can only imagine how much more you have to do, considering the size of your holdings.”
William paused and narrowed his eyes as if trying to sniff out an insult or an angle in Lord Shaw’s words. However, the man's expression was guileless, polite. If he was trying to bait William, Dahlia couldn't see how.
“Yes, thank you,” William finally said. “I’m quite busy.”
“I’m certain that your household keeps you engaged as well.
I visited Miss Lily Preston only yesterday, and I fear you may need to order more chairs for your front parlor, as I was obliged to stand near the sideboard like one of the footmen.
I doubt my presence was even noted, there was such a crush. ”
William sat straighter and Dahlia’s eyebrows rose. It seemed that neither of them were aware of how popular the Preston Misses were this Season.
“I only mention it because rumor has it you spend much of your time here,” Lord Shaw added. “It’s amazing you have enough time in the day to attend to all of your duties.”
Now that Lord Shaw mentioned it, Dahlia noticed how tired William looked.
Small dark smudges rested beneath his eyes; they hadn't been there a fortnight previous.
How was he getting all of his business work done if he was spending all day, every day in her front parlor, frightening other potential suitors from her house like a well-dressed gargoyle?
William gave a cold smile. “If you have been visiting other ladies, then it seems you are not set upon a specific match as of yet.”
“Of course not,” Lord Shaw said easily. “That’s the purpose of the Season, after all—to view the selection and find the best match.”
“Indeed.”
Lord Shaw smiled, and though her heart was already quite occupied, Dahlia had to admit he was devastatingly handsome when he did so.
William said, “Lord Shaw, I believe you were in the navy, is that correct?”
He nodded. “For eight years. I had the privilege of Captain Matthew Blake’s mentorship.”
“I only know him by his excellent reputation.”
“His is a case where even the most admirable rumor cannot possibly do him justice. He was an excellent example, both personally and professionally, and I count myself lucky indeed to have been trained by him.”
“And you were a captain?” William prompted.
“A commander.”
“Most gentlemen wouldn’t have corrected so small a difference in rank.”
Lord Shaw huffed a laugh. “You and I have both spent enough time at sea that we know the truth—the distance between the rank of captain and that of commander is the distance between God and one of his prophets. One may pass along the message, but it in no way diminishes the other’s authority.”
“Indeed. Rumor has it you first saw action in Ras Al Khaimah.”
He winced. “I was but a new midshipman at the time. I stayed aboard and only saw the aftermath.”
“A nasty business, that.”
“Piracy always is.”
“Some call me a pirate.” There was clear challenge in William’s tone.
Lord Shaw tilted his head. “I suppose that some who don't know better might consider any well-armed ship a pirate vessel. I doubt anyone with experience sailing those particular waters would make such a mistake.”
William frowned. A stranger might have read his expression as one of displeasure. It was only because Dahlia knew him so well that she could tell he frowned because he agreed with Lord Shaw, and he was dismayed to feel any shred of respect for a gentleman who was courting her.
“Indeed,” he finally conceded with a nod. “Are you in the market for a wife, Lord Shaw?”
“Not particularly,” he said lightly. He gave Dahlia a warm smile. “No offense meant in the least, Miss Warrington.”
Dahlia inclined her head graciously. “None taken.”
“Then why are you here?”
Most other men would have been alarmed at the sharp bristles of William’s tone; Lord Shaw only chuckled.
“I came for two reasons. One, to assuage my own curiosity—I wanted to see whether the rumors were true.”
William frowned. “What rumors?”
“That you are quite set upon who your perfect match will be. The gossips were unclear as to Miss Warrington's decision, however.” He leaned forward and addressed Dahlia directly. “Have you made your decision?”
Normally, Dahlia wouldn’t have given a hint of an answer.
She didn't want to encourage William's hubris on the topic, and she wanted more time to make her decision officially. However, she quite liked Lord Shaw’s direct way of dealing with things.
So Dahlia gave the clearest indication she could without actually stating anything at all—she gave a noncommittal smile and tilted her head.
Lord Shaw grinned. William was so focused on the other gentleman that Dahlia thought he might have missed the slight exchange.
“And what was the second reason?” William demanded.
“To meet you, of course.”
“For what purpose?”
“I was hoping to ask your advice on several matters of business.” Lord Shaw placed his teacup gently on his saucer. “As you’ve been so often removed from your own household, it’s been nearly impossible to catch you there.”
William leaned back slightly, studying the man for several moments. Lord Shaw didn’t appear to be discomfited by his searing focus. He waited patiently.
“Dinner tonight, at the Black Raven,” William finally said.
“Wonderful.” He stood. “Miss Warrington, I hope I haven’t disturbed your morning with my attendance.”
She smiled, her eyes crinkling. “Not at all. It’s been a pleasure. I wish you well in your endeavors.”
“Indeed,” William said. “Even though I’m not there, you may feel free to visit my household again if you’d like.”
Dahlia arched an eyebrow in surprise. Apparently, she was not the only one impressed by Lord Shaw.
He chuckled. “Unfortunately, my time would be as wasted under that roof as it would be here.”
He gave a short bow and departed, leaving William and Dahlia frowning at each other in confusion.
“Which one of your sisters did he say he'd visited?”
“Lily, I believe.”
Dahlia turned. “Rachel, do you know anything on the topic?”
“I know a great multitude of things on a great many topics, so you’re going to have to be more specific.”
“Don’t act as if you haven’t listened to the entire conversation.”
Rachel finally lifted her eyes. “Do you truly think your banal courtship is more interesting than disemboweling techniques for small mammals?”
“We both know you heard every word. Is someone courting Lily in earnest?”
Rachel shook her head and looked once more to her book. “If you’re asking me to divulge my friend's secrets, I'll do no such thing. Really, Dahlia, you should know me better than that.”