Chapter 6 Help for an Old Friend #2
Ah, it seemed perhaps all had not been right in her marriage. And Lilly would not share this with a former lover. She would not wish for his pity.
Michael offered her his arm. “Let’s walk,” he said.
The wind had increased and added to the chill.
Still holding the pup, Lilly hesitated and then tucked her free hand in his arm.
Touching her brought a new wave of memories.
Her hand felt more fragile than before. She seemed to lean into him for warmth as they walked along the edge of the cut-away forest. Perhaps she too, was remembering…
Michael cleared his throat. “To answer your question, Jackson doesn’t have any horses available.
We’ll have to wait for the mail coach. Unfortunately, this puts me in London later than I was hoping.
That is, unless Duncan, my valet, decided to return for us.
But he doesn’t even know…This entire situation is unprecedented, I’m afraid. ”
“I’ve never heard of a duke travelling on a mail coach before.
” Lilly glanced down at the toes of her slippers, peeking out from under her dress.
The ground was soft here, still damp from the rain.
And then she surprised him. “Parliament opens in a week. You lords have some dicey questions to address this session. Have there been any uprisings on your properties? I had heard they were mostly in the north.”
“Not on my properties, but nearby. I don’t agree with the Corn Laws, but most of my colleagues see them as necessary.” His previous worries arose at her words. “Must keep the aristocracy strong, you know,” he added sarcastically.
“But they have accomplished just the opposite!” Lilly nearly gasped. “When I have visited with our tenants and nearby farmers, the wives do not keep their opinions from me. The tax is the source of much resentment. There is more unrest to come.”
“I wish it weren’t the case, but it’s likely you’re correct.
” Anger stirred him. “There are other ways to bolster one’s estate.
The old ways are failing. We must look to innovation to keep people working.
Build factories that make industrial parts and textile works.
I can hardly keep up with all of them, but it’s necessary for me to do so.
” He was surprised she followed politics.
Most women did not. He knew that Lady Natalie did not, despite her father’s involvement.
Lilly nodded in approval. “Some of the tenants talk of emigrating to America. It baffles me that so many peers support the Corn Laws. It’s as though they have placed sacks over their heads.”
Michael clenched his fists. “Precisely why I need to be in London now.” In agitation, he stepped away from her, picked up a stick, and hurled it across the field.
“The highwaymen got away with some rather important documents. I don’t know if it was inadvertent or not.
I had counted on using them as evidence to garner votes.
All that work…gone. I have a few allies but not nearly enough.
It’s going to take a miracle to bring in the votes needed to pass the amendment.
” And then he paused and turned back toward her.
“Do you remember Viscount Danbury, Hugh?” At her nod, he continued.
“He’s planned some strategic gatherings—formal dinners, that is—this week.
The Earl of Ravensdale has as well. We’re hoping to use the social occasions to convince a few of the less adamant peers to our way of thinking. ”
“Ah…” Lilly nodded. Had she realized that the Earl of Ravensdale was his fiancée’s father? “And these dinners commence…?”
“In two days,” Michael finished for her.
“Well, then, you simply must be in London in two days then.” She spoke firmly, with a stubbornness he remembered.
“You will travel into town with us. There is enough room for you and one of your grooms. The others, and your man of business, can ride in with the mail.” She grimaced.
“Glenda won’t mind if we eliminate a few stops.
In fact, she will likely appreciate the opportunity to arrive in London sooner. She is impatient for the season.”
Michael would have liked to have been able to decline her generous offer.
Two days in her company could not be a good idea.
He was an engaged man. Was it possible to spend time with her and not want her even more?
Already, he’d sensed that pull, that magnetism they’d shared in the past. When she had taken his arm, he’d again experienced that notion of completeness.
But she was no longer the woman for him. No, that ship had sailed, so to speak. The pain of Lilly Bridge was far behind him now—where it would stay.
What was important were the votes. He needed to be in London as soon as possible so that he, Danbury, and the earl could work toward changing some influential minds.
“I would be grateful, my lady, if you are certain it’s not too much trouble. To arrive in London on time, however, we’ll have to keep stops to a minimum.”
“Of course, Your Grace, we can make such a small sacrifice for a worthy cause.” Lilly nodded agreeably.
He had addressed her formally, and she had returned in kind.
“I suppose if we are to leave early in the morning, we ought to be getting ourselves off to bed—I mean, I should get back to our chamber, to my chamber…” He’d flustered her.
“Your driver was in the taproom earlier. I’ll apprise him of the change in plans, if that is amenable to you?”
“Yes, please,” Lilly said. “And Michael…”
“Yes?” His heart skipped a beat at her use of his name. No one called him “Michael” anymore.
“Can you procure some pistols?” Her brows furrowed as she seemed to consider he had already been the target of one attack.
He’d be damned if he’d be an easy target for another one. “I already have.”
Early the next morning, after a quick breakfast in the duke’s private dining room, Michael assisted Lilly, Glenda, and their maid, outside and into an ancient, but well-made, passenger coach before climbing in behind them.
Looking the worse for wear, Arty climbed onto the carriage driver’s box with Lilly’s driver, Mr. Fletch.
Fletch seemed happy for the company. Michael had procured a pistol for each of them, as well as himself.
Glenda and Lilly sat facing forward with Miss Fussy on Lilly’s lap, and Michael took a seat across from her, beside the maid.
Mary was not a small woman, so he didn’t have a great deal of space.
Glenda had brought along some embroidery while Lilly carried a few books in a satchel.
All of them were a little sleepy so the first half an hour passed quietly.
Michael would have appreciated the tranquility a great deal more had he realized what was to come. For Glenda, once alert and awake, chattered enough to make up for all of them.
She began her assault by peppering him with a barrage of questions about London and the ton. After attempting to answer one, and then another, and being interrupted with the next, he quickly realized he was not necessary to the conversation and happily lapsed into a contemplative silence.
The girl chattered exhaustively about all things to do with fashion—high-waisted dresses, morning dresses, walking dresses, evening dresses, pelisses, bonnets, gloves, and lace fichus.
Half of which he had no idea what they were.
She informed him that, as a debutante, she must wear only very light colors, but did he think she would look better in pastel pink, or periwinkle blue, or perhaps in lilac?
Which shade of lilac, a rose shade or more of a purple? She went on and on…
Lilly appeared to be asleep, but occasionally he caught her tightening her mouth in an attempt to conceal her mirth.
The little wench knew Glenda was boring him endlessly.
And since he was awake, and a gentleman, he was forced to nod occasionally and smile.
Of course, Lilly, the minx, would find pleasure in this.
The worrisome thought was that perhaps Glenda was not so very different from Lady Natalie!
Once such a notion entered his head, Michael forced himself to examine it.
In truth, he hadn’t spent much time alone with his betrothed.
They had danced together several times at the endless balls he’d attended last season, and he had admired her and told her so eloquently.
He had cheerfully fetched numerous glasses of lemonade for her, many of which had gone untouched, and she’d politely once pointed out to him that she preferred chicken to beef.
Of course, she was always present when he dined with the earl at his town house.
After dinner, the ladies always disappeared, and the men drank port or brandy and discussed politics usually.
What else? What did he and Lady Natalie talk about?
Ah yes…
“I think I shall allow my gloves to go just past my elbows as my arms are smooth and very white. Lilly will have to wear very long gloves to cover her skin. I tell her all the time she shouldn’t spend so many hours out of doors—it isn’t good for one’s complexion—but she just disappears into the sunshine anyway.
Once outside, she sometimes removes her bonnet as she works.
Oh, yes, she must wear very long gloves indeed.
The long gloves must be tied with a string at the top so they do not slip… ”
Fashion. Lady Natalie often mentioned shopping trips. Oh, God, he sincerely hoped she wasn’t the slave to fashion that Miss Beauchamp was.
Lilly frowned at the comment about her wearing long gloves. He could tell she wanted to correct the girl but could not while feigning sleep.
This gave Michael the perfect opportunity to observe her. She was thinner. He liked how her hair contrasted with the tanned color of her skin. She looked exotic. Lilly had been passionate about all things to do with flowers when they’d first met. She’d had quite a passionate nature.
They had explored that nature whenever possible.