Chapter 20 Misdirection
MISDIRECTION
Remorse flooded him.
Had he not already caused her enough pain?
Was she now to be punished even further for her association with him?
He turned and lifted her hand to his lips.
Dirt clung to her nails, but her fingers felt tiny and fragile.
“Whatever you need. Danbury will be more than happy to assist. In fact, I will make certain he is.” It was more important now, than ever, for Michael to avoid her.
If not for his own good, then for hers, by God.
He needed to make damn sure her stepdaughter secured her match.
When he’d lifted their hands, Lilly turned slightly to face him, but her eyes were closed.
“Will it never end?” she asked. And then she leaned forward, her head hitting him in the chest, just below his chin.
He should not, but he placed one hand upon her back and held her closer.
She turned her head and rested her cheek upon his jacket.
When her arm wrapped around his waist, he could not stop himself from lifting his other hand to stroke her hair.
She smelled of soap and dirt and honey. His Lilly.
His precious Lilly.
Would what never end? Her torment? Her unhappiness? Their love? Had it even really ended all those years ago? He had no answer for her. He was not free to follow his baser inclinations.
“Joseph Spencer is a good man, of a good family,” Michael said instead, wishing to reassure her. “If he intends to make an offer to Miss Beauchamp, I do not believe he can be dissuaded. Even so, I won’t let Hawthorne hurt you.”
He should never have let Beauchamp hurt her. Or her father. Or himself, for God’s sake. “Lilly, I am so sorry…so…For everything.”
Lilly pulled away, and Michael’s hands dropped to the bench.
“I didn’t tell you about Hawthorne so you would solve my problems, Michael.
And I do not wish you to feel as though you are responsible for this.
” She looked at him earnestly now. “I simply wanted you to know what that evil man is up to. And I wanted you to understand why I sent you away from me last night. I do not want you to feel guilty. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Oh, but he did. He was sorry as hell they’d been separated. He was sorry he’d found her again. And he was sorrier than anybody could even know that he’d promised himself to Lady Natalie.
Sitting beside her now, he had an overwhelming urge to carry her to the soft grass. To lie beside her. To bury himself inside of her.
But she was as much an impossibility now as she had been nearly a decade ago, while he’d been trapped inside Summers Park, under a quarantine he’d ordered himself.
“I just wanted you to know…that’s all…” She spoke in a whisper, unable to meet his eyes any longer.
Michael took a deep breath and then released it slowly.
“I’ll speak to Danbury. He will assist you.
But Lilly,” he said seriously, “promise me if Hawthorne makes any further threats, you will send for me. If you need anything, and I mean anything at all, allow me to provide it. I have endless resources. There is no reason you should ever lack for anything.”
Except for him.
Lilly wanted to protest. She would never, ever take anything from him.
Doing so would tarnish what they had had.
She couldn’t bear his pity. She had endured much worse.
She could live through this. “I will send word through Danbury if I am threatened again. But I will not need anything, Michael. Please do not ask me to promise that.” She tilted her head and looked into his eyes.
Oh Lord, they were mesmerizing. Even more so now that he had matured.
And then to signal the end of their meeting, she stood up. She could not sit here alone with him and deny herself any longer. She ought not to have leaned into him, embraced him, in her moment of weakness.
Michael, of course, rose to his feet as well. At his full height, so very near to her, she again fought the urge to step into his arms.
She took a step backward and then turned back toward the house.
He followed silently. Once they reached the foyer, he turned and bowed deeply.
“Take care, Lilly,” he said, his voice a little gravelly.
It seemed as though he were going to say more, but he pinched his lips together instead and then disappeared onto the street.
Lilly covered her mouth with one hand in order to hold back a gasp. A gasp of pain, for surely this was the end. Neither of them would seek the other out again.
Later that same day, Lilly received another visitor. This one none other than Viscount Danbury.
Her aunt and Glenda had both left a short while before for what promised to be an elaborate garden party hosted by Penelope’s parents. Lilly had planned to attend, but after spending too much time on her injured ankle that morning, her aunt insisted she rest.
She felt decidedly depressed.
Which left her with mixed feelings when Jarvis announced the viscount’s visit.
A part of her had been happy to be alone, but another part was irritated with her feelings of self-pity and regret.
A thousand times already that afternoon, she had berated herself for not taking just a few more moments to be alone with Michael.
And another thousand times she’d berated herself for allowing herself to hold him.
Entering the room tentatively, Danbury took in her elevated foot and shook his head.
“Oh, no, my lady. This simply will not do.” He carried a bouquet of roses.
Oh, how she hated roses. But he was smiling and bowed low before her.
“I require any lady I squire about town to look merrier than this.” His tone was teasing but also understanding.
She gestured for him to sit and then forced herself to appear cheerful…
and welcoming. “Lord Danbury.” She graciously accepted the bouquet.
“You should not have. You most definitely should not have.” She pulled upon the bellpull and quickly handed the aromatic flowers off when Jarvis entered.
“I take it you have spoken with Mich—the duke?”
Danbury smiled wickedly. “I have. It seems you need a suitor, and I am most gratified to oblige.” He toggled his eyebrows at her and then leaned back indolently, crossing one leg over the other.
“In the dark, it is very possible Hawthorne saw not you and Cortland, but you and myself. Although I am assisting Cortland with the amendment, I would not have the power to do anything to stop it, even if a lover of mine did wish it.” He gave her a moment to consider his words.
Michael had told him a great deal. “And,” he added, “I do not have a fiancée.”
She nodded in agreement. “I hope it is enough to discourage the earl. If he doubts any connection between Michael and me, I can only hope he will desist with this blackmail.”
Danbury nodded sympathetically. “Cortland didn’t relay many details, but I am more than willing to help.
” He took her hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze.
“I shall find it most agreeable to play swain to your loveliness for the entirety of the season if necessary. Would that be so very difficult for you to endure, my lady?” He lowered his voice seductively and looked at her from beneath hooded eyes.
This sultry look would have brought any other woman from the age of seventeen to seventy to her knees—but not Lilly.
Lilly merely rolled her eyes. “Well, I suppose if you are to be my amore, you should begin by addressing me less formally. I give you leave to call me Lilly.”
“And you shall call me Hugh,” he responded.
Once the decision was made, they agreed the fewer people aware of the scheme, the better. They didn’t want Hawthorne to find any new opportunities to make trouble. With that matter settled, they then went over the upcoming ton events Lilly had planned on attending with her aunt and Glenda.
Danbury made notes to attend as well.
He would return later to escort the ladies to this evening’s musicale.
It didn’t take long before the possibility of a connection between the Baroness Beauchamp and the elusive Viscount Danbury created something of a stir.
By arriving together at the Shufflebottoms’ musicale on one another’s arm, they gave the gossips plenty of fodder.
Many of the ton’s matronly gossips remarked upon the fact that the viscount had, in fact, paid court to the beautiful young widow quite attentively the previous evening.
Throughout the entirety of the performance, Danbury only left her side for a few moments to procure her and the ladies refreshments during intermission.
He also, quite scandalously, held her hand in his and raised her fingers to his lips more than once.
It would have all been vastly amusing, Lilly thought, had they not been sitting directly in front of Lady Natalie and her betrothed.
It was as though Michael’s gaze burned into her back.
Each time Danbury placed a kiss on her knuckles, it felt like a betrayal.
Why, oh why, did life have to be so complicated?
Hawthorne was in attendance as well and appeared slightly perplexed as he watched Danbury’s antics.
More than once, Lilly caught the unnerving gentleman scowling in her direction.
She had to admit, having Danbury as an escort, as something of a protector, was soothing.
Throughout her marriage, she had often been exposed to insult and injury.
There was an ease in knowing she was not the only person watching out for her well-being.
Danbury entertained her and those around them by whispering very unlover-like things into her ear throughout the concert.
He told her that her eyes were the color of a goldfish he’d had as a child.
He told her he’d try to kiss her, but he’d be thinking of his goldfish while doing so and that would ruin his manhood for all others.
He told her she probably would not enjoy him kissing her anyway, what with all of her fishiness and his feline charm.
It appeared to the world, however, that he was infatuated.
Hawthorne was not the only person present who was bothered by Danbury’s display.
“Why on earth would Lilly enter into a liaison with Lord Danbury?” Lady Natalie leaned into Michael and whispered. “I know he’s your friend, but he’s not likely to have honest intentions! Oh, I do not wish to see Lady Beauchamp hurt. I think she has been sad for a long time.”
Michael patted her on the arm but could not find the right words to respond.
Did Danbury have to sit so very close to Lilly?
Did he have to touch her that often and was that his hand upon the lady’s thigh?
And although he was charmed to see Lilly smothering laughter more than once, he could not help but feel annoyed that it was Danbury who incited it.
Most likely, he was murmuring romantic drivel into her ear.
The plan was most effective, nonetheless, for Hawthorne looked stymied indeed. Michael was coming to think that Lilly was right. Hawthorne could not have had a very good look at Lilly’s companion in the gazebo. Perhaps he now doubted himself.
Even more encouraging, over the past few weeks, members of Parliament were coming to doubt Hawthorne.
His ravings sounded increasingly like those of a madman, so much so, even strong proponents of the Corn Laws had begun politically distancing themselves from him.
Not that this meant they would change their vote, but it was likely, even if Hawthorne did expose Lilly, nobody would believe him.
Michael hoped the situation would resolve itself soon enough.
He was doing his best to leave the past in the past. Except was it the past anymore?