Chapter 13
My dearest sister,
I wished to write to you, before you received an angry letter from Father.
It would appear that the gossip about your precarious situation has reached our father’s ears.
To say he was angry would be an understatement.
He does wish you had told him yourself. I understand why you did not.
I also promise I did not tell him/ I kept to our agreement.
Father has already started packing. I suspect that he will be with you in the next few days.
When you are able to, preferably before he appears on your doorstep, please write back so either he knows what is to happen, or I know what to tell him!
With the most love and adoration,
Cecily
Lavinia leaned back in her seat and pinched the bridge of her nose.
It had been a remarkably calm and warm day, and her mind had finally allowed her mood to match the weather.
However, reading that letter had shattered it entirely.
The sun shining through the parlor windows felt like an annoyance rather than the joyous omen she had thought it to be earlier.
Lavinia could already hear her father’s voice in her mind.
The particular tone he used when he believed himself to be the reasonable party, before he made a decision on her behalf that led them both into an argument.
He had used it preceding her marriage to the duke, and she was certain he would use that tone with her when he visited.
You should marry again It would be best for you. You would not wish to be dishonored now, would you?
She already knew she would be furious if he said that. She understood the logic of it, but she had long since decided her father’s logic did not matter as much as her and Cecily’s freedom.
She let out a deep sigh, not realizing the sound would disturb her friend. Honora looked up from her book and frowned.
“What has you in such a mood?” Honora asked.
“It would appear my father has heard about the situation here and is on his way,” Lavinia sighed. “I have no interest in seeing him.”
“I understand,” Honora said gently. “But perhaps there is something good that can come from this.”
“And what would that be?” Lavinia asked.
“Perhaps it would allow me to make my exit?” Honora suggested nervously. Lavinia’s head snapped up to look at her friend.
“Pardon—” Lavinia started.
“I am sorry,” Honora said gently. “But I have been away from my own estate for some time. I imagine that my own household needs attention. At the same time, we both know that your father’s arrival will be simpler if there is not an audience for either of you.”
Lavinia’s heart sank but she nodded.
“I understand,” Lavinia said gently.
“I am truly sorry.”
Lavinia rose and walked toward Honora, sitting next to her on the couch. She pulled her friend into her arms and held her tightly.
“Thank you,” Lavinia whispered. “You have been here for me through some of the hardest days of my life since my marriage. You came when I called, stayed without hesitation, and you were steady when everything was uncertain. You are the very best friend I have ever known.”
“Lavinia…” Honora’s voice cracked and she held Lavinia tightly. “You are much too kind.”
“I am being honest,” Lavinia continued. The pair clung to each other for a few more moments before pulling back. Honora took Lavinia’s hands in her own.
“Those things I did,” Honora said softly. “Those are just what good friends would do for each other. I would do it all over again.”
“You are too good to someone as ill-tempered and capricious as I am,” Lavinia replied.
“You are too cruel to yourself,” Honora said gently. “You are a wonderful friend.”
“I try,” Lavinia laughed quietly. The pair embraced again and Lavinia melted into her friend’s shoulder.
“Swear you will write frequently?” Honora whispered.
“I swear as long as you do,” Lavinia replied, pulling back. The two women looked at each other with bright wet eyes.
“I should prepare to leave,” Honora said gently.
“Of course,” Lavinia said, taking a shaking breath. “I will go for a walk. I need some air.”
“I understand,” Honora nodded as she stood up. “I will find you when I have finished.”
“Thank you,” Lavinia nodded before standing and walked out the back door.
Outside, the wind blew gently around her. Lavinia’s eyes were misty and she tried to blink the tears away.wildflowers. The grass was full of the joys of summer that had not yet moved on into autumn. Wildflowers and insects spread before her. Her heart ached as she trudged across the grass.
She would never ask Honora to stay longer than she liked, even though she knew her friend would agree to stay as long as Lavinia needed. Even so, it made her chest ache to know that she would not have anyone on her side when her father arrived, if he came alone.
Lavinia would have to defend herself from his temper and disapproval on her own.
Worse still, she could see him trying to make friends with Mr. Vale.
While Mr. Vale was no longer completely antagonistic toward Lavinia, she knew how her father operated.
He would pull Mr. Vale aside without a second thought.
Then, she would have two men to try and fight against. If the solicitors came back and confirmed the estate belonged to Mr. Vale after all…
She shook her head, attempting to push the thoughts away. The longer she dwelled on that the unhappier she would be. The unhappier she was, the more difficult it would be to defend her position.
I need to remain cheerful or become angry. I can defend myself with anger. Men do not respect tears…
Lavinia ran a hand down her face. She knew she was being ridiculous, but it was a ridiculous situation.
Eventually, she arrived at the stables. As she walked toward the entrance, a soft voice spoke inside.
“I know, you wish to go for a ride, but I have ridden you once today, and as much energy as you have, if I ride you again you could hurt yourself.” Mr. Vale was speaking to a black gelding.
The animal leaned its forehead against him, and the man had his hand on the horse's neck. Lavinia’s eyes widened.
She had never seen him like that before.
She did not know it was possible for him to be so sweet.
Perhaps it was because of the frequency of their arguments, but she had never thought that Mr. Vale could appear so unguarded or tender.
After a moment, he stepped away from the horse and turned toward the doorway.
His cheeks flushed when he realized he had been caught.
“I suppose that it is only fair for you to have come to watch me after I watched you paint,” he admitted, clearing his throat.
“I apologize,” she said gently. “In truth, I did not expect to find you here.”
“I come here to think,” he explained.
“To… think?” she asked.
“Indeed,” he nodded. “Horses are honest. The bond with them is earned, not demanded. Once you have endeared yourself to a horse, it becomes easy to let yourself be calm around them.”
Lavinia nodded.
“I did not know you had such a way with horses,” she said as she moved inside the stables. “Have you always been so fond of them?”
Mr. Vale hesitated and looked away for a moment. He ran a hand over the back of his neck, his weight shifting slightly between his feet.
“Yes,” he admitted. “I ran a horse breeding business for some years.”
“I did not know that,” she said, eyes wide.
“I did not share it,” he explained. “I built it myself. The only help I was given was the land Millicent allowed me to use.”
Lavinia opened her mouth to respond and closed it again. Mr. Vale looked back at the gelding as it nudged against his shoulder.
“I would train the horses, match them with riders who would care for them,” he continued, pride swelling in his tone. “I believe I spent more time in the training fields than I did with my brother, before he became unwell. I always wanted to try and expand the business…”
He looked down at his boots, biting his bottom lip.
“What happened?” Lavinia asked. “Is the business able to run while you are here?”
“Horses got sick,” he explained. “It caused a deal to go wrong. Debts started to mount. Not just for the horses, but for Oswin’s treatment too. The business had started failing before I left. It is, in truth, part of why I came here.”
“Treatment?” Lavinia asked.
“He was unwell for some time. Something caused him to collapse and even though he is no longer in the worst of it, the illness could come back any day, and must be carefully managed,” he explained, his voice getting quieter as he spoke.
He looked up again at her, a spark of something she couldn’t name in his eyes. “That is the real reason I came to claim my inheritance. My family needs me. I cannot allow them to suffer through debts that were not their fault and live with drained savings.”
“By family,” Lavinia started gently. “you mean Lady Harcourt and Master Oswin ?”
“Of course,” he nodded. Her heart twisted at how easily he had answered that. No hesitation in his voice. No consideration. Despite having no blood ties, they were his family, and she could see the determination in his eyes. He would stay true to his word. For them.
She swallowed hard and looked down at her hands. She finally understood. He had no other choice. The silence around them grew, the air weighing down on them, like they were descending under the ocean. The force was becoming too much for Lavinia.
“We should race,” she said without thinking. He looked at her and frowned.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Horses. We should race the horses. You on the gelding, and I’ll take my mare,” she suggested. He opened his mouth to argue, but the gelding snorted and nudged his hand, as if quietly begging him to agree. Mr. Vale let out a soft laugh.
“Where will we be racing to?” he asked.
“The old oak,” she decided. “It is on the other side of the estate.”
“I know where it is,” he nodded. “What happens if I win?”
“What would you like?” she asked, folding her arms. Mr. Vale considered the question for a moment, gently scratching under the gelding’s chin.