Chapter 14 #3
“More than you would believe,” she sighed. “Please, come in. I have a maid making tea, and the man you wish to speak to is in the drawing room.”
Her father nodded and walked inside, Cecily trailing behind them both. Lavinia watched her father look around the redecorated hallway, glaring slightly as he took it all in. Lavinia could almost see his mind working, looking for flaws or something to complain about.
“I see it’s been redecorated,” he grumbled.
“It has,” she replied dryly.
“Did you—”
“Do not ask such ridiculous questions,” Lavinia huffed.
“I did not get to finish.”
“I know what you were going to ask,” she replied. “And no, I did not authorize the changes.”
Her father nodded slowly as they continued walking.
“Well, it would seem that Cecily and I will need to stay for several days,” he said. “If this is happening under your nose, I dread to imagine what else is happening without your knowledge.”
“I do not wish you to overextend yourself,” she said, glaring slightly at her father.
“I will do no such thing,” said he replied, waving his hand dismissively. “And clearly you need some assistance in this matter.”
“I have been handling this on my own without your interference thus far,” she scoffed as they approached the drawing room.
“Then I shall not offer interference, merely assistance.” Lavinia had to close her eyes and take a deep breath before they got to the drawing room. Her composure was already fractured, and it was only the morning.
Mr. Vale greeted them as they stepped inside.
“Good morning,” Mr. Vale said. “It is good to meet you both. Her Grace has told me much about you.”
Lavinia’s father nodded and looked him up and down. Mr. Vale glanced at Lavinia, as though silently asking if that was her father’s usual demeanor. She nodded slightly. Mr. Vale turned his attention back to her father.
“It is good to meet you too,” her father finally said. “I must say I was quite concerned when I heard what was happening here.”
“I can understand why,” Mr. Vale nodded. “After all, it must be worrying to hear that a strange man has arrived and is making a claim on your daughter’s home.”
“Indeed,” her father scoffed. “So, what exactly is your claim on my daughter’s home?”
“I am the late duke’s son,” Mr. Vale explained. “From his first and potentially only legal wife. It would appear that the duke was not only cruel, but also deeply duplicitous.”
“It would seem so,” Lavinia’s father agreed, watching Mr. Vale with deep distrust. “And before you arrived, what was it you did?”
“I lived at the Harcourt estate but three miles away. I spent my time running my own horse business there.”.
“And what are your intentions?” her father pressed, glaring.
“Intentions?” Mr. Vale asked, glancing at Lavinia.
“Yes. Whatever the legal outcome, I should hope that you are not intending to throw my daughter out into the streets when she has already been taken advantage of by your father.”
“I have no intention of doing that,” Mr. Vale said, shaking his head.
“And you shall not dishonor her?”
“Of course not.”
“I see,” her father scoffed. “It is just that it is irregular for a man of uncertain standing to reside in the same home as a widowed woman.”
Lavinia opened her mouth to speak, ready to explain, but she was interrupted.
“The dowager duchess has conducted herself with complete propriety throughout these complicated legal matters,” Mr. Vale said, folding his arms over the front of his chest. “I would have expected a woman in her position to break before the solicitor could be contacted.
Instead, your daughter contacted him quickly and has continued running the estate smoothly. There have been times when I have had to learn from her. I would say that the irregularity does not lie with my presence, or her character, but with the circumstances.”
Silence filled the room. Lavinia’s father opened and closed his mouth before nodding.
Cecily covered her mouth but did not try to defend their father.
Lavinia watched, stunned but grateful. She caught Mr. Vale’s eye and mouthed “thank you” to him.
He smiled and nodded. Her chest warmed, but she could not allow herself to investigate the exact source of it. That was not the time.
Once tea was served and they had all settled, Cecily tried her best to keep the atmosphere light and gentle, but their father was not allowing that to happen.
“Tell me, Mr. Vale,” said he began, setting his cup on the saucer with a sharp click. “How does a man come to know so much of running an estate when he has spent his life training horses?”
“A horse business is simply a business, sir,” Mr. Vale said evenly. “Ledgers, wages, those were familiar. Horses and customers are surprisingly similar to working with tenants. Although, I must say, the horses are much less complicated.”
“How charming,” her father said, and Lavinia watched him restraining the urge to roll his eyes. “And in this business of yours, did you also learn how to charm widowed duchesses, or is that a skill you have only recently acquired?”
“Father,” Lavinia hissed.
“I am merely making conversation,” said he replied, waving his hand dismissively. “Cecily, is your sister often quick to defend her house guests?”
Cecily glanced nervously between Lavinia and their father, her teacup shaking in her hand.
“I… I could not say, Father,” Cecily replied.
“How unobservant you are,” he sighed. “You have visited your sister more than I have over the years; I hoped you would have more of an understanding of her character.”
“I understand my sister well enough,” Cecily replied. “She has never needed to defend anyone before.”
“So, I am the one making this difficult, am I?”.
“I did not say that,” Cecily squeaked out.
“That is enough,” Mr. Vale boomed.
“I am only observing what I am seeing,” their father retorted. “I have never known Lavinia to speak in such a way about guests. If it looks a certain way, then people will speak of it a certain way, and Lavinia has already failed at managing and avoiding gossip many times over.”
Lavinia tensed, her eyes narrowing at her father.
“So, you are to suggest that I might go out and stop people from speaking?” she asked.
“No, but you could be more amenable to the right kinds of people visiting your home. Ones who have influence in this area. Not just the two women I hear about. What are their names again?” he asked.
“My friends are none of your concern,” Lavinia argued. “And Honora and Temperance are influential. They have done me more good than you would understand.”
“Yes, because two prattling, unmarried women are good sources of entertainment, are they not?”
Lavinia’s blood ran hot.
“Father—”
“Perhaps,” Mr. Vale interjected firmly. “You might discuss such matters with your daughter privately, sir, rather than in front of her guests?”
“Ah, but you are not merely a guest anymore, are you? You are, potentially, the next duke. Which makes this conversation entirely your business as well,” he added, letting the moment draw out.
“Tell me, does a claim on the dukedom come with a claim on the duke’s widow as well, or is that a separate negotiation? ”
Lavinia’s eyes widened, and she nearly dropped her teacup. Mr. Vale nearly choked on his tea.
“Father!” Cecily gasped.
“I am merely asking,” he said, waving his hand dismissively.
Lavinia’s ears started ringing. Suddenly she felt like a child again, being scolded by her father; a teenager having her choice of suitor discouraged; and a woman having her life signed away to a cruel duke all over again. She stood up suddenly; the others silencing around her.
“I am afraid I need some air,” Lavinia said.
“Are you quite alright, Lavinia?” Cecily asked.
“I am fine,” Lavinia said, quickly stepping out of the room and gesturing to a maid to follow her.
She walked through the grounds, her chest aching.
They felt larger that day—emptier. The wind blew, pushing leaves across her path, the horizon feeling further away, and the flowers on the shrubs bent toward the ground, bowing goodbye.
Lavinia looked around at the place that she had come to think of as her home.