Chapter 6
Six
Revelation, according to the Oxford English Dictionary:
The disclosure to a person of something not previously apparent; an instance of this; (also) the perception of something not previously seen or understood; a sudden realization; a striking discovery.
“Did you enjoy the afternoon?” Addie’s eyes shone like silver. “What did you and Mr. Page talk about?”
Tia shrugged. “As Mama would say, I had a monstrous time. And you?”
“I did, though my partner at the castle was a bit… awkward. A very nice young man, to be sure.”
“He was probably intimidated. A squire’s son smelling of April and May over an earl’s daughter.
And your brother watching.” Tia remembered how the poor boy almost had an apoplexy when Addie asked for his hand to help her up a steep step.
“You have ruined him. He will pine over the girl he met in the summer of 1821. No other woman will ever compare.”
A pillow landed in her face, and she fell backwards on the feather mattress. Reaching behind her head, Tia pulled another pillow and aimed blindly in the direction of Addie. After several minutes of fierce battle, the girls lay on the counterpane laughing and drawing in deep breaths.
“Tia?”
“Yes?”
“Will I find a man who makes me happy?”
Tia propped herself on her elbow. “Without a doubt. And me?”
“I think you already have.”
The next afternoon was warm but cloudy. Tia and her mother, Lady Baldwin, sat outside with Addie and her mother, Lady Tarlton, and Meg in the garden.
They were enjoying cool lemonade and strawberry tarts while the men were fishing.
Bees buzzed around them, dropping onto the bright petals, collecting honey.
The landscape was filled with glorious shades of reds and yellows, oranges and greens.
A slight breeze cooled the back of Tia’s neck.
“I am so glad we stayed behind today,” said Lady Tarlton as she fanned herself, sending her dark curls into a light dance against her pale cheeks. “It’s such a lovely afternoon to do… nothing at all.”
Meg laughed. “I don’t mind on occasion, but being too leisurely puts me in a foul mood. I need to keep busy.”
“It’s youth,” said Lady Baldwin, patting her daughter’s hand. “Even as a child, Tia was always pulling on her governess’s or my hand to walk faster when we went somewhere. I don’t know why the young are in such a hurry to run toward old age.”
Tia shook her head. “We want to see and do as much as we can before we reach your age. Or before we marry, depending on the woman’s choices.”
“Very true,” said Meg. “I cannot say my freedom is curtailed by my husband. Simon is a dear and lets me do what I want within reason.”
Tia noticed Meg’s mother-in-law opened her mouth to respond to Meg’s comment, then changed her mind.
The countess had tried to coerce her son into marrying someone else, but it seemed she had learned to keep her opinions to herself.
It had taken time, but the two women got along well once Lady Tarlton realized Simon would not abide any mistreatment of his wife.
“Mr. Page has been quite attentive,” said Lady Baldwin. “He’s very handsome.”
“Yes, he is,” Tia agreed, the heat growing on her face.
“You seem to enjoy his company,” ventured her mother again.
“Yes, I do.” She had no intention of discussing her feelings with everyone. Not before she figured them out herself. “He’s very charming and considerate.”
Addie snorted, and Tia kicked her under the table. “Um, he tells wonderful stories.”
“Honestly, I think you’re waiting for Hercules himself to swoop down and make love to you before you’ll consider marriage. Perfection is not a quality you will find in a husband,” said her mother, scowling.
Her words slapped Tia in the face. “If you want me gone, I can find somewhere else to live. Perhaps I’ll travel the world, and you won’t be bothered by me.” She blinked back tears at her mother’s misinterpretation of Tia’s intent. “I just want—”
“Love. We all know, my dear.” Lady Baldwin sighed, and her gaze softened. “I’m sorry, my sweet, but I’m so worried you will end up alone. Your romance authors never write about those women, do they? Because it’s not pretty.”
Tia nodded, not trusting her voice. She didn’t know if she was more angry or hurt.
Both, really. Her mother had no compunction about Tia following in her footsteps with a loveless marriage.
“There are times I wish George and I had married before he was killed. As a widow, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. ”
Another heavy sigh, then Lady Baldwin said gently, “I’m afraid we would. Look at me, Florentia.”
She reluctantly met the dark gaze so like her own. While Tia had inherited her father’s red hair, her facial features and eyes came from her lovely mother. But what surprised her was the kindness, the softness as her mother looked at her. Guilt poked at Tia’s chest.
“It is true your father and I were not a love match. But it is also true we grew to care for each other deeply. What is most important to us is what we share. Our children.” Her mother cupped Tia’s cheek.
“You are the most beautiful thing to come out of my marriage. I’m so proud and so thankful every time I look at you.
Why can you not believe that? Why can you not believe what I want most for you is to be happy?
And as your mother, I know you won’t be content as a spinster. ”
A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. Her mother brushed it away and stood to kiss Tia on the forehead. “I’ve had enough heat for one day. I shall rest before dinner.”
As Lady Baldwin walked away, Tia jumped from her chair, sending it backwards. She ran after her mother, catching her just before she left the garden. “Mama,” she cried, her arms out as the tears poured down her face.
“Oh, my dear,” said her mother, wrapping her arms around her daughter. “Shh, shh, don’t cry. That was never my intention.”
Tia shook her head against her mother’s chest. “I was wicked. I am so sorry. I know you want what is best for me. It’s just that, I-I…”
“Don’t know what you want? Fear being hurt if you lose someone again?” asked Lady Baldwin.
Tia nodded, then stepped back, and wiped her face with a handkerchief her mother handed her. “I do like him, Mama. Very much. Too much, perhaps.”
“Ah, I see.” Lady Baldwin smiled brightly. “If that’s the case, I’m relieved. I worry that you compare every man to George. No suitor can win against a dead man.”
Is that what she’d been doing? Probably. Her mother was right. It was the safest way to guard her heart.
“May I give you some advice?”
With a watery smile, Tia nodded.
“Take one day at a time. Let your heart guide you and learn from my mistakes. Find that man who steals your breath but also has integrity and goodness in him. If you have one without the other, you will never be satisfied.” Her mother hugged her close.
“You are a strong woman, and at times, I’ve been quite jealous of your strength.
It took courage for you to step back into society and begin again. I’m proud of you, Daughter.”
“I love you, Mama,” she said with a loud sniff. “Thank you for understanding.”
“That’s what mothers are for, my dear.”
“Miss Florentia,” began Will, his mouth suddenly dry. “May I ask you something?”
She gave him an impish smile. “Depends on the question.”
They were in the garden, as had become part of their nightly routine, and they stopped to sit on a bench by the rose bed. The night was cool, and her shawl had slipped from her shoulders. He ran his knuckles over the goosebumps on her arm and grinned when she gasped.
Then his eyes couldn’t leave her parted lips, and the question flew from his brain. Instead, he cupped her face and covered her mouth with his. She tasted of honey, and when his tongue swept along her lips, her pulse quickened against his palm.
This time, instead of wrapping her arms around his neck, she placed a hand on his chest, her fingers wrapping around his cravat, the tips brushing his skin.
A tremor passed through him at the thought of those fingertips other places on his body.
A groan escaped, and he felt her smile against his mouth.
“Do you find my pain amusing, Miss Florentia?” he whispered against her ear, breathing in her jasmine scent.
“I do,” she said in a husky tone, her hands pulling at and loosening the white linen binding his neck. “Perhaps Tia would be more appropriate when we are alone… like this.”
Leaning back, he studied her face, resting his hand over hers to stop the tug of war with his cravat. Her lips were plump from the recent kiss, her eyes shining with desire. “By the saints, you test me—”
She scooted closer, then moved forward, and pressed her lips to his neck.
He thought he would explode like a green boy.
Egads! This woman tempted him like no other.
When her teeth nipped at his earlobe, he hauled her onto his lap, kissing her neck, her chest, the perfect spot between her breasts just under the garnet pendant she wore.
His hand caressed the curve of her hips, the softness of her thigh, until she was panting.
He looked into her glazed eyes and rubbed his palm over her bodice, and her head fell back, exposing her slender, pale throat.
“You are the most delectable creature… Tia.” He breathed her name, wanting to taste her everywhere at once, knowing he could not.
“Beautiful.” He brushed his lips across one white mound.
“Soft as a ripened peach.” His mouth moved over to the next.
“I think,” she said, her breath rapid and shallow, “I understand how one could be ruined so easily.” Her hand brushed a lock of hair from his forehead, and she kissed his eyes, his nose, then with a grin, pressed her lips to his.
With regret, Will ended the kiss, wondering how to remove her from his lap without embarrassing himself. While he wrangled with this unexpected problem, she laughed.
“That didn’t seem like a question. I’m not sure how to answer that, Mr. Page.” She arched a brow. “Or have you not asked yet?”
Will chuckled, shaking his head. “I have not. I got sidetracked with the most scandalous activity.” He winked, then set her back on the bench, releasing her slowly, reluctantly. “It’s William, though friends and family call me Will.”
She laid her palms against the stone platform and looked up at the glittering night sky, her neck exposed to the full moon. “Ask then, William.”
He swallowed. “Miss, er, Tia, I have spent almost two weeks getting to know you. We are both intelligent, have many similar views, and are attracted to one another.” He stopped with a groan. “It sounds like I’m presenting my case. I apologize.”
Her smile faded. “Don’t apologize. I’ve never seen you this solemn, and I like this other side.”
“I do not want our friendship to end with this party. I would like to court you when you return to London.” He’d said it. But her face was as impassive as a gambler hiding his cards.
“Because of all the very practical reasons you mentioned above?”
He shook his head. “Because the thought of never kissing you again strikes fear in my heart. My affection for you increases each day, and I can only imagine my feelings will grow stronger.”
The depression that had assailed him the past months hadn’t been banished by his little Asian charm.
Yes, it had given him confidence to be open to people again, to embrace the joy in friendship and family.
That joy would help balance the injustice he battled against so fervently.
But without someone by his side, loneliness would always be a dark cloud above his head.
He wanted to do whatever he could to make the world a better place, to help those unable to defend themselves against the inequalities of the legal system. But he also wanted to come home to a woman he loved, children who adored him, and accept that happiness without guilt.
With all his heart, he knew Florentia was the woman who could help him do that.
“I would be very pleased if you called on me in Town.”
The weight lifted from his shoulders. He let out a relieved breath. “Will you be staying at your country seat the rest of the summer?”
“Papa enjoys London much more than the country. Mama had to beg and plead to get him to come here for two weeks. Only a foxhunt will lure him away from the city.” She froze and held up a finger.
Will heard the footsteps then. He stood and held out his hand to help Tia up. They moved toward the voices and found Lady Adeline and her mother strolling arm in arm.
“There they are,” said the countess. “Lady Baldwin was worried you would be cold.” She handed a lace shawl to Tia.
“It’s a magnificent evening,” Will said as he helped Tia with her shawl. “You should join us.”
He didn’t want company. He wanted to pull this beauty behind the bushes and kiss her until she was breathless again. But want and need were not always compatible. And right now, he needed to maintain proper etiquette and be the gentleman.
A smile curved his lips. If he had his way, there would be a multitude of nights to play the rogue.