Chapter Six
The following morning, after she was dressed in a pretty pink linen day dress, she visited Simon in the nursery to find him having breakfast. She sat with him for a time, then made her way to the morning room to break her fast. After descending the stairs to the entry hall, she saw a lovely vase of hothouse roses in a variety of colors on the entry hall table.
Her heart flipped with excitement as she plucked the card tucked among the roses.
There was one word scribbled on the card.
“Greyson.” She flipped it over and over, hoping for more words, but alas, there were none.
She fought her disappointment. So he was a man of few words.
She could live with that. The important thing was that he sent her flowers.
Roses in a rainbow of colors. Perhaps he would call upon her today?
As a footman approached, she said, “Please have these flowers brought into the family drawing room.”
The footman bowed. “Yes, my lady.”
Letitia continued into the morning room, where filtered sunlight streamed through the large windows.
It was one of her favorite rooms in the house.
On a sunny day, she could enjoy her morning meal, the warmth of the sun invigorating her and giving her the energy to start her day.
Not that she ever had much to do during the day, but she loved knowing she could accomplish anything that came along.
A footman entered the room with her plate and hot chocolate.
She never had the cook bother with hot plates on the sideboard, filled with all kinds of food.
She was one person and preferred the same breakfast every day.
Two buttered eggs, sausage, and toast with cream and jam.
If she ever wanted something different, she had Jane pass it along to Mrs. Woods, the cook.
After she ate, she made her way to the family drawing room.
When she entered the room, decorated in shades of blue and cream, and saw the roses from Greyson on the table beside the settee she always sat on, she smiled.
She picked up the embroidery she had been working on from a basket on the other side of the settee and sat down.
Even though she hadn’t known if she would see Greyson again, she had started a set of four handkerchiefs with the initials ARF for Archibald Robert Fitzroy.
She was using thread in black, gray, and red.
She was on the second one and had no idea if she would ever give them to him.
Still, it gave her something to do. She’d made enough pillows and pillowcases over the years; she had a small cedar chest filled with them.
Someday, if she ever had another child and it were a girl, she could make pinafores embroidered with all sorts of pretty, colorful flowers to wear over her dresses. If only, she sighed.
The day dragged on, as many did. She took luncheon in the nursery with Simon.
Then she curled up on the chaise longue in her room and read a book of poetry for a spell.
Just in case Greyson came for afternoon tea, she dressed in a lovely blue day dress and made her way to the green drawing room, where she greeted visitors.
She’d just about given up hope when a footman entered the room and announced, “Viscount Greyson.”
All the air whooshed from her lungs at the sight of him in brown-and-tan riding clothes.
He removed his hat and gloves, placing them, along with his riding crop, on one of the two chairs facing the settee, then turned to her and bowed, appearing a little out of breath.
“Lady Rutherford. Forgive me for arriving late for tea, but it couldn’t be helped. ”
“No need to apologize. Please sit.”
“Thank you,” he said, sitting in the comfortable upholstered chair facing her.
“Would you care for tea?”
He chuckled, and it was nice to see his guard down, his humor radiating from his eyes. “Thank you, but I must decline.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “You see, I’ve just had tea at my house with Hunter and the Earl of Warren. I’ve drunk enough tea for a week. But thank you, anyway.”
“So that is why you are past teatime?”
“Once again, forgive me. I nearly had to throw Hunter and Warren out. I mounted my horse and rode like the devil to get here.”
“You never have to stick to proper visiting hours with me. You may drop by anytime. And,” she said, motioning with her arm toward the vase of roses, “the roses are beautiful. Thank you for thinking of me.” She’d had Jane move them again from the family drawing room to the public one.
“Whether you wish to believe me or not, I think of you often.”
Heat suffused her cheeks. “As I do you.”
“Forgive me if I hurt you in any way.”
Just her heart and her pride. Which, of course, she would never admit. Instead, she redirected the conversation to something Anastasia had said that had been puzzling her. “May I ask a personal question?”
“You may ask, but I may defer answering.”
“I suppose I have two questions. Before I ask the second question, I want to know if you plan to court me. Sending flowers and calling on me would lead me to believe you do. However, with you, I can never be sure what you are thinking or planning.” There.
She asked the first question. A perfectly logical one, as far as she was concerned.
“I would like to court you, but you need to understand that I have other obligations. I wouldn’t want to make you feel neglected, as you did in the past few months. Can you accept my life as it is now? I won’t be as attentive as some suitors.”
“I understand better now than before, which leads to my second question. Anastasia recently said something in passing—please don’t be angry at her for mentioning it—that you disappear occasionally, sometimes for days or even a sennight at a time.
” For one brief moment, he looked angry, then it was gone.
“I only ask because Rutherford kept things from me. He led me to believe he spent his days at his club and even some nights, but it was all a lie.” She paused and inhaled, gathering the courage to continue.
“If you disappear because you are hiding a mistress, then I will not be courted by you.”
His expression softened. “I can promise you I have no mistress or bastards, nor do I plan to.” He cleared his throat. “Honestly, when would I find the time? As for my leaving from time to time, it’s so I can escape and have time alone to keep my sanity or to take care of estate business.”
She now felt terrible for asking. “Thank you for being honest with me.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Yes. And I’ll answer if I can.”
Chuckling, he said, “Fair enough. I understand you married Rutherford before you came out.”
“Yes,” she said.
“Did you love him?”
Oh dear, that was a complicated question that made her insides ache.
“Yes. I loved him as a na?ve eighteen-year-old would, and I continued to love him until he died. After he died, when I saw other couples in love, I realized my marriage wasn’t anything like theirs.
And when I watch Emmeline and Lilly with their husbands, I realize what Rutherford and I shared was a comfortable, almost companionable love, not the passionate love I witness among my friends.
” She had asked for honesty from him; she could give him no less.
“I see.”
“Have you ever been in love, Greyson?”
She could see she’d shocked him with her question because he wasn’t quick enough to school his emotions.
“No.” He cleared his throat. “Enough questions. I would like to invite you somewhere tonight.” He paused, studying her face.
“Go on.”
“It is not your typical place. It is an exclusive club for those who have . . . Let’s just say there is an extensive application process, and membership comes at a steep price.”
“You have piqued my interest.” She leaned in, her heart beating a tad faster than it was. “Is this a secret club of some sort?”
He grinned. “Actually, you would be correct. It is a secret club only because members can be themselves. Both men and women are welcome. There’s gambling and billiards, and twice a month, there’s a masquerade ball where nobody needs to reveal themselves.”
“If it is so secret, how can you take me there?”
“I’m close with the owner, and he suggested I bring you.”
“Hmmm, why would he do that?” Did that mean Greyson had talked about her? Warmth spread through her chest.
“It doesn’t matter; what matters is that he did. I do not believe he offers guest passes often. I myself just became a member.”
“I see.”
“There’s more. I don’t want you to be shocked to learn that rooms are available for private use. That’s not why I’m inviting you.” He combed his fingers through his hair and groaned.
His composure was falling apart, and she was surprised by it. It was most unusual.
“You’re quiet. Did you understand what I said?”
“Yes. Forgive me. My mind wandered. Yes, I believe I get the gist of it.”
“Will you accompany me tonight? Before you answer, the club doesn’t open until midnight.”
“Midnight?”
“Yes, I suggest you rest up. I’ll pick you up at half eleven.”
Funny, she didn’t remember agreeing to go. But after he described the club, nothing could keep her away. She’d led such a sheltered life, first with her parents and then with Rutherford. It was high time she left the house and started living. “I’ll go if you promise not to leave my side.”
“I won’t leave you alone.” He stood, gathered his things, turned to her, and bowed. “Until tonight.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “Until tonight.”
After dinner, she forced herself to take a nap, telling Jane to wake her at ten so she would have time to prepare for her foray into the world of secret clubs. She had never known such clubs existed, and she planned to enjoy herself.
*