Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Giles’ life wasn’t exactly as it had been before, but pretty close.
He’d spent the last several nights working at The Raven’s Den, and it was nearly perfect, even without his keys.
But tonight was his night off, and he was on his way to attend another masquerade.
This time he would find an actual widow and make up for being cheated out of the bedsport he’d been looking for the last time.
“I’m glad to see you back, Mr. Henderson.” Lady Hempsted held out a hand and he raised it to his lips.
At least the mothers would keep their distance now that he was married. He whisked the word aside. He couldn’t think about that. Wouldn’t think about her. Not right now.
“Lady Aspenworth is here tonight.” Lady Hempsted raised her brow and pointed to the refreshments table.
“Thank you.” He gave a nod and strode across the room.
“Good evening.” He picked up a lemon tart. “Lady Hempsted’s cook makes delicious tarts. Have you tasted one yet?”
Lady Aspenworth’s lips turned up slowly. “I haven’t had the pleasure. Do you think she’ll mind if we take a pair of them with us?”
“I doubt she’ll even notice. Especially if we exit via the veranda.”
She didn’t hesitate to walk straight out the door. Her laughter floated up to him as she hurried down the steps ahead of him. Her townhouse was just next door, and he’d visited a handful of times before. He followed her inside and into the sitting room.
He held up a tart and she opened her mouth, but as she took a bite, the picture that flashed into his mind was of his wife’s lips. Shame washed through him like acid in his veins. What was he doing? He closed his eyes with a long sigh.
“I’m sorry, Lady Aspenworth.”
“Lady Aspenworth? That definitely means you’ve changed your mind.”
He chuckled cynically. “I’ve just remembered I’m married.”
She placed a hand on his arm. “Your lucky wife will never know how loyal you are.”
“I’m not sure that’s what I’d call it. I am here in your drawing room, feeding you a tart, after all.”
“And what do you suppose she’s up to?”
“Not that,” he said firmly, but she merely raised a brow.
In the days that followed, her words continued to haunt him. Not that he actually believed his wife was having an affair. But he didn’t have any idea what she was up to. He’d just left her there, all alone in a strange house.
Thistle stopped in the middle of tying his tie. “Is something wrong, sir?”
“No,” he said irritatedly. He took a breath. “I’m sorry, Thistle. Forgive my rudeness.” It wasn’t like Giles to be grumpy. “None of this is your fault. I’ve made a handful of poor decisions of late, and it’s wearing on me.”
He went back to the tie. “Your father used to say, ‘I can’t change what I did yesterday. I can only change what I will do today.’”
After his jacket was settled into place, Giles rested a hand on Thistle’s shoulder. “Thanks, old chap. I don’t remember much of him, and I appreciate receiving his words of wisdom through you.”
With his smile back in place, he walked to The Raven’s Den, even though heavy clouds hid the sun. He entered through the back door just as Ash and Fitz came from upstairs. He still had an amazing life. That hadn’t changed. He just needed to try harder to remember.
He poured their drinks and carried them to the table, sitting in his usual seat.
“I’m glad to see you smiling again,” Ash said, taking a sip of his brandy.
“I remembered how lucky I am to be here. Well, that, and I probably won’t be getting a beating at this meeting.”
“Speaking of Michael,” Ash said, holding up a telegram. “This was just delivered. I haven’t even opened it yet.”
As he read, his brow furrowed.
“Is everything alright?”
Ash folded it back up when he finished. “Probably, but he’s worried about Belle.”
“That’s what we do as husbands,” Fitz said.
It wasn’t meant as a barb, but it felt like one. Giles sat there, utterly clueless about his own wife’s welfare.
“I think you should go up there, Giles,” Ash said with a sigh. “He shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“Are you just using it as an excuse to get rid of me?”
“If I wanted to get rid of you, there would be no ambiguity.”
That was undoubtedly true. “I don’t think Michael will want me up there, Ash. We didn’t part on the best of terms.”
“All the more reason you need to go.”
Giles breathed out something between a groan and sigh. Michael’s estate was the second-last place he wanted to be. Glenwood bordered his own land, which would put him a stone’s throw from his wife.
“Lavinia!” Christina skidded to a halt in the foyer, just as she was about to throw her arms around her friend. Lavinia did not look happy. Not that it should come as a surprise. “Do you mind if we talk outside?” It was the only place they wouldn’t have an audience.
Lavinia merely shrugged.
Christina didn’t know where to start, or what to say. Eventually, they sat on opposite benches in the back garden. “I’m sorry, Lavinia. I have so much to tell you, and I can only hope you won’t hate me.”
“You’re my dearest friend, Christina. I’ll never hate you, even if I am a bit miffed.”
“You’ve every right to be.”
“Indeed I do. You married without even telling me. How long has he been courting you?”
Christina laughed, but a single tear ran down her cheek. “There was no courtship, Lavinia.” She swiped the tear away. “My father has debts.”
“You married him for his money?”
“That’s not exactly how it happened.” She shrugged. “But in some ways, I suppose I did.”
Lavinia raised her brow and waited for more.
“In order to keep the creditors at bay, my father and I developed a scheme.” Shame washed over her. What would her friend think of her? “I would lure men into a private room, and he would discover us and demand recompense.”
Lavinia gasped. “You mean, you would seduce them?”
“No. Of course not. Nothing ever actually happened.” She shouldn’t be offended by the accusation, but she was. “But they all paid. Except Giles. For some reason, he demanded marriage.”
“But why no courtship?”
Christina shook her head. This whole thing was a confusing mess, and she didn’t even understand it all, herself.
“My father wouldn’t allow the marriage. Whether for his sake or mine, I can’t be certain.
But that night, I realized I couldn’t continue.
So I ran away, and asked Giles if he would elope with me. ”
Two more tears raced down her cheeks and Lavinia reached for her hand.
“I’m sorry I’ve kept so many secrets from you. I was ashamed.”
Lavinia didn’t speak for a long time. Then she nodded and squeezed her hand. “Well, at least he’s handsome,” she finally said, with a shrug.
Christina laughed. She couldn’t argue with that. He was handsome. “Do you forgive me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Let’s go inside. I’m getting chilly.”
Lavinia looked around the entrance hall and raised her brow. “You’ve done well for yourself. I didn’t realize he was this wealthy.”
Christina shrugged. “I suppose I got lucky.”
“Stop it.” Lavinia nudged her shoulder?
“Stop what?”
“Feeling guilty. He insisted on this marriage. You didn’t force him into it. Now show me everything in this grand house.”
“I haven’t even seen most of it yet, myself.”
“Well, it’ll be an adventure, then.” Lavinia hooked her arm through Christina’s, and they started down the nearest hallway.
It was such a relief to have company. Someone to laugh with. The silence of the house had become deafening. They explored every room, but most of the furniture was covered with sheets. Even in the library.
After more than an hour, they circled back to the drawing room for some tea.
“For such a grand house, it’s awfully drab,” Lavinia remarked as she stirred. “Feels a bit like a mausoleum, if you ask me. A wooden mausoleum.” She took a bite of a tart and her eyes grew wide. “Is that fig and lemon? It’s delicious.”
“The cook here is very talented. I’ve been spoiled, and these are one of my favorites.
” It was so nice to have someone here with her.
“And you’re right. The house is drab. There’s not much I can do about that, though.
Perhaps I can remove a few of the sheets, at least, and open the windows to let in fresh air while the weather allows for it. ”
“This place needs more than dusting and fresh air. It needs color. It needs life.”
“This isn’t my house, Lavinia.”
She rolled her eyes. “You're his wife, of course it is. Besides, it doesn’t look as if he’ll be coming back any time soon.”
“Assuming I disregard my husband’s feelings on the matter, how, pray tell, would I pay for such an endeavor?”
“Surely, that’s no issue. Anyone would extend credit to the man.” Lavinia gestured around the large room, looking at Christina as if she was daft.
Christina shook her head. After everything with her father, she had an aversion to any kind of debt. It certainly wouldn’t be right to accumulate it in someone else’s name, regardless of how rich he was.
“Are you afraid of him?”
“I don’t know him. Everyone here says he’s kind. But he certainly hasn’t been with me. But…” She looked into Lavinia’s eyes. “After swearing he wouldn’t, he paid my father’s debts, and told him he’d done it for me. Why would he do that?”
“Perhaps he secretly cares for you,” she said with a shrug.
Christina huffed a laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous.
He despises me. He brought me to a home he very clearly never visits, and left me as quickly as possible.
He didn’t even say goodbye before leaving.
” She took another bite of her tart. “I was hoping you could help me understand why. What could he possibly have to gain by paying the debt?”
“If he said he did it for you, why are you so adamant that he didn’t?”
Christina’s thoughts on the matter were interrupted by the butler. “Mrs. Henderson, a Mr. Anderson is here to see you.”
“I don’t know a Mr. Anderson.”
“He’s a solicitor, delivering something at the behest of Mr. Henderson.”
“Very well. Send him in.”
“What does that mean?” Lavinia whispered.
“I haven’t the faintest idea.” Although, the word annulment flashed through her mind. Would he really do that to her? Had he not bothered to consummate their marriage for a reason? Nothing made any sense with him.
Mr. Anderson smiled when he walked into the room, carrying a brown leather case. “Mrs. Henderson, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
His eyes flicked to Lavinia, so she introduced her. “This is my friend, Miss Taylor.”
He greeted her politely, but then turned his attention back to Christina. “I had hoped we might have a moment of privacy.”
Lavinia moved to leave, but Christina stopped her. “We have no secrets.” She didn’t want any more dishonesty with her friend. “You may share whatever you’ve come for in her presence.”
“Very well,” he said with a nod. From his case, he pulled a thick envelope. “I’ve been asked to deliver this to you.” He handed her the packet. It was filled with banknotes.
“What is this?”
“It’s one hundred pounds. I took the liberty of having it broken into small denominations to make it more easily usable for you.”
Nausea soured her stomach. One hundred pounds.
It was a reminder. He wouldn’t want her to forget what she’d done.
“You can tell him to keep it.” She held out the envelope, and when the man didn’t take it, she threw it down onto the table and strode from the room.
Her husband was a wretched beast. That was why he’d paid her father’s debts.
One more thing he could hold over her to make her feel guilty.
“Christina!” Lavinia’s quick footsteps followed her down the corridor. “What are you doing?”
She turned around, folding her arms. “Even from afar he’s taunting me.”
“Don’t let your pride ruin this, Christina. It’s one hundred pounds.”
“Yes. The exact amount my father tried to extort from him.”
“Regardless, it’s a lot of money. Don’t be a fool.” A slow, mischievous smile turned up Lavinia’s lips. “We can use it to redecorate.”