Chapter Nine
The Merricks Enjoy an Outing in the Park
No one entered her chamber the following morning to disturb her, and Fiona slept soundly until nine thirty.
Pulling on her dressing gown, she slipped into the hallway to see if there was stirring in Valentina’s room.
Ear to the door, she heard no sound from within and opened it a crack to peek in at her friend.
She lay fast asleep, and Fiona closed the door softly.
Betty waited outside.
“Good morning, Miss Fiona. I was just about to go to see if you were awake. Is Miss Valentina still in bed?’
“Good morning, Betty. She is still fast asleep.”
“Shall I order some tea or hot chocolate brought to your room, Miss? Perhaps with some rolls or muffins for a little something to break your fast? We’ll let Miss Valentina sleep a bit more.”
“Hot chocolate would be perfect. And some rolls, please.”
“I’ll send a housemaid up with your tray. Lady Amelia and Miss Valentina rarely come down to breakfast after a late night. Just ring when you are ready to dress.”
She wanted to practice on the Broadwood as soon as possible. How far behind had she fallen after several months of not playing? Flexing her fingers, she examined them and gently stretched the tight tendons.
A housemaid soon entered with the breakfast tray and a book under her arm. “His Lordship sent a book for you, Miss.”
Once alone, she examined the tome with curiosity; it was a volume of Shakespeare’s histories.
After eating two brioches and drinking a cup of chocolate, she pushed back the tray and sighed.
It would be a full day with the carriage ride to the park this afternoon.
She had hoped to fit in some music, but the dreaded dancing lesson was also today.
She had three days to become a passable partner and not embarrass herself at Almack’s.
Abruptly, Mrs. Davenport came to mind. She and the earl had been lovers, and Valentina intimated it was more than a cursory romance. She was not surprised. The widow was stunning, petite, yet shapely in all the places men were known to appreciate.
Idly, she wondered what kind of lover Richard Merrick might be. Was there passion lurking beneath his reserved exterior? She blushed. Why on earth had that outrageous thought crossed her mind? Mrs. Davenport could have the insufferable earl.
She had to concede that his stewardship last night had been perfect.
How astonishing to find out he played the piano as a boy…
she would never have connected him with music.
It was also surprising to find out the earl read extensively; in Dublin, her father’s library had been only for show.
She picked up the volume of Henry V from her bedside table.
When Valentina knocked, she was deeply absorbed in Prince Hal’s stand at Agincourt. Fiona yawned and set aside the book, looking over at the clock on the mantel.
“Good morning! Is it eleven thirty already? I meant to practice once everyone was stirring…”
“Mama is writing letters in the morning room, but I’m sure you could practice whenever you like. I hope you enjoyed the party, Fiona.”
“Very much. Did you receive any particular attention last night?”
She sank into the adjacent armchair with a smile. “Sir Percy Ferrar practically ran in the opposite direction. He came to ask for my hand the day of your arrival, but Richard dismissed him.”
“Well, that was shabby of your brother, to refuse him without consulting you. Did you care for Mr. Ferrar?”
“No, I didn’t. He is rather silly.”
“I noticed a handsome young man with titian hair showing you particular attention. And what of Denys Spencer? Certainly, he would make a fine prospect.”
“Denys?” She turned bright red. “Whatever can you mean? I have known him since I was in short skirts. He and Richard were at Eton together, then at Cambridge. Denys views me as Richard’s sister, nothing more.
And Edward Redmond is quite penniless, so there is no chance my brother will entertain an offer in that direction. ”
“Valentina, do you mind if I ask how your father passed away?”
“Of course you may, but it’s not a pretty story.
He was fox hunting at Seldon, our country estate, and his horse stepped in a hole.
From what I understand, he died instantly of a broken neck.
Papa was reckless in many ways, and no one was greatly surprised.
Of course, Mama and I were devastated, but Richard came home after graduating from Cambridge to take control of the estate.
Papa had accrued vast gambling debts and made poor investments.
Things were terribly difficult for a while, but Richard worked hard to put our holdings back in order. ”
Fiona was silent. She might understand the earl’s stringent management of everything around him better now, but he’d better not try to force a husband on her. Guardian or no guardian, she would not tolerate it.
“Enough sad talk. Let me be your lady’s maid, Fiona, and I’ll pick a dress for our outing today.” Valentina opened the mahogany armoire, pushing aside dresses until she came to a simple dark-pink toile muslin and matching twill spencer in deep rose, and laid them out on the bed.
“Lovely. Do you approve? I’ll ring for Betty. Our carriage ride is scheduled for two o’clock, so perhaps you might have some time to practice. I would love to listen.”
*
When Richard entered Merrick House at noon, he heard the ripple of piano music in the background.
He stripped off his greatcoat and gloves, handing them to Hansen, and paused to listen.
The piece was a virtuoso affair, with notes and chords that ran the length of the keyboard. A sonata. Perhaps Mozart, or Haydn?
It was impossible to guess that a woman played; the technique was so far from the genteel performance one would expect. Even in concerts, a man rarely played with such force and passion.
In the drawing room, his family gathered around the piano.
Miss Ernest sat next to Octavia, working industriously on her needlepoint.
His mother enjoyed a customary afternoon nap while Valentina absorbed the society pages spread before her.
The beautiful music underscored the peaceful tableau.
He hadn’t realized how much he missed music in the house.
Octavia jumped up to greet him, but he laid his finger across his lips and motioned her to sit.
Miss Rafferty’s long fingers flickered over the keys.
He observed the quick play of emotions across her face: pure joy to start, a furrowed brow when she came to a difficult passage, and then sadness during a particularly poignant interval.
She had not noticed his arrival. The music ended with a rapid flurry of movement and crescendos, and as the last notes hung in the air, he applauded. Miss Rafferty glanced over in surprise as Octavia ran to him, throwing her arms around his fine worsted wool coat.
Richard laughed and squeezed her shoulders affectionately. “Hello, Scamp. Good afternoon to you, Valentina. Another stirring performance, Miss Rafferty. Who is the composer?”
“Mozart, Piano Sonata 13 in B-flat major. A difficult piece that I have not quite mastered.” She stood and stretched.
“What on earth is the Four-In-Hand Club? Valentina said you had had a meeting today and then mentioned boxing. I know of Jackson’s Saloon; Athair spoke of it as a pinnacle of the sport, but he also mentioned Cribb’s Parlor in the same breath. ”
“Your father sparred, then? I only met him once or twice as a youth but remember him as a strong and athletic man. The Four-In-Hand is a driving club, of which I’m a member.”
“A very exclusive club, I’m sure.”
“As a matter of fact, it is.” A smile played about his lips. Miss Rafferty rarely failed to amuse. “Speaking of driving, shall we start a bit early? The earlier we return, the sooner Miss Rafferty and I can begin our dancing lesson. Mother, I see you are awake.”
Lady Amelia yawned delicately. “Oh, was I asleep? I must have dozed off…”
Valentina set the paper aside. “That is a splendid idea, Richard. Let me ring for my jacket. Mother, would you care for a shawl?”
“Yes, my dear.”
“Do you wish to come, Octavia?” the earl asked. “Have you completed your studies?”
Octavia presented a pleading face to her governess.
“Nothing is pressing,” Miss Ernest replied.
“Hoorah! I’ll get my coat!”
“You need not run, Octavia,” Lady Amelia called. But it was too late.
“I shall call for the landau.” The slight headache brought on by another visit to Mr. Falworth this morning had dissipated with some intense exercise, and the idea of a drive in the fresh air promised to be entertaining.
“And the chestnuts?” Valentina asked hopefully.
“Yes, the chestnuts indeed. We will go in style,” he promised.
Pillows of white clouds accentuated the bright-blue sky of a lovely afternoon as the carriage ride commenced.
Hyde Park was crowded with other carriages, but Richard’s open landau and four showy horses attracted no small attention.
It was rare that the entire Merrick family gathered for a drive, and they received many nods and greetings as the chestnuts trotted smartly along the main thoroughfare.
He handled the fractious geldings easily, well satisfied with the attention his party attracted.
More than one gentleman looked twice at Valentina and Miss Rafferty, whom he had settled in the third seat of the carriage.
His ward was quite fetching in a deep-cherry spencer and straw-brimmed bonnet decorated with matching ribbons, and Valentina a stunning foil in sky-blue taffeta and a jacket of sapphire velvet.
His mother sat opposite them, rigidly clutching Octavia to her side.
She found even the most conservative pace intimidating, but bravely faced trepidation to fulfill her duty as matriarch of the family.
At one point, Richard urged the chestnuts into a brisk trot and he heard a strangled gasp behind him.
“Richard! Pray remember we are not at Newmarket.”