Chapter 9
Home once more, Elias sought out the company of his uncle and found him in the laboratory.
“Elias! How was your day, dear nephew?”
“It was no different from what I imagined it to be.”
“I do hope that means it was a good day. How could it be anything else in the company of such fine women?”
“Fine women?” Elias scoffed.
“You cannot say that you derive no joy from Charlotte or Miss Fairfax.”
“Charlotte is fine,” Elias grunted. The woman had manners enough to balance away the poor morals. But Victoria? She possessed neither the morals nor manners to save her.
Lord Reginald looked up from his test tubes and beakers. His brow was raised. “Is there a problem with the young Miss Fairfax?”
“Oh, do you mean your bride? Firstly, she speaks with far too great a familiarity, and she openly declares that wishes to marry you only for your money.”
Lord Reginald laughed. “Yes. Yes. I like a woman who doesn’t mince the truth.”
“Uncle, you cannot be serious! This woman is so…so…brazen.”
Lord Reginald muttered, trying to find some way to explain it to his nephew. “Familiarity is good, Elias. It lets you know where you stand with a person. Though I hope Miss Victoria keeps her reasons for our engagement strictly between our little family. I wouldn’t want people to get the wrong impression about her.”
“The wrong impression? If one believes her to be a fortune hunter, then they would not be in the wrong!”
Lord Reginald laughed again and leaned against his work table. “I see that it bothers you, Elias, that you find the change in our situation a surprise.”
“Surprise doesn’t begin to describe my experience. This is mistake, uncle. I can feel it in my bones.”
Lord Reginald frowned and drew nearer to Elias. He put his hand on his head. “You are warm.”
Elias’s eyes bounced about the room. He was warm. He felt anxious and distracted. He was having a hard time focusing on anything beyond his own emotions.
“Is the change coming?”
Those words had a sobering effect. The change. Elias was driving himself closer to it, allowing his instinct and animal drives to control his very being.
“No. I…perhaps it is.”
“Let me help.” Lord Reginald went to his latest brew and ladled it into a cup, mixing it with brandy. “Drink this.”
Elias did. His heart rate slowed, he felt more in control of his faculties. A few moments before he hadn’t even been conscious of his own agitation. And then there it was, controlling him—leading him to slip, to lose his narrow hold on his humanity.
“You mustn’t allow yourself to get worked up about this,” Lord Reginald told him.
“How do you suggest I do that?”
“It’s simple! Relax. There is nothing to worry about.”
Nothing to worry about? There were strange women in his home. Women who were uncomfortably close to a very dangerous secret. And tomorrow there would be Lydia and Agnes to deal with. Was this to be the new state of affairs at Edenbridge Hall—Visitors from the village coming in and out of the house, their eyes filled with fear and judgment? Would nowhere be safe for Elias?
“Lydia Pritchard and Agnes Pembroke will be visiting Miss Victoria tomorrow,” he informed his uncle, hoping his tone would convey all that was necessary to know.
“Lydia Pritchard…that’s Benjamin Pritchard’s daughter. He’s a narrow-minded sort.” Lord Reginald’s attention was slowly turning back to his drafts. “I do think narrow-mindedness can be worse than malicious intent. At times, that is. At times…”
“The point is, they will be coming to the house.”
“Yes. That will be nice for Victoria—getting to know the women in the village—women her age…” Lord Reginald looked up as if something had just come to his attention. “You should spend more time with people your age,” he suggested.
“My preference is to spend time alone.”
Lord Reginald laughed. “Yes. Yes. Quite.” He was leaning over a large beaker, steam rising into his face as he inspected the contents. Elias felt hot around his collar again. He was getting nowhere with his uncle. For whatever reason, Lord Reginald lacked all sense when it came to Victoria.
“She’s gotten under your skin?—”
“Who has?” Lord Reginald asked, vaguely listening. “Lydia Pritchard?”
Elias was on the verge of losing his cool. His thoughts spun. “Victoria,” he growled.
“Yes, Victoria…” He looked at the clock. “I imagine the ladies will be getting ready for dinner. What time did Cook say our meal would be served?”
Lord Reginald wasn’t listening. He was too focused on his work to notice the signs flaring up in Elias. The special draft, the potion, used to work so well. One drink and he was himself again. But not lately, particularly not when his mind was so occupied by Victoria Fairfax.
Elias turned and headed for the door. He needed to escape. He needed to get out of this house and into the fresh air. The woods were calling him.
“Elias?” Lord Reginald called. But Elias didn’t answer. He strode out into the hall, rounded the corner, and ran headlong into Victoria herself.
He was flustered, sweating. He pressed past her, excusing himself.
“Where are you going?” Victoria asked.
“Where are you going?” Elias shot back. She had been headed in the opposite direction, but now she was at his side, matching his quick stride.
“I was just exploring the house.”
“Didn’t my uncle already give you a tour? Or are you taking inventory of what you can steal?”
“What need do I have to steal? I am the lady of this house; everything here belongs to me.”
“Not yet it doesn’t,” Elias gritted out. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”
They hurried down the stairs.
“Are you really so against me being here?”
“Yes. I am. And I know what you’re going to say.”
“Do you?”
“That I’m being sexist. I assure you, however, that is not the case.”
“No?”
“No. Victoria, I would hate you just as sincerely if you were a man.”
“Well, that is very good to know.”
“Indeed. Now, go know it somewhere else. I am busy.”
“Busy doing what?” She followed him right out the front door.
“Busy doing busy things that do not concern you.”
“We are headed to the woods, aren’t we?”
“Not we. I. I am headed to the woods, and you are not invited.”
“Do you have some secret out there?”
Elias stopped in his tracks. “Who told you that? Someone in the village? One of the maids?”
Victoria’s eyes widened, and she made no attempt to hide her smile. “You have secrets with the maids? Out there? Oh my, Elias.”
He waved her away and kept his heading. He was sweating now, his heartbeat rapid as he tugged at his collar. “Any secrets I have are mine and mine alone.”
“Fine. I have no interest in your secrets. The woods are big enough to hold your secrets and mine.”
“You are not welcome in the woods. You need to be getting ready for dinner.”
“Don’t you need to get ready as well?”
“I will not be joining you.”
Victoria stalled now. “Not going to dinner! Why not?”
“Woman, how many times must I say that my business is my own?”
“You and your business.” She shook her head. “No one cares about your business. Probably going out there to kick rocks and write bad poetry. You’re just the type to anyway.”
The absurdity of that statement brought Elias to a halt. “Why are you following me?”
“I’m bored, and now you say you won’t attend dinner. What am I supposed to do? Who will I talk to?”
“Talk to your groom, why don’t you?”
Victoria clicked her tongue in annoyance, causing Elias to run hands through his hair in exasperation. Promptly, he took Victoria by the shoulders, spun her around, and set her in the direction of the house.
“There,” he said. “You go that way. Go that way and leave me alone.”
“I can go where I please.”
“You will go back to the house, or there will be consequences.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “What consequences do you dare threaten me with?”
Elias had the strong urge to bend this woman over his knee and spank her. What else was there to do in the face of such insolence?
Victoria softened suddenly, an idea coming to her mind. “Fine. Go where you please. Skip dinner for all I care. Shall I at least tell your uncle where you have gone or what time you will be back?”
“He knows where I will be.”
“And as far as your return?” she pressed.
“Late,” Elias growled, and he stormed away. Leaving Victoria with a happy smile on her lips. This would be the perfect opportunity to snoop through his room.
Elias glared over his shoulder one last time, and Victoria wiggled her fingers at him.