A Lesson in Forgiveness (11 page)

“I do not need twenty-five pounds, Miss Hamilton.” It couldn't be good that he was back to calling her Miss Hamilton, but Ginny forged on anyway.

“Then let me put it another way. This is incredibly humiliating. As it is, I'm the most talked about guest in your house. All the women talk about me like I'm some sort of whore. All the men, well, since seeing me practically naked after saving that child talk about... well, you can guess.” Pausing to take a breath, she continued, “You don't want to get married and that's great. I don't either, but I don't have any choices. My parents fully expect me to be engaged before we leave here or I get to listen to endless hours of my mother listing all my inadequacies. Lord Clarendon has led me to believe he's interested, but obviously he's not if he makes up some stupid bet to encourage every other man to come after me. There can only be two reasons for that: One, I'm not worthy enough unless all men desire me and Clarendon likes a challenge or two, he's not interested at all and is trying valiantly to pawn me off on someone else.”

Whitmore didn't mention the third possibility that Clarendon was more interested in her as a future lover than a present wife. Regardless, he was starting to see her point of view. Any of the possibilities were humiliating and could potentially cause a scandal that she would not survive.

“Look. I understand if you don't want to do it, but don't you dare dismiss me as if I'm being ridiculous. It's so damn easy to take the moral high road when you have a fabulous holiday to look forward to. I guess the view isn't so great from the cheap seats.” With that, knowing full well he didn't understand a word she just said, she walked away. Instead of heading back to the house, she walked quickly to the back of the gardens, heading toward the hedge maze. She thought she was forever turned off to the idea of going through the maze after listening to the cackle of giggly hens get lost and scream for help. Right now, she needed the privacy that being lost could afford.

She entered the maze and made as many twists and turns she could to ensure that it would take her a while to get back out. Once she calmed down a bit, she strolled around quietly, not really trying to find her way out.
It just doesn't make any sense
, she realized. She'd read over a dozen of those books and couldn't remember a single time where she couldn't figure out who the mega couple were. Sure she might already be engaged or the mega hunk would have some competition, but it was always so obvious who the heroine would eventually knock boots with.

Was she supposed to kiss Colin and then he would realize that he loved her and wanted to marry her? Would Miles be so jealous of seeing her kiss Colin that he would come to his senses and try to make it up to her? Maybe she takes a step down and marries Dr. Cummings, not that her real mother would ever have thought of marrying a doctor as “stepping down.” Was there someone she hadn't even met yet?

So lost in her thoughts, Ginny didn't even realize she was at the entrance of the maze. Looking around, she realized she made it in and out without even thinking. That certainly didn't explain why the chattering hens had gotten lost. God knew they never gave any thought to anything, except maybe their clothes and hair. Their brains were so vacuous that even light couldn't escape.

Walking back to the house, tired and defeated, Ginny figured she would spend the day in her room. She wasn't in the mood to entertain a bunch of guys who were only interested in winning a bet. And she didn't feel like joining in the festivities of a bunch of immature girls. Maybe she could seek out Miss Jones. The woman was smartly keeping to herself. It would give her someone to talk to, about something other than marriage. That sounded great to Ginny.

As she was climbing the steps to the outside terrace, she heard his voice. “May I speak to you in my study, Miss Hamilton?”

“Sure,” she replied, preceding Lord Whitmore into the house. He followed closely behind her as she walked into his study. Closing the door, he motioned her to the leather armchairs.

“I have given a lot of thought to what you said in the garden. And though I am not enthusiastic about your plan, I understand why you want to do it. Relieving those men of their money would have a certain level of revenge attached to it.”

Ginny remained silent. She wasn't sure if he was offering to do it or just saying he understood why she wanted to do it. Either way, she knew to let him get to it in his own time.

“After dinner, I will ask Clarendon to meet me in the garden to discuss some estate business. I often go out to smoke, so he will not think anything of it. You will meet me by the Diana statue on the east side of the garden. He will discover us there.”

Holy crap, he's gonna do it
, she thought merrily. A small smile formed on her face. She was about to thank him when he said, “Do not thank me, Miss Hamilton. I do this as a favor to you, as my friend. As long as we both know that it means nothing, it will be well worth seeing the look on Clarendon's face when he discovers us.”

“Indeed. Thank you anyway. I promise I won't be following you around, falling in love with you over one kiss.”

Smiling in return now, he stated, “You have never been kissed by me, so how can you say that?”

Uh-oh, Colin is back to flirting
. “I guess you're not that charming, my lord.”

The smile on his face spoke of meeting challenges left on his doorstep. “You best go. I have a lot of work to do today. Tonight, then?

“Tonight, Colin.”

Ginny did find Miss Jones, sitting alone in the library, with a large tome on her lap. As soon as she entered, Sarah looked up, a leery look in her eyes until she saw it was Ginny. Relaxing again, she closed the book and set it aside.

“I thought we could take tea in here today. I'm not in much of a mood for a crowd, are you?” Ginny certainly already knew the answer.

“That would be lovely.”

Ginny left to inform a footman to have tea brought for them in the library. Returning, she took the chair opposite Sarah, sitting down and adjusting her many layers.

“What were you reading?”

“A book about horticulture. I have been wandering Lord Whitmore's gardens and have become quite interested in his many forms of flora. I have been trying to identify some of the species.”

“Why don't you just ask Lord Whitmore? He
loves
talking about his gardens.”

“That would not be proper. He is most kind to allow me to stay here as I make inquiries for new positions. If I do not find a position in the next couple of weeks, I will travel to my sister's house and continue my search there. I would not impose on Lord Whitmore when he is being so kind.”

“That's preposterous. Lord Whitmore is proper, certainly, but he wouldn't have any issue talking about his gardens with anyone. I even heard one of the maids discussing some flowers with him because her mother keeps a modest garden at their home.”

“Perhaps.” Sarah seemed to be steeling herself to ask a question. “I do not wish to be impertinent. I was wondering if you and Lord Whitmore were soon to be... betrothed.”

“I can understand why you would think that, but no, we're just friends. We're both early risers and often have breakfast together. Since most everyone else doesn't rise until late morning, he usually walks with me around his gardens.”

“Oh. I have noticed how he looks at you sometimes. It seemed he was... admiring you.”

“I like to think he does. I'm a pretty interesting person,” Ginny said smiling to show her jest.

“Indeed you are, Bethany.”

A footman entered a moment later with a tray laden with a teapot, cups and some cakes. Sarah poured the tea and the two women continued to chat about this and that. Sarah was intelligent, having read a great deal to escape the tedium of caring for someone else's children. It occurred to Ginny that maybe she would be a perfect match for Dr. Cummings. It would also take one man off her list of potential suitors and narrow the playing field.

Tying in her thoughts to the subject at hand, Ginny mentioned, “I was just speaking to Dr. Cummings about that the other day. A delightful man, I say. So intelligent and handsome. He would make a good match for some young lady.”

“I am sure he would,” Sarah said catching on quickly. “Too bad I am not a young lady.”

“Sarah, you couldn't be more than thirty, for goodness sakes.”

“Too old to marry.”

“Are you telling me that women over the age of thirty are not allowed to marry?”

Bowing her head, refusing to look at her, she said, “No, of course not. But who would want to marry me. I have no dowry and I am no young débutante.”

“I would think any man with sense and intelligence would be very honored to marry you.” Now Ginny was even more determined to throw those two together. It would give Dr. Cummings a new life mate and it would give Sarah her own home and her own children. Seemed like a win-win to Ginny. Of course, it would be even better if they were compatible.

Chapter 10

At dinner, Ginny felt oddly nervous. Maybe it was Bethany coming out or maybe she was just being intuitive. Of course, the latter reason wouldn't become apparent until later. As if her stomach could take anything more, the main dish was mutton. The smell was atrocious and the look of the dish was even worse. Determined not to lose the contents of the other two courses, Ginny engaged herself in conversation with both her dinner partners:  Lord Huntington on one side and Lady Olivia Cotsworth on the other. Lady Olivia was quite desperate to marry her daughter off. She was the last one left and Lady Olivia had plans for life after children.

During the meal, Ginny would occasionally look toward her host to see if he was as nervous as she was. Every time their eyes met, he looked serene, but his eyes spoke of something else. Maybe she was deluding herself, but could it be passion or the promise of it? She was half tempted to seductively lick her lips to unhinge him, but since she still needed his help, she decided against it.

The room was warm that night, with the combination of dozens of candles and bodies. The table was elegant though. Only the best china and silverware were used, crystal glasses and a large floral arrangement in the center of the table. Not that any of this crossed Ginny's mind, as she kept at reviewing her plan. It seemed foolproof, but only a fool believes that, so Ginny reviewed it again and again.

Lord Clarendon was seated down the table on the opposite side. Ginny chanced a glance at him, knowing any look she gave him would be construed as flirting. He was animated, telling a story to Miss Slowden-Plough, who was trying to stifle a burst of giggles. Clarendon glanced in her direction after a moment and met her eyes. There was nothing hidden there. He looked at her as if she were on a plate to be feasted upon.

After supper, the women withdrew to the drawing room, the men to the library. Ginny, whose stomach now felt as if a marching band was performing in it, walked over to her mother and said, “I need to freshen up, mother. I'll be back shortly.”

Barely acknowledging her, she replied, “Of course, Bethany.”

Ginny wandered down the hallway to the doors leading to the back terrace. From there, she walked down the stone staircase and entered the gardens. She'd already scoped out the Diana statue and knew the quickest path to it. Since no one was on that side of the house, she didn't need to be worried about being seen, but she kept to the shadows anyway.

As she approached the rendezvous point, she saw the faint glow of a cigar being smoked. Soon the smell filled her nose. It wasn't an unpleasant scent, actually it reminded Ginny of the cigars her father used to smoke. That reminder filled Ginny with a nearly overwhelming sense of homesickness. Pulling herself together, knowing she had a job to do, she continued on until she reached Lord Whitmore.

He turned suddenly at the sound of her approach. “Miss Hamilton.” He went about putting out his cigar and waving the remaining smoke from the air. Ginny sensed that he was nervous, like it was his first kiss too. Of course, it wasn't Ginny's first kiss, but it was Bethany's.

“Good evening, Colin.” Ginny felt inexplicably shy all of a sudden. Here was the man whom she dined with almost every morning and then spent a great deal of time wandering his gardens, walking through the woods or riding horses. So why was it now that she was filled with trepidation over a simple kiss. A kiss that would earn her twenty-five pounds and could be rubbed in the face of Lord Clarendon.

After taking care of his cigar, Colin turned toward her and asked, “How should we do this, do you think?” Colin had never felt so nervous in his life. God knew he had wanted to kiss this girl for days now, but wouldn't even consider it since he wouldn't marry her. Then, all of a sudden, she comes to him with this wager, offers him what he wanted, free and clear. But what if it wasn't free and clear? What if he found he didn't want to let her go?

“I would think that if you were clandestinely kissing me, it wouldn't be so out in the open. Maybe we should stand behind the statue, where not everyone might notice us.”

“Yes, I believe you are right.” Offering her his arm, she wrapped her hand into the crook and he escorted her behind the statue. He then grabbed her shoulders gently and moved her so if someone were to come around the statue, his body would be shielding hers. “This seem about right?” His voice was lower, deeper. Ginny felt her body respond to it.

Swallowing, she replied, “Yes, this will work.” Ginny was thankful for the darkness. That way, he couldn't see her blush.

Colin reached up and brushed some strands of hair from her face. “Bethany, have you ever been kissed before?”

Ginny answered as Bethany when she said, “No.”

He stared into her eyes and offered, “Perhaps we should practice, so it looks realistic.”

Her heart was slamming in her chest. She remembered feeling this way before. It was how she felt when someone she liked wanted to kiss her. There was no doubt that Ginny liked Colin. He was astute and possessed an acerbic wit. All in all, he was someone she would choose to date, maybe even more than her usual three times.