Born of Persuasion (26 page)

“Well, go fetch Chance. He’ll want to know.”

“He’s not here.”

“It was nothing.” I smoothed my bodice, something Sarah taught me, to attend appearances first when I needed steadiness of mind. “I was lost and heard a noise.” I shifted away from Mr. Greenham’s doubting stare. “I think a bird is loose in the house. It sounded like flapping.”

Lady Foxmore blinked slowly. “Child, in elegant society, we do not run when frightened. Next time—”

“What really happened?” Mr. Greenham said.

“Give her space to breathe.” Lady Foxmore frowned. “Trust me, you’ll receive more information from her if you do.”

“I’m better aware than you how to obtain information from someone.”

“Apparently not.” Lady Foxmore pressed me against her. “Come, child. We shall tour Chance’s hothouses. The warmth will remove your chill. Then you and I shall partake of tea and—”

Mr. Greenham planted a hand on my shoulder, holding me in place. “She’s not leaving my sight until I know what she was running from.”

“So accompany us. Only I liked you better when you refused to speak.”

“There are letters I must attend to today.”

“Fine. Attend to them. We shall go without you.” She leaned heavily upon my arm and carried her walking stick.

“Do not test me, Adelia. Miss Elliston remains with me. In this house, my word is law. Do not make me prove it.”

“We shall see” was Lady Foxmore’s response.

THAT EVENING, I could scarcely keep my eyes open as Reynolds opened the dining room doors for me to join dinner. Each moment of my first day at Eastbourne was like an individual painting in a long hall that featured art. The hues and emotions kept changing the further along I went—as did the complexity of colors and subject matter. Had I truly dissolved all ties with Edward? Met with a gentleman late at night? Tasted brandy? Learned that Mama had been murdered? Felt something consecrated in the chapel? Witnessed a gentleman breaking into someone’s rooms? Spent the day alone with Mr. Greenham, locked in a study?

I clasped my shawl tight, needing the cessation that only sleep would bring. My eyes felt leaded as I stepped across the threshold. The chamber was as opulent as yesterday, yet I no longer attended to the estate’s wealth but scanned the room solely to learn its occupants. To my delight, and then dismay, only the Windhams had arrived.

Here was familiar! Only I did not start toward them. I hesitated, twisting my hands, realizing that I had not yet shared my
bitter news about Henry. There scarce seemed a need. Moving as slowly as Sarah used to on mornings when her joints hurt, Elizabeth blinked wearily at me.

I stepped toward her, ready to comfort.

“I suppose,” Mrs. Windham began in an injured tone, turning her head to face me, “that you’ve spent the day with her ladyship and thought to spare my feelings with a simple ruse.”

“Ruse?” I asked, stopping short.

“Mama,” Elizabeth said, but her tone was flat.

Mrs. Windham dabbed puffy eyes, her mouth scrunched with bitterness. “I daresay when you’ve lived the charmed life, you have no regard for the comforts of others. Never mind it was I who first took you in when you were an orphan.”

Elizabeth approached. She took in my eyes, which still bore dark smudges of a sleepless night. Her brow furrowed before she bent her mouth to my ear. “Lady Foxmore sent a note to Mama this morning, stating she was in no mood to visit with the underbred, and then when you didn’t arrive for lunch or tea—”

Mrs. Windham’s voice turned shrill. “I am not as unaware as you think. I know what you are both whispering.” Her chin quivered as she cast me an accusing look. “And I can very well guess where you spent your day. I should hope I will never think so much of myself that I would grasp and claw at my first opportunity to befriend peerage.”

“Well, here’s your proof, Mama,” Elizabeth said, pushing me before her. “Julia did not abandon us. She’s here now. Think of how lovely dinner will be.”

“Humph.” Mrs. Windham’s bottom lip curled as more baby tears formed in her eyes. “You have it wrong. Now that Julia is here, we can very well guess Lady Foxmore is joining dinner. And you—” she gestured to me—“I suppose you’re obligated to look surprised when you see her, when we all know you’ve probably spent the day most agreeably playing cards with her and Mr. Greenham, not giving one thought to your
true
friends.”

“Mr. Greenham?” I felt my face grow hot as I realized how difficult it was going to be to play innocent. “You’ve not seen him either?”

“Oh, posh.” Mrs. Windham fisted her lace, her face growing crimson. “You know perfectly well we have not. I can see by your face he’s paid you attentions. And I may as well tell you right now, I know you’re doing everything in your power to derogate us in a vain attempt to appear above your station.”

I glanced at Elizabeth for help, but she stared at the floor silently counting. “I assure you, I’ve not said one word about you or—”

“No. I should imagine not.” Mrs. Windham collapsed into a chair, her voice increasing in volume. “What with you doing everything possible to keep the attention on yourself at all times.”

“Mama, hush,” Elizabeth finally said.

I glanced toward the open door and prayed no servants were in the hall listening. While not common, such fits with Mrs. Windham were not uncommon either. More than once in the past, I had witnessed her escalate herself into a frenzied state of mind.

Tears rose in Mrs. Windham’s eyes. “No! I will not hush! If Julia does not like being put in her proper place, then she ought to act more ladylike. How dare you tell your mother to hush. In fact, you hush! I forbid you to speak. I would forbid Julia, only she will disregard my order.” Her mouth quivered. “Well, go on. Go on and prattle about your new friends. I certainly have not enough consequence to stop you.”

I could have groaned aloud when the distinctive clack of Lady Foxmore’s walking stick filled the hall. I already knew her mood was ill.

“Lucy never would have given us such a turn.” Mrs. Windham scrunched her eyes as she dabbed them. “A dearer friend I’ve never had.”

Her ladyship’s tiny frame scarcely filled the doorway through which she hobbled. Ostrich feathers added a foot to her height. The glitter of her eyes and the smirk on her face communicated that she’d overheard Mrs. Windham.

She made a show of straightening her petite form, the stiff drapery folds of her dress remaining unmoving. “Child,” she directed toward me, “I’m an old woman. Where are your manners? Help me to the table.”

Jealousy filled Mrs. Windham’s features as I complied. Her ladyship transferred her full weight to my arm. “You will sit by me,” she instructed in a loud voice, “and we shall do our best to close our ears to—” she gave an airy wave in the direction of Mrs. Windham—“the feebleminded.”

Mr. Forrester chose that moment to enter. With suspicion, he studied each occupant, his eyes narrowing on me as if surmising I’d been the one in the hall.

“Sit, child,” Lady Foxmore ordered, tugging my arm.

I started to cast Elizabeth an apologetic look, but her mouth thinned and she crossed her arms, daring me to comply. It was the first time I’d been on the other side of such a look, although I’d seen her give it before cutting off acquaintances. It gave me pause.

“Did I see you earlier today?” Mr. Forrester demanded, stepping toward me.

Lightning flashed over Lady Foxmore’s countenance. “How dare you speak to my charge! You’ve had no formal introduction.” Her nails bit into my arm. “Take your seat, child. This instant.”

I gathered my skirts to comply, then with a look tried to tell Elizabeth I’d explain later, but realized I was foresworn to keep the truth a secret. With a sinking in my stomach, I wondered how Edward would feel when he learned how quickly I’d replaced him. I took a draft of my wine, suddenly wishing I had told him about Scotland, so he’d at least understand.

That dinner stands in my mind as the most awkward of my life. Without Macy to bend the atmosphere to suit his mood, all goodwill crumbled. Mr. Greenham touched neither food nor drink, but remained buried in thought. Rooke alone ate with relish, as though immune to our tension.

Henry, thankfully, tended to the Windhams. Though they did not openly censure me, the angry glances he sent in my direction gave me cause to think he knew I’d caused their distress. Elizabeth refused to meet my eye. She stared at her plate, her brows knit. Under normal circumstances, I’d have felt crushed had it not been for Mr. Forrester staring at me, relentlessly, never eating, just staring.

“Did you enjoy dinner?” Reynolds asked me hours later as he escorted me to my chamber.

I rose from my thoughts as one awakens from the watery layers of slumber. With a frown, I pondered how to answer him. Not only had it been miserable, but long. It was well past ten by the time the footmen collected the last dishes and the butler announced that musical entertainment had been provided. Macy had hired an opera singer from London.

By that time, I could scarcely keep my eyes open, and thankfully Mr. Greenham took note and collected me from the table before Lady Foxmore did. As the others filed into the unlocked music room, Mr. Greenham gave Reynolds charge of me, stating I wished to retire.

I eventually decided on “It was very . . . nice.” Then, seeing Reynolds’s crestfallen look, quickly added, “The braised goose was sublime.”

He beamed at the praise and I made a mental note to applaud future menus. He stopped before my bedchamber door and withdrew a key. I studied my surroundings, realizing I should have paid better attention to our route.

“Shall I fetch your lady’s maid?”

I shook my head, having no desire to encounter her tongue on top of everything else that had happened today.

“Very well, then.” Reynolds opened my door.

“Has Mr. Macy returned yet?” I asked, hesitating.

“Not yet, though I expect him home any moment. Shall I inform him you wish to see him when he does?”

Heat worked its way through my face as I imagined how bold such a request would sound. I almost couldn’t look at Reynolds. “Yes, if it’s not too much trouble.”

Reynolds bowed. “Very good, miss.”

Anxious to escape from my embarrassment, I ducked into my chambers, where a new surprise awaited. Though I suspected Nancy had not been permitted there, my trunks were unpacked and the mayhem gone. My dresses were hung and my scattered jewelry had been collected and organized. The lamp wicks were turned low, making the atmosphere inviting. Most lovely of all, arrangements of tropical flowers adorned the room, filling it with fragrance.

While Reynolds locked the door behind me, I entered, grateful for the respite. I unpinned the tightest coils of my hair, glad to be free of the combs digging into my scalp, then sank into the closest chair and spied a plate of chocolates.

Pleasure filled me. How on earth could they have known the exact chair I would choose? Too tired to even taste the confection, I shut my eyes, feeling sleep curl through my limbs.

The strong scent of cigars woke me.