Born of Persuasion (42 page)

Wide-eyed, I stared. I felt much as a scullery maid would, having snuck upstairs in the dead of night only to find the housekeeper waiting there in the dark with hands on hips.

“Something fearful is perching on your soul,” Edward continued, rising. “And what I don’t understand is why you’re
attempting to handle it by managing me. Well, it won’t work. I won’t make decisions that affect the rest of our lives based on partial information. What’s really happening here, Juls?”

Had someone poured a pitcher of water from a frozen stream over my head, I could not have felt more chilled. I stood.

Edward planted his hands on his hips as I took a stumbling step backwards. My legs were so weak I felt like I was wading through a pool of honey that suctioned my feet to the ground.

I am not sure how matters would have ended. But at that precise moment, the sound of a horseman screaming at his mount rent the air. Mr. Forrester rode into view, his frothing horse tearing up the turf. Mud-covered, Mr. Forrester slid from the mount in the stable yard. Like a man intoxicated, he screamed curses at the stablemen while he beat a bucket of feed with his whip. When one of the stable hands rushed out, Mr. Forrester lashed him with his riding crop.

Edward bolted toward them, and Henry Auburn appeared from the side of the stable. A struggle ensued, during which Mr. Forrester noted me, watching, stunned, a short distance away.

“You!” he screamed, pointing toward me.

Henry shoved his chest, forcing him backwards a step or two, shouting, “You dare point at a lady, sir!”

Anguish and fury seared over Mr. Forrester’s face. Using his entire body, he tried to pummel past Edward and Henry. “That . . . !” he screamed, losing energy when he couldn’t break free of the Auburns. He started sobbing. “That is no lady! That is . . .” He sank to his knees. “Is no . . .”

Edward caught my eye, and with a jerk of his head indicated his desire for me to retreat indoors.

A pale ghost, I slipped inside the library and then locked the door behind me. I checked and rechecked the lock before backing away, steadying my breath.

When I entered Eastbourne, I’d felt so panicked by Mr. Forrester’s accusation that I spun in a circle twice, trying to determine which direction to take. I decided against one of the nearby common rooms left unlocked for our use, not wanting to risk meeting her ladyship or the Windhams. I likewise spurned heading toward my chambers, as Edward knew where they were located.

Luckily, I had my set of keys. Recalling that the largest and most ornate key belonged to the library, I had set off in search of it. Within a few minutes I made my way inside the vast chamber; its multiple entrances and central location helped me to find it quickly.

Inside, a fire invited me from the other end of the gallery. Fighting back tears, I crossed the room and climbed into an oversized chair that had been positioned at an angle to enjoy the hearth. I took up a camel-colored blanket that lay crumpled over the ottoman.

I was still stunned. The morning had not gone at all as I’d planned. Here I had thought I could manipulate Edward. But he’d not only called my bluff; he’d outright demanded I be truthful with him.

I drew my feet onto the oversized cushion, gathering the blanket against my chest. The scent of cigars and sandalwood did little to untangle my overwrought nerves. How could I have been so stupid as to complicate matters even further by asking Edward to elope with me? What would I have done if he’d said yes? Exposed him to my guardian’s wrath?

I gave a hysterical laugh, half desiring to cry, as I imagined what Mr. Forrester might be saying to Henry and Edward at that very moment. Like a ninny, the moment I was accused, I’d fled.

“What a fool I am,” I said to myself. “How will I ever be able to explain that away?”

“There’s always a way, darling,” Mr. Macy said from the corner behind me.

The blanket tangled in my feet as I sprang up from the chair. Mr. Macy reached and steadied me from behind, before I managed to kick it off.

“Sweetheart.” He chuckled, then kissed my forehead. “It wasn’t my intent to frighten you. Are you hurt?”

Heat rushed over my face. “You were there the entire time!”

“Well, I didn’t just appear out of the air. I saw you were in no mood for disturbances.” His voice comforted, even as he sounded amused. “Yet it would have been heartless to leave you alone, when you were so obviously disturbed. I thought it best to wait it out. Someday I hope you’ll return the courtesy.” He refreshed a half glass of brandy sitting out and handed me the tumbler. “Care to disclose what is so unexplainable?”

The guilt staining my soul now stained my cheeks. “Mr. Forrester just arrived in the stable yard and was . . . rather angry.”

Mr. Macy grinned. “Yes, I rather imagined he would feel put out. What else?”

“When he turned his crop on one of the stable hands, Edward . . .” I froze, realizing I’d used his first name.

“Go on,” Mr. Macy encouraged.

While Mr. Macy lit a cigarette, I told him about the scene Mr. Forrester had caused, and how I’d run away when he started accusing me. Mr. Macy frowned as he listened, but with a fluid movement stamped out his cig, disturbing the thin blue line of smoke that wavered from it.

His brow knit as he crushed the paper into the ash. “You’ve nothing to worry about. I guarantee you Robert was restrained from saying more after you’d left.”

I studied him, wondering how he could be so certain. He reclined against the back of his seat and smiled. “Reynolds informed me you went walking with Reverend Auburn. How did that go? Better than yesterday?”

His forthrightness put me at ease. “No. He thinks I’m going to Scotland and wants to visit me there.”

Mr. Macy’s laughter was genuine. “No, that’s scarcely better, is it, darling? Do you really think it wise to discuss the topic of your guardian with him? Are you certain he won’t start poking around for answers?”

I looked away, realizing I hadn’t considered that.

“Perhaps John’s assessment is correct.” Mr. Macy steepled his fingers, studying me a moment. “Maybe the sooner we amend this, the better. Besides, it’s high time you had stability. Let’s marry before this week closes. I daresay, I can afford time away. No business, I promise. We’ll spend an entire month in my London home. Shop, theatre, opera, whatever you wish.” He leaned forward and searched my face.

For a second, as I thought about Edward, I wanted to stall Mr. Macy, but instead I nodded acceptance of his plan.

“Can we steal away at night?” I asked. “Marry, then go to London? Let Reynolds see Ed—everyone out of Eastbourne. Please.”

Mr. Macy cocked his head. “Don’t you think that’s rather unkind to Reverend Auburn?” Instead of sounding annoyed, his voice softened. “All right, if that is your wish. Though I hope you have better sense than to attempt something like that with me.” He twisted the ring on his pinkie. “You do realize eloping with a hermit twice your age will cause a sensation. Are you ready to handle the gossip?”

To show indifference, I arched an eyebrow.

He laughed. “Yes, I believe you are. That’s my girl. Would you like to spend the day with me? I have work that needs my concentration, but your presence would not disturb. Your novels haven’t arrived, yet I should be able to locate something useful to read, though perhaps less interesting.”

I desired to remain, but I sensed a reluctance behind the offer. Unwillingly, I shook my head. “No. Henry leaves this afternoon, and I should say good-bye to him.”

He rose and offered a hand. He pulled me to him and kissed
along the side of my face. “I’ll see you later tonight,” he promised, whispering into my hair. When he stepped back, his eye settled on a glass cabinet near us. “Here.” He strode to it. “I have something that ought to amuse you.”

He unlocked the case and with both hands lifted a book. I joined him, curious, then tried to hide disappointment, seeing an engraving of Shakespeare on the front paper.

“The first folio of his works ever published.” He handed it to me. “It’s priceless. Not even Reynolds is permitted to touch it.”

I stood but placed my hands behind my back. “I fear tearing it.”

“Small cost for keeping you amused.” He extended it. “Take it.”

I obliged, but once in my chambers I placed the folio on my writing desk. Feeling tired enough to sleep, I did.

Henry left late that afternoon, when the front lawns were dappled with shadows of branches flecking the lawn. Reynolds alerted me in time to see Henry and his manservant leading saddled horses to where Mrs. Windham, Elizabeth, and Edward waited to say good-bye. I strolled toward their grouping as Henry whispered privately to Elizabeth, aware Edward was keenly studying me.

Mrs. Windham wobbled and grabbed hold of my arm as I approached. “These partings are too much to bear. Lend me your arm. My strength is quite gone, I assure you. All these comings and goings, indeed, are very disagreeable. ’Tis more than a soul can bear.”

“Here,” Edward joined her other side and tried to catch my attention. “Take my arm.”

Mrs. Windham staggered against him. “My head spins, and my heart is having such spasms every time I think upon dear Henry’s journey. Indeed, tonight I shall be worse. You promise to comfort me, though I fear that shall be no easy task.”

Smiling, Henry approached us.

“Oh, my dear boy!” Mrs. Windham flung against Henry with such force he nearly stumbled. “My dear, dear boy. You must take care not to fall from your horse and injure your head. Do not risk becoming chilled. If it rains, you must remain at an inn. If anything happens to you, Elizabeth and I would have no one except ourselves.”

Henry cast his brother a weary look.

“Here, allow me to seat you, Mrs. Windham.” Edward steered her toward a bench.

Within two strides, Henry crushed me in a hug, lifting me from my feet. “Fare thee well, Julia. I’ve done my part. Now all that’s left is for you two to stop acting like children.”

It was so
Henry
that I laughed, then hugged his neck tight, giving a sob.

“No crying, now. I’m only going home to pick up Devon and then to school.”

“Take good care of Elizabeth,” I replied in a choking manner as he set me down. “Or so help me—”

He gave me an odd look, but as he rarely understood Edward or me, he brushed off the statement. “You’d do better to warn her to take care of me.”

With that, he laughed, then swung into his saddle. He took the reins from his manservant, instructing, “Take the main road. I’ll meet you there.” Then, clucking his tongue, he dug his knees into the steed and sprinted over the turf, his cape streaming behind him.

Horrified, I watched as he urged his horse toward an insurmountable wall. In a sylphlike movement, the horse sailed over the obstacle and disappeared under forlorn pines.

“Here—” Edward collected both Mrs. Windham and Elizabeth—“have no fear for Henry. Do you remember, Elizabeth, the time he took a counterfeit tumble in order to lose a bet?”

Elizabeth laughed, sounding weepy.

Edward tried to meet my eyes, but once more I shunned him.

“Well, thank the good heavens for Henry,” Mrs. Windham continued, but then suddenly reached out and batted Elizabeth. “And to think, missy, of the frenzy you went into when you learned that we were going to visit Mr. Macy. Indeed, Elizabeth, had you followed my counsel, we could have been spared this entire trip. The very idea of such comings and goings for no reason at—”

“How quickly you change opinions, madam,” Elizabeth said. “I seem to recall you were anxious to come and very keen to marry Julia to Mr. Greenham.”

“Greenham?” Edward looked over his shoulder at me, confused.

“Such nonsense.” Mrs. Windham looked up at the rustling ivy that covered the stonework. “Mr. Greenham is too tall to marry her, and I always said so. It was you who insisted and needled our way on this trip.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes at me.

Thankfully, when we entered the drawing room, Lady Foxmore sat writing correspondences. I was summoned with a wave to join her. She said nothing, but gave me a new stack of letters to place wafers upon.