Candice Hern (11 page)

“She is that.”

“Perhaps you will not be so fond of her when you realize how much her efforts will help me to win our wager. Pru only mentioned the subscriptions that came in the mail this week. She did not include the increased volume of bulk subscriptions from several booksellers. Those numbers count, too.”

“Don’t get overconfident, my dear. You still have a long way to go and I am determined to get back the Minerva. But I wouldn’t worry too much. When you lose the wager in November, I shall still be more than willing to keep you on as editor.” He flashed her a wicked grin.

“Odious man!”

“Egad, what’s he done now?”

Tony looked over his shoulder to see Nicholas Parrish lounging in the doorway.

“He is only teasing me again,” Edwina said and gave Tony an exasperated look.

Nicholas walked into the study, skirted the desk, and sank into the armchair opposite, never taking his eyes off Tony.

“As long as it is only teasing,” he said, “I will not call the man out on your account, Ed.”

Edwina laughed, but even though it was meant facetiously, there was a hint of seriousness behind the remark. Tony had the distinct impression the man did not like him. Whether it was because of Tony’s new role as his sister’s employer or because he mistrusted Tony’s intentions toward her, Nicholas definitely acted the role of protective brother whenever they encountered each other.

“No need for pistols at dawn, Parrish. I am merely reminding your sister that she has a long way to go before she can have any hopes of winning our wager. I fear she does not appreciate my little reminders.”

Nicholas continued to glare at him through narrowed eyes. “No, I suspect she does not.”

“Oh, but Nickie, we have had such news,” Edwina said, drawing his attention away from Tony at last.

She proceeded to tell her brother about Raisbeck and about Flora’s scheme with the modistes. Nicholas was visibly impressed with the notion of such an accomplished artist drawing figures for the
Cabinet
. But it was when Edwina explained Flora’s plan that his eyes finally lit with genuine enthusiasm.

“And I assume Pru is tagging along,” he said, “in order to solicit supplemental paid advertising?”

“She is indeed.”

“Good Lord. Think of all that additional revenue.”

The siblings shared a significant glance, which reinforced Tony’s notion that something was going on at
The Ladies’ Fashionable Cabinet
, something involving profits and those account books he was supposed to keep his nose out of. And what was Nicholas’s role?

“The future is certainly looking brighter,” Edwina said. She stood and stepped from behind the desk. “I’m going to go downstairs and see about making us a pot of tea. The good Bohea this time,” she added, and sent Tony a teasing glance. “And perhaps some of Mrs. Gibb’s cream cakes in honor of all the good news. I will meet you both upstairs shortly.”

When she’d gone, Tony pushed himself off the desk and straightened his coattails.

“You’ll never be able to sneak up on someone with all that metal clanking at your waist,” Nicholas said, and then rose from his languid slouch in one graceful move. He had the same fluid grace and dark good looks as his sister.

“I’m not the sneaking-up sort,” Tony replied. He adjusted his watch chain and allowed the fobs to jingle. “I rather prefer to announce my presence with a flourish, so to speak.”

“Nice set of fobs,” Nicholas said. “That one in particular, with the lock of hair. A sweetheart’s?”

Tony fingered the locket fob with the curl of blonde hair beneath glass. Was Nicholas worried that Edwina might have a rival for his affections?

“It’s my mother’s hair, actually.”

“Ah.”

Nicholas stepped past him and moved toward the door. Tony stopped him with a brief touch on the arm. “Look here, Parrish, if you’re going to act the protective brother and question my intentions toward your sister, you can save your breath.”

Nicholas stared for a moment, then his face split into a wide grin. “Morehouse, I would not
dream
of interfering with Edwina’s personal life. She would have my head if I tried. If she decides to become involved with you, that is her business.”

“Well, then. Good. Although I must say yours is a somewhat unconventional attitude, is it not? I believe most brothers would not be so blasé about it.”

“We are not, as you must know, the most conventional of families.”

“I knew your grandfather when I was a boy. He was fairly upstanding, as I recall.”

“You must tell me about him someday. I never did know him well. I didn’t have the advantage of summers with him like Edwina. But I know he disapproved of Mama.”

Tony recalled what his father had told him about
Edwina’s family all those years ago. “Because she was an artist?”

“That, and her rather cavalier disregard of convention. She had a somewhat overwhelming personality, an artist’s temperament. Brilliant, passionate, single-minded. Life with Mama was a bit chaotic. We never knew what she was going to do next. Her every thought was for her art. She was always seeking something new, would do anything, go anywhere to find new sources of light. She was forever chasing light. It’s how she died.”

“How so?”

“There was a huge storm, and she wanted a close look at the effects of lightning in the sky. Papa tried to stop her, but she would not be deterred. She climbed up to the top of the highest peak in the district and must have been taking shelter beneath a tree. By the time we found her, she was dead. The tree had been struck by lightning.”

“Dear God.”

“It was a difficult time. Papa withdrew completely. Edwina took it the hardest. But she recovered and went her own way, eventually into another sort of chaos.”

“France.”

“Yes, France. But my point is that even if Mama had lived, Edwina would still have led an unconventional life. Mama taught us from the cradle that we must discover our own passions and go after
them. Edwina has always done so. She’s been doing precisely as she wants since she was a girl.”

“I had a taste of that pigheadedness when we were children.” Tony gave a chuckle. “She hasn’t changed much, has she?”

“Actually, she has. She’s never been quite the same since our time in France. Oh, she’s as pigheaded as ever, but she’s much quieter. No longer as impulsive or rebellious. Hates disorder of any kind. Always wants to have things under control.”

“So I’ve noticed.”

“Which means she will brook no interference from me. Especially where men are concerned.”

Interesting. It suggested there had been men in her life. She might after all be one of those women who eschew marriage and have no scruples about taking lovers.

Tony cleared his throat. “Have there been many occasions, then, where you have refrained from interfering?”

“Look, Morehouse, Edwina may be the most independent-minded woman I know, but she is also very beautiful and often the object of male attention. Men have been sniffing about her skirts since she was a girl. But to tell you the truth, she generally sends them packing. She wants nothing to do with them.” He narrowed his eyes a bit as he looked at Tony. “She has not been interested in men for a very long time.”

Oh, God. What was Nicholas trying to say? Was Edwina that
other
sort of woman after all? The sort Ian had alluded to?

“There are other things much more important to her than romance,” Nicholas continued. “The
Cabinet
means everything to her. It has been the center of her life for years now. If you expected a brotherly warning, it is only this: Do not underestimate her dedication to the magazine. Don’t insult her by assuming it is a frivolous diversion. It is a serious business to her.”

“Are you hinting that I should forfeit the wager and give it to her outright?”

Nicholas cocked his head to one side as he pondered the question. “No,” he said at last. “I don’t think you should. Strangely enough, your idiotic wager has allowed her to see a broader picture of what she might do with the
Cabinet
. This business with Flora Gallagher, for example, is certain to give her a larger audience. That is what she has always wanted, but she has been too cautious, unwilling to compromise more than was absolutely necessary. Your damned wager may be the best thing that’s ever happened to her.” He grinned. “But don’t tell her I said so.”

“I am pleased to hear you say that, Parrish. I had begun to hope that my impulsive challenge was not entirely a bad thing.”

“So you won’t mind if you lose?”

Tony was about to offer his usual quip about never losing when it came to him in a sort of blinding flash that he wanted to lose this time. In fact, without ever admitting it to himself, he had been doing everything possible to make sure he lost. He had justified Flora and the fashion reports as simply a matter of improving the business. The truth was, he was hoping her efforts would increase subscriptions. Not for the business. For Edwina.

“I’m rather hoping I do lose,” he said. “The
Cabinet
should belong to Edwina.” He flashed a grin to her brother and echoed his words. “But don’t tell her I said so.”

“Then all those exclamations of frustration I hear from her every time you come by—”

“Are the results of my teasing, nothing more. It’s all a part of the competitive nature of our relationship. Simple conversation between us does not come easy. We banter and spar and bait each other. But it is not serious, I assure you. I have no designs on the magazine.” It was true, even if he had just this moment realized it. “I know how important it is to her.”

“Then, by God, she had better win that wager, Morehouse, or there will be no living with her.”

“Though she may not realize it, I’m doing my best to see that she does.” Tony clapped a friendly hand on Nicholas’s back and headed with him up the stairs to the drawing room, a new amity between them.

As conversation flowed onto other topics, there was one thing still troubling Tony—something Nicholas had said that Tony could not get out of his mind.

She has not been interested in men for a very long time.

He thought of her comfortable spinsterhood, her closeness to Prudence, her easy friendship with Flora, the way she touched Flora’s arm or shoulder so casually.

So, was Tony the first man to interest her in a while? Or was she simply toying with him, when she in fact had no real interest in him, or in any man?

By God, he was going to find out.

They had a surprisingly pleasant afternoon over tea. Edwina had always sensed a sort of tension between Anthony and Nicholas, but that no longer seemed to be the case. The three of them had laughed and joked with astonishing ease.

But Nicholas, always restless, had not lingered long, and excused himself after only one cup of tea and one cake. Anthony, on the other hand, showed no inclination to leave. He was comfortably ensconced at one end of the settee, one arm draped carelessly over the back.

“Tell me about the Minerva,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“How did she come to be emblazoned on the masthead of the
Cabinet
?”

“Oh. Well, she has always been special to me, symbolic of so many things. I became enthralled by the Classics as a girl. Ultimately, I came to dream of republican ideals based on the example of Rome. It’s what finally drew me to France. All along, the Minerva was sort of a personal symbol to me, a symbol of myself as a warrior against tyranny and oppression.”

“A warrior?”

“With my pen for a weapon. She still inspires me, which is why she is on the masthead.” And why Edwina would fight to the last subscription to insure she did not lose the Minerva to him.

“You’ve spent so much time fighting your various battles,” he said, “that you’ve had no time for a life of your own.”

“I have a life.”

“A life alone.”

“Not entirely alone.”

“But without a husband and children. You have taken Mary Wollstonecraft’s views too literally, I suspect. She scorned women for spending their time learning to please a man, so you have scorned that aspect of life altogether. Why else would such a beautiful woman still be unmarried?”

“We have had this discussion before, sir.”

“I think it is because you never took the time to
learn how to lure a man’s interest. You’ve probably never even been in love.”

She flinched. “You’re wrong. I have been in love.”

“With a man?”

Edwina gaped at him. “What a question.”

“Do not worry, my dear. I would never hold it against you if the great love of your life had been a woman. I would think it a terrible waste, from a purely selfish perspective, of course. But I would never condemn you for it.”

How difficult it was not to laugh! Was this what he thought of her? That she was a woman who rejected men because she preferred women? No doubt he was simply baiting her again. Perhaps she would take the bait this time and play with it a little.

“How terribly civilized of you, sir. You are more open-minded, more sophisticated than most.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Open-minded enough to know that a woman like you is generally receptive to any new experience. Like learning to take pleasure in a man.”

“A woman like me?”

“Unconventional.”

“Ah. You would make me conventional, then?”

“Not all convention is to be disdained, my dear. How fortunate to have Flora at hand. You might learn a thing or two from her.”

“What sorts of things?”

“Perhaps she could teach you how to please a man.”

He was still baiting her, but she was compelled to jerk back on the line. Some character flaw within her wanted him to know that she was not the sort of woman he was painting, that she was not a dried-up spinster with no feelings or desires.

“What makes you think I don’t know how to please a man?”

He laughed. “Edwina! Unless you have been leading a secret life as a lightskirt, what else is one to think? You are the consummate bluestocking, a thirty-year-old spinster—”

“Twenty-nine.”

“—who prefers the company of women. You seldom leave the house. You have books instead of lovers. You have projects instead of children. You have no romantic attachments that I am aware of. Hell, when I kissed you that first day there was only laughter in your eyes, not desire or pleasure.”