Journey's End (Marlbrook) (17 page)

Unsophisticated in her beliefs, Laura had thought her natural reactions conquered.  She believed them buried deep in some dark, unseen crevice, but instead they sat with her, a pen her lone weapon with which to dispel them.  Hurriedly
,
she donned her night attire before writing.

“
Today Thomas re-entered my life with a zest that has caught me and pulled me along, and to myself I state that I know I have experienced love.

I believe him to be sincere, but the
circumstances surrounding our social positions
have
me concerned
.
I find I am reluctant to start a journey that might not have a happy ending.  Still, while I write these words
,
I realise that it is perhaps already too late.  I sleep with thoughts of Thomas in my life.”

CHAPTER TWENTY
-ONE
-
Rejection

Miss Emily had never played second best to anyone; it was simply not her forte.  The Lord of Ashley Manor bedded a servant.  The practice was commonplace, and she was no prude.  She accepted that men had need of their sport.  However, she now favoured Thomas and that made all the difference.  Lord Ashley had an air of worldliness about him that other men did not possess, and being a scholar in the arts of love
,
she could deduce the ones that would not disappoint.  His build, strong and masculine, differed from the sops that generally moped about her.  She quivered in anticipation.  Visualising his naked body on top of hers
,
she savoured her response, her base cravings spurring her on as she approached him in the ballroom.

“Lord Ashley
,
sadly
my fiancé is neglecting me
. I find m
y dance card does me an injustice on an occasion I would have expected to win the attention of every man. I beg of you to inform me that I shall not be left alone to cope with my distress?”

Miss Emily openly shouted seduction and flirting.  Left without choice, Thomas satisfied her needs.  He offered his condolences along with a gallant salute. 

“Madam, you are the most exquisite woman in attendance.  How could t
his offence have taken place?”

Thomas played along with Miss Emily’s fondness for the artificial before adding the expected shallow response.  “However
,
if this be so, then I must immediately rectify the situation or be held to account for my lack of chivalry.”

Thomas’ superficial banter appeared to pacify Miss Emily.  “You are very kind
,
sir
,
and since your stroll was interrupted earlier, perhaps you may find the company you keep a second time of a superior, more experienced quality.”

The
woman
lacked
subtlety
.  “Madam, the benefit is all mine,” said, as
Thomas
cocked his arm
,
indicating his eagerness to comply.

Miss Emily’s constant chatter amused Thomas in the initial phases
;
however
,
as they strolled deeper within the grounds
,
the talk become less and her purpose clearer.  Miss Emily flirted outrageously and obviously expected results.

“Tell me once more how beautiful I am, sir, and perhaps you shall be rewarded for your efforts.”

Miss Emily’s
breed of women was
not uncommon.  They were spoilt brats with egos that required constant feeding.  They were also practised in using beauty and wealth for personal gain.  The people they manipulated rarely entered the equation.

Thomas’ bed had once welcomed women like Miss Emily, but he had soon learned to be wary and with good cause.  A woman scorned often became an enemy more deadly than one on the battlefield.  But, righteousness aside, he had long since lost the compulsion to satisfy his
base
urges with a beauty that was only skin
-
deep.

Miss Emily tilted her face upward, anticipating the kiss that was destined to kindle desire
,
a
kiss that would never arrive.

Thomas made a crucial mistake.  His face exhibited his true thoughts.

Miss Emily cringed.  “Your Lordship seems to be preoccupied,” she commented, her voice adopting an adolescent pitch.  “I pray that it is not I prompting your obvious indifference? But perhaps I place emphasis upon myself unnecessarily when the truth is that your heart lies elsewhere?” she added, now exacting.

Thomas considered himself well versed with female conceit; the trick was to let the woman walk away with her pride intact.

“Ma’am, you do me a grave injustice, and I declare to be wounded by your implications of treachery. It is a physical impossibility that my reflections could centre elsewhere when your company is on offer.”

Thomas removed himself from Miss Emily’s close proximity
,
pacing as though driven by apprehension
and
harmed by the mortal damage that she had inflicted by calling him to account.

“Madam, I concede that my concern lies elsewhere and that I am troubled
;
however
,
the facts are not as you suspect and you may not take kindly to my answer. Lord Henry is my friend, your fiancé
,
and my diversion.”

Lord Ashley’s forthrightness took Miss Emily aback, his statement robbing her of the cover of pretence.  The man played her for an imbecile, but nevertheless she could not press him further without lowering the tone of the conversation.  The situation could easily deteriorate and become indecent.  A professional to the end, Miss Emily maintained her decorum and replied in all sweetness.

“It seems that you are a friend, si
r, in every sense of the word.
If this be so, then you are a colleague of Lord Marlbrook’s that he doubtless does not deserve. But come
,
my Lord, we shall not ruin a night that guarantees to delight. Let you and I forget these romantic fancies raised in jest.”

Upon Thomas’ return to the ballroom
,
he was ambushed.  The grand hall was rife with scheming mothers on the lookout for a suitable catch for their mostly average daughters.  Matrons attacked him from all sides, until little hope survived of him pursuing Laura for a second time this night.  The polite small talk each dance had obliged him to undertake near drove him to madness.

“Lord Ashley!”  Lady Cynthia’s unexpected
,
and very loud
,
summons startled Thomas.

“I had heard rumours of your restoration of Ashley Manor but did not believe them, and now in the wake of my shameful mistrust I am placed in an awkward position.”  Lady Cynthia paused only to snatch her breath.  “Since you have proved me wrong, am I now to be forced to digest my words in repentance?”  Lady Cynthia adored indulging herself
in
dialogue of this nature.

Thomas smiled and his effort seemed quite sufficient to keep Lady Cynthia happy
,
as she continued her rampage.

“You have returned to us a rather distinguished specimen of a man. If I were only a year of two younger
,
I would snare you in a trice.”  Lady Cynthia’s fan ran amok, her tittering as coy as
that of
any youngster
’
s.

Thomas bent to kiss Lady Cynthia’s outstretched hand, subsequently setting her off on another rampage.

“Lady Cynthia,” Thomas began,
“
age is not our barrier
. W
e have only your husband to thank for coming between us.”

In the background
,
Lady
Catherine
huffed and puffed, and when she could bear no more
,
she scolded her friend before unceremoniously pulling her out of Lord Ashley’s way.

Lady
Catherine
had nothing to say to Lord Ashley, but only she paid heed to the fact.  However
,
despite her best efforts
,
her friend would not allow the conversation to rest. 

“Has no one thought to set up a match?”  Cynthia probed of Lady
Catherine
.  “Observe his dance with Lady Maureen.  See how his spirit breathes life into her listless manner. Do look
,
Catherine
!”

“It is none of our concern, Cynthia, and considering that neither of us has a daughter to benefit from the occurrence, I see no reason for us to go poking our noses where they do not belong.”

Lady Cynthia tried her best to keep the subject of Lord Ashley alive, but Lady
Catherine
would hear none of it.  “Lord Ashley is an extremely eligible bachelor
. With the gaggle of mothers surrounding us, it will not take long before he is snared
in one
their
silken traps.”  Lady
Catherine
walked on ahead, her exit making it quite clear that the discussions on this particular topic had ended.

Alone, Thomas withdrew the priceless package from his breast pocket.  Over the next few months
,
his workload would double
.  T
he
m
anor had reached a critical stage of repair
, and t
ime was the one precious asset he lacked.  His future with Laura depended upon his ability to deliver the note safely into her hands.

#

The stupidity of the people that surrounded Sarah irritated her.  Unlike her sister, Sarah sat
watching the proceedings
with hatred festering away at her insides.  Sarah directed her resentment at her dead father.  Had the half-witted man not lost his money
,
then she too would be wearing a fine gown, stepping to the music and wallowing in admiration.  Lord Marlbrook, the other target of her venom, had also proven himself to be a dolt.  The man’s chances of bedding her sister were remote
yet
he persisted in his efforts and continued to dismiss her.

The butler’s incessant tapping on Sarah’s shoulder annoyed her.  Unsound thoughts were amassing and the unsolicited action disturbed those that had begun to form.  She brushed his hand away with unconcealed contempt, but her attitude quickly altered as the purpose of his harassment became known.  Summoned before him, Sarah found herself introduced to Lord Thomas Ashley, a gentleman she immediately recognised
that
could be put to good use.  She had not been aware of his title at their first meeting.

“Good evening, my Lord.”  Sarah addressed Lord Ashley in a suitably subdued manner, completing a sweet curtsey that enabled him to gain an excellent view her ample cleavage.

Recent months had seen Sarah reach a maturity absent when they had last met, but Thomas could not place aside the girl’s uncaring attitude.

“Mis
s
Townsend
, I
trust
I find you entertained by what this splendid evening has to offer?”  Thomas’ speech was formal, absent of his normal charm.

“Yes, indeed I am. I have a great deal to be thankful for.”  A brilliant smile accompanied Sarah’s equally formal lie.

Pleasantries done with, Thomas attached urgency to his words.  “I have a request to make of you that is rather delicate in nature.  Your utmost confidence is required in a matter concerning your sister.”

Jealousy no longer surprised Sarah, but nevertheless an internal struggle took place
,
forcing her to master her natural reactions and play out the sham. 

Thomas observed Sarah’s conflict.  “I can see by your expression that this petition does not sit well with you. Perhaps I should not progress this conversation?”

“You are mistaken, sir. My hesitation is due to anxiety and the sincere conviction that I would see no harm come to my sister,” came the fictional reply.

Thomas relaxed.  “You have my word that I would see no wrong befall Laura, indeed my intentions are quite the opposite. My request is uncomplicated. With your permission, I shall now deliver this letter into your trustworthy hands.”

Lord Ashley’s tone had adopted a sincerity that charmed Sarah, temporarily erasing her hostility.

“Sir, Laura is all I have in this world
,
therefore her happiness is of paramount importance to me. Since I believe your appeal to be genuine, I shall do as you ask.”

Sarah read the note.  After all, no one would expect her to hand something to Laura that might be injurious
in nature
.