Lady in Demand (16 page)

Suddenly all the stiffness went out of Livvy and she started sniffing.

“You could have been taken from me last night, Phoebe, and I simply cannot allow that to happen.”
      The tray was over her legs hampering her movements, so Phoebe grabbed her sister’s hand and tugged her closer so she could hug her hard.

“No one is ever taking me away from you, Olivia Ryder. We have been through too much for that to happen now.”

“I k-know, but I fear for you.”

“There is no need for that, Livvy. I firmly believe what happened last night was a chance thing. Someone saw the opportunity, perhaps a woman who dislikes me, and pushed. Or perhaps it was indeed an accident and someone bumped into me, Livvy,” she lied, remembering the hand in her back.

With one more sniff, Livvy rose and for several minutes she walked around the room folding and refolding clothes until she was once again composed. Making her way back to the bed, she once again stared down at Phoebe.

 
“I know there is much going on with you, Phoebe, and I am not talking of just your new business venture.”

Livvy had taken up many of their mother’s traits after she became head of the Langley family, and one of them was her stare. Even with red-rimmed eyes she could pin a person to the spot without raising a hand.

“There is nothing more than that, Livvy. I promise I am not keeping anything from you.”

Livvy took a corner of toast and sat on the bed to nibble it. “Is there something going on between you and Finn?”

Her lungs seized at the mention of his name and she reached for her tea to swallow the mouthful of toast before she choked.

“Will said he believed there is something between you.”

“There is nothing between us, Livvy, accepting that we cannot tolerate each other. Besides, I believe he will soon announce his betrothal to Lady Croxley.” Phoebe picked up her tea again to wash away the foul taste that thought left in her mouth. She did not care who he married but it would upset Alex and Ben.

“There is something about that woman that I do not like.”

“There is everything about her that I do not like,” Phoebe added. “The woman’s poisonous, Livvy, I swear it.”
 

“Should you not alert Finn to her character, then?”

“Absolutely not. They deserve each other, in my opinion,” Phoebe added. Did she really want Finn doomed to a life with that horrid woman?
 

“That seems a trifle mean-spirited.” Livvy stood and picked up the tray, preparing to leave.
 

“He is not our concern, sister, and surely old enough to make his own choices.”

“Perhaps. However, I would not like to see him unhappy for the rest of his life.”

There is that,
Phoebe thought.
 

“You rest now, sister, your body is battered and bruised.”

“I don’t like resting.”
 

“Finn is downstairs, Phoebe, and if you rise you will have to see him. He said he was here to see Will about business but I know better. He has heard about last night and it is you he came to see.”

      Phoebe, who was still holding her cup, quickly took a large gulp of tea and choked on it. Several minutes later, after spluttering and cursing, she managed to regain control, although now her head and shoulder throbbed. Livvy gently took the cup away and placed it on the tray.

      “Well, by that reaction I would say that, as Will suggested, there is something between you and Finn, sister, and I will add that I like him very much.”

      “There is nothing between us, and for your information he finds me too outspoken!” Phoebe clasped her head in both hands in an attempt to stop the thudding. Life was really far too complicated, she thought as Livvy laughed instead of being indignant as Phoebe felt she should be.

      “Does he? Well, I’m not surprised. You do tend to turn into a completely different woman when he is near.”

      “Shouldn’t you be defending me and angry with him?” Phoebe griped. “After all, he insulted me.”

      “To be fair, the man has not been able to keep his eyes off you since he first met you, and in return you have tormented him by flirting with other men and taunting him continuously.”

      
God, had she?
Phoebe felt shame sweep over her, even as she felt a small burst of excitement over the fact that Livvy believed Finn could not keep his eyes from her.
 

      “Why do I get the feeling you’re enjoying this thing, for want of a better word, with Lord Levermarch far too much?”
 

      “I thought you said there was no thing,” Livvy said, a soft smile on her face.
 

      “There is no thing, sister. He is lacking many of the qualities I would seek in my future husband.”

      “He is not handsome?”

“No.”

      “Wealthy?”

      “No!” Phoebe snapped.

      “Oh I know.” Livvy clicked her fingers. “He is not elegant and well-mannered and let us not forget that he is one of society’s most eligible bachelors.”

      Phoebe glared at her sister. “Is there a point you are trying to make or is your intention merely to annoy me?”

      “You’re very touchy about him, Phoebe, considering you profess not to care.”

      Throwing back the covers, Phoebe swung her legs over the side of the bed in preparation of standing.
 

      “I am not touchy about him. I merely have no wish to discuss him. And furthermore, I have told him several times not to talk to me, yet he continues to do so.”
 

      “I believe the saying, ‘doth protest too much’, would fit this moment,” Livvy said, walking towards the door. She did not stop when Phoebe muttered something vile, instead sailing through and gently shutting it behind her.

      Finn tried to calm down. He had run from his house when the twins had told him of Phoebe’s fall, called for his horse and galloped across town. He’d nearly run down a flower seller and scattered a group of young boys, but he had made it here in fifteen minutes and all the while he had the vision of Phoebe lying broken and bloodied at the bottom of some stairs.
 

      “And you say she is unharmed but for a knock to the head and shoulder?” he asked again.

      “Yes, Finn, and as I stated the previous three times I would have called a doctor had I thought it necessary, but she assured me it was not,” Will said from his position behind the large oak desk.
 

      “You should have called a doctor, Will. Her head could be far worse than she is letting on.”

      “Livvy and I checked on her every two hours during the night, if that soothes your nerves.”

      Finn stopped his pacing to look at his friend. The man had a smug expression on his face.
 

      “What?”

      “I have never seen you so ruffled over a woman, Finn. It warms my soul, and as you know, I believe Phoebe is a particularly fine young lady. I could not be happier.”

      Finn scowled. “Happier about what, for pity’s sake? I’m not ruffled. I do not get ruffled,” he said, outraged at the very thought. “I have no wish to see her harmed. After all, she is Livvy’s sister; of course I take an interest in her welfare.”

      Will coughed loudly, which Finn did not appreciate as he was sure it hid a laugh.

      “And you would have raced across town at ten in the morning with no hat or gloves, to see any young lady who had fallen down the stairs last night.” Holding up one hand as Finn started to speak, he added, “Correction. I shall clarify that by saying, any young lady who is related to the wife of a friend.”

      Finn pinched the bridge of his nose. He had never left his house without a hat or gloves.
 

      “I came here to see you about a business proposition.”

      “Of course you did.”

      “I have chosen my future wife, Will, and it is not Phoebe.”

      “As you have not even asked for my hand, Lord Levermarch, I hope that is indeed true.”
 

Finn felt his stomach drop to his toes as he looked to the door to see Phoebe walking in behind Olivia.

“Such a relief to know I was never your intended as I have to admit, you were never on my list, either.” Her words sounded light, as if sharing a joke. However, she was not laughing. Her eyes were cold as a bleak winter’s day. “Please let me be the first to congratulate you on your selection. May we know the name of your intended?”

Finn had said what he had to shut Will up. Yes, he’d believed he was nearing the end of his search for a wife, and thought that Lady Croxley could be that person, but he had as yet made no move to offer for her.
 

“I have asked no one as yet, Miss Langley. I have merely-”

“Narrowed down the names on the list? She must be quite a paragon, my lord, to meet your exacting standards.”

He felt the heat of everyone’s eyes on him as Phoebe spoke.
 

“Are you well, Phoebe, after your fall?” Finn tried to steer the subject away from him.

      “Yes thank you, Lord Levermarch. There was no need for you to come over and see for yourself.”

      Finn hated seeing her so cold. That was not Phoebe. She was sunshine and light, she laughed and shared jokes, she was never emotionless. He had both insulted and hurt her with his words, yet knew no way to apologize.

“Will and I had business to attend to. Therefore, when my brothers told me what had transpired last night I thought to ask after you as well.”
God, I am a fool,
he thought, disgusted. Why could he not just state honestly that he was concerned for her, as he would have been had it been Olivia or Isabella.

“Then we shall not keep you, my lord. Come, Livvy, we will leave the men to their business.”

      “Tea!” Livvy said suddenly. “We will have tea together first.”

“Livvy, please stop hurrying about the place.” Phoebe attempted to stop her sister from leaving, but Olivia did not stop. With a bright smile fixed on her face she hurried from the room.
 

“Keeping busy stops her thinking, Phoebe. You know how she copes with things.”

“I know,” Phoebe sighed. “But she must not overdo it, Will. Go after her at once and make sure she is not weeping in the linen closet.”

Finn watched Will leave the room. He then watched as Phoebe realized she was now alone with him.
 

      “Is the pain bad?”

      “No.” She turned so quickly, as if to follow her sister and stumbled.

      “Christ, woman, will you be careful!”

      He caught her, pulling her into his arms.
 

      “I am all right. Please release me, my lord.”

      She tried to resist as his fingers pushed her chin upwards, but he was stronger. Her face was the color of milk and pain was etched deep inside her eyes.

      “You should not have left your bed.”

      Her fingers gripped his wrist and tried to push his hand aside.

      “Thank you, Doctor Levermarch, but I do not take orders from you. Now release me.”
 

      “How did you fall? Alex said he thought you could have been pushed.”

She tried to swat his fingers away as he brushed them up one cheek and then down the length of her nose.

      “You should not be touching me like this, my lord, especially in light of your upcoming betrothal.”

      “I have made no such declaration.”

      “Yet you will, so stop toying with me.”

      She was struggling now so he released her, as he had no wish to cause her further pain. But he didn’t want to; instead he wanted to pick her up and carry her to a chair and kiss her senseless. He remembered everything about the kiss they had shared, the sweet taste of her lips beneath his, the feel of her body.

      “Did someone push you down those stairs last night, Phoebe?”

      “How are your brothers, my lord? I fear last night was something of a trial for them.”

      Finn didn’t answer straight away, letting her know he was not happy with her avoidance.

      “They are understandably worried about you, Phoebe. However, they appear to be fully recovered.”

      “You’re both standing. Sit, please.” Livvy returned and the opportunity to question her further was gone. Frustrated, Finn did as Olivia asked. Had she been pushed? And if so, by whom?

      “Livvy, I believe I will return to my room.”
 

Finn watched Phoebe move to where here sister now stood.
 

“It seems you are right, and I do need rest as I fear my head is now throbbing.”

      She was gone seconds later. Leaving him feeling angry, but he wasn’t sure whether it was addressed at him or her.
 

      Phoebe woke early four days after her accident. The sun had not risen, yet she knew she must, or go slowly demented with the constant inactivity and confinement. Her sisters were well meaning but smothering her, and Will was little better. Alex and Hannah sent her regular reports about how everything was going at the boutique, however enough was enough. Her head was better and her shoulder now only ached a little bit.