Lady Vivian Defies a Duke (14 page)

“That sounds horrible.” Vivi squeezed his hand. How awful that would be for anyone, but especially for an active man like Luke.

“Just as I thought I was becoming well enough to attempt walking again, a fever came. I had developed a lung illness, but I survived that as well, as you can see.”

She had never heard him be caustic. It didn’t fit his nature.

“I’m glad you survived,” she murmured.

He paused and turned his head to study her. They said nothing, as he seemed to be puzzling her out. He did that often, though she had no idea what he found complicated about her. She was just a lady who wanted what any other lady wanted: to be a wife and mother, and to make a home for those she loved.

He looked back toward the sky. “I’m uncertain what happened for the next few days, but I must have been out of my mind. Every time I woke, I couldn’t move my arms or legs. It was like someone had tied me down. It was the worst—” A shiver raced through her, and his gaze snapped to her again. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m not upset, at least not in the way you think. I can’t believe all you went through. It’s no wonder you are troubled by being here again.”

He blew out a breath, stirring the dark curl on his forehead. “I don’t want to be bothered by memories. It’s ludicrous and weak. They can’t hurt me.”

“No, but they can bring back all those feelings you had at the time. It must have been scary to be that ill.”

“I guess it was.”

They lay there in silence a long time, holding hands and gazing up at the sky. She didn’t know what to say to ease his burden, so she said nothing.

“I almost died,” he said, his voice merely a ragged whisper.

Vivi reached out to caress his whiskered jaw. She didn’t care about propriety or foolishness any longer. She only wanted to give him comfort. “I am thankful you didn’t.”

He captured her hand and brought it to his lips, feathering a kiss over her sensitive skin. “So am I. Could I hold you, Viv? Just for a moment?”

Her heart gave a small leap of joy. She vowed to make this last more than a moment. She was well on her way to having him hold her for a lifetime.

When he opened his arms, she snuggled against him, his chest hard beneath her cheek. Her fingers picked at his linen shirt since she was unsure where to leave them. “I take it you haven’t been back to Twinspur since you recovered. Perhaps it would help to make new memories.”

He smoothed her hair from her face and kissed the top of her head. “This is a good beginning. Thank you for being here with me.”

Vivi’s mount pranced on the lane as she, Luke, and Lord Andrew neared the tenants’ cottages. Her horse was a high-spirited mare likely made more rambunctious by Vivi’s excitement. Father and Ash had kept her ignorant of their responsibilities and goings-on, so Luke’s suggestion that she accompany them to visit the tenants provided more evidence he was unlike other noble gentlemen. She liked that about him.

She and Luke had stayed out talking until the first streaks of dawn had swept the sky. She had shared the happier times in her life when she had lived with her brother, and Luke had told her funny stories about growing up with his two brothers. For long intervals, they had simply lain there in silence, holding hands, and Vivi had held her breath, hoping he might kiss her again.

He hadn’t.

The tenants’ homes were nestled in a valley, snug and safe from nature. Thick clouds of gray smoke rolled into the air, and flames licked at large black cauldrons suspended above fires. Several women stood at wooden tubs, elbow deep in water, while others draped garments over bushes to dry. Most of the women stopped to stare as their party approached.

One of the older women snagged a child to whisper in his ear when he and his playmates ran by. The lad’s laughter faded as he glanced their way, his eyes bulging. With a quick nod, he took off in the opposite direction, his bare feet kicking up dust.

Curious, the other children moved toward the lane as if to watch a parade. The boy’s mother, or perhaps grandmother, wiped her hands on her apron and curtsied as they drew near. “Your Grace.”

The other tenants followed her example now that Luke had been identified.

He dismounted and went to greet the woman. “Mrs. Ogden, how lovely to see you again. You remember my brother, Lord Andrew.”

“Of course, Your Grace, although it has been a long time.”

Lord Andrew flashed a dimpled grin. “I promise not to cause any mischief this time. Is George around? I should like to catch up.”

The woman’s cheeks flushed, and an affectionate light shone in her brown eyes. “You boys were always up to mischief, my lord. He’d like to see you, I’m sure. You will find him tending sheep.”

“Thank you.” He handed the basket he carried on Vivi’s behalf to her then urged his horse along the lane.

Luke reached up to help Vivi dismount then tucked her hand into the hollow of his arm. “Mrs. Ogden, may I present my betrothed, Lady Vivian Worth, the Marquess of Ashden’s sister.”

“Greetings, milady.” The woman lowered her head and bowed, but not before Vivi spotted a broad smile breaking across her face, nor did she miss the note of surprise in the woman’s greeting.

Before Vivi could respond, a man appeared on the lane. His craggy face and graying hair spoke of his years, but his barrel chest and large arms could have belonged to a man half his age.

“Your Grace, is something amiss? I pray Lord Richard is well,” the man said.

Luke’s friendly smile didn’t falter, but his bicep shifted beneath Vivi’s fingers.

“He is well, Mr. Ogden, and residing at Shafer Hall. We will join my family in Northumberland in several days, but I wished to check on the properties at Twinspur before we continue our journey.”

Mr. Ogden blotted the perspiration beading on his upper lip with a yellowed handkerchief. “Of course, Your Grace. We can speak in my cottage.” He motioned to two older boys to tend the horses.

Luke patted Vivi’s hand. “Mrs. Ogden, would you be kind enough to keep Lady Vivian occupied while I speak with your husband? She’s a curious sort, so do not be surprised if she has several questions for you.”

Vivi would have offered a smart retort if she didn’t have several pairs of eyes glued to her at the moment. The teasing sparkle in Luke’s blue eyes made her think he would have added “behave yourself” if they didn’t have an audience.

“It’s my pleasure, Your Grace,” Mrs. Ogden said before turning to Vivi. “Would you like some tea, milady? I can put on the kettle.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I would prefer to enjoy your company rather than have you waiting on me. I don’t wish to keep you from your wash. Is there anything I can do to assist?”

The woman’s warm smile returned. “No, milady.”

She hadn’t expected Mrs. Ogden to accept her help, but she wished she had something to do while she waited for Luke. Vivi found a stump and sat with the basket in her lap as the woman returned to her wash.

Mrs. Ogden watched her surreptitiously as she reached into the tub and extracted a garment to scrub against the washboard. It seemed Vivi wasn’t the only curious one.

“Do you like living here, Mrs. Ogden?”

The woman blinked. “Uh…”

“The area is beautiful,” Vivi added, “and the cottages seem to be in good repair.”

“Aye, milady. Lord Richard is usually quick to respond to our requests.”

Vivi tipped her head to the side. It made no sense that Luke’s brother would see to the tenants’ needs rather than Luke. “Why does Lord Richard respond to your requests?”

“I couldn’t say, milady.” Mrs. Ogden’s attention fell to her task. When it became apparent she had nothing else to say, Vivi suppressed a sigh. Her gaze strayed to the other women, who looked away quickly. She would get no answers from them either. She would have to ask Luke about this later. Eventually, she settled on watching a group of children playing in the distance.

Upon returning her attentions to the women, she discovered a young girl clinging to her mother’s skirts and peeking at her. Vivi waved, and the little girl buried her face against her mother’s legs.

“Mary tends to be shy, milady. Please forgive her.”

“There’s nothing to forgive. She is a clever girl. Why, if I didn’t know myself, I wouldn’t speak to me either. As a matter of fact, even though I
do
know me, I probably shouldn’t talk to myself, but I just can’t help it. I have so much to say.”

The girl’s mother chuckled, and the tense lines in her face faded.

“I am sure you have noticed, Mrs…?”

“Mrs. Turner, milady. And I apologize for laughing.”

“Nonsense,” Vivi said. “Everyone should laugh at least a hundred times a day for a healthy constitution.”

Mary looked at her curiously, and Vivi made a silly face. The girl giggled.

Vivi tapped her fingers against the basket and mouthed “May I?” to Mary’s mother. The woman nodded, her smile growing wider.

Vivi opened the top. “I almost forgot. Mrs. Dillingham, Twinspur’s cook, prepared sugar biscuits for me to bring, but I am afraid they may not taste good. I really shouldn’t hand out biscuits that haven’t been tested by anyone.”

Mary eased from behind her mother, but still held a fistful of her skirts.

Vivi made a show of pulling a sweet from the basket and waved it. “I wonder if anyone would be so kind as to taste one for me. Perhaps one of the other children—?”

“Me,” Mary declared in a soft voice.

“Why, dear Mary, would you do me such a kindness? I don’t know how to thank you.”

Vivi waved the biscuit in the air again. The girl released her hold on her mother and wandered to Vivi’s side to take the offering.

In a matter of two bites, she and Mary became bosom friends.

“Would it be acceptable for me to offer biscuits to the other children?” she asked the women.

They had stopped regarding her with wariness and smiled kindly. “Of course, milady.”

“Mary, would you like to be my helper?”

When she agreed with an eager nod, Vivi took her small hand, and off they went to deliver their treats. The other children were much less shy and accepted the sweet gifts readily. They had many questions for her, some of which she wasn’t sure how to answer, such as who she was.

No, she wasn’t the duke’s sister. She wasn’t a princess either.

Yes, she did think His Grace was kind, and she agreed he appeared tall when he sat upon his horse.

She was fairly certain his dark hair did not make him a highwayman, no. But he would be an excellent one if he so chose, given his skill with firearms.

Once the children had exhausted their curiosity, an older boy asked if she would like to play tag. Vivi accepted his invitation with a curtsy, and cried foul when he declared she was It. She set the basket aside and chased after the darlings, laughing at their delighted squeals.

***

Luke shook hands with Mr. Ogden, his steward, at the conclusion of the man’s detailed description of the tenants’ living conditions. He had been relieved when his man had chosen to provide a verbal accounting instead of handing over a book for him to read.

“You may expect digging to begin on the new well as soon as possible, Mr. Ogden. I will summon a surveyor at once to determine the best location.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“In the meantime, you may draw water from the well at Twinspur. No one is to use the other. Close it off today.”

The steward bobbed his head. “Yes, sir.”

Luke didn’t understand his brother’s delay in seeing to the project. The well was running dry, and the remaining water might be contaminated, given the five cases of stomach ailments. He was grateful the outbreak did not appear to be cholera. In all instances, the tenants recovered, but he didn’t want to take any more risks. There was no telling how the illness would affect a young child or elder.

How many other needs had gone unmet this past year? Richard had been assisting Father with overseeing the lands for ages, and he had stepped into their sire’s shoes upon his death, managing their wealth and settling accounts when Luke hadn’t seized control. Luke had been caring for his mother and sisters at the family home, but now he realized the inadequacy of his excuse. He had neglected many other people who relied on him. He may have trusted his brother to manage everything, but Luke should have been more engaged in the welfare of his tenants.

As he and Mr. Ogden left the cottage, he spotted Drew and George, their childhood playmate, with George’s mother. Vivian, however, was missing. He scanned the area, his heart skipping a beat when she wasn’t within sight, before he chided himself for behaving like a nervous grandmother. Vivian may have a tendency to get into trouble, but there was no danger here.

“Where has Lady Vivian hied off to?” he asked as he approached.

One of the women pointed down the lane. “She and the children were last seen walking that way, Your Grace.”

Luke checked his watch. “We had best retrieve her. Mrs. Dillingham is planning luncheon, and if memory serves, she likes everything to run on a precise schedule.”

He was eager to tell Vivian about his conversation with Mr. Ogden. It was the first time he’d felt competent in a long while.

Luke had been a good student before his accident and taken his abilities for granted. His later struggles in the classroom had shaken him; his concentration had vanished. Everything seemed to rile his temper at that time, too, and he’d wound up in several rounds of fisticuffs. It was no telling how many fights he would have fought if his brother, Richard, hadn’t informed their father of his troubles.

Luke had been summoned home. His father hadn’t wanted to believe his difficulties were real, and he’d pushed Luke to prove that he could still do what would be required of him. He failed the tasks time and again, growing more devastated each time his father looked at him in despair. Eventually, his father sent him to the continent for his grand tour. He thought Luke would find himself again, but a year later, Luke knew the truth. He had regained his concentration and his rages disappeared, but he would never be the same. Nevertheless, today had gone well. He wanted to celebrate his small victory with Vivian, even if she wouldn’t understand the significance.

Drew and George fell into step with Luke on the lane as he went in search of Vivian. As they neared the fifth cottage, a loud screech made his heart spasm. “Vivian?”

He broke into a run and rounded the house, but came up short.

For
the
love
of
God
.

Vivian was on her hands and knees, her head wedged under a back porch. Half the children were also on the ground, peering beneath the structure. A chit ran by, chasing a boy twice her size. When she tossed a limp worm at the boy, he let loose a high-pitched scream. Drew and George caught up to Luke and froze. Vivian’s derriere wiggled as she lowered to her elbows and tried to crawl farther under the porch.

“It’s all right, little one. No one is going to hurt you,” she cooed.

One of the boys lowered to his belly, too. “He’s right there, Lady Vivian. You almost have him.”

“I see him, Matthew.”

George Ogden gaped, his cheeks as red as if he had been slapped.

Luke crossed his arms and glared. “That’s the future Duchess of Foxhaven you are ogling, George.”

“Oh!” He whirled around, his back to her. “Pardon me, Your Grace.”

Luke raised an eyebrow at Drew. “You may not look either.”

His brother’s smile just widened, dimples piercing his cheeks. He slanted his head to the side. “She bears a striking resemblance to Mother, wouldn’t you agree?”

“No!” Luke punched his arm.

“Ow!” Drew laughed and rubbed a hand over his arm. “In behavior, I mean. What did you think I meant?”

Luke just shook his head, his eyes rolled toward the sky.

“Lord Andrew is correct, Your Grace,” George piped up. “The duchess never had any qualms about getting her hands dirty either.”

“I have him,” Vivian called then wriggled her way back out and sat on her haunches. She held a trembling puppy at arm’s length, looked him up and down, and then cradled him against her chest. The children scooted closer to reverently touch the pup.

“All is well,” she said in a soothing voice. And just like that, Luke knew she’d had
him
from the moment he had discovered her in the spring. She was part of his destiny.

The best part.

But after his noble talk of offering her choices, he couldn’t break their agreement and demand she honor her brother’s promise.

He would just have to make certain she chose him.