Realm 02 - A Touch of Velvet (10 page)

“I imagine you were at school. Young boys have more freedom than young ladies,” Velvet reminded him.

Ella turned to her aunt. “Would it be rude of us to accept His Lordship’s offer? After all, you had planned to begin our Presentation training.”

“No, Child,” Agatha assured her. “You and Velvet deserve some time to enjoy the city.” “God only knows we shall be busy enough once the invitations begin to pour in. Besides, we have all day to practice. A few hours with Lord Worthing will not jeopardize your Presentation.”

“If you are certain, Aunt?” Ella paused before turning back to Worthing. “Miss Aldridge and I would be pleased to accept, Your Lordship.”

“Excellent.”

Velvet turned to Bran. “May we convince you to join us, Your Grace?”

“It truly sounds like a delightful afternoon, but as I wait for Sonali and Mrs. Carruthers, I must decline.” He watched as Velvet obviously fought her disappointment. Bran hated avoiding her. Spending the afternoon with Velvet on his arm would be heavenly.

“Of course.” Her tone told the story.

Within seconds, Ella ushered her from the room. Only when she had removed herself from his presence was Velvet able to recover her resolve. Somehow she must find a way to win Brantley Fowler’s favor.

Velvet sped through her clothing change, wanting to talk to Ella before they rejoined the others. “May I assist you, Ella?” Velvet tapped on the door before entering.

Ella smiled welcomingly. “Would you mind lacing me up?”

For the next couple of minutes, Velvet dutifully pulled the laces tighter on Ella’s corset and dress. “Lord Worthing is quite handsome,” she spoke the words as if they were an afterthought.

“Do you really think so?” Ella faced the mirror so Velvet guarded her facial response. “My heavens, yes, and he does admire you, Ella.” She tied the strings.

Ella spun towards her. “What makes you say so?”

“One just has to look at the man; he can barely keep his eyes from you.” Velvet pulled Ella to the bed where they both could sit. “I wish your brother looked at me that way.”

“Do you speak the truth, Velvet, or is this one of your fairy tales?”

Velvet caught Ella’s hand. “Tell me you affect him also.”

Ella looked away shyly. “Is it not absurd? I have always planned an independent life, but I do admit I think often on Lord Worthing.”

“It is a shame to waste our time and energy with a Season when the only men we might consider sit together downstairs in the drawing room,” Velvet mused.

“Bran believes we lost something by not having a Season.” Expectedly, Ella defended her brother.

Velvet chuckled. “I know he means well. Men always mean well, but they are so clueless when it comes to women. You shall not believe what I told Bran the other day. I told him I was anxious for the Season to begin so I could meet other men. I said I was determined to find a mate so he might be rid of me.”

Ella gasped, “You did not? What did Bran say?”

“Well, nothing. That is when you and His Lordship rode in on one horse.” After a brief moment of silence, Velvet whispered, as if wanting to share a secret. “Worthing kissed you, did he not?”

Ella burst into false laughter. Then silence. Finally, “How did you know?”

Velvet shrugged her shoulders. “I am not certain exactly. You looked different after that ride. More content.” She again caught Ella’s hand in hers. “Would you assist me in winning Bran? I will do everything in my power to aid you with Lord Worthing.”

“Dare we?” Ella asked, showing her excitement.

“The way I see it, Bran wants us both to find suitable mates this Season. We are simply following his wishes.”

Ella smiled fully. “You are evil, Cousin.”

“So, is it a bargain?”

“Absolutely.”

Ten minutes later, they descended the main staircase, arm-in-arm. Ella leaned close. “May I offer a word of advice regarding Brantley?”

Velvet nodded her agreement.

“Bran is not likely to seriously look at any woman who could not accept Sonali. You barely speak to the child. Can you not, if you truly love him, permit his daughter into your heart? Sonali is part Bran. Learn to love that part.”

Velvet made no response, but she squeezed Ella’s hand in understanding. “Let us do the Royal Academy,” she whispered. “I shall become lost, and you may spend time alone with His Lordship.”

*

Velvet watched from the far corner as James Kerrington took Ella’s hand. She had no idea of what they spoke, but they were deep in conversation. Obviously, the man admired her cousin. She could easily imagine the two of them together; they perfectly suited–like the couples in her Minerva Press novels. When they stood, Kerrington caressed Ella’s check. He appeared to try to comfort her. Velvet would give anything to have Bran touch her as such. She would fall into his arms even if they stood as Eleanor and Kerrington now did in the middle of the Royal Academy. Seeing them approach, Velvet pretended an interest in a display of Lawrence’s works.

“Velvet,” Ella came up behind her. “Are you prepared to leave?”

“If you are, Cousin.” Velvet shot a quick glance at Ella’s countenance; distress lingered; however, before she could make a comment, Kerrington ushered them towards the exit.

His coach waited, and in moments, they rolled through London’s busy streets. “Might I tempt you Ladies with an ice from Gunter’s?” She observed the viscount’s efforts to win Eleanor’s affections.

Velvet rallied behind Worthing’s efforts to prolong their excursion. “What do you think, Ella?” she offered, realizing that she wanted Bran’s closest friend on her side. “I have no objection to a decadent treat from Gunter’s. I have heard they are delicious.”

*

When they returned to Briar House, Sonali greeted them, catapulting herself into Ella’s welcoming arms. Velvet envied the ease with which Eleanor interacted with Bran’s child. She had wanted to like the girl–in fact, she had thought Sonali quite beautiful–yet, the child was a walking reminder of Bran’s betrayal. Could she put it behind her and accept the girl? Ella was right: Bran would choose no one who could not love his daughter. She had to try. Besides formulating a plan to win Bran, she would need to also win Sonali’s heart–or, at least, her acceptance.

Noting Sonali’s dragging Ella towards Bran’s study, Velvet seized the opportunity to put the first stage of her plan in place. Taking Worthing’s arm, she led him to the same drawing room as earlier. She had wanted a private conversation with His Lordship–something she had worked out in her head during the hour she “lost” herself in the museum. “Lord Worthing, I wish to speak to you,” Velvet announced quite unexpectedly.

“Of course, Miss Aldridge.” He allowed her to lead him to the empty room’s privacy.

Velvet had never spoken to the man beyond polite conversation; now she would plead for his cooperation in her manipulation of his closest friend. Realistically, she worried over his response. Yet, swallowing her angst, she plowed ahead. “You shall think me quite forward, Sir, but desperation makes me so.” Velvet crossed to the window and motioned for him to follow. When he had moved beside her, she explained. “I have been in love with Brantley Fowler since I was eight years old,” she proclaimed before he even came to a stand still. “You shall think me foolish, but I have no time to debate the fact. And it is my belief, you know how Bran feels about me.”

Worthing simply smiled and bade her to continue.

“Bran has it in his mind that he must permit me to choose another in order to protect me or because he thinks that will make us even or some such foolishness. I suspect you know the truth of his marriage, but I shall not ask you to divulge Bran’s secrets. I do not care about five years ago; I care about now.” Velvet rushed through the words, expecting to be interrupted at any moment. “I want Brantley Fowler, and I shall do anything to win him.”

“And you are telling me this for what purpose, Miss Aldridge?”

“Because you, Lord Worthing, are going to assist me in devising a way to penetrate Bran’s stubbornness and to make him understand that I am the one woman for him.” She placed her fists on her hips and dared Worthing to dispute her.

Hearing a footman in the hallway, the viscount glanced towards the open door. “Without betraying His Grace, I suspect Fowler already knows you are the right woman, Miss Aldridge.”

“However, I must destroy his mantle of honor,” she asserted, holding his perceptive stare.

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“Make him jealous.”

Worthing laughed lightly. “Poor Fowler. He has no idea what awaits him.”

“You will not tell him!” A moment of anxiousness escaped.

“I will keep your secret, Miss Aldridge.”

“Good,” she declared confidently. “Now, Lord Worthing, I require someone with whom to flirt.”

He held up his hands to stop her. “I will not be a part of your plan in that manner, Miss Aldridge.”

“Of course not, Your Lordship. Actually, I thought of you originally, but then I saw how you look at Ella.”

“How...how I look at Lady Eleanor?” he stammered. “How do you think I look at your cousin?”

Velvet’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Like you want to hold her and never let go.”

He paused before responding. “Am I that obvious?”

“Only to those who are looking for love.”

“What do you require of me, Miss Aldridge?” She noted his shift in demeanor.

“Assist me in finding someone to make Bran insanely jealous–enough that he will declare himself rather than let me go.”

Lord Worthing hesitated before answering. “Fowler may have supplied his own undoing. I know just the man. Gabriel Crowden, the Marquis of Godown. He and Bran are so competitive–whether it be cards or swords or clothing....”

“Or women?”

“I have never known them to compete over a woman, but I imagine it would be so. Surprisingly, they were at the university together before joining me in our adventures. Crowden is more dangerous than Fowler; do not forget my warning on that point, Miss Aldridge.”

Velvet looked satisfied with her thoughts. “Would the marquis assist me?”

“If it meant bedeviling His Grace, I suspect Godown would be willing.”

“Would you speak to Lord Godown on my behalf? Seek out his assistance?” she implored.

He appeared to weigh her request. “What do I receive from all this?”

“More time alone with my cousin.” Velvet walked away from him. “You really did not think I became lost this afternoon, did you, my Lord?”

The viscount looked surprised. “No, Miss Aldridge, I suppose I did not.”

“Then I have your assent, Sir?”

“Most definitely, Miss Aldridge. Operation Velvet Touch is underway,” he teased.

Velvet’s smile grew with the thought. “Oooh! I like that, Lord Worthing. Operation Velvet Touch! Perfect!”

Moments later, Ella appeared at the drawing room door, bringing a request from Bran for Worthing to attend him in his study. Ironically, as Worthing started past her cousin, Ella shifted minutely towards him, and the man froze in place. Velvet could not tell what Ella did to control his movement, but her cousin flirted in a manner Velvet had never expected Ella to know. If he was a puppet, Ella controlled His Lordship’s strings.

The scene mesmerized Velvet as much as it obviously did Lord Worthing. She wanted that type of a connection with Bran. She wanted to know all the
tricks
to make him love her. Somehow she needed to maneuver Bran alone: They lacked the connection Eleanor held with Worthing. Velvet assumed the desire evident between her cousin and the viscount came from all their moments alone–riding across the estate, long walks in the gardens, playing games of chess. Privacy could be her salvation.

When she finally released him, Eleanor turned to Velvet. “Aunt Agatha wishes for us to meet her in her sitting room.”

Velvet moved at last, catching up with Ella as they climbed the stairs. “That was some display of flirting,” Velvet sniggered. “How did you learn to do that?”

“Do what?” Ella asked, confused.

Velvet whispered, not wishing the servants to hear. “Hold a man’s interest so intently.”

Ella responded with surprise, “Did I do that?”

“As well as any woman would ever do.” Velvet squeezed Ella’s hand. “I need to start taking notes.”

“It was great fun. I did not plan it.” Ella smiled all at once. “Lord Worthing makes me feel different–like I could be pretty.”

“You are pretty,” Velvet insisted.

Ella shook her head. “I am a duke’s daughter; that is what I provide a suitor–but with, His Lordship, I feel he sees me–not my father, or Bran, or the dukedom. Is that bizarre?”

“That, dear Cousin, is love.”

*

“So, Shepherd believes Shaheed Mir seeks revenge for our foray all those years ago?” Worthing sipped on a brandy. Bran and Kerrington worked well together over the years; they complemented each other’s style.

“Until of late, we kept our identities to a minimum. Now, each of us claims our place in British society.”