Shattered Dreams (9 page)

She lowered her gaze to her lap. “The same.”

He smiled.

”Is this the way it always is?” she asked a few seconds later. Her voice came out softer than usual.

His breath caught. He knew the answer he needed to give her would only reinforce her belief that she was right. “No.”

“I knew it. That’s because what happens when you kiss me isn’t normal.”

He stretched out on the grass and crossed his hands behind his head. She was right. If he’d have experienced the raging heat soaring through his body now the first time he’d kissed a girl, he’d have been married years ago. He hadn’t reacted to anyone’s kiss like this ever before.

He stared up at the clouds as they scurried across the sky and imagined them turning dark and menacing. As ferocious and dangerous as Harrison’s temper might turn if he discovered what he’d done.

“
Under no circumstances,”
Fellingsworth had ordered, “
will you risk breaking her heart. If you do...Well, with four brothers who will risk their lives to protect her, the penalty should be vividly clear
.”

And it was. So, what the bloody hell was he doing kissing her?

He turned to his side and looked up at her. She watched him, the look on her face serene, yet filled with the confusion she’d expressed earlier. The blood drained from his head.

Bloody hell. He was falling in love with her.

“What do your brothers have planned for today?”

His change of subjects confused her for a moment.

“The men are going to tour the estate, and Patience and Lilly and I will give the women a tour of the gardens. Then this afternoon, there’s a game of croquet scheduled, followed by tea on the east terrace.”

“Come for a ride with me. I’ll borrow one of your brother’s carriages and you can show me your favorite places to escape to on the estate.”

Her eyes opened wide. “We can’t. My sisters expect me to—“

“Your sisters can manage without you.”

She shook her head. “Our absence would be noticed.”

She was right, damn it. “Then allow me to be your partner for the lawn games.”

Her gaze didn’t waver. “I won’t be there for the lawn games.”

“Why not?”

“Because I have to oversee the preparations for the tea.”

“Surely your staff can see to that.”

“Perhaps, but I...I don’t enjoy outdoor activities.”

He wanted to laugh. “I can’t imagine anyone who enjoys the out-of-doors more than you.”

“I told you,” she said, her voice containing a sharpness that was unusual for her. “I don’t play.”

“Nonsense. Are you afraid we’ll lose? We won’t, you know. With me as your partner, we’re guaranteed to trounce the others.”

“No, we won’t. Because I don’t play. I
can’t
!”

She pointed to her right ankle as if that explained everything. And it did.

He struggled to find the air he needed to breathe.

How could he have forgotten?

Chapter 9

Elly sat on one of the chairs the servants had moved to the terrace and watched their guests finish their game. Her brothers had always been competitive. Even Lily and Patience had developed an intense aversion to losing whenever they competed. Today was no different. If anything, the rivalry seemed even more intense.

With the guests added to the mix, there seemed to be more impetus to win. Even the females each of her brothers partnered seemed intent on winning. The laughing banter and teasing remarks made Elly smile. Everyone was enjoying themselves – especially Charfield.

She tried not to look at him.

“He’s even more handsome than everyone says, isn’t he?”

Elly looked up to see Cassie walking toward her. “I suppose so,” she answered as if Cassie’s question were inconsequential. “Have you and Mr. Waverley finished your round already?”

Cassie laughed. “Cousin Jeremy isn’t nearly as determined as your brothers. The other couples passed us, so he saw no reason to continue.”

“My brothers are quite intimidating.”

“That’s because they are all so expert at the game. Cousin Jeremy doesn’t enjoy competing against someone unless he is assured of winning.”

Elly’s brows darted upward. “That doesn’t sound very complimentary.”

“I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I’m frankly surprised that Jeremy even accepted the invitation to attend. Other than an occasional trip to London, he spends nearly all his time running the estate.”

“Is that what he’s always done? Even before Everett died?”

Cassie paused. “Everett wasn’t cut out to handle such a huge responsibility. Thankfully, his father realized it when Everett was small and taught Cousin Jeremy the skills required to run the estate.”

“I don’t know who was more fortunate, then. Waverley, because his uncle took him in after his parents died. Or your husband, because he had someone knowledgeable to run the estate.”

Elly struggled to put a positive slant on Waverley’s position at Lathamton Manor. They’d been neighbors forever, but she’d never developed a fondness for him. The kindest remark she could make was that at least Cassie had someone to help her after her husband died of a fever.

At least there was an heir who would inherit everything.

A lump formed in Elly’s throat when she thought of the little boy who was now the Earl of Lathamton. The little boy who had inherited so much at such an early age, yet not nearly as much as he would have if...

But it did no good to wish for something that would never be. At least Waverley would never inherit the title and Cassie and her son would always be taken care.

“Where is Waverley now?” Elly scanned the group of guests but didn’t see him.

Cassie nodded to the far side of the terrace where a refreshment table had been set up. Jeremy Waverley was refilling his glass from one of Harrison’s brandy decanters.

“Ah, not a gracious loser.”

“No.”

Elly turned her attention back to Cassie and found her friend studying her.

“Which one of your sisters do you think sent me the invitation?”

Elly swallowed hard. “You think it was one of my sisters?”

“It must have been. I know
you
wouldn’t have sent it.”

Elly experienced a stabbing of guilt. “Perhaps I would have if for no other reason than to give you an opportunity to come.”

Cassie’s gaze narrowed. “It’s too late to play matchmaker between Harrison and me. Any chance for reconciliation was destroyed four years ago.”

“And you cannot forgive him?”

“Nor can he forgive me.”

“Perhaps he doesn’t know all there is to know.”

Cassie’s gaze hardened. “He knows all he needs to.”

Elly heard the warning in her friend’s voice. She was aware that Elly knew her secret, but neither of them ever spoke of it. Perhaps now was the time.

“Maybe if you told Harrison—“

Cassie held up her hand to stop Elly’s words. “Don’t, Elly. It’s too late. Four years too late.”

Elly wanted to defend Harrison but wasn’t sure what words would help. He’d jumped to a conclusion when the scandal broke and refused to believe he might have been wrong. For as perfect as Harrison and Cassie had always been for each other, Elly was afraid Cassie was right. It might be too late for any kind of reconciliation.

“Is an invitation all you sent?”

Elly frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Cassie shook her head. “Never mind.”

Elly knew she should cease her questions but couldn’t. There was more she needed to know. “Does Waverley have feelings for you?”

The corners of Cassie’s mouth lifted. “I’m not sure Jeremy’s capable of having feelings for another person. All that matters is the power it gives him to have control over Lathamton Estate. Marriage to me would add to his power. He knows Father left me Hollyvine Keep and he would have control of the property after we married.”

Cassie kept her gaze focused on the lawn where the game was nearing an end. From the rise in laughter and jovial teasing, the outcome was close.

Elly followed Cassie’s gaze to where Harrison prepared to hit the blue colored wooden ball with his mallet.

“Do you remember anything from that night?” Elly asked.

Cassie shook her head. “I’ve considered a dozen different explanations but nothing makes sense. All I know for certain is that my brother’s life was destroyed that night along with my father’s.”

Cassie closed her eyes as if she didn’t want to discuss that time again. Elly didn’t blame her. The events that night had ruined more lives than she wanted to think about.

A loud cheer echoed from the lawn and she turned to watch. Harrison hit his ball with his mallet, then smiled when his ball went through the final wickets.

“Who won?” Elly asked when her siblings and their guests rushed across the terrace.

She’d directed her question to George, who stood closest to her with his partner and chosen guest, Lady Brianna. Jules, however, interrupted, the way he’d often done since he was a youngster.

“Harrison did. But Charfield gave him a run for it. They were tied until the end, then Harrison made a shot from far out. You should have seen it, Elly. Harrison had the devil’s own luck. It curved at the very last moment and went through the wickets and hit the stake.”

“We were playing partners,” Aunt Esther said, fanning her face with her lace handkerchief, “and I’m afraid I wasn’t as much help to poor Lord Charfield as I should have been.”

“Nonsense, Lady Blume. I was honored to have your assistance. It was because of you that we came so close to winning.”

“Thank you, dear boy. I only wish that were true.”

Elly tried to keep from turning to where Charfield stood but her gaze seemed to have a will of its own. She turned her head, her gaze drawn to him like a magnet to metal, and her breath caught.

He stood in a relaxed pose with one hip resting on top of the stone railing and his arms crossed over his chest. He’d removed his jacket and wore only a waistcoat and a lawn shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The sight of him standing there was magnificent and her heart stuttered.

“Have you seen the new gazebo Elly had built down by the lake?” Aunt Esther asked Cassie when everyone had taken a seat at one of the many round tables set up at various spots on the terrace.

There was room for six at each table and Elly and Cassie had been joined by Aunt Gussie, Aunt Esther, Miss Amelia Hastings, and Lady Hannah Brammwell. The two young ladies were both deep in whispered conversation and Elly knew they were no doubt discussing her two brothers’ admirable traits. Elly was glad Jules and Spence weren’t near enough to overhear them. They were confident enough of their effect on women as it was.

The men had mostly gathered around the cart where something stronger than lemonade and punch was being poured.

“No.” Cassie picked up her glass from the table. “Elly told me about it, but I’ve not seen it yet.”

“Oh, you must,” Aunt Esther said. “It’s absolutely beautiful. And the view overlooking the lake is magnificent. I can show it to you after tea. Would you like that?”

“That would be wonderful.” Cassie smiled at Elly over the rim of her glass as she took a sip.

Elly smiled back. Her aunts were dear, dear people. Both were in their middle fifties and as young at heart as Elly’s parents.

Aunt Gussie was Elly’s mother’s sister and Aunt Esther was her father’s. They’d both been childhood friends from their youth and when Elly’s parents married, it gave them an excuse to remain close. The Duke and Duchess of Sheridan wouldn’t dream of hosting a function without including the two older women. When they were absent, as they were now, Aunt Gussie and Aunt Esther were the perfect fill-in chaperones.

“Marvelous. We’ll go down to the lake then. You’ll come with us, won’t you, Elly?”

“I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to see the expression on Cassie’s face when she sees my special project.”

Elly reached for her cane, then slid to the edge of her chair. She stopped when Aunt Esther’s voice rose above the din.

“Oh, Charfield. Might I impose on you to escort Elyssa while we tour the new summerhouse?”

“Of course, Lady Blume,” Charfield answered, drowning out Elly’s protest.

“Don’t argue,” Aunt Esther said, shushing Elly’s argument with a wave of her hand. “There’s no need for the three of us to go all the way to the lake unescorted when there are ever so many young men capable of keeping us company.”

“But I can-“

“You might as well cease arguing,” Charfield said, extending his arm. “After partnering your aunt for the past hour or so, I’ve discovered she is quite firm in her opinions. A trait I admire in a woman.”

“Parneston repeatedly tells me I’m opinionated,” Aunt Esther said over her shoulder as she hooked her hand through Cassie’s arm. “But I’m not sure he means it as a compliment.”

“What’s this I’m complimenting you on?” the Duke of Parneston asked from across the terrace.

“Nothing, Parney,” Aunt Esther answered, leading the way to the edge of the veranda.

The Duke smiled at that last comment, then turned to rejoin the group of young men with whom he was talking.

Elly looked at Charfield’s extended arm. If she accepted his help, she’d be forced to battle the emotions she’d struggled all day to forget.

If she placed her hand on his arm, it would only reinforce how wonderful it was to have his strength to rely on. Every time she accepted his help, he made her forget how abnormal she was and glimpse at what it meant to be whole, physically perfect.

“Don’t lag,” Aunt Esther said as she and Cassie walked past them.

Elly had no choice.

She placed her hand atop Charfield’s arm and rose to her feet.

“Good girl,” she heard him whisper. When she lifted her gaze, she met the most heart-stopping grin she’d ever seen. “I wondered if you’d be brave enough.”

Elly answered his arrogance with a most unladylike snort. “It hardly takes bravery to stroll down to the lake to visit a summerhouse I had built. I’ve been there a hundred times before.”

“I’m sure you have. But this time will be different...” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “...and you know it.”

Elly was ready to argue with Charfield’s assumption when Aunt Esther gave a small gasp of discomfort and reached out to steady herself against the railing.

Charfield and Elly turned toward her but Harrison was ahead of them and reached her first.

“Aunt Esther! Are you hurt?” Harrison put his arm around his aunt’s waist to support her.

“No, I’m fine, Harrison. My ankle just gave out. Help me to a chair, will you?”

“Of course.”

Cassie had hold of Aunt Esther’s left arm and Harrison supported her right as they helped her to a chair.

“Are you all right?” Elly asked when she and Charfield reached them.

“Oh, yes. How silly. It’s this annoying ankle of mine. It gives out on me at the most inopportune times. I’ll be fine in a little while. I just need to rest the confounded thing.”

“Are you sure?” Harrison asked. “I could call for the doctor. We have a very good one in the village.”

Aunt Esther waved away everyone’s concern. “Nonsense. I’ll be right as rain as soon as I rest a moment.”

“Can I get you something, Lady Blume?” Cassie asked, kneeling beside her. “A glass of water? Or perhaps something stronger?”

“No, I just need to stay off my ankle for a few moments.”

Lady Blume winced when she tried to move her foot. “But I can’t bear to think I’ve prevented you from seeing Elly’s magnificent summerhouse. I just won’t have it. Harrison, you’ll have to take my place.”

“No, Lady Blume,” Cassie said quickly. “I’ll see the summerhouse another time.”

“Oh, no. I won’t let my clumsiness spoil your afternoon.”

“I’m sure Lady Lathamton would rather wait until you are able to accompany her on a tour of the summerhouse,” Harrison said, his tone a blatant refusal.