The Desires of a Countess (21 page)

She pushed the parlor door open and watched with
appreciation as he rose to his feet. Simon was the kind of man who
could look pulled together even after two hours sleep. In fact, she
couldn’t imagine a situation where he wouldn’t look as devastating
as he did at that very moment.

“Good morning,” he said as he pulled a bouquet of
lilacs from behind his back. “For you, because I can’t smell them
without thinking of your skin.”

Her cheeks heated with a flush of pleasure. She
peeked around to make sure no one was watching, then rose to her
tiptoes to kiss Simon full on the lips.

He only allowed the caress for a far-too-brief
moment before he pulled back with a groan. “We can’t start that
again, as much as I would love to.”

She laughed as she set her lilacs down and motioned
to a seat. She had no idea where the relationship between them was
going, but she knew one thing: this couldn’t last forever. Simon
would return to his ship eventually. And while she felt safer in
London from her own secrets, the longer they were associated, the
more likely it was he would discover what she’d done.

A shiver wracked her before she pushed the thought
away. Until she was forced to do so, she wasn’t going to face that
reality. She’d live in the present with Simon until the future came
to tear them apart.

“You look very rested for a man who got no sleep,”
she teased.

His eyes darkened with heat. “A night with you is
better than forty winks, I assure you.” He smiled. “But I didn’t
come here to seduce you, even though the idea of taking you
upstairs has a great deal of merit.”

She feigned a pouting face, though her blood heated
at the thought of such a suggestion. “If you didn’t come here to
finish what we started last night, then why are you here?”

“I thought you might want to come to an event with
me today.”

Her smile fell. “Oh, Simon, I really don’t want to
do anything in Society. The ball tomorrow is quite terrifying
enough to me.”

Simon’s own jovial demeanor became more serious as
he reached out to take her hand. Instantly she was soothed by his
touch.

“Ginny, this won’t be terrifying.” He locked eyes
with her. “I promise you.”

She cocked her head as she examined his face. There
were many things that she was still unsure she could trust Simon
with, but this wasn’t one of them. If he said she wouldn’t be
afraid, she believed him. Especially if he planned to stay at her
side.

“Very well. What is it you want me to do?”

With a grin, he helped to her to feet and placed a
soft kiss on the tip of her nose. “You’re coming with me to meet my
mother.”

With that, he took her arm before she could
argue.

***

Simon watched Ginny twist the fingertip of her glove
as they sat in his mother’s parlor awaiting her arrival. He liked
that she was nervous about meeting his family. It meant she wanted
to make a good impression.

But he had no such excuse for his own anxiety. He
hadn’t seen his mother for months, not even when he’d passed
through London on his way to Westdale. It wasn’t that he didn’t
love her. On the contrary, he adored her, but he hated to see the
pain in her eyes that he couldn’t take away, no matter what he
bought to do so.

“Simon!”

The shaking female voice at the parlor door snapped
him from his thoughts. He rose to his feet and hurried to the woman
who had entered. He looked nothing like his mother with her dark
blonde hair and green eyes. Even in looks he favored his father. He
had always regretted that, for he guessed it hurt his mother to
look at her son and see a constant reminder of the man who had
deserted her.

“Mother.”

He hugged her and gave her a subtle appraisal. She
looked tired, but pleased to see him and she seemed healthy. Like
she had been eating, which he hadn’t always been able to say over
the years that she’d gone without to give him a chance to
succeed.

“Oh, Simon, you look wonderful.” She reached up to
touch his face. “A little tired, you should get more sleep.”

He turned his twinkling gaze on Ginny, who
blushed.

His mother continued talking without pausing for
breath. “You should shave closer, my dear, you’re very
stubbly.”

“I shave each and every morning, Mother,” he
sighed.

“You seem leaner than the last time I saw you.” She
poked at his belly. “Are you eating on that ship of yours? I told
Adam to make sure you ate.”

Simon laughed. “I weigh exactly the same.” Again, he
met Ginny’s eyes and loved how she was covering a giggle in her
hand at his mother’s constant questions. “Now, perhaps you’d like
to meet my guest?”

His mother turned with a start. “Oh, forgive me. I
haven’t seen my son in so long that I completely forgot my manners.
I didn’t even see you there, my dear.”

“It’s quite all right,” Ginny reassured her as she
stepped forward.

“Mother, this is Virginia Blanchard, Henry’s widow.”
He frowned as his mother grew pale, then covered her reaction with
a smile. “And Ginny, this is my mother, Sarah Webber.”

“Lady Westdale.” His mother took her hand with both
her own. “I am sorry for your loss. I wasn’t close to my nephew,
but I do know what it’s like to grieve. I apologize that I didn’t
make it to the service.”

Ginny shook her head, but the light in her eyes
faded as she was forced to go through the motions of a widow. Simon
almost regretted bringing her, but he knew that once they moved
past these awkward moments, the two women would like each
other.

“Mrs. Webber, don’t take a moment’s worry about not
coming to Westdale. York is a terrible journey in the summer, let
alone when there is snow on the ground.”

“Thank you, my dear. Why don’t we sit down and have
tea? I see Marsden brought the tray in already, the dear man. Simon
you do hire excellent staff.” She smiled at her son and the tension
in the room eased.

“I did my best. After all, you deserve to be waited
on after all these years of sacrifice.”

His mother smiled, but sadness had come into her
eyes. “Simon, how many times must we go over this? I don’t need you
to buy back what I lost.”

“What was taken from you,” Simon
corrected with heat. The subject always infuriated him. “By
the
ton
and by my
father.”

An uncomfortable silence filled the room and Simon
grimaced. He had embarrassed his mother in front of a guest. How
was she to know that Ginny could understand her plight?

Ginny cleared her throat.
“The
ton
can be a
treat, can’t they?” she asked. “I’ve been lucky enough to avoid the
nastier aspects of Society while I’ve been isolated in the
countryside. But perhaps together we could face them now that I’m
here.”

His mother’s fair skin darkened to red. “Oh, my
dear, I appreciate your kindness, but I’m normally not invited to
events in Society. I married a man out of that realm and when he
left…” Her voice faded off.

The muscle in Simon’s jaw flexed as he clenched his
teeth together. “So you didn’t receive an invitation to Lady
Hornsbey’s ball tomorrow evening?”

“No.”

His mother’s quiet answer spoke volumes and Simon
barely held back the urge to swear. After everything he’d done to
give his mother back her place, nothing worked. He’d given money to
charities, helped influential people. He’d even given Hornsbey’s
husband a bargain on some shipping. And all for nothing.

“That must be an oversight,” Ginny said. He turned
to see her blue eyes soft with understanding. She could tell how
important Society was to his mother, and she appreciated how much
being cut hurt. “I will be attending and I’d like to invite you to
come with me. Simon will be there, won’t you?”

He drew back. Somehow he hadn’t expected she’d ask
him to escort her. A few stolen hours in her bed was one thing, but
he didn’t belong in her world.

“If you’d like me to accompany you, I will,” he said
with a small nod. “What do you say, Mother?”

Sarah’s eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded to
Ginny. “It would be nice to see old friends. Some of them still
come by to see me, especially since Simon moved me into this lovely
townhouse, but most are too afraid to buck the matrons and ask me
to parties and teas.”

Simon’s mouth thinned. He wouldn’t call cowards like
that friends, but they were important to his mother. And Ginny had
given her something he’d been trying to do for years. She’d easily
opened a door that had been closed to her by small-minded people
who enjoyed tearing others down more than they enjoyed keeping good
company.

Ginny sighed. “To be honest with you, Mrs. Webber, I
would be happy for your companionship. It’s my first ball in years
and I’m not sure how well I’ll do.”

Sarah caught her hand with hers. “Then we’ll muddle
through together.”

Ginny’s face lightened and the gorgeous smile Simon
was always trying to coax out of her flashed to her lips with
blinding beauty. It took all his self-control not to grab her and
kiss her right then and there.

Yes, things were looking up.

“I must announce you first.”

Simon turned his head at the sudden commotion in the
hallway.

“What could that be?” his mother asked as she
released Ginny’s hand and rose to her feet.

Simon shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“Announce me?” The intruder screeched. “There’s no
need. I don’t want to give anyone the chance to pretend they’re
away.”

His mother paled at the grating voice in the hall
and Ginny stood on shaky legs. “Cordelia,” she whispered.

The door flew open and Simon’s Aunt Cordelia burst
in. Simon’s eyes narrowed. All hell was about to break loose.

***

Ginny knees began to buckle as her mother-in-law
burst into the room like a hurricane, but somehow she managed to
stay on her feet. She had learned over the years to remain strong
because her husband’s family members were like hyenas. They would
swarm at the first sign of weakness. Still, she felt like she might
lose the precarious hold she had on her breakfast and prayed she
wouldn’t get sick on Mrs. Webber’s lovely carpet.

“You.” Cordelia took two steps
toward Ginny and stuck out a bony finger. “I heard
you
had come to town. Why
didn’t you write me?”

Ginny swallowed back her fear and
struggled for an answer, but Simon was quicker. “I’m afraid that’s
my fault, Aunt Cordelia. I insisted on making the trip on very
short notice.
Lady Westdale
didn’t have time to write to anyone.”

Ginny held back a smug smile as Cordelia winced. How
she’d hated seeing her old title go to Ginny when her husband died.
Sometimes she wondered if her mother-in-law missed the name more
than she did her husband.

“You should have sent word that you were here so I
could see my grandson. Where is he?” she snapped.

This time Ginny was ready and set her jaw in
preparation for a fight. “He’s with his governess. He’s a little
young to enjoy a boring tea with friends.” She smiled at Sarah, who
looked as terrified as she felt. Cordelia had that effect on
people. “You’re welcome to come to the townhouse to see him if
you’d like.”

She cringed at the thought of Cordelia taking over
her home and bringing her ugliness into its walls. But she’d sworn
she wouldn’t allow her personal feelings for Henry or his family to
keep Jack from them. And Cordelia hadn’t spit any venom her
grandson’s way yet.

But God help her if she ever did.

“I didn’t think you’d receive me at
my
son’s
townhouse.”

Ginny barely resisted the urge to point out that
Henry was dead and that nothing was his anymore, but forced herself
to smile. “I would never keep you from Jack.”

Cordelia sputtered as she always did when her poison
was met with civility. It was a tactic Ginny had to bite her tongue
to use, but it served her well. Later she would be free to ponder
all the nasty things she wanted to say to the witch.

“Sarah.” Cordelia turned her eyes on her
sister-in-law next. “It makes sense that Virginia would be here
with you, both of you are outcasts. You ought to suit well.”

Ginny had watched Simon standing in the corner since
Cordelia had come in. Though it was obvious he despised the hag as
much as she did, he’d kept his mouth shut and had let her handle
her mother-in-law in her own way. But now he stepped forward with
eyes blazing blue-green fire and fists clenched at his sides. She’d
called him the devil before, but he looked capable of bringing hell
itself down on anyone who crossed him.

“And why wouldn’t my mother and
Lady Westdale be accepted by the
ton
?” he asked in a tone that was
deceptively quiet and calm.

Cordelia’s eyes widened, but Ginny knew her well
enough to know she wouldn’t take the warning that crackled around
Simon. She wouldn’t let the subject drop or mutter a false
apology.

“Because I plan to snub Virginia.
She was a poor wife to my son.” She turned back to Ginny with
folded arms. “His death was
your
fault.”

The bile rose into Ginny’s throat as she took a few
steps back. Oh God, Cordelia knew. She knew the truth and
everything was over.

“If he had only been satisfied,” her mother-in-law
continued. “Perhaps he wouldn’t have ridden out that terrible night
and fallen.” Her eyes narrowed further though Ginny recognized the
pain that was also in their pointed stare. However she felt about
the woman, Cordelia had loved her son. “You might as well have
murdered him yourself.”

Her heart pounded in her ears and throat as Ginny
struggled to remain calm. Cordelia didn’t know the truth after all,
but she was dancing treacherously close to it. She couldn’t let the
horrible memories sparked by her mother-in-law’s words take over.
She had to focus.