To Wed a Wallflower, page 10
‘I imagine it was not nearly as splendid as your game of chess with Lord Helm.’
They had reached their rooms by now. Aunt Adelia kissed her cheek and wished her goodnight.
Ginny watched while her aunt closed her chamber door with a quiet click.
What was that? Laughter? Yes...her aunt was quite clearly chuckling.
* * *
It was a picture of a day here at the waterfall, warm, sunny and the sky crystal blue. William imagined poets visiting Ullswater were busily scribbling odes to it.
The last traces of last night’s storm had blown away on a dawn breeze.
Recollections of last night had not.
Welcome to Hawkwood? Had he really uttered that inane comment to try to cover his blunder?
And blunder it was. What had got into him, kissing her like he had? Echoes of the past pulling at their heartstrings...taking them back to the children they had been...to a time they both dearly missed.
A token gesture to let each other know they cherished that moment out of time, nothing more.
It was as true now as it had been years ago. He liked her very much. He thought Phillip would be wise to give her a great deal of consideration.
And give it quickly, before William got sucked back into the past as he had last night. It had been a near miss, what with the storm and the intimacy of the cosy library. He had no intention of making a bid for Ginny’s affections. Under no circumstances would he be disloyal to the brother he loved. Phillip’s happiness meant everything to him.
More than his own? a sneaky voice in his mind suggested. Yes! His brother had been to hell and back. William would do nothing to jeopardise his recovery. Not only that, he would not do anything to ruin the friendship which had rekindled between him and Ginny.
All he could hope was that she had not been aware of his temporary loss of reason last night. From now on he would make sure to keep his thoughts firmly in the present, a present which was quite inviting just now.
Because of the fine weather many of Hawkwood’s guests were attending the outing to Aira Force.
There were probably thirty of them gathered at the foot of the falls and gazing up. It didn’t matter how often William stood at the pool below, the sight took his breath away.
Nearly seventy feet high, the fall spilled clear, sparkling water down a rocky, wooded chasm. A pair of rustic bridges crossed the fall, one at the top and one at the bottom.
The group was scheduled to dine al fresco in the glen above the falls. In his opinion it was one of the most picturesque spots in all of England.
If a man, if Phillip, was to fall in love, the glen would be the spot for it.
His mother, Aunt Adelia and Lord Helm stood beside the fence rail at the pool, gazing up for a time, but then turned away and walked towards the trail that led up to the glen.
‘The woman has no shame,’ he heard a voice whisper. He did not need to pivot about to know who the gossiper was... Lady Della.
‘Who would wear such a thing to a picnic?’ the lady—Jane, he thought it was—replied.
William stood where he was, gazing up at the fall, pretending not to hear them. For one, he had no wish to engage in the conversation and, for two, he wanted to know what else they would say.
‘We can only be glad she did not bring that yappy dog along.’ This from Lady Della.
‘I’ve no doubt it would have chewed the shoes right off our feet.’
While the women did not approve of the way Lady Kirkwynd dressed, or of her tendency to bring the pup with her most places she went, he did not approve of their petty attitudes.
For all that they were bound to be jealous of the half-dozen young men gathered about the widow, admiring her as much as the falls, he suspected, it did not excuse their unkind words.
It was hard to imagine such petty talk going on when the beauty of Aira Force was all around.
They nattered on, the sound no more than a buzz until he heard his brother’s name spoken in a resentful tone.
Following their gazes, he spotted Phillip laughing with Ginny and Lady Elizabeth.
In his opinion, Phillip did not look bored. Indeed, he looked the merriest that William had seen him in some time.
‘Would you ladies care to accompany me to the glen?’ This ought to put their busy mouths to rest for a while. ‘I for one am getting hungry.’
‘My goodness, that would be delightful, Mr Talton.’ Lady Della was suddenly all smiles. Not because of his company, he figured, but because the closer they got to him, the better a chance they had to spend time with his brother.
‘I imagine Lady Kirkwynd wishes she was with us.’ Lady Della flicked her gaze at the object of her scorn. ‘May I speak freely of something that has been a burden on my heart, Mr Talton? I would not spread gossip, you understand, but I care so very deeply for your brother and I would be crushed if he were hurt because I remained silent.’
Heaven help him... ‘What is it, Lady Della?’
‘It is only that I know things about the widow that you might not. If I may say so, she is unsavoury.’
‘I have spent time with the lady. I have not found what you say to be true.’
Jane’s mouth fell open, her chin bobbing up and down. ‘But surely you have—’
He honestly had no interest in what Jane and Lady Della thought of the widow.
‘Being such observant ladies, you must know a great deal about everyone. Tell me, what is your opinion of Lady Virginia, also of Lady Elizabeth.’
‘I cannot say there is anything wrong with them, but you must have noticed they fail to shine,’ Lady Della answered, looking for all the world as if she had just sucked on a lemon.
Strolling along the path, the girls chattered on, asking his advice on, of all things, what they should wear after dinner this evening. What would best please Phillip?
If he answered truthfully, he would tell them to don a charitable attitude. Whatever they put on over it did not matter.
‘Lady Della, I have noticed that Mr Taylor seems to be smitten with you.’
‘It is flattering, of course. He is very decent, but he is a second son.’
Perhaps, in their preoccupation with attracting his brother’s attention, they had forgotten William was a second son. Were they truly oblivious that their flippant words degraded him, exposing attitudes that revealed he was unworthy in their eyes?
Never mind that. He did not feel unworthy. Probably because Phillip had never made him feel less...nor had his mother. Father had always made it known that William’s value was as great as his brother’s was, no matter that he was not Hawkwood’s heir.
He was and had always been content to be Phillip’s second in command. He was well suited to the job of second fiddle. The job which was, at the moment, to judge which lady was right for Phillip.
Naturally, he would have to say that neither Lady Della nor Jane was fit to be Countess. Either of those women would make his brother miserable.
But there were women here whom he thought were worthy of his brother’s heart. Women he would rejoice to see become Lady Hawkwood.
Even if it was Ginny? There was that sneaky voice again. Especially if it was Ginny! He would gladly welcome her to the family.
For the rest of the walk up he ignored their nattering chat and focused his attention on lush green shrubs with flowers blooming among them.
Ah, just there...a harebell bobbed its lavender-blue head in greeting. He pointed it out, but the ladies gave it the barest glance. William bent to pick it. He tucked it into his shirt pocket.
He and the ladies were the first of the party to enter the glen.
Mother was busily directing the servants on the placement of blankets under the trees.
‘Where will His Lordship sit?’ Lady Della asked.
‘I am sure I could not predict it. Ah, if you will excuse me, I must speak with my mother.’
He strode towards his mother, deciding if one of them called after him he would pretend not to hear.
‘I am glad to see you, Mother, more than you know.’ He kissed her cheek.
‘I can but imagine.’ She lowered her lids at his recent companions. ‘Since you are here you may make yourself useful by keeping watch over our lunch. Shoo the squirrels away...and the flies as best you can.’
‘I’ll enjoy the company of wildlife invaders over those two,’ he mumbled, but Mother had excellent hearing.
‘Do not fret over them. They were not meant for your brother, anyway.’
What an odd thing to say. Had they not all come with an equal chance at Phillip?
‘Is there someone who is meant for him?’
‘But of course not! Just not the pair of them...or Lady Kirkwynd.’
‘I find Lady Kirkwynd pleasant company...she is entertaining.’
‘Is she? Well, as long as she entertains you and not your brother.’
She was right, of course. Lady Kirkwynd was not for Phillip even they though they did have losing a spouse in common.
‘Where are Aunt Adelia and Lord Helm? Did you not come up together?’
‘Adelia took Lord Helm for a walk to Lyulph’s Tower. I expect them in time for lunch. Oh, quick, William! There is a squirrel with his eye on the sandwiches.’
Hurrying towards the food table, he waved his arms and shouted. The small red creature scurried back up a tree. Looking down, it chattered at him.
Moments later he heard voices on the path. Phillip entered the shady glen escorting Ginny and Elizabeth, one lady on each arm.
In William’s opinion Phillip and Elizabeth looked very well together. But to his mind, not as good as Phillip and Ginny did. Seeing the two of them enjoying each other’s company was satisfying.
Ginny laughed quietly at something Phillip said.
All right, he felt satisfied and discontented at the same time. He had never had such an odd sensation settle in the pit of his stomach.
The truth of it was nothing would be better than to welcome Ginny into the family. It would mean he would never have to say goodbye to her. But it would also mean—
He lost track of the thought because Ginny dropped Phillip’s arm and made her way towards him, her smile warmer than the summer afternoon.
* * *
‘I envy you,’ Ginny said because it was the first thing that came to her mind when she joined William at the food table.
‘For getting to chase off squirrels or swat flies?’
‘For getting to live in this beautiful place. To have grown up with Aira Force so close by and the lake right outside your front door. I’ve always enjoyed the garden at Cliverton, but this is so much more.’ She turned in a slow circle, breathing the air, looking at leafy trees growing in the grassy meadow...sealing the beauty of it in her heart for the day she would have to go home.
A pair of servants walked up to the table to relieve William of his watch.
‘I nearly had a squirrel by its tail, but it was a quick rascal,’ he told the kitchen girls with a teasing wink.
‘Did you really?’ Ginny asked while he led her towards the blanket where Phillip and Elizabeth sat.
‘It’s true! Had I been half a second quicker I’d be presenting you with a pet.’
‘One cannot keep a squirrel as a pet.’
She sat down on the blanket in the space next to Phillip. William took the spot on the other side of her. Being flanked by Taltons was rather nice. She was becoming fond of them both and quite rapidly.
Of course, she had always been fond of the boy Will. Now here was the man she was only now getting to know. Oddly though, in some ways, it felt as though she had never ceased knowing him.
Now that she was reacquainted with him, she was not certain how it made her feel. Happy, of course, since she had only dreamed of seeing William again. Troubled, too, though. It would not be long before she went home and she feared she would miss the man even more than she had the boy.
There was only one way she would remain at Hawkwood and that was to wed the Earl.
And here she sat between the brothers, so unlike each other and yet endearing for their differences.
As confusing as it was, she could not imagine anything more pleasant than spending a warm afternoon in this beautiful spot.
‘It’s what I told William about squirrels,’ Phillip said with a quick nod at his brother. ‘Found out I was wrong.’
‘It is possible to do, but not easy.’ Will’s smile was so different from his brother’s. Phillip’s was warm and engaging, Will’s bright and teasing. ‘The trick is, you need to raise it from a kit. Then when the time comes, after it is nearly grown, you’ve got to be able to let it go. Mother will be the first to tell you they need trees to climb and not curtains.’
Ginny heard a murmur of voices, laughing and chatting as a group from below neared the glen.
‘But did it still know you...afterwards?’
‘I like to think she did, but whenever I went out and called for her I brought her favourite snack...so it could be that she scampered across the grass for the cracker and not for me.’
She liked that about Will...that he had kept a squirrel. It was touching to imagine him as a little boy holding the creature, probably petting it and kissing its soft red head.
Lost in the image, smiling over it, she failed to notice Lady Della take a spot on the blanket.
At once she commandeered the conversation, making certain Phillip’s attention was focused solely on her.
Naturally Elizabeth appeared less than pleased since Lady Della had squeezed into the spot between her and Phillip, forcing her to move over. Not only that, whenever Elizabeth tried to speak, Lady Della spoke over her.
‘I wonder where Lady Kirkwynd is,’ Will whispered. He needn’t have whispered since the two of them were clearly as left out of the conversation as Elizabeth was.
Looking past Will’s shoulder, she saw the widow glancing about at the people taking places on blankets.
‘Over there,’ Ginny pointed out.
There was something in the widow’s glance—it was fleeting, but Ginny recognised it. Where would she sit? Which group of strangers would welcome her?
How startling to discover a lady of such apparent self-confidence could be unsure of her reception.
Will stood up. Waving his arm, he invited her over.
Lady Kirkwynd smiled, laughed in that way she had, caught her red skirt in a bright swish, then made her way over.
There was not much room on the blanket so Will moved over to the grass, giving his spot to her. With so many people now chatting, or attempting to, Ginny was happy that Will’s new spot brought him closer to her than he had been before.
There was no reason it should bother her that Will singled out Lady Kirkwynd to join them. Whether the invitation was out of kindness or because he fancied her was really no business of Ginny’s.
Besides, like every other lady here, the woman was here to get to know Phillip.
Wasn’t it odd that the thought of Lady Kirkwynd getting to know the Earl did not trouble her one little bit, but the thought of her getting to know Will...well, it felt rather distressing?
She must bear in mind that Will was her friend and nothing more. Lady Kirkwynd had as much right to his friendship as anyone did.
Indeed, she was only grateful to have had the chance to rekindle her acquaintance with Will. She was reminded that back then, there had been more than common friendliness between them. The attachment they formed went quite deep for all that they had only spent an afternoon and evening together.
Looking at him now, a man with summer sunshine in his hair, and his smile so...well, it just touched her in a way that made her feel she could sit here all day and smile back at him.
She did wonder what exactly she was hoping to rekindle.
Never mind. There was friendship between them now so she meant to enjoy these moments.
‘Tell me, Will, did you keep the squirrel under the bed with the fawn?’ she had to ask.
‘The fawn came first. A few months later, the squirrel.’ He tipped his head, flashing his dimples. ‘The duck came the year after.’
‘You had a duck! Was it under your bed? How green with envy do I look?’
He touched her chin, turning her face this way and that. Something inside her shivered which was odd since his fingers on her skin felt...spicy? Indeed, spicy nicely described the sensation. She was only dimly aware of guests walking past with food.
‘Yes... I see it, green just there at the corners of your mouth.’ Where was her breath? Her heart suffered no such lapse, it galloped against her ribs because...well those spicy fingers were so close to her lips and any second now someone was bound to notice he was touching her chin. ‘Definitely green, but not as bright as grass, more like moss.’
‘He didn’t have it long, Lady Ginny.’
Oh, she had not been aware that Phillip was paying attention to the conversation.
‘Mother made me return it to the lake when she heard it quacking under my bed.’
‘A fowl is foul no matter where it is,’ Lady Della inserted, laughing and probably hoping the Earl found her remark as witty as she did.
‘Do you dislike them on the dinner table, Lady Della?’ Lady Kirkwynd asked, one slim dark brow arched in question. ‘I got the impression last night you were rather fond of duck.’
The colour rose in Lady Della’s cheeks, bright red and flaming.
‘Lady Virginia, would you care to walk with me for a few moments?’ Phillip asked.
‘Oh, yes, my lord. A walk would be just the thing.’
She should not let it, but her mind shot back to the day when Will asked her the same thing. The flash of mischief in his eyes as they dashed away from the rest of the group was as clear in memory as it had been on the afternoon it happened.
