Meredith’s face was bright red as Tiverton marched her past the other men standing beside Kit, all of whom were staring at her in the most curious way. This was her fault. If she’d only come to Tiverton’s home sooner, she might have been allowed time to explain herself and rest at his home, rather than be paraded out like this before a half dozen gentlemen, creating only more questions for her host.
“This is my coach.” Tiverton opened the door and slid her hand into his as he assisted her inside. She took the seat facing the front and he sat opposite her. A footman closed the door. The coach interior was lit with heavy glass lamps, casting gold light onto the dark blue velvet cushions, each of which were embroidered with a gold crest bearing a “T” for Tiverton.
Uncle Ben had had a lovely coach, but nothing as fine is this. Meredith was not used to being in the presence of such wealth, but the seat and cushioned back felt like heaven after five days in rattling stagecoaches.
“Now…we have a little time to talk. Tell me about my uncle’s death and yourself. It is best to start the beginning.”
Darius St. John watched the woman sitting across from him closely. Her gloved fingers twisted in the reticule she held on her lap. He could not fault her for the show of nerves. She’d been through a harrowing experience and he’d given her no time to settle down or rest.
The news of uncle’s death was a terrible shock to him, and it had for the moment taken control over his thoughts and he needed answers. Why hadn’t he received any news of his uncle’s illness earlier? He waited for her to speak and was glad to see steel in her hazel eyes. She’d been through much, but the experience hadn’t broken her. Good.
“As I understand it, your uncle was in love with my mother many years ago before I was born, but she chose another, one who did not actually marry her, but instead kept her as his mistress. Your uncle then married another.”
“Harry’s mother,” Darius said, nodding. “She was a good woman, although I did not know her well as she died when I was but a lad.” He hadn’t known about Uncle Ben’s first love, but then, his uncle had always been reserved about his life.
“My father left my mother and I when I was four returned to his wife and within a year he died. My mother was desperate after he left us. She sought refuge with your uncle. He purchased a cottage by the sea and paid for our keep until my mother died when I was fourteen.”
“I am sorry about your mother,” Darius added quietly. He had lost his own mother young and the loss of a mother left deep scars that never fully healed. “I believe I remember Uncle Ben mentioning you… now that I think about it. I would have met you if I’d only bothered to visit him at Burton Agnes.” His heart was heavy with a thousand regrets. He cleared his throat. “And after your mother died?”
Meredith sighed, her gaze drifting briefly away from his face as she glanced out into the darkening night through the window curtains.
“I loved my mother, but it was a relief to come live with Uncle Ben. He welcomed me into his home in a way that I never felt while I was living with my mother.”
Knowing his uncle, the man had doted on Meredith. He had a truly kind heart and a great love of company, despite his own quiet manners.
Darius leaned forward slightly. “When did my Uncle fall ill?”
“It was about two months ago.”
“Why didn’t he write to me?” Darius asked her.
“He didn’t believe he was that ill. We simply thought he had a cold, but then it suddenly turned into a steep decline in his condition. The doctors were not entirely sure what made him so unwell, but he passed peacefully five nights ago.” Meredith seemed to debate her next words carefully. “Mrs. Todd, Uncle Ben’s housekeeper, helped me pack and leave just after Uncle Ben passed away. She didn’t want me to stay in the house with Harry, though it would mean missing Uncle Ben’s funeral.”
“It would have been a very bad idea for you to stay, given what you’ve told me of that cad of a son of his,” Darius finished for her. “So you traveled here at once.”
“Yes. I slept little and stayed on the same coach for four days until last night, when I was too exhausted to keep moving. I had enough money for room and board, but left for London at first light, which brings me here and my rather abrupt appearance at your door. I must apologize for any inconvenience my arrival has caused you.”
“You are not an inconvenience,” he replied softly.
She had traveled for four days without sleep? Darius inwardly cursed. Had he known, he would have let her sleep in his home rather than dragging her to the play tonight. She was doing a fine job of hiding her fatigue, but he could see the weariness in her hazel eyes. And now…thanks to Uncle Ben, she was his responsibility. He didn’t hate the responsibility…but he didn’t like the limitations. Meredith was the sort of woman that he wanted to pull onto his lap and curl his arms around her as he kissed her and soothed her worries away with compassion and then passion. And he could not do that because seducing one’s ward was… even beyond the bounds of propriety.
He took stock of the woman again. Her golden brown hair was a bit unkept, but that was from travel and not inattentiveness. She would be lovely indeed once she was properly dressed and her hair tamed with a brush. Her current gown was not only plain but also tight-fitting. The woman possessed a wealth of bosom that threatened to pop out of the bodice. It was damnably distracting. He appreciated breasts the same as any hot-blooded man, but something about Meredith’s bosom proved more tempting than it should. If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up no better than his blasted cousin Harry.
“I must apologize, Miss Montague. Had I been more knowledgeable about the circumstances behind your arrival, I would have insisted that you stay at my home and rest rather than accompany me. Have you eaten today?”
“I had a light breakfast this morning and a bit of cheese around midday.” She glanced away, embarrassed, but Darius was the one ashamed. He was not proving to be a very good guardian for this woman.
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually such a wretched host.” He sighed and dragged a hand through his hair. “It’s only that…” He hesitated. He could not unburden his soul to this poor woman.
“Only what?” Damned if those soft hazel eyes of hers didn’t send him reeling. She was exquisitely beautiful in a quiet, regal sort of way that held him in fascination. Timeless…that was the word. She was a timeless beauty that would have caught a man’s admiration in any era. Yet she was here in this moment with him, and he had to remind himself that she was now his ward, and a gentleman didn’t seduce his ward. He cleared his throat as he remembered he hadn’t answered her question.
“It’s my friend Kit…” he began. “He’s been gone a very long time. Seven years, in fact. He’s only now just returned. His new wife, Suzannah, has painted the sets for the play we will see tonight on Drury Lane, and I wanted everything to be perfect. It’s important to Kit, and what is important to my friend is important to me.” He was rambling now. He, the cool, collected Duke of Tiverton, had found himself flustered and nervous like a silly schoolboy. “And now with Uncle Ben…I am not myself this evening and for that I deeply apologize for any rudeness I’ve shown.”
“I understand, Your Grace. Friendships matter a great deal. I had only one friend growing up, a girl named Celina. When her family learned I was not Uncle Ben’s child, I was deemed an unfit companion. I’ve had no deep friendships since. You must cherish and protect those you have.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Grief wounds the heart in ways we can never prepare ourselves for. You mustn’t fault yourself for anything done in a state of grief, certainly not on my account.”
Darius could not deny the pain in Meredith’s eyes and scrambled to put her at ease. “I shall introduce you to Suzannah this evening. She is wonderful and I believe she will not hold the circumstances of your birth against you. You will need suitable friendships and hers will be an excellent start.”
“I would like to meet her.” She paused and then with a blush she asked. “And what of the gentlemen that surrounded Lord Kentwell this evening? Are there any among them who I could look to for a possible match?”
