“Very well.” Thomas turned and then stopped again. “But have you thought about smells? After all, certain smells turn your stomach.”
“I doubt very much that anyone will be smoking in the school, and hopefully they will not be drinking copious quantities of whisky or cooking pheasant.” Vivian shuddered. Discovering the last one had been one of the most embarrassing dinners she had ever attended.
Luckily, it was only close family members.
“And of course there was Lady Everbury’s perfume,” Thomas added.
“That was less to do with her perfume, and more to do with her company.” Vivian’s cheeks flushed as Thomas looked at her, his eyes wide and a half-smile on his face.
“Vivian Heathcliff, you scoundrel.” He chuckled. “Are you telling me you feigned illness simply to leave her party?”
“Yes, but in my defense, I feared that if I spent any more time with Lady Everbury, my ability to remain civil and proper would disappear.” Vivian wrinkled her nose. “You should have heard some of the things she was saying! Honestly, the less time we spend with such people, the better.”
“I suppose her husband was a rather odious fellow.” Thomas massaged his neck.
“Besides, if I had not done that, we would never have seen my parents being escorted from the premises for gate crashing.” Vivian smiled at the memory. “I still cannot believe they have become such social pariahs.”
“It is no less than they deserve.” Thomas’s face darkened. “They continued to disrespect you, and while I have spared them at your bidding, I do not control my grandmother. And they were foolish enough to speak ill of you to one of her close friends. This is the consequence of such foolishness. And they had the gall to ask you to intercede on their behalf. They did not even apologize, simply tried to guilt you into doing it.”
Vivian placed a calming hand on Thomas’s arm. “I know darling. And while a part of me hoped they might see the error of their ways, I have to admit, I am rather enjoying seeing them reap the consequences of their actions.”
“It would seem my grandmother is rubbing off on you.” Thomas smiled at her. “Thetonbest watch out, lest you follow in her footsteps. After all, it starts with sneaking out of balls, next it will be you exacting vengeance on behalf of someone who has been wronged.”
“Why get my hands dirty when patience and time will do it for me? Just look at what happened to Lord Brixten. His wifefound out about his affairs, told her father, and now the man is on the run, utterly disgraced and his wife and their son get to live in peace. By all accounts, she is thriving in his absence. She even wrote me an apology letter and asked if she might visit the school.” Vivian looped an arm through Thomas’s. “Besides, it is not only your grandmother who sneaks away from balls.”
“I am fairly certain that it was a certain marquess who encouraged such antics when we were trying to leave the Haversham ball a few weeks ago.” Vivian grinned as they began to walk toward the carriage again.
“It was the most boring ball I have ever been to! Besides, there were other, more enjoyable activities that we wished to turn our attention to.” He met her gaze, his blue eyes dark with hunger.
Vivian’s mouth went dry, and her stomach twisted, even as her cheeks flushed scarlet.Will he ever stop having that effect on me?She hoped not.
“As I am well aware.” Vivian’s voice was hoarser than she had wished. “The point is, I think we are perfectly safe to visit the school.”
“At least let me check the carriage once more.” Thomas gestured to the carriage waiting for them at the end of the path.
“You have already checked it three times. I fear that if you check it a fourth time, the driver will quit.” Vivian shook her head.
Thomas made a dismissive gesture. “Mr. Hansom understands just how important it is to ensure your safety.”
“Which means he will have taken all the necessary measures to ensure the carriage is roadworthy,” Vivian countered. “Though Isuppose if you are truly worried about its safety, we could always walk. Or simply ride.”
“And risk you getting trampled by some hellion of a rider? Or thrown from your horse? I think not.” Thomas shook his head vehemently, twirling his top hat between his fingers.
“Then a carriage it is.” Vivian absently reached up and adjusted Thomas’s coat lapels. “Now let us get a move on.”
“Let us not be too hasty. The path could still be dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” Vivian laughed and shook her head. “It is a proper path!”
“There could be weeds or a loose brick, or it could be uneven. What if you fell? What if you slipped and broke your neck?” All the color drained from her face.
“You would never let that happen.” Vivian tried to give him a reassuring smile. “You always catch me.”
“I am serious, Vivian.” There was a wildness in her husband’s eyes as he glared at the path as though daring it to even think of harming her.
Vivian sighed and took a step toward her husband. “I know you are just trying to keep us all safe, but really, it is getting ridiculous. I have to be able to walk places; you can hardly carry me everywhere we go.”
Thomas stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Now that is a thought.”
