“How was she?” Michael swallowed hard.
“She was able to walk upon her ankle without assistance by the time her aunt and stepdaughter were finally ready to return to home.”
Michael nodded but continued looking straight ahead. “I appreciate your assistance last night. Did she tell you anything?”
“She was reticent but told me she would be willing to speak with you about the matter.Privately, she said. She will receive you if you call upon her at her aunt’s home.”
Relief swept through him upon hearing these words. If she were willing to see him, she did not hate him. But he remained stoic. “Hawthorne must have threatened her. She was downright hostile to me. But with what?” All sorts of things came to mind. Had Hawthorne gotten wind of their past? And then his horse shied a bit to the side, as though perplexed by the sudden tension in his rider’s seat.
Danbury glanced over. “Despite your separation from Lady Beauchamp, I take it you are still affected by her.”
Michael cleared his throat and then answered in a harsh voice, “It’s madness, I know.” He removed his hat and impatiently ran gloved fingers through his hair. “It seemed the entire world conspired against us that summer. We should bean old married couple by now with a full nursery and old established habits…These thoughts torment me because lifedid notconspire to let that happen. And now I am a betrothed man. It would be the height of dishonor to cry off. I will not jilt Lady Natalie.” Not to mention the thousands who would be affected if the Corn Laws were not amended. “I have her father’s blessing. Lady Natalie is a kind and sweet lady, and it would ruin her. It is not even something to consider.”
“A scandal involving you would likely cost votes,” Danbury pointed out unnecessarily. “Damned bad luck, Cortland. I wish things had gone differently. This sort of complication is only part of why I’ve avoided the leg shackle.” But then he added, “You could set her up as your mistress. She is a widow, after all…Except I know you, and you probably intend to be the faithful husband and all that.”
Michael replaced his hat. He wouldn’t acknowledge Danbury’s words. Sometimes his friend went too far. “I must speak with Lilly,” he said, instead, before leaning forward and urging his horse into a cantor. Hugh did not follow. He would let him alone. Michael would go to Lilly today. Ensure her safety from Hawthorne and then avoid her for the rest of the season.
Lilly washard at work that morning in the garden house. Her ankle, although bruised and a little swollen, was well enough to limp outside.
Determined to keep her spirits up, she set to propagating some cuttings that had been a gift from Lady Ravensdale, Natalie’s mother. After discovering Lilly’s passion for horticulture, she had sent a basketful of various clippings over from her own garden. It was important Lilly treat them as quickly as possible for them to successfully root.
It was precious, that a friend could share something so lovely which, if nurtured properly, would grow stronger and more beautiful with the passage of time. It could then, in turn, be shared with another friend someday in the future. It allowed one to feel connected to other souls and to the earth somehow.
With a sharp knife, she sliced a few of the leaves off the vine cutting so it would have a better chance to root. Just as in new friendships, the plant could be weakened if too much was demanded in its early stages. She then dipped the stem in watered-down honey and positioned it in a prepared pot that sat in the sunlight. As she placed a clear glass bell over the cutting, the door to the work area swung open.
Jarvis peered in cautiously. He seemed perplexed at having to search for her out of doors.
“You have an early visitor, madam.” He approached her and offered the guest’s calling card. She read the engraved lettering and told Jarvis to escort the duke outside to the garden bench. “I will join him there shortly.” She was not at all presentable, certainly not for a duke, but it would take her eons of time to clean up, and hewasMichael, after all.
Jarvis bowed, without offering his approval, and gladly removed himself from the dust and grime of the garden house. He’d probably soiled his white gloves when he’d turned the handle. Poor Jarvis.
Lilly covered the remaining cuttings with a wet cloth and then wiped her hands on her apron before hobbling outside.
Michael was just exiting through the servant’s door to meet her. He greeted her with a tight smile and then a gentlemanly bow.
She addressed him through tight lips. “Your Grace.” She already regretted not taking the time to make herself more presentable.
She felt awkward and a bit contrite. She had treated him poorly last night. “Thank you for coming. I didn’t think I’d seeyou so quickly. It’s early yet. I thought all members of thetonslept in the day after a ball.”
Michael gestured for her to sit. “Not all of us lead such indolent lifestyles. My morning began at sunup, in fact.” His expression was serious. And then exasperated. “Hell and damnation, Lilly, what happened last night? What did Hawthorne say to you?”
Lilly folded her hands together just below her chin. She had decided late last night what she would tell Michael. “The night you and I…spoke, at the Willoughby ball, he overheard some of our conversation. I am not certain how much, but he believes you to be my…lover. He has demanded that I use my…influence to persuade you to drop your amendment.”
“Why would he think you would do that? Even if it were true?”
Lilly flinched at the question. “Because I married Rose’s widower! It was illegal! The earl has discovered this and is threatening to expose me to theton.I have not made this information public, here in London. He must have investigated me somehow. I am not so concerned for my own reputation, but Glenda will be harmed if a scandal erupts. She would be harmed if such information became public. And, as I’ve told you already, shemustmake a decent match.” Lilly kept her voice calm, but it broke as she continued. “He called my marriage incestuous!”
“And his threat was to expose this? Did he give you a timeline? Anything specific?”
Lilly composed herself and shook her head. “He did not.”
They sat silently for a moment, and then Lilly began speaking again. “That’s why I sent you away last night. I don’t believe he could know for certain it wasyouwho was with me that night. It was very dark, if you remember. There were no torches outside and very little moonlight. I wish to try toconvince him that perhaps it was somebody else. Danbury, for instance.”
“Danbury?” Michael asked.
“His threats only have power if he believes I can influenceyou. It isyouramendment he wants dropped. If he can be convinced that you and I are nothing to each other, then it would do him no good to expose my marriage. Perhaps then he might leave me alone. It is a possibility, anyway.” Lilly was not Michael’s lover. He was engaged to Lady Natalie. This was not fair!
Nonetheless, here he sat, in her garden, and she was oh, so tempted to place her hand upon his, to bury her face in his chest. When he had carried her last night, the desire to stay in his arms forever felt so strong it alarmed her. She’d fought the urge to twine her arms around his neck and beg him to whisk her away forever.
