The carriage lumbereddown the gravel road that was the Marine Parade and the location of her beautiful, three story, white stucco villa,purchased some eight months prior. In the dim lantern light, Georgina watched Teddy’s head bob with each lurch of the carriage, hoping beyond hope he would not awaken prior to their arrival. For the hundredth time, she questioned her decisionnotto administer more sleeping medicine to Teddy without his approval as Dr. Penhurst had suggested.
She wasn’t sure why she couldn’t bring herself to pour the stuff down his throat. Perhaps because it struck her as an inauspicious start to their time together. Or maybe she was too soft as her brother used to tell her, especially as concerned Teddy.
One day in particular came back to her in stunning clarity. It was summer, as she recalled, during one of Drake’s and Teddy’s school breaks, and they’d gone to Hampstead Heath as was their custom.
She’d been making up a plate for Teddy, choosing items from the basket she’d packed for the four of them.
Meanwhile, Teddy sprawled on a blanket under the shade of a massive yew while Catherine read to him from a book of poetry…
Drake sidled up to her and tsked. “You need to stop pandering to him so, love. He won’t thank you for it—”
“He just did—”
He continued unabated. “He can’t give you what you seek, love. He’s not able. Not now, at any rate.”
She ceased arguing in favor of offering up a perfectly ridiculous denial. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you mean.”
“George,Georgina, look at me.” He crouched beside her and took her hands in his. Gazing at her with sage, compassion-filled eyes, he went on. “Ted’s not a bad man. Hell. He’s my best mate, as close a thing to a brother as I’ll ever have.”
She heard thebutcoming, as usual, so supplied it herself, “But? I’m not his sort. Don’t you think I know that, Drake? He deserves the beautiful, the elegant, someone like himself, like Lady Catherine, in point of fact, who’s not only stunning, but adept at flirtation and—”
“Darling, stop. That is not what I meant at all,” he said, lying to spareher feelings, no doubt. “You must trust me. Ted’s got demons he needs to slay—if he can. And if he can’t, better you set your sights on another.”
She wanted to ask what demons, if there really were any, but experience told her not to bother. Her brother’s integrity was such that she could torture him and still he wouldn’t breach Teddy’s trust, just as he would never reveal her deepest secrets.
So she concentrated on her task, murmuring, “I’m sure you’re right.”
But Drake, for once, had not been content to leave things there. “Better he ends up with her than you.”
She scowled at him then, and he chucked her on the chin.
Then he said something she’d never forget because by saying it he’d revealed so much more than he ever had before. “He’s one hell of a friend. There through thick and thin. A man’s man. But when it comes to the ladies…” He left off with a shrug. “Better her than you…”
How she wished her brother were here, just now, to advise her.
How she wished he were here, period.
She shook off the memory and thoughts of Drake as the carriage slowed to a halt. With infinite care, trying to make nary a sound, she opened the door and gestured madly to Thomas, communicating her desire he not utter a word as he placed the step for her.
Teddy did not stir as she exited the equipage. With a sigh of relief, she hurried up the walk.
Mr. Danvers, her recently hired butler, awaited her at the villa’s entrance with the front door open.Excellent.She wished to have a word with him in particular. The rest of the small household staff, hired some seven months ago, consisted of a local cook, a chambermaid, and, of course, Thomas.
Cook and Peggy might think it odd their mistress never mentioned having a husband who also happened to be a future earl, but they would undoubtedly turn a blind eye so long as she paid their wages on time and did not abuse them.
Her groom, Thomas, had been with her for over two years and she paid him handsomely. He had not blinked an eye when sheinformed him they would be transporting herquote-end-quote husbandhome. But, then, he was used to her eccentricities and, as the man who transported her to and from her publisher, was well-versed in her expectation of absolute discretion.
Mr. Danvers had been in her employ only a short while. She would have no qualms about the situation if he were a trained butler, as his reaction to learning of his employer’s previously unheard-of husband would be a bland acceptance. However, Mr. Danvers was not a classically trained butler. He was an ex-soldier, having fought against Napoleon’s forces, and one of the men Lady Amelia’s husband, Lord Culver, had suggested for the vacant post.
Georgina had leapt at the chance to support Lord Culver’s project—that of helping displaced war veterans who had returned home to England only to find it difficult to resume life as a contributing members of society. In her heart, she imagined doing so honored her dear late brother, Drake, taken in the line of duty, and, of course, Teddy.
As opposed to her parents’ polished-and-spit-shined butler, Mr. Danvers had a full head of dark hair, thick and with a tendency toward unruly, and a rough, burly exterior. He appeared to be a good man who just needed a purpose. His loyalty and discretion Lord Culver, himself a renowned colonel, had vouched for personally. She hoped his assurance proved accurate, now.
“Good evening, my lady,” Mr. Danvers said in his low baritone as she neared him.
She made no immediate reply, and instead, waved him indoors.
With a disgruntled frown, he complied, stepping back to allow her to enter.
