Page 13

Chapter Four

Her mother and sister were quite inept at keeping secrets or hiding anything from Siobhan. Since she’d been young, she’d always caught them when they’d tried to keep something from her. It was not only that their guilty expressions gave them away, but also apparently that they could not whisper.

On that particular afternoon, Siobhan noticed their absence from the sitting room. She’d then spied them in the arboretum, heads together, speaking in low tones. Every once in a while one or the other’s head popped up and she’d scanned the room to make sure no one came upon them.

Siobhan ducked behind a large flowering bush to ensure they didn’t see her and inched closer. Whatever they were in the midst of concocting, they wanted to keep from her, which could only mean trouble.

Amelia huffed. “Mother, I cannot just ask a man into the garden. It is the man who offers to escort.”

“Listen to me,” her mother whispered too loudly. “It is important that you get him to the garden when the second waltz begins. Come up with any excuse. Then, when you spot me and whoever I managed to get to walk out with me, fall against him.”

Siobhan stopped herself from gasping aloud. They were plotting to compromise Miles! The plan was weak, but the gossips would make whatever occurred seem as if they’d walked in on two naked people in the middle of…whatever scandalous thing it was that naked people did.

“Fall against him,” Amelia parroted. “Should I wrap my arms about him?”

“Even better,” her mother replied enthusiastically. She popped her head up and searched the room before instructing, “Keep your voice down,” although it was she who had spoken too loudly in her excitement that Amelia was coming around to the plan.

A tiny caterpillar caught Siobhan’s attention and she followed the creature’s path with her eyes while considering what to do about this. Why did her mother insist on Amelia marrying Lord Miles? Even a blind person could see that they were completely incompatible. Miles stiffened when Amelia neared and her sister, who usually had no problem in social situations, became awkward.

It was true that the man was indisputably one of the most handsome men in Glasgow. Not only that but one day, he would inherit his father’s title and become the Duke of Spencer. And it was also true that the woman who married Lord Miles would become a duchess. These reasons alone created a rare and enticing motivation for any woman to attempt to seduce him. Or worse, trap him into marriage.

It was not to be borne. That decision made, Siobhan hurried past the many plants of the arboretum, and out to the corridor. Continuing to her father’s study, she knocked, then entered before he could speak.

Her father lifted his head to look at her, quill held up. “Is something wrong, Siobhan?” A drop of ink fell off the quill and landed on the paper with a soft plop. He frowned down at it.

Instead of speaking right away, she sank into one of the plush chairs in front of the oversized desk at which her father sat, and scanned the room. Two large dark wooded bookcases flanked the big desk, filled with books and even parchments of every size. Every period in history was included in his vast collection.

“To whom are you writing?” Siobhan asked, peering at the new piece of paper he used to replace the ruined one.

His eyes lit up. “I am inviting Sir Edmond Walker to speak at the club. He is an expert on Ancient Egypt.”

Her heart lightened at his excitement. “How very interesting. Perhaps then you can travel there with your historical gentlemen’s group.”

“We are called historians, Daughter. The Glasgow Historians.” He motioned to a plaque he’d received from said group. “This is not a mere hobby.”

“Of course not,” Siobhan replied in what she hoped was a serious tone, though she wanted to smile. At that, she pushed back a lock of her hair and let out a sigh. “Father, I wish to ask you something and I hope you will be honest.”

“What is it, dear?”

After a glance to the door to ensure her mother or sister did not lurk nearby, eavesdropping, she spoke, thinking about what she’d heard from her mother and sister. They were so focused on using any means possible to trick Lord Miles into marrying Amelia. It was wrong, and it seemed the worst kind of behavior. She wanted to ask Papa what he thought about it but surprised herself by blurting out, “Do you think I will ever marry?”

Her father’s expression softened, and he put the quill down before he clasped his hands together. “Of course, you will. You’re quite bonnie. I think it is only because you are spirited that a man has not declared himself.”

Spirited. It was the word that was often used when describing her. Siobhan looked past her father to see a bird fly past the window. How she wished for wings of her own. “I am not sure I wish to marry at times. If only you’d allowed me to—”

“I could not allow you to marry him, Siobhan,” her father said in a stern tone. “He was without merit of any type.”

Although she understood why her father had fired the young man she’d been infatuated with, her heart ached at the thought of it. Gerard had worked for them as a footman, and at eighteen, she’d thought him the most beautiful boy ever.

They’d kissed in secret, and she’d spent countless hours dreaming of a life with him. But when they’d been caught one night by Amelia, the consequences had been swift.

By the next morning Gerard was gone, and she’d been banished to her room. Siobhan had to be forced to attend a social event after that year, where she’d refused every offer of a dance, and had escaped outdoors where she’d fallen asleep under a bush. Claiming to have been mortified when a gardener had finally found her, her mother had been furious and confined her to the house for the rest of the season, which was fine with Siobhan, more of a reward than a punishment.

That year her mother had made excuses, telling people that Siobhan was ill to keep tongues at bay. However, her notable absence had brought rumors of impropriety on her part. Every single bachelor had been rumored to have ruined her. But the important thing—at least for her parents—was that no member of society even considered that she’d been involved with someone of what they’d considered a “lower” station.

Two years had passed since then and the gossips had moved on to other, newer scandals. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the events of her coming out season. At least, outwardly. But that “spirited” description still followed her.

“You should make more of an effort if you wish to find a husband,” her father said, interrupting her thoughts. “You are of age to be married. But of course, I’m sure you know that already. So the thing is, you should make an effort to find a suitable husband.”