Page 54 of Return to Wildsyde

“Your guardian?” Mr Knight repeated, his expression grave. “But Felix led me to believe you are of age?”

“I am,” Luella said impatiently. “Only my father made this stupid will, making Lord Buchanan my guardian until I am four and twenty. It’s quite ridiculous.”

“That’s as may be,” said Felix Knight, his expression grim. “But the land was part of your inheritance, which means you need Lord Buchanan’s approval before the sale can complete.”

The young man winced slightly as his father regarded him with impatience.

“No!” Luella said in dismay.

“You believe he will withhold his consent?” The elder Mr Knight demanded, his keen eyes narrowed.

Luella shook her head. “No. No, I don’t believe that, only… only I must make it a part of the agreement that you deal with him. I don’t wish to see him. I don’t ever wish to see him.”

Father and son exchanged a meaningful glance, but Luella did not care what conclusions they drew from her outburst. Only that they saw it done.

“That won’t be a problem,” Mr Knight replied gently. “Felix, I hope you’ve not unpacked yet.”

His son groaned. “All the way to bloo—to Scotland again?”

Mr Knight gave him a wry smile. “Let that be a lesson to you, Felix. Make sure you have all the information before you act. Now, then. If you have no objection, Miss Fulbright, I believe I would like to introduce you to my wife. It seems you need a place to stay until you are settled, and I suspect you need a little guidance on finding and setting up home for yourself.”

“Oh.” Luella stared at him in shock, unprepared for such kindness from a businessman with a reputation for ruthlessness. “But I cannot believe your wife would be the least bit interested in the affairs of a stranger, and—”

“And that just goes to show, you do not know my wife,” he replied, winking at her. “She will be charmed to be of assistance, I assure you.”

Luella sighed, returning a grateful smile. “Then I shall be forever in her debt, for I confess I am a little daunted by everything I need to do.”

“Oh, never fear, Miss Fulbright,” Felix Knight said cheerfully. “Mother will soon take you in hand, whether you like it or not.”

Chapter 18

Dear Jack,

I have discovered your sister has gone to London. You may rest assured that I am following her and won’t return unless she is with me. I don’t forget my promises. Be a good lad and mind Mrs Baillie, and don’t go skipping school. I will find out and then you’ll be sorry.

―Excerpt of a letter from The Right Hon’ble Lyall Anderson, Viscount Buchanan to his ward, Master Jack Fulbright.

11thAugust 1845, Bond Street, London.

Luella regarded the two swatches of fabric with interest. “The green would be stunning with your eyes,” she said, holding it up to Lady Helena’s face.

She was a beautiful woman still and looked far younger than the ‘wrong side of fifty’ that she admitted to, with a figure a woman half her age might kill for.

Helena nodded. “Yes, I adore it. Though I think half my wardrobe is green, for Mr Knight always says the same thing. I think I’ll get the burgundy too. Such a rich colour and it will be autumn before we know it. Now, are you going to get that blue-grey silk made up? It’s quite perfect for you.”

Luella reached for the glossy fabric again, touching it reverently. She had never worn anything so fine. Even the lovely gowns Lady Morven had been so kind to order for her—at Lyall’s expense—had been nowhere near as extravagant as this.

“Just imagine it with some beading, here, and here,” Lady Helena said, gesturing to where the neckline would sit on the dress they had discussed.

“I’ve already spent a small fortune,” Luella said with a soft laugh, hardly able to believe she could afford to do such things.

Lady Helena returned a warm smile, a knowing look in her eyes. “You realise you are financially secure now, Luella? So long as you are not foolish, you may live comfortably for the rest of your days. The two thousand in shares you negotiated was a shrewd move, too, and will likely make you a very wealthy woman in years to come. So, you can afford to indulge yourself now and then.”

“Then I suppose I ought to buy it,” Luella said, though the pleasure she ought to feel in spending her own money on something so beautiful was missing. She knew fate had been kind to her for once, giving her everything she could have dreamed of. Now she had financial security for herself and Jack, the chance to buy the property she dreamed of, even the friendship of someone as lovely as Lady Helena. For Mr Knight’s wife had welcomed her with open arms and more kindness than Luella had any right to expect. Yet she could find no joy in any of it. Her thoughts were still consumed with Lyall, with the feel of being in his arms, the relief of knowing he wanted her as badly as she wanted him, and then the icy revulsion in his eyes once Mrs MacLeod had discovered them.

Once they had made their purchases, they returned to the carriage, which was stacked high with dozens of boxes, most of them Luella’s. The carriage moved slowly through the heavy traffic, returning to Lady Helena’s magnificent home on Grosvenor Square.

“What’s wrong?”