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Richard. There wasn’t a day that went by when he didn’t think about his friend. And Rafe wished he was back now. He would know what to do.
As the carriage neared the Selkirk house, Rafe wondered what Victoria would be like. He had been over to their residence many times, but Victoria had been mostly absent. The few times Rafe had caught a glimpse of her, he remembered a tall, thin girl with unruly hair barely tamed and a lot of freckles.
Nothing really incredible, and she had been a lot younger than them, so Rafe hadn’t paid her much attention. She was probably the same now. Gangly, tall and not much to speak about.
Maybe that was the main reason she hadn’t found a husband. Even with the scandal hanging over her family, Victoria was probably not that enticing to start with.
Don’t be so rude. You’ve not seen her for years. She was just a child.
A child who developed an intense hatred for me, if what Sebastien said is anything to go by.
Sighing, Rafe sat back and decided to just take things as they came. He would make a judgement about Miss Victoria Hayward once they met again. Although Victoria had already made a judgement about him already. Sebastien had said she was not very kind about how she described Rafe. There would be very little he could do to change her mind.
Especially if he couldn’t quite remember what happened that day.
The carriage pulled up outside the house, and Rafe jumped out. He could feel his heart racing. This was even more nerve-wracking than seeing Lord Selkirk himself the evening before. Rafe couldn’t see this going very well.
A tall, thin man wearing a pristine black suit came out and approached as Rafe alighted from the carriage. He gave him a bow.
“Lord Blackmore. Lord and Lady Selkirk asked if you would go around to the terrace. Miss Victoria will meet you there.”
“Thank you, Harrison.” Rafe took off his hat. “How is Miss Hayward doing this morning?”
“She’s prepared for you, my lord.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Harrison’s expression didn’t change as he took Rafe’s hat and coat from him.
“I’m afraid I can’t speak for Miss Hayward’s state of mind. Robbins will take you to join them.”
He went back into the house, a footman with pale red hair coming out a moment later. He bowed and then beckoned to Rafe to follow him.
“This way, my lord.”
Rafe walked with him around the side of the house, feeling the smell of the sea hit him in the face. Where his house was, there was the smell of the salt water, but it wasn’t as strong as it was here. It also felt as if the sound of the waves was louder. If Rafe didn’t know any better, he’d think they were practically on the beach.
They entered the back garden and went up onto the terrace. Lord and Lady Selkirk were sitting at a table on the slabs, Lady Selkirk holding a parasol to protect herself from the sun as they drank their tea. There was a young woman with them, sitting up straight with her hands folded in her lap, staring at the untouched cup of tea on the table. She looked familiar.
She was the one who looked up first, and Rafe felt like someone had just punched him in the gut. Good God, it was her. The woman who had been on the cliffs and fainted in town. The one with the beautiful eyes that had been stuck in his mind ever since he saw her.
She was Victoria Hayward? How had he not realised this?
Victoria’s whole body stiffened when she saw him, her mouth falling open as her eyes widened. Her mother also looked around, blinking in surprise when she saw him. Rafe realised he had stopped walking and forced himself to start moving again. Of all the people Victoria could have been, why did it have to be her?
Lord Selkirk was the last one to see him approaching. Giving him a smile, he stood up and held out a hand.
“Lord Blackmore. Thank you for returning so soon.”
“Lord Selkirk.” Rafe shook his hand. Then he nodded at Lady Selkirk. “Lady Selkirk. I hope your daughter has recovered from her distress.”
“Oh. You mean….” The Viscountess cleared her throat and adjusted the hold on her parasol. “She did. Thank you for you and your friend helping us.”
Selkirk raised an eyebrow.
“Is there something I’ve missed here?”
“Lord Blackmore and his friend, Mr Mayfield, were the ones who helped us when Victoria fainted last week.” Lady Selkirk nodded at Rafe. “It took me a moment to recognise you. You look very different, my lord.”
