AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As he walked away he remembered the brief discussion he had had with the earl the evening before. When Ash had explained in more detail his history with Bertram, Crossley had been less than sympathetic to either the viscount or Ashford.
“You must have bungled the business Northcott. There’s no call for the man to object to his father’s selling one of their properties.”
At the time Ashford had laughed and agreed. You would think a grown man would understand that it was merely business that had been behind the transaction. Ash certainly hadn’t had anything personal against Bertram at the time. Now on the other hand, if the bounder was dabbling in treasonous activities that was another matter altogether.
Crossley, of course, had rejected that idea as well.
“The man’s a viscount,” he had said. “It’s bred into him from the cradle to support the Crown. Surely you jest.”
Ashford really should have ended Bertram years ago. But he had thought he could manage the situation without needing to be overly forceful with the man. He had allowed his judgment to be clouded by sympathy. That had been a mistake. And now, it was going to be messier than necessary. Ash shook his head. It had been foolish to allow the remnants of the loyalties that had been bred into him as a boy to colour his thoughts as a man. Bertram didn’t deserve his loyalty. It didn’t matter that he carried a title. He might be a nobleman, but he was far from noble. And if Crossley was blinded by considering the bounder to be his equal, then Ash wouldn’t be able to count on him for assistance.
But that was fine, Ash reminded himself. He had realized years ago that he was the only one he could truly rely upon. And Bertram really wasn’t that much of a challenge. He would have the matter sorted before long. It would just be harder for the other man in the end if he had, in fact, involved a lady in their conflict.
~~~
Vicky felt as though her entire body were consumed with her blushes. How could she have made such a cake of herself in front of everyone? Her mother would rightly be mortified were she to hear of it. But Vicky had never learned to control her feelings or emotions as well as her older sisters had. And really, given the content of the message Lord Bertram had for her, she didn’t think even they would have been able to contain their reactions. How was she supposed to act when someone was uttering threats against her family?
When Georgia had tried to talk to her about it, Vicky hadn’t known what to do. She longed to get her best friend’s thoughts on the matter, but she didn’t want to involve Crossley, despite what she had told Lord Bertram about it being better to speak to the earl. The expression on Georgia’s face let Vicky know she didn’t believe her when she claimed she was just fatigued. But much to Vicky’s surprise, George hadn’t pursued the matter overly. She supposed having a houseful of company would do that to a woman. But Vicky was absolutely certain she wouldn’t be able to get away with it for long. Surely, first thing in the morning, Georgia would be knocking on her door demanding answers. She only hoped she had some to give.
At least her maid wasn’t a chatterbox, nor one to pry. Vicky was almost able to relax as the servant ran the brush rhythmically through her hair. Normally, Vicky didn’t have the patience to sit through the one hundred strokes her maid deemed necessary to maintain the health of her hair, but that night she welcomed the mesmerizing relaxation of it. She shouldn’t have been surprised when a frown gathered on her maid’s face.
“Is all right with you, m’lady?”
Vicky sighed and then laughed a little. “Why do you ask?”
“You never sit still this long, m’lady. I don’t mean to be too forward, but it’s not like you to tolerate my brushing so meek like.”
Vicky almost nodded but, mindful of the brush wielding maid, she stopped herself. “I suspected it might be that which made you ask. I find the brush is so relaxing tonight that I am nearly asleep. It is exactly what I needed after the past few days of travelling and then preparing for the guests’ arrival. Before long, I’ll be asleep right here where I sit.”
“Well, if you can hold out a little longer, m’lady, I’m nearly to one hundred. And then I’ll help you up into the bed.”
“Thank you, Dolly,” Vicky answered as meekly as the maid had said she was. She hadn’t been exaggerating with the servant, she felt as though she were about to topple off the stool. She hadn’t thought she was so tired, but it was blessedly overriding even the intensity of her shame and embarrassment from the evening. Tomorrow was a fresh new day. She would live through the awkwardness.And perhaps, she thought, trying to bolster her own lagging spirits,no one even noticed that I was being a dolt.
That was a senseless but comforting thought that lulled her swiftly into a deep sleep after Dolly steadied her up the stairs into the high bed. Vicky knew nothing else for many hours.
When her eyes opened to the bright light streaming into the airy bedchamber she had been assigned, Vicky was happy to embrace the new day, even though all the events of the previous one flooded into her consciousness.
Her usual optimistic disposition came to her rescue, and she was almost able to laugh about her clumsiness the night before. With a mental shrug, she consoled herself that not all the gentlemen had witnessed her lack of dignity. She had no romantic interest in Lord Bertram nor Mr. Northcott, and Lord Crossley was already married so he didn’t count, so it didn’t even matter if they had seen her disarray the night before.
With a nod at her reflection as Dolly stepped back from arranging her hair, Vicky acknowledged that she would do. Her features were regular and her colouring was exactly the blonde hair and blue eyes that was deemed to be most acceptable. She was no longer overly pale nor blushing wildly. And with her hair expertly arranged and her fashionable attire, no one should be finding any fault with her appearance. Now, if she could manage to keep her composure strictly under control she would have nothing to complain about that day.
Except that Lord Bertram had promised to tell her what he was on about the night before.
After a solid night’s sleep, Vicky was a little less muddled on the subject. She should have dismissed the man directly. She knew full well that every single member of her family was fully loyal to their monarch, even if they were mostly all female. There was nothing traitorous that could be accused of any member of the Sherton household. While she was still getting to know her brothers-in-law, their allegiance to the throne was not in the least bit questionable. She should have told Lord Bertram that he was a fool. She wondered how to word that in a less offensive matter. The thought made her grin.
She was still smiling when she reached the breakfast room and found she was the only female present. Her steps hesitated at the threshold but, lifting her chin, Vicky wouldn’t allow herself to be intimidated away from breaking her fast. She only hoped her stomach didn’t growl loudly and inform the assembled gentlemen just how indelicate she really was.
When the few gentlemen in the room stood upon her entrance, though, Vicky knew the fiery blush that heated her cheeks was surely revealing her discomfort, but she tried to ignore the sensation as a footman hurried to help her fill her plate. She wasn’t even sure what had made it onto her plate before she quickly sat on the chair the young man was holding out for her.
“Good morning, Lady Vigilia. Did you sleep well?”
Vicky almost groaned when she recognized Ashford Northcott’s deep voice to her right. She had been too preoccupied with her own embarrassment to truly take note of who was in the room. She had hoped her time being out in Society would have helped her to grow more accustomed to being in the company of men, but clearly, having grown up in a predominantly female household wasn’t so easy to overcome. When the only man you had ever associated with was your father, it didn’t really set you up for easy discourse with gentlemen.
Blinking herself back to the subject at hand, Vicky tried not to make a fool of herself again that morning. She offered what she hoped was a relaxed smile as she nodded and took a sip of the rather strong coffee the earl preferred.
“Thank you. And what about you?”
“Being on country hours, I found myself retiring earlier than I’m used to, but thankfully the rigours of the day caused that to not be an issue.”
