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Chapter 15
The portrait gallery at Alderwoodwas a long, narrow room on the top floor of the manor house, in the opposite wing of the private sleeping quarters. Its walls were lined with paintings of varying sizes, some in gilded frames, others in ornately carved wooden ones. Lavinia was enthralled by the sense of history the room held and envious of its homage to family.
“Here is Edmund Jennings, the first Viscount Thurlby, whom my father mentioned,” Lucas said, pointing out one of the larger portraits in the room. The gentleman depicted wore a long, dark wig and was elaborately dressed in an embroidered jacket.
“I don’t see much family resemblance,” Lavinia said, studying the painting closely. Now that she and Lucas were alone, she could relax and step out of character for a moment.
“Nor would you,” Lucas replied. “Sometime during the mid-eighteenth century, the viscountcy passed to a second cousin—the gentleman over here, in fact”—he pointed to a particular portrait—“and has continued unbroken from father to son ever since.”
“Yes, I can see the resemblance now.”
“Going back to the first viscount, however, according to family legend, he became a wealthy man through farming and sheepherding and supported Parliament financially during the Glorious Revolution.”
“I don’t know much about such things,” Lavinia said. “I’m afraid my education is lacking when it comes to the particulars of England’s history—unless it’s covered in one of Shakespeare’s plays, that is. And I doubt those are entirely accurate. But I should like to learn.”
“You’re exceedingly clever, Lavinia, and I have no doubt you would soon be an expert in whatever you choose to study if one were only to put the right books in your hands. Let’s concentrate on more recent history for the time being, shall we? Over here is the seventh Viscount Thurlby, with his first wife and their son, my grandfather.” Lucas proceeded to share tidbits of his grandfather’s life, but Lavinia kept repeating the compliment he’d given her in her mind. He’d called her exceedingly clever. No man had ever said such a thing to her. Any compliments she had ever received had revolved around her appearance and had merely been a means of gaining her favors.
Oh, she wanted to believe he had meant the words.
“Lavinia?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts. “What is it? What’s troubling you?”
“Nothing, truly,” she answered, smiling up at him. “Perhaps being surrounded by so many of your ancestors conjured up ghosts of my own.”
He took her by the hand and led her to a sofa between two windows. He did not let go of her hand. “Tell me of these ghosts. Allow me to help, if I can.”
And there it was again—a kindness toward her that seemed genuine and not self-serving. “I’m not sure I can explain myself so that you will understand.”
“We can’t know that for certain until you try.”
Her lungs felt constricted, so dearly did she want his kindness to have a pure motive but unwilling to unburden her heart to him quite yet. “I envy you your family—both living and dead.” She gestured about the room. “This room is filled with riches, Lucas. A heritage that has helped define who you are. And you have parents and brothers and sisters who love you and rejoice that you have returned to them.”
“I’m not certain they all—”
“Even Thomas loves you, Lucas, although he is hurting and angry and unsure how to resolve things with you. He is aware that Isobel has not cut all the silken threads she wove around you when you were young. It wasn’t as troubling to him while you were gone, I suspect, but now that you are back, he is afraid he has a rival.”
“He has no rival.”
“Does he not?” she asked softly. “You have told me this is so, and yet something still remains between you and Isobel.”
He stood and walked a few paces away before turning to face her. She feared she had angered him. “Very well,” he said. “You speak of ghosts; Isobel and I have ghosts too. Mine came from the shock of a first love betrayed when it encountered temptation—hers, not mine. Perhaps I flattered myself in thinking her attachment was equal to mine, although I had no reason not to believe the words of love she spoke to me. The simple reality is that Thomas is the heir, not me. Someday she will be a viscountess.
“Thomas knew of our friendship and perhaps even our attachment but chose to court her anyway, and she chose to accept. I do not blame either of them for their choices any longer. But they are choices that must be lived with. If anything remains unresolved, it is on their part, not mine. I wish them only happiness together.”
“And yet, when she came out of the house to greet our carriage, you suddenly had need of a bride, did you not? One, if I may speak so boldly, with an appearance that might put the beautiful Isobel in her place?”
He turned away from her. “I arrived here withnothing, Lavinia,” he said. “Nothing. No living, no wife, nothing to account for all the years I’d been away. Oh, I had managed to save some earnings, due to the generosity of my friend, Anthony. Pittance compared to my brothers, who completed their university studies and are gainfully employed in positions worthy of their status as gentlemen. Even my youngest brother, Simon, has completed his studies.”
“Your mother thinks you saw him during your time in London.”
“I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave Anthony, who still had much healing to do after our return from Spain. Afterward, I simply . . . couldn’t.”
He returned to her and sat, taking her hand in his. “I’m ashamed, Lavinia. Because of my pride, I pulled you into a lie and took advantage of you for my own purposes. I received a letter from Isobel, encouraging me to return home. It was an entirely decent letter, I suppose, and yet it made me feel . . . small . . . as though I, who had impetuously enlisted in the army, had not gotten over her properly, while she had moved on. I was angry.” He kissed her hand. “I am no better than any of the other men you have encountered in your life. Iintend to right this wrong I have done to you.”
“But not yet, I think,” Lavinia said. “You have only just arrived home, Lucas. If you were to confess to your family now, I worry it would damage your relationship with them, and they only just got you back. I wouldn’t for the world want them to think ill of you. No. It is better to proceed as we are for a little while longer, and in the meantime, we will get Primrose Farm livable. I must have a secure place for my friends, you see. Once Delia and Artie and Hannah and I are there, you can inform your family that I ended our betrothal. Or better yet, I will write a letter you can share with them, so they can see it for themselves and conclude that I was the one who ended it.” She blinked back sudden tears that threatened to escape. “Tomorrow, you and Finch will fill me in on the particulars of repairing the farmhouse. There. That is our plan. I believe it is the best one, for everyone’s sakes.”
“I can’t do that to you, Lavinia.” He brushed a lock of hair from her face, nearly undoing her resolve.
“Think, Lucas. How will your family perceive the others and me if you tell them I am not your betrothed? We all went along with it.”
