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Chapter Six
December 20, 1818
E
xcitement buzzed at the base of Stephen’s spine as he made the rounds of Ivy Castle in the hunt of Lynette. Not finding her in the usual places, he stopped a maid in the corridor. Her arms were full of bed linens no doubt headed to launder.
“Do you know the whereabouts of Mrs. Hodgins?”
The young, petite girl looked at him with wide eyes and an expression that said she’d be sacked if seen loitering with one of the duke’s sons. “I would have no idea, my lord. I haven’t seen her today.”
“Where is Lady Ruddick?” A shudder racked his shoulders thinking about that lady’s acerbic tongue.
“The morning room, my lord.” She edged away.
“Thank you.” Best to beard the lion in its den first, to put her on notice. It took all of thirty seconds to reach the morning room. Winter sunlight streamed in through the windows where Lady Ruddick sat with a fashion periodical in her lap while lightly dozing. He cleared his throat rather loudly as he approached.
The woman startled awake, clutching at her shawl with one hand and the magazine with the other. “Ah, Lord Tilbury. What brings you here this afternoon? I rather thought you’d be with the decorating party.”
Ah yes, today Mother had planned for everyone to band together and deck the halls of Ivy Castle with the greenery gathered from yesterday’s outings. He cared not for any of that, with the exception of mistletoe placement.
“I’m afraid I haven’t the skill for such.” Stephen clasped his hands behind his back as her regarded the older woman. Faint lines framed her mouth, as if she spent a fair amount of time with her lips puckered in distaste and disdain, which might be true. Lady Ruddick didn’t much care for anyone or anything that didn’t directly benefit her. “I’m glad to see that you and Lynette accepted my mother’s invitation to linger here for the house party.”
“Yes, well, it wouldn’t be proper manners to outright refuse a duchess, now would it?”
He couldn’t decide if she was bitter about it or just stating a plain fact. “I suppose not, but at least here you needn’t pay for a fire or food, and you don’t lack for company.”
“Hmph.” She waved a hand as it didn’t matter. “What do you know about it?”
“Only that the taxes haven’t been paid on Birch House for a few years, that your coffers are bare, and that you expect your daughter to rescue you from ruin.” He might be a cad for mentioning her troubles, but he wanted her to know that he was aware of them. “She has her own life, Lady Ruddick.”
The baroness glared. Her beady dark eyes flashed much like a cornered rat. “Lynette knows where her responsibilities lie.”
“That may be so, but she is also here on my mother’s invitation, and she should enjoy herself during the festivities instead of working herself into a frenzy of nerves about your affairs.” He glanced about the immediate area. From the number of discarded periodicals and the detritus on a tea tray, it appeared the woman meant to use the morning room as her encampment for the duration. “Surely you can let her partake of the holiday entertainments.”
“She can do what she wants, of course.” Lady Ruddick shrugged. “But if I have my way, she’ll stay in Bedford instead of returning to Surrey after Twelfth Night. She shouldn’t leave her mother to the wolves.”
“Even if the situation wasn’t of her making?” Stephen caught the woman’s gaze, and when she didn’t answer, he continued. “I intend to court your daughter again, and I’m telling you this now—not for your blessing, for you never managed that the first time around—but to let you know that if it takes, she’ll spend a good portion of her time in London with me.”
Her eyes widened with shock. “You wouldn’t dare toy with her emotions again.”
“Oh, I’m not planning to toy with anyone. What I feel for your daughter is quite real, and quite frankly, I’ve never lost the torch for her.”
“You and she didn’t have enough in common the last time to make a go of it. Leave her be to find a man not of your ilk.” Again, she waved a hand, clearly dismissing him.
“As I said, I didn’t come for your blessing.” A stab of annoyance went through his chest. Why couldn’t this disagreeable woman see that he still cared for Lynette and would do anything to make her life better? “By the by, where is your daughter?”
She took up the magazine and wrenched it open, never meeting his gaze. “In the kitchens. She wished to do some baking and send John out to sell the pastries. Coin is coin, Lord Tilbury, and you might not need it, but I do. Leave her be. She knows where her loyalties lie.”
“While you sit idle here on my parents’ hospitality?” He tamped on the hot anger that sought to encompass him. “That’s hardly fair.”
She snorted. “I’m an old woman. What can I do?”
“What indeed.” Except make it difficult for her own daughter to grasp at the second chance of happiness and love. Lady Ruddick would prove a problem, no doubt. “I’ll wish you good day then.” With that, Stephen took his leave, and gladly, for being in the same proximity as Lady Ruddick felt as if he’d had two years of his life sucked from him.
By the time he’d wandered into Ivy Castle’s kitchens, he was in desperate need of humor and something to raise his flagging spirits. As he passed through the door into the large area, he smiled at the sprig of mistletoe he’d tacked to the frame. Oh yes, he’d certainly make use of that today in a bid to win Lynette over.
A certain amount of wariness enveloped his heart though, even as his pulse increased when he laid eyes on her behind one of the worktables with Cook on one side and her son on the other. He must move cautiously into the relationship, for she could very well smash his regard beneath her heel once more.
