Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One (29 page)

            "You poor child. Whatever did you do with
yourself?" Lady Hathewaite asked breathlessly. Mirabelle wanted to dance a
jig. Lady Hathewaite had cast Elise as the romantic heroine in her tale.

            "I played the piano most of the time and
Longwood has a large garden that was designed to be safe for me."

            "She's an absolute virtuoso at the
piano!" Maman shared.

            "You must play for us before we
leave!" Lady Gasden demanded. She was known to be a rabid fan of music.
Mirabelle inwardly grimaced, it wouldn't fit into the time before Gilles was to
whisk Elise away if he didn't make his entrance soon. But it would be a good
move tactically. Highlighting Elise's talent would make her even more favorable
and limit Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite's scrutiny of Elise's past.

            "Why don't we go now?" Mirabelle
suggested. The Mothers looked surprised and she stared at them pointedly in
response.

            "Let's!" Agreed Lady Hathewaite as she
stood. Mirabelle stood and took Elise's hand, raising her carefully.

            "This is just the thing! I don't know why I
didn't think of it." Mirabelle whispered to Elise as they led everyone to
the music room. "Gilles will be along soon and you won't have to answer
anymore of their questions."

            "Oh! I like that!" Elise whispered
back and brightened.

            At the piano Elise became radiant. She tested the
keys and took a moment deciding what to play. A moment later a delicate,
haunting melody began to fill the room. Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite both
melted into their seats, hypnotized. Elise blossomed before them and held them
enthralled. They didn't notice Gilles enter and lean against the door.
Mirabelle admitted that he looked quite dashing and thoroughly and blissfully
enamored with his wife. When the song ended both women sighed dreamily and
Gilles clapped lightly and pushed away from the door.

            "Is she not the most enchanting thing
you've ever seen?" He whispered as he crossed the room. Elise blushed and
looked towards him.

            "My lord, have you come to join us?"
Elise became even more radiant as she tried to follow his movements.

            "I couldn't stay away." He murmured as
he rounded the piano and sat next to Elise. Mirabelle silently prayed that her
plan didn't backfire. Her brother was in the habit of forgetting other people
were around when they were close. She wanted him besotted, not putting on a
show. She held her breath as he lifted Elise's hand, turned it and kissed the
inside of her wrist. Easy, Gilles. Mirabelle thought. He brushed a curl over
her shoulder and Elise blushed anew. Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite both
watched with blatant curiosity. Gilles stared intently at Elise for a moment
before he acknowledged their guests.

            "Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite, it's good
to see you again. I'm pleased that you could finally meet my wife. I would have
brought her to London sooner, but as you can imagine, there are a few more
considerations involved when we travel. Though I must admit I was loath to
share her." He flashed his famous grin and both women smiled indulgently.

            "I can't blame you one bit, my lord."
Lady Hathewaite gushed. "Congratulations to the both of you!"

            "Indeed! You make a lovely couple!"
Lady Gasden declared as she stood. "May we return to our tea?"

            "Actually, I'm sorry, but I'll have to
steal Lady Cambroke." Gilles helped Elise rise and placed her hand on his
arm.

            "Steal her, my lord? In the middle of our
tea? We were just getting to know your lovely wife and now you're taking her.
This is highly irregular!" Lady Gasden blustered.

            Gilles inclined his head and smiled knowingly.
Mirabelle almost groaned. He wasn't going to suggest he was carrying her off to
bed, was he? She'd punch him in the throat if that was his plan.

            "Unfortunately, the doctor has arrived
earlier than I requested and says he cannot return today if we don't make time
for him now."

            "Doctor? Is Lady Cambroke not well?"
Lady Hathewaite asked, her eyes grew wide.

            Mirabelle smiled. It was brilliant, really.

            "Lady Cambroke is feeling as well as one
can expect when a lady is...in her condition." He whispered the last part
and winked. Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite's eyes lit up. "You'll have to
indulge me, I am probably being overly cautious but you know how we men can
be." Gilles looked at Elise with the most sincere look of adoration on his
face as he rested his hand on top of hers. Lady Hathewaite sighed. Gilles
looked at his guests, charming them to their toes.

            "If you'll excuse us." He bowed and
led Elise away. Mirabelle almost clapped. Once they were gone, maman led them
back to the parlor.

            "Darling couple and a delightful young
woman!" Lady Gasden announced as she sat.

            "It's so romantic! I don't know who thought
she forced his lordship into marriage, he's clearly smitten with her."
Lady Hathewaite stated as she plucked a biscuit from the tray. "And to say
that her character was questionable! I just can't imagine."

            "How much will Lady Cambroke be able to go
about?" Lady Gasden asked. "The ton will want to see her. If you plan
to prove the rumors false, you can't hide her away." Lady Hathewaite
nodded in agreement, again. Maman chewed her lip, pretending to consider the
problem anew.

            "Even if she was not... in a delicate
condition," she whispered, "it would still be a challenge for her to
attend many events."

            Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite both nodded
understandingly.

            "My son and I will be hosting a ball to
celebrate Lord and Lady Cambroke's nuptials and to welcome Lady Elise to the
family. He considers her like a sister and I love her as a daughter
already." Madeline said. Mirabelle tried to hide her surprise. A ball
hadn't been discussed and it was a touching gesture. She looked at maman, her
eyes were blinking rapidly. She was trying not to give away how surprised and
overwhelmed she was.

            "That's a very big statement." Lady
Gasden announced.

            "Why? His lordship has always been like a
son to me, I was not able to be at the wedding so I should like a chance to
celebrate with them as well."

            "Oh! Was His Grace at the wedding?"
Lady Hathewaite asked excitedly.

            "Of course! I can't imagine he'd be
anywhere else. He and Sir Alastair stood with my brother." Mirabelle added
as if it was obvious, because it was.

            "How lovely!" Lady Hathewaite
declared.

            Almost as if the devil had heard his name,
Mirabelle saw him walk past the parlor door. She grinned wickedly. A little
torture would be just the thing.

            "He just walked by! Let me get him, he
wouldn't want to miss a chance to see the two of you!" Mirabelle jumped
from her seat.

            "His Grace is here?" Lady Hathewaite
asked rapturously. Mirabelle rolled her eyes. Why did
every
woman have
to be in love with him? She smiled over her shoulder. "We can't seem to
get rid of him." Lady Gasden cackled.

            "Your Grace?" Mirabelle called loudly,
making her voice as sweet as possible. Lucien froze in front of the library
door. "Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite are here! Surely, you wouldn't want
to miss a chance to say hello!" She heard him groan, he turned on his heel
and scowled at her.

            "Certainly!" He replied. His eyes shot
daggers as he walked across the hall. He entered the room and bowed as the two
elderly women rose and curtsied.

            "What a lovely surprise to see you, Your
Grace!" Lady Hathewaite gushed. "We've had the pleasure of meeting
Lady Cambroke and now we hear there is to be a ball!"

            Lucien took the seat next to Mirabelle. As he
sat he stepped on her foot and ground the heel of his boot. She let out a
squeak and had to pretend it was a hiccup. Silently, she vowed revenge.

            "Lady Cambroke is a true delight. I wish
that there were more ladies like her." He smiled pleasantly at the women
across from him but Mirabelle felt the barb like a knife to the gut. She
considered the best tactic for revenge.

            "Does that mean you're looking for a lady,
Your Grace?" Mirabelle leveled her sweetest stare over her teacup and held
it to hide her smile.

            "Indeed! Will you finally be looking over
the field, Your Grace?" Lady Gasden asked as her eyes drilled into Lucien.
Lady Hathewaite leaned forward. "It's about time you stopped lifting
skirts and did your duty!" Lady Gasden declared.

            Lucien leaned forward to fill his teacup and
renewed the pressure on Mirabelle's toes. He looked up at the ladies as he
spooned sugar into his cup.

            "I am told that marriage is a long
undertaking. Therefor, I do not feel so inclined to rush. Of course, it is not
unusual for a man my age to be a bachelor..." He sat back and lifted his
teacup to his lips.

            "Turnabout, sweetheart..." He
whispered. Mirabelle's eyes widened as she realized her miscalculation. Lucien
cleared his throat.

            "Miss Mirabelle, you're... six and twenty,
correct?" She lifted her cup and cursed under her breath.

            Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite both looked at
her expectantly.  She felt a flush rising.

            "If you'll excuse me, I just remembered
that I was supposed to walk Lady Elise's puppy! Poor Lucy must be quite
distressed." Mirabelle leapt to her feet and fled the room. Once out of
sight of the parlor, she ran for the back doors. Tears were forming in her eyes
and she couldn't breath. How could he tease her about that? Mirabelle heard him
call to her but she pushed the doors open and ran. The sun blinded her for a
moment but she dashed towards the ornamental pond and found the tiny playhouse
at the end of the path. She dropped to her knees and crawled inside. Mirabelle
made herself as small as possible. Her knees were pressed against her chest and
she hugged them to her tightly. She felt the walls of the tiny cottage pressing
against her as tears rolled from her eyes.

            Lucien's head and shoulders pushed into the door
of the cottage causing Mirabelle to jump. The tiny shutters rattled and Lucien
laughed.

            "Go away!" Mirabelle yelled.

            "Not until you tell me what's going
on." She could feel his breath against her ankles. Shivers raced up her
spine. She knew he was laying on his stomach and must have looked ridiculous
with his head stuck in the little playhouse.

            "How did you know I'd be in here?" She
pouted. Mirabelle thought about kicking him but decided it was too unladylike.
Not that pulling oneself into a tiny ball and hiding in a toy house was ladylike.

            "You always hid here when we hurt your
feelings." Lucien said softly. "And I know I hurt your feelings, I'm
just not sure how or why." He tugged playfully on the toe of her shoe.
Somehow, it made Mirabelle want to cry even more. She sighed.

            "I'm not a child anymore, Lucien." She
whispered. He suppressed a grin and took an exaggerated look at their
surroundings. Mirabelle scowled. "It was the best hiding place I could
manage at short notice."

            "One would argue that adults don't hide.
What's going on, Mirabelle? We used to talk about everything." His eyes
looked so sincere, his beauty made her heart stop.
What if she kissed him?
She
thought. How in the world would she manage, cramped like this? Her rational
mind countered. But she knew she wouldn't. She couldn't face his rejection, if
he rejected her. It's why she never acted on her feelings. Better to always
wonder than know that she was doomed once and for all.

            Mirabelle smiled wistfully.

            "We did talk about everything. But that was
when we were young and things were simpler."

            Lucien brushed her shin with his knuckle. He
meant it to be soothing but Mirabelle felt a fire spread through her. He looked
up at her and searched her eyes.

            "Things don't have to be complicated. They
can be simple if we choose to make them so." He whispered.

            Was he saying that he wanted her to keep them
simple, for them to remain as they were when they were children, just friends?
Or was he saying that it would be simpler if she just let go and moved on?
Mirabelle wanted to scream.

            She shut her eyes and shook her head.

            "We don't always get what we want, Lucien.
I can't talk to you about this right now." She said softly. He stared at
her for several minutes and then nodded. Mirabelle thought he was about to
leave but he simply rolled onto his back and rested his hands on his chest.

            "What are you doing?" Mirabelle
whispered. Lucien shut his eyes and smiled.

            "Remember when we stole the rolls from Ms.
Hobbs and we hid in here and ate them so fast we thought we'd be sick?"

            Mirabelle smiled and nodded.

            "We had to sneak around for a week."
Lucien chuckled. "I still can't look at a sweet roll."

            "I know." Mirabelle said shakily.

            "You do, don't you. You always know."
He whispered.

            "I can't help it." She sighed.

            "And yet you can't tell me why you're upset
right now and have been ripping up at me every time we talk." Lucien said
softly.

            "I... I can't."

            Lucien nodded.

            "Then I'll lay here and remember what it
was like when we could tell each other anything and how you were the first
person I'd choose when I felt the urge to cause a little mischief."