The Fall of Lord Drayson (Tanglewood Book 1) (24 page)

“What on earth?” Lucy turned to her mother and Mr. Shepherd, who sat across from her in the carriage.

“It appears as though we are in for a bit of a wait,” said her mother, not sounding surprised in the least.

“Lord Drayson’s arrival has caused quite the stir,” added Mr. Shepherd. “Mrs. Bidding let it slip that the earl has done her the great honor of accepting her invitation and suddenly everyone wished to come.”

Lucy sat back in her seat, much less comfortable than she had been before. Did Lord Drayson really plan to attend, even after her warning? Surely not. And yet . . .

She clasped her fingers to keep them from fidgeting. If he did come, perhaps Mrs. Bidding would not recognize him and Lucy’s worries were all for naught.

The hope was a fleeting one. The earl was the sort of man to draw attention wherever he went. One glance was all it took for his handsome features to be seared into one’s memory forever. It would take a miracle for Mrs. Bidding to not remember him.

The party was well underway and still no sign of the earl. Lucy began to breathe a little easier and even accepted a glass of something from a passing footman. She examined the amber liquid briefly before taking a sip and examining it again, this time with more interest. Whatever it was, it tasted wonderful, like raspberries and plums and candied cherries. Lucy took another sip and felt some of the tension leave her body.

She had worn one of her favorite gowns—a deep pink satin with a sheer overskirt. It danced around her feet, making her feel feminine and beautiful. She saved it only for special occasions or for those evenings when she wished to feel as confident as possible. Tonight was one of those occasions. Or, at least it had been. If the earl didn’t plan to make an appearance, she could have easily worn her embroidered blue linen dress instead.

“Lucy, here you are.” Patience Brooke tucked her arm through Lucy’s as though they were the closest of friends, but she wasn’t even looking at Lucy. She was standing on tiptoe, attempting to see over the heads of all the others, no doubt wanting to know if the earl had arrived. “Can you believe this crush?”

“I am certain Mrs. Bidding is quite thrilled by the number of guests who have come,” said Lucy, attempting to extricate her arm in as subtle a way as possible.

“She ought to be, for this house will likely never see such success again. Lord Drayson need only experience one of the Bidding’s soirées to learn that he ought never to do so again. Have you made his acquaintance yet? I hear he is quite dashing.” Her fingers dug into Lucy’s arm as she stretched even higher.

Lucy took another sip of the luscious liquid as she scanned the room for her mother.

A hush fell over the crowd, followed by murmuring voices, and Lucy’s body immediately stiffened. She clasped the drink in her hand as she slowly turned her head toward the entrance, where the earl now stood, greeting Mr. and Mrs. Bidding. Dressed in all black, from his boots and pantaloons to his waist coat and double-breasted jacket, he did, indeed, look dashing. The only white that could be seen on his person was his collar and neatly tied cravat. He was definitely a commanding sight to behold.

At his side was a woman who was nearly as tall as Mrs. Bidding, carrying herself with poise and grace. Lucy could only assume it was his mother, the Dowager Countess of Drayson. She had heard he had arrived with his family. Next to his mother was a younger, slightly more petite, woman who appeared to be about Lucy’s age. Her dark curls and light eyes appeared too much like the earl’s for her to not be his sister. Both were dressed far more elegantly than all others in attendance.

While the countess spoke with Mr. and Mrs. Bidding, the earl searched the room until his gaze settled on Lucy. A touch of a smile lifted his lips before he returned his attention to his hostess. They spoke for a moment longer and the earl escorted his sister and mother away. He nodded at those he passed, spoke briefly to others, and stopped to introduce his family to a select few. Lucy could not seem to tear her gaze away as he, ever so slowly, made his way toward her.

“I believe he is coming this way,” said Patience excitedly.

Mrs. Beresford materialized at Lucy’s side and carefully pried the drink from her daughter’s hand. She dropped her voice so that Patience could not hear. “Relax, my dear. You look ready to shatter to pieces.”

“Why has he come?” Lucy breathed, trying hard to control her emotions even though she was trembling inside. What would Mrs. Bidding do? How would she react? Did she remember him?

“Only he knows his reasons,” Mrs. Beresford whispered back, then lifted her head to smile and greet the newest family come to Askern. Lucy felt like her heart would pound right out of her chest.

“Mother. Harriett.” said Lord Drayson. “I would like you to meet Miss Beresford, who made my first visit here so . . . memorable.”

Lucy’s face heated. She couldn’t believe Lord Drayson would bring up such a thing at this moment. Lucy glanced around, noting a few questioning glances from those gathered around them, and immediately directed the earl a piercing look before dropping to a quick curtsy for the countess and her daughter.

“A pleasure,” she murmured. “May I introduce my mother as well?”

Lady Drayson appeared unruffled by her son’s remark. “It is lovely to meet you both. I hear you are to be married soon, Mrs. Beresford. May I offer my felicitations to you and Mr. Shepherd? He was good enough to extend an invitation to the wedding when he came to call a few days past.”

Mrs. Beresford smiled. “It will be a small affair at our church, but you are more than welcome, Lady Drayson. As are you, Lady Harriett.”

“I adore country weddings,” Lady Harriett said, clasping her hands together in a somewhat dramatic gesture. “In fact, I adore everything having to do with the country. I find myself quite in love with Yorkshire already.”

Lucy immediately liked the Drayson women. Despite their elevated stations, they did not seem high in the instep at all. And Lady Harriett’s natural enthusiasm was such a contrast to her more subdued and dignified brother.

“Do you plan to stay long in Askern?” Lucy asked, unable to keep the question inside any longer.

Lady Drayson flickered a glance at her son before answering. “Our plans are somewhat undecided, I’m afraid. All of us were in need of a change of pace. We thought the Yorkshire air might do us some good, and here we are.”

“It feels like a grand adventure,” gushed Lady Harriett. “I believe I shall want to travel the world after this.”

Lucy kept her smile pasted on her face even though she didn’t feel like smiling any longer. The earl’s mother and sister were adept at avoiding straight answers as well. Lucy looked Lord Drayson, whose mouth, in contrast to hers, strained
not
to smile. No doubt he found it humorous to keep her in suspense. Perhaps this was his way of seeking revenge. Apparently, he’d returned to taunt, tease, torment, and stir up trouble for Lucy. It was the only explanation that made sense.

Lucy remained silent and allowed her mother to carry the conversation—at least until Patience returned with her mother in tow, who quickly begged for an introduction to the newest residents in town.

Patience did not waste any time engaging the earl in conversation. “Tell me, my lord, what has brought you to such a humble village as Askern?”

A flicker of annoyance crossed Lord Drayson’s face before he composed himself and bowed over the lady’s hand. “I heard rumors that all other women paled in comparison to those found in Askern, so I had to come to see for myself.”

Lucy fought the urge to roll her eyes.

Patience smiled coyly. “Have you decided such rumors are true or false, my lord?”

“True, of course. For I am now standing before the loveliest women I have ever beheld.” His gaze strayed to Lucy as he spoke. Though there was a twinge of humor in his eyes, there was also warmth.

“Lord Drayson,” Patience said. “I can already see you are quite the rogue.”

His attention returned to Patience. “How can you accuse me of being a rogue when I speak the truth, Miss Brooke?”

“If you’ll excuse me.” Lucy took the opportunity to escape and went off in search another drink, hoping it would sooth her pounding heart. Along the way, she was stopped by some friends, but the moment they asked about Lord Drayson, Lucy pled a headache and slipped out a side door, walked through the adjoining library, and onto the darkened terrace, where she could breathe a little easier.

It was a chilly evening, so Lucy wrapped her arms around her chest in an effort to stay warm as her gaze strayed across the gardens. In two weeks’ time, her life would change yet again. It would be a good change, but another change nonetheless. From the moment her father fell ill, it had been one alteration after another. The absence of a loved one, the move to the dower house, her mother’s return to sewing for pay, and Lucy’s newfound love of roses. Her father’s casket had been adorned with a pile of the flowers. They had looked so beautiful nestled there that Lucy had determined to grow a rose garden and bring more of that beauty into the world. Her father would have liked that. He would have also liked that her mother had found someone new to share her life with.

Lucy looked up at the night sky that showed patches of glittering stars between the scattered clouds. “I miss you, Papa,” she whispered, wondering if he could hear. Even if he couldn’t, it felt good talking to him again.

“Mama is getting married in a fortnight, and I will be removing to Knotting Tree. It is an improvement from the dower house, but I am afraid it will feel more lonely. Mama has Mr. Shepherd now, and although I technically will have him as well, it won’t be the same. The truth is, I am feeling a little lost as of late. I used to believe I could live out the remainder of my days as an eccentric spinster, but that isn’t enough anymore. I want more than that, Papa. I want something that fills me up inside, like the life you and Mama had together—a life with a purpose and someone to share it with. Is that even a possibility for one as untamed as I? I simply feel so . . . empty. And cold.” Lucy chuckled quietly at that, needing to lighten the disheartened mood she’d brought on herself.

In the whisper of the breeze that touched her cheeks and arms, her father seemed to answer.
Cheer up, my dear. A spirit that is down cannot see so clearly as a spirit that is up.

How many times had he told her that whenever she had come to him downcast about one thing or another? He always had a gentle way of infusing her with hope and showing her the sunshine through the clouds.

“I love you, Papa,” she whispered.

Lucy shivered and wrapped her arms more tightly around her. It didn’t make her any warmer, so she grudgingly pushed away from the railing and walked back inside the darkened library. Not ready to return to the party, Lucy lingered, breathing in the smell of aged parchment and leather. She ran her finger along the spines of a few books, wishing she could pull one out, curl up in the large armchair, and pass away the rest of the evening in a different world than the one she lived in. But she had been gone from the party too long as it was. Her mother would likely be looking for her.

A door opened from across the room and footsteps sounded. Without thinking, Lucy shrank into a shadowed doorway between two bookshelves, keeping herself hidden. With her back pressed against a door, she held her breath, hoping the intruder would soon leave.

The door closed, and Mrs. Bidding’s voice sounded. “I realize your absence will be felt soon, my lord, so I shall get straight to the point.”

My lord?

“I would appreciate that,” came Lord Drayson’s answer.

Lucy froze. Surely Mrs. Bidding did not intend to confront the earl in the middle of a soirée that
she
was hosting.

Lucy peeked out from her nook to see Lord Drayson perusing the bookshelves just as she had done moments before, with his back to Mrs. Bidding.

She did not appear happy. “Apparently, you are not a coachman after all, I see.”

“Not any longer,” he answered smoothly.

“How in heaven’s name did you come to be—” She cut herself off. “Never mind that now. I told you I would get straight to the point and I shall. You have compromised Miss Beresford’s reputation in the worst possible way, and I have brought you in here to ask what you intend to do about it.”

He continued to scan the books. “I can think of worse possible ways I could have compromised her.”

“My lord.”
The sound of her hiss echoed through the cavernous room. Lucy held back a smile, enjoying the fact that Lord Drayson didn’t seem to find Mrs. Bidding the slightest bit intimidating.

He turned around to face her. “You have done me the honor of being forthright, and I shall do the same for you. Lucy has—”

“Miss Beresford,” Mrs. Bidding corrected, shooting him a scathing glance.

“Very well,” he returned. “Miss Beresford has been good enough to inform me that her reputation is still intact, which is a kindness we owe to you, I understand.”

“You do indeed,” Mrs. Bidding snipped. “I am no gossip. Not even Mr. Bidding is aware of the events that transpired.”