Timeless Passion: 10 Historical Romances To Savor (64 page)

They stood beside the window as she spoke and he watched her with — was it admiration? He seemed to halt his glance suddenly, and had there not been the barrier of situation and position in society, Rhianna might not have attempted to check her feelings.

“Quite the evening,” he returned.

Thayne distractedly drew back the drapery. She could not help but watch him closely, in part out of curiosity, in part because he was mesmerizing.

“Perhaps all of us will have to rely on the Kingsleys’ good hospitality and remain at the manor this night,” he said to her, before looking out.

“Let us hope it is not the case, or you may be sleeping where you now stand,” she jested.

“After such a night, even the best of circumstances would not place me in a mind for sleep.”

What this suggested, she hardly knew, but she afterward turned her attention to the window with little interest as to what lay beyond it. Rhianna barely perceived the ground of the courtyard was dry and the few flurries that swirled above were dispersing.

“I see Lydia Kingsley is up to her old tricks,” Thayne remarked, awakening Rhianna at once. “Lord Kingsley will not be happy about this.”

She squinted through the glass at the two shadowy figures that had eluded her previously. Despite the darkness, there was no mistaking the persons who now united covertly below. It was a brief meeting, something passed between them, and they separated.

“That is the man I saw before my accident!” declared Rhianna.

Thayne looked at her sharply. “Pierson? Are you sure?”

Rhianna’s mouth fell open at the name. “
That
is Mr. Pierson?”

He nodded confirmation. “How do you know of him?”

Rhianna relayed, “The night I arrived from France, Lord Kingsley seemed very much upset to hear Mr. Pierson was at the manor while he was away.”

“I suppose it explains why,” Thayne said, “if he did see you fall from your horse, he did not come to assist. He would not want Lord Kingsley to know he was in the area. But why would he follow you … ?”

He trailed off in thought as Rhianna’s mind followed a different path.

“So it is as I thought,” she said to him. “Lady Kingsley will not banish him, despite Lord Kingsley’s wishes.”

“So you have never met him?”

“I never met him, no. That same night we came to the manor, he was nowhere to be seen.”

“As can only be expected …”

Her interest was piqued at the prospect that Thayne knew something more than Mauvreen had told her. Rhianna looked eagerly upon him. Skillfully, she asked no question, but allowed him to read it in her expression.

He hesitated, before proceeding cautiously, “I would not wish to speak inappropriately with you, Miss Braden. Perhaps I have said too much.”

For Rhianna, he certainly had said too much to stop at this point.

“Is what you refer to of general knowledge?” she asked, not knowing her own desperation.

Choosing his words carefully, he said, “I would find it surprising if you have lived in Kingsley Manor these months and not known the nature of Lydia and Pierson’s relationship.”

Rhianna gave pause. “Are they not cousins?”

“Yes,” he laughed. “That they are.”

Despite her general naïvety, Rhianna began to follow his train of thought. “You don’t mean to say …”

Once again her look said the rest, and Thayne nodded apologetically.

“They are lovers,” he confirmed. “But, Miss Braden, I fear I have offended you.”

“Not you, indeed!” she cried. “But poor Lord Kingsley!”

“Pierson only affects Lord Kingsley’s wallet. He does not affect his heart,” he replied. “If you feel for Lord Kingsley, you must feel more that his own lover is long gone.”

“Lord Kingsley, as well?” she despaired. “No, I cannot believe it of him. He is … a good man.”

Thayne retreated immediately. “He is, indeed.”

Rhianna, despite such a shock, could see that no joy or even contentment seemed possible with Lydia. After a short time, she processed this information and still wished to know more.

“Lord Brighton,” she begged, “I do so wish Lord Kingsley to be happy. Do you suggest he found a measure of happiness with … his mistress?”

Thayne had a pained expression on his face. “They were known to have been very much in love,” he told her. “So much so, in fact, their devotion became somewhat legendary. Lord Kingsley has never recovered from the loss of her.”

Rhianna suspected he could have said much more on the subject, but he quickly fell silent. He almost seemed as if he had something else on his mind entirely.

“Goodness … who was this woman?” she asked.

“Desmond’s last governess.”

“
Hallie
… ?”

Her sudden passion in saying this one word seemed to surprise him. “So you have heard of her?”

With determination she released herself from speechlessness. Hallie —
My Beloved Haldana
— Lord Guilford Kingsley’s mistress! Rhianna drew a quick breath as she recalled him gazing at her brooch.

“I know very little. Does anyone know what happened to her?”

He shook his head. “She disappeared suddenly. To this day it remains a mystery.”

At that moment, Austine Leighart approached them, coming from a table where sat six or so young men and women who had all appeared to be of a close-knit clique the whole of the evening.

After examining Rhianna insolently, she ignored her, saying, “Lord Brighton, I think you have been gone for hours! Will you not come and visit your friends before we are departed for the evening?”

Her posture, the look in her eyes, all screamed of jealousy. Rhianna understood her and felt she had the right. If she and Thayne Brighton were intended for each other, as Lydia Kingsley suggested, and had Rhianna been in Miss Leighart’s shoes, she should have felt the same way.

“Yes, of course. I will meet you there in but a moment.”

Triumphantly, Austine dismissed herself to where she had come, leaving no opportunity for an introduction.

Thayne sighed, more visibly than Rhianna thought he intended.

“Miss Braden, you will have to excuse me. I wonder to where Desmond Kingsley has now gone? He would see firsthand the definition of
duty
.”

“Of course, you must go. I shan’t attempt to keep you.”

He hesitated.

“We will have to continue this conversation at another time.” Rhianna nodded, with the belief he would never remember their conversation, when he asked, “Perhaps tomorrow? Lord Kingsley no doubt allows you time to yourself?”

She could not hide her surprise. How torn she felt! Already, she had predetermined that her free time would be spent with Mauvreen.

“I …”

“You have plans,” he determined. Before she felt forced to hasten an answer, Thayne hurried, “I mustn’t ask you to alter your plans for me. I dare not be so selfish. However, I — I would like very much to see you again. That is, at a time convenient to you and … if you so desire.”

This last caught her breath. She could hardly think.

“I take Audra for riding lessons Monday …”

“Allow me to invite you both to Ravensleigh’s stables,” he returned. “Audra is very fond of my brother, Crispin. Perhaps we all can go. They are of similar age and he would be very happy to see her, as well.”

“I’m sure we would be delighted.”

Thayne seemed very happy. “I shall have a carriage sent for you both that morning.”

So it was settled. He bowed, she curtseyed, and Thayne Brighton left to appease Austine.

Such incredible plans, all decided so suddenly! Rhianna was in high spirits and, as she accepted a dance with a young man whom she barely recalled meeting, her mind was already far into Monday. Any and all unpleasantness from the evening was a distant memory. How he had done it, she could not figure out, but Thayne had changed her feelings toward him entirely.

• • •

Following an elaborate fireworks display, the night was nearing three o’clock when the first family called their carriage. As the last few dances went underway, the dance floor thinned and the crowds lessened, with the exception of a few couples who remained determined to see it out to the last. The evening was coming to an end, as was Rhianna’s energy. At Lord Kingsley’s suggestion, (he himself would not quit his last guests until after daybreak), she retired without ceremony to the rose room, with his word that it would not be the last ball she would attend at Kingsley Manor. It was the perfect conclusion to a perfect night.

Chapter Five

“It’s been some time since you’ve come to see me.” Mauvreen pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes searching through him. “You are not looking well, again.”

“Overtired, perhaps,” the cloaked man replied. “I have had a long night.”

“And … ?”

She stopped here and leaned back in her seat, as though she said enough for him to respond. Perhaps she did, but his mood called for specific questions. He begged her to elaborate.

“I only wish to know if she danced,” Mauvreen pressed him. “Will you deny an old woman?”

He coughed. Whether it was real or feigned to buy him time she hardly knew. The cloaked man leaned forward, running his hand through his silver hair.

“You make this so difficult for me — yes, she danced. From the moment she entered the room, there was not a fellow who had not fallen at her feet.”

Mauvreen smiled brightly and nodded her contentment. “I expected as much. She must have looked — ”

“Like an angel,” he finished. “Or, a ghost, if you ask Dowager Lady Whitehall.”

Mauvreen raised a quizzical brow. “Oh, dear …”

“It is the least of my concerns. I have more oppressive matters to handle.”

“Lydia,” she stated, blankly. “How is she behaving?”

His countenance suffered at this. “Poorly, I’m afraid. There is no controlling that woman,” he opened up. “How she can be so openly defiant baffles me exhaustively.”

“Have you spoken with her? What does she say to it?”

There was a knock at the door, and a voice calling Mauvreen’s name. “Hello!” it cried, and it was no mystery as to whom the voice belonged.

“I will leave through the back,” said the cloaked man.

But the opportunity was gone. The handle turned, the door opened, and Rhianna entered the lodge.

“The door was unlocked, Mauvreen, I hope you don’t mind …” Her words froze, as did her body and her gaze. “Lord Kingsley.”

• • •

He rose with his companion, mumbled an indistinct “Miss Braden,” and stood awkwardly beside Mauvreen. The latter said nothing, and Rhianna, too, could think of nothing to say. A moment or two of the silence that followed did little to allay the uneasiness. Something must be said and Rhianna at last felt it her responsibility to explain herself.

“Lord Kingsley,” she began again, “I’m so sorry, I …”

Embarrassment set in and she could not immediately continue. Lord Kingsley remained silent and turned to Mauvreen. The old woman caught his glance, but did not hold it.

“I did not expect to find anyone else here,” Rhianna finished, feeling the necessity of departure.

“Not at all,” Guilford told her, snatching up his walking stick and putting on his hat. “I was just on my way out.”

His voice was calm, comforting. He tipped his hat to them both and flashed Mauvreen a glance, which seemed to convey his permission to proceed with the visit. The old woman’s face lit up and she smiled at Rhianna with open arms, calling her to her side. Taking her up on the invitation, Rhianna made her way to her friend, trading places with Lord Kingsley who moved toward the door.

“Good day to you,” said Lord Kingsley as he left the lodge, closing the door behind him.

Rhianna turned to Mauvreen and the two took each other’s hands.

“How very strange, after all the times I have come, to finally cross paths with another visitor!” cried Rhianna. “Mauvreen, does he come to see you often?”

She shrugged and looked out the window at him as he made his way through the woods toward Kingsley Manor. “There was a time I would see him every day.”

“Does he mind that I am here?” she asked anxiously. “I shall never forget what a secret you stressed our visits must be.”

“Yes, well,” she said, as the two assumed their usual positions in the lodge sitting room, “let us keep it between us three.” Once sitting comfortably on the sofa, Mauvreen continued, “How was the ball? I have heard hardly a thing about it.”

Rhianna smiled to herself at the recollection, a hint of warmth rising in her cheeks. “Lord Kingsley has not, I hope, left you without at least some details?”

“I have heard the gentlemen were in quite a frenzy to claim their dances with you.”

“Oh, Lord Kingsley has cheated you terribly! The number of my partners is nothing to the music, the decorations, the gowns! Has he given you nothing further?”

“No,” her friend told her, “but besides, through your eyes, I shall have an entirely different description of it than he could give. It requires a woman to properly describe the charm of such an evening.”

With this, all the loveliness of the ball was detailed with a passion only Rhianna could have communicated. Not a fabric or tiara went undescribed, even musical notes were given their moment. But a narration of the ball would not have been complete without relating Dowager Lady Whitehall’s accusation, which she recounted in full.

“My heavens,” Mauvreen exclaimed, in response to her account, “how very frightening for you. It would seem she suffers from dementia.”

“Indeed!” she laughed. “Or else, I am a ghost, but I tend to think I am not.”

Rhianna now came to the point she had wanted all along to discuss. “Mauvreen, is it true,” she began, delicately, “that Lord Kingsley and Hallie were …”

She paused. Mauvreen appeared intrigued and leaned forward in her seat. No doubt their names together in the same sentence caught her attention. As usual, there was a look in her eyes that gave one the impression she already guessed what Rhianna was going to say.

“… in love?”

Mauvreen smiled at her delicacy. “Yes, it is true.”

It was only the second time she had ever given more than a vague and uninformative response. Rhianna sat astonished. She believed Lord Brighton, but hearing it confirmed from Mauvreen was more shocking than the intelligence itself.