Chapter Fourteen
Teaching archery to the guests had been much easier during the summer house party. It also helped that Papa and Edward had been there to assist as well. She and Isa were doing their best to keep the guests interested, as was Lord Stowe, but several of the ladies had wandered off in search of other entertainment.
“Lord Stowe, would you be so kind as to ask the ladies lounging in the shade if they would care to play lawn bowls? I cannot abandon those who wish to stay on the archery ground.”
“Of course, my lady. May I take Lord Gorham along with me to help manage them?”
She smiled. “Of course. I imagine you’ll need reinforcements.”
He left and Louisa returned to watching Thornbrook. She felt only a modicum of guilt over sacrificing Lord Stowe for her own comfort, but really, he and Lord Gorham were both in the market for a wife, and his sister had conveniently assembled a bevy of ladies for them to choose from. Louisa didn’t mind in the least. It would help keep Lady Phoebe and her ilk away from Thornbrook.
He was startlingly incompetent with the bow, despite all of the corrections she had suggested. In fact, it seemed to her that he had shown more skill over the summer than he was now. It gave her pause. Was he making mistakes on purpose? Perhaps so she would touch him more? There was only one way to find out.
She moved closer. “Lord Thornbrook, are you purposefully missing your shots just to keep my attention?”
“Sadly, no. I’m not having much luck today.”
“Luck has nothing to do with archery. It’s about precision. Concentration. Focus.”
“For you perhaps. I find it difficult to focus on anything when you are so near.”
“Maybe I should move away, then.”
He shook his head. “That won’t help, either. Then I’ll have to spend all of my time watching you to make sure none of the other men come near you.”
“Hmm. We seem to be at an impasse. Shall I give you more lessons, then?”
He looked over his shoulder at her. “I’d be ever so grateful if you would.”
“In that case, I will expect something from you in return.”
“My undying devotion isn’t enough for you?”
She shook her head. “Certainly not. I think I will collect my reward in kisses.”
He whipped his head back around and whispered, “You know I cannot kiss you here, in front of everyone. In fact, I ought not to be kissing you at all. Your family does not approve.”
“Of course I know that. I thought I might collect them tonight. When we’re alone.”
He swallowed audibly. “All right. Let’s get started, then.”
She carefully placed her own bow on a chair and moved up behind Thorncroft. “You need to loosen your grip. The arrow should be light in your hands, resting against your fingers rather than being trapped between them.”
She slid her hand down his arm, smiling at his sharply indrawn breath. Touching him as much as possible, she continued down to his hand, jiggling his fingers until he loosened his iron grip. “Good. Now pretend the string is my lips and treat it accordingly.”
He released the string and the arrow flew over the target.
She glanced at the guests who were nearby, but none were paying undue attention to them. “Tsk, tsk. I know from personal experience that you have a much more delicate touch than that.”
“Louisa, if you don’t want me to throw you over my shoulder and carry you to the nearest bedchamber, you’d best cease with your antics.”
“What if that’s exactly what I want you to do?”
“You’re killing me. I’m going to die right here of unfulfilled longing. Is that what you want?”
“Goodness, you’re so dramatic. Perhaps we should perform a theatrical tonight. You would be the star of the show.”
He set the bow down carefully and rounded on her. “Louisa, has no one ever told you not to play with fire unless you’re willing to get burned?”
She gulped. Perhaps she had taken things a bit too far. “I concede your point.”
He raised a brow. “Why do I think this isn’t a victory for me?”
“You win for now, but don’t think for a moment that I won’t force you to make it up to me later.” What was she doing? The prudent thing would be to leave him alone until the time was right to ask him to make a huge sacrifice in exchange for the privilege of marrying her. She must be insane to think he’d even consider it.
“Fair enough.”
She handed him another arrow. “Your stance is fine. I think the problem might be your aim.”
He drew the arrow and took aim.
She touched his right hand, which held the arrow, and pushed it against his cheek. “Your hand should be firmly pressed against the side of your face. Now look down the shaft and aim the point at the target.”
“Can I release the arrow now?”
“No.” She placed her hands on the outside of his hips and pushed forward. “Proper posture is of the utmost importance. Align your hips over your knees and feet.” She moved her hands up and pushed to flatten his back. “Keep your chest down.”
It was a sunny but cool afternoon. There was no cause for the beads of sweat rolling down his face. Unless she was doing something that made him uncomfortable.
“Thornbrook, is something amiss?”
“It’s just that…you’re touching me, and it makes me want to toss the bow to the ground and kiss you until you can no longer remember your own name.”
“Oh.” A part of her very much wanted to see how far she could push him before he did just that, but another part of her cautioned against it. She took a step away from him. “Aim again, and…release.”
He hit the target dead center. She narrowed her eyes. “Have you been pretending to be incompetent all this time just to get my attention?”
“Sadly, no. Though I would’ve done that in heartbeat had I thought it would work.”
“Then how did you manage that shot?”
“It must have been the magic of your touch.”
She glared at him.
“Perhaps you are an excellent teacher.”
“Or perhaps you simply don’t try very hard.”
“Normally I would readily admit to that. However, I assure you that I have never tried harder at anything in my life than I did that day when I had the chance to win a kiss from you.”
“Ah, so I must offer you a reward in order to get you to work harder. Duly noted.”
“My level of achievement may depend upon the reward offered.”
He met and held her gaze, a world of possibilities swirling in his eyes.
Isa’s arrival broke the spell. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I think the guests are ready to return to the house. I thought perhaps we could hold a dance after dinner tonight if you are amenable.”
Louisa nodded. “That’s an excellent idea. I’ll ask Lady Mary if she would be willing to play for us.”
“I’ll fetch the others from the lawn, then.” Isa strode away, once again leaving her alone with Thornbrook.
“Will you save a dance for me?” he asked.
“Just one?”
“As much as I would like to claim all of your dances, I’m afraid Lady Concord might object.”
“I suspect Isa would balk at that as well, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
He leaned closer, his breath tickling her ear. “Nothing would please me more than to have the right to claim all of your dances forevermore.” He placed a soft kiss against the sensitive skin behind her ear, then walked away, leaving her breathless and hoping that he was selfless enough to agree to live with her at Walsley.
Louisa knocked on Isa’s door, hoping she might be able to guide her on how to behave with Thornbrook tonight. The mystery of his expulsion from Walsley also weighed heavily on her mind. She could not make a commitment to him without knowing the details of the event that had caused her father to mistrust him for all of these years.
“Come in.”
She opened the door and caught a glimpse of Isa and ran to her side. “Isa, what’s wrong? Is it the baby?”
“Yes.” She smiled and placed Louisa’s hand against her stomach. “He’s kicking rather adamantly.”
“So you’ve decided it’s a boy?”
“I should think a girl would go easier on her mother.”
“Are you certain you want to attend the dance tonight? We came to Walsley so you could rest and avoid having to entertain.”
“I appreciate your concern.” Isa squeezed her hand. “But for some reason, I feel much better here. It must be the country air. London is full of dust and dirt and offensive smells that likely triggered my nausea.”
“All right, but the moment you feel the least bit tired, I expect you to retire for the evening. Lady Concord can serve as our chaperon, as can the Duchess of Blockey. She may not supervise her own daughter properly, but she certainly wouldn’t hesitate to call out any other lady if she detected even a hint of improper behavior.”
“I promise to retire the moment I begin to tire. Now, it is time to discuss you and Thornbrook.” Isa raised a brow, but Louisa didn’t rise to her challenge.
“You walked a dangerous line with him this afternoon. I don’t believe any of the guests took notice of your interactions, but you must be more mindful going forward.”
“I confess that’s why I came. To get your advice.” She kept her gaze focused on the fireplace. “I think I’m falling in love with him, Isa.”
“Are you certain?”
“Not in the least. But I’m open to the possibility.” She walked over to the window and ran her finger over the cold pane. “How did you know that Edward was right for you?”
“When I realized I never wanted to be without him.”
Louisa sighed.
“But it took some time before I knew for sure I was in love with him. I didn’t like him at all when we first met.”
Louisa bit back a smile. “I remember that. But I’ve always liked Thornbrook. He makes me laugh, even when I have to control the urge to hit him over the head with a blunt object.”
Isa stood and walked to her. “It happens differently for everyone. If you’re meant to be together, there will come a moment when you’ll know for certain. Until then, don’t try to force it. Just enjoy his company and see where it leads.”
She nodded. It seemed she had been doing that since they had arrived at Walsley. Surely it was time to make a decision one way or the other.
“Louisa, it’s normal to be unsure about love. This is the perfect time for you to take a step back and maintain your distance. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, especially from me after the way I behaved with Edward. However, my situation was different.”
“How so?”
“Because everyone thought I was a paid companion. I wasn’t the daughter of a duke with a reputation to protect.” She squeezed her hand. “I understand how conflicted you must feel, and I’m confident that Thornbrook’s feelings for you are genuine, but you need to give both yourself and him some time to think things through. Once you’re both certain, you can devise a plan to convince your father to let him court you.”
Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. “But Papa may never allow it.”
“Then we will find a way to convince him. I suspect your mother will help as well. But it will take time, and you’ll ruin everything if you don’t follow his rules.”
Isa was correct. She didn’t have to like her advice, she just had to follow it.
“I’m hungry. Let’s go to dinner.”
Prior to this evening, they had been utilizing the dining room, but whenever dancing was involved, they moved dinner to the banqueting hall. It was so large it wasn’t necessary to push the furniture back in order to dance. It was a remnant of the original section of Walsley Manor that had been a castle.
Louisa linked her arm with Isa’s and allowed her mind to wander as they negotiated the circuitous route up and down various staircases to reach the hall. The steps were made of stone and were worn from hundreds of years of use. She held Isa’s arm tightly to prevent her from slipping.
When they entered the room, Thornbrook, Stowe, and Gorham were the only people in the chamber save the servants. “Where are all of the ladies?” Louisa asked.
“You are the first to arrive, and dare I say, the two of you are all we need to have a perfect evening.” Thornbrook grinned at them.
“You’d best not let the other ladies hear you or they will be quite put out,” Isa said.
“I, for one, would prefer that at least one more lady would join us. Otherwise we have uneven numbers for the dancing, and since one of the ladies is my sister, my choices are quite limited.”
“An excellent point, Lord Stowe. Since Lord Thornbrook made the suggestion, he can sit out if necessary.” She raised her brows as she met his gaze.
“You wound me, my lady.”
Lady Concord entered the room, along with the duchess and Lady Phoebe, effectively ending Louisa’s opportunity to respond to Thornbrook. A footman came by with a tray of champagne, which she gladly accepted and drank rather too fast. Luckily, the other members of their party soon arrived and they took their places at the table.
Dinner passed in a blur for Louisa. A quick glance around the table revealed that nearly everyone had finished eating. “Lady Mary, can we persuade you to play the pianoforte for us this evening?”
“Of course, my lady.”
Though most ladies liked to show off their skills to the gentlemen, the minstrel’s gallery where the pianoforte was kept was a bit removed from the rest of the chamber. However, Lady Mary was rather shy, so she generally didn’t mind playing for them despite the isolation. Louisa thought she might suit well with Isa’s brother, who was a kind, unassuming sort of man. She would make sure to push them together later in the evening.
She turned and nearly bumped into Isa’s brother. “I beg your pardon, my lady. I’ve come to ask if you would care to dance.”
“I would be honored, my lord.”
Thornbrook frowned as she moved onto the floor with Lord Stowe, but she had no reason to refuse him. Since there were more ladies than gentlemen present, he would have no trouble finding another partner. Moments later, he joined them with Lady Helen in tow.
“Lady Louisa, are you enjoying your party?” Stowe asked.
“Very much so. The weather has cooperated for the most part, and it would be difficult to improve upon the company.”
“I couldn’t agree more. My sister explained all of the excitement surrounding the tiara that was found last year, and she seemed to be hinting that you were on another quest. Is there anything to come from it?”
“Perhaps, but this time the clues are much less clear. I’m afraid we might be engaged in a wild goose chase, but still, it is diverting even if it comes to nothing.”
“I find myself wishing for something entertaining to happen at Stowe Hall.”
She smiled at him. “Isa reports that you have made great progress in repairing the house.”
“Well, it is habitable now, but it will likely be several years before it will be completely refurbished.”
“I think you’ve made remarkable progress considering that you’ve only been at it for a few months.”
He nodded. “Thank you, my lady.”
The moment their dance ended, Louisa glanced up at Lady Mary in the minstrel’s gallery. Though she hadn’t fared well on the marriage mart due to her shy, unassuming manner, she had been blessed with a large dowry. Her father had chased away more than one fortune hunter. Despite the fact that he needed more income to repair his estate, Lord Stowe definitely didn’t fall into that category. She would speak with Isa later to see what she thought of the match. In the meantime, she devised a plan to allow Lady Mary to dance for at least part of the evening.
Rather than seeking out a partner for the next set, she searched for Lady Phoebe, who was lounging in a chair near her mother. “Lady Phoebe. I heard on good authority that you are accomplished on the pianoforte. Would you care to play for us tonight?”
Her eyes narrowed and Louisa waited to hear words of distain from her, but her mother spoke first.
“Phoebe would be delighted to show off her talents. Thank you for the suggestion, Lady Louisa.”
Phoebe focused her angry gaze on her mother, and Louisa snuck away. She had no idea of her skill level, but it didn’t particularly matter. Now to get Lord Stowe to ask Mary to dance.
When it was time to start the next set, Phoebe was seated at the pianoforte, and Mary was poised to dance with Lord Stowe.
“Where have you been hiding?”
Thornbrook’s deep tones sent a delicious shiver skittering up her neck. “I haven’t been hiding. I was making arrangements so Lady Mary could dance.”
“Are you matchmaking?”
“That is none of your affair.”
“I must confess that is a relief. Would you care to dance, my lady?”
“Of course.”
He took her hand and another thrill shot through her. A few discordant notes fell from above, then stopped abruptly. “No, this one,” someone hissed, and Louisa bit her lip to keep from laughing. Finally, music, and she was using that term loosely, played, and they began to move. She glanced to the side and spotted Lady Mary and Lord Stowe talking and laughing like old friends. Add to that Lady Phoebe’s humiliating skills on the pianoforte, and it was shaping up to be a highly enjoyable evening.
“What is this?” Thornbrook asked, his ear cocked toward the minstrel’s gallery.
Louisa shrugged. “I have no idea, but I think it is supposed to be a waltz. At the wrong tempo.” He pulled her closer, enveloping her in his clean citrus scent and the warmth of his embrace, and the cacophonous music faded into the background. Perhaps she would be content to stay in his arms forever.
Following another set with Lady Phoebe at the pianoforte, the guests began making their excuses and leaving.
Once everyone else had left, she turned to Thornbrook. It was time. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“You can say anything to me.” He clasped her hands. “Why are you trembling?”
She took a deep breath. “Remember when Edward told you about my father offering to leave me Walsley?”
He grinned. “How could I forget? Your brother was quite out of sorts.”
“Yes, well, aside from Edward’s feelings being hurt, there are other…ramifications of his offer.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Such as?”
“I am required to live at Walsley in order to inherit it. If I decide to marry, my husband has to agree to live here, or I forfeit the property and it will go to one of my younger brothers.”
He stood as still as a statue. “So you’re saying that if your father will relent and allow me to court you, and we eventually marry, I would have to live here.”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“Only your father could manage to concoct such a diabolical situation. What happens if I refuse?”
“I won’t inherit Walsley.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I feel as if I’ve been ordered to run the gauntlet.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” He kissed her forehead, then paced across the room and back again. “Are there specific rules as to how long we have to live at Walsley each year?”
“Walsley must be my primary residence.”
Thornbrook stopped. “So if we marry, I have to abandon my entailed estate, and my duties to my title and my tenants, and live here with you. Or, we would have to live apart for a large part of the year.”
She brushed away a tear. “I’m sorry. It’s not fair of me to ask this of you. You should find someone else to marry.”
“Louisa, that’s not how this works. I can’t simply transfer my affections to someone else because it would be easier. However, I also will not bow to the dictates of your father. He set those terms knowing it would result in you remaining unmarried.”
“I think you’re being unfair to my father. This is our home. He needs to be reassured that it will be loved and taken care of by future generations. He simply wants to ensure—”
“Ensure what? Your happiness, or his?”
She stiffened, and he sighed. “I need more time to think this through. In the meantime, I ask that you consider speaking with your father to see if he might be willing to change his requirements.”
She nodded. He was right. If Thornbrook was willing to make some sacrifices so a match between them could work, Papa would need to do the same. She pushed up on her toes to kiss his cheek, then said, “Thank you for trying to find a solution instead of running away.”
He squeezed her hands. “The thought did cross my mind, but as I’ve said before, I’m willing to do anything for you. However, I have an obligation to fulfill the duties of my title, so you father will have to make some changes to his demands if this is going to work.”
“I will speak with him as soon as my parents return to Walsley.”
As long as Thornbrook was willing to compromise, there was still a chance that they could have a future together. It was the best she could hope for until she could talk to Papa.