Chapter Twelve

"My dear sister, it has been far too long since I have seen you resting."

Lavender looked up at Vincent as he approached, lowering her book to her lap. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

He sank into the couch next to her, slinging his arm along the back of it. "You are usually doing something, these days. Writing in that little book of yours, planning something. Going from event to event."

"Oh heavens it has only been a few days. Otherwise, I am usually here in the library with my nose buried in a book. Which you are interrupting by the way."

Vincent laughed. When she attempted to ignore him by lifting her book again, he took it from her hands.

"How is Lord Derby?" he asked.

Lavender kept her face impassive even though her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know how to answer that. After they'd parted ways yesterday, things had felt different between them. Less like she was forcing a horse to drink water and more like the horse was fine with taking a few sips now and again. She couldn't fathom the thought that they'd bonded over the horrible interaction with Lady Lively.

Because she didn't know how to explain any of that to her brother, she said, "He is the Earl of Derby. The very same man I met that day."

"I see. That bad?" Vincent chuckled to himself. "Perhaps you two need to spend more time with each other then."

Lavender snatched the book from him and pretended to refocus her attention on the pages, even though the only thing she could think about now was the earl. "We spent the last two days together, however unwillingly. There's no need for me to see him again until the next time I need him."

"That is no way to treat your betrothed, Lavender," he chastised lightly .

"Oh, you and I both know that our marriage is one of convenience, Vincent."

"What is the status of his house's renovations then? Perhaps it would be nice for you to give it a woman's touch."

She sighed, closing her book. "You seem quite determined to get me out of the house, don't you?"

"Am I being obvious?" her brother asked with a cheeky grin.

Lavender rolled her eyes at him, getting to her feet. "Very well. I shall check in on the status of the workers and then return home. I shall be back within the hour."

"You may take more time—"

"Before the hour," she repeated on her way out the door.

Once she was in bedchamber, Lavender picked up the pace. She didn't pay that tremor of excitement any mind. She wasn't excited to see the earl at all. It would only be good to get out of the house for a while, to get some fresh air. That was the only reason why she'd chosen one of her favorite walking dresses with her matching bonnet and parasol.

Her brother called for a carriage to be prepared so it was ready for her by the time she made it outside. Betty seemed to be in a good mood as well, as if she was also looking forward to leaving the house as Lavender's chaperone.

Before long, they arrived at the house. It was in markedly better condition than yesterday, she noted. The front porch and window had been fixed. And there seemed to be twice as many workmen trudging in and out than there had been before. Perhaps Austin was getting impatient regarding the speed of the repairs.

"Miss Lavender!" The anxious butler came rushing up to her with sweat dotting his forward. "I did not know that you were—"

"Don't worry," she told him. "I did not send word that I would be coming. Is Lord Derby here?"

"He is not, miss. He stepped out just a short while ago and did not say where he was going."

"Did he take a carriage?"

"No, miss. He left on foot."

Perhaps that meant that he would not be gone for long. Not that she cared overly much. She'd come here to check on the renovations after all .

She said as much to the butler and he nodded eagerly. "I could take you on a tour through the house, miss, if you wish."

"That would be nice. You can also tell me what changes you intend on making as we go along."

"Certainly, miss."

Lavender followed the butler inside. He took Betty and her to the drawing room first, showing her that the wallpaper had been replaced like she'd suggested. Lavender felt a bite of pleasure when he said that Austin had seemed pleased by the sight of it.

The next room was a parlor. And then a sun-room. All rooms clearly had not been touched by the workmen yet because there were little repairs done to the dilapidated states, but the butler informed her of the plans for each room, which left her with hope.

Then they came to the dining room. The first thing she noticed was the large portrait hanging over the mantle across the room. Lavender hadn't noticed the lack of portraits in the house until she spotted this one.

A pair of deep blue eyes watched her from across the room. The woman in the portrait was a subtle beauty, bearing a small, kind smile. Lavender had a suspicion of who she was even as she asked, "Who is she?"

"She is the late Countess of Derby, miss," the butler responded.

"Is her portrait the only one in the house?"

"Yes, miss."

"How…sad."

"P-pardon me, miss?" The butler sounded taken aback.

Lavender drew closer, admiring the soft brushstrokes despite how sad she found it. "There is a certain emptiness to having this portrait as the only one in the house," she said. She heard something behind her but didn't turn to look, clasping her hands behind her instead. "I had heard that the late countess had borne no ill will to the earl and Austin but it is still quite sad to see that neither is displayed throughout the entire house. Perhaps I could speak with Austin about it when I see him next."

"Miss Lavender…" came Betty's soft whisper.

"Or is that a bad idea? He doesn't think very highly of me. He may think I am being nosy. "

"Miss Lavender," her chaperone's voice came again. "Perhaps—"

"What is it, Betty?" Lavender turned to look at her. Only to find that it wasn't Betty standing slightly behind her but Austin.

How hadn't she heard him come in? The butler was nowhere to be found. Lavender wouldn't be surprised if he had run off the moment his master appeared. Betty was standing a few paces away, a fearful look on her face.

Lavender turned to face him, ignoring the rapid pounding of her heart. "You are quieter than you look," she commented.

To her slight relief, he didn't look as annoyed as he usually did. He crossed his arms and said, "So I have been told before. What are you doing here?"

"Can't a lady visit her betrothed?" she asked. He only raised a brow and she sighed. "I came to check on the renovations. Well, Vincent urged me to."

"I see." He came closer, stopping when he was right beside her. "And you think that my house is sad and empty because there is only one portrait displayed?"

"It may sound quite rude of me to say—"

"Which comes as no surprise to me," he cut in.

Lavender rolled her eyes. "But," she went on. "I stand by what I said. Wouldn't it be nice to have your portrait displayed as well? Or perhaps that of your mother's? Both?"

"Surely you do not think it appropriate to display my father's mistress? What would you think if you were to walk into a room and see such a thing?"

"Not every room needs to be open to the public," Lavender responded easily. "If it is the judgment of others that worries you, which is quite surprising, then you may hang the portrait someplace private."

Austin regarded her for a moment. "You are quite unusual. Do you know that?"

"I have been told," she said with a smile. "Why don't we take a break from all this talk of houses and portraits and go for a promenade in the park?"

"I cannot think of anything worse," he grumbled .

"Marvelous," Lavender quipped with a smile. She turned to the door. "I shall wait for you in the carriage while you fetch a coat."

Austin didn't make any more protests to the matter, to Lavender's surprise and relief. She was free to traipse out of the room in far better spirits than she had been when she'd arrived.

Odd.

***

"I hate this. I hate every second of this."

"Which is quite interesting considering how good you are at it." Lavender couldn't help her mirthful response. She was in too good of a mood to be bothered by Austin's grumpiness.

After all, she'd managed to drag him out of the house to Hyde Park and they were now walking arm in arm down a well-traveled path under the curious stares of others nearby. It wasn't the first time they were doing this and yet this time felt different. She didn't care so much about what others were thinking as they watched them as she did simply relaxing and enjoying herself.

Relaxing and enjoying herself around the Earl of Derby had once seemed impossible.

"Why are there so many people here," he continued to grumble. "I thought these people were important members of society. Don't they have more important things to do than walk about a park?"

"They are likely here for the same reason we are," Lavender responded lightly. "To relax and enjoy nature with their peers."

"That doesn't sound like what we are doing. You are here to put on a show for your quest and I am here because I have no choice."

"How odd. Surely you aren't admitting that a small helpless lady like me forced you into doing something you do not wish to do?"

Austin looked at her and Lavender met his eyes with a cheeky grin. "You are getting far too comfortable if you think it is a good idea to jest with me," he mumbled .

"You will do me no harm. Perhaps you have even grown fond of me."

"That assertion appears rather exaggerated."

Lavender just laughed. She wouldn't forget the fact that he had waited for her outside the powder room and had been ready to take her home. She wouldn't forget the attempts he'd made to make her forget about what Lady Lively had said. Honestly, Lavender didn't think she could forget. Perhaps that was the reason she was more than fine with being here with him rather than locked away in the library like she usually was.

"I know you are only here to put on a performance, Lavender," Austin spoke again.

There was just something about the way he said her name that did something to her. Something she could not define just yet. "Of course I am. We are already here. We might as well continue our charade of acting like a loving couple."

"Even though it is clear as day that our betrothal is an arranged one," he pointed out.

"Well, perhaps it would not be so clear if you did not wear that frown all the time." Lavender reached up and pressed a finger in the center of his forehead. It succeeded in getting him to relax. "See? Already better."

"I like my frown. It keeps people away."

"No one will dare approach you with or without it," she assured. "And while we are at it, why don't you straighten your back a bit more?"

His frown returned with full force. "Straighten my back? It is straight enough."

"Not nearly so," she told him. She put a hand on his back and forced his chest out. Lavender bit her lip to hold in her laughter as she cupped his chin, forcing his head up and slowed her walk so that he was forced to walk slower as well.

It took Austin a few seconds to realize that she was poking fun at him. He relaxed, growling, "You think you are quite funny, don't you?"

"I am the most hilarious person I know. And if you would simply relax, perhaps you would know that as well. "

"I cannot do so knowing that at any moment you will spring another sordid event on me and force me to attend with you."

"It won't be ‘at any moment'," she corrected. "We have someplace else to attend in the next week."

"Next few days?" He paused, clearly thinking. "I thought I would have two weeks' break before we are to attend that ball of yours."

"That ball of mine is Lady Henley's masquerade ball and I worked very hard to secure an invitation. But no, I have modified the list of events I gave to you." Lavender caught his look of horror and couldn't help but laugh. "I thought it was a little unfair to only attend places I wanted to go to, so I added a few sporting events as well."

"You did?" He seemed incredulous.

"Not only for your sake, I assure you. A number of people from the ton attend such events so it will aid in my plan all the same. But I thought that perhaps you would be less likely to complain the entire time if you were enjoying yourself a little." She paused to frown at him. "You are a lover of sports, aren't you?"

"It depends. What kind are you talking about?"

"The next will be a horse racing event. I added a fencing match as well."

"Horse racing, you say." His distrusting expression faded into something quite close to satisfaction. "That does not sound too bad."

"Wonderful. I hoped you would say as much."

His scowl returned, though with markedly less force. "I hope you are not waiting for me to thank you."

Lavender shook her head with a smile. "I know better than to expect such a thing."

"Good."

Silence fell between them. Lavender kept that cheeky smile on her face, waiting for Austin to realize that that wasn't the end of it.

After a few seconds, he narrowed his eyes at her. "What is it? Why are you smiling like that?"

"Have I told you how handsome you looked yesterday, my lord?" she asked in an overly kind voice .

"Out with it. Your addition of the sporting events comes with a clause, doesn't it?"

"How astute of you. The answer is yes. It is dependent on you attending the tailor alongside me and my brother in a few days."

"The answer is no."

"May I remind you of what you're giving up?" she probed. They came to a stop by a pond. Lavender pulled her arm free of his and turned her back to the quacking ducklings to smile up at him. "Horses. Racing. Shouting. The hot sun." She paused. "Remind me again why men enjoy such things?"

Laughter shot past his lips before he could stop it. Lavender's eyes lit up with similar mirth. "You're a persistent lady, you know," he said.

"I am well aware. So, do we have a deal?"

"Reluctantly."

"Marvelous!" She slid her arm through his once more. "Now let us walk around some more to show these fickle lords and ladies what a lovely match we are."

Oddly enough, Austin didn't mind the thought of that half as much.