Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Lady Briarwood and her daughters were finally in awe of the dresses delivered to their shared dressing room that evening. The Countess Winstone had personally chosen their attire for an impromptu gala dinner that evening, or so said the note delivered with the garments that was signed by the countess herself.

"Oh, Mama! I have never seen such beautiful fabric! These clothes are divine!" Eleanor twirled with her dress in her arms and nearly fell to the floor in mid-swoon. It was the color of ripe boysenberries, but in a Greek goddess style with flowing chiffon fabric, a gold belt, and an attached and sheer chiffon cape. "These dresses must be from a costume ball. Even Lydia will look grand tonight, whether she wants to or not!"

Normally Charlotte would cackle in response to her sister teasing Lydia, but tonight she was just as mesmerized by the fine dresses that looked to be the perfect fit. She was starry-eyed as she smoothed a hand over her plum chiffon gown that came with gold slippers and a gold leaf crown.

"All of them are different shades of purple, Eleanor! The Winstone signature color!" Charlotte squealed and jumped up and down.

Lady Briarwood smiled as she touched the golden laurel tiara that came with her gown and looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Her coordinating violet chiffon dress was gorgeous with a sheer violet cape attached above the sleeves and delicate gold trim. "Lady Winstone certainly spoiled us tonight, ladies. We must express our gratitude when we see her at dinner."

Lydia sat on a cushioned stool with her dress draped across her lap. She loved hers, too, with its layers of lilac fabric and gold accessories.

The dress was exquisite, but her mood was still somber. Though she didn't regret her intimacy with Joseph, it was terribly unfortunate that Miss Underwood, of all people, knew about it and now held it over their heads.

Even more depressing was the fact that Joseph wanted to rush into marriage only to avoid scandal. Yes, he was willing to give up his independence to save his family's reputation, which was a noble thing to do. For that, she had great respect for him. But it was clear that, despite their closeness in such a short amount of time, Joseph did not yet have feelings for her as a husband had for a wife.

A few days ago, that would have been the furthest concern from her mind. But things had changed so quickly and she found herself reeling from it all. Joseph Penton, that beastly irritating man, had begun to grow on her. Even worse, he had suddenly become one of the few people in this world that she trusted the most.

How could I let that happen? And with a man who gives no value to knowing a wife's interests at all!

Lydia had so many conflicting feelings about Joseph that she had to lean against the wall behind the stool to keep from falling to the floor with dizziness. He was maddening and exciting. Protective and playful. Intelligent and so dashingly handsome that she could barely look away when he was in the room.

Or naked in the spring!

She wanted so much to share more about herself with him, but how could she when he seemed so uninterested in matters more serious than carnal pursuits?

As her sisters and mother chattered with joy around her and dressed for dinner, Lydia closed her eyes and dared to imagine Joseph working on a farm. She pictured him shirtless and sweaty. She could see his glistening biceps under the sun as he wiped his brow and drank from the glass of lemonade she brought him in the vision. Then he pressed her body into the soft side of a tall haystack, ripped her bodice open, and lifted her skirt up to her waist.

What happened next she couldn't quite visualize, but imagining his hands and lips all over her skin made her moan.

The sounds of her sisters giggling brought Lydia back to the present moment where she sighed and ran a comb slowly through her long, dark hair. Thankfully, Eleanor and Charlotte ignored her, but Lydia couldn't ignore the stirrings in her body that the viscount caused.

Yes, she desired Joseph. She may even be falling in love with him, as absurd as that sounded inside her own head. But how could he expect me to marry him before we are sure of each other?

A marriage was a lifetime commitment, not a simple solution to a temporary problem.

Plus, Lydia assumed that, much like their confinement at the Winstone estate, Miss Underwood would soon be a distant memory left in the past. Wilhelmina might be a threat while they were all at Winstone House, but she wouldn't always be, would she?

Then a new thought took hold in her brain as she watched her sisters pin their curls on top of their heads. If Wilhelmina did make good on her threat to spread vile rumors about the viscount, it wasn't likely that she would be able to marry him herself.

Wilhelmina's family would surely distance themselves from the Pentons until the scandal died down, and Joseph might decide to leave town or even the country for an extended stay. The chances of Miss Underwood having him all to herself under such scandalous circumstances were quite small.

Would Wilhelmina risk it anyway and tell their secrets, no matter the consequences that could destroy her own plans? Maybe. There was no way of knowing how far Miss Underwood would go to satisfy her needs. Or for pure entertainment.

Lydia and Joseph would have to take her at her word and assume they had until the bridge was repaired to at least publicly end their engagement.

And to stay far away from each other until then, if possible.

But Lydia did not see a separation between them happening. She couldn't let Miss Underwood control her life, just as she could not allow the aristocracy to continue to ignore the plight of their tenant farmers. She and Joseph would have to keep meeting in private to find a way to beat Miss Underwood at her own game.

And to continue our scientific experimentation, of course.

"Come with me, sister. You deserve as much glamour as the rest of us tonight." Eleanor held out her hand to Lydia and led her to the chair in front of the vanity mirror.

Lydia let out a long sigh as her sisters braided her hair and coiled it around her head, letting silky wisps of long dark curls frame her face and drape elegantly down her neck. They decorated her styled hair with the golden crown of laurel leaves that was delivered with her dress.

"You are stunning, Lydia. Truly a goddess this evening." Charlotte whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek. "Now put on that pretty gown and let's go have a night to remember!"

***

The orangery was already a magical oasis with tropical fruit trees, fountains, and sparkling chandeliers full of flickering candlelight visible in the gardens via the floor-to-ceiling windows. But that night, it was somehow even more breathtaking.

Lydia stood in the doorway with her mouth dropped open as her family and other guests walked around her. She scanned the enormous room filled with dining tables, Greek statues, gold-painted leafy garlands, extra flickering candlelight, and exquisite dishes and glassware.

And in the center of the orangery stood an enormous trickling fountain with a statue of the goddess Athena standing tall above its basin.

Most of the men were dressed in Greek warrior costumes that consisted of flowing white robes, gold sashes and capes, plus gold sandals and gold leaf crowns. Many of the women were in matching white and gold goddess costumes, if they hadn't lucked into borrowing gowns made of more colorful fabrics like the Carters wore.

It was an incredible display that felt like everyone had stepped back in time or into the pages of Lydia's favorite mythology books as a child.

The musicians from the orchestra that had played for the Winstone Ball were tucked in a corner and provided instrumental music that suited the setting perfectly.

"Apparently the orchestra has been stranded here for days, too," Eleanor whispered in Lydia's ear. "Maybe one of them has a secret fortune and a desire for dark-haired ladies with flexible physiques."

"Eleanor!" Lydia nearly choked from the shock of hearing such language coming from her younger sister's mouth.

"What? I'm built like an acrobat and it's going to waste!" Eleanor winked, then followed her mother and Charlotte toward the dining tables to look at the place setting name cards.

Lord Briarwood, dressed in a white flowing robe with gold belt and sash, stayed next to his oldest daughter as Lydia continued to stare at all the spendor around them. "This will all be yours one day, my dear, as the Viscountess Winstone."

He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I know that we don't see eye to eye on many things, Lydia, but I believe we are of the same mind when it comes to your engagement. You have done very well and made us proud. Lady Winstone personally thanked us today for helping her son find such a wonderful match. You must have done something special to impress her, because she seemed unsure of your union for the past day or two. Suddenly, she thinks the world of you, and I couldn't agree more. May I escort you to our table?"

Lydia looked up at her father with tears in her eyes. To hear him speak to her with such pride and respect was new and wonderful, but it was also overwhelming. She didn't deserve it because of all that was going on behind the scenes.

Soon, she would disappoint her family by backing out of the engagement, and possibly ruining their friendship with the Pentons altogether. It made her heart so heavy she could barely catch her breath. But she hid her turmoil the best she could to enjoy the splendid evening.

She squeezed her father's hand and smiled. "I would like that, Father. Thank you."

As she accompanied her father through the beautiful setting with a delightful scent of citrus, Lydia spotted Joseph standing with his brothers near the orchestra. He looked so handsome in a gold Greek warrior costume complete with thick gold cuffs around his toned upper arms and a metal sword hanging from his belt.

It wasn't long before his piercing hazel eyes locked with hers from across the room. They gazed at each other with dramatic longing like they were characters in a fairytale. Except, in this instance, the handsome Greek god was a dashing viscount who had suddenly become a source of danger to her and her family thanks to threats from Miss Underwood. As I have become the same to his.

Lydia broke their gaze first and tried to put her troubles out of her mind. Soon enough, she and Joseph would devise a plan to make this mess disappear.

And the key to making that possible might just be the redheaded maid who wanted nothing more than to cause Miss Underwood a great deal of discomfort for threatening to ruin her mistress.

***

Dinner was just as divine as the decor, the music, and the company. Much to Lydia's surprise, she and her siblings got along beautifully and their whole family laughed together over silly inside jokes. Even William, who'd arrived to dinner thirty minutes late, was fully engaged with the family instead of in his usual state of distraction since the night of the storms.

Lord and Lady Winstone stopped by their table during the entree service. The countess put her hands on Lydia's shoulders and thanked her for their talk that afternoon at tea. "Lord and Lady Briarwood, your lovely daughter opened my eyes to something important and I want to express my gratitude."

Lydia looked up at Lady Winstone standing behind her and took in a deep breath of anticipation. Was the Countess about to thank her for mentioning the tenant farmers and their hard work? Did she want to talk more about how to help families like the Musgroves?

"Is that so, Lady Winstone? Do tell!" Lady Briarwood dabbed the corners of her mouth with a linen napkin the shade of an amethyst crystal, then smiled at her oldest daughter.

"Your Lydia reminded me of how glorious our gardens look this season and it gave me some inspiration for another ball during your stay! We shall decorate our ballroom with magnificent blooms and host a flower-themed dance! It's a marvelous idea, is it not?" Lady Winstone beamed from ear to ear as her husband and Lydia's father exchanged looks that hinted of the eye rolls they didn't dare display.

Lydia flattened her lips into a straight line to prevent them from curving into a frown as her sisters and mother clapped with joy. William looked down at his plate with his hand covering a very big grin on his face.

"How wonderful, my lady! My girls and I will adore such a beautiful event! Please let us know if we can help with arrangements in any way. And we wish to thank you for the splendid costumes this evening. We are very grateful for your generosity," Lady Briarwood said as she reached for her husband and son's hands and gave them each a warning squeeze to keep the men from embarrassing her with teasing looks in front of their hosts.

"It's my pleasure, Lady Briarwood! We will make sure your family is dressed well for my flower ball, too. I know just the young lady I want as my special assistant for the event. Would you do me the honor, Lady Lydia?" The countess leaned down with her hands still on Lydia's shoulders and whispered in her ear. "Unless you'd rather we have the farmers plan it instead?"

Lady Winstone giggled as Lydia's spine stiffened. That last thing she needed right now was the countess stealing her every waking moment, but how could she say no?

"I would be honored, Lady Winstone. Thank you for asking me." Lydia tried to sound enthusiastic and it must have worked because the table erupted in more applause and the countess kissed Lydia on the cheek.

"Excellent! We shall begin our planning for the flower ball in the morning. Who knows, it might become another annual Winstone event!"

Lord Winstone finally led his wife away from the table as William snickered in the chair between Lydia and his mother. Both women gave him stern looks, but they failed to diminish his joy.

"I can only imagine the conversation that brought on that idea, sister! Did you really just volunteer yourself to plan a ball? The only ball you would have any interest in planning would be one that required a lengthy dissertation on seed germination in order to get in!" William leaned his chair back and laughed so hard that he nearly tumbled backward into a potted orange tree.

"William, must you behave like a naughty child at every opportunity? I'm tired of repeating myself. Please, I beg you, take your leave of us again if you cannot be civilized in a formal setting." Lydia's mother looked to her husband for support, but he was already standing, about to step away from the table.

"Let the ladies enjoy their fancy dinner, son. The men's game room is open tonight and I need some refreshment stronger than the tea." Lord Briarwood waited for William to follow as Lydia folded her arms across her chest.

Why only the men get to escape any time they want to is beyond me. And I never asked to plan a stupid ball!

"Sorry, my lord, but I have plans with some of the other gents. I'll join you tomorrow instead. Good evening, ladies." William stretched, then stood over Lydia and kissed her on the nose. "I'm only teasing, dear sister, because you are such a good sport."

Lydia took a swing at her brother's head, but he pulled away just in time and laughed his way to the orangery door, then out into the night.

"Mama, I forgot to ask the countess where and when to meet her in the morning. May I be excused to find her and make those arrangements?" Lydia had no intention of seeking out chatty Lady Winstone, but she did need to find a way to talk with Joseph again. There was no time to waste toward outsmarting Wilhelmina's schemes.

However, she had no idea where Miss Underwood might be lurking, so she had to be more cautious than ever.

"Yes, dear. But don't disturb the countess for long. She has many guests to tend to this evening," Lydia's mother replied.

"I won't. Thank you!" Lydia quickly rose from her seat and moved through the crowded orangery as the dancing flames from many candles led her way.

Unfortunately, Joseph and his family had vacated the head table already, but she spotted the viscount walking away from the orangery from her view through one of the tall glass walls.

Lydia also located Miss Underwood speaking with Lord Triton by one of the dessert tables decorated with more pretty cakes than she'd ever seen before.

"Good. They deserve each other," she whispered to herself, then made her way out into the misty night made dreamy by the glow of the full moon above.

Joseph was walking many paces ahead with Henry and Maria. Lydia kept to the tall bushes at the side of the main garden as she followed them, getting closer by the minute and having no idea how to get his attention without being noticed.

Just as she was about to call out to him, a familiar crow song sounded from the other side of the bushes.

And it had quite a distinct Irish accent for a bird.

"Ca-CAW! Ca-CAW!"

Lydia peered into the dark bushes as a small, pale hand reached out and grabbed her arm, then pulled her through the shrubs.

"Please don't scream, my lady! It's just me, Bridget! I have a message for you!"

Lydia heard Bridget's excited whispers as she crashed into her maid from the force of being yanked. The two women toppled to the ground together and formed what would have looked like a comical heap of upturned legs and exposed shifts had anyone witnessed it.

"Bridget, you scared me to death! Next time please wait for me to come to you, alright?" Lydia rolled onto her knees, then stood up again to brush the dirt off her silky lilac dress. She held out her hand to help Bridget up, then lightly swatted the maid's hands away a minute later when Bridget attempted to brush dirt off Lydia's backside.

"I'm sorry, m'lady!" Bridget's whispers got louder as Lydia's frown grew more severe. "Viscount Winstone said I must find you urgently after dinner and tell you to meet him at the stables! Please hurry!"

Lydia stopped messing with her mussed clothing and stared at Bridget with widened eyes. "When did you speak with the viscount? I was just following him!"

Bridget dared to reach up and pluck a tiny twig from Lydia's hair, then retreated a few steps back and wrung her hands together. "We spoke earlier, but I could not get to you until now. The viscount said he has some information that must be shared at the stables and you are to meet him there post haste after dinner."

Lydia threw her hands in the air with frustration and then propped them on her waist. "And the viscount assumed that I would know where at the stables we are to meet? Upon my word, that man can be so aggravating…"

"My lady, you must go immediately! I will lead you there!" Bridget touched Lydia's arm again but this time didn't dare yank her forward. "We can sneak through the dark behind the stables to where the viscount should be waiting. I'll show you."

Lydia had no time to respond before Bridget bolted past her and sprinted toward a group of buildings where the smell of animals got stronger the more steps they took.

She followed her maid through a side garden gate, through a large grouping of idle carriages, then finally to the darkest side of a massive building where Lydia could see faint shadows of stabled horses through the windows.

Sure enough, the viscount was waiting when they arrived. And though it was quite dark, she could tell that Joseph was angry. He paced back and forth in his Greek warrior costume, muttering to himself, until Lydia and Bridget drew near.

"Finally! Did you ladies stop for tea and biscuits on the way here? Thank you, Bridget. Please go back to the house and wait for Lady Lydia's return." Joseph dismissed Miss Kelly with a wave toward Winstone House and waited as the maid curtsied and dashed away.

"Is there no end to your rudeness, my lord? I am here, am I not? I'll have you know that I was coming to find you when Bridget pulled me in the bushes and nearly ruined this beautiful dress that your mother kindly…"

"We have no time to speak of dresses, little nymph! While at dinner in the orangery, I accidentally overheard a secret conversation when I was standing among the fruit trees keeping my eye on you." The viscount pointed at Lydia and scowled as he stepped so close to her there was no mistaking his wrinkled brow and flared nostrils.

"What are you saying? You were spying on me?" Lydia pointed right back at Joseph and wanted very much to snarl at him.

"No, not spying on you, protecting you. Miss Underwood's threats are beyond alarming and I cannot allow her to follow you around to gather more damaging evidence that might lead to your ruin." Joseph's expression softened as he gazed from Lydia's eyes to her lips and back again.

Her muscles relaxed a bit as the citrusy scent still lingering on Joseph's skin wafted up to delight her senses. The inviting smell of him instantly rekindled her desire to experience more lusty experimentation, which made it much harder to continue scolding him for whatever they were doing together behind a stable at night.

Certainly he doesn't expect to continue our intimacies back here!

"My lord, I am grateful for your protection, I am. But I don't understand how that has led to me standing here with the hem of my dress sinking into the muck." As she cocked an eyebrow and waited for Joseph's explanation, she realized who he might be talking about. "Wait, I saw Lord Triton and Miss Underwood talking privately at dinner. Is that the conversation you overheard?"

Joseph shook his head. "I wish that were the case, Lydia, but it's far worse. And if what I heard can be trusted, you will be able to see who I overheard through a vent at the other end of this stable, though I haven't dared yet to check."

Lydia looked past Joseph, then back at his face. "What do you mean? They are in the stable right now?"

Joseph nodded and winced. "I believe so. They planned to meet here at this hour. Prepare yourself for a scandalous view that will upset us both."

Lydia put her hands on his chest and pressed her cheek against the side of his face so her lips were close to his ear. "My lord, I don't know if you are teasing me but you are definitely frightening me. Please stop stalling and either tell me or show me whatever it is."

The viscount pulled Lydia's body against his for a moment and buried his nose in the long curls of dark hair floating against her neck. "I'm sorry, my lady, for what we are about to see."

Then he pulled back and took Lydia's hand. He guided her behind him along the back of the stable until they reached a point where a small vent protruded from the exterior wall. He held his index finger up to his mouth to remind her to be as quiet as possible as he slowly pulled both of them down into a crouching position at eye level with the vent.

Joseph peered through it first, then jerked his head back and winced again. He scooted to the left to give Lydia a better position and see what he had just witnessed through the wooden slats that led into a back stall.

Lydia locked eyes with Joseph for a few seconds before daring to peek into the stable. When she finally focused on the scene inside, she quickly let out a yelp and fell back on her bottom in the dirt.

Inside an otherwise empty stall full of fresh hay were her brother William and Oliver Penton's wife, Sophia, kissing and pawing at each other's bodies with the urgency of forbidden desire.