Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ruth left her horse in her brother's stables and walked the windy path toward his house. Maybe she should have brought Pimm, but she didn't feel the need to have a chaperone when she was visiting her brother's house. He was chaperone enough for her.

Though she would suffer when she returned home, she knew that much. Pimm could wear the most disappointed expression for an inordinate length of time.

But she had yet to find an opportunity to speak to Oliver alone about Aurelia's brother, and she had hoped to come upon him somewhere on the road during her ride over. She had meandered slowly through so many different roads that Mr. Chatham, who had passed her twice, was certain to wonder if she was up to some mischief.

Alas, no Oliver.

Mr. Pike opened the door, giving her a dip of his head. "Good day, Miss Wycliffe."

"I am not here to see my brother," she informed him, stepping inside and pulling at her gloves. "Is Miss Beswick available?"

"Allow me to inquire."

"Is she in the schoolroom? I can inquire," Ruth said, starting toward the stairs.

"I believe so."

"Thank you, Pike." Ruth climbed the wide staircase. She would much rather explain her errand in person. Her objective in discovering what the governess had been hiding had thus far been anything but fruitful. Yes, the woman had a brother, and given the way she had slipped, it was clear that brother was Nathaniel. It was senseless to raise an alarm with Ryland before discovering exactly why Aurelia was hiding that bit of information. For nefarious purposes? Or because she feared his reaction?

The more Ruth came to know Aurelia, the more she believed in the woman's inherent goodness. As much as she liked Aurelia—and she did, truly—Ruth's priorities were firmly with her brother and nephew. If there was a dark secret in this house, she would discover it. If not, she would take what she knew to Ryland and allow him to proceed however he needed to.

Ruth could hear Aurelia reading to Edmund before she reached the door. She paused outside of it, listening for key words to betray which story it was. After a few more minutes, she still couldn't identify it. She knocked on the door and pushed it open. "Good day, my favorite nephew," she said, flashing him a smile.

Edmund sat on a chair pulled up close to Aurelia's side, light streaming through the window and lighting the book tucked on both of their laps. His blond curls were glowing golden, his blue eyes bright and interested. Leaning over Aurelia's arm the way he was, with her golden hair glowing in the sunlight and her blue eyes bright as well, they appeared like mother and son—not in appearance alone, but in the comfort and affection integrated in their pose. It was a startlingly sweet image, and Ruth had to bite back a surge of emotion. She missed Jane immensely, and she was so grateful Edmund had his governess now.

"Good day, Ruth," Aurelia said, closing the book but keeping her finger on the page so as not to lose their place.

Edmund sat up. "Are you here to read with us? Did you bring Tom?"

"Not today. I came to ask for Miss Beswick's help on another matter, but I can see you are occupied."

"Edmund has a lesson with Mr. Barnes in half an hour. Can I help you then?"

"That would be splendid."

"Do you want to listen to the story with us?" Edmund offered.

"Or," Aurelia said, eyeing him. "We could walk down to Mr. Barnes's house a little early and stop in at the oak tree to check on our little squirrel friend."

Edmund shot to his feet. "That is my favorite idea of them all."

"It is settled then." Aurelia stood, crossing to the small bookcase set against the wall. She put a scrap of paper where they had been reading, then slid the book into place on the shelf. Turning, she gave Ruth a bright smile. "Shall we?"

"I would love to."

Aurelia retrieved her bonnet. She tied the ribbons as they walked down the stairs, only needing to remind Edmund not to run on two occasions. Once they reached the back garden path that led to the lawn, Ruth walked beside Aurelia. "My mother has been tasked with acting as a hostess for a ball here at the end of Ryland's hunting party. Have you heard of it yet?"

"It was mentioned at the race, but only in passing." Aurelia looked at her, surprised. "You mean to imply Lord Ryland is choosing to throw a ball? He did not sound enthusiastic about it."

"I'm not sure who placed the idea in his head. I am in no way surprised to hear it wasn't of his own making."

"Mr. Oliver Rose did, I believe. That was how it sounded to me, but I was not privy to their entire conversation."

Ruth laughed. "That is not who I expected. Either way, Ry has decided it is the thing to do, and he needs a hostess. So, of course, he's asked Lady Helena."

"Naturally."

"My task, thanks to my relation, is much less enjoyable. I have the honor of writing and addressing invitations for our local friends. I was hoping you would help me."

"I would be glad to. When?"

Relief loosened the tension in her shoulders. "Now, if you are not too busy."

Aurelia chuckled, looking to where Edmund had run on ahead. "You came at a fortuitous time." She shot Ruth a suspicious glance. "Has someone informed you of our schedule?"

"Ryland did visit yesterday to ask our mother about the ball. I might have been told Edmund has a standing appointment with Mr. Barnes. Something to do with identifying animals."

"Their footprints, to be more precise, but yes, he does. Your brother must approve of you enlisting my help?"

"He must, or he would not have told me when I could find you available." Ruth stopped walking since they'd reached the tree. "He did tell me I mustn't bother you if you are otherwise engaged, Miss Beswick."

"Surely, by now, you really ought to call me Aurelia, I think."

Ruth was touched. "Very well, Aurelia."

They shared a smile of friendship before turning their attention back to the tree. "I cannot see the squirrel," Aurelia said. "I hope he did not leave, or Edmund will be so disappointed."

Ruth searched the branches and ground for the little red animal, but came up short. "Is it the wrong time of day for him to be out?"

"Could be. I'll come look in the morning if we do not see him now."

Ruth gave her an overzealous grin. "So, will you help?"

Aurelia nodded. "I would be happy to."

"Wonderful." Ruth clapped her hands together. "I will prepare everything we need. Will you meet me in the drawing room when you're finished here?"

"The library has better light right now."

Edmund, who was standing just in front of them, turned around. "You should trust Miss Beswick. She knows everything about light."

Aurelia laughed, but quickly covered the sound and nodded gravely. "I do know quite a lot. Edmund has been helping me make a study of which rooms in the house have the best light at certain times of the day."

"I see." Ruth looked between them. "Then I shall trust your opinion and set our things in the library."

"If his lordship is not using it?—"

"Of course," Ruth said. Though she didn't mean it. They would need the light to see, and Ryland would not care if he was ousted from his reading place. The man forever had his nose pushed into a book. He could do that elsewhere, surely. Ruth made her way back to the house and found the library to be empty, though, so it hadn't mattered. She stood in the silence for a few seconds, chewing on her lips, before she turned directly around and knocked at the study door.

"Enter," came Ryland's muffled reply.

She pushed the door open, surprised by his unkempt hair and tired eyes. His cravat had been loosened and his coat was slung across the back of another chair.

"Ruthy," he said, his voice tired. "To what do I owe this great pleasure?"

Guilt nipped at her heels, propelling her into the room. "You do not look well, brother."

"Thank you. It is always a pleasure to see you, as well."

She shot him a wry smile, dropping into the chair opposite his desk. Biting back the temptation to press him further, she gripped the wooden edges of the arm rests. "I asked for Aurelia's help in addressing invitations for your ball, but it occurred to me to ask if she was to be invited to attend."

"She is the governess," he said, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.

"She is a good one, too, by all accounts."

Ryland gave her a flat look. "You know very well we have grown to appreciate her immensely."

"What is your answer then?"

"She is the governess," he repeated quietly, an undertone of longing coloring his words.

Ruth toyed with the temptation to tell him of Aurelia's brother, to break the news that it was highly likely the man was Nathaniel, but swallowed the impulse. Ryland was in no position currently to accept bad news. Without confirmation, it was mere gossip, anyway. There were other men's names that began in Na—, were there not? There must be.

She tucked her cheeks into a broad smile. "You had dinner with a blacksmith last week, if I am not mistaken."

"This town talks far too much," he muttered, running a hand over his face.

"I like Aurelia?—

"That is very plain. I was unaware you were already calling her by her Christian name."

"This is your ball, Ry. It is your decision."

He looked down at the desk, a furrow on his brow, his lips pinched together. "Give me time," he said quietly.

"I can do that." Ruth knew when not to press. She stood, smoothing down the long train of her riding habit. "I had better go. She'll be wondering where I am."

He looked up at her, grimacing. "Has she agreed to help write the invitations?"

"She has."

He glanced at the door behind her, a look of longing passing over his face, before he shuttered it and smiled at Ruth. "Thank you for helping with the ball."

"Of course. This is what family does." She turned away before he felt a need to explain himself further. He couldn't know the relief and joy Lady Helena had expressed after he'd asked her to be hostess for his ball, even if the entire event was only because he'd felt obligated to provide his hunting party guests with grander entertainment than his card table. His family was overjoyed he was taking steps to return to Society—attending church, hosting events, inviting others into his heart again. Ruth had watched Lady Helena and Papa quietly celebrate each step Ryland took, but the most rewarding thing of all had been witnessing the light return to his eyes.

Which was why his current exhaustion was concerning. Ruth didn't want to cause him distress—she wanted to help.

Which she did. It took a quarter of an hour to gather the necessary supplies and write out the first invitation so she and Aurelia each had something to copy from. When Aurelia joined her a few minutes later, she sat primly at the round table, the array of maps pushed to one side, and immediately started writing.

Ruth peered over Aurelia's shoulder, admiring the elegant, loopy words. "I knew your hand would be particularly lovely. Mrs. Hoskins felt compelled to force me to practice until I could write like a lady."

"She was effective," Aurelia agreed.

They each wrote out a half-dozen invitations, chatting about the various families in town and the harvest fete coming up.

"Is it not usually meant to be at the end of September?" Aurelia asked. "We are already well into October."

"The vicar could not do it then, and the church oversees much of the planning. They moved it, which I think is a blessing, for now Ryland and his hunting party can enjoy it as well."

Aurelia cringed.

"What is it?" Ruth asked.

She looked up, her blue eyes round and worried. "Can I confide in you?" She seemed to make a personal decision before continuing. "I must confess something to your brother, and I'm afraid I do not know the best way to go about it. I've agonized over this for weeks, and every day the reality becomes harder to face. I've had numerous opportunities to speak to him, but each time I've failed to come up to snuff. I do not know what to do."

Ruth put her pen down. "I will do my best to help you." She meant it with all her heart.

Aurelia drew in a steadying breath. She glanced at the door before closing her eyes. "My brother is the Nathaniel Beswick everyone in this family despises," she whispered, then looked at Ruth. "For good reason, too. I do not condone his past behavior."

Ruth was struck with a wave of disappointment. She had been holding onto the frail hope that Aurelia's brother was any other man, that there was no relation to Ryland's school tormentor. Now her stomach was queasy with uncertainty.

Ryland would not be happy about this. His expression when she had entered his study only minutes ago popped into her mind, and she knew she could not allow the burden of this knowledge to fall upon his shoulders just yet.

How would he respond? Would he throw Aurelia out? Force Edmund to bid her farewell forever? That boy doted on his governess. He should not be compelled into a final parting just now.

Aurelia chewed on her lip. Her eyes pleaded with Ruth, begging for help.

"Honestly," Ruth said, "I'm not entirely sure how my brother will respond. Nathaniel tormented him in school. I am not certain how much you know about the situation, but Ryland wrote to our mother and begged to be allowed home. She almost agreed, but it was close to the summer holiday, so she forced him to remain and finish the term. He didn't ask again after that."

Aurelia's face fell. The sorrow in her blue eyes was too deep and pure to be feigned.

"He told me when he returned home he had found a friend in the stables and spent all the time there he could. He has never said as much, but I'm certain the only way he managed to finish school was because he'd found companionship. The boys who were meant to be sons of the upper echelons of Society only used Ryland to have access to his schoolwork. I do not know how much you know, but Nathaniel attempted to befriend him again after school."

Aurelia sat straighter. "What do you mean?"

"In London, after university. He apologized for all he did and tried to forge a friendship. It did not take Ryland long to discover Nathaniel was only using his title to gain acceptance to exclusive gaming hells. He ceased the connection at once and felt the fool all over again."

Aurelia dropped her face in her hands, her voice muffled when she spoke. "I had no notion of it. What do I do?"

Ruth rallied, taking Aurelia's hand from her face and squeezing it between both of her own. "He knows your character. Surely he could bear learning of the relation and be able to separate you from your brother? It is exceedingly clear you and Nathaniel are nothing alike."

"I thought so, but he told me about his tormentors last week and he did not seem to be in a forgiving spirit. I am afraid the dishonesty will anger him as much as my relationship to Nathaniel."

"If not more," Ruth muttered. "Even if you have not yet spoken a blatant lie, he will be hurt that you did not tell him before now."

Aurelia's shoulders slumped. She dropped her forehead onto her hand and sighed. "What am I to do?"

Was there a kinder, more charitable man than Ryland? Ruth didn't know of any. Aside from her own wonderful father, of course, Ryland set the standard for good men in her life. But a person in pain could not always be depended on for rational thinking or easy forgiveness. It was a risk—but an important one. If Aurelia did not tell him soon, the pain would only amplify. "I suppose you ought to trust that you know his character, and that he knows yours, and tell him the truth."

Aurelia nodded resolutely, determination lighting her eyes. "You are correct." But her voice was so small; she didn't sound as determined as she looked.

Ruth pulled another sheet of paper toward herself and began writing out an invitation. "When you first came here, I thought Ryland would send you away. Your resemblance to Jane is uncanny."

Aurelia froze, her pen dipped in the ink. She lifted it out and tapped the excess away. "Is that so? I've seen a portrait, but I did not have that impression."

"My watercolor? I am an amateur. You are similar enough and exceedingly pretty. Blonde, slender, blue eyes." Ruth shrugged. She tried to sound confident. "He overcame the difficulty of that. He can overcome the difficulty of this as well. If not for your sake, then at least for Edmund's."

Aurelia's pen hovered above her sheet of paper until a drop of ink spilled, splattering over the phrase You are invited .

Ruth leaned over her friend and took the pen from her fingers, setting it down. She placed her hand over Aurelia's and tried to infuse her voice with confidence. "It will all be well, Aurelia. Things have a way of working themselves out for the best."

Something in Aurelia's face proved that might not have been the case for her in the past.