Chapter Eighteen

E ven though he had expected to be turned away, Seth still called on Frances in the afternoon on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and he accepted that she was resting from her duties that kept her busy to the early morning hours at Athena’s Salon. Therefore, each afternoon he returned home and put his mind to clearing the desk in the library.

It also took much longer than he had anticipated as he realized that not only were there books to review and update, but also several missives that required his attention. He had assumed they were simply invitations to be ignored since he had not intended on attending another ball. The one Lady Heath held had not only been a disappointment but a bore, and he assumed that the ones held by those in Society would be no different.

However, he did come across the one from Lady Perrington and set it aside as he would be in attendance, and with Frances on his arm.

The rest, he nearly tossed, but then reconsidered as he did not know what the future held and perhaps, he might just enjoy being in Society with Frances.

In the evenings, he attended to The Emerald Garter as he was at a loss with Frances not available to him. However, that did not mean that she was not constantly on his mind. So often he shook his head over how foolish he had been five years ago.

Yes, he had his reasons, much of it fueled by fear, but it had still been the wrong decision. He should have found her at the very first function, danced with her, then courted her, then married. They may have even become parents by now.

Except, it is also likely he would have set aside his dreams for The Emerald Garter because he had wanted to be financially independent of his father. Seth would not have taken such a risk had Frances been in his life.

Seth pushed his thoughts aside, nothing could be done about his decisions so long ago, but what he did going forward mattered very much.

As he was about to leave to call on Frances, he was stopped when a missive arrived from his older brother, Wesley, Marquess Epworth.

He almost dismissed it because there were already four letters on his desk from his father that he had yet to answer.

Seth held his brother’s letter for but a moment then tossed it on top of the others and strode from the room only to stop and return to his desk. He wanted to be able to tell Frances that he had cleaned his desk, opened every missive and invitation, and balanced his books, which he could not do if he did not read his brother’s letter.

Besides, this was from Wesley, not his father and ill-ease settled into the pit of his stomach. His father had been demanding that he return home for an important discussion. What if he was ill, or getting too old to continue with matters that were required at the estate? He was only two and fifty and their grandfather had worked in the caves…it was in his fiftieth year that his grandfather had decided he was too old to haul crates from boats or load wagons and took to managing matters from the desk in his library overlooking the coast.

He tore the seal and unfolded the parchment.

Seth,

As you have ignored father’s missives, I am instructing you to return to Forester Park by Monday, October 6 th . Decisions need to be made and there will be a family gathering where you are expected to be in attendance. Also, if it would be not too difficult, bring our sister, Blythe, with you.

Wesley

Seth frowned. What was so urgent and why didn’t his brother write of the decisions that needed to be addressed? His father had not given any indication of why he was needed at home either, which only caused further concern because if it was serious, would they not write it in a letter? Unless, if it was of a very private nature, they may not want to risk anyone accidentally reading the letter.

October sixth was in a fortnight.

As much as Seth did not want to return to Laswell right now, he really had no choice.

With a sigh, he rose from his desk and strode to the door to call on Frances as that was the only plan he had for today but as he stepped into the entry he heard a small cry and turned to find Blythe grasping the balustrade and sitting on a step. Her face was a mask of pain and he rushed forward.

“What happened?”

“I slipped,” she winced.

“Are you harmed?”

“I am not certain.” Blythe pulled herself up, took a deep breath, then took a step before she winced and stopped. “I believe I may have injured my ankle.”

Seth climbed the stairs and swept her into his arms before carrying her to the front parlor where he placed her on the settee then lifted her skirt slightly to examine her ankle. Already it was starting to swell.

“George!” he yelled for the butler who appeared almost instantly. “Send for a doctor. My sister has suffered an injury.”

“What doctor?” Blythe demanded, almost in a panic.

“The same doctor we always call for,” he responded.

“I have not had cause to see a physician since before I left London.”

He had not needed one in years either.

Seth turned to his butler. “Who do we call?” he asked.

His butler frowned. “I do not know, Lord Seth.”

Blast! How could they not have a doctor?

“Is there someone you would recommend?”

“I have had cause to visit Dr. Xavier Sinclair. He keeps an office in Covent Garden.”

“Send for him,” Seth ordered.

“If he is not available, I will ask if Dr. Orlando Valentine can call.”

“No!” Blythe squeaked. “Anyone but him.”

“Very well,” George answered. “If not Dr. Sinclair, then we will find another, suitable doctor.”

“Why do you have an objection to Dr. Valentine?” Seth knew him, as he and his brothers sometimes frequented The Emerald Garter.

“He was at Waterloo,” she said quietly.

With that answer, Seth asked no more questions because Blythe would not talk of time following the drum and that was the battle where her husband had died. As she wished to avoid the memories, he would not force them on her.

“You do not need to remain with me,” Blythe insisted after George had left. “I know you intended to call on Miss Hawthorn this afternoon.”

“I will not leave you alone and I want to know what the doctor says of your injuries.”

“It is simply a twisted ankle,” she promised.

“You do not know that and you will not get rid of me so easily.”

Blythe rolled her eyes and leaned back against the pillows. “Then the least you could do is pour me a brandy.”

He grinned and crossed to the sideboard and did as she asked, also pouring one for himself. After he placed it in her hand, he returned to the library to retrieve the letters from his father and Wesley and handed them to her.

With each letter, Blythe frowned further until she had finished reading them all.

“Why do you suppose they want us home?” she asked with concern.

“I do not know. I suppose my question is, will you be accompanying me when I leave for Laswell?”

As the afternoon grew late, Frances became anxious and quickly realized that she was experiencing the same excitement and anticipation, and also worry, as when she had waited for Seth to return to the cottage.

How easy it had been to fall back into old habits, and former emotions.

When had she fallen back in love with that scoundrel?

Yes, Frances acknowledged that she still loved him, but thought she was being much more careful in guarding her heart.

If her emotions indicated anything, it was that she had allowed herself to become vulnerable again and if she were to receive word that he had decided not to call or no longer wished to further their acquaintance, she would be just as crushed today as she had been then.

That would not do!

This was not part of her plan, which meant that she needed to act sooner than she had anticipated. She had to get her revenge before it was too late and it was her heart that was broken again instead of his.

As the sun dipped and the lamp lighters came around, Frances could not bring herself to leave her set of rooms. It was necessary that she do so because Tessa and His Grace were to join them for dinner to discuss the upcoming salons, but Frances truly had no interest because she was too busy reeling from the fact that she had allowed herself to fall in love with that rogue again.

She truly thought she had been careful, so how had it happened?

Maybe it was not love.

It could simply be lust and desire. Misses often confused the emotions and as she had not ever experienced the want and need for intimacy before…well, other than when Seth kissed her at the cottage, she might have the emotions confused as well.

That must be it because she could not have possibly fallen in love with someone who had hurt her so deeply. Yes, a part of her would always love Seth from the past and what they had shared, but she was not in love with him now because it simply was not possible and would not do.

At the knock on her door, Frances blew out a sigh and assumed dinner was being served and crossed to allow the maid entrance. Instead, it was a footman who held a missive, which she took and she once again closed the door. With a frown, Frances opened it and read.

Franny,

It had been my intention to call on you today but was delayed when Blythe slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle. I had thought it was fractured but it is only a sprain. I remained with her until the doctor arrived, which took nearly two hours from when we had sent for him and delayed my being able to call on you. Though she insisted that I could leave, I do not feel right doing so as I do not want to leave it to my servants to watch over her. I do hope you understand.

You should also know that I received missives from my father and brother and they have ordered me home and expect my arrival no later than the sixth day of October. I would ask you to accompany me, but as you rejected my request for your company in Doncaster for the St. Leger Stakes, I assume you would also decline accompanying me to Laswell. I would like to leave for home by Friday as I am concerned as to why my presence is required so urgently but hope not to be gone long.

I look forward to calling on you tomorrow evening and escorting you to Lady Perrington’s ball, but more importantly, I look forward to our first waltz.

Yours,

Seth

While she was relieved that it was Blythe’s injury that kept him at home, and Frances truly did hope that she had a quick recovery, she was disturbed by his other news.

Had he really assumed that she did not want to accompany him to Laswell or was he using her reason for not traveling with him previously as an excuse not to ask her to accompany him home?

He could have at least asked. Yet, he had not and suspicions filled her being. She was good enough to court, to be seen with about London, dance with at balls but not to visit his family estate. No doubt, if the matter were truly urgent Lady Blythe would also accompany him, which would provide a proper chaperone.

Then, another thought occurred to her. A gentleman took a mistress to the races and never to his home. Was that how Seth envisioned their future? He certainly had been more forward in his advances than he had ever been before. Twice he had nearly seduced her, and Frances had not discouraged him.

She also realized that her assumptions could be wrong, though it truly did not matter because the time had come to end their association anyway. Her heart was already at risk and she would not allow herself to be in love with someone who had lost her trust.

With those thoughts, Frances set the missive aside and joined the others in the parlor to await supper.

“I have given the matter some consideration and if you wish to offer Lord Seth a subscription to Athena’s Salon, I will not object,” she announced.

“He does have deep pockets,” Tessa grinned. “I will see that it is delivered tomorrow.”

Soon whatever she shared with Seth would come to an end.

It was for the better, she reminded herself, but already her heart ached at the loss. She was also thankful that she had not decided to allow him to be her lover because Frances feared that had that come about, she would not have had the heart to exact her revenge.