Chapter Six

S eth spent a good portion of the night tossing and turning.

She’d rejected him last night. He had asked to call on her and she declined his request.

Frances hadn’t even offered a polite excuse, simply told him no . Yet, all he could think about was seeing her again.

To what purpose, he wasn’t certain, but the need was nearly overpowering.

Frances, however, wanted nothing to do with him. She’d not only rejected him once last night, but the second was when he offered to see her home.

It was his own fault, of course. He knew his reasons for ending their relationship, and they were sound at the time, if not selfish. He also hadn’t counted on that the moment he saw Frances again that every memory and emotion would rush to the surface.

Ending what he had shared with Frances may have been the biggest mistake of his life.

The question was, what could he do about it now?

Was there a chance to win his friend back? Win her love again?

There was no other woman that he had ever wanted as much as Frances.

Seth pushed his fingers through his hair as he made his way to the breakfast room and hoped that his cook would not mind making a pot of coffee instead of tea.

“Good morning,” Blythe greeted him cheerfully.

He nearly scowled, but reminded himself that it wasn’t Blythe’s fault that he was in a foul mood.

“What are your plans for today?” she asked.

He intended to convince Frances to at least talk to him. “Nothing specific,” he answered instead. “Why?”

“Because you were correct. I needed to leave this house and rejoin Society. The theatre and masquerade proved that to me.”

At least he had been right about something. Just not the decisions that had altered his life.

“I am glad to hear it.” He took his seat at the table and a footman approached. “Coffee today, and a light breakfast please.”

With just the two of them, Cook did not prepare food for a sideboard. Instead, she waited until they appeared downstairs to find out what he and Blythe might wish to have for breaking their fast.

The footman retrieved one of the pots and filled his cup with dark liquid, which Seth took a drink of almost immediately.

“I am glad that you are free this afternoon,” Blythe announced.

Seth looked at her over the rim of his cup. While he was happy that she wanted to be out of the house, he wasn’t so certain he should be the one to join her. “Why?”

“I have not been to Astley’s Amphitheatre since before I married. There is a performance this afternoon and I would like to attend.”

Seth couldn’t recall the last time he had been to Astley’s Amphitheatre and wasn’t so certain he wished to attend today. He needed to see Frances.

“Why not ask Tessa.”

“Because you need to be out as well as I. We discussed this. Therefore, you will take me to Astley’s Amphitheatre this afternoon.”

Blythe then set her cup in the saucer, rose and left him alone.

Seth frowned and wondered at the change. He had to practically beg her to attend the theatre the other evening and she attended the masquerade with reluctance, but now she was the one insisting on another outing. Was it really because she wanted to enjoy entertainments, or was she up to something?

Though, in truth, he could not imagine what ulterior motives she might have for making him take her anywhere. It wasn’t as if anything particular happened last night to alter her perception. She’d not danced with anyone and only stood with Tessa and Lady Bethany.

It could simply be that once Blythe had experienced being out again, surrounded by other people, she became aware of what she had been denying herself and wished to enjoy other activities. For that reason, he would happily accompany her while formulating plans on how to win Frances back, if it was even possible.

When Frances had agreed to live with Bethany, she had not anticipated being asked to accompany her on outings every day. Today Bethany and Tessa had decided to attend Astley’s Amphitheatre because Tessa’s husband, the Duke of Ellings, had never been. Frances thought they would go on without her but Bethany insisted Frances join them.

She had thought it rather odd that he had not attended previously until she recalled that he was an American, and being an heir is what had originally brought him to England not so long ago.

At first, she thought to decline the invitation, but changed her mind because if she remained home and alone in her set of rooms, she’d likely only think about Seth, as she had all through the night.

Frances had struggled with longing to be in his arms again and wondering if it was a mistake to have rejected his request to call on her, and then remembered the pain when he rejected her and left her behind. She could not trust him even if he was the cousin of her employer and he certainly did not deserve her friendship, let alone love.

As she hadn’t been to Astley’s Amphitheatre in a few years and recalled enjoying it, Frances determined that it would be a good distraction to keep her mind off Seth, but as soon as they settled in their seats, Tessa stood and waved to someone.

Frances looked to see whose attention her employer wanted and then nearly groaned when it turned out to be Seth and his sister.

She should have remained at home.

Why was he even here? This was not the type of entertainment that Lord Seth Claxton enjoyed, at least not according to gossip. Had his sister convinced him to join her? It was the only reasonable explanation. Didn’t he have a gaming establishment to run or a mistress to visit?

He smiled and started in their direction as Tessa had her husband move further away so that there was space enough on the bench for two people between her and Tessa.

If Seth and his sister must join them, why couldn’t they sit on the other side of His Grace?

As they approached, Lady Blythe and Seth greeted them and Tessa reached out to take Lady Blythe’s hand.

“I am so happy that you decided to join us.”

Had she been warned that they’d have these additional guests, Frances would have found an excuse to remain home.

“I had forgotten how much I enjoyed attending Astley’s Amphitheatre,” Lady Blythe said as she settled next to her cousin which left the only vacant seat beside her.

How impolite would it be to simply leave? Certainly, she would be able to hail a hackney to take her home.

“Lady Bethany, Miss Hawthorn, it's a pleasure to see you again,” Seth greeted as he took his seat beside Frances.

She acknowledged him only with a nod and continued to face forward.

“Oh, my brother has arrived,” Bethany said as she stood.

If Shrewsbury joined them, they'd have to sit even closer and the last thing Frances wanted was to have her leg pressed against Seth's even if there were layers of clothing between them.

“As we are crowded, I will go join him,” Bethany said and was gone before anyone could stop her. This did allow Frances to scoot away from Seth, but he moved closer to her again, which left more room for his sister, Tessa and His Grace. Despite having no one else to speak with, she did her best to ignore Seth even though she was very much aware of the heat radiating from his body and the all too familiar citrus cologne that wafted toward her.

Certainly, there was enough room that he could sit closer to his sister and why did he make her so nervous? Frances had never been anxious around him before, not even that first day when he appeared in the cottage and she recognized him as the duke’s second son, so why now?

He shouldn’t and she’d already lost one night of sleep because of him. Therefore, she would simply ignore him and if that was not possible, cool politeness was all she’d offer, then permanently put him from her mind once she returned home.

Luckily, it was not long before she was delighted by the magicians, clapped for the jugglers, held her breath during the sword fights, laughed at the melodramas and closed her eyes during the tightrope walkers because she did not want to watch anyone suffer a horrific fall. They did not and Frances was quite glad when their performance came to an end.

“It appears you have not gotten over your fear of heights,” Seth observed.

For but a moment, when she’d been afraid for the tightrope walker, Frances had forgotten Seth was seated beside her and then he spoke.

“It appears the only thing that has not been cured from my younger years,” she responded.

“Are you inferring that you needed to be cured from me?” he asked quietly.

“You may infer whatever you wish from my response,” Frances answered then turned her attention to the horses and their riders entering the arena.

The equestrian acts managed to keep her mesmerized, which allowed her to easily ignore the gentleman seated beside her. Frances was also envious of their talents. She could ride a horse, of course, but had had none of the talent she witnessed by the riders performing.

“I recall that I often saw your younger sister, Miss Hope, galloping across the fields. In fact, I am not certain I ever saw her not on a horse, other than in church of course,” Seth commented. “Has she had the opportunity to come to Astley’s Amphitheatre?”

“Yes,” Frances answered without taking her eyes off the performance. “She enjoyed it very much during her first Season and the following summer she attempted many of the same tricks. Uncle Edmund had tried to put a stop to her activities because he was certain Hope would fall and break her neck. In time she ceased doing tricks with the horse and began racing. Next year she plans on entering flat races for women.”

“And he approves?” Seth asked.

“He does not, but Hope is four and twenty and has a mind of her own. She behaved the perfect debutante and miss to wed and please him. As that has not happened, she now wishes to pursue what she enjoys.”

“I recall you also being independent.”

“I was given little choice.” Once her parents were gone and her uncle left her siblings and cousin to be raised by servants and a governess, they each found their own interests and comforts and learned to rely on themselves and each other, but not the adults in the household.

“May I call on you?” Seth asked in an abrupt change in conversation.

Frances stiffened and looked at him. She’d foolishly been lulled into a pleasant conversation, even though she had been determined to ignore him. “For what purpose?”

“I have missed you.”