Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Her hand tightened around his arm. He heard the name she said, but it meant nothing to him. Who was this Reginald? And more importantly, why did Vivianne look as if she had seen a ghost?

Edward turned his head, following her gaze to see a tall, well-dressed man approaching. There was something haunted in Vivianne’s eyes, a look of recognition that Edward couldn’t place. Before he could inquire further, another familiar figure came into view beside Reginald—Edward’s cousin, William Jennings.

“Edward.” William grinned from ear to ear before Edward could even think of slinking into the crowd and hiding in plain sight. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Edward returned the greeting with a nod, though his attention was more focused on the tense expression on Vivianne’s face. He wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how. It was the first time he had ever felt such helplessness and such simultaneous desire to be there for someone. Yet there was nothing he could do to make her feel better.

“Will, this is quite the coincidence. What brings you to town?” Edward inquired.

“I’ve just returned from abroad,” William explained with a smile, his eyes traversing the distance between Edward and Vivianne, then returning to rest on Edward once again.

“Oh, I beg your pardon, how rude of me. Please, allow me to introduce you to an old friend of mine from the Navy. We served together. This is Reginald Michael Cavendish, the youngest son of the Earl of Wilmington.” He turned to Reginald. “Reggie, this is Edward Woodhouse, the Earl of Chesterfield. My cousin.”

“Lord Chesterfield.” Reginald gave a respectful nod.

“Mr. Cavendish,” Edward returned the greeting. “And this is—”

“Vivianne,” Reginald interjected, using her first name. The man bowed before her, and Edward expected her to offer him her hand as a greeting, but her body stiffened and she even pulled behind Edward, as if in an effort to hide herself. He felt an immediate need to shelter her.

“I must say, you look even lovelier than before,” Reginald added, his tone almost too familiar. Edward didn’t like it at all.

“Thank you,” Vivianne replied curtly.

Edward glanced between them. The undercurrent of tension was palpable, and he couldn’t help but ask, although he knew he might be crossing the line of propriety. To hell with propriety .

“How do you two know each other?” he asked simply.

Reginald smiled, although it didn’t reach his eyes. “Vivianne and I were neighbors, back when I still lived at home. Old friends, you might say.”

Vivianne’s tight-lipped smile did little to mask her discomfort. “Yes, neighbors,” she repeated, the word sounding hollow, untrue. She turned to Edward, her eyes pleading. “Edward, I do believe we need to continue with our search. Jonathon and Aurelia have already been waiting for quite some time. We shouldn’t dally.”

“You are right.” Edward nodded, grateful that she had been the one to suggest it first. He would have done so by now, but he was too irked by the effect this Reginald fellow had on her, and also by his own desire to find out more about it.

“Are you in search of something?” William inquired politely. “Perhaps we could be of some assistance?”

Edward forced a smile. Usually, his cousin was not this helpful, which made the entire situation even more odd. “We have a broken carriage wheel.”

“I have some experience with such matters,” Reginald said.

Edward’s instincts immediately told him to refuse the offer. “Oh, no, thank you. We couldn’t possibly trouble you.”

“It would be no trouble at all,” Reginald urged.

Edward couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Reginald and Vivianne’s story than either was willing to reveal. Also, there was the question of his cousin’s involvement with the man.

“Really, thank you.” Edward grinned, patting the man cordially on the back, forcing what he hoped would be perceived as solidarity between them. “There is this blacksmith I need to find. He is the best in the business. Just down the street, over there. We were in fact, headed there when we noticed you.”

“Ah, of course.” Reginald nodded, much to Edward’s relief. “I understand. And how are your parents, Vivianne?” His tone was polite and his words the usual exchange of niceties, but Edward could sense there was so much more there.

“They are well, thank you,” Vivianne replied curtly, only glancing at him, then choosing to look elsewhere, as if she were waiting for something.

Edward’s protective instincts flared. He wanted to know what had happened between them, but more than that, he wanted to ensure Vivianne’s comfort and safety.

“I am happy to hear that.” Reginald smiled. “Family is very important. Don’t you agree, Lord Chesterfield?”

“Yes.” Edward nodded, slightly confused. “It is.”

“It is what binds us, through thick and thin,” William added. He glanced at his friend. “Reginald here knows the value of loyalty, don’t you, old friend?”

Reginald’s smile was tight, his eyes flicking to Vivianne. “Indeed, loyalty is paramount. Especially when it comes to... old acquaintances.”

These cryptic remarks left Edward feeling uneasy. What exactly were they hinting at? He didn’t like the way Reginald looked at Vivianne, as if unspoken words hung in the air between them. And he certainly didn’t like the way both men kept glancing at him, as though he were a piece in a game he didn’t know he was playing.

That was when he felt Vivianne tug at his arm, and he knew what that meant. “Well, it was nice seeing you, Will. And it was also a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Cavendish.”

“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you, Lord Chesterfield.” Reginald bowed one more time, but his eyes never left Vivianne.

“Good day.” Edward gently led Vivianne away from them, keeping a protective hand on her arm, his senses on high alert. He didn't like the undercurrent of secrecy and the way it seemed to be directed at him and Vivianne. The looks exchanged between Will and Reginald made him feel as though there was a deeper story, something shadowy that he was being kept from understanding.

As they walked back toward the carriage, Edward attempted to engage Vivianne in conversation, hoping to understand the sudden tension and the mysterious connection between her and Reginald.

“Vivianne, who exactly is Reginald to you?” he asked gently, trying to keep his tone casual.

Vivianne glanced at him briefly, her expression guarded. “He’s... just an old neighbor, as he said. Nothing more.”

Edward wasn’t convinced. “It seemed like there’s more to it than that. You looked quite shaken when you saw him.”

Vivianne forced a smile, her eyes not quite meeting his. “Seeing him was just unexpected, that’s all, as I thought he had left London and would not be returning—not any time soon, at least. But let’s not dwell on it. Now, is there really a blacksmith that you know around these parts?”

Edward hesitated, sensing that she was deflecting. “Vivianne, if something’s bothering you, I want to help.”

She shook her head, her smile faltering. “Truly, Edward, it’s nothing. Besides, we should focus on finding a solution for the carriage.”

Frustrated but not wanting to press her further, Edward let the topic drop. As they continued their walk, he tried several times to steer the conversation back to Reginald and Will, but each attempt was skillfully diverted by Vivianne. She asked about his interests, his plans for the future, anything to keep the focus away from the unsettling encounter.

Despite her efforts, Edward couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The warmth and connection they had shared earlier were gone, replaced by a wall of polite conversation that left him feeling isolated and confused. He wanted to believe Vivianne, but the tension in her voice and the way she avoided eye contact told him there was more to the story.

After having spoken to a few people who directed them to a blacksmith, they finally found him—a burly man, with soot-stained hands and a kind smile, who agreed to repair the broken wheel. As they waited for the work to be completed, the four of them stood around awkwardly, the earlier joviality long gone.

Jonathon, obviously sensing the tension, pulled Edward aside. “What’s the matter? You seem distraught.”

Edward glanced over at Vivianne, who was still pale and distant, her eyes unfocused as she stared into the distance. “I’ll explain later,” he said quietly, not wanting to draw more attention to her distress. “But something is definitely not right.”

Jonathon nodded his understanding. “Alright. Just let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

Edward appreciated his friend’s support. “Thank you, Jonathon. For now, let’s just make sure we get everyone home safely.”

As the blacksmith worked, Edward kept glancing at Vivianne, worry gnawing at him. Her usual warmth and liveliness were replaced by a haunted expression that made his heart ache. He wanted to comfort her, to make everything right, but he knew he had to wait for her to open up in her own time.

Finally, the wheel was repaired, and they were able to continue their journey. The ride back was somber, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. Edward’s mind raced, replaying the encounter with Reginald and William, trying to piece together what had shaken Vivianne so deeply.

When they arrived at the sisters’ home, Edward helped Vivianne down from the carriage, his touch gentle but firm. He turned to her, his eyes filled with concern. “Vivianne, you know you can talk to me about anything. If something’s bothering you, please, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

Vivianne looked at him, her eyes softening slightly, but she remained silent. She nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Thank you, Edward. I appreciate your concern.”

He wanted to press her, to ask more, but he could see she wasn’t ready. “Alright,” he said softly, “but remember, I’m here for you if you need me. After all, what would Don Quixote be without his windmill?”

He tried a joke, and it worked. She smiled, giving him a grateful look, and then turned to join her sister inside, leaving him with more questions than answers.