Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

At Basil's deep voice, Adele's head popped up. She looked around with wide, glazed-over eyes, still half asleep.

Basil came up and around Stevens. "I know I am not expected, but I came on a very important errand—oh."

At the sight of Adele, he stopped short, watching as she yawned and stretched. Evangeline watched him back with curiosity. Why did Adele have such an effect on him?

"Forgive me," he said. "I suppose I was too hasty in my entrance."

"You were indeed," Evangeline admonished. "I could have welcomed you properly in five minutes. Have you been in the neighborhood long? What did you come all this way for?—?"

She stopped as a sudden suspicion settled onto her shoulders. Her eyes narrowed into slits, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Are you the one who sent all those ridiculous things to the house?"

Basil gave a grand bow. "What? You did not care for the flowers? "

"You know very well I despise daisies."

"Do not like them? But Mr. Lorne sent you so many at Fernsby."

"Those verses were terrible. At least Mr. Lorne's objective was to compliment me. Like a delicate calf ? Really?"

He laughed. "I never professed to have a turn for words. Not like your elderly friend."

"He is not my friend," Evangeline snapped, her voice trembling with suppressed laughter.

"I wasn't quite ready to give up all the larking we had at Fernsby, you see."

"You never are. What kind of a creature are you? It is clear you are not human."

"I am Puck. You said so yourself."

Basil chuckled, but his smile faded as his gazed settled on her with a sincerity that held back her retort and sent her heart thudding against her ribcage.

Adele, rubbing her eyes through this exchange, turned her head and finally focused on Basil. She gasped and a smile of pure joy covered her little face. "Another guest! Mama, I have another guest for tea. He must have tea this instant!"

Both Evangeline and Basil moved to turn down the offer, but Adele scrambled off the couch and smoothed her dress with business-like precision. "Stevens, will you please bring re—rebrish— rebreshments for Mister…Mister…for my guest and us?"

"Adele, no," Evangeline said into her ear.

"But Mama, you told me you offer rebreshments all the time." She looked at Basil. "Don't you like food? We've got lots."

Basil looked on her hosting efforts with a light in his eye that Evangeline could only describe as fragile. She did not know what was going through his head, but it was clear he was not comfortable with the interaction. "Adele, Mr. Morley likely has too much business to?—"

"On the contrary," Basil said, finding his voice again. He gave Adele a bow. "I should be delighted to take something with you. Thank you, Lady Adele."

Adele blushed and beamed up at Evangeline. "I get to have another tea party!"

Evangeline had half a mind to send Adele away so she could find out what Basil wanted alone, but she wanted to see if Basil would do anything more than stare at her child as if she were a dangerous animal, likely to pounce on him at any moment.

"Very well. Stevens, refreshments for three."

Adele went to Basil and shot out her hand. Basil looked down at it like it might shock him before gingerly taking it in his own. "Where would you like to sit?" Adele asked. "I always like this chair here, when I am allowed."

She brought him to the great leather wingback chair nearest the fireplace, which nearly all the children quarreled over, and invited him to sit down.

"That looks like a very comfortable chair," he said. "But see, we are all the way across the room from your mother now, and I should like to speak to her while I am here. Have you another place closer to her you could show me?"

"Oh, yes."

Adele led him to a seat closer to Evangeline. "Will this do, sir?"

Basil then made a pretense of inspecting the chair up and down, causing Adele to giggle. Evangeline watched with a hesitant smile.

"Yes, I think it will suffice. Thank you, mademoiselle ," he said. He took the seat and looked to Evangeline. "You are awfully quiet. "

Evangeline raised her brows. "Am I? I am puzzled as to why you are here. It has taken me quite by surprise."

"A good surprise?"

An unruly finger tapped on her lap, revealing her confusion. "I am not certain."

Was she glad to see him? Yes. But she was steeped in trepidation as well. In the past, Basil had not come to the country, much less stayed there for any length of time, unless he had a reason. Usually that reason was attached to his debts in town becoming too uncomfortable for him. What was his reason now?

"I am happy to have another guest," Adele said from her seat beside Evangeline. "I had my very own party today with guests and tea and cakes and tarts and everything."

"Did you, now?" Basil politely inquired. "And were you as good a hostess as your mama here?"

Adele nodded her head. "Oh, yes, I should think I was."

Evangeline chuckled. "You did very well, indeed, my darling."

A footman came in with the required refreshments. Adele rose from her chair, clearly expecting to take charge of the affair.

"Do you mind?" Evangeline asked Basil.

His lifted a hand and shook his head. "Not at all, not at all."

Adele lifted the tea pot and carefully poured the steaming liquid through the mote spoon into a cup. "Will you take sugar and cream?" she asked.

"Ah, a little sugar, if you please, and cream."

Adele nodded and took up the sugar bowl. With the little silver tongs, she grabbed several lumps at once and was about to put them in when Evangeline intervened. "Not so much, my dear. Mr. Morley does not like terribly sweet things."

"I wouldn't say that," she heard Basil mumble.

He darted a look her way, and she remembered his words in the garden at Fernsby. Their last kiss—well, kisses. There had been several.

She admonished him with a look before returning her attention to Adele. "That is just right, my dear. Perfect. Just how Mr. Morley likes it."

"Have you made lots of tea for him at your parties, Mama?" Adele asked.

"A few times, yes. We have known each other for so long, it is easy to remember things like that."

"Here you are, sir," Adele said. She walked step by step to Basil with a focus that was upsetting the tea more than if she had skipped over to him.

Basil leaned forward in his chair and took the cup and saucer from her. "Thank you."

He gave her a timid smile. No, not quite timid, but cautious.

"How many cups, Mama?"

Evangeline blinked and looked at her daughter. "How many cups?"

"How many cups of tea have you made for Mr. Morley?" Adele asked while she filled a plate full of sandwiches.

"That is too many, Adele, put two back."

"One more, please, if I may," Basil interjected.

Adele complied and still looked to her mother for an answer.

Evangeline thought, completely mystified by the question. How was she to know how many cups of tea she had made for a specific person? "Five over nearly twenty years, perhaps? I have ordered more tea to be made for him than prepared it myself."

"Twenty years? Oh my, that is a very long time. You must be quite old, Mr. Morley," Adele replied in her best grown up voice.

"Adele," Evangeline said, scolding. She looked to Basil to apologize, but his eyes were alight with amusement.

"I am very old, it is true. But your mother is not quite ‘very old' yet, you know."

"We are nearly the same age," Evangeline muttered back.

Basil ignored her. "Have you begun sewing samplers yet, Lady Adele?"

Adele, her mouth full of food, nodded. "Haney says I stitch like a tipsy cat," she said after swallowing.

"Does she?" Evangeline asked, startled.

But Basil laughed. "You are better than I should be, I am sure."

"I must have a word with Haney on her use of such language," Evangeline said.

"Do you know," Basil continued, "I have never sewed a stitch in my life?"

"But that is all right, because boys do not sew, you know," Adele returned. "None of my brothers sew, do they, Mama?"

"No."

"You see, Mr. Morley? Boys do not sew, so you do not have to feel ashamed about it."

Basil nearly spewed out his tea. Evangeline hid her mouth behind her hand desperately trying not to laugh out loud at her daughter's attempts at polite conversation.

Recovering, Basil made a suitable reply, and as Adele's attention was applied to her sandwiches, he shared a look with Evangeline. "I am glad to see you again, E," he said softly.

She was too. Seeing him here, sitting with him in her own drawing room at Amsbrook, a feeling of comfortable belonging swept over her like a blanket. Basil had walked in as if he had done so for years, and now Evangeline could feel like he might. Yes, she was glad to see him, but that did not dissipate her puzzlement. "Basil—Mr. Morley, why have you come?" she asked at last.

"To teach you to swim."

Evangeline's brows shot down. "I beg your pardon?"

"You swim?" Adele asked. "How delightful."

Basil bent a look toward her. "Can you swim, Lady Adele?"

Adele shook her head.

Basil pursed his lips together as if holding back a curse. "Well, you are in luck. You have heard of dance masters and painting masters, haven't you?"

Adele nodded.

"Well, I am a swimming master. Have you ever met one of those before?"

Wide-eyed, she shook her head.

"Well, I am. And I have come to teach your mother to swim. You may as well learn while I am here. Don't worry, E, I won't charge you an extra fee for the girl," he said in an undertone to Evangeline.

Still mystified, Evangeline asked, "Why?"

"Why? Because everyone must learn to swim, and the younger the better."

What would he do to puzzle her next? Before she could reply, the door burst open and in trooped her three boys. "Stevens told us there was already food in here," Simon said. He stopped short when he noticed Basil and spread his arms out to stop Gregory and William from entering any farther. "I am sorry, Mama, I did not know you had company. Shall we go away?"

It was on the tip of Evangeline's tongue to tell them just that, but she hesitated. Whether her children could stay or not usually depended upon the guest. Some did not mind having children present during their visit, others did. Evangeline could usually tell, but with Basil? He was such a madcap she did not know, but now that he was here, a longing that he would take to the children pulled at her heart.

"Come in, gentlemen. I am sure Mr. Morley will not mind?" She posed the question to Basil.

"Not at all," he said, clearly a bit flustered. But he stood and shook hands with each of them while Evangeline introduced them.

"Strapping lads, you have, E," he told her. "Is this all of them?"

"All my children? No, I have three more. Seven, remember?"

"Seven, that's right. Where are they?"

"Mama, why does he call you E?" William whispered loudly.

"Hush, darling. Henry is staying with friends here and there. I am not positive when he will be back. Ettie and Charlotte will be returning home in two days' time."

"I cannot wait for Lottie to come home," William said, taking a seat with a heaping plate of sandwiches and scones.

Evangeline eyed the plate, then looked at Simon and Gregory's plates which exhibited similar proportions of food. She sent a twinkling look at Basil. "I hope you already had your fill, Mr. Morley."

"Quite, quite," he said. He turned to William. "And what is Lottie like?"

William went off on the many qualities of his favorite sister and would have gone on had not Simon flicked him with his fingers and told him to pipe down.

"She sounds like a lovely young lady," Basil said.

"Should you like to meet her?" William asked. "She will be home very soon."

"I should," Basil returned, sending a frank look to Evangeline. "And the other two, ah, what were their names again?"

At his words a burst of—what was it? Confusion? Hope? Relief? Something went off inside her. He wanted to meet—actually go out of his way and meet —not only her children she had thrust upon him just now, but the others who were absent. That would mean he would come back.

"He may meet them when he teaches me to swim," Adele said, turning to her brothers. "He is going to teach me to swim. Me and Mama?—"

"And Mama will watch you, yes," Evangeline said hastily. Thinking over the matter while they ate, she had discovered a dilemma in a man teaching a woman to swim.

Proper swimming attire.

Basil looked at her, the gleam in his eye betraying the battle with the mischievous fairy within him. A moment later, he addressed the boys. "That is right. I am a swimming master. Do you gentlemen swim?"

The three boys assured him their swimming was first rate.

"And do you think your sister ought to learn?"

Gregory reared his head back with a frown. "Why? She is a girl. She does not go into the water like us. Ladies do not do that. "

Basil frowned back at him. "Am I to take it that your older sisters do not know how to swim either?"

He looked to Evangeline, who suddenly felt guilty. "They have done such swimming as I have done at Brighton and Ramsgate," she replied.

"Then they must learn as well, don't you think?"

Evangeline's head spun at the twists and turns this conversation was taking. "Is this your only objective in coming to Hollyford?"

"The main one, yes."

"Will you not visit Molewood while you are here?"

"Egad, no," he said, casting off his ancestral home with a grimace. "They've no taste for my company, if you will recall."

It had been years since Basil's father had washed his hands of his rascally younger son, but that was not Evangeline's focus now. "Why do you wish to teach us, Mr. Morley?" she asked. "We thank you for the service you offer, but why, after all these years, why the sudden interest?"

Basil leaned back in his chair and steepled his hands together. "Because it is important."

The tone in which he said this told her she would not be likely to get more out of him just now. He seemed bent on it. Bent enough to stay in Hollyford. The incident with the boat at Fernsby must have affected him more than she had thought. But she was not the only lady in England who could not swim. She must put him at his ease. "Mr. Morley, I thank you for the offer, we all do, but we would not think of importuning you so."

"But I want to learn to swim," Adele said.

"And so you shall," Basil replied.

Evangeline eyed him, warning him not to test her.

Basil met her look with one of his own. Oh, they were in for it now.

"Gentlemen," he said, addressing the boys. "Did you know that your own mother does not know how to swim?"

Gregory and William looked at Evangeline with wide eyes, but Simon said, "But she is a lady. Ladies cannot swim like men do."

"Can they not? Do ladies have arms and legs like men do?"

"Well, yes."

"Then they can swim just like men."

"But they wear dresses," Gregory objected.

"Well?"

"You cannot swim in a dress, can you, Mama?" Gregory turned to Evangeline, clearly expecting an answer.

"Yes, Basil," she said through clenched teeth. "How would you go about teaching a lady to swim if she is wearing a dress?"

Basil rose. "I think that is enough for today. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure to meet you. I am sure we shall see each other again soon. Mademoiselle." He took Adele's hand and placed a kiss on it, sending her giggling and blushing with pleasure as Evangeline looked on with confused wonder. "I am especially charmed to have met you again. Thank you for the refreshment."

He straightened and took Evangeline's hand next, but if he thought to play the lover in front of her children, he would be disappointed. She shook his hand firmly before releasing it. "It was a pleasure, this surprise call of yours, Mr. Morley."

His lips twitched and he bowed. "Lady Ramsbury. I shall call tomorrow, if it is convenient."

Evangeline could think of a dozen excuses to not receive him if she wished. She was, after all, an expert in the art of saying no. But now, she only nodded her head in approval. Her attention was caught. Her curiosity piqued. Her hopes, as much as she wished otherwise, were engaged. She could say no if she wished.

If she wished.

By the time the hour came to dress for dinner, Evangeline had settled herself into a regular brown study over Basil's sudden appearance that day. He had always been a vagabond of sorts, going here and there as he pleased in town. If not for the war, it would not surprise her if he went careening all over the world as he had during his Grand Tour in the days before Napoleon had become such a monstrous threat. As it was, he wandered this way and that in London, which was just as well. The Continent had been the cause of his raucous ways in the first place, no need to further exacerbate his condition.

And now he had taken it into his head to teach her how to swim, and she might allow him, though how that would be accomplished with her modesty preserved, she could not imagine.

He had also finally met her children. Most of them, at all events. And he had not been frightened away. While her loneliness had grown over the years, one of the primary fears that made her keep her suitors at a distance, including Basil, had been her fear of how her children might be treated. But now that he had met them, she felt affirmed in the intuition she always had surrounding the subject: Basil, being, at times, such a child himself, would love children if he only would spend time with them.

Dobbs interrupted her thoughts as she clasped a necklace around Evangeline's neck. "I hear that Mr. Morley called," she said.

Evangeline nodded. "He did."

"That's odd of him, if I may say. I should have expected him to return to town. He's never been one for the country."

"Yes," Evangeline replied absently. "He is an odd creature. He met the children. He seemed quite taken with Adele."

Dobbs nodded. "I noticed that myself at Fernsby Hall."

Evangeline focused her eyes on her maid. "Did you? Why do you think that is?"

Dobbs frowned in contemplation. "I expect she reminds him of his sister, you ladyship, if you remember her."

"His sister?" Evangeline sent her mind back to the past, searching. "Not Amelia? She is dark, Adele is fair."

"Not his older sister. The younger one. She had the same coloring as Lady Adele, or nearly. Same golden hair."

That was right. Evangeline recalled a hazy recollection of a daughter being born at Molewood. A daughter several years younger than the youngest Morley child and quite a surprise to her parents. Evangeline had only seen the girl once or twice before marrying and settling into Sherborne Abbey in Sussex. "She died very young, did she not?"

"She did. Mr. Morley was very fond of her back then. He would take her for rides and drives nearly every day. She doted on him, that little one, and he her."

Evangeline tried but could not remember. "How did she die?"

"Drowned, your ladyship. Found in a pond on the Molewood estate. Very tragic thing. Only four or five years old."

Drowned.

The final pieces surrounding Basil's sudden strange behavior finally settled into place. Evangeline's mother-heart wrenched at the thought. To lose Adele, or any one of her children, that way…even thinking about it brought tears of untapped anguish into her eyes. "How horrible. I had forgotten. I was too occupied with my own affairs."

She calculated quickly in her head. It would have happened soon after she was married. She would have been in London and Sussex, concerned with her own young family. And Basil…

Basil had been on the Continent.