Chapter Fifteen

M y monthly courses are only a few days late. I’m likely worrying over nothing. Georgy closed her bedchamber door, thankful that Campden Hill was large enough that she didn’t have to share a room with Louisa.

She undressed in front of the mirror and rested her hand on her flat stomach. I’m not having a baby . . . God wouldn’t be that cruel to me. She stared at her reflection and wiped the tears from her cheeks. I was so sure that Teddy Fox would marry me. I can’t believe what a cold, cruel bastard he is.

Georgy thought about her sister’s aversion to marriage. She’d always accused her of being naive and advised her to marry a doting husband. Now Louisa’s response echoed in her mind: “Perhaps you are the one who is naive. I don’t suppose doting husbands grow on trees. From what I’ve seen, men are arrogant and selfish.”

Arrogant and selfish describe Teddy Fox exactly. She clenched her fists and smashed them against her reflection in the mirror. She gasped as the glass cracked. She stared in horror as her distorted face gazed back at her. Teddy doesn’t want to marry me because I’m ugly. He wants to marry Louisa. I hate her! I hate her!

An hour later, Louisa closed her bedchamber door. I wonder if Georgy is still out with Teddy. I hope with all my heart that he asks her to marry him. Her dearest wish in life is to be a wife. I suppose going to Scotland is the last thing Georgy wants to do. I warrant she’d much rather stay here so she can be close to Teddy.

As she undressed and got into bed, Lu’s thoughts drifted to James Hamilton. I wonder if the Irish devil really has business in Scotland. He won’t let up in his pursuit. He is tenacious as a terrier! She reminded herself that he was only traveling with them, and not staying with them at the Doune, their Scottish house in the Cairngorms. I refuse to let thoughts of Abercorn spoil my holiday in Scotland.

The moment Louisa began to dream, however, Abercorn appeared. She was dancing alone in the center of a vast stage. The delicate notes of the music lent themselves to graceful steps that carried her swaying and spiraling across the boards. She leaped into the air, light as a dragonfly, and as the music ended in a crescendo, she swept into a low curtsy and bent her head to touch her ankles.

The applause was deafening, though Abercorn was the only one in the audience. He was in the front row, tossing dozens of red roses to her feet and shouting, “Brava!” He jumped up onto the stage and took her in his arms. “Lady Lu, you were superb!”

A feeling of joy engulfed her senses. Exhilaration spiraled through her belly, making her breasts tingle and her spirits soar. Happiness flowed about her as she floated in a sea of bliss. She gazed down into his eyes. “James, I owe it all to you.”

He took possession of her mouth in a sensual kiss designed to steal her senses. His familiar male scent stole to her, filling her head with delicious fancies. Her mouth softened and her nipples ruched as the hard muscles of his chest pressed against her breasts. Her arms stole around his neck and she clung to him with an innocent desire she could not control. When the kiss ended a heartfelt sigh escaped her lips. But when she raised her lashes and saw the look of possession in his dark eyes, she felt threatened.

“Marry me, Louisa!”

In a flash, her happiness turned to fear and she woke up trembling.

In the morning Louisa finished her packing. When she saw her sister, Georgy made no mention of Teddy, and Lu knew that he had not proposed.

“I can’t wait to leave,” Georgy said brightly. “Scotland will make such a welcome change of scene.”

Louisa felt awful about her sister’s disappointment, but she kept a wise silence.

“I’m so glad you’re traveling with us, James. I need another man I can rely on beside my husband. It will seem strange not to have Edward and Charles with us, and Jack has decided to stay at Woburn to look after things in our absence this year.”

“It is my pleasure, Your Grace.”

“Pleasure?” Louisa didn’t try to hide her amusement. “Cosmo, Henry, and Alex will make it their business to ruin your pleasure.”

“I know what boys are like—I have a younger brother.”

“Claud?” She laughed merrily. “Please don’t delude yourself. Claud is a gentleman—my brothers are savages.”

Jack came into the breakfast room. “The three carriages are ready, and all your luggage has been loaded onto the baggage wagon.”

“Thank you, darling. I don’t know what we’d do without you.” The duchess kissed Jack’s cheek. “We shall see you sometime in September.”

The family went out to the courtyard. The drivers were mounted on the traveling coaches and grooms stood at the head of each team, gentling the horses until the passengers were seated. The Duke of Bedford was already in the saddle, and he held the reins of Abercorn’s Arabian mount.

James helped Lady Bedford into the carriage, then picked up Rachel and set her inside. Then he helped the nursemaid.

“I’m not sitting with Rachel and her nursemaid,” Alex declared. “I’m going in the coach with Cosmo and Henry.”

“No you’re not, you little pissant.” Henry pushed him away.

“You are fighting already,” Lu scolded. “If we let the three of you travel together, the coach will be demolished by the time we get to Northampton.”

Mr. Burke, Woburn’s steward, came out with a large food hamper and handed it to the second female servant who was traveling with the Russells. Georgy immediately climbed in beside her, drawn by the thought of food.

“Alex, I’ll give up my seat and let you ride with Georgy,” Louisa coaxed.

“I’m not riding with her—she called me repulsive!”

“Georgy is right. You’ve turned into a horrid lout just like your brothers.”

Alex grinned from ear to ear.

His father soon wiped the grin from his face. “Bloody hell! Alex, get in the coach with your brothers. They have my permission to clout you round the ear if you misbehave.”

Just as Louisa was about to climb in beside her sister, Georgy declared she had changed her mind. “The smell of the food is making me feel queasy. Lu, put it in the next carriage.”

Louisa took the food hamper and handed it to Cosmo. Then she took her seat beside Georgy, the grooms took their places beside the coach drivers, the duke and Abercorn cantered from the courtyard, and the three carriages lurched forward on the first leg of their journey.

After two hours, Bedford drew rein in a lovely shaded spot beneath some copper beeches, and motioned for the carriages to do likewise. While the grooms watered the horses, the duchess retrieved the food hamper. She opened the lid and stared at her sons in disbelief. “It’s empty! What happened to all the food that Mr. Burke provided?”

“We thought it was for us.” Cosmo wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Don’t you have your own hamper, Mother?”

Lu came up behind her mother and gave her brothers a withering glance. “I shall add gluttony to the litany of your sins.”

“Well, at least we can have a drink. There are cases of wine and ale in the baggage cart.” The duchess directed one of the grooms to locate the libations. “Lu, would you inform your father there’s no food? He’s less likely to smite you, darling.”

Louisa approached her father. “We are only stopping for a drink. We’re not making good time, I’m afraid.” She threw Abercorn an apologetic smile.

“Nonsense, James and I want something to eat.”

Reluctantly, she explained. “The boys devoured everything in the hamper.”

“Goddamn it. Oh well, we’ll just have to wait until we arrive at the Northampton manor. It should only take us another hour. I shall sit in the coach with the reprobates. You can ride my horse, Louisa.” He handed her the reins.

She glanced at Abercorn, who was doing his best to hide his amusement. “Shall we water the horses?” he asked with a straight face.

Lu felt embarrassed. “I warrant you wish you hadn’t agreed to travel with us.”

“Not so. What more could I ask, than having you beside me in the saddle?”

He was so dangerously attractive that she wanted to erect a barrier between them. She bit back a terse remark, knowing it would be less provocative if they remained friends. At this slow pace, it would be days before they even reached the Greys’ Howick Hall.

It was considerably longer than an hour before the Russell entourage reached their estate near Corby in Northamptonshire. Since it was late afternoon, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford decided they would have dinner and stay overnight.

“James, I’m sorry we’ve only covered about thirty-five miles today.”

“Don’t be sorry, Louisa. I enjoyed every one of them.”

She tried her best not to blush. “Let’s make a pact. If you don’t importune me to marry you on this journey, I promise not to get angry and bite your head off.”

“To me, you are desirable whether you are angry or not,” he teased.

She thumped him in outrage, and he threw up his hands. “All right, I surrender. I shall pretend we are just friends.” He winked. “After dinner, will you take me on a moonlight tour of the property?”

“You are an Irish devil!”

“Mea culpa , Lady Lu.”

After dinner the Duke of Bedford stood up from his chair. “I give you fair warning. We leave at the crack of dawn.” Implicit in his words was the threat that those not ready would be left behind.

As Louisa led Abercorn from the dining room, her brothers followed. “I’m giving James a tour and you’re not coming. I suggest you have an early night.”

At their loud protests, James said simply, “I want to be alone with Lu.”

They hooted and made kissing noises.

John Russell stopped them with one word. “Bed!”

Outside, Louisa explained, “The only time I ever come to this estate is when we are on our way to Scotland, so I can’t really tell you much about it.”

“Then allow me. This landholding provides much of your father’s wealth. The rolling hills are perfect for grazing sheep. The farmers who occupy the cottages on your father’s land are shepherds who tend large flocks. The only farming they do is sowing and harvesting hay crops for winter fodder. Each family has its own cow, pig, hens, and a treasured, indispensable shepherding dog.”

When they came to a stone wall, they both climbed on top and sat down to gaze across the hills and vales that the moonlight showed were dotted with sheep.

“You knew all that without me telling you. Let’s see—what else?” James mused.

Louisa’s mouth curved into a smile. “The children laugh and have rosy cheeks.”

“That’s because they are happy and well fed. Your father is a good landlord.”

She watched his face change as if a shadow fell across it, and knew he had a troubling thought. “What is it?”

He shook his head.

“Tell me! Friends share their thoughts,” she said adamantly.

“Aberdeen owns Haddo House and a vast tract of land in Scotland about thirty miles south of Gordon Castle. My stepfather turned off all the tenants and cleared the land of their humble cottages, so he could run thousands of sheep.”

“But who looks after the sheep?”

“No one. They look after themselves. They remain on the craggy mountain slopes year round, foraging for heather and huddling together in winter storms. But even the flocks fare better than the people Aberdeen turned out to starve.”

“No wonder you hate him.”

“No more talk of Aberdeen. I want you to be happy.”

Louisa wanted to make him laugh. “I am happy. I survived my first season without being sold on the marriage market.”

When James slipped his arm around her and hugged her close, she held her breath and waited for him to kiss her. In fact, she had anticipated his kiss from the moment they stepped outside into the moonlight. When he withdrew his arm, she felt the loss acutely.

Masking his amusement, he lifted her from the wall and set her on her feet. “We have to be up early.”

Irish devil!

Three days later the weary travelers arrived at Howick Hall. It was fortunate that the stately home was spacious. Apart from their large family, the Greys always entertained guests during Parliament’s summer recess.

Earl Grey’s sister Hannah and her husband Edward Ellice greeted them. “We’re on our way to Scotland. We are interested in buying an estate, not too far from the Doune.”

“Oh, I do hope you decide to buy. It would be lovely to have you as neighbors,” the Duchess of Bedford declared. “I love to entertain.”

“Isn’t George here?” Georgy asked as they took their seats for the evening meal.

“No, my dear,” Mary Grey replied. “He received his lieutenant’s commission from the naval office and is waiting for his assignment.”

Georgy was visibly crestfallen.

Countess Grey made the introductions. “You know our eldest son, Henry, and his wife, Maria.” Their son was the Member of Parliament for Northumberland. “I’m not sure if you know Henry’s friend, Charles Bennet. Lord Ossulston is the Member of Parliament for North Northumberland.”

Georgy immediately perked up. “Lord Ossulston, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I believe your father is the Earl of Tankerville.”

“That is correct, my lady.” His admiring glance returned to Louisa.

Georgy poked her sister. “Invite him into the garden,” she whispered.

After dessert, Louisa smiled at Charles Bennet. “Please excuse us. My sister and I need to stretch our legs after sitting in the coach for so many days.”

He jumped up immediately. “Allow me to show you the gardens, Lady Louisa.”

James Hamilton stood. “Why don’t the four of us have a stroll along the terrace?” He offered his arm to Louisa.

She took it so that her sister would be paired with Ossulston. She glanced up at James. Abercorn, you know exactly what I am up to and are taking advantage.

As they strolled along the herbaceous borders of the terrace, James spoke to Charles. “I too am a Tory. It’s refreshing that Prime Minister Grey is so nonpartisan.”

Charles Bennet laughed. “Earl Grey’s son Henry and I have been friends since we were boys. There was never any question that we would follow our father’s footsteps into politics, so he became a Whig and I became a Tory.”

“Politics fascinate me.” Georgy improvised. “Do you ever visit Scotland, Charles?”

“Not as often as I’d like, my lady. Hunting and fishing in Scotland is unsurpassed.”

“Charles, allow me to extend an invitation to visit us at the Doune. It’s near Kinrara on the River Spey. My parents love to entertain guests. My uncle, the Earl of Gordon, always visits us there in August,” Georgy gushed.

Ossulston gave Louisa a speculative glance.

To annoy Abercorn she said, “Oh, we would love to have you, Charles. The salmon fishing in the River Spey is incomparable.”

Georgy gifted her sister with a brilliant smile. “Before it gets too dark, I’d love to visit the church and look at the gargoyles that Maria has carved.” She stepped from the terrace and pulled Lord Ossulston after her.

Abercorn said smoothly, “Enjoy yourselves. We’re going the opposite way. Lady Louisa wants to walk out to the headland to view the North Sea.”

Lu was torn. She knew Georgy was doing her best to be alone with Ossulston, but that meant she’d be alone with Abercorn. She weighed her choices; Georgy won out.

Louisa walked slowly beside James. “Howick is such a beautiful coastal property.”

They stopped a few feet from the edge of the cliff and looked down at the waves washing ashore. The light from the rising moon made the sea glitter like silver.

“It is at this time of year, but in winter the wind and sea must lash Howick relentlessly. The harsh northern climate is unforgiving in its cruelty. Wisely, the Greys spend most of the year in London.”

“Maria is left here year round, while her husband sits in Parliament,” Lu declared. “No wonder she sculpts gargoyles, poor lady.”

James threw back his head and laughed.

“Men can be as relentless and cruel as the weather, especially to their wives.”

“That never seems to deter your sister.”

“Georgy will go to any length to please a man.” Louisa’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, that was cruel of me. I only meant that she knows full well the land is boggy down by the church, yet she will brave it to please Charles Bennet.”

“Lucky man. If only my lady would brave bogs and gargoyles to please me.”

“I am not your lady!”

“You know you are, deny it how you will.”

Louisa raised her chin in defiance and moved away from him to the edge of the cliff.

James had to clench his fists and muster every ounce of his iron will to keep himself from pulling her to safety. With his heart in his throat, he watched her spread her arms and pirouette, taunting him with her devil’s dance.

Louisa flung back her head and laughed.

“I won’t take the bait, Lady Lu. You want me to grab you, and shake you, and kiss you, so you can take perverse pleasure in denying and rejecting me.”

She stopped still. Is that what I want? Is that what I’m doing?

“If you want to be kissed, all you have to do is ask.”

She flew at him and kicked him. “You arrogant Irish sod!”

When the pair returned to the hall, John Russell noticed his daughter’s flushed cheeks. “James, come and have a drink with us. The prime minister wants you to reassure him that you will support the reform bill once it gets to the Lords.”

Two hours later, when the duke emerged from the library, he was approached by Charles Bennet. “At the risk of sounding presumptuous, Your Grace, may I inquire if your daughter, Lady Louisa, is spoken for?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Ossulston, but I have reason to believe my daughter’s affections are engaged.”

When Georgy retired, Louisa was abed and almost asleep. Georgy turned up the lamp, and her sister knew she wanted to talk.

“I ruined my slippers, but it will be worth it if Ossulston offers for me.”

How can you jump from Teddy Fox to Charles Bennet in the blink of an eye? “Are you sure, Georgy? I thought you were in love with Teddy.”

“Love? What the devil does love have to do with marriage?”

“Georgy, I know you had deep feelings for Teddy. You had your heart set on becoming his wife. It will take a little time to get over him.”

“I don’t have time. Time is my enemy!”

“Georgy, you make too much of your age.”

She bit her lip, for once not even thinking of her age, until Lu brought it up. “I’ll be twenty-two on my next birthday. That’s considered an old maid.” She finished undressing and got into bed. “I invited Ossulston to the Doune and gave him every encouragement. He’s heir to the Earl of Tankerville. I’d be quite happy to be his countess, in spite of his countrified Northumbrian accent.”

“Then I hope he accepts your invitation.”

“When he comes, I want you to stay away from him. You are adept at stealing my thunder.” She imitated her sister’s voice: “ Oh, we would love to have you, Charles. The salmon fishing in the River Spey is incomparable.”

“I’m sorry, Georgy. I was only trying to help.”

“I can manage without help from the Great Russell Beauty!”

It was hours before Louisa could sleep. Her heart ached for her sister.

Every morning when Georgy awoke, the first thing she did was examine her nightgown for a smear of blood. Today was her seventh disappointment. I was certain that riding in the carriage over rutted roads would bring on my menses. She pushed away her nagging apprehension. Today I’ll do something more strenuous.

At breakfast she ate porridge, unable to look at the eggs and gammon ham the others were consuming. Even the smell made her nauseous. When the servants cleared the table she threw Charles Bennet a provocative glance. “I feel like doing something daring today. I shall climb down the cliff path and wade into the sea. Anyone care to join me?”

Cosmo, Henry, and Alex immediately chorused, “I will! I will!”

Georgy’s face fell. I should have known better than to announce my plans in front of the young savages. She glanced hopefully at Charles Bennet, but he didn’t take the bait.

“How very adventurous you are,” Maria Grey declared. “Henry and Charles have promised to put up my latest gargoyles on the north side of the church.”

Georgy felt thwarted. “Careful you don’t get stuck in the bog down there.”

The Duchess of Bedford heard her daughter’s snide remark. “Georgy dear, keep your eye on Alexander on your escapade. You know how uncivilized your brothers can be.”

Abercorn smiled at the duchess. “I’ll join them, Your Grace. I’ll see they come to no harm. How about you, Lady Louisa?”

She glanced at her sister’s scowl. “No . . . Perhaps I’ll walk down to Howick burn.”

“It’s all bog land down there,” her mother pointed out. “Do climb down the cliff with the others, darling. How often do you get a chance to wade in the North Sea?” She threw James Hamilton a speculative glance. “You don’t want to miss all the fun.”

At the top of the cliff, Abercorn insisted on taking the lead. He grinned. “I’ll break your fall if any of you slip.” He knew the Russell boys would be on his heels and decided to give them a run for their money. He flew down the steep cliff and reached the sand a full five minutes before the savage louts, who whooped and screeched with excitement all the way down. He stood at the bottom and waited for the sisters to make their descent.

Georgy came down like a cart horse at full gallop, disregarding all danger. He prayed she wouldn’t fall. Behind her, Louisa made the climb down look easy. She had a natural lithe grace that reminded him of his beautiful Arabian.

Behind him, the wild devils threw off their clothes and ran naked into the sea. James knew he had no choice. He was responsible for their safety. While he waited for Georgy and Louisa to reach the sand, he removed his shirt and shoes. The minute the sisters were safe, he tore across the sandy, pebbled beach and plunged into the sea in his breeches.

James joined in the water games and invented a few of his own, allowing the boys to climb up onto his chest so that he could flip them into the sea. He even balanced them on his broad shoulders so they could dive.

Louisa was amazed at the good- natured patience he showed to her young brothers. She took off her shoes and stockings and waded in up to her calves. Georgy took off up the beach on a strenuous run, while Louisa stood bemused watching the water play.

After an hour, her brothers straggled from the water one by one to scramble shivering into their clothes. The North Sea was cold even in August.

James, still in the water, approached Louisa. “Would you like to come in?”

She shook her head. “I can’t swim.”

“Can’t swim?” he asked incredulously. “Why not? You have a lake at Woburn.”

“You’ve seen what the wild savages are like. Whenever I ventured into the lake, they pulled me under and held me there without compunction. Edward, Charles, and Jack were even worse than Cosmo and Henry.”

Her vulnerability cried out to him. “Sometime I’ll teach you to swim, Lady Lu. I’ll make sure there are no monsters lurking beneath the surface.”

Louisa glanced at his naked chest. “Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m lucky—I don’t seem to notice the cold.” He put on his shirt and shoes.

“Come on, James!” the Russell boys chorused.

“They’re ready to climb back up.”

“They will worship you from now on. They are at an impressionable age.”

He grinned. “Would that you were, Lady Lu.”

“Here comes Georgy. She’s full of disgusting energy today.”

The boys were halfway up the cliff before the sisters began their ascent. This time James brought up the rear in case any of them slipped. Near the top, Georgy stumbled but caught herself before she fell, and James breathed easier.

“Georgy, you have blood on your skirt,” Louisa pointed out.

“Really?” Georgy’s hopes soared. Then she felt her knee begin to sting. She lifted her skirt and saw that she had scraped her knee when she stumbled. He heart plummeted as her hopes were dashed.