Once an Innocent (36 page)

The man, Mr. Faircloth, also stood. He was shorter than Lily and lacked a chin. The smooth slope marking the transition from jaw to neck was unsettling to look upon. He wore mutton-chop sideburns, presumably an attempt to emphasize his jawline. They failed miserably in that regard, serving rather to point out the vacant place between them where a facial feature should have been.

“My … ” Mr. Faircloth wrung his hands together and cleared his throat. “My dear Miss Bachman,” he started again. “How lovely you look this morning.”

Lily inclined her head coolly. She settled onto the sofa and folded her hands in her lap. Mr. Bachman sat beside her and gestured Mr. Faircloth to his chair.

Mr. Faircloth cast an apprehensive look between Lily and her father. “I’d thought, sir, that you and I would speak first. Then, if all was agreeable, I would speak to Miss … ” He lowered his eyes and cleared his throat again.

Good
, Lily thought viciously. He was already thrown off balance. She knew from experience that when dealing with fortune hunters and younger sons, one had to establish and maintain the upper hand.

“When it comes to my daughter’s future,” Mr. Bachman said in a rich baritone, “there is no such thing as a private interview. Miss Bachman is a grown woman; she’s entitled to have a say in her own future. Would you not agree?”

Mr. Faircloth squirmed beneath the intense gazes of father and daughter. “Well, it’s not how these things are usually handled, sir, but I suppose there’s no real harm in bucking convention just this — ”

“Mr. Faircloth,” Lily interrupted.

The man swallowed. “Yes?”

“I don’t recognize you at all.” She raised her brows and narrowed her eyes, as though examining a distasteful insect. “Have we met?”

“I, well, that is … yes, we’ve met.” Mr. Faircloth’s head bobbed up and down. “We were introduced at the Shervington’s ball last week. I asked you to dance.”

As he spoke, Lily stood and crossed the room to her father’s desk. She retrieved a sheaf of paper and a pen, and then returned to her seat. She allowed the silence to stretch while she jotted down notes: name, physical description, and first impression.
Younger son
, she decided,
a novice to fortune hunting
. She glanced up with the pen poised above the paper. “And did I accept your invitation?”

Mr. Faircloth gave a nervous smile. “Ah, no, actually. You were already spoken for the next set, and every one thereafter.” He pointed weakly toward her notes. “What are you writing there?”

She leveled her most withering gaze on him. “Are you or are you not applying for my hand in matrimony?”

His jaw worked without sound, and then his face flushed a deep pink. “I, yes. That is why I’ve come, I suppose you could say.”

“You suppose?” Lily scoffed. “You’re not sure?”

“Yes.” Mr. Faircloth drew himself up, rallying. “Yes, I’m sure. That’s why I’ve come.”

So there is a bit of spine in this one, after all
, Lily thought. “That being the case,” she replied, giving no quarter in her attack, “it is reasonable for me to keep a record of these proceedings, is it not? You are not the first gentleman to present himself.”

Mr. Faircloth sank back into himself. “I see.”

“Tell me, what prompted your call today?” Lily tilted her head at an inquisitive angle, as though she were actually interested in the man’s answer.

Mr. Faircloth cast a desperate look at Mr. Bachman.

“That’s a fair question,” her father said. Lily loved many things about her father, but the one she appreciated more than anything was the way he treated her like a competent adult. Most females were bartered off to the man who made the highest offer, either through wealth or connections. When he spoke up for her, supporting her line of questioning, Lily wanted to throw her arms around his neck and hug him. Later, she would. Right now, they had to eject the newest swain from their home.

Mr. Faircloth grew more and more agitated with every passing second. He fidgeted in his seat and finally blurted, “I love you!”

Lily drew back, surprised by the tactic her opponent employed. She waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“It’s true,” Mr. Faircloth insisted. “From the moment I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman at the ball. Your gown was the most flattering blue — ”

“I wore red,” Lily corrected.

Mr. Faircloth blinked. “Oh.” He rested his elbows on his knees, his head drooped between his shoulders.

He was crumbling. Time to finish him off.

“Let’s talk about why you’ve really come, shall we?” Lily’s tone was pleasant, like a governess explaining something to a young child with limited comprehension. “You’re here because of my dowry, just like the other men who have suddenly found themselves stricken with love for me.”

“A gentleman does not discuss such matters with a lady,” Mr. Faircloth informed his toes.

“A
gentleman
,” Lily said archly, “does not concoct fantastical tales of undying affection in the hopes of duping an unwitting female into marriage. Tell me, sir, which son are you?”

“I have two older brothers,” he said in a defeated tone.

Lily duly made note of this fact on her paper. “And sisters?”

“Two.”

“Ah.” Lily raised a finger. “Already an heir and a spare, and two dowries besides. That doesn’t leave much for you, does it?” She tutted and allowed a sympathetic smile.

Mr. Faircloth shook his head once and resumed his glum inspection of his footwear.

“I understand your predicament,” Lily said. “And how attractive the idea of marrying money must be to a man in your situation.” She tilted her head and took on a thoughtful expression. “Have you considered a different approach?”

The gentleman raised his face, his features guarded. “What do you mean?”

She furrowed her brows together. “What I mean is this: Have you considered, perhaps, a profession?”

Mr. Faircloth’s mouth hung agape. He looked from Lily to Mr. Bachman, who sat back, passively observing the interview.

“It must rankle,” Lily pressed, “to see your eldest brother’s future secured by accident of birth, to see your sisters provided for by virtue of their sex. But do consider, my dear Mr. Faircloth, that younger sons the Empire ’round have bought commissions and taken orders, studied law or medicine, accepted government appointments. The time has come,” she said, pinning him beneath her fierce gaze, “for you to accept the fact that yours is not to be a life of dissipated leisure. Instead of hoping for a fortune to fall into your lap, your days would be better spent pursuing a profession.”

Mr. Faircloth wiped his palms down his thighs. “Miss Bachman, you’ve quite convinced me.”

She blinked. “Have I?”

“Yes,” he said. “I am well and truly convinced that marriage to you would be a nightmare from which I should never awake until I die. Sir,” he turned his attention to Mr. Bachman, “I see now why you offer such a large dowry for your daughter.” He stood. “It would take an astronomical sum to make the proposition of marriage to such a controlling, unpleasant female the slightest bit appealing.”

Lily’s mouth fell open. “Why, you — ”

Her father laid a restraining hand on her arm. Lily exhaled loudly and pinched her lips together.

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Bachman.” Mr. Faircloth inclined his head. “Miss Bachman.” He hurried from the parlor. A moment later, the front door closed behind him.

“Well!” Lily exclaimed. “Of all the sniveling, puffed up — ”

“You wore blue,” Mr. Bachman cut in.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The Shervington’s ball. You wore blue, just as Mr. Faircloth said.” He stood and crossed to his desk, where he poured himself a brandy from a decanter.

“Did I?” Lily murmured. “I could have sworn I wore red.” She tapped a finger against her lips.

“No, darling,” Mr. Bachman said with a sigh, “you wore blue. I’m quite certain, because your mother fretted that the color washed you out and no gentleman would notice you.”

“Ah, well,” Lily said. She rose and briskly rubbed her palms together. “It doesn’t signify. One more Leech gone.”

Mr. Bachman’s chest heaved and heavy, graying brows furrowed over his dark eyes. “My dear, you cannot continue in this fashion. You know I’ll not force you to marry against your will. But marry you must, and it
is
my desire that your marriage elevate this family’s status.”

Lily straightened a pile of papers on the desk as he spoke; her hands paused at this last remark. Indignation mingled with hurt slammed into her like a physical blow. She idly slid a paper back and forth across the polished desk and kept her eyes studiously upon it as she recovered, hiding the force of her emotions behind a casual demeanor. However, she could not fully suppress the bitterness in her voice when she spoke. “Fortunate, then, that Charles died. A mere ensign and son of a country squire would not have provided the upward mobility you crave.”

Mr. Bachman’s glass boomed against the desk. “Young lady, guard your tongue!” Her eyes snapped to his mottled face. His own dark eyes flashed rage, and his nostrils flared. “Had poor Charles returned from Spain, I would have proudly and happily given you in wedlock. Indeed, it was my fondest wish to unite our family with the Handfords.”

A humorless laugh burst from Lily’s lips. Turning, she twitched her skirts in a sharp gesture. “A fact you made sure to educate me upon from the earliest. I spent the whole of my life with the name of my groom and date of my wedding drilled into my head.”

It was an unfair accusation, she knew, even as it flew from her mouth. Yes, she had been betrothed to Charles Handford since time out of mind, but for most of her life, it was simply a fact she’d memorized, along with the color of the sky and the sum of two and two.

There’d been plenty of visits with their neighbors, the Handfords, but Charles was ten years her senior and rarely present. Her earliest memories of him were his visits home from Eton and Oxford, or later, leaves from his lancer regiment.

Their betrothal only became more relevant as her twentieth birthday neared, bringing the planned summer wedding that was to follow on its heels — an event postponed when Charles’ regiment could not spare him, and which was never to be when he died that autumn.

The silence stretched while her father regained his composure. Gradually, the angry red drained from his face. “Now, Lily,” he said in a more moderate tone, “I’ll not be portrayed as some chattel dealer, looking to hoist you off without a care for your feelings. Since last year was your first Season — and you just out of mourning — I did not push the issue. I still wish you to make your own match. The only stipulation I have placed is that the gentleman be titled — either in his own right or set to inherit. Surely that is not too onerous? There are scores of eligible gentlemen to choose from.”

“I don’t wish to marry an
aristocrat.
” She dripped disdain all over the word. “They’re a lot of lazy social parasites, with a collective sense of entitlement, just like that last one — ”

Mr. Bachman’s brows shot up his forehead. “Lily!”

She ducked her head. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, abashed. “My mouth does run ahead of me — ”

“And it’s going to run you right into spinsterhood, if you don’t mind yourself.”

Heat crept up Lily’s neck and over her cheeks.

“Now, dear,” Mr. Bachman continued, “poor Mr. Faircloth certainly
was
here because of your dowry. It’s big on purpose, and no doubt about it. But he also knew what color gown you wore to a ball last week. Do you know the last time I noticed a woman’s gown?”

Lily shrugged.

“Thirty years or more,” Mr. Bachman proclaimed, “if, in fact, I ever noticed to begin with.” He lifted her chin with a finger. Lily raised her eyes to meet her father’s softened expression. “You are an exceedingly pretty girl — ”

“Oh, Papa … ”

“You
are
. The way society works, however, renders it almost out of the question for the right kind of man to come calling, even if he thinks your dress
is
the most becoming shade of blue. Your dowry clears a few of those obstacles.” He took her hand and patted it. “Now, let us be done quarreling and speak of pleasanter things.”

Lily nodded hastily.

She happened to disagree with her father on the issue of her dowry. To Lily’s mind, the “right kind of man” would want to be with her, fortune or no. She thought of her dearest friend, Isabelle, Duchess of Monthwaite. Even though she and her husband, Marshall, went through a horrible divorce — reducing Isabelle to the lowest possible social status — they still found their way back together. Marshall didn’t allow Isabelle’s reduced circumstances to keep them apart, once they came to terms with their past.

For the thousandth time, Lily wished Isabelle was here. But she and His Grace were in South America on a botanical expedition-cum-honeymoon. They’d be home in a couple months, but oh, how time dragged when Lily so needed her friend’s advice.

Fortunately, Isabelle’s sister-in-law, Lady Naomi Lockwood, would soon be in town. She’d written to Lily that her mother, Caro, would be sitting out the Season to remain in the country — a singularly odd choice, Lily thought, considering the dowager duchess’ responsibility to see Naomi wed. Instead of her mother, Naomi would be chaperoned by her spinster aunt, Lady Janine.

Lily would be glad to see their friendly faces. She didn’t get on well with tonnish young women, and there was always the suspicion that men were only interested in her money. Lily often found herself lonely in the middle of a glittering crush.

“Are you attending?” Mr. Bachman said.

Lily blinked. “I’m sorry, Papa, what was that?”

“I asked,” he repeated patiently, “if you’ve decided on a project.”

Lily’s mood brightened.
This
was something she would enjoy discussing. “I have.”

“Excellent!” Mr. Bachman sat in the large armchair behind his desk, the throne from which he ruled his ever-expanding empire of industry. He moved the chair opposite the desk around to his side. “Have a seat, dear.”

Despite the tempest that had just flared between them, Lily felt a rush of affection for her dear father. Since she was a girl, he’d shared his desk with her. When she was young, he’d held her on his lap while he spoke to her about things she didn’t understand then — coal veins and shipping ventures; members of Parliament and government contracts.