Realm 06 - A Touch of Love (22 page)

Hutton added, “Do you not find it ironic that years later, you meet the daughter of the man who made such a blunder in England’s most important battle to date?”

Carter gave himself a mental shake before continuing the introductions. “Monroe. Mrs. Warren. It is with the greatest pleasure I offer you the acquaintance of my brother, Lawrence Lowery, Lord Hellsman, and future Baron Blakehell, and his wife Lady Hellsman.”

Courtesies followed. For the next hour, he enjoyed how Bella easily maneuvered Lucinda from Monroe’s notice. With amusement, he thought it would be interesting to watch Louisa’s manipulations thwarted by Bella. “And how long have you known Mrs. Warren?” Law asked suspiciously as they stood together upon the balcony. Louisa had ushered Bella to her quarters, and Monroe had joined McLauren at the stables, while Mrs. Warren had called upon Simon in the nursery.

“Some fifteen months,” he admitted. “I took her acquaintance at the Come Out for Lady Worthing. Thornhill had known her late husband, Captain Warren, and the duke shamelessly used the lady to make Miss Aldridge jealous.”

“Oh, yes. I recall when we attended Thornhill’s wedding breakfast, Lady Worthing made reference to another woman.” Law said cautiously, “Mrs. Warren certainly has not the look of the duchess.”

Carter knew he had said too much as soon as the words left his lips. “The lady is more beautiful than the duchess. Mrs. Warren has a kind heart and a quick mind to support her handsome countenance.”

His brother, thankfully, made no comment, but he did ask, “And why is the lady now your responsibility?”

Carter had shared bits of Mrs. Warren’s life with McLauren, but he judged it best to speak only to the urgency of protecting the woman. “Someone has made several attempts to harm the lady. Without family as protection, Mrs. Warren sought Thornhill’s assistance.”

“And the duke, naturally, placed the woman into your most capable hands for Thornhill fears his wife’s sharp tongue.” Law drew his own conclusions.

Carter chuckled lightly. “That is your summation, dear Brother. I would not venture such an opinion about Thornhill. The man’s pride might result in our meeting at Putney Heath at dawn.”

“Come,” Law directed Carter’s steps toward the drawing room. “Over supper, I mean to learn more of
your
Mrs. Warren.”

Everything had gone well over the casually constructed meal until Louisa announced, “I have spoken to Lord McLauren and have obtained my husband’s permission to host a small supper party at week’s end. It is not often both my brothers are in residence at Maryborne at the same time, and I mean to take advantage. I am quite proud of the Lowery men.”

Law ventured, “Lady Hellsman and I planned to travel to Blake’s Run before that time.”

Louisa dismissed his objection with a fluttering wrist. “Then why bother to tarry in Lincolnshire at all?” she argued. “No one of polite Society would spend less than a week at a relative’s home.”

McLauren chuckled. “Surrender, Hellsman. You lived with Louisa some twenty years, and you should know, as well as the next man, when your sister sets her mind to a plan, we all stand aside to permit Louisa her head.”

Lawrence asked, “What say you, Bella?”

“Monday shall be soon enough to return to Derbyshire, but no more, Lawrence. I sorely miss my father, and I mean to call upon my grandfather before the weather turns foul again.”

Carter enjoyed how Arabella had accepted Louisa’s maneuverings, but had also placed limitations on how much she would tolerate. He suspected his “sisters” would have multiple disagreements over the coming years. He liked the idea. Louisa had had her way too often, and she required a good set down from time to time.

“And what of you, Mrs. Warren?” Louisa asked pointedly. His eldest sister meant to circumvent any objections Carter might hold to her plan by placing the lady upon a pincushion.

“I am at Sir Carter’s disposal,” Mrs. Warren murmured, but Carter noted the panic in her eyes. “But I would ask your permission, Lady McLauren, to remain with the children that evening.”

“Nonsense,” Louisa declared. “A hostess must maintain an equal number of males and females for a successful service.”

Mrs. Warren pleaded, “Surely there is another female in the neighborhood…”

Carter leaned closer. “I will send a rider to Huntingborne for appropriate clothing,” he whispered.

She hissed, “I own nothing grand enough.”

He nodded his understanding, but he said, “We would be pleased for the company, Louisa.” Beneath the table’s cloth, he caught Lucinda’s hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

When the men joined the ladies in the drawing room, Carter motioned Bella to the side. “Mrs. Warren is in need of your assistance,” he said softly. “She requires a gown for Louisa’s supper.”

Bella nodded her agreement. “I recall how thankful I was to discover Delia’s lovely gowns fit me after my unexpected dip in Blake Run’s tarn.” Bella glanced to where Mr. Monroe entertained the lady with tales of the Chinese ship they had overtaken. Carter would again emphasize to the man the necessity for secrecy. “The lady is a bit taller than I, but I have a lovely gown I think would do her well.”

Carter smiled easily. “I knew you would save the evening. Thank you, Bella.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “Permit me to make the offer rather than have the lady assume you have assumed pity for her.”

He shot a quick glance to where Mrs. Warren sank quietly into the cushions. “I admit I am at sixes and sevens.” Carter had taken an immediate liking to Arabella Tilney; they had known a comfortable familiarity from the beginning of their acquaintance. “At Lady Worthing’s Come Out ball, Mrs. Warren outshone many of Society’s finest, but since our reacquaintance, I have noted how the lady’s confidence has waned. Do you suppose Captain Warren dealt his wife a disservice? One in which she never knew how to respond? Thornhill mentioned an incident when he had served along side Warren several years back, but the duke assumed the situation had been an aberration. I am no longer so certain.”

Bella squeezed his arm. “I shall attempt to become the lady’s confidant, but I shall only share her thoughts if you mean to be Mrs. Warren’s champion.”

Carter considered the concept and found no apparent misgivings. “If the lady requires a champion, I would offer my services.”

For two days, Carter had observed Louisa’s elaborate manipulations. His sister placed Mrs. Warren beside Monroe during meals, had asked the gentleman to escort Mrs. Warren and Bella into the village, and had arranged an impromptu
picnic for her, the couple, and the children upon the front lawns. With each event, Carter had searched the lady’s countenance for evidence of Mrs. Warren’s pleasure in the acquaintance. What he discovered disturbed him greatly. Mrs. Warren had smiled at all the appropriate times, but other than the lady’s interactions with Simon, her countenance spoke of despair. The knowledge of her pain ripped at his heart. He wished to find a means to change her steps–to set them aright.

“Law has volunteered you to serve as my and Mrs. Warren’s escort this afternoon,” Arabella announced over breakfast on Thursday.

Carter spoke over his shoulder as he filled a second plate with toast, bacon, and kippers, one of his favorite foods. Louisa had made a point of serving them just for him. “And where are we off to today, Ladies?”

Bella kept the floor. “We are in need of a bit more lace for Mrs. Warren’s gown for Louisa’s supper.”

Carter noted how the lady blushed, but he pretended not to see. “A very worthy cause,” he said in a good-natured taunt. “It has been too long since I have been on a lace hunt. Should I bring out the hounds?”

Bella struck his shoulder with her folded serviette. “As I ride to the hounds as well as you, Sir, you shall regret your levity.”

Carter laughed lightly. He leaned down to place a kiss on Bella’s forehead. “That you do, my Dear. I must choose my taunts more carefully.”

Bella smiled easily, “You are a gracious loser, Carter. So, we may depend upon your goodwill?”

“It will be my pleasure, but why has my brother bowed from the task?”

Bella rolled her eyes. “Some pressing estate business. I swear, Carter, I will not have my husband return to the man he was prior to our joining.”

“Stand your ground, Bella. Law deserves success, but not to the point it robs him of the first happiness he has ever known.”

Lucinda listened to the easy exchange between Sir Carter and his brother’s wife. She wondered what it would be to have a large family, one where all the others made her business theirs. She could not quite stifle her sigh of envy.

Because she had arrived with the baronet, his family had opened their arms to her. It was an invigorating feeling to have others interested in her opinions
and her happiness, and Lucinda fought hard not to become too comfortable with the baronet’s family. Their acceptance of her was an illusion, one to be snatched away when he had discovered the truths of Simon’s parenthood and of her marriage.

However, Lucinda would easily admit she thoroughly enjoyed her time with Arabella Lowery. Sometimes she felt they could be life-long friends. In three short days, they had taken to finishing each other’s sentences. Their tastes in clothes and foods were so similar Lucinda knew true amazement. Lady Hellsman was the sister she had never known–that special friend of which her life as the only child of a famous military leader and later of a soldier’s wife had robbed her.

“Bella tells me you have chosen a gown for Louisa’s party,” Sir Carter said softly as he seated himself beside her.

Lucinda glanced to where Lady Hellsman gave the footman specific instructions on how she wished her eggs prepared. She suspected the lady was with child, but Bella had yet to share her news, and so Lucinda had kept her own counsel. “Your brother’s wife is wonderfully gracious. She has offered me the use of one of her gowns, and her maid Lizzie has made the necessary adjustments. I cannot thank her or you enough.”

“Me?” Sir Carter protested. Lucinda enjoyed the baronet’s antics when he feigned obtuseness. He appeared so much more approachable in those rare moments.

“I am not a woman without intelligence, Sir Carter,” she said softly. “You shushed my objections to your sister’s party, and then Lady Hellsman appears with an offer of a magnificent gown. I do not believe in coincidence. It was of your doing.” She presented him a calm, direct look.

“I did nothing special. Arabella would have come to the same conclusion upon her own. She is quite generous by nature, very much like my sister Delia. All I shall claim is the desire to expedite the process.”

Before she could reply, Bella returned to the table. “Has Carter told you of how he brought his brother to his knees before all the
ton
and then the two of them made a fool of my Cousin Annalee’s husband?”

“I fear Sir Carter has shared few amusing tales,” Lucinda said playfully. “I have sadly come to the opinion the man is meant only for governmental business.”

He regarded her in surprise. “I never thought my family’s antics would be of interest to you.” Although his tone was light, there was a philosophical grimace lurking behind his smile. He carried his pain better than did she; yet, nevertheless, it was there. The possibility wiped every other thought from her mind. Lucinda closed her eyes, desperately fighting to shore up her defenses, but she feared her efforts too late. This man had opened her heart to more pain.