Timeless Passion: 10 Historical Romances To Savor (55 page)

The room was noticeably warm from the heat of the fire. Mindlessly, Rhianna reached to open the window. It opened an inch or so, before a hook latch prevented further movement. She sighed, as all manner of scandalous thoughts were broken and she had no choice but to give the window more attention than she wished. Using her fingers as her eyes in the dark, she ran them along the edge of the sash in search of the bolt.

To her surprise, she heard murmuring below.

Rhianna held her breath and listened. Whether they were men, women, or both, she could not decipher from their muffled voices; and though the full moon gave off sufficient light to the ground below, her view was obstructed. Only two shadows along the portico were visible.

Clink.

The latch bounced against the sill before falling to the ground two floors below. Rhianna jumped, hardly aware she had found the latch when it broke at her fingertips. With her hand pressed tightly against her chest, she heard the second
clink
as it hit the stone ground.

The voices silenced and the shadows disappeared. An eerie sensation overcame Rhianna and she feared that those very shadows might be climbing the wall after her. Absurdity, of course. Still, nothing seemed to quell the impression that she was much too near something that she was not intended to be near.

Rhianna eased away from the lavender curtains and cringed as she crossed the creaky floor to her bed. Had it been creaky before? She couldn’t remember. Pulling the covers up to her neck, she listened for voices that never resurfaced and hoped that morning wasn’t far off.

• • •

At breakfast, Lord Kingsley expressed his hope that Rhianna had passed a comfortable night in the lavender room and seemed very pleased to find it was so. Rhianna sensed no change in his manner or hint in him regarding the events of the early morning. No, even as Lydia Kingsley and Desmond’s eyes seemed glued upon her at his inquest, Guilford Kingsley was unaltered and she continued to find herself at ease, at least, in
his
presence.

The morning room of Kingsley Manor was everything it ought to have been, its atmosphere the superlative example of leisure, ideal in all ways for breakfasts, writing, and reading. Rhianna took her time, enjoying every moment, as well as the vast selection of dishes that lay before her. Some she was not familiar with and gratefully she accepted occasional, whispered hints from Audra, who watched her intently, apparently aware of her every puzzlement.

The day was to afford a tour of Kingsley Manor. Lord Kingsley was happy to conduct it and Audra was equally happy to join them, offering her own commentary along the way. Neither, however, was as delighted as Rhianna, who could think of no greater joy than getting to know the geography of the house and committing to memory each and every minute detail. It was also no great disappointment that Lydia and Desmond Kingsley were otherwise engaged and would not be joining their small party.

Kingsley Manor, a thirty-bedroom mansion, required they set out early to see as much of it as the day would allow. Rhianna’s experience thus far consisted of the great front hall, the drawing and morning rooms, and the stairs and hallway leading to her lavender chamber. Lord Kingsley began his tour with the principal rooms on the ground floor, starting with the dining room — large, tastefully decorated, and not overly ornate, with finely carved, wainscoted, oak-paneled walls, which even with its crimson tones and masculine artwork could do no wrong. Then they walked through the gallery, a grand, well-lit room on the east side of the manor, with a high ceiling and equally high windows. Although no portraits were hung beyond immediate family, the gallery housed some magnificent pieces of art. Rhianna could have spent considerable time leisurely walking that long room, and was sorry to leave it, even after spending more than an hour there.

Over the course of the day, they continued to move throughout the house and immediate grounds, viewing the formal garden at the back of the house, library, and billiard room. It was clear that not just one tour, but several additional tours would be required. Visits to the kitchen, brew house, and wine cellar, as well as the schoolroom, theater, and ballroom on the upper levels would be conducted in the near future.

Rhianna, although having seen enough in one day to keep sleep away indefinitely, looked forward to touring the rest of what was within Kingsley Manor’s walls. But she also longed to see what lay beyond them, not the least of which included the conservatory, stables, dairy, and apple orchard. Until then, she allowed, a little private exploration would most certainly hold her over.

• • •

With only a short time to dress, Rhianna hurriedly extracted her best mourning attire from the hanging rail of the mahogany corner cabinet. Various emotions swirled within her, but the foremost of all was excitement.

When the hour struck, she exited the lavender room and headed for the dining room. To her surprise, she found Desmond Kingsley waiting for her on the balcony. A tall man of twenty-eight, Desmond’s features were distinctly his mother’s, with an aquiline nose that fit his narrow face, and skin unusually rough for his age and station. Rhianna couldn’t say she particularly disliked him, but something about him made her uncomfortable.

“I hope we did not wake you last night,” he stated blandly.

There was no mistaking his meaning. With his words, Desmond Kingsley identified himself as one of last night’s shadows and Rhianna felt her pulse quicken.

Before she could reply, he added, “My cousin, who has been staying with us as of late, is an early riser.”

She made the connection to Pierson quickly. It seemed his departure from the manor had not happened as rapidly as it appeared the previous night, and no wonder. If he had been staying at the manor, and not merely visiting, he must have had bags to pack. Secretly, she wished she had caught a glimpse of the man who escaped in the early morning hours.

Smiling nervously, Rhianna said, “I am sorry I did not chance to meet him. Will he soon return?”

“It is difficult to say. His business was urgent, hence, the early departure. He can always be counted on to leave at a moment’s notice.”

“A lofty attribute, to be sure.”

“To be sure,” echoed Desmond, “so long as it does not interfere with the comfort and rest of others.”

Anxious to end this conversation and be on her way, Rhianna authorized him not to worry. “I thank you for your concern, Lord Kingsley, but it is quite unnecessary, I assure you. My only, brief trouble last night was that of an overly warm fire — nothing an open window could not relieve. In all, my night was comfortably spent.”

This seemed to satisfy him, but Rhianna could not help but feel his intention was to intimidate. Or was he simply concerned with the comfort of a guest? This question made her wonder if she could accuse him of the preceding motive. After all, Soleil had warned her many times of her overactive imagination.

“Are you on your way to dinner?” she asked.

“I will soon join you. Do you know the way?”

“I do.”

“Very well, Miss Braden, I look forward to seeing you shortly.”

Leaving this encounter perplexed, Rhianna chose to believe in Desmond’s innocence and guided herself downstairs to the dining room. Her mind, however, filled with conjecture, was not ready to rest.

Guilford and Lydia Kingsley were already seated with Audra at the long, Chippendale table with its carved, cabriole legs. She was motioned to sit in a chair with a vase-shaped back splat and, though her tight corset made it difficult to sit and breathe at the same time, she took her place beside Audra. Her genuine compliments on the furniture unearthed the knowledge that it had belonged to Guilford’s mother, and though Lydia seemed irritated at the mention of her,
he
was delighted at Rhianna’s appreciation for the style. An inquiry into his mother’s situation further revealed that she had passed, but Lydia’s sour countenance deterred Rhianna from any additional pursuit of the subject.

Desmond soon after appeared and an elaborate dinner of several courses was served. The first consisted of two main dishes, venison and beef sirloin, accompanied by vegetable pudding, macaroni pie, preserve of olives and larded sweetbreads. It was a spread fit for royalty and appealing in both presentation and taste.

Still, Rhianna recoiled inwardly at dirtying so much of the Kingsley china as the entire company began the meal. This same dilemma tormented her a second time, as the next course of salmon and chicken fricassee, potatoes, almond pudding, and syllabub, bought a new set of china and crystal to sully.

With all the soups, side dishes, and pastries, Rhianna totaled twenty-five plates per course. All was perfection and, at the end of two hours, after consuming many delicacies, Rhianna was certain she could not look at another fruit tart for some time.

Conversation had been light and easy, led mostly by Guilford Kingsley, with occasional whispers from Audra, who apparently had been for some time deprived of a confidant and had many important things to communicate to Rhianna about her doll collection. Rhianna, a very willing listener, expressed her genuine interest and they quickly decided that a viewing of Audra’s display was not only necessary, but should be expeditiously planned.

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully, as did the night. After dinner, Rhianna was invited to cards. She played for a time, though she looked very much forward to removing her corset, as well as escaping the company of Desmond, whose eyes seemed frequently upon her. Exhaustion was settling in from the full day and, as much as she wanted to savor every moment in Kingsley Manor, she took her exit at the earliest opportunity.

• • •

Early the following day, Rhianna expressed her wish to pay her respects to the departed. The
barouche
was immediately offered to her, though she politely declined. The day was turning out lovely and Rhianna preferred to walk, much to the alarm of Audra, who did not believe in taking any such physical pains to arrive anywhere. She urged Rhianna vehemently to take a horse, insisting that horseback riding could be equally good exercise as walking, as well as refreshing. But this was a solemn occasion that demanded reflection, and Rhianna considered nothing so given to meditation as walking. On such grounds, Audra allowed, albeit unwillingly, that walking might be permissible.

Rhianna also had veiled plans to make another visit — a visit to a place in which no
barouche
could accompany her. A certain friend had frequented her thoughts over the years. She could not help but wonder if that friend was still living and she was determined to find out as soon as possible.

After breakfast, Rhianna had a letter addressed to Soleil ready for the post. After handing it to Henry and informing a servant of the broken window lock in her room, she departed for the churchyard.

It had been ten years since she had stood before a grave. The last time, it was the grave of the previous owner of her beloved brooch. Now, Rhianna stood before the shared grave of her parents. The ground was still freshly shoveled over where the coffins had been laid and the inscription on their memorial stone was simple. Sheltered by sycamores and elms, the churchyard seemed a scene of peaceful dignity as Rhianna placed the flowers she had picked along the way.

When she cried, it was from the guilt of not crying over her parents’ deaths. Looking to the heavens, she asked forgiveness for her dispassionate emotions. If only they could have but loved her, the way she wanted to love them. If only they had been but kind, she should have mourned them the way a daughter ought to mourn a father and a mother.

But they had not, and she could not. The black of her mourning clothes was all she could give them.

Soon, she found her mind dwelling on the Kingsleys, on the Vallières, on the smaller, unmarked grave beside her parents’ — everything but what lay before her. And each time she caught her thoughts drifting, she chastised herself. Feelings of regret and blame quickly became overbearing. If their treatment toward her had been due, in some way, to an offense on her part, amends could never be made, nor could a new relationship ever be attained. These thoughts were enough to bring her already heavy spirits lower as she mourned what could never be.

• • •

Guided by the stream she followed as a child, Rhianna struggled to lift the heavy folds of her skirt above the wet ground. Even still, though she was cautious with her footing, there was no preventing the bottom of her dress from getting dirty. She hoped, when she returned later to Kingsley Manor, that she would be able to slip into her room to change before anyone noticed.

Traveling along the infrequently trodden, muddy path, Rhianna questioned the reliability of her memory of that dimly lit trail. Once the ivy-covered hunting lodge came into view, though, there was no mistaking it. With mixed feelings of relief and apprehension, Rhianna hastened to the lodge’s door.

Looking around, she felt as though eyes were upon her. And though it was a sensation she had often felt here, Rhianna began to wonder why she had come. After all, even as a guest at Kingsley Manor, she had no permission to be
here
. As a child, perhaps she could have gotten away with such an intrusion but, as a young woman, was it not outright trespassing? She paused to listen, but heard no movement, aside that of a stiff breeze and an occasional birdsong.

She knocked.

There had been no communication between the two after Rhianna left for Madame Chandelle’s School for Girls and, in those first moments after she’d rapped on the weather-worn, wooden door, Rhianna’s mind raced with unanswered questions. Would anyone be able to answer them if her confidant no longer lived? And, who was this woman, who led so sheltered a life, hidden from the world? Would the mysteries that accompanied her, mysteries that Rhianna had so often dwelt upon, forever be concealed?

Perhaps she had no right to know, but that did not mean she did not wish to. It had become so very personal to Rhianna, almost as if their lives were fully connected with one another so that Rhianna
did
have a right, more so than anyone. This wonderful woman had especially provided a companionship to the young Rhianna, a maternal-like intimacy, at a time when she was in desperate need of it. Standing before the cherished lodge, Rhianna hoped that she had brought as much friendship to this woman in her lonely hours as Rhianna herself had enjoyed.