An Earl To Remember Page 7

  Ada felt her whole body catch fire where she stood. Because she was not looking at Toby, but at the man beside him. The man who sat stiffly, but stared at her with undisguised intensity. Lord Liam Donnelly.

  “Of course, Lord Moore!” Roderick hailed him. “If you would turn the carriage there? Then you can ride in the vanguard.”

  “Thank you, milord!” Toby called back. “We look forward to making ourselves known to all the party properly as soon as we are settled. But now, shall we proceed?”

  The open carriage drew into the drive behind, and Roderick, Henriette and Ada joined the two girls inside, calling up to the driver to walk on. They were heading to London.

  And Liam was accompanying them.

  CHAPTER NINE

  AN EVENING AT THE INN

  AN EVENING AT THE INN

  The coach party from Newgate had traveled all through the day, arriving at the first of a series of inns at nightfall.

  “Are we here?” Henriette said dramatically. “Thank heavens! An hour more of that jostling about and I would die...” Roderick grinned.

  “I must look into the maintenance of these roads,” he agreed. “I, too, am rather pleased to end this bumpy ride.”

  Ada nodded agreement and sighed, stretching to ease her aching back. In the close, velvet-padded space Margaret and Medora were already asleep, their silken heads resting together on the seat behind them.

  “Shall we go in?” Henriette asked. All of them nodded gratefully and slipped out into the cool night air. The servants' carriage had just arrived, and Mrs. Mallington carried the girls inside.

  The inn was dark, the fire flickering in the grate. The innkeeper welcomed them effusively and showed them to a table on their own.

  Ada, sitting on a high-backed wooden chair at a solid oak table, looked around the dining-room of the Whitechapel Inn. Around them, the inn teamed with people from all walks of life, sitting at the oak tables on long benches. Merchants discussed business, farmers discussed weather and the landed gentry talked about their hunts or hounds or horses. Ada sat back watching it all from her vantage point, feeling excitement clench in her belly.

  He will join us soon. She had not had a chance to speak with Liam, but knowing he was there, in the carriage just behind their own, had changed the journey for her, making it faster and more exciting. He would join them for supper soon.

  “Ada? Will you take wine, too?” Henriette asked gently, and Ada blinked, startled out of her reverie. She had not realized they were discussing what to eat.

  She noticed the chill in the air. A warming drink would be welcome, and some food. “Yes, thank you.”

  “A good wine, and a hearty stew,” Roderick agreed. “That's what we need.”

  “Indeed!” Ada nodded, and looked across the room again as the discussion shifted to the local delicacies, distractedly. Where is Lord Liam?

  Her eye fell on Margaret and Medora, seated with their nanny at another table. The little girls were sitting like ladies, eating demurely, though she noticed Medora's legs swinging. Restless and a keen explorer, Medora was probably just waiting to explore.

  “Lady Ada?”

  Ada looked up, blinking. She had been waiting for the gentlemen to appear, and now, when they had, she was distracted. She smiled.

  “Lord Tobias!” she said. “I am pleased you are joining us. Welcome.” She waved a hand toward the seat beside her and, as Toby sat, looked behind him, frowning. Where is Lord Liam?

  “A pleasure to be here,” Toby said. “And please, do call me Toby.”

  “Very well Toby,” Ada smiled. “Are we to be joined by Lord Liam tonight?”

  Toby swallowed, and his eyes shifted to the side, clearly uncomfortable about something. “Well,” he began, brushing a nervous hand through his hair, “He bid me send his apologies, my lady, but he cannot be with us this evening.” He looked at his hands.

  “What?” Ada interrupted, suddenly alarmed. “Why?” She felt silly at once, and covered her hand with her mouth, hoping Toby did not read too much into her distress.

  “Nothing serious, my lady,” Toby said gently, patting her hand reassuringly. “He is simply... indisposed.” He sighed. “It is rare for him to join in gatherings, in any case.”

  “Oh?” Ada was surprised. She paused, realizing he was right. He had moved into Northfell months ago, but she had never seen or heard of him until that day in the woods. He had not called, or invited his neighbors to meet him, as would have been proper, which was strange. “He does not like the public eye?” she guessed.

  “Yes,” Toby said, swallowing dryly. He looked uncomfortable, and embarrassed for his friend's manners. Ada felt sad and hurt and disappointed, but she did not wish ill on Toby for simply bearing news.

  She was spared the need to change the subject as the innkeeper and his wife appeared, bearing mulled wine and a vast loaf of steaming bread.

  “That smells wonderful,” Ada commented, and Toby smiled appreciatively.

  “The stew is remarkable here,” he said. “When I was here on my way up from London, I considered simply moving house from Eppingway and staying here.”

  Ada chuckled, feeling some of her melancholy dissipate. “It must be powerful stew indeed.”

  “Just you wait,” Toby said, gesturing with his mulled wine as he drank some, “until it arrives. You'll soon agree with that.”

  Ada laughed and reached for her cup. Her fingers curled round it, and she was pleased to feel them finally warm. She sniffed the wine, enjoying the scents of cinnamon and ginger wafted up on the steam. Toby was pleasant company, and she found herself warming to him and relaxing somewhat.

  “Try it,” he encouraged, gesturing at the wine. “It's one of the best I've tasted.”

  Ada tasted it, and licked her lips. It was warm and spicy and delicious, sending warmth straight down into her toes.

  “Very pleasant,” she agreed. “Though I must admit to liking sweeter wine.”

  “I'm a whiskey drinker myself. Liam and I agree on that, at least!” He chuckled.

  “Lord Liam does not dine with us?” Ada asked, hoping she did not sound too interested.

  “He's upstairs. There's a small parlor up there. Got a good fireplace, if you'd care to have a look? Also, the only room in the place that's got books in it. You're a reader, yes?”

  Ada nodded. It seemed as if Toby wished her to speak with Liam. She wished she could ask him, but he certainly seemed to be hinting it.

  “I shall peruse the collection after dinner,” Ada said grandly, and Toby grinned.

  “Won't take much perusal, my dear lady. Just a shelf with some old things on it. You've probably read them all, or would wish not to!”

  Ada laughed.

  The dinner was delicious, but Ada did not taste much of it, hurrying through it so she could slip away to fetch a book.

  Upstairs, there was a single lamp burning in the one room with an open door. The scent of bread and candle-wax drifted from it, suggesting that whoever sat there had partaken of some light meal while they read.

  “Good evening?” Ada said, voice trembling as she knocked on the wooden lintel.

  The figure at the desk turned sharply, and stared at her.

  “Lady Ada? What is amiss?”

  “Lord Toby said there were books?” Ada asked in a small voice.

  Liam sniffed. “Lord Toby,” he said, wryly, “is a font of information.”

  Ada giggled and stepped into the warm room.

  “You have known him long?” Ada asked, curious.

  “Since Cambridge days,” Liam explained. explained. “He was a good friend – kept me out of my books and at parties.”

  Ada smiled. “I can imagine him as somewhat less than studious.”

  “He would have been, if he could have followed his heart and become a solicitor,” Liam sighed. “The privileges of rank are sometimes onerous. Neither of us can have a true profession.”

  Ada nodded. A thought occurred to her. “What w
ould you have been, could you have chosen?”

  Liam bit his lip, considering. “A carpenter,” he said after a moment. “To create things...that is a rare gift. I have a great deal of respect for those who can create.”

  “An admirable view,” Ada said quietly. “One I wish more people would share. We live in too warlike a society,” She shuddered.

  “I agree,” Liam said quietly. “There is a cost to war that is not paid in blood, or gold – grave though those costs are. There is a hidden cost, of lives broken and changed by injury, or minds tortured by what they have seen.” His eyes were alight with passion, and Ada sensed at once that this was important to him.

  What had this young man seen in war? She wished she could ask, but sensed he would have to know her a good deal better before he divulged his story.

  “I think,” she said carefully, “that our society is too quiet on this topic. Such things should be discussed. The more we hear of war, the less readily men will wage it.

  “Well said, Lady Ada,” Liam said gravely. “Well said.”

  The two were silent a while, and then Liam smiled wanly.

  “You must peruse our vast collection of literary works,” he grinned. “We have all of five of them, ranging from a mold-ridden copy of Shakespeare's Macbeth to an essay by some clergyman or other.”

  Ada laughed delightedly. “A fine selection,” she said, playing along. “I choose the middle one,” she pointed to the shelf, which was bracketed just above her reach.

  “This one?” Liam asked, and lifted it down for her. “Well thought-out choice, my lady!” he grinned. “This one is essays of Bacon.”

  “I am partial to the works of Bacon,” Ada smiled. She reached for the book and his fingers met hers. Neither of them broke the contact. He passed her the book and took her hand. His grip was warm and firm and Ada felt as if her nerves were catching fire.

  “I am glad you came to seek reading matter,” Liam smiled down at her. The candlelight danced in his eyes, and his cheeks were flushed.

  “As am I,” Ada agreed. She felt herself take a step towards him, and he did likewise. His lips moved down to hers, and hovered there, breaths mingling. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Ada closed her eyes, feeling their tender softness.

  “I should go,” Liam said hurriedly. “Toby will return upstairs, and I must needs unlock the door.” His voice was raw, his eyes aching with regret as he walked to the door. He turned and bowed.

  “Goodnight, my lady.”

  “Goodnight, my lord,” Ada said, her voice a near-whisper.

  She stood in the parlor a long moment, the book hugged to her chest. She could barely believe what had just happened. This was turning into an adventure. A beautiful, exciting, tender adventure to be sure, but an adventure nonetheless.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ENCOUNTER

  ENCOUNTER

  It was raining when the party left the inn, the rain drifting down in a misted curtain as they rolled along the country road. Ada, sitting at the window, watched the vista outside changing as they followed the curving road south.

  I wonder if Liam also loves the changing view? The rain trickled down the glass pane and Ada stared out, seeing trees and farms and wheat fields pass slowly by them. The roll of the wheels was soothing, and opposite her Henriette and Roderick had fallen asleep, lulled by the steady rhythm. Margaret and Medora were asleep, too, Margaret's head resting on her shoulder where she sat. She was the only person awake in the whole carriage.

  Ada herself dozed for a while, and when she woke the rain had stopped a while. The carriage was passing around a bend, the land around them flat and clear of trees. Ada took a chance to peer back and found herself looking straight into the carriage behind them. Liam was at the window. He saw her, and raised a hand in greeting.

  Ada’s whole body filled with an intense heat. She risked waving back and saw a smile cross his face. He tried to gesture something to her, but the carriage had turned already and he was lost to view behind them once again.

  Ada leaned back against the seat, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. The contact had made her feel so happy. She snuggled against the velvet seat behind her, her face stretched in a grin. She wished she could share this feeling with the whole world.

  “Auntie Ada?” Margaret whispered, waking up.

  “Yes, dear?” Ada smiled happily.

  “Are we at the inn?”

  Medora woke up from where she slept, head on her sister's knee. “Yes! I'm hungry!” she said at once.

  Ada laughed softly. “Hush, dears! You will wake your parents.”

  Roderick opened one eye, grinning. “I'm already awake.”

  The children giggled.

  “Oh...” Henriette yawned. “I was fast asleep. Are we arrived?”

  Everyone laughed.

  “In about two hours, my dear,” Roderick explained.

  “I want to be there now!” Medora said matter-of-factly.

  “Are there horses there?” Margaret had loved the stables at the last inn, and clearly wanted to see more.

  “Why don't we play I Spy?” Ada suggested brightly, as Roderick opened his mouth to ward off the chorus of protests. The suggestion was met with much enthusiasm, and Ada led them in the game, which involved guessing a secretly-selected object from the immediate surroundings.

  As the children tried to guess something beginning with N, she could not help thinking back to the encounter with Liam, and his gesture. She wondered what he had tried to say. She hoped she would have a chance to find out. Soon.

  “Notebook?” Margaret said hopefully.

  “Numbers?” Medora guessed.

  “That's silly! You can't see numbers.” Margaret said authoritatively.

  Ada laughed at their exchanges and kept them guessing. At last, she touched Margaret's nose.

  “Nose!” both children chorused, and collapsed in giggles.

  It was, Ada thought, turning into a good day.

  The sun came out as they rolled over the hills, and soon they were heading down to a valley where, apparently, there was an inn.

  “Ten minutes now,” Roderick informed them.

  “Whee!”

  “Horses...”

  They rolled on down the valley toward the inn.

  At last they stopped, and Ada hopped down, feeling the cobbled ground beneath her feet. The sun was blazing down, warming the wet road and the air smelled damp.

  She breathed in appreciatively and walked a little way, reveling in the view of the fields. She scratched the horse's ears and followed a little way as they were led to the stables, keeping an eye out lest Margaret followed too closely.

  “Lady Ada?”

  At the stable, she turned around, to see Lord Liam behind her.

  “Lord Liam!” she said, surprised. She covered her mouth with her hand. Her heart was thudding in her chest.

  He came to stand before her, wearing a black suit and top hat, his lean face, usually so grave, livened with a smile.

  “I am so glad we could have a chance to speak together,” Liam said warmly. “I had hoped to signal such to you in the carriage, but we moved too fast.”

  Ada felt as if she was three inches above the ground, floating on sheer delight. “I...” she stammered, and looked down at her hands. “I, too, am glad.” She swallowed hard.

  “Would you honor me with a short walk?” Liam asked, bending his arm in a crook so she could rest her hand in it. Ada, feeling like she might catch fire from the contact, looped her arm in his and walked beside him.

  “I am pleased to have a chance to see you,” Ada ventured, as they walked away from the inn and toward the trees. “I missed your company,” she admitted. Her throat was dry and her words came out raw.

  Liam stopped and looked down at her, his brown eyes huge. “Really?” he asked. He looked amazed, and Ada frowned.

  “I... enjoy your company, my lord,” she said by way of explanation, and bit her lower lip, suddenly shy. W
hat did I just say? That is a most inappropriate admonition for young ladies!

  Beside her, she felt his arm go stiff. He stopped walking, and turned to her. He looked stricken. Ada knew her words had been forward, but she had not expected that reaction.

  “I'm sorry, my lord,” she said quickly. “I did not wish to offend... I...” She looked down at where her booted feet stood on wet grass, wishing she could disappear into air. I am doing this all wrong, nothing like in the novels or stories.

  “Forgive me,” Liam said quickly, “you gave me no offense.” He turned to face her then, and took her hands in his. “You gave me no offense at all.”

  His voice was low and vehement.

  “I am glad to hear it,” Ada said hesitantly.

  They walked around the side of the stables, heading away from the noise and bustle there and into the woods.

  “I wished... to apologize,” Liam said hesitantly. “My behavior in the woods the other day was wretched, and I am sorry for it.”

  Ada gaped at him. Did he really mean that? She had been hurt and offended, yes. But she was surprised he regretted it. She had thought him cold and indifferent – all the more so, since his absence the evening before at dinner.

  “Thank you, my lord,” she replied uncertainly. “I accept your apology.”

  He grinned. It was like the sun coming out. Smiling transformed his face from somber elegance to a thing of stunning beauty.

  “Thank you, my lady,” he replied. “I must say, I am relieved.”

  Ada smiled. “Good. Though I would accept a game of chess as a consolation prize? These evenings can grow tedious.”

  Liam stopped walking at her side and turned to face her. “You play chess?”

  “Yes, my lord.” Ada blinked. Was that so odd? “Chess, and draughts, and solitary card games. Though chess is my favorite.”