A Season to Be Sinful (30 page)

She did. Its certainly true. We were plucked like weeds.

Thats just it, Miss Rose, Pipkin said. Never could put my finger on it before, but you and the lads wasnt weeds in Holborn, just flowers in the wrong place. Youve seen his lordships garden, so it shouldnt surprise that he knew it all along.

Lily stopped in her tracks and brought Pipkin up short as well.

What is it, Miss? Your foot? Do you have need of my shoulder?

Only to cry on. She gave him a watery smile. You are a dear man. He was of a height with her, slightly stooped from years spent on the drivers box and with a complexion weathered to ruddiness. Lily noticed for the first time how blue his eyes were and, more important, how kind. A dear, dear man. She caused him no small amount of embarrassment by kissing him on the cheek. Even his distress was endearing. Thank you, Mr. Pipkin. I shall treasure your words always.

Drawing back, Lily saw the drivers eyes widen and his distress turn to mortification as his attention was claimed by something farther down the hall. Even before she turned, she knew what she might expect. As it happened, she only knew the half of it, for when she faced front, Sheridan was not alone on the lip of the landing.

Lady Rivendale was at his side.

At such a distance it was difficult to know the expression of either, but Lily did not think she was wrong that her ladyship was more amused than her godson. While Pipkin shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other and ducked his head, Lily brought up her chin and made an awkward curtsy to soften what might be seen as impudence.

We are interrupting, it seems, Sherry said, approaching with his godmother on his arm. Pipkin? Was Miss Rose detaining you?

No, mlord. I was helping her to her room.

And she was demonstrating her gratitude, no doubt. He did not glance at Lily. Are the boys in their rooms?

Aye. The footmen just left.

Then go on.

Pipkin made a slight bow, spun on his heel, and was off at a brisk step. As quickly as he moved, he still managed to direct a sorrowful glance Lilys way.

Seized by the urge to bang her crutch over Sheridans head, Lilys grip on it whitened because she restrained herself. She could not speak until spoken to, not in the presence of Lady Rivendale, so she suffered the relentless boring of Sheridans dark eyes and waited him out, hoping it would occur to him that his response to what hed witnessed was out of all proportion.

It was Lady Rivendale, however, who breached the uncomfortable silence. For heavens sake, Sherry, dismiss the girl or make an introduction. You know I cannot abide indecision.

He did not respond immediately but darted a glance at his godmother that spoke of impatience for all females. Very well, he said finally. Miss Rose, you will be pleased to meet my godmother, the Countess of Rivendale. Lady Rivendale, Miss Rose, governess and teacher to the scoundrels.

Having dreaded this moment since shed learned the countess meant to visit Granville, Lily was relieved to have it done with. Using the crutch for balance, she managed another curtsy, this one deeper and less awkward than the one that had come before. My lady, she murmured. It required some effort not to tug on the cap that covered most of her hair or tuck in the tendrils that had strayed from under it. She withstood Lady Rivendales frank appraisal, though it was more difficult than holding her own with Sheridan.

How are you called again? her ladyship asked, directing her question to Lily.

Miss Rose, my lady.

Rose. Rose. I do not know the name. Who are your parents?

Sherry intervened. It is late, Aunt. Permit me to escort you to your room.

Her eyebrows rose in two perfect arches. That lacked subtlety, Sherry. If I am not to be allowed to satisfy my curiosity, then I am for bed, and as I am not the one requiring a crutch, I will navigate on my own. She raised her cheek for

Sherrys kiss, and once hed complied, she bid him good night.

Sherry and Lily did not exchange a word while Lady Rivendales light footfalls could still be heard in the hallway. When she turned the corner on the landing to the west wing and all was silent again, they spoke at the same time.

I hope you mean to explain yourself.

That they used the same words might have been cause for amusement; this time it wasnt. Their expressions mirrored annoyance.

Sherry inclined his head, indicating Lily could go first.

You were perfectly odious to Mr. Pipkin.

Odious? A less generous employer would dismiss you both.

It did not matter that it was true, it was not what Lily wanted to hear from him. Is that what you mean to do?

Of course not.

Then please step down from your high horse. Her voice dropped to a sibilant whisper. I merely kissed Mr. Pipkin on the cheek; I let you have me on a desk.

Sherry blinked.

Or did you think I meant to do the same with him? When he blinked again, Lily hit him on the side of his leg with her crutch. If you cannot own that you are harboring some maggot in your upperworks, I shall have to knock it loose and show you the thing myself. Lily dropped the crutch and hopped once so that she was flush against him. Slightly off balance now, she depended upon Sherry to steady her. He did not disappoint, placing his hands on either side of her waist when her arms rose to his shoulders. She rested her hands at the back of his neck and pressed lightly with her fingertips as she lifted her face to his lowering one.

She kissed him. Sweetly at first, then with passion. Nothing about it resembled the kiss she had placed on Pipkins cheek. This was warm, then warmer, and it did indeed cause Sherry to dismiss everything else from his mind. It did not matter that their embrace was in the hall where anyone might come upon them, and it was equally insignificant that she was standing with most of her weight resting on one of his feet.

What was of import was the manner in which she held him to her, as though making a claim on him, and the way she turned in his arms, giving him the right to do the same.

When Lily drew back, it was to gauge the success of her enterprise in the cadence of his breathing and the widening of the dark centers of his eyes. If that does not convince you of the sincerity of my affections, then I cannot think what might.

Sherry could, but he did not ask her to say the words, not when he had to tread so carefully around them himself. It convinces, he said instead, his voice husky. But you are welcome to repeat your argument.

She smiled and deliberately trod more heavily upon his foot before hopping off. You will not turn me from my purpose.

You have another purpose?

It does not involve designs upon your person.

Pity. Sherry stooped and picked up Lilys crutch. Here, put this under your arm before you topple.

She accepted the crutch, then his arm, and he led her the rest of the way to her room. I hope I can secure your promise that when there is cause to discipline the boys you wont take it all upon your shoulders, then place it on theirs.

Pipkin told you what they did?

No. Not the whole of it. I reasoned most of it out myself when I discovered they were gone. He told me where you found them. She paused while he opened the door to her bedchamber and released her so she could precede him inside. You are master here, but you hired me as governess and teacher, and I would only ask that you permit me to perform my duties.

Sherry did not fail to notice that Lily was leaning heavily on the crutch, fairly listing to one side. When she tried to right herself, her sprained ankle bore too much weight, caus-ing her to wince. He did not wait to secure her permission but picked her up, knocking the crutch aside, and carried her to the bed. That she did not protest told him clearly how much pain she was in.

Lily grabbed his forearms when he would have straightened and stepped away from the bed. Please. May I have your word?

Certainly you shall have it. I did not expect they would banish themselves, Lily.

She smiled faintly and released him. Is that what they called it?

Yes.

I fear they are romantics, my lord. It is the house, I think. They still imagine there will be dragons to slay, and they fancy themselves your knights.

Sherry brought forth the missive Dash had penned. You will want to see this.

She held it up to the candlelight and read, then accepted Sherrys proffered handkerchief to dab at her eyes.

It had the same affect on the maid present at the reading, he said, taking it back. He found the laudanum on the side table and began mixing it with a glass of water. And my godmother? There is a romantic. She was won over by the notion of dungeons and piranha, although she fought it with considerable gusto. He helped Lily sit up, then handed her the glass. All of it.

She made a face but drank it down. May I have a pillow to place under my foot?

Of course. He took back the glass, then made her as comfortable as her pain would allow. Arent you tired?

It will take some time for the laudanum to work. I only woke a short time ago.

Sherry was aware of Lilys quiet regard; she was studying him in a way that discomfited him with its thoroughness. What is it?

You never fought being won over by them, did you?

No. It seemed pointless.

Why?

Sherry eased himself down on the edge of the bed. You will perhaps want to hear that it was a selfless act, but I can tell you it was one of extraordinary selfishness. They are like a balm for my soul.

Lily frowned. Is your soul so wounded, then?

Mayhap not so much as it was. He felt her hand slide over his. I do not know what it was like for you when your parents died, but when mine were killed I blamed myself. It was not unreasonable, given that they were journeying to Eton at the time. I learned later that only the innkeeper and one guest survived the fire. If they had not been asked to attend me at the school, they might yet be alive.

Attend you? asked Lily. Because you were being recognized for excellence? An award perhaps?

He shook his head. But you are kind to champion me. No, I was in trouble with the headmasteragain. I was organizing a coup that would have replaced one of the prefects. The planall of it committed to pen and paper by my own handwas flawed. There were not to have been any blows exchanged, and certainly the blood was not anticipated, but I didnt know that Gordon Olin was going to leap over a banister and break his leg, nor did I think that when I butted the prefect with my head that it would bloody his nose.

It was a brawl, Lily said.

It was the last in a series of trials to the headmaster, thus the invitation to my parents to take me in hand or take me home.

And they never arrived.

No. Never.

Is that when you began to embrace your well-ordered life? she asked.

What do you mean?

I am imagining you said or did very little after that to call attention to yourself. No more tricks. No plots. Nothing out of the ordinary. Am I right?

In a manner of speaking.

And now it nettles that you have been such a model of rectitude and good sense.

A model of rectitude. He pretended to give that serious consideration. That is puffing the thing up a bit, for I am simply accounted to be toplofty. You cannot pretend it is otherwise because you have named me so yourself.

She flushed. I did not understand then. I wish you would not mock yourself.

It is a talent recently acquired and one I find with much to recommend it. You should be encouraging me, not asking me to stop. In any event, I do not believe one can properly be called a model of anything at only eight-and-twenty years.

You are so young?

He gave a shout of laughter. Oh, pray, say you will never try to flatter me because I enjoy this so much more.

Lily felt a surge of heat to her face. Forgive me. It is only that your eyes

Yes?

They seem older.

Sobering, Sherry laced his fingers with hers. Do you know that is precisely what I see when I look at you?

It did not surprise her. She had seen it for herself in the mirror. We are two old souls, then.

I had choices, Lily, he said, about the things I have done.

You told me that before.

Then believe it. I do not think it was true for you.

She shook her head.

Where did you go when you left the abbey? He held his breath while he waited to see if she would answer this time.

Le Havre.

He exhaled softly. Then on to England?

That was the plan. It would have been a smugglers vessel, but I didnt understand that. Sister Mary Joseph gave me a young mans identity papers and a letter of introduction to her brother.

She wanted you to go?

Lily nodded. Perhaps it was the laudanum, she thought, that made her less cautious, or perhaps it was that Sherry had finally breached her defenses. It probably didnt matter; she was ready to tell him some piece of the truth. Because of him, she said. She wanted me to go because he came to the abbey looking for a governess, and he chose me. They had a party for me that same afternoon, to say farewell, because he was to return for me the following morning. I did not want to go, but I thought they were sincere in wishing me well. When Sister Mary Joseph sought me out that night and told me I should leave, I thought she could not mean it. You cannot imagine how frightened I was at the prospect of setting off on my own.