Page 30 of A Winter’s Romance
T he first days in Lord and Lady Hindley’s London town house felt to all three visitors as if they had been taken to another world, not just another part of the same city. They were fed until they could eat no more. They spent every morning in a bath, despite Billy’s protestations, taking time to wash out the ingrained grime of the street, and they were fitted for new clothing, having been visited by a tailor and modiste.
They were not forced to leave the house, their hosts allowing them to become accustomed to their surroundings before venturing out. Lady Florence, as she said they should call her, had been correct in her assessment about the cook and Billy.
“I think Billy would happily live in your kitchen for the remainder of his days,” Louisa said dryly on the fifth afternoon. She was alone with Lady Florence, Rosie chatting with Lord Hindley about what learning, if any, she wanted to undertake.
“I knew he would. Every young man loves Cook. Ours was the most popular house during Miles’s school holidays, and although I would like to take the credit, it was Cook who was the bigger draw,” Lady Florence said pleasantly.
Louisa smiled. She had never known someone more welcoming than Lady Florence and could imagine all the boys flocking to her. “Billy is perfectly happy here.”
“I am glad you think so. He is a little special, isn’t he?”
Louisa acknowledged the delicate way the question was formed. “Yes, I have not known him as long as Rosie has. She said that these last years he has been abused, beaten, or taken advantage of until he met Rosie. She shared a crust with him, and from that day on, she accepted that he needed her help to keep him out of trouble and protected as much as she could.”
“He was lucky to have met her.”
“We both were. Rosie discovered that Billy had been abandoned at a young age. When he was younger, people were kind to him, feeding him scraps and offering shelter, but when he grew, he became more of a target. It is strange how the older he became, the more vulnerable he was.”
“People can be very cruel. How could anyone turn a child out, especially one that needed more care than usual?”
“Yes, but if he could not earn, he was worthless to them, wasn’t he?”
“I suppose he was, but we are now his family too and will help look after him,” Lady Florence said. “How long have you been with Rosie?”
Louisa was instantly wary. “Why do you need to know that?”
“I do not need to know,” Lady Florence said gently. “I am interested in you, that is all. Anything you say will not leave these four walls, I assure you of that. Sometimes it is better to talk to someone who will not judge you, but do not feel forced into revealing anything you do not wish to.”
“I must sound very ungrateful, and I am sorry for that, for I am deeply indebted to you,” Louisa said with some embarrassment.
“I do not want your gratitude. I will be more than happy with your friendship. You are not obligated to us in any way,” Lady Florence insisted.
“Thank you,” Louisa said meekly. “I wonder, does your son agree with what you have done?”
“His father has advised him we have visitors. He is a troubled young man. I feel it is my turn to be more open with you,” Lady Florence said, a cloud marring her features.
“Oh?”
“We spoke the truth when we said we have only one son, but we also have a daughter,” Lady Florence started.
Louisa was silent. It was clear the words were costing her saviour a great deal.
“Two years ago, Melissa was foolish enough to form an attachment to one of our footmen. I suspected she liked him, but every young girl falls in love with someone unsuitable when they first start out. Mine was a groom.” She smiled reminiscently. “I thought I would die of a broken heart if I was unable to marry him and live in a cosy cottage. When I returned home from school, I realised it was just the simple, uncomplicated infatuation of a young girl.”
“Your daughter’s was not so?” Louisa asked quietly.
“No. It seems they decided they could not live without the other, and two years, one month, and three days ago, they left this house, and we have not seen or heard from them since. ”
“That must be terrible,” Louisa responded, reaching out to touch Lady Florence’s clasped hands. “Did they get married?”
“We have no idea. We’ve done everything we can to trace them but to no avail. Lord Hindley goes out every night in his carriage to scour the streets to try to find her.”
“And that is when he saw me,” Louisa said.
“Yes. You see, my dear, he has been on the lookout for someone who did not quite fit into their surroundings, and you did not. Poor Hindley said that, for a moment, he thought he had found Melissa, but then he cursed himself because you are dark-haired, and she was— is blonde. But he could not leave you on the streets, whatever your story is. I hope it makes his motivation more understandable,” Lady Florence explained.
“Not knowing must be so hard,” Louisa said with sympathy. She ached that Lord Hindley and Lady Florence could be suffering so cruelly. She pushed aside that her parents might be worried about herself. They had forced the situation on her, and she could not feel guilty for reacting to something so galling.
“Yes. It has hit us all but Miles particularly hard. They were so close, and yet she did not confide in him. I know he blames himself for not guessing what Melissa was intending, and as a result, he is rampaging across London, trying to ignore his unjustified guilt and instead experiencing every form of excess a person could.”
Louisa was shocked. “You know what he does?”
“My dear Louisa, problems begin when there are secrets, as we are now painfully aware. I refuse to have any secrets from those I care about. We do not know every detail, but we know enough not to expect a marriage or grandchildren just yet. The gossip papers love to report what Miles is doing in any case; they write article after article about his dissolute lifestyle.”
Louisa wondered why a daughter could leave such a loving environment and such warm-hearted parents as Lord and Lady Hindley.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Rosie’s entrance. “Louisa, ’is lordship would like to see you now. Let’s see if you can avoid French classes like I just did!”
Louisa laughed. “What did you agree to?”
Rosie grimaced, flopping into a chair. “It isn’t all good! I’m doing dancing, cooking, and needlework, which are all fine, but then I ’ave to take lessons, learning to read, write, and my sums! ’Orrible!” she finished with a shudder.
Lady Florence smiled. “My poor dear, you will soon know more than the teacher if I have guessed correctly. You do not survive on London’s streets without being highly intelligent. Now come and tell me all about it.”
Rosie beamed at the compliment and moved to sit comfortably next to Lady Florence. Louisa pondered how it was herself who was struggling to fit into this new world when, in reality, she should have found it the easiest. She approached the library door and knocked lightly, then entered on hearing the deep rumble of Lord Hindley’s voice.
She had been in the study on her first day’s tour of the house. It was a large square room, lined with books and decorated in blues and golds and looked rich and warm. It matched the man, who sat with his back to the window but facing the door. He smiled and stood when Louisa entered .
“Welcome. Please make yourself comfortable.” He indicated a chair beside the fireplace and sat opposite her. “Has Rosie recovered from our chat?” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
Louisa laughed. “I am not sure she will ever get excited about learning how to read and write, but Lady Florence was doing an excellent job of soothing her with cakes when I left.”
Lord Hindley chuckled. “Dear Florence, always the diplomat. Now it is your turn, my dear. What can I tempt you with to fill your days?”
Louisa looked down and fiddled with her fingers. What she said next would give away something of her background. “I do not need to be schooled, thank you, my lord,” she replied quietly but firmly.
“I knew I had guessed correctly that you had probably completed your schooling.” Lord Hindley seemed pleased to be right.
Louisa’s eyes shot to Lord Hindley’s face in panic. “How did you know?” she asked in a whisper.
“You can take a refined girl out of her environment, but she will still be a refined girl.” Lord Hindley reached out and took her hand in his. “I am surprised you managed to survive on the streets for however long you did, and it makes me shudder to think what could have happened if the wrong type of person had found you.”
Louisa’s smile faltered. “I very nearly did end up with that type of person. Only I found Rosie, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that she saved my life. I owe her so very much.” She did not reveal that it was in society that her parents had found her an equally bad person .
“And because of you, I stopped, and so you have saved Rosie and Billy. Do not hold yourself back because you feel you owe them some sort of debt.”
Louisa sighed. She was tired of being afraid and wary of everything. “I am not. They are my own restraints. I cannot go back to how I was before, and yet it feels like I will crumble if I let go and relax into this secure environment,” she said, responding to the genuine man.
“You are safe here. Give it time, and the fear and insecurity will ease. I promise. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Louisa needed to be honest with him, and she trusted him more than she had anyone in a long time. Lady Florence, too, but with Lord Hindley it was different. He reminded her of her uncle who had been very dear to her.
She took a breath; it was time to reveal some of her background. “I was schooled, first at home and then at a boarding school. I can play the pianoforte, paint – badly – sew, speak French and Italian, and I can dance, although I have not been to a ball.”
“Your parents?”
“Could we leave it at that? You could be forgiven for thinking I am just being missish, but I assure you I am not.”
“Thank you for revealing what you have. When you are ready, I will be here to listen, and on the positive side, you will save me a fortune in lessons!”
Louisa smiled, relieved that he had not pushed her. How could she explain that she had left her parents as his own daughter had? She had good reason to leave, but he would hardly be sympathetic when he was suffering such pain. He was not to know that her parents would not have lost any sleep over her absence, only that they had lost face and, more than likely, money. She tried to lighten the mood and change the subject. “I shall spend it on clothes instead!”
“Are you sure you aren’t related to my wife?” came the smiling response.
“Lady Florence has explained about your daughter.” Louisa knew she was taking a risk by being so open.
A cloud passed over the handsome face. “Yes. Our dear Melissa. I will continue to search for her, but in the meantime, I am glad to assist you and your friends. I think your presence will help to fill some of the space that exists in this house since she left.”
“I hope you find her one day. I am sure she regrets causing you so much trouble.” Louisa wished there was something she could do to ease the pain of the lovely couple.
“Every member of every family causes trouble at some point in their lives. It is all part of being a family. Miles has the high spirits of a spoiled young man. He will grow to take over the title and heritage one day. For now, he can live the wild life.”
Louisa was shocked. “You openly admit that your own son is spoiled?”
“It is the truth. Why should I lie? That would make me look ten times the fool. He has been over-indulged, but he is good underneath. We have all had the heart knocked out of us a little. He just has to realise that it was not his fault and let go of his guilt. He needs something else to fight for. Young men need a cause to champion, even without a family catastrophe,” Lord Hindley said knowingly .
“From what Lady Florence says, you have many causes that you support.”
“Yes, we had our causes prior to Melissa leaving, but more have benefited since.”
“As have we,” Louisa said.
“Yes. As long as there is good to come out of her disappearance, I can take a modicum of comfort from that,” Lord Hindley admitted.
That night, Louisa could not sleep after the conversations with Lord and Lady Hindley. She climbed out of the bed she shared with Rosie and curled up on the chair in front of the fire, her mind full.
On hearing a sound from downstairs, she stiffened. It was late, so why would anyone be up at this time? She remained still until the fear that had made her escape from home drove her to her feet. She might only be in her nightclothes, but she could hide if needed.
Creeping out of the room, she peeped over the banister and was surprised to see a young man hugging a dishevelled footman. Her curiosity had her remaining in place rather than withdrawing.
“Stanley, you are a diamond,” the young man said, releasing the footman but slapping him on the back. “Or can only women be diamonds? I’m sure I do not know, but whatever it is, you, my good man, are it.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
“I have to get to bed before Father realises I am here. Don’t need a lecture to spoil tonight. I have been introduced to a new gaming hell, and even better, it is just round the corner! I can stay here and be the prodigal son. ”
“Let me help you upstairs, my lord.”
“No, you are a ruby among men for opening the door, I am able to walk upstairs. Now shh, we don’t want to wake the parents.”
Louisa could only smile at the antics of the viscount. She should have been disgusted, knowing his reputation, but instead felt nothing but amusement. His actions were endearing; he was very handsome and well-dressed, but he was obviously in his cups and looked smilingly relaxed as a result. His words were slightly slurred, but he was very cheerful, and never having seen the good humour of a foxed individual, she could not help but see the funny side of the situation.
She watched him with the same concern as the footman who was following him upstairs. It was a case of one step forward and two back, but eventually he safely reached the top stair. Louisa suddenly recalled herself and moved to return to her bedchamber, but her action caught his attention.
“Hallo! Who is this?” Miles asked as he tried to bring her into focus. At Louisa’s silence, he smiled. “You must be a nymph and a beautiful one at that.”
Louisa was mortified that Miles’s first sight of her was in her nightclothes, not to mention the footman, who still hovered in the background.
Miles took a couple of steps towards Louisa, who remained frozen to the spot. “You really are a sight to behold. Would you allow me to introduce myself?” He bowed deeply. “Oh dear, I seem to have forgotten who I am.”
Louisa could not help giggling at the befuddled expression on his face, but at her reaction, he grinned at her .
“Ah, I have made you smile, my fair one. Please know that I am a wastrel and a cad, but I would very much like to kiss you.”
Louisa took a step back, but thankfully the footman intervened. “My lord, your chamber is this way.”
“Do you know Stanley?” Miles asked Louisa without waiting for a response. “He is an emerald among men. Right you are, Stanley, lead the way.” Turning away from her, Miles looked back over his shoulder. “I will be dreaming of you, my sweet nymph.”
The moment Miles had gone, Louisa dashed into her bedchamber, closing and locking the door. She should have retreated when she first saw that the late visitor was no threat to her, but she had been attracted to a handsome face and teasing nature. Now her cheeks burned to think what he would remember in the morning. Her mortification did not dampen the stirring she felt at being flirted with for the first time. It was a strange but enjoyable sensation. Climbing back into bed, she knew without doubt that she would fall asleep with a smile on her face.