Page 12 of Just Think of the Scandal (The Fairplace Family Novellas #2)

E liska sighed as she leaned back in her bench seat. Bone-deep weariness settled through her. She hadn’t expected to feel so sad. Angry, yes. But the sadness had surprised her. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. She turned her head to the window in the train compartment door, watching last-minute passengers run for the open compartments.

She’d been sitting at the station for five hours until the first train to London had finally prepared for departure. Eliska shivered at the memory of the cool, damp spring air that permeated the station. She wore her heavy wool cloak, and the petticoats over her crinolines helped, but nothing could fully combat the rain. Her gray half-mourning frock was permanently bedraggled, and she’d lost her gloves somewhere along the way.

Eliska had been dreading the journey because she knew she should buy a third class ticket for a shilling sixpence since her funds were so limited. She needed to save as much as possible for a ladies’ hotel in London and then the packet ship across the Channel. But while third class had roofs over their head, which meant the sparks and ash from the engine wouldn’t singe clothing, the windows were still open and the seating was just a hard, narrow bench running lengthwise down the carriage.

Thankfully, though her funds wouldn’t appreciate it, there were no third class carriages on this train. She had to choose between first class—with its velvet upholstery and seats for four per compartment at the end of the line, far from a potential explosion if the engine crashed—and second class—with wooden seats for six per compartment.

She hoped the foul weather would keep most passengers away. Women rarely traveled alone on the railway because one never knew who her compartment-mate could be. And once the train was moving, there was no way to escape rough treatment unless one wished to jump out the compartment door and onto the tracks rushing by below.

Eliska was fiscally responsible and had chosen a second class compartment, the fifth of eight cars, and promptly closed the door behind her in hopes people would assume it was full and try one of the other two compartments in the carriage.

The train whistled, and her heart lurched at the sudden noise.

She was going home.

Why wasn’t she excited?

Her vision blurred and she pressed a fist to her mouth. Damn that Theophilus Fairplace. For one moment she thought she’d have a chance at a family again. And he’d ripped it all away. She tried to tell herself she was lucky, as she’d shivered inside the waiting room of the tiny rural station, huddling next to the coal heater for warmth. She could’ve discovered his character after they were wed. That would be infinitely worse.

Maybe one day she’d be grateful. Right now, she just hurt.

The train ground to life, the engine rattling far up ahead. Eliska held her breath, counting the seconds before the train departed the station. So close…so close…The carriage jerked forward, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She had the whole compartment to herself.

The door wrenched open.

Eliska stifled a gasp as Theo threw his head inside the carriage. His hair was wild, his chest heaved, and the feral look in his eyes made her heart skitter.

His eyes narrowed on her. “You.” It was an accusation.

Eliska raised her chin in a show of false bravado. “Mr. Fairplace, please leave the carriage before you’re pulled off the platform and crushed underneath the wheels.”

Rather than backing away as the train rolled forward, he climbed into the carriage with her.

Eliska gaped. “Wh-what are you doing?”

He grunted, leaning forward and jerking the door shut. “What does it look like I’m doing?” He glared at her. “I’m going to London.”

This could not be happening. “But… why ? And why are you in my compartment?”

“I don’t know,” he replied caustically, sitting across from her and crossing one leg, resting an ankle on the other leg’s knee. A rather common, vulgar pose. But Eliska was rather drawn to it, particularly how it made his trousers tighten and show off his thighs. She jerked her gaze away, face going hot.

“Why would I be on a train to London right now? Should I be somewhere else? Perhaps a church?”

Eliska winced.

“And why, Eliska, do you think I should be at the village church right about now?” His brows slashed downward in an angry vee. He threaded his fingers together, clasping his hands until his leather gloves creaked.

Oh, he was angry. She hadn’t anticipated this. Perhaps she should’ve known being jilted would hurt his pride. She just assumed he would sulk rather than seek revenge. Eliska licked her dry lips, trying to think of an answer that wouldn’t further anger him. “Mr. Fairplace, I can see you’re…agitated.”

Theo barked out a laugh. “Agitated? Me?”

Eliska eyed him. Actually, he looked rather deranged. His coat was muddy, his collar damp and limp from the rain. His hair skewed in all different directions, and he had circles under his eyes. “Mr. Fairplace,” she tried again in tones she’d use to soothe an angry barncat. “You are free to go back to Blatherwycke and tell them all how badly I’ve treated you. I think perhaps if you got off at the next stop, we could part amicably—”

He laughed again, a hard, sharp sound that made her flinch. Perhaps he noticed her flinch, for he cut off the noise and fell silent. He still glared, though. “No,” he said distinctly.

“Mr. Fairplace,” she tried a third time.

“Theo,” he replied gruffly, peeling one wet leather glove off his hand. He slapped it against the seat beside him.

“What?” She blinked, bewildered.

“It’s Theo.” His jaw clenched as he slid a forefinger between the other glove and his palm. He worked the second off, finger by finger, his eyes never once leaving Eliska’s face. “I told you to call me Theo .”

Eliska wondered if there was a language barrier. She’d never had problems with her English before this week. But perhaps he came from a corner of England that used a different dialect? “Theo,” she amended.

He adjusted in his seat, tomcat hackles still raised but perhaps willing to be stroked if she appeared apologetic enough. “Yes?” The train jerked beneath them as it picked up speed.

“Why do you care so much?”

He stared at her, the expectant look disappearing from his face, leaving it blank. She was not groveling like he wanted, she suspected. “What? No, I don’t. I don’t care so much.” He leaned as far back as the hard wooden backrest would allow him. He crossed his legs the other way, the other ankle over the other knee. He set his jaw. “I don’t care.”

Eliska wrinkled her brow. “Then…why are you here?”

He took a breath. “Because, because you’re my betrothed.”

Eliska cocked her head. “Not anymore. I know you read my note, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

He set his clenched jaw in one hand and glared out the window. Rain spattered against the glass.

Eliska allowed a moment to go by for them both to gather their thoughts. “I’m not your betrothed,” she said gently. “If you don’t care, why are you here?”

“Because you broke your word!” He turned his face and the look in his brown eyes took her breath away. The emotion in his eyes cut through the rising tension between them and tore at her heart. “You promised,” he said more quietly. “We both agreed to wed. And…I like the idea of a dog, but I’m rubbish with names. I was counting on you to choose a name.”

Eliska stared at him just as he stared at her, trying to make sense of why this man would race through the worst rainstorm of the year and hop on an uncomfortable train just to castigate her. His eyes softened, just a hair, and she finally recognized the emotion.

“You’re hurt,” she breathed.

He jerked back again. “Am not.”

“I thought I would hurt your pride. But…” She searched his face again to make certain. “I hurt you .”

His gaze flicked to the floor between them. “I rather liked the idea of traveling to Prague,” he admitted, voice rough. “And what am I supposed to do with a dog? I work in a business office. I travel to my brother’s home in Nottingham. Who would watch the dog while I’m gone?”

“Oh,” Eliska breathed. “I thought…I thought I was doing us both a favor.”

He looked up at her that instant. “Why? Did I act churlish? Have I not treated you well?” He sighed. “Look, if it’s about the character sketch, if I’m not academic enough for you, I can work on that. Have you heard of a fellow called Marx? Absolute radical, but he wrote a few pamphlets on political and economic theory and sometimes gives lectures in London. I can take you to listen to him.” He leaned forward now, planting his elbows on his knees and letting his hands dangle between his thighs. In this tight, confined space he was a whirlwind of energy. “You can explain his manifesto to me,” he encouraged. “I’m sure you’d enjoy teaching me.”

Eliska barely refrained from letting her mouth fall open at his rushed speech. “No, it’s not about the silly game last night. It’s…it’s about what happened later.”

His face went white, and suddenly he leaned as far away from her as he could. “Because I kissed you? I went too far, didn’t I? Forgive me. I’ve never been with a virgin before. I was hasty, I can admit that. We can certainly go slower.” He broke off, face turning a bright red. “Er, you do know what happens between a man and a woman, do you not?”

Eliska would’ve laughed out loud if the situation between them hadn’t been so dire.

Theo must’ve interpreted her silence as a mark of horror, for he rushed on. “My mother can explain things to you, if you like. That’s probably awkward, seeing as how she’s going to be your mother-in-law. But we can go however slow you want. We can—” he gulped, “—wait as long as you want. I promise not to demand my, er, husbandly rights.”

He was being so adorably awkward, stumbling for words and alternately going red and then pale. Eliska didn’t know whether to pat his hand, laugh, or kiss him.

But no, she couldn’t forget why she’d left. Eliska straightened her spine and rallied. “Theo, I left because of what happened after the kiss. After you and your friends got, what’s the word, foxed.” The humiliation and anger flooded back. “I was in the corridor last night. I planned to—never mind, it doesn’t matter why I was out there. But I heard you talking about me.”

Theo’s face went blank as he clearly tried to recall. Then his jaw dropped, and he looked at her with horror.

Eliska folded her arms across her chest and waited.