Page 23

Except by the time he reached the crossroads half a mile outside of Maidstone, there was no sign of either of them anywhere on the horizon.

He was also half an hour late for his meeting with the last merchant he needed to get on his side.

Leaving the man waiting was likely not the best way to forge a new alliance.

“To what do we owe this great and rare honor?” His mother blinked in shock when he walked through the door four hours later. “You do realize that it is still daytime? Aren’t there fields or farmers or French beans in urgent need of your constant attention today?”

Guy was in no mood for her sarcasm after his fruitless wild-goose chase hunting down Miss Travers, but smiled regardless. “Is it suddenly a crime to take tea with my two favorite ladies in the world after work has forced me to neglect them for days?”

While his mother’s eyes widened with disbelief, Aunt Almeria’s narrowed.

“He’s either taken a knock to the head, Constance, or he’s up to something as I’ve never known my nephew to willingly take tea with us in the middle of the day before.

Not when there is always something more pressing that he could be doing as an excuse to avoid the rest of the human race. ”

The wily old witch had called it right because he was up to something.

He was on a mission to find out more about the infuriating Miss Travers, who was still missing in action, but it would be a cold day in hell before he admitted it.

Instead, he took a seat, shrugging. “I will admit that I do have a hundred and one more important things to do, but the guilt which my dear mama ladles on with the world’s largest spoon has got the better of me this afternoon.

” In anticipation, he produced the latest note she had left on his nightstand and tossed it on the tea table between them so that her outrageous, angry words at his continued absence could be read by all.

Except this time, it was his mother’s eyes that narrowed while his aunt’s widened as she picked up the damning missive, followed by the ever-present quizzing glasses that dangled from an amethyst-encrusted chain to match her customary vivid purple frock.

If you refuse to be sociable for me, the VERY LEAST you could do is spare the odd hour to socialize with my poor, aged sister. Or do you not care that Almeria is so decrepit she could die at any moment!

After several silent seconds had ticked by, during which his dear mama shot him daggers, his aunt lowered her quizzing glasses and nodded, unoffended.

“She’s right, of course. At my age, who knows how many afternoon teas I have left?

So shame on you, Guy, for being such an absent host when I dragged these ancient bones all the way from Mayfair to Kent specifically to spend some time with my favorite nephew before Heaven takes me. ”

“And I thought you came here because you are in cahoots with my mother to foist a birthday party on me that I do not want.” He accepted the proffered tea from the meddling woman who had birthed him and toasted Almeria with the cup.

“And we both know that when your time comes, aunt, it will be the devil who takes you.”

She cackled at that. “Only if he is brave enough. He and the good lord might decide that I am too much trouble for either of them to bother with and leave me here for all eternity instead.”

“Perish the thought.” He sipped his tea and tried to look nonchalant despite dying to know when the Valkyrie was due to return so he could ask her…

he didn’t know what yet, but felt that some words needed to be had.

But with his unwelcome lust and even more unwelcome jealousy, he was struggling to think of the right ones.

Bloody woman had him tied up in knots and that really bothered him because he had thought that reckless, passionate, and romantic side of him that burned for a woman was long dead.

Smothered by betrayal, cynicism, and humiliation.

Yet here he was, hoping against hope that Miss Travers wasn’t as head over heels in love with her Adonis as she had looked and had a perfectly reasonable excuse to be galloping off into the sunset alone with a gallingly handsome man.

“What have you ladies been doing with yourselves in my absence?”

“The usual,” said his mother. “Catching up. Gossiping. Lamenting about you and your distinct lack of a wife. Or love in your miserable, closeted life. Have I mentioned that I want the old Guy back? The cheeky and incorrigible one who used to laugh.”

In truth, he missed the old Guy too, but didn’t know quite how to be him any longer. That Guy had been sucked inside the armored shell he had retreated behind and got lost. Which was a shame because Miss Travers probably would have liked the old Guy. “Surely not that tired old subject again, Mama?”

“It is you who has become tiresome.” His mother pouted. “Tiresomely serious and tiresomely dull. Old before your years.”

“Responsibilities do that, Mother.” As did having your heart bludgeoned to a pulp in front of the world. “We don’t all have the luxury of whiling away our afternoons drinking tea and gossiping. Some of us have to work.”

As his mother let out a groan of disgust, Aunt Almeria chirped up. “I don’t miss the old Guy. That reprobate used to put honey in my slippers.”

“And spiders in my sewing box.” His mother shuddered. “It took his father an hour to round up all those horrid creepy-crawlies. They had quite taken over the drawing room by the time he heard my screams.” She pouted some more. “You deserved to be sent to bed with no supper that night!”

Except he hadn’t gone to bed with no supper.

Because his father found his only son’s prank so hilarious he had snuck Guy in a veritable feast when he had come to “tell him off” after all the spiders had been evicted.

Papa had ruffled his hair and then given him five shillings for giving him his best laugh in ages.

Which had been Guy’s motive for the crime all along because he had loved making that man laugh.

A memory that simultaneously made Guy want to chuckle while making him miss his father all the more.

“No wonder there is no sign of Miss Travers this afternoon. You have bored her senseless with your constant litany of all the many ways I have disappointed you.” Despite how unsettled all the talk of the old Guy made him, he was rather proud of the subtle way he had turned the topic to her.

“Did she plead a sudden headache in order to escape?”

“Travers is running errands.”

“Again? This late in the day?” Guy made sure to take a long, perturbed glance at the mantel clock.

“It will be dark soon.” Give or take a few more hours, but still.

He dreaded to think what mischief she and her fancy man could get up to in four unchaperoned hours.

“Are any shops still open at five o’clock?

” He didn’t want to outright tell tales on the minx, more sow some seeds of suspicion in his aunt’s mind that might make her more diligent about the hours her companion spent away from her side. “Aren’t you worried about her?”

“Not in the slightest.” His aunt brushed his concerns aside. “I am more worried about you.” She wafted a wizened hand at his face. “You look tired, Guy. Bordering on the haggard.”

“That’s because of all that important work he does while I’m gossiping over tea.” Always ready with a stick to beat him with, his mother used the pretense of lamenting about him to her sister as a way to nag him by proxy.

“A crime tantamount to treason in this house, apparently,” he said to no one in particular because neither cared what he had to say on the subject. “For heaven forbid a landowner tend his land when he could be drinking tea.”

“Dresses like a common laborer some days too,” continued his mother while his aunt shook her head in sympathy, “then thoughtlessly traipses mud all over the house once he’s done simply to torture me.”

“By traipses, she means I leave my boots at the back door and take the servants’ stairs directly to my bath.”

“That is unforgivable.” Aunt Almeria patted his mother’s hand. “What a thoughtless, tiresome son he is.”

“I honestly do not know where I went wrong with him.” His mother topped off his aunt’s cup.

“You tried your hardest with him, Constance, so do not castigate yourself. You brought him up to be a gentleman but if he chooses to roll around in the mud instead of taking his rightful place in society as a gentleman, what can you do?”

“I am still here, you know.” Guy waved in case he had suddenly turned invisible. “Can anyone hear me?”

“I can.” Miss Travers sailed through the door looking all windswept and bright eyed.

No doubt from all the exercise she had had all afternoon.

She offered him a smile which, much to his chagrin and against his better judgment, warmed him from the inside out.

“For what it’s worth, I think its admirable that you work in your fields.

My father always says that if you don’t have a feel for the soil then you will not have any clue what to best put in it. ”

“What the devil kept you, gal?” Finally his aunt seemed concerned at her absence. Until she ruined it. “Guy has been worried sick about you! Haven’t you, Guy?”

A statement that made it sound as if he cared about the vixen, which he was quick to correct. “I really haven’t been.”

“He was about to send out a search party.”

“I really wasn’t. I merely inquired as to where you were.” Which also sounded like he cared. “Seeing as you left Maidstone hours ago.” As soon as he blurted that he regretted it. “Assuming that was you that I happened to notice leaving the bakery in the market square earlier.”

“You saw me at the bakery?” Her eyes darted to Lady Frinton. Guiltily, if her ferocious blush was any gauge.

“I did. You were carrying a big box of cakes.”

“Ah, thank goodness!” That came from his aunt. “You managed to get my éclairs. Well done for tracking some down, Travers, for éclairs are a rare thing this far out of London.”

“They are indeed, my lady. But I managed to finally find them in Maidstone.” Miss Travers’s smile was overbright as she nodded. Insincere. Trying to convince them all that butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. “That is why I took so long.”

A likely story that did not explain why she had arrived back tousled and empty-handed.

“éclairs, you say. The perfect accompaniment to an afternoon tea. I could murder an éclair right now.” Guy patted his stomach for effect, wondering how the lying menace was going to explain the fact that she and her paramour had devoured them—either before or after they had devoured each other on his trusting aunt’s shilling. “Go fetch them, as I am starving.”

Her awkward reaction did not disappoint. “I… well…”

“Go fetch your own éclairs from Maidstone if you want one.” Quick as a flash, his aunt came to the temptress’s defense. “Those are mine.”

“All of them? Surely not. The box she had was huge and you eat like a bird.”

Aunt Almeria bristled as if he’d insulted her. “Only in polite com pany, nephew, as is proper. Alone, I eat like a horse.” She then turned to Miss Travers. “Did you get the rest of the items from my list?”

“More than expected.” She beamed with staggering pride considering she had shirked her duties so brazenly.

“Brazen” being the operative word when one considered how indiscreet and improper she had been, going off unchaperoned with that man.

“I put everything in your room, Lady Frinton. Along with the éclairs.”

Aunt Almeria chuckled and rubbed her hands.

“What else was on the list?” Because acquiring “more than expected” suggested Miss Travers wasn’t quite done with making a meal out of running his aunt’s errands and was doubtless contemplating a second trip to see her Adonis.

“I’ll send out one of my servants first thing to get them all for you, aunt.

Save Miss Travers the trouble of wasting a whole afternoon in Maidstone again when I am sure that you need her. ”

“Personal things,” answered his aunt for her when all Miss Travers could do was blink in response, and when he dared to query that with an arched brow, she clarified with a jabbing finger.

“Personal women’s things that are none of your damned business.

” A response that Aunt Almeria knew he wasn’t brave enough to challenge any further.

“Now if you’ve finished with your inquisition about where I choose to spend my money, Guy, I’m off to my room for a lie-down before dinner. ”

As she stood, his mother did the same. “I think I’ll go for a lie-down too.” This coming from a woman who not only never took afternoon naps but who had also nagged him narrow to be sociable. “I am sure that you could do with a rest too, Miss Travers, after your tiring journey to Maidstone.”

“Oh, I’ll bet she’s tired,” said Guy, pinning the minx with his glare. “You must be exhausted after all that exercise .”

Both ladies had reached the door before a rather shifty-looking and still blinking Miss Travers went to follow, and she would have if he hadn’t caught her arm. “Are you going to tell my aunt that you spent half of this afternoon galivanting with a gentleman unchaperoned, or am I?”

Her damning blush this time was crimson but the tilt of her chin was as defiant as ever.

“I wouldn’t dream of spoiling your fun, my lord.

” Disdain radiated from her lovely cornflower eyes.

“I hope the telling gives you great joy.” She tugged her arm away and dipped into an insolent curtsy.

“For goodness knows I’ve never met a man in more dire need of some. ”

She sailed out of the room with her nose in the air, leaving him dumbstruck. He had never felt so insulted, petulant, and so thoroughly put in his place all at the same time.