Page 32 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)

That was the very thing Harrison feared—that Her Grace, the Duchess of Clare would track Perdita down wherever she may be. No doubt she had not been happy when Perdita left the ball without even telling Her Grace goodbye.

It was not well done of any of them, but it had been necessary.

“Please come in and join us for a glass of wine, Captain Trent,”

Lady Felding requested.

It was rather late, but he was in no hurry to leave, especially when he could spend more time with Perdita.

“Thank you. I would enjoy that very much.”

“And by wine, I do hope you mean brandy, Rosalind,”

Perdita insisted as the carriage door opened.

“Do I not always?”

her sister laughed.

“Well, not always. Just after trying evenings such as this.”

Harrison escorted both women into the house and then the parlor. “Brandy for everyone,”

she instructed a footman then took a seat and let out a deep sigh.

“I wish Bianca were here,”

Perdita said.

“Why is that?”

Lady Felding asked the very thing Harrison wanted to know.

“She is a duchess now,”

Perdita answered as she accepted the glass of brandy and took a sip.

“She is new to the role and hardly a match for the Duchess of Clare.”

“At least she is a duchess though the rest of you are beneath her.”

Perdita grinned and then giggled.

“True. She would be the only acceptable member of our family, though I also have a title. I am a marchioness after all,”

she finished with a snooty tone then a sniff.

By the way the sisters were laughing, Harrison realized that titles truly did not matter to them.

“Will they be returning to London soon?”

Harrison asked. “Perhaps the Duke of Roxburg could hold some influence.”

“He is new to his title as well, and had not even anticipated gaining it, but a few tragedies made him the next in line.”

Perdita explained. “However, I would quite enjoy seeing him stand up to Her Grace. He may not have wanted to be a duke, but he also does not want to put up with any of the nonsense that accompanies a title.”

“It is a shame that they have likely already sailed or I would send word to our sister that we need her.”

Harrison frowned. “I thought he was in the country visiting his estate.”

“Roxburg only wanted to take care of what was necessary in England before he returned to Barbados, but he will return here in the spring,”

Lady Felding answered.

“Unfortunately, that is too far away and I will likely be forced to battle my mother before then.”

Lady Felding frowned. “It is not like you to think of any discourse as a battle, Perdita. You usually carry a more positive attitude even in difficult situations.”

“I know,”

she answered. “I am trying. I truly am but I have never met anyone who…well…like her.”

Harrison had known more than his share of formidable lords and ladies. Too many of them believed that the higher their title, the more they were entitled to dictate Society and everyone around them. Thank goodness neither his parents, nor his brother, the marquess, ever tried to control him, or anyone else.

“It will be forever beyond me why people cannot simply get along and even if they are in opposition why they cannot respectfully argue, accept that nothing will change, then go about their business. Why must others insist on trying to bend others to their will?”

“Because you have always seen the best in people, Perdita,”

Lady Felding answered in a soft and affectionate tone. “Even when you do not agree, you try to understand. Sadly, many people are not like you.”

“At least not in Society,”

Harrison added.

“Be that as it may, I will try again.”

Even though Perdita was hopeful, he was not. He’d known the Duchess of Clare for too long. Her own son, the duke, was cowed by her and was used to everyone doing as she commanded. She would not easily give over to Perdita.

“Well, it grows late.”

Lady Felding set her empty glass on the table and stood. “I think I will retire.”

Harrison stood and wondered if he should leave as well, but he didn’t want to just yet.

“Goodnight, Rosalind,”

Perdita called not rising from her place on the gold settee.

As Lady Felding glided from the room, Harrison was left standing there, not certain if he should also go, especially since the two of them were now quite alone.

“You are not going to leave me too, are you Harrison?”

“Of course not,”

he answered without thought and took a seat beside her.

The fact that the door of the parlor was open and anyone could walk by should keep him from kissing her.

“I find myself counting the days,”

she said quietly.

“To when?”

Though he suspected to what she referred.

“You will be gone in a few days. I shall miss you.”

She sighed and placed her glass on the table.

“I promise to be as quick as I can.”

“I know, but it will still be weeks.”

“Much can happen in that time and you might hardly notice that I am gone.”

She chuckled. “I am certain I will be very much aware every morning when I wake and count the days until you return.”

It was almost a profession of affection, more than friendship. Did he dare hope that it was love?

He took her hand in his. “I will miss you.”

His heart would ache for her, and he would likely spend the entire voyage worrying about what her mother might attempt next to bring Perdita into line and he would not be there to protect her. “My fear is that she will marry you off before I have the opportunity to formally court you.”

Perdita grinned at him. “Though you have not asked my brother, I feel as though we have been and why I will eagerly wait for your return and hope that you give up your mistress when you do.”

“You are asking me to give up the sea for you?”

He grew serious. Perdita knew that he would only do so if he wed. Was that what she wanted?

Her face began to turn a lovely shade of pink as her eyes widened. “Goodness, the brandy must have gone to my head.”

She pulled her hand away from his. “I would never ask you to give up something you love. That must be your decision alone without influence from me.”

Harrison inwardly chuckled. Perdita was being as careful as he was in not confessing a deeper emotion and he could only assume that it was because they had agreed that he would make the determination for his future during the next voyage. A decision that would make her his wife or reduce her to a friend. A decision that he no longer needed time to make. He also could not ask her to remain where they were now, between love, courtship and friendship and not moving closer to one or the other.

“I do fear that you will marry before I return.”

If he did not have this last voyage, Harrison would make no plans to leave and remain by her side.

“That will not happen. I promise. Her Grace does not have the power to make me speak vows that would see me unhappy no matter how much she may try.”

“Do you still promise to wait for me then?”

“Oh Harrison, there is no one more that I want in my life than you, whatever we are destined to be.”

“I believe I already know where we will end,”

he offered, careful in his choice of words.

“I have hopes, but I will not share them with you until you return. These are decisions that you must make for yourself, Harrison, and you can only do that while you are with your mistress.”

“What mistress would that be?”

They both turned to find the Marquess of Felding standing at the entry to the parlor, his face hard and lips tight.

The gentleman clearly misunderstood their discussion.

“The sea, Noah,”

Perdita answered with a laugh. “That is his mistress.”

Harrison came to his feet. “One that I may let go.”

Felding arched an eyebrow and tilted his chin as he realized where the discussion may have been headed. At least he no longer looked like he was about to call him out.

“Yes, well, I now understand.”

He gave a nod. “Good night.”

With that, he turned on his heel and marched down the corridor.

“I thought he was going to plant you a facer for discussing your mistress with me.”

Perdita laughed.

“Yes, well, in normal circumstances, such would be highly improper.”

Harrison chuckled.

Perdita stood and came toward him. “I understand her hold on you and I also know that she might win.”

It was unlikely that she would but Harrison was afraid to say such.

What was holding him back and how many excuses would he keep making for not telling Perdita that he was in love with her?

It was the fact that he had known her a short time and he had seen many people profess love in such a short time only to finally come to really know the person and be just as quickly out of love.

If only he wasn’t leaving in a few days. If only he had more time with her before he had to leave.

Except, he did not.

“I will be waiting for your answer upon your return.”

She then rose up on her toes, placed a hand against his cheek and kissed him.

It was sweet, gentle, almost friendly. It was also the first time that she had kissed him.

Harrison wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her closer as he deepened the kiss. Perdita offered no objection and opened for him as her arms went about his shoulders, her tongue tangling with his.

His body heated and desire stirred. Had the parlor door not remained open, he would have dragged Perdita to the settee and pulled her onto this lap so that he might enjoy every part of her, but he did not dare. Such intimate affection must wait until he returned.

Though, if he ruined her, the decision would be made for him.

Harrison broke the kiss and pulled away.

He would not use such a cowardly manner to force his own hand. It was unfair to him and Perdita, especially since he would be forced to leave her regardless of if they became betrothed or quickly married.

“Do you return to Westbrook House tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“I will call on you here after you have returned home.”

She smiled at him. “I would like that very much.”

Then kissed him again.

They would wed. He knew that for certain, and pulled away.

“I do not need to take another voyage to know what I want Perdita.”

“Are you certain?”

she asked quietly.

“As certain as any man can be. Please promise to be waiting for me. Do not marry or become betrothed or fall in love while I am gone.”

Her eyes watered, which surprised him. “I can promise everything you ask and will eagerly await your return.”

The words were not spoken, but she understood. Perdita wanted him as much as he wanted her and this next voyage would be the longest of his life.

Perdita had woke light as a feather, with hardly a care, a feeling that stayed with her throughout the day. She had nearly confessed that she loved Harrison last evening, and he came close as well.

She would miss him and he would be eager to return to her.

They would court and then...

She drew in a happy sigh as she descended the stairs of Westbrook House.

The only reason she had not fully confessed her heart was because even though he said his decision was made, what if he changed his mind during the voyage?

Five months was really not so long to wait. It may seem like five years, but if she kept herself busy at Westbrook House, maybe even working longer hours since the Season would be over soon, then her days would slip away in a blink and as autumn descended, he would be back in port.

Perdita carried the tray that she had brought downstairs into the kitchen only to find Edith and Mrs. Shaw whispering.

“Has something happened?”

“Lady Victoria has a visitor,”

Mrs. Shaw answered.

That was not unusual. Benefactors called here often, as well as others who had business with Westbrook House.

“It’s a duchess,”

Edith claimed. “The same one that called yesterday.”

“Do you know why she has called?”

“To bring a generous donation,”

Edith answered. “But Lady Victoria will not take it.”

Her stomach tightened. She could not imagine why Lady Victoria would turn down funds other than it might be attached to a condition that she was not willing to provide.

“I will go see what this is about.”

Perdita left the kitchen and calmly walked to the parlor where they were meeting, took a deep breath then stepped inside.

“Your Grace, Lady Victoria,”

she greeted. “I understand Her Grace has brought a donation.”

Perdita smiled and was determined to keep it in place.

“I am so glad to see you well, Cara,”

Her Grace greeted her. “When you fled the ball without a by your leave, I feared you had become ill.”

“I grew tired of the crowd. If you recall, I had wanted to leave much earlier.”

Her mother needed to know that she would do what she wished and not what she was told if it was not in her best interest.

“One must overcome difficulties when Society is looking on.”

“Society never noticed me before and they should not now as I remain unchanged.”

“Do not be foolish or impertinent, Cara. You are my daughter thus garner much attention.”

“Attention that I do not want nor need.”

She was not about to stand in the parlor of Westbrook House and argue with the Duchess of Clare and returned to the topic at hand.

“It was good of you to offer Lady Victoria a donation.”

“I will not be accepting it,”

Lady Victoria said.

So, Edith had heard correctly.

“Why is that?”

“Because in order for Westbrook House to gain the funds, we must terminate your employment.”

Perdita gritted her teeth but held her smile because she would not let her mother know how much this angered her.

“How much is the donation?”

she asked.

“It does not matter,”

Lady Victoria said as Her Grace answered, “Significant.”

“I do not want to be the reason a donation was turned away.”

As much as she would hate to leave Westbrook House, she also knew that funds were desperately needed. The sisters hoped to purchase the neighboring building to renovate and make more room for the children and women because they were quickly running out of space to put everyone. They also hoped to have larger and better classrooms.

“I welcome all donations, except those that come with the cost of someone telling me how we must operate Westbrook House, including who may work here.”

Perdita swallowed against her tightening throat.

“Please, do not make a sacrifice on my behalf,”

she insisted.

“The sacrifice would be losing you, Miss Perdita, not the funds.”

It pleased her greatly that Lady Victoria valued her, but suspected her decision also came from principal. She’d not be manipulated or bribed.

It was also a reminder that Her Grace believed that money could buy anything she wished and it solved every difficulty she encountered.

“As my donation will not get me what I want, perhaps another avenue must be employed.”

“What would that be?”

Lady Victoria asked.

“What does Society know of your mother and oldest brother?”

With those words, Lady Victoria lost some of the color in her cheeks.

“Both are dead.”

“Yes, I am aware, and I know how your older brother died, but few others do.”

“It was long ago and of little importance,”

Lady Victoria bit out. But it was clearly a bothersome subject because her employer was now sitting with her spine straighter than she had ever seen it before and her hands shook.

“How would Society feel about supporting this home when they realize the sisters who run it come from a family of French sympathizers or had been during Napoleon’s reign?”

“I was but a girl when all that came about.”

“Yes, but you were still a daughter and sister and I am certain many will wonder if you do not still hold to those sympathies given your mother was French.”

Lady Victoria’s eyes widened slightly with anger, but Perdita also saw fear.

“Then there is the truth of Dr. Sinclair’s mother…”

Her Grace frowned. “Unless you do not know…You are aware of how…”

“Stop,”

Lady Victoria ordered.

Perdita knew better than most the importance of why certain family secrets were never revealed, she had just not realized that her employers had damaging secrets as well.

Westbrook House was too important to too many people to be lost because donations stopped coming in. If that happened, it would be because of her and not doing as Her Grace demanded.

“I will leave my position,”

Perdita announced.

“No.”

Lady Victoria argued.

“I will not see you, your sister, or Westbrook House harmed.”

She stood firm. “On two conditions,”

she said to Her Grace. “You will give Lady Victoria your significant donation and you will never breathe a word to anyone what secrets you might know of Lady Victoria, Lady Sinclair or any of their relations.”

A cunning smile came to her lips. “I knew you would understand.”

Oh, she understood and she would never underestimate her mother again, and it was likely she may not ever find a way to like her if this was how she went about getting what she wanted.

“Now that we have decided what is best, gather your things so we can leave.”

“I will say goodbye to the women and children and make my own way home.”

There was no way she was getting into a carriage with that woman. She was far too angry to do so.

It was a deep raging anger that she had never experienced before and Perdita was not certain how to handle such a burning emotion other than to yell or scream but she would not give Her Grace the satisfaction that she had gotten to her. It was bad enough that she had capitulated to her demands but she would not ever reveal how deeply Her Grace had affected her emotions. Such would only give her more power. And Perdita was quickly learning that she would need to hold tightly to what she did have or everything that was ever important to her might be taken away.

“You cannot walk home. We have discussed this.”

“I am not a child on leading strings, as I have told you.”

“Lady Cara, I insist,”

Her Grace stated as she came to her feet.

“My wife and I will see Lady Cara home after she has said her goodbyes,”

Dr. Sinclair said from the entry.

Goodness! She had not even known that Dr. Sinclair or Lady Sinclair were here. How long had they been standing at the entry and how much had they heard?

But the chill or Dr. Sinclair’s tone and the hard eyes and tension about his mouth, she suspected he heard everything.

“Thank you for calling, Your Grace and thank you for the donation.”

He stood back and indicated that she may now leave.

Perdita knew that Dr. Sinclair could be cool, but this was the first time that she had witnessed his superiority or heard the cold challenge in his tone.

The Duchess of Clare stared at him for what seemed like the longest time and Perdita feared what might happen, though she could not imagine anything beyond harsh words.

“Very well,”

Her Grace said after the longest moment. “I will see you later, Lady Cara. We will need to prepare for the ball that is to be held.”

A ball she did not want to attend. However, she said nothing as Her Grace swept from the room and it seemed as if none of them breathed until the front door opened and then closed with her exit.

“I wonder how she knew about our mother and brother,”

Lady Victoria said.

“Women like her have spies everywhere,”

Dr. Sinclair bit out. “They are a menace to Society. I am truly sorry that she is your mother, Perdita.”

She wanted to agree, but it felt wrong doing so. The woman had given birth to her. She just wasn’t a pleasant person.

“I am truly sorry for the difficulties that I have brought to Westbrook House.”

“You did not bring them,”

Lady Sinclair insisted as she stepped around her husband. “Her Grace has. I am just sorry that you decided to leave us.”

“It is for the best. I do not know your secrets, nor do I want to, but more importantly, I could never live with myself if I remained and Westbrook House suffered because of it.”

And the fact that they did not beg her to remain was proof that they agreed, which meant their secrets were likely as damaging as the ones held by her Valentine siblings. She could only pray that Her Grace never learned the truth of their parents or Perdita would be forced to do whatever that woman ordered because she would not see them harmed, ever.