Page 5 of The Lady’s Reckless Abandon (Safely in Scotland #1)

“T he duke requested the Violet Room for ye, miss.” The housekeeper opened a door midway down the long corridor. The large woman bustled inside and soon the lamps were lit.

Lily stepped inside and gasped at the lovely room filled with paintings of violets. The drapes were a deep purple while the bedspread was a cheery lavender.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Miss Juniper did each of the rooms in a different flower. The duke must have known your preference?” the woman asked with wide eyes.

“He asked me before we arrived. I didn’t know why he’d asked.”

The housekeeper smiled and patted Lily’s hand softly with a look of pity on her face.

“You poor dear, the sun has near to scalded ye. Nothing a cool bath and some of Mrs. Feather’s balm won’t ease.”

Lily doubted even the highly-esteemed Mrs. Feather’s balm would fix everything wrong in her life at the moment. But a bath would be welcome.

She would be glad to scrub the filth from sitting along the road all day, as well as whatever remained of Reggie’s touch, from her body.

“Did you need anything to eat?” Mrs. MacDougal asked.

“No, thank you. The duke saw to my meal earlier.”

“He’s one for taking care of others. Took good care of his sister, he did.”

“Where is his sister now?” Lily asked.

The woman frowned.

“She passed more than a year ago. The duke misses her so. Of course, he doesn’t say it, but we know. They were very close.”

Lily nodded, thinking the duke lucky in that, among other things.

She had three older sisters, and two brothers, and she wouldn’t say she was close to any of them really. Of all of them, she’d spent the most time with Matty, the youngest, while they’d been younger. But of late, he’d taken to going to the gentlemen’s clubs with Max.

He surely didn’t seem to miss her with all the excitement of gaming and drinking available.

She smiled at Mrs. MacDougal as the tub was filled.

“Thank you again for seeing to me. You must wonder what has happened to bring me to your doorstep all alone.” Lily thought she should explain, but had no clue what she might say.

Mrs. MacDougal patted her arm and shook her head.

“It’s not my place to wonder and it’s not my doorstep. Besides, dear, you weren’t alone, now were ye?”

She hadn’t arrived alone. She’d been introduced and treated as a guest by the duke.

A tap on the door brought the butler with the book the duke had sent for her. He must have known how her mind raced with thoughts that did her no good now.

“Do ye need help with your bath, miss? It’s been a while since I’ve served as a lady’s maid, but I know how to use a towel.”

Lily laughed at the charming woman.

“I will be perfectly fine.” She looked at her small bag thinking of what was inside. The thought of even looking at the night rail she’d worn last night when she’d been with Reggie made her feel ill. Both of her gowns were dirty from traveling, but she would manage.

The woman must have noticed her gaze for she said, “I’ll get you a fresh nightgown from June’s room. I’ll bring a gown for tomorrow and we’ll see your gown cleaned.”

She felt tears well in her eyes again, as she was overwhelmed by the woman’s kindness. She hoped Mrs. MacDougal wouldn’t come to learn of Lily’s shame. She didn’t want to disappoint the woman like she would surely disappoint her family when they learned what happened.

Lily undressed and slid into the tub. A swift knock at the door made her breath catch, but it was only Mrs. MacDougal returning with the garments she’d promised.

“A good night to you, my lady,” she said and was gone before Lily could respond.

Lily guessed it was a better night than if she had stayed at the tavern. She shivered at the thought of those drunken men. If the duke hadn’t come along…

Sinking into the cool water, Lily slipped under the surface where everything was quiet. Not that it was loud in the room, but it was peaceful underwater. The frightening thoughts seemed to scatter and disappear.

She waited until she had no choice but to sit up and breathe. Her body instantly rejoiced with the intake of air.

Perhaps if she could just focus on breathing, everything else—the mess she had made of her life and reputation—would somehow work out. It seemed the only thing she was capable of at the moment.

Breathing out and back in.

*

“Lady Lily is quite lovely, Your Grace,” Mrs. MacDougal said as she entered his study. “She is all situated in her room for the night. I saw to her bath and the balm will certainly help her poor, reddened skin. I took her one of Junie’s night rails, and a clean gown for the morning. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Nay. If Lily can put them to use, she is welcome to them.” He imagined she wouldn’t want to wear the gown she had planned to be married in ever again. And giving her Juniper’s gowns meant he wouldn’t have to have them cleared from his home in some awkward, emotional, event. “Thank you for seeing to her, Mrs. MacDougal.”

“I don’t know what happened to bring her to Gealach , but it could be a blessing for you to have some company, Your Grace.”

He raised a single brow at his impertinent housekeeper.

“She will not be staying long.” Though he doubted she would be on her way the next day. It would take a few days for her to send word to her family and for them to send a carriage to collect her. She would be under his roof for a month at least.

“Mayhap we should send to the village for someone to serve as a chaperone while she is here,” he suggested. He was to understand from Lily’s initial rant that she had been compromised, so a chaperone was not going to change anything that had already happened. But a proper guard would serve to protect him from an eager father wanting to marry off his ruined daughter to the person who offered solace.

“I will speak to Olly about it. I know of a few ladies who would be eager for the work.”

“Not Beatrice,” Finn snapped. The girl had been a companion to his sister and was always floating around with a dreamy expression when he was nearby. He’d overheard her tell Juniper she hoped to be Finn’s duchess someday. He surely didn’t need to deal with disappointing the woman.

Mrs. MacDougal simply smiled her rosy grin and dipped a curtsey.

“Good night to ye, Your Grace.”

“Good night, Mrs. MacDougal.” He thought to warn the woman from any meddlesome machinations she was considering before she’d even begun, but he found he wasn’t up to it.

It was late and traveling drained a person. Though Finn didn’t understand why. It wasn’t as if he’d pulled the carriage himself. He’d only sat inside. What reason did he have to be exhausted?

As he made his way to his bed chamber, he gazed down the hall toward the guest quarters. He knew exactly which room was filled with paintings of violets. He imagined Lily sleeping under the lilac bedding with her dark hair trailing out across the pillow.

How lovely she must look.

He shook the thought away before entering his room and closing the door. It wouldn’t do to think of Lady Lily in that manner. She’d had an ordeal and only a weasel of an arse would think of such things when she was dealing with such heartache.

For it was clear, despite her obvious anger, that she’d been deeply hurt by such a betrayal. Finn didn’t know who the man was, but that might be for the best. For if he knew who had done such a horrid thing to her, he just might find himself across the dueling field with a pistol at the ready.

Perhaps it was this anger that caused him to be restless all night and rise much too early for someone who had returned home so late the evening before.

He was already finished with his breakfast and was going through the post when Lily entered the morning room.

He stood and greeted her properly with a bow.

“I hope you slept well given the reading materials I provided.”

She smiled and he felt his chest tighten at the sight.

“Yes, thank you. I slept much better than I expected.”

He gestured toward the sideboard laden with all manner of food. Mrs. Feathers always overdid things the morning he first returned home to Gealach . He guessed it was her way of welcoming him back.

Today, however, it seemed to be prudent, for Lily piled her plate with food.

She ate quietly as he read the post, casually watching her when it was safe to steal a glance.

When she was finished, he set the mail aside and steepled his fingers.

“I imagine you wish to return home to London directly?” he started the conversation he couldn’t put off any longer. She had a life to get back to and no doubt worried parents to comfort. And he had…well, nothing of note.

There was always the care of his estates, reviewing the books. But he had a trustworthy steward to handle things and rarely needed to question anything he did.

He could go for a long ride. Mayhap he could assist the groom with the birth of a new foal.

The fact that he liked having someone to share his morning meal with was not her concern.

But as he watched, expecting her to show relief to be offered a way home, to put this error behind her and move on with her life, he was surprised when she winced and bit her lip nervously.

“Is something amiss?” he asked, knowing he would do whatever was needed to clear such displeasure from her lovely face.

“I wonder… That is, do you know how one might go about finding employment as a governess?”

“You wish to seek employment as a governess?” he asked foolishly for, of course, she was speaking of herself.

“I don’t wish to, but after my reckless error, I’m not sure my parents will allow me to return home. It would be best if I had an alternate plan ready if it were to become necessary.”

He blinked at her and she smiled nervously.

“I understand that might sound strange coming from the person who waltzed headlong into ruin not two days ago, but one should learn from one’s mistakes. If I return to London to find I’ve been cast out, I will need to find a way to support myself.”

In truth, Finn should have considered such a thing. It was probably a common threat used against young women to keep them in line and out of such trouble as Lily had found herself in recently. But would her parents really turn their backs on her after a mistake?

“Do you not have any other family who would take you in if it came to that?” he asked, though it was none of his business.

Lily pressed her lips together for a moment as if considering his question.

“My eldest sister, Maribel, is twelve years older than me. We were not very close as I was only five when she married the viscount. She would never cross my father by taking me into her home. Martha is a countess, and ten years older than me. She lives in the country with her five children and has not visited or even written in many years. Millicent, a baroness, who is eight years older than me, would gladly cheer my parents on as they tossed me from the steps. My twin brother, Maxwell, only thirteen minutes older, is too busy being a rake and dragging my younger brother, Matthew—eleven months younger—into his debauchery.”

She shrugged as if it was acceptable for a family that large to not care about their sister in her time of need, but Finn was caught on something else.

“All of your siblings have names that start with the letterM?”

“Yes.”

“But you do not?”

“No.”

That was the only answer she gave. Yet, that one word somehow served to explain things she hadn’t said. She was different from the rest of her siblings. An outsider among her own family. He knew it by the way she was content to sit quietly and not need his attention.

The anger he’d felt for the man who’d taken her away from her home radiated out to encompass a family who didn’t treat her like the strong, beautiful woman he’d seen in their short acquaintance.

“I don’t presume to order you about, but I would rather not send you back to London until we could be certain you have a proper home. Until we are sure, you will stay here as my guest.”

That last part had come out exactly as the order he’d said he wouldn’t presume, but he didn’t want her to even think to leave under the pretense of being a bother.

While he didn’t wish to lumber about in this huge castle with only his sister’s disembodied voice for companionship, he wouldn’t turn to her for companionship. For she would not stay long. He would allow her to stay until they received word from her family that all was well and she would leave.

She twisted her lips to the side and then her gray eyes lit up.

“I can write to my brother and ask him if I will be well received upon my return. Then I will know better what to do next.”

“Aye. That is a good idea.” And if he truly thought it a great idea because of the time it would take the post to deliver and a reply to be sent, he kept that to himself.