Page 4 of The Valentine Skates
As soon as Frederick’s tenant farmer guided the sleigh back into the wide drive in front of Wembledon House, Lilianne jumped down and pounded on the brass knocker to raise the alarm for the servants.
Several footmen and her butler Jameson rushed out and helped Dodds and Frederick bring Emily inside. As soon as they had her safe in the closest guest chamber with flannel-wrapped hot bricks they’d prepared for Lilianne’s return, she was able to take some deep breaths and plan what she’d have to do next.
Jameson had already sent a rider to Guildford to fetch a physician. Her wolfhound had reached Emily in time to grasp the back of her coat with his teeth and keep her afloat until her father arrived to pull her out of the water.
Tiber had been soaked through and was shaking with the cold by the time he’d been relieved from holding on to Emily. Dodds had brought him into the house from the sleigh, and now he was sleeping under a blanket by the fire. Lilianne crouched over Emily’s protector and hugged his damp wooly mass. “Thank you,” she whispered into his ear and he whimpered a little in his sleep.
She tapped on the door to Emily’s room before entering. Once inside, she sat next to Frederick and took his hand while two of her housemaids refreshed the hot bricks at the foot of the bed with long-handled silver containers.
“Frederick, I am so sorry. Jameson sent a rider to bring back Dr. Towle from Guildford. I’m sure he’ll know what to do. We just need to keep her warm until he gets here.”
“None of this is your fault. She’s a very energetic little girl who knows her own mind and follows it no matter how dangerous the consequences might be.” He put one of his hands over the one she was using to comfort him. “She was so happy she finally met the lady ‘who could teach her how to do the dance of the seven nails.’”
Lilianne tried her mightiest not to blush, but the heat on her cheeks proved she’d lost the battle.
“And I am so sorry Emily had to hear the ugly gossip about your captivity. None of that was your fault, either. You do know that?”
“Nothing about my dismal life matters.” She gave a wry chuckle. “Your father-in-law’s housekeeper always was the biggest gossip in the village. But, please, tell me more about Emily. She seems to be sleeping well. How was she when you pulled her out of the river?”
“She was frightened, coughing, taking in big gulps of air, but horribly cold. Never in my life have I so wanted to peel out of my own skin and give it to warm my little girl. Your dog saved her life. There is no way I can ever repay you and your family for that creature’s heroic act. She was struggling so, and the ice was still cracking. He could have gone in with her.”
“He’s sleeping under a blanket by the fire, and Cook is looking for a meaty bone to give him when he wakes up. His requirements are simple. He needs to be loved, and affection I give him in ample supply. I have no one else to share it with.” Her ready smile changed abruptly when she realized she’s was prattling on to Frederick like a goose without any thought of a possible misunderstanding.
He returned the smile and squeezed her hands before turning to lay the backside of his hand against his daughter’s brow, the way his mother had always done when he’d fought a bout of the ague as a child. He turned back to Lilianne and said, “No fever yet, praise God, and she’s breathing well.”
She stood suddenly. “I’ll be back in a few hours to sit with Emily so you can get some rest. We’ve had another guest chamber readied for you.”
“I don’t want to…,” he started to say, before she interrupted him.
“Nothing matters now but Emily. By the time I return, Dr. Towle will be here, and we’ll find out how long she’ll need to rest at Wembledon before you take her home. I’m going to leave tomorrow to stay with my former governess in Guildford. I would not want any of my shame to touch you or your family.”
Frederick stood at once, moving close to her. “No. I can’t let you do that. Damn the gossip, and damn the small-minded people in the village.”
She flinched at his raw words. “You know there’s no overcoming the social taboos I’ve brought upon myself. I won’t let the stain of my life destroy you and Emily. It’s settled. I’m leaving. Wembledon is yours until Emily is well enough to travel.”
“No, it is not settled, Lilianne, and I’ll tell you why.” He enclosed both of her small, soft hands in his large, calloused ones. “Tonight, we make a pact. I promise you with all that I am, I will not allow anyone or anything to destroy our friendship. No matter what happens, we will still be friends. Whenever you need me, I’ll be here for you. Whenever I need you, you’ll be here for me.”
She didn’t answer him with words. Words were not necessary. Everything he meant to her she was afraid was revealed in her eyes. She simply pulled her hands out of his grip and cradled his between hers before turning and stepping quickly out of the room.
Chapter Three
March - The Compromise
Lilianne lovedthe cozy little cottage in Guildford that her brother, Howick, had given her retired governess, Helena. She sank lower into the comfortable, overstuffed chair near the fireplace and stretched her heavily stockinged toes toward the blaze. Tiber looked up, alert at the slight movement, from his soft blanket strategically placed midway between the two chairs she and Helena occupied.
The dog had whined and paced when a footman had placed her bags in the front hall of Wembledon Park early that morning, and her lady’s maid, Margaret, had organized them for loading into the carriage. She couldn’t stand the pitiful look in his eyes, and so relented to allow him to accompany her. She’d vowed that if Helena had any misgivings about the huge wolfhound accompanying her, she’d send him back with the driver.
Instead, her old governess had exclaimed over him and produced bits of fried cod left over from her breakfast. Dog and governess were now fast friends, and Lilianne actually felt a bit betrayed by how quickly he’d ingratiated himself into Helena’s good graces.
The older woman put down the scarf she’d been knitting and leaned toward Lilianne. “You seem to be settled in well for having to leave on such short notice. How was young Emily when you left?”
“She was still asleep. Dr. Towle arrived a few hours after midnight and gave her a cough elixir mixed with a small bit of laudanum. He said we just have to wait and let her young body heal, which he’s confident it will.”
“How is young Squire Meredith handling her illness?”
Lilianne stood and poured hot water over the tea leaves at the bottom of her cup from the kettle hanging from the hob in the fireplace. Only then did she face her old governess. The expression on Helena’s face was one of pity. She knew. She’d known ever since Lilianne and Jane had been childhood friends.
She’d loved the young farm boy from the neighboring estate ever since he’d first appeared one Tuesday morning to attend Latin lessons at the vicarage. She and Jane had always dreaded that particular class until that fateful day. From that morning on, they’d vied to see which one of them could dress, or act, or say something, anything, to get Frederick to notice them. Unfortunately, he’d always put on a stoic face whilst sitting in the stern vicar’s parlor.