Page 6 of Two Ruins Make a Right

Three

Shortcuts taken, the road to ruin awakened.

A s James guided Nell through the throng of guests, he was dumbfounded to find his wayward hand pressed possessively against her lower back.

Many of the ladies who had recently arrived for the house party smiled, but as soon as they saw the location of his hand, frowns appeared.

Of course, they were fleeting. No one wanted to be labeled as a sourpuss at this event.

James dropped his hand, then momentarily tilted his head and stared at the domed ceiling. It was the only way he could keep himself from roaring. Why did Nell suddenly appear here of all the days?

More importantly, why had Valentina immediately proclaimed that Nell was her first choice for a mother?

It was as if every angel in heaven and demon in hell had joined forces to make his life miserable.

The only way out of this fiasco was for Nell to leave quickly.

While his breath caught at the thought, he pursed his lips.

There was no conceivable way that he would allow his heart, his brain, or his body to be charmed by the lady.

It had happened once, and he had been left with a wounded pride and a broken heart to match.

He slid a side-eyed glance her way and felt his hard stance soften.

The years had been kind to her. Nell’s auburn hair still glistened as if the sunlight had kissed her head.

The blue of her eyes still reminded him of turquoise, and her heart-shaped face only enhanced her delicate brows and slight, upturned nose.

He had always considered her attractive, but she was stunning as a mature woman.

He hadn’t seen her in over eight years, three months, and five days.

Not that he should be counting, but damned fool that he was, he still remembered that fateful day and the exact hour that she’d left Redmond Hall.

He’d fully expected them to call the banns starting the following week.

Instead, he’d been jilted within hours.

He huffed a silent breath. That was his past. Now, he needed to concentrate on his and Valentina’s future.

Finally, he and Nell made their way through the crowd to reach the butler’s side. “Mr. Tipton, has there been any word on my carriage?” she asked.

The huskiness of her voice sank into his chest and squeezed his heart in a death grip. He would not survive if she did not leave within the hour.

Nor would his heart.

Heaven help him, he didn’t want to consider the meaning of such a thought.

“I’ll send one of the footmen to see about the replacement axel.” Tipton bowed and then signaled for a footman to attend him.

Like a clipper ship, James’s Aunt Evelyn, the Duchess of Darnley, parted the sea of guests to make her way to them.

“Nellwyn? Is that you?” She clapped her hands in a show of joy.

“How delightfully marvelous. I didn’t know that rascal James had invited you.

Our party can start now that you’re here, my dear. ”

By then, his Uncle Gordon, the Duke of Darnley, had butted in between James and Aunt Evelyn.

With a well-placed jab of an elbow in James’s ribcage, the duke chortled.

“You’re a sly one, my boy. Make Nell jealous by inviting all these other women.

It’s simply brilliant,” the elderly duke whispered for James’s ear only.

“I didn’t invite her,” James murmured.

The duke’s bushy eyebrows scurried upward.

“Then it must be divine intervention.” His already wrinkled brow furrowed into even more lines.

“That’s a much more serious matter. Watch your step.

Once Fate involves herself, there’s not much you can do.

That’s what happened with your aunt and me.

” Without another word, a smile spread across his lips, and he turned his attention to Nell.

She dipped a polite curtsey to his aunt and uncle. “Your Grace, and Your Grace. Thank you for allowing us the use of your stable hands and coachmen. Our carriage broke down on our way back to Whitton Priory.”

“Our?” the duchess asked sweetly.

“My sister and I,” Nell answered with a slight smile.

His aunt nodded eagerly. “Both you and Christa are always welcome at Redmond Hall.”

The duke elegantly bowed over Nell’s hand. “We promise to turn your misfortune into something more positive.”

“Oh, Darnley,” the duchess cooed. “Excellent idea.” She turned her attention to Nell.

“Your carriage needs repair, but it’s our good fortune that it stopped here.

” The duchess tilted her head in a beseeching manner.

“Can you stay the week with us? We’re hosting a little house party on James’s behalf.

It would be an honor if you and your sister attended. ”

James outmaneuvered them before his wily aunt and uncle could persuade Nell to stay. It was wicked of him, but he couldn’t help it. “I’m afraid Lady Whitton must leave as soon as her carriage is repaired. She has a suitor who will soon be calling on her at Whitton Priory.”

“What?” The duchess’s hand flew to her heart.

Nell shot him a look designed to skewer him straight through the chest. “Your Grace, allow me to explain.” She smiled demurely at his aunt and uncle.

“The Marquess of Mounthaven wants to court my sister Christa. His visit will allow them to become better acquainted and see if they’ll suit. I’ll be their chaperone.”

James leaned close to Nell. “If that arrangement doesn’t work for them, perhaps you’d be interested in the marquess yourself.

You like older men.” He huffed out a grunt.

“You also have a fondness for marquesses. Mounthaven is what? At least fifty? A little young for your tastes, but perhaps it would make another brilliant match for you.”

Without a hint that she was shocked by his words, she addressed the duke and duchess, “Christa is here somewhere.” Nell gracefully stood on her tiptoes and glanced around. Taller than most women, she could see everyone in the room. “There she is with Mr. Knollwood.”

When Nell lowered herself to the floor, she stood close and grounded her heel on his foot.

He supposed he deserved that, but it still stung. It was difficult to determine which was worse, the pain she’d inflicted on his foot or his wounded pride.

The duke and duchess turned their attention to the head housekeeper when she approached.

James took the opportunity to send another volley Nell’s way. “Alas, ma’am, you seem to have mistaken my shoe for the floor.”

She blinked innocently. “No, I didn’t. I meant to do that.”

“Wicked woman,” he hissed under his breath.

“Maleficent man,” she countered softly.

“I spoke nothing but the truth. Your first husband was in his fifth or sixth decade. Mounthaven must be at least that old or?—”

Before James could finish his retort, Valentina stood before them with her gaze locked on Nell. “My lady, you must sit by me at luncheon.”

James took his daughter’s hand. “Darling, we discussed this. The luncheon is for adults. You’ll take yours in the nursery with Miss Owens.”

“No, Papa. I insist upon eating with her.” She dropped his hand and stood close to Nell. Her lips began to wobble as if she were about to cry.

Nell crouched down gracefully so she and Valentina could see eye-to-eye. “It would be my pleasure to eat with you in the nursery.”

A huge smile broke across his daughter’s face. “You would?” She turned to James with her nose tipped in the air. “Papa, I didn’t want to eat with you and those other ladies anyway. We’ll have much more fun in the nursery.” She giggled and leaned close to Nell. “We can play dolls.”

“I’d like that very much,” Nell answered softly.

Tipton nodded Nell’s way. “We don’t have an axle long enough to make the repairs today. I’m sorry, Lady Whitton.”

An utter look of despair fell across her face. It hit James straight in the stomach. It was ironic that such an expression still affected him. He should have been gleeful that she was despondent. He should be pushing her out the door. None of this made any sense.

There was only one solution. He’d take matters into his own hands.

“You can take one of the duke’s carriages, or even my own, if you must return.” By then, the noise in the atrium had magnified so much that it was difficult to hear, let alone think.

Somehow, she heard him. Her earlier blush from her distress had faded. “Thank you.”

He only prayed that she would leave within the next few minutes. He didn’t know how much more he could take of Nell and her effect on him.

* * *

Nell finally relaxed once she reached the nursery.

Discovering that she had interrupted a house party designed for James to find another wife was nerve-wracking.

Just the thought made her heart cinch into a painful knot.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that he still possessed the ability to turn her world topsy-turvy.

All she had to do was survive the next hour as her groomsmen prepared one of the duke’s carriages and transferred their luggage. Then she and Christa could be on their way.

The nursemaid, Miss Owens, set the table so Nell and Valentina could eat. They munched on chicken and diced vegetables, then ate a large slice of almond cake with fresh whipped cream for dessert.

“My lady, couldn’t you stay for a night?” Valentina lifted a miniature teacup to her doll Abigail’s lips, then wiped the doll’s mouth with a serviette that matched the play tea set.

“I need to return home.” Nell couldn’t take her eyes off the little girl sitting across from her.

She was delightful and full of laughter and cheer.

Her earlier moodiness that she’d exhibited in front of her father had disappeared as soon as they’d left the guests behind and made their way to the nursery.

Valentina walked to Nell’s side and climbed upon her lap with Abigail in tow. “I want you to stay.”