A Love Laid Bare (31 page)

A discreet tap on the door, followed by the
appearance of a footman, startled them all. Frances let out a soft
puff of annoyance. “I suppose our guests must be leaving, or the
remainder of their party has arrived.”

Richard raised his brows in inquiry. “Are you
referring to the library contingent?”

Frances nodded and looked at the watch pinned to her
gown. “Mr. Cooper and Mr. Jensen have been here for some time. Lady
Merton and Mrs. Cooper were expected later.” She widened her eyes
and looked guilelessly at him. “As the Coopers are departing
tomorrow to return to Oxford, I suppose I must go down. It
is
the polite thing to do.”

“Ah, then certainly you must go.” Richard grinned at
her and she laughed.

“Wretch! You know very well I want you with me.”
Frances stood and held out her hand. “Will you come? Please?”

He took her hand and rose. “Since you ask so nicely,
how can I refuse?”

Frances looked closely at him. She was almost sure he
was teasing. But what if he was not? What If he actually relished
the opportunity to see Lady Merton? His smooth expression told her
nothing. With a fresh picture of Richard and Lady Merton together
in her mind, Frances felt a familiar roil begin in her stomach. Her
budding distress, however, was immediately allayed by his next
remark.

“Flora, will you come with us and meet some people?”
Without waiting for the child’s consent, Richard picked her up.

“Lion come, too?” Flora asked, clutching the small
animal in her fingers.

“Lion, too,” he said.

Flora wrapped one arm around Richard’s neck. Once she
was settled against his chest, he touched his free hand to Frances’
elbow and led her from the room.

***

Halcombe was more than satisfied that today would see
the last of both the Coopers and Jensen. The couple seemed well
enough, but the foreigner was far too familiar with Frances. She
did not appear to notice, and certainly did not encourage him, but
it seemed she was entertained by his attentions. Was she the reason
for Jensen’s insinuation into the Manor?

The earl was no philistine. Indeed, he took pleasure
in the study of history and languages, but he did not believe his
library to be exceptional. Cooper’s interest was understandable.
After all, research was his life. Access to even a small collection
of unique volumes would enliven such a scholar. Jensen’s motives
were more suspect. He was not the type to hang about a library just
to keep a casual acquaintance company.

That the activities of her guests had provided
Victoria with an excuse to visit the Manor was another irritant.
Not that she hesitated to call upon him whenever it suited her. Her
latest visit was ostensibly to ask his help with some matter
concerning the Merton properties, but since this was usually
something her estate manager was capable of resolving, Halcombe
knew she had not given up on persuading him into an affair. Why she
persisted, when he had made it abundantly clear he was not
interested, was beyond him.

Because in some insane effort to avoid hurting her
further, you have not been firm enough, Halcombe.
Nor did he
wish to make an enemy of her. Te earl suspected the viscountess
would like nothing better than to create trouble for his wife, and
Frances clearly did not care for Lady Merton anyway.

Nor did the lady care for Frances, judging from her
quickly veiled look of animosity when she saw his wife at his side
as they entered the library. Lady Merton’s welcoming smile was
directed solely at him. She glided forward to greet him as if no
one else was in the room.

“Richard, how nice to see you. I was hoping to have
the chance to thank you again for your assistance yesterday. Those
troublesome drains! I could not go on without you to depend upon
now that dear George is gone.”

Since ‘dear George’ had been too ill to manage his
property for some years before his death, Halcombe viewed
Victoria’s spurious attention to estate management skeptically. Nor
was she the true owner. Merton’s title and property had passed to a
distant cousin, who seemed content to reside in the London house,
and allow Lady Merton to live at Merton House. Halcombe couldn’t
fault the man. Living with Victoria would be difficult at best.

“Since I did not see you yesterday, Victoria, you
must be referring to Monday,” Halcombe said evenly, aware of
Frances’ sharp interest.

“Oh, my dreadful memory! Of course, it
was
several days ago.” Lady Merton laid her hand on Halcombe’s arm. “Do
forgive me, and introduce me to your adorable daughter. I have been
looking forward to meeting her.” She smiled at Flora, who promptly
hid her face against her father’s shoulder.

Halcombe touched Flora’s back lightly. “Flora, this
is Lady Merton. She would like to meet you.”

Flora raised her head and peered briefly at Lady
Merton. “’lo,” she said, and promptly hid again.

“Such a pretty name. It’s just like a flower.” Lady
Merton struggled on in an effort to engage Flora’s attention. “You
know what flowers are, don’t you?”

Halcombe heard a muffled cough from Frances and bit
back a smile. Flora was not unusually unsociable, but preferred to
take her time when meeting someone new.

“She is shy at times,” Halcombe explained. He turned
to the Coopers, forestalling any further conversation with the
viscountess, who did not appear gratified by Flora’s rebuff.
Frances moved aside to greet Jensen, who had immediately come to
join her.

Between Halcombe’s concerted effort to overhear their
conversation and Flora’s sudden, “Down Papa” the earl returned the
Coopers’ greeting with less than his usual sangfroid. He set Flora
on her feet, kept a firm grip on her hand and urged her a few steps
forward.

“Flora, this is Mrs. Cooper and Mr. Cooper. They have
come to visit us.”

Flora looked carefully at them. “P’eased,” she said,
and smiled at Mrs. Cooper, whose bonnet had caught her eye. “Hat
pretty.”

Caroline Cooper sat down and laid her hat on her
knees. “I am pleased to meet you, Lady Flora. The hat is pretty, I
agree. Would you like to hold it?”

Flora nodded, her curls bouncing wildly. She tugged
at Halcombe’s hand to get free.

“Papa!”

“Gently, child. Mrs. Cooper is our guest.” The earl
released his exuberant daughter and smiled.

Caroline patted the seat cushion beside her. “Will
you sit here, Lady Flora?”

“Yes. I sit,” Flora said, clambering up with a little
assist from her father.

Halcombe was somewhat surprised at Flora’s ready
acceptance of a stranger, but supposed the lure of the hat was
strong enough to overcome any reserve. Then again, Mrs. Cooper
seemed to know that children did not like to have adults looming
overhead and talking down to them.

Once satisfied his daughter was happily occupied in
touching all the flowers on the hat, Halcombe turned his attention
to Cooper, who greeted him with enthusiasm.

“It is very kind of you to open your library to us.
I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly, and so has Caroline.” He looked almost
slyly at his host. “I am told you are a Cambridge man. Should you
happen to visit Oxford, however, I hope that won’t stop you from
looking us up.”

Halcombe laughed. “Still the same rivalry, I
see.”

“Just so,” Cooper said with a grin. He then launched
into an anecdote about some playful prank between the two
schools.

The earl listened with half an ear, his eyes straying
to Frances and Jensen, who stood close together on one side of the
room. Lady Merton had settled into the corner of a settee. Her
watchful gaze drifted toward the animated pair then on to Flora and
Mrs. Cooper, and finally to him, a disgruntled expression on her
perfect face. Halcombe knew all too well that Victoria preferred to
be the center of attention.

He waited impatiently for Cooper to finish his story
and was just about to interrupt when Frances’ gaze caught his.
Never had he seen such a desperate plea for rescue. Feeling
ridiculously pleased, Halcombe laughed politely as the tale at last
came to an end. He then quietly excused himself and went to deliver
her from Jensen.

As soon as he reached her side, Frances moved to tuck
her arm around his. “Mr. Jensen has been telling me his father
often purchases books for his own personal library and may have
obtained some from
my
father. He asked if I planned to
continue the family tradition and indeed, recalled hearing
somewhere that I had done so.”

Her eyes held both a warning and worry. Halcombe
looked at Jensen with renewed consideration. If Frances was
correct, almost no one knew of her involvement with Nesbitt’s book
trade. If Jensen did know of it, why wait until now to mention it?
Why not when he first expressed interest in perusing the
library?

The man’s handsome face was open and friendly, with
no sign that his comments had been more than a casual observation,
but there was a subtle tension in his pale eyes that put Halcombe
on guard.

The earl placed his hand over his wife’s and said
smoothly, “Perhaps Mr. Jensen heard you were
considering
whether to continue in your father’s footsteps.” The smile he gave
her was warm and reassuring and he felt her disquiet ease.

“Of course,” she said. “That must be it, seeing that
I did make some inquiries, as you suggested.” She laughed and
looked archly at Halcombe. “You see? The rare book world abounds
with gossip and rumours.”

“Apparently so,” Halcombe said with a laugh. The
flash of anger in Jensen’s eyes was gone almost before it
registered with the earl. Indeed, the fellow’s expression was so
amicable, Halcombe thought his imagination was running wild. He
reviewed the short interchange, seeking a reason as to why the man
might have undue interest in whether or not Nesbitt’s book trade
continued. Either he was missing something or there really
was
nothing.

“Mama, Papa!” At Flora’s excited cry, they all turned
to watch her as she ran toward them with a bright silk flower
clutched in her fist. Caroline Cooper followed more sedately
behind, a bemused smile on her face. “I have flower,” Flora cried,
waving it above her head.

Frances grinned and crouched down to her daughter’s
level. “How pretty! Why don’t you show your Papa?” She picked the
child up, passed her to Halcombe, and then gave Caroline Cooper an
apologetic smile. “I am so sorry! Your poor hat. Our daughter loves
flowers, and thinks every blossom she sees belongs to her. We will
have her return this one to you.”

“Oh, no, please do not! I can obtain another. Lady
Flora and I have wholly enjoyed our little visit,” Mrs. Cooper said
with evident good-humour.

Halcombe looked at the child, now half-slumped in his
arms. His mouth curved in a rueful smile. While Flora appeared to
be on the verge of sleep, he felt sure that she would object to
giving up her prize. “Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.”

“Such a kind thing for you to do, Caroline,” Lady
Merton said in a sugary-sweet voice as she joined them. “You will
be quite the favourite with the child—and I’m sure her parents are
most
grateful.”

Caroline Cooper’s face coloured at the undercurrent
of sarcasm in Lady Merton’s words, and Frances rushed to reassure
her.

“We
are
most appreciative. Flora seldom takes
to anyone as quickly as she did you. It is good for her to have new
experiences,” she said warmly, smiling at the flustered woman.

Halcombe looked at Lady Merton and raised a brow. It
was an unfortunate implication, whether she meant it or not. He
felt sure Mrs. Cooper had not thought of earning favour from her
hosts.

“I’m afraid Flora’s social graces are fairly
limited,” Halcombe said. “Thank you for being so patient with
her.”

Mrs. Cooper gave him a grateful look. “It was a
pleasure,” she said to Halcombe in a soft voice, an expression of
both relief and apprehension on her face.

Victoria was obviously not happy with the turn of
events. Halcombe hoped poor Mrs. Cooper did not suffer for her
kindness to Flora. But for the time being, at least, Victoria
seemed to feel the subject closed.

“We must go. Caroline has much to do in readiness for
leaving on the morrow,” she said, gathering up her hat and gloves.
She looked coolly at Jensen, who had been standing quietly to one
side during the awkward exchange. “Paul?”

“Of course.” Jensen nodded and bowed to his host and
hostess. “We have taken too much of your time already. Thank you
for your hospitality. I myself will be here for one more day.
Perhaps I will see you again.”

Not if I have anything to say about it, Halcombe
thought. The man was pleasant enough, but there was something not
quite right with the fellow—and it was not simply because he fawned
over Frances.

Victoria allowed the others to go ahead, and then
moved closer to Halcombe. Flora was now asleep and the viscountess
laid her hand on the little girl’s hair. “She is darling, Richard.
You must bring her to Merton. I believe there are some kittens in
the stable she would enjoy seeing.”

Despite her seemingly well-intentioned offer, the
viscountess’ eyes remained steady on Halcombe’s face and her smile
was meant solely for him. He glanced at Frances who, surprisingly,
looked more entertained than annoyed. In fact, her mouth had firmed
in what he suspected was an attempt to suppress laughter.

The earl edged toward the door. “Perhaps we will one
day,” he said. “Just now it is time for Flora’s nap.”

Lady Merton paled. Eyes narrowing, she tugged on her
gloves. “Yes, I see.” She turned her shoulder to exclude Frances
from her parting words. “Don’t forget you agreed to a meeting with
my manager. We will be waiting to hear from you.” She touched her
fingers to his cheek. “Good day.”