Between Two Thorns (19 page)

“Anyone in particular?”

“A man.”

“A particular man?”

“Someone to keep me company.”

He swallowed. This was the moment he’d dreamt of all his teenage years. Then he thought of Leanne. He looked down at the table, feeling a pang of guilt.

“It’s just that I need to walk home, and I don’t like walking alone at night.”

“I suppose I could do that,” he said.

“If it’s not too much trouble?”

He shook his head. It was a bit weird, but he wasn’t going to do anything contrary to what a married man should. Even so, it felt dangerous.

“Thank you so much,” she said, standing as he struggled with his jacket, trying not to sway. “I was hoping a friend would meet me but he didn’t show.”

He’s a pillock, Sam thought, necking the last of the whisky. “Do you live very far away?”

“Not too far. Too close for a taxi and too far to walk it alone at night.”

“My name’s Sam, by the way.”

She smiled again. He had an urge to keep finding ways to make her do that, and he struggled to repress it. “I’m Petra. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 

20

 

As his valet tied his cravat, Will prepared himself for the meeting ahead. To everyone else it was a candlelit dinner with his fiancée, but to him it was simply business negotiations with a difficult party.

Catherine Papaver was proving to be tougher to win over than he’d thought. For any other woman in Aquae Sulis – no, the entirety of Nether Society – being the belle of the ball would have been a dream come true. Not for her. They would have been delighted to have been treated like the most beautiful woman in the world by a son of a powerful family, soon to be husband. But for Catherine it simply wasn’t enough.

Every time he had complimented her it was thrown back in his face. Every time he danced with her and gave her the opportunity to win the admiration of her peers, she rejected him, and made no effort to engage in small talk. She’d wasted an incredible opportunity to be launched onto the Aquae Sulis social circuit.

He’d been convinced that making a plain woman feel admired would win her over; after all, wouldn’t that be what she’d want the most? Especially after all those years in her younger sister’s shadow. Elizabeth was one of the beauties of her generation and made her pretty peers look plain.

When he’d got back from the ball, exhausted by his efforts, he’d doubted whether it was worth the trouble. It wasn’t as if her dislike of him would jeopardise their marriage; the engagement contracts had already been signed by their fathers. But a woman in love was so much easier to keep in line. With the alliance between the families being so critical, it made sense to try to make the marriage as successful as possible. Her being a surprise favourite of Lord Poppy meant Catherine’s favour could have other benefits. He decided to persevere. Besides, he’d never shied away from a challenge.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?”

“No, thank you, Jones,” Will replied, inspecting himself in the mirror. “I think a cape and cane for this evening if–”

The door opened without a warning knock and Will took a breath to berate the intruder for such poor manners. But then he saw Sophia standing in the doorway, sniffing.

“What is it?” he asked, bending down onto one knee and opening his arms to her.

She ran into them. “Imogen said I’ll be sent away into Mundanus forever!”

He chuckled. “No, just until you’re all grown up. That’s what happened to all of us. When you’re a nice young lady, you’ll move out of the nursery wing in Mundanus and into the main house in the Nether with us all the time, that’s all. If you stayed in the Nether, you’d never grow up.”

She pulled back, her bottom lip wobbling. “No, Will-yum,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Imogen said I’ll be left in a wood and wolves will eat me up because there’s only allowed to be three children.”

“Take no notice of her,” he said, kissing her forehead. Even though he’d only been home for three days, he was already quite fond of the strange little thing. He’d never known such an affectionate child. “I know a secret, would you like me to share it with you?”

She forgot about her misery in a moment, nodding eagerly as the tears dried on her cheeks.

“Cook has made me some custard tarts as a special treat, but she hasn’t told anyone else. Would you like to have one?”

She nodded, making the gentle ringlets bounce on her shoulders. “Yes, please.”

“Jones will show you the way. Go on now, I have to go out for dinner with the young lady I’m going to marry.”

“Can I be a bridesmaid?”

“If Mother says so, yes. Go on now.”

She squeezed him tight and kissed his cheek, then extended her hand to Jones, who looked at it awkwardly for a moment before taking hold and walking out of the room with her.

When she was downstairs, he went to Imogen’s room and rapped on the door.

“Come in.”

Imogen was seated at her dressing table, holding a necklace up against her dress.

“Is it true you told Sophia she’d be eaten by wolves?”

“I may have said something along those lines.”

“You really are a heartless specimen, aren’t you?”

“She broke my favourite bracelet.”

“She’s only three!”

“She’s almost four and should know better. Besides, there should only be three of us, everyone knows that.”

“Everyone?”

“Everyone important. Why do you think we’re not allowed to talk about her outside the house? Why do you think the housemaid is looking after her in Mundanus and not a nanny from the Agency? Father is embarrassed and if the Patroon finds out, that’s it.” She twisted around to face him. “Don’t get attached to her, Will. She shouldn’t be here.”

“How can you speak like that about a little girl?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m just pragmatic.”

“Pathetic more like, upsetting a child because she broke a bracelet when you have dozens of the things. Besides, I don’t know of any such rule. Father only has one brother.”

“Don’t you know anything? They had a sister but she died of a fever when she was small.” She spoke as if it were common knowledge. “Where are you going dressed up like that?”

“I’m meeting Catherine for dinner,” he replied, adjusting his collar, wondering what else he didn’t know about his family.

“Why on earth would you want to do that? You’ll be seeing her every day soon enough.”

“Call me a fool, as you doubtless will, but I thought it would be wise to at least try to get to know the woman I’ll be married to by the end of the season.”

“You are a fool. I’d make the most of your freedom whilst you can and have dinner with someone pleasant to look at instead.” She dropped the necklace into her lap, frowning. “By the end of the season? That’s rather quick, isn’t it?”

He shrugged. “Is it?”

“They want to palm her off onto you as soon as they can. Don’t forget what I told you, William. She’s trouble.”

“Have a good evening playing with your baubles,” he said. “Do try not to traumatise any other small children.”

He closed her door and headed for the stairs, hearing voices in the lobby below. He recognised his Uncle Vincent’s low rumble instantly.

“How is she?”

“Fine, Vincent, absolutely fine.”

His mother was talking to him, but something about her voice made him slow down and peep over the handrail. Uncle Vincent was in his coat and hat and Mother was looking up at him, standing closer than Will imagined she would be. The way they looked at each other made him uncomfortable, but then he pulled himself up. They’d known each other for decades, of course they were close.

“Uncle Vincent!” he called as he descended the stairs. “How are you?”

“Fine, Will m’boy.”

“Join me for a drink at the club later?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Have a nice evening, dear,” Mother said, coming over to peck him on the cheek.

He smiled at her, but was still unnerved when he climbed into the carriage. She never used to do that. He adjusted his gloves and tried to think ahead to the dinner and what he would talk to Catherine about, but his mind kept returning to the way his mother had been standing so close to his uncle. He shook his head and looked out of the window, forgetting momentarily that there was no scenery to take him out of his thoughts. He felt a longing for greenery and for a changing sky, for women who laughed in the tumbling foam of Sicilian waves, and for salt on his lips that tasted like freedom.

 

Catherine looked very different at the restaurant. Will realised how much of a difference Lord Poppy’s gift had made. She was pale, appeared more tired than she should and was wearing a most austere outfit, something he’d expect from his grandmother’s generation. She was helped out of the carriage by her brother. There seemed to be some tension between them but Thomas Papaver was much better at hiding his feelings than she.

“Good evening,” Will said, shaking him by the hand.

“Good evening, William,” Thomas replied as Cathy lurked nearby.

She was doing her best to distance herself, even to the extent that she stood apart from them and was looking away as they shook hands. Her manners were abominable and her lack of social grace was second only to her lack of physical grace. Imogen was right; they were trying to palm her off and he could see why.

“Good evening,” he said and she jumped slightly, as if she’d been daydreaming.

“Hi,” she said as Thomas cleared his throat loudly. “Good evening,” she added hurriedly and extended a gloved hand towards him which he kissed dutifully.

“Shall we?” He gestured to the restaurant and offered her his arm.

“I will be at the table in the corner,” Thomas said and took his leave.

The restaurant was quite full, it being the season, catering for guests in Aquae Sulis as well as residents before they went on to whichever social event they had slated for the evening. They were seated at a reserved table in one of the most private nooks, drawing attention as they walked past the diners and leaving a wash of whispers in their wake.

Will inspected the wine list as the waiter brought the menus. It gave them both something to do for a minute, for which he was grateful. “What will you have?”

“The steak.”

“Medium or well-done?”

“Bloody,” she said, looking him right in the eye.

“Really?” He laid his menu down and the waiter took the cue. It was one of the minor advantages of being an Iris in Aquae Sulis; they always had the best service.

“Rare steak for my fiancée,” he began as she was taking a breath. He gave the rest of the order with the distinct impression he’d offended her. The waiter collected the menus and hurried off. “That was what you wanted?”

“I could have spoken for myself,” she replied.

He sat back and looked at her, puzzled. Her eyes were a pleasant pale blue, quite attractive with brown hair usually, but hers was too mousy and noncommittal in colour to be as striking as her sister. Her lips were a little thin, her nose inoffensive enough; it was more the sour expression that never seemed to leave her face that gave the impression of ugliness. “Is that what they’re teaching in Swiss finishing schools now?”

The flush in her cheeks helped her complexion. She shut her eyes, as if readying herself for an exam rather than dinner.

“Sorry,” she said finally, opening her eyes but not looking at him. Instead she started to fiddle with her napkin in a most irritating manner.

“So,” he said, leaning forward again, determined to make the best of it. “I thought it would be beneficial to discuss the future in a setting more conducive to conversation.”

“What’s to discuss? It’s a fait accompli, isn’t it?”

She said it with such heaviness he didn’t know how to respond. “The contracts are settled, yes; it doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to talk about.” When she just stared down at the napkin he sighed. “Catherine, I’m not an ogre. I really do want this to be a success.”

“That’s a contradiction in terms,” she muttered. “Look, I know you mean well, but really, there’s no point. We don’t want to marry each other. It doesn’t matter how much you decorate a dog turd, it still smells of–”

She put a gloved hand over her mouth. He didn’t know whether to laugh or be shocked. “What an interesting turn of phrase,” he commented as the wine was brought over. He tasted and approved it as she blazed scarlet. Once the wine was poured he picked up his glass, briefly considered a toast, but decided against it and took a long draught instead. “I know how you feel and I’m aware of your poor regard. You do little to hide it.”

A flash of guilt crossed her face. She was as easy to read as Sophia. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, genuinely. “It’s nothing personal, really, I swear it. You’re very handsome and rich and all of that stuff. Anyone else would be delighted.”

“Well, I feel so much better,” he said with a wry raise of an eyebrow, which seemed to soften her a little. “Why aren’t you?”

“I don’t think that’s a conversation we should have.”

“I have the distinct impression that there is a lot you want to say but feel you can’t.”

She looked at him then, maintaining eye contact longer than ever before. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“That’s what I’m trying to say. Talk to me, Catherine. Tell me how we can make this more bearable. Is there anything specific about being married to me that upsets you?”

“Apart from–” She cut herself off again, dropping her head as she appeared to struggle with herself. She glanced over towards where her brother was sitting and her shoulders sagged.

It was a risk, but he decided to take it. He reached across the table and took her hand gently. “I won’t report anything you say to another soul.”

She was shaking, seeming more like a prisoner on the scaffold facing a noose rather than a woman of privilege facing her fiancé. “I don’t like life in the Nether,” she eventually said.

“I see,” he said, keeping hold of her hand, feeling its slight dampness at the palm of the glove. “Have you been back to Mundanus since you came of age?”

She laughed, not a gentle, ladylike titter, but a guffaw that made the diners closest to them look over. She bit her lip and nodded.

“I must confess, I miss the sunshine,” he said, and was rewarded with the first genuine smile he’d ever seen on her face.

“And the blue sky. And the breeze, don’t you? And those crisp autumn days.”

He nodded, heartened by the breakthrough. “I even miss the rain. In the Amazon, the rain was thunderous on our tents.”

“You went to the Amazon?”

“Yes. We trekked for a couple of months. Oliver wanted to catch a moth or a butterfly. Something small and winged at least. I forget what exactly.”

The flurry of conversation stalled and she withdrew her hand awkwardly. In fact, almost everything she did was riddled with awkwardness. He was determined to keep some of the momentum. “If you could visit Mundanus, would it make the marriage more bearable?”