His Shadowed Heart ((Books We Love Regency Romance)) (7 page)

“And what will you bring, my dear?” he asked looking down at her indulgently.

“I won’t need to bring anything, sir. The company is all I need.”

He would have given her a reply but at that moment a footman appeared with the information that Mr. Dent had arrived.

The earl swore softly beneath his breath. “Dent is the last person I wish to see,” he said, his mood taking a complete turnabout, and turning to the footman, “Put him in the library, I will be with him directly.”

“Do you have a desire to see him, Caroline?” he asked
, turning to his wife.

“None whatsoever, sir.”

“Good, then I shall receive him alone. His visits are rarely pleasurable—therefore you need not concern yourself with him. He will not be invited to dine with us. I have no desire to prolong his stay.”

He strode from the room and returned to the main part of the house.

*****

At the earl’s abrupt entrance into the library, Dent came forward with hand outstretched, determined to disregard the look of dislike on his relative’s countenance. “I hope I see you well, dear cousin,” he said, smiling ingratiatingly.

“Perfectly,” His Lordship replied, ignoring the proffered hand and instead sitting on the corner of his desk, one leg swinging negligently. “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?” he asked with barely concealed dislike in his manner.

“I was in the vicinity,” Dent lied unconvincingly, “and I took the opportunity to call and see for myself if what is rumored is true.”

His countenance unreadable, the earl raised a sardonic brow. “Pray enlighten me to these rumors.”

Dent’s lip curled. “That you have taken Miss Northam to wife.”

His Lordship did not look at his cousin and instead seemed to examine the heavy signet ring he wore on his left hand. “I realize that my recent nuptials must have come as quite a shock to you, Dent,” he said, scorn evident in his voice. “However, I do believe with a little effort on your part, it is one that can be overcome.” He raised his eyes to see the effect of his words, noticing that his cousin’s countenance darkened with anger, but he gave no reply.

“I understand your concern that I may produce an heir,” he continued, rising and taking a seat behind his desk. “You think I rob you of your expectancy, and see what would be your inheritance disappearing before your eyes.”

“I would not put it quite as baldly as that, Waverly,” Dent replied, somewhat uncertainly. “You have this unnerving habit of stating matters too plainly.”

“In other words, I am honest and do not prevaricate. I am well aware of the implication my marriage has on your future. However, I am sure you would not be so imprudent as to suggest that I should have remained unwed for your benefit. What I do find difficult to believe is your impudence at delivering yourself at my door to verify the fact of my marriage. I would have thought even you would balk at such effrontery.”

Before the earl’s contemptuous gaze, Dent dissembled nervously. “You mistake my intentions, cousin. I come but to wish you well. ’Pon faith, might I not visit a dear relative on the event of his marriage without causing comment? You serve me ill, sir. I am quite overcome.”

“Save your play-acting for those who would appreciate it. I, regretfully, do not,” the earl replied, unable to keep the disdain from his voice. “You appear to shadow me. I am forever tripping over you. Are you so expectant of my demise that you feel the need to keep check on me? I assure you, should I not produce an heir, I shall ensure that the only thing you inherit, in the unlikely event of my death preceding yours, is the title. Whatever is not entailed, will be secured upon my wife and daughter.”

Dent shot him a look of complete dislike. “I see I am not welcome in your house, sir. Therefore, I will leave. I’m not in the habit of staying where I’m not wanted.” Opening the door, he went out into the hallway closing it none too gently behind him.

As Dent crossed the hall, Caroline was just descending the sweeping staircase and halted uncertainly on the bottom step.

“Good afternoon, Miss Northam,” Dent enthused, going toward her, and then changing his attitude sneered, “Though I do believe I must now call you cousin. Well done, my dear. Your little plan worked admirably. You must be well pleased with the outcome.”

Taken aback by his sudden attack, Caroline shrank back against the banister, her countenance ashen. “I know not your meaning, sir,” she stammered, but before she could go further, they were interrupted.

Neither had been aware of the tall figure that strode across the hallway and now firmly grasped Dent’s arm above the elbow, propelling him swiftly toward the door. As the footman threw open the large front door, the earl pushed his cousin roughly outside, the door being firmly closed in his wake.

Richard swiftly retraced his steps to where his wife was standing. Clearly shaken by the episode, Caroline turned tear-filled eyes toward his face and uttered but one word, “Why?”

The earl placed a consoling arm about her shoulders. “Come, my dear, you must not allow him to disconcert you in any way. His tongue runs away with him. I am the true cause of his animosity, not you.”

She had the desire to turn her face into his shoulder and seek comfort but she knew it would not do, they were not on such a footing that she might seek solace from him and her action would seem inappropriate.

He took her completely by surprise then when he gently squeezed her shoulder and dropped a kiss on her brow as he would a fretful child, before suggesting that they take tea in her garden room.

*****

Emboldened by her success with the garden room, Caroline decided to see what other changes she may effect to temper Elizabeth’s influence and bring a little of herself into the house. She mentioned her intentions to the earl who, as before, gave her carte blanche to do as she pleased, possessing no interest in such matters.

Having set her mind to this purpose, she decided to tour the house once more before making the decision as to what exactly needed to be done.

Assuring the housekeeper, Mrs. Lloyd, that she would manage perfectly well on her own, she wandered the first floor rooms. She made the decision to alter the hangings or a carpet here and there and the removal of certain pieces of furniture from one room to the next before turning her attentions to the rooms on the second floor.

The faces of the Waverly ancestry looked down on her as she traversed the long picture gallery. She studied each in turn as she made her way down their ranks before coming to a portrait of her husband in his regimentals. A slow smile spread over her face as she examined this earnest young man, so obviously proud of his uniform and rank and wished she had known him then when no troubled frown creased his brow or dark thoughts clouded his eyes. She wished she knew more of his earlier days, but whenever she had tried to raise the subject, he had found ways to distract her and she knew no more now than when she had married him.

As she stood back the better to view the painting, she became aware of the portrait that stood at its side. It was of a beautiful dark haired woman and she realized with a sudden lurch in her breast that it was Elizabeth and she wondered why she had not noticed it before.
Perhaps it’s because I so rarely visit this part of the house
, she thought,
and then it has always been with company and therefore had no time to study the portraits.
Deciding to go on she hurried out of the gallery not wishing to contemplate the beauty of her rival. “Yes rival, who could call her ought else?” she repeated cruelly to herself.

In her haste, she made no note of her direction as one corridor led onto another until she could go no further and only one door stood before her. Grasping the handle, she cautiously pushed it wide. For a moment, she was taken aback by the light in the room, the sun streamed in through the large windows that faced the door and which seemed to occupy the whole of that side of the room. This was certainly a room she couldn’t remember having seen before. The walls were of pale blue with hangings of the same color that only served to make it appear even larger; the carpet was of a darker blue with the design picked out in rose and pale green. The chaise and chairs were of the same rose color. She thought it a delightful room and wandered around it, inspecting the ornaments and the small escritoire set in the corner, finally she was drawn to the window where she seated herself in the high-backed chair and sat gazing through the large panes at the rolling countryside.

*****

Wishing his wife’s company in riding out, the earl enquired of her whereabouts, to be informed by Mrs. Lloyd that she believed
Her Ladyship to be in the picture gallery, to whence he repaired immediately. However, he found the gallery to be empty.

On a thought, he traversed its length, taking the same course as had Caroline, and he entered the east wing. This was a portion of the house he had not visited for over three years, and he felt his pulse quicken along with his step.

Flinging wide the door to the blue room, he stepped over the threshold, catching his breath in the process, as he perceived her sitting by the window.

“
Elizabeth
,” he breathed in a hoarse whisper seeing only the dark curls above the chair’s high back, and his countenance visibly blanched.

Startled, Caroline came to her feet
, turning toward him, but he stared at her uncomprehendingly until a sudden light of recognition came to his eyes and he spoke in scarcely concealed fury.

“Madam, there are certain rooms in this
house which you must not enter. Please leave immediately.” He held the door wide for her but she did not move, only held out her hand in a supplicating gesture.

“Forgive me, Richard,” she cried. “I wasn’t aware that this was Elizabeth’s room. Otherwise, I would not have entered. Please believe me.”

Ignoring her pleading gesture, he turned sharply on his heel and strode from the room, his thoughts in turmoil. For a brief moment upon entering the room, the years had disappeared and he had seen Elizabeth in her favorite chair, the shock proving too much, driving reason from him. He told himself that he was being a fool, that he should not allow such emotions to overcome him, but they came unbidden, proving as remorseless as ever.

Leaving the house, he made for the stables calling for his horse. He knew not where he was going, only of the need to be away from Lordings and its memories.

Seeing him ride out of the stable yard from her vantage point in the long gallery, Caroline allowed the tears to steal down her face unchecked.
We cannot continue in this manner
, she thought.
I cannot compete with the memories that inhabit this house. They are too intense. He will come to hate me, and that I could not bear. I must face the fact that he will always belong to Elizabeth. I can never replace her in his life. He is so completely hers.
With lagging step, she left the gallery to seek the refuge of her own apartment.

*****

The time for supper approached and the light was starting to fade. She had not heard him come to his room to change and she became anxious for his return. The day had dragged interminably and she could not face the thought of sitting in the large dining room alone with no knowledge of his whereabouts. Surely, he should have returned by now, yet how was she to face him with thoughts of the morning so fresh in her mind?

Suddenly the sound of a brisk step in the corridor brought her to her feet and she heard him enter his apartment and close the door firmly behind him. All was quiet, she heard no movement in the room and was thoroughly startled when a light tap came on the connecting door and hurried to open it. The earl stood before her liberally covered in dust from his ride and he crossed the threshold into her room. It was the first time he had entered since his visit with Julia and once again, he seemed to fill it with his presence.

“Don’t look so startled, my dear,” he said reaching out for her hand and capturing it in both of his. “I have behaved damnably and we must talk. I will change my clothes and if you will allow, I will then join you in your garden room. There are things that must be said. Situations that must be explained.”

“There is no need, sir, I understand perfectly,” she said, withdrawing her hand from his clasp.

“That’s the point—you don’t,” he said with passion. “No one does! If you would but hear me out, all will become plain and then some understanding can exist between us. Go to your garden room, we will not be interrupted there.”

*****

Ordering candles to be brought into the room, Caroline sat in some trepidation of her husband’s arrival but she did not have to wait long before his quick, even step was heard approaching and she turned toward the door not knowing what to expect.

He came purposefully into the room and she rose at his entrance to stand apprehensively before him, her hands clasping and unclasping, unable to contain her unease. She had no notion what to expect, fearful lest he wish to put her from him.

Seating himself on the couch, he patted the cushion beside him. “Come sit here with me Caroline,” he said. “I want you by me. Such is the issue, we cannot talk at a distance.”