Healing The Broken Marchioness (Laced Up Ladies Book 2) Read online

  "And I said to Agnes, tell your papa how that mark came to be. She cowered a bit. Although Stefan spoils her, he tells her to behave well." A lady with brown hair and grey eyes was talking. She had on a gold lace gown. She spoke very calmly, almost shyly.

  Arthur wondered if that was his cousin, Anne. Another lady sat by Katherine. Her dark hair was pulled up, rolled neatly into a bun and pinned at its sides. Her dark eyes stared solely at the lady telling a story of a gentleman named Stefan. Lady Bowmount on the other hand had a faraway look in her eyes. Arthur shook his head with a smile. She was not paying attention to the discussion. He felt the urge to stand there and watch her, but when the dark pair of eyes beside hers found him.

  "Lord Bowmount?" the lady with dark hair called out, a slow grin spreading across her face.

  He was still standing in front of the door, his hands stuck midair and his face, panic stricken.

  "Lord Bowmount? Where?" Lady Bowmount asked. Arthur ticked his tongue, wondering why he was still standing there. All he had to do was walk in, greet whoever was his cousin and then walk right out.

  "I will check," Lady Bowmount said. Arthur swore to himself. He would wager that she was almost near the door. All he had to do was walk in. There was no trouble with that. He pulled open the door and walked in, just at the same time that Lady Bowmount reached out to open the door as well. They narrowly escaped bumping into each other, as Arthur caught her by her forearm and held her still. Lady Bowmount gasped, and he watched her chest rise and fall as she blinked in surprise. The feel of her skin against his hand sent shivers down his spine. He wanted to stand there for a while, hold her. She seemed small, fragile. She was not like the fierce lady who challenged him at every turn.

  Lady Bowmount pushed his hand away and stepped back. Her blue eyes were glowing, and her cheeks red. He knew one thing for sure, Lady Bowmount wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He wanted her so much it hurt. She was so near, yet so far away. He couldn't bear it if she left Bowmount Hall. He knew how he felt, but he was unsure of how she felt. Or how she would feel if he were ever to openly confess to her his true feelings.

  "My apologies, Lord Bowmount. I didn't know you were planning to walk in anytime soon." She forced her gaze to meet his. And even when her cheeks reddened, she did not look away.

  He wanted so badly to smile at her there. There she was. The fierce lady he knew. "I should be the one apologizing." He bowed to her. "Forgive my carelessness. I hadn't known you were approaching."

  Lady Bowmount was about to give a fitting reply when the lady with dark hair spoke. She rose from her position and walked over to him. She curtsied and smiled widely. "Lord Bowmount, I suppose you've heard next to nothing of me. I am Lady Anne Huntington, Duchess of Richmond."

  His eyes widened, and he took her outstretched arms in his. "Your Grace."

  The Duchess proceeded to take a seat. Lady Bowmount followed suit. Feeling left out, he took a seat as well.

  "It's such an honor to finally meet you, Lord Bowmount."

  "The honor is all mine. I had no idea Victor had any siblings until very recently. And still, everything concerning you was left vague."

  The Duchess of Richmond inclined her head. "I am an illegitimate child, of course, it is quite expected that everything about me would be left vague. Perhaps if my father hadn't brought me home, I may never have been heard of at all."

  Not knowing what to respond to that, he simply nodded.

  "I am glad you're here, at Bowmount Hall. With all the work Victor put in here, it is only fitting that someone comes to take good care of it."

  "You're right, Anne," the Duchess of York said.

  He watched Lady Bowmount, waiting for her reaction. Her cheeks grew crimson under his gaze. Arthur found it amusing that she got so flustered by one glance from him. So, he smiled as he watched her. She shifted uncomfortably and tried to move her gaze elsewhere. He couldn't help a low chuckle.

  "...isn't that right, Lord Bowmount?" the Duchess of Richmond asked.

  Quickly, Arthur darted his gaze in her direction. But he was too late as he heard nothing she had uttered. "I beg your pardon, Your Grace?"

  She simply smiled. "I said, Bowmount Hall is a lovely place. It is home. Everyone here is receptive. I presume your first few days here have been comfortable?"

  Arthur darted his eyes to Lady Bowmount once again, this time he raised a brow at her, aiming Her Grace's question at her. Lady Bowmount however, looked away almost immediately. He looked away from her discreetly and replied. "Nothing quite eventful has happened. However, you are right. Everyone has indeed been receptive."

  The Duchess of Richmond entertained him by asking him about Flitwick, University College, where he studied, and much more.

  "I hear it's more like a city. Lots of ordinary men, who want to study, rather than gentlemen."

  "Perhaps, maybe. My father worked as a clerk at the privy council and I grew up hearing talks about barristers and solicitors, as well as judges. Which was why I decided I wanted to become one of those."

  The Duchess of Richmond smiled broadly. "I suppose a good father figure did you well."

  He responded to her questions for a while, asked her some as well, until he soon started feeling left out and decided to let the ladies be. He rose immediately.

  “Well, I shall let you ladies have your privacy.” He bowed to them.

  "Have you asked for tea?" he asked Lady Bowmount.

  She shook her head. "No."

  Glad to have something useful to do, Arthur told them, "I will tell Mr. Stewart to bring you all some tea. Excuse me, Your Graces, My Lady."

  With the way no one protested against him leaving, it seemed they also wanted him gone. He breathed in relief as he walked down the hall. A humorous smile graced his lips as he recalled Lady Bowmount's rapid blinking towards the Duchess of Richmond, when the latter had said that she appreciated his presence in Bowmount Hall.

  * * *

  He had barely made his way out of the drawing room when he saw Mr. Stewart watching him closely by the corner. Arthur inclined his head towards the man and walked into the study. Arthur knew the staff was skeptical when it came to him. They looked at him with suspicion, watched his every move and bowed stiffly when he walked by. He was not sure what to make of that.

  He was just entering the study room, when something caught his eye by the window. He walked over to the window and stood by it. Outside, on the courtyard, an elderly woman was standing before Lady Victoria, flipping through a large book. Lady Victoria was sat down with both her arms together and her lashes cast down. The woman, who he assumed was her governess, started to say something, as she began to walk in an exaggerated graceful manner, something a teacher would do. But Lady Victoria paid her no attention. Even as she looked up, her gaze was faraway. It was as though she was looking at her governess, but not really understanding her. This piqued his curiosity. He continued to watch, but was caught off guard when his eyes connected with Amelia's. She stood not too far from Lady Victoria, and her gaze was cold to him before she looked down. Arthur was uninterested in her opinion of him at that moment. He was concerned for Lady Victoria. The way she was distanced from everything sent a chill down his spine. He was not quite familiar with children, but his heart reached out to her.

  He walked forward, placing both his hands behind him as he watched Lady Victoria. Her governess didn't seem to notice, or perhaps she did not care. But she kept on doing as she pleased, even with Lady Victoria being distant.

  Arthur stared in disapproval. Had Lady Bowmount noticed this? Perhaps he needed to speak to her about it. Having watched long enough, he decided to do something about it. He walked away from the window and towards the door that led to the back of Bowmount Hall, staring towards the courtyard. Then he made his way towards them in a steady, but cautious gait.

  Only Amelia turned at his approach. He acknowledged her with a nod. His focus moved back to Lady Victoria.

  "With your shoulders ba
ck and straight, you're sure to walk properly, My Lady. A lady does not slouch, especially when seated..." The governess was teaching her some etiquette. "My Lord." She curtsied as he neared them.

  Before the governess said anything further, Arthur nodded to her and turned to Lady Victoria. "Lady Victoria?"

  Victoria sat up and turned. When her green eyes locked with his, she smiled the tiniest bit. He walked over to her and squatted beside her. "Are you well, My Lady? You seem far away."

  Lady Victoria shook her head slowly. "I am well, My Lord. Thank you for asking."

  "You don't look well to me. If you're most uncomfortable to discuss whatever concerns you with me, then perhaps you'd do well to tell your mother."

  Lady Victoria made a face. "I am well. Thank you, My Lord."

  Arthur knew she was not being honest. So, he decided to stay. Perhaps he could lift her spirits. He stood by and waited for the governess to continue, she stunned him, however, by announcing that she was done.

  Lady Victoria seemed eager to go. She rose immediately, curtsied to her governess and made to walk right after her. Arthur took a seat then, and called her.

  "You shan't mind sparing me a minute, would you, Lady Victoria?"

  She stopped walking. Her shoulders rose, in a similar way that her mother’s often did. He watched in utter amusement as she made her way over to him. She took the seat opposite him and Amelia drew near. Arthur watched the young lady for a while before deciding what to do.

  "How are you today, Lady Victoria?"

  She looked up at him with a curious gaze, as though stunned by his question and appreciative all the same. But she cowered soon and let her shoulders fall before shrugging. He could only imagine how much was going through her mind.

  "I've come to lift your spirits, My Lady," he said with a broad smile and winked.

  Lady Victoria smiled a bit. Not much changed, but she sat up.

  "Lady Victoria, what do you like to do in your free time?" he asked quickly, attempting to put her in a good mood.

  "Paint, but I haven't done that in a while." She started to smile.

  He liked when she smiled. He hoped that she warmed up to him soon.

  "Why?"

  Lady Victoria shrugged. He knew she didn't want to talk about it

  He didn't want to press the issue either.

  "I hear you don't like to read," he said, wrinkling his nose.

  Lady Victoria sat up straighter. "Mama and Papa don't like books, but I do. I've read the very best stories, and Mama reads them to me. It's quite exciting, I must say, the stories people write down."

  "And how much have you read?"

  "I don't keep score; Mother always brings the books to read. One Thousand and One Nights is my favorite."

  He recalled the book; he liked it as well. He would not go as far as calling it his favorite. "I don't know, it would seem you've read next to none."

  She shook her head. "Papa brought me the best when he returned from his many voyages. Do you sail a lot? My Papa liked to voyage to the Indies."

  "The Indies, hmm?"

  She nodded shyly. "Of course. Where have you voyaged to? "

  Arthur thought hard. He had never really sailed on a ship to go anywhere. He moved around to places within reach to him. He simply moved around London in a carriage, nothing more. "I've never really sailed, myself."

  "You don't like the sea?" She frowned. "That’s odd."

  "Why?"

  "Everyone likes the sea. The Duke of Richmond, Papa, even the Duke of York does."

  For one who had been quiet for most of the time, Lady Victoria talked a lot. She asked a lot of questions, too, and was eager for explanations and answers. Her eagerness to know more, her innocent curiosity was burgeoning. It made him more worried, that most times she was crestfallen and silent.

  "But I don't. I've never been on the sea. I don't think I'd like to anytime soon."

  She smirked. "You wouldn't know if you like the sea because you've never been on it, Lord Shepherd."

  His heart warmed. She was the only one who called him something that reminded him that he was not just a Lord. Perhaps she was not used to hearing everyone refer to him as Lord Bowmount. Whatever the case may be, it didn't matter, so he didn't correct her.

  "I read a story once, it talked about a man at sea," Arthur said. "Do you like the sea?"

  "I'd love to go someday. Papa talked about how blue the sea was, how the waters moved in waves. How cold it was there because of the water. He told me once that Mama's eyes reminded him of the sea."

  "Is that why you want to go there?"

  She blushed. But her fluster didn't last for long. She was talking again, and smiling. "Oh, I would not say that. I just want to go there because Papa liked it so much. I am sure I'd like it, too. He said it gets stormy most night at sea, but it all depends on the season. I don't want to go when it's a stormy season. I want to go when it's all bright. That's when one sees its beauty. Under the sun."

  Lady Victoria spoke with so much vigor. So much happiness. Arthur watched as she talked on, about what her father had told her about the sea. She didn't resent it for her father's death, rather she accepted everything as it was. But she was unhappy for some reason. Perhaps her father's death, left her a bit disrupted, but not enough for so much joy to disappear. Not enough for her to feel disconnected.

  He sat back as she talked, laughing openly. He realized then what the problem with her was. She talked like she hadn't seen anyone to talk about her papa to after his death. She wanted to keep talking about her father. To be reminded of him. It made her smile. It didn't make her feel sad at all. He admired that. She giggled and talked with enthusiasm. He listened, commented when necessary, and made her smile at his words. A small smile tugged at the sides of his lips. He liked that she was happy. Her joy was infectious.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Victoria sat before her, saying nothing. Katherine was one minute away from showing how angry she was. Victoria had locked herself up in her bedchamber for the whole night. The moment Amelia stepped out to get her something, she had shut the door and locked herself in. And come morning, she opened the door and walked out, famished. She was still in her robe and nightgown, unready for the day. Amelia had been by the door and had dressed her for the day. Katherine wondered what kind of behavior that was. It was an outrageous thing to do. And she could not help but wonder why she had done it.

  "Will you speak or will you waste my time, Victoria? Pray tell, why did you do such a thing?"

  Victoria shifted uncomfortably in the seat offered to her. "I wanted some time to myself, Mama." Her voice was a mere whisper.

  Katherine was not sure what was wrong with her child anymore. But she was worried. Victoria would have never done something as silly as that, but she had. Katherine had found it hard to believe. Victoria was always well behaved, a cheerful child. But now she was changed. Perhaps giving her space had not been the answer. Had it made her worse? Had it made her so detached that she felt the need to often be alone? Katherine no longer understood what was going on with Victoria, but she wished she would.

  She rose from where she sat and walked over to Victoria. She crouched by her and spoke. "Darling Victoria, what bothers you so? I am your mother and you may speak to me if anyone or anything bothers you."

  Victoria's gaze moved up lazily until they landed on hers. Her green eyes, a reminder of her late husband, shone like emerald, glazed with glistening tears. Slowly, Victoria raised her head and shook it. "Nothing, Mother. May I be excused?"

  Once again, Katherine felt her heart shatter. But she refused to let it go this time. She pulled Victoria close to her and embraced her. She held onto her tightly and held her. "Victoria, whatever it is. I am your mother, and I will always understand you."

  Victoria was still. When Katherine let go, she curtsied and walked out of the drawing room, leaving Katherine where she squatted, tears streaming down her cheeks. She would no longer give Victoria space. She would t
alk to her, be there for her, until the moment she was willing to open up. Perhaps the space she had given her made her feel more like a stranger.

  She was still squatted when she heard someone walking down the hallway. She rose immediately and walked over to the settee. She dabbed the sides of her eyes and looked away. The Dowager Marchioness walked through the door and shut it.

  "We have to talk, Katherine."

  Katherine nodded. "Yes." She hoped the Dowager had found a solution to their problem — her problem. She had told the Dowager Marchioness of her parents’ visit. The Dowager Marchioness promised to speak to her once she returned from seeing Lady Alastair. Now, she had returned. It pleased Katherine that she cared enough to seek her out immediately.