A Season to Be Sinful (23 page)

As the carriage made its slow arcing ascent to the house and passed the gardens, Lily pressed her palm to the glass. She stared out for a long moment, then closed her eyes and secured the memory. It would come to her again when she had need for it. Time would soften the colors but not change them. She would be able to feel the downy side of rose petals against her skin and know the individual scents or the redolence of the whole.

With these last memories captured in her minds eye, Lily sat back. Will you not also have a turn at the window, my lord?

Sherry shook his head. He did not think he had ever seen his home more beautifully rendered than through Lilys eyes. Like her, he had also secured a memory, but his was of her hand splayed against the glass, the long, shapely ringers perfectly white at the tip with the pressure she applied. He would always know reverence by the fixed expression of Lilys profile, the parting of her mouth, the lift of her lashes and tilt of her eyes, the way her slim nose flared slightly when she drew in a hushed breath.

This is what he had imagined when he decided to leave London. This is what he had come home to.

How is it you ever leave? she asked.

Duties.

I suppose you have a great many.

I have no idea. I have no sense how to measure them. They just are.

Lily considered this. She suspected he was not the sort of man to complain under the weight of duty. They are not a burden to you then?

A burden? They are the responsibility of privilege. One does not accept one without the other.

Truly?

Sherry did not miss the cynical inflection. I cannot speak for what others do, but it is my way.

She smiled a little. Of course.

Did I sound pompous just then?

Lily worried her lower lip between her teeth. A tad, yes, but I have always supposed it is one of the privileges of rank. When he offered no opinion save for a soft grunt, Lily bit her lip harder to moderate her humor. She thought it prudent to change the subject. Who will be in residence?

No one save the servants.

Well, she said, not troubling herself to conceal her surprise. I suppose that means there will be no end of rooms for the boys to hide in. They will be glad to hear it. It is Pinchs fondest wish to avoid notice of the housekeeper, first butler, and the head cook until he is quite in his dotage.

Sherry laughed. What about my notice?

Oh, you must not worry that any of us will ever be underfoot, my lord. Once we are assigned our duties, I suspect we will never cross paths. You have back stairs, do you not, for the servants to use?

Yes, but

Then you will not be troubled by our presence.

I see. It seems you have considered it all carefully.

I have tried. I had hoped you would explain to me last night the manner in which we might serve at Granville, but I collect that you will leave that decision to your housekeeper or steward. They will know best how we should be employed, and I should not have pressed you in that regard.

Sherry tipped back the brim of his hat and regarded Lily with a hooded glance that was at once cool and considered. So you do not think the boys will really shirk their duties.

No, my lord. They will get up to tricks, I suspect, but they will work very hard for you. Please do not think they wont.

And you, Miss Rose? If the scullery requires a maid for cleaning dishes and scrubbing pots, will my cook find you in a cupboard reading Madame de Steels latest novel?

No. I mean to do whatever is required.

Sherry nodded slowly, in perfect tempo with the gradual halting of the carriage. It is what I hoped for, then, he said. The lads will be set up in the schoolroom, and you will see that no matter what tricks they get up to, no one is harmed.

But

Sherry threw open the door of the carriage, pausing just once before he descended. He fixed Lily with his implacable glance. Whatever is required, Miss Rose. You said it yourself. And what I require is a governess for the scoundrels.

Pinchs gaze wandered to the bank of windows in the schoolroom for a third time before Lily surrendered. She closed the book she was reading from with enough force to garner Pinchs guilty attention, then took the sting from her reproving glance by announcing they would continue their lessons out of doors.

Science, 1 think, she told them. There is a good breeze today. I believe we can do our wind and water experiments.

Boat racing, you mean? Midge asked, excitement bringing him out of his chair. Oh, please say it is to be boat racing!

Lily rose to her feet, her mouth set primly. Water displacement and buoyancy. Wind direction and speed. Perhaps barometric pressure.

Midge actually went airborne. That is boat racing!

Laughing, Lily directed them to get their boats and promised she would inquire about a luncheon for them to take. She had to call after them as they went charging ahead to their own rooms. Meet me at the tradesmans entrance and use the back stairs. She poked her head into the hallway in time to see Dash disappear into his bedchamber. And whatever you do, do not go to the lake without me!

Shaking her head, her smile happily indulgent, Lily returned to the classroom and straightened the table where they had been working. She stacked and squared off Pinchs papers, Midges drawings, and Dashs primers, returned quills and ink pots to their stands, and pushed their chairs back into place. Before the last chair was righted, she heard the boys charging back into the hall, scrambling to see who would be the first to reach the stairs.

She followed at a much less hurried pace, stopping first in her bedchamber to retrieve her hat and shawl. With the boys gone, the entire east wing of the great house seemed inordinately still. Lily remembered assuring Sheridan that he would not be troubled by their presence, that neither she nor the boys would be underfoot. In the two months since their arrival at Granville Hall, she had never failed to be impressed by how easily that assurance was kept and how often the reverse of it was not.

In truth, Sheridan had never offered any promise of privacy. Naturally it was not something he needed to extend in his own home; he had a right to go anywhere. Lily realized early on that shed made the faulty assumption that he would wish himself anywhere but where she and the scoundrels were. This did not turn out to be so. Although his lordship was not a regular visitor to the schoolroom, neither was he a stranger. From the outset he showed considerable interest in what the boys were learning, suggesting subjects and books, even casually testing them.

While the boys enjoyed his visitseven the testingit was something of a reprieve for Lily that she had not seen Sheridan for more than a sennight. She did not inquire after him. She believed that such an inquiry demonstrated an unseemly interest that she was anxious to avoid, and moreover, it was always possible that he was actually in residence and merely tired of the schoolroom.

Pinch, though, showed no compunction about asking after the master of Granville Hall and had learned after the first day of missing him that Sheridan was gone from the estate. It seemed he was invited to a house party at the home of their neighbor Sir Arthur Meredith and had given no indication if he would be gone for a few days or a fortnight. Word had also reached Granville from London that Wellington and Blücher had defeated Boney at Waterloo, and Lily was aware that this news could also delay Sheridans return as there would be extensive celebrating.

So it was with some confidence that there would be no interruptions that Lily had suggested the science lesson at the lake. The boys were waiting for her at their arranged place, and when she appeared with a large covered basket over one arm they whooped with excitement.

Dash offered to tote the basket, but Lily refused. Each boy was carrying a ship hed built himself, and she had too much respect for the effort to risk damaging one of them. Even with three hungry lads anticipating a substantial luncheon, the basket was still the least valuable item being taken to the lake this afternoon.

Lily snapped open the blanket covering the basket and laid it out on the grass. The breeze was sufficiently strong for her to require help to keep it anchored. Midge set a plate at three of the corners, while Lily placed the basket on the fourth.

Shall we eat? she asked. Or is it to be the races first?

The response was unanimous and resounding. Eat!

Laughing, Lily knelt and began breaking up a crusty round of peasant bread still warm from the oven. She cut wedges of sharp cheddar, then sliced two pears in half so they all might have a taste of one. There was a large skin filled near to bursting with cool cider, and the boys dutifully held out their glasses while she poured.

They settled back and enjoyed their repast while the sun beat down on them and the wind lightly whipped their hair about. Occasionally a fish would jump in the lake, but this no longer elicited any untoward excitement as they had all learned none were man-eaters. A flock of geese roamed a nearby bank, poking at the grass and each other with their beaks. A few took to the air, circled overhead, then dove at the lake. They skimmed the reflective surface, splashing and stirring the water until they made a wake that resembled nothing so much as a trail of liquid diamonds.

Dash leaned back on his elbows and stretched his legs in front of him. Sunshine brightened his pale yellow hair and put pink in his cheeks. I say, Miss Rose, its a good life ere, aint it? I guess we buggered ol Ned Craven right enough, leavin Lunnon the way we did.

Lily gave Dash a sidelong glance, but her reproach was less effective than the light cuffing he received from Midge and Pinch.

Sorry, he said. Wots a proper word for bugger? He received a second cuffing for that.

It was not surprising this form of discipline from his friends became a tussle. Lily let them go, watching them only to make certain the wrestling did not become a fight where blows were exchanged in earnest. The day was simply too splendid to take exception to their antics. They rolled in the grass, first away from the lake, then perilously close to it. Laughing and shouting, they had the tireless energy of puppies as they crawled over one another in an effort to scramble up the bank toward the designated safe spot of the blanket.

When they finally arrived, they were panting hard. They collapsed around Lily, covering the blanket with sprawling limbs. She merely smiled. It was indeed a good life here.

It was the light rumble of the ground under the blanket that caused them to finally stir. Pinch lifted his dark head first, looking immediately to the road for the source of the vibration. Dash popped up next, then Midge. They each cupped an ear for better reception of the familiar sound.

Is it is lordships carriage? Midge asked.

Dont know yet, Pinch said.

Dash rose to his knees. I think it might be.

Lily pushed herself up to her elbows. Shed also felt the vibration caused by the approaching carriage, but unlike the boys, it was never a question in her mind that it was anyone other than Sheridan.

Dash jumped to his feet as the horses appeared rounding the curve at the far side of the lake. He was quickly joined by the others, and they remained standing, greeting the arrival with long, sweeping waves of their raised arms.

Pinch glanced over his shoulder at Lily. Do you think he saw us?

If hes in the carriage, Im certain that he did.

You didnt wave. His tone was more curious than accusing. Arent you glad hes returned?

Its good that hes back safely, yes. It was not quite an answer to Pinchs question, but it was all that Lily was prepared to say on the subject. The boys fell on one another again just as if there had been no interruption. This time Lily stopped them, raising her voice just above their laughter. Shall we begin the lesson? she asked. Gather your ships and lets go to the water.

That was where Sherry came upon them not long after. He stood higher on the bank and off to one side, loath to draw attention to himself while the boys and Lily were so engrossed in their activity.

They were all standing where the water could lap at their bare feet and ankles. Shoes and stockings had been flung in the grass just beyond the reach of the wavelets. Jackets lay scattered on the bank as well. The boys wore their shirts only loosely tucked, and there were large damp patches on each of them. The short pants were unbuttoned and rolled above their knees, and Midge looked as if he might have already taken a spill.

For practical reasons, Lilys attire was similarly disheveled. Her skirt and petticoat were hiked halfway up her slim calves and held in place by the shawl wrapped around her waist. She wore a broad straw hat and an apron to protect her calico dress, and she had her sleeves rolled back to her elbows.

It was Sherrys observation that not only did she look per-fectly at her ease, but with no effort on her part she lent the notion of disarray a certain elegance.

He stood awhile longer, watching them huddle around the ships. Lily bent several times and fiddled with Dashs replica of the Egyptian single mast, adjusting the boom at its foot. Dash looked on worriedly, while Pinch and Midge impatiently shifted their weight from one foot to the other wanting the race to be underway. Their ships, a Roman merchantman with twin topsails and a long, shallow, square-rigged vessel like the Vikings might have used, were harbored safely between their legs.

Is there a problem? Sherry asked as he approached. The scoundrels greeted him with open smiles: Lilys was more reserved. It also seemed to him that she was no longer so completely at ease. It made him wonder if he had stayed away too long from Granville or not long enough. May I see the ship? I should like to have a go at it.

Since Lily had the vessel in her hands, she began to move to the bank with it. The boys started to follow as well, talking over one another as they welcomed Sherrys return.

Did ye see us waving? Pinch asked. We knew it was ye come back to Granville before we saw yer carnage proper.

Like rumblin thunder, it was, Midge told him.

Dash nodded. But it was just under the blanket, rollin through the ground. Its good o yer lordship to come back for the races. Owd ye know they would be today?

Pinch jabbed Dash with a sharp elbow. E aint come back for the races. E come back because the bleedin partys ended. He glanced guiltily at Sheridan. Beggin yer lordships pardon.

Sherry schooled his smile and held up a hand. You should be begging the ladys pardon, Master Pinch.

Pinch dutifully turned to Lily and made a most sincere apology. Not quite under his breath, he added, I did ear im tell Mr. Kearns it would be a bloody dull affair, though.

Sherry cleared his throat and accepted Lilys gently arched eyebrow as the reproach that was due him. Pinch, he noted, escaped a reprimand for listening at doors and tattling. Lets have a look at that boat, shall we?

Lily started to approach, but Sherry stayed her when he began to unbutton his frock coat. My lord?

Stay where you are, Miss Rose. I shall come to you. It was a bit of a struggle to remove the close-fitting frock coat, but he managed the thing just as Dash was about to step forward to tug on a sleeve. He handed it to the boy to place with the others, then dropped to the ground to remove his boots and stockings. Midge collected those items and tossed them up the bank away from the water.

Yer stock, mlord, Pinch said. Itll fall as limp as a fops wrist if you wade in with it.

Pinch! Lily said.

Wot? It will. He waggled his wrist up and down to show the full effect of such limpness. Just see if it dont.

Its all right, Sherry told Lily quickly. To his way of thinking Pinch had shown remarkable restraint in not referencing any other part of a males anatomy that had occasion to go limp. Im removing it now. He tugged on the neckcloth, loosed an intricate knot, then unwound it. Dash was at the ready to take it and pitch it up the bank.

Sherry stepped up to the waters edge, rolled his trousers halfway to his knees, then waded in. Silt squished between his toes. When the wind lifted, it pressed his shirt to his chest and rippled his dark hair. He grinned quite openly at Lily, holding out his hand for the ship. You would do well to temper your astonishment, Miss Rose, lest a sand swallow mistake your mouth for a nesting place.

Lilys jaw snapped shut. She placed the ship in Sheridans outstretched palms, almost daring him to repair the thing.

It appears to be the boom, he said unnecessarily. He gave Lily full marks for not speaking from behind clenched teeth. It was no easy task to secure the first time. He pulled it out and examined the end. It requires a bit of trimming. Do any of you lads have a knife?

It was Lily who produced one from inside her apron pocket. She accepted the ship back while he trimmed the boom.

I think a notch is the answer here, Master Dash. It is too bad we did not arrive at that solution at the outset. From the corner of his eye he saw that Dash was fairly twitching in place, twisting one tail of his shirt in his hands and rocking on the balls of his feet. He was also studying the water, not regarding the improvement in the design of the ship. Sherry was late to the realization that Dash had not told Lily that there had been help with the project. From the manner in which Pinch and Midge had also fallen quiet, Sherry suspected they had kept the same secret.