Authors: Linda Daly
“Benjamin, you wouldn’t mind if I stole my husband away for just a
while, would you?” she cooed sweetly. “The naughty man has neglected
me all afternoon.”
“Right,” Benjamin, said cordially, glancing apprehensively at James,
recognizing that particular look in Lavinia’s eyes, but unable to say or do
anything. Instead he headed toward Rupert. “Ah old friend, so tell me how
are Edward and Anne?”
“In truth, not as well as I would like to report. Anne and the children
are well, but Edward on the other hand has had a recurring bout of
influenza . . .”
As curious as Lavinia was in hearing the news of the Spencers’, she
had more pressing interests. Tucking her hand around James’ arm, she
suggested a nice stroll in the gardens. Seeing her husband start to object,
she smiled at him while coyly raising her eyebrow.
“Fine, James. We can stay here if you like, but I thought you would
prefer some privacy considering I know that you, Alfred and that little tart
you lust for, have been helping Miranda plot against Vivian’s grandson.
Perhaps I’ll just go speak with my dear friend, instead.”
Starting to walk away and feeling him pull her back, Lavinia knew she
had hit a nerve and smiled triumphantly. Turning and seeing the surprise in
his eyes, she brazenly said, “Why James, you honestly didn’t think you
could keep a secret from me. Did you?”
Needing no more prompting, James hurried his wife off to deep within
the garden and turned her to face him. With no one able to hear him-feeling no need to keep up a pretense of polite conversation--he demanded,
“And just what is it precisely, you think you know Lavinia?”
“Evidently I know more than you want me too, James darling. Or why
else would you rush me out here and act so indignantly?”
Glaring at his wife, ready to walk away calling her bluff, Lavinia said,
“Is that really wise James? Considering, I know that this so-called
courtship between Tad and Miranda has been nothing but a farce.”
“You’re delusional! First we’re conspiring and now you’re accusing
someone as innocent as Miranda of perpetrating such a heinous act.”
“Ah yes, dear innocent Miranda. Who just happened to faint when Tad
approached--if that was real, that is--or perhaps another elaborate scheme
to prevent other’s from seeing the hate she feels from a man who has been
trying to win her heart.”
“Hate? That’s preposterous! Why for weeks we’ve seen her and Tad
cozy up to one another, stealing glances at each other . . .”
Shaking her head, enjoying rattling James, watching him struggling to
throw her off the scent, she interrupted him and said, “Oh I know when a
woman hates a man alright James. She looked at Tad, much as I do when I
look at you. She loathes him. Moreover, Alfred’s feeble attempt of coving
up her so-called illness, is nothing more than an elaborate hoax. What
puzzles me though, is why does dear, sweet Miranda, need a few days
locked up on the third floor? What is she hiding?”
Seeing the stunned look on his face, she began to walk past him,
snidely saying, “Never mind, I’ll ask Vivian.”
Grasping her arm, James said, “What do you want, Lavinia?”
Inhaling deeply, yanking free of his grasp, then raising her eyebrow,
she glared at him. “Want? In exchange for my silence, or in general,
James?”
“Both!” He snapped, his voice traveling over the hushed surroundings
of the garden.
Enjoying turning the tides back on him, Lavinia smiled victoriously.
“Oh, James darling, do keep your voice down. You wouldn’t want the
Robbins’ to think you’ve lost your senses, now would you? Even though
Rupert detests me, he would be forced to rescue his sister-in-law if for
nothing more than good form.”
A disgusted grin crossed James’ lips, and he bowed to her. “Bravo!” He
snarled while sarcastically applauding her. “You managed to win a minor
battle, my dear. However, not the war! So, name your price. That is what
you want, isn’t it Lavinia? Money? The question is how much?”
“James, you have no idea what I want and what I intend to have.
However, in exchange for my silence, a nice tidy sum of let’s say . . . tenthousands pounds, placed in a private account will do nicely for the time
being.”
“Ten thousand pounds . . .” he said, shaking his head. “You are mad!”
“That’s my price. Either you pay it, or I shall not only speak to Vivian,
but I’ll be forced to go to Benjamin and tell him how you’ve been secretly
lusting over that tart wife of his. And then all your scheming, having
Benjamin off in Washington while you and that alley cat grew closer, was
for not. Which by the way was my idea as I recall, so that in itself is money
due me, don’t you agree, James darling?” Pausing for the effect, enjoying
watching James’ face redden she added in a low purr, “Wouldn’t that be
such a shame, if all your manipulating and scheming, worming your way
into that little tart’s heart was foiled?”
“Fine, Lavinia. I’ll pay your price. Not for the reasons you think, but
rather in payment for what you’ve taught me.”
“And just what would that be, James?” She spouted indignantly.
“No matter how elegant the attire a woman wears or how beautiful she
is, a whore is still a whore. And you my dear, are nothing but a high priced
whore! Willing to sell your soul if the price is right.”
Outraged by such a comment, she immediately retaliated by striking
him across the face. Seeing him lunge at her as if he were going to strike
her, Lavinia quickly stepped back and saw in the corner of her eye Rupert
standing off the path, clearly within hearing distance. Taking full advantage
of such a perfect opportunity, she cried out, “Go ahead James hit me. It
can’t be any worse than you threatening to have me put away in an insane
asylum, after I caught you lusting over Felicity. Are you that jealous over
Benjamin that you have to seduce his new wife too, as you did me? Well I
won’t stand for it, I tell you. If you force me too, I’ll go to Rupert and
Annabelle and tell them everything.”
“Go right ahead, you whore! Sell your soul to them too. However, if
you think that spineless traitor will believe a word you have to say, after
the disgrace you and that drunken father of yours brought down on the
good name of Bailey-Smythe, you’re crazier than I thought. Rupert
Robbins would rather see you rot in hell than listen to a word you have to
say. Need I remind you of the cool reception you got at the dock?”
Satisfied that James had said enough to warrant Rupert’s sympathy she
leaned forward. Lowering her voice, certain that only James could hear her,
she said, “That comment of yours will now cost you twenty-thousand
pounds, darling. I’ll expect it transferred first thing in the morning.”
Stepping out from behind James, Lavinia looked surprised as she
hailed Rupert. “Why Rupert, for goodness sakes! Whatever are you doing
out here?”
“Oh I needed a little fresh air. It’s rather close indoors.”
Sympathetically, Lavinia said while making her way to Rupert’s side,
“It took me quite sometime to get used to the difference in climates.”
“Right. Judging by the color of your cheeks, perhaps not fully
though?” Rupert said calmly, while leaning closer to her, to assure he was
not overheard. “Are you alright, Lavinia?”
“Please don’t make this any more unpleasant then it already is by
pitying me. If there is one thing I’ve learned from being banished to the
colonies for my past foolishness is that I can adapt well to even the most
adverse situations.”
Then dramatically Lavinia turned her attention back at her husband,
and called to him, “Coming, James?”
Unable to hide his shock in seeing Rupert, and realizing that Lavinia
had probably known he was near and had goaded him into saying more
than he ever intended Rupert to hear, he waved her off. “No, I think I’ll
enjoy the breeze, for a while. Rupert ol’ man why not join me?” he asked
cordially.
Hesitating before responding, to glance at Lavinia and seeing her nod,
Rupert whispered to her, “We must talk.”
Smiling up at him, and detecting the concerned look in his eyes,
Lavinia knew she had been successful in gaining his allegiance. If not for
her sake, Lavinia knew that Rupert would do anything for the cousin of his
that he loved so much.
“Yes. More than you know. Perhaps tomorrow when James is away?”
Nodding, he headed toward James while Lavinia turned and motioned
to her husband and stretched out her hands, exhibiting all ten fingers.
Closing them tightly, she raised them again, signifying twenty. Knowing he
understood what she meant, Lavinia turned smiling, victoriously thinking,
Now for Vivian . . .
As Lavinia glided toward her next victim, upstairs on the upper-level
of the Honeycutt’s mansion, Gilbert leaned by the side of the bed holding
his wife’s hand, having been visibly shaken by seeing Montgomery carry
her into their temporary shelter.
“Are you certain ya don’t require a doctor, Mandy?”
Smiling reassuringly at him, conscious that Felicity was still close by,
Miranda softly whispered, “Positive. All I need is a little rest and I’ll be fit
as a fiddle in no time at all.”
Hearing her comment, Felicity approached the bed. “You gave us all
quite a scare, Miranda.”
“I don’t know what came over me. One minute I was speaking with
Alfred and the next the room was spinning around me . . .”
Nodding, Felicity smiled at her and said sympathetically, “It’s
understandable, especially with all that is on your mind. Try to get some
rest and I’ll check on you before I leave.”
“Thank you,” Miranda said, smiling at her friend.
Turning to leave, Felicity paused hearing Gilbert call to her. “Mrs.
Myles, please wait.” Reaching her side, he whispered, “I’m grateful for yer
help. Are you sure she’s goin’ to be alright?”
Touched by his concern, Felicity patted Gilbert on the shoulder. “All
she needs is to be here, with you. And please, call me Felicity. We’re
practically family, now that you’re my dear friend’s husband.”
Nodding, he watched as Felicity closed the door behind her. Rubbing
his hands through his hair and shaking his head in disbelief, he returned to
Miranda’s side and lovingly looked down at her. “Should I get ya
something?” he asked timidly. “Some water . . . or . . .”
“Darling, please.” Miranda chuckled raising her hand for him to join
her. “I’m fine, really.”
A smirk crossed his lips and he raised his eyebrow while gingerly
leaning next to her. “Now I know yer sick. Ya called me darlin’, rather than
a pig-headed fool.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Miranda pulled him closer to her
and cooed, “If you can call me your Mandy, surely I can use a term of
endearment for my wonderful husband.” The word husband still sounding
so new to her that she smiled again. “That is if you approve?”
“It’s perfect. Just as ya are, lying there in yer pretty, little frock. Is it
new?”
Glancing down at her gown, she smiled. “This isn’t a frock silly. It’s a
dressing gown . . .” Anticipating an adverse reaction from him, recalling
how he had reacted discovering Tad had seen her in such a gown, she
hastily added. “A
new
dressing gown that I purchased just for you.”
Glancing at her in her lacy garment with admiring eyes, Gilbert huskily
said, “As lovely as ya look in it Mandy, perhaps, we should take it off to
save it for later.”
“Later? But why? I thought you would like it . . .” Then seeing the look
in his eyes, she stopped questioning his comment and smiled knowingly
back at him. “Hmm, yes, I see what you mean” she whispered seductively
raising herself from her pillow to draw him closer, eagerly parting her lips
as their mouths hungrily sought each other.
Pulling slightly away from her, he growled, “There’ll be none of that
ya little temptress! Or yer won’t be gettin’ none of that rest Felicity said ya
needed.”
Shaking her head, she said, “Felicity said no such thing. What she said
was, all I need was to be with you.” Gliding a lace strap off her shoulder,
Miranda smiled seductively up at him. “And she was right.” Removing her
other strap and allowing the dressing gown to slip down around her waist,
she looked up at him wantonly. “Darling, would you deny your wife what
she wants, only hours after promising before God never to do such a
thing?”
Shamelessly Miranda reached for Gilbert’s trousers, and with shaking
fingers, she began to unfasten each button, aware of his enlarged manhood
protruding from beneath the wool material of his pants. Needing no further
coaxing, Gilbert hastily finished undressing as Miranda removed her gown.
Smiling at her while gliding the length of his naked body next to her
creamy white skin, he held her tightly to him and kissed her forehead.
“Mandy, let’s just lay still, holding one another for a while. Me heart is
still pounding, seeing ya bein’ carried in here like that. What happened?”
Nodding, Miranda snuggled closer to him, enjoying his nearness as his
hands gently began caressing her skin. Slowly she began to explain how
she had reacted upon seeing Tad approach her after telling Alfred how
much she loathed him.
“Ya really told him that?” he whispered lovingly.
Detecting no anger in his voice, Miranda felt relieved to be able to
discuss Tad with him without risking an outburst of jealousy. “I did.
Several times in fact, as I recall. It was so hard for me to watch my father
and friends interchange with one another and not share with them my
greatest joy. Then after Alfred had explained what he had planned for us, I
must have been overcome with emotion. Joy, sorrow, hatred all at once,
and it made me dizzy I suppose. Thinking back at the last thing, I
remember . . . Maybe seeing Tad and fearing he would try to steal this
happiness from me too, I became overwrought. The next thing I knew, you
were calling my name and realizing I was safe, here with you, I wasn’t
frightened any more,” she whispered.
Wrapping his arms tighter around his wife, Gilbert huskily whispered,
“Oh Mandy, I love ya.”
Miranda nestled close to him with tears in her eyes, hearing the depth
of his love.
Saying not a word, the two of them blocked out the rest of the world
and clung to one another, allowing themselves to bathe in the splendor of
their love.