Authors: Stella White
Nicholas
was taken
aback. No woman had ever spoken to him like that before. ''I'm sorry if I have offended you.''
''You have. You addressed me without introduction, and what makes you think there is anything wrong with me? And what made you think you can be so forward with me?''
''Forward? I am forward when I want to be and with whom I want.'' Nicholas was irritated by her. Beautiful she may be, but just a woman.
''No, tell me. Why do you think there is anything the matter with me?''
''If you must know, your eyes look sad.''
''Oh, my eyes, indeed,'' she spoke sarcastically. ''Do you always look so intrusively into a lady's eyes on first meeting them?''
''Miss Vaughan, I
really
don't know what to say.''
''Mrs.''
''What?''
''I am Lady Vaughan, not Miss. Do I look like an unmarried woman?''
Nicholas was beginning to wish he'd stayed away from the ball. He looked jealously across at
David,
who'd drifted over the room to talk to a beautiful young woman in a pink dress. ''I am not sure if it is possible to see by merely looking at a
woman
,
whether
she is married or not,'' he offered. Adele turned her back to him and struck up a conversation with the old man next to her.
“She's the most irritating woman I have ever encountered,'' he told David. ''Do you know who she is?''
''Adele Vaughan. Her husband was killed during a hunt some time ago,'' the young woman in pink said.
''This is Miss Julia Leatham,'' David said, by way of introduction. Nicholas
bowed,
and she curtsied.
''A very irritating woman. More
irritating
than I have ever encountered,'' he said, thrusting his hand into his cutaway coat.
''Pleas sir, you put me in a
very difficult
situation,'' Julia said, putting a hand to her cheek in shock.
''I apologize. Perhaps you would tell me why you feel disadvantaged?'' Nicholas asked.
''She is my eldest sister's, best friend. My sister is called Eleanor Pimms.''
''Ah. I'm sorry for embarrassing you. What is she
really
like?'' He had to shout over the orchestra
now;
they had started the first dance of the evening.
''I can't believe she is always so sensitive.''
''Whenever I have spoken to her, she has been most agreeable. Perhaps the manner in which you spoke to her was
deficient
.''
Deficient
,
me
, he thought. ''Perhaps. But she is a most
interesting
woman.'' He meant her looks.
''If sir, you have any intentions toward her, I would advise you to turn them to another woman,'' Julia said.
''Why?''
''She doesn't want to have another man in her life.'' Julia took a fan out of her bag and wafted it around in front of her face. ''My sister told me. They discussed it at her husband's funeral. She's adamant she wants to enjoy her freedom, without male interference.''
''Indeed, interesting,'' he said, his eyes floating in Adele's direction again. With her hair pinned up and a tiara on her head, she looked regal. He loved the shape of her neck, suddenly wanting to run his fingers over it's delicate contours.
''David, go to her and tell her I'm sorry.''
''What?'' David pulled his head back in surprise.
''Go to Lady Vaughan and tell her I am sorry. Ask her if I may approach her again.''
''Heavens, Nicholas, can't you do that yourself?'' David said.
''No, I can't. I don't think she will entertain speaking to me. Go and tell her I am extremely sorry.''
David reluctantly wandered across the room. ''Lady Vaughan, please excuse me. I am a friend of the man your were just speaking to, Mr. Nicholas Geragthy'' He became nervous when he noticed the expression of indifference on her face. ''He has asked me to tell you he is sorry for his behavior. Very sorry.''
Adele was beginning to find the whole evening quite tiresome. It reminded her of Peter, and now this with Mr. Geragthy ''Can't Mr. Geragthy come and apologize?''
''He thought you would not speak to him.''
''Tell me about him. Who is he?''
''Mr. Geragthy is my best friend.'' David was careful not to say too much about Nicholas's view on women. ''He's the heir to the Earl of Borrowby.'' Adele listened more intently now. The Earl of Borrowby was one of the richest men in the country.
''Then send him to see me, we got off on the wrong foot. I'd like to make amends.''
Nicholas could see by the look on David's face that he'd been successful. Without saying anything to him, he passed him and in no time was standing next to Adele.
''Lady Vaughan, I apologize for my behavior earlier.''
''Yes, your friend told me you would.'' Her expression relaxed, almost smiling. ''I am sorry too. I have been under a lot of strain recently.''
''Perhaps you would do me the honor of dancing with me?'' he asked. When she nodded, his heart lifted.
They spent the next hour, dancing and conversing. Suddenly she was bright and enthused by him. She was plotting. She fell to the floor. ''Lady Vaughan,'' he exclaimed as people stood in a ring around her. He tapped her face lightly, and she opened her eyes and groaned.
''Please help me to my feet. I felt quite faint suddenly.'' Nicholas helped her up and took her to the balcony, where he ordered sweet tea.
''I am so worried, it is ruining my health,'' she said, in a low helpless voice.
''What is worrying you?''
''I have terrible money troubles. Oh.......'' she began to cry.
Totally taken in by her beauty and vulnerability, he leaned towards her and
spoke softly
. ''Lady Vaughan, perhaps you would allow me to help you.''
''Oh, that would be so kind of you. But I'm afraid my troubles are very grave indeed.'' Hooked him, she thought.
*****
Nicholas woke up early the next morning. As his valet dressed him, he looked out of the window over the land his family owned and thought about Adele.
Was he being
cruel or heartless? She was a widow, could he
really
be so mean to her? Would she
really
go for it?
David had stayed the night, and at breakfast, Nicholas sent the servants away. ''I want to talk to you, David,'' he said.
David knew him
well,
and the tone of his voice told him Nicholas was scheming. ''What about?'' he asked, as he bit into a sausage.
''Lady Vaughan.''
Not again, David thought. ''What about her?''
''She's the ideal candidate.''
''Heavens, Nicholas, stop playing games and spit it out. What are you cooking up?''
''She's a widow, right?'' David nodded. ''She doesn't want to get married again?'' David remembered that's what Julia had said, he nodded. ''Then she may well agree to be my fiancee without actually marrying me.''
David
was lost
. ''Why do you think she'll do that?''
''Because, dear boy,'' Nicholas looked like someone who had just won a lot of money at cards, ''she has money troubles.''
''You bastard, you absolute bastard,'' David exclaimed. ''She's a widow, how could you be so cruel? Using her disadvantage for your
own
gain.''
''That's the way the world works,'' Nicholas said, tipping his chair
backwards
on two legs.
''You would have her agree to be your fiancee in exchange for money? Just so your father doesn't disinherit you?'' David was genuinely shocked. Nicholas had just achieved a new
low
in his estimation. ''And you will continue to have your way with different women despite having a fiancee?''
''You know me too well,'' Nicholas said, smiling at him.
''Disgraceful.''
*****
Adele looked out of her carriage window to the
rooks
, nesting on top of the home of the Earl of Borrowby. So this was where Nicholas lived. A majestic stately home, a place of serenity and graceful charm. As her coach drew
up,
Nicholas bounded down the steps and onto the driveway.
''Lady Vaughan, I am so happy your were able to accept my invitation to tea.''
''It's a pleasure. I didn't know you lived in such a beautiful home.''
''It is nice isn't it?''
She took his
arm,
and they walked up into the house. Nicholas' wing of the house
was just as magnificently decorated
as the rest. It was
really
a large apartment, decorated with cream walls and gold leaf cornices. Adele was impressed by the pictures of his ancestors. Each framed in gold, staring back at her, expressionless.
When the tea arrived, Nicholas poured. They looked at each other as they took their first sip, each wanting to speak but not quite daring.
''May I ask you to elaborate on the kind offer of assistance you made the other evening,'' she said.
''I am glad you mentioned it. I have a proposal to make.''
Anything but marriage, she thought. ''Yes, please go ahead.''
''I
think we can
do a deal,'' he kept his eyes on hers, waiting for a reaction. When there was none, he continued. ''You need
money,
and I need a fiancee.''
''Please, let me explain,'' she interjected. ''I don't want to.....''
''Marry again,'' he finished the sentence for her. ''I know you don't. I am not proposing marriage.''
She looked confused. ''Then what? You mentioned the word fiancee.''
''My father has told me he will disinherit me if I don't find a wife. I don't want a
wife
, but if we were engaged it would pacify
him,
and we could call off the engagement later.''
''And in return you will assist me financially?'' she asked.
''Yes. That's the deal.''
''I need thirty thousand,'' she winced.
''That's a lot of money.'' It was, but Nicholas had that kind of money at his disposal.
''If it's too much,
I........
''
''No, not at all, I will help you.''
''But there is one more thing,'' she said. ''I would like to keep a high degree of freedom.''
Nicholas gave a sigh of relief. ''So would I, so would I.'' He was already making lists of new conquests.
*****
''So, you've seen sense at last.
Good
choice.'' Kellet said pocketing the large envelope.
Adele had been trembling since he'd arrived. He looked somehow more brutal than he had on his previous visit. ''Do whatever you want, but never come back here again, and if any of this can be traced back to me, please know I have friends in high places.''
''Not so
high
they could help you now, though,'' he smirked. ''So how did you come
by
this amount? You don't seem to have sold any property.
Sold your body
did you?'' She pulled back from him as he stepped forward, grinning.
''It's no business of yours.''
''Well then, I'll be on my way. Nice doing business with you,'' he held out his hand. Adele turned her head away and ignored him.
*****
''Lady Vaughan, I must say I am very pleased to hear you and my son have become engaged.'' Earl Borrowby said. ''I had given him up as a lost cause.''
Adele and Nicholas had agreed to spend two days a week together.
Keeping up appearances.
Earl Borrowby was delighted that Nicholas had finally committed himself, and he'd given up all thought of disinheriting his son. He liked
Adele;
she seemed
mature,
and he
was convinced
she would teach his son to value women as equals. Why he didn't already, would remain a mystery.
''We are pleased too, aren't we?'' Adele looked at Nicholas.
''Yes, yes, we are,'' he said. He'd been daydreaming.
''Good, well, it's lovely to meet you. I must be off now, a lot to do.'' He walked across the hall and suddenly stopped. ''It's
a terrible
business isn't it?''
Adele and Nicholas looked at each other. ''What father?'' Nicholas asked.
''That barrister, murdered. What was his name, Bartholomew Pimms.''
Adele turned white. Nicholas looked at his father indifferently. ''Never heard of him,'' he said.