The Sweet and Spicy Regency Collection (21 page)

Be brave
. For Winnie she’d have to be brave and figure this all out.

“I’d quarreled with Uncle Sires. He was being most unreasonable.” Oh yes, she remembered now. Her heart raced as she recalled how he’d threatened her. He’d been so angry. Out of his head, really. He’d been poised to beat her with that leather horsewhip when she’d bit him and fled like a banshee from his townhouse.

From there her memory turned fuzzy. Dreamlike. Had she been trapped in a nightmare or a fantasy? A horse had frightened her. Hooves kicking up to kill her!

With a shout, May shot up in the bed and scooted toward the rosewood carved headboard in an attempt to escape the terrifying images.

“Hush, hush, dearie.” A slightly crooked maid hurriedly placed a platter on a small dresser and rushed to May’s side. “Just lie still now. That’s what the master said you needed to do to get well again. Just lie still and all will be well.”

The room was spinning again, but less so than before, thank goodness. May let the older maid arrange the bedding around her until she was tucked in as tightly as dough in a pan.

“Thank you, um . . . um?”

“The name’s Lottie, Miss.” The smiling lady lightly caressed May’s forehead. “I’ve been the lady’s maid for thirty years now. And she told me to take real good care of you. His lordship, you see, is worried something fierce. He didn’t sleep at all last night. Since it wouldn’t be proper for him to step foot inside this room, he paced the hall just outside until dawn, the poor cove. And the lady doesn’t like to see him upset. She tells me she wants you well as soon as possible.”

May wiggled from under the covers so she could sit up against the mound of pillows at the top of the bed. “The lady you speak of? Who is she?”

“The Viscountess Evers, Miss Sheffers,” the words rolled very properly off a refined tongue before Lottie could answer. May’s gaze darted toward the bedroom’s open door. Lady Evers, dressed in a stark black gown, glowered as she surveyed the room. “You may leave us now, Lottie. I will call for you when Miss Sheffers is ready to eat the porridge you’ve brought up.”

Lottie murmured promises to return soon and curtsied deeply for the viscountess before scurrying from the room. A clock somewhere nearby chimed the hour.

Ignoring her aches, May raised herself higher in the bed and smoothed her hand over the comforter. “May I inquire the hour, my lady?” May asked somewhat sedately.

“It is eleven in the morning.”

“Eleven? Oh, dear. I have never slept so late.”

The viscountess smiled tightly. “You were ill.” She stepped inside the room and closed the door behind her with a snap. “I trust you are feeling better.”

“I am still a little dizzy—” May started to explain.

“That will soon pass. The doctor did not appear at all concerned last night. I trust his judgment and so should you.” A bitter edge to her soft voice caught May off-guard.

“Yes, of course, I didn’t mean to complain.”

“Of course.”

“My aunt, Lady Winifred?” May ignored the matron’s cool demeanor. She had much more pressing concerns to think about than the reason for the viscountess’ unhappy mood. “Is there any news on her condition? My uncle took her to his townhouse after she collapsed.”

“Lady Iona Newbury arrived early this morning with all sorts of information.” Lady Evers lowered herself to sit on the edge of the bed and continued to glower. She produced a note from a fold in her skirt.

“Yes? I beg you, tell me of my aunt. She is all I have.”

“She is, isn’t she, you poor dear.” There was no compassion in the sentiment. “Your aunt is stronger this morning. Her doctors are confident that with diligent care she should recover much of her strength.”

May breathed a sigh of relief and felt her taut muscles relax into the fluffy bedding. “Thank God,” she whispered.

“You will want to visit her right away, I suppose?”

“Oh, yes. She depends on me, and I love her very much.”

Lady Evers clucked her tongue and wagged her head slowly. “The earl is most upset, however. That shocking scene you orchestrated in front of his home mortified him. I must admit I was horrified having to witness such base behavior from a young lady. Such screaming and blatant displaying of your body . . . I shudder to think upon it.”

“He was trying to harm me. I only wished escape,” May tried to explain. She remembered the horse again . . . and its great hooves poised to crush her. Her mouth went dry.

“Radford saved me?” Could he really have called her “his love”? Did he truly hold her tightly in his arms? “Please, I don’t remember what happened once I fled my uncle’s.”

“It is just as well that you don’t.” The viscountess leaned forward. She placed the letter she’d been holding on her lap and took May’s hand to cradle between her frosty palms. Her slender fingers rubbed the tops of May’s knuckles. “You are fond of my son.”

Lady Evers had stated May’s feelings toward Radford as if they were common knowledge. Certainly May’s behavior toward him in public hadn’t betrayed her deepest feelings. Certainly she’d acted more carefully than that.

May tried to draw her hand away. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

The lady tightened her grasp. “Now, now. Let’s not play the coquette. You do not have the personality or the delicate physique to succeed with such games. I’ve watched you. I know.”

She knew
? May fought a desire to crawl under the covers and hide. “Very well,” she forced herself to say calmly while tightening her chin. “I do feel a certain warmth for the viscount.”

“As does he for you, foolish boy. I don’t know what you’ve done to him, but he seems quite captivated.”

Radford captivated? Could it be possible
? May’s cheeks stung as a blush bloomed over her face and down her neck to touch her chest.

Lady Evers lifted the letter she’d set aside and tapped it against May’s hand. “I’ve corresponded with the Duchess of Newbury on this matter just this morning, and she assured me that you are a reasonable girl.”

Praise from the duchess was a rarity. Iona’s mother had never approved of May’s attachment with the Newbury family. She’d made it plainly known that if she’d had her way, May’s entire existence would be ignored.

Luckily, the duke heartily disagreed.

Hearing that the duchess had actually called her “reasonable” gave May cause for alarm. “What else did she say?” May asked, eyeing the letter with grave concern. With the brush of a quill, the duchess could make her life even more difficult. May might be completely rejected by the
ton
if they knew the full truth of her father’s past.

Such a man has no place in polite society, Uncle Sires had always insisted.

“Her grace is not pleased, you must know. My boy was to propose to her daughter last night. That scene you created ruined those plans. Despite my pleas, Radford remained here to worry over your trifling injuries instead of keeping his dinner appointment with the Newbury family.”

“Oh?” Then he wasn’t engaged to Lady Lillian yet? Knowing that he was still an eligible bachelor shouldn’t have lightened May’s mood, but it did.

“Miss Sheffers, you cannot truly believe that my son, a viscount, could possibly marry you. You must see that such a match is impossible.”

Of course she saw that. She knew her place only too well. Yet, she jutted out her chin and tried to look as defiant as possible as if she could scare the truth away.

“What do you think would happen if my Radford were to marry you, a woman with a history of finding disasters?” Lady Evers asked. Her voice grew a little shrill. “Do you think society would stand for such an ill-advised match? Do you think he would be able to keep the political influence the Evers family has cultivated for generations after proving he cannot even be trusted to pick a proper wife? If you care even a little for Radford, you must let him go.”

May’s shoulders slumped. No matter how defiantly she held her chin, the truth would never go away.

Lady Evers slipped the letter from its envelope. “Her grace was kind enough to share a little of your background with me. Your father’s mother was an unmarried gypsy. She and her people raised your father until his twelfth year. You were born to a bastard gypsy father who’d stolen your mother despite the Earl of Redfield’s efforts to protect her. Your father befouled a gently born lady and produced
you
.”

That last word hung in the air, dripping with layers of contempt. May had trouble separating the disdain Lady Evers felt for May from the lifetime of disapproval she’d had heaped on her by her uncle.

“I wonder. Will you call her grace a liar? Will you deny that this is your heritage?”

May slowly turned her head from side to side. “The duchess is well known for speaking the truth,” she whispered. “I do not dispute her words.”

Lady Evers smiled broadly. “It pleases me to see that you are indeed a reasonable girl. Tell me, then. Are we in agreement? Do you see now how marriage between you and my son would be a disaster?”

May nodded as tears flooded her eyes. “I do, as does he. He has never offered such a boon.”

* * * *

“Please reconsider, miss. I beg you to reconsider,” Lottie said, wringing her overworked hands while May continued to stubbornly fuss with an unruly strand of hair. A slab of plaster covered a small wound high on May’s forehead. Though pulling a brush through her hair tugged at the injury, making her feel like sharp needles were pricking her scalp, May felt it was a small price to pay. She wanted to make herself appear hale and hearty for her aunt. Nothing should upset Winnie or her recovery.

“His lordship said you were to remain abed,” Lottie complained. “I would’ve never brought up the walking dress Lady Iona Newbury had delivered if I’d known you’d insist on wearing it. His lordship will be most upset when he learns of this.”

May brushed her hands over the skirt of the faded violet gown she’d hastily donned. “I have no wish to upset the viscount. He has been most kind.”

May just needed to escape. Quite simply, her aunt needed her. Radford didn’t. Staying under his roof for a moment longer would only damage her heart further. Just admitting her feelings to his mother had been torture. Hearing Lady Evers put voice to how wrong May was for him nearly killed her.

All her life, she’d been wrong. Unsuitable.

She could not stay.

Despite the slight dizziness, May was determined to straighten out the messes she’d made and move on with her life. Her mind had cleared after Lady Evers’ visit.

All she required was courage.

“No one ever complained I was lacking for want of courage.”

“What’s that, miss?”

“Nothing, Lottie.” She wrapped her arms around the small maid and gave the beleaguered woman a tight hug. “You’ve served me well. You’ve made me feel comfortable, and I thank you.”

May marched from the room and down the stairs with her head held high. A bout of dizziness interrupted her pace only once . . . and that was after she chanced to catch sight of Radford through a window.

He was, strolling alongside the house with Wynter at his side. They looked to be heading toward his stables. A gold-handled cane thumped on the ground with each step. Bless him, he had finally committed to treating himself right and giving his leg time to heal. May could barely discern a limp as he deftly relied on that sturdy cane. Like Wynter, he was impeccably dressed, though somewhat less formally. A pair of brow raising buff-colored doeskins hugged his legs. A subdued green and white striped waistcoat covered a crisp white shirt. He carried a plain olive frock draped over his arm and his shimmering beaver hat between two fingers. His cravat was tied in a relaxed four-in-hand style.

All and all, May thought he looked devastatingly handsome. She could see why the ladies of the
ton
used to speak of him in scandalized whispers.

She stood transfixed while watching the distance grow between them. A great pressure built in her chest. She was right to flee. Staying hurt too much.

With a stiff upper lip, May continued down the hall and met Iona, who’d been waiting for her in the front parlor. Her dearest friend took one look at her disheveled appearance and burst into tears.

“I was so worried,” Iona wailed. “What ever would I do if I lost you?”

“Oh don’t be a silly fuss-pot,” May scolded, feeling suddenly embarrassed by the trouble she’d created. “Don’t speak as if I’d been on death’s door. I suffered nothing more than a slight knock to the head.” She gave the top of her head a rap with her knuckle, which she instantly regretted. Sharp sparks of pain rippled through her skull.

“See?” May said through gritted teeth. “Nothing to worry about. Please take me home now. My housekeeper must be beside herself with worry.”

Iona hooked her arm with May’s. “I will do no such thing. Portia’s already been moved to my family’s townhouse. Papa insists you stay with us while your aunt recovers.”

Stay at the Newbury household and watch the wedding preparations up close? May doubted her heart would be able to bear it.

Iona stomped her tiny foot. “You know this is the only way. It’s improper for a young lady to live alone . . . unchaperoned.”

Of course May knew that. How foolish for her to believe she could suspend the rules of society.

The sooner she accepted her fate, the better.

“Very well,” May conceded. With a sorrowful Jeffers watching on, she and Iona walked arm in arm through the front entranceway and down the front steps of Radford’s Longbranch House. A ducal carriage waited on the road just a few steps away. Two footmen dressed in crimson livery leapt down from their perch to sweep open the carriage door and lower the steps.

Iona gave May’s arm a tight squeeze.

“You will survive this,” she whispered.

May swallowed hard, realizing then, after stealing one last glance up at Longbranch House, that tears threatened yet again.

“What’s this?” Radford called from the side of the house. Appropriately dressed now with his olive frock buttoned up and his beaver hat firmly set on the top of his head, he approached quickly with a hopping gait, letting the cane do most of the work for his stiff leg. He took May by the arm and pulled her several feet away from Iona and the carriage. “What in bloody hell are you doing out of bed?”