Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend by Shana Galen - Jewels of the Ton 03 - Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend Page A
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dinner gown and order a bath. Then retire for a few hours,” she told her maid. She was not certain what the accommodations for the servants had been like at the inn the night before, but Anna looked weary.
“But, madam, I should unpack and press your gown for tomorrow.”
Lily waved a hand. “You can do it later, or I shall do it myself. I’m perfectly capable.” She had not grown up with servants, other than a cook and a maid of all work. She had pressed many, many gowns—her own and her elder sister’s. But this evening she needed rest. She would need all her wits about her if she hoped to deal with the duke. He would expect more than a perfunctory kiss on the cheek from her. In turn, she needed access to his library and bedchamber. Gaining that access without actually sharing his bed would be a careful negotiation.
And then there was the Earl of Darlington to think of. She had not thought of him often since he’d left her at the door of her town house the morning after her abduction. When she had thought of him, it had been with pain or anger. She could not afford either sentiment at the moment. She hoped, quite sincerely, he was still in Town.
As the carriage topped the last rise, the estate came into view. Anna gasped, and even Lily could not suppress a smile. It was lovely—everything a ducal estate should be. She knew next to nothing about architecture, but this was the sort of house she thought others would describe as stately . And she had listened to enough talk to know the house was built in the Elizabethan style. There was a high central hall surrounded by four towers, and all of them had pretty decorations and spires on top. She was certain they had a more technical term, but she did not know it. It was a large house, and the setting sun glinted on the limestone, making it look almost greenish blue. Strange, she thought, and beautiful. Had Darlington grown up here? Had he climbed the trees in the park, run down the drive with his playfellows, looked out of the windows when he should have been concentrating on his studies?
And why was she still thinking of him? He had tried to have her killed. If that did not snuff out her affection for him, then nothing could. She pushed thoughts of him away and straightened her shoulders as the carriage slowed and approached the house’s entrance. Several servants waited, their green livery seeming part of the house itself in this lighting. The carriage stopped, and Lily took a deep breath. When the door opened, she stepped out, once again the Countess of Charm.
***
Andrew turned away from the window when Lily disappeared inside the house. A courtesan in Ravenscroft Hall. His ancestors would have turned in their graves. Actually, if the stories he’d heard had any truth to them, they probably would not have batted an eyelash. And Lily was not the first woman of easy virtue to visit here. There were several of far looser morals in the dining room at this moment. His mother would have been horrified had she been alive to see this. For the first time, he was glad she was not.
If Andrew listened closely, he could hear the commotion the servants made over settling this new visitor. Does madam wish to change and be shown to the dining room?
He could not hear her response, but apparently it was negative. He had declined to dine with his father and his guests as well. After the debacle of Lily’s abduction, he had retreated to Ravenscroft Hall, only to find his brooding solitude interrupted by the arrival of his father and some of the duke’s “friends.” He had thought about leaving, but it occurred to him the estate would one day be his. He might be better served by staying and ensuring his father did not lose it in a game of whist or billiards.
And now Lily was here. Her words still rang in his ears.
I am sorry I was ever in love with you.
She’d loved him. Now that he knew it, he could see it. She’d always teased him, smiled at him, made him feel
“But, madam, I should unpack and press your gown for tomorrow.”
Lily waved a hand. “You can do it later, or I shall do it myself. I’m perfectly capable.” She had not grown up with servants, other than a cook and a maid of all work. She had pressed many, many gowns—her own and her elder sister’s. But this evening she needed rest. She would need all her wits about her if she hoped to deal with the duke. He would expect more than a perfunctory kiss on the cheek from her. In turn, she needed access to his library and bedchamber. Gaining that access without actually sharing his bed would be a careful negotiation.
And then there was the Earl of Darlington to think of. She had not thought of him often since he’d left her at the door of her town house the morning after her abduction. When she had thought of him, it had been with pain or anger. She could not afford either sentiment at the moment. She hoped, quite sincerely, he was still in Town.
As the carriage topped the last rise, the estate came into view. Anna gasped, and even Lily could not suppress a smile. It was lovely—everything a ducal estate should be. She knew next to nothing about architecture, but this was the sort of house she thought others would describe as stately . And she had listened to enough talk to know the house was built in the Elizabethan style. There was a high central hall surrounded by four towers, and all of them had pretty decorations and spires on top. She was certain they had a more technical term, but she did not know it. It was a large house, and the setting sun glinted on the limestone, making it look almost greenish blue. Strange, she thought, and beautiful. Had Darlington grown up here? Had he climbed the trees in the park, run down the drive with his playfellows, looked out of the windows when he should have been concentrating on his studies?
And why was she still thinking of him? He had tried to have her killed. If that did not snuff out her affection for him, then nothing could. She pushed thoughts of him away and straightened her shoulders as the carriage slowed and approached the house’s entrance. Several servants waited, their green livery seeming part of the house itself in this lighting. The carriage stopped, and Lily took a deep breath. When the door opened, she stepped out, once again the Countess of Charm.
***
Andrew turned away from the window when Lily disappeared inside the house. A courtesan in Ravenscroft Hall. His ancestors would have turned in their graves. Actually, if the stories he’d heard had any truth to them, they probably would not have batted an eyelash. And Lily was not the first woman of easy virtue to visit here. There were several of far looser morals in the dining room at this moment. His mother would have been horrified had she been alive to see this. For the first time, he was glad she was not.
If Andrew listened closely, he could hear the commotion the servants made over settling this new visitor. Does madam wish to change and be shown to the dining room?
He could not hear her response, but apparently it was negative. He had declined to dine with his father and his guests as well. After the debacle of Lily’s abduction, he had retreated to Ravenscroft Hall, only to find his brooding solitude interrupted by the arrival of his father and some of the duke’s “friends.” He had thought about leaving, but it occurred to him the estate would one day be his. He might be better served by staying and ensuring his father did not lose it in a game of whist or billiards.
And now Lily was here. Her words still rang in his ears.
I am sorry I was ever in love with you.
She’d loved him. Now that he knew it, he could see it. She’d always teased him, smiled at him, made him feel
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