Twenty-five
Vivi woke the next morning with her spirits renewed. After a successful evening in the company of the duchess’s guests, she was more hopeful about convincing Luke she could be an asset to him. The ladies had been kind and gracious, and seemed to like her.
Because they don’t know the truth about you. She shut out the damning voice and tried to retain her cheerful mood.
Her maid entered her chambers balancing a tray laden with food. “Today is something of a celebration in the kitchens,” Winnie said as she placed the hand-painted tray on the table.
A slender vase held a single red poppy. Vivi gently plucked the flower from its container to admire the delicate petals then replaced it with a sigh. “A celebration. How so?”
“Everyone is talking about your betrothal.” Winnie buzzed around her, shaking out the napkin and placing it across her lap then bustled to the wardrobe and flung the doors open. “I have a special gown in mind for your audience with the duke.”
Vivi swiveled in her chair to peer at her maid. “How do they know about our meeting?”
“How do servants know about anything, milady?” She laughed and selected a pale blue gown. “This color draws notice to your eyes.”
She crossed to the bed to lay out the garment and continued her animated chatter. “The duke’s man of business was present when His Grace received the marriage settlement your brother sent. And the duchess’s maid overheard His Grace requesting her presence to witness the signing.”
“What a lot of gossips there are at Irvine Castle. I must watch my step from this moment forward.”
Winnie chuckled. “You have nothing to fear, milady. Everyone is pleased the duke has chosen you. The cook says she never thought His Grace would claim his seat. She believes you are a good influence on him.”
Vivi scowled. “I don’t wish to hear any such talk about the duke. He is a good man and he will be an excellent leader.”
“Aye, milady. That’s exactly what I told the busybody.” Winnie whisked toward the chamber door with the gown draped over her arm. “I must press this before beginning your toilette. You should look your best today.”
She was gone in a swish of fabric.
Vivi turned back to her poached eggs and picked up her silverware. A rolled-up piece of foolscap rolled out from under the edge of her plate. She smiled and set her fork aside. Had Luke hidden a message to her on her breakfast tray? He was full of surprises.
She unrolled the paper, momentarily confused by the unfamiliar script.
Lady Vivian, I must speak with you. Please meet me behind the stables at eleven. Your humble servant, O.
She stared at the message mutely. Owen’s spelling and penmanship had improved a great deal since his departure from Brighthurst House. Vivi had taught several of the servants to read and write to help occupy her days, although she had only offered her services to Owen in an effort to get closer to him. What a silly girl she had been.
She dropped the note back on the tray and started on her breakfast again, her mood more somber now. No doubt word of her meeting with Luke had reached Owen, too, but he had no reason to fear for his position. She had already assured him that he was safe, and his lack of faith in her rubbed her the wrong way. Still, he had been through quite the ordeal because of her in Dunstable. She supposed she could understand his anxiety.
Perhaps there would be time to put his worries to rest before she met Luke and his family to sign the agreement. She quickly finished her meal and brushed her teeth before Winnie returned with her gown.
Once she was dressed and her maid had satisfied the need to fuss over her, Vivi smiled at her. “You may go now. I wish to read until it is time to meet with the duke.”
“Of course, milady.”
She adored her maid, but she didn’t know if Winnie was a passive participant in the servant gossip mill or an instigator. And since Vivi had promised to protect Owen’s secret, she must make every effort to keep her word.
When Winnie stopped to retrieve her tray, Vivi’s heart leapt. She had forgotten to destroy Owen’s note.
“Leave it. I didn’t finish my chocolate.”
Her maid lifted the cup and sniffed. “Wouldn’t you prefer a fresh pot?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Winnie shrugged and left the tray undisturbed.
When she was certain her servant had cleared the corridor, Vivi donned a bonnet, grabbed a parasol, and then headed downstairs. There weren’t many guests stirring yet at this hour, so she was spared the task of pretending she planned to walk in the gardens.
Outside, remnants of a morning mist hung on the air. She raised her parasol as a shield to hide from any curious onlookers who might be standing at their chamber windows and hurried toward the stables.
Upon reaching her destination, she closed her parasol and stole into the darker interior of the stables. She stalked down the aisle with the intent of granting a brief audience to Owen then returning to the castle with no one the wiser.
A phaeton stood beyond the opened doors at the far end of the stables, and a groom was tending to the horses. Otherwise the area was deserted. She opened her mouth to ask if the servant had seen Owen, but then thought better of it and snapped it closed. She was to be the lady of the manor soon. It wouldn’t do to ask after Lady Stanwood’s servant.
The groom glanced her way with a bemused smile.
“Pay me no mind,” she said. “I’m here for a breath of fresh air.”
“Fresh air, milady?”
Well, now that she had said it aloud, her explanation for being there did sound odd. No one in her right mind would traipse to the stables in search of fresh air.
She wagged a finger back toward the building. “Perhaps I should keep searching.” Turning on her heel, she marched straight into another body. Her breath left her in an inelegant grunt. Two arms circled her and kept her from falling. Unlike the calm she had experienced in Luke’s embrace, this gentleman’s touch set off her internal alarm.
She looked up into a set of hard green eyes. “Mr. Collier, I didn’t hear your approach.”
He offered a charming smile likely designed to put her at ease. It had the opposite effect. “Lady Vivian, I didn’t expect to find you alone in the stable yard.”
She swallowed. His words rang with falsehood, but she couldn’t call him a liar without insulting him. She pulled from his embrace and straightened her bonnet.
“I was just heading back to the castle. Good day, sir.”
When she tried to sweep past him, he blocked her escape. “Do not tell me you came all this way for the air,” he said under his breath.
She cringed. So he had overheard her exchange with the groom.
He leaned closer to her ear. “What is it that really brings you here, Lady Vivian? Are you meeting someone?”
“No!” She tried to infuse her protest with the appropriate amount of outrage, but she couldn’t play the insulted lady easily. He had caught her in a lie. She knew it and so did he.
His smile resembled a leer now. “Splendid. Then you are free to enjoy a carriage ride.” He took her arm and dragged her toward the phaeton.
“I am not free, sir. Release me.” She dug in her heels, but he was much stronger than her.
“Come now, Lady Vivian. Just a short jaunt. The countryside is beautiful.”
He lifted her into the carriage as if she were a sack of grain tossed into a wagon. Before she could gather her senses, he was in the carriage too and shoving her down in the seat.
The groom released the horses and stepped toward the carriage. “Forgive me, sir, but I believe the lady wishes to be allowed to—”
Mr. Collier slapped the reins just as Vivi tried to stand. She tumbled back against the seat and might have fallen from the carriage if he hadn’t grabbed a handful of her skirts and jerked her back. She caught a brief flash of the groom’s shocked face as he was nearly run down.
“Sit before you fall,” Mr. Collier said. “I don’t mean to see any harm come to you.”
The carriage sped out of the gates and turned onto a lane.
“Take me back at once.”
His hand clamped on her leg and squeezed. “When our ride is over, you may go back.”
His coat flapped in the wind, revealing a leather holster and pistol. Vivi’s heart began to pound as heavily as the horses’ hooves.
“Why are you armed?”
He slanted a grin in her direction before glancing back at the lane and urging the horses to go faster. “A firearm has persuasive powers, does it not? But I’m certain it will be unnecessary to use it.”
Vivi still didn’t understand, but she kept silent. The ground below was a blur and her fingers ached from gripping the seat to keep her position. His driving was going to kill them both.
“Slow down, Mr. Collier.”
“Have faith, my lady. I’m a skilled driver.”
She was tempted to crack him over the head with her parasol, but she wasn’t certain she could catch the ribbons fast enough if he lost his hold. She eyed the gun against his side. Perhaps if she could get her fingers around the handle without him noticing…
“Why invite me for a ride? Certainly there are several ladies who would be honored to receive your attentions.”
“Perhaps they have already received my attentions.” He winked. “Calm yourself, my dear. You will enjoy our time together.”
She didn’t care for the sound of that. There was no chance of her enjoying his company. Nevertheless, she had to get closer to the blackguard if she had any hope of reaching the gun.
“I fear I’m going to fall. If you won’t slow the carriage, will you at least hold on to me?”
A smug smile lent his cherub face a grotesque appearance as he held his arm out to the side, inviting her to sidle up to him. How could she have ever thought him handsome?
She lowered her gaze as she scooted closer so he wouldn’t see her repugnance and anticipate her move. Her spine stiffened when his arm wrapped around her back and his fingertips brushed her breast. Taking a deep breath, she laid her head against his shoulder.
His pleased chuckle made her blood run hot. Did he truly believe himself to be such a prize that he could abduct a lady and she would welcome his advances?
Tentatively, she placed her palm against his chest. His muscles twitched. “I knew you wanted me, too,” he said in a husky voice and eased up on the ribbons. The carriage began to slow. She had to grab the pistol before he stopped the phaeton and realized what she was doing.
She slid her hand down his torso slowly, trying not to grimace.
“Don’t be shy, Vivian,” he growled, bearing his teeth. “Put your hand on it now.”
She didn’t wait for further permission. Her hand flew to the butt of the gun and she yanked it from the holster as the carriage rolled to a stop. Pulling the flint back to full cock, she aimed at his chest and scooted away when he froze.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze never leaving the barrel of the gun. “Be careful. That’s not a toy.”
She carefully climbed to the ground while keeping the firearm trained on him. “I stopped playing with toys years ago, Mr. Collier. Right around the time I took up shooting. I am fully aware of the damage a lead ball would cause to your person.”
With her feet firmly on ground, she backed away on shaky legs.
His face contorted with anger. “Get back in here now.”
She lifted her chin as she took two more backwards steps. “You have no authority over me, sir. I am returning to my betrothed, and if you dare to follow me, I will prove my skill at shooting.”
“You wouldn’t.”
She clucked her tongue. “Now, now, Mr. Collier. You have underestimated me once already. Perhaps you shouldn’t press your luck.”
His lips set in a thin line, and he glared.
“Nevertheless, I think it is likely Foxhaven will be a bigger threat once he learns what you have done. If you are wise—and I fear you are not—you will ride as far away as you can and never show your face at Irvine Castle again.” She shook her head slowly. “I pity you, Mr. Collier. I have seen the duke at target practice.”
The color drained from his complexion. “Now see here. I only wished to take you for a friendly turn about the grounds. Surely you wouldn’t bother the duke over a small misunderstanding.”
“Oh, I would, Mr. Collier. If for no other reason than to protect Miss Truax from you. She has no idea what a blackguard you truly are.”
“Perhaps you are correct, but neither is the lady blameless.”
Vivi pointed toward the lane with the barrel of the gun then aimed it at him again. “Go now before I change my mind and shoot you anyway.”
“I didn’t want you anyway, you stupid bitch,” he spat. “I’ll find another means of getting even with that arrogant prick. Tell Foxhaven—”
“Go!”
He snapped the reins with a snarl. The carriage clattered along the dirt lane, the wheels throwing up dust. She coughed as it filled her lungs, but she refused to turn her back until he had disappeared from sight. Once she could no longer see a speck on the horizon, she began her trek back to the castle. She glanced over her shoulder once more for reassurance then swung her head around in time to witness her slipper come down on a pile of manure.
“Hellfire, damnation, and curse the Devil’s ballocks!” Those were horrid words for any lady to utter, but one deserved leeway when one was nearly abducted, stranded in the middle of nowhere, and her favorite pair of shoes ruined.
Gads. She gingerly lifted her foot, but her slipper didn’t budge. She stood there for a moment balancing on one leg and contemplated her dilemma. The satin slipper was beyond repair, and the hem of her gown wasn’t much better off. She wrinkled her nose. There was no way she would soil her gloves by rescuing a worthless shoe.
With a loud sigh, she continued the long walk back toward the castle with one shoe and one stocking-clad foot. She limped along the country lane, cursing Mr. Collier under her breath. How far had they traveled? She couldn’t even see the turrets from here. She would be lucky to make it back to the castle before the afternoon.
Missing her meeting time with Luke was a certainty, which meant she would have a lot of explaining to do. As much as she would like to shield Owen from any unpleasantness, it was unavoidable now.
Besides, once Luke learned of Mr. Collier’s foolish antics, a poor groom who had been dragged into one of her messes would be the last person on his mind. Luke wasn’t as likely to forget her sneaking off to meet said groom and landing in this dilemma, however. Even though he had been patient from the moment of their embarrassing encounter at the creek, she couldn’t hope for his continued goodwill this time. He would probably help pack her trunks and send her to Scotland himself.
Vivi’s bravado vanished and she deflated under the weight of her burden. Perhaps Luke would have been able to forgive her past, but he couldn’t overlook this misstep. There was no telling how many witnesses had seen her leaving with Mr. Collier. And with the way gossip spread among the servants, most of the castle staff probably already knew about her encounter with the lousy rake. She never should have promised Owen that she would keep their past association a secret from Luke, even if she had intended to tell him eventually.
It was true what Ash said about good intentions paving the road to hell. She came down hard on a jagged rock. Pain shot up her leg and she cried out.
“Damn you, Road to Hell!”