Always a Maiden (The Belles of Beak Street #5)(57)

Although Annabelle was one of the belles, it took a minute to see past her hawkish nose and her tendency to hide in corners to realize she was as beautiful as her golden sisters. As young a matron who’d delivered her heir and spare, she was exactly the sort of woman he’d spent most of the past decade seducing, but he had no interest in her. Which was almost surprising, because he could, at the same time as he viewed her dispassionately, see her attributes.

Her dark soulful eyes with thick lashes, high cheekbones, and cleft chin were more than appealing. Her form was rounded in all the right ways, but he felt nothing. It alarmed him that he wasn’t the least bit interested.

Ashton stepped closer to his wife and put an arm around her shoulders. “We’ve been traveling all day. Would it be possible for the ladies to freshen up before we seek lodgings for the night?”

Had his uncle decided he wanted them out? Whether he was managing the estate or not, it wasn’t Evan’s place to offer hospitality. His hands curled inward at his feelings of helplessness.

“My housekeeper is having rooms prepared and Cook will send supper trays to you,” Uncle Phillip said.

“Thank you, my lord,” said Annabelle.

Susanah feebly echoed Annabelle’s thanks.

Uncle Phillip addressed Lord Ashton. “My nephew and I must return to the table, but I’m certain you may share whatever message you have brought him before you resume your journey tomorrow.”

Ashton gave a congenial smile and a bow. “Of course. Or later tonight.”

Was there really some message Ashton had been entrusted with to bring them to his uncle’s home? Or had Susanah finagled a trip here? If so why?

He cast her a questioning look.

She looked pale and just faintly panicked. Why in the hell was she here? If she’d married Farringate, why would she come here?

The question plagued him through dinner. But his guests weren’t mentioned in front of Gilbert lest he want to meet them or feel excluded if he wasn’t allowed to see them. What food Evan did put in his mouth had no taste. He could be eating dirt for all he noticed. Although most of his food he shoved around until it was time for the next course and a footman relieved him of his plate.



*

“Well, that was very strange,” Ashton said.

The housekeeper opened the door and seemed in a rush to take them on an extended hike through the house. They went up and down stairs, twisting and turning so many times, Susanah started to wonder if she should have left breadcrumbs to find her way back. How would she ever find Evan in this huge house?

Strangely, she thought it might best her father’s country estate in size. She was fairly certain they’d crossed through what must have been a medieval banqueting hall complete with empty suits of armor standing sentry in front of some lovely old tapestries. If the house was this large, likely the estate was prosperous, but she didn’t know what it would matter. Well, other than if Evan was still willing to marry her, they could live here quite comfortably. But he’d hardly looked at her.

Susanah was shown into a lovely sitting room done in royal blues and grays. A fresh fire was taking off on the hearth.

“Queen Anne’s room, my lady,” said the housekeeper with a bob. “One of the maids will be along soon with a supper tray. If you have need of anything, just ring.”

Susanah thanked her.

“My lord, my lady, you are just along the passageway in the Duke of Cornwall’s rooms. “You should be quite comfortable.” Her voice trailed off as she led them out.

Susanah held the door watching as they moved to a set of rooms farther along the corridor. She shut the door feeling alone. Perhaps if she could find her way outside, Evan would join her. But after the way he’d looked more particularly at Annabelle, she wondered if she’d brought them all here on a wild goose chase.

Her throat tight, she drew off her gloves and circled the large sitting room. The room opened to a bedchamber large enough to waltz. Heavens, the bed alone might be big enough to contain at least the figures of one couple in a quadrille. The bed curtains were purple as if to emphasize that this was a room for royalty. As happened in many older houses, Queen Anne must have stayed here at one point for the suite to be named after her.

Susanah’s bag had been brought in and placed on a plush bench at the bottom of the bed. This room, too, had a fresh fire burning in the grate. The lack of coals and ashes gave it away. Not knowing what else to do, she pulled out her nightgown and draped it over a chair near the fireplace. She stared at the ball gown stuffed inside her bag. Perhaps she could sell it and get enough money to…live for a week.

What would she do if Evan didn’t want to marry her?

She tried to come up with a plan. Ask Annabelle to hire her as a governess to her children? But Annabelle had corrected her while they were in school, making Susanah feel like an idiot. It wasn’t likely Annabelle would consider her qualified to teach. Perhaps Susanah could be a companion. Or work as a seamstress. She was good at embroidery. It was perhaps the only thing she was good at. But it wasn’t the sort of skill that would support her.

Besides her parents would never allow it. She didn’t know if she could escape them. Her father was too powerful. And she had agreed to marry Lord Farringate.

But Evan. He’d spent far more time studying Annabelle than looking at her. Susanah’s throat tightened and her nose stung. She’d known Evan was a rake. For heaven’s sake, their first real conversation happened when he’d been half undressed after leaving a tryst with Mrs. Barnet. Yet, for some reason he’d shown a distinct unwillingness to seduce her—although she’d indicated her willingness more than once. He’d said in the beginning that he’d make her beg for it. But she wasn’t certain he even wanted her at all. Yet, she ached for him.