The Solemn Bell(33)

While she entertained the dog, the Neill family fell into conversation, happily ignoring her. Angelica understood—it was awkward to meet anyone for the first time, let alone a random blind woman brought home by one’s brother. She suspected Captain Neill was somewhat…unpredictable…and, perhaps, unreliable. When he showed up with her, she was just another one of his larks. Not to be taken seriously. So, she was happy to play with Clarence, who seemed happy enough to play with her.

As the afternoon passed, Angelica felt Mrs. Neill’s eyes on her, always watching. If Angelica asked a question, gave an answer, or opened her mouth at all, Captain Neill’s mother judged her words.

Angelica made certain she kept her hands still while she spoke, and did not fidget or sway as she listened to the conversation around her. Blind people sometimes moved erratically—most did not even realize they were doing it, or that other people did not do it.

As a girl, her governess had broken her of the habit, but when Angelica was very nervous, she sometimes relapsed. Rocking back and forth was not acceptable behavior for sighted people, and she did not want to draw attention to her weakness, especially with Mrs. Neill looking for any reason to discredit Angelica’s place at her son’s side.

How unfortunate that Angelica felt the need to be on guard. That these people were enemies, out to oppose her happiness. But, perhaps that was only natural. She wondered what her own family would have thought if she’d brought Captain Neill home to meet them.

They’d likely be cautious and concerned about her welfare—were his attentions genuine and honorable? Did he have her best interests at heart? Freddie would have antagonized him the way overprotective brothers always did, but in the end, they’d grow to become friends. Her mother would have fed him cakes and fawned over him. Father would have chiefly wanted to know how the man intended to support his daughter, because her family would settle for nothing less than matrimony for their beloved Angelica.

She never understood just how much she missed her old life until she spent an afternoon with the Neills.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR





She was tired, stressed—he could tell by the subtle sag of her shoulders, and the way she kept rubbing her eyes. Brody had never seen Angelica pick at her face and retreat into herself, but, then again, he’d never seen her in a room full of highly-strung, blabbering people.

His family could be overbearing. Intimidating. Mother was icy, even on her best days, and Mary Rose would gladly trample anybody to remain the center of attention. Marcus kept to himself, and Father was mostly absent. Brody hovered somewhere in the middle of it all, and understood how a woman like Angelica—accustomed to living in quiet solitude—could be cowed.

They were a lot to take in all at once. Perhaps she needed a rest.

He touched her arm, drawing her attention away from the dog. “Would you like me to show you to your room, Angelica?”

“Yes, thank you. That would be lovely.”

They stood, and she took his arm. He knew she hated being led around, but there was nothing for it. Until she learned the place, she would have to put her pride away, and rely on his guidance.

Brody helped her navigate the furniture and the dog, who followed at her feet. She’d made one friend, at least. With Clarence nipping at her heels, she would get no peace. The others watched them in careful silence. Even the servants stared in wide-eyed curiosity as he brought her upstairs.

No one knew what to make of her. She was beautiful, of course. She was clever, when he could get her to speak. But she was painfully shy, and he didn’t know how she would survive a week in the Neill household. Angelica Grey needed to come out of her shell.

He hadn’t told Mother he was bringing a guest—he so loved to shock the old girl!—but the maids worked quickly. Angelica been given a good room, and her things unpacked and put away.

As he showed her around the room, she touched everything, trying to acclimate herself with the space. She studied the distance from the door to the bed, from the bed to the wardrobe, to the fireplace, the dressing table, and then back again. In time, he hoped she would be comfortable here.

“I thought you could use some time alone,” he said, watching her work.

She paused by the window, pressing her palm to the warmed pane. “I’ve embarrassed you…”

“Not at all! My girl, you were fantastic. Damned Marcus couldn’t take his eyes off you. And Mother, well, don’t worry about her. She needs time to warm up to you, but you’ll thaw her. And Mary Rose—”

“Hates me. I can tell. She hardly had one friendly word to say the entire time.”

“She’s a spoiled child,” he told her. “She pouts when she doesn’t get her way.”

Angelica turned in his direction, her eyes clamped shut. “But it’s her birthday, Brody. She deserves to be spoiled, to be the center of everyone’s attention. I don’t want to take any of that away from her.”

“I have a right to bring you here. This is my home as much as it is hers, and they’ll just have to get used to you.” He crossed the carpet to pull her into his arms. Her back was rigid, braced against his touch. Brody wanted to kiss all of that tension, that nervous apprehension out of her mind and out of her body, but this wasn’t the time for that. “This is difficult for you, I know. I don’t like it any more than you do, but please try. If my family suspects for one minute that you’re here under duress…”