who was well aware of his looks. Perhaps not vain as much as brash, certain of himself. In this situation, he could not be allowed to get the upper hand.
She forced her lips to curve into a half smile, the same expression she used when communicating with her solicitor. The dowager countess smile indicating she was the equal of any news he could impart.
“I don’t believe I understand what you’re talking about, Paul.”
He smiled. “Oh I think you do, Countess. I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.” He settled back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other, a relaxed and confident pose.
She should have dismissed him the day after Lawrence’s death.
“You sent your daughter-in-law off to seduce a man. I heard you myself.”
“I don’t know what you heard, Paul, but whatever it was has confused you. Virginia is merely visiting with friends. She wanted to get away from London.”
“Scotland, Countess?”
Her fingertips were like ice and her lips were numb. In the next minute she might begin to drool.
This odious man was not going to make her lose her composure.
“I don’t know why you’re so concerned where her ladyship is, Paul. It’s none of your concern.”
“I’m not greedy, Countess. A few pounds every Friday night would go a long way to making me happy. Or being released from some of my new duties, perhaps?”
“Do you have any duties?” she asked.
“Albert has found a few for me to do. Shall I furnish you a list?”
She stared down at the column of figures, seeing nothing but his smiling face.
If he went to Jeremy, they were ruined. The plan was doomed before it began. Not that it was a guarantee, but it was the only chance they had.
“I want my servants to be happy,” she heard herself saying. How calm she sounded, a result of years of schooling her features to be pleasant in the midst of chaos.
This was most definitely chaos.
“I’ll speak to Albert,” she said. A word to the majordomo and Paul would be freed of most of his duties. “I’m certain we can find a few pounds to offer you in payment for your loyalty.” She’d sell her dresses if she had to.
“I’m happy we had this conversation,” he said, standing and going to the door. “I look forward to many more.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, she expelled a breath.
Oh dear, what was she to do about Paul?
Drumvagen, Scotland
July, 1869
“W ould you like to select a dress, your ladyship?”
Virginia waved a hand in Hannah’s direction. “Pick anything you like,” she said. “They’re all the same anyway. Black is black.”
“In no time at all, your ladyship, you’ll be able to wear white on your collar and cuffs.”
Who made up all these rules? She was certain if she posed that question to Hannah the maid would be shocked, so she remained silent.
Virginia turned and faced the armoire, frowning at the sea of black silk. It seemed like she’d worn nothing but mourning for years. First, for her father, and now Lawrence.
Her father had been such a distant figure in her life, she could readily imagine him still alive. As far as Lawrence, how did she pretend to mourn a man she’d never truly known?
Hannah was still standing there, patiently waiting.
“I’m not feeling well,” she abruptly said. She turned and walked toward the bed. “I believe I’ll rest. I didn’t sleep well last night.” Her face flamed.
“You do look feverish, your ladyship,” Hannah said, concerned.
She perched on the edge of the mattress and nodded.
“I think I’ll spend most of the day sleeping. I’m fatigued from the events of the previous week.”
She was, after all, a new widow.
The maid closed the armoire door and came to stand at the foot of the bed.
“Would you like me to fetch you some tea, your ladyship?”
“No,” she said, lying back against the pillows. “I would just like to be alone. Consider yourself off duty today, Hannah. Perhaps you can make friends among the
She forced her lips to curve into a half smile, the same expression she used when communicating with her solicitor. The dowager countess smile indicating she was the equal of any news he could impart.
“I don’t believe I understand what you’re talking about, Paul.”
He smiled. “Oh I think you do, Countess. I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.” He settled back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other, a relaxed and confident pose.
She should have dismissed him the day after Lawrence’s death.
“You sent your daughter-in-law off to seduce a man. I heard you myself.”
“I don’t know what you heard, Paul, but whatever it was has confused you. Virginia is merely visiting with friends. She wanted to get away from London.”
“Scotland, Countess?”
Her fingertips were like ice and her lips were numb. In the next minute she might begin to drool.
This odious man was not going to make her lose her composure.
“I don’t know why you’re so concerned where her ladyship is, Paul. It’s none of your concern.”
“I’m not greedy, Countess. A few pounds every Friday night would go a long way to making me happy. Or being released from some of my new duties, perhaps?”
“Do you have any duties?” she asked.
“Albert has found a few for me to do. Shall I furnish you a list?”
She stared down at the column of figures, seeing nothing but his smiling face.
If he went to Jeremy, they were ruined. The plan was doomed before it began. Not that it was a guarantee, but it was the only chance they had.
“I want my servants to be happy,” she heard herself saying. How calm she sounded, a result of years of schooling her features to be pleasant in the midst of chaos.
This was most definitely chaos.
“I’ll speak to Albert,” she said. A word to the majordomo and Paul would be freed of most of his duties. “I’m certain we can find a few pounds to offer you in payment for your loyalty.” She’d sell her dresses if she had to.
“I’m happy we had this conversation,” he said, standing and going to the door. “I look forward to many more.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, she expelled a breath.
Oh dear, what was she to do about Paul?
Drumvagen, Scotland
July, 1869
“W ould you like to select a dress, your ladyship?”
Virginia waved a hand in Hannah’s direction. “Pick anything you like,” she said. “They’re all the same anyway. Black is black.”
“In no time at all, your ladyship, you’ll be able to wear white on your collar and cuffs.”
Who made up all these rules? She was certain if she posed that question to Hannah the maid would be shocked, so she remained silent.
Virginia turned and faced the armoire, frowning at the sea of black silk. It seemed like she’d worn nothing but mourning for years. First, for her father, and now Lawrence.
Her father had been such a distant figure in her life, she could readily imagine him still alive. As far as Lawrence, how did she pretend to mourn a man she’d never truly known?
Hannah was still standing there, patiently waiting.
“I’m not feeling well,” she abruptly said. She turned and walked toward the bed. “I believe I’ll rest. I didn’t sleep well last night.” Her face flamed.
“You do look feverish, your ladyship,” Hannah said, concerned.
She perched on the edge of the mattress and nodded.
“I think I’ll spend most of the day sleeping. I’m fatigued from the events of the previous week.”
She was, after all, a new widow.
The maid closed the armoire door and came to stand at the foot of the bed.
“Would you like me to fetch you some tea, your ladyship?”
“No,” she said, lying back against the pillows. “I would just like to be alone. Consider yourself off duty today, Hannah. Perhaps you can make friends among the
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