“Comfortable? I shan’t be comfortable until
you answer my questions.”
“How shall I start? Perhaps you should ask me
specifics?” Star said on a heavy sigh.
“Start with everything. What was wrong with
Vern? Why did he come to the ball in such a state? What have you
been hiding from me for days and days?”
Star considered the questions. She didn’t
trust anyone quite as much as she did her Georgie, but not all of
this story was hers to tell. She couldn’t betray Vern. As to
tonight’s escapade, she didn’t really understand it at all. She had
no notion what had motivated Vern to come charging wildly into the
ball like he did. He had offered no explanation and she had not
wished to press him in front of Sir Edward.
“Georgie…all I can say is that Vern—finding
himself in financial difficulties, well, they were the worst kind
of difficulties as you already must realize. I know you understand
what the past year has been like. Well, oh my, this is not my
secret but his. So what I will tell you is he did something he
should
not
have done. This led to a situation where I became
involved as he was ill…too ill to complete…something he had to do.
Why Vern came to the ball and behaved so…wildly? I don’t know as
Sir Edward was with us and he would not say, for how could he with
Edward present?”
“If you and Vern were in such straits…you
should have come to me,” Georgie said.
“How could we? You know that was impossible,”
Star said and sighed heavily.
“Still…perhaps I could have arranged
something,” Georgie clucked and then eyed her friend. “Never mind,
what is done is done. We shall move on and repair it somehow,
whatever it is. Now tell me and do not try to pitch your gammon at
me for I already know that something has occurred between you and
Sir Edward. Did he try and kiss you?” She scanned Star’s face and
gasped, “He succeeded, didn’t he? He kissed you!”
Star was astonished, “How could you know
that?”
“Stands to reason, silly chit. You look like
a satisfied cat. How did it happen? When you saw him to the
door…and were alone?”
“No, not exactly,” Star hemmed.
“Where then?”
“In the library,” Star answered on a soft
smile.
“In the library—you took him alone to the
library, you outrageous tart!” Georgie laughed.
“Yes and I have never been kissed like that
before,” Star said wistfully. “I wanted it to go on forever.”
“I knew it. I knew this was coming. I saw the
way you two looked at one another when you were waltzing,” Georgie
pronounced and laughed again.
“How did you get here, Georgie?” Star decided
to change the subject. “Did the Seftons send you home in their
coach?”
“Yes, with Miles and Jules in attendance,”
Georgie answered.
“And?”
“And what?” Georgie evaded.
“I am not sure. There were moments this
evening—the way Jules looked at you that made me think he might be
besotted with you and doesn’t know it…but I am not yet
certain.”
“Nonsense. He is besotted with you, not with
me…” Georgie sighed.
“That is so completely false! Georgie, he
doesn’t even really know me,” Star answered. “He and I would never
suit and when he thinks about it, he will see it. The fact of the
matter is that you two would suit beautifully.”
“Never mind, Jules. Tell me about you and Sir
Edward and the kiss.”
“He is a contradiction of himself. One moment
he is arrogant and goes about as though he is bored with
everything, then the next moment, he is the kindest, gentlest…most
wonderful man. He knows just what to do in a crisis. He knows just
when to let matters be. He…”
“Ah, it is confirmed, you are in love with
him,” Georgie said knowingly.
“Am I?” Star twinkled at her friend. “Why
bother to ask me, if in fact, you think you know everything?”
“I do know quite a bit more than you realize
and I will tell you this. I don’t think he is the sort you want to
play games with. I think he is not one of the country swains
falling at your feet, ready to bend to your will. I think you will
have to be honest with him about what you feel.”
“I am
not
playing games with him. You
mistake, if you think that. I was not coy, I did not tease,” Star
said somewhat surprised. “And I certainly don’t want him to follow
me about like a lap dog. I like him, just the way he is and he is a
masterful man who knows his own mind.”
“Right then, he swept you off your feet when
he kissed you.”
“He did.”
“Did he kiss you when you two went into the
garden at the Sefton Ball as well?”
“He did… then continued to do so in the
library,” Star recalled his kiss and closed her eyes.
“Oh, Star…this is quite wonderful and
exciting.”
“Georgie, I was quite swept away. I think I
would have…well, if he had tried to do…more, I think I would have
without demur.”
“
La
, but Star…you should be more
certain of him before that happens,” Georgie cautioned.
“Why? You are always saying women should
enjoy the same pleasures as men.”
“Yes, but there are consequences to hearts
like ours. We are the sort that whether we want to or not, we put
our hearts into it and therefore, we could be broken. We could
break, Star.
I don’t want you to break!
”
“Georgie, until tonight, Sir Edward only saw
a child, a hoyden, a short-haired rough and tumble girl. Now when
he looks at me, he will see a woman.”
“Yes, but is that enough?”
“You tell me, Georgie. You said you saw him
looking at me. What did that signify to you?”
“He seemed more interested than just a
connoisseur of women. He seemed more than a little taken with you,
but even so, I should like to be certain you are not hurt in this.”
She reached over and grabbed Star’s hands under the quilt and shook
them, “Star, a man can kiss and walk away without a backward
glance.
Can you
? No, do not try and tell me you can. Well,
you could if your heart wasn’t in it, but I see perhaps, all this
talk might be too late. Your heart is in it, isn’t it, Star? And
what is worse, you mean to fall into bed with him, don’t you?”
“I don’t know, Georgie, perhaps.”
* * *
Jules knocked on Sir Edward’s bedroom door,
“Ed…Edward, I say, ‘ole boy, are you awake?”
“How could I not be with you banging down my
door!” Edward called out in an amused voice.
Jules opened the ornately molded door and
stepped within to find a warm scene. Sir Edward was clothed in a
dark maroon brocade dressing gown and stood by a small fire which
burned low, but brightly with the grate. Branches of candles on the
nightstand illuminated the room with a soft light. Sir Edward
watched his friend saunter inside, sigh heavily and plop on a
nearby winged chair.
“Let’s talk,” Jules suggested. He opened his
waistcoat and undid his cravat.
Edward watched him with interest and said,
“About what in particular?”
“Well, as to that, well…I mean, Ed…you said,
she wasn’t even in your style,” Jules answered.
“
Who
, dear boy?” Edward’s brow was up.
He knew who Jules was speaking about, and had been expecting this,
just not so quickly. Had he been so obvious in his attentions to
Star? Could he give her up to Jules now that he had tasted her?
Jules’s eyes narrowed. “We have been friends
a long time. Don’t mean to allow a woman to come between us…
do
you?”
“Depends on the woman and the circumstances,”
Sir Edward said quietly. “Speak your mind, Jules and let’s get to
the meat of it.”
“Star…you know very well, I am speaking of
Star,” Jules snapped.
“Are we? I rather thought your head had
turned in another direction as of late,” Sir Edward said
quietly.
Jules’ brows arched, “What can you mean?”
“I am neither blind, nor a fool,” Sir Edward
returned.
“You mean…? What do you mean?” Jules
hedged.
“Miss Madison is what I mean. You seemed
rather…protective of her, shall we say?”
“Shall we say that? I don’t know,” Jules
frowned. “It doesn’t signify. I told you that Star was the object
of my…”
“Indeed you did tell me that and yet tonight,
you seemed more than a little distracted by Miss Madison. It was
she you immediately took in hand, not Star. You left Star to me.
Remember?” Sir Edward said and seeing Jules’ dumbfounded
expression, grinned broadly. “Let’s face it, Jules. You and I both
know that you and Star would not suit.”
“Don’t know anything of the sort!” Jules said
obstinately.
“Very well, then if Miss Madison does not
interest you, perhaps…she might do for me!” Sir Edward said
glibly.
Jules frowned darkly, “She is not a
plaything!”
“No, she is not,” was all Edward
returned.
Jules sighed, “So, that is how it stands does
it?”
“How what stands?”
“Don’t play me for an idiot! I have enough
competition from Miles Denning…and now
you?
Star will have
her head turned by you and what chance then do I have?”
“You do not give her enough credit and that
is why you and she would never suit. Star knows her own mind. She
will do exactly what she should,” Edward answered thoughtfully.
“And what should she do?” Jules asked
curiously.
“Ah, time will tell,” Edward answered
enigmatically.
“Yes and Miles is not the only one panting at
her feet. Did you see that young buck, Lawrence Oberly? I thought
for a moment she rather liked him.”
Sir Edward sighed, “He is just a lad, which
also displays how little you know her. She never gave him a second
thought, but tell me Jules, how much do you know about Star and her
brother in general?”
Jules looked at him for a long moment. “And
what should I know?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Edward returned.
“He did behave rather strangely this evening.
I thought it was just the medication,” Jules said on a frown. “What
do
you
know?”
“What I know is that they are the Berkleys
from Berkley Grange. That their blood is noble and their name an
old and respected, one dating back to our illustrious Saxon days. I
know that the young lord still has to find his way…and that his
sister should have had a season to find hers, but their pockets are
to let. What more is there to know?” Sir Edward answered.
Jules laughed. “What stuff is that? Are you
warning me off because they are booked?”
“No, a man in earnest would not care how much
money his beloved had,” Sir Edward said quietly.
“Since I don’t give a fig about her dowry, it
must mean I am in earnest?”
Edward laughed, “Are you asking me or
yourself?”
Jules shook his head, “I don’t know at the
moment. Right now…I suppose I had best sleep on it.” He sighed
heavily, “However, it was a bit havey-cavey the way the lad
descended on the ball like he did. Something is off there and I
don’t think I would like Georgie…Miss Madison drawn into it.”
“Ah, would you not?” Sir Edward’s brow
arched.
“Oh go to the devil. It is just that…I find
her…a very fine young woman,” Jules snapped.
“Indeed, do you?”
“Stuff it,” Jules answered.
Sir Edward chuckled and then also sighed as
he played with his lower lip, “At any rate, there was more than
medicine that prompted young Vern to descend on Sefton House the
way he did and I mean to find out just what that was.”
Chapter Fifteen
THE BARMAID AT the Mermaid set down her tray
and passed around four bumpers of ale to the burly men gathered
there.
She tried to avoid Farley who reached out for
her and grabbed hold of her skirts. She gave him a warning glance
and told him sharply, “Leave off, if ye know whots good fer
ye.”
Her threat didn’t serve to spare her, for
Farley felt the thrill of the chase as he pulled her up close
against his body. She put her nose up in the air and told him
loudly, “Ye stink ye do, get off!”
He was not deterred by his and pinched her
butt. She screamed out an objection laced with heavy swearing as
she hauled off and slapped his shoulder.
This however, made him laugh as he leered at
her and as she struggled to get away, he had her in his lap and
pulled down the white bodice to expose her full breasts to his men.
“Let’s have a taste sweetheart, let’s have a taste, while m’lads
look on and see how it’s done.”
All at once, she produced a sharp and
glinting knife and stuck its point into his neck and drew a line of
blood. She clamored off as he released his hold and hissed, “Next
time, ye touch me, Farley, I’ll cut ye from ear to ear.”
He smeared the blood over his fingers and
laughed as he answered her, “Next time,
ye’ll have
to kill
me, if ye want to stop me, fer Oi’ll have ye right here, on the
floor…whot say ye to that?”
“Try it and find out,” she snapped before she
ran to the back of the Inn. She could be heard screaming at the
innkeeper and Farley and his men snickered.
Farley turned his toothless grin to his lads
and rubbed the scar on his hawked nose. “There lads, ‘ave yer ale
and then off wit ye. That’s enough entertainment for now. Oi have
somewhere Oi wants to be.”
“Don’t like her hollering and squawking back
there,” said one of his men. “Want us to shut her up?”
“The little doxy. Oi could have ten of her if
Oi so wanted,” Farley answered. “Now then, no sense taking this any
further just now.”
“We should have gone last night to that ball.
Should have prigged those jewels loike ye said. Oi know Oi would
have enjoyed getting close to some of those fancy pieces, touching
them before we took the jewels,” one of his men said darkly.
“
Johnny Raw
!” Farley spat at him.
“That’s why Oi run this ken. Whot now, should we go and get
ourselves snabbled? If we had done that, they would have had us
surrounded in no time. The gentry don’t take kindly to their women
being accosted. No, Oi jest wanted our young lord to worrit about
it.”