Lady Vivian Defies a Duke - By Samantha Grace Page 0,3
are you about?”
“Oh, Winnie. I’m in a real pickle. Lord Ellis will arrive at our front door in a matter of moments. We must hurry.”
“Lord Ellis? But he isn’t expected until next week.” Winnie planted her feet, jerking Vivi to a stop. Her brow furrowed as she captured Vivi’s face and peered into her eyes. “You didn’t knock your head, did you?”
Vivi brushed her maid’s hands away. “I haven’t lost my senses. Let’s go.”
Fingers of lightning stretched toward the ground, and thunder made the earth below them shudder.
Her maid clung to her arm. “We should hurry, my lady.”
“That is what I’ve been trying to say. Lord Ellis ambushed me at the spring, and he is on his way to Brighthurst House.”
Winnie’s eyes grew as round as shillings. “Merciful heavens, the earl discovered you in your chemise? Oh dear. This is beyond horrifying.”
“You’re not comforting me.” Clasping hands, they ran for the dower house as the wind whipped through the meadow and plastered Vivi’s wet gown against her. The first raindrops splattered the dirt as they reached the house and slipped inside.
Vivi shivered, and her maid put an arm around her shoulders. “Come upstairs, Lady Vivian, before you catch your death.”
At this point, death might be the easier solution. “Ash will send me to the nunnery for certain this time.”
Winnie squeezed her tight. “Well then, he will have to send me too. I’ll not let you wreck havoc on those poor Sisters of Mercy alone.”
Vivi almost laughed, but it was hard to find much humor in her complete ruin. “You would do that for me, Win? Perhaps it wouldn’t be terrible if you were with me.”
“Phoo!” Her maid flicked her hand. “We’ll come up with some way to get out of this. But first, let’s change you out of these wet clothes.”
They ascended the stairs side by side and bustled down the corridor to Vivi’s bedchamber. Once the door closed, Vivi wrestled with her damp gown. Winnie hurried forward to assist. With her soiled gown discarded and a dry one donned, Vivi rushed to the window to search for signs of Lord Ellis. The gravel drive was deserted.
“Egads. It’s raining like the devil.”
A blinding flash and boom caused her to jump back with a scream.
Rain pinged against the glass, deafening with its intensity, and dark clouds blotted out the sunlight.
“Tell everyone we must put lights in every window.”
“Yes, my lady.”
A deep rumble vibrated the windowpanes. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
Surely Lord Ellis would throttle her for deceiving him.
If he survived.
26 August 1818
Dear Lady Brighthurst,
I am writing to inform you of a change in plans. Lord Ellis’s journey has been delayed, so he will no longer be calling at Brighthurst House. Fortunately, there has been a change in my schedule as well, and I will be free to make Lady Vivian’s acquaintance in two days’ time.
I apologize in advance for my lack of forewarning, but I have only a brief period of time in which I may visit. I do hope my presence is not a burden to you.
I have also written to Lady Vivian’s brother in London to apprise him of my visit.
Sincerely,
Foxhaven
Two
Vivi sent her maid downstairs to inform the other servants of Lord Ellis’s impending arrival. Meanwhile, she wanted to check in on Cousin Patrice, who had been ill since yesterday.
She knocked on Patrice’s door and strained to hear a response. Easing the door open, she slipped inside and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dusky light.
“May I come in?”
“Vivi,” her cousin croaked then coughed with such violence, Vivi feared she might expel a lung.
She rushed to the side table to pour a glass of water. “Oh for heaven’s sake. Where is Bea? You shouldn’t be left alone.”
Patrice struggled to prop herself up on the bed pillows. Her breathing sounded ragged in the silence of the chamber. Perhaps Vivi should have the doctor retrieved again. “I sent Bea away,” Patrice said.
“Whatever were you thinking?” Vivi lifted the glass to her cousin’s lips to allow her a small sip. “You need her help.”
Patrice waved her off when she tried to give her another drink. “Bea is just a girl and frightened out of her wits. Besides, her mumblings about me dying and coming back to haunt her were beginning to annoy me.”
Vivi replaced the glass on the side table and huffed. “Silly girl and her ridiculous superstitions. Why, if you were to haunt anyone, I would think it would be that dreadful Mrs. Honeywell.”