he lacked finesse. He wore a fine brocade coat in Richard’s favourite sapphire blue, with a heavily embroidered waistcoat underneath, the brilliants catching the candlelight and making a fine display. He wore his wig with an air but pushed slightly back to reveal the gleam of pure gold hair. He glanced around the room, something Richard would never have done, and headed in our direction. His victims. I didn’t have to look to know that Richard was tracking him and probably moving closer.
I decided not to walk away or give him the cut direct. “Hold firm,” I said.
“Completely,” Steven replied, and then John was on us.
John gave me a bow so deep I considered it mocking, and his flourish left no stone unturned in its elaboration. In return, I gave him a polite nod. As his superior in age and rank, I was not required to do more. He rose and smiled at us. “So fortunate to find you here together.”
“How so?” I spread my fan, ready to deploy it.
“Since I helped you to grow so close last year, I imagine you have seen much of each other.”
“Only as old friends might,” Steven said. “We have no especial fondness for each other.”
I disliked what he said but appreciated the sentiment. Steven was moving into a defensive stance, something John would use. I wasn’t wrong.
“Oh, but I think I could help to persuade you.” He turned a face of sunny contentment on to me. “So what do I call you? Mama-in-law?”
Too crude. “Your ladyship will do. I can claim no particular relationship with you.” I didn’t add nor would I want to . I didn’t have to. He knew.
“I think we might get to know each other well. Since there’s no claim between us, does that mean I can court you as my father did once?”
Bastard. “I’m afraid I don’t accept any serious approaches. If you were accustomed to society, you would know that.”
“But it could be amusing to try. You cannot tell me I’d be the first to make the attempt to storm your walls.”
“You would suffer the same fate as all the others.” I wouldn’t let him drive me to distraction. He’d threatened me with rape and murder once, and he wanted me to remember—I could see it in the depths of his cool grey eyes. I remembered all right, and sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it. I’d probably never forget. But now, bolstered by my training and experiences since I’d married Richard, I looked down my nose at him and flicked my fan into action with a satisfying snap. “Besides, your youth, while amusing, isn’t indicative of a promise of passion.” I knew as soon as the words left my mouth that I shouldn’t have said that.
“In fact, I’m old enough to be your son. Or your husband’s son. Isn’t that true?”
I tried to remedy the situation. Enough people stood around us conversing quietly for me to know that ears were flapping wildly and everything I said now would spread, especially if I said anything foolish. I took a second to quell my spurt of temper. “He is a father, as you know. Our daughter awaits us in her nursery.” I wanted to leave then, but Steven remained when I turned to him in an obvious hint for him to offer me his arm and usher me away. The expression of resignation on his features told me who was approaching.
“Why, Sir John!” Julia’s happy voice interrupted our reverie. At least with more people around I could get away easier. If I had shown any sign of distress, Richard would have come for me, but if he had, it would have shown our discomfort and given John free rein over us both. He didn’t deserve that kind of attention. Julia gave John her hand to kiss and he performed his elaborate bow over it. Not quite as low as the one he’d bestowed on me.
“Not Sir John, ma’am, merely Mr. Kneller. Sir John was my guardian. Dear lady, such a pleasure to see you again.”
Julia shot her husband a look of such triumph I knew my initial instincts were true. All was not right between
I decided not to walk away or give him the cut direct. “Hold firm,” I said.
“Completely,” Steven replied, and then John was on us.
John gave me a bow so deep I considered it mocking, and his flourish left no stone unturned in its elaboration. In return, I gave him a polite nod. As his superior in age and rank, I was not required to do more. He rose and smiled at us. “So fortunate to find you here together.”
“How so?” I spread my fan, ready to deploy it.
“Since I helped you to grow so close last year, I imagine you have seen much of each other.”
“Only as old friends might,” Steven said. “We have no especial fondness for each other.”
I disliked what he said but appreciated the sentiment. Steven was moving into a defensive stance, something John would use. I wasn’t wrong.
“Oh, but I think I could help to persuade you.” He turned a face of sunny contentment on to me. “So what do I call you? Mama-in-law?”
Too crude. “Your ladyship will do. I can claim no particular relationship with you.” I didn’t add nor would I want to . I didn’t have to. He knew.
“I think we might get to know each other well. Since there’s no claim between us, does that mean I can court you as my father did once?”
Bastard. “I’m afraid I don’t accept any serious approaches. If you were accustomed to society, you would know that.”
“But it could be amusing to try. You cannot tell me I’d be the first to make the attempt to storm your walls.”
“You would suffer the same fate as all the others.” I wouldn’t let him drive me to distraction. He’d threatened me with rape and murder once, and he wanted me to remember—I could see it in the depths of his cool grey eyes. I remembered all right, and sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it. I’d probably never forget. But now, bolstered by my training and experiences since I’d married Richard, I looked down my nose at him and flicked my fan into action with a satisfying snap. “Besides, your youth, while amusing, isn’t indicative of a promise of passion.” I knew as soon as the words left my mouth that I shouldn’t have said that.
“In fact, I’m old enough to be your son. Or your husband’s son. Isn’t that true?”
I tried to remedy the situation. Enough people stood around us conversing quietly for me to know that ears were flapping wildly and everything I said now would spread, especially if I said anything foolish. I took a second to quell my spurt of temper. “He is a father, as you know. Our daughter awaits us in her nursery.” I wanted to leave then, but Steven remained when I turned to him in an obvious hint for him to offer me his arm and usher me away. The expression of resignation on his features told me who was approaching.
“Why, Sir John!” Julia’s happy voice interrupted our reverie. At least with more people around I could get away easier. If I had shown any sign of distress, Richard would have come for me, but if he had, it would have shown our discomfort and given John free rein over us both. He didn’t deserve that kind of attention. Julia gave John her hand to kiss and he performed his elaborate bow over it. Not quite as low as the one he’d bestowed on me.
“Not Sir John, ma’am, merely Mr. Kneller. Sir John was my guardian. Dear lady, such a pleasure to see you again.”
Julia shot her husband a look of such triumph I knew my initial instincts were true. All was not right between
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