Page 10 of Reforming Lord Ragsdale
“What?” he asked in irritation when she continued to look at him.
“Tell me if all this will matter in even a week or two.”
“Of course it will!” he shot back.
“Why?” she asked softly.
He had no answer. Of course it mattered, he wanted to shout, but for the life of him, he couldn’t think why. He had plenty of money, and there would be other horses. He looked at Sally, who was hiccupping through her tears now, and then at Emma.Why the deuce do I wonder what you are thinking?he asked himself.
He was spared the pain of further analysis by the arrival of Robert. It was a soft tap on the door, as though sound was painful to his cousin.I can appreciate that, John thought grimly. He opened the door quickly, hoping that his cousin might be leaning on it to support himself.
“Robert!” he exclaimed, noting with a certain malicious pleasure that his cousin winced at his loud greeting. “Grand of you to join us. Sit down, please.”
Robert sat, after looking around at Sally as though for help. His sister was deep in a handkerchief and unlikely to be of any assistance. No one spoke. To Lord Ragsdale’s supreme annoyance, everyone looked at him as though expecting leadership. He could have told them that was a waste of time, but since they seemed to expect him to take charge, he did.
Lord Ragsdale clasped his hands behind his back and strolled to the window. He stood there a moment, rockingback and forth on his heels, and then regarded his cousins. “I would like one of you to tell me exactly what is going on.”
Sally tunneled deeper into her handkerchief; Robert merely looked around. Lord Ragsdale sighed and tried again. “Your parents have solicited us to see that you, Robert, are located at Oxford, and that you, Sally, participate in some part of the London Season.”
Neither relative said anything. Lord Ragsdale paced away from the window and then back again. “I know there are several excellent, if provincial, colleges in America.” He looked at Sally. “And I suspect that Virginia society is lively enough to provide for a spring’s entertainment. I must ask myself, then, why you have inflicted yourself upon us.”
“Really, John,” his mother murmured as Sally began to sniffle again.
“Yes, really,” he insisted and paced some more. “Can it be possible that you are no longer welcome at home, Robert?” Lord Ragsdale asked. “Could it be that you have ruined your family?”
A long silence followed, but Lord Ragsdale did not leap into the void. He walked back to the window and looked out, waiting for an answer.And I will wait until the end of time, he thought grimly.We may all grow old in this room.
“I really don’t think it is as bad as all that,” Robert said at last, his tone sulky. His mouth opened to say more, but Sally leaped to her feet and hurried to the window to face her cousin.
“It is worse than that,” she said, her voice low and fierce. “Robert’s gaming debts have mortgaged our home right to the attics. Papa has had to sell half his slaves, and the next two tobacco crops are already lost to repay Robert’s creditors.”
Lord Ragsdale whistled in spite of himself. “My word, Robert,” he exclaimed. “Can’t you resist a wager?”
Once started, Sally was ready to contribute in abundance. “He cannot!” she exclaimed, deeply in earnest, tearsforgotten now. “There are whole counties where Robert dare not show his face.” Her own face clouded over again. “And no one will even consider a marriage arrangement for me with Robert ready to sponge.”
She looked so sad that Lord Ragsdale put his arm around her shoulders, drew her close to him, and provided her with his handkerchief. “I appreciate your candor, Sally,” he said when he could be heard over her tears.
Sally looked at him, her wide blue eyes so like his mother’s. “What will you do to us?” she asked.
He smiled at her. “Exactly what your parents wished, my dear.”
He leveled a less-pleasant look in Robert’s direction. “You, cousin, will go to Oxford. And if I hear of a single card being turned, you will be on your way to Spain, to serve in the ranks. I know a colonel of foot who will have you flogged regularly if I ask him to.”
“Oh, cousin!” Robert exclaimed, getting slowly to his feet. “I am sure that if you will let me bargain with Emma’s indenture one more time I can. . .”
“Don’t you ever learn?” Lord Ragsdale shouted, oblivious to what the other clients of the Norman and Saxon might think. “She belongs to me now, and I am more careful of my property! Sally, we will attempt to provide you with a come out of some sort. There must be someone of my acquaintance who prefers a pretty face to a large income.” He released Sally and turned to his mother. “And now, my dear, if you will fork over some of the ready, I will spring us from this inn.”
She handed him some money and then patted his arm. “Well done, John,” Lady Ragsdale said in a low voice.
“Someone had to do something,” he said pointedly. He started for the door and then turned suddenly and shook his finger at Robert. “I mean what I say about serving in the ranks, you idiot!” He yanked open the door, looked at Emma standing there so quietly beside it, and pulled her out into the hall with him, slamming the door behind him.
“I want a word with you, Emma Costello,” he snapped.
She said nothing but pulled her hand from his and clasped them in front of her. She looked him directly in the eye, something servants never did, and he found himself unable to bear her level scrutiny.
“Dash it, Emma,” he whispered furiously. “Why did you allow Robert to take you downstairs last night? Why didn’t you wake my mother or pound on my door? He could have sold you to one of those ugly customers. Don’t you care?”
She was a long time answering him. The servant looked down at her hands, her eyes lowered, and he noticed how absurdly long her eyelashes were. He was standing close enough to see that her skin was as beautiful up close as across a room, and with the most disarming freckles on her nose. She wore no scent but the honest odor of soap. Finally she looked at him.
