Page 57 of A Courtesan Countess Worth the Scandal
“There are rose gardens to the east,” Liam cut in, holding Nora’s hand tighter as though he did not want to let her go. “And there are water gardens to the rear of the house. Forests border the Manor on all sides, and if you venture far enough, you will come to a beck. There is a bridge there, and minnows dart beneath the surface, and the reeds on the bank sway as though they are bowing to royalty.”
Nora retreated back into the carriage and smiled at Liam until her cheeks ached. It mattered to her how her sister was treated by others, and Liam had been nothing but patient and engaged with her, throughout their travels here. The fact that he had taken it upon himself to describe the Manor to Lily made Nora’s heart swell in her chest.
Thank you,she mouthed.
He smiled and mouthed back,It is my pleasure.
“There is a chandelier in the entrance hall, and when the sun is shining, it looks as though it is raining light,” Liam continued. “But the clouds are currently covering the sun, and I am afraid your sister will not get to see Keswick Manor in all its magnificence.”
Lily chuckled. “At least she can see it.”
“A fair point,” Liam acquiesced, “can you smell the fresh air?”
Lily tilted her head to one side and sniffed deeply. “I smell… grass, and… something earthy, and there’s a metallic scent that might be rain coming.”
“You see, you can smell the weather.” Nora grinned at him, remembering their time together with the snow falling outside.
At every inn they had stopped at to rest, she had slept fitfully in her bed, with the tangle of her mother and sister’s limbs jabbing at her from all angles. There, more than ever before, a part of her that she had tried to subdue made her dream of being alone in Liam’s arms again. She had never slept so well as she had done in his embrace, and it pained her somewhat, to think she would never experience that again.
Even if it’s for the best—
Finally, the carriage rolled up the rest of the gravel driveway and came to a halt in front of the Manor’s entrance. Liam relinquished his hold on Nora’s hand, and opened the carriage door wide so they could all exit. Only then did Nora’s mother awaken, quite disoriented, and wipe her mouth in sudden embarrassment.
“Are we here?” she said. “Why didn’t you wake me sooner?”
Nora laughed softly. “You looked too peaceful to disturb.”
As a quartet, the weary travelers followed Liam up the steps to the front door, where he paused uncertainly. After their discussion in the carriage, Nora wanted to take his arm, or hold his hand, or show some gesture of support, but the eyes of her mother prevented her from doing so.
This house really must hold some terrible memories for him. My townhouse has had its share of nightmares, but I’ve patched up all those bad thoughts with new, good ones.
Evidently, whatever had happened to him here, he had not been able to cover up the troubling recollections with the laughter, jests, warmth, and comfort of a happy family home.
After a moment’s hesitation, he turned the doorknob and edged the door open, inch by inch, as though afraid something might leap out at him. When it did not, his shoulders relaxed slightly, and he stepped inside with a shaky exhale.
“Is anyone here?” he called out, his voice reverberating through the cavernous entrance hall.
Nora stared up in disbelief. The size of the entrance hall alone would have engulfed most of her townhouse, and this was only the beginning of the vast Manor. She could only imagine how many bedchambers, and studies, and libraries, and drawing rooms were spread across this enormous house, not to mention the secret hallways and hidden nooks and crannies that only Liam would know about.
“There you are, my Good Man!” Denninson appeared from a room to the right of the hall. “We were concerned you might have become lost on the road. Indeed, Carlton and I were just discussing whether we ought to ride out to see if we could find you.”
Liam’s two friends let their gaze drift across Nora. She could tell they did not much like her, but she was used to the scorn of gentlemen. Their quiet derision did not affect her in the slightest.
“How long have you been here?” Liam asked, his tone bemused.
Carlton raised a half-empty glass of brown liquor. “Since yesterday, though the poor horses were rather exhausted.” He nudged Denninson in the ribs. “If you had heeded me when I said we should stop for the night, they might be in finer fettle.”
“Are my Aunt and Uncle at home?” Liam’s expression transformed into one of pale anxiety. In response, Nora very nearly put her hand out to touch his arm, only to remember at the last second that everyone else would have frowned upon it.
Denninson shook his head. “The darling housekeeper—Mrs. Finchley, I believe her name is—said they had journeyed to Carlisle and would not return until the day of the ball. Something to do with the purchase of a gown.” He gestured around the entrance hall. “But the servants are all in the throes of preparing for this ball of yours, so worry not.”
“I shall have to tell my Uncle everything when he returns, then. No matter,” Liam murmured, though Nora heard a slight note of relief in his voice.
“It is a shame they never organized this ball while you were actually in the country, dear Westwood,” Carlton interjected, clearly half drunk on whatever was in his hand. “I suppose you must make up for it on this occasion, as the Gentleman of the Hour.”
Denninson cleared his throat. “TheLadyand Gentleman of the Hour, remember,” he said firmly. “This is to be a celebration of our friend’s new marriage to Miss Black.”
“Right… yes, I shall have to keep that resolutely in my mind, or I shall forget all together.” Carlton swayed slightly, his eyes misted by the alcohol.
