Page 7 of A Lady's Wicked Revenge
Colin swallowed, the guilt coalescing into a familiar knot in his throat.After all, what would have become of Mother and me if he had not been willing to marry a poor widow?James had never failed to sadly point out the misfortunates from the orphanage and the home for fallen women whenever they rode together in the streets of London. While he was certain James never intended such, Colin always understood the true message of these miscreants:that would be you were it not for your kindly stepfather.
Sir James has our best interests at heart. You know this. Stop fighting him on this issue and do your duty, as we all must do.
“… problem of Diana resolved to our satisfaction, it will be time to return to the matter of your bachelorhood, Colin. It’s long past time we find you a suitable bride so you can proceed with a family of your own. You agree, of course?”
Colin’s eyes fluttered, dragged back to the present. His stepfather was looking at him impatiently, arms folded and moustache aquiver.
“… Of course, Sir James. As you say,” Colin answered, trying to quiet the mournful cry he heard emanating from deep within himself.
James leaned forward with a grunt, patted Colin on the back heartily, then rose to his feet and chuckled. “Excellent. Now that all that business is settled, we can move on to pleasanter affairs. Take care of your important businessfirst, Colin, before you entertain your idle fancies. Remember that, won’t you?”
“Yes, Sir James.”
“Good lad.”
Chapter 4
A Family Dinner
The Leeson family dining room was as elegant to Colin’s eyes as the first time he had seen it—small surprise, as it was decorated and furnished exactly as it had been when Sir James Leeson had brought his bride Priscilla and her young son Colin into the house two decades earlier. The long, beautiful old oak table was polished to a fine sheen, reflecting the yellow constellation of the chandelier overhead, and the tall windows along the south wall suffused the elegant surroundings in the picturesque orange light of sunset.
The sheen of the table’s surface was dulled only by the assembly of fine china and generous platters of food. Colin was pleased to see that, his stepfather’s complaints notwithstanding, the repast looked as appetizing as ever: peas in the French style, a mountain of cauliflower in a velouté sauce, a massive joint of roast beef, and a collection of other delicious-smelling dishes. As soon as the last of the dishes was set before them on the table, Colin closed his eyes and happily inhaled the familiar smell.
Yet, for all the visual and comestible beauty that surrounded him, Colin could not help noticing the tense, uncomfortable pall that hung over the room. His eyes flitted from one chair to the next, puzzled by the acrimonious atmosphere that turned his pleasure at coming home to ash in his mouth.
Sir James had his eyes on his food, as was customary at mealtimes. If he was feeling anything other than his usual dry, stoic humour, he gave no sign of it. His mother, Priscilla appeared to be in her usual mood as well, Colin thought.
Though she was yet in her forties and had been blessed with a life of luxury since marrying Sir James, Colin could see that his mother was aged beyond her years, her long hair grown crinkled and iron-grey, her mouth flanked by thin lines from years of strife.Father’s death still weighs heavily on her, after all these years,thought Colin grimly.For her sake, I wish she could learn to be happy with our current circumstances instead.
When his eye fell on Diana, the mystery of the room’s atmosphere was solved instantly. This was only the second time Colin had clapped eyes on the pretty young woman, but it was immediately apparent that whatever contrariness she possessed in her character and had unleashed on him in the foyer, she set aside the largest portion of it for his stepfather. Though Diana only glanced in James’ direction once or twice, and her face and bearing remained polite, the anger she bore him was clearly visible just behind her eyes.
Whatever could she be so angry with Sir James for?Colin wondered, so stricken by the young woman’s ire that he did not even pick up his fork for a long moment.Can she really be petty enough to begrudge him taking care of her very real need for a husband?
Diana’s eyes flitted to him, and he met her stony expression with an open scowl of his own.It’s not as though he caused her parents’ demise, after all; she should show him some gratitude for taking her in rather than leaving her to meet her end on the streets. If she does not cultivate a better attitude, she will age herself harder and more quickly than Mother …
Regardless, the mood in the dining room went unacknowledged as Sir James tucked into his dinner, his wife and Colin following his lead even as Diana sat virtually motionless with hands folded in her lap. After several long minutes of silent ingestion, Sir James broke the silence by clearing his throat loudly.
Though he neither set down his cutlery nor ceased in his attack on his plate of beef, Colin recognised this gesture immediately as a call for the table’s attention and set down his own knife to display more interest.
“So, Diana,” said James in a nonchalant voice. “I trust you had a pleasant walk with our visitor, the young Mister Dunn?”
Colin felt his muscles clench at the question.The girl is a powder keg, and Sir James simply prods it heedless of what explosion may follow …
Yet Diana’s voice held nothing but sweetness as she replied, “Oh, yes, Uncle James, it was very lovely, thank you.”
Seemingly surprised at this answer, Sir James looked up from his plate to see Diana smiling a manic grin in his direction. Before he could grumble his approval of this answer, she continued, just as sugary as before, “After all, Mother never let me have a puppy of my own. And Mister Dunn is very well trained, I must say.”
Colin did not know whether to burst out laughing or gasp in shock. Instead of either one, he picked up his fork and looked down at his plate, hoping he could lose himself in his peas.
There was a loud clank from his stepfather’s side of the table. “Bloody ingratitude,” grumbled Sir James, his voice low and full of thunder. “These are the thanks I get for doing my duty as your guardian and finding you a suitable prospective husband?”
Diana rolled her eyes with vicious abandon. “I confess, it must be a terribly difficult task, finding eligible bachelors, Uncle. Especially when I am not allowed to leave this house. They do not seem to be all that common in this part of the world for some reason.”
“And what is your suggestion, then?” asked Sir James, a threatening edge entering his voice. “That I turn you loose in the streets to … to be propositioned by any lowborn ruffian who fancies you?”
“I realise it is a foreign concept to you, Uncle,” said Diana through gritted teeth, “but there are places other than the boardroom where courtships may be begun. Balls, for example. Dances. Events in which young ladies are permitted to dance with a variety of gentlemen, who may be judged as acceptable by both the lady and her family before marriage is pursued.”
Colin felt his eyebrow rise at this.The girl has a point, at that. But then, Sir James must have some good reason for his haste.
