Page 35 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
Where can I go?
He spun on the spot, looking about the lawn, but everywhere he turned, he was reminded of the time he’d spent recently with Christianna by his side. Whether it was the portrait sketching down by the lake or back inside the parlour, he could not think of a single place where a memory of the time they had spent together would not haunt him.
I do not have to stay here. I can just go home.
The delicious idea appealed to Phineas at once. While he was meant to stay for the wedding so he could stand at Percival’s side, he knew no one would miss him. He had come to show his support and meet his brother’s bride. He’d done all that and more, so now, he could return to London. As he stomped through the yard, heading toward the stables, he heard someone calling his name.
“Phineas! Phineas! My boy!”
Had it been anyone other than Uncle Felton, Phineas might have ignored them and kept right on walking. But he slowed his pace at once and turned to see his friend wandering down the same pathway, waving a hand lightly in the air.
“Where are you going?” Uncle Felton asked as he came upon Phineas. “Were you thinking of doing a bit of riding this morning?”
“No…well, maybe,” Phineas replied somewhat uneasily. “I was going to leave, if truth be told.”
“Leave?” Lord Linfield asked as he reeled back and looked at Phineas curiously. “As in…you were going into town?”
Phineas shook his head. “Not Bixby…I cannot.” He had forgotten all about the time he’d spent with Christianna at the library in town. “I need to…get out of here.” He knew this was not a suitable response for his friend, who was left just staring at him, waiting for him to explain more fully, but Phineas was not sure how to go about doing such a thing. “Excuse me,” he said as he took another step away from Bixby Hall.
“Do you mean you are leaving…altogether? Returning to London?” Felton asked as he marched right after Phineas. He stopped walking once more and turned to face his friend.
“I think I must,” Phineas said as a weary sigh escaped his lips. “I cannot stay on here…not feeling as I do.”
“Are you unwell?” Felton asked as he peered closely at Phineas.
“I am perfectly fine,” Phineas muttered. “Were it not for my broken heart, I should be happy as a clam.”
“Oh,” Felton pulled the word out long, demonstrating his understanding. “I see. Things with Lady Christianna have finally come to a head and—”
“You knew I had feelings for her?” Phineas asked.
Felton lifted one shoulder in an evasive shrug. “You spoke well of her and told me you admired her greatly. And besides, my boy. I do have eyes. I could see that you were not just spending time with her for Percy’s sake.”
“Percy.” Phineas nearly spat out the word. “Why does he get to have everything he wants, and the rest of us have to…?”
“Have to what?” Uncle Felton prompted. “Come, Phineas. It is reasonable to believe that two like-minded people, such as you and Lady Christianna, should get along so well. So, I do not think these feelings you have developed for the lady are unnatural, but you must not take your ire out on your brother. He has plenty of problems of his own without you heaping more at his feet.”
“But he does not love her as I do,” Phineas argued.
Uncle Felton’s eyebrows sprang up in shock. “YouloveLady Christianna?”
“I…I think I do,” Phineas confessed.
“Come,” Felton said as he nodded his head gravely. “Walk with me. There is something I would like to share with you, something I perhaps should have told you long ago. I think that in knowing this old story, you will look differently upon your situation with your brother and—”
“Oy!” As if they had said the devil’s name one too many times, Percy appeared out of nowhere. He was striding across the lawn, holding his hand in the air as if to beckon them to his side. Phineas flatly refused to budge an inch.
He may be the master of this manor, but he cannot make me rush to his side as he can all the others.
“Hello!” Uncle Felton called as Percy came upon them. “I did not expect to see you out here just now. I thought your mother said there were some wedding arrangements that needed to be made. Something about the musicians….”
Percy shook his head, dismissing the statement completely. “We have plenty of musicians about the house already. Why, we have had dancing nearly every night. Why must we hire someone special to play at the wedding?”
“Well,” Uncle Felton began in a most pragmatic tone of voice, “it is my understanding that ladies, on their wedding day, like to—”
“I do not wish to speak of that infernal wedding anymore,” Percy interrupted, and his words rang with authority. “I have had just about enough of this wedding nonsense.”
“Really?” Phineas challenged. “I thought you were enjoying yourself immensely.”
