Page 63 of A Most Unlikely Lady
Liam’s new wife, who caused quite the scandal when she ascended from maid to marchioness while serving in Liam’s household, sat in the wing-back chair Liam stood next to. She gripped his arm and squeezed. ‘I believe Philippa is about to tell us, darling.’ Her quiet murmur pulled the marquess’ focus away from Philippa. Edward didn’t miss the look he gave his wife. It filled Edward with a sudden ache.
Gazing at the assembled group, he saw three fierce couples as united to each other as they were to this cause. He had always longed for that sense of belonging. To look at another and be known on such an elemental level. To embrace every part of someone. The ugliness. The beauty. The fear. The triumphs. And know that person did the same for him. It was a remarkable and rare gift being displayed so excessively in this parlour. A gift he knew he would never deserve.
Looking at Philippa, knowing he was responsible for taking that gift from her, regret nearly stole his breath. Because while he deserved to suffer a solitary life for the sins he committed, he wouldn’t wish that for anyone else.
His gaze inevitably returned to Ivy. She perched directly across from him in the other kitchen chair. If he could play a part in teaching her the joy of physical connection, she might one day find the same kind of partnership her friends discovered with their spouses. And that would need to be enough for Edward, though the thought of letting anyone else take that place in Ivy’s life made him want to rip out his worthless heart and throw it in the fire.
No more than I deserve.
A plain silk gown hid her beautiful skin from view. Would she let him remove her shield tonight? Might he finally trace the crimson blush with his fingers and tongue as it painted across her body? He was so lost in his imaginings, he almost missed Philippa’s response.
‘We are going to set up a task force led by the Commissioner of Scotland Yard himself to look into the state of London’s orphanages, and Ivy is going to be the figurehead. A high-born lady with no children of her own, devoted to the cause of protecting our most vulnerable citizens.’
Because he was already staring at Ivy, he saw the colour drain from her face as her mouth fell open in a perfect ‘O’.
‘Pardon?’ She glanced at him before refocusing on Philippa. ‘That’s impossible.’
Philippa raised a perfectly shaped black brow. ‘Why? What is so impossible about a woman protecting children? It is the most natural thing in the world.’
‘A woman like you, perhaps. Or Hannah as a fellow duchess. Millie or Penny would be grand in this role. Not me.’
‘Why not you? You’ve done an admirable job of defending these children.’ Millie added fuel to Philippa’s fire.
‘Which is why I should stay here. In my role as headmistress. If that won’t flush out the Wolf, we’ll have to think of another way to do it.’
Philippa tsked. Shifting irritably in her chair, she examined her nails. ‘I just think you could do far more good working with Edward to protectallorphans rather than letting Lady Smithwick constrain you to only helping the seven and twenty children here.’
‘Philippa, you must end this war against Olivia. She isn’t constraining me.’
‘And we aren’t finding any solutions,’ Millie added. ‘Though, I do think you would do a marvellous job working to protect the orphans, Ivy.’
‘What about the proposition lacks appeal for you?’ Penny asked.
Edward noted how Ivy’s shoulders tightened. Her breathing was growing shallow and fast.
‘Mayhap Ivy has her own reasons. Reasons she has no wish to share with all of us. It is late. Perhaps we should all retire to our respective homes and think on other solutions.’ Edward couldn’t sit silently while Ivy was being poked at by her friends.
Killian reached for his wife’s hand. ‘The hour is late. Let us retire. My best ideas always come after a good night’s rest.’ But the way he was looking at his wife promised anything but a restful evening.
Philippa audibly groaned. ‘Try to control yourself, Killian. At least until the two of you are in your carriage.’
Drake shared a look with Millie that made the ache in Edward’s chest pulse. Philippa rolled her eyes. ‘Come, my lady. We should also seek our… slumber.’
Millie’s cheeks grew pink as she swatted Drake’s arm, but they both rose. Drake shook the gentlemen’s hands, and Millie hugged Ivy, whispering something in her ear that had Ivy’s neck splotching crimson and her eyes drifting over to Edward.
What the devil did she say?
‘We should away as well.’ Liam took Penny’s hand, helping her rise.
‘We’ll think of something. Between the nine of us, surely we can come up with a plan that will force this wolf to come out from his den.’ Penny’s mouth drew into a determined line.
‘The ten of us, Your Grace.’ Reading was hunched over a small table, scribbling down notes. He looked up from the parchment and gave the group a hesitant smile. ‘I’m rather good at finding secrets. I shall put my total focus on discovering this wolf and thinking of ways to trap him.’
‘Good man.’ Philippa rose with the grace of a falcon ascending in flight. ‘I suppose our evening is at its end. Edward, I would like a word with you before I leave.’
Her dismissal of the others couldn’t have been clearer. Hugs, handshakes, and well wishes were shared as the three couples and Reading took their leave. When only Ivy, Philippa, and Edward were left, an awkward silence descended.
‘Right. Well, then. I shall just…’ Ivy twisted her fingers together and began to walk toward the door, but Philippa stopped her with a gentle hand on Ivy’s arm.
