Page 31 of An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl
Morning rose with Miss Longacre still safely in her bed, and Victoria still keeping her vigil by the window. The whinny of the horse and the sound of the carriage wheels must have been a false alarm, Victoria realized with some frustration. She had been so sure that the kidnappers would not be able to resist such an opportunity to steal away someone like Miss Longacre.
Unless…She thought of Sir John and Lord Mobberley, and the discussion she had overheard with regards to marriage. Perhaps, they really were the kidnappers, but they had not attempted to take Miss Longacre as they had a vested interest in keeping her where she was. Sir John did, at least.
Then again, if Sir John wanted to sweeten the honeypot, he could always have staged a rescue of Miss Longacre and used those faked heroics to weasel his way into the family favor. In truth, this entire evening had her baffled.
“McCarthy?” Miss Longacre stirred and sat up, pushing hair out of her eyes.
“Still here,” Victoria replied.
“Did anything occur whilst I was asleep?” She blinked slowly.
Victoria got up and stretched out her aching limbs. “Nothing of note.”
“I confess, I do not even remember falling asleep. I must have felt safe enough to drift off because of you.” Miss Longacre yawned. She even made that look delicate, whereas Victoria would have been reminiscent of a gaping sow.
“I should depart before anyone finds me here, and wonders what on earth is going on.” Victoria smoothed down the front of her ruffled gown, and realized how bizarre she would look, stealing out of the house in her finery. Why, people would think her a common hussy.
“You may borrow one of my day dresses, if you like?” Miss Longacre must have noticed Victoria’s hesitation.
Victoria sighed with relief. “Thank you, Miss Longacre. I will return it as soon as I am able.”
“Nonsense. It is the least I can do, after you have stood guard over me all night.” Miss Longacre threw back the covers and padded over to her armoire, selecting a cotton dress of periwinkle blue and handing it to Victoria.
Needing no further persuasion, Victoria darted behind the elaborate silk screen that stood in one corner of Miss Longacre’s bedchamber and hurriedly donned the plainer dress. Although, it was still far grander than anything Victoria owned for her daily attire.
More comfortable now, she emerged with the emerald gown draped over her arm.
“Allow me to keep that for you, until you return,” Miss Longacre insisted, taking the gown from Victoria.
“Thank you.” Victoria mustered an awkward curtsy. “Now, I should be on my way, to make sure that Lord Galbury hasn’t become an icicle.”
Miss Longacre chuckled. “I hope to see you again, McCarthy, under better circumstances. I meant what I said about inviting you and Lord Galbury to dine with me this week.” She paused. “May I speak frankly with you?”
“Of course. I prefer frankness,” Victoria replied.
“I very much hope that you will be able to locate Lady Helena, and the rest of the missing ladies. But if I may be so bold; I never did think that he and Lady Helena were suited. Indeed, I cannot recall him ever looking at her the way he looked at you, whilst you danced.” She smiled. “I don’t believe Lady Helena has ever desired to marry him, either. They have always been more like brother and sister, than lovestruck partners, merely doing as their families instructed.”
Victoria floundered. “Uh… why are you telling me this?”
“As I said, I have never seen Lord Galbury look atanyonethe way he looked at you last night. I suppose I am telling you this, as another woman, because I… well, you may think me foolish, but I believe in love, McCarthy. And, if there is any possible way that you and Lord Galbury may have a chance of love, then you must not let it slip through your fingers.”
“Love?” Victoria choked.
“The seedlings of it are there, between the two of you. It was plain to see, as you danced. I know that he is an Earl, but that allows him certain freedoms—he may decide his own future, if he is brave enough to forgo the promises he made when his mother and father lived. Although, I knew them somewhat, and I am certain they would rather have seen their son happy, than watch him spend his life with the wrong person.” Miss Longacre lowered her gaze. “As for Lady Helena, once she is safely returned, I know she would feel the same.”
Victoria frowned. “How so?”
“Because she has looked at another the way that Lord Galbury looked at you. I should not say so, but I must.” Miss Longacre raised her head. “If those two wed one another, they will be miserable. If you can, once Lady Helena has been rescued, urge them to let one another go.”
“Lady Helena is in love with someone else?” Victoria felt as though her eyes might explode out of her head.
“I believe so. She cares for Lord Galbury, but caring is not loving. And one must be in love in order to be happy in a marriage.”
“Who is the gentleman?” Victoria pressed, still reeling from the revelation.
Miss Longacre shook her head. “It is not my place to say. Now, go, before my lady’s maid comes in and decides to have me taken to a sanitorium for having strange women in my bedchamber.”
“Can I say one more thing?” Victoria asked, spurred on by a sudden impulse.
