Ravishing Ruby (20 page)

Dinner had gone better than expected. He had managed not to burp or slur his words, although it may have been a trifle too clear that his attention had wandered during the discussion of the season and what the best time to be seen in the park was. It had been all he could do not to yawn when Anne's brother, Mr. Williams, had spent twenty minutes discussing whether his next waistcoat should be aqua or burgundy silk. When Mr. Williams had finally decided to order one of each, Derek had almost let out a loud laugh. The conclusion had been clear even before the discussion began.

Anne had been sweet and smiling again, caught up in the excitement of London and all the adventures and shopping it offered. She'd been so busy discussing the wonders and the fun that she hadn't noticed his monosyllabic answers. It was good to see her looking so happy and sure of herself. He could almost imagine himself nodding indulgently over dinner in years to come as she discussed bonnets and soirees and what she planned for dinner the next day.

Almost.

If only he'd been able to meet Ruby earlier, but mishaps and mistakes had plagued him all day, leaving him no time. Would Ruby be upset? She had given him two days, if he went tomorrow…No, he must pay attention to Anne.

He had to admit that every time he formed the image in his mind Anne's brown eyes were replaced with blue ones and the conversation turned from fashion to literature and world events.

Had he ever discussed politics with Ruby? He couldn't remember an instance and yet he could hear her voice whispering in his mind. He couldn't quite hear her opinions, but just the deep tones soothed him.

“I will leave you to your port, gentlemen.” Anne rose from the table with a swish. Her lips pursed for the briefest of moments as she looked at him. Then she turned to her brother, who gave her the slightest of nods—not a nod of farewell, but one of agreement.

Before Derek could even bring his sleepy mind to wonder, Anne was gone and Mr. Williams turned to him. “Anne has asked me to speak to you.”

He could only hope she had not decided to plan a bigger event for the announcement of their engagement—although, that might mean putting it off longer and that might mean more time with Ruby. Only he wasn't going to see Ruby anymore. He must remember that. “Yes?”

“Anne has persuaded me to offer you a position here in London. That, combined with Anne's dowry, should provide more than an ample living for the two of you,” Mr. Williams began.

“A position?” What was the man talking about?

“Yes, I am in need of a clerk and Anne assures me you are more than competent for the position.”

“But I am not looking for a position. I have the
Dawn's Light
and responsibilities with my family.” And a clerk? Who would think he'd be interested in being a clerk? Surely Anne knew him better than that. “And I have more than enough funds of my own if I wished to settle down.”

Mr. Williams's face grew solemn. “I do not mean to imply that you do not. I merely am trying to be helpful. You are about to take a wife, surely that indicates that you are more than ready to settle down. And Anne has been clear about what she wants in life.”

She had? Not with him, she hadn't. “I had not planned to give up the sea for several years. And even if I did, I do not believe that I have ever given any indication that I would want to live in London. I have never been fond of staying in the city for an extended period. I believe Anne and I have already discussed our future. I do not know why this concerns you.”

“She is my sister,” Mr. Williams said, sitting up straighter. “I wish her to be happy. She has decided that moving so far from her family will not make her happy.”

“And yet she was eager to leave Manchester.”

“To leave Manchester, not England. She is quite sure that London is where she is meant to be.”

“And why am I discussing this with you and not her?” Derek could feel his temper rising, not a good thing when combined with the whiskey that still sang in his blood.

“Anne felt that this was a discussion for men. She was uncomfortable raising the subject. I think she fears you will try and change her mind. She is delicate and fears a stern look will send her into a faint. I know you want only what is best for her. And I am sure, being a reasonable man, that you will understand that is to stay here—in London.”

“I am not sure that I do understand. She agreed to return to Rhode Island with me.”

“As I said, she has changed her mind.”

Derek rose to standing. He was beginning to be afraid that he did understand, all too well. “That is not acceptable.”

“It will have to be.” Mr. Williams stood as well.

“And what exactly does that mean?” He was not prepared to compromise on this point.

“I think you know what it means as well as I.”

“Actually I don't. I always find it helpful if threats are specific. What will happen if I insist that Anne return with me? My family is expecting me to come and take my part in running the mills.” Not that he had yet agreed to any such future.

“I am sure they will adjust. You do have a younger brother.”

Yes, he did, a younger brother who gave every indication of enjoying the business. “Yes, but that does not change the expectations placed on me.”

“I am sure they can be brought around. My family can be very generous if it will keep Anne happy. And I know you want to keep Anne happy. You would not be getting engaged if you did not.”

Was Mr. Williams really saying what he thought? “Your family? I would not have thought that there had been time to send word to them and get a reply.” A cold anger grew within him as he began to understand.

Mr. Williams looked uncomfortable for the first time. “I believe she discussed it with them before her journey.”

“Perhaps about the time she decided to delay our engagement?”

“I do not know.”

He'd been manipulated. Had Anne ever been willing to come back to Rhode Island with him? Or had it all been a plan? He was tired of being told what to do by others. The pressure from his own family had been enough; he was not about to bow down to Anne's as well. “I truly think that it would be best if I discussed this with Anne. I am sure we can come to some agreement.”

“I am afraid she might find such a conversation distressing.”

Anne? He'd yet to see Anne distressed about anything more than a bent feather on her bonnet. “Still, I think this is a conversation we must have.”

“She does not wish to talk to you until this has been resolved. She knows that to go to the harsh colonies would be the death of her.”

Derek thought of his parent's plush home and furnishings. Harsh? “It will be hard to announce our engagement if we are not speaking. I think you should have her fetched here. I will not play out this charade without her.”

Mr. Williams stared at him and did not answer.

“Ahh, I understand. You might tell her that this would have been a more useful conversation before the weaving machines were loaded on the
Dawn's Light
and payment made.” At least the machines had been delivered and paid for. It was far better this way than if they had been a dowry gift, a gift he would feel obligated to return.

“I think you would be foolish not to accept the influence my family has. You would do well not to dismiss our power.”

There was nothing to do but laugh. “I think you will find that I do not respond well to force.” He walked to the door. “Give Anne my best. Tell her I am sorry I could not stay. If she wishes, she may send note of when
she
wishes to converse with me. If I do not hear from her I will take that as a message in and of itself.”

“You are being very foolish. Very, very foolish.” Mr. Williams looked like he didn't quite know how to respond to the situation that had developed. It was clear this was not the outcome he had expected. Had Anne led him to believe that Derek would be such a milquetoast?

“Perhaps, but I have been foolish before and will, I am sure, be again.” He walked from the room and then the house, his hat and walking stick abandoned. He had never liked them anyway.

He had not come. The thought played around and around in Ruby's mind. She adjusted the wig upon her head, placed the sapphire bobs in her ears, checked her cosmetics, and ran her hands down the sleek red satin of the low-cut dress. She prefered to avoid wearing red too often, but tonight she'd felt the need to push her dress to the limits.

Derek had not come. It was true she'd given him two days to arrive and today had only been the first, but she'd been counting on him being there, on introducing him to her grandfather, on seeing what would happen then. She refused to let herself dwell on her hoped-for outcome. She would not think beyond their meeting.

Her grandfather had known of Derek's family, had even done business with them. His reaction had been so strange when she'd mentioned Derek that for a moment she'd feared he had something against the family, but he'd quickly placed a smile on his face and seemed eager to see Derek, who he apparently had some current business with—some type of delayed cargo.

He'd pursed his lips tight and looked doubtful at her story that Captain Price was a friend of her employer, but he had not pursued the issue—keeping his silence as always. His mind might be filled with the imagined truth, a truth probably far too accurate, but he nodded and admitted that he'd only heard good things about the Price family and that his own experiences had all been pleasant.

When Derek had not appeared, he'd still made no comment, although his lips had drawn tighter, his stare more intense. “Your grandmother has invited some gentlemen acquaintances to dinner next Sabbath,” had been his only comment before he set her to work trying to figure why the columns of the account book were not matching. The simple transposition of two sets of numbers had been the answer, apparent after an hour's work.

Normally having the columns match would have given her an inner pleasure, but all she'd been able to do was wonder why Derek had not come. And would he come tomorrow?

She shook her head, trying to knock the thought away. It was bad enough that she'd spent the afternoon on such thoughts. It would not do to spend the night as well.

Tonight she would think about the running of the house, about her girls. She'd been far too distracted recently, and she knew from experience how quickly inattention could result in difficulties. It was easier to take care of problems before they arose than after.

She glanced at the clock. It was still early, but if she headed down now, she could offer Tilly and Simms a sherry in the parlor before her patrons began to arrive. A quick drink and a few words about how things had run the last few nights would do much to restore her mood. And then the patrons and their admiring glances.

Yes, she would sink into being Madame Rouge and let that content her.

With that thought in mind, she slipped from her chamber and headed down the hall and then the long stair to the entry.

Simms met her at the bottom of the stairs, a worried expression upon his face.

She nodded in inquiry.

“Lord Thorton is in the parlor,” he said.

That took care of her desired glass of sherry. She could have one with him, but it would not be the same. “He is quite early. Did he say what he wants?”

“No, only that he demanded to speak to you.”

Demanded? Not requested. It was impossible to miss the emphasis Simms placed upon the word. “Then I suppose I had best see what he wants.”

Simms smiled gratefully.

Placing her professional smile upon her lips and adding an extra sway to her hips, Ruby entered the parlor. “It is good to see you, Lord Thorton. I am so happy that you reconsidered your decision to stay away. Is there some way I can help you? Is something amiss? Was one of my girls not to your liking?”

“I am glad to see you back in your proper place, Madame Rouge.” Lord Thorton did not sound happy.

“Have you missed me these last nights? I am sorry. I fear I've been a trifle indisposed.” Men always quailed at the thought of indisposed women. No man wanted to inquire too closely as to what the problem might be.

“Actually, I was not here last evening to miss you,” Thorton replied. “I was attending the Simpsons' masquerade at my sister's request.”

A shiver stole up Ruby's spine. “Oh?”

“Yes, and I was rather surprised to see a certain medieval maiden walking with a saunter I know only too well—or perhaps not well enough.”

Ruby had a bad feeling that she knew where this was heading. How could he have recognized her? Had others? She'd thought her costume and wig most concealing, but perhaps she had been wrong. Had she been careless? Overconfident? “I am not sure that I know to what you refer.”

“Do not play coy with me.” Thorton took a step toward her, reminding her that he was quite a tall man. “I am not blind—and I did not miss seeing you slip out with that same sea captain I've seen you with here.”

“I don't…” Her voice trailed off at the look in his eyes.

“It is no use to pretend. You have broken both your own rules and the rules of society. I was trying to overlook your laxity, to remember that you are only a woman, but I don't know what you were playing at attending a society function. It is most unacceptable. You might speak with ladies of character at such an event.”

She hated the hypocrisy of men. Her girls were good enough for an evening's pleasure, but the thought of them even talking with a man's wife or daughter…“I am sure you mean no insult,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Oh, I am quite sure that I do mean insult,” Thorton replied, looking down and admiring his nails. “You have behaved beyond the pale and I see no reason to pretend otherwise. I would not even bother to discuss it with you if you had not acted as if you understood in the past.”