Part 7

Nathaniel shifted uncomfortably on the thin pallet. He had been vying for sleep there for days, and always it was not comfort that drew him in, but weariness. Finally, he raised himself up on his elbows and looked around the small room.

It was dark, with only the single candle serving to light the room. At the opposite end—which was not that far away—there was a figure performing the same action again and again. When he slitted his eyes he realized that it was a woman slicing tomatoes.

"Vanessa?" he called out the name of the young woman who had been taking care of him.

"You look better," was the cheery response he received, making him smile.

Nathaniel stood up and searched for clothes to wear. It was a hot night, and he had no doubt that another thunderstorm was brewing. If it rained again, he would need to assist in draining the buckets that littered the floor. They were already half full from the shower two days before. They needed to be prepared to catch any leaks on the roof this time. He remembered the devastated look in Vanessa's eyes when the last rainfall caused the leak in her home to destroy two portraits that she had done. Since she had been so kind to him, he was going to ensure none of her paintings would be damaged this time.

He walked towards her and sat on the table in front of her. She gave him a smile as she sliced the vegetables. Vanessa reached up to wipe the sweat from her brow. Nate's eyes were drawn to the drop of sweat creating a path down her temple, then to her ear. The drop of sweat trickled down her neck and naturally curved to the hollow of her throat. And then slowly, it trickled down to the shadow between her breasts to vanish there.

He cleared his throat. "Supper will be in an hour," she assured him.

Nathaniel leaned forward. "I was thinking… maybe we could go to the Bass townhouse."

She furrowed her brows as she regarded him. "Already?" she asked. "Lord Charles did say he would return with your fiancé. He's probably not even home yet."

Nathaniel shook his head. "I know Chuck," he insisted. "He's resourceful. By this time, he should have returned and completed what he's set out to do, unless there were problems."

Vanessa laid down the knife, then sighed. She saw the anxious look that Nathaniel wore. "If you are convinced that there may be something the matter, then it's best to go." She gestured towards his healing wound. "But you're not fully mended. I will come with you."

Mindful still of the faceless assassin who had tried to off Nathaniel at the docks, Vanessa had painstakingly chosen to clothe Nathaniel in garments she had collected from friends at the pub she worked in. She hailed a hackney to take them to the Bass townhouse and surrendered the few coins she had made to pay the driver. Nathaniel jumped off the hackney in front of the grand home and turned back to Vanessa, holding out his hand for her to take.

She shook her head, and Nathaniel frowned. "I'm not coming," she told him.

"Why not?"

"Look at me," she said uncertainly.

Nathaniel's eyebrows rose. He gestured to his own garments. "Look at me!"

Vanessa grimaced. "No," she told him. "Even dressed like a commoner, you clearly are a lord. I will merely stand out and be stared at."

"Vanessa," Nathaniel replied, walking up close, "if anyone stares at you, it's because they're enraptured by your eyes." She sucked in her breath at the sincere compliment. "Believe me. Now come."

Still with a trace of reluctance, Vanessa placed her hand in his as he helped her alight. For one brief moment it did not seem like she was getting off a hackney, but a grand carriage instead. From over Nathaniel's shoulder, she saw the tall mahogany door of the Bass townhouse open. And then there was a beautiful goddess standing there, with her hand clasped to her mouth.

"Nate!" the blonde lady called out.

Nathaniel let go of Vanessa's hand and spun around. "Serena!" he cried out, then threw his arms open. The goddess came running down the short stairs and through the flowered path and into his arms. She engulfed Nathaniel in an embrace, and he laughed as he closed his arms around her. Even dressed in such lowly clothes, the young woman recognized Nathaniel, to Vanessa's point.

"I was concerned, my lord," she gasped. "My brother insisted you were well, but when you did not come to the Season parties, I feared for you." Vanessa's lips parted in amazement at the sight of the cloud of golden hair that appeared like a halo around her face. Serena opened her eyes and saw Vanessa standing behind Nathaniel. "A friend?" Serena inquired as she pulled away.

Nathaniel seemed surprised, and Vanessa wondered if for a split second during the spontaneous embrace he had forgotten her presence. He turned and introduced them. "Serena, this is the woman who has taken care of me all this time. Vanessa, this is my good friend Miss van der Woodsen."

Vanessa smiled and extended her hand. "My lady."

Serena's eyebrows furrowed, then giggled. "Vanessa, Nathaniel just introduced me as Miss van der Woodsen. You should not refer to me as 'my lady,'" she corrected. Vanessa flushed in embarrassment. "My father was a Dutch millionaire, not an English lord."

"But your brother is the marquis and you're in His Grace, the Duke of Devonshire's home," Vanessa stammered, feeling adrift at the turn of conversation.

"My mother married the duke," Serena provided. "You can call me Serena." The blonde reached for her hand and squeezed it.

Despite the warmth in Serena's voice, and possibly a tad because it, Vanessa threw Nathaniel a look of discomfort. "Serena, perhaps we can wait in the parlor."

Serena nodded. "Of course. Look at me without any manners at all." She picked up her skirts and led the two into the house. She led them to the parlor and sat across of them. "So do tell," Serena requested as she leaned forward. "Something led you out of hiding and onto our doorstep, my lord. What is it?"

Vanessa observed her surroundings in awe. In the meantime, Nathaniel took the opportunity to delve into his concern. "Have you heard from Chuck?"

Serena shook her head. "We've received no updates from him."

"And you're not concerned."

"He has my father's trusted secretary with him," Serena assured Nathaniel. "He will be well."

They heard the knocker and the bell, and Serena turned in time to see the butler pass by the door. Serena turned back to her visitors until she heard the low, familiar voice sounding weary. She straightened, then shot up from her seat. "Daniel," she whispered. Serena whirled and ran towards the foyer.

Nathaniel stood up and walked after Serena. He saw Serena standing breathlessly in front of a fatigued young man.

"Mr Humphrey," she gasped.

The new arrival glanced towards the butler and then at Nathaniel. "Miss van der Woodsen." Mr Humphrey bowed his head. "I am pleased to see you again."

The butler left them to proceed to the duke's library. Serena replied, "And I you, sir."

Mr Humphrey bowed his head at Nathaniel. "Lord Nathaniel." He drew a folded paper from his bag and handed it to Nathaniel. "A letter from Lord Hartington."

"That's Lord Charles, right?" Vanessa whispered from behind Nathaniel.

Nathaniel nodded, then received the letter. "He's well?"

Mr Humphrey turned to Serena with a smile. "As well as can be expected."

The butler returned and announced, "Mr Humphrey, the duke will see you now."

Mr Humphrey bowed in courtesy, then walked towards the library. Serena led the two back to the parlor and clasped her hands together. "My lord, will you please read the note? I am anxious to learn how my brother is faring."

After Nathaniel read the letter aloud, Vanessa piped in, "That's very generous." Her head whirled at the amount. She had no concept of the figure that Nathaniel had just quoted, highlighting how out of place she was in the Bass home.

Serena shook her head. "What does this mean, Nathaniel? Is he coming back?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "Can he not find Lady Blair? Anyone in Paris can point her to her home. Any dressmaker can probably lead him there." Nathaniel refolded the letter and stood up. "This does not make sense." His hand went to his side where his wound stung.

Vanessa rose to stand behind Nathaniel. "Miss van der Woodsen, we should go."

Serena threw a concerned look at Nathaniel. "Nate—"

"It's okay," Vanessa assured her. "I'll take care of it."

Serena nodded and led the two to the doorway, wanting to see them off but wanting something else even more. She closed the door behind her old friend and his companion, and then raced up the staircase and turned left. She threw open the door to her bedroom, her eyes sparking with excitement.

He stood there by the window, holding apart the curtains as he watched the hackney roll away. "Are they gone?" was his quiet question.

"I do not wish to speak of them as yet." Serena strode towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled his head down for a kiss, stumbling backwards to collapse on the bed. "I missed you so, Daniel."

He stumbled along with her, off balance as they fell onto the soft cushions. Daniel Humphrey allowed himself the brief moment without control as he sank his lips once more against those of his lover. "Serena," Daniel whispered, "I missed you too." He buried his face in the crook of her neck.

She pushed at his shoulders until he was no longer over her. When he was lying on his back, Serena's hands fumbled with the buttons of his trousers. She leaned over him with her hair falling on either side of her face. With a playful smile, she released him and climbed atop her lover. She sank onto him with a sigh.

When they were finally spent, and Serena had collapsed gasping for breath beside Daniel, she clasped his hand in hers and drew it to her lips. She turned her head to face him and pressed another kiss on his nose. "You're so beautiful," she told him, making him laugh.

"Thank you," he answered.

She rose and straightened her clothes, then turned back to him with a seductive smile. "I hope there were no French beauties that captivated you."

Daniel raised himself with an elbow to the bed and smiled back at his lover. "Only one." Serena's smile vanished, and he quickly amended his statement. "Lady Blair was an interesting character," he offered. "But it was no more than interest borne out of curiosity, Serena. In my heart, she cannot compare to you."

Confusion flickered on her face. "Wait. So you have found Lady Blair?" She shook her head. "I do not understand, Daniel. Where is Chuck? If you have met Lady Blair, then why has Chuck not brought her home?"

She noted the hesitation in his expression, and crawled back onto the bed beside him. "Daniel, what has happened? I fear there is so much I do not know."

"Your brother told me there is nothing he needs to hide from you, so this is why I am letting you know." Serena nodded earnestly. "This should not reach Nathaniel."

"Understood," Serena whispered.

"Lord Charles wants you to know that he is very happy. He is now vacationing in Tuscany, recuperating from a gunshot." Serena gasped. "He is fine."

"There's something you are not telling me still. Did you find Lady Blair? Was her family unwilling to release her?"

"We found Lady Blair. She was betrothed to Lord Charles the very day we pressed his suit."

Serena frowned. "I am unable to comprehend. Why then, if this were true, are Lord Charles and Lady Blair still abroad?"

"Serena, you of all people would understand."

She searched Daniel's eyes for a clue, for a sign, and when she found it, Serena clapped her hands over her mouth, stifling her cry at the epiphany. Slowly, she brought down her hands and clasped his hand. "Is it true?" Daniel nodded, and Serena released a harsh breath. "Chuck has run away with Nathaniel's bride?"

"It will ruin your stepbrother. He has betrayed his dearest friend."

She dismissed the warning. "Chuck will survive whatever scandal will meet them when he brings the lady back to England."

"Will he survive Lord Nathaniel's wrath, or his guilt?"

"Do not fret, Daniel," she said soothingly. "He has said so himself. He is happy. He has never described himself as such in all the days I have known him."

Daniel muttered. "Then I am pleased for him." The supper bell rang, and he hurriedly picked up his trousers from the spot where it had been discarded.

"I cannot wait for them to arrive. They will come home, will they not?"

Daniel thought back to his last sight of the marquis and Lady Blair, just before he left for the docks. It had seemed too common a sight that he had almost ignored it. One part of him, however, reacted to such simplicity that subconsciously, the image was imprinted in his brain. It was that one moment, when Lord Charles had asked for an answer to a question that had been asked before he arrived, but Daniel could guess what it was. And when she whispered her answer, and leaned for a kiss, Daniel had closed the door behind him.

"To be honest, Serena, I am not certain that they will."

"Of course they will," Serena responded with cheer. "London is home." He smiled, because it was the only honest response she would accept. "You will see, Daniel. My brother will come home with Lady Blair. I just hope to heaven that Nathaniel will be happy for them."

tbc