Part 11

My darling brother, Lord Hartington,

If you have once cared about me, about your dear sister's sanity, you will come home post haste before I throw myself off the rafters. Your decision, as much as my heart supports it, has caused quite a stir and my world has been thrown upside down. They are foisting Lady Blair's true fiancé on me, and we are to be married soon.

Daniel Humphrey has left our family's employ. I know he was a loyal servant to you in France. Perhaps you can exercise your influence to make him stay.

PS

I do not know the reason Mr Humphrey is leaving.

Hoping for your kind response,

Serena

Chuck folded the letter and slipped it back in his pocket. The cabin door opened, and he turned to see her enter in a primrose traveling dress. "And the sun enters my room," he greeted.

"Good afternoon, my lord." She nodded towards the window. "We have arrived."

He noticed the downcast eyes, and walked over to her. Concerned, he inquired, "Is something the matter, Blair? I had hoped you would be happy to be back on dry land."

She gave him a tight smile, then told him, "I would much rather be back in our little villa."

It had been a frequent discussion between them, and he knew entirely how much she opposed the idea of coming to London so soon. "My sister needs me. And all along, you knew we needed to come home."

"Of course," she answered softly.

"There is nothing to fear," he assured her. "I will be with you all the time. Do you not trust me?"

"What a silly question, my lord. You know I love you." She turned her head away, and spotted her yellow hat on the bed. Blair picked it up, and placed it atop her head, then tied the ribbons under her chin. "Come then, my lord marquis. It is time to return to your old life."

Blair turned towards the door, and Chuck caught her hand to stay her. He is taken aback by the sight of her eyes brimming with tears. "You are still so afraid. I wish I knew how to reassure you, Blair."

She put on a brave smile. "This is silly," she admitted. "And I will never mention it again."

"Blair, do you believe that I will leave you?"

She hesitated, and then stepped back close to him. Blair looked up into his solemn eyes, and admitted, "You adored me in Paris, when I saved your life. You loved me in Tuscany, because it was only you and I." He opened his mouth to refute her statement, but she hushed him with a finger. "The moment we are off this ship, Chuck, you will be Lord Hartington and we will be thrust into the center of your Society, not mine. Be honest. Before you came to France, can you say that I was your only marriage prospect?" Slowly, he shook his head. That much he could reveal. She swallowed hard. "I do not want to be in a strange new city left penniless and alone."

He closed his eyes, eerily because he understood exactly what she meant. Lord Hartington did not need to go to France to find a rich heiress to wed. He could have gone and found one in England and there would not have been the inconvenience of transferring funds from a Parisian bank to a London one. "You are right," he gave in. "You cannot be left penniless and alone. In Paris, you could come to your mother for your allowance. And your money will be transferred to me once we're married."

"Am I silly, my lord, for thinking of all of these?" Blair sighed. "It is what it is."

"No," he pronounced. "You are intelligent." His fingers played with a lock of hair that fell over her shoulder. "I am impressed." Chuck walked over to the desk and wrote something on a piece of paper, then handed it to her. She glanced at the writing, and saw it as an address. "I propose a deal."

"A deal, my lord? You will strike a deal with me?" Somehow, the word made her smile, made her feel important.

"I can think of no better match for a deal than you," he told her.

Blair smiled, then nodded. "What are the terms of this deal, my lord?"

"As I see it, we both have needs here. You have a need for security, and I have a need for a happy bride." She grinned. "Your funds are in your name, yet will be under mine once we wed. I have come up with a solution that should satisfy you."

"You have?"

"The address I have given you is for my solicitor in Oxford Street. You will ask the driver the take us there before we go to my townhouse. We will ask him to draft a contract between you and me. When you marry me, your funds will remain in your name, and you will have full control over it. I think that answers your fear of being left penniless and alone in London."

Her lips parted. "You will do that?" she asked, astonished.

"As I said, Blair, unlike your other suitors, I have no need for your wealth."

"And you still want me?"

The question, more than any of her other strange ones that day, surprised Chuck. He pulled her closer to him, pressing her against his length, then placed a lingering kiss on her lips. "Is it so hard to believe?"

Blair met his kiss, and then placed a gloved hand on his arm. "Yes," she answered. "But you're changing my mind every day."

"So it is a deal, my love?"

"If you are certain," she said, "because it is a deal that works only to my advantage."

"A happy wife is always to a husband's advantage," he told her. "I hope this quells your fears, Blair. London is not a monster threatening our lives." He walked to the door with her, knowing full well that their baggage would be taken to their carriage by the crew. "In fact, if you let it, London will be glad to become your home."

~o~o~o~

Nathaniel Archibald looked up from his newspaper as Vanessa stepped into the room. He thanked the butler who ushered her in. He greeted her with a smile. "Vanessa, it has been a while."

"I heard about your engagement," she said uneasily. "I wanted to say—congratulations. And—well—I wanted to check on your wound one last time."

He stood up without hesitation, and unbuttoned his shirt. She bit her lip as Lord Nathaniel bared the scar. Vanessa walked over to him and tentatively placed her fingers on the mark, then pushed gently. He breathed steadily, not wincing, not showing any evidence of pain. "Tis all but healed."

When she drew her hand away, Nathaniel caught her hand. "I am grateful for your care."

Vanessa's eyes fell to where their hands met. She pulled away. "I was paid generously."

"By Charles," he finished for her. At her nod, Nathaniel turned away and walked over to the end of the study. He took a bottle of port, and poured himself a glass. He looked at her and lifted the glass in offering, but she shook her head. Nathaniel brought his own glass over and sat back on in the armchair. He gestured to the chair across from his, and she settled in as well.

"You know, you may not be living in my home anymore, and I may not be your caretaker this time, but you could always talk to me," she began. "And right now, I feel that you need to talk."

He tipped the glass to his lips and gulped the liquid. Nathaniel settled back into the chair and assessed his visitor. She looked at him as if she admired him. She always looked at him like that, and in some days, it irritated him that she could like at him like that when he had done nothing noble or heroic apart from get stabbed and be a burden. Did she not need him to prove that he was worth those looks, instead of giving it away so easily?

"You are belated in your felicitations, Vanessa," he informed her. "Serena and I have been engaged for some time."

"I am not a part of the circle that gets news like this so early," she reminded him.

Abruptly, he said, "I do not wish to marry Serena van der Woodsen."

Her eyes widened. "From what I have heard, Lord Nathaniel, Serena van der Woodsen is the most beautiful debutante of the Season. Why would you not want her?"

"His grace is using her as consolation prize," he shared. "Serena is a lovely girl. She does not deserve to pay for her brother's betrayal." He made his way back to the bar and instead of pouring there, he brought the bottle back with him. Nathaniel poured himself a glass while he sat. "Chuck played another game—this time with an innocent child whose only part in this was that she was engaged to me for ten years—and won again."

"What do you mean?"

"He has gone and run away with my bride." Vanessa gasped. "That's right. The bride I had come to collect when I was attacked. The bride he swore he would retrieve and take care of. For me. He has gone and run off with her."

Vanessa sighed, having created a more or less concrete picture of Nathaniel's disdain. She remembered Lord Charles from the night she rescued Nathaniel. He had not been the most pleasant person to meet, but he had stepped up for his friend, and volunteered to take on a stunted mission. She moved forward, and placed her hand on his leg. His gaze fell on it, and she hastily removed her hand. It had been so much easier when he was wounded, and she could comfort him that way. This time, Vanessa felt overwhelmed with his world, and every action she did seemed inappropriate. "I have no wish to take sides, my lord, but it is possible that Lord Charles did not do this to spite you."

He looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "If it is a lack of control you are referring to you, I assure you it cannot have been the reason. Charles Bass has more control over his actions than any normal human. He calculates all his actions long and well; he plans and he executes to perfection—all for his desired outcome." Nathaniel shook his head. "And this is why I trusted him with Lady Blair. He had never shown me he could betray me like this."

Vanessa smiled. "Then would you say that it was rather unexpected?"

"Yes," Nathaniel muttered.

"Even out of character?"

He glowered at her. "Out of his control, is that it?"

"It can happen, my lord," Vanessa emphasized. "When two people are thrown together, in such unlikely circumstances, it can happen that they fall in love."

Nathaniel met her eyes. "And if they are in their right minds, they will immediately realize that unlikely circumstance is but a small portion of their lives, and they will return to the real world soon enough," he pointed out. He stood and turned to her. "I have a mind to visit an old acquaintance. Would you join me?"

She was surprised at the sudden turn of the conversation. Vanessa stood as well, then nodded. "I am not dressed for a visit to any of your aristocratic friends." And then she added, "Of course, I doubt you will take me to visit any of your aristocratic friends."

Nathaniel glanced at her, and Vanessa shivered as he looked at her appearance from head to toe. "You're fine," he said offhandedly.

They arrived at their destination about fifteen minutes later. A young woman, with straight blonde hair that fell to her waist, opened the door. She was dressed in a smart teal walking dress that was cut with a low décolletage, and instantly brightened when she spied Nathaniel. "It's been a long time, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel nodded and greeted her. "Alicia. This is Vanessa, a dear friend of mine."

Vanessa and Nathaniel entered the house, and Alicia led them to the parlor. The blonde smiled at the two and offered, "Would you like some tea?"

Nathaniel arched his eyebrows at Vanessa, who answered, "Yes, if it will not be bother."

"Of course." Alicia left the two to fetch some tea and scones.

When Alicia was gone, and they were left alone, Vanessa glared at Nathaniel. "You have taken me to your mistress' apartment!" she said in a loud whisper. "I cannot believe you would do that."

Nathaniel grinned. "She is not my mistress, but stay anyway. I would like to remove certain notions from your head."

Alicia returned with the tea and scones, and placed it on the center table. She sat down on a chaise and turned to Nathaniel, while Vanessa reached for a scone and munched on it, glaring at the lord all the while. Alicia asked, "So what is it that I can do for you?"

"My friend is coming home from America, and he spotted you last year in the Carlisle ball. Ever since he has been asking about you," Nathaniel began. "Rich, young, handsome, and a baron. Would you be interested?"

Vanessa watched Alicia's reaction closely, and the blonde merely laughed. "Nathaniel, you are aware of how possessive Lord Charles is."

"Oh! So Charles is still supporting you?"

"Handsomely," she answered. Alicia glanced at the grandfather clock at the corner of the room. "Speaking of whom, Charles is returning soon and I need to visit Debenhams for new clothes. He has asked to see me when he returns." She turned to Vanessa. "Does Nathaniel just love it when you wear new gowns just to please him? Charles is like that."

"We can drop you off," Nathaniel offered.

Alicia waved off the offer. "And have to find a way to return home with my packages? Charles does provide enough for my private driver." She groaned. "But I had so wished I could rest for the day so I would not be too tired for Charles. I requested the modiste to come for a house call, but I was informed there is a large order from the Bass townhouse that they needed to finish today. Do you know anything about that?"

Nathaniel was about to answer, but Vanessa could not keep her silence anymore. "Maybe, Alicia, Lord Charles placed an order for an entire new wardrobe for his new bride!"

Alicia cocked her head, then nodded. "It makes sense. You are probably right." Vanessa's jaw dropped at the reaction. Alicia turned to Nathaniel. "That reminds me. I am sorry to hear about the whole mess with Lady Blair, Nathaniel. You know once Charles fancies something, he becomes obsessed with it. And you," the mistress continued, smirking now, "dangled a new, French girl in front of him—a virginal forbidden fruit. That was a little naïve, don't you think?"

"I have since considered the stupidity of that decision," Nathaniel surrendered.

"Do not fret," Alicia assured him. "It is but a passing fancy. He will apologize to you and you will become fast friends again."

Vanessa shook her head. "It's not a passing fancy if Lord Charles is bringing her home. He probably intends to marry her."

Alicia chuckled, then glanced at Nathaniel in disbelief at the naivete of the girl she supposed was Nathaniel's mistress, because only mistresses agreed to step foot in another mistress's apartment. "Of course, he will marry her, my dear. Men like Charles and Nathaniel will always have ladies like Blair and Serena in the home, and women like you and I on the side." Vanessa cringed when Alicia placed a hand on her cheek to cup fondly. "Be grateful that this is how it is. You and I will always have love."

"So mistresses never get left?"

"When we do, if we are good, then we are left with more money than a lady divorced by a lord." Alicia turned to smile at Nathaniel. "Where did you get her? She is a delight!"

"At the docks," Nathaniel answered laughingly. "But she is not my mistress, Alicia. She is my friend."

Alicia arched a knowing brow. "Vanessa, if this is true, and you want to live a comfortable life, come back here without Nathaniel. I will take you under my wing, and we will find you your very own lord to love and who will take care of you."

It was a turn that he did not expect. Abruptly, Nathaniel told Alicia that he and Vanessa were leaving. They returned to the carriage and started off. While they shook over the cobbled streets, Vanessa called his attention. "I understand the point you were making, Lord Nathaniel."

"Good," he told her. "Disabuse yourself of the notion that love made my best friend betray me. Love had nothing to do with it."

Vanessa turned to the window, unconvinced. "I have never seen you in such a dark mood before, my lord. You are not a pleasant companion," she informed him.

"I will take you home, and hope you have learned something today."

"Are you certain you want to be alone?"

He gave a sad smile. "I want to be alone. Sadly, I will not. I have been invited to the Bass townhouse for dinner. We are welcoming the happy couple, who are to arrive this afternoon."

"Why would they invite you?" Even without having been raised in society, Vanessa could tell the invitation was in bad form.

"Despite my own desires, I am part of the Bass family now. I am still Serena van der Woodsen's fiancé." He frowned. "It works better for me," he told her. "How else can I talk to Lady Blair?"

Vanessa smiled sadly. "I wish you will recognize love when you see it. And then maybe you will not need to break anyone's heart." Nathaniel was confused at how much Vanessa seemed to have invested in her crusade for Blair and Chuck. "But you can be so blind, Nathaniel." There, her hand squeezed his once more.

tbc