Page 41 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart
James raised a brow. "Oh?" He was afraid to know where this was leading. He glanced at Lady Beatrice, and her face told the whole story. She was too gleeful for it not to be something that would cause him a great deal of trouble.
"Sir Gerald has asked if Lady Beatrice might stay with us here in England while he is away. That way, he does not have to lose valuable time taking Lady Beatrice back to Inverness. And thus, she will not have to spend the long months he will be away all alone." His father seemed very proud of himself, but James felt like he had been kicked in the diaphragm.
He was unsure what to say, but Lady Grace's face mirrored his shock and reluctance to accept the plan. Lady Beatrice stood and came to his side. "I promise not to be a burden while I am here. Please, think of me as one of the family–an old married aunt, perhaps?"
James almost laughed out loud at this. She was no more a trustworthy aunt figure than the goddess Venus.
Sir Gerald left little room for anyone to respond. "I am eternally grateful, Lord Highclere. I would not want Lady Beatrice to be alone all that time. There is not much to entertain a lady of her spirit in the seclusion of Scotland."
Soon, the conversation turned to where Sir Gerald would be travelling and when he would return. James cringed inwardly when he answered that he was expecting to be gone no more than eight months. His heart sank. Eight months under the same roof as Lady Beatrice? It was not to be borne.
Lady Beatrice smiled sweetly at him, touching his arm. "I will be very glad of the time for us to get reacquainted," she purred. James instantly slid his arm away from hers.
James stood abruptly. "Father, may I have a word?" he asked.
"Now, James? Our guests–" his father started.
"I think I must insist, yes. Now," James said more firmly. He started out of the room and only looked back to ensure his father was following him. He stepped out into the hall with his father right on his heels.
As soon as they were far enough away from their guests' listening ears, his father began to scold him. "Well, that was very rude. You did not even say a word to Lady Beatrice to make her feel welcome!"
"Father, please," James said. He motioned for him to enter the study ahead of him, and James quickly followed, closing the door. He gave a short laugh and raked his hands through his hair.
"Father, I am not happy about this. Lady Beatrice is trouble, and I did not want to say something that would make a scene. Once again, I wish you had sought my opinion on the matter before you agreed to let her stay."
His father frowned. "Once more, you are trying to tell me who can and cannot stay at my house–"
"For the sake of my marriage, I wish you had not allowed her to stay. Lady Beatrice is still in love with me. I can see that, even if her fool of a husband cannot." James let out a frustrated growl.
"Father, I am begging you to take back your offer. Lady Beatrice has plenty of friends here in England. Let her go and stay with one of them. Or her parents, for that matter."
His father scoffed at him. "She does not get along with her parents, you know that. And I do not take kindly to you speaking that way about my friend. I think it is commendable of Sir Gerald to think of his wife while he is away. He very well could have sent her up North and let her get over it."
"I wish he would. Sir Gerald does not seem to care that his wife is constantly flirting with other men. She enjoys his fortune and is all the while looking to other men to fulfil her emotional needs and fantasies. It is not right, Father."
James began to pace, wondering what Caroline would say when she discovered that Lady Beatrice would be a guest for the foreseeable future. He sighed heavily.
His father scowled at him.
"You are too hard on Lady Beatrice and perhaps a bit conceited. How do you know she is still in love with you? And why would she have married Sir Gerald in the first place if she were still in love with you?" His father sat at his desk, waving away his worries as if they were no bigger than a fly buzzing around his head.
"You worry too much, son. Lady Beatrice will be no trouble. I can promise that."
James could see that he was not going to get anywhere with his father. How could he be so blind? So selfish?
"Mark my words, Lady Beatrice's visit will end in catastrophe."
He then turned and strode out of the room without another word. However, he did not turn down the hall and return to tea. Let his father see to James' unwanted guest. He would go in search of Caroline before she had to find out the hard way that their lives were about to be intruded upon in the worst way.
Chapter 24
The afternoon warmth had turned to a dismal grey as she had walked through the garden. Thus, Caroline was forced to retreat from the howling wind and sprinkle of rain before she was ready to do so. She entered the parlour, hair dampened by the rain she had not been able to escape. The wisps of hair that always seemed to escape the simple bun at the nape of her neck were now slicked down to her forehead and cheeks.
As soon as she entered, the door slammed shut with the force of the wind behind her. She turned to apologise to those within, expecting to see her sister with Sir Knowles and James talking with his father. However, James and his father were nowhere to be seen. Sir Gerald and Lady Beatrice were in company, and Caroline uttered a little yelp of surprise.
"Oh!"
Caroline gripped the door handle, embarrassed. She knew she must look a mess. "I beg your pardon. I did not know we had guests," Caroline apologised.
