Page 18 of One Scandal Too Many
Declan supposed he could see it through her eyes. She felt as if she had no home and was grateful to remain at school, a place that never would be a home for her, but at least made her feel safe. Perhaps he should follow her advice and allow his mother to have the bloody house party. He would hate every second of it. “Would you come if invited?” Did he want her there?
She laughed again, and it was music to his ears. “Not likely,” she told him. “My father would never allow me to attend a house party.”
“But you’re at school,” he reminded her. “Would he even know?”
She shook her head. “That’s all the more reason that I shouldn’t be allowed to attend. I have to do as he wishes, don’t I?”
Declan didn’t like it. He hated it, in fact. He would have that house party, and she would attend. There had to be a work-around to ensure she would be a part of it. He would discuss it with Mrs. Havenwood. The headmistress of the school would have to be informed either way, and perhaps she would have a solution that he would be able to utilize. When he returned home, he would discuss his plans with his mother. She would be thrilled to have permission to move forward with her plans. He almost shuddered at the thought. His mother would take full advantage of the situation too.
“If that is what you want, then who am I to argue?” he said. She hadn’t been actually asking a question, but he felt the need to reply. She wanted to please her father, though she didn’t sound happy about the prospect. They broke through the trees and entered the school grounds. The castle loomed in the distance, all dark against the summer sky. It was striking in its intensity. “It appears we have arrived.” They would have to separate soon. Amberwood and Lady Jaclyn were in front of them and had almost reached the entrance. They could see the other two horses tied to a post near the school. Foxmoore had completed his task. When he reached the horses, they could return back to his estate, and if he wanted, he could forget about this afternoon. He wouldn’t, though.
“Yes, we have,” she said in a quiet tone. “This is where we part, my lord.”
“For now,” he said, then tilted his lips into a wicked smile. “There will be other times.”
“Will there?” She lifted a brow. “I thought you didn’t like me.”
“I never said that,” he told her. “As I told you before when you mentioned this.”
“I remember,” she said in an aggravated tone. “I’m not for you.” She narrowed her gaze. “It begs the question: What lady would be your perfect pairing?”
His mind whispered one name:Charlotte. That’s not what he said, however. “One doesn’t exist.” His tone was gruff as he reined in the emotion threatening to flood out of him. This was all becoming too much for him. Declan barely knew her, but there was something about her he couldn’t resist. He was hopeless in his need to possess her, to understand her, and to unravel everything that made her Charlotte.
They reached the entrance. He had to leave. Declan needed that distance to fully work through all that he had learned that day. “Good day, Lady Charlotte,” he said as he handed her the basket he’d been carrying. “Until we meet again.” He strode away from her without another word. He had things to do. A party to plan, and a headmistress to have a word with. After that... Declan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The rest might not go as he wished, but he had to try. He needed to know her, and he would have this time to do it.
Chapter Nine
Declan strolled intothe sitting room that his mother favored as he prepared himself for the difficulty she was likely to give him. He was giving in to her demand for a house party, but he had conditions that must be met in order for the situation to be acceptable. He had spoken to Mrs. Havenwood about her students attending the party. He suggested it would be an opportunity for the students that remained at the school to use the skills they had been taught in a social setting. The house party would be a more relaxed setting for them than a London ball, and it would be beneficial to them to have that time to practice. That way, when they were ready to enter into society, they had experience to fall back on.
That meant the guests his mother invited would have to be chosen carefully—no gossipmongers that would run off and spread tales that would inevitably hurt the students at the Havenwood Academy. Some of his mother’s friends were not considerate and wouldn’t think twice about sharing some of the potential misadventures that occurred during their time at his estate. He refused to allow anyone in his home that might even have the slightest bit of ill intention. “Hello, Mother,” he said. Declan took a seat near her. She was lounging on the settee, enjoying her afternoon tea.
She set her cup down and smiled. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
“There are a few things I wish to discuss with you. I thought this was an appropriate time.”
“I always have time for you.” She picked up her tea again and sipped. “What do you wish to discuss?”
“I’ve been considering this house party idea of yours,” he began. Declan poured some tea for himself and added two lumps of sugar.
“Honestly?” She beamed. “I promise it will not be taxing for you in any fashion. I will handle everything. I have so many ideas...”
“Do not get ahead of yourself, mother,” he began. He sipped his tea. “If we are to have this travesty in my home, I will not allow you to do whatever you wish. There are things that I need you to understand before you even begin with any plans.”
She pouted. “Why do you have to be so difficult? This is supposed to be fun.”
Declan sipped his tea again—more to keep himself from saying something he might come to regret. He loved his mother. He did. Truly. However, sometimes he didn’t like her very much. This was one of those times. “It can still be entertaining.” He hoped so, anyway. “With some rules in place.”
“Why do I have a feeling I will not like these rules of yours overmuch?” She picked up a biscuit off the tray and nibbled on it. “Go ahead. Tell me.”
Declan frowned. Why did it feel as if she was acquiescing too easily? He narrowed his gaze and studied her. He didn’t know what she plotted, but as long as she did as he instructed, then he would let her scheme away. “For starters, I want you to invite the girls at Havenwood. They will not stay at the estate, of course, but they should be able to participate in any of the activities you might have planned.” He tilted his head to the side. “What do you have in mind for entertainment?”
“Some of those ideas they won’t be able to be part of. They will be unlikely to be around for the dinner meal.” She tapped her chin as if in thought. “Except maybe the night we have a ball. We will have dinner and then dancing. But the nights we have, say, parlor games, they will most likely be back at the school.”
That made sense. Those types of entertainment would be for the guests residing at his estate. “Then what will they be able to participate in?”
“We will have an afternoon soiree,” she began. “That will be more of a gathering for food and conversation.”
He nodded. “All right. What else?” The soiree was a good start. But he needed more activities for them to attend. “Besides the ball and the soiree.”
