Part 21 (2/2)
It was ironic to realize that since Kyle's return, she'd tried desperately to be English, yet found herself as submissive as the most docile and downtrodden of Chinese women. Enough of that. Now she would act like a stubborn, strong-willed Scottish female. That meant fully embracing her Chinese heritage, and be d.a.m.ned to what the locals thought.
She liked the idea of leaving bizarre legends about the mad Chinese woman whom a Renbourne heir had brought home from his travels. This was the sort of house where such stories would linger for generations, becoming more baroque with each retelling.
The next morning she rose at dawn, donned a loose cotton tunic and trousers she'd brought from China, and made her way from the silent house to the gardens. The formally laid out beds and borders didn't have a fraction of the imagination or charm found in the gardens of Chenqua and Meriel, but spring flowers were budding and the earth pulsed with life. It was going to be another fine day.
Slowly she stepped into a tai chi form. G.o.ds, she was out of shape! Her joints were stiff, her muscles weak because of the months that had pa.s.sed since she'd last performed the exercises. If Chenqua were here, he'd tie her in knots within seconds.
She felt intense regret at the knowledge that they would never spar again. Though she hadn't been fully at ease with him, they had shared a special relations.h.i.+p that neither would experience with anyone else. Thank you, honorable Chenqua, for finding a place for a mixed-blood female in your world.
She tried to visualize chi flowing from the earth into her feet and through her limbs. At first it was difficult, but gradually she began to sense the energy. Chi was real, no matter what the unimaginative English thought. The pulse of life was everywhere, and in its balance lay strength and harmony.
An hour of increasingly vigorous exercise left her panting but with a greater sense of well-being than she'd known for many months. She'd been a fool to give this up.
After bathing, Troth visited the breakfast parlor for the first time since arriving at Dornleigh. An impressive a.s.sortment of food waited under silver covers, and she'd worked up enough of an appet.i.te to enjoy a good meal.
She was half-finished when Kyle appeared and poured himself a cup of steaming coffee. ”I heard a rumor that you were in here. Do you mind if I join you?”
”As you wish.” She'd be d.a.m.ned if she would look at him with spaniel eyes again, craving his presence. Especially since he'd never noticed when she did.
Yet she couldn't help watching as he collected food. He was still too thin, and today he was also moving stiffly. ”You're acting rather bruised.”
”Far too much riding yesterday, not to mention the fact that Nelson threw me before I even left the stableyard.” He topped off her tea-a rather good souchong-and took the chair opposite hers. ”Yesterday I was thinking of asking you to go riding, which was when I learned you'd had the same thought, with regrettable consequences.”
”Not regrettable. Rather... educational and overdue.”
”Overdue certainly.” He s.h.i.+fted awkwardly in his chair. ”I'd better avoid the saddle for a day or so, but would you like to go riding later in the week? I want to show you the estate, and I need to reacquaint myself with it as well.”
Exactly what she'd wanted so much the day before. The universe mocked her. Still, she'd enjoy the ride. ”I'd like that, if your stable has a mount that won't consider throwing me a personal challenge.”
”I'm sure that can be arranged.” He took a bite of egg and ham. ”The household will be at sixes and sevens today with the reception tonight. You're coming, aren't you?”
”I can't think of any good reason why I should. It's not as if I'm going to become a permanent resident, and I wouldn't enjoy being stared at.”
”If you don't come, it will appear as if we're hiding something, because everyone in the neighborhood has heard of you by now. Actually, this is the perfect occasion to introduce the story that we're handfasted, not permanently married. The more people who know the official version, the more quickly it will be accepted.” He gave her a smile that reached all the way to his eyes. ”And I'll enjoy it more if you're present.”
d.a.m.n the man. He was going to turn her into a spaniel all over again. But his request was reasonable. ”Very well, I shall attend long enough to be exhibited.”
He grinned. ”We can both fade away when we've had enough.”
True. But they would be fading away separately, not together.
That evening Troth took her time bathing, then was.h.i.+ng and drying her hair. Most of the guests had already arrived by the time she reluctantly began to dress. She would wear the lavender figured-silk gown that had been made for the Warfield Christmas ball. It was the most splendid garment she owned.
Bessy handled the gown reverently when she removed it from the wardrobe. ”How beautiful you will look in this.”
Troth stroked the heavy silk, remembering the Christmas ball. She'd been frightened that night, yet ultimately had enjoyed herself. But on that occasion, she had felt welcomed and accepted. Tonight was very different.
Thinking of the ball reminded her of what Jena Curry, the half-Hindu friend of Meriel and Dominic, had said: Don't renounce your Chinese side. To be only English would be to impoverish yourself.
Troth had rejected the advice, since her greatest desire had been to fit in with the Renbournes. But she never would-Lord Wrexham had made that brutally clear. Though she'd foolishly thought his gift of jewelry was a mark of acceptance, Meriel had recognized that the present had been about Kyle, not her.
The devil take Lord Wrexham. She had given up trying to please him, and her marriage to Kyle was to all intents and purposes over. Tonight she would be what she'd always wanted to be-a grand Chinese lady. ”I've changed my mind.''
She opened the bottom drawer of her clothespress and took out the gifts Kyle had given her in Canton. She had transferred these items from trunk to drawer with her own hands, so Bessy had never seen them.
Undergarments, trousers, jewelry, and cosmetics came out of storage, followed by the magnificent scarlet robe embroidered with flowers and b.u.t.terflies. Carefully she spread it out on her bed. Good, almost no wrinkles.
Bessy touched the robe as if fearing it would dissolve under her fingertips. ”Oh, my lady! This is Chinese?''
Troth nodded. ”I shall wear it tonight.”
”I... I don't know how to help you put this on,” Bessy said anxiously.
”No help is needed. Chinese clothing is easier to wear than European.” After donning undergarments and trousers, Troth put on the robe, fastening the frogs from shoulder to knees. For a moment she was caught by her image in the mirror-a woman dressed in bridal scarlet who was no true bride. She suppressed a sigh. ”What do you think, Bessy?”
The maid's eyes were round as saucers. ”I've never seen such a sight! But the trousers... well, aren't they indecent on a female?”
”Not in China.” Troth smiled as she sat down at the mirrored dressing table, remembering her own reaction to the low-cut lavender gown. Now she was modestly covered to the neck, and far more comfortable than she'd have been in the corseted lavender gown. Expertly she dressed her hair in a high, elaborate style, securing the heavy coils with chased-gold hairpins.
Then she opened her lacquered cosmetic box, where the palettes were formed into the shape of a lotus. She was tempted to apply masklike formal court makeup, but decided against it, though it certainly would raise eyebrows in Northamptons.h.i.+re. Instead she added artful shadings of color to her cheeks and lips and darkened her brows.
Lastly she double-looped the carved jade necklace around her neck, and dabbed perfume from the crystal vial Kyle had given her onto her throat and wrists. As the intoxicating scent was released by the warmth of her body, she lifted the delicate ivory fan and turned to her maid. ”Shall I shock everyone?”
Bessy shook her head. ”They'll never have seen such a sight, my lady.”
”Good.” With a smile on her lips and a deep desire to stun the natives senseless, Troth headed downstairs to join the earl's entertainment.
It was good to see old friends and neighbors, but tiring. Very, very tiring. Kyle would have to last through the evening, though, since Wrexham's gout was kicking up and he might need to retire early. They couldn't both disappear. Luckily the gathering wasn't a formal ball, but there was dancing, a card room, and ample opportunity to talk with people over good food and drink.
A pretty blond daughter of Lord Hamill, who lived near Kettering, came tripping over to Kyle. He recognized the tribe but not the individual- Hamill had a hatful of pretty blond daughters. Brightly she said, ”I have a wager with my sisters that you won't remember who I am. Will you prove me wrong?”
”You are one of the beauteous Miss Hamills,” Kyle replied as he racked his brain.
”That part is easy. Which one?” Her eyes twinkled.
”The most beauteous, of course.”
She laughed and rapped his arm playfully with her fan. ”A clever answer, but not good enough. You knew my name once. A hint-our initials are in alphabetical order.”
The girl was all of about twenty, which meant that she'd have been in the schoolroom when he left England. Probably she was Hamill's youngest. Let's see, Anne, Barbara, Chloe, Diana... ”Surely you are Miss Eloise.”
”How clever you are! It was worth losing my wager to see such a demonstration of memory and intelligence.” She batted her eyes at him with a blend of teasing and seriousness. She made him feel... very old.
Where the devil was Troth? He was beginning to wonder if she'd changed her mind about attending the reception.
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