Part 13 (2/2)
Leo grimaced. ”Wheedled out the truth, you mean.”
To his immense irritation, Lawrence was the one person on earth to whom he could not successfully lie. Not only did they look alike; they often thought alike too and knew each other's tells. His twin couldn't deceive him either, so he supposed they were even. Still, he could have done without the needling he'd endured since revealing the actual sequence of events.
”I'd have had it out of you one way or the other,” Lawrence said. ”Just be glad Mama and the rest of the family have no idea what really transpired.”
”And they never shall, shall they?” Leo said in a menacing tone.
Lawrence chuckled, then made a twisting gesture across his lips as if turning a lock and throwing away the key. ”You know I always keep your secrets.”
”Only because I keep all of yours.”
Lawrence shrugged with easy agreement. ”So why bother with the sling when your arm is only a bit sore?” Suddenly, he held up a hand. ”No, wait, I just realized. You're going to see her, aren't you?”
”What if I am?” Leo slid his arm inside the cloth so that it was secured against his chest; one sleeve of his greatcoat dangled empty.
”Playing for sympathy, hmm? Just don't slip up. She won't like it if she finds out you're trading on her guilt.”
Leo smiled. ”I'm already trading on her guilt. How else do you think I got her to agree to spend the next two weeks with me?”
Thalia paused in front of the closed drawing room door. She brushed a few stray cat hairs off the skirt of her eggplant merino wool gown, then smoothed quick fingers over her hair to make sure no stray wisps had come unanch.o.r.ed from their pins. Taking a deep inhalation, she opened the door and walked inside.
Lord Leopold turned from where he stood next to the window, late autumn sunlight making the gold strands in his hair s.h.i.+ne brighter among the brown. His cheeks were dusted with healthy color and he looked a great deal steadier than he had the last time she had seen him. Of course, he'd been lying flat on his back in bed the last time she'd seen him, but she could tell that the past few days had wrought an improvement.
Her gaze went straight to the black cloth sling he wore around his injured arm. She frowned, wondering if his wound was still hurting a great deal.
”Good afternoon, Lord Leopold,” she said walking farther into the room; she left the door ajar at her back. ”I must say I was surprised to receive your note this morning informing me that you would be paying a call. It has only been a few days since you left Holland House. I thought surely you would remain home for a while longer, recuperating from your injury.”
She took a seat, then gestured for him to do the same.
Rather than taking the chair she indicated, he sank down onto the cus.h.i.+ons beside her on the sofa. ”I probably should still be resting, but I feared that if I put off a visit much longer, it would invite you to change your mind about our arrangement.”
She met his eyes, noticing the twinkle in their green-gold depths. ”Believe me, the thought did cross my mind,” she said. ”But men are not the only ones who can be honorable. I gave you my word and I will abide by it. Why else do you imagine you are sitting here in my drawing room?”
He smiled slowly. ”Why else indeed?”
A quiet tap came at the open door; then Fletcher shouldered his way inside, bearing a laden silver tea tray.
Thank heavens for Fletcher and his forethought in suggesting that Mrs. Grove prepare something for her and Lord Leopold, Thalia mused. The repast would make an excellent diversion.
”Here, let me help you,” Lord Leo said to the elderly servant, rising automatically to his feet and walking forward.
”But your arm, Lord Leopold,” Thalia said. ”You mustn't strain your injury.”
Lord Leo stopped, looking curiously nonplussed. ”Ah, yes, my injury.” He frowned.
”Not to worry, milord,” Fletcher croaked in his thready voice. ”I've been carrying tea trays for nigh on fifty years. I can manage this one just fine.”
And although he was visibly slow and the china cups rattled in their saucers, the old man completed his task without spilling so much as a drop of tea or leaving a splash of cream on the tray.
”Shall I serve, milady?” the butler asked with great dignity after he'd straightened as much as his old back would allow.
”No, I shall take over from here. And please thank Mrs. Grove. This all looks most excellent.”
Fletcher bowed, casting a long, appraising glance at Lord Leopold before he withdrew.
Lord Leo waited until the servant was gone before reclaiming his seat. ”Should he still be working? He looks as if he ought to be pensioned out.”
Thalia busied herself arranging a selection of sandwiches and sweets on a plate. ”He may not be young, but Fletcher is an excellent butler and serves me admirably. If he wished to retire, I would support his decision, of course, but he is a proud man and insists on earning his keep.”
She handed him the filled plate and a fork. ”His sister and her family live in the countryside. They have offered to take him in, but he says he would rather be put on a spit and roasted alive than spend his last years with them.”
Leo gave a brief laugh. ”That makes quite an image.”
”It does rather, doesn't it? Personally, I believe he stays for me.”
”Oh? How so?”
Reaching for the urn, she poured the tea. ”He was my butler when I was Lady Kemp. In spite of his many long years of service with his lords.h.i.+p's family, which go back to the late Lord Kemp's time, Fletcher did not take my ex-husband's side in the divorce. When I was asked to leave my former home, Fletcher came with me and has been in my employ ever since. He has become as dear to me as family and will always have a home here, if that is his wish. I feel the same about the rest of my staff. They are all very kind and loyal and I could not do without them.”
She looked at Lord Leo for a long moment, then stared down at her cup. Why had she had told him all those things? she wondered. It wasn't like her to be so forthcoming, especially to a stranger.
Except Lord Leo wasn't a stranger, she realized, not anymore.
She scowled and drank her tea.
”I am glad you are in such good hands,” he said. He bit into one of the small, crustless sandwiches she had put on his plate. ”And talented ones as well,” he remarked once he'd swallowed. ”This is delicious. My compliments to Mrs. Grove.”
Thalia smiled. ”I shall tell her you approve. Just wait until you taste her shortbread. It is quite the best I have ever eaten.”
Finished with his sandwich, he picked up a narrow rectangle of sugar-sprinkled pastry and bit in, his teeth white and even. ”Hmm, you are right again,” he told her. ”My own cook is quite adept but not as good as yours, though don't tell mine that I said so. Mrs. Grove's cooking gives me even more reason to look forward to our coming weeks together.”
He smiled, his eyes sparkling like gemstones.
Her heart fluttered in her chest in an annoyingly girlish way. But she wasn't a girl, she reminded herself. She was a mature woman with far too much experience to let herself be swayed by a handsome face and a winning smile.
But oh, what a smile it is.
Two weeks of this-of him-how was she going to manage?
Irritated, she bit into her own piece of shortbread and slowly chewed.
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