Florence’s Stupendous Spinster’s Society Read online

  She felt cold touch her cheeks and wiped at the tears. Then she turned to Rollo. “No, I wouldn’t send my child away at all. Not ever. When they were ready, they could do as they pleased, but I would keep them with me for as long as I could.” Her voice shook on the last word.

  Rollo’s jaw hardened, and he looked away.

  She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to meet golden eyes that had a glimmer of green. He was blond as well and Florence guessed him to either be Calvin or Frank Lockwood. She also told herself that she spent too much time reading gossip columns. He handed her his handkerchief. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “I feel the same way,” Francis Cullip sat on the couch and was the only one staring at her. “My parents visited me often at Eton and even when I went on to Oxford. They believed in taking an active part in the raising of their children, though they were traditional in their ways.”

  “They were rare.” Julius stood by the window that was letting in white light, which flooded his face and made his lavender eyes sharper. He stared at her. “So, what you would suggest?”

  “A nursemaid,” she said quickly. The only female member of close relation was Elipha, and she’d already said she didn’t wish to raise them.

  Hugh asked, “Could you manage it?”

  Florence blinked. “Pardon me?”

  “Could you be their nursemaid? I’ll pay you whatever you want,” he told her.

  Her eyes rounded as she tried to picture herself as a nursemaid to Lily and Mary. The girls were undeniably adorable with large brown eyes and matching dark curls. But caring for them would mean leaving Elipha, and Florence didn’t think it the best time to do so. It seemed everyone left Elipha. “I can’t, but I will help you any other way I can.”

  “And I will pay you.”

  “That’s not necessary. I know the girls. I—”

  Aaron shook his head. “You’re still a woman who must work for a living. I’ll not ask this of you for nothing in return.”

  Florence opened her mouth but then shut it when Aaron’s face became hard once more. “Yes, my lord.”

  “What do they like?” Hugh asked. “What are they like?”

  Florence thought and smiled. “Lily and Mary are the sweetest girls you’ll ever meet. They like drinking chocolate and playing with their dolls. Ribbons, singing. It’s good that there are two of them. They mostly entertain themselves. I could go to the village and purchase some things for them if you wish.”

  He nodded and stood. “Good idea. I’ll go with you.”

  “Me as well.” Rollo stood.

  Florence’s heart started to beat swiftly, but still she avoided looking at him. “Very well. I’ll meet you at the door.” She left the room before anyone could stop her.

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  CHAPTER NINE

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  “Damn you, Rollo. Now I want her,” William said the moment the door closed behind Florence’s quick retreat.

  Rollo turned around and smiled. “I called her.”

  “Did you?” Julius asked with a grin.

  Rollo’s face fell. “Yes, I did.” And now more than before he suspected Florence was not going to be a woman who wished to be shared. He’d thought her a mouse of a woman when they’d first met, but she’d showed herself to have a spine when faced with the brotherhood.

  He should have known the woman could be bold. When they’d kissed the previous night, her response had lit a fire in him that still burned deep and powerful. He’d enjoyed watching her stand in the middle of the room. The moment Aaron demanded her eyes, her chin had lifted, and she’d held herself as though she were a queen. He’d watched her knuckles go white at the beginning of the boarding school discussion, and her anger had only made the fire in him bloom higher and... deadlier. He knew that once he got her in bed, their passion would be stupendous, but first he had to get her there… and quickly.

  On the heels of Francis’ announcement that Genie would marry him before returning to London, Morris had shared the same about him and Sophia. Two down, two to go, which meant Rollo didn’t have much time unless he somehow tracked her down in London. It was either that or admit defeat, and he was not willing to do that.

  “Let’s go.” Aaron pulled the bell and led the way out. When they reached the door, he told the approaching driver his wishes before the man left. When they found themselves alone, Aaron spoke quickly as he gathered his gloves. “Give up on the maid. I need her more than you do.”

  Rollo stilled and glared. “I called her.”

  Aaron sucked his teeth and leaned in. “I don’t mean in that way. I mean, what happens when you’re through with her? I need her help with the girls.”

  Rollo cooled and grabbed his coat from the closet. “You’ve nothing to worry about. Whatever happens between Florence and I will not affect you.” He didn’t want to go another month without either.

  Aaron grabbed his hat. “Can you guarantee this?”

  Rollo paused to think and knew he couldn’t. Though he always told women what he was after in the beginning, he had broken a few hearts along the way. The thought of breaking Florence in any fashion didn’t sit well with him. “I’ll take care with her.”

  His friend shook his head. “Do this for me. I need her. They need her.”

  Rollo closed his eyes and groaned. His friend was asking him for a favor he couldn’t refuse for while Rollo’s need was high, there were two little girls who needed her more. “Why the hell is it always about everyone else with this group?”

  Aaron slapped him on the back, a smile in his voice. “If I could give you my burden, I would. You’re lucky that nothing these past few months has been about you.”

  Lucky. That’s what they said and in a way, he supposed they could be correct. The last few months had involved gunfire, kidnappings, fisticuffs, and blackmail, and all of it had passed over Rollo. His only involvement being that he’d helped his friends out of their own situations while he lived like a king.

  He sighed. “I’m doing this for the girls, I hope you know.”

  Aaron grunted. “You’ll do just fine, Uncle Rollo.”

  Rollo rolled his eyes and turned at the sound of feet on the wooden floors.

  Florence came down the stairs and while she kept her golden eyes away from him, she still managed to walk with mild dignity. She had on her cape and bonnet, draping her in more servants’ black as though she were in mourning. “My lord. Sir. I am ready.”

  Rollo turned to Aaron. “Two weeks.”

  Aaron frowned. “The season at least.”

  “No.”

  Florence’s face filled with confusion. She had no clue what they were discussing, and he was not going to let her in on it either. “One month.”

  Aaron’s frowned. “Damn you.”

  Florence didn’t even flinch at the word, still Aaron apologized before scowling at a grinning Rollo.

  The sound of the horses being pulled around prompted Rollo to open the door. Aaron walked out first, and he held it while Florence followed.

  “Thank you,” she said, finally glancing his direction and seemed to wait for him to say something.

  Rollo schooled his features as he stared into her brilliant eyes. “Let’s be on our way then.” He’d sworn to Aaron he would allow Florence to aid him for a month before he moved in on the lady’s maid, and he would not give the man a day more.

  She nodded, and he closed the door behind them, welcoming the cold, and wondering again just how lucky he truly was.

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  While they rode to the village, Florence engaged Aaron in conversations about his future wards’ likes and dislikes. Since Florence had only watched them on occasion, she could only share what she’d observed, but whenever Elipha did visit the family, the girls were always pleasant.

  When she’d told Elipha that sh
e planned to go to the village, Florence had inwardly groaned when her lady jumped at the chance to join them, but then Lorena had pulled her into a card game that Julius was would be joining and Elipha had decided to stay at the house.

  Florence had sighed before she’d left and known it had been the thought of watching Elipha flirt with Rollo that had made her ill at ease. She knew it was foolish to make any sort of claims on the man. He was a wealthy man, and Florence had little to offer but her body, which she had no intentions of offering at all.

  She pulled her cape closer to herself to ward off the cold as she listened to Aaron rattle off a list of things to get the girls in the village, but her mind kept focusing on Rollo, who kept his eyes toward the window and hadn’t looked at her since seeing her from the house. Where there had once been warmth, there wasn’t even cold. It was now simply an empty void between them, as though she’d once again become a lady’s maid and him the gentleman who felt no need to expend the energy of recognizing her existence at all.

  She’d been so sure that Rollo had volunteered to come only to flirt with her but now she wasn’t sure. Perhaps he was showing her that he’d changed his mind, driving the point into her mind in a way that she wouldn’t forget.

  Elipha’s words rang in her mind. Rollo could be nothing more than a dream for her. And now, she didn’t even want him as that. If he could forget her then she would forget him as well.

  Florence turned to Aaron. “You really shouldn’t buy the girls so many new things. The old objects are likely to bring them comfort and fond memories of their father.”

  “A father who abandoned them to run after a girl half his age.” Aaron’s words seemed to strike her.

  She leaned back in her chair and gasped.

  “Aaron.” Rollo narrowed his eyes at the other man. It was the first word he’d spoken since they climbed in the carriage.

  Aaron’s cheeks reddened, but she suspected it was not with embarrassment but with anger. His blue eyes danced with life, and he crossed his arms in a way that reminded her of that self-composure she’d noticed before, as if he were holding something on a leash inside him. She wondered what had happened to cause his anger. Where she’d grown up, there were plenty of angry people. There were those who were hungry, their families dying from sickness. Florence’s own mother was still ill and most of Florence’s pay went to ensuring she received her medicine.

  Rollo looked at her. “I apologize. Everything is very fresh.”

  She gave him a single nod and turned to Aaron and what he’d said. Helsby had run off with a woman half his age. “Are you sure? I can’t see Lord Helsby abandoning the girls.” From what she recalled of the man, he’d always been kind and gentle.

  “He was crazed in the end,” Aaron said.

  Her eyes widened. “You were there when he died?”

  Rollo placed a hand on Aaron, silencing him.

  Florence asked, “How did he die?”

  “Let’s discuss what matters, shall we?” Rollo’s eyes held hers steadily, and she could feel them like black pins stabbing her against the chair.

  It wasn’t her place to ask these men questions was what he’d meant. She’d have laughed at herself if her heart didn’t hurt. It felt as though someone had just rewritten Charles Perrault’s Cinderella and told her the prince never came in the end.

  She’d admired him from a distance but what she found in person left her wanting.

  She had no idea what he saw flicker in her eyes, but right before he spoke again, she cut in. “Of course, Mr. Kerry. My apologies. It was rude of me to ask.” She’d likely find out eventually anyway. Why it was such a big deal whether Aaron told her made no sense.

  The carriage stopped, and Rollo moved to assist her, but when she left the carriage, she avoided his touch and marched down the sidewalk that would lead to the store. They walked into a seamstress shop and Florence stilled when Aaron spoke.

  “I didn’t think they’d need clothes so quickly.” His eyes moved around the small shop. It had little of the luxuries of the London shops, but there were chairs and books full of designs. There were also bunches of silk on the walls. Like the outside, the interior was white but very clean. The floors were polished, and warmth wrapped around Florence’s chilled bones.

  She looked up at Aaron. “There is a lady here who makes lovely dolls. I believe you should get one for each of the girls. It would be a special gift from you to them.”

  He stared at her, and she watched a calm slip over his face before he turned to the woman who was coming from the back.

  For the next few minutes, Aaron looked over an array of dolls in the back with different hair colors and gowns. She watched frown lines appear on his face as he studied the objects, as though picking the dolls were the most important thing in the world.

  She smiled, and Aaron’s gaze fell to her.

  “What do you think they’d enjoy?”

  She hesitated, startled by the warmth that touched her cheeks. “I…” She turned to the dolls and concentrated on the task at hand. She cleared her throat and fought the urge to touch her heated face with the back of her hand. “The white dresses would be lovely and the dark hair to match their own.”

  “Good, we’ll take those,” Aaron said.

  For the next hour, they bought a few more things, including foods the girls liked. Florence was surprised that Aaron seemed to want to inspect everything to ensure its quality. She could also tell he was nervous about taking the girls into his care based on how many questions he asked the store clerks and owners. Everything needed to be perfect for the children.

  When they were leaving, Florence had nearly forgotten about the shadow that had been following them everywhere until Rollo grabbed her hand as she walked into the carriage. That simple contact bombarded her with one emotion right after another, and she all but snatched her hand back when she finally settled.

  He sat across from her and when she caught his eyes, she was alarmed by the intensity. Still, he said nothing on the return to the house, simply stared at her so fiercely that she struggled to have any conversation with Aaron at all. When they’d finally arrived at the house, she was relieved and nearly ran to Elipha’s room.

  Her lady was there, waiting for her with her own news. “I choose Darvess. I believe him to be the one for me, Florence.” Her eyes were shining brightly as she pressed her hands over her heart. “His violet eyes are so stunning. I do hope our children inherit them.”

  Florence was glad that Elipha had chosen to speak rather than ask her questions. Listening to her ladyship calmed her own nerves significantly as it gave her something else to think about. An hour later, she was nearly tranquil as she assured herself that nothing was going on between her and Rollo and that she would assist Aaron in any way she could.

  Finally, her and Elipha’s conversation turned to her day. “You helping the earl might have given me the foot I need to get into the Spinsters’ Society. Can you imagine me part of that exclusive fold?”

  Florence smiled. “I’m glad you’ve made friends.”

  Elipha looked at the dress that Florence had picked out for the evening and shook her head. “No, this one won’t do. I wish to get Julius’ attention. I’ll wear the lilac. It matches his eyes.” She smiled and started for the door.

  Florence rose and went to get the dress, already imagining the quiet evening ahead. She planned to avoid Rollo for the rest of their stay and keep to herself as much as possible until she returned to London. She began to form a simple strategy to ensure their paths didn’t cross when Elipha spoke from the door.

  “I’m off to read with the women. I’ll see you at dinner.”

  “Dinner?” Florence turned to her, confused. “You’re taking your meal in your room?”

  Elipha frowned. “Of course not. You’re coming to dinner. Apparently, Lady Lorena doesn’t enjoy the thought of you eating alone.”

  Florence’s heart raced. “Oh, do tell her I don’t mind. In fact, I enjoy the soli
tude.”

  Elipha smiled. “Excellent. I’ll do just that.” She left quickly, closing the door with a click.

  Florence fell into a chair and took a breath. She had no desire to dine at a table with Rollo or anyone else downstairs for that matter. The day had been strange enough. An earl and a gentleman had accompanied her to the shops. She’d spoken her mind in the face of a duke, all but telling him his parents had been wrong for sending him away to school. If she didn’t tread more carefully, she’d lose her station.

  No, she would take her meals alone and that would be it.

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  CHAPTER TEN

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  “A word.” Rollo didn’t wait for Aaron to reply before walking toward the library. Noise poured from the parlor. Finding the library empty, he waited for his friend to pass through before closing the door behind him.

  Aaron lifted a brow but said nothing.

  Rollo narrowed his eyes. “What was that?”

  “I don’t know—”

  “Don’t lie.” Rollo had watched Aaron and Florence speak to one another so amiably that had Florence been dressed in a morning dress, he’d have readily assumed that they were a married couple spending the day on Bond Street at the jewelers and Rollo nothing more than their footman who’d been designated to carry packages. He’d only come along on the trip to get closer to Florence, because even though he’d sworn to stop flirting with her, he could use the time to get to know her better. Instead, he was pretty sure he’d insulted her somehow in the carriage as she’d all but avoided making eye contact with him. He’d thought to find some moment during their time to speak to her in private, but she’d all but nailed herself to Aaron’s side, which left them no time to talk.