Goodrich/ Sordid Secrets/ Chapter 17/ Page 1
Chapter Seventeen
Quietly entering the parlor, she leaned against the wall to support her weak knees. A smile crossed Nicolette’s lips in anticipation of his threat. Reminding herself to the dangers of the infamous Colin Avenry, she pushed the smile from her face. Whether she wished more for the challenge or feared it, she couldn’t judge.
While away on the terrace, Lady Camilla had two card tables brought in for her guests. Nicolette quietly seated herself in the last seat at one of tables, knowing Colin couldn’t follow her; though he did slyly brush against her back as he walked past her and seated himself at the other card table. The three Ladies – Camilla, Dora and Sara – chose to serve coffee instead of take part in the diversions of whist for the evening. Seated at the end of the table, Nicolette could overhear her aunt speak with Lady Sara, though Nicolette told herself that she didn’t care to know more about this beauty in Colin’s life.
Dora tried to whisper, but her aunt’s voice could always be heard throughout the room. “Lady Sara, your brother tells me that you’ve been in Athens all year.”
“Yes, almost eleven months.”
Nicolette did admit that Sara had a pleasant voice, for it was rather unpretentious and light.
“Did you meet with my nephew, Mr. Asher Noble? For he has a house in Athens. He’s a brute of man, but still holds status in some places—though not many.”
“Unfortunately, I hadn’t the honor of encountering many of our societies’ members in Athens. Sorry to say that this wasn’t a pleasurable trip.”
Camilla placed a hand on Dora’s sleeve, explaining, “Lady Sara was tending to an ill friend all year.”
“All year?” Dora loudly exclaimed. Nicolette grimaced at the brazen tone of her aunt. She wasn’t interested in the cards she held for the game of whist, but was now lured by their discussion.
Lady Sara politely disregarded Dora’s imprudence. “Yes, we were quite close all of my childhood.”
Something in the way Sara spoke struck Nicolette. There was something familiar in the cadence of her answers, as if they were just as rehearsed as the ones Nicolette had given over dinner about her life in Paris. But Lady Garrison was too important to be like Nicolette. It must have just been her imagination.
Dora took no notice of Sara’s lack of discretion. “But you are of a marriageable age and to not attend any functions for nearly a year… I can’t imagine! You should have stayed here in London to have graced the abundance of balls held this season.”
Camilla tried to turn the conversation with more civility. “Lady Sara is such a rare soul to care more for her friend than her own opportunities with London’s suitors.”
Dora took Sara’s hand in pity. “But how unfortunate, Lady Sara, that you didn’t meet many gentlemen while in Athens.”
“My attentions were not to find a husband, but to attend to my friend.”
Nicolette laughed boisterously at her aunt’s judgments of Lady Sara—to Dora there was nothing more important than finding a husband. Her aunt quickly turned and atoned, “oh, you must pardon my niece, Lady Sara. I would hope you could be a good friend to her, for she could learn much from a proper young lady as yourself. Nicolette hasn’t the benefit of being properly introduced into society. Both of her parents died while she was quite young.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Sara quietly responded.
Dora went on relentlessly, “my nephew, Alexander, has tried to give her wonderful guidance in her life, but it’s never quite the same without having a mother. Her disposition is from a faulty degree of indulgence on her brothers’ behalf. I’ve tried to do what I can, because I am her aunt. Her family is so dear to me that I feel as if she is my own.”
Nicolette was glad that Camilla quickly came to her defense, before she felt truly ill from her aunt’s false description of her life. Camilla lightly offered with her own unique view. “Well, Dora, I feel Nicolette is a beautiful young lady.”
Dora quickly conceded, with an edge of civility only society members falsely held. “Oh, yes, she has her moments and is undoubtedly one of the finer looking ladies out in society. But it will be difficult for her to ever find a proper marriage, since she has a lingering scandal over her name so was never formally introduced.”
Sara uneasily twisted a long blond curl around her dainty finger before brushing it over her shoulder. “A formal debut is not a guarantee for a match. I was debuted at sixteen and now nearly three years have passed without a suitable match.”
Dora pressed her handkerchief to her lips in fear. “Oh, pray it won’t be the same for my Kitty. This is why I am introducing her in both London and Dover.”
“Well, Kitty has the benefit of such an indulgent mother.”
“Kitty also has a good mind to marry,” Dora corrected as she glanced over to her fiery haired daughter who was surrounded by suitors. “She’s not like her cousin. Nicolette rejects the entire idea of marriage.”
“She doesn’t reject the idea, Dora. She just hasn’t found her perfect match, yet.” Camilla confidently corrected, as she cringed to Dora’s brash conclusion.
“Oh, Nicolette has an independent mind, as too many young ladies at this age do. They believe that they can survive without any match. Oh, I pray to never see a day when young ladies are independent from their families.”
“Calm yourself, Dora.” Camilla took her hand and led her from continuing her condemnation of Nicolette in front of affable Lady Sara. “The gentlemen have finished their game. Let us refresh their cups with coffee.”
“Oh, yes,” Dora eagerly insisted.
Glad the tedious game had ended, Colin stood from his card table. He despised being seated between two ladies vying for his attentions, Miss DeWitt and Lady Cawood. He retreated to the corner far from the crowd. He wished he could steal Nicolette away again, but there were too many people humming about the room for them to not be noticed Colin had felt an odd sense of rage tonight, mostly because he had witnessed how often Nicolette had been attacked in society. Colin may have felt trapped and suffocated by society, but he was rarely attacked. Nicolette had not had a moment’s peace all evening. No wonder she didn’t let her guard down.
Deep in thought, Colin hadn’t given much notice to Sara moving beside him and following his stare with her own eyes.
“Why do you not break with Miss Gray?”
Shocked by her unsolicited question, Colin stepped back from his lovely companion. “Pardon me?”
“You heard me perfectly well.”
“Why ever should I consider such a thought?”
“You can’t tell me you’ve never thought about it.”
Colin finally broke his stare across the room and confronted her. “Sara, whatever possessed you to suggest that I should break with Tessa?”
“For her.” She discreetly gestured across the room.
His cobalt eyes darted to all the guests. “Who?”
Casually taking his arm, Saraindicated her reference of Nicolette who now stood with Lord Cawood and Sir Patrick. “That indescribable woman.”
“Sara, what are you alluding to?”
“I know you too well, Colin. Don’t be a dolt, it doesn’t suit you. I saw you follow her to the terrace. Also, you haven’t taken your eyes from her all evening. You look upon her in admiration I’ve never seen from you before.”
His stomach was on fire with nerves. Was he that obvious or did Sara just know him too well? He lowered his eyes from her in opposition. “You are creating a situation in that vivid imagination of yours.”
“Everyone else may miss your intentions, because they have the preconceived notion that you would never consider a Noble.”
He tried to laugh his friend off her trail. “Are you arranging me with Nicolette Noble?”
“I don’t think I have to,” she shrugged.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because she’s been staring at you more than you have her.”
“She is?”Colin’s mouth fell ajar at her discernment.
“I knew you were interested!” Sara triumphantly smiled, as she tried to conceal her laughter. “I think she’s exceptional. She’s the talk of the party.”
He groaned at what he also had heard of her as he took Sara aside to learn all of the gossip that followed. “What are they saying?”
“Well, from all that I’ve gathered, Lord Cawood is planning to suit her, despite her reputation but in light of her fortune. Lady Camilla has also informed me that many eligible men will be arriving the night of Lady Katherine’s ball. Though, I think Camilla also meant that comment for me. Lady Elladora has also said that Camilla and her have called a prize of a titled bachelor to call soon after the ball as well.”
He spitefully watched Lord Cawood escort Nicolette to the divan. Colin sharply turned his head in disgust. “Cawood is a fool!”
“Is that a twinge of jealousy I detect?” She smiled.
“I don’t need jealousy, my dear Sara.”
“Do you think your fine appearance and charms could cast their magic on her?”
Raising a roguish brow, he gloated, “they’ve never failed me.”
“But they’ve also never been against Nicolette Noble. This is a recipe for failure or fire. Miss Noble has a will of her own—I can tell. Also, since her return to society, all eyes will be watching her and her choices – she’s too smart to falter.Furthermore, you’ve never had the added impediment of her name’s clash with yours. History is a hard thing to ignore.”
Colin’s stomach twisted as he tried to confidently defend, “I’ll have you know, I could have any woman in this room!”
Sara’s bright blue eyes twinkled as she scoffed, “you’ve already had some of the women in this room.”
“I’m rather unlucky to have a collection of former interests present tonight, aren’t I?” Colin grimaced and turned his back on the room.
Marcus quickly strode over to the pair again with a heated glare in his navy eyes. “Colin, your reputation has slighted me with Eloise.”
Colin irrepressibly smirked, “did Lord Cawood even let you near his sister?”
“After he caught sight of Miss Noble, Lord Cawood doesn’t even remember he has a younger sister.”
Sara mockingly inquired as she leaned closely to her brother and wrapped a gloved hand around his arm. “Then what is your difficulty, Marcus?”
“Eloise is brooding over how handsome Sir Avenry is and how she could perhaps have an opportunity with him since his fiancé is absent,” Marcus snidely cursed.
“Is she?” Colin laughed and slapped his friend lightly on the back.
“Don’t grow presumptuous, Colin!”
Sara snickered, “oh, it is far too late. His disposition has been brazen all evening.”
Tugging on his fine black jacket, Marcus continued to his sister. “It seems most of the young ladies here have their intentions set on our friend.”
“And why is that?”
“Because Colin is the only gentleman presently believed to not be falling over himself to reach Miss Noble or you, my dear sister. Colin’s hate for the Nobles and past with you has left him open for the season of husband hunting by these ladies—fiancé or not.”
Sara curiously raised a fair brow. “Why aren’t you hounding to reach Miss Noble, my dear brother?”
“Oh, I admit she’s an amazing woman. I met her once while vacationing in Mallorca, before I knew who she truly was. Nevertheless, I could never betray the Avenrys by befriending her. I mean, who would ever want to trust a Noble?”
Colin clutched his friend’s shoulder. “Marc, you are a faithful friend. In return, I vow to shun Lady Cawood.”
Marcus narrowed his eyes in response. “I appreciate the offer, but I can woo her with my own appeal and grace.”
“Suit yourself.” Colin replied mockingly, as his friend determinably left for his hunt. Colin knew Marc would be successful, for he never faltered. He watched for a moment, as Marcus offered his arm to Eloise for a private walk in the gardens. She accepted with her face shades of blushes.
Sara was studying Colin, instead. She finally broke into his thoughts with her observations. “Do you now understand?”
“Understand what?”
“You can never be with her,” Sara somberly concluded.
Colin didn’t want to answer, but he knew Sara was correct. He finally turned his gaze back to his fair-haired friend. “I know.”
She mischievously smiled, “so how are you going to persuade her anyway?”