Louisa blinked back tears.I’m not better,she wished to say. It was why she conducted herself as she did around men. But she could not say as much. It was her secret to hide in hopes it would lessen its hold on her. Voicing it aloud would only make it truer. At least the words were merely thoughts at the moment, and thoughts were not always truths.
“What am I to do about Sir Aaron?” she asked.
Mrs. Rutley smiled. “I suggest you lead by example, Louisa. You’re a bright, intelligent young lady. Show him the proper way to conduct himself, and perhaps he’ll see the error of his ways.”
Louisa considered this sound advice. “I’ll do the best I can, Mrs. Rutley. But I’m hoping never to see him again. Being in his company is taxing, and his behavior… well, it would not be considered acceptable in any circle of people.”
“Just in case, then,” Mrs. Rutley said with a light chuckle. “But I’d like to give you a word of warning. Take care. When we set out to change others, we often expose that which we, ourselves, are hiding.”
“I’ll be careful,” Louisa said.
Although Mrs. Rutley’s words were wise, Louisa had nothing to fear. She was nothing like Sir Aaron Kirkwood. Her reasons for all she did were warranted, unlike his. Everything she did was for the greater good. He only did what was best for himself.
As her headmistress walked toward the door, another thought came to Louisa’s mind.
“Did Ruth tell you that Lord Ezra called today?” she asked.
Earlier when Mrs. Rutley had left the school, the gentleman had arrived. Ruth had let the man know in no uncertain terms that he was not allowed on the property.
Mrs. Rutley paused, her hand on the door handle, but she did not turn. Nor did she respond.
“What does he have against you, Mrs. Rutley?” Louisa asked. Then she dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry. It’s not my business.”
The headmistress sighed and turned to face Louisa. Although she wore a smile, it did not reach her eyes. “No, you have a right to know. Lord Ezra and I were… involved many years ago. We parted ways, but he has not been happy with that separation since.”
Louisa stood. “So, that is why he and Lord Lenten want to close the school. What will you do to stop them?”
This time, Mrs. Rutley’s smile lit up the room. “Nothing. Those who seek to harm others only bring trouble upon themselves in the long run. Now, enough about the past, Louisa. You have a theater to save.” Louisa followed the headmistress’s gaze to the book on the bed. “And I’d recommend keeping your attention on that rather than on a long-forgotten romance of an old woman.” The last she said with a wink.
Once Mrs. Rutley was gone, Louisa returned to her book. It was not long before new questions began tickling her mind. Although the headmistress had said she was not concerned about Lord Ezra, Louisa doubted it was the truth.
It was no business of hers—and Louisa was not one for gossip—but when had that ever stopped her from wanting to learn more? The simple fact was that she just had to know.
That would have to wait, however. She had more important matters to see to, the first of which was Sir Aaron. Although she had said she did not wish to see him again, that had not been completely true. Yet how could she be in the company of a man working in opposition with her in regard to the theater?
Well, she may not have the answers she sought just yet, but she did have her memories. Memories of a possessive kiss in a library during a party at Foxly Manor. Memories of the feel of his arms. Of the feel of beinginhis arms. Of how breathless he had made her.
And of how she had never wanted to be apart from him ever again.
ChapterTen
One never knew when an opportunity would strike. Yet it had been the case in the letter Sir Aaron Kirkwood received the prior day. A Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Bagwell had invited Aaron to their country home for tea. And to discuss Aaron’s plans for the theater. From his understanding, Mr. Bagwell was an apparently wealthy man who dabbled in various forms of speculation.
Of course, Aaron had pledged to refrain from soliciting funds for thirty days. Although he had meant to keep that promise, some rules were meant to be broken. Especially when an occasion as favorable as this arose. Plus, he was a man—a member of the Most Noble Order of the Garter!—and thus could override any pact made with anyone.
The carriage jostled ever so slightly as Aaron considered a different letter. Two days earlier, he had sent word to Miss Dunston, inviting her to dine with him. Granted, he had sworn to keep his distance from the temptress, but the idea of not seeing her again in a social sense did not sit well with him.
The lovely young woman had consumed his thoughts on too many nights, making sleep difficult. During the day, he could not shake the image of her from his mind. Perhaps if he spent a few hours with her just one more time, then he could assuage the desire to be in her company. Once that itch was scratched, he would then go on with what needed to be done to get what he wanted.
The vehicle came to a stop, and Aaron went to the front door of Thinhollow Estate. A grand home covered in green ivy with white-trimmed windows and a front garden filled with several varieties of roses, Mr. Bagwell had done quite well for himself indeed.
Aaron pulled the bell cord, giving the bell three quick clanks, and the door opened to a brown-haired liveried butler of perhaps thirty.
“Sir,” the man said with a bow before stepping aside to allow Aaron entry.
The large foyer was tastefully decorated with marble flooring. In the middle of the circular room sat a round oak table with a bouquet of roses in a famille rose and blue porcelain vase. Qing Dynasty, Aaron was certain.
Aaron was well studied in spying items that demonstrated wealth, and that particular vase had to have cost Mr. Bagwell a great deal. The oriental rug—Kangxi with blue blossom palmettes—on which the table sat was worthy of St. James’s Palace.