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Chapter Four
After the guests of Everlancor finished their meals, the Baron insisted that the male delegation join him for a smoke in the lounge while the ladies carried on their conversations in the parlor. As they filed out two at a time from the dining hall, Vera was caught off guard by Mr. Bennett’s sudden appearance at her side. She fumbled slightly, and he reacted instinctively, grabbing her by the bare skin of her elbow to keep her grounded.
Vera nearly gasped at the warmth of his palm and the beseeching look of his eyes. They were still the golden color that she recollected, that left her short of breath. But Vera had long ago trained herself against such petty acts of interaction and, straightening her bodice, she gently pulled her arm from his reach and forced a kind smile. “I thank you, sir, for your kindness.”
Mr. Bennett couldn’t help but express his immense pleasure at the sound of her voice. It reminded him of dew-covered mornings and of their romps through the early tides of Blackpool. He wanted to laugh, call her fault. It was obvious she was all propriety and no longer familiar. She fancied nothing from him. But he bowed like a proper gentleman, flashing her a rather impertinent smile on the way up from his stance, and then proceeded to join the rest of the company of men to the lounge.
Silently Vera blasphemed every limb and every word of Thomas Bennett, leaving her so hectically shaken and breathless. And such an unbecoming smile! Why did he believe he could act so disruptively, looking at her in such a deliberate way?
Giving herself a slight shake, she was the last to arrive in the parlor, amid many inquisitive glances as to her tardiness. Vera took a seat beside her mother, smoothing the same wrinkle in her skirt repeatedly to avoid the piercing stares of her fellow ladies. Inside her, her feelings were tattered to mere shreds of what they once were. She hadn’t prepared herself for his touch, his smile—the things she had once cherished but now detested. It was too much for such a damaged soul as she had. It hadn’t been enough time for the wounds to heal and now at his reentrance into her life, the wounds were opened with a cruelty that left her dazed and perplexed. How could he be so unchanged? How could he be so unmoved by the sight of her? Did he have no shame? No heart?
As the ladies continued to chat of uniformed things, Vera felt her gaze being drawn to the windowpane, where the moon was a slice in the velvet expanse. She wanted to escape; to run to her home and never endure his acquaintance again. He was too unkind to her, to think that he couldn’t effect her. Did he not remember the ardor they had; the affection they shared? Or was that all a dream… was he really just a demon in her past come to haunt her like her father did her mother?
Vera did not know, and was mercifully coaxed from these thoughts by Mrs. Adams, who urged her to participate in the gibberish dialogue. Vera joined in the best she could, with the insistent thoughts she had. She needed time to collect herself again, but she would not surrender to his spiteful ways. Thomas Bennett wanted to make her wane under his power.
With the resolution not to give in to Mr. Bennett’s demands, she sat taller and when the men rejoined them, she looked him evenly in the face and saw with fulfillment his wavering of expression. As it was late in the evening, this was where the party divided.
Admiral Yalmire was taking harbor at Everlancor, as Vera soon learned, and when they departed, he bade them a farewell and when he asked for Vera’s hand in good-bye, she almost resisted. She nearly forgot her place, but she quickly recovered and let the malicious creature kiss her hand before stepping back.
When they were at the door, the Baron expressing repeatedly his delight at their company and urging them to return, Vera met Bennett’s eye. He tipped his head in parting, but she did not curtsy. She narrowed her eyes slightly, to warn him away, but always being the man of witty tendencies, he smiled and winked audaciously at her, making her jaw drop slightly away from its upper companion.
Then they were gone and the last Vera heard was Mr. Bennett’s laugh as he found amusement in something Admiral Yalmire stated.
<<>>
The following morning, Vera sought consolation in her Shakespearean novels, losing herself in the world of murder and romance and deceit. She didn’t apprehended the hours she spent and was brought to concentration when her mother returned from another outing with Lady Darnold, entering the room with a very cheery countenance that drew Vera’s attention with more vigor.
“Vera, I have grand news. Very grand news.”
“My mother, what is it?”
“Lady Darnold has invited us to join her to the opening of a new showing at the Opera.”
Vera’s interested was piqued two-fold at this news. “The Opera? How grand!”
“’Tis is. I am monstrous pleased with her.”
Vera could only smile. Maybe life in London did hold good-fortune. She hadn’t been to an Opera before and she could join in her mother’s gaiety at the thought of such excitement unfolding.
At that moment, one of the maids entered, announcing that they had a visitor. Perplexed and a tad curious, Mrs. Adams stood at the declaration and both mother and daughter were pleasantly surprised at the arrival of Miss Maria Darnold.
“Miss Maria, how thoughtful of you to company us.”
Vera stood and welcomed her warmly. She had liked the impression that Lady Darnold’s widowed sister gave at the dinner the night previous. She wasn’t gregarious, and yet, she wasn’t introverted. She had a stable mind and, it seemed, much sensibility that gave a girl Vera’s age much to esteem of a woman of thirty.
“I thank you, Mrs. Adams, to welcome me so cordially. I apologize for not leaving my card earlier the previous but I was so highly impressed by both you and your daughter’s presence at the Baron’s estate that I knew that I must further my acquaintance with you both.”
Mrs. Adams glowed with pride, as did Vera, who lowered her chin modestly. She knew how much the attention from Lady Darnold’s relation could give them. Immediately, thoughts of prominent marriages entered Vera’s mind and she knew she couldn’t evade such a promise of good wealth by leaving the choice in the hands of Miss Maria.
So, without further persuasion, she took upon herself to invite Miss Maria to an outing with herself, in hopes that the lady would a guide for Vera in her travels through London, being it such a lovely, sunny afternoon. Miss Maria was implored by Mrs. Adams to agree and she had nothing in her power to refuse.
Shortly after, Vera and Miss Maria were exiting the house on promises that they would bring back sweetmeats back for Mrs. Adams once she had waken from her afternoon nap. Miss Maria was of an agreeable nature. She had much to say when only the two of them as company and she talked most frequently of her late husband, Vera listening closely to her tête-à-tête.
“Charles was a kind soul, quite of nature, much like Anna’s husband, Governor Darnold. He never had a harmful word to anyone. But his poor heart couldn’t withstand past his elder age. He passed slowly, with little pain, if the doctor’s are to be trusted. I pray all the time, you know, for his good health up in Heaven. I really hope he is happy.”
“I assure you, Miss Maria, that no one could be angry in Heaven. There are too many joys to withstand any hatred. I truly believe he is enjoying himself.”
“Oh, you are so sweet, Miss Vera,” Miss Maria cried, tucking her hands deeper into her muff. “I do hope you are correct.”
Vera assured her again that she was most accurate before they stepped onto another street, nearing the more populous shops.
“I dare say your arrival here in London is most unexpected, after such tittle-tattle about—“ Miss Maria cut off suddenly, her cheeks blossoming with pink tulips of color. Vera collected herself before replying.
“Don’t be so modest in speaking of the subject, Miss Maria. I have heard all that there is to say on the subject. More hearsay won’t offend.” With a kind smile towards her companion, Miss Maria’s flowers died in her cheeks and they were able to talk freely.
Vera learned that most of society’s scandal was accurate and that only a few details here and there were off, ones that weren’t needed to amend. Enough damage had been done and Vera now hoped that she could move only forward from this moment. With a deep breath, Vera interrupted Miss Maria’s flow of chatter by explaining that she viewed a most desirous bonnet and would love to get a closer view.
Miss Maria complied, happy to be shopping and browsing. The unpleasant memories of her past were finally leaving her when Vera felt herself be bumped rather roughly by a foreign man. Excusing himself as being a clumsy ol’ curd, Vera looked up into the eyes of the man she had wished she would never see again.
Admiral Yalmire grinned a most sickly smile and said with a voice pure of oil.
“Miss Vera, how pleased to see you.”
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