A Soldier’s Heart(29)
“So like you, Serena, to be above such things. Mother says you’re like your sainted papa. I don’t care what anyone else says, you have my admiration for being so brave in the face of the unpleasant gossip about you and Longford.”
Serena’s moving fan clicked shut. Stunned, she stared back at Frederick, but he was already moving stiffly away. Gossip about Longford and her? The absurdity of it was such she instantly dismissed it from her mind.
That evening, much to her surprise, Longford waited up for their return. Since he stood propped against the library door, slowly swirling a snifter of brandy in his fingers, it was not too difficult to determine he’d been imbibing.
“What a pair of lovelies you are,” he drawled, sipping at the brandy. “Cecily, Father has received three more offers for your hand and turned them down as you demanded he do at the beginning of this interminable Season. Their Graces are much too indulgent for your own good. Still determined to wait on Kendall, huh? You may end up on the shelf, brat!”
“How can you be so heartless, Long!” Cecily lifted her chin, sending him a pained look. “You know I have given my heart to Kendall. If you mean to be insulting, I’ll have no part of it.” Picking up the edge of her gown, she swept up the staircase without a backward glance.
“I want to talk to you alone anyway, Serena. Come into the library,” he demanded before turning away to stroll lazily to the bottle and refill his glass.
She followed him for no other reason than to discover why he was being cruel to Cecily, whom he so obviously adored.
“It isn’t like you to talk so to your sister.”
He laughed once before flinging his head back and tossing the last of the brandy down his throat. “As you see, I’m not at my best tonight. Ever get bedeviled by ugly gossip, Serena?” he asked with a bluntness that sounded utterly sober, although he suddenly sat into a chair by the fireplace.
Holding herself stiffly erect, she looked calmly into his face and tried not to think about his resemblance to Blackwood. “I have no time for such nonsense. It’s a waste of my energy.”
His long mouth curved up at one end. “Well done, Serena. My mother’s influence is clearly discernible.” The hooded eyes slid over her slowly. “You’ve made a remarkable transformation from insipid country mouse to fascinating woman. Perhaps this time I really should take my cue from the gossiping tabbies and act accordingly.”
He sprang up and lifted his hand to stroke her cheek with one finger.
She slapped it away. “Do stop being utterly absurd! I know exactly what you’re up to.” Exasperated past bearing, she glared at him. “Just inform me what this is all about. No doubt in time I’d find the proper way without your tortured guidance, but I haven’t the patience for it now.”
She had the privilege of seeing true surprise settle over his countenance.
“Obviously you’ve found it on your own. You’ve heard, I see. And dismissed the talk as the rubbish it is. I’m delighted your opinion of me isn’t so low you’d believe I covet my brother’s wife.” He placed his glass on a side table and looked at it with distaste.
“Longford, unlike your sister, I know under all those layers of cynicism there really must be a heart. And I know it remains untouched by me, or anyone else.”
Those hooded eyes studied her for a long moment. “Reverend Fitzwater’s daughter, there are times when you amaze even me!” His genuine laughter echoed in the library even after he’d strolled out.
Immensely weary with all the currents swirling around her and the constant ache of Blackwood’s absence kept tightly hidden inside, Serena wished for nothing but the forgetfulness of slumber. Before she could go up to her bedchamber, Cecily flew through the wide doorway to clasp her in a tight hug.
“I couldn’t bear being at odds with Long, so came down to make amends and heard all!” she declared, releasing Serena to step back and smile so broadly, her dimple disappeared. “I’m delighted there isn’t the slightest truth to what people are whispering.”
Serena was utterly shocked to discover Cecily had heard the gossip and said nothing to her. “Why wouldn’t you discuss this with me if you knew? Cecily, you weren’t afraid it was true?”
“Long is quite dashing and handsome. Besides, he’s a rake, and we women always lose our hearts to such men. It is something within us, believing we are the ones to save them from their fate,” she returned calmly.
“But surely you would have hated me if I was unfaithful to Blackwood?” Serena’s legs started to tremble and she sat in the chair Longford had just vacated.