Naughty Temptations

Chapter One

Chapter One

Lady Esther Barrington shook her head at her older brother Erasmus. “It’s not your fault,” she said softly.

Poor Erasmus. He’d done his very best to give her a proper Season and to persuade one of his long-suffering friends to marry her. But the facts were that she simply wasn’t good marriage material. Her portion was adequate, but she was by no means rich. Her looks were passable, but she wasn’t beautiful. And she was twenty-four, not seventeen. Those three damning facts, when taken together, had ensured that although men had danced with her, even men not friends of Erasmus’s, none of them had felt the slightest urge to offer for her.

In her heart of hearts, Esther was relieved. Erasmus was a kind and good man, and his friends were like him. Plain, sober, serious, industrious. Men she was content to talk to. But not one of them made her pulse race, or her heart flutter. The truth was, no man ever had, although several women had.

Lady Esther had a secret. She found women far more interesting than men. Even more than good men who would make excellent husbands.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew the only possible options for a woman of her position was a lonely life as a spinster aunt, or marriage. But she wasn’t sorry that her Season had ended without a proposal. In fact, her heart felt lighter, and the world looked sunnier because of it. She hadn’t wanted to live a lie with some kindly man chosen by her brother, and now she didn’t have to.

She smiled at her brother and took his big hands in hers. “I’m sorry, Erasmus. You’ve given me a wonderful Season. I’ve never been to so many parties, or danced so many times in a night. Your friends are handsome, kind, and intelligent men but they all know we aren’t suited. You’ve done your very best for me and I truly appreciate your efforts on my behalf.”

“I only wish they’d been successful. You deserve so much more than being shut away in Stephen’s house in the country for three-fourths of the year,” he said.

She squeezed his hands. “Stephen and Patience will care for me perfectly well. And I’ll come up to town and visit you from time to time. Besides, you’ve paid for a year’s subscription for me at the Circulating Library. I’ll always have new books to read.”

He let go her hands and shook his head, frowning worriedly. “If only Father had arranged for you to have a Season years ago. He should have done it the year you were seventeen. The more time passed, the more frail he became. Even four years ago, when Stephen married Patience, would have been so much better than now. And then we had to wait a full year after he died for you to come out of mourning.”

“That’s all water under the bridge now. You’ve given me a wonderful time in London and I have so many beautiful clothes. I’ll look as fine as five pence to all the villagers.”

“Anything you want, Esther, my dear, anything at all, write to me and I’ll get it for you. If you aren’t happy there with Stephen you will always be welcome here with me.”

Tears filled her eyes. Erasmus wasn’t an emotional man, yet she knew he loved her. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I love you, too.”

*****

Despite her confident words to her older brother, and her relief at not having to live a lie with some man she could never love, Esther was nervous about residing in the country with Stephen and Patience. Erasmus was almost forty, a steady, honorable man who’d taken charge of his inheritance—lands that came to him from their mother—at an early age and had always done his very best for his people. Stephen was thirty-three and he’d been managing their family lands for their father as he gradually became less and less able to do so himself. Stephen was also the guardian of the twin sons of his best friend and nearest neighbor, who’d been killed during the Battle of Talavera. The boys were only babies then but were seven now, and Stephen had recently hired a governess to help prepare them to go Eton in a few years’ time.

The governess had also started teaching Stephen’s own son, who, although only three years old, was already showing signs of wanting to learn to read and write. Stephen and Patience had a baby daughter, Anne, as well, and Esther supposed she was about to learn how to be a good aunt to small children.

For years now, her time had been spent caring for their father. They’d moved into the Dower House when Stephen married, and Esther had managed their small home, and her father’s care, until he passed away. After that, she’d stayed close to home during the first six months of her mourning period, only gradually getting out more when it was time to prepare for her Season.

Moving into Stephen’s house, even though it was her own former home, was going to be a mixed experience. Stephen and Patience and their family had put their own imprint on the building, as they should. It was no longer the home of her childhood. It belonged to Stephen now and she needed to remember that. She wouldn’t be returning to her former rooms, but to a bedroom with its own small sitting room, so she could be alone when she wished. Although, in winter, it would be a great inconvenience to the staff, to have to build and maintain extra fires. Realistically most of her time would be spent in the communal rooms with the family.

*****

Miss Cecilia Aylmer was the daughter of a vicar who’d taught her Latin, Greek and Mathematics alongside the local Squire’s sons. This had been wonderful training for her, as now she’d gotten an excellent position as a governess in a home where she was tutoring two boys as well as being governess to the two younger children. Her father’s foresight meant she was paid so much more than if she’d only been in charge of the smallest children and her position was a lot more secure as well.

The library of the house fulfilled her wildest dreams. It was packed from floor to ceiling with books of every description and on every imaginable topic. Cessie was certain some of them had never been read. Just this morning she’d found a slim volume of poetry by Lucius Livius Andronicus, the first man of letters to write in Latin. She could hardly wait for tonight so she could start reading it.

Right now she cast a critical glance around the nursery. George and William, the seven-year-old twin sons of their nearest neighbor, had their dark, curly heads bent over their note paper, pencils clenched firmly in their hands. George was working on his Latin declensions, and William adding up a long column of figures. She never gave them the same task to do or else lazy William would stare into space until George finished and then copy his answers.

Three-year-old Edward had a piece of chalk clutched in his chubby fist and was making a creditable attempt at writing his name on his slate. Soon the maid would bring the children each a glass of milk, and then it would be time for Edward’s nap and for the older boys’ to return home.

Cessie herself would eat a light nuncheon in the servant’s hall and then spend a brief half hour with Lady Patience updating her on the children’s progress. The weather was fine and sunny. Perhaps she could ask permission to take them all for a walk tomorrow and then they could write about what they’d seen. Or in Edward’s case, talk about it.

She sighed silently. Her life sounded deadly dull, and it was. But the little book of Latin poems would enliven her evening. To be honest, she’d never had much hope, as a humble vicar’s daughter, of marrying anyone more exciting than a local farmer, and none of them had looked at her twice. Now, if only there was a woman living here who appealed to her tastes. Not a young maid, someone a little older who she could talk to and whose head wasn’t filled with images of handsome noblemen and brave soldiers. Someone who preferred the love of a woman, as she did.

No, that would never happen. It would be much better for her to concentrate on the poems. They would make her smile.

An hour later she was sitting with Lady Patience, when she said, “Lord Stephen’s sister, Lady Esther, will be arriving tomorrow. Unfortunately her Season was not a success, and she’ll be living with us. I’m sad for her of course, but it’ll be nice to have someone to help me visit the tenants and entertain our neighbors. I don’t know, now I have children I’m just so tired all the time. I’m sure there’s no reason why I should be, but I don’t have the energy I had before they arrived.

“In that case, it’s good she’ll be of assistance to you milady.”

“She might take an interest in the children as well. She’s always been a doting aunt, when she’s seen them.”

Cessie wondered about that statement. It sounded more like Lady Patience was trying to convince herself than informing her. But she murmured her assent anyway.

“And she likes reading.” Patience announced this as though it was something very unusual indeed. Judging by the untouched appearance of so many books in the library, perhaps it was.

But it did make Cessie wonder if Lady Esther might become her friend. Even if they only talked occasionally about what they’d read, that would be nice.

*****

The first few weeks back in her ancestral home passed in a blur for Esther. Stephen had only been married a little over four years, although she and her father had moved into the Dower House in the months before his wedding. But still, it was less than five years since she’d lived here and so much had changed. The gardens, which she remembered as being bleak expanses of lawn with a few trees and shrubs, were now masses of flowering plants, with the new gardeners trained to ensure there were always fresh blooms to fill vases throughout the house.

Much of the furniture had changed or been replaced. New rugs warmed the floors, and paintings and wall hangings were moved around or new to her eyes. Everywhere there was something to delight her. Patience clearly had a good eye for color and design and the house showed that in every room.

Her own small domain was what had once been “the green room”, and the draperies and bedding were still a delicate pale green, but the new rug on the floor added deep golds and dark green to the color scheme, colors highlighted in throw cushions on the settee, paintings on the walls, and rich mahogany furniture through the two rooms.

She turned to hug Patience. “You’ve made this room beautiful. Thank you.”

Patience laughed. “You’ve already told me that at least three times already.”

“I mean it. I’m very grateful for your care of me.”

“I want you to be happy. In a few days we’ll have a ball so everyone can meet you properly. You hardly went out at all those last few years when your papa was so ill.”

Esther took a deep breath. “Thank you, and I’ll enjoy meeting everyone again. But don’t pin your hopes on a man offering for me. Erasmus did his best and—”

Patience cast her a very astute look that puzzled Esther. “I do understand. You’re perfectly content single, aren’t you? Stephen would never demand you accept a proposal that wasn’t your choice. But if you ever change your mind, it’s always good to know who’s available.” She left the room and Esther dropped onto the settee. How did Patience know? She wasn’t even completely certain herself. She’d never had a love affair with anyone, male or female. But it was true that the only times she’d ever been attracted to anyone, both those people had been other women. If Patience knew, did that mean other people knew as well? Were people in town talking about her behind her back?

No, that couldn’t be true, or Erasmus would have asked her. Erasmus had tried very hard to make her Season a successful one. If people had been remarking on her preference for women over men someone would have questioned Erasmus and he would have spoken to her. It seemed that only Patience knew her deeply enough to have discerned her inner thoughts and desires. Well, that was interesting indeed.

Esther wore one of her prettiest new gowns for the family’s ball. Even though technically she’d been a debutante because she’d never had a Season before, she had not worn white or the palest of pastel colors as the young girls did. Her modiste had agreed with her that to do so would only accentuate the fact that she was so much older than them. But she hadn’t worn the bold colors of the older women either. Instead she’d chosen clothing in greens and blues and golds. Richer colors that suited her brown hair and eyes, but not colors that would call the wrong kind of attention to her.

The dress she chose was palest green over sky blue, the colors blending and merging as she moved. Not that she expected to dance very often. Stephen would lead her out after he opened the ball with Patience, and maybe a few of her father’s friends would take pity on her, but Esther confidently expected to spend the night sitting with the matrons, and possibly learning all the gossip of the past five years.

At dinner she noticed Miss Cecilia Aylmer the governess, partnered with one of the local landowners’ younger sons. She remembered Cecilia was a vicar’s daughter, not just a governess, and that she’d seemed to be a nice person the few brief times they’d spoken to each other. Esther had been busy unpacking and finding her way about again, but now she saw Cecilia she decided she really ought to get to know the woman better. They appeared to be of a similar age, and might have interests in common.

More and more people arrived for the ball until the room was as overfull as if they’d been in town. That was the crown of a successful event for Patience, but it simply made Esther long for an excuse to walk outside in the gardens. Quietly she made her way around the room, until she reached the French window which opened into the garden. The door had been left open a crack, so it seemed other people had the same idea as she did. Esther drew in big lungfuls of air and walked down the shallow steps into the garden. Several men were standing over to one side, smoking cheroots, so she went the other way to a stone bench.

Sitting on it was Cecilia, her shawl wrapped around her shoulders, her head tipped up to the sky.

She startled as Esther approached and then smiled. “It’s so beautiful out here. I vow I could count the stars they’re so bright tonight.”

Esther looked up and agreed with her. “That’s true. I’m glad they’re there, but they don’t inspire me to number them.”

The other woman giggled. “Well, we could name the constellations if you prefer.”

Esther laughed. “Oh no. I doubt I can even remember them. Are you teaching the twins those kinds of things?”

“Not yet. Maybe in the middle of winter we could do that though. It gets dark much earlier and wouldn’t be so far past their bedtime.”

“I don’t really know anything about children. I’ve never lived with any before. I suppose if I were a good aunt, I’d spend more time with them.”

“Do you want to do that?”

Esther stared at Cecilia. “I do want to be a good aunt, but I don’t crave children, or long to be with them. I suppose I like older people. People I can hold a proper conversation with.” She closed her mouth quickly. That made her sound like an unnatural female. Wasn’t every woman supposed to ache to have children of her own? Babies to hold and nurture?

But instead of condemning her, Cecilia simply nodded. “I agree. I like teaching them things. Watching their eyes light up as they understand a new concept.”

“What else do you like doing?” Esther asked.

“Reading. The library here is amazing. There are so many books I’ve never seen before. It’s crammed with the most amazing treasures. I found a little volume of Lucius Livius Andronicus’s poetry last week. I’ve read it twice and still can’t bear to return it to the shelves.”

Esther adored reading herself but she had no idea who this Lucius was, or that the library was so well stocked. There was a shelf of her mother’s books, but her mother had been dead so long most of the books were very old.

“Clearly I need to look in the library. I haven’t been there yet. My father used it as his den before he became frail, so I wasn’t welcome there. Erasmus has arranged for the Circulating Library to bring me books, but I hadn’t even thought of the library here. My mother’s books are all very old indeed.”

“I don’t think many of these books have been read. They’re all on the upper shelves. The books your father preferred are likely the ones that are easy to reach.”

“That makes sense. Tomorrow I shall explore the upper shelves. Do you have free time? Shall we plan a sortie into the library together?”

Esther suddenly worried that she might be getting Cecilia into trouble. She was the governess, not family, after all.

“Edward still naps every afternoon and the twins are only with me in the mornings. Patience often needs my help with other tasks in the afternoon but not always, especially now she has your company.”

“I haven’t been much help yet. She was planning this ball all week. Oh dear. I’ve been out here quite long enough. I must go back. I hope to see you tomorrow afternoon.”

Esther stood up and walked back inside, but for the rest of the evening she was thinking about Cecilia. Patience was her sister-in-law and she loved her. But Cecilia might be her friend. That would be wonderful.