L&A: 18

Neville stepped back into the foyer, trembling. Archie and Lily! My Lily! How long has this been happening? And I thought he was coming to the house on business—ha! The business of courting…

He went into a side parlor and collapsed on the nearest chair. He could not believe it. “Not Archie,” he said, his voice breaking in the silence. “Not him…it’s not possible she could choose him over me.”

Had she not known of Neville’s intentions? Not seen the attentions he’d paid her? Had she missed the way he looked at her? She was either blind, or disinterested. He refused to believe it was the latter.

XII.

The ball went into the early hours of the next morning, with the Cravens being one of the last to leave. Lady Spencer had retired much early, due to the baby, and Richard, Lord Spencer and Lily were left to escort the brothers out.

“Wonderful ball, Lord Spencer,” Neville said as Lily handed him his scarf and hat. “You and your family must come to the Manor for dinner, once Lady Spencer has received from the birth.”

“It would be a pleasure,” Lord Spencer said. He bowed. “If you would excuse us, Richard and I will settle the accounts with the musicians.” They excused themselves, leaving Lily the sole host.

“I will get the carriage,” Neville said stiffly, heading for the porch. Once they were alone, Archie kissed Lily again. She laughed quietly.

“Oh, we should not have started this,” she moaned. “Now I am desperate for your touch.”

“It will be yours, always, soon enough,” he said. “I promise.”

“I will hold you to it.” She embraced him and he kissed the top of her head.

“I will be over tomorrow afternoon…give your family some time to recover from events,” he said.

“I will wait. Perhaps we can go to the garden.”

“You can teach me. I will be your apprentice.”

She laughed. “I think it is the only thing I can teach you.”

He shook his head. “You are wrong.” He took up his hat from the hall table and went to the door. “Until tomorrow.”

She smiled and locked the door behind him. From the windows she saw Neville and Archie board the coach and head home.

Oh, for the day when I will leave this house and go home with him, Lily thought as she headed up the winding staircase. What a day that will be…