2
Audrey Blake knew her request was too forward, too impolite—but she no longer cared. She was desperate, and Lord Knightsbridge’s arrival might be her only chance. He sounded pleasant, his voice deep, manly, and obviously he had compassion and a sense of justice to come all this way to offer his assistance.
“I am not an invalid, my lord,” she continued, knowing she rushed her words. She couldn’t hear anyone in the foyer, but they’d be interrupted soon. “And I’m not a fool. I would have servants to assist me, and my lady’s maid, who acts as my eyes when necessary. And I remember what things look like—I went blind from scarlet fever at seven years of age, and I’ve done my best to remind myself every night of the images of my relatives’ faces, the grounds of my home.”
“But you would be going to a place with none of those things, Mrs. Blake,” he said in a gentle voice.
“You are a soldier, sir—did you not wish to explore places you’d never been before? Why would I be different? And the house ismine,” she added with emphasis, “although my father tried to weave an elaborate deception to convince me the house went to a distant male relative of my husband. I wrote to alawyer and discovered the truth. I do not want to spend my days as my sister’s companion, to intrude on her marriage as a poor relation. That is what they plan for me, all of my family, when they aren’t trying to keep me hidden.”
She heard the inhalation of his breath, forced herself to remain calm, though she could barely control the trembling of her hands. This was her chance—would the earl deny her, when he obviously felt he owed her?
She knew he heard the footsteps in the hall when he lowered his voice and spoke quickly.
“You make a good argument, Mrs. Blake, and I do understand your frustration. But I don’t know you or your situation, and could be doing more harm than good.”
He must have leaned closer, for she could smell the clean, outdoor scent of him.
“Then stay,” she said. “My brother is having a shooting party with his friends for the next few days. My family would be honored at your presence—especially my sister Blythe,” she added with just a touch of sarcasm. “I will invite you if my father or sister doesn’t. And then you will see the family I have, who believe they know best for me, when I’m a grown, competent woman, and not a drooling invalid.”
“Very well, I will stay,” he said.
“Thank you, my lord.”
The surge of relief Audrey felt was enough to make her teacup rattle in the saucer as she picked it up. She was sipping slowly, casually, when she heard the rush of swirling garments, the prancing steps of Blythe entering the parlor, the heavy footfalls of her father.
With the creak of the padded chair, she knew Lord Knightsbridge had risen to his feet.
“Knightsbridge,” her father said with his overly cheerful tone, “may I present my daughter, Miss Blythe Collins.”
“Miss Collins, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
The earl’s voice was full of the warm admiration men always showed a lovely woman. Even though Audrey had last seen Blythe as a two-year-old, she well remembered her pretty brunette curls and the dimples whenever she smiled. She’d been Audrey’s little doll baby from the moment of her birth, and she’d enjoyed caring for her and dressing her under their mother’s loving supervision. Both children had contracted scarlet fever, but only Audrey’s fever had raged so high as to take her sight. And it had altered their relationship ever since. Her father and siblings were ashamed of her infirmity, of her very differentness, as if it were a mark on their family that might be carried to future generations.
While their mother had been alive, she made certain Audrey was treated as any normal child, and the seasons had passed with some moments of harmony. But her mother had died seven years ago. Gradually, Audrey’s visits to the outside world had been restricted, as if she were a ghost who shouldn’t be seen. Blythe had more and more mimicked their father, who tolerated Audrey’s blindness, especially since he could use the few skills he thought she had. But treat her like a normal daughter? No. Only Blythe could regularly visit neighbors or go to London. Audrey’s control of the household freed Blythe to concentrate on finding a husband.
Audrey had never been beyond their village. She had no women friends of her own except dear Molly, her nanny’s daughter. They’d been raised together since infancy, and Molly was now her lady’s maid and secretary all rolled into one cheerful package.
Would things be better if she lived alone in her own home? Would strangers give her the benefit of the doubt, unlike her own family? Audrey didn’t know, but at least she’d be free to do as she wished, go where she wished. That had seemed justa distant, unattainable dream this morning—until the arrival of the Earl of Knightsbridge.
She knew Blythe would have swept into a deep curtsy at meeting a peer of the realm. And by her breathless, “How do you do, my lord?” Audrey assumed his lordship must be an attractive man, and not too old for Blythe’s consideration.
Their father didn’t even bother to tell Blythe the real reason Lord Knightsbridge had visited them, only said, “Knightsbridge is newly returned from India, lately a cavalryman for the Queen.”
“Oh, what an exciting and dangerous life,” Blythe said, her voice full of awe and eagerness.
Didn’t she hear her own desperation? Audrey wondered. She’d once tried to point it out, but Blythe had dismissed her concerns, saying Audrey knew nothing of the flirtation between men and women. But Audrey could hear when someone made a fool of themselves.
“I consider myself honored to serve my country,” Lord Knightsbridge said in a somber voice. “But it is not a life for the faint of heart.” He hesitated. “I inherited the earldom at twenty but did not have the maturity for the title. The army seemed like the only way to achieve that. And I had an excellent staff who kept the estates running smoothly in my absence.”
Oh, there was a deeper story there, but she would not be so impolite as to ask about it.
“We don’t need to talk about the army,” Blythe said in a too cheerful voice. “I imagine you simply want to forget it.”
“Sometimes, I would like to,” he said quietly.
Audrey felt a chill at the emptiness in his voice.
“But I must honor the memory of the friends I lost,” he continued. “That is why I’m here, to pay my respects to the widow of my fellow soldier, Mr. Blake.”
