Page 57 of Gone With the Rogue
He liked Mrs. Feld. She was stunningly beautifully. There was a fragile look about her that would make any man want to protect her—but that was as far as his feelings for her went. He had desire for only one woman. He used to think the best times in his life were seeing new things or doing something he’d never done before. Now, he knew the best time in his life was being with someone he loved.
The door swung open again, and Garrett saw a different woman, but he knew immediately who she was, Mrs. Feld’s mother. He’d seen her at various parties and balls over the years. She was almost as beautiful as her daughter. Just an older beauty. They had probably been introduced at one time, but he couldn’t say he knew her. Judging by the air of haughtiness in her expression, she wasn’t likely to give him the opportunity to do so. He was all right with that.
“Sir,” she said, “my daughter isn’t accepting callers today.”
She must have thought he was there to pay a courting call on Mrs. Feld. Her tone was dismissive. Itwouldn’t have mattered to Garrett, except that Julia wanted him to do this.
“I’m here to deliver a message from Lady Kitson Fairbright.”
“Mr. Stockton,” Mrs. Feld said as she came up beside her mother. “What a surprise to see you. Please come in out of the rain.”
Garrett walked into the house, handing his cloak and hat to the housekeeper. “Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Feld.”
“I’m glad I looked out the window to see who was at the door,” Mrs. Feld answered. “I told Mama I didn’t want to see anyone today, but I am delighted to talk to you. I know that you and Mama have met before, so there’s no need for introductions.”
He nodded to the lady and said, “Yes, a few years ago.”
“Please join me in the drawing room, Mr. Stockton.”
“After you, ladies,” he offered.
Mrs. Feld’s mother started down the corridor, but her daughter quickly said, “I will see him alone, Mama, but thank you for offering to visit with him as well.”
The lady seemed to turn into a statue in front of Garrett’s eyes. “But, dear, I think I should—very well, I’ll leave you to your privacy. I’ll be in the music room if you need me.”
Mrs. Feld ushered him into the drawing room. “Come stand with me by the fire. You’re probably feeling a bit chilled from the rain.”
“I’m comfortable, Mrs. Feld. We can sit, if you prefer.”
She gave him a soft, sweet smile. “You appear tome as the kind of man who is comfortable in whatever situation he may find himself, Mr. Stockton. I can appreciate that. The closer we are by the fire, the less chance of Mama hearing our conversation. She means no harm by it, but she does like to eavesdrop on me from time to time. One would think I’d never been married as far as she and Papa are concerned. In this house, I’m still treated as their little girl.”
“I’m sure they have your best interests at heart.”
“They do. I appreciate it and haven’t minded their attentions these past few years. Not overly much, anyway. I don’t know if you remember, but I was married for only a very short time.”
Garrett nodded.
“I heard you say you have a message for me from Julia.”
“It’s more than just a message.” He looked at the doorway and didn’t sense anyone lurking. “I suppose there’s no delicate way to give you this.” He pulled a heavy coin purse out of his coat pocket and extended it to her. “It’s the money from the sale of the fabrics. For the sisters.”
Her countenance didn’t change nor did she reach for the velvet bag. “You’re confusing me, Mr. Stockton. Why would Julia want you to bring it to me and not give it to her?”
“You will have to ask her to answer that. I tried giving it to her. That’s why I went over to the house by the school when you were—” He watched her brows knit toward each other and her smile tightened. That day in the kitchen was obviously not something she wanted to talk about. “She asked that I bring this to you and I agreed. She didn’t give me reasons as to why.Only that it was a private matter between the two of you. I am only doing what she asked of me.”
That answer seemed to please her. Her forehead relaxed and her features softened. “She wouldn’t have told you even if you had pressured her.”
“I would never do that.” He extended the purse closer to her. “I want only to please her, Mrs. Feld. I hope you’ll take this so I don’t have to let Julia know that I failed my mission.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll take it.” She walked over and wrapped it in a shawl that was lying on the settee. “Don’t let Julia’s secrecy about this bother you, Mr. Stockton. I’ve found that there are some things I must hide from Mama. This is one of them.”
He nodded his understanding.
Mrs. Feld joined him in front of the fire again. “I’m glad you came over so I could thank you for helping us in the kitchen. I was distraught about what happened. Things didn’t go as I’d hoped.”
“Everything in the house was taken care of before I left. You have no cause to fret about anything.”
“Thank you for that. I’m glad you were there to help Julia. I don’t know what we would have done had you not arrived. We didn’t even know to use the paddle to take the bread out of the oven. I suppose it’s really quite sad. We’re taught how to manage staff in the kitchen, plan menus for dinners and dinner parties, but not how to actually prepare the food. There are just some things Society feels that ladies of quality shouldn’t know how to do, and cooking is one of them.”
