Lily of the Valley (The Gents, #2), page 23
And yet, he found himself pulled to Violet. He moved a bit closer to her. “Would you like to meet him?”
“I will have an opportunity to do so. You need a moment of your own.”
He nodded. “You’ve given me that. Thank you. Thank you for seeing what I need, for helping me claim it when I don’t manage to do so myself. You’ve done that before, and I cannot tell you how much it means to me.”
She set her right hand on his arm, a gentle and friendly touch. He’d missed that.
Her gaze dropped to little Philip. “He really is a beautiful baby. Considering his parents, I suspect he has blue eyes.” Such was not clear, as the baby was sleeping.
“I’m certain he does. I, for one, have always been rather partial to brown.”
“So have I.”
He told himself not to read too much into the declaration. He had been wrong where she was concerned before. He still had some hope of regaining her friendship; he wouldn’t ruin that by pressing for more. Again.
Violet gently touched one of the little golden curls. She cooed a bit over the baby, the singsong words people often used when speaking with infants.
“You should have a chance to hold him,” Kes said.
“Not until you’re done.”
“Let me stay beside you while you hold him, and I will be perfectly content to watch the baby sleep.”
Eagerness twinkled in her eyes. “I have been incredibly anxious to have my turn.”
“That settles it, then.” He carefully set little Philip in the crook of Violet’s right arm. Her left was laid against the baby's side to steady him.
She looked to Kes once more. “If we do manage to design a prosthesis that can hold things, I could someday hold a baby and a rattle at the same time.”
She spoke of their one-time project in the present tense, referring to the undertaking as something they were still doing together. She hadn’t, then, decided to entirely sever that connection to him. It gave him hope he hadn’t felt since the day she had run from his workshop.
“I haven’t the least doubt in our ability to solve that riddle,” he said.
With contented happiness written on her face, she looked back at the baby once more. Kester stood beside her as she rocked Philip gently. They talked about the child, about their inventions and interests. She was as easy in his company as she had ever been. Conversation between them flowed as if nothing difficult had ever occurred.
In that room, holding this new little life, having been defended by her and having felt a bit of the healing he had needed for years, a calming sense of relief settled over him.
She was willing to be his friend again. And though he suspected his heart would always long for something more, he would not waste the chance to have her be part of his life in whatever way she would allow.
Chapter Thirty
Violet walked with her hand in Georgie’s from the shore of the lake to the front door of Livingsley Hall. They had been back at Irthing Grange for two days. She and her cousin had taken advantage of Kester’s generosity and spent time on the lakeshore during both of those days. They’d also used the map he’d drawn to explore a bit of the surrounding countryside. Though she’d not had the pleasure of Kester’s company since leaving his home, she felt almost as if he’d been with them. That feeling had added to her enjoyment of the outings.
Georgie wished to see little Philip, so Violet had agreed to forgo further adventures in order to make the introduction. They were ushered inside and made their way to Julia’s bedchamber.
“Is the baby very small?” Georgie asked as they climbed the stairs.
“Newly born babies always are,” Violet said. “Little Philip is small, but he is the right size for how old he is.”
“Isn’t he only two days old?” Georgie asked.
“Yes. And he is two-days-old small.”
The door to the bedchamber was open, so Violet peeked her head inside. Like every other bedchamber at Livingsley Hall, it was beautifully appointed. The tall half canopy above the bed perfectly matched the golden-tapestry window curtains and complemented the cream silk hung on the walls. But the loveliest sight of all was Julia sitting on the bed, looking down at the bassinet beside her. There was no mistaking the love in her eyes.
“Are you equal to having visitors?” Violet asked.
Julia looked up and waved her inside. “I had hoped you would call.”
“I’ve brought Georgie with me,” Violet said, allowing herself and her cousin inside. “She has been anxious to meet your son.”
“Oh, Georgie, I’m so pleased you’ve come. Philip is in the bassinet. Climb up here next to me, and I will introduce you.”
Georgie did so eagerly. She had changed a lot recently. Her heart was lighter, and her trust in people had grown. Julia had become like another family member to her.
“Violet told me he was small but that he was the right amount of small for a baby that was only two days old.”
“Yes, he is just the right size.” Julia reached into the bassinet and carefully lifted the baby out. He fussed a little and squirmed. Julia held him and rocked him. “He can be shockingly vocal,” she said. “When he has an opinion about something, he makes it known.”
“And what is his opinion about being lifted from his bed?” Violet asked, sitting in a spindle-back chair next to Julia’s bed.
“He does not approve,” Georgie said firmly.
Julia nodded. “He’ll settle quickly, then I’ll let you hold him,” she said to Georgie.
“I’ve never held a baby.”
“The easiest way to manage it,” Julia said, “is for you to sit with your back against the head of the bed with your legs stretched out in front of you. Put a pillow on your lap and your arms on top of the pillow.”
Georgie did precisely that.
“I will sit beside you and help in any way you need.” Julia spoke encouragingly. “But I’m not worried. You’ll be careful with him.”
Georgie’s brow furrowed in fierce concentration. After a moment, Philip was contented again, no longer complaining about the change in situation. Julia took great care in setting the baby in Georgie’s arms. She kept her hands there as well, adding support and strength to the arrangement.
Philip was awake, something that had not been the case when Violet had seen him before. She leaned a little closer, studying his angelic face.
“Kester and I were certain he would have blue eyes,” Violet said.
“And he has his father’s golden waves,” Julia said.
“I have my mother’s eyes,” Georgie said with pride and excitement. “I don’t know whose hair I have.”
“Your father’s,” Violet said. “His hair, like my mother’s, curled in tight coils, just exactly as yours does.”
“Yours does too,” Georgie said.
Violet’s curls were a bit looser than Mother’s and Georgie’s but not unsimilar.
“Is my hair the same color as my father’s was?” Georgie asked.
“Your father’s was darker than yours.” Indeed, his hair had been the same nearly black shade that Violet’s was. “The color of your hair is nearer your mother’s. Your nose and your smile, as well as your eyes, are exactly like hers. There are bits of both of them in you.”
In the past, talk of Georgie’s parents had often led her to be melancholy, but this time, she seemed pleased. She studied the little baby once more. “Whose nose does he have?”
“I think it is too early to tell,” Julia said. “It will grow and change a lot.”
“I hope he has a lot of things that are yours,” Georgie said to Julia. “He would like that. It’s nice to have things that are one’s mother’s.”
“Yes, it is,” Julia said.
Violet didn’t doubt Julia wished for this little boy to have some of his father in him. But Georgie was clinging to the joy of resembling her mother, and Julia did not seem intent on undermining that. Violet had come to treasure Julia’s friendship. A lot of that grew from moments like this when she might have offered correction or contradiction but understood that sometimes a person simply needed to be heard.
What a blessing it was to have Julia in her life. The Gents and Our Julia. Kester had said they were contemplating changing the name of the group yet again to include her somehow. But she wouldn’t be bothered if they didn’t. She treasured them all and would likely always think of them by the name they’d used when she first met them.
“Philip will change a lot over the next year and continue to do so after that.” Julia looked to Violet. “Which means you simply must come visit Brier Hill often so you can see him growing up.”
“Do you mean to bring him to London when you go for the Season?” Violet asked.
“We do. He, obviously, will not attend balls and such with us, but he will be at our London home.”
“Mr. Barrington says there are bookshops in London bigger even than the one in Carlisle.” Georgie bounced a little, prompting Julia to hold the baby more firmly. “He said some of them have many rooms of books.”
“When did you talk to Mr. Barrington?” Violet asked.
“I went to the lake again yesterday while you and Aunt Ridley were doing your sewing, and he was there. We talked about bookshops. He said he was still trying to find a book about John Blanke, but he hadn’t yet.”
He was still looking. Of course he was. Kester was one of the most thoughtful people she knew.
“London boasts many bookshops,” Julia said “As well as sweetshops and a very large, lovely park. I think you will love London.”
“Do you have the book we were reading before I went back to Irthing Grange?” Georgie asked her.
Julia nodded and motioned with her head toward the small table and wingback chair next to the window. Georgie climbed off the bed and crossed to it. She took up the book, crawled onto the chair, and curled herself up there with the book open on her knees.
“Are you truly going to London for the Season?” Julia asked Violet.
“On the heels of our success at the Carlisle assembly and confident in the support of the Gents, my parents think it worth the excursion.”
“For entirely selfish reasons, I am particularly glad you’re going to be there,” Julia said. “I love the Gents. I adore them. But there’s something wonderful about having another lady in this group, especially one with a good head on her shoulders.”
Violet laughed. “These gentlemen don’t always think things through, do they?”
“And yet we love them.” Julia sighed. She adjusted little baby Philip so he rested against her chest. With one arm beneath him and her other hand against the back of his neck, she rocked him lightly. He was quiet enough for Violet to suspect he’d fallen asleep once more.
“Do all of the Gents participate in the Season each year?” she asked.
“They do, in their varying ways. Digby’s participation is exhaustive. Kes’s is minimal. He spends a great deal of his time in London amongst the academic set. I know he’s hoping to someday gain membership in the Royal Society, and much of his time in Town is dedicated to that pursuit.”
How easily Violet could imagine him among a gathering of intellectuals. “Does he allow himself solitude though?”
“He feels an urgency to participate in everything,” Julia said. “The Gents have not entirely sorted out why. There’s a franticness to it. And fear.”
“And grief,” Violet added. “I’ve noticed that myself.”
Julia nodded. “You are adept at helping him find the balance he needs. You managed it at the picnic, and you somehow managed it in the carriage when there was no escaping each other. From what Lucas tells me, you defended his need for it the night Philip was born. You are good for him.”
“He was so kind to me at the assembly. He has a very tender heart.”
“Yes, he does.” Julia spoke with the fondness of a sister.
“Do you suppose he and I will ever be able to reclaim the friendship we had?” Violet worried about that more than she’d admitted, even to herself. “I’ve missed him.”
Julia adjusted the blanket around little Philip. “Kes has missed you too. He asks about you. I don’t think even he realizes how many times in the days since your return to Irthing Grange he has mentioned his wish that you were still here.”
“He has?” Unexpected hope bubbled at the possibility.
“I don’t know what, precisely, you’ll manage to work out between the two of you,” Julia said, “but nothing about this is hopeless. I’ve told you before that Kes tends to guide his interactions with people by what he thinks they want and need. So long as he believes you want distance and indifference between you, that is what he will hold himself to.”
“I don’t want either of those things,” Violet said.
“He doesn’t either. I’m certain of it.”
As if summoned by the discussion, Kester slipped inside the room in the next instant. Heat splotched Violet’s cheeks. Her heart pulsed hard in her neck. How much had he overheard?
“Gladwin said you were visiting,” he said to Violet. “While I don’t wish to interrupt, I do have something to tell you.”
He looked eager to see her. And while that was pleasing, what was shocking was her response to seeing him. A bubble of excitement spread inside. It sent her thoughts into a whirl and left her heart fluttering. She couldn’t look away from him standing there, framed in the doorway. She didn’t want to.
Had she doubted at all that she wanted him to remain a part of her life, that moment would have proven it to her.
She rose from her seat and moved to where he stood. He smiled at her, and the fluttering of her heart increased. That organ was thoroughly confusing her.
“What was it you wished to tell me?” she asked.
“I received a letter. From the apothecary in Northumberland.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Violet excused herself to Julia without a detailed explanation of the importance of a letter from an apothecary, implored Georgie to behave, and walked eagerly with Kester to his library. Once there, he gave her the letter he had received and allowed her to read it.
Mr. Barrington,
Your notes on Iron Hand are very helpful. That design could be re-created, but my father has seen newer prostheses and thinks we could improve on that metal one. We don’t know if the precision you’re hoping for can be achieved, but we think it’s worth the attempt.
I’m enclosing a sketch of what my father has seen so you can have an idea of what’s being made now. We are discussing what you are hoping for and learning what we can. If you keep me informed of what you and your inventing partner are discovering, I’ll do the same.
Clement Miller
Violet turned to Kester. “There’s a sketch of a modern prosthesis?”
Kester nodded and took a paper off the desk, holding it out to her. She eyed it eagerly. It looked less ungainly than the diagram of Iron Hand’s prosthesis. She liked that. There were gears and hinges and rods, all protruding from the prosthesis itself. She certainly couldn’t wear gloves over something like this. She could only imagine the damage it would do to a silk dress. And yet, even with its imperfections, it was incredibly encouraging.
“Among the things I suggested to him,” Kester said, “was sorting a means of placing the mechanisms below the surface of the prosthesis, as well as fingers that move independent of one another and can lock in place in various positions. I also told him we were particularly interested in creating a prosthesis that wasn’t so heavy as one made of solid wood. I don’t know how many of those things are possible, but he seems to think it’s worth attempting.”
Violet couldn’t take her eyes off the drawing. The prosthesis it portrayed was such a drastic improvement over what she already had. And it wasn’t imaginary; it existed already. It existed now. Her dreams felt almost within reach.
“You said this apothecary wasn’t far away.” She looked back at him.
Kester shook his head. “He’s actually not terribly far from Brier Hill. I’m certain Julia and Lucas would let me stay there so I could consult with him.”
“They’ve invited me to visit Brier Hill. Doing so would allow me to visit the apothecary as well.”
“As this was your project to begin with and as it has the most personal impact on you, it’s absolutely necessary that you be an integral part of it. With your permission, I can visit Lucas and Julia at the same time as you, and we can call on Mr. Miller and his father together.”
A little bubble of excitement formed inside Violet. “I would like that.”
If they both traveled to Brier Hill at the same time, she would see him there. She could spend time with him. The thought sent warmth spreading through her.
“I need to write back to Mr. Miller,” Kester said. “But I will draft the letter with you here so you can include your thoughts and questions as well.”
He laid a sheet of parchment on the desktop beside a stack already written on.
“How much longer will the Gents be at Livingsley Hall?”
“Only a few more days.” Kes took up the paper stack and set it inside the metal lockbox on a shelf behind his desk. “They all mean to return to their family homes or their own estates. Henri will likely either take up residence in his rented London rooms or join one of the other Gents. Julia and Lucas need to travel to Nottinghamshire to introduce Philip to his grandparents and see to it he is christened. We sometimes meet up again in spring before the Season begins, but I don’t know if that will happen this year.”
She studied him. He so often longed for solitude, yet he didn’t seem pleased at the prospect of it. “Will you be traveling after they’re gone?”
He left the box lid open and returned to the desk. “I’m not certain what I mean to do with myself.”
