Goodrich/ Sordid Secrets/ Chapter 48/ Page 1
Chapter Forty Eight
With a dreadful day before her, Nicolette slowly moved about her room in the small house. She wanted to crawl back into bed and shrink from the task before her. Not only was her body exhausted from this growing child, but the stress from the series of decisions before her was forcing small pains all over, from her back to abdomen. Now an even larger stress was about to descend upon her hideaway. After a soft knock,Asher’sanxious face peeked around her door, looking as stricken as hers.
“Ash, it’s almost three. She’ll be arriving soon.” Nicolette’s usually rich voice edged nearly into a nervous screech. Her nimble fingers furiously moved pins through her soft black curls as she tried to make herself look respectable.
“Yes, I know.” He was attempting to give Nic the impression that he was perfectly calm, though she knew otherwise. Leaning his large, brawny frame against the doorway, Nicolette smiled at his reflection in her vanity mirror. Ash seemed to engulf the entire doorway. He was one of the most dominant and large men she had ever known. If he were not her brother, then she would probably be weary—nearly scared – of him as most women were. Though his charm won over every woman he glanced near following that first impression and this magnetismAsherknew well and took full advantage of. He then noticed his sister’s conservative attire of a stiff white day dress with periwinkle embroidered flowers. The dress’s subdued colors were amplified by its high lace neck that came up to the top of her throat. Ash couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh how proper you look. I guess it is warranted. I shall leave with the coach in a moment to fetch her.”
“Are you stalling?”
“Deliberately? Yes.” He threw her a dazzling smile.
Moving her uneasy attention back on her own reflection, Nicolette released a heavy sigh. “It won’t be so terrible.”
“I’m surprised to hear this from you. You’re the one who Aunt Dora is likely to spend most of her attention trying to reform.”
“”What can she do to change me? Not make me pregnant? I’m a complete disaster in her eyes.”
Asher slapped his thigh as he warmly chuckled. “And I’m not?”
Tearing the pins from her hair, Nicolette decided to give another try at structuring her wild black locks into a traditional, dull design. She struggled to stay along with Asher’s teasing as her thoughts whirled around in her head. “Aunt Dora gave up on changing you years ago.”
“Yes, I’m hopeless in her eyes.”
“How did Alex convince us to let her secretly call on us?”
“Because our Aunt Dora would not let Alex disallow it.”
Nicolette’s hands fell from her hair to her mouth as she fell into a soft feminine laugh at Asher’s words. She could never remain too serious when Ash was in her presence. “At least she won’t be staying with us for too long.”
“Ah, my only solace.” He rested his hand over his heart in thanks.
“But she shall never leave unless you go and fetch her!” Nic overanxiously urged.
“I’m leaving!” Asher spit back in reply. He dashed forward to kiss her on the cheek and then kissing his hand he transferred that kiss on her belly for her child. “Goodbye my future adventurer.”
She smiled at his common name for the child growing inside her.Asher was not reserved in letting Nic or Alex know that he planned on introducing this child to explorations and worldliness. Something that Nic had to admit that she actually dreaded as she began to grow into the matronly role instead of perpetually being the tempestuous and reckless young woman that seemed so long ago. She loved that Asher was planning for her child’s future, but was nervous about what exactly his plans were.
Once Asher had heard the news earlier that week that Aunt Dora was coming for two days to visit, he had been in a terrible mood. He hadn’t seen his aunt but on a handful of occasions since his return from the abroad. As for Nicolette, she hadn’t seen Aunt Dora since her aunt had matched Nic with the Earl. It was until then that Dora had nearly given up all hope of transforming Nicolette. Her engagement to the Earl changed how Elladora saw her niece. If it weren’t for the pregnancy then Nic would have assumed such a visit would be an excuse for Dora to strategize Nicolette’s future with the Earl whether she wanted it or not. So what was the purpose of her aunt’s visit now?Nicolette was terrified about her aunt’s arrival.
With her hair pinned in an acceptable coiffure, Nicolette finally stood and straightened the blue sash that was awkwardly raised above her waistline. Nothing was fitting correctly with her stomach protruding out from her petite body. She slowly climbed downstairs to find Vaseem waiting for her. Though she had been over the list with him on a dozen occasions, she had to assure herself that everything was going to be in perfect order for Aunt Dora’s arrival.
Her tired eyes fell upon Vaseem waiting for her at the base of the stairway. He had been watching her closely, as well as noticing all of her changes over the past week. She knew he noticed that she was in constant pain. All week, Nicolette had held this discomfort and no doubt from stress. Vaseem immediately observed the strain upon her face and dashed up the remaining steps to assist her. With his cloaked arms around her waist, Vaseem carefully lowered Nic into the plushest seat in front of the fire.
“Thank you, Vaseem.” She softly smiled, looking up to his bearded grimace.
Troubled, Vaseem immediately grabbed a tapestry covered footstool to set before her. “Shall I fetch you a few more cushions, my lady?”
“Trust me, dear Vaseem, I am very well.”
“If you insist, my lady—”
Before Vaseem could continue in his care for Nicolette, the front door swung open with a remarkable ruckus, letting the still cold spring air rush in. The pair nearly leapt from their skins as their day had directly changed from their normal peaceful routine to the whirlwind which constantly followed Nicolette’s Aunt Dora.
With the aid of Vaseem taking her hand, Nic rose to meet her guest. “Aunt Dora I am delighted that you’re here!”
Asher dragged in behind their guest, already wearied by her company and the demands which constantly transpired around her. As usual, Dora was dressed in her best in an overly garnished ginger colored gown. The ruffles and lace of her gown seemed to be drowning her. Her graying hair was tied atop her head in a series of braids, loops and curls. Behind the naturalness of her hair sprouted a full array of peacock feathers, which wobbled with the constant movement of her head. To Nic, this didn’t seem the normal attire to be traveling, though it wasn’t a long trek from Stonefield and Dora was obviously posing for her extended family. The sight of her aunt caused Nic to shudder in dread of gaudy society fashion.
Without notice of her niece’s kind welcome, Dora snatched Nic’s hands and exclaimed, “Oh my, you look as if you’ve swallowed a pumpkin.”
Nicolette gulped back the reply of how her aunt also looked as she swallowed a pumpkin in thought of the color of her gown. Dropping her hands over her belly, Nic softly smiled. “It feels that way.”
“Why are you standing? You shouldn’t be on your feet.” Agitated, Aunt Dora pressed Nic back, but before completing her task, she turned. “Asher, why are you letting your sister tire herself by standing?”
With a loud sigh, Asher’s steely eyes rolled in agitation. He was already wearing thin and their guest had just arrived. “Nicky, sit or you’ll have me in trouble… more trouble.”
Keeping with the composure of a graceful socialite, Nicolette gently took her aunt’s hand in reassurance. “I promise that all is well, Aunt Dora. Vaseem shall take your baggage to your room and Joy shall bring us some tea.”
Dora looked Vaseem over, from the top of his long tied back dark hair to his finely pressed blue gallibaya gown. As if she were about to scream in panic, she turned to Nic and mouthed the words ‘can I trust him with my trunk?’ Nic quickly nodded her head and when Dora turned back to look at the foreign servant, Nic rolled her eyes to her brother.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather rest after your journey?” Asher interjected from behind the pair as he anxiously rolled on the balls of his feet.
“Are you bored with me already?” Dora snapped.
With another deep sigh, he excused himself. “Of course not, Aunt Dora.”
“Well you go out and do whatever it is you do. I’m here to take care of Nicolette.”
“I can—”
“I said go, Asher!” Dora demanded without room for argument. She was still treating Asher as if he were a child, though he was now nearly thirty five. The aunt and nephew had never agreed on even one matter of discussion and their lives rarely placed them together— except for now. Nicolette had now forced her family to join together in support of her and the Noble family name, though it was out of concern for scandal.
Continuing in his long line of sighs, Asher boisterously exhaled in contention with his aunt. His large frame seemed tense and clenched as he towered above them. Biding his patience, Ash silently gazed over the pair before deciding his next move. Aggrieved, he finally conceded, “I shall return in time for supper.”
“Supper shall be around eight.” Nicolette sympathetically offered, knowing her brother’s exasperation. Raising her glacial eyes which indistinguishably resembled his, she held her tiny hand out to his. “Darling, go have a drink until then.”
Noisily interrupting, Dora waved her hand at him in preclusion. “Oh yes, have a drink, Asher. You look all agitated.”
Without a word in reply, Ash took his sister’s hand and leaned down to kiss her cheek in departing. Nicolette sat reverently silent before her judgmental aunt until she could hear the front door close with her brother’s exit. With her stomach knotting, Nicolette knew it were only a matter of time before her aunt maneuvered herself in attempt to control Nic’s life.
“Nicolette, you are the only thing that could have brought your brother home to stay.”
She smiled warmly at that thought. “Ash has taken excellent care of me, Aunt Dora.”
“I knew he would, dear. Alexander and I don’t worry about you when you’re under his care… as long as you are both in Great Britain that is. You’ve always remained the reason for him to return home.”
Leaning back against her plush chair before the fire, Nicolette basked in the thought of how lucky she was to have brothers as Alex and Ash. They may be overprotective, but only out of love for her. However, Nicolette worried over her brothers’ lives and future. For neither of them had found happiness anywhere in the world. Nicolette wondered if there could ever be a happy medium between the two and their ambitions. This returned Nicolette’s thoughts to herself. Could even she find happiness between society and freedom? More to herself than her aunt, Nicolette admonished. “Ash has changed since last I saw him. He seems eager to be settled and especially excited about the baby.”
Though closely watching Nicolette, Dora continued to keenly converse. “Alex claims that Asher is counting on a boy.”
“He is, but Ash is so impatient for this arrival that he will take either.”
Her hazel eyes concentrated on Nic’s swollen belly, as Dora simply asked, “how much longer do you have?”
“I’m judgingtwo months, though I feel ready at this moment.”
“You look ready.” Dora returned in sincerity. “I can’t believe it, Nicolette. You’re to be a mother.”
A strange feeling crept over Nicolette, since she had never had a mother. She tried to understand this new relationship with her always criticizing aunt. Perhaps it was because they were now tied together in the experience of carrying a child? Maybe she had come to terms with the shame that Nic was brining on the family if her pregnancy was ever discovered. No, that must not be it. Nicolette couldn’t figure it out and stammered while smiling, “I—I can hardly believe it myself.”
“Oh Nicolette, this child shall be special, for it shall be the only chance for your father’s legacy to live on. Alexander seems to be a confirmed bachelor and is too focused on business. I know Asher shall never have children, except the bastards he is probably presently leaving about the world’s whorehouses. Therefore your child may be the only for your family.”
What a strange thing for her aunt to say, Nic thought. Especially since something else must be aloof if her aunt thought this child could have any respectable future within society or representing the family. Nicolette turned her tensed eyes to the door as she heard Joy enter with tea. Nic was relieved by the interruption, especially after her aunt’s mentioned of bastards. The word itself made her cringe. Did her aunt know that this unborn child was also to be a bastard? Dora interrupted Nicolette’s swirling thoughts with the one question she had been dreading.
“Have you corresponded with the Earl recently?”
Alas, there were the true motives Nic had been waiting for. This was her aunt’s true intention for visiting. Dora had been vying for Nicolette’s confidence and now her motives were revealed. Turning back in her chair, Nicolette kept her glacial stare on the floor to not deceive her emotions. “Oh, Aunt Dora—”
“Don’t pass this from our discussion, Nicolette.” Dora waved a pudgy finger before her niece in reproach.
“Is he the reason you’ve come to visit?”
“You’ve ignored all mention of him in any letters to Alex, Camilla or me.”
Inhaling sharply, Nicolette spit, “because he’s all you ever mention.”
With a firm brow, Dora leaned closer to her niece to continue her prompting. “He holds a place in society, respectability, a title and an estate.”
“Aunt Dora!” Nicolette aggrievedly pushed up from her chair. She desperately tried to keep an apathetic demeanor, though her temper had limits. Nicolette couldn’t decide how to confront her aunt’s asinine questions. “Aunt Dora, I insist that you cease prodding me.”
“I’m just mentioning a few of his attributes, for he’s also one of the most handsome and gentlemanly—”
“I know all of this!” Nicolette quickly turned, giving cession to her feelings. She could feel her alabaster cheeks flaring to shades of red. She was nearly broken by her family’s will, though she still had a small amount of strength left in her. Quickly she spit, “I know well of all his attributes. Simon is handsome, rich, charming, and holds a title… everything which this bloody society holds dear!”
“Bite your tongue, Nicolette. You’re beginning to speak like your brother.”
Falling heavily back into her seat, Nicolette was deflated. There really wasn’t a reason for her to reject the Earl, except for the small matter of her heart. Was she just being selfish? Nicolette glanced over to her aunt who was gracefully taking her tea. With tightly pursed lips, Dora brought the cup to her mouth. She seemed to speak, act and breathe according to the rules of society. Could Nicolette actually consider conceding to society? Nicolette finally urged for the full truth of her aunt’s visit. “Aunt Dora, you’re tiring yourself with idle conversation. You may proceed with your true intentions for this visit.”
As if opening the flood gates of her family’s fervish pursuit, Dora began her criticism. “My dear, I simply don’t understand why you won’t let the Earl visit.”
“I would if he were content on simply visiting.”
“Nicolette, people are speaking wildly of you. No one has seen you for nearly five months. The Earl publicly and properly courted you, then you accepted his proposal and now you’ve disappeared.” Dora couldn’t speak fast enough to say all of her feelings. She leapt from sentence to sentence without breath or pause. “Nicolette, your beauty couldn’t be for nothing and you may never have another offer of marriage of such caliber.”
Her words stabbed through Nicolette’s heart like a searing poker. Nic was sure the blisters of her aunt’s words were sure to begin appearing. Immediately pushing up to her feet, Nicolette sent her wing-backed chair toppling down behind her. She didn’t flinch upon hearing the crash, but it instead affirmed her choice. “I never wanted the Earl from the beginning!”