Learning to Love the Spinster

Chapter 4

“Is your sister all right?” Simon asked as he walked back into the study. Jack’s head came up quickly from the Times he was reading,

“What do you mean?”

“Philipa just informed me that she was leaving London, and that she was going to York,” Simon said with a shake of his head. Jack looked bewildered,

“Are you sure? The season has just begun; Sheffield came to me the other day for his permission to court her.” Simon scowled at that news, Leo Sheffield the viscount Harrod was a decent sort, but he didn’t deserve Philipa.

“Then who does?” His conscious asked. Simon didn’t have an answer, it just wasn’t Sheffield.

“You gave him permission to court her? Why on earth would you do that?” Simon asked without thinking. Jack gave him a questioning look before replying,

“Because unlike others that came to me asking for permission I believe Sheffield would be good for her, he isn’t after her money as he is in solid financial ground. He isn’t twenty years her senior. I believe that he cares for my sister, which is more than I can say for the rest of them.” Jack said in disgust.

Simon nodded, knowing that it was the truth but he didn’t like it. Simon didn’t like the thought of Philipa and Sheffield together. Simon didn’t probe any deeper in his feelings until Simon remembered Leo’s conversation he happened to overhear at White’s one day. Leo’s friends were giving him hell about deciding to settle down and find a wife. That thought led to imagining them get married, then he imagined them on their wedding night, with his hands on her. Simon about broke the glass in his hand, he couldn’t believe this. Simon couldn’t understand the rush of jealousy stab through him.

‘You are only jealous because you think of Philipa as a sister and want her cared for properly,’ Simon thought to himself. He relaxed his death grip on the glass, and took a liberal swallow of the whiskey. That realization made him feel better, or it was the whiskey.

“Do you know why she’s leaving, and when?” Jack thought to ask.

“I do know that she is going to York, or at least she said she was. When I talked with her, she seemed unhappy when I asked she said she was sad because she would miss London.” Jack gave him a quizzical stare,

“Then why is she leaving?” Jack asked bewildered.

“How am I to know, she’s your sister.” Jack shrugged,

“I will ask her later, now do you want to discuss this mysterious woman all day?”

“No, well yes but I also wanted to talk to you about my estates.” Simon said successfully changing topics.

“What about them?” Jack asked raising his eyebrow.

“I have talked to my solicitors and there have been a lot of losses.”

“What kind of losses?” Simon asked, his interests piqued.

“Livestock, grain, fields being burned.”

“Where? How long has this been occurring?” Jack asked fully invested.

“My solicitors are not sure, they have only begun to notice these issues and think something foul is occurring. The bad news is that it is on our joined estate in Essex.” Simon paused at Jack’s look of disbelief, and continued on. “I am not sure what their target is, as some of my other estates are having similar problems, but nothing like what is going on at Essex.”

“What do you think is going on? Do you think that you are being targeted?” Jack asked.

“I really can’t say right now, my solicitors are working on finding out what the problem is, but I think that we need to get out there and see if we can suss out what is going on.” Simon let out a deep sigh, not liking the situation any better than his friend.

“You are right on that, I will leave for Essex as soon as I discuss it with my solicitors’ and see if I am having similar problems elsewhere.”

Philipa was packing her things, as her maid Anna was off visiting relatives and wouldn’t be back for a month at least. One of Anna’s sisters took ill and Philipa gave her leave to be with her sister as long as she was needed. Philipa did not want to ask the servants for help, as they had their own chores to be doing. Philipa was going through her dresses when the turquoise gown from last night came into view, she about started to cry again. Philipa wanted to throw the dress out, but she could not bear to part with it, it was too beautiful. Philipa moved past the dress and picked out the purple day gown next to it.

Philipa was in the middle of folding her dress when a knock sounded at the door. She finished folding the dress and called,

“Just a minute.” Philipa put the dress carefully in the trunk and went to open the door. Billings, the butler, stood before her.

“My Lady you have a guest in the Gold Salon waiting to see you.”

“Who is calling on me Billings?” Flip asked curious.

“Lady Kanewood, if it pleases you I shall have the cook prepare tea,” Billings inquired.

“Thank you Billings, also would you please tell Lucy that I will be down in a minute.”

“Of course My Lady,” Billings stated, he bowed to her and took his leave. Philipa went back to finish folding the last dress before she headed downstairs to see Lucy. Philipa did not even make into the Gold Salon before Lucy screamed at her,

“Who was that man from last night?” Philipa stopped for a moment and continued on as if she did not hear Lucy’s outburst. Philipa walked into the room and sat down on her favorite settee.

“You can’t ignore me forever Philipa,” Lucy said and sat next to her on the settee.

“Are you certain?” Flip asked pertly.

“Very certain, who was that man from last night? I swear I recognized him, was it Lord Sheffield?” Lucy immediately started interrogating her.

“Honestly, I don’t know who he was,” Philipa said trying to think of a believable story.

“Poppycock! Why did he escort you out the garden?”

“I was not feeling well; he escorted me out to the garden to get some fresh air. When that didn’t work I went home.” Lucy looked disbelieving, but was unable to further comment as male laughter erupted in the hallway.

“The Duke of Stoneville is here,” Philipa stated to Lucy’s unspoken question. She began to fervently pray that both Simon and her brother would have important duties to see to and would not stop and take tea with them. Simon and Jack came to an abrupt halt when they saw her and Lucy in the salon. The men entered the salon and bowed to Lucy,

“Lady Kanewood,” her brother said and turned to look at her. Philipa knew without question that Simon told him of her plans to leave.

“Lady Kanewood, an honor to see you,” she heard dimly as her brother stared her down. She quickly shook her head at Jack to silently tell him that she didn’t want anything said in front of Lucy. Jack gave her a quick nod before asking,

“What are you Ladies up to this afternoon?”

“Not a thing,” Flip said quickly even though Billings walked in with the tea tray. Billings sat the tray down and asked her,

“Anything else that you require my lady?” Philipa ignored everyone giving her an odd look and stated,

“Not at the moment Billings, thank you very much.” Philipa sat down at the settee and started pouring.

“Are you two staying for tea?”

“Never could say no to cooks pastries,” Jack said and sat down next to her on the settee.

‘Please say no, please say no,’ Philipa thought to herself.

“Alas I have a business meeting otherwise I would, however I am going to steal a pastry before I leave.” Simon stated heading to the tray. Philipa grabbed her handkerchief and wrapped up two of his favorite pastries; peach and raspberry. Flip handed it to him, pulling her hand quickly away as their fingers touched.

“Thanks Flip, you always remembered my favorites,” Simon smiled and bowed to her.

“Hard to forget when you always ask me when you are visiting if cook has made them,” Flip said her lips twitching. Flip couldn’t believe that she was teasing him! She couldn’t believe that after everything she still felt comfortable to tease him. Simon simply smiled and walked out of the room, out the front door, and out of her life forever or so she hoped.

Philipa stared at the outline of London long past her ability to see it. Flip sat and tried to think about anything other than Simon. Philipa thought about the look her father gave her before she left. He knew that she would not be coming back for awhile; for he wrapped her in a fierce hug. She tried to think of this new phase in her life, one where she left London and all it entailed behind. She was leaving the season behind, the ton, hopefully forever, and Simon...she was leaving Simon forever.

‘Tears,” she thought, would they never cease? Philipa let the tears flow freely. Philipa didn’t know why she felt so wretched.

‘Simon is to blame for my misery, why can’t I simply forget him?’ Flip started to cry as she knew she would never be able to forget Simon, the Duke of Stoneville.

Simon was at white’s enjoying a drink a fortnight or so after he left the Duke of York’s town house, and contemplating his fate when Jack came in. Jack took one look at his sour face, and whiskey and sat down. “That widow still in your head?” Simon turned to his friend gave him a little smile,

“Unfortunately I can’t get her out of my head. I have thought of little else.”

“Yes I can see that,” Jack replied dryly. “Have you tried bedding another woman?” Simon nodded his head before Jack even finished.

“None will do, she is all I can think about.”

“Are you certain she’s a widow?” Jack asked him.

“No I’m not, but her response to me and certain other things lead me to believe she hasn’t been with many men.”

“Well you should consider yourself lucky, given her choices, don’t know why should chose you.” Simon stared at his friend mutinously, but couldn’t disagree with him. Simon had done several things that he regretted in his youth, after the death of his father made him resentful and bitter. His mother had no real love for her children, only for her lifestyle. Simon’s father was the all-powerful duke, and all he cared about was his Dukedom. He called Simon to his deathbed and informed him that he was glad he was dying so he would not see Simon ruin his legacy. Simon’s reaction to his dying father’s declaration was he wanted to prove him right. In the following months of his fathers death he drowned himself in loose woman, whiskey, and gambling. If it wasn’t for the Turners he did not know where he would be now.

There had been things he had done that almost cost himself Jack’s friendship, and it wasn’t his whoring or gambling. Jack had beaten him senseless when he had heard of the horrible comments he had made about Flipe at a garden party soon after she came out. God he was such an ass, words poured out of his mouth that he didn't even mean, he was still her friend and she didn’t deserve that. When Jack finished pummeling him, Simon wanted to apologize to Flip for what he said about her. Jack wouldn’t let him; he said he wouldn’t risk her being anymore hurt than she already was. Jack wasn’t sure if what Simon had said got back to her, but he didn’t want to risk it. Simon had done many things he regretted, and saying things about Philipa was at the top of his list.

‘Maybe that’s why I can’t stop thinking about her.’ He thought to himself. Philipa had left for York the day after he left the townhouse. Simon had worried about her ever since she left. He hoped she got there safely, and wondered if she was happier where she was at. Simon rationalized that he simply still felt guilty about what he had said to her all those years ago.

“Hey I know what we will do!” Simon looked at his friend quizzically. “We will have a house party.”

“How in the world does having a house party help?” Simon asked scowling.

“Don’t you see, you big dolt?” Simon’s scowl deepened when his friend called him the name, just like his sister. “No I can see you don’t, we have a house party and invite every widow society has, and I’m sure if she wants you further, she will come.” Simon scowl turned into a smile. “See now why you are a dolt? You never would have thought of that if not for me.”

“Now Turner that isn’t a bad idea,” Simon said and took another drink. “Where should we have this house party?”

“I know we will have it on the York estate,” Jack rejoined with, before Simon could refute this idea Jack continued on. “I know Flip will be happy to see us, and of course I will invite Sheffield.” Simon’s whole body stiffened, but he didn’t say anything. “He’s been pretty upset that she left London before he could officially call on her,” Jack continued on.

“Did Flip ever tell you why she left?” Simon asked. Jack shook his head,

“She said she needed a change, what that means I have no clue.”

“Women,” Simon stated shaking his head.

“I will drink to that my friend,” Jack replied. The two young Dukes lifted their glasses of brandy and downed the contents.

“When will this party commence?” Simon asked while the whiskey still burned down to his belly.

“Three weeks, yes that should give ample time to see to everything.” Jack replied while give a gesture for more whiskey.