George shrugged. “I’ve loved my Miriam for four years.” He seemed proud of his Miriam and their young love. Confident in it, too.
Pia’s heart panged. She looked at Sirius and found him watching her. There were many moments when she would look into his eyes and think she’d loved him much longer than she actually had.
She lifted her fingers to touch his cheek but then remembered herself.
Sirius caught her fingers and kissed her hand. “I know how you feel,” he told George. Or at least, Pia believed he was talking to George, but he was looking at Pia when he said it.
Her heart raced. She’d told him that she loved him earlier that day, but he’d yet to say the words back.
He held her gaze and chuckled as though he knew her thoughts. “I love you.”
Pia broke formalities and kissed her husband. She tried to make it quick, but his arms went around her, and Pia became helpless to do anything but give him anything he wanted.
She loved him. She loved him so much. She felt tears spill at her happiness.
Sirius moved his mouth to her cheeks and began to kiss her tears away as Pia tried to contain herself. Yet she couldn’t. It was all too much for her. Her life had been terrible before him. “I love you,” she whispered around her tears.
“Pia.” His voice was warm with emotion. “You’ve no idea how long…”
The sound of the door closing pulled Pia from her emotional collapse.
“Oh!” Pia backed away from Sirius. She looked around the room and noticed that George was gone. She wiped at her cheeks. “You should help him with his calculations.”
“Are you sure?” Sirius asked. “It could take a while.”
“I’m not that terrible,” George countered from the other side of the door.
Sirius chuckled and then kissed Pia’s cheeks. “I’ll be back. Be careful. Don’t leave the building.”
She nodded.
He watched her for another few moments with a happy expression on his face. Pia could sense something else lurking behind his eyes. “I’m going to share my life with you.”
Pia looked up and prayed her eyes would stop watering. Then she looked at Sirius and choked. “I don’t think I’ve wanted anything more than this.”
He squeezed her hand and left.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 6
* * *
“How is that?” Pia asked as she patted Adalina’s braid one last time.
Adalina admired herself in the mirror and then turned around and smiled at Pia. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
Pia gave Adalina a hug and then turned just in time for Babbette to walk into her arms.
“Can we not go with you?” the younger girl asked. “Lina and I are almost all grown up. We’re not babies. I swear to not make any noise while at the party. I’ll just sit in the corner and watch everyone dance.”
Pia leaned away and looked at Babbette’s round face. “Truly? You won’t make any noise at all?”
“Babbette always makes noise,” Adalina turned to them in her chair. “Especially when she says she won’t.”
“Not true!” Babbette shouted. “I’m very quiet.”
Pia cringed.
Babbette covered her mouth. “Sorry, Mama.” Her brown eyes looked sad. “But can’t we come? If not both of us, just me then.”
“No,” Adalina answered with indignation. “Mama and Papa are going alone. It is what couples do when they love one another.” A dreamy look filled her eyes and she sighed. “One day I’ll marry someone who loves me just as much as Papa loves you.”
“Indeed, you will,” Sirius said from the door. His eyes moved from Adalina to Pia. “I wondered where you were. We’ll be late if you don’t hurry. I want everyone to meet you.” He gave her body an admiring glance before catching her eyes.
Pia returned his smile. She hadn’t been to a party with a gentleman in many years. Ginter had stopped pretending their marriage was genuine months after the ceremony. The only thing that worried her about the event was the host. Cebele. Pia felt as though she and Sirius were at a wonderful place in their marriage and feared anything that could upset it.
They were still waiting to hear from her father, or rather Sirius was. It had been two days since his visit. Pia had no faith that her father would speak to her, not even if it would please Sirius.
Seeing Babbette’s pouting face, Pia tucked her hand under her chin. “It will only be a small dinner party. Not too many guests. I doubt there will be dancing. However, why don’t you and I have a party tomorrow? We can even have dancing.”
Babbette’s eyes lit up. “Truly? Oh, Mama, I would love that. I must make invitations for my dolls.”
“And a menu,” Pia added. “A party is never complete without food.”
“Can I come?” Adalina asked. She didn’t usually like to play with dolls, but when Pia played with Babbette, there were moments she’d join in.
“The more the merrier,” Pia said.
Georgiana arrived. ‘Tell your parents goodnight and then it is time for bed.”
Pia and Sirius were gone minutes later.
“Am I invited to the party?” Sirius asked.
At first, Pia was confused, but then she laughed. “You mean, Babbette’s party?” She sighed in thought. “Oh, I don’t know. Men are such bores. They ruin everything.”
“Hm.” He leaned back in his seat. “What if I promise to dance with every pretty woman there?”
Pia looked her husband over and wondered if she’d ever actually refuse him anything. “You are… breathtaking.”
He lifted his brow and even that arrogant expression had Pia ready to perspire. “I am?”
“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know how gorgeous you are. Any other man with your looks would likely end his nights in a hundred beds all over the city and never lift a finger to do anything responsible. It is truly a gift few could handle as well as you. How very fortunate that you are mine.”
Sirius had closed his eyes halfway through her speech. His cheeks were beet red with embarrassment. Then he looked at her. “No one has ever said anything like that to me. I confess, I don’t know what to say.”
“What would you have wanted me to say if you’d told me I was beautiful?”
He blinked. “Thank you.” He grinned.
When they arrived at the party, he took her hand and glanced around. Their light mood from the carriage vanished as his expression grew harsh and watchful.
“What is it?” She looked up at Cebele’s flat and was surprised by the volume of voices she heard. “I thought this was to be a small affair.”
Sirius grunted. “So did I.”
“Why are there so many people in Town? The Season doesn’t start for at least another month.”
“Many stay, finding the country dull.” He led her up the stairs. “What do you prefer?”
She shrugged. “I prefer to be where my family is, where you are.”
Sirius’ lips parted, but the door was opened before he could speak. Upon crossing the threshold, they were descended on with noise and laughter and well wishes. As it turned out, the party was in their honor; a surprise to them both, but a little less for Sirius.
Pia looked around. She’d delivered a porcelain piece once to a young gentleman a year ago who’d been hosting a party. She’d been invited to stay, and the sights had amazed her. If the guests had started the evening with grace and poise, they’d descended to madness by the time Pia arrived.
The purest and most potent wines and spirits had made more than a few of the ladies and lords at the party loud and lewd.
This seemed like a similar affair.
There were people everywhere.
“Shouldn’t you all be working?” Sirius asked.
He joined them in their laughter. Pia recognized Lord Nicholas and a few faces from yesterday at the storehouse. These were Van Dero’s people, she reasoned.
Pia could smell the abundance of food and liquor in the air. T
he heat had her shedding her winter things long before the butler could get to her. Then she was handed a glass of champagne.
She’d barely taken a sip before she was being pushed into the crowd. Nearly a dozen toasts were made and by the end of it, Pia was slightly dizzy and very thankful to their host.
Touched by Cebele’s generosity, Pia thanked her warmly.
“No, thank you. You’ve made me a wealthy woman.”
“Have I?” Pia was handed a fresh glass of spirits and upon the first taste, she fell in love. She must have made that known somehow, because Cebele said, “I’ll send you home with a bottle.”
Sirius kissed her cheek in front of his friends. The act stunned her out of her liquor-ladened mind, but only for a moment.
“Pia!” a man shouted from the other side of the room. She was lifted from her feet and embraced by none other than Lord Venmont.
He looked dangerously handsome tonight. He’d shaved and put on a suit. Standing close to Lord Nicholas, she could see the family resemblance even if their coloring was different.
“Hello, Lord Venmont.”
“I’ll only accept Oliver or Ollie,” he corrected. “My friends call me Ollie.”
“Sirius said you weren’t friends.” Too late, she remembered herself.
Nicholas and Oliver laughed.
She noticed more than a few people staring and whispering.
“It’s the song,” Cebele told her. Then her eyes widened. She turned to Sirius. “Would you sing it?”
“No,” her husband said immediately.
“I will!” Oliver announced.
A cheer rang out.
Sirius gave him a warning look. “Two verses.”
Oliver held up his hands. “Only two.”
The cheer rang out and Sirius took Pia’s wine and set it away before he took her into his arms. A few other couples took their places on the floor.
Cebele moved over to the pianist and quartet and then moments later, the sweet notes from Sirius’ song played through the room. A hush fell over those present and Pia was swept away just before Oliver began to sing the song.
“He has a marvelous voice,” Pia said, surprised.
“Hm,” was all Sirius commented.
Pia closed her eyes and smiled when her name was used instead of Mia. It was very clever. “Honestly, you must have been thinking of some woman when you wrote this. Who is Mia?”
“She doesn’t exist. There is no Mia.”
Pia opened her eyes. “It’s a lovely song, Sirius. Have you written others?”
He shook his head. “This one was enough.”
“I love it,” she whispered. It was becoming one of her favorite songs. “It’s beautiful.”
He smiled. “You’re beautiful.” In her ear, he said, “I’m going to enjoy removing that dress later.”
Pia’s body ignited at the same time she realized she’d had too much to drink. “Excuse me.” She needed to relieve herself. The song ended just in time for Pia to make a quick escape.
Finished, she was returning to the party when she was stopped by a voice in the dark hall.
“She wishes to know if you are well?”
Lady Pia drew a blank as to the gentleman’s name, but she recognized his face. He was someone she’d seen before. The shadows and the spirits were playing tricks with her mind. “What?”
“Your aunt,” the gentleman said. “She wishes to know if you are well. We wish to know if you were forced into this match?”
Her aunt. She moved closer to the stranger. “You know where Aunt Melody is?” Then she realized he wasn’t a gentleman. It was Aunt Melody’s footman. One of the triplets. They were all handsome young men with dark eyes and dark hair. She didn’t know his name, because she could barely tell them apart. Often, Pia wondered if one of them served in her aunt’s bed.
She didn’t try saying his name. He was either Tim, Lee, or Patrick. “How did you get in here?”
“I told them I was your friend,” the man said. “Are you all right? Has Lord Gordie forced you—”
“No one has forced me. Where is my aunt?” Pia asked.
“She left for you. She left to find out the truth.” He seemed worried for her aunt, which likely explained why he was being so informal. So many had loved Melody. So many hearts had been broken.
“The truth?”
“She’s on her way to London. Your father called her here.” The footman looked over her shoulder. “Tell me Lord Gordie’s plans for your aunt, my lady.”
“He won’t hurt her,” Pia said. “But they need to talk.”
He sneered. “Men like him don’t talk first, Pia.”
“No, he promised—”
“He lied. He’ll kill her and you for this betrayal.”
Pia frowned. “Me? Sirius would never hurt me.”
Then the servant added, “I’m sure his first wife thought the same.”
Pia gasped.
“Good day, my lady.” The servant turned and dashed away.
“Pia.” Sirius touched her, and she jumped and spun around. “Pia.” He grabbed her cheeks. “You’re pale. What’s wrong?”
“How did your first wife die? Was she murdered?”
Sirius stiffened and looked over her shoulder. “Who told you to ask that? Where did he go?”
“I don’t know. What happened to her?”
Sirius frowned. “Lady Maria was killed by Van Dero. Not Cassius. Gregory.”
Pai’s mouth fell open. “Why?” Why hadn’t he told her?
“Her wealth was not her own. She was not a true heiress. Van Dero made her one to attract a certain gentleman.” Sirius shook his head. “It’s a long story, Pia, but Gregory’s power was vast, and he did not enjoy slights. I barely managed to save Adalina and Babbette in the end.”
Pia covered her mouth and then her hand fell away. “But you worked for Van Dero, didn’t you?”
“I did, but I didn’t know him well until after.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You worked for him after he killed your wife?”
“To save the girls.” He nodded. “Yes, I did. And Maria.”
Pia pulled in slow breaths, one right after the other. “You should have told me.”
“It is not a great story,” Sirius took her hand and led her to a back room. There, he sat her down and gave her a glass of water. “Here.”
∫ ∫ ∫
4 7
* * *
Sirius stepped back as Pia drank. He’d tried to avoid speaking about Maria, mainly because it had not been him who’d been married to her. “I need to know who you spoke to.”
“My aunt’s servant. I can’t remember his name. Tell me about Maria,” Pia asked from the couch. “How does one make an heiress?”
“Simple enough.” Sirius crossed his arms and walked in front of the fireplace. “All you need is money.” He looked at her. “Miss Maria Grace was a servant in Van Dero’s home. Beautiful. He thought himself clever when he gave her the means to become an heiress. It was rumored that she’d been created to lure a certain gentleman away from his daughter, but that was likely only a rumor. No one actually knows why Van Dero created her, but it was all a means to an end and when she failed to obey him, Van Dero had her killed.”
“Did you love her?” Pia asked. “You never speak of her as though you did.”
Sirius shook his head. “I didn’t love her. I married her for the money.” He met Pia’s eyes. “I was a different man back then.” He hated that he was lying, especially when he planned to tell her the truth. She would learn his true identity and he prayed she’d not grow upset with him.
More lies only meant a deeper hole he’d have to dig himself out of. Yet, now was not the time to tell her he was Adam. He needed to find her aunt and end this madness so they could move on. “You are the only woman I ever loved, Pia.” That was the truth.
She wrapped her arms around herself. “And if Cassius thinks I’ve betrayed him?”
Sirius moved
and knelt in front of Pia. “Cassius is one of my oldest friends. He is not Gregory.”
She nodded.
“Let’s go enjoy our party,” he urged.
“You aren’t going to go look for my aunt’s servant?”
“I’m sure he’s long gone now. There’s no reason to let him ruin the night.”
Pia nodded again and stood.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 8
* * *
Sirius was caught off guard when Pia handed him her father’s missive. It was there in her room upon their arrival home. For the last few days, Sirius had begun to assume that Pia’s father would remain silent, so they’d focused on other things.
Mostly each other. Sirius spent most days with his family and great portions of his evenings with his wife. Adalina and Babbette were surprised that he wasn’t working, but what they didn’t know was Sirius’ work would not begin until later.
The names of the men and women responsible had all checked out. Sirius’ plan had worked, and they now knew who was responsible for the attack on his family. It was simply a matter of finding them now.
Gillian and her girls had been moved into their own housing, which made his sister-in-law very pleased. While Sirius worked, Pia had spent most of her time over there. Tonight, they’d gone to a garden show and had had such a pleasant time that Sirius almost regretted having to leave, for if the missive gave him Melody’s location, he would have to.
Pia glanced at the writing on the front and frowned. “I haven’t seen my father’s writing in a long time. You read it.” She looked nervous as he took the note.
Sirius doubted anything terrible had been written in the pages. He opened it and was proven correct. The message said what time Melody would be arriving home that very evening. Sirius didn’t know how the man had gotten his sister there but was anxious to get this over with.
He could sense the divide this issue was making between him and his wife. The sooner it was done, the sooner they could move on.
He gave Pia the note, since it belonged to her. “I’ll go now.”
A servant arrived with another note. This one was from Van Dero. Sirius read the missive and then put it in his pocket.
The Secret Pleasures of an Earl: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 23