* * *
Susannah didn’t ever feel as though she were lesser than Lord and Lady Wiltshire. At first, she worried, since she was dressed in her maid’s uniform. None of the others seemed to notice, however. It was as though she were wearing a fine silk dress, just like Lady Wiltshire.
“He was always a stubborn child,” his mother was saying, looking at her son lovingly.
“I’m not surprised,” Susannah said. Adam grinned, slipping his hand into hers.
“Now, don’t you worry about a thing,” Lady Wiltshire said. “I’ll be able to help you. We’ve got a lot to cover, but I can have you prepared for it in no time.” She looked at Adam. “Do you think the two of you could come out to Wiltshire this summer?”
“We could,” Adam said.
“I know that you don’t like the country,” his mother said. “But it’s in Susannah’s best interest.”
“Of course,” he replied. Susannah glanced down at their clasped hands. She could hear the tone of his voice—he didn’t want to be parted from his lab but would go to the country for her sake.
“You could set up a room, perhaps, where you could do some work,” Susannah suggested. She glanced at Lord and Lady Wiltshire. “So he doesn’t get too behind on his next invention.”
“How is the testing on the current invention going?” Lord Wiltshire asked.
Susannah looked at Adam proudly. “He’s almost completed the necessary adjustments. He’s been hard at work fixing it.”
He was beaming. “Soon it will be ready for the second testing phase,” he added. “Then, it will be implemented across the board as the third phase.”
“And you’ll be selling it soon?” His father raised an eyebrow. He took a delicate sip from his tea.
“Not at the present moment,” Adam explained. “Not until I’m absolutely certain of its positive long-term effects. After that, I’ll be happy to sell the plans. It should be able to help many other industries. Not just tobacco.”
“Well, we should allow you to get back to it,” Lord Wiltshire said, standing up. “Your mother and I are expected at Lord Northumberland’s to dine this evening.” He looked rather put out about it.
Lady Wiltshire stood, taking both of Susannah’s hands in her own. “It’s so lovely to meet you,” she said. “I’ll be sending you an invitation to tea this week for we have much to discuss.”
Susannah smiled brightly. “I’d be happy to attend.”
“Very good,” she said, smiling.
Susannah and Adam walked Lord and Lady Wiltshire out to their carriage. After the both of them were inside, Susannah and Adam waved to them as their carriage pulled away from the curb.
“This is what it’ll be like,” Adam said.
“This is perfect,” she replied. He smiled, then kissed her. He pulled her close, his hands on her hips. She rested her palms against his chest.
“You’re perfect,” he told her. She blushed, pushing gently at his shoulder.
“Flatterer.” They both laughed.
He leaned in, his lips against her ear. “I’ll show you flattery.”
“Sounds like fun.” She looked into his eyes, where she saw his desire, and the promise of many delights which the church would frown upon. Susannah no longer shied away. He would marry her. Then, they wouldn’t be sinful or scandalous.
* * *
After his parents had left, Adam didn’t quite know what to do with himself. He was agitated. He wanted to go out and find Susannah’s father. He wanted him to approve. But he also knew that approaching him when he was that angry would only serve to make things worse.
Susannah had returned to her duties. He didn’t want to get in her way, so he meandered the hallway, then ended up in his lab. He peered at his invention. The repairs were nearly complete. It would only be the work of a half hour and then he could return it to Windham Tobacco for the next phase of testing.
Beside it, on the table, his notes were written in his neat handwriting. When he brought it back, he would give a copy of them to the workmen who would be making several copies of the device.
There was a knock at the door, and Mr. Howard peered in. “Lord Wrentbour is here to see you, My Lord.”
“Send him in,” Adam replied, glad to have the company. He wanted to show Gerard the device. Usually, he would have shown him by then. He was excited to have his good friend’s opinion of it.
It was a few moments, before Mr. Howard showed Gerard inside. His friend beamed at him amicably. Gerard was dressed for the club, in his neat green-velvet frock coat and black breeches. His boots shone in the soft light from the window.
“So,” he said, looking eagerly at Adam’s device. “This is it, then? Your newest invention.”
“This is it,” Adam was pleased to confirm. He was positively puffed up with pride.
“I can’t convince you to sell it?” Gerard asked. “After all, so many of us could benefit from it.”
“I’ll be happy to share it. But not until it’s ready,” Adam explained calmly. “It still has several months of testing left. After that, I’ll release them to the public, maybe even free of charge.” He was eager to help others, but not until it was perfect. That was important to him.
“Well, I suppose we’ll all have to wait,” Gerard replied, beaming. “I’m so proud of you.” He patted Adam on the back.
“Thank you,” he said. It was good to have his friend there. He had missed him of late. Adam decided to take a night off from working. “Can I interest you in something to drink? Brandy, perhaps?”
“I believe you can.” Gerard grinned.
“Excellent,” Adam replied. “How about supper? Mrs. Larson’s going to be making a roast of some sort.”
“Why not?” Gerard replied. “I don’t have to be at Lady Catsmore’s until later on in the evening.”
* * *
Susannah finished her chores. When she arrived downstairs, she heard the sound of voices in the servants’ dining room. When she peered inside, they all turned.
“Susannah!” Mrs. Braithwaite beamed at her. “We…we made you a cake.”
“Why?” Susannah was touched. Mrs. Larson set the cake out on the table.
“We wanted to show you how pleased we are that something nice has happened for someone as nice and kind as you are,” Mrs. Braithwaite explained.
Susannah glanced around. Everyone was smiling at her. Even Mr. Fort.
“It’s a little like we’re all family down here,” William added. “And we wanted to show you that even though you’ll be living upstairs, we still think of you as one of our own.”
Susannah smiled at them. “Thank you,” she said, as happy tears welled up in her eyes. Mrs. Larson began to cut the cake, handing around slices.
When Susannah looked around for Lucy, she didn’t see her at all. She knew that they would have to talk, sooner or later. Susannah was hurt by her friend’s betrayal. She was upset by her father’s anger. Her hurt was ruining the joy that surrounded her.
She accepted her slice of cake with a smile, but inside, she was sad and confused. Mr. Fort sidled up to her.
“I just want to apologize,” he murmured, “for my behavior.”
“You’ve shown your true colors, Mr. Fort,” she whispered back. “I won’t forget it.” She looked him in the eye. A small smile was on his face.
“I will endeavor to be kinder in the future,” he promised.
Susannah knew that Mr. Fort only acted in his own best interest. Now that she was going to be above him, he was being kind. She turned away from him.
Chapter 29
Adam and Gerard both left the lab. Adam locked the door after him, as he always did. Then, he and Gerard proceeded up to the parlor on the third floor. Adam got out his decanter, and two glasses.
“So?” Gerard asked. “How are things with Susannah?”
“We’re going to be married, soon,” Adam said. “My parents both met her today, and it went rather well.” It would have been difficult
to marry without their approval. He was glad that he wouldn’t have to find out just how hard it would have been.
“Congratulations,” Gerard said. “I’m truly happy for you. A successful invention, and a marriage. Not bad.” He accepted the glass that Adam handed to him.
“It just feels as though everything’s falling into place.” Adam had never been so happy before. He felt like he was finally becoming the person that he’d been meant to. He took a sip of his drink.
He glanced at Gerard, who was tugging at his cravat. He was frowning, his gaze on the flames in the grate. Slowly, thoughtfully, he took a sip of the brandy that Adam had poured for him.
“What about you? How are things going?” Adam asked.
“Well, I suppose. I went to the ball that Lord and Lady Wiltshire threw, despite your absence.”
“Ah,” Adam said.
“I made the acquaintance of several newly debuted ladies,” Gerard said. “Perhaps something will come of it.”
“So, you’ve given up Miss Fentmore?” he asked, referring to the actress that Gerard had been so excited about.
Gerard looked at Adam sadly. “We can’t all buck society.”
“You could if you wanted,” Adam pointed out. “After all, you are independently wealthy, and you’ve already inherited your title.”
“Yes, but…” Gerard trailed off. “I want a lady for my wife. I want…” He shook his head, sighing heavily. “As enchanting and lovely as Miss Fentmore is, I can’t do it.”
“Someday, I hope that society changes,” Adam said. “I just don’t see the point in keeping everyone so…separate. There’s nothing wrong with marrying for love instead of titles. It’s all so unnecessary.”
“For you, perhaps.” Gerard looked at him mournfully.
“I plan to leave it all behind,” Adam went on, “as much as I can.”
“We’ll miss you.”
“I was never very happy, and you know it.” Adam meant to create an insular world for Susannah and himself. The ton wouldn’t accept them, so they would have to surround themselves with people who would.
Gerard was silent, and Adam found himself lost in his own thoughts. He knew how important it was for Susannah to have her parents at the wedding. He was going to go out the next day and find her father. He hoped that if he spoke to him, that perhaps he could convince him to change his mind. Perhaps by then his anger would have cooled, and he would see reason.
* * *
As Susannah prepared for bed that evening, her mind was full. Her emotions were scattered. So much had transpired that day. First, her father had shown up, then she had found out about Lucy’s letter, and then, she’d met her future parents-in-law, who were kind and supported her. Finally, she’d had to endure the joy of the others. There had been the cake from the rest of the household. It was all so unexpected.
The door to the room opened, and Lucy entered. Susannah waited, patiently. Throughout the rest of the day, Lucy had avoided Susannah. Even during dinner, she had remained off to the side, almost like a ghost. Now, she wasn’t even raising her eyes to meet Susannah’s gaze.
Susannah folded her arms. She had prepared what she was going to say. Now was the time for honesty. “How could you, Lucy?” she said. “When you knew that he would try to bring me back to Lidcote?”
Lucy broke down into tears, leaning back against the wall by the door. “I thought that I was doing the best for my friend,” she explained. “I was concerned that your reputation was going to be destroyed. I never thought that Lord Malmore would ever seriously consider you.”
“I told you that he would,” Susannah said, stung by Lucy’s doubts. She stood, waiting for her friend’s response.
Lucy finally met Susannah’s gaze. “I can see that I was wrong,” she admitted. “He really does love you. He’s willing to defy society to be with you.” She sniffled, wiping at her eyes with her hands.
Susannah understood Lucy’s position. She could see how she thought that Susannah was taking a path which could lead to her own ruin. However, she hadn’t listened when Susannah had told her what had been decided between Adam and herself. She had doubted, then written to her father behind Susannah’s back. It had been underhanded.
“You could have listened to me,” Susannah pointed out. “You could have spoken to me instead of betraying me. Not to mention, my father came all of this way, for nothing.”
Lucy nodded. “I could have, yes.”
“It’s the least that you could have done,” Susannah said, angrily. “After all, it’s on me. It’s my choice what happens in my own life, no matter what that choice is.”
“It is, yes.” Lucy sighed. “I’m sorry. I thought that there was nothing else to be done. I was sure that you were going to be ruined.” Her eyes still glistened with tears. “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
“Of course,” Susannah replied. “You were only trying to protect me. Only a good friend would try to do it. I think I was shocked, most of all, since you and my father have always been in opposition to each other.”
“True,” Lucy said with a breathy laugh. “Desperate times, desperate measures.”
“I suppose. Come, now. Let’s be friends again. I can’t sleep in the same room with someone I’m mad at.”
The two friends crossed the room and hugged. It was a relief to have repaired her friendship with Lucy. Susannah had never wanted to drive her away. When they pulled away, Lucy was smiling.
“You’re going to be the Countess!” Lucy said, excitedly. She pressed Susannah’s hands in her own.
Susannah sighed, though she was glad that her friend was finally happy for her. “Yes,” she said. “That’s certainly going to take some getting used to.” She wasn’t used to sitting and letting others take care of things. She was going to have to learn to manage, which would be a big change for her. She had never had power of her own before. She would have to rise to the occasion.
Just then, they heard a loud crash, from the floor above, where Lord Malmore’s lab was located. Frowning, they both turned and left the room, running to find out what the noise was.
Chapter 30
As Susannah and Lucy reached the second floor, they could both smell smoke. It was coming underneath the door to the hallway. They both glanced at each other. Susannah covered her mouth and nose with her house coat, then pushed open the door.
The hallway was smoky, with most of it emanating from the open door of the lab. Susannah’s stomach did a nauseating flip.
Is Adam in there?
He had been visiting with Lord Wrentbour that evening and had given Susannah the evening off to rest.
She could see someone lying on the ground in front of the door. She noticed the white pinafore and black dress of a house maid. There were gray streaks in her hair, but her face was covered in black soot.
“Simone!” Susannah called, as she recognized the other house maid. Smoke was pouring out from the lab’s door. When she peered inside, the window was open. She didn’t see anyone in there—only flames, covering the walls, the worktable.
Her stomach did a flip as she remembered—Adam’s device had been in there. If it was still in there, then surely it had been ruined beyond repair.
Susannah and Lucy both knelt down by Simone. The maid was moaning in pain. “Is she badly hurt?”
“The door took the brunt of it,” Lucy murmured. Simone’s arm was burned—her cotton frock was singed, and the skin underneath was bright red. She was dazed, but otherwise unharmed.
* * *
Adam waved to Gerard as his carriage pulled away from the curb in front of the house. He turned, then stepped back inside of the house. He was a little drowsy, full of brandy and the nice dinner that Mrs. Larson had made. He was considering heading up to his room, to sit in front of the fire, when he heard an explosion.
As soon as he heard it, Adam knew that it had come from the lab. His stomach did a nervous flip.
“Quick!” Adam yelled as he ran down the hal
l. Susannah turned toward him. He was relieved to find that she was safe. “We have to put the fire out!”
Susannah glanced to where Lucy was kneeling on the floor beside Simone.
“I’ve got her,” Lucy said, as she helped Simone into a sitting position. The maid was holding her one hand, which clearly had been burned.
Susannah followed Adam into the smoky room, keeping her house coat over her face.
Lured Into Sin By The Wicked Earl (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 22