The Long Awaited Lord

by Deborah Wilson

  A laugh caught his attention and he looked out the window.

  There were men in the woods. His brother’s other guests had already arrived.

  “Madison, we’re here.”

  She sighed. “I know. You’ve been tensing for the last half hour.” She sat up, looked down at Edmond, and then up at him.

  Then his gaze roamed over her. His wife looked quite fetching in her travel costume. Her dress was dark blue. Midnight ribbons lined the sleeves and hems. A matching one went through her gray bonnet.

  She was deliciously pale and her eyes warm but troubled. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m nervous. You already know that.” What would they say about her? What would they say about him? He prayed they didn’t share any stories. Families tended to do that. Madison’s family loved telling stories.

  There were no good stories about the Childs’ household. Everything was dark and covered in blood.

  He couldn’t help but think this trip a mistake. Why couldn’t he just have Madison to himself? Why wouldn’t the world just leave him alone and let him have this one thing?

  She cupped his jaw. “If you want, we can stay, have dinner, and then leave in the morning. We’ll tell the driver to present an urgent note to us at dinner with some reason that demands we go home. We’ll slip away before breakfast.”

  He blinked. “You’d do that for me?”

  “I’d do anything for you.”

  He smiled. “There is only one problem with that plan.”

  “And that is?”

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  She laughed. “I am.”

  He turned and kissed her fingers. “These are not the sort of people you lie to. They’ll know.”

  “Who do you think will be here?”

  He glanced out of the window again when a shout caught his attention. There were tons of people in the trees. “Everyone.”

  “Who is everyone?”

  For the remainder of the journey, he went through a list of the most likely guests, men who were close to Oliver and Van Dero. Madison had either forgotten or didn’t wish to dwell on the other reason they’d have to stay for the duration of the party.

  Anson was coming.

  Leo had had no time to send Oliver notice about his plans, but he knew his brother well enough to know he’d not have a problem with this plan. Everyone in the organization was working to find the root of The Circle.

  He helped Madison out of the carriage and carried Edmond himself, turning away a maid when she tried to take him. He knew Madison wanted to keep him close. After the months she’d suffered with the thought of him being taken away, she didn’t trust him with anyone but him and her parents.

  He’d offered to hire a wet nurse for their trip. He didn’t know any woman who fed her own child, but Madison had become hysterical at the idea, never mind that her own mother had hired a wet nurse.

  “He is my baby. I will feed him.” The message had been delivered with a look of pure savagery.

  He looked at Madison and witnessed a flicker of her primitive nature as she glared daggers at the maid who’d approached them.

  Leaning in her ear, he said, “Your inner lioness is showing.”

  She quickly rearranged her face just as Oliver and Nicholas came out.

  Leo thought Oliver got bigger every time he saw him. Leo was a tall man, but no one was larger than Oliver. He was a Viking of a man. Powerfully built with crazy red hair and wild blue eyes.

  Nicholas, on the other hand, was built more like a gladiator. His muscles were leaner. He had the face of a Roman God. He was all charm with golden hair and eyes that matched the heavens.

  Leo didn’t hug his brothers and neither tried to hug him. He gave them both a courteous greeting before introducing Madison.

  Madison looked at them and then at Leo. “You all have the same eyes.”

  “And absolutely nothing else,” Leo said.

  The eyes tied them together.

  There were tons of people around. Most of the men were dressed, ready to hunt. More carriages were coming up the only road on and off Oliver’s land. How many people had he invited?

  Nicholas said, “Congratulations.” He offered Leo a smile.

  “Thank you.” Leo felt ill, but he managed to hold it together and took deep breaths through his nose. Don’t say anything to make this woman leave me.

  Belle burst through the front door and smiled. Leo calmed immediately as his sister-in-law offered him a hug before turning to Madison. Lady Venmont was wild with warm energy and her greatest skill was making people feel better. She was small with large brown eyes and dark hair that had touches of gold from the sun. “She’s gorgeous, Leo. Oh, you’ve done so well. I’m very proud.”

  Madison blushed.

  Leo grinned. He loved Belle, he loved Belle for his brother, and he was glad she’d finally pulled him out of the misery he’d had a hand in creating long ago.

  Oliver caught his attention when he moved closer. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  Nicholas moved to Leo’s other side. He said nothing, but it was clear he intended to join them on their jaunt through the woods.

  “Let me take the baby,” Madison said.

  “Is the boy fed?” Oliver asked.

  Madison blinked. “Yes.”

  “Then the boy stays with us,” declared the Marquess of Venmont.

  Madison’s eyes shifted like a predator under a full moon.

  Then Belle grabbed her arm. “Venmont is very good with children, and he’d never allow harm to come to his own nephew.”

  Madison relaxed. She looked at Belle and then at Leo. She said nothing, but her eyes said everything. I trust you.

  He nodded and walked away with his brothers.

  They’d barely moved five feet before Oliver said, “Well, I’m not surprised you chose yourself a fighter.” He grinned. “Did you see the way she glared at me?” He placed a hand to his chest. “My heart, it quickened. For a blink, I was terrified.”

  “I was terrified for you,” Nick said with a laugh.

  They started down a well-worn path through the trees and away from the many guests who were spilling from the house and carriages.

  “She’s pretty,” Nick said. “Is the story from the paper true? Did you steal her from someone else?”

  Leo held the basket to his chest. “More or less.” Madison’s secrets were hers to tell. “She didn’t love Hivers. The child has Judd’s blood, but he’s my son.”

  “As it should be,” Oliver said. He looked down at the boy. “What did she name him?”

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  4 5

  * * *

  Leo felt wariness creep into his chest at his brother’s question. “She named him Edmond Leo.”

  There was a moment of silence. He could almost feel the disappointment and accusation coming from them.

  “A fine name,” Nick finally said.

  Leo glared at him. “It’s a terrible name. He’s named after our father.”

  “No, he’s named after you,” Oliver said. “You must mean a great deal to her if she named her son after you.”

  Leo twisted his mouth. “She loves me.”

  “And how do you truly feel about her?” his older brother asked, watching him closely.

  “I love her.”

  Oliver grinned. “Good for you.”

  Leo looked away. He didn’t deserve their blessing. They shouldn’t be happy for him, because he didn’t deserve happiness. He’d hurt them both. He’d hurt Oliver more than Nicholas, but only because Oliver volunteered to take their younger brother’s lashes as well.

  How Oliver could stand to touch him was something Leo didn’t understand.

  They came up to a clearing where a pond sat behind the house. Oliver dropped gracelessly into the grass and Nicholas followed suit. Leo moved slower, being mindful of Edmond.

  “Where’s Elisa?” Leo asked Nicholas.

  At hearing his wife’s name, Nick smiled.
“She’s in the house. Upstairs. Sleeping.”

  “Thank the heavens for that,” Oliver grunted. “The woman is hysterical. She kicked Nicholas out of their room.”

  “She did?” Leo’s eyes widened.

  Nick nodded. “I snore. It’s driving her mad.”

  “She was already mad,” Oliver said.

  Nick had stolen Elisa from an asylum. He was deeply in love with her.

  “You always snored,” Leo said. “Why does it upset her now?”

  “She’s carrying our child. She should have the baby before spring.”

  Leo stilled. It was almost February, which meant she’d been carrying for some time. “I didn’t know.”

  “If you came home more, you would have,” Oliver accused.

  “I believe you banned me from your property,” Leo countered.

  “Let’s not pretend that’s the reason you don’t come home.”

  Leo shook his head. He didn’t want to have this conversation. So he changed it. “There’s been a string of murders in Oxford. Someone is killing off The Circle.”

  His brothers gave him their full attention, and Leo took his time telling them everything.

  “I’ll have a room prepared for Lord Anson,” Oliver said. “And I’ll alert everyone to keep their eyes open.”

  “It’s a fine plan,” Nick said. “If we catch this man, we might find the man in charge of The Circle. He seems to know them all if he’s killing them.”

  “My plan exactly,” Leo said. “So warn everyone that he is not to be killed.”

  Oliver nodded. “We’ll have a meeting with Van Dero when we return.”

  Leo agreed.

  “Now, let’s go back to what we were talking about before,” Oliver said.

  “No,” Leo said.

  Nick put a staying hand on his shoulder. “Let’s not fight.” He was the youngest, yet since the day he learned to string words together, he’d began mediating their fights.

  Oliver sighed. One arm propped on his raised knee and the other on Leo’s other shoulder. “Nick is right. No more fighting. Forgive me.”

  Leo stared at Oliver. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

  “No, I upset you. I’m sorry,” Oliver said.

  “I’m not upset,” Leo replied.

  “Leo,” Nick cut in. “Just take the man’s apology.” Then in a lower tone, he added, “You know how rare they are.”

  “Keep talking and you’ll be sleeping in the stables,” Oliver warned Nick. Then he smirked. “Do you think Elisa would even notice?”

  Leo moved the baby out of the way just as his brothers attacked each other.

  He stood out of the way and watched them wrestle in the grass. He looked at Edmond who was content to simply suck on his thick hand.

  There were grunts and Leo looked up.

  Oliver would win. Oliver would always win, but he let Nick try to beat him. It had always been this way. They would play and Leo would remain on the side and watch.

  Nicholas shouted a curse once Oliver got him pinned.

  Then after a few moments, Oliver let him go. He never asked Nick to beg for mercy, because he knew Nick never would. Oliver could break every bone in Nick’s body and still, Nick would not relent. That was a lesson they’d learned from their father.

  Never beg for mercy. Never show weakness. Never let the enemy get over on you.

  Nick was out of breath as he came over. His clothes were grass-stained. Some dead leaves were in his hair, but he was smiling. He was happy.

  So was Oliver, who was once again sitting on the grass.

  It was January. While most people sought the warmth of a fire, the Childs family sat on cold grass, unbothered by the weather.

  Why can’t we just be normal? Why couldn’t my father have been like every other father? Why did he ruin us?

  “Leo,” Nicholas called in a tone that said he’d been calling out to Leo for a minute.

  “I’m going to take Edmond inside.”

  “He’s bundled,” Oliver said. “A little cold won’t—”

  “I’m not going to raise him as father raised us.”

  Silence fell over the field.

  Leo tightened his hold on the basket. “I’m going to take him inside where it is warm. That is what people do in winter. They sit by warm fires and cover themselves in furs and drink chocolate.” He would know. He’d studied ‘normal’ just as much as he’d studied everything else.

  Oliver frowned. “I don’t think the baby is old enough to drink chocolate—”

  “That’s not the point.” Leo started down the path to the house.

  His brothers caught up with him.

  Oliver spoke first. “Look, I’m sorry.”

  “Would you please stop apologizing?”

  His older brother wasn’t done. “Well, one of us should.”

  Leo stopped and looked at him. “What does that mean?”

  “Apologize,” Oliver said. “Ask for my forgiveness.”

  Leo stared at him and then looked at Nick.

  His younger brother stayed silent.

  Leo turned back to Oliver. “I’m sure I’ve apologized before.”

  Oliver crossed his arms. “No. All you do is accuse yourself of all your faults, over and over again. It was nearly a hundred years ago—”

  “It was twenty,” Leo countered.

  Oliver shrugged. “Two decades then. Still, you can’t let it go.”

  “And you have?” Leo asked. “Have you truly moved on? After everything?”

  “Are you serious?” Oliver’s eyes became deadly. “Are you serious?”

  “Maybe we should return to this later,” Nick said.

  Leo turned back to the path. He rushed into the house and sought out Madison.

  She was in the drawing room. She looked away from the woman she was talking to and smiled at him. He started forward, but then caught sight of someone else in the room.

  His chest tightened, and he quickly ducked out of sight.

  Nick approached him. “What’s wrong?” Immediately his brother became guarded as he glanced into the drawing room. His eyes searched for danger. He was the mediator when he needed to be and deadly when he needed to be.

  “There’s a young man in that room. Who did he come with?”

  “Which young man?” Nick asked. “A couple of boys came with their fathers.”

  “He’s ten. Dark hair. Blue eyes.”

  “Oh, that boy? You mean Wess? Strange you should ask. I don’t actually know who he is. He came with Lord Ganden. Belle invited him and his wife. Her introduction of him was rather informal. She said the name as though Oliver and I should already be aware of who he is…”

  Leo stopped listening and cursed the day Belle came into his brother’s life.

  Then he remembered Wess mentioning some sort of trip he was taking with George for a short holiday. He hadn’t said he was coming to Venmont Hill.

  This was terrible. His worlds were crashing together.

  Madison came out. She touched his face. “Leo, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He jerked from her touch. “Take Edmond. I need to go.”

  “Where?” She took the basket, her eyes wide. “Where are you going?”

  He didn’t answer. There was no time. He needed to get away.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  4 6

  * * *

  Madison watched her husband flee the hall and start upstairs. She was only grateful he hadn’t headed for the front door. She allowed the knowledge that he was still in residence to comfort her.

  “He does that sometimes,” Nicholas said. “We don’t understand why. Well, actually we do, but then again we don’t.”

  Madison turned to Leo’s younger brother. “What are you saying?”

  Edmond started to fuss.

  She sighed. “Is there a nursery?”

  “I’ll take you.” He led her upstairs and she was glad when he continued to speak. “Leo has trouble facing his past. It haunt
s him. It’s why he runs. Has he left you before?”

  Madison didn’t want to betray her husband’s trust, but she wanted to help him.

  Nicholas’s gaze was tender. “I’m going to be honest with you. Oliver and I didn’t care who you were or what you did in the past. The news that any woman had managed to get Leo to stay around long enough to get him down the aisle made us very happy and we instantly loved you.”

  “There was no aisle,” she confessed. “We were wed in my parents’ drawing room.”

  He smiled at her and she thought she saw Leo in his smile. “Of course, that was how it went. My brother has little patience.”

  She smiled. Nicholas was kind.

  They stopped outside the nursery and Nicholas knocked before he opened the door.

  There was only one other person inside. A striking woman with red hair and pale brown eyes, eyes that were solely for Nick. “I think I’ve finished it.”

  He seemed surprised. “The whole book?”

  “No, just the first page. The most important page. Do you think he’ll like it?” She held a small leather-bound book in her hands. Her stomach was swollen. She was carrying a baby.

  Nicholas crossed the room. “He’ll love it, darling. He’ll love you more.”

  The woman smiled. Dimples appeared at her mouth. “I love you. Come to bed with me.”

  “All right.”

  “But you can’t stay.”

  Nicholas laughed. “That’s all right as well.” Then he looked at Madison.

  Madison ducked and blushed. She tried to pretend that she hadn’t been watching or listening to their conversation.

  “Madison, this is my wife Elisa.”

  “Hello.” Elisa approached her and looked down at Edmond. “How old is he?”

  “Five weeks.”

  “He’s handsome.” Elisa looked up. “Congratulations on your wedding and your child.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m writing our child a book,” she said. “I want him to know how I feel about him from the beginning so that he never questions it.”

  “That’s beautiful. I think I should write a letter as well.”

  Elisa brightened. “I could help. I’m very good at letters.”

  Nicholas said, “I’ll leave you two alone.”