He’d reiterated everything Madison had told him. “Don’t touch his hands. Don’t touch his face. Lower your voice, you’ll frighten him.”
Leo wondered if Oliver had ever looked at him that way. The burden to protect Leo must have been the reason Oliver had never hurt him when their father handed him a blade.
Leo hadn’t been strong enough to disobey their father’s order. “Wess will be better than me,” he said quietly.
“That’s all any of us could hope for,” Nick said. “What man doesn’t want their children to make better decisions than they have? We all have secrets, things we wish we could take back. At least, I do.”
Leo thought about that and agreed.
“I want to know what else you’re hiding,” Oliver said. “I want to know my brother.”
Nick gave him a soft smile and lifted a brow of inquiry. “I can’t imagine you holding a bigger secret than Wess. Are you going to let us in now?”
Leo let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know where to start.”
Oliver went across the room and picked up a wooden chair that had been stacked against the wall. Then he sat. “Start at the beginning.”
Nick moved to the wall and grabbed two more.
Leo frowned. “You want to talk here?”
“What better place than the one that tried to separate us?” Nick asked.
They wanted to unite in a dungeon. Leo pretended it didn’t bother him as he took the seat that Nick offered. Leaning his arms on his knees, he tried to think about all the secrets he’d been keeping buried all his life.
“Where did you go when you ran?” Oliver prompted.
“Anywhere,” Leo admitted. “Anywhere where there was food and little violence.”
“Did you ever leave England?” Nick asked.
Leo nodded. “But I didn’t go far. Scotland. France. People often took pity on me.” He’d been a handsome lad and had used it to his advantage. “I tried to stay away.”
“Why did you keep coming back?” Oliver asked.
Leo shrugged. “I didn’t belong anywhere else. This was all I knew.” But he’d tried to belong. All his life he’d been trying to fit in elsewhere. Women. Clubs. Nothing felt right.
Until Madison. He was home in her arms.
“I’m sorry I came back.” Leo straightened. “I know how much pain it caused you.”
“I was just glad to know you were alive,” Oliver said.
Leo shook his head. “You don’t have to lie…” He held Oliver’s gaze. “Just admit you were glad when I was gone.”
Oliver looked away in shame. He tightened his folded arms on his chest. “That was never your fault. That was his fault.” He looked at Leo again. “It wasn’t you I wanted gone. It was him. It was always him standing between us.”
Leo stood. “I can’t do this.”
Nick grabbed his shoulder, on his feet faster than Leo could blink. “No, we need to have this talk.”
“Why?” Leo asked. “Why now? We’ve had years to have it.”
“Because now there are more than just us involved,” Oliver said. “I’ll not have my family haunted by what happened here.”
Nick said, “Honestly, I’ve wanted to have this talk for years, but neither of you ever had anything to keep yourselves grounded. I received much less abuse than the two of you.”
Leo moved from his brother’s grasp. “If we’re going to talk about this, I can’t sit down.” He didn’t want to be in the cellar, but he’d move past that. He stared at the black stone wall. “If you really want to know, I spent most of my time in the woods until a man allowed me to ride north with him to Oxford.”
“Well, I know about the carriage races,” Oliver said. “I heard you conned quite a few lads out of their inheritance over the years.”
His years of carriage racing had been some of the best times of his life. People had adored him. He’d made friends, but since he was unwilling to tell them the truth of his past the friendships had always been shallow. Even with the popularity, he’d still felt distant from them. They’d been so polished. Their fathers had cared about them, if only for the fact that the boys had carried their names.
But they’d been good times, nonetheless.
Leo looked back and smiled at his brother. “Every young man there thought they could beat me, with their fancy carriages and fine horses.” The reason Leo had won was that his carriage— loaned from a carriage maker—had been empty. There’d been no fine gold and drapery to add unnecessary weight. Even then, Leo’s possessions had all fit into a single bag. “I didn’t spend the money frivolously. I received an education there.” Lord Leonard Childs, first of his name, had taught Oliver, Leo, and Nick the basics of reading and arithmetic. “The foolish never survive,” he’d reasoned. “I graduated.”
“You did?” Nick asked surprised.
He turned around fully to face them, “I’ve been offered a position at Oxford, a professorship.” Then he told them everything from being reunited with Lord Cumpterton to holding his very first lecture.
His brothers were glad for him.
“Wait until Grandmother hears about this,” Oliver said.
The sound of footsteps sounded like a coming storm. A footman appeared. “Lady Serveck is here.”
“What would you say her disposition to be?” Nick asked the young man.
The footman frowned. That was answer enough.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 1
* * *
“A great-grandson!” Lady Serveck’s shrill voice made Madison cringe, but she smiled as the woman grabbed Wess by his face and grinned down at him. “You mean you’ve existed all this time and no one told me?”
The boy bobbed his reddened face between countess’ fingers. Embarrassment and happiness glowed in his young eyes.
Lady Serveck turned to Madison. Her voice was loud. Thankfully, they were in a private upstairs drawing room. “I need to speak to Leo. Has Leo been called for?”
Madison’s heart skipped. “Yes, he’s been sent for.” She did not want to be Leo at this very moment.
Lady Serveck turned back to Wess. Her blue eyes glittered. “Oh! You look just like your father.” She turned to Madison again and refused to let Wess go. “I never saw the boys at this age. Did you know that? Their father forbid my intrusion in his ways of raising them.”
Madison shook her head. “I hadn’t known.” But it made sense. This fierce woman before her seemed the sort to step on toes to get what she wanted. The tears that began to fall from her eyes spoke of her love for her grandsons.
Lady Serveck covered Wess’ ears and whispered in rage, “I can’t believe Leo. He knows how I feel about him. He knows I’d have given anything to…”
Madison’s eyes began to water as she nodded in understanding. Lady Serveck hadn’t been there for Leo and his brothers, but she’d have wanted to be involved in Wess’ life. So much time had passed. “He’s only ten. He’s still young.” Madison was trying to save Leo from her wrath.
The countess’ mouth trembled. Then she gasped and turned as the Childs brothers came into the room. She straightened and slowly released Wess. She didn’t blink. She didn’t turn her gaze away from the middle brother. “Leo…” Her voice broke. She looked frightened.
Leo crossed to his grandmother and wrapped her in his arms. “My decision had nothing to do with you. Please, believe me. This had nothing to do with you. I don’t blame you.”
And it struck Madison, the reason for the countess’ pain. It wasn’t for the simple fact that Leo had hidden Wess from his family, but the countess thought Leo hadn’t trusted her with his son.
She’d never saved Oliver, Leo, or Nick from their abusive father. She must have thought herself unworthy.
The countess buried her face in Leo’s shoulders. Her body shook with grief.
Leo continued to whisper in her ear as he held her. “I’m sorry.” She looked so small in his arms. Leo’s eyes met Madison’s over the older woman’s shou
lders. He looked full of regret. There were consequences to the secrets he’d kept.
Madison knew exactly how he felt. Her secrets with Judd had been brought into the light, but thankfully, she’d had people who loved her in spite of her choices.
Just like Leo.
Wess shifted close to Madison and she placed an arm around him, resting it on his shoulder.
Edmond was with Belle. Oliver’s wife had all but stolen him from her, saying Edmond needed to get used to others. Madison didn’t know if she agreed, but it was nice to have her arms free… even if they did feel rather empty.
Leo looked down at Wess. “I see you’ve met Lady Serveck. Now you’ll never get rid of her. She’ll dress you up like a prized pony and show you off at all her parties.”
“I like parties,” Wess said.
Leo narrowed his eyes. “Since when?”
“Since now.” Wess smiled.
Leo grinned and then he chuckled.
Lady Serveck turned to him. Her eyes were red. “Oh, all my friends will simply adore you.” She sniffed. She held her arms out to Wess and he went to her.
The young man’s need for affection was so clear. He was like a dried-up sponge, soaking in every drop of love around him. He couldn’t seem to get enough of it. Perhaps he thought it wouldn’t last.
Leo was being strong. She imagined everything he’d gone through and had survived over the years, yet undoubtedly this was one of the hardest.
She only hoped his strength held until the end. She prayed for that.
* * *
Leo was glad when a few hours later the butler came and announced the arrival of Lord Anson. Madison and Wess were in the music room at the piano. Leo’s grandmother had taken Edmond to join them.
Leo happened to be the only person in the foyer at the time. The rest of the party was gathered in the drawing room preparing for the morning hunt. He’d slipped away to get a moment alone and was there when Anson walked through the door… f
ollowed by Matthew.
Leo rushed to Lord Hivers in a state of near panic. “What are you doing here?”
Anson spoke for him. “His life is in danger. He said he knew you and knew your plan. I decided we could come up together.”
“I approached The Circle,” Matthew said. “I made a few inquiries to the men who hadn’t been attacked that night and told them I was looking to get in, that I’d changed my mind. They’re considering it. Their numbers are lower now.”
Leo’s eyes widened. “You put a target on your back.”
“I want the man responsible for my father and Judd’s death caught. I thought this a fine way to make sure it happened.”
Leo grabbed Matthew’s arm and pulled him to the side of the room. He lowered his voice. “You know you can’t be here. Madison will think I invited you.”
“So, I should leave?” Matthew asked.
Leo sighed and only thought for a second before he shook his head. “No, you can’t. You’re in danger. This is the safest place for you.” But how would he tell Madison the news?
“This isn’t about Madison,” Matthew said, as if reading his mind. “Also, I’m sure she wants to catch Judd’s murderer just as much as I do.”
It moved Leo that Matthew still cared about Judd. Though it was clear love and hate warred deep within the man’s soul, he still cared.
Anson joined them. “What’s the plan?”
“The plan is you act normally,” Leo said. “If our murderer should dare come, Cassius’ men are more than prepared to handle him.”
“What’s he doing here?”
Madison asked from behind him. The weariness in her voice as she looked at Matthew broke over Leo.
He approached her and she backed away.
“I came on my own.” Matthew stepped forward. “Lord Leo knew nothing about my arrival until moments ago.”
“Leave,” Madison said.
“He can’t,” Leo told her.
Her eyes widened and she paled slightly before she turned and started from the foyer.
Leo turned to Matthew. “Stay here. Do not move.” He didn’t wait for the man to reply before he went after his wife.
He caught up with her down a long gallery. “I didn’t invite him.”
She stopped and turned to him. “How did he know we were here?”
Leo swallowed. “I told him.”
“Leo,” she said, exasperated.
“He’s in danger.” He told her everything.
Madison shook her head. “How can you trust him? What if he tries to take Edmond again?”
“He won’t and even if he tried, he’d never get away with it. The people here are dangerous. My brother alone could snap him in two.”
Madison’s eyes flashed and her lips turned down as though imagining the act. She didn’t like Matthew, but Leo knew she didn’t want him to die. That was the sort of heart his wife had.
She eventually sighed. “Fine, but I don’t want him around Edmond.”
Leo nodded. “We’ll keep the baby out of his sight.”
“When you’re done here, you should spend some time with Wess.”
Leo placed his hands on his hips and tried to breathe normally. “I’ll do that soon.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What’s soon?”
“Soon.” Just as soon as he figured out what to say to the boy. Everything was different. It felt different. Before this, Leo had found it easy to be around Wess. Comforting. Now, the truth both divided and held them together.
Madison cupped his cheeks in her warm hands. He was struck dumb by the heavy amount of love that shined in her eyes. He felt his soul slipping into hers and finding a place to rest. “He’s so much like you. So clever and charming. Very protective. I love him already.”
“I’ll spend time with him soon.”
She let him go and he took her hand.
“I couldn’t have gotten through any of this without you,” he whispered.
She squeezed his hand. “Yes, you could have. I’m not the only one who loves you and sees the best in you, Leo. Your family is not so different from mine. There are hard times and in the end, we always come together.” Madison ran her hands up his jacket arms and sent fire through his blood. “Change can be scary, but it can also be good. You’ve more people than ever who adore you. You’re very blessed.”
He smiled. She was so easy to talk to. He’d noticed that about her from the beginning.
He shared and she listened. She didn’t turn away. Instead, she held on and tried to help him.
He was a fortunate man. He was fortunate to have her.
He saw what she meant. Though he didn’t agree with Oliver’s lack of anger toward him, there was no denying the affection he received from his family. That was the blessing she spoke of.
He had a family and the family was growing through marriages and births.
And they wanted him to be a part of it.
Madison would always be more than he deserved yet she’d taken him and didn’t seem to regret that decision.
Perhaps, the others would not regret loving him as well.
It was possible.
As he looked into her eyes, Leo knew anything was possible.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 2
* * *
“Glad you could join us,” Lord Ganden said as they moved through the woods. There was a smile in the other man’s green eyes. “I’m certain Wess appreciates your presence.” The earl was being kind to Leo even though Leo had repeatedly lied to him about his connection to Wess.
As if reading his thoughts, Ganden lowered his voice, “We all have regrets. What matters is if we try to make up for them. I’m glad you’re not wasting Wess’ forgiveness.”
Leo looked over to where Wess and George were walking just a few paces away. There were others around them. The party was large as it moved east through the forest. The sun was just rising, its golden light danced through the trees ahead.
Wess seemed happy. H
e was dressed smartly, as usual, blending in well with the other boys around them.
He and Madison had played after dinner the other evening. They’d found two pianos in the house and had them face each other. They’d done Mozart, both playing the same piece, but different parts in the most extraordinary way.
It had been a riveting sight to watch two people he loved very much connect so well. Leo had felt his troubled spirit quiet and a sense of everything finally slipping into place for him.
There were other boys in the group, each had come to hunt with their father, grandfather, or uncle. He recognized some of them as Wess’ peers at school. He also recalled that not all of them had treated him well in the past.
Their interactions with him were different now. Though still easily considered Leo’s by-blow, his uncle was the Marquess of Venmont and no one dared offend the great marquess.
Leo looked at Ganden. They’d never spoken in depth before, but he was starting to grow comfortable around the man. “I noticed George’s clear affection for Miss Baxter yesterday.” While in the room where the governess usually kept the children in order, Leo hadn’t been able to help but notice it. Leo had been sitting by Madison and watching Wess hold his brother. Miss Baxter had come over and George had not been very far behind.
“Oh, Miriam?” Ganden laughed, calling the girl by her first name. “She’s the daughter of one of my friends who is also here. Miriam and George are very much in love.”
Leo’s eyes widened. “So young?”
Ganden shrugged. “It’s been that way for years. It took great encouragement on my part to get George to leave for school. He hadn’t wanted to leave her. In truth, he likely came on this trip because he knew she would be here… and because Wess and George have been plotting ways to get you to reveal the truth for months.”
“You knew?”
Ganden nodded. “I took one look at Wess and the way you look at him and I knew. George is not my blood, but I love him dearly. I’d die for him, protect him with my life. I’m proud of him. I saw all that in every interaction you had with Wess. You had your claim on him, made sure I knew it as well.”
The Long Awaited Lord Page 25