‘I do not question your dedication, Hailey,’ Valbourg said. ‘Merely your methods. I wonder what the bishop would say about a clergyman who hires men to spy on a young woman who, under different circumstances, might well have been his daughter-in-law.’
Valbourg didn’t wait for the man’s reply. Frankly, he didn’t care. Smug, self-righteous prig! What gave Hailey the right to criticise Catherine’s conduct when his was no better? So much for the nobility of the church! Valbourg walked out of the stone building—and came to an abrupt halt.
Catherine Jones was standing at the top of the path. And she did not look happy.
* * *
Catherine most definitely was not happy. The last person she had expected to see emerging from the church on this fine sunny morning was Valbourg. ‘What are you doing here?’ She glanced past him. ‘Is Reverend Hailey inside?’
‘He is.’
‘Please tell me you haven’t been talking to him about me.’
‘As a matter of fact, I have. And I fear you will gain nothing by going in there and talking to him now.’
‘Why? What did you say?’
‘Not nearly as much as I would have liked,’ Valbourg said, taking her by the arm and leading her away. ‘The man is an arrogant—’
‘Please tell me you didn’t insult him to his face.’
‘Not in so many words, but I suspect he got the gist.’
Catherine groaned. If she’d had any idea Valbourg was going to come here today and speak to Hailey, she would have done everything she could to dissuade him from it last night. ‘How could you, Valbourg? Have you any idea what you’ve done?’
‘I know what I came to do,’ Valbourg muttered. ‘But the man isn’t willing to listen to the truth.’
‘Of course not, because he believes his own.’
‘He needed to know you were not my mistress.’
Catherine gasped. ‘Is that what you told him?’
‘What else should I have said?’
‘You shouldn’t have said anything! You had no right to interfere.’
‘I had every right. It may have escaped your notice, Catherine, but yours is not the only reputation at stake here. Hailey believes we are having an affair. I made it clear we are not.’
‘But he didn’t believe you.’
‘No, and trust me, if you go in there now it will only make matters worse,’ Valbourg said. ‘Come, let us go somewhere that we can talk—’
‘There is nothing to talk about. Don’t you understand?’ Catherine cried, whirling to face him. ‘You have made my predicament a hundred times worse by stepping in where you had no business to!’
‘And how many times must I remind you that this is now my business because it is clearly my involvement in your life that has made him change his mind about giving you your son back.’
Catherine didn’t know what to say. Reverend Hailey believed she was having an affair with Valbourg and the fact Valbourg had come to her defence, while admirable, had likely only confirmed his suspicions. ‘Lord Valbourg, I appreciate what you tried to do today, but for the welfare of all concerned, please stay out of my life from now on.’
‘I will, if that is truly what you wish. But if Hailey believes something of you that isn’t true and is punishing you because of it—’
‘I must learn to live with it,’ Catherine interrupted. ‘Your coming here today has only led him to believe there is a connection between us, otherwise you wouldn’t have bothered.’
‘I told him you had the friendship of the Marquess of Alderbury and his family.’
‘Which also isn’t true,’ Catherine said. ‘I met the members of your family when I was hired to sing for them. That hardly qualifies me as a friend.’
‘Nevertheless, I thought the connection to a high-ranking member of the aristocracy would work in your favour,’ Valbourg said. ‘How many actresses of your acquaintance can make such a claim?’
‘Four, and they are all sleeping with their lords.’ Catherine sighed and gazed into the distance. What was she to do now? Hailey was bound to be more dead set than ever against her having Thomas. The man he believed to be her lover had come to plead her case. What did that say, if not that Valbourg’s interest in her went far beyond that of simple friendship?
‘Catherine—’
‘No, there is no point in discussing this any further,’ she said, cutting him off. ‘I shall return to London and then decide what to do next.’
‘You will not stay and fight?’
‘Not when I haven’t a hope of winning.’
‘But I’m sure the boy would rather be with his mother—’
‘Difficult to say since Thomas doesn’t know I am his mother.’
The remark stopped Valbourg in his tracks. ‘He doesn’t know?’
‘I wasn’t allowed to tell him. I have always been introduced as a friend of the family.’
‘Then who does Thomas believe his real mother is?’
‘I’ve no idea. That is a discussion I have not had the opportunity of having with my son. And thanks to you, one I probably never will.’
* * *
Not surprisingly, Gwen was extremely dismayed to hear of Catherine’s failed attempt to speak to Reverend Hailey and to learn that their visit was coming so soon to an end.
‘Are you sure there is nothing to be gained by staying and trying again?’ Gwen asked after Catherine had related the whole sorry tale. ‘Perhaps Reverend Hailey just needs time to come to terms with the situation.’
‘I don’t think time is going to make any difference. The only thing that might is getting the man who wrote the last report to admit that he exaggerated what he saw.’
‘Do you think that’s possible?’
‘I don’t know,’ Catherine said. ‘But I intend to try.’
‘Well, I wish you luck with it, my dear. I know if there is a way of getting Thomas back, you will find it.’ Gwen paused for a moment before saying, ‘Are you going to see Valbourg when you return to London?’
‘No. I made it quite clear I didn’t want to see him again.’
‘But why? None of this is his fault,’ Gwen pointed out gently. ‘He went to see Reverend Hailey with your best interests at heart.’
‘I know, and it’s really not him I am angry with,’ Catherine admitted with a sigh. ‘I don’t think anything was going to change Reverend Hailey’s mind, but it is best Valbourg and I don’t spend any more time together. He is the type of man one has...a hard time forgetting, if you know what I mean.’
She looked up and met Gwen’s gaze. A moment later, she saw understanding and regret dawn in the woman’s eyes. ‘Ah. So that’s how it is. I’m surprised. You told me you had no wish to involve yourself with a man again.’
Catherine blushed. ‘I didn’t...until I met him.’
‘Because he is a marquess’s son?’
‘No. Because he is Valbourg.’ She bit her lip, tugging gently at the soft skin with her teeth. ‘I didn’t think it was possible to feel this way about a man, Gwen. To feel as though I am only half-alive if he is not near. But I see now that it is...because being with a man like that would not restrict my world. It would enrich it. Fill it with everything it lacks now. It is as though...he has opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed. A world I am richer for having seen. But at the same time, I am poorer because now I know what I shall never have. Not with him. And if not with him, not with anyone else.’
‘My dear girl, you mustn’t put such restrictions on yourself. There will be other gentlemen. If one has managed to find his way to your heart, others will, too.’
Catherine shook her head, aware there was nothing to be gained by arguing. She had known for some time that she was falling in love with Valbourg, but it was an involvement that had no futur
e for her. He, too, had a child to look after; a boy not much older than Thomas. And Valbourg loved him as deeply as she loved Thomas. But he had promised his sister he would look after Sebastian and he had promised his family he would lead an exemplary life. He couldn’t afford to have anyone call his character into question. Not for any reason.
* * *
Valbourg was dressing for breakfast when Catherine’s letter arrived the following morning.
Lord Valbourg,
I write this as I am leaving for London because I do not wish our last words to each other to be those spoken in anger. I was wrong to lash out at you yesterday. You were only trying to help, and good intentions should never be thought ill of.
You simply did not know the nature of the man with whom you were dealing. I did and could have told you that nothing would be gained by your efforts, even though you went with the best of intentions.
I wish you well in the future and hope you will still come and see me now and then at the Gryphon. Your admiration and respect mean everything to me.
Sincerely,
Catherine Jones
Valbourg read the letter three times before folding it up and slipping it into a drawer. Damn. He, too, regretted the manner in which they had parted. He had lain awake half the night, trying to figure out how to set matters right. He knew now it had been a mistake to try to make Hailey see sense. Catherine was right. He should have minded his own business. But he had been so sure that talking to Hailey was the right thing to do. If he could have made the clergyman see that nothing was going on between them, Valbourg felt sure Hailey would have released the boy into her care. Instead, all he had done was make the situation worse. Hailey had sent the boy away, further reducing Catherine’s chances of regaining custody of him, and now she was angry with him even though her letter tried to convince him otherwise.
It was a deeply troubling situation and one for which there was no easy answer. Valbourg wasn’t used to people challenging his word or calling his integrity into question. To be called a liar by a village parson seemed the absolute height of absurdity—but Catherine was the one who was being punished.
* * *
The matter stayed on Valbourg’s mind for the rest of the morning. Even when he went out riding with his host, thoughts of Catherine’s predicament continued to plague him. She would be well on her way back to London now and he could imagine how unhappy she was. To be driving away with only her servant for company when she had expected to have her son with her as well must be heartbreaking.
He tried putting himself in her place, tried to imagine how he would feel if Sebastian were to be taken away from him. It would be a horrendous wrench. One he would fight with every bone in his body...and that was exactly what Catherine was going through now. For the past five years her only goal had been to regain custody of her son. Everything she had done—or hadn’t done—had been with a view to achieving that goal. She had worked hard at becoming the best performer she could be and had saved enough money to be able to afford a house in a decent part of town. She had gone to church and prayed forgiveness for the sin of bearing a child out of wedlock. She had denied herself the pleasures of the flesh because she knew what it would cost her if she partook of them.
Yet she had still lost. She had sacrificed everything...and for what? To be called a whore and be denied the one thing that mattered more to her than anything else in the world—
‘You’re very deep in thought this morning, Valbourg,’ Brocklehume commented at his side. ‘I don’t believe you’ve heard a word I’ve said.’
Valbourg sighed. ‘Sorry, Robert. I have been a bit preoccupied.’ He reached out and pulled a burr from the gelding’s mane. ‘Tell me, what do you know of Reverend Hailey?’
‘Hailey?’
‘The vicar over in Grafton.’
‘Oh, him. Not a great deal,’ Brocklehume said. ‘He calls here occasionally, but I try to avoid him. Tiresome man. Always quoting God’s word or pontificating about morality and sin. But then, I suppose that’s what clergymen do.’
‘What do his parishioners think of him?’
‘I’ve no idea. I don’t trouble myself to listen. Julia could probably advise you better. She often gets involved with the goings-on at the church, though I know she doesn’t care much for Hailey’s wife. Pretty enough, which is likely why he married her, but sharp-tongued and used to getting her own way. There’s many who say she rules the roost and, knowing what I do of Hailey’s temperament, I’m not surprised.’
Interesting, Valbourg reflected. Hailey had seemed confident enough during their confrontation in the church, yet Brocklehume’s description was of a hen-pecked husband. Perhaps Hailey showed more backbone when on his own than when in the company of his wife.
‘I understand Hailey’s son died some years ago,’ Valbourg said.
‘Yes. Shame that,’ Brocklehume said. ‘Will Hailey was a decent boy. Studious, not much of a sportsman, but for some reason he went out riding and took a terrible fall. Died before they could carry him off the field.’
‘A shock for his family.’
‘Indeed. Many believe it was grief over Will’s death that killed Hailey’s first wife. Hailey was shaken up, too. He just turned his grief in a different direction.’
‘A younger wife?’
‘Exactly.’
‘Was Will Hailey seeing anyone at the time of his death?’
Brocklehume glanced up. ‘Why all these questions, Valbourg? I wouldn’t have thought the life of a country cleric would be of interest to you.’
‘I had occasion to run into the fellow the other morning and didn’t much like what I saw,’ Valbourg said, seeing no reason to dissemble. ‘But I assumed you would have spent more time with him, given that the living at Grafton is yours to award.’
Brocklehume grunted. ‘Couldn’t be bothered finding anyone else. Hailey’s father held the living before him and was well liked. This chap wasn’t bad until he remarried. However, getting back to Will, there was talk of his being fond of Catherine Jones, but nothing ever came of it. Just as well since his father would never have approved. Miss Jones was just the local schoolmaster’s daughter. Hailey wanted better for his son.’
‘I wonder what would have become of her if they had married,’ Valbourg mused.
‘She wouldn’t have become an actress. I’ll tell you that much,’ Brocklehume said. ‘Hailey’s a bit of the old fire and brimstone when it comes to that. But I’m sure Miss Jones has no regrets. She’s done far better in London than she would ever have done here.’
The conversation took a different turn after that, but having found out what he wanted, Valbourg let it go. He had no desire to appear too interested in Catherine. Brocklehume was no fool and Valbourg had no intention of giving his host any reason to talk. Still, the discussion had given him valuable insight into Catherine’s predicament and, in particular, the present Mrs Hailey’s partiality for Thomas. Valbourg was inclined to think the couple hadn’t intended to give the boy back at all, in which case his arrival on the scene had not been the cause of the problem, but rather the excuse Hailey had been looking for all along.
Chapter Seven
The idea of finding Stubbs and getting him to admit what he’d done proved a lot harder than Catherine anticipated. The man seemed to have disappeared. He no longer haunted the lane near her home or turned up at her door at all hours of the day or night. Clearly, now that Reverend Hailey had made the decision to keep Thomas, he no longer cared how Catherine lived her life or with whom she spent her time.
Fortunately, Lily—through her blossoming friendship with Mr Hawkins—was able to find out that Stubbs liked to frequent a certain public house near the docks and, after four unsuccessful attempts, Catherine finally tracked him down. He was hunched over a table close to the door, having an animated conversation with
another man who looked even more disreputable.
‘Well, well, if it ain’t the lovely Catherine Jones come to see old Stubbs,’ he said, winking at her. ‘Miss me, did you, love?’
Catherine noticed a few of the patrons staring at her in astonishment, but she merely smiled and put her hand on Stubbs’s shoulder. ‘No, but I would like a word in private, if you don’t mind.’
‘Ah, well, I don’t know about that, love,’ Stubbs said. ‘Me and my good friend Bert were just enjoying a chinwag over a pint. Bert’s in the same line of work, if you know what I mean.’
‘I do.’ Catherine opened her reticule and took out a coin. ‘Perhaps this will help persuade you to delay your conversation for a while?’
Bert’s eyes widened as he took the coin and stuffed it in his pocket. ‘For that, I’d never talk to me own mother again.’ He finished his drink, got up and left.
Catherine, surveying her surroundings, nodded towards a vacant table in a relatively quiet corner of the pub. ‘I think that’s better suited for our purposes. Would you care to join me, Mr Stubbs?’
‘Mr Stubbs? You’ve never called me that before.’
‘There’s a first time for everything.’
‘Aye, I suppose there is.’ Slowly, Stubbs got to his feet and made his way back to the corner table. ‘So what brings you all the way down here? I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again.’
‘Why not? Has Hailey given you your marching orders?’
‘Pretty much. Got a letter saying my services were no longer required. And between you and me, I’m just as glad. Never did care for him, but I liked her even less.’
‘Her?’ Catherine repeated, sitting down. ‘You mean Reverend Hailey’s wife?’
‘Aye. She was the one who hired me. Told me she needed to know what you were doing and paid me well for the trouble. So what happened?’ he asked. ‘Did you get the boy?’
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