"Lillianna." The countess' voice was very quiet, as she continued. "May I share the story of my Bess with you? While it does not excuse my horrible treatment of you, it might help soften your heart to a foolish old woman's actions."
Lily nodded, mostly because Darby squeezed her hand when she remained silent too long.
"Bess and I grew up together, you see. We were closer than most sisters and promised to always be there for each other. Marriage split us up, but we still managed to see each other once in a while. I married the earl, who has been extremely good to me. Bess, unfortunately, was not so lucky as I. Her husband was a waster and a gamer, and he went through what little was left of the family's money quite quickly. The last time I saw her, she was swollen with her first child. She was sure she was carrying a girl. Since I had a son, we laughed together, and like schoolgirls in romantic daydreams, we decided our children would wed one day, insuring our bond would live on through the ages. I know it was a foolish notion, but we were both children, ourselves, not wise to the ways of the real world."
It was Darby who spoke. "Where is she now?"
The countess' tears trailed down her cheeks more freely. "Her husband moved her away and refused to let her write. We lost touch until she sneaked a note to me. I was overjoyed that we might get to see each other again." Her expression changed.
"Then, I found that she passed away. It was months before I knew of it. I did find that the child was a girl. I sent word to her husband offering to take her daughter as my own, but he, too, had perished. Someone told me they thought perhaps the little girl had gone to live in the orphanage at the convent. I searched a bit more, after that, but never found her."
Finally, the ice around Lily's heart started to melt. Her own tragic history was so like the one the countess shared of her friend. But England was full of orphaned youth, most ending up in factories like the mill, in hopes of surviving. Dared she share her own background with the countess?
She forced herself to speak. "My mother and father perished when I was a child, too." Her voice changed to one of sympathy. The defiance was gone now. "And you never located her daughter?"
"Never." Darby's mother pulled a handkerchief out and dabbed at her eyes.
The ice completely gone from her heart, Lily reached out and took the woman's hand, surprised when the countess reached out and clasped both of hers. "Perhaps, my Lady, Darby and I can help you in your search. Tell us about this child."
"She would be about your age," the countess said in a low voice. "Bess had the loveliest red hair. It was much like yours. I was told the child did, too."
Lily's eyes widened as Darby's mother shared more details. Ever so slowly, and one by one, she began to fit the pieces of the puzzle together—the location, husband's first name and tendency to gamble. Even dates were impossible to ignore.
Lily glanced up at Darby, who was studying her oddly, watching her face as her expressions changed rapidly.
"My lady, might I share a bit of my own background now?" Lily asked breathlessly, tears filling her own eyes. "My mother lost her own life when I was small. My father had a tendency to visit the gaming halls. He took his own life, after losing his fortune and wife. Countess, I know in my heart her daughter is alive, safe and happy right now, married to someone as wonderful as both you and Bess had hoped." Her voice faded as she said the last few words.
Realization dawned as the countess squeezed Lily's hand tightly. "What was your mother's name?" she demanded, her eyes bright with hope.
"Elizabeth Abigail Collingwood." Lily whispered. "They called her 'Bess'. I was named Lillianna Elizabeth, after my mother."
The countess blanched, and Lily nodded. "Yes, Lady Darby. I am her daughter."
Darby was completely at a loss when the two women he loved grabbed hold of each other and started bawling like newborn babes. He moved toward the opposite side of the bed and leaned forward, putting comforting arms around them.
"Both of you. Please calm enough so I can think," Darby said softly from between them. "Mother, I promise, I'll do my damndest to find Bess' child."
"But you already did, Charlie." His mother was laughing and crying at the same time. "You married her."
"And I feared I would never measure up to some perfect, refined lady…" Lily's voice trailed away, full of emotion.
"And I ended up hurting the very creature I had sworn to protect…" the countess replied sadly.
"Women," Darby mused aloud, as if slowly coming to realize the paradox unraveling before him. "Let me get this straight? I met the woman I was intended to marry since birth on a ship sailing to America and ended up returning the daughter of my mother's childhood friend to our home?"
"I'm so sorry I didn't find you when you were a lost child," the countess told Lily, mourning the lost time between them.
"I think it was all God's plan, my lady. Chloe, from the ship, told me that. And had I not been left to survive, I would never have gone to work in the mill, never have known the horrors those inside suffered…"
"Never have gone back to save those in need?" her mother-in-law finished. "That's why you kept returning to the mill?"
"Never have been in a position to help end the travesty taking place?" The earl stood in the doorway and wandered into the bedroom, joining his wife at the side of the bed. "No fussing, now," he admonished as everyone started objecting to his being up. "I feel like my old self again. It's time I take my beloved daughter-in-law's cause to those who can help ease this burden. Children who are forced to work should be guaranteed education, decent hours, and food and time to rest. Places like textile mills should be required to pay decent wages, to take care of the children they're entrusted with. There should be laws governing the number of hours they work and insuring their safety. The House of Lords needs to face up to the things these women and children have been suffering and do something about it. And one more thing. Mr. Fenwirth bears such guilt in his treatment of those women and children. I'll see him brought to justice if it's the last thing I do."
Later, when they were finally left alone, Lily looked up from her husband's protective embrace. "I love you," she whispered.
The old grin was back. "Ah. Trying to keep your backside safe from the promised correction, are you?"
"Who, me?" She tried to appear as innocent as possible.
"Yes, you little imp. You. However, you may rest well. Tonight, you're safe from my discipline, but only for a little while. Tomorrow, there will be a long discussion between us. I will talk, and you, my girl, will listen. And when we're finished, there will be no more running around and not telling me where you are. And no more keeping secrets and hiding the source of your nightmares from me. It scared the bloody blazes out of me, I tell you."
Her face grew rueful. "I apologize for thinking that you were the one who was spying on me."
He frowned down into her face, his eyes boring into hers. "I promise you, I would never do that."
"I know that, now."
"But," he said, tapping her lightly on the nose. "You will never run off like that again."
"Yes, sir."
"And no more entering burning buildings. Ever."
"Yes, my lord." A teasing tone from her caught his attention.
"And no more defiance from you, my girl."
"Yes, Earl." Her grin up at him was challenging, and he raised an eyebrow.
"You are asking for it, aren't you? And you will figure out what to call me. Brat." But his mouth was wide with a huge grin now. "Promise?"
"Yes, Commander." She was having fun now as she grinned up into his eyes. "I promise."
A pop from his hard hand landed on her bottom, and she squealed.
"And one more thing. If the baby is a girl, her name will not be Bess."
She broke out into giggles and leaned up, throwing her arms about his neck and whispering into his mouth. "Yes, Charlie. Whatever you say."
The End
Pippa Greathouse
Pippa Greathou
se has been writing since the fifth grade, after each student was given an assignment to read aloud a story to the class of their writing. One horrified teacher later, and a class of students who thought the horror story was “cool,” and she was hooked.
She is married, and has two fantastic children, who have grown and left the nest.
Since then, the writing has continued. She now is an author for Blushing Books, and still loves what she does. Her favorite genre is writing historical fiction romances, where men are “strong, Alpha men” and their feisty ladies respond to that. And historical fiction is perfect for that! However, she also loves writing contemporary romantic fiction.
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Pippa Greathouse and Blushing Books!
Time for Change
Macie’s War
Catching Carrie
The Conquered Series (With Ruby Caine)
Conquered by the Captain, Book One
Conquered by the Commander, Book Two
The Strasburg Chronicles
Angelica’s Rescuer: Book One
Merrie’s Hero: Book Two
Cinderella’s Lawman: Book Three
The Return Of Lucy Grace: Book Four
Miriam’s Rebirth: Book Five
Strasburg: The New Generation
Judging Cicely, Book One
Audiobooks
Angelica’s Rescuer
pippagreathouse.com
Ruby Caine
Ruby Caine, author of Chance Encounters, learned to overcome her struggles with dyslexia by reading countless romance novels. As a mother of four, her life is full of its own drama. She loves incorporating her crazy experiences in her stories. Unfortunately, like her children, her characters have minds of their own and entertain her with their unexpected adventures. Caine and her family live in southern Louisiana, thirty minutes from New Orleans.
Don’t miss these exciting books by Ruby Caine and Blushing Books!
The Spirits of River Oaks series
Her Chance Encounters, Book 1
The Royal Psychic, Book 2
Haunting Memories, Book 3
Running From Her Fate, Book 4
Her Man, His Rules (4-book set)
Katrina’s Aftermath series
Real Reality, Book 1
Talk Dirty to Me, Book 2
Cajun Charmer, Book 3
Taming His Creole Beauty, Book 4
Katrina’s Aftermath, 4-book set
The Conquered Series (With Pippa Greathouse)
Conquered by the Captain, Book 1
Conquered by the Commander, Book 2
Single Titles
Making the Wright Connections
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