The Viscount's Counterfeit Wife

by J. Jade Jordan

  “Exactly.” His wife looked relieved by the butler’s remarks. “And we’re expecting my grandmother to arrive any day now,” she bolstered his claim.

  Reed hadn’t known that. No one had seen fit to tell him, had they? They told him nothing!

  For several moments, he resisted the two servant’s urgings to move out the door. They treated him as if he were incapable of understanding, just because he’d lost his memory.

  He hated to leave Talia with this Allerton fellow. The man seemed to think he had rights over her. Had Reed been feeling more capable, he would have stayed to find out more about their friendship, but he had to make it to his bed before he fell down.

  Once in his room, standing by his bed, he turned to Foster and said, “Don’t leave them alone for long. That man has designs on my wife.”

  The aging factotum’s bleary eyes flickered. Shooing Joseph out of the room, he shot Reed a look of approval and assured him he’d bear that in mind. “To that effort, sir, let’s get you into bed so I can get right back down there, quick as a whippet.”

  “Good idea.” He allowed himself to be tucked in by Foster. “Now, by all means, go.” He closed his eyes. “But I will expect an accounting later on.”

  * * *

  From the doorway of the drawing room, Tally watched Reed, Foster and Joseph making their way slowly up the stairs. How had she come to be so lucky? She had to end up with an open-minded and hospitable sham husband!

  “Talia, who is that?”

  She turned to face Spence, wondering how she was going to get out of this situation with her reputation intact. Her childhood friend had always been a bit excitable. And, much as she cared for him, he could be a real trial because he always wanted to know every last detail about her. It was exhausting trying to steer him clear.

  “How are your parents, Spence?” Not that she cared much, they weren’t nice people, but she needed to change the subject. Unlike their son, his parents placed far too much importance on social status and how rich a person was. They were unable to see past that to a person’s true worth. That was why Tally had remained friends with Spence all these years. He had some redeeming qualities she appreciated and he needed good outside influences to counter his parents’ manipulations. Unsurprisingly, his parents did not approve of Spence’s interest in Tally. It was probably the only thing about which she heartily agreed with them.

  But it was too much to be hoped that, for once, his single-mindedness could be diverted.

  “He stared at me with such an intense look, it was almost frightening.” He paced nervously away from the door, arms behind his back.

  It was a pose he adopted, thinking it made him look older, Tally knew. Instead, all she saw was how his prominent Adam’s apple beat anxiously above his tight, high collar and how young and slight he appeared beside Reed’s more mature and muscled physique. She felt years older than her friend, even though he was a year her senior.

  “He said he was married to you and I hardly dared question it, he was so intimidating.” Without waiting for her reaction, he continued, “You can’t be married to him, Talia.”

  “Were your parents in favor of your trip to London?” Ignoring his claim, she persisted with her attempts to ignore his questions. She had no idea what she was going to say to explain away this calamitous circumstance and was hoping something would occur to her. Soon! Because when Spence was hunting for information, it was almost impossible to avoid replying without being blunt, not to say rude.

  Proving he was just as adept as she was at disregarding a query, he doggedly persisted on his same train of thought. “You’re supposed to be my–”

  “Just a moment.” She ruthlessly cut him off yet again, vainly wracking her brain for some way to avoid making matters worse than they already were. “Did you hear that? Someone must be…” She went to the door and looked out into the hallway. “I was sure I heard a noise.” She wished someone had been there to rescue her. Who’d have believed that pretending to be someone’s wife for a few days could become so complicated? “No, I was wrong.”

  Of course, she knew exactly why Spence had come to Town. He was worried she’d find someone else, if he wasn’t around to monopolize her social time. Was he ever going to accept her constant refusals to marry him?

  It might be worth allowing him to believe what Reed had told him, if only she didn’t have to be ruined in the process. Her usually inventive imagination was letting her down by failing to come up with a plausible excuse for Reed’s claim to be married, that didn’t also entail her ruin.

  Foster bustled back into the room. “Mrs. P needs to speak with ye, Miss. It appears there are some things with which Joseph can’t help her. Why don’t I offer Mr. Allerton, here, a drink while he waits.” His eyes indicated she should leave, fast.

  “Oh yes, thank you, Foster.” She gave Spence a rueful look. “I won’t be long, Spence. You know how it is after a long journey, and Joseph is but a child and has little experience.”

  What was Foster up to, she wondered, as she left the room? Instead of going to see Mrs. P, she went into the dining room and stood behind one of the open double doors that led into the drawing room, to look and listen. She had no doubt her wily accomplice was going to do his best to rescue her. She hoped he had a better story than she’d been able to come up with, but she couldn’t imagine how he was going to manage it.

  “Sir,” Foster said in a stage whisper, making Tally lips twitch reluctantly. If only her ruin weren’t such a serious matter, she would be preparing to be vastly entertained. He made up the most ingenious stories and told them with such panache! She bent forward to peek through the opening between the door and the wall.

  As long as Spence believed Foster’s story and it made Spence leave!

  “What is it, man?” Spence sounded preoccupied and annoyed.

  “Mind your manners, young man, or you’ll be shown the door posthaste.”

  Tally always delighted in seeing Foster scold Spence. Spence was spoiled and would have benefited from more discipline from his fawning parents.

  Spencer looked chastened but stubborn. “Pardon me, Foster, but I don’t understand what that man–”

  “I saw you were confused,” Foster interrupted. “So I’m going to explain what’s going on here. But you mustn’t tell anybody! That’s why I spirited Miss Talia away from the room. I knew she might hesitate to tell you the truth of the matter.”

  “What truth? What are you talking about?” Spencer didn’t hide his agitation well at all. If she were a gambling woman, she’d wager anything he was biting the inside of his cheek. He always did that when he was upset.

  To tell the truth, Tally was just as curious to hear Foster’s reply as Spence was.

  “Who is that man? He told me he was her husband!” Spence stopped his pacing to put the question, but resumed immediately afterwards.

  She shook her head. He was winding himself up.

  “But how can that be? She’s only been gone from home for three weeks. How did she have time to meet someone and wed?”

  No time indeed, Tally reflected.

  “You know my Missy. She has too soft a heart, and hates to speak ill of others.” Foster was at his most convincing.

  “Yes, yes… But one doesn’t get married because of their soft heart!” Spence said impatiently. “Who is he?” Then, belatedly taking in Foster’s words, “He’s bad?”

  “No, sir, not bad… just… unwell.”

  “Unwell?” Spence sounded bewildered.

  “His family was close friends with my former employer, Miss Talia’s Great Aunt Ida. While the family was away, last year, on their yearly visit to Bath, Mr. Leighton wandered away from the family home where he was being cared for by the servants and a nurse.”

  Through the crack in the door, she could see Foster shake his head sadly, which had her shaking her own at his amazing acting abilities.

  He continued his woeful tale. “They were worried he might come to harm, so t
his year, they wrote to Missy, knowing Mr. Leighton heeds her when she talks, and asked if she would take care of him while they were away. That’s why we came to London so quietly.”

  “But what is his problem? He didn’t seem too solid on his feet.”

  “Oh that. That was just the laudanum, sir,” Foster sounded amused. “Mr. Leighton is fine physically, it’s his mind that’s the problem. So he’s given laudanum when he’s agitated. One of his problems is that he thinks he’s married to everyone he sees.”

  It was all Tally could do not to break out into guffaws of nervous laughter. Spence would never swallow that! Would he?

  “It seems an odd affliction.” Spencer sounded suspicious.

  “Yes, indeed. Mighty odd.” Foster was now in the full thrust of embellishing his story, enjoying himself, Tally knew. “May I say, sir, that you were exceedingly lucky.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You were lucky, sir, that he didn’t take it into his head to decide he was wed to you!”

  “Good Lord! Surely not!” Spence sounded horrified. “Even to men?”

  Tally struggled to hold in her laughter. Time to end this before he went too far.

  She slipped away from her eavesdropping spot, patted her hair and shook out her skirts. She hoped she’d be able to maintain a serious countenance. Not that there was anything funny about the potential for disaster in this situation. They were skating on very thin ice.

  * * *

  Tally entered the drawing room with her pelisse already on and carrying her gloves. “Let’s go outside, Spence. We’ll be more private out there.” It seemed the best way to hurry him on his way.

  As soon as they were away from the house, she said, “What I have to tell you is a secret, Spence. You must tell no one or you will cause serious trouble to Mr. Leighton and his family, to my family, and especially to me.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he assured her. “But how did he come to be like this?” he asked inadvertently revealing his prior knowledge, thanks to Foster.

  “Mr. Leighton fell and hit his head very hard and remembers nothing about his life, not even his own name. But almost worse is that he thinks he is wed to people he comes in contact with, ” she reiterated Foster’s story.

  “I see. Poor man. A shame, really.”

  She wondered what he was pondering as they walked in silence for a few steps.

  “I’m glad we left before he decided he was married to me!” he said. “You’re very brave to help him, but foolhardy too because, if any one finds out, you will be ruined. Besides, how safe is it?” They were walking toward the corner where the main street intersected with theirs. “He looked quite fierce and frightened me...” Then he seemed to realize a man shouldn’t admit to such fears, he added, “on your behalf, naturally.”

  “He’s no danger to me physically. Truly.” Liar! Inwardly she accused herself. He was the biggest male threat she’d ever encountered. Mainly because she didn’t want to resist him!

  “But…” Spence began.

  She cut him off yet again. She knew she could win him over, for he had a kind heart and was not a mean or malicious man. He would probably make a good husband for some woman who wanted to govern her husband as she pleased, provided she continued to pamper him like his parents did.

  Tally wasn’t interested in that kind of man. She wanted a strong, independent man, who was the backbone of his family.

  What was she thinking? She didn’t want any man. She wanted to devote her life to her art.

  The men she knew were far too selfish and expected women to give up their dreams in order to help them achieve theirs. Reed’s appearance changed none of that. Yes, he was charming and paid her attention... now, while he was ill and needing her help, but once he was back to himself again, she had no doubt he’d put himself and his wants first again.

  “His family still has hopes that he will recover one day, so they are trying to keep his illness quiet. That is why Foster and I agreed to care for him. They worried a nurse would be unable to contain him in their home and news of his illness would spread.”

  “For how long are they gone? Do you expect them back soon?” he asked hopefully.

  “Heavens, no!” she said laughing uneasily. She wished she knew when Reed would be leaving too. “They’ve only just left and will be gone for several weeks at least.”

  He looked dismayed.

  “It’s unfortunate, Spence, but we had no idea you were coming to Town.” She felt no compunction about putting the blame on him for arriving on her doorstep without warning. His arrival, and expectation she would keep him company, was terribly inconvenient and she had no intention of pandering to him. Had she known he’d follow her to London, she would have taken greater measures to conceal her whereabouts.

  “This is highly irregular.” Spencer’s disapproval was obvious.

  “I don’t know what you expect me to do, Spence? I didn’t ask for this problem, nor can I do anything to hasten his family’s return,” an angry edge frayed Tally’s pleasant manner. She was beginning to resent Spence’s attitude. Even were she not tangled up in this fake marital mess, she wouldn’t be spending time with him. If only she could tell him she’d come to London to paint, not to socialize. But along with everyone else, other than Foster and Monsieur, he was unaware of her talent. Nor would he take it seriously, she thought, even if he did know.

  “When I arrived in Town, I didn’t let anybody know, not even my own family. With Mr. Leighton about — I don’t want any visitors.” She emphasized the “any”. “My plan was to see the sights during my spare moments. Instead, I have been caring day and night for Mr. Leighton. And if you make my presence in London known, even to my own family — should you meet them — I’ll never forgive you! I can’t afford to be deluged with callers. It would be well nigh impossible to hide my wandering visitor.”

  “Good Lord, no, of course not!” Spence was clearly aghast at the idea of Reed greeting visitors and claiming to be her husband. “I still don’t understand why you–” Seeing her eyebrow lift ominously, he hastened to say, “My lips will remain sealed, you may rest assured.”

  “Promise me you will say nothing, Spence,” she insisted he repeat his vow.

  “I promise. I will say nothing about the lunatic in your home.”

  She didn’t like his demeaning tone, but she wasn’t about to quibble now that she had gotten what she wanted. She breathed a sigh of relief. Once her friend gave his word, he kept it.

  “Thank you, Spence. I knew I could count on you.” He wouldn’t be eager to have it known that the woman he hoped — with dogged determination — to marry, was living with a lunatic. And he certainly wouldn’t want anybody to visit and meet the madman!

  Tally had no intention of ever giving in to Spence’s pleading, but right now she was not averse to using his arrogant certainty that ultimately she’d be his, to ensure his silence. The consequences were too dire, if not.

  “Where does your uncle live? I’ll let you know when I am able to go about again.” She hoped that would keep him from returning for a visit.

  “Good idea. He lives in Carys House on Dover Street, which is off of St. James Square in Mayfair.”

  Spence seemed eager to be on his way. She had to hide a smile. He didn’t like confrontation. He was definitely not keen on having a man, bigger and stronger than he was, claiming him in matrimony!

  Now that he was anxious to avoid Reed, he admitted he’d written a quick note to advise his relatives of his arrival and had been invited to stay with them.

  She glanced both ways along the street. “Look, there’s a hackney coming now, Spence. Hail it!”

  As usual, he did her bidding, and within moments was on his way to his uncle’s place.

  She hoped she’d be free of trouble from that quarter for several days at least. She hurried back to the house, glad there were so few people in residence to see her. While she was unknown to most, her father’s quite famous portrait o
f his wife and three daughters was still hanging in the Royal Academy. She’d grown considerably since then, but might still be recognizable.

  She walked back inside and there were Spence’s hat and gloves on the bench in the front hall!

  Oh for goodness sake! Now he was sure to return to collect them, probably tomorrow. If she hadn’t been so quick to bundle him out, he might have remembered to take them. But she’d had to get him out of the house before Reed recovered enough to insist on an explanation. He was becoming more inquisitive with each hour he was improving.

  She’d get Joseph to bring them over to Spence’s uncle’s place. Thank goodness she’d thought to ask him for the address.

  She went into the drawing room to see if the tea tray had been collected and was startled by a loud knock at the door.

  Spence! Back to collect his hat and gloves! He must have asked the driver to turn around. Good! Now he’d have no excuse to return so soon.

  She paused, uncertain whether to flaunt proper etiquette and answer the summons herself. She glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece, Joseph had gone home by now and Foster was probably helping Mrs. P find her bearings in the kitchen and hadn’t even heard the knock. She’d better answer. It was undoubtedly Spence anyway....

  Another impatient knock sounded.

  She threw open the door. “I know. You forgot...” Her words halted abruptly. A stranger stood there, a startled look on his face. Small and slender, a gentleman of indeterminate age, he was what some called a… fribble. Effete and dressed in the latest fashion.

  She was appalled by the clash of horrendously garish colors he sported. She was unashamedly gaping.

  That he was the one who had knocked so powerfully on the door surprised her. He looked like a strong wind might blow him away.

  He seemed equally taken aback at the door opening so abruptly.

  “Good afternoon. May I help you?” she asked as if her answering the door was nothing out of the ordinary.