The Sins of Lord Easterbrook

by Madeline Hunter

  Miller handed Isabella into the carriage, and held the door for her. The young man seemed very sober, and not at all happy about this rescue.

  Christian tried to hand her in, but she refused. “Who are these men? Why were they here?”

  “They are a group of other lords. I laid the accusations in front of them. A judgment was held.”

  “Would not it be better to lay it in front of a magistrate? A judge? What judgment could these men render?”

  “One that said it would be better if your abductor was not tried in the House of Lords, which is the only place where he can be tried publicly and officially. A duke owns this house, Leona. A peer with a high reputation and considerable influence and a title that has a glorious history.”

  “You are saying that he would never see true justice, I think.”

  “He might, possibly, but at a cost to institutions that hold this country together. Sometimes it is better for justice to be served in quieter ways.”

  “As you did with Meadowsun?”

  “Yes.”

  Except it would be over now if it had been the same as with the cleric. She watched the last of these men enter their coaches. Their serious purpose filled the air. They did not look at Easterbrook's coach. They did not bid farewell.

  They were all going somewhere. Christian would be going there too.

  A horrible fear spilled through her. One far worse than what had gripped her on being grabbed in her house.

  A new coach came down the street. It stopped thirty feet away.

  “You must go now, Leona. Miller—” He gave her hand into Miller's more demanding hold.

  She struggled against the way Miller tried to pull her toward the carriage. “Who is that, Christian? In that coach there?”

  “My brothers.”

  She knew then. The truth stole her breath. Everyone and everything ceased to move in that instant of realization. “Did you challenge him, Christian?”

  “He challenged me.”

  “If you lose, is he free of it?”

  “Not for the men who matter.”

  He spoke very calmly. Almost indifferently. She did not like that placid acceptance. He should be afraid, but he was not.

  His demeanor frightened her now. This was not arrogance or confidence at work, but something far darker.

  She yanked her hand away from Miller and embraced Christian tightly. She kissed him with all the love she could find in her heart, then spoke in his ear.

  “It has appeal, does it not? The total peace. The final silence. It is luring you as it did years ago and perhaps often since. But you must want to live now. For your brothers and family. For me. For all that you are and still can be. You must be Easterbrook, and cannot allow yourself to be Edmund again.”

  He took her face in his hands and looked in her eyes. She let him see and sense whatever he wanted. That invasive power flowed and she did not run and hide this one time. She let it enter her and find its certainty and prayed whatever he discovered would be enough.

  “Go now,” he said. “I will see you soon.”

  “He appears confident,” Denningham said, looking across the field to where Ashford removed his coats. Dawn came mistily and the treetops disappeared into films of gray light.

  “He anticipates little trouble with me. He would have never made the challenge if he did,” Christian said.

  The witnesses arrayed themselves on either side of the space between him and Ashford. Only the peers were here. The bishops, although in agreement that this was the better way, would not attend.

  Denningham held the foil. He had offered to serve as second, but under these circumstances he had few duties to perform.

  Two other witnesses were present. Hayden and Elliot stood behind Christian. He could feel their worry. There had been little talk in the carriage ride here, other than his explanation to them that the challenge involved the honor of Leona. If he failed this morning, Hayden would learn the truth the first time he entered Rallingport's library as the Marquess of Easterbrook.

  He watched Ashford stretch and prepare himself. The man was in good humor. If he lost, he would go to his grave with his good name intact. If he won, no one would ever raise the question about the smuggling at the whist table.

  That was how it was supposed to work. A clumsy justice and an imperfect one, but a quiet resolution all the same. The others would know, however. Ashford would be diminished both in influence and wealth even if he lived.

  They were all sworn to it, but two men here were not. Christian walked back to his brothers.

  “His demeanor is an insult,” Elliot said, shooting a glare at Ashford.

  “His confidence will be his undoing,” Christian said.

  Hayden smiled, but his eyes held deep concern. Hayden was very good with numbers and odds, and his calculations on this duel had not been happy ones. “I trust you have used the foil at least once or twice in the last ten years.”

  “On occasion. I am much improved since I fought the pirates that raided the ship I was on near Japan.”

  “You fought pirates near Japan?” Elliot asked with surprise.

  “Did I never mention that? Suffice to say I am more skilled than you know, and I intend to win today. However, Hayden, in the event that you soon find yourself with the title, I suggest that you look into that partnership that I had Mr. Miller ask you about. Look into it very thoroughly. You are not bound by any promises I might have made, but I advise that you do it very quietly until you comprehend where it is going.”

  Hayden's smile fell. He looked at Ashford with new eyes.

  Christian returned to Denningham, whose distress was palpable.

  “Hell of a thing,” Denningham muttered. “Damned if I'll be playing whist with him again. He can sit in a corner in the library for all I care if he dares show after this.”

  “Thank you for the vote of confidence, Denningham.”

  Denningham flushed, mortified.

  Christian smiled to reassure him, then spoke. “I am sorry that I could not keep your father's name out of it, and yours by association.”

  “I understand. Decent of you to confine it to the men in that small club, but right is right, after all. If we do not stand for that, what good are we?”

  His simplicity charmed Christian, as it had since they were boys. He had always rather envied Denningham that quality. “We must have dinner and some good wine when this is over. I think I still belong to some other clubs.”

  “Wine, hell. I won't be able to drink another French bottle from my cellar without wondering.…but, yes, I would like that.”

  Christian held out his hand. “My foil, old friend.”

  He handed it over. Christian walked down the field to meet Ashford.

  You must want to live.

  She understood him too well. She was correct that death had lured Edmund, and even Easterbrook every now and then. It did mean total peace and utter silence. It would be like dwelling in the dark center forever. That was what meditation created, after all, a taste of the selfless existence waiting in infinity.

  As a result, Christian did not fear death. He had already visited that plane. He was not inclined to go there permanently if he could avoid it, however.

  Not if staying alive meant spending even one more day with Leona.

  He came to her silently. Darkly. He arrived at ten o'clock in the morning, dressed impeccably in his most lordly way. He entered her house as if he owned it, the way he was inclined to do. He found her in the library, reading a book whose pages had been ruined by her worried tears.

  He sat beside her. She embraced him and let her relief spill. No tears now, just a fullness that made it hard to speak.

  “Where is Miller?” he asked.

  “Above,” she muttered into his coat.

  “Are you saying he was taking his pleasure with your servant while I was facing my death?”

  She laughed. “Your brother brought your note two hours ago. They slipped away once
we knew you were unharmed.”

  “That is better, then.”

  She rested against him, her ear to his heart and his arm around her. They just sat there, being together, reassuring each other.

  “The magistrate was here at dawn, when we returned,” she said. “It was trying, to know where you were and what you were doing, while I answered their questions.”

  “What did you say?”

  “That four men invaded and Tong Wei tried to protect us and was shot for his efforts. That we were taken to a house in the city, I know not where, and locked away. That you and Mr. Miller rescued us. He spoke with Mr. Miller a long while alone, then left.”

  “Miller knew what to say. It will all be explained to the magistrate's satisfaction in a few days. As will the unexpected demise of my fellow lord.”

  She had not known for certain that the duke was dead. The note that came had only said that Christian was well and would come to her soon.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “I understand. It must have been difficult for you, no matter how necessary or right.”

  He pressed a kiss to her crown. “Not as difficult as it should have been. My father's blood serves me too well in such matters. But I can live with it because you are safe. I never would have been certain of that otherwise.” He eased her away and stood. He held out his hand. “Let us take a turn around the square. I find that I am unaccountably in the mood for the noise of life.”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  He stayed with her that night. They took slow pleasure in her chamber. The entire house and garden remained silent.

  She experienced a new peace in their intimacy. A sense of completion. The duty to her father was over. Her anger about his persecution had been sliding away since they left Doctors’ Commons, and she finally released all of it while in Christian's arms.

  She held Christian closely and let her entire consciousness dwell on him. She memorized his scent and feel, the textures of his hair and skin. She took him into herself deeply when it was time, and allowed no sorrow or fears to interfere with knowing him.

  A touching poignancy moved her, and him too, she thought. The kisses, the ecstasy itself, became a conversation between them that she finally voiced with words. First silent words, spoken in her mind and in her heart, then finally into his ear while they gave themselves to each other.

  I love you, all that you are. The good and the sins,

  the brilliance and the curse, the storms that still plague Edmund and the mastery that is Easterbrook. I love all that you are.

  She slipped from the bed without waking him. She donned a simple qipao, then looked down on him while he slept. His hair was getting longer again, and it fell on his shoulders in those barbaric locks. Right now, in his sleep, the softening beauty had its way and he appeared like a dark angel.

  She left the chamber. She did not want to spoil the memory of their night with the thoughts that had entered her while she lay in the dawn's light. She could not avoid them anymore. He had given her a victory and helped her more than she expected. They both knew what that meant, even if they had ignored it for these hours together.

  She went to the garden and sat among the spring flowers. She did not have much time to herself, however. Soon she was not alone.

  He entered the garden and saw her. He had put on trousers and boots and his shirt. He looked much like he had that first day when Mr. Miller kidnapped her off the street.

  She reacted the same way too. Their affair had not dimmed that. Much the opposite. He could still excite her with nothing more than the gaze he settled on her now.

  He sat down with her. He took her hand in his, admired the flowers, and waited.

  Her throat tightened, but she spoke anyway. She only could because she knew he guessed what she was thinking. “I need to book passage soon. As soon as Tong Wei can travel.”

  “Do you want to go?”

  “I do not want to, but it is finished now. I cannot put off this parting.”

  “You said you would have no excuse to stay once it was finished. I expect that is true.”

  No, she had no excuse.

  “However, you do have a reason, Leona. This.” He kissed her. “And this.” He kissed her again. He held her face to yet another kiss. “You will stay with me.”

  “You are seducing me away from my duties again, Christian. You are very good at that.”

  He looked in her eyes. “You will stay with me.”

  “My brother relies on me. More than you know.”

  “Your brother must be his own man. It is time. He is of age, but he will lean on you as long as you are there. Send Tong Wei with St. John's offer and advise him to take it. Your brother will learn your father's trade from St. John's factor and agents. He and his business will be protected.”

  She yearned to grab his reasons. Her heart had always been weak with him.

  “Stay with me. Stay so I do not lose myself inside myself. I am not at the mercy of this curse as much anymore, and that is due to you. I no longer assume that it owns me.”

  His words touched her. It moved her that this man would reveal his fears, and speak of the pain that he still fought to master.

  “Stay with me, darling. Stay because I need you. Stay because I love you. I will wear a cravat every day if you want. I will take you to balls three times a week. I will sit and accept callers with Aunt Hen if I must.”

  She had to laugh, but tears stung her eyes too. “I do not want you to change all your habits for me. You do not need to be other than you are. You can still be half mad and a little eccentric and mostly a recluse. As long as you do not retreat from me too, Christian.”

  “I could never do that. I am only my true self when I am with you.”

  He really believed that. She could tell he did. And she knew these words, all of them, did not come easily to him. He was Easterbrook, after all.

  “I suppose I could stay for a while. I could send Tong Wei back to my brother with St. John's proposal. I want to see Gaspar, but I do not yearn to return to China yet. I can at least stay until the jade runs out.”

  “Leona, I am not asking you to stay for a while. I want you to stay forever, as my wife.”

  The proposal did not surprise as much as it should. Perhaps that was because she was certain he loved her. She just knew. “I thought that was ill-advised.”

  “For you. Not for me. I know it is selfish to bind you to me. If you do not want it, we will find another way. And if you must return to Macao, if you want to sail the China Sea and fight pirates forever, I will come with you. We will do this any way you want, but.… I would rather we be together in marriage, if you can bear it.”

  “I can bear it. However, I assumed you believed that your sensibility was inherited and you did not want the next Easterbrook to have it.”

  “I am seeing this affliction less darkly now. If it is inherited, we will explain it to our child, so he knows what it is and learns how to live in the world with it. We will make sure he is not alone with it.”

  He appeared so serious. So determined and.… hopeful.

  She allowed herself to picture that child, and others. She imagined life with Christian, and experiencing the love and excitement forever. She saw the difficulties too, but her confidence in their intimacy made her smile at the thought of his habits.

  I love all that you are.

  “Are you sure that you want to do this, Christian?”

  “I am sure about you. You are my only certainty, Leona.” He kissed her once more, and used all of his power over her in that kiss. “Say that you will stay with me.”

  It was not really a request. Nor was it entirely a command. There was only one answer that he would accept, however, and only one that she could give.

  Her heart accepted the truth first, as it always had done with him.

  “I could not be happy without you either, Christian. We will stay together.�
�

  EPILOGUE

  Ihave decided that I should do the right thing.” “It has taken you long enough, Miller.”

  Miller's face flushed. “Yes. That was cowardly of me.”

  Christian nodded. It had indeed been cowardice that had prevented Miller from doing the right thing by Isabella for over three years now. An understandable cowardice, perhaps, but still cowardice.

  They stood on the terrace of Aylesbury Abbey, looking down at the garden party spread below. Most of the guests were family, gathered here to celebrate the visit of Leona's brother. Gaspar sat with his sister in the sun, looking far more English than she. He played with the next Marquess of Easterbrook while the two of them talked.

  “You understand that Isabella has nothing. No fortune,” Christian said.

  Miller nodded. His gaze remained on the woman in question. Isabella followed her daughter through the garden. She stayed far enough away to allow the child her fun, but close enough to prevent accidents.

  “Being brave instead of cowardly will not change the reality. People will still say things. She looks more Chinese than European,” Christian said.

  “People will say things, but no person will say anything twice.”

  Miller's jaw tightened. Christian guessed that a few persons had already learned what Miller would and would not accept when it came to Isabella.

  “We would like your blessing, and that of Lady Easterbrook.”

  “You have it, not that it is required.”

  They walked down to the garden together. Miller went toward his lover and daughter. Christian aimed for Leona and her brother.

  “It has gotten worse,” Gaspar was saying as Christian drew near. “Big ships full of opium lay anchor at Lintin now. Chinese smugglers go out to them. Everyone knows the Mandarins all along the coast are complicit. Anyone can trade it openly in Macao, and the Chinese officials turn a blind eye. It is pouring into China.”

  Leona glanced at Christian. It had been pouring in for decades. The only real news here was that Gaspar had developed a better comprehension of Oriental trade.