The Duke actually smiled. “I didn’t think you did, I just thought … never mind what I thought. It isn’t important. I need to find out what is going on here.
“Why?” she demanded as her anger started to rise.
“Why do you need to know what is going on. I am your aunt’s companion. What happened in my past should not be of concern to you. At least not unless Lady Celeste has reason to be concerned, and I can assure she does not.”
He stared back at her for a moment. She felt the urge to squirm. If she hadn’t been in bed, she would have started pacing. And how dare he come into her room and demand answers of her.
“Why? You ask. I will tell you why. I cannot fix things if I do not understand what is going on. …”
“Who asked you to fix things,” she said.
“You did, the moment you fainted in my ballroom. At my sister’s coming out party. Right now you and my sister are the talk of the town. People are trying to figure out what is going on. Why did I scoop you up and carry you out of the room? Was it true that Lady Celeste’s companion was engaged to that evil scum, as you call him, the Earl of Grainbell? So yes it is my problem.”
She sighed in resignation; it could not be avoided she had to tell him everything.
“Besides,” he continued. “If this is not handled correctly there is every chance that Grainbell and I could be facing off over pistols some morning in the park. We might very well end up there anyway if he says one wrong thing about you.
Gwen gasped and brought both hands to her mouth. Thomas in a duel. The thought sent shivers of fear down her spine. No, she could not allow that. Never. No.
“Please Gwen, you know me. Probably better than anyone else in the world. You know that I care too much about you to let anything bad happen. I have to know about your past so that I can fix your, no our, future.”
What did he mean? Our future. Was he talking about their individual futures? Her future as his aunt’s companion. Or maybe he still had thoughts about her being his mistress. Had he thought of her that way? Her face grew warm with a blush then warmer as she thought about blushing in front of him.
Sighing she said, “Very well, I will tell you everything. But you have to promise. No duels. You won’t do anything rash.”
“Oh, I can assure it won’t be rash. My actions will most definitely be well thought out.”
She saw the hard look in his eyes and shuddered inside. A part of her almost felt sorry for the Earl. When she was done telling Thomas everything. All hell was going to break loose.
Sneaking a peek from under her brow she began her story.
“As I have told you. My father was a merchant. Importing things from all over the world. He died when I was thirteen. The fever.”
“I’m sorry,” The Duke said.
“Thank you. My mother didn’t handle my father’s death very well. She became frail and took to her bed. She hardly ever left it.” Gwen sighed remembering her mother’s sadness.
“By default I became the lady of the house. Telling the staff what to do. Making sure bills were paid. Talking to the lawyers.”
“That must have been very difficult for someone so young. Did you get a chance to mourn your father?” Thomas asked.
A small tear spilled over her cheek and fell down her face. She hadn’t mourned her father. Not truly. She had never really accepted the fact that he was gone she realized.
Wiping the tear away with the back of her hand, she continued. “My father was partners with a man named John Grant.” Gwen continued as she tried to maintain her courage. “Almost a year after my father’s death. Mr. Grant came to visit my mother. It seemed that the ships that my father had invested in had been lost at sea.
He explained that although they were partners, they had each invested in separate ventures, sharing information, warehouse space, staff, etc. But that my father’s investments had failed, and there was no more money. In fact, his business was heavily in debt.”
“Did you believe him?”
“I didn’t know right away. My mother didn’t tell me. Not until later. Not until she informed me she would be marrying Mr. Grant.”
“Seems rather convenient,” Thomas said as he leaned forward.
“That’s what I told her. But she wouldn’t hear about it. She said I was only a girl and didn’t know about such things. I tried to explain, tried to argue, but she wouldn’t hear me. I think deep down she knew something wasn’t right, but I think she wanted to believe Mr. Grant. Wanted a husband. It might very well have been her only path out of the depression she had been suffering from for a year.”
Thomas didn’t say anything, just nodded his head for her to go on.
“I told her it sounded like the steps a person takes when their favorite dog dies. They get another one.”
Thomas smiled.
“Anyway, they were married, and our money problems were solved. I continued to run the household. I liked it, and I was good at it. The servants didn’t to seem to have a problem.”
“No, I don’t imagine they would,” Thomas said. “Any employee prefers a strong, decisive boss. Even if they are fourteen years old.”
Gwen blushed then went on. “Life goes on. Mr. Grant, my new step-father was all right. A little taciturn but nothing terrible. Not until I turned seventeen. Then things began to change. I would catch him looking at me. At first I thought I was mistaken. But one day one of the maids approached me and warned me to be careful around him.”
She glanced over at the Duke to see how he was reacting. His knuckles had turned white where he gripped his cane. His eyes had taken on that hard look again. She swallowed and took another deep breath.
“I wanted to tell my mother, but there was nothing specific, nothing I could point to and say he did something wrong. But I could tell.
I was able to avoid him for a while. Then my mother died.”
Thomas’s brow creased in concern and pity. Gwen could tell he hurt for her, and that made her feel stronger.
“It became more and more difficult. For two years, I managed his house for him. I ate dinner with him every evening. But I made sure there was always a servant around. Someone whom I could trust. They knew what was going on, and I had their support. That is one of the many things I regret about leaving. I wonder that they are all right.”
“I am sure that they are,” Thomas said with a light voice, as if afraid any loud noise might make her bolt. “If you give me their names I will make inquiries’ and ensure they are okay. If necessary we will find positions for them here.”
“Oh, Thomas … I mean, Your Grace. That would be so wonderful. I have worried and fretted about the situation I left them in. Especially the younger maids. Would you really give them positions here?”
“Of course,” he said with a reassuring smile. “Please tell me exactly why you left your step-father’s house and what does it have to do with the Earl of Grainbell.”
Gwen swallowed hard and blushed again. Would her face ever be normal again?
“It’s simple really,” she said as she stared at the distant wall. “My step-father sold me to him to pay off a gambling debt.”
Chapter Twenty One
Thomas sucked in a deep breath and fought not to overreact. One thing for sure, Mr. John Grant was about to have his world crash down around him. The only thing Thomas was worried about was if there was enough left to destroy.
“Go on Gwen, Please. I need to know everything.”
She didn’t look away from her distant stare.
“One night, my step-father brought home a man. That in itself was unusual. But the man was like no one I had ever met before. He was dressed very expensively, with an arrogant tilt to his head. My mouth dropped when he was introduced as the Earl of Grainbell.
I had never met someone from the peerage. I became nervous as I curtsied. I remember him walking around me, looking and appraising me. I can still feel the ugly crawl of his eyes over me. When he was done he didn’t smile, jus
t nodded his head.
’You were right, she will do.’ It was as if he was inspecting a broodmare or prize heifer at some county fair.
My stepfather smiled and turned to me. ‘Go pack,’ he said. ‘I’ve found you a husband.’”
Thomas cringed inside at the thought of her as another man’s wife. His stomach had tied itself into knots as she had told her story. Every hurt, every insult had stoked his anger. They would pay. They would all pay, long and hard.
“At first,” Gwen continued. “I was in shock. The idea of getting married. Marrying an Earl no less. It was all so much. I thought commoners like myself couldn’t marry into the peerage. But I grabbed the possibility. It meant I could escape my Step-father’s house. Start a family. All of the things a girl dreams about. Of course, I didn’t know this man, but many girls end up in arranged marriages, and they work out.
Something in his eyes, though. Something made my soul quiver with dread. I didn’t know what to do, what to say.
I think the Earl saw my hesitation and worry because he took my hand his and bent over and gently kissed it. ‘Don’t worry, everything will be perfect I assure you,’ he said.
I actually believed him. The way he stared into my eyes. I actually believed he would try to make me happy. And really I couldn’t ask for much more.”
Thomas scooted to the edge of his seat and took her hand in his. He gently squeezed it, encouraging her to go on. He wondered briefly if she was thinking back to the Earl and his taking her hand.
She looked down at their hands then smiled back, returning his squeeze.
“I left to go pack. My heart racing I couldn’t stop smiling. This was my way out, my way to freedom.”
Thomas held his tongue, let her finish he told himself. She’s on pin and needles as it is. If you say the wrong things, she’ll never be able to finish.
“I had only taken a few steps before I realized that I had no idea where I was going. Were we headed north to Scotland? Or south to the continent. Would I be able to obtain a wedding dress or would I have to use something I already owned?
I returned to ask for some clarification. I mean a girl can’t be expected just to throw a few things into a valise and go off and get married. Besides, I wanted to know more about the man I was going to be spending the rest of my life with.
When I got to the door, I froze for a moment, curious. I could hear my step-father singing my praises. ‘I told you Grainbell; she is beautiful.’ Something he had never said to me directly I might add.
The Earl grunted and said. ‘You do realize that when I am done with her I will be returning her to you?’
My insides turned to stone. What did he mean? Done with me? What kind of marriage would this be?
‘Yes, of course,’ my step-father said.
‘Once we are on the way to get married, well a man can’t be blamed if he can’t wait until his wedding night.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure. She may resist.’
‘Oh, I am counting on it.’ The Earl said. I can still remember the feel of dread that washed through me.
My step-father laughed. ‘Maybe then she might be more receptive to me. If not, oh well, I am sure you will have removed all of the fight out of her.’
‘We will never reach Scotland of course. Somewhere along the way I will change my mind, and we will return. I may or may not invite some friends of mine to join us prior to that of course.’
‘I understand,’ my step-father said. ‘You do whatever you want, as long as our debt is erased.
‘Yes, one thousand pounds. I know,’ the Earl said with an exasperated sigh as if the idea of talking about money was the most boring thing in the world.
Thomas stood up fast. His actions made her jump and lean away from him.
“I’m sorry, so sorry,” he said as he sat on the bed next to her. His hand gently reached out to caress her shoulder.
She closed her eyes and paused. He was sure she was lost back in that room with two very evil and soon to be dead men.
“I ran to my room. I was confused. And didn’t know what to do. I was only there a minute when my door opened without anyone knocking. It was the Earl, my intended. I fought a scream that threatened to erupt. I was sure that if he knew that I knew what he was planning that I would never get a chance to escape.
I should have screamed.
He smiled at me then said that because we were betrothed there was no need to wait. He started walking towards me. He had an evil look in his eyes as if he was mapping out what he was going to do and what he was going to make me do.
I don’t know what had happened. Why the plans had changed. I had hoped to get away later. Ask the innkeeper for help. I couldn’t stay in my step-father’s house. Not after what I had heard. My only chance was to get away from my Step-father first then the Earl later. At least that had been my plan.
My mother’s jewelry and a little pin money were all that I had; it would have to be enough.
Gathering what little strength I had, I smiled up at him and tried to act as if the plans had not changed.
‘Should I pack warm clothes,’ I asked him as I continued to put things in my suitcase.
I should never have turned my back on him. I didn’t hear him move. He grabbed me around the middle …”
Gwen had stopped again. Thomas wanted to make her pain go away, craved desperately to take her in his arms but held back. The wrong word, the wrong move would scare her away. She needed to finish, to get it all out so they could move on.
She hesitated for a moment then stared at her hands as she continued.
“I fought him. He ripped my dress,” she said. “I was exposed for him to see.” Her face became pink with embarrassment. Thomas gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
“His hands grabbed and raked at me. It hurt. It was as if I was not really there. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I know honey,” Thomas said. The emotions tumbling inside of him kept pushing at him, kept demanding that he take actions. Somehow he held them at bay. That’s not what she needs now; he told himself. Later, deal with them later.
“He uh … threw me to the ground. My head erupted into stars. Then he was on me. I don’t know why I did what I did, I just reacted. I didn’t think …”
“What did you do,” Thomas said as he held her.
“I grabbed the fire iron and hit him in the head. I can still remember the hollow thunk sound it made.”
“Ah, so that explains it, your aptitude with a fire iron. I wondered where that came from.”
She laughed at his little joke, and he knew she was going to be all right. Eventually, she would be all right, and they would be able to get on with their life.
“I thought for sure I had killed him,” she continued. “I was convinced that I was going to be executed for killing an Earl. I wondered if they’d do it at the Tower of London. Do they cut off your head for killing a peer?”
“Not if they deserve it,” Thomas answered.
“There is not much more to tell. The Earl was laying on my bedroom floor in a pool of blood. My dress was in shreds. I grabbed a nightgown and fled into the night. I used what little money I had to buy a dress and take the first coach out of London.”
“And ended up at Brookshire,” Thomas said.
“Yes. I was convinced either he was alive and still looking for me. Or he was dead, and the crown was looking for me. I should have given you a different name that day, your first day at Brookshire but you were so intimidating the thought of telling you a falsehood scared me more than the thought of being discovered by the crown.”
Thomas’ heart broke. She’d been holding this inside. What must it have meant for her to return to London? How she must have dreaded running into the Earl of Grainbell again.
Someone was going to pay. Several someones.
“What happens now?” she asked. “Once he recognized me. Won’t he have the authorities take me? I hurt him. A lot. Even I know you can’t d
o that to someone like the Earl of Grainbell.”
Without thinking, Thomas took her into his arms. She melted into him. Soaking up his strength. The need to protect and care for her rushed through him. No man, no person, nothing, would ever hurt this woman again, he would die first.
“It will be all right Gwen,” he said as he slowly rubbed her back. “Everything will be all right.” He quietly muttered as she began to cry. He knew she had been holding it in all this time. Months and months of fear and stress were finally let loose.
After a long moment, she pulled back to stare into his eyes with a look of adoration and love that melted his heart. No woman had ever looked at him that way. As if he was important to her. The most important thing in the world. Everything about this woman made his blood turn to fire, made him want to hold and protect her. To make her laugh, scream with ecstasy, and cry with happiness.
He slowly lowered his lips to hers. Gently, carefully caressing her. Letting her know how much he cared. How special she was. Her hands came up around his neck, holding him tighter, bringing him closer as if she couldn’t get enough.
“Don’t worry my dear,” he whispered when the broke for air. “As my wife no one will ever bother you again.”
Chapter Twenty Two
Gwen’s fingers tingled where they locked behind his neck. She stared into those gorgeous silver eyes and became lost. He was so handsome, so strong. She had told him her deepest darkest secret and he hadn’t been mad. Not shocked, nor upset.
She wanted him, desperately. With every fiber of her being. She knew it was a risk. She was a ladies companion. Any scandal would bring shame to Aunt Celeste. Her heart fluttered, and she knew that she didn’t care. Nothing else mattered.
Wait, what?
“What did you say?” she asked as she pulled back, her brow crossed in confusion.
Thomas smiled, “I said when you are my wife no one will hurt you.”
“Your wife? What do you mean?” Her voice was beginning to rise in anger. How dare he?
Thomas frowned in confusion. “As my wife …”
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