by Ava Stone
“Perfectly understandable,” Chet agreed, “but not with an audience. It’ll reflect badly on your wife.”
Brendan ground his teeth together, knowing his friend was right, and biding his time until he could knock the smug look off Haversham’s face. A footman approached Brendan and handed him a note. “This is for you, my lord.”
Brendan snatched the note and tore it open.
Clayworth,
Scandal is so unfortunate, especially for a man such as yourself. I knew one day this opportunity would present itself. How fortunate that you and your new countess have returned to London. Unless you’d like the world to find out about Lady Clayworth’s unfortunate past, you will pay me ten thousand pounds to keep my mouth closed.
No signature. No direction. Brendan’s heart stopped.
~ 39 ~
Cordie cringed when she spotted Brendan’s ashen face just a few feet away. This dance had been an awful idea. Blast Haversham for forcing it on her. As soon as the waltz came to an end, before the marquess even had a chance to bow, Brendan had snatched her elbow in his grasp and began escorting her towards the exit.
“Brendan,” she tried to explain.
But his jaw was tight and he looked like a man possessed. “Not here,” he growled.
He pushed her through the throng of people and out the doors to his carriage, which was still out in front of the Astwick’s home. He hauled open the door and though he was furious, he took great care in helping her gently into the conveyance.
Cordie settled to the far side of the coach and within seconds Brendan was beside her, pounding on the roof with his fist. The coach set off with a lurch and Cordie swallowed uncomfortably. Of course her husband was angry, but surely he could listen to reason. “Brendan, I am sorry. I didn’t really have a choice.”
“I don’t give a damn about Haversham.”
Cordie gasped. He’d never used such language in front of her before.
“I-I mean I do care about it and I’ll deal with him later, but right now we have bigger problems.”
She touched his leg and tried to see his face in the darkness of the coach. “What’s wrong?”
He took a staggering breath and scrubbed a hand across his face. “Someone knows about mother’s letters, Cordie.”
She was certain her heart had stopped. That didn’t make any sense. Why would someone wait until now to use the letters against Brendan? “How—”
“While you were with Haversham, I received a blackmail note. Though there were no instructions as to where to pay the funds, the writer did ask for a sum.”
“Bow Street,” she whispered, only to hear him snort.
“I can’t go to the authorities, love. I can’t really explain about the letters to them, now can I?”
Of course not. She felt so inept, so incapable of helping him. “What do we do?”
His arm settled around her shoulders and Cordie sighed. Whatever was to be done, they’d do together. She took strength from that. “I have been thinking about this possibility for some time,” he told her, sounding very distant to her ears.
“You have a plan?”
He held her tighter. “I’ll take Rose and Thomas back to Derbyshire and as soon as she marries Lester, I’ll send Thomas along with them for the time being. The vicar owes me.”
On their honeymoon? Cordie tipped her head up to see him better. “Wouldn’t it be better for him to stay with us?”
He shook his head. “There’s no us, Cordie. You have to leave me.”
Her heart lurched. She must have misheard him. “Leave you?” she gasped.
“Avery was right about that. Distancing yourself from me is the only way to keep you safe.”
“No!” She shook her head. “I won’t leave you. I promised you I never would. Brendan—”
He touched a finger to her lips. “Ah, my love, it’s not just you anymore. You have to protect our child. Promise me you will.”
Her hand instinctively fluttered to her belly. “I can’t leave you. Ask me anything else.”
Brendan pressed a kiss to her head. “You know it’s best. I won’t see you thrown in Newgate because of me.”
“You’ve done nothing,” she protested.
“I don’t believe the home office will see it that way. Now you need to listen to me, we don’t have much time.”
“You want me to leave tonight?” This couldn’t be. They had to have more time than that.
“Shh. Now I’ve put your dowry in a trust. My solicitor is Leland Birch with Amherst and Birch. I have his direction at home. Write him and he’ll see that you are provided for. I’ve done the same thing for Rose, and Astwick will see that my orders are followed through.”
“Does he know?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“No. He lost a brother on the battlefields. I’m sure he will not be happy to assist me, but he’s already given his word as a gentleman. Above all else, Astwick is honorable.”
“Brendan, you’re scaring me. Why don’t you just pay whatever the blackmailer asks and we’ll pretend none of this ever happened?”
He sighed and seemed to breathe her in. “It doesn’t work that way, Cordie. Blackmailers are never satisfied. They always want more until there’s nothing left—”
“Then give it to them,” she hissed. “What does money or anything else mean without you?”
Brendan moved so he could see her better and Cordie cringed at the determined set of his jaw. “They would take everything and in the end still turn me over. Now, I need you to follow my directions to the letter. I am going to find those letters if it kills me, but I need to know that you are safe, that the baby is safe. Can you do that for me?”
She somehow managed to nod.
“Good girl.” He kissed her gently. “Now if things go well, I’ll write you and I’ll come for you, and we can forget any of this ever happened. But if not, the world needs to believe that you’ve left me. Put as much distance between us as possible. I won’t write you and you can’t write me.”
Her heart was breaking. “Brendan—”
“I know it will be hard, Cordie. But we can’t risk it. The only thing that will make this bearable for me is knowing that I’ve protected you from my fate.”
Cordie swiped at the tears that streamed down her face. How would she go on without him? “I can go home to my family,” she offered, though it was the last place she wanted to be.
Brendan shook his head. “No matter what happens to me, love, I’ll never let you live under the same roof as that woman ever again.”
Cordie closed her eyes. She loved him so desperately. The idea of being away from him was the most painful thing she’d ever contemplated. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “I’m so sorry, Cordie. I can send you to stay with Masten for a while. God knows he owes me.”
Cordie shook her head. “I’ll go stay with Livvie. She won’t ask any questions.”
“No.”
“Why not?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him.
“I don’t want you anywhere near Kelfield.”
“Brendan!” she chastised. He knew how important Olivia was to her.
His hold tightened. “It’s not the duchess. It’s not even Kelfield. But Haversham is a friend of the duke’s and I’d rather he not be around you.”
Foolish man! Cordie turned in his arms and pulled his head down for a kiss. “Brendan Reese! You are my life. That dance didn’t mean anything. He was keeping Brookfield at bay, is all—”
“Early on you fancied him,” he said sourly. “And when he thinks you’ve left me—”
Cordie kissed him again. “It won’t matter,” she vowed.
His arms tightened around her waist and she wished they could stay like this forever. “I won’t see you hurt, Cordie, not ever. Even if I’m…gone, you can’t trust the man.”
“Leaving you hurts,” she told him.
“I’ll find the blackmailer. I’ll find the letters. I swear it.”
The trip to Hampshire was a blur. Cordie kept remembering the look in Brendan’s eyes when he said his last goodbye and shut the carriage door, sending her off before dawn broke. It would be a miracle if her quickly scrawled noted reached Livvie before she did.
She watched the landscape pass outside the carriage window and drew herself up into a ball. She’d never felt so alone, and she’d never prayed so long or so vehemently about anything in her life, but the journey to Brockenhurst had been a long, one-sided conversation with God. There was nothing else she could do. Being powerless was unnerving.
When their speed slowed, Cordie peered out the window again. A large baroque mansion grew nearer with her approach. When the coach pulled into the drive, she spotted Livvie and Kelfield waiting out front and Cordie almost burst into tears. With nowhere else to go, she prayed again that Everett Place would be a safe haven.
The coach rambled to a stop and the door opened. Instead of a footman standing before her, Cordie was surprised to see the Duke of Kelfield holding the door himself. He smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes, and concern was etched across his brow. “Lady Clayworth.”
She nearly choked, hearing her name, hearing her husband’s name. “Your Grace,” she answered, accepting his offered arm. Before she’d even gone two steps, Livvie threw her arms around her neck.
“Oh, Cordie! I’m so glad to see you. So glad you’ve come to stay with us.”
Cordie hugged her back for all she was worth. It was the first relief she’d felt since before the Astwick soiree. She stepped back, smiling at her friend. Livvie looked healthy and happy, but different. And the hug had been different too. Cordie glanced at the duchess’ abdomen. “Good heavens, Livvie! You’re showing.” Something she could very well be facing alone, if things turned out poorly.
The smile that spread across her friend’s face stretched from ear to ear. “We’re very happy,” Livvie gushed, linking her arm with Cordie’s.
Both of their lives had changed so much in the last year. It was amazing they even recognized each other. Cordie blinked back her tears.
Do let me show you around,” Livvie said as her hazel eyes met Cordie’s.
She knew. They’d known each other every day of their lives and Livvie knew there was something wrong. Cordie shook a head at her own foolishness. Of course Livvie knew there was something wrong. She’d traveled all night alone and had shown up at the Kelfields’ home uninvited. The simplest of simpletons would know.
“That does sound lovely.” She forced a smile to her face and stood up straight. Brendan expected more from her, and she couldn’t fail him in the only task he’d given her.
Livvie linked her arm with Cordie’s and lead her towards the side of the house. “My mother-in-law breeds sheep dogs. Can you believe it?”
“Heavens!” she gasped. Her friend was deathly afraid of dogs, always had been. “How do you bear it?”
Livvie smiled as they approached a small garden. “I’m trying to be a bit more brave. My step-daughter adores the creatures, and she’s only five.”
They stopped and Livvie bent forward to smell a rose bush that came to her waist. Then she glanced back and assessed Cordie silently. She saw a number of questions cross her friend’s face.
Cordie smiled tightly and took a deep breath, searching for something to say. “Have you heard anything from Phoebe?”
Livvie nodded. “She does not particularly care for Tristan, which is hard to believe. He’s always been my favorite of your brothers.”
“Apparently he terrified her,” Cordie replied, relieved that Livvie didn’t seem anxious to delve into the reasons for her impromptu visit.
Livvie giggled. “I can’t imagine him terrifying anyone.”
“Mama!” a little raven-haired girl called, running up the path towards them. Then she hurled herself against Livvie’s legs.
The duchess smiled indulgently at the girl and smoothed the hair from the child’s face. “Poppy Everett, how may times have I told you that running is not ladylike?”
“Thirty-five?” the girl asked innocently.
“Make it thirty-six.” Livvie dropped her hand to the child’s shoulder. “Let me introduce you to my dearest friend, Poppy. This is Lady Clayworth. She’s going to stay with us for a while.”
Poppy’s silver eyes widened, then she dropped a very clumsy courtesy. “Hello, Lady Clayworth.”
“Hello, Poppy,” Cordie answered. “I understand you like sheep dogs.”
The girl’s face broke out into a wide grin and she nodded eagerly before turning her attention back to Livvie. “Grandmama says she thinks a new litter is coming. She said I had to ask you if it was all right for me to stay with her.”
Livvie furrowed her brow. “Poppy,” she began.
“Please, Mama! I want to see the puppies.”
“All right,” the duchess sighed and then laughed as the girl took off at a run in the other direction. “Poppy, no running! And do listen to your grandmother.”
The humor of the exchange did not escape Cordie. “Thirty-seven times now.”
Livvie laughed. “She’s so like her father.”
Cordie linked her arm with Livvie’s. If she couldn’t be with Brendan, she was glad she was here. “She calls you ‘Mama’?”
“Would you believe her own mother abandoned her and ran off to Italy? Poppy’s such a sweetheart, I can’t imagine how anyone could do such a thing. I can’t believe that her mother loves her or she never would have left her in the first place. So I don’t mind that she calls me, ‘Mama’. Someone should fill that role for her.”
Cordie touched a hand to her belly. Dear God, she’d left her husband. What would she do if Brendan couldn’t retrieve the letters? What would she do if she lost him forever?
~ 40 ~
Nine days.
It had been nine days since he’d seen her pretty face. Nine days since he’d kissed her. Nine days since he’d held her in his arms and promised her that everything would work out. They were the longest and most torturous nine days he’d ever suffered through.
Brendan slumped down behind the desk in his London study and leaned his head against the large leather chair. Nothing made sense anymore. After traveling to Bayhurst Court, walking Rose down the aisle, making certain Thomas would be looked after, and returning to London, all Brendan could think about was how much he missed his wife.
And the blackmail notes.
Four of them, including the original, were spread across his desk, each one more confusing than the last. They were all written by the same hand, he was certain, but they contradicted each other and none of them told him where he was to deliver the money. What a strange thing for a blackmailer to forget.
Clayworth,
Send me fifteen thousand pounds or the world will learn Lady Clayworth’s secrets.
Clayworth,
I am patiently waiting for your funds. I am not anxious to reveal the countess’ scandalous past, but you are not leaving me much of a choice. I await your twenty thousand pounds.
Clayworth,
You owe me money! You have taken everything from me, and I will not hesitate to retaliate. If I do not have twelve thousand pounds from you by the end of the week, Lady Clayworth’s secrets will be on display for all to see.
Brendan scrubbed a hand across his face. He was no closer to finding the damn letters or his blackmailer than he was the morning he sent Cordie to Hampshire. A scratch came at his door and he sat forward. “Come.”
Higgins peeked inside the study. “My lord, Lady Staveley is here to see you.”
Brendan closed his eyes. He couldn’t deal with Caroline today. He shook his head. “Please inform her ladyship that I am not available.”
Then he heard an indignant huff and scrambling on the other side of the door and before Higgins could disappear, the study door burst open. Like an angry queen, Caroline stomped into the room, but stopped short when her eyes landed on him. He looked bad�
�he knew it. She’d never seen him unshaven and unkempt. It was no wonder her eyes nearly popped from her head.
“Good heavens, Brendan!” she gasped. “It’s worse than I thought.” She rushed forward, tugged her glove from her fingers and touched his brow. “Well, you’re not ill.”
“I’m not up to seeing anyone, Caroline.”
“Well, you’ll see me.” She sat on the edge of his desk. “Darling, you know you mustn’t pay attention to the society rags. They’re wrong as often as they’re right.”
Dear God. He hadn’t even looked at any of those. Who knew what they said. Brendan leaned back in his chair. “Please, Caroline, I have a lot on my mind at the moment.”
“I’m certain you do.” She nodded fervently. “I didn’t even get a chance to speak with you at the Astwicks, but I did see that dance and I can understand you being upset. But I can’t imagine her up and leaving you over it.”
“Caroline, I’m not going to discuss my marriage with you.”
Her bottom lip thrust out in a pout. “Brendan, you need to go after her.”
“I don’t even know where she is,” he lied.
She leaned forward, grinning like a cat who got into the cream. “Oh, well, if that’s all that’s stopping you, I know where she is.”
Brendan cursed under his breath. Of course Caroline would have done her research before visiting him. He scowled at her.
“She’s visiting Olivia and Kelfield in Hampshire.”
“I’m not going after her,” he growled.
“But, darling, she’s miserable too. Livvie is terribly worried about her. Just take a tiny little trip to Hampshire to see her. I’m sure if you’re in the same room together you can work this all out. There’s no need for all this unhappiness.”
If he was in the same room with her, he wouldn’t have the resolve to stay away. Brendan heaved a sigh, letting her words sink in. Cordie was miserable. His soul ached for her, but her safety was of the utmost importance. “I don’t want your help, Caroline,” he said firmly. “This will either work itself out or it won’t. But keep your pretty nose out of it.”