by Playing
“When you put it that way, I feel silly for being concerned.” Heather dropped a lump of sugar into her cup.
“It is silly. As I said, no one listens to her since she pulled that nonsense that ended with my marrying Julian. But that,” she lifted her cup once more, “is a story for another time, and we have several more errands to run.”
“Of course.” Heather sat back and lifted the cup to her lips as she tried to put Darcy and her gossip from her mind. Despite her tossing belly, she was enjoying her afternoon with Emma, and had no desire to ruin it with silly worries.
Dust motes swirled through the sunlight and Drew groaned as he arched his back. His spine popped from his hips to his neck, and when he turned, it was to find Garrett staring at him. “What?”
“That sounded painful.”
“Perhaps, but it felt wonderful.” He leaned against the wall. “So, you haven’t told me what you think?”
Garrett glanced around. They were in the parlor, and even with all the windows wide open, the room was still stuffy. A thick layer of dust coated the sills and fireplace mantle. Still, he nodded. “I think Heather’s going to enjoy herself decorating this place. I hope your bank account is ready for that.”
“It will survive.”
“Good.”
“What’s wrong? You’re more serious than usual. You and Katherine have a fight?”
Garrett shook his head, but his forehead wrinkled and he looked exhausted as he reached up to rub it. “Not exactly.”
“Then what is it? Jesus, Garrett, this is almost painful. What’s on your mind?” Drew pushed away from the wall, to the pile of rags he’d dumped in the middle of the room when he first arrived.
His plan had been to get as much of the house cleaned and ready for occupation as possible. Now that he asked for Heather’s hand, he just wanted to marry her and begin their life together. Besides, he wanted to make certain they were married long enough so that when she began to show, no one would question the legitimacy of the child’s birth.
That lay heavily on his mind and seeing the creased worry on his brother’s forehead, a sense of unease bit into him. Had someone overheard Heather when she told him of her condition? Were people whispering about her pregnancy?
Garrett’s arrival was unexpected, but welcome, as Drew needed a respite from all the dust and grime. However, he had the sinking feeling Garrett’s was not going to be an entirely pleasant visit.
“Garrett?”
Lowering his hand, Garrett said, “How well do you know Heather?”
“What?”
“You heard me. How long?”
“Why?”
“I’m curious. You left here to lick your wounds and when you come back, you’ve got your mind made up to get married. It seems a bit quick to me.”
“Quick? It’s been over a year.” Drew snatched up one of the rags and attacked the white marble mantel. “That’s hardly quick.”
“Drew, you know why I’m concerned. Why we’re all concerned. How well do you know her?”
“I’m not having this discussion.”
The floor squeaked and Garrett caught his wrist to stop his scrubbing. “Drew.”
“What?” Drew snapped, whirling about to face him. “There’s nothing to talk about and nothing for you to worry about.”
But Garrett remained unperturbed. “Is that so? Then why so defensive?”
“Because I don’t need to explain anything to anyone.” He managed to keep his voice even, which was good because the muscles in his shoulders were tensing. That tension crept down his back, and his gut tightened. Garrett had heard something, somewhere, about Heather, and Drew had the sinking feeling her carefully guarded secret wasn’t going to remain secret much longer.
“Drew, you need to know, people are whispering about her.”
“Whispering?”
Garrett released him. “Whispering.”
“What sort of whispering?” Drew dropped the rag and turned to his brother. If possible, Garrett looked even more exhausted than he had only a few minutes earlier. “What sort of whispering, Garrett?”
“About London. Coal’s gaming house? Is any of this ringing any bells?”
It was a good thing he leaned against the mantel, since his knees threatened to betray him. Blood drained from his face, splashed into his stomach to send a sickening wave of ice rippling through his veins. “What?”
“You heard me.” Garrett’s voice was as tired as the rest of him. “Coal’s gaming house. Now, I’d be the last person to find fault with marrying a barmaid, but I’ve the feeling Heather wasn’t the same sort of barmaid Katherine was. Care you explain why you paid thirty-five thousand pounds for her?”
“She wasn’t a barmaid, Garrett.” At his brother’s raised eyebrow, he added, “She wasn’t a whore either.”
“Oh, really? Do you know of another sort of woman who charges for her services?”
His arms folded over his chest, Drew glared at him. “She was where she was through no fault of her own. Now, you don’t know what you’re talking about, so I highly suggest you stop talking right now.”
“Enlighten me, Drew. What sort of woman sells herself, yet isn’t a whore?”
“Mind your own business, Garrett.” Drew tightened his hands into fists, tightened his arms to keep those fists from rising. “Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?”
“Leave it at that? Really? Are you that stupid, Drew? I just told you people are whispering about her. Do you know what they’re whispering? Aren’t you even the least bit curious? Julian told me about an hour ago. He heard from George Hadley — ”
“What?” Drew’s stomach twisted into a painful knot, bile rising in his throat as Garrett’s heated words washed over his brain. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. It’s making its way through Brunswick even as we speak. Andrew Kieran McKenzie, second in command at Eagleton Imports, currently Brunswick’s most eligible bachelor, is marrying a former whore. They’re going to love this bit, don’t you think? Momma and Da will be so happy for you.”
“Oh, goddamn, bloody hell…” Drew sagged against the wall, then slid to the floor, hands dangling between his knees, and his head dropped forward, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Now, do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
Drew didn’t answer. It was as if all the air in the room had been sucked out and he was slowly being turned inside out. His stomach cramped as he thought about his parents’ reaction once they learned the truth. And he didn’t doubt for a moment they would. Nor did he doubt they’d be beyond furious. He’d brought shame down onto his family. Unintentionally, of course, but that would no longer matter.
Heather.
He winced, squeezing his eyes shut as he thought about her. There was no way his parents would ever allow a marriage to take place between them now. If he was lucky, his father would not disown him outright.
He lifted his head to find Garrett still staring down at him. “I’m telling you, she isn’t what you think she is. Not at all what you think she is.”
“So, why don’t you tell me what she is?” The heat was gone from Garrett’s voice, and he joined Drew on the floor.
“I went to Coal’s without any intention of spending a cent, but just to keep a friend company. And when I saw Heather, I just couldn’t take my eyes off her, Garrett. I wasn’t the only one. Someone else was bidding on her, and Brady let slip that the other bidder liked to play rough with his women.
“I can’t explain, but I couldn’t walk out of there and leave her. I just couldn’t. There was something about her. She didn’t belong there.” The weight lifted from his shoulders as Heather’s sorry tale spilled forth. He was relieved to finally be able to unload the truth, hadn’t even realized what a burden carrying such a secret was until that moment.
That feeling of relief was short-lived, as he turned to find Garrett glaring at him. “So she was a perfectly innocent little miss, was she?”
/> “She was. I know you don’t believe me, but she was. She was innocent in every way imaginable.”
“And you had the terrific idea to bring her to America? To save her from this horrible life?”
“No. After she told me this, I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to help her.”
“So you did feel sorry for her?”
“Well, of course I did. She did not belong there. I wanted her, so I bought her. It’s that simple.”
Now it was Garrett’s turn to snort. “This story keeps getting better and better, Drew.”
“What would you have me do? Like I said, there was something about her that wouldn’t let me leave her there.” He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes again.
Garrett cleared his throat. “Very well, I suppose I do. But, that doesn’t change the fact that you bought her, Drew. In the eyes of the world, she is a harlot and no amount of protestation will change that.”
The weight that had lifted from Drew’s shoulders pressed down upon them once again. Garrett was right. Heather was ruined in the eyes of Brunswick. His back straightened. “You said Hadley told McCallister. Who told old Georgie?”
“That I don’t know, Drew. But, I can hazard a guess where such a rumor might have originated.”
However, it didn’t make sense. No one in Brunswick could possibly know about Heather’s time at Coal’s. The only people who could have known would be those on board the Triton. And certainly his crew —
“Henry Donaldson.” The rage filling him burned pure white in its intensity. “That son of a bitch. I will kill him. I warned him.”
He scrambled to his feet, with Garrett doing the same, grabbing his arm to hold him back. “Wait, wait. Before you go avenging the lady’s honor, I have a bit more bad news to drop on you.”
Drew couldn’t suppress his groan. “Whatever it is, I assure you, I’ve got an even worse one.”
“What might that be?”
He stepped back from Garrett and raked a hand through his hair. “She’s pregnant, Garrett.”
“What?”
Drew nodded. “Oh, yes. I’m going to make them grandparents in about six months.”
“Bloody hell.”
“Oh, I don’t think of it that way. Tell you the truth, I’m pretty damn excited about it. I love her, Garrett. I don’t give a damn what anyone might say. Hell, I’ve never cared what anyone thought about what I did. I know the truth and to hell with anyone who chooses to believe otherwise.”
“Do you honestly think it’s as simple as that?”
“No, of course not. But do you hear what I am saying? I’m in love with her. I can’t simply stop that because it doesn’t suit what people think.”
“Well, you are going to have to think long and hard about everything, once Momma and Da find out. I don’t think they will be too pleased to have Heather as their daughter-in-law. And that brings us to the bad news. Da came by Eagleton looking for you. I told him I’d bring you up to Stonebridge for supper this evening.”
Nausea crashed over Drew with all the force of a storm wave. He swallowed hard against the bile rising in his throat. The roof was about to be dropped on him and he was not looking forward to this meal.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Although Garrett went with him, the walk to Stonebridge’s front doors seemed to take forever. He tried to close the doors as quietly as possible, but it was all for naught as James emerged from his office, his blue eyes blazing with fury. Garrett never specifically said James knew, but it was obvious he’d heard something. “Drew, a word, if you don’t mind?”
“Where is Momma?”
“Mercifully unaware, as she is taking a nap.” James’s reply was sharp as he gestured to his office doorway. “I’d like to do this before supper, if it’s all the same.”
Garrett patted Drew’s shoulder. “Da, before — ”
“Keep out of this,” James cut him off sharply. “It’s between your brother and me.”
Drew took a deep breath as he stepped into the office, wincing as his father slid the doors together with a resounding thud. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw James so furious. Most likely when it was Emma being discussed in hushed whispers and with sniggering giggles.
“How could you?” James stormed across the room to the table where the liquor was kept. He poured himself a hefty tumbler of bourbon, slugging half of it in one gulp. “How could you be so stupid? A whore, Drew? What were you thinking?”
Drew felt his hackles rise. “She is not a whore.”
“So these stories are not true, then? You didn’t buy her? Didn’t pay for her services?”
“Da — ”
“Answer me!”
“Yes! Is that what you want to hear?” Drew threw his hands up in frustration. “Yes! I did both. Christ, since when is that a crime?”
James stared at him in horrified disbelief. “You did not just ask that, did you? Do you need me to answer or can you figure it out on your own, Drew?” James’s hand shook as he slammed the glass back to the tabletop. “You realize, of course, you cannot possibly marry this woman.”
“Of course I can. I intend to do just that.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible, Drew. You will have nothing more to do with her. Have you any idea, any inkling, of what this will do to your mother when she hears it? That harlot stayed beneath our roof! We accepted her into this family!”
Anger gnawed at Drew’s insides, but he couldn’t very well take a swing at his father. “I am no longer a boy, Da. The decision is mine as to whom I marry, and Heather is the choice I’ve made.”
“Is that a fact?”
He folded his arms over his chest, his gaze locking with his father’s. “Yes.”
“Then you will no longer be welcome in this house.” James’s reply was swift, his voice resonating through the house. “I will not have that trash in my house.”
“That trash, as you so succinctly put it, is no more a whore than any other woman associated with this family. Circumstances forced her to be where she was, but I can assure you, she was as innocent as Emma was after her supposed tryst with Julian.”
“Do not even think to drag your sister into this, Andrew. It’s not the same thing.”
“And how would you know?” Drew’s deep voice rose to a shout, bouncing off the walls in a deep thunderclap. “How would anyone presume to know what took place before I met her? I’m the one who knows for damn certain she was untouched before I came into her life. I’m the only one who knows.”
James’s expression became one of horror mixed with shock, as if he couldn’t believe Drew would have the gall to stand up to him, to defy him in such a manner. “It matters not what she was or wasn’t before you met her, Andrew,” he replied coldly. “What matters is what’s being said now. I will not allow you to marry this trollop and give her our name. Should you choose to do so, you are on your own. You will cease to be my son.”
Drew felt the impact of those words down to the soles of his feet as a sudden chill flooded him. “You would disown me over this?”
James’s expression was bland, his eyes flat. “I would.”
He didn’t like being backed into this corner. His first instinct was to strike back with as much force as possible. “Very well. To hell with you and to hell with this family.” He practically spat the words at his father as he turned on his heel and slammed out of the library.
Heather was lying down when Jeremy tapped lightly on her door. “Miss Morgan? Drew is here to see you.”
She sat up, feeling groggy as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Drew is here?”
“I’ll send him up.”
“Please.”
With that, he was gone. Moments later, Drew’s boots thudded dully up the stairs, then he appeared in the doorway. She would’ve smiled, but the danger glinting in his eyes instantly put her on her guard.
“Drew, what is it?”
He looked pained. “People know.”
Dread flooded her, replacing the blood in her veins, as those two words reached her ears. She didn’t have to ask. She already knew. It was a good thing she was still sitting, for she’d have fallen over otherwise. A disbelieving “What?” was all she could muster.
He nodded. “I just found out myself.”
“But, how? Who?”
“I can’t say for certain, but I believe it was Henry. Don’t worry, I have every intention of dealing with that little maggot.”
He came into the room to sit beside her on the bed. Something else troubled him, as he had none of his usual devil-may-care sense about him. She reached for his hand, whispering, “What is it?”
“If I marry you, love, my father will disown me.”
“Oh, Drew, that’s terrible.” She couldn’t believe James McKenzie would turn on his son in so vicious a manner. That he would take everything away from Drew, right down to his name — his birthright.
She could see the pain in his eyes as they met hers and she whispered, “Well, it’s decided then.”
“I didn’t say I’d changed my mind. I have every intention of making you my wife.”
Her heart ached as she gazed up at him. He was willing to sacrifice all for her, to throw away everything he had worked so hard to obtain. He would pick up and walk away from his family to be with her. He amazed her and warmed her to her core. Never before had she dared dream a man would love her with such conviction.
But she couldn’t let him do something so rash.
As she sat there, stroking the back of his hand, she knew she could never ask him to make that kind of a sacrifice for her. He’d only live to regret it. Love could fade. Family was for life.
“Drew?”
“Yes?”
“Go home.”
“What?”
She took a deep breath. She’d hate herself for the rest of her days, but she could not let him destroy his entire life for her. “I said, go home.”
“Heather, didn’t you hear what I said?”
“Yes. I did hear. But, I’ve been thinking — a bit of thinking. I’ve decided I wish to return to London.”