by Meara Platt
“How can I?” What he wanted to do was protect Lavinia, this wonderful, dear woman who had always loved him and Penelope. He’d intercepted a blackmail letter to her a few days ago. The secret it contained had shaken him badly. He had no intention of allowing it to destroy his beloved aunt.
His unmarried, maiden aunt.
But this blackmailer claimed she had given birth to a child.
“How can you not?” Poppy asked. “A baby changes everything, doesn’t it? It’s a little miracle. Your Aunt Lavinia will be–”
“What? Over the moon with joy?” He raked a hand through his hair. “How could you know about this? Did Lavinia confide in you?”
“No. No one had to tell me anything. I’m an observer. Little escapes my notice.” She shook her head and sighed. “There is nothing to be done about the past, so let’s work on what to do going forward. I think it is important for everyone’s happiness.”
“Be serious, Poppy. Who can be happy about this? Lord, I don’t even know how it happened.”
Poppy frowned at him. “You must have some idea.”
He sighed. “I do, of course. It was a mistake, obviously. A big, fat one that cannot be taken back. Nor can it be overlooked. How does one approach such a situation?”
Why was he confiding in Poppy of all people? What was it about her that made it easy to release the anguish he’d been trying to bury deep within his soul ever since that letter had come into his possession? But the feeling was clawing its way out, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Charlotte and her father would arrive in a couple of days. A dozen more friends would arrive with them. What would they say when Lavinia’s scandalous secret came out?
Not that he cared what anyone thought. He only cared about Lavinia and couldn’t bear to see her shamed. Of course, the scandal would affect Penelope’s marriage prospects. Not that his sister would care either, but he worried for her sake. It wasn’t fair that Lavinia’s scandal should taint Penelope.
Of course, it wouldn’t taint him.
A wealthy earl was forgiven everything.
He wanted to rescind the invitation to Charlotte and her father, and to the others. He wasn’t certain why he’d invited any of that fast London crowd in the first place. But Penelope had been so damn quick to pass judgment on Charlotte, he’d come up with the brilliant idea of a country party just to put his wayward sister in her place.
Charlotte at Sherbourne for an entire weekend.
Penelope forced to grin and bear it.
The notion seemed hilarious at the time.
And now this.
The Winthrows would arrive just as the blackmail scheme unfolded.
Under other circumstances, he would not mind seeing Charlotte. She was a beautiful girl, an Incomparable, truth be told. A diamond. A jewel. She’d made no secret of her attraction to him. He’d found her attention flattering.
Perhaps something more would come of it.
He didn’t know.
Right now, he was too numb to care.
But Poppy was right. He had to take action immediately if he wanted to save his family.
“Farthingales are renowned for making mistakes. Lots of them,” she continued in that soft, lilting voice of hers that he found quite easy to endure. More than merely endure, if he wished to be honest about it, which he didn’t.
He had foolishly agreed to be her test frog.
He had not agreed to fall under any magical love spell.
The Book of Love was a hoax and he would prove it to her.
She cast him a smile he refused to find sweet or splendid, and continued her comment. “Indeed, I think the Society gossips can’t wait to see what havoc my cousins, Lily and Daffodil, will wreak upon the unsuspecting bachelors when they make their debuts.”
He smiled wryly, liking that she was gentle rather than pitying or judgmental.
“But we’re also known for loving our children and taking the best care of them. If you need any help, or if you ever have questions about what’s involved in carrying a child to term or caring for the child afterward, please ask me. I think I can offer guidance on this subject.”
Why would he care about that when Lavinia’s secret baby was about as old as he was? Perhaps a few years older. “Poppy, you’re an innocent. How can you know these things?”
“Must I keep telling you? I’m an observer.” She tipped her chin up as she spoke, but the gesture only made him notice the pink lushness of her lips. “My problem is that I never partake in life. I watch. I assist. Farthingales seem able to knock out children left and right, although some with more difficulty than others. I’ve attended many births. I’ve tended to my aunts and cousins when they had to take to their beds because of difficulties during their term. I know a lot about such things. I even assisted Mrs. Fitch in the birth of her youngest boy.”
“Why didn’t I realize all this about you before?”
She shrugged. “You never asked. You never really looked at me or listened when I spoke.”
“Which shows just how much of an arrogant arse I’ve been.” He snorted in disgust. He’d always thought himself so noble and charitable and clever. He’d been a dolt in so many ways. Ignoring Poppy because she was his sister’s best friend. Pursuing Charlotte because his smart-mouthed, opinionated sister disliked her.
He didn’t like to think he was that petty.
But what if he was?
Charlotte was beautiful, but had he considered courting her for all the wrong reasons? Well, he’d keep his eyes open once she and her father arrived.
What he intended to avoid was a loveless marriage to a woman he did not want. Lavinia had made her mistake and it had cost her dearly.
While he was not about to make the same mistake, this discussion with Poppy had made him consider all that was involved in a marriage. Wife. Children. Protecting them and loving them.
He also worried about Poppy. What if she fell in love with the wrong man because of this ridiculous book of spells? He’d have to keep careful watch over her. He’d feel terrible if amid all these distractions, she wound up with a broken heart.
A sudden thought struck him.
He and Poppy had always had a good rapport. What if it turned into something more on her part and he was the one who inadvertently broke her heart? Poppy trusted him. She admired him. Falling in love with him was a logical next step, wasn’t it? Indeed, not so farfetched.
Hell, what if she does fall in love with me?
“Poppy, my sister was not subtle in expressing her wish that you and I might make a love match. That’s why she wanted to throw us together with this book. But you know it can never happen, don’t you? I can never be more than your test frog.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“I will still do my best to look after you. I’ve agreed to give you these next four days, but we can stop now if you’ve had a change of heart. However, don’t consider using Captain Gordon to test the theories in the book. Don’t hold out hope that you and he might make a good match. You won’t. Be careful around him. There’s something about him that puts me on edge. I don’t like him. I can’t explain why, it’s just an uneasy feeling I have whenever I’m in his company.”
“How well do you know him?” Poppy couldn’t mask her irritation. “You didn’t even remember he was at your party. But no matter. I think it’s more important that we work on solving your problem first. Unlike Olivia, I’m not desperate to find love. This is only my first Season. I won’t turn nineteen until October. I have time, but you don’t.” She clasped her hands together and gazed up at him. “What will you do? Have you made any plans?”
How does one make plans around a blackmailer? He frowned lightly. “No.”
“None whatsoever?”
“Poppy, don’t be naive. This situation must be handled delicately. Utmost discretion. No names mentioned. You said it yourself when reciting the opening paragraph of this book. Men spread their seed. There’s no love involv
ed.”
“Oh.” She cleared her throat. “So, what we have is a man in a bad way one night. Perhaps drunk. A young woman who was there… willing and available.”
“It wasn’t pretty or magical,” he said, staring down at The Book of Love and truly worried where it might lead Poppy. Beast had been there to protect Goose from her own misguided attempts to find love.
Unfortunately, it would not be the same for Poppy. Who would protect her if he was not there to do it?
“Nathaniel, I still think we ought to continue these meetings to go over the chapters. This book is about the importance of connections between two people who will be partners for life. It contains great wisdom. I know you don’t want to discuss your secret, so let’s not. But marriage is the most important thing we shall ever undertake. We may not be able to fix all problems, but reading this book will help us to understand how the opposite sex thinks. Perhaps it will help us find true love. Not with each other, of course. So, what do you think? I would like to go on meeting to discuss this book. Would you?”
Since he wasn’t going to leave Poppy as easy prey for any rogue, it was easy to answer. “Yes.”
“Thank you.” She let out the breath she must have been holding. “I hope we both find love. If we open our minds and hearts, I think it will help us to build strong marriages.”
He laughed and shook his head.
“Give it a try, Nathaniel. You deserve to be as happy as you possibly can be. But it isn’t only about you. It’s about the children you and the woman you love will raise.”
“Have you always been this irritatingly clever?”
She cast him a gentle smile. “So I’ve been told by my parents. They seem to think I’m wonderful. But I’m nothing to my cousin, Lily. She’s brilliant.”
“So are you, it seems.” He walked to the edge of the pond and picked up a few stones to skip across the water. “Sherbournes marry for love. I never considered doing otherwise.”
“We Farthingales are the same way.”
“All the more reason why you must never be forced into a loveless union.”
“As I would be with Andrew Gordon?”
He nodded, aware he had to take his own advice and look carefully at Charlotte Winthrow. She wasn’t as sweet or understanding as Poppy. But Poppy was too sweet, at times. He didn’t like to think the man she chose to marry would destroy her hopes and dreams because she didn’t stand up for herself. “At least I can help you. There’s a lot I can teach you about men.”
He tossed a stone across the water and watched it skip five times before sinking. “Especially when it comes to their lower brain function.”
Chapter Three
Poppy stood beside Nathaniel by the pond’s edge and watched as he tossed stones into the water. They’d only gotten a paragraph into the book, but she could see the taut coil of muscles along his neck and knew any further discussion of its contents would set him off. Not that Nathaniel was the sort to lose his composure, but he was at his wit’s end and obviously desperate to find a solution to his problem.
He’d expected to marry for love, for it was the Sherbourne way. He hadn’t expected to marry out of necessity to a woman he did not appear to like. Too bad he hadn’t realized it before he’d gotten Charlotte Winthrow… in this predicament.
Well, nothing to be done about it now.
She studied his side-arm toss, watching his next stone make six skips before disappearing beneath the water. She picked up one and did the same. But hers merely dropped into the water with a plop.
“It’s in the wrist, Poppy. Just keep your arm down and flick your wrist.”
He came to stand behind her, placing a hand at her waist to draw her lightly up against him. He took her other hand and wrapped it in his while he guided her throw.
Her stone skipped twice.
Her heart skipped multiple times.
He stepped back and cast her an appealing grin. “Better.”
She smiled back. “Yes. I’ll practice later with Pip. I think this is something he’ll have fun doing and it will distract him from terrifying the ducks.” Phillip Sherbourne, otherwise known as the devil-child, Pip, was Nathaniel’s eight-year-old cousin and his ward. The boy had an active mind that constantly needed to be kept occupied, for he had a diabolical ability to get into mischief.
At the moment, Pip was on a nature walk with Penelope. However, it was too hot to stay out for very long, and she knew he would soon be running to the pond to chase the ducks who were quietly sitting along its grassy edge.
She decided to press on, hoping to read more to Nathaniel before they were interrupted. “Let’s get back to the book.”
“Must we?” But he nodded. “My brain is ready to burst.”
So was hers, but it was important that one of them remain calm.
They settled on the log, and Poppy opened the book again, picking up where she’d left off. She wanted to get through the first chapter today, and they hadn’t made it beyond the first page. “Men look for beautiful women. They may define beauty differently, but there is one thing they all agree upon. The woman must appear to be a successful vessel for their sperm or they—”
“Poppy!”
“Oh, don’t spout off again, Nathaniel. Do let me finish this passage and you will see the scientific merit in it. If my delicate sensibilities are not offended by the words, then why should yours be? Besides, don’t you think I ought to be armed with this information now that I’m in the Marriage Mart and expected to make an enduring love match? Ignorance does not protect me. Knowledge does.”
He raked a hand through his hair and sighed. “Lord help me, go on.”
“As I was saying, the woman must appear to be a successful vessel for their sperm or they will immediately dismiss her in their minds – too old, too young, too frail, too sickly. So all men will first look for cues that a woman can provide him healthy offspring. At this first inspection, the color of her hair and eyes is not as important as the shape and symmetry of her body.”
“Shape and symmetry?”
Poppy nodded. “This is why men look at a woman’s… um, chest first when assessing her suitability as a mate. Is that what you noticed about Charlotte?”
“Healthy breasts?” He winced and shook his head. “I have no idea. But if I did, it was only momentary. I’m an unmarried, wealthy earl. Women are always offering their bodies to me. I’m used to it by now.”
“Oh, I never realized.”
“You wouldn’t because you’re innocent and would never…” He muttered something under his breath, but he spoke low, and she did not catch what he was saying. Likely, the words were not meant for her delicate ears.
“What else do you like about Charlotte’s physical appearance?”
“I don’t know.” He groaned. “I suppose she has nice hair and pretty eyes. I’ll give her that. Is this still my lower brain function at work? The one designed purely for successful mating?”
“Yes, but it is also the first step in making a connection.”
He laughed. “I hardly think so.”
“You found her pretty. That is a good sign. Many women would make successful mates for you, but very few women will connect with you in the deeper, higher brain manner necessary to make for a happy, committed marriage. You found her body suitable for mating. You also decided she was nice to look at. Now we must find a way to increase the connections and have you fall in love with Charlotte.”
“Poppy,” he said, frowning at her. “You mustn’t speak of Charlotte as though she is my intended bride.”
“Oh, I see. No names. Discretion in all things.” He was right. And his situation had to be a complete embarrassment. By constantly mentioning Charlotte’s name, she might let something inadvertently slip. This was his secret to share, not hers.
He rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. “What would make a father abandon his child and the woman who bore it? Perhaps he was married already? Perhaps he’d died before being able to
marry her?”
She took his hand and gave it a light, comforting squeeze. “You’ll make a wonderful father.” It was possible he would never grow to love his wife, but he’d love their child with all his being.
She felt a sudden ache in her heart. “Oh.”
Nathaniel turned to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, the book almost slipped from my hands.” What would she have done if he’d approached her while drunk and made amorous overtures to her? She wasn’t certain she would have resisted.
It wasn’t that he was wealthy or a respected earl. Quite the opposite, it was the warrior, protect-my-woman side of him that would have seduced her. The physical, big-muscled, but kind and gentle… she cleared her throat and concentrated on the task at hand. “Nathaniel, close your eyes and think about what else you like about Charlotte’s appearance.”
“Why is it so important? She’s a pretty girl. The rest of it is… I don’t know.”
“Well, think about it now.”
“Her looks aren’t the problem. It’s Penelope who’s been the thorn in my side. She thinks Charlotte is cold and selfish. She doesn’t want me to have anything to do with her. You ought to be reading this book to Penelope, not me.”
“We all need to read it. You’re no exception. Indeed, isn’t it obvious you’re the one most in need of taking in its wisdom?” Poppy pursed her lips in thought. “But I’ll do what I can to explain it to Penelope. I don’t think Charlotte means to be cold to her. The Duke of Winthrow is rumored to be a loud and overbearing man. Charlotte may have had to adapt her behavior to cope with him. He’s her father, and she cannot avoid him.”
“That’s what I’ve told my sister, but she won’t listen.” He shrugged.
“Tell me more about her. Do you find her sweet and warm?”
“Charlotte? Well, no. She isn’t like you, Poppy. She isn’t nearly as compassionate or caring. Stop talking about her. Let’s concentrate on you.”
Was he so willing to toss up his hands in surrender and spend the rest of his days in an unhappy marriage? It was common for those of privilege to set up separate households. The husbands would then be free to take on mistresses. The wives would take on lovers once they’d sired the necessary heirs.