For the Love of the Marquess (The Noble Hearts Series Book 2)

by Callie Hutton

  Marigold entered the room and sat alongside her on the bed.

  Juliet rested her chin on her knees. “And now I have reason to believe Lord Hertford has another pregnant lover to deal with.”

  At first Marigold looked confused, then she sucked in a deep breath. “Oh no. Truly?”

  She turned to rest her cheek on her knees, looking Marigold in the eye. “Do you think I would joke about something like that right now?”

  ***

  It had taken Graham two days more after his meeting with Boyle to finish up what he needed to do in Suffolk. In the meantime, he sent a missive to his man of business in London to have him look into Boyle’s background.

  He was bone weary when he arrived at his London townhouse, having ridden through, only stopping for food and to change horses. Trudging up the stairs, he greeted his butler as the door swung open. The look on the man’s face brought him up short. “What is wrong?”

  “Good day, my lord. Lady Crampton has been for a visit twice. She left a note for you the last time, urging that I present it to you the minute you arrive.”

  “Lady Crampton? Lady Juliet’s companion?”

  “Yes, sir.” He held out a piece of cream-colored vellum. “Here.”

  Frowning, and a bit concerned, he opened the missive.

  My Lord Marquess,

  It is of the upmost importance that you meet with me as quickly as possible. Please send a note upon your return. I will meet you at Gunter’s at whatever time you state. Please do not call at Lord Pomeroy’s townhouse.

  Lady Selina Crampton

  What the devil was going on? Had Juliet taken ill? He dashed off a note to Lady Crampton that he would meet her at Gunter’s in an hour’s time. That gave him enough time to bathe, and present himself as a gentleman.

  Any fatigue he’d felt upon arriving home vanished at the note. He tapped the paper against his lips as he hurried upstairs after ordering a footman to have his bath prepared since Carson was behind him in a carriage with his luggage.

  It was exactly an hour later that Graham arrived at Gunter’s. Not seeing Lady Crampton immediately, he took a table and ordered tea and pastries. Within minutes, Lady Crampton hurried up to him. By the look on her face he had a feeling she had not arrived with good news.

  Right now, only a few days before their wedding, Juliet’s companion should have been very busy with fittings, floral arrangements and menu planning, not taking out time for surreptitious meetings with the intended groom. He stood as she arrived at the table. “My lady.” He bowed and pulled out a chair for her.

  Her face was flushed under the veiled hat she wore. She almost looked as if she were trying to disguise herself. Something was terribly wrong, and a very uncomfortable feeling caused knots to form in his stomach. “Tea, my lady?”

  She seemed almost surprised to see the tea things on the table. She nodded and poured herself a cup and took a sip. Her hand shook as she placed the cup in the saucer.

  “What is it, my lady?”

  “A few nights ago, Lady Juliet, Lady Marigold and I attended a ball at Lord and Lady Livingston’s house.” She stopped and took another sip of tea. “While I was there, I had a conversation with Lady Windham. She told me the story of a trip she and her husband took last year to France.”

  Bloody hell. Did the woman see him and Amy? He broke into a sweat. “And what of it, madam?”

  Lady Crampton leaned forward. “She saw you and a young lady leave the packet from Dover to Calais together. The young lady had befriended her during the journey and told a story of being with child, and very much in love with the babe’s father. She was apparently being escorted to Paris to have the child there.” She gave him a quelling look. “Away from the eyes of London.”

  He sucked in a deep breath, fighting the panic that started in his toes and raced all the way to his pounding heart. “And of course you told Lady Juliet?”

  She stiffened in her seat and glared at him. “It was my duty, my lord. Well you should know Lady Juliet has cancelled the wedding, and will not speak to anyone the past three days. She won’t eat, she doesn’t sleep, and we are all worried sick over her.” She placed her hands around the tea cup and raised her chin, the fire of a woman protecting her young in her eyes. “What have you to say for yourself, Lord Hertford?”

  ***

  Lord Maxwell Pomeroy stood at the window to his library, his hands clasped behind his back. One of his little girls was heartbroken, and he wanted to take his fists to someone. Not to someone. To one particular one.

  The Honorable, the Marquess of Hartford. He snorted. Nothing honorable about the man. Once the man showed himself in London, he would invite him to Gentleman Jim’s and beat the living daylights out of him. No matter that he was a few years older, he was angry enough to do the scoundrel real damage. No one hurt his little girl.

  He turned at the scratch at the door. “Yes.”

  Lady Crampton entered the room. He always smiled when he saw her. The best thing he’d done in ages was hire her to chaperone the girls. After the trouble Elise got into last year, he was sure everything was aboveboard where Juliet was concerned. Lady Crampton did a superb job of keeping an eye on things. No more early babies.

  Despite his anger, he gave her a warm smile. She had certainly brought a lot of happiness to the house since her arrival. “Yes, Selina, what is it?” Sometime back they had reverted to first names when in private.

  “Maxwell, I need for you to sit down. I have something to tell you.”

  “Certainly. You look quite serious.” He waved her to a seat by the fireplace, a little concerned that she was intending to leave him. He could never allow that. Marigold would need her next year.

  The devil take it. His thoughts began to churn. Had she found a man at one of these events that wanted to marry her? Of course, that was a possibility. She was certainly an attractive woman. He had no idea why, but that unsettled him more than he wished. Pushing that thought to the back of his mind, he said, “You seem a bit troubled. What is the problem?”

  “Now, Maxwell, I want you to remain calm while I tell you this.”

  He moved forward in his seat, his heart pounding. “The devil take it, Selina. You cannot leave! Marigold will have her Season next year, and I need you to see to it.”

  Her eyes grew wide at his tone. “I have no intention of leaving.”

  He broke into a smile. “Good. Good. Now what is it you wanted to see me about?”

  Eyeing him strangely, she said, “I met with Lord Hertford a short time ago.”

  “What! Is the bounder back in town? I shall invite him to Gentleman Jim’s and have a go at him. I am not too old to beat that blackguard. He will pay for the distress he has caused my daughter.”

  She shook her head. “Now, Maxwell, I specifically asked you to remain calm.” She waved her hand at him. “This is hardly calm.”

  “I do not understand you, the mother of two little girls. Would you not wreak havoc on a man who treated one of your daughters in such a cavalier way?”

  “Certainly, and you must know I feel the same for Marigold and Juliet as I do for my own little girls. However, I have reason to believe there is more to the story than what meets the eye.”

  Pomeroy jumped up and strode to the sideboard. “Would you care for a sherry?”

  “Yes. I believe I would.”

  He poured himself a brandy, and brought a glass of sherry to Selina. She took a sip and closed her eyes. He stared at her as her throat worked, and felt a flush of heat he hadn’t felt in quite a long time.

  She opened her eyes and he quickly closed the mouth he hadn’t realized hung open. “When I confronted Lord Hertford with the story Lady Windham told me, he was extremely upset, but not for the obvious reason. He seemed much more frustrated than embarrassed or guilty. He told me there is much more to the story, but unfortunately, he was unable to elaborate because of a promise he’d made.”

  Pomeroy snorted. “So, he cannot say what the rest
of the tale is, but expects us to forgive and forget? Not bloody likely.”

  “Maxwell! Language.”

  He grinned at her sheepishly. “I apologize, ‘twas not well done of me, I’m afraid.”

  She nodded an acceptance of his apology. “In any event, he asked that we escort Juliet to an estate in Suffolk that belonged to the late Duke of Reading. He assures me there is someone in residence there who can explain it all to her.”

  Pomeroy shook his head. “She will never consent.” He studied Selina for a minute. “Tell me, and I trust your judgment. Do you feel whoever this person is he wants us to see, and the story he will tell, might change things? Just might ease Juliet’s suffering?”

  “It is truly hard for me to say. But my instincts tell me that Lord Hertford is very much in love with Juliet, and is convinced once she hears what this person in Suffolk has to say, she will change her mind.”

  Pomeroy rubbed his chin. “I do want her to be happy, and she certainly is not happy right now.”

  Selina remained silent, just watching him.

  “Very well. We will kidnap Juliet. First thing in the morning. Send word to Hertford to send our driver the direction, and then meet us there tomorrow.” He sat back and sipped his brandy. “This better be good. Perhaps I should bring my pistol with me.”

  “My lord!”

  Chapter Twelve

  Juliet covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a yawn as she climbed into the carriage behind Lady Crampton. Papa settled in next. “Papa, I don’t understand this hurried-up trip to our country estate. I hardly had time for Charlene to pack enough clothes for a week. And why isn’t Marigold going with us? This is all so confusing.”

  Lady Crampton patted Juliet’s hand. “Marigold has so many events she is schedule to attend, it would be unkind to drag her away.”

  “Then who will chaperone her?”

  “Not to worry, my dear. Lady Albright has volunteered to help out.”

  Lady Crampton had barged her way into her room last night and told her it was time for her to get out of the house. It seemed she and Papa had planned a trip to Pomeroy Manor for Papa to see to some problem with the estate, and they thought it was a good time for her to take a short trip away from London. Why Lady Crampton was going with them remained a mystery because when she questioned her, she gave some convoluted explanation, and then waved her hand toward her wardrobe and suggested she chose what she wanted to bring with her.

  She was certainly happy to get way from London, with all the memories she was trying desperately to forget. And truth be known, she was quite tired of sitting in her room and staring at herself in the mirror. She had even drunk the chocolate Charlene prepared for her earlier, and ate two warm rolls with butter.

  She had realized yesterday if she was, in fact, carrying Graham’s child—curse him—she needed to eat. If she could focus on that, and sweep everything aside, she could get through one day at a time. When the time came, she would retire to Elise’s home in the country, have the babe, and then return to her family’s estate with her child, never again to return to London to face the scandal.

  “Why don’t you lie back and get some more rest?” Lady Crampton pulled out a blanket and small pillow from under her seat and handed it to her.

  “Very well. I am feeling a bit under the weather.” She fell asleep to comforting sound of the carriage wheels and the low murmuring of Lady Crampton and Papa. It almost reminded her of when she was quite young and the family would take trips. Mama always tucked her and her sisters in, and they slept a good part of the trip to the comfort of their parents’ voices.

  “Wake up sleepyhead.” Papa’s deep voice stirred her from her slumber. She sat up and stretched. “We’re not there already?”

  “No. We’ve stopped to change horses and have something to eat. “

  “Good.” She threw the blanket off and sat up. “I’m quite hungry.” She didn’t miss the smirk Papa offered to Lady Crampton. She, on the other hand studied Juliet with narrowed eyes. Certainly, the woman did not guess that Juliet suspected she was increasing?

  Once Papa helped her out, she looked around. “I don’t remember ever passing this inn before.”

  Papa’s eyes grew wide and he coughed. “We are taking a different road this time. The driver tells me he hears the one we usually travel is in bad shape.” He put his arm around her shoulder and moved her forward, chatting about bad roads, stuck carriage wheels, horses going lame, and a number of other things she did not understand.

  The afternoon ride was pleasant, and Juliet’s black mood had begun to life. Not that she was not still angry and depressed. It seemed the more miles between her and London, the more she relaxed. She would enjoy this trip, and put everything else at the back of her mind, to be dealt with later.

  It had grown too dim to continue reading her book. She closed it just as the carriage came to a rolling stop. “Are we at the inn?”

  “Er, no.” Papa looked toward Lady Crampton. She fidgeted with her skirts, not looking at either Papa or her. Juliet glanced between the two of them. Something odd was going on. She gathered her reticule, and the bonnet she had removed earlier just as the door to the carriage opened. “Good evening, my lord, ladies.”

  All the blood left her face, and her eyes grew wide. Graham had opened the door and stood not three feet from her. “Hello, Juliet.”

  She reared back on the seat, her eyes flicking between Papa and Lady Crampton. “How dare you! Why have you brought me to this . . . this . . . this person!”

  Papa looked as though he wanted to make a dash for it, but Lady Crampton held her ground. She extended her hand to Juliet. “My dear, Lord Hertford wishes you to meet someone, and hear a story he has not been permitted to reveal.” She tilted her head. “Please?”

  Another pack of lies? Another way to make a fool of her? Certainly, not. She burrowed herself into the corner of the carriage. “No.”

  Graham ran his fingers through his hair. “Please, Juliet. Just give me a half hour. That’s all I ask.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “What sort of lies have you told to Lady Crampton and Papa to have them trick me into coming here?”

  “He told me no lies because he hasn’t told me anything,” Lady Crampton said. “However, he has convinced me if we all came here, the issue that has been standing between you two will be resolved.”

  Juliet snorted. Most unladylike. “And you believe him? I, on the other hand, can’t believe he could fool you as he fooled me.”

  “If his story does not correct the situation, not only will we all return home post haste, but I will see that the man is ruined.” Papa narrowed his eyes at Graham. “Is that clear, young man?”

  “Yes, sir.” He did not look the least concerned about Papa’s threat. That did give her pause. Papa held a lot of sway in the ton, and if Graham ever expected to have a social life among Polite Society, it was best not to cross the Earl of Pomeroy. He reached his hand out. “Juliet?”

  ***

  Graham breathed a sigh of relief when Juliet moved forward and took his hand. He was still stunned that Lady Crampton had approached him two days ago. She seemed eager to have him redeem himself, and he was relieved when she agreed to his plan. He had no idea how they got Juliet all the way out here, but based on her reaction when she saw him, they had not told her the truth.

  She refused to accept his arm, but took her father’s arm instead, with Lady Crampton on the other side of Pomeroy. They all entered the duke’s country estate where Amy and Boyle awaited them.

  It had taken some effort on his part to convince Mr. Boyle to agree to this plan. Very protective of Amy, at first he refused, insisting her name would be damaged among the “coxcombs and dandies” in London, which was what her father had attempted to prevent.

  When Amy pleaded her case on Grahams’ behalf, assuring Boyle that she had no intention of ever being among the ton again, since her life was with him, he relented. It appeared to Graham’s eyes tha
t there was very little the man could deny Amy. In fact, Graham had planned to tell them as soon as this mess with Juliet was cleared up that they had his permission to marry.

  Graham led Lady Crampton, Lord Pomeroy, and Juliet into the drawing room. Boyle stood as they all entered and bowed to the two ladies. Graham took Juliet’s elbow and escorted her to a chair across from Amy. Juliet’s chin rose, and Graham had the feeling she knew who Amy was, just not her relationship to Graham. He had to get the words out quickly before she bolted again.

  “Lady Amy, I would like to present to you, Lady Juliet Smith, Lady Crampton, her companion, and Lord Pomeroy, Lady Juliet’s father.” He turned to the three of them. “May I present Lady Amy Andrews, daughter of the late Duke of Reading.”

  Juliet’s eyes widened, and he knew he had her attention.

  “Lady Amy has a story to tell all of you. It is a tale that began with the duke last summer, but since I promised him I would never discuss it, I have been unable to defend myself against unjust charges.”

  Amy reached for Boyle’s hand and he gave her a warm smile. “My lord, my ladies, I am pleased to meet you. For a number of reasons. Graham has been like a brother to me since we grew up together in this very house when my papa became his guardian. I love him, and it would break my heart if something he had nothing to do with, and was merely protecting me, and helping Papa, made him lose his own happiness.”

  She stood and walked over to Juliet and sat alongside her, taking her hands in hers. “He loves you very much, my lady. And I know that because he told me so, and Graham never lies.”

  Juliet glanced at him, and chewed her lip. She then turned her attention back to Amy, and Amy proceeded to tell her tale in a very adult manner, which pleased, and surprised, Graham. Several times she would glance at Boyle, as if needing his strength, and then take a deep breath and continue. Once she finished speaking, she, Juliet, and Lady Crampton were all patting their eyes with their handkerchiefs.