Realm 06 - A Touch of Love

by Regina Jeffers

  Carter glanced to Mrs. Warren. He had not wished to expose her to too many strangers in one sitting, but thoughts of his brother’s wife having the measure of Mrs. Warren pleased him. Although she was the granddaughter of the Earl of Vaughn, the former Arabella Tilney had been reared in America and was a bit hoydenish in an adorably adventurous manner. He thought Mrs. Warren could benefit from Arabella’s confidence and from his sister in marriage’s acknowledgement. “I was unaware Lord and Lady Hellsman had departed Scotland.”

  “Our brother reports of an outbreak of typhus in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. He removed his wife from danger,” Louisa shared. Law’s news had put one of Carter’s escape routes on hold. If someone continued to pursue her, he had thought he might send Mrs. Warren and the boy to his family’s Scottish estate.

  Hutton shared, “My countess is hoping the future baron’s actions prove an heir is anticipated on Lawrence’s part.”

  Carter teased, “Not every couple is so anxious to set up their nursery as were you and Hutton, Louisa.”

  His sister flicked his taunt away with a brush of her wrist. “It is a woman’s providence to bear children. It is how England will survive,” she declared. “Would you not agree, Mrs. Warren?”

  Carter saw Lucinda flinch. “I have no family, Lady McLauren, and I have been a widow for over three years. I lost Captain Warren after the Battle of Vitoria during the Peninsular campaign.”

  “But I thought…” Louisa began.

  As if recognizing her discomfort, Carter explained, “Captain Warren had married prior to speaking his vows to Mrs. Warren. The boy’s mother is deceased. With the captain’s demise, Mrs. Warren serves as Simon’s guardian.”

  Hutton asked, “Captain Matthew Warren?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Lucinda said softly. It bothered Carter she had lowered her eyes. He was beginning to believe someone had abused her emotionally. Captain Warren or Colonel Rightnour? Or both?

  “I recall Warren from my university days. He was younger than I, but I knew the man in passing.” Carter noted Hutton’s raised eyebrow, and he realized the earl had something private to share with him.

  “Yes, Thornhill and Warren were familiar acquaintances. The duke requested my assistance in aiding Mrs. Warren in locating the child’s maternal relatives. Mrs. Warren believes it important for the boy to know family.” It was a stretch of the truth for Louisa’s sake and to protect Mrs. Warren’s reputation.

  “Well, whatever the reason, you are welcome in Lincolnshire,” Louisa professed. “I am thrilled to have your company.”

  At mid afternoon the following day, Carter joined Louisa and McLauren on the estate’s main steps to greet his brother’s coach. He had not seen Lawrence since Carter had orchestrated his brother’s marriage proposal and wedding shortly before Christmastide. Watching the coach roll to a stop before the manor, he quickly realized how much he had missed Law. Immediately, he was assisting his brother’s footman with the steps.

  A squeal and a shout of “Carter” was all the warning he had before his brother’s wife launched herself into his arms. Marriage had, obviously, not stifled Arabella Lowery’s spontaneity. He caught her and spun her around as he had done with Louisa only the day prior. Arabella laughed heartily. “What fun!” she announced as he sat her upon the ground. “Lawrence never mentioned you were at Maryborne. My, how I have missed you.”

  “And I you, Bella,” he said genuinely.

  His brother caught Carter up in a familiar man hug. “It is good to find you here,” Law said in that baritone timbre Carter had always associated with strength. Although they were relatively equal in height and weight, Carter had always thought at eight years his senior Lawrence outshone him in many ways.

  Carter patted his brother’s back as they parted. “Has the glow decreased?” he asked softly. Although their father had disagreed, Carter had recognized Law’s obsession with Miss Arabella Tilney the first time he had observed the two together.

  Law glanced to where his wife greeted Louisa and the earl. “Lord, no.” Lawrence’s smile widened. “I have never been so content. You should make the effort, Carter. Marriage would be good for you.”

  Carter immediately thought of the lady awaiting their appearance in the drawing room, but quickly placed the thought from his mind. Their connection was nothing more than pure fancy. Marriage was not for him in the near future. He had a position to win and several investigations to solve before he seriously considered searching for a wife among the ton’s newest crop of ingénues. “I am but four and twenty. There is time for such thoughts as I approach thirty. You waited until three and thirty.”

  “If Bella had made her arrival earlier, I would have been just as ready to claim her,” Lawrence confessed.

  Arabella rejoined them. “Louisa and I have decided our husbands must emulate Carter’s greeting. I find I quite like being lifted high in the air,” she teased as she laced her arm through her husband’s.

  Law laughed easily, and it was a comforting sound. Carter realized it had been many years since Lawrence had been so carefree. “And what if I am not as able bodied as my younger brother?” Law taunted as he playfully tweaked his wife’s nose.

  Bella offered a pretend pout as they followed Louisa and McLauren inside. “Have I chosen the wrong brother?”

  Law gave Carter’s shoulder a hearty shove. “I assure you Lady Hellsman, I have no brother.”

  Carter joined their playful laugher, and they entered the drawing room as a trio. However, noting Monroe’s presence on the settee beside Mrs. Warren brought him to a stumbling halt.

  “Oh, my!” Arabella gasped. “I had no idea Lady McLauren had company.”

  Louisa looked pleased at the domestic setting upon which they had come. His sister said sweetly, “Carter brought guests with him.” She gave him an expectant look.

  Leaving Bella’s side he joined the couple. “Lord and Lady Hellsman,” he said formally, “may I present one of my colleagues from the Home Office, Mr. Dylan Monroe, and an acquaintance of some duration, Mrs. Warren.” He shot a quick glance to McLauren; Carter had spent over an hour this morning apprising the earl of the true reasons for his seeking refuge at Maryborne. His brother in marriage had immediately placed orders for additional men to guard the estate’s perimeter. There was much unrest in the Northern shires, and many wealthy landowners hired armed men to protect land and property.

  During the conversation, Hutton had expressed his earlier reservations regarding Matthew Warren. “There were rumors of young Warren being involved in some sort of minor theft. Some said he was the one who sold what was stolen to those within the village and the surrounding countryside. He was never brought up on charges, but it was common knowledge if one required a new shirt, a pen, potent drinks, or a dozen other such items, Warren was the man to see. I hold no proof of Warren’s involvement, but I thought you should know. Likely, he did not have the funds for his education. Many turned to outside means to support their schooling. I suppose Mrs. Warren held no knowledge of her husband’s propensity to handle stolen goods.”

  Carter scowled. “I cannot imagine Lucinda Warren would tolerate her fiancé making his way in school in such a manner. They were betrothed from birth, and Warren was several years her senior. I hold a strong suspicion the lady learned of Captain Warren’s nature after their vows were pronounced, but she has shared nothing of his continuing his thieving ways after joining the military. The captain served under her father during the Peninsular campaign. If Colonel Rightnour had known of such actions from one of his officers, I am certain the colonel would have called his son in marriage up on charges. Rightnour was known to be a stickler for protocol. From what I know of Warren, he was very possessive of his wife, and she suffered from the lack of freedom.”

  “Was not Rightnour the man you replaced at Waterloo? Does Mrs. Warren know what happened in Belgium?”

  Carter’s frown lines deepened. “I do not think the lady is aware of my disapproval of what occurred on the
battlefield. She was in Brussels with Rightnour, but I assume she was too distraught to recognize her father’s error during that last siege from the French.”

  Hutton added, “Do you not find it ironic that years later, you meet the daughter of the man who made such a blunder in England’s most important battle to date?”

  Carter gave himself a mental shake before continuing the introductions. “Monroe. Mrs. Warren. It is with the greatest pleasure I offer you the acquaintance of my brother, Lawrence Lowery, Lord Hellsman, and future Baron Blakehell, and his wife Lady Hellsman.”

  Courtesies followed. For the next hour, he enjoyed how Bella easily maneuvered Lucinda from Monroe’s notice. With amusement, he thought it would be interesting to watch Louisa’s manipulations thwarted by Bella. “And how long have you known Mrs. Warren?” Law asked suspiciously as they stood together upon the balcony. Louisa had ushered Bella to her quarters, and Monroe had joined McLauren at the stables, while Mrs. Warren had called upon Simon in the nursery.

  “Some fifteen months,” he admitted. “I took her acquaintance at the Come Out for Lady Worthing. Thornhill had known her late husband, Captain Warren, and the duke shamelessly used the lady to make Miss Aldridge jealous.”

  “Oh, yes. I recall when we attended Thornhill’s wedding breakfast, Lady Worthing made reference to another woman.” Law said cautiously, “Mrs. Warren certainly has not the look of the duchess.”

  Carter knew he had said too much as soon as the words left his lips. “The lady is more beautiful than the duchess. Mrs. Warren has a kind heart and a quick mind to support her handsome countenance.”

  His brother, thankfully, made no comment, but he did ask, “And why is the lady now your responsibility?”

  Carter had shared bits of Mrs. Warren’s life with McLauren, but he judged it best to speak only to the urgency of protecting the woman. “Someone has made several attempts to harm the lady. Without family as protection, Mrs. Warren sought Thornhill’s assistance.”

  “And the duke, naturally, placed the woman into your most capable hands for Thornhill fears his wife’s sharp tongue.” Law drew his own conclusions.

  Carter chuckled lightly. “That is your summation, dear Brother. I would not venture such an opinion about Thornhill. The man’s pride might result in our meeting at Putney Heath at dawn.”

  “Come,” Law directed Carter’s steps toward the drawing room. “Over supper, I mean to learn more of your Mrs. Warren.”

  Everything had gone well over the casually constructed meal until Louisa announced, “I have spoken to Lord McLauren and have obtained my husband’s permission to host a small supper party at week’s end. It is not often both my brothers are in residence at Maryborne at the same time, and I mean to take advantage. I am quite proud of the Lowery men.”

  Law ventured, “Lady Hellsman and I planned to travel to Blake’s Run before that time.”

  Louisa dismissed his objection with a fluttering wrist. “Then why bother to tarry in Lincolnshire at all?” she argued. “No one of polite Society would spend less than a week at a relative’s home.”

  McLauren chuckled. “Surrender, Hellsman. You lived with Louisa some twenty years, and you should know, as well as the next man, when your sister sets her mind to a plan, we all stand aside to permit Louisa her head.”

  Lawrence asked, “What say you, Bella?”

  “Monday shall be soon enough to return to Derbyshire, but no more, Lawrence. I sorely miss my father, and I mean to call upon my grandfather before the weather turns foul again.”

  Carter enjoyed how Arabella had accepted Louisa’s maneuverings, but had also placed limitations on how much she would tolerate. He suspected his “sisters” would have multiple disagreements over the coming years. He liked the idea. Louisa had had her way too often, and she required a good set down from time to time.

  “And what of you, Mrs. Warren?” Louisa asked pointedly. His eldest sister meant to circumvent any objections Carter might hold to her plan by placing the lady upon a pincushion.

  “I am at Sir Carter’s disposal,” Mrs. Warren murmured, but Carter noted the panic in her eyes. “But I would ask your permission, Lady McLauren, to remain with the children that evening.”

  “Nonsense,” Louisa declared. “A hostess must maintain an equal number of males and females for a successful service.”

  Mrs. Warren pleaded, “Surely there is another female in the neighborhood…”

  Carter leaned closer. “I will send a rider to Huntingborne for appropriate clothing,” he whispered.

  She hissed, “I own nothing grand enough.”

  He nodded his understanding, but he said, “We would be pleased for the company, Louisa.” Beneath the table’s cloth, he caught Lucinda’s hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

  When the men joined the ladies in the drawing room, Carter motioned Bella to the side. “Mrs. Warren is in need of your assistance,” he said softly. “She requires a gown for Louisa’s supper.”

  Bella nodded her agreement. “I recall how thankful I was to discover Delia’s lovely gowns fit me after my unexpected dip in Blake Run’s tarn.” Bella glanced to where Mr. Monroe entertained the lady with tales of the Chinese ship they had overtaken. Carter would again emphasize to the man the necessity for secrecy. “The lady is a bit taller than I, but I have a lovely gown I think would do her well.”

  Carter smiled easily. “I knew you would save the evening. Thank you, Bella.”

  She laid her hand on his arm. “Permit me to make the offer rather than have the lady assume you have assumed pity for her.”

  He shot a quick glance to where Mrs. Warren sank quietly into the cushions. “I admit I am at sixes and sevens.” Carter had taken an immediate liking to Arabella Tilney; they had known a comfortable familiarity from the beginning of their acquaintance. “At Lady Worthing’s Come Out ball, Mrs. Warren outshone many of Society’s finest, but since our reacquaintance, I have noted how the lady’s confidence has waned. Do you suppose Captain Warren dealt his wife a disservice? One in which she never knew how to respond? Thornhill mentioned an incident when he had served along side Warren several years back, but the duke assumed the situation had been an aberration. I am no longer so certain.”

  Bella squeezed his arm. “I shall attempt to become the lady’s confidant, but I shall only share her thoughts if you mean to be Mrs. Warren’s champion.”

  Carter considered the concept and found no apparent misgivings. “If the lady requires a champion, I would offer my services.”

  For two days, Carter had observed Louisa’s elaborate manipulations. His sister placed Mrs. Warren beside Monroe during meals, had asked the gentleman to escort Mrs. Warren and Bella into the village, and had arranged an impromptu picnic for her, the couple, and the children upon the front lawns. With each event, Carter had searched the lady’s countenance for evidence of Mrs. Warren’s pleasure in the acquaintance. What he discovered disturbed him greatly. Mrs. Warren had smiled at all the appropriate times, but other than the lady’s interactions with Simon, her countenance spoke of despair. The knowledge of her pain ripped at his heart. He wished to find a means to change her steps–to set them aright.

  “Law has volunteered you to serve as my and Mrs. Warren’s escort this afternoon,” Arabella announced over breakfast on Thursday.

  Carter spoke over his shoulder as he filled a second plate with toast, bacon, and kippers, one of his favorite foods. Louisa had made a point of serving them just for him. “And where are we off to today, Ladies?”

  Bella kept the floor. “We are in need of a bit more lace for Mrs. Warren’s gown for Louisa’s supper.”

  Carter noted how the lady blushed, but he pretended not to see. “A very worthy cause,” he said in a good-natured taunt. “It has been too long since I have been on a lace hunt. Should I bring out the hounds?”

  Bella struck his shoulder with her folded serviette. “As I ride to the hounds as well as you, Sir, you shall regret your levity.”

  Carter l
aughed lightly. He leaned down to place a kiss on Bella’s forehead. “That you do, my Dear. I must choose my taunts more carefully.”

  Bella smiled easily, “You are a gracious loser, Carter. So, we may depend upon your goodwill?”

  “It will be my pleasure, but why has my brother bowed from the task?”

  Bella rolled her eyes. “Some pressing estate business. I swear, Carter, I will not have my husband return to the man he was prior to our joining.”

  “Stand your ground, Bella. Law deserves success, but not to the point it robs him of the first happiness he has ever known.”

  Lucinda listened to the easy exchange between Sir Carter and his brother’s wife. She wondered what it would be to have a large family, one where all the others made her business theirs. She could not quite stifle her sigh of envy.

  Because she had arrived with the baronet, his family had opened their arms to her. It was an invigorating feeling to have others interested in her opinions and her happiness, and Lucinda fought hard not to become too comfortable with the baronet’s family. Their acceptance of her was an illusion, one to be snatched away when he had discovered the truths of Simon’s parenthood and of her marriage.

  However, Lucinda would easily admit she thoroughly enjoyed her time with Arabella Lowery. Sometimes she felt they could be life-long friends. In three short days, they had taken to finishing each other’s sentences. Their tastes in clothes and foods were so similar Lucinda knew true amazement. Lady Hellsman was the sister she had never known–that special friend of which her life as the only child of a famous military leader and later of a soldier’s wife had robbed her.

  “Bella tells me you have chosen a gown for Louisa’s party,” Sir Carter said softly as he seated himself beside her.

  Lucinda glanced to where Lady Hellsman gave the footman specific instructions on how she wished her eggs prepared. She suspected the lady was with child, but Bella had yet to share her news, and so Lucinda had kept her own counsel. “Your brother’s wife is wonderfully gracious. She has offered me the use of one of her gowns, and her maid Lizzie has made the necessary adjustments. I cannot thank her or you enough.”