by Amelia Grey
“Who have you been looking for?”
“Oh, never mind that, Uncle.” She smiled pleasantly at him. “You’ve already helped me come to some conclusions and I’m feeling better already. I think I was just overtired from the party, and for a few minutes I wasn’t thinking straight. But now I am. I must go home and sleep.”
“Mirabella, wait.” He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him.
His robe parted at his chest and his scarf fell away from his neck. Mirabella stared at a wide, raised scar. At first she couldn’t believe she was seeing it. She had wanted to see such a scar for so long that she thought she must be imagining it was there. Disbelief washed over her. Surely it couldn’t be on her uncle’s neck. She blinked but it wouldn’t go away.
“Who were you looking for?” her uncle asked again, clearly puzzled by the way she was looking at him. “Perhaps I can help you.”
Mirabella couldn’t breathe. God help her, she couldn’t move. She wanted to deny what was before her eyes, but she couldn’t. Her head was pounding. She had never suspected her uncle. Even now, she couldn’t believe he would be capable of seducing Sarah.
Her voice was no more than a whisper but she managed to say, “You? Uncle Archer? I’ve been searching for you.”
“What in the saints’ names are you saying, Mirabella? You’ve found me. Dear girl, you are overwrought. You’ve always known where to find me.”
She tried to calm her breathing, and to think clearly. “You were supposed to take me home from my party last night, but you didn’t come. Why?”
He cleared his throat. His eyes jerked nervously. “I was there, you must have missed me.”
Tension and anger built slowly, heavily in her chest, sapping her strength, making her legs weak. “No. I would remember seeing you. You never arrived.”
“Of course I did. There were so many people there, you don’t remember.”
“You are lying to me.”
“Mirabella,” he exclaimed, his eyes wide with indignation. “It’s not like you to be so disrespectful.”
“Do you want to know who I have been looking for these past weeks?” She advanced toward him with anger shaking her whole body. “I’ve been searching for a man with a wide, raised scar on the right side of his neck.”
He straightened his shoulders and tugged on the front of his robe, then fumbled with his scarf in an attempt to wrap it around his neck and hide the scar. “That sounds positively rude.”
“You must have somehow learned I was looking for a man with a scar, and you didn’t come last night because you didn’t want me to see your neck.”
He straightened his shoulders and fumbled with his scarf again. “It’s true I didn’t want to bare my shoulder in public. That is an uncivilized thing to do, but I know nothing about you looking for a man with a scar. Whatever would you do something like that for?”
“For Sarah.”
“What?” His eyes widened. His face flushed red. “Sarah? Clearly you are overwrought. I’m going to dress and take you home. You need a tonic. You’re obviously not feeling well.”
Mirabella’s stomach knotted. “I don’t feel well. I’m devastated that you are the man who defiled Sarah, left her with child and to make her own way in life. She chose death for her and her baby instead.”
“What? You—you’re going mad.”
“No. I’m right.” Her voice was surprisingly firm, and that renewed her courage. “Oh, Uncle, how could you do that to her? How could you make love to her and leave her with a child?”
“Mirabella, you don’t know what you are saying! That’s not true.”
“Don’t lie to me. Don’t! What you did to Sarah was bad enough. You are a vile, contemptible man.”
His shoulders reared back and the veins in his neck bulged. “How dare you say such things to me after I have treated you like a daughter?”
“But look how you treated Sarah. She was like a sister to me. You seduced her, and then abandoned her like a stray animal. You didn’t even offer to marry her or try to help her.”
“All right. Maybe I did have relations with her, but there was no force. She wanted me. She was very pleased with the attention I showed her.”
Mirabella shook her head in amazement. She could hardly look at Archer Hornbeck. “I don’t know why I couldn’t see you for who you are. I don’t know why Papa couldn’t see what a vile creature you are.”
“Sarah didn’t think so. I made her happy. She enjoyed my touch. She enjoyed the things I did to her.”
“No.” Mirabella cringed at his words and backed away from him.
“I made her happy. It’s not my fault she conceived. Women like her are supposed to know how to keep things like that from happening. No one else would have touched her, given the way she looked and no dowry to speak of. She enjoyed the small amount of love I gave her.”
Mirabella shook with rage. “Love? How dare you use that word?”
“Yes. I told her what she wanted to hear. She wanted to be loved. She wanted affection, and I gave it to her.”
“If you loved her why didn’t you marry her?”
“I didn’t say I loved her. Blue heavens! I didn’t. I only said I did because she loved me, and she wanted to hear me say it. I had no desire to marry her. I have to marry a lady of wealth. My own fortune is low, and I have to make a worthy match. Sarah offered no money.”
”You are despicable.”
“No, Mirabella, I am a man. That’s all. A man. She wanted affection, and I gave it to her. Love is the very reason you are here now. You want Lord Stonehurst to love you. Men know women want to hear those words, but for the life of me I can’t understand why.”
Revulsion mingled with hurt and anger inside Mirabella. “She would have been good to you. Loyal. She would have had your sons.”
“What would I want with a son and a wife whom no other man could bear to look at? I need money.”
“She called you Prince Charming in her diary, but you are a beast.”
“You can’t fault me on this, Mirabella. Sarah was not forced to accept my attentions, and during our time together she was happy. And I certainly have no idea what happened when she went to bed the night she died.”
“Happy? She died with a broken heart because of you. She killed herself and her baby so she wouldn’t bring shame on my father’s house.”
“No, I—”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know or at least suspect that she drank a tonic filled with laudanum.”
His eyes blinked rapidly. “I—I had no idea.”
Mirabella couldn’t stand to look at him. She wanted to be done with him completely and forever. “You lie again. You are not fit to be a part of this Society. I want you to leave Town immediately, or I will let it be known what you did.”
Sweat had popped out on his forehead. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, yes, I am. Dead serious. A few well-chosen words to Lady Portsmand, Duchess Bickerstaff, and Countess Vanlandingham should set in motion enough gossip to make the mamas keep their daughters away from you and make all the widows stay in hiding. They will help me see to it that you will never be welcome in anyone’s home.”
His eyes blazed and veins popped out on either side of his neck. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I promise I will. You not only betrayed Sarah, you betrayed my father’s trust. You either leave quietly and immediately, or I will not rest until you are ruined in Town.”
“And what if I spread the gossip about your indiscretions?” He pointed a short finger at her. “Have you forgotten that your reputation has already been called into question in the scandal sheets?”
“I have always known that could happen. I am prepared for it. My father would be greatly disappointed and hurt, but I know he would not abandon me the way you deserted Sarah. I will be well cared for and loved.”
“And what about Lord Stonehurst, this man you claim to love. I doubt he will want to marry you if he hears all I have he
ard about you.”
“You cannot frighten me with that. Camden knows everything about me. I have not hidden anything from him.”
Mirabella’s confidence grew even stronger. Camden knew all her faults, and he still wanted to marry her. He had told her he loved her. Why had she doubted that? Camden was handsome, titled. He did not have to marry her for money. If he were just after money, there were a dozen young ladies who would gladly bear his name.
Archer picked up the tail of his scarf and nervously wiped the moisture from his face. “Now who is the one lying, my dear girl? Does he know that you have kissed more than a handful of beaux?”
“I have nothing to hide from him, and I will freely tell him anything about me that he wants to know. Now, I’ll have your word that you will leave before this week ends, or I will begin my campaign immediately.”
“No, you can’t do this.” Archer grabbed for her but Mirabella spun away from him.
“You dare to touch me, and my father will not rest until you are in prison. If you want to maintain any kind of acceptable lifestyle, leave now.”
Archer hesitated for a moment but backed away. “Very well. I’ve had enough of London anyway. Perhaps Paris is more suited to my taste.”
Mirabella didn’t wait to hear more. She was shaking so badly she could hardly stand. She turned and walked out of the house and straight into the arms of Camden. He hugged her tight to him for a moment before setting her away from him.
“Mirabella, never leave our bed without waking me. I’ve been worried about you. You’re trembling. Are you all right?”
She took a deep breath and looked into Camden’s eyes. She saw the same concern she’d seen that first night they met and her heart warmed toward him. He had always worried about her reputation. Even now he wouldn’t hold her in public for fear of causing a scandal.
“Yes, I am. I’m going to be fine now.”
“Have you seen Mr. Hornbeck? Your father said he wasn’t home earlier.”
“Yes, I’ve seen him.” She looked back at the house and asked, “How did you know I was here? When did you talk to my father?”
“He came to my house looking for you when you didn’t come home this morning.”
Apprehension gripped her. “You didn’t tell him about us, did you?”
He smiled at her and slowly tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Of course not, but I did have a difficult time explaining what your mask was doing on my foyer table.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. You saved my reputation once again.”
“Mirabella, I know who has the scar. Your father told me Mr. Hornbeck has one on his neck. I believe he is the man you seek.”
Mirabella moistened her lips and exhaled deeply. A carriage passed by, but she didn’t bother to look at it. “You are right. Why did you tell Papa about Sarah?”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t betray your confidence in me, my love. I only asked about a scar when I realized we saw everyone last night but Hornbeck. Obviously you figured it out before I did.”
She liked the sound of the praise and admiration she heard in his voice. “No, I saw the scar by accident. His neckcloth was hanging loose, and I saw it just now while I was talking to him.”
“Please tell me you have not confronted him.”
“I have.”
“It was dangerous for you to come to face him with this by yourself.”
“I didn’t come to confront him about Sarah. I had something else on my mind, and I saw the scar by accident. I would have never thought of Uncle—Mr. Hornbeck.”
Camden’s brow furrowed. He took hold of her upper arms and pulled her close. She allowed herself to melt against him and enjoy a moment of his warmth before she backed away from him.
“Did he try to harm you?” Camden asked.
“No, nothing like that.” Mirabella paused while a young lady and her companion walked past them on the street in front of the house. When they were a safe distance away, she continued, “All things considered, our conversation was civil. He’s going to leave Town and go to Paris.”
Camden’s eyes brightened with approval. “Good. You took care of everything. I’m impressed by your fortitude.”
“Thankfully, I had to say very little. He said he was tired of London anyway.”
“Why did you come to see him before going home?”
Mirabella didn’t want any more secrets between them. She reached into the pocket of his coat and said, “Because of this.” She handed him the paper. “I thought I wanted to talk to Uncle—Mr. Hornbeck about it, but when I got here I realized I didn’t. You are the only one who can explain this.”
Camden looked down at the paper only long enough to see what it was. His eyes met Mirabella’s and didn’t waver. “You have always known my family is in need of money, and I am trying to raise cash to help them.”
“I know, but until this morning we only talked of staying engaged, not marrying. I hate to admit to any weakness, but I think I was suddenly conflicted.”
“About marrying me?”
She didn’t hesitate to tell him the truth. “Thinking you only wanted to marry me to obtain money quickly.”
“I don’t need money from you, Mirabella. I have handled my parents’ finances, and we will be fine until I receive the money from America. Didn’t you believe me when I told you I loved you?”
“Yes, at the time. Then I saw this in your coat pocket, and I wondered if you only told me those things so that I would marry you immediately.”
His eyes narrowed and searched her face. “After what we shared, did you really have so little faith in me?”
“Only for a short time. I do believe you love me as I am in love with you. I want to marry you, Camden, and be a good and devoted wife to you.”
He stepped very close to her. “Hear me well, Mirabella. I love you today. I loved you yesterday, and I will love you tomorrow. I would never marry you for money. My family will have money as soon as my stake in the Maryland company is sold.”
“Camden, I didn’t want to doubt you. I must have been too tired and overwrought about the party and Prince Charming to think properly.”
“And you still are. I see you are dead on your feet. Come, and let’s get you home to rest and see your father. He’s worried about you.”
“Oh, I know I need to tell Papa everything.”
“No. I don’t think it’s necessary to tell him any more than we must. Mirabella, I’m glad you found Prince Charming and have avenged Sarah by forcing Hornbeck to leave London. I’ve said it before, but I mean it more now. You are a woman of rare courage to take on the task you did.”
“Thank you for all your help, Camden. I would not have found him without your help.”
“Me?” He frowned. “I did nothing. And I arrived too late to help today.”
“You believed in me. You didn’t forsake me when I went beyond the pale. I love you,” she whispered with all the love in her heart.
He smiled at her. “You are my true love, Mirabella, and, as soon as I get you in the privacy of my carriage, I’m going to show you how much I love you.”
Epilogue
Marriage for The Viscount And Scandal for The Earl
Hmm. Where to begin? There was an elegant madness to the night. Delicious tales continue to trickle in from the masked ball of the year. Most assuredly nothing can top the fact that the very day after the toga ball, the hostess’s father applied for a special license and Miss Mirabella Whittingham is now Viscountess Stonehurst. Hmm. One has to wonder what happened to cause their haste to wed, when both bride and groom had declared they would not marry before next spring. Could it be that her daringly low-cut toga slipped off her other shoulder? Hmm.
But the latest delicious morsel of a tale involves Albert Farebrother, the Earl of Glenbrighton. It seems his mistress took it upon herself to defy a strict unwritten protocol and attend the masked ball. No doubt she expected to go unnoticed. All was well until someone, we wo
n’t give away our secret sources, mentioned her presence to the Countess. The Countess marched up to the paramour, who was talking to the Earl at the time, and threw a glass of champagne into the mistress’s face. Having not a drop of champagne left to fling at her husband, the quick thinking Countess quickly dipped her glass into a nearby birdbath and splashed his face with the drink of birds. One has to admire the Countess’s aplomb during the unfortunate incident. But which one will be the first to show their face in Society again? Hmm. One has to wonder what was said in that house later that evening. Do tell if you hear anything.
—Lord Truefitt, Society’s Daily Column
“You are beautiful, Mirabella, but never more so than by candlelight.”
Mirabella looked up from the scandal sheet she had been reading to see her husband walking into the bedroom of the small town house they had rented. She laid the newsprint on the table.
She smiled at him and said, “Good evening, my lord husband.”
“And to you, my lady. I’m sorry to be later than I said I would, but I made a trip by Hornbeck’s house. It’s been cleaned out. He’s gone.”
A sad relief washed over her. “It’s for the best. I didn’t relish what I would have had to do to him.”
“But I have no doubt you would have accomplished it. That’s why I made sure he was gone.”
“Thank you, Camden. I can finally put Sarah and Archer Hornbeck behind me.”
“I’m very happy about that. I see you are already dressed for bed. How very nice.” He pulled on the white ribbon that held the neckline of her night rail together and let the bodice fall open. He bent his head and kissed the swell of her breasts.
Mirabella wound her arms around his neck. “I’m glad you are home.”
He smiled at her and said, “You are an eager wife.”
“I have reason to be, my lord. You do know just how to please me.”
He laughed against her skin. “I’m a fortunate man to have such a willing lady waiting at home for me.”