The Earl's Scandalous Wife

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “No. I haven’t had the need to.”

  “So you might be good at it and not even know it. That’s how it was for Catherine.”

  Maybe she could draw well. Maybe she couldn’t. Either way, she didn’t think Claire would invite her to go with her and Catherine if Perry found out about her past and cast her away in the country so he wouldn’t have to bear the shame of being in London with her.

  “Are you and Perry leaving for the country soon?” Claire asked.

  “Yes. After tomorrow. We’ll attend the ball first.”

  “Nate and I had planned to leave already, but he wants to discuss a few investment ideas with a gentleman. Once he finishes up with business, we’ll be leaving.”

  “Are the others already gone?”

  “You mean Christopher, Agatha, Catherine, and Ethan?”

  Paula nodded.

  “Yes.” She chuckled. “Between you and me, I think Christopher wants to have Agatha all to himself.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  “It is, isn’t it?”

  “Speaking of Christopher, do you think he’s changed? Perry said he used to get into trouble a lot.” She hesitated to add that Perry still thought he had a wicked streak in him despite all outward appearances.

  “Christopher’s motives have always been good, even if he didn’t know how to best act on them. I think people look at Christopher and only see what’s on the surface. There’s much more to him than what appears. He’s probably more honorable than a lot of us imagine.”

  She had suspected as much. “So his past hasn’t destroyed his future?”

  “I should say not. He and Agatha are happy, and in the end, that’s all that matters.”

  “Agatha must be an understanding person.”

  “Either that or a part of her enjoys the slightly mischievous side in her husband.”

  “Perry doesn’t though.”

  “I suspect that’s because Christopher finds ways to irritate him on purpose. But he loves him. He may never say it, but he’s shown it in his actions. He took Christopher in when Christopher was young and he always did what was best for him. I think it’s because Perry didn’t give up on him that Christopher didn’t become a rake. He might have wanted others to believe he was a rake, but he wasn’t. Like I said, what you see isn’t what you get. Sometimes people surprise you.” She stood up and gestured to the path that curved around some trees. “Would you like to walk with me?”

  Paula rose to her feet. “Yes. Tell me about Agatha, Catherine, and Ethan.”

  As Claire did, the two headed for the trees.

  ***

  When Paula returned to the townhouse, she went to her bedchamber and opened the reticule resting on her vanity. She pulled out the twenty pounds and stared at it. She didn’t have to resort to stealing anymore. There had to be another way she could satisfy her brother’s demands.

  Steadying her breath, she put the reticule back on the vanity then walked over to the door that connected her bedchamber with Perry’s. She pressed her ear to it and waited. Nothing. It was silent. Good. Maybe he hadn’t returned from White’s yet.

  Just to be sure he wasn’t in, she knocked on the door. No response. She slowly turned the knob and nudged the door open. With a glance around the bedchamber, she saw that she was alone. Relieved, she opened the door all the way and stepped into the room. All she had to do was put the money back into the box.

  Maybe she’d take one of the necklaces Perry bought her and sell it to that merchant. Even if he didn’t give her the full amount for it, she could easily get the extra twenty. Yes. That was a much better plan. Then she’d be selling her own things to pay her brother off instead of stealing from Perry.

  She made it to the desk and placed the money in the box. Just as she shut the lid, the door to his bedchamber opened and she stilled. Maybe it would be the valet who came to get Perry’s clothes ready for dinner. But she didn’t have any such luck, not when she heard the familiar sound of a cane tapping the floor. She shoved the box into the drawer and tried to be quiet about shutting it before he could see her.

  “Paula, what are you doing here?” he asked.

  She couldn’t tell if he sounded bewildered or not but hoped that was the case since she didn’t want to think he was angry with her. “Perry, I can explain,” she replied, struggling to think of something—anything—she might say that would make sense as to why she was right by his desk. Nothing came to mind. She was guilty. And worse than that, she’d been caught.

  He waited for her to continue, his eyes patient, his expression open to whatever she had to say.

  She released her breath and ventured, “I needed twenty pounds.” There. It was the truth. Maybe not the complete truth, but it was better than an outright lie.

  He went over to the desk and took the box out of the drawer. “We’re married. Anything I have belongs to you.” He pulled out twenty pounds and held it out to her. “You have nothing to fear. It’s yours to take.”

  She stared at the money for a long moment, hardly believing her ears. “You want me to take it after I came in here and stole it?”

  His eyebrows furrowed, he counted the money in the box. “The full amount is here.”

  “I took the twenty pounds out this morning after you left for White’s.”

  “So you came in here to return it?”

  She shifted from one foot to another and nodded. Might as well admit that part, too.

  “It’s all right,” he softly told her. “You can come in here any time you want and take whatever you need. We could even get you a box to put money in so you don’t have to come here. Here.” He indicated to the twenty pounds. “Take it.”

  Despite her hesitation, she accepted it. “Thank you.”

  “When we return next year, I’ll get you a box and put money in it.” His fingers brushed her cheek and he kissed her. “It’s all right.” With a chuckle, he added, “Stop worrying about it.”

  She should be relieved. She got the money and did it with him knowing about it. But she wasn’t. Deep in her gut, she still knew what she was doing was wrong. And there didn’t seem to be any way that she could make it right.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The following evening, Perry’s valet helped him put on his double-breasted wool frock coat then handed him his gloves and hat. “Will there be anything else, my lord?”

  “No, thank you. You may retire for the evening.”

  After his valet left, Perry checked his reflection in the mirror and thought over what he was going to say at the ball. Nate’s advice was the best recourse. He had to lure Stewart to his country estate somehow.

  Clearing his throat, he stared at his reflection, pretending he was looking at Stewart. “Would you delight Paula and me by coming to Blackburn?”

  No. That sounded awful.

  He took a deep breath and tried again. “Since you’re Paula’s brother, it’s only right you stay for a while at Blackburn.”

  No. That didn’t sound good either.

  He closed his eyes for a moment. Opening them, he said, “Stewart, I’d be remiss if I didn’t invite you to visit Blackburn for a couple weeks. I’d like a chance to get to know my wife’s brother better without the distractions found in London.”

  That was better.

  With a nod, he took his cane and left his bedchamber. Just as he turned to head for the stairs, Paula’s bedchamber door opened. This evening she wore a blue gown that seemed to shimmer in the candlelight. “You’re beautiful in your new dress,” he said.

  She looked up from the doorknob as she closed the door. “Anyone would be beautiful in this dress. It’s gorgeous.”

  “Don’t be so modest, Paula. You’re the one who makes the dress worth looking at. But I didn’t expect you to be ready so soon. I thought I’d be waiting for a half hour for you in the drawing room.”

  “I started getting ready early.”

  “Well, I suppose it doesn’t hurt to take a nice ride through town
before we go to the ball since we’ll be on our way to Blackburn tomorrow.”

  She strolled up to him and slipped her arm around his. “I can’t wait.”

  Chances were, she wouldn’t be thinking that when she realized he invited her brother to their estate, but he’d deal with that if her brother agreed to come out. If not, then there was no point in telling her.

  After he reassured her that everything would be all right, he escorted her to the carriage and they took a nice, leisurely ride. He held her hand, thinking that his touch would comfort her as it had in the past. But she kept fidgeting and glancing at her finger purse.

  It didn’t occur to him why the finger purse was so important to her until he recalled the twenty pounds. As much as he wanted to open it and find out if she was carrying that money with her, he stood a greater advantage by pretending to be oblivious to everything.

  They arrived at the ball in due time, and he offered to dance with her. Though she accepted, he sensed her mind was on other things. She kept scanning the large ballroom. He was tempted to follow her gaze but managed to refrain.

  When the dance ended, she waved to someone. This time, he did look over his shoulder, but he couldn’t figure out who she was waving to. “I should talk to an old friend while I have the chance,” she said, turning back to him. “Do you mind?”

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t mind.” This friend was probably her brother, and since he didn’t see her brother where she’d been looking, he guessed she was going to search for him. Maybe he’d find Stewart first. “Go on and talk to your friend. I’ll see who else is here.”

  Though she seemed relieved he hadn’t put up an argument, he sensed her reluctance to leave him. He watched her as she walked away until she passed enough people so that he couldn’t see her anymore. Turning his attention to the gentlemen in the room, he searched for her brother. But within a minute, someone was calling out his name.

  Even before he looked at the gentleman, he knew it was Lord Pennella. Hiding his grimace, he stopped, leaning on his cane so he wouldn’t hurry off to get away from him. He had thought by now Pennella had left London, but here he was, still slithering around to annoy as many people as possible.

  Forcing his tone to remain polite, he said, “I already told you Christopher didn’t tell someone who works at the Tittletattle about the wager you and Davenport made at White’s. Christopher might be guilty of many things, but he wouldn’t betray a secret.”

  “I know he did it, and I know who he told.”

  “Then all your problems have been resolved.”

  Perry made a move to leave, but Pennella stepped in front of him. “That ward of yours has caused me a lot of difficulty, and this wasn’t the first time.”

  “He’s no longer my ward. He’s a married gentleman now.”

  “But he is still your cousin and will inherit your title if you don’t get an heir.”

  With a sigh, he glanced around the room. At this rate, he’d never get to talk to Paula’s brother.

  ***

  Once Paula reached the corner of the large room, she opened her finger purse and took out the folded missive her brother had sent that morning. Now that she was here, she could follow his instructions. He told her to go down the corridor off the east side of the room, pass three doors and take the fourth one, saying it was small enough where no one would find them. How he could know no one would find them, she didn’t know, but even if someone did, all she had to do was find another way to give him the money.

  She folded the paper back up and put it back in her finger purse. All right. Now that she was here, she could find the east corridor. Her gaze went to it and she took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She could do it. This would be the last time she’d have to see her brother before she left for Blackburn. And next year… Well, she’d deal with it when the time came.

  Her gaze traveled the room, making sure no one was watching her as she wove her way through the guests. Perry was on the other side of the room. From the looks of it, he didn’t seem to be enjoying his conversation with a gentleman she didn’t recognize. Whatever the matter was, she hoped the gentleman wasn’t giving him a difficult time.

  She had to find her brother. Nothing was going to get done until she took care of business. Gripping her finger purse, she hurried over to the corridor and rushed down it. She found the little room he mentioned and slipped into it, surprised by how dim it was when the others were so bright with all the candles that decorated the place.

  “Stewart?” she whispered.

  All she had to do was give him the money she’d tucked into her finger purse and this horrible ordeal would be over.

  “Stewart?”

  She jerked when someone touched her arm. “Stewart,” she hissed and spun around. But instead of her brother, Daniel stood before her.

  ***

  “You can’t intimidate me into giving you money,” Perry finally told Pennella when he’d had enough. “Whatever qualms you have with my cousin, you’ll have to work it out with him. I’m no longer responsible for anything he does. If you bother me about this in the future, I’ll have you removed from White’s.” When Pennella opened his mouth to protest, he added, “Don’t doubt for a minute that I don’t have enough leverage with the other gentlemen to make it happen.”

  Pennella closed his mouth, a silent acknowledgment that Perry did, indeed, have more influence among the members than he did.

  Tapping his cane on Pennella’s leg, Perry said, “If you’ll excuse me, I have something worthwhile to do.”

  Pennella moved aside, so Perry passed him. Few times had anyone pushed him to the point of making such a threat regarding White’s, and he had a nagging suspicion Paula’s brother wouldn’t be any more pleasant to deal with once he figured out what was going on.

  He found Stewart dancing with a lady and remained still, patiently waiting for the music to end. He glanced around the room but didn’t see Paula. She could be anywhere in such a large room with so many people enjoying their last ball before they left for the country. Turning his attention back to Stewart, he focused on him. Based on outward appearances, one would never suspect he needed careful watching.

  As the music came to an end, Perry hurried over to him. When he reached him, he offered him a smile, hoping it’d let the other gentleman’s guard down. “Mister Leighton, what a pleasure it is to see you again.”

  If Perry judged right, Stewart’s gaze darted from one end of the room to the other. Finally, he looked at Perry and gave him a wide smile. “Lord Clement, I didn’t realize you and my sister would be here.”

  The gentleman was as bad at lying as Paula was. Well, that only made his task easier. “She insisted we come tonight. She heard the music was the best in London and wanted to see the grand chandelier.” Though unnecessary, he motioned to the beautiful object hanging from the ceiling. “The least I could do was oblige her since after this we’ll be heading out to the country where she’ll likely grow bored. There’s not much to do there, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh, you don’t need to worry about Paula. She grew up in the country. She learned to find ways to pass the time.”

  He couldn’t be sure, but he thought Stewart gave a light smirk. “Perhaps. There are horses to ride. She might take delight in the gazebo or lake since she enjoys taking long walks. Of course, she’s likely to spend most of her time exploring the east and west wings of the manor. There’s so much room, a person could get lost if they wanted.”

  Stewart’s eyebrows rose in interest. “Oh?”

  “Yes.” Then to gauge his reaction further, Perry added, “Maybe she’ll enjoy spending hours going through the many possessions out there. Lots of valuable things.”

  As he suspected, Stewart seemed even more intrigued. Now things were beginning to make sense. The missing inkwell, the twenty pounds… Stewart was greedy. That being the case, it shouldn’t be too hard to set the bait.

  “I just had a thought,” Perry began. “Why don�
��t you come to the estate for a few days? Maybe even a couple weeks?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t impose.” Though he protested, the tone in his voice suggested he’d love nothing more.

  “It’s not an imposition. You’re Paula’s brother. She’d be disappointed if you didn’t go.”

  “Is that what she said?”

  “She didn’t have to. I was there that day she went to your townhouse. You heard her tell me she wanted to see you.”

  “Yes, she did say something to that effect.”

  “I insist you be our guest. She would never forgive me if you didn’t come out. There’s no use in arguing with me, Stewart. I won’t take no for an answer.”

  “I can’t say yes until I make sure I’m not needed in London. I’m a busy gentleman.”

  Perry gripped the head of his cane. So he wasn’t going to jump at the opportunity as he hoped. But he hadn’t said no either. He relaxed his grip and forced himself to relax. If he didn’t find out what was going on this winter, there was always next year. “Send a missive to Blackburn if you’re able to make it.”

  He turned to leave but Stewart called out, “Before you leave, I thought I might tell you a few amusing stories from Paula’s childhood. We never did have that brother-in-law discussion yet,” he said in a teasing tone with an underlying edge of panic.

  Was Stewart distracting him on purpose? Perry glanced around the room, still not seeing Paula anywhere. No, Stewart couldn’t be distracting him. Perry had been the one seeking him out, not the other way around. He was trying so hard to pick up clues that he was starting to see things that weren’t there. Paula would find him soon enough and since she wanted to give her brother the money, it wouldn’t be long before she found them.

  “Sounds interesting,” Perry told her brother. “Go on and tell me some of the amusing things she did as a child.”