by Lucy Langton
“Indeed, My Lord. Mrs. Denton’s children are all grown and left the nest. She will make for a very good nurse for the babe,” Mr. Burg said in a very reassuring voice.
All Marcus could think to do was nod as he returned to his study and sat heavily down in his chair. He picked up the rest of his brandy and drank it down, wondering what in the world he was going to do next.
He was an unmarried man now in the possession of his brother’s bastard. Marcus knew he would need to speak to Aunt Daniella about the matter. She was his own living relative and would surely know what to do with the child. After all, it was certain that he couldn’t a raise a child.
Chapter 3
Marcus couldn’t help but look down at the small bundle in Mrs. Denton’s arms. Beth was sleeping well, despite being up all night. The housekeeper looked exhausted, though she had a bright smile on her face as she cradled the babe in her arms and talked sweet nothings to her.
Marcus smirked, thinking that Mrs. Denton had become a good mothering figure for the child when it seemed that Beth had no one else to rely on. With them was also a wet nurse who spoke very little.
When the carriage came to a stop outside a large townhouse that had been fashionably designed a decade ago with Roman pillars and a white façade, Marcus was quick to step down from the carriage and walk hastily to the front door. The last thing he wanted was for nosey people to eye him with a child and make an assumption. The number one thing he detested about Town was how quickly a rumour could spread when the rumour was often false and rather scandalous.
Aunt Daniella’s butler was quick to answer the door and allow them to enter, showing Marcus to the sitting room. Mrs. Denton joined him, and the wet nurse waited in the entryway by the door until she was summoned. Marcus was content that the butler would see to her needs if she had any.
Left alone in the sitting room to wait, Marcus paced back and forth while Mrs. Denton took a seat, holding the child close to her bosom and ever keeping a watchful eye on the babe. He was thankful for the housekeeper’s dedication, and as it would seem, the very soft spot in her heart for babies.
Marcus’ observations were interrupted by the sound of a cane striking the polished marble floor. He turned and witnessed his aunt coming into the room, dressed in an emerald gown that was more fitting for dinner parties than the early morning.
“I did not expect a visit from you so soon, nor so early in the day,” Lady Evergreen said as she stepped into the room and neared Marcus, allowing him to kiss her hand by way of greeting and respect.
“Like most things, Aunt Daniella, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need something. Please, read this letter so you may understand why I’m here with a babe,” Marcus said as he removed Beth’s letter from the inside of his vest and handed it to his aunt. She peered past Marcus at Mrs. Denton, the child still resting easily.
“Have you sired a child, Marcus?” Lady Evergreen asked as she read the letter.
“No, but it seems Martin had. Mr. Burg, my butler, already confirmed that Miss Anne was a maid in his household that he had relations with,” Marcus explained. Lady Evergreen folded the letter, her lips thinning as she gave it back to Marcus and stepped around him to face Mrs. Denton.
“And do you confirm such allegations?” Lady Evergreen asked the woman.
“Yes, Your Ladyship. The late earl was intimate with Miss Anne. Once the truth was discovered by a close acquaintance of the late earl, I had to let her go to save the earl’s reputation,” Mrs. Denton said.
“Is the child well?” Lady Evergreen asked then.
“She appears to be. Miss Beth has been eating rather well, and her cloth is soiled in the normal fashion. Aye be expecting a grandchild of my own in a few months, so I am happy to help out in preparation for a wee little one of my own,” Mrs. Denton said happily.
“You are a good woman, Mrs. Denton. The earl is truly lucky to have you. However,” Lady Evergreen said as she turned back to Marcus, “you cannot rely on servants and maids to raise the child for you. It is vital that you provide a real mother for the babe. One who will be nurturing and who will be able to raise her like a proper lady.”
Marcus couldn’t help but scoff as he ran his fingers through his hair, thinking this would have been the last thing his aunt would have suggested.
“You can’t be serious, Aunt. What woman in her sane mind would marry me knowing that I have a child, who is not mine, and expect her to raise it for me? What woman could be available to marry so quickly as to cover up this entire scandal?” Marcus asked, his voice full of sarcasm and disbelief.
“Miss Catherine Hall,” Lady Evergreen said simply. So serious was her tone that Marcus thought he had misheard the woman as his mind moved quickly to remember who his aunt was even referring to.
“Do you mean your companion?” Marcus asked for clarification.
“I most certainly do. Miss Hall, as I mentioned yesterday, is of noble birth. She is very familiar with working with children, and if I do say so myself, would make a loving mother and an obedient wife.”
Marcus didn’t know what to say. First, he was being forced to raise a child because his conscious wouldn’t allow him to deliver the child to the orphanage when he could very well hire others to care for Beth. And now, his aunt was suggesting that the only way forward was to marry.
“You can’t be serious,” Marcus said as he started to pace once more. “Eventually word is going to spread that I have a child. If I marry and appear with both my wife and the child, it will seem as though the only reason I married was because I impregnated Miss Hall. I see this solution as only causing more problems.”
“Marry in a few days, be seen with her in public, then retire to the country. By next Season, you can return to Town with both a wife and child and no one will be the wiser. You can claim the child as your own and save your reputation in the process.” Lady Evergreen then settled down into the chair next to Mrs. Denton, resting both hands on her cane as she peered down at the child.
“Have you even held her yet?” Lady Evergreen then asked.
“What? No…I didn’t even think to do so,” Marcus said, stopping suddenly as he looked towards his aunt, then at Beth.
“If you’re going to take responsibility for the child, then you also need to nurture your relationship. Don’t make her feel as though you are ashamed of her,” said his aunt.
“Aunt Danielle, she is a child. She certainly can’t comprehend these things,” Marcus reasoned.
“You’d be surprised what a baby can feel. Like your anxiety and worry. You should hold the child so she knows you’re not mad at her,” Lady Evergreen encouraged.
Marcus frowned, not really believing in his aunt’s logic. But knowing that his aunt could be a very stubborn woman until she received her way of things, Marcus reluctantly motioned towards Mrs. Denton to hand him the child. Even his housekeeper looked wary of the idea as she stood and handed the child to Marcus.
Having never held a baby before, he found the action rather awkward. He had trouble finding a good way to cradle the baby and support it at the same time. As Marcus struggled, he could tell that Beth was starting to wake up, causing him to panic even more because he found the babe rather enjoyable when it was sleeping.
“Support her head and back, My L,” Mrs. Denton instructed. “Rock your body from side to side so that she can feel safe and warm in your arms.”
“I don’t think she likes this,” Marcus admitted.
“That’s because she can sense you don’t know what you’re doing,” Lady Evergreen said with a chuckle. Even Mrs. Denton smirked at the comment as she used her hands to help Marcus support the child.
“That is because I truly do not,” Marcus admitted as he looked down at the scrunched-up face of Beth, knowing they were both in an undesirable position.
~*~
Catherine came down the stairs in search of her employer. She had just readied for the day and had gone to her bedchamber, only to find her already g
one. Thinking Lady Evergreen had simply woken early and had already gone down to the dining room for breakfast, Catherine made her way downstairs as well. But when she heard the small cries of what sounded like a baby, she stopped suddenly in the corridor and approached the sitting room.
“That is because I truly do not,” she heard a man say as she stepped into the open door of the sitting room and was surprised to see Lord Kingston standing there with a baby in his arms. A woman she had never seen before stood by his side, seeming to guide him as he struggled with holding the babe. But the bundle in his arms began to move and whimper until it appeared that Lord Kingston gave up the task and handed the child back to the woman.
Catherine couldn’t help but stand there and watch, trying to determine what was happening in front of her. Was the babe Lord Kingston’s? Or was it the woman’s and he was simply visiting? Lady Evergreen hadn’t mentioned that Lord Kingston had a child, so who did the babe belong to?
“Ah, Miss Hall. Thank you for finally joining us,” Lady Evergreen spoke up, pulling Catherine’s attention to her. She moved further into the sitting room and curtsied towards Lord Kingston before taking her place beside her employer, making sure to keep her eyes on the carpet for it was her duty to do so amongst Lady Evergreen’s visitors.
Catherine’s mind was racing as she sat down next to Lady Evergreen. She noticed that the woman was able to quiet the child once more and that she had returned to her own seat to hold the baby. She wondered if Lord Kingston had come to plead with her employer to take the child. How could a man who by all appearances seemed so honourable wish to be rid of such an innocent baby?
The idea caused a deep anger to rise up in Catherine’s heart. After all, when her parents had passed away, no one came to the aid of her and her brother. At least this child had options of a better life than what she was currently succumbing to.
“Miss Hall, you remember Lord Kingston from yesterday,” Lady Evergreen spoke up. Catherine was forced to look up at the earl and nod, knowing she shouldn’t speak unless asked to.
“This is his brother’s child, with the name of Beth. The child was delivered to Lord Kingston just yesterday. The poor man has come to ask my advice on the matter,” Lady Evergreen explained.
“You are not going to give up the child, are you?” Catherine asked Lord Kingston, knowing her question was very much out of place.
The earl smirked as he shook his head. “I cannot give her away without feeling the guilt for the rest of my life. She is literally all I have left of my brother. And with her mother having passed during childbirth, I feel responsible for her.”
Catherine sighed heavily, even closing her eyes for a moment as the relief washed over her.
“She is very lucky to have you,” Catherine said as she opened her eyes once more. “There are many children in her situation who are not so fortunate.” Lord Kingston simply nodded as he finally took to a chair, seeming to relax a bit although his body still appeared so stiff with tension.
“I have spoken to Lord Kingston about my ideas concerning the child. Though, I believe it would be best if he spoke to you about my ideas in a more private setting,” Lady Evergreen said. Catherine looked at her employer, confused by her cryptic words. The Countess was always quite straightforward and never afraid to speak her mind.
“If that is what My Lady wishes, then I shall do so,” Catherine replied obediently.
“Very good. I shall leave you two to the conversation. Mrs. Denton, I will have my butler show you to a private room as well so the child’s needs can be taken care of,” Lady Evergreen said as she slowly stood, leaning heavily on her cane.
Normally, Catherine would have assisted the older woman. But instead, she stayed rooted in her seat as she watched her employer walk out of the sitting room, followed by the woman carrying the babe. It was only when the sitting room doors were closed that Catherine finally turned her eyes toward the earl.
Chapter 4
Marcus wasn’t sure why he felt so nervous to be speaking to Miss Hall alone. He thought about his words for a second, hoping and praying this young woman would understand his perspective and that he couldn’t risk his reputation now that he was an earl. After taking a deep breath, he focused on Miss Hall’s beautiful blue eyes, thinking that at least she was a very attractive young woman.
“Miss Hall, my aunt has explained to me that my best option is to marry so that Beth has a proper mother and a stable home. I agree with my aunt that Beth shouldn’t be raised by servants and maids, but instead should be given a proper family,” Marcus explained.
“That is a suitable idea, Lord Kingston,” Miss Hall spoke up. She folded her hands in her lap and straightened her posture. Knowing a bit about her background, it was hard for Marcus to see her as a servant, but instead saw her as a proper lady.
“Tell me why you think the idea is suitable?” Marcus asked, his curiosity about the young lady rising to the forefront of his mind. He could speak to her about his proposition further along in their conversation.
“After spending time with the orphans, I think any child whose parents have passed away should be properly cared for by the most eligible family member. You are a man of means, Lord Kingston, and appear to have the ability to do so. And with Lady Evergreen’s sensible advice, she will certainly not steer you wrong,” she explained.
“Were you cared for when your parents passed?” Marcus asked, remembering what little his aunt had said about Miss Hall.
“For a short time, my needs were met,” Miss Hall said as she looked away from him and resumed looking at the carpet like servants often did.
“Then you were ousted by your brother?” Marcus pressed. Miss Hall looked up at him quickly, her brows furrowing as she did so.
“No, My Lord. My brother simply wasn’t prepared for his title at such a young age. I sought employment, knowing that it was my best option,” she said
“Surely it must be unbearable for someone of your nobility to serve underneath a countess. Did you not have any better prospects to claim?”
“I assure you, Lord Kingston, that I had very few options. It was either become a gentleman’s mistress or find employment.” She said the words so sternly, her bright blue eyes burning into his that Marcus felt sorry for the woman and her lot in life.
“You’ve taken the higher road, for sure,” Marcus said, wanting to commend the young lady some way for keeping her virtue intact when he was certain she’d be paid handsomely to be someone’s mistress.
“Miss Hall, the reason I ask so many questions is because of what my aunt suggests. I know that it is unlikely that many young women would consider me once I tell them that I am raising a child. So, since I feel I could offer you much in return, I would ask that you consider becoming my wife,” Marcus said, trying to keep eye contact with Miss Hall to appear more sincere than he felt.
She was clearly surprised as her eyes grew wide and her lips parted. For a moment he looked to her luscious lips, wondering what it would feel like to kiss her properly. The thought startled him because he hadn’t been attracted to a woman for so long, and he forced himself to look into her eyes once more while he waited for her reply.
“I’ll be frank with you, Lord Kingston,” she said after a few moments, “the thought of marriage has long escaped me. Once I entered into service for Lady Evergreen, I lost hope of ever marrying. Though I long for a family of my own, this is certainly not how I ever expected to be proposed to.” They both chuckled then, the tension in the air seeming to fade a bit. He was pleased to learn that Miss Hall had a sense of humour.
“My mother always taught me that I should accept the first proposal I was to receive,” she continued. “But I had these hopeless ideas of falling in love and marrying a man I could truly love all my days. Though I understand that the likelihood of such thing arising between two strangers is slim, I do think love is a vital part of a family unit.
“Therefore, I will agree to this match as long as you also agree
to be an active parent for Beth. It does a child good to know that she is loved by both parents and can rely on them no matter the situation.”