Lord Whitsnow and the Seven Orphans

by Em Taylor

He chuckled, grabbing her hand and kissing the palm. “Never without your consent, my love.”

  “Robert?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Are you very tired?”

  “No. Why do you ask?”

  “I want to do it again.”

  “So do I.”

  She looked down at his prick, giving it a little prod with her finger. It was soft and it just flopped away from her. Her disappointment must have shown on her face.

  “You know he needs recovery time. I told you before. But I’m happy to clean between your thighs in the meantime… with my tongue” He rolled her onto her back again and kissed down her belly until he got to the triangle of hair just above her most intimate place. He blew on it gently before he lifted her bottom and began to lick, suck and nibble at her until she thought she may have found heaven.

  Chapter 27

  Three days later, Lucy walked into the drawing room and three pairs of eyes settled on her.

  “She is fine,” she assured them. “She asked to see her new papa, but I told her she could see him in the morning.”

  “I would have gone to her,” Robert protested, standing and hurrying to Lucy’s side.

  “I know, my love, but she needs to sleep. You just make her giggle and waken her up fully.”

  “She was not laughing last time I saw her.”

  “Was she terribly upset?” asked Emily.

  Lucy sat down on a chaise opposite her sister-in-law and accepted the proffered cup of tea with relish.

  “She is confused as to why I did not tell her before that I am her real mama. And she has every right to be. I had no right to conceal the information from her. No child should be told they are an orphan when their mother is right there bringing them up.”

  “But you could hardly tell her it was because society would ostracise you.”

  “No. I told her it was unfair on the other orphans if she had a mama and they did not. It feels no better to lie to her on this score either.”

  “She is too young to understand, my love,” said Robert.

  “Mayhap. As it is, young Ben has already proved my point by bursting in to abject tears and asking if I can be his mama too. I am so sorry Robert. I… He was such a pathetic little creature. His nose was all wet and his big blue eyes were pleading. I said yes.”

  Robert placed an arm around Lucy’s shoulders. “This is why I do not have dogs. They burrow under your skin and before you know it, big soulful eyes mean you are feeding them your own meal. The boy is but a babe. He likely shall grow out of it and if he does not, well it is no one else’s business. Once they are old enough, they shall understand their places in the world.”

  “More is the pity.”

  “But what did you say about Eleanor’s father,” asked Emily.

  Robert sighed. “Nothing really. We said that now I was married to her mama, she could call me papa. Truly, without explaining the marriage bed, or copulation out of wedlock, it was rather difficult to explain how the story all fitted together. So we kept it simple. If she ever comes to us with questions, we will tell her the truth as far as her understanding of the world and the creation of children goes.”

  “That makes sense,” said Emily.

  “Glad you approve, sister dear,” said Robert dryly.

  “Oh, there was a letter delivered just after you disappeared to speak to Eleanor.”

  Emily drew it out of her pocket and Lucy went still. She recognised the handwriting. It was addressed to Miss Butterworth, so the blackmailer did not yet know of her marriage. Therefore, it was not a member of the household staff.

  Dear Miss Butterworth

  I see you are determined to marry the Earl of Whitsnow despite your previous behaviour. You may have fooled him, and he may know of your previous indiscretions, but the rest of the world does not. I am more than happy to be the bearer of that news.

  Once everyone knows about Lieutenant Dick rutting into you in the cowshed as if you were a common whore, you shall be ruined. Society shall not look kindly on a social climbing lightskirt and her bastard lunatic child. My price has risen to seven hundred pounds.

  May Day. Be there or Aelton village will know what you are. And just think how badly hurt your bastard will be when she is old enough to understand. One assumes she is capable of understanding such things of course.

  Regards

  A concerned subject of His Majesty King George III

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Robert had to take a few paces away from Lucy lest his fury erupt, and she become the brunt of it. He had to get himself under control in order to support her. How dare that person write such things to her. Of course, their facts were accurate. Too accurate. They knew about her dalliance with Dick, even to the extent that they knew where it had happened.

  “I have a headache. I am going to retire.”

  “Lucy, what does it say. It has upset you. Tell us and we shall help you.” The pleading tone in his sister’s voice was a comfort to Robert. She really did care about his new wife.

  “All is well.” Lucy gave a wan smile, but she was chalk white and she had to grab hold of the arm of the chaise to help her stand. Robert held her elbow and slipped his hand around her waist.

  “I shall see you to our suite, my love.”

  She just nodded and bade their guests goodnight, slipping the note into her pocket. She said nothing as they walked upstairs to the Earl’s suite of rooms. They had decided to use one bedchamber. It may be against convention, but he wanted to go to sleep with her in his arms and wake up with her beside him. The very thought of spooning against her pert little backside made his prick ache.

  “You must regret marrying me now,” she said as he closed the door with a click after he had dismissed her maid.

  “Why would I do that?”

  “This person will tell everyone what I am. Or they will continue to demand money. What shall we do? Seven hundred pounds is a lot of money. I have some. I can pay you but what about the orphans and their upkeep.”

  “We shall pay this person nothing. Blackmailers are all mouth and no breeches. Besides, who is going to believe an extortionist over an earl. If I say Eleanor is mine, then she is mine. What sort of man would take on someone else’s get as his own.”

  “A wonderfully kind man,” sobbed Lucy.

  He was pulled up short. He had not really thought about how unusual his suggestion had been. And he certainly did not think of himself as king. His suggestion had been pragmatic. To get them both out of a sticky and unfortunate situation. He was desperately fond of Eleanor. God, he may actually love the child too. Was he becoming a poet? “No Lucy. People will think that no one would ever do it but for some reason it feels right. There is no sacrifice in accepting that pretty, intelligent, sweet child as mine. If our other children are as kind-hearted and adorable as she, then we shall be well blessed.”

  “How do we stop this blackmailer from telling everyone?”

  “Lucy, do you trust me?”

  “Implicitly.”

  “Then there is no need to concern yourself. Tell me, did you have any friends in whom you confided the details of your relationship with Lieutenant Dick?”

  “No. my great aunt had vague details about what happened since I was with child, but I would hardly tell her we did it in a cowshed. How lowering.”

  Robert sighed. “I wish you would stop chastising yourself so, my love. I have had sex in a few odd places too. I plan to make love to you in more places than just our bed. I was merely trying to narrow down the field of suspects.”

  “Mrs Dick must need money to keep Lieutenant Dick in that place.”

  “That had occurred to me.”

  “Anyone else you can think of?”

  Lucy shook her head.

  “Is there anyone of whom you made an enemy? Anyone who had a penchant for the lieutenant?”

  “He was a handsome man. Many of the young ladies admired him.”

  “But you caught his attention.”
/>   “But we were not publicly courting. He danced with me at a couple of assemblies but that is all. Only one dance. Quite appropriate.”

  “Then we shall meet at the rendezvous on May Day and surprise this blackmailer.”

  Lucy shuddered and Robert pulled her into his embrace, Holding her tight against him. He would do anything to keep her from harm and he hated that she was afraid and upset.

  “Robert. I… is it wrong if I do not want to. Not tonight?”

  “If you do not want to what?” He was thoroughly confused. What was she talking about? He hugged her closer and rubbed his hand slowly up her back. Poor thing was shivering. He should get her into bed and under the covers to warm her.

  “Make love.”

  “You do not have to make love if you do not wish to. Do you have your courses?”

  “No. I just… I like you holding me but…”

  “Then holding is fine. I had no plans to make love to you at present. You are shivering, and I was thinking to get you into bed to warm you up, not to make love to you.”

  “Your prick is hard.”

  “It always is when you’re around. Ignore it. Come I’ll undress you and we shall talk of other things. You can tell me if I make a good lady’s maid. Mayhap something shall come to you to help us solve this mystery before May Day.”

  Chapter 28

  Lucy walked into the library ten minutes before they were due to leave for their rendezvous with the blackmailer. They were arriving one hour before he or she was due to arrive.

  Robert had a knife in hand and was slicing pages out of a book.

  “Robert, what the devil are you doing?”

  He looked up and grinned. “I do believe my foul tongue is rubbing off on you, wife.” She arched an imperious eyebrow as a memory of Robert, his head between her legs that morning sprang to mind. Robert wiggled his tongue and she knew he’d had the same thought. “I am slicing pages out of a book to make it look like a pile of bank notes in a bag. We do not wish to tip our hand too early and reveal ourselves.”

  “Why are you destroying a perfectly good book? They cost a fortune.”

  “It is only Institutes by John Calvin. We are not even Presbyterian, my love. It is rather dry. If you are desperate to read it, I shall purchase a new copy when we are next in Town. I fancy we shall go there in a few weeks. You need to be introduced properly and make your curtsey to the Queen. I have sent a letter to Aunt Gertrude to see if she will sponsor you. Of course, already being married there shall not be such a big fuss for you but…”

  “Curtsey? To the Queen?”

  “Yes. Of course. You… Lucy you knew this. Your brother is a baron. You should have had a proper come out.”

  “But I did not. I had a child out of wedlock.”

  “And now you are a countess.”

  “I am. Oh dear. I really am a countess.” She straightened her spine and drew in a deep breath. “Well I have faced down more difficult challenges than the Queen. If I can labour and give birth to a child, then I can manage a curtsey in an ugly gown.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Robert’s pile of cut up pages had grown, and he lifted them, bound them with string, then stuffed them in a small linen sack. He rounded the table and caught her in his arms, backing her against the desk and pressing himself against her. He was growing hard. “I am sure if we are quick we have time for a…”

  “Robert, no. I am not turning up at this looking tumbled. This person already calls me a whore.”

  “You are not a whore. They are clearly uptight and lacking any understanding of innate sexuality. You have it in abundance which is why I want you constantly.”

  “I want you too, but not right now. We have something to do.”

  He pressed himself once more against her then stepped away.

  “Come Lady Whitsnow. Let us find your blackmailer and put her in her place.”

  “You are determined that it is a woman.”

  “If it were a man, he would have shot and robbed you. I am convinced.”

  They rode part of the way to the waterfall with two grooms then sent the grooms back to the manor with the horses, walking the rest of the way. They did not want to alert the blackmailer that they were still in the area. Robert deposited the little sack in the hole in the tree and then they found a clump of bushes behind which to hide.

  It was torture. Robert removed his watch from his pocket almost every minute to check the time. She made a daisy chain and hung it around Roberts neck and smothered a giggle when he frowned.

  “Eleanor will think it pretty,” she whispered. He seemed not to mind it after that. She made one for herself and a chain for her head. She had just placed it over her coiffure when they heard movement. Robert put his finger to his lips. She had the urge to kiss them. He eased himself up and peeked over the edge of the bush.

  “She has her back to us,” he mouthed.

  Lucy popped her head up and glanced over. She did not recognise the woman at first, but she recognised the pale green walking dress. She had helped sew that dress and add some of the adornments.

  The owner of the dress had just opened the little sack and a cry of annoyance tore from her lips as she looked around for the people who had cheated her.

  Lucy stood as Robert tried to pull her down, but Lucy was furious.

  “Susan Davis. You evil, horrible…” She had no words. And Susan’s face was red with anger as though she had the right to be upset at being cheated out of money that was never rightfully hers.

  “What is this? You owe me seven hundred pounds.”

  “We owe you nothing.” Robert’s voice was calm. Low and deadly, but calm.

  “You do not know everything about her. You cannot marry her. She is evil.”

  “Lucy is not blackmailing anyone. You are. But allow me to play your game. What should I know?”

  “She is a harlot.”

  “In what way.”

  “She is no innocent.”

  “If you mean she already has a child, I know. The child is mine.”

  “It is not. It is Lieutenant Dick’s. I saw them together in the cowshed. Rutting like animals. It was disgusting.”

  “What were you doing in the cowshed, Susan?” asked Lucy, finding her voice at last.

  “I saw Edward go in there. I wanted to speak with him.”

  “That was silly of you. What if you had been caught? A young lady alone with a gentleman.”

  “I… I was in love with him and he with me. He had promised.” The air whooshed out of Lucy’s lungs.

  “He promised? What did he promise?”

  Susan waved her arm about. “He said he had a high regard for me. He said I was the one.”

  “He said that to me, Susan.”

  “Because you had loose morals. He knew you were a lightskirt. He was going to marry me.”

  “I thought he was going to marry me too.”

  “I hate you Lucy Butterworth. You took what was mine. He was mine. You should pay so I can move away. I can never marry. You somehow managed to find someone who could overlook your disgraceful behaviour and that bastard child. I shall never manage that. I am ruined and always shall be.”

  “I think you shall find that fewer men than you think care if you are a virgin, Miss Davis,” put in Robert.

  “What would you know about it?”

  “Well I am a man.”

  “But you were willing to have her.” The venom in her voice was unmistakable.

  “I would advise you to speak about my wife with more care, Miss Davis.” Robert’s voice had turned cold.

  “Your wife?”

  “We married a few days ago at Gretna Green.”

  “You are already with child again?”

  “Not as far as I am aware,” Lucy said.

  Susan threw the packet of pages from Calvin’s Institutes on the ground. “You disgust me.”

  “You make me sad. I thought we were friends. Edward played us both for fools. He told us both what we w
anted to hear. He ruined us and left me with child. It could just as well have been you.”

  “No, I would never have…”

  “Did you and he… make love?” It was the kindest way she could say it. Susan put her hand over her mouth as if to stop herself from saying the word, but she nodded. Of course, Lucy had known from the earlier conversation, but Susan had to admit it. She had to see that the two of them were really no different and that Edward…. Well…

  “If he was not already in that place I would kill him.” It was Robert. Lucy could see the disgust and fury in his features.

  “He shall surely recover,” protested Susan.

  “No, he shall not,” said Robert. “He is very confused. He remembers for a few moments then forgets. He even asked if his mother was my wife when she followed Lucy into the garden.”

  “He did?” asked Lucy.

  Robert merely nodded.

  “I have been hoping all this time.” Susan sounded miserable.

  “It is time to move on, Susan.”

  Susan’s eyes filled with tears. “Mayhap. You shall take me to the magistrate, shall you not? Shall I hang for this?” Horror was etched on the young woman’s face as the magnitude of her crime seemed to sink in. “Oh God, I blackmailed a countess.” She sank to her knees. Lucy looked helplessly at Robert. She had no idea what his plan had been.

  “I do not think hanging is necessary in this case. Do you, my love?”

  She looked up into his face. He was stern but there was a gleam of humour in his gaze. It seemed he wanted her to play along.

  “Well, I suppose that no money did change hands and my secrets have not been revealed, have they?”

  “N-n-no.”

  “How did you know that I knew about Eleanor? And that I planned to tell everyone she is mine.”

  “My mother and Mrs Dick are particular friends. I heard them in conversation. My mother would never tell Mrs Dick’s secrets. Mrs Dick was in two minds as to whether to accept your offer to visit the child.”

  “I see. Come. We must get back. You walk behind us. The path is narrow.”

  Lucy took her husband’s arm and he led her along the path. She felt terrible as she heard Susan sniff every so often. She really was a wretched creature.