Sandra Owens

by The Letter

  He sketched a bow. “My lady, Baron Brantley, good morning.”

  Jamie froze, one foot from the bottom. “Should I bow, too, Michael?”

  “Stand next to me, young Jamie, and greet your mother.”

  The boy leapt down and copied Michael’s bow. “Mama, good morning.”

  Michael grinned, delighted. “Well done, lad,” he whispered before lifting his gaze to Diana. “Give him ten more years, my lady, and no woman will be safe from his charms.” He was damned proud of the boy he hoped was his son.

  She stopped three steps above them and looked from him to Jamie, then back to him. He had the sudden notion that if he could divine the thought passing through her at this moment he would have the answer to the question that had been burning in his mind. Was Jamie his? She jerked her gaze away and busied herself with straightening the skirts of her gown, but he had seen something in her eyes. By all the angels in heaven, she knew!

  It was the very devil to realize she knew and not demand an answer, but he smothered his urge to question her now. He lifted her hand and placed it on his arm. “Our carriage awaits.”

  ****

  Michael brushed back the hair of the sleeping boy using his lap as a pillow. “Tell me what he was like as a baby.” An hour had passed since the carriage began its journey to Draven Park. He was determined to know the truth before the wheels stopped rolling.

  Her eyes warmed at his question. “Oh, he was such a sweet babe.”

  The stories of Jamie as a babe held him spellbound as he waited for just the right moment to ask his question. But the conversation took an unexpected detour. “Jamie has your smile.”

  He grinned.

  “Yes, exactly like that. You smile so easily, did you know? I always liked that about you. I think it was one of the things I missed the most. Leo never smiled, at least, not for me. He brought some friends to the manor once, including some women of questionable character, and he smiled and laughed for them.”

  She looked away and he waited, afraid to speak lest she stopped. Bit by bit, an account of her life with Leo was emerging. If he had his preference, he would not hear another word, but instinctively, he understood she needed to speak of it. He hoped by doing so, she could put her demons to rest. She seemed to have developed an intense interest in the passing scenery, and when her words came, they were directed at the window.

  “The friends he brought home, one of the men took a liking to me. They weren’t gentlemen, you see. No gentleman would have made such a suggestion to the wife of his friend.”

  When she didn’t continue, and he was certain he could speak in a normal voice, he asked her the question he didn’t want to know the answer to. “What did he suggest?”

  She laughed and the sound of it wasn’t pretty. “He suggested I join him and one of the women in his bed. I refused, of course.”

  And was punished for it, he had no doubt. “What did Leo do when you refused?”

  Her gaze shifted to his, her look one of challenge. “He gave me a choice. Accommodate his friend or suffer the consequences.”

  “What choice did you make?”

  “Suppose I told you I chose to be accommodating? What would you say to that?”

  He didn’t believe it, but he did believe she was testing him. “Listen. If you are waiting for me to condemn you for doing whatever necessary to survive the hell that was Leo, then you are going to have the wait of a lifetime. I don’t know how he punished you, but any woman in your situation would have likely chosen to be agreeable. And, Diana, the blame for it would have belonged to Leo.”

  The challenge in her eyes faded and the breath seemed to leave her. One lone tear rolled down her cheek. “I wish I had known that at the time, because I refused.”

  “Will you tell me what his punishments entailed?”

  “No.”

  ****

  “Mon Dieu. Un tel homme méchant, votre cousin.”

  His French born mother only reverted to her native language when upset over something or vexed with him. “Not exactly my words when I first read it, Mother, but they will do. But you speak true when you say he was evil.”

  She handed the letter back to him and then brushed her hands over her gown as if wiping them clean. “What are you going to do about this, Michael?”

  He took a sip of brandy to delay his answer. If he told his mother, she would meddle. She was going to anyway, but it would be worse if she knew. “I have a plan.”

  “And this plan of yours is what?”

  “I’m still working out the details, so stop prying.”

  “You should marry her.”

  “Mother, leave it be. And please, I beg of you, don’t suggest such to Diana. She’s as skittish as a doe, and I can’t say I blame her.”

  She gave him a very Gallic shrug, which could mean anything.

  “If you can’t resist meddling, then see if you can find out if she knows whether or not I’m Jamie’s father. I’m fairly certain she does.”

  “Why don’t you just ask her?”

  “I’ve tried, but somehow I just can’t get the question out. I think I want him to be so badly that I’m afraid to hear the answer.”

  “It could be yes.”

  “It could just as easily be no.” He stood and walked to the fireplace and stared at the flames. “She didn’t want to come here.”

  “Why ever not?”

  He turned and rested an arm on the mantel. Although nearing sixty, his mother was still an attractive woman. The silver streaks in her black hair only added to her elegance, and her eyes, a lighter blue than his, were sharp and alert. She could have easily remarried after his father died, but she always said that no one could replace her Robert. As a boy, he had been pleased, not wanting to share her, but lately he had begun to wish she had. He feared she might be lonely.

  “Diana didn’t want to face you, even more so the butler. She absolutely refused to come until I assured her we had pensioned off Jenkins. She asked me to tell her what happened that night, and now she’s mortified. That is why she’s hiding in her room, claiming a headache. When we arrived and learned you were napping, she couldn’t hide her relief.”

  “Oh, Michael, the poor girl.”

  “That’s just it,” he said, beginning to pace. “I don’t want her to feel like a poor girl. Listen. None of this was her doing and it isn’t fair to her. You can’t take that attitude with her or you will just encourage her to keep thinking of herself as a wounded little bird, unable to heal. You remember the sparkle she used to have in her eyes, the way she always laughed, how she saw the joy in everything? I want that girl back.”

  “You’re still in love with her.”

  He stilled. “Of course not.”

  She looked at him with all too knowing eyes.

  “Maybe. I don’t know.”

  “You poor man.”

  He laughed. “You have that right.” Restless, he resumed his pacing. “I have a favor to ask of you. I can justify Diana and Jamie staying at my townhouse with the reasoning that he is my cousin. But they can’t be there without a chaperone for Diana. Will you come to London with us?”

  “I had already come to the conclusion it would be necessary. I’m looking forward to it actually. I’ve rusticated in the country long enough.”

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

  Going to the side table, he splashed more brandy into his glass, then took the sherry and refilled his mother’s drink. Returning to his chair, he sat and lifted his feet onto the stool, crossing his ankles. He drank deeply, preparing himself for a discussion of his cousin.

  “Why did Leo hate me so much?”

  “Because you had everything he wanted—wealth, a higher title, a beautiful, rich girl.”

  Michael shook his head. “No, it goes further back than that. He was nice to me whenever you or Aunt Francine were nearby, but as soon as we were alone, he would turn mean. Even as a young boy, I tried to avoid being alone with him. Ther
e had to be a reason he disliked me so intensely.”

  “I’m not really sure, but much of it may have come from Francine. When she married a baron, she was insufferable, always going on about her husband’s fortune and title. It eventually came out the fortune was a myth, but he did have a small estate that could have been profitable if he had put any effort into it.”

  “I need to look into that. If I recall correctly, Brantley Hall is entailed?”

  She nodded. “It is, but it is my understanding the place is in very bad shape.”

  “I’ll have it restored for Jamie. Is there anything else you can think of to cause Leo’s attitude? I still don’t understand why his resentment was directed at me.”

  “Possibly, but it was just silliness on Francine’s part.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I met your father two years after she married Brantley. She was furious I married an earl. Years later, she accused me of stealing him from her. It was absurd because she was already married by the time I met him. But she was like that. Always wanting what others had and blaming everyone for her misfortunes. It wouldn’t surprise me if she told Leo I stole Robert from her, and that he should have inherited the title. She spoiled the boy dreadfully. He was my nephew and I tried to be nice to him, but secretly, I didn’t much like him. I always thought there was something malevolent in his eyes when he looked at you. I told myself I was imaging it, that a boy couldn’t be evil.”

  That explained a lot, and for what it was worth, at least he better understood how Leo’s mind worked.

  “Michael, if Jamie is your son, then he has been cheated out of an earldom.”

  She had tears swimming in her eyes. He reached over and took her hand. “I know, and there’s not a damned thing I can do about it.”

  The butler entered. “My lord, you asked that I tell you when your carriage returned.”

  He had sent his conveyance back for the tutor and maid, and was glad to see it had returned before the dinner hour. Michael let go of his mother’s hand and rose. “Have a footman show Mr. Denton to his room, Phelps, and have the maid wait a moment.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Mother, Diana kept Jamie with her, and as they haven’t emerged from her chamber, I fear if we let her she will stay there the remainder of the night. It is true she is embarrassed to face you, but she only has three day dresses and I think it would help give her a little confidence if she were properly dressed for dinner. You are about her size. Would you take her maid and see if the two of you can come up with something nice for her to wear?”

  His mother’s eyes lit up. “Leave it to me, son. Besides, I still haven’t met my grandbaby.”

  “I don’t think he would like being called a baby, and as far as he is concerned, you are his great aunt.” She laughed and sailed out of the room. Michael sighed. The meddling was beginning.

  ****

  Michael reined in his horse. Thunder wasn’t Reckless, but he was prime horseflesh. He would have nothing less in his stables. What was missing was Reckless’ obstinacy. Michael enjoyed the challenge of maintaining control of his personal mount.

  At the moment, however, he appreciated the calm stillness of Thunder as they stood on the hill overlooking Draven Park. In the garden below, Diana and his mother sat on a garden bench watching Jamie move toy soldiers around on the gravel path. His mother said something and Diana laughed.

  After plowing through Diana’s resistance to accepting her company, not to mention her clothes, his mother and Diana now seemed to be bosom friends. They acted like schoolgirls, giggling and looking for mischief. For the past two days, they had teased him to no end, and though he pretended to be offended, he loved every minute of it.

  Then there was Jamie. It had been love at first sight for him and his great aunt. Although, Lady Suzanne had promptly dismissed the great part, along with the formal address of Lady Daventry. “Jamie, mon beau garçon, I am simply not old enough to be a great anything. I am Aunt Suzanne to you and Lady Suzanne to your mother.”

  Michael recalled the ensuing conversation. Jamie had crunched his eyebrows together and stared at her in puzzlement. “I don’t think that was Latin.”

  “It was French,” Michael explained. “She just called you her beautiful boy. You should tell Aunt Suzanne that ladies are beautiful, not boys.” He had pulled Jamie between his legs and put his face next the lad’s. “We, on the other hand, are handsome fellows.”

  His mother had smiled sadly and blinked away her tears, but he had been paying more attention to Diana. She had looked from his face to Jamie’s, and then away. What had he seen in her eyes before they shuttered? Panic, he thought. And, why should that be?

  With a nudge to Thunder’s flanks, they started down the hill. The day had been spent riding the estate and talking to his tenants. They were pleased to see their lord, and he vowed to spend more time here. His steward did a good job and was trustworthy, but Michael realized he had not given Draven Park the proper attention. His resolve to take a greater interest fit in with his plan.

  Turning Thunder over to a groom, he made his way to the garden, disappointed to see that Diana and Jamie were no longer there.

  “Mother,” he said and kissed her cheek. “What have you done with your playmates?”

  “Why, I boiled them in oil and then had them for luncheon.”

  “Indeed? I always suspected you were an odd sort, you being French. Fortunately, as I’m only half, I am perfectly normal.” She patted the bench seat and he sat next to her. “You are in rare form. You seem to be enjoying their company.”

  “Oh, Michael, I am. The boy is such a joy, and though Diana breaks my heart sometimes, she is as charming as I remember.”

  “Where are they?”

  “Jamie wanted to explore your old nursery some more. He is fascinated with your collection of toys. It is almost as if he has never seen such a bounty.”

  “I have the impression he was never allowed to have any.”

  “Mon Dieu. Do not say so. Every child should have toys.”

  “Yet, I don’t think Leo allowed it.” He turned toward her. “Have you been able to learn anything from Diana?”

  She wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder. “No, I am sorry to say. If I broach the subject, she becomes evasive. I did learn from Jamie his birthday, and the date makes it a possibility.”

  “What is it?”

  “August tenth.”

  He did a quick calculation and then let out a breath. “Nine months to the day.”

  “You shouldn’t have anticipated your wedding night, but I can’t regret that you did, else there would be no Jamie.”

  “If he is truly my son.”

  “I think he is.”

  “As do I.”

  ****

  Even though it was still early evening, a full moon was rising above the trees. Diana walked alongside Michael, her awareness of him driving her to distraction. Somehow she had to put an end to this developing attraction. He had always called to her in some elemental way, in ways she hadn’t understood until the night he had claimed her and they had conceived Jamie. Then came years of abuse, days and days she had thought of nothing but survival, and she had forgotten. But he had done a fine job of reminding her the night before he left for London.

  She’d got what she wanted; a memory to cherish, a night of being loved, gentle hands touching her skin. She wasn’t foolish enough to expect more. No matter what he’d said about boys not being beautiful, she begged to differ. She stole a glance at him. He was so magnificently beautiful. He would never be happy with the woman she was now. She knew it, but God, she wished it weren’t so.

  “Are you warm enough?” he asked.

  A touch of his hand on her arm caused her to shiver.

  “You’re chilled.” He removed his coat and put it around her shoulders.

  She wasn’t chilled, but couldn’t explain it was him that sent shivers over her skin. She felt his heat, stil
l trapped on the inside of the coat, smelled his scent. Without thought, she lifted her shoulder and pressed her nose to the material, deeply inhaling.

  He inclined his head and gave her an intent look. Mercy, he had caught her smelling him. Embarrassed, heat crept up her neck. She prayed her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt.

  A mysterious smile curved his lips, but thankfully, he didn’t comment. He remained quiet for a few minutes as they continued on, intentionally, she suspected, giving her time to compose herself.

  “I would like to get an early start in the morning,” he said, finally breaking the silence. “We will have three carriages to load and if I know Mother, and I do, she will need a little push or we will still be here at luncheon.”

  “I’ll do what I can. Jamie won’t be a problem. He would sleep in the carriage tonight if you let him, so anxious is he to see London.”

  “We will ride together, of course. Mother can ride in the second one with Jamie, and Mr. Denton and Fanny in the last.”

  It amazed her that he had three carriages at his disposal at The Park, never mind how many he might have in Town. Then it struck her what he had said. She would be alone with him for two days.

  “No, I’ll ride with Jamie, Lady Suzanne and you can share a carriage.”

  “Mother has already requested that Jamie be placed with her. She says she enjoys his company more than mine. Can’t imagine why she would think such, however. I consider myself an entertaining chap.”

  He walked on, talking nonsense about this and that, not giving her an opening to protest the carriage arrangements. It would be useless to do so, however, as his mind was obviously made up.

  “I have been remiss in not telling you sooner how lovely you look tonight.”

  She peeked up at him, the pleasure of the compliment warming her. “If I am presentable, it is because of your mother. She is a force of nature.” Diana was still reeling from all the gowns piled on her bed Fanny was even now wrapping in tissue and packing in trunks. “I shouldn’t have allowed her to give me so many.”