by Darcy Burke
Now he wanted to strangle her.
Was he jealous? Could he possibly love Rachael? He’d thought what he felt for her was just lust, but mere lust shouldn’t incite jealousy. And if this was what jealousy felt like, he didn’t care for it one bit.
By the time Rachael curtsied to the son of a gun who’d put a hand where it didn’t belong, Griffin was standing next to her. “You must have misunderstood me yesterday, Rachael.”
She turned to him. “How is that?”
“It isn’t that I don’t want to marry you. I just don’t want to marry you now. I’m not ready to take a wife. At the moment, I’ve too many other responsibilities. I’m quite concerned about Corinna. Before I even think about settling down myself, I need to concentrate on getting her married. To someone she loves.”
“I’ll tell you what you need to concentrate on, Griffin, and that’s growing up. You’re twenty-six years old. For heaven’s sake, Noah’s growing up, and he’s only twenty. If I wait until you’re ready, I’ll be waiting forever.”
“I’m not asking for forever, Rachael. Just until Corinna’s married.”
“Corinna won’t be married for another year at least. The season’s more than half over, and she hasn’t shown interest in anyone yet. In fact, your sister seems rather wed to her art career, which means she may not ever marry. Have you considered that?”
He hadn’t, and the thought struck terror in his heart.
And Rachael wasn’t finished. “If I agree to wait until she’s married, I could end up a shriveled old lady, and you’ll still be asking for time.” She shook her beautiful head. “Thank you for the offer, but no.”
“But I love you.”
He couldn’t believe those words had come out of his mouth, but even more than that, he couldn’t believe her response.
“I know that, Griffin. But I want children. I’m going to find someone who’s willing to marry me while I’m still young enough to have them.” She rose to her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you at Lincolnshire’s solicitor’s office on Monday.”
FIFTY-SIX
When Sean arrived in Queen Street on Monday at noon, he found it clogged with traffic and pedestrians. He’d never seen any street in Cheapside so busy. He felt lucky when he found a place to leave his curricle in a mews only two blocks away.
Walking back, he fretted over what trouble he might be facing. At the bottom of the three steps that led to the solicitor’s office, he stopped to check the plaque mounted by the building’s door to make sure he was in the right place.
88 QUEEN STREET
PEABODY & LAWLESS
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
Mr. Peregrine Peabody being the solicitor he was supposed to meet, he nodded to himself and started up.
Then stopped again, ignoring a steady stream of people pushing past him up the steps.
Peabody and Lawless?
Lincolnshire’s solicitor?
His first thought was to slink away. A summons issued by Lincolnshire’s solicitor was potentially much worse than being summoned to discuss an accusation against Delaney & Company. He knew all his company’s dealings were honest, after all. No matter who accused him of what, he ought to be able to prove his innocence, even if it doing so might be a colossal nuisance. When he’d told Deirdre he might be busy getting arrested today, he hadn’t really meant it.
But had impersonating John Hamilton been an actual crime?
Had he been summoned here to be arrested?
“Sean!” Coming up the steps, Deirdre looked astonished to see him. “What are you doing here?”
“I wish I knew.” He gestured toward the plaque. “These are Peregrine Peabody’s offices, too.”
A woman mounting the steps did a double take, then turned to face him. “Mr. Delaney, isn’t it? You have quite the nerve showing up here. Hmmph,” she added, pushing through the door, no doubt to spread the news that he’d arrived.
There was nothing for it. There would be no slinking away. “Come along,” he muttered, taking Deirdre’s arm and steeling himself to face the fire.
But instead he came face-to-face with Corinna.
At first, Corinna thought Sean was a figment of her imagination. She wasn’t ever supposed to see him again, and he very especially wasn’t supposed to be here. But then she met his eyes, and the anguish in them was so poignant that she knew he had to be real.
And it wasn’t just anguish she saw. It was a mixture of anguish and love and regret that matched her own feelings.
Seeing him made her happy and sad and excited and apprehensive, all in a single instant. Her hand went up to touch the claddagh necklace, but it wasn’t there, of course. She could wear it only in her room at night, where no one would see it and ask questions.
She started toward him.
“You need to come inside now, Corinna.” Griffin appeared, took her arm, and began weaving her through the crowded corridor. “Mr. Lawless is about to begin, and you’ve been directed to sit in the front.”
She looked back, but Sean was already lost in the crowd. She could only hope he was following.
When Griffin had told her that everyone they knew had been asked to attend the reading, she’d figured he’d been exaggerating. She’d had no idea just how many people would show up. They crammed the large chamber where the reading was to be held and spilled out into the corridor, filling the building all the way back to the front door. With all the bodies in the way, she and Griffin barely managed to squeeze into the room.
Mr. Lawless was a very tall, very serious-looking man. Over a sea of chattering heads, Corinna could see him from where she was stuck in the back. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called. “I beg your attention! Will the following individuals please make their way to the front row. John Hamilton, the ninth Earl of Lincolnshire. His wife, Deirdre, the ninth Countess of Lincolnshire. Lady Corinna Chase. And Mr. Sean Delaney.”
The crowd suddenly parted like the Red Sea, letting Corinna through. Griffin followed and went to stand at the left end of the front row, against the wall. Corinna noticed that the rest of her family already waited there. Four chairs at the front sat empty save for small signs set upon them that said RESERVED. Corinna dropped gratefully onto one of them, and a moment later the new Lord Lincolnshire lowered himself to the chair on her left, and Sean took the seat to her right.
Deirdre sat beside Sean rather than her husband.
“Why were you asked here?” Corinna whispered to Sean.
He looked pale. “I wish I knew. I assumed—”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the solicitor interrupted. “Although the eighth Lord Lincolnshire requested your presence, I feel compelled to inform you at the outset that you did not all receive bequests. Alas, while he was well-known for his generosity, Lord Lincolnshire’s largesse did not extend quite that far.” He paused while an amused titter ran through the room. “Rather, Lord Lincolnshire asked you here to stand as witnesses to his final wishes.”
Now a speculative murmur circulated the room instead. Mr. Lawless waited for that to die down before continuing.
“Let us begin.” A suspenseful hush fell as he raised a large document. “‘I, Samuel Hamilton, eighth Earl of Lincolnshire, being of sound mind and failing body, declare that this is my last will and testament. I revoke all prior wills and codicils. I wish to thank everyone who has assembled to bear witness to my wishes. I have instructed Mr. Lawrence Lawless not to schedule the reading of this will until my nephew, John Hamilton, has arrived in London and presented himself as my heir, which I hope will prove to be sooner rather than later. I assume that doubtless scandalous event has by now taken place.’”
Shocked whispers buzzed around the room, accompanied by a few more titters. Corinna and Sean exchanged wide-eyed glances.
“‘I imagine it came as a surprise that an impostor has been posing as my nephew. It certainly came as a surprise to me. What may come as a larger surprise indeed is that I also discovered my true nephew, John Hamil
ton, was responsible for the deceit. He demanded another individual impersonate him and made certain said individual did so by means of blackmail.’”
Gasps filled the room, and John Hamilton jumped from his seat. “I object to that slander!”
Griffin stepped forward. “This isn’t a trial, you fool. You have no right to object to anything.” He shoved the fellow back down. “Stay, Lincolnshire,” he ordered as though the new earl were a misbehaving dog.
Which he wasn’t, Corinna thought fiercely. He was much worse than that.
Mr. Lawless cleared his throat and continued. “‘Needless to say, I was disappointed to learn my nephew is truly as deplorable as the reputation that precedes him. For him I wish all the censure he deserves. Contrarily, I wish everyone to know that his impostor, whom I am now identifying as Mr. Sean Delaney, proved one of the best young men I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. He treated me better than an uncle—indeed, better than a father—and were I to be granted one impossible wish, it would be to have had such as him for my son.’”
Corinna’s heart had stuttered when Sean’s name was read off, and it was racing now. An expectant silence filled the room as Mr. Lawless lowered the document and looked around as though making sure everyone had heard his words. He nodded slowly before raising the will once more.
“‘And so, my dear friends, I have summoned you to this event in order to beseech you to treat Mr. Delaney as I believe he deserves to be treated. Rather than persecuting the young man, I beg you to accept him into our circle. I will remind you that you’ve all claimed numerous times that you’d do anything for me, and this is my most fervent request.’”
The solicitor glanced up again, this time looking directly at Corinna and Sean.
“‘In addition…’”
At the significant pause, everyone sat up straighter.
“‘In addition, although I will not put any conditions in this will stipulating the matter, as I believe such decisions are best left to those whose hearts are involved, I wish to publicly convey my hopes that Mr. Delaney will propose marriage to Lady Corinna Chase.’”
If Corinna thought everyone’s gasps were loud before, the ones they emitted now sounded like nothing less than a roar. And the loudest gasps of all came from her family. Meeting Griffin’s eyes first and then those of her sisters, she reached for Sean’s hand.
“And now, for the bequests…”
She hardly heard what came next, at least not at first. She felt faint. Her blood was thundering in her ears. Sean’s hand felt warm in hers, and when she squeezed it and he squeezed back, she feared her heart might burst.
She glanced back to her family. Griffin’s mouth was open in shock, Alexandra nodded approvingly, and Juliana’s grin was smug beyond belief.
And the reading wasn’t yet finished.
“‘… only my title as required by law and the small amount of entailed property that goes along with it,’” Mr. Lawless was saying. Given the indignant huff to Corinna’s left, she guessed that was the new Lord Lincolnshire’s punishment. “‘The balance of my fortune will be held in trust, the income to go to charity. I name Mr. Sean Delaney as trustee to oversee all investments and distribution, because I know him to be a person who has no need for the income himself, a person with an excellent head for business, and most important, a person who is eminently fair and makes decisions for the right reasons.’” The solicitor paused for effect. “‘Unless…’”
Skirts rustled and shoes shuffled. Everyone sat on the edge of their seats.
“‘Unless,’” he repeated, “‘my errant nephew, John Hamilton, grants Deirdre Hamilton a divorce, in which case he shall receive half the income of the trust in perpetuity.’”
John Hamilton stalked out of the room as Deirdre collapsed in a swoon.
FIFTY-SEVEN
Still holding Corinna’s hand, Sean walked with her and Deirdre toward Mr. Lawless, who stood by the door where he’d been busy ushering everyone out. Although Sean’s little party was the last to leave the chamber, excited chatter could be heard from the corridor. The reading of Lord Lincolnshire’s will would doubtless be talked about for weeks.
“I’ll be setting up the trust in the next few days,” the solicitor said. “I’ll need to meet with you to go over the details. Shall we say next Monday, at the same time?”
Sean nodded. “Agreed. But I’ve one question I’d like answered today.”
“I have lots of questions,” Corinna said.
“I’m thinking your brother can answer most of them,” Sean told her, and looked back to Lawless. “Why did the letter I received requesting my presence here come from your partner rather than yourself?”
“Those were Lord Lincolnshire’s instructions. He didn’t want my name on the letter. He thought you might not show, fearing arrest.”
“Lincolnshire was a clever man,” Sean said, as arrest was exactly what he’d feared on seeing Lawless’s name. “My thanks.” He held out his free hand, and the solicitor gave it a firm shake. “I shall see you a week from today.”
As Sean, Corinna, and Deirdre stepped into the corridor, the chatter ceased. Apparently a nosy lot, most of the people followed them outside, where Corinna’s family waited bunched together on the pavement.
Sean tried to drop Corinna’s hand as they approached, but she tightened her grip. Lady Stafford, Corinna’s middle sister, elbowed their brother when she noticed the two of them walk up.
Cainewood turned. “Ah, there you are, Corinna. Since the atmosphere here on Queen Street is a little tense”—he waved a hand, indicating all the busybodies—“we’ve decided to discuss these developments at home.” He looked to Sean. “If you could follow us there, I’d appreciate your participation in the discussion.”
“I’m riding home with Sean,” Corinna announced.
“Sean? Since when do you call the fellow Sean?” Glancing down to their clasped hands, her brother’s eyes widened. “It isn’t proper for you to ride alone with an unmarried gentleman.”
“Sean has an open curricle, so I can assure you nothing improper will happen.”
Snickers came from all around them, this sort of exchange being exactly what nosy busybodies loved to overhear. Cainewood’s jaw seemed to be clenched. Suspecting none of this was helping him earn the marquess’s approval, Sean turned to Corinna. “I need to take Deirdre with me, a rún,” he told her apologetically. “The curricle seats only two.”
“Your sister is welcome to ride with my husband and myself,” Lady Stafford piped up at the same time Cainewood said, “What did you just call my sister?”
Deirdre smiled. “A rún. It means ‘my love.’” She didn’t seem to notice Cainewood’s reaction as she turned to his middle sister. “And I would be pleased to ride with you, Lady Stafford. Thank you for the offer.”
“I think you should call me Juliana,” Lady Stafford told her. “I’ve a feeling we’ll be related soon.”
The buzz around their little group was becoming deafening. Cainewood’s next words came from between his teeth. “I think—”
“Oh, let them ride together, Griffin,” Corinna’s eldest sister interrupted, wheeling a squeaky perambulator back and forth. “My goodness, what do you think could happen in an open curricle? There’s my carriage now.” A large vehicle crept to a stop in the snarl of traffic. “Let’s all go,” she said, pushing the perambulator toward it.
Her husband followed. Lady Stafford took her own husband’s arm and smiled at Deirdre. “Our carriage is this way, Lady Lincolnshire.”
“Call me Deirdre,” Deirdre said. “I won’t be Lady Lincolnshire for long.”
As the three of them walked off, a lovely young woman moved to stand squarely before Corinna’s fuming brother. “It seems your sister may be getting married a lot sooner than you expected, hmm?” she purred.
“Good gracious,” Cainewood said, blanching, and walked off, too.
A delighted smile on her face, the girl joined three others that looked like
they might be her sisters and brother. “I want you to drop me off at Griffin’s house,” she said as they all departed.
Leaving Sean and Corinna alone.
Well, except for the dozens of buzzing busybodies.
“Who was that?” Sean asked.
“My cousin Rachael. I think Juliana is about to get even more smug. Where is your curricle?”
“In a mews about two blocks from here.” Still holding her hand, he drew her in the right direction. The crowd parted to let them through, but Sean felt at least a hundred eyes on his back.
“Am I dreaming?” Corinna asked, seemingly oblivious to all the curious gazes. “Just an hour ago, all was lost. Now suddenly your reputation is restored—no, more than that, it’s golden—and we can get…”
Her voice trailed off, as though she were afraid to say what came next.
“Married?” Sean supplied.
“You never actually asked me.” They turned a corner, and she threw herself into his arms. “Oh, Sean, I’ve never been so happy!”
He held her tight and risked a short kiss, since they’d escaped the prying eyes. She felt incredible in his arms and against his lips. But he couldn’t bring himself to share in her happiness quite yet.
“Let’s not count our chickens before they’re hatched,” he advised, remembering Cainewood’s clenched jaw. “Lincolnshire’s endorsement notwithstanding, your brother may not approve.”
“Oh, don’t worry about Griffin,” she said gaily, rising to her toes for another quick kiss. He obliged her, of course. “I have a plan to persuade him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind.” A bounce in her step, she turned and resumed walking. “We’re all going to live happily ever after, just like in a Minerva Press novel.”
“Not all of us,” he pointed out. “Not Hamilton.”
“No one will buy his paintings now, will they? He’s going to need half the income from his uncle’s trust.”
“Very clever, that stipulation.” They turned into the mews where his curricle was waiting. “Lincolnshire knew it would get him to free Deirdre.”