But he stayed.
Again, it was Amelia’s influence that caused him to do things he never would have considered in the past. If she wanted him to meet her cat then meet it he would. He gritted his teeth against the unpleasantness that was sure to follow.
How does one address a smiling vermin? Conrad turned his head toward Amelia, hoping for some instruction. None came.
I cannot believe I’m doing this. Conrad forced a smile he was sure resembled a grimace. “Good day, Sunny. I’m… pleased to… meet you.”
A loud rattle emerged from somewhere deep inside Sunny’s innards.
Conrad gasped. “What is wrong with it?”
“Wrong? Why nothing. Why do you ask?”
“It’s… he’s… There’s a sound coming from…” Conrad pointed to the cat.
“Oh that. He’s just purring.”
What a horrid noise. “Ah.” Please make it stop.
“Sunny purrs when he’s happy.”
I’d hate to hear him when he’s vexed. “How nice.”
She glanced from Conrad to her cat and back. “I think he likes you.”
Splendid. “Oh?”
“He usually only purrs for me. That he would do it for someone else, someone of whom he’s just made their acquaintance, is extraordinary.”
More like ghastly. “Indeed.”
“Perhaps you’d like to hold him?”
“I… you see… there isn’t… I can’t—”
Suddenly, Amelia thrust Sunny into Conrad’s arms. Oh the humanity.
“Isn’t he soft?”
Conrad endured the silent scream that echoed in his head. Why? Why does she have to love cats? Birds? Nature? Why couldn’t Amelia like to sit inside and view the awful trees, dirt and wildlife through the safety of window glass?
“Conrad? You’ve gone quite pale.”
He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep, relaxing breath. I must do this. I have to make friends with the furry beast who is at this moment staring at me. I’ll accomplish the barbaric task… for Amelia.
“Are you ill?” Amelia placed her hand on his forehead. Warmth enveloped his face and neck. Wonderful, beautiful, comforting warmth.
Conrad fixed his gaze on hers. Her green eyes rivaled Sunny’s in intensity and fire. Did she even realize that she had a trait in common with her cat? “I… I’m fine, Amelia.”
“You’re certain? You looked as if you were close to fainting.”
Wouldn’t that be perfect? It would be the humiliation of being in the surgeon-dentist’s room all over again. “I wasn’t expecting to actually…”
“Actually, what?”
“Hold him.”
“Why ever not? Haven’t you ever had a pet?”
He shrugged. “I’m afraid not.”
Moisture formed around her lower eyelids. “How sad.”
“I’ve never known any different, so it mattered not to me growing up.”
She smiled, her plump lips stretching wide. “Once we’re wed, you can share Sunny with me.”
Another silent scream tried to force its way out of his mouth. Sunny would live with them? With him?
Amelia reached out her hand and stroked the cat’s long fur. “You see, Sunny has always been my best friend. I couldn’t bear to leave him when I move out of my parents’ estate. You don’t mind, do you?”
She leaned closer and blinked. Her long eyelashes swept across the freckles scattered just below her eyes. Her breath, warm with the scent of something minty, fanned across his nose and mouth.
How in heaven’s name was he supposed to deny her such a request? Everything in him wanted to yell, “No!” But when she looked at him with those green eyes, all reason fled from his mind. His head may as well have been filled with swamp water.
The words danced across his tongue and sprung from his lips before they could be reined in. “Of course you can bring Sunny.”
Amelia threw her arms around his neck. Sunny howled and dug his claws into Conrad’s arm. Thankfully, the claws disengaged just as quickly.
Rapid footsteps approached from behind them. “Miss Amelia! Lord Lofton! Please show some restraint.”
Ah, Annie… the ever-watchful garden pest.
Chapter Thirteen
The carriage ride from Amelia’s father’s house to Conrad’s was short. He squinted against bright rays of sunlight that seemed intent on nearly blinding him every time he leaned too close to the window. Enough of that. He edged over to the middle of the seat so the light only reached the knee of his black breeches.
Although he had enjoyed his time with Amelia, despite her cat, memories of what Mr. Fletcher and his daughter had said the day before wouldn’t go away. Had Mr. Fletcher really known Conrad’s mother years ago? To be honest, she never spoke of her upbringing or family. He didn’t know his maternal grandparents. Had no clue about what her father did for a living or where she’d grown up. So, as strange as it might seem from her reactions now to anyone of a lower class, it was conceivable that she had known Mr. Fletcher in some capacity. Had she ever had a tooth removed? Or had their families been acquaintances?
But the surgeon-dentist had intimated that he and Mother had been…
No. It wasn’t possible. That Mother would have had any kind of relationship with a commoner? She abhorred them. Had always forbidden Conrad from having anything to do with them, to the point of being rude when in the company of someone of the lower class. Had instructed him from his earliest memory to treat them as less than mud on his boot.
But what if Mother had been a commoner, too? Hadn’t she used her wiles and liquor to trap Lord Lofton? Why would she have done that? If she’d resorted to those measures, perhaps she hadn’t had any family money of her own.
But Amelia is blackmailing you into marriage and she does have a rich father.
His shoulders slumped. Whenever he was reminded of what Amelia was doing, he didn’t want to admit it was real. Rather, he entertained fantasies where she loved him for him, not because she needed to marry someone. Not because he happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
If he let himself dwell on the truth, then that pointed to the fact that Amelia didn’t really care for him, didn’t have feelings for him… couldn’t ever… love him. But how could he expect her to? She was beautiful and full of life. And he was… just boring, rude, uppity Conrad. The earl no one wanted. No… the nobody no one wanted.
Pain lanced through his chest. He was coming to care for Amelia. Very much. Why couldn’t it be the same for her? Would it always be a one-sided relationship for them? With Conrad longing for her, and Amelia only doing her duty as his wife?
The carriage pulled up to the front door. Conrad alighted and stepped onto the walk. Would there ever be a time when he’d feel comfortable walking a longer distance to his door? Allowing his boots to get soiled from the dirt?
Think of all you’ve done in Amelia’s company. The Bird Sanctuary, holding her cat…
He shrugged. Perhaps that was nothing more than trying to impress his future wife. After they were married and the newness had worn off, would he stop trying new things even when in Amelia’s presence? Would they be like so many other London elite, hardly speaking to one another, or spending time together?
Conrad walked the few steps between his carriage and the house. The wheels of the carriage squeaked slightly behind him as the groom took the horses around back to the stable.
Giles opened the door as Conrad reached for it. “Good day, Lord Lofton.”
Close scrutiny showed the butler’s shirt to be incorrectly buttoned. And it hadn’t been that way that morning, he was sure. Amusement softened his earlier thoughts. “Giles. Having a good day, are we?”
“Why certainly, my lord.”
Conrad’s gaze slipped to Giles’s shirtfront. “As I can see.”
Giles glanced down as well. Two spots of red blossomed on his cheeks.
Conrad patted his butler on the shoulder in passing. “Glad on
e of us is successful with the fairer sex.” He bit back a smile when Giles sputtered out something unintelligible. Conrad continued down the hallway. Sometimes it was necessary to find amusement where one could, as the opportunities were rare. At least for him.
His mother bellowed from the library. Probably scolding one of the maids, as usual. I’m determined not to be like her, not anymore. When he reached the open doorway, he nearly collided with a tearful young maid. It was that Susan, or whatever her name was, that Giles had been with in the closet the other day, doing… Well never mind what Giles was doing. Conrad had a pretty good idea.
Images of that nature did him no good at present. It would only lead to more thoughts. Thoughts about Amelia, her red hair, those green eyes and pale skin…
“Conrad. There you are.” Mother sat on the settee, surrounded by brightly colored fabric and spools of thread.
He turned off his desirous longings for Amelia and stepped into the room. “Yes, you’ve found me. Hoorah.”
“Stop being droll, Conrad. It’s so beneath you.”
“Is it?”
“What are you blathering on about?”
“How could I possibly know what is or isn’t beneath me when I don’t know where I came from?”
“Why do you insist on dragging this tired old subject out again? We’ve already established that it’s the sole reason Miss Talbot is marrying you.”
Conrad gritted his teeth. It was one thing to think it, but to have his mother put it into words was infuriating. “Believe it or not, there’s someone else who comes into play.”
She glanced down at her needlepoint. “And who might that be?”
Conrad ignored her question and crossed the room. He took a seat opposite her in a straight-backed chair. “I happened to be at Mr. Fletcher’s office again today.”
“Who?” She may have feigned innocence but her pale cheeks said otherwise.
“You remember. Mr. Fletcher. The man who removed my tooth.”
“Ah yes. Him. Well what of it?”
“I was in some pain, so I needed him to re-examine my mouth.”
“Did that no-good commoner try to get more money from you, Conrad?”
“Actually no. He said the bone sliver he removed was included in the original fee.” He held up his hand. “Please, don’t be concerned. He assured me it was a common occurrence.”
“I… I would have asked… If you’d given me a chance.”
“Of course you would have.”
“I would.” She stomped her foot, which would have been much more dramatic had she been standing. As it was, her boot barely produced a light thud.
“Wouldn’t you like to know what we discussed while I was there?”
“Not particularly. Why would I be interested in anything that man had to say?”
Conrad dropped his gaze to his hand and examined his fingernails. “You might be interested to know that he asked about…”
“About what?”
He raised his gaze until he looked directly into her eyes. “You.”
His mother sucked in a breath. “He… what? The gall of someone like him asking after me.”
“Yes, it was the strangest thing. He reminded me that you’d been with me the previous visit and he said he thought he should know you from somewhere.”
“I beg your pardon?” Her eyes bulged.
“That’s right, he did. And when he couldn’t place you, I offered your Christian name assuming that would end the discussion as he couldn’t possibly know you.”
“And…” She ran her finger around the neckline of her day dress. “Just what did he… say to that?”
“He was quite shocked actually. Had to sit down in the very chair where he seats his patients. Went pale. Couldn’t believe what he’d heard.”
“I’m certain there are more women named Miriam in London than he could throw a stick at.”
“That may well be true. However…”
“What? However what?”
“Your name coupled with the fact that he’d already said you looked familiar, along with…”
A sheen of perspiration covered her forehead. “With what? What?”
“His daughter, the girl who helps him, you remember the pretty blonde, well she sought me out when I was leaving.”
“And what could she have possibly wanted from you?”
“She didn’t want anything from me, Mother. She checked to make sure I was all right, which I was, by the way, very thoughtful of her.”
Mother harrumphed.
“And also, she wanted to tell me that while watching my interaction with her father, it occurred to her that through expressions and cadence of speech, she felt that he and I could almost be… related.”
“I… but—”
“Related, Mother. As in… could that man, that commoner, be my real father?”
His mother opened and closed her mouth, looking quite like a gaping fish. Her hands shook so hard that her needlework piece flapped as if in a strong breeze.
Conrad leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “Yes? Have something to say?”
“I-I-I…”
“Is that so? Fascinating.”
She closed her mouth and swallowed and then reached beside her on the settee for her handkerchief. As she pressed the cloth to her mouth, she closed her eyes. A slow back and forth shaking of her head followed.
“Something the matter?”
Mother opened her eyes. “I can’t believe… You can’t have—”
“Have what? Finally discovered the truth?”
“But…”
“And all this time, my real father was just across town. And that girl, Cecilia. I have a sister.” He clenched his hands into fists on his lap. What would it have been like to have grown up with a sibling? Now he’d never know.
“Half sister.”
He pointed his index finger. “Don’t toy with me. Not now.”
She at least had the grace to look chagrined.
“Is it true? Is Mr. Fletcher my…?” The words wouldn’t come. To think he’d been with his own father and hadn’t realized it was almost too much to take in.
Loud hiccoughing sobs were her only answer at first. She dabbed her mouth and eyes with her handkerchief and leveled her gaze on his. “I never wanted that for you. That life. I was raised… We had nothing, Conrad, nothing. I felt there had to be some way for a better life. Money, prestige. I’d watch rich men and women as they rode in their grand carriages through the streets. I wanted to be them, to live their lives. I knew of only one way to get that. When I discovered you were on the way…”
“Did you love him?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you love my father? My real father?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” She blinked and glanced away.
“Just answer me. I deserve that at least, do I not?”
A small sad smile graced her lips. “Andrew was so handsome. We’d take walks and hold hands when we thought no one was watching. He’d steal kisses from me behind my father’s apple cart. I…” Two fat tears ran down her cheek. “He… We didn’t think anything bad would happen if we… And then I found out about you.”
“Did he know? Did Andrew… know about me?” Andrew. At least he knew his father’s name now.
“I-I wanted to tell him, but I knew he would do the right thing and marry me.”
Anger raced through Conrad’s chest, the pressure building, feeling as if it could explode through his shirt front. “And you didn’t want that? To be married to your baby’s father?”
“I did. With all my heart. I loved… But…”
“But you wanted the money and prestige more.”
She shrugged.
“Oh, Mother…” He shook his head as if scolding a small child.
“But look at the life you’d had, Conrad. Think about all of the things—”
“That’s just it. They’re things. Where’s the joy, happiness, love?�
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“I’m…” A heavy sigh escaped from her lips. “I’m s-sorry.”
“It’s a little late now, don’t you think?”
A loud wail was her answer. Even though Conrad was angry and didn’t understand how someone could give up love for money, it hurt his heart that she was so upset at the moment. It was obvious she regretted, at least in some small way, not being with the man she had loved.
Conrad sighed, stood and crossed the small space between them. When he sat down next to her, she gasped in surprise. But as he gathered her in his arms and held her close, she relaxed.
Perhaps there was hope for them yet.
Chapter Fourteen
Amelia tugged on Conrad’s arm. “Come along, you can’t very well see the zoo animals from outside the Tower.”
He grimaced.
She knew from the conversation with Conrad’s mother that he wasn’t fond of birds, but surely other animals would be acceptable. Who didn’t like spending time at the zoo? Perhaps he was just being shy. He’d said before that he wasn’t chatty. Maybe once they’d been at the zoo for a while, he’d relax and enjoy himself.
Amelia pulled harder and Conrad stumbled into her, nearly knocking both of them to the ground.
Conrad removed his arm from her grasp and smoothed down his coat and righted his hat. “That really is something you enjoy doing, isn’t it?”
“What is?”
“Tossing me about like a ship at sea.”
Amelia’s laugh bubbled up from deep inside. “Oh, Conrad, you do have a sense of humor after all.”
“Who’s joking?”
She smacked his shoulder and once again grasped his arm tightly. Mumbling came from behind. Amelia didn’t even have to turn to see who made the sound. Annie could grumble with the best of them.
Would anyone notice if I oh-so-accidentally pushed Annie into the lion’s cage? Stop it, Amelia, you’re supposed to be nice now.
Amelia glanced up. “Look. The kangaroo’s cage is just ahead. Don’t you love their whimsy?”
“I’ve never seen a kangaroo, much less met one to be able to ascertain whether or not it’s whimsical.”
Her loud laugh startled several animals and a few people. “You are one of the funniest men I’ve ever met.”
The Unwanted Earl (The Love Bird Series) Page 10