Legacy Redeemed (Redeemed, Restored, Reclaimed Book 1)

by Aubrey Grayson

  Nick shrugged. “It’s been many years since I’ve been there. I doubt it’s in good repair. Poking around decrepit buildings isn’t a wise decision, particularly when the building is perched at the top of a cliff.”

  His son merely humphed in reply.

  “And even more so when it’s rumored that a dangerous band of smugglers have taken it over as their own private den.”

  “Smugglers!” His son looked rather more enthusiastic about this than Nick had intended.

  “Dangerous ones. Jack Rattenbury and his crew are not to be trifled with.”

  “I’m not afraid of the likes of them.”

  Nick rolled his eyes heavenward and got an eyeful of water as a reward. “I will go myself. But not until the weather improves.”

  They arrived at the vicarage, and all ran inside to wait out the rain.

  And there Nick found another surprise when they had dried themselves and made their way to Letitia’s room.

  “Oh good, both of you are here,” she said. “And hello, Gabriel!”

  The boy grinned back at her before she turned her attention to the adults.

  “I just received Alice’s invitation.”

  “What invitation is that?”

  “The one inviting father, myself, and Susannah to the dinner you are hosting.”

  Nick tried to keep his groan inside. Of course he was hosting a dinner.

  “Susannah, since Father and I are both too unwell to go, you will have to represent the vicarage.”

  Chapter 19

  Susannah was not going to that dinner. There was no way she would sit with those people again. An earl and his countess treating her as though she mattered. When they found out about her, and she was sure they would, it would not go well for her.

  She would find a way out.

  Nick looked about as happy at the prospect of her dining with his family as she did. At least she would have help in that quarter.

  Letitia prattled on happily about how much fun Susannah would have and how good the food always was at Poppledown Park.

  She would just have to feign illness. Apparently, the dinner was two days away, so she would have plenty of time to develop symptoms. Truth be told, her stomach had been disagreeing with her quite a bit lately anyway.

  She almost felt sorry for Nick. The poor man clearly didn’t enjoy spending time with her. When he arrived at the cottage, he had been in a pleasant enough mood. And she supposed he had even smiled once or twice on their outing. But as soon as he learned she’d been invited to dinner, his disposition had been as dreary as the weather.

  But as for her, the more time she spent in his company, the lighter she felt. She had thought her heart would burst when they had recited that verse together. It was such a small thing, but she hadn’t recited a verse with someone else since…well, since she’d had a family.

  His sister-in-law’s words kept echoing in her mind. What kind of husband do you think he would make? The kind who would make a woman feel like she had a family again. The kind who would make a woman feel worthy of love, even if she wasn’t.

  Not the man for her. No matter how much his smile made her heart take flight. No matter what her insides did when he approached. No matter how adorably his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

  No matter how much she doted on his son.

  The rain was letting up, and Letitia seemed to notice Susannah’s failure to show enthusiasm for the dinner at Poppledown Park. Susannah did her best to smile encouragingly at her friend before remarking on the weather. “The rain is letting up. I suppose I’d better take advantage of the quiet to go back to the cottage. Amy is making one of my favorites for dinner. And of course, I should go through my things to see if I have anything that will do for dinner with an earl.”

  Maybe that would satisfy Letitia. It appeared to do the trick, and soon she was out the door and on the wet path to the cottage. How strange that the morning had started so beautifully.

  No sooner had she cleared the house than she heard her name called. She turned to find Nick loping toward her.

  “Susannah, wait.”

  She did.

  He caught up and stood staring at her for a moment.

  “Did you want something?” She didn’t mean to be rude, but this wasn’t exactly making her feel better.

  “Yes. I want you to be there.”

  So much for being on the same side. “At the dinner?”

  “Yes. Please come.”

  “Why? Neither of us will enjoy it.”

  “I will.” He seemed to realize he was barely grunting out sentences. He shook his head, as though shaking away cobwebs. “I will enjoy your company. I do enjoy your company.”

  It wasn’t much better sentence-wise, but somehow she liked it better.

  “I didn’t think that you did.”

  “I know. I haven’t acted like it. I have even pretended to myself that I didn’t, but then Alice and Terence came and started saying…” He broke off far too soon for Susannah’s taste.

  “Started saying what?”

  “Well, they think I should marry you.”

  “What!” She practically fell over. “No! Oh, they don’t know who I am. Why would they suggest such a thing?”

  He stared at her a minute more before he said, “I think they noticed I am happy around you.”

  She laughed incredulously. “This has been the happy you?”

  “Yes. I mean, no. I haven’t been happy because…” He broke off once more.

  “Because you know I’m not who I say I am.”

  And then he said the words she’d been dreading hearing since she left London. “Who is Hector Dunmore to you?”

  She thought about fleeing. Turning tail right there and running to the cottage. Packing her things and being gone within the hour. It wasn’t quite dark yet. Perhaps she could get someone to take her and Amy on to Axminster tonight.

  But even in her panicked state, it didn’t seem worth it. She could have this conversation. Hector wouldn’t be any closer because of it. She should at least find out what he knew. Whether he had told Hector where she was.

  “How do you know I am associated with him?” she finally croaked out.

  “I asked the hack that took you home. From the ball.”

  “And do you know Hector?”

  He nodded. “I knew his brother. That is, his half-brother was a friend. Alex would be so ashamed of what Hector has become.”

  And she was shameful by association. At least now she knew where his acrimony had come from. But at least it didn’t sound like he had been in communication with Hector. She might as well be honest. It might be nice to confide in someone.

  “Hector Dunmore is my guardian. My parents died, and the Viscount Camberly became my guardian.”

  “Hector Dunmore is not the Viscount Camberly.” The words rushed out full of heat.

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “The magistrate didn’t seem to quibble over giving him the care of three young girls. Especially since no one else seemed to want to claim us.”

  His brows crashed down to his nose. “Three girls?”

  She nodded. “I have two sisters. Hector wasted no time in marrying them off to his cronies. I haven’t spoken to either of them in quite some time.”

  “Why didn’t he marry you off?”

  She grimaced. “I don’t know why. I am the middle daughter, neither eldest nor youngest, so I don’t know why he chose me. But just before I met you at the ball, I discovered he had other plans for me.”

  Nick dropped his head into his hands. “This is worse than one of the horrid novels my sister reads.”

  This brought a bitter chuckle from her. “Try living it.”

  She glanced up at the sky, which had filled with clouds. “It looks like it is going to rain again. I don’t want to be standing here when it does. Would you like to continue this conversation at my cottage, or shall we pick it up again another time? Either way, I think we have established that a girl like me
should not be dining with the Earl of Weston.” She nodded perfunctorily and turned to walk away. But he grabbed her arm and spun her back around.

  “Susannah, wait.”

  She waited, irritation rising, as he seemed to wage some kind of inner battle.

  He scrubbed a hand over his forehead. “My brother is well known as a wise man. Other lords often seek him out to give counsel on decisions, and because of that, he has been influential in a number of important government situations. On a personal level, he has given far more good advice than I have taken.”

  This caught her interest. “So…do you mean to say that you think he might be willing to help me? With Hector?”

  Nick winced. “Not exactly. I mean, yes, but not the way you are thinking.”

  “Then how?”

  His words rushed out in a great tumble. “I mean to say that I think I should take my brother’s advice this time. Marry me.”

  Her mouth gaped open. There were no words. Surely he hadn’t actually said…

  But no, he said it again, his eyes suddenly full of determination. “Marry me. It will solve both our problems. I won’t have to finish the treasure hunt or give up Poppledown Park. You’ll be free of Hector. It will be for the best.”

  Now her mouth clamped shut. “The best for whom? For you, to be married to a woman you know is ruined? Because in case I wasn’t clear, Hector’s plans for me did come to fruition. I am well and truly a fallen woman. Best for Gabriel, to have a loose woman for a stepmother?”

  He protested, but she reached out and grasped his arm, until he paused and his eyes met hers. She continued. “Best for me to be married to a man who can never forget what I’ve done?”

  He looked away, confirming what she already knew.

  Her mouth set into a grim line. “Thank you for your kind offer. But I esteem us both—us all—too much to accept.”

  “Susannah.” It was the first time he’d said her name, except in jest with his son. Then it had been a silly part of a game, but in this moment, it felt so intimate. She looked at him, uncertain now. “Susannah, just…consider it. Imagine for a few days how it could be. What it would be like. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as you think.”

  And just like that, her heart broke. For she could think of nothing her heart could possibly desire more than being the wife of Nicholas Daventry. Or the mother of Gabriel Daventry, for that matter. She should tell him no and put an end to it. But when her mouth opened, she heard herself say. “All right. I’ll consider it.”

  “And come to dinner.”

  She breathed out a laugh. “All right. I’ll come to dinner.”

  His gaze bore a hole into her. Finally, he broke the gaze and grabbed her hand, kissing it before she knew what he was doing. And then just as quickly, he dropped it. “Until tomorrow, Susannah.”

  “Until tomorrow.”

  ***

  The rain continued for the next two days, dark and gloomy like Susannah’s mood. She didn’t see Nick after all. She didn’t even make it to the vicarage, and had no idea how Letitia or Mr. Robinson fared. In fact, she barely made it out of bed, so tired was she. There was no other explanation for this than the mental exhaustion that came from wrestling with Nick’s proposal.

  Even Amy seemed to sense that Susannah needed some time to think, and left her alone for the first time in her entire blessed life.

  Susannah had hoped that the dinner would have to be called off due to the rain, but on the designated morning, the day dawned bright and clear.

  The sunshine, in fact, woke her. It seemed so unfair that she should have to live in a world that had sunshine. She was doomed to have to do such stupid things as turn down marriage proposals from wonderful men. Men whom she could love. Men whom maybe she already did. The least the universe could do was give her clouds.

  For the first time in a long time, she looked heavenward and yelled “Why?” She had done it so often after her parents had died, after her sisters had been taken from her. But she never got any answers. So she had given up on asking. Given up on God. The Scripture she had committed to memory told her that if God was for her, no man could be against her, but it certainly felt like she was still at Hector’s mercy.

  She had even ceased being angry at God over it. If He didn’t exist, it wasn’t worth the bother to hold a grudge. But now that there was something she wanted being dangled in front of her, she felt a little of the old resentment rising.

  Why? Why was this her life? Her parents had been taken from her. Her sisters had forgotten she still existed. Her guardian was vile. And even her innocence had been swindled from her.

  Though even the fact she could be tricked into such a thing showed she could never be good enough for a man like Nick Daventry.

  It was foolish of him to even think it. What if she didn’t say no? It would ruin his life. And Gabriel’s.

  Her life would be a considerable improvement, but at what cost? She couldn’t very well claim to love them and then be willing to sacrifice their happiness for her own.

  She dressed with these thoughts mulling over in her head. She would talk herself into thinking that perhaps she could accept the offer, and then she would remember all the reasons she should not.

  Amy had been up early, from the delicious smells rising from the kitchen. Fresh-baked bread and jam and clotted cream were laid out on the table.

  Amy stopped arranging a napkin when she saw Susannah enter. “Ah! I see the fine morning has even drawn you out from your den! It’s nice to see another face after these dreary last days, with you moping alone in your room.”

  Susannah rolled her eyes heavenward. “I wasn’t moping,” she said, knowing she sounded peevish.

  Amy merely raised her eyebrows. “Of course you weren’t. But have some bread and some of the nice clotted cream and jam Mrs. Bartlett sent home with me the other day.”

  Susannah pulled out the bench and took the filled plate from Amy, who then filled her own and joined Susannah at the table. Susannah dug in right away, but Amy looked expectantly at her.

  “What is it?” Susannah snapped, still peevish.

  Far from chastened, Amy grinned. “I’m waiting to hear the story. Now that you are up and about, it seems you will be ready to talk about it.”

  Susannah swallowed her bread carefully, then took a drink of water from the cup Amy had placed on the table for her. “Why do you think there’s a story?” She hoped she sounded nonchalant.

  Amy looked skeptical. “Because I’ve known you for years. And when big things happen, you retreat for a few days until you decide what to do, and then you tell me about it.”

  Susannah sighed. Amy was right. Susannah always tried to be strong enough to handle the hard things by herself, but it never really helped. She was glad Amy knew her so well. “Yes, but this time I haven’t decided what to do.”

  “What are your choices?” Amy took a big bite of bread and settled her head on her hand as she chewed, as though she expected a long answer.

  “That’s just it. I don’t think I really have one. Mr. Daventry has proposed to me, but I can’t really accept because…well, you know why.”

  Amy nearly choked on her bread. She took a sip of her own water to speed her recovery along, and then she gaped incredulously at Susannah. “Excuse me, proposed? Proposed what, exactly?”

  “Marriage, you goose, and you know it.”

  Amy grinned at that. “Yes, I do, but where on earth did that come from? Wasn’t he just threatening to bare all your secrets to the world and send you packing back to Hector? Why such a dramatic change of heart?”

  “To be fair, he never actually threatened to send me back to Hector. He just worried that I would somehow hurt Mr. Robinson and Letitia.” Susannah finished up her bread and dusted the crumbs from her fingers.

  “Still, it’s quite the turnabout.”

  “Yes. It is. I’m not sure he even knows where it came from. He mumbled something about how his brother thought it was a good idea. And it
turns out he knows Hector, and I think when he realized that I wasn’t spending time with Hector of my own free choosing… And then there’s his house.”

  Amy looked pensively out the window. “Yes,” she finally said slowly. “It doesn’t have to be a love match. It would solve problems for you both.”

  Susannah’s heart pinched. She knew it wouldn’t be a love match, but there was a part of her that still wished it could be. And maybe that, above all other reasons, was why she should refuse. But that part of her heart was too painful to reveal, so she clung to something else. “It would solve my problems, but what of his? Yes, he could keep his house, but what of his reputation? Hector will delight in airing all my dirty laundry before the ton, and no doubt Julian will too.”

  The skeptical look was back on Amy’s face. “Mr. Daventry doesn’t really strike me as the type to care much about that.”

  “His brother is Lord Weston! It’s not just Nick to consider—it’s the whole family!”

  Amy pushed back from the table, grinning. “Say yes.”

  “What? Why?”

  “You just called him Nick. You want to marry him. He’s a grown man with lots of resources and many friends. He’s more trustworthy than Hector or Julian put together, and even if they try to ruin you, his good name will keep them from succeeding. And besides, I hear the servants at Poppledown Park have lovely apartments.” Her grin grew broader at the tease.

  Susannah smiled ruefully. “I wish it were that easy. And maybe it is. But it feels too good to be true, so I don’t know yet. It’s fine today though, so I will go to the vicarage and pretend it is a normal day. I’m dining at Poppledown Park this evening, and perhaps that will make the decision for me.”

  And so she began her first walk to the vicarage in days. She looked in on Letitia, who was her usual cheerful self. The swelling had lessened, and she was almost back to normal on that front. Susannah promised to return for a proper visit after she had finished her work with the vicar.

  Mr. Robinson was also in good spirits, though the rain had not helped his cough. He had a large pile of letters to respond to, and they started working through them: invitations from local gentry, requests from parishioners, letters from friends living elsewhere. The ones Susannah enjoyed the most were letters from vicars in other parishes. Her father had kept up many such correspondences. “Iron sharpens iron,” he would always say. Even though Susannah had given up her faith, she enjoyed reading the letters to Mr. Robinson and writing the response from his dictation. The theological ideas she knew from her childhood felt cozy and warm, almost as though she were in her father’s arms again.