An Elaborate Hoax (A Gentlemen of Worth Book 5)

by Shirley Marks

  “Miss Lemmon, you are fortunate to have been present when Gran had called for visitors.” He offered her his arm. “I shall personally see you to her bedside.”

  Chapter Nine

  In the nursery, Penny stood the children side by side. She knelt before them to look into their eyes and explain. “Grandmother Cavanaugh is the most beloved grandparent of Mr. Cavanaugh, and she may believe you are his children. You will pretend, will you not? To make her happy?”

  Davy tilted his head. Whether that gesture was made from confusion at what Penny meant or that he did not understand at all could only cause her concern. She relied heavily upon his five-year-old sister to lead him. Perhaps it was better said that Penny hoped Davy would do as he always did: follow his sister’s lead.

  “I made this drawing of the berry bushes for her.” Lucy held up a piece of paper with a respectable pencil sketch.

  “That is very nice.” Penny smiled at the girl’s thoughtfulness. “I’m sure it will delight her. Now you remember, both of you”—she gazed from Lucy to Davy, looking them each deep in their eyes, as if by doing so she could convey the gravity of the situation—“you must not excite her. Gran is most anxious to meet you, but you must remain calm.”

  “Yes, ma’am, we will,” Lucy promised. Davy nodded his head. And in that moment Penny had no doubt they both meant it. But children could only remember for so long, and it was not very long at that.

  Penny hoped it would be long enough.

  “Now let us go.” With a fleeting glance to Nanny, Penny led their small party from the nursery to Mrs. Cavanaugh’s bedchamber on the second floor. She paused before passing over the threshold and gave the children a last look, hoping that they would be on their best behavior.

  “Just look at me!” Grandmother Cavanaugh sat upright on the pink rose-patterned settee in her bedchamber. “Thank you, James, Joseph,” she murmured over her shoulder. Nurse had helped her into a dressing gown. It was probably the first time she’d been out of her bed in nearly a month. “My Davy!” She held out her small hand to her grandson, who collected it in his larger one and leaned near to kiss her soft cheek.

  “You look wonderful!” He had never seen her so firmly in the grip of good health. What a difference twenty-four hours made. “Here, look who’s come to see you.” He stepped aside and invited Miss Lemmon to approach with his outstretched arm.

  “Ma’am.” Miss Lemmon sank into a shallow curtsy and bowed her head. “I am pleased to see you looking so well.”

  “Miss Lemmon. What a delight it is to have you visit. Have you seen my grandchildren?” She demurred and clarified, “They are not actually my grandchildren, you know.”

  The pronouncement caused David a momentary fright. All at once the rapid thoughts “She knows all!” and “I’ve been found out!” raced through his mind.

  “They are my Davy’s Lucy and little Davy, of course,” Gran added, meaning she could not take credit for as close of a relation as she had implied.

  “I have had the pleasure of meeting them earlier today.” Miss Lemmon smiled. “They are quite enchanting.”

  “I am so happy to hear you say so.” As pleased as Gran was to have David and Miss Lemmon for company, it was quite evident she was more anxious to see the two little newcomers.

  David and Miss Lemmon stood together off to the left. Grandmother Cavanaugh sat on the settee with a blanket across her lap. Nurse sat in an adjacent chair not far away. Two footmen stood behind the settee. They must have been the two who carried the old woman there. Everyone remained still, waiting for what would happen next.

  Entering the room, Lucy and Davy followed directly behind their aunt. Once inside, Nanny, who trailed behind, retreated to a less conspicuous position, and Pug leapt down from the settee to join his two new playmates. The canine followed them, walking in the same calm, well-behaved manner. The three of them came to a halt before the settee where Gran sat.

  She looked upon them as if they were priceless treasures. Her eyes crinkled in the corners, adding to the smile upon her lips, brightening her face. “Come give us a cuddle, will you, my little ones?” She leaned forward, holding her arms wide to welcome her two smallest relatives, except they weren’t exactly her great-grandchildren. They were, to be precise, her great-godchildren.

  Lucy and Davy turned their small faces toward Mrs. Parker for permission. She smiled and said, with a gentle nudge urging them forward, “Go on then.”

  They moved quickly toward the elderly woman and did what young children always had the power to do: make the old feel young again.

  “My darlings!” Gran wrapped her delicate arms around them in a tight embrace with an expression of pure delight, savoring the exquisite moment. “How I have longed to see you. I have waited so, so long—too long, I think.” Her gaze came to a rest on David.

  “Yes, much too long.” He felt a twinge of guilt, and David wondered: Why hadn’t he done as he’d been asked and married when she bade him to do so? This family coze might have been genuine.

  “You cannot blame yourself, Mr. Cavanaugh.” Mrs. Parker now stood by his side and laid her hand upon his sleeve. “We must share in that failing. Indeed, we should have made a conscious effort to make this journey sooner.”

  To see the cuddling and cooing of his grandmother pleased David beyond contentment.

  “How well she looks, Mr. Cavanaugh,” Mrs. Parker whispered to him.

  “She is so very much improved. I can hardly believe she lay in bed when we arrived. It was only yesterday.”

  “Now step back and allow me to have a proper look at you.” Gran smoothed the front of Davy’s shirt while she studied Lucy. “You take after your mother’s side of the family. You have the very same eyes.”

  Indeed, Lucy and Mrs. Parker both bore that trait, and the same lovely auburn hair that many of the females in the Darling family had in common.

  “Young Davy.” Gran held him at arm’s distance and narrowed her eyes. Probably trying to discern some similar features he shared with his father. Actually, young Davy did not resemble his father, Mrs. Parker’s relatives, but took after his mother’s side of the family. “It’s too soon to tell yet, but you might have your father’s nose.”

  Heaven spare anyone from being cursed with the beak of a nose David sported. Gran only wanted to see the familiar family proboscis that had been passed down from father to son for generations.

  “It’s much too cute!” Gran tapped the end of Davy’s nose with her finger, and he giggled. “Your father had the very same button nose when he was a lad. Never worry, it is your birthright to inherit the Cavanaugh nose.”

  Knowing Davy’s true parentage, David was thankful the lad would never share that fate.

  “Lucy, your picture,” Mrs. Parker whispered to the girl.

  Lucy blinked and gasped at the reminder, then offered her picture to Gran. “I drew this for you.”

  “Oh, isn’t that nice?” Gran stared at the proffered paper, taking hold of it with her slightly trembling hand. “What have you drawn for me, dear?”

  “They are the berry bushes we visited. Only mine have ripe wild berries on them.” Lucy pointed to the fruit. “There and there.”

  “Yes, oh, yes, I see them. It is very nice.” Gran held it out to David. “See what Lucy’s sketched.”

  David regarded the artwork. It was very well done. One could see that it resembled several bushes near a small grove of trees that had been nearby. The bushes did, indeed, have ripe berries, which were illustrated by blackened spots.

  “Your Lucy sketches very well, sir.” Gran would only have positive words for his offspring.

  “Yes, she does.” Unfortunately, David would never be able to tell the difference between a child’s scribbling and a great masterpiece.

  Gran cuddled the children and continued to praise Lucy’s work. “What a good girl you are. I l
ike it very much. Thank you for making that sketch for me. It was very thoughtful of you, my dear.” And to make certain Davy had not felt left out, she added, “Do not worry, little Davy, my love. When you’re a bit older, you’ll be able to sketch just as well as your sister.”

  “I want to drawwl Pug,” Davy exclaimed.

  “And indeed you shall,” Gran replied. “I can see that you adore Pug as much as I.”

  “You should bring your children to Manfred Place,” Miss Lemmon offered. “We have watercolors and Lucy could paint some lovely pictures. I think she shows a great deal of natural talent. Besides, all the children rub along so well.”

  “Yes, they do.” David recalled how well the four of them played near the berry patch that morning.

  “And Manfred Place has just had a litter of puppies,” Miss Lemmon added. “Perhaps the children would like to see them as well?”

  “Puppies!” Lucy and Davy nearly shouted together.

  Off to one side, Nanny cautioned them with a soft, “Children . . .”

  Lucy, perhaps unaware of Nanny’s warning, made her wishes known with her unfettered response, “I want to see the puppies! I like puppies!”

  Davy joined in and added an exuberant jump with every repetition. “Puppies! Puppies! Puppies!”

  Pug, who had been on his best behavior, stood, barked, and turned in quick, small circles.

  Nanny stepped forward to intervene before chaos erupted. She was too late.

  “No, Pug! Quiet! Hush now!” Mrs. Sutton scolded the dog. “Quiet!”

  Davy, who had been jumping in place, now bounded about the room with Pug at his heels. Lucy hadn’t moved from the spot she stood, but she was shaking with excitement regarding the puppies.

  “Children,” Mrs. Parker called in a stern manner, gaining their attention. “I will be so good as to remind you what we discussed before we entered.”

  “Oh no!” Lucy clapped her hands over her mouth; her eyes opened wide.

  Davy immediately copied his sister. “Oh, no-es!”

  “I think you two should be on your way now. This visit has come to an end,” Mrs. Parker announced and called for Nanny to take charge.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lucy replied, and Davy copied his sister. “Good day, Gran.” She leaned toward the woman and kissed her on the cheek before heading for the door.

  Davy ran across the room to kiss Gran on the same cheek, as his sister had. “G’day, Gran.”

  She had to lean forward to collect the precious token.

  The lad dashed out of the room after his sister. Pug, still bringing up the rear, followed Davy across the room to Gran and then dashed out the door. Nanny rushed out after them.

  “Goodness!” Mrs. Parker let loose her aggravation. “They knew what was expected of them, but the excitement of the puppies was simply too much.”

  “I do beg your pardon.” Miss Lemmon’s gaze moved from Mrs. Parker to Gran. “I had no idea they would become so . . . unruly.”

  “Nor did I,” Mrs. Parker confessed. “Madam, are you unwell?”

  Grandmother Cavanaugh leaned back into the settee for a few seconds.

  “Madam? How are you feeling?” Nurse had left her chair and gone to the patient’s side.

  “Mrs. Cavanaugh?” Mrs. Sutton moved closer, making some slight motion for the two footmen to ready themselves in case they should be needed.

  Everyone stared, watching for some reaction.

  Gran’s eyes crinkled, and she finally took in a deep breath and laughed. An overwhelming relief replaced the concern that filled the room. “Oh, goodness! Puppies!” She laughed until she was out of breath, which did not take long. Then she began to cough and wheeze.

  The anxiety of those in the room became palpable, and David had no idea what he should do. All at once Mrs. Sutton was at Gran’s side, holding her upright.

  Nurse poured some liquid from a small container into a glass and brought it to the patient’s lips. “Take this draught. It will ease your coughing and aid your breathing.”

  Gran staved her coughing long enough to swallow the contents of the glass. She cleared her throat and appeared to breathe easy. With a cleansing sigh, she blinked her watering eyes and appeared to have returned to normal. “Aren’t those two the most precious darlings?”

  “Mrs. Sutton.” Nurse’s authoritative tone had meaning for Gran’s companion, for she knew exactly what to do.

  “Miss Lemmon, allow me to see you belowstairs. Madam needs her rest.” Mrs. Sutton led the way to the door, and the visitor trailed in her wake as if she, too, had known the unspoken protocol. Before quitting the room, Mrs. Sutton directed her last words to David and Mrs. Parker. “We will wait for you in the green parlor.”

  After having a few moments of unlabored breathing, Gran managed to speak with no difficulty. “You will bring the children for a visit again, won’t you?”

  “Of course I shall,” Mrs. Parker replied.

  “I would like you to return and read to me later, if you would?” was Gran’s second request.

  “I should like that above all things.” Mrs. Parker smiled before David took her gently by the arm to draw her out of the bedchamber.

  “We shall see how you go on; then we shall decide.” In all matters of the patient’s well-being, Nurse had the final say. “You are fatigued. We should get you back into bed.”

  “Yes, it is time.” Gran nodded.

  Nurse motioned for the footmen to approach.

  “Davy, you will make sure to offer Miss Lemmon tea. She has been most kind to call today. Perhaps the entire family should be invited to dinner.”

  “To bed, Madam,” Nurse instructed, motioning the footmen to take action. She moved to the bed, straightening the counterpane and turning down the blankets. With a nod, Nurse excused David and Mrs. Parker.

  “It’s about time Caroline takes her rightful place as the lady of the house, don’t you think? It is only right.”

  With his hand on her back, David encouraged Mrs. Parker to move to the door.

  “Puppies! Good heavens!” Gran continued to prattle on in a mirth-filled voice. “The only thing sweeter than children, I can imagine, are children and puppies!”

  The first visit had concluded, but not as successfully as Penny would have wished. All at once she experienced annoyance, relief, and confusion. She walked out of the sickroom toward the staircase, with David following not far behind. She intended to proceed to the green parlor where Miss Lemmon and Mrs. Sutton waited, but she stopped.

  Her hand remained on the banister, and she turned to address Mr. Cavanaugh. “What did your grandmother mean by ‘I should take my place as lady of the house’?”

  “Well, I suppose I might have told you earlier.” He did not exactly move away from her, but the distance between them grew. “I am the owner of this house. Gran lives here because . . . because she loves the place while I—”

  “Carry on about Town?” Penny offered. So there was the truth.

  David gave her a stern glance and replied, “While I dwell in an establishment more suitable to the taste and lifestyle which I prefer.”

  “Is that not what I said?” She fully understood the manner in which men, young men in particular, went about London drinking, gambling, and womanizing. Single and married men alike took advantage of those vices.

  A brief silence punctuated the following seconds before he spoke. “Not precisely. You make me sound as if I were some degenerate wretch.”

  “If you are the master of the house, then your grandmother is correct in thinking that, as your wife, I am the mistress, as little as I care to take on that role.” Not only had their visit altered from paying last respects to David Cavanaugh’s beloved dying grandmother, it had evolved into supporting her during the recovery. How long would that be? How could Penny, in all good conscience, run a household, w
hich she had come to learn was now hers—no, Caroline’s—to manage?

  Penny had no wish to run a household, much less make decisions, for a family that was not hers for weeks or even months. It simply was not proper.

  “But you will do as Gran asks, will you not?” The sorrowful look in his eyes pleaded for Penny to continue with the farce.

  She could not refuse. “Of course I shall do as I am bid.” To depart because she and the children were no longer needed for a dying woman’s last wish might set the patient into a decline. Penny’s short acquaintance with Grandmother Cavanaugh proved the old woman to be kind, loving, and well-deserving of any chance she had of regaining her health.

  It remained that Lucy and young Davy had to be returned to their parents, and Penny had to divorce herself from David by the end of this charade. On the other hand, under no circumstances could she allow him to take advantage, nor should he expect her involvement in continually pretending to be his wife. It was, in Penny’s opinion, far too much to ask.

  But for now they could continue.

  David pressed her hand in what Penny thought to be a warm, sincere gesture and murmured, “I truly thank you for helping my family . . . my grandmother . . . me. She’s all the family I have left.”

  The words weighed on Penny’s heart. She, who had had two sisters, only one of whom remained, could boast a dozen nieces and nephews with many, many more extended family members. The thought of no family at all was nearly unthinkable. How very sad for him, for the two of them, to be the last.

  She and David stood there for some minutes, his hand upon hers, and she allowed it. If not in comfort for him then in deep sympathy for his situation. He had no one to whom he could turn for help or to whom he could be totally honest, only her.

  “I will write to Frances and tell her of the change in our situation and that our delayed departure will be further delayed. Hopefully she will be understanding.” She wanted to say more but became acutely aware of being at the top of the staircase, where anyone happening down the corridors on the current floor, or on the landings of the other floors above them, might overhear. Penny merely whispered, “The children, you know.”