Patricia Wynn

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by Lord Tom


  Susan was speechless with shock. Lady Mewhinny knew all about Lord Harleston? And yet she had said nothing about it? Then she must have known about her own misdoings as well. The thought filled Susan with shame for her deception and gratitude for her ladyship’s forbearance. She had cut her nephew off and refused to hear him on the subject.

  Mr. Petworthy was similarly surprised, although he had not done with his blustering. He continued to protest his innocence, divorcing himself from the actions of his friend and insisting that if Sodporth were mistaken in his diagnosis no one would be more relieved than he. Finally, Mr. Phillips judged it was time to step in.

  “Nonsense!” he said, to put an end to the business. “You have schemed to do away with your aunt and to obtain her fortune. I have had you followed these many months, Petworthy, and it is clear that you have been trading on expectations of these events for some time. It is known throughout the city that you are all done up. You have massive debts and, it is reasonably assumed, were involved in a recent scandal in which a widow was cheated out of her fortune. You had best give up the sham, Petworthy, if you do not wish to have the full story disclosed before a court.”

  The result of this speech was that Petworthy, who had turned first red with indignation, then rather greenish, was left without a word. He fell back onto a chair and placed his head in his hands.

  Lady Mewhinny glanced briefly at him without lifting her head from her work. Then, resuming it, she said in a tolerant voice, “You always did remind me of my sister-in-law, Augustus. And she never could be relied upon to tell the truth. There was bad blood in the Mewhinnys. What a mercy Sir William was spared it.”

  Then she went on, “But I hope you do not think I will allow a nephew of Sir William’s to languish in a prison cell, no matter how well he deserves it. Mr. Phillips has arranged to pay back whatever of your debts are owed to honourable persons, particularly the widow, Augustus.” Here her voice was almost stern. “The remainder I shall leave unpaid to teach them not to do business with you again. And,” she added forcibly, “to keep you ever in their minds should you try to reenter the country.”

  Mr. Petworthy looked up at this with a degree of hope. “You will assist me in leaving the country?”

  Her ladyship nodded. “It is more than you deserve, of course, and a great burden to be placing on the French, despite their excesses. But I cannot have you lurking about England, for I make no mistake you would murder me in my bed if you could.” This was all said quite calmly, and she added a particular after-note to Susan, “I hope you will forgive me for sending him there, dear.”

  Her remark puzzled Susan. Why should Lady Mewhinny apologize to Susan for sending her nephew to France if she already knew Susan was not French? But it was no time to ask for enlightenment. She was pleased to see that Lady Mewhinny did not think her beneath reproach for her own deception. Mr. Phillips then made the suggestion that Susan should be allowed to retire while the others discussed the arrangements to be made. This included Mr. Petworthy’s signature on a document, which had already been prepared, renouncing all further claim to his uncle’s estate after the death of his aunt. Susan left the room and went up to her chamber.

  Now she knew it was time to leave. They had been discovered. Susan had only to find out what action Mr. Phillips or Lady Mewhinny planned to take with respect to her misdeeds. With a perverse calm, she packed her bags and sent word to the stables that they would leave on the morrow. She thought it would be best not to face Lord Harleston until then. For herself, she was resigned to whatever was in store for her. But the problem of Lord Harleston’s stubbornness remained. How could she convince him to abandon her to her fate? She spent the remainder of the day trying to form an argument that would serve.

  Uncertain of the reception she would receive, she nevertheless went down to dinner at the appropriate time. She found Lady Mewhinny and Mr. Phillips seated comfortably. They greeted her as if nothing untowards had happened. They explained that the other gentlemen had departed, but nothing further was said on the subject until Lady Mewhinny and she rose from the table and made their way into the drawing room.

  Once they were alone together, Lady Mewhinny gave Susan some startling news. “Dear Susan, I must tell you that your maid has also departed.”

  Susan looked at her in blank astonishment. “Peg?” she asked, thoroughly dumbfounded. She had forgotten all about her.

  “Yes, my dear,” Lady Mewhinny said, only mildly apologetic. “Perhaps I ought to have consulted you, but I really did it for the best. You see, when I saw that she was forming an attachment to my nephew Augustus’s manservant, I thought it could be an answer to a dilemma. The man is not a good sort, but I truly believe he had nothing to do with Augustus’s plans, and considering this, I gave him a few coins and dropped a word in his ear. He was most anxious to take himself off before there could be any trouble. And I do not think he was loath to take the girl with him.”

  “But why, Lady Mewhinny?” Susan asked, still confused. “I admit I will not miss the girl at all, but why did you think it needed to be done?”

  Lady Mewhinny positively giggled and gave her a sly look, “Why, my dear, let us just say I did not approve of her behaviour and thought you would do better with another maid. Before Augustus’s man came, you know, she was forever making eyes at your groom.”

  Susan blushed to the roots of her hair. The implication was unmistakable. Now that the subject had been broached, however, she felt she must make an apology.

  “Oh, Kitty,” she said earnestly. “I hope you will forgive me. Indeed, it was all my doing and I was fully conscious of the injustice to you in the deception. So conscious that I was eager to be off in spite of the kindness you have shown me. I will never forget it,” she said, a catch in her throat. “But we felt we had to stay on to do something to stop Mr. Petworthy from harming you. And Lord—Lord Tom, that is,” she amended, hoping to keep his name at least out of their discussion, “he was only doing it to assist me.”

  “I know it, my dear,” Lady Mewhinny said, dismissing the rest with a wave of her hand. “And believe me, I am most grateful. And I, in turn, shall apologize for Mr. Phillips’s questioning you. He told me he thought he should assure himself of your good intentions. But I expect you will wish to be getting on with your journey.”

  Susan could only nod in silence, but as Mr. Phillips chose that moment to join them, she excused herself with the notion of packing and went up to her room. As she lay awake that night, looking up at the nymphs on the ceiling, she could only wonder at her ladyship’s perspicacity, that she should have found them all out without the least trouble at all.

  Susan tried not to think about her final meeting with Tom on the morrow. It appeared that she had been spared by Lady Mewhinny’s great sense of mercy, but she had nearly led Tom to his ruin. Tomorrow she would have to send him away from her for good. But in spite of her firm resolution, she spent the better part of the night dreading what was to come.

  * * * *

  The next morning, bright and early, Susan prepared to leave. The coach was at the door, Tom standing beside it at attention. As the light from the sun struck the golden highlights in his hair, Susan felt a dull pain rise in her throat, but she steeled her resolution and went into the drawing room to bid Lady Mewhinny goodbye.

  Her ladyship was alone, and as Susan entered she beckoned her to take the chair beside her.

  “There is just one more thing I wish to say to you before you go, dearest Susan,” she said. “And I hope you will not be offended to hear it from me.”

  Susan hastened to reassure her. “Of course not! How could I be, Kitty, after your kindness to me! What is it?”

  Her ladyship smiled at her wisely and patted her hand. “Just this, dear. I would advise you to use a little more discretion when having an affair with your groom. If Augustus, silly and stupid as he is, could discover you, there will surely be others who will do so. And they might not be so easily silenced.” She delivered
this statement with the greatest of calm.

  “An affair with my groom?” Susan could do nothing more than repeat the words in bewilderment.

  Lady Mewhinny patted her hand again. “Of course, my dear. Did you not hear me say I knew all about it? But I would not let Augustus expose you publicly, cad that he is! And you must not fear that I disapprove of you. No, no! It is not that. Why, I took Vigor to my bed not long after Sir William’s death, so I understand perfectly, but it is easier to be discreet in one’s own house than in strange surroundings. I just thought I should drop a word in your ear.”

  “You took Vigor to your—” Susan stopped herself before her astonishment could give her away. Lady Mewhinny had not discovered the imposture after all. Susan remembered that Mr. Petworthy had not actually used Lord Harleston’s name in the drawing room. When he had referred so scathingly to “my lord,” Lady Mewhinny must have thought he was referring to her groom’s nickname.

  A wave of relief rushed through Susan as she thanked Providence that she had not used his name herself, and that her ladyship’s deafness to her accent had made her oblivious to its absence.

  Blushing furiously, Susan gulped and thanked Lady Mewhinny for her advice.

  “And there is one more thing, my dear,” her ladyship said. “I understand that your fortune is not entirely in your hands, but I would so like you to become a member of our society. I would gladly enter your name as an honorary member, if you have no objection. There are so many ways you might be helpful to us, and I feel your gentle heart is worth more to our cause than any donation.”

  Susan thanked her warmly and accepted the honour, giving her governess’s address as her own. Then she stood and did her best to conceal her agitation while they made their affectionate farewells, after which she walked in a daze to the carriage.

  In another minute she and Tom were bowling down the road at an eager pace, leaving the last bit of Sussex behind them. Susan was hardly recovered from her shock when the carriage pulled over to the side of the road and came to an abrupt halt. In another second, Lord Harleston had opened the door and joined her inside.

  He took her in his arms and kissed her ruthlessly before asking, “What happened, Susan? How was it all resolved?”

  She answered him in a daze, which had not been lessened by his lordship’s embrace, “She knew it. Kitty had discovered it all. And she had hired Mr. Phillips to handle the matter before we even knew what was wrong.” She looked up at Tom and saw that his eyes were lit with admiration.

  “Had she, by God! What a sharp-witted old woman! I can see that I wronged her. But what about you, love? Did she say nothing about you?”

  Susan forgot her resolution. “Oh, Tom!” she said. “She thought I was having an affair with my groom! I thought she had discovered us as well. I had even dropped my French accent. But she thought we were . . .” She trailed off, aware of the danger of completing her sentence, and blushed.

  Lord Tom threw his head back and laughed. “What a perfect idea!” he said finally. “I wonder we did not think of it ourselves! We must invite her ladyship to the wedding.”

  But here Susan recalled her determination. “There must be no wedding, my lord, you forget. I am sure, upon reflection, that you will see the wisdom of it. Why, we are practically strangers.”

  “Strangers!” He almost released her in his surprise. “But how can you say that? Why, madam, need I remind you that you have made use—very freely and frequently I might add—of my Christian name!”

  Susan looked at him indignantly. “I have not!” she replied. “That was purely a masquerade!”

  He gazed down at her lovingly and shook his head. With sudden comprehension she weakened and her eyes misted over. “Are you really Tom?” she asked him, reaching a soft hand up to touch his cheek.

  That was more than his lordship could resist, and he assured her with all the force of his kisses that it was indeed so.

  Drawing back at last, with all the courage she could muster, Susan made one last attempt. “Lord Harleston, you forget yourself. I am grateful . . . more than grateful for all you have done to help me. But we must not deceive ourselves. You must leave me at the next town and I will go on by post from there. You needn’t worry about me; I shall be perfectly all right.”

  He laughed at her seriousness and tried to bring her into his arms again, but Susan resisted. “I’m afraid it is much too late for that with me,” he said. “I love you. And you love me!”

  Susan threw him a look of anguish. “But what if they send me to gaol? What if they hang me?”

  He shook his head and forced her to rest within the confines of his arms. With resignation, she gave up pretending.

  “It will not do, my love,” she sighed. “I will not be Lady Harleston with the legal authorities after me. You would be ruined, and I would rather die.”

  Ignoring this protest completely, he answered, “Then imagine me, if you will, Susan—old and weary, as I someday shall be. And alone. Absolutely alone. For I will have no other.”

  Her eyes filled with tears again before she understood his tactics. Then, perceiving a twinkle behind his tragic demeanour, she tried to hold him off, laughing reluctantly through her tears.

  But soon the realization of her own weakness stirred her to anger. “It will not serve, my lord! You may try to break my heart, but you shall not break my resolve. I know what I must do. And marry you I will not!”

  “Not even if your name should be cleared?” he whispered into her hair.

  The warmth of his breath sent a delicious chill down to her toes. She wanted to melt against him. “Please do not tease me,” she said in a small voice.

  He took her chin in his hand and made her look up at him. “I am not teasing. One of the things I did in London was to work towardss obtaining your pardon. I have already arranged for an audience with Prinny. His aides tell me he is very receptive to the notion, and my application will be a mere formality. He had quite an admiration for your father. And besides, he is such a romantic that he will not be able to refuse me when I tell him how much I love you. Of course, he will want to be invited to the wedding.” Susan opened her mouth to protest again, but he silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. “I shall simply tell him I made your acquaintance in Calais. He need not know anything about this adventure.”

  She shook herself free. “My lord, I know you mean to do as you say. But how can you be certain of anything? I am not such a goose that I do not know how fickle the Regent can be. By the time you get back to London, he will have forgotten his intentions of yesterday.’ ‘

  It was Lord Harleston’s turn to shake his head. For once he regarded her in perfect seriousness. “No, he will not.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out an official-looking document. “Unpredictable though he may be at times, even the Regent cannot ignore a commitment to a peer. I have an appointment to see him, and I shall not give up until I have your pardon,” Then he added, “But in truth, Susan, you mistake the seriousness of it. Your father knew it would all blow over. He said as much to me. And I have no doubt he had his suspicions on another score.”

  Startled, Susan looked up at him with big eyes.

  He nodded. Then, his expression softening, he said, “Do you think he did not wish for this match? He must have known I had only to see you and know your courageous heart before falling instantly in love with you. Oh, perhaps he could not be certain,” he said, when he saw the lingering doubt on her face. “But he must have seen from the outset that things were going as he wished. I know I saw it myself.”

  Susan gazed into his sparkling brown eyes and saw an assurance there which overcame all her objections. The knowledge that her father’s machinations had been at work all along removed her remaining scruples.

  She nodded her head, unable to speak, and he gathered her in his arms and pressed her to him. Then, just as her happiness so overwhelmed her that she could scarcely stand it, his groom’s voice sounded in her ear.

  �
��I always fancied a bit of a go in the carriage with the mistress.”

  “Tom!” she shrieked, betraying her delight with a gurgle.

  “Don’t worry, my lady,” he said pulling a forelock, but his voice was shaking. “It will be exactly as you please.”

  Copyright © 1990 by Patricia Wynn

  Originally published by Harlequin Regency [ISBN 0373311249]

  Electronically published in 2011 by Belgrave House

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more

  information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228

  http://www.belgravehouse.com

  Electronic sales: [email protected]

  This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  LORD TOM

  Patricia Wynn

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

 

 

 


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