by Cheryl Holt
But always—always—he would ponder how happy he might have been if he’d been brave enough to elope with Faith to that little village on the beach in Spain.
He’d been woolgathering, his ruminations a thousand miles away when, all of a sudden, there was a stiffening among Sasha’s entourage. Someone pushed through the crowd, and when he saw who it was he mumbled an epithet. Fortunately, he was surrounded by Russians, and none of them knew the definition of the term.
“Hello, Price,” Alex said. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“How did you slither in?”
“How did you? I guess the hostess has no standards and will welcome any sort of scoundrel. Even you. Even me.”
Price chuckled, making light of the awkward encounter. “We told them to watch for you at the door.”
“Well, their butler must be blind—or perhaps I simply offered a decent bribe.”
“I’ll have to have the oaf fired.”
“You’ve been hiding from me. Are you a coward?”
“Damn straight,” Price vehemently retorted.
“I don’t think you’re a coward, Lord Pendergast. I think you’re so impressed with yourself that you presume you don’t have to answer to common people like me.”
“I don’t believe that. Don’t be an idiot.”
Price’s father barked, “Alex! Get out of here!”
Before he could be stopped, Alex tossed his whiskey in Price’s face, then he hit Price as hard as he could. He’d always thrown a powerful punch, and Price flew back and collapsed onto the floor. He attempted to stand, but he was too discombobulated.
Alex bent down and hit him again. He added a solid kick in the ribs that probably broke one or two but, preventing the infliction of any other damage, he was seized by Sasha’s guards and yanked away.
Price rose up on an elbow. Several men were clutching Alex by his arms, but he wasn’t struggling. He stood like a disdainful statue, staring down at Price as if he were vermin, as if he were a snake in the grass.
“Next time I see you,” Alex declared with a grim finality, “I’ll kill you.”
“No, you won’t,” Price scoffed. “I won’t duel with you so don’t challenge me. If you try, I won’t accept.”
“And why is that, you prick? Are you about to claim she’s not worth fighting over? If so, I’ll murder you right now.”
“I’ve never thought that.”
Price’s father intervened. He nodded to the men holding Alex. “Remove him from our presence. Find a private spot and detain him until we can call for the authorities. He’s a maniac, and I want him arrested.”
Alex looked over at Price’s princess and scrutinized her with an enormous amount of derision. “Good luck with your new husband,” he seethed. “Are you aware of what a contemptible libertine he is? He’ll seduce any girl who passes by. I’m betting he’ll sire a thousand bastard children before he’s through. I hope you’re prepared for all the shame he’ll heap on you.”
“Get him out!” Price’s father shouted to no one in particular.
He was dragged away, and Price came up on his knees, then Sasha lifted him up. She was scowling, a minion whispering in her ear, translating Alex’s insults. But she was royalty and trained to behave appropriately in every circumstance so she showed no reaction.
She might have been royalty and trained for every humiliating occasion, but he wasn’t. There was no way to maintain any aplomb. Blood was gushing down his chin and dripping onto his shirt. By morning, his eyes would likely be swelled shut. His head was pounding as if an anvil had landed on it.
He peeked around at the shocked spectators. “If you’ll excuse me? I’m not well.”
He strutted out, but his knees were weak and his focus on the door and a hasty escape. Sasha didn’t follow him. Neither did any of her entourage for which he was immensely grateful.
His father chased after him though, and they hurried out. They ignored the titters and stunned glances, and they didn’t speak a word about what had occurred.
After all, what was there to say?
* * * *
Faith’s carriage rolled into the yard at the cottage, and she was slumped in the seat, feeling completely drained. She wasn’t sure why she’d raced to town. She’d simply annoyed Alex and had had no effect on his plans. It had been a total waste of time.
He’d stayed out all night, and when she’d crawled out of bed, none of the servants had any information about where he was or if there’d been trouble. For all she knew, he might be dead and lying in an undertaker’s parlor. Or Lord Pendergast might be dead and Alex arrested for murder.
Camilla had been home though, but was still sleeping, and Faith had had no desire to socialize with the despicable shrew so she’d headed for Wallace Downs. She’d left a note for Alex and instructions with the butler to send a messenger if there was bad news. The entire trip, she’d fretted over her decision, and twice she’d nearly ordered the driver to turn around and take her back.
Yet she’d been suffering from the very real concern that—had she tarried in the city—Alex and Lord Pendergast might swagger in together, two old chums demanding breakfast be served. Perhaps there had been no quarrel, and they’d spent the hours carousing like the friends they’d always been, and they would stumble in drunk and rowdy and expecting her to think they were amusing and charming.
So…she’d rushed away just as fast as the horses could carry her.
To her surprise, another carriage—one she didn’t recognize—was parked out front. She peered out the window, seeing Abigail and the twins were outside, wearing cloaks and bonnets as if they were dressed for traveling. There were three portmanteaux strapped to the boot.
What was wrong? She couldn’t bear any further upheaval.
Her vehicle stopped, and she didn’t wait for the footmen to escort her out. She pushed open the door and leapt to the ground, the impact jarring her knees and shoulders.
“Miss Faith! Miss Faith!” the girls called, and they dashed over to her. “You’re home! We’re going away! We’re going right now!”
They were chattering a mile a minute, and she couldn’t make sense of a single comment. She cast a significant look at Abigail, and Abigail shrugged as if she was embarrassed.
“I need to speak to Faith alone,” she told them. “Why don’t you run upstairs to check if we forgot anything?”
“You won’t leave without us, will you?” Mary asked. “Promise you won’t.”
“No, I won’t leave. Don’t be silly.”
They skipped inside, and they were giggling, appearing happier than Faith could ever remember them being.
“What on Earth is happening?” she inquired once their voices had faded.
“We’re off to London,” Abigail said.
“To London?” Faith replied with no small amount of exasperation. “What for?”
“To live? To work?”
“You’re taking the girls with you? Shouldn’t you talk to Alex first?”
“He gave them to me.”
“When?”
“Yesterday. He was willing to grant me permanent custody—if I went immediately and swore we’d never bother him in the future.”
Faith frowned. “I’m confused. I was in London with him yesterday, and he was much too busy to worry about you or the twins.”
“Miss Robertson visited me last night. She passed on the message for him.”
“Ah…” Faith mused. “What was the message?”
“He’s supported them all these years, and it’s time for the Henleys to do their share. I could hardly argue the point, and I don’t mind. I’m very glad actually.”
“Isn’t this rather sudden?”
“Very sudden.”
“You’re positive this is what Alex wanted?”
“Of course. Miss Robertson was very clear.”
“Yes, well, I wouldn’t necessarily believe her.”
“Why would she lie? After he learned my true name, he was so angry. You saw him. You heard him.”
“It’s awfully uncivil of him to practically shove you out the door. Aren’t you incensed? Aren’t you furious?”
Abigail shrugged again. “Yes, but how can it matter? Should I dawdle until he’s back? Should I beg him to calm down and reassess his proposal? I won’t. I can’t.”
Faith recalled how livid Alex had been in London. He’d let himself grow attached to her, but it had all come crashing down and that was probably the real reason he wouldn’t forgive her. She’d ruined whatever weird dream he’d concocted that she would somehow be the perfect wife to fix what was wrong with him.
“I’m certain it wouldn’t help to beg anyway,” Faith said.
“Precisely. I loved my brother very much, and I’m still grieving the loss of him. I’m mortified over how he inflicted himself on your brother, but I can’t stay here where I’d have to spend the rest of my life apologizing for him. I’m not sorry he sired Mary and Millie. I’m so relieved I found them.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“And I hate to sound snooty or pretentious, but I am Lord Middlebury’s daughter. Because of my reduced circumstances, I’ve had to deny who I am, but I will no longer feel guilty or ashamed. Through no fault of my own, my world fell apart and I’ve been forced to earn my income, but I’m Lord Middlebury’s daughter. Mary and Millie are his only grandchildren, and your brother has behaved despicably toward us.”
“Yes, he has, and the most contemptible piece of the story is that he doesn’t realize it. Or if he does, he’s not disturbed by it.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“What I don’t understand though is Alex dumping the twins on you or why he’d consent to your simply traipsing off like this. He’s always been fond of them.”
“He’s had a funny way of showing it. All of you have.”
Faith was aware that she’d been a terrible caretaker, and her cheeks flushed with chagrin. She might have attempted to explain yet again that she wasn’t a mother, but it was futile to hash it out. She’d been atrociously lazy and shouldn’t offer any excuses.
“I won’t let them be ignored,” Abigail said. “I won’t let them be shunned or discounted or disregarded. No one here has ever wanted them, but I want them.”
“Where will you be in London?”
“My first stop will be at Mrs. Ford’s employment agency. Your brother met with her and requested she find me another position so hopefully I’ll soon be working again.”
“Alex spoke to her for you?”
“Yes.”
“According to Camilla?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t imagine him doing that, but I suppose anything is possible.”
“Apparently, he’s trying to guarantee I have the revenue to support them. He’s anxious to ensure I never contact him again.”
“What if Camilla tricked you? What if she’s sending you away merely because Alex fancied you? She’s such a jealous shrew. She would use any subterfuge to be rid of you.”
“Why would she have to trick me? I’ve been fired and ordered out by Sunday. I’m simply departing a bit earlier than planned.”
“I wish you’d wait until Alex is home.”
“Wait!” Abigail snorted with disgust. “Why would I? So he can insult me again? So he can insult my name or my family? So he can inform me that he loathes me and his marriage proposal was a mistake?” She shook her head with derision. “No thank you, Faith. I believe I’ll skip that conversation.”
“I can’t picture him permitting you to trot off like this.”
“Why wouldn’t he? Tell me when the twins were ever welcome here. Tell me a single person who has ever been glad they arrived.”
“I was glad,” Faith insisted, “and Alex cares about them. Occasionally, it seems like he doesn’t, but he is fond. I swear it.”
Abigail scoffed. “In my view, he’s found the perfect means to be shed of them with hardly any effort. I was eager to remain here with them, and it was my major motive in accepting his proposal. But as Miss Robertson pointed out, he’s supported them for a decade. Why should he have had to?”
“The Church and the law consider them to be his children.”
“Yes, but his wife was very vocal in proclaiming that they’re not, and the whole world knows they’re not. They’re Henleys. They’re Hayden Henley’s daughters and my nieces, and I’m delighted to have them. I figured I’d have to beg for years simply to be able to visit. Now they’re mine forever.”
“Will you write to me?” Faith asked.
“If I can. If I have the money to post a letter!”
“You’re penniless so it makes no sense for you to leave. Has Alex offered you any help with your expenses? Will he arrange a stipend?”
“He gave me a few pounds to settle us in London, but that’s it.”
Faith was perplexed. “That doesn’t sound like Alex. I’ll talk to him about providing an allowance. I’ll nag at him until he agrees.”
“If I were overly proud, I’d decline any assistance, but I guess I’m not overly proud. If you could convince him to be even a tad generous, I would be extremely grateful.”
“I will wear him down. He feels guilty about many issues so it’s easy to coerce him into better behavior. He’s constantly looking for ways to redeem himself.”
“Since you mentioned he’ll be returning home, I assume you managed to avert catastrophe in London.”
“I have no idea if I averted it. We argued about Lord Pendergast, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“You haven’t heard if they quarreled?”
“He was out all night and wasn’t back when I left this morning. I don’t know if he’s in jail or if he was simply reveling until dawn. If he killed Lord Pendergast in a duel, the authorities would probably have stopped by to apprise the staff.”
“I’m exasperated with both men.”
“And I refuse to worry about any folly they might have committed.”
Their banter dwindled, and they gazed at each other. Because of Faith’s low status in society, she’d had few friends in her life. In a very short interval, Abigail had become a friend, and Faith would grieve over her departure.
“If you have trouble in town,” she said, “my door will always be open to you.”
“I won’t have trouble.” Abigail pondered, then said, “Or if I do have trouble, I’ll have to rescue myself. I promised your brother I’d never show up at Wallace Downs again. It was his chief demand so I could have custody.”
“I don’t give two figs about Alex or the ridiculous terms he imposed on you. This cottage is mine. Not his. If Camilla lied to you, or if matters don’t resolve as you’re hoping, come back.”
“Why don’t you come with us?” Abigail suddenly asked. “After all, what is there for you here?”
Faith cocked her head as if the suggestion was too confusing to unravel. “Leave…Wallace Downs?”
“Yes. In my opinion, your treatment here has been hideous. Tell Alex to stuff it, and leave with us.”
Faith tried to imagine the future she was offering, the little house they’d rent in London. Faith would set up a studio in a rear parlor, would begin painting. She and Abigail would build a family with the twins. They’d be like a pair of spinster sisters, living alone with no man to boss them.
It was a fascinating and amusing vision, but she would never do it. Once previous—when she’d loved Lord Pendergast so desperately—she’d dreamed a wild, exotic dream about running away and starting over, but that was a fantasy. A person couldn’t change into someone else. A person—a female especially—couldn’t carry on in a free and independent manner.
The truth was that Faith was a coward and too wary to strike out on her own. She’d believed she could—with Lord Pendergast—but the collapse of that pretty picture had nearly destroyed her.
N
o, she’d stay at Wallace Downs. She’d reside in the small cottage her father had provided. She’d see and socialize with her half-brother, Alex. She’d welcome her brother, Trevor, when he had a holiday from school. The years would roll by, and she’d wonder about Abigail out in the big, wide world.
She would root for her success, but it would be from her quiet corner at Wallace Downs.
“I can’t come with you, Abigail,” she murmured.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, but swear you’ll keep in touch. I’ll be excited to hear all about your adventures.”
That was all the private conversation they could manage. The twins bounded out of the house, and they each had an apple.
“May we take these?” Mary asked Faith. “Aunt Abigail said we should bring some food with us.”
Faith liked that they were already calling Abigail their aunt. Perhaps the situation would work out and she needn’t fret so much.
“You can have as many apples as you like,” she said.
“These are enough,” Mary replied.
“Our bedroom is empty,” Millie said to Abigail. “I think we have everything.”
Then it was time for farewell.
Faith gave Abigail a tight hug which surprised them both. Faith was reticent and reserved and not the type to embrace others.
“Be careful,” she urged.
“I will,” Abigail promised.
Faith knelt down and extended her arms to the girls. They too were aware she wasn’t demonstrative, and she’d never hugged them in the past. Why hadn’t she?
“Come on.” She waved them closer.
They exchanged a look, then they burst over to her, and she cradled them to her bosom. She held them much longer than was necessary, until they began to squirm, then she released them.
“I’m going to miss you two,” she told them.
“We’ll miss you!” they responded in unison.
She stood as Abigail gestured to the carriage. The girls clambered in, then she went over to the step, but she paused to glance back at Faith.
“If your brother ever asks about me, tell him I’m sorry things turned out so badly between us.”