Cry of the Baroness: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 9

by Jennifer Monroe

  What had surprised Isaac the most was Harmony’s naivety. The woman actually believed that kindness would somehow make up for years of torment and shame, that it would make him see some sort of mythical light and change his ways.

  He wanted to laugh. The amount of time she and her lady’s maid put into readying her each day told him her intentions in befriending him were much more than she cared to admit. Did they honestly believe that he was some wide-eyed child who had yet to experience the harshness of the world?

  He had found several places where he could hide and listen to the conversations of others. Whenever Harmony and her maid were together, they spoke to one another like old friends rather than mistress and servant, which meant they revealed far more than he could have ever anticipated.

  He now knew all her worries and fears, and all of them concerned her husband. She had said on many occasions that they had grown distant, which sent a surge of elation coursing through Isaac. Everything could not have been better if he had planned it himself!

  And this party! It was set at the most opportune time. With Nathaniel returning from his excursion to London, he would return home to an empty house, which would arouse his suspicions further. Each time he was able to get a rise out of his brother was like gaining a point in a game of pall mall, although he had never played himself. That was reserved for those he served. Well, now it was him others would serve!

  He shook his head and exchanged his empty glass for another from the tray of a passing footman and continued his contemplation, ignoring the music and laughter that surrounded him. As far as he was concerned, his first party as a member of the ton thus far was underwhelming. Where was the exuberant dancing? The outrageousness of men grasping at women’s breasts? The feigned outrage of those ladies as they giggled behind their fans? The parties at which he had served were never this placid.

  “You have become awfully quiet,” Harmony said. “Are you all right?”

  Breaking away from his thoughts, he glanced around the room. He had met several people, although he would not remember their names tomorrow, and they were all as dull as the paint on the walls. “I am well,” he replied. “I was merely thinking…No, forgive me. It does not matter.” He lifted his glass to his lips to hide the sliver of a smile.

  “Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

  “No, that is not it. Everyone has been polite to me.” He finished off the remainder of his brandy in one go and waited for the room to stop spinning before continuing. It was not an unpleasant feeling, but he had to keep his head about him if he was to see success this night. “I was thinking of Mary and how she would have enjoyed being a part of such a wonderful evening.”

  He stifled a chuckle. Mary was the butcher’s daughter with whom he had shared a delectable night and nothing more. The woman was alive and well and waiting for Isaac to return, which, of course, he never would.

  “I am certain she would have had a wonderful time,” Harmony said, her voice dripping with sympathy.

  Such an easily malleable woman! And strikingly beautiful. How he longed to run his hands through that auburn hair!

  He shook his head. Now was not the time to give in to temptation; he had too much to do before then.

  Rather than gathering her into his arms and ravishing her as he wanted, he looked down at the floor and assumed the pitiful stance of a man in mourning. “Your words are kind and have made me realize I should not despair.” He looked up at her and smiled. “I see that your wineglass is empty.” He lifted his glass. “As is mine. Come, let us get another drink and enjoy the festivities.”

  Soon they were edging their way through the crowd. He never imagined there were this many members of the ton in Wiltshire. And they all were watching him, the new gentleman no one knew with a lovely woman on his arm no one had yet to meet. Perhaps if she was lucky, when he ran her husband and his family from Scarlett Hall, he would allow her to remain.

  When he handed her another glass, she shook her head. “I really should not,” she replied with a light laugh that was like crystal shards falling to the floor. “This will be my third and I really should only have two.”

  “This will be our last outing together,” he said with a small pout. “Once the letter to the solicitors is on its way tomorrow, I will make my preparations to leave.”

  How quickly one’s mind can change, he thought as Harmony took the glass he offered. He had perfected the art of getting her to do his bidding without her believing he was coercing her. She was so easily manipulated! She had even worn the green gown he liked because he had requested she do so.

  As he sipped at his drink, Harmony looked around the room, allowing him a moment to drink in the swell of her breasts as they peeked above the neckline. The long lovely neck begging to be kissed. The delectable ears pleading to be nibbled. Thankfully, the woman was not hideous or it would have made the time with her that much more unpleasant.

  “Would you care to make the acquaintance of some more people?” she asked. “I have seen several more gentlemen who arrived after us whom we have yet to meet.”

  “No, I do not wish to meet anyone else,” he replied. “Why make new friends when I will only be leaving soon?”

  Harmony looked down at her glass. “I am sorry. Perhaps you can find a home nearby, that way you will be near your family.”

  “Why, that is a marvelous idea, Mary,” he said. Then he shook his head. “Forgive me. I believe I may have had a bit too much to drink.” Of course, the use of Mary’s name had been no accident. “When I see you, I see her, as I have told you before.”

  She patted his arm, that sympathy returning to her voice. “I understand, and I am not offended in the least.”

  He offered her a smile. “That is why we are friends. You are so like her.” He walked her to a far wall, ready to implement the next part of his plan. “May I tell you a story about Mary? I find that reminiscing about her keeps her close to me.”

  “Oh, yes,” Harmony replied. “I would love to hear more about her.”

  “Then I will tell you how we met,” Isaac replied, his grin wide. “And what could have been.”

  ***

  The carriage pitched when a wheel hit a rut in the road, and Harmony grasped the side of the carriage to keep from colliding with Isaac. The man had continued drinking at the party until his words slurred, yet when she encouraged him to stop, he only drank more.

  What was worse was when the guests began to depart for the evening and Harmony thought they, too, would return home, Isaac chose that moment to speak to Lord Hallewell and requested that Harmony not go with him. As he stumbled toward their host, Harmony turned away to keep from witnessing the mess she was certain he would make of things.

  Thankfully, she had convinced him it was time to leave. They were not far from Scarlett Hall, the hour well past midnight, and Harmony thought she could sleep an entire week. She had hoped to welcome her husband home, but the evening had gone on far too long.

  “It was then I knew I loved Mary,” Isaac said, his words running together. Then he sighed heavily. “But it does not matter now. I am destined to be alone.”

  Despite her frustration with the man, she did feel pity for him. “You will find the right woman,” she said kindly. “And although she will never replace Mary, I believe you will love her all the same.”

  Isaac sighed. “Why is it that your words always bring me peace, yet Nathaniel’s always brings me anger? You are a worthy baroness, but my brother is not worthy to clean the stables.”

  Harmony gave him a firm frown. “Isaac, you should not say such things. Nathaniel is my husband, and I will not have you speak about him in such a disparaging way.”

  The carriage came to a stop, and Harmony was glad they were home.

  “Oh, Mary,” he bleated, “I am sorry.”

  She frowned again. “I am not Mary…”

  “I could never meet your expectations,” he continued as if she had not spoken. “I hope you know I tried.”
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br />   Harmony looked upon her brother-in-law with pity. Never had he expressed the pain of the loss of the woman he loved with such feeling. How heartbreaking it was to see him suffer so!

  The door opened, and Harmony alighted from the carriage. Isaac followed suit, stumbling down the step the footman had placed. He grasped onto her shoulders and placed his mouth close to her ear. “I will drink myself to death tonight,” he whispered.

  Harmony gasped as he pushed away from her and made his way up the stairs that led to the portico. The full moon lit the grounds of Scarlett Hall with an eerie light, casting equally eerie shadows.

  Grasping her skirts, she hurried after him to make certain he did not tumble down the steps and hurt himself. By the time she reached the door, however, he was already inside.

  A lit candle sat on the table, flickering as Isaac stumbled past it. He then stopped and took the candle in hand before swaying down the long hallway toward the drawing room, bellowing as he went.

  “Mary, where are you?”

  Fearing the man would wake Nathaniel, or even worse, burn down the entire house, Harmony tried to reach for the candle while shushing him, but he ignored her.

  He pushed open the door to the drawing room and used the candle he held to light the others. With each lighting, the room became brighter.

  “No one cares for me,” he shouted. “I am nothing more than a nuisance.”

  “Isaac, please,” she whispered, “lower your voice. You will wake the entire household.”

  He ignored her as he finished lighting the remaining candles, many more than were necessary for their need.

  “My own brother hates me.”

  She clicked her tongue in vexation and took the candle from his hand. “He does not hate you,” she said firmly as she set down the holder. “I am sure he cares for you in his own way.”

  Isaac lifted a decanter of brandy and a glass. “I will drink three bottles tonight and hope I do not wake in the morning. Death is more welcoming to me than my own brother.”

  Harmony hurried over to him, took the decanter and glass from his hand, and returned them to the table. For a moment, she thought she heard footsteps coming from the floor above them but had no time to ruminate on them as Isaac swayed on his feet.

  “You have already had plenty for one night,” she admonished. “Now you are speaking foolishness. I recommend you go to bed and sleep and forget about Mary.”

  The pain in Isaac’s eyes pierced her heart. She had not meant to hurt him, but that was exactly what she had done.

  Placing a hand on his arm, she said, “Oh, Isaac, I am sorry…”

  A smile spread across his face. “Mary, you have returned! I knew you would!”

  Harmony thought her heart would break into a thousand pieces. “Isaac, I am not who you believe me to be. I am…”

  Then to her horror, he placed his hands on either side of her face and pressed his lips to hers.

  She tried to push against his chest, but he had slipped his hands behind her back and pulled her against him, making it impossible for her to fight him. Oh, what a man could do in a drunken state!

  When he finally brought the kiss to an end, he took a step away and a shadow fell between them.

  Turning, her head spun at the sight of Nathaniel gaping at them, his features filled with agony that quickly turned to fury.

  “Nathaniel, I can explain.”

  “There is no need,” he said with such rage it came out as nothing more than a whisper. “I have seen enough.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Nathaniel had waited with patience for Harmony to return, but the journey from London had tired him so that he could not keep his eyes open and he had fallen asleep. He was uncertain how long he slept when the sound of someone shouting woke him, and he sat up in bed, his heart pounding in his chest. At first, he had thought it a nightmare, but then the voice rose again. Isaac.

  Glancing down, he realized he had not undressed and had fallen asleep in his traveling clothes. Even his boots were still on his feet. He rubbed his eyes. The moon glowed bright enough to light the room, but that meant that it was much later than he had anticipated. Why had Harmony returned at such a late hour?

  Anger guided his steps as he hurried down the hallway. He could make out light flooding into the corridor through the drawing room door. As he drew near, he heard Harmony’s voice.

  “Isaac, I am not who you believe me to be. I am…”

  Nathaniel stepped into the room and was met with a horrific scene. Isaac had his arms wrapped around his wife, and they were kissing!

  The room began to spin. What Reverend Creassey had predicted had come true and was being played out right in front of his eyes. He clenched his fists, recalling Harmony’s response to his suggestion that she continue her plan to show Isaac kindness. Now it was clear why she had so readily agreed. She had an interest in the man that went well beyond friendship.

  Closing his eyes for a moment, he forced his breathing to steady. Then he stalked to the embracing pair.

  Harmony turned and gasped. “Nathaniel, I can explain.”

  “There is no need,” he said in a low voice. How dare she allow this imbecile to ravish her in his own home! “I have seen enough.”

  “Brother,” Isaac said as he stumbled past Nathaniel, “I am tired.”

  Nathaniel considered striking the buffoon, but when Isaac stumbled and grasped hold of a nearby table, sending a vase crashing to the floor, he realized it would be of no use.

  He snorted. Perhaps the man would tumble down the stairs and break his neck; that would certainly relieve Nathaniel of all his current troubles.

  He shook his head. It was not right to have such thoughts, even with the anger that raged in him. And right now he needed to focus on his wife. Unlike his brother, she was not inebriated!

  “What you saw,” she said, “is not what you think. He is drunk and…”

  “Enough,” Nathaniel said, raising his hand. “The last time I was away, I returned to find you in his arms. Tonight, I find you not only in his embrace but in a kiss, as well. I dare not say what I fear I will find the next time I return home from a lengthy journey.”

  “Please, allow me to explain!”

  “No,” he snapped. “There is no need for an explanation. You will collect your things and move into Hannah’s room for the time being. We will discuss what we will do later.”

  Harmony fell to her knees, but he tore his eyes away. He would not allow his wife to make a fool of him! Let her beg and plead, but he would never be made a fool of!

  The sound of footsteps made him turn, ready to defend himself from an attack by Isaac. Instead of his brother, however, he found Forbes in the doorway.

  “My lord?” Forbes said, clear confusion on his face.

  “I am speaking to my wife,” he said. “I do not wish to be interrupted.”

  “But, my lord, your mother requests your attendance,” the butler said. “And yours, as well, my lady. I humbly suggest that you honor her request.” He walked over and helped Harmony stand. Did the man give Nathaniel an accusatory glare? Or was it one of pity?

  “Very well,” Nathaniel said. “We will go.”

  They made their way upstairs, and Nathaniel wondered what could be so important that she would ask to speak with them at such a late hour.

  Yet, as he entered the room, it all became clear. His mother had a sallowness to her skin that had not been there the last time he had seen her. She was propped up on a mountain of pillows, her gray hair spread out around her head. He had rarely seen her with her hair down, and it looked strange on the once-regal woman.

  Could she be dying? No, her eyes still held that kind glimmer he had always known.

  “Come here to me, both of you,” she said.

  As Harmony walked around to the far side of the bed, he moved to the opposite. “Mother?” he asked, feeling like a young boy rather than the man he was. “Has your illness worsened?”

  Her smile was
faint. “I am afraid that my days are drawing to a close at a much faster rate than I had expected,” she said, panting as if unable to catch her breath. “I sent word to your sisters and expect them to arrive soon.”

  He shook his head. “No, this cannot be! There are doctors in London, men who specialize in the art of healing. I will leave at once and request that one return with me immediately.”

  “I have already sought their opinion, and they cannot help,” his mother said with a light chuckle that turned into a weak cough. “For too long now I have known this was coming.” She grasped his hand. “In the weeks ahead, you must be the rock onto which your sisters may cling, for despite the strength they possess, you are the strongest.” She grasped Harmony’s hand, as well, and Harmony sat on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You must allow your love for one another to guide you, and one day to guide your children, for it is love that will see you through every trial and tribulation. Promise me you will do this.”

  “I swear to you, Mother,” Nathaniel said, swallowing back his own tears. “You have my word.”

  She turned to Harmony and smiled. “And you, my sweet child, watch over my son. I had believed that, by keeping Isaac close, it would somehow prove to work in our favor. I was wrong.”

  “No, Mother,” Nathaniel said. “You were not. You were wise in your decision. I spoke to the solicitors this morning, and I will pay Isaac to leave and never return.”

  “You must do what is best for you…and your wife.” She grasped for a handkerchief and placed it against her lips as a fit of coughing overtook her. When she pulled away the cloth, she wrapped her hand around it but not before Nathaniel saw it was stained with red.

  “Remember,” she whispered as her eyelids flickered, “the only thing that is important is what is best for you and your wife and nothing more.” She closed her eyes and soon her chest was rising and falling with the even breath of sleep.

  With all that had happened over the past month, Nathaniel thought his heart would burst. His mother was dying, he had learned that the man he believed to be his father was not, and he had a brother who should have been the sole heir to the estate he, Nathaniel, had received. All of it left his head filled with cotton wool, and he did not realize he was leaving the room until he reached the darkness of the hallway.