Lady Marksman didn’t approve of Pierce’s choice for wife.
Her head dipped as her teeth caught her lower lip. Who could blame a mother for wanting better for her son?
Pierce walked Lady Marksman to the door, closing it firmly behind her as she exited the room. Caroline winced, she was causing tension in an already-strained relationship. “Where were we?” he asked brightly, giving them a light bow. “Oh, I remember. We were discussing Lady Caroline’s many qualities.”
He returned to the chair he’d exited, sitting not on the seat but on the arm.
“So we were,” Aunt Millie said, scooting further out on her chair. “But I should ask if you would prefer to reschedule for a time when your mother is feeling better.”
He cut his hand through the air. “Not at all. Her visit to London is a short one. As soon as she’s recovered, she’ll be leaving for the country again.”
“Is everything all right?” Aunt Millie glanced over at her, and Caroline tried not to wince. She should have warned Aunt Millie that relations between mother and son were strained.
“Fine,” she said at the exact moment Pierce spoke the same word. Aunt Millie raised her brows, cocking her head to the side.
The door opened once again and Caroline nearly jumped thinking Lady Marksman had returned but it was only the butler. “Dinner is served.”
“Excellent,” Pierce said as he stood, sweeping his hand toward the door.
Caroline stood too but the room seemed to spin. Likely, she’d tied her corset too tight for the evening’s drama. With a breath, she looked to Pierce. “May I just use the powder room before we sit?”
“Of course,” he answered reaching out his hand to her. “It’s just down the hall.”
She gave a nod, giving his fingers a light squeeze. This evening must have been difficult for him as well. “I’ll just be a moment.” Then she let go and started down the hall in the direction he’d pointed.
Pierce and her aunt left the room, heading in the opposite direction toward the dining room. She turned to watch them enter, noting the door they’d used. But the moment her head face forward, she blinked in surprise. Standing before her was Lady Marksman. “Oh,” she stopped, a hand coming to her throat. “You—”
“I frightened you?” the other woman asked.
Caroline shook her head. “I was going to say surprised.”
Lady Marksman stepped closer. “Oh, good. I wouldn’t want to scare you.”
Despite herself, a small chill ran down Caroline’s spine. “Not at all. If you’ll excuse me.”
“I just need a moment of your time.” Lady Marksman reached out and touched her elbow. “My son has expressed his intent to marry you.”
Caroline licked her lips as she shifted uncomfortably. “We’re discussing the possibility.”
A catlike smile spread across the other woman’s lips. “Discussing? Well that is good. You see, Pierce is angry with me today. I’m sure you sensed it, but we had a terrible row this afternoon. I must confess to you that I do not approve of your match.”
Her stomach fluttered with nerves. “This is a conversation you should have with him.”
Lady Marksman shook her head. “I tried. He confessed that he was only marrying you to spite me. He’s always been that way. Since he was a child. He’s chosen a woman with a terrible reputation knowing it will hurt me. But he’s using you, dear. And when he’s done, he’ll treat you exactly as he treats me, sending you off to bed even when you’re not tired.”
Caroline straightened and her hands fisted into her skirts. Whatever else she thought, she believed Pierce’s affection genuine. “He cares for me.”
The other woman shrugged. “Perhaps. But he cares for many women. In fact, I heard him caring for a woman last night. I’m still in the countess’s suite, you know.”
Her gut clenched. It couldn’t be. Then again, she had no sense when it came to men. Leave it to her to choose a rake for her husband. Hadn’t he tried to kiss her in the garden the very same night he’d already kissed Helena? But she stopped. She was allowing Lady Marksman to manipulate her. “I won’t listen to this. I know Lord Marksman is a good man.”
Lady Marksman’s fingers bit into her arm. “He is a good man, and he has the chance at a bright future that marrying you will completely and utterly ruin. You’re a trollop with a terrible reputation. Do you really want to do that to him?”
Her breath seized in her chest as her fingers tightened at the base of her throat. Tears stung behind her eyes as she wrenched her arm from Lady Marksman’s grasp. “I have to go.”
“Yes. You do.” The other woman purred as Caroline blindly made her way down the hall.
* * *
Pierce held his wine glass in his hand, laughter bubbling in his chest. Lady Harvey was a delightfully funny woman.
“That’s when I told my Harold, ‘Sweetheart, you’d better bring round the horses. We’re already the spectacle of the party, we might as well leave in style.’”
He wiped a tear from his eye, he’d laughed so hard. “And now you don’t participate in society at all?”
“Heavens no. Heathens, the lot of them. I am a woman who does as she pleases, always have.” She set down her glass as the door swung open. It creaked as it moved in its arch finally hitting the wall with a bang.
Caroline stood in the doorway, her face pale and her eyes brimming with tears.
“Auntie?” her strangled cry filled the room.
“Caroline. What’s wrong child?” Lady Harvey pushed from her chair at the same moment he stood.
“I don’t…I don’t feel well.” Her hand pressed to her stomach and her color shifted to green. “I think that I might need to go home.”
“Oh my,” Lady Harvey said as she crossed the room, placing a hand on Caroline’s forehead. “You’re cold and clammy.”
“My stomach,” Caroline said weakly. “I need to lie down.”
“You can stay here.” He followed Lady Harvey, his brow knitting in concern, then placed a hand on her back. “I hate to think of you crossing town in this condition.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, her reply far too loud.
His rubbed a circle on her lower back. “I’ll come with you then, to make sure you arrive safely.”
Her eyes grew wider. “Please don’t trouble yourself.”
“It’s no trouble.” Pierce ran his eyes over her face. Something was off. While she didn’t look well, she also seemed determined to leave his company. That wasn’t happening. Bending down, he placed an arm under her knees and swung her into his grasp. She reached for his shoulders.
“Pierce, you don’t have to…” She started, looking up into his eyes. “I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
He stopped. Burden? “You could never be a burden. As your husband, it will be my job to care for you.”
Her eyes closed as her face tightened. “You should marry a woman who can give more to you. Not just take.” Then her eyes opened again. “I can’t accept your offer to court. It isn’t right.”
“Not accept?” His heart thudded in his chest. “We’ve been through this. You offer more than any woman I’ve ever met. Caroline, I love you.”
A tear slipped down her face. “I love you too.” She swallowed. “That’s why I have to let you go.”
“No.” He held her tighter. “No, you don’t.”
Lady Harvey cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should get you home, Caroline. You’re clearly distressed.”
Every fiber in his body wrestled with her decision. He wanted to continue to hold Caroline until he’d convinced her she was wrong. But it wasn’t his right. Not with her aunt standing in front of him. “Another moment please, Lady Harvey. We need to discuss this.”
“We can discuss it in the morning.” Lady Harvey ran her hand over her face. “But tonight we should go.”
No. No. No. But he set her feet back on the floor. He’d concede tonight, but this was far from over.
Cha
pter Eighteen
Caroline cried; her head buried in her aunt’s lap. She hadn’t done this since the day her parents had died. “Oh, I’ve gone and made a mess of this, Auntie.”
Her aunt stroked her hair. “I doubt that very much.” Her hand kept its methodical rhythm. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
She started the story with what she knew about Pierce and his mother’s relationship and then she relayed the conversation in the hall.
Aunt Millie’s hand stilled. “The woman was manipulating you, Caroline.”
Caroline lifted her head. “What do you mean?” Of course she was. Caroline had known that, deep down, their entire conversation. It didn’t make her words untrue. And it was that truth that had compelled her to listen to Lady Marksman.
Aunt Millie’s shoulders drooped. “You know that I was a debutante the very year that Pierce was born.”
“So?” Caroline sat up in her seat. Her aunt hadn’t been a debutante, she’d been the debutante. Considered the most beautiful woman of her year, men had clamored for her attention.
“My best friend had an affair with a married man and died delivering his child.”
Caroline gasped. “What?”
“Makes your sin of a tiny kiss seem rather small, doesn’t it?” Her aunt reached out her hand. “You must stop beating yourself up over that. It’s gone on long enough.”
Her throat clogged again. “You understand. My parents would have been so disappointed to see what I’ve become.” The hurt and shame she’d been pushing down for years welled up inside. “I failed them.”
“Oh darling girl.” She clutched both of Caroline’s hands. “You didn’t fail them. You were sad and lonely and looking for comfort when Lord Parks preyed on your vulnerability. I’ll only ever say this once, but they failed you, leaving you as they did. They couldn’t help it, of course, but you’ve done marvelously well considering what life has thrown at you. They’d be proud.”
“Proud,” Caroline sniffed. “I was ruined.”
“You were. And then you made lovely friends, you’ve grown smarter from your mistakes, and now you’re being courted by an earl who adores you.” Her aunt let go of one of her hands to stroke her cheek. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
Caroline swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “How can that be true? I made a colossal mistake.”
Aunt Millie shook her head. “I allowed your Uncle Harold all sorts of liberties. Honestly, I allowed a few men before him a fair number as well. Far worse than you ever did. Every one of my friends back then did the same. And as I mentioned earlier, a lovely girl, named Lady Evelyn Chase, had an affair with Lord Marksman and bore him a son.”
Caroline’s heart stilled in her chest as her breath caught. “A son?” she realized her mouth was hanging open. “Pierce has a brother?”
“No Caroline, Pierce is the child that was born out of wedlock.” Her aunt rubbed her forehead. “Lord Marksman forced Lady Marksman to accept the child as her own. I know he was in love with Evelyn. But the tension between Pierce and his mother is not because she wants what is best for him. My guess is that she hates Pierce and is trying to hurt him.”
Caroline gasped as her hands pressed to her cheeks. Her eyes blurred with tears. “Oh, Aunt Millie. I’ve made yet another terrible mistake.”
Her aunt shook her head. “Your mistake was assuming that Lady Marksman cared for Pierce. You’re a good person like that. But do not allow the other woman’s bitterness to ruin your life or Pierce’s.”
Caroline covered her mouth with her hands. The damage might already have been done.
* * *
Pierce didn’t have to look far to find the cause of Caroline’s illness. The countess still stood in the hall, clearly enjoying the damage she had inflicted. Her eyes danced with merriment even as she swished her skirts.
He didn’t need to ask to know it was her. In fact, he could guess what she’d said. As soon as he’d gotten Caroline into her carriage, he went to find the countess. It was time they had a talk.
The moment his mother had seen him, she’d retreated to her room, slamming the door shut. He didn’t bother to knock as he threw open the wooden panel, following her. “We need to have a word.”
“How dare you?” She stood. “You’re a filthy animal. Just like your father.”
He sighed. “I don’t care about your grievances or the past. I only want to know what you said to Caroline.”
“I said the truth. She’s a woman exactly like your mother and she’ll end up with the same fate.”
So, it was true. Lady Marksman was not his parent. That was a…relief. “In the morning, you will pack your bags. You will return to the country estate until I can find a suitable home for you.”
“Suitable?” she cried, her voice shrill. “I am still the countess. You can’t toss me out.”
“Technically speaking, I can. But I won’t. I’m going to find you a nice cottage near the Scottish border—”
“You beast.” She picked up her hairbrush and tossed it across the room, missing him by several feet.
“You’ll have a modest income to support yourself. I hope your bitterness keeps you warm.” Then he stepped back to leave the room.
The countess’ face turned a deep shade of purple. “I’ll tell everyone that you’re not my son. That you’re nothing but a filthy bastard.”
“You can’t prove anything. It’s been far too long now. What’s more, your son has already dragged our family name through the mud. I can’t fall any farther and I’ve already made the connections I need to financially succeed. The only one you’ll damage is yourself. You’ve kept the lie all these years.” He stepped out of the room and slammed the door closed.
While the past five minutes had made him feel loads better, he still had a large dilemma on his hands. Caroline was convinced that she was no good for him and that she wouldn’t marry him, not her sake but for his. Dear lord, he loved that woman with all his heart. But how was he going to convince her that while he appreciated her intent, what was best for him was to have her by his side always?
Chapter Nineteen
Caroline woke the next morning and practically jumped from her bed. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was near eleven and she hurried to ring the bell so that her maid could help her dress.
She hadn’t intended to sleep so late but then again, she hadn’t actually fallen asleep until the wee hours of the morning. Her mind had been turning over every detail of the night before.
Today, she needed to speak with Pierce. He deserved to know the truth. What was more, she might have to throw herself at his feet and beg for his forgiveness. She’d only wanted to protect him but she’d pushed him away. What if he didn’t want to marry her any longer?
Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside. Caroline had to hope that he’d understand. What if he didn’t believe the story about his mother? Or did he already know? What if he didn’t and he blamed her for telling him?
Her stomach churned as she readied for the day, her maid dressing her hair. As she made her way down to breakfast, the butler met her in the door of the dining room. “A message has been delivered for you. The boy who brought it to the kitchen said that it was urgent.
Caroline’s breath stopped. “Urgent?” She plucked the letter from the tray, sure that Pierce delivered some news but the perfectly shaped loops and flowing scroll did not look masculine.
Tearing open the seal her eyes scanned the contents of the letter as her hand covered her mouth. It was from Lady Helena.
In a few short sentences, the woman begged for Caroline’s help. Her sister had fallen in love with a known rake. Helena begged Caroline to join her for a picnic in Hyde Park so that Caroline might help Helena keep her sister from making a grave mistake.
The final line tugged at Caroline’s chest. Please help me. I don’t know who else to turn to and I can’t watch her ruin herself for a man like Lord Parks.
Much as she needed to see Pi
erce, he would be here tonight. This was something she needed to do now. She closed her eyes, dropping her hands to her sides. Her aunt was right. All this time, she’d turned her anger in on herself. It had melded together with her grief over the loss of her parents. But Lord Parks preyed on innocent girls who didn’t understand just how ill-intentioned a man could be.
“Send for the carriage,” she said, straightening her spine. “And fetch my pelisse and bonnet. I’m off to the park.”
“Yes, my lady.” The butler gave a small bow as he turned to see her orders filled.
She left the dining room knowing she only had a few minutes. Heading to the nearby sitting room, she crossed to the desk and sat down. After picking up a piece of parchment, Caroline penned a quick note to Pierce, enclosing Helena’s note.
Dear Pierce,
I love you and, if you’ll have me still, nothing would make me happier than to marry you. I wanted to speak with you this morning but I received this missive from Helena. I must help her and I’m sure you understand why. Please say that you will see me tonight.
All my love,
Caroline
Pressing the two letters together, she sealed them again and pulled the bell cord. As soon as the maid arrived, she put the notes into the other woman’s hand. “See these are delivered to Lord Marksman at once.”
“Yes, my lady.” The other woman bobbed a curtsy and then disappeared.
The butler returned with her bonnet and pelisse. She donned the garments, then headed for the door. She’d hoped to observe rakes, and she’d supposed that this counted. In her heart, she’d wanted to find a new rake so that she might have a chance to rewrite her past and do the entire thing over. That now, when faced with a rake, she would slap him and give him the set-down he deserved. Somehow, she’d thought if she could do it right the second time, she’d erase the past.
Then she smiled. Perhaps she’d accomplished that after all. Not the way she’d intended but Pierce had been her second chance. If he’d only agree to court her again, she could change her ending and make peace with her past.
The Wicked Wallflowers Page 39