They were just about to leave when Wentworth heard the servants’ door open again and a young girl, around ten or eleven, stepped outside looking nervous. She didn’t say a word, just reached inside her soiled apron pocket, reached up, and placed a folded and worn piece of parchment in his hand.
Once again, Wentworth reached inside his pocket and placed two coins in the girl’s hand. “Thank you.”
Wentworth scanned the paper and tucked it inside his pocket.
“What does it say?” Spencer queried.
“That she is safe, staying with the local midwife.”
“Thank God. Let’s go get her.”
All it took was one inquiry to the first person they came upon on the road, and they knew where the midwife lived. As they approached the small cottage, Wentworth’s eyes were drawn to the young girl hanging wash on a line. She hadn’t noticed them so he could watch her openly. Her movements and mannerisms reminded him of Bella. Her hair and features were similar to Amelia’s. There was no doubt in Wentworth’s mind that the girl had told the truth. They shared the same father.
He cleared his throat. “Excuse me miss. I’m Wentworth. Are you by any chance Penelope Sullivan?
The piece of clothing she held fell silently to the ground, she covered her mouth with one hand, and her heart with the other. Tears pooled in her eyes as she nodded her head in response. Eventually she found her voice.
“Yes, Your Grace. I’m Penelope.”
Wentworth dismounted and handed the reins to Spencer, who’d also dismounted. Wentworth bowed. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“I never really believed you’d come for me.”
“Why?”
“Most aristocrats don’t care about by-blows.”
“Well, I’m not and never will be like most aristocrats. I’m your brother, and you will come home with me and meet your family. They are anxious to make your acquaintance.”
“I’m trained as a scullery maid, so I can earn my keep.”
“Nonsense. No sister of mine will work. You will be Lady Penelope Seabrook, and I dare any member of the ton to question your origins.”
That very afternoon Thomas procured a coach and driver, and they headed down the road towards home. Two days later they met up with Smythe, and they had an escort to Stony Cross Manor. Ever since finding Penelope, Thomas had been anxious to get home. Since seeing Smythe and hearing about Sebastian’s unfortunate incident and injuries, his anxiety increased tremendously. He would not rest easy until he saw his brother and ascertained he was healthy and well with his very own eyes.
***
After the midday meal when most of the Seabrook family rested in their rooms, Teagan and Lachlan strolled through the formal gardens, which she had to admit were exquisite. The roses were lovely and in full bloom, making her stop and smell each and every different plant much to her brother’s chagrin.
“Again,” he said as she stopped at a rose an incredible shade of reddish orange.
“Aye, again,” she said. “We didnae have gardens nearly this beautiful at home.”
“We need tae talk about what Ian confided in ye?” Lachlan said with a somber voice and equally somber expression.
Teagan sighed and answered, “Aye. But ah get the feeling ye already ken the truth.”
“Aye, ah had my suspicions. When Maw became ill she had me meet a mon and give him a letter. At the time ah thought he looked familiar, but it took me a day to place him. When we were young children he used tae sit atop his horse at the edge of the forest and watch us. Ah believe he is our real Paw.”
“Do ye think he still lives?” God, please let him be alive she prayed.
“Ah dinnae ken. Ah want tae believe he does. And when we are safe we will find out. Meanwhile we have enough tae worry ourselves over.”
Teagan had to agree with her brother. But as soon as this thing with Ian and the man she knew as her father were over she would seek out the truth of her real father.
“Something else has been bothering me,” Lachlan said with a deep sigh. “Ah keep thinking that Ian is the rightful heir now and not me.”
“Not true,” Teagan said with conviction. “Maw and the duke were married when we were born and his name is on yer birth record. Ah believe, by law that makes ye his heir. Ye need tae make things right when he dies. The crofters have been suffering for years paying ridiculous rents. They need ye. If Ian became the duke, it would only become worse for them.”
“Ah keep telling myself that as well, but ah still have doubts.”
“Please try not tae. In any case the duke is still living. Ye can worry later.”
“Fine.” His lips turned up into a crooked grin. “Dinnae look now, but Lord Sebastian is sitting on a bench looking this way. Ah swear the mon cannae keep his eyes off ye. Nor his hands if what ah witnessed in the drawing room last night was any indication.”
She gasped and her face warmed.
“Do ah need tae force him tae ask for ye hand because he compromised ye?”
Words escaped her and mortification took over at knowing her brother witnessed the private scene between her and Sebastian. “L...L...Lachlan, isnae what ye think.”
“Relax. When ah approached the doors tae the drawing room last night looking for some brandy tae help me sleep, ah heard both yer voices. Ah left without witnessing anything.” He tilted his head and turned serious. “Did he compromise ye? Because if he did...”
“Nay. Nothing like that happened. He kissed me. That is all.”
“In our society spending time with a gentlemon in private, without a chaperone and being kissed, is cause for a betrothal.” Lachlan said with all seriousness.
“Please, dinnae start thinking like an aristocrat just because we are in England. Ah ken we are aristocrats, but we are more informal in Scotland.”
“Thank goodness for that. Being formal all the time gets tiring. Ah keep forgetting tae call Sebastian, Lord Sebastian. It doesnae help that his family is lenient in social etiquette. With that said, I’ll leave ye to continue yer examination of the roses. Ah feel the need for an afternoon brandy.”
Teagan did not know whether to be thankful he deserted her or not.
“Teagan.” The sound of Sebastian saying her name had her insides quaking with anticipation.
“Sebastian.”
“Please join me.”
As she approached the bench, he scooted over, giving her room. Once she sat down and smoothed out her skirts, she clasped her hands together on her lap and pretended interest in them.
“Do you regret last night?”
His query brought her head up and she studied his face. He looked hesitant and uncertain. How could he possibly be uncertain as to her feelings for him? Because in her mind they were plain as day on her face and in her actions.
“Nay. Do ye?”
“God, no,” he said with obvious relief and placed his hand on top of hers. “I will never regret holding you in my arms and kissing you and...”
“Dinnae say it,” she blurted out. “Please dinnae say the words. ‘Tis bad enough ‘tis all ah think about.”
“Really?” Now there was amusement in his voice.
“Aye,” she said in a whisper.
***
“Will it make you feel any better if I admit to it being all I think about as well?” And he spoke the truth. When he left Teagan in the hall last night, he’d gone back to his bedchamber, lay in bed and relived the entire encounter over and over again. At breakfast he could hardly keep his eyes off her long enough to take substance.
When he heard her voice talking to her brother moments ago, before the two of them came into view, his heart pounded and he became nervous and hot.
No woman had ever made him nervous before. He’d been so comfortable with Marissa, perhaps that was why they didn’t end up married. Comfortable was...well, boring.
Teagan was anything but comfortable. That was not to say they weren’t comfortable in each other’s comp
any. They were. At least he was. Except there was an undercurrent of attraction and sexual need, want and desire. And excitement and always anticipation, wondering what would happen next.
He desired her like no other. It was all he could think about now, and his body responded in kind. Without giving any consideration to them being seen, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, leaned down and brushed her pink lips with his. Her gasp and moan made his decision for him. He turned toward her, placed one hand on the back of her neck, the other on the small of her back, and pulled her in to deepen the kiss. The world around them disappeared. The sound of the birds, the bees, and other bugs went silent. All he heard was their breathing, moaning, and hearts pounding so loud he swore he could not only hear his but Teagan’s as well. Her kissing had improved in a short time. When he went to pull back, she curled her hands into his waistcoat and pulled him back to her kiss swollen lips.
When his head tingled and the world spun, he pulled back, wrapped one arm around her waist, and tucked her in close beside him. “I’m afraid if we don’t stop, I might start removing your clothing and God knows who might be lurking in the gardens.”
He laughed when she gasped and her body tensed. “Relax. I was kidding. We would hear footsteps and voices giving us warning. I heard you and Lachlan long before you came into view and I could see you, but you still didn’t have a direct sight to me on this bench, which if you didn’t notice, is nicely tucked just off the path.”
“And why is that, Lord Sebastian?”
“I would presume the creator of this garden had this very thing in mind. It has been here as long as I can remember.”
Teagan sighed and rested her head against his shoulder, making him ache to fold her into his arms and kiss her again.
“We have gardens at Murray Castle, my maw and ah used tae tend them with the gardener. She always said taking care of and loving nature’s gifts of life, whatever form it came in, would have rewards. We used some of the special plants and herbs tae make medicine and ointments. Ah used one ah made on yer cuts. Yer leg’s gash was deep and nasty, exposing yer bone. Ah thought at one point it might be the death of ye.”
Kissing the top of her head he said, “Thank you for saving my life.”
“My pleasure.”
He chuckled. “Not at first.”
“Are ye going tae continue tae bring that up? But aye. Not at first. But when ye opened yer one blue eye, full of pain, confusion, and kindness, ah knew ah’d made the right choice in saving ye.”
“I admit looking into your green eyes that first moment sent my world spinning.”
She laughed and nudged him with her hip. “Of course ye did. Ye had a skull fracture. Ye were bound tae experience vertigo.”
“It was more. Way more than vertigo and I think you know it too.”
Before she could reply his lips were upon hers, hot and demanding, causing the world to disappear once again as sensations bombarded his mind, body, and heart.
***
After her chance encounter with Sebastian in the gardens, Teagan went to her room and rested before afternoon tea was upon her. The sleepless night spent with Sebastian in the drawing room had left her exhausted, and she took to her comfortable bed. Not long after she lay down, a soft knock sounded on the door and Emma’s voice sang out, “May I come in?”
Teagan, not wanting to crush her day dress had rested on top of the covers so she slid her legs over the side, walked toward the door, and opened it. “Aye, please.”
Emma bustled in the room, her increasing stomach hardly slowing her down. She made a beeline to a blue velvet chair facing the hearth. Which at the moment had no fire.
“I’m having a difficult time with the Scottish language in my latest novel. I was hoping you could advise me?”
“Novel?” Teagan queried as she sat in the identical chair beside Emma. “Did ye bring it, so ah can take a look?”
“Let me clarify.” Emma smiled. “I am the writer of novels. I’m penning my latest, and I introduced a lovely Scottish lass who speaks like you.”
“Writing a novel?” Teagan was shocked at this news. How did the duchess accomplish this? Surely the duke wouldn’t approve of her writing novels? The Seabrook family surprised her on a daily basis. They were nothing like she imagined British aristocrats to be. “Could ye explain?”
“Oh, “Emma said with a blush. “When I was in finishing school in Boston I began writing gothic novels. My favorite writer is the author of Pride and Prejudice. I fancied myself the next her. Anyway, I write under the name Anna Smith. All the proceeds go to this charity Wentworth and I run for the poor women and children in London.”
Teagan didn’t know what to say. Emma was an amazing woman. Belonging to an equally amazing family. How had she and Lachlan gotten so lucky as to rescue Sebastian, hence bringing them here to these kind and generous people? Sebastian said fate. Was it fate that brought them together?
She spent the next half hour talking and laughing with Emma. Helping her with the language and succeeding in forgetting her own problems, which she needed. It didn’t do Teagan any good to constantly be stressed over her and Lachlan’s situation. Sometimes it felt good to let her guard down and enjoy being a young lady.
***
After a late dinner that evening, Teagan went to her brother’s chamber. He had not shown for afternoon tea or dinner and she was worried. Once outside his room she knocked and waited for an answer. When none came she said through the door, “Lachlan, are ye in there?”
“Aye. Come in.”
Upon entering the room she noted several things. The brother she spent time with earlier in the day was replaced with an exhausted, pale, and unwell one. He sat by the fireplace, which had a roaring blaze, crystal glass in hand.
“Ah missed ye this evening.” She approached his side, put her hand to his forehead, closed her eyes, and said a quick prayer. “Ye are burning up. Why didnae ye send word tae me?”
“Tae tired.”
Swallowing her panic, she turned on her healing personality. “Come over tae the bed so ah can examine ye.”
“Why.”
That got her temper up. “Why? Because ye must get better. Ah need ye. Dinnae ye dare let the duke and Ian win. They havenae killed ye yet. Pretending tae be a coachman and driving us in the foul English weather in the pouring rain has ye sick.
“Dinnae blame England and their inclement weather. ‘Tis not as though it doesnae rain in Scotland,” he said in a very soft voice which only worried her more.
“Please, let me help ye tae bed?”
“Ah can bloody hell get myself in bed without yer help, thank ye verra much.” And he did. Even if seeing him struggle with weakness and dizziness had her hovering beside him every step of the way.
Once he had himself settled on the bed, she went to untie the belt on his dressing robe.
He pushed her hands away. “What are ye doing? Ah’m naked beneath the robe.”
“Ah want tae assure myself ye were nae hurt during the confrontation with Ian and his mon. Ye have been acting strange ever since we left the cottage.”
“Truly, Ah’m fine. Nay cuts, nay broken bones, nay new gunshot wounds, or stab wounds tae fester and kill me. Just a fever and ah’m a little tipsy.”
She tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t help herself. He was tipsy. She wasn’t sure she’d ever witnessed him in his cups. “Ah’m going tae ring for a servant. Ye need broth and ah need a basin with cool water and a cloth.” She paused. “And some of the tonic ah make for fever. Ah have a bottle in my room. Ah’ll leave tae fetch it as soon as the servant arrives.”
Teagan pulled the tassel and waited, non-too patiently for a servant to arrive. When a young maid came she expressed her concerns for her brother’s well-being and asked her to fetch the lady of the house. Then thought better of it. The duchess was with babe and needed her rest. Even more important was what if Lachlan had something contagious. “Could ye ask Lord Sebastian tae come here?
”
Teagan hurried to her bedchamber and found the only bottle of medicine she’d packed and then went back to her brother and gave him some.
“That stuff is bloody awful.”
“Aye, ‘tis, but it works.”
A short time later the young maid came back with basin, cloth, and water, and Sebastian on her heels.
“How is he?” he said as he joined her at Lachlan’s bedside.
“He is...”
“Until ah die, ah think ah can answer for myself. Ah feel like ah was caught in the stirrups and dragged behind my horse over sharp rocks. Every part of my body aches and ah’m in the fires of hell. That is until the chills set in.”
“Ah’ll ask ye again why ye didnae ye send for me?”
“Because for this verra reason. Ah dinnae need ye fussing over me.”
“Hmm, if nae me, then who? Ah dinnae see a lady in ye life?”
“When was there time? Besides, every eligible female in our village wanted tae marry me. Ah couldnae trust any of them nae tae be working with Paw. Ah could see it, poisoned on my verra wedding night. Ah still keep calling him Paw, even though we ken the truth. Hard tae stop after calling him that my entire life.”
“Ah ken. Ah keep calling him Paw. And ah’m sorry, Lachlan.”
“What do ye have tae be sorry for? Ye went through yer own nightmare taking care of Maw and then dealing with Paw.” He cleared his throat. “Ah called him Paw again. Anyway, ah ken ah said ah cannae wait tae go home. Well, the truth of it is, ah never care if ah see our home again. When and if ah inherit the title, ah think ah’ll come tae London, marry a gentle Englishwoman and have a brood of offspring.”
“I may be able to help you with the ladies,” Sebastian interjected. “Or at the very least, my sisters and Emma could introduce you into London Society. But I have to warn you, being an heir to a dukedom, even one in Scotland, will have every young maiden and her mama after you relentlessly.”
“So ah have heard,” Lachlan said with soft voice.
Teagan dipped a cloth in the cool water and bathed Lachlan’s face and chest. “How does that feel?”
Lord Sebastian and the Scottish Lass Page 10