Desires of a Baron (9 page)

He glided his open palm up and down her back. “It’s all right,” he said against her hair. “We all have to cry sometimes.”

Chapter Twelve

Lucy was pulled from her dreamless state by the low rumble in Lord Norcourt’s chest.

“
If you’ll wait outside the carriage, I’ll show you where to go.”

“
Yes, my lord.” She recognized that as Seth’s voice. Why was he awake?

She tried to move and make sense of everything, but her head and body hurt too much.

“It’s all right.” Lord Norcourt’s soft voice was right by her ear. “We’re at my house. I’ll carry you inside.”

Lucy knew she should argue, but she couldn’t. She was too weary to move a muscle on her own.

“Go on inside, Seth.” Lord Norcourt carried her up the front steps, the bottoms of his boots scraping against the stone with each step he took, but never once did it feel like she was slipping in his grip. “At the top of the staircase, go left. You can use the first room on the right.”

“
And my mama?”

“
She’ll be one room over.”

What felt like seconds later, Lucy was being lowered against a feather mattress, then felt a heavy blanket come over her.

***

The sun was already high in the sky and flooding in through the break in the curtains by the time Lucy awoke. She sat up and rubbed the stiff skin of her face with her hands. She hadn’t slept so soundly in years. If ever. Dropping her hands, she looked around. There wasn’t a lot of furniture in the room, but what was there was beautifully carved, pristine, and decidedly expensive. She idly ran her fingers over the delicate design etched into the bedpost nearest her. It was lovely and regal.

Once I’m a viscount we’ll have a house full of the finest things money can afford
, Sam promised
. You deserve no less.
She could still see the way the sun glinted off Sam’s light hair as he leaned against the big oak and smiled at her.

She twisted her lips. Sam had made so many broken promises to her that she couldn’t recount them all. Nor did she wish to. She yanked her hand away as if the bedpost had burned her skin then stood. Spotting her chest across the room, she scurried over and changed out of the now crushed gown she’d traveled in and into her final gown. It wasn’t nearly as nice as the purple one, just a plain tan and black dress. It’d be the perfect thing to wear to search for a new post. Which is exactly what she needed to do as soon as Seth returned. Lord Norcourt had been most kind to her and she’d forever be grateful for his generosity, but she needed to leave before his kindness would forever be tainted by memories of the one who’d done her so wrong.

Catching sight of herself in the mirror, she quickly repinned her hair and adjusted her bodice. Satisfied that she looked somewhat presentable, she made her way to the hall in search of her son.

There were only two other rooms upstairs. She knocked, waited a moment, then slowly let herself inside. This room was twice the size of the room she’d been in, but had the same amount of furniture, making it look even emptier. “Seth?”

“No, ma’am,” said a maid who was changing the sheets on the bed. “He and his lordship went out to the bakery to get something special for breakfast.”

Lucy ground her teeth. What more could she say to Seth to make him realize that he couldn’t just go off with anyone? She wanted to groan. Apparently last night hadn’t deterred him from trying to find himself a new father. She’d have to speak to him again. “Could his cook not have made some tarts?” She hadn’t even realized she’d said that aloud until the maid responded.

“No, ma’am. Danes is so blind he can hardly tell the sugar from the salt.” She grimaced. “’Tis better this way, ma’am.”

“
How long have they been gone?”

“
About three minutes.” The maid fluffed up the sheet then smoothed it down. “You can wait for them in the drawing room, if you’d like.”

If the downstairs were anything like the upstairs had been, she’d need no help finding the drawing room. Just as she’d suspected, she was correct. At the bottom of the stairs was a little room with only a mahogany desk, three chairs, a settee and two floor-to-ceiling bookcases devoid of any books. The room across the hall had a long dining table with five chairs going down each side and one on either end. No decorations were mounted on the wall nor runners on the table. Evidently, he preferred simplicity. She couldn’t argue with that. The next room was locked.

“He always keeps that one locked,” a female voice said behind her, startling her.

“
I’m sorry. I was looking for the drawing room,” she murmured, turning around to face the other woman. She immediately froze. The woman who’d spoken to her stood two inches taller than Lucy with her auburn hair piled atop her head with a few wisps of curls framing her smiling face. Her curious blue eyes held no condescension, only questions.

“
The drawing room is just over here.” She gestured to the open door behind her. “Won’t you come join me?”

Did Lucy really have a choice? Swallowing her unease, Lucy followed the fancy woman, who could only be Lady Norcourt, across the hall and toward the drawing room.

“Have a seat anywhere you’d like,” Lady Norcourt invited as she stepped into the room.

Lucy walked in behind her and came to a halt. There was only one settee. One short, squat, blue with gold edging settee in the center of the entire room. A small burble of uncontrollable laughter bubbled up inside of Lucy. She fought to hold it back, but couldn’t and a small giggle escaped. He was a baron for goodness’ sake, wasn’t he supposed to have a house bursting with elaborate nonsense?

Lady Norcourt turned to Lucy and lifted a brow, her lips twitching. “Well, which side would you prefer, the left or the right?”

At that, Lucy could hold her mirth no longer and let out peals of giggles until her cheeks and stomach hurt and tears were streaming down her face. “I’m sorry,” she said as she tried to compose herself, but it was of no use because Lady Norcourt was also laughing in the same young, carefree manner. Lucy straightened and tried to put a tight rein on her laughter before one of the servants thought they were cracked. “I’ll take the left.”

“Very well, and I’ll squeeze in on the right.”

Lucy scooted as far to the side as she dared without risking falling off to make enough room for the voluminous skirts of Lady Norcourt’s morning dress.

Lady Norcourt gathered up as much of her skirts as she could hold and tried to put them in her lap. “There, that should afford you another inch or so.”

Lucy didn’t move closer as suddenly the comfort she’d felt in Lady Norcourt’s presence but a moment ago evaporated. What must Lady Norcourt think of her? Did she think she was her son’s mistress, or worse yet, just a woman he’d found only the night before? That seemed more logical since it had been Lady Norcourt who’d had to help her find the drawing room.

Uneasy tension squeezed her throat. Why did Seth have to insist on leaving? Were he here, they could have already been on their way, but now she was stuck—

“
I’m venturing a guess that your name is Lucy Whitaker.”

Lucy jerked her gaze to Lady Norcourt. “How did you know?”

“My son told me.”

Lucy’s heart picked up pace. “Which one?”

An amused smile touched Lady Norcourt’s lips. “Actually, both of them.” She adjusted her lacy glove. “Simon mentioned that a young, albeit stubborn, lady had cared for him, but it was Giles who gave me your name.”

Giles? That must be Lord Norcourt’s Christian name. “I take it he came to ask you for employment on my behalf.”

“Giles?” She knit her brows. “No. He’d never do that. He doesn’t ask things of me—” a shadow crossed her face and a sad look filled her eyes— “and for good reason, I suppose.” She shook her head. “No, he came to the lending library yesterday to speak to you about something and I told him you weren’t there.”

“
That’s why he came to Shrewsbury,” she whispered to herself, making sense of everything. Of course, he’d probably told her that last night, but she’d been so overwrought she couldn’t remember everything he’d said.

“
Yes, he seemed very intent to speak to you.”

Lucy shook her head. “I don’t know why. I know he didn’t intend—” She broke off with a blush.

“Didn’t intend?” Lady Norcourt prompted.

Lucy flushed again and gave Lady Norcourt an abbreviated account of how she’d lost her post because she’d helped Simon and that the two were quite adamant that they’d each find her employment and how Simon had misunderstood what Giles had meant with his vague offer. “I knew he hadn’t meant to insult me that way, but it would seem it weighed heavily on his conscience,” she concluded with a shrug.

“Yes, it would have,” Lady Norcourt agreed. She shifted and bit her lip. “He has a hard time articulating things, but I’m sure you already realized that.”

“
Yes, my lady.”

Lady Norcourt cringed. “Yes, ma’am, is sufficient.” She tucked a curly tendril of her hair behind her ear. “I’m one of the few who gave up use of my title when I married Mr. Appleton, so there is no need to ‘my lady’ me.”

“Yes, my—ma’am.”

Lady Norcourt, or Mrs. Appleton, rather, flashed her a smile and a wink. “I’ll let that pass, but be warned, if you slip again, you’ll be in my debt.”

Lucy grinned at her teasing tone. Mrs. Appleton seemed vastly different than either of her sons.

“
Nonetheless,” Mrs. Appleton started. “Both of my sons are nothing if not genuine and I’d be most appreciative if you’d consider helping me at the lending library.”

“
I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Mrs. Appleton gave her a sidelong glance and Lucy prayed the older woman wouldn’t see through her. “Has one of them done something to make you feel uncomfortable?”

“Not at all,” she rushed to say. “They were both perfect gentlemen. You did very well on that score.”

A sad, shuttered look came over Mrs. Appleton’s face. “I’m afraid I cannot claim the credit where Giles is concerned.” The hurt that laced her words pierced Lucy’s heart as a vague memory from last night came to mind. He’d mentioned something to Seth about an orphanage and a nun. Her curiosity was heightened, but it wasn’t her place to ask anything.

“I’m sure you did the best you could, my lady,” Lucy said, offering her what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

Mrs. Appleton returned Lucy’s smile with a watery, wobbly one of her own. “Thank you, but I do believe you are now in my debt.”

Lucy’s eyes widened. Surely Mrs. Appleton hadn’t been sincere in demanding Lucy pay her recompense.

“
I should mention that while both of my sons are very genuine and sincere, so am I,” Mrs. Appleton said as if she could read Lucy’s mind. “As it would be, I truly do need some help over at the lending library and think it’d help you remember my name better to spend some time with me there.”

“
Thank you, but I—”

“
Am in my debt,” Mrs. Appleton reminded her, a sparkle in her blue eyes. She winked. “I can be just as stubborn.”

Lucy released a breath and mindlessly twisted her skirt between her fingers. “I don’t know if either of your sons told you this, but I have a son of my own, ma’am, and I can’t stay in London. He’s eleven and prone to trouble.”

Mrs. Appleton chuckled. “I remember those days.” She waved her hand through the air. “Just bring him with you. We have plenty of books he might enjoy.”

Lucy stared at the woman, dumbfounded. Clearly she didn’t understand Lucy’s situation. “I don’t want to drive your patronage away.” There, that was tactful, wasn’t it?

“Madam, I shan’t drive you to tedium by recounting for you all of the ways I’ve scandalized the
ton
over the years.” She gave Lucy a pointed look. “I’ll only say, the patronage I have left are the ones who care far less about who they’re borrowing the book from just as long as the book itself is more exciting than their own story. Your presence won’t hinder them any more than we could get a third person on this settee.”

Despite herself, Lucy laughed. “All right. I relent. I shall start working off my debt post haste.”

Mrs. Appleton opened her mouth to say something, but whatever it was, died on her lips when the deep, gravelly voice of Lord Norcourt filled the room, “What debt?”

Chapter Thirteen

Giles didn’t think it’d be possible to be more surprised and dare he admit excited than he was when he opened the door to his townhouse and heard girlish laughter. But all of his good humor fled when he reached the drawing room to see Lucy sitting next to Lady Norcourt. Not that Lucy sitting and laughing with her had ruined his good humor; it had been her mention of a debt that made bile burn the back of his throat.

Every muscle in his body tensed as he demanded to know what trap his mother had ensnared Lucy into.

“
Miss Whitaker has agreed to help me at the library,” Lady Norcourt explained.

Giles searched Lucy’s face but didn’t know what he was looking for. “Do you want to?”

She nodded once. “Yes. Unless you don’t want me there.”

He shrugged. Why would he not want her there? It was his mother he didn’t trust, not her. “In the hall, please?”

Lucy and his mother exchanged a look.

“
I’m assuming you’d like to talk to me privately?” Lady Norcourt asked, standing.

Giles nodded and handed the box of tarts and other bakery goods to Seth.

The wide-eyed boy took the food and walked over to his mama while Giles’ mother excused herself from the room and followed Giles into the hall.

Giles clenched his hands into fists. He wanted to know what her game was. Why she was manipulating Lucy this way. It was one thing to manipulate him, but Lucy didn’t deserve to be used. “Why?”

“I came over to see if you ever found who you were looking for,” his mother said with a tone that would suggest she was innocent of any wrong doing.

“
Not that,” he said, with a scowl. Though he didn’t like it, he’d grown accustomed to having her come by his house at varied times since he’d come back to London. He should have known she’d come today and warned Lucy.

“
I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re asking, then,” she said.

Giles’ face heated. Of course she didn’t. He tried to think of a better way to word what he wanted to know, but all that came out was, “Why?” He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to push away the feeling of embarrassment that was threatening to overtake him.

“Why did I hire her?”

Giles shook his head. “Debt.” The word tasted bitter on his tongue, but nonetheless, he was glad he’d been able to form it.

“It wasn’t a real debt,” she said slowly.

He stared at her. Not a real debt? What did that mean? “She’s not—” He broke off and let out a ragged breath.

“She’s not what, Giles? Your mistress?”

Giles’ eyes widened and he shook his head vigorously. “No.”

“I never thought she was.” She pressed her lips together and a crease formed between her eyes. “Giles, I know you don’t trust me. Or even know me, for that matter. But if nothing else, I want you to know that I don’t think poorly of you or Miss Whitaker for anything.” She reached for him, but before she touched him, she pulled her hands back. “I don’t care what your relationship with Miss Whitaker is or isn’t. She’s in need of employment and I’m in need of help. That’s all there is to it. If she truly doesn’t wish to work there, she doesn’t have to. I’d never force her to or threaten to bring trouble to her doorstep if she didn’t.”

Giles stood silently as he tried to understand everything she had said.

“If you’d prefer I don’t employ her, then I won’t,” she said quietly a moment later.

All of his unease and discontent with her was stolen with those words. She was being genuine. He couldn’t explain how he knew it just then, but something in his heart told him she was. “Where will she live?”

A smile pulled the corner of her pink lips up and a tear ran down her cheek. “There’s a small apartment above the library. It’s been used for storage, but it can be cleared out and she can stay there.” Her smile widened. “That is if this arrangement is acceptable to Lord Norcourt seeing as he’s the one who owns the library and the building.”

“
It’s acceptable.”

“
Shall we go confirm that this is acceptable to Miss Whitaker?”

It took some convincing, which thankfully Lady Norcourt handled, to persuade Lucy that she didn’t need to rent a room from a boardinghouse and she finally agreed to stay in the apartment, but only in exchange for lower wages. Lady Norcourt immediately agreed with the terms. Seth seemed rather pleased with the arrangement, too. Almost as pleased as he was with the lemon pastry he devoured.

***

Because it was Thursday and one of the two days each week—the other being Monday—the library was closed, Mrs. Appleton had suggested that Lucy spend the afternoon cleaning up the little apartment and settling in.

There really wasn’t much to settle, but she could use some quiet time.

Unfortunately, her quiet time was cut short with the appearance of one Mr. Simon Appleton. As soon as he arrived, Seth could no longer be subdued.

“Can I go see him?” Seth begged excitedly.

“
I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Lucy hedged.

“
Why wouldn’t it be?” He cocked his head to the side. “Shouldn’t we at least see how he’s faring?”

Lucy playfully wagged her finger at him. “You’re a sly one.”

He sent her an impish grin and darted from the room.

Lucy chuckled and followed after him. After her attack she’d been terrified that it would take a while for him to be the carefree lad he’d been. She was glad to be proven wrong.

Downstairs, she made her way over to the pair slowly so not to distract from their conversation.

“
What did your mother say?” Seth asked through his laughter.

“
She told him he’d better find a new home for his new pet bunny before he ate anymore of it or she’d make stew of him,” Mrs. Appleton supplied with a shudder, leading Simon to join Seth in his laughter.

“
What’s that?” Lucy asked.

Simon sobered instantly and removed his felt hat. “M-miss Whitaker,” he stammered. “Just a biology lesson, that’s all.”

“Did you know that rabbits eat their own waste?” Seth asked loudly.

“
No.” She looked to a red-faced Simon. “But my day has been made complete now that I’ve been made aware.”

“
I knew it would be,” Seth clipped. “Do you know any other fascinating facts I can share with my mother, Mr. Appleton?”

“
No.” He glanced up at Lucy. “Why don’t you go find a storybook while I talk to your mama for a minute?”

Disappointment shadowed Seth’s face, but he didn’t voice it and went to search for a novel.

“I’m glad you finally decided to come to London. I’ll have to make a point to come by here more often now that I know I’ll get to see you.”

It was all Lucy could do to keep her face expressionless at his obvious attempt to flirt. It wasn’t that he wasn’t trying. He was, and
that
was the problem. She was at least eight years his senior. Much too old for him to be pursuing.

“
I don’t know if she told you or not, but my mother
usually closes the library on Mondays. I’d be honored if I could show you somewhere in London that might be of interest.”

Lucy bit her lip. “I—I don’t know.”

Simon drummed his fingers on the table. “Seth can join us.”

***

From where Katherine Appleton stood behind a tower of books that needed to be put away, she saw Lucy bristle at Simon’s words. A pang of sympathy for Lucy formed. Of course, most mothers should reserve their sympathy for their own child who was being rebuffed. But after having a child who was only welcome as an afterthought, she couldn’t help but empathize with Lucy.

Likely though, Simon didn’t realize how his words had sounded and this could still be salvaged. She paused. Did she want to salvage this? It was obvious that Simon was quite taken with her from the way he’d reacted the moment she’d told him that Lucy was in London and would be helping her at the library. But what of Lucy? Did she return that interest?

Katherine peered at the duo again. Lucy seemed quiet and reserved, just the way she had around Giles. Perhaps she was wary of both of them and their intentions. Even Katherine didn’t yet know the extent of Giles’ interest. He might be her son, but he hid his feelings well except when he was frustrated. Simon, though the dear boy tried, just couldn’t hide his feelings no matter what they were.

She shook her head ruefully and looked to Lucy again for any sort of clue of her feelings. Nothing. Katherine tapped her toe quietly as she tried to make sense of it. Considering Lucy was an unmarried mother who went by Miss rather than Mrs. she likely had reason to be guarded around both of them.

“Lucy,” she called in a tone louder than necessary. When Lucy looked her way, she continued. “Would you and Seth be interested in joining us at my house for dinner tonight?”

“
Oh, no, Mrs. Appleton. I don’t want to be any bother.”

Katherine waved her hand through the air. “It’s no bother. I invited Giles, but he declined so we’ll have more than the three of us can eat.” She watched Lucy’s face to see if she detected any change at the mention of Giles, but was distracted when Simon let out an exaggerated gasp and threw his hands up to his chest as if he was horrified.

“Mother, surely you aren’t implying you think this little slip of a lady could eat near as much as Lord Norcourt, are you?”

Katherine chuckled. “Of course not, but I think that growing boy of hers might.”

“Yes, ma’am, I can,” Seth added from beside her. “Especially if that includes three helpings of dessert.”