The Earl's Stolen Bride (Marriage by Deceit Book 4) (2 page)

Chapter Two

“There are few things more respectable than a widow,” Chloe’s mother said as she strolled into Chloe’s drawing room.  “And my dear, you make a beautiful one.”

Chloe looked up from where she sat on the settee.  “I don’t feel beautiful.”

“But you are.” Her mother sat next to her and patted her hand.  “Take heart.  You don’t have your husband’s body in this house.  I tell you, the smell from a dead body isn’t pleasant, even if you put flowers all over it.  Indeed, you had the ideal marriage.  Your husband wasn’t around and gave you all his money.  The only thing you didn’t get was a child, but,” she shrugged, “nothing in life is perfect.  If you want, you can always marry after your mourning period has passed and get a child then.  Of course, if you do marry, try for a duke with lots of money.  Then you can do better.” Her mother winked at her.  “A duchess is better than a countess, is it not?”

Chloe sighed.  “I don’t care about titles, Mother.  Titles don’t make a wife happy.”

“You’re right.  They don’t.” She chuckled.  “But money does.  Why, look at all the fine furniture you have.” She gestured to the drawing room.  “And your clothes and jewels are just stunning.  I’m telling you, you’ll never want for anything.  Lord Hawkins did very well by you.”

“Yes, he was kind to me.” If nothing else, Chloe could say that about him.

“And kinder still to leave you with so much.”

Since her mother expected her to nod, she did so.

“Naturally, you won’t be going to any social functions for a while, but I was thinking it would be nice to go for a carriage ride.  We won’t go out, mind you.  We can just ride along and enjoy the day. Of course, before we do any of that, we must have that ceremony at his family’s tomb.  Even if there is no body, we should set a casket there on his behalf.  And don’t worry about it, my dear.  Your father and I will handle those pesky details.  You must not strain yourself while in mourning.”

Chloe opened her mouth to protest since she didn’t see the point of having a casket when there was no body, but her mother had that determined look in her eye so she shut her mouth.  When her mother was insistent, it’d take a force of God to stop her.  And Chloe wasn’t up for the argument.

“So, tell me, what day would you like the ceremony?” her mother asked.

“I’m not sure.  What do you think?”

“Perhaps next week.  Flowers will be lining the cemetery, and the weather will be nice.  We want everything to be as beautiful and memorable as possible.  This should be something people will talk about for the rest of the Season.  If we do this right, people might even envy his passing.”

What a grim thing to envy, Chloe thought.

“Let me handle all the details.  I’ll let you know when your father and I will come by to pick you up.”

“Mother, I’m sure I can go to the family tomb without a chaperone.”

“You can, but why?  This is a time when you need your family.”

“All right.”

“Good.” Her mother stood up.  “It’ll all be arranged.”

Chloe watched as her mother left.  Her mother meant well, she supposed.  She stared at the untouched tea and tarts in front of her.  Then her gaze went to her neatly folded hands in her lap.  Exhaling, she rose to her feet and went to the window.  Her mother laughed as she talked to the coachman.

After Chloe married Lord Hawkins, her family was able to afford things like coachmen, new carriages, and other luxuries.  No doubt, her mother felt money was the answer to all problems.  Her younger brothers and sisters most likely felt that way, too.  And it had come in handy for poor Alexander.  He was doing much better now.

So Chloe had to admit her marriage hadn’t been for nothing.  Some good had come from it.  She turned away from the window and glanced at her black dress.  A year.  She couldn’t do much of anything for a year.  She’d miss the balls.  It had been fun to dance and talk to others.  But she could still visit Helena, Melissa, and Regina.  She wasn’t completely alone.

She scanned the drawing room.  Except for a servant’s footsteps in the hall, the place was quiet.  That was nothing new.  It was always quiet.  But for some reason, it seemed much more quiet than before.  And she wished she could figure out why.

***

A week later, Orlando groaned as he watched Lady Hawkins’ mother step out of the carriage, followed by Lady Hawkins, then her father.  Irritated, he slapped the edge of the seat in his carriage.

“Having second thoughts?” Toby asked.

“No.  I still want to be with her,” Orlando replied, turning his gaze back to the window as the rest of Lady Hawkins’ family arrived at the family tomb.

He couldn’t believe how many people came to attend the funeral for Lord Hawkins.  For a gentleman who barely stayed in London, a lot of people respected him.

“I thought she’d be coming in her own carriage, that’s all,” Orlando continued.

“It’s not a good idea to do this with so many people around.”

Unfortunately, his friend was right.  Orlando shook his head.  When was a good time?  When it came to Lady Hawkins, there never seemed to be a good time to do anything.  First, she was whisked away by another gentleman before he could pay her a visit.  And now this?  There had to be a way to get to her.  But how?

“You could kidnap her while she’s asleep,” Toby said.

Orlando glanced at his friend, not sure if he was joking or being serious.  The matter had seemed so easy when he came up with this plan.  All Toby had to do was damage the wheel on his carriage, which was parked at the other end of the cemetery.  Then he’d claim his coachman and footman had abandoned him.  Once Lady Hawkins’ coachman and footman went to assist him, Orlando would ask her to talk to him in his carriage and ask her to marry him.  It was a simple matter.  He just needed to get her alone.  But he was quickly learning that nothing was turning out to be simple about this, just as it hadn’t been the first time he’d wanted to marry her.

“I can’t let her slip away,” Orlando whispered.  “Not like I did before.”

“All I can come up with is kidnapping her while she’s asleep,” Toby replied.

“I don’t want to frighten her.  I just need to get her alone so I can talk to her.  I thought today, since she’s going to be out anyway, would be perfect.” He rested his head on the back of his seat and sighed.  If only she’d come alone in that blasted carriage!

“What you need is a lady to lure her out.  People will question a gentleman asking to speak to her in private, but no one will question a lady doing it.”

He straightened up in excitement.  “Excellent!  We’ll get Regina!”

“I didn’t mean my wife.”

“But she’s the perfect choice.  She knows how long I’ve loved Lady Hawkins.  Oh, and she knows I can be trusted to treat Lady Hawkins well.  Even better, she’s talked to Lady Hawkins on occasion.  Regina won’t be a stranger to her.  I know, have Regina take her for a carriage ride outside of London where I’ll be waiting.”

Toby grimaced.  “I don’t think—”

“It’ll be perfect.  Ideal, even.  If Lady Hawkins decides she doesn’t want to be with me, then Regina can take her home.”

“Regina doesn’t like lying.”

“She won’t be lying.  She will take Lady Hawkins for a carriage ride, and I’ll happen to be there.  Don’t tell Regina I’ll be waiting if you don’t want to.”

Toby looked as if he wanted to protest.  His lips moved, though no sound came out.  Finally, he let out a long sigh.  “All right.  I can’t find anything morally wrong with it.  You are giving Lady Hawkins a choice in the matter.  She doesn’t have to go to Gretna Green with you if she doesn’t want to.”

“Right.  If she says no, I’ll go on with my life.” Sure, he’d be a sad and lonely gentleman, but he’d never force her to do something she didn’t want.  That wouldn’t be fair to either one of them.

“I’ll ask Regina to take the grieving widow outside of London for a pleasant carriage ride to meet you.  It’s up to you to do the rest.”

“I’ll pick a spot and let you know where to go.”

“I can’t wait,” Toby dryly replied.

Ignoring his friend’s sarcasm, Orlando instructed the coachman to take them back to Toby’s carriage.  So today wasn’t going to be the day he’d finally have Lady Hawkins.  That was fine.  He could wait.  He’d waited this long.  Another day or two wouldn’t hurt.

***

“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” Regina, the Lady of Davenport, said as Chloe stepped into her carriage.

The coachman shut the door after Chloe settled into the seat next to Regina. Chloe was surprised to see Helena hadn’t joined them since Chloe had never been with Regina alone.  Helena, however, was probably spending time with her husband.  Chloe didn’t begrudge Helena the good fortune.  She didn’t begrudge Regina her good fortune either.  Both ladies had love matches, and they deserved it.  But Chloe would be lying if she said she didn’t feel a twinge of envy.  Still, it was nice to see a baby, and Regina had chosen to bring her two-month-old son along for the ride.

“How is Samuel?” Chloe asked as the carriage moved forward.

“Good.  My mother has a tendency to put him to sleep.  I think it’s funny that she’ll talk to him as if he’s old enough to understand what she’s saying.  I’m not sure if it’s fair to say she bores him to sleep or not, but that’s what Toby says she does.”

Chloe chuckled.  “As long as your mother loves him, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, she does, even if his name isn’t Reginal.” Regina smiled.  “You want to hold him?”

“Yes.” Chloe held her arms out and gingerly accepted the baby.

“You have a heart for children, don’t you?”

Surprised by Regina’s question, she looked up at her.  “I don’t know.  I suppose it comes naturally because I’m the oldest in my family.”

“How many brothers and sisters do you have?”

“Four.”

“Oh my.  Your poor mother must have been busy all the time.”

Chloe chuckled.  “She was.  She used to say it was impossible to be fully rested at any one time.  She also said boys played rougher than girls.  You might have your hands full with this one,” she teased, nodding toward Samuel.

“I have a reprieve I don’t think your mother did.  I have a servant who can help if I need it, though my mother has a tendency to come by and dote on him so much I haven’t needed my servant’s help yet.”

“You’re right.  My mother didn’t have any servants.  She had to do it all herself.  My father only recently acquired some wealth, but it was nothing like what my husband brought to the marriage.  They have a butler and maid now.”

“That’s good.  I’m glad to hear things have improved for them after the marriage.”

Chloe nodded and turned her attention back to Samuel, who was cooing at her.  She smiled and ran her finger along his cheek.  It was funny how she hadn’t missed the chance to have a child until this moment.  “He’s adorable, Regina.  I’m sure he’s worth all the trouble he’ll put you through when he’s old enough to run around and climb things.”

Regina laughed.  “I hope that won’t be for a long time yet.  I rather enjoy the moments where I can hold him, especially when he drifts off to sleep.”

A couple minutes passed, but Chloe didn’t mind the silence.  It gave her a chance to focus on the baby in her arms and imagine—foolish as it was—what might have been had her husband consummated their marriage.  Had she not had the lady’s time of month upon her, he would have done it, and she might have conceived.  And by now, she would have been a mother.  Even if it would have been awkward to go to bed with someone she’d only spoken to a couple of times, it would have been worth it.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” Regina spoke up.

Surprised by the serious tone in her voice, Chloe glanced at her.  “What is it?”

“I didn’t ask you to join me today just to take you on a carriage ride.”

“You didn’t?”

“No.  You see, I…” Regina cleared her throat.  “I’ve never done anything like this before, so you’ll have to bear with me as I explain.”

Eyebrows furrowed, Chloe focused all of her attention on her.  “What is it?”

“Do you know Lord Reddington?”

“He sounds familiar,” she slowly replied, trying to pick out who he was out of all the gentlemen she’d met in London.

“He’s my husband’s friend.  The two have known each other since childhood.  Anyway,” Regina shifted and cleared her throat again, “he’s a good gentleman.  Honorable and kind.  He has a good sense of humor, too.”

Sensing there was more to what Regina was trying to force out, Chloe encouraged, “Go on.”

“This is going to sound strange, but he’s been in love with you for a little over a year.”

It was then that Chloe recalled something the Duke of Ashbourne had told her shortly before he married Helena.  She couldn’t recall his exact words, but he’d said something about a gentleman who had hoped to marry her.

Then she recalled the day she and Helena had gone to visit Regina after Samuel was born.  On their way out, Lord Reddington had arrived.  He’d had dark hair, pretty blue eyes, and a nice, solid build.  The only reason she took note of his appearance was because of what the duke had told her a couple weeks before that day.  But she’d pushed the remembrance of Lord Reddington out of her mind since then because she was married.