The Letter (25 page)

Marlowe shrugged. “I’m not a stupid man, Lord Daventry.”

Michael was beginning to like the American. “No, I don’t think you are, and you may address me as Daventry. I may have a little proposition for you. Tell me, why are you in dire need?”

“Yes, about that. I’ve had a streak of bad luck, although I suspect my competitors had a hand in some of it. I have a shipping company consisting of four ships, although it is beginning to appear I’ll have to adjust that number to three. One is missing. It should have arrived a month ago. The profit I expected to make has not happened and my creditors are getting nervous. I have a ship at the docks now, sitting empty because the goods I expected to fill it with burned when my warehouse caught fire, one that appears to have been set. That is the part I blame on my competition.”

Splendid. Not that he would have wished Marlowe bad luck, but a man in need would be open to opportunities. “Call on me tomorrow, and I will have a draft ready for you.”

“You said you had a proposition. What would that be?”

Michael loved to fish for trout. They were wily things and hard to catch. The trick was to tease them to the hook. He judged it wasn’t quite time to tell Marlowe exactly what he had in mind. “You didn’t remarry after you lost your wife?”

The man’s expression blanked. “No, but what has that to do with anything?”

It had everything to do with it. He needed Marlowe to be unmarried. “Nothing, just curious. I’ve always been interested in shipping and have often thought to invest in the business.” He stood. “Do you have my direction?”

Marlowe rose and gave Michael a questioning look. “I know where you live. I told you I’m not a stupid man, Daventry. What are you about?”

It might be better if the man were a bit on the stupid side. Michael grinned. “A little fun and games, nothing more. If you are agreeable to what I have in mind, we will discuss terms. Come tomorrow at three.”

Marlowe sketched a perfect English bow. “I’ll be there to collect my draft, if nothing else.”

He turned to leave and Michael walked out with him. “I see your mother taught you English manners.”

“She wanted to be sure I knew the proper way to behave when I inherit.”

“And just what are you to inherit?”

“I’m heir to the Earl of St. Clare, something I prefer to stay confidential at the moment. Although my paternal grandfather was English, the earl isn’t pleased a savage American will step into his shiny Hessians.”

Well, that was interesting. “I know of St. Clare. He wouldn’t think the Prince of Wales was worthy of his boots.”

“Exactly. So you can imagine how he feels about me. I don’t quite follow his logic, but he apparently blames me that he had five daughters and no sons.”

“Did you roger his countess and sire said girls?”

Marlowe gave a hearty laugh. “I take it you have never seen Lady St. Clare?”

Michael waved off Marlowe and turned for his carriage. Movement caught his eye and he looked down the street, but saw nothing unusual. Several times today, he had felt he was being watched.

He walked to the front of his carriage. “Jaspers, have you noticed anyone following us?”

“No, my lord.”

“It is likely nothing, but be alert and let me know if anyone seems to be paying me undue attention. In fact, until I say otherwise, bring a groom with you as an extra pair of eyes.”

“Yes, my lord. I’ll get Dougie. He sees real good.”

“Very well. Now I’m for home.” After one last look, Michael entered his carriage and tapped on the roof. Though he saw no one as they pulled away, he could not shake the feeling of being observed. Who would care about his activities?

Chapter Twenty

“Heavens, Fanny, must you lace it so tight? I’m not going to be able to breathe.”

“Yes, my lady, I must.”

Diana grasped the bedpost and held her breath. How long was it going to take to get used to wearing a corset again?

“There, my lady, all done.”

“Oh, thank God.”

More gowns had arrived from Mademoiselle this morning, most already put away by her efficient maid. She glanced at the lavender day dress made of Lutestring silk spread out on the bed. Before her marriage, she had taken as her due the fine clothes and accessories. Now it seemed as if she had stepped into a fairytale in the role of Cinderella after her Prince found her again.

Yet, something was missing. She was empty inside. Her role as Jamie’s mother had taken a drastic change since Michael had appeared at the cottage. A month ago, she had been her son’s everything, but now her importance was slowly diminishing as his studies and other activities crowded into her time with him. Sooner than she wanted, he would be off to school and she would only see him on holidays. How would she bear it?

If she had married Michael as she should have, she would have a life with him and the other children they would have had. That was lost to her now, or would be when she gained the courage to bare her body to him. She needed to do it soon.

It still scared her to give a man control of her life and body, but Michael made her wish for more. Each day she spent with him, the ice around her heart melted a little. She’d thought she had lost the ability to love, but she was beginning to suspect there was one man who could prove her wrong. She could not allow it to happen. The pain would be unbearable when he rejected her, and he would.

She needed a purpose, something to fill the emptiness. “Fanny, what do you do on your half day off?”

“I visit my brother’s school, my lady. Why do you ask?”

Diana looked at her maid with interest. She knew nothing about the woman, which was as it should be. Wasn’t it? “I didn’t know your brother had a school. Well, actually, I didn’t know you had a brother.”

“Oh, it isn’t his school. He has a position teaching there.”

“What is the name of the school and what does he teach?” Diana pushed the gown aside and sat down, immediately realizing she could not breathe sitting on the soft bed. She moved to a chair.

“It is the Blue Coat School, and he teaches the boys navigation. He used to be a sailor, my lady.”

“Why do the boys need to learn navigation?”

“Many of them go on to be sailors.”

“I’ve not heard of the Blue Coat School. Where is it?”

“It’s in Newgate, my lady, and you have likely heard it called Christ Hospital.”

“Yes, of course. What do you do when you go there?”

“I teach the younger boys to read.”

Diana’s heart began to pound in excitement. “Will you be going again next week?”

Fanny gave her a suspicious look. “Why do you want to know?”

“I want to go with you.”

“No. Oh, no, my lady. His lordship would turn me out with no reference. After he kills me, that is.”

Diana stood. “You leave his lordship to me. Next Wednesday, I am coming with you. Good Lord, sit down, Fanny, you’ve gone all white.”

Diana went to her vanity and applied the vanilla scent behind her ears and on her wrists. The fragrance seemed to leave Michael bemused. She wanted him distracted when she told him she was going to Newgate to visit a boys’ school.

Had she found her purpose? To think she could make a difference in a boy’s life, that because of her, his existence might be improved. No one knew better than she what it meant to have no hope. Oh, she wished it were Wednesday.

She turned to her maid. “Have you recovered? I need to finish dressing. I don’t want to be late for luncheon.”

****

“Mama, I have learned how to read and speak one whole sentence in Latin today! What do you have to say to that?”

Diana set down her fork. “I would say you are brilliant and I am so proud of you. Tell me what you learned.” She exchanged a smile with Michael. He seemed as proud of Jamie as she.

“I can say,
qui audit adipiscitur
.”

Michael laughed, and she gave him a puzzled look.

“He just said, he who dares wins. That is a fine motto, Jamie.”

“What is a motto?”

“Well, let me think how to best tell you,” Michael said.

“It is a phrase that expresses the description or purpose of something or someone,” Diana said. Well, judging by the blank look on Jamie’s face, she had been of no help.

Michael winked at her. “Your mother is correct. Think of it this way. If I were Prize, my motto might be
Fortis atque fidelis.”

“What does it mean?” Jamie asked.

“Strong and faithful.”

“Oh, she is. Say it again in Latin so I can learn it.”

Diana sat back and observed Michael’s treatment of Jamie. That there was love between them was obvious. She almost wished he had no use for her son. Their son. How was she going to explain to Jamie they could not live with Michael forever? Now that he had a taste of this new world, would he be happy living in a cottage again somewhere in the country? Perhaps she should consider a small house in Town. He would be nearer Michael and they could visit often.

“Where is Aunt Suzanne, Mama?”

“She is visiting friends today. She said to tell you she would see you at dinner.”

“I am glad she has friends, but I miss her. She is teaching me to speak French. Did you know I have French in me?” Jamie said, a proud look on his face.

Diana met Michael’s gaze. “Yes, your father
is
half French.” She hated the sadness in his eyes. How much it must hurt not to be able to acknowledge his son. Perhaps when Jamie was older and could keep a secret they would tell him. She turned to Jamie. “I think Mr. Denton must be wondering where you are.”

“He will be surprised when I tell him Prize has a Latin motto.
Fortis atque fidelis.”
He peered up at Michael. “Did I say it right?”

“You said it perfectly.”

Jamie left with a wide smile on his face, his father’s eyes soft and loving as his gaze followed his son. Diana’s heart took a little tumble.

“Every day, I am amazed by him. I think he is the brightest boy in the kingdom.”

She laughed. “I think you are biased.”

“Perhaps. Will you come with me to the drawing room? I have something to tell you.”

He sounded serious, not like his usual amusing self. Once seated on the sofa, she moved to the corner and wrapped her arms around her waist. “What’s wrong?” He cleared his throat, a bad sign. If there was another letter from Leo, she would refuse to read it. He was dead; she was glad, that was all she needed to know.

“I hope nothing is wrong, but that depends on you and how you feel about what I did.”

She searched his face, but saw nothing in his eyes to fear. “Tell me.”

“Actually, I have done more than one thing, but I will start with this. I called on your father yesterday.”

She could not breathe. Oh, God. Air, she needed air. She stood and inhaled. Why would he do such a thing? She shook her head in disbelief. “And he threw you out on your bum.”

He stood and took her hands. “No, he did not. In about two hours, he and your mother will be here to beg your forgiveness. He fears you will not give it.”

“They are coming here?” The thought was unbearable. She sank down onto the sofa. “I am too ashamed to face them. God, Michael, the last time they saw me… I can’t do it.”

He sat next to her and put his hand on her shoulder. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.”

“That is easy for you to say, you were not the one in bed naked with your legs spread. How am I to look them in the eye after what they saw?”

“Your father read Leo’s letter. He now knows how wrong he was to judge you and he is the one who will have trouble looking you in the eye. Listen. When I read the letter, I never once thought of you in that bed. I was too angry with myself for my actions. It is the same for him. When they arrive, you will lift your chin and stand tall with pride.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“You can, and I will tell you why. Leo said he hoped there was a window in hell. Imagine there is. Are you going to let him see he was successful in destroying you? It will please him to no end if you take his shame as yours. Do you want to hand him that victory?”

Never. She would die first. How had he known just the right thing to say? “Thank you. I had not thought of it that way. Anything he would not like, I can do. Will you stay with me when they arrive?”

“For the first few minutes. I think you should have some time alone with them. They want to meet their grandson, so I will return with Jamie in half an hour.”

She wanted him to stay, but he was right. “For Jamie’s sake, I put my pride aside and wrote my father when we lived at the cottage and food was scarce. He never answered. I can forgive him for disowning me because of the way everything happened, but I am not sure I can get past his willingness to let his grandson starve.”

“I wonder if he received it. He did not mention hearing from you.”

“I gave it to Mr. Bloodstone to send.”

“I would wager it was not sent. You need to ask your father if he received it. He will not lie to you, and if he did not get it, then you have nothing to get past. If he did and ignored you, that is another thing altogether.”

“I will. It is something I need to know.”

The gaze he focused on her was intent. “Do you know what I need?”

“A new hat?”

His mouth curved in a half smile. “No. Guess again.”

She tapped her finger against her lips.

“Exactly,” he said and kissed her.

She burst into laughter.

***

Michael lifted his head and looked at her. “That is not the reaction I was hoping for. If you laugh when a man kisses you, you risk unmanning him. He will think he is doing it wrong. Then he will go to his club to commiserate with his friends. They will pretend sympathy, after which, they will go out and gossip to their friends, and so on. The next morning over his coffee, he will open the gossip page and there will be his name under the heading of the earl who cannot kiss. He will collect cats and never leave his home again.”

She waved a hand. “Stop it. My side hurts.”

Sweet Jesus, he loved hearing her laugh. She had eleven years to make up for and he would give her at least one reason a day to indulge. “Do you want to tell me why you found my kiss funny? Your answer might make a difference in the number of cats I acquire.”