Lydia looked so peaceful in her sleep. She was curled up on her side, clutching a pillow with her hand, her long, red braid flopped over one shoulder. Robert smiled just looking at her.
He had pushed Henderson to drive through the night, stopping just long enough to rest the horses before starting back again. It was now the dead of night and everyone at Gosling Park was fast asleep. God, it felt good to be home.
After a big yawn, Robert stripped off his clothes, leaving them piled in a chair for Kistler to deal with in the morning. Then he quietly climbed into bed next to his wife and pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much, my darlings,” he whispered as he gently let his hand rest on her abdomen.
Lydia mumbled something in her sleep and then settled more soundly against the wall of his chest. Robert sighed happily. It was indeed good to be home.
In the morning when Lydia awoke, she was happy to discover Robert’s arms wrapped snuggly around her. He smelled good, like Robert and leather. She couldn’t resist pressing her nose against his shoulder and inhaling his scent. He must’ve snuck in during the middle of the night. She smiled and shifted in his arms, and now felt his familiar hardness pressing against her belly.
He he’d only been away a week, yet she’d missed him dreadfully. She nuzzled against his chest and kissed his neck. His arms tightened around her and she giggled quietly to herself. He must be exhausted. Normally, he could never withstand her kisses and caresses in the morning.
Earlier in the week, she had decided that she and the children would go with him next time he left. She didn’t think she could handle being away from him again. “I’m so glad you’re home,” she whispered so softly she could barely hear it.
Robert’s lips curled into a grin, though his eyes were still closed. “Me too.” Ah, so he wasn’t sleeping, after all.
He opened his eyes and brushed his lips against hers, letting his kiss linger for what seemed an eternity. She melted against him.
When his tongue touched hers, she groaned and he smiled, knowing that she wanted him. He wanted her too, and had for some days. The erection that jutted from between his legs was evidence of that. Without a word, he rolled her to her back and lifted her nightrail so that he could softly touch her slick core. When she instinctively arched against him, Robert slid one finger inside her and stroked her back and forth with his thumb. The feel of her clenching around his finger nearly drove him wild with desire.
She was wet, and panting, and ready for him. Robert moaned as he spread her legs wide with his knees and admired her. It had been too long since he’d touched her. “Oh, Lydia.” Damn Devil’s Inferno. No horse was worth being away from his wife.
He began by kissing her shoulders and gently ran his hands up her side. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to meet his kiss. Robert laughed against her mouth before nipping at her lightly. “Eager, my little minx?”
She didn’t speak but nodded as she met his eyes. With an impatient groan, he grabbed a handful of that awful, Quaker-looking nightrail that he hated and pulled it over her head in one swift move.
Then he looked down at his beautiful, waiting wife. Her perfect nipples had peaked into hard buds, tempting him to taste them. He wasted no time in doing so; first lavishly laving one, then sucking it hard into his mouth, while his devilish hand plucked and pulled at the other. Lydia bucked beneath him, and he closed his eyes in pure pleasure.
“Please, Robert,” she begged breathlessly.
He rose up on his elbows and stared down at her. “Please, Robert, what?”
Lydia playfully pouted. “The other one, please.”
He couldn’t contain his grin. “Of course, my lady, whatever you wish.” He dipped his head down and captured her other nipple into his mouth and traced her areola with his tongue. Hearing her moan from his ministrations only made him throb. He couldn’t take much more and he nipped her lightly.
“Oh, Robert!” she panted. When Lydia smiled up at him coyly, her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation. He kissed her one last time before spreading her legs even further with his hands and then slowly sheathing himself inside her. He threw back his head in pleasure. There was no feeling like this, no feeling like his wife. His joining with her was complete heaven.
Had he really been away for so long? He didn’t think he could ever take another separation from her in the future.
Soon she was crying out his name and she shuddered around him in pure ecstasy. He couldn’t have held back on his release if he’d wanted to, and he poured himself inside her.
No. He definitely couldn’t take another separation from his wife.
When they both lay breathlessly sated, Robert held Lydia against the wall of his chest and he buried his head deep into the flaming river of her hair. “My God I missed you,” he whispered.
“I am so happy you’re home.”
“I won’t leave again, I can promise you that. But I do have a surprise for you, my darling.”
“You do?” She looked over her shoulder at him with a grin that made his heart leap. “Is it better than the surprise you just gave me?”
He nipped at her neck. “Behave yourself, my little minx, or I’ll have you on your back again in a matter of seconds.”
A giggle was her only response to that threat. “Did you see Mr. Birch?”
“I did. He assures me that it will just be a matter of days before Peter and Penny are ours legally.”
“What a relief that will be.” Lydia turned back to look at her husband. “Then I am lost, Robert. What is your surprise?”
“I saw Carteret when I was in London. And I’ve invited him and his family to join us here for a fortnight or so. They should arrive at the beginning of next week.”
“James and Bethany are coming to visit?” He could hear the smile in her voice, “And they’re bringing the children?”
He nodded against her hair. “Yes, all of them, even that little scamp Fiona.”
Lydia sighed and relaxed against him. “Peter and Penny will be so happy to have playmates. That was very thoughtful of you, Robert.”
“Mmm.” He nuzzled against her neck. “I live only to please you, my love.”
She giggled at that. “I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the thought was nice anyway.”
He lightly nipped at her neck. “Well, it’s only fair. You bring so much pleasure to me.”
“Oh, I’ll be so glad to see them,” she said dreamily. “Did you tell James about the baby?”
Robert gently stroked her shoulder with his hand. “No, sweetheart, I didn’t tell him our good news. He’s your cousin. I thought you’d want to do that.”
She nodded happily. “Oh, I do. Thank you, Robert.”
“I did tell Caroline though, I hope you don’t mind.”
Lydia rested her head against him and sighed. “Of course not. What did she say?”
“Well, she was thrilled, of course. I don’t think she ever thought she’d be an aunt. But…” Robert frowned as he remembered the conversation he’d had with his sister, “Sweetheart, do you think there’s anything strange going on with Miss Mitford?”
Lydia turned her head to look at her husband. “With Miss Mitford? What do you mean?”
He shook his head still trying to make sense of it in his mind. “I’m not sure. Didn’t you tell me that Miss Mitford’s cousin works for Caroline?”
“That’s what Miss Mitford told me on the first day she arrived.”
“Well, Caroline told me that the girl had been governess to an old friend of hers, Lady Teynham. They’d gone to a girls’ school together. Anyway, Caroline said she’d promised Lady Teynham, before she died, to watch after Miss Mitford.”
Now mystified herself, Lydia sat up in bed and stared at her husband. “How strange. You wouldn’t think that Caroline would concern herself overmuch with someone else’s governess.”
Robert now sat up too. “No, that’s not really like her. The entire
situation is odd.”
“Well, I’ll ask Miss Mitford to clear up the details today.”
Robert nodded in agreement. “Let me know what she says. Lydia, are you all right?” She didn’t look good.
Lydia closed her eyes and swallowed, then she lay back down. “Just a little queasy.” She groaned. “I thought this was supposed to get easier as time went on.”
When she moaned, Robert winced. Seeing her in pain was distressing. Knowing he was responsible for her distress was heartbreaking.
After breakfast, but before studies were to begin, Lydia met Miss Mitford in the hallway near the schoolroom. The governess was dressed in another dowdy brown dress, with her hair pulled back in a severe knot. It was ridiculous to think that something untoward was going on with this woman, yet the circumstances were odd. Why would she and Caroline tell different stories about their connection? “Miss Mitford, do you have a moment?”
The governess dropped a quick curtsey and smiled gaily at the countess. “Of course, my lady.”
Lydia directed her into the schoolroom and both women took a seat at the worktable. When Lydia sighed, Miss Mitford looked genuinely concerned. “Lady Masten, are you all right?”
“Yes,” Lydia responded quietly, though she furrowed her brow. “Miss Mitford, there seems to be some sort of confusion over you and your connection to Lady Staveley.”
The governess’ face went white and she stood abruptly. “I can leave within the hour.”
Lydia quickly rose from her seat and offered a calming hand to the governess, “Please don’t leave. The children are very much attached to you. I just need to ask you some questions.”
Every muscle in Miss Mitford’s body stood at attention. “Questions?”
“I remember you mentioned that your cousin is in Lady Staveley’s employ.”
The governess nodded, but she couldn’t quite meet Lydia’s eyes.
“Anyway,” Lydia continued, “Lady Staveley told Lord Masten that she knew you through a friend of hers, Lady Teynham, who has since passed on.”
A tear fell down Miss Mitford’s face, and she took a moment to answer Lydia. “I was very close to Lady Teynham. Her passing is still quite hard for me to come to terms with.”
The girl was very upset. Lydia felt awful for making her cry. “Why did you not just tell me that, Miss Mitford? Why instead did you tell me that your cousin worked for Lady Staveley?”
A small look of hope crossed the governess’ eyes. “Well, that’s true as well, my lady.”
Lydia felt like the biggest fool. Of course the two stories weren’t contradictory. They could both be true. She smiled weakly. “I’m sorry to have upset you, Miss Mitford. Please accept my apology.”
Miss Mitford said nothing, but nodded her head and began straightening the books at the end of the table.
By the week’s end, an exhausted Leland Birch arrived at Gosling Park late one evening. The once pristinely garbed solicitor was disheveled from head to toe and breathed heavily as he waited in Lord Masten’s study for the earl to grace him with his presence. But all was well—the papers had been signed, by everyone except his lordship.
Now, Birch sat slumped in a straight-backed chair across from Lord Masten’s large, mahogany desk. Moments later the door to the study opened and the earl strode inside, with his pretty wife quick on his heels. “Birch, tell me you have good news.” His tone was curt and impatient.
The solicitor jumped from his seat to attention. “Yes, my lord.”
“Well, out with it,” the earl snapped.
Lady Masten put a calming hand on her husband’s arm. “Robert, don’t bark at the poor man. He looks exhausted.” The earl grumbled something under his breath, but Leland Birch couldn’t hear what it was. The countess then turned her attention to the solicitor. “Mr. Birch, would you care for some tea?”
And that’s when Leland Birch fell in love with Lady Masten. She had a sweet timbre to her voice and her face was both beautiful and kind all at the same time. He would gladly track down Mr. Potter in Chippen Campden all over again if she asked him to. How had a woman like this ended up with the gruff and overbearing earl? Birch nodded gratefully. “Yes, please. Thank you, Lady Masten. That would be wonderful.”
The countess crossed the room to ring for tea. By the time Birch stopped gazing at her and glanced back at her husband, the earl was scowling at him. “I’m waiting, Birch.”
The young solicitor gulped and quickly opened his satchel. “Of course, my lord. I do indeed have good news.” He thumbed through the stack of papers in his bag looking for the ones that required the earl’s signature. “Mr. Potter didn’t quite remember the incident with Miss Harris, but I was able to refresh his memory.”
“I already told you that money was no object, Birch. Just send me the bill. I don’t want to hear you whine about simply doing your job.” Lord Masten took the papers that Birch offered and fell into his large leather chair. He leaned back in his seat and scanned the pages with a frown. After he finished reviewing the paperwork, he looked up and nodded to the solicitor. “This appears to be in order.”
“Yes, my lord. That is your copy.” Birch walked around the desk with another stack and laid them in front of the earl. “I do need your signature here…and here…and here…and on the last page at the bottom.”
The earl took the new stack and thumbed through them as well. He took out his quill to begin signing in the places Birch had indicated, just as the refreshments arrived. Lady Masten poured him a cup of tea and dropped a large biscuit onto his plate. Birch didn’t realize he was staring like a mooncalf at the countess until Lord Masten cleared his throat. Loudly.
Birch snapped back to attention. “Yes, Lord Masten.”
“Is that it then? The children are mine?” The earl handed the second pile of papers back to his solicitor.
Birch nodded. “Indeed, you are now the proud father of Peter and Penelope Beckford. Congratulations.”
For the first time in their acquaintance, Robert Beckford, the Earl of Masten, actually smiled at Leland Birch. “Good work, Birch. I’ll have Dunsley set you up with a room for the night. We’ve already eaten dinner. Shall I send a tray up for you?”
Birch grinned from ear-to-ear. Those were the nicest words the earl had ever spoken to him.
“Sweetheart,” Robert whispered in Lydia’s ear.
Still half-sleeping, Lydia groaned and swatted at her husband’s face.
The bed shook from Robert’s chuckle. “Don’t ever tell me you’re not grouchy in the morning, Lydia.” He held his eye where she’d whacked him. “I’ll be sporting a shiner for the rest of the day.”
Blast him! Why was he waking her up? Didn’t he know expectant women needed their rest? She blinked open her eyes and frowned at her over-jovial husband. No one should be allowed to be that cheerful in the morning. “Ro-ber-t!” she whined.
“You wanted me to wake you early this morning, sweetheart.” he cooed softly.
“I most certainly did not!” she pouted and rolled over on her side away from him. “Now, go out to your stables, or whatever it is you do at the crack of dawn, and leave me alone.”
She felt his lips against her ear. “I distinctly remember you asking me to wake you first thing, so that we could tell the children our good news.”
Lydia’s eyes flew open. She did remember now. The children were already asleep by the time Mr. Birch had arrived the night before. This morning, she and Robert had planned to tell them that they were now an official family. She swung her legs off the bed. “Oh, yes, of course.”
Robert was already dressed, and Betsy was off in the corner of the room waiting for her mistress to get up for the day. She stepped forward holding a soft, periwinkle muslin for Lydia’s inspection. “This one has more room in the waist, my lady.”
That was Betsy’s nice way of saying she was already getting plump. Lydia scowled, but begrudgingly nodded her approval. She was quickly turned out in the garment and discovered
that it was more comfortable than what she’d been wearing.
Moments later, she followed Robert down the hall and up to the nursery. Anticipation was coursing through her veins. It felt as if they’d been waiting forever to tell the children, when in fact it had only been a month or so.
Quietly, Robert and Lydia entered the children’s bedroom. Peter was curled up like a ball in his bed, lightly snoring. Penny was sleeping with her little bottom pointed high in the air, making a tent of her sheets. Lydia sat at the edge of Peter’s bed, while Robert took a spot on Penny’s. Gently, they caressed the children’s backs, whispering soothing words until they awoke.
Peter and Penny both rubbed their eyes and sat up in bewilderment as they stared at the earl and countess. Robert moved Penny to his lap and smoothed the tangled hair from her face. “Morning, my little imp.”
“Good—” Penny stretched and yawned, then snuggled in close to Robert’s chest— “morning, my lord.”
Robert kissed the top of Penny’s head. “Not anymore, Penny. As of this morning, I am no longer Lord Masten to you.”
Peter sat bolt upright. “You’re not the earl anymore?”
Robert chuckled. “Short of committing treason, I’m an earl for life, Peter. What I said is that I am no longer Lord Masten to you and Penny. From now on you are no longer my wards but my children.”
Peter blinked his eyes. Twice. “Your children?”
Lydia gently touched the boy’s face. “Robert means that we’ve adopted you as ours. You’re not orphans any longer. But I don’t want you to feel that you have to call us Mama or Papa, not if you’re not ready for that.”
The children quietly stared at each other for seemed like an eternity. Then Peter smiled tentatively and reached for Lydia’s hand. “Mama? I like that.”
“Me too.” Penny yawned again and clutched the lapel of Robert’s jacket in her tiny hands.
“Good.” Robert tousled Penny’s hair. “Now get dressed and come down for breakfast. Cook has a celebratory feast awaiting us.”
“Breakfas’?” Penny frowned, “It’s too early.”
Robert threw his head back and laughed. “She takes after you, Lydia.”
His wife picked up Peter’s abandoned pillow and threw it at Robert’s head. Still laughing, he fell backward on the bed, taking a happily squealing Penny with him. “Oh, Papa, you’re silly!”
The impending arrival of Lord Carteret and his family had the staff and residents of Gosling Park in an uproar. Lydia was giddy from just the thought of visiting with James and Bethany. Peter and Penny could barely contain their excitement over the prospect of five other children to play with. Robert enjoyed watching the entire scene play out.
At the first sight of a Carteret coach off in the distance, Lydia and the children rushed out to the front lawn to wait. Penny was bouncing up and down on her toes in anticipation as their guests got nearer.
When the first grand traveling coach bearing the Carteret coat of arms finally stopped at Gosling Park, the door flew open and children began to file out. Liam, Morgan, and Lady Madeline were followed closely by their mother. Before Bethany Carteret could even greet Lydia, her twins nearly knocked her to the ground as they raced to meet Peter and Penny. “Morgan, mind your manners, and Maddie, chasing after your brother is not ladylike.”
Lydia smiled gleefully and rushed to Bethany’s side. “I’m so glad you’ve come.” She warmly embraced her cousin. “How was the journey?”
Before Bethany Carteret could even answer her, Morgan jumped in to do so. “It was great fun, Lyddie. And we even got stopped by some highwaymen. Liam said they didn’t really exist, but I said they did. And sure enough—”
“Highwaymen?” Lydia gasped.
Bethany sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know that I’d call them that, Morgan.” Then she looked to Lydia. “Actually I don’t know what to call them. They didn’t rob us or take anything. But they were obviously looking for someone. They had a miniature with them and looked over each of us. I thought James was going to get himself killed, he was so furious.”
Morgan chimed in again with a nod. “Papa’s face was as red as blood, and then it turned purple, and then—”
“That’s quite enough, Morgan.” Bethany sent a chastising look at her youngest son.
When Lydia bent down to receive hugs from both Morgan and Madeline, she noticed Liam standing proudly next to his mother. With an indulgent grin, she reached out to shake the young Lord MacFadyn’s hand. “You look well, Liam.”
“Thank you, Lady Masten.”
“Lady Masten?” Lydia trilled. “What happened to Lyddie?”
Liam shrugged. “’Tis a bit childish, don’t you think?”
Morgan turned slightly red from embarrassment at that, but Lydia tousled Liam’s hair. “Absolutely not. I think it’s sweet. Now, come all of you and let me introduce you to my children.”
Up until now, Penny had been standing on her tiptoes, trying to get a good look at the visitors. But when all eyes were suddenly on her and Peter, she instantly shied away.
Just then, Robert walked down the front steps and smiled at his guests. “Ah, Lady Carteret.” He kissed Bethany’s cheek. “And you must be Lord MacFadyn. May I call you Liam?”
“Robert,” Lydia interrupted him. “I was just introducing everyone. Peter, Penny, these are our cousins, Lady Carteret, Liam, Morgan, and Madeline.” She stepped forward and took her husband’s hand. “And of course, this is my husband, Lord Masten, and our children, Peter and Penny.”
Peter looked the other boys over with obvious interest, while Liam and Morgan stared at him with curious glances. “We thought we saw highwaymen too,” Peter offered quietly.
“Brilliant!” Morgan enthused. “What did they look like?”
And like that, the three boys started off together, chatting amiably, and didn’t notice when the second coach approached. The coachman hopped down from his perch and quickly opened the door for Lord Carteret and his young daughters Lady Katriona and Lady Fiona. The earl looked a bit haggard, as if his daughters had driven him to the brink of insanity. He exchanged a look with his wife that said something along the lines of, ‘Next time you get these two hellions.’
“James!” Lydia called happily as she closed the distance between her and her cousin. “Thank you so much for bringing everyone.” She threw her arms around his neck.
James dropped a peck on Lydia’s cheek. “You look wonderful, Lyddie. Doesn’t she, Beth?”
Bethany sent a scathing look at her husband and then turned her attention on Lydia and smiled. “Of course she does. Lydia always looks beautiful.”
Lydia wasn’t quite sure why the scathing look was sent to James. She couldn’t imagine what her cousin had done to garner such a scowl. She smiled in return to Lady Carteret. “Thank you, Bethany.”
Grumbling nearby, Katriona and Fiona were playing tug-of-war with something—Lydia couldn’t tell what it was—glaring at each other. Katriona, a pretty eight-year-old, leaned toward her little sister and hissed, “Let go, you little brat.”
“But I want it,” Fiona wailed.
“Well, it’s mine. And it’s not my fault you left yours in Salisbury.” Katriona pulled hard one last time, cradling a doll to her chest. The movement sent Fiona tumbling to the ground with a thud.
“Girls!” James’ bellowing voice boomed over the group. “I have had all of that I can handle for the day. Give your mother the doll and go off, the lot of you.”
Instantly, Katriona thrust the coveted doll in Bethany’s hands and all of the children stared in shock with open mouths at James MacFadyn. Lydia stared too. She’d never seen her cousin lose his temper before.
Robert smiled at the girls. “I believe Cook was baking some pear tortes for tonight. Penelope, sweetheart, why don’t you take the girls to the kitchen and see if you can’t persuade Cook to let you each have a taste?”
Penny frowned at being called Penelope, but she nodded at Robert,
ready to escape Lord Carteret. “Yes, Papa.” And with that, the four girls vanished into the castle.
James looked chagrined and his brogue was a bit stronger than usual. “Sorry ‘boot that. They fought the entire time.” He sighed and rubbed his temples with both hands as if he had a pounding headache. “Maddie has to ride with Fiona on the way home. She’s the only one that won’t strangle that little termagant.”
Bethany laughed, despite herself. “They seemed perfectly happy when we set out from Salisbury this morning.”
“I believe that harmonious atmosphere lasted all of five minutes. No more about them, please.” James rubbed his brow and sighed. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen Lydia. Let’s hear how our cousin gets on.”
James offered Lydia his arm, while Bethany took Robert’s, and the two couples made their way inside Gosling Park. James placed a reassuring hand over Lydia’s and smiled. “Sorry I lost my temper. I’m not accustomed to being cooped up with fighting children. When we’re at home, you can just separate them and move on.”
Lydia nodded with understanding. “I’m sure all will be forgotten as they scarf down Cook’s pear tortes. I only hope there’s enough left for dinner.”
James’ eyes grew large. “There had better be, Lydia. I haven’t been allowed dessert since you moved out.”
Surprised by that statement, Lydia looked up at her cousin. James had a sweet tooth a mile long. He would eat cakes or tarts all day long if he could get away with it, though somehow he always managed to look fit and handsome. “You’ve not been allowed dessert?”
James shook his head sullenly. “Bethany has taken it off the menu at home. She was quite put out that I sent you to Masten, and I’m still being punished. Tell me my sacrifice has been worth it, Lyddie. Are you happy?”
Lydia beamed at him. “I’ve never been happier. I was angry with you too, by the way. But I suppose I’m now indebted to you for my happiness.”
With an enigmatic smile, James patted her hand. “I’m the last person you should be indebted to.”
They reached the green salon and Robert motioned for everyone to find a spot in the room. Lydia and Bethany ended up together on the settee, while Robert and James took chairs across from the ladies. Lydia quickly took Bethany’s hand. “Have you really cut James off from dessert?”
Bethany nodded at once. “And he won’t get any more until I’m satisfied that you’re happy.”
James threw back his head and laughed at that. “Heavens, sweetheart, look at her. She’s practically glowing. Have you ever seen Lydia look so well?”
As a blush crept up her cheeks, Lydia looked from Bethany to James. “Funny you should mention glowing. I was going to wait until later, but I’d hate for James to miss any more desserts.” She briefly met her husband’s eyes and then continued, “Robert and I are expectant parents.”
Bethany’s eyes grew to the size of saucers and she clutched Lydia’s hands tightly in hers. “Truly?”
Lydia shyly nodded and smiled at Bethany. “I’ve never been happier.”
“Congratulations, Masten.” James sent a self-satisfied smirk to Robert.
“Robert, please.” Robert tapped his chest lightly. “We are all family, after all.”
“Congratulations, Robert, then.” James clapped his hands together and grinned widely. “Brilliant! I can’t wait to start having dessert again.”
Bethany rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Jamie, you sound just like Morgan.”
With a wink, James replied, “No, darling, he sounds just like me.”
The fortnight passed quickly. The seven children rubbed along fairly well, and Lydia was glad to see Liam lose a bit of his overly serious façade. Peter and Penny had never been so happy and that feeling was echoed in both Lydia and Robert. Indeed, the Masten family was safe, secure, and content.
On the last afternoon of the MacFadyn visit, while Bethany offered to share her experiences of four confinements with Lydia, Robert asked James to accompany him on a trip around the estate. He had meant to speak with Lydia’s cousin earlier in the trip, but time had slipped away. This would be his last chance to get some answers for a while.
The two men started off on a path that led to the stables before Robert began his inquisition. “I’m hoping you can give me some information, James.”
“I will if I can.”
“I wanted to do something nice for Lydia.”
James smiled and patted Robert on the back. “I think you’ve already made her very happy, Robert, but what have you got in mind?”
Robert kicked a small stone from his path and shrugged. “She won’t talk about her family. The time that I forced her to do so, she became an emotional wreck, and I ended up feeling like the worst sort of blackguard.”
James nodded in understanding. “Lydia didn’t have an easy childhood. But she’s risen remarkably above all that pain, without being bitter or vengeful. I don’t think I could’ve done it.”
Perhaps she wasn’t bitter or vengeful, but Robert was certain she was still in pain. “I know she’s troubled by her estrangement from her brother. She told me that Lieutenant Warner holds her in disregard.” Robert’s eyes were on the path in front of them, so he missed the deep frown that suddenly appeared on James’ face. “Anyway, I’d like to change that if I could. I left a letter with the Admiralty for the lieutenant asking him to come see us at his earliest convenience. Since he’s your cousin, I’m hoping you can give me some information about my brother-in-law. Lydia won’t speak of him.”
James scoffed, and he asked incredulously, “He holds her in disregard? Is that what she said?”
The tone of James’ voice caught Robert off guard and he stopped walking to face his companion. He now noticed the deep frown etched on Lord Carteret’s face and he furrowed his own brow in response.
James continued solemnly, “And knowing her, she probably believes it too—probably believes it was her fault.”
Robert was completely confused, a state he did not enjoy. “There’s a subtext I’m not following. Please enlighten me.”
James glanced back toward the manor house, and Robert could tell that he was torn, but between what he didn’t know. Then James took a deep breath and eyed Robert with a look of caution. “If anyone should be held in disregard it’s Henry Warner. He’s just like their bastard of a father if you ask me, perhaps even worse.”
“What do you mean?” Robert asked.
“Uncle Gordon was gone most of the time, fortunately. But when he was home, he was cruel, drunk, and tyrannical. I remember once my mother begged Aunt Mabel to come stay with us, but she wouldn’t leave him. It was as if she was afraid to. I’d never seen my mother happy to hear of anyone’s death, but when we got the news that he’d died on board his ship she was relieved. Actually relieved.” He snorted and looked up at the sky. After a minute he finally continued, “I’m the oldest cousin, followed by Henry. He’s a few years older than my sister, Hannah. Hannah always adored Henry, same as Lydia did. It wasn’t until we were adults that I came to see him as the disreputable and unconscionable man that he is.”
James again looked back toward the manor house, as if to make sure no one else was around. Then Carteret started walking again, and Robert made sure to keep up. “As you said, you’re family now, Robert, and I’m asking you to keep the rest of this to yourself.”
“Of course.” Robert would have agreed to anything as long as James would keep talking.
“Henry was besotted with Bethany.” He smiled sadly. “Though so was I and many others—your friend Astwick, for example.”
James looked pained, and he said nothing for a few good minutes, as if trying to determine the right words, or whether to speak at all. Then after a deep sigh he continued, “Henry attacked Bethany. This was before we were married. We were all at Briarstrath in Dumfries-shire, celebrating Mama’s birthday. Lydia had just come to live with her a few months earlier. At the time, everyone had expected Bethany and I to announce our betr
othal, but instead we’d had an awful argument earlier in the day. So, I’d gone in search of her, to apologize. I don’t even remember what it was about now.”
James looked beyond distressed, as if each word he spoke was painful. But Robert was engrossed in the tale and patiently waited. What exactly had Henry Warner done to Bethany Carteret? Though Robert was afraid to know the answer, at the same time there was nothing in the world that would have drug him away from hearing the end of the story.
“I came upon them, Bethany and Henry. She was struggling against him in a secluded parlor. My heart stopped, literally, when I saw them. I swear to God, I thought I would tear him limb from limb. There on the floor, with her dress torn nearly to shreds and sobbing her heart out was the sweet girl that I’d loved since I was a boy. And atop her was Henry, a monster—my own bloody cousin. He was holding her down against her will.” James managed to get the words out, but it was obvious that memory was still very disturbing and difficult to speak aloud. “I smelled brandy thick on his breath and it permeated the entire room.”
Robert took a deep breath. “Did he…”
“No!” James said hastily. Then more quietly he added, “He’d hit her, but he hadn’t violated her. Not yet, though his intent was obvious. His breeches were down around his ankles. We were fortunate that I happened upon them when I did.”
Robert was sickened by this revelation. If James’ allegations were true, then Lieutenant Warner was the last person who should pass judgment on Lydia. “Does my wife know about this?”
Shamefully, James hung his head, and he couldn’t look Robert in the eye. “No. I didn’t want to publicize Bethany’s encounter. She had done nothing wrong, mind you, except be his victim. But you know as well as I that her reputation would have been in shambles had the incident gotten out. I couldn’t do that to her. So, I thought it was best if we just kept quiet about the whole thing. Neither Beth nor I told another soul, well, except for Mama. And I threatened Henry with his life, made it plain that if he ever so much as looked at her again, I would kill him on the spot. I meant it, and he knew it. Neither of us has seen him since.” James took a long, staggering breath and finally met Robert’s pained gaze.
James was clearly troubled, and Robert knew in the pit of his stomach that his story wasn’t yet over. “I should have dealt with him then, Masten, but I honestly thought it was just Beth he was after. So many others were back then, you realize. And since Henry knew I was protecting her—I swear to you I thought the danger was over.”
“You’re saying it wasn’t?” Robert swallowed and realized his mouth had gone dry.
James’ countenance darkened even more. “After Aunt Mabel died and Mama found Lydia in Spitalfields, they returned to Scotland for a few years. But Lydia had always lived in London and she missed it. Mama wanted to make her happy, so they re-opened the house in Queen Street.”
“She told me it was the happiest time in her life.” Robert studied James’ sullen face.
“Her life wasn’t all that happy up to that point, Robert.” James rubbed his brow roughly. “Now, I wasn’t there, so I can only speculate as to what happened. Mama would never tell me the whole story.”
Robert didn’t like the sound of James’ voice and was worried about what he would hear next, but he nodded his understanding and waited for James to continue.
“Henry was in London, on half-pay at the time. He’d stopped several times at the house, but Mama wouldn’t permit him entrance. She hadn’t ever since the incident with Bethany. Besides, he was nearly always drunk and had his father’s temper. Henry could be erratic, funny and charming one moment, then irate and belligerent the next. Mama didn’t want Lydia subjected to him. The poor girl had been through enough as it was. But Henry was enraged that Mama would keep Lydia from him.” James stopped talking and closed his eyes.
Robert was both afraid that James wouldn’t say any more and terrified that he would. But he had to know. “Go on, Carteret.”
With a curt nod, James turned to face Robert. “Mama could always sleep through anything, Robert, she was just like the dead. But this particular night she was awoken by Lydia’s screams. She was an old woman, Masten, and the only one on Lydia’s floor. It was the dead of night and all the servants were asleep. Mama was frail, and still groggy from sleep, but she made it to Lydia’s room at the same time as a footman, who’d been awakened as well. They found her chamber door had been broken off its hinges. Henry was there, drunk. Apparently, he was holding Lydia beneath him—that’s all I could get out of the footman before Mother shushed him.”
Robert was pale and his heart was racing, as he witnessed the horrific scene in his mind. Words of hope flew from his mouth. “But she’d just screamed. Your mother got there in time. The footman got there in time—just like you did with Bethany.”
James sighed heavily as he unloaded his awful burden onto Robert. “Honestly, Robert, I don’t know. I should say I’m not sure. You see, I know that if Mama had been able to stop him she would have made that fact very clear to me, but she would never say one way or the other and the footman was sent away. Ever since that moment, I’ve been wracked with guilt over not dealing with my cousin when I should have years earlier.”
Robert’s voice was hoarse with disbelief. “Are you telling me that he violated her? His own sister?”
“I don’t have any proof of that, but…”
“But you think he did?”
James met Robert’s darkened eyes and nodded gravely. “Aye. I think he did. And who knows how many others have suffered at that bastard’s hands.”
Thoughts began to flood Robert’s mind. Luke had insisted Lydia wasn’t pure, that he hadn’t ruined her. He was adamant about that fact. Robert felt the world start to spin and he fell to his knees. Luke hadn’t ruined Lydia. Instead, she’d been defiled at the hands of her own brother whom she’d loved and trusted. Robert wasn’t in control of his emotions or his body’s reaction to the horrendous tale. Bile rose up in his throat, and he spit it out.
Lydia’s own brother had stolen her innocence. He had defiled her in the most horrific way. No one could ever make that right. “My God!” he whispered hoarsely. “And she knits him socks.”
“I know,” James replied. “Beth and I are convinced she blames herself, and that’s some sort of penance she’s paying.”
How had Lydia survived the cruel turns life had thrown at her? His kind and compassionate wife had suffered at the hands of her abusive father. Her own brother had stolen her innocence. Luke had used her. And for five years he, himself, had punished her for all of it. Robert didn’t think he’d ever be right again.
James offered Robert his handkerchief and a steady hand, as the world began to spin around him. He had to lean on James to keep from stumbling to the ground. Never in his life had he felt helpless, but there simply wasn’t anything he could do to make this better. As Lydia had said, some things just couldn’t be fixed.
He had to pull himself together. He could never let her know that he knew. They could never discuss this. He would never make her relive it. So, he had to find a way to come to terms with the events. He had to be strong for his wife, who’d had to be strong for far too long—all alone.
“Robert, are you feeling all right?” Lydia asked as she climbed into bed. He hadn’t seemed himself the entire day, and at dinner he’d barely touched Cook’s duck with roasted plum sauce. James had seemed off as well, but Lydia figured that was due to his trepidation about traveling the next day with his unruly brood again.
Wearing only a stockinet, Robert slipped under the bedclothes and forced a smile to his face. “I’m fine.”
He wasn’t fine. She knew that. She knew him.
Lydia inched toward her husband and laid her head on his chest. “Thank you for putting up with my family.” She ran her fingers down his stomach and gently kissed his chest. “Their visit has meant so much to me.”
Robert dropped a kiss on the top of her head and patte
d her back in a very brotherly manner. “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed their company, sweetheart.” Then he shifted in the bed and rolled on to his side, giving her his back. “Goodnight, Lydia.”
She stared at her husband’s back in surprise. She always slept in his arms. That nagging feeling she’d once sensed after their night together at The Knight’s Arms washed over her. Something was wrong. He’d shut her out, and she had no idea why. “Robert.”
“I need to get to sleep.”
What was wrong with him? What had happened? “Something is wrong, I can tell.”
He didn’t turn to face her, and his shoulders seemed to tense. “Damn it, Lydia! Leave it be, I’m just tired.”