Family Scandals (16 page)

“Corrie!”

He stiffened as Caroline came running up, a piece of driftwood in her hand.

“Look at this.” She proudly displayed what looked to be a piece of planking to them. “It has letters on it. Do you think it’s from a ship that wrecked?”

“If it is, it’s very old,” Corinna said, her voice steady. “What letters are there?”

Caroline squinted at the piece of wood. “It looks like a B and part of another letter. I can’t tell what the other letter might be.”

“Hmmm. Maybe we can see if we can find a book about local shipwrecks in your uncle’s library.”

Michael joined them and Caroline turned to him. “Corrie says we should look and see if Uncle Marcus’s library has a book about shipwrecks.”

“I’ll bet there were lots around here,” he joined in enthusiastically.

Marcus grinned at the children as Corinna said, “It’s time for tea. Let’s get your shoes and stockings back on.”

The children scurried back to the rocky area where they’d left their shoes. Corinna followed to help and soon the four of them were climbing the rocky path back to the house.

Once inside, he headed toward the cliff parlor while Corinna herded the children upstairs to wash up.

Felicia was right where he expected her to be, although he hadn’t expected to find Brand with her.

“You will join us for tea, won’t you?”

“Not today, thank you, but I do have a favor to ask.”

Actually, he’d asked for two favors. Both were readily granted and he promised to explain the reasons for them as soon as he was able. Climbing the stairs to the library, he rang for Barnes and asked for the bundle of papers he normally kept with his military effects. It had never occurred to him that he might need the documents Barnes brought to him. Documents he’d all but forgotten until his discussion with Corinna on the beach. But he was thankful he hadn’t destroyed them after Douglas’s death.

The knock on the door was expected and Corinna entered at his call. She did not look especially pleased with him, but he knew that might happen. However, he could at least assure her on one point.

“You needn’t look as if you are about to scold me,” he said. “I only asked Felicia to send you up here because I wanted to talk to you. I told her nothing else.”

Corinna sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. “And you don’t think she might find that curious?”

“I’m sure she does, but I will not satisfy her curiosity without your permission.” He came around the desk and joined her in the other chair. “I sent for tea for you,” he said. “I didn’t want you to miss out.”

“Thank you.”

He was on shaky ground. Perhaps he should have done things differently, but she was here now and there were some things they needed to discuss.

“I wanted to finish our conversation from earlier,” he began.

“I see.” She folded her hands primly in her lap and gave him a cool stare. “I don’t see how you can say Gregory was never my guardian. Even if my father had named Douglas, once Douglas was…gone, it would have fallen to Gregory.”

He shook his head. “I realize that my statement came as a bit of a shock. And rightly so since you would have had no knowledge of what Douglas and I did in India. But, as I said, Gregory was never your guardian.”

A soft knock at the door brought Mrs. Barker in with her tea. Once the housekeeper left and Corinna was settled with her cup, he continued.

“Douglas and I had been in India for a year when he took ill. It was touch and go for him for about a week. The fever and vomiting seemed to go on forever. I don’t think either of us thought he would make it and he made me promise that I would look after you if he didn’t.”

“But—”

“Please,” he interrupted, “just hear me out. Then you can decide what you want to do.” She nodded and he continued. “Douglas survived whatever it was, but I think it disturbed him that he might have died without making provision for you. So he wrote a will. And he insisted that I write one as well.” He watched her nibble on a biscuit off the tray, before putting it down next to her cup and folding her hands in her lap once again. “We both wrote wills and had them witnessed by two other officers in our company.” He reached over and picked up one of the sheets of paper he’d laid out on his desk and handed it to her. “Douglas’s will left you all of his worldly goods and named me—as your husband—as your guardian if he died before returning to England.”

He watched her scan the document, remaining silent while giving her a chance to read it through. When she lowered the paper to her lap and looked up at him, he could not put a name to what he saw in her expression.

“You must know, Corinna, that you and your mother were everything to Douglas. He had no fears for your mother, but he wanted nothing more than to see you safely taken care of.”

“I understand that, but why would you…?”

“Why would I what? Marry you? Accept the responsibility? Fall in with Douglas’s plans?”

“Yes. Our family disagreements had nothing to do with you. It seems wrong of Douglas to have dragged you into it at all.”

Marcus shrugged. “In a nutshell, I had nothing better to do. Douglas and I were friends in spite of my mother’s wish to the contrary. I think we found a kinship in each other that we didn’t have at home. We might not have been actual brothers, but we felt that way. When Brand returned to England and I suddenly found myself a second son, Douglas was the first person I told. And when my father pulled some strings at Whitehall and produced a commission for me, once again, Douglas was the first person I thought of.”

She smiled and shook her head. “I know that you and Douglas were close. When he came home to visit, he always talked about the scrapes the two of you got into. When he first came home and told us he was being posted to India, he told me that the person he would miss almost as much as me was you. But that still doesn’t explain why you would go along with such a crazy scheme and marry a fourteen-year-old girl.”

“I could say it was a lark, but for Douglas it was more than that. We both truly believed that it would provide you with some protection.” Suddenly restless, he stood and went to the window. The wind had calmed, but clouds were gathering in the distance. “And it would have if I had been more vigilant.”

“You should not feel guilty.”

He turned to face her, his lips pressed together in a straight line. “Shouldn’t I? Perhaps not, but that still doesn’t solve our problem.”

“What problem is that?”

“That you don’t consider yourself married.” He crossed back to the desk and picked up the second sheet of paper he’d left there. “If something had happened to me all my possessions, including these documents, would have been sent home to Brand. What do you think he would have done if he’d come across this certificate and my will?”

He could see she had no answer to his question. Good, because he hadn’t one either. It was entirely possible that Gregory could have told Brand she was dead and Brand would have had no choice but to believe him. It was also possible that Brand might have asked questions and Gregory might have been forced into revealing that she wasn’t. He supposed it would have depended on the circumstances. Circumstances that were moot, hadn’t transpired, and no longer mattered.

Corinna had no idea what to think. The little time she’d had to think today had given her no answers as to what to do about Marcus’s claim. On the one hand, the secret love that fourteen-year-old harbored for her brother’s best friend was still tucked away in her heart. Last night she’d pulled it out and examined it for cracks and tarnish. If anything, it was shinier and sturdier than before. It might have even grown a little since his return.

“Look,” he said, “I know we don’t know each other very well, but don’t you think—”

She cut him off with a demand. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you want the marriage to stand?”

He looked perplexed. As if the question had not occurred to him. Her spirits sank. Had she expected him to make a declaration of undying love? Perhaps not, but he could make it not sound so convenient.

“Because it is,” he replied. “I know you do not think of yourself as married, but I did until five years ago. And yet,” he paused, “if not for the letter from Gregory five years ago, I would not be here speaking to you today. If not for that letter, I would have returned home when you turned eighteen.”

“Why?”

“Because I would have assumed you would be planning a season, and I would have returned to help you through it if you wanted. I know we both went into this arrangement without strong feelings for one another, and if you found someone else, I would have done as Douglas and I discussed—destroyed all evidence of the marriage and wished you the best.” He sat down heavily in his chair behind the desk. “But that’s not what happened and now, the best way to re-introduce you to society is as my wife.”

She glanced down at her brother’s will again. “Why can’t you now merely introduce me as your ward?”

He shook his head. “If Gregory contests my claim—which I would do if I were in his shoes—I would have to produce Douglas’s will.”

He needn’t explain further. The will would cause more gossip and scandal, and would pull them into the spotlight. They would be the main course at every society event for months.

“Then you should allow me to continue working and forget about me. You can do whatever it is you would have done to erase the marriage.” The expression that crossed his face told her he did not consider that a viable option. Marcus felt responsible for her. He would not let it go.

“If you are truly concerned that the first was invalid, we can have another ceremony,” he offered.

Unfortunately, she could not afford to show her face in society. What if Vincent saw her? What if he had the authorities out looking for her? The time spent in Cornwall had been relaxing. Without the worry regarding discovery, she had let down her guard. Once back in London, she would be looking over her shoulder constantly.

The only way she would agree would be… She sat up straighter in her chair and looked Marcus in the eye. “Very well. I agree—on one condition.” An eyebrow raised in inquiry. “I will stay here when you go to London. I have no wish to go back there.”

“And how do you expect me to convince Gregory that I’m your husband if I can’t produce you?”

“I don’t know, but I do not want to return to London.”

“Tell me then. How did you expect to find another position once Felicia gave you a reference and sent you on your way?”

“I would—” She hadn’t thought that through very well. Where would she find another job as a governess if not in London? That’s where all the agencies were.

He smiled as if he read her thoughts, and she looked away toward the windows. When had it begun to rain? She’d been so involved in their conversation she hadn’t noticed the light waning in the room as clouds built overhead. Now streaks of water decorated the windows, blurring an outside world gone gray.

“I’m sorry, Corinna.” His voice, soft and repentant, reached her. “I understand that you value your independence, but we are backed into a corner here by your family. I have no doubt your father left you a dowry, but Gregory chose not to give you a season in order to avoid paying it out. In addition, you ought to have any jewelry left by your mother. Especially any that your mother brought into the marriage. There is no other way I can fathom to see that you get what is rightfully yours.”

Tears sprang to her eyes as the gentleness in his voice washed over her. Remembering the last conversation with her great aunt, she was reminded of how little control she seemed to have over her life. The independence she wanted seemed destined to elude her.

“What about you?” she whispered, turning to face him again. “What if you find someone else?”

His smile crept into his eyes. “I won’t.”

The warmth of his gaze nearly made her light-headed.

“Someday you might fall in love.”

The light went out of his eyes and the smile vanished. “I doubt it,” he replied. “Is that what is worrying you?” She nodded. He rose from his chair and came around to take the seat near hers again. Reaching out, he picked up her hands in his and stared into her eyes. “I won’t insult you by professing undying love for you, Corinna, but even in India I often thought of you. Now that I’ve found you, I’ve discovered a perfect flower. A gem of priceless value and unmatched beauty.” He kissed the back of both hands, then replaced them in her lap and leaned back in his chair. “Love is overrated. I won’t dismiss it out of hand. It would be hard to do around Felicia and Brand, and my sister, Eliza and her husband, Trent. But, I don’t know that I’m capable of such an emotion. Just know this, I will not stray from the marriage bed, nor will I ever hurt you. I do not expect my wife to cater to my every whim and not have an original thought in her head. Forever is a long time to live with someone you can’t have an intelligent conversation or the occasional argument with.”

At least he didn’t want a brainless wife.

“The benefits of our marriage run both ways. It may seem as if you will be the sole recipient of the advantages of our union, but I, too, will be forever grateful for your presence.”

“Why? As an earl, you could have your pick of anyone.”