In the Garden of Deceit (Book 4) (24 page)

“I
think I’ll wait for the dowager to throw me out.”

The
dowager?

“I
will no longer protect you, Derrick. As soon as James returns I will
be reporting this transgression to him.”

The
only response she received was a sullen salute with two fingers.

One
footman behind him, the other opening the front door, Derrick exited
the house. Henrietta stood in the doorway for several moments without
speaking, watching him as he crossed the lawn to the dower house. The
old lady’s shoulders drooped as she turned back inside, seeming
to have lost the starch that had fueled her indignation. She tried to
meet Amanda’s gaze but clearly had some difficulty doing so.

For
her part, Amanda was too stunned to do more than stand at the
entrance to the sitting room with her mouth open. In an instant her
day had gone from languid boredom to a feeling of such impending
disaster, all she wanted was to run and hide from whatever was to
come. But the fear would follow her, she knew, a fear she thought she
had defeated.

“I
suppose you’d like an explanation,” Henry said, still
staring mostly at the floor.

Finding
her voice with some effort, Amanda said, “That would be
welcome, yes.”

“It’s
not what it seems—”

Amanda
lifted her hand, palm out. “Aunt Henry, please, do me the
courtesy of not insulting my intelligence. Tell me the truth without
the varnish. I believe I deserve that much.”

Henry
nodded, expelling a heavy breath, and waved Amanda back into the
sitting room. “Let’s have a seat.”

There
was a minute of uncomfortable quiet as they situated themselves on
opposing ends of the sofa. Aunt Henry then turned to face her, and
this time her gaze was direct but sorrowful.

“I’m
so sorry, Amanda. I know I should have told you about Derrick, that
he was on the estate.”

“
James
should have told me about Derrick, Aunt Henry.” Amanda’s
voice was dry and flat. “Did you ask him not to tell me?”

“I-I
don’t remember who decided to keep it quiet. Our motives were
pure, I believe. We didn’t want to upset you. Especially after
the wedding party…”

Amanda
thought only a moment before deciding to reveal information James had
asked her to keep to herself, although she suspected it was hardly a
secret. “Were you aware that James and I had a falling out and
were basically estranged when we arrived here after the wedding?”

“Yes.”

“And
you know why?”

Henry
winced. “Derrick, of course.”

“But
James had hoped everyone would believe we had resolved our
differences before our arrival.”

“It
wasn’t a secret, dear, that everything wasn’t as it
should be. We all knew.”

“I
would like to clarify one thing. I wasn’t angry with James
because he needed money despite what everyone might think.”

“No?”

“It
was the lack of honesty that was truly hurtful. He and my father
deciding my future, and assuming I was not adult enough to be part of
that decision. Or worse, that they couldn’t trust me to make
the decision they wanted me to make. Money was simply the crux of the
arrangement. We worked out our difficulties, and James promised there
would be no more lies between us. So you can understand why I would
find this ‘lie by omission’ regarding Derrick on the
estate difficult to accept.”

Henry’s
shoulders sagged again. “Yes.”

“Why
is James’s mother sheltering Derrick?”

The
old woman’s lips crimped. “Who knows why Muriel does
anything? I can tell you it’s not for love of my son. More like
spiting her own son. She’s an unhappy person who only finds joy
when she’s made someone else unhappy.”

“Well,
that explains why you were so angry with her when she asked about
Derrick. But why is she so hateful to James? He is her son after
all.”

“Before
James left England, he and his mother had a terrible quarrel. I
honestly think that is one of the reasons he felt pushed to leave.
Her drinking had become unmanageable, and he was worried about his
sister and father. Suffice it to say, things were said that will
never be forgotten—or for Muriel, forgiven. My sister-in-law
will go to her grave exacting revenge on anyone who has displeased
her.”

Despite
the uncertainty she was once again feeling with regard to her
husband, Amanda was proud of James for standing up to his mother.
Grown children often felt impotent when dealing with a wayward
parent.

“All
right, but then what is Derrick’s grudge against James?”

Henry’s
face crumpled. “I wish I knew.” There were tears in her
voice. “My son is damaged in some way like Huey. But his damage
is where it can’t be seen, only felt. And Huey is such a sweet
man where Derrick is jealous and mean-spirited. James had everything
Derrick thought he wanted. My son lived well here but on his uncle’s
charity, which he resented. James was the favored son, handsome,
charming and, despite his lack of funds, a favorite with the
ladies—for all the obvious reasons.”

Amanda
smiled despite herself. “Of course.”

“To
my great sorrow, I believe my husband left his stamp on Derrick.”

“Was
your husband’s character not obvious before you married him?”

“I
know what you’re asking. Why
did
I marry him? What you
should be asking is why did he marry me?”

“Aunt
Henry—”

“No,
no, it is what it is. I was plain and blinded by infatuation. Albert
was neither of those things. The painful truth is, I had a dowry.”
In answer to the unasked question, she said, “Our Uncle
Simon—you met him at the wedding reception. He took pity on me
and provided the funds, bless him. Without that dowry I would never
have married. In retrospect, perhaps it would have been for the
best.”

How
sad to feel one’s life has been a mistake. Amanda reached
across the distance that separated them and patted the old woman’s
hand. She could not, simply could not be angry with her. However, she
had one more question.

“Derrick
implied that James had another reason for going to London.”

Henry
grabbed the hand patting hers and scooted her rump toward Amanda on
the sofa. Her gaze was now unwavering and fierce. “James is an
honorable man, Amanda. He’s not perfect, but you do him an
injustice if you doubt his word. I did not marry well and time told
me that. You’ve married
very
well, and time will confirm
that also. Please don’t give up on him before you have had the
opportunity to see that for yourself.”

Amanda
leaned forward and hugged her. She could make no promises because she
and James needed to talk, and she said as much. “…But I
promise to keep in mind what you’ve said. James is fortunate to
have a champion in you. And just so you know,” she swallowed
over a painful lump in her throat, “I love him very much.”

She
then excused herself because, of a sudden, she found the thought of
more conversation unbearable.

At
the foot of the staircase, her feet feeling as heavy as her heart,
she climbed the steps, only to stop abruptly halfway up. Uncle Huey
was now sitting on the fourth step down, elbows on knees, chin in
hands, clearly miserable. Tears streaked his cheeks as he watched her
approach. She continued her ascent, more quickly now, and sat next to
the little man.

“Oh,
Uncle Huey…” She put her arm around his shoulders. “I’m
so sorry you had to witness this unpleasantness.”

“I
don’t want you to leave, Amanda.” His voice shook.

“I’m
not going anywhere.”

“But
you and James—”

“Love
each other. We’ll work out our differences. Give us time.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

Even
as she promised Huey, Amanda promised herself. She refused to allow
Derrick to destroy what James and she had fought so hard to build.
She just wished James was home so she could see those blue eyes, read
what was in his heart. She hated that doubt had crept into her
thinking at the very moment she was finally feeling secure.

Damn
Derrick and his odious mouth.
Damn him!

***

CHAPTER 16

James
descended from the hackney onto the walk in front of Archie
Campbell’s townhouse. It had been several months since he’d
made his first appearance at his father-in-law’s home. It
seemed as if it was forever ago, so much had changed in his life. He
was now able to take care of his family, and in the process he had
fallen in love with a remarkable woman. As to his current mission, he
had completed his father’s business and made final arrangements
for Derrick to live in reasonable comfort in the city. He was happy,
a springiness in his stride as he navigated the walk that bespoke a
man who was on top of the world.

He
took the step up to the front entrance and rang the bell. The door
was opened almost immediately. He recognized the servant who in turn
recognized him.

“Winston,
a pleasure to see you, my good man. Is your master at home?”

The
butler ushered James inside. “And it’s good to see you,
my lord.” He took James’s hat and cane. He paused a
moment, his expression somber. “Mr. Campbell has not been well.
We are…concerned.”

James’s
thoughts went immediately to Amanda. “What’s ailing him?”

“A
lung disease, my lord. It would appear his penchant for cigars has
finally taken its toll. The physician feels he may not have much time
left.”

“I
don’t understand. He seemed perfectly all right when my wife
and I left for Lonsdale.”

“Perhaps
what he
seemed
was not accurate, my lord. We now suspect he
was hiding his ill health until after the wedding. He declined rather
quickly once you and Lady Lonsdale departed.”

“Is
he too unwell to receive guests?”

“Mr.
Campbell will have to make that decision, my lord.”

“He’s
conscious?”

“Yes,
my lord, he was the last time I looked in on him. He sleeps quite
often—laudanum for the pain you know—but he’s
fairly clear-headed when he is awake. We have a nurse on constant
watch.”

“Please
ask him then if he can tolerate a short visit.”

Winston
disappeared up the stairs as James began pacing the foyer. His
primary concern was for his wife, who he knew would be devastated by
the news of her father’s illness. Archie and she had not parted
on cordial terms, and he assumed Amanda would now regret her anger,
even if the old man deserved it.

Winston
was not gone long. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he said,
“Mr. Campbell seems quite eager to speak with you, my lord.”

James
filed in behind the butler, mounting the stairs at the sedate pace
set by the servant. When they reached Campbell’s room James
stopped. “Winston, I’d like you to send a message to Lady
Lonsdale. Tell her I’ll be returning home tomorrow morning to
bring her back to London to see her father.”

“Actually,
we sent a message two days ago, my lord. We felt Mr. Campbell’s
health had become enough of a concern that we needed to alert his
daughter as next of kin. Had we known of your visit, we would have
waited for your instructions. I do apologize.”

Again,
James’s first thought was of Amanda. If she had not yet
received the news, she would be receiving it soon. “No, no,
quite all right. You did what you thought needed to be done. We had
to be notified.”

As
James entered Archie’s room, he was assailed by the smell of
sickness. He knew that smell, and it did not bode well for Archie
Campbell’s future. Across an extremely large chamber, rested an
extremely large four-poster bed with the draperies pulled back,
revealing its occupant propped on several pillows. Next to the bed in
a straight-backed chair sat a woman in long pinafore apron and mob
cap—the nurse, James assumed—hands folded primly in her
lap. She watched as James approached the bed.

He
addressed the woman. “I’m Mr. Campbell’s son-in-law
Lord Lonsdale. Is he able to take part in a private conversation for
a few minutes?”

The
nurse gave one brisk nod. She stood and leaned over her patient. “Mr.
Campbell, I’m giving you some private time with your
son-in-law. Please have his lordship come for me if you should have
any difficulties.” She turned back to James. “Nurse
Bitters,” she introduced herself succinctly then moved toward
the door.

Huh,
aptly named, James thought. No wasted words there.

With
the exit of the stern nurse, the atmosphere in the room lightened
somewhat.

Archie
pointed to the chair the nurse had just vacated. “She’s
good,” he pulled a shallow breath and wheezed, “but
depressing. Makes me feel as if I’m on my deathbed.” He
laughed at his attempt at humor which led to a coughing fit. His
lungs sounded as if they were filled with water.

James
in the act of sitting came immediately to his feet and leaned over
the patient. “Are you all right, sir? Should I call the nurse
back?”

Archie
clamped a hand, surprisingly strong, around James’s forearm.
“Call back that persimmon and I promise to expire before she
gets here.” He coughed again, once, but the episode appeared to
have passed.

James
sat down, studying the old man as he did so. Amanda’s father
looked terrible, pale and drawn, thinner, and he
was
on his
deathbed unless a miracle intervened. He suspected that wasn’t
going to happen. “I understand you’ve been ill since the
wedding. Why have you waited to let us know?”

“More
important that you and that gel of mine…get off to a good
start. I’m an old man. My time has come…and gone.”
His speech was punctuated by many breaths as he fought for air.

“I
don’t think Amanda is going to see it that way.”

“She’s
a good girl,” Archie said softly. Deep breath. “I’m
sorry I disappointed her.”