Realm 06 - A Touch of Love (61 page)

“I imagine Lady Godown can handle ‘nattering gossips.’” Kerrington assured. “Your wife is more than capable.”

“Lady Godown is magnificent.” Crowden’s countenance bore his recent besotted state. Carter had to remind himself the Crowdens had been wed but nine months. The Kerringtons some eighteen. The Fowlers twelve. The Wellstons eleven and the Kimbolts six. The connections often appeared those of longer standing.

Kerrington asked, “Have you spoken your proposal to Mrs. Warren.”

“Not officially.” Carter laughed nervously. “I mean to do so today.”

“Linton Chapel is at your disposal when you are prepared to speak your vows. It has brought each of us phenomenal fortune.”

Carter nodded his gratitude. “I will speak to my lady.”

Soon afterwards, his friends departed, and his father appeared in the opened door. “Are you well enough for company?”

Carter motioned the baron forward. “The bullet went through the flesh. If the surgeon would permit it, I would be up today and at my desk.”

“Your mother will be pleased to have you speak so. Fernalia has been beside herself with worry.” His father accepted the seat Carter indicated. “I suppose you know the reason I wish to speak to you. Lady Hellsman says Mrs. Warren and the earl mean to call at one.”

“So I have been told.” Carter would insist his father broach the subject first.

With a sigh of resignation, the baron began, “Mrs. Warren has my eternal gratitude–first, for saving my life and then yours, but…”

“The lady has saved my life three times,” he interrupted. Carter had decided his father should be made privy to all the scandal surrounding Lucinda Warren. The baron was one to ferret out each damning detail and use it again and again to prove his point. Carter meant to diffuse his father’s attack. “Once in Suffolk and again two evenings prior.”

“You said three times.” Blakehell studied Carter suspiciously.

“On the battlefield. Mrs. Warren is the boy I left behind.”

The baron shifted uncomfortably. “I thought you said Mrs. Warren saved you? What in blazes was a female doing on a battlefield?”

Carter knew his father held very antiquated ideas about women and their roles. How he meant to shock the baron brought a smile to his lips. “Colonel Rightnour had been ill before the battle, and Mrs. Warren would not permit his following Wellington without her assistance. It was a foolish decision upon both the lady’s and the colonel’s parts. The colonel fell in battle, and I stumbled upon his regiment. I attempted to protect the boy I found grieving over the colonel’s body. When I was shot, the boy followed my litter to Brussels and assisted in my care.”

“And she sought you out after all these years?” Accusation filled his father’s words.

“Mrs. Warren does not know I am aware of her identity,” Carter confessed. “I will not speak of it, and neither will you,” he added. “When Lucinda is prepared to trust me, she will reveal the truth.”

The baron shook his head in disbelief. “You would begin a marriage knowing your wife practices a deception?”

“It is not a deception,” Carter added adamantly. “Lucinda has not forgiven herself for her part in the colonel’s demise, and until she does, she will not speak of her role in the colonel’s inability to lead his men.”

“The woman should be thankful you saved her father’s reputation,” Blakehell asserted.

Carter turned his father’s comment. “And I mean to save Lucinda’s reputation by keeping all her secrets.”

Blakehell snorted his disapproval. “There are other secrets? I should have known.”

“Oh, Mrs. Warren’s secrets are aplenty.” Carter laughed ironically. “To begin, Lucinda is not Mrs. Warren. Oh, it is true she married Matthew Warren, but the good captain omitted one vital fact. He had married Simon’s mother some two years prior to his pronouncing his vows with Lucinda Rightnour–a fact of which Mrs. Warren was unaware until Simon appeared upon her doorstep. Yet, despite the complete betrayal of Captain Warren, Lucinda has opened her heart to the boy, who is the child of a Sephardic Jew and an Ashkenazic one.”

“You mean to say the Warrens hid their race to insinuate their way into English society?”

“The Warrens are not the first to do so,” Carter warned. “It is time, Father. England is changing: Its shores are teaming with many nationalities.”

“And you plan to keep the confidences of a woman who has seen too much of the world to be an asset to your career? And worse, you mean to make her Lady Lowery!”

“I do,” Carter said simply. “As I keep your secrets–keep our family secrets, I will do the same for Lucinda.”

The baron blustered, “What secrets do you think we Blakehells have?”

“Secrets of your father…” Carter taunted. In reality, he did not know the reasons for his father’s obsession with titles and land, but he was certain with a bit of investigation he could discover the truth. He would begin with the
papers the baron left for Lawrence when his parents sailed for the Continent. He meant to “persuade” Blakehell to accept the futility of his objections to Mrs. Warren. Carter would use all the resources he had at his disposal to change the baron’s opinion.

“What of my father?” Blakehell asked suspiciously.

He countered, “No one has an exemplary family tree.”

“Yet, this woman brings nothing to the marriage but scandal. Surely, you can see the foolhardiness of your choice,” the baron protested.

Carter bit back the caustic remark on the tip of his tongue. “True. Mrs. Warren has rumors of scandal surrounding her, which will make Lucinda more interesting to the
ton
. Many of the
beau monde
will clamber for the connection. Yet, she has more ‘persuasive’ qualities which you should consider.”

“Such as?” His father said skeptically.

“Lucinda is the niece of the Earl of Charleton, a powerful associate of Lord Sidmouth. In addition, she has a sizeable dowry, which would more than turn Huntingborne Abbey into a showcase, and as Charleton’s only relative, Lucinda’s issue–our issue–will inherit the earldom.”

“Impossible,” Blakehell declared.

“I have the information from Charleton. The earl’s current heir is a distant cousin, who happens to be older than Gerhard Rightnour. Even if the cousin would outlive Charleton, there are no other males available. Lucinda’s son would be the heir apparent. Just think, Father, your grandchildren will not only control the barony, which you have nourished, but they will inherit two viscountcies and two earldoms.” Carter knew he had struck a familiar chord because his father twitched with anticipation.

“If the cousin dies before Charleton, you could act as the boy’s regent until your son reaches his majority.” Carter wanted nothing from the earldom. He meant to teach his son of the baronetcy first, but he liked the idea of his oldest accepting the earldom and the possibility of the younger son receiving his title. Perhaps he had a bit of his father’s conniving in his blood, after all.

“We will face that particular possibility if it becomes a reality,” Carter declared. “For now, I wish to claim Mrs. Warren and rid her of that hateful moniker. I beg you to accept my decision with magnanimity. I know it was not your wish, but I do care deeply for the woman. She will serve me well as Lady Lowery.”

The baron rose stiffly. “You are of age,” he said judiciously, “and I have never been able to reason you from a decision.” He extended his hand to Carter, and Carter gladly accepted it. “As always, the baroness and I will extend our support.”

With his father’s exit, Carter managed a short nap prior to Mrs. Warren’s arrival. Bella escorted Lucinda into his room with the announcement of how she meant to chaperone their time together.

Carter lifted a shoulder in a noncommittal shrug. “I hold no objection to your playing chaperone,” he said easily, “but you will permit Mrs. Warren and me a few moments of privacy prior to assuming your post.”

Bella’s hands fisted at her waist. “You must realize, Carter, I cannot go against the baroness’s wishes.”

“Arabella,” he said calmly, “a man requires a quiet moment when he speaks his devotion to a woman, and I mean to claim mine even if I must tell my mother how Lord Stafford and I came upon Law’s unconscious body.”

Bella’s eyes sharpened into a deadly glare. “I have never liked you, Carter Lowery,” she declared petulantly.

“And yet, I hold you in deepest regard,” he said with a smile.

Bella rolled her eyes in disbelief. “I shall be outside the door,” she said grudgingly. “No more than a quarter hour.”

When Bella disappeared, Carter motioned Lucinda to sit beside him on the bed’s edge. He caught her hand in his. “I pray you suffered no injuries,” he said when she settled her weight next to his. The customary heat returned, and Carter tugged her closer.

“A few scratches and bruises,” Lucinda said with a blush. “Lord Godown dropped me over the side of the terrace into the garden.” The marquis had explained how he had pursued her to the balcony, how he had delivered a knife to Dylan Monroe’s neck before Lord Lexford had shot the man, and how he and Lucinda had followed Carter and the elder Monroe.

“The marquis spoke highly of your bravery,” Carter shared.

Again, she flushed with color. “I thought to call upon Lady Godown if you think she would accept my attentions. I wish to extend my gratitude to His Lordship for his assistance.”

“If you mean to call upon Grace Crowden, you should do so by week’s end. The Crowdens return to Staffordshire. The marquis is not one for notoriety.”

Lucinda laughed lightly, and Carter found it a delightful sound. He meant to hear it often in their lives. “I would not imagine the possibility for Lord Godown made a very public declaration of his affection for his wife. The
ton
must be atwitter with the news.”

Cater looked confused. “When was this?” No one mentioned the incident when his friends called earlier.

“It came after the marquis and I argued over whether to give chase. I said you must know my opinions…” She stammered to a halt. “Then…then His Lordship turned to the crowded ballroom to speak his deep regard for Lady Godown. Much in the way of Romeo and Juliet, but in reverse. The marquis was on the balcony and his lady in the middle of the dance floor.” She sighed a romantic sigh, another sound Carter wished directed at him. “In truth, if what I observed of the marquis’s handling of a knife speaks of Lord Godown’s ability with a sword, few would dare to tease him.”

Carter chuckled. “Your assumption is most astute, my Dear. Godown and Kerrington are both unequaled with a blade.” He reached for Lucinda, capturing the nape of her neck with his free hand. “And now to the crux of our time together.” He nudged her closer for he meant to kiss her once he proposed. “I recall professing my love,” he said softly, “but you deserve a proper proposal: Lucinda Rightnour, would you do me the great honor of accepting my hand in marriage.”

Surprisingly, her forehead scrunched up in confusion. “Why did you use
Rightnour
?”

Carter frowned also. He had expected her positive response. “Because we both know you were never a
Warren
and because I mean to drive the captain from your memory.”

Lucinda worried her bottom lip. “You know the majority of my secrets, but before I extend my agreement to your proposal, I must share one last truth. My telling may cause you to have second thoughts. If so, I wish you to know you may withdraw without censure.”

“Speak on,” Carter said evenly. He expected her confession regarding her presence at Waterloo, but he had not thought to know Captain Warren’s true deceit.

“My husband,” she began, and Carter shifted nervously. “Matthew…he kept his marriage vows to Sadia Cotto.”

The lines above Carter’s brows deepened. “I do not understand what you wish me to know.”

“Do you recall…recall our first kiss?” she asked awkwardly.

He confessed, “Quite vividly. I clung to the memory for many weeks.”

She smiled weakly at him. “It was…it was my first kiss.”

Carter thought of the kiss. She had not been exceptionally experienced, but, in truth, he had celebrated the opportunity to teach her what pleased him. He certainly could not claim the reputation for womanizing that had hounded Gabriel Crowden, Brantley Fowler, or to a lesser extent James Kerrington, but he knew a woman enjoyed the foreplay of kissing. Suddenly, what she shared slapped him across the cheeks like an icy rain. “Your first kiss?” he asked suspiciously.

“Yes.” Her eyes remained downcast.

“No kiss from Captain Warren? Ever?”

“No.”

“It is not unusual for a man not to kiss his wife other than during conjugal relations. Not even then?”

Her color deepened, and she looked away. “Not even then.”

Carter pulled her to lie upon his chest. She sobbed silently. In comfort, he stroked her back. “No kisses and no conjugal visits,” he said in disbelief. “Even after two years of marriage, you are an innocent.”

She rasped, “Are you disappointed?”

Carter bit back his retort, one directed at the late captain, rather than her. “
Disappointment
is not a word to describe my thoughts. I assure you there is not a man alive who would not wish to be the first to claim you as his wife. In truth, it has taken several long self-chastisements to accept the fact you had previously known another, and I am delighted to discover I have no reason for disdain. What troubles me is how selfish Captain Warren was. He robbed you of a proper marriage, as well as having neglected his obligations to Simon’s mother. What could he have thought would happen when the war ended? Did he expect to live with both you and Miss Cotto? If I could bring Captain Warren to life again, I would see him drawn and quartered for his many offenses.”

Lucinda said quietly, “You shall not be dissatisfied if I do not know how to proceed.”

“You need only to do what feels natural,” Carter assured. “In the marriage bed, we will feel no shame in what we share.”

Lucinda raised her head to look upon him. She was quite beautiful, with long, thick lashes, silky-soft skin and full lips. “Such as?”

Carter smiled easily. Her purely innocent question brought images of them naked together. “First, you must accept my proposal; then I will provide you a taste of bliss.”