To Catch a Countess (23 page)

“Married life agrees with you,” Duke Magnus was saying.

Alexander smiled. “I am more than pleased with my choice of a wife.”

“How is Tory adjusting to being a stepmother?” Robert asked.

“A stepmother twice,” Rudolf teased, and shared a chuckle with the marquess.

“Tory adores the girls,” Alexander said. “I know how lucky I am to have married a forgiving woman.”

“Has Victoria suffered any emotional outbursts?” the duke asked.

“No.”

“You can imagine how Tory could irritate me,” Duke Magnus said, a smile touching his lips.

A knock on the door drew their attention. Tinker entered at the duke’s call.

“Excuse me, Your Grace.” The majordomo looked at the earl, saying, “One of your footmen is here with a message.”

“Send him in,” Alexander said, a puzzled expression etched across his feature.

A moment later, the footman appeared. “My lord, the countess needs you at home immediately.”

“Is she ill?” Alexander asked in alarm, rising from the chair.

“No, my lord.”

Alexander snapped his brows together in consternation. “My daughters?”

“Healthy, my lord.”

“Is anyone bleeding, convulsing, or unconscious?” Alexander asked, irritated at being summoned home for less than an emergency.

“No, my lord.”

“What the bloody hell is so urgent I need to be disturbed? “

The footman glanced uncomfortably at the others and then cleared his throat. “Another indiscretion has dropped onto your doorstep, my lord.” The man’s words echoed the
Times
article of two weeks earlier.

Alexander had the good grace to flush. Rudolf and Robert burst into laughter while the duke shook his head in disbelief.

“Tell the countess I will return shortly,” Alexander instructed the footman. He sat down again, asking, “Do you have any vodka?”

Rudolf rose from his chair and poured his brother-in-law a vodka. “This will help.”

Alexander downed the vodka in one gulp, grimaced, and shuddered. “I don’t understand how you can drink that poison.”

“Three indiscretions?” Duke Magnus said.

Alexander inclined his head. “I sired three daughters by three women.”

“Are there any more?” Robert asked.

“No.”

“Tory forgave you for the other indiscretions,” Rudolf said. “Why should the third be any different?”

Alexander picked a piece of imaginary lint off his trousers. “I told her there were only two.”

The prince and the marquess looked at each other and winced. “Tory must be furious,” Rudolf said.

“You are a braver man than I,” Robert remarked. “I wouldn’t dare lie to Angelica.”

“Tory had no need to interrupt my meeting,” Alexander said, rising from his chair. “This was no emergency.”

“Be sure you tell her that,” Rudolf said, and then looked at the marquess and laughed.

“Why do you think three mothers would abandon their daughters on your doorstep within weeks of each other?” Duke Magnus asked.

“I had assumed it was an unlucky coincidence.”

“Three is no coincidence,” Robert said, agreeing with his father’s implication.

“Someone wants to ruin your marriage,” Prince Rudolf said.

“Who would want to destroy my marriage?” Alexander could not credit what they were suggesting.

“I’d wager my last shilling on Venetia,” Robert said.

“What could Venetia gain by doing that?”

“She gains the satisfaction of making you unhappy,” Robert answered.

“Marrying Harry Gibbs has changed her,” Alexander said. “She favored returning the girls to their mothers.”

“Your sister bears watching,” Prince Rudolf said. “I would question the veracity of whatever she says.”

“She could harbor a grudge against you,” Duke Magnus said.

“Why don’t you ask the mothers involved?” the prince suggested.

“I sent my solicitor to speak with Suzette and Maeve,” Alexander told them. “Both had left London for a few weeks.”

“I guarantee this third mother has left London by now,” Robert said. “Which proves someone is behind their actions.”

“I cannot believe they would abandon their daughters for money,” Alexander said, “but I will consider what you’ve said.”

*    *    *

Ten minutes later Alexander arrived home. “Where’s my wife?” he asked, marching past the majordomo.

“The countess is in the dining room, my lord.”

Pausing in the dining room doorway, Alexander saw his three daughters sitting together and thought they made a fetching picture. Victoria sat across the table and spoke to them in a low voice.

“Welcome home, Aidan.” Alexander drew their attention as he crossed the room. He gave each little girl a kiss and then gestured Bundles to take them to their nannies. “Close the door on your way out.”

After they had gone, Alexander stuck his hands in his trouser pockets and watched his wife, who avoided his gaze. “Are you going to look at me?”

Victoria said nothing. She raised her gaze to his.

“I was in the middle of an important business meeting,” Alexander said, trying to put her on the defensive.

Victoria couldn’t credit what she was hearing. The man had illegitimate children appearing on his doorstep and had lied about the third’s existence. And he was concerned about business?

“Why did you lie to me?”

“I felt too humiliated to admit to the truth,” Alexander answered, and sat down in the chair directly across from her.

“You should feel humiliated,” Victoria said. “You should have considered the consequences before you made the rounds of London.”

Alexander said nothing. What could he say? He ate the remains of his daughters’ puddings and then pointed to his wife’s untouched dish. “Are you going to eat that?”

His question broke the dam of her control.” You son-of-a-bitch,” Victoria exploded, leaping out of her chair so quickly, it fell over. She grabbed her dish of pudding and smashed it on the table.

“Tory, control yourself.”

“Why should I? You have never controlled yourself.”

“I will not countenance one of your emotional fits.”

“I don’t have fits,” Victoria shouted, “but if I did, I would be entitled.”

“Sit down, Victoria.”

“You lied to me.”

“I was wrong,” Alexander admitted. “I apologize and swear never to lie again.”

His words lowered her boiling rage to a slow simmer. “Are there any others?”

“No.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

Victoria nodded, accepting his words as truth. “I forgive you,” she said, “but I want to get away from London. The girls and I will leave in the morning for my uncle’s estate.”

“I don’t have anything pressing,” Alexander said. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, thank you.”

“You want to get away from me?” he asked, without bothering to hide his hurt.

“I need a few days alone,” Victoria said, her heart aching but her mind settled. “I hope you understand.”

Alexander inclined his head. “I understand perfectly.”

That night Victoria slept alone for the first time since her wedding. She had never felt more miserable in her life.

Chapter 11

How long would Alexander mourn her? Would he marry Lydia Stanley, his first love, or Diana Drummond, the widow who lusted for him?

Almost a week after leaving London, Victoria lay in her bed in her old bedchamber at her aunt’s and uncle’s country estate and stared at the ceiling. She had been unwell since before leaving London, and the illness had worsened during the past week.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled the last time she had used this chamber. Alexander had taken her virginity in this bed, and now she would end her life in it.

Living without her husband for almost a week had shown her how intensely she loved him. With time and space separating them, Victoria had realized the reason her husband had hidden his indiscretions. She was hiding her stupidity from him. Where was the difference?

If only she had understood before leaving London. She would have the comfort of her husband’s presence during her final hours.

Alexander was in London and so were Diana Drummond, Lydia Stanley, and Miriam Wilmington. That unsettling thought sent her stomach into a rolling turmoil as if she sailed on storm-tossed seas.

Leaping out of bed, Victoria dashed across the chamber. She dropped to her knees beside the chamber pot and retched dryly.

Aunt Roxie appeared like an angel sent from God and hurried across the bedchamber. When her spasms ended, Victoria leaned heavily against her aunt’s legs.

“Send Alex a message,” Victoria sobbed. “Tell him I am dying.”

“Let’s get you back to bed,” Aunt Roxie said, helping her to rise.

With her aunt’s arms supporting her, Victoria hobbled across the chamber to the bed. She lay down and closed her eyes in misery.

“I should never have left Alex,” she moaned. “The thought of all those women with him in London has sickened me.”

“Eat this,” Aunt Roxie said.

Victoria opened her eyes a crack and saw the piece of bread her aunt held out to her. “I couldn’t possibly—”

“Eat the damn bread,” her aunt ordered, “or I’ll cram it down your throat.”

“Why are you tormenting me?” Victoria asked, a sob catching in her voice. She lifted the bread from her aunt’s hand and took a bite.

“Darling, you aren’t dying,” Aunt Roxie told her. “You are carrying Alex’s heir.”

“I’m pregnant?”

Aunt Roxie gave her a knowing smile. “When did you last have your menses?”

Victoria thought for a long moment. “I can’t remember.”

“Have you bled since marrying Alex?” her aunt asked.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Have you been queasy in the morning?”

“I have been queasy the whole damn day,” Victoria complained. “Smells sicken me.”

“Queasiness without menstruation means pregnancy.” Aunt Roxie gave her a dimpled smile. “Consider this another excuse to avoid Sunday church services.”

Victoria closed her eyes and slid her hand to her belly. Alexander’s baby.

“I suggest you return to London and inform your husband of his impending fatherhood,” Aunt Roxie said, patting her hand

“Alexander lied about Aidan,” Victoria reminded her.

“Your husband was protecting you from the truth,” Aunt Roxie said. “God created men imperfect, darling, which benefits womankind. Caught in a lie, a man will do anything to regain his place in his wife’s good graces. Instead of insisting you needed to be alone, you should have told Alex that a fur or diamond bracelet would make you feel better.”

Victoria couldn’t credit the cynicism of what her aunt was saying. “Do you mean l should allow my husband to bribe me to forgive him?”

“Darling, you cannot erase what has already been done, so you may as well take advantage of his guilt,” Aunt Roxie said. “Your husband is alone in London with all those sharks swimming around him. If you don’t go home, one will soon sink her teeth into him.”

“Alexander is a married man. He would never—”

“Oh, dear God, where did I falter in your upbringing?” Aunt Roxie cried, throwing her arms up in feigned horror. “You sound like the village idiot.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“Listen, darling. Men will always take what is offered,” Aunt Roxie told her. “Your pregnancy gives you an advantage. Hurry home and rescue your husband from those circling sharks.”

Victoria smiled at the image her aunt’s words conjured. “Very well, I trust your judgment and vast experience.”

“Leave the girls and their nannies here,” Aunt Roxie said. “Magnus and I will bring them home in a few days.”

“I love you.”

“Thank you, darling. Now go home and seduce your husband.” Aunt Roxie rose from her perch on the edge of the bed. “Remember to eat some bread every morning before rising.”

Worried that her stepdaughters would feel abandoned, Victoria ate a leisurely lunch with them. She wanted to explain her reasons for leaving them behind and make them understand the separation was temporary.

“I am returning to London to speak with Daddy about getting you a baby brother,” Victoria told them.

“Hooray!” the three little girls clapped their hands.

“Aunt Roxie and Uncle Magnus want you to stay with them a few more days,” Victoria said, smiling into three pairs of hazel eyes that resembled her husband’s. “Aunt Roxie wants to take you on a picnic, to wade in the stream, and to give you pony rides. Won’t that be fun?”

“I love pony rides,” Darcy cried, clapping her hands.

“I love picnics,” Fiona said.

“I love wading in the stream,” Aidan added.

“I should have guessed the redhead would love wading in the stream,” her aunt said.

Victoria hugged her aunt. “Don’t drive too fast,” she instructed the coachman. “I don’t want to be jostled over the bumps.”

Without the girls to entertain her, the ride to London seemed never ending. Though she didn’t want the babe jostled, Victoria could hardly wait to tell her husband the good news.

Afternoon’s long shadows had faded into twilight by the time the coach halted in front of the Grosvenor Square mansion. Victoria alighted from the coach and hurried up the front stairs. Bundles opened the door just as she reached it.

“Welcome home, my lady,” the majordomo greeted her.

“Thank you, Bundles. Is my husband home?”

“His Lordship has left for the evening,” Bundles answered. “He planned to dine at White’s before the opera.”

His words disappointed Victoria. She was bursting with the need to tell her husband the joyful news. “Send Polly to me. I’ll need to change my gown for the opera.”

“Yes, my lady.”

An hour later, Victoria sat impatiently while her maid put the finishing touches on her upswept coiffeur. She wore an ice-blue silk gown with a V-neck and a hemline short enough to expose her ankles.

Finally reaching the opera house, Victoria stepped down from the coach and hurried into the lobby. The music and the singers’ voices reached her there.

Uncertain what to do, Victoria looked around. An usher materialized to escort her up the stairs to her husband’s opera box.

Victoria stepped inside and stopped short. Her smile of greeting died on her lips. Alone in the box, Alexander and Diana Drummond sat together, their heads close as they spoke in low voices.