To Catch a Countess (26 page)

“Your wife never felt the need for money,” Suzette said. The others nodded their agreement.

“Until two years ago, my wife lived in poverty in a small cottage on the far side of Primrose Hill,” Alexander informed them.

“But she’s an earl’s daughter,” Maeve said.

“A bankrupt, alcoholic earl.” He noted the uncomfortable glances the women gave each other.

“Naturally, Victoria doesn’t want to part with the girls but understands they belong to you,” Alexander continued. “When I suggested that the girls choose where to live, she refused to put your daughters in the position of choosing between parents.”

Alexander tipped his head toward the window. “If you look outside, you’ll see how happy they are together.”

The three women rose from their seats and crossed the library. In silence, they watched their daughters romping in the leaves. When Aidan tripped and fell, Darcy helped her up and hugged her. Refusing to be left out, Fiona rushed across the garden and hugged her sisters. Then the three girls giggled and jumped into a pile of leaves.

Alexander gave his former mistresses a sidelong glance. All three were smiling at the sight of the three half-sisters playing happily together.

“I’ll return them to you if you want,” Alexander said. “If you leave them with me, I’ll support you at the rate of one thousand pounds per month, a one percent holding in my businesses, and visitation rights. The offer is generous. My wife only receives two hundred and fifty pounds per month.”

“I accept your offer,” Maeve spoke first.

“So do I,” Suzette said.

“I also agree,” Nell said, her gaze on the girls, “but I want you to know that I love my daughter.”

“All three of us love our daughters,” Maeve said.

“I think the sisters should grow up together,” Suzette added.

“I understand how difficult this is for you,” Alexander said, and crossed the library to the doorway. “Bundles, fetch the girls and their nannies.”

Meanwhile, Victoria sat in the drawing room and stared into space. She felt bereft, her whole life of eighteen years nothing more than a series of heart wrenching good-byes. Why did she always lose the people she loved? Was she also fated to lose her husband and baby?

“My lady, the earl requests your presence in the library,” the majordomo said, standing beside her.

“Thank you, Bundles.”

When she walked into the library and saw the girls sitting on their mothers’ laps, Victoria felt her heart breaking. She struggled against tears and tried to swallow the lump of raw emotion rising in her throat.

“Mama Tory, look who’s here,” Darcy called.

“Yes, sweetie, I see.” Victoria managed a bright smile. “Didn’t I promise your mother would return?”

Alexander crossed the library and put his arm around her. “The girls will be staying with us.”

The unexpected relief nearly felled Victoria. Sagging against her husband, she hid her face against his chest and wept openly.

Victoria felt an insistent tugging on her skirt and looked down. Wearing worried expressions, the three girls stood there.

“Mama Tory, what’s wrong?” Darcy asked, her face pale with fright.

“Don’t cry, Mama Tory,” Fiona said, her bottom lip trembling.

Aidan couldn’t speak. She burst into tears of sympathy.

Victoria knelt and pulled all three into her arms. “I am weeping with happiness.”

“I never cry when I’m happy,” Darcy said.

Fiona nodded, agreeing with her sister. “I laugh when I’m happy.”

“Me, too,” Aidan whispered.

“Kiss your mothers,” Victoria said, standing. “Then your nannies will take you downstairs for gingerbread and—?

“Whipped cream,” the three girls shouted with enthusiasm.

Victoria watched the girls run back to their mothers. After kissing and hugging them, the girls left the library with their nannies.

“My solicitor will contact you about the arrangements,” Alexander said, when the women stood to leave.

“I promise to take good care of your daughters,” Victoria said, with tears streaming down her face.

“Thank you for loving my daughter,” Suzette said.

“Breeding women are always emotional,” Nell told her.

“You’ll feel better once you’ve delivered your baby,” Maeve added.

“How did you know?” Victoria asked.

Nell smiled. “You’ve grown since the last time we saw you.”

Victoria blushed and dropped her hand to her belly.

“Don’t worry,” Suzette said.

“You’ll flatten out again,” Maeve added.

Alexander escorted the three women downstairs. When he returned a few minutes later, Victoria walked into his arms and rested her head against his chest. “Thank you.”

“I admire your ability to love,” Alexander said, tilting her face up to gaze into her eyes, “but life hurts you too easily.”

“I cannot change what I am.”

“I would never want you to change,” Alexander told her, lowering his head to capture her lips in a long, healing kiss . . .

*    *    *

The second day of November appeared a replica of the first, a rarity of bright sunshine and blue skies and warm breezes. Ideal for keeping the girls romping in the leaves, Victoria thought, walking around the perimeter of the garden in an effort to get some exercise. She watched almost longingly as the five-year-olds rolled in the colored leaves. If she hadn’t been pregnant, Victoria would have joined them.

Spying her husband walking across the garden in her direction, Victoria gave him a smile filled with sunshine. “Are you joining our play?”

“I wish I could,” Alexander said, his gaze on his daughters. “They are certainly enjoying themselves.”

“A year from now, our son will be romping with his sisters,” Victoria said.

“A year from now, our son will be too small to romp with his sisters,” Alexander said. “Don’t wait tea for me. I’m taking Harry Gibbs to White’s to meet several gentlemen. I could be late if they start talking business, and I gave Venetia and Diana permission to use the library while I’m gone.”

Victoria grimaced with displeasure.

“Be careful,” he teased her. “Your face could freeze with that look upon it.”

“Are they here now?”

“They’ll be along once I fetch Harry.”

Victoria gestured to the nannies to supervise the girls and looped her arm through her husband’s. “I’ll walk inside with you,” she said. “I don’t want them near the girls.”

Thirty minutes later, Victoria sat on the settee in the library and knitted a blue blanket for her baby. She knew her husband could purchase hundreds of blankets, but she wanted to make one with love.

“Good afternoon, Victoria,” Venetia called, breezing into the library.

“You’re looking well,” Diana said with a smile.

“Bundles, please serve us tea,” Victoria instructed the majordomo. She looked at the widow, saying, “Use the library to your heart’s content.”

“Could you recommend a book?” Diana asked.

Victoria gave her a sharp look. There was something in the widow’s tone that made her uneasy, but these two couldn’t possibly know of her inability to read. Even her husband didn’t know about that.

“I don’t read very much,” Victoria said. “Look for yourself.”

“How are the girls?” Venetia asked, joining her on the settee.

“The girls are enjoying the afternoon in the garden.” Victoria felt disoriented. Her sister-in-law had never asked about the girls before.

“Has your morning sickness passed?” Diana asked.

“I still become queasy at times.”

“You look wonderfully radiant.”

Victoria dropped her gaze to her knitting. Something wicked was afoot. These two had never been so kind to her. She wondered what they wanted.

“I do hope we can get together for Christmas dinner,” Venetia was saying. “Come the spring, we’ll be returning to Australia.”

Though heartened by the news of their departure, Victoria assumed a disappointed tone. “You won’t be in England when our baby is born?”

“That depends on what Harry thinks best,” Venetia answered. “When spring comes to England, autumn arrives in Australia”

“I didn’t know that.”

Bundles returned to the library, followed by two footman carrying silver trays with coffee and tea service. “My lady, this arrived by courier,” the majordomo said, passing her a sealed missive.

“Thank you, Bundles.” Victoria couldn’t imagine who would send her a message.

“Aren’t you going to open your letter?” Diana asked, once the servants had gone.

“Actually, I broke my spectacles and haven’t replaced them yet,” Victoria lied. “I’ll wait for Alex to come home.”

“The message could be urgent,” Diana said. “If you like, I’ll read it to you.”

Victoria did not want the widow reading her note but didn’t know what to do. She opened the missive and passed it to the widow.

“Tory, meet me at the Philbin brothers’ house at five o’clock. Alex.” Diana handed her the note.

Her Christmas surprise was ruined. Alexander had somehow discovered her disability, probably one of her sisters inadvertently mentioning it to Robert or Rudolf who, in turn, remarked upon it to her husband.

“I must go out.” Victoria pocketed the note. “I’ll leave you to browse.”

Victoria left the library and fetched her cloak and reticule from her chamber. Then she walked downstairs. Finding the foyer deserted, Victoria decided to walk instead of ordering a coach.

Thirty minutes later, Victoria arrived at the Philbin house and banged on the door. A moment later the door opened to reveal Barnaby Philbin.

“Lady Victoria, what a surprise,” Barnaby said. “Please, come inside.”

“The earl learned about my reading lessons,” Victoria told him, entering the house. “He’s meeting me here shortly. Could we possibly work on my love letter to him while we wait?”

“Of course, my lady, but I must warn you that Phineas is not home,” Barnaby said. “You and I will be alone.”

Victoria sat down at the table. “I am certain you will act the gentleman.”

Barnaby set ink and parchment down on the table. “You write the letter while I make us tea. Then I’ll help you with corrections.”

Victoria looked up when Barnaby set the steaming teacup on the table beside her. “I’m almost finished,” she said, fixing her name and her title at the bottom of the note. “Do you want to read it?”

“I’ll read it while you drink your tea.”

Victoria sipped the tea and watched him perusing her note. “How bad is it?”

Barnaby looked at her and smiled. “I can see improvement in your ability.”

“Really?” Victoria yawned. Lord, but she felt so tired. “Your tea has relaxed me so much, I can hardly keep my eyes open.”

“The baby tires you,” Barnaby said, blushing at the intimacy of his comment. “There’s a daybed in the next room. Why don’t you lie down while you await the earl?”

“Yes, I think I will.” After sanding the note, she slipped it into her reticule and then walked unsteadily into the adjoining room.

*    *    *

“Welcome home, my lord,” Bundles said.

“Good afternoon, Bundles.” Alexander walked past the majordomo into the foyer. “Where are my wife and daughters?”

“The young misses are enjoying a mug of cider,” Bundles told him. “The ladies are in the library.”

“Do you mean our visitors are still here?” Alexander asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Bundles drawled, his dislike of the visitors all too evident.

Almost reluctantly, Alexander walked up the stairs to the library. He thought his sister and the widow would have gone home by now. His wife was probably furious with him for leaving her to contend with them. If the truth were told, he couldn’t blame her.

Pasting a smile onto his face, Alexander walked into the library. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he greeted them. “Where is Victoria?”

Venetia and Diana exchanged worried glances. “Victoria went out shortly after we arrived,” Venetia answered.

“She went out?” Alexander echoed, confused.

“I’m sorry, my lord.” Diana passed him a note with the seal broken. “Your wife received this, made her excuses to us, and left. She dropped the note in her rush to leave.”

Alexander stared at the note in his hand, a feeling of foreboding overwhelming his senses. He unfolded the note and read:

Meet me at the Philbin brothers’ house on the corner of Oxford and Soho Streets. No one will suspect a visit to the tutors. I am counting the moments until we are together again. R.W.

Rupert Wilmington. Victoria and Rupert were engaged in an affair.

Without a word to either woman, Alexander folded the note and left the library. “Did my wife receive this today?” he asked the majordomo, holding the note up.

“Yes, my lord.”

“And then she went out?”

“I never saw Lady Victoria leave,” Bundles answered, sounding confused.

“I want the coach brought around again,” Alexander ordered, and stormed out the door.

Reaching the corner of Oxford and Soho Streets, Alexander bounded out of the coach before it came to a complete stop. He pounded on the door but no one answered. Twisting the knob, he realized the door was unlocked and walked into the quiet house.

“Victoria,” Alexander called.

No one answered.

Fearing what he would find, Alexander entered the room on his right, a study. She wasn’t there. Alexander saw an open door across the room. He walked toward it and slipped into the adjoining room.

His heart broke at the sight that greeted him. On a daybed lay his sleeping wife, still naked from her amorous tryst.

Caught between fury and pain, Alexander crossed the room and stared at his faithless wife. Why did every woman he love betray him? This was worse than Lydia Stanley. Much worse.

A solitary tear ran down each cheek, but he wiped them away. His head pounded with the thought that his pregnant wife had made love to another man.

Alexander determined to set her aside even if he needed to drag her through the courts for an adultery conviction. Banish her from his heart, his mind, his life. He prayed she carried his heir because once she delivered, the babe would belong to him. Then Victoria Douglas could go wherever she wanted, do whatever she desired, to whoever suited her fancy. He and his son would take no part in her life.