What A Gentleman Wants (31 page)

David swore. “I’m getting there,” he muttered. He shoved another pillow behind him. “Slocum was the conduit. He sent rolls of notes with the clothing I had ordered. Huge, fat rolls of notes.” He sighed. “It was too easy, I know, but they said they would be watching, in secret, and would be gathering evidence to prove this mysterious person’s guilt. I never did make out how they were going to expose him, but they said that wasn’t really my concern. I could accept the offer as they posed it, or not at all, and just pay Rourke the twelve thousand.”

Marcus massaged his brow wearily with one hand. They set a trap for you, Rourke and the lot.“

“Of course they did,” David snapped. “I didn’t realize that until later, though. At the time…” He made a helpless gesture. “At the time it seemed like an easy way out of a scrape.”

Marcus felt a pinch of guilt. He had been responsible for that. All the times David had come to him for help, he had given it, but only with scoldings and lectures. It was only a matter of time before his brother agreed to something stupid to avoid him.

“For a fortnight it was easy,” David continued. “No matter how much I lost, another bundle of notes would arrive with a new jacket or waistcoat. They never asked for an accounting. I had the worst run of luck, couldn’t win a shilling. But then…” He hesitated. “Well, I had bills to pay, and the notes just arrived right on schedule. So I paid a few merchants with them. I told the fellows I’d gambled it away, of course. My luck improved, I won most of it back, and then I suppose I thought I’d pushed my luck far enough. I told them they ought to have enough proof by now, and I wanted out. They refused. That was when they hinted that I might have been doing something illegal. I’m no scholar, but I began to suspect what the notes where. It seemed a hopeless coil. I didn’t know what to do.”

His voice fell. “I knew it was foolhardy to carry on with Jocelyn, but my position was desperate. I almost didn’t care if Barlow found out and killed me. I’m sorry I cut up at you for telling me to leave London. It really was the answer to my prayers, simply to disappear without notice, and if anyone questioned me, I could blame it on you.”

“How convenient,” Marcus murmured dryly.

“Well, yes.” David raised his hands and let them drop, looking guilty for the first time. “As for the rest, well, if you’d known what Hannah was facing, you’d have understood. She was so kind to me, understanding and sympathetic but not condescending or coddling. I broke my leg and wrenched my shoulder in a carriage accident, and she nursed me back to health. And I wanted to help her—truly I did. You must believe me, Marcus. I did mean to marry her and reform my life to be a good husband, when I asked her.”

For some reason this didn’t sit very well with Marcus, even though David’s motives had been far nobler than expected. He shifted in his seat and said nothing.

“But you know what I am. A husband and a father, all at once? I began to doubt. And then I began to panic. Percy brought your letter, and I realized I should have to give up all my mates to be the sort of husband Hannah deserved. She deserved someone better. Someone more like you.”

Marcus only just kept his jaw from dropping.

“I didn’t know how to get out of it, though, without publicly humiliating her. It was the night before the wedding; what was I to do?” David pushed one hand through his hair in frustration. “I know I owe you an apology for it, but I couldn’t think of any other way.”

“Do you know how she discovered what you’d done?” asked Marcus, recovering his self-possession. David shook his head with an apprehensive glance. “When I told her. And presented the marriage register I’d fetched from Middleborough. I have never seen anyone look so horrified.”

David shifted his legs resdessly beneath the covers. “You could have gotten that register changed.”

“And the notice in the
Times
? The letter to Rosalind?”

David flushed dark red. “I wanted to make certain you gave Hannah a handsome settlement. I never imagined you would…” His voice trailed off.

“I planned to. But, perhaps you might have guessed, Rosalind came to London to see for herself, and despite Hannah’s protestations to the contrary, she believed the marriage was real. What was I to do then?”

David looked at him for a long moment. “Thank you,” he said humbly at last. “It was a terrible trick to play.”

Marcus raised a brow. “On Hannah, or on Rosalind and Celia?”

“All of them.”

Marcus exhaled slowly and evenly. “Then perhaps I am not the only one who should hear the apology.”

David nodded miserably. “I’ll speak to them. I swear.” His color had faded, and he looked tired again. Marcus had seen his brother in many states and situations, and yet never had David looked so defeated.

“How are you feeling?” Marcus asked, a little more kindly.

David lifted one shoulder, then winced. “No worse than I deserve. Rourke and his mates tracked me down the second I set foot in London again. I came here only because I knew they wouldn’t dare follow.”

Marcus got to his feet, and clapped his brother’s shoulder. “Then get some rest. I assume the ladies will be by at some point, to check on your health.” David nodded, eyes fixed on his hands. “We’ll deal with Rourke and his lot later. No doubt between your reckless daring and my coldhearted calculation, we’ll come up with something.”

His brother looked up in shock. Marcus grinned a little. “It’s a jest, David.” And David was only just beginning to laugh as he left.

If Hannah hadn’t been starving, but too self-conscious to ring for Lily, she might have spent the entire day in bed. Every servant, she was sure, would know that she and Marcus had spent the night together. Hannah had almost gotten used to the servants, but felt awkward all over again now that her most personal relationship was gossip fodder.

But once Marcus had gone, the allure of staying in bed faded, and reality intruded again. What would she say to Rosalind and Celia? Would she ever be able to look Lily in the face again? And was she even prepared to be a duchess indefinitely? Part of what had gotten her through the last few weeks was the fact that she was just acting, and for only a short time. Could she possibly keep it up for months and even years?

Then she got out of bed, and caught sight of her dressing table. All the bottles of perfume and cosmetics still lay in a jumble on the floor, and the table itself stood at a crazy angle to the wall, the chair lying on its side a few feet away. Remembering what had happened to the table—and to her, on the table—made her blush, and smile, and feel rather recklessly ready to be Marcus’s duchess for the rest of her life.

Bravado carried her through getting dressed and brushing out her hair, a task that again made her blood heat from the memories of how it had gotten into such a dreadful snarl. She was utterly smitten, and even laughed out loud at her own ridiculously happy reflection. Anyone who hadn’t heard about it through the servants’ quarters would most likely guess just from looking at her that she had spent the night making love.

The second she set foot in the breakfast room, she knew the news had gotten about. Both Rosalind and Celia were sitting quietly at the table, eating. Neither looked up at her entrance. Hannah grinned. She knew for a fact they would have been both still abed had they no idea, and wondered how long they’d been sitting here waiting for her. She went to fill her plate, her step lighter.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Hannah.” Rosalind looked up at once with a beaming smile. “How are you this morning? Did you sleep well?”

Hannah glanced at Celia, who was slicing her ham into minute pieces, listening so hard her ears were practically red. “Yes, thank you, very well.” The footman pulled out a chair for her, and she took up her napkin.

“You may go,” said Rosalind to the footman, a little too eagerly. Hannah took a bite of toast and tried to pretend she didn’t know what was afoot. “Have you seen Marcus this morning?” continued Rosalind. “I had an important question to discuss with him, but he seems to have gone missing. I shall have to send for Telman to track him down.”

Hannah swallowed her toast and took a sip of tea. For the first time she didn’t feel like a guest at this table, like an imposter. “I believe he mentioned going to speak to David,” she said.

Celia dropped her knife with a clank. Rosalind sucked in a noisy breath. Hannah poured a spoonful of sugar into her tea, then added another spoonful. Why not?

“Then you’ve seen him.”

“Yes.” She took another egg as well, and some bacon. For some reason she was starving hungry.

“And… and has he decided everything from last night?” Rosalind asked cautiously. Hannah could see she was almost holding her breath.

She chewed her bite of bacon. “I believe so.”

“Well?” burst out Celia at last. “What have you decided? Are you staying? Did you speak to him?

“Celia!” Rosalind glared at her daughter before turning to Hannah. “Did you speak to him? Are you staying?”

Hannah took another sip of tea, watching them over the rim of her cup. Rosalind was concealing her desire to know only slighdy better than Celia was. And the sight of such hope, such delight, made Hannah’s heart swell with happiness at the thought of being part of their family. “Yes,” she said, setting down her cup. “I spoke to him.” Among other things. “And I shall stay in London—”

At that, Celia shrieked and bounded out of her chair to throw her arms around Hannah. “Oh, that’s wonderful! So very, very wonderful! Did you take my advice?” she demanded, pulling back to peer eagerly at Hannah’s face. “Did you tell him?”

“Ah…” Her face warm, Hannah tried to remember just what she had said. Neither of them had mentioned love, exactly. “In a manner of speaking.”

“Really? What man—?”

“Celia!” Rosalind exclaimed. “Your manners!”

Celia grinned widely, but didn’t press it. “Well, I am very happy you’re to stay, no matter what you told him! I knew he would never let you just walk away; Marcus is far too clever to do that. Even if he won’t admit it out loud, he must know how he feels, and sooner or later he’ll tell you—”

“Celia,” cried Rosalind again. “That is quite enough.”

Celia pursed her lips, not looking too regretful. “Yes, Mama.”

“This is indeed wonderful, wonderful news. Oh, Hannah!” And now Rosalind couldn’t contain herself any longer, and Hannah was hugged all over again.

“Oh dear.” Rosalind released her and dabbed at her eyes. “What a wonderful relief! Why, when I think of how we fussed at you—but we shan’t dwell on that,” she finished hastily. “And now we simply must have a ball. In case any wretched lies spread about town regarding this. Poor David, to return home so ill! I vow, the boy was out of his mind in a delirium to say such things! From the moment I saw him I knew he was feverish, and didn’t trust a word he said!”

“Mama, may I have a blue gown this time, instead of white?” Celia asked eagerly. Her mother smiled at her.

“Yes, my child, this time you may have whatever you like. Do ring for Mrs. Potts at once. We shall have the ball in a week’s time—now Hannah, you mustn’t worry a bit,” she warned Hannah, who had opened her mouth. “It is absolutely vital to have as grand a ball as possible. Marcus will agree with me on this. And the sooner we have it, the sooner any… unpleasantness will fade away and be forgotten.”

Hannah shook her head, grinning. “I wasn’t about to protest. I wanted to thank you, Rosalind. For everything.”

The older woman blinked several times, then threw her arms around Hannah again. “I shall have Madame

Lescaut here within an hour,“ she declared. ”We shall order a gown worthy of any duchess’s presentation ball!“

Thinking of all the magnificent gowns upstairs that she had yet to wear, Hannah mentally groaned. The last thing she felt like doing was ordering more clothing today. Today she was too happy, too light, to sit indoors and examine fabric swatches. She wanted to take Molly and go running and screaming in the park. She wanted to climb trees and wade in the lake and have an absolutely smashing good time, and then come home. Home, to Marcus. “I haven’t yet told Molly,” she said to Rosalind, easing free of her embrace.

“She’ll be delighted,” said Celia with a whoop. “As am I! Lord, Hannah, I just can’t believe it! First it was such a surprise, when we first got David’s letter, and then to find out he was—well—and then this morning!”

“But of course you must tell Molly,” Rosalind cut in. “I shall start the preparations for the ball. You mustn’t worry at all about it! Oh, my dear! I’ve longed to plan this ball for years!” And she threw her arms around Hannah one last time.

After breakfast Hannah skipped up the stairs and opened the nursery door, her heart light At her entrance, Lily whirled around with a gasp. She lowered her eyes and stepped back, revealing Molly, dressed and ready to go out.

She beamed and waved. “Good morning, Mama! Lily is taking me to see the ducks this morning! Do you want to come with us, Mama?”

Hannah glanced at the maid in surprise; Lily had never taken Molly to the park before without being asked. Even with her face tucked down, Lily seemed to sense the question. “I thought it best, madam. I thought perhaps you wouldn’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the day.”

Oh. Right. The last time she had seen Lily had been over Marcus’s naked shoulder, right after he made love to her. Hannah tried not to smile at the memory. “Thank you, Lily, but I shall take Molly today. You are dismissed.”

The maid didn’t move as Molly jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “Dismissed, madam?”

“Yes, until dinner.” Hannah caught up her daughter and swung her around, making Molly shriek. “Today shall be my Molly day: all day with Molly.”

“And may we have a picnic?” Hannah nodded, and Molly shrieked with glee, flinging her arms around Hannah’s neck, her sturdy little legs kicking.

“Oh, Mama, it will be so much fun! Shall we see the ducks? And watch the fancy carriages? And pet some dogs? And fly my kite?”

“Enough!” Hannah laughed. “We only have a few hours, Molly; we may have to save some fun for tomorrow. But I see you are already dressed to go, so shall we be on our way?”