A Common Scandal (22 page)

“Bloody hell!” Cora shouted. “You little...”

Amelia planted her booted heel on the back of Morley’s neck. “Ah, ah. I can do much worse. And Cheadle, if I brought down Morley so handily, I’m fairly certain I can snap you in half. Now, Cora, tell me, is this man your husband?”

Cora shook her head slowly. “No, not him.”

“Cora, be quiet!” Cheadle barked.

“No, please,” a new voice called out from the stairs. “I’m very curious to hear the explanation for this scene.” Although Amelia felt confident in her ability to handle the situation herself, and indeed, had been doing so quite efficiently, she felt nearly weak with relief when she heard that voice. More so when she saw the man who owned it climb the final steps and emerge onto the landing.

“Nate!”

Every noble intention she’d had when she left his bed the night before had burned away during the course of this day and now, as she laid eyes on him again, her entire future fell into place with a crystalline clarity. As he’d sworn to her the night before, she’d likewise resolved in her own mind; he would marry no one but her, consequences be damned. The delight and relief lighting his eyes when they met hers reassured her that he felt the same. This was her home. The cost would have to be borne, because she wouldn’t—couldn’t—give him up.

Nate had reached the landing first, as Josiah Wheeler painfully made his way up, one flight below. The first person he saw was the one he desperately wanted to find. When his eyes met Amelia’s, the fear and panic that had held him in its grip all day washed away in such a flash, he was momentarily weak in the knees. She was here, seemingly safe. When her eyes, radiant with emotion, met his, it felt as if the ragged piece of his heart that had been torn free this morning knitted back into place at last.

Once the relief of discovering her cleared a bit, he registered the rest of the scene. She was standing over Morley, who was groaning and making pitiful attempts to rise to his feet, but Amelia’s boot on his neck kept him from getting far. A woman in an advanced state of undress—the one Cheadle had addressed as Cora—stood stunned in the open door to a shabby flat. Cheadle had plastered himself against the landing wall, too overwhelmed to move.

Amelia removed her foot from Morley’s neck and ran to Nate, throwing her arms around his neck. He caught her against his chest, closing his eyes and thanking every deity he’d encountered around the world and all the ones he hadn’t met yet that he’d found her, that she was safe and back in his arms. Better than safe, she seemed to be in the midst of winning a fight with a man twice her size.

Pulling back, he framed her small face in his hands, his eyes roving over her, looking for any hint of injury. If he found so much as a scrape or bruise, he’d tear Cheadle and Morley limb from limb. He might do it anyway, just to vent this fury and fear he’d grappled with all day. “Are you all right?”

“Oh, I’m fine.” She smiled up at him, those jet-dark eyes shining and alive. His greedy eyes drank in every tiny part of her—the finely arched brows, that little freckle under her eye, her full lips, still a bit bruised from their night together. “I’m a bit dusty and tired and I’m positively famished, but none of it matters now you’re here.”

Josiah Wheeler, heavily favoring his lame leg, made his way to the landing at last. “Papa! You shouldn’t have climbed all those stairs. Your knee must be in a terrible state.”

“I climbed them because my daughter had been kidnapped. What the blazes is going on here? Cheadle, explain yourself at once before I summon the constable.”

“Now, now, there’s no need to be calling the law,” Cora interjected quickly. “Miss Wheeler’s right as rain. No harm done.”

Josiah Wheeler, imposing in spite of his injury, took a threatening step toward her. “These two abducted her in the middle of the night and you claim there’s no harm done?”

What Nate wanted was to pick up with Morley where Amelia had left off, but they needed information first, and this woman—Cora—seemed to be the key. Instead of taking her by the shoulders and shaking her until she coughed up some answers, he kept a tight rein on his temper. “I heard you say Morley isn’t your husband, so who is he to you?”

“He’s my brother.”

“What is the meaning of all this racket?” another voice shouted up the stairs. Nate glanced behind him, seeing the same hardened landlady who’d admitted them stomping her way up the stairs. The residents of the rear flat on the third floor—a tired-looking husband and wife—had come to their door and were now watching the scene on the landing with undisguised interest.

“It’s nothing, Mrs. McMartin,” Cora called out. “These people was just leaving.”

“We’re not leaving without answers,” Nate stated.

“You’re going to pay for this, Cheadle, title or no,” Mr. Wheeler barked, pointing a finger at him. Cheadle looked about ready to be sick.

Mrs. McMartin planted herself at the top of the stairs and surveyed the scene, Morley still on the floor, but now on his knees, Cora in her gaping robe, Amelia clinging to Nate, and the imposing figure of Amelia’s father, about to strangle Cheadle, who looked ready to faint dead away. “You know I don’t allow fights, Cora,” Mrs. McMartin warned.

“It’s a little misunderstanding,” Cora said brightly.

“One I’d like cleared up once and for all,” Nate said. “So Morley is your brother. Who is Cheadle to you?”

“Why, he’s her husband,” Mrs. McMartin said.

All eyes turned to Mrs. McMartin. Cheadle groaned and dropped his head back against the wall.

“Excuse me?” Mr. Wheeler asked. “Do you mean Mr. Cheadle is
married
to this young woman?”

Mrs. McMartin drew herself up with a haughty sniff. “‘Course they is. This is a respectable establishment. I don’t allow couples to live here what aren’t properly married. Cora showed me the license on the first day.”

“Did she now?” Nate said, turning to look at Cora. Suddenly everything was becoming clear. “Cheadle, does your father, Lord Chiswick, know of your lovely bride?”

“Shut up, Smythe,” Cheadle snarled. “It was a youthful indiscretion, one I’ve regretted ever since.”

“Ho, now!” Cora protested, reaching out to smack the side of Cheadle’s head. He flinched.

“Cora,” Amelia said to her. “If you’re married to Mr. Cheadle already, why were you encouraging him to propose to me?”

Cora rolled her eyes. “Lord, for your fortune, of course. Victor’s flat broke and his father will disown him if he finds out about me. Victor said if I was to stay quietlike and out of the way, he could marry himself an heiress and then he’d have plenty of money for us. He said you wouldn’t want to be no proper wife to him anyway, so he could come live in a nice little place with me and we’d have your money.”

“But that’s bigamy!” Amelia cried.

“Not if no one told,” Cora said defensively.

“But you told your bloody brother!” Cheadle shouted at her. “He’s been breathing down my neck ever since because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut!”

Morley had managed to bring himself to a sitting position, slumping back against the stairway banister. “Somebody had to light a fire under you, Cheadle. We needed the money.”

“So you were blackmailing him,” Nate said. “Helping to keep his first marriage a secret for a share of the fortune he meant to marry.” Nate chuckled and shook his head. “I must hand it to you, Cheadle, I thought you were a low-down vermin, but you’ve surprised me with the depth of your depravity.”

“You’re not going to tell my father, are you?”

“Lord Tewsbury went straight to his house when we arrived in London to tell him what you’d done to Amelia. I’m sure it’s a matter of hours before this whole sordid business reaches his ears.” Nate glanced over Cora’s shoulder at the shabby little flat. “I would make yourself comfortable with your wife, Cheadle. I suspect you’ll be living here for the foreseeable future.”

Mr. Wheeler shook his head. “Such despicable behavior. And from a man of quality. I’m shocked and appalled.”

Nate cast one last scathing look over Cheadle and his grasping wife and brother-in-law and shook his head, disgusted. “Mr. Wheeler, a title is only that—a name. It doesn’t speak to the quality of the man bearing it.”

“True. I owe you a great debt, Mr. Smythe,” Wheeler said. “You’ve saved my girl from a terrible fate.”

“Pardon my saying, but Amelia seemed well on her way to saving herself when we got here. And her fate is as much my concern as yours, Mr. Wheeler.” Nate tightened his arm around Amelia’s waist.

Wheeler’s eyes took it all in and narrowed. “We’ll discuss it later. Now let’s get back to Berkeley Square. Your mother is beside herself with worry.”

Amelia’s eyes lowered. “Poor Mama. She doesn’t need this kind of distress.”

“She’ll be all right once she sees you’re safe and sound.” Wheeler turned to Cheadle. “I’ll be speaking to your father in the morning, Cheadle. We’ll come to an understanding then.” He began to limp back down the stairs.

Nate slid his hand down Amelia’s arm until he was grasping her hand. “Let’s get out of this place. There’s nothing here of any concern to us.”

Amelia nodded, then faced Cheadle. “I plan on calling on Genevieve Grantham in the morning. There won’t be a wealthy young woman in Europe or America who doesn’t know about you. Don’t think to try this despicable stunt again. Come, Nate. I want to forget I ever laid eyes on this sad excuse for a man.”

Nate grinned and held his tongue. There was nothing he could say to Cheadle that Amelia hadn’t already. And as for Morley...well, the man still wasn’t standing, so it seemed she’d handled him tidily, as well.

“As you wish, darling.”

Chapter Nineteen

Their return to Mayfair was only a different sort of pandemonium. Amelia had just enough time to assure her mother she was well before Lord Chiswick and Lord Tewsbury arrived. Mr. Wheeler provided Lord Chiswick with the address where he might find his bigamist son and the latter left to meet his newly discovered daughter-in-law and unleash his wrath.

Tewsbury promised to stay for dinner along with Nate, but a telegram needed to be sent to Tewsmere letting his wife and the rest of the guests know Amelia had been found and was safe, so he and Mr. Wheeler left for Wheeler’s business offices where a telegraph machine could be found.

Amelia made sure her mother was comfortable and resting before changing her dress and washing up.

“You look much refreshed,” Nate said when she reappeared in the parlor.

“I feel refreshed. And look at that,” she said, looking around herself with exaggerated wonder. “Everyone seems to have gone out and left us alone for the time being.”

“Your mother is upstairs.”

“And unlikely to come down them and surprise us. This would be a perfect opportunity to kiss me, if you were so inclined.”

He reached up to cup her cheek in his palm. His hands were so large, and she so small, that his palm covered the side of her face, from her jaw to her hairline. Amelia loved it.

“I am always inclined to kiss you, even when I shouldn’t. Especially when I shouldn’t.”

She tugged on his lapels to bring his face closer. “Well, now you can whenever you want, as I’m yours.”

His lips curled in a rakish smile, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “I very much like the sound of that.”

“And you’re mine. I’m resolved on that at last.”

“We settled it last night.”

She shook her head. “
You
did. But when I left your bed, I was determined to let you go.”

His eyebrows furrowed and his grip on her tightened. “Amelia—”

She pressed on, smoothing her palms down his lapels. “But today made it clear to me. I can’t live without you. I won’t. The consequences will simply have to be dealt with.”

Nate pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It will be all right. You’ll see.”

“Julia will never forgive me, and you’ll never manage to bring Lord Hyde around about the business now. I’m sorry, Nate. I’ve ruined everything.” He chuckled and she took a step back, sobering. How could he be taking this so lightly when he’d worked so hard for it? “It’s not funny. Your whole future rested on that alliance and now I’ve gone and mucked it up.”

“I’m still going into partnership with Hyde and Julia does not hate you in the slightest.”

“What are you talking about? You were nearly engaged to her.”

Nate proceeded to tell her everything that had happened after she watched him disappear into the garden with Julia the night before. Not only was there no betrothal to break, it seemed that sly Julia Harrow had been holding out on everyone for ages.

“
She’s
been running her father’s business this whole time?”

“And doing a crack job of it.”

Pieces of a puzzle that seemed to make one picture rapidly fell apart and recombined to make a new one. “
That’s
why she wanted you at the house party.”

“Indeed. And you. You were the bait she dangled to get me there.”

Julia knew Nate’s feelings—and hers—before they’d become aware themselves? Oh, she held her secrets close indeed. “And she truly doesn’t wish to marry you?”

“Not at all. She was rather horrified at the prospect, honestly. She wants me as a business partner and no more. So you see,” he said, pulling her back into his arms, his long, solid body braced against hers. “There is nothing to keep me from you now.”

“Only my parents,” she said, the misery of it descending on her once again. Papa had been so grateful to Nate today, she thought he might eventually see reason regarding his worth. But Mama was a very different thing.

“I’ll speak with your father tonight. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll try.” She smiled for him, attempting to reassure both him and herself. Never had she fought with such a mess of conflicting emotions. Nate made her happy, so very happy. But the cost of having him was to hurt someone dear. There had to be a way to make everyone happy, and she’d find it, only perhaps not right now. Not when she and Nate were together and alone. There were far better ways to take advantage of this moment than conversation. If he would kiss her, she could get lost in him, and let her body override her tormented mind and heart.

“What happened to that kiss you were going to give me?”

“You wanted to talk about another woman.”

“That was terribly silly of me. Why didn’t you stop me?”

“Stop you? I wouldn’t dare attempt it.”

“Let’s forget about any other woman but me.”

“Already done. No other woman exists for me when I have you.”

“I told you, leave off your flattery with me, Nate. I know you too well for such nonsense.”

Suddenly he caught her face in his hands again, holding her head steady, his eyes only inches from hers. “It’s not nonsense and it’s not flattery. You’re the only woman I see, the only one in my heart, the only one in my soul. And I think you always have been.”

Oh, and didn’t that make everything inside of her go soft and warm? “You really do need to kiss me now,” she whispered.

He did, closing the gap between them and pressing his lips to hers. What started gentle quickly grew heated. His tongue teased at her bottom lip until she opened for him, until he could plunder her mouth and stroke her tongue. She could taste all his fear and anger from the day, now twisted into desire and sharp-edged need. She needed him, too. After denying herself, now she wanted to lay claim to him in every way. He was hers to possess.

Her fingers found the buttons on his waistcoat and went to work. Nate moaned into her mouth, nipped at her lip one more time, and drew back, covering her hands with his own.

“Amelia, we can’t.”

She kissed the underside of his jaw, which was all she could reach when he was standing up straight. There was a hint of stubble there, now it was near the end of the day. The roughness on her lips was delicious, and made her imagine his rough face in other, more intimate places. Last night had been a mere sip when there was a full glass to drink from, and she felt terribly thirsty.

“If we sneak up to my bedroom, we can.”

Nate took a step back, putting several inches between them. Amelia scowled.

“Your mother is here.”

“Her room is all the way at the front of the house. She won’t hear anything.”

“You have servants.”

“No one will come to my room unless I call them. Nate, don’t be so stodgy.”

He reached out and grasped her shoulders, crouching enough to look her in the eye. “As much as I want you—and I assure you, Amelia, I want you rather desperately—I won’t take you under your father’s roof.”

She huffed. “Now you’re going to develop scruples? You didn’t have any last night.”

“Last night you caught me by surprise. I was... Frankly, I was rather undone. I feel terrible thinking of the harm you could have come to because of me.”

“You didn’t harm me. I came to you willingly, because I wanted you.”

Nate shook his head. “Our being together last night played right into Cheadle’s hands. He had something to hold over your head because I couldn’t control myself where you’re concerned.”

Amelia smiled languidly, running a fingertip along Nate’s rough jaw, loving the way his eyelids slid half-closed. “But he’s all sorted. Cheadle’s not a problem now for anyone but his wife.”

He blinked, drawing himself back to the moment. “Yes, it’s all worked out, and I’m not about to bring scandal down on your head now when we’ve managed to barely avoid it.”

“You really want to wait until we’re married?”

He chuckled and stepped in to wrap his arms around her again. “No, I honestly don’t think I can. But I am drawing the line at taking you under your father’s roof.” He shrugged, looking suddenly self-conscious. “I think he respects me now, Amelia. I never thought he would. I don’t... I don’t want to dishonor that.”

Her heart softened. Of course. He’d spent his life feeling inferior to her father, desperate to drag himself up and appear worthy. Now he had, and she couldn’t ask him to betray that, even if it meant she’d be left unsatisfied. “Oh, very well. We’ll do things properly, since you insist.”

He looked down at her with that rakish, pirate’s grin. “I didn’t promise we’d do it properly. I meant I won’t do it
here
.” Leaning down, he teased her mouth with his, not quite a kiss, a soft rub of his lips, a delicate nip of his teeth on her bottom lip. He whispered the words right against her mouth. She felt them as much as heard them. “Believe me, given the right opportunity, I mean to enjoy every splendid inch of you, whether you’re wearing my ring yet or not.”

She wrapped her hands around his lapels and yanked him into her kiss. For all his reticence, he responded quickly, his tongue surging into her mouth, his hands clutching at her body. Yes, she wanted this. She wanted heat and passion. And he was giving it to her the way she wanted it when the doorbell rang.

Nate growled as he released her, resting his forehead against hers. “You’ve become quite skilled at that, Amelia.”

“One needs the right teacher.”

“The only teacher,” he murmured. “For all your days.”

She was on the edge of an uncharacteristic swoon when he abruptly stepped back and released her.

“You’d better go see who it is,” he said. She raised a trembling hand to her hair, then touched her kiss-swollen lips. Right. Guests.

Nate followed her to the entry hall where, to her shock, the butler was ushering in Evelyn, Julia and Lord Hyde.

“Your Lordship... Evelyn...Julia...what are you doing here?”

“The young ladies insisted on following after Mr. Smythe—” Lord Hyde began, but Evelyn cut him off, shoving past him to get to Amelia.

“We simply couldn’t
rest
until we knew you were well, Amelia!” she cried, taking her hands. “And here you are! We are
so very
relieved, but you must tell us what happened. Tell us every
horror
you were subjected to.”

Amelia suspected Evelyn had come as much to be a part of the scandal as she had to assure herself of Amelia’s well-being. “No horrors, only a very long walk. I can tell you all what happened, but my father and Lord Tewsbury are on their way back for dinner. Won’t you all stay? I can tell the whole tale then.”

* * *

Dinner was the most lively ever seen at the Wheeler house. Even her mother made it downstairs for the first three courses. Amelia recounted the whole tale to the rapt table, punctuated with frequent gasps and shrieks from Evelyn.

The party set to conjecturing what might become of Mr. Cheadle. Lord Hyde seemed inclined to think his father might have the marriage annulled, but Evelyn said it would be for naught, as once the story of his deeds made its way about town, no respectable woman would marry him anyway.

“And to think,” Lord Hyde said, shaking his head. “He comes from such a good family. Old title and all.”

“I think this goes to show, a title doesn’t always speak to the character of the man who bears it,” Amelia said acerbically, glancing at her father, who was looking uncomfortable at the head of the table.

As soon as dinner was over, her father took the gentlemen to the library while the ladies withdrew to the parlor. Mama was understandably done in by the day’s excitement and begged off joining the ladies in the parlor. Amelia followed her to the foot of the stairs to say good-night. Nate hung back, she noticed, waiting in the hallway as she sent her mother off.

“Are you sure I can’t come help you get ready for bed, Mama?” Amelia pressed.

“Absolutely not. You have to see to our guests, Lady Evelyn and Lady Julia.”

“They would understand, if you needed me.”

“Nonsense. I have Constance to help. Don’t keep our guests waiting.” She cast a disapproving glance over Amelia’s shoulder at Nate. Amelia suppressed a sigh. She’d known it would be difficult to bring her mother around to the idea of Nate, but she hadn’t thought her disapproval would hurt this much. She wasn’t going to give him up, but she hated that her choice would hurt her mother this way. It seemed all she’d ever done all her life was disappoint those she loved.

“All right. Good night.”

“Good night, darling. Mr. Smythe.” Her voice was cool as she gave him a polite nod.

Kirks, the strongest footman on staff, had been hovering unobtrusively in the shadows beside the staircase. At a sign from her mother, he stepped forward, lifted her into his arms and began to carry her up the stairs.

“Stairs are difficult for Mama,” Amelia explained to Nate, her voice slightly choked with emotion.

“I didn’t realize she’d grown so weak,” he said, coming to stand behind her.

“That’s why...” She had to stop and start again. “You see why I was so determined to settle things this week at the house party.”

Nate was silent for a moment. “Amelia, I’m sorry. Sorry choosing me pains you in any way.”

“No!” She spun around, reaching for him, gripping his lapels, pulling him closer. “I won’t be sorry for you. I’m only sorry I couldn’t manage things to everyone’s satisfaction. I wanted to make everyone happy, and I can’t.”

“You were making everyone happy at the expense of your own.”

“And now I’ve chosen myself, selfish or not. I hate the price of my choice, but it doesn’t mean I’m unwilling to pay it.”

He reached for her waist, giving her a reassuring smile. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you don’t regret the choice.”

“I never could.”

“I’d better go. It’s past time I speak with your father.”

“Do you mean...”

“Am I going to properly request your hand in marriage? Of course I am. That’s how it’s done.”

“And if he refuses?” Because Amelia very much feared he might. It was easy to promise forever. Reality was much harder to navigate.

“I mean to convince him.”

She tugged him down and kissed him briefly. “It doesn’t matter, you know. If we have to, I’ll run away with you. I’m quite accomplished at it at this point.”