A Matter of Choice (24 page)

“I can’t leave until I know everything is taken care of,” he said to Allison. “My father is far too ill to be left on his own.”

Allison rose from the settee and stood beside him, clutching his arm and holding it to her breast. “Of course you can’t. I know how sick he is. It’s just that I worry about you. I don’t trust him, Joshua. Promise you won’t let anything happen.”

“Nothing will happen, Allison. I won’t let it.”

How could he tell her that his greatest fear was that in one of his father’s drunken tirades he would try to rid himself of the son he believed had killed the son he loved. Or worse. Try to kill the only thing he loved.

He placed a kiss on her forehead. “Now, are you ready to go?”

“Yes.”

She smiled at him, her smile warm enough to melt butter, seductive enough to make him uncomfortably hard. “Then we’d best leave before I conjure up a reason to go back upstairs.”

She laughed. “I would not mind. We could be fashionably late.”

“Being late is only fashionable when attending balls. Arriving late to the opera is not fashionable at all. And we would probably miss the whole first act.”

He held out his arm then dropped it when Converse entered carrying a small silver tray.

“This just arrived for you. The messenger boy said it was urgent.”

He took the note from the tray and turned it over. “It’s from Chardwell.” He tore it open then stepped closer to the light to read it better.

Montfort,

It’s imperative that I speak with you right away. Alone.

I’m on my way.

Chardwell

“Allison, something important has come up. You go to the opera without me. I’ll be there as quickly as I can. It won’t take long. I promise.”

She hesitated as if she wanted to argue, then gave in. “Very well.”

He saw the worry on her face and felt a pang of guilt. “Don’t worry. It’s probably nothing.”

“If it’s not? If it’s something important?”

“I’ll let you know.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

He escorted her to the front door and helped her on with her cloak. He made arrangements for two footmen to accompany her, then escorted her beneath the portico and down the steps. “I’ll be there before the end of the first act.” He helped her into the waiting carriage. “I promise.”

He kissed her hand then stepped back while the footman closed the door. He stared after her long enough to watch the carriage rumble down the street.

“I’m expecting someone,” he informed Converse as he walked into his townhouse to await Chardwell’s arrival.

His heart raced in his chest. He’d known there would be repercussions because of the actions he took to help his father. But bloody hell! He didn’t think they’d start already. It hadn’t even been one whole day.

He walked to his study and paced the room while he waited for Chardwell to arrive. It didn’t take long.

He breathed a heavy sigh when he heard a carriage stop at the curb outside his townhouse. He went to the small liquor table and poured two drinks, knowing they would probably both need one before this discussion was over.

The outside door opened and closed, then Converse knocked before opening his study door.

“The Countess of Paxton, my lord.”

He turned in surprise.

“You look shocked, Montfort.”

He set the two glasses in his hand back on the table and watched Lady Paxton glide into the room. Her every movement was as graceful as anyone he’d ever seen. She exhibited a natural confidence that made her seem perfectly at ease in any situation. Even alone and uninvited in a married man’s home.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to make peace.”

“Consider it done, my lady.” He moved to open the door and escort her out.

“Oh, please, Joshua. Surely you aren’t so angry with me from the other night that you’d eject me from your home?”

“I’m expecting a visitor and would like you gone before he arrives.”

“Very well. I’ll leave the minute your guest arrives. I promise.”

He dropped his hands to his sides and stepped back into the room. He left the door open wide. “What do you want?”

“Just a few moments of your time.”

She walked to the table where he’d set down the two glasses and ran one long, graceful finger over the rim until it rang a tiny, high pitch.

“You’ll have to excuse me,” she said, turning away so he only saw her back. “This is not ease for me.”

“What is not easy?” he asked when she kept her back to him so long.

“Apologizing. Saying good-bye. Like I said, I want to make amends for the other night. I misunderstood your devotion to your new bride and overstepped my bounds.”

“Consider your apology accepted. Now, if you will excuse me—“

She turned around to face him with the two glasses in her hands. “It’s a shame to waste the two drinks you already poured. Would you have just one last drink with me before I leave?”

He felt uncomfortable. He didn’t want her here. The sooner she was gone the better he’d like it.

“I’d prefer you left right now, Lady Paxton. We have nothing to discuss and I hardly want to remember anything we might have shared in the past.”

She held up one of the glasses. “If you will share but one last drink with me, I promise I will leave and never bother you again.”

She stepped closer to him, yet not so close as to make him wary. “Just one drink.” She held out a glass.

He looked at the glass then at her. He’d known Lady Paxton far too long to trust her. He was also well acquainted with her determination. She would get no encouragement from him.

“Please, Joshua.”

“Very well.” He took the glass from her hand. Without the slightest hesitation, he threw the contents to the back of his throat and swallowed. “Now...” He lifted the glass so she could see it was empty. “I’ve finished my drink. Please, leave.”

She stared at him. Was that a flash of concern he saw in her eyes? Surely not.

“Joshua,” she said, her voice soft, almost muted. “I have something to tell you.”

“I’m not interested in anything you have to say. I’d like you to leave now.”

She set her glass down on the corner of the table and turned to face him. The expression on her face seemed unfamiliarly sincere. Almost apologetic.

“We are often forced to make choices we’d rather not make if we could avoid them. Some choices are simple, with few or no consequences. Other choices are earth shattering and affect not only our own lives, but those of everyone we touch.”

“What does that have to do with…” He paused to wipe his forehead. The room was suddenly terribly warm and even though Serena still stood in front of him, she now seemed very far away. He reached out to anchor his hand against the back of the settee.

“I want you to know I had no choice.”

“No choice about what?” He suddenly felt strangely weak. He had to hang onto something for support. His knees would not hold him up.

“Let me help you, Joshua. It’ll be easiest if you sit down.”

He tried to digest her words but he couldn’t think. What was wrong with him?

She came toward him and placed his arm about her shoulder, then led him to the settee and helped him sit.

He wanted to fight her, to at least resist, but he didn’t have the strength. It was all he could do to let his body sink down onto the cushions.

“What have you done to me?” His words were slurred and his tongue barely able to form the words in his mouth.

“I’m terribly sorry, Joshua. Please believe me. I didn’t have a choice.”

“God…damn…you! What…have you…done!”

He brushed his hand across his eyes, desperate to wipe away the blur. He couldn’t see. Couldn’t stay awake.

“Don’t fight it, Joshua. It will do no good.”

He tried to struggle to his feet but her small hand held him down. He shook his head, trying to clear it. He couldn’t.

“No!” He struggled to stay awake. To remain conscious. He couldn’t.

“Allison,” he cried out weakly as the world around him went black.

+++

Allison was never so relieved to hear anything in her life as she was the final round of applause at the conclusion of Verdi’s
Rigoletto
. Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones. Knew it to the very core of her. He’d promised to be here by the end of the first act. He still hadn’t arrived.

“Montfort will be sorry he missed tonight’s performance,” Phoe
be said as they walked together down the long corridor to the winding staircase. “I thought you said he was coming.”

“He was.” Allison led the group that included her three sisters and their husbands, and the Lords and Ladies Etonbury and Questry, and the Duke and Duchess of Bingham to the stairs. “Something must have happened. He is probably waiting for us at home.”

She walked down the steps, keeping her gloved hand on the railing to support herself. She wished she had asked what was in the message he’d received from Chardwell. What if something had happened to him?

She focused her gaze on the crush of people in the foyer at the bottom of the stairs. Perhaps he’d been so late he decided to wait for them down here. Instead, her gaze rested on the Marquess of Chardwell. A wave of relief surged through her. And panic. He’d sent the message to Joshua. Why was he here without him?

“Good evening, Lady Montfort. Don’t tell me your husband has deserted you.”

“Didn’t he come with you?” A wave of unease washed over her. He’d said the note had come from Chardwell.

The confused look on Chardwell’s face told her he had no idea to what she was referring.

“I must have misunderstood. I thought he was with you.”

She fixed an exuberant smile on her face and struggled to give the impression that nothing was wrong. “Never mind.” She broadened her smile until it hurt. “Did you enjoy the opera?”

Chardwell hadn’t sent Joshua the message. Why had he lied to her?

The look on Chardwell’s face darkened. “I did.” He cast his gaze to where her guests stood behind her. “Oh, I forgot,” he said with a look of surprise on his face. “Montfort mentioned that you were entertaining. He invited me to join you. I’m not too late, am I?”

Relief flooded her. “No, of course not.”

Chardwell was a pathetic liar but she was glad he’d invited himself. He was Joshua’s best friend. She was suddenly desperate to have him with her.

If there was trouble, she knew her husband would want him there. If there wasn’t trouble... Well, she’d cross that bridge when she reached it.

“I’d be delighted to have you join us.”

“Wonderful.”

They walked to the entrance and waited as the long line of carriages came forward.

If anyone noticed her unease, they concealed it well. Everyone was in the highest of spirits, their mood enlivened by the performance. She vowed to make Joshua take her again so she could enjoy the performance. His absence had certainly caused her mind to be occupied elsewhere.

She looked down the street and said a small thank you because her carriage was the first to arrive. Another because Chardwell’s carriage was next in line. If something were amiss, he would be there to help her.

The ride home seemed interminable, but finally they pulled in front of Montfort House. The niggling fear she’d felt earlier erupted into full force worry. And yet…

Nothing seemed amiss. Lights shone from every window, and Converse opened the front door the minute she alighted from her carriage.

Chardwell was at her side and held out his arm for her. “Is everything all right?” he asked as they walked up the steps.

“I hope so. I just can’t imagine what detained Joshua. He promised he would meet us at the opera.”

Together they walked through the open door, the rest of the group following close behind her.

“Montfort is going to receive the first harsh scolding of his marriage,” one of the men bantered. The rest of the group laughed at his teasing, but just within earshot she heard Lady Etonbury comment that it would be hard for any woman to stay angry with any husband who possessed such inordinate charm.

Allison ignored their teasing remarks and walked past Converse. Her stride faltered when she saw the serious expression on their butler’s face.

“Is Lord Montfort here?” She prayed he was.

“In his study, my lady. He has a guest.”

“Still?”

“Yes.”

The relief she felt was overwhelming.

“Perhaps your guests would like to go directly in to dinner, my lady,” Converse suggested.

She knew his words were a warning, but his suggestion was met with immediate refusals from all the men who wanted a drink before they ate. And from the women, who wanted to hear Montfort’s explanation as to what had been so important that he’d missed escorting his wife to the opera.