An Unlikely Father (9 page)

“Sir Ethan will explain the misunderstanding and compensate you and your companions for your misspent
time, but you must forgive me, for I have an urgent matter which I wish to discuss with Miss Collins.” Without another word, he went to the lady, took her by the arm and marched her from the company of the London light-skirts.

Six

No sooner had the drawing room door closed than Emily attempted to pull her arm from his lordship’s firm grasp. But his strength was considerable, and he held her tightly until he had guided her across the Great Hall and into the privacy of the library.

The earl released her arm as he taunted, “Miss Collins, have you taken complete leave of your senses?”

“Is there a problem, my lord?” Emily inquired with feigned innocence.

The earl’s dark brows drew downward in a frown as he glared at her. “Do not play the henwit with me. I have been on the receiving end of your pointed comments enough to know you are not lacking in intelligence and can well see what those women are.”

Emily straightened the sleeve of her gown, brushing out the wrinkles the gentleman had inflicted. “What those women are, sir, are your invited guests.” She looked boldly into his blue eyes, and asked, “Would you have them sent away without any refreshments after their long, cold journey at your request?”

“I would not, but neither would I have expected
you
to be acting as hostess in my absence.” There was a slight upward tilt to his firm mouth as he seemed to realize he’d landed a blow to the lady’s pride.

Emily blushed as his remark struck home. She had been out of line to assume such a role. But never would she admit as much to the man who had summoned such females into the very home which housed his wards.

Determined not to give an inch in the argument, Emily airily said, “Pray forgive my putting myself forward in such a manner, my lord. But Bedows seemed to be at something of a loss to have such women in Hawk’s Lair. I fear his principles were getting in the way of your amusement.” The audacious twinkle in the earl’s eye was too much for Emily to bear. “But then, rakes are not known for paying much heed to principle, are they?”

In an instant, Emily realized she had over-stepped the bounds of civility as well as those of decorum. Every line of the earl’s body went rigid. “Miss Collins, you go too far.”

A little fearful of the dark look in his lordship’s eyes, she distanced herself by moving to the nearest window. She pushed aside the green velvet curtain and looked out at the garden. Not wishing to be thought ill bred, she attempted to justify her conduct. “If I have done so, my lord, you must blame it on my desire for your niece and nephews to have the best of circumstances in their new home. They have lost so much at such tender ages.”

“And you think I don’t wish for the same?” The earl’s tone remained angry, but there was a bit of wounded pride there as well.

Emily dropped the curtain back in place as she turned to face his lordship’s understandable ire at her meddling. “Your conduct over the past few days has been anything but reassuring as to the priority you place on the children, sir. The arrival of such females was just—”

“A miscommunication, Miss Collins.” The earl put out his hands in a gesture of entreaty, as if determined to make her understand. He gave a discouraged sigh as he dropped them to his side in frustration, then came to where she stood. The anger was gone, and in its place was a look of earnestness.

“Immediately upon my wards’ arrival, I sent a letter requesting that the women not come. You may think me a care-for-nobody, Miss Collins, but I do have principles.”

With all his pride and ire gone, Emily found Hawksworth frighteningly appealing. His dark gaze seemed to capture her own and insist she believe him. She realized that despite his reputation as a rake, there might be deep within him a voice of honor trying to tell him what was correct, at least where the children were concerned. Unfortunately, she was afraid that it was buried so deep under that polished, self-indulgent exterior that he might never heed its call.

As his compelling blue eyes seemed to draw her to him, Emily realized that her own heart might make her vulnerable to this practiced rake. In his mind she might be merely another female to conquer—a conquest to charm, then seduce and abandon. She knew that was how men of his stamp behaved, but still the thought brought a strange ache that the man was so trifling.

She must be on her guard. In a voice a bit shaky with emotion, she glibly said, “A rake with principles—what a novel idea.” She walked round him towards the door, needing to get away from his powerful spell. As she reached for the handle, she glanced back to see a puzzled expression on his handsome face. Remembering the unsavory tales about him, some imp seemed to drive her onward. “A rake’s principles? Do you suppose that is something like an ostrich’s wings, sir? The great bird knows they are there but never bothers to use them.”

Hawksworth stood frozen by the window as the door clicked shut behind Miss Collins. He mentally ranted and raved not only about the lady’s audacity in welcoming the actresses but her insult to him. He had principles. Were his tenants not well cared for? Were his properties not well maintained? Had he ever done harm to any human or animal? The moral questions continued to come, but when he asked himself about taking into account the wishes and needs of others, he found it more difficult to give satisfactory answers. Over the course of the years there had been women whom he’d used, then tossed aside when he’d grown tired of them without the least thought to what they wanted.

It was in that reflective mood that Sir Ethan found Lord Hawksworth some ten minutes later.

The first words out of the earl’s mouth were, “I tell you, I should send that Miss Prunes and Prisms packing to London, no matter the service she has rendered my family by returning my wards to England.”

The baronet, fully expecting his lordship’s indignant mood after finding Miss Collins closeted with such low females, knew the gentleman needed some time to recover his good humor. Sir Ethan walked up to a table which held a bowl of fresh fruit and picked up a bunch of hothouse grapes. Then he moved to where the parrots’ cage sat on a pedestal near the fireplace.

“I assume you are referring to Miss Collins?” He plucked a grape from the bunch and offered it to the red parrot, hoping his friend’s temper would subside and allow his intellect to control his actions.

Hawksworth moved to stand beside the Scotsman as he fed the birds. “Yes, she dared lecture me on my apparent lack of principles. The lady seems to think I might not be interested in what is best for my wards.”

The baronet arched one auburn brow as he pulled another grape free and fed the green parrot. “Are you so angry because you think perchance she may be correct, or because you do not like such a pretty lass not falling prey to your charms?”

The earl made no comment as he watched his friend. But he suspected there was some truth to his ire being partly caused by the lady’s indifference. It was clear she didn’t see him as agreeable or charming, only as a failure at doing his duty. He wasn’t quite certain why, but he wanted her to respect, even admire him, despite her tendency to lecture him.

Was she correct? Was he failing to do his best for his wards? The earl was interested in the baronet’s opinion. “Do you think I’m not being a proper guardian?”

“Shouldn’t be asking an old bachelor like me, laddie.” Sir Ethan plucked the final grape, then tossed the empty stems into the fire. After giving the treat to Janus, the gentleman turned his curious gaze on the earl. “But ’tis plain that the ladies seem to think you need to do a bit more with the wee ones.”

“More? What more?” The earl was genuinely puzzled. “I rarely saw my father except at Christmas until I was older. Then my brother and I were occasionally allowed to join him while hunting. What do they expect me to do?”

Sir Ethan, having had private conversation with Mrs. Keaton during dinner, was well informed of what Miss
Collins wanted. But the baronet was not sure his friend was the type of man who would adapt well to the demands of children, having been raised by a cold and distant father.

Still, he decided to lay out the matter for Hawksworth. “I believe what would make the lady happy is for you to become better acquainted with the children and make them feel welcome in their new home.”

The baronet laughed at the expression of trepidation which settled on the earl’s face. “Afraid you will be brought to grass by your brother’s spirited offspring?”

The earl cracked a half smile for the first time since he’d entered the library. “Very likely, for I haven’t the least notion what would be expected of me.”

Remembering his lively nieces and nephews in Scotland, Sir Ethan grinned. “They like nothing more than an adult who will join in their fun. I don’t believe it is hard to participate in such simple sports. All you require are the abilities to run, jump, shout, sing, ride and play games.”

Hawksworth slumped down into a nearby chair. “Is that all? Sounds as though exercising my principles is going to be excessively tiring.”

Emily closed the door to her bedroom, then walked over to the window to stare out. What was the matter with her? She was here to help the children, not to become addlebrained over Lord Hawksworth, for that was the only way she could describe her conduct in the library.

Delia had been right. There was danger in staying in a rake’s residence. Despite her best intentions, she was finding herself unable to resist his attraction. But even worse, she was no closer to getting him to truly care for his wards than on the night of their arrival.

Perhaps she was on a fool’s errand. His lordship might be too set in his raffish ways to make room in his life for the children. To be honest, after hearing the conversation between Lord Hawksworth and Miss Devereau, it was clear that the earl had attempted to stop the females from leaving London. On that head at least, she was convinced there was not likely to be a repeat of such inappropriate visitors in the castle.

Still, what the children needed most was someone to take as much interest in their lives as a parent. That was where her doubts about the earl lay, and she saw no simple solution.

A knock sounded on the door which led to the sitting room. At Emily’s call, Delia entered, looking at her closely. “Have you quarreled with Lord Hawksworth once again?”

Emily shook her head and walked over to the dressing table. She picked up her brush and began to smooth down the curls which had sprung from her chignon. But her thoughts about her attraction to the earl still bothered her. “Not exactly a quarrel, more an exchange of opposing ideas.”

Delia came to stand beside her friend. The bemused look on the girl’s face reflected something that frightened the widow. Was Emily becoming enamored with his lordship? That might only lead to disaster. Delia knew she must do something.

“May I offer an observation, then a suggestion?”

Emily, pushing her worries aside, ceased fussing with her hair and smiled at her companion. “Of course.”

“I think your unusually close relationship with your uncle has given you a somewhat unrealistic impression of the role of a guardian. Mr. Ashton, having no children of his own, treated you as a beloved daughter, but most orphans are lucky to have a roof over their heads and enough to eat. Lord Hawksworth will generously provide for the children’s physical needs and, given time, he might even develop an affection for them.”

Emily frowned. “Time! He is likely to forget about them once he returns to his—”

Delia raised her hand. “And so he is, for most men would forget their heads if they weren’t attached, but I have a suggestion which will give the children exactly what you think they need.”

With a wicked grin, Emily inquired, “Does it involve chains and the castle basement? I am convinced that is all that will keep Hawksworth near his young relatives.”

“In truth, it doesn’t involve the earl, but us.”

Emily’s gaze dropped to the hand which still held her silver brush. How could she tell Delia that staying at the castle was not a possibility that Emily would consider. She knew herself to be in danger of the earl’s appeal and was no longer certain of her ability to resist. “As much as I should delight in remaining with the children, I cannot think his lordship is willing to offer us long-term hospitality.” Especially after she questioned his principles.

“We need not remain at Hawk’s Lair to see the children. Back in India, you said you wanted to lease or purchase a small estate in the countryside. Why not near the castle? I am certain his lordship would not deny us the opportunity to visit with Honoria, Jamie and Wesley.”

A smile lit Emily’s face. She tossed the brush on the dressing table, then hugged her friend. “That is a wonderful suggestion. I have been so busy trying to get
Hawksworth to take an interest, that I never thought about us maintaining contact. I shall begin to look for a suitable place tomorrow.”

A knock sounded at the door. Emily called for the visitor to enter. Martin opened the door and announced that his lordship had summoned the village seamstress, Mrs. Nance, and the lady was wishing a word with Miss Collins and Mrs. Keaton in the rear parlor before Nurse brought the children.

As the ladies made their way to meet the woman, Delia said, “See, I think you underestimate his lordship’s concern about his wards. Why, ’twas only last night that you mentioned the children’s need for warmer clothes and here is Mrs. Nance.”

Emily shook her head. “I never doubted he would see to their material needs, my dear. It’s their emotional well-being I am worried about, but your suggestion of our remaining in the neighborhood has greatly calmed my fears about that.” She told herself it didn’t matter if the earl returned only rarely to the castle, for now she and Delia would be close at hand. But the thought of not seeing the earl again left her surprisingly melancholy.

Putting her thoughts about his lordship aside, she followed Delia into the small parlor at the rear of the castle. Emily discovered Mrs. Nance to be a tall woman with a plain face and bright red curls, who wore a fashionable blue wool gown of exceptional cut. It was apparent that while the seamstress might live in the country, she owned a superior skill in her craft.

After introductions, the seamstress announced, “His lordship says I am to be guided by you, Miss Collins, as to the children’s needs. I took the liberty of bringin’ a few ready-made items, since I heard the little ones are recently returned from the Indies.”

The woman opened a trunk and took out several woolen jackets in varying sizes. She announced that the garments had been sewn for the local squire’s sons, but as they were in London at present, mayhap one might fit the earl’s eldest ward. “For it is certain I am that the young lad is anxious to be out of doors, even though it’s been colder than a woodsman’s nose in winter this year.”