Ladies of Deception 02 - Misleading Lord Martineau (16 page)

Friday May 6
th
, 1814

It had been exactly one long, painful week when Elliot finally showed up at Pierce’s townhouse unannounced. Pierce and Hope were visiting Hope’s father, Lord Brattondale, and much to his regret were not at home. Their butler came and found Felicity and Edith playing in the nursery and informed them of Elliot’s appearance and request to see them. Felicity’s first reaction was to tell the butler to inform Elliot that they weren’t interested in his company, but Edith had perked up at hearing her father’s name and was anxious to see him and Felicity was hesitant to deny her the simple joy.

Rising to her feet, Felicity straightened her pink day dress before reaching for Edith’s hand and leading her to the parlor where Elliot was waiting. Walking into the room and seeing Elliot made Felicity furious; he looked better than she felt. His hair had recently been trimmed and his clothes were immaculately pressed but it was with some satisfaction that she noted his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and the dimple on the side of his mouth never fully formed. Good, she thought, maybe he was as miserable as her.

He treated her with a foreign formality as he spoke. “Lady Pemberton, I came to see if you and Edith would like to accompany me on a ride through Hyde Park.”

Edith squealed as she tugged on Felicity’s skirts, “Please mama, can we go?”

Felicity bent to face her daughter, “Yes sweetheart, you may go if you’d like but I’m not feeling up to it. Would you like to go see if Aunt Agatha would like to ride along with you?”

Edith nodded at Felicity then turned to Elliot, “Don’t leave without me, I’ll be right back.” He nodded solemnly then watched as she raced from the room.

Once Edith was gone, Elliot turned to Felicity. “Why don’t you want to come along? It’s a beautiful day.”

“It was a beautiful day until you showed up. I have better things to do with my time than spend it in your company. Please don’t be gone long; both Edith and Aunt Agatha will need their afternoon rest.”

“As you wish,” he said, hating the strain between them but knowing there was nothing he could do to change it. Felicity didn’t say another word to him but turned and walked out of the room.

Elliot didn’t have to wait long for Aunt Agatha and Edith to return, bonnets in place and ready to go. He wasn’t surprised at the coolness he felt from Aunt Agatha, positive that Felicity had filled her in on his antics. He chose largely to ignore her and focus on Edith, scooping her up into his arms as he carried her out to his waiting carriage.

“
I’ve missed you poppet,” he told her as he crawled inside the carriage with her still in his arms.

“
I missed you too. Mama said we couldn’t go see you.”

“
Did she? Well it’s a good thing I came to visit then.”

They began their ride to Hyde Park and Elliot couldn’t remember a time he enjoyed a ride more than this. Edith delighted him with her constant chatter and childlike innocence. Her joy at the simple things was contagious and Elliot felt himself really smiling for the first time since he found out about his parent’s deaths and how it was supposed to have been him who died. Aunt Agatha was polite enough to keep to herself though he could tell by her pointed look that she desperately wanted to call him out for his ill treatment of her niece. He was grateful for her silence for he wasn’t in any mood to explain himself to her.

The ride was over much too soon but Elliot wanted to get the girls back for their rest so Felicity wouldn’t be upset with him. He had every intention to call on her in the future to spend more time with his daughter and didn’t want his first visit to leave them on bad footing.

When they pulled up in front of Pierce’s townhouse, Elliot scooped Edith into his arms and began walking towards the door. Edith surprised him by reaching up and kissing his cheek and saying, “Can we come live with you papa?”

He was fully aware of Aunt Agatha eyeing him skeptically waiting for his response. He didn’t know how to respond in a way that would both appease the child and deter her at the same time. He finally settled on ignoring the question and attempting to distract her, “Did you have fun today poppet?”Edith nodded eagerly. “Good, so did I. If you listen to your mama and take a good nap then I promise I’ll come see you tomorrow. Would you like that?”

“
Oh yes!” she squealed delightedly.

“
I would too.”

Felicity met the trio at the door, anxious to get Edith back and send Elliot on his way. As they approached she reached for Edith, “Come here darling, it’s time for you to take go lie down.”

Edith pulled back, clinging to Elliot, “I don’t want papa to go.”

Felicity looked flustered as she said, “I know sweetheart but I’m sure he’s got lots of things to occupy his time. Come quickly and be a good girl and I’ll sing you a lullaby.”

Edith reluctantly went to her mother but as she was switching arms she asked, “Can papa come help tuck me in?”

Felicity tried to hide her irritation from her daughter as she looked at Elliot, not the least bit concerned if he picked up on her foul mood. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said tersely.

Edith reached up and placed one hand on Felicity’s face, her bottom lip quivering. “But I don’t want him to go.”

The look Felicity gave Elliot made his heart feel like it had been pricked with ice but he decided to ignore it. Stepping forward he said to Edith, “I’ll come help tuck you in but you have to promise to be a good girl and go right to sleep.” She nodded earnestly and Felicity reluctantly led him inside and up to the nursery.

Elliot stayed back as he watched Felicity tuck Edith snuggly into bed, noticing how loving she was with their daughter. Though Felicity was clearly perturbed by his presence, she didn’t take her irritation out on Edith, instead showering her with love and adoration. It was clear to see how much she loved the child. Being a mother came so naturally to her, it was hard for him to remember that she was relatively new to motherhood.

After she placed a kiss to Edith’s forehead she turned to leave when Edith cried out, “Mama you can’t go, you didn’t sing my song.”

Felicity blushed at the reminder. She had hoped that Edith would forget about her promise to sing her a lullaby. “I’ll sing to you at bedtime tonight, you need to get to sleep.” Edith stuck her bottom lip out in a pout, frustrating Felicity.

Elliot watched the scene play out before him and he couldn’t resist siding with Edith and helping goad Felicity on. “You did promise her a song.”

Felicity shot him an icy look before turning back to the bed and sitting down on the edge, her back ramrod straight. She felt self-conscious singing to Edith with Elliot standing by. She used to love to sing and would perform quite often, but that was all a part of a different lifetime. The only person she had sung to in years was her daughter but she didn’t know how to refuse her. She ran her fingers through Edith’s soft curls as she sung her one of her favorite lullabies as she tried to ignore Elliot’s unwelcome presence.

Elliot had to admit to himself that his reasons for encouraging her to sing were purely selfish. He hadn’t heard her sing since before her disappearance and he was curious to see if her voice was as melodic as he remembered it. She was singing so softly he had to strain to hear her but though the words were childish nonsense, her voice was angelic. He watched her gently play with Edith’s hair as she sang and he knew he’d never witnessed a more beautiful sight than the one he was witnessing right now. A lump formed in his throat as he watched the two girls he loved and his heart ached. He wanted so badly to make them apart of his everyday life but he knew they deserved so much better than what he had to offer. He’d made the last multiple years of their lives unbearable and he couldn’t stand to see anymore of their lives ruined because of him.

When Felicity was done singing he walked over and gave Edith a kiss before him and Felicity retreated quietly from the room. They walked in silence down the stairs and to the front door before either of them spoke. Elliot was the one to break the silence. “I promised Edith I’d come visit tomorrow if that’s alright with you.”

Felicity heaved a long sigh, “I’m not sure that’s wise, she’s already getting too attached to you.”

“
I’m her father,” he pointed out.

“
Then do as you wish,” she mumbled before turning around and walking away without another word for the second time that day.

Saturday May 7
th
, 1814

Elliot showed up at Pierce’s townhouse to visit Edith later in the day, not wanting to interrupt her afternoon rest. When the butler let him in and showed him to the parlor he was relieved to see that Felicity was not around. Edith was sitting on the settee between Hope and Pierce entertaining them with her antics. When Edith noticed him walk in she slid off the settee and ran towards him. He lifted her up in his arms and smiled.

Turning to Pierce and Hope he said, “I can see you’re as taken with the child as I am.”

“
Yes,” Pierce said cautiously, “But we are just as taken with her mother.”

Elliot knew they were looking for a reaction so he purposely gave them none. Instead he turned his attention to Edith, “What would you like to do today poppet?”

“Play with my dollies.”

“
Really?” He asked her, hoping she wasn’t serious. She nodded her head yes as he lowered her to the ground. She grabbed his hand and immediately began pulling him out of the room. Pierce and Hope looked at each other with concern, neither of them wanting to broach the subject with Elliot but neither of them liking the situation he and Felicity were in.

Elliot let Edith chase him up the stairs towards the nursery, playfully pretending to just barely dodge her advances. She giggled in delight and the sound made him happy. The only time he seemed to feel any sort of happiness anymore was when he was with her.

Just as the two were about to approach the nursery they heard a door shut behind them. Both of them stopped and turned their heads and watched as Felicity came out of her room, pausing in her tracks at the sight of them. She was dressed in a royal blue silk dress with her hair elaborately coiffed on top of her head, a few stray tendrils loose around her face. She had applied some rouge to her cheeks and a tinted lip salve to her lips causing them to stand out even more against her pale skin. Elliot stood gaping at the vision she made as Edith ran over to her to give her a hug.

Felicity reached down and ruffled Edith’s hair playfully, “Oh I see your papa has come to visit. I told you he would come.” Then looking up at Elliot she said, “She was worried when I put her down for her nap that you had forgotten your promise.”

“I never forget my promises,” he said defensively.

“
Sure,” Felicity scoffed, “Unless they are made to me.”

Elliot stalked over to where she was standing, his body a mere couple of inches from hers, “What do you mean?”

“Not in front of Edith,” she warned.

Elliot squatted down next to Edith, “Darling why don’t you go set up your dolls in the nursery and I’ll join you right after I have a little talk with your mama.”

He was grateful when she didn’t argue but did as he said. As soon as she was out of hearing distance he turned to Felicity once more, “What promise have I broken?”

“
You promised you’d always take care of me but clearly that’s not your intent.”

“
I am taking care of you the best way I know how,” he said painfully, wishing she’d understand.

“
No, you’re taking care of you Elliot, you haven’t stopped to consider my needs.”

“
This isn’t about me,” he said incredulously, “This is about you and Edith, about protecting you from me.”

Felicity looked at him sadly. She didn’t have the strength to listen to his reasoning once more. “I’ve got to get going or I’m going to be late.”

Elliot looked at her as if she had sprouted two heads, “You’re not going anywhere dressed like that.”

“
Whatever do you mean? Of course I’m going somewhere; this isn’t a dress I’d wear just around the house.”

“
That isn’t a dress you should be wearing anywhere, especially not out in public,” he growled as he eyed her bare shoulders and the low neckline that in his opinion exposed too much of her décolletage. No matter how heartless he was, he was still a warm-blooded male and he knew what like minded men were sure to think of her in that dress, the thought making him furious.

“
I’m not some debutante Elliot, I’m known only in society as a widow and therefore I can wear whatever I wish. And I’ll have you know that this is one of the dresses I bought when you insisted that Hope take me shopping, I apologize for not thanking you for it earlier.”

That provoked him even further, “Where are you going?”

“To the Edward’s rout. I really must get going.” She turned on her heel to leave, aggravated beyond words that he couldn’t say anything nice to her about her new dress, instead choosing to be critical.

Elliot reached out in a panic and grabbed her bare shoulder, the contact making his hand feel as if it had been burned. “What do you want?” Felicity ground out between tightly clenched teeth.

“I want you to change before you go—not a single man in attendance will be able to take his eyes off of you.”

“
Good, that will help me achieve my purpose then.”

“
What do you mean?” he asked dumbfounded. Seeing her dressed so shockingly was making it so he couldn’t think clearly.

“
I’m going out as Lady Davenport, I need to find myself a husband and the sooner the better.”

“
You can’t be serious,” he stuttered.

“
In fact I am. You honestly don’t expect me to sit around and take advantage of the duke’s kindness and generosity indefinitely do you? I can’t stay here forever and do that to him and Hope. I appreciate all they’ve done for Edith and me but it’s time I start making plans to move on. Since you don’t want anything to do with me I’ve decided to go back to my original plan.”

“
There’s got to be a better idea,” he stammered, afraid he was losing the argument and that she really would go out in that dress.

“
Oh really? What do you propose I do, put my life on hold to become a governess instead? Or how about I go find a pub to work in? I’m sure Aunt Agatha won’t mind raising Edith so I can provide an income for our family. Is that what you would have me do?”

The thought of Felicity doing common work and laboring to take care of their daughter made him cringe. He shook his head no while she continued, “I didn’t think so. You were the one who thought it was best if you weren’t in my life, so kindly stay out of it. I’m a grown woman who can make decisions for myself.” Felicity grabbed her skirts in her hands and turned to leave. Looking back over one shoulder she called, “Now excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

“Felicity stop,” he called out but when she didn’t slow he added, “Please.”

Felicity finally halted but she didn’t turn around and face him. “What?” she asked coldly.

“Let me take care of you. I’ll put you up in one of my houses and provide you with an income so that you’ll never have to worry about anything ever again.”

She turned to him then, her eyes flashing with anger. “And then what Elliot? Am I supposed to be satisfied living off of your generosity for the rest of my life, like some kept mistress?”

“You would not be my mistress!” he exclaimed, appalled by her outlook.

“
You’re right, I wouldn’t even have that much of you. I’ve never wanted your money Elliot, I’ve always just wanted your love, wanted to share your life but let me remind you that you were the one who made it perfectly clear that was no longer a possibility. You were the one who put us in this position Elliot, not me so I’m sorry if you don’t like the fact that I am moving on with my life or if you don’t like my decisions, but you do not have a say in what I do with my future.”

“
Well what about Edith?” he asked, grasping hopelessly for something he could control, “Don’t I have a say in her future?”

“
Absolutely not,” she said sharply. “You forget that you have no legal claim to her, none, so don’t bring her into this.”

Elliot looked at her speechless. She had a point; he had no legal claim to his daughter and therefore no say in her future. He watched Felicity turn and flee knowing he could never convince her to abandon her plan now.

He was in a foul mood when he entered the nursery, the sight of Edith and her sweet smile didn’t even seem to cheer him up. He had to force himself to go through the motions of playing dolls with her while his heart and mind were not in it. He had the sinking feeling that he had ruined his life beyond repair and he didn’t like the despair that thought brought with it.

He finished playing with Edith then declined Hope’s invitation to stay for supper, just wanting to get home and be alone with his thoughts and a bottle of brandy. Hope nudged Pierce in the ribs as Elliot was about to leave. Pierce stepped forward and cleared his throat, “Elliot, why don’t we head over to White’s? It’s been ages since we’ve shown our faces there.”

“Maybe another time,” he replied half heartedly as he walked out the door.

Pierce looked over his shoulder at Hope and shrugged. She indicated for him to follow Elliot out to which he obliged. He followed him down the walk to his carriage, both of them stopping before he got in.

“Elliot I don’t know why you’re doing this, you’re making Felicity and yourself absolutely miserable.”

“
You wouldn’t understand. You sit in your perfect house with your beautiful wife and a child on the way who will legally belong to you; you couldn’t possibly understand what I’m going through. I’m doing Felicity a favor.”

“
You’re an idiot.”

Elliot’s head whipped up. Pierce had never spoken so brashly to him, though at times he was sure he had wanted to. “Pardon?”

“If you think for one second that you’re doing Felicity and your child any favors than you’re an idiot, and you’re not doing yourself one either.”

“
I’ve caused her so much hurt, I’ve caused everybody so much hurt. How could she ever forgive me?”

“
Have you asked her to forgive you?”

He nodded, “She said she already did, but I don’t know if that’s true.”

“Elliot, she doesn’t need to forgive you, she already has. You need to forgive yourself. Stop torturing her that way, she doesn’t deserve it. If you’re not careful she’ll find somebody who does deserve her and she’ll learn how to be happy again while you remain forever in your misery. Now go home and think about that for awhile.” Pierce pulled the carriage door open indicating he was done with the conversation. As soon as Elliot stepped up into the carriage and seated himself Pierce slammed the door shut and turned and walked silently back to his house.