Lady Vixen (40 page)

Gruffly,
concealing his deeper emotions, Simon commanded, "Sit down! Sit down!
Don't just stand there towering over me!" He walked to a liquor cabinet in
one corner and poured generous portions of fine French brandy into crystal
snifters. Handing one to Christopher and seating himself, Simon demanded
bluntly, "Well, now, you young jackanapes, tell me why you ran off like
that. You must have known I'd get over my anger! Damn me, boy! If you could
have waited, I would have explained matters to you."

Startled,
Christopher stared blankly at him. "Explained matters?"

"Of
course! Damnit, Christopher, what was I to do but go along with Adrian Ashford?
There was Annabelle weeping all over us, swearing you had raped her. Adrian was
ripe for murder, and I simply had to act as I did." There was a note of
entreaty in the older man's voice. "I know I was harsh on you and you
didn't deserve it." He paused as he intercepted Christopher's stunned
look. "I had to say what I did to you—I couldn't very well tell Adrian
that his wife was a liar and a spread-legged little slut, and that it was my
son who was her lover, rather than my
grandson!"

Speechless,
Christopher stared. At last he rasped, "You knew?"

"Of
course I knew! Oh, not that they planned to use you as a scapegoat. But I had
been aware for some time that Robert had an alliance with Annabelle, and I knew
that she was playing up to your calf love. I never suspected, though, that they
intended to cuckold Adrian into believing that you were the man!"
Regretfully, he added, "I certainly never suspected that you were to take
the blame. I'll be honest... I
was
furious that day, with you for being
such a romantic young fool, with Annabelle and Robert for creating the
situation, and with myself for not having nipped their little plan in the
bud." His eyes fixed with painful intensity on Christopher, he asked softly,
"Was it so necessary for you to disappear like that? You must have
realized that I would never have condemned you like that without first hearing
your side—your side alone and in private. Why did you never in these past
fifteen years let me know where you were? Didn't you think that I would care?
Could you not know I would be half mad with fear?"

It
was the most awkward moment of Christopher's life; he was completely unable to
justify himself. It was obvious that Simon had no inkling that Robert had
literally almost sold him into slavery. Nor, it appeared, did his grandfather
have any knowledge of his own attempt five years ago to reconcile the
differences between them. As much as he hated and despised his uncle, he could
not betray him to Simon. It simply was not in him to return like this to vilify
Simon's only living son. Knowing the truth would nearly destroy the old man
before him, Christopher made a grim decision—what was between him and Robert
would remain private. Looking steadily into his grandfather's eyes, a rueful
smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, he lied, "I'm afraid, sir, that
I took you at your word when you said you never wanted to see me again."

Simon's
face twisted with pain, and Christopher cursed his clumsy tongue. Earnestly he
pleaded, "I beg you, sir, do not be distressed. It was my own folly that
caused the entire situation, and I was in the devil's own temper when I left
you. No one could have prevented me from doing what I did that day—even if you
had called me back an instant later, I would not have heeded you. Don't blame
yourself." Seeing some of the anguish fade from the lined face,
Christopher continued on a lighter note, "It was for the best, you know. I
did as many another young man and offered my services to the Navy. I must say
that I have done rather well by my decision too—even if I have lived somewhat
precariously at times."

"The
Navy,
hey?" Simon snapped, as his eyes searched Christopher's face.

Disliking
himself intensely, Christopher answered blandly, "Why, yes. After I flung
out of the house, I stormed into that little village beyond Beddington's
Corner. And I happened to meet with several sailors on leave. Their life
sounded so exciting that before I knew it, I had asked to join." Firmly he
added, "And I have never regretted it, sir, except for the fact that I
departed from you with such bitterness."

Simon
waved aside the attempted apology. "Enough! It is behind us and you are
home again. A good thing, too," he growled, "You're my heir, don't
forget. When I die, the title is yours and all that goes with it."

Once
again the thought occurred to Christopher that Robert may have had another more
sinister motive in wishing for his disappearance and death. The entailed Saxon
fortune was extremely large and not to be dismissed lightly. The title Baron of
Saxony was an old and respected one, one that any man would be proud to hold...
but would Robert kill for it?

Christopher's
expression gave no clue to his thoughts. He swiftly said, "I am too soon
returned for us to talk of your death. I trust that it will be many years
before I become Lord Saxon."

Simon
snorted, "Ha! Little you care, I could have died anytime these past years
and you would have never known it! At least I can acquit you of being unduly
interested in the state of my health!"

Christopher
merely grinned, knowing that Simon tended to hide what he really felt behind a
crusty, sometimes rude, exterior. Simon would never have let Christopher know
the extent of his emotions at the reappearance of his eldest grandchild. The
nearest he could come were those half-apologetic statements concerning the
events that had led to Christopher's departure and those reproachful questions
about Christopher's whereabouts during the past years.

Seeing
Christopher's grin, Simon snapped, "If you're going to come back and just
sit there grinning like some half-wit at a fair, well, I would just as soon you
take yourself off again!"

An
uncontrollable crack of laughter greeted his words, and after an affronted
second a reluctant smile curved Simon's lips. "Now stop that, you young
devil, and tell me all!"

Some
of Christopher's amusement vanished, and rather hesitantly, taking care to
stick to the truth when possible, he regaled his grandfather with his
adventures. It was difficult in some places, especially trying to explain why,
after eagerly joining the Navy, he had jumped ship and never returned to
England.

Simon
obviously disapproved of the fact that Christopher had abandoned a naval career
so easily. And Christopher, without implicating Robert, was powerless to excuse
his actions. So he merely shrugged his broad shoulders and said, "I had
served my time and in the process discovered that a British seaman's life was
not for me."

"And
of course you never thought that I could have seen to it that you became an
officer!" Simon retorted bitterly, "Damn it, Christopher! If you had
written, just one word, I would have seen that you were properly placed. I tell
you, it goes against the grain to think of a grandson of mine, my heir, as a mere
seaman, when by now you could be a captain or even higher! A Saxon, the future
Baron of Saxony, a lowly sailor! Disgraceful!"

Idly,
Christopher wondered how the old man would take the knowledge that not only had
he been a lowly sailor, but a pirate as well! In the ensuing hours he cleverly
wove a tale of ships and the sea, of winning a fortune in New Orleans, and of
his desire to return home. Of his privateering, he passed over lightly, leaving
the impression that the bulk of his wealth and land had come on the turn of the
card—which in fact, a goodly portion had. And as fortunes passed thus every
night in the exclusive gaming clubs to be found in Pall Mall, there was no
shame attached to this.

When
he finished his story, Simon stared levelly at him for several unnerving
seconds, and Christopher wondered how much of his tale his grandfather really
believed.

Actually,
the only part that Simon felt was positively true was the portion dealing with
the fortune won at cards; the rest, while telling himself it could be true, he
reserved judgment on, for despite a gap of fifteen years, Simon detected an
element of falseness in Christopher's account. But Simon was shrewd and kept
his thoughts to himself, merely saying, "At least you've had the sense to
come back home where you belong."

It
was on the tip of Christopher's tongue to point out that he was here only for a
visit and that his home was now the plantation house in Louisiana. But it was
unthinkable to say such a thing. He would have to wait, and trust that in time
he could bring his grandfather to realize that he could not step back into his
old life. Thankfully Simon said no more on that subject but turned to one just
as delicate.

"Now,"
Simon commanded, "I noticed you made no mention of your wife. Why?"

Smiling
disarmingly, Christopher murmured, "Because I have no wife, sir. I must
explain my circumstances to you more fully."

"Well,
get on with it—don't dawdle!"

So
Christopher began to speak of the coincidental meeting with Mrs. Eggleston and
Nicole Ashford, but he had barely mentioned Mrs. Eggleston's name when he
noticed a peculiar expression on Simon's face.

"Letitia
Eggleston?" Simon demanded impatiently. "Letty, you know where she
is?"

Surprised,
Christopher blurted out, "Letty? You mean Mrs. Eggleston?"

"Damnit,
of course I do! I never called her anything but Letty in my life! And if she
hadn't been such a hot-tempered article that wouldn't listen to reason—"
Simon broke off in mid-stride to glare at his mystified grandson. "Don't
you be fooled by that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth air she affects! But if
she hadn't been the most stubborn woman alive and if I hadn't been such an
arrogant, hot-tempered young fool, she would have been your grandmother!"

Staring
dazedly at his grandfather, Christopher was thunderstruck at the notion that
proper, sweet Mrs. Eggleston could have ever been called hot-tempered and that
his fractious grandfather had once contemplated marrying her. He swallowed and
asked faintly, "You were engaged to her?"

"Yes.
Damnit, haven't I just said so! But we had a god-awful row about something, and
like a jingle-brained weanling, I took off in a pelter, vowing I would never
see her again. Two weeks later, out of sheer spite, I offered for your
grandmother. That, my boy, was the biggest mistake of my life!"

Fascinated
by this unknown piece of family history, Christopher prompted, "And?"

Simon
moved uncomfortably. "I never loved your grandmother, I'll not deny it,
but people of our station seldom marry for love and I was good to her. But
Letty was always the only woman for me." Angrily he muttered, "I
could have throttled her, though, the day she married that court-cad
Eggleston!"

Bitterly,
Simon stared at the untouched brandy snifter in his hand. "Don't you make
the same mistake, boy! I've had to suffer because of my actions and probably
caused a few other people to suffer along with me!"

Christopher
wisely remained silent. Simon, belately aware that he had unburdened himself to
an abnormal degree, shot his silent grandson a chilling look, as if daring him
to comment, and growled, "I dare say, this is all very boring to you, and
truth to tell, it is! Now, tell me how you come to have Letty traveling with
you."

Christopher
passed on the story that he had concocted to explain just that situation. Simon
heard him out in silence; not even Nicole Ashford's presence seemed to
disconcert him.

"So,
the chit's been with Letty all this time," Simon muttered at the end of
Christopher's story. "I wondered about that myself. Knew Letty was fond of
the child and knew that aunt and uncle of hers were a pair of Newgate birds,
the first and only time I met them! Now what's to do?" He peered at
Christopher's deliberately bland face and snorted, "Want me to take 'em
in, hey?"

"If
you will," Christopher replied promptly and truthfully. "It is not
proper for me to continue to withhold Nicole's whereabouts from her guardians.
And I know the instant they are notified, they will descend like locusts and no
doubt incarcerate her in the country. Certainly they will not allow Mrs. Eggleston
to accompany her."

"No
doubt. I can tell you this, m'boy—they're going to kick up a devil of a dust!
They've been living for years on her fortune, everyone knows it. Even tried to
have the gel declared dead last fall. But the courts denied it, said they'd
have to wait until what would have been her majority, her twenty-first
birthday, before making that decision. The uncle didn't like it, but the young
cub, Edward was furious about it!" Simon gave a malicious chuckle.
"Like to see
his
face when he finds out the chit's back!"

Somewhat
grimly, Christopher smiled. "He'll find that he has me to answer to, if he
has any comments to make about it."

Oh,
ho,
Simon
thought with glee, sits the wind in that quarter. His eyes suddenly gleaming,
Simon said, "It's too late this evening to bring the ladies, but first
thing tomorrow I expect you three to be here."

By
God, Simon thought to himself after Christopher departed, but this was going to
be most enjoyable. Christopher home, Letty with him, and the battle for the
little Ashford gel for some spice. Gleefully he decided that outfoxing the
Markhams would provide him with more amusement than he had experienced in
years!