More than Passion (29 page)

* * * *

The next morning, after Becca shared a tearful farewell with her newfound parents and a promise to visit again before too much timed passed, she and Geoffrey returned to Kanewood. She’d also repeated her promise to speak to Thomas, despite her mother’s obvious worry. No matter. She would see to the matter of her father’s innocence. She wanted her baby to have the opportunity to know its grandparents, and if they weren’t permitted to visit England that would be most difficult.

Geoffrey opened the front door that evening, surprising the butler.

“My lord!” he exclaimed. “My lady, welcome home.”

Geoffrey nodded at the servant and led Becca to the parlor. “My mother will be so pleased I found you, love.”

They entered the parlor, finding Lady Margaret there as anticipated.

She came to her feet when she saw them in the doorway. “Geoffrey!”

Geoffrey grinned. “I found her, Mother.”

Lady Margaret hurried over to where they stood and embraced Becca warmly. “Rebecca, my dear. It’s so good to have you home.”

“It’s wonderful to be home, Lady Margaret. How is Ann? I’ve missed her so.”

“She’s very well, dear. And missing her Aunt Rebecca, as well.” She glanced at the clock on the mantel. “She’ll be napping right now.” The older woman pulled Becca toward the settee and sat beside her. “In the meanwhile, tell me all about your adventure.”

Geoffrey watched for a moment, a smile on his face. Suddenly, Lady Margaret looked up at him.

“Geoffrey, Lords Chester and Leed came for you yesterday.”

“They’re here?” he asked.

“Kane,” Chester drawled from the doorway. “High time you showed up.”

Geoffrey turned to face his friend. “What is this about?”

“We need to speak with you, Kane,” Leed added.

Geoffrey looked from one man to the other. He glanced at Becca then, seeing the confusion on her face.

He crossed to her, leaning down to grasp her hand. “I’ll tell you everything later, love. I promise.”

She nodded. “I know you will.”

He kissed her and strode from the room, bound for his study. His friends followed him in, Chester closing the door.

“What is it?” Geoffrey asked without preamble. “Only an urgent matter would bring you both here to Kanewood in such haste.”

“Kane, we know for certain who has been passing the notes in your stead,” Chester said.

“Who?”

“He was pretending to be you, Kane.” Leed paused a beat. “And doing a fine job of it.”

Geoffrey blinked in confusion.

“He looks very much like you, save for the gray eyes,” Chester said.

The awful truth settled on Geoffrey. He closed his eyes and slumped against the desk. “God, no,” he breathed.

“It checks out, Kane,” Leed went on. “We compared the notes with John’s handwriting, and—”

“I’ll kill the bastard,” Geoffrey said.

His friends let him vent his spleen. Geoffrey paced the room and muttered expletives under his breath, calling John every vile name he’d ever heard. When he’d finally calmed, Leed informed him about the latest development.

“John has left Kanewood,” he said. “Supposedly headed for London.”

“Yes.” Geoffrey scratched his chin. “Patricia mentioned it before I left for Scotland.”

“I don’t like not knowing where he is,” Leed went on.

Geoffrey nodded, finally taking a seat behind his desk. He raked his fingers through his hair, a low groan escaping him. “My own brother.” He shook his head. “I can hardly believe it.”

“We believe he was involved in the carriage accident,” Chester added.

“But why? Could money be that important to him? My God, he nearly killed Rebecca!”

Chester had no ready answer for his friend. “We need to question Patricia.”

“Patricia,” Geoffrey said with a sneer. “That, that ….”

“Careful, friend,” Leed said.

“Leed, she tried to seduce me.”

“What?” Chester asked.

Geoffrey nodded. “It’s true. The night before I left for Scotland. I nearly strangled her with my bare hands.”

Leed let out a whistle. “We still need to speak to her.”

“I know,” Geoffrey said.

* * * *

“Rebecca, I was very worried about you,” Geoffrey heard his mother say from inside the parlor. “When you disappeared that day, I didn’t know what to think.”

“I’m so sorry about that, Lady Margaret,” Becca said. “I was very upset and not thinking clearly.”

“What had you so upset, dear?”

Becca opened her mouth to answer, but Geoffrey entered the parlor. He pulled her to her feet and kissed her, effectively silencing her. He placed his lips near her ear and whispered to her.

“Why don’t we share our news at dinner, love?” He pulled back and winked.

“Geoffrey, what’s going on?” Lady Margaret asked.

“Later, Mother,” he said with a big grin. “We’ll tell you at dinner.”

She snorted at that, prompting a laugh from her son. He took Becca upstairs to ready themselves for tea. When they were alone in their chamber, Geoffrey told her of Leed and Chester’s discoveries.

“How could John do such terrible deeds?” she asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Geoffrey, I have to tell you about John’s behavior in London.” She went on about his actions, his hateful words, and Geoffrey’s disgust toward his brother grew tenfold.

“He told me you didn’t love me.”

“I love you, Becca. I have for so very long.” He hugged her tightly to him. “I wonder if I ever even knew my brother.”

Later on, in the parlor over tea, Becca told all present about the McClair holding and the discovery she made there. Lords Chester and Leed were fascinated with Becca’s tale.

“Your mother, Rebecca?” Chester asked, incredulous.

“Yes, Lord Chester.” She nodded. “I could hardly believe it myself, but there was no denying it.”

“That’s right,” Geoffrey intoned. “Lady Charlotte looks very much like my beautiful wife,” he added, placing a kiss on her temple.

Becca blushed slightly, lowering her lashes. Patricia sighed irritably and Geoffrey turned to favor her with a scathing look.

She placed her empty cup aside and stood. “I have matters to attend to,” she said haughtily. “If you will all excuse me.”

Leed came to his feet. “Patricia, we would like a word with you.”

She looked at the viscount in surprise. “With me? Whatever for?”

“Indulge us,” Chester said.

Patricia looked from one to the other, finally nodding. The gentlemen led her into the study. Leaving his wife in his mother’s hands, Geoffrey left to join them. He’d find out everything that the miserable harpy knew.

Patricia walked into the room, her head held high. She sat in the chair facing Geoffrey’s desk and folded her hands in her lap. “I can’t imagine what this is about, Lord Leed.”

When Leed didn’t provide a speedy answer to her statement, she turned to Chester. “Lord Chester?”

“I’ll ask the questions, Patricia,” Geoffrey said.

Patricia stiffened, turning toward Geoffrey. She watched him warily as he crossed the room and sat behind the desk.   

“Where’s John?” Geoffrey asked.

“I told you, Kane. He went to London on business.”

“What business would that be?” Leed cut in.

“I—” she stammered. “I don’t know.”

“Let me understand this.” Geoffrey tented his fingers beneath his chin. “John has no business that I’m aware of. He’s never worked a day in his life. Are you saying you don’t know what your husband is about?”

Patricia’s eyes narrowed. “Does Rebecca know every step you take, Kane?”

“She does now,” he said.

“Are you certain John’s in London?” Chester asked.

Patricia turned to the gentleman sitting so close to her and looked him directly in the eye. “Lord Chester, I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but John told me he was bound for London. I believe him.”

Chester studied her for a moment then sat back. “I believe you.” He looked to Leed who nodded almost imperceptibly.

“Patricia,” Leed began deliberately. “When you were in London last, did John do a bit of gambling?”

She blinked. “He went to White’s a few times. Why?”

Geoffrey took a breath and entered the exchange. “What do you know about the notes?”

She looked away. “Notes?”

“We know about the notes, Patricia,” Leed said. “We would like to know the extent of your involvement.”

Patricia’s cool facade slipped. “I told the fool that he’d get caught.”

Geoffrey stood. “You’ve known about this all along?”

She’d slipped right into their trap and realized her error too late. She looked down in her lap, running her fingers over the pleats of her tea gown. “Your brother has a fondness for the gaming tables, Kane. I thought you knew that.”

“But why pass notes in my name?”

“Who else’s?” she asked with a shrug. “The money your father left him as a stipend was meager at best.”

“My father provided amply for John, Patricia,” Geoffrey insisted. “How can you say such a thing?”

“It isn’t enough!” she cried.

Geoffrey felt his control slipping. “Enough for what?”

She pursed her lips in answer. Tamping down his ire, he looked to Chester to continue.

“What do you know of the carriage accident?” Chester asked.

She began to wring her hands, her gaze darting about the room.

Leed fixed a steely gaze on her, pinning her to the spot. “What do you know, Patricia?” he said in a low voice.

Geoffrey watched her closely.

“The wheel wasn’t meant to keep you from London for long,” she said. “Just long enough that John and I could have use of your townhouse.” She waved a hand. “To entertain.”

“The wheel?” Leed looked at Geoffrey in confusion.

Realization dawned on Geoffrey, however. “But I made it to London. The accident happened on my way back to Kanewood.”

“I know that,” she snapped.

Geoffrey placed his hands on the desk to lean closer to his sister-in-law. “Patricia, you tampered with my carriage?”

“Yes,” she said sharply. “But if I knew you would make it to London anyway and spoil our fun, I wouldn’t have bothered making the arrangements. Or that you would meet that trollop on your trip home—”

“Don’t speak of Rebecca that way, you grasping bitch,” Geoffrey bit out.

Patricia flinched, sinking back into the chair.

“Patricia, what of the other accident?” Chester asked.

She blinked at him, true befuddlement on her face. “What other accident?”

“Rebecca and I were nearly run down, Patricia,” Geoffrey said, his voice rumbling deep in his throat. “What do you know of it?”

“I know nothing of it, Kane,” she insisted.

Geoffrey stared at her for a long minute. He realized she was telling the truth—if John was romancing Lady Brookdale in secret, he surely wouldn’t have told Patricia whose carriage was involved. Perhaps she didn’t know anything of the runaway carriage. Another decision struck him, one from which he wouldn’t be swayed.

“You’re no longer welcome at Kanewood,” Geoffrey stated. “You’re to make other arrangements.”

“You can’t do that to me!” She came to her feet. “I could have been Lady Kanewood if that bitch hadn’t come back. And now that she carries your heir—”

“That’s enough!”

Patricia turned on her heel and ran from the room.

Geoffrey cursed softly. “Will this never be over?”

“Kane,” Chester said softly, “she didn’t mean to hurt Rebecca. We know that now.”

Geoffrey stared at his friend, weighing his words. Finally, he nodded curtly. Leed gave a short laugh.

“What can you possibly find funny, Leed?” Geoffrey asked.

“If it wasn’t for Patricia, you never would have met Rebecca,” Leed said.

Slowly, Geoffrey smiled.

“Did I hear Patricia correctly, Kane?” Chester asked. “Rebecca’s expecting?”

Geoffrey nodded, straightening his shoulders. His friends slapped him soundly on the back, offering their congratulations.

* * * *

That evening, Becca and Geoffrey told Lady Margaret their wonderful news. She was delighted, and told them as much. Lords Leed and Chester offered Becca their heartfelt congratulations, which she accepted with a shy smile. Geoffrey wasn’t the only one pleased to notice that Patricia took her meal in her room, leaving the conversation quite easy and pleasant.

Declining an after-dinner drink with his friends, Geoffrey accompanied his wife upstairs to their chamber. The moment the door was closed, Geoffrey assisted her out of her dress and into her nightgown. He stripped and stretched out on the bed, pulling her down beside him. He gently pushed her head down on his shoulder. She began to sit up, but her husband was having none of it.

“Go to sleep, Becca.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“You need your rest, wife,” he said in mock-severity.

She leaned up and looked at him through her lashes. “I need you, husband.”

He sharply drew in a breath, pleased with her statement. He proceeded to show her just how pleased he could make her.

Afterward, she cuddled up against his side. “Did Patricia know of the notes?”

He hesitated. “Yes.”

“And of the carriage?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“No, love.” He stroked her back. “I don’t believe so.”

She yawned, making him nearly regret keeping her awake. He kissed the top of her head. “Go to sleep,” he said again.

“I’m not sleepy,” she mumbled just before drifting off to sleep.

Geoffrey smiled to himself. He held her close as he let his mind work. Where was John? Was he truly in London? He’d talk with Chester and Leed in the morning. They’d find the scoundrel.

And Geoffrey would make him pay.

Chapter 29

Directly after breakfast, the gentlemen adjourned once more to Geoffrey’s study.

Lady Margaret watched them leave, puzzlement on her face. “Rebecca, dear, what is it that has them so busy?”

Rebecca didn’t wish to worry the woman, so she chose her words carefully. “Geoffrey has been having a bit of trouble of late, and his friends are helping him.”

“Dear, you know more of this than you’re telling.”