Promise Me (24 page)

“
Then let me offer my congratulations, Annie.”

“
On what?”

“
On your success at taming a viscount.”

“
Pay him no mind, my dear,” Lady Chase advised. “Wisdom is gained through experience, and it seems Nicolas is short on both. On my wedding day, my father pulled me aside and whispered these words in my ear. ‘Margaret, marriage is like a delicate rose. It looks and smells glorious when it’s in full bloom but if you neglect to feed the root, the flower will eventually die.’”

“
Excellent advice,” Irma said.

“
What of your mother, Lady Chase?” Miss Sheridan inquired. “Did she offer any words of wisdom?”

“
She did indeed. ‘Margaret,’ she said, ‘if a marriage brings contentment to the heart as well as the mind, then that, my beloved daughter, is a marriage indeed.’”

“
How lovely,” Lady Ashburn commented.

“
I take it she approved of Grandfather?”

“
Heavens, no, Nicolas. Not at first. But that’s another story.”

“
I enjoyed your grandfather’s company, Chase,” the earl remarked. “Bart always spoke his mind.”

“
He certainly did,” Irma said. “He never indulged in hypocrisy, like the gentry nowadays, and he had little use for dandies.”

“
Or manservants,” the duke stated. “Grandfather never permitted my brother or me that one simple luxury because he didn’t see the need for one himself.”

“
What good is a gentleman if he cannot dress himself?” Lord Greyson stated with a chuckle. “Yes, that was Bartholomew.”

“
My beloved husband had his faults, to be sure, but what man doesn’t? Still, given the opportunity, I would not have changed one thing about him.”

“
The evening Lord Westwood asked for my hand,” Irma said, “he read me a tender poem. Something about the heart, but I cannot recall how it began.”

“
The heart does not choose to love,” Leah Sheridan offered softly. “Love chooses the heart.”

“
Yes, that’s the one.”

“
It was my mother’s favorite.”

“
Then you agree with the final verse, my dear?” Irma asked. “You believe that either loves comes to an understanding, or it agrees to part?”

“
If love is true, my lady, it will never part. My mother believed that. She said that no matter who or what stood in its way, love would always prevail.”

“
Lady Greyson was like a second mother to me,” Anne Ashburn said fondly. “On my thirteenth birthday, she gave me two books. One on poetry and the other etiquette.”

“
Although her ladyship spared my brother and me from reciting meaningless poetry,” the duke offered, “she made sure we mastered our good manners.”

“
You and Lord Adrian must’ve made quite an impression on the
ton
,” Irma commented.

“
I’m sorry to disappoint you, madam, but pleasing the
ton
was never a priority for me or my brother.”

Irma sipped her sherry and set the glass aside. “Lord Greyson, tell me about this Bal Masque you’re hosting next week. I’ve been told to dress in historical costume.”

“
History was a particular favorite of Olivia’s. She hosted her first Bal Masque the year we wed, and it became an immediate success. After her death, I decided to keep up the tradition as a way of honoring her memory.”

“
It’s the event of the season in Kent,” Margaret Chase stated.

“
You know, Lord Greyson,” Lady Ashburn said, “I cannot recall one Bal Masque that did not end without the announcement of a betrothal. I wonder who it will be this year?”

The duke and Miss Sheridan exchanged a brief glance.

Irma smiled. Greyson’s daughter was the match for this particular fuse. She just didn’t know it.

###

Nicolas couldn’t get over the fact that Lady Westwood was Irma Crandle. All during dinner she had attempted to provoke him, but he’d tactfully dodged her well-aimed barbs. He didn’t trust her or her noble alias nor did he trust Trinity O’Connell. The man didn’t even attempt to hide his fascination with Leah Sheridan.

After Katrina and Rebecca took turns displaying their skill at the pianoforte, he caught Miss Crandle’s attention. “I wonder, my lady, would you care to take a turn about our gardens?”

“
Of course,” she replied without hesitation.

Nicolas excused himself to the other guests. Once outside, they walked down the narrow path in silence, and he halted near the fountain. “Miss Crandle--”

“
If you don’t mind, your Grace, I prefer Lady Westwood. I apologize if this side of my identity surprised you.”

“
Stunned is a more appropriate word.” He glanced around. They were a good distance from the manor, but still he hesitated.

“
I may be a rebellious old woman, Chase, but I’ve never been naïve. I suspect you brought me out here to discuss a matter of importance, but you don’t trust me, and you’re unsure how much to reveal. Well, I’ll put your mind at ease. Irma Crandle has resigned her position as the
Standard’s
gossipmonger.”

“
Found morality along the way, did she, madam?”

“
No. An old friend.”

“
Have you notified the editor?”

“
Since I own the paper, Mister Turnbull has no say in the matter.”

“
I see. Does my grandmother know?”

“
About me and Irma?” She sat down on a stone bench. “No, but my hesitation has more to do with discretion than dishonesty, as I wouldn’t care to disappoint my dear friend.”

“
At least on that, we agree.”

“
What about Miss Sheridan?”

“
She doesn’t know, and I don’t intend to tell her. Speaking of...” Nicolas sat on the fountain’s wide ledge. “I take it you received my note?”

Lady Westwood nodded. “I knew that Spanish chit wasn’t as innocent as she claimed.”

“
Innocent? Hardly. Only now she’s taken her devious game a step further.”

“
What’s she done?”

“
Gone from mistress to blackmailer.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What’s she got on you?”

“
Not me. Miss Sheridan.”

Her scowl lessened to a degree. “Go on.”

“
Maria Santiago is her name, and she wants half of Drake Shipping. My brother’s half. Or she’ll reclaim Edwin and have Greyson’s daughter arrested.”

“
On what charge?”

“
Abduction.”

“
She stole the boy?”

“
No. He was clearly abandoned.”

“
Forgive me, but that’s Miss Sheridan story.”

“
Lady Ashburn can bear witness, but I’d rather leave her out of this. Miss Santiago claims to be well connected to certain high-ranking officials. If I do not go along with her demands, she made it clear Miss Sheridan would be arrested, and my cousin could possibly be named as her accomplice.”

“
Then I’d not force her hand. Does Margaret know?”

“
No. It would only upset her.”

“
I agree.” Her gaze slid to the water trickling from the fountain. “So you’ve decided to give up a portion of your wealth in exchange for Miss Sheridan’s freedom?”

“
Since she is innocent...yes. And half my fortune, or even all of it, is a small price to pay in exchange for my nephew’s future.”

“
You’re more decent than I expected, Chase. Bartholomew would be proud.” Her silence lasted several moments. “Has it occurred to you the reason that harlot wants half and not all of your shipping company is because she intends to use your name to her advantage?”

“
If you mean for smuggling various contraband, it crossed my mind.”

“
No one would dare question the ethics of Bartholomew’s grandson.” She rose from the bench. “You cannot allow this. That detestable woman will ruin your business along with your grandfather’s good name. You should speak to the proper authorities.”

Nicolas stood. “I know not who to trust.” He paced in front of the fountain. “I cannot afford for my accusations to fall upon the wrong ears, and if Miss Santiago changes her mind...” He wouldn’t think about that. “There’s something else.”

“
Good lord, there’s more?”

“
I’ve asked Miss Sheridan to be my fiancée.”

Her eyes betrayed guarded amusement. “Well, that didn’t take long.”

“
It’s not what you think. Our betrothal is more of an agreement that will last a few weeks.”

“
You’re hoping the girl will improve your chances of adopting young Edwin, are you not?”

“
Exactly.”

Lady Westwood grunted. “A woman does not enjoy taking second place in any race. You’d do well to learn that lesson early and often. Lord Greyson voiced no objections?”

“
Not as many as I had expected.”

“
Odd. And Miss Sheridan agreed to this charade?”

Nicolas nodded.

“
Another surprise, for your views on the subject of marriage are, shall we say, rather opinionated. A fact that was quite evident this evening at dinner.”

“
I said nothing against marriage.”

“
You said nothing to promote it either. But perhaps your blunt remarks have caused Miss Sheridan to change her mind.”

Nicolas’ jaw twitched. “Still trying to stir up a bit of trouble, are we, Irma?”

Her ladyship chuckled. “Oh, I’m just engaging in a bit of sport. Miss Sheridan is a likeable young woman, something I hadn’t expected, but I fail to understand her.”

“
How do you mean?”

“
A lady of quality discovers her fiancé has betrayed her, yet she goes out of her way to take care of the gentleman’s illegitimate child? That sort of generosity is uncommon for the gentry.”

“
Uncommon? Yes, that’s Miss Sheridan. Edwin adores her.”

Amusement danced in her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure he does.”

Nicolas rubbed the back of his neck. “This betrothal is strange, to say the least, but it will be announced the usual way with the reading of the bans. All of Kent will know before long, because it will also be announced at the Bal Masque. That said, Lady Westwood, I’d like no mention of it in the
Standard
. For Miss Sheridan’s sake.”

“
I’m out of the business, remember?” She edged closer to the fountain. “I know that harlot…that Santiago woman. She owns the Boar’s Head in Cambridge Town.”

“
That explains how she snared my brother.”

“
Him and all the rest. That’s her game. Get ‘em soused and overly eager to loosen their tongues.”

Footsteps sounded on the path behind him, and Nicolas spun around.

O’Connell hurried toward them. “Pardon the intrusion, your Grace, but Lady Chase sent me to fetch you.”

“
Is something wrong?”

“
Yeah, there’s two rowdy fellows named Maxwell and Barnabas waiting for you, and the situation is getting out of hand.”

Chapter Sixteen

Leah smiled as Maxwell and Barnabas vied for Edwin’s attention. The two brown and white speckled beagles eagerly licked the child’s face and eventually ganged up on Edwin, knocking him backward.

Katrina kept his head from smacking the hard floor, and he quickly recovered by chasing after the pups. She turned to her father. “How old are they?”

“
Well, I’m no expert, but my guess would be around four months.”

“
How big will they get, Lord Greyson?”

“
That’s a good question, Rebecca. Judging by their paws, I’d say about twice the size they are now.”

Edwin squealed and hugged both his new friends. His little body fairly shook with excitement.

Emotion tugged at Leah’s heart. Obviously the duke had orchestrated this tender scene, forcing her feelings deeper for a man who apparently did not relish the day when his noble title would compel him to take a wife.

“
Careful, dearest,” Lady Chase called from the sofa.

“
Those teeth are sharp and unforgiving,” Leah’s father warned.

“
For heavens sake, Becca,” Anne Ashburn scolded. “Not in the mouth. Oh, why did Nicolas have to bring home two such adorable ruffians?”

“
I thought you loved dogs, Anne.”

“
I do, Leah, but now Becca will pester me with endless requests for one of her own.” She massaged her lower back. “And I simply do not possess the strength to keep up with everyone.”

“
Here now, Katrina,” her father stated. “That’s no way to hold--.”

“
Ouch!” Kat rubbed the tip of her nose. “Max, you naughty boy.”

“
That’s Barney,” Becca insisted.

“
They’re identical. How can you tell the difference?”

Becca dragged the other pup away from stealing one of Edwin’s socks. “Max has a spot that looks like a heart on his chest.”

“
Well, look at that,” Anne said. “Lord Greyson, your opinion?”

“
I believe Rebecca is correct. You know, the Vikings claimed such marks were a sign of good fortune.”