The Rake and The Rose (A Rake's Mistake) (25 page)

James left and promptly brought it to him "Sir?"

"Kade, find out who made this.  There must be a maker’s mark. Try London. Ask if there had been a sibling." He looked at the obvious careful craftsmanship.

"Do you think Charlotte is a surviving twin?"

"I don't think anything. But we'll find out. Doctor Lambert said under no circumstances should we say anything. Her mind is too fragile. The last thing we want is for her to wind up in Bedlam."

Kade nodded "Agreed!" He took the rabbit and fiddled with the blue ribbon. "Did you notice this?" He had turned the rabbit over and noticed a loose stitch. He also noticed that something glittered inside when the toy was tilted.

"What?" Alexander stood and looked over his desk.

Upon pulling the string a little pocket was revealed. "What the devil?" Alexander saw something shiny fall out.

A cameo locket, the carved face glimmered mockingly at them from the dark blue background. Both men looked at each other as Alexander took the locket from his hands. "Do you think?"

"Same maker?" Kade gently turned the locket over and they laid them side-by- side. Both were beautifully carved. The latches were the same too. "Open it." Kade said softly.

"I don't know how."

Kade’s brow knit and he sat down, both lockets a puzzle piece that no one knew how to use. "Well we don't want to break it."

"No we don't. But it looks like it was a child's locket, matching. So, twins. See the engravings on the back?" They were rather large, perhaps a bit bigger than a normal pocket watch.

To Charlotte, love Mama.
And the other,
To Sara, love Mama.

"Similar engraving, I don’t see a maker’s mark... It is Charlotte's name and she had the locket. But why doesn’t anyone know of her?"

Alexander was perplexed like Kade, who simply looked at him confused as well. He had seen Charlotte open the locket once, but only once. And sure enough he had seen a red haired girl on the inside as he had passed by. But he wondered if the woman on the other side would be the same.

"Wait!" Kade pointed to the latch as he picked one up "It's no latch, look it twists. Try the other." Alexander took Charlotte's and sure enough both lockets popped open. The one that was in Kade's hand had a soft curl of blond hair fall onto the desk. It was the color of cool wheat in the moonlight. Alexander sat down abruptly and sighed. Kade held the lock of hair perplexed with it's color, not quite honey and not quite blond. 

"Well, we got them open." He saw the red haired young woman in the portrait full on and along side an auburn haired woman with blue eyes. He remembered her as Lady Devisher; her husband had been a dark eyed and blond haired, and very kind. The opposite girl had the same features, blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, perhaps even more beautiful than her mother’s.

“Alexander look the little miniature pulls back on Charlotte’s...” he glanced down at the locket, and realized that it did, to reveal a much younger looking version of the young woman with the dark eyes. It was Charlotte all right. And she looked just like the blond in the lockets twin portrait. 

But no one had ever seen Charlotte outside ever. Society never knew of her. "But why? He realized he had not even stated what he was questioning. But Kade was one step ahead.

"Maybe she was younger?"

"Younger? They’re twins."

"But they’re born at different times, Alexander,” Kade explained. He, too, was a twin.

Alex remembered. "You were older than Becky."

"Yes." Kade's face withdrew in distaste. Alexander well knew his story and kept quiet. "Did Leroy find anything?"

"So far no, nothing." Kade sighed, "Leroy only found out what we did. But he is asking the hospital staff, where he worked prior to Military."

Alexander remembered that Leroy had a very extensive background in medical procedure, but he was also very skilled in combat, his family said it would be noble to join the war- so he left his medical kit for a gun. Alexander had never gone to India or the military, but Kade and Leroy had things to prove. They both were ready to go off and get their limbs hacked off if need be...He found it ghastly. If he didn't have Charlotte he might have done the same though.

“Well, tell me if Leroy finds anything out."

"You know I will Alexander," Kade grinned his usual smirk and exhaled to continue, "Well the little Countess did not serve to be very…entertaining. Rather a bother if anything."

"Well despite the Ladies, how does hunting go?" this was an entirely different subject.

"Very well." Kade’s teeth gleamed white as he flashed a deadly smile "Very well indeed."

Alexander shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. His close friends were all he had ever known. And they would soon be going to war in India. Alexander coughed "So does Leroy still think 'Manners are the way'?"

Kade barked a laugh "Yes, and quite frankly I have mind to throw him in another boxing match just to see him lose his cool."

They both got up grinning after Kade took and closed both lockets putting the lock of hair back. He noticed it was very smooth, and felt his heart break at the fate of the child it belonged to.

"When did Sara die?" Kade glanced and Alexander seemed to be on the same line of thought.

"Everyone says the girl must have been six." 

"From what?" Alex grimaced, he hated hearing about children dying. 

"Typhus." Kade grimaced. "Nasty thing."

They were silent and walked out of the room and turned to head down the stairs. "James, please let Charlotte know I'm heading to London I will be back tonight."

James nodded affirmation and smiled.

"Why the deuce is everyone over chipper in your home?" Kade asked, "Something's going on." he mused to Alex.

"No, they’re just happy Charlotte is alright," he corrected. They got to the bottom of the steps and left.

Charlotte gasped happily and hopped about when James's eyes were twinkling. "He's gone!" And with that said, everyone burst into motion.

"We have everything." Francesca said.

"It's just getting put together in the servants’ rooms." Charlotte stretched and followed at a leisurely pace to the second floor. They had chosen a room that was one down from Alexander's with an adjoining door to it. It had originally been his nursery, Francesca was crooning over the fact that again there would be a baby’s laughter there.

"Time to get this old room spick and span!" Francesca exclaimed clapping her hands. James had brought a painter earlier that day and had spent all afternoon
keeping him occupied and telling Alexander that it was just for the touching up of the Estate. The elaborate artist showed Charlotte different colors, and she scrunched her nose.

"We don't know if it will be a boy or girl…" all the colors were either a sky blue or a dulcet pink, or some shade between- she hadn’t even known that was possible!

The painter sighed but his hands flew in an array of French to Francesca who raised a brow and responded back pointing at Charlotte's still flat middle and then as if to make a point buttoned her lip and nodded.

"What?" she asked confused.

"I told him it was for the Lord Cromwell to announce his unborn child and to keep his mouth shut."

"Oh! “Charlotte clapped a hand over her lips and laughed, "My, Francesca, be a bit kinder."

The man obviously spoke English and sighed languorously "Yes, Mademoiselle is so kind to me! After I have been a waste!" he was so dramatic!

Charlotte giggled "Perhaps, kind sir. Do you happen to have any creams, or beige? Something neutral?"

“We can do Creams with whites and lace! That suits any baby!" but he pronounced baby "Bay-beh" it made her grin. 

She nodded enthusiastically "Yes! Oh perfect!"

"I don't know what to do for furniture," Francesca sighed. But Charlotte waved her hand.

"No, I want Alex to help with that!" she smiled and rubbed her belly. "I am so happy Alexander's birthday is coming up. How old will he be?"

"Well dear he was born in he was born in 1792. He'll be twenty-two years old. He is around four months younger than Kade." Charlotte nodded. If she was eighteen he was four years older than she.

"I hope he likes his present..." she whispered.

"Dear, I don't know what man would not love hearing he's having a baby," Francesca beamed and the Painter seemed to want to put in a side note.

"This is true Mademoiselle! When my little wife said she was with child I flew to the moon!" He waved his hands dramatically, which threw Charlotte into a fit of laughter.

"Well let us hope you stays on earth as I will be needing you still." Her wry grin made the painter sniff.

"Indeed, one must not leave their little wife all alone!" Charlotte sat down and exhaled softly, her hair gently swaying in the open window breeze. She was content and happy, and decided to go see who Sophie was in the kitchens as usual when she walked in. 

“Sophie!" she squealed with glee. "You should see the baby's room it's just lovely, absolutely lovely!"

"I’m so glad you’re enjoying it sweetheart."  Sophie’s eyes brimmed with happiness and she bade Charlotte to sit down with a pat on a stool near a small table. "Time to have a snack."

"I am hardly hungry Sophie,” she protested but Sophie raised a hand.

"No-no protesting. You're eating for two now so plenty of nourishment for you!" Charlotte sighed and sat down and ate what she was given. A hearty meal of eggs, toast and jam and butter, with some lovely bacon. She didn't realize how hungry she was and she shoveled it all down

"This is a snack?"

"Mmhmm!" Sophie bustled and got everything ready for what seemed like dinner.

"May I help Sophie?" She nodded and wiped her hands on her apron.

"Alright dear, I want to make sure that you rest, but here." She handed Charlotte a bowl of potatoes.

"Oh, Sophie I thought I had graduated from this," she raised her brow in a humored look, but happily helped out.

Dinner was a festive event.  Anne had come as well bringing Precious, who had taken to frolicking about the Essex estate, but instantly hopped onto Charlotte’s lap and curled up and purred.

"Well, I missed you too Precious. So finally someone caught you long enough to bring you home after your visit!" Charlotte scooped the kitten up and kissed it repeatedly earning a complaint and a growl. "Oh I know, such a grown up girl you are Kitten,” she cooed.

Alexander smiled at the cat and actually patted her on the head. "Hello Precious." The cat mewed at him and Sophie took her into the kitchen with her little dish of food.

The rest of the evening went in a lovely array of brandies, sweets, wine and later, when no one else was there, beneath a canopy of pink and dusky twilight.

Kisses, slow and burning, were shared between two whose souls sing and hearts beat at the same pace.

C
hapter
18

Alexander's Birthday July 14th, 1815

She was so nervous.  Her belly had gotten a bit bigger, and thankfully Alexander had been avoiding her to make sure she was still fully recovered. Not that he had a hard time keeping busy with his own list of things to do. He was still trying to figure out the mystery that was, well, Charlotte. And she let him brood over it, waiting to make her move.

Her days consisted of waiting for Alexander to go gallivanting off with Kade. When they were gone she easily slipped into the forming nursery. It was lovely so far, now that the walls had been stripped clean of the fading wall paper, and given a clean wash of lovely creams and whites, it actually brought out the room's space! The curtains were replaced with lovely lace and white chiffon that was nearly seen through so the light could filter in. She sighed contentedly.

Francesca had brought down Alexander's mother's old rocking chair and the cushioning had been replaced with a beautiful gold color. "Gold for the little prince or princess," James had said, when he himself had gone and gotten the fabric in his spare time since everyone else was tied down.

She loved the feel as her fingers went across the fabric. The windows had been cleaned and redone and the crib was going to be custom done and was nearly finished. Deep woods stained dark and shining were everywhere from the dresser to the pretty stools by the window to the shelves that would soon hold books and toys. Charlotte hoped her child liked reading, and had started reading aloud...just in case the baby could hear. She was ecstatic at how it looked! She fiddled with the key that locked the door and had tied a lovely gold and lace bow on it.

Before the party she was excited to feel a small thump against her belly when she was reading her book Pride and Prejudice. She squeaked and nearly dropped the book. Sophie who had been sitting and going over different teas that would help Charlotte in the long run bolted upright.

"What is it?" Sophie glanced at her confused.

"Sophie, come!"

“What is it?”

She clutched the woman's hand and brought it to her belly, and began reading again. "Elizabeth Bennett..." she began reading and suddenly
kick...kick!

Sophie gushed in excitement "Well will you look at that!" She walked to the door and called for James and Francesca. Soon all took turns and placed a warm hand on her belly. They felt the beginning life that was now making its presence known.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say there were two in there," Sophie mused.

Everyone laughed and Charlotte drank in the happiness her life had suddenly offered her. It didn't matter about her past or where she was from. As long as she had these people smiling down at her and Alexander by her side, her life would be complete.

Meanwhile, Alexander was busy in his study piecing together his latest finds. Kade was again sitting across from him looking at the Rabbit and everything else. "So there was a young woman living in Caversham. Hm."

Kade nodded and rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "Leroy also said apparently that a nurse took a young woman around the same age as Sara from the hospital...blue eyed and blond. They’re attempting to get her records."

"You are jesting." Alexander gasped. 

"I don't know, but I am still working out the details" Kade sighed and glanced at the lockets that lay on the desk. 

"Hm, it's quite a mystery isn't it?” Alexander sighed.

"Well, enough of this nonsense." Kade snatched up both lockets and the rabbit and promptly put them in a drawer

"What?" Alexander protested.

"It's your birthday. And you know what that means."

Suddenly another gentleman came in with shining, neat blond hair and intelligent grey eyes.

"Leroy! You sodding cad, come here!" Alexander engulfed the taller man in a bear hug. Leroy was a veritable giant compared to Kade and Alexander, only matching Kade by his width. The bright eyes regarded his friends with wonderful humor and joy.

"What? I can't come wish my best chum a happy birthday?" He tossed a mahogany box at him when he stepped away. It held a pair ornately carved cufflinks in the shape of lions.

"Well now." Alexander chuckled.

"I heard of you causing many a lady to swoon over your..." Leroy feigned a feminine tone, "Masculinity, my Lord,"

As if to add to it he then pretended to swoon in a chair.

"Sod off, you bloody git." Alexander cuffed him good-naturedly and Leroy dodged nearly knocking back the chair.

"Steady on I'm just chaffing you!" He and Kade doubled over with laughter. Through wheezing Leroy gasped, "It's a damn good thing Charlotte won you, considering-" a burst of laughter "considering the poor Lion's been tamed and now jumping through hoops and eating peanuts!"

Alexander all but tackled Leroy and soon both men were acting as if they were adolescents. "Ah, you've gone soft Cromwell! A lady got you and you know what happens then!" Leroy gasped between laughter.

"What?" Alexander chuckled stepping away as Leroy lay out on his study floor sitting up.

"It means she has your cads in her reticule. You'll never be the same again!" He howled in mirth.

Kade burst into deep laughter. "Aye, poor Cromwell. Wee little thing as yer wife will probably just turn you into mince pie."

“She really that terrifying Cromwell?” Leroy asked tilting his head, the blonde hair going off kilter for just a moment.

"Mince pie is it?" Charlotte's voice came from the door and she stood regally with her head tilted up. Her eyes flashed with humor "And what are you three up to?"

Leroy leapt up and bowed with color flagging his cheeks "Begging your pardon my Lady I did not know you were there. Why! Cromwell you dolt she’s not terrifying she’s adorable!” his exuberant personality leaked and stuck to everyone he met and they all laughed.

Charlotte eyed him and suddenly burst into life "You must be Leroy!" She gasped happily and before he could protest she hugged him tight and in one quick breath: "I have heard so much about you! Do you really do medicine? I am so fond of such things you must tell me what you've studied. Oh, you also study animals. That must take such a great deal of knowledge! Alexander told me all about your travels with Kade and I am ever so excited to hear about them!"

Leroy just chortled. "Alexander you have your hands full what an inquisitive little spitfire!" He hugged her promptly before stepping back shuffling his feet shyly. Kade picked her up and spun her around, and she caught a strange look across his face as he set her down.

He gave her a curious stare with a hidden smile and handed her to Alexander. "Hello, love." she whispered "Happy Birthday."

"Why thank you Sweetling." he kissed her softly.

"Damn well kill me, eh Kade?" Leroy pretended to strangle himself.

Kade barked a laugh "More like shoot ye." "Oh I'll do the same you can bet on that.”

"You damn well better Leroy or I'll leave you to yer woman to blister in her scorn. And I'll go the Fawkes's Tavern meself."

Both hooted as Charlotte gave them humored glances.

"One day," she said softly, "a woman is going to catch your eye, and then where will you two be?"

"Not bloody likely," they both said. Alexander and Charlotte shook their heads, and she turned to him as his friends playfully bantered. "So, are you ready for dinner?"

"I do hope my lovely woman enjoyed playing house,” he whispered to her.

"I always do. Francesca and everyone have been working up a storm!" She was giddy with excitement for his private present later.

The staff was flying around the entire kitchen laughing, drinking, bringing dishes into the main dining hall. Charlotte laughed and darted- more carefully mind you- around with the rest keeping her self contained with her joy.

Alexander sat back and watched the festivities and grinned at his fire haired beauty. Everything she did was beautiful, the way she moved the way she walked the way she talked and used her hands to speak. He found himself entranced by her and his eyes followed her wherever she went.

A Scottish voice broke his admiration, "Smitten are ye?"

"Kade, shut it." he scoffed and his friend grinned lopsided

"So, Leroy seems smitten, too." Leroy was staring at Lottie who was sitting clapping along with the music someone played on the piano as people danced about. But he refused to introduce himself at first, merely eyeing her in a lovely way.

"Not smitten just...interested," Leroy said softly. "She is quite lovely isn't she? Quite the little lady.” Lottie made eye contact and turned a soft red, the young sixteen year old was obviously intrigued by the tall man.

Charlotte having heard him laughed, "No, Lottie is everything but a little lady, at least that is what I have discerned in my time with her."

"How so?" Leroy asked, Lottie looked like a perfect little lady sitting just properly, but Charlotte was right- there was something wild about this one that was practically tangible.

“She has no want nor need of high society."

Indeed, Leroy nodded and watched her more closely. Lottie had a delicate relaxation about her, which most women of refined class did not. She also laughed without reserve at everything around her if she found it funny. Her wit was as sharp as his military grade sword. "Hm."

Alexander left his friend to stare and glanced sideways at Charlotte with an infectious grin "So, how are you doing? Do you want any rum punch?" she nodded and took a small sip, but it tasted off so she set her glass down with a soft frown.

"I'm alright, but I guess I am not in the mood for it." She felt the baby kick again and she nearly started.

"What?" Alexander looked worried and she batted his hands away.

"I'm alright, quit being a ninny," he chuckled and dragged her to him to dance a waltz along with everyone else. It was infections the joy in the room. The entire house ablaze with celebration and laughter, no one could keep from joking, dancing, drinking and just simply having fun!

But when the party died down, and Kade left to go and drink a few pints at the Tavern and Leroy escorted Lottie back to her little cottage as a gentleman would on his arm. Alexander and Charlotte glanced at the dispersing party. The twilight was coming into the sitting room, reflecting off the wood and shining on the gold, silver and brass fixtures, bowls, and china as the staff cleaned up.

Well, this was great fun," he said blowing out a breath. "So...I thought we might."

He nipped her jaw, as he dragged her into the shadows and she giggled, "Wait," she said.

"Hm?" His hands were everywhere, tugging at her body. 

"Wait Alex!" she whispered excitedly.

"What?" he looked dazed.

"Here" She pressed cold metal object with something satiny in his palm. 

"A key?" He weighed it in his hand with a curious expression. "An old key." 

“Mmhmm!" she said exhaling quickly.

"What is it to?" he said raising a brow. In fact, he remembered that there was a key on his mother's chatelaine that looked just like this.

"Well...go and find the door it goes to!" she said impatiently.

So they went through the house trying all the doors to see if the key fit. There were quite a lot, and he took the chance of ducking with her into the darkness of the house to steal kisses and touches that left her breathless.