19. Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

A fter Charles returned from his visit to Francis, they had sat down for a somewhat awkward dinner with Martha and Sidney. Ruby wasn't sure which of the men annoyed her the most with their ability to talk about her without asking her opinion. At one point, she considered leaving them to it, but she was eager to know what Charles intended to do to thwart his father, and so she sat through the meal mainly in silence, only speaking to Martha when necessary.

At Charles's direction, Sidney wrote a note to Mr. Simms asking to meet at the George and Dragon, a disreputable coaching inn still owned by Francis in the worst area of Millcastle. Francis would be thereabouts when Mr. Simms offered his terms to Sidney. If everything went to plan, Francis, in his capacity as the local magistrate, had the legal authority to charge Mr. Simms with attempted blackmail. What happened after that was still a subject of much discussion.

Ruby left Charles to make sure Sidney had everything he needed in the second spare bedroom, and after checking on Nora, she went into their bedroom. Charles arrived when she was already in her nightgown and brushing out her hair.

He took one look at her and held up his hand. "I'm sorry I invited Sidney to stay here. I didn't want him disappearing off on his white horse."

"There's no need to be so contemptuous of his cause," Ruby said. "It is a righteous one."

"Righteous." Charles sat down to take off his stocking and trousers. "People like Sidney make me sick."

"Because they are brave?" Ruby spun around to face him, her hairbrush in her hand.

"No, because their romantic idealism destroys people."

"There are always martyrs to a cause."

"And did you wish to be one of them?" Charles paused in his undressing to glare at her. "Is that why you let him leave you?"

"Perhaps."

He raised an eyebrow and she shot to her feet.

"Or perhaps I was a coward. Did you ever think of that, Charles?" Her voice cracked. "Perhaps I was too afraid to go with him. Too afraid to believe he would find a way to care for us as he promised."

"You think you let him down?"

Ruby nodded, her throat tight with unshed tears.

"That's absolutely bloody ridiculous!" Charles snapped. "How dare he make you feel as if you failed him when it was all his fault?"

"He has a cause he believes in. In the end I was too weak, too feeble, and too scared to?—"

He stood, took hold of her shoulders, and gently shook her. "Don't ever say that again," he growled. "If you'd gone with him, he wouldn't have cared what became of you, because he's a bloody fanatic!"

"I couldn't go. Not with Nora in the state she was in. I?—"

He kissed her "You're a pragmatist, and there's nothing wrong with that. Nora's alive because you came to Millcastle. Don't ever forget it."

Ruby gazed into his eyes and saw the blazing conviction within them.

"But I failed?—"

He kissed her again, this time more roughly. "You survived, and you didn't fail your daughter or yourself. No one can live up to Sidney's lofty standards, not even him." He paused to draw her more closely against his body. "I bet he has a private income from his family."

Her brows creased. "We never discussed money. Sidney believed it was vulgar to do so."

"Did you know that Francis sent him money for your keep?"

"No." Ruby looked up at him. "He never said anything about it." She paused. "I could've used that money to feed Nora."

"Yes." Charles steered her toward the bed. "Now start to direct your anger at the person responsible, rather than at yourself."

"Not at you?" She sighed. "I fear I am quite angry about everything tonight."

He smiled as he lowered her onto the bed. "As long as no one can see where you bite and scratch me, I'll be happy to assist you in any way you wish, my dear."

She nipped his ear, and his whole body came to life. His kisses became bolder and went lower and soon she didn't care if Sidney heard her screaming her pleasure to the whole world.

* * *

By two o'clock the next day, all was in place. Mr. Simms had agreed to meet Sidney, Francis was at the inn, and all that was left was for Charles and Sidney to make their way to the meeting point. Charles would take Sidney as far as the old town square and show him the inn. It had miraculously survived the building of the railway station—mainly because Francis was one of the major shareholders.

"I think I'll have to come back to Millcastle soon," Sidney said, his gaze on the old tenement buildings that housed most of the mill workers. "This place needs me."

"To disrupt the workforce and make them strike? And they'll starve while you waltz off to your next appointment flogging rebellion? You'd be better leaving them alone."

"To this?" Sidney swung around and gestured at the broken windows, the refuse running down the center of the road, and the stick-thin children playing in the filth. "I suppose you only treat private clients and can turn a blind eye to such misery."

"I treat everyone, including the navvies in the camps," Charles said evenly. "I am well aware of what this town needs."

"Then you should be on my side."

"If there is a side, I'm on the one where I'm doing my damndest to make things better for people one patient at a time. I don't have time for the politics or the grandstanding."

"You should. As a physician and the son of a peer you'd be listened to. If you wish for some information as to how to start, I could?—"

"No, thank you. If I have my way, we'll cross paths as little as possible. I don't like you upsetting my wife."

They walked in silence for a moment, avoiding the worst of the potholes that pitted the rough road.

"Ruby seems content with you," Sidney commented.

"Why wouldn't she be? I'm unlikely to disappear off into the night, leaving her to starve."

"As you're now the heir to a thriving earldom, I doubt she will starve. It's interesting that she chose to live with another man with an aristocratic past. It's almost as if, despite her supposed convictions, she really can't shed her need to be with her own class."

Charles turned, grabbed Sidney by the throat, and slammed him against the wall of a nearby building. "You will never speak of my wife in such disparaging terms again, or I will find you, and you won't like the consequences."

Sidney turned red in the face as he struggled against Charles's grip. "I didn't… mean."

"Yes, you did, you pious, self-serving little hypocrite. You took the allowance meant for her and spent it on yourself, leaving her and your child with nothing." Charles let go of Sidney with a final shake. "You aren't worthy to kiss the hem of her gown."

Sidney took great heaving breaths. "You're insane."

"No, I'm simply protective of what is mine." Charles glared at him. "And don't give me that balderdash about her being an independent woman capable of deciding her fate for herself—I bloody well know that. She needed your support, and you failed her because your cause is more important to you than your family."

"Fine!" Sidney looked at him. "Maybe you've got a point, but I swear she willingly stayed behind. I would've taken her."

"And chastised her when she couldn't keep up? Or when she had no strength left for anything but the child you shared? You claim to want equal opportunities for all, but you're incapable of understanding the real struggle that every woman who has a child goes through."

"I meant her no harm," Sidney said. "I took her at her word that she considered herself my equal in our struggle."

"Because it suited you to see her as another version of you, and not the person she was," Charles said flatly. "Any fool knows that carrying a child is life-changing. A woman cannot be as selfish as a man when she has a child."

Sidney took a deep breath. "That is all behind us now. Ruby has made her choice, and I accept that."

"How gracious of you." Charles started walking again. "I'm glad we've sorted that out. Just make sure you tell Ruby that you have no further claim on her."

He waited at the corner while Sidney, looking somewhat shaken, walked across the dilapidated square to the George and Dragon, a low timber-framed building that had probably looked its best a hundred years previously when it was a thriving coaching inn.

Charles checked his pocket watch, careful not to let it be seen too visibly, considering the present company. After a quarter of an hour, he was to go into the hostelry to see what had occurred.

It seemed to take forever for the fifteen minutes to be up, but eventually he strode into the inn, bending his head to avoid the low, curving beams. The landlord saw him coming and pointed down one of the corridors.

"His lordship's in there. He said to tell you to join him."

"Thank you."

When he entered the room, he was immediately aware that things must have progressed nicely, because Mr. Simms looked like a man who knew he was in a very precarious position indeed.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Nash." Francis looked up from his perusal of a set of documents on the table.

"Viscount Grafton-Wesley." Charles bowed. "How may I assist you?"

"I need you as a witness to this case." He indicated Mr. Simms. "This man, acting on behalf of the Earl of Nash, attempted to blackmail Mr. Fellows and cause him to perjure himself by swearing to have married a woman who is not, in fact, his wife."

"I just did what his lordship asked me to, sir, I—" Mr. Simms was obviously rattled. "I had no idea?—"

"That's a lie." Sidney, who was leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest, spoke up. "Mr. Simms specifically told me that he knew people who could forge all the necessary documents if I just went along with the earl's plan."

Francis readied a pen and a clean piece of paper and looked up at Mr. Simms. "I will ask the landlord to restrain you in the cellars until I have spoken to the Earl of Nash."

"You can't do that!" Mr. Simms protested.

"I'm the local magistrate, Mr. Simms. I can do anything I bloody well like." Francis wrote quickly, the pen scratching on the paper. "If you don't want to stay here, I can easily arrange transport to take you to Leeds to wait for your trial in the county gaol."

"No! I'll stay here." Mr. Simms was sweating profusely. "I'd die in that place."

"I concur," Francis said. "Dr. Nash, will you call the landlord? Once you've had time to consider your options, Mr. Simms, perhaps you'd be willing to write your confession?"

"It was all the Earl of Nash's idea, sir."

"Then make sure to put that in your confession, won't you? It will certainly help the judge look kindlier upon you. Smith will provide you with writing implements if you want to get started right away."

The landlord came in, and after a short consultation with Francis, took Mr. Simms away with him.

After the door shut behind them, Sidney came forward and sat at the table. "And now what?"

Francis looked at Charles. "That's rather up to Dr. Nash. You do know it's almost impossible to get a conviction for such a thing against a peer of the realm?"

Charles read through the charges Francis had started to draw up. "I agree that it would not end in a conviction, but as a lever to force my father's hand…" Charles paused. "It might do very well, indeed."

"Then tell me exactly how you wish me to word the documents, and I'll have a copy made for you—and of Mr. Simms' confession—by tomorrow."

"Thank you." Charles detailed his requirements to Francis and then looked over at Sidney. "And thank you, too."

"It's the least I could do." Sidney pressed his hand to his heart. "Despite what you think of me, Dr. Nash, I am a man of honor."

"You've certainly helped," Charles said, still unwilling to concede more than the most basic praise. "May I suggest you take your leave of my wife and your daughter with all speed, and depart? A yearly visit to see Nora would be acceptable if you insist."

"You're a hard man, Dr. Nash," Sidney said as he rose to his feet.

"I'm glad you think so." Charles shook Francis's hand and stood up. "Now, why don't I escort you to my home where you can collect your belongings and leave?"

* * *

Ruby had sent Nora out with Martha and Bridget and awaited the return of Charles and Sidney in the kitchen. She'd thought about preparing lunch, but in her present agitated state, the idea of eating didn't sit well with her. Eventually, she heard voices outside, and tried to look calm as Sidney and her husband came in through the back door.

Charles immediately came over and kissed her cheek. "It went very well."

"I'm glad to hear it. Shall I make some tea?" Ruby was quite proud of the evenness of her voice.

"I have to leave," Sidney said. "There is a train in half an hour going to Leeds and Dr. Nash has very kindly bought me a ticket for it. I need to be there for a meeting this evening."

Charles looked over at Ruby. "Perhaps you might want to help Sidney pack while I make the tea? I'm sure you have plenty to talk about."

"Yes, of course." Ruby rose to her feet.

She went up the stairs to the spare bedroom. Sidney had already made the bed and crammed all his belongings into a small pack he carried on his back. Ruby knew all his worldly possessions were contained in that bag and that he needed nothing more to survive except the goodwill of his supporters.

She turned as he came into the room. "I see that you are all packed. There is nothing I can do for you."

He took possession of her hand and looked down at her, his vivid blue gaze as mesmerizing as ever. "I wish you nothing but the best, Ruby. That is all I have ever wanted, and if Dr. Nash makes you happy, then I am glad for you."

"He's a good man," Ruby said. "He will treat Nora as his own child."

"May I come and visit her occasionally?" For the first time in his life Sidney sounded unsure of himself. "I know I don't deserve?—"

"You may come, but we will decide together when she is older how we tell her exactly who you are."

"Yes, of course." He nodded. "Dr. Nash did make me think about the plight of women in society and the additional burdens of motherhood. It was something I had not fully considered until now." He picked up his pack. "I will have to discuss it with my committee."

"If you write to me, I'll write back," Ruby offered.

"You know I'm a terrible correspondent, but I'll do my best." He smiled and shouldered his bag. "I'll stop in the park on my way to the station and say goodbye to Nora."

"That's an excellent idea."

Ruby followed Sidney down the stairs into the kitchen where Charles had made tea for her and was standing ready to open the backdoor to hasten Sidney's exit.

"Goodbye, Dr. Nash." Sidney shook Charles's hand. "I hope your plans to outwit your father succeed."

"So do I." Charles returned the handshake. "I'll walk you to the station."

Ruby watched them leave and sank down into the nearest chair. She had no tears left for Sidney. His departure was a relief, as was the fact that they'd parted on good terms. He'd always be Nora's father, but he no longer held any allure for her. She could see him for what he was—a man with lofty ideals who sometimes forgot to look down and see the chaos he caused in his own life.

She poured herself some tea and considered what they had left to eat for dinner that had not already been consumed by their unexpected guests.

Eventually, Charles returned and joined her at the table. "Sidney stopped in the park to say goodbye to Nora. She cried when he tried to hold her. He is now safely on the train to Leeds."

"One might think you made sure he was leaving."

"There's no doubt about it. I'd had quite enough of him." He drank his tea in one gulp. "I've never felt entirely comfortable around these so-called leaders of men."

Ruby reached out and covered his hand with her own, her sense of pleasure and joy in his tempestuous company overwhelming her. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Tolerating him."

He snorted. "Barely."

"He said you made him think about the plight of women."

"About time someone did," Charles said, very carefully not looking at her. "Did he apologize?"

"In his own way," Ruby said. "I must confess to being glad to see him leave."

"Truly?"

"I don't regret any of the decisions I've made, Dr. Nash."

"Good. Neither do I." Charles cleared his throat and sat back. "Now all we have to do is ruin my father's plans for my mother."

Ruby smiled.

"What?" he asked.

"The house is quite empty for the next hour or so."

"And?"

Ruby stared at him until he suddenly stood up and reached for her hand. "Then come along. We don't have much time."