20. Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

C harles had considered long and hard how he wanted to approach his father about his plans for his mother. He was very aware that he'd only have one chance to influence his father's thinking and that if he got it wrong, he might never see his mother again.

To his surprise, Ruby had agreed to stay home in Millcastle with Nora. She'd assured him she had faith in his ability to deal with his father—an unexpected vote of confidence that had filled him with optimism. Now, awaiting the earl in his study at Nash Hall, Charles wasn't quite so sure.

He turned as his father came in and instinctively braced himself. Nothing good ever happened to him in this place, but he couldn't allow past hurts to destroy his chances before he even began.

"Good afternoon, sir." Charles inclined his head. "Thank you for seeing me."

He waited as the earl made a great production of settling himself behind his desk, finding his spectacles, checking his pocket watch, and opening his dreaded copy book where he noted all his daily transactions in minute detail.

"For a man who always insists he is gainfully employed and cannot leave his patients whenever I require his presence, you seem remarkably adept at making time for your own desires," the earl commented.

"I believe this matter was important enough to see you in person, sir." Charles paused. "I didn't want to put it in writing."

"I've already told you to keep your nose out of your mother's business. I had a letter from Dr. French the other day saying you had visited her."

"I was concerned about her health."

"But I did not give you leave to attend her."

"I'm a physician. I'm required to offer my assistance when it is merited."

"I will not have you interfering in her care." The earl glared at him. "If you attempt to influence Dr. French or any member of his staff, I will remove your mother and put her somewhere else—possibly abroad—so think on that before you try anything stupid."

"I have no intention of removing her from Dr. French's care." Charles paused. "From what I could see, she is in excellent hands."

The earl frowned. "Then why are you here if not to bully me into doing your will?"

"I'm trying to protect our family name."

"When have you ever tried to do that?"

Charles shrugged. "Perhaps now that I have a wife and child, I've become more… sensitive about my reputation."

"That child is a bastard," the earl said flatly. "She will never inherit a penny of Nash money."

"She's still my child to raise," Charles said.

The earl looked at his pocket watch. "If you could get to the point. I have an engagement at two with my land agent."

"Not with Mr. Simms?" Charles sat down, uninvited.

"I am not familiar with that name."

"Oh, I think you are." Charles smiled. "I'm certain Benson could confirm he's been here on more than one occasion. Miss Evans saw him as well."

"If I have met with him, I cannot precisely recall when it was or what trifling matter we discussed." The earl fiddled with his pen and inkwell, avoiding Charles's gaze.

"Balderdash. You hired him to investigate my wife."

There was a long silence before the earl looked up. "And what if I did? I have a right to know what kind of blood is being brought into my lineage."

"Then I'm sure you were reassured that my wife's family are truly unremarkable."

"I told you what I thought about her suitability on the last occasion we met. I haven't changed my mind. She is a woman of loose morals who had a bastard child."

"I'm glad to hear you say that you consider the child to be a bastard," Charles said. "Because Mr. Simms told me otherwise."

The earl set down his pen with some force. "If you have something to say, Charles, get on with it. I don't have time for your insinuations."

"I thought you should know that Mr. Simms is currently under arrest."

"What's that got to do with me?"

"Quite a lot, actually, which is why I came all this way to see you." Charles tried for a sympathetic smile. "Apparently Mr. Simms was caught attempting blackmail." The earl looked bored, and Charles continued. "He attempted to make a man perjure himself and swear on oath that he had been married. When the man protested, Mr. Simms told him not to worry, that his employer had the means to forge any documentation necessary to meet a court's threshold."

Charles reached into his coat pocket, brought out the documents, and laid them on his father's desk. "I have a copy of the charges and Mr. Simms' full confession."

His father made no effort to reach for the documents or read them.

"I'm obliged to inform you that you are named in these documents as Mr. Simms' employer and thus a party to the accusation of blackmail. The magistrate who signed the papers is very keen to see that justice is served equally and that the man who gave the orders is considered equally liable for the crime."

"No one would convict a peer on such flimsy evidence."

"I'm aware of that. But imagine the dent to your reputation when Mr. Simms comes to trial at the county assizes, and your name is read out as his employer. Such a matter would be of great interest to the local press, and who knows how wide the story might spread if other publications picked it up?"

Charles continued when the earl said nothing. "As the event happened in Millcastle and intimately involves my family, I might be asked to comment myself. Such a sordid tale, too, of a man attempting to blackmail an innocent hero of the working class into destroying a happy marriage. I've never been a good liar, sir, which is why I decided to bring the matter to you before it becomes public. God knows what I might say if given a national stage by the newspapers."

The silence lengthened, but for once Charles found it easy to bear.

Eventually, the earl picked up his pen. "What do you want? Money?"

"Hardly, sir. Blackmail appears to be your weapon of choice, not mine. All I require is a guarantee of my mother's future safety and a written assurance that she and Miss Evans will be restored to this household as soon as Dr. French recommends such a course of action."

"Why would you think such an assurance from me would be carried out?"

Charles shrugged. "One might hope that your word is your bond—that's what you've always told me. If that is no longer the case, then I'll simply sit back and watch your reputation be destroyed in the courts."

The earl was the first to drop his gaze. "I don't know what happened to Miss Evans after I sent her packing."

"Don't worry. I know exactly where she is." Charles smiled. "I'm sure she'll be delighted to resume her position when my mother returns."

"I haven't agreed to your terms, yet."

Charles rose to his feet. "I understand that you will need time to consider this matter." He reclaimed the papers. "If I don't hear from you by the end of the week, I'll assume you are happy for Mr. Simms to be sent for trial."

"What is the name of the local magistrate on those documents?"

"Oh, you won't want to bother him, sir," Charles said lightly. "Despite your rank, Viscount Grafton-Wesley will have no qualms in issuing charges against you if you dare to interfere." He paused. "He is also very willing to allow the matter to drop as a favor to me if certain terms are complied with."

The earl sat back. "Grafton-Wesley."

"Yes. He's my friend and not a man to be trifled with." Charles smiled. "Aren't you proud of me for cultivating the acquaintance of gentlemen who can be useful? It is a skill I acquired from you, sir." He put the documents carefully in his pocket and turned to the door. "I won't stay the night. I do have to get back for my patients, and my wife is expecting me."

The earl said nothing more and Charles walked out into the hall and finally let out his breath. It was an unusual feeling to have bested his father. He was fairly confident that the earl's dislike of scandal would stop him from allowing the case to go forward.

If it didn't, then Charles would use every means possible to ensure that his mother was safe with him and that she never had to worry again. He'd already talked through several plans with Francis and was paying Nurse Sugden a weekly fee to write to him about his mother's condition. If anything changed, he'd know about it quickly and would act to recover her from Dr. French's care.

He went to find Benson to let him know he was leaving. A year ago, he would've raged against his father but ultimately done little to change his fate. He'd almost come to believe that he was as worthless as the earl insisted. But he did have standards, and when people he loved were in danger, he'd found his strength to defend them, and it felt very satisfying.

He stepped into the kitchen, noticing how little activity was going on when the earl was the only person in the house. He found Benson polishing the silverware in his pantry.

"Mr. Charles!"

"I have to get home, Benson. While I go and alert the stables to bring my gig out, would you do me a favor? I need you to write me a list of all the times a Mr. Simms visited this house. It appears that he might be in some trouble. I want to make sure that the earl isn't implicated in any manner."

"I can go to the stables and write that letter for you, sir." Benson took off his polishing gloves.

"There's no need. I'll talk to the groom. The quicker I can get away, the better." Charles smiled. "If the earl asks if I have spoken to you about this matter, please assure him that I have taken all the relevant details and will take them to the magistrate involved."

It was only when he was on the Great Northern Road that Charles remembered he'd have to get a statement from Miss Evans as well. The more evidence he could produce that the earl had knowingly engaged in a campaign to destroy his own son's marriage, the better.

* * *

Ruby sat in the kitchen watching the clock on the mantelpiece tick through the long hours of waiting for Charles to return. Martha had kept her company after Nora and Bridget had gone upstairs. Ruby had told Martha everything about Sidney, the blackmail attempt, and how Charles intended to use it to his advantage in his dealings with the earl. At first, Martha was skeptical that anything could damage the Earl of Nash, but after some consideration, she agreed that blackening his reputation would be unacceptable to him, and that he might accept Charles's terms.

Martha had offered to stay up until Charles returned, but Ruby was determined to wait on her own. With her whole future in doubt, she needed to hear the news by herself and knew Charles would be honest with her.

As time passed, her mind did conjure some fears where it was Charles who capitulated to the earl. In her soul—at the very core of who she was and who she believed Charles to be—she couldn't believe it would happen.

She'd almost fallen asleep when she heard his key in the backdoor, and she hastened to her feet.

He came in, his hat in his hand and stared at her, his blue gaze unbearably serious. "I think it's going to be all right."

With a strangled cry, she ran straight into his arms. He dropped his bag and gathered her to him, his cheek pressed to the top of her head, his hand curving around her neck as she sobbed.

Eventually, she managed to look up at him. "I never cry."

"I am well aware of that." He handed her his handkerchief. "But perhaps such a momentous occasion merits it."

He took her hand and settled her back into her chair. "Is the kettle hot? I'd love a cup of tea."

"I'll make it." She attempted to rise, but he shook his head.

"I've been sitting for hours. I need to stand for a while."

"Are you hungry?" Ruby asked, her voice husky from the unexpected weeping. "There's bread and cheese in the pantry and an apple pie Martha made."

"I'll find something. You stay put."

He stripped off his heavy driving coat and went to hang it in the hall with his hat. He removed his boots, set them in the scullery to clean, and washed his hands before returning to the kitchen where the kettle was coming to the boil.

It took all Ruby's remaining energy to hold her tongue while he brewed the tea, cut himself a slice of bread and cheese, and finally sat opposite her.

"I gave him a week to decide what he wanted to do," Charles said between sips of tea. "I'm sure he'll try to think of a way to wiggle out of it, but I don't see him succeeding."

He looked exhausted, a faint hint of stubble on his chin and purple shadows beneath his eyes. Knowing the earl, it couldn't have been easy to face him down.

"I'm very proud of you," Ruby said.

"Why? For finally having the balls to stand up to a bully?"

"He's still your father," Ruby pointed out. "He's always had immense power over you."

"And my mother." He frowned. "I almost think she'd be happier at Dr. French's, but I fear that if she doesn't go home, my father will find some way to make her life worse by moving her to another less salubrious facility."

"You know he would," Ruby agreed. "At least if she is back at the hall, Martha can keep us informed as to her wellbeing."

He nodded, his attention turning to the consumption of his bread and cheese and another cup of tea. As she watched him eat, Ruby's heartrate returned to normal, and a curious sense of wellbeing consumed her.

"I suppose that before I embarked on this crusade to right wrongs and pay off old scores, I should have asked you whether you wished me to." He chased some crumbs around his plate with his finger and didn't look at her. "You might have welcomed the opportunity to dissolve our marriage and run off with Sidney to campaign for votes for women."

"Yes." Ruby nodded slowly as if considering the idea. "It does have some appeal."

He reached across the table, and wrapped his long fingers around her wrist, easily encircling it. "I'm afraid that my appreciation of universal suffrage doesn't extend to you, my dear. You're my wife, I love you, and I cannot imagine letting you go."

She looked up from their joined hands to find his gaze waiting for her. Despite his bold words, there was still a hint of need in his eyes that spoke to her heart.

"Then perhaps we are destined to universally suffer together?" she suggested. "Because I find that I cannot do without you, Dr. Nash."

"And?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Isn't that enough?" Ruby asked.

"That you need me? Not really." His thumb caressed the soft skin of her wrist. "I'd like to hear the words."

In reply, she rose to her feet and made her way upstairs, pausing on the landing to make sure that all was quiet around her before entering the bedroom and lighting a single candle by the side of the bed. By the time Charles joined her, she had taken down her hair and removed all her clothing except her shift. He halted by the door and then closed it behind him.

"You left without finishing our conversation."

She walked toward him and reached up to cup his stubbled chin. "Sometimes actions are better than words."

She eased his coat from his shoulders. The wool was slightly damp and smelled of smoke and coal dust. She began unbuttoning his waistcoat. "I love you, Charles Nash. I didn't mean to. I didn't think I had the capacity to love anyone again, but you proved me wrong." She undid the last button, set his waistcoat aside, and eased his shirt free of his trousers.

His skin slowly emerged from his clothing, and she kissed every exposed inch with loving devotion, aware of his harried breathing and his barely concealed desire to throw her onto the bed and have his way with her.

When he was naked, she took off her shift and pressed herself against him, the hardness of his shaft trapped between their bellies. She wrapped her hands behind his neck until he lowered his head enough to kiss her.

"I know our marriage began as one of convenience, but I would not have found a better man if I'd looked for years."

"I'm not a good man." It amused her immensely that he was trying not to scowl at her. "I'm too honest, I have a tendency to argue, and my father has consistently tried to erase you from my life. Why in God's name are you willing to put up with all that?"

"Because you love me," Ruby said simply. "And I know that you will continue to love me and let me be myself until the end of our days together."

"That's hardly cheerful," Charles objected. "It's true that you have your irritating points, but I'll put up with them, because the thought of not having you in my life is unbearable."

"Then it seems as if we are stuck with each other," Ruby said and kissed him.

"Thank God for that." Charles picked her up, swung her around, and settled her on the side of the bed. He stood between her thighs and leaned over her, his expression intent. "Now can I touch you?"

"Yes, please."

He kissed his way down her throat to her breasts, and she sighed as his teeth grazed her nipple.

He briefly looked up. "I must warn you that I am feeling rather possessive tonight."

"I'm glad to hear it." Ruby scratched her fingernails down his back, making him shudder. "Will you come inside me tonight?"

He went still, his breathing ragged. "Ruby…"

"I've done the calculations you suggested, and I believe the risk of a pregnancy is very low," Ruby said. "I only finished my monthly bleed yesterday."

His hand tightened on her hip. "Would you like me to check your arithmetic?"

It was Ruby's turn to glare at him. "Not right now, thank you."

"Thank God." He cupped her mound, seeking her wetness, pressed three fingers deep, and exhaled. "I hope you're ready for me because I fear I can wait no longer nor promise to be gentle."

In reply, she drew him closer, watching as he pressed his cock home, and then there was nothing but the sensation of him filling her completely and immediately thrusting deep. She came almost instantly, and he groaned, sliding one hand underneath her to cup her buttock and open her even wider. He rolled his hips, bringing his body against hers in such pleasing ways that she gasped his name and climaxed again.

He growled and drew her up onto the bed completely, hooking her heels on his shoulders and pounding into her like a man possessed. Ruby didn't want the sense of being at one with him to stop, but the force of his passion soon had him struggling to hold back the inevitable.

"Come for me. Come inside me." Ruby pressed on his chest. His heart was beating so fast, she could feel it vibrating against her palm. "Please, I want you."

He nodded, his teeth set in a grimace, pushed forward once more, and climaxed in long pulsing waves with a heartrending roar. He collapsed over Ruby, only catching himself with one hand before he crushed her. He buried his face in the pillow beside her and closed his eyes. Ruby turned her head so that she could observe him more closely.

He opened his eyes and stared at her. "That's it. You're mine, now. For good."

She smiled and reached out to touch his aristocratic nose. "And you're mine."

"I've been yours since the day I met you, and you wouldn't stop being disagreeable." His voice was sleepy as he drew her closely against his side.

"I was barely conscious," Ruby countered.

"Still disagreeable, though." He yawned and kissed the top of her head. "Would you mind continuing this conversation tomorrow? I've had a very long day."

Satisfied that they would be arguing the point for years to come, Ruby graciously let him fall asleep. She lay awake for a while, her mind circling through recent events. Sidney's arrival, the earl's machinations—nothing had been completely resolved, but perhaps that was how life went. You simply made the best of it and carried on.

After her disastrous liaison with Sidney, she'd expected an existence dependent on the charity of others, but she'd found so much more. Charles's proposal had changed both of them for the better, and she would always be grateful to him for having the courage to ask. She hadn't expected to come to love him so quickly and to find that love returned.

The last train came behind the house and into Millcastle station, setting off a faint rattle in the windows and the strange humming of the iron tracks. Ruby kissed Charles's shoulder and he muttered something incomprehensible.

At some point they'd have to deal with the matter of the earldom and the implications for their future, but she'd learned not to court trouble. Despite everything, she truly wished the current Earl of Nash a very long life... Long and miserable.