Chapter One

October 2, 1819

Aldridge House

London, England

Elliott Thorne—Viscount Aldridge—blew out a breath as he sat in the drawing room. He stared into the contents of his teacup as if that beverage would suddenly give him the answers that he sought, but when words weren't forthcoming, he glanced to the open windows. Still too early in the autumn for cooler air, the draft coming into the room was pleasant enough.

Three days ago, he turned one and forty, which brought home just how limited the remainder of his time on this mortal coil was. Within the last four months, he had been awarded an earlship from Prinny for services rendered to the Crown. After the serial killer case he'd worked behind the scenes with Thad—his best friend and new brother-in-law—he had gone on to puzzle out three other cases by himself. One was highly sensitive and had to do with the daughter of a marquess that needed to be kept secret for it was quite a scandalous affair and put the Regent in a terribly bad light. Once it had concluded and the girl brought home to London, Elliott had been given a new title of the Earl of Foxborough, which had come with a substantial monetary gift, so he bought an estate and two hundred acres of land in the Surrey countryside, which he would then make his new country home. Eventually, he would pass the property already owned in Derbyshire on to a son, should he ever have one. More exciting—or stressful depending—the title was hereditary, which meant he could pass it on to that theoretical son.

A property which he had yet to visit or introduce himself to the staff and tenants.

"Damn but I'm already exhausted." Though he adored his position at the Home Office where he assigned cases to the various spies and agents in his network, he had begun to wonder if he could continue on with that position as well as keep up with the ever-changing responsibilities his title—and the new one—entailed. Even having an estate manager in his employ, he would need more help to take on everything new.

To say nothing of the fact that it was more important—and vital—than ever that he find a woman of decent bloodlines and make inroads into starting his nursery shortly after the wedding.

"You must be halfway to the grave if you've taken to talking to yourself, brother dear." Amusement filled his sister Lily's voice as she came into the room, for she was late to have tea with him. As she settled onto a chair near to his, she rested a hand on the small swell of her belly, for she was enceinte. Her babe was due in just under five months, and never had he seen her so exquisitely happy. Even now, she positively glowed as she waited on him to pour out a cup of tea for her. "Thank you," she said when he gave it over.

"Where is your husband? I invited you both."

She shrugged but humor danced in her eyes. "Thad is consulting on a case for the Home Office. Wasn't he given the hint by you?" In the marigold gown, the golden flecks in her eyes were more evident. Her dark brown hair, in a simple updo, gave her the look of a woman more than satisfied with her life.

"Right." He rubbed a hand along the side of his face. "I did mention it to him in the event he might wish to take a look. It seemed an odd case, which is what he excels at." Since Lily married Thad Carrington earlier that year, his friend had made a promise to her that he wouldn't work full time for the Home Office.

To give him credit, he'd kept that promise. Now he'd only consulted on a handful of cases, which meant he was available to be home in order to spend time with Lily.

A stab of jealousy went through Elliott's chest. The man had everything he'd ever wanted from life—he'd long admired Lily—and ordinarily, Elliott wouldn't have minded, but since the autumn had arrived, he'd got to thinking, which was always a bad idea.

"I am throwing a house party at the new Surrey property at the end of the month," he said suddenly into the silence that had sprung up between them.

"I beg your pardon?" Surprise reflected in his sister's eyes. "I thought I heard you say you are hosting a party. And you never do that. Entertaining is not your forte."

How much did he both adore and despise his sister's penchant for plain speaking? "Yes, well, I've come ‘round to thinking that it's time I settled into the business of taking a wife."

"That's wonderful!" Lily fairly bounced in her seat. "I cannot wait to see where this will lead you."

"Perhaps, but I suspect I'm quite too old for such things as flirting and courting."

"Gammon. Every man knows how to flirt." She uttered an unladylike snort of laughter then took a sip of tea. "Thad is the same age as you. Now look at him. Happily married and a father-to-be. There is hope for you."

"True." He didn't begrudge his friend the relationship, for both he and Lily had earned it after a madman serial killer had tried to end her life, resulting in Thad's brilliant rescue. "Yet, I have less confidence in that arena now than I did as a younger man."

"Don't worry about that. Once you find the right woman, you'll know exactly what to do. Of course, you might cock up the words, but hopefully she'll think you adorable." She took another sip of tea. "Also, you do need an heir."

"True again, but putting that uppermost in my mind adds more pressure."

With a huff, Lily pointed her gaze to the ceiling before resting it on him once more. "Only if you keep thinking of an end result. I've been married twice. It isn't like you see in stories or plays at the opera house." She rested her free hand on her belly. No doubt it was a novel experience having a babe grow inside her. "There is work involved and that requires honesty as well as the ability to compromise. Sometimes you won't see eye-to-eye and sometimes there will be arguments, but you cannot walk away. You must work through them."

"I'm not above such a thing, and I know how to compromise." Again, he stared into the contents of his teacup. There were still no answers forthcoming.

Lily's tinkling laughter echoed in the room. "Oh? For as long as I've known you, you have been arrogant and selfish and spend most of your time hiding in that hole you call an office at Whitehall." She grinned at him. "There is more to life than spying on people who you think are spying on England. It is past time for you to change your focus. Perhaps retire."

"Retire? Bite your tongue." His sister was far too intelligent for her own good. "Can I help it if I enjoy what I do?"

"Or you rather feel you might be lost if you're not constantly attached to the Home Office and the spy network for England," she added in a soft voice. "If I didn't know better, I would suspect you are hiding from something."

Was that true? "Hiding from what?"

She shrugged. "Whatever it is that you haven't yet dealt with. Something apparently stuck in your mind over the years you have ignored, but it's been picking at you. Men always have something."

"Ah." Elliott didn't wish to think about that, for if he did, that certain something would come screaming out of the shadows from where he'd thrust it, and he might have to take responsibility for his part. "Being with the Home Office has long been my life's pursuit, and a natural progression after being a spy for many years." The fact that he had indeed been a spy was another secret that he—and anyone who knew it—kept, for society didn't trust gentlemen who lied, even if spying was for the benefit of King and Country.

It was all rather complicated and oftentimes disappointing.

"Perhaps, but Whitehall won't be there when you need the comforting arms of someone around you in the dark." She leveled a speaking glance on him and then finished the tea in her cup. "Quite frankly, you are running out of time. Papa expired fairly early in his life. I rather hope you do not follow in his footsteps."

Another truth. Their father had succumbed to a disease of the lungs and perished in London instead of where he'd always hoped to die at the Aldridge county seat in Derbyshire. He heaved a sigh. "What am I to do?"

"What you must." She gave him a look of sympathy. "Go ahead with your plans for the house party and ball. There are plenty of matchmaking mamas who will shove their daughters in your path. Especially now that you are an earl."

"Uck. I don't wish to marry a chit twenty years my junior." Which is generally what happened when a man reached his age, and all the women of that age were also married. "How would I even interact with someone romantically with such a difference in seemingly everything?" It seemed far too much effort on his part.

"Why are you making this more difficult than it is? Find someone older. Perhaps a widow." A hint of exasperation rang in her voice. "Widows would be more likely to put up with men of your ilk… but then again, perhaps they wouldn't."

Elliott nodded even as unease twisted down his spine. "An experienced woman is better than an innocent."

"You only think that because you don't have the patience to try and keep up with a younger woman. She could give you a new outlook on life."

"As if I'm truly teetering on the edge of my grave?" Elliott waved a hand in dismissal. "Did I hassle you this much when you were sneaking around with Thad before he came up to scratch?"

"You were an ogre, attempted to keep us apart, but you already know that you were. Don't try to distract me." This time, she rolled her eyes as if he were the biggest nodcock she'd ever had the misfortune of speaking with. "Is there not a woman from your past you might rekindle a relationship with? For how close you and I are, you have told me next to nothing about that part of your life."

"Some of that history isn't fit for genteel ears." He'd had a string of mistresses over the years, but none of them were marriage material.

"Ah, you chased scandalous women for the thrill of having a mistress you could squire about and show off." Lily shook her head as if she were disappointed in him. "Yet you were too cowardly to make a real commitment to any of them."

"It's what titled men of the beau monde do."

"Papa didn't. Thad didn't." She arched an eyebrow. "Regardless, think back into your murky past of even murkier youth. Was there ever a woman who got away and married someone else because you hesitated?" Her eyes were a touch too bright. How much of his history did she truly know? Or worse, how much of it had Thad told her since they'd wed? "If you already had dealings with her then it might make things easier now."

"I shall think about it."

Yet the conversation jogged his memory. Yes, Thad was his best friend, but he'd also had another close friend nearly twenty years ago, had met him through his military connections. They'd fallen out of favor over a woman who they both admired. Eventually, his friend had won said lady's hand, and Elliott hadn't given way gracefully. They'd had words, nearly a duel at a long-ago house party. Then they both returned to spy work with the harsh words that had been said lingering between them. He'd lost the girl while his friend had married her.

Once Elliott gained his position at the Home Office, he'd been the one to assign the man to a post where his life was put at risk and he was poisoned, which had essentially ended his career. He'd survived and went home to concentrate on his marriage.

Unfortunately, the news that he had died a year or so ago had reached Elliott's ears through the gossip mill. Apparently, he'd died of complications that might have been brought on by the initial poisoning, but there was no way for anyone to be certain.

Which meant his wife—Lavinia—was a widow, and therefore free.

"I can practically see you thinking," Lily said, and the sound of her voice wrenched him from his thoughts. "So there is a woman, hmm?"

Heat crept up the back of his neck. "Perhaps."

Lily gasped. "Did you love her? Is that what you're hiding from?"

"No, I'm not hiding from her. She is naught but a memory, and as for love?" He shrugged. "It was a long time ago, so I will need to ponder the possibilities, if any. Such things are complicated." Should he invite Lavinia to the house party? It was a risk, for he hadn't seen either of them since the argument all those years ago.

But now Adam was dead.

Sadness stabbed through his chest, for he would have liked to make amends with the man. Had he even known he'd been sick, would he have gone to see him? From last he remembered, Adam had made a home with Lavinia somewhere in a quiet neighborhood in Mayfair. It wouldn't have been a hassle to call.

I should have called.

But his damned pride had prevented such forgiveness. Adam hadn't made an effort, so why should he?

There was every possibility Lavinia would refuse to see him anyway, but there was always the chance she would agree to come. "Perhaps you can help me put together a guest list. I'm rubbish at such things and have no time besides."

"Truly, you need to hire a secretary in addition to a second estate manager. Once the baby arrives, I won't be able to fill that position as readily as I have been." Again, she patted her hand on her belly. Was she even aware she did so? If she'd dressed in a different gown, the pregnancy wouldn't be noticeable. The look on her face was angelic. Was she thinking about the babe and wondering what sort of child it would be? "However, I would be happy to assist with the upcoming house party and ball planning. It will give me something to concentrate on that isn't worry over actually birthing the babe."

"I would imagine that isn't pleasant, but please don't work yourself into anxiety." He rested an ankle on a knee, but now that she'd mentioned it, he would worry over that too. "Thad will be with you, and I will as well."

"While I know you meant that to be comforting, but I am the only one who will go through the trauma of childbirth as well as the pain." When she looked at him, a trace of fear shadowed in her eyes. "I am responsible for bringing new life into the world, and that has the power to steal my breath, to keep me in terror, and I have nearly five more months to go. To say nothing of the fact that I am older in years than many women birthing babies."

"You are not yet ancient, dearest." How to answer her? He reached out and clasped her free hand. "Try not to think of what might go wrong. Focus, instead, on being able to hold your babe in your arms, to present the little one to your husband, and see the joy in his eyes."

Lily's own eyes welled with tears. "I will certainly try."

"Good." Elliott's chest constricted with concern and jealousy. Though he didn't want to lose his sister to something that took far too many lives each year, he wanted such contentment in his own life. He wanted to have something to look forward to such as filling his own nursery. For far too long, he'd been alone when it came to companionship outside of the bedroom, but his life's choices had guaranteed he would be on his own. First with the military, then as a spy. Such work demanded fidelity only to his country. For the past few years, his position at Whitehall demanded he keep his own counsel and hold the secrets he'd been entrusted close to his chest. Which necessitated him going through life alone. Well, he had grown weary of that, but Lily was right. There was more to life than toiling for King and Country, and he needed to make inroads into chasing a romance.

Perhaps there might be love at the end.

But fate had never been so kind to him.

"Truly, this is all too much." If he wished to have a love like his sister's, he needed to find a woman he might rub along well enough with to court. A megrim formed in his temples. "Perhaps I shouldn't host a house party or harvest ball."

"Don't be a coward, Elliott." Lily shook her head. "Marriage will be good for you, and I will enjoy having a sister-in-law." Her grin steadily grew the longer she looked at him. "Besides, there is so much freedom for trysting while in the country, especially at harvest time. So many places to hide!" She gave him a wink, and another swath of heat rushed up the back of his neck. "It's romantic and then you can determine if you will be well and truly matched with a woman."

"Why is it always scandal with you?" Then another thought occurred that brought a round of mortification through his chest. "Please don't tell me you and Thad are naughty around Town."

"All right." She shrugged but amusement danced in her eyes. "I won't tell you, but I will say that some spontaneity in a marriage or even a relationship, does wonders for keep things fresh and exciting, and having… relations in a carriage brings another level of enhancement to the act."

"Stop." He held up a hand. "I don't want to hear more. I won't hear more. What you and my best friend do to each other under the guise of romance needs to remain between the two of you."

Lily giggled. "Spoilsport. Thad can give you some advice regarding women and what they like—"

"Enough!" He tempered the shout with a grin. "I'm happy to be less worldly over having nightmares." Elliott shook his head. "Will you come to the house party, then?"

"I would except we're visiting with one of Thad's brothers, whose wife is expecting her fourth child at the end of the month. I promised I would be there, for obvious reasons, and I'm hoping that witnessing a birth will put me more at ease for what to expect when it's my own time." She refreshed the contents of her teacup. "However, if you are in need of support, I will cancel our plans. I'd rather go to Wynneham Hall because it's closer to London than where Thad's brother resides."

"I understand. At some point I'll need to move our belongings from Aldridge Hall to Wynneham." God, what a chore that would be. Wynneham Hall was what he called the manor house in Surrey that had come with his new title of earl. It had been their mother's maiden name, and in this way, he could honor her with property that could be handed down. And Surrey was much closer to London than Derbyshire was. "I suppose I shall have to suffer through by myself."

"You poor thing." Lily snorted with laughter. "Go have your fun. I shall help write out your invitations. No doubt you have a book of addresses somewhere in your study, but I suspect you will find your own entertainment once at the property. And if all goes well, I'm expecting a letter soon saying that you've lost your mind and proposed to someone who you wish to wed immediately."

"From your lips to God's ears."

Let me hope romance is the only thing I'll find.