Chapter 10

Olivia would have liked to accompany them, but neither man thought to ask her. She assumed that it was because she was a woman and that it had not occurred to Mr. Strotham that she may be of service. However, Dr. Sinclair knew differently yet this time he did not ask her along.

It was a deep disappointment to be sure. Especially after she and Dr. Sinclair had just spent a good deal of time discussing different possibilities and sharing ideas. While it was horrible what had happened to Lady Clermont, Olivia enjoyed the challenge of unraveling the mystery. And, oddly enough, she enjoyed doing so with Dr. Sinclair.

The conversation was quite invigorating as they asked questions to which neither truly had answers yet discussed and dismissed different possibilities. He treated her as an equal, as if her mind was as sharp as his and it was beyond enjoyable. That is, until he left with Strotham without a thought for her.

Well, just because they did not include her did not mean that Olivia could not call on Lady Clermont herself.

Except, nobody should be visiting during Lady Clermont’s confinement, and they wouldn’t have earlier if she had not been drugged and dumped along the banks of the River Thames.

Olivia paced the parlor and pondered her options. She was certain that Lady Clermont may be more open when speaking with a woman, even if Sinclair was a doctor. Further, they could not afford to wait the appropriate time for Lady Clermont to receive visitors before gaining further answers. Someone had drugged her and if they were not found, anything could happen to her. Therefore, Olivia decided to ignore convention and would call on the viscountess herself and without the permission of the investigator or Dr. Sinclair.

Thankfully, when Olivia did arrive at the Mayfair home, neither Sinclair nor Strotham were about, and after the housekeeper recognized Olivia from earlier, showed her to the back parlor.

“James told me that you know the truth of our son,” Lady Clermont announced after tea had been delivered and the door shut to give them privacy.

Olivia looked closely at the tea, then sniffed it to make certain it was simply tea as claimed, before taking a sip. “Yes, I do,” Olivia answered.

The viscountess swiped a tear. “Poor Eve. I cannot imagine how she suffered so. Childbirth has always been easy for me, delivering a son, however, was not.”

Olivia frowned. Was Lady Clermont sympathetic to her husband’s mistress?

“I do not believe that my husband told you everything.”

“I am certain that he did,” Olivia countered. “It is not necessary that you discuss what must be a painful situation with me.”

Lady Clermont looked up when there was a knock on the parlor door. “Come!” she called.

It slowly opened and in walked Mr. Strotham and Dr. Sinclair. Olivia had hoped that she could have this visit without them knowing until it was over. But now that they were here, they were likely to send her on her way like a disobedient child.

“Mr. Strotham and Dr. Sinclair, please come in and close the door.”

Dr. Sinclair hiked a brow of curiosity when he noted Olivia sitting across from the viscountess as the investigator frowned.

“Have you learned what happened and why I cannot remember anything?” she asked.

“I have,” Dr. Sinclair answered.

“What?” Lady Clermont asked anxiously.

He hesitated, then explained what he suspected.

“Drugged?” Her eyes were wide as she searched the faces of Olivia, Dr. Sinclair, and Strotham. “Are you certain?”

“May I?” He indicated to the tea service and Lady Clermont poured him a cup. Dr. Sinclair thanked her then turned away before opening his medical bag. Olivia could not see what he was doing, but when he turned around, he offered his cup to Lady Clermont. “Please take a small sip and tell me if it resembles the tea that you drank.”

She accepted the cup and looked down, then her eyes shifted to Olivia. “A very small sip will not harm you. I promise.”

“Very well.” She placed the cup to her lips then took a small sip. She winced as her nose wrinkled and then spat the tea back into the cup.

“Is that the bitter taste you experienced the night you were taken from your home?”

“Yes, but stronger, I believe.”

“Laudanum was put into your tea, and likely enough to keep you out for a good long time.”

“Who or why?”

“We had hoped that you might be able to shed light on who would want you out of the house, or away from your husband.”

Lady Clermont brought a hand to her throat. “I cannot imagine who…or why…”

“Perhaps your husband,” Strotham suggested.

“Of course not,” she promptly responded.

“I am to understand yours was not a pleasant marriage.”

Lady Clermont frowned. “I can assure you that whoever provided such information is wrong.”

Olivia wasn’t so certain, as she was privy to what the viscount had told her as to why he had sought a mistress.

“Yours was an arranged marriage, was it not?” Strotham continued.

“That does not mean that we do not love one another.”

The viscountess refused to believe that her husband could be guilty.

“My husband would never harm me. On that you have my word.”

“You were drugged and taken from your home, which is kidnapping. We have yet to deduce a reason why or who.”

“Yes, well, it was not my husband.”

Olivia sipped her tea and pondered the matter. Why hadn’t kidnapping occurred to her? They had assumed it was someone who wanted to harm Lady Clermont.

“Could we have it wrong? What if it was a matter of ransom but matters did not proceed as intended so they left Lady Clermont behind?”

“If one takes enough laudanum, it can make the breathing so light that one may think the person has stopped breathing. If they thought her dead, they may have left her behind,” Dr. Sinclair offered.

The investigator stroked his chin in thought. “It is a possibility that I had not considered, which means I will need to review what I know before I question the servants further.” He turned to Dr. Sinclair. “Would you like me to give you a lift?”

“I will remain with Lady Olivia.”

“Good day Lady Clermont, Lady Olivia.”

Once he took his leave, Xavier crossed and closed the door so that they might speak privately.

“Do you truly think it was an attempted kidnapping for ransom?”

“We do not know,” Dr. Sinclair answered, but it was worth considering.

Her hands shook as she placed her cup back into the saucer and set it on the table. “It makes more sense than suspecting my husband, as I know he would never harm me.”

Olivia glanced at Dr. Sinclair, and she knew by his narrowed eyes, that he too was considering the viscount even though he had been certain earlier that he’d not had any involvement.

“Can you be certain?” Dr. Sinclair asked.

“I know that you, along with Lady Olivia, are aware of the circumstances and I assume you have not shared those details with the investigator.”

“Yes, and no, I have not.”

“The truth is necessary to free my husband from your suspicions. I only ask that you keep the confidence. He has said and done everything out of protection for me.”

“How can you be so certain?” Dr. Sinclair demanded.

“Because he loves me as I love him. James would never harm me,” she insisted.

A gentleman who loves his wife does not take a mistress. In normal circumstances, Olivia would assume that the wife didn’t know, except in this case there was a child. Was Lady Clermont simply more na?ve than most?

“Many reprehensible acts have occurred despite proclamations of love,” Dr. Sinclair insisted.

“It was not my husband,” Lady Clermont insisted.

“Give me another reason besides love and I might believe you.”

Lady Clermont took a deep breath. She looked first to Olivia and then Dr. Sinclair.

“As a viscount, my husband needs an heir and I despaired at giving my husband a son.” Lady Clermont gave a sad smile and looked at Olivia. “You may have noticed that there is a striking resemblance between Eve and me.”

The two did share the same coloring and some similar facial features.

“I had known Miss Eve from her first year in Society, before she was ruined. She confided in me when I happened to see her in the flower market of Covent Garden. She also divulged that her ruination made it impossible to find a husband, or a position as a governess, and knew that it was only a matter of time before she would be forced to accept the protection of a gentleman, as it was far preferable than her other options.”

“You could have offered her a position in your household,” Sinclair suggested.

“I did,” Lady Clermont declared. “We were soon going to need a governess, and I thought Miss Eve would do quite nicely. But she feared that if anybody learned she was in our household that it would reflect poorly on the family. We tried to tell her that we did not care but she would hear none of it. When she met our daughters, I had hoped that that would convince her, but it did not.”

Olivia began to suspect that Miss Eve may have never been truthful with her.

“On what did she have to base this opinion?” Dr. Sinclair asked.

“She had already been turned away from other homes where she sought employment for the very reason of her ruination and they did not wish to have her influence over their children or be a temptation to older sons. That is when she asked my husband about a gentleman who might wish to be her protector.”

“She did this while you were sitting there?” Sinclair asked.

“No. Miss Eve had returned to our home and had asked for a private audience with my husband. I had hoped she had changed her mind about being a governess and listened outside the door. A gentleman had offered to be her protector and she trusted my husband enough to tell her the truth as to what kind of man he was.”

“Did your husband offer himself instead?” Olivia asked.

“I am the one who offered him.”

Stunned silence followed as Lady Clermont smoothed her hands over her gown.

“As I said, there was a striking resemblance between Miss Eve and myself. I had only given my husband daughters and he needed an heir. I suggested that he be her protector and if a male child was born of their arrangement, I would raise him as my own. In turn, we would support Miss Eve. We provided a home, servants, transportation, clothing…there was nothing that she did not have.” A sad smile came to Lady Clermont’s lips. “I had to talk my husband into this plan. He was fully against the idea, but I reminded him of how desperately he needed an heir.”

“Society and servants would have known if you suddenly appeared with a child when you had not been…well…confined,” Dr. Sinclair reminded her.

“I was willing to return to the country and remain a recluse if necessary.”

Olivia wanted to believe her, and it was an easy tale for now since it had not been necessary. Would a wife have really made such a sacrifice?

“Miss Eve was also hesitant, but she knew that this would bring her security until she hopefully conceived and at least until the child was born. She would then be given a large sum, enough that she could travel and set herself up somewhere else and start anew. It was not long after the agreement was reached that I learned that I was with child. My husband decided to end his relationship with Eve, but still provide for her in the event that I once again provided a daughter. If I did, then we would make the same arrangement in hopes of her delivering a son. However, when my husband went to tell her the news, he learned that she was also increasing. Not much time had passed so we likely became with child within days of the other, which was proven when her son arrived a day after our daughter.”

“This did not bother you that your husband was going to her?” Olivia asked.

“Yes, it did,” the viscountess answered. “I was eaten with jealousy even though it had been my plan and a necessity.”

“Most gentlemen do not take such drastic steps when an heir is needed,” Dr. Sinclair stated. “Was there no heir apparent?”

“Yes. A wastrel cousin!” Bitterness laced her tone. “My husband”s title, wealth and estate would go to him, and my daughters and I would have been left destitute if something happened to James. His cousin took great delight each time I had a daughter. Now we have a son, and he will be the next Viscount Clermont, therefore my family is protected.”

“So, your husband would spend time with you and then he would spend time with Miss Eve,” Dr. Sinclair clarified. “I cannot believe how accepting you are of this.”

“Please do not judge us, Dr. Sinclair. You know nothing of my husband’s family and why we were so desperate for a son. You come from a family of five brothers so your father never feared that there would not be an heir.”

“I apologize,” Dr. Sinclair murmured. “Most families have deep secrets, and I should not judge you.”

“After we learned that Eve was increasing, my husband still visited to check on her health. He assured me that they only carried on in a friendly manner, such as discussions and dinner. There was no more intimacy.”

Olivia wasn”t certain she would be so trusting.

“When Eve disappeared, we were desperate. She carried our child.”

“It was her child as well,” Dr. Sinclair reminded her.

“Yes. I know. But we had an agreement, and she changed her mind.”

“By chance did you put this agreement in writing?” Dr. Sinclair asked.

“No. We could not risk anyone learning the truth and a document would be evidence.”

“What if she would have had a daughter?” Olivia asked.

“We would continue to support her and the daughter. My husband had looked at cottages in the country and found one that he would purchase for her so that they could live in peace. Had she wished to leave the country and begin anew, such as America where nobody knew her, we would have provided the passage and the funds.”

“And all association with Miss Eve and her daughter would come to an end?” Dr. Sinclair asked.

“Yes,” she answered. “We grew desperate wondering what had happened to Eve and the child. Had my husband not been confronted by you and Dr. Valentine that evening, we may have never learned what had become of them.” Lady Clermont lifted her teacup and took a sip. “So, you see, my husband has no reason to harm me. He brought home a son and I have accepted the child as my own and I will convince Society that I had twins. We can now live at peace and no longer fear the future of our children.”

“Some of your servants claim that you have been despondent over the years and more recently in the months leading up to the birth of your child,” Dr. Sinclair stated.

“Of course I have been. Each time I delivered a daughter, a depression came over me. I know my duty was to provide an heir, and my anxiety only increased when Eve disappeared. For obvious reasons I could not explain to anyone why I was overset.”

“I have also been informed that the two of you have been heard arguing often,” Sinclair continued as if he were interrogating her, as if he didn’t trust what Lady Clermont was telling them.

It was rather fanciful, but with Eve gone, they would not be able to question her as to the truth of the matter.

“We have passionate discussions. Most of it came out of frustration and worry. My husband has been nothing but kind to me even when I continually failed him. He took up with Eve at my insistence and to protect his family.”

“It is likely that Society will learn the truth one day,” Sinclair said.

“Not if I can help it, and not if you do not say anything.” Lady Clermont stared him in the eye. “That child is still my husband’s son, and should be his heir, despite how he came to be.”

A moment later the door opened and in stepped Viscount Clermont. “Is all well?” He looked at his wife, his eyes full of concern.

“I have told them the full truth, James, so they can stop suspecting you.”

He closed the door and came forward, then settled on the settee next to his wife and took her hand. “I had only wished to protect you. Nobody thinks ill of a man who takes a mistress, but a wife who….”

She placed her finger against his lips. “We did what was necessary.”

In that moment, Olivia knew without a doubt that the viscount had not been the one who had tried to harm Lady Clermont. There was too much love between them. So much that it made her heart ache.

“Do you believe her?” Xavier asked after he and Lady Olivia were once again in her carriage.

“Yes.”

“I cannot imagine that a woman would actually offer her husband to another woman and then claim the child as her own despite the circumstances.”

“Not all women speak the truth when it comes to their children.” Lady Olivia frowned as she glanced away from him. “Did you know that my mother was French?” she asked quietly.

“I did not.” Nor did he understand what that had to do with the current conversation.

“She was older than my father and met him when he was in Paris on holiday. It was a grand passion, or so my grandparents were told, and the two married quite soon after meeting and before returning to England. My mother was also increasing by then.” She gave a sad smile. “Peter, father’s favorite son.”

Except, the Earl of Norbright was Gabriel Westbrook, not Peter.

“My brother, Gabe, was especially close to mother, and Peter was to father. My sister and I, well, we were ignored by everyone but Gabe.” She looked at Xavier. “My mother claimed that she could only be certain that Peter belonged to our father. She was uncertain as to who fathered the rest of us.”

Shock filled his being at her blunt statement. “I did not know…” What did one say when a woman admitted to being born on the wrong side of the blanket. Was that the true reason why she had not wed? “I am sorry, I…” This must also be why she was more sympathetic to the decisions that the viscountess had made.

“I am not finished,” she interrupted.

“Mother hated my father. She used him so that she could move to England without suspicion. She in truth, hoped to be a French spy in England, though I do not believe she ever learned any secrets. She raised Peter to love France and hate England and hoped that he would become the spy that she had tried to be. While father and Peter were close, father believed that Peter and mother did not get on well when they were secretly in league for the French. Mother kept Gabe close so that he did not grow suspicious. She had determined while he was still young that he would never turn against his country no matter what she said. However, she did manipulate him by insisting that her husband was cruel and that was why she’d taken other lovers.”

Good God. He had witnessed manipulation before, but to explain away infidelity and bastards in a way that was acceptable was beyond the pale.

Yet, Lady Clermont had done the same, but for different reasons.

“Gabe believed her because father had always treated him with cold disdain. That was likely because mother claimed that someone else had fathered Gabe. Father may not have liked his wife, but he did not appreciate being a cuckold either and in a bitter rage one evening, Father threw mother down the stairs, which resulted in her death, and then shot himself. Peter became earl and kicked Gabe, me, and my sister from the estate.”

Xavier could not believe that Lady Olivia was telling him something so personal. If anyone knew, then her brother would no longer be the Earl of Norbright, just as Clermont’s son should never inherit.

He also wanted to reach out to her and take her in his arms and offer what comfort he could. What she had experienced in her childhood must have been very traumatic.

“We learned later that mother had fabricated the entire thing to anger her husband and gain sympathy from Gabe. In her diaries was the truth of why she told such lies, and Peter even confirmed, before his death, that Gabe was the true earl and that Peter had already been conceived when Father met Mother in Paris. He was the one born on the wrong side of the blanket, not that it mattered, as he had been born during the marriage, but the rest of us did share the same father, the person married to our mother.”

All Xaviar could do was stare at her.

“Based on my own history, I do believe that Lady Clermont would claim that son as her own to protect her family.”

“What became of your eldest brother?”

“He was killed when he thought to kill Gabriel.”

The carriage came to a stop before Xavier’s home.

“I do hope that you will keep what I have told you a secret. Few know the truth.”

Xavier couldn’t help himself and wanted to offer comfort, which was the only reason he reached out and took her hand. “Of course, Lady Olivia. I would never speak out of turn, especially if it involved you.”

She grasped his hand back and looked into his eyes. “I simply wanted you to understand that some women would go to great lengths to gain what they want or need.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

He stepped out of the carriage, still shocked by what she had told him.

“However, you should know that I am nothing like my mother.”

Xavier nearly chuckled. “Nor had I even considered the possibility.”

With that, Lady Olivia offered him a brilliant smile. “Good day, Dr. Sinclair.”

“Good day, Lady Olivia.”

He stared after the carriage as it pulled into traffic. What had her childhood been like to carry the burden that she was born on the wrong side of the blanket even when she had not been? Had she even known?

She must have, but it was another secret that had been kept from Society, proving that it was possible to do so.

Xavier also trusted what Lady Clermont had told them, and that her husband was innocent. He was only guilty of infidelity. However, that still didn’t answer the question as to who had set out to harm the viscountess in the first place.

Xavier left his hat with the butler then went to his library and placed his medical bag on his desk. He’d begun to take it with him these past few days while assisting Valentine.

Supposedly Strotham was still investigating, but he still had not questioned the kitchen servants and the longer this investigation took, the longer Lady Clermont may be in danger. It also left Xavier with little to do. He wandered through his library and glanced at the books on the shelves and then the papers he had once been in the process of writing but no longer had an interest in finishing.

He then went to where Dr. Valentine treated patients, but he was not in, leaving Xavier once again to wonder what he should do with himself.

This had never happened before. His hours had once been filled with research and study. Sometimes he forgot to eat and got little sleep. Those past interests held no allure. What did was trying to solve who had tried to harm Lady Clermont. Therefore, he returned home and compiled a list of everyone who had been in the Clermont home that night, as he knew them, and the potential reasons as to why someone would want Lady Clermont kidnapped or simply harmed, or worse.

Unfortunately, the only thing he knew for certain was that a man was involved. It would have been impossible for any of the women he had encountered in the household to carry an unconscious Lady Clermont down the stairs and place her in a carriage.

When Xavier awoke the following morning, he had hoped for a better perspective into the mystery, but it had not come.

This puzzle was maddening and engrossed him as his studies had once done.

His first thought was to call on Lady Olivia. Between the two of them, they had deduced much after their first visit with Clermont and his wife, and Xavier was anxious to ask Lady Olivia her thoughts on the matter.

He also couldn’t help but chuckle. After this past autumn, the last person he would have wanted to discuss any thought with was Lady Olivia. She had wounded his pride, but it had been his own fault for being ruled by his own arrogance as well as fear that he’d not be able to help his sister.

Now, he looked for a reason to return to Westbrook House. Accompanying Dr. Valentine had been an easy excuse. Did he dare call on Lady Olivia without a reason other than he wished to discuss potential villains?

And with that question, an insecurity that he had never experienced in his life rose within. If he went alone, Xavier feared that she’d dismiss him. Therefore, he needed to be with Dr. Valentine.

Xavier quickly prepared for the day and then went to the residence where Dr. Valentine saw patients, only to learn that he had been called away and would likely not return for another day or two.

For a moment Xavier wondered what he should do. He needed to see Lady Olivia.

Ah ha! There were ill children, so if Valentine could not see to their care, then he would.

At least it was an excuse that would allow him to visit Westbrook House again and he grasped for it before he hailed a hackney.

A nervousness came upon Xavier as he stepped from the hackney and made his way to the entry of Westbrook House.

He did not know the cause, or perhaps he did, but Xavier did not want to examine it too thoroughly. All he knew was that since he had encountered Dr. Valentine a few nights ago and accompanied him to Westbrook House, much had been altered in Xavier’s life, including his desire to come to know Lady Olivia so much better.

Further, he was alive with anticipation for what could be learned from the investigation, invigorated to become a surgeon, and delighted to spend time with a woman who had once irritated him.

Life was grand indeed.