Chapter 34

CHAPTER34

Adam awoke to the weight of someone in his lap and the strangling sensation of an arm around his neck. Something wet fluttered against his cheek, his hearing agitated by the shrill sound of someone cackling.

“Do you think he has seen enough yet?” a grating woman’s voice asked, so close to him, it was like a razor in his ear.

“Best carry on for a few more minutes,” came the reply, spoken in an all-too-familiar voice. “We want Mr. White to believe it is legitimate.”

The woman huffed out a sigh. “This is humiliating, Harry, and I rather think you are enjoying yourself too much.”

“Do you want Mr. White to hear your complaints? Just do as you have been told,” Harry snapped. “The windows are not very thick.”

“You are the one shouting,” the woman muttered, her voice becoming familiar.

Miss Catherine Eastleigh.

So, she arrived at last, didn’t she?

Adam urged his senses and limbs to begin working again. His legs and arms felt weighed down, but he could just about wiggle his toes and fingertips again, and he could hold his neck up by himself once more.

“But, what if it does not work?” Miss Eastleigh grumbled. “What if His Grace denies it all? I have not exactly been innocent these past years. You say no one will believe him, but what if no one believes me?”

“They will,” Harry insisted. “Mr. White is a man I trust to tell the juiciest gossip. He will write a piece so shocking that Society itself will be in uproar. Only for a short while, of course, and then we can begin our lives together in some far-flung corner of the world where the liquor is strong, the food is exceptional, and the women are eager to please.”

The weight lifted off Adam’s lap, and through blurry eyes, he saw Miss Eastleigh walk to the center of the parlor. “You do not care for me at all, do you? Why would you want him to write a piece ‘so shocking that Society itself will be in uproar’? All we need is Adam’s money. That is what you said. You said nothing about my name being dragged through the mud so viciously that I will likely never be able to show my face in Society again.”

“I was exaggerating,” Harry hurried to say. “Mr. White will make it seem as if you are a mostly innocent victim. What I meant was, they will be in uproar over Adam, not you. He will lose his wife, any respectability he had managed to cling onto, and all of his business associates. Indeed, no one will want to be associated with him. That is where we shall thrive, my darling, for I have a list of his associates, and with his money, I can take over where he left off. We shall be wealthy, indeed, my love.”

Miss Eastleigh folded her arms across her chest. “If it had not been for that woman, I might be married to the Duke in her stead.” She pouted. “Goodness, why did I hide so well from him?”

“Do not say that,” Harry barked, entering Adam’s line of sight. He had a glass of brandy in his hand, filled almost to the brim, and it did not look like his first. “After all I have done for you, all I have orchestrated on your behalf, do not say that. Indeed, once we have his money, you are never to utter his name again.”

A cold smile crept onto Miss Eastleigh’s face. “You are not jealous, are you?”

“Of course not!” Harry snarled. “Why would I be jealous of a man who is just like every other man I have ever met? He claimed he would never marry, boasted about his bachelorhood from the top of his lungs, and then fell in love with the wretched creature he was forced to wed. It’s… it’s pitiful!”

Miss Eastleigh’s smile softened, turning sad. “Love does not sound like such a terrible thing.” She glanced back at Adam, who squeezed his eyes shut, pretending to be unconscious still. “I almost feel sorry for what I have done. Why, he encouraged me when he found me with Mr. Kingston, when you would have been furious, letting loose the green-eyed monster.”

“Well, you did behave despicably,” Harry huffed. “And where did it get you? Humiliated in the scandal sheets—engaged and cast aside in a matter of weeks. That is pitiful.”

Miss Eastleigh scowled at him. “What choice did I have? You vanished when you heard about the child, and I knew I could not persuade His Grace that the child was his, for we had not lain together. What is worse, I hadto keep delaying an encounter with him because of you.”

“Because of me?” Harry scoffed.

“You were at every ball and gathering that His Grace attended. You would not speak to me, nor would you leave His Grace alone. I could not get him by himself without you appearing at his side and steering him away like a jealous schoolboy with unrequited feelings.” Miss Eastleigh straightened up. “Nor could I guarantee that you would not tell His Grace that the child was yours. So, when I happened upon Mr. Kingston, I seized my opportunity. I knew he would stand by me. Then, as soon as you heard of our engagement, you came crawling back to me! You… tempted me away from security and comfort.”

Harry laughed coldly. “Mr. Kingston was no loss, Catherine. What could he have offered you that I cannot? A parsonage in some dull village? A lifetime of boredom?”

“Love,” Miss Eastleigh replied, her voice catching. “He offered love so strong that he would have raised a child that was not his. He agreed to it, as long as I did not see you again. But I thought I loved you, and now, I have ruined it all for myself. This is what I have come to, because of you.” She gestured back to Adam, turning up her nose. “So, yes, perhaps I am pitiful, but this is the only choice I have left if I do not want my child and me to be destitute.”

It was at that moment that Adam saw hisopportunity.

“You will receive nothing from me,” he said, slowly sitting forward in the armchair. “Miss Eastleigh, I might be persuaded to offer your child a small sum, for I believe you are something of a victim in this, but there will not be a single coin offered if you maintain any sort of company with Harry here.”

“Your Grace!” Miss Eastleigh stifled a scream, falling to her knees. “Oh, Your Grace, please forgive me! I had no choice! I did not know what else to do!”

Adam put a finger to his lips. “Be silent. My head is pounding.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” she whimpered. “I am sorry, Your Grace.”

Adam squinted at Harry. “Your revels, at the expense of my coin, have come to an end, Harry.”

“I think not.” Harry grinned. “You forget, I am the one holding the reins here.”

Adam shook his head. “No. Rather surprisingly, Miss Eastleigh is the one holding the reins.” He nodded to her. “She can tell the truth whenever she pleases, and I am certain that an offer of seeing her child educated and well-respected will be enough to loosen her tongue.”

“But I can prevent the story from being published,” Harry hurried to interject, shaking slightly. “You can return to your pristine marriage and be happy, but it will cost you. How much is your wife’s good opinion of you worth? How much is your happiness with her worth? How much would you pay for my silence?”

Adam smiled. “I will not pay you anything. My wife will believe me because we have promised to trust one another. She knows that I am not the rake that I once was, now that I have her.” He chuckled, banging on his tight chest. “Moreover, she is a woman. She is aware that it is impossible to know you are with child so soon after the act.”

“I told you!” Miss Eastleigh jabbed an accusatory finger at Harry.

“And I told youit would not matter. No one will believe that you two did not engage in an affair, and they will not be searching for the details of when an affair might have taken place,” Harry shot back.

Adam gripped the armrests and rocked himself up onto his feet. “Still, you will get nothing from me. I am quite serious.”

“Well, what if I told you that I could explain everything to your wife,” Harry said, speaking too quickly, falling over his words. “She was here not long ago. She knocked on the door, and I answered, thinking it was Mr. White. She heard Catherine laughing and knew you were here. Do you think it will be so difficult for her to put the pieces together, especially after reading the letter I had Catherine send? I addressed it to your mother, Adam, not you. Your mother will have informed her. She would have felt dutybound to, to protect your wife from suffering a similar fate to hers.”

All the authority and strength drained out of Adam, his hand gripping the armrest to keep himself from crumbling. “She… was here?”

“I imagine she has fled to her parents’ house by now,” Harry replied smugly. “But I can explain the truth, so you can still have your happy ending. It depends how much that is worth to you.”

“He already told you, you will receive nothing from him, and I have not fled anywhere,” a voice interjected, accompanied by what sounded like a stampede.

Adam, Miss Eastleigh, and Harry all turned at once, their attention fixed upon the four women who had just entered the parlor room. Adam rubbed his eyes, wondering if it was the lingering effects of whatever he had been drugged with, but his eyes were notdeceiving him. Nancy, Marina, Mrs. Holloway, and his mother were all standing there, glaring at Harry as if they wished to collectively pummel him.

“I thought I told you to leave,” Harry hissed, rolling his jaw.

Nancy put on a saccharine smile. “You did, and Itold you that, as the Duchess of Stapleton, I would not be denied entry.”

“You said that?” Adam did not know whether to laugh or wobble across the parlor to embrace her—his legs were still unsteady.

Nancy flashed him a grin. “I did. I was rather surprised by myself, too.” She gestured to the window. “But the gate to the garden was open, and you know I relish a garden. I could not resist creeping in to see what was afoot. Fortunately, the back door to the townhouse was more obliging than Harry. Indeed, my love, I am grateful that whoever runs your household here is rather more forgetful than Mrs. Holloway.”

“I could not agree more,” Mrs. Holloway chimed in.

Nancy wagged a finger at Harry, who had turned very pale, indeed. “What a merry mess you have made of this, Harry. You would have been better served if you had simply remained friends with my husband. I might not have liked it, for you are clearly a terrible influence, but I would not have forbidden him from seeing you.” She paused. “And you, Miss Eastleigh… well, I think we all know that you have placed your wager on the wrong horse. I think you know it, most of all.”

At that, Miss Eastleigh promptly burst into tears, hiding her face in her hands as she remained kneeling on the ground, her shoulders shaking violently. “I h-have been a fool,” she whispered, apparently more to herself than to anyone else.

“Oh, and you need not concern yourself about Mr. White’s literary talents showing up in the next scandal sheets,” Nancy added, smiling at Harry. “I met him in the gardens. A very pleasant gentleman, in truth. He has been paid for his silence and will be passing the message to his associates. No one will be publishing your falsehoods, Harry. No one.”

Harry began to back away, but, of course, there was nowhere for him to run. Adam blocked the French doors that led into the gardens, while the ladies blocked the main entrance.

“Adam,” Harry said, clasping his hands together, “show mercy. Have I not been a good friend to you until this… unpleasantness? You are my oldest and dearest friend, even now. I let jealousy get the better of me. Please, Adam, show mercy. If not for me, then for the sake of my unborn child.”

Adam laughed softly, looking at Nancy. “What do you think, my love?”

“It is your choice, darling,” she replied.

“A small sum will be put in trust for the child, to be received when the child comes of age,” Adam said. “That is all I can offer, considering what you had planned to do to ruin the happiness of my wife and me. That goes for both of you, Miss Eastleigh.”

The wretched woman continued to sob into her hands, mumbling, “Thank you. You are too gracious.”

“Harry,” Adam said, staring unflinchingly at his former friend, “I suggest you leave and take Miss Eastleigh with you. It would seem that only the two of you can save one another now, so why not make the best of it? Marry, raise your child, and live as happily as you can. See if you cannot also change your ways for the sake of this child.”

Harry scurried forward and hoisted Miss Eastleigh up by her arm. She dragged her feet, still sobbing as he hauled her out of the room as fast as his legs—and her resistance—could carry him. At the door, he glanced back and opened his mouth as if he was about to say a parting word, but he seemed to think better of it. With an almost sad shake of his head, he exited the parlor, with Miss Eastleigh weeping at his side.

“Are you well? Are you hurt?” Nancy raced toward Adam, throwing her arms around him. “Are you sick? Does your stomach hurt? Can I fetch you something to drink?”

Adam slipped his arms around her, holding her close, letting his chin fall on her shoulder. “Let us go home,” he whispered. “That is all I desire. Let us both go home and never be parted again.”

“I think we can manage that,” Nancy replied, hugging him.

Strange tears pricked his eyes. “Thank you.”

“For what, my love?”

He held her tighter. “For believing in me.”

“I made my choice the night you danced with me in the ballroom,” Nancy told him gently. “You are stuck with me, my darling.”

Adam mustered a chuckle. “There is no one I would rather be stuck with.” He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent. “I love you, Nancy. I do not care if it is too soon. I love you. Tonight has proven it beyond a doubt. I love you.”

“As I love you,” Nancy whispered back, kissing the top of his head.

He did not know if it was the residual effect of whatever Harry had put in his drink, or if it was just the swelling warmth in his heart, but as Adam held his wife, he felt as if he were floating on air. Lighter than he had been in a decade. And for as long as he lived, as long as they bothlived, he knew no words would ever be sweeter than those four—As I love you.

Nancy was his medicine, his cure, his reason, his purpose, and though there would always be scars on his heart and body, he could already feel them fading. All because he had mistaken her for someone else, on one fateful night that had changed everything. Forever.