Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

A sense of relief washed over Samuel as Lord Timothy approached him, his face filled with concern.

“Yarmouth, you are as pale as the sheets on my bed,” Lord Timothy said.

“You did not need to come, Colborne. I was merely informing you of what had occurred,” Samuel commented gratefully.

Despite feeling as though he was making a nuisance of himself with his friend, he was relieved that Lord Timothy had come. He had felt unsettled since he arrived home, and having his friend’s presence was comforting.

“Please, I would not have it any other way. You are my friend, and I wished to see if you are well,” Lord Timothy said as the two men shook hands.

Samuel winced at the injury to his hand from the broken vase and turned away abruptly.

Lord Timothy’s eyes filled with concern.

“You are hurt.”

“It is merely a cut from a broken vase.”

“Perhaps you could use a drink,” Lord Timothy offered as they stepped into the parlor.

The drawing room and Samuel’s study were still being tended to after the ransacking. The two men settled into the available chairs, and Samuel felt Lord Timothy’s eyes on him.

“You appear tense, Colborne.”

“I am concerned about you, Yarmouth. Your visit to London has not been anything that you thought it would be.”

“I must admit, it is much more eventful than I had imagined, indeed, but I am determined to find out who this man is.”

“With all due respect, Yarmouth, how are you to do that? Nothing that has been tried so far has yielded any results.”.

“While the man was in my home, two of my maids encountered him. They gave me a description of him, and now I have a better idea of who the man is.”

Lord Timothy’s eyes widened, and he appeared impressed with the progress that Samuel had made despite the circumstances.

“What did the maids have to say?”

“The man was nearly as tall as I am, with brown hair combed to the side and dark eyes. He had a short and neatly trimmed beard. He wore dark breeches and a dark coat, and he smelled of leather.”

“Leather?”

“Perhaps it was his boots. I am not certain what to make of that description.”

“Although it is a detailed description, it does not narrow it down much.”

“It is something to work with. The maids also told me that the man had a crooked eyebrow.”

“And do we know anyone with a crooked brow?” Lord Timothy muttered.

Samuel shrugged his shoulders and sighed.

“I have not the faintest idea.”

Samuel ran his fingers through his hair and sighed wearily. He had not slept for the entire night, as he was assisting Mrs. Hall and the maids with tidying his study. He was rather particular about where each thing in his study was placed and had wanted to make sure of everything. The person who had overturned his study had done a thorough job of creating havoc, and Samuel felt as though his entire life had been strewn about.

“You are exhausted. Perhaps I should leave you to rest.”

“Please, do not. I cannot stand being here by myself. Mrs. Hall insists on tending to my hand a hundred times a day - I understand that she means well, but it is driving me quite mad. I simply wish to be kept busy so that my mind does not focus on the havoc.”

Lord Timothy chuckled.

“Someone must care for you, Yarmouth.”

The two men were silent for a while, and Samuel shifted in his seat.

“How is your sister?”

Lord Timothy’s jaw clenched, and immediately, Samuel knew that something was amiss.

“My sister is as well as she can be. I am aware of your meeting in the shadows, as is our mother.”

Samuel’s shoulders tensed.

“Colborne, it is not what you think. She merely wished to have a word with me. I did not touch her, I swear.”

“She informed me of what a gentleman you were, but I was already aware of that. You are a good man, Yarmouth, and would not do anything to cause harm to my sister,” Lord Timothy explained. “Or her reputation.”

“Thank you. Your words are kind.”

Lord Timothy cleared his throat, and his gaze grew pensive.

“She sends her apologies if your meeting somehow caused the malice done to your home.”

“Why on earth would she feel responsible?”

“She is convinced that the man who is threatening you saw you together and made good on his threats.”

Samuel’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head in disagreement.

“She is not at fault. The state of my home is not her doing. Please make her aware of that. I carry no ill feelings towards her. On the contrary…”

“I am aware. You care for my sister. She cares for you as well. Perhaps too much,” Lord Timothy stated, and Samuel stared at him in surprise. “Her words, not mine.”

Samuel sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

“It does not even matter. She is not allowed anywhere near me, and your mother would certainly not be pleased if I requested to court your sister. From what I have seen, she would remove me from your home in the instant.”

“I will not argue with that. I am sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize. It is simply not in the cards for us. In fact, I think that it is best for me to stay away from your sister altogether. I should not contact her or drive past your home any longer.”

“Yarmouth, I am certain that, if your reputation is restored, my mother will feel differently.”

Lord Timothy was clearly attempting to reassure him, but it did not work.

“I doubt that. I do not wish to bring any more negative attention to your family,” Samuel sighed.

“You are leaving,” Lord Timothy said simply.

Samuel nodded.

“I feel obligated to. I have made quite a mess with my presence, and I no longer wish to affect others. I will remain in London for two more days while preparations are made, and then I will return to Cornwall. I do not wish to sully your Christmas any further than I already have.”

“I understand, Yarmouth. I will relay your words to Lillian.”

“Give me one moment, please.”

“Certainly,” Lord Timothy nodded.

Samuel rose from the chair he was seated in and quietly left the parlor. He made his way to the study, which looked a lot better than it had. He retrieved a letter from his desk and returned to the parlor, where Lord Timothy waited for him.

“This is for your sister. Would you kindly ensure that she receives it?” Samuel asked, handing him the letter. “It is merely a letter explaining why I cannot stay in London any longer and that I wish her the best for the future.”

Lord Timothy looked struck with concern as he took the letter from Samuel and nodded.

“Of course. But would it not be better to speak to her personally?”

“Your mother will not allow it, and I do not wish to cause any more disturbances.”

Lord Timothy stared at the letter.

“Lillian will be heartbroken.”

“As am I, but there is no other way. I cannot allow my presence to ruin your sister’s chance of finding a husband, even if that man is not me.”

“Yarmouth, I am at a loss for words.”

Samuel pursed his lips and nodded, the guilt filling him up. He should never have journeyed to London. The rumors of him would have faded on their own, over time, and people would have forgotten about them. By coming to London, he had given the writer of the article the power in the situation, as Samuel had walked directly into his trap. That had been the writer’s plan all along, Samuel now believed. He had sought Samuel out and was now intent on ruining everyone close to him.

“I should never have come. I played right into his hands. He baited me, and I fell for it.”

There was an elongated silence in the parlor as the two friends sat quietly, pondering what was to come.

Truthfully, Samuel did not wish to leave London. He had developed feelings for Lady Lillian, and as much as he wished to pursue them, he could not. He had brought enough strife to her already, and he did not wish his presence to disrupt her life any longer. She was confined to her home because of him. Her reputation was on the verge of being ruined because of him.

He could not, in good conscience, remain in London and allow harm to Lady Lillian’s reputation. Despite his feelings for her, it would be best if they did not keep in contact any longer. It saddened him to imagine how heartbroken she would be when she read his letter, but there was no other way forward that he could see.

“Would you care to stay for dinner, Colborne?” Samuel suddenly inquired.

“I do not wish to be a burden upon you during this time.”

“Nonsense. I enjoy your company, and your presence brings me much comfort,” Samuel smiled faintly.

“Very well. That would be lovely. Thank you. I do believe that you are doing me a favor, for I can only imagine that dinner will be quite tense at Welsford House.”

“Wonderful. I will inform Mrs. Hall.”

Samuel rang for Mrs. Hall, and she entered the parlor.

“Your Grace.”

“Lord Timothy will be joining me for dinner this evening.”

“I will make the necessary arrangements, Your Grace.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hall.”

As the housekeeper left the parlor, Samuel stared at the cut on his hand and sighed.

“I have been trying to think of who this scoundrel could be. But not a single soul comes to mind.”

“Lillian is convinced that it is someone in your past who you have wronged,” Lord Timothy pointed out.

Samuel stared at Lord Timothy, and his brow furrowed.

“Who I have wronged? I have not wronged anyone. I have not even been in Town for two years. Who could I have wronged?”

“Perhaps it was further in the past.”

“I certainly made snide comments when I was a boy and played an occasional prank, but nothing cruel.”

Lord Timothy chuckled.

“I recall those antics quite well.”

“If I recall correctly, you were also part of those antics,” Samuel pointed out with a grin.

“Indeed. But as you mentioned, it was innocent, and we were never cruel,” Lord Timothy pointed out.

“Which is why I am at such a loss. It is causing my temples to throb,” Samuel muttered and touched his temple. “And if that is not enough, I am worried. Your sister will despise me after she reads my letter.”

“That is not possible. She is much too fond of you.”

“It is because she is so fond of me that she will despise me. But I am leaving to protect her. Please do make that clear to her if my words are not enough. And please comfort her if she cries.”

“I will. Although she will most certainly lock herself in her room and stare out of the window.”

“That saddens me very much. Your sister is a lovely young woman, and she will make a lovely wife to someone. Lord Bertram, is it not?”

“Indeed. Ever since he received his title after his father’s untimely death, he parades around London as if he is the Pink of the Ton,” Timothy scoffed and rolled his eyes. “He reminds me of a peacock if I must be honest.”

Samuel’s back straightened, and he stared at Lord Timothy. He had not considered the man in any detail before, beyond the thought that he did not deserve Lady Lillian, but now, Lord Timothy’s words, coming so close upon the discussion of their youth, had jarred what seemed to be a connection lose in his mind.

“His title?”

Lord Timothy nodded.

“Indeed. At Oxford, we referred to him as Lord William Beaumont. He was the second son of-”

“The Marquess of Bertram.”

“Yes, the late Marquess of Bertram, now succeeded by this man.”

“Good heavens. But if he was the second son, he would not have inherited that title. What happened to his older brother?” Samuel inquired with a worried expression on his face, those connections in his mind sharpening into suspicion.

He thought that he already knew the answer, but required Lord Timothy’s word for confirmation.

“He had an unfortunate accident.”

Samuel raised an apprehensive brow.

“How convenient.”

“Indeed. The now Lord Bertram was a rather strange young man. Prone to gambling at times, and not averse to bending the truth if I remember rightly. You don’t suppose that he became willing to do more than bend the truth, do you?”

“Indeed. I recall him that way too. As far as what he may have become capable of, I can’t say, but I certainly found him distasteful back then.”

“It turns out that he has become much sturdier – or perhaps you could call it ‘imposing’ - over the years. It must be the title that caused that to happen. Or perhaps it is his ego.”

Samuel chuckled in amusement, but his thoughts drifted, and he could not help but see Lord Bertram in a whole new light.

“Why did you avoid speaking of him to your sister?” Samuel asked. “Lady Lillian informed me that you said that you were not well acquainted with him.”

“I did so to protect her from him. He is not the right man for her, and you and I are both aware of why. And I certainly wasn’t going to go into detail about such things to my sister – it really wouldn’t be suitable for a lady’s ears!”

Samuel’s jaw clenched, and he nodded slowly.

“Indeed.”

And, as more memories of his time at Oxford, and Lord William Beaumont surfaced, Samuel recalled that he and Beaumont were not friends and even had an entirely forgettable spat about a rumor. Surely Lord Beaumont, nee Bertram could be involved in ruining his reputation? No, it was too insignificant and happened too long ago to matter to anyone.