Pia dreaded the idea of seeing her parents. “Perhaps they are coming to London for reasons that have nothing to do with me.” She could always hope.
“They are coming to speak to you,” Georgiana warned. By her expression, she wasn’t pleased either.
“How do you know this?” Sirius asked.
She looked at the man who’d become her son in every way but blood. “Lord Freylor told Gillian when we stopped at an inn to change horses. As you can imagine, he did not speak to me.”
Lord Freylor wouldn’t. He’d never liked Georgiana. Pia had wondered why her father had allowed her to spend so much time with his sister Melody when he knew Melody and Georgiana had once been friends.
“We’ll deal with the earl if he decides to come,” Sirius promised, and Pia wondered how he planned to keep his word.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 2
* * *
Lord and Lady Freylor arrived right after breakfast. Pia and the rest of her family were getting ready to go sledding when everyone was forced to take off their outerwear and go to the drawing room to receive them. This did not make the children happy, but when Sirius offered a footman to take them and promised to join them later, they’d refused. They wanted their father there or they’d not go at all.
Pia understood their desire to be with their father. It was a familiar feeling. The only difference was Sirius loved them while Pia’s parents…
It had been a few years since she’d seen them last, longer for her mother. After she’d married Ginter, they’d come around in the beginning, especially Lady Freylor, who’d decided Pia needed guidance as a wife.
Even though her mother had been cold, Pia had been glad for the attention, but when she didn’t conceive and after Pia told her mother the reason why, Lady Freylor had abandoned her all over again, cutting a new angry hole in Pia’s chest.
Pia had seen her father last year. He’d been trying to marry her to a friend. She’d refused. Having the job she’d needed to live as she pleased, and after the tragedy of her last marriage, she’d been more than glad to see the door close behind him.
Now they stood in her drawing room and tried for warm smiles, but they missed the mark.
Lord Freylor still didn’t meet Pia’s eyes, and she was reminded of the abomination of her eyes. She instinctively looked down before she could stop herself and left her gaze on the floor after greeting them.
Babbette and Adalina curtsied as well.
Sirius shifted closer, their hips nearly touching.
She looked up at him, but his sight was fixed on her parents. His expression was not friendly but neither did it promise violence. She thought that good.
“Pia.” Lady Freylor’s voice had her turning to her mother. The woman sighed. Pia looked like her, yet she had her father’s coloring. “You have no idea how happy this union makes us.”
“I am glad you are pleased,” Pia managed.
“We hope you’ll be able to join us for the holidays,” Lord Freylor said to Sirius. “We’ll be having a small gathering. Some influential gentlemen will be attending. I can only imagine how fortunate they’d count themselves to have met you. Though I know it to be no longer your field of business, many wish for your financial advice.”
Pia’s parents hadn’t extended an invitation to her in years. Once she refused to marry her father’s friend— a widower who already had an heir and a spare and thus didn’t need Pia’s womb— there had been no point in further communication. Even now, she suspected they’d prefer if she didn’t come. All they cared for was the earl. It was no surprise. Everyone enjoyed power.
Pia’s eyes burned at their rejection. Their attitude should have come as no surprise, yet she was hurt anyway. She wondered if they’d miss her if she were gone. Likely not.
Her lips trembled, but she pressed them together to keep it from showing.
Sirius’ hand landed on Pia’s lower back. He then turned to everyone else in the room. “Give us a moment. Go get ready to go to the park.”
The children left with Gillian and Georgiana following. Pia thought the hand on her back a sign she should stay so she did. Once the door was closed, Sirius moved and stood behind Pia. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
She braced for the denunciation of her parents. She looked forward to them being censured.
But Sirius’ words surprised her. “Look at my wife,” he said.
Pia shifted. She didn’t want them looking at her. There had been few times that both their eyes had ever been on her. It had never been good.
She tried to turn away, but Sirius’ hold was firm, and she realized he’d purposefully positioned himself so she couldn’t get away.
Her father glanced at her quickly and then looked away. His expression held humor. “We know what our daughter looks like, my lord.”
“Is she not the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen?” Sirius asked.
“She is very beautiful. Yes,” Lord Freylor said. The words were not a compliment.
Lady Freylor asked, “Is there a point to this, my lord?”
Sirius’ fingers tightened on her. He was angry, but then he relaxed. “Look at your daughter,” he commanded again. “And I will tell you my point.”
“Sirius,” Pia whispered. She stiffened as her father’s eyes fell to her and stayed, though he may as well have been looking through her for all the emotion he showed.
But then there was a flicker of something. Pain? She wasn’t sure, because it was gone moments later.
Sirius’ hands tightened again. “Pia is kind and good. She is strong and wise. She honored me well by becoming my wife.”
Pia smiled even as tears slipped from her eyes.
Sirius’ voice was like a caress that managed to warm and melt the frost that had come over her before when her parents came into the room. “Pia is the best part of me. She possesses the very best of me. To reject this wonderful woman is a rejection of the best of me, and you don’t want to deal with what’s left of me after that.” His tone had changed close toward the end. The warning had Pia’s heart racing.
Her parents looked at one another.
Lord Freylor said, “We accept your wife, my lord. I can assure you of that.”
“I don’t agree.” Sirius moved and stood by Pia and folded his hands behind his back. “You are blind to the character of the woman you’ve given life to. Your refusal to see was based on the misguided thoughts of a man who is no longer here. That you cannot see what I do offends me.”
Lady Freylor swallowed and blinked. “We d-didn’t mean to offend you, my lord.” She looked at Pia. “Forgive us,” she nearly begged.
Sirius lifted his hand. “I’m sure you’ve heard things about me, but I can assure you that was not a threat. All I mean is that you should get to know your daughter. Until you do, and until you can love her as much as I do, there will be no common ground.”
“My lord,” Lord Freylor began.
Sirius cut him off again and this time, he grabbed Pia’s elbow as he did it. “We’ve promised our children a day in the park, so I’m sorry but we must end this discussion now. If you would like to speak to me again, you will have to go through Pia.” He pointed toward the door. “After you, my lord.”
Lord Freylor turned red and abruptly turned to open the door.
Lady Freylor looked worried. “But…”
“Let’s go,” Pia’s father said. He grabbed his wife to stop her from saying more.
Sirius and Pia followed them out of the room, but then turned toward the hall and started up the stairs. As she walked, Pia tried to understand what was going on.
“That was… I don’t understand…”
“Your parents are having financial troubles,” he said. “It is a recent development. They came to ask for money.”
Pia’s eyes widened. “You knew? How…” She shook her head. It didn’t matter how. He was Sirius. He had ways of knowing things.
But Sirius had a reply. “He came to
me before you and I became acquainted at the mail coach. I turned him away before he could say much. I was very busy. Also, I couldn’t help but recall the way he’d been to you as a child.”
The voices of the children could be heard from the receiving room.
“I hope you’re not disappointed.”
She was instantly steered away from her thoughts of Adam with that question. “What would I have to be disappointed about?” She stopped him in the hall and smiled. “No one has ever stood up for me as you just did. Thank you.”
He touched her chin and frowned. “Pride might keep them from ever getting to know the wonderful woman you are. I tried very hard to be kind to them.”
She smiled, though inside she was troubled because Sirius was right. She doubted her parents would return to her. “You didn’t threaten them. I think that was very good. Don’t blame yourself if they do not return. They never cared for me. They will not now.”
“They are fools. You are perfect.” He kissed her.
Pia tried to soak him in through her mouth and used her tongue to gain even more, but Sirius groaned and pulled away. His eyes were on fire. “Any more of that and we’ll have two very disappointed daughters.”
She smiled. “You surprise me. I thought you’d punish my parents in some way for their past faults.”
“Sometimes, violence isn’t the answer.”
She gasped mockingly.
He glared. “I’m not all violence. I can be quite gentle, as you know.”
Her face heated as she recalled just how gentle he could be. She’d had no idea it could be extended to those he didn’t care for and that made her love him more. He wasn’t completely hard. He was reasonable. “If I told you to, would you help them financially?”
“You’ve unlimited access to our accounts,” he said. “If you wish to help them, help them.” He took her hand and started toward their destination again, leaving much for Pia to think about.
He was leaving it up to her. The thought was troubling.
There was no more time to discuss it once the children saw them. After telling Gillian goodbye, they started toward the door.
Pia was surprised to see her father still there.
Lord Freylor spoke to Sirius. “A young man who works for you came to my home a few days ago. I am aware you are looking for someone and what that person is being accused of. I happen to know where this person is and how to get this person here.”
His sister Melody. How much did Pia’s father know about what was going on? Would he truly hand his own sister over to Sirius?
His next words said he would. “Should you find the time to meet with me, I would be more than willing to help.”
Pia’s heart fell, stricken with sadness and dread. How could her father betray his own family? She didn’t see her husband as the enemy, but Lord Freylor had no reason not to expect the very worst from Sirius, especially considering what Melody was accused of doing.
Sirius would finally get what he wanted.
Pia saw Adalina’s shoulders fall. The girl thought business would once again come between her and a day with her father.
“As I stated before,” Sirius told Freylor. “If you wish to speak to me, you will speak to my wife first. Excuse us.”
Pia turned to her husband and was once again surprised, but he did not delay them long enough for her to ask a question.
The children cheered as they hopped into the carriage and there was no more talk of business after that, only a day with her family, and with the man who she was discovering tended to keep his word.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 3
* * *
The children shouted and started down the hill at the park, and Pia looked up. A woman stepped out of the carriage by the road. Pia prepared a smile, but it quickly fell.
Every image and thought Pia had held of the mysterious Madam Belle was gone. She’d pictured a fond older woman with warm eyes and great fortitude.
Beauty had been an option, since her name was Belle, but as Pia watched Adalina and Babbette interact with the woman who stood a few yards away, one thought immediately came to mind.
Belle was very pretty. From the distance they were at, Pia could tell this. She was short, but her face glowed and even underneath her fur, Pia could tell the woman had a figure that likely matched the paintings of sensual nymphs.
“Is she an actual madam?” Pia asked Sirius, who was walking her through the snow toward the woman who’d just arrived.
Sirius stopped and forced Pia to look at him. “Don’t let her hear you call her that.” It was a warning. From him?
Anger and dread fell like lead in the middle of Pia’s belly. “Is she your mistress?”
“She is no one’s mistress. This is Lady Cebele Lawrence, daughter to an earl. She is an ally to Cassius.”
Pia cared very little for the woman’s title and connections, though her relationship with Van Dero did give her pause. “Did you sleep with her?”
Sirius’ sighed, and Pia felt that pit in her stomach get worse. “Yes, she and I had an intimate relationship for many years.”
“When did it end?”
Another pause. “The day I met you.”
Pia’s eyes widened, and she looked at the lady who stood in the distance. “You don’t think this is something I should have known?” Embarrassment and hurt made her cheeks heat.
“No. I told you I’d be faithful to you. What I did before that moment shouldn’t matter.” Sirius turned her to face him. His blue eyes drew her in. “You are the woman I care for.”
Pia wanted to wrench herself away from him but refused to be hysterical in public. “You should have told me. If you were going to bring her around, if the children knew her—”
“You’re right. I should have told you about Lady Cebele, but you’re going to meet her now and every explanation I would have given you would never have been adequate to the woman herself.”
Pia laughed insincerely. “Oh, the woman’s glory is that difficult to put into words?”
“Pia.”
“Had I known who she was, I would not have come.”
He straightened. “That is precisely why I didn’t tell you. I want you to meet her.”
“Why?”
“She is a friend and an associate.”
Pia’s mouth fell open. “You work with her?”
“On occasion.” He grimaced. “Pia, please don’t look at me like that. I am your husband. I will be faithful to you.”
“Let’s go say hello to your friend, but I fear I’m beginning to have a headache and will soon return home.” Actually, it was heartache she was feeling.
“Pia.” He trailed behind and then caught up. He looked frustrated. “Had I known you were out there...”
“Please, no more.” She couldn’t believe Sirius allowed his mistress around his children, but then again, Sirius was not a conventional man at all. He’d taken Georgiana in when many wouldn’t have.
As Pia drew closer, she grew more and more confused as to her purpose in Sirius’ life. Babbette and Adalina seemed to adore Belle. Sirius had been intimate with her for years. Like Pia, she was an earl’s daughter.
Why hadn’t he married Belle instead of dragging Pia into his life?
Ginter and his mistress flowed to the front of her mind.
Pia pushed the thought aside to prevent tears from building in her eyes. She would not weep in front of this woman. Neither would she be rude nor do anything that would embarrass her or the children. She would be as kind as possible and then she would leave the park.
Belle was gorgeous. She was only a few inches shorter than Pia, who could feel herself being examined by the dark-eyed beauty as she approached.
Adalina moved to stand by Pia and took her arm. That single act healed so much of Pia’s heart that she nearly kissed the girl right there. Then she did and Adalina laughed. She truly was a darling. She and Ginter had never had children, but Pia could see Adalina and Babbette makin
g her marriage to Sirius worth it.
Their smiles softened her heart.
Sirius said, “Lady Cebele Lawrence, I would like you to meet my wife, Lady Gordie.”
Pia stiffened. Lady Cebele’s smile was genuine. “Lady Pia, you are just as perfect at Sirius said you were.”
Pia looked at Sirius. He’d told Cebele about her? Yet he hadn’t told Pia anything about Cebele. And when had he had the chance to see her? Was it in a letter? Did he go see her?
Sirius colored, and the boyish expression Pia usually adored upset her stomach. He was hiding something from her.
“Can we sled now?” Babbette asked. “I want to go down with Lady Belle.”
Pia felt stung by Babbette’s closeness with the woman and once again wondered about her purpose in their lives.
“Adalina, take your sister. We’ll join you in a moment,” Sirius said.
Adalina obeyed her father at once. She was a perceptive girl and could likely feel the tension amongst the adults.
“You’re not needed for this conversation either, Sirius,” Lady Cebele said. “Why don’t you leave us women alone for a moment?”
Sirius frowned.
Lady Cebele laughed. “I won’t bite her, I promise.” Then she turned to Pia. “You don’t mind, do you? I find men rather useless in most areas of life. It’s best we eliminate him from the equation so that there is little confusion.” She turned to Sirius again. “Look there. Adalina and Babbette are watching. They came here to spend time with their father, so off you go.”
Pia was astounded.
Sirius watched Cebele closely and then did little more than grunt before he asked Pia, “Will you be all right?”
Pia nodded. Now she was nervous for a new reason. She’d never heard anyone speak the way Cebele did and definitely not anyone in Sirius’ presence.
Sirius turned away and Cebele smiled. “Can we walk?”
“Please.” Pia needed something to do.
They started around the hill, making their way through the frozen grass.
“Did you see the way he looked at me? As though concerned? That’s because I once bit a woman,” Cebele said.
The Secret Pleasures of an Earl: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 21
