The Exception of an Earl

by Deborah Wilson

  “Camilla was visited by Mrs. Cox.”

  Will stiffened. “What happened? Is she hurt?” It was a reasonable question.

  “No, Camilla is doing well. She’d been under Landcastle’s protection since the visit.”

  He missed her. Just hearing her name, knowing that she existed settled most of William’s worry. He loved her so much.

  Bowland went on, “But Annie did attempt to hurt Camilla. Apparently, she not only tried to strike Camilla at her home but later, she tried to hire Azalea to poison Camilla.”

  Will looked down at the valley and then back at the general. “How? Azalea has been here for days. No one has left the valley. Not even once. I would have—“

  Bowland shook his head. “She didn’t actually meet with Azalea or anyone who works for the woman. Landcastle set it up to see what Annie would do. Apparently, she’d been looking for the poisoner and not just for Camilla but for her husband as well.”

  Will was shocked. He didn’t know why it shocked him though. Raven had warned him. “This is my fault.”

  “No, Annie makes her own decisions. She was the one who decided she had to get her way, even at the cost of losing everything she had.”

  “What’s going to happen?”

  “Camilla asked Landcastle to show her mercy. Therefore, Annie will be under arrest, but in the comfort of a property away from society. Parliament is in a position to give Mr. Cox the divorce he asked for. Once the child is born, she’ll never see him again.”

  Will closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “She’s already lost one.”

  “Would you trust any child to grow up in her care?”

  “I caused this. I caused all her heartache. If I could take it all back…”

  “You can’t. We can’t go back, just forward.” Bowland sighed. “We’ve all made mistakes, William.” He rarely called him William. Always Husher. “Even I have regrets.”

  Will doubted that. Bowland was a hero.

  “Did I ever tell you how I met my wife?” the general asked. “She was looking into the duke’s business, so Van Dero hired me to frighten her. I threatened her life with a letter that had animal’s blood. It was rather dramatic, but it disturbed her greatly.”

  Will’s eyes widened. He’d never heard this story before. He could never imagine threatening Camilla in such a way. In the alley where they’d met, he’d threatened danger but never her life.

  The general pulled out his own spyglass and pointed it toward the valley. “When Vita found out what I’d done… I thought she’d never forgive me, but she did.”

  Noel had ridden a few paces away, either to keep clear of Will or to give them privacy.

  Will said, “Your nephew favors you.” They had the same endless black eyes.

  “Is that why you didn’t stab him?” Bowland asked. “Because you looked at him and saw me?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  Will shrugged. “He’d done nothing wrong. He was just a boy in the woods with his horse. I didn’t want him dead. I just couldn’t have him get in my way.”

  “You could have killed him to make sure he stayed out of your way.”

  Will lifted a brow. “But he’d done nothing wrong.” Will’s military career had been focused on helping English citizens. He’d never kill one of the very people he was trying to protect.

  Bowland grinned. “That’s why you’re one of us, Husher.”

  “One of us?”

  “One of Van Dero’s men. Somehow, after all the death we’ve experienced, we still manage to find it precious.”

  Will took a moment to think. “Am I one of Van Dero’s men?”

  “You are if you want to be.” Bowland controlled the army. It was, in fact, Bowland’s army. They were simply paid by Van Dero. However, if the earl ever thought Van Dero had gone too far, every man under him would leave the duke without question. And Will suspected that the duke liked it that way. He craved power but seemed to know his shortcomings and understand it was best to not have it all in the end.

  “Is it what you want?”

  And Will suspected that the duke liked it that way. He craved power but seemed to know his shortcomings and understand it was best to not have it all in the end.

  The two men stared at one another. Bowland was offering Will the very thing he wanted. A position to still engage in the right for a better England.

  Then Will lowered his gaze. He was unworthy… but he wouldn’t pass up this offer. Even if his assignments turned out to be the worst available, he’d still do it. He looked up. “It’s what I want. I accept it. Thank you.”

  Bowland nodded. “But you still owe me an apology.”

  Will took a breath. “I’m sorry.”

  Bowland grinned. “I know.” Then he turned away. “That apology was for you. Not me. I forgave you a long time ago.”

  And just like that, everything felt right again.

  Noel must have sensed the end of the heavy conversation because he came forward then.

  “I’m sorry,” Will said to the younger man.

  “Why’d you keep my horse?” Noel asked.

  Will told the truth. “It resembles a wooden one my father had carved for me as a boy.” When Will had first seen Midnight, he’d been in the exact position as the toy.

  “Is your father dead?” Noel asked.

  “Yes.”

  Noel stared at him and then nodded. “I understand. My father is gone as well.”

  Will bowed his head, humbled by Noel’s forgiveness. “I will not take your horse again.”

  “Oh, I know.” Noel’s blank black eyes promised repercussions for the act.

  Will smiled and then turned to Bowland. “I’m going to London.”

  “Safe travels,” Bowland said, but his thoughts were already elsewhere. His eyes were focused on the valley.

  What would come of Azalea? Will would have to find out later. At the moment, there was another woman who needed his attention.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  epilogue

  * * *

  Two Months Later

  Camilla sat with the paper covering her face and listened as the bookshop officially opened its doors to the public. She heard the rush that came in.

  “I’m looking for The Expectational Man.” a woman said, asking for Camilla’s book. “Where is it?”

  The assistant told the patron where to go and then Camilla forced herself to listen no more.

  A short time later, her paper was plucked from her hands by none other than Will.

  He smiled down at her. “They’re gone.”

  “All of them?”

  He nodded. “All of your books have been taken home.”

  Camilla gasped. “But it’s hardly been an hour.”

  Will laughed. “I know, but did you really expect otherwise? The publishers said it was better than your first and three very influential ladies were raving about their exclusive copies weeks before your books were placed on the shelf.”

  Camilla stood just as a woman cried with outrage. “How can you already be out of books? I stood in line outside for one.”

  The storekeeper tried to appease the woman with a promise to give the woman the first book when the new copies arrived.

  It all made Camilla very glad.

  “They like it.” She’d written it in less than a month. When Will returned from his hunt for Azalea, she’d paused long enough to marry him and then she’d gone back to her writing.

  She’d allowed her emotions to guide her thoughts and her pen. Her feelings breathed life into her characters. There were times when she’d been surprised by what took place. The road to love and happiness had been filled with battles, but in the end, everyone won.

  As Will snuck her out of the bookshop’s backdoor, she asked, “Where is Morgana?”

  “I managed to convince Emily to keep her for the day.”

  That surprised Camilla.

  Luke had learned of Camilla’s conversation with Emi
ly, but he’d taken it better than she’d thought. He hadn’t shouted at her, but he’d been hurt. Still, he vowed to win his wife’s trust back and Camilla was hoping for a happy ending for everyone.

  “Belle might have found a governess for Morgana. A permanent one.”

  “Really?” Morgana lived with her and Will now. Her mother had died just before Camilla’s wedding and her father had disappeared almost right after he gave Camilla away at her wedding. No one knew where he’d gone.

  Luke had stepped forward to take Morgana, but in the end, the girl had wanted no one but Camilla.

  They were often together anyway. Morgana had gotten to play her part in the wedding. Many of the members of the ton had been outraged by her appearance, but those who mattered to Camilla hadn’t cared.

  Morgana was innocent and deserved love just as much as any other child.

  “The woman isn’t entirely conventional,” Will said as he helped Camilla into the carriage.

  “Who is she?”

  “A lady out on her luck,” Will said. “But Belle assured me that she’d be very loving toward Morgana and would never hold her past against her.”

  “Well, if Belle believes in the woman, then I’d like to meet her.”

  “You’re an amazing woman, Camilla.” Her husband wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close. “Morgana, me, your mother… everyone is very fortunate to have you.” He sighed. “And now that you’re once again the most popular writer in England, I must share you with the world as well.”

  She smiled up at him. “Don’t worry. You’ll always have the largest portion of my heart.” And how could she possibly love anyone more than this man? He was her partner in every way.

  He had encouraged her and been her strength through all of her worst moments during the last few months. “You help my love grow,” she told him. “You’re part of the reason I have so much to give.” He’d been the one to embody love, to exhale it with his every word and kiss her with it every night. “You’ll always be first.”

  “Then I count myself especially fortunate.” He leaned down and kissed her. Then he changed the subject. “Your book is a success. What’s next for you, Lady Husher?”

  Camilla smiled. “All I can focus on is loving you at the moment.” Then her eyes widened and a thought came to mind. “I’m feeling inspired.”

  He chuckled as he bent across the to the other bench and grabbed her book and pencil. “Then you better start writing.”

  It was a new book. This one’s cover was a beautiful blue with gold etching.

  She opened the front, and there was a small massage from Will.

  To the woman who fills my life with happiness, may the characters you write in these pages know the same.

  She looked up at him. Her tears were blinding. “I’m so glad I took a chance with you. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Cammie.”

  She smiled. “I know.”

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  Keep Reading

  From: Deborah Wilson

  To: Beloved Readers

  Subject: Next book in the series

  Hi lovelies!

  Thank you for reading The Exception of An Earl, which is book 16 in the Valiant Love series.

  The next book is targeted to release on 03rd Feb.

  While waiting for the next breathtaking book in the series…

  I believe you will love to read the previous book in the series, which I had such a good time writing it.

  Flip the page for a special first look at the previous book.

  Thank you for reading my books and letting me serve you doing what I love!

  xx Love,

  Deborah Wilson

  Author of Valiant Love series

  CHAPTER 01

  Miss Madison Blake stared into the window and knocked against the glass. She jumped at how loud the sound was, but then the house’s occupant looked in her direction and his eyes widened. It seemed she’d knocked loud enough.

  She backed away from the windowsill and wrapped her coat around herself more firmly. The wind was chilling her to the bone. At first, she’d barely felt it, but with the walk taking over an hour, she could barely feel her toes.

  Judd opened the window and tried to glare at her, but his mouth refused to obey, so he was smiling when he asked, “What are you doing here? I told you in my note that I would see you upon my return.”

  Madison’s heart raced with a mixture of love and nervousness. Actually, it was more nervous than anything. “I need to speak to you.”

  He placed his hands under her arms and pulled her up through the window with little effort. Then his warm hands were against her cold cheeks. “Maddie, what were you thinking to come here in this weather? What were you thinking to come at all? You know it is not allowed. This is wrong.”

  “I needed to see you.”

  He dragged her toward his fireplace and placed her on the end of the couch closest to the flames. She’d never been in Judd’s home before. She looked around and decided she liked his burgundy and green drawing room.

  He knelt at her feet and took off her boots. He’d gathered hot coals from the fireplace and had already placed them into a pan while she’d been musing. He wrapped it in blankets and then placed her feet on top.

  The heat seeped through her stockings, and she moaned in bliss.

  He grinned. “I suppose I don’t have to ask if that is better.”

  “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

  “Tea?”

  “Please,” she said, even though she knew she couldn’t stay long. Her father sometimes came to her room in the middle of the night and kissed her head. He’d been doing it since before she could remember. Though she was eighteen, he still saw her as his little angel.

  Her belly rolled as she thought of how wrong he was. How would he react to the news?

  It only took Judd a moment to fetch her some tea.

  With the warm cup in her hands, the coals under her feet, and Judd caressing her with his eyes, Madison was completely happy.

  He stood over her with his hands on his hips. He was so young but after becoming the Viscount of Arland last year, he’d changed. He was no longer just a gentleman, but a lord. He’d become harder. His words were more direct.

  Yet he never failed to tell her that she was his greatest weakness. He could barely put his foot down with her… which had gotten them into a great amount of trouble.

  “Missing me already?” he teased.

  Tears filled her eyes because she was. She saw him almost every day and on the days she didn’t see him, he wrote to her.

  His message that morning had been strange. He’d said he was leaving. The journey was abrupt and unplanned.

  It was late, yet the fact that the servants were up and he was dressed in travel clothes told her he was getting ready to go.

  In the middle of the night?

  “Where are you going? I don’t understand why you’re leaving.” Maybe he knew her secret and was running away from her. Maybe he didn’t love her anymore.

  He lowered himself into the seat beside her. “I know this trip was unplanned, but it’s necessary. I’m going to London.”

  “Why?”

  “To speak to Lord Van Dero.”

  Madison’s eyes widened. “You’re going to see the duke? I didn’t know you knew him.” It was Cassius Hayes’ first official Season as Duke of Van Dero, yet the man’s name had been flowing through ballrooms near and far for the past several months.

  He was wealthy, said to be only a little less powerful than the Prince Regent.

  Madison had never been to London, but the people of Oxford loved to gossip just as much as anyone else. With so many young men in the area for school, it was impossible to walk into a gathering and not hear whispers.

  “What are you going to speak to the duke about?”

  He cupped the back of her head. “Madison, I don’t want you to worry.”

  “But I am worried. I love you.”r />
  He smiled sadly. Painfully. “I love you with all my heart.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Nothing matters more than you.”

  She believed him, but he’d been so different since his father’s death five months ago. They’d known each other for years, but Madison had not known Judd intimately until after his father’s death. They were in the same circle, but they’d never shared more than pleasantries until five months ago.

  His anger and broodiness had called to her. She didn’t understand the pull, but she’d looked into his sad eyes and wanted nothing more than to make everything right for him.

  She’d had her cook make him a pudding she’d noticed him take more than one serving of when they were at the same party. She’d learned his schedule from the books her father kept on his students and had taken the basket with the bowl of pudding to the school when she knew he’d be leaving her father’s lecture hall.

  It was wrong to give men gifts, so she’d had to do it in secret. She’d met Judd at his carriage. He’d been surprised to see her.

  “Lady Madison? Are you here see your father?”

  “No, I’ve come to see you.”

  Shocked, Judd quickly turned to keep his driver from seeing her, for servants were known to talk, and then moved closer and lowered his voice. “Is this about your father?”

  She held out the basket. “No.” She couldn’t say more than that. He was so close that she noticed everything about his lively green eyes. She’d always known he was beautiful. He and his friends were the most handsome men she’d ever met, yet Judd stood out in his own way.

  Perhaps it was because, before his father’s death, he’d always been without a care. And now, nothing made him smile.

  She wanted him to smile. “It’s a gift,” she finally said.

  He didn’t take the basket. Instead, he frowned. He glanced at the basket suspiciously and his eyes flickered back to her. “What is it?”

  She turned up her lips and lowered her voice. “You won’t know until you take it.”