Miss Kathleen's Scandalous Baron (Honorable Rogue Book 2)

by Vikki Vaught

  Where could Kathleen be?

  By this time, his heart thundered against the wall of his chest, his breathing so fast, he grew light-headed. Refusing to give into his emotions yet, he took off at a run, taking the stairs three at a time. When he reached the entryway, he spied the butler. Doing his best to conceal the anguish wrenching through him, he asked, “Excuse me, I’m looking for my wife, Lady Billingsley. Have you seen her this morning?”

  The butler replied, “Lord Blythe wants you join him in his study, my lord. I believe he has information regarding your wife. Let me show you the way.”

  Even though he wanted to make the butler tell him where Kathleen was, he followed the fellow down the hall. As soon as the man knocked, Andrew pushed past him and threw open the door.

  “Where’s my wife?” he blurted out, pinpricks racing down his arms and along his spine.

  His friend stood. “Ah, Billingsley. I’ve been expecting you. Please, take a seat.”

  “I don’t need to take a damned seat,” he shouted. “I need you to tell me where my wife is.”

  Sitting back in his chair, Blythe retorted, “Yelling will not get your wife any faster. In fact, I would say she’s probably home by now. She borrowed one of my carriages to take her. I tried to talk her out of leaving, but she insisted she had to depart posthaste. She told me you would understand why she had to go.”

  Andrew rushed around the desk and grabbed Blythe’s cravat. “Why did you let her leave? You should have notified me she wanted to depart.”

  His friend bit out. “Release me now, or pay the consequences.”

  Realizing he had attacked a man he’d known since his schooldays, a man he valued as a friend, he pulled in his anger and let go. “I beg your pardon. Please, tell me why you let her go?”

  “Your wife seemed quite distraught. I felt compelled to grant her request. As my servants prepared a coach, I did try to find you. By the time we located you, your wife had departed, and you were passed out. We couldn’t revive you. I asked Renwick what happened, but he refused to tell me.”

  He stalked to the window and looked at the pouring rain. God, why had he allowed this to happen? It was his own damned fault for getting foxed. “My wife saw something she misconstrued, and she refused to talk to me last night. I planned to explain this morning.”

  Blythe moved beside him. “Whatever happened apparently devastated her. I finally did as she asked because I could clearly see she’d been weeping. What in God’s name happened?”

  He hated to tell his friend of Noreen’s treachery, then again, perhaps he needed to know what a viper she was. “Lady Holcombe cornered me in your conservatory. She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. Before I could push her away, Kathleen walked in. She fled before I could tell her what happened.”

  Blythe’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open in disbelief, then he blurted out, “My God! I can’t believe she did that.”

  “Well, she did,” he retorted. “I know I told you I didn’t have a problem with you pursuing her…did you have to invite her to your home when you knew I planned to bring my wife?”

  Blythe looked sheepish as he replied, “I’m sorry. I hadn’t planned to invite her. She learned of the party and assumed she was included. If I’d had any idea, she would do something like this, I would never have told her she could come. She told me she could care less that you had wed. She even told me she wished you happy.”

  He threw his friend a scathing look. “And you believed her?”

  “She’s played me for a fool,” he hung his head, “hasn’t she, my friend? I should have used more sense. I desperately needed someone to take my mind off Lydia. Noreen seemed to be the perfect answer. I was wrong.”

  “I know you needed a distraction, and as you said, Noreen can be very persuasive.” He paused. “Renwick told me she’d decided she could bring me up to scratch. After her machinations last night, I suspect she arranged for the Duchess of Brentwood to walk in on her with me. She probably thought I would be forced to marry her. Thank God, Kathleen appeared and her devious plan was thwarted.”

  His friend replied, “You’re probably right. Devil take it! I should have known better.”

  While he hated to see Blythe disillusioned yet again, none of that mattered. He had to get to Kathleen. “I must leave immediately.”

  “Before you go, you may want to read the letter she left for you.”

  He grabbed it from Blythe and tore it open.

  My lord,

  By the time you read this, I should be well on my way back to Grainger Hall. I am asking you to give me a few weeks to consider what I plan to do regarding what I witnessed last night. I am still having a difficult time believing it was real. I cannot remove the image of you and that woman from my mind. I told you I would not tolerate infidelity. I thought you told me you did not believe in it either. Evidently, I misunderstood, or you lied to me. In either instance, my trust in you is broken. Only time will tell if it is broken beyond repair. I feel your betrayal keenly, and it will take me some time to sort this out.

  I need you to respect my wishes and give me some time alone. I suggest you go to London. I shall send word when I am ready to talk.

  Respectfully yours,

  Baroness Billingsley

  Andrew folded the letter and put it in the pocket of his frock coat. Numbness spread through his body. In a quiet voice, he asked, “Did you send an outrider with her, Blythe? I would not want anything to happen to her. A woman traveling alone could be dangerous.”

  “Of course,” he replied, “Are you going after her?”

  “She’s asked me to give her time alone. She wants me to go to London until she is ready to see me again. Do you know where I can find Renwick? I would like to talk to him before I leave.”

  “He was in the billiard room fifteen minutes ago, playing a game with Effinger. I’m through in here. I shall go with you.”

  When Andrew entered the gaming room, his friends were finishing their game. He pulled Renwick to the side. “Did you know my wife left at dawn this morning?”

  He kept his voice low. “Deborah told me a short time ago. What are you going to do?”

  He wished to God, he knew. Should he give her the time she requested, or should he follow her home straightaway? Plead his case now, before she had a chance to build this into something that could irrevocably damage their marriage forever. His heart screamed at him to follow. His brain told him to give her the time she’d requested. Possibly honoring her wishes would help restore at least some of the trust.

  He hated to think of the pain she must be feeling. Kathleen wasn’t a woman given to weeping, and if Blythe could tell she’d been crying, that said a great deal.

  Oh, why did that conniving wench do this to us?

  Kathleen didn’t deserve this.

  “She left me a letter asking me to go to London to give her some time alone. I suppose I shall honor her request. When are you returning to town? I could use your support while I wait for her to decide what she’s going to do. She wrote she would contact me there when she was ready to talk.”

  “I need to take Deborah home tomorrow, but then I shall follow you. Effinger is going to town in the morning. I’m sure he’ll help distract you while you wait. I know you’re worried. I’m sure your wife will come to her senses after she’s had time to think things through.”

  “I hope you’re right. Contact me when you arrive in London. These next few weeks are going to be difficult. I’ve never been a patient man. Well, I shall depart. I’ll see you when you return to town.”

  After taking his leave of Blythe and Effinger, Andrew was soon on his way. His heart lay heavy in his chest, but allowing Kathleen the time she asked for was the right thing to do. At least he didn’t need to worry about her going back to her family, since they were on the high seas bound for America. Her love for Arianna might keep her with him. He had until fall to convince her he was worthy of her trust.

  They’d grown so cl
ose since their marriage he’d become hopeful she had fallen in love with him as he had with her. In fact, he’d planned to tell her he loved her last night. Now all he could do was wait…and pray she would give him another chance.

  ****

  The trip back to Grainger Hall went by one excruciatingly slow moment after the other. Again, torrential rains slashed down on the carriage, turning the roads to mud. The driver had slowed to such a degree that Kathleen could have walked home faster. She couldn’t sit still and kept tapping her foot and twisting her hands. Her maid looked on with eyes filled with pity, and it drove her beyond sanity. Would this hellish trip ever end? She longed to be home and hold Arianna in her arms. The child would now be her only joy in life. With no family or friends close by, she was all alone.

  Finally, the carriage turned into the drive. Once it stopped, Kathleen climbed out before the footman had a chance to assist her. All she could think of was getting to Arianna and holding her precious child in her arms. She rushed upstairs, pulling her traveling gown well above her ankles so as not to impede her progress, without a thought of how it might look to her butler. When she arrived at the nursery, she flung open the door and rushed inside. Matilda had Arianna on her lap, and she was playing with a rattle, trying to put it into her mouth.

  “Oh, my darling, I’ve missed you so.” She plucked Arianna from the nursemaid’s lap and held her close. The scent of talcum powder and Arianna’s essence filled her senses, calming her soul better than anything else could.

  She spent thirty minutes playing with the daughter of her heart, then left the nursery and went to her rooms. Silky greeted her as soon as she entered, rubbing against her ankles and voicing his displeasure concerning her absence. She picked him up and cuddled him close. His purring vibrated against her chest, and she took comfort from her loving pet.

  After several minutes, Silky must have been satisfied with her attention. He leapt from her arms and went to her bed. Jumping lightly, he circled until he found a comfortable spot and rolled into a ball. Her cat closed his eyes and promptly went to sleep. Her heart lightened for a brief moment from the comfort she’d received from Silky. The ache returned, when the image of her husband in that wicked woman’s arm flashed through her mind. Sighing, she washed away her travel dirt, then asked her maid to bring her some tea.

  Kathleen felt Andrew’s betrayal to the depths of her soul. Numbness settled in as she performed her duties over the next few days. Spending time with her sweet daughter was the one thing that brought any light into her world.

  She hadn’t been able to ride Beauty, since it continued to rain each day. She had sent for Rosebud, since she was now old enough to leave her mother. While having her pets in her bed helped her fall asleep, the nights were still torture. Her dreams, or rather nightmares, were filled with the image of that scene from the conservatory. The worst night came a week after she returned from the house party.

  All through the night, she kept seeing Lady Holcombe in Andrew’s arms. By three in the morning, she wanted to retch, wanted to find that horrid woman and scratch out her eyes. She’d never been one to run from a confrontation, but she refused to give in to the temptation to find the woman and give her a piece of her mind. She would never lower herself to Lady Holcombe’s level.

  All this was that conniving woman’s fault. Unease settled in her stomach and her skin grew clammy. Pinpricks raced along her arms. She had reacted with no thought. There could have been more than what had met the eye. Oh, Lord, she should have spoken with Andrew after all and listened to what he had to say. It was possible that strumpet had accosted him. If that were the case, then she could hardly hold her husband at fault.

  Oh, why did I not think of this sooner?

  All might not be lost.

  Even if she wrote to him as soon as she arose from her bed, it would be days before she could see him and hear his side of the story. It had been such a shock seeing them in each other’s arms. She’d reacted to the unbearable pain that had seared her heart, instead of rationally evaluating the situation.

  Not for one moment had she considered that he might be innocent of any wrongdoing. If the tables were turned, she would have expected him to give her the benefit of the doubt. She’d allowed her hurt and anger to run amuck. She’d always jumped before she looked, and that was exactly what she had done again. Mama had always gotten after her for her impulsive behavior.

  Unable to delay another moment, she climbed out of bed, put on her dressing gown and went into her sitting room. She sat at her desk to write her letter. For several moments, she stared at the blank page. After careful contemplation, she began writing.

  Dear Andrew,

  I arrived back at Grainger Hall safely, and I am well settled in. Arianna is in good health and thriving. She is constantly chewing on her toys because she is teething. Every day, she is accomplishing something new. She has been a great comfort to me since I returned from the house party.

  After spending the first week wallowing in misery, I realized I acted too quickly in leaving without seeing you. Now that the numbness plaguing me since arriving at the Hall has worn off, I know I acted precipitously in not giving you a chance to explain. I would have expected that from you, if you had caught me in a compromising situation. For that I am truly sorry. I tend to overreact when I am hurt or angry, and needless to say I was both.

  I hope you will come to me and explain yourself. I promise to listen as I should have that night. I will await your return before making any other hasty decisions that could affect our future life together.

  Sincerely yours,

  Kathleen

  She sat back in her chair and read the letter over once more. Finding it to her liking, she folded it, placed her waxed seal upon it, and then returned to her bed. Snuggling against Rosebud, with Silky curled on the pillow next to her, she fell into an exhausted, but dreamless sleep. After she dressed the next morning, she took the letter to Masters. That way, it could go out with the post. Now, she would have to wait. It would take several days for her letter to reach Andrew, and even if he left immediately upon reading her missive, he would not arrive back at the Hall for at least a week or longer.

  There was no guarantee he would return right away. He must be angry and hurt, if indeed he was innocent. She realized that could very likely be the case. It would serve her right, if he ignored her letter. She’d shown a total disregard for his feelings by not letting him explain, especially if that evil witch had indeed accosted him.

  Oh, Lord, will I ever learn to control my emotions?

  She would spend the next week to ten days—perhaps longer—sitting on the edge of her seat, waiting for her husband’s return.

  ****

  Andrew spent the first four days in town vacillating between abject despair and bone-jarring anger. Blood pounded in his veins when he thought of what that scheming bitch had done. There was no doubt in his mind…Noreen had planned it all. She’d bribed that footman into telling him his wife wanted him in the conservatory and probably had him tell Kathleen he was waiting for her so she would catch them in that torrid embrace. And Kathleen. Her lack of trust and unwillingness to hear him out drove him to his knees. She’d condemned him without a whisper of doubt.

  Ever since his return, he’d drowned his sorrows in one decanter after the other of the most potent liquor he could lay his hands on. He stayed foxed, so he could find his rest for at least a few hours each night. Grabbing his tumbler of whiskey, he smashed it against the wall, adding to the rest of the broken glass littering the carpet. The potent smell of the alcohol wafted around him, causing him to retch, adding to the mess.

  The knocker stayed down and the house remained closed to visitors. The few servants in residence gave him a wide berth, since his foul mood had him barking at anyone who attempted to disturb him.

  The day before, Mrs. Elwood had allowed his mother into his townhouse. After he spent at least a half hour getting rid of the baroness, he went in search of the ho
usekeeper. He found her in her office and marched inside.

  “That does it,” he bellowed. “You have thwarted my wishes one time too many. Gather your belongings. Your services are no longer needed. When you are ready to leave, come to my study. Although, you do not deserve it, my wife asked me to give you a reference and severance pay if it became necessary to dismiss you. I want to abide by her wishes.” The woman burst into tears as he stalked from the room.

  After he gave the blubbering woman the reference and money, he appointed the footman, Jarvis, as his acting butler, since Masters was at the Hall. He gave him strict orders to refuse admittance to anyone.

  On the fifth day, Renwick barged into his study with Jarvis on his heels. “My lord,” the acting butler stammered, “I-I tried t-to keep him out. He forced his way in.”

  Andrew threw him a menacing look. “That will be all, Jarvis. We shall discuss this later.” The man backed out of the room, as he turned his attention on Renwick, his eyes narrowing to slits. “What do you want?”

  His friend languidly took a seat. “To see you, of course.” He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and brought it to his nose. “My good fellow, it smells worse than St. Giles in here. You’ve had enough time to wallow in your self-pity. This behavior will not accomplish anything. I have some news from my sister regarding your wife.”

  Andrew jerked straight up as if a glass of ice water had been thrown in his face. “Is she all right?”

  “Evidently, your wife is as miserable as you are. From what Deborah wrote, Lady Billingsley’s eyes are red-rimmed, her face is over pale, and she appears to have lost weight. She refused to attend the committee meeting last Wednesday as she’d planned, citing illness as the cause. Have you considered sending her a letter telling her what really happened that night?”