“I don’t think this is ap-” she tried.
“Were you near water?” Edward interrupted her and her whole body went rigid.
Her green eyes widened, she paled and took a step back. “Ho-How do you know that?” She sounded terrified and Mr. Osbourne seemed to have heard it as well because he took a step closer to her in a protective manner. “Who are you?”
“I mean you no harm, Miss,” he said, honestly. “You do not remember who you are, am I right? You do not remember anything before five years ago?”
Mr. Osbourne was the one to talk then, as it seemed Marie was in too much of a shock. “How…? No one knows…”
“I know who you are, my lady,” Edward told her, softly. “Your name is Lady Kathleen Egremont, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Bellford.” The look of confusion on her face said it all. She didn’t have a clue about who she was.
“No.” She shook her head. “I am Marie Smith, a governess.”
“My lady.” Edward took a step inside but didn’t go too close so as not to scare her. “I speak the truth. This is who you are. Five years ago, you took a stroll back to your family home on your own and you were either robbed or someone pushed you off a cliff.”
“I remember… cold water,” she whispered to herself, looking down, eyes wide as if she had seen a ghost.
“They looked for you for days, but no one found a body and they thought you had drowned.”
“The beach,” Kathleen whispered again. “I woke up at the beach.”
“My lady.” Edward said gently. “I think deep inside you always knew you were not a common girl, nor a governess. You are the daughter of a Duke.”
“It can’t be, I-”
“Kathleen?”
Edward turned around and saw his father, eyes wide, pale and clearly not believing his eyes. Looking back at the young woman in front of him, he saw her look up slowly.
There were a few moments of silence before she spoke unsure. “Papa?”
“Oh, my darling girl.” The Duke started to walk her way and Edward watched as Kathleen ran to her father’s arms. They met halfway and Edward didn’t know who held on to whom the tightest.
The sobs and cries from both of them were the only sounds and for a moment, everyone witnessing the scene, couldn’t help it but to smile at the pure joy of father and daughter being reunited.
* * *
“Really, Mrs. Osbourne, we are more than fine. We are so very sorry to have imposed on you as we did.” Edward said when the mistress of the house wanted to fawn over him and his father over and over.
Apparently they had never met a Duke before and having one right under their roof was unimaginable.
“Oh, nonsense, Mr. McAlister. Marie has been family for five years. She helped with the children, with the house and now we discover she is a lady! And better yet, that she has a family! We always thought she and her family were on a boat that sunk and the poor thing couldn’t remember, but apparently we were wrong.”
Mrs. Osbourne was chatty and an opulent woman. Edward supposed it was because she had recently given birth to the baby she was carrying around. While Mr. Osbourne was stoic, Mrs. Osbourne was more than bubbly. She was probably just a few years older than him, with light blonde hair and big blue eyes.
“I am so happy for her. I am sad for me because now, I will have to take care of my four little ones on my own until we find someone to replace her, not that I think it’s possible, mind you, but I am happy she found her family again.”
“Dear, let’s leave the Duke and Mr. McAlister to talk to Marie, I mean… Kathleen? The sun will be good for the children,” Mr. Osbourne suggested and took the baby from her arms. He looked around at their drawing room and stared at the Duke, who was holding his daughter in a tight grasp, as if afraid she was going to disappear at any given moment. “I know it’s not much, Your Grace, but I can get you some privacy here.”
The Duke nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Osbourne. Your kindness to my daughter will not be forgotten.”
Both Osbournes bowed before leaving the room, leaving the three of them alone. Kathleen had her face pressed between her father’s neck and shoulder and Edward could see she was still crying a little.
“How could I ever have forgotten you, Papa?” Kathleen said in a whisper loud enough that Edward could hear. “I missed you so much without even remembering you.”
“Oh, my dear. I missed you as well.” The Duek kissed the top of his daughter’s head.
“I remembered you when I saw you. Mr. McAlister said your name and it meant nothing until… until I saw you.”
“Some people say memory can be triggered by a sound, smell, sight, or touch,” Edward said and Kathleen moved a little so she could look at him. “Words meant nothing to you until you saw your father. Heard him speak. Do you remember anything else?”
Kathleen seemed to consider her answer for a moment. “Maybe? It’s all very fuzzy in my mind. I know Papa is my father. I know I love him and he loves me. I know he will protect me. But I can’t remember particular situations.”
“We will get you the best doctors there are, my dear,” the Duke said. “Oh, your mother will be so happy. Losing you was quite hard on all of us.”
“Mother?” She frowned once again as if trying to remember.
Edward took pity on her. “I believe it will be the same when you see your mother, my lady. Your mind is not connecting the feelings with the name.”
She nodded and then looked at him. “I did not have that feeling when I saw you,” Kathleen pointed out. “Why?”
“We never met before.” Edward explained, trying not to get into any specifics after such strong emotions.
“You look like Papa,” Kathleen said bluntly. “Are you a cousin of ours?”
Edward looked at his father and saw him freeze and then relax before answering. “Kathleen, it is a long story. One that we will share with you soon, but Edward is the reason we found you. He is your brother. My son.”
Chapter 34
Miss Marie Smith/Lady Kathleen Egremont
The day had started like any other ordinary one. Marie had changed the children, helped them get fed, started their lessons, and then one knock on the door and she was looking at a man with the same eyes as her, saying he knew who she was.
Not even Marie knew who she was, how could he?
But he did. He knew it and even though her first instinct was to deny, she knew what he said was true. She was a Lady, but seeing her father, her beloved Papa… It had been so long since she felt safe and certain of something in her life.
When she woke up on a beach, cold and with no memories, Marie had wandered off, trying to make sense of the world, but nothing did. Who was she? Where was she from? Were there people looking for her? Did she have people who would look after her?
She walked all night, shivering until she saw a church and was taken inside. The Sisters were very kind to her while she recovered and they found her a job as a governess when they realized she was an educated woman. Marie just started to speak French one morning and if not for sister Angelique, the other nuns wouldn’t have a clue about what she was talking about.
The Osbournes had just had their second baby and needed help. They became her family.
Those children were just as hers as they were their mother’s.
So not knowing where she came from bothered her, but having the children around healed her heart a little. They didn’t care she had a scar on her forehead, they didn’t care if she had no idea where she was from, or who she was. All they cared was that she loved them.
Her father loved her, so did her mother, she assumed.
Would her new brother love her? Would she love him?
Marie looked at him and didn’t see any malice. He told her about herself the best way he could, knowing her father would come at any time. He had kind eyes even when he tried to look stern. Like her Papa.
“You are my brother,” she said to him.
She saw Mr
. McAlister hesitate. “By blood, yes.”
“I am guessing those news were not well received by some.” She raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled. “You’ll hear it all from your mother, I am sure.”
“I, for once, was thrilled to have found out I had another child,” her Papa said. “And the world is such a funny place; by meeting him, we got you back. Not even your mother will hate Edward after that.”
“Is she not kind?” Marie wondered. “Mother, I mean.”
Edward answered instead of her father. “Not to me. She tried to be, last night at dinner and so did I. She has her reasons and I have mine for not liking each other. But I am sure she will be thrilled to have you back and she loved you more than anything in the world.”
Marie liked him. He told her the impartial truth: her mother did not like him, but loved her. Those were facts and she could very well work with those.
“You will see when you get home,” her father said.
“Papa, I can’t just leave.” Marie tried but he was already shaking his head.
“No, Kathleen. You need to go back home, my dear. You don’t need to work here anymore.”
She got up from the chair and fisted her hands. “My name is Marie.” She knew her real name was Kathleen but she didn’t feel like that girl anymore. “And I might not need to work here anymore, but they were my family for five years. I can’t just get up and leave!”
“You will do as I say!” the Duke said, getting up as well.
“I will not-” Before she could finish, she felt two strong hands on her shoulders pulling her away. She didn’t even notice she had gotten so close to her father. Mr. McAlister had pulled her to a safe distance.
“Your Grace, she has spent five years connecting with the Osbournes. By my calculations, she saw at least two arrive in this world,” he said in a very calm manner. “It is not about the job. It’s about her new family.”
“We are her family! We lost you for so long, Kathl-”
“I think for now it is better if we call her Miss Smith as she wants, Marie.” Mr. McAlister told her, no, their father. “Having two families is not uncommon.” Marie raised her chin. She had her brother on her side. “Although, Miss Smith-”
“Marie. You are my brother; you can call me Marie.” She told him.
“Very well, Marie. Your parents have suffered your loss, your death and all your father wants is for you to go back home, but I can see you are an independent woman, now.” She cleared her throat. “I value that. But think about your mother if we show up tonight without you. I know you do not know her and God knows I can’t stand the woman, but if it were me, if my mother had been gone five years and people I knew found her and didn’t bring her to me, I would be hurt.”
Marie sighed. She would feel the same if it happened with one of the children.
“I know right now you have no feelings for this unknown woman, but when you see her, you will. I am not telling you to just leave and never come back. You can return in a couple of days, even bring your mother to meet the rest of your new family. I am sure Mrs. Osbourne can relate with a mother who has lost her child, getting her back.”
Her brother was smart. She needed to give him that.
“You are right, Edward.” She didn’t even ask if she could call him that. “I want to meet my mother. I want to remember her. I just do not want to let Mrs. Osbourne down.”
“Kath-” He stopped himself. “Marie. How about I pay for her to get some help from a girl at the village?” her Papa suggested it. “That way you can come with us with your mind at ease about the children.”
Marie nodded. “I think this could be arranged. As long as I am allowed to return whenever I want.”
“Yes.” Her father stepped closer to her and gave her a hug. “I am sorry, my darling. You are a grown woman but at the same time you are my beloved child and I want to protect you because I could not before.”
“Thanks, Papa.” She kissed his cheek. “I will talk to Mrs. Osbourne and get a suitcase ready for a couple of days’ trip.”
As she was leaving the room, she heard her father say, “Thank you, Edward. For understanding both of us and helping before it turned into a fight.”
“You are welcome. I think she is the first Egremont I actually like, though,” he said playfully and when she heard her father laugh, she couldn’t help it but to smile to herself.
* * *
Anne Egremont, Duchess of Bellford
A stroll around London was exactly what she needed. Miss Clifford had been a great companion and she even saw some old friends who were also enjoying the sunny day. Now, in the drawing room, they were entertaining themselves with sewing.
“You do not have to stay until they arrive, Miss Clifford,” she told the young woman.
“I do,” she said. “You should not be alone no matter what news they bring.”
“I know what news they will bring.” Anne looked away from her needlepoint. “More heartbreak. My husband can be such a strong-willed man with things he should not have.”
Miss Clifford smiled kindly. “At least, you will know for certain. Better than living with ‘what ifs’. And they should be arriving at any minute now. The village isn’t too far.”
“I just want to get this over with,” Anne said and as if she had invoked them, the butler came inside, telling them the Duke and guests had arrived.
Frowning, the Duchess looked at the door’s direction, waiting for a few moments before Mr. McAlister entered the room. He bowed at the women.
“Where is my husband?” Anne asked, coolly. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yes, we did,” Mr. McAlister said and Anne’s heart stopped for a second as Miss Clifford gasped.
“Wh-What does that mean?” the Duchess asked, not daring to get up just yet. If that man was tricking her… God help him.
“My Lady, we found Kathleen. She is alive and well.”
Anne couldn’t do anything other than stare at him while the words were being processed inside her mind.
“It can’t be,” she whispered.
“But it is,” he said with certainty.
Alive. Her baby was alive. Her beautiful, precious, amazing Kathleen was alive! She would only believe it when she saw her!
The Duchess didn’t even realize she was up before she was being blocked to leave the room by Mr. McAlister.
“Out of my way,” she ordered.
“No.” He said.
Anne could feel her cheeks get hotter with anger. Why was he stopping her from seeing her daughter? “If this is some sort of payback because of what I did-”
“I am not that shallow, Your Grace,” Mr. McAlister said. “Kathleen is just outside those doors but I asked to come in and talk to you first. There are things you should know about her.”
Anne gasped and put a hand over her chest. Miss Clifford was right next to her in a second and Anne was holding her hand tight. “Is she alright? Was she treated badly? If she was, I do not care, she is still my daughter.”
She could’ve sworn Mr. McAlister’s lips curled a bit and she could almost see admiration in his eyes for a second.
“That is good to know, but no, she was very well treated. She was living with a family as a governess. She appears to remember things as she sees or hears them. I told her about you when we met, she had no idea who you were. The moment she saw the Duke, she ran to him and remembered him.” Anne nodded. “Do not take personally if she does not recall you at first sight. Maybe you need to say something before she does. Another thing.” Mr. McAlister sighed. “Her name is Marie. It is what she has been calling herself for the past five years so I advise you to call her Kathleen at first to see if her memory of you returns but then, call her Marie. She seems to like the name.”
“Marie.” Anne nodded. “I wanted to name her that.”
“If there’s something I have learned the past couple of days, it is that the world is small and coincidences happen a lot mo
re than we think they do.” He walked towards the door. “Are you ready, Your Grace?”
She wasn’t. She had wanted her child back for so long and now that it was finally happening, she was terrified. What if she was dreaming? What if Kathleen disliked her now or didn’t remember her? What if?
Yet, Anne nodded, pulled her shoulders back, let go of Miss Clifford’s hand and started to walk out the door. She didn’t have to look back to know Mr. McAlister and Miss Clifford were following behind.
She saw her husband first, he was facing her and their eyes met. He smiled and looked to the woman in front of him and Anne followed his gaze.
A Hidden Duke For The Passionate Lady (Regency Historical Romance) Page 23
