Say You Love Me

by Angel

  He couldn’t go on. He got too choked up on his emotions, especially when he saw the tears forming in her eyes. He walked out of the room before he gave in to tears himself.

  Jason gathered Molly in his arms, hearing her wail, “Oh, God, what have I done?” as she began to cry in earnest.

  He asked himself the same question, but all he could say to her was, “Everyone makes mistakes when they’re young, Molly. This was one of ours. Give him some time to get used to the truth. Once he thinks about it, really thinks about it, he’ll realize that you have always been a mother to him, that you’ve been there to share all the aches and pains of his growing years, that you helped to raise him into the fine man

  he has become.”

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  ISH I HAD BEEN THERE TO HEAR IT,” RoSLYNN TOLD HER husband as she handed Judith to him with an added, “Here, it’s your turn to walk her.” “Hullo, sweetheart,” Tony said to his daughter as he gave her a loud kiss on the cheek. “Not feeling too good, are we?” Then he said to his wife, “Be glad you weren’t there. It was

  bloody embarrassing.” “Embarrassing? Among family?” She snorted.

  He raised a black brow at her. “And just what could you have added to it?”

  He’d already recounted the entire discussion to her, but she still found it difficult to believe that Kelsey Langton wasn’t the lady she had appeared to be. “I would have told your brother how old-fashioned his forbidding it was.”

  Anthony grinned. “I hate to mention this, Ros, but Jason is old-fashioned.” “So don’t mention it,” she retorted. “But what’s more important here, love or public opinion?” “Is that a trick question?”

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  “This isn’t funny, Tony,” she admonished. “Love is more

  important and you know it. Or are you telling me that you wouldn’t have married me if I didn’t have a few earls and lairds in my family tree?” “Do I have to answer that?” “I’m going to be hitting you, mon, if you canna be serious,” she said, slipping into her Scots brogue.

  He chuckled. “Not while I’m holding Judith you won’tnow, now,” he added when she started toward him. Then, in a grumble, he said, “Oh, very well, yes, I would have married you anyway, but, fortunately, I didn’t need to worry about your suitability. And besides, you’re forgetting that the girl was bought in a whorehouse auction. That, m’dear, goes a bit beyond mere public opinion.” “Only a few people know about that,” she pointed out reasonably. “You must be joking,” he replied. “As juicy a tidbit as that is? It’s probably made the complete rounds by now.”

  Several rooms away, James and his wife were discussing the same subject as they lay curled together in bed. At least Georgina was trying to discuss it. James had other things on

  his mind just then, and his wandering hands left little doubt as to what. “I don’t see what her lower-class upbringing has to do with anything. You married me, didn’t you?” Georgina reminded him. “And I certainly don’t have a silly title attached to my name-well, at least I didn’t before I married you.” “You’re an American, George. Makes a big bloody difference if you come from another country, which she don’t. She talks like a duchess, giving her nationality away with every word that comes out of her mouth. Besides, I’m not the one

  who has to produce the next generation or two of marquises. That, m’dear, falls on Derek’s shoulders. There was no need

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  for me to ever marry, which as you know, I had no intention of doing-until you crawled into my bed.” “I did no such thing,” she retorted. “As I recall, you yanked me into your bed.”

  He chuckled, nuzzling her ear. “Is that what I did? Smart of me, if I do say so m’self.” “Hmmm, yes-now, stop that! I’m having a serious discussion here.”

  He sighed. “Yes, I noticed, more’s the pity.” “Well, I want you to do something about this matter,” she insisted. “Excellent idea, George,” he said, and positioned her for a

  very deep kiss.

  She came up sputtering. “Not that matter-at least not yet,” she amended. “I’m talking about Jason’s attitude. It wouldn’t hurt for you to talk to him, to point out how un—

  reasonable he is being.” “Me? Give advice to one of the elders?” And he started laughing. “It’s not funny.” “Indeed it is. The elders are too set in their ways. They don’t take advice, they give it. And Jason knows he has the right of it in this case. For that matter, so does the girl. She ain’t going to marry the lad, George, so this whole discussion is moot.” “And what if her refusal is because she knows how his father feels about it?” “Then she’s smart enough to know they wouldn’t have a

  happy marriage if they go against Jason’s wishes. Either way, there is no solution for them. So give it a rest. There ain’t a thing we can do for those two short of giving the chit a new

  identity, and even that can’t be done. That auction was too bloody public. If it were other than that, something might be worked out, but that ain’t the case.”

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  Georgina mumbled something under her breath. James grinned. “You can’t solve everyone’s problems, dear girl. Some just ain’t solvable.” “Why don’t you endeavor to make me forget that?” she suggested. “Now, that I can do,” he said, and got back to the deep kissing.

  And in the next wing over, Nicholas Eden was saying to his wife, “You know more about this than you’re letting on, don’t you?” “A little,” Reggie admitted. “And you’re not going to enlighten me as to what that is, are you?”

  She shook her head at him. “I can’t. I had to promise I wouldn’t.” “I hope you know this is very aggravating, Reggie,” he complained.

  She nodded in complete agreement. “It’s more than that, it’s tragic. They should be allowed to marry. They love each other. And it’s going to drive me crazy if nothing can be done about this.”

  He put his arms around her. “It’s not your problem, sweetheart.” “Derek is more like a brother to me than a cousin. We were raised together, Nicholas.” “I know, but there really isn’t anything you can do to help.” “Well, you don’t think that is going to stop me from trying, do you?”

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  ST OF THE FAMILY GATHERED IN THE PARLOR FOR

  afternoon tea the next day. The newlyweds were the only two so engrossed in each other that they barely noticed the strained atmosphere in the room. For the others, the conversation was stilted at best, everyone taking pains to not bring up Kelsey’s and Derek’s hopeless situation.

  Derek and his father were very obviously not speaking to each other. This was assumed to be because of Jason’s stand on his son’s marriage. No one asked how their talk had gone after they left the dining room together the night before but it was pretty apparent that they still didn’t see eye to eye. In fact, Derek appeared angrier than he had then.

  And then the butler showed up at the door with a visitor who didn’t wait to be announced, who pushed right past him, in fact. The woman was in her early forties and very handsome for her age, hinting that she had once been quite a beauty. And although she wasn’t very tall, she was quite sturdy in build, and at the moment, her expression, her very stance, made her appear downright formidable. A dragon came to mind, one about to breathe a bit of fire.

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  “I’m looking for Derek Malory.” Derek stood up and gave the woman a slight bow, though because of her sharp tone, he was a bit wary in admitting, “That would be me, madam.”

  She turned to him and demanded, “Where have you got my niece hidden? And don’t lie to me. I know you’ve got her. My husband, that bounder, has made a complete confession to me. He got your name from that scoundrel who sold her to you when he picked up his blood money.”

  Not a word
was heard after that statement. Absolute silence.

  And then Reggie chimed in, “Do sit down, my good woman. I’m sure Derek isn’t hiding your niece. In fact, I wouldn’t doubt that she’s not far from here.”

  Elizabeth narrowed one eye on Regina. “Don’t I know you, younglady?” “Yes, we met recently at your hotel. I was looking for Kelsey myself, and although you said you did have a niece by that name, I determined that the Kelsey I was looking for couldn’t possibly be related to you.” And then Reggie grinned, delighted that Kelsey’s aunt had finally learned the truth, which just might make a huge difference. “Looks like I was quite wrong, doesn’t it?” “Indeed,” Elizabeth huffed.

  Derek finally spoke up, frowning in confusion. “Just a minute. Am I to understand that you’re Kelsey Langton’s aunt?” “Your understanding is perfect,” Elizabeth replied, scowling at him again. “But I wasn’t aware that she had any relatives still living.” “She doesn’t have many, but it’s quite irrelevant whether you knew or not.” “Most of us here have met your niece, madam. And like Derek, we were unaware that she had any family to speak of. It might help if you introduce yourself,” Jason said.

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  “And just who might you be, sir?” Elizabeth asked him stiffly.

  11 I’m Derek’s father, Jason Malory.” “Ah, good. You can ensure that your son cooperates in this matter. And I am Elizabeth Perry. That will mean nothing to you, of course, since I married down, means even less to me at the moment. However, my grandfather was the Duke of Wrighton, a title that has laid unclaimed and will continue to be unclaimed until Kelsey produces a son.” “Good God!” That came from Anthony. “She told me her mother was a governess!” Derek said incredulously. “Hardly,” Elizabeth all but snorted. “Her mother, who was my only sister, died early this year of an unfortunate accident-after she shot her husband. You might have heard of that incident? Kelsey’s father was David Langton, the fourth Earl of Lanscastle.”

  James started laughing. “Explains why she looked, acted, and spoke like a lady, don’t it?”

  His wife replied. “But this is delightful. She’s now quite suitable-” “Not quite, George,” James cut in.

  Roslynn added, “But much closer to being-” “Not even close, sweetheart,” Anthony cut in. Both wives frowned darkly at their respective husbands but were silent. They would, of course, have plenty to say later, when they had those respective husbands alone.

  Reggie mused at that point, “I wonder why Kelsey didn’t mention this duke great-grandfather of hers when she told me all-well, most of this.” “D’you mean to say that you were aware that she was the daughter of that Langton?” Derek frowned at his cousin. “And you didn’t bother to tell me?”

  Regina squirmed uncomfortably, but tried to explain. “She

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  made me promise, Derek. You don’t think I liked keeping such a big secret, do you? It was driving me mad, knowing the truth and not being able to add it to the, ah-discussion we had last night.”

  Elizabeth looked at Regina a bit more kindly. If Kelsey had confided in her, when she hadn’t told her lover the truth, then she must like the girl.

  So she explained to her, “Kelsey doesn’t know who her great-grandfather was, so she couldn’t have mentioned him to you. He died long before she was born, and my sister and I decided not to burden her with the knowledge. The burden to produce the next Wrighton heir put too much of a strain on our mother, who only had daughters, and then on my sister and I when it was our turns. But now it is up to Kelsey, because I never had any children of my own, and my sister only had the two girls before she died.” “Has it not occurred to you, Lady Elizabeth, that what your niece has done has damaged her chances for a good marriage?” Jason asked carefully. “Certainly it has,” Elizabeth replied. “Which is why I would have shot my fool of a husband if I’d had a weapon handy when he confessed what he’d done.” “What does he have to do with this?” “Kelsey and her younger sister, jean, came to live with my husband and me after the funeral, and that fool convinced her that we were going to be paupers, that the creditors were

  going to take my house away, that the only way to keep us

  off the streets was if she became some lord’s mistress, who would pay off Elliott’s debts.” “Are you saying that wasn’t the case?” “Certainly not-although my husband did actually believe it, and he had got himself deeply in debt without telling me.

  But when I married him-against my parents’ wishes, I might add-my mother settled a rather large sum of money on me, with the advice that I never let Elliott know about it,

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  and to this day I never have. And speaking of which-” She pulled a fat stack of money out of her reticule and approached Derek. “I believe this is the sum you-”

  Derek cut her off, “I don’t want your money.” “But you will take it.” And she tossed the money onto the sofa behind him. “Kelsey’s obligation to you is at an end. She

  is coming home with me.” “No.” “I beg your pardon?”

  Derek cleared his throat, saying, “Perhaps that was a bit

  too blunt.” /1A bit?” Anthony chuckled. “Do stay out of this ” old chap, and let the lad muddle through on his own,” James suggested. “It’s only just getting interesting.”

  Elizabeth had glanced at both men when they spoke. Jason mumbled something under his breath before he enlightened her, indicating James and Anthony. “My younger brotherswho rarely treat anything seriously.” “Beg to differ there, Jason,” James replied. “If you want a

  serious opinion-” “I don’t,” Jason cut in. “Have to disagree myself, Jason-good Lord, does that mean I agree with James?” Anthony asked with a feigned look of disgust. “Ros, quick, feel my forehead. I must be coming down with Judith’s fever.”

  James snorted. Jason started to growl. Edward, who had been silent so far, joined the fray. “Really, Tony, that was uncalled for.”

  And Reggie exclaimed at that point, “Famous! You four are having a row at a time like this?” “Not a’tall, puss,” Anthony replied, giving her one of his roguish smiles. “Just giving the youngun time to crawl out of the hole he’s digging for himself.”

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  “Oh-well, in that case, do continue.” “Thank you, Uncle Tony, but that isn’t necessary.” Derek faced the woman in front of him. “Lady Elizabeth, I can’t say that I’m sorry that you weren’t apprised of your husband’s difficulties sooner, or I might never have met your niece. But-” “That is rather selfish of you, young man,” she interrupted stiffly. “So it is, but I love her, you see. And I want to marry her.”

  Elizabeth blinked. She hadn’t been expecting that. But she hadn’t been expecting Derek Malory to be such a handsome young man, either. She had gone there in high dudgeon, prepared to do whatever was necessary to get Kelsey out of this appalling dilemma. She hadn’t considered that her niece might not want out of it. “Does Kelsey know that you want to marry her?” she asked Derek. “Yes. // “And how does she feel about that?” “She refuses to marry me.” “Why? if

  “Because of the scandal.” “Ah, yes, the scandal that can’t possibly be avoided. Did I mention that the title that will pass through her to her son

  comes with a fabulous fortune and estate? Despite whatever scandal will follow the girl, she really won’t have much difficulty in finding a husband.” -

  “This family has had too much scandal attached to our name already,” Edward put in huffily. “And we certainly have no need of any more fortunes.” “So that’s the way the wind blows here?” Elizabeth asked with an indignant sniff. “No, it is not,” Derek answered emphatically, frowning at his uncle.

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  “My son is correct. He will have my support if he marries the girl.”

/>   Every eye in the room turned toward Jason, most of them wide with disbelief. And silence prevailed again.

  Georgina broke it first. “Goodness, James, I didn’t know you were that persuasive.”

  James snorted. “Don’t look at me, George. His change of heart was none of my doing.”

  And Anthony added, “James persuasive? Only with his fists, dear girl, and if you’ll notice, there ain’t a mark on the elder there.”

  But Edward complained loudly, “This is absurd, Jason. You’re letting the fact that she now has fine credentials sway you? Hasn’t it occurred to you that that will make the scandal even worse?” “It likely will,” Jason agreed. “But I had already changed my opinion, and I won’t change it again now just because she’s turned out to be a lady. I’ve decided that I owe Derek my support in this, so that he doesn’t make one of the same mistakes that I did.” “What mistake?” Edward asked. “That is between Derek and me. If the girl will have him, then he’ll have my blessings.”

  Derek didn’t thank his father for his surprising support. But it did put a few dents in the anger he was still harboring. And then there was that silly lump in his throat again, all but choking him.

  He had to clear his throat, several times, before he could say to Elizabeth, “If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to Kelsey. Perhaps you can manage to change her mind about marrying me.”

  Elizabeth humphed. “That’s if I agree that she ought to. But after listening to your divided family, young man, I’m not at all sure that is the case.”

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  LSEY SAT STIFFLY ON THE SOFA IN HER ROOM. DEREK was there, pacing back and forth, his expression inscrutable. Elizabeth was there, too, sitting beside Kelsey. And that was

  why Kelsey’s face was flaming. They both knew the truth now, everything. And she was so embarrassed, she had nearly run from the room-a number of times. “You should have come to me, Kelsey,” Elizabeth was saying. “I had more than enough money to cover Elliott’s debts. None of this need have happened.” “That didn’t seem an option at the time,” Kelsey replied. “Neither Elliott nor I had any idea that you had money of your own.”