“No, I’m coming.” Elisa turned to Madison. “We’ll speak later.”
Madison nodded and then waited for the door to close before she settled into a chair and gave Edmond her breast. The moment he latched on, her mind calmed. She smiled down at Edmond and said, “You know, I think you know when I’m upset. That’s why you fuss, because you know you’ll make me feel better.”
Edmond didn’t respond. He was far too determined to enjoy his meal.
She heard a shout and a laugh on the other side of the door.
She covered her and Edmond with a blanket just in time for a boy to run in and shut the door behind him. He turned around. The moment he spotted Madison, his smile fell. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone was here. We’re playing a game. I need to hide.”
“Madison smiled. “That’s fine. You can hide here.”
The boy hesitated, but at another cry, he ran across the room and ducked behind her. “Thank you,” he whispered.
The door opened and an older boy came in. He stopped at the sight of Madison. “My apologies, my lady. I was looking for my friends.”
“Well then, I’d suggest you go look for them, then.”
“Yes, of course.” The boy bowed and kept his head down as he backed out of the room.
Madison turned to her stowaway. “He’s gone.”
The young man lifted his head. The clear quality of his blue eyes rendered her speechless.
He smiled and her heart quickened. “Thank you, again.” He stood. “I won’t disturb you anymore.”
“What’s your name?”
“Wess.” He moved to the door.
Wess.
“Wess Taylor?”
He had his hand on the knob and had looked prepared to make a run for the hall, but he stopped and turned at her question. “Yes, how do you know my name?”
Madison’s stomach fell, and she grew lightheaded. “Wess.”
“Are you all right, ma’am?”
She nodded. She was staring at Leo. Wess was Leo’s son. The resemblance was undeniable.
Leo had a son. Why hadn’t he told her that Wess was his son?
Did he know Wess was here? Was that why he’d run?
“My lady?” Wess called again.
Madison blinked and swallowed. “Wess, sit with me.” She could tell Edmond was sleep, so she buttoned her dress and then placed him back in his basket.
Wess sat beside her and then looked down at the baby. “What’s her name?”
“His name is Edmond.”
Wess blushed. “Oh. Sorry.” His smile was charming.
Madison’s chest tightened and her eyes watered. She felt anger burn within her chest.
Leo had another family. He had a son and he hadn’t thought to tell her. She was the only one who knew about Wess and Leo’s connection. He liked to keep part of his life separate. That was what Leo had told her. So why was he here?
“How old is he?” Wess asked. She’d invited him over, but he was the one doing all the chatting. Most children would have left by now, anxious to play with their friends. She wondered if he got enough attention.
“He’s five weeks. You’re ten, right?”
Wess was astounded. “How did you know?”
She smiled. “Is your mother here?” Madison could not bear to see the other woman. She’d leave on foot if she had to. Her heart was breaking.
Wess shook his head. “My mother is dead.” He said it so matter-of-factly.
Madison felt terrible for the relief she felt. “Who do you live with?”
He shrugged. “How do you know my name and my age?” He was being evasive, which was probably just as well. He didn’t know her. It wasn’t wise to give too much information to strangers.
But she didn’t feel like Wess was a stranger. She wanted to hold him. She already adored him. How could she not when he held the face of the man she loved?
The lying, treacherous man she loved.
“I know who you are, because someone very special to me told me about you.”
He frowned. “Lady Ganden?”
She shook her head. “Leonard Childs.”
There was a flash of emotion in his eyes, but his face became mute. His mask was very good. He hid his heart much like the man who’d given him life. “He told you about me?”
Madison nodded. She knew that meant something to him. She wondered how he’d been introduced to Oliver and Nicholas or if Leo’s brothers had even been introduced to him at all. Children were often overlooked, especially when one considered the vast number of guests at the party. “He said you were very bright and a gifted pianist.”
Wess smiled. “What else?”
“Well, he didn’t say it aloud, but he told me how very special you are to him.”
“Who are you?” Wess looked down at Edmond again and then slowly his eyes rose. He seemed to know the answer before she could give it. “Lord Leo is special to you?”
“Yes.” Madison already knew Wess didn’t know about her and Edmond. Or at least he hadn’t until now.
Wess stood. He didn’t even excuse himself as he ran. At the last second, the mask fell from his face and pain was revealed.
She heard his feet disappear down the hall and then come to an abrupt stop.
“Wess.” That was Leo’s voice.
The footsteps started up again.
“Wess!” Leo cried.
Madison picked up the baby and left the room.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 7
* * *
Leo followed Wess out of the house. The boy was fast, but he was faster. “Wess. Stop. Right now!”
Everyone in the yard turned at his shout. Everyone but Wess. He kept his back to Leo.
Leo walked around him until he was in Wess’ face. The look of anger and pain in Wess’ eyes consumed him and began to eat at his soul.
“I didn’t know you were here,” Leo said.
Wess said nothing. His small shoulders lifted and fell with his every breath.
“What’s all the noise about?” a gentleman asked as he poked around a carriage.
Leo glared at the sight of Dr. Christian Sparrow. “No one is hurt.”
Sparrow came over anyway and began to examine Wess’ face. Then he leaned back and looked at Leo. “I didn’t know you had a son.”
“I don’t. I mean, I do.”
Wess stiffened. His breathing came harder. His face was bright red. He was glaring at Leo.
The tension was thick.
Leo didn’t understand why Wess was so upset. A nagging fear that Wess knew the truth crawled up his spine, but he shook it away.
Wess couldn’t know. Leo hadn’t told him.
Leo was the only person who knew the truth.
“Oh, that’s right. You do have a son now and a wife.” Sparrow looked at Wess again. “I thought I heard he was an infant.”
Leo closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “Christian, I don’t wish to have this conversation right now.” He needed to deal with Wess. He needed to find out what was wrong.
“His son is an infant,” Wess said in a monotone. “He’s five weeks.”
Sparrow crossed his arms. “Are you a cousin or something? I swear, you have to be related to this man. You look just like him.” The doctor smiled. “Do people tell you that when they see you together?”
“Sometimes,” Wess whispered. Then in a stronger voice, he said, “But he’s not my father. I don’t have a father. I’m nobody.”
“Wess…”
The boy ran again.
“Stop!”
He didn’t listen. He ran and kept running until he disappeared behind the house. Leo wanted to go after Wess, but he didn’t know what to say.
“Who is that boy?” Sparrow asked.
Leo ignored him and looked toward the front door. George was there. He glared at Leo as well and then ran in the same direction as Wess. Why was everyone so angry with him?
The baby. Wess had found out about the b
aby and possibly Madison.
He should have told Wess he’d gotten married. Not that it should have mattered. Wess was only the son of his friend. That was all the boy knew.
Madison appeared at the door and Leo went to her.
She looked worried. “Where’s Wess?”
“You met him? What did you say to him?”
She froze and he realized his tone had been accusing.
“Sorry,” Leo whispered. He looked at Edmond in the basket. “He’s been outside enough for today. Let’s go inside.”
“No, go find Wess, talk to him.”
Leo shook his head. He didn’t know what to say to Wess at the moment.
Madison put a hand on his arm. “Leo, go,” she pleaded.
Leo could fill himself trembling. “Go inside.” He cut a path in the direction Wess went.
From the eyes of the men standing about, he learned where Wess had gone.
Van Dero was there. Cassius was standing with his personal army’s general Remy and his man of finance Sirius. The three men straightened at Leo’s approach.
“Go speak with Oliver,” Leo said. He kept walking, passing them going around a stable until he saw Wess and George crouched by the back wall.
George looked up first. Then Wess.
Leo crossed to them. “George, go inside.”
George sneered but did as he was told. If he were any other man’s son, Leo would have done something about his attitude. Yet as it stood…
He sighed and crouched down to where Wess sat on a bed of weeds. He wasn’t wearing the coat Leo had given him. Sunlight didn’t gather back here and with the branches of evergreens overhead, it was colder in this alcove.
“It’s cold,” Leo said. “We should go inside.”
Wess breathed a quick series of clouds in front of him. His brows were low. His eyes remained averted. He sat with his arms over his knees and his face turned away from Leo.
He’d been crying. A frozen path rested on his cheek.
Leo closed his eyes. “I never meant to hurt you.”
When Wess said nothing, Leo opened his eyes and saw the boy was crying again.
Leo was speechless. He didn’t know what to say either.
He knew the truth might make Wess feel better, but he didn’t couldn’t give Wess that. It would only be a burden later. Wess’ fake father was a hero, a military man whom everyone admired.
Leo was nothing more than the vile creation of a cruel man. “Shall I tell you about Lady Madison and Edmond?”
Wess sniffed. “No.”
“She wants to meet you.”
The boy wiped his face. “We met,” he spat.
Leo placed a hand on top of Wess’ arm. “No. I want you to meet her officially. I want her to know how much I care about you.”
He looked at Leo and his blue eyes were wide and vulnerable. “Am I not good enough?”
Leo’s heart shattered. “What do you mean?”
But he knew. He held Wess’ eyes and knew the boy knew the truth. How that had come to be, he didn’t know, but it was there.
“Is it because I’m a bastard?” Wess’ voice cracked.
“No.” Leo grabbed his shoulders as his knees fell to the ground. “Wess… you know I love you.”
His face crinkled and turned red again right before he buried his face in his arms. “But you won’t claim me.” His body shook with his sobs.
Leo wrapped his arms around the boy and cursed. He held Wess tightly and thought about anything he could say that wasn’t the truth. But he couldn’t lie anymore. Wess already knew.
“How did you find out?”
Wess sniffed. “George suspected it. He had people try to hunt down my father in the registry. He doesn’t exist.”
Leo cursed again. He should have given Wess’ father the name of an actual soldier.
But a nagging in his heart said there was a reason Leo hadn’t given the man a read name. He’d wanted Wess to find out. He was just that twisted and possessive.
Leo looked Wess over. “You run pretty fast for a boy on crutches just a few weeks ago.”
Wess held his eyes. “There was no fight. I lied.”
Leo could see it now. The two young men had schemed to get Leo to Wess’ side.
And then Leo had confessed to loving Wess.
When he’d visited a few weeks ago, during the time he was away from Madison, he’d been attending Wess. He’d barely left the boy’s side. Wess had needed help with everything and had complained about the pain in his leg.
Leo had had a suspicion that Wess was being dramatic about the pain, but Leo hadn’t wanted to leave. He hadn’t been with Wess during those early years when a child needed such tender care. For a few days, Leo had experienced what it would have been like to care for Wess himself.
But when the urge to tell Wess the truth grew, he bolted.
Now the secret was out. There was no going back.
“You’re my son,” Leo said.
Wess swallowed. “Is Lady Madison my mother?”
Leo shook his head.
Wess looked disappointed. “She’s nice.”
Leo smiled. “She is.” He wondered how Madison had won the boy over so quickly. “Your mother was nice as well. She was my friend. She died giving birth to you.” Leo touched his head. His fingers still trembled. “She left me with a great gift.”
Wess stared down at his lap. “Why did you lie? Were you ashamed of me?”
“No. You’re likely the best thing I’ve ever created.” Leo’s heart felt like it was pounding his throat. “I… didn’t want you to be ashamed of me. That’s why I gave you a hero for a father.”
Wess’ head whipped up, and his eyes widened. “Why would I be ashamed of you? You’re the best.”
Leo felt his chest fill with pride. “I’m not.”
“You are,” Wess protested. “I want to be just like you when I—”
“No.” Leo shook him. “You’ll be better than me, do you understand?”
Wess closed his mouth.
Leo stood. He felt like he would pop out of his skin soon. “Come inside.”
Wess stood and followed him silently.
Oliver was at the door when they arrived. “I spoke with Cassius. I told him what was going on. He told me that you chased this boy and a friend behind the stables. What’s going on?” Oliver’s eyes moved to Wess and then snapped back to Leo.
Wess ducked his head and started kicking the frozen dirt.
Leo placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder to get him to stop. Then he looked at Oliver. “I’ve someone else to introduce you to. This is my son, Wess.”
∫ ∫ ∫
4 8
* * *
Leo closed the door behind him and Madison once they made it to their room.
She looked around. “Is this a guest-chamber?”
“No.” He settled down on the bed. “It’s my room.”
“I thought you said—”
“Oliver gave it to me after my father died. I’ve never actually slept in it.” He didn’t belong here. He hadn’t earned his brother’s kindness. He covered his face with his hands.
What was he going to do about Wess? He needed to get away. He needed time to think. He shouldn’t have brought Madison here.
After introducing him to Oliver, Leo had rushed Wess into the drawing room where most of the guests had been gathered and introduced Wess again.
Madison had been there, looking just as stunned as the rest of the gathering.
Then Leo had sent Wess to play with his friends and grabbed his wife from the room before his friends could ask him any questions.
Leo rubbed his eyes. “Coming was a mistake”
Madison approached and grabbed his wrist. Then she cupped his chin and forced him to look at her. “Are you planning to run?” She didn’t hide her disappointment.
“No… yes.” Leo grabbed her skirts. “Madison, I can’t do this…”
“You can’t do what?” she ask
ed. “It’s over. Now everyone knows Wess is your son.”
“Nick wasn’t there.” He was likely in his room with Elisa. “My grandmother wasn’t there either.” Lady Serveck would become enraged. Leo had to escape before his grandmother found out. His skin crawled at the thought of the encounter.
“Wess’ mother…” Madison sighed. “Is she really dead?”
“Yes.” He lifted his head and straightened. “It was ten years ago. There’s no other woman. I swear—”
She gave a dry laugh and let him go. “Do you honestly think that is why I’m upset? Actually, for a moment, I thought you had another family. You were gone for five days.”
He tightened his hold on her skirts. “I love you. There is no one else. I went to see Wess.”
She ran her hands through her hair. “We can speak about this later if you wish,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I know you’re already dealing with so much.”
“No, be upset with me.” He pushed his head against her hand and closed his eyes.
“Why?”
His heart trembled. “People are always afraid to be upset with me.”
“Because they know you’ll run,” she whispered. “It’s love that makes us hold our tempers.”
He pressed his head to her belly and groaned. “You’re right, but I need you to always speak your mind to me.”
“He knew,” Madison said, continuing to play in his hair. “Do you know that? When we met, I could see that he knew you were his father. There was betrayal.”
Leo pulled away. “Tell me how you met?”
Madison did. Her eyes watered. “He was so sad.”
Leo shook his head and let her skirts go. “I know. He knew and he conspired to get me to admit it. My own son tricked me.” He closed his eyes. “When I heard Wess had been beaten up by his peers, I ran to him.” He stood and moved to his fireplace. He leaned against the empty mantlepiece. “There was something different about that visit from the beginning. He even gave me an opening to tell him the truth.”
“George thinks you’re my dad.”
Madison said, “He’s your son. He should have been told.” She should have been told. “I don’t understand this.”
He looked at her. “That’s just it, Madison. Wess shouldn’t know. I shouldn’t be his father. I shouldn’t get to take pride in him. Neither you nor Edmond.”
The Long Awaited Lord Page 23
