A Priceless Gift: A Regency Romance

by May Burnett

  He had not shared these plans with Amanda, in part because he was not yet sure which would be the most promising avenue to pursue. He also expected her to plead on behalf of her aunt and cousins, who would inevitably share in Sir Roderick’s scandal and ruin. But they had not protected Amanda when she was staying with them, so to Lucian’s mind they were also to some extent culpable.

  Arriving home at last, he handed over his gloves and coat. “Is the countess at home?” he asked the butler.

  “No, my lord, she went to visit your aunt, Lady Evencourt, and is not yet returned.”

  Lucian nodded with outward indifference. What nonsense was Aunt Louisa putting into Amanda’s head now? She was too old and worldly for Amanda, but in the absence of closer relatives, her assistance was necessary. The old lady doted on Amanda since she had given birth to an heir. It made Amanda uncomfortable, but his wife was getting very good at hiding such reactions.

  She swept in as he was going through a sheaf of documents Tennant had left for him in his study. “Oh good, Lucian, you are home! I heard you gave an excellent speech.”

  He hid his gratification. “It is all part of being a peer. What are your plans for tonight?”

  “There is a ball I thought of attending, but,” she sent him a look of frank invitation, “if you should be staying in by any chance, I could be persuaded to forget all about it. It is getting a bit much, to be up every night until four or five and to hardly see the short sunlight at all.”

  “I cannot promise you’ll get much sleep if we stay in,” he said, pulling her against his body. She came willingly and submitted to a deep kiss, with tongues, without the slightest reticence and hesitation. Even better, when they were done, it was she who initiated the next kiss.

  So far, so good. He was worrying over nothing.

  “Let’s order a light dinner in your rooms,” Amanda suggested, her voice husky, “and see how much sleep we can get. But I must have a quick look at the twins first, or I could not give my full attention—”

  “I’ll come with you.” He held out his arm. “I’m getting fond of the little tots, rather to my surprise. I have little previous experience with babes.”

  “I am told they become more interesting once they learn to walk and speak,” Amanda said, climbing the stairs by his side. They paused briefly to order dinner. “Don’t forget to include oysters,” Lucian said.

  “Certainly, my lady, my lord.” The butler remained imperturbable.

  Mary was asleep, but little Marcus was moving his head and arms restlessly and looked up at them from blue eyes. “His hair is still reddish-brown like mine,” Amanda said, picking the babe up and holding him against her silk-clad shoulder.

  “Don’t think about it,” he advised. “They are as they are. And the past is not worth fretting over, dear.”

  She nodded, but from her serious expression, he easily guessed that she was worrying over her sister. “Eve will arrive in London straight from Northumberland,” he said. “We could simply carry her and that governess off to stay with us, rather than her aunt and uncle. Claim you need her help to prepare your ball.”

  “Mother would object,” Amanda said, but she looked thoughtful. “Maybe it can be done. If Roderick so much as touches Eve’s bare arm, I am going to kill him, Lucian. I am not joking.”

  “I would help you bury the body.”

  He watched as she put the babe back into his cradle and softly kissed his brow. Did she have the least idea how lovely she looked in her maternal moments? She was a treasure, worth a dozen of him and his worthless friends. What incredible stroke of luck had brought her into his life?

  And how long would it last?

  “All safe and secure,” Amanda said after checking once more on the sleeping Mary. “Come, I find myself famished, Lucian.”

  “For the food we ordered? It will not be ready yet.”

  “Hang the food. You know exactly what I mean.” She put her arm through his, companionably. “I want bliss, Lucian, the sort you provide so well.”

  He had to smile. “Well then. I’ll strive not to disappoint you.”

  “I’m not worried. You never have yet.”

  Chapter 27

  Amanda’s spies informed her of the exact hour when her mother and sister arrived at the Bruton Street house her uncle had hired for the season. One of her footmen had easily suborned the cook hired with the house, who had no loyalty towards these temporary masters.

  “They have arrived!” Amanda could not contain her excitement and apprehension. “I am going to call right away and try to remove Eve to my own house. Quick, Mattie, get ready—but I’d better dress up for this.”

  Mattie frowned. “What you wear now is elegant and becoming. Why change?”

  Amanda glanced at her fine gauze sleeve, very à la mode, but too youthful in effect for her mission. “This is pretty, but I need to look imposing, to play the grande dame. You are to back me up, please. It is very important to me that Eve should come to stay here, in our house.”

  “Bruton Street is only a few minutes’ walking distance,” Mattie pointed out. “But as you like. I’ll put on something dark, then, as a reminder that I’m a respectable widow, in case your mother has doubts. You told me that she has taken your husband in a strong dislike.”

  “So she has.” Amanda hoped the true story would not come out when she confronted her parent in front of witnesses. Her mother would not say anything indiscreet in front of Mattie or Lady Budleigh, she hoped. But in the heat of passion . . . Amanda needed to keep calm at all times, no matter how it turned out.

  Too bad the day was too mild for her sable coat and muff. She had just put on one of her most elegant dresses and a silk hat trimmed with ostrich feathers, and was pondering the choice of a light cloak or mantle when Lucian came through the connecting door into her rooms. He regarded her hat quizzically. “You are going to your aunt and uncle’s hired house?”

  Had the servants informed him of her plans? “Yes. There is no time to be lost, and I hope to bring Eve back with me right away. I have ordered the green guest room to be readied for her, and another for our old governess. Mattie will go with me.”

  “How much does she know?”

  “Only that my mother has taken a strong, irrational dislike to you and disapproves of our marriage.”

  “You are wise to be discreet. Under the circumstances, it would be better if I go with you instead of Mattie. We would not want to destroy her illusions.”

  “If you are willing, I would appreciate your support,” she agreed. “I warn you though, it may turn into an unpleasant scene. I don’t know how much Eve has been told, though surely father will have warned her. My former governess, Miss Harris, is aware that I came back from that visit to Sussex with child. It was she who first realised why I felt so wretched in the mornings and tired all the time.”

  “She’ll probably insist on staying with Eve. Do you want her in your house?”

  “I don’t mind Miss Harris. She was strict but fair, and luckily I’m no longer subject to her authority.”

  “Then let’s see how matters stand.” Lucian extended his arm. With the hard muscle of his arm under her gloved hand, Amanda felt less nervous about the impending confrontation. His height and air of absolute confidence inspired trust that they would prevail. On the landing, she paused for a moment in front of the large Venetian mirror. “We look like a highly fashionable couple. Good.”

  He smiled. “Do you feel like half of a couple, Amanda?”

  “Yes,” she said simply. “Don’t you?”

  “Indeed, every day more so.” He stopped for a moment, and ignoring the footman at the end of the hall, kissed her briefly on the lips. “Come, my dear wife, let us deal with this villain. He shall not hurt your little sister.”

  In the hall, Mattie was waiting for them.

  “Lucian will accompany me, no need for you to come, too,” Amanda told her cousin.

  “Very well. Give my regards to your mother, plea
se. I expect I’ll see her soon enough if you can persuade her to let Eve stay here with you.”

  “No doubt,” Amanda said, though she felt no certainty on the subject. Mattie was her father’s cousin and had never been close to Ellen Prendergast.

  They used the carriage with the Rackington coat of arms painted on the doors, despite the short distance. It would never do for a countess and earl to arrive walking on their feet like ordinary persons.

  “Your uncle will be punished, one way or the other,” Lucian said softly, so the coachman might not hear through the thin partition. “Leave him to me.”

  “Good,” Amanda replied, also keeping her voice low. “But you see why I don’t want to leave my sister under his roof even for a single night? Miss Harris will have instructions not to leave Eve’s side, but my uncle is the master of the house and could draw her off under some pretext. Or am I just imagining that he’s an imminent danger to Eve?”

  “No, that sort of degenerate will repeat his crimes again and again until he is stopped.” Lucian’s reply only confirmed her fears. “I know the type. Your worries for your sister are all too justified.”

  As Amanda had hoped, the Earl and Countess Rackington were immediately admitted, though the household showed signs of disorganisation. Luggage was standing in the entrance hall and servants rushed around with harried expressions.

  They were led into a drawing room. Lady Budleigh’s wide smile was all that was welcoming. “Lord Rackington! My dear Amanda! How very obliging to call upon us so quickly after our arrival! That is, we have been here for two days, but your mother and sister have only arrived hours ago. They are resting just now, but I’m sure they will want to come down unless they should be asleep. Doris is practicing the piano; she’ll be here in a moment.”

  Indeed, Amanda’s cousin appeared within a very short time and hugged her enthusiastically. “Amanda! How very elegant you look! Is this your husband, the earl?”

  “Indeed,” Amanda felt her lips twitching at the mixture of awe and apprehension in the girl’s expression as she executed an almost correct curtsy. Doris was only six months her junior, but to Amanda’s eyes she looked a veritable infant. “We have come to welcome you to town and bring you the invitations to our ball in person.”

  “How thoughtful of you,” Lady Budleigh said. “Shall I call for tea?”

  “Thank you, Aunt Regina, but no need. I have greatly missed Eve these past months,” Amanda continued. “Now that we are in the same city once more, I would like to invite her to stay at our house. It will be more convenient to take her to the various balls and entertainments I attend almost nightly. I also plan to take her to my own dressmaker and bestow some fashionable gowns on her.”

  “Oh.” Doris looked a little crestfallen. “I know how close you and Eve are. But please don’t forget me completely as you flit from theatre and opera to balls and routs.”

  “No indeed,” Amanda assured her. “After all, our house is only a few minutes away. Would you like to have new dresses, too?”

  From Doris’ happy expression, the answer was very clear. Her reply was forestalled by the door opening once again, with great energy.

  “Amanda!” Eve rushed in and hurled herself into Amanda’s arms. “Oh, I am so very glad to see you looking so well! And so elegant!”

  Amanda kissed Eve’s cheeks. “This whirlwind is my sister, Eve,” she told Lucian, smiling fondly as the girl curtsied. “Most of the time she is a well-behaved young lady. Eve, I was just telling our aunt and cousin that I wish you to stay with us at Rackington House. You can help me prepare my first ball.”

  Eve’s blue eyes shone. “Famous! There is nothing I would like more!”

  Her aunt smiled at her indulgently. “Let me tell the servants to pack up your things again. Is Miss Harris going with you? Then she should be told to pack as well. Though I really don’t know why she had to come at all. You are out of the schoolroom and a young lady now, Eve.”

  “We’ll gladly have her, too,” Amanda assured her aunt. “After all, she was my governess for several years.”

  “So, how is it to be a Countess?” Doris asked, almost bouncing on her velvet-covered chair. “Do you have a great many jewels and carriages and estates?”

  “All of that,” Amanda said, with a small smile at Lucian, who was watching the scene with an enigmatic expression on his handsome features. “Being a countess is very pleasant indeed. I also have dozens of minions to do my bidding and fulfil my slightest wish. You must come and visit soon, to see the house and my children.”

  “That is almost the hardest to believe,” Doris said. “This time last year you had no thought of marriage, not even a beau, and now you are a married lady and the mother of two children!”

  “Yes, change can arrive more quickly than one expects,” Lucian said. “Is your husband at home, Lady Budleigh?”

  “No, but he will want to call on you when I tell him of your visit.”

  “It does not signify,” Lucian said with an indifference Amanda could only admire. She felt relief at the news that Sir Roderick was not on the premises.

  A servant was dispatched to inform Miss Harris of the imminent change of accommodations. Amanda drew her sister and cousin into a discussion of the delights in store for them, beginning with a visit to the theatre the very next night, while Lucian exchanged small talk with her aunt.

  Presently, the door opened again. Amanda tensed and rose from her chair as she found herself face to face with her mother for the first time in many months.

  Mrs. Prendergast stared at her in silence.

  “Mother,” Amanda said, proud that her voice remained calm. “You are acquainted with my husband, Lucian. We have come to take Eve to stay with us. With Miss Harris and you, too, if you care to be our guest.”

  “Is it not a delightful scheme, Mother?” Eve said enthusiastically. “I cannot wait to see my little niece and nephew! Your grandchildren, Mother!”

  “Amanda. My lord,” her mother said coldly. “I fear I cannot give my permission. Eve should remain under her mother’s eye.”

  Eve and Doris looked at her in perplexity, and then at Amanda, questioningly.

  “But, Ellen,” Lady Budleigh remonstrated. “Can you not see how the girls’ chances at a good match will be greatly improved with Amanda’s patronage? It is the best thing that could happen! Dear Amanda has personally brought the invitations to her ball. They say the prince regent may attend!”

  Mrs. Prendergast scowled and was clearly searching for arguments why Eve could not possibly stay with her own sister.

  “As Amanda has said, you are welcome to join us, too,” Lucian said in his deep voice. “I recommend that you do so if you are worried about the influences your daughter would be exposed to.” His dark eyes met hers with open challenge.

  There was an awkward pause. “Come, Ellen, don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud!” Lady Budleigh urged her sister-in-law. “It is just a few minutes’ distance. Wherever you choose to stay, you will be able to see Eve every day.”

  “We are to have new dresses in the latest fashion,” Doris added pleadingly. “Aunt Ellen, surely you don’t want to deprive us of that! I shall die if I am a frumpy provincial at Amanda’s ball!”

  “Perhaps you would like to discuss your reservations with Amanda and me privately?” Lucian said to Amanda’s mother. His voice was suave, but there was a suggestion of steel behind it, and the look he directed at her was cool.

  “Don’t tell me you are not anxious to see your grandchildren, Ellen!” Aunt Regina said to her sister-in-law. “I wonder at your coldness towards Amanda. What has happened between you since your visit last year?”

  “My marriage,” Amanda quickly said to her aunt. She had to cut off that line of enquiry right away. “I am quite certain Father would prefer Eve to stay with me.”

  A mulish expression came into Mrs. Prendergast’s eyes. “He is not here, so we cannot ask him,” she said frostily.

  Lady Budleigh rose and
gestured to her daughter and Eve. “Let’s check how far that governess got with the packing. You three talk it out between yourselves.” She ushered the girls out and closed the door behind her.

  “Ellen,” Lucian said to Amanda’s mother. “I am very disappointed in your lack of trust and affection towards your firstborn. Amanda was grievously wronged last year, not only by someone close to you but by you as well. And now you are risking Eve’s happiness and safety, all because you are unwilling to believe Amanda. How is that even possible?”

  Amanda moved a step closer to Lucian. “Mother, look at me. I told you nothing but the truth, but whatever you believe or not, you must let me take Eve away from this house for her safety. I could not sleep a wink as long as she remains under the same roof as the man who came so close to ruining me.”

  Amanda had hoped that time might have softened her parent’s heart, but she could see in her mother’s stony countenance it was no use. She still rejected any facts that did not fit into her world.

  “Should you refuse to let Eve come with us,” Lucian said coldly, “I shall have to inform Lady Budleigh why we consider this household an unsuitable abode for her niece. I would not be surprised if she believed it more easily than you. Men like your brother tend to victimise many girls, servants, governesses, whoever crosses their path.”

  Mrs. Prendergast’s lips were pressed tightly together, and she shook her head in mute protest.

  “Whether she believes me or not, there will be a nasty scandal,” Lucian said. “In my family we are used to such, but it would sink Eve’s and Doris’s hopes of a suitable match. I don’t see that you have any choice.”