If He’s Wicked

by Hannah Howell

  What he was going to have to tell her now would also grieve her. His mother had never liked Beatrice and it had caused a slight rift between them, but he doubted she would have ever thought the woman her son had married could be as evil as she was. Fortunately, his mother had never much liked Arthur, either. It was the depth of the crimes against the Kenwoods and the insult to the family name that would hurt her. And, he mused, as he heard his son’s voice, the mere thought that her husband’s brother and her daughter-in-law would try to murder Anthony would cut her to the bone, just as it had him.

  She needed to know the truth, needed to know it all, he thought as he heard his mother spit out a surprisingly pithy curse. There were obviously a few things he did not know about his mother. She could well be a lot stronger than he had ever realized. Deciding he had given the women enough time alone, he stepped into the room and quietly shut the door behind him.

  Julian stood for a moment and just studied his mother. He could see a few new lines on her shocked face and felt the pang of guilt. When all the color drained out of her face, he hurried toward her, certain that she was about to faint. Even as he reached for her, she flung herself into his arms. To his utter horror she began to cry.

  He looked to Chloe for some help, but she just watched them with an odd, slightly glassy-eyed look on her face. Anthony stood staring at him and looking as if he was about to cry as well. Julian patted his mother’s back, uttered what he hoped were soothing, if nonsensical, words, and prayed that the storm of tears would soon end. He felt like the very worst, most ungrateful of sons for making her cry, but he knew there had been little choice.

  Chloe watched Lady Evelyn fling herself into Julian’s arms and felt an odd chill go down her back. Suddenly what she was seeing was not Lady Evelyn crying all over her son’s waistcoat, but Lady Evelyn kissing another man. The man was tall, elegant looking, and gray haired. His clothes were clean and neat but not of the best materials. They were not in the blue salon in Leo’s house but on a strip of rocky beach, the moonlit waves lapping very close to their feet. It was obviously a lover’s rendezvous.

  Then Chloe blinked and the scene disappeared. She saw Julian handing a large handkerchief to his mother, who no longer clung to him as if he would disappear. Chloe was not sure whether she had just seen something that was to come or something that was already begun, but it appeared that the elegant Lady Evelyn had or would have a new love. And, she realized, the man would not be equal in birth and title to Lady Evelyn. Why her gift thought she needed to know that when there were so many other more immediate things she needed to have the answers to, matters of life and death, she did not know.

  The moment Lady Evelyn sat down, Chloe moved to the drinks table and poured both Julian and his mother a brandy. When she served the drinks to them, she watched in an amazement that matched Julian’s as Lady Evelyn tossed the drink back as if it was the weakest of wines. Julian looked so shocked, Chloe was beginning to think that, like many men, he had not noticed or known everything about his mother. From what little she had learned of men, they were very good at seeing the women in their lives as they thought they should be and not as they really were.

  “Why did you let me believe you were dead?” his mother asked, her voice revealing no hint of the fact that she had just poured some very strong liquor down her throat.

  “Because I was badly wounded,” Julian said. “Too wounded to protect myself and anyone my enemies might hurt as they tried to get to me. Also, I do not believe we can fully trust all the people who work at Colinsmoor. Or at the dower house.” He had not wanted his mother to move there as, unlike most dower houses, it was nearly a day’s ride from Colinsmoor manor, but she had insisted. Now it appeared that that might have been the best thing for her to do, for it had meant that Arthur and Beatrice did not see her or his sisters as a threat.

  “Someone betrays us to your enemies?”

  Chloe thought the woman sounded as if she was ready to grab a sword and cut the traitor into little pieces. As she continued to watch Julian and his mother, Chloe also watched Anthony. She reached out and lightly tapped his hand when he reached for another cake. The mess on his face told her he had already had more than enough sweets.

  “Mother, Uncle Arthur is the one who tried to have me killed.” Julian carefully explained all he and Leo believed Arthur had done. He began to relax a little when all he saw was shock and a growing anger on his mother’s face. “It gets worse,” he warned when he finished listing all of Arthur’s crimes.

  “What can be worse than your father’s brother trying to kill you? And where was that wife of yours whilst all this went on? With one of her lovers?”

  Julian winced. “You could say that. Beatrice is with Arthur. They are lovers and, I believe, have been for a very long time. Lord Wherlocke believes that Arthur chose Beatrice to seduce me to get someone as close to me as possible. I would not be surprised if part of that plan was to make you wish to put some distance between yourself and my wife.”

  “Poor Mildred,” Lady Evelyn murmured. “Is she in danger? After all, if he is to get the title by destroying my sons, he may wish to step into his new role with a new wife.”

  “Aunt Mildred is protected. It is to my shame that I was not the one to do so. Lord Wherlocke took care of the matter a long time ago. The Wherlockes are the reason I am not dead in some stinking alley in London. They saved my life.”

  “Is that why your son is here?” Lady Evelyn looked at Anthony and then back at Julian. “And do not tell me that child is not your son. I have eyes. He is you just as you were as a boy. Who is his mother?”

  Julian looked at Chloe. “Perhaps Wynn could take Anthony and get the cake cleaned off his face.”

  “I was list’nen,” said Anthony.

  “I know,” said Chloe, “but sometimes we big people need to say things that little boys should not hear.” She probably should have taken him out of the room before Julian had begun the full sordid tale of what had happened to him.

  “Will he be back?” asked Lady Evelyn as Chloe walked Anthony to the door.

  “We can call for him as soon as we finish talking.”

  Evelyn looked at her son. She still clung to his hand, unable to let go for fear it was all a dream. For a year she had watched him try to kill himself with drink and prostitutes, but she had always held out the hope that he would pull himself out of that mire. Now it appeared that he had been pulled out of it by the Wherlockes. Worse, she blamed Arthur for driving Julian to such despair that he had sunk into that year of debauchery in the first place.

  She watched Chloe Wherlocke as the young woman sent Anthony off with the large manservant. Chloe was a pretty woman, but her attire was that of a country girl. When Chloe sat down on the small settee across from her and Julian, Evelyn realized that this small, pretty woman was obviously part of all these secrets.

  “Who is Anthony’s mother?” she asked, forcing herself not to look at Chloe Wherlocke.

  “Beatrice,” Julian answered.

  He took a deep breath and told his mother all about the attempt to kill Anthony. When she grew pale, he put his arm around her. He had known that this would be the hardest truth for her to bear, nearly as hard as it was for him.

  “I never liked that woman, but I never would have thought her capable of such evil,” Lady Evelyn said in a hoarse whisper.

  “Neither would I, but there is no denying the truth. Anthony is my son. He even has the birthmark. Arthur and Beatrice could not allow my son to live, could they?” He shook his head. “I still curse myself for a fool who allowed himself to be so beguiled by a woman like Beatrice.”

  Lady Evelyn patted his knee. “You are not alone in that folly, dear. Men have been making idiots of themselves over beautiful women since time began.”

  “Somehow that does not make me feel a great deal better,” he drawled, and scowled at a grinning Chloe, who just grinned wider.

  “So Anthony is your heir. And if Arthur and Beatrice le
arn that he survived, he will be in great danger.” Her eyes widened. “And Nigel is in danger, too.”

  “Nigel is being watched.”

  “Bened Vaughn.”

  “Aye,” said Chloe. “Leo had our cousin go and stay with him. Some of our other relations are also watching over Arthur’s wife and daughters.”

  “But why?” Lady Evelyn asked. “Why would your family do this? We are neither kin nor close friends.”

  “Anthony was given into my care.”

  Julian was a little surprised when his mother just nodded as if those few words explained everything. Perhaps to women like his mother and Chloe, it did. He had a feeling that he could have even told his mother about Chloe’s visions and she would have accepted that as well. It was for the best that he had left out that part of the tale, however, as he suspected the Wherlockes preferred such things kept as secret as possible.

  “So what happens now that I know?” asked his mother.

  “I would ask that you continue to keep the secret for a while longer,” said Leo as he walked into the room and then graciously introduced himself to Lady Evelyn.

  “You believe that is for the best?” Lady Evelyn asked as Leo sat down beside Chloe.

  “For a little while longer. Your son is nearly healed and I believe the secret should hold until he is back to his full strength.”

  “I can see the sense of that, but I wish to come to know my grandson.”

  “Perhaps we can come up with some reason why you and Chloe are now visiting. Charity work, perhaps. The visits must be here, however. Until we can be certain that Julian is strong and we can adequately protect Anthony, the boy needs to remain hidden from Arthur.”

  “And my daughters? Julian’s sisters have sorely grieved, and I would like to relieve them of that. They can be trusted to keep such a secret, and I often take them with me when I do my charity work.”

  “If you are absolutely certain they will tell no one, not even their maids, then, aye, tell them. But you must be absolutely certain. And if you tell them, you must do so where no one in your employ might overhear.”

  “I can do that.” She looked at Julian. “They can be trusted to keep this secret.”

  Julian thought about it for only a moment and then nodded. “I know. But Leo is right. You must be very careful where you tell them. We can be certain of none of our servants.”

  Lady Evelyn shook her head. “I just cannot believe that our people would betray us.”

  “They are afraid, m’lady,” said Chloe. “People who do not do as Arthur and Beatrice want end up dead. What poor tenant or servant would feel that they could go against them? The fact that we have papers to prove who Anthony is proves that a few have some courage, but as the man who left them said—he had a wife and five little ones. I think they are all under siege. And many of the servants at Colinsmoor would have relatives at your other properties, would they not?”

  “Yes, they would.” She looked at Julian. “It is not really just you, Nigel, and that little boy who need saving, is it?”

  “No,” Julian agreed. “I think Chloe put it well when she said our people are all under siege. And from all I have learned and all that has happened to me, to Anthony, I believe my wife and uncle are deadly. Deadly and cruel.”

  For a while they discussed what was being done and Leo again stressed the need for secrecy. Then Chloe brought Anthony back in to properly meet his grandmother. The way Lady Evelyn was with the child told Chloe that she would be a loving grandmother. She felt both happy for Anthony and sad for herself. The more love and attention he got from his rightful family, the less he would need her. The knowledge was a two-edged sword. She wanted his new home to be a happy one, but a happy home with Julian and his family meant that she would be pushed even further out of his life.

  By the time Lady Evelyn left, Chloe was feeling very sorry for herself. She had tried to comfort herself with the thought that, as Anthony’s godmother, she would have a place in his life. However, it was beginning to look as if he would never have a reason to turn to her once he settled in with the Kenwoods. She suspected Julian’s sisters would welcome him as lovingly as Lady Evelyn had.

  By late that evening, Chloe had worked herself into what even she had to admit was a deep well of self-pity. Leaving the men to make plans for when Julian would finally let the world, and his enemies, know that he survived the attack on him, she wandered out into the garden. Breathing deeply of the scents of roses and honeysuckle, she struggled to shake free of the dark mood.

  She had thought that she had always understood that she would lose Anthony, that he had never been hers to keep. It was apparent that she had failed in that. Chloe realized that, deep in her heart, she had always felt as if Anthony was her child. Worse, she had somehow managed to mix him up with her grief for her sister and her sister’s lost child. It was not fair to make Anthony carry the weight of relieving that grief. She had to let him go, and she feared it was going to rip out her heart to do so.

  Letting Julian go was not going to be any easier, she thought, and sighed. Two kisses and she was besotted with the man. If that did not make her a complete fool, she did not know what would. The brief plan she had had to enjoy what he made her feel for as long as he was with them was even more foolish. She was no woman of the world, no gay widow, who could take a lover and then send him on his way with a smile. It would destroy her to hold him and then have to let him go, to watch him with other women after he left.

  “I am such an idiot,” she mumbled.

  “Now why would you berate yourself so?”

  The sound of Julian’s voice so close made her start so that she nearly fell off the bench she was sitting on. He caught her by the arm and steadied her even as he sat down beside her. Chloe took a deep breath to steady herself only to silently curse as she breathed in his scent. The fact that even how he smelled could make her go weak in the knees only confirmed her opinion that she was already far too infatuated with the man to save herself from all hurt when he left.

  “Are you and Leo done with all your plotting?” she asked.

  Deciding he would let her change the subject, Julian nodded. “I will not be hiding out in my bedchamber for very much longer. Finally I will be able to help, to do something to free myself and my family from this danger and not just sit by while others do it.”

  “That has been eating at you, aye?”

  He smiled faintly. “Aye. I have my pride, after all. I think it has been battered enough over the past few years.”

  “I suppose it has. Your mother already loves Anthony.”

  Hearing the sigh in her voice, Julian put his arm around her. “Yes, she does, and so will my sisters. You need not fear that. You will always have a place in his life.”

  “I know. I am just feeling a bit sorry for myself. I will shake it off.”

  She turned her head to look at him and found their faces alarmingly close. The way he looked at her mouth told her he was thinking about kissing her again. A voice told her to pull away, that she would only sink deeper into infatuation with the man if she kept letting him kiss her, but she stayed right where she was. As he lowered his mouth toward hers, she felt only anticipation.

  “Miss Chloe,” called Dilys from the door. “Anthony wondered if you could come and read him a story, as he is too excited to go to sleep.”

  Chloe stared at Julian’s mouth for a full moment, feeling a strange mix of relieved and disappointed, before she answered, “I will be right there.”

  “It might be best,” murmured Julian as he helped her to her feet.

  “Sometimes what is for the best is damnably annoying,” Chloe muttered as she hurried away.

  Julian laughed and shook his head. He had to face up to the fact that he had no willpower when it came to Chloe Wherlocke. If he did not acquire some soon, he might just find himself with a new wife within days of being rid of the old one. As he walked back into the house, he realized that the thought did not disturb him as mu
ch as he thought it ought to.

  Chapter 8

  It was astounding the difference three days could make, Julian thought as he donned his own waistcoat and felt barely a twinge in his shoulder or his side. The stitching had been removed two days ago and, with the help of some herbal salve Chloe had given him, the itching often accompanying such healing wounds had never truly tormented him. He was, all in all, one very lucky man. Julian just prayed that he stayed lucky. In a very short time, he would be putting that luck to a hard test as he stepped out of hiding.

  He frowned as he checked his appearance in a lavishly framed mirror. When he stepped out it appeared that Chloe would be stepping out with him. It made his blood run cold. Arthur was not a stupid man. Once he knew Julian was alive and once he caught sight of the boy Julian would soon publicly claim as his son, he would soon figure out what and who was responsible for the failure of his plans. Julian knew that at that moment both Chloe and Anthony would be in as much danger as he was. Anthony because he was the heir and Chloe because she had the audacity to interfere. The only one who might not be adding to the danger in his life was Leo, because Julian doubted Arthur would seek the death of a man who was so important to the Home Office, not unless his own life was finally at risk.

  Looking forward to eating his first dinner at a proper table and with company, Julian shook aside his fears for the moment. The denouement could not be avoided. The only thing he could do was try his utmost to protect the ones who might be caught in the crossfire between him and his uncle.

  Stepping into the dining room, Julian had to smile at his mother and Chloe. They had one interest in common that had immediately made them compatriots—Anthony. Even in the short time they had visited in the last few days, Julian suspected they had found others. To him, his son was a bright, wondrous miracle, but Julian did not think Anthony could account for all the talking the women did when they were together.