by Laura Landon
Penderly placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder in a show of tenderness, then turned to her companions. “And this is my sister-in-law, Mrs. Jasper Dunstan.”
“Mrs. Dunstan.”
“Captain Landwell.”
“And my brother, Jasper Dunstan.”
“Sir.”
“Landwell.”
“And my two nephews, Wesley Dunstan, and Stewart Dunstan.”
Austin acknowledged each of them.
Penderly motioned to the chair where he’d been sitting. “Sit down, Captain. I was just explaining to my family that I’d hired you to find Miss Flemming. Have you found her?”
Austin sat and Penderly pulled a chair next to the settee where his wife sat.
“I’m close. I know the direction she took when she left Wakemoor and the last place she was seen.”
“Oh, Richard.” Lady Penderly grasped her husband’s hand. “We’re close now. I can feel it. It won’t be long and we’ll have her with us.”
The excitement in Lady Penderly’s eyes was clear for everyone to see. The look in her husband’s eyes matched it.
“There is that possibility,” Austin said. He couldn’t help but give them hope. He’d taken so much from them. Once he was sure she would be safe, he vowed to give them the daughter they wanted—plus more. A grandson. An heir. As soon as he was sure the threat to Jonathan’s life hadn’t come from anyone in this room.
“You can’t be serious, Richard,” Penderly’s brother said with a shocked look on his face. His wife wore an expression that matched her husband’s.
“Oh, I am, Jasper,” Penderly countered. “We both are. We lost both Gregory and Jarrod. If I hadn’t behaved in such a foolish manner, Miss Flemming would be part of our family now. And Gregory would most likely be alive. I owe the woman Gregory loved the life he would have given her.”
“I don’t believe this, Estelle,” Leonora Dunstan said. Her flushed cheeks evidenced her fury, the bitterness in her voice emphasized it. “The woman was an actress. And who knows what else.”
The room turned deathly quiet.
Lady Penderly was the first to move. With a display of inborn grace and refinement, she sat back against the cushion as if she’d expected this reaction and wasn’t shocked by it. She answered in a voice that was calm and quiet. “It doesn’t matter what she was before she met our Gregory, Leonora. She was the woman my son loved. And so will I.”
“I know you lost Gregory,” Jasper Dunstan said. “And Jarrod. But you haven’t lost everyone. You have Leonora and me. You have Wes and Stewy.” He motioned to his two sons sitting at opposite ends of the small sofa across from them.
All eyes focused on the two young men. Austin especially studied them.
Wesley was the older, perhaps twenty-five or -six, and Stewart was the younger. Austin guessed him to be twenty-three or –four,—far too old to be referred to as Stewy.
Wesley sat straight on the sofa, his back stiff and his hands clasped tightly in his lap. It was his expression, though, that drew Austin’s attention. His eyes narrowed in resentment as Penderly revealed his intentions. His jaw clenched in anger, his lips pursed in irritation. It was obvious that his uncle’s news didn’t please him in the least.
His younger brother’s reaction was quite the opposite. The only term to describe Stewart’s present state was…boredom. Austin doubted if he’d even heard what was being said, or cared. From his expression, he was planning his evening’s entertainment while being forced to endure this family meeting.
Austin compared one brother to the other and couldn’t imagine any two brothers being more different.
“I know we have your family, Jasper,” Penderly added, “and Estelle and I are both grateful for everything you’ve done. Especially how you consoled us after we lost Gregory and Jarrod. But this is different. Miss Flemming would have been our daughter had I reacted differently to Gregory’s news.”
“You don’t know that,” Leonora Dunstan countered.
Penderly hesitated. “Yes, I do. I…do.”
“But you said you haven’t found her yet, Captain Landwell,” Wesley Dunstan said. “Isn’t that right?”
Austin thought twice before he answered. “I said I know the place she was last seen.”
“Is it close?” Lady Penderly asked.
“Yes, it’s close.”
Lady Penderly clasped her hands to her heart then reached out to her husband. “Did you hear that, Richard? She’s close.”
Penderly took the hand his wife extended then looked at Austin. “She’s in London, isn’t she? I was certain she’d come back here. It’s what she knows. Where she feels comfortable.”
Austin didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. Penderly’s oldest nephew bolted to his feet and stalked across the room. When he reached the fireplace, he turned.
“If you know where she is, why didn’t you contact her? Why didn’t you bring her with you?”
Austin studied the loathing on Wesley Dunstan’s face. Austin recognized anger when he confronted it and Wesley Dunstan seethed with fury.
“I didn’t bring Miss Flemming with me because I wanted to make sure I understood the benefits Lord and Lady Penderly wanted me to offer. I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep.”
Lord Penderly rose. “Very wise, Captain Landwell. Perhaps we can adjourn to my study and discuss what Lady Penderly and I are prepared to offer.”
“That won’t be necessary, Richard,” Jasper Dunstan said. “It’s time Leonora and I took our leave.” He held out his hand and helped his wife to her feet. “Since I can’t condone what you intend to do, I doubt I’ll have anything constructive to add to your folly. Come, boys.”
Dunstan escorted his family toward the door. Before they left, Leonora Dunstan turned. “Please, think what you’re doing, Estelle. Think what this will do to your standing in Society. What it will do to the girl. No one will accept her. She’ll be shunned. And so will you.” She dabbed at a tear that ran down her cheek. “So will we. So will my boys.” She swiped her hand through the air. “All of us.”
“We’ve survived worse,” Lady Penderly answered. “We have to do this, Leonora. For Gregory.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Dunstan cried as she rushed from the room.
No one moved until the front door closed behind the Dunstans.
“Well,” Lady Penderly said on a sigh. “That went as expected, didn’t it, Richard?”
The Earl of Penderly lifted his chin and bellowed a deep, sincere laugh. “Yes, my dear. Exactly as expected. Now, Captain.” He turned his attention to Austin. “What exactly would you like to know?”
The Earl of Penderly outlined everything he intended to do for Lady Fledgemont, including the staffed house he would give her, the generous allowance that would be hers, as well as anything else she asked for. There would be nothing their daughter-in-law lacked if it was in Penderly’s power to give it.
When they finished, Austin stood to leave.
“I have one more question,” Penderly said.
Austin turned.
“Did Gregory and Miss Flemming marry?”
“Yes. I found records that they did.”
Lady Penderly’s hands flew to her mouth and the earl grinned an open smile. “That’s wonderful news. We prayed they had. It truly makes Miss Flemming our daughter.”
The Earl of Penderly patted his wife’s hand, then turned back to Austin. “How soon can we anticipate welcoming Lady Fledgemont into our family?”
“It shouldn’t be long. It’s too soon to give you a definite time, but I’ll be in touch when I’ve made the arrangements.”
“Very good. We’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
“Yes,” Lady Penderly echoed. “Thank you, Captain Landwell. This is the second time we are in your debt. If there’s ever anything we can do for you—”
Austin held up his hand to keep her from finishing. “You’ve already done enough. You gave me one of the finest soldiers it was ever my pleasure to comm
and.”
Tears sprang to Lady Penderly’s eyes and Austin gave a quick nod of farewell then left the room before he saw the raw pain he knew would be on the earl and his wife’s faces. He owed them so much.
He owed them a grandson to replace the son he’d stolen from them.
…
Austin hired a hack and made his way back to Lady Fledgemont’s small house. He told the driver to take his time. He needed to think. He needed to evaluate what he’d discovered at Penderly’s, and separate what he knew for a fact from what his gut instinct told him.
There were several things he believed. One was that someone had tried to kill the babe. But his gut instinct told him that neither the Earl of Penderly nor his wife was responsible for the attempt. He’d stake his life on it. Not once was a baby mentioned. His gut told him that no one in the room even knew there was a baby.
But if someone had tried to kill the babe, at least one person knew about Jonathan. But who?
Austin considered all the guests gathered at Penderly’s town house and evaluated their reactions to the news. Wesley Dunstan’s open display of anger came to the forefront. He would bear watching. It was possible that he was behind the attack. Until he knew for certain, Austin wouldn’t risk taking the babe to Penderly’s. Little Jonathan’s safety was of the utmost importance.
As the hack neared Lady Fledgemont’s house, he realized his biggest challenge would be to convince her to at least meet with Lord and Lady Penderly. Only then would she realize that they weren’t a threat.
Perhaps they could accomplish this in baby steps. Perhaps he could convince her to meet with Lord and Lady Penderly without them knowing there was a child; without them knowing their son had given them an heir to inherit the title.
That was the most logical way to proceed. Once Lady Fledgemont met her late husband’s parents, she’d see how sincere they were. How desperately they wanted to provide for her. The same as their son would have done.
Once they realized there was a babe, their elation would be that much greater. Then, perhaps a small bit of guilt would be lifted from his shoulders.
The hack stopped in front of the house and Austin got out. He paid the driver, then followed the walk the same as he’d done earlier. He knocked on the door, thankful that this time he wouldn’t have to force his way in.
His heart increased its steady pounding but he ignored the voice that told him the reason for his eagerness was because he was anxious to see her again. He couldn’t be. Any reaction he had when he was near her was because she needed his protection. Because she was a woman alone in the world with a babe to care for. Because taking her and her babe to the Earl of Penderly would restore the family he’d destroyed. It had nothing to do with the way his blood warmed when he was near her, the way his heart raced.
He knocked again, certain she was busy caring for little Jonathan, or perhaps upstairs and didn’t hear him. When she didn’t answer on the third rap, he turned the knob, certain it wouldn’t open. She wouldn’t forget to lock the door when an attempt had been made on Jonathan’s life already once.
The knob turned easily and the door opened with a push.
Austin’s heart hammered in his chest, his blood pounded against his ears. He raced inside and checked the kitchen first, then took the stairs to Jonathan’s bedroom three at a time. He ran down the hall and threw open the door, praying he wouldn’t find Lady Fledgemont or Jonathan dead inside.
He stepped into the room and looked around. They weren’t dead. They hadn’t been harmed. Because they weren’t there.
Austin raced down to the kitchen. The glass jar she’d used to feed Jonathan was gone along with the rag toy the babe chewed on and the blanket Lady Fledgemont wrapped him in when she fed him.
She hadn’t taken much. He doubted she’d remained long enough after he left to consider what items needed to be packed. And what about money?
He raced through the rest of the rooms downstairs and stopped when he reached a small study. The drawers to a desk were still open and the lid to a metal box stood ajar.
He breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had money to see to her needs. Money to take her far away from him.
He stormed across the foyer and slammed the front door hard when he left the house.
He couldn’t believe what a damn fool he’d been. Why on earth had he trusted her promise to wait for him to return? If he’d done something so stupid during the war he’d be dead by now.
He called himself every kind of fool known to man and chastised himself for letting his emotions cloud his thinking.
He deserved every ounce of trouble she gave him—and more. He’d underestimated her unlike he’d ever underestimated anyone before—and all because he was attracted to her.
Well, he’d learned a valuable lesson and wasn’t about to forget it.
He’d found her once. He would find her again. And when he did, he bloody well wouldn’t let her out of his sight.
Chapter 5
Sarah placed a cover over little Jonathan and tiptoed to the chair in the corner near the hearth. She’d arrived at the Spotted Goose a few hours ago and would have to leave again soon, but she needed at least one full day to rest before she traveled any farther. She’d been on the road for nearly three weeks without stopping and both she and Jonathan were exhausted.
She rested her head on the back of the rocker and pushed the chair back and forth. She was so tired she could sleep for a week. But that wasn’t an option. One day was all she could afford herself. She prayed she’d lost the captain, but she couldn’t take any chances.
She’d been smarter this time. She’d been fortunate enough to catch a ride in a farmer’s wagon that took her several miles out of London. From there, she’d walked until she reached the first inn where a coach stopped. Then, she waited until the last minute before getting aboard.
Luckily, Jonathan slept in a closed basket the entire time and no one at the inn or riding the coach realized she had a baby with her. Anyone who noticed her basket thought the container held food for the trip. And to convince them that’s what she had inside, she shared with them some of the pastries she’d brought with her. She also included a block of potent-smelling cheese to overpower any smell from Jonathan’s wet nappies.
She was convinced she’d thought of everything, convinced that this time he wouldn’t find her.
When she reached the second stop she got off and walked to the third, alternating walking and riding, keeping Jonathan hidden whenever possible. She’d been fortunate to find a tenant farmer with whom she could stay each night who had a cow to provide milk for Jonathan. Thankfully, she was remotely familiar with the country and zigzagged her way from one place to the other, always moving in a northeasterly direction.
She may have made it easy for Austin Landwell to find her the first time, but she’d learned from the mistakes she’d made. She wouldn’t be so foolish again.
This time she kept Jonathan hidden when she could, and traveled without stopping. She also avoided going into the hostelries when the coach stopped so fewer people had a chance to notice her. But constant traveling had taken its toll on her physically. She ached like she’d never ached before and was so tired she could sleep standing upright.
She hadn’t slept a whole night in the three weeks since she’d left. She knew if she didn’t stop at least one day to rest she’d run the risk of becoming ill.
When her coach arrived at the Spotted Goose a few hours ago, she disembarked and secured a room.
She bathed and fed Jonathan, then put him to bed. As soon as he was asleep, she intended to crawl under the covers and sleep until he woke her.
She closed her eyes and gently pushed the rocker back and forth. Even though she tried to avoid thinking of Austin Landwell, his piercing blue eyes haunted her day and night.
He’d have been furious when he returned to the house and found them gone. He believed she’d keep her promise to wait for him to return from talking to Lord Pender
ly, but she couldn’t stay. She wouldn’t. Jonathan was hers. She’d promised Lady Fledgemont that she’d take care of him and nothing would cause her to break her promise.
Her heart jolted in her breast and she grasped the arms of the chair. She was frightened, that’s all. And tired. She’d be fine once she got some sleep.
She rested her head against the back of the chair and tried to keep her thoughts from running wild but it was impossible.
She’d spent her whole life caring for others—first her mother, then her father, then Lady Fledgemont. She knew she was being selfish, but she wanted someone of her own to love. Someone who would love her as much as she loved them.
She was almost thirty years old, far past the age when she expected to find love. Past the age when it was possible to have what she’d always prayed for—a husband who would love her, and a home filled with laughing children.
God had answered her prayer when He’d led her to Viscount Fledgemont. But as He so often does, He didn’t give her exactly what she’d asked for. Instead, he’d given her something better. He’d given her Jonathan—a child who would always love her. And she wouldn’t allow anyone to take him away from her.
She rocked faster. She had to make sure Captain Landwell never found her. He was as great a danger to her as Penderly.
She remembered how her heart hammered when he held her, how it had felt more like a blanket of protection than a threat when he pressed his body against hers. Even though it was obvious he carried the weight of a thousand demons, he was the one man in all of England she felt drawn to. Yet for some reason she couldn’t understand, the Earl of Penderly seemed to have a hold on Landwell that blinded him to the danger the earl presented Jonathan.
She breathed a heavy sigh and listened to Jonathan’s soft snores. He was asleep, which meant she could sleep now, too.
She rose from the chair but had to reach out to steady herself. She’d never been so tired, never so unsteady on her feet.
