The Viscount's Counterfeit Wife

by J. Jade Jordan

  “Why? How do you think he would have reacted?”

  She turned around. She wanted to see his reaction. “He said that if I didn’t keep you, your fate that night would be an asylum for the indigent and insane.”

  At his grimace, she nodded. “If I’d told him you’d climbed in my window and I feared it was to kill me, I have no doubt he would have ensured that was where you ended up.”

  He gazed back at her in thoughtful silence. Was it only wishful hoping that made her think he might be softening a little?

  “I maintained that “lie” for your benefit and for your benefit only,” she said. “And at great risk to my reputation.”

  “And you’ve received no reward for it, no advantage?”

  He couldn’t seem to let his bitterness go.

  “None…” she had to be honest, “other than a credible story for my living in the same house with an unmarried man. Which wouldn’t have been the case had you not lost your memory.” She reached the door and turned around. “Would you have preferred I threw you out on the street, as Foster urged?”

  That wiped the smile off his face. She thought he might have blanched a little at the notion. He didn’t speak and she realized he was sifting through her words, searching for their truth.

  Now that she had the floor, she made full use of it. “What could I hope to gain?”

  “Now you’re being naive. Isn’t it many a young lady’s dream to marry a wealthy Viscount?”

  Tally had been under constant strain for weeks now, ever since she’d arrived in London. She’d done her best to cope calmly with all the confusing and frightening circumstances life had thrown her. Right now, in this instant, she’d had enough. She tore back across the room to stand in front of him.

  So forceful was her advance, he took a couple of steps back.

  “Do you know how arrogant and insufferable that sounds?” She poked her finger in his chest. “I had no idea who you were! We thought you were a thief or worse, a rapist or killer. It was only because Foster found your pocket watch that we called you Reed. Foster thought you might have stolen the watch, but I needed to give you a name, so you became Reed.”

  He tried to say something but she was just getting started.

  “How dare you stand there and point your supercilious, condescending, egotistical finger at me!” His eyes flared and she realized her fist was aiming for his chin. She thrust it behind her back.

  All of a sudden her anger was gone. Her shoulders slumped. She was exhausted. “Do you have any idea the trouble you’ve caused? The lies I’ve had to tell everyone, to my sisters, my grandmother…?” Her voice tapered off and began to quaver.

  A final spurt of anger hardened her attitude again. “And let me assure you that getting married to any man has never been a dream of mine. I’ve been rejecting proposal after proposal from Spence and, then again today, from Victor. And you think I am looking for marriage!”

  He mumbled something about catching a bigger fish.

  “Yes, I suppose you’ve been brought up to view marriage that way. Whereas I’ve been conditioned to–” she stopped abruptly. Her temper had her saying things she’d never meant to reveal.

  She backed toward the door. “For all I know, you are already married!”

  Reed was surprised at that. He’d assumed she’d known all about him. He found himself trying to assure her he wasn’t, but she wasn’t listening.

  “Now if you’re quite through sharpening your wit on me, I’m going next door, where I should have been in the first place. I only returned tonight to explain why you must remain here. So it’s rather convenient that your memory has come back just in time, isn’t it?” She spun around to make her exit.

  He was about to call out to her, to stop her from leaving, when she whirled back to face him.

  “One last thing. Exactly when did you recover your memory?”

  “It’s been coming back in bits and pieces since I was attacked in that lane,” Reed admitted, “but all of it snapped into place this morning.”

  “I see.” Her tone spoke volumes and her expressive eyes left him in no doubt of her disappointment in him.

  “You have to understand how confusing it was when the memories began to return.” He sounded like he was making excuses. How had she managed to put him on the defensive? He felt like a snake in the grass. This discussion wasn’t going at all the way he’d anticipated. He hadn’t expected to understand her reasons for claiming him as husband.

  She went out into the hall. “Luckily, no harm has been done.” She strode down the hallway to reach the back door. He followed along behind her. “Now I have to go. It’s late and Foster won’t sleep until I’m back. Besides, Grandma is living with us now. She’d frown upon my being here alone with you.”

  Reed debated telling her that her dear grandparent might not be that averse to the idea of them being compromised! That Lady Lawton knew very well who he was, but he saw she was holding herself together by a thread. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help asking, “And that’s all you have to say on the matter?”

  By now, Tally was feeling teary, so she merely nodded her head.

  He must have sensed her mood because he came up and put his arms around her from behind. His anger seemed to have abated. He was trying to comfort her. “I don’t want you to go. I’ve become accustomed to sleeping across the hall from you, to hearing your soft footsteps tiptoe past my door at night, to inhaling the gentle scent of lavender each time you enter a room, to seeing your beautiful brown eyes smiling at me.”

  A tear seeped from under her closed eyelid and trickled down her cheek. Please don’t be nice, she begged silently. She was too tired to resist.

  He surprised her. “Recovering my memory has been confusing.,” he admitted. “I need time to sort things out, to absorb both the loss of my memory and its sudden return.” His head leaned down close and he rubbed his cheek softly against hers. He must have felt the dampness on hers because he lifted a finger to wipe away a tear sliding down her face.

  “Can we agree to put aside our differences for now? There’s something I must do first, that can’t wait to be cleared up. Afterwards, we’ll find out where Monsieur is. Then we can talk?”

  She nodded again.

  He hugged her and whispered, “Goodnight, wife of mine. He placed a soft kiss on the back of her neck. “Stay well.” Then he opened his arms and let her go.

  She stood frozen for several emotionally charged moments, torn at the thought of leaving.

  “Goodnight then.” She stepped outside and he followed her. They didn’t speak as he accompanied her to her back door. Still wordless, she went inside but just before closing the door, she said, “You’ll be sure to keep the wound clean, won’t you?”

  * * *

  Tally was on her way upstairs to her new studio when she heard his deep voice greeting Foster the next day. They chatted easily as Foster led him to the drawing room to wait for her. She hadn’t realized they’d become so friendly.

  She didn’t want to argue with him again. It had ended rather nicely last night. Now, he’d probably recalled some further grievance against her. She continued upwards.

  She’d saved the man’s life! Couldn’t he accept that and leave her in peace?

  “Missy. Yer…” He stopped abruptly, then opted for, “Yon… Mr. Gordon’s here.”

  “Viscount Selwich, Foster. We’d better start calling the man by his correct name.” She began setting up her easel.

  “Don’t seem right, somehow.” His tone was truculent.

  “Tell him I’m not able to see him at the moment.”

  “He said to tell you that he’d come right on up if you didn’t agree to see him.”

  “Isn’t Grandma around?”

  “She fled back to her room the minute she heard his voice at the door”

  “That’s strange. Usually she’s the first one to greet company.” Indeed, she’d been counting on her grandparent to act as a shield if people droppe
d by.

  “Perhaps it depends on who the company is,” Foster suggested slyly.

  “But how could she have known who it was before he came in.”

  “Who else knows you’ve moved next door?”

  He was always so sensible. “Yes, of course.” She pondered that. “Why do you think she’d want to avoid him?”

  “Could she have recognized him the other day?”

  “Surely not. She’d have said something!” She hesitated, uncertain now. “Wouldn’t she?”

  “And make you realize you were living with a Viscount?” He snickered. “She must have known you’d never have done that knowingly.”

  “No, that wouldn’t have served her purpose, would it?” She did some fast thinking. “So you think she’s already planning my marriage to him?”

  “Wouldn’t be surprised.”

  Nor would Tally, unfortunately.

  “So here you are.” Reed seemed winded. He’d probably run up the four flights of stairs.

  “Reed! What are you doing up here?”

  “Making sure my “wife” sees me.”

  She made a sound of exasperation.

  He grinned. “I’d like to speak, privately, with my...” at Foster’s scowl, he changed it to... “your mistress.”

  Foster glanced at her and, at her grudging nod, he left. Eyebrow raised, she looked her inquiry at Reed.

  “I missed you… next door, I mean.”

  There was an unusual flush staining his neck and ears. Was he embarrassed?

  “I’ve become accustomed to seeing you first thing in the morning.”

  She knew what he meant. She’d missed not having his smiling face to greet her this morning. Knowing she’d never be seeing him again, in just that way, had darkened the day. But what could she say? It was over now, and she’d have to learn to live without him. She stood quietly, waiting for him to speak.

  “I’ve thought of a few reasons why you might change your mind.”

  “About what?”

  “About wanting to stay married to me.”

  “You’re crazy! We can’t stay married because we aren’t married in the first place.” She turned away to hide the spurt of joy that gushed up at his words. Struggling with her own confused feelings (She didn’t want to be married, did she?), she gazed out the window. Those men were still watching the house. Hadn’t Foster said Reed knew them? Why were they still there if he’d recovered his memory? Come to think of it, why had they been there in the first place? She turned to ask him, when he spoke.

  “In addition to the good reasons, such as how well we get along and share a lot of the same tastes, and how I make you laugh, and…”

  She was surprised to note a vulnerable air about him. He seemed nervous.

  “I thought maybe you had refused those other proposals because… well… they didn’t suit you.” His voice faltered for a moment, then resumed. “Maybe you’d want to be married to me because I suit you and I really am a better catch?” He flashed her his devilish smile, the one that mocked himself more than her.

  “No catch is the best catch.”

  Now his look turned to consternation. “Why ever not?”

  “Because, as I explained...” she hesitated. “Oh, maybe not... I didn’t finish last night. I plan on never getting married,” she said it in slow, deliberate terms he couldn’t fail to grasp. “Marriage is like a trap baited to lure silly sheep. It binds the woman and robs her of all her rights and free will. Why would I be so foolish as to wish that on myself, if I have no need to?”

  “For security, perhaps, like most women,” he suggested mildly.

  She nodded her head with a little smile. “Luckily, I have no need to. My Great Aunt Ida saw to my financial security.” Behind her back, she crossed her fingers, praying her twin brothers hadn’t made a liar of her.

  “To have children?” he coaxed with an endearing smile.

  Her own smile disappeared and she hesitated but was no more inclined to give in. “I will just have to learn to enjoy my sisters’ and brothers’ children. Having my own is not worth the price of my freedom.”

  His jaw muscles clenched and unclenched. She sensed that, like his anger last night, this was the real Reed Gordon Eames. A determined man, willing to fight for what he wanted. And it appeared he’d gotten over her lies and wanted to marry her — for real this time.

  “To save your reputation. If it ever comes out that we lived together, Tally Leighton…”

  She gasped. She hadn’t told him her real name yet!

  “Ma’am!” Joseph’s swift little footsteps raced up the last few stairs and reached the landing. She turned her head toward the door.

  “Ma’am?” He stood at the open door.

  “Come in, Joseph.”

  He entered and said, “Mr. Foster thought I should tell you that, when I was next door getting the rest of our belongings, someone knocked at the front door. No one was there to answer, so I did.” He shrugged his slight shoulders helplessly. “A man asked for a Mr. Manfred and I told them there was no one of that name here… there…” He looked confused for a moment before continuing his explanation. “He told me to be sure to give the message to my master, then he left. Mr. Foster thought I should tell you and Mr. Leighton about it.”

  “Thank you, Joseph.” She saw he was worried he might have done the wrong thing by answering the door. “You’ve done well.”

  He sent her his wide, sunny smile, pleased he’d got it right this time. She shook her head in amusement as she heard him running back down the stairs.

  She turned back to Reed, but saw he was moving swiftly toward the door. In fact, he was almost out of it.

  “My head hurts,” he complained, holding his hand to his head like in a bad melodrama. “We’ll finish this conversation later.”

  “There’s nothing more to say.”

  “Make no mistake, Missy, I have plenty more to say on the matter.” With a cheeky smile, he waved and left, closing the door firmly, behind him.

  “Well, really!” Tally was dismayed. She’d been just about to tell him her real name, only to have him leave like that.

  There was something odd about his hasty departure. That infectious grin. That jaunty wave. She didn’t, for one minute, believe his head ached.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “You called?” Reed, in his “Mr. Manfred” disguise, found Jace and Max across the street at their rented house. He’d interpreted their message to mean they wanted him in his disguise.

  “Gadzooks!” Max spun around, knife ready to slice any attacker into pieces. “You shouldn’t sneak up on us like that! You could get yourself killed.”

  “I know enough to be ready to defend myself when I do startle you, Max.” Reed chuckled. “What’s going on?”

  “Traubridge!” Max was bubbling with suppressed excitement. “We’re about to set the hounds on him. He’s on his way back to London as we speak. Word is he’s going to pack up and flee the country. The Vanisher is trying to vanish!”

  “He must have received some kind of warning while he was at his father’s funeral.” Reed pointed out. Pulling out a chair, he turned and straddled it.

  “Not from Hallmoor, of that I’m certain.” Jace defended their Chief. “He would take his own life before he betrayed his country. Still…” he paused, “the bastard must have someone on the inside feeding him information.”

  “In the Chief’s office?” Though they had spoken of this possibility before, Max sounded astounded. As were they all. Hallmoor ran a tight ship and his men were known to be very loyal.

  “Must be. It’s the only explanation.” Reed said. “Whoever it is could be doing it for the money, but my bet is he’s being blackmailed.” His friends nodded in agreement. “Traubridge must have some hold over him and is forcing the poor sod to keep him apprised of events that affect him and his enterprise.”

  Maybe hitting his head and losing his memory had actually saved the day rather than imperiled the success o
f their mission. At least his documents were still in his possession and their contents hadn’t been seen by anyone other than the three men around the table.

  “That puts you in even greater danger,” Jace said. “In Egypt, he only thought you might be involved with us and know something worth killing you for. After all, someone other than Max and me — who he pegged right from the start, probably thanks to the same informer — had to be aware of his undertaking, to free all those young ladies and spirit them onto a ship home. Also, the fact that you left around the same date as us, makes you a prime suspect. Hence, the attempts to do away with you before you reached England’s shores.”

  Max continued that line of thought. “If we’re right and he has someone feeding him information from the Chief’s office, Traubridge now knows for certain you’re the last one about to deliver the final incriminating documents.”

  “Sounds right,” Jace said. “At the very end, the Chief’s personal secretary, Jones, knew of your involvement. Hallmoor appears to trust his staff implicitly. Unwisely, it appears.”

  “Traubridge no doubt wants to clear things up while Hallmoor is preoccupied with their father’s funeral and estate matters,” Reed suggested. “He might even try to take advantage of his brother’s absence to destroy certain files in the Chief’s office. We should send someone over to guard the files.”

  “Already done. I sent Timothy Vane, Darlington’s youngest and told him to bring along at least four more Spares as reinforcements. They’re to guard the office and the files in it.”

  “Excellent,” Reed approved. “Perhaps they should remove the files to a safer and unknown location. The Horde’s preferred method would be to set fire to the whole building and to hell with all the innocent people in it.”

  “Good idea. I should have thought of that.” Jace nodded. “I’ll send word to Timothy to get started on it.”

  “So how are we going to catch Traubridge alone, without those savages around to protect him?” Max asked.

  Jace slid his chair closer and leaned forward, indicating they should do likewise. “Here’s what happened. Yesterday, Hallmoor got wind of his brother’s hurried return to town and smelled a rat. He immediately had a courier ride all night to alert me and to say he’s taken measures to slow down Traubridge’s return trip. In fact, the Chief is expected to reach London this evening, several hours before his step-brother.” He slapped his hand on the table. “I told you I thought he was onto his brother’s illicit activities.”