The Viscount's Counterfeit Wife

by J. Jade Jordan

  “Did she say anything else?” Foster asked the boy.

  “She said she was looking for the Viscount, her fi...fiancé,” he explained. “What’s that?”

  “I’ll explain later,” Foster responded gruffly, not looking in Tally’s direction. “What happened next?”

  “Then Mr. Hislop told her he “wasn’t privy to” the Viscount’s comings and goings and that he’d received no orders regarding no…”

  His imitation of Hislop was well night perfect, though Tally wasn’t sure he understood what he was repeating. He noticed her frown. “any Lady Christabel showing up to see the Master. He told her she’d have to come back another day.”

  “Right.” Foster looked suddenly defeated. With bowed shoulders he left his post at the window and patted the boy on the head “You did a good job, son.” He glanced at Tally and recognized her determination to leave. He sighed loudly to show his disapproval.

  Ignoring him, she turned to pick up the brushes she had just laid out that morning and began tying them together with a leather string. She wanted him to see she was preparing her things to leave. She’d clean the used ones later.

  “Come along, then, we have a lot to do,” he sounded resigned but sad, as he led the boy out of the studio.

  She heard him talking to the child. “Did I tell you the Viscount assured me he’ll take you on to work in his house when we leave?”

  A ball of tears rose in her throat at the thought of leaving Joseph. It had been only a little over a month since they’d arrived in London and hired him, but he was so eager and willing to learn that they’d all become quite attached to him. She wished she could bring him home with her, but he was too young to separate from his family and his earnings were important to their survival. She was thankful, though she wasn’t surprised, to hear Foster had secured a position for him with Reed.

  At the thought of Reed, she stopped packing and sat down on the window seat. Putting her head in her hands, she finally let the tears she’d been holding in, fall.

  * * *

  The next day, she was alone in the house when the man who came to irrevocably change her life, arrived.

  Grandma Lawton, was adamantly against her leaving London. She’d been so upset, she rushed off to see her dear friend, Daphne. How she thought that would help, Tally had no notion.

  Foster and Mrs. P were out. She’d sent them with Joseph to bring the household’s leftover provisions to his family.

  No one was pleased by her decision to go home, not even her faithful servants, who both hated London.

  Once again, she was upstairs in the studio when the knock at the front door came. Her clothes and paraphernalia were packed and ready to go. Now she was just finishing up readying her paintings to be sent to Monsieur. She rushed to the window to see who it was, but of course the front door wasn’t visible from the studio. The portico roof made that impossible.

  Was it Reed? Oh please God, no. She didn’t know if she had the strength to hold out against him if he tried to convince her to become his mistress. Gentlemen often had this erroneous notion that women artists were easy pickings.

  Why did he have to come now? She was ready to go home and forget about him.

  Minutes later, one of her grandmother’s servants came to the door. “A gentleman to see you, Miss.” He held out the tray with a card on it.

  So, not Reed. He’d never send up a card. Who then? She knew few people in town. She crossed to pick up the card and read, ‘George Eames, The Earl of Merkvale’.

  Reed’s father! What did he want with her? “Please show him to the drawing room and tell him I will be a few moments.” She turned to pick up her shawl.

  She hurried to her bedroom to wash her hands and face and set her hair to rights. It was the best she could do in the few minutes she’d taken. She hadn’t time to change her dress. Besides, what did it matter what he thought of her? She had no need to impress him. No plans to become part of the family.

  “Good afternoon.” She approached the pacing man and bobbed a quick curtsy. Courtesy was engrained in her and, after all, he had done nothing to her.

  “Good afternoon.” He stared at her openly, rudely. “I see now. It is your beauty that has won him over.” He began to attack immediately. “But beauty fades, money does not.”

  “I beg your pardon?” This odd little man was Reed’s father? He certainly didn’t resemble his charming son, snapping at her like an angry terrier. Reed must take after his mother.

  “Lady Lawton was telling us that my son is planning on marrying you. I won’t have it!” He ended on a shout.

  “My lord, won’t you please sit down and calm yourself.” Somehow she wasn’t surprised her grandmother knew Reed’s father. She set her chin and stiffened her resolve. She’d had enough of people making decisions for her. This stranger — even if he was Reed’s sire and even if he did own this house — was not going to come into her temporary home and order her about.

  He must have seen her determined look because he sat immediately.

  “You have your mother’s “evil” eye.” He gave a surprised laugh.

  “You know my mother?”

  “I do. And your father. We all used to be in the same group of friends. Until…” He paused... as if trying to recall exactly why their relationship had ceased. “...well, until life took over, I guess. I inherited. Wendal’s art took him further and further from London and Society, and we just never seemed to meet anymore.” He looked pensive before adding, “Haven’t thought of those days in years. We had some jolly good times.” He straightened, obviously realizing how far from his point he was straying. His voice hardened and he said, “But I didn’t come here to reminisce.”

  “No. I suspect you came here to tell me what to do… or not do.” With the right provocation, Tally could be as blunt as any Earl!

  Taken aback by her forthright candor, he blustered a bit before blurting out, “My son needs to marry well.”

  She nodded in agreement.

  He seemed puzzled she wasn’t arguing. Did he expect her to disagree with something so obvious?

  “Years ago, I arranged the perfect union for him with the youngest daughter of the Duke of Archstone. She also is beautiful, though perhaps not as comely as you, but she will bring my son a substantial dowry.” He looked at her uncertainly. “You do understand how important that is for him?”

  “Naturally.” Did he think to throw her a sop by flattering her that she was more attractive than the Duke’s daughter? “Although, after witnessing her appearance here yesterday, you will permit me to say that you must not love your son very much to betroth him to that woman. I fear you will rue the day you have brought such a daughter-in-law into your family,” she said it calmly with, she was almost certain, no nasty edge to her voice.

  His brows rose at that but, mostly, he seemed baffled by her attitude. He’d expected her to fight or beg him?

  Truth to tell, she wanted to go at him tooth and nail! When he’d said the duke’s daughter would bring Reed untold wealth, Tally had wanted to rip Reed’s father into shreds and, as for that arrogant beauty who, it seemed, was indeed Reed’s betrothed, she’d like to gouge her insolent eyes out.

  Had she not already known she loved him, she knew now! Jealousy ripped through her, shredding her heart into ragged little pieces.

  But she had vowed never to wed a man like her father and brothers, who would make her endure a repetition of the misery of her childhood. She’d been prepared to give Reed a chance to prove himself but, if his father said he needed money that much and if he carelessly forgot his own fiancé, then he was no different from most artists she knew, excluding Monsieur.

  She’d give him up because of that and because she loved him and wished him a good life. Not that she could imagine him being happy with Lady Christabel, but a duke’s daughter would unquestionably be able to bring him more than he could ever spend. At least the duke would make certain the fortune was not foolishly frittered away.
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  “I believe you are under some misapprehension.” She managed a faint smile. “Your son is not marrying me.”

  “But your grandmother–”

  “…is also mistaken,” Tally interrupted. “We, Reed and I, were involved in strange circumstances that led her to believe we should wed. However, I told her that I am moving back home tomorrow and that there will be no marriage.”

  “Why not?” He queried in a belligerent tone. “I’ve been given to understand my son and you were living together, as husband and wife. Have you no care for your reputation, young lady?”

  First, he warned her off, and now, he was insulted when she agreed with him. This man wasn’t going to be happy, no matter what she said. “We were living in the same house, not in the same room! He was ill. He had no idea who he was. I was taking care of him, which is not the same as living as a wedded couple.” She bit out. “No one knows, other than your family and my grandmother. There is no need for my reputation to be tainted if everyone keeps it quiet, which I’d have thought would be to your advantage.”

  He looked ready to argue some more.

  “I’m telling you what you want to hear, why are you arguing with me? She was exasperated with him.

  “I am not so far gone that I wish you to be ruined because of my son.” He said. “Why don’t you want to marry him?”

  Oh for heaven’s sake!

  “My reasons are my own.” She stood, signaling the end to their interview. She had said all she intended to say and wasn’t sure how much more she could take without breaking down. “Now, you’ve achieved your goal. Please go.”

  He trailed her to the door and took his leave quietly, looking thoughtful and less sure of himself than when he’d arrived. Yet he’d accomplished what he wanted without even a skirmish.

  Men! They were never happy. She was better off without them.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “A hot bath, that’s what I need first.” Reed was exhausted and dusty from riding through the night and all day to get back to Town. After rescuing Tally and Monsieur Moreau, he’d been summoned by the Chief to his estate in Somerset. Olvin had moved his operations to his estate for now, to deal with urgent estate matters, while overseeing the interrogation of his step-brother and his gang. Of all the outstanding cases, he wanted this one ended before he gave up his command and he wasn’t about to cede the reins until it was completed. He was concerned that others might decide to be lenient on his step-brother out of a misplaced loyalty to him.

  Reed, as one of the three primary investigators — though he’d been more or less pressed into service on a voluntary basis, by Jace and Max — had been needed for the interviews of the Vanisher’s associates. Traubridge’s butler, Clarence, had revealed a lot. Having concluded he was likely next on the list of items to be cleaned up before his master left the country for good, he’d been more than willing to divulge everything he knew. Atley had been next and had been almost as cooperative, having been promised — much against Jace, Max and Reed’s wishes — transportation rather than the noose, in return for telling all. Next, came the Horde. But to interview them, an interpreter of their dialect had to be found.

  That was when Jace and Max, knowing how impatient Reed was to get back to London, urged him to go do what he had to do. They planned on convincing the Chief to move them all back to London, where it would be easier to conduct their inquiries. Meanwhile, they could deal with whatever came up by themselves.

  Reed hadn’t realized his eagerness to get back to Tally was so obvious. It had been nagging at him. He worried he’d not been clear in that last hurried conversation with her. He had this sense of foreboding and hoped it wasn’t connected to her.

  He was anxious to see that she was safe. Anxious to make her his wife — his real wife, this time.

  He rushed through his bath. His new valet had done as Reed had asked and left his clothes out, ready for him to don by himself. It was good to have the place fully staffed and running smoothly again. He chuckled at the thought of Tally and Foster trying to keep the house going with just the two of them and Joseph for almost three weeks!

  At least he couldn’t complain that his future wife was a spoiled debutante who expected bang-up-to-the-mark service all the time. Not like that duke’s dizzy daughter his father had wanted him to marry! He shuddered at the thought. Tally suited him so well. She was smart and had common sense. And she drew him to her like... a magnet to steel. He wasn’t good with similes but he knew his love for her felt as strong as steel. A nervous trill jumped about in his gut at the thought of being truly married to her.

  You should be an old hand at it, he told himself bracingly, after spending weeks certain you were already married to her.

  “I’ll be next door,” he told Hislop.

  “I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed, my lord.”

  “Hm?” Reed was already half way out the door by the time he caught the words. He halted his forward motion. “What do you mean?”

  “They’ve all gone, sir. They left three days ago.”

  “Gone?” It was as if he’d never heard the word before. “Gone where?”

  “I’m not sure, sir, but I think I heard them say they were going home.” He was apologetic. “I watched them stow their bags into a very full carriage and leave.”

  “Did sh... they not leave me a note?” Gone? She was gone?

  Hislop shook his head.

  Without a word!

  “If I may be so bold?” The butler offered tentatively.

  “Yes, go ahead Hislop, have at it.” He backed into the hallway and waited while the butler closed the door. Damnation! Why? Why had she left? Hadn’t she understood…? He’d never even got the name or direction of her home. Don’t be ridiculous, you’re a spy, you’ll find a way to find her.

  “There were goings-on here that I think might have... um... precipitated matters. If I’d known the situation better.” Hislop sounded apprehensive that he didn’t have all the answers. Did he think Reed expected him to be omniscient?

  “No one’s blaming you, Hislop.” Reed reassured him. At the moment, he was far more interested in finding out what happened to cause Tally to bolt. “Goings-on? Such as?”

  “Such as your “fiancé” showing up at the front door.”

  “My… fiancé?” Was the whole world going crazy? “I have no fiancé!”

  Hislop was too well trained to react to that statement, but Reed fancied he caught a gleam of relief flitting through the stiff-lipped butler’s eyes.

  The man had come from the Chief’s household. Now that Hallmoor... Olvin! was shutting down his own household to move into his father’s home to assume responsibility for all of the marquisate’s properties, places had to be found for his servants. The Chief would have liked to keep Hislop. Said he was worth his weight in gold, but the butler hadn’t wanted to join the larger staff under the senior butler in place at the old marquess’ London home. So the Chief “bequeathed” him to Reed.

  “I see. The young lady insisted I tell her where you were and looked ready to assault me because I wouldn’t allow her into the house to begin planning renovations.”

  His voice was as bland as any properly trained butler’s should be. Reed wasn’t certain why he sensed his new servant would have left and sought another position had this woman been, in fact, his betrothed. “What did she look like, this lady who claimed to be engaged to me? It wasn’t Mrs. Leighton from next door?”

  “No, my lord! And I can do better than describe her, sir.” He whipped a card out of his breast pocket and extended it to Reed. “Her footman gave me her card. She claims to be Lady Christabel, daughter of the Duke of Archstone.”

  Damnation! His father was meddling again! The reason for Hislop’s qualms became clear. He well imagined the scene Archstone’s over-indulged daughter might have created. As an adolescent she’d craved attention, at any cost. The Duke was an old friend of the Earl’s, and his daughter Christabel was a spoiled little
shrew to whom his father had tried to betroth him six years ago! The was the reason he’d left England and settled in Egypt.

  His years away hadn’t taught the old man a thing!

  “You said goings-on, plural?” he prompted his butler.

  “Yes. The next day the Earl, your father, dropped by and, after satisfying himself that you were not here, he went next door and spoke with the young miss.”

  “My father came here! How did he–?” he bit off his words. Time enough later to find out who had betrayed his confidence by revealing the location of his townhouse. “You saw my father speaking with Miss Lei–?” Had they conversed on the doorstep! If Hislop was capable of overhearing a conversation that took place next door, it was no wonder the Chief hated to part with the man!

  “Not precisely.” Hislop broke in. “I watched your father knock next door. I waited, as I believed no one was home at the time. I thought he may wish to give me a message for them.” He continued, “One of Lady Lawton’s footmen opened the door.”

  Reed couldn’t help but reflect that Hislop seemed remarkably well-informed despite his brief time in residence.

  “Your father was invited in and remained for approximately a quarter of an hour. When he left, I noticed it was Miss Talia Lawton who escorted him to the door.”

  So she’d taken back her true identity...

  But Reed didn’t like what he was hearing. It was clear his father had interfered once again. He clenched his fists, struggling to control his anger. Like so often in the past.

  If the Earl was responsible for Tally leaving Town, Reed was going to ring a peal over his father’s head. He’d make sure his sire never stuck his noble nose into Reed’s affairs ever again!

  “Excellent work, Hislop. I thank you for your keen observations,” he said. “If there is anything else you think I should know, please do not hesitate to inform me.”

  “None that I am aware of at the moment, my Lord. I will, however, be sure to remain alert.” The butler was about to head back into the deeper recesses of the house when he added, “I forgot to mention that young Joseph came to us once Foster and Miss Lawton left.”