Lord Bellingham shrugged. “I don’t know him, but I have encountered him and his friends loitering on the streets of London more than once. I don’t think they understand the potential dangers of footpads.”
“Thank you, my lord. I will discuss the matter with Justin.”
“Are you aware that he and his friends were drinking in the garden last night?”
She had briefly stumbled upon the earl while looking for her son there. “I did not hear or see them.”
“After you left, they returned to the house,” Bellingham continued. “I followed and saw him push this flask beneath the stairs.”
“My lord, thank you for your concern. Now, if you will give me the flask, I will speak to Justin.”
He arched his brows. “It’s brandy, very fine brandy, in case you are wondering.”
Laura glanced at the sideboard. As soon as she got rid of His Haughtiness, she would check the brandy decanter.
He regarded her with an intense expression. “I don’t make a habit of intervening in other’s affairs, but I heard him lie to you about his whereabouts at the ball. It is clear to me that he’s pulling the wool over your eyes.”
How dare he insinuate that she was too naïve to parent her own stepson? While she was tempted to defend herself, she realized that would serve no other purpose than to delay his departure. “I appreciate your concern and will speak to him.”
He took a step closer. “How well is that working?”
“I owe you no explanations,” she said. “Now please leave.”
He looked away for a moment, and then he returned his attention to her. “Call him to the drawing room. When he realizes that I and others have marked his wayward behavior, he will think twice before lying to you again.”
She had no intention of following his orders, and truthfully, Justin wasn’t at home, none of which she would tell the arrogant earl. Laura bobbed a curtsey. “Good day, Lord Bellingham,” she said in an obvious dismissal.
He set the flask on a side table. “I beg your pardon for interfering. Despite what you may think, it was meant kindly.”
She recollected Lady Atherton’s advice about him last night. What he wants, he gets. Be sure it’s not you. No, he’d definitely not intervened out of kindness.
Footsteps and voices sounded outside the drawing room. “Sir, allow me to inform her ladyship that you have come to call,” Reed said.
“I do not require an announcement and will see her now.”
Laura gasped as she recognized the voice. She snatched the flask and hid it behind the sofa cushion.
“What the devil?” Bellingham said.
She entreated him with her eyes. “It is Montclief, Justin’s guardian. Please, say nothing of Justin to him,” she said in a low tone.
“Why?”
“Please,” she said, aware that her voice shook. “I will do anything you ask, but I beg you not to betray me.”
He arched his brows. “Be careful what you promise.”
She would deal with Bellingham later. For now, she must gather her scattered wits and pretend to be perfectly at ease. Dear God, what would Montclief think when he saw her with a scoundrel in her drawing room? Somehow, she must concoct a story, but her frazzled mind refused to work properly.
Montclief entered with a thunderous expression, and then he stopped short upon seeing Bellingham.
Laura curtsied and noted her brother-in-law’s hair had thinned considerably since she’d last seen him at her husband’s funeral four years ago. She took a deep breath and said, “Montclief, what a delightful surprise. I just received your letter today, but had no idea you meant to visit. Obviously, you wish to see for yourself that all is well in London.” Heavens, she’d babbled like a fool.
Montclief narrowed his eyes. “Laura, you are obviously discomposed.” He turned toward Bellingham. “Will you not introduce me to your gentleman caller?”
Doubtless, Montclief had assumed the worst. He probably thought she’d brought Justin here on a pretext so that she could dally with her nonexistent lover. “Lord Bellingham, may I introduce Mr. Montclief? He is my stepson’s uncle and guardian.”
Montclief bowed. “My lord, of course I know your name from the papers.”
Drat. Montclief had probably seen the thinly veiled mentions of the Earl of B——ham in the scandal sheets. Oh, this was a disaster in the making.
“That criminal conversation case before Parliament must have been quite the sensation,” Montclief said.
“It was a dead bore,” Bellingham said
Laura frowned. “Criminal conversation?”
“Pardon me. It is an indelicate subject for a lady,” Montclief said.
A devilish expression lit Bellingham’s eyes. “It is a euphemism for adultery.”
She rolled her eyes. “How ridiculous. Why not call a spade a spade?”
“My sentiments, exactly,” Bellingham said.
No doubt, he’d participated in criminal conversation on any number of occasions. “Shall we be seated? I will ring for a tea tray. You must be thirsty after your journey, Montclief.”
“I wish to see my nephew,” he said in a stern tone. “Please send for him.”
“He is out,” she said. From the corners of her eyes, she saw Bellingham lift his brows in a skeptical manner, but she must not lose her focus. “His friend George took him in his curricle to Gunther’s for ices.” The explanation sounded innocent enough to her. In truth, Justin had slept past noon, and then George had arrived. When Laura asked where they were going, Justin had regarded her with a mulish expression and walked out the door.
“When do you expect him to return?” Montclief said, narrowing his eyes.
“I cannot say for certain. They will probably take a turn around Rotten Row at the fashionable hour of five o’clock,” she said. “I hope you will dine with us.” She hoped nothing of the kind, but she must be polite, even to her loathsome brother-in-law.
Montclief’s severe expression did not bode well. “Laura, we must speak about Justin. I’ve had a letter from a friend in London that alarmed me. My friend informed me that my nephew is running wild on the streets.” He looked at Bellingham. “I beg your pardon. Obviously, this is a family matter. I rely on your discretion.”
Bellingham nodded.
“Laura,” Montclief continued, “you should have contacted me about this matter. I demand an explanation.”
She must not let her composure slip. “All is well now.”
Bellingham gave her a brief, incredulous look.
“Laura,” Montclief said, “All is not well. You brought my nephew to London without asking my permission and have concealed my nephew’s inappropriate behavior. I cannot rely on your poor judgment.”
She itched to give him the set down he deserved, but she did not dare incur his wrath. “He has come home late on two occasions, but there is no need for alarm.”
“You are only a woman and incapable of managing a high-spirited boy,” Montclief said. “He needs the daily influence of a man.”
Desperation gripped her like talons. She entreated Bellingham with her eyes once more. “You need not worry, Montclief,” she said. “Lord Bellingham has taken an interest in our Justin and is helping to turn the tide.” She held her breath, fearing Bellingham would deny her claims.
Bellingham kept his expression impassive. “Young men need to understand that it is wrong to take advantage of one’s mother.”
He’d adeptly avoided lying. She could kiss his big boots for not betraying her.
“I appreciate your assistance, Bellingham,” Montclief said. “However, I have already made my decision. My nephew needs more than passing male influence.” He turned to Laura. “Please see that his trunks are packed. I will take him home with me tomorrow. You may reside in the house in Hampshire until he reaches his majority.”
She couldn’t breathe. This could not be happening. She would not let Montclief take her son away. “No,” she said. “No, please do not
take him.”
“Laura, this is not up for negotiation,” Montclief said.
Panic rose up in her chest. She felt short of breath. The fear of losing Justin nearly overwhelmed her, but she must persuade Montclief to change his mind. “You have such a large brood already and are overly tasked. I have looked after Justin all these years.”I love him too much to let you take him away.
“Laura, I know you care about the boy, but you are only a woman and unable to manage a hot-blooded young buck.”
She pressed her nails into her palms to keep from blurting out what she really thought of Montclief’s negligence these past four years. As much as she despised him, she could not afford to antagonize her brother-in-law. “He’s already lost his father. I am his mother, and if you take him away, he will feel that I have abandoned him.”
“You are his stepmother,” Montclief corrected.
His words stung, for he’d implied that she wasn’t a real mother, but she would not allow his slight to deter her. No matter what anyone thought, Justin was her son. She would do whatever it took to keep her son with her, including placating Montclief. “I believe Justin deserves another chance. I will emphasize that he must behave—”
“You’ve already proven you are incapable of it,” Montclief said. “I’ve made my decision, and that is the end of the discussion.”
After all this time, Montclief meant to exercise his rights as a guardian. The disbelief started to wear off, and then her hands trembled. She clutched them tightly, because she didn’t want Montclief to see her anguish. “He hasn’t even seen you for four years. It will be hard on him.”
Montclief puffed up. “The material point is that you cannot give my nephew the discipline and guidance that he needs.”
She would do anything, anything, to keep Montclief from taking Justin away. But what could she do to convince her brother-in-law? Oh, God, she must think of some way to change his mind. Laura thought back over the entire conversation, and one thing he’d said stood out. My nephew needs more than passing male influence.
The answer popped into her head. She met Bellingham’s gaze again and prayed he would go along with her scheme. At this point, she had nothing to lose—except her son. And she refused to give him up without a fight.
God forgive me, but I cannot live without my son.
She drew closer to Bellingham and forced herself to smile. “I suppose we should tell Montclief our happy news.”
Suspicion flickered in his blue eyes. “I’ll allow you to reveal the particulars.”
She clasped his arm and faced Montclief. “You need not worry about Justin needing a man to guide him.” She took a deep breath and said, “I have this day accepted Lord Bellingham’s proposal of marriage.”
The woman was mad.
Bell had sensed her desperation climbing as she tried to persuade Montclief to let her keep the boy, but he’d never guessed she would resort to this witless fabrication.
Montclief folded his arms over his chest. “You have been in London for a very short time, Laura. This engagement is sudden, perhaps too sudden.”
“Montclief, I said nothing before because I did not know our relationship would take such a romantic turn,” Laura said. “Lord Bellingham and I met last fall in Hampshire.”
Bell suspected the wayward Justin had learned to lie from his inventive mother.
She regarded Bell with a dazzling smile. “I met him accidentally while visiting one of the shops in the village. Isn’t that right, my dear?”
He nodded, hoping she wouldn’t get too carried away. The less she said the better.
“It was raining,” she said, “and we were stuck in the shop. Having nothing better to do, we struck up a conversation. When the rain stopped, we walked outside and he laid his coat over a puddle for me.” She batted her eyes at him. “That was the moment I fell for my Bellingham.”
She was the worst liar in the Kingdom.
“Laura, this engagement is suspect,” Montclief said.
Bellingham agreed, but he didn’t like Montclief. From the bits she’d revealed, he gathered Montclief had taken no interest in his nephew until now. Most likely, the only reason he’d intervened was because he’d gotten embarrassed when his friend in London sent him the letter about his nephew.
Laura looked quite determined as she gazed into Bell’s eyes. “I would do anything for my Bellingham. Anything,” she added with emphasis.
He most certainly would hold her to that promise.
Montclief addressed him. “Is this true, Bellingham? You have proposed to Laura?”
He almost exposed her as a liar, but he’d seen her hands shake when Montclief had declared he would take the boy away from her. Bell figured the boy’s rebellion would grow far worse under Montclief’s thumb. However, he didn’t want to find himself trapped in a marriage, either. “We are keeping the engagement a secret for the time being,” Bell said. Why not add one more lie to the growing pile?
Laura exhaled in obvious relief. “Yes, we are concealing our engagement in order to give Justin time to get to know Bellingham. We wish Justin to feel at ease with him before we exchange vows. Of course, we shall rely on your discretion, Montclief.”
Montclief narrowed his eyes. “Laura, this engagement still smells fishy to me.” He turned his attention to Bellingham. “What I cannot understand is why Bellingham would act as your accomplice?”
Because I want her in my bed. Aloud, he said, “Are you implying that our engagement is a criminal act?”
“You know very well what I meant,” Montclief said.
Bell had tolerated Montclief long enough. He strode over to the much shorter man and loomed over him. “You dare to question my word?” he said in a low, warning tone.
Montclief lifted his chin and his nostrils flared. “It is my responsibility to see that my nephew is well cared for and made to behave. I am his legal guardian and the best person to see it done.”
“Really? If your nephew walked in the door would you recognize him?” Bell asked.
Montclief’s face flushed. “You have no say in this, Bellingham. You are no relation to the boy.”
“But when we marry, Bellingham will be Justin’s stepfather,” Laura said. “He will oversee Justin’s activities. Montclief, you need not trouble yourself again.”
In one fell swoop, Bell had acquired a faux fiancée and a rebellious adolescent. He was beginning to feel as if he’d stepped onstage in one of Shakespeare’s comedies.
“Wait,” Montclief said. “I did not agree to this plan.”
“But you said that Justin needed daily male guidance,” Laura said. “With five other boys, your hands are full. You will not be able to give Justin nearly as much attention as my Bellingham. Why, I’m sure he will take the boy under his wings almost immediately,” she said.
Wonderful. Now she’d volunteered him to play nursemaid to a seventeen-year-old.
Montclief regarded them both with a scowl. “I feel certain this engagement is a sham, though I cannot figure out what Bellingham stands to gain.”
Bell wasn’t about to enlighten Montclief.
Montclief sniffed. “Fair warning. I will come to London periodically to see how matters are progressing. If I hear that my nephew is running wild again, I will remove him immediately.”
The man strutted to the door and set his hand on the knob.
Bell couldn’t wait to be rid of him, so that he could collect on Laura’s promise.
Montclief paused and then he looked over his shoulder. “One more thing. I expect there will be no illicit liaisons while my nephew is residing under this roof.”
“How dare you make such an accusation?” Laura said in shocked tones. “I would never engage in immoral conduct.”
She’d conveniently forgotten her promise to him, but he wasn’t about to let her off the hook after she’d involved him in this farce.
“See that you remember it, Laura,” Montclief said. “I trust I need not repeat the consequences.
”
When the door shut behind him, Bellingham muttered, “That man is an ass.”
Laura covered her mouth and collapsed on a chair.
When fat tears welled in her eyes, Bell whipped out his handkerchief. “It’s all over.”
Her bottom lip quivered, and then she hastily dabbed his handkerchief at her eyes.
Bell squatted beside her. “The only reason he came here was because his pride took a hit when his friend sent him the letter.”
She folded the handkerchief in a little square. When she tried to hand it back to him, he waved it off.
“He would have t-taken him if you had not been here.”
If Montclief had insisted, there wouldn’t have been a damned thing Bell could have done. Unless she got that boy under control, his guardian would likely remove him. She obviously loved her son and didn’t want to lose him, but Bell wasn’t convinced she was capable of managing wild Justin.
She took a deep breath. “Thank you. How much do you want?”
He frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’m prepared to pay you. My son means everything to me. Name the price,” she said.
“I do not need money,” he said.
“I insist,” she said. “I must say your idea to keep the engagement a secret was quite brilliant.”
“Frankly, I did it for my own protection.”
She patted his arm. “You need not worry. I have no wish to marry again.”
He rose and helped her to stand.
“Are you certain you do not want some form of compensation?” she asked. “Would five hundred pounds suffice?”
A slow grin tugged at his mouth. “My fortune is such that I will be unlikely to spend it all in my lifetime.”
“You’re a lucky man,” she said, eyeing the door as if she were contemplating escape.
He stepped right in front of her. “I had something else in mind.”
“Oh?” she said.
“Something more pleasurable.”
“Brandy?” she said, her voice a bit squeaky.
His hands closed on her shoulders. “Guess again.”
“Port?”
He drew her closer. “You.”
A Season for Sin Page 9
