To Be by Your Side

by Lilybeth Zefram

  Instead, she was more than happy about communicating with George. In fact, she said before he did, that she looked forward to seeing him again in less than two months.

  * * * *

  James and Evelyn were silent in the carriage. They were alone except for little Ruby. Katie had wanted to ride up top with the driver while James’s lover was on his horse. ‘I had an interesting conversation with George Marsden last night, Evie,’ James said.

  ‘George told me he asked permission to see me and to write to me,’ Evelyn replied. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘I need to know, do you love him?’

  Evelyn sighed heavily.

  ‘Does that sigh mean yes?’

  Evelyn thought for a long moment. ‘Yes, I love him very much. It’s strange. Love feels different than what I expected. I thought it was meant to floating on a cloud. Instead it is a mere extension of me.’

  ‘I am glad. From what he said, it appears that the D loves you very much as well,’ James said softly. ‘I am happy for you. You deserve that. Has he spoken of marriage?’

  She frowned. ‘Well, we have mentioned it a couple times in London but not since. But...’

  ‘But?’ James asked when she trailed off.

  ‘But he did say a couple of passing comments at the house party, no actual conversation,’ Evelyn explained.

  ‘Good.’ James nodded.

  ‘What is this about?’ She frowned at her brother.

  ‘Last night, along with asking to call upon you in Bath and even to write you,’ James replied, ‘he asked for my blessing to ask you to marry him.’

  ‘Really?’ Evelyn’s eyes widened at the news. ‘George asked you?’

  ‘Unless Lord Windermere has a doppelganger then it truly was him to ask.’ James chuckled softly.

  ‘What did you tell him?’ she demanded.

  ‘Rest easy, Evie,’ he said softly. ‘I told your George that if you wish to have his company then I will allow it.’

  She grinned. ‘He is my George, is he not?’

  ‘Indeed he is. He is like a puppy following his mistress.’ James laughed.

  Evelyn leaned over and slapped her brother. ‘Don’t say that.’

  James stopped laughing, taking in a deep breath, ‘I mean it, Evie, I will support you. Even if it ends that you will wed His Grace one day.’ Softly he added, ‘I will miss you and Ruby.’

  ‘James.’ She hugged her big brother. ‘We will see you all the time.’

  ‘Of course, Evie.’ He looked at his sister fondly. ‘I need to tell you something else.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘John is needed by his family at the estate. It appears they are having issues best not spoken of in polite company.’

  ‘Financial issues?’ she asked shrewdly.

  James nodded.

  ‘Oh, James.’ Evelyn’s heart went out to her brother. She did not like being away from George. She was sure it would feel a lot worse for her brother and his lover. The two men adored each other and had been together for a number of years. ‘I am sorry to hear. When will he return?’

  ‘Maybe in a couple months. John cannot predict how long he will be needed.’

  ‘Oh, James.’ She hugged her brother again.

  ‘He is not leaving forever.’

  Evelyn nodded. ‘I know but I know it hurts you.’

  James leaned back in the seat as the carriage went over a particularly hard bump. ‘You know as well as I do things like this happen. Ours is a discreet relationship so situations like these are inevitable’ he explained to his sister. ‘Tomorrow morning he will be going his way and we will go ours.’ He sighed heavily. ‘It seems, however, I must hire a valet at the very least and perhaps another secretary.’

  They were silent for long minutes, both looking at Ruby as she slept.

  ‘Are you going to tell George about Ruby being your natural daughter?’ James asked softly.

  ‘I will. I have to.’ Evelyn frowned though the prospect concerned her deeply, even if in her heart she was certain that George would not reject her or Ruby. But George had worked out who her old lover had been—though that was entirely Matthew’s fault. That meant he would know who Ruby’s father was and Evelyn would be forced to retell the entire story, something she had never done before.

  ‘Do you think that George would take the news well?’

  ‘I think so.’ Evelyn nodded. ‘When we spoke of marriage once I told him I was not a virgin. It did not bother him. When our feelings began to grow I explained that I have had my heart broken badly before.’

  ‘And?’ prodded James. Feeling rather dejected about his own romantic life, he saw that he could distract himself by worrying over his sister and niece.

  ‘At the mention of heartbreak and thinking I might have had a future with a man who ended up getting married...’ She shrugged, smiling. ‘He wanted to punch the man. I told him that he had to get in line behind you and Uncle Thomas.’

  ‘I thought that there was a reason that I liked the man.’ James smirked. ‘Does not hurt that he is very handsome.’ He winked at his sister. ‘Seems we may be attracted to a similar type of man. But George only has eyes for you, Evie.’

  Evelyn smiled dreamily. ‘Yes, he is really very handsome. I need to be closer, though, to see his features. But he has a handsome soul and a pleasing shape.’ Inwardly she thought that he also had a very pleasing body.

  ‘Jesus, you are in love with him. You are smiling like a loon!’ James exclaimed.

  Evelyn successfully tried desperately not to grin.

  ‘At any rate,’ he added, ‘as I said to him, no matter what, I am on your side.’

  ‘Thank you, Jamie.’ She smiled. ‘Much as I am on your side.’

  He nodded, then said quickly, ‘Thank you.’ James added, ‘These lenses that the physician has been testing these last couple of years are getting better. Maybe you will get to see him clearly, at least a little bit clearer, soon enough.’

  ‘Yes.’ She nodded.

  Suddenly, Evelyn thought that the world seemed a whole lot brighter than it had been before. However, that did not mean she was not nervous about the thought of telling George about Ruby. In her mind there were all kinds of disastrous scenarios. But George was a gentle giant when it had come to the few times he’d interacted with Ruby.

  Evelyn had hope. She now had six weeks to get ready to tell him. One thing she could not fathom was how to bring up the topic that the girl she had adopted as her goddaughter was in fact her illegitimate child.

  ‘And now I must worry about our Katie.’ James shook his head. ‘Did you see that friend of your George, the Duke of Ralston?’

  ‘Leonard Sutton? Yes, I knew Lord Ralston was there. I spoke to him once or twice. He left yesterday, I believe.’ She frowned, wondering what her brother was thinking.

  ‘That is the chap. Mark my words, the gentleman was making eyes at our Katie. I could not determine whether or not Katie was receptive to his charms.’

  Evelyn smiled and took her brother’s hand. ‘You worry too much, but we love you for it.’ Truthfully, she had been too distracted by George to realise that her cousin, and companion, was receiving any attentions.

  Chapter 10

  Autumn of 1818

  The house party Evelyn attended with her brother two weeks later was not as memorable as the one hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Rushmore. For one thing, without George, there was no romantic idle, despite the fact she had enjoyed three letters from George since.

  However, there was one thing that made it both memorable and miserable at the same time. Evelyn was used to people not watching their words around her. She heard two of the more rude guests, whom she normally did not like or seek friendship with, and this event just served as a good reason why. Evelyn had overhead them talking about her and Ruby and James rather loudly. For one they were saying that Ruby was James’s bastard and had no place at the party—not totally surprising but it still hurt to hear nonetheless. Then they continu
ed to speculate why George had taken so much interest in Evelyn. They listed what they saw to be Evelyn’s faults—too tall, too dark, not pretty, too old, and blind.

  Evelyn had not realised that anyone else was there and was startled when she got a comforting squeeze from her friend, the hostess’s brother- and sister-in-law, a marquis and his marchioness.

  ‘They have not got anything to contribute to Society, so they resort to the only thing they can do,’ the gentleman said softly.

  Evelyn was engulfed in a hug from the lady. ‘Do not worry what they said,’ the lady told her. ‘They cannot throw stones, really. She, too, is soon to be considered on the shelf and still quite unattached.’

  The marquis muttered something unintelligible.

  ‘They are just jealous not to be able to have a sweet baby like your Ruby. I am certain that if Ruby’s mother was still alive she would tell you that you and your brother are doing a great job,’ the marchioness told Evelyn. ‘And from what I hear, the Duke of Windermere is entirely smitten with you.’

  ‘Lord Windermere is a wonderful gentleman,’ Evelyn demurred. She sniffed, successfully holding back her tears.

  ‘There!’ the marchioness declared happily. ‘See? It was all a vicious lie.’

  ‘I do not know what my sister has ever seen in those particular ladies,’ muttered the marquis.

  Evelyn smiled. ‘Thank you, my lord, my lady,’ she said, bowing slightly.

  ‘Come, Lady Evelyn,’ the marchioness declared, linking arms with her. ‘You shall have to join us on our walk. We are going to go down near the river before going up to the nursery to see our girls.’

  ‘Again, thank you,’ she said, feeling as though she really and truly didn’t have too much of a choice but to follow now.

  Bath felt and smelt of wonderful autumn leaves. Evelyn could see the smears of the reds and yellows and oranges on many trees, too. She only fleetingly thought that in just three months not only would it be winter and the snow would fall, but her precious daughter would also turn two years old. Ruby was a wonder, a joy, and a miracle to Evelyn.

  ‘Are you excited to see your George?’ James asked. ‘Ah, stupid question since I’ve been helping you correspond. You only have to wait until tomorrow.’

  They were walking to the home they rented after attending the Pump Room. The building itself was about twenty years old but it was built at the entrance of the ancient Roman baths. It was the fashionable place for the elite to visit and be seen at. Many sampled the waters from the Roman Baths or simply took tea in the restaurant.

  Evelyn smiled happily. ‘Yes, indeed, that is a stupid question.’

  Evelyn admired her brother. He was doing very well dealing with his own feelings, missing his lover. John had been gone two months but was still unable to return quite yet.

  ‘Good.’ James nodded, thinking some sort of deep thought.

  ‘In the letter Katie read to me yesterday, George said that his younger brother, Lucas, is accompanying him. Is that not exciting?’

  James grunted.

  ‘Is there something amiss, James?’

  James looked back at his sister. ‘I have not received a letter from Uncle Thomas recently. Neither has Katie.’

  ‘Do you think—?’

  ‘Probably nothing.’ James shook his head. ‘The ship with the post could have sunk or the monsoons in that part of the world have prevented long-range shipping.’

  ‘You just like to worry,’ Evelyn said, smiling at her brother. ‘You are just too kind and full of love, my dear brother.’

  He snorted this time. ‘Thank you, Evie.’ James then smiled, thinking of what his sister had just said. ‘So you are to meet your potential new brother, eh?’

  She nodded. ‘Yes, George has told me about him. Lord Lucas Marsden was a captain in the army. He was lucky to come out of Waterloo alive, though he lost his left leg below the knee and he has a scar on his right eye from an injury that has also taken his sight.’

  ‘An all too common story, I am afraid, Evie.’

  ‘George has not said anything, but I think that is also why he has been able to overlook my lack of sight,’ she said. ‘Then again, he spoke of his brother to me but only told me about his injuries the last time he called on me in London.’ She held back a laugh. ‘You and George are very much alike. Most of all you are both very protective of your younger sibling. Lucas doesn’t like to be in Society much, but George makes sure he does not become a hermit. In fact, his brother is his steward at the primary Windermere estate in the Lake District.’

  ‘I will confess myself to be intrigued.’ James frowned.

  * * * *

  George watched as his little brother moved his wooden prosthetic leg. Even the ducal carriage was not entirely conducive to transporting two grown men. He refrained from asking Lucas if they needed to stop because he knew that it would just anger his brother. He did not always know what to say but he knew that Evelyn would know what to say in such a situation.

  ‘You are smiling again, George,’ his younger brother rumbled. ‘Are you thinking of your lady fair?’

  ‘Yes, I find these days that Evelyn is never too far from my thoughts,’ he admitted, still smiling.

  ‘You are utterly smitten with the lady.’ Lucas guffawed. Then seriously he added, ‘But I am glad to see you thusly. This way I know that the lady is the right wife for you.’

  ‘You are a romantic, sly fox, Luc,’ George said fondly, ‘and I freely admit that you are correct and that I am in love with Evelyn.’

  Lucas snorted. ‘Next you will tell me about the children you intend on having.’

  ‘Evelyn does a wonderful job with little Ruby. I can see why she was chosen to be the child’s godmother.’ George smiled. ‘Indeed, I look forward to the prospect of Evelyn bearing our children.’

  ‘I best warn the lady that I put the idea in your head.’ Lucas teased, transforming the dour look around his eyes caused by the scarring to something quite happy. ‘I have decided that it is best to stay on the good side of the lady in family, or soon-to-be lady in the family.’

  ‘I have not asked and she has not accepted yet,’ George stated. ‘I may have all these fanciful thoughts but I must get her to accept first.’

  ‘Then ask sooner rather than later. I don’t think a matter of a couple of days or weeks will change either of your minds.’

  George frowned and looked out the carriage window. ‘We need to get to Bath first.’

  ‘Do not pout, George.’ Now Lucas was grinning. ‘’Tis not becoming of a duke.’

  ‘Shut your trap,’ George fought back but his brother was laughing again. If nothing else, George was glad to see his brother appeared happy. It had been difficult to convince him to come to Bath, but telling Lucas about Evelyn and his intentions had eventually convinced his painfully shy brother.

  Evelyn and Lucas had some in common when it came to how Society saw their infirmities. They were both quiet and determined as a result. Although Lucas had initially been quite withdrawn and depressed when he had first returned home. However, it was undeniable that Evelyn was not shy like his brother. She simply seemed to underestimate herself most of the time.

  ‘And you need not worry about the brother. I will entertain him.’ Lucas winked. ‘We will have a drink or two down at the club while you whisk your lady love away.’

  ‘I suppose having a little brother must be good for something,’ he retorted. Still, he was pleased to hear the lighthearted tone in his brother’s voice.

  ‘And we will be arriving in Bath soon enough.’

  ‘Let’s just hope that tonight’s lodgings are not as horrid as last night’s.’ George shuddered. ‘I will be more than pleased to sleep in a proper bed tomorrow night once we get to the rental.’

  ‘Good point.’ Lucas stretched uncomfortably. ‘My back is damn stiff from last night.’

  ‘Is that why your leg is bothering you?’

  Lucas shrugged. ‘Yes, my leg is bothering me and yes
, that is the cause. However, no, before you ask, we do not need to stop.’

  George motioned his arms in surrender. ‘I did not say a word. The sooner we get to Bath, the better it is, as far as we are all concerned.’

  * * * *

  It was almost precisely two in the afternoon the next day when Lord Windermere and his brother, Lord Lucas, knocked on the door of the rental where Lord Dalton was residing with his sister. Lucas had told his brother he was insufferable from his anxiety of seeing his lady. George had requested the afternoon to call upon Evelyn as soon as realistically possible when one must follow Society’s rules. The return note, which had to be from the cousin, Evelyn’s companion, judging by the distinctly feminine handwriting, invited both George and Lucas for afternoon tea.

  A man who had to be fifty, if any a day, opened the door.

  ‘Good day, sirs.’

  ‘Duke of Windermere and Lord Lucas to see Lord Dalton and Lady Evelyn,’ George announced.

  ‘Very well, Your Grace, I will take you directly to the drawing room.’

  George and Lucas were led to the drawing room where they were waited on. The man bowed and asked if Lord Dalton required ought else. The house was spacious and simple, yet at the same time very much up to standard.

  ‘Lord George,’ James, Earl of Dalton, said and smiled at his guests. ‘This is my new valet, Daniel Macleod.’

  George nodded at the older man, acknowledging the introduction. He stole a quick smile at Evelyn though it took him a moment to realise that she could not see him. Still, she did smile at him.

  ‘I would like to introduce to you my brother, Lord Lucas Marsden,’ George said. ‘Lucas, this is James, Lord Dalton, and Lady Evelyn,’ he introduced brother and sister. ‘Then we have Miss Mayhew, cousin and companion to Lady Evelyn. She is holding Evelyn’s ward, Ruby.’