The Viscount's Bride (Love's Pride Book 2)

by G. L. Snodgrass

  He turned the small figure of the shepherd in his hand. His eyes narrowed as he examined the item. It was as if he was trying to understand what it was and why it was there.

  Caroline was taken aback. Should she answer his questions or had she lost his attention already. As she watched he gently used two hands to place the figure back on the table, his lips bitten as he focused on his task.

  She noticed that he had placed it close to the edge. She would have to be sure to reset it later.

  He turned back to her with that angelic smile of his and said, “I’m James, Hello.”

  Awareness struck Caroline. The boy wasn’t clear of mind. Simple.

  A memory of touring the hospital with the board. She’d met several patients like this. A young girl with an angelic smile much like this boy’s had carved a place into her memory.

  Doctor Simpson had explained that their brains had stopped growing for some reason or been injured somewhere along the way.

  She remembered watching them from the corner of her eyes. Her heart going out to them. Simple, confused, adults who didn’t really understand the world around them.

  “If they’re lucky, family members will pay for them to live in institutions,” the doctor explained. “Although, from what I hear, those places are but one step up from hell itself.”

  “And if the families don't put them in an institution?” Caroline had asked.

  The Doctor had shrugged his shoulders. “No one really knows. Honestly. I think few of them live to adulthood. They disappear into the world to never to be seen. I think many times the families are relieved.

  Returning from the memory, Caroline smiled at the young boy. “My name is Caroline, it is very nice to meet you.”

  The boy smiled and came to stand in front of her. “Do you have any army men?”

  “Uh … no. I am sorry, but I don’t.”

  The boy frowned for a moment then said. “I do.” Caroline could see the light come on behind his eyes. It was a rare light but when it did show it brought life to them. “Do you want some of mine?” He asked.

  They are probably the most important items in his life she realized and her heart went out to him again. The fact that he was willing to share his treasures with a stranger said so much about him.

  There wasn’t an ounce of guile in the boy, she thought. No anger at his lot in life. An absence of evil she realized. She wanted to pull him into her arms and let him know that he was special. The one person in the world who didn’t want something from her. All he wanted was to share his toys.

  She smiled at him. “That is very sweet of you James. But you keep your army men. Perhaps you could show them to me later though.”

  “Yes, they are wonderful. Do you want to come see them now? They are in the nursery. Alexander gave them to me.” He took her hand in his and tried to pull her up off the bed.

  Caroline smiled at the eagerness. It was the first time in weeks that she had truly smiled. What was it about this boy that he could make her crumbling world seem special and a happy place once again?

  “Not just now,” she said. “If that is alright, maybe later you could show me. I would like that.”

  His face fell for a moment then almost immediately returned to his happy countenance. “Nanny said there will be pudding for dinner.”

  It was as if that simple sentence solved all of the world’s problems for this boy. It didn’t matter what issues needed to be overcome, they could be fixed with pudding.

  She laughed and said, “That sounds lovely.”

  “Jamie?” a deep voice said from the hall. Caroline’s heart skipped a beat. She’d know that voice in a hundred years.

  Viscount Beachmont hesitated as he opened the door to her bedroom. His eyes searching.

  He was dressed in black coat and sharp white shirt. His cravat looked as if it had been crafted by a master artist. She wondered briefly if he did it himself or did he have a valet for such fine work.

  Her cheeks grew warm with a blush as she realized she was thinking about this man getting dressed.

  “There you are,” he said with a frown. It seemed to Caroline that he frowned a lot. Why? What could this man possibly have to worry about?

  “You shouldn’t be in here,” he said to the young boy.

  James' face fell into a deep frown. He glanced at Caroline from under his brow to see if she had noticed his chastisement.

  “That is all right My Lord,” she said quickly trying to rescue the boy. “James was just entertaining me. We were discussing his collection of Army men. He’s promised to show them to me later.”

  The Viscount placed his hands behind his back. His brow narrowed in concentration as he stared at her. He looked at her strangely as if trying to deduce the meaning of a particularly hard puzzle.

  Something registered in him as she felt his eyes shift from speculation to admiration. It was only then that she realized she was sitting on the side of her bed in her nightclothes. Not even a robe. Her hair was down, and she’d been in bed for two days.

  What was even worse. The remnants of Nanny’s poultice filled the room with such an unpleasant smell. What must he think?

  Her insides turned to stone. He shouldn’t see her like this. How had she allowed this to happen? What was he thinking? More accurately what was he thinking about her?

  Her hands flew to her neckline, pulling the shift closed. Deciding that retreat was her best option she quickly scooted back up on the bed and under the covers.

  She pulled the blankets to her chin and wished desperately she could pull them over her head and sink away.

  James looked back and forth between the Viscount and herself as if trying to understand. His forehead crinkled in thought. She knew he was trying but just couldn’t figure it out. It was one more of those mysteries that he would never understand.

  The Viscount’s frown lessened for a moment. For a second she wondered if he would smile but he quickly pulled himself together.

  “I am sorry Miss Jennings. Jamie shouldn’t have come in here.” He gently placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder letting him know that he wasn’t upset with him.

  The boy looked up at the large man. Caroline saw pure hero worship on his face. The Viscount looked down and winked at the boy. These two had a special bond she realized. She needn’t worry. He would never do a thing to hurt the child.

  Caroline flashed to a memory of her father. This boy loved this man as much as she had loved her father. It was that special kind of love where nothing else matters. But then the memory of what her father had done to get his money rushed back into her brain and that hollow sinking feeling returned. No one must ever know.

  “Come on Jamie,” the man said to the boy. “Let’s leave Miss Jennings alone. She needs her rest.”

  I must really look terrible she thought to herself with a pang of regret.

  “That is perfectly all right My Lord. I am feeling much better,” she said.

  “I am glad to hear it, Miss Jennings. Nanny was rather worried.”

  You weren’t worried?

  “Yes … well. Thank you so much for everything you have done. My maid informed me about sending the two men to retrieve my sisters. I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay you.” Her heart swelled thinking about her sisters. The two young woman might very well have been turned out onto the streets tomorrow.

  “Can she have dinner with us?” Jamie asked the Viscount. She was surprised and once again wondered who this boy was that he ate his meals with His Lordship. Surely not his son?

  The Viscount studied her for a moment. Caroline realized she was holding her breath while she waited for him to answer.

  “Of course, if she feels well enough,” he said with a slight questioning tilt of his head and a raised eyebrow.

  “Oh good,” James said. “We are having pudding. If there isn’t enough, I will share mine with you.”

  Caroline couldn’t help but smile. Reaching out, she took the boy’s hand in hers.
He had brought a lightness to her day.

  “I would love to join you. If you give me a few minutes, I will be down.”

  James' eyes lit up in pleasure.

  The Viscount looked confused for a moment but then gave her a quick nod before escorting his young charge from the room. He stopped at the door and looked back. “Miss Jennings,” he said before giving her another confused look.

  Caroline watched him close the door. Her heart beat heavily in her chest. What was it about this man that made her world spin? His large shoulders, cool confidence, and soul stopping handsome face all seemed to combine to put her nerves a jitter.

  The fact that he had saved her from certain death and then had the presence of mind to rescue her sisters. How could a woman not be flustered?

  Sighing to herself at the thought of what wouldn’t be, she jumped out of bed. Her pounding head and dry throat long forgotten.

  Hurry she told herself. She must make herself presentable. There was no way she was going to look like the helpless, weak woman he had come to know.

  Her father’s words echoed in her head. “Don’t let them see your fear,”

  Sighing once again she sat at the small desk by the window and perused herself in the mirror.

  Caroline immediately began brushing the knots from her hair. She wanted to shout. The Viscount had seen her like this? Surely there could be no God to let such a thing happen.

  Chapter Seven

  Alexander. Viscount Beachmont, studied the Lake District ledger for the third time. He really needed to make a visit. In fact, he should have left days ago.

  It appeared his agent was either an idiot or dishonest. Alexander hoped it was the former but feared it was the latter. Either way, he was going to have to make changes.

  Sighing to himself he pulled out a piece of paper and prepared his quill as he tried to compose a letter to his London solicitors.

  Maybe he could get away after the entire Miss Jennings situation was resolved. He took out a second piece of paper for a short note to Lady Parker. The beautiful widow was always more than willing to entertain him.

  Of course, it would be quite a while before he could get away. Maybe the tavern wench? What was her name … Beth? That was it. She had seemed very interested the other night, but he had been too sore from the boxing match to take her up on her offer. Maybe tonight.

  There was no reason he had to stay and entertain. Miss Jennings was not his responsibility he reminded himself.

  What was it about her he wondered? Why should he worry about her?

  He thought of her rosy cheeks and the long blond hair that had fallen over the front of her shoulder. His mind’s eye was brought back to the way she had looked sitting on the edge of her bed.

  Innocent, yet a woman. Everything about her had declared her perfection. Was it the way she had felt in his arms. As if she belonged there.

  A strong desire surged through him. That delectable female form. Those breathtaking eyes that seemed to dance with laughter. The way her eyes narrowed when she thought something wasn’t right or fair.

  Be careful he thought to himself. A man could forget himself around a woman like that.

  He’d seen other women just as beautiful. But he couldn’t remember where or when. Maybe that Spanish Contessa. No, she’d become a harpy within a few weeks. A fishwife didn’t curse half so well. Her beauty twisting into a dark monster. Railing about him leaving her. The fact that the entire French army was on its way didn’t seem to register with the woman.

  He remembered standing on the front line waiting for the French to cross the ridge. He’d been so thankful he was there with his men instead of back with the Contessa and her wild yelling.

  Alexander’s mind wandered to Miss Jennings. He couldn’t see her crying and beating her chest over the loss of a lover. The girl had too much strength for that. She was the kind that would never let anyone see her fear.

  “You barely know her,” he said to himself. - He had talked to himself since Portugal. - His friends had always teased him about it. But that was how he processed things. Speaking them out loud made things real.

  James had liked her and he was an invaluable judge of people. Never wrong. If James liked a person, they could be trusted with the crown jewels it was as simple as that.

  “Yes, but you’re not interested whether she is trustworthy,” he said with a slight chuckle.

  “You are letting your body think for you,” he added as he shook his head and returned to the books on the desk before him. But the picture of Miss Jennings with her hair down, her white nightgown loose at the neck wouldn’t let him rest.

  .o0o.

  Alexander sat at the head of the table then glanced over at James. The boy was having problems sitting still. But then he always did. It was a Vessey trait. More energy than was good for a person.

  He kept scooting forward then back on his chair. He even tried sitting on his hands as if that would stop them from flying into the air.

  “She will be here in a minute,” he said to the boy.

  James prepared to say something in reply when the dining room door opened and Miss Jennings stepped inside without being announced.

  She smiled at James’s beaming face then quickly curtsied to the Viscount. He was going to have to let her know they weren’t that formal around here. A man living without a lady of the house forgets about all of the niceties, he thought as he quickly stood up to bow.

  He pulled out a chair on his left, across from James and slid it back in while she sat.

  “I am sorry, we don’t normally have servant attend us during meals,” He said. Now why was he explaining himself he wondered? Why should he care if this woman was impressed or not?

  “I understand,” she said as she smiled up at him. A smile that could make a man remember why he was a man. He wondered if the woman was even aware of the power she had in such a simple gesture.

  “Do you want to see my Army men after dinner, Caroline?” James asked

  “Miss Jennings,” the Viscount corrected.

  “Yes, that would be nice James. I would enjoy that,” she said as if it was the most normal thing in the world for such a lady. His heart eased a little. He needn’t worry how Miss Jennings would deal with James. She seemed very accepting of him.

  “Be careful Miss Jennings. My brother will rope you into a reenactment of Waterloo and you’ll be lost for the day.”

  She laughed then glanced back and forth between the two brothers. She hadn’t known that James was his brother he realized with a start. Yet she had treated the young boy as if he were the King’s own man.

  James and Miss Jennings talked of army men and ponies. He seemed disappointed to learn that she didn’t have any brothers. Just two younger sisters.

  The Viscount watched them together. She communicated with the young boy so easily. Without judgment or dismissal. So unusual for a woman of her class.

  His mind flashed back to the discussion with Thomas. He was right someone would need to take care of James. Someone who cared for the person he was.

  A shiver ran down the Viscount’s spine. Shaking it off, he pulled himself back to the present.

  “Tell me, Miss Jennings,” the Viscount said during one of Jamie’s rare pauses. “How is London? What new scandal has the ton atwitter?” He knew he sounded ridiculous but wasn’t that the kind of thing a young lady liked to talk about?

  Her face grew pink as she stared down at her soup.

  “I’m afraid I am not familiar with the ton My Lord. My family is not of that world.”

  “Oh really, I’m sorry. I was informed that your home was on Hyde Park. I thought …”

  “We lived on Hyde Park, but we were never really accepted by the ton My Lord,” she said with a touch of bitterness. “My father was from humble beginnings. It seems that a Dorset fisherman and his daughters are not to be admitted to the better parts of society.”

  Her voice dripped with both anger and embarrassment.

&nbs
p; Bringing her spoon to her mouth she refused to look at him. What it must have been like, to live in that world but to not be accepted.

  That was one thing he had to give his father. Viscounts and sons of Viscounts didn’t have to worry about that sort of thing. The only place it had ever really been an issue had been the army.

  He could still remember Major Marshall telling him the first day that he didn’t care if he was the King’s best friend. If he made a mistake, that cost his men their lives. The major would shot him. Personally.

  The one thing he had quickly learned about Major Marshall was that the man did not lie. He had been perfectly serious. The steady stare and glint in his eyes left no doubt.

  Alexander Vessey smiled to himself as he thought of it. The Army, the one place he had been judged by his actions and not his name. The one place that he had been true and honest. If it weren't for the whole war and death aspect the Army could be rather enjoyable.

  He glanced over at Jamie. Much like this young woman, the boy would never be accepted. Twice cursed. Simple and a bastard. His heart went out to him. If people could only know the real Jamie. The boy judged people on their truth, not their false face, but on the reality inside.

  Jamie sensing his brother’s examination, looked up and smiled. All was right in the boy’s world. He had a new friend and very soon, pudding.

  Returning his attention to Miss Jennings, Viscount Beachmont asked, “So you and your sisters are moving to Dorset?”

  .o0o.

  Caroline felt her cheeks grow warm. Amy had informed her that his Lordship knew of her plight. That her servants had informed him to enlist his help. She couldn’t fault them. Her sisters were being rescued. That was the important thing she reminded herself. That did not mean she wished to discuss her situation. Especially with him.

  “Yes My Lord,” She answered quickly before returning to her meal.

  He lifted an eyebrow as if expecting more, then seemed to accept her silence on the matter.

  “Oh well, your sister’s should be here within a few days. Again, if there is anything we can do to help, please let me know.