by Ava Stone
“What a relief that will be.” Lydia turned back to look at her husband. “Then I am lost, Robert. What is your surprise?”
“I saw Carteret when I was in London. And I’ve invited him and his family to join us here for a fortnight or so. They should arrive at the beginning of next week.”
“James and Bethany are coming to visit?” He could hear the smile in her voice, “And they’re bringing the children?”
He nodded against her hair. “Yes, all of them, even that little scamp Fiona.”
Lydia sighed and relaxed against him. “Peter and Penny will be so happy to have playmates. That was very thoughtful of you, Robert.”
“Mmm.” He nuzzled against her neck. “I live only to please you, my love.”
She giggled at that. “I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the thought was nice anyway.”
He lightly nipped at her neck. “Well, it’s only fair. You bring so much pleasure to me.”
“Oh, I’ll be so glad to see them,” she said dreamily. “Did you tell James about the baby?”
Robert gently stroked her shoulder with his hand. “No, sweetheart, I didn’t tell him our good news. He’s your cousin. I thought you’d want to do that.”
She nodded happily. “Oh, I do. Thank you, Robert.”
“I did tell Caroline though, I hope you don’t mind.”
Lydia rested her head against him and sighed. “Of course not. What did she say?”
“Well, she was thrilled, of course. I don’t think she ever thought she’d be an aunt. But…” Robert frowned as he remembered the conversation he’d had with his sister, “Sweetheart, do you think there’s anything strange going on with Miss Mitford?”
Lydia turned her head to look at her husband. “With Miss Mitford? What do you mean?”
He shook his head still trying to make sense of it in his mind. “I’m not sure. Didn’t you tell me that Miss Mitford’s cousin works for Caroline?”
“That’s what Miss Mitford told me on the first day she arrived.”
“Well, Caroline told me that the girl had been governess to an old friend of hers, Lady Teynham. They’d gone to a girls’ school together. Anyway, Caroline said she’d promised Lady Teynham, before she died, to watch after Miss Mitford.”
Now mystified herself, Lydia sat up in bed and stared at her husband. “How strange. You wouldn’t think that Caroline would concern herself overmuch with someone else’s governess.”
Robert now sat up too. “No, that’s not really like her. The entire situation is odd.”
“Well, I’ll ask Miss Mitford to clear up the details today.”
Robert nodded in agreement. “Let me know what she says. Lydia, are you all right?” She didn’t look good.
Lydia closed her eyes and swallowed, then she lay back down. “Just a little queasy.” She groaned. “I thought this was supposed to get easier as time went on.”
When she moaned, Robert winced. Seeing her in pain was distressing. Knowing he was responsible for her distress was heartbreaking.
***
After breakfast, but before studies were to begin, Lydia met Miss Mitford in the hallway near the schoolroom. The governess was dressed in another dowdy brown dress, with her hair pulled back in a severe knot. It was ridiculous to think that something untoward was going on with this woman, yet the circumstances were odd. Why would she and Caroline tell different stories about their connection? “Miss Mitford, do you have a moment?”
The governess dropped a quick curtsey and smiled gaily at the countess. “Of course, my lady.”
Lydia directed her into the schoolroom and both women took a seat at the worktable. When Lydia sighed, Miss Mitford looked genuinely concerned. “Lady Masten, are you all right?”
“Yes,” Lydia responded quietly, though she furrowed her brow. “Miss Mitford, there seems to be some sort of confusion over you and your connection to Lady Staveley.”
The governess’ face went white and she stood abruptly. “I can leave within the hour.”
Lydia quickly rose from her seat and offered a calming hand to the governess, “Please don’t leave. The children are very much attached to you. I just need to ask you some questions.”
Every muscle in Miss Mitford’s body stood at attention. “Questions?”
“I remember you mentioned that your cousin is in Lady Staveley’s employ.”
The governess nodded, but she couldn’t quite meet Lydia’s eyes.
“Anyway,” Lydia continued, “Lady Staveley told Lord Masten that she knew you through a friend of hers, Lady Teynham, who has since passed on.”
A tear fell down Miss Mitford’s face, and she took a moment to answer Lydia. “I was very close to Lady Teynham. Her passing is still quite hard for me to come to terms with.”
The girl was very upset. Lydia felt awful for making her cry. “Why did you not just tell me that, Miss Mitford? Why instead did you tell me that your cousin worked for Lady Staveley?”
A small look of hope crossed the governess’ eyes. “Well, that’s true as well, my lady.”
Lydia felt like the biggest fool. Of course the two stories weren’t contradictory. They could both be true. She smiled weakly. “I’m sorry to have upset you, Miss Mitford. Please accept my apology.”
Miss Mitford said nothing, but nodded her head and began straightening the books at the end of the table.
***
By the week’s end, an exhausted Leland Birch arrived at Gosling Park late one evening. The once pristinely garbed solicitor was disheveled from head to toe and breathed heavily as he waited in Lord Masten’s study for the earl to grace him with his presence. But all was well—the papers had been signed, by everyone except his lordship.
Now, Birch sat slumped in a straight-backed chair across from Lord Masten’s large, mahogany desk. Moments later the door to the study opened and the earl strode inside, with his pretty wife quick on his heels. “Birch, tell me you have good news.” His tone was curt and impatient.
The solicitor jumped from his seat to attention. “Yes, my lord.”
“Well, out with it,” the earl snapped.
Lady Masten put a calming hand on her husband’s arm. “Robert, don’t bark at the poor man. He looks exhausted.” The earl grumbled something under his breath, but Leland Birch couldn’t hear what it was. The countess then turned her attention to the solicitor. “Mr. Birch, would you care for some tea?”
And that’s when Leland Birch fell in love with Lady Masten. She had a sweet timbre to her voice and her face was both beautiful and kind all at the same time. He would gladly track down Mr. Potter in Chippen Campden all over again if she asked him to. How had a woman like this ended up with the gruff and overbearing earl? Birch nodded gratefully. “Yes, please. Thank you, Lady Masten. That would be wonderful.”
The countess crossed the room to ring for tea. By the time Birch stopped gazing at her and glanced back at her husband, the earl was scowling at him. “I’m waiting, Birch.”
The young solicitor gulped and quickly opened his satchel. “Of course, my lord. I do indeed have good news.” He thumbed through the stack of papers in his bag looking for the ones that required the earl’s signature. “Mr. Potter didn’t quite remember the incident with Miss Harris, but I was able to refresh his memory.”
“I already told you that money was no object, Birch. Just send me the bill. I don’t want to hear you whine about simply doing your job.” Lord Masten took the papers that Birch offered and fell into his large leather chair. He leaned back in his seat and scanned the pages with a frown. After he finished reviewing the paperwork, he looked up and nodded to the solicitor. “This appears to be in order.”
“Yes, my lord. That is your copy.” Birch walked around the desk with another stack and laid them in front of the earl. “I do need your signature here…and here…and here…and on the last page at the bottom.”
The earl took the new stack and thumbed through them as well. He took out his quill to begin sig
ning in the places Birch had indicated, just as the refreshments arrived. Lady Masten poured him a cup of tea and dropped a large biscuit onto his plate. Birch didn’t realize he was staring like a mooncalf at the countess until Lord Masten cleared his throat. Loudly.
Birch snapped back to attention. “Yes, Lord Masten.”
“Is that it then? The children are mine?” The earl handed the second pile of papers back to his solicitor.
Birch nodded. “Indeed, you are now the proud father of Peter and Penelope Beckford. Congratulations.”
For the first time in their acquaintance, Robert Beckford, the Earl of Masten, actually smiled at Leland Birch. “Good work, Birch. I’ll have Dunsley set you up with a room for the night. We’ve already eaten dinner. Shall I send a tray up for you?”
Birch grinned from ear-to-ear. Those were the nicest words the earl had ever spoken to him.
***
“Sweetheart,” Robert whispered in Lydia’s ear.
Still half-sleeping, Lydia groaned and swatted at her husband’s face.
The bed shook from Robert’s chuckle. “Don’t ever tell me you’re not grouchy in the morning, Lydia.” He held his eye where she’d whacked him. “I’ll be sporting a shiner for the rest of the day.”
Blast him! Why was he waking her up? Didn’t he know expectant women needed their rest? She blinked open her eyes and frowned at her over-jovial husband. No one should be allowed to be that cheerful in the morning. “Ro-ber-t!” she whined.
“You wanted me to wake you early this morning, sweetheart.” he cooed softly.
“I most certainly did not!” she pouted and rolled over on her side away from him. “Now, go out to your stables, or whatever it is you do at the crack of dawn, and leave me alone.”
She felt his lips against her ear. “I distinctly remember you asking me to wake you first thing, so that we could tell the children our good news.”
Lydia’s eyes flew open. She did remember now. The children were already asleep by the time Mr. Birch had arrived the night before. This morning, she and Robert had planned to tell them that they were now an official family. She swung her legs off the bed. “Oh, yes, of course.”
Robert was already dressed, and Betsy was off in the corner of the room waiting for her mistress to get up for the day. She stepped forward holding a soft, periwinkle muslin for Lydia’s inspection. “This one has more room in the waist, my lady.”
That was Betsy’s nice way of saying she was already getting plump. Lydia scowled, but begrudgingly nodded her approval. She was quickly turned out in the garment and discovered that it was more comfortable than what she’d been wearing.
Moments later, she followed Robert down the hall and up to the nursery. Anticipation was coursing through her veins. It felt as if they’d been waiting forever to tell the children, when in fact it had only been a month or so.
Quietly, Robert and Lydia entered the children’s bedroom. Peter was curled up like a ball in his bed, lightly snoring. Penny was sleeping with her little bottom pointed high in the air, making a tent of her sheets. Lydia sat at the edge of Peter’s bed, while Robert took a spot on Penny’s. Gently, they caressed the children’s backs, whispering soothing words until they awoke.
Peter and Penny both rubbed their eyes and sat up in bewilderment as they stared at the earl and countess. Robert moved Penny to his lap and smoothed the tangled hair from her face. “Morning, my little imp.”
“Good—” Penny stretched and yawned, then snuggled in close to Robert’s chest— “morning, my lord.”
Robert kissed the top of Penny’s head. “Not anymore, Penny. As of this morning, I am no longer Lord Masten to you.”
Peter sat bolt upright. “You’re not the earl anymore?”
Robert chuckled. “Short of committing treason, I’m an earl for life, Peter. What I said is that I am no longer Lord Masten to you and Penny. From now on you are no longer my wards but my children.”
Peter blinked his eyes. Twice. “Your children?”
Lydia gently touched the boy’s face. “Robert means that we’ve adopted you as ours. You’re not orphans any longer. But I don’t want you to feel that you have to call us Mama or Papa, not if you’re not ready for that.”
The children quietly stared at each other for seemed like an eternity. Then Peter smiled tentatively and reached for Lydia’s hand. “Mama? I like that.”
“Me too.” Penny yawned again and clutched the lapel of Robert’s jacket in her tiny hands.
“Good.” Robert tousled Penny’s hair. “Now get dressed and come down for breakfast. Cook has a celebratory feast awaiting us.”
“Breakfas’?” Penny frowned, “It’s too early.”
Robert threw his head back and laughed. “She takes after you, Lydia.”
His wife picked up Peter’s abandoned pillow and threw it at Robert’s head. Still laughing, he fell backward on the bed, taking a happily squealing Penny with him. “Oh, Papa, you’re silly!”
~ 20 ~
The impending arrival of Lord Carteret and his family had the staff and residents of Gosling Park in an uproar. Lydia was giddy from just the thought of visiting with James and Bethany. Peter and Penny could barely contain their excitement over the prospect of five other children to play with. Robert enjoyed watching the entire scene play out.
At the first sight of a Carteret coach off in the distance, Lydia and the children rushed out to the front lawn to wait. Penny was bouncing up and down on her toes in anticipation as their guests got nearer.
When the first grand traveling coach bearing the Carteret coat of arms finally stopped at Gosling Park, the door flew open and children began to file out. Liam, Morgan, and Lady Madeline were followed closely by their mother. Before Bethany Carteret could even greet Lydia, her twins nearly knocked her to the ground as they raced to meet Peter and Penny. “Morgan, mind your manners, and Maddie, chasing after your brother is not ladylike.”
Lydia smiled gleefully and rushed to Bethany’s side. “I’m so glad you’ve come.” She warmly embraced her cousin. “How was the journey?”
Before Bethany Carteret could even answer her, Morgan jumped in to do so. “It was great fun, Lyddie. And we even got stopped by some highwaymen. Liam said they didn’t really exist, but I said they did. And sure enough—”
“Highwaymen?” Lydia gasped.
Bethany sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know that I’d call them that, Morgan.” Then she looked to Lydia. “Actually I don’t know what to call them. They didn’t rob us or take anything. But they were obviously looking for someone. They had a miniature with them and looked over each of us. I thought James was going to get himself killed, he was so furious.”
Morgan chimed in again with a nod. “Papa’s face was as red as blood, and then it turned purple, and then—”
“That’s quite enough, Morgan.” Bethany sent a chastising look at her youngest son.
When Lydia bent down to receive hugs from both Morgan and Madeline, she noticed Liam standing proudly next to his mother. With an indulgent grin, she reached out to shake the young Lord MacFadyn’s hand. “You look well, Liam.”
“Thank you, Lady Masten.”
“Lady Masten?” Lydia trilled. “What happened to Lyddie?”
Liam shrugged. “’Tis a bit childish, don’t you think?”
Morgan turned slightly red from embarrassment at that, but Lydia tousled Liam’s hair. “Absolutely not. I think it’s sweet. Now, come all of you and let me introduce you to my children.”
Up until now, Penny had been standing on her tiptoes, trying to get a good look at the visitors. But when all eyes were suddenly on her and Peter, she instantly shied away.
Just then, Robert walked down the front steps and smiled at his guests. “Ah, Lady Carteret.” He kissed Bethany’s cheek. “And you must be Lord MacFadyn. May I call you Liam?”
“Robert,” Lydia interrupted him. “I was just introducing everyone. Peter, Penny, these are our cousins, Lady Carteret, Liam
, Morgan, and Madeline.” She stepped forward and took her husband’s hand. “And of course, this is my husband, Lord Masten, and our children, Peter and Penny.”
Peter looked the other boys over with obvious interest, while Liam and Morgan stared at him with curious glances. “We thought we saw highwaymen too,” Peter offered quietly.
“Brilliant!” Morgan enthused. “What did they look like?”
And like that, the three boys started off together, chatting amiably, and didn’t notice when the second coach approached. The coachman hopped down from his perch and quickly opened the door for Lord Carteret and his young daughters Lady Katriona and Lady Fiona. The earl looked a bit haggard, as if his daughters had driven him to the brink of insanity. He exchanged a look with his wife that said something along the lines of, ‘Next time you get these two hellions.’
“James!” Lydia called happily as she closed the distance between her and her cousin. “Thank you so much for bringing everyone.” She threw her arms around his neck.
James dropped a peck on Lydia’s cheek. “You look wonderful, Lyddie. Doesn’t she, Beth?”
Bethany sent a scathing look at her husband and then turned her attention on Lydia and smiled. “Of course she does. Lydia always looks beautiful.”
Lydia wasn’t quite sure why the scathing look was sent to James. She couldn’t imagine what her cousin had done to garner such a scowl. She smiled in return to Lady Carteret. “Thank you, Bethany.”
Grumbling nearby, Katriona and Fiona were playing tug-of-war with something—Lydia couldn’t tell what it was—glaring at each other. Katriona, a pretty eight-year-old, leaned toward her little sister and hissed, “Let go, you little brat.”
