What a Wicked Earl Wants

by Vicky Dreiling

“Let us meet in my study after we view the sculptures.”

  She nodded, and now her anxiety returned in force, but she must conceal her vexation.

  After entering the room, her lips parted. “Oh, my,” she said, walking past the statues. Everyone walked about and stopped to admire the fantastical art.

  “It’s stunning,” she said to him.

  “Thank you. He walked to the other side of the room. “This painting is one of my favorites,” Bell said to Laura. “Trompe L’Oeil of a Violin and Bow hanging on a door.”

  “I can see why,” Laura said. “It is an illusion as it appears almost real.”

  He took her to the next one. “This is Jacob’s Ladder. You see the foot of the ladder and seven angels climbing up and down?”

  “Oh, yes,” she said. “My father would like this one, I think.”

  “Now here is one I think Justin might appreciate.” He’d pitched his voice so that Justin would hear.

  Her son joined them, and a look of disgust crossed his face.

  “It’s made of marble and is called Roman Foot Wearing a Sandal,” Bell said. “Supposedly the sandal would have been worn by a woman in the fifth century BC.”

  “Ugh,” Justin said. “Those Roman women didn’t have very attractive feet.”

  Laura laughed.

  Harry clapped Justin on the shoulder. “What did I hear? Are you a foot man?”

  “Harry, your jokes are ridiculous,” Justin said.

  “We keep him around for amusement,” Bell said.

  The rain sheeted outside the Palladian windows. Laura went to the window and looked out the wavy glass. Bell joined her shortly thereafter.

  “Laura, I can’t help noticing that you aren’t yourself.”

  Her chest felt tight.

  “Where are the family portraits?” Justin said. “I want to see the marauding ancestors.”

  There was a moment of charged silence. Justin could not know that his question would create such an uncomfortable moment.

  Laura hurried over to him. “I believe Lord Bellingham is having them cleaned at this time,” she said softly. “It is important to preserve art.”

  “Very well,” he said.

  Everyone started speaking again.

  She hoped her son did not realize his comment had created a stir. When Laura turned to Bellingham, she saw his disturbed expression. Her heart went out to him. “Perhaps we can adjourn now and gather for games later this evening,” she said, pitching her voice a bit louder so that everyone would know that the viewing was over.

  Bellingham looked grateful as the others trickled out of the room.

  Justin walked over to her and Bellingham. “Mama, did I say something wrong?”

  “It wasn’t you,” Bellingham said. “I just don’t like to see the portraits. It reminds me of happier times.”

  Justin looked at him. “I understand. I always feel a little sad when I see my father’s portrait.”

  Her son had never told her about his feelings. “I think it is only natural,” Laura said, “because we miss them and wish that they were still with us.”

  Lady Atherton looked at Bell. “We have the portraits made to honor our living relatives, because we know that one day we will be parted from them. I treasure my portrait of my husband. Without it, I fear that his features might begin to fade from my memory.”

  Laura felt the tension in Andrew.

  He took a deep breath. “I will ask the servants to remove the sheets in the gallery now. We can assemble there in one hour.”

  When everyone else trailed out of the sculpture room, he looked at Laura. “What is it you wish to tell me?”

  “I think we had better wait until after the tour of the portrait gallery,” she said.

  “Why?”

  “Please trust me that it would be for the best,” she said.

  “Now you’ve got me worried.”

  She met his gaze. “Believe me, you are not the only one.”

  “Why are you purposely being cryptic?”

  “Because what I will tell you will change the course of our lives forever.”

  “Laura, tell me now,” he said.

  “You will understand why afterward.”

  “You give me no choice, Laura, and I don’t like it.”

  Her mouth trembled a little. “Actually, I will be giving you a choice.” Then she hurried out of the sculpture room.

  “Damn it all to hell,” he muttered.

  He went to the gallery immediately. The servants stood on ladders and pulled the sheets off. He’d wanted to view the portraits alone first. Four years had passed since he’d seen them. He’d left to attend a house party with Will, and when he’d returned, the doctor had ushered him out of the house due to the risk of contagion.

  He walked about as the servants worked. The Elizabethan portraits were interesting. Then he found the one of his grandparents. He smiled a little. His grandpapa used to secretly give him and Steven sweetmeats when Mama wasn’t looking.

  Footsteps clipped on the wooden floor. He turned to find Laura approaching. She took his arm. “I thought you might come early, and if you are amenable, I would like to view them privately with you.”

  He grazed his knuckle along her cheek. “Thank you.”

  He showed her the portrait of his grandparents. “They passed only two years before my parents and brother.”

  “You had no cousins?”

  “My father was the youngest and had no expectation of marrying. He had two living older brothers, who died in a carriage accident. One of them never married, and the other’s two sons died in a boating accident. Of course, the entail passes down the male line. My mother’s family was beset with tragedy as well. Two of her cousins died in riding accidents, and her brother died of illness.”

  He led her to the next portrait and took a deep breath. “My family.”

  “You and your brother look very alike in the portrait,” she said.

  “Steven…was two years younger. We played together.” He inhaled and was a little humiliated by the shakiness of it. “My mother, Elizabeth, and my father, Harold.”

  “I see your resemblance to your father, but you have your mother’s eyes, I think.”

  “She drew pictures. I have her sketchbook in London.”

  “I imagine she was very talented,” she said.

  “Her pictures were all of…Steven and me.”

  “That tells me she was a devoted mother.”

  “Like you,” he whispered.

  She bit her lip and blinked back the tears.

  “Laura, they’ve been gone four years,” he said.

  He didn’t know. She’d thought he could heal if he just faced the past, but looking at the portrait of his lost family made it all very real for her. They had been a vibrant and happy family. She knew what grief was, but unlike her, Andrew had not had an extended family to stand by his side when he’d lost his loved ones. He’d gone with his friends to wander the Continent, seeking something; perhaps it was to try to forget.

  And now she was about to give him news that would send his life spinning out of his control all over again. Yet, he did need to know, and he was as responsible as she was for this child they had created. She couldn’t keep this from him, but she would wait until all the other guests admired the portraits, and then she must tell him that he would be a father by winter.

  The other guests arrived and walked about admiring the portraits. His defeated expression pierced her heart. There was an air of melancholy about him that disturbed her very much. She walked around by herself, but the portraits were like a blur to her because of what she faced when the viewing ended. While Laura thought it an important step for Bell to share the portraits with close friends, she realized her timing was terrible. She tried to think of a reason to delay, because she didn’t want to shock him with her news after the viewing. Even one more day would give him some respite from the sadness that clearly enveloped him now.

  After everyone had
viewed the portraits, Colin regarded Bell with an enigmatic expression. Then he’d taken Harry aside. The two of them challenged Justin and Lady Atherton to a game of whist in the drawing room.

  Laura was on the verge of claiming tiredness, which was true for her most of the time, when the butler entered.

  “My lord, a man by the name of Smyth is here on a business matter. He said that he had information for you.”

  “I’ll meet him in my study,” Bell said.

  Laura looked at him. “Is it the investigator?”

  “Yes, there’s bound to be news.”

  “I want to be there,” she said.

  “Laura, it may prove to be disgusting. I don’t want to expose you to that.”

  “It involves my son,” she said. “I want to hear it firsthand. I don’t want to be protected.”

  “Very well,” he said, taking her arm. “If it is too vulgar, I may ask you to leave.”

  “I can bear it. I wish to know, because he threatened my son.”

  Soon after they settled in the study, a knock sounded. When the investigator entered, he looked a bit taken aback at Laura’s presence, but Bell told him to proceed.

  Smyth handed him a leather folder. “The details are inside. He covered his tracks well. That’s the reason for the delay.”

  “Give me a brief summary of what you found.”

  “I detected no criminal activity, but he’s deep in debt.”

  He’d figured as much. “Is that all?”

  “No, my lord. He is hiding something—or rather persons—in a village fifteen miles from his property in Goatham Green.”

  Bell arched his brows. “A woman?”

  “Yes, my lord. A woman and two bastards.”

  “How is he supporting them?”

  “I wasn’t sure at first. So I dressed as a worker and went to the local tavern to order a pint. Then I struck up a conversation with two of the locals and inquired about the possibility of finding work at Goatham Green. The men at the tavern advised me to look elsewhere. We knew he was bleeding the tenants, but he raised their rent by another twenty percent.”

  Bell went to his desk and unlocked a drawer and handed a full purse to the investigator. “Thank you, Smyth.”

  Laura had covered her mouth throughout the entire report.

  After the investigator left, Bell looked at Laura “Are you all right?”

  She nodded. “Oh, those poor children.”

  “So now we know that Montclief is in debt because he’s keeping a mistress.”

  “He has a wife and five boys,” she said. “How could he treat his family in such a vulgar and awful manner?”

  “His bad character is fixed, I suppose. Now you know the reason he did not perform his duties as Justin’s guardian.”

  “Why would he threaten to take Justin when he was supporting two families?”

  “He probably meant to remove you from the house so that he could steal valuables. We know he’s capable since he ransacked your town house. I think it is time to expose him. He is keeping a mistress and a family at the same time. The Court of Chancery will consider that immoral conduct, which is grounds for removing him as guardian.”

  “But the courts move slowly, do they not?” Laura said. “And there is scandal to consider as well. Oh, his poor wife and children. What of the other family?”

  “I don’t know what will happen to the two families, but I believe I can avoid public scandal for the sake of the innocents. Montclief does not want the world to know about his two families. I will tell him he’d better be prepared to be ridiculed and shamed if he wants to fight this. The easiest way out for Montclief is to sign over papers giving me legal guardianship of Justin. I can bring pressure to bear on Montclief by asking a few of my allies to review the investigator’s report. Montclief does not want anyone to know about his vulgar activities.”

  “It would be better for Mrs. Montclief and all of his children,” she said. “I hope Montclief recognizes that.”

  Bell drew out a piece of paper. “Now, I’m writing a letter to Montclief telling him I have Justin.”

  Laura gasped.

  “He will come, Laura, and then he will have to face all of us.” He folded his hands on his desk. “Now, what did you have to tell me?”

  “It can wait,” she said, rising.

  He stood. “Laura, you were adamant that you must speak to me.”

  “It can wait until after we resolve the issues with Montclief.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes,” she said. There was no point in telling him now. It would only add more stress to an already stressful situation.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Two weeks later, Laura smiled as Lady Atherton attempted to try her hand at archery once more. “I may be ancient, but I am determined to hit the bull’s-eye.”

  “Run for your life, Brutus,” Bell called out.

  “Careful or I’ll take aim at your derriere,” Lady Atherton said.

  Justin pulled back his bow and hit the target dead center.

  Bell walked over to Laura. She sat on a wrought-iron bench embroidering an infant gown. “Is that the same one you were working on during the journey?”

  “No, this is a new one,” she said.

  “How many gowns does an infant require?” Bell asked.

  “You have never been around infants, have you?”

  “No,” he said.

  “They have the usual human needs, only they are unable to take care of them.”

  “What do you mean?” he said.

  She regarded him without smiling. “They soil their clothing.”

  “Ah,” he said. “That would explain why the infant needs more than one gown.”

  Justin shaded his eyes. “There’s a coach coming.”

  “I suppose that would be Montclief,” Bell said.

  Montclief strutted onto the grounds of Thornhill Park, slapping his gloves on his fat thighs.

  He strode over to Laura. “I demand an explanation. You ran away with my nephew without consulting me. You will hand him over at this moment along with your key to Hollwood Abbey. Do not think to fool me this time or I will haul you before the courts.”

  Harry looked at Colin. “I bet you five pounds Bellingham will kill him.”

  “You don’t have five pounds,” Colin said.

  “That’s why I made the wager,” Harry said.

  Bell threw his fist into Montclief’s cheek.

  Montclief fell to the ground, where he floundered, holding his hand to his cheek. “I’ll have you brought up on charges for assault.”

  “I rather doubt it,” Bell said. “You have abused a lady. You threatened her without just cause. You also stole valuables from her home. You are not a gentleman. I feel very sorry for your children, who will probably find out that their father has a secret family.”

  Montclief’s face turned crimson as he struggled to his feet. “Your information is false. Where did you hear this?”

  “I am more than happy to read the entire report from an investigator I hired before all my guests and the local magistrate as well. The way I see it, you have two choices. You can fight me in a nasty public battle in the Court of Chancery for guardianship of Justin. However, I have solid proof that you have two illegitimate children and that you are morally bankrupt. I do not believe the court will judge you fit to be Justin’s guardian, especially since you have utterly failed in that capacity.

  “On the other hand, you can spare both of your families and yourself scandal by giving up your guardianship. I have no doubt the courts will agree that I am a better guardian, given that I am the one who helped his mother look after him while you were dallying with a mistress.”

  Montclief blustered. “Lies, all lies. You paid someone to make up the story.”

  “All it would take is the investigator to produce the woman with whom you are living out of wedlock and the children,” he said. “Do you really want to be publicly humiliated in all of the
papers?”

  Montclief clenched and unclenched his hands. “He is my nephew.”

  “I disavow all ties with you,” Justin said. “You are a terrible, selfish person.”

  Bell took out his watch. “Montclief, you have ten minutes to vacate my property.”

  Montclief’s nostrils flared, but he walked back to his carriage. Not long after, it departed.

  Justin hugged his mother. “We’re free of him forever.”

  Bell met Laura’s gaze.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Late that evening

  As everyone else drifted out of the drawing room, Bell asked Laura to stay behind. He sat beside her on the red sofa and took her hand. “Laura, you must be relieved knowing your son and his inheritance will be safe from Montclief.”

  “I am,” she said. “Thank you for all that you have done for Justin and me. It turned out to be fortunate for me when you insisted upon bringing that flask.”

  “I care very much for you and Justin,” he said. “But I’ve gone so long without caring about anyone except a few trusted friends. Yes, I am adept at politics and anything that requires logic and a cool head. It is easy to be bold when there is no one for whom you are responsible. I wanted it that way, and I lived a hedonistic life. I was cold and cynical. If not for my friends, I don’t know what would have happened. And then I met you, and gradually, without my even noticing, a part of me that had gone away came back.”

  “I’m glad,” she said.

  “I think it was because of you. When I first saw you, I was struck by you,” he said. “You have a sweet smile that is so rare. I just knew at that moment that I was intrigued. Then the next day I returned the flask, and you were clearly vexed by Montclief’s appearance. When you said I was your fiancé, I was amused at first, but Montclief proved himself so disgusting, I couldn’t deny your words.”

  “I will be honest,” she said. “You turned my world upside down. I mean no disrespect to my late husband, but I was woefully ill-prepared for that wild kiss. Your head will no doubt swell when I tell you I relived that kiss for many nights.”

  “The thing is I just leaped from one day to another,” he said. “I didn’t stop to think beyond how to entice you to my bed, but then I encountered your wayward son. I felt that if I didn’t step in, Montclief would surely take him. I never intended to become so involved in your lives. It was only very recently that I reflected over everything and realized I had…re-created a family.”