Sebastian had been gone for more than a year on his Grand Tour when she ran off with that fortune hunter. Looking back on it, she had probably gone a little mad from lack of mental exercise.
Her mother slammed the embroidery frame down on the table, stood up and spoke heatedly. “It was the scandal of the century, Chelsea. Your father was a very prominent member of the House with a great future ahead of him. He had many enemies who were more than ready to have an excuse to pull him down—so now here we are, ostracized. Exiled to this merciless, remote island on the edge of the Atlantic, pummeled by storms every other day, locked away from the world like traitors to the Crown.”
Chelsea spoke firmly. “If you hate it so much, why don’t you go back? Enough time has passed. I’m sure all has been forgotten. There have probably been dozens of scandals since then, far worse than mine. I would be perfectly fine here on my own. I enjoy the solitude.”
She would not ever wish for more. She had given up her childish dreams of romance long ago. Now she found pleasure and excitement through her stories.
Her mother picked up her embroidery again and sat down. She began stitching with hands that shook. “Oh no. I could never show my face. I would be mortified.”
Chelsea sighed heavily. “Well, that is your choice. As for me, I am content here. I do not need or want to marry just to get back into society’s good graces.” She cared nothing for society. It had done her no favors.
“It is not just for that,” her mother argued. “What if something happens to your brother? What then? You and I would be at the mercy of Lord Jerome, which is why I wish you would not slight him.”
Chelsea’s stomach pitched and rolled. It was a truth she preferred not to confront, for Sebastian, throughout a ten-year marriage, had not provided the family with an heir.
He walked into the room just then and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Slight who?” His blue eyes narrowed with curiosity. “The attempted murder victim upstairs?”
“No, of course not,” Chelsea answered with growing unease. “We are talking about Father’s cousin, Lord Jerome.”
“Ah, yes, our delightful cousin Jerome.” Sebastian leaned back against the sideboard and wrapped his hands around the coffee cup to warm them. “He’s not coming here, is he? Heaven help us all if he is. He’ll empty our wine cellar in a day.”
“And leave greasy smudge marks on all the mirrors,” Chelsea agreed, without smiling.
“Did you know he’s wearing a wig now?” Sebastian mentioned as he took a seat at the head of the table. “He thinks he has all the ladies fooled into believing it’s his real hair.”
“And do they actually believe it?”
He crinkled his nose and shook his head.
Their mother pushed her chair back and stood up. “That is enough, both of you. He is your father’s cousin, and presently first in line to inherit your title, Sebastian. It is time you both gave this situation the attention it demands. It is no laughing matter.”
Looking surprised at his mother’s outburst, Sebastian lowered his cup to the table. “I understand that he is my heir, Mother, but I am young and healthy.”
“You were ill last month.”
“It was a bad case of the sniffles.”
“You were on death’s door,” she argued. “We all knew it, and so did you. And even if you had not been ill, you could trip down the stairs tomorrow and kill yourself on the way to breakfast for all we know.” She paused to calm herself. “The fact of the matter is, we do not know what the future holds for any of us, and we cannot go on drifting aimlessly through the years as if we have it all under control. I agree, Lord Jerome is a horrid, pompous—” She stopped suddenly, as if she couldn’t bring herself to finish what she truly wanted to say. “The point is, we must consider our future. We cannot afford to be rude to him. We must keep all our ducks in a row.”
Sebastian leaned back in his chair and said nothing for a moment, then met Chelsea’s gaze. “It’s true, I suppose. You ought not to slight him, and maybe you should at least consider it.”
“Sebastian...” She couldn’t believe she was hearing this from him, of all people—the brother who had always understood her independent mind.
“Look, Chel,” he said, “we all know I have not been able to secure a future for you and Mother.” He raked a hand through his hair. “There’s only so much I can do. I worry about the two of you, and Melissa’s disappointment is—”
He stopped and shook his head.
Chelsea recognized his frustration, reached across the table and covered his hand with her own. “You cannot blame yourself for our situation. I did something very foolish seven years ago. I am more to blame than you.”
He reflected upon everything for a moment. “There is no point casting blame. This is where we are, and I take full responsibility for failing to provide this family with an heir.”
“He is right in at least one respect, Chelsea,” her mother said. “He does take on all the responsibility when you have been nothing but a burden to this family. You have pulled us down, and now you refuse to do the one thing that could save us.”
“But I don’t love him,” Chelsea said.
“Love!” Her mother laughed bitterly. “This is real life, Chelsea, not one of your childish stories. You of all people should know there is no hope for a happily ever after. Not for you. Any hope for that was dashed years ago when you ruined yourself, and now Lord Jerome is the only man in England who would ever make an offer, and he does so out of pity.”
The butler entered the room and they all immediately went silent. Their mother quickly sat down, picked up her needlepoint and resumed stitching. Chelsea fought to settle her distress.
“The doctor wishes to see you, my lord,” Cartwright said.
Eager to hear some news of the man upstairs, Chelsea sat up.
Sebastian nodded. “Send him in. I am sure we would all like to hear his prognosis.” As soon as the butler was out of earshot, Sebastian added under his breath, “And a change of subject would be a welcome diversion.” He threw Chelsea a look filled with apology and regret.
A moment later the doctor entered the breakfast room but remained standing just inside the door. He bowed slightly at the waist. “Good morning, my lord. Ladies.”
Sebastian stood. “How is the patient? Will he recover?”
“It is difficult to say. He has not yet regained consciousness. The good news is there was no sign of infection in the wound—at least not yet. Outside of that, he has a few bumps and bruises. His knuckles are badly cut up, which suggests he was...” The doctor glanced uneasily at the ladies. “Well, I am sure it is not my place to speculate about what brought him here.” He cleared his throat. “I have treated and dressed the wound. I have examined him. Now there is nothing to do but wait and pray.”
Chelsea settled back in her chair and worked hard to hide the level of her anxiety. She had been craving information about the man’s identity for the past three hours, and the waiting was excruciating. “He didn’t wake at all while you were treating him? Not even for a moment? Long enough to tell you his name?”
“No, Lady Chelsea, I am afraid not.”
“Hence we still have no idea who he is, or how he came to be washed up on our beach?” she said.
“Without his clothes, no less,” Sebastian added, sitting down and taking another sip of coffee.
The doctor pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Unusual circumstances, to be sure. I confess, I am rather curious myself.”
Sebastian turned to Chelsea. “It’s just like one of your stories.”
She recalled her latest idea about a shipwreck and a handsome sea captain taken in by a young maiden. It was all very strange and extraordinary.
“He will be weak when he wakes,” the doctor told them. “He will also be confused and disoriented. It might be helpf
ul if someone was at his side at all times, keeping an eye on him and checking the wound for any infection that might still occur. Certainly, if he develops a fever, send for me right away. And when he wakes...”
Chelsea sat forward. “Yes, Doctor?”
He shrugged. “Answer his questions, I suppose. Tell him who you are and where he is.”
“I will sit with him.” She pushed back her chair.
“You will do no such thing,” her mother declared. “It would be highly improper.”
Chelsea raised an eyebrow. “Are you worried about my reputation, Mother?”
An awkward silence ensued, and the doctor cleared his throat again. “Perhaps I should be on my way.”
Sebastian stood. “Of course, Doctor. Thank you for coming so quickly. And rest assured, we will keep a watchful eye on the patient.”
As soon as the doctor was gone, Chelsea turned to her mother. “Have a maid chaperone me if you must, though I hardly think it’s necessary. It’s not as if the man is going to ravish me. He’d have to be at least conscious for that.”
“Fine,” her mother replied. “But when he wakes, you must fetch someone immediately. We do not know anything about him. He could be dangerous.”
“If it will make you happy, Mother, I will do that.” She stood and started to leave, but her mother stopped her.
“There is only one thing you can do to make me happy, Chelsea, and you know what that is.”
Chelsea glanced back and spoke over her shoulder. “Yes, Mother, I know.”
“Promise me you will consider it, that you will not continue on this selfish path. If you marry Lord Jerome and bear him a son, your father’s title will pass directly through you, and will at least remain in our family.”
Chelsea nodded. “I understand what you are asking, Mother.”
Then she left the room to go and sit at the mysterious stranger’s bedside.
When a Stranger Loves Me – Available Now
Follow Julianne on Bookbub to be
notified whenever one of her ebooks goes
on sale for 99¢ or is offered for free.
Follow Julianne on Amazon
to stay informed about her new
releases and to learn when her ebooks
are discounted for your Kindle.
Books by Julianne MacLean
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The American Heiress Trilogy
To Marry the Duke
Falling for the Marquess
In Love with the Viscount
Can This Be Love Trilogy
(American Heiress Spinoff)
Love According to Lily
To Annabelle, With Love
Where Love Begins
Love at Pembroke Palace Series
In My Wildest Fantasies
The Mistress Diaries
When a Stranger Loves Me
Married by Midnight
A Kiss Before the Wedding -
A Pembroke Palace Short Story
Seduced at Sunset
The Highlander Series
Captured by the Highlander
Claimed by the Highlander
Seduced by the Highlander
The Rebel – A Highland Short Story
Return of the Highlander
Taken by the Highlander
The Royal Trilogy
Be My Prince
Princess in Love
The Prince’s Bride
Dodge City Brides Trilogy
Prairie Bride
Tempting the Marshal
A Time for Love
Colonial Romance
Adam’s Promise
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
A Curve in the Road
A Fire Sparkling
The Color of Heaven Series
The Color of Heaven
The Color of Destiny
The Color of Hope
The Color of a Dream
The Color of a Memory
The Color of Love
The Color of the Season
The Color of Time
The Color of Forever
The Color of a Promise
The Color of a Christmas Miracle
The Color of a Silver Lining
About the Author
JULIANNE MACLEAN is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the contemporary women’s fiction Color of Heaven Series. Readers have described her books as “breathtaking,” “soulful” and “uplifting.” MacLean is a four-time Romance Writers of America RITA® finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been published in over a dozen languages.
MacLean has a degree in English literature from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a degree in business administration from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She loves to travel and has lived in New Zealand, Canada, and England. MacLean currently resides on the east coast of Canada in a lakeside home with her husband, daughter, and mother. She invites readers to visit her website for more information about her books and writing life, and to subscribe to her mailing list for all the latest news: www.juliannemaclean.com
The Mistress Diaries (Love at Pembroke Palace Book 2) Page 26
