The Hero Least Likely

by Darcy Burke

  Not sure if Paula would be awake, he chose to put on his nightclothes. Unless it was her lady’s time of month, he had made it a habit of going to bed without clothes on. But tonight, she might already be asleep.

  He entered her bedchamber. The candles had all been blown out and the curtains drawn, so it was hard to tell if she was awake or not. He whispered her name as he approached her bed.

  “Perry?” she asked in a soft voice that had a hint of uncertainty in it.

  He slipped into the bed and reached for her and felt her night clothes. “I thought you might be asleep.”

  “I wasn’t sure if you’d come to me tonight.”

  “Of course, I came. I came even when you had your monthly flow.” Even if they hadn’t done anything, it was nice to be in the same bed with her. “I like sleeping with you. The bed is empty without you beside me.”

  She clung to him and buried her face in his neck. “You still love me?”

  With a sigh, he kissed the top of her head. “Always and forever.”

  Then, to prove the sincerity of his words, he proceeded to make love to her.

  “This is a genuine vase from the Ming dynasty?” Stewart asked the next day.

  “My grandfather collected items from other countries,” Perry replied.

  Paula watched in dismay as her brother drooled over the object resting in the room full of valuable antiques. Why didn’t she warn Perry that taking her brother on a tour of the place was the worst thing he could do? She knew full well that her brother was trying to gauge what he could leave with, and worse, he’d probably get her to slip it to him.

  “And this,” Perry motioned to a goblet, “belonged to Henry VII.”

  “Surely, you jest,” Stewart protested.

  “I assure you, I’m not.”

  She cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should get ready for dinner. I hear Cook will make veal.” She gave Stewart a pointed look. “That’s your favorite.”

  Fortunately, he turned from the goblet and faced Perry. “She’s right. It is. While I have enjoyed every moment of the tour, I don’t want to upset Cook by not arriving to the evening meal on time.”

  “Very well,” Perry replied. “We’ve seen almost every room anyway.”

  They walked out of the room and Paula saw her brother take a look back at it, probably trying to decide what item—or items—he planned to take with him when he left Blackburn. “Perry, do you mind if I have a word with my brother?”

  “If that’s what you wish,” he replied, his concerned eyes penetrating hers.

  Glancing away from him, she nodded. “I haven’t talked to him since dinner last evening. It’s only right I don’t avoid him altogether.” Though she laughed, it came out as a hollow sound.

  “I’ll be upstairs,” Perry told her before he left them alone.

  Stewart turned to her and snickered. “There’s no need to offer me something in that room right now. I can wait until the day I head out of here.”

  “You won’t get anything from that room,” she whispered, careful to make sure no servants were lingering nearby.

  “Why must you be so heartless? You know how much I need a vase that matches the inkwell you gave me.”

  “You can get that with the fifty pounds I gave you.”

  “Not from the Ming dynasty.”

  “You have no sense of decency in you at all. I have a mind to…” Her threat fell short as she considered the consequences of such a reckless move.

  “You have a mind to what? Tell Perry I’ve been blackmailing you so I won’t tell him about you and Lord Holloway? About one time in particular I caught the two of you in a very compromising situation by the lake where you didn’t think anyone would be at that time of day?”

  Heat flushed her cheeks. “You what?”

  “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell poor Mother. It would have sent her to an early grave. I often wondered why Lord Holloway came around as often as he did. But when I saw you two, it all made sense. Then I realized that’s why he gave you and Mother money from time to time.”

  “It wasn’t because of that. He gave us money because you didn’t give us enough and he felt sorry for us. Your pitiful allowance barely covered one meal a day.”

  “And now you’re doing better than either of us expected.” He patted her cheek as if she were a child. “You impress me. If I had known you could have attracted such wealth, I would have aimed higher than Leavenshire. Perry’s got much more than he does. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a dinner to get ready for.”

  She waited until he disappeared down the hall before she went to her bedchamber.

  TWENTY-THREE

  Perry endeavored to give Paula as many excuses as he could to avoid her brother. So two days later after breakfast, he didn’t argue when she said she was going to rest in her room.

  “There wasn’t much to do in the country,” Stewart had said while she left the room. “She liked to curl up in bed and read until she fell asleep. I’m not surprised she’d rather do that than be in the chilly weather riding a horse.”

  “But you’ll be coming, won’t you? I have yet to show you the grounds.” Perry suspected this was the day that her brother would finally disclose his financial hardship in hopes of getting some money. It was best if Paula wasn’t there for such a conversation.

  “I’d be delighted.”

  “Oh, since your current riding outfit is worn, I thought you might be more comfortable in the riding outfit my cousin Christopher used to wear. You’re about the same size. I’ll have the valet bring it to you.”

  “You’re much too kind.”

  “You’re family. And family takes care of its own.” In this case, he was talking about Paula, not Stewart, a subtle difference that Stewart wouldn’t recognize. “I’ll send the valet soon.”

  Stewart indicated he understood, and Perry slowly made his way up the stairs. There were times he wished he could just bound up the stairs like Christopher often did. He wanted to see Paula. He’d been spending so much time with Stewart in an effort to figure him out that he’d been neglecting her, and that had to have made things more difficult for her.

  After his valet helped him into his riding outfit, he sent him to Stewart then tapped on the door separating his and Paula’s bedchambers.

  She called out for him to enter and he was surprised that she was on her daybed wearing nothing but her shift.

  “Am I to assume you were hoping to convince me to stay indoors?” he teased.

  As he hoped, she laughed at his joke. “I certainly wouldn’t mind your company, but I thought you wanted to go for a horse ride.”

  “Riding a horse isn’t nearly as fun as riding you.”

  Her eyes grew wide but then she laughed again. “I never thought of it that way before, but I can see how well it fits.”

  He relaxed. “My jokes aren’t as good as some people’s.”

  “That was a wonderful joke. Perry,” she stood up and approached him, “you have a marvelous sense of humor. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  He grimaced. “Please don’t tell me we’ve been married for so long that you can wear only a shift in front of me and give me a chaste kiss.” She stared at him for a moment, making him wonder—again—if he’d said something wrong. “What is it?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just that you’re…” She shrugged. “I don’t know how to explain it except that before, you seemed timid when it came to things of a more intimate nature. I had to take the lead.”

  “I wasn’t sure what you wanted me to do. Well, until you read that book and helped me figure it out.”

  She took his hands in hers and squeezed them. “Perry, you love me. Really love me. You’re gentle and kind. Everything you do for me, you do because you want what’s best for me. Why would you think anything you do wouldn’t please me? Do whatever you want with me.” With a teasing grin, she added, “I’ll enjoy it.”

  This time when she
kissed him, she pulled him closer to her. Engulfing her in his arms, he deepened their kiss. He missed this side of her. He wished she was always like this. Maybe she would be once he resolved the issue with her brother.

  When the kiss ended, he cupped the side of her face with his hand and studied her face, noting the contented smile, the blush on her cheeks, and slight twinkle in her eyes. “You’re very beautiful, especially when you’re happy. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you will always look at me this way.”

  “I wouldn’t mind it if you always looked at me the way you are right now, too. It makes me feel as if I’m the most important person in your life.”

  “You are.” He brushed her lips with his thumb. “Paula, you do know I’d rather be with you than with your brother, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I know. But he’s our guest and you have to spend time with him.”

  “He won’t be our guest much longer. I suspect after this, we’ll never have to deal with him again.” Before she could ask him what he meant, he continued, “I was thinking of inviting Christopher and Agatha for a visit, but I wanted to get your opinion first.”

  “Are you sure you want Christopher out here? He’s likely to bother you about something.”

  “I know, but I also know it’s because I let him. It wouldn’t hurt me to relax and laugh a little more.”

  “He wouldn’t try to bother you if he didn’t care about you.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “I’d love to see Christopher and Agatha again.”

  By the way she smiled, he knew that was true. There was a world of difference in the way she talked when the topic was on Christopher and Agatha versus when it was on her brother. “I’d much rather stay here with you,” he whispered.

  Especially when her breasts were pressed nicely against his chest. But then his mind went back to more immediate matters. He was three days into his plan and couldn’t be distracted, at least not until the evening after Stewart retired for the night. Sighing, he traced her bottom lip with his thumb once more. “Believe me, there’s nothing I’d rather do than spend the afternoon up here with you, but I must go.”

  Her smile faltered. “I know. You promised Stewart you’d take him for a horse ride.”

  “I won’t be long. Maybe we’ll have a little time to spend together before dinner.”

  “I’d like that.”

  He didn’t doubt the truth in that statement. And that being the case, he supposed he could manage to be distracted for a little while after his return. He gave her a lingering kiss before heading out.

  Perry led Stewart along the grounds of his estate, going directly to the row of trees that decorated the landscape. The leaves had changed color, allowing for one of the most breathtaking displays he’d ever seen. He loved autumn most. And now that he hadn’t returned to Blackburn with another failed attempt to secure a wife, he had an even better reason to be content.

  “You were right,” Stewart said as his horse kept up the leisurely pace with Perry’s. “The air is simply invigorating. I’d forgotten how refreshing it is to ride a horse in the country.”

  “Did you ride often?” Perry asked.

  “Not as much as I wanted. I’m afraid I had more pressing matters to tend to. After my father departed from this earth, I had to take care of my mother and sister. I had to go to London in order to gather enough for their allowance.”

  He suspected this wasn’t necessarily the case but that was true for most of everything that came out of Stewart’s mouth. “It must have been hard to do that.”

  “I won’t say it was easy, but it was worth every sacrifice I had to make. When I see how happy Paula is, I’d do it all over again.”

  “I’m sure any brother in your position would feel the same way.” Or at least should feel the same way.

  Whether either Paula or Stewart were aware of it or not, the last couple days had opened Perry’s eyes to many things. He never realized just how things must have been for Christopher before he became Perry’s ward. His parents often claimed they needed some money to help take care of their son, and Perry—fool that he was—didn’t hesitate to give them whatever they wanted.

  Later, he found out they were using that money on themselves, not for their son. Christopher didn’t know this, and Perry knew he wouldn’t like to find out his parents had used him as a way to enjoy their lavish lifestyle. But what hadn’t occurred to Perry, up until now, was that Christopher must have felt unloved for many years.

  No wonder he acted the way he did. Always getting into trouble. It was the only time his parents gave him any attention. And Perry, in not understanding this, had done the same thing. Perhaps if he’d spent more time appreciating Christopher when he did something good, he wouldn’t have gotten into as much trouble as he did.

  “Tell me, what is your secret?” Stewart asked.

  Perry broke out of his thoughts and turned his attention back to Paula’s brother. “What secret?”

  “How you managed so well. I’ve met other earls and I can’t think of one who has done as well as you.”

  “You mean, how did I acquire so much money?”

  He nodded.

  “Simple. I’m generous with what I have.”

  Stewart waited for a moment then laughed. “Certainly, it can’t be that easy.”

  “I can’t be reckless with money. I don’t participate in the gambling hells or waste money on mistresses. But I do help people who need it, especially those I care about.”

  “You loan them money and reap the interest?”

  “No. I give it.”

  “Give it? Without expecting anything in return?”

  Noting the disbelief in Stewart’s tone, he nodded. “It’s not a gift if you expect something in return.”

  “Wouldn’t you end up losing everything if you keep doing that all the time?”

  “Not if you’re careful about who you give it to.”

  “Ah,” Stewart replied.

  “The point is,” Perry continued as the stable came into view, “I’ve learned long ago that a generous person who is wise will never lack for anything.” Not that he expected Stewart to take the advice to heart, but now Stewart could never claim he didn’t try to help him.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Paula stared at her brother as he played chess with Perry. Perhaps it’d been a bad idea to sit by the fire and try to read a book. She had a hard time not wanting to break down and cry or scream in frustration. Most of the time, she retreated to her bedchamber. But she’d been hiding for most of the seven days her brother had been there and was tired of it. What she really wanted was to be close to Perry. And unfortunately, to do that, she had to see her brother.

  At the moment, Perry was explaining why Napoleon lost at Waterloo. Stewart did a lot of nodding and agreed with everything Perry said.

  “Napoleon wasn’t prepared,” Perry concluded as he moved his pawn across the board. “I suspect he thought he was invincible. Once that happens, people are inevitably bound to fail.”

  “What an astute observation,” Stewart commended then moved his own pawn. “I didn’t see how he could keep winning all the time.”

  Paula gritted her teeth and forced her eyes back on the book in her lap. Her brother had no interest in politics—or chess. He was flattering Perry with the same sickening sweetness that he used on the Duke of Leavenshire. No wonder it was hard to eat whenever he was around. Her stomach growled, but she just couldn’t swallow much. And it only got worse with each passing day. She could feel the tension building up inside her and worried she wasn’t going to make it another week before she snapped.

  Coming down here was a bad idea. She should get to the safety of her bedchamber. She got ready to shut the book when Perry approached her.

  “I need to tend to personal business. I won’t be long,” he said.

  She indicated she understood. Too bad she didn’t think to leave before he left. Now she had to be alone with her brother. />
  Stewart stood up and walked over to the decanter. “Am I right to assume you’ve been avoiding me?”

  “You’re not here to see me, so what do you care?”

  “Come now, Paula. You mustn’t be so harsh.”

  Despite her better judgment, she turned to face him as he settled back into the chair. “Harsh? You’ve been blackmailing me.”

  He waved his hand dismissively. “You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m not going to require you to give me money for my silence anymore.”

  Hardly daring to believe her ears, she stood up and went over to him so she could make sure he wasn’t joking. “You’re not?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Why did you suddenly have a change of heart?”

  “A gentleman can live like a king in this place. Your husband has more money than he’ll ever use. The last thing I want to do is ruin it for you. If I ruin it for you, I’ll ruin it for me.” He drank the brandy and winked. “Your husband is the greatest friend I ever had.”

  She frowned. “You think he’s boring. I can tell by the way you try not to yawn when he talks.”

  “My dear sister, he can be as boring as he wants when he has all this.” He motioned to the room then picked up a scone from the tray by the small table next to him. “I will do everything I can to make sure Perry never finds out about your past. And as it turns out, I don’t need you to get money. When we went horse riding earlier this week, he told me he likes to give money to family and friends. And when I say ‘give’, I mean he won’t expect me to pay it back.”

  It took a moment for his meaning to dawn on her. “You’re going to ask him for money?”

  “A mere two-hundred pounds. He won’t even miss it.”

  “But you won’t stop at two-hundred pounds. You’ll demand more.”

  “I won’t demand, Paula.” He bit into his scone and swallowed it before taking a sip of his brandy. “I don’t have to demand anything. That’s the beauty of this whole thing. You married him, which immediately brings me into his good graces. All I have to do is pretend to like him and he’ll give me what I ask for. And better yet, I’ll get to come by for visits and be treated like a king. I’m telling you, Paula, you married the best gentleman possible.”