The carriage pulled up to the townhouse.
Lord Harrow helped her out of the carriage and up the stairs to the front door. “Let me explain to your employer what happened this morning. I take full responsibility.” The man appeared genuinely concerned.
“I would prefer you didn’t, Lord Harrow. It would not matter. They will believe whatever yarn Reginald spins for them.” Hurt flashed in his eyes. He was a man not used to being denied his wishes. She needed to avoid being beholden to him for his care of her. “Thank you for your kind assistance.”
The door opened, and a starchy butler stepped aside as the boy preceded her into the house yelling for his parents.
She turned and walked away. The door closed as she bit back tears from pain and prepared to face the consequences of this morning’s mis-adventure. She followed the sound of her charge’s excited voice into the drawing room where Mr. and Mrs. Fishbottom sat.
“What is this my son is reporting to me? You pushed him to the ground? Look at his outfit. I will be deducting that from your salary.” The plump woman stuffed a candy into her mouth and crunched down like a cow chewing its cud, as she spat out venomous words.
Valeria schooled her features to be blank. Wages? What wages? She functioned more as an au pair, only earning her room and board and not much else. The promised wages for the past few months failed to materialize. “I believe you were misinformed, ma’am.”
The woman started to sputter and almost choked on her candy. “Are you accusing my son of lying? Dearest Mr. Fishbottom, did you hear her accuse our precious boy of telling an untruth?” The woman’s beady eyes, practically swallowed up by her plump cheeks, spun toward her equally plump husband who lounged next to her.
“Yes, dear,” he said wearily and appraised Valeria. “However, I would be interested in why she herself has such a disreputable appearance.”
Valeria cringed as her employer looked her up and down, mentally undressing her. A wave of revulsion overtook her every time he did so.
Mrs. Fishbottom turned back to Valeria, oblivious to her husband’s perusal of their servant. She sighed wearily. “Well, Mrs. Wilson, let us hear your little fib to cover your actions.”
Valeria gritted her teeth and surveyed her charge who was also stuffing his face full of candy. “Reginald ran away from me and into the path of an oncoming carriage traveling at great speed. I did push him out of the way of the horses’ hooves as they reared over him. He is fortunate to be alive.”
Mrs. Fishbottom shook her head. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. I suppose this carriage was from some member of the ton and he graciously helped you and brought you home?”
“Lord Harrow and Lord Westcombe!” Reginald blurted out and quickly covered his mouth, realizing he had revealed his own lie and confirmed her statement as truth.
Mrs. Fishbottom’s eyes grew wide at her son’s statement. “Really? Lord Harrow is a Marquess and Lord Westcombe is a second son to an earl. Highly exalted indeed.” She turned back to Valeria. “They brought you home?”
Reginald jumped into the conversation again. “They brought us in a spanking new barouche with a matched pair.” Another piece of candy found its way to his mouth.
Mr. Fishbottom started at Valeria. “Is this true?”
Valeria nodded, keeping her eyes to the floor.
“Hrmph.” Lord Fishbottom rose to his feet and even so fell several inches short of Valeria’s height. “You disgraced us by your actions today, Mrs. Wilson. You may pack your bags and take your child and be out of this house by morning.” He turned and waved to her in dismissal. “You will be given no references and no pay. Good day, Mrs. Wilson.”
Reginald cheered. “Hooray! Can I get Mrs. Swenson again? She was really nice.”
Valeria didn’t stay to listen to any answer but climbed the stairs to the third-floor nursery and the room she shared with her six-year-old son, Dartanian. He was playing a card game with Susan, one of the maids who sometimes helped out in the nursery.
“Maman!” Dartanian dropped his cards as he jumped up and wrapped his arms around Valeria. She winced as she tried to wrap her left arm around his small body.
“Mrs. Wilson, are you injured?” Susan walked toward Valeria as Dartanian backed up and peered more closely at his mother.
“A little accident at the park.” Valeria fought back the tears.
“Let me help you.” Susan turned to Dartanian. “Could you go to the kitchen and get the basket of medical supplies there? And ask cook to send up some soup and willow bark tea for Mrs. Wilson.”
“Yes, Susan. Maman?” Dartanian’s eyebrows scrunched as he surveyed her torn dress and the cut on her cheek.
“I’ll be fine, Dartanian. You go ahead.” Valeria walked over to the bed and sat on the edge as Susan went to the wardrobe to find a clean dress.
“Hasn’t it been well over six months since your husband died? Why are you still in blacks?” Susan asked as she brought another plain frock over to the bed and assisted in helping Valeria disrobe.
“No money for new clothing and I’m not seeking a new husband. The blacks keep men at bay.” Valeria winced as she pulled her arm out of the sleeve.
“Or it makes you fair game. You realize what many widows do?” Susan set the torn dress aside and assisted getting the new on.
“I am not that kind of woman.” Valeria tucked her injured arm to her body and closed her eyes against the tears from the pain the whole process induced.
“Is Mr. Fishbottom aware of this?” Susan asked with a snort.
“The closest he’s come to propositioning me is with his eyes. I’ve been dismissed and will be out on the street tomorrow morning.”
Susan gasped.
“At least I will not need to worry about Mr. Fishbottom anymore.”
“They terminated you?”
Valeria nodded. “I humiliated them in front of the ton by rescuing their precious son from certain death.”
“Abominable.”
“I’ve endured worse.” Valeria turned as her precious son entered. He appeared so like his father that it pained her. She wished he’d inherited her light-colored hair instead of Damon’s dark coloring. She would have preferred to not have any reminders of the horrors of her marriage to the man, yet she adored her son. Of all the pain she’d endured in her marriage, he was the one blessing that resulted. And now she would do anything to keep him safe. Which meant trying to find new employment as soon as possible.
“Maman?” He came to the bed and handed the basket to Susan.
“Yes, mon enfant?” Valeria smiled at the face before her. He may appear like his father, but his temperament was totally his own and for that she was grateful.
“Are we leaving?”
Valeria nodded as she reached up with her left hand to ruffle his hair. “I’m afraid so, mon petit.”
Susan fashioned a sling to help with Valeria’s painful collarbone. “You need a doctor.” She cleaned and applied salve to the cut on her right cheek.
“I possess no funds for such. I am denied my wages as well.”
“And no references?”
“Naturellement, but of course.” Valeria shrugged and winced as she was reminded of her pain.
“He will proposition you.”
“I will refuse.”
“But where will you both go?” Susan packed up the supplies.
Valeria shook her head. “Je ne sais pas.”
“Maman?” Dartanian came to sit beside her. “God knows where we are to go next. We can trust Him.”
Valeria peered into her son’s shining brown eyes and wrapped her good arm around him drawing him to her side. “Oui, on peut. Yes, we can.” Her eyes met Susan’s and she could not help the sinking stone of dread in the pit of her stomach. What if He doesn’t?
2
Theo had a skip in his step the rest of the day. He had summoned his physician to attend to Mrs. Wilson at the Fishbottom residence and felt good about being able to do something nice for her. How el
se would he court a woman like her? She was obviously quality. He wondered what her history was. French blood from what he could tell, but that didn’t bother him. She obviously chose to live in England.
A note came around a few hours later from the doctor stating that he was denied access to Mrs. Wilson but had looked after a young man who was in good health.
Theo crumpled the note in frustration. Why would the Fishbottoms deny a servant medical care? Especially when they didn’t have to pay for it? Tomorrow he would find out.
~*~
Theo cheerfully made the rounds to the requisite balls he had been invited to. He danced with wallflowers while inwardly dreaming of the day when he would be able to dance with Mrs. Wilson. He wondered what her first name was. He was lost in his daydreaming when Phillip found him and handed him a lukewarm glass of lemonade.
“I never liked these events. Beth isn’t all that fond of them either, yet here we are.” Phillip sipped his drink and grimaced before setting it down on a nearby table.
“It is a tolerable evening. I am enjoying myself.” Theo scanned the ballroom. “Where is your lovely bride?”
Phillip pointed to the dance floor.
Theo spied the graceful redhead going through the motions of the minuet. “Does it ever bother you when other men dance with her?” Theo wondered aloud.
“It used to until I realized that I was the fortunate one to be able to take her home. They may share her on the dance floor, but when it comes to the bedroom, she’s all mine.” Phillip grinned and gave a wink to Theo. “That’s one of the perks of marriage.” He paused and frowned. “What was your decision on those horses?”
“I returned them. No sale. I could not in good conscience risk anything like this morning ever happening again.”
“Whatever happened with that young woman from this morning? Is she well?”
Theo shrugged. “I suspect a broken bone, but when I sent Dr. Morton to look in on her, the Fishbottoms refused to allow him access. I plan to visit tomorrow to ensure that she is recovering.”
“Let me know what you find out. I mentioned to Beth what happened this morning and she, of course, was concerned for the woman. If there are any problems with the Fishbottoms, Beth and I would gladly help out Mrs. Wilson.” Phillip put an arm on Theo’s shoulder and gave him a pat.
Theo nodded and grinned. “Thank you, Phillip.”
With that the men separated to claim their partners for the next dance.
~*~
Theo woke the next morning eager to get to the Fishbottoms’s residence. His breakfast was disturbed by his solicitor paying an unplanned for visit.
“Mr. Tanner, what brings you to my door this early in the morning?” Theo grinned. It irritated his solicitor that his wealthy clients often slept in until noon while solicitors began their work far earlier.
The elderly man turned red in the face, shoved his spectacles further up his nose, and disregarded the comment. “I want to discuss some changes in the market that affect your investments. I have some recommendations that would net you even more income.”
“Have a seat and we shall discuss that.” Theo motioned for the man to join him in his study and they spent the next hour in there negotiating the changes.
~*~
When Theo arrived at the Fishbottom residence it was much later in the day than he had anticipated. He knocked on the door and was met by the same starchy butler who’d opened it yesterday. He stepped into the door and handed the man his calling card. “Lord Harrow to see Mr. And Mrs. Fishbottom.”
The man looked at Theo and at the card and back again but did not move.
Theo raised his eyebrows. “I suggest you go and announce me to your master.” Theo removed his hat and set it on the table in the foyer.
The butler walked away and disappeared.
Theo waited a long time. Finally, he spied a maid walking into the hallway. “Excuse me. Would you be able to help me?”
The young woman was startled. “Have you been announced?”
“I doubt it. I have been waiting here for quite some time.”
“Who did you come to visit?”
“I requested an audience with Mr. Fishbottom. My real purpose in being here is to inquire as to the welfare of Mrs. Wilson.”
The maid put her hand over her mouth. “Are you Lord Harrow?”
Theo grinned. “She mentioned me?”
She nodded.
“How does Mrs. Wilson fare? I sent a physician to check on her yesterday, but he was denied access.” Theo scowled at this and the maid backed up a step. “I’m sorry. I am only concerned for her. She seemed to have some serious injuries.”
The maid nodded some more.
“Would I perchance be able to see her?”
The maid shook her head.
“Why?”
“Because she was dismissed, my lord. She left early this morning.”
“Dismissed? Why?”
“I was not privy to the conversation. I believe it had something to do with her embarrassing them among the aristocracy. They aspire to being one of you.”
“Embarrassed? Mrs. Wilson only did a noble act that should be rewarded, not punished. Where did she go?”
“I do not know, my lord. I pray for her. She had no family to turn to and they refused to pay her wages. I am worried about her in the city and injured at that.”
“She still suffers from her injuries?”
The maid nodded, and the servant’s eyes began to tear up.
“You were a good friend to her, I imagine.”
She curtsied. “Thank you, my lord. Would you like me to go announce you to my master?”
Theo glanced down the hallway and picked up his hat. “There is no need to bother them. I may say something I would later regret. I appreciate your assistance.” He put his hat on and let himself out the front door.
~*~
Valeria did not own much but with her injury and no place to go to, Susan agreed to hold on to her belongings until she found a place to stay. Valeria counted her savings but if they wanted to eat, they could not afford a hotel, unless she went to the meanest part of town. That would be a long walk and unsafe for her and Dartanian.
She opted to go to Hyde Park and sit beneath a tree so Dartanian could run around and play while she waited for God to reveal his next steps to her. A little like Hagar must have experienced when Sarai sent her away and she was in the desert with her son waiting to die. She laughed at her imagination.
They were not in a desert and due to cook’s generosity and forethought they possessed food that could last them for a few days if they were careful. If the weather held, perhaps they could sleep outside, hiding in some bushes. She really couldn’t figure out what other choice they would have.
She sat for a few hours there, watching the traffic and at times sitting with her son, reading from the Bible. Eventually he fell asleep with his head on her lap. Her legs were sore, but she was loathe to move with him finally resting. Her collarbone ached, and she still wore the makeshift sling. She leaned back against the tree she’d sat under for hours and closed her eyes for a moment.
~*~
“Mrs. Wilson? Is that you?” A male voice was close by and she fluttered her eyes open. She must have fallen asleep, the pain, exhaustion, and anxiety finally having taken hold of her body. She glanced up to see the tall, blond aristocrat from yesterday. Lord Harrow’s companion.
“Lord Westcombe, is it?” She gazed up at him and the woman by his side.
“I’m surprised you remember. This is my lovely bride, Lady Elizabeth Westcombe.” He turned to his wife. “Beth, this is Mrs. Wilson, the hero from yesterday.”
“Oh, I heard about your daring rescue. Is this the young man you saved from death?” She motioned to Dartanian, still sleeping.
“No. This is mon enfant, Dartanian. He was not with us at the time.”
“Did you gain the day off? It has turned out to be a fine day for a picnic.” Elizabeth smiled d
own at her. The woman’s red hair shimmered in the sunlight.
“In a manner of speaking.” Valeria kept her gaze averted. She hated lying but this was more of a distraction from the truth.
Lord Westcombe frowned as he took in the travel case sitting by her side. “You were dismissed?”
Mrs. Westcombe grabbed his arm. “No! That could not be. Phillip, no one would dismiss a servant who saved their child’s life.”
Lord Westcombe didn’t say anything, but Valeria could sense his penetrating gaze and finally looked up to meet his cool blue eyes. She sighed. “Apparently the Fishbottoms had no need to keep on an injured governess.” Valeria turned her gaze down to her son and gently touched his hair as he slept.
“You will come and work for us,” Lady Westcombe announced.
“Pardon?” Valeria startled at this pronouncement. “You do not know me. I possess no references and I have a child I need to keep with me.”
“None of that is a problem, is it, my lord?” She glanced up at her husband and gave him a brilliant smile. “After all, our child could use someone else to help provide care when I cannot, and it would be wonderful for him to grow up with a friend.”
“You are serious?” Valeria couldn’t believe this.
“We are. Let me go get my coach that is parked over by the gate. We will come and transport you to our home immediately.” Lord Westcombe gave his wife’s hand a squeeze before he walked back the way they’d come.
“After we get you settled in, we will call a physician to check out your injury.” Lady Westcombe smiled down at her. “I am thrilled I get to meet you, Mrs. Wilson. After Phillip and Theo told me the tale I realized you were a woman after my own heart. I am so pleased that we had the good fortune to come upon you before someone else obtained your services.”
Valeria couldn’t wrap her mind around this sudden change in her circumstances. Maybe God was watching over them after all.
~*~
Theo returned home from visiting the Fishbottoms and sat in his office filled with rage. Thoughts of revenge consumed him. Socially they were on the fringes and he could easily ensure they were shunned by society. He debated his options. Forget it, Theo, focus. Where could she be? How will you ever find her again? After a few hours of unproductive contemplation, he sought his club and ran into Phillip there.
Lord Harrow's Heart Page 2
