The Secrets of a Viscount

by Linda Rae Sande

  When Julia Harrington, daughter of the Earl of Mayfield, spotted him, she thought him too handsome to be a groom and decided to make him into a gentleman. She didn’t know his true identity—didn’t realize he was already a gentleman, given his status as the second son of an earl—so when Alistair agreed to be tutored in dance lessons and be fitted for clothing appropriate for Lady Mayfield’s ball, Julia had a project to keep her occupied. She never expected to fall in love with her student, and Adam was quiet sure Alistair never intended to take a wife when he was six-and-twenty. But he had—even claimed to be in love with Julia. And now he was the father of a baby boy, too!

  “I hear he is quite well regarded by those looking to buy a horse,” Diana said as a way to keep up her end of the conversation.

  “Aye. When I finally buy my own phaeton, I’ll have him pick out the horses for me,” Adam agreed. “Besides his work at the Harrington House stables, he’s a consultant at Tattersall’s,” he added. “Available for hire.” Although he would have made the comment with a hint of derision in the past, he decided he couldn’t begrudge his brother his success at finding his niche in life. It wasn’t as if Alistair would ever inherit the Aimsley earldom—Adam would gladly fill his father’s shoes when the time came, for he had been raised with an appreciation for politics and what it took to run an earldom.

  “Do you always travel by town coach?”

  The question had Adam blinking as he realized he’d been caught woolgathering just then. “I don’t, actually. I have my own horse. A bay. And you?”

  Diana shook her head. She rather doubted she could afford to keep a horse on her meager earnings. “There’s no mews at the school, so I usually just walk where I need to go.”

  This seemed to bother Adam. “Without benefit of a companion?” he replied, remembering she had been alone the day before yesterday when he had joined her outside of White’s.

  “I am old enough to walk by myself,” she replied curtly. Should she require protection, she knew who to go to for it. Whose name she could drop if required.

  “I shall escort you at night, of course,” Adam stated suddenly.

  Diana’s eyes widened. “I never go walking after dark. Not even with a link boy,” she claimed. She was quite sure the young boys who carried lanterns at night had arrangements with footpads so they could share in whatever gains could be made from a quick robbery.

  “I am relieved to hear it,” Adam replied just as the town coach came to a halt. He reached over and opened the door, stepping out and turning to offer her assistance. “When must I return you to Warwick’s?”

  His grip on her hand had Diana giving a start. She wondered if it would always be like this, his simple touch sending shivers of delight up her arm. And then she chided herself for thinking there would be much more to his attentions. Certainly he would grow bored of her. Realize he would require a daughter of the ton to be his viscountess. His one-day countess. And if he didn’t, what would he think when he learned the truth of her?

  Well, she rather doubted it would ever come to that.

  “Before dark, I should think,” she replied with an arched brow.

  Adam allowed a broad grin. “Touché.”

  Diana frowned suddenly. “I thought we were going shopping.”

  Taking the hand she had placed on his arm into one of his, Adam nodded. “We will, my love. But I think a walk in the park on such a fine day is called for.”

  They set off on the crushed granite path, one of Diana’s hands on his arm whilst she held her parasol aloft with the other. They spoke of everything and nothing and sometimes walked in silence. So when they were suddenly hidden from the rest of the world by hedgerows, they both stopped and regarded one another for a moment.

  “I’ve something to ask you,” Adam whispered, nervousness suddenly apparent in his manner.

  A sense of disappointment settled over Diana, although she chided herself for the reaction. She had expected he would decide against marriage and instead offer carte blanche. She had even thought that earlier this morning. So why did her chest suddenly hurt? Why did her breath catch in her throat, and her heart suddenly feel as if it was being crushed? Why did she feel as if...

  “Will you marry me?”

  Diana blinked and stared at Adam, unable to form a coherent response just then. This wasn’t the question she was expecting!

  “I know we’ve already agreed to marry, although I cannot help but think I forced you into it when we were in Jermyn Street,” he went on. “It was terribly unfair of me. To put you on the spot like that. Of course you would think me the worst bounder. But I wish to be your bounder. And only yours.” He reached into a waistcoat pocket and pulled out the gold ring he had retrieved from his mother, the ring his grandmother had insisted he give his bride.

  Diana’s gaze darted from the ring to his face and back to the ring. “Where... where did you get that?” she queried, her voice breathy. For a moment, she thought she might faint.

  “My grandmother. She told me I was to bestow it on the woman I was to marry,” he replied, reaching for one of her gloved hands. He used his free hand to pull first one and then another finger free of the glove. Then he tugged again until the garment came free of her hand. He slid the ring onto her fourth finger and then raised it to his lips to kiss it. “Will you be my wife, Diana? I promise I’ll let you do all the math. In fact, I may require it of you.” This last was said in an almost apologetic tone, as if he regretted having to make the request.

  His final words finally had Diana taking a breath, his attempt at humor bringing a grin to her face and clearing the gray from the edges of her vision. “Yes, yes, of course,” she replied with a nod.

  Their kiss might have lasted the rest of the afternoon, or perhaps just a moment. Diana had no sense of time passing, no sense of anything else in the world but just the two of them.

  When he wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her against the front of him, she rested a cheek against his shoulder and marveled at how her curves seemed to fill his voids. At how his hard body accepted her softer body.

  A kiss on her forehead had her raising her face to his. She regarded him with a wan smile. “Who will you tell first, do you suppose?”

  Adam took a deep breath, rather surprised by the query. “I told my mother Thursday night,” he replied in a hoarse whisper, his words quiet. “She seemed happy for me. Demanded that I bring you for dinner.” He paused a moment. “She and my father recently acquired a newspaper, although she claims she cannot tell me which one. It’s all very secret,” he said with some amusement. “She did let me know she would be including an article about us, though. And my sister recently returned from Switzerland, and while I thought she would be thinking of the Season and potential husbands, it turns out she’s already betrothed.”

  Diana heard the bit of surprise in his voice, as if he thought it odd that his sister might have beaten him to the altar. “Since she is your sister, you must be pleased for her,” she ventured even as she wondered which newspaper his mother might have acquired. And why.

  “I am, of course. I do think Cupid must be on a shooting spree, though, because my best friend told me he has decided to take a wife.”

  “Your best friend?” Diana repeated, wondering who that might be. He hadn’t made mention of the man while they were at Gunter’s.

  “Felix Turnbridge never ceases to amaze me,” Adam replied, his voice still quiet. “We were best mates growing up.” He paused a moment, thinking the two hadn’t been so close of late. Not since Felix had inherited the Fennington earldom and all the debts that went with it.

  Well, at least this marriage would help alleviate some of that debt. All the proceeds from the bet that required Adam to marry by thirty would be in Felix’s hands whenever their vows were said.

  “You don’t suppose your mother’s preoccupation is due to your sister’s acquisition of Lord Fennington as a husband?” Diana suggested with a lifted brow, the corners of her mouth
turned up in a teasing grin. When she saw how his brows suddenly furrowed and his face darkened, the grin disappeared. “I apologize. I thought you would approve...”

  Adam stared at her, his confusion apparent. “How is it you can suggest such an arrangement?” His mother had mentioned his sister was in love—was even betrothed—but she hadn’t said anything about Fennington being the groom! Christ! His sister had barely had her come-out. Felix hadn’t said a thing, although Adam hadn’t seen the man since...

  Just a few days ago.

  At White’s.

  But Felix hadn’t said a thing about marrying his sister!

  Diana wondered at Adam’s look of confusion, at how he seemed bothered by the suggestion that his sister might be betrothed to the Earl of Fennington. If the two were best friends, certainly he would find the match agreeable.

  Wouldn’t he?

  “I heard it mentioned at school yesterday,” she explained. “Apparently Lord Fennington was allowed to propose marriage after eight weeks of courting Lady Emelia.”

  Adam shook his head. Eight weeks? Emelia had only been back in England for a bit more than that, given her return from attending finishing school in Switzerland. “Damn him,” he murmured, not intending for Diana to overhear his curse. Given the dowry Felix would collect from marrying Emelia, the earl would no doubt be left debt-free. Debt-free and flush with funds to live a rather comfortable life. And yet Felix had implied that he was in need of the funds from the bet he would collect when Adam married.

  The cur!

  “I apologize. I didn’t mean to upset you...” Diana whispered.

  Adam hugged her harder. If what she said was true, he didn’t have to marry. Felix would do just fine without the money from the bet.

  Adam didn’t feel a bit of relief, though. In fact, he was more determined than ever to marry.

  He was quite sure he wanted to marry.

  He knew he wanted to.

  A new determination replacing the one he had felt earlier that morning, Adam kissed Diana with a fervor that took her by surprise, robbing her of breath and leaving her a bit light-headed. When he finally pulled away but left his forehead touching hers, he whispered, “I am quite sure I love you.”

  Diana swallowed, rather stunned by his words. She nodded, not sure what had just happened. “I am quite sure I may be in love with you as well,” she murmured, realizing she meant every word.

  His renewed kiss lasted far longer than any they had shared before. And it might have gone on longer except a drop of rain landed on Diana’s cheek.

  The splash had the two stepping back from one another, their startled expressions turning to laughter as Diana held up her parasol, and the two hurried off to the town coach.

  It was pouring by the time they were safely inside, their labored breaths soon turning to murmured promises and kisses to seal them.

  Chapter 24

  A Sunday by the Serpentine

  Sunday afternoon in Hyde Park

  Elise inhaled slowly, her face lifting to regard the puffy clouds directly overhead. Although she held an open parasol, she didn’t hold it over her head as she regarded the late spring sky. She rather hoped she would find a sign from above, an indication of whether what she was planning was right or wrong. Good or bad.

  “May I be allowed to say you’re a vision on this fine morning?”

  Whirling around to find Godfrey regarding her from a few feet away, Elise allowed a wan smile. “I certainly don’t feel like one.”

  Godfrey’s top hat was suddenly in one hand as he afforded her a deep bow. He hurried up to join her as she dipped a quick curtsy. She placed a hand on his proffered arm, and he bussed her on the cheek.

  “Pray tell, what has you bothered? I do hope you’re not having second thoughts,” he countered, one brow furrowing in concern. He certainly hoped she hadn’t changed her mind about marrying him. Having pulled some strings, he had been able to secure an appointment on the morrow with a bishop about a special license and had arranged a time to be married on Tuesday morning in St. George’s.

  It was amazing what was possible on a Saturday if one was persistent.

  And had some blunt.

  Elise gave a slight shrug as they walked the crushed granite path through Hyde Park. She had entered the park from the northern gate closest to South Audley Street, walking alone for nearly a half-hour knowing that Godfrey would join her at some point near the Serpentine. Given how quickly he had found her, she wondered if he had been following her from the time she left her townhouse. “Are you quite sure about this? About us?” she finally responded.

  Attempting to swallow the sudden lump that had developed at the back of his throat, Godfrey found it difficult to speak. “You are having second thoughts.”

  “And third and fourth and... oh, Godfrey. I am honored you still hold me in such high regard. That you still claim to want my hand in marriage. But it’s been years...”

  “Only about twenty,” he countered quickly, pausing to face her. From the manner in which he said the words, twenty years might have only been twenty days.

  Elise boggled. “You’re a bounder,” she accused, although she managed a grin.

  “I am not. I merely know my own mind,” he replied, a bit hurt by her rejoinder. “And my heart.”

  Staring at him a moment, Elise realized he believed every word he said. He believed they would simply pick up where they left off before she was forced to marry Lancaster. As if the intervening years had never happened. Never left their scars or their life lessons on either of them.

  If she married him, what would happen after a few days or weeks? When his vision of her changed to see the reality of how she was now? Would Godfrey still find her appealing? Still find her desirable? Still think of her as a vision?

  She rather thought not. She wasn’t a chit fresh out of the schoolroom. An innocent who believed in true love. Too much had happened during those years with Lancaster. Her heart hardened and her distrust of men having made her a bit of a cynic, she no longer believed in it.

  Or in destiny.

  “I envy you,” she murmured as she turned to resume their walk.

  Godfrey frowned. “Because I know my own mind? I rather think you are well in possession of your own.” He fell silent for a moment before adding, “What does it tell you to do?”

  Elise sighed. “Run away. Stay. Travel. Marry and have babies...” She inhaled sharply as tears collected in the corners of her eyes.

  “What does your heart tell you to do?”

  Aware that his other hand had come to rest atop the gloved hand she had placed on his arm, Elise dropped her gaze to it. Such a large hand, it completely covered hers. She thought of the protection he would provide, a different sort than what her brother claimed to offer. She thought of the kiss they had shared and the sensations it had stirred in her. Of his misperceptions of how she had lived her life and her misperceptions of his.

  She had to admit to a bit of jealousy at thinking of Godfrey with another woman. Any woman.

  No woman would be good enough for Godfrey Thorncastle. He was a fine man. A gentleman of impeccable manners and grace. Of infinite patience and kindness. He honored her with his lifelong affection, and yet, she couldn’t bring herself to accept him without reservation.

  The thought brought her up short.

  “I don’t believe I am worthy of you,” she murmured, the tears finally dripping from her eyes. She wasn’t even aware of them at first, at least not until Godfrey suddenly stopped and pulled a handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket. He pressed it to her cheek.

  “And here I was afraid I wasn’t worthy of you,” he murmured as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. The need to comfort Elise overruled any thought of propriety—although there were no signs of anyone else in this part of the park, someone could come upon them at any moment. And if they did? What was the worst that could happen?

  He would be forced to marry the woman he loved. I sho
uld have done this years ago, he considered as he moved his other arm around her waist.

  Elise didn’t resist his hold, but instead allowed a sigh as he embraced her. Rather glad she had opted to wear the smaller straw hat with an upturned brim and short feather instead of the larger bonnet festooned with flowers, she now wondered if the single feather was tickling his face. She angled her face to look up at him, but before she could put voice to any query, his lips were suddenly on hers.

  His kiss, barely there and rather tentative at first, might have ended when she moved to face him more squarely. But he tightened his hold on her and deepened the kiss. A moment passed—or perhaps it was several—before a slight moan emanated from the back of her throat and he suddenly pulled away.

  “I apologize,” he whispered, giving his head a quick shake. He glanced around them as if he had just then realized they were out in the open, barely hidden by the trunk of a tree and a hedgerow. Although there were distant sounds of children and their nurses close to the water’s edge, no one paid witness to their clinch.

  “Don’t you dare,” Elise countered in a hoarse whisper, a bit shocked at how her body responded to his hold on her. Her breasts felt swollen behind her stays, the space between her thighs throbbing with need. The sensations were foreign to her, as if parts of her body were awakening for the first time in her life. “Don’t,” she repeated in a softer whisper.

  Godfrey allowed a slight grin, heartened to hear her words and to see tears no longer brightened her eyes. Emboldened, he resumed the kiss, pulling her tighter when one of her hands reached up to rest against his cravat. Her fingertips delved into the hair just beneath his top hat, separating the slight waves and sending delightful skitters through his scalp.