“A footman took him inside through the kitchen. He didn’t see anything,” he assured her. “Let me get you a glass of sherry. It might help calm you.”
She nodded and started to sit up on the gold damask settee. Gabriel offered his hand and helped her before walking across the room to a sideboard containing crystal decanters. He began to pick the sherry up, but was interrupted.
“Whiskey,” Savannah whispered loudly.
He arched a brow and smiled before turning back around to pour her a finger of whiskey. He passed it to her and watched as she took a swallow.
“Aren’t you going to join me?”
“No, not right now,” he replied.
Gabriel snarled as Mortimer and Lady Dorset burst into the room, the poor footman looking apologetic.
“We came to see if Mrs. Dawson has recovered,” Lady Dorset said smugly.
“I’m fine,” Savannah murmured, staring at her husband’s cousin. “Mr. Dawson merely caught me off guard. I didn’t know you were to visit, sir.”
Mortimer smiled warmly. “It was last-minute. I wrote Lady Dorset and told her I was in England for a short time and should like to visit.”
Gabriel cocked a brow at the man. “So you don’t actually live in England?”
“No. I work for the Crown in India. They send me home every couple of years or so, and this is the time.”
Though he wanted to know more about what the man actually did for the crown, now was not the time. Obviously, he was here to stay—at least for a few days.
“How long have you lived there?” Gabriel asked.
“Almost six years. This is my first time back,” he replied. He looked at Gabriel curiously. “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Gabriel Armstrong, Duke of Clevedon,” he said sharply.
The man nodded before turning to Savannah. “Lady Dorset had, of course, told me about Roland and Timothy. You have my deepest condolences, Mrs. Dawson.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve been in England some time. Why is it you’ve just now come to visit?” Gabriel asked.
“I had business matters I had to attend to before I could break away from London.”
Gabriel was curious as to what sort of business the man might have, since he seriously doubted any matters involving his job would be take place near the park, which was where Savannah had seen him.
He would contact Parr. He was still in London, and he could have the runners they’d hired look into this man’s comings and goings since arriving back in England. Something about what he told him didn’t ring right with him. There was something about him that set Gabriel on edge.
Savannah rose from the settee, and immediately he went to her side, concerned she wasn’t fully recovered from her shock.
“If you all would excuse me, I believe I’d like to lie down for a while.”
“Of course,” Mortimer replied.
“I think that would be best. Should I still send my carriage for you?”
She nodded, but as usual, Lady Dorset had something to say. “I’m sorry, Your Grace, but Mrs. Dawson really can’t abandon our guest on his first evening. Perhaps you’d care to join us, Your Grace?”
He gave Mortimer a short bow. “I would indeed. I will enjoy hearing your stories about India.”
Savannah smiled at him as though trying to apologize for their plans taking a sudden turn. “Then I look forward to seeing you this evening, Your Grace.”
She nodded at the dowager countess and the interloper before leaving the room. He noticed she tried not to spend too much time staring at Dawson, imagining seeing someone who so closely resembled her late husband had to be unnerving. He wondered how the dowager countess felt about it, but then she had changed since losing both her sons, and he hadn’t decided if it were for the better or not.
“Tea, Your Grace?” he heard the dowager countess ask from across the room.
He turned to face her. She watched him intently. “Thank you, but I must decline this time. I have some matters requiring my attention at home. I’ll see you this evening.”
He nodded in Dawson’s direction before quitting the room. The important matter he needed to attend to was writing a letter to Parr and sending it to London. Between Parr, the Bow Street runners, and his contacts through Parliament, he would find out exactly who this Dawson fellow was and what he was up to.
* * *
Savannah was relieved when dinner was finished later that evening. Dinner had been a lively affair, filled mainly with Mortimer telling stories of his time in India. Some of it had fascinated her, while other stories he told made her grateful she lived in such a civilized country.
Questions had come to her since meeting her late husband’s cousin, someone he never bothered to mention by name in the entire time they’d been together. She found that fact interesting, thinking there must be a story behind it.
While the men took their port and cigars in the dining room, Savannah thought to ask some questions about Mortimer as she and Lady Dorset had their tea.
“Don’t you find Mortimer fascinating? All the places and things he’s seen while in India amaze me,” the older woman gushed. She accepted a cup of tea from Savannah as she wanted to break her daughter-in-law of the bad habits Americans had in regard to tea.
“I’m not sure fascinating is how I would describe him. He certainly likes to throw names about and mention how important he is to the Crown.”
“You must learn to ignore certain aspects of Mortimer’s personality, my dear. He’s always been a bit eccentric.”
Savannah arched a brow in the woman’s direction. “You know what I find interesting?”
Lady Dorset sighed. “What, my dear?”
“That Roland never, in the entire time we were together, ever mention he even had a cousin named Mortimer. Why would he omit that?”
“I’m sure being that far away from home, it merely slipped Roland’s mind. I mean, what were the chances you two would ever meet?”
She wasn’t convinced, and she was certain Gabriel wasn’t either. Since the man favored Roland so much, there was no room to believe he could be an imposter. So what was his true story?
Savannah took a sip of tea and put the cup down on the table beside her. “I also didn’t know that your husband had a brother. Roland never mentioned his uncle either.”
Lady Dorset waved her hand. “Roland was always disillusioned by the reality of our family, and he wasn’t content with his role either.”
“You mean his role as second son, the one who was the spare heir in case the earl never had children of his own.”
“Correct.” Her answer was curt.
“He never gave me the impression of wanting the earldom. It was part of the reason he came to America. To strike out on his own.”
“Well, I could never see Roland joining the clergy or military. He didn’t have the stomach for either.”
“I have to agree with you there,” Savannah replied.
The older woman apparently decided she was tired of talking about her husband’s family, because she made an abrupt change to the course of their conversation. Savannah wondered if Gabriel was having any more luck than she was in the dining room.
“How was your little picnic with young Vincent and the duke?”
“How did you know we had a picnic?”
“The duke is far too caring and generous. He would never invite you along without one, else he and Vincent could have gone alone.”
“Lady Dorset, your imagination is running wild tonight.”
She shook her head. “No, not at all. I know all about your clandestine rendezvous at the tower. You went there for one purpose in mind. To make the duke your lover.”
Savannah was astounded. How had she even known about this? It would have taken planning to know where and when the meeting was to take place. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
“What the duke and I do is none of your affair, mada
m.”
Lady Dorset grimaced. “It is if it concerns my grandson.”
“Madam, it is time for you to move into the dower house. I’ve been putting off having this conversation hoping you and I would at least find some middle ground, but you leave me no choice. Tomorrow, the house will be opened and made ready for you. I expect you to move out by week’s end.” Savannah was shaking, and she couldn’t let Lady Dorset see that. She refused to be intimidated and mocked by this woman.
“I’m afraid you have no authority.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. As the earl’s mother, I may act on his behalf.”
“The duke will never allow it.”
“He oversees Vincent’s transition and education so that when he’s grown, he’ll be the best earl.” Lady Dorset began to speak, but Savannah continued. “I also know the duke oversees the earldom’s affairs, making sure the estates and other interests continue to grow and thrive.”
“It’s going to take more than the command of some gel like you for me to move into that house.”
Savannah shook her head. “You can make this easy, or you can make this hard. Either way, you’re moving into the dower house. The one in London will be readied for you as well.”
Lady Dorset rose from her chair and peered down at Savannah. “We’ll just see about that.” She began to walk out of the room in a huff just as the gentlemen returned from their port and cigars.
“Lady Dorset, would you care to play a game or two of whist?” Gabriel politely asked her.
She shook her head and sniffed. “I’m afraid I’ve developed a headache. I think I should retire for the night. Good night, Your Grace.”
“Madam,” he replied and bowed, watching her leave without a word.
He glanced at Savannah, who said nothing and tried to keep her upset with Lady Dorset from her expression. She would tell him of her conversation later, when Mortimer wasn’t there to overhear. He must have felt as though he were intruding.
“It’s been a long day for me as well. I believe I’ll retire,” Mortimer said. He turned to Savannah. “Mrs. Dawson. I look forward to hearing more about America. I’ve always found it a fascinating place, somewhere I hope to someday visit.”
He bid Gabriel good night before quitting the room. Once the door closed behind him, Savannah breathed a sigh of relief.
“I sensed things were a bit tense between you and Lady Dorset?”
“You have no idea. She has been informed that both dower houses here and in London are being opened and made ready for her.”
He smiled wickedly. “I take it she didn’t approve?”
“You’re being far too nice, Gabriel. She’s refused to move.”
She told him about the conversation the two had had earlier as Gabriel sat next to her on a settee and listened. He was having fun with this. Too much. Gabriel leaned over and kissed her on the neck.
“Gabriel, please. She has spies among the staff everywhere. She knows everywhere I go and what I do.”
He sat up, eyebrow arched, his entire facial expression changed. “All the more reason for her to move out.”
“That won’t put an end to it if she has servants spying for her. They’ll still do it regardless of whether she lives here or not.”
“I’ll put an end to it—that is if you’d like for me to speak with Higgins. I’m sure he knows who among the staff might be more likely to do the dowager countess’s bidding.”
“Can you?”
He nodded. “Of course I can. With my connection to Vincent, I certainly can. He’s my charge and under my protection, as are you.”
Savannah smiled demurely. “I was hoping you’d be able to handle this. I still feel like an outsider.”
“You’re not, and once Lady Dorset is moved into the dower house, you’ll have better control of the household. She’s been in charge far too long, and with you here, she knew it was just a matter of time before that was taken away from her.”
“Thank you, Gabriel.”
“You might also give some thought to sending Vincent to a boarding school in the autumn. I can make some inquiries if you like.”
“But I thought we would wait at least a year?”
He patted her hand. “We can, but with the countess’s anger over being forced out of the house, it might be best to move Vincent away from it.”
Savannah shook her head. “Sending him to school might be just what she wants. He wouldn’t be here, and it would be harder for me to keep track of who visits him. There must be another way.”
“There is.”
“What? Please tell me, Gabriel.”
“I need some time to work everything out. We’ll talk about it another time.”
She knew exactly what he was trying to tell her without saying it out loud. If there were spies among the staff, sitting there in the drawing room was not the perfect place to have personal conversations.
“As you wish.”
“Since we have no one to play cards with us, would you care for a game or two of cribbage?”
“I don’t know. I’m not that good at it.”
“Practice makes perfect,” he replied with another of his smiles.
“Very well. Let me get it. We’ll use that table,” she said, pointing at a small square oak table on the far side of the room.
“I’ll pour us a sherry.”
She laughed at his suggestion, knowing he detested sherry. She knew this not because he’d told her, but because of the face he made whenever he consumed a glass. “I know you’re not fond of sherry. Pour us a brandy. I believe you’ll find a decanter on the sideboard with the others.”
“I didn’t know I was that obvious.”
“Oh yes, it’s quite obvious you’re not fond of it.”
She found the cribbage board in a drawer near the table they were planning on using. Setting it down on the table, she lowered herself to the chair and waited for Gabriel to bring the brandy. She watched him and smiled to herself. His face appeared rough, as though he needed a shave, and a rather large lock of hair had fallen down on his brow. He made no attempt to move it out of the way. Secretly, she wished he’d remove his jacket so she could admire his forearms if he rolled up his sleeves.
He brought two snifters across the room with him and set one in front of her, the other across from here, where he sat and settled in.
“So what did you think of your husband’s cousin, Mortimer?”
“I cannot be sure. You men tend to act one way around women. I just felt he was being polite and observing everyone.”
“Hmm, I believe you’re right. I thought he was a little out of line with some of the questions he asked while we were having our port. Then again, I suppose he’s trying to be polite and catch up on family.”
Savannah picked up her snifter and swirled the amber liquid. “I’m curious as to why now. Why, after all these years, he’s taking a sudden interest in family.”
“I thought the same thing, and I will still have him checked out.”
They played several lively games of cribbage before Gabriel noted the late hour. “I should be leaving. It’s late.”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Especially this part.”
He reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through that with the countess. She is known for being blunt.”
“I survived. Now that I’ve asked her to move into the dower house, I’m afraid she’s going to be more difficult than usual.”
“Remember I’m here if you need me.”
She graced him with a smile. “I know, and I appreciate it. Really, I do.”
“I’d best go. It’s late.”
He leaned in and kissed her gently. She kissed him back. She laughed softly in the back of her throat as the kiss continued.
He growled and lifted her off her feet. They stumbled against the wall, entwined and breathless as he pressed her body against him. She broke the kiss and laid her head on his shoulder. He
aven. She had found heaven when she was least searching for it.
Chapter Twenty
Savannah was tending a bed of roses in the garden outside the drawing room. She’d always loved gardening in America and needed to find an outlet here. She promised the horrified gardener she would confine her skills to this one bed, and if he found her work unsatisfactory to tell her, and she would stop.
The late-morning weather was perfect for being outside. It hadn’t gotten too hot, and there was a breeze that would pop up now and then.
She was pruning dead blooms off a bush when Mortimer approached her. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her late husband’s cousin; it was simply that she couldn’t look at him without seeing Roland.
“I’m surprised to see you outside digging in the dirt,” he said, stopping to admire another bush.
“Why should it surprise you? Many women are quite good at it.”
He smiled. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“If you must know, I had to promise the gardener I wouldn’t venture past this one bed. Poor man seemed horrified I would get my hands dirty.”
He nodded. “I’m sure he’s not used to ladies in his domain,” he replied. “The reason I’ve come and sought you out is I wanted to see if you might be interested in riding into the village with me. There are some things I need to purchase, and I could use the company.”
“I’m afraid I’ve already made plans.” She studied him for a moment. She planned to ride to the castle. She had voiced her interest in touring an actual castle, and Gabriel had been amendable to showing her around. She planned to ride rather than having a carriage prepared and second, she thought it was no one’s business where she went.
“Another time, then,” he said, obviously disappointed.
She smiled and cut off the dead bloom. “I’m sure you’ll find the village to your liking.”
“No doubt I will. I haven’t been since I was a child, and it’s changed little since then.”
She arched a brow. She was curious about his background. “Did you live close by?”
He shook his head. “No, we lived two villages over. During the summer, however, my parents would let me spend a fortnight, sometimes more, with Roland and Timothy as I had no siblings.”
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