* * *
Why will he not speak? Luke leaned against the outer wall of the outbuilding, letting the sunlight bathe his sweat-soaked face. They had spent the better part of two hours trying to gain some information from the wretched brute, but his lips were sealed shut. No matter what tools they used, or how vehemently they threatened him, the fellow simply would not speak.
“We should return this afternoon, to try again.” Edmund wiped his forehead on the back of his shirt sleeve. In truth, Luke had been somewhat surprised by Edmund’s ferocity within the outbuilding. Neither of them were skilled interrogators, but even Luke had balked at some of the things that Edmund had said and done. It looked as though quiet, dutiful Edmund had a few shades of darkness within him, after all.
“I believe he is frightened of you, Brother,” Luke said. As I would be, in his position. Edmund’s actions had made Luke observe him in a slightly different light, inspiring a sense of newfound admiration and respect. He had always though Edmund to be a by-the-book, never-stepping-over-the line gentleman, but his behavior with the highwayman suggested otherwise. Finally, he had caught a glimpse of the soldier Edmund had once been. Tough and ruthless.
“He should be,” Edmund replied. “It is the only way we will be able to garner the information we require, to put their tyranny to rest, once and for all.”
“I could not agree more, Brother.” Luke cast Edmund a grin. “Now, what would you say to some tea, to refresh ourselves? I feel as though I have just completed a day-long hunt.”
Edmund laughed. “Me, too. Come, let us go inside. Mother and Father will likely be awake by now, and I imagine we have some explaining to do, concerning our absence last night.”
Luke pulled a grim face. “Ah yes, I had forgotten about that. Do you think they will be cross?”
“I think they will be disappointed, though I believe they will understand once we explain our reasoning.” Edmund paused. “Although, perhaps it would be wise if we kept talk of our race out of the account.”
Luke nodded. “I was just about to suggest the very same thing.”
“And you promise you did not behave uncouthly towards Miss Dowels, when you parted from me last night?” Edmund held Luke’s gaze, his voice suddenly stern.
“I promise,” Luke lied. If he closed his eyes and thought of her, he could still picture her shapely curves, and imagine the taste of her upon his lips.
“Very well.” Edmund sighed. “But please, Brother, ensure that you do not behave badly. It would break our mother’s heart. You may be the second son of our family, but that does not mean you are exempt from the restrictions and expectations that rest upon my shoulders. Mother will want you to marry well, and as delightful as Miss Dowels is, she is not a suitable match.”
“I have been nothing but courteous, Brother. I intended only to comfort Miss Dowels. You are the one who jumped to conclusions, when you witnessed us in the dining room. I meant no foul play, and I exacted none. I was simply trying to see her cheered, after Mother turned her away from the ball.” It still irked Luke that his mother had done that, for it seemed so very cruel.
Edmund nodded. “If you say that is what happened, then I will believe you. But I hope you understand my concerns?”
“You do not want to see any embarrassment brought to our family. I understand,” Luke replied brusquely. Although, how could someone as wondrous as Teresa ever be an embarrassment?
“Then let us go inside.” Edmund took the lead, with Luke following after. As he walked, he glanced back at the outbuilding. We will discover your secrets—you may rely on that.
* * *
“What is the meaning of this?” Louisa brandished the morning’s newspaper in her eldest sons’ faces. She had just come down to breakfast when the headline had caught her eye, inciting panic in her breast.
Luke frowned as he read over the page. “How can this be?”
“It looks as though someone revealed what happened to the papers,” Edmund replied, with a sigh. “I suppose it was inevitable.”
Felicity, who was sitting at her mother’s side, gave a scathing roll of her eyes. “Must you always be so dramatic, Mama? Surely, it is a comfort to the people, to know that one of these wretches has been apprehended. It will give people peace of mind.”
“As if you would know anything of the people, Felicity,” Louisa retorted. As she had grown from childhood into womanhood, Felicity had only become more strong-willed, choosing to keep away from her family at every possible opportunity. Yet now she chooses to speak, on a subject she has no understanding of?
“I know that it was all anyone could speak of last night,” Felicity said, her tone matter-of-fact. “They are afraid, Mama, and this will lessen that fear. You should be congratulating whomever revealed this information, rather than spurning them.”
“That is quite enough from you,” Louisa snapped. “That is quite enough from all of you. It is bad enough that I had to make excuses for the two of you at my own anniversary ball, when you disappeared without a trace. And then I discover that you were gallivanting through the fields, capturing highwaymen! What if one of you had been killed? I would not have known until I read it in the papers.”
“I imagine they would rather have died than been matched with any of the ladies in attendance.” Felicity snickered. “I have never seen a gaudier gathering of chattering peacocks in all my days. And the way they fawned over the idea of an engagement to my brothers—why, it was laughable, Mama. Not a single one of them would have been suitable, and you are sorely mistaken if you believe otherwise.”
“That is by-the-by, Felicity, and I would appreciate it if you would keep your outlandish opinions to yourself.” Louisa’s cheeks burned with fury. “Just because those fine young ladies prefer the idea of marriage to a lifetime of spinsterhood, and enjoy more suitable pastimes than having their noses forever buried in a book, that does not mean you are permitted to cast aspersions on their nature. There were several genteel creatures amongst them, not that it matters now. They were quite disappointed when your brothers vanished. Very disappointed indeed.”
“Then it looks as though the highwaymen did you both a great favor, Brothers.” Felicity cast a conspiratorial glance at Luke and Edmund, the former stifling a chuckle.
“Enough!” Louisa snapped. “I will not have this sort of behavior in my household. In future, you will inform me of any dangerous endeavors, even if it is for the benefit of the estate.”
“We are sorry, Mother.” Edmund spoke first. Oh my sweet boy. She did not blame Edmund for this, as she knew Luke would have played the greater part. He had always been reckless, where Edmund had been logical, and though she was secretly pleased that they were working together in a strange sort of harmony, she did not like to think that Edmund was being led astray by his brother.
“Yes, Mother, you have our sincerest apologies.” Luke smiled at her, melting her heart. As reckless as he might have been, he had a way of winning her over, without fail. “There was little time to inform you of our plans. If we had not acted in the moment, we might have lost this opportunity.”
Louisa huffed out a sigh. “And where is this wretch now? I trust you have called upon the local constables?”
Luke and Edmund exchanged a concerning glance. “Not quite, Mother,” Edmund replied. “We are seeking to gain information from him before we give him to Father and the other magistrates. He will be away from the estate as soon as possible, though, I promise you that.”
Louisa shook her head. “You two will be the death of me. You realize that, do you not?”
Luke walked to her and kissed her gently on the cheek. “We are doing this for you, Mother. So that you may have all the balls you please, without fearing that your guests will be accosted upon the road. Give us a few more days, and we will see to it that this is resolved.”
“Please do, or I shall call upon the constables myself,” Louisa replied. As dearly as she loved her sons, she did not care to know that there w
as a known criminal within the grounds of her home. Indeed, it was a fortunate thing that their father was not here to listen to this, otherwise there would be severe trouble.
“Thank you, Mother.” Luke smiled down at her, making her firm resolve crumble.
“Just… be careful,” she said quietly. For she did not know what she would do if she lost either of them. Her children had always been her shining light, her sole purpose for being, and if any one of them were snatched away from her, she knew she would fall to pieces. Already, she had given up so much for them… though they did not know that. And she prayed they never would.
A mother’s struggle was a secret, private entity, and if hers were ever to come to light, she knew it would take on a life of its own, becoming something vast and terrible that she would have no control over. And it would break all of her children’s hearts, as well as her own.
Chapter 16
Eager to escape the household, after accidentally eavesdropping on the heated conversation that had taken place in the dining room, Teresa gathered the children and took them out into the gardens. It was a fine day, the sunshine warm upon her face, the laughter of the children allowing her to forget the events of the previous night.
She did not wish to forget it entirely, but there was a certain embarrassment that had come with the dawn. Have I sinned? Back home, she had heard so many cautionary tales of young ladies who had allowed themselves to be wooed by fine gentlemen, resulting in an unwanted child and no sign of said gentleman.
But I did not join with him, as they did, she reminded herself. As long as she refrained from that, no matter how intoxicating his breath and his kiss might have been, then she would be safe from that unfortunate conclusion.
It still made her shiver with delight, as she retraced each kiss, and the delicate caress of his hands.
“Miss Dowels?” A voice made her head snap around, her cheeks flushing with heat. I pray he does not see the sin written upon my face. Lord Harpington was approaching, his arms behind his back, looking very elegant in the day’s glow.
She sketched a curtsey. “Lord Harpington, my apologies, I did not see you there.”
“I have startled you?”
“A little, My Lord.” She gave a shy smile, her insides squirming. Surely, he would be able to see her mortification and suspect the reason for it?
“I am sorry to have alarmed you.” His tone was oddly soft, his manner gentle. In all her time here, she had rarely spent a moment in Lord Harpington’s company. Indeed, she wondered if she ought to have a chaperone present, but she supposed that, being an employee of the house, it did not matter too much.
“I was enjoying this fine day,” she said.
He nodded. “It is beautiful.”
“I hear you were successful in apprehending one of the highwaymen?”
“Yes, though it seems to have caused quite the stir.” He chuckled drily. “Actually, that is partially why I have sought you out, Miss Dowels.”
Oh dear… “It is, My Lord?”
“Yes, I hoped I might speak with you, and make sure you were feeling better after yesterday’s debacle at the ball?” He fell in step with her as they walked through the gardens, the children playing obliviously up ahead. “I am sorry that you were treated in such a way, by both my mother and my brother, albeit differently.”
“It is nothing, My Lord. I have already forgotten it,” she lied.
“My mother should have awarded you more courtesy, though it is my firm belief that she turned you away because you would have outshone the rest of the young ladies in attendance.” He did not look at her as he said so, piquing her curiosity. “As for my brother, he has been an impulsive creature all his life. If he made you feel uncomfortable, or made you feel trapped, then I must apologize on his behalf.”
Teresa smiled. “You are too kind, My Lord. Although, I cannot agree with you in regards to the other young ladies at the ball. What is a caterpillar as compared to a butterfly?”
“Rest assured, Miss Dowels, you were the only butterfly,” he replied, surprising her. Why was he speaking so kindly to her? He had made his opinion about admiring lesser women fully known last night, and yet he appeared to be complimenting her. It was a very strange turn of events.
“Then we must agree to disagree.”
Lord Harpington chuckled. “Modest, too. I admire that in a lady.”
“I speak only the truth,” she insisted. Aside from your belief that I did not welcome Luke’s affections.
“The change in my youngest siblings has been remarkable, Miss Dowels, and I should hate for you to have your position jeopardized because of my brother’s immature nature.” He paused, turning to her. “I wished to give you my assurance that I will not tell a soul of what I saw, even though I am not entirely certain of what I did see. You are a sensible young lady, Miss Dowels, and I know that you were not responsible.”
“Thank you, My Lord.” But I did not reject his advances… indeed, I welcomed them. Well, that would have to be their little secret—hers and Luke’s.
“But I would ask that you be cautious around my brother. He has been indulged his entire life, and believes he is owed whatever takes his fancy. If you allow yourself to be taken in by him, then it will only cause you harm. And I do not want to see you brought to harm, Miss Dowels.” Lord Harpington gazed at the children. “Nor would I see your heart broken by him.”
Teresa nodded slowly. “You have nothing to be concerned about, My Lord. I know my place, and I will not entertain anything that would cause my heart to break or my honor to be brought into ill-repute.” It was the truth, for despite Lord Harpington’s words, Teresa knew that Luke did not intend to wound her. He had confessed his affections, and she believed them with all her heart.
“It pleases me to hear that.”
“Might I speak frankly with you, My Lord?” Her nerves jangled, for she did not know how Lord Harpington might take well-meant advice.
“Of course, Miss Dowels.”
“I have witnessed a competitive divide between yourself and Lord Luke, and I have reason to believe that it stems from a misguided understanding—Lord Luke thinks you do not care for him.” She paused to gauge Lord Harpington’s expression, but it remained blank. “Perhaps, it might be worthwhile to assure him that you do, for I know that you do. I have seen a warmth in your eyes when you glance at him, though he does not see it.”
Lord Harpington gave a quiet laugh. “Then, maybe we are both harboring a misguided understanding of our relationship. You see, I have always believed that my brother does not care for me. He thinks me stuffy and dull, because I heed my duties in a way that he does not.”
Teresa smiled. “Maybe he simply needs the right guidance? I am certain he cares for you, too. You are brothers, after all, and there is no bond as strong as that of family.”
“Do you have family, Miss Dowels?”
She shook her head. “No, not anymore.”
“I am sorry for that.”
“As am I,” she replied. She did not know why she was being so honest with him, but she found no reason to lie. Her past was her past, and nothing could bring her mother and father back from the dead. The details surrounding their loss was her secret cross to bear, but that did not mean she could not tell others that they were gone.
“You are a remarkable young lady, Miss Dowels. I know that we may never replace the family that you have lost, but I hope you will come to feel as though the Manor is your home,” he said. “It is why I would be loath to see you cast out, because of my brother. I will protect you as best I can, but you must keep your wits about you.”
“Thank you, My Lord.” I need no protection from Luke.
“It is my pleasure, Miss Dowels. Now, I will leave you to your day. I have taken enough of your time as it is. And, as I have said, rest assured that I will protect your position here, to the best of my ability.” He gave a small bow, before turning on his heel and leaving her in a state of abject confusion. Where h
ad this come from? Why was he offering her protection?
As she glanced back at the children, a nagging doubt began to gnaw away at the back of her mind. What if Luke was not as honest as he seemed? What if she was merely another plaything, to be used and disposed of? No… he is not that kind of gentleman. She felt sure of it, and yet the fear remained as she went to the children. If she was wrong, she stood to lose everything.
* * *
Weary from yet another fruitless interrogation with the highwayman, Luke sought Teresa out. The brothers had tried to get him to speak all afternoon and well into the evening. And now, the sun had set, and they had still made no progress with the vile wretch.
With the rest of his family safely ensconced in the drawing room, enjoying a peaceful evening, Luke approached the door to Teresa’s bedchamber. He knocked lightly, his pulse quickening at the prospect of her beautiful face.
An Untamed Governess For The Rogue (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 13
