The Baroness Affair

by Jean Wilde

  “Yes,” Horatio continued with a grimace. “I’m afraid she wants to come and stay with us for a few weeks before heading off to Bath to meet friends.”

  Caroline groaned, releasing Horatio’s hand. “You know she’ll stay longer than that. The minute your mother sees we’ve started the repairs, she’ll want to oversee everything. You know how she is! Your papa was a kind, thoughtful gentleman who always treated me with respect and affection, but your mama…she tries to overrule me at every turn. You remember what it was like every time I wanted to make a change in the house. This is my home, Hori, and I won’t allow her to undermine me or my hard-won authority.”

  “I’ve told her that,” he hurried to reassure her. “I’ve made it clear that when she comes to Delaval Hall she’s our esteemed guest, and if she wants to live on the estate, I’ll have the dower house made ready for her.”

  Caroline felt the tension in her shoulders ease somewhat and stood up to give her husband a quick hug. “Thank you, darling.”

  He gave her a squeeze before releasing her. “I love my mother, Caroline, but you are my dearest love. I wish she could see how wonderful you are and how happy you make me.”

  Caroline gave an unladylike snort. “You can try until you’re hoarse. Nothing will change her mind about me.” She paused for a minute then asked, “Do you think Piers might be a problem?”

  Horatio shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s normal for members of the ton to hire skilled workers from the capital.”

  “Except Piers is not an architect and knows very little on the subject. A fact that’s not lost on our Clerk of Works, I might add. Mr. Hill has been quietly questioning Piers’s competence, going so far as to say the ‘London nob’ has no business on a country estate and should focus his limited talents on decorating boudoirs in the city.”

  Her husband chuckled. “I don’t think Mr. Hill knows what to make of him, really. Piers is charming, and he gets on very well with the laborers. You should hear what some of the workers say about him. This one lad was convinced that he was a titled lord, hiding out in the country from the law after killing a man in a duel. Then Piers had to go and destroy that illusion when he tossed his coat aside, rolled up his sleeves, and helped a stonemason lay bricks. The Clerk just stood there dumbfounded for a good ten minutes.”

  “But why would Piers do that?” she asked in confusion. “He is a gentleman—that is, if one were to overlook his chosen profession. He has the birth, manner, and education of a nobleman. He has no need to do physical labor.”

  Horatio shrugged unconcerned, then he gave her a peck on the cheek and began heading for the door. “I think he’s restless and needs the physical activity. He rides every morning and sometimes in the afternoon, but I get the impression he exerts himself more in London. Now, back to the original topic of conversation, I’ll reply to my mother and inform Finch to expect her in a day or two. I’ll see you at dinner, love.”

  Alone again, Caroline leaned forward on her desk, staring out of the window that overlooked the park. She really didn’t want to see her mother-in-law again so soon. She’d hoped that she’d earned a reprieve until Christmas at least, but as always, the Dowager Baroness strived to make life challenging for her. She only hoped that Piers would be able to charm the older woman and convince her that he had a legitimate purpose at Delaval Hall.

  Chapter 12

  The Dowager Baroness Hastings made an appearance two days later. Piers had assured Caroline that he’d met her type many times before, and indeed he wasted no time in whisking her away to the West Wing to consult her wisdom and ask her most esteemed opinion about the project underway. He then proceeded to flatter her good taste and flirt shamelessly with her. Needless to say, the Dowager’s visit was off to a good start.

  Her good humor lasted throughout dinner and into the next morning. By the afternoon, however, she was back to her usual domineering self. Caroline was pouring Horatio a cup of tea, when her mother-in-law put down her own steaming cup and said, “I called on your aunt, Lady Mayfield, this morning. Such excellent tea she served, imported all the way from India. How marvelous it is to have the connections to procure such a treat! Your cousin Jane was in fine looks as well; her trip to London seems to have invigorated her.”

  “Her time away from my Aunt Rosalind is what agreed with her, I dare say,” Caroline countered with a smirk.

  The Dowager Lady Hastings frowned. “That’s not a respectful way to talk about your blood, Caroline. Your aunt took you in when you had no one. You would have been destitute, cast out in the streets, if it weren’t for her.”

  It was an old argument, one they’d had several times over the years. Caroline would say something cutting about her aunt, and her mother-in-law would leap at the opportunity to defend her friend and in turn reproach her.

  “Yes, I’m sure I’m very grateful to my aunt. Yet, as I’ve pointed out many times before, I was hardly destitute. My father left me some money—not by any means a fortune—but enough to get me by until I found employment.”

  “It’s quite tragic that you don’t have any siblings. If you had a brother you would never have been forced to leave your comfortable home and come live somewhere you were practically a stranger…a nobody, really.”

  “And look at me now, I’m Caroline Delaval, Baroness Hastings. Not a nobody after all,” Caroline replied with a note of pride in her voice.

  “Oh, yes, the Barren Baroness. What an asset you are to this family!”

  Caroline sucked in a sharp breath, her cheeks flushing with embarrassed outrage. Lady Hastings would’ve never dared to speak to her that way had her husband still been alive. However, with the old Baron dead and buried for almost a year now, she clearly felt emboldened to speak her mind.

  “That’s enough, Mama,” Horatio interjected sternly. “If you can’t be civil to my wife, then I shall have to ask you to join your friends in Bath sooner rather than later.”

  “There’s no need for that,” her mother-in-law said with an airy wave of her hand. “Since you’re so touchy about the future of this title, let’s discuss the present. I’m glad you’ve finally started the repairs on the West Wing, although I can see there’s still much work to be done. You should encourage Jane Mayfield to spend more time at Delaval Hall. She has superb taste and can help Caroline select suitable furniture for the restored wing,” the Dowager said with a curl to her lip as her eyes lingered on the new curtains and furniture, which Caroline had changed to suit her simpler tastes.

  Caroline bristled at the thinly-veiled insult. The Dowager made it no secret that she would have preferred her son to have married one of the Baronet of Mayfield’s daughters. Caroline’s cousin Jane was the oldest and the most plain-looking of the brood. She was still unmarried, and at the age of twenty-four, she was considered quite on the shelf. She’d had a London Season but hadn’t taken well, having neither the looks nor the connections to stand out in the sea of eager debutantes. Even though she’d received three offers of marriage since then, none of the suitors had been deemed worthy of a baronet’s daughter. Caroline was fond of her cousin and often felt sorry that she was forced to remain in her father’s home and endure her mother’s bullying. It irked her, however, to be compared to Jane—especially when it showed her at a disadvantage.

  “I, for one, appreciate Caroline’s taste in simple, elegant furniture,” Horatio replied loyally. “She’s done a superb job with the gardens, and every time I enter this room it feels like a breath of fresh air. Caroline’s cousins are constantly visiting Delaval Hall; I’ve certainly never felt their lack of company. I’m quite content when it’s just the two of us, but if you need more stimulating conversation than mine, love, please don’t hesitate in inviting Jane over more often,” he added, giving Caroline a warm smile.

  Her heart swelled with affection. Not just at her husband’s words but also his blatant support of her. Her eyes danced merrily as she replied, “Since your conversation never lingers on the topics of
ladies’ fashion or your health, I doubt you could ever bore me.”

  Horatio laughed, and her mother-in-law gave her a disdainful look. A knock sounded on the door, and Caroline sent up a silent prayer of relief as Piers entered the drawing room.

  “I just received your note inviting me to join you for tea, Lady Hastings. Thank you for your generous offer.”

  Caroline had sent no such note but was pleased at his attempt of keeping up appearances in front of Horatio’s mother. She served him tea then added a splash of cream and sugar, knowing just the way he liked it.

  “My daughter-in-law tends to be somewhat familiar with those in her employ,” the Dowager Lady Hastings said with a brittle smile. “I’m sure none of your employers in London invited you to dine with them or leave your work to have tea.”

  Piers accepted the teacup from Caroline and took a seat before responding, “I’m afraid you’re quite mistaken, my Lady. I’ve dined with several of my London clients and have attended more than one social gathering in their company. From what I’ve seen, Lady Hastings treats everyone with courtesy and respect. How members of nobility choose to treat those less fortunate than themselves says much about their character and upbringing. My father, for instance, is a strong supporter of social reform and the abolishment of the classes, even though he’s the son of a viscount. My siblings and I had to sit through hours of him lecturing about the evils of poverty and the injustices faced by the members of the lower class.”

  The older woman sniffed. “One of those reformers, is he? Well, I suppose younger sons can be allowed their eccentricities. You are a gentleman then, even if you do work for a living?”

  He gave her a charming smile. “If it pleases you, my Lady. You know, you would make an excellent patroness of Almack’s. One stern look from you would have even the sturdiest of pretenders quaking in their boots.”

  The Dowager Baroness Hastings laughed, and Piers quickly steered the conversation toward London and gossip surrounding the royal family. Caroline’s temper began to cool, even though the knot in her stomach didn’t go away. Her mother-in-law seemed determined to create discord between herself and Horatio. She would fail, of course; Caroline had every confidence in her relationship with her husband. But the idea of constantly sparring with the Dowager and being made to feel lacking at every turn filled her dread. She brought her attention back to the present just in time to hear Horatio’s mother interrogate Piers about his profession.

  “…And who did you apprentice with in London?” asked the elder Lady Hastings.

  Caroline held her breath as Piers took a sip of his tea before responding, “I’m a self-taught man. I studied law at university, but my true passion lies in architecture and design. I learned everything I could from books and was fortunate to learn the trade under the tutelage of experienced foremen.”

  The Dowager’s brow knit in confusion. “But then how did you manage to get any clients?”

  “I have friends well-positioned in London high society. They referred my services to others of wealth and influence, and so I’ve been able to secure commissions and make a living for myself.”

  Caroline couldn’t help admiring the way he responded to these questions. Not quite by lying, but also not by being honest either. There was a ring of truth in his words, even though she knew he was talking about an entirely different type of commission. Perhaps if she’d been as skilled as Piers in the art of flattery and half-truths, dealing with her mother-in-law wouldn’t be such a trial.

  Chapter 13

  Piers felt the strain of the Dowager’s presence and noted with much sympathy how unhappy Caroline had become over the past few weeks. The older woman was a menace with her sharp tongue and veiled insults. Even though Hastings clearly sided with his wife, his mother’s words and treatment of Caroline created a distance between them. She’d even avoided joining them in bed at night, claiming she was tired and needed rest. Knowing how much she enjoyed their bed sport, Piers didn’t believe her at all.

  One morning—when Hastings rode off to oversee repairs on his estate, and the Dowager Baroness left to call on a friend—Piers decided to track his hostess down. He found her talking to the head gardener about the pruning of her roses and waited patiently until she was finished before alerting her to his presence.

  “Oh, hello there,” Caroline said. “I thought you’d be off riding this time of the day. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “Why, yes,” he responded with a smile. He proffered his arm, and when she accepted, they strolled languidly through the gardens. “I seem to recall your husband mentioning a gamekeeper’s hut somewhere on this estate.”

  She cocked her head in surprise. “There is one, but it’s been abandoned for years. It’s in a sad state of disrepair—nothing to see really.”

  “As your architect, I believe it’s imperative that I assess all the buildings on this estate.”

  Her lips curved into a small smile. “Very well, I’ll show it to you.”

  * * * *

  A while later, they arrived at a moss-covered shack ensconced between two trees, off from the main path. Caroline had been right, of course; the building was in poor condition. One of the windows was broken, there were patches missing from the roof, and the door looked like it was barely hanging onto its hinges. Nonetheless, Piers pushed it open and stepped inside. It was a small space that housed a narrow bed in one corner, a fireplace, a round table, and two chairs.

  Caroline followed him in, wrinkling her nose at the dank smell. “Perhaps I ought to send one of the maids to give this place a proper cleaning. It would be embarrassing if a guest were to stumble across this place in its current state.”

  Piers simply smiled, reached around her, and shut the door. Sunlight poured through the windows illuminating the space. The day was warm enough that he didn’t need to light a fire—not that he could see any firewood or flint had he wished to do so. He walked over to the bed and tested its sturdiness. Satisfied, he shook out the dust-covered blanket, turned it on its other side, and laid it down. He sank onto the mattress and patted the spot next to him. “Come sit with me, Caroline.”

  “Here? You know there’s no shortage of empty rooms in Delaval Hall.”

  Piers nodded. “True, but there are many servants who could easily spot us going in and out of said empty rooms. This is private.”

  She gave him a quizzical look before joining him on the bed.

  “Now then, won’t you tell me why you haven’t been joining Horatio and me these past few nights?”

  “Must I have a reason?”

  “Not if you were a cold fish who disliked the marriage bed. If you simply lay there while we did all the work, then perhaps I wouldn’t worry so. But you do enjoy it, very much I might add.” He finished this last sentence as he placed a soft kiss behind her ear. Then he trailed his lips across her jawline and down her smooth neck. She smelled like roses, and he loved how her pulse raced in her throat whenever he touched her. Truly, he’d never been with a more responsive woman.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  “Having my wicked way with you,” he responded as he began unbuttoning her gown.

  “You don’t have to. You’re already doing a fine job keeping Horatio happy.”

  He pulled back, studying her for a minute. “You misunderstand me, Caroline. I want to have my way with you. Besides, didn’t I tell you the first time we met that I would take it as a personal affront if I didn’t hear your moans of pleasure along with your husband’s?”

  “Do you…do you find me desirable?”

  Her question surprised him. Caroline was usually so confident, so sure of her place in her husband’s affections. Piers had been a fool not to realize just how much Horatio’s lack of physical attraction to her made her doubt herself. The man she loved had no lust-filled thoughts of her, no need to claim or possess her body for their mutual pleasure. In fact, no man had ever made love to Caroline… not in the way she needed. Piers
had no experience with marriage, but he understood relationships. Physical intimacy played a large role in bringing people together and soothing insecurities. And if he hadn’t mistaken the matter, Caroline craved that closeness now in particular because her mother-in-law was doing her best to make her feel unwanted.

  Piers reached for her and lifted her onto his lap, so she was straddling his hips. Then he captured her lips with his own and kissed her with all the passion he could muster. Soon, the evidence of his desire pushed insistently against her belly.

  She broke their kiss with a gasp. “I-I take it that’s a yes?” she asked breathlessly.

  He gave her a slow smile, his eyes taking in her rosy cheeks and bright eyes. Had he really once thought her plain? Only a blind man wouldn’t be able to see the beauty of this vibrant, sensual woman.

  She rolled her hips against him, and he sucked in a breath at the unexpected motion. That earned him a wide grin from her. “Do you like that? Shall I do it again?”

  He brought her head down for another dizzying kiss before pulling down the front of her dress. He released her breasts from the constraints of her bodice and proceeded to take one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard on it then swirling his tongue in a soothing motion. She gasped, her hands fisting in his hair, as she rocked her core against his hard erection. Piers repeated the action with her other breast, the teasing a sweet torture to them both.

  “I want to make love to you,” he said in a husky voice.

  Caroline stilled and looked down at him, desire and logic warring within her. She wanted to say yes, he could see it clearly on her face, but her desperate desire to be wanted as a woman was at odds with her earlier stated boundary.