She breathed into his chest, and Cole felt it tighten. “I missed you too, my love. More than you realize. I hope you are all right with Lily tagging along. She brought her medicine bag and wants to see if any of the children are feeling poorly.”
He put her back on her feet and she looked up at him, “Are you serious? That is wonderful. I love your sister. And yes, there are a few of the children who haven’t quite gotten better from a sickness that has plagued the orphanage.”
Cole smiled, and took her hand, he helped her get into the carriage, and then sat next to her, his leg pressing into hers.
He still held her hand, and occasionally, he would raise it to his lips and kiss the back of it.
Eden smiled and they chatted amongst themselves until they pulled up in front of the orphanage.
Eden let out a breath, and Cole looked over at her. “Are you all right?”
Eden looked at him and nodded. “I am fine. Just nervous, I didn’t tell Burk or Brooks about what happened yesterday, nor did I tell them you are coming today.”
Cole smiled, “I am certain it will be fine.”
Eden nodded again, “Let’s go.”
Cole got out of the carriage first, after one of the footmen lowered the steps.
Cole looked up at the home that Eden worked so hard for. He was so proud of her and all her accomplishments.
Cole turned and help Lily down from the carriage. He held out both arms, and Eden giggled as she put her arm through his.
They made their way up to the front door, and it opened before Eden could open it herself. It was filled with a huge man, who was scowling at the three of them.
He grabbed hold of Eden, shoving her behind him, before lunging for Cole, and wrapping his hands in Cole’s shirt. “How dare you come to this house, with her and your wife! Do you have any idea how she feels about you? Or felt, because I am hoping she won’t feel the same much longer.”
Cole looked shocked, “What? I don’t have a wife. I told Eden that last night!"
Eden pushed around Burk’s bulky body, shoving at his shoulder and pulling on his arm to let Cole go, “I wanted to tell you Burk, but I didn’t get home last night until very late. And this morning, I still didn’t have the time to send you a missive. This isn’t Cole’s wife. It’s his sister, Lily. Now, stop being such a brute and let me pass.”
Burk was practically growling, but the words Eden said registered and he stopped. “You aren’t married?”
Cole shook his head, and Burk looked a little sheepish. “I am terribly sorry about that.”
Cole shook his head and straightened his shirt. “It is quite all right. I understand how protective you are of her. But you don’t have to worry about that now. She will be protected, she knows how I feel, and I won’t leave her. I love her.”
Burk cleared his throat, and Brooks pushed past, guiding Eden in front of them. He spoke up, “Well, then that answers our questions and our worries. Isn’t that right Burk?”
Burk nodded reluctantly and Eden hugged him. “If you don’t take care of her, or hurt her in any way, I will kill you.”
Eden hit Burk in the arm and said with a gasp, “Burk!”
Cole chuckled, “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
He pulled Eden from Burk’s arms and hugged her close. “I take it you already know who I am, just as I know who you are. But, if it’s all the same, I am Cole St. Andrew. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
He held out his hand to shake Burk’s, which Burk looked down at, and took. “Burk Mason. Pleasure.”
Cole turned to Brooks, and Brooks said, “Brooks Parker. We have heard a lot about you.”
Cole smiled and looked down at Eden, who blushed. “Brooks,” she hissed at him.
He laughed, “What? It’s true.”
Cole kissed Eden’s forehead, “I have told my family all about you. Don’t be embarrassed Eden.”
He turned and saw Lily still standing at the base of the stairs, she had her hands on her hips and was glaring at the three men.
Burk looked around and noticed Lily standing there, then he turned back to say something to Cole, before he did a double take. Cole looked at his sister and saw Lily blush.
She cleared her throat. “If you boys are done with all your masculine nonsense, I would like to meet the children, and see about their sickness. Eden said there are several who haven’t gotten better yet.”
She walked up the stairs and to Eden’s side, not looking Burk’s way.
Burk’s jaw dropped and Lily glided past him. Eden let go of Cole to link her arm with Lily’s. Cole followed close behind and Eden led Lily into the house, where she introduced her to Mary.
“My lady, how kind of you to bring someone to help the dear ones. It is a pleasure to meet you Lily.”
Eden laughed, “You call her by her name, and still won’t call me by mine? Lily actually is a lady of the ton.”
Mary laughed and Lily did as well, “Please Mary, call me Lily. Can we meet the children now?”
Mary nodded and she and Eden turned, starting to lead the way up the stairs.
Lily followed behind the two women, and Cole followed as well. Burk and Brooks came inside after a discussion they must have had, and Burk hurried to Lily’s side. Cole saw Eden stifled a giggle as Lily practically turned her nose up at him. Still not looking his way.
They walked to where the children were playing, and Eden called them all over to her. They all came running, smiles and giggles leading the way and she dropped to her knees to hug and kiss all the small children.
The older ones acted aloof, until it was their turn for hugs and affection, but they all turned to mush when Eden hugged them too.
Each child took their turn to tell her about their day, and she listened to each one tell their stories like they were the only person in the room.
Cole fell more in love with her then. He glanced over at where his sister stood off to the side, and noticed Burk staring at her, his gaze completely focused on her.
Cole scowled, but said nothing. Burk was a good man, and he knew Lily would give him a lot of grief, if he set his sights on her.
He smirked, and Burk caught his smirk. He shook his head, and Cole hid a chuckle behind his hand, disguising it as a cough.
He looked back at Eden and she stood from where she was kneeling, “Children, this is my dear friend Lily. She came to see about how you are all feeling. And for those who are feeling poorly, she wants to help you get better.”
Lily smiled, and Cole watched Burk’s eyebrows raise in shock.
Lily knelt in front of the children, and they all stepped closer to her. She giggled as a small girl plopped herself in Lily’s lap. “How are you feeling sweetheart?” She asked the small girl and smiled down at her.
The girl looked up at her with big brown eyes, “I cough. I no like it.”
Lily smiled even bigger, then she kissed the girl on her forehead, “You poor darling, I will help you feel better.”
She looked around at the other children, and the teenagers gathered around her, “Who else is feeling poorly? Will you raise your hands, and I will see each person individually about how best to help them?”
Several children raised their hands and Lily looked up at them. She nodded, and looked to Eden, “Is there a room that I can use to speak with the children?”
Eden nodded, and started to speak, but Burk cut her off. “The main office is probably the best, if you are looking for privacy, otherwise they all share a common room with their beds. One for the girls, and one for the boys.”
Lily looked at him, “Thank you, Mr. Mason. I will take them to the common room and start with the girls first. I brought plenty of supplies and medicine, so that shouldn’t be a problem, will Mary be able to give them the medicine at night when I am not around? It is a large job and I know you already have a lot of duties to attend to. I can stay if needs be.”
Eden nodded again, and Mary stepped forward, “Yes, my lady. I will do whatever you need. Is
it all right with you if I see how you examine them and administer their first dose?”
Lily nodded and smiled. She still sat on the ground, with the girl in her lap. The small girl, who was around three years of age, was twisting a lock of hair around her finger and she had her thumb in her mouth.
She let out a wet barking cough, and Lily looked down at her with compassion. She scooped the small girl into her arms and went to stand.
Her foot caught her dress, she let out a squeak of surprise, trying to right herself and not drop the small girl, and she stumbled forward, straight into Burk’s arms.
He helped her stand, and Cole watched as he lightly brushed his fingers down Lily’s arm. He saw his sister blush furiously, and she murmured out a thank you before stepping away from him.
Burk grinned and Cole snickered. He let out a cough to cover it again, but Burk looked over at him, and gave him a scowl.
Lily moved away from him further, and she still held the girl in her arms. Eden hurried forward with Mary, Lily’s bag in her hand.
Cole watched the women lead the girls away into a room down the hallway, and he sighed. His woman was pure and phenomenal. That was all he could describe her as.
He felt someone clap him on the back and turned to see Brooks. “May we speak in the office?”
Cole nodded, and he followed Brooks to the office and sat in one of the chairs opposite the desk.
Burk sat behind the desk, with Brooks in the chair next to Cole.
“We have heard a lot about you, Cole. And, I know you have been keeping an eye on Eden. I have seen several of the men you have following her, and finally asked them about why they were doing so. When they told me who had hired them, and knowing how Eden felt, it was a good sign. But she came to us the other night in tears. She thought you had gotten married, and at first glance, you and your sister look nothing alike. But, when I see you together, you have the same eyes. I have never seen eyes like yours before. Grey. But, my question for you is this: if you were so in love with her, why did you leave her alone? Why did you wait so long to claim her? She has longed for this day for years, and it seems like you wanted it also. So why?”
Cole sighed, and ran a hand over his face. “I explained a little to Eden at the ball that I was at with her yesterday. She found out that Lily was my sister, only after she got angry at me. I still haven’t told her the entire story of why I never spoke to her until now.”
They heard a sound in the doorway, and Eden’s voice said, “Well, I am here now, why not explain things?”
Cole turned and looked at her and smiled. He held his hand out for her, and she walked to where he was sitting. He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “Here, sit. I have a feeling I will need to stand when I tell you this.”
Eden caressed his face, “If you are uncomfortable talking to Burk and Brooks, you don’t have to tell us.”
Cole shook his head, “No, it is all right Eden.”
She sighed and he helped her into his chair. He ran his hand over his face again, “I apologize. This subject isn’t easy for me to speak about.”
Eden went to stand, and Cole held his hand out, “Let me do this Eden. You all need to know my story.”
She sat back down, and Cole let out a deep breath. “It will take some time, but I will tell you everything.”
Chapter Seven
Cole
London, England Oct, 1812
Cole looked around the room, dreading this moment. But he knew it needed to be done so Eden would understand.
He looked down at his boots, then back up. “I don’t know if I should start at the beginning or start with what happened just recently?”
Eden studied his face, and Cole watched as she concentrated. Her blonde hair and her green eyes sparkled in the sunlight coming through the windows. “Will you tell us what happened recently and then the rest?”
Cole nodded, “All right.” He shook his head, “You already know that I went to visit my family last month. They were hosting a ball for my cousin that was sprung upon them. No one out of our family knew it was happening, until a fortnight before the ball was to happen.”
Eden gasped, and Cole knew that she knew balls took time and planning. “They wanted to host an engagement ball for my cousin, Katarina. The only problem with that being, was that she wasn’t engaged, nor was she going to be. She wanted to trap my brother, into marriage with her because of the title he holds. She made up many lies to make it seem as if they were already engaged, having been betrothed to each other since they were children. But that wasn’t true and when Aidan found out about her lies, and her manipulations, she was sent from the house. She tried to be found in Aidan’s room, looking as though he had ravished her and if it hadn’t been for my sister, Rose, Aidan would have walked into her trap. It was not a good month.”
Cole rolled his eyes, “Aidan had found a woman that had been caught out in a storm and had gotten terribly ill. He fell in love with her, and she fell in love with him. My cousin did her best to drive them apart, but it wasn’t to be. Their love was too strong and nothing could break it. Especially not Katarina’s lies. Katarina has left England, and we aren’t sad about that fact in the least. Aidan sent her away and hasn’t regretted his decision.”
Cole took a breath, “The worst thing that happened from all of this and something we didn’t realize, was that someone brought a man to the ball with them. A man who had every intention to kill my family, and almost succeed when he held us all captive, and proceeded to shoot me in the shoulder, and my brother in his arm.”
Eden let out another gasp, “You were shot? Cole, are you all right? Should you be up and moving?”
Cole chuckled and shook his head, “I am all right my sweet. My mother, Lydia is a very skilled healer, and thankfully for me, we also have a stableman who works at our home, that also helped in the war as a surgeon. He took the bullet out, and I had to rest my arm for a few weeks before my mother would let me leave.”
Burk spoke up, “Why did he shoot you?”
Cole looked over at the man, “That is more difficult to explain, and here is where the story gets interesting and confusing at the same time. The man who had come into our house was actually my cousin. My father had a twin brother that no one knew he had. And that brother had gotten sentenced to Newgate prison. He escaped from the prison somehow. Then he did something with my own father, that made him disappear. To this day, we don’t know if our real father is alive, or if he was killed. And he raised us as his sons. We had no clue that he was anyone other than our father, until Braddock, -my cousin- held us hostage and told us otherwise.”
Cole took a deep breath and let it out slowly, “The man who raised us was pure evil. That was the only way you can describe him. He used to take his anger out on us repeatedly, and we lived in fear of him and his fists. He would beat my brother, and my mother more than the rest of us. So badly. Once I had to drive him away from almost killing Aidan. He had Aidan tied up in the stables, and he had beaten Aidan with a whip so severely that he almost died.”
Eden gasped again, and Cole saw the tears in her eyes. “My brother now carries those scars on his body, his face and his soul. And it seemed to him that he would always be seen as a beast. Or a monster. As that is what most people called him. But the woman he fell in love with has been a balm to him. She loves him, scars and all.”
Cole ran his hand through his hair, “Braddock was also raised by our father, separately of course, but, unlike us, he fully accepted all the man’s teachings. They were both truly sadistic. We never wanted anything to do with that. He did his best to get what he thought he deserved. He believed that since he was the first born, he should hold the title, and he didn’t care who he hurt in order to accomplish his goal. We didn’t matter to him as long as he got his title.”
Brooks spoke up this time, “What happened to him?”
Cole turned to look at Brooks, “Aidan killed him.”
Eden covered her mouth, and
Brooks took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “He tried to hurt Rhiannon, -that’s Aidan’s wife- and Aidan snapped. He was already on edge after shooting me, and then shooting Aidan. He threatened our sister Rose as well and Aidan could take it no longer. Rhia had tried to get him free and because of that, Braddock wanted to kill her for getting in his way. Aidan wouldn’t let him do anything else to our family, and so he killed him.”
Brooks nodded. “Good. Although it must have been hard to do that.”
Cole nodded back, “Yes, it was hard on everyone, but it needed to be done. Before Braddock died, he told all of us about our father, that the man we hated our entire lives wasn’t our father. It was shocking to all of us. Especially my mother. She took it the hardest.” He ran a hand over his jaw and continued.
“He also left us with all of these unanswered questions. So, I am here in London with Lily, and we are doing our best to find out the answers. It hasn’t been easy, and I doubt it will be. I need to go to Newgate soon and see if my father is in that place. He shouldn’t be there, and if he is, I will not rest until he is free. He is serving time for crimes he didn’t commit. And has for a very long time.”
Eden was weeping, and Cole went to her, kneeling in front of her, and nudged her chin up so she was looking at him. “Don’t cry sweet. Please don’t cry.”
She flung herself into his arms, “I cannot help it. I am finding out things about you I never knew.”
Cole smiled and held her close. “I know love, we haven’t had the chance to get to know all of the other’s secrets yet, and this is not an easy one to tell you. But it was needed.”
He stroked her hair for a moment, and heard her quietly ask, “Is that why you stayed away from me?”
Cole shook his head, “No, I told you before that I stayed away from you because I worried that I could turn into my father. That one day I could hurt you in some way because his tainted blood runs in my veins. And, I would never wish that on anyone.”
She looked up at him, and he pushed on, “But, Aidan and I spoke when I was there, and he told me to not let my past determine my future. That we weren’t our father, and that we were better than him. In every single way. And, that made me finally see that he was right. If he wasn’t going to let his scars and his fears get in the way of loving Rhiannon, then I wouldn’t let our father or my fears of becoming like him hold me back any longer. So, as soon as I was well enough to travel, I came to find you.”
The Marquess Who Adored Me Page 7
