by Aston, Alexa
Reid made sure to invite each of them to the upcoming ball, noting that it was a celebration of many things, including the start of a long relationship he intended to have with Dunwood Academy. He’d pulled Bellows aside and informed him of the ball’s date. His butler had received the news without a blink, merely thanking Reid for telling him and saying he had much to attend to.
The final pupil arrived and the last of the parents left, each promising to return for the ball.
“That went well,” he told Ashlyn.
“Everyone is happy that Dunwood Academy is now associated with the powerful Duke of Gilford,” she said. “It will only add to the prestige of my little school.”
“They’ll be even more impressed when they learn a duchess will be running it.”
After dinner, Reid walked Ashlyn back to her cottage and, once inside, gave her a very thorough kiss. He didn’t plan to visit her tonight, knowing she’d had little sleep the night before and that tomorrow would be the first day in the school’s new rooms.
Besides, he had other things to attend to. He’d spent the last two weeks helping Ashlyn prepare for tomorrow’s opening. Now, though, he would begin in earnest to learn who had caused the fire at Thornhill.
Reid knew exactly where to start.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Reid breakfasted with the boys for the first time, learning of the delightful penny for your thoughts that they participated in each morning. He saw how the practice would instill confidence and empathy in young men—and that one day his own sons would sit at this table and learn these lessons from their mother and fellow students.
He’d never been fixated on having children. The idea of sons and daughters had seemed far in his future when he soldiered on the Continent. Staying alive to fight another day dominated his existence. Now that he was back at Gillingham—and the duke—it was natural his thoughts would turn to children, especially because he needed to provide an heir for the title and estate. This time next year, Ashlyn might even carry his child. It was enough to boggle his mind.
The boys transferred their dishes from the table to bins on a cart and then filed out to head to class. Reid took a moment to give his fiancée a long kiss in this private moment.
“I’ve much to attend to today,” he told her when he finally broke it. “I doubt I’ll see you until dinnertime.”
“I’m sure that’s how every day will be unless you can find time to join us at tea.”
“I’ll try most days but for now I’m off.” He gave her a swift kiss and then left, heading directly to the stables.
He hadn’t told her he would travel to London today. Reid figured he could go and be back and she would never know.
In the stables, he had Thunder saddled and he rode northwest toward the great city. It was close to noon when he arrived at the Gilford townhome, which he hadn’t seen in over a decade. He admonished the groom to give Thunder a thorough rubdown and as many oats as the horse wanted and had another horse saddled to ride to his destination.
Viscount Martin’s.
He arrived and rapped on the door, which a butler promptly opened.
“I’m here to see Lord Martin,” Reid said, pushing his way past the man.
Jarred by the rude behavior, the butler said stiffly, “If you will give me your calling card, my lord, I shall see if Lord Martin is receiving.”
Though Reid had been home close to two months, he hadn’t bothered having cards made up while in the country. He gave the servant his haughtiest look and said, “It’s Your Grace. The Duke of Gilford.”
The butler’s jaw dropped and then he quickly regained his composure. “If you’ll come with me, Your Grace.”
He led Reid up a wide staircase and down a corridor before pausing in front of an elaborately carved door.
“Please, Your Grace, let me at least announce you. I don’t care to lose my position.”
Reid didn’t want the man’s job to be in jeopardy simply because he was angry at Martin. “Very well.”
The servant opened the door and announced him, then stepped aside. Reid strode into the room, which had several people inside, including Viscount Ransom. They all rose.
“Your Grace!” Lady Edith said, surprise evident in her voice. “How lovely to see you.”
He moved toward her and she curtseyed. Ransom stood on her right and they shook hands. Lord Martin reluctantly offered his and Reid took it. The viscount introduced the other two men present, a baron and an earl, and Reid got the impression they were waiting on Eden Martin.
He was offered a seat and after taking it asked, “How are you enjoying this current Season, my lady?”
Lady Edith blushed. “Very much, Your Grace. In fact, Viscount Martin is escorting me to a garden party this afternoon. My sister will also accompany us, along with these two gentlemen.”
Reid turned to his friend. “Have you offered for Lady Edith yet?”
Ransom sputtered, “What?”
“You should do it soon, Ransom,” he calmly said. “Lady Edith is quite the catch. I’ve learned not to waste time where matters of the heart are concerned.”
The young woman had turned beet red, while Ransom’s mouth twisted this way and that. Finally, he found his voice and said, “I know exactly how special Lady Edith is, Gilford.”
“Then do something about it,” Reid prompted his friend.
“Why . . . why . . . I believe I will,” Ransom proclaimed.
The two other visitors watched in shock, while Lord Martin looked bemused.
Ransom turned to Lady Edith and said, “From the moment I saw you dancing with that young boy at the Gillingham ball, I knew you were the one for me. You were smiling and looked so beautiful. You treated Master Edward with kindness and I see you treat others equally as well. You are sweet-natured, Lady Edith, and I can be myself when I’m with you. There’s no pretense between us.” He swallowed. “I love you.”
The young viscount pushed from the settee and dropped to a knee. Taking her hands, he said, “Make me the happiest of men and say you’ll be my wife.”
Tears of happiness cascaded down her cheeks. “Yes. Of course, yes.”
Ransom pulled them both to their feet and the couple gazed at each other in love. Then he glanced to her father.
“Lord Martin, might I have your permission to wed your daughter?”
“Yes,” the viscount said, his voice shaking. “You make Edith happy. That’s what matters most.”
Reid grinned. “I hope to be invited to the wedding.”
The couple turned to him, both beaming, and Lady Edith said, “Yours will be the first invitation issued, Your Grace.”
“Would you care to walk in the gardens before we leave?” Ransom asked his new fiancée.
“I would.”
They left and Reid said, “If I could have a few minutes alone with Viscount Martin, gentlemen?”
The baron and earl rose. Both nodded and vacated the room.
“Thank you,” Lord Martin said. “I can’t believe you just did what you did, Gilford, but to know Edith is cared for brings me great relief.”
“I’m here to discuss your other daughter. Did you do as I asked? Have the right doctors brought in to see her?”
The viscount nodded warily. “I did have two doctors examine her. One merely thought her lacking in maturity and good judgment. The other felt there was a deeper problem to address, especially her obsession with you. Eden was confined for a week to her rooms, where she spent many hours speaking with this physician. When he wasn’t present, a nurse watched over her. She seemed to calm considerably and quit mentioning you altogether. The doctor was pleased with the progress she made and gave me permission to bring her to London. She will continue to see this doctor once a week during the Season. The nurse is still here, acting more as a lady’s maid to Eden and making sure she remains tranquil.”
“I think Lady Eden started the fire at Dunwood Academy.”
The man’s faced turned ashen
. “What fire?” he asked, his voice a whisper.
“Fire was set to Thornhill. Fortunately, the students and staff had left earlier that day for their Easter holidays. The groom was the only one on the property. When he returned from a ride, he saw fire in every window. The structure burned to the ground.” He paused. “It was deliberately set.”
All color now drained from Lord Martin’s face. “You think . . . Eden . . . did this.”
“I do. No one hates Lady Dunwood more than your daughter.”
“What day did this happen?”
Reid told him. “What day did you travel to London?” he countered.
“The same,” Martin said dully. “We left mid-afternoon. Eden seemed anxious to leave. I thought it was because she was excited for her come-out.” He shook his head and then Reid watched as determination filled the viscount. “No, it can’t be. You’re wrong, Your Grace. My girl wouldn’t have gone there and done such a thing. I refuse to believe it. Where is your proof? Your witnesses?”
He had neither but Reid wanted to confront Eden Martin, nonetheless, and see her reaction to his accusation.
“I demand to see Lady Eden,” he told the viscount, knowing it would be well within the man’s rights to refuse. He prepared himself for that, knowing Martin would want to protect his younger daughter.
“Your Grace! What a wonderful surprise. I didn’t know you’d be coming to London, much less to visit us.”
Reid turned and saw the object of their conversation float into the room, trailed by her two suitors. She looked very young and pretty, wearing a pale pink gown with pink ribbons running through her hair. She curtseyed to him.
“I was telling your father that Dunwood Academy burned recently,” he said.
“Is that so? How awful. I hope no one was injured.” Her face remained a mask, void of emotion, but a glint in her eyes told Reid all he needed to know.
“No one was inside at the time,” he said brusquely and then searched her features. “You wouldn’t know anything about it, would you, my lady?”
“Me?” she asked guilelessly. “Why, I’ve been in London. This is certainly news to me. I’m sure it is to Papa, too.” She turned toward him, looking innocent and vulnerable.
“Yes, Eden. I told His Grace we were in London when this happened.”
That’s not what Lord Martin had said earlier but Reid didn’t call him out. Instead, he looked to the other two men.
“Shouldn’t you be leaving with Lady Eden for the garden party?”
“Yes,” they replied in unison.
“I will see you later, Papa.” Eden kissed his cheek. “And I hope to see more of you, Your Grace. You know we consider you family.”
She curtseyed again and sauntered from the room, the two gentlemen trailing her wordlessly.
After the door closed, Reid said, “She did it. You know she did.”
“I know nothing of the sort, Your Grace,” the viscount said stubbornly. “I insist you stop this slander against my child. You’ll ruin her reputation if you persist.”
“Just as she ruined Thornhill? What if Lady Dunwood or her students had been inside, Martin?”
He shook his head. “You’re mistaken. Eden is not like her mother.”
“Don’t bring her back to Gillbrook,” Reid warned.
“Eden won’t need to return there. She’s going to make a brilliant match this Season.”
Reid knew in his heart that Eden had lit the fire that destroyed Dunwood Academy but without evidence or eyewitness testimony, she would never be charged.
“I will cease my accusations,” he promised Lord Martin. “At the same time, you need to keep a careful eye on your daughter. I fear she’s capable of terrible things.”
For a moment, he saw fear in the viscount’s eyes that Martin also believed the same.
With a curt “Good day” Reid left and made a quick stop in Doctors’ Commons before he returned to his London residence. He met with a few servants, informing them he would be coming to town in late June with his new duchess.
“Make sure everything is immaculate,” he instructed.
Ashlyn had never visited London and he wanted to show her the city. He’d take her to the opera and theater. Museums. Parks. He intended to find the best modiste and have her create an entire wardrobe for his bride.
As he rode back to Gillingham, he regretted not being able to get a confession from Eden Martin, though. As long as Lord Martin kept his daughter away from Ashlyn, that was all that mattered. He prayed the girl would make a match with some gentleman that lived in the far north and that they’d never see her again.
Reid arrived back home and left Thunder in the stables. He had time to bathe the dust of the road away and changed into fresh clothes before going downstairs to dinner. Dalinda greeted him.
“I haven’t seen you all day,” she said.
“I was out and about,” he said vaguely.
“I haven’t told you, but I think it was very kind of you to house Dunwood Academy here at Gillingham. Selfishly, it will allow me to see Arthur and Harry more often. Lady Dunwood has done the impossible and brought my boys back to me. They are as sweet as they were before.”
“She has a way with people,” he agreed.
“And with you?” Dalinda asked.
“Why do you say that?”
She laughed. “Oh, Reid, you should see the way you look at her. If you haven’t kissed her yet, you certainly need to do so.”
“We’re going to be married,” he said. “I’m holding a ball a week from this Saturday. I’ll announce our engagement that night. Until then, pretend that you don’t know.”
Ashlyn entered the dining room. “Good evening.”
“The same to you, Lady Dunwood,” Dalinda said. “How was the first day in your new classrooms?”
Reid seated them both as Ashlyn told of the classes she’d observed while soup was served. He watched her speak animatedly and fell in love with her anew. He suspected this would happen to him on a regular basis as the years passed.
Once dinner ended, he offered to walk her back to her cottage. He asked about various boys in order to keep her from asking about his day. They reached the door and he opened it. A lamp had been lit and he assumed Mrs. Paul had seen to that.
Reid wrapped his arms about her. “I’m glad it was a good first day for Dunwood Academy in its new surroundings.”
She placed her palms against his cheeks. “The boys have taken to it well.” She tugged on him, bringing his face down to hers and kissing him sweetly.
“I should leave you. I’m sure you’re tired,” he said.
Ashlyn walked him to the door and they kissed again. Reid left and returned to his study, where he spent an hour going over some figures his estate manager wanted him to review. Then he decided it was time to pay another visit to his fiancée.
He slipped from the house and walked the half-mile to her cottage, testing the door and finding it unlocked. Normally, he would admonish her for it but she was safe on Gillingham grounds. Besides, it made it much easier to make his way to her bed.
Reid crept from the front room to the back one, which served as a bedroom. She’d left a window open and a soft breeze drifted in. Moonlight poured through it, making it easy to see her. In sleep, Ashlyn looked younger and softer, not the resolute headmistress who took on the world every day.
Quickly, he shed his clothes and slipped under the bedclothes, an arm going about her. His lips touched her hair and he inhaled the faint fragrance that clung to it. She stirred and he kissed her neck.
Suddenly, she stiffened and drew breath for a scream.
“It’s only me, love. I couldn’t keep away.”
Ashlyn turned. “You gave me a fright, Reid.”
“You should use the bar on the door. Or not,” he murmured as he nuzzled her neck.
“Oh . . .”
“Oh, is right,” he agreed.
He made love to her tenderly, pulling out at the last moment. H
e couldn’t wait for the day he could pump his seed into her and see their child grow in her belly. Ashlyn was the most nurturing woman he knew and would make for the best mother.
“You can’t stay,” she said, her voice trailing off as she fell asleep.
“I can . . . for a while,” he told her.
Reid allowed himself an hour to enjoy the feel of her nestled in his arms and then eased from the bed. He planned to come back every night.
If she’d let him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ashlyn finished her correspondence and left her study. She returned to the main wing of Gillingham and gave the letters to a footman to be posted. Several servants traipsed past her, large pots of flowers in hand, and she followed them up the stairs to the ballroom. Mr. Bellows supervised the decorating, along with Mrs. Paul, and the two servants stood viewing things with a critical eye.
“Everything looks wonderful, Mr. Bellows,” she praised. “You and Mrs. Paul have done an outstanding job. His Grace will be so pleased.”
“Thank you, my lady. The servants and tenants are eager for another ball to be held in such a short space of time, especially since they are invited once again.”
“My pupils are equally ready to dance tonight. Are there many guests in attendance?”
Ashlyn had left all the details up to Reid and his staff, rather liking the idea that she would be surprised along with all of the guests.
“There will be a large turnout, my lady. Every parent of a Dunwood Academy student responded they would come. Almost all of His Grace’s neighbors will also attend, as will his tenants.”
“Will Lord Martin and his daughter come?” she asked, remembering how strongly Reid felt about Lady Eden’s behavior at the last ball. With the girl visiting relatives in the north, though, she hoped the pair would come without worry.
Bellows replied carefully, “The Martins were not invited although Viscount Ransom asked and will bring his fiancée.”
