A Scandalous Past (Regency Romance, Book 4) (30 page)

She looked up at him, tears streaming down
her cheeks. “Please don’t leave, Richard,” she begged.

The pain in his sister’s voice was almost
too much for Brendan to take. Why had Rose been punished with her
childish mind? Why couldn’t she have the same life others enjoyed?
A hand touched his back, and Brendan turned to find Cordie standing
behind him, tears in her own eyes. He pulled her to him and kissed
her brow, finding peace in her embrace.

“Brendan, what is going on?” she asked
softly.

He shook his head, unable to find his
voice.

Cordie leaned her head against his chest and
kissed him, then she stepped out of his embrace and walked towards
Rose and Richard Lester. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said
sweetly.

Lester nodded and smiled tightly. “Richard
Lester,” he introduced himself.

“So nice to meet you, Mr. Lester. I’m Lady
Clayworth. Won’t you come inside and join us for tea?”

Rose hiccupped and Lester brushed the tears
off her cheek. His eyes flashed to Brendan and he nodded. “Thank
you, Lady Clayworth. That is most generous.”

***

Whatever was going on, Cordie knew it
wouldn’t do to discuss it out on the front lawn.  Brendan
seemed nearly immobile when she turned back to him. “I’m certain
you’d rather not have my family witness this, whatever it is. I’m
unfamiliar with Bayhurst Court. Where should the four of us have
our tea?”

He closed his eyes, as if the process caused
him pain. “Cordie, there’s nothing to be done. Let him go on his
way.”

There had to be something. It would help to
know exactly what the problem was, however. “Brendan, you can
explain this to me on the way. Where should we have our tea?”

He opened his eyes, pain reflecting in his
twilight pools. “I thought you were going to try to be a dutiful
wife.”

“Well,” she said, grinning at him, hoping to
make him smile, hoping the husband she loved was still in there,
“I’ve been thinking about that. You do realize our vows didn’t
specify what was expected of me, not like they would have if we’d
married in a church. I think that gives me some leeway.”

He snorted and rubbed his brow. “I knew it
wouldn’t last.”

Cordie slipped her hand in his. “I love you,
Brendan. That will always last. Perhaps something can be done.” She
glanced over her shoulder at the young vicar and her
sister-in-law.

Brendan followed her gaze. “She can’t marry.
That’s what this is all about,” he whispered so low only she could
hear.

“Why not?” she asked quietly.

“Because it’s not responsible.”

Responsible? Since when did two people loving
each other have to be responsible? She’d learned that lesson well.
She had tried to be logical in her choice of spouse, and look how
that had turned out. She would have been miserable if she’d gotten
her way and ended up with Haversham. “Honestly, Brendan, I’m
certain there were many more responsible girls
you
could have married. Now, please tell me
where we can assemble for tea?”

Defeated, he shook his head. “The yellow
parlor will do.”

She rose up on her toes and pressed a kiss
to his cheek. “Thank you.” Then she turned and smiled at the
distraught couple behind them. “His lordship suggests the yellow
parlor. Rosamund, will you please direct Mr. Lester there? Your
brother and I will join you shortly.”

When they were alone on the lawn, Cordie
looked up at her husband to find worry marring his too-handsome
face. “There’s no point in pursuing this, love. You’re just going
to make it harder on her.”

Cordie didn’t see how that was possible and
she shook her head. “Tell me what you’re worried about,
Brendan.”

“I’ve already told you. Rose is afflicted.
Marriage is not in the cards for her.”

She sighed. “Did you not see the way Mr.
Lester looked at her? The devotion in his eyes? He does know of her
affliction, does he not?”

Brendan frowned.

 “But he loves her anyway? He wants to
marry her anyway?” she pressed.

“He hurt her once, Cordie. Walked away from
her and never looked back. I thought she would wither away and die,
just like Flora did. I can’t let him do that to her again.”

She cupped his jaw and stared into his dark
blue eyes. He was always trying to save someone, wasn’t he? Her
husband was a wonderful man, and she was quite fortunate to have
him, as was Rose. Still that didn’t mean he had all the answers. “I
don’t think he’d be able to, if they were married. Leave her, that
is.”

“It would be worse,” Brendan replied. “And
if they were married, I wouldn’t have any say, any control—just
like your brothers lost with you.”

“Perhaps,” Cordie answered carefully. Her
mind spun until she had a solution that would make even Lady
Staveley proud.

***

Brendan couldn’t believe he’d let Cordie
talk him into this. It was foolhardy on many levels, but he kept
going back to the look of pure joy he’d seen on Rose’s face that
afternoon. If it was possible for his sister to be happy all her
life, if she could be as happy as he was with Cordie, he wanted it
for her.

As they entered the yellow parlor, Brendan
looked directly at Richard Lester. The vicar met his gaze head-on,
no longer the directionless youth he’d been when he departed
Sudbury. On the settee beside Rose, Lester cradled her hand in his
own, and Brendan’s worries washed over him anew. What if this man
hurt her again? How would Rose go on? He’d watched one sister die
of a broken heart and didn’t have it in him to watch the same
tragedy happen again.

Cordie went directly to the tea service and
poured. “Mr. Lester, how do you take your tea?”

“Two sugars, no milk.”

“Brendan?” she asked, while she added the
sugars to the vicar’s tea.

 “Nothing for me, love,” he answered,
sitting in a light yellow brocade chair.

She handed Lester his cup and smiled at
Rose, who was still teary-eyed. “And what about you, Rosamund?
Would you like tea?”

Rose nodded. “Lots of sugar, please.”

Cordie laughed. “My friend Phoebe Greywood
is the same way.”

Brendan closed his eyes, praying his wife
was right about this. The sound of her voice put him more at ease.
He took a steadying breath, then opened his eyes, leveling them on
the young vicar. “All right, Lester. My wife has convinced me that
I should at least hear you out.”

The vicar’s eyes flashed to Cordie and he
smiled at her, then he looked back at Brendan. “Lord Clayworth,
thank you.” He cleared his throat and sat a little straighter. “I
have returned to Sudbury, replacing Mr. Pitney as this parish’s
vicar. My income is modest, but I can provide for Rose.”

“She has a sizable dowry,” Brendan said. She
hadn’t until about five minutes ago, but she did now. After working
through the situation with Cordie’s dowry, he’d decided it would be
best to make sure Rose had a similar trust in case the worst
occurred. Making certain she was safe and comfortable was a top
concern. Before he was marched off to the gallows and his funds
seized, he could make sure Rose would be provided for.

The vicar’s eyes widened at the
announcement.

Cordie had suggested that instead of Lester
taking a spot at the vicarage, that Brendan offer him the rectory
on Bayhurst grounds. He would essentially be the man’s employer. He
could still keep an eye on Rose. In the event his property was
seized by the crown, he wasn’t sure what would happen to Lester. It
would be better to let him maintain his position in the village.
“The dowry is in the form of a trust, however. It is in Rose’s
name, and I am the executor. If I am unable to perform those
duties, the responsibility will be transferred to the Marquess of
Astwick.”

He would have to go to Town fairly soon and
have his solicitors draw up this agreement. He did not relish that
conversation. These were rather unusual circumstances, with even
more unusual stipulations. Solicitors, as a rule, preferred
situations that were not unusual.

“Lord Clayworth,” Richard Lester began
softly, “I am not interested in your money. I love Rose for
herself.”

That Brendan did not doubt. Lester must
truly love Rose to want her as his wife for the remainder of his
life. She could be difficult and immature, but Lester had grown up
with her. He knew those things. Yet, he still wanted to marry her,
as Cordie pointed out. He did know exactly what he was asking
for.

Brendan nodded. “You may start the banns
Sunday.”

“Oh, Richard!” Rose threw her arms around
Lester’s neck and the vicar kissed her cheek. Then she leapt from
her seat and dropped on her knees before her brother. “Brendan,
thank you.”

He prayed she’d stay this happy throughout
her life. And he prayed he’d be around to see it.  “You are
welcome, dearest. Now, if you and Cordie will excuse us, I do have
something else I need to address with Mr. Lester.”

Rose scrambled to her feet and linked her
arm with Cordie’s. “I am getting married.”

Cordie smiled at him, and Brendan felt it in
his soul. He was the most fortunate of men to have her as a wife.
Having her approval was heady indeed.

After his wife had shut the door, leaving
them alone, Brendan narrowed his eyes on the vicar. “Just so there
are no misunderstandings, Lester, if you hurt her, leave her like
you did before, there won’t be a place safe enough for you to hide
in all of England.”

The man didn’t even flinch. “I’ve lived
without her for two years, my lord. I don’t want to go back to that
existence.”

Brendan nodded, rose from his seat, and
escorted his soon-to-be brother-in-law from the yellow parlor. In
the hallway, he found Gregory Avery waiting from him, a pensive
expression across his face. “Mr. Lester, I expect you will call on
Rose tomorrow.”

“Of course, my lord,” the vicar said
cheerfully before showing himself out.

Brendan stepped towards Avery, with a raised
brow. “Well?”

The baron shook his head. “Mother had no
idea what I was talking about, Clayworth. And neither do I.”

Brendan’s heart sank. “Then they must be at
your Rufford Hall. We need to find them.”

“I think it’s time you told me what this is
all about.”

Brendan frowned at Gregory Avery. In the
baron’s spot, he’d demand the same thing. Still, he couldn’t just
blurt out the truth.
Well, my mother was a traitor and a spy.
I’d like to get her letters back to avoid the gallows myself.
So, he shook his head. “They’re of a personal nature and could be
quite embarrassing for my family, of which your sister is now a
member.”

Avery scoffed. “You truly are the heartless
bastard Marina always said you were.”

His body stiffened at the insult, and he
wished he could throw the baron from his house. However, that
wouldn’t help his quest, so he reigned in his temper. He and Avery
could sling insults back and forth at each other, or they could
work towards a solution. There certainly was no point in doing the
former. “Do you know of a place she might have hidden them?”

Avery shook his head in disgust. “How dare
you pretend an interest in my sister—marry her for God’s sake, when
all you really wanted were letters Marina never even gave my
family! Cordie deserves better than you.”

On that they could agree. Cordie deserved a
husband whose past didn’t threaten her future. However, he wouldn’t
give her up for anything in the world. Brendan rubbed the bridge
above his nose, hoping to avoid a headache. With the way this day
was going, he didn’t hold out a lot of hope. “This isn’t helping
anyone, Avery, least of all your sister. Now we need—”

“What’s not helping me?” Cordie’s voice came
from the end of the hall. With a concerned look, she started
towards them.

Gregory Avery’s eyes challenged him to tell
her the truth, which Brendan had hoped to avoid, though that didn’t
seem possible any longer. He would, however, not do so with an
audience. “Cordie love, I am so sorry things have been in disarray
ever since we’ve arrived. Allow me to take you on a tour of
Bayhurst Court.”

“Are you going to tell her or shall I?” the
baron demanded, making Brendan want to punch him right in the
mouth. His wife wouldn’t thank him for that, however.

“Stay out of my affairs, Avery,” he warned,
with only the slightest edge to his voice.

“What is going on with the two of you?”
Cordie asked, stopping next to Brendan and linking her arm with
his.

Her green eyes, so filled with worry, made
Brendan’s heart lurch. What if she believed, as Gregory Avery did,
that he’d only married her to get his hands on the letters? That
thought had never entered his mind until this moment. True, the
possibility of reclaiming the letters had piqued his interest
initially, but not for very long. Cordie had captured his heart so
early on, the letters had ceased to be a motivation where she was
concerned. “Dear, there’s something we need to discuss.”

The baron snorted.

Cordie frowned at her brother. “Greg, I
don’t know what has gotten into you.”

“Your husband has something to tell you, and
if you want to leave him when this is all over, I’ll do everything
in my power to help you.”

***

Cordie gaped at her brother. Why on earth
would he say something like that? The words were just as surprising
as the source. Gregory was always so involved with his own life, he
paid very little attention to hers. Brendan tightened his hold on
her arm and she glanced up at him. Her husband’s face was white as
a ghost.  “Brendan?”

He glared at her brother. “How dare you! She
is
my
wife.”

“How dare you!” Greg countered.

Something was terribly wrong. Her brother
was never belligerent. Cordie’s stomach tightened. “Will one of you
please
tell me what is going on?”