An Unlikely Father (6 page)

Sir Ethan arched one brow. “If all else fails, try this to charm the lady.”

The earl fingered the small wooden musical instrument. “I think it would take a flute the size of a cannon to enchant the staunch Miss Collins.” With that he tucked the small flute into his pocket and marched out of the room. He went up the stairs to the third floor. With each step his indignation and anger at the lady who’d disrupted his house party grew.

The sight of Swarup standing in front of the nursery door jarred the earl a bit from his certainty that Miss Collins was playing some nefarious game. Did penniless young females have personal servants? And who was Mrs. Keaton in this drama? As he neared the door where the manservant stood, the chant of a nursery rhyme could be heard coming from behind the portal.

Without hesitation Swarup bowed, then opened the door for the earl, who stepped into the room just in time to see Miss Collins, Honoria and Jamie all fall down as the rhyme had ordered. There was a great deal
of laughter by the trio on the floor until they realized they had a visitor; then they grew silent.

Near the window, Mrs. Keaton sat with young Wesley upon her lap. The smile dropped from her face and she uttered, “Emily,” in a strained tone.

Miss Collins sat up and gazed at him from her position on the floor, her blue-and-white skirt billowed out around her. Without the least hesitation she politely said, “Good morning, Lord Hawksworth.”

A quick inspection of the children showed not a single red spot on any of their rosy cheeks. Fury almost choked Oliver as he realized what the lady had done. She had driven his guests away with a false tale of illness.

“Nursing the children back to health, Miss Collins?” the earl said with contempt.

A slight flush came to the lady’s cheeks as she rose. Without answering his question, she got Honoria and Jamie settled at a table with paper and a box of water colors, then requested each to paint a picture of what they liked most about England.

Oliver watched as she went to a desk near the fireplace and picked up the birdcage, which was uncovered and revealed one red and one green parrot. With her eyes straight ahead, she walked past him into the hall. She signaled Swarup to stand back as the servant moved to take the cage from her. With single-mindedness, she marched some distance down the hall, then turned to face him. The look on her face was one of polite inquiry. “You wished to speak with me, sir?”

At that moment Oliver’s fondest wish was to throttle this annoying female. How dare she come to Hawk’s Lair and completely disrupt all his plans?

While his contemptuous gaze swept her as she stood holding the squawking parrots, his ever-rakish self was suddenly struck with the notion that she looked quite different than she had the night before. There was a deliciously unkempt quality to the brown curls which had sprung loose from their top knot and now framed her oval face. Her cheeks, flushed from the children’s game, held the hint of a blush. But what struck him most was the inviting moistness of her full pink lips.

The awareness of her as a desirable woman jolted him. He’d been prepared to rage at the drab entity of the night before, not this enticing female. With an effort, he tried to keep his mind on the matter at hand, but the lady looked so adorably provincial as she stood holding the cage that he found it difficult to concentrate.

That stirring of attraction reminded him that despite her trick to rid the house of his guests, she was not responsible for his new burden even though she had delivered them. Still, he deserved an explanation for her outrageous falsehood to his guests.

“Why did you misinform my guests regarding the children having the measles?”

“My lord, you have responsibilities now. For the present you have no time to be entertaining
...
well, to give it to you without the bark, sir, nodcocks and coxcombs.”

“Nodcocks and coxcombs!” the earl sputtered angrily. He knew a sudden urge to defend the gentlemen, then halted, for in truth, the description fit the departed men exactly.

“As I said, my lord, nodcocks and coxcombs. There is much to be done to make certain the children are settled comfortably. I did what you should have done last night and that was to send your guests about their business in as polite a manner as possible.” Emily knew she’d gone beyond what was proper, but sometimes it took drastic measures to make people see the error of their ways.

His lordship’s eyes grew an icy blue. “Madam, not since the day my stepmother departed this world have I encountered a more managing female. Nor one who was harebrained enough to think I would allow her to direct my life.”

“You flatter yourself, my lord. I have no interest in your life except as it pertains to these children. Within a matter of weeks, you may return to town and pursue your hedonistic delights as you see fit, but at this moment your full attention is needed here. Jamie, Honoria and Wesley have no mother or father in England to protect and love them. They only have you, who appear far more interested in your own amusements and your friends than your wards.”

Her strong words were like having a glass of cold water dashed in his face. Except for his attempt to hire someone to take command of the children, he had given little thought to them. Still, who was this female to be giving him a setdown for his conduct? “Miss Collins, I am—”

“Awk! Nodcocks and coxcombs!” the green bird squawked from the cage.

The earl halted, momentarily distracted from what he’d been about to say. As he glared at the children’s birds, he was struck by the fact that all the lady had said was true. He had been more concerned with going to a mill with his guests than giving his brother’s children more than a passing thought. Too long concerned with only his wishes and desires, he’d been more interested in getting rid of this managing female who was disrupting his life than with putting his mind to what was best for his wards.

Flooded with guilt and disconcerted to see his own failings, he gave a terse laugh. The lady was making him aware of a side of himself that he didn’t much like. For some unexplained reason, he also didn’t like that she perceived him as selfish and uncaring.

“Awk! Nodcock!”

Seeing Miss Collins bite her lip in an effort not to laugh, the earl relaxed and enjoyed the absurdity of the parrot echoing their conversation. He allowed his laughter to become full-bodied and jovial.

Emily watched with relief at the earl’s growing mirth at Janus’s interruption. She was amazed at how humor softened the lines around his mouth, making him far more accessible than before. She could see why he’d had so much success with women.

“Miss Collins, I must again ask you to forgive my uncertain temper, but mostly you must forgive my neglect of my brother’s offspring. I fear I have need of a female’s knowledge to guide me in such matters.”

“So you do, sir. Have the children no other living female relation?” Emily held her breath. She wasn’t ready to leave Hawk’s Lair so soon, although she tried to tell herself it was all about the children, and had nothing to do with the handsome man in front of her.

“Indeed, they have a great-grandmother living north of London.” But as Oliver spoke of the dowager, he knew the last thing he wanted was to have the lady at the castle nagging him to marry Lady Cora at once for the sake of the children. Better that he should make use of the managing Miss Collins’s knowledge of child care than subject himself to his grandparent’s badgering on the topic of matrimony. “I shall write to my esteemed grandmother and invite her down once I have the children properly settled. But I fear worrying over the children at her age would be too strenuous. Would you be willing to help me?”

A sense of satisfaction surged through Emily. She’d gotten her wish. His lordship was at last focused on the matter at hand. “I should be delighted. The first thing
I would recommend is that the nursery and the adjoining bedchambers be repainted and refurnished, and that new books be purchased to instruct the children in a full variety of subjects.”

The earl nodded.

“Their pets, Janus and Juno, need a large permanent cage in a chamber where there is always certain to be a fire. I would suggest the library.”

“My library!” The earl frowned as he eyed-the colorful birds.

“ ’Tis certain to always be the correct temperature, for they are exotic birds and used to warmer climes.”

Oliver wasn’t certain how he would like having a noisy pair of parrots in his private sanctuary, but if they became bothersome, he would have them moved after Miss Collins had departed. All that mattered for the moment was getting the lady before him satisfied with the children’s situation, so she could go on her way. “Is that all?”

“That will do for now, my lord. No doubt I shall think of other things which the children have need of as we go along.” The lady thrust the cage into his hand. Then she turned and hurried back towards the nursery. When she reached the door, she turned and looked back at him with a saucy smile. “I shall remove the children to our sitting room while you get the workmen started in the nursery. Pray, don’t dawdle, my lord. The children are most eager to get settled in their own rooms. Good day, Lord Hawksworth.”

The lady then entered the nursery. Oliver stood speechless, holding the cage and staring at the spot where he’d last seen Miss Collins. What had just happened to him? He had come up here to give the lady a set-down for sending his guests away, yet she’d managed to turn the tables. Here she was giving him orders not to dawdle like a mere servant.

With a bemused shake of his head, he chuckled at the thought of how the mighty had fallen in the course of a few minutes.

“Awk! Nodcock!” The green parrot seemed to be speaking directly to Oliver.

“I was thinking the same thing about myself, old boy.” With that, the earl turned and made his way back towards the library. He promised himself not to let Miss Collins get the better of him in their next meeting, yet he knew that some part of him was looking forward to that encounter.

Four

Lord Hawksworth marched into his library and unceremoniously dropped the birdcage on his desk. The parrots responded to such careless treatment with a chorus of squawks and flapping wings. Colorful bits of feathers went flying from the cage.

Sir Ethan, disturbed by the clamor of the birds, peered round the wing-back chair from his position by the fire. He grinned at the expression on Hawksworth’s countenance as he glared at the caged creatures. The baronet was reasonably sure he knew who was responsible for that look of annoyance.

“Trying your hand at gamekeeping, Hawksworth?”

“If Miss Collins has her way, yes. It seems that my earldom is nothing in that lady’s eyes. She practically ordered me to bring these birds to
my
library, which she has deemed to be the best place in the castle for them to reside. Why, she even instructed me to make certain they have a larger cage as well.” The earl knew that he was doing it a bit too brown, but the lady seemed intent on taking control of his household.

The baronet rose and came to inspect the brightly hued parrots. He tapped the wicker cage and said, “Greetings and welcome to your new home.”

“Awk! Nodcock!”

Sir Ethan gave a shout of laugher. “I cannot help but like such an impertinent lad or lass—whichever our talking feathered friend may be.”

Hawksworth arched one dark brow. “Then you must greatly admire Miss Collins, for she has more impertinence than Prinny himself. I was just informed I must not dawdle in my duties to my wards. She insists on having the entire nursery floor refurbished, and as soon as may be.”

The baronet bit his lips in an effort not to laugh. He was certain his friend had never encountered a beautiful young female resistant to the famous Carson charm. While he liked the earl excessively, Sir Ethan was not blind to his lordship’s faults. Had one been looking for a person to be guardian to their offspring, Lord Hawksworth, dedicated as he was to his own amusement, would be the least likely person one would choose. It wasn’t that the earl was cruel or selfish, but merely that he’d grown accustomed to having to please no one but himself. There could be little doubt that, with Miss Collins’s help, the earl was about to be shaken from his old lifestyle.

“Do you wish to postpone our trip to observe the mill in Marksbury?”

“Not in the least. If Miss Collins wishes to take control of all matters pertaining to the children, then I shall leave her to it.”

The baronet made no comment, but he was certain the earl would pay for his abandonment of the lady and the tasks she had outlined.

Oliver tugged angrily on the bell rope and awaited Bedows. His thoughts were in turmoil after the encounter with Miss Collins. He might momentarily need her wisdom about what was best for his wards, but she was sadly mistaken if she thought he would personally oversee the work. He had plans of his own and had no intention of allowing them to be interrupted by her and her undertaking.

When the butler arrived, his lordship requested that his steward be summoned. Within a matter of some ten minutes, Mr. Grant appeared, battered felt hat in hand. He was a burly young man with tousled blond hair and a Yorkshire accent, who was quite unused to being summoned except at Christmas, when he would give an accounting of the estate.

Hawksworth gave the man orders to have the entire third floor completely cleaned and painted. If new furniture was needed, Mr. Grant was to order it from Bath. The earl informed the fellow that he was to be guided by Miss Collins, but he was most certainly not to let her orders overrule common sense. Lastly, the gentleman pointed to the birdcage and told Grant to find some kind of larger enclosure to house the creatures within and put it here in the library for the time being.

Satisfied he’d more than fulfilled his duty to his wards, Hawksworth announced to Sir Ethan that he was quite ready to leave for the mill. The gentlemen exited Hawk’s Lair bound for Marksbury and an afternoon’s entertainment.

Emily closed the door to the nursery and leaned back against the oaken surface. What had she been about to be so impertinent with his lordship, telling him not to dawdle? Had she gone too far? She knew she must be careful. She would find herself packed off to London if she pushed the gentleman toward his duty with too much vigor.

“Emily, what did Lord Hawksworth say about your little trick to frighten the other gentlemen away?” Delia whispered as she came to stand beside her mistress. Wesley was asleep in his cradle, and the older children were still hard at work on their watercoloring.

“He made no comment about the prank because Janus distracted him. I think he was a bit angry, but once he had a good laugh at the parrot’s chatter, his mood lightened. He asked that we stay and help him settle the children comfortably in their new home. And since that is what I was hoping for, I agreed.”

Delia eyed her friend with a frown as Emily moved to the table and began to compliment the children on their pictures. That they were to remain under his lordship’s roof was not the news Delia wanted to hear. She knew from her own bitter experience how a young girl could fall victim to a handsome face, and few could rival his lordship’s rugged appeal. Emily might think she could steer the earl into a close and loving relationship with the children, but a rake was more likely to dally with Emily than pay heed to his wards.

As much as Delia loved the children, she was well aware they were his lordship’s obligation. In truth, he need answer to no one about his treatment as long as it was humane. Emily was only endangering herself and her reputation by staying to convince him to be a loving guardian rather than one who merely met the children’s physical needs.

Delia moved to the table where Emily stood. “I cannot think remaining here the wisest of plans, my dear.”

Emily looped her arm through her companion’s and drew her to the window, saying, “I know you think Lord
Hawksworth might make unwanted advances, but I tell you, he barely seems aware I am a female except where it comes to my knowledge about the needs of his wards.” That fact pricked Emily’s vanity a bit, but she tried to push it aside. “Once the earl becomes better acquainted with his niece and nephews, I just know he will come to love them as we do. He won’t totally abandon them to nurses and governesses. Then we shall take ourselves off to London and taste the Season.”

Delia made no further attempts to dissuade Emily from remaining at the castle. The widow had long known that while the heiress might be young, she knew her own mind and had inherited her uncle’s strong will as well as a definite sense of right and wrong. She was determined to see the earl and the children united as a family.

Calls from the children to come and see their finished pictures soon distracted Delia and Emily from their worries. Each of the young Carsons wanted to describe their works of art. There was a great deal of laughter at Honoria’s painting of the pieman she’d seen in Plymouth, for he looked quite like a pie himself in the painting. Jamie exhibited a passable rendition of a naval flagship with a Jolly Roger flying above it. When questioned about the odd pairing, the young man declared that being a pirate would be more fun than being a mere admiral.

A knock sounded at the door, and it opened to reveal a man who introduced himself as Lord Hawksworth’s steward, Mr. Grant. Emily was soon drawn into a discussion about paint, wallpaper, furniture and curtains.

Helping the children put away the watercolors, Delia still had fears for her young mistress. Her one hope was that once her letter reached Mr. Joshua Collins, he would take some action to let Lord Hawksworth know that Emily was not without protection.

Finished with her discussion with the steward, Emily suggested to Delia that they take the children to their sitting room for a light luncheon. Struck by a thought, she added, “Perhaps we could invite Lord Hawksworth and Sir Ethan to join us and make it something of a party.”

Mr. Grant looked up from the note he was making after measuring the window. “Beggin’ yer pardon, Miss Collins, but ’is lordship and Sir Ethan done gone to Marksbury to the mill what all the county’s been talkin’ about for the past week.”

A mixture of anger and disappointment washed over Emily. The earl had barely asked her to stay and help with the children and she’d agreed, only to find he had no intention of lending his time or support. Instead he’d chosen to hie off to entertain himself and his friend, dropping matters entirely in his steward’s hands with her to oversee.

Well, he might think he could avoid the children, but she was determined he would not. As Honoria and Jamie gathered what they wanted to take with them to the sitting room and Delia picked up the just-waking Wesley, Emily plotted her strategy to have the earl come face-to-face with his young relatives.

By the time the gentlemen returned from the mill, a fine afternoon’s diversion which had gone a bruising twenty rounds, it was time to change for the evening meal. The earl was in a companionable mood. He even found himself looking forward to seeing Miss Collins and getting a chance to admire her shapely figure, fine amber eyes and kissable mouth. Only as an afterthought did he wonder what progress had been made on the nursery.

The earl poured himself a sherry while he waited in the Blue Drawing Room. He had been standing at the mantel only a few minutes, gazing into the fire and letting his mind ponder the lady from India, when the door opened. He turned to greet the new arrival, but the welcoming smile fell from his face. Miss Collins was accompanied by Honoria and Jamie.

“Good evening, my lord.” Miss Collins led the children to the sofa directly in front of him.

The earl noted that the young ones had been dressed as if it were a special occasion. Honoria wore a simple blue satin gown with lace at the long sleeves and collar and a dark blue ribbon at the high waist. Young Jamie was in a short velvet coat and matching green knee pants. Both looked as nervous as pickpockets at the Old Bailey.

Despite being disconcerted by the unexpected arrival of his niece and nephew, Hawksworth swept an admiring glance over Miss Collins. She looked elegant in a simple white muslin gown worked with gold thread about the low-cut bodice, where creamy twin mounds rose to tantalize him. Her light-brown hair sparkled with glints of gold and was pulled back from her lovely face, then fastened with a white-and-gold clasp, allowing a riot of curls to dangle behind.

The delectable Miss Collins urged the children forward. When the trio reached his lordship, the lady gave an innocent smile. “I thought that this evening would be a good opportunity for you to get acquainted with your young wards since the nurse you hired to take care of young Wesley and Mrs. Keaton is still dressing.”

“Oh, you did?” Hawksworth reluctantly drew his gaze from her pretty neck to his niece and nephew. Suddenly the lady’s physical assets paled in comparison to her audacity at bringing his wards to the drawing room without his permission. He knew nothing about children and wished to keep it that way. Wasn’t it enough that he’d allowed Miss Collins to turn his house upside down with squawking birds in his library and a steady stream of workmen? Did she have to force him to spend time with young people, when he hadn’t a clue how to go on?

Jamie and Honoria sketched a bow and a curtsey respectively and chimed in unison, “Good evening, Uncle Oliver.”

The earl cast Miss Collins an irritated glance before he gestured to the boy and girl. “Well, be seated and tell me what you think about England, since it is your first visit.” The children went to the sofa and Miss Collins chose a chair facing them, smiling at the pair as if they were her own progeny.

Jamie shifted restlessly on the gold-and-blue damask furniture. As he eyed the gentleman, a complete stranger, he saw little to alleviate his fear. He wanted to take Honoria and run back to the comfort of the sitting room, but Miss Collins said he must get acquainted with his father’s brother. The boy shot the lady a questioning look, then decided that for his sister’s sake he must be brave. What did he think about his new home?

“ ’Tis frightfully cold here, sir, even when the sun is shining.”

Miss Collins nodded her approval at Jamie. Then she looked to the earl. “I told the children that you would make certain they had proper clothing for our English winters. I fear we are all sadly lacking in woolen coats.”

“To be sure, my wards will have proper wardrobes.” The earl cursed his thoughtlessness on the matter. Even he knew that India’s climate required little winter attire. “I shall send for a seamstress from the village tomorrow.”

The lady’s brilliant smile sent a tremor of awareness racing through Hawksworth’s body. He forced his gaze back to the children, telling himself that Miss Collins was not the type of female he generally admired.

Without much thought to the direction of the conversation, the earl remarked, “When the weather is warmer, Jamie, you might like to go to the river and fish where your papa and I used to when we were your age.”

Honoria’s blue eyes grew wide and she drew her hands to her cheeks. “You mustn’t make Jamie go to the river, Uncle. It is full of dragons.”

Jamie cuffed his sister on the shoulder. “They aren’t dragons, silly. Only crocodiles, and I am not afraid.”

Emily rose and went to sit beside the trembling little girl. She had been only a few years older than Honoria was now when she’d first arrived in India and knew what terrors the child must have suffered in the country. “Honoria, there are no crocodiles in England, only in the East Indies.”