The Viscount's Vendetta (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (34 page)

“Stop, I don’t want to hear anymore lies.”

“They aren’t lies. I believe Charles had something to do with your

Father’s death.”

“And I believe you will say anything to discredit Charles and get your way. Go and pack. I am taking you to your parents. I should have known when I married the daughter of the man who treated my father so disgracefully, she was not to be trusted.”

“You are sending me away?” Caroline couldn’t believe Damon was serious.

“We will live separately, and I don’t want to ever hear of you or your parents again. I will not go through a divorce because of the scandal, but in my mind we will be as divorced.”

His last statement was such a blow Caroline bent over holding her stomach. Damon did not move. His face and body were as though carved out of stone. She forced herself to straighten her back and hold her head high.

“As you wish, Lord Royston. I will be ready to leave when you command.” Still holding her body rigidly straight, she left the room.

* * * *

Damon sat without moving after Caroline left his office. Emptiness filled his soul. In many ways, she had him more confused and lost than he’d been after his father’s death. A spark of trust had flickered briefly. He tasted the bitterness of his loss.

Caroline’s face had paled, and she looked stricken. He wrestled with his conscience as he paced across his study. It only showed how well she could act.

He walked to the French windows and stepped outside into the overcast, cool day. The wind stirred up. Light sprinkles of rain blew across his face. He wanted to go upstairs and take her into his arms, but he would not be so weak. He walked inside and closed the door firmly behind him. He would leave in the morning, and he could be rid of her by late afternoon.

Then he would go home to Atelstone and forget her and her father. His desire for revenge had backfired on him, as his uncle warned. He only wished to find peace. Hannah would return with him. He had friends. He did not need her.

“Buckley.” Damon stepped out of his study.

“Yes, milord?”

“Tell Lady Royston we will leave tomorrow morning and go straight through to her parents’ home.”

“Yes, sir.” Buckley turned to do his bidding.

Damon knew he would also have to deal with the questioning looks of his staff when he returned to Atelstone without Caroline. He shrugged. It did not matter. He was the viscount, and he certainly did not have to answer to his servants.

* * * *

Nanny found Caroline sitting curled up in her chair by the unlit fireplace. “Good heavens, child, this room is damp. Why have you not asked anyone to light the fire? I knew I should not go all day to visit my friend. You don’t look well at all. Are you feeling sick?”

Nanny bustled around her, wrapping a rug over her legs, and lighting the fire. She ordered tea and biscuits. Finally, she sat across from Caroline and chaffed her hands between her warm ones.

“Now tell me what is wrong, Caroline. I’m sure we can fix it.”

Caroline lifted her head and stared at Nanny with eyes filled with tears. “No one can fix it. Damon is sending me away for good.”

Nanny gasped and sat silent.

“I lied to him, you see, when he asked about Sara being gone from the dance. I didn’t tell him she had been to Charles’s house. I was afraid of his anger. I wanted more proof of Charles’s deeds before I talked with Damon. Now it is too late. He won’t believe anything I say.”

“Did you tell him about the baby?” Nanny asked.

“No! You must say nothing to him. I’m not certain myself. I haven’t seen a doctor.

“Anyway, I won’t be tied to a man who hates me. If he knew he might still leave me and after our child’s birth he might take the baby from me. I’ll go home temporarily. As soon as possible I’ll find another place to live before my parents realize I’m with child.”

“Where will you move to? You can’t just disappear.” Nanny tried to reason with her.

“I’ll go far away, where no one will find me. Will you stay with me, Nanny?”

Nanny Fowler nodded. “Mary and I will not desert you even if I don’t agree with your decision.”

“Thank you, Nanny.” Caroline bent her head and harsh cries of anguish tore out of her. Nanny Fowler slipped off her chair and knelt by Caroline to hug her.

“Don’t cry, my dear. Time has a way of taking care of problems. You mustn’t let yourself get so upset. Think of the baby.”

Caroline moved her hand to touch her stomach. “You are right, Nanny. From now on, I will live for my child.”

There was a knock on the door. Caroline looked up, hoping it was Damon, and then she saw Buckley.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, milady. But Lord Royston asked me to inform you to be ready to leave tomorrow morning, and you’ll arrive at your parents’ home by evening.”

“Thank you, Buckley. Tell Lord Royston I will be ready.”

When the door shut, Caroline said, “Tomorrow, Nanny, this life ends. What lies ahead I’m not sure. Oh, Nanny, I never realized how I had grown to love him.”

“Remember the child, Caroline. I will order soup for dinner and start packing. You had best lie down.”

* * * *

Damon found Rook at White’s. He waited while Rook finished his hand of cards, and then invited Rook to join him at a lone table in the corner of the room.

“What’s going on, Damon? You have been staring daggers at me since you came in.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about your excursion with Sara, the night of the dance?” Damon asked coldly.

“Ah, I told Sara and Caroline they should talk to you. Caroline felt you would be too angry to hear any explanations. I see she was right. Did you listen to her concerns?” Rook asked.

“Caroline took an instant dislike to my cousin, Charles, from the first time she met him. She has tried her best to find some reason for me to fire him. Of course, I did not listen to any nonsense regarding Charles. She is far from impartial.”

“Well, I for one could not let Lady Sara go out in the night alone, and she would never have spoken to me if I told you. I realize I was remiss not to have discussed it with you before I left.” Rook got a sheepish grin of his face. “I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I didn’t want to take the chance of Sara never speaking to me. Why I care I’m not sure, but I do.”

Damon stared at his friend. “Good god, man. I never thought to see you tied around some woman’s little finger.”

Rook blushed. “Well, don’t speak so loud. There’s no need for everyone to know.”

Damon leaned back in the chair and sighed. “I guess I can’t blame you for acting as a protector. It is Caroline’s fault for involving her friends.” Damon looked around the room at the crowd of men smoking, drinking, making bets, playing cards. He felt out of place and wanted to leave. He started to rise.

“Don’t be too hard on Caroline. Sara said Caroline told her not to go snooping around Charles’s house. Sara wanted to help, so she went without Caroline’s prior knowledge.”

“It doesn’t matter, Rook. Caroline and I are separating and I’m retiring to my estate.” Damon turned and walked away. He heard Rook’s voice, but he didn’t stop.

Tomorrow, it would be over. He’d start forgetting about the whole Halsford family. Tomorrow was going to be the most difficult day of his life. Buckley let him into the darkened house. He climbed the stairs slowly like a tired old man.

He’d drink himself to sleep. He didn’t want to dream. Dreams were for young girls like Hannah. He was a fool to ever start to trust and dream.

Damon sent Albert back to bed after he removed his boots. He sat in his chair and held the glass of whiskey tight. Suddenly, he threw the glass against the fireplace and watched the shining slivers of glass fall.

“Damn her.” He walked to his bed and lay staring up at the ceiling. Tears slide down his face for the first time in years.

Rain fell as the carriages left the outskirts of London. Caroline sat in the barouche with Hannah, Nanny, and Mary. She wore warm clothes and had a blanket over her legs. Nanny placed a warm brick at her feet, but nothing touched the cold core in the center of her body. Shivers ran down her back. The grayness outside fit her mood.

Damon rode ahead on Devil. His caped coat and hat covered him. He hadn’t spoken to her since she’d left his study. But there was nothing else she could say or do to change the situation.

She had managed to hand him the journal and the letter his aunt had given her, before she got inside the carriage.

Hannah stared across at her sister-in-law. “I don’t understand why we are suddenly leaving town, or why Damon is taking you to stay at your parents’. What has happened? Is your father worse? I tried to talk with Damon, but he is wearing a dark scowl, and he won’t answer my questions.”

“My father has been ill, Hannah. I’m going to stay with my parents for a few weeks, until he is better.” Caroline refused to be the one to tell Hannah that her brother was planning on separating permanently from her. Let him explain it.

Hannah looked puzzled, but she settled back in her seat. She stared out at the countryside as the coach traveled along the rutted muddy road.

Caroline tried to doze, but the carriage lurching from side to side kept her wake. Around noon, a small town came into view. The coach pulled in the local tavern’s yard. Apparently, Damon did intend to feed them.

Smoke and warmth hit Caroline’s face when she went inside the pub. A tall, buxom, blonde barmaid escorted her, Hannah, Nanny, and Mary to a private dining room.

“Your man said to take you to this room. My mum will be along directly with bowls of soup and bread.” She left, closing the door behind her.

Caroline took off her gloves and wool pelisse. She moved toward the fireplace with outstretched hands. The heat felt good to her chilled body. Heavy, red curtains drawn across the windows shut out the cold, windy day.

“It will be fall soon,” Nanny said.

Caroline didn’t move. She continued to try and get warm. She knew it wasn’t the weather but the piercing pain inside her that caused the coldness.

She had bungled everything. Not only did she not clear her father, but she further convinced Damon her family was not to be trusted. She touched her stomach and held her hand against her belly. Soon she would grow large with child. It should have been a happy time for her and Damon.

The proprietress entered carrying a large tray with bowls of steaming vegetable soup and large hunks of homemade bread covered in fresh butter. Caroline was surprised to hear her stomach growl.
So, little one, you demand to be fed whether I want it or not
.

Caroline sat at the table with Hannah, Nanny Fowler, and Mary. The women ate silently. The soup and warm bread was filling.

Hannah, restless after the meal, asked Mary to go with her for a brief walk. As soon as Hannah and Mary left the room, Nanny turned to Caroline.

“What are you going to do?” Nanny asked.

“I don’t know. I can’t think straight. After I get home I’ll consider my future. I don’t want to cry in front of Damon.”

“Maybe that’s what he needs to see. I doubt he has any idea how you feel. Your pride and his are keeping you from seeing each other as you really are and it will keep you apart.”

“Nanny, I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he has hurt me. At least I have my pride left.”

“Pride makes for a cold bedfellow,” Nanny Fowler said, and left her.

Caroline wandered about the room while waiting to be called to return to the carriage. Glancing out the window, she noticed the rain had stopped.

Mary knocked to tell her it was time to continue their journey. Nanny Fowler was sitting beside Hannah when Caroline stepped inside the barouche.

“I’m sorry I displease you, Nanny. I have to do the best I can as I see it.”

Nanny Fowler noted Caroline’s pallor and the tears in her eyes. “Don’t worry about me, luv. I shouldn’t be adding to your worries.” She reached across and wrapped the blanket around Caroline. “Stay warm, dear. Our driver said we should arrive in about three hours.”

Caroline hardly heard Nanny. She was watching Damon speaking to the proprietor, and then he swung onto his horse. He had taken his hat off, and his dark-brown hair was damp and wavy. He looked strong and sure of himself. She leaned back before he saw her staring, and the carriage pulled away from the tavern and headed on to their destination.

Her old home looked the same. Caroline saw lights in her father’s study and several other rooms of the house. Andrew, their butler, looked surprised to see Caroline standing at the door.

“Please ask Luke and Paul to take my luggage to my bedroom.” She motioned to the valises sitting on the ground behind her. “Nanny Fowler and Mary will need rooms. Let my parents know I have come home.”

Caroline walked into the large foyer and watched as the footmen carried the luggage in and up the stairs. She glanced back outside.

She had told Hannah a tearful good-bye inside the carriage. Damon helped her out. He didn’t look directly at her face, and his only comment was his attorney would be in touch with her. Caroline watched the coach start back down the drive. Damon on his horse was out in front. He never looked back.