The Viscount's Vendetta (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (39 page)

“No one who knew your father ever believed he would do such a thing, but all the evidence pointed in that direction.” The doctor turned to walk out of the room. He put his hand on Damon’s shoulder. “It is good that you know he didn’t kill himself. It will help ease the pain you have carried all these years over your father’s death.”

“How did you know?” Damon asked, surprised.

“For the ones of us who have lived here a long time, we saw it in your eyes. Thank goodness your sweet lady has gotten to the bottom of this mystery. Don’t worry. She’s strong and will give you many children to fill this big old place.” The doctor smiled, took his bag, and left.

Harold and Eleanor were pale. Their eyes avoided meeting Damon’s.

“We all need a strong drink, including you, Eleanor. A sip of my fine brandy will do you good.” Damon urged them to come with him to the lounge. He sent Buckley for the whiskey and brandy.

“There is no reason for you two to feel guilty. None at all. You are not responsible for Charles’s actions.” Damon smiled at the two as they looked directly at him.

“My family has brought you so much grief. How can you stand the sight of us?” Harold asked.

“Every family has problems. We will stick together. I hope this will be the beginning of a long friendship between our two families. We must decide what we want the public to know about what occurred here today. Enough harm has been done. Let us find a way to satisfy the curious, without shaming the Royston name.”

The front door opened and Hannah came barreling through. “Word just reached us of Caroline being shot. Is she all right?”

Looking beyond his sister, he saw his aunt and uncle with worried expressions on their faces. “Come in. I believe all is going to be well. The doctor seems most confident that with care and love, Caroline will recover. Let me introduce my guests. This is my cousin, Harold Royston and his wife, Eleanor. Harold was Charles’s brother.”

Damon took Hannah’s hand. “This is my sister, Hannah, and my uncle, the Marquis of Sommerplace, and my Aunt Elizabeth, his wife.”

Both men shook hands and Aunt Elizabeth stepped across to Eleanor. “Let us drop all formality. You all look as though you have been through a terrible ordeal. May I hug you?” she asked Eleanor.

Eleanor stepped into her open arms and began to cry. Hannah came up beside her and patted her back.

“I think our ladies need some privacy.” Damon’s uncle was the first to speak. “Where is that good whiskey you keep for special times, Damon? I suggest we retire to the billiards room and partake of some of it.”

* * * *

Damon sat beside Caroline’s bed in the darkened room. Small slivers of light were beginning to show between the break in the curtains. He had sat beside her all night holding tightly to her hand. Caroline had slept soundly after Nanny had given her a dose of medicine the doctor had left.

“My love, how can you ever forgive me?” Damon whispered. His head was bent down over her hand and he brushed his lips across her fingers. “Not only would I not listen to you, but I berated you at every turn, and all because of the anger and mistrust inside me. Everyone else saw your goodness.” Tears fell onto her hand.

“Damon?” Caroline whispered. “My throat’s so dry. What happened?” She tried to move, then winced and fell back.

“Caroline, my love, be still. Dr. Fellows has bandaged your shoulder and said you must rest.”

Caroline lifted her hand and touched his face. “You’ve been crying. What is wrong?”

“It’s nothing for you to worry about, my love. When you’re better, we will talk. I’m so grateful you are going to be well.” He smiled at her. “I think I will have to give Old Peter a huge reward for saving your life.”

“I remember. Charles shot me.”

“Yes, but Peter yelled at Charles, throwing his aim off, thus saving your life. The bullet hit your shoulder. Thankfully, it didn’t hit any bones or vital areas. Dr. Fellows feels sure you will make a full recovery.”

Caroline rubbed her lips with her tongue. Damon poured her a glass of water and held her so she could swallow.

“That tastes good. What time is it?”

Damon laid her back down and went over to pull back the curtains. “It’s morning.”

“You must have been here all night, Damon. I can see the stubble of your beard, and your clothes are mussed. Why did you not have Mary or Nanny sit with me?”

“I would not leave you until I saw for myself that you were improved. By the way, my dear wife, when did you plan on telling me about our child that the doctor said you are carrying?”

Caroline’s hand reached out protectively to her stomach.

“The babe is all right. The doctor says you are strong and he has high hopes of delivering many children to us. Children to fill the empty rooms in this old house.” Damon smiled down at her.

“I don’t understand. You aren’t mad at me? You will not take my child away from me to raise yourself?”

“You and our child will be here with me for all my days, if I can convince you to forgive me for the horrible way I have treated you. However, for now, you must rest. We will discuss everything later. Get well and do not worry.”

“I am tired and confused.”

“I expect you are, my love. I’ll send Nanny Fowler and Mary to help you freshen up and bring you some broth. You need to take in nourishment for you and the babe.”

Damon started to walk away. Caroline reached out and grabbed his hand. “You care for me and our child?”

He sat down beside her on the bed. “I love you and our child. I have loved you since the first time I saw you standing in the street berating that poor man about his treatment of the chimney boy. I’ve been too proud and stubborn to admit my love, even to myself. After all, I was convinced your father was my enemy. I don’t deserve your love, but I hope someday I can earn it.” He leaned over and kissed her softly on her lips.

She held tightly to his hand. “I never stopped loving you. When I was at my parents’, I realized how strong my love was and I felt you were in grave danger. Going to meet Charles’s brother was the only way I could think of to help solve the mystery. What happened to Charles? Did he run off?”

“No, he died instantly from Peter’s shot. It’s best. Otherwise, I would have had to kill him myself.”

“How are Harold and Eleanor?”

“They are grieving for the man they used to know. I have promised we will continue to be friends and family.” Damon’s hand caressed the side of her face. “Enough questions. I will be back later, and we will talk more.”

Nanny and Mary were waiting anxiously outside the door and hurried inside as Damon came out. Damon went downstairs to find his uncle and aunt and to let all of them know Caroline was better.

“Damon.” His uncle met him at the door to the dining room. “The ladies are eating. Harold and I would like to discuss with you what we should say happened yesterday.”

“Buckley, bring coffee to my study.” Damon led the way down the hall to the study. He stood back as his Uncle Christopher and Harold entered. After passing cups of coffee around, Damon stood at the fireplace facing the other two men.

“We must tell the truth of the occurrences to clear any questions regarding your father’s death,” Harold said first.

Damon’s uncle agreed. “There needs to be no more questions surrounding the family. The gossips will talk of nothing for a few days, and then something else will get their attention. If we all stand together as a united group, it will impress them.”

“I had hoped to not cause added grief to you, Harold, and your wife,” Damon protested.

“My wife and I are strong. We loved Charles, but realized he had many faults. We never suspected to what a degree his childhood had poisoned him. Do not concern yourselves about us.”

“Then after I get more details from my wife on exactly what happened yesterday, we will all talk with the constable. I asked the doctor to give us a day before he called the authorities about Charles’s death.”

“Good, it’s settled.” Damon’s uncle stood and smiled. “Finally, this family can find peace.”

* * * *

Damon found Peter in the stable cleaning out the stalls. “Charles told me he had retired you several years ago, and yet I find you working hard, still on the job.”

“Your lady asked me to stay. I would not leave her.” The old man’s words were said softly, but firmly.

“I am very thankful you did not. It amazes me the loyalty one tiny woman has created in all my staff. How I could be so blind and not see Charles was the only one who disliked her.”

“Sometimes a man sees one way so long, he can’t see any other

way. ’Tis good to see your eyes open, Lord Royston.”

“Finally,” Damon said and smiled. “I want to reward you for saving my wife’s life. What would you like?”

“I don’t need nothin’. ’Cept maybe to be allowed to stay by your lady’s side. I’m old, but she makes me feel useful.”

“I’m sure she will happy to have you and Gallant with her. I agree to your request, but I insist on having your sons build you a better house on the farm, and you must go home when you feel tired.” He put his hand on Peter’s bony shoulder. “We don’t want to lose you anytime soon.”

Damon hurried back to the house and took the stairs two at time. He hoped to find Caroline awake. She sat up in bed, with pillows behind her, and her golden hair curling down and around her neck.

“You are so beautiful.” He slowed his walk when he entered the room. “Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“I am resting. I can see you and Nanny are going to drive me quite insane with your demands that I relax. Please sit. I have some information I still need to tell you.” Caroline motioned for him to sit by her side.

“Charles explained what happened the day of your father’s death. He claimed it was an accident, and said he only took the gun with him to frighten your father.

“He didn’t want a letter sent to his father regarding the missing funds. Knowing Charles’s background and upbringing, I understand and almost feel sorry for him.”

“You, my dear, are too gentle at heart. You forgive us both for treating you so shabbily.” Damon’s expression darkened. “I can’t forgive myself for being so stubborn and certain I was right. I endangered your life and our child’s.”

“Please, you must forgive yourself. It is the only way we can begin fresh with all the old doubts and angers gone. Do it for me.” Caroline stretched her hand out to him.

“We will make an agreement. I will try to forget my despicable behavior, if you promise not to fuss too much when Nanny Fowler and I insist you remain abed until Dr. Fellows says you may be up.”

“You drive a hard bargain, husband. I see you are still going to be insistent on having your own way.” Caroline’s eyes flashed with happiness.

Damon groaned and knelt at her side. He cuddled her in his arms. “Just wait until you are well, wife. I will show you how very much I love you.” Damon kissed her lips softly and reluctantly pulled back. “By the way, you never told me what you most desired in a husband.”

“I most desire a husband who is kind and loving, and”—she grinned at him—“who appreciates me as I am.”

“Good, I think I can meet those qualifications easily.”

“Really?” Caroline teasingly raised her eyebrow at him.

“Without a doubt. I love you because of the person you are. Rest, my love, so you can fully recover.”

* * * *

The constable came the next day. Damon shared the papers Caroline and he had found with him. He also told him of the last conversation Caroline had with Charles.

“It seems to clear up the questions raised when your father died, Lord Royston. I’ll take care of all the inquiries. You say he’s to be buried in the family plot by the church?”

“Yes, his brother and sister-in-law are still with us. We will have a small service. My wife insists he be treated as family, regardless of his faults, and Rev. Smitten has agreed to do the service.”

The constable scratched his head. “Women are funny creatures, but I heard your lady was especially good hearted. Glad we are to have you back in the neighborhood, if I may say so.”

“Thank you. We are glad to be home and plan to stay here.”

Harold entered the drawing room after the constable had left. “I can never thank you enough for how you have treated us, Damon. Eleanor and I will both rest easier knowing Charles is not buried in some felon’s grave. We would have taken him home, if not for the distance.”

“I understand. Caroline and I discussed the burial, and she agrees. She is hoping you two will stay until she is up and around.”

“We would like to, but we must get back to our boys. You both must come see us.”

Damon smiled and shook Harold’s hand. “We will, and we will bring our child to meet you.”

“Agreed.” Harold and Damon stood quiet for a moment. “I know Eleanor loves me. She has assured me many times, but right now she is grieving for her first lost love. I think going home and being with our boys will be the best for her,” Harold said.

“You are an understanding husband.”

“I love her,” Harold stated firmly. “And she loves me. I respect her memories.”