An Heir of Deception (36 page)

“Nicholas will inherit.” He hadn’t done all this to cave at the first sign of trouble. His cousin could do his worst but Alex would fight him every step of the way.

“Well then it appears we are to have a wedding.” His mother spoke as if the matter wasn’t up for further discussion.

“The sooner you get her with child, the better. I shall pray for male issue.” She came smoothly to her feet—a clear indication the meeting was adjourned. “Leave everything to me. I shall make the arrangements. Of course, there are things I will have to discuss with your wife. Since holding the wedding at the Cathedral is out of the question, we shall have to settle for St. George’s. Would a June wedding suit? Or perhaps July, right at the end of the Season?”

So he was to be married. This time for real. Strangely, he didn’t believe he could feel more married than he already did.

“I suggest you discuss the matter with my wife,” he replied.

“Well then, when you see her, please inform her I shall be in contact in the next several days. Your father and I will be staying at the cottage for two weeks. We are having the public rooms in town repapered and the floors in the library and drawing room buffed. I simply can’t tolerate the dust. It plays havoc with my breathing.”

The duke staying so close by. In the not-so-distant past, the notion would have filled Alex with dread and sent him to the other end of England. Now, he felt…nothing. The duke no longer had the power to hurt him or raise his ire. He had been noticeably quiet since his introduction to his grandson. Ordinarily, Alex would have received summons to attend him in London. The past five years, he’d blithely ignored them, only going to Somerset House at his mother’s request.

“Your father would like it if you brought Nicholas to visit. And before you say no,” she hastened to add, “I hope you can find it in your heart to be the bigger man. You know how much pride your father has. It would take an act of Parliament for him to admit he was wrong and apologize.”

Alex didn’t believe even that would do it. “And you expect me to forget a lifetime of abominable treatment by the duke because I happened to produce a son who looks just like him and his beloved son.”

“Why must you persist in addressing him by his title? He is your father.”

“He never appeared to mind it.”

“Of course he minds. He believes the practice to be impertinent. And admit it, my dear, you do it to antagonize him.”

That he did. “Why do you expect me to mend fences with him now? Because he believes me to be his son?”

“You are his son,” his mother said sharply.

“I’ve been his son these last thirty-four years, Mama.”

His mother sighed, her gray eyes troubled. “I’m not asking you to forget, for neither of us can. I’m just asking you not to deny him his grandson.”

Only his mother could prick his conscience in just that way. She’d always had that ability. “I will think on it.”

A smile wreathed her face. “Good. That is all I ask.”

“And in return I ask that you be kind to my wife. I will not tolerate any mistreatment of her. I did not like your manner with her at the ball.”

The duchess’ spine lengthened and her chin lifted. She looked properly taken aback. This was a delicate dance to get his mother to see reason.

“Come, Mama,” he coaxed, “I’ve seen you perform it more than a dozen times. You can be excessively charming when you want. Expend that gift on my wife.”

A mix of concern and understanding flared in her eyes. “I believe I can manage that. I do hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I hope so too,” he said gravely.

Alex stood and came from behind the desk to see his mother out. After placing a feathered bonnet on her head and settling a silk shawl on her shoulders, both which the footman handed her, she reached up and kissed Alex softly on the cheek. She wore the same exclusive scent she purchased in Paris as she had since he was a child.

“Give my grandson a hug for me and make certain he’s in next I call,” she instructed as he assisted her into the carriage.

Once she was safely ensconced inside, she gave a regal wave and then she was gone.

“Unca Lucas,” Nicholas practically screamed before taking off down the corridor, his little legs pumping. With his customary enthusiasm and excitement, he pitched himself into Lucas’s arms.

Lucas caught him up on his chest and then proceeded to hold him high above him, spinning around until Nicholas was thoroughly dizzy and giggling like a mad hyena.

“Do it again,” he cried.

“All right, one more time,” Lucas said, relenting. “Your mother will have my head if I make you spill your breakfast.” He sent a grin her way.

“You are here early. Where are you taking Katie today?” Charlotte asked. The day after the ball, Katie had confessed he’d become a regular visitor at Rutherford Manor.

“Today, I’m off to London. I stopped by to bring Nicholas this.” From his coat pocket, Lucas produced a small wind-up train, which had her son squealing in delight.

Snatching it from Lucas’s palm, Nicholas took to the task of winding the red train. He then placed it on the wood floor and chortled with glee as it began rolling down the hall.

When the train came to a stop, Nicholas scooped it up and grasped Lucas’s hand and began tugging him toward the stairs. “Come and watch me make it go on the train tracks up’tairs.”

Laughing, Lucas allowed himself to be pulled along, turning to Charlotte with a helpless shrug. “All right, but just for a minute. Uncle Lucas has a train to catch.”

Charlotte stood and watched the two until they disappeared upstairs before setting out in search of her sister.

Katie was where she always was at that time of the morning, in the morning room practicing on the piano. Her sister was determined to become passable on the instrument as it appeared being accomplished was too far out of her scope.

The playing halted the moment she entered the room. Katie twisted on the bench, a smile of greeting on her face.

“I didn’t expect you at all today now that Elizabeth and Amelia have gone.”

The Armstrongs and Creswells and their broods had departed for their respective homes the day prior, two days after the ball. Charlotte had been sad to see them go but had been there to send them off.

“My son simply wouldn’t permit me to sleep a minute longer,” Charlotte said, crossing the room to take a seat on the sofa. “In any case, I had already awoken and couldn’t fall back to sleep.”

In the distance, she heard the rumbling of a male voice coming from the entry way. Curious, she glanced out the window facing the front. In the drive she saw her husband’s barouche parked behind the carriage Lucas had leased while in Reading.

Lucas was upstairs with Nicholas.

“Alex is here.” Panicked, Charlotte sprang to her feet and rushed from the room and into the foyer. It was empty save the footman posted near the front door.

“Lord Avondale, did he arrive?” she asked breathlessly.

“He’s upstairs looking for Lord Nicholas.”

“Lottie, what’s wrong?” her sister cried out from behind her.

“Katie, please remain here. I shall send Nicholas down to you,” Charlotte said and hurried up the stairs, her skirts whirling about her like linens on a line on a day the air had a pleasant kick. The tale only got worse and worse.

She reached the second floor with her heart thundering loudly in her ears. Slowing to a quick walk, she started toward the wing that housed the nursery. Just as she turned the corner to the stretch of hall leading to the playroom, she spotted Alex looking the picture of a waxed image of him would have done. He stood utterly still and silent, staring through the partially opened door. As it was obvious he hadn’t seen her, Charlotte pressed herself back against the wall to remain hidden from view.

Gingerly, she peeped at him around the corner wall and watched as he did nothing but stare into the room, his expression haunted. Nicholas’s giggles and Lucas’s deep-throated laughter filtered into the hallway. Charlotte had heard the exact sounds countless times over the years. But hearing it today was like the slash of a dagger on skin already open and bleeding, for she knew that was why Alex flinched.

He turned then, his face no longer in profile. And for as long as Charlotte lived, she would never forget the anguish in his eyes. Jerking her head back, she wanted nothing but to disappear into the walls. Tears pricked her eyes and emotion constricted her throat.

Had he seen her? He’d looked in her vicinity but his eyes hadn’t appeared focused. Seconds later, he passed her at a brisk pace and soon after she heard his feet pounding down the stairs.

Slowly, carefully, Charlotte stepped out from her hiding place and the tears she’d tried to keep in check began to flow. Guilt, the likes she’d never experienced before in her life, consumed her whole.

How could she have been so utterly thoughtless to not have known the effect Lucas’s presence would have on him? It was wrecking him through and through as evidenced by the tormented expression on his face.

After wiping the tears from her eyes, Charlotte started toward the playroom when Lucas and Nicholas emerged all grins, laughter and male camaraderie. How would they feel if they knew they’d just cut Alex to the quick with their easy familiarity and affection?

“Nicholas dear, Mama wants you to go downstairs and ask Aunt Katie to take you to the back where you can rejoin your cousins. I’d like to speak to Uncle Lucas before he leaves.” Her voice held a firmness that immediately elicited results.

Clutching his new toy in his hand, Nicholas said goodbye to Lucas before dashing off, only slowing before he reached the stairs when she cautioned him not to run.

Lucas watched her, his forehead creased in concern. He’d known her long enough to know something wasn’t right.

“Come, it’s best if we not have this discussion in the hall,” she said, and proceeded him into the playroom.

Once they were standing in what could only be described as a child’s dream, the room spacious containing doll houses, train tracks and a plethora of other children’s delights, Charlotte looked Lucas directly in the eye.

“Lucas, you must leave.”

His brows drew together, surprise lighting his brown eyes. “Are you evicting me from your brother’s home?”

Distressed, Charlotte shook her head, strands of hair floating about her face. “I mean we cannot see you anymore. At least for now,” she added in an attempt to blunt the impact of her words.

“This is about your husband.” His mouth was tight, his expression grim.

“I cannot put him through any more than he’s already gone through. Your presence now and your relationship with Nicholas is tearing him apart. I should have been more sensitive. I should have known how much it would hurt him.”

Lucas drew in a deep breath, his head tipped up to the painted ceiling of blue skies, clouds and stars. He idly studied the mural before he returned his gaze to her. “Dammit, Charlotte, you deserve better than this. If he doesn’t trust you—”

“No, don’t you dare criticize him. You have no idea what he’s been through because of the decisions I’ve made. The truth is I left him on our wedding day. I gave birth to his son without his knowledge. He didn’t abandon us, I abandoned him and now—” Charlotte lost the capacity to speak, emotion choked her words.

“You left him?” he asked, disbelieving.

“I’m surprised you haven’t already heard. I thought for certain you’d have heard the gossip by now.” No, truth be told, she thought Katie would have said something about it to him.

“You know I don’t care for nor listen to gossip. Moreover, I’m a stranger here. Who would have thought to tell me?” He paused before saying, “This whole time we’ve been acquainted, you gave all indications that you were available for marriage. It came as quite a surprise when your sister informed me you were already wed.” He appeared more hurt than angry at the deception.

“I’m terribly sorry for that but I had my reasons for not being truthful with you. I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. The truth is I’ve loved Alex almost from the day I met him. He will and has always been the only one for me.”

Lucas’s mouth quirked in a half smile. “So I never stood a chance,” he teased.

Charlotte shook her head and smiled.