“As if I’d let her lord it over me.”
Marcus held onto his temper with some effort. He’d forgotten how bloody stubborn she could be. “Then perhaps my grandmother would take you or some other relative. I’m sure we can drum up someone suitable.”
“Why would you bother?”
“Because I feel damn guilty about you.”
Her only reply was a sniff. He reached across and took her hand. “Felicity, we used to be friends. We can do much better than this. I swear on my father’s grave that I will do everything in my power to make this up to you, but I cannot have you speaking ill of my wife.” He hesitated. “When you get to know her better, I am sure you will come to like her very much. She saved my life. I owe her everything.”
“And she got everything, didn’t she?”
“Only after I begged and pleaded with her to come back and marry me.”
“Then she is cleverer than she looks.”
“Good God, yes. You must have known I wouldn’t dream of marrying anyone who wasn’t as clever as you are, Felicity.”
“All right.” She drew her hand out of his. “I will do my best to be civil to her.”
“I would appreciate that enormously. And as to the rest of it, I’ve arranged to speak to Mr. Berry tomorrow about various matters to do with the estate. I will be sure to mention the release of your dowry as of the utmost importance.”
“I should think so, too.”
“Charles seem to think—”
She turned her head away and picked up her embroidery. “Charles has worked very hard to put the estate in order. I do hope you appreciate it.”
“I do.” Marcus stood as a headache threatened. “Don’t worry. I intend to make sure that he is compensated for all the work he has done.” He paused. “You know him better than I do, Felicity. Will I ever be able to make up for the loss of the title to him?”
“Oh for goodness sake, Marcus, don’t be ridiculous.” He was pleased that she seemed to have reverted back to treating him like a tiresome older brother. One thing she had never been was a sulker. “Charles did it for you. In his heart, he always thought you would come back, even after everyone else—including me—had given up hope.”
“Then I am doubly in his debt.” Marcus bowed. “Thank you. I know this isn’t easy for you, Felicity, or for Charles, but I appreciate your understanding more than I can say.”
Her hands twisted together on her lap. “I don’t care what you think of me and my behavior. All I want is for Charles to be recognized for his unswerving loyalty and devotion.”
“I understand.”
She held his gaze. “Thank you. And now I suppose I should summon the housekeeper and Cook and introduce them to your wife.”
“Her name is Amelia.”
“I will do my duty to her for your sake and for the sake of this family.” She waved him away. “Ask her to meet me in the small morning room adjacent to the servants’ stairs.”
Marcus bowed and left the room. It seemed to take forever to make his way back to his bedchamber. He was fairly certain that Felicity would accept his help to disentangle herself from his family. She was remarkably black and white about everything and her pride meant everything to her. He pressed a hand to his temple. Every encounter with his family made his head ache in a futile attempt to make sense of his past and their part in it. There were so many holes where his memory was blank. He kept worrying that if he didn’t concentrate very hard he wouldn’t understand anything at all.
His bedchamber was blessedly quiet, and he took the opportunity to sit in a chair facing the park outside and stared at nothing. Eventually, his heart stopped racing and his headache receded. He’d been groomed to take over the Stortford estates since birth, but what had once come naturally to him seemed forced and fake and…
Bloody exhausting.
How was he ever going to manage everything? The idea of being responsible for anyone else’s wellbeing was terrifying. He would protect Amelia with his life, but everyone else? His staff, his tenants, and the people who depended on him? He no longer wanted to be in charge of anyone’s destiny. War had shaken all his certainties about God and the order of things. Now all he saw was chaos.
He took another look out over the neatly tended fields, his gaze drawn to the ancient church spire in the distant center of Bishops Stortford. Time went on. Families thrived and died in a bewildering pattern that no one could even attempt to understand. Perhaps knowing that, knowing that disorder was only a hairsbreadth away, would make him a better manager.
With Amelia beside him, there was no chance of him racing up to London and gambling, whoring and drinking his way through his fortune. If he did stay as the active head of the Stortford family, he would do his best to safeguard the estate against any possible disaster. And if it came to hand-to-hand fighting to defend his land, he was quite capable of killing.
All men were.
Marcus considered how many days it would be before he was able to get back to London. If he had judged the Duke of Diable Delamere accurately, Jack would be well aware of his return. Whether Jack wanted to meet Marcus or not, he would have no choice in the end. He would be found and explanations would be made. And then there would be a reckoning between them.
“I hope you don’t mind going back to London so quickly,” Marcus said.
Amelia turned to study his austere face. “Not when we are traveling in such style. I assume you are attempting to find Jack?”
“Yes.”
Marcus pinched the bridge of his nose as though his head was aching, which it probably was. She’d noticed he suffered from a lot of headaches, especially when he was stressed or attempting to read for long periods of time. He’d spent most of the previous day shut in the estate room with Charles and the land agent and had emerged white-faced and gone straight to bed.
“Luckily, we can stay at Stortford House. It is in a very convenient location.”
“I’m sure it is.” Amelia rubbed the glass window of the carriage with the tip of her glove. “Where do you expect to find Jack?”
“I’m not sure. I suspect I’ll have to go back to the Duke of Diable Delamere.”
“Oh dear.”
Marcus looked up. “You know him?”
“Hardly.” Amelia hastened to cover her error.
“My dear, I am quite certain that you grew up in the best of society. There is no need to pretend otherwise.”
She didn’t say anything and after a moment he continued speaking.
“The duke has many contacts and intimated that he knew Jack rather well.” He frowned. “Although he didn’t mention that Jack had been discharged from the military and disowned by his own family. He
did
try to tell me that I shouldn’t believe everything I’d heard.”
“Do you think Jack might be innocent as well?”
“I don’t know.” Marcus shrugged. “I can’t see how. Despite the fact that he joined up as a regular soldier, he is the son of a duke. His father might have used his influence to lessen the charges purely to protect the family name and reputation.”
“That sounds just like an aristocrat,” Amelia agreed.
“What exactly did your father do to protect
his
family name, Amelia?”
“What he deemed necessary.” She resumed her station at the window. “I think I’ll use that guinea I saved to venture out into the markets and buy myself the fabric for a new gown. I can hardly sally forth in this old dress.”
“There is no need to do that.”
“There is every need. I look like a dowd.”
“Felicity has already arranged for a dressmaker to attend you at Stortford House.”
“She has?”
“She thought you would be pleased.” His quiet chuckle made her swing back around to stare at him. “She said she didn’t want anyone mistaking you for one of the servants.”
“Felicity is an extremely managing young woman, but I am remarkably relieved that she has decided not to hate me.” Amelia bit her lip. “I don’t have the coin to pay a dressmaker.”
“You are the Countess of Havering. You can afford anything you like.” Marcus made an airy gesture with his hands. “Trust me, I saw the accounts yesterday. Charlie has done wonders with the estate. Far better than I would’ve done. I intend to make you a quarterly allowance, but order what you need for now, and we can settle up later.”
Amelia blinked at him. “Are you quite serious?”
His smile widened. “Absolutely. When was the last time you had a new dress?”
She glanced down at her serviceable blue skirts. “That I didn’t help make myself? That would’ve been the year of my debut in society. A lifetime ago.”
He caught hold of her hand and kissed her fingers. “Then I am delighted to offer you
carte blanche.”
He winked. “In the financial sense.”
“I…” She swallowed hard. “I wish I could be noble and insist that I am quite content with my old dresses, but I cannot. The thought of one new gown, let alone several makes me very happy.” She squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”
He leaned across and kissed her nose. “Thank you for marrying me. If I have to spend the Havering money I’d much rather spend it on you than me.” His expression grew serious. “And if we are to scale the walls of society in search of Jack, we need the proper armor.”
“I thought your grandmother said he was working as a nurse?”
“Jack? Did she?” He frowned. “I don’t remember. All I do know is that there is some connection between him and the duke. If we want to find Jack we’ll have to brave the duke’s mansion in Grosvenor Square.”
Amelia gave a little shudder. “I can’t wait.”
Five days later, attired in her newly delivered morning gown, Amelia stood beside Marcus on the steps leading up to the duke’s extremely grand house. Marcus’s calling card was accepted, and they were ushered into the black-and-white tiled hall and up the stairs to the duchess’s drawing room. Marcus’s muscles tightened beneath the fine cloth of his sleeve and he almost balked in front of the door.
Amelia squeezed his arm. “Courage, my friend.”
“The Earl and Countess of Havering, Your Grace.” The butler bowed and stood to one side, allowing them to pass. There was only one other person present in the room.
An elegant woman wearing a blue silk dress that Amelia instantly coveted rose to her feet and came toward them. She wasn’t classically beautiful, but she was handsome and clearly aware of her worth. Amelia couldn’t remember meeting her before, which was something of a relief. She’d spent several anxious moments wondering whether any of her former associates would recognize her after almost ten years away from London society.
“Good afternoon. His Grace said I should expect you to call on me.” The duchess took Amelia’s hand in hers. “I also believe I should congratulate you on your recent marriage.”
Amelia curtsied. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Beside her Marcus bowed low. “Your Grace.”
“Please come and sit with me.” The duchess resumed her seat. “I understand that you have only recently returned to England, my lord.”
Marcus studied the duchess carefully. “With all due respect, Your Grace, you are remarkably well informed.”
“His Grace is the one with all the information. I just make sure he shares it with me when necessary.”
“Then you will probably also know that I am looking for Jack Llewellyn.”
“So I have heard.” The duchess fixed her intelligent gaze on Marcus. “I am very fond of Jack. He took good care of my brother Michael who was injured during the war.” She smiled at Amelia. “After Jack’s intervention, Michael grew strong enough to take on the rather complex job of the duke’s secretary.”
“Michael Waterstone is your brother, Duchess?” Marcus asked.
“Indeed he is. Have you met him?”
“I met him a few weeks ago when I first came looking for the duke. I believe I am also acquainted with at least one of your older brothers who fought in Spain.”
“My husband said you were a military man, my lord. Is that how you also know Jack?”
Amelia glanced at the duchess. There was nothing in her face to indicate that she knew how much Marcus blamed her friend for his current situation. It was possible that the Duke of Diable Delamere hadn’t shared absolutely everything with his formidable wife. It was also possible that the duchess wouldn’t have believed the duke if he had.
“Yes, I met Jack in Spain as well.”
“He is currently in Wales on a commission for the duke.”
Marcus frowned. “He has not yet returned?”
“We expect him back shortly. He was escorting his wife home and might have become caught up in family affairs.”
“His wife?” Marcus asked. “I thought they were estranged.”
“They were.” The duchess sighed. “I believe the duke hoped they might resolve their differences on the journey, but I suspect he is being rather optimistic.”
“About what, my dear?”
“Oh, there you are, Your Grace.”
Amelia looked back toward the door as the Duke of Diable Delamere came in. He wore a black coat and white linen that emphasized the hard line of his jaw and his autocratic nose. His silver eyes were fixed most disconcertingly on her.
Marcus rose slowly to his feet. “Your Grace. I understand that Jack has not yet returned.”
“You are correct.” The duke advanced into the room and paused beside his wife to take her hand and kiss it. “Madame, your obedient servant. I apologize for my late arrival.” His gaze turned to Amelia. “Would you be so good as to introduce me?”
Marcus stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. “This is my wife, Amelia, Countess of Havering.”
The duke’s bow was perfection. “A pleasure, my lady.” He glanced over at Marcus. “Your intended bride decided not to wait for you after all?”
“We agreed to part. She is free to marry as she chooses, Your Grace.”
“Then I suspect she’ll take your brother. I’ve often thought they’d make an admirable couple.” The duke took the seat next to his wife. “Will you pour me some tea, my dear?”
Marcus put on his hat and offered Amelia his arm as they went down the steps of the mansion. The skies were clear and there was no chance of rain. They had decided to walk back to Stortford House.
“It feels like I will never see Jack,” Marcus grumbled.