High Stakes Chattel (17 page)

Samantha returned to Bentley Park with low spirits, unsure what to do. Should she resign and go back to be with her mother, even if it meant letting go of Mrs. Potter and handling it all herself? Or should she continue on, only to feel this pressing guilt?

She needed to talk to Nico. S
he wasn't sure what to say, but somehow knew he’d make her feel better.

Shortly after her arrival
, she saw him heading out to the barn. She thrilled that he’d come out to greet her, but the precariousness of her situation suddenly struck her hard. It was strange not knowing how to greet him. He was her lover, yet her employer. She wanted to touch him, to throw herself into his arms, but it didn't seem right.

His quick, jaunty walk slowed as he approached, and she sensed he felt
awkward too. They looked at each other for a long moment, both far more serious than they’d ever been in the past.

“How was yo
ur visit home?” He stood close but not touching her, looking into her eyes. His beauty still took her breath away. How was it possible for a man to look like that?

“It was good,” s
he stalled, not quite ready to tell him the painful details yet. “Did you get a lot of work done with me out of your hair?” She gave him a rather wistful smile, wondering if that was indeed the case, if he saw her as nothing more than a distraction from his meaningful work.

“Yes and no.
I got a lot done but my mind kept wandering to a certain girl in boys’ trousers.” He gave her one of his dazzling smiles that made her stomach flip. “Also, I came to the realization that I need to do another botanical expedition.”

“Expedition? To wh
ere?” Sudden worry overwhelmed her. She couldn’t bear it if he went away again so soon.

“To Swineshead. It's a little more than a half a day
’s ride to the west of here. It has a slightly different climate from ours.”

“How do you know that?”

“I've gone before.”

“Can't you ask someone to go
and gather plants for you?”

“I suppose I could
, but it’s important to my work, and I want it preserved properly. It’s just easier to go myself.”

“Yes. I understand.” She turned her attention back to the horse
she was grooming, determined not to let him see her disappointment.

“Will you go with me?” he asked
, sounding somehow vulnerable.

She hesitated.
Though she was thrilled that he’d asked, the worry and guilt over her mother was still weighing heavily on her mind.

“My mother was quite a bit worse. I want to go with you, but I worry that something will happen to her.”

“Worse in what
way?” Concern etched his handsome features as he reached out and held her hand.

“She didn't recognize me,” she said
, her voice catching a bit. “I couldn't get through to her and she looks like the life has gone out of her. I feel like I'm going to lose her.” Tears welled in her eyes. Nico moved swiftly to her and hugged her tight.

“Sam
, you need to go be with her,” Nico insisted. “Don’t make the same mistake that I made. Even if she doesn’t know you are there, you will know that you are.”

Samantha sobbed into Nico’s shoulder
, loving the feeling of safety he provided.

“
It's all right,” he comforted her. “Let me help you. I will pay for your nurse and whatever else you need.”

His offer overwhelmed her. “Nico, that isn't your responsibility.”

“Money means little if you can't help people in their time of
need. And I want to help you.”

“Does that make me your mistress?”
she asked quietly, looking into his eyes to see his reaction. The thought of taking his money made her feel strange, yet she couldn’t see that she had any other choice. Still, before she did, she felt the need to put a label on their relationship, to get it all straight in her mind so she knew what he expected of her.

He took a step back. “No
! You don't ever have to come back to me. You don't have to do anything. I just want to help you. I always would have, you know.”

“Thank you
, Nico,” she whispered softly. She could tell that he meant it and it felt like a burden had been lifted from her.

“
I will be most grateful to accept your generous gift. But before I go, I would love to accompany you on your expedition.” She knew their time together was quickly coming to an end, but before it did, she was determined to spend one more glorious day with him.

“I would like that, tha
nk you.” He gave her one last squeeze, then let her go with obvious reluctance. He turned to go, but then came back, as if deciding about something. “Sam, would you like to join me for dinner? I have some old friends coming. The Earl of Bellamy and his wife, Charlotte.”

Samantha was
a little surprised. “Won't that be strange? Your groom/lover who is still dressed in mourning coming to dinner?”

“Yes, strange
, but it won’t matter. He is an old friend, a close friend. And she is very kind. They won’t be judgmental. And I want them to meet you.”

Sam sighed, uncomfortable with the thought, but so happy he’d asked her that she couldn’t say no. “All right.”

He smiled and
again reached for her hand, as though he needed the physical contact between them.

Just then
, John entered the barn and looked at the two of them, so close together, touching hands. Sam dropped Nico’s hand and stepped away, her face burning with embarrassment.

“Good morning, Lord Chattel,” John said, giving no hint that he’d noticed.
“May we saddle up a horse for you?”

“No, thank you, John
, but I do need you to do something else for me. Samantha and I will be leaving very early tomorrow morning on an expedition. I need you to prepare the horses and gear. It is the same trip you and I took earlier this year over to Swineshead.” Nico didn’t look the least bit embarrassed, but she supposed that made sense. He was not the one who would be judged for the relationship. People would laugh and pat him on the back, while she’d be shunned and called a whore.

“And you will be camping overnight?” John
asked with a slight grimace. “Are you sure you want to take Samantha instead of me?”

“Yes
, I'm sure,” Lord Chattel answered with a tone of finality.

John looked flustered
, obviously unhappy with the situation but well aware of his place. “Yes, my lord. I’ll have everything ready before dawn.”

After Nico left
, John turn to Samantha and gave her a questioning look. “What is going on? Are you carrying on with Lord Chattel?”

“Yes,”
Samantha admitted, knowing there was no point in lying. “I always have been.” The confession felt good. She hated telling John anything but the truth.

Unfortunately, John was not nearly as accepting as she’d hoped he’d be. His face twisted with ang
er and disgust. “And now you're going on a trip with him? Overnight? Stop and think, Samantha. Do you know what this will do to your reputation? Your future?”

Samantha
stared at him, surprised at his reaction. “What future? My so-called reputation was already in tatters after Henry,” she snapped. “Do you intend to tell?”

He shook his head and walked away. F
or the rest of the day, he avoided her, leaving her even more miserable and confused about what the next few days would bring.

***

Back in her room she changed for dinner, wishing that she had a prettier dress to wear and something to put in her hair. The plain, black gown, silver pins and white rose from the garden would have to do. “Not terrible,” she said as she looked in the mirror.

Even though she had entertained Henry’s friends, she still felt like she didn’t know how to properly behave around members of the ton.
She wanted Nico’s friends to like her, or at least not to make fun of her.

Taking a deep breath she smoothed her gown and attempted to keep her stray hair from coming out of
its pins.

Nico
smiled at Samantha as she came down the hall for dinner. She looked ravishing, even in the widow’s weeds she’d been forced to don because of her husband’s death. From the expression on her face, he knew she felt self-conscious.

Determined to set her mind at ease, he stepped forward and took her hand, raising it to his lips and tenderly kissing her palm. “You look beautiful, Sam
antha.”

She frowned and plucked at her dress in distaste. “I look dowdy and
crow like,” she pouted.

He laughed, wishing
he could dress her, as he’d like, in something silky, draped in diamonds. “Are you telling me I don’t know beauty when I see it?” he asked with mock indignation.

She gave him a wry smile, obviously unconvinced. “I just hope I don’t embarrass you in front of your friends. I’ve never dined with an Earl before.”

“They’ll love you, don’t worry.” He hoped he spoke the truth. Last time he’d visited his old friends, he’d told them about mentoring a woman who went on to do well in a Chattel tournament, and they’d been interested in meeting her. But as open-minded as they were, he worried they’d still see her as somehow beneath them and hoped they wouldn’t say anything to hurt her or make her uncomfortable. Nico steered her toward the dining room, where Bellamy and Charlotte were standing at the sideboard, enjoying a glass of wine.

Samantha saw the love between the couple right away. Bellamy was a tall, handsome fellow with sandy blond hair and green eyes. Charlotte was
much shorter and darker than him, and dressed in a beautiful peach-colored gown.

To
Nico’s relief, they greeted her warmly, and Charlotte immediately took her under her wing, pouring her a glass of wine and asking pointed yet interested questions.

“She’s as lovely as you said,” Bellamy said in a low voice as they watched the ladies talk.

“Yes. And she’s very unique,” Nico agreed. He’d never met anyone like her, and he enjoyed looking at her from a distance.

“What are your intentions toward her?”
Bellamy asked, one brow raised in speculation. “I’ve never known you to take a mistress, let alone have one live with you so openly.”

“She’s not my mistress,” Nico snapped, struggling to keep his voice low. He supposed that technically there was no other word for his relationship with Sam, but he didn’t like to hear her called that for some reason.

“No?” Bellamy gave him a wry smile. “Alright. No need to bite my head off. A man would have to be blind not to see that you care for her.”

“I do care,” Nico admitted. “Hell, I don’t know what I’m doing, truth be told. I just can’t seem to stay away from her.”

Bellamy patted him on the back. “Well, just be careful.”

Nico quaffed his brandy and walked over to the table. “Shall we be seated?”

The women joined them at the table, and he was pleased to have Samantha seated at his left. Joseph brought out the first course, a delicious seafood stew that Samantha ate with as much restrain as she could manage.

Nico asked Samantha to recount her adventures at the Chattel contest and she complied, making light of the darker, more dangerous moments and focusing on the second place win.

“How wonderful,” Charlotte exclaimed, her blue eyes sparkling as she looked approvingly at Samantha. “You know, I’ve always been able to beat Bellamy at the game, though I’m sure he’d never admit it. Perhaps I should don a disguise and join you at the next tournament.”

Sam laughed, meeting Nico’s gaze with delight as she obviously pictured the lovely Countess of Bellamy dressed as a boy. “It would be a wonderful lark. You’re more than welcome to join me any time.”

Nico’s smile slipped a bit, wondering if she’d truly given the prospect of joining another Chattel tournament any thought. He had been horrified to hear about the way she’d been attacked last time, and didn’t want her to ever be driven to such an act of desperation again.

Unfortunately, her choices were very limited and he could see her resorting to such measures in order to keep from having to rely on him for support.

She gave him a questioning look, obviously sensing his change of mood. Luckily, Charlotte drew her attention with another funny comment and the moment passed.

The following courses included a succulent cherry duck, roasted root vegetables and flaky pastry. Samantha hoped she was eating everything correctly and not in her normal abundant fashion.

“The food is delicious as always, Nico.” Charlotte winked conspiratorially at Sam. “I’m going to steal your cook away one day.”

“I think she likes cooking for the eccentric, lone bachelor. Your volume of parties would make my quiet, peaceful Mrs. Lotte go mad.”

“Well, you won’t always be a bachelor, so it’s only a matter of time until I can sweep in and make her an offer she can’t refuse,” Charlotte said with another wink.