Chapter Eighteen
Cameron gulped down his surprise. “My lord, it’s a pleasure.” He motioned to Rose and Lily, “May I present my betrothed, Lady Rose Jameson, and her sister, the Duchess of Lybrook.”
“I’m charmed,” Lord Denbigh said. “What rare beauties you both are.”
“You’re a flatterer, my lord,” Lily said flirtatiously. “I’m not sure the duke would approve.”
“I’d have given him a run for his money in my day,” Denbigh laughed.
Kat squealed and ran to Cam. “You’re betrothed? You mean Lady Rose will be my sister?”
“Yes, Kitty-Kat.” Cam scooped the little girl into his arms. “Lady Rose will be your sister. She’s going to come live with us.”
“Oh! You’ll love our townhome, Lady Rose. And Tricia and I have our own governess, Miss Penney. But maybe you can be our governess now.”
“Kat, Lady Rose is going to be my wife, not your governess,” Cameron said.
“But we’ll spend all sorts of time together, I promise.” Rose tousled the little girl’s hair.
Newland cleared his throat. “Price, the marquess and marchioness need to speak to you. It’s a matter of some importance.”
“I can’t imagine what it would be,” Cam said.
“Oh Cam”—Mrs. Price strode forward—“it’s the most amazing story.”
“All right. It must be important if you came all this way.”
“Perhaps I should take Kat and Tricia out to the kennels to see the puppies,” Lily said.
“What a lovely idea, Your Grace,” Mrs. Price said. “We’d be obliged.”
“No trouble at all.” Lily ushered the girls out.
“May we speak in private, Mr. Price?” the marchioness asked.
“Of course, but I want Lady Rose to stay. Anything that concerns me concerns her as well.”
“Very well,” Denbigh said. “Newland and your mother are already aware of all the details, so let me get straight to the point then. I believe you are my grandson.”
Cameron jolted backward but caught himself. Rose tightened her hold on his arm.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I fathered a child some years ago on a young housemaid. I’m not proud of it, but please know that I did not force her, and I would have done right by her had I known of the pregnancy. Unfortunately, my father had her put out when he discovered her condition, and it wasn’t until years later that my mother and I learned the reason behind his action.”
Cameron swallowed, Rose’s fingers digging into his arm.
“The housemaid’s name was Joy. Joy Price. And her child was your father.”
“I don’t understand.” Cameron turned to his mother. “You said my grandfather was an earl, Mum.”
“I was, at the time,” Denbigh said. “I didn’t become the marquess until my father passed on.”
“I see.” Cameron’s legs shook. He put his arm around Rose to steady himself.
“A little over a decade later, my father’s valet sent for me on his deathbed and told me that Joy had been carrying my child. I began to search for her, but my search proved fruitless. I found out that she had died several months earlier, and I wasn’t able to locate the child. It never occurred to me to look among the gentry. I searched the workhouses and orphanages. However, as I learned from your mother this morning, your other grandfather took my son in as a stable boy.” Denbigh sighed. “Of course, I am saddened to learn of his fate at your grandfather’s hands.”
“Cam, what is he talking about?” Rose asked.
“My lord,” Cameron said to Denbigh, “do you mind if I take a moment to explain my father’s fate to my fiancée?”
“Not at all.”
Cameron told the story of his father, Colton, as Rose listened intently.
“That’s so horribly sad,” she said. “Please, my lord. Continue.”
Lord Denbigh coughed. “When I was unable to locate my son, I decided to marry. My wife was not able to give me any children, and she passed on ten years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Cameron said.
“She was a good woman and a good wife. However, without an heir, my marquessate will cease to exist upon my passing.”
“You don’t have any brothers with children?” Rose asked.
“No, my lady. I am an only child.”
“My husband was a tyrant,” Lady Denbigh said. “I was barely sixteen when I married him, and he was twenty years my senior. I produced an heir within the first year, and he never touched me again.”
“Why on earth not?” Rose asked. “It’s clear that you must have been quite a beauty.”
“You are indeed kind, my dear. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the right equipment, so to speak, to please my husband.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Rose said.
“I’ll explain it to you later, sweetheart,” Cameron said.
“My mother is quite correct,” Denbigh said. “My father was a tyrant, which is evidenced by the harsh treatment that Joy received. I have never been able to forgive myself for taking advantage of her. Not only was it inexcusable, it also led to her demise. She was a lovely little thing.”
“Yes, she was.” Lady Denbigh nodded.
“Last evening, when my mother returned from the theatre, she mentioned meeting you briefly and that you bore a striking resemblance to me as a young man. Then, when she told me your surname was Price, I knew I had to meet you. We went to your home this morning and had a long talk with your mother. After learning her story, we came here to find you.”
“It’s an amazing tale,” Cameron said. “I’m nearly speechless.”
“I think you’ll be even more speechless by the time I’m done.” Denbigh cleared his throat again. “I would like to make you my heir.”
Cameron shook his head, his nerves exploding. “Excuse me?”
“My heir. Heir to the marquessate. Without an heir, my holdings will return to the crown upon my death. Right now I don’t have one.”
“But you can’t pass title to a bastard,” Cameron said. “Can you?”
“Need I remind you, Price, that you’re
not
a bastard. You are the legitimate son of my son. He was a bastard, not you.”
“Of course, I know that, but—”
“And I do have the right to name an heir. I have an imbecile second cousin who’s hoping I’ll name him, but I’d rather my estate go to the crown. In the Middle Ages, members of the nobility often passed their titles to illegitimate offspring. It is still an option today. But I’ll say it again, you’re not illegitimate. And you are my blood issue.”
“I’m grateful,” Cameron said, “but I have no desire to become a pampered aristocrat.”
“Trust me, you wouldn’t be pampered,” Denbigh said. “My estate is intact, but I’m afraid I’ve not been as thorough in my affairs as I should have been during the last decade. Not having an heir, I didn’t see much point in securing our holdings. If you’ll be my heir, Price, I promise I’ll get things in order before my time on earth is over. But it will take a lot of work on both our parts.”
“I have a job,” Cameron said.
“Price, don’t be a fool,” Newland said. “I don’t want to lose you, but this is an incredible opportunity.”
“But I’m finally able to work on my music full time and make a living at it. That’s been my dream forever.”
Lady Denbigh smiled. “There was a time, Beau, when music was important to you. Do you remember?”
“Yes, yes, I do. I composed music myself as a lad. My father felt his heir shouldn’t concern himself with such frivolities, so I stopped when I became a teen.”
“How terrible,” Rose said.
“I survived. Of course, had I had other ways to occupy my free time, perhaps I wouldn’t have chased after housemaids.”
“But then Cam wouldn’t be here, nor Kat and Tricia,” Rose said. “That would have been a huge loss.”
Denbigh smiled. “You’ve a bright and kind young lady there, Cameron. You’re very lucky indeed.”
“I agree.” Cam gave Rose a chaste kiss on the cheek.
“Perhaps there’s a way for young Cameron to pursue his musical interests and be your heir,” Lady Denbigh said.
“I suppose you can stay in Bath during the six months the theatre is open,” Denbigh said. “Would that work for you, Newland?”
“Of course. I’d love to have Price stay on.”
“Then for the other six months of the year, you and your family will live on my estate.”
“Where is your estate, my lord?” Cameron asked.
“In Hampshire.”
“My father’s estate is in Hampshire,” Rose said.
“Then your lovely wife will be close to her parents. What do you say?”
“I’m sorry,” Cameron said, raking his fingers through his hair. “This is all a bit overwhelming.”
“My lord,” Mrs. Price said, “tell him about the title.”
“Yes, of course,” Denbigh continued. “As my heir, you will carry the title of Earl of Thornton, and your lovely lady here will be a countess.”
Cameron’s knees nearly buckled.
“I also plan to offer you a yearly allowance. As I said, my estate is not in the best condition, but I can give you three thousand pounds per year. Plus, I’ve already talked to Newland about purchasing your townhome from him. He has agreed to my offer, and the papers will be drawn up posthaste, with the deed in your name.”
“I can’t allow you to buy me a house.”
“Of course you can. You’re my grandson. Consider it a betrothal gift.”
“I think I need to sit down.”
Rose led Cameron to a settee and sat down next to him.
“I will also be giving your sisters small dowries, and your mother will receive a modest allowance as well, One thousand pounds per year.”
“My lord?” Mrs. Price said. “This is the first you’ve mentioned of that.”
“My dear, I wish it could be more. Your kindness and faithfulness to my son has earned you far more than that,” Denbigh said. “I thank God that you were in his life and stood by him, even after he lost much of the use of his brain.”
“He was a good man, my lord, and a fine husband. I loved him very much, and he gave me my beautiful children. I think you would have been proud of him.”
“I’ve no doubt of that. I wish I could have been a father to him.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Cameron said.
“Just say yes, Cameron,” Denbigh said. “I can never atone for the havoc that my behavior wreaked on the lives of your grandmother and father, but at least let me care for their loved ones.”
“Rose?” Cameron said. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s your decision, Cam.” She took his hand. “I love you, and I shall stand by you no matter what. You know that.”
“Mum?”
“I agree with Lady Rose. It’s your decision.”
Cameron looked at his beautiful fiancée, and then at his mother. It would be selfish of him to deprive them of the life that this title could provide for them. “All right, my lord,” he said to Denbigh. “I will be your heir.”
“Good, very good.” Denbigh smiled and strode forward to shake Cam’s hand. “There is one other small thing, though.”
“Yes?”
“You’ll have to take my surname. It should have been yours anyway, had I had the chance to do right by your grandmother.”
“Well…I suppose that’s all right. It will be difficult to get used to a new name.”
“You’d have to anyway,” Denbigh said. “As the Earl of Thornton, you’ll be known as Thornton, not Price. Your surname won’t make much of a difference.”
“I suppose that’s true.” Cameron paced through the parlor. “This will no doubt please your father,” he said to Rose.
“No doubt,” Rose said, “but that doesn’t matter to me.”
“I know it doesn’t, sweet.”
“Ashford has a problem with my grandson?” Denbigh asked. “I’ll speak to him.”
“I don’t think it’s me personally, my lord,” Cameron said. “It’s my common status. He wants better for Rose.”
“There’s no one better than you, Cam,” Mrs. Price said.
“Your mother is quite correct.” Rose chuckled. “As an earl though, you’ll be his equal, and when you inherit the marquessate, you’ll outrank him.”
Cameron couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of it all. “I’m sorry I can’t make you a duchess, sweet, like your sister.”
“The only thing you need to make me is your wife, Cam,” Rose said. “That’s all I ever wanted.”
Newland stepped forward. “I hate to break up this party, but I’m afraid I need to return to Bath. I have a play to put on this evening.”
“Yes, of course,” Cameron said. “I should return as well.”
“No, no, take the next two evenings off,” Newland said. “The music went flawlessly last night. No changes were necessary. Take a few days and ponder this new development in your life.”
“That’s big of you, Newland. Thank you.”
Once Newland left, Lily returned and invited Cameron’s family, both old and new, to stay for the wedding on the morrow.
“Now, Cam,” Rose said. “I believe you have an appointment with my father.”
“Yes,” Lily said, laughing. “This will just knock the pompous air right out of him, won’t it?”
“I’m sorry, but I find the whole concept ridiculous,” Cameron said. “I’m exactly the same man I was an hour ago.”