Tenacious Trents 02 - A Perfect Gentleman (14 page)

“She is shopping.”

“Will the two of you be here long?”

“We were only stopping here because we were
going to call on you. I didn’t expect to run into Jordan.”

“I was rather surprised myself when he showed
up at my house yesterday.”

John looked at his older brother. “Why are
you here? You never did say.”

Jordan lifted his eyebrows but didn’t answer.
He picked up his mug of ale drained it and stood. “Why don’t we go
to my room?”

The two men followed and as soon as they
reached the privacy of Jordan’s room, he shut the door.

Jordan wheeled on Matt. “I will have you know
that I will do everything in my power to keep Stillwaite in
check.”

Matthew took a step back. He hadn’t expected
his brother to be so angry. It was totally out of character for him
but Matthew wasn’t about to back down.

“Why the sudden interest?”

“He didn’t tell me.”

“Yet, you go along with whatever he
wants?”

“I didn’t know you and Stillwaite were
friends,” John interrupted.

“We aren’t.” He strode to a table and poured
a glass of whiskey. The bottle was half empty. Had his brother
drank the other half last night or had he been in town longer than
Matthew realized?

Jordan took a drink before turning to his
brothers. “He hired me to look into his brother’s property and
negotiate a purchase. He had not anticipated his brother still
being incapacitated or his niece needing a guardian, which would
undoubtedly fall to him. I didn’t know his brother had been in such
a state for nearly two years.”

“Hired you?” John laughed. “Since when do you
have employment?”

“Bloody hell,” Jordan muttered before he
drained the glass.

Matthew leaned against the wall and crossed
his arms over his chest. He wasn’t going to tell John what Jordan
had been up to; it was up to his brother to tell him whatever he
wished.

Jordan slammed the glass down on the table
and fell back into a chair before he explained about secretly
attending school. By the time he was finished, John was nodding
with admiration.

“Does Clay know?”

“I haven’t told him. I wasn’t sure what his
reaction would be.”

“I can’t imagine he would object,” Matthew
offered.

“Nor I,” John agreed.

Jordan blew out a breath. “It would be nice
to not have to worry about who found out or who I represent and I
would like to become a barrister.”

“Your reputation will be destroyed,” John
laughed.

“To hell with my reputation.” Jordan pushed
his fingers through his hair. “I am so sick and tired of people
assuming things about me that aren’t true.”

“That you are a rake of the first order and
women beg for you to make love to them because nobody is as
magnificent as you?” John grinned.

Jordan grinned. “Well, there is a good deal
of truth in that statement.”

Matthew watched his brothers. He had heard
all about his brother’s reputation and supposed skill in the
bedchamber. While Matthew was studying and writing sermons, his
brother was going from one bed to the next, pleasuring women across
London. He probably was very good at it whereas Matthew couldn’t
barely remember what it felt like to be buried so deep you couldn’t
tell where he ended and she began. And since it had been ages, he
would probably be a lousy lover as well. Though he had never been
one of those gentlemen who required a virgin as a wife because it
was unfair to judge a woman for doing something men were never
questioned about, he now knew that it was what he would require. A
virgin wouldn’t know any better, nor his lack of skill noted.
Anyone else would probably find him a grave disappointment,
especially if they had encountered Jordan along the way. Miss
Cooper would be perfect, innocent not to know any better.

Stop thinking about bedding Miss Cooper.

Resentment built in his belly. Not that he
wanted to toss up the skirts of any willing female, but Jordan had
been allowed to live and experience life. Matthew was not given the
same choice. Had he been, what kind of man would he be today?

John sat on the bed and looked at Jordan.
“So, Stillwaite is your client and you need to take care of the
guardianship.”

“Miss Cooper does not need a guardian.”
Matthew pulled away from the wall. “Her father and she get along
very well, and have been for two years.”

Jordan looked up at him. “It appears the
other way around to me. She is taking care of him.”

“Only because of physical injuries.”

“He can’t even talk,”

Matthew clenched his fists. “Have you tried
to have a conversation with the man?”

“Well, no. But Stillwaite assured me that man
has lost his faculties.”

Matthew took a deep breath. “He has not. The
injury left him unable to speak and the right side of his body does
not function as well. But, he is still an intelligent man who can
think and understand, even write.”

Jordan leaned back and raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve spent time with him?”

“Yes, he is a parishioner of mine.”

“So, he attends church services.”

Matthew turned and found a chair to sit in.
“No. He cannot climb into a carriage, or on a horse, nor walk that
far.”

Jordan simply nodded.

“Stillwaite wants to commit him, doesn’t
he?”

Jordan pursed his lips but said nothing.

“Dammit man.” Matthew stood, the chair
toppled backwards. “At least spend time with Mr. Cooper before you
decide to help Stillwaite condemn a man that has no more business
being locked up in Bedlam than we do.”

“I will give the matter some thought,” he
said slowly, studying Matt. “Is your interest solely for a
parishioner, or are you more passionate because Miss Cooper is his
daughter?”

Matthew stilled and stared at his brother.
Could Jordan read him so well? No, it was impossible. “Miss Cooper
is also a parishioner, who does attend services. She has asked for
my help and I am glad to give it.”

Jordan’s eyes bore into Matt’s for a moment
before he merely nodded and focused on John. “So, why are you
headed to Scotland?”

“We believe Adele and Julia are there.”

That is right. Jordan had mentioned the two
had not died, but that was right before Miss Cooper showed up on
his doorstep pleading for help.

“Why were we told they were dead?”

“Father arranged it.” John began. “When Adele
ran away with Julia, father caught up with them. He paid her to
leave the country and then set the story about that they had died.
That freed him to marry Rose.”

“He sent money to keep them away and when
Julia turned eighteen, father tried to find them. An opportunity
arose to join our family with another and father needed a daughter
so he could arrange a marriage.” Jordan added.

“How was he going to explain Julia’s presence
all of a sudden? Was he going to say someone found her and raised
her this entire time and he just now learned?”

John smirked. “Probably.”

“They disappeared after that. I assume it is
because Adele had no desire for her daughter to return to England,
or for Julia to become one of father’s puppets for betterment of
the family.” Jordan added.

“Where had they been this entire time?”

“France,” John answered.

Matthew sank back down in the chair. All this
time he thought they were dead, mourned their loss. How could his
father be so cruel? “Does Rose know?”

“No,” John insisted. “And we aren’t going to
tell her, unless we find ourselves in a position where it is
necessary that she knows.”

“If anyone learned, she and Madeline would be
ruined. The marriage is not valid which makes Madeline a
bastard.”

“Which is why we will never let on,” John
agreed.

“If Adele is in Scotland, what do you intend
to do?”

“Make sure she never steps foot in London or
anywhere close to us.”

“Why didn’t they just divorce?” Jordan
asked

“I assume it is because father didn’t want
anyone to see him as a failure. It is better to have society
believe your wife was killed then for them to know she was running
away.”

“What if she decides she wants to return to
London anyway?” Matthew asked.

John’s jaw set and his eyes grew cold. “It
won’t be allowed. Madeline needs to be protected above all
else.”

Grace paid for the foodstuffs and arranged
for delivery before she stepped out onto the walk. This afternoon
her uncle would meet with Lord Brachton and all day her stomach had
been in a tight knot of worry to the point she was nauseous. She
should be there. Who knew what her uncle would say. What if
Brachton made a decision without even speaking to her or her
father? She bit her bottom lip and glanced around. She had to be at
that meeting, but she didn’t even know what time it was to be held.
Should she call on her uncle and ask?

She glanced down the street to the only inn
in town.

No, she didn’t want to do that. She didn’t
even want to speak with him at the moment.

Mr. Jordan Trent stepped outside. He would
know when the meeting was taking place and certainly he would tell
her. Grace hastened down the road before he disappeared. He turned
in her direction, their eyes met for a moment and a smile graced
his face as recognition dawned. Mr. Trent really was a handsome man
and he probably sent a number of hearts atwitter in London. But he
was not as handsome as Vicar Trent and it wasn’t right that a vicar
should cause a girls pulse to increase. It seemed almost
sinful.

Mr. Trent walked toward her and stopped when
they met in the middle of the walk. He offered a bow with his head.
“Good day, Miss Cooper.”

There was something that was simply likable
about Mr. Trent, though she didn’t understand it, especially after
Audrey had described him in such unflattering terms. She barely
knew the man and he was working for her uncle, which she needed to
keep in mind. “When are you meeting with Lord Brachton?”

His left eyebrow hitched. “I assume my
brother told you of the appointment?”

“Yes. What time will it be?”

He placed his hands behind him and rocked
back on his heels, so much like Vicar Trent. His eyes narrowed on
her. “Why do you wish to know?”

“I have a vested interest. You will be
discussing my father, which also involves my future.”

“There is no need for you to worry, Miss
Cooper. Everything will be handled as it should.”

Grace blew out an exasperated breath.
“Please, do not condescend to me as if I am some young miss new to
society.”

Both of his eyebrows rose in surprise.

“I know what is best for me and my
father.”

“Do you?”

She was taken aback by his question. “Of
course I do. I am his daughter.”

“You’ve put your life on hold to take care of
an invalid. Do you think he really wishes you to do so?”

How dare he assume what her father’s wishes
were? “My father is not an invalid and my life is not on hold. It
is a full, rewarding life, I will have you know.” Grace fought the
urge to stomp her foot to emphasize her point. That would only make
her appear childish and convince Mr. Trent that her father was
better off being cared for by others.

“You haven’t attended a Season.” He held up
one finger. “You don’t leave this small village.” He visibly
shuddered when he held up a second finger, as if counting off what
was wrong with her life. “You are not married.”

“Perhaps those things are unimportant to me,
and I happen to like living here.”

“But it could be better, easier, if someone
could take care of you and your father.”

“My uncle, you mean?” She snorted.

“Come, Miss Cooper, would it be so bad to
have your needs met so you could enjoy society, be courted, knowing
your father was being cared for?”

“But, my father wouldn’t be cared for. He
would be locked away like some animal.” She wheeled away from him,
too angry to continue this conversation. If Mr. Trent didn’t look
so much like Vicar Trent, nobody could convince her they were
brothers. Their dispositions were completely opposite. To think
only moments ago she thought him likable.

She turned back around. “And, I will have you
know, there are three gentlemen who wish to marry me, I simply
haven’t decided which I prefer.” With those parting words she
turned to stalk off but was brought up short. Ahead of her, on the
opposite side of the street was Vicar Trent, with Audrey’s hand
tucked on his arm. A knife thrust through her heart. Grace had
already anticipated this would happen and expected it, yet it
didn’t hurt any less. Gentlemen couldn’t help but be drawn to the
beautiful, lively golden-haired woman. Why should a man of the
cloth be immune?

Mr. Trent came up from behind. She could feel
the warmth of his presence at her side. She turned to look at him.
His eyes were focused on Vicar Trent and Audrey, his jaw locked,
the bone structure of his face defined. Was Mr. Trent angry with
his brother?