Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman Read online

  Laurel followed and rested on the footstool with Jamie close enough to touch. “James Robert Laningham, now the Earl of Worthings, meet your great-aunt, Betsy Ann Collinsworth.”

  Jamie drew back and leaned into his mother. “After the long trip, he’s a little restless and a bit hungry too.”

  Aunt Betsy traced one finger over Jamie’s soft features. “And who could blame him carrying such a title at a tender age.”

  “And with a new guardian as well, Robert’s cousin, Lord Gladrey,” Laurel’s voice held a trace of bitterness.

  “Not unexpected surely. Best call the housekeeper.” Aunt Betsy pulled the bell-rope and settled back in her chair. “Can’t have the little one melting away from hunger.”

  Laurel rolled her eyes. “Every ill can’t be cured with a jelly roll.”

  Aunt Betsy laughed. “It can come close.”

  Hester arrived followed by the housekeeper who deposited the tea tray on a table beside Aunt Betsy.

  “Hester, please take Jamie. He’s hungry and needs to run around after being cooped up in the carriage for hours.”

  Hester reached for Jamie. “I’ll see to it, Milady.”

  After the servants left with Jamie, Laurel waited until Betsy stirred her tea. “Aunt Betsy, how do you really feel? I was so concern for you.”

  “I’m fine for someone of my advanced years. Aches and pains mostly but let’s discuss you, not me. By the way, your trunk arrived safe and sound. When the coachman delivered the thing, he near frightened me to death with the tale he spun, a carriage wreck and all.” Gazing over the rim of her cup, she sipped her tea.

  Laurel shivered. “It was rather frightening.”

  “I wanted to post straight to you but he assured me you were not injured. He told me where you and Jamie were as well. That being the case I decided to remove to London. Traipsing out to Collinsworth Cottage is quite a ways to travel with a young child. I intended to write to you, but Clara beat me to it by a day. Now I want to hear all about you and little Lord Laningham.”

  Laurel sniffed and blinked moisture out of her eyes. “I’ve missed you so much these last years. After Robert returned home wounded it was impossible to travel.”

  “I should have come but I was ill myself, near died of lung fever that year so I couldn’t travel. I couldn’t chance the weather turning nasty.”

  Laurel gasped. “You never told me you were seriously ill.”

  “Tch, you had your own concerns. I couldn’t add to them.” She blinked at Laurel. “But you could have written.”

  “With a baby and a wounded husband I hadn’t a spare moment. To say nothing of Rhonda . . .”

  “Yes indeed. By all means, let’s say about Rhonda.”

  Laurel took a breath and firmed her lips. “When Robert left for the war he appointed his business man, Percy Dimty as steward to the estate with Rhonda’s able assistance as mistress.” Laurel couldn’t avoid the bite of sarcasm in her tone. “He explained his choice because I was young and hardly experienced enough to handle the estate.”

  “There was justification for his statement. After all you were barely seventeen when you married.” Aunt Betsy’s gazed at her with sympathy.

  Laurel cocked her head to the side and grimaced. “No, he was trying to placate Rhonda. She constantly insinuated I married him for his wealth. Sometimes I think she almost had him convinced. After he was wounded, Rhonda turned him against me completely. Rhonda continually whispered in his ear, told him about a party I wanted to attend or of a new gown I requested, even that a neighbor admired me a trifle to intently, little nasty lies like that. She tried to keep me from his sick room as well. Naturally she continued to run everything including my husband.”

  Betsy’s lips tightened. “That certainly is unfortunate. What about this Dimty fellow? Did Robert rely on him even after he was wounded?”

  “Yes and Rhonda had him wrapped around her little finger—or worse. His aim was to please her in whatever way she wanted.”

  “Well gel, why didn’t you stand up to the pair of them? Where’s your backbone?”

  “I could do nothing against those two without Robert and he stayed medicated with laudanum or drowned in whisky most of the time, turning to Rhonda for his care instead of me.” She blinked back tears. “He said he didn’t want my pity. I’d hoped Robert would begin to trust me again when he was better.” Her voice broke as she shook her head. “He never recovered.”

  “You still grieve for him?”

  “Not the way you mean. The war wrecked him and he destroyed the love I had for him.”

  “Love stands regardless,” Betsy scolded.

  “I tried, but he couldn’t accept his disability and he pushed me away. We never had the opportunity to settle into a marriage filled with the kind of love that grows and binds a couple together.”

  Her voice quivered and tears tightened her throat. “One night he took the easy way out and overdosed on medication. His valet found him the next morning, his whiskey glass empty on the floor beside the bed, reeking of laudanum.”

  Laurel dashed the moisture from her eyes and pushed the haunting memories to the back of her mind. “Romantic love couldn’t stand up to the accusations and distrust Rhonda stirred with her spite and jealousy.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you then.” Betsy dabbed at her eyes with a catch in her voice.

  “Aunt Betsy, you were there for me for all those years after Papa and Mum perished. I’m ever so grateful. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  Betsy averted her gaze, but when she looked at Laurel again, there was a pleased expression on her face. “You were the joy of my life. I wanted to share it with you.”

  “And I’m blessed you did.” Laurel shivered. “But I don’t know if your presence at Landings would have changed the situation. Rhonda was set against me from the start. Behind Robert’s back she accused me of stealing his affections from her. She was always looking for someone to love her, possibly because her parents left the care of the children totally in the hands of a harsh nanny. Still it always struck me as a daft thing to say about a brother.”

  Laurel shuddered and pressed a hand to her eyes. “Robert finally tried for reconciliation at the end, but he died before anything much was resolved between us. I was so hurt and disenchanted by then I didn’t move toward him.”

  “Understandable.”

  Aunt Betsy’s concern was nearly her undoing. For a long while she’d bottled up her cares, her loneliness until misery seemed a black cloud over her with little release. She let out a tight little breath. “And Rhonda grew excessively worse after his death. Before we married, he’d named Rhonda in his will as his sole benefactor.”

  “But surely he would have provided for his family.”

  She shrugged. “I’m certain he did provide for us. Of course Jamie inherited all the entailed wealth and property. That goes without saying, but I couldn’t find a new Will. I don’t know which attorney he used and Mr. Dimty refused to tell me. He said there was no trace of another Will either. I didn’t believe him however, my search has proved fruitless. I could find nothing.”

  Betsy’s brows pleated together and her voice dropped. “I dare say Mr. Dimty is at fault. Jamie’s guardian should take him to task.”

  “Perhaps he has, but I haven’t been informed. Besides, he’s in sympathy with Rhonda. She’s his cousin.”

  “You’d best insist Lord Gladrey make a thorough search for the new will. Besides, he’ll know Robert’s attorney I should think.”

  “Perhaps so. With everything that’s happened, I haven’t actually had much opportunity to consider the matter.”

  “I know, dear.” Betsy patted her hand.

  Caught up in painful memories, Laurel hardly felt the gesture of sympathy. �
�At the time I was at Rhonda’s mercy. She became so dictatorial I could scarcely breathe without her permission. The last straw came when she dismissed Jamie’s nurse. Since Mr. Dimty paid the bills and she had his approval, I couldn’t stop her. Besides which, Jamie’s new guardian sent word he was on the way to collect his ward. I was overwhelmed and afraid. I came running to you, straight for Collinsworth Cottage.”

  Betsy clicked her tongue. “If I’d believed the coachman’s tale of kidnapping and such nonsense, I would have been totally overset.”

  “It wasn’t nonsense. Lord Gladrey intercepted my coach, took Jamie and rode away.

  Laurel bolted up and began to pace with her arms clasped beneath her bosom. “He said Jamie was under his protection—as if he needed protection from his own mother.” Her voice trembled. “Lord Gladrey said I killed Robert with my selfish demands and must be punished. If I wanted to remain with my son, he insisted I remain as Jamie’s nanny. Then he saddled me with his older sister’s children. That was to prove I was a worthy, loving mother figure.”

  Betsy shook her head. “How unfair. His conduct is unbelievable.”

  “I agree,” Laurel applauded before she could stop herself. She gazed at her aunt with a wry grin. “I’m only ranting, but my feelings of ill-usage have simmered to the top and boiled over into your sympatric ears.”

  “Nonsense, my dear.”

  “Well he’s the guardian and the law is on his side.”

  “Mores the pity. We must make a plan that will deliver you from the clutches of this cur. I hear America is a vast place.” Betsy raised her brows and peered at Laurel.

  Laurel averted her gaze as she sank back into her chair, her hands twisting the lace trim on her sleeve. She shook her head, unsettled, but unwilling to admit defeat.

  “No.” Her barely whispered denial stirred the silence in the room.

  Betsy sighed. “I take it you don’t want to escape his clutches.”

  “Lately, I don’t know. Perhaps I am in love with him. Sometimes I think I am and he has feelings for me I’m certain.”

  Betsy crossed her arms over her bosom. “Bed feelings, I make no doubt.”

  Laurel had the grace to laugh as she blushed. “No doubt.”

  “Is he going to marry you?”

  “Oh, Aunt Betsy, I simply don’t know. I hope so.”

  “But what?” Betsy’s demanded. “No sense trying to gull me. I heard ‘the but’ in your tone.”

  “His grandmother, Heloise has a god-daughter, a lovely scatter-brained creature full of herself. Heloise wants him to marry Melissa. I simply don’t know. He hasn’t actually said anything to me. Not yet anyway. I can’t stand the thought of him married to her. And a friend hinted that Rhonda has feelings for him as well.”

  “What a hornet’s nest. Seems you need to come to me.”

  “I can’t. He won’t let me leave with Jamie.”

  Betsy’s eyes rounded in surprise and she studied Laurel for a long moment. “And you think you might love this cawker. Girl where has your wit gone begging?”

  Laurel shrugged with her hands fisted in her lap. “I’m not sure if I love him or not. I find him physically appealing and when he smiles at me in that certain way, I’m like to swoon my heart pounds so hard. I could lay all of that aside, but he genuinely thinks he’s doing the right thing for Jamie by making certain I am a proper mother for his ward. I hate it, but I respect that in him.” She sighed and averted her gaze.

  “Adron always pays attention to Jamie with gentle interest. I want that for him, the love and guidance of a good man. When I see Adron with Jamie, I’m in awe and I admire him greatly. All of that is hard to fight. Although Robert was wounded, he never had time for his son. That hurt.”

  Laurel sighed. “Deep down, something melted inside me that first day when Adron came to the nursery to get acquainted with Jamie. I’ve tried to erect a wall against him, but I’m vulnerable where my son is concerned. Love.” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “And you think you can judge.” Betsy chuckled. “Well, you’ll have your discovery time I dare say, because if this little gel is as self-centered as you think, I’ll lay a wager she’ll have the nursery empty before she enters into holy matrimony. Mark my word.”

  “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about that pronouncement.”

  “Cut your losses, my dear. Plenty of gentlemen in the sea so to speak.”

  Laurel sighed and a surge of longing rolled over her. “None quite like him.”

  “Then fight for him.”

  “I have. Fought for him I mean. I even think it’s working, but occasionally I simply don’t know.”

  Betsy patted Laurel’s hand. “Things always get resolved, not always as we’d like but resolved is resolved. No need for undue fretting I always say.”

  “I hope you’re right, Aunt Betsy. I certainly hope you’re right.”

  “A nice quiet dinner will settle you down and things will be brighter in the morning. We’ll think of something. You’ll see.”

  Laurel hugged her aunt. “I’ll see to Jamie before the meal then have an early night.”

  “Splendid, my dear.”

  Dinner was long over when Laurel finally climbed the stairs to her bedchamber with a single candle to light the way. Peace settled over her. In her aunt’s presence, she was secure once more. All would be well. Nothing a sweet little old lady could do would make it so, but nonetheless the sensation of comfort surrounded her. She crawled into bed and fell instantly to sleep.

  Certain his black apparel blended well into the shadows of the tree, he watched with a perfect view of the house. Low hanging clouds covered the moon and that suited him best. All these stupid little people figured their houses was safe crouched in a row without a never mind to the ways he could break into a place. How pathetic. Earlier he’d even tricked the servants into believing he was a deliveryman come to the wrong door so he could see inside the house. Poor weak-minded fools. He sneered at the idea that a worthless footman and a couple of women could pose a problem for him. The smug gentlemen, all worried ‘bout their busy little lives failed to check the chimney, almost a perfect ladder to the upper floor and right next to the window he wanted too.

  It couldn’t be better. He could thank the chatterbox of a companion for that valuable piece of information. Always pays to know when to listen. His shoulders shook with silent laughter.

  After all of his effort to locate the pendant, Lady Laningham, had better produce the thing or else she’d suffer the same fate as her dearly departed husband. His shoulders heaved with silent laughter again. That word—might—yeah she might wind up dead.

  He squinted up at the second floor. Good, the last candle went out. He slipped up next to the house, removed his boots and carefully tugged his scarf over the lower half of his face. Adjusting his hat, he began to climb. The pendant would be his before this night was out.

  Jerked from a sound sleep by a noise, Laurel sat up in bed, her heart beating so heavily she could barely catch her breath. Fear tightened her chest even more as a shadow loomed out of the darkness. One hand grabbed and covered her mouth. The other slipped around her throat. The odor of a snuff mixture, heavily over-laid with mint, clung to his hands and nearly gagged her. While she stared up at the man’s half concealed face, the moon peered from behind a cloud and a beam of light slashed across his features. Piercing, moss-green eyes ringed with a weathered complexion, glinted down at her. Her breath caught. She would never forget those eyes, cold, deadly and vaguely familiar.

  “Don’t go a squawking and I’ll let up. One peep and I’ll be choking you for real.”

  Terrified, she sat perfectly still, hardly allowing more than a shallow breath to escape. She couldn’t scream even if she wanted to. Her vocal cords were frozen and everything seemed slowed, ea
ch second lasting hours instead of mere minutes.

  “I want my gee-gaw. It belongs to me now.” He wheezed out a laugh. “I hear tell his lordship won’t be needing it anymore.” Shifting, his voice became mean again. “I was promised that pendant and I want it, Missy.”

  When what he said registered, her breath came in gasps. How did he know Robert was dead? Fighting to remain conscious as the room faded in and out, she began to shake. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “It’s blue and big and hanging from a long silver chain.”

  “I don’t have anything like that, I swear,” she denied.

  “Course you do. I admit you might not know it, his lordship being a covey sort of bloke and all. I been looking high and low and nary a peek of nothing,” he finished in disgust. In a scary reasonable tone he continued, “I’ll give you a chance to think on your answer some more else I’ll kill you.”

  Stunned, Laurel couldn’t move, barely breathing when a fist pounded on the door and her heart leapt into her throat.

  “Milady, is something amiss?” Horace inquired.

  Fingers squeezed her throat until spots danced before her eyes, but before she lost consciousness, the pressure on her neck lifted. Gradually, her vision cleared and Horace stood beside the bed with a candle in his hand.

  “Thank God. Horace, I’m so glad you’re here,” she crooked and burst into tears.

  “I’m that sorry to bust in, but you didn’t answer.”

  Brushing the tears from her eyes, she pulled the blanket up to her shoulders. “I couldn’t answer but I’m fine now you’re here.”

  “I thought I heard a noise. I was out and about, checking around.”

  “There was a man in here. He threatened to kill me if I didn’t give him a pendant of some kind.”