Chapter 24
Robert was not looking forward to this journey. They were leaving at an ungodly hour for the four-hour journey to the private asylum where Lieutenant Dick now lived.
Lucy had described the place. A lovely stone mansion, each patient with their own room and servants. Nothing like Bedlam, from what he had heard about the asylum in London. He had been invited to visit Bedlam and become a patron of the establishment, but he had chosen to give money to other causes. Not that he did not want to help those who were insane. But different peers picked different causes and one could not be a patron for every charity.
Besides, he had heard about the patrons taking groups of friends around the famous hospital to stare and be entertained by the mad patients and something about that did not sit well with Robert. Why would one be entertained by such unfortunates? He had heard that Bedlam had improved in recent years but until he knew for certain that it functioned properly and treated patients with a modicum of dignity, his money would be sent to worthier causes. Perhaps he could find an asylum for the poor up here in Cumberland.
He met Lucy in the foyer. She looked beautiful in a pink pelisse and bonnet, her auburn hair pulled back into her usual severe knot. He would have to get her a maid whom she trusted, who would convince her to wear her hair in a softer style. Not that he wanted to force her or tell her what to do but he suspected that Lucy Butterworth tried to make herself look like a prim little miss to make up for her own perceived misdemeanours of the past. It seemed somewhat unfair that she should have to suffer for her ignorance.
“Good morning,” he said as he lifted her gloved hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. She curtseyed to him.
“Good morning, My Lord.”
“You can still call me Robert.”
“Robbie?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“If you wish.”
Lucy bit her lip. “I think not until after we are wed.”
“How does the day after tomorrow suit?”
“But the banns.”
“Gretna Green was good enough for Emily and Beattie.”
“They were eloping.”
He grabbed her around the waist and then looked around him furtively to check there was no one else in the expansive foyer. They were utterly alone—thank God. “I need you back in my bed.”
Damn, just her nearness was sending a thrill of need to his prick. He was hardening as he spoke.
“You were the one who…”
“I know,” he growled, interrupting her. “And I stand by that. You are not my mistress. You are my fiancé. You shall be my wife.”
“What about the person who is blackmailing me.”
“What about her?”
“What makes you think it is a woman?”
“Blackmail is a woman’s trick. A man would just demand the money at knife or gunpoint. Blackmail is sneaky and underhand. Meant to play on your insecurities. Men are upfront when they plan to rob you blind.”
She leaned back and studied him for a moment. “You do not think highly of the fairer sex, My Lord. Are you sure you want to marry one of us?”
He chuckled and moved his mouth to her neck and nuzzled it. “You are one of the nice ones. You do not have a deceitful bone in your body.”
Her gloved fingers speared through his hair, but it was to encourage him in his kisses up and down her neck, not to urge him away. “You forget, My Lord, that I lied to you when I arrived here.”
“Not terribly convincingly. I knew you harboured secrets. I suspected Eleanor had something to do with it at least at first. You did throw me off the scent a little.”
“Would you two please at least get into the carriage before you start creating a child. My wife is in a delicate way.” Beattie’s voice rang out through the expansive area and Robert remembered that they were in the foyer of his country house—not a bedchamber. He straightened, his most aristocratic glare on his face, as if Beattie was interrupting a meeting between him and the King.
“I believe my sister got into that delicate state because you were constantly doing something similar to her in some of the most inappropriate places, if the scandal sheets are anything to go by, Beattie.”
Beattie scowled. “You read the scandal sheets?”
“They may take a few days to arrive up here, but they do come eventually. We’re not completely cut off from civilisation.”
“Hmm, well, best you do not do as I did. You may wish to have more decorum if you do not wish Miss Butterworth to be gracing the column inches of the London scandal rags so early in her acquaintance with the ton.”
“Advice noted. Come my love and we shall discuss Gretna in the coach.”
“Well that’s a new euphemism,” he heard Beattie say, as he led Lucy outside then handed her up into the coach.
He aimed a glare in Beattie’s direction but his brother in marriage just sent him back a knowing grin.
They settled in the carriage and soon they were en-route to the asylum. Robert needed to touch Lucy and felt for her hand. He placed his hand over hers and drew it to his lap. She gave him a tentative smile.
“My Lord?”
He frowned at the title.
“Miss Butterworth?” She bit her lip.
“You are under no obligation to marry me.”
“Am I not?” Robert’s eyebrows shot up nearly into his hairline. “Pray tell, my love, are you regretting accepting my suit Do you wish to marry another?”
“Of course not. I am just concerned in case you are having second thoughts but are too much of a gentleman to break it off with me. After all, men have needs yet you now choose not to come to my bed or allow me into yours.”
“I told you that I do not wish to... My love, when we are wed, I can make love to you as much as we please, but I feel that doing so now is disrespectful to you. You are a young lady of impeccable breeding and not here just to satisfy my baser needs. You may not be a virgin, my love, but you are a young lady nonetheless and still very much an innocent. I may have forgotten that for a time and for that, I apologise. I am ashamed for taking advantage of you. I was attempting to break down your defences and I believed that seducing you was the way to do it. I see that I was wrong.” He was looking out of the carriage at the green scenery rolling by, the heat of his own shame burning his cheeks. Over the last day, he had considered his behaviour since he had invited Lucy to his home. He had been no better than Lieutenant Dick.
“Robert?” Her voice was quiet and her hand on his knee made him want to flinch. “Thank you for showing me what should happen between a man and a woman. Thank you for giving me pleasure. Thank you for...well you know. I did not know that could happen to ladies. It was... quite exhilarating.”
“I should have waited to marry you to do it,” he insisted, turning to her.
She raised a brow and her lips quirked. “I am not entirely sure I would have married you had you not made love to me. I was not keen to marry, if you recall. You convinced me.”
“With my lovemaking?” His cock hardened at her words.
“In part. With your persistence, your care and when you showed me what could be between a man and a woman. Now stop preening like a peacock. Are you serious about running off to Gretna Green to marry?”
He had been about to reach for her, to kiss her, to perhaps take a few liberties, but her words arrested him. “I was joking—partly. I thought you would want a wedding in the parish church with banns and your friends and brother in attendance. I thought...”
“Emily spoke of these things the other night. I was rather overcome if I am honest. I was dealing with the fact that a gentleman of noble birth wanted me and my illegitimate child, even if I had some doubts as to the veracity of his statements and whether he may be having second thoughts. It did not occur to me to question the wedding or arrangements.”
“Why do you wish to go to Gretna,” he asked, feeling as though he may be walking atop broken glass and thus treading very carefully. “You have nothing of which to be ashamed.”
“Except a bastard child.”
“I never want to hear you describe Eleanor in that way again,” he growled through gritted teeth. He knew she loved her daughter and he knew it pained her to talk of Eleanor so.
“It is what she is and how the world sees her.”
“She is naught more than a babe. I care not what the world thinks.”
“Society will call her that anyway. The Countess of Whitsnow’s bastard. Or mayhap the cuckolded Earl of Whitsnow and the bastard in his household.”
“Stop! Just stop calling her that. We shall find a way to make her accepted into society. Please Lucy. Give me time and trust me.” He did have an idea of how this might happen. But it did depend on how things proceeded with Lieutenant Dick later today. Lucy’s bottom lip stuck out petulantly, and he could not help bending down and pressing his lips to it. “Do not be vexed with me, Lucy, my darling. I want what is best for the child. Do you actually want me to think of her as nothing more than your bastard offspring? I have grown very fond of her and I would hope to treat her like the rest of our children once we have them.”
“You would really treat her the same?”
“Of course.”
“And what do you really propose to do with the other six orphans?”
He shrugged. “I promised they could stay. I cannot promise they shall end up married to young ladies of the ton, but we shall prepare them for service and make sure they are placed in good employment when they are old enough. We shall house, feed and teach them in the manor.”
“And when we go to London?”
“Do you wish to take them?”
“Of course.”
The thought had never occurred to him. He assumed they would stay at Aelton Manor. He gave a soft sigh. “What the lady wants, the lady gets.”
“I am not titled yet.”
“You shall be. We shall be a merry band travelling to London with a coach full of children and nurses and your maid and my valet and us in our own carriage. With you eventually swelling with my babe in your belly.” He rubbed her flat stomach and pressed his lips to her neck. “Damn, why did I swear I would not touch you until our wedding. I am such a fool.”
“I must admit…” Her voice had a slight huskiness to it. “While I may wish to find out if it is possible to make love in a moving carriage, I would not like to arrive at an asylum looking thoroughly tumbled, My Lord. They may just force me to remain there and that would not do. I believe young ladies who go astray often end up in such places.”
“Not when they are in the company of gentlemen.”
“You do realise that it is quite improper for us to be travelling alone together.”
“That is why your maid is with the driver. So that when we stop at the next coaching in, she can join us. I am not completely without social graces, Miss Butterworth.”
“Without enough of them for a gentle kiss, I hope. Gently though, so I do not end up with a red face from your day beard.”
“My valet only shaved me but an hour ago. I am still smooth as a new-born’s backside.”
She lifted ungloved fingers to his chin and rubbed gentle. “Ah yes. Very smooth indeed.”
He pressed his lips to hers and she capitulated, opening her mouth and pressing her tongue to the seam of his lips immediately. He groaned and pressed her back against the window of the carriage. The carriage shuddered as it went over a rut on the road and their heads banged off each other. Robert uttered a foul word and jumped back from her.
“I apologise. Kissing in a carriage is clearly dangerous. I should hate you to have a bleeding lip on your arrival because I have accidentally bitten you.”
He sat back on his seat, frowning and looking just like the man she had first met in the street who had nearly tripped over Eleanor.
“It is fine, Robert. We are unharmed.”
“You must be more careful.”
“I must be? I think it was a mutual kiss, My Lord.”
“Look Em…”
“I am not your sister.”
He glowered at her for a moment then shook his head. “Of course not. I am so used to scolding her for getting into scrapes and nearly being injured that it still sometimes comes naturally. Lucy?” He stared down at his gloves on his hands.
“Yes.”
“I feel like we are doing things to deal with your past, but I do worry sometimes about my own tendencies.”
“Your own tendencies? Are you a molly?”
He looked at her, non-plussed for a moment and then burst out laughing. “No. I… No. I would have thought the number of times I have been pressed up against you with my cock straining against my breeches would have put that idea to rest. I am most definitely aroused by ladies. You in particular.”
“Oh. Well I spoke to your sister and she explained to me all about Lord Byron and why he is in Italy now. She said she had no idea about your sexual proclivities but if you were to be interested in that particular uh… position and entrance, that we should discuss it first. And that I could confide in her because she would never take it to the authorities.”
“Yes, you said. The first time we made love. But no, I have no desire to take you in that position but if I change my mind, your enthusiasm to please me has been noted.”
“What about you using your tongue down…”
“Perfectly normal.”
“How do you know?”
He rolled his eyes. “I just do.”
“How do you know?”
“My love, do you always have to ask such awkward and embarrassing questions?”
“Yes.” He smiled then. At least she was honest, he supposed.
“When I first went to town as a young man I took a couple of mistresses, one after the other. They both had some experience. They both asked me to perform that particular act on them and guided me on how to give them pleasure. No woman since has ever been horrified at the idea of me doing such a thing to them. Well, apart from one and I suspect her husband had been rather a dull dog in the bedchamber. Candles out, one position and never giving her any pleasure. She was quite surprised when she came off the first time. But she did not complain.”
“You sound quite proud of your prowess.”
“Proud, no. Confident that I can please you for the rest of our lives and that you will please me for the rest of our lives too? Absolutely.”
She dragged in a breath as though steadying herself. “You have more confidence that I have, My Lord. I mean confidence in me.”
“It is quite interesting to me to note that I have never felt any form of infatuation for a woman before. When I met you that day in the village, after nearly tripping over Eleanor, I could not get you out of my head. I still think about you constantly and it is not just because you are in my house or have been in my bed. If you were just in the village I would be there constantly hoping for a glimpse. You have beguiled me. And you make my cock very hard.” He finished, grinning as her cheeks flushed with colour. “Ah we appear to be slowing down for the inn. You have been saved from any more of my advances.”
∞ ∞ ∞
They arrived at the asylum a couple of hours later. Lucy had been there before, of course. Years before, just after Eleanor had been born, when she had arrived back from her great aunt’s and her confinement. She had come to see if she could get through to Edward. To see if his new status as a father would be enough to bring him back from wherever that bullet had sent him. She had come four times, until the day he had ignored her entirely and she had realised there was absolutely no hope.
But those were foolish dreams of a young woman who still desired a perfect life. She had been desperate for her bastard daughter to have a father who acknowledged her and wanted her.
In all honesty, Lucy was not sure now that, even had Edward returned from the war unharmed, he would have wanted his daughter. Perhaps Edward would have accused her of infidelity. There was no way to prove that Eleanor was his child, even though she had lain with no one else, at least not until Robert and that was just a few days ago.
Robert raised his eyebrows as the carriage travelled though the large wrought iron gates and into the expansive courtyard of the asylum. She could tell the Tudor mansion was not what he had pictured as a place where lunatics would be housed.
“I have no idea how Mrs Dick pays for Edward’s care, but she manages. This is a private asylum. They treat the patients as they would anyone of their station. Edward is a gentleman. He may not be a nobleman like you, My Lord, but he is entitled to a certain amount of deference, even if he is not able to appreciate it.”
“I understand. I have just heard so much about Bedlam and obviously many jokes about being sent there. This looks entirely different from that establishment.”
“It is. I know little of Bedlam, but I have heard the jesting. They do not tie him down unless absolutely necessary. He has his own clothes and a man-servant—like a valet, I suppose. I think he needs more intimate help than you need from your valet though. I suspect you put on your own breeches.”
“Damned right I do.”
“Edward is unable to do simple tasks like that. He needs a clout, like a baby. He is unable to tell when he needs to visit the necessary. Well, he was unable to tell last time I visited. Perhaps he has improved. I have been remiss and have not visited. I could not face it. Besides, I had the children to care for. One of whom he had created.”
“We shall see if he is willing or capable of taking responsibility for her.”
“I see no reason for this, My Lord.” Suddenly the idea of facing Edward made her heart beat faster but not in a good way. Not in the way that Robert made her heart thunder when he stood near her and cupped her cheek. Not the way she felt when she was aware of Robert’s very male, very aroused presence close to hers.
“We need to know before I assert any responsibility for her.”
“Why? Even if he is well, he has shown no interest in Eleanor.”
“Then let us find out for certain. Are you afraid, my love?” The fact they were talking so frankly in front of her maid was not lost on Lucy.
“I am uncomfortable. Mayhap there is fear in there too.”
“I shall be with you. You have nothing about which to worry yourself. When all of this is over, we shall be marrying. Nothing that happens inside that building shall change that. Now come.”
He rapped on the door and the coachman, who already had the steps down, opened the door. Robert bounced out and stretched his arm back in to hand her down. There was nothing else for it but to get out and face this particular demon. Robert gave her a reassuring smile as she descended from the coach, then, very properly, offered her his sleeve. She placed her fingers on it and realised that this was the first time they had been in public together. They had never touched each other in such a proper way. It had either been no touching or completely inappropriate. She chuckled and he raised an eyebrow. Lucy shook her head and Robert, the font of all propriety merely nodded his head and led her to the door, which seemed to open magically as they approached. Of course, the footmen inside would have heard their footsteps on the gravel, not to mention the trundling of the carriage and the clatter of horses’ hooves into the courtyard.
“The Earl of Whitsnow and Miss Butterworth to see Lieutenant Edward Dick,” Robert said to an austere looking, silver-haired man who resembled a butler in any great mansion in Mayfair.
“You are relatives?”
“Friends. We come from the same locality. I am the most senior nobleman in the area and Miss Butterworth and Lieutenant Dick were very close friends before he went to war.”
“Very well, My Lord.”
He led them along a large oak-panelled corridor to a large set of double doors. The building was beautifully decorated, paintings hung on the walls—landscapes mostly. Lucy’s stomach seemed to be tying itself in knots. This had been a very bad idea.
“How does Lieutenant Dick fair? Is he well?”
“Physically he is fine. He is however very sick in the head. The bullet left a hole. It has healed over but the damage to his brain is irreversible. He has violent mood swings and dreadful memory lapses. We mostly have male patients and staff. Which is for the best in Lieutenant Dick’s case. He cannot always control himself around young ladies, whatever their station in life. Perhaps you should stay outside, My Lady.”
“No. I must see him. We must discuss the matter we came to discuss.”
“How much does he remember of life before the war?” Robert asked.
“Depends on what day it is. Sometimes he is lucid and recalls everything. Sometimes he thinks he is a youth of say sixteen.”
“I see. Do you know what he thinks today?”
The man showing them to Edward’s room grimaced. “When I said it depends on which day, I should have said, it depends on what moment you speak to him. It varies from hour to hour sometimes.”
“I understand. Thank you for being so forthright.”
“This is his room. The bell is next to the fireplace if you need any help. If he becomes at all violent or…”
“I am sure we shall be fine.”
“I can come in with you or arrange a member of staff…”
“That shall not be necessary.”
“But the lady…”
“Is under my protection and I can and shall protect her if necessary.”
“As you wish, My Lord.”
He leaned over and opened the door into a small but comfortable drawing room. Edward looked up from gazing into the fire. Lucy noted that he looked better than he had when she had last seen him, just a few months after his return from war. But compared to his former strong, handsome self, he was a shadow of the confident, gentleman farmer he’d been raised to become. War really was a disgusting thing.
“Lieutenant Dick, I am Lord…”
“Whitsnow! I remember you.” Edward pushed slowly to his feet and held out his hand. He moved like a man three times his age. He lowered his head deferentially. “And who is this pretty filly you have with you?”
“The young lady is Miss Butterworth. You used to be acquainted.”
Edward pursed his lips and regarded her. “Your bosom is bigger, and your lips are fuller. I know where I would like those lips.” He winked at Robert. “Had them there already. She’s a bit of a lightskirt.”
Lucy placed her hand on Robert’s arm. It was like iron and she knew he was using every ounce of willpower not to plant a facer on the man.
“He does not know what he is saying, Robbie.” The name that she only used in private seemed to have some effect. At least he stopped holding his breath. “Sit down, My Lord and I shall sit beside you.” She gestured to a chaise opposite the seat on which Edward had been sitting when they had entered. Robert waited for her to sit before seating himself beside her. She was very aware of the fact that he was touching her. It was quite inappropriate, but Robert was staking his claim and Lucy was glad.
“Lieutenant Dick, you rightly indicated that I was loose with my favours towards you when we knew each other six years ago. We had…” she turned to Robert and huffed out a little breath, feeling the flush rising up her neck as the embarrassment of her situation closed in on her. Robert opened his mouth to save her, but she tapped his knee and carried on. “You did convince me to have relations with you of a rather intimate nature.”
“I did?”
“You did. In the cowshed.”
“You lifted your skirts for me in the cowshed?” A lascivious grin spread across his face and his hand moved towards the falls of his trousers. “Well you are quite lovely. Perhaps…”
“No, Lieutenant. I think not. We have come here to discuss the consequences of those few occasions when I thought you would return from war and marry me. When you said there would be no consequences.”
“Are you saying I gave you the French pox?”
Lucy blinked and turned to Robert. She had no idea what the man was on about. “The what?”
“No. Miss Butterworth does not think you gave her the French Pox.” Robert rubbed a hand over his face. “What I mean is Miss Butterworth has never had the French Pox.” He looked at her with a moment of doubt crossing his handsome features and a slightly raised eyebrow. Lucy merely shrugged. She had never heard of it. “There were other consequences of that night, Dick.”
“What night?”
“The times you had intercourse with Miss Butterworth.”
“I had sex with Miss Butterworth? Oh Lucy. I remember Lucy. Pretty little filly. Big breasts. Sucked my…”
“Yes, you said. You left her carrying your child when you went off to war.”
“My child?”
“Yes. She was pregnant.”
“Who was?”
“Miss Butterworth.”
“That Miss Butterworth?” He pointed at Lucy.
“Yes.”
“Congratulations. Is it his?”
Lucy thought now would be a good time to be run over by a stagecoach and horses.
At that moment the door swung open. Perhaps the stagecoach had arrived to kill her, but alas, when she looked, it was Mrs Dick, Edward’s mother, red-faced, bosom heaving with the effort of hurrying here, and a countenance that suggested she was less than happy.
“I heard you had visitors, Edward.” She turned to Lucy and Robert. “My Lord, Miss Butterworth.” She bobbed the shallowest of curtseys.
Robert stood and bowed. “Mrs Dick, we were visiting your son to see how he was and…”
“I understand why you are here, My Lord. I should like to speak to Miss Butterworth. Shall we take a turn about the garden?”
Lucy bit her lip. She had never been Mrs Dick’s favourite person. But she nodded and accepted Robert’s hand to help her stand. He squeezed her hand in an encouraging manner then let it go. She followed the older woman outside and they walked a little way from the house before Mrs Dick spoke.
“Everyone in the village knows the deaf girl is your bastard. Do not think to pass her off as my son’s child.”
Lucy had never heard a lady, other than herself use that word and she stopped for a moment, regarding the perfectly cultivated flower beds. The spring flowers were a riot of colours. Bees, flies and other insects were buzzing around in the unseasonably warm day.
“Eleanor is your granddaughter, Mrs Dick. Edward and I made love three times before he went to war, and he left me carrying his babe. I thought he loved me and intended to marry me.”
“Then you were a fool and a harlot. How many other men did you lift your skirts for? Half the village, no doubt.”
“No, Mrs Dick. Only your son. I came here to tell him when he first came home but he was insensible. I wanted him to know he was a father.”
“He is not a father. I do not believe you. You have no proof that imbecile child is his.”
“No, I cannot prove it. And she is no imbecile just because she cannot hear. She is bright and intelligent and can lip read and use our own signing language. If you got to know her…”
“I have no desire to get to know her. She is nothing to do with me or Edward. She is the child of a whore. Nothing more, nothing less. Stop upsetting my son. You have what you want. Miss Davis told me that Lord Whitsnow is smitten with you and plans to marry you soon.”
Lucy was not sure how she was still standing upright. She had just been called a whore and the woman had continued talking as though it was nothing.
“I should like to speak to Lieutenant Dick before I leave and see if he wants to have anything to do with his daughter.”
A hand on her elbow alerted her to the fact that Robert was behind them.
“Miss Butterworth.” His voice was low and kind. “Ma’am,” When he addressed Mrs Dick, however, his tone was icy. “When you speak to my fiancée you will speak to her with deference and you shall certainly not call her daughter a bastard nor she a whore. One day Eleanor will find out about her true parentage, but for now, Lieutenant Dick is too ill to take responsibility for the child. So as far as everyone else is concerned, I made a mistake six years ago, have realised the terrible and awful thing I have done and plan to make it up to the love of my life and my child. You, Miss Butterworth, and I are the only people who will know who is Eleanor’s real father. I am choosing to clean up the mess your son left behind. I do not believe he intended to do right by Miss Butterworth given the lies he told her, but we shall never know. War may have changed him, and he would have come back a less selfish individual. If you ever have a change of heart with regards to seeing your granddaughter, you would be most welcome at Aelton Manor. I am sure we can come up with a suitable explanation for your presence. But you are only welcome if you can be civil to my wife and child. Good day to you Ma’am.”
And with that, he marched them back through the French doors, past Edward who seemed to be digging in the falls of his breeches, and into the hallway beyond.
They met the gentleman who had met them at the door.
“Lieutenant Dick is a little agitated. What he is doing may upset his mother. Could you… uh, sort out the problem.”
“Ah, I understand, My Lord. It happens sometimes. Thank you.”
“You are most welcome. We can see ourselves out.”
Robert led Lucy through the hallway and out to the front door where a young lady, her maid and another member of staff stood conversing. Robert stopped abruptly.
“Jo!” He barked “I mean Lady Joanna. What the devil are you doing here?”
The young lady turned her head. She was beautiful. About Lucy’s age with pale skin, a lithe figure and dark, almost black hair. Her brown eyes widened when she saw Robert.
“Robbie.” She seemed to take a couple of seconds to collect herself and Robert stood motionless. She could tell he was furious. What was their relationship? She had called him Robbie. “It is none of your business Lord Whitsnow.” The young woman’s chin jutted out in defiance.
Robert looked at the member of staff. “Leave us!” he commanded. The man bowed and disappeared. “Jo, For Christ’s sake.”
“Stop taking the Lord’s name in vain. There are ladies present.”
“You were never a lady, Titch.”
Lady Joanna nodded at Lucy. “Mayhap but your companion looks to be a lady of good breeding.”
Robert turned to Lucy. “Aye, Lady Joanna Rose-Reid, may I introduce Miss Lucy Butterworth, my betrothed.”
“You are getting married? And yet I have not spotted the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse yet.”
“Very droll. Look Jo.”
“Lady Joanna to you,” the young lady said pertly, her nose rising in the air. Lucy thought she might like this woman.
Robert seemed to grit his teeth. “It may be de rigeur to tour Bedlam and stare at the patients for the purposes of amusement for those struck with aristocratic ennui, but it is not appropriate behaviour for a young lady. This is a private asylum in the first instance. Besides, I hear even Bedlam has curbed the practice. It’s not seemly. Now get in your carriage and go home. I shall be writing a strongly worded letter to Jason about this. I know your father is not well and Jason is… well he has had other things on his mind, but he should be in control of you. Really. It is not the done thing. Come, I shall see you into your carriage. Come Lucy.”
He ushered both women into the courtyard, Lady Joanna, trying to protest but Robert shushed her every second step.
“Robert, I am trying to find…”
“Stay at home. Or go to London and find a husband.”
“I shall not. I am concerned about Lord…”
“Jo, you are so sweet. But you were always meddling in the affairs of us boys. It is time to stop. Be a good girl and trot off to London and find a good man to marry.”
“You do not understand. Lord Gretell…”
“Ah, it is he whom you have your eye on. Well you always had a tendre for him. Best get to London. He is a Marquess after all. Good choice. Now bring him up to scratch. Good luck.”
Lady Joanna was deposited in her carriage and her driver given instructions to return her to her father’s estate.
“Bessie, can you ride with the driver please,” Lucy asked her maid. She cared not for propriety herself at this point. The only person in the asylum who knew her already thought her a whore. Lady Joanna, whoever she was, was already on her way out the gates as Robert handed her up into the vehicle and the footman lifted the steps.
Once out the gates of the asylum Robert spoke.
“I have done wrong, have I not?”
Tears spilled down her cheeks unbidden and she kept her face turned away from him. She shook her head.
“No. You have done nothing for which I can reproach you Robert. Nor should you reproach yourself.”
“You are upset with me. I was going to make the suggestion to you in private but the things she said to you. I lost my mind. You are not… God, I cannot even bring myself to utter the word.”
“A whore?” She hiccupped as a sob rose in her throat.
“No. How many times must I tell you. He lied to you.”
“Surely I should have known.”
“Why would you have known. Who would have told you? You had no mother. Your brother and father would not have explained. I did not explain to Emily. Heaven alone knows what she must have imagined going to her marital bed. Christ, I was a prize ass.”
“I am sure Gideon was able to show her the basics of where everything goes. Edward certainly managed. As did you when you thought I was an innocent.”
“You are mostly still innocent, my love. I apologise for making a decision on behalf of both of us and on behalf of Eleanor without consulting you. It was just a suggestion, but Mrs Dick made me see red.”
“What suggestion?”
“You did not understand what I said.”
“I was not listening properly. She had called me…”
“I know.”
“I do understand that my daughter is a bastard, but it is as much Edward’s fault as mine, surely.”
“Of course. My love, I cannot change the circumstances of her birth, but I can give her my name. I can claim her as my child. It requires us to lie but I think for a child to have a name, one little lie should be acceptable.”
“A lie? What lie.”
“That I had a brief affair with you six years ago and knew nothing of your confinement. You thought I wanted someone of a higher rank to marry and you chose not to tell me. I put two and two together when you came to stay here. And I am acknowledging Miss Eleanor Beresford as natural daughter of the Earl of Whitsnow. She shall have a season and she shall be able to marry a gentleman of some standing. I cannot promise a duke, of course. I only managed a viscount for my sister. And she arranged that for herself by kissing the fellow in his bedchamber and having to elope to Scotland. Silly chit.”
Lucy’s head was swirling. Why was he talking about Emily and Scotland at a time like this?
“Robert, stop. That is very kind and generous. But I cannot ask you to tell such a great untruth for me.”
He shrugged. “It is only a stretching of the truth.” He pulled her into his arms. “Believe me, my love, had I seen you back then, truly seen you, I would have been more than happy for you to suck my…”
“Robert.”
He tugged on the ribbon of her bonnet and tossed it onto the opposite seat, then pressed a kiss to the crown of her head and settled back against the seat.
Lucy still felt unsettled. Lightskirt and whore. Did the entire village think that of her? Even the people she’d counted as friends? The blackmail notes also suggested she had loose morals, even around Robert.
She moved her hand to the buttons at the falls of his breeches. She may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. If people thought her a whore, she may as well make her soon-to-be-husband happy.
His hand covered hers.
“Lucy, what are you doing?”
She smiled. She hoped it was a seductive smile, but she really had no idea. Until now, with Robert, she had just been herself. She was not sure she had any feminine wiles.
“I was going to suck your…”
He placed three fingers over her lips.
“Please do not complete that sentence, love. I applaud the sentiment. And little Robert is getting hard at the very thought. However, I said I would not until I had married you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes.
“You may as well use your whore, Robert. You are paying good money for me. Looking after orphans and taking on my bastard child as your own. Everyone will know you are only saying she is yours out of pity.”
“No, they shall not. They know better than to gossip about me. I have a reputation.”
“I know. I was told not to approach you for help. But I knew you had a sense of duty as well as being rather dour.”
“You think me dour?”
“I thought you dour.”
“And now.”
“It depends on whether you are trying to stop me from sucking your…”
“Lucy!”
“Yes?”
“We shall marry on the morrow and you can do it to your hearts content, as long as we are in private.”
“The morrow?”
“Yes. We shall travel to Scotland. This afternoon when we get home, we speak to Eleanor and tell her that we are her parents.”
“No. We wait until after the wedding.”
“Why?”
“If she’s upset, she may wish to sleep with me. If I must sleep with her for a couple of nights, you may not want that to be our wedding night.”
Robert frowned. “Devil take it. I do not.”
“Do you still wish to be her papa?”
“Indeed I do.”
“You are a good man, if a little dour at times.” Robert harrumphed but said no more. “You are also high-handed. You were with Lady Joanna. You did not give her a chance to tell you why she was in that asylum.”
“Joanna is a silly chit. Always has been.”
“You are acquainted in what way?”
“Her brother and I were best friends at Eton. Still are best friends. Lord Jason Rose-Reid.”
“He married the widow of Lord Rutherford. Their estate is but a few miles from yours.”
“Yes. She nearly died just yards from my dower house this winter past. She was being hunted by her nephew by marriage. He was an idiot who wanted the title and fortune and wanted to kill Rutherford’s babe.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Yes. So, that’s how I know Lady Joanna Rose-Reid.”
“You called her Jo. And she called you Robbie. You were lovers.”
Robert frowned. “God no. She is Jason’s sister. He would have broken my face if I had touched her. Not to mention every other bone in my body and probably castrated me into the bargain. Besides, she is Jo. Like a sister to me.” He shuddered.
“She is pretty.”
“Is she? I cannot say I have ever considered her as anything other than an annoying little girl. Lucy, were you jealous when you thought we had been lovers?”
Lucy turned her head away. “A little.”
“I shall be a faithful husband. I have no time for infidelity.”
Lucy nodded. She was glad she had broached the subject. At least she knew who the beautiful creature had been and why Robert was on such intimate terms with her.
They passed the rest of the journey in comfortable silence. Lucy’s mind wandered to what it would be like to be the Countess of Whitsnow and what would happen to the orphans. Robert had said he would take care of them.