Chapter 10
Across town, Drew waited in the Durands’ drawing room. It had not changed a bit in the years he’d been gone. The same pink-hued settee. The same French-styled chairs. He wandered over to the window and gazed out into the dark gardens.
He still remembered the first time he’d met Marianne and the charged connection between them when they’d touched. There had been something there; he hadn’t known exactly what but he’d been determined to find out.
The nervous energy inside calling him to action was difficult to keep in check but he refused to pace. No longer on the high seas where a moment’s hesitation could mean his life, here in the bosom of the ton he needed to watch, listen, consider everything and everyone before he made a move. The wrong move could cost him and cost him dearly.
“My lord?”
Drew turned from the window, his thoughts broken.
Marianne’s father entered, his face flushed, no doubt by the astonishment of learning Drew had seemingly returned from the dead.
“Sir,” Drew extended his hand, pleased when his father-in-law took it and shook it heartily. “Forgive the intrusion at so late an hour. It’s been quite an eventful day.”
“I would say so, considering no one has seen hide nor hair of you in almost four years. When did you return?”
George waved him to a seat which Drew took with much relief. He had no idea what he should expect from this meeting. George sat across from him.
“Actually my ship came in two days ago but not being in any state to see anyone at the time, I went to a tailor, a barber, the usual services, to make myself presentable.”
“Your ship came in? Literally?” George’s eyes grew wide in disbelief.
“Yes, sir. My abrupt departure was not voluntary. You see, sir, I was kidnapped and pressed into service as a merchant seaman.”
“I think I need a drink, my lord.” George went to the sideboard. “Would you like something? I have some Sazerac de Forge from 1815. Some saythey distilled it to celebrate the victory at Waterloo but who really knows?”
“Gladly. It’s been one hell of a day. Please, George, call me Andrew or Drew. We’re still related, after all.” Drew took the glass handed to him and wafted the amber liquid under his nose. He took a sip and savored the rich taste. “This is very fine. Thank you for sharing it.”
“Least I can do under the circumstances. Now, let’s talk about the current circumstances.” George sat again and took a sip of his own drink before starting. “Have you seen my daughter, your wife?”
“Yes.” Drew rolled the glass between his hands to warm its contents. “I went there right after going to my father’s house in Mayfair where I discovered my father had passed on and I am now the earl. And, of course, that Marianne resides in my town house.” He took another sip. “I cannot believe my father treated her so coarsely after pursuing our marriage with such vehemence.”
George set down his glass on a nearby table, leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Did she tell you what else he did? How he tried to force her into relinquishing her dowry?”
“Yes, she told me all about it. I can do nothing but apologize for his crassness and tell you how absolutely appalled I am by his actions. I thank you for protecting her and her money. My father would have made short work of it, I’m sure.”
George picked up his glass once again. “Well, we had no notion of where you’d gone. We’ve had runners out since the very next day. It seemed as if you’d fallen off the planet. Not one returned with news of your whereabouts or well-being.”
“Sir, as I told Marianne, part of that was my doing. After being on board ship for so many months without a means of communicating, I thought it might be better for all concerned that I disappear. I knew she didn’t want the marriage. Nor did I. I had expected my father to take care of her.”
George interrupted, “I’m afraid your father showed his true colors as a selfish man. Her mother and I saw to her well-being and that of the child when she was born.”
“Yes, Andrea. What a surprise. Such a beautiful child, and I’ve missed the first three years of her life. There is no way I can get that back, so I must move forward.”
“We are celebrating her natal day next Thursday, you know. Marianne has invited us over for the celebration. Earlier in the day, she will have a number of other tots over to play but after they leave the adults will gather round to celebrate. Has she told you?”
“Not yet. But surely Andrea must have been born closer to February. No?”
“The weather has been appalling for weeks and Andrea succumbed to a fever for some time. Nothing serious, just not well enough to have a celebration. So Marianne decided to put it off until the weather improved and the children could spend some time out in the garden.”
Drew nodded. “Well, that is lucky for me. I must think of something wonderful to do for her. Nothing can make up for my absence but I can afford a special gift.”
“Marianne has taken good care of your estates and her dowry. You may not be inordinately wealthy but you are no longer in Dun territory.”
“George, I am extraordinarily wealthy. While abroad, I made my fortune.” Drew savored another sip of the fine cognac.
“How so as only a sailor? That’s not an overly well-paid trade from my knowledge of it.”
“I have always had a gift for languages. As a youth, I easily picked up French, German, Spanish, and even Russian. No matter where we sailed, I could pick up the local tongue in short order. Even Polynesian and Oriental languages posed little challenge. It made me indispensable to the captain in his dealings. But it made me a desirable commodity as well. So I was paid well and I changed ships a number of times, as someone else would pay even better. Then I invested with certain companies, the East India Company for one, and improved my fortune further. I have no need of your daughter’s money, nor anyone else’s, any longer.”
“So the two of you are free to do what you wish. What do you propose? Will you seek a divorce?”
“At this time, I have no idea. And I don’t wish to taint her reputation with a divorce if I don’t have to. I hope Marianne and I can take some time to get to know one another, especially since we have a child. But, I’m not sure she will wish that. I’ve met her friend, Sir Robert Gentilly. Marianne told me they had planned to have me declared legally deceased.”
“She had no inkling you were still alive, Andrew. As I said, we’ve had no news of you all this time.”
“I understand. What are your thoughts of this man? Do you know him? Do you like him?”
“Her mother and I have met him a number of times. He’s been courteous, as one would expect. He is not overly affectionate to Andrea, but that may mean nothing as yet. I’ve no idea where he gets his funds. He doesn’t seem frivolous with money, so we’ve not suspected him of fortune hunting. And, he has always been very respectful of Marianne in our presence. In spite of your being gone, she has not made any rash moves or promises that I know of.”
Drew took his last sip of cognac and set his glass on a nearby table. “Under the circumstances, Marianne deserves every happiness. I hope she will give us a little time to find out if we can have that with each other. If we cannot, then I will endeavor to find a way to legally let her go without too much of a scandal in the ton. Thank you, George, for your hospitality and insight. I hope to see you next week at my daughter’s party.”
With no prior indication, the door slammed open and his brother-in-law, Chase, stalked into the room, filling the air with the odors of liquor and stale tobacco smoke. His hair askew, his clothes somewhat disheveled, he had the look of a man who had spent at least part of the evening visiting the hells.
“You bloody bastard! You desert my sister for four years, then have the nerve to show up unscathed and unrepentant. And I find out about it from some drunken lout who escaped from one of the evening’s balls. You send no message, nothing? You just show up and expect all to be forgiven?” Chase rounded on Drew’s chair then grabbed his lapels and dragged him from his seat.
“Chase.” George hurried to his feet to lay a staying hand on his son. “You don’t know what you are talking about. Let him go. You’re in no condition to deal with this situation tonight.”
Chase shrugged his father off. “I can see you’ll do nothing, Father. So I’ll take him to task myself.” Letting go of one lapel, he raised his clenched fist and made move to punch Drew in his face.
Drew would have none of this. As the fist came toward him, he threw up an opened palm to receive it. Taking the force with it, Drew used the momentum of his brother-in-law’s swing and guided his arm down then brought it up behind Chase’s back. Drew held it there just tight enough that every time Chase struggled, pain shot through him.
“You bloody bastard! Let me go! You have no right! Let me go!” Chase winced every time he moved.
“Calm down, Chase.” George had finally had a moment to set his glass on the table. “His lordship has every right when you were the first to take a swipe at him. Did you expect the man to just stand there and let you hit him?”
“Of course I did. He deserted my sister.” Chase winced again as he struggled once more to be free.
Drew had had enough. “Stop. I’ll let you go if you’ll stop fighting and struggling. Can I trust you to not take another swing? I’m not the same man you knew all those years ago. I can put you down and out faster than you can think of your next move. I’ve spent two years defending myself on the high seas and eighteen months training in the art of war in the Orient. There is nothing you can throw at me I don’t know how to defend.” Drew eased his hold. “Can I trust you to stop if I let you go?”
“Chase, I’ll tell you the entire story tomorrow. Just let it be for tonight,” George commanded.
Chase stopped struggling. “Very well. But this isn’t over.”
“Of course not.” Drew released him but watched him closely in case of another attack. “Let your father tell you my tale. If it doesn’t answer all of your questions, you have only to come to me. I will be happy to answer any others you may have.”
Chase turned to face him, still tensed for battle. “If I’m not satisfied I’ll call you out.”
“I hope it will not come to that as I have had far more training than you over these last years. There is no doubt I would win and I’d hate to see your father lose his only son or my wife lose her only brother.”
George placed a hand on Chase’s arm and turned him. “Chase, go to bed. We’ll discuss this in the morning.”
Chase glanced over at Drew, then nodded. “For now. But this isn’t over.” He stalked out of the room.
George returned his attention to Drew. “My sincerest apologies. He shouldn’t have done that.”
“He’s Marianne’s brother. It’s good to know he cares that much for her, even if he is approaching it in the wrong manner.”
“I’ll explain. He should be able to understand.”
“I’ll hope for that. In the meantime, I must be off. Thank you for your time and the fine cognac. I’ll see you and your wife, Margaret, very soon.”
“I’m sure you will. If not before, at Andrea’s party.”
Drew left for home.