Chapter One
Suffolk County, England, August 1818
Richard, The Earl of Hawkins, known to family and friends as “Hawk,” gazed out the window of his carriage as the vehicle rounded the final bend to his cousin, Gerard, The Earl of Wycliff’s estate in Suffolk. He’d been traveling for three days and was weary to the bone.
Truth be known, his ennui came not merely from the journey, but life in general. He’d been feeling this tedium for months now. No amount of liquor, games, or bed sport had altered his mood.
The carriage came to a rolling stop in front of the massive stone building. The familiarity of the place lifted his spirits. He’d spent quite a bit of time here as a lad, running through the woods behind the house, climbing trees, and building fortresses. He and Wycliff shared a birthday, one year apart, and had always been close.
The front door opened, and Leah, Wycliff’s countess, strolled down the pathway, her arms extended. “Hawk, we’re so very glad you came to visit. The children were beside themselves with glee awaiting your arrival.”
Hawk took her small hands in his large ones and bowed. “My lady, I am delighted to be here and bring happiness to the little ones.”
She grinned. “Liar.”
He grinned back at her open honesty. It was well known that Hawk regarded children as foreign creatures from another land at best and barbarians sent by the devil to torture adults at worst. But Wycliff and his wife loved the urchins and spent most of their time in the country for their benefit.
Leah linked her arm in his. “We have planned some parties while you’re here.” She leaned back and looked at him. “I do hope you intend to stay for some time?”
Since everything he’d left behind in London no longer appealed, there was no reason for a short visit. Recently, he’d spent time at his own estate at a house party his mother and sister had hosted, and that had provided enough socializing and maternal contact for a while. His mother preached incessantly about duty to his title. If she had dragged one more young, giggling lady in front of him with that knowing look in her eyes, he would have jumped from the nearest window.
And probably just break a leg, since most encounters had taken place in the drawing room on the first floor.
Hawk patted Leah’s hand. “I am at your disposal for as long as you can tolerate me.”
“Excellent!”
They entered the house, the familiar bust of one of Wycliff’s ancestors still resting in the same place it had been for centuries. The black and white tile floor brought back memories of numerous games of knuckles where he and Wycliff had been evenly matched.
His gaze wandered to the winding staircase that he and his cousin had slid down numerous times, racing out the front door, usually with Wycliff’s governess chasing behind them, threatening all sorts of retributions from his father.
“Where’s Wycliff?”
“He had a meeting with his steward this morning. They’ve been cosseted for some time, so he should be free soon. Why don’t I show you to your bedchamber, and you can have your man unpack, and refresh yourself from your journey. Tea will be in a half hour.”
Hawk followed her up the stairs, Leah chatting with him over her shoulder. He’d forgotten how lively, and tiring, she could be. The perfect woman to have all those urchins running about. She led him to a large bedchamber on the northwest corner of the house. “I avoided the northeast corner room since I didn’t think you would want sunshine first thing in the morning.”
Was his dissipation so well known, then, that his hostess had expected him to be over-indulging on a regular basis? He conducted himself no differently than any other bachelor of the ton who spent the majority of their time dodging the parson’s noose. Although, lately, his guilt had possibly caused him to over-indulge a bit more than usual.
“Thank you for your consideration. Will you laugh if I say I am changing my ways?” He flashed her the smile that had made numerous women offer their beds.
She smirked. “You will remember I am happily married, my lord. Your smiles and flirting will not work on me.”
“To my regret.” He took her hand and kissed it. “’Tis a lucky man, my cousin.”
She flushed. She was not completely immune to his charm.
“I will leave you to attend to your needs and see you downstairs.” She stopped at the doorway. “The children are so excited to see you that I promised they could join us for tea.” She gave him her proud-mother smile and departed, leaving him feeling like a grumpy old man.
The only occupants in the drawing room when Hawk entered after cleaning up from the trip were Leah and Wycliff. His cousin turned from where he stood next to the fireplace and strode across the room. “Cousin, welcome. It has been far too long since you last visited.”
They shook hands. “Tea will arrive any minute, but I’m sure you would prefer something a bit stronger.”
“Are you drinking?”
Wycliff shook his head. “No. I have to keep a clear head. As you know, with my responsibilities, problems are forever popping up from nowhere. Who is minding your business in your absence?”
“My steward and man of business are so efficient, they rarely need me.” Even though Hawk would have enjoyed a bit of brandy after his trip, he was determined to begin his life of moderation. “I will wait for tea.”
“How was your journey?”
The two men sat across from Leah, who rested on a settee. As always, she had her hands placed in her lap, a soft smile on her face. Since his cousin was a forceful man, who emanated power and energy, Hawk had always been amazed that the lovely, refined Leah kept him happy.
Theirs had been a love match, and Wycliff had forced his hand with his parents who had not wanted him to marry Leah. She had been a wealthy merchant’s daughter, and they’d thought, as an Earl, he could have done much better.
Wycliff had won out. His parents eventually accepted his wife, and from what he could gather, Wycliff’s mother doted on her grandchildren. Only two years after they married, the old Earl had died, leaving Wycliff with the title, a large estate to manage, and a wife already carrying their second child.
A footman arrived, carrying a tea tray with an array of offerings. “Just set it over there, Smith.” Leah waved in the direction of a table against the wall, next to the pianoforte.
“Now that tea has arrived, I can safely bring in the children.”
At Hawk’s raised eyebrows, Leah laughed. “Food is a very good source of distraction for little ones. They tend to be fidgety and feeding them works quite well.”
“It’s been a while since I visited—”
“—too long.”
Hawk smiled. “Remind me the children’s names and ages.”
“Ellen is nine years, Dorothy eight, and the twins, David and Daniel, just saw their fifth birthday.”
“My goodness, your nurse must be quite busy.”
“Yes, I’m afraid she is, but we have one of the maids help her each day. And we have a governess, as well. Since it’s been so long since we’ve been honored with your presence, you have not met Miss Moore. She is a lovely young woman, has been with us for a while. The children love her.”
Leah rose and made her way to the door, leaving Hawk concerned that they were about to be invaded by a terrorizing horde, ready to grab food with both hands from the tea tray. Perhaps he should have had that brandy.
“How do you find fatherhood?” Hawk studied his cousin, who did not look at all daunted at the coming invasion.
“Wonderful, just wonderful. You must try it some time.” His parental glow lit up the room. “’Tis an extraordinary thing to watch a tiny speck of a person grow into a real individual. One who looks like you, that you see traits of yourself in.”
He wasn’t certain he’d care to see some of his traits replicated in another. “Frightening things, I find them.” Hawk rested his ankle on his bent knee. “I always thought when the time came I would make sure I had sufficient help in the nursery to keep me from having to deal too much with them.” He ran his finger around the inside of his cravat. “Frankly, they terrify me.”
“Ah, but when you have one of your own, all of that nonsense leaves you.” Wycliff glanced up, over Hawk’s shoulder. “Here they come now.”
It had not been necessary for his cousin to announce their presence, since noise from shrill voices raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He stood, feeling more in control when he was on his feet.
“Here are your cousins, my lord.” Leah laid her hand on the tallest child’s head. “This is your cousin, Ellen.” The little girl did a rather elegant curtsy. “This is Dorothy.” Her curtsy, while adorable, needed a bit of work. “And the twins, Daniel and David. Children, this is your cousin, Lord Hawkins.”
She had no need to announce the twins since they looked exactly alike. Two pairs of deep blue eyes studied him, making him even more uncomfortable. The last time he had seen that look had been during a vingt-et-un game just as he’d won a hundred pounds from the notoriously strapped Lord Dankins.
“Good afternoon, children. It is my pleasure to re-acquaint myself with you.”
“Why are you so tall?” one of the twins asked, almost falling over backward trying to see to the top of Hawk’s head. “You’re even taller than my papa.” He made it sound as though Hawk had purposely grown to this height to best their father. Wycliff had always been a bit on the short side, and next to Hawk’s more than six feet, he probably did appear a bit diminutive to the child.
A lovely woman whom he had not noticed leaned toward the child, taking his little face in her hands. “Daniel, ’tis not well-mannered to ask personal questions.”
How the devil did she know who was who? They were even dressed alike.
“But he’s so big.” The other twin raised his hand up in the air.
Wycliff chuckled, and Leah gazed at the two hellions with love and pride.
Hawk shuddered.
He glanced up at the governess, who was regarding him with mirth. Had she witnessed his shudder? It was the first time he looked fully at her, so focused had he been on the children.
“Lord Hawkins, may I make known to you Miss Lizzie Moore?” She turned toward Miss Moore. “The Earl of Hawkins is Lord Wycliff’s cousin.”
Instead of a full curtsy, the governess gave him a modest dip, her eyes downcast.
Miss Moore was tall for a woman, but still the top of her head only came up to his eyes. Her blond hair was pulled back into a chignon that had loosened somewhat, giving her a harried look. If he had to deal with these children daily, he would be bald from pulling his hair out of his head.
“Miss Moore, it is my pleasure.” He gave a slight bow.
She regarded him with hazel eyes, a questioning look on her face, almost as if she had expected him to know her. But since he had very little to do with urchins, there was no way he would know Miss Moore. Although, had she not been a governess and employed in his cousin’s house, he might have enjoyed getting to know her better.
Then he brought himself up short. That was the reason he had escaped London and decided to visit with his stalwart, sober cousin. Hawk’s life of dissipation had not only begun to bore him, but also disgust him.
Not that he intended to give up his rakish life just yet. However, as much as he enjoyed the favors of willing women, the pleasures to be had at the gaming tables, and fine liquor, the extent to which he had been indulging was simply not him.
He’d arrived at the point where he had to admit all the liquor and women in the world would not erase the guilt he carried.
Miss Moore herded her charges toward the tea tray and sat them all in a row on a sofa next to the table. One by one she called them forward and fixed a plate for each. Leah, in the meantime, poured tea for her, Wycliff, and him, handing Hawk a cup of the warm liquid. “I remember how you take your tea, my lord.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Leah, truly we are not going to be so formal during my visit?”
She smiled. “Yes, you are quite right.” She passed him a plate of biscuits and tarts. “No more my lord and my lady.”
Despite his best intentions, his eyes kept wandering in the direction of the governess, who was quite adept at handling the youngsters. As he studied her, she did appear a bit familiar, but he shook off the idea since it was highly unlikely he knew her.
Once she settled into her seat, she raised her cup of tea to nicely plump lips and glanced in his direction. The teacup in his hand stopped a few inches from his mouth as a very uncomfortable and foreboding feeling settled in his stomach.