Chapter Eight
The streetlights were on by the time Serenity trudged wearily up Gemma’s front steps. The day had been endless, and each mile she’d put between herself and Luke had been like a knife through the heart. Yet somehow she’d survived the train ride and the long walk through the city.
That’s what she was, she supposed, a survivor. Even though she’d sometimes like to give up, she kept moving forward, one foot in front of the other. She’d been doing this for so long that she’d forgotten why she bothered. She’d lost all the passion and joy she’d once taken in living until Luke had returned to her.
Pausing upon Gemma’s stoop, she set down her bag and took a few minutes to compose herself, wondering if she had made a horrible mistake by coming here. Gemma was a bit prickly, and they hadn’t hit it off right away all those years ago when she had come to stay at the cottage, but eventually, they’d come to an understanding. Once Gemma had realized how very much in love Serenity and Luke were, she’d been willing to look the other way, and they’d become friends of a sort. The three of them, trapped in a tiny cottage together, had made it an oasis of love and friendship.
When Serenity had been sent away, Gemma had come with her. She’d been her companion during those heartbreaking months that followed, staying with her until Serenity had been pressed into service in Winters’ household. Serenity had been surprised when Gemma had sent her an invitation to have lunch with her a year or so later. Apparently, Gemma had received a small inheritance, which she’d used to purchase her own small home in the city. The two women had stayed in touch, and occasionally Serenity visited with Gemma on her day off.
Serenity had no idea how the other woman would react to finding her upon her doorstep, but she literally had nowhere else to go.
Taking a deep breath, Serenity raised her hand and knocked before she could lose her nerve.
After several moments, Browne, Gemma’s lone servant, opened the door.
“Hello,” Serenity greeted her, trying to smile. “Can you please tell Miss Cross that Miss Pratt is here to see her?”
Browne frowned. “She isn’t expectin’ you.”
Serenity nodded impatiently. “Yes, I know. But it’s very important that I see her.”
“I’ll see if she’s in.” Giving Serenity another imperious, suspicious glare, the woman abruptly shut the door in her face, leaving her standing outside in the gathering dark.
Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Serenity wondered what she’d do if Browne didn’t return and let her in. Probably collapse in a miserable heap, she decided, too worn out to even consider trying to find an inn she could afford tonight.
At long last, the door opened, and Gemma herself stood there, looking confused and not altogether pleased. In her early thirties, Gemma was a homely woman with mousy brown hair and an unfortunately large nose. “Miss Pratt,” she said stiffly. “Please, do come in.”
Serenity stepped inside, blinking back a wave of emotion. She would not cry. She wouldn’t. Gemma certainly wouldn’t appreciate such a display.
Once Gemma had led her to the small parlor, Serenity collapsed eagerly in the proffered chair and got straight to the point. “Oh, Gemma. I know it’s very presumptuous of me to come here unannounced, but I’ve been let go from my position and I didn’t know where else to go.”
“Let go?” Gemma blinked owlishly behind her large spectacles. “Whatever did you do?”
Serenity flushed and lowered her gaze, staring at the dusty toe of her shoe. “The Earl of Hawkesmere,” she admitted, feeling such a fool. “He showed up at Winters’ home yesterday morning. I hadn’t seen him since I left the country all those years ago. At first, he didn’t recognize me, but when he did… he kissed me, Gemma. Right there in the front hall.”
Gemma made a small choking sound that could have been horror or laughter. “Ah, Serenity. That man will be the death of you, won’t he?”
“I very much fear that you are right,” Serenity agreed, blinking away a new rush of tears.
“So, I suppose you need somewhere to stay?” Gemma surmised.
“Only for a few days,” Serenity hurried to assure her. “Only until I can figure out what to do. I have a little money. I can pay you.”
Gemma shook her head. “I won’t hear of it. I have an extra room, and I could use the company.” She gave Serenity a crooked smile. “Perhaps this time you can be a companion to me, eh?”
“Oh, Gemma,” Serenity murmured, overwhelmed by her friend’s generosity. “I can’t thank you enough.” She was ridiculously happy that her one friend had proven true. She couldn’t have withstood that disappointment on top of everything else.
“Think nothing of it,” Gemma said, leaning down to give her an awkward hug. “Now tell me all about it.”
* * *
Luke arrived back at his London home well after dark, exhausted and heartsick. He wanted nothing more than to take a hot bath, drink some of his finest Scotch, and fall into a dreamless sleep. Perhaps things would look less hopeless in the morning.
However, the moment he entered the house, his butler informed him that his brother, Adrian, waited for him in the greenhouse. The younger man had apparently been there for some time.
With a sigh, Luke shed his coat and unfastened his cravat as he entered the great glass room that was his pride and joy, going to the sideboard to pour them both a drink. The bath and bed would have to wait.
“Did you find her?” Adrian asked, looking up from the grapevine he was trimming as Luke handed him the drink.
“They set sail before I arrived in Dover,” Luke replied wearily, sinking into an elaborate cast iron chair. “I wasted two days on a wild goose chase, when I would have been better served staying here and looking after Morgan. How is he?”
Adrian shook his head morosely and took a drink. “I tried to see him, but he refuses to let me in.”
Morgan had said a lot of horrible things to Adrian the night of Anne’s death, but Luke had hoped the twins had made up by now. Surely, Morgan must realize that Adrian was not the one to blame. Roger had been the one behind Anne’s death. Adrian had done everything he could to save her.
“He’ll come around,” Luke assured him. “Just give him a little time.”
Thank God Adrian had Vanessa, and Gabriel, the little boy they’d adopted, to get him through this. If this rift between the twins had come about before Adrian had married the beautiful actress, Luke would have greatly feared for him. All his life, Adrian had blamed himself for their father’s death. If he’d had to take on the guilt for Anne’s as well, there might have been no saving him.
“Fiona says the baby is doing well,” Adrian continued, obviously striving to find something positive out of the situation. “She’s found a wet nurse for her.”
“Good. That’s good,” Luke said, taking a chair by the fire. He had no reservations about leaving his niece in the redhead’s capable hands. Fiona treated all the children in her care as though they were her own. He took a deep drink, letting the liquid fire burn its way down his gut. “I saw Serenity.”
Adrian choked on his own drink. “What? You saw who?”
“Serenity,” Luke replied, trying to sound casual. “When I went to Roger’s house to find him, she opened the front door. Apparently, she’s been the upstairs maid there all these years. Can you imagine? She’s been right under my nose this entire time.”
Adrian put his drink down and leaned forward, his blue eyes filled with concern. “What happened?”
“I kissed her, of course.” Luke gave a bitter chuckle and took another drink. “The housekeeper fired her then and there, and so I dragged her with me all the way to Dover. Last night, she made love to me, and this morning, I woke alone. She ran away from me again, and I have no fucking idea where’s she’s gone.”
“Well… hell.” Adrian rubbed his hand over the scarred side of his face, shaking his head. “What do you plan to do?”
“I’m going to find her,” Luke said fiercely. “But this couldn’t have happened at a worse time, because first I must find Allison, arrange Anne’s funeral, talk to Mother—”
“What’s Mother got to do with it?” Adrian interrupted, his voice wary. If Luke’s relationship with his mother was strained, Adrian’s was utterly broken. The woman had always treated her youngest son as though his scars made him unworthy of her love.
Had she ever really loved any of them?
“That’s what I need to find out,” Luke said angrily. “Serenity says that Mother was the one who sent her away. She wouldn’t tell me more, but…” He ran a hand through his hair, thinking once again of the faint marks on Serenity’s stomach. “I think she might have been pregnant with my child.” Voicing his deepest fear made the whole thing sound incredibly real. His gut tightened with dread, at the thought that his middle-of-the-night wonderings might have some basis. “She ran away this morning before I could ask her, and I can’t help but wonder… if that’s true, what happened to the child?”
Adrian shook his head sympathetically but thankfully didn’t ask any more questions. “You think Mother knows the answers?”
Luke nodded. “I know she does. But whether she’ll tell me… well, that’s another issue altogether.”
Adrian stood. “I’ll let you get some sleep. You look exhausted. But I’ll return in the morning, and we’ll figure this out. I’ll help you find her, Luke. We’ll find Serenity and Allison both.”
“Thank you,” Luke said. “I hope you’re right.” Deep down, he feared that even if he found Serenity, he’d never convince her to stay.