Chapter Ten
“Don’t tire yourself out, Lia,” Chloe, Lady Hunter said. “You’re still convalescing, so the last thing you need is a rambunctious baby to manage.”
Lia settled little Dom on her lap, smiling at the lovely woman who’d so kindly taken care of her during her illness. “I’m feeling much better now, thank you. I still can’t believe I was so ill.”
This was the first day she’d come down to the drawing room since moving into the Hunters’ lovely town house on Upper Wimpole Street. Far from contracting just a little cold, she’d been felled by a nasty infection that had left her as weak as a half-drowned kitten.
Chloe rummaged in the sewing basket by her chair. “It was no doubt from all the hard work and excitement leading up to opening night, combined with a jarring transition from the country to the city.” She glanced out the pretty bow window onto the quiet street. “I’ve always found the country to be a healthier environment, and certainly more peaceful.”
While it was true the Hunters’ town house was tucked away in one of the quieter neighborhoods of the city, Lia had discovered they generally lived quite out of the way at their manor house in the country village of Camberwell. Their primary home also doubled as a charitable establishment for unwed pregnant girls and young women, providing shelter for those cast aside by their families.
Most members of the Ton had already decamped to their country estates, and Lia suspected Chloe and Sir Dominic would have done the same had she not been so precipitously thrust into their care.
“You are not to be considering yourself as any sort of burden,” Chloe said, clearly reading her expression. “We’re thrilled to have you stay with us for as long as you like.”
When Lia bounced Dom on her knee, the baby chortled and waved his chubby fists in the air, then made a grab for the ribbons that trimmed the waist of her dress. “You’re very generous, but I’m sure you’d both prefer to be in the country.”
“Indeed, no. My husband has a number of interests in Town. There is always something to keep him occupied while we are in residence here.”
“And you? Don’t you miss your home and your charity work in Camberwell?”
A soft smile curved Chloe’s mouth. “I do, but my true home is wherever my husband and little Dominic are. I can ask for nothing more. Besides, while I do miss my work, my son and his wife are staying at our villa, looking out for my girls. Justine is close to one of the children under my care, and she never misses the opportunity to spend time with him.”
“And your son? Does he enjoy it?” Lia couldn’t help asking with a hint of mischief. From everything she’d heard about Griffin Steele, she found it hard to believe that the former gaming hell owner was the sort of man to enjoy spending time in a house full of women and babies.
Chloe laughed. “Griffin is less enthusiastic but surprisingly good at keeping order and generating a calm atmosphere in a sometimes exceedingly lively household. In any case, he goes wherever Justine goes, especially now that she’s with child.”
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting the Steeles. It’s still amazing to me that I have a real family beyond my mother and grandmother.”
While Lia had always counted Jack and Lord Lendale as family, now she was discovering she had a real family, bonded by blood and apparently eager to accept her. She’d barely gotten over the shock of meeting Gillian when Sir Dominic had marched into the room and announced she also had a half brother. Captain William Endicott was the natural son of the Duke of York and had been raised by his aunt and uncle, respectable members of the country gentry. Privately acknowledged by his father, Will had gone on to have a successful military career and marry the daughter of a viscount. He was now stationed in Vienna as part of the British diplomatic delegation.
Another shock had followed when Sir Dominic further revealed that he was married to Lia’s aunt, who was the mother of Griffin Steele. Griffin was Gillian’s half brother and yet another thread in the tangled web of relations Lia had recently acquired.
Remarkably, none of her newly found relatives seemed at all bothered by her dubious lineage, even though it included two notorious courtesans, one of whom still made her living on the stage. But while her half brother and cousins also carried the stain of illegitimacy, they came from good families on their maternal sides—even from among the aristocracy, in some cases. Because of that, they’d been able to establish lives within the Ton and find spouses with impeccable backgrounds. It was a feat Lia could never hope to equal.
“You have quite a large family now, my dear,” Chloe said, “and we’re all happy that you have joined our ranks. We’re quite a loyal lot, as you will find out soon enough.”
“You’re all very kind, but I cannot impose upon you forever. That would be utterly selfish of me.”
“Nonsense. William and his wife have made it clear that they would prefer you to remain with us until they return from Vienna. That is, of course, unless you’d prefer to join them instead. They will defer to your wishes, but I know they would be delighted if you went over to the Continent.” Chloe gave her another warm smile. “But Dominic and I would be thrilled if you stayed with us. It’s been a joy for me to have such a lovely niece to pamper. Gillian won’t let me coddle her at all, she’s so fiercely independent.”
Lia’s throat went tight with emotion. From the moment she’d walked through the door, Chloe had welcomed her with genuine affection and gone out of her way to make her feel wanted.
It was a startling contrast to her mother’s behavior. Mama’s tepid welcome had been bad enough; Lia could put that down to surprise and consternation over what to do with her. But when Sir Dominic proposed taking her home to his wife, Mama had leaped at the opportunity with an almost embarrassing enthusiasm. After all, not only did it resolve the problem of Lia’s immediate future, it removed her from the acting troupe and the ire of the other performers.
And then there was Jack. She’d not seen him since the night of her humiliating debut. He’d called in Upper Wimpole Street three times, but at first she’d been too sick to see him and then simply too mortified to face him. He was bound to be annoyed, if not downright angry with her.
Chloe put her needlework aside and crossed the room to join Lia and the baby on the chaise. Dom gurgled happily at his mother, enthusiastically grabbing at her.
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” she said, letting her son grasp her finger. “Having a ready-made family thrust upon you can be unnerving. But I promise we’re not so scary once you get used to us.”
“No, you’ve all been splendid.” Lia shifted the baby so he could get close enough to grab Chloe with both hands. “It’s just . . .”
“Overwhelming? Believe me, I understand. I was in a similar position when Griffin and Dominic first came back into my life. After years of seclusion in the country and no contact with my family, I struggled with the change. A new life does take getting used to.” She laughed. “Especially with our large and ridiculously interfering family.”
“It’s certainly different. It’s always been just Granny and me. Well, there was Jack, too, of course, and Lord Lendale before he died.” Lia shook her head. “But I don’t know where Jack fits in anymore. He wants to take care of us, but that’s not possible. Not in the long term anyway.”
Nor was it his responsibility. It was Lia’s, and she’d spent most of the last week in bed thinking of little else. How was she to support Granny?
Acting was now out of the question. Nor could she reasonably expect her half brother, William—a man she’d never met—to take up supporting her and her grandmother. Lia simply refused to put herself into the position of a poor relation, entirely dependent on the goodwill of others. As she and Granny had already discovered, that rarely ended well.
Charity and kindness were all to the good; control over one’s fate was even better.
“I can see that living at Stonefell would not be appropriate in the long term,” Chloe said. “But that doesn’t mean Lord Lendale can’t be of assistance. We can chat with him about that when he stops by this afternoon.”
The prospect of seeing Jack again set Lia’s heart on a gallop around her chest. She couldn’t decide whether the reaction was evoked by anticipation or dread.
“You can’t avoid him forever,” Chloe said, again reading her expression. “Dominic had to all but sit on his lordship to prevent him from barging up to your room the other day.”
“Jack’s not used to me avoiding him. But I don’t know how I’m going to face him after everything that’s happened. I suspect he’s quite angry with me.”
Not that he had any right to be. If anything, she should be furious with him for throwing obstacles in her path every time she tried to move forward.
“Lord Lendale is worried about you,” Chloe said. “Now, I think it’s time my little boy went back to his nurse for a bath and a nap.” She leaned over her son and sniffed. “Oh yes. He definitely needs to go back to his nurse.”
Lia reluctantly relinquished the little dear, instantly missing his comforting weight. Holding a baby always made the world feel like a happier place. “I hate to give him up. He’s so sweet.”
“Sweet is not the word I would use to describe him just now,” Chloe said, hoisting her son into her arms. Dom was a robust, squirming bundle, almost too big for his mother to lift. Chloe’s delicate beauty made her appear almost frail, but Lia had discovered she was anything but. She had a quiet strength and supervised everyone in her orbit—including her powerful husband—with calm determination.
“You’re very good with babies,” Chloe said, rising to her feet. “Dom already adores you.”
“I love children. I always spent quite a lot of time with the tenants’ little ones at Stonefell. Their poor mothers are frequently in need of help.” Lia mentally blinked as a thought darted into her head.
Could she possibly ask it of her aunt? “I don’t suppose you could use a nursemaid or helper at your establishment in Camberwell, could you?”
Chloe paused on her way to the door, glancing back with a startled look on her face. When she didn’t come right out and say no, Lia took heart.
“I could bring Granny down to stay with me,” she said, warming to the idea. “We wouldn’t need much—just a few rooms in the village. I promise I would work very hard, and we wouldn’t be a burden to you at all.”
Chloe shook her head. “My dear, I think we can do much better than that.”
“But—”
“No, Lia. It’s out of the question.”
Before she could ask for an explanation, the door opened and Sir Dominic strolled into the room. As always, his craggy features lit up when he saw his wife. The transformation from somber magistrate to besotted husband was both startling and moving. Chloe and Sir Dominic had been married for less than two years, but their steadfast devotion to each other shone through in every word, look, and gesture. She didn’t know much about their history other than it had been full of grief and extended separation. That they’d overcome so many obstacles and found a second chance later in life dared Lia to hope she, too, might find a similar happiness one day.
Almost.
“Good afternoon, my love,” he said, bending slightly to kiss his wife. “I hope you ladies are having a pleasant day.”
It was surprising perhaps that the dignified Sir Dominic should act so informally in front of a near stranger, but he’d accepted Lia with a warm welcome, just like his wife. She could easily get used to life in their serene and cheerful household. That was a clear warning that she needed to stop lolling about and come up with a plan for her future.
“And how’s my boy?” he asked, gently cradling his son’s head.
“In desperate need of a change,” Chloe said.
“Yes, I see that. Or, rather, I smell that. It always amazes me that so small a creature can emit an odor that forcefully reminds one of a barnyard.”
His wife gave him an affectionate swat on the shoulder. “What a dreadful thing to say. Lia will think you don’t love your son.”
“From the look on her face, I think Lia agrees with me,” Dominic said with a twinkle. “Give me the rascal and I will transport him to Nurse.”
When he cuddled his son against his chest, Dom grabbed onto his father’s starched linen, demolishing the elegant folds.
“Oh dear,” Chloe said. “Another cravat ruined.”
“I’ll change it before dinner. God forbid I should offend your fashion sense, my lady wife,” he said on his way out.
Chloe scrunched her nose at Lia. “I’m the last person to keep up with the current styles, as Dominic knows. If I had my way, I’d spend most of my days in an old round gown, taking care of babies or tending to my garden.”
“It’s been quite a change from your former life, hasn’t it?” Lia asked. “You and Sir Dominic seem to be in great demand throughout the Ton.”
“My husband certainly is,” Chloe said. “I’m generally not fond of socializing in large groups. When we were first married, Ton parties made me so nervous I would break into hives. But I eventually got used to them, and so will you. In fact, you might even come to like parties. After all, you are a beautiful, vibrant young woman and deserve to have a bit of fun.”
Lia carefully smoothed out the faint web of wrinkles Dominic’s fat little body had pressed into her cambric skirt. “I’m sure I won’t have the opportunity.”
“I’ve instructed Smithwell to bring up the tea tray,” Dominic said as he reentered the room. “It’s early, but I profess to being famished after an exceedingly boring afternoon at Whitehall. And we must continue to build up our guest’s appetite, too.” He ran a quick, practiced eye over Lia. “You seem much better, but you’re still rather pale.”
“I’m feeling quite robust, sir, thank you. You and Aunt Chloe have taken such good care of me. If you continue to spoil me like this, I shall never wish to leave.”
“You are welcome to stay as long as you like,” Dominic said as he settled into one of the wingback chairs across from the chaise. “Is she not, my dear?”
“So I have told her, repeatedly.” Chloe took the chair next to her husband. “But I don’t think the message is penetrating.”
“Please don’t think I’m ungrateful,” Lia said apologetically. “In fact, your invitation was so fortuitous that I was tempted to believe you had conspired with Jack to remove me from my mother’s house.”
She caught the quick glance between husband and wife.
“You didn’t, did . . . did you?” she stammered. “I mean, beyond simply telling me my half brother wished to help me?”
“Of course not,” Dominic said calmly. “As you say, it was all quite fortuitous.”
Lia studied him without a hope of cracking that impervious façade. “As grateful as I am, I cannot stay here forever. And although I do appreciate Captain Endicott’s offer to join him in Vienna, I cannot possibly abandon my grandmother. It will be difficult enough for her to leave Stonefell, and moving to the Continent would be out of the question. Nor can I imagine Captain and Mrs. Endicott would truly wish it. Surely they are both very busy with the duties that must come with their diplomatic position.”
“I’m sure you’d find that Will and Evie would like nothing better,” Chloe said. “But I do understand your concerns about your grandmother.”
“Perhaps you should tell us what you’d like to do,” Dominic said. “I suspect you’ve been giving it a great deal of thought while in your sick bed.”
“You would be right, sir. I must find some kind of position because my mother made it clear she will not countenance any further attempts to establish a theatrical career.”
Mama had made that clear when she visited yesterday. Her lack of support had wounded Lia more than she wanted to admit. She could almost believe her mother would prefer her to become a courtesan rather than have a flourishing career on the stage.
“Perhaps she wishes for a more settled life for her daughter,” Chloe said gently. “One better suited to her nature.”
“I’m not sure of her reasoning,” Lia said, trying not to sound bitter. “In any case, while I cannot be a governess, I do have experience dealing with children. Sir Dominic, I just suggested to Aunt Chloe that she consider taking me on as a nursemaid or companion to the children in her establishment.”
“I think we can do better than that,” Dominic said, strangely echoing his wife. Lia was just as irritated the second time she heard it.
“Yes, I will not have Lia thinking she needs to go into service,” Chloe said.
“There’s nothing wrong with going into service in a good household,” Lia protested.
“I agree,” Chloe said, “and I have a great deal of respect for those who do so. But that is not what your family wishes for you. Nor, might I add, have you been raised to lead such a life. I suspect you would find it difficult.”
“I’m not afraid of hard work.”
“I’m sure you’re not, but Will Endicott would have my head if I allowed his sister to go into service,” Dominic said. “Even into our service.”
Lia flopped her hands into the air. “Then what in heaven’s name am I to do? I must take care of my grandmother.”
“Then you’ll be happy to hear we do have a plan for that. Along with the Duke and Duchess of Leverton, we’re going to introduce you into society,” Chloe said, sounding as if she were giving Lia a wonderful treat. “Given our unique positions and personal histories, we’re all very well aware of the obstacles facing you. And we know how to overcome them.”
It took Lia a few seconds to find her voice. Chloe and Dominic waited patiently, making no attempt to rush her.
“Why would you want to introduce me into society?” she finally managed.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Dominic answered with maddening calm.
Lia could think of a hundred reasons, but a knock on the front door interrupted the discussion.
“Ah, that will be Jack,” Dominic said, “arriving just in time for the tea tray.”
As if on cue, the door opened and a footman carried in a large tray. A few moments later, Smithwell, the butler, ushered Jack into the room.
Dominic rose, as did Lia, who pinned a smile on her face even though she felt almost light-headed with nerves. She wasn’t used to feeling rattled in Jack’s company and she found the sensation both irritating and alarming.
“Don’t get up, Lia,” Jack said. Taking her arm, he gently steered her back to the chaise. The warmth of his large hand through the thin fabric of her sleeve made her clumsy and she stumbled slightly.
“I’m fine really,” she said, sinking down.
“You seem rather wobbly to me.” He shot Dominic a scowl. “Should she even be out of bed? Has she seen the doctor today?”
Lia rolled her eyes. “Good Lord, you’re worse than Granny.”
His gaze shot back to her. “Someone has to take care of you; you seem incapable of doing it yourself.”
She sighed. The bear with the sore paw had obviously resurfaced. “If you’re going to be such a scold, you can leave right now.”
“I assure you, Lia is on the mend,” Chloe said. “The doctor saw her yesterday and pronounced her free of infection.”
“There, you see?” Lia said. “Now, stop fussing like a nervous bachelor and sit down, please.”
He seemed inclined to argue, but then his strong mouth curved into a rueful smile. It made her heart catch with a staccato rhythm that almost hurt.
“My apologies,” he said, “but you were quite sick, pet, and you never get sick. I was worried about you.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for that, but everything’s fine.” She patted the cushion beside her. “Why don’t you sit with me and we’ll have a nice cup of tea and a cozy chat.”
“Now you’re just humoring me like I’m some sort of half-wit.”
“Is it working?”
“Apparently,” he said, sitting down.
Smithwell and the footman arranged the tea things on the low table in front of them. After they withdrew, Chloe poured everyone a cup.
“You were all looking quite serious when I came into the room,” Jack said with a smile. “What were you talking about?”
“What were we talking about?” Chloe said, casting her husband a wide-eyed glance that didn’t fool Lia a bit.
“You remember, my love,” Dominic replied. “We were discussing the best way to introduce Lia to the marriage mart.”