A Christmas Affair (35 page)

Amanda stiffened at the hateful words. She’d spent the last two hours enduring not only her aunt’s snipes, but those of the beauteous Lady Deidre as well, and her patience was all but gone. Her fingers tightened around her teacup as she sought for control. Just fifteen more minutes, she thought. She could endure anything for fifteen minutes.

“You are too kind, Aunt Elizabeth,” she returned coolly, refusing to allow the other woman to see her anger. “Would you care for more tea?”

“My, but we are the lady of the manor.” Mrs. Herrick gave a bitter laugh. “Well, don’t think you’re fooling anyone with those fine airs, missy! You’re naught but a scheming country wench who managed to trap an honorable man with your clever machinations! You and that simpering fool of a sister!”

The cup rattled in Amanda’s hand, and she set it down. She would tolerate anything her aunt chose to say, but she drew the line when the hateful creature turned her venomous tongue on Amelia. She turned toward the woman, prepared to do battle.

“Listen to me, you hateful old—”

A maid let out a sudden shriek, and the sound of shattered china echoed in the opulent room. The startled
guests glanced toward the doorway just as a small cat, a bonnet tied to its head, came streaking into the room. At the sight of the animal, several of the ladies began screeching, and Lady Letty jumped up on her chair, her skirts held up to her plump knees.

“A cat! A cat!” she screamed, doing a little dance on the embroidered cushion. “Kill it! Someone kill it!”

The cat raced around the room, leaping onto tables and sending plates of delicacies flying in every direction. Amanda tried catching the terrified creature, but she was hampered by her full skirts and succeeded only in upsetting the tea table.

“Help!” Lady Letty cried, and then gave a loud scream as her chair tipped backward, sending her tumbling to the ground.

The sight of their hostess in such distress was all it took to set the other ladies off, and soon screams and moans filled the air as the guests quickly succumbed to the vapors. By now the cat was crazed with fear, and its golden eyes darted frantically about for some means of escape. It saw Mrs. Herrick’s tall, angular form and made a dash for her, scrambling up her dress as if she were a convenient tree.

Belinda came running into the room just then and added her cries to those of the other women. “Don’t hurt Cinders! Don’t hurt Cinders!” she called, rushing up to Mrs. Herrick, who was screaming and attempting to pull the cat from her head. She succeeded in pulling the animal off, but the cat’s claws were dug deeply in her wig, and when the cat came loose, so did the wig.

The twins and Stephen, drawn by the riotous noise, arrived in time to see this amazing sight and collapsed upon the floor, holding their sides and roaring with laughter. Amanda was also laughing, but she managed to grab the cat, wresting the wig from its claws and handing it back
to Aunt Elizabeth.

“Well!” the outraged woman snapped, her face purple with rage, “I have never, never been so insulted in all my life! You little baggage! Just see if I ever speak to you again!” She stormed out of the room, all but tripping over the boys, who were laying prostrate on the floor.

Mrs. Herrick’s stormy departure signalled a mass exit, and soon all the women were gathering up their belongings and rushing from the house as if it were ablaze.

Only Lady Jersey paused at the doorway, her blue eyes bright with laughter as she said, “My dear, thank you for such an entertaining afternoon! I vow, I can not remember when I have enjoyed a tea party more. They are usually so depressing
dull!”

“Lady Jersey.” Amanda had regained sufficient control to know she was in serious jeopardy of becoming a social outcast. “Pray accept my apologies. I assure you nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

The countess waved her fat hand. “Please, Miss Lawrence, you needn’t fret. I was thoroughly entertained! And don’t worry that this shall reflect poorly upon you. Once it becomes known that I was thoroughly entranced by today’s events, you may rest assured that crazed felines will become as popular at tea parties as macaroons! Good day to you.” She brushed a kiss over Amanda’s cheeks and walked out, still chuckling with delight.

The moment they were alone, Amanda whirled on her younger siblings, who were huddled together in a forlorn little group. “I want an explanation, and I want it now,” she said, struggling to make her voice sufficiently stern. “Who brought Cinders into this house?”

The twins looked down, Stephen shuffled his feet, and Belinda gave a tearful sniff. “I did,” she said at last, hanging her head. “Cinders was so sad, I couldn’t leave her! And I didn’t mean any harm.” She cast a remorseful look
over to the corner where a sobbing Lady Lettita was being helped to her feet by several footmen.

“I know you meant no harm, Belinda,” Amelia reproached gently, “but you can see the trouble you have caused. Poor Lady —”

“What the hell has happened here?” A harsh masculine voice cut into her admonishments, and they turned to see Justin standing in the doorway, his hat and cane clutched in his hand.

Amanda opened her lips to explain when something stopped her. Justin was white, his mouth set with pain and his eyes glittering with a strange intensity. She took a step toward him, her hand reaching out instinctively to comfort him.

“Justin, what is it?” she asked urgently, her eyes moving over his face. “What has happened.”

Justin stared at her, and then he was reaching for her, pulling her into an almost painfully tight embrace. “It is Edward,” he said rawly, his eyes closing as anguish washed over him. “He is dead.”

Chapter Nineteen

Amanda froze in horrified disbelief. “Dead?”

He nodded, unable to speak. From the moment the footman had burst into his study with the terrible news, his one thought had been to find Amanda. He didn’t question the impulse; he only acted on it, knowing that he had to be with her or go mad. Tears slid down his cheeks as he buried his face in her hair, clinging to her with all his might.

Behind her she heard Amelia gather up the children and guide them quietly from the room. Lady Lettita, her lively chatter stilled for once, also left, closing the door behind her. When they were alone, Justin raised his head to gaze down at her.

“It was his heart,” he said, his voice raw with grief. “He’d evidently been ill for some time, but he never told anyone. His valet said he didn’t want to be a bother.”

Amanda choked back a tearful laugh. How very like Edward that was, she mused, silently weeping for the gentle, unassuming man who would have been her brother-in-law. She laid her hands on his cheeks, her own eyes
bright with tears.

“I’m sorry, Justin,” she whispered, knowing the words were hopelessly inadequate. “So very sorry.”

Her words and the gentle stroke of her fingers was the healing balm he’d been seeking, and he continued holding her in a desperate grip. He wept not only for the loss of his brother, but for the loss of the love that they were just beginning to share. That was the worst part of all, he realized. He’d lost Edward just as he was finding him.

Amanda continued holding him, praying her love would be enough to ease his terrible pain. Finally she realized he had stopped crying and guided him over to the settee, gently pushing him down onto the plump cushions.

“Here,” she said prying the cane and hat from his fingers, “let me take those. Would you like some brandy?”

He gazed up blankly for a few moments, and then nodded. When she returned with the brandy, he took the snifter from her hands and downed the contents in a single gulp, holding it out to her wordlessly. She refilled his glass and handed it to him, watching him through worried eyes as he downed it again.

“That’s enough,” she said, plucking the glass from his hand and setting it on the side table. She sat down beside him and captured his hand in a comforting grip. “Now, tell me what happened? I believe you said it was his heart?”

“Yes.” He stared down at their joined hands, his thumb moving in a slow circle over the back of her hand. “He’d gone to his club to meet some friends, and he apparently collapsed. They sent for a physician, but there was nothing they could do. He died within the hour.”

Her fingers tightened spasmodically, but she remained silent, knowing he needed to talk.

“Do you know, I have seen death a hundred times . . .
a thousand times,” he said, staring unseeingly at the fireplace. “I thought I was accustomed to it, but I was wrong. First Daniel, and now Edward. . . .” He ducked his head, unable to go on. When he raised his eyes again, his face was devoid of all emotion.

“There are several arrangements to be made: the funeral, and matters pertaining to the succession. Also, his business affairs are certain to be in shambles. God knows how long it will take me to straighten them out.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Amanda asked, aching to touch him but lacking the nerve.

“Actually,” he said, raising his eyes from the fire to meet hers, “there is something you can do for me. The marriage will have to be postponed . . . just for a week or so until after the funeral. I hate to ask this of you, but—”

“I shall see to everything,” she interrupted, forcing a smile to her shaking lips. “Will there be anything else?”

Her brisk efficiency startled him, but he was too numbed with grief to pursue the matter, “No, at least not for the moment,” he said, rising wearily to his feet. He’d never felt more alone or frightened in his life, and he wanted her to take him in her arms and hold him safe. But a lifetime of rejection left him mute, unable to ask for the love he craved. He turned toward the door, retrieving his hat and cane from the side table.

“I’ll be going now,” he said, settling the hat on his head. “As I said, there is much to be done. I’m not sure when I shall return. Will you be all right?”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured him, blinking back tears at how completely he had masked his emotions. Once she would have been taken in by his facade of cool control, but now she could see the pain behind his seeming rigidity. She walked over to where he was standing and laid her hands on his arms, staying him.

“What of you?” she asked softly. “Will
you
be all right?”

He raised his hand and traced a gentle finger down her cheek. “I’ll be fine,” he echoed her words huskily, a feeling of inner peace diluting some of the impotent grief and rage that had been consuming him since learning of Edward’s death. That that peace came from Amanda was something of which he was well-aware, and that knowledge was in his eyes as he turned and walked from the room.

After leaving his aunt’s house, Justin went directly to Henry Teale’s office. He was ushered in immediately, and one look at the solicitor’s pinched expression told him that part of his mission, at least, was for naught. The lawyer had apparently already learned of Edward’s death.

“Your Grace.” Teale’s first words confirmed his suspic ions. “Pray accept my condolences on your sad loss.”

“Thank you,” Justin replied guardedly, taking the chair the solicitor indicated. “May I ask how you learned of my brother’s death? I was only informed of it a few hours ago.”

“A solicitor must have many sources if he is to be of benefit to his clients,” Teale answered mendaciously. “But as it happens, another client of mine, a certain Lord B., was at the club when His Grace collapsed. As he knew I was also the duke’s solicitor, he thought I should want to know and came directly to inform me.”

Justin leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “How much did you pay him?” he asked coldly.

“Your Grace!” Teale turned purple with indignation. “I must protest this attack upon my character! I —”

“How much did you pay him?” Justin was unmoved by the other man’s protestations of innocence.

“Well, naturally I reimbursed Lord Benc — Lord B. for
the price of his hackney,” Teale stammered, nervously shuffling the papers on his desk. “But as to anything else, I really am not at liberty to say. But I assure you, sir, that any amount I may have given him certainly in no way constitutes
payment.
Indeed, the very idea is an affront to that gentleman’s honor . . . to say nothing of mine!”

Justin decided to let the matter drop for the moment. It really was of no consequence; he merely wanted to confirm that which he had suspected since first clapping eyes on the prissy little solicitor. “Then, if you know of Edward’s death, you know why I am here.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Teale picked up the first paper and began studying it. “And may I say that I am glad you are being so sensible about all this. I admit I had my doubts upon our first meeting, but I should have known you would not so neglect your duty to your family. Naturally, if you wish, some small financial arrangement may be settled on Miss Lawrence, but I don’t think it necessary to be too—”

“What in Hades are you prattling about?”

Teale frowned at the interruption. “Ending your engagement to Miss Lawrence, of course,” he said, his blue eyes cool with disapproval at such rough language. “You must see that a marriage between you simply will not do. Now” — he picked up a second piece of paper — “I have here a list of some of the most eligible ladies in the country, and I am sure that with very little effort we can affect an alliance that — Your Grace!” The words ended in a frightened squawk as he was hauled out of his chair by the front of his jacket.

“If you say one more word, I vow I will throttle you,” Justin said, his voice filled with such menace that Teale stilled at once, regarding his captor through bulging eyes.

“But-but, my lord, Your Grace, I meant only to help,”
he gasped, his voice thin with fear. “You are the duke now, and you need a wife who —”

“How the hell do you know what I need?” Justin demanded, the thought of losing Amanda filling him with killing fury. She was his life, his world, and if he had to chose between her and his title, he knew what his choice would be. Oddly, the realization calmed him, and he released Teale so abruptly the smaller man fell back in his chair.