A Rival Heir (24 page)

Since Mrs. Dorsey's son was a minister, not one of her aunt's favorite occupations, this advice could not be supposed to have much influence with her. Yet Nell witnessed a softening of her aunt's expression. Perhaps it had occurred to her that the earl might actually have something worthwhile to say. Or perhaps she was merely tired of the whole scenario she had created. In any case, she said, "Very well. Sir Hugh may escort us home, and Lord Westwick may follow us."

Rosemarie had nothing to say on the ride back to Queen Square. Mrs. Dorsey was dropped at her home with a short exchange of pleasantries, but neither Sir Hugh nor Nell attempted to converse with their companion, who sat rod stiff against the comfortable squabs of Sir Hugh's carriage, staring straight ahead. However, when Hugh attempted to take his leave of the ladies at their house, Rosemarie barked, "You are coming in with us. I may need you to throw Lord Westwick out."

Not very encouraging, Nell feared. And yet there was a packet of papers on the hall stand, as the earl had indicated there would be. Her aunt frowned at them, picked them up and carried them to the parlor, saying to Woodbridge, "Bring more candles. No sense ruining our eyes."

Before they had even seated themselves, there was a knock at the door and Lord Westwick was shown into the room. "Ah, good. If you would allow me to explain each of them..."

Nell was stunned by what ensued. The earl had made provision for her. Whether her aunt married him or not, he had arranged that Nell should have ten thousand pounds. The income from such a sum would provide her with a handsome allowance--enough to buy any gown she should care to have. Rosemarie was instantly suspicious. "And just why would you find it necessary to provide a dowry for my niece?"

"Because you have not done so yourself, and because your father did not do so when he might have." Lord Westwick pursed his lips. "I feel indirectly responsible for your sister's elopement, Rosemarie, though I dare say it had little enough to do with my misbehavior toward you. Still, Margaret must have been affected by the whole mess, or she would not have done anything so rash."

"She was always an impulsive girl," Rosemarie declared.

Lord Westwick ignored the comment, but turned to Nell to say, "I have investigated the circumstances of your parents' marriage and found that it was performed in a small hamlet shortly after their elopement. Your father's family was apparently always aware of precisely what had taken place; unfortunately, your grandfather was not willing to communicate with them in order to learn the truth of the matter. This, too, I hold myself partially to blame for, Miss Armstrong. My actions seem to have given him a distrust of his daughters' beaux which he found it difficult to overcome, else he would no doubt have discovered the truth of the matter himself."

"But you're not responsible for me!" Nell protested. "I'm grateful that you've established my legitimacy, but there is no reason for you to take any financial burden upon yourself, my lord."

"Someone needs to," he said. "Your grandfather would have been the most appropriate person, but he does not seem to have made any push to provide you with an inheritance. I am without children of my own, Miss Armstrong. It pleases me to be in a position to provide for your future."

"I'm perfectly capable of providing for my niece," Rosemarie grumbled.

"And have you done so?" the earl asked.

"Not as yet."

"Which has made your niece dependent upon you, Rosemarie. And seeing this young woman dependent on the good-will of a cantankerous lady is not a particularly appealing prospect to me, so I have taken matters into my own hands. Frankly, I consider your father's behavior toward Miss Armstrong reprehensible, and yours only slightly less so. Your insistence on family loyalty does not seem to have extended to your own niece. Miss Armstrong has done nothing but serve her family, to be rewarded with no more than a pittance of an allowance and the undistinguished role of poor relation."

"The property is promised to my godson," Rosemarie said in defense of herself. "That has been understood for many years."

Sir Hugh made no comment, but Lord Westwick gave a tsk of annoyance. "Surely you could have carved out a respectable portion for your niece, Rosemarie. The reason you did not do so, it seems to me, is because you preferred her bound to you. With an independence, she might have chosen to do something different with her life."

An unbecoming flush stained Rosemarie's face. "My niece stays with me because she is family, and because Longstreet Manor is her home."

Nell felt called upon to make some comment, yet she was not quite certain how she felt at the moment. Longstreet Manor
was
her home, but it had not always been a comfortable home. And she had not always felt welcome there, or indeed a true member of the family. Still, she said, "Aunt Longstreet has provided me with a home, Lord Westwick. She has never remarked on my legitimacy or lack thereof, and I have always been aware that her godson was destined to inherit the estate."

"And I," admitted Sir Hugh, "have become unconscionably alarmed by the certainty that Miss Armstrong is the logical person to inherit Longstreet Manor. My own expectations are nothing compared to her legitimate claims on the family estate."

Rosemarie regarded Sir Hugh with disfavor. "My father intended that you should have Longstreet Manor because you were my godson and he wished the property to go to a male. He did not believe in women owning estates, and considered the property merely in trust to you. I was only carrying out his wishes."

Lord Westwick sighed. "Your father, Rosemarie, was an opinionated, prejudiced and irritating gentleman. I can see no reason why you should feel compelled to follow his wishes, but that is of no consequence. Miss Armstrong will be provided for, and Sir Hugh may claim his inheritance with a clear conscience. The only question left to be answered is whether you wish to marry me and live with me at Longstreet Manor."

"Why should I?"

The earl shrugged. "Because, my dear, we are two older people who might make our peace and live comfortably together until we die."

"I have no intention of dying anytime soon."

"Nor do I."

Nell regarded her aunt with a deep question in her eyes. Could this woman who had lived such a bitter life do more than punish the earl were she to marry him? And was that why he offered her his hand now, to give her precisely that chance? She wanted to advise both of them against the wisdom of their marrying, but she knew her intervention would not be appropriate. She cast a helpless look at Sir Hugh.

He misunderstood her plea and addressed his godmother. "I trust that Miss Armstrong would have a home at Longstreet Manor, no matter what your decision, ma'am."

Rosemarie regarded him haughtily. "I cannot see that it is any business of yours, Sir Hugh. Of course Helen may live at Longstreet Manor for as long as she pleases, though with such a dowry as Westwick is offering her, she will doubtless be besieged by every fortune hunter in the kingdom."

Her gaze on him sharpened, almost in a challenging way, but he only said stiffly, "I'm pleased to hear Miss Armstrong will always have a home with you if that is her wish."

And then Rosemarie rose abruptly. "Enough. It's been a tiring evening and I'm for my bed. I shall have to give a few days' consideration to my answer, Lord Westwick. Now take yourselves off, both of you."

Nell smiled sympathetically at each of the gentlemen in turn, then watched as they complied with her aunt's decree. Left alone with her, Nell thought they might discuss the issues which had arisen during the evening, but her aunt waved aside any attempt at conversation.

"Tomorrow," she said. "Perhaps."

Nell followed her aunt up the stairs but her mind was so preoccupied that she almost forgot to turn into her own room. If Lord Westwick did not change his mind--and she could not imagine that he would--she was now independently wealthy. She could do what she wished, go where she chose, buy what caught her eye. Nell was not foolish enough to reject such a gift, and yet she could see that its very existence was something of a slap at her aunt and grandfather.

And what of her promise to her grandfather on his deathbed? If Aunt Longstreet chose to marry Lord Westwick, Nell might consider herself free of that vow, but if she did not...

Since Nell had told the maid not to wait up for her, she cautiously released herself from the beautiful emerald gown. She could have a dozen such dresses now, if she wished. But the emerald gown would always be special, because she had worn it with Sir Hugh.

She caught her reflection in the cheval glass. By candlelight her naked body seemed soft and ripe. She could almost imagine herself about to welcome her husband to her bed. Her breasts felt heavy with longing, her womb stirred with excitement. He would come to her, kiss her, touch her. She would feel his naked body twined with hers. And she would cry out in sheer joy at their union.

Nell turned away from her image and quickly drew a nightdress from the stand. Sir Hugh was merely her friend. Had he not made certain that she could remain with Aunt Longstreet at the manor, no matter what her aunt’s decision? Obviously he had no intention of providing a home for her himself.

Nell forced herself to accept this truth. Her daydreams of being with Sir Hugh were just that. He had indeed become her friend, as Emily had, over the past weeks in Bath. His concern about who was to inherit Longstreet Manor had been answered tonight. It would be his when Aunt Longstreet died. Though that was likely to be years from now, it was Nell's impression that that would be enough to revive the Nowlin fortunes. He had no need to marry an heiress as well.

She sighed as she extinguished her candle and climbed into the four poster bed. Her life had changed today in a most surprising way. Heaven knew what the morrow would bring.

* * * *

Emily regarded her brother with astonishment. "Lord Westwick is settling ten thousand pounds on Nell? But why?"

"Because he feels responsible for her situation, he says. And he minced no words about his opinion of my godmother's father for his refusal to provide for his granddaughter." Hugh smiled reminiscently. "Laid it all out on the table with no embroidery. You'd have loved hearing him, my dear."

"I certainly would! He is the most remarkable man, Hugh. For you won't credit what I've learned from Holmsly, either."

Hugh had disposed himself comfortably in his sister's drawing room, and watched now as she paced agitatedly around the room. "You know I've been upset that John leaves us alone so often with no explanation," she finally said, scowling at one of her son's toys before setting it aside. "He's gone for days at a time, saying only that he is off to Bristol."

"But he doesn't go to Bristol," Hugh suggested.

"You know that? Why didn't you tell me?”

"I don't know it for a fact. I have merely put two and two together, to come up with the possibility that John's mission is somewhere in the valley south of Bath."

Emily regarded him incredulously. "And you never said anything to me!"

"My dear sister, who am I to be casting doubt on my brother-in-law's word when I have no proof that I am correct? Twice I have heard of his being where he should not have been, and both those times he was south of Bath. That may be suspicious, but hardly a condemnation of him."

"Oh, Hugh, you will not credit it, but John has been working for Lord Westwick, managing his stud farm. You know what a genius John is with horses, and apparently we are quite poor! Well, not precisely poor, but not nearly so well off as I had believed. And he thought me incapable of the least economy. Truly! As though I could not be trusted to curtail my expenditures or exist quite cheerfully on half my allowance."

Hugh frowned as she came to a halt in front of him. "John would do better to start a stud of his own. Would that I could assist him in funding such an undertaking."

"But that is precisely what Lord Westwick is doing. They have an arrangement where John can claim every third horse that he trains for his own. In a year, he says, he will have the proper stock to make Walter's future secure." She smiled a little mistily. "I'm so proud of him, Hugh. And so grateful to Lord Westwick."

"The earl has been a busy man," Hugh murmured, and he proceeded to explain to her just what the earl had proposed to Miss Longstreet the previous evening.

"My word! The poor man cannot think marriage to Miss Longstreet would be anything but torture. How could he even suggest it?"

"He is attempting to make matters as right as he is able at this late date. I doubt she'll have him, though. Why should she, when all is said and done? She didn't love him, and though she could attempt to make his life miserable, I think it most unlikely she would succeed."

"But he adored his wife. I should think just being with someone else would be a most unhappy situation."

"Perhaps."

Emily perched on the edge of the chair opposite him. "And what do you intend to do, Hugh?"

"About what?

"About Nell."

"Miss Armstrong is well provided for, Emily. She can have her choice of gentlemen in Bath or Westmorland."

"You cannot be so absurd. Don't forget that I know you, Hugh. I have watched you with Nell these last weeks and I am aware that you have formed a
tendre
for her. Are you not going to offer for her?"

Hugh grimaced. "Unfortunately, I have waited a little too long to do that. If I were to offer for her now, she would have every reason to believe it was because of her new prosperity. And my godmother would label me a fortune hunter, you may be sure."

"So you would let your pride prevent you from offering for the woman you love?" asked Emily scornfully. "At least Lord Westwick let his heart speak for him when he was faced with a difficult choice! You don't deserve Nell if you would let such a paltry excuse stand in your way."

"Emily, I am thinking of Nell as well. She can make a much better match than I am at present. Trust me, she will be grateful."

"Oh, trust you, indeed! If she has, as I suspect, fallen in love with you, she will be broken hearted!"