Improper Pleasures (The Pleasure Series #1) (32 page)

“I love Eastlan as much as I love…” He paused and took a
deep breath. His pale skin blotched with red patches on his cheeks and neck.
“Eastlan has been a part of my life since the day I was born. My mother was
raised in this very house. She loved this land as much as her brothers. Unlike,
your father, she would have never left if she’d had a choice.”

“I didn’t ask to inherit Eastlan, but I have. I take my
responsibilities seriously as well. I’m not sure that you are the best man to
handle the estate’s affairs.” James had been intending to remove Wesley from his
position as steward when the time seemed appropriate. And there was no better
time than the present.

Wesley swallowed, apparently momentarily unable to speak.
“But I know more about Eastlan’s workings than anyone.”

“And the estate was near ruin when I arrived. Perhaps
someone with knowledge of the latest agricultural reforms would be better
suited to revive Eastlan.”

“No. No one cares more for Eastlan than I.”

“I care—”

“You care only for the profit you can squeeze from her
soil.” Wesley charged the desk and pointed a shaking finger, forcing James to
stand. “You don’t care about her beauty, her grace. You’re a disgrace to
everything she stands for.”

“I take back what I said, Hutton. I’m positive you’re not
the man to handle Eastlan’s affairs. It’s time you moved on.” James returned to
his seat and flipped open a ledger. “You’re dismissed.” The man should leave
immediately before James stopped caring that he outweighed him by more than a
little and broke his stupid finger still pointing in the air at him.

“You cannot terminate me.” Wesley blinked several times,
his expression disbelieving. “This land is my life. My home.”

“It’s my home,” James said with a conviction he suddenly
realized to be true. He had a wife, a family. And they all belonged here, at
Eastlan.

“It should have been mine. Lowell wanted me to inherit.
“Wesley braced his hands on the edge of the desk and James wondered if he would
have to bodily throw him out.

“Well luckily for me, it was not Lowell’s choice. He might
have changed his mind if he knew how you coveted his wife.” James gauged Wesley
reaction and wasn’t disappointed.

“I loved Lowell.” Wesley blinked rapidly and paled. “We
both wanted what was best for Astra.”

“So much so that you helped his death along?” James stood
and slowly came around the desk. “What did you do? Leave his window open at
night? Tamper with his medication?”

Wesley backed toward the door visibly trembling. He
appeared so ashen, James didn’t know if he’d hit upon something or if he had
gravely insulted him.

“I shall go now, my lord. I see that you have much on your
mind after the turbulent events of the last few days. We can discuss this
further at a later date.” Wesley gripped the door handle, his face now averted
from James.

“That may well be true, but I am quite clear in the fact
that I’m terminating you.” James rose and walked quickly to the door, bracing
his hand on it, halting Wesley’s escape. “Be glad I’m not charging you with
misappropriation of funds. Or murder. People seem to grow ill at your
convenience.”

“You have no proof to back up your lies.” Wesley abruptly
turned away, putting space between himself and James. “Astra will never believe
you. No one will.”

“Perhaps not, but I think I’ll be a lot healthier with you
out of my life.” James slammed open the door. “My bank account certainly can’t
suffer more. I believe you have already been paid for the rest of the month.
Consider it your severance pay.”

“I won’t be treated like this.” Wesley stiffened.

“You don’t have a choice.” James stepped away from the open
door and slipped back behind his desk.

Wesley calmly met James’s gaze straight on. James’s head
cleared with the knowledge that the man was truly desperate not to take the
clear escape route offered to him. Eastlan and Astra were everything to him.
Desperation made a man dangerous.

“I am sorry you feel this way, James. I hope you will
change your mind.” Wesley bowed before heading for the door.

He paused with his hand on the knob. “Astra begged me not
to leave England as I’d planned when I heard of your impending nuptials. Do
tell her I’m sorry to have to disappoint her. I cannot stay and watch you
destroy everything that I care about.”

Wesley finally left the study and closed the door behind
him.

James took a deep breath and let the urge to go after him
ebb. Beating Wesley to a pulp would only make matters worse. No doubt Astra
would find it difficult to believe James’s suspicions. James stood from his
desk, and headed for his room before Mr. Rudd cleared away any evidence Wesley
might be stupid enough to leave behind. There was a certain doctor who lived
near an abandoned prison camp on the coast of Plymouth that he intended to
find.

Astra rattled the locked gate leading to Ivy’s small
estate. The black iron scroll work hardly budged but a large swirl framed the
disheartening sight of boarded windows. Ivy’s brief note had said she intended
to leave Cornwall for London. Astra had hoped for the chance to see her first.
Apparently Ivy posted her written farewell after her departure. The few lines
only claimed that Ivy missed the excitement of London, though she was grateful
for her renewed acquaintance with her childhood friend. Astra knew better.

She rang the bell attached to the gate, feeling more
bereft than ever. The heavy gong sang mournfully through the damp morning but
no one stirred, not even the flock of birds Astra’s first attempt to gain
admittance had scared away. She turned from the gate, completely alone. She
touched the silk-covered stomacher that concealed her cherished secret. Not
completely alone. The pleasurable shock the knowledge of her child brought
still surprised her. Her bouts of nausea had subsided to only the early
mornings, alerting her to the fact that she was indeed carrying James’s child.
Deciding how to tell James became more tortuous the longer he stayed away from
Eastlan.

He had not returned for dinner two nights in a row, and
had still not been heard from when she left the house in the early afternoon.
Mr. Rudd’s vague explanation of James’s whereabouts left more room for
suspicion than answers. Even Wesley had deserted her.

“Astra, are you alone?”

As if conjured by her deep need for a friend, Wesley
stepped onto the road by way of the dense underbrush surrounding the lane.

“Wesley! I feared you had left England as you had
threatened.” Astra’s smile faded when she noticed his wrinkled riding suit and
uncombed hair. A faint dark blond stubble darkened his cheek. “What’s wrong?”

He strode toward her. “You don’t know?”

“No. What has happened to you?”

He rushed for her and tightly embraced her. “Your husband
is mad.”

She struggled out of his arms to examine Wesley at arm’s
length. “Did he hurt you? I can’t imagine James doing anything so violent.” Unfortunately,
she could and she worried that James had decided to direct his anger at Wesley.
Astra, James had thoroughly ignored.

“I wish it were that. A physical challenge was to be
expected from a bully such as James Keane. It is far worse. James has
terminated me. Banished me from Eastlan. I am lost Astra. I cannot bear to
leave you to his clutches.”

“He is upset. For the most part, James is quite
reasonable. He will calm down if we allow him time.” At least that was what she
prayed would happen in her own situation. Surely James would forgive her
eventually and things would be as they had been between them. He had to realize
the child she carried was his. Who else’s would it be?

She stared at Wesley and her hopes dimmed.

“I shall talk to him,” Astra mustered. “Try to talk him
out of this.”

“It will do no good. I must leave England. I beg you to
come with me.” Wesley gripped her elbow.

“I cannot.” Astra easily pulled from his pleading touch.
“There are things…” Astra stopped herself from telling Wesley about her
condition. James should be the first person she told. “I am legally married to
James. I will insist James return you to your position.”

“We had words. Ugly words.” Wesley turned his profile away
from her and studied Ivy’s recently vacated house. “I must leave the country. I
could go to prison if I stay.” He lowered his head. “I’ve done something,
Astra. Something awful and I hope you can forgive me.”

Her first fear was for James. “What have you done? Is
James all right? Where is he?”

Wesley lifted his head, and she saw a flash of hatred that
chilled her. “Oh, Astra, where do you think he is? With his mistress, I’m
sure.”

“But I’m his…” Astra suddenly realized that she was no
longer James’s mistress but his wife. The other position was conveniently
vacant. Or so she hoped.

“Have you seen Melva about lately?” Wesley’s strange laugh
sickened her as much as his words. “I doubt it. At least he had the decency to
set her up elsewhere now that he has a wife underfoot.”

Astra could not believe James would have the foresight to
do something like that, but he had caught on to English custom quicker than she
had expected. And despite not wanting to, she had noticed Melva missing from
Eastlan along with James.

“What has that to do with you? What have you done,
Wesley?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t wish to upset you, but I have put you
in danger. James insinuated that I mishandled funds from Eastlan and I fear he
is correct.”

“Is that why Eastlan is bankrupt?” Astra covered her mouth
and shook her head. “Why would you do that? You love Eastlan as much as I.”

“I did it for you, Astra. I wanted you to have the
inheritance you and Lark deserve.” He gripped her shoulders and tried to pull
her to him.

“I don’t understand.” Astra shook off his touch though she
felt a bit lightheaded.

“You have an account with over twenty thousand pounds.” He
balled his hands into fists at her rejection of his touch, but wrapped his arm
in front of him instead of reaching for her again. “It would have been more,
but…I wish you would have consulted me before you sacrificed yourself to that
beast.”

“Twenty thousand pounds!” Astra placed a hand over her
racing heart. “Does James know?”

“Not yet, but I’m sure he shall find out.” Wesley studied
the ground, his shoulders slumped. “I have been diverting rent to another
account. I must leave England immediately. He will have me arrested.”

Astra swallowed the thought that James might be vengeful
enough to have her arrested as well. “We will give it back to him. If he
doesn’t know, can we not put it back in Eastlan’s funds before he’s the wiser?”

Wesley laughed. “He has gone over every pound, every
account. He will notice. Frankly, I’m surprised he had not discovered my
handiwork already.”

“Then why did you do it? He will not be happy about this.”
That was quite the understatement. Astra had not seen her husband absolutely
furious yet but she feared that would soon be coming.

Wesley suddenly gripped her arms painfully. “I did it for
you, Astra. I’ve done everything for you. Do you know how hard it was for me to
watch you marry Lowell? But I stayed by your side because I knew he could give
you so much more than I could. Your marriage to James spit in the face of my
devotion and Lowell’s memory.”

Astra pulled away from him but she had to struggle before
he released her. “James is my one chance at happiness. Can’t you see that?”

Wesley stepped back obviously stunned. “I am your one
chance at happiness. When will you recognize that?”

Astra shook her head. “I am sorry that I’ve hurt you. I
blame myself for relying on you when I should not have, but Wesley, I have
never led you to believe more than friendship existed between us.”

“You are too much of a lady for that.”

Astra laughed, actually truly laughed. “I am no lady.”

She did not even realize she had rested her hand on her
abdomen until Wesley glanced down. She quickly removed it, suddenly afraid for
him to know she was with child. The reasons why she did not care to ponder. A
chill set upon her and she glanced around, suddenly hoping for a passing farmer
on the deserted road.

“Are you ill?” he said sharply.

“The idea of you being sent to prison upsets me. Yes, I am
ill at the thought.”

He seemed to relax at that. “We must leave.”

“I am returning the money and telling James the truth.”

“Do you want to see me in prison?” Wesley shrieked.

“Of course not, James will have no reason to prosecute you
if we give him back the money.”

“Are you mad? Even you should know James would not let it
go at that. What I did is a serious crime, Astra. You must not tell him.”

“I must. You said he will find out anyway.” Astra needed
to make her way back to Eastlan. She should not have come alone. Long walks in
the country had always been her salvation but now she imagined Lark’s evil
spriggans behind every turn.

“That’s why we must leave immediately.” Wesley took a step
toward her. “Even now it might be too late. Leave with me right now and when we
are safely abroad we will send for Lark.”

“I would never leave Lark.” She took a step back, fighting
the urge to turn and run.

“You would rather see me arrested?” The broken quality in
his voice had her hating herself for even thinking for a moment he might wish
her harm.

“No, but…” Astra rubbed her forehead, ruining the smart
angle of her straw-brimmed hat. “You must go into hiding. I won’t tell James
about the account until you are safely out of the country. It’s the best I can
do.” Astra felt herself sinking deeper into a disaster she could not untangle,
but what else could she do? She felt guilty enough about the trouble Wesley had
landed himself in because of his devotion to her.