More than Passion (24 page)

The butler closed the door on the gentlemen. Geoffrey was the first to speak. “How dare you come here.”

“Listen to me, Kane,” Roberts began. “You’re being a complete fool.”

Geoffrey came from behind his desk to face the viscount. “What do know of my behavior, Roberts?”

“You’re here and Rebecca is—”

“Don’t you dare speak her name!” Geoffrey punched him square in the jaw.

Roberts went down, sprawling on the floor. He sat up and rubbed his jaw, nodding up at Geoffrey. “I deserved that.”

“That and more. Get up!”

“Kane, what you saw wasn’t as it appeared. She’s completely innocent in this.”

Geoffrey grabbed Roberts by the lapels of his jacket and pulled him to his feet. “What are you saying, Roberts? Did you force yourself on my wife?”

“I …. That is, everything that happened was entirely my fault. Rebecca did nothing to encourage my attentions.”

Geoffrey stared at him for a long while, weighing his words. He finally let go of him, turning away. “I wish I could believe that.”

“What?” Roberts asked.

“Never mind.” Geoffrey faced him. “Tell me what happened.”

Roberts took a deep breath. “I fell in love with her, Kane.”

Geoffrey started toward him, but the man’s next words stopped him in his tracks.

“She feels nothing for me. She followed me into the library to ask me about the problems you’ve been having.”

Geoffrey stilled. Roberts’s words made a kind of sense. She’d been desperate to find out what was troubling him. Innocent of men such as Roberts, she’d have believed he’d tell her what she wanted to know.

“She loves you, Kane,” Roberts insisted. “Damn it, man! She didn’t welcome my advances.”

“What?”

“Ah, I was a fool to think she would. She loves you! She would never betray you.”

“God, I want to believe you.” He slumped into his chair.

Roberts went on. “I’ll never touch her again.”

“Damn right, you won’t.”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me.” His gray eyes were intense on Geoffrey. “What I did was despicable. But please, don’t blame her for my foolishness.”

“I must think on this, Roberts.” Geoffrey was quiet for a moment. “I’d be within my rights to call you out.”

“I know. I’d like to press on with the investigation if I may.”

After a brief hesitation, Geoffrey nodded curtly. Roberts walked to the door and pulled it open. He glanced back at him. “Go to her, Kane,” he said softly. “She needs you.”

The viscount left him then. Geoffrey hung his head. He’d been wrong. Becca hadn’t strayed. She hadn’t betrayed him.

He was the worst kind of fool. He’d set out for Kanewood in the morning. He’d make it up to her somehow. He’d get down on his knees and beg her forgiveness if he had to. If he lost her due to his foolish jealousy, he would never be able to forgive himself.

* * * *

Becca was upstairs in the nursery playing with Ann that afternoon. The little girl asked for a story and Becca happily honored her request, glad for the diversion. She sat in the nanny’s overstuffed chair with Ann settled on her lap. Her voice soon lulled the child to sleep, her white-blond head resting against Becca’s breast. With a small smile, Becca closed the book and rocked the little girl gently. The stillness of the room soon had a drugging effect on Becca, as well. Thinking to close her eyes for only a moment, she soon drifted into a light slumber.

Patricia found them there and cleared her throat, drawing Becca’s attention. Her eyes fluttered open, widening as recognition dawned on her. “Patricia,” she whispered. “I must have fallen asleep.”

“Yes,” Patricia sneered. “Ann? Wake up, child.”

The little girl stirred, rubbing her eyes. She looked up at her mother in confusion. “Mama?”

Ann hopped down and stared up at her mother. “Aunt Rebecca was reading me the best story, Mama.”

“Was she?” Patricia asked, her smile brittle.

It didn’t escape Becca’s notice that Patricia didn’t embrace the child. Her heart broke for Ann. How she longed to push Patricia aside and draw Ann into her arms. Ann was so sweet and loving. Like all children, she needed a mother’s love and attention. Something she’d never had herself. Something she yearned to give Ann.

“I need to speak with Aunt Rebecca. Are you quite finished here, Rebecca?”

Becca didn’t want to leave the nursery, nor the comfort or pleasure she felt simply from holding Ann in her arms. “Can this wait, Patricia? We were reading a story.”

“There will be time for stories later,” Patricia insisted.

Becca nodded reluctantly. “Very well.”

As she stood, Ann threw herself at her legs. “Don’t go!”

Patricia’s eyes narrowed. She visibly stiffened as she waited for Becca to join her at the door.

Becca crouched down and hugged the little girl tightly. “I’ll come again very soon, sweetheart,” she whispered, stroking her little cheek. “And then we’ll finish our story. Would you like that?”

“Oh, yes!” Ann squealed.

Becca kissed the child and stood, walking over to where Patricia waited. With a curt nod in her daughter’s direction, Patricia turned and left the room.

Bewildered, Becca followed. “What is it you wish to discuss, Patricia?”

“I’m afraid that certain matters have gone on far too long to be ignored, Rebecca.”

“Matters?” Becca wondered aloud. “Of what matters are you speaking?”

They descended the stairs to the floor where their chambers were located.

“I know your secret.”

Becca gasped, thinking that surely the woman referred to the terrible rift between Geoffrey and herself. Patricia’s next words surprised her.

“You’re with child.”

Becca opened her mouth to deny it as the truth settled on her. She hadn’t had her monthly since first arriving at Kanewood. Her odd illness now made sense: her fatigue and nausea. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Kane will never let your child inherit,” Patricia said bitterly.

“What do you mean?”

“After the shame you brought to this family, how can you ask such a question?”

“But I—”

“And what of Lord Roberts?” she asked. “Did you think we wouldn’t learn of your indiscretion?”

Becca brought her hand to her throat, shaking her head. “Nothing happened between—”

“Kane should never have married someone so common. It was only a matter of time before your true nature became evident. Why, Kane couldn’t even be sure your child is his issue.”

“Patricia, I don’t know why you’re saying all of this, but I love Geoffrey. And he loves me.”

Patricia smiled then, an ugly thing to see. “Then why is he in London, dear, while you remain here?”

Becca couldn’t answer. Couldn’t speak.

“Has he contacted you or written you since he’s been in London?” Patricia asked in a scathing tone.

Becca’s face reddened. 

“I thought not.  If you think you have his heart, think again.  He was in love with me once too and then he abandoned me as well. This is what Geoffrey does.  I was fortunate that John stepped in to marry me, otherwise I would have ended up just like you.  Alone.”

Becca gasped at Patricia’s bluntness. But it was true. He had cared for Patricia and then left her when he learned she had slept with his brother.  Did he jump to the same conclusions about Patricia and John as he had with her and Lord Roberts? Is that why Patricia had become so bitter?  It was all too overwhelming.

“I daresay he realizes he’s stuck with you, since you are married,” Patricia went on. “But he’s in London and you’re here.  He’s no doubt finding comfort with a mistress. He’d never want a child of yours, a by-blow, to inherit his title. Let alone Kanewood.”

Becca shook her head, trying desperately to deny all the woman was saying.

“Think on it, Rebecca. He doesn’t want you. Not you or that child you carry.”

With that, she took herself downstairs to lunch. Becca leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths to steady herself. Her mind reeled. Was what Patricia said true? Would Geoffrey reject this child as he’d rejected her?

Her hand covered her belly protectively. She’d never let her child suffer because of Geoffrey’s quick assumption of her betrayal. Stifling a sob, she ran to their chamber.

She sank down into one of the chairs near the fireplace. What was she to do? She couldn’t stay at Kanewood, not without her husband. And from the lack of communication from him, he had no plans to return to the estate in the foreseeable future. She couldn’t bear the thought of returning to the Raven’s Inn. What would her father think?

Suddenly, the kernel of a thought formed in her mind. At the first ball they had attended as husband and wife, that Scotsman, Gilly McClair, had gone on and on about her resemblance to his lord’s wife. Could there be a connection between her and this Lady Charlotte? She’d find out. She rang for Mary and instructed the girl to pack her a few belongings. She told her what she was about, but only after getting her word that she wouldn’t tell any of the staff where they were going. Remembering that one of the grooms was Scottish, Becca took herself down to the stables. Luckily, Geoffrey’s driver, Fields, was in London with his master, leaving her free to ask the groom to drive her into Scotland.

She found the man. He did indeed know of the McClair holding, and would be pleased to take her there. He was uncomfortable with her request of secrecy, but she persuaded him. Satisfied to have a definite plan of action after living in a kind of limbo these past few weeks, she returned to her room to see if Mary needed any help.

Becca was quiet at dinner that night, worried and nervous about her trip on the morrow. It could all prove a mistake, but she took solace in the fact that she’d be away from Patricia and her cruel insinuations. Lady Margaret watched her closely, worry in her gaze. Declining her offer of adjourning to the parlor, Becca bade her good night and climbed the stairs. She would so miss her mother-in-law, who had been nothing but kind to her since her arrival. What would she think of her once she was discovered missing? She knew Patricia would undoubtedly say something about her and Lord Roberts again. Would Lady Margaret believe the lies? Oh, she didn’t want that sweet woman thinking ill of her.

She readied herself for bed and slipped under the covers, her hands resting on her still-flat stomach. A baby! She’d love this child with all of her heart. And if she had to care for it alone, so be it. She let out a sigh. She was reminded of Ann. She didn’t want to leave her.  But how could she stay after everything Patricia had told her. She doubted that Patricia had any maternal feelings for the child. At least Ann would have Lady Margaret to watch over her and shower her with love. Something she would no longer be able to do. She would have to carry yet another burden now.  The burden of leaving Ann as well. But she had no choice. She needed to be strong. For the sake of her child.

Closing her eyes, she let sleep take her.

* * * *

Geoffrey couldn’t fall asleep. He was eager to get to Kanewood and vowed to leave at first light. Chester and Leed informed him of Roberts’s actions earlier that evening, as the viscount wisely kept himself from Geoffrey’s presence. It seemed that Roberts was very close to finding out the identity of the driver of the runaway carriage. Geoffrey asked them to continue their search, informing them of his imminent return to Kanewood.

Putting those matters aside, he turned his mind to Becca. He should have trusted her. Should have believed her. But what if she never wanted him to touch her again after his brutal near-attack on her the night before he left?

With a groan of frustration, he pulled on his breeches and went down to the study for a drink. Sleep would need a bit of help to find him that night.

Chapter 25

Well before the others took their breakfast, Becca ate and went upstairs to the nursery. As gently as she could manage, she told Ann that she would be unable to see her for a while.

Tears welled up in the child’s big gray eyes. “But where are you going, Aunt Rebecca?”

Becca thought it safe to tell her. “I’m going to Scotland, Ann. For a visit.” She smiled. “I hear it’s beautiful.”

“What’s Scotland like?” Ann asked.

“Oh, green rolling hills, fragrant purple heather …. Quite pretty.”

“When will you come back?”

Becca’s throat tightened. She scooped up the child and carried her to the big chair where she sat, holding her close. “I don’t know, sweetheart. I hope to return soon.”

Ann reached up to wipe away Becca’s tears. “I hope so, too.”

Sniffling, Becca gave the child a small smile. She stood, set Ann on her feet, and turned to leave.  She got to the door, then ran back to wrap her arms around the little girl one last time, tears streaming down her face. She would miss Ann so much. The poor child only got crumbs of attention from her mother. Well, Becca would never treat her own child that way. She knew what it was like to not have a mother’s love. Once again, she was thankful that Lady Margaret was there for Ann. She would need Lady Margaret’s care as she got older.

The carriage sat waiting near the stables and Becca climbed inside. With a lurch, the carriage pulled out, bound for Scotland. Becca gazed out the window as Kanewood grew smaller and smaller. Emotionally exhausted, she breathed a deep sigh and laid her head back against the cushion.

* * * *

Geoffrey was up and readying himself for his journey back to Kanewood almost before the sun had risen. He rushed through breakfast, intent on boarding the carriage as soon as possible. He was in his study gathering up his papers when Miles knocked on the open door.

“Lords Chester and Leed to see you, my lord.”

“Please send them in, Miles.”

The gentlemen entered the room, worry etched on their faces.

Geoffrey arched a brow at them. “What has you two so serious?”

Chester was taken aback. “What’s happened, Kane? You look alive again.”

Geoffrey laughed at his choice of words. “I have been quite miserable, haven’t I?”