The Promise (26 page)

Finn’s eyebrows rose. His brother did not often share his feelings. “Would you prefer we stayed?”

“Were I in your place, I’d want Jane to myself. She is a lovely woman, Finn. You seem to have grown quite fond of her in a remarkably short amount of time.”

Finn took a sip and thought about his brother’s remark. “I suppose that’s true. I find myself surprisingly content. Jane has a mild temperament. She won’t be a demanding, managing sort of wife. She’ll develop her own interests in time and I’ll be free to pursue mine.”

“One would think you would have learned from my mistakes with Anne.”

Finn was taken aback. His brother seldom mentioned his wife Anne who had been betrothed to him almost from the cradle in an archaic arrangement between their fathers who had been lifelong friends and neighbors in Somerset. Cam had postponed the marriage as long as he could and, just before Maura’s disappearance, he had confided to Finn that he intended to end the arrangement. But their mother had gone into such a terrible decline afterward that Cameron had finally given in to her wish that he marry Anne, hoping grandchildren might pull her back from the brink. He had immediately broken with his longtime lover Alicia Vandenberg and set a date for his wedding.

But there were to be no grandchildren and the marriage had been an unmitigated disaster from the start. Unknown to Cameron, Anne had been in love with another man and, like him, had wed out of duty. They briefly tried to make it work, with miserable results. Raised in the country, Anne was unhappy in London where Cameron’s business interests and duties in Parliament required him to reside most of the year. She withdrew, physically and mentally, and their marriage existed only on paper.

Cameron had changed after that, becoming more serious and introspective, immersing himself in politics. Finn had always suspected he mourned the loss of Alicia, who had married shortly thereafter. Rutledge was a private man, however, and this was the first time he had touched on the subject of his broken marriage and the loss of his one great love.

“You want… a
modern
marriage,” Cameron said, infusing the word “modern” with scorn. “All the rage these days, I suppose. You’ll be in lofty company, assuming my company is lofty.”

Finn caught the derisive tone and asked, “What do you mean by that?”

“You know full well what I mean. You’ll go your way and Jane hers. You’ll have lovers, as will she. When you meet by accident at the theater, you’ll treat each other’s
special friends
with
cordial detachment. Do I have the right of it?” Pain flashed across Cameron’s face and Finn realized his remarks referred to Alicia, not Anne.

“Jane doesn’t strike me as the sort of woman who would take a lover,” Finn scowled. The idea of Jane with another man bothered him more than he cared to admit.

“But you are the
sort of man
who would? You’ll ask her to play saint to your sinner?”

Finn’s scowl deepened. “Easy. Before you get too pious, think on your own conduct.”

“My marriage may be a travesty, but yours needn’t be. Mother’s unhappiness and the obligations of my rank prevented me from marrying Alicia, but make no mistake brother, if I had been born the son of a bricklayer or chimney sweep, she would have been my wife. I cared for her. Deeply,” Cameron said.

Finn was momentarily shocked speechless. “I am sorry Cam. I never realized…”

Cameron held up his hand. “I didn’t tell you to gain your sympathy. My intention was to provide you with some food for thought. You may be a better man than you realize. In fact, I know you are. However your marriage came about, you’re free to make of it what you will. Don’t sabotage your own prospects for happiness.” He gave Finn a thump on the back, a rare gesture of masculine affection.

“Let us speak of other things.”

They searched for more comfortable topics, but quickly lapsed into silence, each absorbed in his own thoughts.

Cameron decided to visit his mistress and left his brooding brother to his own devices. Finn flipped through a stack of letters and found several invitations to events taking place that evening, but none held the slightest appeal. He considered joining a card game at Crockford’s or stopping by White’s to see who else might be at loose ends, but then he thought about all the ribbing and gossip his presence would inspire.

For want of anything better to do, Finn made his way to his room. Account statements from his broker lay unopened on his desk, so he decided to review his portfolio until he grew tired. After a few minutes of struggling fruitlessly to focus on numbers, he gave up and slid the papers into a file. He lifted the black velvet case from his waistcoat pocket and snapped open the lid to admire Jane’s necklace and earrings. The right moment had not yet presented itself. He intended to call them a wedding gift… God only knew what excuse he would use for the other pieces. Ah, well, he would think of something when the time came.

Cam was right… he wanted Jane to himself. She belonged in the bedchamber next to his, accessible through a private door in traditional fashion. Finn grinned at the idea of having full access to Jane’s firm young body and stretched his arms over his head. He lay awake for a long time staring sightlessly at the velvet canopy draped over his bed, restless and plagued by thoughts of chestnut hair tumbling over creamy white shoulders. Sweet, plump lips ripe for the tasting. Silky legs tangled with his and soft brown eyes as warm as melted chocolate.

Jane. My wife.
The words brought a smile to his lips.

Chapter Eighteen

Within hours of receiving Jane’s brief letter Aunt Lisette was rolling north in her Brougham, urging her harried coachman to make all possible haste to London. Her last unmarried daughter Marguerite accompanied her as did a valise packed with Gray family mementos Lisette had safeguarded for years in the hope that one day her niece would return to claim them.

Jane jumped to her feet squealing with delight when Peckham announced her aunt and cousin. With an unladylike lack of decorum, Jane hiked her skirts above her ankles and ran through the house. She burst into the parlor with a wild exclamation and plunged headlong into her aunt’s open arms.

“Oh, my dear girl! My dear, dear girl! I feared you were lost to us forever.” Aunt Lisette said, cupping her palm against the curve of Jane’s cheek. The women laughed and cried with abandon. The duchess and Pip watched the tearful reunion from the doorway.

“
Mon Dieu, c’est un miracle
! I came the moment I received your letter,” Lisette said. She had lived in England for thirty years, but the ghost of a charming French accent remained. “As you can imagine, child,
j’ai beaucoup de questions
.”

Jane laughed and introduced Lisette to the duchess, then turned and placed her arm around Pip’s shoulders. “This beautiful child is my daughter Pip,” Jane said warmly. To Lisette’s credit, her expression betrayed not a hint of shock, even though she knew from Jane’s letter that she had wed Lord Wallace but days before. The wheels were turning in her mind, however, drawing obvious conclusions. Had Pip’s conception been the reason for Jane’s long disappearance?

“Sit down, aunt. I am completely disordered by the surprise…
the wonderful, fantastic, marvelous
… surprise of seeing you again!” Jane smiled broadly.

“Yes, do make yourselves comfortable,” the duchess gestured toward a large, overstuffed sofa. “I’ll order refreshments. Please accept my invitation to stay with us tonight.”

“You’re very kind, Your Grace, but my coachman is on the way to my son’s home in Mayfair with a message to expect us this evening.” Lisette turned back to Jane. “Fair warning, be prepared for a legion of French cousins to descend upon this house. I have written to everyone. We have all been so worried about you. Where have you been? Without word from you for so many years, my mind has invented the most ghastly scenarios. Horrid Tom has refused to give us news of you. We tried every tactic imaginable… surprise visits, legal inquiries… we even hired an investigator. Tom always had a perfectly logical excuse for why we couldn’t see you.”

Jane looked pointedly at Pip. There were things she could not discuss in front of a child. “Suffice it to say I have been living in London and circumstances beyond my control prevented me from contacting you. But this is a happy reunion, so let us only speak of happy things.”

Marguerite, who had apparently been struck dumb by the grandeur of Carlisle House, made her one and only contribution to the conversation. “Yes cousin, let us only speak of happy things.”

And they did. For three hours Lisette regaled Jane with news of loved ones, marriages, births, and which cousins had joined the seminary, purchased commissions, or entered politics. On the occasion that “Horrid Tom’s” name was mentioned, Jane turned the conversation elsewhere, always glancing at Pip as if to say the subject was not fit for her ears.

Finally Pip began to fidget and the duchess rang for Jenny. After Pip was whisked away, Lisette turned to Jane and squeezed her hands.

“Where have you been, Jane? My mind will not be at ease until I know what happened to you.”

The duchess leaned forward. She had been too respectful of Jane’s privacy to ask probing questions, trusting that her daughter-in-law would confide when ready. If Jane’s aunt was willing to cross that indelicate line, however, the duchess was not above indulging her curiosity.

“After Tom took me from you, he tried to force me to marry him. He was angry that father left most of his fortune to me. I was only sixteen; he was thirty. He was… violent. He intimidated me and… he… it’s too terrible to say. Cook helped me escape. Her sister owned a bakery here in London. She took me in and taught me a trade.”

Lisette searched Jane’s face. She knew her niece was leaving out much more than she was telling and she could guess most of it. “You’ve been
working
in the city all this time?”

Jane chuckled at the look of outrage on her aunt’s face. “Goodness, Aunt Lisette, I was employed in a respectable profession. I was a baker. You know… cakes, pies, cookies…”

“Why didn’t you come to me for help?”

“It was the first place Tom would have looked and he…” Jane paused, “He made certain threats. Vile threats. I began to fear he was insane. I suspect he was responsible for father’s death, and Uncle Charles’ as well. I couldn’t take the chance that he would hurt you.”

Lisette sucked in a harsh breath. “
Le cochon!
Did he hurt you?”

He starved me. Imprisoned me. Beat me.

“Yes, but I survived,” Jane said softly. She didn’t want her aunt to feel guilty. None of it had been her fault. Only Tom was to blame.

“And the child?” Lisette asked.

Jane looked at the duchess for guidance.

“Pip is my granddaughter,” Justine said. “After my daughter died in childbirth, Jane raised the child as her own. We only recently became aware of Pip’s existence, but we were filled with joy to discover her. She and Jane have brought great happiness to my life.”

Although Jane could tell Lisette wanted to know more about what she had endured at Tom’s hands, she didn’t push.

“You must come to our ball next week,” the duchess said to Lisette. “It is being held to introduce Jane to Society. You must give me a list of people to whom we should send invitations.”

As news of Jane’s whereabouts spread, more tear-filled reunions took place with cousins, aunts, uncles, and childhood friends. Pip, who was just beginning to remember the names of all her Wallace cousins, was introduced to yet another set of relatives. Jane gradually became more comfortable with her new identity as a wife, peeress, and part of a large extended family.

There had been no more encounters of a romantic nature with Finn, and Jane wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. Even if they had been inclined, their schedules were arranged so that they saw little of one another.

Finn had explained to her in the beginning that they would pursue separate interests, and it appeared that was to be the case. Early on he had expressed his desire not to “live in each other’s pockets.” Well, he certainly had gotten his wish. At a minimum, she had expected to see him at the dinner table, but she was often invited to dine out and Finn seldom joined her at breakfast. They passed each other in the halls from time to time with a brief greeting and a few moments of polite conversation.

Jane’s days were spent receiving callers, stealing time with Pip, or attending social gatherings and entertainments that the duchess insisted were crucial to establish her in Society. She was approached to join numerous charitable organizations and invited to luncheon at The Terrace outside the Commons with other wives of MPs. Fashionable ladies asked her to go shopping, visit art exhibitions, or attend salons to mingle with notable artists and writers. She spent little time with her husband.

Finn’s days were similarly filled. He attended sessions in Parliament and rode with friends in Hyde Park. He boxed at his club, went to time-honored haunts like Tattersalls, or attended Covent Garden amusements. He gambled and drank with friends in the evening as he had ever done, or attended
risqué
parties to which men did not bring their wives.

His life had changed little since his marriage. His wife had her interests, and he had his. That was just what he had wanted.
Wasn’t it?
He was no longer sure.

Jane’s life had become such a whirlwind that she soon found herself exhausted. She hoped her schedule would slow once she was no longer a novelty. Although she would miss Carlisle House, she began to look forward to the move. She often felt like screaming when Peckham approached her with a silver salver loaded with strangers’ calling cards.

Among some in the
ton,
curiosity about Lady Jane Gray’s past persisted. There was even malicious speculation about Pip’s parentage, but soon even the most dedicated gossips had moved on to more salacious
on-dits
involving secret duels, elopements,
affairs de couer
, and other scandalous behavior.

PECKHAM FOUND JANE sitting on a bench in the garden, her face tilted up to the sun with a closed book in her lap. He cleared his throat. She smiled up at him with one eye squinted open.

“You discovered my favorite hiding place.”

“A Mr. Hamlyn to see you, Lady Jane. Should I tell him you aren’t receiving?” Peckham asked, but Jane was already on her feet.

“I very much wish to see him.”

It had been two weeks since Mr. Hamlyn served Tom with papers. The solicitor had sent Jane a note every two or three days updating her with regard to Clovershire’s progress in vacating the houses.

“Good morning, Mr. Hamlyn,” Jane said. “Dare I hope you bring good news?”

“Indeed I do. I wanted to inform you in person that Clovershire has removed himself from your houses. A crew of workmen is painting and making small repairs. The staff has been notified to expect your visit any day.”

A childlike excitement overtook Jane.

“As gracious as the Duke and duchess have been, and as beautiful as it is here,” she glanced around the sumptuously appointed salon, “I am very much looking forward to becoming mistress of my own home.”

“That is understandable,” Mr. Hamlyn smiled. “I am not so old I have forgotten what it is like to be a newlywed. A young bride and groom appreciate a certain amount of privacy.”

Jane blushed.

After Mr. Hamlyn left, Jane wrote a note asking Finn to join her after breakfast to view both properties. Jane left the letter on his pillow where he couldn’t miss it.

That night she found herself in the unprecedented circumstance of dining alone. There had been no invitations to dinner parties. Pip and the duchess had gone to bed early after exhausting themselves at a young relative’s birthday party. Neither the Duke nor Finn awaited her at the gleaming mahogany table where only one place setting had been laid. A footman pulled out her chair and she took her seat and enjoyed the meal as much for the peaceful atmosphere as the food.

After dinner she wandered into the cavernous hall. Peckham was seated in front of a handsome flame mahogany desk tucked into an alcove just inside in the servant’s hall.

“Good evening, my lady,” he stood politely and inclined his head.

Jane tilted her head as if listening for a sound. “Oh my goodness, Peckham! Do you hear that?”

His forehead furrowed as he strained to hear. “I’m afraid I do not, my lady.”

“Silence. How lovely it is!” She gave an exaggerated sigh.

Peckham smiled. “It is uncommonly quiet this evening.”

“If only it were the rule and not the exception. Who would have thought that a life of leisure could be so taxing?”

He chuckled.

“I believe I’ll retire early,” she turned to leave, then halted. “I have need of a coach in the morning. Please ask cook to send up a light breakfast to my room at eight. I’d like to get an early start.”

“Will Her Grace and the little miss be accompanying you?”

“No. Lord Wallace and I will be looking at property. It would be boring for Pip, so I’m leaving her in the care of Jenny and her grandmother.”

Jane could tell the butler was curious. “Would you like to know our plans, Peckham?” she offered.

“Only if you wish to tell me,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

“Carlisle House will soon return to normal. Although the duchess may continue to live here, I suspect she will spend a great deal of time with us. She and Pip have become inseparable.”

“The house will seem like a tomb without Miss Pip.”

Jane laughed. “The child is three parts sprite and one part imp. Is she very much like Maura at that age?”

“In looks as well as personality.”

Jane looked thoughtfully at the portrait hanging between the stairs. “I’m off to dreamland. Good night, Peckham.”

“Good night, my lady.”

FINN PLAYED CARDS, smoked cigars, and sipped brandy long into the wee hours of the morning with old friends from Cambridge at Nick’s home on St. Martin’s Lane. When the party broke up, Finn accepted the offer of a guest room rather than roust his groom.

Five hours later he was still dead to the world while Jane cooled her heels in the entry hall. After pacing for fifteen minutes she debated whether she should wake him or go alone. The prospect was disappointing; she had been looking forward to spending the day with him and wanted to get his opinion. Another fifteen minutes elapsed before she casually made her way upstairs.