Wicked Proposition (2 page)

London, England 1809

The Countess of Iverleigh nibbled at buttered
toast, reading the Gazette when the butler arrived. He cleared his
throat to gain her attention. Lilly looked up and frowned at the
interruption.

“What is it, Dunstan?” she asked the butler and
tossed down the paper. “Can I not have a moment’s peace? If it is
those ladies from that children’s organization again, get rid of
them!”

Dunstan looked contrite. “It’s a young woman,
Lady Iverleigh. I tried to send her on her way. She was quite
adamant to see you. I warned the little baggage to remain on the
porch. Shall I send her away?”

“Did she give you her name, Dunstan?” Lilly
asked quietly, going very still. A golden brow crept up. Her feral
blue eyes narrowed to slits. Dunstan grew red-faced under her icy
regard. “Might I remind you to inquire before you disturb me?”

“She might have mentioned her name, Lady
Iverleigh.” The butler scratched his head. “It was an Irish name,
I’m certain of it.”

Lilly became alert, eyes animated for a brief
second. She composed her features to hide her growing elation. A
shiver of anticipation made her feet tap under the table. Her
visitor was expected months ago. It had all been arranged.

“Show her to the salon. I will be there
shortly,” the Countess ordered in a formal tone.

Lilly leisurely sipped her morning tea. Fingers
tapped restlessly on the mahogany tabletop, determined to make the
caller wait. The hall clock in the foyer ticked faintly, but
sounded loud to her ears. Time was running out. The countless
months of working out every last detail were worth a few more
minutes. Now it would begin.

The Earl of Iverleigh was never informed her
father and stepmother died recently. He was not aware his wife even
had siblings much less, he was now their guardian. No, her husband
Gabriel had quite put her out of his life. He had no desire to
learn more about his wife after those first disastrous months of
their marriage. They had not lived under the same roof in nearly a
decade.

Lilly was amused by Gabriel’s efforts to avoid
her these days, knowing he had spies in her household. They let him
know when she was not in residence. Gabriel rarely socialized,
avoiding society functions if he thought she would be in
attendance. Their paths had not crossed in months.

Lilly’s lips tightened in displeasure to think
of his reasons for setting her aside. Gabriel hadn’t a forgiving
bone in his body. No, her sickeningly honorable husband held that
bar to his esteem very high. Should you displease him, or perish
the thought, disappoint him; you would see the icy contempt grow in
those dark eyes. Lilly had more than offended him. She smirked
despite herself at the memory.

Lilly received the guardianship papers for her
sibling’s months before. She didn’t give them to her husband. They
were burned in her fireplace. Her sister was now here to force her
guardian’s hand. The game Lilly plotted was underway.

Lilly rose from her seat. She arrived at the
salon, skirts swishing in announcement. The twinge of jealousy
annoyed Lilly as she regarded her little sister. The gangly little
girl was gone; a composed beauty in her place. The worn traveling
costume complimented the youthful figure. Her raven hair, so like
their father’s, looked almost blue-black in the early light
trickling through the draperies. She had her mother’s fine, fragile
features, Lilly saw, and was pleased.

She would do very nicely
, Lilly thought
smugly.

The young woman rose from the plush chair. She
curtsied prettily before her. Lilly rolled her eyes before the girl
raised her head. Green eyes so like their father’s regarded her
warily at first. They soon glowed indignantly.
She is angry.
That is very good
.

“You look well, Lilly,” the younger woman began
awkwardly. “Did you receive my letter? I wrote that I would be
arriving on the tenth.” The girl paused, waiting for her
response.

It was Lilly’s turn to appear confused.

“No, I received no letters! Who are you? Why are
you here?” the Countess demanded harshly. “I shall have my footman
call the watch this instant!”

“Please, you must hear me out! I know it has
been many years, but I am your sister,” her visitor stated in a
panicked voice. “Our father and my mother are dead, going on six
months. I have written many letters to Lord Iverleigh. Surely you
knew of this?”

The Countess put a hand over her mouth, her eyes
bleak. She took a step back, her hand going to her throat.

###

“Catherine, is it really you? What do you mean
our father is dead? How can this be? Surely this cannot be true?”
She seemed to deflate as she slid into a chair, looking
stunned.

Catherine looked uneasy. Lilly claimed to have
no knowledge of their father’s death. Surely Thornton had informed
the Earl, she thought? Catherine slid into the opposite chair.

Edward Thornton had been James Dunleavy’s man of
affairs for nearly thirty years. He was more like family than her
father’s solicitor. Edward wrote to tell Catherine the matter would
be handled by him personally.

When she failed to hear from Edward or their
guardian, she was forced to go to London. Catherine felt panic to
know Lilly knew none of this. Something was very wrong here. Her
thoughts were racing.
What manner of a man was her sister’s
husband? Why was he keeping such a thing from Lilly? Why had Edward
not told Lilly himself?

Her previous memories of Lilly were conflicted.
She saw none of the vindictive girl in this grieving woman opposite
her. Now she discovered her guardian knew of their plight and did
nothing. It was obvious he ignored their needs.

Catherine was furious. To think of all the
letters she had posted the last six months appealing to the man. He
should be upbraided for his contemptible actions. She managed to
remain calm during her Sister’s onset of grief. Only when Lilly
stopped crying and appeared more composed did she offer a brief
accounting.

“The authorities say they were set upon by
thieves. Robbery appears to have been the intent,” Catherine
explained sadly.

Overnight, Catherine was responsible for her two
younger brothers, ten year old Jaime, and seven year old Cullen.
Too soon, the creditors descended like angry vultures, ripping away
what they could from the bleeding estate. The bankers and money
lenders circled like angry bees. The threats and warnings stung
like stingers, penetrating her already thin composure. If not for
Thomas Sullivan, Edward’s assistant, she would have broken under
the stress. Thomas stayed behind after Edward moved his practice to
London.

Thomas helped her to sell off what was left to
pay the debts. There was nothing when it was done. The only thing
they retained was Dunleavy Hall. They would lose that too
eventually. Without Lord Iverleigh’s patronage, her brother Jaime
would have nothing.

Gone overnight were her girlish dreams. Her
father had thought to give her the choice of husbands. There was no
rush, he said. No offers were forthcoming when it was learned
Dunleavy Hall was bankrupt. Her parents had not planned for the
unexpected. With no dowry left and few options, her half-sister
became her only hope.

Thomas suggested she go to London and confront
her guardian. It was a bold move, but she had little choice. She
used what little funds remained to book passage for London. Thomas
handled all the travel arrangements. She was determined their
guardian act on their behalf.

Catherine felt panic to know something was
amiss. She sat back in her chair, fighting a wave of hysteria.
Clenched hands were stilled in her lap as she confronted her
sister.

“I wrote to the Earl many times. When he did not
return my letters, I then wrote to you. Father borrowed heavily to
finance his last investment. Everything is gone. I had nowhere else
to turn. Arrangements must be made to have the boys brought
here.”

“Brought here?” the Countess asked, tears
sparkling in her eyes. “Oh, but they cannot be brought here,
Catherine. I may not have a home very long myself.”

“What do you mean?” Catherine said in shock,
aghast at her words.

The Countess sighed bitterly. A bejeweled hand
rang for tea. She straightened upon the settee, smoothing her
skirts.

“My marriage has never been a happy one. Lord
Iverleigh does not care for me,” her Sister informed her with a
disdainful sniff. “He requests permission for a writ of
divorcement. As for your guardianship, you can be sure he will do
nothing for you or our brothers. He did not even see fit to tell me
my father was gone!” Lilly broke off her bitter tirade, covering
her mouth as tears slipped down her ivory cheeks.

Catherine looked stunned as she absorbed her
sister’s words, heart plummeting to realize no help would be
forthcoming.

“It is much worse!” Lilly said between sobs.
“His writ is being considered. Edward is unable to talk him out of
it. I cannot have you bring those children here only to have them
cast out.”

“What can you do, Lilly?” Catherine asked
quietly. Her eyes were bleak to think of what would become of them
all now.

“I have appealed to him,” Lilly said softly and
wiped at her tears. “His Lordship does not care about the scandal.
He wishes to be rid of me.”

“Dear God, we are all dependent on the cad!”
Catherine cried angrily. “Surely he can be reasoned with?”

“You do not know him, Catherine. He cannot be
reasoned with. No, I must accept my lot,” the Countess said sadly
and reached out to pat her shoulder. “I am pleased you have come to
me in my time of need, sister. I cannot bear what is to come
alone.”

“You cannot mean to sit back and allow him to do
this to you, Lilly!” Catherine cried in anger, despising the way
her sister gave into her husband’s desire to be rid of her.

“You are so innocent, little sister,” Lilly
mocked her gently. “He has no love for me. I cannot even hope to
find another husband. The scandal will ruin us.”

“Then we must think of some way to bring him to
his senses, Lilly,” Catherine said fiercely. “Together we must find
a way.”

“He does not want me any longer, Catherine. Why
do you not see that?” Lilly lamented with a weary sigh.

“You cannot just give up!” Catherine snapped in
annoyance and scowled. She knew she should bite her tongue. The
desire to seek the man out and take a horse whip to him was strong.
She was her mother’s daughter, and spoke her mind to a fault.
Seeing Lilly capitulating to the Earl infuriated her.

Lilly gave a delicate shiver. “You do not know
Iverleigh! He can be quite cruel when it suits him. He will not
even see me. How am I to win him back?”

“Surely if you write to him-,” Catherine began
before Lilly’s harsh laugh silenced her.

“A letter will not do this, little sister,” she
said scornfully. “We both can see how moved he was by yours!”

Catherine did see. Rage began to fill her at the
heartless actions of her guardian. The man cast them all adrift
without a single thought. She called him every curse she could
think of in her mind.

“Mayhap if I went and appealed to him on your
behalf?” Catherine ventured, unwilling to let the matter go. She
had come all this way. Leaving without a resolution was not an
option.

“He would have you tossed into the streets,
Catherine! Don’t be absurd!”

“Why is he doing this to you, Lilly?” Catherine
asked quietly, green eyes meeting hers squarely. “Tell me the
truth.”

“You are far too innocent. I should not be
discussing this with you,” Lilly protested in discomfort, her blue
eyes downcast.

Catherine was distressed at her sister’s
situation. She saw no reason for such a drastic measure. Divorce
was unheard of.

“What reasons does he give you, Lilly? Come now,
I am your sister. You can tell me, whatever it is. You have
displeased him in some way, that much is clear,” Catherine
insisted. She refused to allow Lilly to slink away now.

Lilly regarded her in defeat. She sighed wearily
as the tea arrived. When the maid left, she met Catherine’s gaze
with a glimmer of sadness in her eyes.

“I cannot have children, Catherine,” Lilly said
hollowly, looking down at her trembling hands. “He needs his heir.
The accusations are only an excuse to have his way in this.”

Catherine felt her sister’s pain. Her eyes
filled with tears to think of Lilly’s torment. She felt renewed
anger at Lord Iverleigh for being so insensitive.

“He could not be so cruel to you-,” Catherine
began in disbelief, but Lilly cut off her words with a hysterical
laugh.

“Yes, he can, Catherine!” Lilly cried, blue eyes
filled with helpless rage. “He thinks only of himself! Do you think
he cares of what this will do to me or my family? He wishes to
remarry.”

“Dear God, you cannot help it!” Catherine
exploded in outrage.

“So, you see there is no help for it?”

Catherine cringed to see the stark pain on
Lilly’s face. She could not imagine how Lilly’s husband could be so
heartless.

“You have seen a physician? This state is
confirmed?” Catherine asked, her heart aching for her sister.

Lilly chuckled knowingly. “We have tried quite a
lot for a child, Catherine, often in fact.”

Catherine felt her face fill with heat. The
insinuation was obvious. Certainly they had tried.

“Dr. Farnham has concluded I am barren,” Lilly
informed her with a catch in her voice. “Iverleigh will have his
way in this.”

“What are we to do, Lilly?” Catherine said
hoarsely. “I cannot go home without some understanding from Lord
Iverleigh.”

“You are welcome to stay here for a time,
certainly,” her sister went on to say, “but there is nothing I can
do for you and the children. Iverleigh has reduced my allowance to
a pittance. Any requests for funds go through his solicitor. It
isn’t likely he would approve any such transactions, as
tight-fisted as he is.”