The Long Awaited Lord Read online

  “Why are you giving me this?” she asked.

  “You’ll need some money to get to London,” he told her.

  “Not this much.” And she wasn’t poor. Her family did very well. Her father only taught because he loved it.

  He shrugged. “Take it. Just in case. It will please me knowing that I’m taking care of you.”

  Though he hadn’t said it, Madison heard, “...to know I’m taking care of you even after I’m gone.”

  “You’re taking my carriage home,” he said.

  She didn’t fight that. She didn’t want to walk in the cold.

  He helped her to stand. His hands went to her stomach again and he closed his eyes. His mouth moved, and she wondered if he were praying. Then his eyes opened, and he smiled. “Kiss me and go.”

  She did, making certain that kiss said everything she needed it to.

  Just in case.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  0 3

  * * *

  A month passed and when Judd did not return, Madison believed the worst.

  She’d tried to wait. After a fortnight passed, she’d assumed Van Dero had not been in London and Judd been forced to travel elsewhere to find him. But a month without word could only mean one thing.

  Her parents were worried. Madison was crying all the time. She couldn’t wear black because she didn’t want her parents to think she was in mourning, but she was. Judd was gone and now her baby was all she had of him.

  She had to tell her parents.

  She took the ring she’d been carrying around in her pocket since he left and slipped it on her finger before she entered the drawing room. Her parents sat together. Lord and Lady Cumpterton looked equally nervous about whatever she was about to say. She’d caused them to worry. Sadly, she was about to make them worry more.

  Her mother noticed the ring first, and her eyes widened. “Who gave that to you?”

  Madison looked down at the large onyx stone surrounded by diamonds. She’d have preferred a simple gold band, but she’d understood Judd’s motives. He was making a statement with the jewel. He’d never intended to leave Madison, though it was exactly what he’d done.

  She’d rehearsed her story over and over again, but when her father gave her a thunderous look, her mind went blank and she began to tremble.

  “Madison,” he chided. “Tell us what is going on?”

  “I’m married,” she lied. She’d thought it easier to simply state she was wed than reveal she was carrying the child of a man she would marry later.

  “What?” Her mother stood. “To whom?”

  Her father stepped forward. “Madison, has someone taken advantage of you?”

  Madison smiled. Her father always thought the best of her. She’d been a good child. Her parents had always said as much. It wasn’t until recently that she’d become secretive. Falling for one of her father’s pupils had changed everything.

  “No one has taken advantage of me. I’m in love, Father. And I’m carrying his child.” She moved quickly then, wanting to get everything out before her parents could ask her anything more. “He’s given me this to hold onto until he returns.” She placed a folded note in her father’s hands. There was another note upstairs. She’d taken Judd’s note to the bank and converted it into two separate notes yesterday and only when she’d known she’d had no other choice. There was a high chance that Judd wouldn’t come back.

  It took great strength for her not to weep. “Once he returns, he’ll tell you everything.”

  Her father held the note in his hands but kept his eyes on Madison. It was her mother who plucked it from his hands.

  She gasped. “Dear, look.”

  Lord Cumperton looked down. There was a flash of surprise in his eyes, but he still didn’t look pleased. A muscle jumped in his jaw. Then he lifted his gaze again.

  She had her father’s eyes. A neutral blue. Her mother called it warm. The shade was darker than the sky. The hue more potent. So much so that Madison always grew nervous under his stare.

  He could tell she was lying. She’d never been good at it. She’d never had a reason to learn how to perfect it before now. Her father, who taught philosophy and psychology, believed in openness. He never judged her for speaking her mind.

  She knew his methods made her sort of an experiment. She supposed most parents weren't sure what they were doing. She had no idea how she’d raise the child growing inside of her. She prayed her parents were willing to help her and wouldn’t toss her out.

  Or even worse, take her baby from her.

  It was important that they believed her.

  Her mother, who Madison had inherited her soft yet slender features from, moved closer and pressed her hand against Madison’s belly. “How…?” Tears filled her eyes.

  Madison covered her mother’s hand and tried for a smile again.

  “Who is the father?” Lord Cumperton asked, a menace in his gaze that she’d never seen before. “Who is this man who has married my daughter without coming to me? Who still has not come and is leaving you to deliver this news to us alone? I want his name.”

  Madison swallowed. “I cannot give it until he returns.”

  “Why?” her mother asked.

  Her father turned and paced away.

  Tears fell down Madison’s cheeks. “I don’t know, but my husband has made this request of me. So, I shall keep it until he says otherwise.” It was all she had.

  Her father thundered back over to her. “Tell me his name now, Madison.”

  Her voice shook. “I can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he ask—”

  “I did not raise you to be so foolish!”

  She backed away. Her father had never shouted at her before. He’d never looked at her as he did now.

  Her mother remained quiet, also stunned.

  “Is he married to someone else?” he asked. “Have you whored yourself to a man who belongs to someone else?”

  “No!” She covered her face that bloomed in heat. “I would never—”

  “You’re lying. You think I don’t know when you’re hiding something? This makes no sense. I want the coward’s name right now!”

  “Father, please. I can’t.”

  He flung the note. It fluttered down to her feet, falling just like her hopes. “Then leave. Go to him. If you can be so easily bought then you are not the daughter I raised.”

  “No.” Her mother grabbed her, clinging and weeping. “Madison, just tell us his name. Please!”

  Madison began to shake. She’d been under great pressure for weeks. Fear and sadness had been warring for her attention since Judd left. Her head ached. Her heart ached. A sharp pain shot through her side, and she gasped before she fell to her knees.

  “Morgan,” her mother cried, calling her husband. She never used his first name in front of anyone, but Madison had heard it whispered when they thought themselves alone.

  Spots formed in Madison’s eyes and another pain shot through her. Sweat covered her. She felt hands grab her right before she fell into darkness.

  She woke sometime later in her own bed. The pale pink-flowered wallpaper was a comfort. The sun had sunk with only a few rays left in the sky. Her clothes had been removed and she was in her night rail. In the blue shadows of the late evening, she made out someone sitting in the room.

  The woman got up. “Stay calm. You nearly lost the baby.”

  The baby.

  She placed a hand on her stomach. Everything came back to her.

  The stranger placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’re all right.”

  “Who are you?”

  “Mrs. Collie. I’m a midwife. The baby is still in there. Still kicking.” She gave Madison a smile. “It’s a boy. You can trust me when I say it. I’ve never been wrong.”

  Madison began to relax.

  “You’re not to wear your corsets anymore,” the woman said. “And clearly you’ve been terribly anxious. In a town like this wit
h so many young and handsome men coming and going all the time, I’ve seen many a girl like you. You must stay calm, otherwise, the child won’t survive.”

  She had to stay calm. The baby was all that was left of Judd. She didn’t know how she’d go about having her baby declared his heir, but she’d have to find a way.

  She was so nervous, but she tried to stop her racing mind. Where would she go? Where would she live? She didn’t know what she was doing. “I can’t do this alone,” she whispered. The panic began to grow again. She tried to fight it, but still, it rose. “I can’t do this.” Fresh tears burned her face. “I can’t…”

  “You won’t,” a strong voice said from the door.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  0 4

  * * *

  Madison’s father stood at the door. He nodded at the nurse and Mrs. Collie left before he took her position at her side.

  He looked angry, but his words were soft. “You frightened me today.” He took her hand. “Never do that again.” His lips twitched. “The nurse said I had to keep you calm, otherwise I could not only lose my grandchild but my daughter as well.”

  Madison continued to weep and clung to her father. He smoothed back her hair and kissed her head. She closed her eyes as the familiar scent of peppermint filled her nose. She took a deep breath and felt her stomach relax. The tightness in her limbs loosened.

  He pulled away, smiling. “I understand why you kept it from me now.” He shook his head and chuckled. “One of my best students? I would have never guessed it. And a titled gentleman as well? Your mother couldn’t be more pleased.”

  Madison’s eyes widened. “How did you…?”

  “He’s here. He’s come for you.”

  Judd? He’d returned.

  “Shall I let him in?” He looked her over and frowned. “Clearly, the deed has already been done and he’s your husband. He’s anxious to see you.” Her father left, and Madison broke into tears for a whole new reason.

  Judd lived.

  She heard footsteps coming down the hall and then the door opened again. Madison smiled. But then she frowned as the Earl of Hivers closed the door behind him. He tried for a smile as he crossed the room, taking the seat the nurse had previously occupied and moving it by her bed.

  He sighed. “I know I’m the last face you expected to see.”

  “Lord Hivers?” What was the earl doing here?

  “I believe you should start calling me Matthew now.” The earl’s full name was Matthew Downs. Madison had seen it on her father’s roster when she’d been looking for Judd’s schedule to give him the basket months ago.

  Hivers leaned his forearms on her bed, causing it to dip.

  Madison’s eyes shot to his arms but then lifted to his eyes as he began to speak.

  His tone was soft. “I’ve been advised by everyone that I am to keep you calm. Otherwise, you could lose the baby.”

  “Where’s Judd? Have you spoken to him?”

  Hivers kept his expression bland. His eyes were a dark blue, so dark that she was only noticing their shade now. She’d thought them brown. His hair was dark as well. Black.

  He was handsome, as most of Judd’s friends were. They were the sort of young men who liked to flash their smiles at pretty young women at balls or even on the street.

  “Madison.” They’d never spoken before. She wanted to tell him it was improper for him to address her so intimately, but she remained quiet as he continued, “Judd is dead.”

  Her heart stopped.

  He grabbed her arm. “Stay calm. That baby is important. Think of the baby.”

  Madison shook her head. “How do you know?” Was he lying? Why would he lie? He was Judd’s best friend.

  “Madison—”

  “Don’t call me that.” She snatched her hand away and tried to sit up.

  He tried to help, but she batted his hands away. “Madison, you’re not being calm.”

  “Judd.” The tears started again. “Judd!”

  He grabbed her chin and snatched her head around. “Stop it. I’ll not let you kill my best friend’s son. Do you hear me? Pull yourself together right now. His life is more important than your pain.”

  She swallowed. Hivers was right. But the pain was so great.

  “You’re coming with me,” he told her. “I told your parents we were married and that I’d left the town for a few days but planned to be back before you told them.”

  “What!”

  His eyes narrowed and she closed her mouth, remembering that she needed to stay relaxed.

  “I told them we were desperately in love and I never had any intention of leaving you to handle this on your own.” His expression turned sad. “Judd would have wanted me to take care of you, Madison. This is what he’d have wanted.”

  She didn’t know that. She didn’t know Hivers. This was her first time speaking to him.

  “I can tell you stories about him,” he went on. “Our son could know him.”

  “My son,” she clarified. “Judd’s son.”

  He pressed his lips together and lowered his voice even more. “Did Judd tell you that our mothers planned on having us at the same time? Our fathers had been friends for years before they met their wives. Did he tell you that I’d known him all my life? That he gave me his shoulder to lean on when my father died a year ago?”

  Tenderness pushed Madison’s own pain to the side. It was still there, but it was no longer at the forefront. “He didn’t.”

  “Judd was like my brother. We did everything together. I loved him.” Pain slashed across his features, hard and true.

  She remembered Judd speaking about her taking time from Hivers.

  He took her hand again and this time, she didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry that I had to deliver this news to you.”

  She squeezed his hand, and he went silent. “You knew him longer and better than I did. I’m sorry for your loss.” Knowing that Judd mentioned something to this man, to… Matthew, helped soothe something within her. “How did he die?” Her voice broke.

  “I believe we should wait until you’re stronger—”

  “How?”

  He swallowed. “Murder.”

  She closed her eyes as nausea rolled through her. She wondered if he’d ever made it to Van Dero. The duke. She’d been instructed to speak to the duke if Judd died. Did she still need to? What was the point? He’d never told her what was going on.

  The key he’d given her sat on her dresser unused.

  Should she go to Van Dero? Matthew was here. He wanted to help her. He already had.

  “How did you know my baby belonged to Judd?” she asked. “He said he didn’t tell you about me.”

  Matthew rolled his eyes and smiled. “I knew Judd. I watched him at the parties. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you and he was never like that with other women. I knew it was something more.”

  She smiled. She’d loved him.

  “I saw your father in town when he went for the doctor and the panic in his eyes told me something was wrong. That is how I ended up here in time to save you any further embarrassment. I’ll take care of you and the baby,” Matthew promised. “If you’ll let me.”

  Madison thought over her choices and knew she had no other. Matthew seemed kind and if he and Judd were friends then maybe there were alike in character.

  “Are you ready to go?” He seemed to know she’d made up her mind.

  “Let me get dressed.”

  He left without another word.

  Madison got up and noticed a paper on her nightstand. It was the banknote she’d given her father. He’d given it back to her. With a quick thought, she wrote a letter to her best friend Geneve and placed the substantial banknote inside, transferring it into her name for safekeeping.

  She didn’t know Matthew. She was going because she had no better choice. But she knew Geneve.

  She was trusting her friend with half her child’s fortune. The other banknote would remain here, just in case.

>   She was asking her friend to do her a great favor, something she couldn’t ask Matthew to do.

  She would have her father send it off for her. She hoped it would be worth it in the end.

  She looked around at her room. She would likely never sleep in it again. She had to say goodbye not only to the space that had made her happy but also the man who’d introduced her to love. She’d never forget Judd.

  She placed her hand on her belly. And she’d make certain her son never forgot him either.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  0 5

  * * *

  Three Months Later

  Lord Leonard Childs looked up from his book when Dr. Christian Sparrow walked into the room. “How is the patient?”

  Sparrow placed his notebook on his desk with a thump and directed a steel-gray glare at Leo. “You know very well how the patient is. Has anyone ever told you how positively wicked you are?”

  Leo smiled. “It’s one of my many gifts.”

  Sparrow leaned against the desk and tapped his chin. “Hmm. Shall we go over your many gifts? Hunting both animals and man. Hiding for long periods of time. Spying. Carriage racing. And last, but not least… torture. I don’t know how you managed to do it without killing him. It’s as though you’ve had some surgical training.” Sparrow waited for an answer.

  Leo closed his book and stood. “I may have seen a few cadavers in my past. Is the patient is ready to talk?”

  Sparrow crossed his arms. “Not until you tell me how you know just where to hurt someone without leaving major injury.”

  Leo didn’t have to think about his answer. Memories of his troubled past were in everything he did. “My father used to make me stab my brothers.”

  Sparrow’s mouth gaped open. “What?” He narrowed his eyes. “Leo, tell me you’re lying.”

  If he were a man who believed in wish-making, he would have wished he was joking with the physician. “Actually, my eldest took the lickings for the youngest of us. It was all about survival for the former Marquess of Venmont. He taught us to love no one and trust no one but ourselves.”

  “But your brothers have wed,” the doctor countered. “And they were very much in love.”