Adeline stood in front of the earl’s door, resolute in what she had to do. It had taken her no small amount of time, courage and soul-searching to get to this point. At first she hadn’t known what to think much less what to say or do. She’d struggled for days with her own tense emotions for the right answer to what she should do, and found there was only one solution.
On one side of her was Fanny and on the other side, Mathilda. Mrs. Tallon stood watch behind them. Each girl had her arms out and palms up carefully holding six neckcloths. It had taken the girls almost two months to get the dozen lengths of cloth finished to the headmistress’s satisfaction. They had met Adeline’s approval, too, after she had looked them over. On top of the stacks were short hand-written notes from each girl apologizing to the earl for entering his house.
Really more important than the recompense to the earl was the fact that neither girl had broken a rule since they’d been given the punishment of no play time for a month. Their good behavior could very well be because Mrs. Tallon kept them so busy cutting, sewing, washing, and pressing the fabric over and over again that there was no time for mischief. Or maybe it was that they had finally settled into boarding-school life and were content. Adeline didn’t want to think it had anything to do with the cane that stood in the corner of the classroom, but she couldn’t be sure it didn’t. The actual cause for the change in their naughtiness didn’t matter. That it had happened was all that mattered. The school was functioning the way she’d always envisioned—except for Nora.
That wasn’t likely to change anytime soon.
Adeline hadn’t found it within herself to speak to the little girl yet, but Mrs. Tallon said she was adjusting.
Squaring her shoulders up tight, Adeline drew in a deep breath of late-afternoon air and knocked on the door. Moments later, the butler opened it and looked from her to the girls to Mrs. Tallon. “The earl received your note and is expecting you, Lady Wake.”
“Thank you, Brewster. Would you please ask his lordship to come to the door, the girls won’t be coming inside.”
He nodded. “As you wish, my lady.”
Brewster left the door open, and Adeline heard Lyon coming down the corridor. Her stomach tightened. She’d only seen him at a distance lately and was eager to see him up close again.
“Lady Wake,” he said, “I didn’t realize the girls would be with you. “What is this?”
He looked splendid. Maybe even more handsome than ever. Trepidation filled her but she touched each girl’s shoulder, ushering them forward. Fanny lifted up her offering to him and in a loud voice said, “I’m sorry for entering your house without permission. I wish to give you these.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Mathilda echoed, though not quite as forceful, as she stepped up closer to the earl and offered him the load in her arms, too. “I brought you this gift and hope you’ll accept it.”
“Me too,” Fanny said and smiled so brightly Adeline wanted to hug her. “We had to work extra hard until we made every one of them perfect. Mrs. Tallon said so.”
Lyon continued to look at the girls but didn’t offer to take the neckcloths from them. “That’s quite a few you have there.”
“Twelve,” Fanny said. “We counted each one. More than once, so we know we’re right.”
“That many?” he said and glanced at Adeline.
“Mrs. Tallon said sometimes a gentleman has to wrinkle three or four neckcloths a morning before he gets one tied the way he wants it,” Fanny informed him.
“Did she?” he asked, still making no attempt to receive the gift.
Adeline cleared her throat. “The girls would like to know if you’d accept these along with their apologies.”
“Yes. Of course.” He looked over his shoulder and called, “Brewster.” He bent down to Fanny’s level and took hers first. “They’re—handsome.”
“Don’t wrinkle them,” she said, handing them over to him. “They’re not easy to press.” Lyon glanced over at Adeline and smiled. He then took the neckcloths from Mathilda and thanked her, too. He gave them to Brewster. “Have Dome put these away.”
The girls beamed.
“If you’ll pardon me, my lady,” Mrs. Tallon said, stepping forward. “The girls have a gift for you, too.”
Adeline looked at Fanny and Mathilda. “For me?”
Each girl pulled a folded handkerchief from their pockets and handed it to Adeline.
“We knitted the lace and then we had to sew it on,” Mathilda said.
“That wasn’t easy either,” Fanny said and rolled her eyes. “I’d rather cut and sew than knit.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t, but they’re lovely.” Adeline’s heart constricted. “It wasn’t necessary to do this for me, but I do like surprises. Thank you, girls. It must have taken quite some time to learn how to do all this. They’re very delicate and look perfect.”
“My fingers were sore, but I’m glad you like it.”
“Mine, too,” Mathilda agreed.
Adeline laughed lightly. “I do, but now it is back to school for you two.”
She handed the handkerchiefs to Mrs. Tallon. “Would you please stop and give these to Mrs. Lawton for me? I need to speak to the earl.”
Adeline watched them walk down the stone steps and out the gate before turning back to Lyon. “May I come in?”
His brow rose. “I think you must have forgotten about Mrs. Feversham and her spyglass.”
“I haven’t forgotten. Is she still watching our doors?”
“According to my aunt she hasn’t missed much that has happened around our houses.”
“Didn’t you tell me you’ve never met her?”
“Yes. She has no qualms about sending me a note if she wants me to deliver a basket full of tarts to a girls’ school, but we’ve never met.”
“I haven’t been over to see her either. Maybe she’s just lonely. Perhaps if we did—if I did—she’d see me more as a friend and not just a neighbor, and not feel right about spying on a friend.”
Lyon smiled at her. “You try it first and let me know if it works.”
“I think I will, but not today. I’ll take my chances with her snooping, if you don’t mind.” Adeline’s heartbeat was racing but she found the courage to say, “I do have something to tell you that I’d rather not say standing out here. If you don’t mind, I’d like to come inside.”
“You are always welcome in my home, Adeline.” He stepped aside. “Though as you know, doing so has its risks.”
“In more than one way,” she answered softly, letting her gaze flutter down his face.
“Aunt Delia saved us once before. Perhaps she can work her magic and do it again if Mrs. Feversham isn’t taking her afternoon nap.”
He waved Brewster away and helped Adeline with her short black cape. “Would you like for me to have some tea brought in?”
“No,” she said with a bit of a smile. “I believe I’d like to have a snip of brandy.”
She was sure it was alarm she saw on Lyon’s face, and that made a soft laugh flow past her lips.
He slowly laid her wrap on a chair. His eyes searched hers intently. “Are you sure about that?”
“Quite.”
He didn’t question her further, but motioned down the corridor. “Join me in the drawing room.”
Adeline walked past him on shaky legs. His footsteps echoed behind her. She gathered strength and was heartened with each step she heard. She didn’t stop until she stood before the low-burning fire.
They remained quiet as he covered the bottom of a small delicate-looking stemmed glass with the amber liquid.
“I heard your father married,” she said.
He handed her the glass. “Yes. They quit the Season early to travel to his estates so he could introduce his new bride. Helen wanted it and surprisingly, he agreed. I haven’t heard from them, but assume all is going well with their ventures.”
“I thought she was very nice. She came to visit me before they left, and we had an enjoyable time.”
“Good,” he said, and then dismissing that subject, he asked, “Have you come to tell me you’ve found your husband’s mistress and reunited her with her child? I know you have someone searching for her.”
“No. The runners haven’t found a trace of her. Julia and Brina agree that we should continue to look for her, but so far no one will admit to knowing her whereabouts. I wrote to the Earl of Wake and asked for his help. He responded that he had nothing to say on the subject.”
“I think he’d already made that clear.”
“Yes, and while we search for her mother, Nora is safe, cared for, and adjusting to her new life.”
“Have you seen her?”
“Yes. From a distance.”
“You are doing the right thing for her.”
“I could do no other. As you pointed out. When we started the school, it was never our intention to get involved in the lives of any of the girls. Only to provide a place for them to learn. Fanny made that an exception by her escapades. She’s settled down now and isn’t wandering away from the others in the class.”
“That must make it easier for everyone.”
“Yes. I am letting Mrs. Tallon handle everything. That seems to be working well for both of us.”
“Good,” Lyon said and blew out a deep breath. “Is that what you came to tell me, Adeline?”
“No. I want things settled between us. First, I want you to know that I love you.”
“And you need a shot of brandy to tell me that?” he asked, suddenly sounding angry.
“No.” She looked down at her glass.
“Just telling me you love me settles nothing between us. I haven’t doubted your love for me.”
“You didn’t pour one for yourself,” she said. “Must a lady drink alone?”
His gaze swept over hers again. “Of course not.”
He walked back to the table and splashed a dram in his glass and joined her again. Not waiting for her, he downed the nip in one swallow. Her hand trembled, but refusing to think about the past, she inhaled deeply and put the glass to her lips. She sipped a small amount and swallowed. There was no foul taste, no bitter remembrances, just a sweet sting and then the flash of warmth that always flamed her cheeks and neck for a second or two.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “That was one of the fears I needed to put to rest. The easier one.”
Lyon put his glass down and then took hers, placing it beside his. “You are troubling me, Adeline. Something’s wrong. What is it that you want to tell me?”
“I am carrying your child.”
He looked astounded. “A babe?”
She stepped back, suddenly feeling frightened and alone, despite all her earlier thoughts of courage and determination about her admission of the situation she found herself in. “I swear to you I haven’t been with another man.”
Lyon took hold of her upper arms. “Damnation, Adeline, I know that. It’s just that you were so sure you couldn’t be in the family way.”
“I know,” she whispered earnestly. “I have disbelieved all the signs myself.”
“How can you be sure then? What’s changed?”
“You.” She stopped and inhaled deeply. “It was you making love to me. It’s the only possible answer. You made the difference.”
His eyes glistened. “Me?”
Her heart was full of love, of happiness for the child she carried, and of dread in not knowing how Lyon would respond to this news. “I know of no other reason. I have been to see a physician and two different midwives. One of whom I saw when I was drinking the tonics that were made for me every day. She was the only one I trusted during that time, so I went back to her as well.” Adeline touched her stomach lightly. “They all agree with me that it’s true I’m carrying a child. I don’t know how this could have happened. I went through hell trying to have a child for Wake and now I am more than three months carrying yours.”
His fingers tightened around her arms. His gaze fluttered up and down her face. “So it happened our first time together.”
Adeline’s throat tightened more and she shivered. “It appears so.”
“Can you feel it move?”
“Not yet. It will take a little longer for that to happen.”
He let go of her arms and placed his hand against her lower stomach as if he were in awe of a precious stone he was touching.
“Yes,” he said, looking up at her with joy beaming on his face. “I feel it. The small swell of life is there.”
“I knew all the signs to watch for indicating I was with child. They were drilled into me. I’ve waited extra time to be sure.”
His eyes narrowed. “You waited to tell me I’m going to be a father?”
“I had to be sure. Lyon, I love you with all my heart, but I couldn’t get past the ugliness of my first marriage. The torture, the feelings of failure. I can’t explain it.”
He placed a finger on her lips. “Shh, my love. You don’t have to think about that ever again.”
“All I can do is say again that I love you and I’ll marry you if you still love me and want me.”
“Love you? Want you?” He caught her up in his strong embrace. “I wake every morning wondering what I can do or say to make you change your mind about marriage. Adeline, it was always only you that I wanted. I understood your reasons for wanting to remain a widow. I had to respect your wishes.”
“Thank you. I love you for that, Lyon, but now will you marry me?”
“I was beginning to think this day would never come and I never could have dreamed it would be a babe that brought you back to me.”
He kissed her long, hard. “I didn’t know how it would happen or when, but I had faith that if I gave you enough time you would realize love conquers everything and you would want to be my wife.” Lyon squeezed her tightly and whispered, “I love you so much.”
“And I love you.”
Suddenly he leaned away from her and asked, “Do you know if you will have a son?”
Adeline breathed a soft laugh. “Of course not. Many try, but no one can predict son or daughter.”
“Good. I want to be surprised by you one more time.”
Lyon captured her lips with his again.
Adeline thrilled to his touch.