Tia awoke the next morning with a heavy arm around her. Deep breathing from behind her forced the weariness from her eyes. She blinked and looked around slowly, remembering what had happened last night. She had given herself to Braden.
Willingly.
She’d told herself that it wouldn’t matter. No one would care if she succumbed to his charms, but she’d been terribly wrong. She cared. In a way, she had broken her own vow.
She had done the one thing she’d criticized her own sister for too many times. God, what would Mia think of her now? Tia wondered if Mia had finally succumbed to the earl’s charms as she had to Braden’s. A wave of homesickness came over her. She missed her sister and even her mother. She wanted to walk the fields to see the tenants, tend their ills, and help them through this hard life they led. A tear fell over her nose to the pillow.
“Why are you crying?” Braden whispered in her ear before kissing the nape of her neck.
“I miss them,” she whispered.
“Who?”
“Everyone. My mother, Mia, Selina, all the tenants, and the servants at the hall.”
“Shh, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Do you want me to have a carriage take you back to Middleton Hall?”
She shook her head. “Thank you, but no. We need to find Jonathon.”
“All right. Unfortunately, this little poisoning has set us back again.”
“Yes, it has. I need to leave before your valet comes in to dress you.” Tia lifted his arm and slid under it to get out of the bed.
“You could stay here with me all day in bed,” he said in a husky voice.
She glanced over her shoulder and her knees went weak. The coverlet was down to his hips, exposing his broad shoulders and bare chest. The urge to climb back into bed was overwhelming. But she couldn’t do that. She had work to do today.
“Do you mind if I go to the park? With a maid, of course.”
“That should be fine. Why are you going to the park?”
“I need to speak with Emily and I thought that might be neutral ground for the both of us.”
“As you wish.”
“Thank you, Braden.” She gathered her shawl and raced to her room. She wrote a quick note to Emily and then rang for Mrs. Abbott. Before the housekeeper arrived, Tia had already pulled out a day gown, changed into a fresh shift, and was waiting for her.
“My goodness, you are a in a rush today,” Mrs. Abbott said as she entered the room. She glanced over at the bed. “So, things went as you had hoped?”
“Yes,” Tia said, handing Mrs. Abbott her stays. “Please help me dress. His lordship has allowed me to walk to the park as long as I have a maid to accompany me. Would you like to be my escort?”
Mrs. Abbott laughed. “I have far too much work to take a leisurely walk in the park. I need the maids, so you can have one of the footmen. It’s safer that way.”
Tia frowned. “Safer? What do you mean?”
“Someone attempted to kill his lordship. And possibly not for the first time. The past two viscounts died under suspicious circumstances. People already know you are his mistress. If someone is trying to kill him to inherit and they suspect you might be carrying his heir, you will be in danger.”
Tia bit her lower lip. What Mrs. Abbott said made some sense. Still, as long as she didn’t marry him, she could be no threat. “I will consider your words carefully. Do you have any ideas on who might be involved in this matter? All the rumors are that it was his lordship who murdered the previous viscounts in order to inherit.”
Mrs. Abbott tightened Tia’s stays. “Do you believe that? Because I certainly do not and neither does the rest of the staff.”
“No, I don’t believe he had anything to do with the deaths. But who, then?”
“I would have to wager Mr. Jonathon Tavers. No one has seen him. He came to town and didn’t stay at his brother’s house.”
“I cannot believe Jonathon would try to kill his own brother,” Tia remarked. “He loves his brother.”
“Yes, but he might love the title and all that goes with it even more.” Mrs. Abbott slipped the sage dress over Tia.
Jonathon? She couldn’t imagine Jonathon trying to kill anyone, much less his brother. Did Braden suspect him? Perhaps that was the real reason Braden wanted to find him. She had to discover the truth.
“Thank you, Mrs. Abbott. I will be down for breakfast in a few minutes. I must speak with his lordship about something.”
“Of course. I will let Mr. Nelson know you need to borrow a footman.” Mrs. Abbott headed for the door.
“Mrs. Abbott, might I ask a favor of you?”
She stopped and nodded. “Of course.”
“Would you take the linens off the bed? I should hate for anyone else to see them.”
Mrs. Abbott’s face softened. “Of course, my dear.” She looked over at the bed and stared at the stained sheets. “So you really were a good girl. Did his lordship offer to make you a respectable woman?”
“Yes and no,” she mumbled.
“I don’t understand,” Mrs. Abbott said as she removed the sheets.
“He said we should marry, but he never exactly proposed to me. Not that it matters. I could never marry a viscount. Could you ask a footman to deliver this for me?” Tia handed her the missive for Emily.
“Of course,” Mrs. Abbott remarked. Once the sheets were removed, she left the room and Tia to her thoughts.
She had to ask him about Jonathon. Could he really suspect his brother of trying to harm him? Tia walked to Braden’s room and knocked softly.
“Come in.” His deep voice sent shivers down her back. It brought back memories of last night.
She opened the door and found him already dressed and sitting at the small table in his salon. “Why are you out of bed?”
He tilted his head and smiled at her. “Indeed? Back for more already? I should think you might be a tad sore.”
“I need to speak with you about something and then you are to get back in bed. I told you that you need one more day of rest.”
“Tia, I am not going to spend my day in bed . . . unless you are with me. I promise not to exert myself today. But I need to speak with a few people.”
She put her hands on her hips. “You are not going out. Someone is trying to kill you.”
“Exactly. And the last time it happened in this very house.” His voice grew louder with every word. “Now, what do you need to talk about?”
“Do you suspect Jonathon?”
He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t know. In all honesty, yes, it has crossed my mind that he might be the one involved.”
“How could you believe that?”
“I have no wish to believe my brother is embroiled in two murders and two attempts on my life.” His shoulders sagged. “But who else could it be?”
“There has to be someone else.”
“I know you want to believe the best of Jonathon, but he has changed in the past few years.”
She finally sat down in the chair across from him. “Do you honestly think Jonathon could be caught up in this mess?”
“I don’t want to believe that, Tia. I truly don’t. But I don’t know what to think anymore. I know I wasn’t involved in the previous viscounts’ deaths. Someone has taken a shot at me and then attempted to poison me. Who else could want the title enough to kill for it?”
Tia stared at his handsome face. He had shaved this morning, which gave him less of a dark look. His blue eyes shone with frustration. There had to be someone else involved. “What about your cousin . . . Alistair?”
“Alistair would have to get through four people to become viscount. The previous two viscounts, me, and then Jonathon. He would never survive the scandal. The suspicion would fall directly on him. He’s a smart man. He knows if he befriends the current viscount, he can ask for whatever he needs.”
“But why Jonathon?”
“If he inherits, the estate and my personal fortune fall to him, giving him the funds to continue his habits.”
Tia blinked quickly to keep the tears at bay. It couldn’t be Jonathon, but hearing Braden’s logic made her wonder.
“I am sorry, Tia. I know how you feel about him.”
He knew how she felt about Jonathon? She didn’t even know how she felt about him. The only thing she was certain of was that she didn’t love him. As least, she wasn’t in love with him. She would always love him, but more like a brother. “Thank you. I believe I shall go for my walk now.”
“With a maid,” he commented.
“Actually, Mrs. Abbott needs all the maids, so she suggested I take a footman.”
He smiled at her. “Even better.”
What was it about his smile that made her heart skip a beat? “What are you going to do?”
“I need to speak with Mr. Brady, the runner I hired to find Jonathon. After that, I want to discover if Adams has seen Jonathon or heard any rumors about him.”
“Very well, I shall see you at dinner then,” Tia said and then walked to the door.
After a quick breakfast, she went to the park and sat on a bench overlooking the Serpentine. Thirty minutes passed with no sign of Emily, then an hour. She wasn’t coming. Slowly, Tia rose from the bench and started to leave.
“Miss Featherstone!”
Tia turned at the sound of Emily’s voice. “Oh, thank God!” She raced back to the bench and sat down next to Emily.
“We mustn’t talk for long,” Emily said, scanning the area. “I’m sorry, but I can’t be seen with you. My husband would have my head.”
“I understand. Have you heard any more of Jonathon?”
“Yes, my husband said Mr. Tavers was at the club last evening.”
“Which club?”
“White’s, of course,” Emily said, as if Tia should know that fact.
“Oh.” Tia certainly couldn’t go there.
“And he then went to Lady Bunworth’s soiree. I did not attend. I find myself very tired lately.”
“That’s to be expected,” Tia said quickly. “It will get a little better in the next few weeks and by the end you will be tired again. Is everything else going all right?”
“Yes, I am well. My husband found a fine physician.”
Tia shuddered, remembering her mother’s story of the London physician whom she saw deliver a baby with filthy hands. The poor woman almost died and her mother blamed the physician. “Please tell him to wash his hands before coming near you.”
Emily turned and looked at her strangely. “Very well. What are you going to do now?”
“I would like to pay a call on Lady Bunworth, but I do not expect she will see me.”
“She will. Just tell her you are Middleton’s betrothed. That will set her on her ear,” Emily said with a laugh. “She’ll hate the fact that he was able to find a bride with his reputation. And despise you for being that woman.”
“Then why will she see me?”
Emily giggled again. “You have so much to learn! She will see you because you will soon outrank her.”
Tia’s head spun with all the nonsense of Society. It was enough to make a person mad. “The woman will see me because she believes that one day I shall outrank her?”
“Yes. Would you like me to accompany you? This could be interesting,” Emily said with a grin.
“No, you go home and rest. How has your husband been toward you?”
Emily sobered. With a shrug, she said, “He has already found a new mistress and has told me that he won’t visit my bedroom again until after the baby is born.”
Tia sighed. “I’m so sorry, Emily.”
“There is nothing I can do to stop him.” Emily’s lips tightened into a straight line.
Was it any wonder Tia had no desire to marry? Although, she knew not all men were like that. Her own father had been a wonderful husband for her mother . . . and a great father. If she could find a man of a similar nature, she would marry with no hesitation.
“Very well,” Tia said. “I will pay a call to Lady Bunworth to see if she can give me any information on Mr. Tavers.”
“Good luck.” Emily scanned the area before giving her a quick hug. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
“Perhaps we can meet in a few days.” Emily stood and then said, “Send me a note.”
“I will do just that.” Tia watched as Emily left. She did miss being able to talk with another woman. Mrs. Abbott was a fine woman, but nearly twenty years her senior. She longed for a friend closer to her age.
She watched as Emily ambled toward the awaiting carriage. Tia needed to call on Lady Bunworth. There was just one issue, she had no idea where Lady Bunworth lived. Tia rose from the bench, ready to run toward Emily, only to see her carriage slowly pulling away. She would never be able to catch her.
Now what would she do?
As she strolled back toward Middleton’s house, she wondered how he would feel about visiting his cousin. They didn’t seem to get on terribly well. And she still wondered if Alistair had something to do with the poisoning. Mary had been in his employ for his sister Constance before coming to work for Middleton. Tia wondered why Constance hadn’t brought her to Lord Bunworth’s home.
Once Tia reached the house, she made her decision. She would ask him to accompany her. If he chose not to, she would go alone.
“How was your walk, miss?” Nelson asked, closing the door behind her.
“Very nice. It is a beautiful fall day.” She removed her bonnet and handed it to him. “Thank you, Nelson. Is his lordship in the study?”
“Yes, miss, but he has company.”
“Oh?”
Nelson smiled at her. “Mr. Cranborne and Mr. Adams.”
Her curiosity piqued. What were both men doing in the study with Middleton with the door closed? Perhaps if she went to the library, she might hear something. “Nelson, I will wait in the library for his lordship to finish his meeting.”
“Would you like tea?”
“Yes, please.” She walked to the library and then stared at all the books. Unable to hear anything but mumbled voices from the room next door, she pulled out a book. The collection here was nowhere near as extensive as at the estate, but excellent just the same.
She opened the books of herbs and scanned. It appeared to be very old, but fine, resource. Finding a chapter on belladonna, she read through it again until sadness overwhelmed her. If only she’d had this book a year ago. It might have saved that little girl’s life. She flipped a few pages and read the chapter on herbs that helped ease labor pains.
Braden waited for his friends to say something, but they seemed to be dumbstruck by his comment about Tia. Finally, Jack blinked and looked over at Adams, who only shrugged.
“He is obviously lying,” Jack commented.
“I most certainly am not!” Braden exclaimed. “She rejected my proposal.”
“You expect us to believe that a woman who has nothing refused to marry a wealthy, titled gentleman?” Adams folded his arms over his chest.
“Why would I lie about such a thing?” Braden’s irritation grew.
“Because you want us to believe you didn’t break your vow,” Jack said. “A woman like Miss Featherstone would do anything to become your wife.”
“Indeed?” Braden rang the bell for Nelson. “We shall see about that.”
Nelson knocked before entering the room. “Do you need something, my lord?”
Jack sniggered. “I still cannot get used to people calling you ‘my lord.’ ”
“Has Miss Featherstone returned from her walk?” Braden asked, ignoring his annoying friend.
“She has, and is in the library reading. Is there anything else?” Nelson asked quietly.
“No, and thank you, Nelson.” Braden rose from his seat. “I believe we shall now set the record straight. Come along.”
Both men followed him out of the study to the library. Braden paused for a moment and stared at her. Tia’s windblown hair had fallen out of the coiffure, leaving red tendrils framing her face. She appeared so at peace here. He cleared his throat to gain her attention. “Miss Featherstone, my dearest friends have a rather personal question they would like to ask you. Please do not feel you have to answer them if you believe it too delicate.”
She smiled as she turned her head at them. A devilish twinkle entered her eyes. “Well, my lord, it would depend on the nature of the question.”
“It regards a certain proposal of marriage from me.”
“Indeed? And what would the gentlemen like to know about that subject?”
Jack took a step into the room. “Did he propose marriage to you and then you rejected his offer?”
Braden stared at her for a long moment. She had such a twinkle in her eyes, he wondered if she would tell them the truth.
“If you call being told you would marry a person a ‘proposal,’ then I suppose he did. Personally, I did not feel that was a proper proposal. What do you think?”
Adams stifled a laugh. “She’s starting to grow on me, Middleton.” He turned his attention on Tia and said, “I would to agree with you, Miss Featherstone.”
She smiled, revealing a slight dimple in her right cheek. “Not that it mattered.”
“How so?” Jack asked.
“I would have rejected a proper proposal as quickly as I did an improper one.” Tia’s brow rose.
Jack laughed. “Come now,” he said, walking to the chair across from her. “A wealthy man who happens to be a viscount makes an offer and you would refuse?”
“Yes, I would,” Tia replied. “Why would a man like that want to marry a poor country woman? Now, if love were involved, then I might change my mind. But do you honestly believe a man like Middleton could fall in love with me?”
Adams looked between them both and slowly nodded. “It might be possible.”
Braden stared at his friend. “Why do you sound so surprised?”
This time, Tia giggled. “With your reputation?”
“I am not the same man I was six months ago,” Braden said in a defensive tone. “I have no wish to return to that lifestyle.”
“It wasn’t all that bad,” Jack muttered.
“I have to agree with Jack,” Adams said. “You didn’t seem all that upset about your lifestyle until after—”
“I just didn’t show it,” Braden interrupted his friend. He had no desire for Tia to learn exactly who had been the impetus for him to change his life. “I could be a good husband.”
“Perhaps,” Adams drawled.
“Yes, but until Jonathon is found, nothing else matters,” Tia spoke up. “And I was told he paid a call on Lady Bunworth last evening.”
“He did what?” Braden asked. “Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you returned from your walk?”
Tia put aside her book and rose. “You had callers.”
“It’s them,” he said, waving his hands at his friends. “They already know that we are looking for my brother.”
“Well, I believe we should pay a call on Lady Bunworth,” Jack said with a grin.
“We cannot all go pounding on her door,” Tia said. “His lordship and I will go. My friend also told me, Jonathon was at White’s last night. So you two, go there.”
“I can’t go to White’s,” Jack replied. “I’m not a member.”
“I am,” Adams said with a shake of his head. “You can enter as my guest.”
“And you,” Tia said, looking over at Braden, “will introduce me as your betrothed.”
“Will I?” he said, cocking an eyebrow at her. “I don’t believe you have accepted my offer.”
“No, I haven’t. But your cousin is not aware of that fact. I am quite certain that she will not accept me into her home under any other circumstances.”
“You are most likely correct on that mark. Very well,” said, holding out his arm to her, “shall we go visit my cousin and set London on its ear?”
“How so?”
“You have just caught a viscount, my dear. The world will never be the same.”