“An annuity does indicate an…interest in that lady’s fortunes.”
“More than that,” the butcher’s wife said. “He pledged to pay for an apprenticeship for the boy, and this against the advice of Mr. Newson. He is open-handed, to be sure.”
“To take responsibility for both mother and boy does indicate he had a part in the boy’s conception.”
The butcher’s wife laughed. “A part? Goodness, Mildred, Mrs. Lewis is with child again. The alliance continues to this very day. Evidently the second child’s conception has tempted him to acknowledge the truth.”
Aunt turned to Helena in dismay. Helena straightened with fury. How dare the viscount propose to her when he already had a mistress and a son—and perhaps another son to arrive soon? How dare he so deceive her?
How dare he be so much like Mr. Melbourne, a man concerned only with his own advantage—and one who had managed to fool her all the same.
“I hear that Mrs. Lewis is telling all that she will be a viscountess soon, and that her son has no need of an apprenticeship for he will be viscount himself.”
“No!”
“Yes!”
He would marry his mistress? Helena was appalled.
It was true that those who eavesdropped seldom heard anything to their advantage.
She rose from the table and left the room, Mischief at her heels, unable to believe she had so misjudged Lord Addersley.
It was an unfortunate moment to realize how securely that man had captured her admiration.
Perhaps his declaration of her unsuitability the day before had been the truth of his estimation.
Perhaps he would not even keep their appointment on this day.
Perhaps it was for the best if Helena forgot Viscount Addersley completely. She threw the ball for Mischief, unable to summon any interest in the duke’s pending return even so.
Why did men have to be so very vexing?
CHAPTER 12
Joshua had no notion what to expect from Miss Emerson, though he doubted he would receive much of a welcome. He owed her an apology for his dismissal of the day before, though he hoped she would understand that he had needed to ensure her safety at any cost. He hoped she did not find his blackened eye offensive. It remained slightly swollen and had turned a glorious shade of purple.
He dressed with care in a navy coat and buff trousers, his best black boots and a perfectly tied cravat. He had a notion of how to regain the lady’s favor so had Molly harnessed to the gig, then spent the entire drive to Bramble Cottage trying to compose his apology.
To his relief, she was in the garden outside the cottage and alone except for Mischief. She was not dressed for a journey to town, which was a disappointing sign. It was the way she lifted her head to glance toward him, her outrage so clear in her posture that Joshua feared he might not be able to regain her approval.
“Miss Emerson,” he said as he alighted from the gig. He secured Molly’s reins and gave her a pat. Mischief came running to him, her tail wagging so hard that she almost stumbled.
Miss Emerson held her ground and eyed him, her expression unwelcoming.
If anything, she was even more beautiful when her eyes flashed with fury. Her lips were set and she held herself tall, like a warrior intending to strike him dead. Her gaze lingered upon his blackened eye for a moment, but she did not speak of it.
He bowed, feeling a measure of stiffness that he could not entirely hide.
“You are injured,” she said, her words clipped.
“I fear I am, but not severely. We fought but he escaped.”
She stared at him, her features seemingly carved in stone. “Thank you for delivering such tidings. Good day, sir.” She began to turn away.
“I do owe you an apology, Miss Emerson, for my comments of yesterday afternoon.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him, her expression icy. “Surely the fact that you could never pledge yourself to a woman so utterly determined to proceed foolishly in every situation has not changed.”
