‘He didn’t … take advantage of you in any way?’ Christian probed, staring down at her searchingly.
Mercy gave an emphatic shake of her head. ‘Without his help, I could very well have been in this Reinhardt’s clutches bynow. I trust you will see him recompensed, Father?’ Christian didn’t miss her switch from her childish Papa to a more formal address, and he sighed, realising she truly was no longer his little girl. He nodded.
‘Naturally.’ He paused and looked round the room before adding a rueful, ‘God knows, he could do with it.’
‘Who is this man who thought to abduct me, Father? I mean, I know his name, if that’s his real one, but why me?’ Christian winced. ‘He’d hoped this conversation would wait until they were back at Cottesmore. He watched Mercy seat herself in the other chair, gathering his thoughts.
‘As for who he is – all I can tell you is that he’s an inveterate gambler hailing originally from Boston…’ he paused choosing his next words carefully. ‘I believe he knew your mother.’
Mercy had been turned towards the fire, holding her hands out for warmth. At his words, her head shot up. ‘They were friends?’
The Earl shook his head. ‘I don’t believe there was ever a friendship between them...’ Another pause. How the devil could he tell his daughter that her mother was a courtesan and Reinhardt had likely been one of her clients?
To his relief, he was saved from answering as the door was pushed open, to reveal Nate, balancing a large tray with one hand. Moving over to help, Christian was glad to see Harding had unearthed a bottle of passable brandy. He didn’t usually imbibe so early in the day, but he couldn’t deny that after the pressures of the last few hours, a tot would be very welcome.
As the only two seats in the room were already taken, Christian and Nate stood awkwardly in front of the fire. For a few seconds,silence reined as they sipped their tea until the Earl finally placed his dish on the mantlepiece and picked up the brandy.
‘I think this will likely be more beneficial at the moment,’ he murmured drily. After staring down into its amber depths for a moment, he gave a sigh and turned to Mercy’s rescuer. ‘I owe you a debt I can never repay, Harding, but I trust you will allow me to go some small way to repaying it by having the essential repairs done to your house.’ He watched Nate colour up, and for a second, he thought pride would make him refuse the boon.
But after a moment, the man grimaced and shrugged. ‘I would be a fool to turn down such an offer. Thank you, my lord. As you’re clearly aware, the repairs are long overdue.’
‘Bit of an understatement, I’d say lad. The deuced place’ll be falling down around your ears by the end of next winter.’ As usual the Reverend didn’t mince his words. ‘Are you in Dun territory, or just purse-pinched?’
‘None of your damn business,’ Nate growled before he could stop himself.
Reverend Shackleford didn’t take the least offence. ‘So, it’s purse-pinched then. I take it you were left the property but no blunt to upkeep it.’ He shook his head sadly.
‘Mr. Harding has a title,’ Mercy interrupted – erroneously in truth, since the title clearly hadn’t put food on the table or filled the holes in a leaking roof. Nevertheless, both her father and grandfather looked surprised.
Nate winced, then bent his head with a sigh. ‘Viscount Carlingford at your service, my lord,’ he offered wryly.
The Earl frowned. ‘I thought the name Carlingford sounded familiar. You’re Gerald Harding’s son? I’d thought him lost at sea.’
Nate gritted his teeth. He really didn’t need this conversation right now. ‘You’re correct, my lord. My esteemed older brother did indeed end up in a watery grave. I am the second son.’
Christian raised his eyebrows. ‘Forgive me, I wasn’t aware that Harding had had any more children. I was under the impression the title had lapsed.’
Nate spread his hands and shrugged. ‘As you can see, my lord, it didn’t.’ He gave a humourless laugh before adding drily, ‘What can I say, I was always more my mother’s son – literally.’
Christian stared at him for a second, then nodded his head in understanding. So, it wasn’t simply grief that had led Gerald Harding to drink himself to death. The knowledge that his title would pass to another man’s bastard must have been galling to say the least.
‘Have you not thought about taking your place in society?’ he quizzed, thinking it best to change the subject.
Nate stared at him impassively for a second. ‘Aside from the fact that I haven’t got sixpence to scratch with, as the good Reverend described so succinctly, my face is not exactly my fortune.’
‘It’s none of my business,’ Christian countered evenly, ‘but there are many who would pay handsomely to obtain for a title for their daughter. A pretty face is not mandatory.’
There was a small silence until at length, Nate responded flatly, ‘As you say, my lord, it is no one’s business but my own.’
Christian sighed, knowing he’d pushed the man too far. ‘I think we have presumed upon your hospitality for long enough,’ he said brusquely, finishing his brandy. ‘My man will call on you over the next few days to assess which repairs are the most urgent. I trust I do not have to tell you that what happened here must not go beyond these four walls?’
Nate bowed his head. ‘You have my word. If…’ There was a pause as the Earl looked at him enquiringly. The Viscount glanced over at Mercy who was looking at him, her face inscrutable. He took a deep breath. ‘I do not believe you have seen the last of this Reinhardt, my lord. Should you require my assistance in safeguarding Lady Mercedes at any time in the future, I offer it gladly.’
It was on the tip of Christian’s tongue to declare that he took care of his own, but given the events of the last three days, he swallowed the blunt reply and instead, inclined his head in return before adding a brisk, ‘Duly noted,’ before turning towards Mercedes. ‘I think it’s time we went home, love.’
‘Thank you for the brandy, Harding,’ the Reverend commented, climbing laboriously to his feet. ‘It was more than passable, and your house might be a draughty old pile, with more holes than roof, but I confess, I’ve seldom sat in a more comfortable chair. Had I stayed there much longer, you’d have had to carry me out.’ He looked down at Flossy, curled up next to her new friend. ‘Come along, Floss, time to go.’
Mercy’s heart was already thudding unsteadily as she got to her feet. Nathanial Harding’s comment about helping to keep her safe had given her the beginnings of an idea, but she knew it needed much more thought before she brought it out into the open. As her father and grandfather made their way to the door,she faced the man who had taken her into his protection and likely saved her life.
