“I don’t know.” Angeline shook her head trying to clear away the fear and think rationally. “All I know is that until I am sure one way or the other, I can’t face him. I can’t break his heart, telling him that there is no future for us, only to then discover I’m with child. My courses should arrive in a few days, and then I’ll know. I just need to hide here until I’m certain. Please don’t let Sidney know where I am,” she plead.
Moira was looking at her with pursed lips. “Are you sure you want to disappear on him right now? I know you are not responsible for his emotional well-being, but he needs you more than ever.”
“I know. And I feel awful for walking away when he is so deep in his grief. I’m worried about him. He’s drinking too much and feels responsible for Nick’s death after encouraging him to attend the hunting party. But I can’t handle it. I know it makes me a terrible person, but I just can’t face him until I know whether I’m carrying his child.” Angeline burst into tears, feeling like the worst person in the world.
“It’s all right. I won’t tell him anything. Just be careful, Angie.”
CHAPTER23
For the first time since the accident, Sidney awoke feeling rested. He smiled recalling the previous evening and rolled over to reach for Angeline, however, her side of the bed was empty and cold. Frowning, he wondered why she had left, but it was probably best for propriety’s sake.
He was grateful that Angeline had offered herself so fully to him last night. He’d wanted to drown in her, lose himself completely in her soft and welcoming body. She was so beautiful it made him ache. For the first time since Nick had died, he’d felt true happiness and pleasure. Though he knew he couldn’t rely on Angie to make him feel whole, it wasn’t fair to place that kind of responsibility on her, last night she’d given him exactly what he needed.
The funeral was unbearable yesterday and watching Hazel had nearly broken him. But he refused to let his guard down in front of everyone. The only thing he had left to get through today was the reading of the will, and then the remaining guests would blessedly leave, allowing him to let his guard down and be with Angeline.
Stirring himself, he rose from the bed and caught Angeline’s scent wafting off the covers. Sidney leaned over to breathe deeply of the pillow she had used. He knew they could not marry immediately, as it would not be proper while in deep mourning, but he couldn’t wait to spend his life with her. He wanted to wake up beside her and her scent every morning. Recalling last night again, he winced remembering his regrettable action, lost in her as he’d been. No matter, it would be a blessing if Angeline became with child, and they could marry regardless of what was and was not proper during the mourning period.
Heading down the hall after getting dressed, he paused outside Angeline’s door and knocked, wanting to see her before his meeting. Sidney knew her lovely face would make him feel better and help him get through the last of the official business. Waiting, he knocked once more. When she didn’t answer, he figured she must still be asleep after the late night.
He left to find Davenport and Fitz for the will reading, when both men greeted him at the top of the staircase. “I was just coming to find you, are you ready?”
“Ready whenever you are,” Fitz said with a nod.
Sidney located the lawyer, Mr. Carlton, in the foyer and led the group to the study. He knew choosing the study was a mistake the second he walked in. It was the first time he had been in the room since the accident, and not seeing his brother behind the desk was like a punch to the gut.
Seeing him pause, Fitz asked, “Are you alright? Should we go to the library instead?” Sidney closed his eyes and shook his head.
“No,” he said, breathing deeply. “It’s my house now, and I can’t avoid this room forever.” Sidney fully entered the room and walked over to the sideboard to pour tea for everyone. Once settled, Mr. Carlton didn’t waste any time getting down to business and reading the will and documents which outlined the entail.
It was all rather straightforward. Sidney, as the closest living male relative to Nick, would inherit the title and all lands that came with it, including Ravenswood. He was also named the official guardian for Hazel until she married or reached the age of twenty-one. Davenport let out a wet laugh when he was named the new keeper of an outrageous collection of rocks and geological oddities, which he’d always teased Nick about. Other tokens were left to friends or long-term members of the household staff, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It wasn’t until they were wrapping up and Mr. Carlton was preparing to leave that everything fell apart.
Opening the study door, Sidney spotted Lady Effie waiting outside. “A word, gentlemen,” she said. “I’d like to clear up a matter before Nick’s lawyer departs.”
“I’m not sure now is the best time, Effie,” Davenport said, trying to diffuse a potential situation before it started.
“I’m afraid I must insist,” she said, not deterred.
Sighing, Sidney pinched the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache forming. “Very well,” he said, gesturing for her to enter.
“Would you like us to leave?” Fitz asked the lady, indicating himself and Davenport. “It seems like this may be a family matter.”
Smirking, she said, “No, I believe I would like some witnesses.” Gesturing to their teacups, she added, “And you may want to add something stronger to that.”
Feeling extremely ill at ease, Sidney lowered himself back into a chair and waited for her to settle and get to the point.
Turning to Mr. Carlton, she asked, “You are the lawyer who represented the late viscount in the drawing up of our marriage contract, is that correct?”
“Yes, my lady,” the lawyer answered, clearly confused as to where she was going. “I’m afraid that with the late viscount’s death, the contract is now null and void.”
“Ah, see, that’s where I believe you are wrong. I have my copy of the contract here,” she said, waving a paper about, “and it clearly states that I am contracted to marry Viscount Hasting.”
“Yes, my lady. And Viscount Hasting has passed,” Mr. Carlton reiterated.
“What are you getting at,” Sidney growled, his patience wearing thin after what had already been a long meeting.
Shooting him a glare, Lady Effie said, “I was just about to clarify that,my lord.” She knew what she was doing with the extra dig by using his title, and Sidney winced at the hit.
“As I was saying, I understand that Nicholas Bright, the previous Viscount Hasting, has passed. But the current Viscount Hasting, Sidney Bright, is very much alive and well.” Sidney still didn’t understand, but he watched Mr. Carlton pale as Lady Effie stated her case.
