Ryder said, “I have asked myself that question after seeing some of the pranks my children get up to. Currently I am blessed with fourteen children, aged from three to seventeen. My wife would doubtless say our current brood, indeed all past broods, could rival Terrance and his four boys. They might not rule the world, but I pray they will make it a better place.”
Eugenie said, “Donner told me of your children, Mr. Sherbrooke. You have fourteen adopted children?”
Ryder, a charming storyteller just as was his own son, Grayson, regaled the listeners with tales of his Beloved Ones, Graham adding more stories of his own. As always in life, there was sadness and tragedy, laughter and tears and endless mayhem.
By the time Vereker took Ryder and his son—his son!—to the stables, he was wrapped in optimism. Eugenie appeared to have accepted her younger brother. There was still so much to learn about his son’s missing years, years spent with a collection of children whose backgrounds and breeding were so vastly different, but listening to his son and Ryder talk about the Beloved Ones, he realized how very lucky Graham had been. Even with no memory, he’d been surrounded by love, endless encouragement, sent to Oxford, even made Ryder Sherbrooke’s ward. He had a superb brain, always inquiring, ah, a mathematician, an inventor, Vereker marveled at life and what it dished up on your plate. His son, home at last.
Even as he showed Ryder and Graham the stables, spokeof his farms, he was already planning a grand celebration party to reintroduce his son to the local gentry.
The three men had no sooner appeared back to King’s Head for luncheon when Vicar Piercebridge appeared at his front door, a huge question mark in his dark eyes. And then seeing Graham standing next to his father, he smiled hugely. It seemed Graham Hepburn’s arrival was already well-known and well discussed in every household in St. Lucy Head.
Over luncheon, Vereker told him what he planned. The vicar could only laugh, joyously, and rub his hands together. He blessed the Lord for the amazing gift. He confided how he hadn’t intended to go to London to see his brother-in-law and his sister but something had pushed him, set his feet right on the train. And yet at what he’d believed would be a tedious evening with men talking of business, he was presented with Lord Vereker’s precious son.
After luncheon and Vicar Piercebridge had taken his leave, Vereker believed he would expire with pleasure when his son asked him to explain his modern farming techniques to him.
Graham was dressing for dinner in one of his father’s exquisitely sewn vests, a light gray wool perfectly complementing his evening coat, when he met Terrance’s eyes in the mirror. “Why so formal, Terrance?”
“Ah, how splendid you look, my lord. His lordship will be so pleased to see you in one of his favorite vests—do remark upon the exquisite embroidery in a darker gray—did not his lordship tell you he’s invited several local families to dinner to reintroduce you to old families of these parts? Mr. Sherbrooke is wearing a dark blue vest, also one of his lordship’s favorites. Allow me to say, my lord, your guardian, Mr. Sherbrooke, is a fine gentleman, knows what’s what, knows what he’s about—he has exquisite taste as befits the brother of the Earl of Northcliffe and thus he approved the dark blue vest.”
Graham realized of course neither Ryder nor his father had told him ahead of time, they were obviously concernedhe might be overwhelmed. How like Ryder to protect him, he always had. And now his father. He said without thought, “My guardian uncle, the Earl of Northcliffe, would be pleased his peerage is a sign of good taste.”
The light touch of sarcasm flowed right over Terrance’s head. He was too busy admiring his handiwork. Dressing a young, strong man of perfect proportions was a delight.
That evening Lord Graham, Viscount Whitestone, met the most important local families. The gentlemen marveled at the serendipitous return of Vereker’s son, the older married ladies appreciated the pleasing attention and wit of the young gentleman, and the younger ladies, unmarried or married, slavered. All in all, both Vereker and Ryder believed it was a very successful evening. Brantley nearly popped his lovely waistcoat buttons smiling so widely when he returned to the drawing room after showing out the last of their guests.
When Graham finally lay in his bed, he was exhausted, more from nerves and expectations than genuine fatigue. But he couldn’t sleep. Because suddenly, after the house was quiet, a light breeze sent droplets of rain against the bedchamber window; he saw Cam clearly in his mind, heard her voice, her laughter, saw her glasses sliding down her nose. He’d thought of her off and on all day, realized with a start that he’d missed her. A lot. It was a new experience for him, and unsettling. Was she in Bath? If he addressed a letter to her aunt Deveraux, would it reach her?
CHAPTER 30
Royal Crescent
Bath
Pilcher came upon her in the back garden cutting daffodils, nearly ready to unfurl in all their glory, both yellow and white.
He walked directly to her, leaned down and kissed her neck.
Cam thought it was a bee and slapped her neck.
Pilcher said behind her, “So very sweet, my dear, so very invigorating.”
She whirled around to see Pilcher standing not even an arm’s length away, looking what? Determined? He’d kissed her neck? It was nearly as bad as Teddy The Toad. How had he found her? Had Finch let him roam free? No, more likely, Pilcher had snuck in through the garden gate.
Before she could smack him, Pilcher grabbed her shoulders, jerked her against him. “Camilla, at last I have found you away from watchful eyes.At last. I have admired you for so very long, courted you, given you all my attention. I havediscovered my heart aches for you when you are not here. You must say you are mine, you must show me your regard. Lady Camilla, I want you to be my wife. Let me kiss you, show you my limitless regard.”
Be calm, be calm. She slowly pulled away from him. It was close, but she didn’t yell at him, she was frankly too surprised. What was this all about? He wanted to marry her? Just like Teddy. She said to the smashed daffodils she was still holding in her fist, “Not again. Bloody hell, am I cursed?”
A lady shouldn’t say bloody hell, it grated on the ear, but Pilcher said, “You’re blessed, not cursed.”
Cam pushed up her glasses, stared at him. She was blessed? In that world did he live? “Your heart aches? You are in need of a physician, not me.” She backed up, holding the daffodils out in front of her. How odd—he looked like a polished gentleman in riding britches and lovely black boots, but she saw the now fierce determination in his eyes, she’d heard it in his voice. She rubbed the back of her neck where he’d kissed her, slowly backed away. Usereason, continue to be calm, don’t knock him to the ground just yet.She said with great restraint, “Let me be honest, Pilcher. I do not wish to marry you. You may leave now.”
His smile never faltered. “I spoke too quickly. You must let me explain, Lady Camilla—no, give me leave to call you Camilla. After last night, I realized I simply could not let us continue with such intense feelings between us without acting. I had to finally tell you of my feelings, my deepest regard for you. And you, Camilla, the sweet looks you’ve been giving me and such shy smiles, full of pleasure in my company. I knew, my heart knew, it was time for me to speak. Marry me. Be my wife. I will give you all that I have.”
She could but stare at him. Sweet looks? Pleasure in his company? She said, calm as could be, “Listen to me, Pilcher, I have not given you any sweet looks, any shy smiles. Youmust believe me, I do not find particular pleasure in your company—”
He grabbed her, the daffodils went flying, and kissed her, hard, grinding his mouth against hers, trying to open her lips. When he didn’t succeed, he shook her shoulders. “No more teasing, no more flirting with other gentlemen to make me jealous. I am here to tell you I will take you to wife. So there is no more need for you to be coy, no more need to drive me to lustful thoughts.”
She was all set to bring him low, all set to yell and so her mouth was open. He stuck his tongue deep into her mouth and without hesitation, she bit him, hard.
