Page 1 of The Earl and His Lady

Chapter One

May 1812

Virginia, Baroness of Heatherton, crushed the letter from the barrister in her hand, hating each word it contained. She harbored no ill will toward Mr. Olivier for writing the abhorrent thing, but that did not lessen her dismay and fear.

“Mother?” The sweet voice of her elder son drew her from her dark thoughts. The two boys played inside today. The weather had turned gray and cool, considering it was the month of May.

“Yes, Phillip?” She looked down at the carpet where her two boys played together with wooden horses.

“Can we live with Cousin Christine forever?” His green eyes sparkled hopefully, round and wide beneath the dark curls inherited from his father. “She said she’ll teach me how to ride and drive a cart if we stay long enough.”

“Me, too!” Little Edward, only four years old, paused in his construction of stables he’d formed with books borrowed from the library. “I want to ride a pony, please.”

“That would be exciting, wouldn’t it?” Virginia smiled at both of them and her hold on the letter relaxed. For the time being, she and her sons remained safe. The threat of her brother-in-law’s actions remained far enough away to give her time to think. “But Cousin Christine and Cousin Thomas might grow tired of us eventually.”

“Never,” a voice said, drawing Virginia’s eyes to doorway. The woman in question entered the sitting room. “I would keep you here forever if I could.” Christine Gilbert, formerly Christine Devon, walked with a fluid confidence most women worked years to achieve. Her time spent in the saddle had given her a different sort of grace than one learned on a ballroom floor.

Christine sat next to Virginia and leaned down to the children. “I came by way of the kitchen with news for you. Cook has shortbread out on the cooling racks. Should either of you wish to sample it, I think she would be happy to oblige.”

Both boys came to their feet and turned pleading eyes to their mother.

Virginia attempted to maintain a serious expression but trying to repress her smile gave her away. Her sons were the center of her world. They’d lost so much with their father’s death. How could she deny them a small treat? “Go on. And take some to Nurse Smythe. You know shortbread is her favorite.”

The boys charged out of the room like pups intent on the scent of their treat. Christine laughed and Virginia bit back a laugh before she spoke.

“They are getting spoiled living here with such an indulgent cousin.” Her shoulders relaxed and she shook her head ruefully.

“I love having them here, and I’m glad you came too.” Christine’s wide smile attested to the honesty of the statement. She possessed no guile, saying what she thought, by turns entertaining and horrifying Virginia. Thomas Gilbert, Christine’s husband, took it all in stride and with good humor. He obviously adored his wife.

Seeing their happiness made Virginia feel the loss of her husband more keenly. When Charles left her behind, he took a large piece of her heart with him. Virginia feared the ensuing hole would never be filled again. Charles had been ill for months before he passed away, giving Virginia ample time to learn to hide her grief, to keep her emotions safely behind a wall. The letter discomposed her, however, bringing her emotions nearer the surface.

“Is something amiss, Virginia?” her cousin asked.

Virginia forced a smile, but it felt shaky at best. “I have a letter from Mr. Olivier.”

Christine’s eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t sound like he’s sent pleasant news.”

“Not at all, I’m afraid. My brother-in-law is pushing through with his suit to obtain guardianship of the boys, and the court is sympathetic. I worry leaving Bath as abruptly as I did made me appear unstable.” She sighed and held the crumpled paper out, not even caring that its ruined state showed her frame of mind so clearly. “What am I to do? I thought Charles had taken care of all of this.”

“He never dreamed his wishes would be overturned.” Christine took the paper and smoothed it out in her lap, her eyes reading the tidy script of the solicitor. “But Mr. Olivier is advising you to remain in the country?”

“Yes. He says that so long as I am in mourning the Court of Chancery may be reluctant to act. It would be indecent to pull sons away from a grieving widow.” She put her hand to her temple and rubbed a circle over the steady pulse beneath the skin, hoping to stave off a headache. “But what am I to do? I cannot hide here forever. I will have to go back to our estate, and once I am there, Mr. Macon will know where to find me. The vulture.” She couldn’t say a kind word about him, not after he made her last days with her dying husband a knot of worry and fear.

“Did you read the whole letter?” Christine asked abruptly, frowning down at the missive in her lap.

“What else is there after receiving news such as that? No. I have little patience left to read whatever consoling words Mr. Olivier sends.” Although she truly appreciated the gentleman’s help, the case was hopeless. She hadn’t read beyond the first paragraph he’d penned.

“Maybe you ought to read the rest. At least the part where he tells you how to avoid giving up the guardianship of your sons.” Christine lifted the letter, placing it in Virginia’s lap and pointing. “There.”

Virginia refrained from casting her eyes heavenward. Dramatics were hardly necessary, but sometimes she rather wished to give in to them. Instead she focused on the words her cousin pointed at and read them aloud.

“I believe there are only two ways to keep your sons under your care, given Mr. Macon’s aggressive suit. You must either find a male relative whose protection could be extended, thus making him the guardian of the boys, or you need to remarry, preferably a peer.” She stopped reading, her mind going numb.

Christine plucked the letter up and continued where Virginia left off. “With a peer as husband, your brother-in-law would have to prove a member of the nobility as an unfit guardian. Chancery would not do so without an extreme amount of evidence to support such a stance.” Christine shook her head. “I think the male relative option the more likable of the two. But you only have your dreadful brother and my father, correct?”

Virginia forced herself to answer, though her words sounded hollow to her ears. “My brother, since becoming the Earl of Vinespar, has never shown an interest in my mother or myself since he inherited. I sincerely doubt your father would show any inclination to aid me either, after I encouraged Julia’s match to her delightful husband.”

Christine sighed. “And Thomas and I hardly count as near enough relatives to do the trick.”