Page 23 of Heart of Decadence

For the first time, Amelia became aware of the real fear in Mary’s voice. “I need them to clear my name, Mary. People have said very bad things about me and Lord Carrington. I want to prove they are not true. The letters will do that.” She looked beseechingly at the frightened woman. “Will you help me, Mary?”

Wringing her hands, Mary looked away from her, her distress mounting. “If I give you those letters, she’ll know I told someone. She’ll stop the money she sends each year.”

“Money to pay for your son’s upkeep?”

Mary nodded. “She’s sent it like clockwork each year on Johnny’s birthday.”

“I saw him in the yard. Your son’s very like him, isn’t he?”

Nathan frowned. “Like who?”

“Jonathan…Lord Carrington.” Sighing, Amelia wound her arm through Nathan’s. “That was the child he was asking after before he died.”

“So who’s been paying Mary to be quiet about her son all these years?”

“Lady Carrington, I suspect. She was always a high stickler and I suppose she believed that if she paid Mary to be quiet, no one would ever hear about her son’s indiscretion. Everyone assumed I’d had the child of whom he spoke, which put the blame squarely on me.” The bitter taste in her mouth made her ill. “Jonathan was never censured, even though he was believed to be the father.”

“The ton would think it bad form to revile the dead.” Nathan put his arm around her. “Mary, may we have the letters please?”

“But I’ll be in a bad way if she stops the money, my lord.” Tears were again trickling down the woman’s face. “I have no way to support us here.”

“Do not fret, Mary. I believe I can ensure that Lady Carrington does not miss a single payment for the rest of your life.” Her husband’s calm voice drew Amelia’s attention.

“What scheme do you have in mind, my dear?”

“A little friendly persuasion that may kill two birds with one stone. Mary, the letters, if you please.” At his sharp command, the woman hurried toward the desk.

“I only saved his letters, my lady.” She drew out a sheaf of papers, dark yellow with faded writing. “They were something of his, you know? I couldn’t read them, but I could hold them and know that once he’d held them too.” She handed the bundle of letters to Amelia. “I was carrying his child when I came to London. He said we could see each other more if I was in town.” She ducked her head. “He said even after he got married, we could be together if I was discreet. But then he died.” The heartbreak in her voice was pitiful. “I didn’t know what to do, so I had my aunt tell Lady Carrington. She came to visit me the once, after Johnny was born. She told me to come back here, to Toots Hill, to say nothing to anyone about the baby, and she would take care of us.”

“And I promise you, Mary, she will continue to do so. Let me take care of those, my dear.” To Amelia’s astonishment, Nathan plucked the letters out of her hands. “I also promise that when we have no further use for these, they will be returned to you, Mrs. Carr.”

“Thank you, my lord. My lady.” Mary wiped her eyes again.

“Goodbye, Mary.” Her last illusions about Jonathan now crumbling about her, Amelia wanted nothing more than to flee the cottage and wash her hands of him forever.

“Good day, madam.” Nathan doffed his hat and led Amelia out of the cottage into the sun-filled morning.

Once they had gone a way down the lane, Nathan dropped the letters to the ground, swooped her up in his arms and twirled them around until Amelia’s head spun.

“Nathan, stop. What are you doing?” Her stomach had become decidedly queasy all of a sudden.

“I am celebrating our victory, my love.” Laughing, he continued to spin around.

“Well, you had best put me down or I will cast up my accounts all down your backside.”

With a final chuckle, he set her on the ground, where she wobbled until the earth stopped moving. “So you believe these letters will allow us to regain my reputation?”

“I do.” He grinned and recovered the letters.

She frowned. “But you haven’t even read them yet.”

“I don’t need to.”

“Nathan, what are you planning to do with them?”

“Pay an unexpected visit to an old acquaintance of yours. I guarantee you, she will help us recover your reputation.”

“Lady Carrington?”

“Lady Carrington.” He put his arm around her. “Come my love.” He kissed her with so much passion her legs went wobbly again. “Your life in Society is about to begin again.”