Page 36 of A Countess of Convenience

The viscount’s countenance, which had been ruddy when he walked into the room, blanched. “Judith? I can scarcely believe my eyes. You were closer to death than life when we sent you back to your parents.” His eyes narrowed. “I can scarcely credit this miraculous recovery.”

“I do not know what you are implying, Lord Downing.” John stepped forward, towering over her father-in-law. “But I will vouch for Mrs. Harper’s recovery as I was there to witness it.”

“Who are you, sir?” The sneer in Downing’s voice was palpable.

“Lord Haxby,” Judith stepped in hastily, “may I make known Lord Downing, my father-in-law? Lord Downing, this is the Earl of Haxby, an old family acquaintance. He and his sister were my childhood playmates.”

Both men bristled, and Judith held her breath, praying they did not commence with a fracas before she could even ask about Anna. After a tense moment, John said simply, “My lord,” and bowed.

“My lord.” A quick nod, and Downing sat in a tall-backed chair, his lips pressed in a straight line. “What is your business here today?”

“I wish to see Anna, my lord. I have not seen her in many months.” Judith tried hard to keep her voice soft and modulated.

“You do, huh? Did you know I received a missive from the courts that you are challenging my guardianship of Anna? A ridiculous waste of time, I might add, for you will not win your petition for guardianship.”

“I am her mother, my lord.” Judith clutched her reticule, trying to heed John’s earlier words about remaining calm. “The courts will see the logic and the sense in giving her back to her parent. Had it not been for my infirmity, there would never have been a question of her guardianship.”

“Had you not been as good as dead, and of no use to my son, he would still be alive,” Lord Downing snarled, his eyes threatening to pop out of his head.

“Had your son not knocked me to the floor so I hit my head on a marble fireplace, he would still be alive.” She’d had no idea until now how glad she was he was not.

“You lie.” He rose from his chair, red-faced. “Simon and Dora both told me you fell and struck your head.”

“Simon would lie about anything, as you well know. Dora was simply trying to keep the truth from coming out. But she told me.” John put a hand on her arm, but Judith flung it off and rose. “She told me she saw his handprint clearly on my cheek. So your coward of a son hit his wife then began to accost the women hired as governesses to his daughter.”

“You were unconscious when that happened, so I suppose my dimwitted daughter saw fit to besmirch her brother’s name when he could no longer defend himself.” Beside himself now, Lord Downing made a step toward her.

John leaped to his feet and pushed her behind him. “Should you attempt to make the same mistake as your son, Lord Downing, and strike Mrs. Harper, you will be the one recovering his senses after months in bed. I will not tolerate further abuse of her.”

“Get out.” Downing’s once-red face had gone pasty again. “Do not ever come here or to Harper’s Grange again. Do not at any time attempt to see my granddaughter, else I will inform the police that you are trying to kidnap the child. While I hold her guardianship, she must do as I say, and I forbid her to have any contact with you whatsoever.”

“She is my daughter! You cannot keep her from me.” All Judith wanted to do was put her hands around the odious man’s neck and shake him. She made as if to lunge at him, and John’s arm engulfed her waist like a vise.

“Come, Judith. We can do nothing more here today.” He looked Downing up and down, a sneer on his face. “However, your petition has been filed in the Chancery Court. And English justice shall be served at the end of the day.” John hurried her out of the room before she lost all hope of reason and planted her fist in his face. Once they reached the carriage, he almost pushed her into it and climbed in behind her. “Home, Davis. Now.”

The carriage jerked forward as the horses started, throwing Judith into John. She jerked away from him and burst into tears. “I’ve lost her, John. I’ll never see Anna again.”

* * * *

“There, there, my dear. Go ahead and cry.” John pulled her back to him, pressing her face to his chest and letting her cry out her grief. Her body shook violently, as though with a strong ague. “We will find a way to get her back.”

“But I w…wanted to see her t…today, John.” She sputtered into her handkerchief. “Oh, why couldn’t I do as you said?” Her sobs grew loud again, and he soothed her as best he could.

God knew it was little enough. The pain of the loss of a child cut worse than the keenest knife. “We will inform Blanchard of this refusal at once. I have no idea if, as the mother, you have the right to visit the child or not, but Blanchard will soon discover it. And if the courts decree it, Downing will have no recourse save to allow you to see her.”

She raised a tearstained face to him. “Do you really think so, John?”

He smoothed the hair out of her face, trying to keep any hopefulness out of his voice. “I can only ask Blanchard. I have no knowledge of the law on this front, and I’d be loath to give you false hope only to have it dashed. But I believe there is a possibility at least. Especially in your circumstances.”

Thankfully, her tears lessened, and she wiped them away with a very sodden handkerchief.

“Allow me, Judith.” He handed her his own large handkerchief. “I believe you need reinforcements.”

“Thank you, John.” She took the square of linen and patted her damp face. “I’ve always thought they’d gotten it wrong. Ladies’ handkerchiefs should be these large squares, while gentlemen could do with theirs being smaller. They cry so much less easily.”

“But we would then have so much less to offer the ladies who depend upon us.” His words brought a wan smile to her lips, as he’d intended.

“I suppose that is true.” Judith folded the square meticulously. “We do depend so much on you gentlemen.” She gazed up at him, absolute trust in her face. “What would I do if I didn’t have you?”