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“Simon, you may say whatever you like about me, for I don’t give a snap for your opinion. But you will not defame my mother. Neither do I care if you believe me. Just because you do not doesn’t mean that I’m deceitful.”
Though he towered above her, she pulled herself to her full height and poked his chest.
He looked so startled and offended, she poked him again, just for good measure. Then, voice lowered and trembling with outrage, she delivered the coup de grâce.
“Lest you need reminding, Mama didn’t come willingly to your father’s bed, and though he later dismissed all the servants who knew the truth, the proof was irrefutable. He should’ve had charges brought against him, and one can only speculate why he did not.” She swept her hand toward the humble cottage. “That’s why we live here and why you pay us a pitifully small monthly stipend.”
Familiar mortification washed over Eden, but she refused to be cowed or hang her head in shame. The truth was the truth, no matter how sordid or distasteful. Although she’d far prefer Lord Sterling hadn’t learned the ugly details.
She’d been nauseated for a week upon accidentally discovering those unsavory particulars in Mama’s forgotten journal eight years ago. Even the documents drawn up by Mama’s brother, a solicitor, contained several incriminating lines. Uncle Frederick had died five years ago, and there was no one else to substantiate the claim now.
Thrice in the last year Briar Knoll had been searched whilst they were at church. Fearing Simon would find and destroy the agreement—the only thing forcing him to comply with the arrangement Walter Andrews had made with Mama—Eden had hidden the document away. That, in addition to his wife Candace’s constant complaints regarding the monies paid to Eden, made her suspect Simon had suffered a reverse in fortune of some sort.
As much as Eden loathed accepting a shilling from Simon, her mother was entitled to the compensation and far more for what she’d endured. Maybe someday women would have recourse in similar situations, but current laws favored men. Eden knew full well Mama was fortunate to have any agreement at all. That she did revealed just how greatly Walter Andrews had wronged her and feared his actions exposed.
“You recklessly tossed propriety aside and stayed the night at a man’s house, Eglantina.”
Simon’s harsh accusation brought her crashing back to the present.
She’d inadvertently provided him the excuse he’d been seeking to put her out, she realized with a start. Not only had she acted impulsively, she’d disregarded the clause in the agreement that stipulated she and Mama must not do anything that drew attention or notice.
Simon even objected to them attending Sunday services. If he had his way, they’d never leave Briar Knoll Cottage.
“You’ve brought this upon yourself. I cannot have my sons associating with a woman of questionable virtue. You are forbidden to see them anymore.”
His words, sharp as thorns, elicited a wince and lanced straight to her heart.
Not his name-calling.
Simon and Candace had said worse to Eden over the years. But to deprive her of Timothy and Prentice’s precious company was truly painful to accept. The only affection the darlings received came from Eden and Mama. How could Simon punish his son’s just to spite Eden?
The curtains shifted, revealing her mother’s pale, anxious face in the window.
The raised voices had alerted her, no doubt.
Each time Simon called, Mama experienced a setback that put her in bed for a week. Her frail constitution and weak heart couldn’t withstand any more shocks.
Squaring her shoulders, Eden notched her chin higher yet.
“I have done nothing wrong, Simon, and my conscious is clear. Now I must ask you to leave. You’re upsetting Mama.” She almost dared to say her nephews were welcome anytime, but feared he’d take a strap to them. “It would be best if you refrained from coming here in the future. Should you need to speak to me, send a missive and I shall come to Gablecrest.”
Silence and a calculating look greeted her request.
A hen squawked, followed by a rooster’s crow. Yet her brother remained silent, an enigmatic expression pulling the corners of his mouth downward. If he weren’t such a petulant pout all the time, he’d be a handsome man.
“You heard her, Andrews. Be on your way, and unless you wish to earn more of my ill-favor, leave her and her mother alone.”
Eden couldn’t prevent the grateful glance she sent his lordship or the miniscule upward tip of her mouth. It was rather wonderful to have someone speak on her behalf for a change. She’d been the advocate for the household since returning home from school, and truth to tell, few people listened to her, a woman with no champion, let alone supported her.
Simon and Candace least of all.
“I remind you, Sterling, you have no say regarding either of them. Why are you even here?”
“None of your business.”
Simon straightened his gaudy waistcoat, then fussed with his jacket lapel.
“But I do wonder what transpired betwixt the two of you that you presume such boldness and familiarity on such a short acquaintance?” Simon said while assuring his neckcloth was yet stiff enough to hold a fully ripe pumpkin.
