Her Brooding Duke (The Worthington Legacy #7)

Chapter Four

“W hat are you to make of this, Mother?”

Trevor paced the length of his study, his footsteps echoing in the stillness as his mother sat on the edge of the couch, absentmindedly fingering the pearls around her neck. He had just finished recounting the horrific details of the accident and, more troubling still, the girl’s complete memory loss. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on him, far more than he had anticipated. Never before had he been faced with such a dilemma. He hadn’t slept at all the previous night, turning over countless scenarios in his mind, each more uncertain than the last.

What was he supposed to do now? If Miss Louisa wasn’t a respectable woman—and how could he know, given her amnesia—he could hardly justify keeping her in his house. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to cast her out either. It was, after all, his carriage accident that had nearly claimed her life, and now, because of him, she wandered through a haze of forgotten memories. The thought of abandoning her to fend for herself, with no recollection of who she was or where she belonged, felt unconscionable. But allowing her to stay? It risked scandal.

He glanced at his mother, hoping for some wisdom or clarity, but all she did was offer a thoughtful hum, her eyes distant. He knew no easy answer existed. The question loomed over him, growing heavier with each passing hour—what kind of man would he be if he turned his back on her now?

“Oh, dear.” The dowager tsked and shook her head. “I must say, Trevor, this is upsetting news. I think what we need to do is discover who amongst the ton has lost a daughter.” She fluttered her hand against her throat. “Although, I think that might be hard to do since you don’t know if this girl is of Quality or not.”

Blowing out a frustrated sigh, he dug his fingers in his hair. “Oh, Mother, I highly doubt she is of noble birth. You should have seen her. The dress she wore was small, like a young girl’s, and tattered badly. The oversized coat she wore was a man’s garment, and very old with several missing buttons. Her hair looked as if she had not washed it for quite a while.”

His mother’s face turned white as she grimaced. “How utterly disgraceful.”

“She speaks as though she has some education, but I don’t believe she is of Quality.”

“Oh, Trevor. I don’t know how we will find the girl’s parents then, assuming she has any.”

He nodded. “That is my concern as well.”

“What are you going to do with her once she heals?”

He stopped pacing in front of a window overlooking the land sloping over the hillside. The sun shone over the green grass, and highlighted the flowers by the fence. “I’m responsible for the accident, and if she does not regain her memory, I shall have no other choice but to offer her employment here.”

Gasping, his mother stood and rushed to his side. She clutched his arm. “You cannot be serious. You do not know where she’s been or what she’s done. She could steal from you.”

Over his shoulder, he met his mother’s stare. “What would you have me do? Send her out on the streets to care for herself? If this was what she had been doing, it’s obvious she failed miserably.” He shook his head. “If anything, having her work here will give her experience so she can find employment elsewhere. If she steals from me, I shall handle it the way I would with any of my other servants.”

A small smile touched his mother’s worried face as she caressed his cheek. “You are a very caring man, my dear, and I’m proud that my son has a big heart.”

Rolling his eyes, he turned away from her and peered outside again. Out in the yard, flocks of birds flitted from one tree to another as in a rhythmic dance. His mother didn’t know what she was talking about—him having a big heart. “I appreciate your sentiments, Mother, but I assure you, I do not deserve them.”

She took a step back. “Would you like me to go see the girl and talk to her?”

He shrugged. “I do not think it will do any harm. I’m certain she would enjoy the company.” He strode toward the door. “Come, I shall take you to her room.”

“After my visit with the girl, I hope you don’t mind if I take a peek at my precious grandchildren. I have not seen the twins in a fortnight.”

“Do as you wish, Mother. I’m certain they will love to see their grandmamma.”

He clenched his jaw as he marched into the hallway and toward the stairs, balling his hands into fists at his sides. He dared not tell his mother he doubted he had sired the twins. His mother had thought the sun rose and set on Gwendolyn, and he didn’t have the heart to give his mother such disturbing information that his wife was not the pure, sweet woman she’d led everyone to believe.

When he reached Miss Louisa’s room, the door stood open. Mrs. Smythe chatted with the stranger as if they were the best of friends. Louisa didn’t notice him, so he was able to study her for a few moments. Color bloomed in her cheeks today. Her blonde hair held a healthy shine and even had a slight curl to it. The white nightdress emphasized her slender figure, and it bothered him to see her looking so gaunt. The housekeeper said something and Louisa laughed, which brought a smile to his face. At the same time, he realized there was a sad quality to the tone of her laugh. Indeed, this woman’s past would remain a mystery to him until her memory returned. A strange emotion stirred within him, and it pierced his heart.

Finally, her gaze shifted to him and she smiled brightly, sitting up in bed a little straighter. “Your Grace. What a surprise it is to see you.”

He nodded and strode into the room. “Miss Louisa, may I present my mother, the Dowager Duchess of Kenbridge.”

His mother stepped inside and walked straight to Louisa’s bed. The young woman’s eyes grew wide as she gazed upon his mother.

“A pleasure it is to meet you, Your Grace.” Louisa bowed her head and lowered her eyes. “Forgive me for not getting out of bed, but I’m still quite weak.”

“That is to be expected, my dear. My son told me about the terrible accident. May I say how relieved I am to hear you are doing better?”

Louisa met his mother’s gaze and smiled. “Thank you, Your Grace. I do feel better today, although my body still aches.”

“I’m certain you will feel that way for a few more days.”

“Indeed.”

Trevor found it hard to keep from watching Louisa. Even weak and thin, she was quite a lovely woman. It surprised him that he’d once mistaken her for being a mere girl. Her eyes twinkled—a remarkable green color—whenever she looked at him, and he worried about her actions. She didn’t have a memory, so would she look to him as a hero even if he was the one responsible for her accident in the first place? He couldn’t allow her to peer at him with such admiration. Having her thinking of him in that way wasn’t a good thing, but for some reason he didn’t want to discourage her just yet. It’d been a long time since a woman gazed at him as if she were utterly infatuated. He shouldn’t, but he quite enjoyed it.

His mother squared her shoulders and turned his way. “My dear son, your servants should be commended. Miss Louisa looks quite well for someone who nearly lost her life.”

He smiled and gave his housekeeper a nod. “Mrs. Smythe has been a godsend.”

The older servant giggled as her face lit up like a beacon. “Your praise is most heartwarming.”

Trevor stepped closer to Louisa. He couldn’t stop his attention from roaming over her wide green eyes, pert nose, and delicate lips. Once more a twinkle sparked in her orbs before she lowered them to her folded hands on her lap. Long, thick eyelashes swept her cheeks before she lifted her gaze and met his.

“Tell me, Miss Louisa, have you remembered anything about your life?”

She frowned. “No, Your Grace. I fear my mind is still closed to the past.”

Unease filled him when a thought nagged at his subconscious. Could this woman be lying to him? What if she did this as a means of staying in his house and being cared for? After all, most of the women he’d known in his life—save for his mother—had deceived him. Surely, he would have to keep a close watch over this one.

He swept his attention over the slender column of her neck. “I’m certain your memory will return with time.”

When he met her sparkling eyes, he couldn’t turn away. They entrapped him, lured him, and if he looked deeper, he’d see into her soul. What kind of past did she have? Did she hold secrets? He suspected she had a few since his housekeeper informed him about the girl’s scars. If she lied to him about her memory, could he blame her? She would definitely not want to return to her former life. Being whipped was certainly not a life at all, and he couldn’t allow her to go back to such circumstances. In just the few times he’d spoken with her, he’d been besieged with an overwhelming need to protect her.

Confused by the compassion trying to surface inside him, he pulled away and smiled at his mother. “Well, I believe we should allow Miss Louisa to rest now. Don’t you agree?”

“Certainly, my dear.”

Louisa nodded. “Thank you for coming to see to my welfare, Your Grace, and it is a pleasure to meet your mother as well.”

Both he and his mother left the room and he closed the door behind him. When they were far enough down the hallway, his mother turned and grasped his arm, stopping him.

“Trevor, I think I may know her, or her family.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Indeed? Why would you think you know her? She’s clearly not from our class.”

“Clearly, but she resembles the Earl of Danvers’s wife quite a bit. I took tea with Lady Danvers and the future Lady Wellesley the other day with a few other ladies, and Louisa’s big green eyes are just like Lady Danvers’s. Eyes like that are hard to ignore.”

Trevor folded his arms as he tapped a finger on his forearm. “Danvers, you say. I don’t believe they have a daughter.”

“No, I don’t recall them ever mentioning one, but there’s an uncanny resemblance between Louisa and Lady Danvers. Are you not friends with Lord Danvers’s nephew, Wellesley?”

“We were briefly introduced a few years ago, but I wouldn’t say we were close.” He squeezed his mother’s hand. “Do not fret. I’m quite certain if Louisa is of any relation, we shall hear about her disappearance soon.”

“As always, you are correct.” She sighed heavily. “It’s just devastating to think that her family could be out there somewhere praying for her safe return. I know I prayed day after day for word about your brother, Tristan, when we thought he had died. Because his body was never found, I hoped that perhaps he lived and was lost somewhere.”

Trevor’s heart clenched, remembering the tragedy of his brother’s death, only to discover two years later he was alive and had lost his memory. “Yes, that was a joyful day when Trey brought him home alive. I wish the same fate for Louisa, but Mother, please don’t think she will be as fortunate. Those scars on her back tell me her life has not been good. She may not have a loving family to return home to as Tristan did.”

Tears gathered in his mother’s eyes. “I have been kept in a sheltered world, I suppose, and it’s hard for me to image anything so disturbing.”

“It is hard. All I’m saying is don’t mention anything to Lady Danvers or her nephew. Don’t even speak a word of this to your friends. Miss Louisa may become a servant in my home eventually and I would hate to have gossip going around about her.”

His mother lifted her hand to her throat, toying with her pearls again. “You really intend to make Louisa a servant here?”

He nodded. “Don’t you agree it will be a better life than what she may have come from?”

“Of course it would be a better life. I just worry about you and the twins and I would hate to see anything bad come out of all this.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You are such a thoughtful man.” She pulled away but hooked her hand around his arm. “Now, take me to see my beautiful grandchildren.”

“As you wish.” He gritted his teeth as he walked with his mother toward the nursery. It had been a few days since he’d seen the twins himself, and he geared for the heartache that would slam through his chest when he looked upon them.

Until he discovered their true parentage, which might never be possible, he held his emotions inside. The twins were only two years old, and it would be easy to love them with all of his heart. But he refused to give them his love until he knew the truth. Their mother had broken his heart, and he feared any more damage might do him in for good.

He tried to focus on his mother’s chatter about her other grandson—Trey and his wife, Judith’s first child. A boy that looked exactly like Trey—poor lad. Trevor hoped his nephew would inherit Judith’s sweet nature instead of Trey’s stubbornness. Trevor loved his brother, and thanked the Lord his brother had changed for Judith, but Trevor still felt his nephew would do better in life if he took after his mother.

They reached the nursery and his mother opened the door and walked in. Trevor forced himself to move behind her. Mrs. Jacobs sat in a chair reading a book. Amanda lay, tummy side down beside her on the floor, concentrating on her small wooden farm animals. Adam sat next to his sister playing with blocks. When the little girl’s head bounced up to meet her grandmother’s, Amanda’s cherubic face bloomed with color. She jumped to her feet and squealed, throwing her arms out. Adam smiled wide and ran into Trevor’s mother’s embrace.

“Oh, look at how much you two have grown.” His mother picked them both up in her arms and kissed their chubby cheeks. “Grandmamma has missed you terribly.”

Mrs. Jacobs set her book down, stood and bowed. “Your Grace. What a pleasure it is to see you again.”

His mother set the twins down and took each of their hands. “So, what have my wonderful grandchildren learned today?”

As Mrs. Jacobs told his mother about the twins’ accomplishments, Amanda snuck a peek at Trevor around her grandmamma’s skirt. Big, wondrous eyes, so much like Gwen’s. In fact, Amanda looked a lot like her mother. Both children did. If only they’d have a hint of Worthington show through, Trevor would give his twins the world on a silver platter. As it was, Amanda peered at him as if she would cry at any minute. Another piece of his heart broke again—just like what always happened when he came into the nursery.

He tried to give her a pleasant smile as he nodded. She quickly buried her face in his mother’s dress. As much as he wanted Amanda and Adam to be his blood, he didn’t dare hope.

Betrayal mixed with overwhelming guilt began to suffocate him, and he knew he needed to escape. “If you will excuse me,” he interrupted the two women. “I have business matters to attend.”

“Of course, my dear.” His mother smiled warmly as she stroked each child’s head. “My grandchildren and I will spend some time together.”

He gave a small bow before turning and leaving the room. Pain speared his heart, bringing back the same ache he’d experienced when he first discovered Gwen with another man. Trevor had longed for a child to call his own, and his wife snatched that from him by sharing herself with others. Was it any wonder he stayed away from the nursery? The suffering was too great to bear.

Hurrying to his study, he cursed his weakness and vowed to harden his heart once more.