Chapter 4
As his carriage travelled the lengthy road to London, Edward Pryce, Earl of Marsdale, considered his view.
The dreary winter landscape was infinitely vast, unhindered by the lush vegetation that would add bright shades of color when spring arrived.
For the moment, it looked as he imagined his heart and soul did.
Utterly miserable.
Sleep would help the time pass faster. But of course, the moment he closed his eyes, he saw her.
Miss Melody Roberts. The woman whose acquaintance he wanted to nourish, however unwise.
If he pursued her in earnest, he would incite a scandal.
The gossip rags would explode with the news, both his and Miss Roberts’s reputations called into question.
Because a match between a laundress’s illegitimate daughter and an earl should by all accounts be impossible. It would certainly be unacceptable. There was a chance he’d lose his good standing within Society. An occurrence that could affect anyone close to him too.
But what was the alternative?
To tie himself to a titled lady for no other reason than he could not have the wife of his choosing.
He snorted under his breath. How ridiculous was it to be a man of means, to have as much wealth and influence as he possessed, yet be forced to settle when it came to the most important decision he’d ever make?
At least Mama had offered support, though he knew it was only because she wished him happy.
He’d been anything but for the last ten months since Evelyne Croft was murdered.
Lord help him, he’d loved her with all his heart — had dreamed of a future with her by his side — but had waited too long to tell her.
Had he only announced his intentions and asked for her hand, she might still be alive. Instead, she’d been wrongfully targeted by a killer intent on ridding the world of unvirtuous women. Her death would forever weigh on his conscience. The memory of her had filled him with endless sorrow.
He’d not been able to find a way past it until he’d met Miss Roberts.
Her sweet consideration and kindness had given him hope.
She’d made him believe that he could find love again in the future.
More importantly, she’d made him realize that doing so was something he craved with every beat of his fractured heart.
For if he was brave enough to embrace such tender emotions, he knew now with certainty that he would heal.
What he would not do was let the world rob him of this chance.
Though it might already be too late thanks to his meddlesome godmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Heathbrooke.
She’d whisked Miss Roberts away to Italy months ago in order to force an end to the tendre that was emerging between himself and her lovely companion.
As such, there was a chance the budding feeling would be snuffed out completely by the time Miss Roberts returned. Edward prayed this would not be the case for he honestly could not see himself making an attempt at marriage with anyone else. The notion was too disheartening and exhausting.
* * *
It was nearly six o’clock in the evening by the time the carriage turned onto Wyndham Place. Although Edward had been planning to go straight to his townhouse, he knocked on the roof to alert his driver when they passed through Portman Square.
Knowing exactly where he wished to go, the driver pulled up in front of Number 5.
Edward had heard from his close friend Adrian no less than a week before when a letter arrived to inform him that Adrian was returning to London.
He’d added that Edward was welcome to call anytime once he got back to the city.
They’d not seen each other since September, despite Adrian’s inviting him to visit Deerhaven Park. This winter had been especially cold, however. The roads had not been easy to travel and with their estates a good eight-hour drive apart, Edward had not wished to risk it.
Besides, he’d had plenty to see to at Longmeadow Hall.
Reviewing the ledgers had taken over two weeks.
Repairs had been required. Plans needed to be made with his estate manager for when Edward was absent during the coming Season.
Looking back, he’d not been able to spare a week away visiting friends.
He pushed the blanket off his lap, opened the carriage door, and stepped down onto the pavement. The frosty air hit him first. It nipped at his cheeks and chewed through his clothes. A familiar London smell of smoke mixed with manure filled his nostrils.
Eager to get indoors, Edward climbed the steps leading to the front door and knocked. It didn’t take long before it swung open.
Adrian’s butler, Elks, allowed the beginnings of a rare smile to tug at his lips. “Lord Marsdale. What an unexpected surprise.”
“I can come back tomorrow if now is an inconvenience.”
“Goodness, no. Mr. Croft would be most displeased if he learned I’d sent you away.
Please do come in.” Elks closed the door behind Edward, then helped him off with his outerwear before showing him through to the parlor.
“Help yourself to whatever you wish while I let Mr. Croft know you’re here. I’m sure he’ll join you soon.”
Edward thanked Elks and crossed to the sideboard where he proceeded to fill two snifters. Before he was able to take a seat, the door opened, admitting Adrian.
A lopsided smile tugged at his friend’s lips. “Edward. What a welcome surprise. I wasn’t aware you’d returned to Town.”
“I just arrived and was on my way home when I thought to stop here first.” Edward offered Adrian one of the glasses, then shook his hand before taking a sip of his drink. “It’s been too long. According to the letters you sent, a lot has occurred. Congratulations once more on the pregnancy.”
“Thank you.” Adrian gestured for him to claim one of the two armchairs and the men sat. “Samantha and I are both excited and terrified. I’m in a constant state of worry.”
Understandably so, Edward reflected, aware that Adrian’s mother had died in childbirth. He refrained from bringing that up and chose instead to say, “I believe that’s natural, but at least you’re more settled now than you were last year when… What? Why are you frowning?”
Adrian raked his hair with his fingers, his lips now flat and his eyebrows dipping. “You know the essence of what we faced while helping Kendrick figure out who was killing servants, but there was a great deal more. Too much to explain in a letter.”
“Tell me,” Edward encouraged.
His friend took a quick sip of his drink, then launched into the kind of tale that made his blood run cold.
Adrian and Samantha had fought for their lives against that doctor and nurse who’d been drugging patients in a dangerous trial and error experiment.
Murry had nearly died. Meanwhile, the son of an Irishman seeking revenge against the Croft family now posed a new threat.
This was the reason for Adrian’s return—Finn O’Leary’s direct attack on one of Adrian’s sources of income.
Edward stared at him for a long moment after he finished talking before voicing the only thought that filled his head. “You cannot let this O’Leary scoundrel tempt you into doing something you shouldn’t.”
Adrian’s answering snort made Edward worry it might be too late for such advice.
Though his friend would never tell him outright that he’d broken the law, Edward knew he’d been involved in illegal dealings in the past. The whispers about the blackmail files kept by his father and the way that man had treated Adrian’s mother was an indication of what the Croft name stood for.
And then there was Clive Newton’s death and the publicly held belief that it had not been self-murder but rather an act of vengeance for killing Adrian’s sister. Enacted by Adrian himself.
There were other indications, too, in the form of occasional comments, but no direct admission of guilt was ever made.
Edward preferred it that way. The lack of evidence stopped him from having to break ties due to moral conflict.
As it was, Edward had crossed the line once by aiding Adrian’s escape from prison.
An act he convinced himself was justified because of how obviously corrupt the judicial process had been.
It soothed his conscience that the prime minister himself had since provided Adrian with a pardon. Now, Edward worried Adrian might do something rash and break the terms of it.
With this in mind, he pressed, “Tell Kendrick about O’Leary and let him deal with him.”
Adrian shook his head. “I’ve directed him to the crates so he can seize them. Beyond that, he’s in no position to help me with this.”
“He’s helped you before.”
“With bringing murderous scoundrels to justice and fighting corruption.” Adrian’s expression was tight. “O’Leary hasn’t proven himself a big enough menace yet.”
“He threatened your wife and stole from you.” Edward blinked in response to Adrian’s silence as realization struck his stomach with a thud. “I’m guessing both incidents involve information you’d rather not share with Bow Street.”
“I need to ensure my family’s safety. That’s why I’m here.”
“Please don’t do anything rash.” When Adrian merely drank some more brandy Edward said, “You won’t be much good to your family if you end up facing another trial.”
“Rest assured, Edward, I plan to avoid getting arrested.” He tilted his head, then asked, “Any news from Miss Roberts?”
The fact that Adrian, who’d warned Edward away from the lady, would bring her up suggested she was being used as a means of distraction.
Edward considered ignoring the bait but eventually decided against further attempts at persuading Adrian to walk away from O’Leary.
He’d already said his piece. If Adrian didn’t want to listen, then that was his business.
He shook his head. “The only information I received about her was from Lady Heathbrooke when she announced their departure. That was at the end of September. I’ve had no letter since.”
“I’m sorry to hear it.”
“Truly?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Edward rolled his eyes. “Because you’re against my associating with her.”
“As much as I appreciate your high opinion of me, Edward, I do not make the rules. I merely pointed them out to you so you wouldn’t be hurt when it became clear to you that a match between you and Miss Roberts would be impossible.”
“My mother disagrees,” Edward said, his temper rising as it had done the last time he and Adrian discussed this subject. “Why can’t you be equally supportive?”
“If what you say is true,” Adrian said, his words measured, “then I must tell you that I don’t believe your mother is being realistic about this.”
Heat swept the length of Edward’s spine, settling at the base of his skull.
“My mother cares about my happiness and insists our family will survive any scandal my attachment with Miss Roberts may lead to. She is encouraging me to fight for what I want, Adrian. And in light of your own successful union with Samantha, along with the fact that you are a man intent on smashing all obstacles in his path, I don’t comprehend your lack of support. ”
“You and I aren’t cut from the same cloth, Edward.
I can weather storms that would crush you, mostly because I don’t care what others might think.
But you do. Being cut by your peers, having them sneer at Miss Roberts because you chose to make her your bride, would pain you.
For now, as Lady Heathbrooke’s companion, she is accepted, but as a countess?
” He gave an incredulous laugh. “She’ll be ostracized, Edward, made miserable as a result.
You too, I wager. It won’t be easy for you to watch her suffer. ”
Edward stared at Adrian. It took a great deal of restraint not to lash out at his words. Each was a cutting blow to the hope Edward had woven these past few months. His pulse tripped with unsteady beats, his skin pricking as anger vibrated through him.
Grappling for rational thought, he made himself ask, “Is this because of Evie?”
“Of course not. I’ve already told you it’s time for you to move on.”
“And yet, you refuse to accept the woman I’m interested in.” While Adrian’s argument sounded reasonable, it didn’t make as much sense as it might have, had it been spoken by somebody else. Coming from Adrian, however, it made Edward wonder. “Is there anything you’re not telling me?”
“What?” Adrian seemed taken aback by the question.
“Samantha grew up with Miss Roberts. Has she confided information that might further darken Miss Roberts’s past?”
“Of course not.” The firm statement sounded plausible. “Had she done so, I’d have let you know.”
There was nothing else then. Just the concern that the match would lack Society’s approval. It wasn’t enough. In fact, Adrian’s argument seemed increasingly weak.
For the sake of their friendship, Edward decided to make one final attempt at gaining his approval. “I risked criminal charges to save you from public execution. If what I ask in return is for you to give me and Miss Roberts your stamp of approval, will you do so?”
Adrian froze, his lips slightly parted in visible shock. Edward’s voice had been calm, his words measured, yet sharp enough to convey how tight the leash was on his rising emotions.
“Edward…” Pain shone in Adrian’s eyes.
“Yes or no, Adrian?”
He swallowed, his mouth flattening as he gave an answering nod. “Of course. I owe you my life, so if this is what you want in return, then you shall have it.”
Relief washed through Edward with such force a rough sigh was pushed from his lungs.
“Thank you. It bears mentioning that I don’t know what will happen when Miss Roberts returns, but it eases my mind to know that you’re in my corner.
As long as that’s true, I believe she and I can weather whatever else may come our way. ”
Adrian’s frown suggested he might disagree, but rather than repeat his concerns, he said, “The road you’re choosing to walk with her won’t be easy, but if you love her, then I do believe the obstacles you’ll face can be overcome.”
Rather than comment, Edward raised his glass and clinked it against Adrian’s before downing a mouthful of brandy.
It was much too soon to consider love in connection with Miss Roberts.
Did he like her? Without question. Was he attracted to her?
Absolutely. But love required time to flourish.
It didn’t evolve from a few brief encounters but rather from a series of shared experiences, both good and bad.
What he had determined, however, was that he enjoyed her company well enough and found her enticing enough for love to gradually grow between them. For while she could never take Evie’s place, he believed Miss Roberts could make him happy. And it was this more than anything else that drove him.