Chapter Twenty-Three #2
Navan studied the myriad of emotions crossing her features. It took her more than a moment to understand completely what he had confided in her.
“They anticipated their vows?” she asked.
“Though it is possible to have been only once, it is more likely they enjoyed each other’s charms on multiple occasions,” he said.
“Your parents married, for they were expecting a child.
Your father thought Lord Jonathan Dutton would support them, for if their child proved to be a boy, that child would be the heir presumptive to the earldom.
The eldest son, Lawrence, had not yet married, and, ironically, he died of a heart attack shortly after his succession as the 10th earl.
The second son Richard died in a duel on the Continent, and the third son was thrown from his horse and died.
Your father was correct in his assumption, but no one could have predicted his success when his three older brothers had failed.
“Lord Jonathon Dutton did not turn your father out, for the 9th earl would never have abandoned a possible heir completely. His lordship presented your father with a large farm to sustain him in case he was to be called to serve the earldom. Unfortunately, the Honorable Robert Dutton had no skills to survive on the land, proving what his father thought all along—being able to produce an heir did not make Robert worthy of being the future earl. As Alexander has told you, your father meant to prove his father in error. His greatest achievement was surviving long enough to make Alexander the 12th Earl Marksman. Your brother is often a selfish arse, but he has proven to be the best of the Duttons.” He held up his hand to prevent her initial comment.
“Actually, I married the best of the Duttons. Your brother is still second best.”
She smiled with a bit of sadness in her expression.
“I am truly grieved by all that happened to both of my parents and Alexander. Your confession puts much into perspective. I shall never expose the truth to Alexander, for I do not believe him of the nature to tolerate the idea of being conceived out of wedlock.” She sighed heavily.
“We should go in. They will wonder why we are still in the carriage.”
“I will simply tell them I am resistant to sharing my bride with anyone, even family,” he claimed.
She observed, “My mother loved Robert Dutton enough to stay with him even as their lives became smaller and smaller and filled with no hope. He harmed her dearly by sending her away. Yet, like her, I would stay with you no matter the circumstances,” she said in such honesty that it shook Navan to his core.
If his wife had any idea how deeply her simplest statements of devotion affected him, she would know great embarrassment. Yet, he cherished her innocent goodness deep in his heart.
“Let us go inside, my love,” he instructed. “Tomorrow, we will call upon the Smithfields. The Beauforts are gathering their rag, tag, and bobtail family. We will soon be the most diverse and interesting people in all of the ton.”
“My boy!” Duncan declared as he caught Navan up in a manly embrace. “You have been sorely missed over the last few months.”
“I was in Ireland with my grandmother, who is quite ill,” Navan explained. It was the tale he and Annalise agreed to repeat to one and all.
Duncan did not comment, which meant he had already learned some of Navan’s business in Ireland.
Navan could not imagine that Lord Macdonald Duncan would deny either Alexander’s or Theodora’s request to learn if Navan had married Annalise properly.
Instead, Duncan turned to Annalise and also embraced her.
“You are doubly welcome in my home, my lady.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said meekly, which meant she was dreading facing Alexander.
“Come in,” Duncan instructed. His lordship led the way into the interior rooms, while Navan caught Annalise’s hand and placed it on his arm to support her. He leaned his head to the side and whispered, “My money says Alexander and Theodora are already waiting for us in the sitting room.”
She nodded her head in gratitude for the warning, just as Lord Duncan stepped aside to reveal Beaufort’s prediction to be accurate. Her brother immediately caught Annalise up into his embrace. “I was very worried for you.”
“There was no need to worry,” Annalise said in competent tones. “Your brothers saw to my safety in your absence, and Mr. Rheem proved quite efficient as always.”
“And, of course, Annalise’s quick thinking had her jumping from a moving carriage. You were not required, my lord, as I am confident Duncan has told you several times,” Navan added in a taunt.
Alexander grimaced in frustration, but he ignored Beaufort’s insinuation. “And you married?” he asked his sister.
“Absolutely not!” Beaufort swore in a mocking tone. “We have been living in sin for the last two months!”
When Marksman’s hands fisted at his side and Duncan protested regarding Navan’s purposeful teasing of Alexander, Navan relented. “It all happened quickly. I told you at the Belewards’ ball that I intended to court Lady Annalise in the spring. My mind was well set even then.”
“As was mine,” Annalise said bravely.
“I could not in good conscience leave her alone in London where she was in danger, while I was away in Ireland. I had no time to deliver your sister to you, for I was desperately required at Klare Fields. My grandmother is very ill, and her estate, which I hope will one day belong to one of my minor sons, has been left, with my uncle’s demise, in great disrepair.
Days, not weeks, were the difference in the estate’s survival. ”
“Did you hire Mr. Liam?” Duncan asked as a means of verifying Navan’s tale, though it should not be required. His word should be his bond, and so it was except with an irrational Alexander Dutton.
“I did. Mr. Liam’s new wife will start a school for the tenant children and assist Mrs. Felix with my grandmother’s care. Lady Klare is losing her memories.”
“I am grieved to hear this news, Navan,” Duncan said in sympathetic tones, as tears misted Navan’s eyes. He did not know how he would have survived his grandmother’s demise without Annalise at his side. “Losing one’s memories is a terribly slow means to death.”
Navan found himself biting his lip to keep the tears at bay, but Annalise quietly claimed his hand and stood close to his side to say, “Beaufort has many who depend upon him and difficult decisions to make. We do not wish to lose any of you from our lives, but my husband must first and foremost worry for those in Ireland who depend upon him.”
The following afternoon, they were received at Smithfield House in Mayfair. “Lord and Lady Beaufort,” the Smithfields’ butler announced to a room full of eager expressions.
Annalise held tightly to Beaufort’s arm as every eye in the room turned to her. “Breathe,” her husband whispered, and she swallowed the fear rushing to her throat.
An elderly woman rose and came forward to greet her with outstretched hands. Beaufort bowed and placed the hand he held into the woman’s open palm. He noted how quickly Lady Smithfield’s fingers closed over Annalise’s. Instinctively, Annalise’s other hand claimed the woman’s remaining one.
“Oh, my dear, you are the spit and image of your mother, is she not, Smithfield?” The woman continued to hold Annalise’s hands. Annalise had a cameo of her mother and knew she favored Madelyn Dutton’s profile, but she obviously possessed some features not part of the Smithfield family.
“She assuredly favors my sister,” the one known as Smithfield said as he shook Beaufort’s hand in welcome. “Thank you for bringing our girl back to us.”
Beaufort smiled. “I do not think my lady slept even one wink last night.”
Lord Smithfield bowed to Annalise. “I am your Uncle Charles. Your mother was my sister.”
Another man on the other side of the room also bowed. “And I am your Uncle Andrew. I am a few years younger than would have been your mother. This is my wife, Evelyn.”
“And I am Lady Hilda Smithfield, his lordship’s wife.”
Her grandmother said, “We will not overwhelm you with too many names right away, though the children wish to claim your acquaintance soon. Come sit beside me.”
Annalise looked to Beaufort, not for permission, but rather to know confidence he was not neglected. “You come also, my lord. I wish us to find family together.”
“I will not be far removed, my lady,” he declared.
“I adored your kindness in sending me the book about the mouse,” her grandmother said with a large smile. “I have been sharing it with the younger children.”
“I am very glad,” Annalise claimed. “I wish I still owned the copy you gave to my mother.”
Lord Smithfield said, “There was so much anger between my father and your Dutton grandfather at the time. Your brother and I inherited a feud not of our making.”
“Yes, Marksman said his initial overtures were refused,” Annalise shared.
“No one would listen to me,” the dowager viscountess said. “I knew the moment our Madelyn and Robert Dutton met that they thought only of each other.” Annalise easily recalled what Navan had shared with her, but she made no comment on her ladyship’s assertion.
Lord Smithfield said, “I wonder, Beaufort, if you would agree to speak to both me and Andrew about your use of a four-crop rotation and some of the other innovations you have implemented at Shaw Manor. I believe we could learn a great deal from you, especially as you are able to know success in both England and Ireland. What methods are transferable and so forth?”
“And I wish Annalise to share what she recalls of my daughter,” Lady Smithfield said. “I realize it is not all pleasant, for Marksman has spoken of what he recalled with his father.”
Annalise looked to Beaufort for guidance in how to respond. He said, “Lady Beaufort was still quite young when she and her mother were sent off with Captain Lisey. Her memories vary greatly from Marksman who was with Robert Dutton until the man took his last breath.”
Annalise followed his lead. “I am able to recall some of the games we played on Lisey’s ship and such, as well as what we encountered in Honduras,” Annalise clarified, “but the man we now know as Jacob Moran took me away after my mother’s death.
I was supposed to become a maid in the household of a Jewish citizen of Great Britain.
Moran was not always kind to me, but he did save my life.
” She reached for her grandmother’s hand.
“If you do not mind, I would know great shame to disappoint you, but, please understand, I do not plan to be farther away than one of Beaufort’s households.
Could we not simply converse on everyday things and share memories as they make themselves known?
For example, I brought a pendant with me that belonged to my mother and includes an image of her silhouette.
” She fished the necklace out of her reticule. “Do you recall this one?”
Her grandmother accepted the pendant to study it. “It was made for her eighteenth naming day,” Lady Smithfield claimed. “There is a very good portrait of Madelyn that was made about the same time on display in the main house.”
“I would love to view it sometime so my memories do not disappear,” Annalise said with a nod to her husband.
“Beaufort and I spent several months enjoying tea and cakes and talking our way through our histories and making memories. In truth, what I recall of the last days of my mother’s life fall into two extended moments.
There are those of our private time, such as the moment we discovered our first shark in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the difference in the Southern stars as opposed to those we view at night here in England.
Beaufort and I had a long discussion on that particular subject, for his lordship also had not viewed what I had.
Then there are those moments when she was treated poorly by both Captain Lisey and the bayman.
It would do neither of us well to revisit those memories, and Miss Madelyn Smithfield would not wish it upon us.
She spoke of you often, my lady, and she loved you as dearly as you loved her. ”
Her grandmother remained quiet for a long pause before she said, “I suppose I had hoped life was easier for Madelyn once Robert Dutton sent her away, but I can see it was not pleasant, at least, for part of her time. I do not require to know more of her misery, but I would welcome any tales you have of moments she was happy.”
Beaufort nodded his approval, and Annalise breathed easier.
“Tell her ladyship of the food you and your mother shared aboard ship or what you recall of riding on Alexander’s shoulders and ordering everyone from your way.
Speak to her of the places in the Americas you and your mother viewed.
I believe her ladyship will easily recognize your precociousness and see some of her daughter in you.
You might also speak of learning of your real identity from Marksman and how you held him at bay with a sword.
If you start with those memories, others will easily follow. ”
“Perhaps I should begin with how you saved my life and courted me without my knowing your intent,” Annalise countered with a smile.
She had been blessed when God had brought Navan Beaufort into her life.
Though their time together had been but a matter of months, she knew beyond a doubt that fate had placed them in each other’s paths when they were most frightened by the prospects of the future.
Lady Smithfield smiled easily. “I am able to view your affection for each other written upon your faces. Let us start with what you think is important for me to know of my daughter. Everything else will follow.”