Chapter Twenty
Freya had again made her tearful farewells to all her new friends, even the new Lady Thompson, who glowed from love and happiness.
Lady Victoria had left the dower house to return to her guests.
The others teased her about the constant smile on Her Ladyship’s face, but, after spending the night in Lord Graham’s arms, Freya knew only jealousy, for she would be left behind by the others.
“Where is Graham?” Lord Marksman asked, and Freya had wondered the same. Would he send her back to London without a proper farewell? He had sneaked from her quarters without a word of parting. Was he acting the role of coward again?
Lord Duncan responded, “Graham went out early to survey the route, looking for anything of note.”
At least, he is doing what he can, Freya thought, but I would have preferred a proper farewell.
He could have done so before slipping back to his quarters.
I imagine he worries more for Lord Duncan than he does for me.
He would not be the first man of his station in life to dally with a woman’s affections, but I do not want…
Her thoughts were interrupted by Mr. Hartley saying, “We should be on our way.”
“Naturally,” Lord Duncan responded and offered Freya his arm.
Mr. Hartley had hustled ahead to open the coach’s door and to support her on the steps.
Freya nodded her gratitude to the man and climbed inside to sit on the forward-facing seat.
Lord Duncan followed her in and sat across from her.
The door closed, but Mr. Hartley did not join them.
“I thought…” she began, but Lord Duncan interrupted her protest.
“I promised Graham that you and I would have a private conversation before we reached London, and I see no reason to delay. Do you?”
“No, my lord,” Freya repeated obediently, but the air was tight in her lungs. She was afraid to breathe—afraid that His Lordship would dash any hopes to which she might still cling.
The coach dipped as Mr. Hartley crawled up to sit beside Lord Duncan’s coachman, Mr. Nichols. Within a minute, they rolled away from Thom Manor, with Mr. Kepper riding beside the coach.
Lord Duncan sighed heavily. “Before I begin with what Graham shared with me early this morning, I believe you should know something of why your father despises our Aaran, or, at least, why I believe there is this unpredictable animosity.”
Freya sat straighter. She knew what His Lordship meant to disclose would likely change everything. “Lord Graham was not already aware of this information?” she asked softly.
“I was not aware of it until sometime after my brother’s passing and before my wife and I decided to bring Aaran into our home, so we might assist him in proving the legality of his parents’ joining.”
“I know of all that,” Freya declared. “I know it will likely sound false, but my feelings for Lord Graham are not those made of a minute. I first observed him talking to two men outside of Parliament. I now know those men were two of his brothers. I attempted to ask my mother what she knew of him, but she warned me not to speak of the gentleman again, for my father did not approve of him. Later, I overheard my father use derogatory terms in describing Lord Graham, but his words did not dissuade my interest in His Lordship.”
Lord Duncan smiled. “I imagine there are few matters that would dissuade you if you thought otherwise. My Elsbeth also possessed that same type of Scottish stubbornness. Despite our short personal acquaintance, I am confident that once your mind is set, it rarely alters. I approve if you mean to make our Aaran happy. You see, Aaran has taken on the mantle of one who does not deserve all that God has presented him. Did you know he often infiltrates some of Britain’s most vile groups, those set against our government?
He sometimes spends weeks on end among the unwashed, learning secrets regarding plans to overthrow our government.
If you two marry, I admit that Aaran will be difficult to replace, for many thieves and others who mean to practice mischief call him ‘friend’ and ‘confidant.’ He is also one of the richest men in the United Kingdom. ”
Freya sighed heavily. “There is much I do not know of His Lordship, but if you told me these things to warn me away, you have failed, my lord. I became interested when I watched the men I know now to be his brothers and His Lordship interact. The men were obviously fond of him. Their bodies stood close to him. They repeatedly laughed, and Lord Graham smiled throughout the conversation. You know, I have never viewed my father in laughter, even once, nor to smile with any regularity. The same goes for my sister’s husband, Lord Dickerson.
I did not know it then, but I want my children to know laughter.
Not to fear their father, as do I. I am not made of the same clay as was my mother and my sister. ”
“I told you these things because, though society views Graham as a wealthy and powerful earl, in his mind’s eye, he still sees himself as a child abandoned by his mother, raised by a tenant farmer, though his injury kept him from serving the Lessier family as he should, and, with my assistance, proclaimed as the heir to an earldom in a very public court proceeding that also disclosed the lascivious nature of both his parents.
He was a child, but he possesses a long memory of those days of standing witness to the shame of his parents.
Then there are always those who call him profane names, and his position in society keeps him from responding, though,” His Lordship chuckled in what sounded of irony, “Aaran possesses the skills to do away with one and all, if he were so inclined.”
“Men like my father?” she asked.
“Yes, I apologize for straying from my original tale of your father’s dislike for the Grahams and even the Duncans.”
“I fear I am a bit confused, my lord,” Freya admitted.
“Before I name those within my tale, I thought it best to provide you a bit of history and a reminder of Graham’s nature,” Lord Duncan said with a small smile. “I imagine his wavering between his feelings for you and his need to protect you has had you more than a bit frustrated.”
“More than a bit, yes, my lord. But please continue, sir. I am a captive audience,” Freya ordered.
Lord Duncan nodded his agreement. “First, you should know Aaran’s mother was a member of the gentry.
Her father attempted to control his hardheaded daughter, but he had little influence over Miss Magdeline Bellton.
The young lady often ignored the proper lines of decorum, for Mr. Bellton had presented her with too much freedom, as she was his only daughter.
Mr. Bellton was in initial marriage negotiations with several men, one of whom was my elder brother. Another was your father.”
“My father?” she gasped. “Does my mother know?”
“I doubt she knew it at the time he married her, though I can imagine his telling her of it in a heated argument,” His Lordship said with a lift of his brows.
Freya slumped back in her seat. “Like you, I believe he would taunt her with the idea she was not his first choice for a wife,” she admitted.
Lord Duncan ignored the assumption. “It does not matter, for Miss Bellton set her sights on the previous Lord Graham, who had, shall we say, a lusty desire for a variety of women.
I do not know all the details of how everything came about.
My brother was slightly more than a decade older than me, and I was away at school during much of the drama and did not become involved until my brother passed and I became Lord Duncan.
“Anyway, Miss Bellton set her sights on Lord Graham rather than my brother or your father. Graham seduced her, just as he did many women, mostly his servants, but a few daughters of his tenants, but Miss Bellton came to be with child. When the seduction and her condition became common knowledge, your father withdrew his offer, though Lord Cunningham was not quiet about his condemnation. My brother, who was but a baron then, refused Mr. Bellton’s pleas.
My brother Angus also refused the man in my name, for I was not yet of age, though, when I had the opportunity later to change my mind, I had already taken Lady Elsbeth’s acquaintance.
From the beginning of our acquaintance, I was quite besotted by my wife, very much as you were with our Aaran. ”
“So, Lord Graham’s mother was left alone in this world to pay the price for her impetuous nature?” Freya asked in serious tones.
“Yes. She should have left the area,” Lord Duncan suggested. “It was more than twenty years ago, and such is not so easy for a woman as it is a man. Even in today’s world, women are often held accountable for a man’s actions.”
“I think my mother would leave if society shunned her,” Freya admitted.
“Many would,” Lord Duncan confirmed. “Anyway, Miss Bellton had her son. Eventually, she sold Aaran, who she purposely named after his father, despite the previous Lord Graham’s public objections—sold Aaran to tenant farmers on my brother’s estate.
Miss Bellton left for America. During her departure, she accidentally dropped her son.
She did not turn around or offer him comfort for his bruises and cuts nor for his injured leg… ”
“How very cruel,” Freya sympathized.
“The lady had grown quite bitter and wanted a new life. One cannot fault her for wishing for a different future, but she threw away the true treasure of her life,” Lord Duncan observed.
They sat in silence for several minutes before Freya said softly.
“From these actions, you believe every time my father encounters Lord Graham, he is reminded that if he had been permitted to or agreed to marry Miss Bellton, he would have his heir, for she was capable of producing a male child, while my mother is not?”
“I cannot say so with any authority, but…”
“It is so very sad for all involved. My mother always considers herself inferior, even when she comes off as too bossy.”