Chapter 15
The words of the manuscript Roman was reviewing for Lacey and Company blurred before Roman’s eyes. He realized he hadn’t retained any of the information in the pages he’d read over the last few minutes. Blinking, he leaned back in his chair, then looked toward Ellis’s empty desk.
She was working up in the library to avoid temptation. It was for the best, since Roman couldn’t keep his hands to himself, nor did he want to. But even alone, he was struggling to concentrate.
Ellis had seemed preoccupied since her errand the other day. He longed to ask her where she’d gone and what had transpired but didn’t.
Still, they spent the nights in each other’s arms, and the passion between them hadn’t dimmed. If anything, it had only grown more intense. Roman ached when he couldn’t touch her.
He heard footsteps approaching the door and held his breath, hoping it was Ellis.
It was Graham.
The butler stood at the threshold. “I have a letter for you, my lord.”
Roman waved him in.
“This was delivered by one of the lads at Lacey and Company.” Graham handed the envelope to Roman.
“Thank you, Graham.”
The butler turned and left as Roman’s gaze fixed on a single word written across the back of the envelope, beneath the seal: Confidential.
He flipped it back over. It had been addressed to him with the address of Lacey and Company in Paternoster Row. The handwriting appeared feminine, but it was not familiar. He opened the envelope and removed the parchment. Opening it, he began to read.
Lord Keele,
I trust this letter finds you well and prospering in your business endeavors.
It has come to my attention that you have recently employed a “Mrs. Ellis” as your secretary.
This woman resides, quite unconventionally, in your household.
How very modern of you. However, she is not a “Mrs.” at all.
She is, in fact, Miss Ellis Dangerfield, former companion to my daughter, Lady Minerva.
I cannot imagine how Miss Dangerfield came to be in your employ, for she is a rather worthless sort.
I can only assume she is living in your household under the guise of secretary but is, in truth, your mistress.
Roman’s hands shook as fury boiled within him. Had someone in his household revealed the nature of his relationship with Ellis? And after all the assurances he’d given her that none of them would say a word. He held his breath as he kept reading.
I find myself in difficult financial circumstances, and I am certain you can help. I require ￡5,000. In exchange, no one will know that “Mrs. Ellis” is actually Miss Ellis Dangerfield, nor that she is the disgraced former companion to the daughter of a duke.
Should you refuse, I have prepared a rather detailed manuscript, which I will submit to various publishers, not Lacey and Co.
, of course, as that would be indelicate, which will detail Miss Dangerfield’s indiscretions, of which there are many.
You can’t begin to know what scandalous behavior litters her past, including a most ruinous secret that almost no one knows.
You see, Miss Dangerfield is illegitimate.
Was that what Ellis had been hiding from him all this time?
He could understand why, but he hated that she hadn’t felt she could tell him.
And why would she trust him with that information?
Illegitimacy could ruin someone, especially a young woman with no family or anyone to support her.
Roman finally released his breath and was now nearly panting, as his pulse was racing.
If you prefer to let her suffer the indignity of exposure, I suppose I cannot persuade you otherwise.
However, these revelations will also affect you and your business with Lacey and Co.
, as well as your personal reputation, which I imagine you wish to maintain in order to snare your next heiress.
I am sure you would rather avoid another scandal after your father’s profligacy.
Indeed, I don’t believe you can afford it.
The small sum I require is nothing compared to what you will lose.
Please deliver payment to Mivart’s. I shall expect it on the morrow.
Alice Henlow
The Duchess of fucking Henlow had sent this? Roman’s vision tunneled with a rage he’d never known. Now he knew why Ellis had been hiding and why she’d cut herself off from her past.
She’d lived in the duchess’s household. It was clear the duchess despised her. But why?
Roman glanced upward toward the library where Ellis was working. He wanted nothing more than to run to her and take her in his arms and tell her that he understood why she’d kept secrets from him and why she didn’t want to discuss her past.
Part of him was sad that she hadn’t confided in him. Had she been afraid that he would think less of her? He could not. She was the finest woman he’d ever known.
He hated that she’d been in pain for who knew how long. God, she’d lived in that household for fifteen years!
Roman vowed to protect her from the duchess and anyone else who would seek to hurt her.
Five thousand pounds was a huge sum for him to deliver tomorrow.
Hell, it was a massive amount even a fortnight from now.
He’d have to liquidate an investment or three, and he’d have to come up with a reason for doing it, because Ellis would notice at some point, since she managed his accounts.
There was no question that he would do it. He couldn’t let Ellis be hurt anymore. He would bankrupt himself before he’d allow that.
Would he? His hands shook again, but not from rage. This was from the realization of how much she meant to him.
He also couldn’t allow a scandal to taint Josiah—both his reputation and the successful businesses he’d built—nor Harriet and Margot. But damn, it grated to succumb to the duchess’s threats. Roman had half a mind to tell Sheff what his mother was doing.
Before he could draft a note to his banker, Ellis walked in. He quickly folded the odious letter and set it on his desk.
Standing, he stepped around the desk and smiled at her. The effort it took not to enfold her in his arms was astounding. “I was hoping you’d come down.”
She took a few steps into the office but did not sit. “I came to tell you I’ll be having dinner with Pandora at Wellesbourne House again this evening. And I, ah, need transportation. You don’t have to accompany me. I really don’t want you to wait outside. I’ve no idea how long I’ll be.”
“I’m happy to wait—truly. Or I can go to my club while you’re there.
” Perhaps he’d see Sheff and talk to him about his horrid mother.
Roman had known that Sheff had difficulty with the duchess, that she nagged him and was demanding, but he’d never had the sense she was as vile as she’d sounded in that letter.
“It truly isn’t necessary,” Ellis said. Again, he suspected there might be something wrong, that she was troubled. Had the duchess written to her as well, and she was hiding it from him?
“I want to accompany you,” he insisted. “I’ll go to my club and I’ll fetch you on my way home.”
“Surely, you’ll be out later than I will.” She cocked her head. “I think you’re just trying to get me alone in your coach.”
“Guilty.” He gave her a wicked grin as he stepped toward her. He curled his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, lowering his head to kiss her hard and fast.
She pushed at his chest and turned her head sharply toward the door that stood open. “Roman, you can’t do that,” she whispered urgently.
He shrugged. “I had to, and I’m not sorry.”
She set her mouth in a stern frown. “Well, you mustn’t do that again. I’m going back upstairs now because you’re very naughty.”
“I’ll show you later just how naughty I can be.”
After she crossed the threshold, she tossed him a saucy look. “I already know. And yes, you may accompany me to Wellesbourne House and fetch me on your way home.”
“Does that mean you want to be alone in my coach with me?” He gave her a suggestive leer.
She laughed as she walked away from the office. Roman’s smile faded faster than it would have because the letter weighed heavy on his mind.
He would take care of it. And tonight, he would hold Ellis in his arms.
Though Ellis had flirted with Roman that afternoon about being in the coach together, now that they were on their way, she was nervous.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to hide what she knew about his wife.
She’d noticed he’d started regarding her with concern, and she sensed he wanted to say something.
If he asked whether she was upset and why, she wasn’t sure she would be able to keep the truth from him.
Thankfully, it was a short trip to Wellesbourne House. Roman surprised her by taking her hand. She turned her head. She could tell him about Rowland Harker now, but she wouldn’t.
She also didn’t want the awkwardness that seemed to be growing between them. So, she kissed him.
He cupped her head and returned the kiss eagerly. They spent the duration of the ride locked together, barely breaking apart before the coachman opened the door. As she left the coach, she caught his seductive stare and the promise of continuing what they’d started later.
She walked to the door, which was promptly opened by the butler.
“Good evening, Miss Dangerfield,” Ralston said in greeting. “I will show you up to the drawing room.”
She followed him to where she’d met Pandora last week. She wondered if Pandora would be there again, or if it would just be Min. She would shortly know.
The butler did not go all the way to the door. Instead, he gestured for her to precede him.
“I was told you would not need to be announced,” Ralston said.
“Thank you.” Ellis took a deep breath and walked into the drawing room.
Min stood near a seating area, the aristocratic planes of her familiar face tight with anticipation. Her gray eyes fixed on Ellis and didn’t waver as she clasped her hands before her. “I was watching for your coach.”