Chapter 21 #3
“I could—and I absolutely would be willing to—provide you with whatever monetary means you require and let you go your way. But I would truly appreciate it if you stayed. Be it for a day, a week, or more.” He cleared his throat, his cheeks coloring.
“You’ve seen the size of this house. Once, it was full of voices and laughter, but my parents have passed away, and my sister is married and much too busy with her own family to worry about me. It’s easy to get lonely.”
Emmeline lowered her eyes to the floor. A few months ago, she couldn’t relate—how, when she was constantly surrounded and smothered by her family? But now … “I understand.”
“I don’t know which branch of the family tree you’re from,” he said. “But I’ll call you a cousin if you’ll allow me. It doesn’t seem too far off, given our ages. And if you agree, I’d love to have your company for a bit.”
She looked back up at the portrait and then at him. For the first time since she’d known him, he looked shy, vulnerable.
This wasn’t her true home, but it was as close to one as she could imagine, and Lord Haverston could turn into a good friend. She smiled. “I’ll stay.”
***
Theo fingered the Starry Night pendant in his coat’s inner pocket as the uniform townhouses of Mayfair whizzed past. The carriage turned onto a square, hosting a park with lines of plane trees, their leaves turning a light yellow with the oncoming fall.
The carriage pulled to a halt in front of a palatial residence, its ionic columns reaching past rows and rows of tall windows up to a decorative balustrade crowned with a frieze.
“The residence of the Earl of Wescott,” the cabbie declared, and Theo jumped off and paid him for the ride, letting the carriage drive off as he stared at the house.
“Leon, meet your destiny,” he whispered to himself and couldn’t help but smile. It sounded like something Emmeline would say.
Oh, Emmeline. He had so many questions for her—who she was, and why she’d been pretending to be an heiress—but whatever her motives were, it mattered little now. Hopefully, the duke did his part, and she’d be safe.
As for himself … he squared his shoulders, braved the few steps up to the front door, and knocked.
An older gentleman opened the door, lifting his chin as he perused Theo’s appearance. “Yes?” he said with the air of superiority only a butler of one of the country’s most influential men could afford.
“I … I’m here to see Lord Wescott.”
“Your calling card, sir?”
“I don’t have one, but he’s expecting me.”
“His Lordship is not seeing visitors at this time.”
Whether Wescott was available or not, Theo knew what the words meant: a random stranger showing up on his doorstep wasn’t welcome. He didn’t fault Wescott for not notifying his butler of Theo’s arrival. “Could you please let him know I’m in town? My name—”
“Stanley, what is—oh, my,” a female voice said.
Rushed but light steps followed, and the butler’s dismissal from the foyer.
In front of Theo appeared a kind-looking, middle-aged woman with green-blue eyes and light brown hair swept back into a demure bun.
Her fine dress and pearl necklace denoted her as the lady of the house, but Theo would’ve recognized her, regardless.
He’d seen those eyes before.
“Goodness. I can’t believe you’re finally here.” She moved a lock of hair out of his face, and even though Theo twitched at the unexpected touch, he didn’t find it unpleasant.
It was nice to have someone fuss over him. It had been a long time.
“Lady Wescott,” he greeted.
“Please. I will have no less than Aunt Augusta, or Aunt, if you so desire,” she said. “Oh, my darling boy. Look at you.” She took his hands, stretching out their arms as she stepped back. “You’re his spitting image.”
Theo’s heart leaped. “You knew my father?”
“I only saw him once, but I remember that time well. Once I got your mother to talk, she would not stop gushing about him.” Aunt smiled lovingly at him, tilting her head.
“Come in, won’t you? You must be tired. I shall have a room and a bath ready immediately.
And something to eat, yes? And you must meet Cass. ”
She led him into the spacious, marble-floored foyer decorated with paintings and busts of mythological heroes. With his aunt’s warm reception, some of Theo’s nerves subsided. He’d have to face his uncle eventually, and he was certain Lord Wescott wouldn’t be as amicable; but for now, he relaxed.
“Cass is in the conservatory.” They crossed the drawing room, immaculate with its mahogany and cream furnishings, and entered another hallway opening into a room where the few settees had been almost overtaken by large potted plants.
Sun shone through the many windows, falling onto the face of a young woman, her head bent to a book in her lap.
She looked up as they approached, the family resemblance obvious in her caramel brown hair and ocean eyes.
She leaped to her feet, the book dropping onto the settee. “Leon?”
“Lady Cassiopeia,” he greeted.
“Please, there’s no need for such formalities.” She approached and took his hands between hers. “You may call me Cousin.”
“Feels a bit strange, given our situation.”
“Cass, then.” She smiled.
He returned the smile. “Cass.”
“Oh, look at you two.” Aunt brought her hands to her chest. “I’m so glad you can finally join our family, my boy. But all the preparations to be done! As soon as the season starts, we must announce you as my husband’s heir—”
“Mama,” Cass said, “couldn’t we do it less flamboyantly?”
Theo was grateful for her intervention. He wouldn’t dare say it to his aunt, but he didn’t want to cause a ruckus.
“You know there’ll be no swaying your father,” Augusta said to Cass.
“He has decided on the course of action, and we can only follow it like an obedient army follows its general.” She turned to Theo.
“But don’t worry, dear. Cass and I will be by your side, and all will be well, you shall see. ” She gave him another hug.
“Here you are. Finally,” an unforgiving male voice said from the direction of the hallway.
With the hug swiftly abandoned, Theo swiveled his gaze to the dark-haired man standing at the doorway. “Uncle.”
Lord Wescott said nothing else, only nudged his head. Aunt Augusta squeezed Theo’s hand and gave him a reassuring smile. Heart pounding from nerves, but also a surge of fear, Theo headed to his uncle, who turned his back and led him through the drawing room toward the stairs.
“You’re late,” Wescott said.
“I’m sorry, I—”
Wescott stopped on the steps so rapidly Theo nearly bumped into him. “You’re my heir. You’re going to be an earl one day. Earls do not apologize.” He turned his head to the side. “Try again.”
Theo swallowed. “I came when time allowed.”
Wescott harrumphed, but continued walking. As the darkness of the long hallway swallowed them, he finally stopped in front of a door. “I assume you were successful in your mission.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Good.” He turned to him. “Now that’s done, let me make one thing clear.
Your past life, and all the people in it, are to be forgotten.
That includes whatever antics you got up to in Dorset.
You are who I paid for you to become. Not a farmer boy, not a soldier, not a servant.
You’ll forget all about your family, rowdy friends you went out drinking with, sweet village girls you told your woes to—”
Sky-blue eyes, smiling at him from a freckled face, flashed in Theo’s mind.
“Because nobody is to know who you are and where you come from,” Wescott continued. “And if I find out you’re still trying to fraternize with those people, they’ll be punished accordingly. Is that understood?”
Theo gritted his teeth. He wanted to say something back—for example, why did Wescott even tell him to stay in Dorset, if he was so worried about him making connections—but even with their short acquaintance, reason told him it was better to stay quiet. “Yes, Uncle.”
“Go clean yourself.” Wescott brushed past him. “You smell of horse.”
As he left, Theo pressed a clenched fist to his mouth. It was fine. He knew this was coming. Perhaps, in the back of his mind, he stayed in Dorset for longer not only because of Emmeline but also to delay his inevitable destiny.
But destiny wasn’t called such because it could be avoided. He could only do one thing with it.
Accept it.