Chapter Twenty-Seven #3
“Yes. I intend to marry her. I offered, and she has accepted.” He’d just as soon strangle her father as ask for his blessing. “I hope I have your blessing, Christopher.”
Christopher nodded. “I support whatever Gen wants. However, if you intend to marry her, then you need to know the truth of what my father confessed during one of his inebriated rants. ‘When I find her,’” Christopher said, imitating a drunken slur, “‘I’ll s-strangle her just like I did her whore of a mother and her meddling s-stepmother.’ He was so deep in his cups he didn’t realize that Mouse and I were right outside the drawing room and heard him. ”
“My mother was so kind and pretty,” Sophia said.
“She was,” Christopher said. “I loved her very much. From what I can remember, my mother was also sweet and beautiful.”
Blast and bugger the man’s eyes. Jonathan would kill Arthur Bailey the second he got a hold of him.
“Why would he hurt them?” Sophia said.
The earl swallowed. “I can’t help but wonder if it might be my fault.”
Sophia stiffened, and Christopher whipped his head to the side to stare at his uncle over Sophia’s head. “What do you mean, my lord?”
“Perhaps you should tell your niece and nephew the whole truth,” Robinson said. “Your secret is safe with Lord Davenport.” He inclined his chin toward the boy. “And I believe your nephew has a right to know.”
“I know already,” Christopher said. “You had an affair with my mother?”
Sophia gasped.
“Heavens no,” the earl said, his head shaking so emphatically that Jonathan believed him.
“Christopher, your mother was my dear friend. My confidant. I have loved another for years, and your mother was the only person outside of my household that I told. I suppose my brother mistook our friendship for something it wasn’t. Because you see…” He swallowed.
“Everyone will keep your secret, my lord,” Robinson said.
“I have been in love with my valet since we were young lads,” Lord Shipley blurted out in one breath. “Christopher, that is the secret I confided to your mother.”
“I’ve never heard of a female valet,” Christopher said, and then his eyes widened. “Oh, I understand.”
“I think people should love who they want,” Sophia declared.
“Hear, hear,” Jonathan said.
“Apparently, so did my mother,” Christopher said. “But my father, who is incapable of love, would see a man hanged, even his own brother. My mother died protecting you, Uncle.”
“I suppose she did.” The earl wiped the tears from his eyes. “I have been so terrified that others might find out that I spent over a decade hiding away from everything and everyone.”
Thus, the reason people knew very little about the Earl of Shipley.
“So why did my mother have to die?” Sophia asked.
“Perhaps she tried to protect Kitty.” Christopher met Jonathan’s gaze. “Kitty is our maid. My father abuses her to no end. I believe she stays on because she has nowhere else to go. And I suppose she cares about Sophia, Gen, Mrs. Whistler, and me.”
“Gen mentioned her fondly,” Jonathan said.
“Poor, poor Kitty,” Sophia said.
Robinson sighed. “In my line of work, I see a lot of depraved, wicked things. Most of it occurs because cowardly men feel as though they are losing control of the people around them. They fear being laughed at and feeling emasculated.”
All the more reason for women to fight for autonomy, and yet, Jonathan remained troubled. “Why would Gen have left with him?” All she had to do was fight him off. She was strong and skilled enough to do it.
“To protect us,” Christopher said. “If she thought we were in danger, she would have come without a fight, and I would not put it past him to make threats and or lie.”
From what Jonathan had learned about the man thus far, he was not above turning threats into reality. Additionally, Gen had confessed her tremendous guilt to him. Undoubtedly, her father had used this to control her.
“He sometimes says he will send me to Kilsby if she doesn’t come home,” Sophia said.
Bloody hell, she was a child. Jonathan clenched his fists.
“What if Arthur hurts Genevieve before we show up?” the earl asked. “It sounds as if he means to.”
He’d admitted as much in his missive. Jonathan’s knuckles turned white.
Sophia whimpered.
“But he will have to catch her first, Mouse,” Christopher said.
“Lord Davenport.” Sophia’s pretty eyes regarded Jonathan with intelligent curiosity. “Mr. Robinson said that Gen is a pugilist. Is this true?”
“’Tis.” Jonathan smiled for the first time since he’d entered the carriage. “And a very good one.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Christopher said. “I always knew she was special. Lord Davenport, have you seen her run?”
“Runs circles around me.” Jonathan chuckled.
Christopher shrugged. “I wager Gen knocks Father out.”
Looking quite pleased at the prospect, Sophia clasped her little hands together. “I think so, too.”
Even though Jonathan would give anything to own a magic carpet that delivered him to Thorn Manor immediately so that he could ensure she was safe, he couldn’t help but agree. Arthur Bailey was most likely going to end up knocked out cold.