Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Joy surged within him as he clapped a hand on his brother’s back and pulled him into a careful embrace.
Neither could say the words, but both were aware that this moment may have never happened.
Perry was grateful to be able to laugh with his brother once more.
His brush with death made each moment seem more meaningful.
“Pardon my delay. I had to meet with the magistrate urgently regarding your attack. It was very concerning, and I wanted the locals on alert,” Beau said as he crossed his arms, leaning against the door frame.
“Get in here, you addle-pate,” Perry said with a smirk. “I would rather have died than hear you prattling on uninterrupted.”
“Now tell me, did you send me to my death in the country? Was that your true motive?” Perry guided his brother to the table and chairs near the bed, his mouth dry as he eyed the port sitting on the table awaiting them.
Hutchins had taken the hint when he had asked for a real drink that evening.
Sliding the crystal glasses across the surface of the dark oak table, he poured them each a serving.
Beau relaxed into a chair, watching his brother.
“All humor aside, I was devastated to hear the news. It was all I could do to convince our sister not to come. It is simply too dangerous while there is a possible killer on the loose,” Beau explained, swirling the glass of port under his nose and inhaling before taking a sip.
Perry took a small sip of his drink to moisten his parched throat. “How is our sister?”
“She is still the most titillating marchioness, to the delight of the ton,” Beau explained, placing the glass on the table. “Her necklines are scandalous, and everyone suspects she is having amorous liaisons, though none can prove it.”
“Oh, Louisa,” Perry empathized. “Who is it this time?”
His father had not only arranged one unhappy marriage in their family.
Louisa had been married off to an older man who refused to spend any time in the city.
Lord Mandchin’s disdain for the frivolities of the ton was well known.
It was a blessing that he allowed Louisa a few months to visit with her family during the London season.
The rest of the year, she spent isolated on a remote estate, caring for the aging man.
He expected her to focus her attentions on running the household, perfecting her skills on the pianoforte and at needlepoint, while quietly attending to his demands.
She was often subject to bouts of verbal abuse, for the man suffered from paranoia and visions as well.
Perry had doubts to the validity of the salacious rumors about his sister when she was in town, as the need for a legitimate heir was strong in her husband.
Lord Mandchin had killed any ideas of romantic love inside her long ago.
He could tell by the way the light in her eyes dimmed at any mention of her husband.
“She danced with Lord Malvern and that was enough to start tongues wagging. Apparently, she laughed a little too loudly at his witty comment. Enough about Louisa. What a delight it is to see you feeling well. The letters I received from the housekeeper seemed dire indeed. What on earth happened? We must catch the scoundrel who did this to you,” Beau said, patting his arm.
“I am much recovered and feeling more like myself each day. It is difficult to remember any of what occurred the day that I was shot. Honestly, I wonder if it was but a hunting accident. I was arriving unannounced and had cut through the forest path in my wanderings.”
Beau rubbed his chin pensively. “You rode through Morewood Forest? We are the only ones with permission to hunt there at this time of year. How very peculiar. I will question the villagers and see if anything out of the ordinary was noticed.”
“Hutchins sent some men out to investigate, though they came back with little information.”
Beauregard raised his chin stubbornly, unsatisfied with the response. “No poachers have been reported in the area lately, though I haven’t been to the estate since Father passed, if I am truthful. Seeing to the demands of the estate has taken up all my time.”
“We’ll question the servants. Judging by Mrs. Boots’s letter, I’m sure there will be some who are eager to talk.
We will shake the trees and see if a few nuts come loose.
” Perry leaned back in his chair and released a slow breath.
He was relieved to see his brother had arrived, yet he gripped the glass nervously, thinking it was his time to reveal his secret.
“I have other news to share with you,” he said, gazing directly into Beauregard’s curious eyes.
His brother tilted his head and leaned in, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. “I’m listening, though I believe you being shot is quite enough excitement for me at the moment.”
“You have come just in time for a wedding—my wedding. It was my greatest hope that you would arrive. This happy occasion will be that much more delightful when shared with members of our family.”
Beau frowned. “This is very surprising. I don’t remember you even hinting at a courtship last time we met,” he said, his brows furrowed in confusion. “In fact, you were quite content raking about town and wasting your life away.”
“Yes, well, I have come into some new information. You will understand my motivations fully once I explain everything to you.” Perry sighed, bracing himself for his brother’s reaction when he revealed the identity of his bride. “I am to marry Miss Charlotte Townsend.”
Beauregard’s hand came up to his forehead, and his eyes widened in shock. “Baron Percy’s daughter? How is this possible? I thought she died years ago.” His eyes looked up at the ceiling as he thought. “I haven’t heard that name for well…a decade it seems.”
Perry pressed his lips together, searching for the best way to explain the extraordinary situation. If there was anyone he could trust with the full truth, it was his brother.
“Over the summer, the one before I married, she and I grew close. Too close, I’m afraid.
I have learned that our time spent together resulted in a child.
Charlotte escaped to the country after suffering an illness, then later bore our daughter.
Alone.” He cast his eyes down in shame, his gaze roaming over the glass of port to finally connect with his brother’s.
Beau’s mouth opened and closed, a response stuck on his tongue. “Oh, dear,” he breathed, clamping a hand over his mouth.
“I know,” Perry said, sympathetic to the great shock he had just delivered. “Once I knew the truth, I was determined to make things right.”
“Oh, dear,” Beau repeated absently. “Yes, yes, of course, that would be the right thing to do in the situation. Though, how will you keep the truth of the child’s status from the mouths of gossips? The ton will be delighted with such a scandal.” Beau winced and buried his face in his hand.
“That is where we will require your help—and Louisa’s.
My sincere hope is that with the backing of a duke and a marchioness, the scandal will be quickly forgotten.
We will come up with a romantic tale of lost love found, or something dazzling like that to feed the gossips.
Frankly, I care not how they cope with the new revelation.
I want it known that I have a daughter and she is my priority.
She will be acknowledged and treated as any child of mine. Everything else will fall into place.”
“You will be married.” Beau nodded slowly as he said the words, his understanding taking painfully long. “And you are happy with this, brother? I had hoped you would be able to choose your next wife. This seems a repetition of the past, leaving you no choice.”
“I am pleased, yes. I’ve spent enough time seeking empty pleasures; it’s time to get back to more serious pursuits. Besides, it won’t be the first time I marry someone I barely know.”
The moment the words came from his mouth, Perry regretted them.
To say Charlotte was unknown to him was a falsehood.
Certainly, the woman he had known back then and the one she was now, were different.
He had changed as well. Life had forced them to adapt.
They both had much to learn about each other.
Perry licked his lips. There lingered within him a curiosity about Charlotte that had never existed for Eliza.
His heart hammered in his chest at the thought of rediscovering the parts of their friendship he had missed.
Warmth flooded his cheeks as he considered the other benefits of marriage he would relish exploring with her.
Giving his head a shake, he dismissed the thoughts.
Charlotte was not experienced, and he refused to be a brute husband forcing himself on her.
She would never be obliged to fulfill those marital duties, unless she wished it.
“I agree to putting an end to living as a wastrel, but marriage? There are other options, as you know. She could be kept in luxury as your?—”
Raising a hand to silence his brother, Perry scowled. “That is not an option.”
Beau shrugged, lifting his glass. “It would pain me to see you so unhappy as you were with Eliza.”
Perry’s gaze darted to the side to hide his enthusiasm at the prospect of marriage to Charlotte. “I do not expect to be unhappy. We were close once.” A smile teased his lips. He cleared his throat to mask any eagerness.
“Is it possible you already hold feelings for your future wife?”
“These feelings are not new. I am hoping our past friendship can be revived. I cared for her once and it would not be so difficult to do so again.” Perry could barely suppress a smile.
Beau smirked. “By Jove! You lust after your future wife, you scoundrel!”
His cheeks flooding with heat, Perry shook his head.
“It isn’t like that. We have a closeness that Eliza and I never experienced.
Charlotte cared for me during my convalescence, and I will be forever grateful.
There is potential for an affection to develop between us, that is all.
She is…a lovely woman,” he winced as he admitted the last words, knowing his brother would enjoy teasing him further.
A snort from his brother was the man’s only response. “Does she know you care for her?”
“Absolutely not. I will not muddy the waters of our arrangement with any feelings. I am only thinking of our daughter and creating the best possible life for her away from Fermoy.” Perry wrung his hands in his lap.
“Very well, then, I am delighted to attend this happy occasion. And to meet my niece! How lovely to think I am now an uncle. And before long, perhaps I will have more nieces and nephews gadding about?”
Feeling faint, Perry rested his head in his hand, stroking his forehead. “It is too soon to speak of that, brother, please.”
Perry hadn’t even contemplated the possibility of more children.
Since none had come from his first marriage, it was hardly something he expected.
He would be lying if he said that the idea of filling Charlotte with another child didn’t send a jolt of desire tearing through his body.
His future wife had only grown more beautiful with time.
He longed to grip her luscious curves and sink deeply into her.
It would do wonders for exorcising him of the misery that had plagued him for so long.
Charlotte was a breath of fresh air. An inspiration to live a different kind of life.
And he was a man desperately craving oxygen.
Lost in thought, Perry didn’t notice when his brother stood. The movement caught his eye, and he watched as Beau went to call for a servant.
“I’d best go freshen up before dinner. The journey has been long, and I am covered in dust and sweat. I look forward to discussing our next steps now that I have arrived. And to meeting the future Countess of Winchester.”
A few moments later, Mrs. Higgins appeared and led the duke to his own prepared chamber.
Perry relished a break from the discussion.
Releasing a slow breath, Perry planned to inquire after his belongings or borrow clothing from his brother.
He had much to look forward to in the coming days.
In the time he had left at Fermoy, he would get to know his daughter and future wife better.
See how they could fit together, as pieces of a puzzle that had long been lost.
His chest warmed with an unfamiliar sensation as he thought of his family.
His future.
Nothing and no one would keep them from the happiness they deserved.
Perry would make sure of it.