sounds like a fine idea.”
Reese filled two crystal goblets and carried one over to his friend. “I thought you were living in Dorset. What takes you to London?”
Travis grinned. “Believe it or not, a job. I’ve been offered a column in the London Times. I’ll be doing a series of articles on soldiering and the war.”
“Which one?” Reese said dryly, since it seemed as if there was always at least one war going on.
Travis smiled. “Mostly the one we just fought, but also my thoughts on war in general.”
“Sounds like something right up your alley. You always wanted to be a journalist. Looks like you’ve finally got the chance.” Reese lifted his glass in a toast. “Congratulations.”
Travis lifted his. “Thanks.”
The butler, Hopkins, knocked just then.
“What is it?” Reese asked as the door swung open.
“A man named Holloway is here to see you, my lord.”
Reese’s jaw hardened. He’d been expecting Mason Holloway, sooner or later. “Show him into the drawing room. Tell him I’ll be right there.” He set his brandy glass down on top of his desk. “I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me. This shouldn’t take long.”
Not bloody long, indeed, he thought as he grabbed hold of his cane and started out the door.
Mason Holloway stood up from the sofa as Reese entered the drawing room, a comfortable chamber though it needed a bit of care.
“My lord.” Holloway was a big man, tall, with a dark brown mustache and a slightly oily smile.
“Holloway.”
“I hope you will pardon my unexpected appearance in your home. I only just received word that my dear sister-in-law might be here at Briarwood.”
“She’s here. She and the boy.”
He gave up a sigh of relief. “Thank God. I had seriously begun to worry. It is not like Elizabeth to hie herself off the way she did. But she has been feeling unwell of late. At times, her thoughts seemed a bit jumbled, but I—that is my wife and I—neither of us expected anything like this.”
“Lady Aldridge was feeling a bit under the weather when she arrived, but I assure you she is now on the mend. In fact, she is feeling well enough to stay for a visit with my aunt.”
“Your aunt?” Mason repeated as if the words stuck in his throat.
“That’s right. Lady Tavistock is currently on her way to Briarwood and looking forward to seeing Lady Aldridge again after so many years.” That was a load of rot. Aunt Aggie’s note had been curt and to the point.
What could you possibly be thinking to allow that woman into your house? I shall arrive with all haste.
Your aunt Agatha
The phony smile slid from Holloway’s face. “Lady Aldridge and her son are best cared for at home. I have brought the traveling coach so that they may ride in comfort the short trip back to the house. Now if I may just speak to her …”
Reese flashed a feral smile, exposing the white of his teeth. “I’m afraid she’s asked that she not be disturbed.”
“That is ridiculous. I’m her brother-in-law and as such—now that her husband is gone—head of the family. I’m here to take her home. Please have one of your servants tell her to prepare herself to leave.”
Reese’s hand tightened around the silver head of his cane. “Elizabeth isn’t going anywhere with you, Holloway. Not unless that is what she wants to do. Neither you nor your wife are welcome here. Please take your leave.”
Any trace of civility left Mason’s features. “She belongs at home, Dewar. Sooner or later, I intend to fetch her back there—whether you like it or not.”
Reese thought of the six-inch blade concealed in his cane and his fingers itched to trip the button exposing it. He imagined using it to carve a warning into the flesh over Holloway’s black heart.
“Get out.” His glance strayed toward the stairway and he spotted his manservant, brawny Timothy Daniels, hovering protectively nearby.
“You’ll be sorry for this, Dewar,” Holloway threatened. “Take my word for it.”
Reese turned toward the stairs. “See Mr. Holloway out, will you, Corporal?”
“Aye, sir.” Timothy started toward him and Holloway turned and headed for the door.
“I’ll be back,” Mason said over one thick shoulder, and then he was gone.
“If you see him around here, Tim, be sure to let me know.”
“Aye, that I will, Major.”
Leaving Timothy to insure Mason’s departure, Reese returned to the study. Travis was still standing next to the desk when Reese walked back into the room.
“I couldn’t help overhearing,” Trav said. “You have a lady houseguest, I gather.”
Reese nodded. “The Countess of Aldridge and her son. That was her brother-in-law, Mason Holloway. Elizabeth’s afraid of him. She’s asked me for sanctuary. I couldn’t turn her away.”
“Elizabeth … That wouldn’t be the same Elizabeth you used to curse in your sleep? I seem to recall she married a man named Holloway.”
A muscle flexed in his cheek. “That’s her.”
One of Travis’s sandy brown eyebrows went up. “I see.”
“No, you don’t. You couldn’t possibly because I can’t figure it out myself. I only know she preyed on my honor as a soldier and I couldn’t refuse her request. She’s here until I can figure out what to do with her, then she’s on her way. It couldn’t happen soon enough for me.”
Travis looked as if he might say I see again, but wisely refrained. “Female problems. They’re always the worst.”
Reese lifted his crystal goblet and took a deep swallow of brandy. “You can say that again.”
Five
Several days later
Beginning to feel more her old self again, Elizabeth made her way up to the third floor where Mrs. Garvey and Jared shared adjoining bedrooms. The withdrawal symptoms had faded completely and though she still felt a little tired, she was ready to get out of the house, at least for a while.
She listened at the door a moment, then turned the handle and silently pushed it open. The bedrooms connected to a third room, a lovely little nursery she had admired when she had come to the house with Reese years ago.
At the time, she had imagined seeing their baby lying in the white-ruffled bassinet that still sat empty in the corner. When he had shown her the room, she had smiled up at him and told him what a wonderful father he would make.
The notion twisted her heart. If only her son had been raised by Reese. If only he’d had a loving father instead of one who was distant, even cruel. Jared had yearned for a father’s love, but Edmund had pushed the child away, treating him little better than one of his servants.
If only she had known what her life would be.
But her father had admired the young earl and he had been determined she have a title. Edmund will make you a countess. He won’t exile you to a life in the country while he goes off adventuring with the army.
It was only one of dozens of speeches he had made. In the beginning, she had simply ignored them, certain that in time she could convince her father to accept the man she loved, the man she had chosen to marry.
In