Page 10 of Beauty and the Rake
“Must you always be so hard on him?”
“I haven’t even gotten started being hard on him. A gentleman would have waited or at least written a short noteexplaining the situation. Or he could have mentioned his so-called appointment before I went upstairs. He’ll never change. He’s still the arrogant prig I remember.”
“It must have been important because his valet came, handed Graham a letter, mentioned something to Graham. He left as soon as he finished reading the letter. So try and ease up on him.”
“I shall try,” she said.
What was it about the male sex that made them so insensitive to others? The aristocracy was the worst.
Chapter Four
Graham pulled theletter out of his coat and reread it. The words on the page were the same as when he read it at Arthur’s. The contents of the letter knocked him off his foundation. This wasn’t something he could share with anyone, not until he had time to let it sink in and he was clear-headed to make decisions.
He had kept a mistress for the past two years. He ended it and when he did, Frannie hadn’t taken it well. Despite him having furnished her with a place to live and funds, she still refused to believe he would walk away. That had been almost a year ago. After the initial shock, he never heard from her, leaving Graham to believe she had moved on and found someone else to support her.
Never in a thousand years would he have thought she’d give birth, let alone be with child without getting word to him. Perhaps the child wasn’t his or she wasn’t sure who the father was. He doubted the latter. Frannie was never kept by more than one man. Even if tempted.
She would have never left the child at his door in a basket. His valet had told him the infant couldn’t be but perhaps a day old if that. So Graham sent the man to Frannie’s house to check out how she was and what she was about.
The carriage slowed as the four-story, red brick home came into view. His grandfather had built the house after the original burned to the ground after a freak lightning strike. At the timeit was built, it was one of the largest homes in Mayfair. Now it would be considered a smaller residence.
A footman opened the carriage door and Graham climbed out and headed up the front steps as fast as he could. The butler, Fredericks, opened the door just as his feet hit the last step.
“Where is the child?” he asked as he divested his hat and coat and handed them to Fredericks.
“In the kitchen. The ladies are getting her warmed up and fed.”
“So it’s a girl?”
“Yes, milord,” he said. “A very striking child for just being born. Most look like shriveled up prunes.”
“They’re certain the child has just been born?” Graham asked.
“Yes, quite certain.”
“Fetch the doctor just to be sure. I’m going to the kitchens.”
“Milord, I can have one of the ladies bring the babe to you. No need to go to the kitchens.”
Graham shook his head. “Nonsense. I don’t mind. Just see word is gotten to the doctor.”
“As you wish, milord.”
He rushed down the back stairs and through the kitchens where he found Cook and his housekeeper looking into a basket at what he presumed was the child. As he approached, they moved away, giving him a chance to see for himself. What he saw was a tiny, dark-haired infant sleeping. A babe that favored his late sister Mary. His sister had died of influenza as a child, but Graham always remembered her violet eyes and coal black hair.
“How is she?”
“Better now,” Cook said. “We changed her, and she drank some milk. What would you like us to do, milord?”
“The doctor has been sent for, so let’s wait and see what he says. The nursery needs to be made ready immediately. Until itis, please bring a cradle down from the nursery. Have it cleaned and put into the yellow guest room. She can stay there until the nursery is ready.”
Both women agreed, nodding their heads, looking between themselves. He knew what was going through their minds. There was no denying this child wasn’t his own. And Cook, having been with the family since she was a young girl when her mother ran the kitchens, knew better than anyone. She and Mary had been friends, even though his mother frowned on the idea at first. His mother quickly understood the friendship was good for Mary since she was schooled by tutors at home and had no other girlfriends.
He took one last look at the babe before backing away. “I’ll be in my study. Please send someone for me when the doctor arrives.”
“Yes, milord.”
He turned and made long strides out of the kitchens and up the stairs. Minutes later, he was in his study, pouring himself a whiskey. He deserved one considering what he had just discovered. Frannie had been with child and never told him. He would have to call on her. His man would be back from Frannie’s residence and would hopefully have some news.
