Page 17 of Beauty and the Rake
Once dinner was finished, Roxanne started to excuse herself and take tea alone in the drawing room, leaving the men to the port and cigars. It was a ritual she never understood other than it was a time for men to have times without the women and allowed them to speak of subjects too intense for delicate feminine ears.
“Please, Rox, there is something I need to tell both you and Arthur. It’s of a personal matter, and I need your opinion and suggestions,” Graham said. He rose from his chair and walked to a sideboard and picked up another glass. He poured a splash of port into it and handed it to Roxanne before returning to his chair. He picked up his own port and downed it in one long swallow.
“I had a surprise recently. It was completely out of the blue. The butler went to answer the door and when he did, he found a basket with a newborn baby girl.”
“This isn’t the babe…” Arthur began to ask. He stopped to let Graham reply.
He turned to Roxanne who was eyeing him carefully. He wondered what she was thinking at this very moment. Clearing his throat, he continued. “I’ve had a mistress for the past couple of years. I had ended things with her and never knew she was with child. I understand she was going to go to her sister’s to have the child. She changed her mind.”
“You weren’t expecting her to drop off the child for you to raise?”
“No.”
“Have you thought about a foundling home or know of a childless couple who might raise her as their own?” Arthur asked.
“No one comes to mind, and no, she won’t go to an orphanage.”
“Graham, you’re a bachelor. People will talk as soon as they learn you’re raising a child,” Roxanne said.
“Let them talk. I had thought to say her parents died. She was my cousin. Something like that.”
Arthur swirled his port thoughtfully. “Have you spoken to your solicitor about this?”
“No, I wanted to talk with the two of you about it.”
Roxanne grinned ever so slightly. She loved seeing him dazed like this. “You’ve certainly gotten yourself in a predicament.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“See your solicitor first. If you’re going to raise her yourself, you’ll need the mother to sign her over. That protects you. My only other suggestion would be to raise her at one of your estates. At least for the first couple of years. One close enough you can go visit the child.” She sipped her port and watched his face.
He nodded. “Would you like to see her? She’s not much to look at right now, as newborns seldom are.”
“She’s here?” Roxane exclaimed.
“Yes, she’s in the nursery. I’ve hired a wet nurse and another woman to help with her.”
“Perhaps another time,” Roxanne replied.
“I would have thought you would have sent her on to the country,” Arthur said.
“No. Nothing happens until I’ve seen my man.”
Roxanne finished her port and set the glass back down on the table with a large thunk. “You’re positive she’s your child?”
“Yes. Let me mention something I’ve been thinking about. What if I do find a couple willing to take her? What’s to say I’ll ever marry or if I do, wonder if my wife cannot have children? This child wouldn’t know who I am, and I would have no heir.”
“I’m afraid it isn’t the first time a quandary like this has happened,” Arthur said.
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“See what your solicitor says first. If you wish to continue the discussion with Arthur and me, let us know.”
“Thank you both,” Graham said.
She and Arthur didn’t stay long after that. Her brother feigned an early morning meeting. Roxanne made a point to thank Graham for a delicious dinner to which he thanked her, telling her how he looked forward to seeing her again. Simply nodding her head, she slipped past him to the waiting carriage.
The ride home was quiet and once inside the house, she made her announcement. “I’m going to leave for Wight in two days’ time. If we haven’t heard back when Uncle Charles will arrive, you may get word to me as soon as you do.”
