Page 57 of The Marchioness of his Desire
“And if he had paid you, then you would have happily continued in your deception. You deserve nothing but contempt, and I suggest that you leave my son’s house immediately. Perhaps there might be a chance for you to slip quietly away before this scandal breaks, but given the delight you have found in creating scandal, perhaps it is time you experienced it for yourself,” she said as the countess looked at her angrily.
“What of the child? Am I to take care of it alone? I have nothing,” she declared, but Nicholas shook his head.
“It is beyond my duty, well beyond it. But if you will make it known that I have nothing to do with this child nor with you, and that the father is none other than Edward Johnson, then I shall ensure that you are taken care of,” he said, and the countess looked at him in surprise.
“You … you would take care of us?” she asked, and Nicholas glanced at Rebecca, who smiled at him and nodded.
“You, madam, have acted in a most wicked manner, but the child you carry is innocent, and if he were my son, I would have done everything I could to take care of him. There is enough poverty and suffering in this world; one only needs to walk the streets of this city to see that. I will not see an innocent child brought into this world and let it fall into poverty when I might do something to prevent it. It is not you that I assist, but the child,” Nicholas said, and he pointed to the door.
“I will make sure the truth is known,” the countess said, and Rebecca was surprised to see the change in her tone, as though this were the first time in her life that she had been shown kindness, rather than rejection.
“You have shown more mercy than I would have done,” Duchess Sinclair said, shaking her head.
“And you risked everything for me, mother. I must say, I was quite surprised,” Nicholas said, and Duchess Sinclair smiled.
“Nicholas, I am not entirely the old dragon you think I am. I am capable of feelings, and when I saw Edward pointing that pistol at you both … well, it roused something in me. I have only ever wanted what is best for you, Nicholas, and now I see that what is best for you is Rebecca. The two of you deserve a long and happy life together, and I was not about to see that thwarted by the actions of a pitiable man like Edward Johnson. I am sorry for my many harsh words over the years. I have not been the mother you deserved, Nicholas” she said, shaking her head in sorrow.
Rebecca was amazed to hear these words, for she had always imagined that Duchess Sinclair considered her as nothing but a failure, incapable of ever living up to the expectations placed upon her, and that Nicholas was, in her eyes, equally as pitiable. She glanced at Nicholas, who seemed equally astounded. Now, the duchess spoke as though she entirely accepted their marriage, rather than in opposition to their continued union.
“I must say, I am surprised to hear you speak in such a way,” Nicholas replied, and his mother sighed.
“Of course you are, for I have always treated you in the most appalling manner, Nicholas. I realize that now. I was so desperate to bear a child, your father demanded it of me, and I did all I could to ensure I would give him an heir. When you were born, I thought that your father would be happy, but he merely overlooked me, thankful that duty was done. In my resentment I blamed you, a fact for which I am now ashamed. I could not love you, not for anything you had done, but because in bearing you I became loveless, your father running off to the colonies and leaving me in bitterness. Seeing you in danger brought something back to me, something long forgotten: those first tender moments after you were born, moments when I truly loved you. Perhaps we can begin again, now that this unfortunate incident is over,” she replied, and Nicholas smiled.
“I only hope this is the first and last time that you are in a position to save me from a stray bullet, mother,” he said, and she laughed.
Rebecca’s uncle had been silent during this time, swilling the brandy around in his glass, but now, he looked up, rising to his feet, and ringing the bell for the butler.
“I should be going; this has all been rather too much for me,” he said, but Nicholas hurried across the room and placed his hand upon the Earl’s arm.
“You too deserve some thanks, sir,” he said, and Rebecca’s uncle shook his head.
“I deserve no thanks. Rebecca was right, I am an old fool, and it should have been me that Edward aimed the pistol at, not you, and certainly not Rebecca. I have behaved with nothing but dishonor,” he said, and Rebecca was astonished to see him wipe a tear from his eyes.
She had never known her uncle to cry before, nor even to show emotion. He had not wept at the death of her parents, nor shown either her, or Laura, any modicum of sympathy. His heart had appeared as ice, yet now it seemed to be melting before their very eyes.
“Uncle, you must wait a moment. Nicholas is right; you deserve our thanks. Had you not thrown yourself upon Edward, then his aim might have been more accurate, and I would now find myself a widow, perhaps without a mother-in-law too,” Rebecca said, glancing at Duchess Sinclair.
“We have both been surprised by the actions of our elderly relatives,” Nicholas said, and Rebecca’s uncle smiled.
“I doubt your mother would wish to be described in such terms, Nicholas. But you are right; I have surprised myself this evening. Rebecca, can you ever forgive me? Seeing the danger you were in, the possibility of such tragedy, it broke my heart, most unexpectedly,” he said, as Rebecca rose to her feet.
“I am sure you had your reasons for what you did, uncle,” she said, but he shook his head.
“There can be no reason for a man to behave in such a way. Your poor parents, they trusted me to take care of you. Instead, I used you to settle my debts and what am I left with? Nothing. I have not a penny to my name. I could not have repaid Edward, even if I had wanted to. Even when I took his money, I felt ashamed, but I told myself it was for good, though what good there could have been in such a union is beyond me. That is why I encouraged the union between the two of you. I, at least, hoped to pay Edward back his money, yet his own scheming mind sank to fresh depths of devilry,” he replied, just as loud knocking came at the door.
“This will be the militia here for Edward,” Nicholas said, and the party made their way out into the hallway, where the butler was ushering in several of the militia.
“I understand you have had trouble with a maniac, your Lordship,” one of the men said, and Nicholas nodded.
“A naval officer by the name of Edward Johnson, a guest of ours this evening. He became quite mad, fired a shot into the ceiling, and threatened us all. If it were not for his appalling aim, then you would be arresting him for murder,” Nicholas said, as Edward appeared from the dining room, kicking and screaming in the hands of two footmen.
“Now then, enough of that,” one of militia said, as the footmen handed Edward over.
“Rebecca, I love you; have I not proved that? Everything that I have done has been out of love for you,” Edward cried, and Rebecca shrank back, clutching at Nicholas’ arm as Edward was dragged away.
“A contemptible man,” Nicholas whispered, shaking his head.
“Driven mad by love,” Rebecca’s uncle replied, tutting, as the party returned to the drawing room.
