Page 26 of My Lord, My Rogue
“Son! I do not know why you would say such a thing. I have had little to no time with you since you came home from the war and immediately joined the Diplomatic Corp. It seems you are always coming and going. I never see you anymore.”
“Mother. Please. The anticipation is killing me. You have never complained about my service with the Diplomatic Corp, saying it made you proud of me. That was the extent of what you and Father offered. So, please . . . tell me.”
She gave a coy smile. “Fine. I heard that Lady Honora Aster has been seen. Please do not tell me she is dead. They never found her body. Further, she was seen riding with you. And couple that with the appearance of Lady Violet Drake and her parents, and I am inclined to believe the rumor.”
His eyes narrowed, and he searched his mother’s face. “Who told you this? If someone from my staff is reporting my activities, I will sack them immediately.”
“You do not deny it.”
“Who, Mother?” His frustration was mounting. This was exactly what Honora had feared. That his own mother was perpetuating the rumor infuriated him.
“Calm yourself, it was not a member of your staff,” she hedged.
“Then, who? You sought to try to cajole information on my life from me—twice, now. If someone is spreading gossipon our friends, I would expect my mother to be the last person to help circulate it.” He fought to contain his temper and hold his tongue.
“Fine! It was someone from town.”
“I shall not toy with you, Mother. Tell me, or I promise I will not escort you to that ball.” It was the only leverage he had, and he felt terrible using it.
“You must care . . .”
“Enough!Who was it?”
“I heard from Madame Chantalle. She mentioned it to me as she pinned me for my ballgown. Lady Drake had visited her earlier. She mentioned a child and woman had been staying at Brook Hall, and yesterday she received a young woman’s dress to use as a pattern. That was all she said. I have also heard from Lady Beadberry, who stopped me and asked me to check the house because of her suspicions. The nerve. . .” She inhaled a steadying breath. “I admit I embellished it somewhat for your benefit based on my observationshere.”
He wished he had heard from Lancaster; he would not feel so worried. “I am most upset that you would do that, Mother. It hurts an underlying trust I feel that we have had between us. You, yourself, told me to not embellish as a child.”
She looked away from him, obviously hurt. Guilt washed over him.
“I must share the blame. Perhaps I should have taken you into my confidence. I am used to keeping confidences.” He hesitated for a moment, deciding what to say. “I must have your absolute assurance this goes no further, Mother.”
“You have it.”
Her face brightened and her mouth curved with a half-smile. He recognized it as a small token of her personal triumph at havingwon. “I am trusting you, Mother. Please do not make me sorry . . .”
“I will not.”
“Lord Aster abused his wife to where she felt her only escape was to fake her death. She and her son are living here and have been for three years. I only found out myself a few days ago.”
“So, you transformed the greenhouse for . . .”
“Honora . . . Lady Aster,” he corrected himself. “I decided to court her.” Standing, he walked to his window. He had trusted his mother with information he should not have shared. God help him if he was wrong.
“She has a son?” she probed gently. It was more of a statement. “I knew something was happening. Son, I can only be happy for you.”
Benjamin regretted his earlier burst of temper. This had not been like him to quarrel with his mother. “Mother, I apologize for keeping you in the dark. However, I promised I would tell no one.”
“I understand, son. I will step back and let you about your business. However, as your mother, I wanted to know. And I promise, no one will hear anything from me. Whatever your plans are, I will step back and wait for you to tell me the joyous news.”
“I can never stay cross with you, Mother. If there is joyous news, I will tell you, I swear.” He picked up a paperweight from his desk and toyed with it, thinking. “Madame has always struck me as an honorable person and not one to gossip. She has her own secrets, I am sure, but it’s been my observation that most trust her.”
“Benjamin, I do not believe she was being malicious.”
“Mother, gossip in any form is malicious. Thank you for telling me. I should let the earl know.” He leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I must run an errand.”
“Yes, of course. You will be back for dinner?”
Weathersby met him at the door to his study. “My lord, the answer was ‘yes.’”
