Page 31 of When He Was Wicked
James smiled. “Think nothing of it. I am looking forward to meeting them.”
They spoke at length of his father's refusal to have her at the manor, and the several times she had been turned away when she had ventured there without an invitation. His father had shut everyone out in his grief. James sensed if he told her of his harsh and neglected upbringing, she would blame herself unjustly for not trying with more diligence to see him. Eventually, he would tell her a bit of his youth, when they had formed a much closer relationship, and he could assess thestrength of her character, for he would not burden her when there was no need.
“And what of your husband?”
Pain darkened her eyes. “My Giles died a little over a year and a half ago.”
And it was then he noticed her dress was a dark bombazine gown. “I am deeply sorry.”
"We have rallied, and I daresay the girls shall be fine."
He glanced around the parlor once more, it testified to how much they have been struggling. “Did my mother get a chance to look upon me or did she pass immediately after birthing me?”
His unexpected question froze his aunt.
He raked a hand through his hair. “I found some diaries, and she had so looked forward to seeing me…I wondered if she got the chance,” he said gruffly, a bit embarrassed by his sentimentality.
Judith’s eyes softened with sympathy. “My dear boy, your mother had not died a few minutes after birthing you,” she said. “But three days later.”
“She suffered?” he demanded hoarsely.
“The opposite. I had never seen her happier.”
Confusion rushed through him. “I do not understand.”
"It was the childbed fever which took her. But in those three days, for hours she held you in her arms and sang. Whenever you cried, all she had to do was sing, and you would fall into a contented sleep. She died in her sleep, with a smile on her face, and I cannot help think it was thoughts of you and the earl who had comforted her.”
“My father believed my size killed her.”
She gasped. “Rubbish! In my experience, childbed fever can happen with babes of any size. Your father was a wounded lion, and nothing could have made him better. Only Georgiana, and she was gone from him."
The oddest sensation tugged deep inside of him. “Thank you for telling me.”
His aunt smiled. “I am glad you got my letters.”
They spoke well into the afternoon. He then met his two cousins who were quite lovely, having taken after their mother. Their excitement to meet him had been contagious, and he had found himself chatting quite comfortably with them when he had always been a man who was reserved with new acquaintances. He learned the girls had not come out and had never been to London since they did not possess land or dowry to attract any suitors.The cottage they now lived in had not been the one they had grown up in, but their father’s heir, a distant cousin, had removed them from their home once he took possession. They had been living a retrenched life on a small widow’s portion, which had been bequeathed to Judith. He was invited to stay for dinner which he accepted, and by the end of the meal, James had persuaded his aunt and cousins to live with him in London, permanently.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Verity smiled at the charming young man who bowed over her gloved hands. He was barely an inch or two above her in height, his manners were pleasing, unpretentious, civil, and she did not feel threatened by him in any way. This man, Viscount Stanhope, had a distinguished reputation and was considered the first cut of a gentleman. His estates boasted an income of over thirty thousand pounds a year, a rumor existed he was overly generous with his servants, and he was in want of a wife. Many maters and their daughters had fluttered when he'd entered Lady Prendergast's ballroom, dreams of being his viscountess filling their hearts.
"Will you honor me with a dance, Lady Verity? I have been told the waltz will be announced now," he murmured with a good-natured smile as he rose from his bow.
She dipped into a curtsy. "I would be delighted, my lord." And she allowed him to escort her toward the dancefloor. He had been at the ball for over two hours, and Verity was the only person he'd asked to dance for the evening. Several brows rose at that significant action. Lord Stanhope was the ideal type of gentleman she had planned to set her cap for, yet as Veritystrolled onto the dancefloor with him, she felt no sense of thrill or anticipation.
Her thoughts were simply too occupied with missing James. It had been a full week since James had disappeared. His note had been infused with a sense of cryptic urgency.
Dear Vincent,
At first, she had grinned at that salutation. And she understood that greeting, for if his note had been intercepted, the reader would assume it was delivered to the wrong address.
I regret I must cancel our lesson for the foreseeable future.
That part had filled her with alarm and confusion. Whatever did he mean? Had it been their kiss the night before and the wicked and scandalous way she had clung to his shoulders? Or had it been her wanton entreaty for more? Just recalling it brought a flush to her cheeks.
There is a matter I must deal with that cannot be delayed. I apologize and will speak with you upon my return.
Yours, J.
