Page 26 of Scandalous Heiress
“I said no, Richard.”
“I must have it to pay a doctor—”
“Are you ill?”The duke leaned forward and examined Richard’s face.
“No, Papa.But it’s for a friend.”
The old man fell backward in his chair, his regard of his oldest son clear and accusative.“Who’s the friend?”
Richard did his best to suppress a squirm.“Sir—”
The old man harrumphed.“A woman.”
“If I’m to marry, sir, I cannot have this lady pester—”
“Isshe a lady?”the duke asked, narrowing his watery eyes to slits.“Doubt it.Has your package, doesn’t she?”
Richard had the grace to look sheepish.“Yes.”
Old angers burst like fireworks inside Victor.A woman who needed an abortion lest she present her husband with another man’s child was a nightmare he’d outgrown.Here it was, now his brother’s…and Richard was the perpetrator.He stared at this man, learning him anew.His stomach clenching, he tasted bile.
The duke cursed.“First this business with bedding Wales’ mistress right under his nose, now a by-blow!Is it Dundalk’s wife who’s pregnant?”
Richard swallowed hard.“Yes.”
Victor shot from his chair.
Their father banged his fist on his armrest.“You fool!He can bring charges.”
A legal case.‘Criminal conversation’ accusing Richard of adultery with Dundalk’s wife.That would mean an open trial.Scandal that would live for decades.And so would the illegitimate child.Victor could not bear the violence of his memories.He strode to the window, pulled wide the drapes to peer out on the wasteland that he might have faced with Alicia.But she’d aborted the baby in question, nearly dying, and they’d survived that particular scandal.
“He won’t do that, Father, I tell you,” Richard said with all penitence.“He doesn’t know she’s pregnant.Besides, it can’t be mine.She says it is, but it’s Wales’ brat.He’s had her more than I have!”
Victor faced his brother of whom in early youth, he had once been proud.Once.But still.Once.
The duke shook his head.Waved his finger at his oldest.Sputtered and caught his spittle, then asked, “What in hell do you do all day, man?”
Richard blanched.“I will marry soon.For you.For us.I must clear my name first.This will do it.”
“No.No money.Pay for her abortion yourself.Get out.”The old man slumped in his chair.“Go.”
Victor heard the tone implying their father was through with this audience.Catching Richard’s eye, he rose and led Richard away.
As Victor closed the door behind him, his father called out, “And you will not ask your mother for it.I forbid it.”
“Come talk with me, Vic?”
“No.My answer is no, Richard.”Victor was the last person on earth who would give Richard a ‘loan’ to cover his mistakes.He’d fought too hard for too long to earn a decent living.He’d not throw it away on his brother’s mistakes.Let him figure out how to save himself as I did when scandal stalked my door.
Searching for patience, Ada raised her face to the sunlight dappled through the trees.This gaggle of fellow walkers straggling along behind her was not what she’d envisioned for her morning walk.
It was past ten.The sun was growing warm.She’d discarded her bonnet.Would that she could as easily discard Madame Chaumont, who had surprised her by her readiness to accompany her.So too had Victor’s two daughters caught her and Chaumont as they descended the main stairs.They plus their nursemaid, the young Chinese girl whose name was Wu-lai, wanted to tag along.
Victor had taken Ada’s arm when first they left the house.But his brother had maneuvered himself to her other side.As the little girls called and commented to their father, Victor had left her to tend to them.
Richard’s proprietary attitude in the foyer upon arrival had chafed her.She usually delighted in making new acquaintances.Even if he was reputed to be a rogue, she had been ready to draw her own conclusions about his character.Everyone deserved that, she believed.But that beginning did not bode well and she wished to have Victor back beside her.But he was well occupied.
Wu-lai, a delicate creature, quiet and demure, spoke English to Victor’s girls.He in return spoke a mix of English and Chinese, all in an attempt to teach the maid and his daughters new words of both languages.That patience, that willingness to educate all of them, warmed Ada.She’d had a few teachers who had nurtured her own interest in a few subjects, botany foremost among them.A good teacher was a jewel to be treasured.
