Page 6 of Her Honorable Viscount (Noble Pursuits #3)

CHAPTER 6

D ot was on edge. It had been a week, and she still hadn’t heard anything from Lady Carroway.

She’d like to think that luck was on her side or that she had misjudged the countess, but she had a feeling that Lady Carroway was biding her time, waiting to use this secret against Dot.

That or she was planning on exposing her in magnificent style.

“Dot, what is with the long face?”

Dot looked up at the address, realizing she had been staring into space. She sat in the drawing room with her mother, Eliza, and six sisters. Most of them were occupied in various pastimes. Henrietta was playing the pianoforte, Georgiana was doing needlepoint, yelping now and then when she pricked her finger, and Betty and Daphne, the youngest, were playing a game of cards. Sloane was draped over a chair, fast asleep. Sarah was painting, sneezing periodically as she always did at this time of year when the seasons changed.

Dot looked around, wondering who had spoken, finding that only her mother was looking at her.

“Nothing,” she said. “All is well.”

In truth, besides her conundrum with Lady Carroway, she was also trying to determine how she would excuse herself for the afternoon without calling any attention. Her family knew of her secret occupation, but that didn’t mean her mother was thrilled about it. Every time Dot left the house, she had to face her mother’s judging stare as she began to lament why Dot wasn’t married despite being four-and-twenty.

“You have that look about you,” her mother said.

“What look?”

“The one that tells me something is afoot.”

“Very well,” Dot sighed as she rose. “I have a meeting to attend.”

“A meeting?” her mother said. “Is this to do with your…” She waved her hand in the air as a pinched expression crossed her face, as though she couldn’t say the words aloud.

“My occupation as a midwife?”

Her mother let out a sound near to a cry.

“Yes, it is,” Dot said resolutely before striding toward the door.

“Dot, I do not think?—”

“I appreciate your opinion, Mother. I truly do, but I must go, or I will be late. We can speak of this later.”

Or never.

She had just entered the corridor when the butler approached with a tray carrying the day’s mail. Dot cringed as she did every time she saw the mail since Lady Carroway’s discovery.

“A letter for you, Lady Dot,” he said, picking it up from the tray and passing it over to her.

Dot formed a small smile for him, even as her heart dropped, already knowing what the letter would hold.

She practically ripped the seal apart, then opened the note with trembling fingers.

Lady Dot,

Seeing you the other day was such a pleasure despite the circumstances that brought you to my house.

I told you we would be speaking again, and here we are.

Your brother recently introduced a bill to Parliament that my husband is not pleased about. Convince Lord Fitzroy to reconsider, or I will share your secret.

Make haste.

Lady Carroway

Dot pressed a hand against her stomach. Fitz had worked so hard to introduce his bill to Parliament despite the many people against him – including Lord Mandrake.

Fitz had stood up for what he believed in and nearly lost his life. Now, Lady Carroway wanted Dot to ask him to throw away everything for which he had worked so hard in order to keep her secret.

And yet – a niggling thought on Dot’s other shoulder chimed in – had she not worked hard as well for what she was doing? Was her cause not also worth saving? Just because it wasn’t expected didn’t mean it was worthless.

She rubbed her forehead as she glanced at the longcase clock. She couldn’t solve this now. She had to go, or she would be late.

John was waiting for her once she had retrieved everything she needed. She assumed this was a meeting with a new patient, but she still brought her bag. She could also use some of Magda’s tools if necessary.

“Anything of importance happening today, my lady?” John asked, and she smiled at him.

“One never knows, John,” she said brightly, hiding unease. “One never knows.”

He nodded as he followed her into Soho, Dot walking as fast as possible to arrive on time.

“Dot!” Magda was waiting at the door as she walked up. “Your patient has arrived.”

“Oh, good,” she said, stepping into the warm room and finding the young woman sitting on a chair in Magda’s living space. She held a cup of tea between her thin hands, her gaze wary as it landed on Dot.

“Good afternoon,” Dot said, sitting beside her and giving her a welcoming smile. She understood this could be a trying situation for anyone, especially if the woman hadn’t planned on finding herself in such a predicament.

“What’s your name?” she asked the woman, who she guessed to be her own age or slightly younger.

“Adelaide,” she said, her voice strong, holding a note of defiance.

“Are you here alone?”

The woman shrugged, trying to play off that it didn’t matter, although Dot sensed that she cared more than she was letting on.

“I couldn’t say. The baby’s father’s brother arranged this out of guilt likely, or fear that this secret would cause scandal. He said he would be here. If he isn’t, I must tell you, I can’t pay.” Her fingers tapped against the cup before she set it on the table before her. “Perhaps I should go.”

“No, please don’t,” Dot said, reaching over, about to pat the woman’s knee until she saw her warning look and she retracted her hand instead. “If you cannot pay, you cannot pay. I will not turn you away.”

“You would still treat me?” Adelaide said in disbelief. “Why? No one does anything around here without pay.”

“I am not anyone,” Dot said, using the excuse she always did. “I have a benefactor who provides me with payment for those who cannot do so themselves.”

“How fortunate.”

“It is.”

“Now—” Dot started to ask her a question when there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll answer it,” Magda said, walking over and opening the door, allowing in some chillier air and the scent of lemon verbena and cedarwood.

A distinctive scent that Dot recognized. But why?

Adelaide’s eyes widened. “Michael? You came?”

Dot turned around, seeing two tall, broad silhouettes before her. She squinted, trying to make out their features, but it was difficult as the light from the open door and the windows shone behind them.

“Adelaide,” one of the men said cautiously. “How are you?”

“I am fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” he said, stepping forward, allowing the light to hit his face. Dot recognized him – but from where? “What happened to you? You do not look well.”

Adelaide bristled. “How nice to see you too.”

“Lady Dot?”

Dot froze as the other man spoke, cutting through the tension in the air.

There was no question as to who that voice belonged to. She knew it far too well. She heard it in her dreams when it would cause shivers of pleasure through her body. And it surprised her to hear it here, in a place where she should not be meeting him.

Not again.

Edward could hardly believe what he was seeing.

He had rushed Michael to the address, having taken hours to convince him to accompany him. Finally, his brother only agreed when Edward told him he would otherwise cut him off.

Edward had assumed that the woman opening the door was the midwife, and he immediately recognized Adelaide sitting on the couch, although, from her posture, it was apparent she was not thrilled about being there.

It had taken a moment for him to pay attention to the third woman in the room, for he had assumed she was a friend of Adelaide’s.

Then she had spoken, and he had been shocked to discover just who he was looking at.

“Lady Dot?” he said, the realization shocking him as they stared at one another for a moment. He wasn’t sure who was most dismayed by his arrival.

“What are you doing here?” he finally managed.

“Lord Mandrake,” she said, regaining her composure as she stood and smoothed her gown. “And Mr. Redgrave.”

“Lady Dot,” Michael said with a slight bow, his gray eyes, so like Lord Mandrake’s, glinting with mischief as he looked up at her.

“Are you a benefactor of some sort?” Edward said, unable to believe any other explanation. “Is that what you are doing here in Soho? What you were doing in Shoreditch?”

“Something like that,” she said, although uneasiness was hiding behind her composure. Edward knew instantly that she was hiding something.

“This is the midwife,” Adelaide said, her eyes wide and her tone accusatory as she gestured toward Dot. “Aren’t you?”

The uncertainty that had crossed Dot’s face cleared, and she closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them, Edward could read the determination within them.

“Yes,” she said. “I am.”

Edward could only stare at her, even as he felt Michael’s gaze upon him, apparently interested in how he would take this news.

“But you can’t be a midwife,” he finally managed. “You are a lady. Lord Fitzroy’s sister.”

“I am,” she said, straightening her shoulders and holding her head high. “And I can assure you that it is completely possible to be Lord Fitzroy’s sister while also a midwife.”

“How?”

“That is a story for another time,” she said. “One that I will be happy to share with you. In the meantime, this appointment is for Adelaide. I assume that you were the one to make it?”

“I was,” he said, realizing she would now know he was connected to Adelaide’s pregnancy. Suddenly, the importance of Dot understanding the baby was not his became the priority over all the other secrets that permeated the room. “I am not the father,” he said in a hurry, and amusement danced over her face at his declaration.

“I assume that would be you, Mr. Redgrave,” she said with a small smile.

Michael cleared his throat as he clasped his hands in front of him. “That would be correct.”

“I see,” she said, nodding before continuing. “Well, I make no judgments nor concern myself with the situation. I am here to see to the health of the mother and baby. As for the role we are all playing here, I think we could all agree to keep one another’s secrets amongst ourselves?”

They were all silent for a moment before Edward nodded. Not that he had needed a secret to be kept in return for keeping hers, but he was happy to know they were all in agreement.

“Of course, Lady Dot,” he said before elbowing Michael until he murmured his assent.

“Very well,” she said before returning to sit near Adelaide. “I am Dot here. No Lady.”

Edward was baffled by all of this and was relieved to finally sit with a thud.

His role was apparently finished, as Dot turned to Adelaide and began speaking to her instead.

“Now, how far along are you?” she said, and the woman sighed.

“I would have fallen pregnant about three months ago,” she said, her eyes flicking to Michael, who sat beside her gingerly. Adelaide shifted slightly away from him. “It was the last time I was with a man, and I hadn’t been for some time before that.”

“Are you certain?” Michael asked, and Edward could have kicked him.

“Yes,” she hissed, shooting fire from her eyes. “I may work in a tavern, but I am not some tavern wench. I thought you were different.”

Her eyes cast down before her as Michael countered, “I am different.”

“How?”

“I am here, am I not?”

“Because your brother made you come,” Adelaide muttered, and Edward’s heart sank as he wondered if he had made a mistake.

“Michael has expressed concern about you and the baby,” Edward said, praying for forgiveness for his small lie. When Adelaide brightened slightly, he was convinced he had done the right thing.

He couldn’t stop watching Dot throughout the entire exchange.

What she had said hadn’t just been words. She indeed didn’t appear to be judging any of them, although her curiosity was apparent.

He wasn’t sure he could say the same for himself and his opinions about her and her role here.

He could respect a woman wanting a hobby, but a midwife?

It wasn’t so much judgment that filled him but disappointment. He had thought this woman could be his wife, but how could that ever be possible when she held such a profession? It was respectable for a woman of a lesser class, but no lady could be a midwife.

He wondered if her brother knew.

He was so caught up in his questions and emotions that he had lost track of the conversation, and he began to listen again as he realized that some of Adelaide’s answers would affect his own life.

“How is your health?”

Adelaide shrugged, but she didn’t need to say anything to answer.

The heavy black circles he had noticed under her eyes were still present, and she was far too thin, especially for someone expecting a baby. Her skin was pale and drawn underneath her worn clothing, especially in contrast to her dark hair.

Dot leaned toward her, her voice gentle. “I know how hard it is to look after yourself at any time, but it is especially important while you are growing new life. You need to eat as well as you can, rest, and be gentle with yourself. I know that is easy for me to say and hard to put into practice, but I am sure that these gentlemen here can provide some resources for you to do so.”

She looked at Michael and then to Edward, raising a brow in question.

Michael only looked at Edward for the answer.

It was up to him. It always was, wasn’t it?

“Anything you need,” he agreed, splaying his hands before him. “I have already offered your brother a considerable sum.”

Adelaide snorted. “My brother will keep the money for himself while having me work to ‘pay it off.’ Come, my lord, you must know I will never see any of it.”

“Well, we will pay Lad—Dot directly, so you do not need to worry about that. We will also make sure you have proper clothing and anything else we can provide you.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Adelaide said quietly.

“What are you going to do?” Michael suddenly interjected.

“What do you mean?” Adelaide’s brow creased as she answered him.

“Once the baby comes. Who is going to look after the child? Look after you?”

Adelaide bit her lip. “Do you not think that I would also like to know that, Michael? I’ll do the best I can, as everyone else does. I suppose I’ll have to live with my brother, continue to work, and find someone else to look after the baby.”

Michael stood, nearly shaking in agitation as he began to pace back and forth over the worn carpet, the rest of them watching him in surprise.

“No,” he muttered. “No, no, no.”

“What else do you want me to do?”

Michael ran a hand through his hair until it was standing on end, and he finally stopped, turning around to stare at Adelaide.

“I’ll take care of you.”

“You have said that,” Adelaide voiced patiently, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “And I appreciate that. But?—”

“No, I will take care of you. Both of you. From now on.”

Edward stilled as he realized just what his brother was saying. He was proud of him for taking accountability for something for once in his life, and his heart was plummeting as he realized what this would mean for him. For their family.

“Michael—” Adelaide began while Edward didn’t seem to be able to speak or move.

“You will marry me.”