Page 14 of Love Thy Enemy (The Vaughns #4)

G regory’s brows snapped upward, but thankfully, the lady’s gaze was affixed to the ground, thus missing that flash of weakness before he was able to gain control of his features once more.

A small admission was hardly a sign of good character, as she likely employed it only to gain his sympathy.

Just as she had apologized to soften his heart.

“I wish I could deny your accusation, Mr. Vaughn,” she continued, her hands twisting the fabric of her skirts. “Or I wish I could claim I was in dire straits and had no other choice—”

Gregory scoffed. “There is always a choice. You may dress it up in whatever justifications you wish, but just because you do not care for the options before you, doesn’t mean you were forced to pick the worse of the two.”

Mrs. Stuart’s chin jerked up, her eyes rising to meet his. “I know that, sir. I did not say otherwise. I said I wished I could claim such a thing. Not that I was claiming it.”

Ah, the righteous indignation. Gregory struggled to keep his reaction in check, as engaging with a stubborn fool would only earn him a megrim. But surely she did not think him such a simpleton that her mock affront would soften his heart?

Relaxing her hands, Mrs. Stuart changed course once more, lifting them in placation as she affixed a pleading smile on her lips. “Please, Mr. Vaughn, I do not wish to fight. Surely, we might put the past aside and do what is best for the children.”

“As if you know what is best for the children,” he muttered.

Despite the quiet of his retort, Mrs. Stuart’s lips thinned even further, though Gregory refused to spare even a fleeting flash of guilt at having been overheard.

If the lady didn’t wish to be painted a villainess, she ought to give more thought to what was best for her children rather than feigning an interest when it suited her.

“I know you are distraught. You are mourning the loss of your friend just as my children are mourning their father,” she continued, drawing in a deep breath, though the edges of her temper were making themselves known in the tightness of her syllables. “With him gone, I am all they have left.”

Gregory wasn’t easily riled. With a younger brother like Edward, patience was something one learned at an early age, and though he’d heard Mother speak of her fiery temperament once upon a time, he couldn’t imagine her in a rage. None of the Vaughns boasted tempers.

Yet hearing Mrs. Stuart say such a thing made the pressure in his chest build like steam in a locomotive engine. Feigning concern for her children was infuriating enough, but hearing her speak of Rodney—the man whom she had tormented for years—was like dumping shovelfuls of coal into the firebox.

“Gone.” As though her husband had simply stepped away for a bit. Gregory couldn’t say whether that blasé statement was more or less provoking than the implications running through the rest of her words.

“I assure you, madam, they are not alone,” he said, resting a fist against the doorframe. “As long as those children breathe, they will always have me. What they do not need is an absentee mother making an appearance simply to stoke her vanity.”

Mrs. Stuart sucked in a sharp breath, her muscles tensing, though Gregory had thought the description quite gentle compared to that which he wished to say.

“Even when his body was wracked with agony, and every lungful caused him excruciating pain, he pleaded with me to watch over them,” he added.

“Rodney knew he was dying, yet he didn’t fear for himself.

He feared what would happen to his children when he was not here to protect them from you .

I gave my word that I would stand in his stead, and I will not break my promise.

I will do everything in my power to keep them safe and happy. ”

*

One could sense trouble afoot before it happened.

The more observant one was, the more readily one could discern what was to come.

One need only be aware (both of oneself and human nature) to predict such things.

It took no power of premonition to know one ought not to hand a delicate teacup full of liquid to a young child. Experience was power enough.

And when Tessa had boarded the coach to Thornsby, she’d known that approaching her children’s guardian would be an arduous task—one fraught with misinformation and bias that would take time to overcome.

Mr. Vaughn’s hostility was understandable, given that he’d had years of Rodney filling his ears with poison, and in many respects, Tessa was grateful her children’s guardian took his duty so seriously.

Doubly so, as it was clear that he harbored affection for them.

What she hadn’t predicted was her behavior.

Even with two days to steel herself, Tessa’s control was quickly fraying. Forcing herself to breathe, she pushed against the tension that had her chest tightening as Mr. Vaughn’s gaze hardened.

“And you view it as your duty to protect them from me?” she asked in a clipped tone. “I am their mother.”

The gentleman didn’t go so far as to scoff, but his tone was steeped in ridicule. “That well may be, but I am their guardian, and in the eyes of the law, my claim trumps yours. Rodney was clear in his desires, and I will not blacken his memory or fall short of the duty I owe him and his children.”

“ My children.” Tessa forced her mouth closed, breathing through the feelings that yearned to be set free.

It would not help matters. She had spent so many years learning to rein in her tongue, which too often bolted free of her control, and she was not going to be undone by Mr. Vaughn.

“I assure you, sir, that neither Rodney nor my children require protection from my care and affection.”

“From what I understand, your definition of ‘care and affection’ is something the children can do well without,” he retorted, stepping back into his workshop. “Now, please take your leave. There is much I have to do today—”

“No!” Gritting her teeth, Tessa forced in another breath, only then realizing that she was scowling. Thankfully, her features were far more obedient than her temper, for they relaxed the moment their mistress commanded it. Even if her expression felt unnaturally stiff.

Having Mr. Vaughn stand there, watching her with that stony expression of his, did not help matters.

Thankfully, this was a familiar position.

How many times during the course of her business had she spoken with men whose condescending manners left much to be desired?

This was simply another negotiation between business associates, and a level head must prevail.

Tessa had managed precarious deals before.

Focus on that. And not Mr. Vaughn’s impertinence.

“Forgive me, sir,” she continued, managing a far more politic tone as she stepped further into the room. “I know this is a difficult situation, but surely that is precisely why we ought not to rush matters.”

“But that is the very heart of this disagreement, Mrs. Stuart. I do not believe this ‘situation’ is difficult at all. It seems quite clear to me. Rodney’s final wishes were explicit, and I will not go against them. I will protect those children—”

“From what? A mother’s love?” Tessa spoke, her fists settling on her hips before she knew what she was about, but it was difficult to muster enough sense to care that she was slipping into old habits. And just as she was grasping onto her control again, Mr. Vaughn spoke.

“If they had a mother who loved them, I wouldn’t hesitate to allow her into their lives.”

“How dare you!” she said through gritted teeth, fighting against the instinct that had her hand wanting to slap his face. “You haven’t the slightest notion of what I feel for my children.”

“They say actions speak louder than words, madam,” he replied with a challenging glint in his eye. “And your abandoning your children speaks volumes.”

Tessa straightened. “Rodney forced me from the house and threatened to cut off his own children if I did not leave them be—and all because he got it into his head that I was unfaithful, though I never was.”

For all that her fury burned in her veins, those four words (tacked on the end before she could think better of it) singed her mouth.

Breath catching, Tessa tried to keep her eyes fixed on the man before her, but they darted away as the past flooded her mind.

A hesitation. A momentary flinch that she smothered as soon as it appeared.

Forcing herself to meet his gaze, Tessa straightened, but the silence that followed hung between them like a miasma, clawing at her skin as she tried to ignore the bitter taste the words had left on her tongue.

“I am certain you were a perfect saint, and your husband was the devil incarnate,” replied Mr. Vaughn in a dry tone.

“Hardly—”

“And what reason would Rodney have to threaten his children like that?” he demanded, speaking over her.

Tessa considered that question, though she knew he wouldn’t care for the answer. “He despised me and knew it was the only way to keep me from them.”

Silence fell, and Mr. Vaughn stood there, his arms folded as he studied her.

Tessa scoured his features for some sign of the gentleman she’d come to know during their trip to Thornsby.

Quiet he may have been, but Sir Stoneface had been kind.

Despite so many men dismissing her business acumen, he had spoken to her as an equal, which was a rare treasure.

And what he had shared of his dealings had shown him to be insightful and intelligent.

Surely he would see the truth.

Drawing in a deep breath, Mr. Vaughn let it out with a halting chuckle.

“If you are going to lie, you had best make your tales more believable. A grave misunderstanding between spouses is one thing, but you are a fool if you think I will believe Rodney would threaten his children’s welfare like that.

Whatever his flaws, he was a doting father. Almost to a fault.”

Mr. Vaughn leaned against his desk, those frustrating arms of his still folded. “You, on the other hand, abandoned your family for a fling with a paramour, choosing your pleasure over your children—”

“I did not!” Tessa forced in a breath, but it did no good.

Her tentative control was slipping, and she felt herself sliding into old habits.

It was as though the past had opened up like a gaping maw, swallowing her whole.

Gone were all the years of effort she had put forth to keep her temper in check, and she was reverting once more to the Tessa she despised.

The Tessa who had landed her in this trouble in the first place.

It was time to retreat.

“I understand your skepticism. I hadn’t thought him capable of such a thing either, yet it happened,” she managed before stepping toward the door. “But clearly, we are getting nowhere today. Perhaps I should return another time to discuss this further.”

“There is nothing to discuss,” he said.

Tessa paused, her muscles tightening, straining at the fraying edges of her self-control, and then, forcing one foot in front of the other, she fled the apothecary shop.