Page 35 of Pursued Beyond Treachery (Harrowed Hearts #2)

J ohnathan lifted his sleepy head and glanced around the paneled room lined with books. Why was he in the study?

Running a hand through his rumpled blond hair, he stared down at the desk. Crumpled papers littered its surface, but in the middle under his spectacles was one nicely folded square.

He’d only meant to lay his head on the desk for a moment after he’d finished, but apparently he’d fallen asleep.

Gathering the remains of his late-night writing into a pile, he vowed to replace all the paper he’d wasted, or perhaps he could repurpose these pieces. He’d seen paper made often enough in Maidstone. It could not be too difficult to soak and re-screen old pieces.

The door opened and Johnathan straightened.

“You look terrible,” Nate said as he took in his appearance. “Did you stay up all night? You are still in your evening wear.”

“Not all night. I had a letter to write.”

“And you could not wait until morning?”

“No.” Not wanting to answer any more questions, he quickly tucked the finished square into his jacket pocket. Fishing out a coin, he set it on the desk. “For all the paper.”

Nate grabbed up one of the crumpled pieces that had fallen to the floor. “My dearest Susannah—”

Johnathan yanked it out of his hands before he could read another word, but not before a huge grin spread across Nate’s face.

“Best clean up before you deliver the finished product.” He slapped Johnathan on the back, then sniffed. “Make sure to wash well.”

With a roll of his eyes, Johnathan left to the sound of Nate’s soft chuckles.

A half hour later, washed, shaved, and redressed, he returned downstairs. He was too nervous to eat breakfast and he had no idea where to find Susannah, but he could wait no longer.

Someone cleared their throat and he glanced up.

Mr. Guthrie stood alone in the entryway. “I believe the footman went in search of you.”

“Ah, yes.” He stared at the pudgy man, his mind going to his letter. He didn’t want to have an interview with Mr. Guthrie just now, but it would probably be best to do so before speaking with Susannah. He needed to clear the way so there would be no more obstacles.

“This way.” He gestured down the hall to the study he’d left only a half hour ago. They passed the footman on their way and he nodded in acknowledgement, releasing the man to see to other duties.

When they entered, Johnathan found Nate, Al, and Eddie seated near the fire. He stopped. Perhaps another room would be better for this discussion.

“Come in,” Eddie said. “We have been waiting for you, Mr. Guthrie.”

The man visibly swallowed. It was one thing to have to face a viscount, but quite another to also face a baronet, a future baron, and the nephew of a duke.

Johnathan noted the extra chairs that had been brought in.

It seemed his friends were here to provide added incentive for the man to hold his ground against his wife.

Once they were all seated, Johnathan shared what he knew.

Mr. Guthrie listened quietly, not contesting or denying anything he said.

“Is this true, Mr. Guthrie? Did your wife pay Mr. Wallace to pretend interest in Miss Wayland?”

“Yes.” He shook his balding head. “It is all true. And sorry I am to admit it. I first received knowledge of it from Lady Braithwaite who arrived at my house, a sniffling Miss Wallace with her. The young lady told of her brother’s arrangement, and I immediately left to collect my wife from the Durhams’ ball.

” He cast a glance at all of them. “Please know that I had nothing to do with this. My wife acted of her own volition and I do not condone her behavior.”

“And what was Miss Wallace’s part in all of this?” Johnathan had to know. If the plan had been to point him in Miss Guthrie’s direction, why have another contender?

Wrinkles formed on Mr. Guthrie’s forehead. “As I said, she revealed her brother's dealings.”

But not her own. Had she acted alone hoping that by exposing Miss Guthrie she’d be able to somehow catch him for herself? If so, she’d be sorely disappointed. With the way swept clear, there was nothing holding him back from Susannah.

Except Susannah herself.

“How did your wife control your niece?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Miss Wayland and I have been friends for quite some time, then suddenly she became cold and distant. What threat did your wife use to keep her away?”

The man’s bushy eyebrows furrowed. “I know nothing of that. Only my wife’s dealings with Mr. Wallace.”

A light tap at the door announced the butler before he opened it.

“Excuse me, but Lady Stanford has sent me to fetch Sir Nathaniel.” Then taking in the room's occupants, the man said, “Mr. Guthrie. I had not realized you had attended your daughter here. Would you like her to await you in the vestibule?”

“My daughter?”

“Yes, she is nearly finished speaking with Miss Wayland and asked that her things be fetched.”

Johnathan stood, anxiety clawing at his throat. If Miss Guthrie had come to cause any more harm to Susannah… He marched out of the room, Mr. Guthrie struggling to follow.

“Where are they?” he asked the butler who scurried to keep up.

“In the sitting room. I am sorry, my lord, I had not thought it—”

“Never mind your apologies.”

Johnathan turned briskly into the indicated room and pulled up short. Susannah sat on the settee, smiling. Across from her was not Miss Guthrie, but Miss Martha.

“Martha?” Mr. Guthrie asked from behind him.

The woman’s blue eyes widened. “Father?” She pulled a timepiece from her pocket and gasped. “I have been here far longer than I intended.”

“Do not trouble yourself,” Susannah said. “I have enjoyed our visit. It has been very enlightening.”

Miss Martha glanced at her father. “Even so, I have been saying I am on my way out for quite some time. I should hold through with my promise.”

Both women rose and briefly embraced. The sight caught Johnathan so off guard that no words would form. No malice remained in the air, something he’d not expected to find when he’d charged down the hall.

Miss Martha crossed to her father and Johnathan moved close to Susannah.

“Are you alright?” he whispered.

Her warm brown eyes sparkled in the morning light and she nodded.

Mr. Guthrie cleared his throat. “Lord Newhurst, I want you to know that no more ill shall come your way, at least not from the women in my household. As for myself, please accept my apologies and well wishes for your future.”

Then the man unexpectedly turned to Susannah. “I am sorry, my dear, for the harm my wife has caused you. I am not as aware as I should be of her comings and goings, but I promise to be more watchful.”

Susannah cast him a gentle smile. “Thank you, Uncle Guthrie.” She shifted from one foot to the other and Johnathan felt the awkwardness of the moment. He’d expected to have to threaten the man and perhaps demand an apology, but Mr. Guthrie had offered his help without reservation.

“I do have one question,” Susannah finally said.

“What is that?”

“How much are my father’s debts?”

“Your father’s debts?” Johnathan echoed Mr. Guthrie’s question.

The man looked to him in confusion and then as if the sun had risen in his mind, his eyes widened. Johnathan’s realization took a moment longer, but when it struck a slow smile formed on his face.

Mr. Guthrie spoke first. “Am I to assume that my wife indicated your father had many debts?”

Susannah nodded. “She threatened to have them called up.”

Johnathan rubbed his upper lip to cover his smile. “It is difficult to call up debts a man does not have.”

“But, our house. You have seen the furniture. And the lack of proper servants.”

Susannah’s doe-like eyes burrowed into him and the concern and disbelief he saw there tamped down his amusement. She’d truly thought her father one step from social ruin.

“Y-your father is a frugal man, wise with his money and careful in his costs. That is why I turned to him for help with my own properties. He has no debts. And with your mother’s dowry, he has enough to give your brothers a decent start in life.”

“But my dowry?”

“Is s-set to avoid fortune hunters but is sufficient for your needs.” He lowered his voice. “Especially now.”

Pink touched her round cheeks and the moisture in his throat grew thick.

“It seems I have more apologies to make on my wife’s behalf,” Mr. Guthrie said, breaking Johnathan’s focus and reminding him that others were still in the room.

Susannah shook her head. “It is not for you to take on all your wife’s misdeeds. She is a grown woman and can carry them herself. Think no more of it, Uncle Guthrie. I do not hold you accountable.”

The man’s shoulders relaxed. “You are very generous. Thank you.” He reached out and placed a hand lightly at Miss Martha’s back. “Shall we go?”

She nodded. “Good day, Susannah, Lord Newhurst.”

“Good day, Martha.” Susannah said. “And a good day to you, Uncle Guthrie.”

Johnathan nodded to them both but said nothing.

In a few moments they would be gone and the time would come for him to speak.

And if the words would not come… he patted the letter in his pocket.

He’d repeated the words so many times to himself last night that they burned brightly in his mind.

If his mouth failed him at least his letter would convey all the elegance of thought his heart wished to shout to the world.