Page 24 of The Accidental Countess (Accidentally in Love #1)

E mily’s body was numb, cold with fear as the coach pulled up to Nigel Barrow’s residence. The estate sprawled across acres of green fields, a stone manor with turrets similar to a castle.

Her husband had known she would come after him. In fact, he’d had a coach waiting, along with her packed belongings and the two footmen. Though she had tried to catch up to them, her coach had been mired in the muddy roads, and they’d lost several hours on the journey.

Then, too, she’d had to spend the night at an inn along the way. Even with her escorts, she’d hardly slept at all, worrying about someone following her.

Now, it had been a full day since she’d last seen Stephen and the children. She missed Royce and Victoria desperately, her heart sick with fear. How could Stephen have left her behind? It infuriated her that he’d done it, and she intended to blister his ears once she saw him again. Right now, the very thought of her husband made her want to strangle him.

As the footman helped her disembark from the coach, she moved as if in a trance. Nigel lived like a king, but it made her even more nervous at the thought. Though he was wealthy, it did not mean he would treat the children well.

A middle-aged footman with red hair welcomed her, accepting her cloak and bonnet, before leading her into the parlor. ‘Mr. Barrow hoped you would come, Lady Whitmore,“ he said. “I am Roberts, and if there is anything I can do to ensure your comforts, you need only give the orders. I’ve arranged for refreshments, and I shall inform Mr. Barrow of your arrival.”

Emily did not sit but studied the room. Oil paintings of landscapes hung at intervals, along with portraits she recognized. She saw her mother and father, and a deep loss cut through her. She had been only fourteen years old when her mother had died of consumption. And Father had—

She winced at the memory, not wanting to relive his death.

“Emily?”

She turned and saw Nigel. A stout gentleman, with long white whiskers and a balding pate, he gave her a warm smile. “I am delighted you have come. I hope you will stay for a while?”

She did not answer the question. She had come with the intention of taking Royce and Victoria back to Falkirk. Without prelude, she demanded, “Where are the children?”

“They are playing upstairs in the nursery. Would you care to see them? I promise you, I have not sent them to a workhouse or enslaved them.” His eyes gleamed with amusement.

“Yes, I want to see them.”

“Come, then.” Nigel offered her his arm, and she took it with reluctance. He leaned heavily upon a walking stick, and from his slow, steady movement, she realized Stephen was right. Nigel’s age revealed a weakness she’d not expected, and she saw the pain he tried to hide as he moved up the stairs.

“What about Lord Whitmore?” She tried to keep her voice nonchalant, but nerves broke through. “Is he here?”

Nigel tilted his head, stopping to catch his breath. “He is out riding, I believe. He told me you would arrive soon.” He led her down the west wing and gestured toward one of the doors. “The nursery is here.”

He was about to open it, but Emily stopped him. “A moment, please.” Nigel inclined his head, and she gently eased the door open. Inside, she saw Royce playing with his tin soldiers. The soldiers were lined up around a wooden castle, complete with catapults and wooden carts. He clashed the soldiers together in a mock battle.

Victoria was grasping the edge of a toy chest, holding fast while taking steps around it. She reached out to accept a biscuit from Anna.

As soon as she saw Emily, Victoria’s face lit up. “Mum-mum-mum,” she chortled. Then she crawled toward Emily, determined to reach her aunt with all haste.

Emily scooped the baby up, cuddling her close. She hadn’t known it was possible to miss the children this much. It was evident that they had been well treated.

Then Royce spied her. “Aunt Emily! There you are.” He flew into her arms, squeezing her tight.

“Are you enjoying your visit?” she asked while Victoria clutched her hair and tried to stuff it into her mouth.

Royce shrugged, seemingly uninterested. “There are a lot of toys.”

“I was just telling Royce that he should come with me tomorrow to help choose his own horse. He’ll have to decide what color he wants.” Nigel smiled indulgently.

The blatant bribery incensed her. How dare Nigel try to entice her nephew by offering a horse? But Royce seemed unaware of it, and he returned to his tin soldiers. His lack of excitement made her wary.

“Why don’t we go and have a chat?” Nigel suggested. “I’m certain you must have many questions for me.” He opened the door and gestured for Emily to accompany him.

She handed the baby back to Anna. Victoria let out a screech, but Emily dropped a kiss on the child’s cheek, stroking her hair. To her nephew, she added, “I will see you later, Royce.”

When they were alone, Emily commented, “Do you feel it necessary to buy his affections? My nephew is more intelligent than that.”

Nigel’s smile faded. “Is it wrong to provide the boy with the things he wishes to have? You would do the same, were you in my position.” As before, it took him some length of time to descend the stairs but at last they reached the parlor.

“Why should I believe you want to provide Royce and Victoria with toys and luxuries when you never lifted a finger to help the rest of our family?”

“Now that is not true at all. As I told Whitmore, I sent money to your father and your brother every year. It might not have been a fortune, but certainly it was enough to feed and clothe your family.”

“You sent nothing,” Emily replied, angry at his lies. “You abandoned us and went to India.”

His face paled. “Is that what your brother told you?” He looked visibly shaken. “I knew he gambled some of it away, but all of it? You truly thought I never cared?” An expression of pity moved over his face. “No wonder you must hate me so.”

He led her inside the parlor and sank down upon a pale blue wingback chair, signaling toward a parlor maid, who brought a tray of tea and refreshments. “Emily, would you pour, please? I’m afraid my hands aren’t as strong as they used to be.”

She did, noticing that his face was worn and haggard. Deep lines creased his mouth as he added sugar to the teacup. Nigel took a sip, his hands trembling. He cleared his throat. “I still cannot believe that Daniel withheld everything from you. It doesn’t seem possible.”

He set the cup upon the saucer. “I do not know what happened to the money, but I must explain matters to you. In particular, about the children. First, did your brother ever mention Royce’s inheritance?”

Emily thought of Daniel’s desperate attempts to bring in more money. “I don’t think there was anything left for Royce, except the entailed lands.”

Nigel’s concern doubled. “A few years ago, Daniel contacted me about a shipping investment he wanted to make. He borrowed money from me. The ship turned wonderful profits, enough to support your family in a fine manner. Then, from what I heard, he gambled the fortune away at the tables.”

Emily did not deny it, but she had difficulty believing Daniel would risk their future. “He did gamble, but he often brought home money to us.”

Nigel’s face sobered. “He gambled a great deal more than that, Emily. Which brings me to the children. I saw what was happening to your family, and I made an agreement with Hollingford last year. I would loan him money on another shipping venture, but with one condition.” He sipped the tea, adding even more sugar to the cup.

“You must understand, he was gambling away young Royce’s future. I could not let it happen. And so, I asked him to grant me guardianship of Royce, should anything happen to him. Hollingford changed his will accordingly. We took the profits and set the funds aside for Royce’s inheritance.” Nigel held his cup out and Emily refilled it.

“I am sure you believed I had something to gain by becoming the children’s guardian,” Nigel said. “But in all honesty, I was merely trying to protect Daniel’s son. Royce is my great-nephew, after all, and the new Baron Hollingford.”

Emily set down her own cup, a sudden fear rising up. She eyed Nigel, but he seemed to anticipate her worries.

Nigel smiled. “I can tell what you are thinking, but in all honesty, my dear, I never had any interest in your brother’s title. As you can see, money has never been a problem for me. I make my living buying and selling property.” He leaned forward. “But I am concerned for Royce. And for the family, now that I can see what has happened to you.”

A sad smile creased his face. “I presume that Daniel never told you where he’d hidden the money for Royce’s inheritance.”

Emily shook her head. “I knew nothing of it.”

He drained the cup and offered a slight smile. “Well, I am certain the funds will turn up. In the meantime, I’ve been wanting to congratulate you on your recent marriage.”

Emily would not let him distract her from the subject of the children. “Why did you want guardianship of the children?” she asked. “You have nothing to gain by it.”

His eyes softened, the lines growing deeper as he smiled. “I feel as though your brother has given me the chance to be a father. I want to experience that joy. Is there no greater gain than to watch a child grow up?”

His countenance transformed into a wistful smile. “I can understand your reluctance to let them go. Royce is such a mischievous young imp and Victoria a pure delight.”

If Nigel were lying, it did not seem so. His interest in the children appeared sincere, and there could be no doubt that he had offered them the greatest of comforts.

“If you wish to stay with us while your husband travels to London, it may ease your mind,” Nigel suggested. “Whitmore mentioned that he has business to attend there.”

Emily thought of the bitter argument between herself and Stephen. Perhaps it would not be so bad if she stayed with the children. At least then, she would know they were safe from harm.

“I have only a few of my belongings with me,” she admitted. “I came with all haste.”

“Would you allow me to gift you with some new clothes?” Nigel asked.

“No, really, I—”

“Allow me to put it this way,” Nigel said. “You were meant to grow up with lovely dresses and the best foods to eat. It was not your fault that your brother made other choices. This would be my way of making up for that.”

“I still—”

“No, I shall see the matter done. No arguments.” He rang a bell and when the servant appeared, Nigel made all the necessary arrangements. It was rather like being battered by a jovial thunderstorm.

He leaned forward and smiled at her. There was no trace of guile, no falsehood in his eagerness. “Now, I would love to hear the story of your marriage. Tell me everything.”

Nigel poured her another cup of tea, and Emily held it in her palms. She couldn’t believe she was drinking tea with the man who wanted to take the children from her. But she explained the story of their elopement, and Nigel beamed to hear it.

“Excellent. I am delighted to hear that you’ve made such a splendid match with a powerful man,” Nigel said. “And the earl is very organized and business-minded, from what I’ve heard.”

Emily thought of Stephen’s immaculate library, his neat handwriting documenting every estate expense in a numbered log, in ordered columns. Then, too, he had been detail-oriented when he’d made love to her, kissing every inch of her body. She ordered herself not to think of it.

“I am certain you’ll want to go and speak with him,” Nigel remarked. “It warms my heart to see your tender feelings.”

Missing him was not exactly what she felt at the moment. Confusion mingled with anger, perhaps. “We are married, nothing more.”

“But you must enjoy your new position as a countess. Surely it is far better than you dreamed.”

She expelled a harsh laugh. “I am no countess at all.”

“Do you feel unworthy of the status?” Nigel suggested.

“What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “It is not surprising. You never received the upbringing of a lady. Why would you feel comfortable married to an earl? The responsibilities of a countess are many.”

“Are you trying to insult me?”

He shook his head, his features suddenly piercing. “I was offering to help you. I think our visit could be put to good use. With new gowns and the appropriate training, I believe you would do quite well.”

Emily thought of the last ball and shuddered. “No, thank you.”

“Still afraid, are you? I thought you had more courage than that.”

“I have more sense than that. They are cruel to outsiders.” She had no desire to be on display where others would see her faults.

“And who has been cruel to you? The Marquess of Rothburne?”

The mention of her father-in-law made her wince. “How do you know about the marquess?”

Nigel only smiled. “He is rather intimidating, isn’t he? But you needn’t worry about him. You have my full support.”

She pondered his offer. But wearing beautiful gowns or pretending to be a countess would make no difference with Rothburne. The man had already made up his mind about her. “No, I don’t want to face him again.”

Nigel’s face turned compassionate. “Have you thought of what Victoria will think?”

“Victoria?” She gaped at him. “She is still a baby.”

“And when she grows older, do you want her to remember you as the countess who stood up to the marquess and gained a position of respect? Or do you want her to see you as a coward who remained in hiding?”

Emily stiffened. She was tired of people telling her what to do, how to behave. “What right have you to counsel me?”

“I’ve upset you. Forgive me,” Nigel said. “I truly have only your best interests at heart.” He stood and moved toward the door. “I shall leave you alone to do as you see fit. In the meantime, my servants will prepare a room for you. You may stay as long as you desire.”

After he had left, Emily paced across the parlor. His words bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

She crossed the room and watched the children, who had gone to play outside. She was envious of their freedom and their innocence. They would have all the opportunities she had not received. She would stay and guard them herself. And she would try not to think of her husband.

A soft knocking interrupted her thoughts. Emily turned and saw Stephen standing there. He wore riding clothes, impeccably shaped to his body. His dark hair looked as though the wind had mussed it, and she gripped her hands together to keep from straightening a wayward strand.

“I was hoping you would arrive yesterday,” he said by way of greeting, removing his hat.

“Why did you bring the children here?” she demanded. “I told you before, I’m not giving them up.”

“I don’t expect you to. But we can pretend to be upholding the will while I speak to my solicitor in London. I want you to stay here, with Nigel, so you’re protected.”

“How do I know it’s safe?”

“It’s the best I can do. I can’t leave you alone at Falkirk.” He glanced at the door and lowered his voice. “And I know that you or Anna will send word to me, if anything appears wrong.”

“I don’t know what to think of Nigel,” she admitted.

Stephen lifted his shoulders. “He’s bought the children everything they desire and seems eager to play the doting uncle.”

That much, she’d seen for herself. “I still don’t like this. You’re risking too much by going to London alone.”

“I’d rather go alone than risk anything happening to you.” He moved forward, taking her into his arms. Emily lowered her forehead to his shoulder.

“You’re not invincible, Stephen.” There had been two attempts upon his life already, and there was bound to be another. Her worry magnified at the thought.

“I need to end this. I won’t live my life always looking over my shoulder. Someone wants me dead, and I need to know why.” He kissed her lightly. “I believe you’ll be safe here. And if anything happens to make you distrust Nigel, I know you’ll notify me immediately.”

“Don’t get yourself killed,” she warned. If any man laid a finger upon her husband, he would live to regret it.