Page 22 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)

Harrison took her valise and stepped outside, then hailed a hackney. Hopefully there was no one about who would take notice and then gossip about him and Perdita getting into the same carriage, with a valise. Such a rumor would spread like fire to dry kindling.

However, if it did, he was ready to do the right thing by her. His heart had already decided that he wanted her but now was not the time to profess his love. Her emotions were likely still a jumble from the attack and what she had just learned from her brothers. A declaration of love from him would likely be too much and he was prepared to wait until matters calmed down.

They had already decided to wait to court, or discuss courtship, until he returned and not before and Harrison feared that if he suddenly professed love that she would not believe him, or she would push him away because there was already too much upheaval in her life. He also didn’t want her to assume his love came about when she suddenly became the daughter of a duke. There were men in Society who would take advantage of such a situation but he was not one. She needed a friend and time and he would stay by her side until she was ready to hear what he wanted to confess.

“Where would you like to go?”

he asked as a hackney came to a stop before the house.

Perdita looked up at him, her blue eyes confused before she closed them and blew out a breath. “Eventually Westbrook House, but not yet.”

“Why?”

“My employers are likely still there and I do not wish to explain to them…or anyone. Not until I puzzle this out and settle on…”

“How you feel about everything,”

he finished for her.

“Yes.”

“I know where we can begin,”

he finally said and gave directions to his brother’s home.

“Where?”

“I am going to borrow my brother’s carriage. He has two, but one does not have any markings. It will be easier to travel through London in a nondescript carriage, and it is far more comfortable. Also, the driver cannot be bribed for a destination unlike a hackney driver because I have no doubt that your brothers are looking out the window and memorizing every feature of the driver, the horses, and looking for any distinctive markings on this hackney, if there are any.

A smile pulled at the corner of her lips. “I have already decided you were a smuggler, now I wonder if you were not a spy as well.”

Harrison chuckled. “I did not live so dangerous a life, though there was a time I almost became just that.”

He pulled her close and kissed her temple. “But that is a story for another time.”

They had spoken of adventures and once she was his, he would tell her all about his father, who had helped manage a group of spies and how he had almost became one.

It was not long before the hackney arrived at his brother’s home and Harrison assisted her to the pavement before escorting her inside.

“Are we to have a guest?”

the butler asked.

This would be a safer place for Perdita to hide and take the time she needed to sort through everything that had happened. “My family would welcome you.”

She shook her head. “They are strangers to me, other than Lady Olivia, and she would likely tell Lady Deborah, which would make its way to my family and then they would be here.”

She was correct, but other than taking her from London, her family would eventually find her, especially if it was her intention to return to Westbrook House. Dr. Sinclair did share a medical practice with Dr. Valentine.

It wasn’t even Olivia that he needed to worry about but Elaina. His sister-in-law could tell her brother, Dr. Sinclair, and he would report to Dr. Valentine. Was there no place in London that she could go to be left alone, that would not also see Perdita ruined?

“I need my brother’s carriage. The inconspicuous one.”

“Is he aware that you will be taking it?”

The butler asked.

Each servant was loyal and protective of Tristan and his family. So much so that Harrison couldn’t simply ask to borrow a carriage.

“He does not but I am in need of it.”

The butler then looked to Perdita and noted the valise before he gave a nod. “I will summon a footman to alert one of the drivers to ready the carriage.”

He then marched off.

“I think he has just assumed that…”

“He has,”

Harrison agreed. “I did not foresee this, but if your family thinks that I have taken you off to Gretna Green, they may not be in such a hurry to find you.”

In fact, the idea was rather to his liking and he turned to Perdita and took both of her hands in his. “Why do we not?”

“Are you suggesting that we go to Scotland?”

“Yes. As your husband I could protect you, shield you. I can keep your family at a distance except for when you want to visit them, and the same for Clare and his family because they will also want you near. You are a long-lost sister, of course they will want you to be part of their family.”

“Thank you, Harrison, but no,”

she answered with a kind smile. “You should not alter your life and make a rash decision because of unpleasant circumstances in mine. I will not allow you to do so. But I appreciate the gesture more than you will ever know.”

He was surprised when tears pooled in her eyes.

“Thank you for being a comfort and a very dear friend, and for being the one person who I can trust.”

Perhaps had he told her that he was in love with her then maybe she would have agreed and for a moment, Harrison almost did just that but reminded himself she needed him more as a friend now than a lover or husband.

“Is it true?”

Tristan asked as he strode down the hall.

“No,”

Harrison answered.

“Then why my carriage that cannot be identified for you, Miss Perdita and her valise?”

“There are circumstances that I am not at liberty to explain. Suffice it to say that it is necessary and I would ask that you tell no one.”

Tristan stepped back and frowned. “Where are you going?”

“That I cannot tell you either.”

Tristan could be a prig and insist on answers but when Perdita turned her head and swiped a tear, he asked no further questions.

“Return it when it is no longer needed.”

He then turned on his heel and marched away.

Perdita almost leapt at the chance to marry Harrison. Not only would he be a force between her and any manipulation by her now two families, but he would not keep her from continuing her work at Westbrook House because he would be away at sea.

She was also in love with him.

But, if she accepted his offer, she would be using him for her own purpose and his offer had only been made because of his kind heart and their friendship. He would have regretted his impulsive decision to take her to Gretna Green if she had allowed him to do so.

Besides, even though it was her desire to run away, it was only temporary, to be by herself to consider all that had happened and let it settle in her mind. Her agreeing to go with him to Gretna Green, even if had claimed to love her, would have also been rash on her part. It would solve nothing and it was likely they would both live with the regrets, so it was better this way.

“The carriage has been brought around,”

the butler announced.

“Thank you,”

Harrison said before they returned outside and he assisted her into the closed conveyance.

“Where would you like to go?”

If only she had an answer, but she did not.

“I need to walk and think, but not where anyone might recognize me because I do not wish to speak with anyone.”

“I think I may know a good place.”

Harrison then stepped out of the carriage and gave directions to the driver.

Perdita had not even asked where they were going when Harrison returned. She trusted him and would learn when they arrived.

Oh, her thoughts were just a jumble, and it did not help being in a closed conveyance and unable to look out the windows, though she understood why Harrison had pulled the shades and that was simply to protect her reputation since she did not have a maid or chaperone with them. As if any of that was important right now. However, it would be in the future if anyone were to see her and gossiped.

Harrison sat silently, not questioning, simply waiting for her to speak, but Perdita was without any words.

She did not know what to think or say and her mind would not settle on one topic. So much had happened in just a few days…since Harrison had brought Oliver to Westbrook House. That is when he had come into her life and somehow, she had managed to fall in love in such a short time, but now…

If she was identical to Oliver’s mother, no wonder the child had clung to her. She had looked and sounded familiar in a strange and upsetting circumstance.

Then there was the attack, the lies not only from her brothers but Uncle Osborn, a vicar. She had a family she had been born into! A duke was her brother, which meant she was the daughter of a duke. A lady!

Maybe brandy would help. Her brothers liked to get deep in their cups when there were unpleasant situations so perhaps, she should do the same. Instead of walking, maybe she should ask Harrison to buy her a bottle of wine or brandy, or whatever was available and they could drive around London while she drank.

Except, that would be another foolish decision, almost as bad as running off and marrying Harrison.

When the carriage came to a halt, she lifted the shade and peeked out the window to greenery.

“Where are we?”

“Bushy Park.”

“I have heard of it.”

“Most come here on Sunday’s to picnic, but as it is fashionable to be seen in Hyde Park, I thought we would run less risk of you being seen here.”

Harrison stepped out of the carriage than assisted Perdita as he offered his arm.

“This is lovely.”

There was much greenery and few people.

Harrison led her down a long drive before turning onto a path that was sheltered by trees.

They continued to walk without saying anything, Harrison simply by her side, there if she needed anything. Her heart warmed further for him but she also carried some guilt.

“I apologize for having lied to you.”

“The one about being born in India.”

He did not sound angry, simply stating a fact.

“Yes. I am so upset at my brothers for lying to me for all these years, and I truly detest lying and today is proof why it should never be done, yet I lied to you.”

“I assume it was to protect your family, though that is all I have gathered.”

“It was, not that I am certain that it makes it right.”

“It is also not necessary that you explain.”

“I need to. You deserve to know everything, and I trust that you will tell no one.”

He placed his hand over hers on his sleeve and gave it a squeeze of reassurance.

“The woman who I thought was my mother was the daughter of the Marquess of Wingate. Her father wanted her to marry Viscount Perry, who loved her, but my moth…Nelda fell in love with Mr. Timothy Jones, who was a stablehand.”

“I am certain Wingate was not supportive of this love match.”

“No. To make it worse, Jones manipulated my mo…Nelda into believing that he loved her on the false assumption that his life would be better wed to the daughter of a marquess.”

“I assume that it was not.”

“Wingate disowned Nelda and she and Jones ended up in London where he went to work in the mews and in time all he did was work and drink until he passed out. He died when Nelda was increasing with Petruchio.”

“Yet, your brothers do not use Jones as a surname,”

Harrison commented.

“You will understand when I am finished,”

Perdita promised. “Despite being rejected, Viscount Perry always knew where my mother was and when she became a widow, he offered her a home…as his mistress, but not for her children.”

“He expected her to leave them behind?”

Perdita nodded. “They reached an agreement that she would stay with her children, but when Perry required her presence, Nelda would go to the home that he purchased for her and…”

her face heated, but she was certain Harrison did not need for her to explain what a mistress did. “From their relationship came Rosalind, Isabella, Bianca, Bertram and, well, I thought myself.”

“Except, you did not,”

he said quietly.

“Demetrius did his best to take care of the family when Nelda was away for days and after she died. He, Benedick and Orlando supported their siblings by picking pockets, stealing bread and oranges, and whatever else they could find. They even broke into the home that Perry had purchased for Nelda and took as many valuables as they could carry to pawn in the future.”

“The three that are now a barrister, doctor and investigator with the Thames River Police.”

She smiled. “Is that not proof that just because a child is born in the worst of circumstances that they can better their future if given a chance?”

“It does.”

“Which is the very reason why I will continue at Westbrook House. Those children are no different than my siblings. They all came from the same reduced surroundings and likely set on a path to Newgate or transportation to a colony but were given another opportunity.”

“I can understand why it is important to you.”

“Of course, these are only stories that I was told because I was a month old when our circumstances changed, and with Nelda already dead, I do not doubt that while my brothers were out stealing that Mercutio and Petruchio were watching over the rest of us.”

Harrison simply nodded.

“Life would have likely continued in the same manner if they hadn’t attempted to lift Vicar Grant’s purse. He caught them and insisted that he be taken to their parents, which they no longer had. Eventually, Demetrius brought him home and when he saw all of us, and took in the room we resided in, he was appalled. He looked for evidence of who Nelda was and found the letters that she had written, but never sent, or maybe they returned…I am not certain, but he learned who her father was, who also happened to be in Vicar Grant’s parish. So, he gathered us up and took us with him.”

“He delivered the ten of you to the doorstep of the Marquess of Wingate?”

Harrison asked.

“He thought the man would want back the children of his deceased daughter, or at least the legitimate ones, but we were rejected. Wingate saw that Vicar Grant was transferred to another parish, far away from his, and agreed that he would see to an education for the sons so long as Vicar Grant never told anyone who the children were.”

“That explains how he and his wife came to raise you, but what of the name, Valentine.”

“Aunt Mary did have a sister who was married to a missionary with the surname of Valentine, and they were missionaries in India. Not long before Vicar Grant found us, Aunt Mary had received word that her sister, her husband and their children had been killed in India. Since nobody knew how many children the couple had, they decided to claim that we were her sister’s orphaned children and raised us as such.”

“Whatever happened to Viscount Perry? I do not recall hearing his name mentioned.”

“He died without ever marrying.”

Anger rose within her breast because he was the one who could have helped but did not. “I believe he is the one I most resent. Had he married Nelda, my brother, Bertram would have been his only heir and would not have gone off to war to be killed. Bertram would be a viscount, alive and well.”

Now that Harrison knew the truth, as she knew it, a tremendous weight had been lifted. There were no more secrets and she was now free from guarding her words.

In truth, she had only worried about doing such on rare occasions and only once with Harrison, the first time she spoke of her family. Yet, the concern was always there whether she was aware of it or not.

Her only worry now was what he was thinking and if in telling him the truth that she had lost her one trusted friend.