Eight for Losing, One for Loving (Wicked Sons #9)

Chapter 12

My Lady,

Thank you for your letter. An intriguing proposition, to be sure. Is it possible for you to give me a little more detail regarding the venture you wish to embark on so I might come fully prepared for our meeting?

Sadly, my appointments next week are all taken, however, I can call on Wednesday week, if this suits you.

Might I enquire who our mutual friend is?

I await your reply.

―Excerpt of a letter from Mr Felix Knight (son of Mr Gabriel and Lady Helena Knight) to The Lady Belinda Madox-Brown.

25 th June 1850, The Queen’s Head, Wrestlingworth, the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire border.

Leo looked down at the bed where Vi still slept peacefully and wondered if he would ever have the privilege of seeing her so again. Would he ever be so fortunate as to share a bed with her again, even if it was only to hold her in his arms? God, he hoped so, but he was afraid his legendary luck had finally run out.

“Stay,” he told Mau firmly, giving his friend a rub under the chin that made the big cat purr contentedly.

He went out, closing the door quietly behind him.

“Good morning, Mr Huntington.”

Leo turned, smiling at Jenny and pleased to see she was none the worse for last night’s adventures.

“Good morning, Jenny. I’m glad to see you, I wanted to check you didn’t get in any trouble last night.”

“No, sir, though I thank you for the thought, but Reverend Harbottle made it all square with Mrs Caruthers. Though she didn’t like it none, I can tell you,” she added with a snort.

“I can imagine,” Leo replied with a grimace. “Mrs Huntington is still sleeping, but I asked for a doctor—”

“Yes, sir, I know, begging your pardon. Dr Benson will be here at ten thirty. He attended a difficult birth last night and can’t be here earlier than that, I’m afraid.”

“Very well. In the meantime, would you take Mrs Huntington some breakfast? Something light. Boiled eggs, perhaps. I seem to remember that’s what I was prescribed whenever I clouted my head,” he added with a frown. “And some willow bark tea, she’s bound to have the headache still this morning. If you could see your way clear to feeding Mau too, I’d appreciate it. A quick trip to the garden would likely be just as well, if you can manage it.”

Leo fished in his pocket and handed Jenny a generous tip for her trouble.

“Very good, sir. Thank you. I’ll see to it, don’t worry. Shall I take Mrs Huntington’s gown back for cleaning and pressing, too?”

Leo nodded his agreement. “Oh, but Jenny… give it back to her before I return at your peril, if the two of you are plotting any more madness together.”

Jenny laughed. “Yes, sir, Mr Huntington.”

With Vi and Mau taken care of for the moment, Leo hurried down the stairs and swallowed a cup of coffee as he waited for the grooms to put his horse to the tilbury. The moment they were ready, he left and arrived outside the reverend’s house at precisely nine o’clock.

“Ah, Mr Hunt, I suspected I would see you bright and early this morning,” Harbottle said as he opened the front door. “Excuse my state of undress, but I had rather a late night,” he said with a quirk of his lips.

“Forgive me for the early call,” Leo replied, a little stunned by the garish dressing gown the vicar wore. It was made of heavy saffron yellow satin, and richly embroidered in bright red, green and blue. It showed signs of wear now but was still an impressive garment for your average country vicar. Harbottle really was quite a character and Leo wondered if he had travelled in his youth, India perhaps. If things were different Leo thought he would enjoy chatting to the fellow. As it was, he needed to ensure Vi’s reputation was safe.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“I had coffee,” Leo replied, following Harbottle into a small dining room. The vicar paused on the way, sticking his head around what Leo guessed to be the kitchen door in order to call inside.

“Mrs Jenkins, I have a guest. Breakfast for two, if you please?”

“Very good, sir.” A disembodied female voice replied to this instruction.

“My housekeeper, Mrs Jenkins. A wonderful cook. You’ll be well fed,” Harbottle assured Leo with a toothy grin as he patted his own belly. “I eat far better than I ought to,” he added with a sigh.

“You’re very kind, sir, but really there’s no need. I do not wish to put you to any trouble—”

“Nonsense, nonsense, I’m just sitting here. Mrs Jenkins has all the work, but she enjoys feeding people so another mouth will please her no end. Now, do stop looking so anxious. I can imagine why you are here, but there is no need to fret. That is, providing you are intending to do the honourable thing by the young lady?”

Harbottle’s kindly but intelligent eyes settled on Leo.

“I would marry her in a heartbeat, but… but the young lady is reluctant,” Leo replied, and then hurried to clarify as he realised how that might sound. “Please, do not think, I mean, Miss— The young lady is of unimpeachable character and is only in this ridiculous fix because of me.”

“Because of those men last night, you mean,” Harbottle suggested.

Leo shrugged. “Yes, but I ought not to have involved her.”

Harbottle laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “From what I saw last night, your young lady is not the sort who likes being left out.”

Leo’s lips quirked. “She was mad as fire that I left her in her room, and no, she would not let me set her down whenever I tried to persuade her to turn back, but all the same—”

“All the same, she’s a woman of sense, one with intelligence and fortitude from what I can see. Were you to ignore her wishes and impose your own will upon her?”

“No, but… but she could have been killed last night—” Leo protested, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“But she was not, and neither were you. It’s unlikely you will get yourselves in quite such a scrape again, I think. If I were you, I should stop fretting, enjoy the wonderful breakfast Mrs Jenkins provides you, and then tell the young lady you are desperately in love with her and need her to marry you or you will sink into despair.”

Leo huffed with amusement. “Sadly, the last part is all too true, and I would do it without a second thought if I thought it would work.”

“You think it would not?” The vicar looked at him curiously.

“I’ve had something of an adventurous life, Reverend. Vi thinks I’m a loose screw, not to be relied upon, that I’ll get bored and set out on some mad adventure and forget about her, or take up a mistress, or get myself killed, any or all the above,” he added gloomily.

“Is she right?”

“No!” Leo retorted at once. “No, certainly not.”

“I have certainly heard of your exploits, Mr Hunt, and I confess, I have been a little surprised you survived your early years myself, at times.”

“You… You have?” Leo said in dismay.

“Of course, anyone who reads the scandal sheets must know of Mr Hunt, and in more recent times, his magnificent cat, Mau.”

Leo groaned and put his head in his hands. “You knew.”

Harbottle nodded. “I did,” he admitted somewhat smugly. “But I did not wish to spoil your adventure when you were having such fun.”

“Fun?”

Leo stared at him in shock.

“Certainly. At least it seemed to me I was with two young people having a marvellous time despite their worries and who made an excellent team. You are well suited, I think.”

Leo considered his words. It had been fun in parts, if he’d not been so worried about Mau, it would have been a good deal more enjoyable but… but Vi had enjoyed it too.

“Ah, Mrs Jenkins, a splendid feast as usual. You see, Mr Hunt, did I not tell you?”

“You did, sir,” Leo replied, thanking the housekeeper as she came into the room and deposited an overflowing plate of eggs, bacon, sausages and fried potatoes and mushrooms before him. She gave the reverend a nod in response to his words and went out again.

The reverend snatched up his knife and fork eagerly before glancing back at Leo.

“If you would forgive an old man for his interference, would you mind me calling in on the young lady later this morning? I should like to see how she goes on and perhaps she might like to speak to me too,” Harbottle suggested.

Leo frowned. He had thought of asking Harbottle to do just that, but….

“If she wishes to talk to you, certainly, but only if you give me your word you will do nothing to persuade her into accepting me for moral reasons, or… or for any other reason other than wanting to.”

“Certainly, I shall, though are you certain there is no gossip. You are a well-known figure on the road, sir. If anyone has seen you, the lady’s reputation—”

“Do not, whatever you do, raise that as a reason to marry me,” Leo said, dropping his knife and fork in his anxiety. “Vi would run as far and fast as she could rather than do so in those circumstances.”

Harbottle returned a rueful smile. “Ah, she is indeed a woman with spirit. In that case, I shall certainly not do so.”

“Spirit? Ha!” Leo said with a bark of laughter. “She’s the most obstinate, pigheaded, frustrating woman in the entire world.”

“And you cannot live without her,” Harbottle finished for him.

Leo stared down at his breakfast and sighed. “No,” he agreed morosely, and prayed the vicar might succeed where he had failed.

Vi had not been in the best of humours when she’d awoken and found Leo had gone out without her. She’d had some lingering hope that she might have induced him to make love to her that morning, though a glance in the mirror on the dressing table had swiftly put paid to that notion. She’d looked a fright, her hair a tangle no self-respecting bird would deign to nest in, and the lump on her head, whilst not so pronounced, had turned some impressive shades that did little for her complexion.

The note Vi discovered on her pillow, explaining where he was going and why and how he could not bear to wake her when she’d had such a trying night, had mollified her somewhat. Finding he had arranged breakfast in bed, willow bark tea, and for her gown and Mau to be seen to, removed any lingering resentment at his going off on his own. At least she’d had time to make herself look something close to neat and tidy, even if lovely and desirable was now far out of reach and Jenny had helped her do something with her hair, which had helped somewhat.

Vi would have liked to have seen the Reverend Harbottle again too, for he seemed a nice man, even if he had led Leo into danger last night. But perhaps Leo would allow her to call in on him before he took her back home.

They would be going back home, she realised with a sigh of dismay. The adventure was over, and whilst she had no desire to ever endure the terrors of last night again, she had to confess that sharing all the trials and tribulations with Leo had been rather wonderful. She had enjoyed parts of it a great deal, she realised, looking back at the events of the previous day with a wistful sigh.

“Mrs Huntington?” Jenny called through the door.

“Yes, Jenny, come in.”

“I brought your gown back, for the doctor will be here shortly, though Mr Huntington told me not to give it to you before he got back. I think he was joking,” she added dubiously. “I’m afraid the hem is torn, but I tidied it up as best I could.”

“You’ve done a splendid job. Thank you, Jenny, and thank you for everything you did last night. I’m so very grateful. You did wonders with my hair this morning, too. I confess, I thought it was beyond saving,” Vi added, touching a hand to the elegant coiffure Jenny had created for her earlier with a smile.

Jenny blushed, pleased with such praise. “My pleasure, Mrs Huntington, and… well, if it ain’t too cheeky to say so, if you should ever be needing a lady’s maid… I mean, I know I’m not one, but I’m good with hair like you said, and with keeping clothes nice and properly pressed. I’m a quick learner, and I’ve a fair hand with a needle and thread too, and—”

Vi smiled as Jenny ran through all her talents. “Well, Jenny. If you are certain you don’t mind leaving the village and your job here, I will certainly think about it. My own maid is due to be married in a few weeks, you see, and so—”

“Oh, Mrs Huntington! Do you really mean you’ll take me on?” Jenny cried, and Vi saw the desire for this chance burning in the woman’s eyes.

Vi considered this. She had not meant to make a snap decision, but Jenny had proven herself capable, brave, and resilient last night, and she thought she was someone in whom she could put her trust. Surely the girl deserved a chance. If Vi took her on now, Rachel would have a little time to train her up before she left to get married.

“I do,” Vi said, nodding. She laughed as Jenny gave a little scream of delight and then gave Vi an impulsive hug before she remembered herself.

“I beg your pardon, Mrs Huntington. I… I’m just so happy for the opportunity.”

Vi smiled, patting the girl’s hand. She would have to explain she was Miss Spencer eventually and hope Jenny was not too shocked. “That’s quite all right, but you might need to give Mrs Caruthers notice before you leave her employ. I shall leave you my address so you can follow on when she is able to let you go. Now, if you really want to impress me, hurry and get me dressed.”

Vi sat at the table by the window in her room, sipping a cup of tea. The doctor had seen her and declared her fit and well. He was elderly, no nonsense man who told her frankly that he did not hold with ladies having fits of the vapours. In his opinion, there was little that could not be fixed with walks in the fresh air, looser corsets, and good food, but he warned her against overexerting herself. If she experienced any further headaches or dizziness, she was to seek medical help at once.

She had expected Leo back by now, and when she heard the knock at the door, her heart leapt, only to plummet again as she heard Jenny’s voice.

“Reverend Harbottle is here, Mrs Huntington. Shall I show him in?”

“Yes, please do, Jenny,” Vi called, getting to her feet. Why on earth had the vicar come to call? She hoped there was nothing wrong. Surely Leo could not have got himself into another scrape so quickly.

Jenny showed the reverend in and hurried out again instead of lingering, proving to Vi that the girl knew how to be discreet.

“Reverend, how lovely to see you again. I so hoped to thank you for everything you did for us last night.”

“My pleasure, my pleasure,” Harbottle said, spying Mau and going over to see him. “My, my, he is a handsome fellow, I must say. I’ve never seen a cat like him, even if he isn’t an Egyptian Water Sphinx,” he added, regarding Vi with a crooked smile.

“Oh,” Vi said faintly, wondering what else he knew.

“I know the whole story, Miss Spencer,” he said kindly, patting Vi’s shoulder as she sank into the nearest chair. The implications of his words were obvious.

“I suppose Leo sent you here,” she said bitterly. “To persuade me to do the right thing and marry him.”

“Indeed, he did not,” Harbottle said, shaking his head as he settled himself opposite her. “In fact, I was only allowed to visit you on the understanding that I do no such thing. He was very clear on that point. Said you would run as far and fast as you could if I so much as hinted at it.”

Vi let out a breath. She should have had more faith in Leo. He knew by now that such tactics would not work, and he was neither foolish nor arrogant enough to try such a thing.

“Then why are you here?” Vi demanded, and then blushed a little at her lack of manners.

Harbottle shrugged, settling back into his seat. “For my own curiosity. I confess I am a little flummoxed.”

“By what?” Vi said in confusion.

“By what would make a beautiful young woman refuse to marry a handsome young man she is quite obviously head over ears in love with?”

Vi blushed, looking away from Harbottle’s sympathetic smile.

“You were very brave last night, rushing in like that. You put yourself in danger to save the man you loved. Quite admirable, Miss Spencer.”

Vi shook her head, blinking back tears. She took a deep breath and spoke carefully so there could be no misunderstanding. “In the first place, Reverend, I am not a young woman. By society’s standards, I am well and truly on the shelf, my best childbearing years behind me.”

Harbottle shrugged. “If Mr Hunt does not care for this—”

“He has not thought it through,” she said impatiently, staring out of the window, mortified by having to discuss such a thing.

“You think not? Is he mentally impaired in some way, then?”

“What? No, of course not!” Vi replied crossly before she rearranged her face. “I beg your pardon, but why would you say such a thing?”

“I did not,” Harbottle replied calmly. “Mr Hunt seems to me to be an intelligent and capable man who knows his own mind. It is you who seems to think him incapable of making such a decision.”

Vi coloured, shocked into silence.

“Mr Hunt told me he did not care a button if you never had children, so long as you were together. He said he would happily adopt children if you wished to but would be glad simply to share his life with you if you did not. You are adopted yourself, I believe, Miss Spencer?”

Vi nodded dumbly. There was a lump in her throat she could not swallow past, and her eyes burned.

“H-He said that?” she managed, wiping away a tear that fell despite her best efforts and blinking hard.

“He did,” Harbottle replied, smiling kindly. “And I rather think you should give him the chance to tell you the same thing himself. But something tells me that this is not the real problem, is it, Miss Spencer? At least, it is not the only one.”

Vi could not speak. Her chest rose and fell too quickly as she tried to keep her composure. The reverend seemed to have the strangest ability to see into her heart and she was not entirely sure she liked it.

“May I pour some tea?” he asked, spying the pot Vi had ordered, thinking Leo would be back by now. “I believe we could both do with a cup.”

Vi nodded dumbly as the reverend got up, relieved to have a moment to gather her nerves. He prepared her a fresh cup and put it in her hands before seeing to his own. Settling down again, cup in hand, the reverend regarded her over the rim.

“Mr Hunt has been often in the scandal sheets, hasn’t he? An entertaining young man, to be sure, if a little reckless. I confess that his exploits have given me a good deal of amusement over the years. I was delighted to have the chance to see him fight last night. I have heard much of Mr Anson’s pugilistic talents, but I always understood Mr Hunt was quite clever with his fists too, as he proved in no uncertain terms.”

Vi said nothing, for Leo’s exploits had done nothing but give her sleepless nights and a terror of hearing he’d broken his silly neck. Last night’s confrontation was not something she particularly wished to recall, yet the vision of Pembury holding a gun on him flashed behind her eyes once more and her stomach roiled.

“How did you come to be adopted, Miss Spencer?”

Vi looked up, startled from her thoughts by the sudden change in the conversation. “A-A carriage accident. I was six. My parents had gone out to visit friends, but… but my father took a corner too fast. There was something coming the other way.” She shrugged, thinking that explanation enough.

Harbottle nodded. “A terrible shock for you as a young girl. Your parents were nice people, kind parents?”

“They were,” Vi said, smiling. “My mother was very beautiful and my father… my father was wonderful, funny and clever. I was so proud of them both. I remember the feeling of being with them, of being safe, loved and secure. Then in a matter of moments, it all went away.” Because her father had been reckless. She swallowed hard against a sudden wave of sadness. It had been so long since she had thought of them, of that time, that it took her by surprise.

“Your adopted parents are kind, however?”

Vi smiled, nodding. “They’re wonderful.”

“Sometimes we lose wonderful things, wonderful people, but our lives would be so much the poorer if they had not been in it at all,” the reverend said, watching her closely.

Vi looked up at him and saw the sympathy in his eyes.

“My wife died, Miss Spencer. She was…” He paused, smiling as his eyes grew misty. “She was the greatest joy of my life, my love, my soulmate, and I miss her every day.”

“Oh, I’m so terribly sorry.”

“So am I. But how much sorrier I would be if I had not married her? We had ten wonderful, magical years. Not nearly enough, but she left me a daughter who is the image of her and brings me great joy. I have a grandson now too, who is a delightful little chap. All these things would have been missing from my life if I had allowed the fear of losing them to stop me from living.”

Vi stared at him for a moment and then burst into tears.

Harbottle got up and pressed a neatly folded handkerchief into her hands. “I came prepared for once,” he told her with a smile. “You have a good cry. Don’t mind me. I’m quite used to it. Do it myself now and then when I’m feeling blue devilled.”

Vi did as he suggested, quite unable to stop, for the tears kept coming as though some dam had burst, the emotions surging through her in an unstoppable torrent. When she finally subsided, Harbottle smiled at her.

“I do not think Mr Hunt is still the reckless young man we have both read so much about. There comes a time in every man’s life when he realises he needs to grow up, that he wants something more than the company of his friends, and the things that excited him for so many years suddenly become devoid of interest. It takes some men longer than others, but as I said, Mr Hunt knows his own mind. The only question is, Miss Spencer, do you ?”

Vi swallowed, taking in his words carefully, thinking them over. “I’ve spent so many years worrying about him, worrying he’ll hurt himself, kill himself, worrying I’m too old, that… that I cannot compare to his mistresses, that I could not hold his attention.”

“You seem to have his attention from where I’m sitting,” Harbottle said with a smile.

“But can I keep it?” Vi demanded.

Harbottle shrugged. “I cannot tell you the future, but I can tell you that two people who love and respect each other and are willing to be honest and speak to each other from the heart, will never go far wrong.”

Vi nodded, understanding that she was the one who had been keeping herself apart. Leo had tried to be open with her, tried to talk to her, but she had shut him out. That had been unfair and unkind.

“One other thing, Miss Spencer,” the reverend said, leaning forward in his chair. “Why do you love Mr Hunt? I think that is something you need to consider, for the young man I just spent the morning with was dispirited and out of sorts, not at all the man I think he really is. He is determined to spend the rest of his days becoming a respectable, quiet and dull sort of fellow, for he believes that is the only way you will ever trust him and agree to be his wife. Perhaps you ought to think about that, and about what it is you really want.”

With that, Harbottle got to his feet, holding his hand out to Vi. She stood and took his hand, and the vicar squeezed her fingers gently.

“Courage, Miss Spencer. Life is for living and loving, for making the most of the blessings the good lord has deigned to put before us. He wants us to be happy, my dear, but we have to meet him halfway and take advantage of those chances if we want to be all that we are capable of being. Don’t let fear stand in the way of your dreams, for you will have a long time to regret the loss of them.”

With that, he patted her hand, gave Mau another friendly stroke, and went out.

Vi watched the door close behind him and stood staring at it for a long moment, only roused when Mau got up and began rubbing himself about her legs. Vi got down on the floor, her back against the wall as Mau stepped delicately over the billowing fabric of her gown and settled down in her lap.

“Oh, Mau,” she said, tears pricking at her eyes. “I’ve been the most stupid, stupid fool.”

Mau pushed his nose under her hand, seeking another caress and purring sonorously.

“What should I do? I don’t want Leo to be dull and respectable, I just don’t want him to kill himself.”

Large yellow eyes blinked up at her. Mau’s placid gaze implied the answer was obvious, if only she thought about it.

“How do I prove to him I don’t want him to change, not really?”

A knock at the door interrupted any answer Mau might have provided and Vi sighed.

“Yes?”

“It’s Jenny, Mrs Huntingdon. There’s a Lady Trevick downstairs asking for you. I told her you were occupied when you were talking to the reverend and put her in a private parlour, but now she’s getting impatient so I said I would see if you were at home.”

Mama! Lud!

“Well done, Jenny, thank you,” Vi said, pushing Mau gently aside and scrambling to her feet. Thank heavens Jenny had given her time to think. “Tell her… Tell her I’ll be down shortly.”

“Very good, ma’am.”

“Oh, Mau! If Mama is here, she knows all, and she’ll tell me I must marry Leo. What if Leo thinks I’m doing it because I must, because Mama persuaded me? I don’t want him to think that. I’ve put him through enough and he’s… he’s been so very kind, and loyal, too. Any other man would have given up on me when I was so rude and obstinate to him.”

Mau sat down, regarding her thoughtfully, and then gave a loud and imperious miaow.

Vi looked at him. “What does that mean?” she demanded impatiently. “Oh, heavens, if only we’d had more time. I’m not ready for this adventure to end yet and—”

“ Miaow !”

“Hush, Mau, I’m trying to think. Oh, what is it?”

“Miaooow!”

Vi stared at Mau, an idea forming in her head. “I’m not ready for this adventure to end,” she repeated softly, before giving a squeal of delight and scooping the cat up, hugging him tightly. “Oh, you clever, clever puss. Well done!”

Vi found the note Leo had left her and turned it over. She took a small pencil from her reticule and wrote quickly, grinning to herself as she imagined Leo’s face when he read it.

Gathering up the few items she had to her name in the circumstances, she looked about the room and then at the cat, who was sitting on the bed, watching her intently. “Well, Mau, come along, then. It’s time to go. We’d better find out if Jenny wants to take up her position rather earlier than I expected.”

Mau jumped down and walked elegantly to the door, tail aloft. Vi opened it and he darted out before turning and waiting for her, just as if he knew exactly what she was about.