Under the Mistletoe with the Viscount (Unlikely Lords #6)

Chapter 16

P eter was walking down the stairs on his way to the study when he heard Adams speaking with someone in the foyer. Who was coming here now? His son’s birth had been a long and difficult labor for his wife, and he wanted her to rest to recover her strength without any distractions. Visitors wouldn’t help her in the least.

“I apologize for my early visit,” said the visitor, whose voice he now recognized, “but I’d very much like to see the dowager Lady Williams if she’s receiving visitors.”

“Miss Bent, is there something amiss?” Peter asked, joining them in the foyer.

“Lord Williams, good morning. Nothing is amiss.”

“I see,” Peter said. “Adams will inform my sister-in-law you’re here. Good day, Miss Bent.”

Miss Bent curtseyed as Peter and the butler walked toward the staircase.

Peter had no idea why Miss Bent was here, but he would do everything within his power to ensure the household remained peaceful to aid in his wife’s recovery. If that meant limiting visitors, even for Bett, he had no hesitation in doing so. Cecily and his son were his top priority now.

“Adams, from now on, notify me of all visitors first. I do not want to see a stream of unexpected visitors disturbing my wife’s rest,” Peter whispered.

“As you wish, my lord,” Adams said.

“And have all correspondence delivered to me as well.”

“Of course, sir, ” the butler said and went up the stairs to tell Bett she had a visitor.

Bett was sitting in the family parlor when Adams knocked and entered the room.

“Lady Williams, you have a visitor.”

“Oh, who is it? I wasn’t expecting anyone today.”

Could it be Noah?

“Miss Bent,” the butler said.

Bett was momentarily disappointed that it wasn’t Noah come to call, but she always enjoyed seeing Emma. “Please send her up.”

“Right away, my lady,” Adams said and left to fetch Emma.

When Emma walked into the room a moment later, Bett could tell something was amiss.

“Adams, please send up a tea tray.”

“Right away, my lady,” Adams said, exiting the room.

Bett went to her friend, bussing both cheeks. “Emma, is something wrong? You don’t seem your usual happy self. Are you well?”

“Yes, I’m well. Bett, please forgive me for calling on you without sending a note around first, but I knew you’d want to hear this as soon as possible.”

Bett frowned. “Hear what?”

“Miles received a letter—”

“Miles?”

“I mean Mr. Walker, of course. In any event, he received news from Mr. Hughes.”

“Oh? How is his uncle?”

“I’m afraid the news isn’t good. His uncle has also perished.”

Bett’s hand flew to her mouth, and tears pricked the back of her eyes. “Oh, no! How tragic. How is Mr. Hughes faring?”

“That I don’t know. Mr. Walker left to join him at Harrison Manor as soon as he received the letter.”

“Come, let’s sit for a moment. This news is most distressing,” Bett said, leading Emma to the sofa. Before they had a chance to continue their conversation in earnest, a maid knocked and entered the parlor carrying a tea tray. “My lady, shall I pour for you?”

Bett shook her head. “No, Colleen. I’ll take care of it. You may go.”

Colleen curtseyed and exited the room.

Bett poured out the tea and handed Emma a cup. Her mind was in a whirlwind about the news. Noah must be utterly devastated. He’d talked fondly about his uncle and cousin and mentioned he usually spent several weeks a year at Harrison Manor. His love for his family was evident whenever he talked about them.

“Bett, you know what this means, don’t you?” Emma asked.

“What? It’s tragic news, but beyond that, I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Mr. Hughes is no longer a mister but the new Viscount Harrison. He was next in line to the title after his cousin. With the cousin gone and now his uncle, Mr. Hughes inherits the title.”

This new information gave Bett pause. Her first thought was that Peter would have no objection to a viscount courting her, not that Peter had any say in who she married.

Wait. Oh no!

Now that Noah was a member of the aristocracy, the ton would welcome the new viscount with open arms. Matchmaking Mamas would be throwing their daughters into his path. With so many young women vying for his attention, would Noah even want to court her? She was four and twenty and no innocent. How could she compete with the young women making their debuts? While she and Noah talked about many things during the house party, the subject of virginal debutantes never came up. Would he prefer a doe-eyed miss to a widow?

“Bett, you have a faraway look in your eyes.”

“Emma, please forgive me. My mind has gone to the unlimited possibilities open to Mr. Hughes…I mean, Lord Harrison will now have. The ton will be thrilled to have a young and handsome viscount in their midst. Why would he want a baron’s widow?”

“Bett, you mustn’t think like that. The viscount loves you; Mr. Walker has told me so.”

“Emma, thank you for your support, but I’ve not heard those words from him myself. Until he says it to me, I cannot count on it being true.”

Emma squeezed her hand. “Of course, Lord Harrison wants you. You’re a smart and capable young woman who any man would be proud to call his wife.”

Bett wanted with all her heart to believe that what Emma said was true. She didn’t know what she’d do if the man who’d stolen her heart chose another to be his wife. She didn’t know if she could survive another gut-wrenching heartbreak.

After they talked for another hour, Emma took her leave. “I’ll let you know if I hear any more news.”

“Thank you, Emma. That would be most welcome.”

After Emma left, Bett kept turning over in her mind the possibilities that were now open to Noah, and she was troubled, her thoughts chaotic. She had no idea when she’d see Noah again. There must be many things to take care of now that he was viscount. She wanted to go to him, but they had no understanding, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to barge in on his grief.

Noah, please know how much I adore you. I long for your sweet kisses once more and to be held in your strong embrace. I will always love you, my darling.

Silent tears streamed down Bett’s face.

Noah sat listening to the solicitor drone on. The man sure did love to talk. It was all Noah could do to seem interested. He hadn’t slept well since arriving at Harrison Manor, and his heart was shattered over the loss of his family.

“And at some point, you’ll need to take your seat in Parliament,” the solicitor said.

“What?”

“Lord Harrison, you’re now a member of the aristocracy, and as such, you’re expected to take your seat in Parliament. Parliament will reconvene in November, and it’ll be expected for you to present yourself to the Lord Chamberlain within a reasonable amount of time.”

“I see. I hadn’t even thought about that. I know my uncle only went to London when a bill he supported was being voted on.”

“As a new member of Parliament, it would be better if you made an appearance sooner rather than later. You must wear the proper regalia and pay the fees associated with your rank as well.”

“I understand, Mr. Henshaw, but as November is six weeks away, perhaps we can table this discussion for a later time. You’ve given me plenty to think about already.”

As the solicitor prepared to say something else, a knock on the door interrupted him. Noah had never been so relieved to be interrupted. A few minutes’ reprieve from the solicitor’s monotone voice would be a welcome relief. “Come.”

Jerrison opened the door. “My lord, Mr. Walker is here to see you.”

Noah stood up, his spirit soaring at the knowledge that his friend was here. “Please send him in.” He turned to the solicitor. “Mr. Henshaw, thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I’m sure we will have plenty of meetings as I learn the intricacies of running the estate. I’ll be in touch soon.”

The solicitor looked affronted to be dismissed so lightly, but he finally stood. “Very good, Lord Harrison. I’ll be available whenever you have need of me.”

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Henshaw. Jerrison will show you out.”

Miles strode into the study as the solicitor departed with the butler. He immediately went to his friend and embraced Noah. “I was so sorry, my friend, to receive your letter. I came as quickly as I could.”

Noah was eternally grateful for Miles’s friendship. “Thank you for coming, Miles. I feel so lost. My family’s demise has shaken me to my core.”

“I can only imagine. This turn of events was something no one could have predicted.”

“Would you care for a brandy?” Noah asked, stepping back. “I’ve just spent the past two hours listening to the solicitor drone on and on about this and that. I fear I’ll not remember anything he told me.”

“Yes, a brandy would be just the thing at the moment. Don’t worry about trying to absorb everything all at once. Take the time to grieve your cousin and uncle. Your Uncle Charles was one of the kindest men I’ve ever met. Over the years, I’ve watched him run the estate, and he always took great pains to make sure his tenants had everything they needed. I’m sure you’ll carry on his legacy.”

Noah handed Miles the glass of amber liquid. “I know. Uncle Charles was much loved by everyone on the estate. I remember going with him on his tenant visits when I was a child. I shouldn’t be the new lord—that title should have belonged to Aiden. It’s only been five days since the funeral, and I can hardly believe they’re both gone.”

“Come, let’s be comfortable,” Noah said as he walked over to the fireplace with Miles following him. The men took their seats and sipped their brandy, both deep in thought.

Miles had no words of wisdom to offer Noah. How one processed grief was different for each person. “I wish I had something comforting to say, but their deaths were a tragedy no one could have anticipated.”

“I have no idea even where to begin. I never dreamed there would be a need for me to learn estate management.”

“Noah, take a breath. I’m here to help you figure all this out.”

“Thank you, Miles. I couldn’t ask for a better mentor. The solicitor also told me I’ll need to present myself to the Lord Chamberlain once Parliament is back in session.”

“That I can’t help you with, but I’m sure Robertson can advise you on it. At least you’ll have some time before you‘ll need to travel to London.”

“True. I’ll send a note to Robertson, informing him about Uncle Charles’s death, and find out his plans for the coming months.”

“Good. He’ll definitely want to know. By the way, you might be interested to know that I saw Lady Williams recently.”

“You did? How is the lady?.”

“Missing you a great deal. The baron never told her of your visit. She told me she’d very much welcome a visit from you.”

“She said that?”

“She did.”

Noah’s heart did a little flip at the news. He’d thought she was indifferent to him, but Miles’s information made it clear that she wasn’t, although he had no idea when he’d be able to call on her again.

She had sent him a note on the passing of his cousin, and it was a relief to know she was thinking of him, but would she wait for him even if it took him months to call on her again?

“I would like to see her again, but there’s much I need to do here at the estate first. I cannot leave at the moment.”

“I’m sure she understands the gravity of your situation, although it might ease her mind if you were to write to her,” Miles said.

“Yes. Perhaps I will.”

Later that evening Noah went to his study to write a note to Bett. Miles was right. There was no reason not to at least pen a short letter to her informing her of everything that had happened. He reached for a piece of paper and dipped his quill in the ink.

Lady Williams,

I greatly appreciate the note you sent on the passing of my cousin. Unfortunately, it is with a heavy heart that I write this letter to you with more sad news. My uncle has perished due to a fever as well. The loss of my family is such a terrible blow, and it is hard to fathom my life without them.

Mr. Walker told me about your recent conversation, and it gladdens my heart to know that you would welcome a visit from me. Unfortunately, I cannot leave the estate at this time. There is much to do, and it will take me time to understand everything.

I hope that you will understand and know that I think of you often.

Harrison