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

Chapter 21

B ett gazed out the window of the drawing room at all the leaves that had seemingly turned brilliant colors overnight. Perhaps it was merely because she hadn’t been taking as many walks in the garden as she used to and hadn’t noticed the slow change. She’d always loved October weather, especially in the country. The air was crisp without being frigid, and the landscape was awash in colors of red, yellow, and orange.

She sighed, wondering what she was doing with her life. She loved her in-laws, but of late, she felt suffocated. Even though Cecily now had a wet nurse for baby Stephen, she was still nervous around the child, which made the baby fussy whenever she picked him up. As many times as Bett tried to reassure her sister-in-law that she was a fine mother, nothing seemed to convince Cecily, not even the fact that Stephen was thriving and was a delightful baby.

Peter seemed thrilled with the child as well, but Bett knew that he was thinking more about Cecily being back in his bed, based on the way he’d been nuzzling her neck lately. She wasn’t so sure Cecily was ready for marital relations again, but that was one line she would not cross. Cecily could decide for herself if she wanted to return to her husband’s bed and possibly fall pregnant again.

Bett had foolishly thought that once the child was born, everything would return to normal and she could go about her business once again without Cecily becoming upset every time Bett left her side even to venture into the garden.

This afternoon was one of the rare days that she had a few moments alone because Peter and Cecily were closeted in his bedchamber. How did her life become all about making sure Cecily was feeling good about her mothering skills? This wasn’t what she’d planned for her life, and frankly, she was growing tired of being her sister-in-law’s constant support.

She heard the crunch of gravel on the drive and wondered who in the world would be visiting. Peter was still adamant about Bett having any company at Crenshaw Manor, and Bett didn’t like his heavy-handedness about what she could or could not do. He may have been the head of the family, but he was not her husband.

She was walking to the parlor door when she heard Adams say, “Lady Armstrong, good day. How may I be of assistance?”

“Good day, Adams. It’s Lady Robertson now, and I’d like to see the dowager Lady Williams.”

As soon as Bett heard Olivia’s voice, she rushed into the foyer. “Lady Robertson!”

“It’s so lovely to see you,” Olivia said, rushing to her and bussing her cheeks.

“Please do come in. I was in the drawing room, admiring the splendid colors in the trees.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“Adams, please have a tea tray delivered and show Lady Robertson’s maid to the kitchen for a cup of tea while I visit with my friend.”

The butler turned to the maid. “This way, miss,” he said, walking down the hallway to the kitchen.

Once the women were inside the drawing room with the door closed, Olivia wasted no time and said, “Bett, are you well?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“You haven’t answered any of my letters, and I was quite concerned that you’d fallen ill.”

“Letters? I haven’t received any letters.”

“You haven’t? That’s odd. I sent one from London, letting you know we were heading to Harrison Manor, and then another one inviting you to visit me there.”

“You’ve seen Lord Harrison? How is he faring?”

“As best as he can, I suppose, but you did not respond to his letter either.”

“I received no letter from Lord Harrison.”

“That’s odd. He told me he wrote to you.”

“That is odd indeed,” Bett said. “I wonder what could have happened.”

“Robertson is with him now. I traveled with Mr. Walker so I could see you. He was headed back to Fleming Manor.”

“Mr. Walker is a fine gentleman. I’m glad you didn’t have to travel here alone.”

“I was relieved as well, and I think Robertson was too. He didn’t want to leave Lord Harrison at this vulnerable time. I’ve come with a message from Lord Harrison. He wishes to extend an invitation for you to visit him as well.”

“He does? Even during his mourning period?”

“Yes. He’d very much like to see you again. He has strong feelings for you, but recent events have prevented him from calling on you personally.”

“I certainly understand that. Now I must find out what happened to those letters,” Bett said, opening the door to see Adams walking through the foyer. “Adams, a word, please.”

“Yes, my lady. The tea tray has been ordered,” he said, walking to her.

“Thank you, but that’s not what I wish to ask about.”

“Oh? How may I be of assistance?”

“Have I received any letters of late?” Bett saw the butler frown. What was going on? Adams had never been deceptive before.

He hesitated and looked around before answering in a whisper. “Yes, but I was told to deliver all correspondence directly to the baron.”

“Even my personal letters?” she asked, barely containing her outrage.

“Yes. Those were my orders,” Adams said.

“Thank you, Adams. That will be all,” she said. She knew the servant would have to do as Peter commanded. It wasn’t his fault.

Bett returned to the sofa to discuss this latest revelation with Olivia. “I think my brother-in-law has been keeping my letters from me. I don’t know why, but I intend to find out.”

“Why would he do such a thing?”

“I have my suspicions, but I shall not air them until I have a chance to talk with him and find out the truth.”

A knock on the door silenced their conversation, and a maid brought in a tea tray and placed it on the low table.

“Thank you, Colleen. That will be all,” Bett said.

The maid curtseyed and left the room.

Bett poured out the tea and handed Olivia a cup.

“Oh, thank heavens for a nice strong cup of tea.”

“Olivia, please help yourself to some refreshments. I cannot rest until I find out what happened to my letters,” Bett said, standing.

“Where are you going?”

“Lord Williams is upstairs with his wife at the moment. I’m going to look in his study for the letters. That’s the most likely place for him to keep them. I don’t think even my brother-in-law would have had the nerve to destroy them.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Well, it’s not a good idea for him to keep my letters from me either. Please don’t worry. A quick look and I shall return momentarily.”

Bett walked to the door and peeked out. Adams was no longer in the foyer, and none of the other servants seemed to be around. She hurried down the hallway and quickly slipped into Peter’s study. Where would he keep her letters? She’d only been in his study a few times and not recently. She walked to his desk and saw a stack of correspondence.

Could it be that simple?

Did Peter believe no one would ever dare to come into his study without him being present? She quickly looked through the pile, and at the bottom of the stack, she found what she was looking for.

There were both of Olivia’s letters with the seals broken. He’d obviously read her personal correspondence. There was one more letter addressed to her, and she figured that was Noah’s note. She would read it once she was back in the parlor.

How dare Peter do this?

This was beyond the pale, even for Peter. Yes, he’d been a bit heavy-handed of late, but he’d never done something deceitful before. She grabbed her letters and quickly returned to the drawing room, closing the door behind her.

“That didn’t take long. Did you find them?”

Bett held up the letters. “He’s read your letters. The seal is broken on both of them. There’s a third one that I assume is from Lord Harrison, but he obviously hadn’t read that one.” She broke the seal and quickly scanned the note. All this time, she had wondered if Noah had been thinking about her, and now she had the proof.

Olivia’s mouth fell open. “My word, why would he do such a thing?”

Bett began pacing, her anger barely contained at this breach of privacy. “I think I know exactly why.”

“Why?”

“Cecily.”

“What does your sister-in-law have to do with my letters being kept from you?” Olivia asked.

Bett took a seat next to her friend and explained how anxious Cecily had been since she had her child, even with the wet nurse in residence.

“Is the child not healthy? Is that why she’s so anxious?”

“No. He’s a delightful, healthy little boy. I can only think that Lord Williams doesn’t want to upset her at all, and having me here at Crenshaw Manor keeps him from having to deal with her nervous episodes.”

“Oh, Bett, that’s so unfair. I’m so sorry this is happening to you. No wonder you didn’t respond to my letters.”

“Well, I shall stand for this no longer,” Bett said, taking a moment to read Olivia’s second letter. “I would very much like to go with you to visit Harrison Manor.”

“There’s someone there who will be very happy to see you,” Olivia said with a wink.

Before the women could discuss any further details, the door to the drawing room opened, and Peter walked in. He stopped short when he saw Olivia.

“Lady Armstrong, I had no idea you were visiting today,” he said before glaring at Bett.

“It’s Lady Robertson now, and I came to check on Lady Williams, as she didn’t answer either of my letters.”

Peter’s face paled.

Bett jumped to her feet, waving the letters in front of her. “How dare you keep my personal correspondence from me?”

“Do not speak to me in that manner. This is my home, and I shall do what I think is best.”

“What you think is best for whom?”

Peter stared at her, his face turning red with anger, but he didn’t respond to her question.

“Well, you should know, then, that I shall be leaving with Lady Robertson to visit an old friend who has recently experienced a family tragedy.”

“You cannot leave. I forbid it!”

Bett marched up to him, filled with outrage. “You forbid it?? My lord, you cannot forbid me from leaving Crenshaw Manor. I’m not a prisoner here. I’m a grown woman and have reached my majority. I don’t need your permission to go visit a friend. You are not my husband.”

Peter’s face turned even redder, and he stormed from the room without another word.

“Well, that didn’t go well. I think it would be best if we left as soon as possible,” Olivia said.

“Yes, I agree. Will you come upstairs with me while Lydia packs a trunk?”

“Of course. I won’t leave your side until we’re safely out of this house.”

Both women hurried up the stairs to Bett’s bedchamber, and she instructed Lydia to pack her trunk for an extended visit.

“Right away, my lady,” Lydia said.

“We can stay at an inn in Albury before we head back to Oxfordshire,” Olivia said.

“That sounds like a good plan. It’ll be dark soon, and I don’t relish traveling at night.”

“Nor do I.”

Lydia made quick work of the packing and went to fetch a footman to bring the trunk downstairs as well as collect Lady Robertson’s maid from the kitchen.

With one last look around her bedchamber, Bett grabbed her bonnet, pelisse, and gloves. The women made their way downstairs, only to be confronted by a tearful Cecily standing beside Peter in the foyer. The last thing Bett needed was an emotional plea to stay from her sister-in-law.

“Oh, Bett. Peter told me you’re leaving. How could you? I need you here.”

Bett walked to Cecily and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She felt sorry for her but not sorry enough to stay. “Cecily, you’ll be fine. Little Stephen is thriving, and you have the wet nurse and your husband to help with the child.”

“But it won’t be the same. I need your sweet voice to soothe me.”

“I’m sorry, Cecily, but I’m leaving. There’s a friend in need I must visit. I shall see you later,” Bett said, giving Cecily a hug. “Be well and enjoy the baby.”

Cecily burst into tears and ran into her husband’s arms. “You must do something. Don’t let her leave, please.”

Bett glared at Peter before she and Olivia walked out the door to see a footman attaching her trunk to the back of the carriage. He handed Bett, Olivia, and the two maids up into the carriage before closing the door. As the carriage rolled down the drive, Bett looked out the window to see a tearful Cecily on the doorstep, being comforted in Peter’s arms.

She couldn’t believe Peter would try use Cecily’s tears to convince her to stay, but it didn’t matter now because she was finally on her way to see the man who’d held her heart for so many months.

“Olivia, I can’t thank you enough for coming today. I shudder to think what would have happened if you hadn’t.”

“I’m happy to help,” Olivia said, squeezing her hands. “Now it’s time for a new adventure.”

“Indeed,” Bett said, thinking of kissing Noah’s lips again.