An Improper Proposal (The Distinguished Rogues Book 6) Read online

  “Good.” He stopped. “Iris, I have a question to ask you and I hope you will not mind my urgency. Under the circumstances, it cannot wait.”

  She smiled up at him. “I promise I won’t tell a soul about your daughter if you insist. I’m sure Acton and Meriwether will keep it quiet and understand that a man in your position has a lot to lose, and there is Whitney to consider. She might not want to marry at the moment but the stings and barbs of association will taint the way she is treated. I know all about how unfair society can be firsthand.”

  “I don’t want to pretend she doesn’t exist.” He sighed. “Do you want to be her mother? I can see you care for her already and I know I can never make it up to her for the way she’ll be treated. You’ve made some good decisions regarding her care and I would like to ask for more. I want her to live with us but I’d rather not have your name dragged through the scandal rags because of her.”

  Her eyes widened then she grinned. “I already consider her my daughter, husband, so your question is quite unnecessary. Why do you think I suggested she would be safer at Holly House? Talbot is in custody and cannot harm anyone.”

  “You do?” He grinned sheepishly. “I won’t understate the potential difficulties that lie ahead for the family.”

  “I’ve already had ample time to consider the future and I would be proud to tell the world she is my daughter.” She bit her lip and then started walking again. “Will you suggest next that my own history might make me a poor choice for her mother?”

  He hurried to catch up. “Nonsense. I never gave a damn about your lack of dowry.”

  “I meant the other thing.”

  He stared at her. “I will admit to being angry about your involvement with Talbot, but believe me, it’s the scoundrel’s neck I want to wring, not yours.”

  “Well then. After we have settled Violet at home, we had better invite your closest friends to meet her so they are not surprised by any gossip.”

  “Whitney has agreed to visit with Miranda for a while, too.”

  Iris nodded at the news, but since they were at Holly House she focused on taking the baby into the house.

  It astounded him that everything would work out. Iris was safe. Violet would be accepted and have a mother. All he needed now was for Whitney to make a match with a suitable gentleman, if that were even possible.

  Once they were inside, he caught Iris’s hand in his and held it. “There is something I’ve been meaning to tell you. I—”

  He froze at the sounds of struggle from the nearby drawing room. “Wait here.”

  He snatched up a candlestick and hurried toward the disturbance. In the drawing room, furniture had been overturned and a pair of heels drummed on the floor behind a high-backed chair.

  When he rounded it to see what was going on, he found Alexander Hedley sitting on top of Mr. Gibbs’s chest. Both men were dressed in their nightshirts.

  He dropped the candlestick. “What the devil are you doing?”

  Hedley turned and his stare shocked Martin to stillness.

  “You,” Hedley hissed. “You stole my daughter.”

  The older man flew at him but being larger and stronger, Martin was able to contain his assault quite easily and pinned him against his chest. Hedley continued to twist frantically in his grip and shout out his daughter’s name. Servants came running from all directions in various states of dishabille but Iris pushed to the front, holding Violet protectively in her arms. Her shocked expression made his heart ache. “It’s all right. Everyone go back to bed.”

  Whitney appeared too, dressed in her nightgown and robe, and rushed toward the butler. “What’s happened, Gibbs?”

  He climbed to his feet unsteadily with Whitney’s aid and leaned heavily against a chair, gasping for breath. “He’s been agitated for half an hour or more. Got it in his head we’d made him our prisoner and that his daughter was in danger from you. Nothing I could say would convince him you would return soon from the ball.”

  Iris approached them slowly, her eyes trained on her father. “Oh, Papa. I’m here now and all is well.”

  “My baby,” Hedley sobbed. His gaze fixed to the bundle in Iris’s arms. “You’ve been gone so long and I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

  Hedley sagged but Martin didn’t dare release him yet.

  “He’s calmer now, Martin. Please sit him down beside me.”

  He guided his father-in-law to the settee she chose and hovered. He wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt his family, not even Alexander.

  Iris set the baby on her lap and then caught her father’s hand. “We were only gone to a ball, Papa, and I’m in no danger here. We are at home now and soon for our beds. It’s been a very long night.”

  Martin remained close to Iris, heart in his throat, afraid Hedley could became violent again if he looked away. God alone knew what had provoked this outburst but it could not happen again. Hedley wasn’t in his right mind and not to be trusted.

  The man leaned forward and tickled the baby’s cheek with one finger. “He stole you from me,” Hedley whispered to Violet. “You’ll never have to see him again.”

  Iris winced. “Lord Louth has never harmed us. He is my husband. He takes care of us. Didn’t you say you like living here better than anywhere?”

  Martin nodded to remind the older man.

  Hedley’s hands clenched into fists. “But I saw him pawing you on the stairs. I’d have dealt with him then but the turnkey stopped me. He said I’d imagined it. He brought me extra food to keep me quiet, too, but I won’t stand for it any longer.”

  Hedley glared at Gibbs.

  Iris gulped and met his gaze. In his agitated state, he was confusing Gibbs and Fitzhugh into the same man.

  “Mr. Gibbs is a servant, Papa. He is our butler.” She passed the baby to Whitney, who’d drawn close, then rubbed her father’s hands briskly. “You must apologize to him for the misunderstanding. You’ve hurt him and I know you did not mean to.”

  Hedley faced Gibbs and all of a sudden he blinked, glancing around him at the room in surprise. Martin drew closer in concern but Hedley’s attitude had changed. He looked older and very confused. “Iris?” he whispered.

  “I’m here, Papa. Everything will be all right.” Iris put her arm around her father and held him against her side as she met the butler’s gaze. “I am so sorry if you were hurt, Mr. Gibbs. It won’t happen again.”

  “Never worry about it, my lady. He caught me by surprise. And I do understand. My mother was the same way in the last years of her life. Accidents happen. I’ll have the room cleaned up before the first callers of the day arrive.” He bowed to her but stopped at Martin’s side. “I’d recommend laudanum,” he whispered softly enough that Hedley wouldn’t hear.

  “A calming draft might just be the thing to ease his mind.” Martin nodded. “Thank you, Gibbs, and be as quick about it as you can.”

  Whitney drew close, rocking the child in her arms. “I was to go to visit Lady Taverham later today but I can stay at home if you’d rather I not.”

  Martin shook his head and took Violet from her. “No. Go back to bed and later enjoy your visit. Say nothing to Miranda about this as yet. I’ll send a note to her at midday and ask her to call on us tonight, when this is taken care of.”

  Whitney rose up on her toes to peer at Violet’s face and then at his. Her brow rose. “If you’re sure?”

  “I will explain everything later, I promise.”

  “This should be very interesting.” She smiled softly and hurried out.

  When the butler and Whitney had gone, Martin drew close to Hedley. Iris might not like it but he was about to make another decision for her father. The man couldn’t stay in London or the gossips would shred his reputation and see him assigned to Bedlam. He needed watching over, and that could be better done in the country than in London, where there was less disruption and late nights. And Martin had the perfect place in his possession for such an extended stay. Hedley needed the serenity of the
dower house at Holly Park, and a set of footmen permanently on hand to keep him calm.

  He set his hand to Hedley’s shoulder. “Shall we adjourn to the library for a nightcap, sir?”

  “Oh, yes. That would be very welcome. I was just feeling a bit parched, now that you mention it.” Hedley eased away from Iris as Martin passed Violet to her. He escorted Hedley toward the library so the staff could begin straightening the drawing room. When he glanced over his shoulder, Iris remained behind hugging the babe tight to her chest. Her frightened expression spoke volumes for her concern. He tipped his head to urge her to follow.

  Gibbs returned quickly enough that Martin could slip a large dose of the opiate into Hedley’s first drink. He settled into the chair opposite Hedley, as he had done on other cozy afternoons, and spoke to the man of inconsequential matters. Iris perched in a nearby chair, rocking their daughter while she slept. She must be afraid of the changes in her father’s demeanor. He wasn’t the commanding Alexander of old, nor had the sweet father she expected emerged from the Marshalsea.

  Hedley grew drowsy very soon after and when he was soundly asleep in his chair and snoring, his head nestled against the headrest comfortably, Martin motioned Iris to the far side of the room. She set Violet down on a heavily padded armchair and he drew her into his arms immediately. He held her tightly against his chest. “It is over now.”

  She curled against his chest. “No, it’s not.”

  “I’m sorry.” He sighed against her hair to whisper, “You are correct. There is no end to this situation. Gibbs mentioned his mother went the same way and grew unmanageable, and I recall a little of what happened. I’d intended for your father to live with us forever, but can we manage him? You cannot stay at his side every moment of the day and night and neither can I. It’s not the life he’d want for you, either.”

  She pressed her head to his chest. “He’s never done this before. I’d hoped he would get better after his release from the Marshalsea. It was never very pleasant for him there but I never dreamed he could become violent.”

  “I thought as much.” He kissed the top of her head. “Perhaps instead of staying in London, your father should retire to Holly Park? There is a little house on the property, a dower house not in use and not too far from the manor. He could be very comfortable there and have a regular routine that might soothe him. There’s a bookroom decorated much like this one and I can supply company from time to time and plenty of his favorite foods. With the proper staff, and a new situation in a peaceful setting, he might not be reminded of the past year’s difficulties.”

  “I apologize for the accusations he made against you.” Her breath left her in a ragged rush. “They were cruel and uncalled for.”

  “Shh,” he whispered. He tightened his grip around her. “He is your father and it’s not surprising he’s concerned for you.”

  She looked up at him. “I love you.”

  “And I was going to say earlier that I love you, too, with all my heart.” He kissed her gently. “My darling brave wife. You amaze me with your strength and your acceptance of my daughter. To see your eyes light up from within because you are exactly where you want to be has made me so happy.”

  He trailed his fingers down her neck softly. “Iris, there will be little chance of hiding the fact he’s losing his mind.”

  “I know. I have suspected for some time that’s why he lost our fortune. He might not have been in his right mind for many years before that too and I shrugged off my suspicions. Small things at first, like forgetting names and confusing the time of day.

  “He speaks like a child at times and mentions grudges against people from his past as if he’s just met with them. I fear one day he will live so far into the past that he will have no memory of me. I’ve already had to remind him I was his daughter once. That is so hard to do.”

  Hedley’s decline was greater than he’d seen so far. “We must prepare for the worst.”

  “What am I going to do?”

  “Lean on me. Together, you and I can accomplish anything we desire.” He glanced down. “That reminds me, I’ve yet to kiss your feet for nudging Whitney to smooth things over with Lord Acton.”

  He made to kneel but she caught him about the waist, stopping his decent. “Don’t you dare.”

  He grinned. “Tonight then? After the family are put to bed. I will suck each dainty toe until you beg me to stop.”

  Her eyes fluttered shut. “How do you do that? Make me ache for your touch with just your words.”

  “It’s a talent.” He kissed her, holding her tightly against his body.

  A throat cleared and they drew apart. Gibbs had paused three steps into the room and had lowered his gaze to give them privacy.

  Martin sighed. “Yes, Gibbs?”

  “I’ve taken the liberty of arranging for two footmen to keep an eye on Mr. Hedley day and night. I’d rather not take any chances of another outburst like this.”

  “Thank you, Gibbs,” Iris whispered softly. “I am so very sorry to be such trouble to everyone. You don’t deserve this.”

  Martin set his arm around her shoulders to offer his support.

  “It’s no bother at all, my lady.” Gibbs moved into the room, refilled Hedley’s brandy and added a few more drops of laudanum to the liquid. “We will keep him quiet for the rest of the night and see how he is at luncheon. If there is nothing else, I’ll leave you to it.”

  “Thank you, Gibbs.” He caught Iris’s hands in his as soon as Gibbs was gone again and raised it to his lips. He brushed light kisses over her cold knuckles and then blew over the damp skin. He grinned as her eyes fluttered again. “Now that your father is taken care of, I want you to take our daughter upstairs and see her settled with Mrs. Blake, then take off your shoes and gown, and lie down for at least an hour. Whitney will go to visit with Miranda and won’t be returning for hours. I’ll write to everyone while you rest and wake you in time for their arrival.”

  She squeezed his hands and then stretched to kiss him on the lips. The kiss was fleeting but solid and Martin couldn’t help but feel optimistic. “Will you wake me with kisses again?”

  “Always.”

  Epilogue

  “I cannot imagine I’ve forgotten anything,” Whitney mused as she circled the pile of luggage stacked to the side of her bed, ready for her departure to Lord and Lady Taverham’s country estate.

  Iris folded her arms over her chest and surveyed the room. Whitney had stripped it bare. “If there is anything left, I’m sure you don’t need it.”

  Whitney caught her arm and squeezed. “Always so practical. Do you ever do anything reckless, my friend?”

  She glanced at Violet where she rested in the middle of Whitney’s bed, supervising the packing with only the occasional gurgle or cry. “I’ve been reckless enough to last a lifetime.”

  “I am so proud of you.” Whitney folded her into an embrace and rocked her from side to side. Since her marriage to Martin, Whitney had dropped all pretense of formality, and had once even climbed into bed with Iris to talk when she’d discovered her alone. “I would stay if you want my support. I don’t care what anyone says about the child. She is family. The prettiest little girl there is.” Whitney crept onto the bed and pressed a kiss to Violet’s soft cheek. “Looks nothing like her father.”

  “Of course she does. The resemblance is very strong.”

  “You are so lucky, all the fun and none of the hard work.” Whitney grinned widely. “Unless there’s something you’d like to share with me.”

  “Far too soon to tell. But I promise to write to you as soon as I’m sure.”

  Whitney grinned. “I don’t imagine Miranda will be as easy to laugh with as you are. I’d have to get her attention first, but I am looking forward to a month away from London. They say the views from the highest points of the estate are spectacular. I am so looking forward to painting them.”

  “And I will look forward to viewing them when you return to Holly Park.”
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  Whitney frowned. “But I thought you were going to stay in London a little longer? I certainly would want to see for myself that Talbot is punished.”

  “My father needs me. I don’t imagine the journey will be a comfortable one.”

  “You mean you need your father?” Whitney set her hands to her hips and glared. “Iris, have you never had a selfish thought in your whole life? You have to take what you want and forget about the consequences. If you spend all your time worrying about what people will think, you will never have any peace. I learned that a long time ago. I must be honest with myself.”

  What did she want? She looked about her. A home. A family. Someone to love. Food on the table. A new dress now and then.

  And Martin’s daughter.

  She smiled. “Whitney, I have everything I need to be happy. I have a family again.”

  Whitney squeezed her hand. “I will miss you, sweet cousin.”

  “And I will miss you,” she agreed. Whitney, despite her unconventional attitude and indifference to many things society expected her to care about, had proven herself over the past days. She had not judged her for her past mistakes. “Promise to write and let me know how you get on as often as possible.”

  “I will.” Whitney glanced around the room.

  Martin tapped on the door and stared at the luggage in horror. “Is that all you’re taking?”

  “That is everything.” Whitney smiled and picked up Violet. She stared into the child’s eyes. “I’d take her with me in a heartbeat, though, if I could.”

  “Never.” Iris took Violet back and set her into the crook of her arm. “I’ll not go without my daughter for even a single day.”

  Whitney reached into a side drawer and withdrew a sheet of paper. “Not even for this?”

  The girl had drawn a portrait in charcoal—Iris holding Violet with Martin watching on. Her father was seated in the background and smiling. It was so well done, her eyes filled with tears. “Thank you.”

  “There will be more when I return, I promise. With one last look, Whitney swept from the room, carrying her reticule and her brush case as hand luggage. They followed her to the front hall and watched her join Lord and Lady Taverham in their carriage. Her luggage would follow later.