Page 10 of Tainted Reasoning

“I’ve been hidden away and forced to use secret doors for most of my life. I’m free now. I won’t skulk away and use a back door when a perfectly good front entrance is available.”

“I thought we weren’t going to antagonize the Viscount.”

“We’re not, but we’re also not going to hide away as if we are nobodies. Technically, until Victoria and Nicholas have a child, I’m the Earl of Lullington: Nicholas’ old title.”

I look at William, and I swear I can hear him chuckling with an evil laugh. I know it’s all in my head because he’s standing there with an expressionless face. The only evidence of his mischief is the glint in his eye and the ever so slight curl to his lip as he strides off toward the front door. He rings the bell and Viscount Hamilton’s butler, Marcus, opens up with a wide-eyed expression.

“Earl Lullington and Miss Tamara Bennett to see Ms. Elsie Bennett.” William doesn’t wait to be welcomed into the house. He pushes past the butler and into the hall. “Where is the receiving room? This way?” He points to a closed door to the left, which I know is the Viscount’s personal lounge and not one he would want William and myself entering. The butler tries to get an answer out but is so stunned at the intrusion into his day that he stands there with his mouth hanging wide open.

“Come on, man. Did you not understand what I said? Do I need to repeat myself more slowly for you?”

“The Viscount is in his study,” the butler exclaims in shock, having nothing better to say.

“I didn’t ask to see his lordship. I requested Ms. Bennett. Please have her brought to me at once. I think I’ll have a whiskey as well. Its past midday isn’t it, Tamara?”

I look down at my watch, stunned by the change in William. It’s like he’s suddenly turned into his brother, and it’s intriguing to watch.

“Yes. It’s almost one.”

“I think possibly a spot of lunch is in order as well then. I’m sure Ms. Bennett is entitled to a lunch hour.”

A figure appears at the top of the stairs, her head poking around the corner of a marbled pillar. I instantly recognize my mother who takes the stairs at a rapid pace to greet me as I race toward her.

“Tamara.” She throws her arms around me. “I didn’t know you were back. You should have called me. I would have asked permission to come to the station to get you. Where’s all your luggage? In the taxi?”

The butler clears his throat with a loud cough and nods toward William. My mother’s face instantly falls.

“Earl Lullington.” She presents a small curtsy, but William waves his hand to tell her to stop. “The Duchess is she here?” my mother enquires and gulps…I wonder why?

“No, my sister-in-law is at home resting. She’s had an eventful few months, and we discovered she’s pregnant, this morning, so the Duke wants her to take it easy.”

“You sure it’s just resting.” A new deep voice enters the conversation when Theodore, Victoria’s brother, steps out of his father’s lounge. The Viscount is behind him, and it takes all of my strength to stay rooted to the spot and not run forward and scratch his eyes out.

“Elsie, bring dear Tamara and the Earl in here. It will not do to keep them standing in the hallway like unwanted guests.” The Viscount holds the door to his lounge open, and Theo steps out of the way to allow us through.

“Will you be alright, father?” I hear Theodore say with an icy tone.

“Yes, of course. Let me know what you find out.”

“I will.” Theodore disappears, and the Viscount follows us into the room.

“Was the purpose of your visit to bring us the joyful news of Victoria’s pregnancy? Or was there something else?” The Viscount’s words are clipped, and we all stand around in the room on tenterhooks.

“Miss Bennett wanted to see her mother,” William replies. He’s like a totally different man from the person wracked with fear in the car. Now, he’s confident and purposeful and stands up tall against his formidable foe. The Viscount shows no remorse for his actions. He must be aware I know the truth since I’ve seen Victoria and chosen to have William accompany me, but he wears the mask of a concerned father well.

“Of course, she does.” The Viscount comes over to me and wraps his arms around me. He strokes my back and presses a kiss to my forehead. It has all the hallmarks of the tender fatherly display I would expect from him, but I can’t help but feel cold and disgusted by it. “Tamara, I’m so proud of the results you achieved in your law exams. You put most of your class to shame, and the position you’ve secured at Wells and Partners is prestigious, to say the least. I’ll have to see to it that all my legal affairs are transferred to the company in future.”

William snorts and opens his mouth. He pauses, not saying anything before swiping at his ear and then his head. Viscount Hamilton steps away from me and looks toward William, warily.

“Is something wrong, Earl Lullington?”

“Nothing,” William replies curtly and takes a seat, which allows everyone else in the room to also relax in comfort. The tension fills the room like helium trying to burst out of a balloon, but decorum is maintained at all times. This is how the upper classes do things. My mother remains standing. In this domain, she is staff and unless invited to sit, she’ll not do so. Although I remain the daughter of a staff member, I’m finding it hard to behave in the manner my mother’s position requires. All the respect I had for the man in front of me has gone.

“Mama, come sit with me,” I tell her, and she widens her eyes toward the Viscount in concern.

“Elsie, join your daughter.” The Viscount motions with a flick of his wrist, and that one action strengthens my resolve to take her back to Oakfield Hall with us.

My mother comes and sits beside me, and taking hold of her hand, I bring it into my lap. The room goes silent until the butler enters with a whiskey for William.

---