Page 7 of A Scandalous Proposition
Adam quirked a brow but refrained from saying that if James was so concerned about him, perhaps he should have thought twice before marrying his intended. That sort of delicious gossip was impossible to keep secret for long.
‘You’ll not recognise him, Adam.’ There was a catch in his mother’s voice. ‘I fear for him, really I do.’
‘His indisposition would account for your concerns about the estate then.’
‘Yes. He appears to have lost all interest.’
This news didn’t come as a surprise. Adam himself had taken over many of the duties that ought to have fallen to his brother’s lot, simply because he couldn’t bear to see inefficiencies and laziness weakening the estate’s reputation. ‘Tell me how Philippa and James came to marry with such haste.’
‘Oh, dear.’ The dowager looked so distraught that Adam glanced away, allowing her a moment to get her emotions under better control. ‘Well, after you left, Philippa’s visits to the Court continued, and Julia and I took comfort in her society. We were able to talk about you, reflecting upon the fact that you were bound to cover yourself with glory, which of course you did. At least we didn’t get that wrong.’
‘Yes, but I still don’t understand why she and James suddenly developed such atendrefor one another. James is more than twenty years older than Philippa and their paths seldom crossed before I left home.’
‘That’s true. But when Julia died everything changed. As you can imagine, we were all shocked and devastated, none more so than James.’
Adam crossed one booted foot over his opposite knee and nodded.
‘And your nieces couldn’t begin to understand why their mama didn’t come when they called for her. James found solace only in the bottle. But Philippa saw the children’s confusion and took them in hand. She played with them and kept them distracted from the great sadness that had descended upon the Court. Fortunately they’re so young that they quickly adapted but…’
‘But James didn’t?’
‘He started drinking more than ever and went into rapid decline. He lost interest in everything and it was only Philippa’s society that afforded him any pleasure. He couldn’t even bear to look upon his daughters.’ His mother dabbed at fresh tears, her left hand absently twisting the teaspoon in her saucer. ‘Only to think I was actually grateful to Philippa when I observed James reviving in her company. None of the rest of us knew quite what to do with him, and so I thanked her for the trouble she was taking to keep him in good spirits. Little did I realise…I mean, it didn’t occur to me that she ought to be chaperoned, or that James would look upon her as anything other than a surrogate sister.’
‘That’s perfectly understandable. No one could criticise your behaviour.’
‘No one except me perhaps. And ever since I’ve been searching for a way to live with my conscience.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Oh dear.’ The dowager paused to blow her nose. ‘It’s so distasteful. I’ve rehearsed these words a thousand times but I…’
‘Mother, I’ve just come through a ferocious battle. Such things tend to put the defection of a highly regarded female into perspective.’ He patted her hand and smiled. ‘Just tell me and be done with it.’
His mother straightened a spine that was already rigidly upright and drew a deep breath. ‘One day, about ten months after Julia’s death, I was coming down the stairs when Philippa came flying out of the library, almost hysterical. Her bodice was torn, her hair was all over the place and she had scratches on her…well, on her person?’
‘Good God! Beg pardon, Mother, but are you actually saying that James forced himself upon her?’
‘Yes, unfortunately I am.’
Adam, shocked to the core, stood up, turned his back to the fire and shook his head several times. ‘I simply don’t believe it.’ He was well aware that his brother’s sexual preferences veered toward domination?but this…
‘Nor me, and I immediately went into the library to confront him.’
‘And what did he have to say for himself?’
‘Nothing, since he was passed out cold on the settee.’
Adam rubbed his chin, his suspicions aroused. If his brother had been jug-bittenandsuffering from pleurisy, would he still have been able to ravish Philippa? It hardly seemed credible. Adam knew for himself that being foxed was quite enough on its own to dampen a man’s ardour.
‘Were there any obvious signs that he’d behaved as Philippa claimed?’
‘You doubt it?’
Adam could hardly articulate the nature of his thoughts to his own mother. ‘I merely wish to clarify the situation.’
‘Well, his clothing was unfastened and in great disarray, if that’s what you’re asking.’ The dowager lifted her eyes to Adam’s and sighed. ‘Naturally, as soon as he regained his senses I quizzed him on the matter. He claimed no recollection of it but immediately offered to do the right thing as soon as he was out of mourning.’ She spread her hands. ‘And I couldn’t see any way to avoid him taking that step without tarnishing the family name beyond recall.’
‘It must have been a terrible time for you.’
