Page 32 of The Rake to Reveal Her

‘And the others?’

‘They’re at school. Which is up and running now, by the way. Renovations of the building went splendidly, I found a lovely girl, Miss Andrews, to teach, and an older couple to live in as cook and general handyman. I was in the process of considering applications for a tutor for Charles—before he gets too accustomed to being at the school, too.’

‘That wouldn’t be wise,’ her aunt agreed. ‘You can’t expect him to act like a gentleman later if he’s raised like a foundling. And—what of Mr Ransleigh?’

Theo swallowed hard, Dominic Ransleigh being the one topic she’d forbidden herself to think about since the nightmare of Lady Hazlett’s visit.

‘He’s been an exemplary neighbour. His grandfather amassed quite a magnificent library at Bildenstone, which he is allowing me access to. I...enjoy his company. He’s very easy to talk to.’ Oh, and so much more, Theo thought distractedly.

A knock at the door was followed by the entry of the butler with the tea tray. Once they’d settled themselves in with full cups, Lady Coghlane said, ‘So, tell me what’s troubling you.’

Her stomach, half-settled by the warming tea, twisted into knots again. ‘I suppose it started with me falling in love with Marshall, supremely confident that we would live together the rest of our lives.’

Her aunt gave her a sympathetic glance. ‘I’m sure you did believe in for ever...ill advised as that was, with him being a serving officer during a bloody conflict.’

‘You’ll remember that, almost five years ago now, I was going to accompany Lord Everly’s wife back to London for the birth of her child.’

‘Of course I remember! You were going to stay with me.’

‘Only she became ill on the journey, and we ended up at a convent until after the birth of her child.’

‘Yes. Also that she didn’t long survive his birth.’

Theo took a deep breath. ‘What you didn’t know is that she wasn’t the only one taken ill. After I learned that Marshall had been killed, I was distraught. Even more so because I’d only just discovered I was...increasing. You see, Alicia wasn’t the only one who gave birth at that convent. She died in childbed, and her child with her. Charles, the infant I brought back with me, wasn’t her son—he is mine.’

Theo waited miserably while her aunt’s eyes widened. Dropping her teacup with a clatter, she gasped, ‘Your child? You mean Charles is your son?’

Theo nodded. ‘Mine and Marshall’s. Oh, I was “ill advised” indeed! So confident of our future, I begged Marshall to make me his before I left with Alicia for London. Never dreaming he would not be there that winter to marry me.’

‘Oh, my poor dear! What a predicament! Did Richard know?’

‘No. I intended to confess the whole to him upon my return, even as I dreaded losing his good opinion—as I dread losing yours, now. But when I arrived back in camp and informed Everly’s commander of his wife’s death, the colonel assumed the infant I’d brought back with me was their son. Before I could get another word out, he went off into a diatribe about the perfidy of the nobility, with the Marquess of Wareton refusing to acknowledge either the marriage or the child. He asked if I could continue to look after the boy, at least temporarily. I barely had time to agree before he shooed me out to deal with an important dispatch. Then, with the news spreading through camp that Everly’s wife had died and I’d brought back her son, it seemed wiser—for Charles’s sake and Papa’s, more than for my own—to let it be thought he was the legitimate—if unrecognised—grandson of a marquess. Rather than the illegitimate son of a colonel’s daughter.’

Theo faced her aunt, the churning in her stomach intensifying. ‘I’m so ashamed I let you and Papa down.’

The remorse and guilt she usually suppressed swept through her in a staggering wave. Swamped by it, she needed every bit of strength to hold the sobs at bay, only a single tear escaping to trickle down her cheek.

Her aunt rushed over to embrace her. ‘There, now, my poor dear!’ she crooned, rubbing Theo’s trembling back as she tried to regain control. ‘You needn’t apologise to me for doing what girls in love have done from time immemorial. If the gods were female, you wouldn’t have conceived—or if you had, your beloved would have stayed alive to marry you!’

After a few moments, when Theo regained her composure, Lady Coghlane released her and resumed her seat. ‘To tell the truth, of late I’d suspected as much—especially when you were so adamant about keeping Charles, even after Richard’s death.’

‘You suspected?’ Theo cried, horrified. ‘Do you think anyone else might?’

‘Calm yourself, my dear. I doubt anyone who doesn’t know you well would suspect a thing. If the account of Charles’s birth was to be challenged, it would have happened when you first brought him back to camp. It’s just that I know you truly want the best for him, and knowing that, it seemed...odd for you to hold on to the child after your father’s death, when you could no longer ensure he would be raised by a gentleman as a gentleman. Unless he meant more to you than a chance-met orphan.’

‘He does,’ Theo acknowledged.

‘Why did you feel the need to reveal the secret of Charles’s birth now?’

Smiling grimly, Theo recounted her confrontation with Audley Tremaine—and the subsequent visit from Lady Hazlett.

‘Wonderful that the viscount and his lady want a relationship with the boy,’ her aunt said, after listening thoughtfully. ‘But...to take him from you, now, after more than four years? That would be very hard.’

‘Impossible. So I proposed a bargain: I marry a well-positioned gentleman, who can provide the advantages of upbringing and access to the gentlemen of society the viscount would, let them develop a relationship with Charles, and I get to keep him with me. Which is why I came: to have you work your magic, and find me someone suitable to marry. Do...do you really think you can find someone?’

Lady Coghlane steepled her fingers, pondering. ‘Nothing has changed since we last discussed you marrying. You’d insisted then that you must keep Charles. I assume, if you reached an understanding with a gentleman, you would reveal his parentage?’

‘Of course. It’s a delicate balancing—I don’t want the information to become common knowledge, but I’d never marry anyone who wasn’t fully aware of my circumstances.’

Lady Coghlane nodded. ‘Wise to proceed that way. As for who you might marry, I must give the matter some thought.’

‘Lady Hazlett seemed to think it would be difficult to find someone elevated enough to be suitable who’d also be amenable to marrying me. I’d need a “paragon”, she said.’

‘I wouldn’t have you marry anything else!’ Lady Coghlane said roundly. ‘Let me put my mind to it and see who I come up with. By the way, I’m promised to dine with the Stauntons tonight. Why don’t you come with me? As it happens, I have the gowns my daughter-in-law Lissa commissioned this spring, before she learned she was increasing. You’re much of a size; I think my maid could alter them to fit you. She’ll certainly be able to do something with that hair!’

‘Tonight?’ Panic swirled in her stomach. ‘I thought I’d have some time to...get acclimated before going into company. I knew you wouldn’t let me out of the house in my current wardrobe.’

‘Given your circumstances, I don’t think you should waste a minute,’ her aunt said frankly. ‘It’s fortunate Lissa’s gowns are to hand. It would be best for society to discover you’re in town immediately, so I can set my friends listening for the interest it generates. After all, my dear, you are an earl’s granddaughter, and very rich! After you’ve had an hour to rest, I’ll have Marston bring those gowns to your bedchamber. Choose some you’d like to wear until we can get you to my mantua-maker. Then, after I’ve spoken with my friends tonight, I’ll be better able to advise you on the likely candidates.’

Rising, her aunt came over to give her another hug. ‘Don’t worry, my dear. We shall find the right gentleman to make you happy—and keep Charles with you.’

‘As long as I can keep Charles with me, I will be happy,’ Theo said fervently.

As her aunt walked her out, Theo hoped her fairy-godmother aunt could make both circumstances come true.

* * *

Though Aunt Amelia had allotted her an hour to rest, Theo found she couldn’t. After ten minutes reclining on the bed, her mind ticking fiercely through various scenarios like an overwound clock, she bounced back up.

Driven by the imperative to marry, feeling helpless at knowing the resolution of her dilemma depended on the good will of someone she’d not even met, and writhing with frustration at that helplessness, her stomach churned and head throbbed. How could she attract a potential suitor with the correct qualifications, someone who would be so taken with her that he wouldn’t mind the added burden of another man’s child?

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