The Bookseller and the Earl (The Merry Misfits of Bath 1)

Mr. Wallingham stood. “Sir. I must, for the record, state my objection to this. They could be doing anything up there with their fingers. Naturally, his stepmother would know the boy’s age.”

“You may sit, Mr. Wallingham,” the magistrate said. He then turned to Addie. “Lady Berkshire ask the lad to cross the room and pick up the papers on the table in front of his father.”

Addie signed furiously. Michael wrinkled his brows. Mr. Wallingham snorted and glanced sideways at a grinning Beatrice. Grayson held his breath, but after about a minute Michael left his chair, walked over to the table and took the papers in his hand and brought them back to Addie.

She took the papers from him and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. Tears ran down her face and Grayson felt as though he’d been hit with a bolt of lightning. His insides twisted and his heart beat faster. A sense of joy filled him like never before in his life.

He loved her.

He loved his wife. His countess. His everything. Why he hadn’t realized it before now had only to do with his own stubbornness. His need to cling to the idea that he would never give his heart to another woman.

But this was Addie. Kind, caring, loyal, and faithful Addie, who was so full of honor she would never betray him the way Margaret had. And their love was not the passion of youthful lust, but the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. He wanted them to be old and gray and holding hands when the first of them left this earth.

Now he was anxious for the hearing to be over so he could tell her how he felt. If she wanted to work in a bookstore, she could work in a bookstore. He never cared too much for what Society thought before, why should he care now when it was so important to the woman he loved?

The woman I love.

His heart pounded with excitement.

“Mr. Wallingham, it appears to me that there is nothing wrong, or incompetent with the Viscount Falmouth. He is a sweet, charming lad who can communicate with no problems.

“That shall be my decision, but a formal legal ruling will be sent to all the parties involved.” He looked down at Michael and waved. “I might not know sign language, but I believe that is the universal sign for saying goodbye.”

Michael smiled and waved back.

The magistrate slammed down his gavel. “This matter is concluded.”

They all rose as the magistrate stood and left the room.

As they gathered up their papers, Beatrice strode over to their table. “You might have pulled some tomfoolery here for the court, but I don’t believe for one minute that Michael is not an idiot.”

Addie stood and addressed Beatrice. “You may rest assured that no one here cares what you believe.” Then she turned her back, took Michael’s hand and swept by Beatrice like a queen leaving her lowly subject.

Addie’s head was pounding by the time the carriage reached the townhouse. They had won. She was happy and grateful for that. After a few congratulations among those in the carriage, they had all remained silent for the rest of the trip.

However, while everyone was joyful and excited, nothing had changed for her. She was still married to a man who only wed her because they’d been caught in a compromising situation. He had no intention of ever loving another woman after his beloved Margaret, and if given his way he would sell the one thing Addie had built for herself without any care for her feelings.

“I will leave you all here,” Grayson said, as they exited the carriage. “I must meet with my man of business at my club in preparation for our return to Bath tomorrow.”

Addie nodded and entered the house. She handed her cloak off to Brooks and turned to Mrs. Banfield. “If you will excuse me, I think I will lie down. I seem to be suffering from a megrim.”

Mrs. Banfield touched her hand lightly. “That is a very good idea, my lady. I am sure you could use the rest now that all the tension from the hearing is over.”

Addie nodded and knelt in front of Michael. She signed how proud she was of him and how much she loved him. Then she gave him a hug and kiss, then climbed the stairs to her room to prepare to return to her own house in Bath.

Because she had opted to bring only a few items with her, not expecting such a lengthy visit, she was able to leave for Bath within the hour of arriving home from the hearing. She’d left a note for Grayson explaining that she was returning to her old life. Yes, they were married and would remain married, but it had been a mistake.

Since she had given up on ever having a husband, and he was still madly in love with his Margaret, there was no reason to pretend they wanted to stay married. They had staved off the gossipers with their quick betrothal and wedding and saved his son from losing his inheritance.

She loved Michael with her whole heart and would make sure she stayed in his life. He would be the only child she ever had, and her the only mother he would ever know.

The sad part was how much she loved Grayson, something she’d begun to realize right before the disastrous visit from Mrs. Hartley.

On the way home from Brighton Beach, she had been filled with love and joy at how wise their decision to marry had been. During the short wedding trip, they had shared intimate dinners in their hotel room, feeding each other from their forks, drinking wine that spilled down her front, forcing a laughing Grayson to lay her back on the thick carpet and lick it off.

They’d made love so many times she didn’t think she

could walk. He read to her while sitting naked on the floor in front of the fireplace. Not once had he criticized her for not being able to read out loud to him.