Vexing the Viscount

“Hmm,” Emily said. “It doesn’t take long to know if you’re attracted to a man.”

“Go to sleep, Emily. I am not interested in Middleton in any manner, except his well-being.”

“If you say so.”

Tia wandered the house for a while before slipping into a chair in the salon with a book. After a few hours, a footman came to announce dinner. She entered the dining room to see only one place set. “Where are the earl and countess?”

A footman smothered a grin. “They have elected to have dinner sent up to their bedchamber.”

Bedchamber? This was an interesting turn of events. Perhaps Emily had decided to seduce her husband and then inform him of his impending fatherhood. Tia certainly hoped that was the case. After a lonely dinner, she returned to the salon and her book until the earl walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

“Miss Featherstone, I would like a word with you.”

Hearing the commanding tone of his voice, she closed her book without bookmarking the page and then sat up straight. “How can I help you, my lord?”

“My wife informed me that she is with child. Is this true?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“And that is one of the reasons she asked you to stay with her, is it not?”

“Yes, my lord. I am a healer and midwife,” Tia replied.

The earl started to walk the length of the room. “How far along is she?”

Tia kept a sigh from escaping her lips. The man must suspect his wife of carrying another man’s child. “I am not certain, my lord. I would say between two and three months.”

“Is it two or three?” he asked roughly.

“It is hard to tell. She is not that far along. I will know more in a few months as the baby grows.”

He turned to face her with his cold blue eyes. “She must have told you how many of her monthlies she’d missed.”

“Yes, she did, my lord. She told me she’d missed two. However, since I don’t know if it was unusual for her to miss a monthly as it is for some women, I can’t say for certain exactly how far along she is right now.”

He sent her a sardonic grin. “I believe you can, but you are being a good friend to my wife. You might not believe this, but I appreciate that, Miss Featherstone.”

“Why did you allow me to stay with your wife?”

“Because she’s had a difficult time adjusting to married life and Society. I thought a friend might help her acclimate. While I don’t understand this need to show you off to all the unmarried men in London, if it makes her happy, then I shall allow it.”

“I see.”

“I only have one request, Miss Featherstone.” The earl folded his arms over his chest. “Do not let her near Mr. Tavers.”

“I beg your pardon?”

He laughed. “You mean she didn’t tell you who her first lover was?”

Chapter 6

An entire fortnight had passed with no sign of either Jonathon or Miss Featherstone. It made no sense to Braden that he could not find either one. He hired another Bow Street runner to search for Miss Featherstone, but again it was as if she’d fallen off the earth. Every morning, he rode to a different section of town, hunting for any sign of her. In the evenings, he turned his attention to gaming hells and even a couple of opium dens in his pursuit of Jonathon.

“My lord, a missive has arrived for you.”

Thank God, Braden thought as he retrieved the note from the outstretched arms of his footman. This must be a note about Jonathon. The runner said he was getting closer to finding him. “Is the man waiting for a reply?”

“No, my lord. He left the letter and departed.”