Once Dishonored Read online

  “Like the king?”

  Mad King George was a good example. “Something like that. I don’t think they have the same disease, but in both cases, their minds are affected.” She swallowed hard, then forced herself to say, “Your father is to be pitied, but that doesn’t make his actions right.”

  “I don’t ever want to leave you again, Mama,” Kit whispered.

  “Oh, my darling.” She hugged him close, wondering how long it would be until he would consider himself too old to be hugged by his mother. “I want to keep you close too, but that won’t be possible. If your father found out that you were with me, he’d take you away from me again, and he might lock you up in an even worse place than the Scranton School. The law says he’d have the right to do that.”

  Christopher jerked his head up. “Why does the law say that?”

  Kendra wanted to spit out that the law had been created by bullying males, but she didn’t think that would help her son understand. “English law has been developed over centuries and it says that a man’s wife and children belong to him, like a horse or a pair of boots. He can do anything he wants with us.”

  Christopher’s eyes narrowed to slits. “That’s stupid!”

  “I agree. Someday the laws might change, but for now, your father has the legal right to take you away from me.” Wanting to emphasize the danger, she continued, “He might even charge me with kidnapping you and try to put me in prison.”

  Christopher looked horrified. “He could do that?”

  “He could try.” She shivered. “I don’t want to know if he would succeed. But don’t worry about that now. Rest. You’re safe here for now. While you’re sleeping, I’ll go downstairs to talk to Lucas about the best way to hide you from Denshire.”

  Kit covered another yawn. “You like him?”

  “Yes, I like him a great deal. He’s trying to help me change my situation so that you can stay with me again.”

  “Is that possible?” Christopher asked hopefully.

  “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “We’ll certainly do our best. Now get some sleep.”

  “Couldn’t sleep much on the coaches,” he muttered, his fingers so tired they were fumbling as he tried to undress. “Too much lurching around.”

  “Then you have every right to be tired,” she said lightly as she helped him take off his outer clothes. When she tucked him into her bed, he was asleep almost before she pulled the covers over him.

  She leaned over and lightly kissed his forehead. Her beautiful boy was here, her greatest wish fulfilled. Now for the complicated question of how they could remain together.

  Kendra descended and entered the drawing room. Lucas stood when she entered and she walked straight into his arms, craving the warmth and safety of his embrace. In fact, she thought wryly, she was behaving like Christopher when he burrowed into her embrace. “What a day it has been,” she said with a sigh.

  “Indeed.” He scooped her up in his arms, then sat on the sofa with her in his lap.

  After a startled moment, she relaxed into him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Retrieving Christopher was my most important goal, and now I have him. The question is how do I keep him?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that, too,” Lucas said. “Obviously it would be a disaster for Denshire to learn that Christopher has run away to you. Even though the boy doesn’t want to be separated from you again, I don’t think it’s safe for him to stay in London.”

  She sighed and absently stroked Lucas’s arm. “I know you’re right. But we need to find a good place for him, and it has to be close enough for me to visit.”

  “What about Camden Keep?” Lucas suggested. “I think my aunt and uncle would love to have him, and he’d have the Magdalene, who is a very soothing mule.”

  She smiled. “That might work. More thought is required. There may be a better solution.”

  “We might not have much time. Does Denshire know about Thorsay House? Is there a chance he might come here and accuse you again of abducting Christopher? Maybe even demand to search the house?”

  She caught her breath. “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure! If he came with some men to back him up and demanded to search the house, they’d find Kit and it would cause trouble for Mr. and Mrs. Brown as well.”

  “If the Browns don’t know that Christopher was ever here, it would be safer for them,” Lucas said. “Might they return soon?”

  Kendra shook her head. “No, they’re visiting their older daughter today to see their new grandson. They didn’t expect to get home much before dark.”

  “So we can take Christopher out before anyone notices there’s a child here.”

  “That might be best, but where would we take him?”

  “Duval House,” he said immediately. “Simon told me to treat the house as my own, and I intend to take full advantage of the invitation. Not that I think Simon or Suzanne would object to sheltering a child in need. It would only be for a few days.”

  “And there are a cat and a dog to keep him company. He’d like that. Does Duval House have a guest room Christopher and I can share? He needs to have me near him for now. And I need it, too.”

  “There’s a good-sized room in the attic that would work. Shall we take him over? I can get a small closed carriage and take it to the mews behind the house.”

  Kendra nodded decisively. “Yes, please do. I have some of his clothing. It was a wishful hope that I’d find him before he completely outgrew his current clothes.”

  He slid his arms under her and neatly transferred her to the sofa beside him so he could stand. “I’ll go to Duval House to make sure that Simon and Suzanne don’t object to having guests. Simon has the right kind of carriage as well. I’ll borrow it and return here. I should be back in one to two hours.”

  She rose also. “I’ll pack a few things for Christopher and myself and be ready when you return.”

  Lucas put a finger under her chin and gave her a swift kiss. “Now that we have him back, we won’t lose him again.”

  As soon as he left Thorsay House, Kendra began making preparations for a few days away. When she entered her room, Christopher was still sleeping like a hibernating bear. Like a boy who had been frightened and exhausted and who knew that he was now safe and loved.

  She changed from her fencing costume to one of her usual black gowns, then swiftly packed a small canvas bag for both of them. When she was done, she took the bag downstairs and cleared the tea things from the drawing room. Then she left a note for the Browns, saying that she was visiting friends for a few days and would be back soon.

  Finally, she waited, and tried not to think of all the things that could go wrong with a crazed ex-husband nearby.

  * * *

  Lucas returned in just under an hour. When he entered the drawing room, he said, “I acquired a driver. Simon is waiting in the mews behind the house. Time to collect Christopher and be off before the Browns return.”

  She nodded and led the way up to her room. Christopher was still deeply asleep. Lucas said, “I’ll carry him out to the carriage.”

  Kendra wanted to say that was her job, but her son was getting too heavy for her to carry easily, especially down a staircase. “Wrap him in the blanket so he doesn’t get cold outside.”

  Lucas peeled off the upper covers, then lifted Christopher with tender care. Kendra thought how natural he looked with a child in his arms. He would be a far better father than Denshire had ever been.

  They descended, Lucas careful not to bump any part of Christopher on the walls of the narrow staircase. In the drawing room, Kendra collected the bag of their belongings and they headed out the back of the house.

  Simon was waiting by the carriage. “Thank you for being our coachman,” Kendra said.

  “It’s my pleasure. That brave little boy of yours deserves protection,” Simon said seriously. He took Christopher while Kendra and Lucas climbed into the carriage, then passed her son up to Lucas again. “Suzanne will be
glad to have him. She has a history of taking care of people when they’re in need.”

  Simon swung onto the driver’s seat and drove the short distance to Duval House. They entered from the mews. Kendra didn’t think anyone had seen them. Perhaps they were taking more precautions than strictly necessary, but she wasn’t going to lose her son again.

  Suzanne met them inside and peered at Christopher’s peacefully sleeping face. “What a beautiful little boy! He’s the picture of you, Kendra. They sleep so soundly when they’re young, don’t they? I imagine you’ll want to stay with him for now. You can join us for dinner, or food can be sent up if you prefer.”

  Kendra felt tears stinging her eyes. “I can’t thank you all enough for what you’re doing. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “You would have managed,” Suzanne said seriously. “But I’m glad we can make it easier for you. Rest now.”

  Kendra nodded, thinking she was almost as tired as her son. Then she followed Lucas up the stairs as he carried Christopher to the attic room. It was pleasant, with a bed large enough for them both and a view of the back garden through the small window.

  She turned back the covers and Lucas gently laid Christopher onto the bed. He straightened and said, “Tomorrow we’ll figure out what comes next, but tonight, sleep in peace with Christopher.”

  “Thank you for all you’ve done,” she whispered as she gave him a light kiss on the cheek. But they both shifted and their lips met and the kiss turned serious. His mouth was warm and welcoming and she wanted to fall into him forever. Her arms went around him, his around her, and they were pressed together with swift, unexpected heat.

  After an endless interval that was over too soon, Lucas released her and stepped back, his breathing unsteady. “Wrong time, wrong place,” he said. “Until later.”

  She kissed her fingertips, then brushed them down his cheek. “Until later,” she whispered.

  Later couldn’t come soon enough.

  CHAPTER 23

  Christopher awoke the next morning hungry and full of energy. Before he’d finished his breakfast, he’d fallen in love with Suzanne, which Kendra thought was entirely reasonable. By the time she and Lucas left to go to Kirkland’s house, Christopher was playing with the dog, Rupert, under Suzanne’s indulgent eye.

  When they entered Kirkland’s study, they found that he was not alone. He got to his feet behind his desk and greeted them affably. “Thank you for coming. Please take a seat. As you see, I’ve brought in two associates who can be trusted to honor your need for confidentiality. Hazel, you’ve met, of course.”

  Kendra smiled at Kirkland’s agent. “Is this your half day, or have you left Denshire’s employment already?”

  Hazel returned her smile. “I left day before yesterday, after I had to damage one of Denshire’s friends who wanted something I objected to giving.”

  “How seriously injured is the fellow?” Lucas asked.

  “He should be walking again in a week,” Hazel said. “During my brief time at Denshire House, I did learn that your maid, Molly, ran away that night of infamy. Apparently she objected to what was being done to you and was threatened with violence if she interfered. She was afraid for her life, so she escaped while she could. No one in the household had any idea where she’d gone. The servants survive by shutting out the coarseness and unpredictability of their master.”

  “I’m so glad Molly wasn’t harmed!” Kendra said. “Thank you.”

  Hazel glanced at Kirkland. “You don’t need me for anything else, do you?”

  “Not at the moment. Thank you for joining us,” Kirkland replied.

  After Hazel left, Kirkland gestured to the other woman present. “You’ve both met my wife.”

  “It’s lovely to see you again, Lady Kirkland,” Kendra said warmly.

  Lady Kirkland, a gentle blonde with an expression of quiet but indomitable determination, offered her hand. “Please call me Laurel. I wanted to join the group of subversive ladies that Suzanne Duval gathered to support you, but I was busy that day introducing Foxton to our infirmary.”

  Kendra took the other woman’s hand. “I’m Kendra. Lucas told me about Zion House and the infirmary. You do such valuable work. Do you need volunteers to help with the children?”

  “I’d love to have you as a volunteer!” Laurel said. “We must set a time when you can visit Zion House and become acquainted.”

  “Another victim falls to my lady wife’s charming wiles,” Kirkland said with a chuckle. “But that’s not why I asked you here. I have some new information that might prove useful, and it’s time to determine what strategy has the best chance of success.”

  Kendra sank onto a sofa beside Lucas. “The situation has just changed dramatically—in a good way. At Angelo’s Academy yesterday, Denshire saw me when he came in and began shouting accusations that I’d kidnapped our son from his school. Which I might have done if I’d known what school it was, but I didn’t.”

  The Kirklands looked appalled. “He lost your son?” Laurel exclaimed.

  “Yes, but the story has a happy ending. Lucas and I returned to Thorsay House and were having tea when there was a little knock on the door. It was Christopher.” Kendra couldn’t prevent herself from beaming. “He’d made his way to me at Thorsay House all the way from the Scranton School in Yorkshire. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it?”

  Kirkland frowned. “I have, and it was nothing good, particularly not for a boy as young as Christopher. He’s a brave and clever lad to have escaped and found his way home to you. Will he be safe staying with you?”

  “We weren’t sure, so we moved him to Duval House,” Lucas replied. “But he’ll be safer out of London. We’ve discussed taking him to Camden Keep to stay with my great-aunt and uncle.”

  Kirkland leaned back in his chair and looked thoughtful. “You might consider my old school, the Westerfield Academy. It’s small, with excellent teachers, and most importantly, bullying is not allowed. It’s a remarkably civilized place for a boys’ school.”

  “ ‘For boys of good birth and bad behavior?’ ” Kendra inquired.

  Kirkland grinned and looked much younger than his usual reserved self. “So it is said. In truth, Lady Agnes Westerfield, the founder and as fine a woman as there is in Britain, prefers students who don’t quite fit the aristocratic mold so she can teach them how to survive in their world without being driven mad.”

  “That sounds an excellent goal.” Kendra couldn’t resist asking, “Why were you sent there?”

  Amusement sparked in his eyes. “Nothing interestingly lurid. My arrogant English father hated that I preferred my mother’s relatives, who were mere merchants as well as being appallingly Scottish. My father assumed that Lady Agnes, being a duke’s daughter, would be as snobbish as he was. Instead, she encouraged me to look for every person’s true value. My Scottish relatives are better than my father was in all ways.”

  “It might be a good place for Christopher,” Kendra said thoughtfully. “Where is the school? I’d like to talk to your Lady Agnes. How difficult is it to gain admittance?”

  “The school is in Kent, not far from the Dover Road. She likes taking on boys in difficult situations, so I think she’d be willing to accept Christopher. As it happens, she’s in London now for a nephew’s wedding. She’s joining us for luncheon here tomorrow. I can bring her to Duval House after so you can meet her and she can meet Christopher.”

  “That would be ideal. Much as I like having Christopher with me, he needs to be safe and with other boys. Your old school sounds good if there really is no bullying.”

  “Boys will be boys and occasionally one loses control,” Kirkland allowed. “But bad behavior is stopped immediately, if not by a master, then by one of the older boys because the ‘no bullying’ philosophy is part of the fabric of the school.”

  “I like the sound of that,” she said. “I look forward to meeting your Lady Agnes tomorrow. Now what about new information and strat
egizing?”

  “The identities of the three men who claimed they’d had relations with you are known because they testified in the trial.” Kirkland frowned. “I wish now that I’d attended the trial, but I was very busy and it seemed too sordid a matter to waste time on.”

  “Even more sordid than you thought,” Lucas said. “Though in a very different way. Do you know if those men are completely convinced that they bedded Lady Denshire, or might they admit that they were deceived?”

  “I haven’t probed them too deeply, but at least one of them is apparently uncomfortable with the whole business and how it played out,” Kirkland replied. “I’m not sure about the others.”

  “Have you located the woman who impersonated me?” Kendra asked.

  “Yes, and there’s a definite resemblance to you in her height and figure and coloring,” Kirkland said. “She calls herself Aphrodite and she’s a rather exclusive courtesan who specializes in performing male fantasies. She didn’t realize when Denshire hired her that he wanted to create a fraudulent basis for a divorce case, and she was not happy when she found out how she’d been used.”

  “If so, why didn’t she speak out when the divorce became public knowledge?” Kendra asked.

  “She didn’t want to become involved with any legal proceedings and she wasn’t sure her evidence would be of any use to you,” Kirkland explained. “But she might be willing to cooperate under the right circumstances.”

  “What kind of circumstances?” Lucas asked.

  “This gets into the area of strategy, and my wife has some thoughts about that.” Kirkland nodded toward Laurel.

  “From what you said, you want to have legal custody of your son,” Laurel said. “For that, your reputation needs to be rehabilitated in the eyes of the world and the law. I doubt the divorce could be reversed even with proof that it was based on fraudulent evidence, and I assume you wouldn’t want it to be.”

  Kendra shuddered. “I don’t even want to be in the same room with that man, much less married to him!”