The Wedding Night Affair--An Historical Mystery by L.C. Sharp (books to read as a couple TXT) 📕

“For my usefulness as a brood mare?” Juliana held back her temper, but only just. Her fear fed her temper and she let it, piling on fuel.

Her mother merely stared, as if her daughter was something under her foot. Which she had been once, but never again. “You will tell us of any change in your circumstances.”

She meant once Juliana discovered she was with child.

Juliana no longer trusted herself to remain here. Turning her back, she left the room. If she was with child, she would care for it and give it all the love she had lacked. Of that she was sure. If she forewent her fortune, then so be it. She’d find a way of managing without it. She would ask Ash to get her widow’s portion for her, so that she and her child could live the life they deserved, instead of the one imposed on them by someone else.

Although she’d only been a wife for less than a day, she’d more than earned that money.

Chapter Eighteen

The countess stared after Juliana as if she could not believe her behavior. “I hardly know my daughter. What have you done to her, sir?”

She retook her seat. So did Ash, without being invited, but he refused to remain at her command. The earl followed suit.

The woman bridled, visibly quivering with fury.

“I, ma’am? I gave her shelter when the choice was this house or a prison cell, where she might well have died from gaol fever. I saw enough in her story to merit investigation.”

“You should keep her locked away, surely,” his lordship said.

Ash detected a slight difference in Juliana’s father. He at least cared enough for his daughter to consider her welfare, as he had demonstrated in his last visit. It might merely be a concern to keep her alive while she bore his grandson, but there appeared some level of concern.

“Is that from a fear that she would be recognized and attacked? Or perhaps you have some concern for my family’s safety?” He kept his words mild.

The earl merely stared at him, but the countess had no compunction in answering him. “My daughter does not belong here. Whatever she has done, she is the daughter of an earl, and the daughter-in-law of a marquess. Since the unfortunate events, I’ve been stared at and even mocked. The press is having a field day at our expense. None of this should be happening.”

Snatching up her fan, the countess flicked it open and plied it so vigorously that one of her curls actually stirred, despite it being cemented into place. “Why did you concern yourself with this? What is it that you are expecting?”

He refused to rise to the bait, and tell her frankly what he thought of her lack of maternal feelings, and her daughter’s distress. “I expect my usual fee, plus rather more than usual for my expenses. You undertook to pay my fees, but you will not forget that I work for your daughter. If necessary, to protect that, I will forego the payment.” Although Juliana would probably hate him for it. “However, I will render an account to you of the costs incurred so far, including mouth openers.”

The countess stopped fanning herself. “And what, pray, are those?”

“Some of my informants expect an emolument before they divulge anything interesting,” he said, enjoying her astounded expression. “Sometimes demanding an answer has no result, where a guinea or two serves better.”

She snapped her fan shut. “I see.”

“We are anxious to avoid a public trial,” the earl said abruptly. “Can you help us with that, or should we take steps to have Juliana committed at once?”

A threat, a palpable threat. “I will not approve or take part in any subversion or avoidance of the law.” And he would not allow her to be locked away in a lunatic asylum. He did not voice his opposition, though. One step at a time.

“Just like a lawyer,” her ladyship said with a grimace.

“Good,” Ash answered. “Because that is what I am. A simple lawyer.”

The earl glanced around him. “Lawyers do not usually live in houses this large.”

Ash tried not to take offense, and failed. “Some do.” Why should he mention his private fortune? He refused to justify himself before this odious man. “My father worked hard and so do I.” And in any case, that was quite beside the point. “I will try to avoid a public trial. We have more options than the blunt instrument of insanity.” Even if such a verdict would leave Juliana forever in her father’s control. The villain would love that.

“List them,” the earl commanded.

Ash did not have to think too deeply about it, since the possibilities had occupied his mind to the exclusion of all else recently. “If the death is deemed an accident. If it is shown that it was impossible for her ladyship to have committed the crime. If someone else is found culpable.” He spread his hands. “I am pursuing all those possibilities.”

“I see,” his lordship said.

“Mr. Fielding has deferred the trial until we discover if Lady Uppingham is in the family way, but he does not have to. We cannot rely on that much longer. He may hold the trial, and with child or not, Lady Uppingham will be compelled to appear. The only concession is to give her time to deliver the child before her execution.”

He used the brutal word on purpose, but neither of the Hawksworths reacted to it. Which meant Juliana was right; they cared little for her, only for the title. The speed with which Lady Hawksworth had arranged for Juliana to leave the country had spoken of that. She might still try to do it. He would have to keep his charge close.

Juliana would hate that. The new Juliana, that was. The one he was growing increasingly fond of. Like another sister, or a cousin, or—he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. A friend. Perfect. She was his friend. Lord knew