The forgiven scoundrel, p.11
The Forgiven Scoundrel, page 11
Sheffield watched Belle hurry along the hall and up the staircase. Yet. He sighed. Belle didn’t say never—she said yet. Which only meant that she would forgive the scoundrel. Belle may not want Sophia to spill her secrets, and he knew Belle never would. However, the arse deserved to understand the full act of his consequences when he'd first abandoned Belle.
He opened the door. “My dear, our guest needs your assistance upstairs.”
“I am not finished here, my dear.”
Sheffield came to Sophia and led her toward the door. “Yes, you are.”
“But, Alex—”
“No, Phee.”
Sophia growled at him, slamming the door on her way out. Sheffield listened to her angry strides leading away. Damn these people. He would have much to make up to Sophia now later this evening. Much later.
“Thank you, Sheffield.”
“I sent my wife away at Belle’s request, not because I felt any sympathy for you. You deserved much more from Sophia. You have indeed raised her wrath. Tsk, tsk.”
“Bugger off, Sheffield.”
“I would gladly, but you see, you are in my home.”
Phillip watched Sheffield take great delight in besting him.
“You will not allow my visit with Belle either, will you?”
“Not until Belle relents. She is not yet ready to see you.”
“Yet? So that means she will?” Phillip held out hope at that simple three lettered word. Yet.
Phillip rose from his seat, wanting to take his leave with this sliver of hope. He started for the door. However, before Phillip could walk out, Sheffield blocked his path.
“Your actions surprise me, Delamont. You degrade Belle and her profession, yet you came to her aid just hours before that. I never realized you held that much clout. I am impressed though. How sad that you could not enjoy the glory of coming to her rescue and being the savior. Instead, you had to shame and accuse Belle of bringing harm to your child.” Sheffield leaned forward, his eyes piercing Delamont. Sheffield’s next words were spoken slowly, one at a time. Each of them impacting Phillip. “Belle would never harm any child of yours.”
Not your child. Any child of yours. “I have never set out to harm any child of yours.” Her words echoed all around him. To Sophia’s comment, “She has never harmed any child of yours, nor would she ever.” Phillip only had one child—and Henry wasn’t even truly his. Not physically, anyway. Only where it mattered the most, from the heart. However, these none-too-subtle innuendoes spoke otherwise. Did Belle have his child? If so, where was the child now?
“Did Belle have my child?”
Sheffield nodded.
“A boy or girl?”
“The child was a boy.”
Phillip cleared his throat. “Where is the child now?”
Sheffield looked upon him with pity.
Was a boy. Meaning the child no longer lived. Phillip closed his eyes, Belle’s pain surrounding him.
“What happened?” Phillip slumped into a chair.
“Belle had a difficult childbirth. Her health suffered when you left her. In despair, she neglected to take care of herself. However, once the babe started moving, she pulled herself out of that depression and strived to take better care. The baby brought light to her darkness. I helped to make plans for their future and even proposed. Belle refused my hand in marriage. She told me that one day I would find my soul mate, as she had found hers, and when I did, she would not be the burden that kept us apart.”
“What happened to my baby, Sheffield?”
“Her time came sooner than it should have and Belle lost a lot of blood. The doctor and midwife did not know if she or the child would survive. But Belle was stubborn, and so was the boy. She gave birth to him. However, the child was born too early. The doctor said its lungs were not fully developed. The babe died in Belle’s arms. Even though everyone assured her it was not her fault, she blamed herself.”
“Oh, Rosalyn.” Phillip covered his eyes. He wanted to run and search the house for Belle and hold her close. He wanted to kneel at her feet and beg for forgiveness. But Sheffield was not through with him yet.
“She lost her entire world that day. She lost herself.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because I think you deserve to understand what Belle has endured for loving you. Nothing but pain, heartache, abandonment, and cruelty. And so much more that I cannot even begin to name. You simply want to apologize, but you've never understood the impact of your actions.”
“I am beginning to understand.”
“No, you are not even close. Rosalyn created Belle because she thought that was all she was worth. You took a simple country maiden who adored you and turned her into a tortured soul who still believes she does not deserve a better life. You forced her into the very life you shame her for. Why? Why did you do that to her? Was it because of the power you gained by marrying your wife? A woman that I, even as your best friend, held no knowledge of. Please explain why.”
“Because of my father.”
“Your father is dead.”
“Yes, but not before he raped an innocent lady and got her with child.”
“Henry is not ...?”
“Mine? No, although he is mine in all that matters. Do you mean, is Henry the product of a union between Julia and myself? No, he is my father’s child.”
Sheffield was stunned by this news. He had heard rumors of Delamont’s father’s nefarious ways. Delamont put his own desires to the side for an innocent child. A sacrifice that cost him the woman he loved and a child he knew nothing of.
“Then why did your father not marry the girl?”
“He refused. You know what a cold-hearted bastard he was. Julia’s father tried to trap him, using his daughter as bait. When my father had one of his wild, infamous debaucherous parties, her father brought Julia to it. I had come home that weekend, unaware of his entertainments. When I ran into her, I saw her innocence. She tried to remain inconspicuous, but Julia was a rare beauty. Every man in that house noticed her. I tried to protect her. She was a timid miss who liked to read a lot. But her innocent charm did not go unnoticed. When I asked her why she was in attendance, she admitted to me that her father had tricked her into believing the house party would be filled with young ladies she could befriend. Lord Minturn was in my father’s debt. My depraved father had met Julia upon calling to collect his markers. When Lord Minturn could not pay, Father convinced the man to bring Julia to his house in the country. Lord Minturn thought my father was interested in marrying Julia.” Delamont’s cynical laughter filled the air.
“However, that was never my father’s intention. He is the very reason I never brought Rosalyn around. With one look at her, he would have devoured her. I thought Julia was safe in her room with the door locked, so I left for the night. A night that I spent in Rosalyn’s arms. A night I will never forget. It was the night she gave herself to me, the same night I fell deeper in love than I had ever been. When I returned home in the early morning, I knocked on Julia’s door to make sure she'd had a peaceful night. I heard a whimpering sound inside. When she would not answer, I turned the knob, although I should never have gone into her room without permission.”
Delamont rose and started pacing the small room. The room suffocated him from the very air he needed to breathe. He couldn’t remove the horror from his thoughts. Julia beaten, laying naked on the floor, curled into a tight ball. Her body racked with sobs. Delamont remembered trying to touch her and how Julia recoiled in fear. Delamont lifted the blanket off the bed, covering her body. His soft words soothed her. But they didn’t stop the tears from falling.
Delamont rubbed the back of his neck.
“She promised me not to tell her father. I had our housekeeper see to Julia’s welfare. They left shortly thereafter. My father strutted around, smug with himself. I confronted him and he threatened that Rosalyn would be next if I so much as spoke a word of Julia again. He gloated knowledge of my little secret crush and the pleasure he would take when he crawled between Rosalyn’s thighs. In my anger, I attacked him. I felt nothing but rage and disgust for the man who sired me. All he did was laugh.”
“That still does not explain why you married the girl.”
“When her father discovered Julia’s pregnancy, he brought her to our home. My father denied ever sleeping with the girl. He had witnesses, his cronies, to verify that he spent that night playing cards with them. Then he brought the housekeeper in and had her tell Julia’s father about my attendance in her room that morning. Since I would not explain my whereabouts for the evening with Rosalyn, and I was inside her bedroom the next morning, then that could only mean that I slept with the girl. My father told Lord Minturn that he would have the banns read and I would marry his daughter. Her father agreed. The housekeeper later confessed how my father threatened her family if she did not agree to his lies. The manipulative bastard ruined so many lives that fateful day. I would not allow an innocent woman to be ruined amongst them, all because of my father.”
“So you sacrificed yourself. And for what?”
“For a son I call my own. He is as much an innocent as anybody is to this sad tale.”
“And your marriage to Julia? Was that enjoyable?”
“We settled into a comfortable life after my father died. Thankfully, it was not long after we married and before Henry was born. At least he never got to see him. Father made us miserable with his gloating. My greatest revenge came when he lay on his death bed and I got to tell him that he would not see his child for a single day.”
“Were you ever going to share this with Belle?”
“I had meant to. Every time I tried, she would distract me, or find something she needed to attend to.”
“Those are excuses, Delamont.”
“I did not want to relive what lay in the past.”
“Yes, but the past always has a way of coming into the present. And stops the future from moving forward.
“How can my future move forward, when she will not even speak to me?”
“You must prove yourself worthy of her.”
“How?”
“Delamont, I had to grovel at my wife’s feet to gain back her love and trust. You must find your own way, if Belle is the one you want?”
“She is all that I have ever wanted.”
“Excellent. Now, if you do not mind, I think it is time for you to take your leave. I have only one suggestion for you.”
“And that is?”
“If you truly love her, then do not be afraid to use her weakness against her.”
“What is her weakness?”
Sheffield laughed, the man was such a fool. Did he have to draw a picture?
“The boy,” Sheffield stressed.
“The boy?” Delamont whispered.
“The boy.” Sheffield nodded.
Chapter Fourteen
Phillip wasn’t above using his son to win back Belle’s hand. He was a man left with no pride, and Phillip planned to use anything and anyone to his advantage to have but a moment of Belle’s time. However, her friends shot him down at each attempt. They would intercept his messages or refuse him entry into Sheffield’s home. Winning Belle’s love wouldn’t be easy. Phillip assumed Sheffield was an ally, since he gave him advice. But Sheffield only stood back with a smirk when each woman denied Phillip access. At first he tried not listening to Sheffield’s suggestion of using his son. However, when even Henry offered, why should Phillip refuse? So, on his next visit to Sheffield’s, he brought along his son. When the women fussed over Henry and informed Phillip to collect him later, his confidence deflated. Didn’t these women have homes of their own? His own son had turned traitor for a chance to spend time with Belle, and for delicious treats. Henry’s loyalty cost nothing more than a biscuit.
Phillip headed to his club. He needed a few stiff drinks to help him rethink a plan of attack. There had to be a way to gain access to Belle without her flock of guards. He ordered a brandy, listening to a roar of laughter coming from a private room. At least those blokes were having a swell time. Phillip had the glass to his mouth when a hand slapped him on the back. He choked on the drink, sending it spraying across the bar.
“Careful now, perhaps you need to be cut off already?”
“I have yet to enjoy one drink.”
“I thought I noticed you slinking through the door. Come join us in Sheffield’s private room.” Beckwith nodded toward the boisterous area.
“No thanks. I have had enough of His Grace’s hospitality for the week.”
Beckwith laughed. “Yes, I know what you mean. At one time, I barely tolerated the man. There are still some days I would like to plant my fist on his face again.”
“Again?”
“Yes.” Beckwith smiled.
“Sounds like there is a story there.”
“Sure is, come in the room. I would love to share it.”
Phillip sighed, suddenly guessing he was the reason for their laughter. “He is telling stories on how I cannot gain access to Belle.”
Beckwith laughed again. “Did you really try to sneak in through the servant’s entrance?”
Phillip said wryly, “Yes, not one of my finer moments.”
“We have all had those. Come join us.”
Phillip followed Beckwith into the private room. The men married to the women protecting Belle sat around the fire, sharing a drink. When he walked in, their laughter started again. Phillip shook his head, wondering why he'd followed Beckwith. He figured he deserved the misery.
“So the boy didn’t work?” Sheffield asked.
“He turned traitor for a plate of biscuits and motherly attention. Your wife told him of a book she bought. One that Henry had been wanting for a while. One that I planned to buy him. But no, Sophia tempted him away. I did not even get a chance to set eyes on Belle.”
“Yes, Sophia knows how to tempt,” murmured Sheffield.
The men in the room groaned.
But their wives were just as guilty as Sophia from keeping him from Belle, and Phillip proceeded to tell them. However, they already knew. He was the very reason they were enjoying themselves earlier. All at his expense.
“Should we put him out of his misery? Maybe offer him some advice?” Wildeburg suggested. “Or should he suffer longer?”
Holdenburg said, “You gentlemen are vindictive. I vote we offer him some advice. I imagine he has suffered enough, and his suffering has lasted longer than ours.”
“I agree,” said Beckwith.
“Very well,” agreed Wildeburg.
All eyes turned to Sheffield. They understood of his protective feelings for Belle. It had to be agreed by all before any of them offered Delamont help.
“I already gave him a suggestion. It is not my fault he did not use the boy effectively.”
“Did you try delivering her favorite candy?” Wildeburg asked.
“I do not know what kind she favors.”
They all answered, “Cherries dipped in chocolate and cordial.”
“I do not even want to know how every single man in this room knows that,” Delamont growled.
“Settle down, Delamont. If any of us needed a favor from Belle, we would bribe her with her favorite treat,” explained Wildeburg.
“How about a love letter?” Sheffield made another suggestion.
“Your wives would intercept it before Belle could read it.”
“Well, you could try sneaking into her room. It worked for Wilde and myself with our wives,” Beckwith said.
“Once again, I tried, but Sidney and Dallis both caught me before I even climbed the stairs.”
“Amateur. You do not take the stairs in the middle of the day, you fool,” said Wilde.
“You sneak in through her windows in the dead of night,” Beckwith laughed.
“Not in my house,” growled Sheffield.
“Why don’t you take Belle somewhere special that holds meaning of your future together and confess your love?” said Holdenburg.
“Seriously, that is the best you can do, Holdenburg? I do not see how my sister fell for you.” Beckwith shook his head in disgust.
“Would you like for me to explain how and why your sister fell for me? I do not think you would care for the details.”
“Enough, gentlemen.” Wilde once again tried to stop a fight before it got out of hand.
Phillip said, “While your suggestions are a bit unorthodox and may have merit, I wish to win Belle on my own terms. And if you would convince your wives to stand down, then perhaps I might have a chance.”
They all laughed at this. Each man wouldn’t go against their wife’s wishes. And right now their greatest enjoyment was to make Delamont suffer. If these gentlemen wouldn’t convince their wives otherwise, then Delamont would have to create a distraction for each lady until they left Belle alone. Delamont remembered one more friend of Belle’s he could ask for help. He didn’t understand why he hadn’t considered seeking Claire’s support before. As each man kept offering ideas, none of them serious, Delamont came up with a plan of his own. One he wouldn’t share with them. It ran too much of a risk of them telling their wives.
He would win Belle’s hand on his own terms.
WITH A GENTLE SMILE Belle brushed the hair off Henry’s forehead. Henry’s openness to Belle endeared him to her heart. She would miss him, if she left. She hadn’t decided where to go. If Phillip didn’t accept her for who she was, there was no need to stay in London. Belle knew Phillip regretted his spiteful words and only spoke them out of fear for his son. When Sheffield explained what had happened all those years ago, it only made her love Phillip more. Phillip had regained her trust. The sacrifices he'd made for the sweet lad laying her in lap was worth the heartache she'd endured.
“Are you going to put the bloke out of his misery soon?” Kathleen asked.
“I have not decided yet.”
“In my opinion he has suffered through enough of our ploys,” Dallis said.
“Oh, but they’ve been so entertaining. Especially the time he tried sneaking through the servant’s quarters to reach you. I do not think I have laughed so hard in a long time,” Sidney chuckled.
