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"And titled, if that matters," Georgina added, cringing. Roslynn chuckled. "You'll have to excuse my American sister-in-law, Kelsey. She doesn't put much stock in titles, was appalled when she found out one came part and parcel with James when she married him." "Titles are fine if you happen to like them. I just don't," Georgina clarified. "Derek is a fine catch," Reggie continued. "But I don't think he's quite ready to settle down yet. And she hasn't even
met your brothers yet, Aunt George. Drew is an absolute charmer, and-" "And what makes you think my brothers are ready to settle down?" Georgina asked Reggie with a grin.
Reggie chuckled. "Actually, I don't think any man is quite ready, they just need a little nudge in the right direction. In my Nicholas's case, he had the entire Malory clan breathing down his neck, and Uncle Tony threatening to geld him, if he didn't agree to marry me." "To be expected, after he compromised you, m'dear," Roslynn said.
Reggie grinned. "But he didn't. Everyone only thought he did." "Same thing, as you well know. The truth doesn't amount to much if a scandal is involved. The issue becomes what everyone else assumes, more's the pity." "Well, I'm certainly not complaining," Reggie replied. "It was the only way I was going to get him, after all. And he's not complaining, either, for having been forced to the altar, any more than James ever did." "Oh, James complained." Georgina laughed. "James wouldn't be James if he didn't disagree on every issue." "But I'm not looking for a husband-yet," Kelsey said, hoping that would end the subject. "I only came to London for a new wardrobe, as Percy told you, not to get married,"
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she added, hating having to further the lie, but there was no
help for it. "I will be going home in a few days." "Which is such a shame," Reggie replied. "I'll have to talk to Percy about extending your stay. Why, you haven't even
been to a ball yet. I'll even stay in town longer myself and accompany you. It will be such fun, Kelsey, so do think about it."
Think about it? The only thing Kelsey was thinking just then was why couldn't the lie be the truth? What Reggie was
suggesting did sound like fun. And Kelsey had never been to a formal ball, had always figured she would one day, but now ... now she had to force herself to remember what she was and that such things were no longer possible.
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6 JAS
ON COULDN'T REMEMBER EVER HAVING TO DO ANYthing as hard as telling his family that he and Frances were divorcing. The fact that he would be creating a scandal himself, deliberately, when he had so often lectured them on keeping the family name out of the gossip mills ... well, he was sure he wouldn't be living this down any time soon, especially where James and Tony were concerned.
They might be, amazing as the thought was, settled down in marriage now and behaving themselves " but those two had always been scoundrels. And he had never stinted on letting them feel his displeasure. He didn't doubt for a minute that they would relish having the tables turned.
He hadn't asked the entire family to show up for this meeting. He had only requested his brothers to be present-and Derek. They could see to telling their wives and children later. Edward would possibly understand. James and Tony would likely be highly amused. It was Derek he was worried about, and how he would take the news. Frances was the only mother Derek had ever known, after all.
He should have told Derek first, and in private. It was
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cowardly of him to choose to do it this way instead. But he was hoping for some little support, at least from Edward. And he was hoping that, with the others present, Derek wouldn't question him too deeply as to the whys.
Everyone had arrived except James. Anthony had questioned him already, twice, about why they were there, but he'd given no hint, had said as soon as all were present, he'd get to it.
He stood by the mantel, waiting. Edward and Anthony had settled into a friendly argument about some mining investment. Edward would win, of course. Where investing was concerned, he was a genius. Derek was looking a bit uncomfortable, almost guilty, but the lad hadn't been involved in anything untoward that Jason knew about. Though perhaps he ought to visit a few friends before he returned to Haverston, just to keep abreast of the current gossip.
James finally appeared in the doorway to the parlor where they were gathered. Anthony complained immediately, "You're late, brother." //I am?" "He wouldn't fess up to what this is about till you got here, so yes, you're bloody well late."
James snorted. "Put a lid on it, puppy, I ain't late. You, obviously, arrived too early." "Redundant, now that we're all here," Edward pointed out placidly. "Have a seat, James," Jason suggested.
James's brow rose. "This calls for sitting down? That bad, is it?" "Bloody hell, I'm on tenterhooks here, James, so sit!" Anthony said.
Jason sighed inwardly. There was no easy way to work up to a subject like this, so as soon as James joined Anthony on
one of the couches, he said, "I've asked you here today be-
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cause I wanted you to be the first to know, before it starts making the rounds, that Frances and I are divorcing."
He said no more, waited for the barrage of questions, but received only silence and blank stares. He shouldn't have been surprised. He'd had time to digest the thought, unpalatable as it was, but they hadn't.
Anthony finally asked, "You ain't pulling our leg here, Jason?" "No. "You're positive?" "Have you ever known me to jest about something this serious?" Jason replied. "Just making sure," Anthony said before he burst out laughing.
That brought out Edward's frown and the remark, "There's nothing funny about this, Tony." "Oh, yes-there is," Anthony got out between guffaws, "I fail to see-" "You wouldn't, Eddie," James cut in dryly. "Perhaps because you've never been called on the carpet by our esteemed eldest." "That has some significance, I suppose?" Edward asked stiffly. "'Course it does. What Tony would find amusing is that Jason will be making the scandal for a change. I find it rather refreshing myself-and long overdue." "You would," Edward said in disgust. "I was referring to the divorce, not the scandal. It was an
absurd marriage to begin with and should have been ended long ago. That Jason finally came to his senses-"
Jason interrupted, explaining, "It's Frances who wants the divorce." "She does?" Edward said. "Well, that puts a different face on it. Simply prevent it."
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"I've already made the decision not to." "Why ever not?" Edward demanded. Jason sighed. Edward was the one he had expected support from, not opposition. And he had figured James would be falling off the couch laughing as Anthony was doing. Instead, James was in agreement with him. Incredible. And Derek had said nothing yet. He wore a slight frown, but one of
concern rather than upset. "She wishes to marry elsewhere, Eddie," Jason said. //It would be selfish of me to deny her that when we haven't
had a normal marriage, as you well know."
Edward shook his head. "You knew you wouldn't have a
normal marriage to begin with. Warned you at the time that you would be regretting it, that there would be no backing out of it. But no, you said it wouldn't matter, that you had no intention of ever marrying anyway." "Yes, you did warn me," Jason agreed. "And it didn't matter at the time. But am I to be held accountable indefinitely for a decision made in my youth when I was worried about the welfare of two younguns?" "This isn't your wish to divorce, it's hers, and she should bloody well know better," Edward insisted.
Anthony was sitting there grinning, delighting in watching the elders duke it out verbally. James had his arms crossed, looking his usual dispassionate self. Edward was red-faced,
he'd gotten so worked up over the subject. And about the only thing that might change his tune was a bit more of the t
ruth. "She's got a lover, Eddie. She admitted it. That's who she wants to marry,"
Anthony blinked. "Frances does? Gad, that's rich," and he
went off into another peal of laughter. "Do restrain yourself, dear boy," James said to Anthony. "This ain't that funny anymore."
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"But Frances? His Frances? I bloody well can't imagine it," Anthony replied. "She's such a timid little mouse. Who'd have thought she'd ever have the guts to-well, with Jason's temper'n all, she was bloody well taking her life in her hands, and especially to admit it to him. Just can't credit it, indeed I can't."
Since it was rather hard to believe, James glanced at Jason again for confirmation and got a curt nod, as well as, "It's true. I was shocked myself, as you can imagine. But after digesting it, I could hardly blame her for being unfaithful when I've never-that is to say, she's never had a true marriage with me." "Jason, that's hardly pertinent," Edward said, still frowning. "Marital ties have been known to be ignored by both spouses, but divorce has never been the answer, not in our circles." "Never is incorrect," Jason replied. "There have been divorces in the ton, they are just rare." "My father knows well enough the stigma that will follow a divorce," Derek said, finally speaking up. "I think it , s
rather decent of him to give the old girl what she wants."
Jason smiled at his son, his relief tremendous. Derek's opinion, after all, had been the only one he was truly con-
cerned with. "Come now, Eddie boy," James added at that point. "Even the lad can see that this dead horse has been beat enough." And then to Jason, "You should have made it clear that you weren't asking for a vote here, that your decision has been made. Your problem, brother, is you've always put too much weight on the opinion of your peers, when as long as you have no regrets over what you do, then it's bloody well no
one else's business, is it?" "That is a luxury not all of us can enjoy," Jason pointed out. "Not when we must deal with the peerage on a regular
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basis. But as you say, the decision has been made, and it will be acted upon today. And thank you, James, for siding with me on this." "Good God, is that what I've done?" James exclaimed with feigned surprise. "Come along, Tony, let's adjourn to Knighton's, where you can beat some sense back into me. I seem to have misplaced mine this morning."
Anthony grinned. "That was probably as hard for him to
say as it was for you to stomach, but I'm all for beating some
sense into you, for whatever reason." "I don't doubt." James snorted.
Jason smiled fondly after his two younger brothers as they left the room. And then he met Edward's disapproving gaze and sighed. "You're making a mistake, Jason." "It's been duly noted that you think so. I prefer to think of it as correcting a mistake I made long ago."
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D OUT WHAT M'FATHER CALLED A FAMILY MEETING for," Derek said the moment he entered the parlor.
Kelsey had been sitting in an overstuffed chair by the window sewing on something. She quickly stuffed that something in the corner of the chair before she glanced up at him, looking rather flustered.
But her voice was as calm as usual. "I wasn't aware of any meeting that was called. Was I supposed to be?" "That's right, you'd left the room last night with the women before that subject came up."
Her frown was abrupt. "Let's not bring that up again, if you don't mind."
He winced. She had been more than a little displeased the night before when he had taken her home. She had been bloody well furious that he had put her in a position where she'd had to lie and pretend.
One of the things she had said in particular had stuck in his mind. "If you are obviously so ashamed of me that you have to call me a widow or someone's cousin when you in-
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troduce me, then do not take me to places where it will be necessary to introduce me."
Ironically, he'd realized he wasn't the least bit ashamed of her, that he was actually proud to be seen with her. And it had occurred to him, after he'd thought about it, that the real reason he hadn't tried very hard to come up with an excuse
not to take her to Reggie's the night before was possibly that he had wanted his family to meet her. And that was so bloody absurd, it didn't bear examining. No, he wasn't ashamed of her not at all. It was her relationship to him that was shameful and needed to be concealed, and there was, unfortunately, no way of getting around that. "Was it so difficult, dealing with my relatives?" he asked. "Your family is very nice, at least the women are. Your uncles are rather strange in that they like to argue and bicker, but that is nothing to me. The point is, they were deceived and shouldn't have been. You know very well you should never have taken me there." 0
He knew it. But it was done, couldn't be undone. And as long as they were on the subject, he told her, "My uncles know." "Know what?" "That you're my mistress." "You told them?" she cried, appalled. "No, they both figured it out for themselves. They've each had countless mistresses of their own, you see-before they were married, that is. It was still my fault, though, because it was apparently the way I was looking at you last night that gave it away." "And how were you looking at me?" "Rather ... intimately." "Why ever did you do that?"
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"I didn't know I was doing it until they pointed it out," he insisted.
She was blushing by then. And he was reacting as he usually did, his body responding to her sweet innocence in a
purely primitive way. He took a step toward her but caught himself and stopped, raking a hand through his golden mane, annoyed with himself.
He'd already broken one of his own rules by going to her before it was even noontime. He'd received startling news
that morning, and although it was really none of her concern, he had wanted to share it with her. But making love to her now was out of the question. She wouldn't expect it.
A mistress was to be visited in the dark, secret hours of the night. He'd already made allowances to come earlier so he could dine with her each evening. If he kept making allowances like these, he might as well move in with her so he could spend all his time with her.
What an incredibly tempting thought. To wake with her each morning. To breakfast with her. To tell her his thoughts as they occurred to him, rather than to keep them until he saw her again. To make love to her when he felt like it, not just at what was considered the appropriate time.
He mentally shoved the thought aside because it was too tempting by half. What the deuce was wrong with him? He hadn't even wanted a mistress in the first place. He might have changed his mind because of Kelsey, was very pleased that he had her, but still ... "You mentioned a meeting?" she said to end the long silence that had fallen. "M'father's getting a divorce." "I beg your pardon." "That's what that meeting was about," he explained, blushing slightly for having blurted it out like that. "So he could announce it."
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Sympathy filled her soft gray eyes, and she came out of
the chair to put her arms around him. "Your mother must be devastated." "Actually-" "You must be as well.//
She was trying to comfort him, and damned if he didn't like that very much, enough to savor it for a few moments before he confessed, "No, it's not like that a'tall. She's my stepmum, you see, and although I'm quite fond of the old girl, she was never around often enough for me to form a
strong attachment to her. Besides, she's the one who wants
the divorce." "Then your father must be-" "No, no, dear girl, no one is devastated, really they aren't-well, except perhaps for my Uncle Edward," he added with a slight grimace. "He tried his damnedest to talk
M'father out of divorcing, but there's no changing Jason Malory's mind once it's set." "Why did your uncle object?" "I would imagine because it's g
oing to be a bit of a scandal." "But I thought you said it was your father who abhorred scandals." "He does, but he's making an exception to grant Frances her freedom. They never had a normal marriage, you see. He
only married her to give Reggie and me a mother. But that
didn't exactly work out as he had hoped. As I said, she was
rarely home." "Why not?" "Well, she's rather sickly," he explained. "So she went to
Bath for the water cures quite often, until she finally just bought a cottage there and simply lived in Bath most of each year.,,
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Kelsey sighed, laying her head against his chest. "People shouldn't marry for other than love." "Ideally no, yet many do." "Well, I'm glad you aren't very upset about this." "And if I was?" "Then I would endeavor to help you get over it, of course," she replied. "Why?" he asked softly.
She looked up at him, somewhat surprised. "Because that would be the mistressly thing to do, wouldn't it?"
He almost laughed. That would be the wifely thing to do, certainly, but mistressly? A mistress might worry if her protector was angry or not, but whether he was happy or sad wouldn't concern her very much, not unless it related directly to her. "That would be very generous of you, m'dear," he said, cupping her cheek. That she had been leaning against him for the last five minutes had quite done him in. "Perhaps I could use some of that help after all."
Since he had picked her up as he finished, and was already heading toward the door, she asked, "You aren't going up to the bedroom, are you?" "Oh, yes." "But that wasn't the kind of help I was referring to," she pointed out reasonably. "I know, but it's the kind I need just now, and I don't give a bloody damn what time of day it is."
He said that so belligerently, she blinked. "Neither do I, actually." "You don't?" "No, why should IT' "No reason a'tall, m'dear," he said, grinning from ear to
ear.
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CDV
REK HAD A FEW ERRANDS TO ATTEND TO THAT AFTERnoon, and he decided to take Kelsey with him. It had been an impulse to do so, one he should have ignored, but he didn't. His extremely mellow mood was likely to blame, and he could blame Kelsey for that.