The Cracksman's Kiss Read online

  From here she could see the changing huts bordering the hot springs. If she was locked in her room for the remainder of their stay she would not get to sample the waters. She had so looked forward to the experience. If her husband cast her out of his house where would she go? Her father would not welcome her home carrying a bastard in her belly. Even if she were carrying the earl’s child she doubted she would be welcome when there were already so many other mouths to feed. With no money and nowhere to go what was she to do? The comté had been so kind to her, would he help her? She decided even if he offered to help she could not bear to tell him of her scandalous behavior. The only thing left to do was throw herself on the earl’s mercy. Kassie leaned her forehead against the window pane, silent tears trickling down her cheeks. Relying on her husband’s mercy did not seem to be the most promising option at this moment.

  She spun around when the key scraped in the lock. The door opened and Sally hurried in with a basket. Bernard shut the door behind her, the snick of the lock evidence the earl did not intend to renege on his promise.

  “Why is the door locked, my lady?”

  “I am not allowed to leave my room, Sally. The earl is angry with me. I am to stay locked away until he has decided what is to become of me.”

  Sally frowned. “Why would he be angry? If you were wrong about being with child, it was an honest mistake.”

  Kassie looked down at her hands as tears overcame her, rolling down her cheeks and dripping to the carpet. “I am with child, Sally. The problem is it is not the earl’s.”

  Chapter Nine

  Ashton strolled through the open market, stopping now and then to peruse the different wares which interested him. A small boy pushed past him, knocking a young woman ahead of him off balance. He caught her arm, steadying her as she bumped into him.

  “I am sorry, sir.” Her gaze caught his and she gaped at him. “My lord, forgive me for addressing you incorrectly.”

  Aston smiled and tipped his hat. “No apologies are necessary, Miss…?”

  “Sally.”

  He nodded. “Ah, yes, Sally. You are Lady Everton’s maid, are you not?”

  “Yes, my lord.” She nodded and lowered her head.

  “How is your mistress?” He frowned when the maid’s face paled at the mention of her mistress. “I trust she is feeling better now she is back on solid ground?”

  “No.” The maid heaved a loud sigh. “That is why I am here at the market. I was hoping to find some more ginger root tea for my lady.”

  “Has she seen a physician?” Ashton asked, concerned.

  The maid blushed, looking at the basket she clutched in her hand. “Yes, my lord. It seems my lady is with child and suffers from morning sickness. The tea seems to help.”

  “I see. Well you will not find any ginger root here. It is a special root I brought back with me from my last architectural dig in China.” When disappointment etched on her face he gave her a crooked grin and leaned closer. “You see, I suffer from a slight case of seasickness myself,” he said in a conspiratorial tone.

  “Oh.” The maid’s eyes grew round.

  “Come with me. I have plenty more ginger root back at the town house I am renting during my stay in Bath.”

  “I really must be getting back.” She gaze flickered around the market. “Lord Everton does not know I am out.”

  “My lodgings are not far from here,” Ashton reassured her with a smile. “I would have a messenger send it for me, but I suspect the earl would not approve.”

  The girl looked crestfallen. “Yes, you are right. The earl is so very angry with my lady right now. It would not do to give him cause to punish her further.”

  “Come, this way then.” He hurried through the mingling people back to the entrance to the market. Once they were clear of the crowd he slowed his pace so the maid could walk beside him. He glanced at her. “It is none of my business, but is the earl still angry with Lady Kassandra because of me?”

  The maid paled. “No.”

  “Then why is he angry with her?”

  She looked away. “He is angry because Lady Everton is with child.”

  Ashton stared at the little maid in confusion. “I am afraid I do not understand. I was under the distinct impression the earl wanted a child.”

  “Oh, he does. It is just that—” Her face took on a scarlet hue and she fixed her gaze on the cobblestones beneath her feet. “I really should not say, my lord, it would not be proper to gossip.”

  “Perhaps I could help in some way? You would not be gossiping, you would merely be asking my advice.” When the girl tilted her head and lifted a brow in doubt he smiled.

  After a brief hesitation she explained, “I suppose I can trust you, since you have been so nice. My poor lady does not know what to do, my lord, and I have no idea how to help her.”

  “Tell me the problem and perhaps we can figure out a solution between the two of us.”

  “It is a very delicate tale, not one meant for a man’s ears,” she said quietly.

  “Forget for a minute I am a man. I am Lady Everton’s friend who wants very much to help.”

  They turned the street corner. “Here, come into my private parlor where you can explain the situation without fear of being overheard.” He opened the door to his leased townhouse. The girl faltered and cast a quick look over her shoulder before entering. He escorted her to the parlor and then rang for the housekeeper to bring them some tea and a packet of his special ground ginger root. “Now, explain to me Lady Kassandra’s problem.” He took a seat across from the maid who fidgeted with her bonnet in the luxurious room.

  “Well, my lord,” the maid began, “the child my lady now carries is not the earl’s.”

  Ashton frowned. “I see, and how does she know?”

  The maid blushed. “The dates do not match with the days the earl visited my lady’s bed.”

  “Whose child is it then, if I may ask?”

  “That is part of the problem, my lord.” The maid wrung her hands. “She does not know.”

  Ashton tried to stifle his anger. He thought Lady Kassandra an innocent, but it appeared she was more experienced than he guessed. Had she sent the maid in search of him in hopes he would rescue her from her predicament because he was kind to her? Did she think him a fool?

  Ashton snorted. “What do you mean she does not know? She must have some idea unless she makes a habit of climbing into other men’s beds on a regular basis.”

  “Oh no, it is not like that, my lord,” the maid assured him. “My lady was taken advantage of one night in her own bedchamber.”

  Ashton gave her a skeptical look. “Taken advantage of? How so?”

  “It was the night of Lord Everton’s dinner party. You remember the one where he displayed his Egyptian artifact?”

  When Ashton nodded the maid went on with her story.

  “Well, my lady never had wine before, and she did admittedly drink too much. After she retired and was fast asleep in her bed, an intruder broke into the house and stole the earl’s artifact. He made his escape through my lady’s bedchamber. I suppose he thought to hide out until it was quiet so he could sneak out her window, but she awoke…” the maid trailed off looking down at the carpet.

  “Then what happened?”

  “Well, she thought at first it was Lord Everton, as it had been a while since he visited her bedchamber. By the time my lady realized it was not he, it was too late.”

  Ashton cleared his throat. “I see. Was this rascal apprehended?”

  “No, my lord, Lady Everton never told anyone save me what happened and only recently the earl.”

  “Why did she not cry out for help or tell her husband right away?”

  “She felt guilty and embarrassed, my lord, because she admitted to me she responded to the thief’s touch.”

  “So she is a woman of loose virtue.”

  “Oh, no, my lord, she is not! She feels she is to blame and is sure God is punishing her for her sin.

/>   “Has Lady Everton told the earl all of this?”

  “Yes, but the earl does not believe her. He has locked her in her room until she identifies the thief and father of her child.”

  “I see,” Ashton said again, pondering the situation. At least he had not beaten the poor woman. “Since she does not know who the intruder was she cannot name a man to the crime.”

  “Exactly.” The maid plied him with a beseeching look. “What is she to do, my lord?”

  Ashton stood. “There does not seem to be anything, my dear, but wait to see what the earl decides to do when Lady Everton does not come up with the name he seeks. My guess is he will cover the whole matter up and accept the child as his, at least publicly.”

  The maid looked on the verge of panic, hers eyes wide and fearful. “What if he does not accept the child? What if he casts my lady out? She has no place to go and no skills to earn her own keep, let alone that of a babe.”

  “We shall just have to wait and see. I cannot interfere in the earl’s marriage. If he casts Lady Everton out, bring her to me and I will see no harm befalls her.” He showed the maid out with her packet of ginger root.

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  Ashton shut the door behind her. He seriously doubted the earl’s pride would allow him to claim another man’s child as his own. He would have to find a way to help Lady Kassandra.

  Chapter Ten

  Eight months later.

  Kassie put her hand to her swollen belly and launched her considerable bulk from the chair. She crossed to the window and looked out on the winter landscape. Deep drifts turned brush and flower beds into shapeless white mounds. A few snowflakes drifted against the window pane and melted. She rubbed the small of her back where it ached more and more each day with the growing weight of the babe.

  The earl would be here soon to interrogate her, as was his routine each night since they returned from their shortened trip to Bath. Each time he asked her to name the father of her child, and each time she told him she did not know. He kept true to his threat, and she had spent the last eight months locked in her room with only Sally for company. A beating would have been better than months of imprisonment she reflected. When the key scraped in the lock she did not turn, but remained staring out the window.

  The familiar tap, tap of the earl’s cane announced his presence. His tone was as icy as the landscape beyond the window pane. “Well, girl, what have you to say for yourself today?”

  Kassie remained silent. It would do no good to tell him again she did not know the answer to his unasked question.

  “Your time is almost up, girl, the child will be born any day now.”

  Kassie turned, glaring at him.

  Venomous words dripped from his sneering lips. “Your lover is not interested in laying claim to your bastard; else he would have made his intentions known by now.”

  The child kicked, and Kassie rubbed her stomach. The earl scowled at the movement of her hand and hobbled toward her. Wrapping her arms around her belly to protect the babe she waited for the blow she feared was coming.

  He stopped when he was within arms’ reach. “I have decided to claim your bastard as mine.”

  She was not sure whether to be relieved or dismayed by his statement until his next words made her heart freeze.

  “However, I can never forgive you for your deceitfulness. After the child is born you will leave my house. The child, of course, will remain here with me.”

  Kassie stared at the earl in shock, her breath squeezing against her ribcage. “I will not abandon my child!”

  “You do not have any say in the matter, girl. The law is on my side, I have the right to keep the child, and there is nothing you can do about it.” He sneered at her, his eyes hard and cold.

  She fought to keep her growing panic in check. She must remain in control. Surely there was a way she could convince him to let her stay with her child. “Who will care for the babe if not me?”

  He scoffed. “That is what a wet nurse is for, girl. No lady of quality would suckle her child at any rate, so you see, I really do not need you.”

  Her world came crashing down. No! God, no! “Please, my lord, please do not take my child from me! I will do anything you ask.”

  Turning his back on her cries he hobbled to the door.

  Kassie followed, begging him to reconsider. “Please my lord. I shall do anything you ask.”

  He stopped on the threshold and spat on her. “The sight of you sickens me and I will not have you taint the child with your sinful nature.”

  Without bothering to wipe the spittle from her cheek she grasped his arm, tears streaming down her face. “Please, do not do this!”

  With a look filled with loathing he shook off her hand and walked out, slamming the door in her face. Kassie sunk to the floor and sobbed as the key clicked in the lock. What am I going to do? I cannot let the earl take my child. Distress and hysteria overtook her, clouding her mind until all she knew was profound heartbreaking grief.

  Bernard let Sally into the room. She knelt beside Kassie. “My lady, what is the matter? Please do not cry so, you will harm the babe.”

  “My babe!” Kassie wailed. “He is going to take my child, Sally!”

  “Who is going to take your child?” She helped Kassie to her feet and led her over to a chair by the fire.

  “The earl is going to take the babe and send me away.” Kassie clung to the maid’s hand in desperation. “What am I going to do?”

  Sally helped Kassie lower her bulk into the chair. “I will go to Comté Ashton. He told me to send for him if you needed his help.”

  Kassie sniffled, trying to get control over her emotions. “When did you speak with the

  comté?”

  “I went to the market in Bath, to look for the ginger root you needed those first months for the morning sickness. I could not find any, but I bumped into the comté there.”

  “He will not help a fallen woman.” Kassie wanted to believe he would help her, although her hope was slim.

  Sally handed her a handkerchief. “He does not think you a fallen woman. I explained to him what happened and he was most kind. He told me if the earl cast you out, to send for him at once and he would ensure you were safe.”

  “He said that?” Kassie sniffed and wiped her tears with the dainty handkerchief.

  “Yes, he did,” Sally said with a gentle smile. “After you have your dinner I shall send word to the comté, and he will come to help you.”

  Kassie nodded, reassured the comté would have a solution to her dilemma. As Sally placed the dinner tray on the table beside her chair a sharp pain lanced through her lower back. She cried out.

  “My lady, what is the matter?”

  Kassie looked up as the pain intensified. “I think the babe is coming.”

  “Let me help you to bed, if the pains do not stop I will send for the physician.”

  Kassie nodded and allowed the maid to help her up from the chair and to the bed. Over the next few hours the pains became worse until they were hardly bearable. She writhed on the bed, struggling to breathe through the contractions. “Sally … please … do something … surely there is … a way … to make … the labor stop.”

  The helplessness on the maid’s face mirrored Kassie’s inner turmoil. “There is naught I know of, my lady, else I would try it.”

  “Did you send for Comté Ashton?” Kassie moaned again, pain rippling through her.

  “Yes, my lady, I did, but there is no word from him yet.”

  Kassie clenched the bed covers, panting until the pain subsided.

  The door opened and the physician entered. “I see your time is upon you, Lady Everton.” He crossed to the bed and set down his medical bag.

  She did not have time to answer before another contraction was upon her. Crying out, she gripped the bed posts as the physician lifted the sheet covering her legs and looked underneath.

  “Get some hot water and towels ready,” he told the
maid. “Rest assured, Lady Everton, you shall hold your baby in your arms before the clock strikes twelve this night.”

  “Nooo,” Kassie moaned.

  “There is no need to fear, my lady, you are strong and healthy. You should deliver with no problems,” he assured her, misunderstanding her protest.

  Just before midnight Kassie heaved a final exhausted push and gave birth to her son. When the physician placed the swaddled infant in hers arms, she cuddled the warm bundle to her and cried with a mixture of happiness and sorrow. I will not let him take you from me. Nestling her chin against her child’s dark hair she closed her eyes and let sleep clear her mind of worry.

  * * * *

  It was quiet. A dull ache between her legs reminded her of the child she labored to bring into the world. She opened her eyes to weak winter sunlight streaming in through the window.

  “Where is my baby?”

  Sally hurried to her side with a tray of tea and toast and helped her sit up. “He is right next door with the wet nurse, my lady. He is a right handsome lad,” she boasted with a bright smile.

  “I would like to see him.” She caught sight of the basket of baby clothes on the floor by the bed she and Sally spent the winter sewing. Did the earl seek to remove all trace of her from the child’s life?

  The maid’s face turned gloomy and she shook her head. “The earl has forbidden it. He said you are to leave at the end of the week. He has acquired a position of service for you at St. Catherine’s Convent.”

  “He is sending me to a convent?” Kassie stared at her.

  The maid looked down at her hands. “Yes, my lady. I am to be let go to find another position elsewhere.”

  Kassie pushed the tray from her lap untouched. What was she to do? The earl did not utter idle threats. She blinked back her tears and fought to keep her voice from breaking. “Have you heard from the comté yet?”