* * *
Nate glanced back over his shoulder, but the lady’s coach was already turning around. When she’d first faced him with her brows imperiously raised, he’d thought she was Dotty Stern, but that was impossible. Miss Stern had married the Marquis of Merton shortly after Nate had left Town four years before. Surely Merton would not allow his wife to engage in that type of activity. Also, the lady looked like Miss Stern had four years ago.
Whoever she was, she was beautiful. Her hair was as black as night, and her eyes appeared as if they might be light. But what struck him most was her courage. He’d never met a female who had so little fear of using a weapon to shoot a man. Yet even though she was a lady—a fact that had been clear once she’d abandoned her country accent—she was not dressed like a female who would be attending the Season. The cloth was good enough, but the styling was not that of a London modiste. At one time, when he’d been a well-known Dandy, those things had actually mattered to him. He was still able to recognize the differences, but he didn’t care about them anymore. Now, he was much more interested in the person instead of the way they dressed.
Yet, because he was a gentleman and she was a lady, he could not insult her by introducing himself. That was unfortunate.
He hoped the infant lived. Most babes would have given a loud screech when tossed. This one had only a small, pathetic cry.
Her carriage traveled up the street at a smart pace, and he went around to the door of his coach and found Mr. Odell, Miss Bywater, and her child already inside. “I see you are ready to leave.”
“We are.” Odell’s smile was wider than Nate had ever seen it as he gazed at the infant in his arms. “Emily has agreed to be our daughter, just as if she and John had wed.”
Emily’s tears were gone and she too was smiling broadly. “From now on I am Emily Odell.”
“What is the child’s name?” Nate climbed into the coach.
“John for his father. Papa”—she looked shyly at Mr. Odell—“said that he was to have the same rights as if John and I had married.”
That did not surprise Nate at all. Odell and his wife had several daughters, all of whom had married well, and one remaining son. The younger son was studying to be a lawyer and had taken little interest in the farm. And there were no entailments to stop Odell and his wife from leaving the property as they wished.
Today had definitely been a good day. Nate returned her smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Papa”—Nate was pleased to see how comfortable she was calling Odell “Papa.” But she would have known them fairly well. Nate briefly wondered why she hadn’t gone to the Odells in the first place, but not only was it water under the bridge, it wasn’t his business—“told me how hard you looked for me,” Emily said as the coach started. “If I live to be a hundred, I don’t think I’ll find a lord as good as you are.”
A flush heated Nate’s neck. “Thank you. I’m glad I was able to help.” The coach had turned and was headed back up the street. “Mrs. Odell should be at Fotherby House by now.” He decided to ask a question that had been bothering him. “How did you survive?”
“My, my.” She straightened her shoulders. “Mr. Bywater made me leave. But my mother gave me all the money she had been able to save, and I got work sewing. But after the baby came . . .”
“Well”—Odell’s voice was rough with emotion—“at least you had the sense to go to the workhouse. That’s the only way we found you.”
“Yes.” Her tone was barely above a whisper. “It was really my only choice.”
Nate and the older man exchanged a glance. They were both glad she thought that way. Too many young women and girls on their own were forced into prostitution.
Upon arriving at his house, he learned that Mrs. Odell had got there not long before they did. His housekeeper, Mrs. Garford, had assigned his guests rooms and ordered baths and a cold collation to hold them until dinner. “As you know, my lord, I’ll do my best until the rest of the staff gets here.”
“I do know, and I value all you do for me.” A footman he didn’t know climbed the stairs carrying two bags. Mrs. Odell had prepared well.
“Fortunately, we’ve got enough staff to serve you and your guests.”
Only because the housekeeper insisted on having more than a skeleton staff when the family wasn’t in residence. Another footman came in carrying one of his bags, and Nate gave thanks for his valet. He hadn’t even thought about clothing. “The rest of the staff will arrive within the next day or so.”
Mrs. Garford nodded. “How long do you think your guests will be here?”
With Miss By—no, Miss Odell—thin, but healthy, it wouldn’t be long. “I would not be surprised if they left tomorrow or the next day. I’ll ask Mr. Odell after they’ve settled in.”
“Very well, my lord. I’ll be off to see about dinner. It will be ready in a little more than two hours. Nothing fancy. I haven’t had time.” She looked as if she was thinking something over and said, “Would you prefer to eat in the breakfast room?”
“Yes, thank you.” Not fancy was fine with him, and the room had always seemed warm and cozy. He had forgotten to ask if the Odells wished to dine with him. If not, he’d be eating by himself in solitary splendor. Well, perhaps not splendor, but very much alone. Another footman passed by. “You there.” The servant stopped. “Please tell Mr. and Mrs. Odell and Miss Odell that I would be pleased if they would join me for dinner in about two hours. A maid will tend to the child.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I’ll be in my apartments.” His voice followed the man up the stairs, and Nate hoped he’d been heard. Then he shrugged. Someone would find him with the answer.
He was in his bathing room watching a bathtub being filled when the footman found him. “Mrs. Odell said they’d be happy to join you, my lord.”
“Thank you. What is your name?”
The young man flushed. “Garford, my lord. Mrs. Garford is my aunt.”
It wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last, family members were hired. And that wasn’t a bad thing. Unlike many members of the ton who thought their relatives could do no wrong, servants wouldn’t tolerate sloppy work from a relative. In fact, they were likely to be harder on them. “I’m sure she knew what she was doing.”
“Thank you. If you need someone to act as your valet until yours arrives, I’d be happy to perform the duty.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” Nate would have to remember the man might like to train as a valet.
A swift smile appeared on the young man’s face. “I’ll just go tell Mrs. Garford.”
He turned to walk out the door, and Nate stopped him. “If you wish to act as a valet, you must learn to tell others to send your messages.”
Garford’s eyes widened; then he glanced at the boy filling the tub. “George, when you go back downstairs, please inform Mrs. Garford I am assisting his lordship.”
The boy gave him a pert wink. “I’ll do it right away.”
Nate untied his cravat and hung it over a chair while his temporary valet tested the water and laid a towel on a rack in front of the fire to warm it. While Garford unpacked Nate’s kit, he sank into the hot tub and almost wished he could go straight to bed. But there were the Odells to consider. Fortunately, it wouldn’t be a late night. They would want to be up early for their journey home.