The Christmas Countess. Adrienne Basso
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have no earthly idea what I am capable of, Miss Tremaine.”
Her back stiffened. Good. Cameron was glad to have made an impact, pleased to have made his point. But he wondered what she was thinking. Did she believe he would make good on his threat? More important, did he believe it himself? Could he indeed be so harsh as to deny this woman, Lily’s mother, any contact with her child?
A weighty pause followed. “My brother and I are not without resources,” she finally countered. “If necessary, we will fight to have some rights in this matter.”
It was not an idle threat. Tremaine did have money, and some influence. If he were not careful, Cameron knew things could get very ugly.
“You would never win custody from me in a court of law, nor will I allow you to drag my name into every paper in England.”
Her chin lowered. “Though I care little about my own reputation, I would never subject Lily to such scrutiny, such scandal.”
Well, at least that was something. “Kindly look at me, Miss Tremaine.”
She finally raised her eyes and he saw why she had kept them lowered. Everything she felt was bared for him to see—the pain, the frustration, the longing for what she had lost. The sight of such raw, intense emotion jolted him. When they entered the coach, Cameron had no intention of showing her any mercy, yet his resolve faltered.
His neat, orderly, predictable, comfortable world was coming apart. From the moment Daniel Tremaine walked into White’s nothing was as it should be. Life was careening out of control and Cameron realized he was powerless to prevent it.
“It has been difficult for you, has it not?” he said, the question spoken more as a statement.
“It’s been pure hell.”
Her bluntness only emphasized the scope of her pain. As he glanced at her forlorn expression Cameron could almost feel the misery rising in her heart.
“I’m sorry for your suffering.”
She shook her head. “I know the fault initially was not yours, or your wife’s. Unaware of the true facts, you did what you thought was right and decent and a part of me is very grateful that my infant daughter was placed in such a loving home.
“But since learning of my child’s true fate, I have been consumed with the need to see her. You cannot begin to know how I have wished and hoped and yearned for the impossible. To spend some time with my little girl.”
Her voice wavered, but she heroically managed to hold her emotions in check. Still, it dismayed him to see her flushed with distress.
“Often, circumstances that cannot be changed are best left alone,” he said kindly.
Her sigh was a weary resignation. “I do not dispute that, my lord. You are Lily’s father and that will never change.”
Cameron settled himself against the squabs, feeling overcome with a sudden sense of exhaustion. The condition no doubt due to the lethal combination of little sleep and great worry he had experienced over the past few days, ever since learning of Miss Tremaine and her predicament.
“What part do you expect to play in my daughter’s life?” he asked.
“I have no idea. There are no examples for me to draw upon, no experience quite like this one.” She sounded firm, but he caught the sound of a slight tremor in her tone. “Still, I refuse to believe that we cannot reach some sort of mutually acceptable agreement, my lord.”
A twinge of admiration cut through him. Though the odds were hardly in her favor, she would not retreat. Instead, she faced him with simple honesty and dignity, her grace and determination unshakable.
Bloody hell. He looked levelly at Miss Tremaine. Perhaps he had been overreacting, reading too much into her actions this morning. By her own admission, it was an act of desperation. Battling his conscience, Cameron admitted that placed in the same position, he might have done something similar. Or even more daring.
He scrubbed his face with his hands. He was not one who relished making mistakes, but was also not foolish enough to compound them by refusing to acknowledge and rectify them. In his zealous need to protect Lily perhaps he had misjudged Miss Tremaine and inadvertently caused her additional suffering.
“Have you made any special plans for the upcoming Christmas holiday?”
Her expressive eyes blinked in confusion. “Christmas?”
“Your father is recently deceased. I was unsure if you planned to observe the holiday this year.”
“It has been three months since his death. My brother and I are no longer in deep mourning. However, to be perfectly frank, with all that has been going on, Christmas is the very furthest thing from my mind.”
Cameron inhaled a deep breath. “Each year we host a large gathering at Windmere, my estate in Kent. ’Tis mostly family and close friends in attendance, though when the locals join in it can be quite a crush. I was wondering if you and your brother would be free to join us.”
“On Christmas Day?”
“You would be there on Christmas Day, of course, but the invitation is extended for the entire celebration. The festivities continue for several weeks, both before and after the holiday. You would be welcome for as long as you wish to stay.”
Her puzzled expression vanished and she stared. “What about Lily?”
“Naturally my daughter is at the center of all the activities. If you came to the manor, it would give you an opportunity to spend time with her without arising anyone’s suspicions.”
She schooled her features into calm but he could see she was excited. “If I may be so bold as to inquire, does anyone else know the truth about Lily?”
“Not to my knowledge. Only you, your brother and myself are aware of Lily’s true parentage. And I would like very much for it to remain that way.”
Her lovely face filled with uncertainty. Cameron braced himself for an argument.
“Though I prefer it to be different, I agree with your decision,” she said. “It would be too upsetting and confusing for Lily if she learned the truth.” She cleared her throat. “Thank you for your kind and exceedingly generous offer. My brother and I shall be delighted to attend the Christmas festivities at your home.”
“Very good. I shall have my secretary send you all the pertinent details, along with directions to the estate.”
Cameron tapped again on the carriage roof and instructed the coach to take them to her brother’s house. He saw Miss Tremaine’s expressive blue eyes widen, for she had not given him the address. He liked that; he wanted her to be a bit wary of him, wanted her to know that he was a strong, knowledgeable, formidable opponent.
They did not speak for the remainder of the short ride. Amazingly, there was no extreme tension in the air and Cameron was glad they had managed to get past the awkwardness of the situation. For the moment.
Philosophically, he realized the tension would very likely return in full force when Miss Tremaine and her brother arrived at Windmere. Unfortunately, that was the reality of this bizarre situation and the sooner he learned to cope with it, the better.
Besides, Christmas was known to be a time of hope and rebirth. Perhaps this year, when it was needed most, they would be able to resolve this matter in a way that would bring all of them some measure of peace and happiness.
Chapter 4
Rebecca and Daniel set out on their journey to the earl’s estate five days later, just after breakfast, in a brand-new, recently purchased carriage. It was well sprung and plushly appointed, but could have been filled with hay, for all that Rebecca cared. It was the prize at the end of her trip that she valued; the means to bring her there was unimportant.
“You should not have accepted this invitation without first