Page 14 of Love with a Notorious Rake

Riordan left to fetch it. A loud meow filled the air and Aidan glanced down. A white and orange cat was staring up at him with curious green eyes. “You must be the elusive Mittens. Too shy to show yourself until now.” Aidan rubbed the cat’s ears and received a rumbling purr for his efforts.

Riordan returned. “Now you’ve met the last member of the family.”

“Good God, a young cousin, pets, a niece or nephew on the way, a sister-in-law, a new aunt, and a possible stepmother and step-grandmother on the horizon. What next?” Aidan mumbled. “Wollstonecraft Hall will be overrun. Not used to having women around. Or children.”

Riordan laughed and handed him the glass of wine, then poured himself a tumbler of scotch. He settled into a chair opposite and met Aidan’s gaze. “It certainly will be overrun when we return to the hall at the end of June. Then we will prepare for the birth.”

“When is Sabrina due?” Aidan asked as he scratched Mittens under the chin.

“Mid-August. Maybe later; hard to ascertain.”

“And what else is on the horizon?”

“I already have men of means in place to fund my progressive school. Thanks to my presentation on education reform before Prince Albert last month, it has garnered a good deal of interest.”

“Especially among those who wish to impress the prince, no doubt.” Mittens, apparently done with human interaction, headed to the fireplace and curled up in front of it. “Nevertheless, well done. I’m proud of you.” And he was, as the prince did not give an audience to just anyone.

Riordan smiled. “Thank you. That means more than you know. As for those princely sycophants, I will take their money regardless. May I ask what your plans are? You know you’re welcome here for as long as you like. Until the end of June, of course.”

“I appreciate the offer.” Aidan stared down into his wineglass. “My plans? Dr. Bevan suggested I immerse myself in one of the family’s causes. To give my life purpose, I suppose, and to have me focus on something besides my self-seeking extravagances.”

“I heartily recommend it. I never dreamed that I would find such contentment and satisfaction in teaching. It has changed my life. This was to be a temporary experiment, to try out my education reforms in a schoolroom setting. Now I see it as my life’s calling.”

Aidan sipped the wine. “It’s not much of a covert action any longer.”

Riordan chuckled. “No, though my students still call me Mr. Black, as it is less of a mouthful than Wollstonecraft.”

Hearing of Riordan’s strategy, a plan hastily formed in Aidan’s mind. “I thought to choose factory reform. Considering your success as a clandestine operative, perhaps I could do the same. Continue to use the name Black, find work at one of the worst factories, mills, or mines, and observe and report. It would assist Father in his push for an improvement of the current Factory Act.”

Riordan seemed to contemplate the announcement. “It would at that. He’s still working closely with Lord Ashley and others on further amendments. Are you well enough for such a venture?”

“If nothing else, my wan and pale self would fit in with the working class. And I do not mean that in jest. I’ve always been appalled at how workers are treated, particularly the women and children who toil in cotton mills.” Aidan paused. “The more I think on it, I believe this to be a sound plan. Surely Father can pull some strings and have me placed at a mill. I’m aware there are many that are not following the revisions of the Labor in Cotton Mills Act of eighteen thirty-one, or the Factory Act of eighteen forty-four. There are not enough factory inspectors, for one thing—only four for the entire country. And the fact that the workers do not report the owners, for fear of retaliation or losing their positions, makes it difficult to enforce the laws already on the books.”

“Ah.” Riordan smiled. “So you did listen at the family meetings.”

“More than you know. Do you think Father will be amenable to my scheme?”

Riordan rubbed his whiskered chin. “If you lay it before him as you have with me. You’re truly interested in pursuing this?”

“I’ve floundered about long enough. I’m weary of drifting through life with no purpose. How embarrassing to discover how low I sank.” Aidan swirled his wine. “I am ashamed, Brother. Utterly humiliated by my thoughtless and reckless behavior.” He met Riordan’s gaze and said in a soft voice, “I wish to redeem myself, not only in the family’s eyes, but, more importantly, in my own. I wish to banish this ‘notorious rake’ nom de plume once and for all. Hang society; I don’t give a toss what they think about me. But I do care about what the people I love think.”

“I will keep your confidence, and I’m gratified to hear you want to rejoin the living. Be part of the family. I admit life has taken a swift move forward for all of us.”

“What has happened to the damned curse? To hear that Garrett—who believed in it more than any of us—has embraced love is hard to take in. And you, with Father and Grandfather following close behind.”

Riordan took a long draw on his scotch. “As I said to Garrett, love means taking a chance. At the end of the day, I could not bring myself to turn away from Sabrina. She means more to me than the curse. Garrett inevitably reached the same conclusion. Perhaps you will too, someday.”

Aidan snorted. “Not likely.”

“And what of Miss Cristyn Bevan?”

Aidan’s head snapped up and he glared at his brother. “Where in hell did you hear about her?”

“From Garrett, who heard it from Abbie. She observed the two of you exchanging yearning gazes—”

“Christ,” Aidan huffed, annoyed. Damned interfering woman. “Nothing remains private in this family, does it?”

“Easy. Garrett told only me. Do you care for this young lady?”