Page 51 of What a Widow Wants

“Because I would not have my daughter made miserable living with someone she could not love and respect.” Fanny fisted her hands so tightly she feared blood would begin to flow from her nails digging into her flesh. “But as I said, she is quite taken with Lord Lathbury and he with her. That will not be an obstruction to our marriage when or if the time comes.”

“Please do not hesitate to ask my assistance in gathering and packing your belongings once things are settled between you and the earl.”

“Thank you, Lavinia. Perhaps after our meeting today I will be able to seek you out for that very purpose.” A devil flew up on Fanny’s shoulder. “And Ella’s belongings as well. She would be removing with me, of course, if I marry Lord Lathbury.”

“Naturally.” The woman’s expression changed not at all; however, her normally pinched lips quivered slightly as though trying to smile. “Well, please inform me of your plans when I return.”

“Lord Lathbury, my lady.” Noyes showed Matthew into the room where an awkward silence ensued.

“Lady Theale, may I present Lord Lathbury, my longtime friend? My lord, Lady Theale is my sister-in-law.” Why couldn’t the woman have been gone before Matthew got here? Now they’d likely never be rid of her.

“My lady.” He bowed politely, although his eyes and smile were for Fanny.

“My lord. Lady Stephen has informed me of your impending marriage.” Shooting Fanny a look of triumph, Lavinia tugged on her gloves. “My heartfelt congratulations. But if you will excuse me, I must go. I am on my way to a meeting to raise funds for the Magdalen Hospital. There is always so much need.” She curtsied. “I will see you at dinner, Frances. Good day, my lord.”

Slumping in her chair, Fanny prayed she and Matthew could come to an accord so she could remove herself and her daughter from this hateful household.

“She’s a bit of a harridan, isn’t she?” He sat beside Fanny and kissed her cheek. “Thank goodness she’s no blood relation of yours, or I’d fear to wake up one morning some twenty years hence and find her likes in bed with me.”

“God forbid.” Shuddering, Fanny rang the bell for more tea. “And I vow I did not tell her that we were getting married, Matthew, only that we were considering it.”

Waving his hand, he stripped off his gloves and laid them in his lap. “I would not find it amiss if you had, love. We have done all save set the date. Some women pride themselves on having such news first.”

“No, Lavinia does not care for that sort of thing, at least I don’t think so. She just wants to know when I will be moving out of her house so she and Theale won’t have the care of me and Ella.” She couldn’t bear this, couldn’t bear him not knowing any longer. He had a right to know Ella was his, even if it resulted in his leaving her. She must tell him. No more delays.

“Well, and that is fine. They will not have the care of you and Ella very shortly. Where is she?”

The footman entered with the fresh tea and Fanny seized on it as a drowning man does a lifeline. “Thank you, Thomas.” She busied herself pouring tea and adding sugar. Anything to keep from answering his question. “You take two lumps, is that correct, Matthew?”

“You know it is, Fanny. You’ve been making me tea for months now.” A shake of his head, and he took the cup and sipped. “Delicious as always.” He set the cup in its saucer and took Fanny’s hands. “Why are you so nervous? It’s not as though I’m your first beau at a dance or your first man on your wedding night.”

“I know.” She couldn’t wait. She must do it now. “It’s about Ella, Matthew.”

“Why isn’t she here?” He glanced at the door. “I wanted us both to tell her that I am to be her new papa. She isn’t ill, is she?”

“No, she is quite well. But I need to tell you something about Ella.” Squeezing his hands, she said, “You are her father, Matthew.”

He shook his head, gazing at her in confusion. “Yes, I know that, but she does not. I wanted us both to tell her of our marriage and that I will be her papa from now on.”

“No, you don’t understand.” How could she make him comprehend? “I didn’t realize it myself until you came for tea with your mother. And then I saw you and Ella together, and couldn’t help but see it.”

“See what? You’re not making sense, Fanny.” He shook off her grip.

“See that you are Ella’s father, not Stephen.”

His brows wrinkled into a deep V and he shook his head in little bursts, as though shaking water from his ears. “No. You can’t mean that. It’s not possible.”

“It is possible. She looks just like you. No one who sees you together can think anything else. Your mother saw it immediately. And Beatrice.” Miserable, Fanny rose and paced to the blazing fireplace, feeling not an iota of warmth from it.

“No.” He rose and followed her, his steps thudding loudly on the polished wooden floor. “They would have told me.” Staring at her with the coldest eyes she’d ever seen, he said, “You lie.”

Tears trickled down her cheeks, her worst fears about this moment coming true. “No, I do not lie. If you like, I will have Ella brought here, a mirror fetched, and show you both faces together and see if you wish to deny it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t know! I never saw the two of you together until that day.” All the things she’d thought to say over the past weeks came pouring out. “I told you, when we were together back in ’09, I found out about the herbs to prevent children and I took them. I drank the tea every day until the day I left you because I didn’t want this kind of complication. When I returned to Stephen’s bed, I stopped the herbs. As I told you in Kent, it was part of my atonement to him. Two months later I realized I was increasing, so I believed it was Stephen’s. When Ella was born I thought nothing of the fact that she didn’t look like Stephen. She has my dark coloring so again, why would I suspect?”

“How do you explain why your herbs didn’t work? If you took them every day when we were together, why would they not work this one time?” Pacing back and forth, not giving her any room to move, Matthew at last halted in front of her, his glare accusing.