Page 72 of The Valet Who Loved Me
“Well, I do have something useful to say as a matter of fact. Courtesy of our friend, Clayton,” Kendall offered.
Beau’s head snapped up to face the earl. “What?”
Kendall leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers over his chest again. “Turns out Clayton has learned some very interesting things in Parliament of late. Including the fact that one Captain David Ellsworth is not actuallymerelya captain.”
Beau frowned. “What? What are you talking about?”
“He’s the son of the Earl of Elmwood,” Kendall continued.
The news hit Beau like a physical blow to the chest. He fell back into his chair and expelled a deep breath. “I thought that title had no heir.”
“It didn’t have,” Kendall replied. “The late earl’s only son renounced his title and left London many years ago. That man was David’s father.”
“David’s father?” Beau echoed.
“Yes,” Kendall continued. “It turns out David Ellsworth is the eldest grandson of the last Earl of Elmwood.”
“My. My. My,” Worth said, in a voice dripping with sarcasm. “By my calculations, if David Ellsworth is an earl, that would make Marianne…alady, wouldn’t it?”
“Precisely,” Kendall replied dryly.
Beau closed his eyes briefly, letting the import of the news slowly wash over him. “Where is she?” he finally asked.
His friends exchanged a knowing glance.
“Elmwood is staying at Clayton’s town house at the moment. Poor man had no clue he was an earl. Clayton’s agreed to sponsor him. But I have it on good authority that Marianne is staying elsewhere,” Kendall said.
“What? Why?” Beau frowned.
“It was her choice,” Kendall continued.
“Where is she?” Beau repeated, leaping to his feet.
“I’m afraid I don’t know that,” Kendall replied.
Bell slammed a palm atop the desk. “Damn it, Kendall. How am I supposed to find her then?”
Worth’s crack of laughter filled the study. “You’re a spy, Bell. You figure it out.”
CHAPTER FORTY
“Marianne, dear, I’ve just come from the foyer and you have two visitors,” Lady Courtney said as she entered the rose salon in her London town house.
“Visitors?” Marianne frowned. Who other than Lady Courtney and David even knew that she was staying here?
Everything had happened so quickly since they’d come back from France. First, General Grimaldi had informed them that David was an earl. Apparently, after his capture, and Marianne’s stint as a spy, the Home Office had done some research on their family. Grimaldi himself had learned of the connection after tracing their last name back to the estate of the Earl of Elmwood.
Marianne still couldn’t quite believe that her father, who had been so loving, kind, and humble had been born the only son of an earl.
Apparently, Papa had fallen in love with her mother, who was a commoner, when he’d been stationed in Brighton many years ago. When he informed his father of his intent to marry a woman so far beneath him, his father the earl had threatened to disown him. Rather than make Papa fall in line, that had only angered her stubborn father. He’d renounced both his father and his lineage, deciding instead to rely upon his earnings from the army and then after retiring from the military, living a simple life of a woodworker in Brighton, with no pretentions whatsoever.
David, too, had been completely unaware of their ancestry. He informed Marianne that their father had never given him the slightest hint that David was the elder son of a man who was supposed to be an earl.
David had been easily convinced to take up his place in Society, however. “Don’t you see the sort of power I’d have to influence decisions if I were to take a seat in Parliament?” he’d told her the night they’d found out. “I could advocate for the rights of soldiers, and make a real difference.”
Tears had come to Marianne’s eyes. Her brother was noble and strong and virtuous. He would use his title and power, and the money that came with it (apparently, it was a considerable sum), to do good in the country and to help people. She could think of no better man to take up such a responsibility than her beloved brother. If only Frederick were alive to see it.
The last few weeks had been nothing but a blur. Marianne had been taken in by Lady Courtney at General Grimaldi’s suggestion. The lady had taken her to themodisteand ensured that Marianne had a wardrobe worthy of an earl’s sister.
