A Perfect Gentleman(17)

John looked at his older brother. “Why are you here? You never did say.”

Jordan lifted his eyebrows but didn’t answer. He picked up his mug of ale drained it and stood. “Why don’t we go to my room?”

The two men followed and as soon as they reached the privacy of Jordan’s room, he shut the door.

Jordan wheeled on Matt. “I will have you know that I will do everything in my power to keep Stillwaite in check.”

Matthew took a step back. He hadn’t expected his brother to be so angry. It was totally out of character for him but Matthew wasn’t about to back down.

“Why the sudden interest?”

“He didn’t tell me.”

“Yet, you go along with whatever he wants?”

“I didn’t know you and Stillwaite were friends,” John interrupted.

“We aren’t.” He strode to a table and poured a glass of whiskey. The bottle was half empty. Had his brother drank the other half last night or had he been in town longer than Matthew realized?

Jordan took a drink before turning to his brothers. “He hired me to look into his brother’s property and negotiate a purchase. He had not anticipated his brother still being incapacitated or his niece needing a guardian, which would undoubtedly fall to him. I didn’t know his brother had been in such a state for nearly two years.”

“Hired you?” John laughed. “Since when do you have employment?”

“Bloody hell,” Jordan muttered before he drained the glass.

Matthew leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn’t going to tell John what Jordan had been up to; it was up to his brother to tell him whatever he wished.

Jordan slammed the glass down on the table and fell back into a chair before he explained about secretly attending school. By the time he was finished, John was nodding with admiration.

“Does Clay know?”

“I haven’t told him. I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be.”

“I can’t imagine he would object,” Matthew offered.

“Nor I,” John agreed.

Jordan blew out a breath. “It would be nice to not have to worry about who found out or who I represent and I would like to become a barrister.”

“Your reputation will be destroyed,” John laughed.

“To hell with my reputation.” Jordan pushed his fingers through his hair. “I am so sick and tired of people assuming things about me that aren’t true.”

“That you are a rake of the first order and women beg for you to make love to them because nobody is as magnificent as you?” John grinned.

Jordan grinned. “Well, there is a good deal of truth in that statement.”

Matthew watched his brothers. He had heard all about his brother’s reputation and supposed skill in the bedchamber. While Matthew was studying and writing sermons, his brother was going from one bed to the next, pleasuring women across London. He probably was very good at it whereas Matthew couldn’t barely remember what it felt like to be buried so deep you couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. And since it had been ages, he would probably be a lousy lover as well. Though he had never been one of those gentlemen who required a virgin as a wife because it was unfair to judge a woman for doing something men were never questioned about, he now knew that it was what he would require. A virgin wouldn’t know any better, nor his lack of skill noted. Anyone else would probably find him a grave disappointment, especially if they had encountered Jordan along the way. Miss Cooper would be perfect, innocent not to know any better.

Stop thinking about bedding Miss Cooper.

Resentment built in his belly. Not that he wanted to toss up the skirts of any willing female, but Jordan had been allowed to live and experience life. Matthew was not given the same choice. Had he been, what kind of man would he be today?

John sat on the bed and looked at Jordan. “So, Stillwaite is your client and you need to take care of the guardianship.”

“Miss Cooper does not need a guardian.” Matthew pulled away from the wall. “Her father and she get along very well, and have been for two years.”

Jordan looked up at him. “It appears the other way around to me. She is taking care of him.”

“Only because of physical injuries.”

“He can’t even talk,”

Matthew clenched his fists. “Have you tried to have a conversation with the man?”

“Well, no. But Stillwaite assured me that man has lost his faculties.”

Matthew took a deep breath. “He has not. The injury left him unable to speak and the right side of his body does not function as well. But, he is still an intelligent man who can think and understand, even write.”

Jordan leaned back and raised an eyebrow. “You’ve spent time with him?”

“Yes, he is a parishioner of mine.”

“So, he attends church services.”

Matthew turned and found a chair to sit in. “No. He cannot climb into a carriage, or on a horse, nor walk that far.”

Jordan simply nodded.

“Stillwaite wants to commit him, doesn’t he?”

Jordan pursed his lips but said nothing.

“Dammit man.” Matthew stood, the chair toppled backwards. “At least spend time with Mr. Cooper before you decide to help Stillwaite condemn a man that has no more business being locked up in Bedlam than we do.”

“I will give the matter some thought,” he said slowly, studying Matt. “Is your interest solely for a parishioner, or are you more passionate because Miss Cooper is his daughter?”

Matthew stilled and stared at his brother. Could Jordan read him so well? No, it was impossible. “Miss Cooper is also a parishioner, who does attend services. She has asked for my help and I am glad to give it.”

Jordan’s eyes bore into Matt’s for a moment before he merely nodded and focused on John. “So, why are you headed to Scotland?”

“We believe Adele and Julia are there.”

That is right. Jordan had mentioned the two had not died, but that was right before Miss Cooper showed up on his doorstep pleading for help.

“Why were we told they were dead?”

“Father arranged it.” John began. “When Adele ran away with Julia, father caught up with them. He paid her to leave the country and then set the story about that they had died. That freed him to marry Rose.”

“He sent money to keep them away and when Julia turned eighteen, father tried to find them. An opportunity arose to join our family with another and father needed a daughter so he could arrange a marriage.” Jordan added.

“How was he going to explain Julia’s presence all of a sudden? Was he going to say someone found her and raised her this entire time and he just now learned?”

John smirked. “Probably.”

“They disappeared after that. I assume it is because Adele had no desire for her daughter to return to England, or for Julia to become one of father’s puppets for betterment of the family.” Jordan added.

“Where had they been this entire time?”

“France,” John answered.

Matthew sank back down in the chair. All this time he thought they were dead, mourned their loss. How could his father be so cruel? “Does Rose know?”

“No,” John insisted. “And we aren’t going to tell her, unless we find ourselves in a position where it is necessary that she knows.”

“If anyone learned, she and Madeline would be ruined. The marriage is not valid which makes Madeline a bastard.”

“Which is why we will never let on,” John agreed.

“If Adele is in Scotland, what do you intend to do?”

“Make sure she never steps foot in London or anywhere close to us.”

“Why didn’t they just divorce?” Jordan asked

“I assume it is because father didn’t want anyone to see him as a failure. It is better to have society believe your wife was killed then for them to know she was running away.”

“What if she decides she wants to return to London anyway?” Matthew asked.

John’s jaw set and his eyes grew cold. “It won’t be allowed. Madeline needs to be protected above all else.”



Grace paid for the foodstuffs and arranged for delivery before she stepped out onto the walk. This afternoon her uncle would meet with Lord Brachton and all day her stomach had been in a tight knot of worry to the point she was nauseous. She should be there. Who knew what her uncle would say. What if Brachton made a decision without even speaking to her or her father? She bit her bottom lip and glanced around. She had to be at that meeting, but she didn’t even know what time it was to be held. Should she call on her uncle and ask?

She glanced down the street to the only inn in town.

No, she didn’t want to do that. She didn’t even want to speak with him at the moment.

Mr. Jordan Trent stepped outside. He would know when the meeting was taking place and certainly he would tell her. Grace hastened down the road before he disappeared. He turned in her direction, their eyes met for a moment and a smile graced his face as recognition dawned. Mr. Trent really was a handsome man and he probably sent a number of hearts atwitter in London. But he was not as handsome as Vicar Trent and it wasn’t right that a vicar should cause a girls pulse to increase. It seemed almost sinful.

Mr. Trent walked toward her and stopped when they met in the middle of the walk. He offered a bow with his head. “Good day, Miss Cooper.”