A Woman Scorned Read Free Page B

possible that she was not fit to parent her sons. Even he, a man who had no interest in the
beau monde,
had heard the whispered rumors of her lovers and of her husband’s apparent murder.
    Indeed, the tale about Lord Mercer’s death was rather more than a rumor, for poison had been mentioned at the inquest. And her ladyship’s rather obvious affection for David Branthwaite, Lord Delacourt, was the talk of the
ton
. Their relationship had begun long before Mercer’s death and had continued unabated. Fleetingly, Cole felt sorry for the children, then just as quickly squashed that notion, too.
None of it was his concern
. No one had felt sorry for him when he had been left in similar straits—nor had he wished them to, he inwardly insisted.
    Cole looked up at his uncle and spread open his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I see your predicament, my lord. I wish I could be of some service, but this is clearly no matter for a military man.”
    “You misunderstand me, Cole. What I want is a tutor.”
    “A tutor?” Cole lifted his brows inquiringly.
    “Good God, Cole!” James laid his palms flat upon the glossy desktop and leaned halfway across it. “How plain must I make my meaning? I want
you
to answer Lady Mercer’s posting. I want
you
to apply to her in Brook Street. And who could be more qualified? You are a brilliant scholar.”
    Cole drew back in his chair. “Absolutely not.”
    “Cole, please understand. If you cannot do this for me, think of young Lord Mercer. He is left at the mercy of that—that
harridan
. The child is your cousin, for pity’s sake.”
    “I am sorry to disabuse you, my lord—but neither of those children is any kin of mine.”
    Lord James’s breath seized, as if he had been stabbed in the back. His dark eyes narrowed. “After all this family has done for you, Cole, you cannot know how those words wound me. These boys are mere babes. How can you be so selfish, when you have had the advantage of the best schools? Eton, Cambridge, King’s College, for God’s sake! Your academic achievements are nothing less than stellar. Moreover, you have a vast deal of experience in educating young men of good families.”
    “I am now a cavalry officer, sir. A return to teaching is utterly out of the question. I am no longer fit to be a companion to young men of good families. And more to the point, Lady Mercer would never agree.”
    “Cole, sometimes I despair of you, my boy! I truly do! You must not
tell
Lady Mercer who you are! It has been ten years or better since you met her—and in any case, I cannot imagine she would have troubled herself to remember
you
. Besides, war has aged and hardened you a bit.”
    Oblivious to the insults he had just leveled, James held out his hands as if the matter were settled, and only the details wanted ironing out. “We shall dissemble your credentials just enough to explain away your years in the army,” he continued. “And of course, I shall make certain that your references can be verified—”
    “It is out of the question, my lord,” Cole interjected. He rose abruptly to his feet, pulling out his father’s gold watch as he did so. “I regret that I must take leave of you, sir. I am engaged to dine at my club with Captain Madlow at half past.”
    James jerked his impressive girth from the chair and circled around the desk. “Cole, you owe me this. Far be it from me to remind you of all that I have done for you, but look at the facts—”
    Cole threw up a hand to forestall his uncle. “The only fact which matters to me is that you propose to do something deceitful. I must assume that your usual good judgement has been exhausted by your concern for the children. Were it otherwise, I am persuaded you would never propose such a thing.”
    “Cole, Cole!” James let his face fall forward into his thick fingers. “Have you no gratitude?”
    “Yes, my lord. I am exceedingly grateful. And yes, I do care about the innocence of children. God knows I