Benedict's Challenge - Carole Mortimer Page 0,38

Lord James Metford, the Earl of Ipswich. If that was indeed where Jimmy’s emotions lay, and his reactions to Benedict’s comment seemed to confirm they did.

“The two of you can discuss this matter again later,” Julius Soames dismissed. “At which time I also fully intend to discuss with Mr. Brown the reason why he has not assumed his inherited title. But for now, we have a more urgent situation to settle.”

Chloe’s cheeks flamed with color as all three gentlemen turned their gazes upon her.

Lord Soames smiled at her kindly. “Lord Henry Gordon is your step-uncle.”

“I am only too aware of that,” she choked out.

“But he is not your guardian.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. “But— Of course he is,” she said shakily. “He was the only one to step forward and claim that connection after my parents were killed, and it is cruel of you to imply otherwise.”

The earl’s expression softened even further. “Because as far as the rest of your relations are concerned, you perished in the accident alongside your parents.”

Chloe was now the one to rise noisily to her feet. “I— You— But how can that possibly be?”

“The accident in which your parents died occurred in Wales, and as your father’s closest relative, Lord Gordon was the first to be notified of the death of his stepbrother and step-sister-in-law, and to travel there to confirm that was indeed who they were. You were injured in that same accident and so were unable to even attend the funerals, which also took place in Wales, on your step-uncle’s instruction.”

A lump had lodged in Chloe’s throat, making it impossible for her to speak. She nodded instead, having been told after the event how things had gone in Wales. Because Lord Gordon had insisted on returning to London immediately once Chloe was well enough to travel, she had not even been able to visit her parents’ graves.

Julius Soames resumed talking. “The reading of your father’s will took place in London several weeks later. At no time during that meeting did Lord Henry Gordon reveal that you were still living and were, in fact, resident in his London home.”

“But why would he do such a thing?” Chloe beseeched, the heat of tears blurring her vision, her hands trembling.

Lord Soames shrugged. “For one thing, the death of your parents and you made him your father’s beneficiary.”

“They were not wealthy.”

“No, they were not,” the earl agreed. “But your maternal Irish grandparents were, and they had left a sizeable fortune to be given to you when you came of age. With all of you supposedly dead, Lord Gordon could and did claim that fortune as his own.”

“He was always so cruel to me,” she said emotionally.

Andover nodded. “That side of Lord Gordon was driven by the fact that he was once in love with your mother. He went so far as to make an offer of marriage to her parents, and was rejected. Worse, the moment Niamh saw his much younger stepbrother, she fell in love with him instead.”

“What?” Chloe staggered back merely from thinking of the rotund and elderly Lord Gordon, with his flushed and bloated face that was always scowling, with her young, beautiful, and golden-haired mother, always with a smile upon her lips and love glowing in her eyes for her husband and daughter.

“You, I am reliably informed, look exactly like her,” the earl praised.

“My father always said so.” The tears fell unchecked down Chloe’s cheeks. “My mother could never have loved a monster such as Lord Gordon. Never!” she repeated vehemently.

“Enough for now, Julius.” Benedict quickly rose to his feet to take Chloe into his arms. “I shall never allow Lord Gordon to harm you again,” he promised her.

Chloe’s fingers clung to his waistcoat. “Once I am returned to him, you will have no way of stopping him, and I believe that the next time he beats me, he might succeed in killing me!”

“That will not happen!” Benedict assured heatedly. “We have the weight of the truth and the law on our side.”

“The law?”

“As Julius has said, he discovered that Lord Gordon was not named as your guardian in your father’s will. Your Aunt and Uncle Bayliss were. She is your mother’s sister, I believe?”

“They are my Aunt Sophie and Uncle Gerald, yes,” Chloe confirmed. “But Lord Gordon said they did not—did not wish to see me again after my parents died. We… My parents and I were only in Wales because I wished to visit an old school friend there. Lord Gordon said that