"She doesn't want to see me," Stephen said through clenched teeth.

"How do you know?" Victoria all but shouted. "Have you even once considered her feelings? The child's note says Hayley is miserable. And what of this other man? This Popple person. Can you really stand the thought of another man courting her? Marrying her? Loving her?"

Reaching up, she laid a gentle hand against his cheek, but she was prepared to beat him if she had to. "How can you let someone else have her when you want her so badly yourself?" she asked softly. "Don't deny yourself happiness, Stephen. I honestly believe one word from you explaining why you behaved as you did, and she would forgive you. Love is a gift. Don't throw it away."

She turned to her husband. "Don't think for even one moment I've forgotten what you said about me. I am, however, quite exhausted from dealing with my clod of a brother. I need a restorative cup of tea before dealing with my clod of a husband." Gathering her skirts, she swept from the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Stephen stared at the closed door. "I feel as if a carriage just ran over me."

"Indeed. It ran over you, then backed up and finished me off."

Stephen slowly turned and faced Justin. "Your wife called me a clod."

"Your sister called me a cad."

"She also called me a dolt."

"You are a dolt," Justin said with a perfectly straight face.

"That wife of yours is much too impertinent and has entirely too much time on her hands. She needs a project or hobby-something to keep her busy and I would hope keep her mouth closed." He shot Justin a pointed glare. "Perhaps a child might do the trick. Give Victoria something to do besides listen at doors."

"An excellent suggestion," Justin agreed, a wicked gleam lighting his eyes. "In fact, since you're on your way out, I believe I'll pay my wife a visit and revive her flagging spirits with something a bit more interesting than a cup of tea." He started toward the door. "You are leaving, are you not?"

Stephen nodded slowly. "Yes. Yes I am. In fact I have a great deal to do."

"Indeed? What are you planning?"

"It appears I have some shopping to do."

Justin raised his brows. "Shopping?"

"Yes. I've been invited to a birthday party. I certainly can't show up empty-handed now, can I?"

Justin looked at him for a long moment, his eyes reflecting quiet understanding. Stephen kept his expression carefully neutral.

"No," Justin finally said, laying a hand on Stephen's shoulder. "You certainly can't show up empty-handed."

SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT

Chapter 30

Stephen stood outside Albright Cottage the next afternoon, clutching two packages. He stared at the front door, his stomach churning. Everything he wanted was inside that house. Things he hadn't known he wanted until he'd experienced them and then lost them. After the tongue-lashing Victoria had treated him to, he'd realized he had to come here. If nothing else, he at least owed Hayley the truth about himself, about why he'd lied to her, and an apology for the things he'd said to her in Justin's garden. If she still hated him after they spoke, well, then it was no less than he deserved. But he was certainly hoping, praying, for a different outcome.

Balancing the gaily wrapped parcels in his arms, he knocked on the door. After a moment, the door was flung open. Grimsley stood on the threshold, squinting.

"Yes, yes, who's there?" the elderly man asked, patting his jacket and frowning. "Blast! Where the devil are my spectacles?"

"They're on top of your head, Grimsley," Stephen said, unable to keep from grinning. God, it felt so good to be back here.

Grimsley patted his head, found the glasses and perched them on the end of his long nose. When he saw Stephen, his wrinkled face collapsed into an expression that could only be described as distasteful. He opened his mouth to speak, but a booming voice cut off his words.

"Who the bloody hell is it and wot the bloody hell do they want?" Winston appeared in the doorway. His eyes narrowed to slits when he saw Stephen. "Drop me from the crow's nest and feed me to the fishes! If it ain't his bleedin' high holy lordship."

Stephen actually felt himself blush under the heat of their scathing gazes. It appeared everyone he came in contact with was intent on giving him a severe dressing-down. "How are you, Grimsley? Winston?"

"We were quite well until we found you standing on the doorstep," Grimsley said with a disdainful sniff.

"Why are you 'ere?" Winston demanded. "Haven't you caused 'er enough pain?"

Although Stephen understood their anger, he had no desire to discuss his shortcomings while standing outside. "May I come in?"

Grimsley pursed his lips, looking as if he'd just bit into a sour pickle. "Certainly not. There's a party about to start out back, and everyone is very busy." He started to close the door.

Stephen stuck his foot in the opening. "I have a great deal to atone for and I can hardly do that if I'm forced to stand outside."

A snort escaped Grimsley. "Atone?"

Winston crossed his beefy tattooed arms across his chest. "I'd like to see ya try."

"So would I," Stephen said quietly. "Will you let me?" He was prepared to push his way in if he had to, but he fervently hoped it wouldn't come to that. He seriously questioned his chances of getting by Winston, who looked as if he'd relish the opportunity to chew Stephen up, spit him out, then bury him in a deep hole.

"No, you may not come in," Grimsley said, his eyes snapping with anger. "Miss Hayley has finally stopped crying. Oh, she thinks no one knows how miserable she's been, but I've known that girl her entire life. She saved your rotten life, not once but twice. She gave you everything she had, but it wasn't enough for you, was it?" Grimsley's lips curled in a sneer. "Well, she has a proper beau now. I'll not allow you to hurt her again."

"I have no intention of hurting her," Stephen said, forcing himself to remain calm and ignore the mention of a "proper beau." "I only want to talk to her."

Winston's scowl darkened. "Over my dead body! I've 'alf a mind to rip out yer innards with me bare 'ands. In fact-"

"She loves me," Stephen broke in, hoping his innards wouldn't find themselves in Winston's bare hands.

"She'll get over it."

"I love her."

Grimsley answered that announcement with an eloquent snort. "You have an odd way of showing it, your lordship."

"I hope to remedy that."

"How?"

Stephen somehow held on to his patience. "That is private, Grimsley."

"Fine." The door started closing again.

"All right. If you must know, I plan to ask Hayley to marry me."

Grimsley appeared startled, but Winston's brows bunched tighter. "Wot's that?"

"I want to marry her."

Clearly neither man had expected this turn of events. Winston scratched his head and asked, "Why?"

"I love her."

"Ya treated 'er like dirt."

"I know." When Stephen saw Winston's eyes darken, he added, "But I was wrong. Terribly wrong. And I'm sorry." He eyed the two servants who stood like human sentinels guarding the door. "I admire you both for your loyalty. Let me speak to her. If she asks me to leave, I promise to do so immediately."

Winston grumbled under his breath and pulled Grimsley aside. They whispered between themselves for a moment, then returned. Grimsley cleared his throat. "We've decided that if you really love her, and Miss Hayley can find it in her heart to forgive you, we won't stand in your way. Miss Hayley must decide for herself."

"But if ya 'urt her again," Winston warned, "I'll string yer noble arse to the anchor and drop ya over the side." They stepped back and wordlessly indicated that Stephen could enter.

"Thank you. You have my word you won't regret inviting me in.

"She deserves the very best," Winston said in a gruff voice.

"She'll have everything it is in my power to give," Stephen vowed solemnly. "The entire family will. Including both of you."

The two men looked surprised by his words. "We just want 'er 'appy," Winston grumbled.

"Then we are in complete agreement." They stood in the foyer, regarding each other steadily. Then, in a show of friendship Stephen would have never before considered sharing with a servant, he extended his hand first to Grimsley, then to Winston.

After they shook hands, Stephen breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Where is Hayley?"

"Everyone is at the lake," Grimsley answered. "We expect them back within the hour."

Winston excused himself, saying he had chores to finish, and Grimsley led Stephen to the library.

"You can wait in here," Grimsley said. "I'll let you know when they return."

"Thank you. Tell me, Grimsley, is the rest of the family angry with me as well?"

Grimsley stroked his chin. "The children aren't, but then they don't know you broke Miss Hayley's heart. I cannot speak for Aunt Olivia, but I wouldn't expect a warm welcome from Miss Pamela, and unless you relish being tossed on your noble arse and clunked over the head with a skillet, I'd advise you to avoid Pierre."

Stephen hid his surprise at the footman's blunt words. "I see."

Grimsley turned to leave, but paused in the doorway. "I suppose our unconventional ways were a bit jarring for a lord such as yourself."

"Believe me, Grimsley, any 'jarring' I received at the hands of the Albrights was the best thing that ever happened to me."

The frosty, guarded look melted from Grimsley's eyes. "Well, you've got your work cut out for you. Dr. Wentbridge proposed to Miss Pamela and they're planning to marry in two months. I believe Mr. Popplemore, who strikes me as the impatient sort, would like to make it a double wedding." Grimsley coughed discreetly into his hand and left Stephen alone in the library.