A Highly Flattering Solution

Part 2

The result of this pronouncement was everything Serena had feared and more. Lord Delford blanched and stood frozen to the ground.

Now that the secret was out, he might as well know the whole of it. "The fifth Earl, my father, married my mother after the death of his first wife. Henry, his heir, didn't like it, and made no secret of it. When my father wasn't there to see it, he said the cruelest things to my mother and abused me terribly. I stayed out of his way as much as I possibly could." She smiled. "That is why you don't remember me. You came home with him from Oxford one winter, with a party of friends. I followed the group of you secretly as often as I could - shooting, fishing, anything that didn't require riding. Whenever any of the boys noticed me, they chased me away. But when you saw me, you would only wink and turn back to your pursuits. I've never forgotten that."

"Good God! Henry's little sister. I do remember! But she - you - were a tiny little thing, surely!"

"Yes, Henry is ten years my senior."

"And I two years his. Well." He shook his head in surprise. "So you are five and twenty now."

"When our father died, Henry betrothed me to the local curate, a widower with four children. I was seventeen. My mother moved into the Dower House, but he would not allow me to remain there with her, a drain on his finances. I had to find an escape."

"You were not seventeen when I engaged you."

"No. I went first to my mother's aunt in Bath and stayed there for two years. When she died - I won't burden you with the details, I took several positions that eventually led to my desperate presence at the employment office that day."

"Your mother allowed this?"

"The paid positions as companion, yes. She did not know that I was left stranded in London and how I came to work for you - only after I was settled here did I write to her, informing her of my whereabouts. She didn't like it - doesn't like it - but I am safe here, and happy, so she is content."

"You have been writing to your mother? I never franked those letters for you."

"Naturally I posted them myself. Any subterfuge has its cost."

Delford had both hands in his hair, his eyes staring unblinkingly at Serena. Slowly, as though in disbelief, he ground out. "Do you mean to tell me... that all this time... I have had an Earl's daughter waiting on me? A Countess sending letters to this house, knowing that I had the audacity to employ her daughter?"

Serena dismissed these misplaced scruples. "But why do you blame yourself? You have done nothing wrong. In fact, you've helped me a great deal. You have given me a quiet and safe place to live, and be useful, and," she gestured to the books, "you pay me enough to indulge some very frivolous habits. I have been most happy here, and I am grateful to you."

Still scowling and clearly unconvinced, he turned to the plain brass mirror and brushed a hand through his hair to restore it to dignity. "Then why were you running away?"

She bit her lip. "It was just instinct more than anything, the fear of him, the need to get away." She looked up at her employer. "Though I expect I must leave now anyway. I don't suppose you will allow me to continue working for you, after my brother has left?"

"How can I?" He paced to the far end of the room. "But what will you do? To remain here in any capacity would be disastrous for your reputation - "

"I have been here for years and my reputation has suffered not at all, because no one knows who I am! Let it remain so."

"It can not. Good God, my presence alone in this room with you now is an insult!"

"I assure you I do not regard it so. Heavens, I wish I had never told you!"

"I thank those same Heavens you have. I only wonder what is to be done with you."

She stood up straighter and raised her chin. "I thank you, my lord, but nothing need be "done with me" - I shall come about, as I always have."

He began pacing again. "Yes, you are a remarkably capable young woman. You'll find another situation in the twinkling of an eye, and I shall never see you ag–" He stopped in his restless agitation and swung his head to look at her with the expression of one who has suddenly made a blinding discovery.

His gaze made her uneasy, and she took a step back as he advanced slowly toward her. "Miss -" he found himself laughing. "Lady Serena! Have I that right?" She smiled but nodded uneasily. "Lady Serena, the answer to your problem, and to my heart's desire, is right before us."

She cocked her head to the side, and he saw that she did not follow.

"Do you not see it?" He chided her. He knelt carefully down before her as she brought her hands to her cheeks in horror. "Marry me."

~~~~~

Author's Note: Please feel free to be completely honest if you see anything that could use improving. All comments and suggestions would be SUPER appreciated, as would votes. Thank you!