Chapter 12

Raynham Manor, Norfolk

He couldn't stop kissing her. He didn't want to stop kissing her.

Someone knocked on the door. Melissa pulled back suddenly, her cheeks delightfully pink.

"What is it?" George Townshend asked, annoyed at the interruption. He'd been having a most agreeable time.

"Master Jacob has arrived, my lord," Freddie intoned.

"Ask him to bugger off," he replied jovially.

"George!" Melissa slapped his wrist.

"Oh alright. Send him in."

Jacob entered the room looking extremely confused. But his confusion only grew when he saw Olivia's Aunt seated in a chair by his uncle's bed.

Her hand in his.

He bowed, feeling at sea. What the hell was happening? Hadn't this very lady been preaching the various rules and etiquettes not a fortnight ago? Surely this couldn't be considered proper?

After his initial shock had faded, he turned to look at his uncle-who almost looked the way he had when Jacob had left seven years ago.

"You look better, uncle."

"I feel better, my boy," he smiled, looking at Lady Melissa with an expression that made Jacob nauseous.

"It's quite an er...surprise to see you here, my lady," he turned to the lady in question.

She waved him off. "How is my niece?" she surprised him by asking. "I hope you've kept away from her."

Jacob couldn't very well tell her that he'd nearly made love to her in Lady Bell's library in her house party.

So instead, "She is well," he said curtly, deliberately skipping the second part of her question.

She noticed of course and began to say something, but Uncle-dear sweet Uncle George interrupted. "He's a good lad, sweetheart. Don't let the beard and brooding stare fool you."

Lady Melissa's face immediately softened and she turned to gaze at his uncle lovingly.

Good god.

"Where is your nurse?" Jacob asked, wanting to divert the topic of conversation.

"I threw her out," Lady Melissa said disdainfully.

"But why?"

"Because she had been poisoning your uncle."

"What?"

Uncle George nodded. "When Melissa asked her to eat the food she brought me, she balked, she did. It wasn't a cancer, after all," he said.

"How did you know?" He turned to look at Lady Melissa suspiciously. He'd suspected as much, but still, he was curious.

"There were blue splotches beneath his eyes. I've seen it before," she shrugged lightly, but Jacob saw the tightening of her mouth.

"The physician?"

"He was with the nurse."

He nodded, appeased for now. He didn't have to ask on whose order the nurse and physician had acted. And it angered him that that cretin-Cavendish would stoop so low. But seeing his uncle healing eased some of his anger. Not to mention-Lady Melissa…

"And you two are...um-" he cleared his throat-"lovers?"

"Not yet, but we will be once I'm stronger," his uncle winked and Lady Melissa blushed prettily. "You're incorrigible," she slapped his shoulder playfully.

"Jake, we will marry," he said more solemnly, turning to look at Jacob. And Jacob had a distinct impression that although his voice was authoritative, his uncle was seeking his approval.

"You'll find no better Viscountess," Jacob nodded and Lady Melissa practically glowed at his words.

She stood then. "I suspect there is much you two need to talk about then. I shall return shortly," she said, bending to place a soft but firm kiss on Uncle George's cheek. He looked like he wanted something more, but he sat back with a sigh.

She silently exited the room, shutting the door on her way.

"Jake," his uncle beckoned him.

Jacob walked towards him and sat on the chair Lady Melissa had just vacated.

"I'm glad you're well."

"Yes, me too. God has given me a second chance to be with Melissa," he sighed.

"Second chance?"

"I fell in love with her when I was five and twenty. She was only eighteen then and it was her first season. She was so full of life, Jake and so lovely, she simply took my breath away! I knew I should've asked her father before courting her, but I wanted to ask her first, I wanted to give her a choice. She was haughty at first, but she eventually agreed," his uncle grinned, apparently lost in his memories.

"Then why didn't you marry her?"

Uncle's expression darkened. "Your grandfather manipulated me into marrying Margaret. That was when your parents had died and I'd brought you home. Father said that I could keep you only if I married that woman. I was living under his roof at the time and I didn't have anywhere to go. So I married her," his uncle shrugged and smiled but Jacob knew what that must've cost him.

His mother had been a clerk's daughter. Respectable but not good enough for a Viscount's son. So Jacob's grandfather had banished his family. But when his parents died from a fever, his uncle took Jacob in, defying the old viscount.

"But you were in love with Lady Melissa."

"Yes, but the choice was clear, you see. I knew she could take care of herself, but you were a small defenseless child. You needed me more than she did," he murmured.

Jacob felt the tears gathering in his eyes but he didn't try to hold them in this time. His uncle had sacrificed so much for him, Jacob could hardly believe it.

"Don't cry, Jake. I was glad I chose you," he smiled, putting his hand on Jacob's shoulder. "If I had to, I'd do it all over again," he added, his eyes sincere.

"I understand why Lady Melissa waited for you all these years," Jacob grinned. He'd always admired his uncle, he'd always been a role model. But Jacob had had no idea of the depth of his sacrifice.

"I'm a lucky man," his uncle grinned.

"Thank you," Jacob whispered, enveloping Uncle George in a fierce hug.

"I love you, Jake," he murmured, his own arms coming around Jacob.

"Jake, Melissa told me she saw you kissing her niece-Henry Cavendish's daughter," George said once Jacob had settled on the chair again. Jacob muttered something under his breath.

"Jake?"

"Yes, I kissed her."

"Why?" His uncle's voice dripped with suspicion.

"I wanted to," he shrugged. His uncle snorted.

"I know you better than that, Jakey boy. You're far too calculative, far too cautious to kiss a woman-a Duke's daughter no less, simply because you want to and risk a trip to the noose," his uncle smiled wisely. "You're doing this for the papers, aren't you?"

Jacob saw no point lying so he nodded, his face grim. Well, he had kissed Olivia purely because he'd wanted to, such schemes had not entered his mind at the time. And yet–

His uncle sighed wearily. "Jake, this is not what I meant when I said I wanted you to get the papers. Hurting an innocent girl...this is not how I raised you."

"But–"

Uncle held up his hand, cutting him off. "Whatever it is that you've planned, stop it this instant."

"How the hell do I get the papers then? And my mother's necklace?" He stood up, dragging a hand through in hair in frustration.

"Cavendish is sick. That was why he was desperate enough to try to get me killed. He wanted to make sure that the viscountcy ended with me. I don't know what he'll try next. But if he's dying, we'll get the papers soon enough."

Jacob nodded, only partially convinced. But he was also relieved. This meant he wouldn't have to involve Olivia, she was safe. But it also meant that he wouldn't have any excuse to meet her anymore.

He turned to leave, his head had begun to ache.

"Jake, please don't speak of this in front of Melissa. I don't want her to worry."

"Alright," he said and left the room, finding Lady Melissa approaching him.

"I hope we can begin this relationship without any bad blood between us," he bowed.

"Of course. As long as you don't hurt Olivia, I have nothing against you. George only has nice things to say about you," she smiled slightly.

"I won't hurt her," he said solemnly and bent to kiss her cheek. She seemed surprised but her slight smile turned into a grin.

"Now I know why Olivia seemed smitten. Charming sod," she muttered under her breath and disappeared into Uncle George's room. Jacob merely chuckled.