His Wicked Seduction novel Chapter 34

The Russell family estate in northern Kent, four miles east of the village of Hexby, was in an uproar. Jane, the Marchioness of Rochester, was on the verge of strangling her second youngest child, one Linus Winston Russell. Despite her own knowledge that she had birthed that troublesome boy twenty-one years before, sometimes she swore he hadn't matured past the age of eight.

The young man in question was balanced precariously on a rickety ladder in the entryway of Rochester Hall. He held a sprig of what Lady Rochester feared was mistletoe. That child was in for a thrashing when she got hold of him. She'd found his handiwork all over the house. Every single doorway, window, and alcove was adorned with that dreaded poisonous plant. The chaos and impropriety that would ensue from his little prank could bring down the very stones of Rochester Hall.

Lord knew, her brood were wicked enough that they didn't need the help of mistletoe. It was in their blood, and sadly, not a trait taken from her husband's side.

Linus, having a full head of red hair like all of her children, was at the moment wiping a sheen of sweat off his brow before he resumed reaching for the upper doorjamb to affix the mistletoe. The forest green waistcoat and buff breeches he wore were well tailored to him-the body of a man, her baby boy no longer.

Lady Rochester blinked back a rebellious tear. How had her child grown up so fast? Hadn't it been yesterday that he'd put a frog in Lysandra's bed and tacks on Lucien's study chair? It had to be the holidays bringing up all this silly emotion. She stormed down the stairs to deal with her youngest's antics.

"Linus Winston Bartholomew Russell!" She bellowed the name in such an imperious tone that Linus dropped the mistletoe with a cry of alarm and scrambled to steady himself on the now wobbling ladder.

"Mama?" He hesitantly turned to face her as she glared up at him from the ground, her foot tapping with anger.

"Get down here at once," she barked.

Linus practically fell off the ladder, his boots smacking loudly on the marble floor.

"Just what do you think you're up to?" she demanded.

"Nothing." He tried to nonchalantly kick the mistletoe under a cabinet with a booted toe. As if she wouldn't notice!

Lady Rochester grabbed him by the ear. She was two seconds away from hauling him up to the old nursery when the knocker on the front door clanked four times. Linus grinned at his apparent reprieve and tugged free of his mother's hold.

"I'm not done with you yet. There will be a reckoning." She gave him one of her death glares before her face transformed into a heartwarming smile suitable for guests. She waved off the butler, who was advancing towards the entryway. "I'll answer it, Mr. Jenkins." She opened the door to find a welcome surprise. Her eldest child, Lucien, was there as well as his close friend, Viscount Sheridan, and his two sisters.

"Mother!" Lucien greeted her warmly, bending down to kiss her cheek.

"Lucien, my dear boy, so wonderful to see you. But it would have been more wonderful if you had sent me a note in advance. Especially if you were bringing guests." This last bit was delivered in a low warning tone.

Lucien lowered his head. "We apologize for the short notice, Mother, but it was important to come straight away." Lucien offered Horatia his arm to escort her inside and Cedric did the same for Audrey.

"Oh?" Lady Rochester's eyes narrowed.

"It's a long story, Mother, but I will explain later. May we have some tea? The trip was devilishly long and tiresome."

"Yes, of course. Right this way. Lovely to see you all, Lord Sheridan, Miss Sheridan, and Miss Audrey." Lady Rochester let Cedric kiss her hand before she embraced the two girls warmly. Then she led them to the nearest parlor where a strapping young footman awaited her orders-Gordon, if she remembered correctly. One of the recent replacements she'd had to acquire.

"Tea and scones if you please, Gordon," she said.

The servant nodded and departed to see to her wishes.

Lady Rochester caught sight of her youngest trying to sneak past the open doorway of the salon unseen. "Linus!" He froze mid-step, shoulders hunched in resignation before he sighed and came back into the parlor. She fixed Linus with a look that promised misery if he tried to escape again. "Greet our guests."

"Good afternoon," he replied, bowing towards Cedric and his sisters.

Lady Rochester did not miss Audrey's look as she tried to fight the urge to laugh. Linus and Audrey were quite good friends, as good as men and women could be without the complications of their genders getting in the way. Perhaps co-conspirators was a more apt description. Still, they were now at that age where it would be unwise to leave them alone together.

Lucien sat back in the chair he'd chosen, perfectly at ease. Lady Rochester watched as the eldest of her brood of hellions interacted with the youngest.

"How are you, Lucien?" Linus asked.

"Well. And you? How was Cambridge?"

"Fine. But I am glad to be through with it," Linus admitted.

"But Mama," Linus whined.

Audrey put a hand on his arm indicating him to shush.

"My sister shall chaperone us. Won't you, Horatia?"

"Yes, of course," Horatia replied.

"If I'm not worried, Lady Rochester, then you shouldn't be," Cedric reassured her.

"I suppose that is safe enough."

"Come on then," Linus offered his arm to Audrey. Horatia followed the pair out of the salon and into the hall. Linus and Audrey immediately bent their heads together, whispering now that they were out of sight of Lady Rochester.

Horatia groaned as she heard Audrey giggle wickedly. Linus must have had a scheme afoot and he was determined to rope Audrey into it. Knowing Linus as she did, which unfortunately was quite well, Horatia guessed it would be a prank of some sort. From time to time Linus and Audrey shot looks over their shoulders at her, as though worried she might be eavesdropping on their plotting.

Horatia raised her hands in surrender. "As long as I am not the victim of whatever you're planning, I won't spoil your fun."

"I make no promises," said Linus. The rascal was one year her senior in age, but not nearly as mature. It was why he'd always taken more to Audrey. Horatia couldn't even begin to count how many afternoons she and Lysandra had been the target of pranks from this unholy alliance.

"Linus, where is Lysa?" Horatia asked. She'd rather seek out her friend than linger in their presence. Her role of chaperone was nonsense, everyone but Lady Rochester seemed to know that.

"Last I saw, she was in the library." With that, he and Audrey darted up the stairs and vanished from view.

Horatia found herself alone in the massive entryway of Rochester Hall. It was a beautiful Georgian country house with sandy stones on the outside and marble within. She admired the tapestries on the walls depicting various scenes of pastoral bliss. Gazing at the scenes, she lost track of time, remembering the last time she'd been here. The memory was still so fresh that she felt it emerge from the gloom of her memory and envelop her fully.