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Edward shook his head. “She does not need me. I am better out of the way.”

Marianne frowned up at him, an expression she rarely wore. “You are wrong. She does need you. A child needs love. Her mother is gone so it falls to you.”

“It will have to fall to you and Mother because I am returning to London.”

“You will not even see your baby once, Edward?” Her tone was all surprise.

“I saw her. If her cry is any indication, she has her mother’s temper.” As soon as he saw all that black hair, he knew that the child would take after her mother. How could he look at her and not see Victoria? “It is better this way.”

Marianne touched his sleeve. “Please do not do this to her. Why punish her for the sins of her mother?”

“It would be a punishment for us both if I stayed. I am leaving after the funeral, and the sooner you all accept that, the better. I will be back for Christmas.”

Of course, he never came back for Christmas that year, or the next, or the next. By the time Lady Maxine Victoria Ashton was three years old, it was evident to everyone in the Ashton family that her father was never returning to Ashtonvale.

Chapter One

Brookhaven Estate

Cheshire 1818

Lady Rose Montgomery, daughter of the late Earl of Brookhaven, followed her trunks out the front door. Her limbs, heavy with grief and disappointment. This would be the last time she would exit this house, her home for all of her two and twenty years. Her father was dead, and now her brother, Cecil, was the new Earl of Brookhaven. Well, she hoped he enjoyed his revenge against their father, for she would never talk to her brother again if she could help it. His actions prior to and upon their father’s deathbed were reprehensible.

Cecil was a cruel, reckless, selfish pig of a man, and even standing in the same room as him caused her body to shudder with contempt. Despite her brother’s desperation to undermine their papa’s will, he had not succeeded. He then threatened to marry her off to the highest bidder, and if that did not work, he would pay one of his disgusting friends to marry her. She would never marry on her brother’s orders.

She had to get away from him before he came up with any other malevolent ideas to ruin her life. Rose may be homeless, but she was not penniless or without options. Her father had provided a decent allowance for her, but she would have to be careful with it if she were not to marry. She had a decent dowry, so there should be no impediment if she found the right man, but how long that may take, she did not know. So, when her friend and neighbor Lady Marianne Ashton had invited her to come and stay for a while, she had jumped at the chance to be away from this house and her vile brother.

Settling into the Duke of Warrington’s fine carriage was a relief, and when the carriage jerked into action, she did not spare a backward glance at her fuming brother standing on the front steps. He could go to hell.

“My Lady, how long will it take us to get to Ashtonvale House?”

Rose turned her head towards her maid. She had almost forgotten she was there. “We should make it by the afternoon, Elsie, as we are cutting through the fields between us and Ashtonvale. It is the way I used to ride out to meet Lady Marianne when we were younger. Cook packed us a basket and had it snuck out early this morning. You are welcome to eat what you like.”

“Do you not want anything?”

“Perhaps later.”

Elsie picked up the lid of the basket to see what goodies the cook had given them. “What is Ashtonvale like?” she asked, picking up an apple.

“I have not been there in years, but I remember it as being very grand. Lady Marianne and I would row out to the middle of the lake there and lie in the sun and read poetry. The duchess was horrified we might develop freckles.”

“And did you?”

Rose smiled. “One or two, but it was worth it. Even though I loved it, there I was always anxious to get back to Father. I did not like him to be alone too long.”

“All the staff respected your father and are mighty sorry he has gone. I am ever so happy to be leaving with you though.”

“I am glad you are with me too. I could not have left you there with…him.”

“I know I should not say, but there are several of the servants who are already looking for other positions. Your father was wise to make sure they had references before he died.”

“I do not blame them. It would serve him right if they did. Fancy him waking up one morning and not one servant being left for him to yell at.”

“Oh, my lady.” Elsie giggled. “It would be just like his dessert.”

Rose looked out the window and smiled. “You mean his just desserts.” Elsie was always mixing up common phrases.

“Oh, that’s right. I’ll remember for next time,” she said as she bit into her apple.