Chapter Text
...It would appear as though Mr Perkins getting ahead of himself was only a mild embarrassment compared to what has been happening elsewhere in the Ton. I’m sure Omega Eddie Munson would have preferred to secure at least an engagement ring before announcing the news of his impending motherhood, but Alpha Jason Harrington was always known as a bit of a libertine...
When Eddie read the words written on the pamphlet he felt faint, and shortly after, sick. But then feeling nauseous wasn’t exactly a new sensation over the last few weeks.
He puked in his bedpan and curled up on the floor of his room, wedging himself between the dresser and his bed, clutching his knees to his chest and hiding his face away.
He was ruined. And now everybody knew about it.
He stayed like that, shivering in his night dress until he heard a knock at his door. He crunched up tighter, his long curls covering his head and knees, he didn’t think he had the strength to face his sister right now, or worse, his Uncle Wayne. He hadn’t just ruined his own life that day in the carriage, he had ruined theirs too.
The knocking stopped, but he heard the door handle jostle and the tell tale sound of the door opening, “Eddie..?” he heard his Uncle ask in a soft voice.
Eddie couldn’t stop the keening sound that escaped him.
“Oh, my boy,” Wayne murmured as he came around the bed and found Eddie on the floor.
Eddie looked up at him, tears streaming down his face, “M’sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry-”
He was cut off by Wayne grabbing him and holding him close, “Eddie, Eddie my boy, I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
“I’ve ruined us. I’ve ruined you.”
“Shh, shh, we’ll sort it.”
The last two months had been the worst of his life.
After the gossip column came out two weeks ago the few suitors who had been calling on Eddie had completely disappeared, but what was worse was that Chrissy’s suitors were also staying away. He could take being shunned by the Ton, but it broke his heart that Chrissy and Wayne were paying for his mistakes.
Possibly the worst part of it was how kind Chrissy and Wayne were being to him. His Uncle and cousin had taken him in after his parents had passed years ago and had treated him as so well, Wayne a father and Chrissy a sister in all the ways that mattered, and this was how he had repaid them.
He had asked Wayne that first day, crying and shivering on his bedroom floor if he needed to leave. Wayne had dried away his tears with his thumb and murmured, “Eddie, you are more than my nephew. You are my son. And there is nothing you could do to make me turn you away.
“But your reputation Wayne,” Eddie cried, “And Chrissy’s. You’ll both be ruined by this.”
“It will be okay. And not all of this is on you. It takes two to make a baby.”
“But only the omega will suffer the blame.”
The reality was that Jason had not been seen in the Ton since the news broke. Not that Eddie wanted to see him.
The thought of him being here made his skin crawl, he never wanted to be anywhere near Jason Harrington again after what he had done. But it was easy enough for an alpha like that to disappear, taking some family money with him to travel the world and leave destruction in his path. Eddie sometimes wondered just what he had seen in the blonde alpha, but then he remembered how charming he could be, and how well he could wear that mask.
Barely anyone had been to the house since the news broke, and Eddie was sat in his window seat on the second floor, watching the world outside his window and wondering what the people were whispering as they passed their empty doorway. There was no fixing this.
He watched as a carriage pulled up and a handsome looking brown haired alpha in a top hat exited and made a line for his front door. Eddie wondered if this was one of the Alphas Wayne had had business dealings with in the past. He frowned. No doubt he was here to withdraw any and all money he had associated with the Munson’s.
Eddie didn’t move from his spot, he was quite sure whoever had decided to visit the shunned family had no desire to see him. Then he heard the commotion downstairs when the rest of the household realized someone had come to the door that afternoon. No one was coming to the Munson’s house anymore.
It wasn’t too much later when Wayne appeared at his bedroom door, a solemn expression on his face as he gazed back at Eddie.
“Uncle?” He asked as he shifted, putting his feet down onto the ground as he sat up and looked at Wayne. His Uncle looked conflicted.
Wayne sighed and came into the room, sitting down next to him on the window seat, “We have a visitor. Eddie, Viscount Steve Harrington is here and he would like to speak to you… you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Jason’s older brother, Eddie thought, I wonder if he is as cruel as his sibling?
He turned away from his Uncle’s gaze, “I have already brought enough shame to all of us. I won’t dishonour the Viscount by ignoring him. No matter what he has to say to me.”
He felt Wayne’s hand grasp his arm and he turned to look at his Uncle who was staring back at him with sympathetic eyes, he was lucky his Uncle was such a kind alpha; many would have turned their backs on him, “Eddie, just know that whatever he says, you always have a place here and you do not have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
Eddie nodded and got to his feet.
He was perfectly aware of why Viscount Harrington was here. He was probably going to insist that Eddie married Jason, to stop the shame from both of their families.
Regardless of Eddie’s feelings on the matter.
He did not want to marry Jason. He didn’t want to be anywhere near Jason after what he did. Eddie hated him. But if it would spare Wayne and Chrissy he would endure it. Marriage to a cruel, manipulative alpha would be his fate… and maybe he deserved it. He stood outside the Drawing Room’s door and took in a breath.
He resigned himself to a life of hell and braced himself for what Viscount Harrington would say to him.
He pushed open the door and entered the room, and the Viscount turned to face him. He was handsome, Eddie could admit that, with his square jaw, pointed nose and brown eyes. He had voluminous brunette hair swooped back off his face. He was wearing a simple but elegant waistcoat suit. Very different to Jason, who had always had an air of arrogance around him with gaudy clothing designed to highlight his wealth.
Eddie met his gaze before bowing his head, “Viscount Harrington.”
“Omega Munson.”
Eddie stood across from him waiting. He would be polite, but he was in no mood to be accommodating. There was little point in playing the demure debutant omega now.
The Viscount dropped his gaze to the floor and cleared his throat, “I’m sure you know why I’m here.”
“I can guess.”
The alpha glanced up to meet his eye and Eddie almost felt as if he could see something close to empathy in his gaze, “I came to apologise to you.”
Eddie blinked in shock, “What?”
The Viscount sighed, running a hand through his thick locks, “My brother… Jason, is a rake. And a scoundrel. With very few morals, and no matter what I do I haven’t yet been able to improve his conduct. You are not the first omega he has used, or hurt. But you are perhaps the one who has bore the most damage because of him. I can’t change what he has done, but I can tell you that when he refused to do anything to restore your honour, I told him he was no longer welcome in my home. He left yesterday morning, on a train to the ports in the east. He’s gone.”
Eddie stared back that the Viscount in shock as he took a moment to digest everything he had just been told. He hadn’t thought for a second that the Viscount would have been on his side. That he would be so ashamed of his brother that he would banish him.
He swallowed, “I think, that I should probably say that I’m sorry for the issues you are having with your brother, and hopefully he will fine a way to mend his ways. But, considering how far I’ve fallen from grace, I can probably say what I really think; which is good riddance.”
He risked a glance back at the Viscount, the alpha had every right to be displeased with Eddie’s words, but he actually looked like he was biting back a smile. Maybe the Viscount really was different from his brother; Jason, whilst charming, definitely preferred omegas being demure, he would have hated Eddie running his mouth off.
The alpha cleared his throat and took a nervous step forward, “There was something else…” Eddie watched as the alpha frowned at his hands and swallow before meeting his gaze again, “My brother may be too much of a coward to right his wrongs, but I am not. I came to extend an offer of marriage to you Omega Munson.”
Eddie’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped as his mouth moved wordlessly, the Viscount offering marriage was quite possibly the last thing he expected. He was one of the most eligible alphas in the town, omegas were practically lining up for him and he was willing to give all that up for Eddie? Yes, the Harrington name would suffer some muttering in the Ton from this transgression, but nothing like the Munson’s were suffering.
This was a lifeline for Eddie and his family, if he chose to accept it.
“I know we don’t know each other,” the Viscount continued, “And I completely understand if you say no. But I had to offer, to give you an option, because I imagine you have lost a lot of choices recently. I live at the Loch Nora estate. If you were to accept you would be the Omega of the house, the household estate yours to run as you see fit. There are many local farmers that work the lands, I like to think that I am a fair landowner, and my time is mostly consumed with assisting the town where I am needed. They are hardworking, good people. I appreciate I have sprung this on you. Please do not think that I need an answer from you immediately. I will be staying with the Clarke’s on Maple Avenue for the next three day. If I don’t hear anything before I leave, I will take your silence as is, and we consider the matter closed. I won’t speak of it to anyone else.”
Eddie was still frozen in shock at the offer presented to him. A way for the Munson’s to save face with society.
The alpha bowed his head, “I will leave you with your thoughts. I wish you well Omega Munson, whatever you choose.” And with that he walked from the room.
Eddie stayed frozen for several moments, blinking but seeing nothing, before moving to sit on the sofa, a hand coming to rest on his still mostly flat stomach.
What should he do?
The sensible action would be to take the offer, to throw himself on Viscount Harrington’s mercy. Society wouldn’t forget his transgression, but it would become less interesting, he would be away from the town, married with a pup. Wayne’s business partners wouldn’t be ignoring him, and Chrissy’s suitors would be able to call upon the house without the risk of the gossip mill raking them across the coals.
But he would be married to a stranger. In their brief interaction Viscount Harrington had been kind, and almost charming in a way. But then so had Jason, and they grew up together, in the same house, who was to say that the Viscount was any better than his brother?
Even if the alpha was honest with his words, that Eddie would be in charge of the house, there were the other duties that are expected from an omega mate. The thought of being knotted again made him feel sick to his stomach. He hadn’t wanted it then, in that carriage, and he didn’t want it now. However once they were married, Eddie would have very little say in the matter.
But that would be the same scenario regardless of who he married… if he got married. There was hardly a long line of suitors at the door anymore.
Eddie wasn’t sure how long he spent staring into space before his Uncle appeared before him, leaning over to catch his gaze, his hand squeezing his shoulder. He startled, “Uncle?”
“Eddie my boy, are you okay? What did the Viscount say to you? I don’t care who he is, if he was cruel he’ll feel my anger, mark my words!”
“No! No, it’s okay. He didn’t… I suppose he was actually rather kind. He apologised for his brother’s behaviour, and then… and then he offered to marry me.”
Wayne’s eyes widened and he stared at Eddie for a long moment, “I see… What did you answer?”
Eddie blinked back, “I haven’t yet… he said he is here for three days. If my answer is yes then I am to message him.”
Wayne nodded, “Eddie… I do not want you to hurt, and at least one of the Harrington household is decent enough to take responsibility. But they are still of the same blood. You will always have a home with me. Here or on the summer estate if you wish to be away from gossip.”
Eddie stood up, suddenly annoyed, “Wayne! You know as well as I do that because of me you will need to sell the summer estate!”
“Eddie…”
“No. How goes your business at the moment Uncle? The deal you had made with the Hagen’s? Hmm?”
Wayne dropped his gaze, “They have not finalised it yet.”
Eddie scoffed, “And you know they never will. And that it’s all my fault.” He brought a hand up to his head, rubbing at his temple, “I will marry the Viscount, I will accept his offer of marriage. Christ knows I won’t be getting any others. And I will go with him to the Loch Nora estate. That will stop the gossip, and it will stop these effects on you and Chrissy.”
Wayne grasped his hands, “Eddie. I don’t want to lose you, not for all the money in the world.”
“I don’t want to lose you either, but we both know it’s the sensible decision. Hell it’s the only decision I have that doesn’t destroy everything!”
Wayne didn’t say anything, just pulled him close in a hug. What could he say? They both knew he was right. Even if they hated the reality. Wayne leaned back to grasp his face, “I don’t care if he is the Viscount, if he hurts you I’ll duel him myself.”
Eddie cracked a smile at that, the thought of his Uncle Wayne duelling anyone was amusing enough. Then he sobered as he considered his future, “I will send a note to him in the morning. For tonight, I just want to be with you and Chrissy.”
Wayne nodded and released him, “Go, take a nap. It’s been a busy day. I will fetch you when dinner is ready.”
Eddie nodded and made his way back upstairs, really taking in the grand staircase and artwork. He would be moving out in the next couple of days and this would no longer be his home. He went to lie down in his room. Resting on the bed, his hand on his stomach as he stared up at the ceiling, “All this trouble and you’re not even born yet.”
He smiled, “I guess you are like me already. I’m usually the one causing trouble… but not usually this bad. It’s not your fault though little one. You didn’t ask for any of this. All these people around us, talking about us both and deciding about the rest of our lives as though we are nothing more than objects to exchange. Or chess pieces in a game.
“I’m making the sensible decision for once. I’ll marry the Viscount, it will save our family from complete ruin. It will also mean that you will not carry my sins for the rest of your life either. And I’ll keep you safe little one. I don’t know if the Viscount is any different to his brother, he seems to be, but appearances can be deceiving. If he is cruel I can endure it. But I will not have you suffer. I’ll do whatever I need to to keep you safe. I promise.”