“But we are family, Dalton. It is your duty to stand behind me.”
“Lady Victoria is your family, too. Are you standing behind her?”
There was stunned silence in the broom closet as Victoria realized the voice was none other than Lady Bartley’s nephew, the viscount, Anthony Dalton. She did not trust the man, but was gratified that he had at least stood up for her. Mrs. Marks and Victoria both held their breath while there was the tread of heavy steps in the hall outside their door as the viscount made to leave and the earl hurried after him. The women could no longer hear their conversation but Victoria had heard quite enough as it was. They waited in silence for some time until they were quite sure the earl was not returning to his library.
Victoria gazed at the housekeeper in dismay. “Thank you for making sure I heard this, although it was highly questionable behaviour, and I am uncertain what to do with this information.”
“My lady, there is nothing questionable about making sure you are informed. I know you have been worrying yourself about your circumstances and your future of late. I had my suspicions about his lordship but I did not realize the extent of his perfidy. When I overheard them talking I just knew you had to hear it too.”
Squeezing the faithful servant’s hand gratefully, Victoria’s smile was sad. “It is a relief to know my parents provided well for me, but I am left feeling more alone than ever over my uncle’s betrayal. I pray you, Mrs. Marks, please do not mention what we have heard to anyone. I will have to ponder over this and figure out what to do.”
The housekeeper reacted with horror. “Of course I would never breathe a word about your private business. You can rely on me.”
“I know I can, forgive me, my mind is all a muddle over this.”
“That’s all right, dearie. Now you just wait a minute while I make sure the way is clear and then you get yourself off to your bed. You will need your rest in order to have your wits about you.”
Victoria crept back to her room and climbed into bed, but it was a long while before she was able to find slumber that night.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The young servant could not quite meet Victoria’s eye as she stepped over the threshold of the nursery when the footman came to speak to her. Victoria felt her stomach turn over as her nerves tightened. She had always been very comfortable with the servants in this house; it was not a good sign if one would not make eye contact.
“Good morning, Joseph. What can I do for you?”
“Good morning, my lady. I am sorry to disturb the children’s studies, but his lordship is waiting to speak with you in his library.”
Victoria felt a wave of nausea and briefly saw spots before her eyes. Taking a deep, fortifying breath she smiled a little wanly at the footman and answered, “I did not know we had an appointment.”
“I don’t think it is an arranged meeting, my lady. It seems quite urgent, though, so you had best make haste.” The young servant blushed hotly for overstepping the bounds, but it was obvious he was more nervous about angering the earl than offending the governess.
“I will just take a moment to check my appearance, as the children and I have been playing this morning.”
“If you think that’s best, m’lady,” Joseph replied with uncertainty.
“I do,” Victoria answered firmly. She was feeling decidedly unprepared to face her uncle after what she had overheard the night prior. It felt as though it had just been a bad dream.
When she reached her room she took a moment to comb her hair and pinch her cheeks in an effort to restore some colour. She smiled bracingly at her reflection, hoping to banish the sense of dread that seemed to permeate her. Deciding it was pointless to prolong the inevitable, Victoria placed a brave smile upon her lips and forced her reluctant limbs to carry her from the room.
She descended to the foyer, and allowed the butler to escort her to her uncle’s library and announce her despite the silliness of the formality considering he was expecting her.
“Come in, Victoria, come in,” the earl welcomed her in an uncharacteristically warm voice. “Did you enjoy your stay with your friends?”
“I did, thank you for asking,” Victoria replied politely, her brow knit with questions.
“You look like a curious little cat right now,” Lord Bartley commented.
Victoria knew he was trying for a teasing tone but it came off as snide to her ears. She smiled politely. “Joseph mentioned you wished to see me.”
“Well, my dear, it has come to my attention that you have disregarded my request that you avoid all contact with the Duke of Wychwood. I understand you were at a ball at his mother’s house the night before last.” He paused for her reaction but she maintained her silence, waiting to see what else he had to say. “I did not know you had undertaken a Season for yourself and I am unsure how you came to be at such an event, but do you not recall my telling you that neither you nor the children were to be in the company of the duke?”
“I do recall that conversation.”
“And yet evidently you felt comfortable to dance with him?” The earl was clearly trying to contain his anger but was doing a poor job of it.
“I obeyed your edict about the children’s association with the duke, but I felt that as an adult I am in a position to choose my friends for myself,” Victoria answered as calmly as possible.
“Do you really think the Duke of Wychwood cares about being friends with you?” her uncle almost sneered before he regained his composure. “My dear niece, I am merely trying to protect you. What I did not tell you originally is that the duke has a vendetta against me. He is determined to bring me down, and I am afraid that he has decided that he can get to me through you. That is the only reason he is pursuing any sort of friendship with you.”
Her heart seized for a moment, on both these awful words and the realization of how shallow her uncle’s feelings were towards her. All she had ever wanted was to feel as though she belonged, but the coldness with which he was treating her made her see that she would never truly belong here in this household.
Victoria gazed at her uncle coolly for a moment. “Are you saying that you do not think I am worthy of being known by someone such as a duke?”
“Of course you are not. You are a green girl, just out of the schoolroom, who has been a governess for the past many months. What do you know about going about in Society?” he asked incredulously.
Her uncle’s words stung, and brought to her mind the duchess’ warning that most men would only be interested in her for her dowry. But what of the duke? He may not have been after her money, but if it was true that the duke had a vendetta against her uncle, perhaps his attentions to her were not innocent. She quaked inwardly at the thought that it seemed no one was to be trusted.
With a small sigh, Victoria rose gracefully to her feet and strode for the door, fighting the tears that threatened. “When my father entrusted me to your care I am quite certain he would have expected you to ensure I was prepared to enter Society. But I thank you for pointing out your opinion of me and of the duke. I need to be alone now. I am going for a walk.” With those words she swept from the room, ignoring his demand that she return.
She barely paused to grab the wrap the footman hastily held out for her as she ran out the front door. Disregarding the tears trickling down her cheeks, Victoria stalked towards the parkette at the end of the street, and was relieved to find it empty.
Victoria sat down on a bench and made a concerted effort to sort out her tumultuous emotions. After a few moments she regained her feet and began to pace. She dashed the tears from her cheeks impatiently and resolved to shed no more.
The duchess says most gentlemen will pursue me for any money I may have, she thought, and now my uncle says the duke is only being my friend in some strange effort to seek revenge on him. And my own uncle seems to care nothing for me, only wanting whatever monies my father left for me in his care. Will no one ever want me for just me?
She
stopped pacing to stare off into the middle distance. I refuse to believe that Alanna’s friendship was merely feigned. Surely I am not such a poor judge of character as that. But what my uncle said is true. I am just a green girl. What could I possibly know about the ways of Society? What could I have to offer anyone in friendship? It may have seemed as though Wychwood was my friend, but perhaps it really was all just a ruse to get something he wanted.
She continued her perambulations around the small green space but they were growing less intense as she reasoned. Of course, the earl himself is not pure in his intentions towards me, so I mustn’t be gullible about his words. Why should I believe that what he says is true? She felt her lower lip quiver, but she was proud of herself that she had stemmed the flow of her tears. “If I could somehow confirm if there is any truth to my uncle’s words,” she said aloud.
Her words trailed off as she glanced up in her pacing and muttering to see a familiar face passing by. Lord Lynster! Her eyes widening, she hastened towards the fence surrounding the park and waved her arm to catch his attention.
“Halloo, my lord,” she called, blushing a little over her hoydenish action.
“Good day, Lady Victoria, it is a surprise to see you about today. I would think you would still be resting. Most ladies of the ton do not leave their bedrooms until midday,” he said, grinning.
Victoria blinked, surprised at the reminder that so recently she had been one of those ladies. Already it seemed so long ago. She returned the baron’s grin with a small smile, and addressed him in a soft but determined voice. “I would quite like to ask you a question, but it is on a rather delicate subject.”
Alfred stepped closer to the fence so as to not be overheard, but he graciously replied, “You may ask me anything.”
“Is the Duke of Wychwood in some sort of a feud with my uncle, the Earl of Pickering?” she asked baldly.
Alfred blushed hotly and he stammered out a reply. “Well, my lady, that is to say, a feud might be stating it rather harshly, but…” he trailed off as Victoria held up her hand.
“That is enough, my lord, I did not wish to make you uncomfortable. I was merely inquiring into something the earl told me this morning. I must return home. I wish you a good day.” With that, Victoria turned on her heel and stalked back towards her house, her mind whirling steadily as she went. She made her way down the street towards what she could no longer refer to as home, and as she drew closer Victoria felt as though her hair was going to catch fire from just how angry she was becoming. It seemed to her that everyone she had encountered had some sort of ulterior motive. Even the children, she thought with despair. Once they had adjusted to the new nursery maid, they hadn’t even missed her all that much. Victoria set her shoulders and lifted her chin. She was not going to allow anyone else to try to use her to their own advantage any more. It was time for her to take action and resolve her own affairs rather than simply waiting to see what would happen. Thus resolved, she climbed the stairs to the house.
As the door was opened to her she asked calmly, “Joseph, is the earl still at home?”
“Yes, my lady, he has not yet left the house. I believe he is still in his library.”
“Thank you. I will announce myself,” she replied as she strode with determined purpose down the hall.
“I have returned to discuss a few things with you, my lord,” Victoria stated emphatically as she stepped into the room and closed the door firmly behind herself.
The earl looked up warily, rising to his feet and gesturing towards one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Please have a seat. I apologize if my words earlier injured you in some way.”
“Thank you, my lord,” she accepted before continuing firmly, “I have decided I cannot be a governess. I would like to see my father’s will. I am quite certain he and my mother would have made arrangements for me to be provided for financially.”
Lord Bartley’s face paled at her words and he attempted to stammer out a reply. “Well, my dear niece, of course you do not need to be a governess. I thought you enjoyed spending time with the children.”
“I adore your children, but I need to have a life of my own. If it seems my life is not to contain children of my own, I need to find some sort of purpose for myself. Perhaps I ought to join a convent. So I need to know where I stand financially in order to know what sort of dowry I have to offer.”
“Join a convent?” the earl asked rather weakly, before he braced himself. “That might be a good idea. You could no doubt do much good amongst the sisters.”
Victoria blinked with her surprise before staring coldly at her uncle, marvelling how delighted he seemed at the prospect of being rid of her. “So, my lord, could I please see my father’s will?”
“It is not such an easy thing to produce, my dear. It is with the lawyers, I am sure.”
“Well, then, could you please send a note round to summon them and the necessary papers?”
“Now that I think on it, perhaps they are filed on the estate. The solicitor there would probably have it, as your parents were not spending overmuch time in Town,” evaded the earl.
Victoria rose elegantly to her feet. “That is just as well, as I wish to retire from London. I will travel to Pickering and see them for myself. Thank you for your time.”
“But Victoria, you cannot go jaunting off about the country by yourself,” he protested weakly.
“Why not? I am not fit for Society. No one will even notice me, I am certain.”
“But it is not seemly.”
“Are you forbidding it, my lord? I absolutely must have some resolution about my fate. I no longer wish to reside in the city. I need to make my plans.”
The earl looked at his niece and saw his brother’s determination shining in her eyes and he paled anew. “Very well, but please give me a couple of days to arrange my affairs and I will then accompany you.”
Victoria looked her uncle squarely in the face. “I do not fully trust your promises, my lord, as you have regularly promised to provide a proper governess for the children and to my knowledge that has not yet happened. However, I will wait two days. I will be leaving for Pickering on the third day hence. If you are not ready, I will go alone.” With those words she swept from the room, leaving her uncle to sink shakily to his seat.
Victoria, still full of fiery purpose, hurried to her room, wishing to begin her preparations for leaving. Her mind was full of conflicting thoughts. She reflected fondly on the good times she had spent with Alanna, but she wondered if she had been privy to the duke’s plots. With determination she sat to compose a note.
My Dear Lady Alanna,
I regret to inform you that I will not be coming ‘round to visit you in the future. I have discovered I do not have a taste for London life and am repairing to our country estate to contemplate my future. I am thinking of joining a convent that is not far from my uncle’s country seat.
Despite finding out about the duke’s schemes, I do not hold you responsible for any role you may have played. I enjoyed every minute of my time spent with you, and I hope you will remember me as fondly as I will you.
Sincerely,
Victoria Bartley
Signing the letter with a flourish, Victoria reached to ring for a servant before reminding herself that they did not answer summonses from the governess’ room. With a slight sigh she went back downstairs to ask the footman to see that her note be delivered.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Alanna stared at the words, stunned into silence momentarily before she turned on her heel and dashed up the stairs, calling for her maid.
“Hurry, Sally, I must dress. I need to find my brother.”
“But, m’lady, you can’t go knocking on his door, not at this hour anyhow,” the maid protested.
“This is an emergency, Sally. You may accompany me if you would like in order to maintain the proprieties, but he is my brother, and there should be nothing questionable about my going to see him.”
&nb
sp; “But it’s his bachelor establishment, m’lady,” she again protested.
“Make haste, Sally. You are being ridiculously foolish,” she declared with a huff. “We can even bring a footman. Now come along.”
Despite the maid’s protests, Alanna was ready in record time and the two made their way downstairs. “Walter, please summon a footman to accompany me. I must leave on an errand.”
“Very well, my lady,” the well-trained butler answered, despite seeing the worried look on the face of the lady’s maid.
Within a few minutes the trio was on its way. The duke’s townhouse was not terribly far away and with the pace Alanna set they arrived there rapidly. Sally was out of breath but the young footman was ready to follow Alanna’s orders.
“Please go and inquire of the duke if he could spare me a moment on an urgent matter.”
The footman disappeared through the door, leaving Alanna alone with her maid who was worriedly wringing her hands. “Oh, Sally, do not fret. I assure you I will not be ruined by visiting my brother.” Thankfully the footman returned within moments.
“His lordship is at home and says you and your maid may come up.”
Sally moaned warningly but dutifully followed her mistress as she entered the building.
“To what do I owe this strange honour,” Bryghton asked in good spirits as his sister stepped through the door.
“Victoria has run off and says she plans to enter the convent,” Alanna declared without preamble, waving her note in the air as punctuation.
The duke grabbed it from her hand to read her words for himself. His face darkened in anger. “What does she think I am scheming?” he asked. “What happened since the ball?”
“Nothing happened. She seemed rather subdued when we woke up the next day, but I thought it was just fatigue from our late night. Just before breakfast she decided that she needed to return home with haste, so after eating quickly, she set off to return to her own house. She mentioned something about the earl having a dinner party and she needed to keep the children occupied. I have not seen her since. Something must have happened when she got home, because nothing we discussed would lead to this. What sort of scheme could she suspect you of? And why would it send her to a convent?”
The Reluctant Debutante: A Sweet, Regency Romance (Ladies of Mayfair Book 4) Page 29