It wasn’t her aunt’s coldness Linnet resented, or her sudden decision to take control of their lives. She did see the necessity of discipline where Toby was concerned. But being ordered to acquire herself a husband to take her off her aunt’s hands was too much to bear. The sooner she could find herself employment the better.
‘What you suggest is quite preposterous. I have told you I wish to marry no one,’ Linnet said, only to realise that her aunt wasn’t listening to her and, with a sense of utter despair, she realised her own impotence. What could she do? What could she say against Aunt Lydia who was planning her future with an utter disregard for her own feelings on the matter?
Linnet glanced at Toby. He looked vulnerable and desperately unhappy. She would not argue with Aunt Lydia just now but she would not be coerced into a loveless marriage of convenience to Lord Blakely or one of the stuffy gentlemen of her aunt’s acquaintance to suit her. When the time came she would have a say in who her husband would be and if, as Aunt Lydia said, her reputation was ruined beyond recall, then so be it.
* * *
Less than half an hour later Linnet and Toby entered the crowded breakfast room. That was the moment she was made painfully aware of the extent of her disgrace. The story of the episode in the garden had been circulated, but more damning by far was the titillating gossip that, after spending some considerable time alone with Lord Blakely, she had returned to the house with her dress in tatters and her hair in complete abandon. She could feel the stares and whispers. The younger members of the guests, who would have loved to ask what the handsome Lord Blakely was really like, were not as judgemental as the older set, who didn’t hesitate to cast scathing glances her way.
‘You look terrified,’ Toby remarked. ‘If you feel like running away, I wouldn’t blame you.’
Linnet took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, knowing that if she left the room now, she would cover herself in further ridicule. ‘I’ve never run away from anything in my life, Toby, and I do not intend to start now.’
Refusing to be shocked by what everyone was saying about her cousin, Louisa rushed up to her and gripped her arm, and in a whisper enquired if there was any truth in the gossip. ‘I don’t know what got into you last night, but Mama is in quite a lather about it.’
‘Please be assured, Louisa, that my walk in the garden with Lord Blakely has been blown out of all proportion.’
‘Still,’ Louisa remarked, ‘you were in the garden quite some time with him—and he is wondrously handsome. There’s something dangerous about him, too—which I am sure you must have detected for yourself,’ she said with a shiver of delight. ‘Mama is quite bemused as to why he is here at all. It would appear Lord Radcliffe invited him, but why he would want to be here when he is unattached and a stranger to almost everyone—unless he had an ulterior motive—is a mystery.’
‘Are you implying that his reason for being here is to see me, Louisa? Because if so, then you are quite mistaken. Lord Blakely is a stranger to me, so why on earth would he seek me out?’
‘I was hoping you could tell me—after all, there was that little altercation between the two of you when we were playing the game yesterday. What did you talk about when you were alone in the garden last night?’
‘It might have escaped your notice, Louisa, as a newly engaged lady, but there was a downpour and we had to shelter until it was over. As a matter of fact Lord Blakely is quite a gentleman and was extremely considerate and attentive.’
Louisa gave her a dubious look. ‘To be sure, he is handsome to look at, not to mention extremely wealthy and probably a brilliant catch. Can you tell me you don’t find him attractive?’
Linnet glanced abashedly at her cousin. ‘No, Louisa, I’m afraid I can’t.’
‘Linnet!’
‘Well—I can’t help it!’ she exclaimed, flushing like a green girl.
‘Oh—so you do like him? How exciting!’
Linnet winced and clamped her lips together, refusing to admit it aloud.
Louisa giggled and waved to Harry, who had just entered the room. ‘There’s Harry. He’s looking for me. I think Mama will want to have a word with you, Linnet, so prepare yourself. I’ll catch up with you later.’
A buffet breakfast had been laid out in the dining room. Toby helped himself to ham and devilled kidneys, eggs and mushrooms, while Linnet, who had no appetite and was impatient to leave, settled for bread and butter and coffee. Determined to put on a brave face and keeping her head high, in a state of consuming misery she sat with Toby and ignored what was going on around her. She raised her head when Lord Blakely strolled in, nodding his head in acknowledgement of those he knew. She noted that he did not receive the same censorious treatment as she had—in fact, quite the opposite—which raised her ire.
* * *
Christian helped himself to a light breakfast and took a seat beside Toby.
‘Is it my imagination or has something occurred that I should know about?’
‘You will soon find out,’ Toby informed him, chewing on his bacon. ‘It’s to do with you and Linnet. Apparently you were seen when you brought my sister back to the house after your walk in the garden. It’s stirred a great deal of gossip among the guests, who didn’t fail to notice the state of Linnet’s gown.’
Lord Blakely’s expression hardened. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘According to Aunt Lydia, and the look on everyone’s faces in this room, it’s definitely the main topic of conversation this morning.’
When Lord Blakely’s eyes finally moved to Linnet, his granite features softened, as if he understood the reason for her silence and how humiliated she must be feeling. He understood why she would naturally dread being the focal point of so many fascinated gossips, but not until she actually lowered her head and bit her trembling lip did he realise that her embarrassment was going to be compounded a thousand times now she was thrust into the limelight.
‘I’m sorry. It must be quite upsetting for you.’
Touched by his concern, Linnet sighed. ‘It’s all right. We’ll be leaving after breakfast. They’ll forget all about me when I’ve gone.’
‘Don’t be too sure about that, Linnet.’ Toby looked at Lord Blakely. ‘I think Aunt Lydia wants to see you. She’s none too pleased about what happened and wants you to explain yourself.’
‘Does she, indeed?’ Lord Blakely said tightly, tossing his napkin on the table and pushing his chair back. ‘Then the sooner we sort this out the better. Excuse me.’
* * *
Some of the guests were leaving once breakfast was over and went to their respective rooms to prepare for their departure. Aunt Lydia appeared in the hall.
‘Linnet, would you come in here.’
Linnet followed her aunt into her private sitting room for the second time that morning. Her heart sank when she saw Lord Blakely. He was standing by the window, his hands behind his back, his body taut. He turned when she entered. He bore little resemblance to the man who had teased her on the terrace after their dance and had laughingly pulled her out of the rose bush before kissing her. At that moment he was an aloof, icy stranger.
Lady Milton looked from one to the other. She was most put out that this unfortunate matter between Lord Blakely and her niece was taking precedence over her daughter’s celebrations and was impatient to have order restored so it could continue.
Linnet steeled herself for the unpleasant scene that was about to occur. Her aunt stood stiffly in the middle of the room with the unshakeable confidence and poise that came from living a thoroughly privileged life, sure that the interview that was about to occur would go her way.
‘Lord Blakely, I am most displeased. I welcomed you into my home and in return you have ruined my niece’s reputation.’
‘I did what?’
‘You took a naïve young woman into the garden after dark and when she returned he
r appearance left much to be desired. Indeed, she was in quite a state.’
‘He did not take me into the garden, Aunt Lydia,’ Linnet protested indignantly. ‘I was already there. I walked with him of my own volition and as for my dress—I told you I tripped and fell into a rose bush. Lord Blakely very kindly extricated me from it.’
‘Maybe that is what happened, but no one will believe it. There were witnesses who saw you kissing. As a result of what happened, Linnet has been left open to censure and ridicule.’
‘I have no doubt she will survive,’ Lord Blakely ground out, meeting Lady Milton’s manner with cool disdain.
Linnet looked at him, her entire being engulfed in mortification, her misery increasing a thousandfold as she met his gaze. His features were drawn into a tight mask.
‘Do you mind telling me what it is you wanted to speak to me about, Lady Milton?’ he asked.
‘I recognise that I must lend all my support to my niece at this time. I don’t know how the two of you met, but it was evident to me when I saw the two of you dancing that there was already a familiarity between you. When you met her in the garden you should have seen to it that she returned to the house immediately. There was nothing discreet in your return under the watchful eyes of my guests and the servants. Servants talk.’
‘Servants can be trusted to keep quiet.’
‘It’s not just the servants. There are others involved. I have a moral code, Lord Blakely, and you publicly breached that code by exposing my niece to scandal.’
‘I realise how it must seem, Lady Milton. Our meeting in the garden was not prearranged, I assure you, and had it not started to rain then she would have returned to the house immediately.’
Lady Milton looked at him, her piercing eyes alive with anticipation. ‘But she didn’t and when she did return her dress was in tatters—which will provide society with enough bait to feed off until someone else causes a scandal.’
‘I have listened to you while you have taken me to task, Lady Milton,’ Lord Blakely said with strained patience. ‘What is it that you want from me?’
‘I pride myself on being realistic, Lord Blakely, and what is important now is how to extricate my niece from this sordid affair without complete ruin to her reputation. I am suggesting that you marry her.’ Lady Milton clearly wanted this and seemed to sense victory already, perhaps convincing herself that Lord Blakely could not refuse to marry Linnet after last night.
* * *
Christian stood like a statue, his jaw clenched so tightly the corded muscles stood out. Anger flared in his eyes. ‘What? You cannot be serious.’
‘I assure you that I am perfectly serious,’ Lady Milton said firmly. ‘You have compromised the reputation of a young lady and you are honour-bound to marry her—to protect her good name as well as your own. What you have done will ruin her absolutely. There are many kinds of persecution that are not readily apparent, such as the whispered conjectures, the gossip and subtle innuendoes that can destroy a reputation and inflict a lifetime of damage. Society will assume her character must indeed be of the blackest nature and she will summarily be dropped. If you refuse to do the honourable and marry her, then you will destroy any chance of her making a decent marriage.’
Christian struggled to calm his temper. When he next spoke, his jaw was set in a hard line, his face a taut mask of controlled fury. ‘Forgive me, Lady Milton. Since your suggestion is not what I expected, I must take a moment and consider the possible repercussions that may occur because of it.’
* * *
Pushed beyond the bounds of reason by her aunt’s demands and shamed to the depths of her being, Linnet faced her aunt squarely. Her firm conviction that she would marry Lord Blakely, that she had no choice but to marry him, was more than she could bear just then. ‘Aunt Lydia, I think you have got this out of all proportion.’
‘No, Linnet, I don’t think so. If Lord Blakely has any sense of responsibility, he must marry you.’
‘But—I have no desire to marry him any more than he wants to marry me. You must let me choose, let me decide.’ Her voice held no intonation. Total control was all she could bear. To allow any emotion through would weaken her. Dignity was a kind of refuge. ‘Last night we were both unmindful of propriety and plain good sense, and the idea that because of that we should wed—why, the very idea is ludicrous.’ Linnet looked at him and in cold, frigid silence, for an endless moment, their gazes locked as they assessed one another.
Lord Blakely’s face was a cynical mask. ‘You’re absolutely right. It is ludicrous. And yet all these years I’ve been harbouring the delusion that all young ladies yearn to snare wealthy and titled husbands.’
‘I’m not like other young ladies,’ Linnet shot back while wanting nothing more than to fling herself into his arms. She knew all about the kind of ladies he referred to and, had she been higher up the social scale, then perhaps she would have been just like them. But she wasn’t like them, she never would be and she couldn’t bear the humiliation of being forced into marriage because they had shared a simple kiss.
‘I sensed that from the moment I met you,’ Christian remarked blandly.
Linnet heard the reminder of their unfortunate first encounter in his smoothly worded agreement and almost choked on her chagrin. ‘Then that’s plain enough. We won’t wed.’
‘Good. I’m glad that’s sorted.’
‘Thank you,’ Linnet retorted with angry sarcasm, ignoring her aunt’s sharp eyes that were telling her to be quiet.
‘I am glad we are in accord. When I eventually take a wife it will be in my own way, with the woman of my choosing, and not when someone is holding an axe over my head, which is precisely where all my male instincts rebel.’
‘So you intend to go on your way without righting the wrong you did,’ Lady Milton retorted coldly, unable to conceal her mounting wrath at what she evidently thought to be Lord Blakely’s lack of concern. ‘You should have known what the consequences would be of dallying with an innocent, respectable young woman, that it could alter your life in a permanent way.’
‘As far as I am concerned, Lady Milton, I have done no wrong. Had I done so, I might have even considered marrying your niece if she had acted as if she desired marriage to me. It is an unfortunate occurrence, I grant you, but I do not feel committed to marry her.’
‘And the scandal?’
‘I am certain that when your guests and whoever listens to their gossip has chewed over the incident, in time, when another scandal hits the scene, it will blow over and be forgotten as they get on with slating someone else.’
His arrogant calm was too much for Lady Milton. ‘How dare you refuse to give the respectability of your name to Linnet—to take advantage of her and then to simply cast her off...’ She halted, breathing heavily as she struggled to bring her anger and her emotions under control. She had failed in her effort to get Lord Blakely to wed Linnet. Her arguments had slid off him like a smooth, frozen block of ice. She seemed to realise she could not compel the man to marry her niece.
Suddenly Linnet, concerned by her aunt’s outburst and fearing the situation was about to get out of hand, said, ‘Please do not upset yourself, Aunt. I am sure all this can be sorted out in a calm and reasonable manner.’
Drawing herself up straight and squaring her shoulders, she fixed Lord Blakely with a direct stare. The whole situation was ridiculous. With no dowry, no connections and a mountain of responsibilities, how could she expect Lord Blakely to take her as his wife? Yet she did find him desirable—highly so. She had kissed him and was intrigued by him, but that did not mean she wanted to marry him. Although, if he showed any sign that he would not be averse to her, then she might be persuaded.
‘I can understand your reticence to marry me, Lord Blakely, and you know I have no more desire to marry you than you have to marry me. You can take your leave of us now and no more will be said ab
out it.’ She looked at her aunt. ‘I will go and find Toby. I think we should leave. I will go and say goodbye to Louisa.’
Linnet looked squarely at Lord Blakely as he held the door open for her to pass through. He turned and bowed his head to her aunt, thanking her for her hospitality and that he regretted the way things had turned out.
* * *
Christian was impatient to be away from Woodside Hall and the overbearing Lady Milton. Self-disgust and burning fury coursed through him, reality crushing down on him as he suddenly found his life infuriating and complicated. Everything was out of control and in utter confusion—and all because he had been unable to keep his hands off Linnet Osborne.
He had spent years of evasion, trying to avoid a situation such as this, ignoring the whispers and sighs of women who did not interest him eager to shackle him into matrimony. But it had taken only the curve of Linnet Osborne’s lovely lips, for him to fall into a trap of his own making. If the incident had involved any other woman he would have cursed himself for a fool, but too often of late he had found himself beset by thoughts of her, visions of her face and how she had looked last night at the ball with the golden candlelight on her creamy skin. His thoughts brought to mind how those sweet and gentle arms had felt about his neck when he had embraced her and how her subtle body had curved into his own.
Though he had once thought himself immune to the subtle ploys of women, even though he had known her for such a short time, he had begun to think he would never be free of Linnet Osborne. From the very beginning she had stirred his baser instincts. Yet much as she ensnared his thoughts, he found his dreams daunting to his manly pride, for whenever she flitted through them like some puckish sprite, he was unable to think of a means of escape from this dilemma that had suddenly presented itself and he had no will to resist.
The Governess's Scandalous Marriage Page 11