The Duke Conspiracy: A Sweet Regency Romance Adventure (Mayfair Mayhem Book 1)

by Wendy May Andrews

  Elizabeth laughed. “I was jesting you, ninny. Although, now that I think on it, I do believe the idea has merit. It would keep him from the parson’s mousetrap. Eventually he has to marry someone, but I can tell that your old friendship is still important to you, so I would think you would at least wish it to be a happy union.”

  “You are absolutely correct on that score. I was just wondering how we could defend him.”

  “By keeping an eye out for scheming hussies who are trying to entrap him,” Elizabeth stated, as though Rose had lost her mind. This led to great hilarity between the two girls, and the subject was slowly changed to other matters.

  After a short time, Rose stood to take her leave. “Thank you for being such a great sport on this matter, my dear lady. Your help was invaluable. I certainly could not have done it without you.”

  Elizabeth shrugged, dismissing Rose’s compliment. “I barely did anything. I am absolutely certain you could have done it on your own—I merely sped up the process. I shall be sure to keep my eyes and ears open for anything pertinent tonight. We are going to the theatre, so there might not be too much to find out there, but there is always lots of gossip floating around at the intermission.” Her eyes glinted with excitement. “I have always enjoyed the gossiping because I love to be up to date on the very latest on-dit, but now it takes on an entirely new meaning when there could be actual useful information in it.”

  Rose laughed once more. “You are a dear. I shall see you soon. We are going to a ball this evening that is being held by one of my father’s ambassador friends. It shall be anything but dull, although I cannot quite say that I am looking forward to it.”

  The two girls parted from one another on the best of terms and Rose left, collecting Mary on her way out the door.

  “Did you manage to extricate yourself, Miss?” Mary asked, as soon as they were out of earshot of the house.

  Rose giggled at the maid’s terminology. “I did at that, Mary. Elizabeth is a dear and not at all a suspicious sort. She has no reason to think there would be anything more sinister than a young lady determined to make a good match. No doubt their scheme is not even all that original. We agreed that we should still keep our eyes and ears open for any mention of Broderick and his activities, as well as trying to steer Lady Anne into a more honourable method of making her match.”

  “That was well done of you, Miss,” Mary congratulated. “Where are we off to now? This is not the way home.”

  “We are going to stop in and see if Lady Yorkleigh is at home to visitors. If she does not have anyone else there, I am going to try to find out if she knows anything of use about Broderick. The fateful night of the musicale she seemed to indicate to me that she had her own reasons for distrusting the man, and it felt as though she were warning me away from him.”

  “Oh Miss, this is so exciting!” The maid almost squealed before sobering to add, “But you must have a care for yourself, Miss. I fear this could end up being an unsafe situation for your person or your reputation. I know this is important and all, but shouldn’t you be keeping in mind that you are here in Town in search of a husband for yourself?”

  “Do not fret, Mary. I will have a care, have no fear. Besides, having you along will help to preserve my reputation in whatever situation I might find myself.” Rose sighed before continuing. “As to my search for a husband, that is another matter altogether. I know it will need to be done eventually, but I do not think I am in dire need as of yet. Surely my little brother is not about to marry any time soon, so I shan’t be the spinster aunt before at least a few years have passed.”

  “I don’t mean you any insult, Miss, but you ain’t getting any younger.”

  “Mayhap not, but I am quite certain that at twenty summers, I am not yet nearing my dotage,” Rose huffed.

  “True, Miss, but I was trying to say that you should at least keep it in mind.”

  “I know, Mary, you are quite correct. And I promise you that I shall give it some thought at my earliest convenience. In fact, you could help me, if you so choose.”

  “How ever could I do that, Miss Rose?” the maid asked, clearly intrigued at the thought.

  “You know me better than anyone—you could help me decide what I should consider important traits in my future husband. The rest of my life is a rather long time to live with someone, so I would hate to make a bad choice. My parents will, of course, ensure that he is well enough established to properly support me, so that is not what I wish to concern myself with. I want to look for a man I can respect, and with whom I will enjoy spending time. So many of the gentlemen I have met thus far make me think that a few weeks spent in their company would bore me to tears, never mind the next several decades.”

  Mary was looking at her mistress with wide, eager eyes. “I will put my mind to it immediately, Miss.”

  “Thank you, Mary.” Rose smiled her appreciation. She congratulated herself on her skilful change of the subject, which also would help her tackle a tricky task that was necessary but intimidating. “I look forward to hearing your insights.”

  The young maid barely acknowledged her mistress’s comment, so engrossed was she in her own thoughts, her mind engaged in the important task.

  Rose had a genuine smile of amusement still creasing her face as the door to Lady Yorkeligh’s home was opened by an attentive footman. He could not help his answering smile at the pretty young woman on the doorstep.

  “Good afternoon, I was wondering if Lady Yorkleigh is at home to visitors today,” Rose asked politely.

  “May I tell her who is calling?” the footman asked formally.

  “The Honorable Rosamund Smythe.”

  The footman widened the door for her to step into the foyer. “Would you care to have a seat here while I check with her ladyship?”

  “Thank you,” Rose replied simply.

  A moment later, the butler came to collect her. “Her ladyship will be happy to see you. Might I take your wrap for you? Your maid could either wait here for you or go to the kitchens, if you think you are to be a while.”

  “Thank you.” Rose turned to Mary to allow her to choose. “It is up to you, Mary. I might be a while. If you would like, you could make yourself comfortable in the kitchens.”

  “Thank you, Miss, but I have a lot to think on. If it’s all the same to everyone, I’ll just sit myself down right here and ponder while you are visiting.”

  Rose grinned and left her to it, following the butler to a lovely, welcoming receiving room. As he opened the door, Rose could see that it was decorated in the warmest shades of cream and ivory, and while it passed through her mind that it must be terribly difficult to keep clean, she did find it extraordinarily attractive.

  “Welcome Miss Rose, it was such a pleasant surprise to hear that you were asking to see me.”

  “I hope I am not disturbing you, my lady.”

  “Not at all, I was actually just wishing that I had arranged something to amuse me today, and then I heard the knocker and was hoping it was somebody interesting. To my delight, it was you.”

  Rose could feel a slight blush of delight rising in her cheeks over the older woman’s pleasant welcome.

  “That is so kind of you to say, my lady,” she began with deference.

  “Oh, do not be so starchy with me, young miss. I am determined that we are to be friends. Now come and sit down, and let me ring for some tea so that we can be comfortable.”

  Rose did as she was bidden and perched delicately on the settee, fearful because it looked too fragile to be useful. Thankfully, its appearance was deceptive and it turned out to be remarkably comfortable. She soon settled in for her visit.

  The two ladies exchanged idle chitchat about the weather and what amusements they had attended the evening before while they waited for the tea trolley to be brought in. Once the housekeeper had brought it in and served her mistress and guest and then bustled from the room, the countess sat back comfortably with her teacup and eyed her guest caref
ully.

  “Now, Miss Rosamund Smythe, what brings you to my parlour on this fine fall day?”

  “Well, my lady, you did mention at your musicale that I was welcome to return at any time,” Rose began, a little flustered.

  “Indeed I did, and I am delighted that you have acted on that sincere invitation. But it strikes me that there must be a reason, as it has been about a week since I uttered it. If it was merely to cultivate our developing friendship, I would think you would have turned up sooner.”

  Seeing that her guest was becoming even more flustered by her words, the countess hurried to add, “I am not complaining or censuring you, my dear girl, I am merely stating the facts as I see them. I am delighted that you have finally turned up at my door. I am merely curious what has prompted it.”

  “My dear Lady Yorkleigh, since you were so kind as to invite me to visit, I was looking forward to speaking with you further. I apologize profusely that I did not come a couple days ago, as you invited, for your at-home.”

  Lady Yorkleigh waved away her apology so Rose promptly continued. “But you are correct that there has been something that has prompted the timing. It is a rather delicate subject and I hesitate to impose upon you.”

  “Please, my dear Miss Rose, I welcome your imposition, or rather, it is no imposition at all. I am ready to be of service.”

  Rose now felt a touch more relaxed over the countess’ droll words and so, smiling, she launched into her tale, very nearly telling the truth. “At your lovely musicale I had the dubious pleasure of becoming reintroduced to Sir Jason Broderick. I have taken the gentleman in dislike and did not relish cultivating the acquaintance. Unfortunately, my mother has decided that she thinks he might be a fine catch for me, that as a baron’s daughter I should not think to look too highly for a mate and that a knight might make me an excellent husband.”

  Lady Yorkleigh refrained from commenting at this point, and Rose continued her explanation. “Now do not get me wrong, my lady, I am not opposed to a knight. I am not overly concerned with a gentleman’s status or trying to improve my own through my marriage. I am perfectly content to be a Miss or Mistress. The trouble is with Sir Broderick himself. He strikes me as being a rather repellent man. But I do not have any facts to back this up in an argument with my mother. Since you, yourself, warned me away from him at your musicale, I thought that perhaps you could share something useful with me.”

  The countess had continued to look at Rose steadily throughout this speech, holding her own counsel and not betraying much of her thoughts by even the twitch of an eyebrow. Rose was admiring her ability to keep herself contained, but then was distracted by the lady’s words.

  “I mean no offense, my dear, but is your mother daft?”

  Rose burst into raucous laughter. After a moment, she was able to control her mirth. Wiping the tears that had escaped during her hilarity, Rose finally was able to reply. “My lady, I have on occasion wondered that myself but, no, I do not believe she has lost her wits, she is merely of a different mind than I am.”

  “But, my dear, this is far more serious than just a matter of taste. I can, if I make a concerted effort to be unbiased, see that some might consider Sir Broderick to be handsome, but the man is a snake under his skin. Clearly your mother has not taken the time to even have a conversation with the man or she would have disabused herself of the notion of marrying you off to him. Not that he would want you.”

  At Rose’s faint gasp over this surprising statement, the countess finally found her smile. “I can assure you, I did not just insult you. The man has no taste for ladies with any thoughts of their own in their head. To be honest, I strongly doubt that he is in search of a wife for himself, but from what I have observed, the only ladies he ever dances with are very fresh from the schoolroom, with very large dowries to recommend them.”

  “You have partially set my mind at ease in that case, my lady. I have found a reason to be happy that I am becoming a trifle long in the tooth.”

  “You are nowhere near being on the shelf, so do not be a ninny,” Lady Yorkleigh countered, with a wry twist to her lips.

  “But if my mother insists that I set my cap at the man, do you know anything that I could use to dissuade her?”

  “You could always just be very unskilled at cap setting,” the countess suggested with a twinkle in her eye. “But in all seriousness, Miss Rose, there are a few things. Is your mother in the habit of gossiping?”

  “Not overmuch,” Rose replied, puzzled.

  “The reason I ask is because some of the things I am about to tell you I would not want to be bandied about Town.”

  “Aside from my mother’s questionable taste, I do believe her discretion can be trusted if she is asked to keep a confidence.”

  “Very well, then I will tell you a few things. I do trust your discretion. I quite took a liking to you when we were introduced. You may decide for yourself what you tell your mother after we are finished with our visit.”

  “Thank you, my lady, you have no idea how much I appreciate your help.”

  “Think nothing of it, my dear. Would you care for some more tea?”

  Rose had prepared herself for the countess to launch into a tale of the knight’s depravities, and was thus surprised by the prosaic offer of tea. She allowed a nervous giggle to escape her lips. “Thank you, my lady, that might be a good idea.”

  “Tea is always a good idea, my dear,” the older woman stated with conviction. “Now where should I begin? There are actually many things to tell you. Some I am not certain are suitable for a young girl’s ears. I will be a little vague on some of those details, I am afraid. Your mother will appreciate that, I am sure.”

  Rose was still puzzled and wished fervently she would just get on with it. The suspense was making her feel edgy.

  The countess dithered for a couple more minutes, fussing with the teapot and getting herself settled comfortably once more in her seat. Finally, she launched into speech.

  “Sir Jason Broderick should not be trusted by anyone, in my estimation. Young girls are not safe from him because he is rumoured to have ruined a couple young women of good families and then refused to marry them. Not that anyone would wish their daughters married to him, as he also has a violent temper and has been known to express his anger upon his servants and animals, so I would not put it past him to be a wife beater. So, to get your mother to smarten up about the highly unacceptable knight, you shall just have to tell her about the rumours and I am quite convinced she shall set her sights elsewhere.”

  Rose struggled to contain her disappointment. She was absolutely certain that Broderick and Austen’s schemes involving Wrentham had nothing to do with the sullied reputations of unsuspecting debutantes. She had so wished that Lady Yorkleigh was going to be of help, but she could not divulge her involvement with the duke, so all she could do was smile and nod as sincerely as she could muster.

  “Thank you so much, my dear Lady Yorkleigh. I am not entirely certain I know what you mean, but no doubt you are correct in surmising that it will be sufficient to get my mother to change her mind on considering a possible match between us.” Rose was quite proud of how that had come out. She wondered briefly if she should rise to take her leave. She wasn’t left wondering for long, as Lady Yorkleigh began to speak once more.

  “I would not normally discuss this next bit with a regular debutante. However, you seem to be a wise young woman, and since your father is a diplomat, I would expect you should have a little more knowledge of the ways of the world than some.”

  Rose felt as though she had frozen in place, wondering how close to the truth the countess was about to get. As she was looking expectantly at her, Rose forced the corners of her mouth to lift into what she hoped looked like a close approximation of a smile and nodded her head, praying she did not look like a simpleton. It must have passed muster, as Lady Yorkleigh continued.

  “I believe some of the reason for your late debut is because you and your mothe
r accompanied your father to Vienna for his politics.” Lady Yorkleigh again looked at her closely, so Rose hastened to reply.

  “That is correct, my lady. It was a lovely time. I do not regret going with him for a minute, even though it means I am rather older than the other young ladies making their curtsy to Society.”

  “Youth is not necessarily the asset everyone purports it to be, my dear. You are absolutely perfect the way you are and shall make a brilliant match. I am certain of it.”

  Now Rose’s smile was much more genuine as she appreciated the lady’s words. “Thank you for that kindness, my lady.”

  “I am not being kind, I am merely speaking the truth. Now, let me get on with my tale. Your maid will be nodding off in the foyer.”

  Rose smiled but did not interrupt as she was now on tenterhooks to hear the rest that Lady Yorkleigh had to say.

  “Did you meet that scoundrel, Tallyrand, while you were in Vienna?” At Rose’s nod, she continued. “His argument is that he always has France’s interests at heart, and one cannot fault him for doing what he considers his patriotic duty, I suppose, but he is just so conniving and crooked while he is doing it. Broderick is a close associate of his. While one can excuse Tallyrand by considering his motivations, Broderick is another matter altogether. His motivations are always what is best for Broderick, not anyone else, and certainly not the nation.

  “It concerns me to see him actively running about amongst the ton once more. I fear what he might be getting up to. You see, he is a terribly smart man and plays upon other people’s weaknesses. For example, Prinny has a weakness for anything to do with Bonny Prince Charlie, of the Stuart dynasty. This can be exploited, and I have heard Broderick has been making attempts to do so. As well, his relationship with Tallyrand is highly suspicious. They should be on opposite sides, as Tallyrand is trying to dispute with some of England’s claims for territory. These were settled to a certain extent in Vienna, but I have heard that those boundaries are currently being disputed still.”