Not Just Lovely Laura

by Jessica Spencer

  Gareth guessed Phillip had done his dirty work. Before he could speak, Lady Maria queried, “That might offend Lord Nethercote, don't you think? He has been away for so long and has grown averse to going about in society. He might leave along with Lady Mannering.”

  Gareth hid a smile. With his wealth and title, Lord Nethercote was a prize catch. His countess never ceased to surprise him!

  “I suppose you are right, dear. We can only hope Lady Mannering's sense of shame will make her keep away. Now that everyone knows the truth, nobody will invite her. She is completely ruined, for sure!”

  Lady Goodall stalked away, looking remarkably like an ostrich in flight. Lady Catherine turned anxious eyes on her son. “What now? Should we ask Laura to avoid Lady Mannering?”

  “Mother, Lady Mannering is innocent of any wrongdoing. So is Wimberley.”

  ***

  Members of the ton at Lady Carter’s ball would forever consider it the most exciting evening of their lifetime. They would never feel such anticipation again. They waited for Lady Carter to show Flighty Fanny her place. They looked forward to Lord Nethercote leave her side in disgust. At the least, they expected the Duke of Wimberley and the Earl of Nethercote to come to blows.

  Laura was relieved that everyone was engaged in conjecture instead of taking their place on the dance floor. She wouldn’t have been able to dance after what Priscilla had told her even though she knew Fanny couldn’t be the mother; she would never disown or abandon her child.

  But the words had come as a blow. It had started - The Scandal of the Season. A duke may have any number of illegitimate children and not cause a furore. But this was different. A member of the ton was assumed to be the mother. The haute monde would show no mercy. Anthony would face the brunt of its ire.

  Lord Newington claimed Laura for the first dance of the evening. She managed to keep up with the steps and the conversation.

  Anthony was standing close to the dance floor. Gareth stood beside him, clearly his champion. Anthony appeared as cool as ever. The man who occupied her thoughts was shallow and vile! He had abandoned a child but he didn't seem to care at all. The thought made her sick, and her head started to throb with pain. She wanted to march up to him and shake him and demand an explanation. Because even now, she hoped there was an explanation.

  Gareth danced with her next but his usual teasing comments were absent. After the dance, he led her to Anthony. “May I have the next dance, Lady Laura?” Anthony asked.

  “Laura will be pleased, Wimberley,” Gareth said, giving her a meaningful look.

  It wasn't like Gareth to push her into something. Laura guessed he was sending a message. The other guests were not giving Anthony the cut, they wouldn't; he was a duke. But there was definitely a chill. Only his close friends were standing by his side. Lady Malloy was there, too.

  “You look lovelier than ever, Lady Laura,” Anthony said.

  Laura looked straight into his eyes. “I don't know whether I should believe you, your Grace.”

  Anthony narrowed his eyes. He started to say something but the dance was announced. Laura raised a gloved hand to her lips. “It's a waltz! My brother would not have realized. I don't have permission to waltz.”

  “Gareth would not have remembered. His thoughts must have been about rescuing me. Shall I escort you to your mother?”

  Laura was undecided. Her brother must have had a reason to accept on her behalf.

  “Shall we sit out the dance? Gareth wanted me to be seen with you. The purpose will be served,” Anthony said.

  He let her to a sofa on the periphery of the room. There was no fear of being compromised. All the gossips would have their eyes on them.

  “Your earlier question didn't have anything to do with the compliment I paid you,” Anthony stated, sitting down beside Laura. “A rumor has reached your ears tonight. You don't know whether you should believe in me.”

  Laura looked straight ahead, her eyes on the waltzing couples. When she gave an imperceptible nod, Anthony continued. “You have heard that I have a child, and the child's mother is Lady Mannering. That is not the truth.”

  “Which part?” Laura asked. “That you have a child or the child's mother is Lady Mannering.”

  “The second part is a blatant falsehood. I've known Lady Mannering all my life. She is the victim of circumstances that I instigated. I will always blame myself for her misfortunes. When I learned she was in London, I wanted to ease her way back into Society. I hoped she would make a good match and find happiness.”

  At the precise moment, Lady Mannering and Lord Nethercote waltzed into view. “Your wish might come true,” Laura said.

  Anthony leaned a little closer. “Laura, I don't owe you any explanation except that I have come to care for you. If things were different, I would have offered for you. I know I'm much older, and have a child who needs a mother...”

  “Children,” Laura corrected. “You haven't denied that.”

  Anthony paused as if searching for the right words. Finally, he said, “Given my circumstances and the taint of scandal, I will not be speaking to your brother. Forgive me for my plain speaking. I have observed that you aren't indifferent to me. If you have developed any tender feelings for me, you must remove them from your heart. I'm not the man for you.”

  Anthony stood up and held out his hand. Laura glared at him. How dare he? To pretend to take the moral high ground! If she was less of a lady, she would stamp her foot and scream and pummel him with her fists! But there were people around. And Gareth wanted to send the signal that he stood with the Duke of Wimberley.

  Sweeping down her lashes to hide her feelings, Laura accepted the proffered hand with a meek smile.

  ***

  The next morning, Gareth sent for Laura as soon as she broke her fast. She was surprised. It wasn't like him to summon her to the library. She found him seated behind the table with a pile of unopened correspondence in front of him.

  “I thought I told you to speak to me if you were interested in anyone,” he said after spending a good ten minutes on inanities.

  “What makes you think I have an interest in someone?”

  Gareth sighed and came around the table. “I thought it would be easier to say this if I spoke to you as head of the family! But I can't do that. We have always shared our deepest thoughts.”

  “What is it, Gareth?”

  “We grew up in the shadow of our parents' marriage. A mother we were told to forget and a father who couldn't forget left us with mixed up feelings. I was determined to never marry for love. I was equally determined to prevent you from making a love match. I didn't want to see you hurt. Aunt Nell kept bemoaning the fact that you weren't getting an opportunity to meet young men. She wanted you to have a Season. I told her I would pick a husband for you. I thought I was the best judge of who would make you happy.”

  Laura felt tears pricking her eyes. She didn't fault Gareth or think him presumptuous. “And now? What does my besotted brother think? Love is a quagmire in which one must wallow?” she teased.

  “You know I’ve turned down the offers you received. Your affections weren’t engaged. Now I see a change. You have formed an attachment.”

  Laura bit her lip. “I don't know.”

  “Laura, everything is not as it seems. Don't give credence to rumors. We know how destructive gossip is.”

  “Is that why you wanted me to dance with Wimberley? I thought you were being a good friend to him.”

  “I wouldn't do that at the cost of your reputation. I have seen how you look at him. I have often noticed his gaze following you. The last time I asked about his quest for a wife, he said there was only one who would suit but he was too old for her.”

  “That could be any one of the debutantes. He is too old,” Laura ground out, annoyed.

  Gareth squeezed her hand. “He also asked permission to court you. I told him we would wait until his affairs are more settled. I know you are upset about the rumors. Trust me, they are
just that. Anthony hasn't done anything to be ashamed of.”

  “The child...” Laura said, her face heating up.

  “Only Anthony can tell you the truth. I know he means to do the right thing which is not what men of our class usually do.”

  Laura opened her mouth to speak. But what could she say? If she told Gareth about the letter and what she had overheard, he would bar her from visiting the foundling home.

  A knock on the door saved her from saying anything. It was a footman, announcing Anthony.

  Laura's heart started thumping loudly. Anthony acknowledged her minimal curtsy and turned to Gareth. He looked distraught. Laura paused at the door and took her time shutting it. With the footman hovering close, she could not stand there for long. But she did hear one sentence.

  “I am worried about Annie.”

  ***

  Laura could not barge in and demand to know what had happened to Annie. She would have to wait until Anthony left. She decided she would tell Gareth everything. Meanwhile, she had to get ready to receive morning callers.

  It was not surprising that they were besieged with callers. With the exception of the Duke of Berkley who stayed for only five minutes, the other callers were matrons eager to talk about Flighty Fanny’s shocking conduct.

  “It is unfortunate that you befriended her,” they told Lady Catherine. They did not hesitate to point out that she could not have known better. She had lived in seclusion and Lady Maria, with her sweet disposition, was easily taken in by the likes of Lady Mannering.

  Lady Goodall warned Lady Catherine of dire consequences. “It will not help Lady Laura’s prospects if she is seen encouraging Wimberley. A man who is not of strong moral fiber will not do for my dear Selena. Of course, not everybody is as discriminating!”

  There was no limit to what the gossips had to say. Lady Mannering was a siren who had first snared the Duke of Wimberley and now had Lord Nethercote in her coils. It was scandalous the way she had stayed by his side, smiling and flirting. A shame his lordship was so easily taken in! He had left with her within the hour. She must have other plans with him for the rest of the evening. Plans that would not involve her cousin, Miss Chubb.

  Lady Catherine took Laura aside. “I don’t want you to be present in the drawing room. It is bad enough I have to put up with all this malicious talk.”

  “May I visit the home, Mother? I’ll take Bessie with me,” Laura asked. It was not her day to visit but she was anxious about Annie. There had been no opportunity to find out anything from Gareth. He had left by the time she had come down.

  ***

  To Laura’s dismay, Adam was not available to drive them. He had taken Maria to visit Lady Mannering. She could use another carriage but wasn’t sure whether the coachman wouldn’t babble. The only thing to do was take a hack.

  Bessie planted her hands on her hips. “We can’t take a hack. It isn’t safe.”

  “What could happen to us? Hundreds of people ride a hack every day. If we walk to the end of the road, it will be the easiest thing to engage one. Don’t fuss, Bessie.”

  “Where will you change your bonnet and wear the pelisse? Not in the hack, you won’t!”

  Laura thought for a moment. “It’s easy enough. I’ll show you.”

  Glumly, Bessie helped her mistress change into a plain gown of green bombazine. Laura fixed the wig and the cap as usual and placed a plain straw bonnet with a wide rim over the cap.

  “Give me the stole with the embroidery. As soon as we are out of sight of the house, I shall exchange it for the old shawl.”

  Bessie followed Laura out of the house. She waved away the footman who asked whether he should call the carriage. “We are going to Severn House. Lady Laura wants to walk, seeing that it is such a fine day.”

  Bessie stopped a hack easily enough. By then Laura’s transformation to Miss Miller was complete. She had replaced the stole with the shawl and had got rid of the straw bonnet. Bessie had stuffed the articles in the hedgerow of Daventon House.

  ***

  The moment they stepped into the home, Laura guessed something was amiss. A maid was herding the smaller children into a room. The older children looked scared. Laura knocked on Mrs. Forsyth's door. When nobody answered, she pushed it open. The room was empty. She decided to wait. Within a few minutes, she heard Mrs. Forsyth and some male voices. She quickly slipped into the anteroom.

  She was so relieved to have escaped being seen that she didn't try to listen at the door. But one of the men had a loud voice. When he mentioned the Duke of Wimberley, Laura put her ear against the keyhole.

  “I don't suspect his Grace. He told me he was willing to acknowledge Annie,” Mrs. Forsyth said in a firm voice.

  “Mrs. Forsyth, the only two people who have an interest in Annie are her uncle and the duke. We will have to question both of them. It will be a tricky business. He is a powerful man.”

  “There has to be some other explanation.”

  “Is your staff ready to be questioned?” the man asked.

  “They are waiting in the room beside the kitchen,” Mrs. Forsyth said.

  Laura heard chairs being pushed and then there was silence. She cracked open the door. Mrs. Forsyth was in her chair, looking flustered.

  “Lady Laura! What are you doing here?” she exclaimed, seeing her framed in the doorway.

  “Mrs. Forsyth, I was waiting for you. When I heard voices, I thought it best to hide.”

  “You did well but now you must leave! The police are questioning the servants.”

  “Police?”

  “Annie has disappeared. If the police find out you were seeing Annie, they will want to question you.”

  “What about Annie? I overheard the Duke of Wimberley's name.”

  Mrs. Forsyth visibly deflated. “Annie was in the garden with the other children. A man spoke to Annie from across the fence. He told her the duke had sent a doll for her. It was in the carriage. Annie ran out. The children thought nothing of it because Annie doesn't play with the others. She usually sits by herself.”

  “Isn’t there a man always at the entrance? Didn't he stop Annie?”

  “Jack is also our handyman. He was taking care of a blocked drain. The police think Jack must have helped the kidnapper. But Jack has been with us for years. Whoever has done this must have been watching. The moment Jack left, he would have enticed Annie with the promise of a doll.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “Two days ago. Unfortunately, we did not discover she had disappeared until late evening when someone came for her.”

  Laura nodded. She wasn’t surprised that Annie was not missed. She usually kept to herself. Sometimes she crept away to lie down in her crib.

  “Did Annie mention any friends or relatives?” Mrs. Forsyth asked.

  “Annie never said anything much. She liked to listen to stories. You know I gave her a rag doll. She told me she would name the doll Fanny and care for it.”

  “Think, dear. Anything you recollect might be of help. I will pass it on to the inspector. It is now two days since the child is missing.”

  “She was sad about her mother. I told her she had become a star and watched over her. That' is all.”

  Mrs. Forsyth nodded. “I expected as much but I wanted to check with you.”

  Laura swallowed. “Annie is the Duke of Wimberley's daughter, isn't she?”

  “I usually don't discuss such matters. Annie is connected to his Grace and he is worried about her. He has engaged runners to recover her. He keeps dropping in to find out whether we have news of Annie.”

  Laura immediately stood up. It wouldn't do for Anthony to see her in the home. Promising Mrs. Forsyth that she would send a note if she recalled anything of importance, she left.

  Chapter 31

  “Lady Laura, there's no hack in sight. We must walk to the end of the lane. I hope no one will recognize you.”

  “Let's be quick,” Laura answered, setting a quick pace.

  �
�Miss!”

  A not too clean boy who looked like a street urchin appeared at Laura's elbow. Bessie scowled at him. “Scoot, boy! Go and beg elsewhere!”

  “Miss, I know where Annie is! You must help her!”

  Laura came to a halt. “Where?”

  “Lady Laura, this scamp looks to be no good! Don't let him fool you!”

  The boy touched Laura's sleeve with a grubby finger. “Please!”

  “Tell me where Annie is.”

  The boy looked to his left and right. “She is locked up but I can get her out.”

  “Where is she? Why don't you free her and bring her to the home?”

  Bessie wrung her hands. “Lady Laura, you can't stand in the street and talk. Someone might recognize you.”

  Laura saw that Bessie was right. She grasped the boy firmly by the arm. “You are coming with me.”

  The boy struggled to get away. “Please don't take me to the police! I thought you would help Annie!”

  “Hush, boy! No one is taking you to the police. You will get into the hack with us and tell my mistress everything.”

  The boy stopped squirming but Laura didn't loosen her grip. Bessie managed to hail a hack. Laura told her to get in first. She sent the urchin next and got in after him.

  The boy gave her an admiring look. “You are a sharp 'un!”

  “Enough of the lip. Now tell,” Bessie said, prodding her elbow into his ribs.

  “What's your name? Why did you come to me?” Laura asked.

  “I’m Sam. Mr. Stubbs gives us money if we tell him things. We keep a watch for him. He says I'm the quickest so he gives me important jobs. He told me to hang around the home. I was to tell him about Jack, the man who sits at the door. I pretended to play with marbles in the open lot beside the garden. I could see the door and also inside the garden. I saw you with Annie. I didn't know Mr. Stubbs wanted to take Annie. He didn't tell why he wanted the door watched. Two days ago I saw Jack leave the door and go to the back of the house, to clear the drains. Mr. Stubbs had told me if I saw Jack leave the door I was to tell him. I ran to the next street, where he was waiting. As soon as Mr. Stubbs saw me, he came in the carriage. He went to the garden and told Annie something. She came out running. Mr. Stubbs lifted her and put her in the carriage. The carriage drove off.