by Joyce Alec
Duncan stared at Lady Juliet, his heart thundering furiously as he felt all of his strength beginning to drain from him. It could not be. It could not be.
“Lord Strickland?”
Lady Juliet was watching him now, her brow furrowing as she leaned forward in her chair, looking at him carefully, clearly aware that there was something troubling him.
“Is something wrong, Strickland?” Lord Richmond asked as Lady Richmond and Mrs. Grey looked on, clearly perplexed. “You look as though you have had a great shock.”
Duncan closed his eyes and forced himself to speak. “You said a Mr. Ayles, Lady Juliet?” he asked, opening his eyes to see her nodding, her blue eyes wide with astonishment. “Are you quite certain?”
“I believe I am, yes,” she replied anxiously. “Why, Lord Strickland? Is that man known to you?”
Nodding, Duncan felt an ache rise in his heart, horrified to realize that the man who was now recovering from a great and severe attack was, in fact, well known to him.
“Mr. Ayles, if it is one and the same, is my cousin,” he said slowly, aware of the gasps of astonishment that came from almost every quarter. “Mr. and Mrs. Ayles live in the country, in a very pretty little house. Mr. Ayles has excellent employment and both he and I have kept in correspondence over the years, although it is not entirely regular.” He shook his head, reaching for his teacup as though that might help push aside his shock a little more. “My own cousin. I—I cannot imagine…” Swallowing hard, he looked up at them all. “I must go to him at once.”
There was a short silence before Lord Richmond spoke up, shaking his head. “You cannot, Strickland, not when you are still recovering yourself,” he said decisively. “Believe me, I well understand the desire to go at once, but if he is only just able to speak a few words, then he will not have the strength for some days to enter into conversation.”
Lady Juliet nodded. “Mr. Johnson is doing all he can for him,” she said earnestly. “He will write to my father the moment that there is any improvement. I am sure it will be only a few days—perhaps a sennight—before things will improve.”
Duncan shook his head, ignoring the stab of pain that flashed through his head. “I must go at once.”
“You cannot,” Lord Richmond said sharply. “You must recover first, Strickland.”
“And I am sure that Lord Brookmire believes that he is gone from this world,” Lady Richmond said gently. “There is no immediate threat.”
Lowering his head for a moment, Duncan passed one hand over his eyes. He was battling hard against the desire to call for his carriage and to leave at once, discovering the location of where his cousin was from Lady Juliet herself. And yet, given that he was struggling with a good deal of pain still, he knew in his heart that it was wise for him to wait.
“What if Lord Brookmire hears that my cousin is recovering?” he asked hoarsely, looking up at them all. “The letter too—why was my cousin carrying such a thing? Who was it for? What might it mean?”
There was no immediate answer. His friends looked back at him with a gentle frown on each of their faces. They could not give him the responses he sought, could not tell him what he wanted to know.
“We will hear from Mr. Ayles himself very soon, I am sure,” Lady Juliet said gently, clearly trying to encourage him. “He will be able to give you the answers you seek.”
“And in the meantime?” Duncan asked, speaking more sharply than he had intended. “What am I to do? Sit here and recover whilst I worry about my cousin?” Squeezing his eyes closed, he ran one hand across his forehead. “What of his wife? His children? Are they now living alone, uncertain and afraid as to where he is gone?”
“I cannot answer that,” Lord Richmond said quietly. “And by all means, write to her if you wish it, but I cannot advise that you travel when you are still recovering. Lady Juliet will tell us the moment news comes from Mr. Johnson and we will travel together to speak to your cousin.”
“Or even have him brought to London, if he is well enough,” Lady Juliet suggested, and Duncan let out a quiet groan, wishing that he was just as strong and able as he usually was. Had he not been thrown down the staircase last evening, then he would have been able to walk without difficulty and could have traveled to see Ayles without hesitation.
“Very well,” he said eventually. “But there must be something more we can do in the meantime.”
“Of course there is,” Lady Juliet said firmly. “I will be introducing myself to Lord Brookmire.”
Duncan’s eyes flew to hers, a protest burning on his lips.
“I am aware that you will tell me there is a danger in acquainting myself with him, but it will be quite all right,” Lady Juliet continued, sounding quite determined. “It may be that something he says or someone he is acquainted with will catch my attention.”
“And I will be with her, of course,” Mrs. Grey added as Lord and Lady Richmond nodded.
Letting out a long breath, Duncan spread his hands. “It seems it is all agreed on, then,” he said without any sense of contentment. “I am merely to stay here and do what I can to recover in the meantime.”
Lady Juliet smiled at him gently. “You may use your time to consider the letter,” she suggested, as though she could see his frustration and wanted to help. “There is mayhap a secret there that the rest of us have not yet discovered.”
With a twist of his lips, Duncan nodded. “Very well,” he said as the others looked on with evident relief in all of their expressions. “And you will inform me the moment your father receives word from Mr. Johnson?”
With a nod, Lady Juliet held his gaze. “Of course, Lord Strickland,” she said. “Of course I will.”
11
“How very good to meet you.”
The knot of anxiety that had settled in Juliet’s chest did not depart from her but rather grew in strength as she curtsied, lifting her gaze to Lord Brookmire as she forced a smile to her lips. Lord Brookmire appeared to be rather bored with such an introduction, for he did not show any particular interest in greeting her and there was not even a pleasant smile on his face as she looked back at him.
“And are you in London for the Season, Lord Brookmire?” she asked as the other guests around her quietly kept to their own conversations. “Or do you intend to go elsewhere during these months? I have heard that Bath is quite lovely during the summer and some of the ton make their way there.”
Lord Brookmire’s lip curled as though she had asked the most ridiculous question. “Of course I shall remain in London,” he said as Lady Thornton stood by Juliet’s side, having been the one to introduce them both. “There is much more enjoyment to be found in London than in Bath.” He snorted, his eyes flashing with what appeared to be a good deal of mirth. Mirth that came at Juliet’s expense.
Instantly, Juliet felt a swell of dislike rise in her chest, but she forced her expression to remain entirely devoid of such a feeling.
“Then you must tell me what you enjoy the most about London, Lord Brookmire,” she said, desperately hoping to find a way to continue the conversation despite his apparent boredom at being introduced to her. “I confess that I very much enjoy the theater, although I have not been very often.”
Lord Brookmire let out a long and heavy sigh, as though he was greatly irritated with her conversation already. “The theater is pleasant enough,” he said with a wry smile. “But there is often very poor company to be found there.” He eyed her in a most unpleasant manner and Juliet found her anger beginning to burn. Whatever he was trying to imply, it was not anything kind.
You must do what you can, for Lord Strickland’s sake.
Steeling herself, she put a small smile on her face and kept her voice light. “Then might I ask, Lord Brookmire, what occasions do you consider hold the best company?”
This question appeared to intrigue him and, much to Juliet’s relief, he stood silently for a few moments with an evident attempt to think of an answer.
“I s
uppose I should say a dinner party,” he replied eventually. “For then one can choose one’s company directly and not be forced into conversation with those one would rather avoid.”
Rather than abating her frustration with his reply, Lord Brookmire’s response only added to it. Juliet clenched her hands hard, the nails cutting into her skin as she forced herself to remain precisely where she was, and held back the sharp response she wanted to fling at him. Whether or not he was being deliberately rude, she did not know, but there was nothing about this gentleman that made her want to remain in his company for even a moment longer. She could not think of anything to say, her mind filled with nothing but anger as she looked up at him, seeing the arrogant smile on his face, as though he knew the precise effect he was having upon her.
“Oh, you must excuse me,” Lady Thornton cried, cutting through the growing tension between Juliet and Lord Brookmire. “I must go and speak to Lady Sheffield.”
“But of course,” Mrs. Grey murmured as Juliet managed to smile and thank her, seeing the dark glance that was sent Lord Brookmire’s way and finding herself rather satisfied that Lady Thornton was just as displeased with him as she was herself. Clearing her throat gently and wondering just how she was to turn the conversation to Lord Strickland, Juliet tilted her head and studied the gentleman again, relieved that she had managed to take the edge off her anger.
“And might I ask—” she began, only for a tall, slender lady dressed in a dark blue gown to walk past Juliet and stand directly in front of Lord Brookmire, greeting him as though Juliet and Mrs. Grey were not present.
“Lord Brookmire,” she heard the lady say. “Good evening.” Her words were sharp, tense—like fiery darts that were being flung one after the other. “Might I ask what occurred last evening? I thought that you—”
“It appears I am to take my leave,” Juliet said loudly, not allowing the lady’s rudeness to simply interrupt her in such a fashion. “Do excuse us, Lord Brookmire.”
She made to turn away, but then the lady in question turned her head sharply and looked at her directly. A coldness about her pierced Juliet instantly, and even when the lady smiled there was no flicker of warmth in her gaze.
“Do excuse me,” she uttered with a false brightness, as though she had only just realized what she had done. “You were in conversation with Lord Brookmire, were you not? Forgive me, my dear, I was not even aware.”
Juliet did not know what to say to this, for surely the lady would have noticed the two ladies that stood directly in front of Lord Brookmire.
Lord Brookmire cleared his throat. “Might I introduce Lady Juliet, daughter to the Earl of Lansbury,” he said quickly, as though eager to have such a conversation ended as he gestured to the lady. “And Lady Ridgedale.”
Finding the introduction rather abrupt, Juliet hesitated for a moment before curtsying quickly. “How very good to meet you,” she murmured, a little awkwardly. “Pray, excuse me. Our conversation was almost at an end.”
Lady Ridgedale laughed and shook her head, although Juliet did not miss the coldness that lingered in the lady’s eyes. “Nay, it was nothing of importance,” she said, turning a little more toward Lord Brookmire. “A foolish matter, truly.”
Mrs. Grey touched Juliet’s elbow, murmuring something to her, and Juliet, grateful for the excuse, simply shook her head. “I must excuse myself,” she said quietly. “I do hope you both enjoy the rest of the evening.” She turned to her chaperone, who led her across the room, making certain not to even glance back at Lord Brookmire and Lady Ridgedale. Her irritation at their behavior, her anger at Lord Brookmire’s rudeness, and her intense dislike of their characters rolled up into a tight ball within her, her breathing faster than usual and her hands still curled up into fists.
“You did very well, my dear,” Mrs. Grey murmured as they came into the company of Lord and Lady Richmond, who were both talking to another young lady and her mother. Juliet remained to one side for a few moments with Mrs. Grey, making certain not to interrupt the conversation but rather to wait until there was an opportune moment for her to join them. It also gave her the chance to calm herself somewhat, to take in long breaths and to let her hands relax as she blew out some of her ire.
“They were both exceptionally rude,” she said, only just managing to keep her voice low as Mrs. Grey nodded, clearly just as unhappy as she at the behavior exhibited by Lord Brookmire and Lady Ridgedale.
“Quite what Lady Ridgedale thought she was doing by interrupting us both in such a manner, I cannot imagine,” Mrs. Grey huffed. “And to pretend that she did not even realize we were speaking to Lord Brookmire is utter nonsense, I am sure.”
“Indeed,” Juliet replied as Lord and Lady Richmond ended their conversation and came quickly to join Juliet and Mrs. Grey. “I found myself most upset with them both.”
A smile settled upon Lord Richmond’s face as he approached, evidently overhearing her. “You have been upset by something, Lady Juliet?” he asked as Lady Richmond’s face filled with concern. “Then let both my wife and me restore your good spirits.”
Juliet found herself smiling despite herself. “You are both very kind,” she said honestly. “Lord Brookmire, on the other hand, was one of the rudest gentlemen I believe I have ever met. His manner and his conversation were both ill-judged and rather insulting at times.”
“Only for us then to be interrupted by another lady, who came to stand directly in front of Juliet in order to speak to Lord Brookmire,” Mrs. Grey said with a shake of her head. “Can you imagine it? She claimed she did not see us both, but I can hardly believe that.”
Lady Richmond laughed and settled a hand on Juliet’s arm for a moment in a comforting gesture. “That does sound quite awful. I presume Lord Brookmire said nothing about Lord Strickland?”
“I did not even manage to mention him,” Juliet replied with a sigh. “Lord Brookmire was clearly entirely unwilling to speak with me for long, although I must say he appeared more than eager to converse with Lady Ridgedale.”
The moment she mentioned Lady Ridgedale’s name, the smiles fell from both Lord and Lady Richmond’s faces. With a quick glance toward each other, they then turned back to Juliet, who was looking at them with great confusion as to why they appeared so altered.
“Did you state that Lady Ridgedale was in conversation with Lord Brookmire?” Lord Richmond asked, a dark frown coursing across his brow. “That they appeared to know each other?”
“There was not any need for introduction, if that is what you mean,” Juliet replied, still not fully understanding why they appeared to be so interested in Lady Ridgedale. “I thought her most discourteous, however, for as was said, she simply strode in front of Lord Brookmire and spoke to him as though Mrs. Grey and I were not present.”
“Goodness,” Lady Richmond murmured, looking at her husband with wide eyes. “We should inform Lord Strickland of this at once.”
Juliet frowned, then looked to Mrs. Grey before returning her gaze to the Richmonds. “I do not understand,” she said, spreading her hands. “Lady Ridgedale’s connection to Lord Brookmire is worthy of note?”
Lord Richmond nodded. “Indeed it is,” he said quietly, his eyes sliding from the right to the left and then back again, as though he was afraid of who might overhear him.
“It has not been just young ladies that have sought out Lord Strickland’s attention, you understand,” Lady Richmond said delicately, and Juliet quickly realized what she meant, a swirl of embarrassment heating her cheeks. “Lady Ridgedale was also very interested in a…connection of sorts, even though she was wed to Lord Ridgedale.”
“I see,” Juliet replied, wishing the color would dissipate from her face. “Is Lord Ridgedale not a wealthy gentleman?”
Lord and Lady Richmond exchanged glances.
“He was a wealthy gentleman,” Lord Richmond replied quietly. “Lady Ridgedale is now a widow. When he was alive, I believe he was not overly generous toward his wife and Lady Ridgedale chaf
ed against such restraints. Therefore, she sought out an intimacy with Lord Strickland in the hope that he would give her what she wished for the most—some wealth of her own.”
“Whether that be in jewelry, in gifts, or in other small favors,” Lady Richmond added quickly. “Lord Strickland, of course, refused to even countenance such a thing.”
“Which,” Juliet interrupted, realizing the reason for their interest, “did not please Lady Ridgedale at all.”
Lady Richmond nodded. “I believe she was very angry and deeply frustrated,” she said quietly. “I know that the rumor is that she has gained a good deal of wealth from her husband’s passing, for it seems that he made provision for her in his will.”
“Meaning that she has no need to make any sort of connection with Lord Strickland—or any other,” Juliet added slowly, to which Lord and Lady Richmond nodded. “She has the wealth she now requires.” Her frown deepened again as she saw the same discontent flickering in Lady Richmond’s eyes. “Yet you believe that there might be something of importance in her acquaintance with Lord Brookmire?”
Lord Richmond let out a long breath. “It may very well mean nothing, but it does interest me that there is a connection between her and Lord Brookmire,” he said with a small shrug. “She was, as I have said, very angry and upset with Lord Strickland for refusing to give in to her supposed charms and, in his refusal, denying her what she so desperately wanted from him.”
A note of fear struck Juliet’s heart. “And do you believe that she might have held onto such anger?” she asked, and Lady Richmond began to nod. “And that, in all that she felt, she then decided to punish Lord Strickland in some way?”
There was silence for a moment as Lord and Lady Richmond considered her question. Then, with a small sigh, Lord Richmond spread his hands. “It is a possibility,” he conceded, “and not one that I have considered before when, in fact, I should have done. Lady Ridgedale is a vindictive, spiteful creature who has no regard for the opinions or considerations of others.”