“That our wedding be rescheduled immediately,” Leah explained, looking down at the monogram on her handkerchief. She rubbed her finger over the delicate stitching. “He seems to be so wrapped up in catching those criminals, that he hasn’t given it another moment’s thought. If I’m at all important to him, then he must act as though it means something.”
“Surely you don’t want to put your guests in harm’s way,” the Dowager Duchess said, gently. When Leah looked up at her, the lady was watching her, intently.
“Of course not! But what if they’re never caught? Is he just going to leave it go?”
“Certainly not, My Lady,” she replied. “My son is doing his best to ensure that justice be done.”
“He doesn’t ever come to see me anymore,” Leah said. “He never takes me for walks or anything. He doesn’t act like an engaged gentleman at all.”
“I can agree to speak to him on that account,” the Dowager Duchess replied. “But I cannot ask him to reschedule the wedding. Not when there are people who mean harm still very much in the county.”
“But you must—” Leah insisted. “He only listens to you, Your Grace.”
“I’m afraid that I cannot,” she repeated. “My son is the Duke. He makes his decisions without my interference.” She smiled at Leah, sadly. “I do know that he’s trying his best to do what he believes is right. If anything, my son’s heart is always in the right place.”
Leah nodded, deeply disappointed to find that the Dowager Duchess was not going to help her. She had thought that they were on their way to becoming very close, but clearly, Leah had been mistaken.
The tea things were brought, and the two ladies talked of other, less fraught topics. Leah struggled the whole time to keep her attention on the discussion. She had the niggling feeling that there was something that the Dowager Duchess was not telling her.
Inside, Leah was panicking. Her suspicions were now worse than they had been when she arrived. By the time that they had daintily sipped the tea, finished a small portion of tea cake, and exhausted most polite lines of conversation, Leah was desperate to return home.
“Unfortunately, I must return to Kirby Hall, Your Grace,” she announced.
The Dowager Duchess nodded, and both ladies stood. She took Leah’s hands in her own, pressing them. “I wish you all the best, My Lady.”
Leah looked the lady in the eye. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
As the Dowager Duchess accompanied Leah down to where her carriage waited, Leah wondered what it could be that she knew and wasn’t saying.
* * *
After freshening up and placing her bouquet in a little vase of water, Selina went to go and find her brother. He was in the library, furiously writing at the large wooden desk.
“To whom are you writing so intently?” Selina asked.
“To father,” he replied, not looking up. “To let him know that we’re heading to Staunton at the end of this week.
“You’ve gotten Jasper to agree,” she said, finding herself surprised. Thomas was known to be persuasive. But Jasper was a gentleman who was not to be swayed easily—especially when it came to herself.
“Reason is second to none,” Thomas replied, finally turning toward her. “It’ll be much simpler if Uncle Latimer doesn’t have to turn us out due to scandal.”
“Agreed,” Selina said. “Well, I’ll leave you to your writing.” She meandered away, perusing the shelves for a book to read.
Uncle Latimer’s library was impressive. It was a large room, with massive, floor-to-ceiling shelves, stuffed with leather-bound books. It smelled of old paper, ink, and leather.
It had kept Selina and Faith both occupied the entire duration of their stay at Kirby Hall. She perused the titles, looking for one which interested her.
As she wandered, she frowned. Something about Thomas’s demeanor was off. He was too happy to be leaving when he’d only just arrived. He had convinced Jasper too easily. She chose a book off of the shelves, then returned to sit beside her brother, listening to the scratching of his quill on the paper.
* * *
Jasper sat at his large desk in his study. His elbow rested on the top, his chin cupped in his palm as he stared out the window. It was open, allowing a cool spring breeze in. It smelled fresh—of recent rainfall.
His mind was on Selina. The way that she bit her lip when she was nervous. The way that she leaned toward him when they were waltzing, the feel of her hip underneath his hand. He imagined that underneath, she looked exactly like the recent painters’ obsession with Odalisque—cream skin and softly-curving hips.
He exhaled, imagining her in the firelight, reclining on his bed as he lay beside her, running his hands over her curves, capturing her lips with his own.
There was a knock on the door. He cleared his throat. “Yes?”
“Lord Sandbourne is here to see you, Your Grace,” Sotheby said.
Jasper crossed his legs, leaning back in his chair. “Send him in, please, Mr. Sotheby.”
“Very good, Your Grace,” his butler replied, shutting the door with a soft click. By the time Sotheby had brought Stephen up, Jasper was composed.
“Stephen,” he said. “It’s good to see you. Come and have a seat.”
He studied his friend, who looked a little better than the last time that he’d seen him. Stephen was gaunt, almost a ghost of his former self.
“Hello, Jasper,” Stephen replied, taking his usual seat, just on the other side of the desk. He looked down at his hands, which were palms up in his lap, as if he expected there to be something, and was surprised to find them empty.
Jasper waited for him to speak. Stephen sighed, then looked at Jasper. “Sandbourne Hall has been let,” he said, at last.
“Oh?” Jasper couldn’t discern Stephen’s feelings about it.
“To a retired Naval Captain and his wife,” he said. “They seem like genteel people.”
“That’s—that’s very good,” Jasper replied carefully.
“I hate to ask anything of you,” Stephen said.
“Please,” Jasper said. “Ask anything. I’m happy to help you, especially when you’re in a difficult position after—after the robbery.” His friend had lost nearly everything.
“I’ll need a place to stay,” Stephen said. “Until there’s money for me to go elsewhere.”
“Of course,” Jasper replied. “You’ll have a room here at Gillingham, anytime that you need it.”
“Thank you,” Stephen said, his voice breaking.
“When do your tenants arrive?” Jasper asked.
“The end of the week,” Stephen replied.
“That’s good, then. You can come as early as today, if you need.”
“Perhaps, it would be best,” Stephen agreed, but then shrugged. He was about to say something else, when there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Jasper called out, surprised when his mother entered. From the concerned look on her face, something had happened. “Mother? What’s wrong?”
“I’ve just had a strange visit from Lady Leah,” she said. “Urging me to force you to reschedule the wedding.”
“It appears my hand is forced,” he mused.
“You need to act and soon,” his mother said. “She knows more than she’s letting on.”
“I promised Lord Windermere that I would wait until the end of the week, so he and Lady Selina could leave before word gets out.”
His mother shook her head. “I don’t think that’s right. You owe it to Lady Leah to tell her the truth and to let her out of the engagement.”
“She’s right,” Stephen said. “It’s the honorable thing to do.”
Jasper sighed, glancing at the two of them. “Yes. Yes, it is.”
* * *
Leah stared out of the carriage window, watching as the familiar sights of the road between Gillingham Manor and Kirby Hall passed them by. Maria was silent, across from her. Tears began to flow, down Leah’s cheeks. Maria silently passe
d her a handkerchief.
“Thank you, Maria. Sometimes, I think you’re the only person who cares for me,” she sobbed, “and you’re being paid for it.”
“Now, My Lady,” Maria said. “That simply isn’t true. You’re loved and cherished by so many.”
“Do you see any of them here, fighting for my marriage?” she demanded, her voice high and quavery. “What am I to do?”
“My Lady, if I may be so bold—”
“Say it, Maria,” she demanded.
“Of anyone in the household, Mr. Wickes sees and hears everything,” Maria said, raising her eyebrows significantly. “I think you should ask him what he’s seen, and perhaps, what he’s heard.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s been talking, My Lady,” Maria said. “While we’re all eating our meals. He says that Lady Selina gets secret messages from an admirer before she runs out of the house. Sometimes with her lady’s maid, but sometimes unaccompanied by any chaperone at all.”
Leah stared at Maria, eyes wide. Her blood ran cold as she considered who it could be that Selina would be meeting. She hoped that it was Lord Sandbourne or Lord Munro, but it could be the Duke.
* * *
Thomas was just finishing his letter. He sprinkled sand on it, to dry the ink. He then turned toward Selina, who looked up from her book.
“I can’t wait to be at home again,” Selina said, trying to discern what it was that was particularly bothering her.
“It won’t be your home for much longer if you’re to be wed,” Thomas replied.
“How sad,” she mused, noting that ‘if’ with suspicion. “You’ll let me come to Staunton, any time that I wish, won’t you?”
“Of course,” he said. “I would miss you, otherwise.”
“You won’t come and visit me when I’m married?” she asked.
“I will,” he stated. “It just won’t be the same.”
“And why not?” She was watching him closely. His face was studiously guarded.
“Because,” he replied, “you’ll have to bend to the will of your husband. He’ll be your Lord and Master. You’ll have to adjust.” He shrugged.
“Be serious.” There was no way—Jasper treated her with respect, for her intellect, in particular. She was well aware of it. It was one of the best things about him.
“I am. Do you honestly think that your Duke is anything like Father? He was ready to order even me to do his bidding.”
“You don’t like him,” Selina said, at the very moment that she realized it. “You don’t like him at all.”
“No, I don’t,” he admitted freely.
Selina’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Here, she’d thought that Thomas was going to be on her side! To find out that he disagreed! This had never happened before.
* * *
By the time the carriage had arrived in front of Kirby Hall, Leah had dried her tears. She wouldn’t panic—not until she had proven to herself that Selina had been meeting with a gentleman, one who was not the Duke. It had to be—the Duke meeting secretly with Selina would be tantamount to infidelity. He was too honorable for that.
Leah got out of the carriage, walking up the steps of Kirby Hall, right to the door, where Mr. Wickes met her. She stopped in front of him, looking him right in the eyes.
“Welcome home, My Lady,” he said, smiling.
“Do you know something, Wickes?” she asked, looking at him, closely. “Has there been…something?”
“What do you mean, My Lady?” he asked, swallowing nervously.
“Tell me, who has been sending letters to my cousin, Mr. Wickes?” she asked, whispering so that passersby couldn’t hear. Wickes glanced at Maria, who was standing just behind Leah.
He sighed, sadly. “My Lady, I’m sorry to tell you this, but there have been letters in the Duke’s hand…”
“Sent to Selina?” Leah was shaking. It felt like her whole world was falling to pieces. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
“Yes,” Mr. Wickes confirmed. “I told your father that she was going out, alone, and I thought that would be the end of it. As far as I can tell, it might have been…”
Leah saw red, as rage filled her. She didn’t deserve this. Leah deserved to be the Duchess. It was hers. The Duke was hers. Gillingham Manor was hers. She turned and ran up the stairs, holding her skirts so she didn’t trip. She could hear Maria, right behind her.
She went into Selina’s room, where she went straight to the writing-table, opening the drawer. If she had to tear the room apart, so be it.
There was a pile of letters—on top, she recognized Aunt Araminta’s handwriting. At the bottom, she noticed the two with the Duke’s handwriting. Her hands shook as she unfolded the one that was on top.
Her mouth hung open. There was a ringing in her ears, and it seemed to grow louder. Her whole world shrunk down to that letter, and what it said:
Darling, I can barely stand being apart from you. Come meet me by the tree? All my love,
J.
Leah’s marriage, her entire life, ruined. By Selina. She wondered how it had happened. It seemed that it had been going on for a long time. All of a sudden, she was recalling the way that Selina had looked at the Duke. How he’d looked at her.
“How did I not see this coming?” she whispered to herself.
“My Lady,” Maria said, drawing her from her thoughts with a jolt. Leah slowly turned around to face her maid, who was standing by the door. “What if she returns? Are you ready to face her?”
“You’re right,” Leah mumbled. “I need to think.”
Rage flashed through her as she walked over to the desk. When she saw that there was another letter, just like the one she held, Leah tore them both to pieces, then left them in the drawer, closing it and then turning and walking out of the room, her back straight, holding back the tears that were threatening.
A Duchess would never make a scene.
Leah returned to her bedroom, where she knelt down on the floor beside her bed. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She couldn’t stop thinking about the letter. Darling, I can barely stand being apart from you. Followed by the way they’d looked, riding off side-by-side. Suddenly, a long inhuman wail came from her clenched teeth. Quickly, before anyone heard, she grabbed her pillow, screaming into it.
* * *
“How can you not like him?” Selina demanded. “Don’t you trust my judgement?”
“He’s a complete blunderbuss,” Thomas replied. “I’m only being nice to him for your sake.”
“But…you’re making me leave,” she said, suddenly realizing her brother’s plan. She glared at him. “You’re going to try to have Father keep me away from him.”
“Yes,” Thomas said. “Of course, I am. It’s for your own good. Why would you want to be married to someone like that? I thought we were better than simple country folk, Selina. He’s one step up from a horse farmer.”
“He’s a Duke,” she pointed out. “He outranks you.”
Thomas laughed, shooting her a withering look. “Please, Selina.”
“Don’t you patronize me,” she snapped. “You’re—you’re such a snob.”
“Oh, Selina. You’ve wounded me,” he replied flatly. His eyes flashed. Selina was shocked. They’d never disagreed on something so big before. It had always been little things, and they’d always been able to solve it between themselves. He was being nasty.
“I cannot believe my ears,” she said, feeling deeply wounded and betrayed. She got up, and then left the library.
“Selina! Come back here!” he ordered. She ignored him, letting the door swing shut behind her. From the hallway, she could hear him mutter something to himself.
She stared at the picture, which was across the hall from the library door, of a lady with dark-brunette hair, piled in lush curls on top of her head. The lady in the painting smiled mysteriously like she had a secret.
Everyone was hiding something, even Selina, herself. She turned away
walking as quickly as she dared, back to her room in the East Wing.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jasper decided that he couldn’t leave it off, not even overnight. He had to act, as soon as possible, even if it was to soften the blow for Lady Leah. He couldn’t keep her in suspense. Especially after hearing from his mother how upset she’d seemed.
Jasper arrived at Kirby Hall, to speak to Lady Leah, where Mr. Wickes showed him into the withdrawing room. He was told to wait, which in itself was odd. Usually, he was received with great warmth. However, it appeared that no one was disposed to receive him at all.
Sins 0f An Intoxicating Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 23