She needed to answer, but the words caught in her throat. She shook her head, distressed, and suddenly Mrs. Montgomery whisked her veil away from her face.
“Kitty La Bijou!”
“Mrs. Montgomery!” Kitty didn’t know what else to say, which didn’t matter as Mrs. Montgomery let out a tirade. “What are you doing here? Do you have the money I’m after to keep my silence?”
Kitty cast around for Araminta, and suddenly she was there, breathless, and obviously more courageous for having Kitty’s presence.
“So you’re the woman who’s been trying to blackmail me!” she shrieked. “And you know Miss Bijou? Well, let me tell you, Mrs.…Montgomery, I have friends in high places, and you will not succeed in your evil schemes. I’ve heard whispers about you, and I could ensure your entire business is ruined with a few words from me. So desist from your claims now, and all will be well. But if I hear a whisper that you’ve broken your silence, I will see you destroyed.”
Araminta, whose icy, controlled anger had been whipped up like that of a fiery, avenging Valkyrie, was most impressive, Kitty thought. Though perhaps if Araminta had been subjected to Mrs. Montgomery’s merciless wardenship like Dorcas had, she wouldn’t have ventured so much. Still, the effect on Mrs. Montgomery was most surprising. Kitty had thought she’d be about to witness a battle of momentous proportions as Mrs. Montgomery gave as good as she got. But instead, the woman drew herself up, her body rigid, her face immobile, giving nothing away.
Araminta took a menacing step forward. “If my reputation is besmirched, Mrs. Montgomery—thank you, Kitty, for the name—I will know you’re responsible, and I promise you that I will see you destroyed, in turn. Now, is that the last of your threats?”
Kitty couldn’t believe it. She left the scene with Araminta clearly in the ascendant, a vanquished Mrs. Montgomery pledging to keep her silence. As they hurried through the trees, Kitty dwelt on the unanswered questions that needed satisfying, but as soon as they reached the hired equipage, Araminta turned and said, “I suppose I can’t leave you here. I’ll take you where you need to go, but if I hear that a word of what’s transpired tonight has been made public, I’ll know it was you.”
“Or Mrs. Montgomery,” Kitty added, climbing into the carriage.
“Well, she told you why she was blackmailing me so now you know, and if you tell a soul I’ll—”
Kitty wasn’t often spurred to anger, but indignation flared, and she ground out as the carriage lurched forward, “Don’t threaten me, Lady Debenham. There’s more I know about you than you think, but because we are also closer than you think, I’ve held my tongue, and I’ve been your ally tonight when it could have gone so badly.”
Araminata’s mouth dropped open. “Well, I thank you for coming along. But it’s very strange that you know that woman, don’t you think? Considering…well, what she is.”
“What are you insinuating?” Kitty had never been closer to striking anyone. “What kind of person do you think I am? I’m in love with a man who can never be my husband because I am not respectable, but I gave him up so he could be with the bride his mother would have him wed, whereas you…” She shook her head. “You gave away your baby, didn’t you?”
Araminta was clearly rattled and not nearly as robust in spirit as Kitty had assumed, for she immediately burst into tears. “
“So you guessed? Or did that awful woman you took me to that night—your landlady—tell you?”
At first, Kitty had no idea what she was talking about. Then the terrible realization struck her. She had heard a baby mewling that night. And it had been her half-sister’s. Kitty had helped Araminta. Aided and abetted her in this terrible deed. The carriage was rattling along at a sedate pace through a disreputable part of town, and she could hear the sounds of street brawling and fighting cats. But nothing so sordid or terrible as what she was hearing now. “No! Surely it can’t be possible. Your baby was born that night? While I was there?”
Araminta dropped her hands. Her eyes were luminous and glistening with tears. A mortal terror crept into them. “I thought I heard Mrs. Montgomery tell you so.”
“She mentioned a baby. I assumed…perhaps it was the reason your first season had been cut short. I’d heard rumors…”
“Rumors about that?” Araminta’s cry was strangled.
Kitty shook her head, incredulous. “You…gave away Lord Debenham’s heir? But…why?”
“Oh Lord, are you so stupid! Why did I assume you knew everything? I chose you to be my proxy tonight because I thought you harbored suspicions, and I decided it was better to keep you close and find out what you know while I was at it. Well, I’m not going to say another word.” She hunkered down with her hands covering her face, but Kitty persisted.
“You’ve told me too much now not to tell me the rest. You are clearly in great danger if Mrs. Montgomery knows that you gave away Lord Debenham’s heir…for a diamond necklace.”
Araminta dropped her hands and, in the first physical gesture ever between the two sisters, gripped Kitty’s wrists. Her fingers were surprisingly strong, and Kitty wondered if she’d been in the habit of pinching her younger sister. She’d not seen much of Hetty but remembered when she’d spied at The Grange that the younger sister often looked sad, or as if she’d recently been in tears, however at Araminta’s birthday she’d looked radiant. Now, when she chanced to see Lady Banks as she was now out in public, she looked the picture of newlywed bliss, and Kitty had heard remarks whispered about the uncommon fondness of Sir Aubrey for his unlikely wife.
Clearly, Araminta did not enjoy such marital felicity. Giving Kitty a final vengeful squeeze, she dropped her wrists and leaned back into the squabs. “You have no idea about it! The child was early and clearly not Lord Debenham’s. Can you imagine what would have happened to it, or to me, if he’d learned the truth? His pride would not have borne being publicly cuckolded, yet as the child was born within wedlock, he’d have legally had to accept it. But he’d have had his revenge. Both on me and the child. What option did I have other than to ensure it went to a good home? One that your landlady found, and for which I paid handsomely. I can’t tell you what trouble that diamond and ruby necklace has caused.”
“Indeed,” Kitty remarked, wryly, her thoughts nevertheless mostly consumed by the shock at learning this news. “But…but you have a child. One that Lord Debenham is happy to consider his heir.”
“Yes, and I shall answer no questions about that. Suffice to say that Lord Debenham is satisfied.”
“He’s not kind to you?”
Araminta rolled her eyes. “No, he’s not kind. In fact, I wish he were dead.”
Not knowing what to say to such a terrible desire, Kitty peered a little closer and saw that she was biting her lip, clearly trying not to cry. Then Araminta burst out, “Promise me you’ll not blackmail me! I truly thought you knew…had discovered the truth that night…and that it was you who’d sent the blackmail note.”
“But you asked me to come with you.”
“I’d thought to expose you. I expected no one would come at midnight, and then suddenly you’d announce that you knew everything.”
“And then what were you going to do? Hit me over the head?”
Araminta let out an amused snort. “I hadn’t thought that far. Actually I was going to propose that if I saw to you achieving your heart’s desire, or something within my means to grant you, that you’d withdraw your threats to expose the truth about…you know.”
“Well, it’s beyond your power to grant me my heart’s desire, since all I really want to do is marry Lord Silverton who is due to wed Miss Mandelton in a few weeks. And I want to see Lissa happy and able to marry Ralph. Those are the two things I want more than anything, but even though you’re not in a position to grant those, I’m certainly not about to unmask you. I should warn you about Mrs. Montgomery, though. She seemed quite cowed when she left, but she’s pure evil. I wouldn’t trust her at all.”
Kitty was sti
ll thinking about the child and that she should question Araminta more, but then the carriage came to an abrupt halt, and the jarvey called out that they were at their destination.
“Good night, Miss Bijou. You shall have to walk from here, I’m afraid. I do acknowledge that I owe you a debt of service, though.” Araminta appeared distracted as she glanced up at the window of her townhouse. A light shone in a window of the second floor.
“Are you afraid?” Kitty had always been impulsive and knew she had no right to ask such a question.
Araminta looked at her for a long time, and a play of emotions crossed her face in the gaslit gloom. Then she laughed as she gripped the door frame. “I’m married to Lord Debenham. What could I possibly be afraid of? And now he’s taking me to Lady Richmond’s ball, where I shall dance the night away with not a care in the world, and people will whisper and wonder if I really am happy with a man who has such a sinister reputation, but then they will say, ‘Well, lucky for Lady Debenham she produced an heir for her husband in a timely nine months. At least, she has done her duty’.” She leaned forward, gathering her cloak around her and preparing to quit the carriage as the jarvey stood with the door open, adding in a whisper, “And the fact I’ve done my duty is the only thing that keeps me safe from my husband’s erratic temper.”
Chapter 19
Another London entertainment. It was strange how weary not dancing made Lissa feel. No one ever danced with the governess, and although Lissa would strenuously deny wanting to, the truth was that each time she accompanied Lucinda and Lady Julia to such events, she was ever more consumed by the idea that this was a world from which she was forever barred, and yet it was…Ralph’s world.
“The girl is looking in fine form. Let us hope she behaves herself.” Lissa glanced up at Lady Julia, who muttered this as she wafted past in crimson chiffon leaving the lingering scent of bergamot behind her; a musky, sultry scent that matched the look in her eye which she directed toward Lord Beecham whose side she now joined.
Lissa wondered what had happened that the pair had mended relations, since Lady Julia had returned recently from a few days visiting her husband at their country house. Certainly, she appeared to be in high spirits, the almost lighthearted atmosphere in the Beecham household a contrast to the heavy, recriminatory cloud that had lain so heavily upon the occupants before she’d gone away for her short sojourn.
Lissa nodded. Indeed, it seemed an answer from her wasn’t required as Lady Julia was now occupied with far more interesting company. And indeed, wasn’t that the way it was with Lissa. She was below anyone’s notice—the drab, dowdily-dressed governess, whose duty was to keep an eye on her wayward charge while her own life slipped by.
“My Lord but you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Self-contained she might be, but Lissa was unable to stop her gasp as she glanced up into the face of her own true love. Ralph smiled down at her, the familiar crease lines about his eyes making her want to trace them lovingly. Instead, she shook her head as he begged, “Stand up with me for this one?”
“You know I can’t,” she whispered, fearful their exchange might be noticed by anyone who mattered. “We’re not supposed to know one another, Ralph.” She lowered her eyes to the worn hem of her skirts beneath which even more worn slippers peeped. Only a few inches away were Ralph’s well-polished shoes, and above that his finely-cut evening trousers. She slid her eyes upward again, thinking what a fine figure he cut and wondering how he dared—or even wanted to—court the unlovely governess she was.
“We’re going to know one another all too well before the year is out, Miss Hazlett. I’m going to marry you,” he vowed, bowing. “And soon! This waiting is killing me.”
“Oh Ralph, it’s killing me, too. And here I am, doing absolutely nothing that’s making any difference at all when I simply want to throw myself into…doing something. Anything other than biding my time.”
“You’ve already had one close call, my dearest. Stay safe, that’s all I ask.”
Lissa sent him a rueful smile. “I think I shall die of staying safe if such a thing is possible. Have no fear, Ralph. There is not the slightest bit of danger that threatens me. I just worry for you.”
She glanced across the room to where Lord Debenham was, surprisingly, in the company of his wife. The pair had arrived shortly before, Araminta looking regal in a gown of gold net over a cream underslip. “Go, Ralph, before he sees you talking to me. Oh dear, Miss Lucinda is looking at us. I hope she doesn’t ask questions.”
She lowered her head, repelled by another sight of her worn dancing slippers, and wondering how she’d have felt had she donned the beautiful pale green confection Kitty had had delivered to her this evening. She’d been sorely tempted, at the same time as knowing it was totally impossible to appear dressed in public in the first stare. Think of the questions she’d be subjected to by Lady Julia and Miss Lucinda. Not to mention the suspicion Lord Beecham would harbor.
“Now there’s a handsome couple.” Lady Julia was back at Lissa’s side, pointing now toward the dance floor. Lissa squinted and felt a curious emotion at the sight of Ralph partnering Lucinda in a quadrille. “The girl looks positively thrilled. Of course, she is not properly out, so I hope she doesn’t set her sights on a sixth son when she could do better. Not much, mind you.” She looked thoughtful. “Perhaps there’s a match in it, after all. He has the name; she has the fortune.”
“It’s a first dance!” Lissa said with far too much energy, for Lady Julia blinked in surprise before, to her relief, dropping the subject.
“Of course it is, and I’m getting carried away. Goodness but I hope we get that girl fired off before I have to endure a second season.”
Lissa was still feeling unaccountably distressed as Lady Julia drifted away. So much so that when she saw Ralph disappear into the passage, she incautiously rose and followed him after whispering to Lucinda that she needed to attend to nature’s call.
He turned when he was halfway down the passage having sensed her presence, his delight transparent as he came toward her. “My dear girl!” He broke off, masking his feelings as a gentleman entered the corridor, but as soon as he’d passed, Ralph furtively gripped Lissa’s fingertips and gave them a squeeze before dropping them.
“Is everything all right?”
“Oh Ralph, I saw you dancing with Miss Lucinda, and then Lady Julia started speculating out loud about the merits of a possible match between you, since she has a fortune and you —”
“Miss Lucinda Martindale?” He looked as if he’d never heard anything so outrageous. “And me? Why, I’ve never met her and we danced but once. Surely Lissa, you can’t believe I’d…”
Lissa felt all the fight and energy and optimism she’d ever had drain from her. “Oh Ralph, I’m no good for you. You say you want to marry me, and nothing would make me happier, but the truth is that I have not a penny to my name and, in fact, no name to speak of. There are too many obstacles—”
“What are you saying?” He was clearly incredulous. And hurt, too, Lissa realized as he added, “Do you doubt my ability to rise in the world fast enough to enable us to marry before you’re too old to hobble up the aisle? Lissa, have patience.”
“Oh Ralph, I have that, and I have faith in you in abundance. But…” she was trying not to cry, she who was so brave, “…when I saw you with Miss Lucinda it opened my eyes to how many other eligible young ladies—and their mamas—would be eyeing you. And it made me realize that your family would be so much more amenable to you making a match with them. Anyone other than me. My father might be Lord Partingon, but that makes not a jot of difference for he’s never acknowledged me, and he won’t, and nor would it make any difference if he did for I was born in sin and my crime is too great. No matter what I do, I can never escape that fact. One day, the time might come when you have to choose between your family and me, and I can’t bear to be the wedge that—”
She couldn’t finish for he’d swiftly dipped hi
s head and stopped her with a very firm, albeit very brief, kiss. There was also a grim determination in his entire attitude, as he canvassed their surroundings before seizing her hand and whisking her through the closest door.
They happened to find themselves in a small, chilly antechamber that was in total darkness, which is perhaps why Lissa completely lost her head, she thought later, and succumbed to Ralph’s passionate kiss. If she’d had any consciousness of her surroundings, she knew she’d not have twined her hands behind his neck and pulled him down to her with such single-mindedness, as if to wring from their brief opportunity every last drop of passion.
She didn’t care. Neither then nor later, for the flare of feeling and the conflagration of need swept away her despondency, replacing it with fervent determination. This was so right. She and Ralph were of one mind, and someday the church would unite them legally as one.
“Oh Ralph, I do love you so very much,” she whispered when they drew apart breathlessly.
“Are you now convinced that my heart belongs only to you?”
His tone was back to normal—laconic, slightly amused, and ever so reassuring. His feelings for her had not changed one jot, and nor would they.
She reached up to touch his face, gently contouring the planes of his forehead, nose, and lips. Being unable to see him charged her senses, and she felt a calm sort of happiness bubble up inside her. “One of the things I love so much about you is that you are so entirely dependable, my darling.”
“And not likely to be any different, where you’re concerned. Now, let me tidy your hair.”
“You can’t see me in the dark, and besides, I’m wearing a hideous cap. It’s a wonder you can bear to have anything to do with such an unprepossessing creature.
“To tell the truth, it’s rather a blessing you’re required to appear so downtrodden and mousey, I’ve always thought because you are far and away the beauty of your family.”
Lady Unveiled - The Cuckold's Conspiracy (Daughters of Sin Book 5) Page 17