Gwen held her breath. Thomas’s frown had grown even deeper. Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with interest and Aunt Celeste’s lips had hardened into a firm line that looked carved in stone.
She felt her insides tighten up into a ball and found it hard to get enough air. Her head grew dizzy, and she wondered if she was going to faint right here in front of Thomas and all of the ton.
“Imagine my surprise,” The earl continued as he turned to look directly at Gwen with a slimy smile. “… Upon hearing all of these tales I wondered if this might be the same Miss Harding I knew.”
“So you have already met?” Aunt Celeste asked. Her eyes narrowed in concern.
“Oh yes,” The Earl said. “We were betrothed only a year ago. Isn’t that correct Guinevere?”
The gasps of the people around her and the open-eyed shock on Thomas’s face were the last things Gwen remembered before the edges of her world collapsed into blackness.
.o0o.
Thomas’s arms automatically slipped behind her knees and across her back before she could fall to the floor. Ignoring the open-mouthed gasps and the smirk on Grainbell’s face the Duke marched across the room. To hell with them all.
“Go with him Isabel,” Celeste hissed.
Young Isabel fell in line and followed him. The crowd parted to let him through. One look at the scowl on his face was enough to know he would not be stopped.
“This way Your Grace,” Isabel said indicating his study. He had instructed Woods that the Study was off limits to his guests. Woods had ensured his privacy by stationing a footman outside the study door. Johnson’s face was creased in worry lines as he opened the door for them.
Thomas gently laid her upon the settee then stepped back to allow Isabel access. What did Grainbell mean betrothed? Was she promised to another, how was that possible?
Her innocent face was whiter that cold marble, her eyelids fluttered, opened then closed again. Was she all right? Please, make sure she is all right. A thousand faces from the battlefield jumped into his mind. Boys and men who had meant the world to him, but nothing had ever hit him like this.
Isabel kneeled next to her, placing her hand on her forehead. I should be doing something, I need to fix this were the only thoughts he could process.
“I will send for the doctor,” Thomas said.
“She only fainted Your Grace, she will be fine,” Isabel said. “Leave us for a moment. Send in her maid, we should loosen her clothes.”
Thomas stared down at the woman; his heart hurt from the fear running through his veins. Yes, her maid. At least he would be doing something.
“Johnson,” Thomas said as he stepped outside. “Get Lady Marshall’s maid, please.”
“Of course sir,” Johnson said before hurrying down to the servant’s quarters.
Thomas stood guard at the door. The last thing he wanted was anyone bothering them. He paced back and forth in front of the study door like a caged lion, his cane clicking on the hard floor with each step.
It couldn’t be true. If so, was she still betrothed? The thought made his anger boil and threatened to bubble over. He felt as if he were going into battle, the hate, anger and desire to destroy surfacing and taking control. Gritting his teeth, he turned and continued to pace.
Finally, Johnson returned with Celeste’s maid in tow.
“Help Miss Isabel,” Thomas said to the maid as he opened the door.
“No one comes inside except family, understood?” Thomas said to Johnson.
“Yes Your Grace,” The young man answered.
Turning away from the door, and the woman he cared so much about, Thomas returned to the ballroom. Everyone’s head turned to stare at him as he stepped into the room. Composing a neutral face, he made his way across the crowded floor to Celeste and Elizabeth.
So much hung in the balance. The next few minutes could be crucial to Gwen’s reputation, Elizabeth’s chances for a good match, and his future happiness. He wanted to strangle Grainbell he thought as he searched the crowd for him.
“How is she?” His aunt asked with a concerned expression.
“Isabel says she will be fine,” Thomas replied, fighting to hide his hurt and anger. “Where is Grainbell?”
“He left immediately. I do believe he has achieved his goal for the night. The man is absolutely ghastly.”
“Do you think …” Elizabeth started before she was interrupted by her Aunt.”
“Here comes Sarah and Lady Milbey, watch and learn,” she whispered to the young girl.
Turning Celeste smiled the confident, friendly smile, that only a lady of the ton could muster at such a moment.
“Celeste, how is the girl. All right I hope,” Lady Milbey said with a twinkle in her eye that belied every word she uttered.
“She will be fine,” Celeste assured them. “Young girls these days. Forgoing meals. Once again I have been proven right. We should have had a formal dinner before the ball.”
“Oh,” Lady Sarah said. “Yes, I agree, young girls are not made of the same stuff as our day. Isn’t that correct Dorothy?”
Lady Milbey looked skeptically at her peers. “Is it true that the Earl of Grainbell claimed they were betrothed?” Lady Milbey asked. It was obvious she was not going to believe the lack of food excuse.
“No, No, Dear, you must have misunderstood. The Earl of Grainbell claimed they were – Almost – Betrothed. A small word but so important in situations like this. Don’t you think Your Grace?”
Thomas didn’t miss a beat. “Yes, of course. Almost betrothed. There is quite a difference.”
Celeste picked up the story. “Miss Guinevere told us about the incident when she came to work for me. It seems the Earl was taken by her and offered for her almost immediately. But her family, once they learned what kind of man he was. You’ve heard the stories.” Here she shuddered as if a rat had crossed her parlor floor. “Anyway, they refused the offer.”
Silence greeted her story as Lady Milbey pondered for a moment.
“Really, I would have thought a merchant’s daughter would have been ecstatic to catch an Earl.” Lady Milbey said.
“Yes, well, from what I hear,” Celeste answered. “He wasn’t the only man of the ton interested. Maybe they thought she could do better.” Celeste said.
“Better than an Earl, that is awful ambitious don’t you think.”
“I don’t know, with her family’s connections to the crown …”
“Connections to the crown? I didn’t realize the Prince Regent knew her family. No one I know seems to have known them.”
Celeste laughed lightly as if to suggest that obviously Dorothy Milbey didn’t know the right people.
“Really Dorothy, you don’t think the Prince Regent would dance with just anyone do you. Why else do you think he went out of his way to find her at the Cuthbert’s ball?”
Lady Milbey’s mouth had dropped open in a most unbecoming way.
“Of course,” Celeste continued. “We can’t really talk about her family’s connections to the crown. It was all a war matter. Very hush hush. Isn’t that correct Thomas?”
The two older women looked at him as if he was the authority on all war matters.
“Yes, in fact, we have said too much already.”
“Oh Thomas, you don’t need to worry. Lady Milbey and Lady Sarah won’t say anything.”
Thomas looked at the two old biddies and marveled at his aunt. The two women looked like horses at the starting line, chomping at the bit to be let loose and share the news far and wide. He could see they were already trying to figure out whom to tell first and how they could embellish the story.
Before the night was out the Earl would look like a cast aside pursuer who had been put in his place by the lowly merchant’s daughter. A young and innocent girl who had become overwhelmed by his constant and unwanted attention. It was only when His Grace the Duke of Bathurst stepped in and confronted the scoundrel had she fainted into the Duke’s arms. Oh, it was so romant
ic.
Laughing internally with a sense of relief, Thomas bowed to the two woman and made his excuses about having to attend to the other guests as he led his aunt and his sister away.
“Elizabeth, I need to talk to your brother. Please go check on Gwen and let us know how she is doing,” Celeste said.
The young girl looked crestfallen; she didn’t want to miss a thing. At the same time, it was obvious she wanted to see about the wellbeing of her friend. Sighing gently, she nodded and left the two leaders of the family.
“Really Celeste, You are remarkable,” Thomas said.
Celeste smiled with pleasure as she accepted his compliment. “Yes, well it only works if she is not betrothed. If he has a marriage contract, then your goals may be seriously altered.”
The Duke’s eyes narrowed, and his forehead creased. “There are more than a few ways a contract can be broken. A meeting at dawn with pistols has been known to settle quite a few.”
“Thomas,” she gasped. “You can’t be serious.”
He stared into her eyes letting her know exactly how serious he was. There was no possibility his Gwen would ever be under that man’s control. He knew about Grainbell. The stories that circulated among the high-born were only those fit enough to talk about. From what he had heard, worse, much worse could be discussed when it came to the Earl. He had a penchant for hurting young women it was said.
“Yes, well, we will see. It wouldn’t be the first time a young girl ran from a mistake,” Celeste said.
“Gwen is not like that. There is no one braver. I am sure of it.”
Aunt Celeste looked at her nephew with a sad smile and shook her head.
“Don’t worry, I am sure there is no such contract. If there is, there won’t be for long,” Thomas said.
Chapter Twenty
Thomas let out a huge sigh of relief as the last guest left for the evening.
“Woods, Please tell the staff that they were wonderful tonight and to thank them for me. I think they all deserve a bonus and an extra day off. Don’t you.”
“Yes Your Grace,” the butler said with a smile.
“Well Ladies, if you will excuse me I need a few minutes with the Sergeant Major. Celeste, I assume Miss Gwen and yourself will be staying the night? Woods have rooms been made up? Has Lady’s Celeste maid, Jenny, been given a room?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I also believe Miss Gwen is already upstairs and resting comfortably.”
“Good,” The Duke said with a short nod. “Sergeant Major, with me.”
The Sergeant Major fell into step behind his boss as they marched to the study. He closed the door behind himself and waited.
His Grace, the Duke of Bathurst, paced on the carpet, lost in thought. Then turned to his friend.
“I need you to find out everything possible about the Earl of Grainbell.”
“Yes sir,” The Sergeant Major answered.
“I want to know where he goes, whom he sees. Who are his friends? Who are his enemies? His debts, and investments. Everything. If the man thinks about sneezing, I want to know about it. Understood.”
“Yes, sir. What about the trip to the Lake District for next week.”
“That will have to wait. And Sergeant Major, I don’t want your inquiries linked back to me. Not yet. I will let you know when.”
“Yes Sir, of course. I understand.”
“Good, I will expect a report at breakfast.”
“Of course sir.” The ex-soldier paused for a moment. “Sir, if I might … Well, you know how we all love Miss Gwen …”
“Go on Sergeant Major,” His Grace said with a frown.
“Well sir, if you were … to need something to happen to the Earl. Well … I’m your man. I’ve heard of him and it ain’t a nice thought. I would … “
“That is enough Sergeant Major,” The Duke said quickly, interrupting him. “I will not hear of any plans or thoughts about someone conspiring against a peer of the realm. Is that understood?”
“Yes, of course, sir,” the Sergeant Major said as he came to full attention.
“Besides,” The Duke continued. “If anything needs to be done, I will be the one that does it. Understood?”
“Yes sir,”
Thomas sighed. “Thank you, my friend. I do appreciate it. But for now, get me the information I need.”
“Yes, sir. Tomorrow at breakfast you will have my first report.”
“Again, thank you,” Thomas said as he patted the large man on his shoulder.
After The Sergeant Major had left Thomas continued to pace. His head bent in thought. He needed to face her. It couldn’t be avoided. He needed to find out the truth, but he hesitated. What would he do if he found out she belonged to another man? What if she wanted to marry the Earl? Maybe it had always been her desire.
Had the feelings between them. The sparks, the energy. Had it all been a lie? Or worse. Had he been the only one to feel it? Maybe she was oblivious to his thoughts, his desires.
No. She came to you remember. That night. She had come to him.
But still, what did that mean. Maybe she had given up on ever seeing the Earl of Grainbell again. Now that he was here. Maybe that was why she fainted. The realization of all of her secret dreams and wishes.
Squaring his shoulders and gripping his cane until his knuckles hurt he left his study. It had to be one of the longest walks of his life.
Her bedroom door was slightly ajar. Using the head of his cane, he pushed the door open and peeked inside. Gwen was sitting up in her bed, surrounded by Celeste, Elizabeth, and Isabel. His heart let go. She looked fine. Her rosy cheeks glowed. Her hair was up in a cap. All looked right with the world.
Slumping in relief, he gathered himself and stepped into the room.
“Thomas!” Elizabeth said, her eyebrows rising in surprise.
Gwen saw him and their eyes locked for a moment. That look told him so much. She was going to be all right. He hadn’t realized how worried he had been until that moment.
They continued to stare into each other’s eyes for what seemed like a lifetime until she broke the gaze and stared down at her hands. She seemed to gather herself.
“I am so sorry Your Grace. I should have been more careful. Lady Celeste did warn me. I am sorry for ruining Lady Elizabeth’s coming out ball.”
“Oh Posh, Gwen.” Lady Elizabeth said. “You know that doesn’t matter. In fact, it added a little drama to the evening. The important thing is that you are all right. Isn’t that right Thomas?”
“Yes, quite right. The important thing is that Miss Gwen is all right,” Thomas said without looking away from the woman in the bed.
An awkward moment settled over the group. No one seemed to know what to say next. The issue of the possible betrothal hung over everyone like a giant rock ready to fall at any moment.
“If you will excuse me, ladies. I need to talk to Miss Harding alone,” Thomas said.
“Your Grace,” Isabel said with a gasp. Obviously the idea of him being alone in a bedroom with an unmarried young lady was unthinkable. But he didn’t care. He needed to talk to her. Alone. Now. This could not be put off any longer.
“Come along girls,” Celeste said, shooting him a look that could have frozen water. If he did anything to hurt Gwen, he would be answering to her.
“But … “
“No buts. It will be all right. It is only for a few minutes, and Gwen is family. There is nothing to worry about I assure you.”
The three women left. Celeste turned at the last moment and glanced back, but Thomas remained rigid. She sighed to herself then gently closed the door.
Once they were gone, he turned back to Gwen. “You truly are all right?” he asked.
“Yes, Your Grace. I am fine. Again I am sorry. I can assure you in the future I will endeavor to ensure I eat something the day of a ball. Especially one given by the family. I am sorry for any embarrassment I caused.”
Thomas didn’t really listen. He had heard what he wa
nted when she said she was fine. Instead, he started to pace. His leg hurt. But then it always hurt. The energy and worry buried deep in his gut wouldn’t allow him to stop.
He would take three steps in one direction then turn and march three more in the other. All the while his mind raced as he tried to figure out what to say.
Gwen watched him. She bit her lower lip but didn’t say anything until it seemed she couldn’t keep quiet anymore.
“Please Your Grace, Sit down. It doesn’t feel right to be here, in bed … with you standing. I would feel more comfortable if you sat.”
He stopped and stared at her bed for a moment. His eyes lingered on the edge. A perfect place to rest. Instead, he let out a deep breath and pulled a chair from near the fireplace. Turning it towards her, he sat down.
“Are you betrothed?” he blurted out.
.o0o.
Gwen swallowed hard. She had dreaded this moment. Had cringed in bed at night thinking about what it would be like to tell him. Her heart ached to see his worried frown. There was no avoiding it. She would have to tell him and live with the embarrassment.
Lowering her head, she stared at her hands again. “No,” she said. “I am not betrothed.”
“But?” He asked. He didn’t smile. That simple answer would not be enough. “Why would the Earl of Grainbell be under the impression that you were?”
She took a deep breath then looked at him, her eyes had become misty, and she was terrified she was going to cry. Not now she begged. Not in front of him.
“The Earl of Grainbell is mistaken; I never agreed to any such betrothal. Not officially, at least.”
His Grace winced. “What does ‘Not officially’ mean?”
“It means,” she said with a small sigh. “That I never signed any papers. My step-father may have. But I didn’t. I never agreed to marry him.”
His Grace seemed to relax for the first time since coming into her room.
“Does that mean you do not wish to marry him? That …”
“Of course I don’t want to marry him. How could you think such a thing? The man is a cad, a reprobate, and evil scum. How could you think that?”
The Reluctant Duke (Love's Pride Book 1) Page 15