by Laura Landon
Laia’s face heated to the point that she knew she was bright red. Not a becoming color for her. “I . . . I . . . I mean to say I would never . . .” Oh, God. How did one not confess to thinking he might wish the duke would never have a child?
Mr. Paulet patted her hand. “Don’t swallow your tongue. Not many people know I have my own fortune. To be frank, becoming the Duke of Bolton would be a blasted nuisance.”
“I see.” Or understood that when he had said what he had about his uncle, he was speaking the truth as he knew it.
Laia still believed that her father would not give her to a man who was complicit in the deaths of his wives. She would not broach the subject again with Mr. Paulet. To do so would either insult him or force him to slander his uncle.
Still, it behooved her to discover exactly what had happened to the previous Duchesses of Bolton. She would speak to Meg or Damon this evening. If anyone could discover the truth, they could. And if the duke was suspect, surely her father would not make her marry the man.
That evening when she entered the drawing room for dinner, she was surprised not to see her brother and sister-in-law. Not only that, but Mr. Paulet was absent as well, and she felt the loss. How strange that she could miss someone she had known for only a day.
CHAPTER FIVE
The next morning as Laia waited with her family and Mr. Paulet for the other group to arrive, her brother again mentioned Lady Sarah, and this time Laia was certain she had heard the lady’s name mentioned at Quartus’s wedding to Anna. “Isn’t she the woman Father wished to marry to Quartus?”
“She is,” Damon said. “However, she was already betrothed to Mr. Bellingham.”
That didn’t make any sense at all. Father had no reason to go around attempting to break betrothals. “I do not understand.”
Before her brother could answer, the sound of hooves on the cobblestone street reached them, and Mr. Paulet pulled the curtain in the front parlor aside. “Our fellow explorers have arrived. And, if I am not mistaken, our horses are entering the square. At least, I recognize my roan and did Hawksworth not tell me that Lady Laia has a long-tailed gray mare?”
She went to the window. “Yes. That is my Eleanor. What a handsome fellow you have, sir.”
“He has served me well. I would never have escaped Corunna alive if it had not been for him.”
“Even without being told, I assumed by your bearing that you were a military man. But Mama said you served with my brother.”
“We were in the same unit,” he said, but did not elaborate. “That is how we became friends.”
She had read the dispatches in the newssheets and read the letters her brother had sent letting them know he was still well. Her estimation of Mr. Paulet rose knowing he had been in the same hard-fought battles as Damon.
“What made you sell out?”
“My father died, and I was needed at home.” He flashed her a brief smile. “My mother convinced me I could serve my country better in parliament than on a battlefield. Boney had abdicated, and we had no idea Waterloo would take place.”
“My lord, my ladies, sir,” Perkins said. “Your horses and the other party have arrived.”
Laia, her family, and Mr. Paulet piled onto the pavement to greet the other group. After everyone was introduced, and mounted, they set off for the ride to Farley Castle.
The day was sunny and there were no clouds in the sky to mar their pleasure. She rode beside Mr. Paulet for the first hour discussing politics and listening as he told her about tonish society and restrictions on ladies.
“That won’t bother me at all. We are not allowed to go anywhere by ourselves.”
“You are a rare specimen, my lady. All my sisters chafed at the restrictions and could not wait to return to the country.” He grinned. “With husbands, of course.”
“Of course.” She returned his grin. If only she’d had the opportunity to attend a Season.
About half way to their destination, Lady Sarah, riding a bay mare, came up beside Laia. “This is great fun. Thank you for allowing us to join you.”
“I am glad you could come.” She and her sisters had only been allowed short visits with other young ladies and had no friends outside of their family. She hoped Lady Sarah would be her first. “I’m glad that Meg and Hawksworth knew you.”
“I cannot tell you how much I admire your brother and sister, and how grateful I am to them.” Lady Sarah’s countenance became solemn. “Without Quartus’s and their help, Jeremy and I would have had a much more difficult time.”
“I am glad they could assist you.” And not only Lady Sarah, but Frank and Jenny, and Quartus and Anna as well. Meg and Damon were her only relations that had the power to continuously defy Father without repercussions.
“As am I.” Joy filled Lady Sarah’s face again. “I had heard about you and your sisters and brothers from Lord Quartus, but I never dreamed we would have a chance to meet.”
Laia had never dreamed she would be in Bath and away from her father’s close supervision. “I heard about you as well.” She knew she should not be prying, but after what Damon said earlier her curiosity had to be satisfied. “How did you come to be engaged to Quartus when you were already betrothed to another?”
Lady Sara laughed lightly. “We were never actually betrothed. We simply allowed your father and my brother to think we were. It all started before my parents’ deaths. They had agreed that Jeremy and I could wed, but it had to be before my twenty-first birthday. He had gone off to India, you see, and Papa wanted to ensure I did not wait for him forever. We were allowed to write to each other and had been corresponding for years, but one or two of the letters never reached me.” She looked at her brother riding ahead of them and pulled a face. “For some reason, most likely because Markville and I were arguing at the time, I blamed him and never told him Jeremy was on his way home. He, quite naturally, believed that Jeremy would not arrive in time and I would lose an inheritance one of my great-aunts left me.” She glanced at Laia. “I had to wed by the time I reached my majority to receive it. Your father contacted Markville and proposed that I marry Quartus. You may imagine my chagrin. However, I still did not trust my brother, and when I told your brother I could not marry him, Quartus assured me I could trust him with my problems. I told him about Jeremy. He and your brother and sister helped us.”
Lady Sarah was fortunate she had met Quartus. “That sounds exactly like something they would do.” Laia repressed a shudder at her memory of the duke’s reaction. They had walked around on tip-toes for days afterward. “My father was livid.”
“Yes, well.” Lady Sarah shrugged as if the duke’s temper was no matter to her. As indeed it wasn’t. Lucky woman. “Meg thought Anna and Quartus were falling in love, and she knew your father would not approve of that match.”
“Quite frankly, I do not understand why he disapproved. Quartus is now consort to a duchess, and they are very happy.”
Lady Sarah’s lips pressed together in a thin line. Then she heaved a sigh. “I should probably not say this to you, as it is not proper for me to criticize your father. However, I was told by my brother that the duke was determined to obtain my dower property which shares a border with one of the Somerset properties.”
Laia’s heart dropped to her stomach then bounced into her throat threatening to choke her. It was several moments before she could speak again as the conversation she had overheard between Meg and Damon came rushing back to her. Laia had not wanted to believe that all her father cared about was increasing the dukedom’s wealth.
Hoping there was another answer, she asked, “Was that the only reason?”
“As far as I know it was.” The other lady frowned. “At least that’s what my brother told me, and I have no reason to disbelieve him.”
As she now had reason to doubt her father, Laia wondered if a piece of property was being traded for her and, if so, which one it was. Still, did it really matter? No matter her father’s reasons, she was engaged to
be married. Father had sent her mother a letter stating that the settlement agreements had been signed. What choice did she have other than to wed Bolton? Her father would disown her if she attempted to jilt the duke. One of her brothers might take her in, but she would have made her sisters’ situations worse than they already were. Especially Euphrosyne’s. She would be the next one to marry.
“Have you met the Duke of Bolton?” Lady Sarah asked. “I understand that he has been married a number of times. Then again, he is quite old is he not?”
Before Laia could respond, Jeremy Bellingham and Mr. Paulet rode up to them.
. . .
“Bellingham is missing his bride.”
Mr. Paulet grinned as he took his place beside Laia, and Lady Sarah dropped back next to her husband.
“May I bear you company?”
“Of course.” Laia summoned a smile. She might as well enjoy herself while she could. Suddenly, the future did not look as happy as she thought it would be. “Tell me, have you been to Farley Castle before? The guide books said there are relics.”
He slanted a humorous grin at her, the corner of one lip twitching. “Have you ever seen a relic, my lady?”
“No. I have read about them, but I have never seen one.”
“Then I shan’t ruin the surprise.”
“Have you seen them?” she asked, wondering if he was making a May game of her.
“I have seen relics on the Continent, but they were papish ones. I doubt this chapel will have anything so gruesome.”
“Well of all the things to say.”
She frowned at him, but his lips just curved up and his eyes twinkled.
“Impossible man.”
He burst out laughing.
“I shall ask my brother. He will tell me.”
“No, no.” He held his hand up while he brought himself under control. “The ones I saw in Spain were bones of those believed to be saints or martyrs.
Unable to hide her disgust, Laia wrinkled her nose. “Bones?”
“Yes. They were dressed in rich clothing and jewels. I greatly doubt that one would find such a thing in England.”
“I certainly hope not.” Just the idea of looking at dead people made her want to shiver.
Guy didn’t think he had ever met anyone, outside of a young child, who was as innocent and open as Lady Laia. Her naiveté could not last, of course. According to Damon, the whole idea of this sojourn in Bath was to teach her what any other young lady would have learned preparing for her first Season.
Laia was well educated, clever and quick witted, and would soon understand that she must hide behind a polite smile to survive. A part of Guy was sorry that he’d have to witness the change. Then again, another part of him looked forward to watching her as she navigated the social world of Bath. He had no doubt she would soon have them all—the gentlemen young and old and the old biddies—at her lovely feet.
By the time autumn came, she would be able to navigate the haut ton with ease. The only question was which gentleman would be by her side.
Despite the fact that he was drawn to her, any woman he wed must be able to take up the role of political hostess. Meg had been correct. In order for his career to advance he must have a wife. A single gentleman required a hostess for entertainments that included ladies. His aunt Harriett used to act as his hostess, but she had recently retired to the country. Was she trying to tell him he needed to marry as well?
It behooved him to discover where Laia’s interests lay. Although, if he fell in love with her it would not matter. Still, he should know if she was a Tory or had Whiggish tendencies. The latter would suit him well. “You mentioned that you followed your brother’s progress during the war. Are you interested in politics as well?”
She glanced at him, startled. “I am, but”—her cheeks colored once more—“we—that is, my brothers and sisters are not encouraged to discuss our views at home.” Her mouth twitched to one side in consternation. “Unless we agree with our father, that is.”
No surprise there. From what he had heard, the duke did not entertain dissenting opinions from anyone on anything. Still, her answer seemed to suggest that she did not agree with Somerset. “Ah, but your father is not here. Therefore, you may express your beliefs freely and in complete confidence that you will not be betrayed.”
Staring at him, she drew one corner of her lower lip between her pearl-like teeth. “I suppose I may. I have read Wollstonecraft, and Bentham, as well as John Locke, and other philosophers.”
That sounded like a radical program for a young lady. “With your father’s permission?”
This time when Laia blushed, it was with a guilty shrug. “No. We had a governess who encouraged our reading. It all went well until Euphrosyne decided to argue with my father one day and used the Vindication of the Rights of Women as an example of him being incorrect.” Laia wrinkled her nose. “The governess left shortly thereafter.”
“Without a reference, no doubt.”
“I assume that is what my father thought, but Mama wrote her one in any event.” Laia glanced away for a moment. “I liked Miss Rushmount and was sorry to see her go.”
“Does the duke allow you to read the newspapers?” Many fathers did not.
“Oh, yes.” The smile returned and Laia’s eyes were shining again. “Naturally, we do not discuss what we have read in our father’s hearing. I understand that Hawksworth has become involved in supporting many of the Whig positions, even the more radical ones.”
“He has.” Guy should stop thinking of her as Laia and use her title, but he couldn’t seem to do it despite the fact that it would lead to a slip he’d have trouble explaining. “Meg is becoming famous for her drawing rooms, and is an adept political hostess.”
“That is not surprising. My mother said she encouraged my brother’s activities. I would love to become involved in her causes.” Laia’s tone was wistful but eager at the same time. As if she was counting the days until she could take more of a hand in events. That would not happen if she married his uncle. “As it is, I am only allowed to send a small amount of my pin-money.” She grimaced.
“Because of your father?” He was amazed she was allowed to support Lady Hawksworth’s causes at all.
“Oh, no.” Laia shook her head. “He doesn’t know anything about it. Meg will not accept more. She and my mother are making me save most of it. Truly, my sister and I have nothing to spend our money on at home. We are not allowed to go to the village very much.”
Laia’s brow wrinkled as if she was trying to figure out a problem, and he wanted to smooth it out with his thumb.
“But Meg says I may find myself in need of it in the future.”
If Laia wed his uncle, she might very well need funds of her own. Yet if she married him she would never be told how to use her funds. “I think it is a wise idea. One never knows what might happen.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “I am sure I will find a use for it at some point.”
They had fallen some distance behind the others. “You sit a horse well. Would you like to race to where the others are?”
Laia glanced around. “We won’t get in trouble, will we?”
“There is no one to tattle on you here.” Guy was egging her on and he should not. But she was so earnest. “If you are afraid . . .”
Her shoulders straightened even more than they were. “On the count of three.”
“One, two, three.” They took off at the same time.
For a while it looked as if they’d be evenly matched, but her mare was no match for his gelding once the horse got it in his mind to win. Still she kept up and Guy only won by a head.
“You, my lady, are an excellent horsewoman,” he said.
“Thank you, sir.” Her smile was broader than he’d ever seen it. “That was exhilarating.”
Hawksworth rode back to them. “Teaching my little sister tricks, are you?”
Guy raised his quizzing glass, leveling it at his friend. “Might I br
ing to your attention that we are not in Hyde Park? And there is no reason I can think of why she should not have a good gallop.”
“Hawksworth,” Laia said in a worried tone. “If I had known—”
“I was teasing you, Laia.” He smiled at her. “Paulet is absolutely correct. There is no reason why you should not race here.”
Her forehead was still creased. She really was worried about behaving wrongly. And he discovered an interesting desire to kiss her troubles away that had nothing to do with his growing lust for her. “Come, you two. We should rejoin the rest of our party.”
When they finally reached the cathedral, the first thing Laia wanted to do was look at the relics. As Guy had suspected, they were not skeletons covered in velvet and jewels, but old cups and other things from an earlier era.
“Well, what do you think?”
She pulled a face. “Believe it or not, I almost wish they were the relics you described. Now that I’ve got over my initial shock, I would like to see them.”
Guy resisted the urge to pull her closer to him. He could show them to her. “Perhaps someday you shall.”
CHAPTER SIX
The next morning, Laia was the first of the family down to breakfast, and she took the opportunity to start reading the newssheets Damon had sent to them by messenger. Mama told him they were perfectly content to read the papers after he was done, but he had insisted they should not wait.
The Times Laia had read many times before, but her father didn’t receive the Morning Post, calling it nothing but useless gossip.
After pouring a cup of tea, she took a piece of toast before eagerly perusing the first page. By the time she reached the court column she had laughed over a piece on the proud hound, dreamed of attending the balls and other entertainments depicted, and learned who had already left Town and who remained.
When Laia got to the third page, she almost dropped her tea cup.