There was a ruckus on the street above the sitting room window.
“I think I should like to speak with Olivia, Mary. Can you arrange that for me? See if she can come here tomorrow at her dinnertime. I will, of course, feed her here.”
“Yes, My Lady.” Mary went to the window. She stood on tiptoes to peek out and spoke over her shoulder. “My Lady, it’s the Duke.”
“Atwater? He’s here?”
“No, My Lady, it’s Duke Carlisle.”
*******
Atwater was at Brooks’. It was the place he’d rather be than his own home. The diversions of brandy, cigars, and cards did much to soothe his nerves. He’d come to a decision about Judith. Everyone, even Tom, thought he should marry her and make the best of it. An heir was the most important consideration for him currently.
His decision was to go through with the marriage. He needed heirs. Judith needed a husband. The coveted rank of Duchess ensured that she would be a happy woman.
There was still something he couldn’t put his finger on, though. He had an intuition, maybe. But something seemed out of place. Judith had changed so. She was still beautiful, but her beauty had become icy cold. Her sparkling eyes held no emotion he could fathom. And in her voice something was different.
Atwater heard his name and came back to himself. “Tom. I thought I might find you here.”
“Right you are, once again.” Tom laughed, his blue eyes crinkled. “How goes it, Robert?”
“Well, I’ve been giving this marriage idea the go around.”
“Have you reached a decision?”
“I suppose I have. I don’t trust the woman. But she loves me; at least, I’ve succeeded in convincing myself that she does. I, however, don’t return the sentiment.”
“You don’t have to love her, Robert. Take a mistress. In our fathers’ time it was practically de rigueur.”
Robert shook his head. “That’s not the kind of man I am. My father never took a mistress.” He laughed. “Maybe that was his problem for all those years.”
“It’s bad luck to speak ill of the dead, Your Grace. Has no one ever told you that?” Tom grinned and gave his friend a wink.
“Speaking of the dead, Tom. Promise me. If I should die in my bed after my wedding, please remember this conversation. And understand that I was under duress when I made the decision to engage in matrimony with Lady Judith.”
Tom was still grinning. “It sounds to me as if you’ve come at it from every vantage point.”
“Maybe. I’ve decided to call on Lady Judith tomorrow to make my intentions known.”
“And Lady Phoebe? If you will not take a mistress, what is to happen to her?”
“Lady Phoebe is not the mistress type. Besides, she and Lady Judith were shopping today. Judith didn’t see me, but Phoebe did.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
“Nothing? Then why mention her at all?”
“You mentioned her, Tom.”
“Well ... then ... what happened?”
“My Dear Lord Thomas, do you have ill hearing? I’ve already told you. Nothing happened. Phoebe and I saw each other for a moment.” Atwater gazed up at the ceiling and studied the detail of the moulding.
Thomas observed his friend, and then laughed again, “No, My Lord. My hearing is impeccable.”
“Good to know. But, speaking seriously, Tom, there’s something I must tell you about Lady Phoebe.”
“Do tell. I love a good story as much as the next lady!”
“As a matter of fact, you do have an affinity for gossip the like of which I’ve seen only in a certain type of woman. The unmarried over sixty type. But, this isn’t gossip Tom. All jesting aside, I know I can count on your confidence.”
“Your Grace, that goes without saying. Go on,” Tom coaxed his friend.
“I have certain, uh, feelings. Feelings of a certain nature.”
“You’ve fallen in love with Phoebe. Am I right? Of course I am.”
“How did you know?”
“You’re not the closed book you think you are, Your Grace.”
“But everyone, including you, thinks I should marry Judith as soon as possible. When I saw Judith and Phoebe today, they were exiting a dressmaker’s shop. There were packages stacked into the carriage. Judith is having a trousseau made. I know it. I haven’t asked for her hand yet. Still she seems quite sure that she’s snared me. I don’t like to feel trapped, Tom. It makes me act ... in a peculiar manner.”
“Robert. You often act in a peculiar manner.” Tom chuckled. “I know you don’t like to feel as if someone, anyone, is holding you down. My question is why bother with marriage if you’re not in love with the one you’re going to be wed to? Why would you marry Judith if the mere thought of it causes you to feel nervous and uncomfortable? Until today, I wasn’t sure of your feelings for Lady Phoebe, Robert. I would never have pushed you towards Judith if I’d known Phoebe had your heart. You don’t have to marry someone you don’t love. You could court one, or both, of the ladies. Then make up your mind.”
“Tom! Lady Phoebe barely speaks to me. She acts towards me as if I’m an ogre. I have an idea of what she’s heard about me from the gossips. But she and Judith are friends. I imagine she’s heard many unsavoury things about me.”
“They are not friends.”
“What? Of course, she’s heard terrible things about me. I daresay Judith has painted me in the poorest of lights.”
“Phoebe and Judith are not friends. It’s my opinion that Lady Phoebe tolerates Lady Judith.”
“Has she told you that?”
“She has not.”
“Then what makes you think it?”
“I know Lady Phoebe, Robert. You forget; she’s like a sister to me.”
“Your dear little sister who despises me. Have you noticed how she barely looks at me?”
“Robert, don’t be silly. I’ve told you my theory on that many times. You can be, well sometimes you can be intimidating.”
“What? I can be what?”
“You can be imposing and unapproachable.”
“Oh, of course, I’m so imposing. Yes, I forgot how imposing and unapproachable I am. And dear, sweet Lady Phoebe is so timid and shy. She went to Paris, after boarding school, and then lived in Paris for two years. Tom, I don’t believe there’s a shy bone in Lady Phoebe Sinclair’s body. Sweet, very much. Shy. No possibility.”
Tom studied his brandy. It was something he liked to do when he was thinking. And when Robert was rambling. “You know, Robert, you might think of ...” A young waiter arrived with more brandy and a note for Atwater.
Robert took the note and opened it. His eyebrows rose as he read. Tom sat patiently waiting to hear the contents.
“Well? What does it say? Who is it from?” Tom could wait no longer.
“It’s from Phoebe.”
Tom shifted in his seat. “That’s interesting. I thought she despises you.”
“Very amusing, Tom. Very amusing. She says Carlisle is in London. He’s at Wimpole Street ... he’s there now.”
Tom stood quickly, swallowing his brandy in one gulp. “We must go, at once.”
“Hold on a minute, Tom. I cannot save every damsel in distress. You tell me everyone says I should marry Lady Judith. You tell me everyone says I need to beget an heir. What would it look like, to everyone, if I were to be seen entering or leaving Lady Phoebe’s townhouse?”
“Let us dispense with sarcasm for a few minutes, shall we? Carlisle is at Wimpole Street. Phoebe needs your help. I can’t do much, being as I’m a second son ... something you’re familiar with. Phoebe is smart. She asks you to come because you are a Duke. And as such, you are on equal footing, at least as far as title goes, with Carlisle. Besides, why shouldn’t you go? You’re not betrothed yet, regardless of what Lady Judith says to everyone.”
“You present an excellent argument, Tom. Let us go then.” Robert stood. The pair went out the side entrance of the club and
back to the mews. Dan was talking with Mary in the stable. “Here they are now, Miss Mary.”
“Thank you, Dan.”
“Think nothing of it, Miss.”
“Your Grace … Duke Atwater.” Mary appeared from behind the stable door and curtsied to the two men.
“Mary, is there more bad news? Your mistress has written that Duke Carlisle is in London.”
“Yes, Your Grace. He is.” Her eyes sought Tom’s, and then she looked down quickly.
“We’re going to Wimpole Street now. Come. We’ll escort you back.”
“But Your Grace, there’s something else I must tell you. My Lady Phoebe said it was no business of hers, but I believe she would have told you once you arrived at the townhouse.”
“You believe she’d tell me what?”
“About Lady Judith, Your Grace. I felt you needed to know sooner. Lady Phoebe said to tell you if I wanted to. Lady Phoebe said it was not her concern.”
“What is not her concern? Something having to do with Lady Judith?” Atwater frowned and looked at Tom.
“Lady Phoebe said she had no right to come between you and your betrothed with something that might at best be speculation and at worse an outright lie.”
“Mary, come. Get in the carriage. You can tell us what this story is while we ride back to the townhouse.”
Tom helped Mary inside and took the seat across from her. Atwater sat next to her. Once they were ensconced inside the carriage, they rode around the side of the building and to the front of the club. They took the front way back to Wimpole Street.
“Now. What is all this about falsehoods?”
“Your Grace, I have, what I’m about to tell you, in strict confidence from a very good friend. But I had to tell Your Grace. I believe it to be very important.”
“Do go on, Mary. I have a high regard for your opinions.”
“A friend of mine, worked for the Bennington’s at Nonsuch ... their country house. When the estate was sold, most of the staff went travelling with Lady Judith and the Countess. Then, when Countess Bennington passed away on the journey, the travelling party split into two groups. One group, which included my friend, stayed with Lady Judith. The others disbanded.”
“And how is this relevant to Carlisle’s appearance in London?”
“It’s not ... directly relevant, Your Grace. My lady is trying to talk herself into marrying Duke Carlisle. She doesn’t want to lose Mrs Crabtree, Mr Harris or myself. His Grace threatens to sell the house on Wimpole Street, and Pinebrook Manor. Lady Phoebe has nowhere to go if she doesn’t marry him. She has no one but Mrs Crabtree and Mr Harris. And me. If she marries His Grace, there’s a chance we three might be allowed to stay with her. Albeit in Scotland, but there are worse things, I imagine.”
“If Lady Phoebe is considering marrying Carlisle, why did she send me a note asking for help?”
“She is afraid of him, Your Grace.”
“Well, I can’t run to Edinburgh whenever your mistress is feeling frightened, Mary. You know that.”
“I do, Your Grace. But when I tell you the rest of what I have to tell you, you will understand better.”
“Mary. Please continue with the rest of the story.” Tom sat back, smiling at her.
“Well, Your Grace, My Lord, my friend, Olivia, has just been employed at the St James house of Lady Judith. The housekeeper hired her. Olivia recognized no one of the staff. So she didn’t make known the fact that she’d been employed with the family previously. She didn’t know if it would work in her favour or not. The housekeeper and the butler were impressed with her letters of reference, and she was hired. She assists the cook.”
“That’s wonderful for her. And what part of this has to do with Duke Carlisle, Mary?” What was the girl getting at? It seemed that since Judith had come back to London, every conversation Robert had became a maze of indirect statements and elusive phrases.
“Your Grace. My friend, Olivia, was with Lady Judith and the Countess during their tour of Europe.”
“I see.”
“No, you do not, Your Grace. If I may be so bold, you do not see.”
Tom and Robert looked at each other, amused at Mary’s audacity.
“Your Grace. Olivia recognizes Lady Judith.”
“Well of course she does. Why would she not? Lady Judith has changed very much, but she is still recognizable.”
“No. Your Grace, it appears,” Mary looked down, twisting her hands in her lap.
Atwater was growing impatient. “How does it appear, Mary?”
“It appears that Lady Judith is not who she says she is.”
“I’m sure I don’t understand.”
Tom leaned forward. “Mary, are you playing a game with us?”
“No, no, My Lord. Your Grace. Please, you must listen to me.” She looked from one to the other of them.
“I apologize, Mary. I shouldn’t have said that. I know that you are quite serious,” Tom offered pleasantly. “Come now. His Grace and I will listen with no more interruptions. Is that correct, Your Grace?”
“Yes, My Lord. That is correct.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. Thank you, My Lord.” Mary continued with her tale. “Lady Judith had a lady’s maid by the name of Charlotte Evans.”
“Did she disband with the others, or did she stay after the Countess’s death?” Tom was, once again, leaning forward.
“She stayed, My Lord, as did three other staff members ... butler, housekeeper, and cook. Charlotte was quite beautiful according to Olivia. So beautiful, and very much like Lady Judith. The two were often mistaken for sisters.
Then came the night there was a ball given in Lady Judith’s honour. The travellers were in Seville. The Countess Bennington had expired a year earlier. On the night of the ball, Lady Judith wasn’t feeling at all well, but she couldn’t miss the fete. It was in her honour. It would be rude not to attend. Even illness would not excuse her.”
Robert and Tom looked at each other questioningly. Robert was getting a strange feeling in his stomach.
“What happened?” Tom asked.
“Lady Judith asked Charlotte to attend the ball in her stead.”
“She asked Charlotte to go and pretend to be her?” Robert was flabbergasted.
“Yes, Your Grace. Olivia, herself, dressed Charlotte that night. And a greater likeness between two unrelated women was never to be seen. The party went off without a hitch. The lady’s maid, Charlotte, was a huge success in the guise of Lady Judith. No one suspected a thing. And then, the next morning, Lady Judith did something most peculiar.”
Atwater was perplexed. The strange feeling in his gut was intensifying. He questioned Mary, “What took place the next morning?”
“Lady Judith let the other three staff members, who had stayed with her, go. She kept only her lady’s maid. She said she would be needing only Charlotte. And Your Grace, she left the former staff with no provision. She gave them no letters of reference. And then she left Seville that very day.”
Love Stories of Enchanting Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection Page 66