A Scandal In the Making

by Bethany M. Sefchick

  For all of Cassandra's sharp words, she could fall silent at the worst possible times. Usually when the hurt went so deep that it all but crippled her with pain. Last night, she had been in pain and he had done nothing but hurt her even more.

  He was a cad and a bastard. However, he was also in love with his wife and it was time to tell her so - in a much kinder way than he had done last evening.

  "She could have mistaken my handwriting," Evan admitted haltingly, not able to meet Underhill's eyes. "I...am not certain but it is possible." Then he turned his gaze to Hathaway who was still sitting in that infernal chair, Jacob resting against the wall at his side. "I need to go to her. Now."

  "Aye, you do." Hallstone agreed grimly. "Your Cassandra is as willful as my Diana with a tongue twice as sharp and a temper to match. I don't think it will be easy to regain her favor, but if you love her, you need to try." He raised an eyebrow. "You do love her, do ye not?" The burr was back, something that only happened when the marquess was either tired or passionate. Today, Evan would assume the man was passionate about the subject, though the dark circles under his eyes told another story. Really, did none amongst them sleep well last night?

  Pushing himself to his feet, Evan swayed and would have fallen if Jacob hadn't been there to steady him. "I need to get home."

  "Easy there," Hathaway finally removed his arse from that bloody chair and came over to help Jacob steady Evan. "We'll get you home."

  "Now," Evan insisted, his head still spinning a bit as he leaned more fully against Jacob. "I need to go now."

  Before it was too late to save his marriage.

  Chapter Twenty

  "Cassandra!" Evan burst through the front door of Berkshire House without waiting to be admitted - or even bothering to knock - a little more than an hour later. "Cassie! Where are you?"

  Around him, the still-shadowy house was dark and silent, almost like a tomb and a wave of fear mixed with a chill of terror washed over him. Even now, someone should be up and about, shouldn't they? Servants and what not preparing to bring the household to life for the day? Wasn't that what he paid people for? Why was no one here?

  There was a flash of movement to his right, and he thought the retreating figure rather looked like Holcroft in some sort of ratty dressing gown rather than his pressed and proper butler's uniform. Well, whoever it was, the person was clearly not his wife, for he would recognize her lovely, curvy shape in an instant these days.

  "Cassie!" Evan called out again. "Please, Cassie! Answer me, I am begging you!"

  "She's gone, boy. Where did you expect her to be? Here waiting for you to accuse her of betraying you again?"

  Peering into the darkness of the entryway, Evan saw Aunt Louisa sitting in a high-backed chair as if she had been waiting for him all night. Knowing her, she probably had been. Still clad in her evening gown, her head topped with another enormous turban and matching feather, she looked like some sort of vengeful angel hell-bent on destruction. His destruction most likely. This did not bode well for him, he feared.

  "Where?" he demanded, all but sprinting across the foyer to where the old woman sat. "Where is she? Please. I need to see her." Pride be damned. He would beg for information if he had to. As he should have done last evening and did not.

  Louisa shook her head. "She's gone. As I said, why would you expect her to remain where she is clearly not wanted?" The old woman punctuated her words with a thump of her cane.

  "Because I love her! That's why!"

  Strangely, his aunt's face softened then and Evan could have sworn he saw tears pooling in her eyes for a brief moment. It was a rather abrupt change from her unmasked fury a mere moment ago. "Oh, Evan. My dear boy. Finally. There were times when I never thought I would hear you speak those tender words about our Cassandra. Hoped, certainly, but feared you wouldn't. That you would resist your heart until your dying breath." The old woman looked at him closely, as if her eyes were peering deep into his very soul. "She does not know, does she?"

  "Er, not exactly." The last thing he wished to do was tell his aunt precisely what horrid words he had flung at his wife, or just how badly he had bungled the entire situation. Though he feared he would have to do just that. "We had...words last night at the Knightly's ball. There was...ah...um...an incident. Of sorts."

  "With Matthew Taylor. Yes, I know." Franklin emerged from the darkness of the hallway behind Louisa. He placed his hand gently - almost tenderly one might say - on the old woman's shoulders and once more, Evan wondered what lay between these two, though that was a puzzle for another time. Now, his concern was only for Cassandra and where she had gone. "Harry Greer was by earlier to relay the information about the ugliness that transpired last evening with Mr. Taylor. The, ah, gentleman who accosted Lady Berkshire was most uncooperative regarding his motives so it took some convincing on our Harry's part to persuade him to leave. Our fine Mr. Greer also had some off-duty members of Bow Street escort the man to the nearest mail coach heading back to Essex. Felt it was necessary, sadly."

  Evan closed his eyes as relief washed over him. "The bastard is gone, then?"

  "And unlikely to return," Franklin offered, his voice quiet and yet somehow reproving at the same time. "I believe some of your friends also showed Mr. Taylor the error of his ways in attempting to come between a marquess and his marchioness. A man named Mr. Jacob Beeston sent them, I think. I gather they persuaded Mr. Taylor to depart for the country sooner than anticipated. And without his longed-for prize."

  Cassandra. Evan knew that his solicitor was speaking of Cassandra.

  "Again, I ask, does she know how you feel, boy? Or were you mutton-headed enough to let her go off without telling her? Without even trying? For you know our Cassandra." Louisa shook her head. "That girl is one of the most stubborn creatures I have ever met."

  "She knows but I doubt she believes in the sincerity of my words. I spoke them, but...I fear she does not understand that I truly meant them." Actually, Evan wouldn't be surprised if his wife suspected him of outright lying.

  The old woman gave him a speaking look. "And why would that be, pray tell?"

  "There was anger when we spoke," Evan confessed. "A lot of anger. Much like it was in the beginning between us, I fear."

  "Mutton headed idiot." Aunt Louisa was clearly disappointed in him and in truth, Evan was disappointed in himself. He knew better. More than that, he knew Cassandra.

  "I came upon her and Mr. Taylor in an embrace. Or what I thought was an embrace. In hindsight, I know that the bastard was attacking her, just as she claimed, but in that moment..." Evan couldn't finish the rest of his thought.

  Franklin adjusted his glasses. "In that moment, all you saw was the woman you love in the arms of another man," the solicitor finished for Evan. "Was that about what happened?"

  Evan nodded glumly. "After that? Well, we each said things, hurtful things. Though I did tell her that I loved her." He swallowed hard. "But only after she said those words first. And...well...I did not believe her, so I doubt that she believed me either." He closed his eyes, knowing that he had to confess the rest. "I also accused her of lying to me."

  "Regarding the child she lost." There was a knowing look in Louisa's eyes and Evan was speechless for a long moment.

  Finally, he dropped to his knees in front of his aunt and took her gnarled, withered hands in his. "How did you know, Auntie? For it took me quite some time to work out the truth." He paused. "But you...you knew from almost the first, didn't you?"

  Now it was Louisa's turn to fall silent and her eyes took on a faraway look. "Your Cassandra is not the first woman to lose a child in her early days. Nor will she be the last." There was so much pain in his aunt's words that Evan grasped her hands more tightly in his and kissed the worn flesh tenderly. His heart ached for her. "It took me only a day or two to understand what had befallen our Cassie. I wanted to urge her to tell you, or at best, offer her comfort, but it was not my place to interfere." She sighed softly. "At that point, I was
uncertain whether or not your marriage was truly one of convenience and felt it best not to interfere. Had I known that you two do, in fact, love each other? Then I would have pressed her to be honest and prayed she would listen to the advice of someone who has been where she is."

  Speechless, Evan sat back on his haunches. Had Aunt Louisa been with child when she was younger? When? Was that why his Uncle Moses had locked her away from the rest of the family? Had anyone else known? Whose child had it been?

  Looking up, Evan could tell that Franklin, at least, knew the truth of the situation for he was gazing down at Louisa with such tenderness that there was no question in Evan's mind that the sixty-ish solicitor was in love with the brash, slightly older woman seated before him. And likely had been for a very long time.

  "Where has Cassie gone?" Evan asked again, this time with a great deal of tenderness. "Please, Auntie. I need her. I...love her. And I want her back."

  Louisa slumped back in her chair, the events of the evening obviously taking their toll on her, as was the lack of sleep. "I'm not certain, my dear boy. I wish I could give you the information you seek, but I can't." She rubbed at her eyes, indicating her extreme tiredness and Evan could not blame her. He was tired as well. No one in London had slept last night, it seemed.

  "What do you know?" Evan prodded, hoping for some clue as to his wife's whereabouts.

  His aunt shrugged. "She returned early last evening in the family coach in something of a frantic state. Angry, crying, and raving about how she despised you." Louisa turned to glance at the solicitor still behind her. "Franklin and I attempted to calm her down and dissuade her from whatever rash course of action she planned to embark upon, but there was no reasoning with her. She had her mind set and within an hour, had packed a small valise and requested a fresh team be readied for her and Mellisande so that they might depart at once."

  "My lord, I pressed her to reveal her plans," Franklin offered. He, too, seemed utterly weary. "But she refused to be swayed. My guess, if I had to offer one? She has either gone to Brambly Fields or Snowfield. Those are the estates she knows best and has never even been to some of your others. There is a chance she went to Ivy Cottage, I suppose, but the last she knew, the home had tenants so it's an unlikely destination."

  "Are you going after her?" Louisa asked as she struggled to get to her feet.

  "I am," Evan confirmed. "As soon as it can be arranged."

  Franklin reached for the bell pull and within moments of being summoned, Holcroft appeared looking perfectly pressed and dressed - a far cry from the patchy dressing gown the man had been wearing when Evan had burst through the front door not so long ago. There was now no question in Evan's mind that he had seen the butler in a rather indecorous state of undress when he first entered.

  "Yes, sir?" the butler asked Franklin, seemingly well aware of who had summoned him. Odd that, but then Evan had the feeling his entire household was about to be upended in the coming weeks. If he could get his wife back, that was.

  "Lord Berkshire is preparing to depart for..." the solicitor trailed off, sending Evan a questioning look.

  "Snowfield," Evan supplied. He and Cassandra had spent a rather joyous Christmastide season there and he thought she would most likely return to the site of her happiest memories. "Though I might venture on to Brambly Fields, as well if I don't find what I seek at the first estate. Pack carefully, please, Holcroft, for I shall be traveling light. And fast." Time was of the essence, for he needed to find Cassie and quickly. Given her state, who knew if she would stay in one place for long?

  Franklin turned back to the butler as if he had a place within this household. Then again, given the way the solicitor was all but openly paying court to Aunt Louisa, he very well might in the coming days. "Prepare whatever the marquess would need for such a trip," the solicitor said crisply and once more, Evan was reminded of why he kept this man on, even after Uncle Moses' passing. He was bloody good and efficient at his job, among other reasons. He was also more family than he was a business associate.

  "Very good, sir. My lord." Holcroft gave a slight bow. "Will there be anything else?"

  "A bath," Evan called out. "As quickly as you can manage it. Though I highly doubt that I shall be ready to depart for an hour or so. Still, I...smell. Just a bit."

  Actually more than a bit, for Evan all but stank of stale ale, cheap whores, and even cheaper sex - despite the fact that he hadn't fucked any of the three women he had evidently brought to Noroc last night. He had, in fact, been true to his marriage vows, though that was largely due only to the quick and thoughtful intervention of Jacob. Underhill was right. The man really did need a raise.

  Just then Evan's stomach rumbled, reminding him that it had been some time since he had last eaten.

  "And some food for the boy, if you please, Holcroft." Aunt Louisa was finally steady on her feet but leaning heavily on her cane just the same. "I'm certain Cook has something edible lurking about. Rouse the lazy woman if you must, for I have no doubt she is using the late hour last night to stay abed for a bit longer than necessary."

  The butler bowed and once more, Evan was amazed at how easily his aunt took charge of the household. As if she had run her own household before in another time and another place. How much more to her life's story was there that he did not know? "As you wish, my lady. I shall see to it straight away."

  Once Holcroft was gone, Louisa turned back to Evan. It was not lost on him that Franklin was always at her back. Always there. Never interfering or pressing, but simply supporting her. That was what Evan desired for himself with Cassandra. He hadn't known it until this very moment, but he desired that sort of understanding connection all the same.

  "I say this now because we are all family here." Louisa thumped her cane again for emphasis, though it was not necessary. Evan was paying strict attention to the last person to see his wife before she had fled London. "You need to go bring our Cassie home, Evan. She is one of us and she needs to know that. I am not truly certain that she ever realized how deeply we all cared for her. She is of our blood now and she needs to understand that as well."

  Evan nodded. "I will find her and I will bring her home, Auntie. I promise. I love her and cannot and will not live without her."

  "Good." Then Louisa sighed again and once more, Evan could see the seven decades worth of years upon her face. "Now it is time for me to find my bed, I think. Franklin?"

  The solicitor patted her hand almost lovingly. "Go on, my dear. I shall be there to escort you in a moment."

  When his aunt had gone, Franklin turned back to Evan. "I say this as a friend and not your solicitor. When you find Lady Berkshire? Make certain she knows the true depth of your heart and your devotion. 'Tis not an easy thing, I am aware, but it is necessary. Sometimes, we are fortunate. Those we love and then lose come back to us eventually. Other times? We are not so lucky. Do not allow our Cassandra's story to end that way."

  Evan bowed his head. "I won't, Franklin. I swear it. I shall find Cassandra and bring her home where she belongs."

  "That is good to hear." Then the older man ambled off down the hall in the same direction Aunt Louisa had gone, once more causing Evan to wonder what was between those two.

  Well, once he found his wife, he would discover that truth as well. For if his aunt wished to wed, even at her advanced age, then Evan would not stand in her way. In fact, he would book the church himself if she wished it and throw her the grandest party London had ever seen. He had a family now. He might not have wanted that family at first, but he had been forced to accept them as his flesh and blood anyway. And now he would not trade them for all of the fortunes in the world.

  It had taken having his own happiness stripped from him to realize what a precious gift love truly was. If Louisa and Franklin were in love, then they deserved to be happy for as many years as they both had remaining. Evan would not stand in the way of that. If anything, he would encourage them.

  Just as he would not stand in C
assandra's way if she truly wished to leave him. For he had to accept that perhaps, just perhaps, he had hurt her so deeply that it was impossible for her to forgive him. However, he hoped and prayed that was not the case. And if she did agree to return home with him, even if she could not forgive him just yet? Well, then, he planned to devote the rest of his life to making her happy - and proving that he did love her. That in fact, he loved her more than life itself.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Town Tattler

  Well, is this decidedly not a fine turn of events. Who would have believed that a couple as seemingly in love as Lord and Lady Berkshire are now living apart? Oh, I know they were supposedly involved in a 'business arrangement' sort of marriage, but for anyone who believed that, I have some nice land in America to sell you right on Boston Harbor. I know there are those among us who would hope that the couple now officially begins leading separate lives, chief among them all of Lord Berkshire's former mistresses and the man who has spent the last month pursuing Lady Berkshire like a dog in heat - Mr. Matthew Taylor. I, for one, however, hope that this separation is short lived and the two resume their rightful place in Society soon. For if two people as in love as the Berkshires cannot make a marriage work, what hope is there for the rest of us?

  Elsewhere, our favorite Bow Street Runner, Mr. Harry Greer, was once more seen in the company of Lady Dory Tillsbury, this time at Gunter's, before strolling for a few moments in Hyde Park. Would these two just get on with things already? Honestly! Between Lady Dory and her sister Lady Aurelia and her beau, Lord Hunt, I cannot say which couple has become more annoying at this point. Mooning over a gentleman just will not do! A lady must take action! And I firmly suspect that these two women know how to get what they want. They are Frost's sisters, after all.