“Those letters were from his wife?” Diana asked faintly.
Bedford nodded grimly.
“I’m afraid so. They’ve been married for years. The two of them wanted a rich lifestyle but didn’t have the money. So they started stealing. Their plan was for Neville to marry a wealthy young woman so her wealth–dowry, inheritance, everything–went to him, divorce her and then move Mrs. Hardy in.”
It was a disgusting plan and Bedford was sure Neville hadn’t thought through the fact that the wedding to the wealthy woman would be null and void since he was still married.
Price was staring at Bedford as if he hadn’t seen him before. He looked like someone had just hit him over the head.
“How do you know all this?”
“Because when my informant came to me with all of this, I heard word that a woman going by the name of Paula had just been arrested for trying to steal more jewels from Lady Astor.” Bedford shook his head. “My informant confirmed that Paula was Pauline Hardy.”
Price’s face was going from white to red. Diana still looked like she wanted to faint. Tears were shimmering in her eyes. Bedford squeezed her arm, wishing he could hold her closer.
“I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, Mr. Price,” He addressed her father, “But if Diana stayed in contact with this man, it would not only ruin her reputation but yours as well.”
Price was now shaking. The anger was beginning to build up.
“He came across as a decent, normal man who was genuinely interested in Diana. I introduced him to my friends and fellow parliamentarians.” He swallowed. “I can’t believe I was duped.”
“He did a good job, certainly.” Bedford said grimly. Reluctantly, he released Diana. “Where is Neville now?”
“He had dinner with us this evening and then said he was heading up to his room as he had a headache.” Price’s jaw tightened. “But he didn’t have a headache, did he?”
“I don’t know. But we do need to talk to him.”
***
Bedford had a feeling in his gut that they were going to find something nobody wanted to see. There wouldn’t be a confrontation. Neville–Hardy, Bedford reminded himself–was a thief; he hated confrontation. He did things on the quiet, slipping in and out so nobody would notice. The man wouldn’t know how to throw a punch.
If it came down to it, Bedford was more than happy to go after the rake who had tried to hurt someone he cared about.
With two footmen following close behind them, Price led the way up the stairs and into the guest wing. Jennifer and Eloise had wanted to come up as well but Mr. Price made them stay in the drawing room, despite their protests. However, Diana refused to join them. She wanted to come upstairs. Price tried to get her to go with her mother and sister but Bedford suggested that she went with them. If Neville was still in the house, she might be the one to talk some sense into him and stop him from being attacked by Price and Bedford.
Neville couldn’t resist a pretty face and thought he could twist them around his finger. Bedford was hoping that he would attempt to talk his way out of it with Diana and then they would be able to overpower him.
Price went to Neville’s bedroom door and banged on it hard enough for the door to shake.
“Neville, its Price. I need to talk to you. Are you in there?”
There was nothing. Bedford itched to kick the door down but stopped himself. They had to do this quietly to start with. And he wasn’t about to ruin Price’s house.
Price tried the door. It was locked. He turned to one of the footmen, a burly man with wide shoulders.
“Kick it down.”
“Yes, sir.”
The footman took Price’s place and rammed his shoulder against the door. It shattered after the second charge, almost catapulting the footman into the room onto his face. Price went in first, Bedford close behind him and helping the footman to his feet.
The fire in the hearth was burning brightly. It had just been lit. There were candles by the bed. A window was open, the curtains blowing in the wind and making the light flicker.
There was no one in the room.
Bedford went to Neville’s trunk, which was still at the foot of the bed. It was in disarray, some of the clothes spilling out and onto the bed.
The man had left in a hurry but he hadn’t taken anything with him.
“I’ve got something here.”
Price picked up a necklace with a garnet jewel in the huge setting from the dresser. Bedford heard Diana gasp and turned. She was in the doorway, staring at the jewelry that was scattered across the dresser.
“That’s my necklace, the one my grandmother gave me when I turned eighteen.”
“And this is your mother’s.” Price picked up another necklace, this one simpler with a smaller turquoise stone. “I gave it to her for Christmas last year.”
Bedford could see the emotions going across Price’s face. Including betrayal and pure fury. Bedford said nothing, trying not to look at Diana as she whimpered in the doorway. Finally, Price laid down the necklace and managed to unclench his fist around it.
“Where do you think he’ll go now?”
Bedford shrugged.
“I have no idea.”
Price growled. He signaled for the two footmen to follow him and strode out of the room, his servants following close behind. Bedford didn’t want to be in Hardy’s shoes when Price caught up to him; it wasn’t going to be pretty.
Another whimper got Bedford’s attention. He turned. Diana was sitting against the wall, her knees up to her chest. She was hugging them tightly and quietly sobbing. Even in the shadows Bedford could see the tears falling down her face.
She had had her life turned upside-down. A con artist had lied to her, and she had almost married a man who was not only married but was a thief. Diana had put her heart on her sleeve and now she had been betrayed. Bedford’s heart clenched. He didn’t like seeing her like this.
He approached her slowly and knelt before her.
“Diana?”
Diana sniffed and looked up at him. Her bottom lip trembled.
“He was never going to marry me, was he?”
Bedford didn’t know. Hardy would certainly have gone as far as to marry her falsely. He sighed.
“If he did, the marriage would be null and void. A marriage to someone in Society would have bolstered him.” Bedford swallowed. “If he kept it quiet about his previous marriage and they played a long game, no one would have been any the wiser.”
“So I was duped.” Diana was beginning to rock back and forth. “I was duped by this man and I didn’t see it. I should have listened to you.”
Bedford reached out and brushed his hand over her hair. He realized his hand was shaking.
“You were blinded, and he had everyone fooled. It wasn’t your fault.”
“But he didn’t fool you.”
Bedford sighed.
“No. He didn’t.”
Now he was beginning to wish Hardy had fooled him as well. But then they wouldn’t be here with Diana sobbing.
“I…”
More tears fell and Diana broke down, burying her face in her hands. Bedford’s heart cracked. He didn’t like to see a woman cry.
He didn’t care if anyone saw them. Bedford shifted onto his knees beside her and pulled her into his arms. Diana clutched onto him as she cried, her quiet sobs turning into loud wails. Bedford wished she didn’t have to cry and held her close, stroking her head.
“Don’t cry, my lady. Please don’t cry.”
Chapter 10
True Love
at Last
T he next few months had Diana feeling numb. She wasn’t able to feel any happiness, any laughter, nothing at all. It was as if what had happened to her had broken her.
Neville–Hardy, Diana had to remember that–had gotten past her defenses and had made her believe there was a future. Even with her doubts niggling away at her, Diana had believed this man was the real thing. That sh
e would be married within her first Season.
And that had all turned out to be a lie. Diana, her family and most of Society had been played. Hardy had been very clever and knew exactly how to get close. Even Price was furious that someone had slipped past his judgement.
Diana could feel one thing, despite of everything. Embarrassment. Diana was a shy woman, and she was very much aware of people around her and how they would judge her. To have someone play her and betray her when she had newly entered Society was not something she wanted for her first time out among the ton. And Diana couldn’t face everyone, not now that everyone knew what had happened. They had to be laughing at her.
So she shut herself away. Diana refused to go back to London when Price had to be back for Parliament and neither her mother nor her sister could pry her away. So they had left her at Wilro Park, wandering aimlessly from room to room and trying to take her mind off the fact she had almost entered a marriage with a married man.
A man who had stolen from some of her friends and other members of the nobility before turning his attentions on to her family. She had nearly lost her favorite necklace to Hardy.
Diana knew people were concerned about her but she couldn’t show her face. Only her parents and Eloise saw her and knew better than to raise the issue with her. Some of her newly made friends tried to call on her but Diana turned them all away.
Even Bedford.
Diana couldn’t bring herself to see him again. He had seen her at her worst, had held her in comfort and wouldn’t leave her side until her father returned empty-handed. The man had sensed something wrong with Hardy and hadn’t stopped until he was sure the man was a fraud. Diana had to admire that dedication.
But, even though he had saved her a lot of heartache further in the future, Diana couldn’t bring herself to be in the same room as the Duke of Bedford. He had seen her at her worst and Diana didn’t think she could pick herself up from that. She didn’t want to see anyone.
Even then, Eloise tried. She didn’t want her sister to hide away and did what she could to bring Diana away from their home.
She tried again one morning the week before Christmas, finding Diana hiding away in her room.
“Come on, Diana.” She said brightly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Let’s go and see the Christmas lights in London. We can spend a few days doing some shopping for presents. You haven’t done your shopping yet.”
Diana knew she was trying, but she didn’t want to go, anyway.
“I can’t.” She turned onto her side, turning her back on Eloise. “I just can’t.”
Normally, Eloise would give up and leave. But now she huffed and shoved her sister in the back.
“Diana, it’s been three months. You can’t still be embarrassed.”
“I was a fool, Eloise. The first person who showed any interest in me and I made a fool of myself.”
Eloise sighed. Her shove turned to a squeeze on Diana’s shoulder.
“Don’t be silly. You’re not the only one who’s been duped by a con artist.”
“You would say that.” Diana snorted. “You’ve never been in love.”
That was mean, and Diana knew it, but she was beyond caring right now. She just wanted to be left alone and if it meant being harsh to her sister, who she loved dearly, so be it.
Eloise didn’t move. She sat back.
“Sounds like you were hurt but you weren’t in love with him.”
“What?” Diana rolled onto her back and sat up. “What makes you say that?”
“You won’t let anyone other than myself, Mother and Father see you.” Eloise raised her eyebrows. “Not even a certain duke who’s been here every week trying to see you for three months.”
Diana stared. Did she hear that correctly?
“The Duke of Bedford?”
“Of course the Duke of Bedford. Who did you think I meant?”
“I don’t know. You could have meant anyone.” Diana could feel her heartbeat stuttering at the mention of Bedford. “Why would he be here?”
“Have you forgotten the declaration he made to you a while ago?” Eloise demanded. “He loves you, clearly. And I think you love him, too.”
“I don’t.”
But Diana winced when she realized how fast she had denied it. From Eloise’s expression she had caught this as well.
“If you didn’t you wouldn’t have refused to see him every time. You would have wanted to see him at least once.”
Diana scowled. She didn’t like this topic of conversation; it hit a little too close to the mark. If she was honest, she wanted to see Bedford. But she had embarrassed herself and pushed the man away, even when her doubts seemed to be matching up with his. She had cried in his arms and Bedford hadn’t batted an eyelid.
Diana didn’t think she could look him in the eye again.
Eloise huffed and slapped her sister’s thigh through the bedding.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Diana. You’re embarrassed because you made a fool of yourself with Bedford, not because of Neville-Hardy. Your brain just doesn’t separate the two.”
Was she right? Diana didn’t know. She didn’t know what to think anymore.
“Listen, Bedford’s here right now.”
“What?” Diana sat up. “He’s here?”
“Yes. He’s been here since before breakfast. I let him in because I wanted to talk to him.” Eloise bit her lip. “He’s really concerned for you.”
“He is?”
That gave Diana a little hope. But then she brushed it away. Not a good idea to get her hoped raised right now. It could be taken away from her just as harshly.
“If you don’t love him, prove it.” Eloise challenged. “Go and talk to him.”
***
Bedford was nervous. He didn’t like waiting and knowing that he might be turned away yet again from seeing Diana Price made it worse. It was waiting for the inevitable and Bedford hated that part.
Why did he keep tormenting himself like this? Diana was embarrassed, and he understood that. But she had to see him sometime. She had locked herself away and Bedford ached to see her again, to make sure she was all right.
It was just luck that Eloise had been present when Bedford arrived this time. She had allowed him inside. They had spoken, Eloise expressing her fears about her sister. Bedford had some news that he thought would make things a little better and both hoped that Diana would be receptive to it. If not, Bedford would leave a letter.
Hopefully, Diana would read that.
The door to the drawing room opened and Bedford turned to see Diana enter the room, Eloise behind her. Bedford almost started towards Diana, relief flooding his body. Then he remembered his manners and stopped, bowing at Diana and Eloise, his eyes on Diana.
“Miss Diana.”
Diana bowed her head and curtsied.
“Your Grace.”
She looked thinner than before. Her hair was up but not very tidily as if it was hastily put together. Her face was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes. Just seeing her like that made Bedford want to hold her and not let go. His arms were itching to do so. He swallowed.
“How are you?”
Then he winced. What a stupid question. Diana’s mouth twitched a minute amount.
“I’ll live. It’s been tough but I’ve managed.”
Bedford didn’t believe that, but he was glad that Diana wasn’t falling apart on him. That made him hurt when he saw her upset. It tore at his heart strings. He fiddled with his gloves.
“If it’s any consolation, Hardy has been arrested in London. He and his wife won’t be doing any more thefts for a while.”
Diana’s eyes widened. Then she left out a breath that she seemed to have been holding in. Her twitch became a small smile, shaky but real.
“Thank you for telling me, Your Grace.”
Bedford glanced at Eloise, who shook her head and moved towards the fire. He sighed and turned back to Diana.
“You still love him,
don’t you?” He held up a hand when Diana tried to protest. “I’m not going to chastise you for that. It’s not an emotion to play around with. I just hope you can heal in time. Don’t let him win.”
“I don’t plan to.” Diana sighed. “It’s just going to take some time.”
Bedford felt the pain. Maybe she still had some feelings for the man, even after all these months. He couldn’t expect her to stop having some affection towards the thief but it still hurt.
There wasn’t much to say and Bedford didn’t think he would be able to say anything without it going wrong. He bowed and headed towards the door.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
“Don’t you want to stay?”
Diana’s voice stopped him. Had he heard that correctly? She wanted him to stay? Bedford turned back and Diana was looking at him with a hopeful look.
Bedford wanted to stay. He really did. But he shouldn’t.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
“Pardon?” Diana blinked. “Why not?”
Bedford felt a lump in his throat. He glanced at Eloise but she was pretending to be interested in the burning fire. She wasn’t going to be helpful. He turned back to Diana.
“When I told you that I was in love with you, I wasn’t lying. I still love you, Diana, even after all these months. Staying here to converse with you while your heart is with another man…” He shook his head. “I don’t want to be cruel to either of us. That’s not fair on me and it won’t be fair on you, either. It’s best if I leave.”
He bowed again, never taking his eyes off Diana as he gave her one last look.
“Have a good Christmas, Diana. I’ll see myself out.”
Then he turned away and left the room, his heart dropping to his stomach.
***
Diana stared at the closed door and where Bedford had been standing. What had just happened? He had actually turned her down after all the attempts to see her? What was going on?
Diana had felt genuine delight when she saw Bedford again. That had surprised her and it had taken all she could not to run at him. But etiquette required her to be demure and composed. That had been incredibly hard. Now he had left, a heavyweight rested on her shoulders. She felt…
Regency Romances for the Ages Page 52