Betrayed Countess (Books We Love Historical Romance)

by Diane Scott Lewis

  “I know, I know, we have much to discuss. That night we spent together was unforgettable, but I understand your fears.” Everett’s blue eyes glistened with longing as he caressed her face and neck. “I asked you to trust me, but I won’t add to your burdens today.”

  She tugged the dressing gown closer around herself and took another sip of brandy. Her life remained full of too many alarming problems and she didn’t know who she could trust. She touched his cheek. “You, Monsieur Camborne, cannot put me off much longer.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  A man brushed up against her in the taproom the following evening. Bettina cringed and moved aside. She stared into the stranger’s face. Did she perceive something sinister in his expression? Was he someone sent out to replace the Hunter? Bettina snatched up dirty tankards and hurried toward the kitchen. She had to stop skittering like a rabbit at every shadow. But she kept hearing Gaspar’s body smack the well bottom. The thought of the pear puffs splattering with the force of impact increased this macabre image.

  “Chop them vegetables,” Ann snarled, pointing to the small table.

  Bettina took a cleaver and hacked at the turnips and onions, eyes watering, longing for the hot bath she’d take to wash the food stench from her skin.

  “You let my boy go off ramblin’, when I entrusted him to you. After a local man be found murdered, ’taint safe.” Ann crimped the pasty crust over the mixture Bettina handed her. “What happened out there? People sayin’ the Justice suspect Camborne in that business with Tremayne. Seems you attract more men than you need.”

  “Should she share one with you?” Kerra asked as she entered and swept a broom across the floor, picking up flour dust and food remnants. Her green eyes glittered with mischief. “Might have to tie him down first.”

  Ann glared at Kerra. “Neither o’ you will come to a good end. An’ don’t think I don’t know what you did to hide your sins.”

  Bettina almost felt relieved that the harridan spread around her accusations. “I am glad Morley made it home safely.” Or had the boy sneaked around and witnessed Gaspar’s murder? She chopped more and agreed about attracting too many men.

  Kerra stopped sweeping and smirked at Ann. She held the broom out to her. “You can borrow this, in case you need to fly about an’ do some errands ’round the village.”

  Ann snatched the broom and swiped it at Kerra’s ankles. Kerra snickered and slipped behind the table. Bettina laughed for the first time in days.

  “Not amusin’, Miss Duchess. I seen that fat man who always asked for you. They smell a tart when they sees one.” Ann’s small eyes shone cold under her drooping lids. “An’ God punishes them that needs it.”

  Bettina’s cheeks burned. She could no longer claim virginal status and shuddered at the mention of the Hunter. What if someone discovered his body? “Ann, I am certain it is not charitable to pretend to be holier than those around you. Why do you dislike me so?”

  “My God knows the cruelty I’ve suffered.” Ann turned and stomped down the hallway.

  Bettina picked up the tray of pasties and put them in the oven. “My being French cannot be the only reason she is so nasty to me.”

  “Pay her no mind.” Kerra leaned against the table. “I should o’ told you, that girl her husband run off with years back, was real young an’ had lots of thick black hair like you. She were an Irish chit, so a bit foreign. That might be what sets Ann’s teeth on edge.”

  “My teeth are on the edge.” Bettina sighed and flicked moist tendrils of hair from her forehead. “I cannot endure anymore of this waiting.” Waiting for someone else to come and demand information, waiting for Everett to admit all. “The next time I see him, I will insist Everett tell me about his wife.”

  * * * *

  Bettina smiled at Frederick in the Camborne library that Thursday at the manor. “You did well, today. Très magnifique.”

  “I am ten years old, since last week. Merci, Mademoiselle.” He made a lively bow.

  “Ten, yes, so very old.” Bettina laughed, but it was forced. How naïve she’d been at that age, with both her parents loving and close. The world was simple, or so she’d thought. Then she remembered this child hadn’t had an easy life either.

  “Are you to remain my tutor now?” He nudged at the chair leg with his shoe. The boy’s golden curls, now a darker blond, tumbled about his face.

  She felt guilty that she wanted to be gone from Cornwall, traveling forward. “I am not certain for that yet.”

  “I heard uncle say we might move to London.” His vivid eyes studied her.

  “Vraiment?” She gripped the chair arm, her stomach flipping. “What do you mean?”

  The library door opened and Everett entered.

  “We will discuss that later. You are dismissed. I must speak to your uncle.” She stood, her words a little curt.

  The boy looked from her to his uncle as if calculating their emotions. Then he walked from the room with all the dignity of his advanced years.

  Bettina turned to Everett, her pulse thrumming. “You are moving to London, Frederick says? Where do I fit in? I think it is past time you explained everything, about your wife especially. No more excuses, please.”

  He closed the door. “Indeed, I have much to clarify. You deserve to know.” Everett pulled the leather wing chairs side by side, took her hand, and they sat. His lips thinned to a grim line. “I’ll try to explain, the best I can.” Even so, he paused. “I told you that my marriage was a mistake. I didn’t realize the extent until we moved out here to Cornwall. Miriam had always been flirtatious. But I didn’t suspect any infidelity until she dallied with my … I hate to admit this, my brother-in-law. Clare’s husband, Hollis.”

  “Frederick’s father?” Bettina sucked in her breath, though she’d heard this rumor. No wonder he’d never wanted to speak of the boy’s father before.

  “Yes. I didn’t love Miriam anymore. I don’t think I ever really loved her. I couldn’t bear to see everything disintegrate, so I threw myself into my work in London and spent little time here. Hollis came from a good family. He was a suave charmer who turned out to be a corrupt scoundrel. I took him into my employ to please my sister. Clare professed to be in love with him.” Everett stared into space, his jaw tight. “Yet their marriage, too, was a travesty.”

  Bettina reached over and squeezed his hand. “Continue, please. I know it is painful.”

  “Miriam and I had a terrific fight that last evening, the last time I saw her. While we’d been sniping at each other for some time, this was by far the worst. I’d had no actual proof of her indiscretion with Hollis, but an associate of mine had seen her with him in Truro while I was away in London. They were brazenly kissing at some fete in the public Assembly Rooms. Of course, she denied it. Then she accused me of having other women tucked away in London.

  “I learned too late she was a heartless, shallow person. She cared little for my happiness, or my sister’s. When I grew angrier, pressing her about the affair, she flung a vase at my head. Pieces shattered all over the dining room. I’m afraid I lost composure. I raised my hand to slap her.” Everett’s grip on her fingers hurt. Then he dropped her hand, rose, and paced to the fireplace. “But I decided she wasn’t worth it. And I couldn’t resort to such violence. Then she laughed because I didn’t strike her, taunting me.”

  “Oh, my poor dear.” Bettina now understood her abhorrence for that room. In some way she’d sensed the cruel happenings there. She wanted to rush and embrace him, but sat still.

  “I saw her for the malicious shrew she was. I demanded she get out, pack her things and leave. I never wanted to see her again.” He ran his fingers through his hair; his eyes looked dark and tortured. “Her chambermaid, a strumpet of a girl named Vida, had witnessed the entire incident. She was huddled on the staircase behind me, and at first I didn’t know. But Miriam did and spewed every foul slur she could muster. She accused me of abusing her throughout our marriage. She said Vida would bear testi
mony to that fact.”

  “Quel dommage.” Bettina held out her hand. “Please, sit again.”

  “It was the most wicked of lies, but Miriam was adept at vicious slander. And Vida was the rare person devoted to her, so I had no doubt whose side she would take.” He finally returned to the chair. “Miriam announced she’d leave, because if she stayed I’d end up killing her. Though that might have crossed my mind, it’s something I hope I’m incapable of.” His fingers clenched and unclenched. “But I spoke before thinking and agreed that killing her would be a pleasure.”

  “You were pushed beyond all sanity.” Bettina ached at the despair in his expression. She clasped his hand again, to caress the tension from his fingers. “Anyone would have been.”

  “Miriam did leave that night, taking little with her. She came to the library to tell me she’d send for her baggage. For some reason I’ll never fathom, she didn’t take Vida with her, nor did she inform the girl she was going for good. Selfish to the last.” Everett shook his head. “That proved unfortunate for me. The next day Vida couldn’t wait to spread word in the village that I threatened to kill my wife and now Miriam was nowhere to be found.”

  “But how did Miriam leave? If she took a coach, the coachman would know about her departure, would he not? Proving you—”

  “That was another mystery. I didn’t care if she crawled all the way to … wherever. I was just relieved she went. Later I suspected Hollis of providing her transportation.”

  “What became of Vida?”

  “After spreading lies about the countryside she left for parts unknown. I’m surprised no one’s accused me of her murder as well.” His smile was bitter.

  Bettina thought of Kerra’s speculation on that very subject. She leaned over the chair arms and moved her hand to Everett’s shoulder. She massaged his knotted muscles. “This is so dreadful. But where did Miriam go? Did you hear from her again?”

  “I always supposed she went to London, the one place that satisfied her vanity. I was so happy to be rid of her, at first I didn’t pay attention to the fact she never sent for her belongings. Of course, thanks to Vida, Trethewy came probing around as if a murder had taken place.” Everett gazed at Bettina, his expression weary. Yet he seemed relieved to finally share this with her. “And the murder became, as you know, local lore that wouldn’t be laid to rest.

  “After about two months, I grew puzzled that Miriam hadn’t hired a solicitor to contact me, demanding support. If we didn’t divorce and remained separated, it was to her advantage. She would still be a legal wife, and I’d be expected to maintain her in wifely fashion.” That strange smile curved his lips again. “I was just grateful to be free. But in the meantime, a curious thing happened. Hollis came to me … oh … three weeks or so after Miriam’s departure, and begged me not to condemn him for the affair. He had obviously spoken to Miriam, or how else would he know I’d discovered them? I hadn’t said a word to anyone except Miriam, and I wasn’t about to tell Clare.”

  Bettina frowned. “What about Vida, could she not have told him?”

  “I did suspect her, but from what Hollis said, it made more sense to suspect Miriam. Hollis, however, denied having any contact with my esteemed wife since our rude parting, and now promised to be a good and faithful husband to Clare.” Everett laughed, but it sounded jagged, devoid of mirth. “You see, poor Clare was already ill with consumption. She’d suffered so much, and with the child to think of, a scandal would’ve been unbearable for her.” His shoulders slumped. “Hollis swore to be good to her, to see her through. I never trusted the man, but I kept silent about the affair. Clare lived another three years and Hollis seemed to hold to his oath. I had no complaints about his work performance either.”

  “I hope it made your sister happy.” Bettina tried to picture this woman she’d never met, and pitied Frederick who’d lost his mother.

  “When Clare died, I had been staying in London to aid her through the last of her illness. Hollis was distraught, beside himself with grief, or so it appeared. After the funeral, he asked me to take Frederick until he pulled his life together. He said he would come for him in a month. He seemed sincere, a changed man.” Everett’s tone rippled with sarcasm. “I should have known better, but the grief over losing my sister affected my reasoning.”

  “Such a loss would have unnerved anyone.” Bettina stroked her hand down his arm. Frederick’s sweet face drifted before her. “But Hollis never claimed him, did he?”

  “He never had any intention of doing so. Then I began to hear about his rampant affairs and sordid activities every time I came to London. Willard Hobart, my business partner who resides in the city, was quite disturbed about the company Hollis kept, since he now rarely showed up for his duties at the office. Hobart reported these details to me, confirming Hollis wasn’t a worthy father for my nephew.” Everett’s words grew angrier, more clipped. “That’s when I decided to dismiss him from the firm and take the boy into my care.”

  “I am so glad you did. What did Hollis say to that?”

  “I informed him through a solicitor that I’d take charge of Frederick, and Hollis wouldn’t receive any more of Clare’s portion of the inheritance from our father, which I controlled. With his present carousing and debauched behavior, I knew he’d squander everything. I wanted to protect that money for Frederick.” He clenched his fist on his knee. “I must have been mad to think of ever giving that child to such a villain.”

  “You did not give him to his father, so forgive yourself.” She grasped his hand again. “Frederick is safe with you.”

  “Now I have to locate Hollis. I’ve heard nothing from him since then. I sent off a few letters and made inquiries, but to no avail. He’s disappeared.”

  “Have you done anything else to locate your wife?” Bettina didn’t relish the prospect of ever setting eyes on this witch.

  “About six months after she left, I hired an Agent of Inquiry to look into her whereabouts. The man discovered nothing. I thought maybe she’d gone abroad, to Paris, a place she always wanted to visit. But there’s more.” Everett sighed. “On my last visit to London, I received a letter from a solicitor at my London offices on Miriam’s behalf. The letter demanded her back and future support, the very contact I’d waited for. She had a right to it, but it shocked me she’d taken this long.”

  Bettina stared into his eyes. “Then you do know—”

  “Wait. Something about the letter disturbed me. The writing was amateurish, with almost no standard legal terms. Not what you would expect from a learned man of the law. Also the foolscap was plain, with no official letterhead. When I checked on the person’s name, there was no listing for him in any part of London.”

  “So you think it is a fraud?”

  “I tried to trace the source, but failed. Another letter came right before I set out for Cornwall. This one had a more threatening tone. That’s when I asked Hobart to hire someone to guard the offices at night, to see who delivered these strange letters.

  “Knowing the scheming creature I married, she’d have come forward by now to demand whatever money she was entitled to. That’s why I need to close down the manor and travel to London and stay to find out more information.”

  “What about Frederick? Will he go to school?” And what about her? Had Everett included her in his plans?

  “There are several excellent boarding schools in London. Maybe more structure is what he needs.” Everett couldn’t hide the regret in his face at this decision. “I’m away so much, leaving him with just the housekeeper.”

  “The poor child. I had not wanted that to happen.” Bettina sighed. “I pray sending him away to school does not add to his burdens.”

  “We all drag around such painful baggage, don’t we? I’ve been reluctant to enjoy a relationship with you because of my bitter experience with Miriam. I guess I was afraid all women were like her beneath the surface.” Everett leaned forward and kissed Bettina on the mouth. “I’ve been embarrassed to tel
l you all this. To suffer such degradation for so many years, I never wanted to tell anyone.”

  “I understand your reticence.” Bettina stroked her fingers over his cheek and jaw, as if to soften the muscles there. The flush she felt inside from the kiss must show on her face. “But I insist that you take me with you to London.”

  “Of course, I had planned to include you.”

  “I will inquire about my mother.” Excitement bubbled up inside her. She wanted to coat sorrow with hope. She kissed him back. “And I want to help you. We will do this together.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Bettina retrieved the heavy necklace her father had given her from under the bed floorboard, slipped it on and tucked it beneath her bodice. With a last glimpse in the looking glass, she admired her new blue velvet traveling outfit à la redingote. The high-crowned straw hat with blue velvet ribbon matched perfectly. She’d splurged and dipped into her savings to look decent in London. Her few possessions packed in the valise Everett gave her, she straightened her shoulders and departed the tiny chamber.

  In the hallway, she opened a storage cupboard and left several coins in a jar as prearranged with Maddie, to continue subsidizing of Dory’s wages. If Everett married her and their relationship became secure, Bettina intended to send more when needed. If he didn’t—she closed her eyes to chase away that possibility.

  She carried two packages into the taproom, remembering when she’d first arrived, scared and desperate, thrown into a chaotic life of hard work. Now the idea of leaving the Tregons sisters saddened her.

  Old Milt sat at his usual table. He rustled a paper and crossed his bony legs—gnarled twigs in stitched-up stockings. “Your king’s agreed to the new constitution and been given a few duties back. Ha, that won’t last.”

  “That is good news,” Bettina said, surprised at the thought she might even miss this old rogue.