His cousin was silent, gazing at him with pity in his eyes.
The next guests were approaching. Benedict stiffened again. It was Lady Henrietta Wynn, done up like a Christmas turkey in a voluminous violet silk and lace gown with an elaborate headdress. She smiled seductively at him. By her side was her long-suffering companion Miss Adelaide Colby.
He rolled his eyes. This was going to be a very long night indeed.
***
Ralph sipped his champagne reflectively. He had his eye on Lady Henrietta and her friend Adelaide Colby. The two ladies had just left the ballroom, sitting down for a chat in a private alcove. His eyes narrowed. What were they talking about?
Lady Henrietta had pursued Benedict for the entire evening, clinging to him like a limpet. His cousin was visibly irritated by the lady. He had managed to escape by seeking out the older gentlemen who were talking politics over brandy and cigars in the library.
Ralph had also closely observed Emmeline Vaughan. He was as mystified by the lady’s behaviour as his cousin was. Emmeline avoided Benedict skilfully, but Ralph had observed some longing glances cast towards his cousin when she thought no one was looking. It was obvious to him that Emmeline still had feelings for Benedict. Why, then, was she insisting on breaking both their hearts?
“You look pensive, My Lord,” said a voice, at his elbow.
He spun around. Olivia Vaughan was standing there, smiling at him. He gazed down at her, spellbound. She looked very beautiful this evening, but then, she always looked beautiful. He resisted the impulse to ask her to dance. He had other fish to fry at the moment.
“I was thinking about my cousin and your sister,” he said slowly, watching her closely to gauge her reaction. “It is as plain as the nose on my face that they are head over heels in love with each other, and yet your sister is refusing him. Why, Miss Vaughan?”
Olivia looked shocked and a bit uncomfortable. “You would have to ask my sister that question,” she said eventually, raising her chin. “I cannot speak for Emmeline. Suffice to say she must have very good reason for it, My Lord.”
Ralph eyed her carefully. “Does it have anything to do with Lady Henrietta Wynn, perchance?”
Olivia paled. “I truly cannot say.” She hesitated. “Why do you ask?”
“Just an instinct,” he said, gazing over at the lady and her companion in the private alcove again. He turned back to Olivia regretfully. “I do apologise, Miss Vaughan but my father is expecting me in the library.”
Olivia nodded. She looked a bit disappointed but masked it quickly. “Of course, My Lord.”
His gaze lingered on her. “Perhaps you would do me the honour of dancing with me later in the evening, Miss Vaughan?”
Olivia blushed slightly. “It would be my pleasure, My Lord.”
He nodded, walking away from her. Lady Henrietta and Adelaide Colby were deep in conversation with their heads bent towards each other. He must find out what they were discussing. And he had to do it now – before the chance was gone entirely.
***
Ralph slid into the pocket-sized space behind the curtains of the alcove. He didn’t think that anyone had observed him. He grinned. He knew all the nooks and crannies of Derby Hall like the back of his hand. Here he could listen to the ladies talking without their knowledge. It was as if he were invisible.
He peeked through the curtains. Lady Henrietta was doing all the talking by the look of it. Adelaide Colby was merely nodding and asking a question from time to time. Lady Henrietta’s voice drifted towards him.
“It is all going to plan,” said Lady Henrietta, a smug look on her face. “They are avoiding each other like the plague. Emmeline is as good as her word. She will not approach him to renew their affection.”
Adelaide nodded, looking uneasy. “But dearest,” she said hesitantly. “Is it proper to separate them when they so evidently love each other?”
Lady Henrietta laughed nastily. “Who is to say what love is, my dear Adelaide? None of us can be certain of it.” She paused. “And I shall make Lord Montagu a better wife at any rate. Emmeline Vaughan is too unsophisticated. A country mouse with barely a squeak in her. Lord Montagu needs a wife such as I, who can stand confidently by his side.”
Behind the curtains, Ralph blanched. So, his instinct had been correct. Lady Henrietta did have something to do with Emmeline’s sudden change of heart towards his cousin. Adelaide Colby had said that Lady Henrietta had separated the lovers. But how?
“It is her own fault anyway,” continued Lady Henrietta scornfully. “She acted the hussy with him all those years ago. She truly could not have expected that no one in her household noticed. She is only getting what she deserves.” Her eyes narrowed. “The strumpet never wins, Adelaide. Only good proper ladies who protect their virtue become wives.”
Adelaide shuddered, colouring painfully. “Your language is so … indelicate, my dear. Must you call her such dreadful names? Emmeline is so very sweet, once you get to know her …”
“What do I care what her character is?” said Lady Henrietta disdainfully. “She is nothing to me except an obstacle in my path. An obstacle that has now been cleared thanks to her former maid. Those few gold coins were well worth the information.”
Ralph swore underneath his breath as indignation overwhelmed him. His hand shook where it held the curtains apart. So, that was how she had done it. Lady Henrietta had found out about Benedict and Emmeline’s affair all those years ago. She had bought the information from a former maid. And obviously, she was blackmailing Emmeline with the knowledge.
He gazed at the lady sitting on the seat. How beautiful she looked with her coiled silky black hair and snake green eyes. But her character was rotten to the core. To think that she could stoop so low as to resort to blackmail to secure her ends.
He shook with rage. If only she knew it was all for nothing. Benedict loathed her, and she would never become his wife. She was interfering in their lives for no purpose. He was almost tempted to step out from behind the curtains and tell her that.
He took a deep breath. No, he must bide his time. He must find his cousin and tell him. And then they could work out a way to best deal with the detestable Lady Henrietta.
***
Benedict frowned as Ralph dragged him from the library. His cousin looked agitated.
Once they were alone, he turned to his cousin. “What is it, Ralph? You are as jittery as a cat in a bag.”
Ralph took a deep breath. “I know why Emmeline has changed her mind, Ben.”
Benedict gasped. “What? What do you mean?”
Ralph exhaled slowly. “She still loves you, cousin. And I believe she intended to accept your proposal. But it seems that Lady Henrietta Wynn had other ideas.”
Benedict paled. “What are you talking about?”
“She knows about your affair all those years ago,” said Ralph quickly. “I overheard her talking with Miss Colby about it. She found a former maid who worked at Lambeth House who told her everything. And she is blackmailing Emmeline with the knowledge.”
Benedict reeled back as if he had been struck. He gazed at Ralph in absolute shock.
“You are sure about this?” he whispered, feeling sweat break out on his neck. “You are quite certain the lady is blackmailing Emmeline?”
Ralph nodded grimly. “She was crowing about it, Ben. She thinks she will win you now that Emmeline is out of the way.”
Benedict’s hands curled into fists by his side. He had never felt so outraged in his life.
“I will give her a piece of my mind,” he snarled. “Stand aside, Ralph. I must find the lady.”
“No, cousin,” said Ralph, placing a restraining hand on his chest. “I understand your blood is up. You are livid, and rightly so. But we must have cool heads. Nothing can be accomplished by confronting her now. She might react by spreading the information about your affair to all and sundry at this ball.”
Benedict took a deep calming breath. Ralph was right, of cou
rse. There was no telling how Lady Henrietta would react if she were antagonized. The lady was like a spiteful snake that lashed out in unpredictable ways. The fact that she had gone to all the trouble to blackmail Emmeline proved it.
“We must formulate a plan,” continued Ralph calmly. “A plan to deal with Lady Henrietta once and for all. A plan to win back Emmeline.” He paused. “It can be done, Ben. We have the power now.”
Benedict nodded slowly. “You are right, Ralph. Let us retire to the study and put our heads together.” He smiled grimly. “Lady Henrietta is not going to know what has hit her. I promise you that.”
Chapter 26
Emmeline tightened the shawl around her shoulders as she gazed out the drawing room window. Her stomach tightened with dread. Lewis Hardy was expected at any moment. Her mother already had cakes and the tea service laid out on the table in expectation of his imminent arrival.
She felt so ill she could barely stand. But Emmeline knew she must endure this. She knew what he was going to ask her. He had intimated it last evening at the Derby Hall ball when he had asked if he could call upon her this morning.
Lewis Hardy was going to ask her to become his wife.
Her heart twisted. She didn’t want to become his wife. The only gentleman she wanted to marry was Benedict. But he was lost to her now, thanks to Lady Henrietta’s spite. It had been torment even seeing him at that ball with the regret weighing so heavily on her soul. But she had endured that too.
She sighed heavily. She hadn’t wanted to attend the ball; she had only gone because her mother had insisted, whispering in her ear that Mr Hardy was sure to be there, and she simply must do her duty. She did not want to lose her chance with the gentleman, did she?
Olivia had tried to intervene on her behalf, telling their mother that Emmeline was not in good spirits, but Mama had dismissed her concerns. Emmeline always tried to make excuses not to socialise. She was putting her foot down once and for all. She would not stand by and watch Emmeline lose her opportunity with a perfectly respectable gentleman. Her eldest daughter was not getting any younger, and who knew if any more prospects would ever emerge?
And so, she had gone to the ball, feeling like a horse that had been beaten into submission. It had been as painful as she had anticipated seeing Benedict, but she managed to avoid him, and he had not approached her. He seemed to have accepted her decision. She didn’t know whether to smile with relief or howl with sorrow over it.
All my dreams are shattered. And now I must look to the future.
Suddenly, a carriage rambled through the gates. Her heart clenched. Mr Hardy would soon be walking into this room. They would make pleasant small talk in front of her mother for a while before he would ask if he could be alone with Emmeline. Her mother would smile triumphantly and willingly comply. And then he would go down on bended knee …
She already knew what her answer would be. She was going to accept him. It would kill her, but she must do it. There was no chance she would ever be Benedict’s wife now. And her mother would never let up on her. She didn’t know if she could endure the constant harping to secure a husband. The constant insinuation that she was going to end up an old maid. Lewis Hardy was perfectly respectable. He would make a good husband even if she could never love him.
It was the most she could expect from life now.
“He is here,” she said, turning away from the window.
Her mother was sitting on the chaise longue. Her eyes lit up. “Excellent. I shall start pouring the tea.”
Olivia hovered in the doorway, staring at Emmeline pleadingly, but she refused to meet her sister’s eyes. She had not told her sister the reason why Mr Hardy was calling. She knew that Olivia would try to dissuade her from this path; tell her not to throw her life away, that things could change, that perhaps she might still marry Benedict one day. But she knew it was all sweet lies.
Her last chance at happiness with Benedict was gone. And a lady had to secure her future after all.
***
Emmeline wearily trudged up the stairs to her room. She needed to lie down before she collapsed entirely.
It was done. Lewis Hardy had proposed, and she had accepted. He had spoken with her father in his study, formally asking for her hand. Papa had given his permission, of course. There had been a whirlwind of tears and well wishes. She didn’t think she had ever seen her mother so jubilant. Mr Hardy had just departed but promised to call on her again tomorrow. He looked like the cat that had just eaten the cream.
She threw herself across her bed. This should be the happiest day of her life. She was formally betrothed and was going to become a married lady. All of her parents’ fervent hopes for her had finally come true.
And she had never felt so desolate.
There was a soft knock on the door. Before she could reply, Olivia entered, closing the door firmly behind her. Her sister stared at her reproachfully.
“What are you doing?” asked Olivia, shaking her head sorrowfully. “What have you done?”
“What everybody wants me to do,” said Emmeline, feeling tears spring into her eyes. “I have made Mama and Papa so happy, Liv. Grandmama will be overjoyed as well when she hears the news.” She took a deep breath. “It is worth it.”
Olivia sat down on the bed. “It is not worth you sacrificing your life to appease them,” she said sadly. “I know you do not love Mr Hardy, Emme. I know where your heart truly lies. You will be utterly miserable, and Mr Hardy will discern that eventually.”
“Most people in our society do not marry for love, dearest,” replied Emmeline, her heart flipping over in her chest. “Marriage is either arranged or entered into for pragmatic purposes. You know that as well as I do.” She took a deep, ragged breath. “Marrying for love is a fool’s dream for ladies such as us, Liv. It is a practical decision, pure and simple.”
“Twaddle.” Olivia’s voice was dismissive. “Of course, I am well aware of the constraints upon us. Yes, we are pressured to marry even if we have no fond feelings for the gentleman. But that does not mean that we must submit to it.”
“I have loved and lost,” cried Emmeline. “I gave myself wholly to the gentleman I fell in love with. And where did it get me? Years of heartache.” She blinked back the tears again. “And now I am being blackmailed by a vengeful woman who cannot accept that she has lost in the matrimonial game. What is the point?” Her voice caught on a sob.
“I understand how crushed you are,” said Olivia, picking up Emmeline’s hand and caressing it gently. “You have not asked for any of this. You simply fell in love. And I shall not reassure you that one day you and Lord Montagu shall marry and all will be well.” She paused. “That may never happen, Emme. I do not have a crystal ball. But what I am asking you is to simply give yourself time to see what will happen. Do not rush into a loveless marriage to escape the current situation.”
Emmeline gazed stonily out the window. She knew Olivia would do this to her. Her sister was always the voice of gentle reason.
She took a deep breath. “I have entered into an engagement with Mr Hardy,” she said slowly. “It is done, sister. I cannot back out of it now.”
“Yes, you can,” asserted Olivia, her voice anxious. “It has only just been agreed upon. It has not been announced publicly yet. You can still go to our parents and say that you have made a mistake, that you have changed your mind.”
Emmeline raised her eyebrows. “They would publicly flog me,” she said in a dull voice. “I even imagine they might disown me entirely. Could you imagine Mama’s face if I told her the engagement was off? I think she would have apoplexy. All of their dreams for me have finally come true. Their eldest daughter isn’t going to become an old maid, after all.”
A Lord's Flaming Return: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 18