Nicola Cornick

by The Dukes Mistress

  Lady Georgina fixed Belle with her piercing gaze. ‘You are breeding, are you not?’

  Belle stared at her, her heart pounding. ‘Why ever would you say such a thing?’

  ‘Because it is true. There is no use denying it—after a half-dozen miscarriages and bearing three children, I know the signs well. Oh, I will grant that you have been very clever at concealing them. One might think Marguerite would suspect, but she only told me you had been ill with a cold and very tired. But I have been watching you since your return from Falconcliff.’

  Belle felt angry and insulted that this woman would pry into her affairs in such a way. ‘Before I left for Falconcliff you said I was barren. I have no idea why you would think anything else. I have merely been ill, that is all.’

  ‘Perhaps it was your husband, then.’ Lady Georgina’s voice was dismissive. ‘You have not told Marguerite, which is good, for she would most certainly send word to Westmore, which would never do. He is to marry Lady Clarissa. He cannot afford the scandal of having his mistress bear a child which may or may not be his.’

  ‘You have no right to insult me in such a way.’

  Lady Georgina’s brow rose. ‘Don’t I? Forgive me, but after the tales spread about you, I have no idea how many lovers you have had.’

  Belle’s hands clenched together and she rose. ‘If this is what you have come to say to me, then I must leave you.’

  ‘Sit down. No, that is not all.’ When Belle remained standing, she raised her brow even more. ‘I can see you intend to be stubborn. I wish to help you. You cannot, of course, remain in society while you are increasing as long as you remain unmarried. The best thing, of course, would be to find you a husband. I’ve no doubt Lord Ralston would be more than happy to oblige you.’

  Belle kept her voice even. ‘Would he? I did not think many men would be happy to marry a woman who is already increasing.’

  ‘Lord Ralston could easily be persuaded to view it in the light of rescuing you from the arms of a wicked seducer. Of course, you still might miscarry and then he would be under no obligation to pass the child off as his own.’

  Her monstrous callousness made Belle shake. She stared at Lady Georgina. ‘But what if the child is Westmore’s? He would be your great-nephew, your own blood? Do you not care about that at all?’

  ‘My dear, for all I know, I have several bastard great-nephews or nieces whom I do not care to acknowledge. My own daughters have a number of illegitimate siblings whom I never felt the least obligation towards. Nor do my daughters. I will, however, be delighted to be a proper great-aunt towards Westmore’s legitimate off-spring. The product of the union between him and Lady Clarissa. And do you want to know why I would never consider you as a candidate for the next Duchess?’

  ‘No.’ But she could not move. It was almost as if she was mesmerised by the old woman.

  ‘There was another young woman once. A widow with dark hair and a sweet beguiling face and eyes just like yours. I was betrothed. The match was arranged by our parents, but I knew he was the only man I could ever marry. But on the night of the ball when our betrothal was announced he met her. I knew from the moment she laid eyes on him that she wanted him. She pursued him shamelessly and he was foolish enough to fall in love with her. But I would not release him from our betrothal because I knew she would never make him happy.’ Her mouth compressed in a bitter line and Belle felt a rush of pity for her.

  Her pity vanished when Lady Georgina turned a look of pure hatred upon her. ‘The young widow was your grandmother.’

  Belle stilled. ‘My grandmother would never do such a thing.’

  ‘But she did. Just as you have used every wile to ensnare Westmore. But she did not succeed and neither will you.’ She stood. ‘If you do not marry your cousin, then you will go to Italy. You can stay there until after your confinement and then the babe can be placed with a suitable family.’

  ‘No.’

  Lady Georgina moved closer to her and smiled. ‘But if you do not then I will spread it about that the child you carry is Lord Ralston’s. You will be forced to marry him anyway. So, you have a choice: you can go to Italy or you can wed Ralston. You do not need to let me know now. I suggest you contemplate which course you would prefer and then you may let me know before this evening.’

  She turned and walked away. Belle stood rooted to the spot. The trap was closing in on her and she feared she would not escape.

  Chapter Twenty

  She made up her mind within the hour. She would go to Italy. She could not possibly contemplate marriage to Arthur—the thought of having him near her or her child was repugnant.

  She could run away, but where to? She suspected that Lady Georgina would make good on her threat to expose her. She finally sent a note to Lady Georgina and received a reply before the afternoon was over.

  Lady Georgina was thorough, if anything. She read the note and then sought out Marguerite.

  Marguerite was in her sitting room seated behind a small, elegant desk. She looked up from the pile of correspondence in front of her. ‘You cannot know how much I loathe writing letters. I love to receive them but then I let them collect so I am forced to answer a great number at once. It is so tedious to write the same news over and over. If only there was a way to copy the letters and then I could add my signature and be done with it!’ She glanced more sharply at Belle. ‘What is it? You have been so subdued since Lady Georgina came to call, but I hated to interrogate you. Is something amiss?’

  Belle took the chair next to the desk. ‘She has asked me to accompany a friend of hers to the continent. Her friend needs a companion and she thought I might like the chance to leave England for a while.’ The lie was amazingly easy. ‘I have decided to accept.’

  Marguerite stared at her and then her eyes flashed with anger. ‘Oh! How could she! She wishes only to get you out of the way so there will be no interference with her plans for Justin! I absolutely forbid you to even think of such a thing!’

  ‘I have made up my mind. I rather like the notion of leaving England for a while. I think it would be the best thing for me to…to see new places.’

  ‘But, Belle, you have not been very well since you have been in London and I cannot think that travelling would do you any good. I know you have not been happy and I cannot blame you at all, but at least you should be unhappy with friends, not among strangers!’

  Tears pricked her eyes. ‘Truly you have become a dear friend and I shall miss you so dreadfully, but I must do this.’

  ‘But when will you leave?’

  ‘In five days.’

  ‘Five days? But that’s not nearly enough time.’ Now Marguerite had tears in her eyes. ‘Oh, my dear, I will try my best to convince you to stay.’

  Belle called on Maria the next day. She was not certain of her reception but her mother-in-law at first looked astonished and then almost uncertain. ‘Please come in. I did not expect you. You must sit down.’

  Belle stepped into the drawing room that had once been so familiar and realised, with a pang, that she might not see it again. ‘I am sorry. I should have sent a note first, but I took the chance that you might be here.’ She sat down on a striped chair. ‘There is something I wished to tell you in person.’

  ‘Of course.’ Maria also sat down and looked at Belle. ‘Is something wrong?’ She looked almost apprehensive.

  ‘Oh, no. I wished to tell you I am leaving England for some time.’

  ‘Leaving England? But why?’

  ‘There are so many reasons, but I think it best if I go away for a while. Lady Georgina has a…a friend who needs a companion to accompany her to Italy. I have agreed to go with her.’

  ‘But you cannot! What will we do without you?’ Maria’s lip quivered. ‘I have so often wished I had not said those words to you. It wasn’t until you left London that I…I realised how important you are to us. I missed you terribly and Chloe…poor Chloe sank into such a melancholy state! I have been wrong about so many things!’
She sniffed and wiped a tear away. ‘I know Lucien was not always very nice. But he was such a sweet, charming boy and I…I always thought that perhaps he might be redeemed if only I…we loved him enough. You were so kind and lovely and I thought he might change when you married him but he did…did not. Chloe tried to tell me of some of the little cruelties he inflicted upon her and others and I…I would not listen.’ By now the tears were flowing freely down her face.

  Belle went to her and put her arms around her. Maria clung to her and sobbed and, after a while, drew away. Belle found a handkerchief and gave it to her and waited while Maria wiped her eyes. She sat back with a sigh. ‘My love, can you forgive me?’

  ‘Of course.’ Belle caught her hand.

  ‘You are too good.’ She pressed Belle’s hand for a moment. ‘But please say you will not go. You must come back to Dutton Cottage with us.’

  ‘I cannot. Oh, I wish I could, but I think it best if I go away for a little while. There has been so much talk and scandal that it will be best for everyone if I leave.’

  ‘But why? Is it because of Westmore?’ She began to look distressed again. ‘I do not understand what has happened. I thought he was in love with you—I do not know why he is suddenly to marry Lady Clarissa. If you wish to marry him you must—I…I, perhaps, was wrong about him. I have heard some of the rumours, you know. The rumours that said Lucien made it look as if Westmore cheated so that he might call him out. I did not want to believe them.’ She looked at Belle with large, sorrowful eyes. ‘I suspect that is true as well. Do you know why?’

  ‘Yes,’ Belle said gently. ‘Lucien blamed Westmore’s father for the death of his father. I believe he hoped that, by hurting his son, he would hurt the Duke as well.’ Telling Maria that Lucien’s intention had been to kill Justin would serve no useful purpose.

  Maria was silent for a moment. ‘I am sorry,’ she finally said. ‘I knew he blamed the Duke for Henry’s death but I never thought he would…would do such a wicked thing. I should have told him the truth, that Henry had so many other debts that the one to Westmore hardly mattered.’ Her face was unhappy. ‘Please, you must not go.’

  ‘I must, but I promise I will be back.’ She forced a smile to her lips for fear if she didn’t, she would end up in tears. ‘I will miss you very much, Maria. You and Chloe. You have been my family ever since Grandmama died. I must speak to Chloe now. Is she home?’

  ‘Yes.’ Maria rose. ‘I will send for her.’

  Brandt glanced up from the calling card he held in his hand. ‘Tell Mrs Pomeroy I will be with her shortly.’ He glanced back down at the note and frowned. He finished tying the last fold of his cravat and then went to the small downstairs room where he usually met tradespersons, although not so commonly women of less respectable reputations.

  His visitor rose at his entrance and held out her hand. ‘Dear Brandt, it has been an age! You are still as handsome as ever, I see! And still not wed—I am certain there is more than one broken heart in your wake! But that is not why I am here.’

  He took her soft, gloved hand and bowed over it before releasing it. ‘Sit down and tell me why you are here. I will own that your reference to my cousin aroused more than idle curiosity on my part.’

  She sat and the smile left her face. ‘I had a visit nearly five days ago from a woman who wished to procure certain services. She told me that an acquaintance of hers has a daughter who is in an interesting condition and her family wished to send the girl off for a rather extended journey in the interests of her health. She has heard that there is a woman, a Mrs Foster, who will offer her services as chaperon for young girls in a similar state of health. For a fee, of course.’

  Brandt leaned against his desk. ‘I fail to see what this has to do with my cousin. He does not trifle with the affections of young girls.’

  ‘You might be interested to know that the woman who called on me was your aunt, Lady Georgina.’

  Brandt straightened. ‘Who was the girl?’

  ‘There is no girl but a young woman. Lady Milborne.’

  For once, he lost his aplomb. ‘Are you certain?’

  ‘Quite certain. I was curious because of the rumours concerning Westmore and Lady Milborne. I asked Mrs Foster, who was quite willing to tell me once I offered a suitable bribe. Your aunt made no attempt to disguise Lady Milborne’s name.’

  Brandt stared at her. ‘So you are saying Lady Milborne is expecting my cousin’s child? She is supposed to be barren, you know.’

  Eliza raised her brow. ‘My dear Brandt, what does that signify? Perhaps she and Milborne were not suited in that particular matter. It does happen, you know.’

  ‘Hell,’ Brandt murmured.

  ‘Can you think of any other reason why Lady Georgina would want the services of a woman such as Henrietta Foster to act as chaperon for Lady Milborne?’

  ‘My cousin is to announce his betrothal to Lady Clarissa Blackwood.’

  ‘Is he? How inconvenient for Lady Milborne to be increasing, which is precisely why your aunt wishes to remove her. I suspect Lady Milborne is to be shortly leaving England, is she not?’

  ‘Yes. Why are you telling me this?’

  ‘Because I want you to inform your cousin as soon as possible. Preferably before Lady Milborne leaves England.’ She smiled a little. ‘Because if you do not, I will. I doubt Westmore will be pleased if he discovers that both you and your aunt hid Lady Milborne’s pregnancy from him.’

  ‘He would most likely murder both of us.’ Brandt looked at her from under lowered brows. ‘What I want to know is why you have suddenly decided this is your business. You were Milborne’s doxy, why the devil would you care about his widow?’

  She stood. ‘Because I have developed something of a conscience in the past few years. I have told Westmore that Lady Milborne knew nothing of Lucien’s plot to kill her husband. She was innocent of any wrongdoing, just as Westmore was. I knew this and yet said nothing.’ She looked at him. ‘They are still in love—when I saw them at the Opera, I had no doubt. I rather think they deserve a happy ending together, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Which is why I am going to leave you if I hope to reach Blackwood’s estate by dinner time.’

  Justin glanced at the young woman at his side. They were strolling through the carefully manicured gardens behind Cheney Hall. As usual, Lady Clarissa was coolly reserved and said nothing more than she needed to answer his questions. She did not seem impressed with the flowers that were in bloom, or pleasant sunny weather or much of anything. Or with him, for that matter. He merely seemed to be another object in her landscape. He stopped and frowned. ‘Do you know why I’ve been invited here?’ he demanded.

  She looked at him. ‘I believe you are to offer me marriage.’

  ‘Do you want me to?’

  ‘No. I would rather you did not.’

  ‘Have you given your parents any hint of how you feel?’

  ‘No. They told me it was my duty to accept the best offer possible.’

  He scowled at her. ‘What is it you wish to do?’

  ‘My duty, of course. If you offer for me, I will accept.’

  He nearly gnashed his teeth. ‘Then I will not offer for you. I do not think a marriage between us would bring happiness to you or me.’

  ‘Do you think happiness is important in marriage, your Grace?’ For the first time she actually looked interested in something he said.

  ‘Yes. So I suggest you think less about your duty and more about your own happiness before you consider marriage.’ He suddenly felt as if he’d been released from prison. ‘I will inform your parents that we decided marriage would not do.’

  ‘My father will be angry.’

  ‘I will see to it his anger is not directed at you.’ He’d rather have Blackwood call him out than marry his daughter but he doubted it would come to that. Blackwood was no fool and he suspected the man knew matters between himself and Lady Clarissa were strained.

  And then he planned to take hi
s own advice. To hell with his duty; he was going to marry to please himself. He would have Belle if he had to abduct her and force her to the altar.

  The interview with Blackwood was less difficult than he had anticipated. Shortly before dinner, Brandt arrived. He apologised for coming uninvited, but he needed to speak to Justin in private on a matter of no little urgency.

  Justin heard him out, his mood growing more foul by the moment. He made his own apologies to Lord and Lady Blackwood and their daughter, and then he left for Dover.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Belle looked across the table at her dinner companion. Certainly the prospect of leaving England did not diminish Mrs Foster’s appetite. Or the less than palatable food this Dover inn served up. If her plump body was any indication, it was unlikely much did affect her pleasure in eating.

  Mrs Foster glanced up and saw Belle watching her. ‘Best to eat up, my dear. You will feel much better.’ When Belle did not say anything, she gave a cackle, showing uneven, stained teeth. ‘None of my girls believe me, but they discover they will do much better if they follow my advice.’

  A feeling of pure revulsion shot through Belle. She looked around and suddenly had no idea why she was sitting in this dark, dank inn with this repugnant woman who appeared more and more sinister to her. From Mrs Foster’s remarks she gathered this was not the first time the woman had accompanied a young woman ‘in a spot of trouble’, as Mrs Foster had put it, to some overseas destination. She was not a friend of Lady Georgina at all, but rather a companion hired to see she arrived in Italy. And, she suspected, to make certain Belle did not bolt.

  Belle put down her fork. ‘I am not at all hungry. I wish to go to my room and rest.’

  ‘You must wait for me to finish, my dear.’

  Belle rose. ‘I do not see why. I am tired now.’

  Mrs Foster’s eyes narrowed. ‘The Countess wished me to keep an eye on you at all times. For your own good, my dear. It would not do for you to do anything that might endanger yourself or the babe.’