That was confusing. Surely, if they got in the good books of a duke, then maybe he could help shift the scandal that still floated around their family name. Redeem them a little bit. But Flora wouldn’t be swayed on her decision, and she wouldn’t say why. Beth decided to let it go for now. However, she wasn’t going to let Flora walk away from this. She was going to know what was happening.
Flora was intent on avoiding the Duke of Rossdale and his family. But why?
Beth waited for the rest of the day, intent on pulling Flora aside when they went to bed and ask her then. But then news at dinner completely put that out of her mind.
Things during the afternoon had been sombre, and Beth was concerned. Her parents had been a little subdued lately, but this was different. However, neither parent would say anything about it, trying to change the subject. At dinner, however, it appeared that both of them had changed their minds.
Edward sipped his wine, his food barely touched, and gave his daughters a grave look.
“Girls, we have something to tell you.”
Beth and Flora exchanged glances. Flora had noticed the change in mood as well, but she had not said anything, either. Beth could see she was very curious to know what was going on.
“What is it, Father?” Beth asked.
Edward looked across the table at his wife. Cynthia nodded solemnly. She hadn’t touched her food, either. Edward let out a heavy sigh.
“We’re going to have to leave London. Very soon. And I ... I don’t know when we’ll be coming back. If we’ll ever come back.”
Flora frowned.
“Is it because of what Beth and I did?”
“That didn’t help matters, Flora, but that’s not the reason behind our decision.” Edward started tracing patterns on the tablecloth. “You know the finances have been a big struggle lately. That we would be bankrupt if we couldn’t save ourselves. The truth is, it’s looking more likely that we’ll be left with nothing if we keep trying to get back what we lost.”
Beth’s heart sank. She had known that business was bad now their benefactors had retreated and people chose to go with others, but that they were sinking fast?
“We’re retreating back to the country.”
Edward nodded. Cynthia sighed.
“Your father and I have decided that we’re going to close the businesses down, sell this place, and head back to Brandeston. We’re going to have to cut down on the household staff or we’re not going to be able to pay them. If we concentrate on our land and what we can get thriving from that, we should be able to live modestly.”
“And what about our allowances?” Flora asked.
Beth flinched and shot her a glare. She was concerned about that? Edward looked equally annoyed at his eldest daughter’s demand.
“I think an allowance should be the least of your worries, Flora,” he said severely. “Your actions started a downfall that’s making everyone suffer now. And we have to catch ourselves before we’re completely on the rocks. Something we should have done a long time ago.”
“That’s not fair to put it all on me, Father!”
“Now is not the time to argue, Flora,” Cynthia said sharply. “We’re going back to Brandeston at the end of the week. If we do come back to London, it won’t be as we have been before. Maybe a fleeting visit. But this home won’t be here.”
“Mother …” Beth began to protest but fell silent as her mother held up a hand.
“I don’t want any arguments, Beth. Not now.”
Beth fell into silence, but she wasn’t happy about it. She loved London. There was always so much to do. So much to see. Brandeston was a tiny village about an hour’s carriage ride from Ipswich, and there was nothing to do. Nothing. Beth liked some solitude, and there were times when she enjoyed being out in the countryside, but it wasn’t something she could do every day. You felt cut off from the rest of the world. Isolated. Beth liked quiet time, but not isolation.
Brandeston had been beautiful growing up, but she couldn’t appreciate it now. Not since she had discovered London. Even with the scandal Flora had been involved in, London still held a charm that Beth liked.
Now they were being told they were going to have nothing?
Edward sighed and gestured towards the door.
“I think it’s best that you two go to bed as soon as you’re finished with your dinner. We can talk more at length tomorrow.”
“I’m finished now.” Flora put her knife and fork down, standing up with a scowl at her father. “I think I’ve just lost my appetite.”
“Flora …”
But Flora was already leaving the room, tossing her napkin onto the table as she passed Beth. She disappeared out of sight, and Beth could hear her footsteps going up the stairs. Sighing, she put her knife and fork down carefully on her plate and stood, placing her napkin on the table.
“I think I’ll retire as well, Father. We’ve got a lot to think about.”
Edward looked pained. Cynthia looked close to tears. Beth wanted to go and embrace her mother, give her some comfort. But she was not happy with either of them. It was just not fair that they were going to have to sacrifice something they loved because they were failing.
Beth could see where they were coming from. She could understand it from their point of view. But it was still unfair.
Beth headed upstairs to the bedroom she shared with Flora. Her sister was lying curled up on the bed, her back to the door as she stared at the wall. Her shoulders were shaking, and Beth could hear her sobbing. She went to the bed and sat beside her sister.
“Flora?”
“This is all my fault, Beth.” Flora’s voice was thick, clogged with tears. “All my fault.”
“Oh, Flora.” Beth squeezed her sister’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault. You’re not the one who deserted the other.”
“But I went along with it. I believed his lies, and I acted rashly.” Flora began to cry again. “I should have done things properly. And I didn’t.”
Beth didn’t know what to say. She simply lay on the bed behind her sister and wrapped her arms around her. Flora was still crying, but she clung onto Beth’s arm around her waist. Beth held her as she sobbed, waiting until Flora finally stopped shaking and she was silent.
There was very little she could say right now. And nothing she could say would make either of them feel any better.
Chapter 7
Gerard looked up when someone knocked at the door of his study.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Evans came in.
“You wanted to see me, Your Grace?”
“Yes, Evans.”
Gerard beckoned the valet to him and put down his pen. His hands were beginning to cramp after writing so much during the day. After Rosamund had come back, Gerard had sat Rosamund down to explain in the best way that he could that her mother was not coming back, that she had gone to be with God. Rosamund had cried some more when it finally settled in that she wouldn’t be seeing her mother again, and Gerard’s heart had cracked. He should have handled it better – Rosamund was his little girl, and he wanted to comfort her – but Gerard had frozen. He couldn’t do it. He just couldn’t. Eventually, all he did was pass Rosamund off to his mother and leave the room.
Amelia was certainly going to be displeased with him when she confronted him later. And she would certainly confront him. Her mother instincts kicked in, and she would protect her three granddaughters with her life. Even against their father’s inability to look out for his children.
Knowing that his mother was unhappy with him and he had more than likely made himself look like a bad person in front of his children, Gerard had hidden himself away in his study. His accounts needed updating, and he had letters to write. Instructions to construct.
And decisions to make.
Beth Campbell was not going to walk away from this all thinking it was simply a kiss. Gerard was not the type to have a dalliance in a private alley. He had had a taste of Beth, a
nd he wasn’t planning on walking away on his side.
She was going to find that out very shortly. Once he found out more about them. Now, when their family was known for a big scandal, it wouldn’t be difficult to find out practically everything about the Campbell sisters. But Gerard didn’t want to draw attention to them. Not just yet.
“I’ve got something I need you to do, Evans.” Gerard sat back and laced his fingers over his stomach. “I need your contacts.”
“I’ll do what I can, Your Grace.” Evans tilted his head to one side. “It depends on what you want me to use them for.”
“The sisters who found Rosamund today. I want to know who they are. Where they are.”
Gerard already knew who they were, but he wanted a fresh slate. What people said in Society, whispering in corners, was often completely different to the actual portrayal of the family in question. Gerard wanted a different angle, one that told him the truth about the Campbell family.
At least with Evans he couldn’t be linked with anything. Evans was the most discreet man he knew.
“You want to thank them?” Evans sounded dubious.
“I do. There must be a financial reward for what they’ve done.”
“If they’ll accept it.”
Gerard snorted.
“It’s money, Evans. That’s always accepted.”
“That’s a very arrogant remark, Your Grace.”
Gerard knew it was. But he surmised if the Campbell family were in financial straits, any money would help them. That sounded more arrogant than what he had just said out loud. He swallowed back the urge to cringe.
“All I know are the names. Flora and Elizabeth. No surname.”
Hopefully, Kidman hadn’t been close enough to overhear. Otherwise all the staff were going to know about this.
“And you want me to ask around and find out who they are,” Evans said slowly.
“They must be in Society somewhere. And there can’t be that many families who have a Flora and an Elizabeth as sisters.”
“I suppose not.” Evans still sounded sceptical. Did he suspect something? “I’ll see what I can do, Your Grace, but I can’t promise anything.”
“Just do your magic, Evans. You’re very good at that.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Evans folded his arms, still peering at Gerard curiously. “You’re very determined to find them, aren’t you?”
“I am.” Gerard took a deep breath. “They looked after my daughter when the new governess was supposed to be taking care of her. Instead, she was cavorting around with my staff.”
Charging into her room to find her in bed with one of his servants was certainly not something Gerard wanted to go through again. That was the last thing he expected, and he certainly didn’t want the eyeful he received. Which made knowing that Lacey was an excellent governess all the more shocking.
It did make Gerard wonder what part of her resume was true.
“Only in your service for three days.” Evans chuckled. “That has to be a record, even for this household.”
“More than likely.” Gerard rubbed his hands over his face. “And, for once, it wasn’t Hermia driving her away.”
“I don’t think Miss Hermia needed to do anything this time.”
No, she didn’t. But Hermia was the reason all the other governesses over the past year had quit. She made a serious point of making it difficult for them to work with her. Hermia was overly rude, unkind, and vicious. Gerard had lost count of the number of reasons why no one wanted to be anywhere near her; he didn’t even want to think how many governesses he had interviewed, only for them to find out he was Hermia’s father and refuse to take on the job.
Word got around very quickly. But Gerard was not about to be cowed by his own daughter.
“Hermia thinks she can put everyone off, but that’s not how it works here, Evans.” Gerard stood and walked towards the fire, which was burning nicely in the hearth. “She may be almost too old for a governess, but until she’s of age, I’m not going to let her be on her own. She can get treated like a child until she grows up.”
“I have a feeling that’s going to take a while, Your Grace.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” Gerard folded his arms and turned to his servant. “I’ve made a decision on her already. If she hasn’t started behaving as she should for a lady of her position by the time she’s eighteen, Hermia is going to Cumberland to live with my Aunt Florence.”
Evans’ eyebrows rose almost to his hairline.
“Miss Hermia hates it up there.”
“All the more reason to send her up there if she doesn’t stop being a brat.”
Gerard loved his unmarried aunt, even with her eccentricities, but Hermia and Florence rubbed each other up the wrong way. Hermia had visited once when she was ten, and she had declared that she would not go back again even if she was forced. Well, Gerard was going to force her if she didn’t turn into the lady he knew she could be.
Blackmail it was, but sometimes blackmail was needed at times like this.
A slight smile twitched at Evans’ mouth.
“You’re mean when you want to be, Your Grace.”
Gerard sighed.
“I love my daughter, but I can’t be having scandal hanging over my head when she’s involved. She has to know her place.”
“The Duchess’ death did hit her pretty hard, Your Grace.”
“It hit everyone hard, Evans.”
Hermia’s love for Allegra was strong, and they were close. But that didn’t make Hermia’s grief any different to Gerard’s or to her sisters’. Everyone was grieving over Allegra’s death. She had to know that what she was feeling right now wasn’t just meant to be experienced by her.
Not even knowing the situation over Allegra’s death.
“I’ll ask around my contacts,” Evans said. “It might be a few days before we find anything, though.”
“As long as you can find out who they are, I don’t care.”
Gerard just wanted to know the unvarnished truth about Beth Campbell. There was something about her that made him want to draw her close and not let go. That wasn’t something that happened to him every day, and it had shaken Gerard when he first felt it. But it was telling. Beth Campbell was special.
And Gerard wanted to find out why.
Evans paused. Then he bowed, still frowning at his master.
“Very well, Your Grace.”
#
It didn’t take Evans long at all. The very next evening, he was convening with Gerard to tell him what he had found out about the Campbell family. Most of it was what Gerard already knew regarding their business and the scandal committed by the elder daughter. But it was the younger daughter Gerard was interested in.
According to Evans’ sources – sources that were in the house – Beth was a sweet, kindly young woman who preferred to keep to herself than go out and socialize. But she could play the part when in Society. She had withdrawn with the rest of her family into their family townhouse after what happened with her sister, and she wasn’t often seen outside except with a few close friends.
What A Wicked Duke Demands (Historical Regency Romance) Page 10