Perhaps, one day I will learn to forgive him for what he has done, she thought, a slight guilt tickling her gut. She knew she should not think ill of the dead but the betrayal had been too much and had nearly cost her life.
“Off with you, Leo. I must speak with my sister without male ears spying.”
Leonard frowned.
“I had rather hoped to take my bride on her honeymoon.”
“It can wait but five minutes,” Catherine insisted. Leonard looked at Elizabeth hopefully but she could only shake her head.
“I am afraid my sister must prevail in this matter, darling.”
“Why must you always say that?” Leonard grumbled but Elizabeth knew he only jested. He was pleased that Catherine appeared to be letting go of the gloom which had gripped her.
“I have a suitor,” Catherine whispered as soon as her brother was out of earshot. “I cannot keep it secret anymore!”
“Have you?” Elizabeth was inordinately pleased by the information. “Who is he? Do I know him?”
Catherine nodded.
“You do and you may not approve but…”
Oh Lord, Elizabeth thought, an instant recollection of David telling her the same thing. She was unsure she wished to be burdened with secrets of love again.
“Am I to keep this hidden?” Elizabeth asked instantly. “Or may I tell your brother.”
A grimace touched Catherine’s lips.
“I would prefer you did not for I suspect he will not like it but I would never ask you to lie for me, Liza.”
Oh how different the Herveys are from the Folletts. Ours was a way of hiding and secrets. Theirs are open and honest. I am so fortunate to be a part of this family.
“Well?” Elizabeth demanded. “Who is he?”
“Lord Cooke.”
“No!” Elizabeth snapped, her good mood evaporating. “I forbid it.”
“But Liza, he loves me—”
“You haven’t a clue what that man is capable of!” Elizabeth told her. “I will put an end to it if you do not!”
Catherine stared at her sister-in-law, her green eyes expressionless but suddenly, she burst into laughter.
“Oh, it was a joke,” she chuckled but Elizabeth was not amused.
“It best have been a joke, Catherine. That man is a scoundrel, nobleman or not.”
“You need not remind me, Liza,” she giggled. “I would not touch him with a stick. However…”
She trailed off and leaned in conspiratorially.
“Guess who announced her engagement to him this past week?”
Elizabeth was stunned as she realized whom Catherine spoke of.
“Miss Priscilla?”
“How did you know?” Catherine asked in awe. “We have not seen her in months!”
“I feel that they would be well suited for one another, is all.”
Catherine laughed again and impulsively leaned forward to hug her.
“I am so happy you are my sister, Liza.”
Elizabeth returned the hug warmly and exhaled with relief.
“Are you quite finished with my bride?”
“Oh, all right!” Catherine muttered. “Off to your honeymoon, then.”
Leonard extended his hand and reached for his wife, sweeping her into his arms. Elizabeth fell against his chest, her head tilted up to meet his eyes.
“Are you prepared to start our life together, Your Grace?” Leonard asked.
“Oh yes, Your Grace,” Elizabeth replied. “Yes, please.”
The End?
Extended Epilogue
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The Redemption of the Scared Duchess
About the Book
Juliana is growing up in a family where scandal and rumors precede her wherever she goes. Like this wasn't enough, she's also the least favorite daughter among her older evil sisters, and in desperate need of a miracle.
When an unexpected array of events leads to her unforeseen engagement to the mysterious Duke of Brandon, a bitter but dazzling man with a dark past of his own, Juliana quickly starts to see the light at the end of the rainbow.
But when two unlike enemies put everyone’s lives in grave danger poisoning their souls with doubt, an impending war breaks out having the two heroes realize how quickly everything can fall apart...
Chapter 1
By the time her father finally arrived, Juliana Birks knew she had made the right choice in avoiding any association with him — at least for tonight. Heads turned when his name was announced, conversations stopped, whispers followed.
The gossip had preceded him.
Juliana felt a quick squeeze against her own gloved hand before she turned away from the display.
“Again, I would like to express my gratitude…”
“Hush, Juliana. Don’t give them the satisfaction of hearing. Here you are, as my most special guest, and it is I who was blessed that you have stayed this fortnight to accompany me through this particular round of balls. I never quite realized just how busy one is kept once betrothed!” Slipping her arm through her friend’s and stepping lightly through the doorway to the gardens, Susanne Middleton drew Juliana away from the crowd.
It was Juliana who pulled back a single foot upon the threshold.
“Susanne, I will never forgive myself if you leave your own ball to take me on a turn around the garden.” She glanced around the dance floor, noting the flurry of maidens swirling in their dresses and moving into position for the first set of the night. “I know for a fact that you have made a promise to a certain Mr. Allan Derbyshire, and I would hate for you to miss it. Besides,” she leaned in, careful should anyone overhear her, “if you think to spare me from the gossip, I have already been duly informed. There is little you can do to protect me now. I trust I’ll manage this season somehow or another, especially with such a dear as you to guide me. But go…why are we still talking here? Your betrothed awaits, does he not?”
Susanne’s brilliant blue eyes flitted toward the dance floor. She hesitated, holding her silken skirts against her, smoothing the fabric with carefully gloved hands. When nervous, Susanne fidgeted. “You are sure?”
“Decidedly so! Now go! I shall be fine. I might take some air, after all, though I suspect there will be a round of introductions as soon as my father leaves off with his greetings. According to Melanie’s last letter, Father is intent to carry out his threat after all.”
“Marriage?” Susanne’s blonde head turned in her direction fully, ignoring the dance floor for this latest piece of gossip. “Oh, Juliana…”
Juliana heard the music start and pressed her friend toward the dance floor. “Go! We will talk later. Please…I misspoke.”
Susanne’s expression spoke volumes. Indecision in every line of her body, she might have stayed had it not been for the gentleman waiting for her at the edge of the dance floor.
It was amusing to watch. It was de rigueur for Susanne to move fast on foot to the side of her betrothed. His look was filled with such love and contentment for her, that Juliana felt an intruder upon their happiness. Blushing, she turned away, not wanting to witness such joy when her own seemed so terribly impossible.
She looked wistfully toward the garden. Escape would be lovely, yet impossible. To wander into the darkness without a chaperone would raise eyebrows for sure. Better to retire with the ladies who were sitting out this dance, as was proper.
She lingered, enjoying the feel of the cool breeze against her neck. Indeed, it was overly warm in the ballroom with the great press of bodies. Lord Middleton had spared no expense in this gathering for his daughter’s be
trothal; it seemed the entire ton was here.
The event of the season. And all I want is to go home.
It was the rumors. Always those blasted rumors. Some ill-meaning individual started the story that her father’s fortune was gone entirely and the tale spread like wildfire. She heard invitations had dried up and she suspected this one came only because of her personal connection to the intended bride.
She dropped her gaze to the beautiful blue of her silken skirts that rustled as she moved. The lace at her bodice was exquisite, the ribbons brilliant in their hue. Her father had sent her the dress just this morning, entreating her to wear it. Had he known the rumors and thought this outward display would show all was well? She suspected such might be the case, though little good it had done.
I suspect my sisters are similarly attired tonight. Poor Papa, being forced to such lengths. I was cowardly to stay away for so long. I should have entered tonight with them. I should be with them. Stand with my family and not hide among my friends.
Juliana paused at the edge of the crowd, craning her neck searching for her sisters. They weren’t on the dance floor, which wouldn’t be unusual if they had just arrived. She stepped around a post to see better, looking for a glimpse of auburn hair, so like her own. She wasn’t sure but thought they might have been near the punch bowl. Distracted, she moved to the left to better see and was caught in a pair of strong arms.
“Steady there! Might it help were you to tell me what you are seeking so assiduously that you feel it necessary to trounce upon my foot?”
Juliana gasped, and pulled back, seeing for the first time the dark-haired gentleman that came seemingly out of nowhere. “I daresay you walked into me, good sir, as I am sure that no one was standing in this place a moment ago!”
He craned his neck in the direction that she’d been looking. “Tell me, which besotted fool were you so desperately angling to get the attention of? Let me guess…was it Lord Turnsley…no…he is a second son. Not worth such lengths. Ah…It was Ramsey, was it not? A man of solid fortune, unmarried, and in want of a bride. I daresay that if you walk along there,” he pointed off to the right, “you should intercept him, hopefully with more grace than you did me.”
She stared at him, cheeks flaming. “You are insufferable. To speak to me in such a way tells me you have absolutely no breeding nor even a sense of rightness.”
“Why, because we have not been properly introduced? Here, I will find someone to tender the introduction that we might continue this conversation with reputation intact.” He looked around, his hand moving as though to snag the sleeve of the elderly gentleman, one of a small knot of such gentlemen talking avidly about politics nearby.
She recognized the man as a baron, one who knew her father well, and who had been the loudest in his speculation prior to her father’s arrival. She’d clearly overheard the phrase ‘dare to show his face’ linked to his name.
“I hardly think that would be necessary,” she murmured, taking his arm, and steering him away from the grouping.
“Why, you’ve gone twelve shades of pale. Are you well?”
“Well? When we are strangers to one another, and you twit me like this? I should have you know I was looking for my sisters. Not…whatever it was you thought.” She dropped his arm, feeling safely away from introductions, and worried that being seen in such close proximity to this…boor…would somehow give rise to fresh gossip, this time regarding the Viscount Cobham’s youngest daughter.
“I beg your indulgence then,” he said, turning to her. “I have been perhaps rude.”
“No ‘perhaps’ about it. You’re downright insufferable. I fail to see why you draw such conclusions about someone you don’t even know.”
“Perhaps because all females of this species have two things in common.”
“Two? You surprise me, sir. I would be hard pressed to name one. Pray tell what your two are.”
“The desire for a fortune. And the need of a husband to provide it for them.”
“That seems a harsh assessment, sir.”
“Let us say it comes from experience.”
She stared at him, seeing beyond the finely wrought coat, the bearing that came with obvious wealth. She noticed something in his eyes, hidden behind the laughter that hinted at great pain. She wondered what happened to cause such hurt.
It was he who broke eye contact first. “Come, let us get out of here. I don’t think I can stand another minute of this ridiculous charade.”
Somehow, they had come back around to that selfsame door to the garden where Susanne had abandoned her not long ago. Now, it was he who took her arm, guiding her gently onto the terrace. The soft breezes she’d so longed for earlier caressed her hot cheeks. Wide marble steps led down to the garden, gaily lit with lanterns, clearly marking the paths where other couples trod in quiet conversation.
“Shall we walk then?” he asked her.
“When I don’t even know your name, sir?” She was smiling, though she could put no name as to why.
“Blast names. Let us just be us for the time it takes to walk once about the garden. For whatever reason, your company is not entirely displeasing to me and I find I would rather walk with someone capable of intelligent discourse than to stifle indoors in…all of that…” He waved dismissively at the light and noise behind them.
She laughed then. “Some would say ‘all that’ is the height of what it means to be a member of the ton.”
“Blast that too!”
“Your language, sir! You are in the presence of a lady! Besides, would you say it does not bode well for the rest of the evening if you are already so tired of it when it’s barely begun? I do believe that the music has started for what is surely just the second dance.”
His expression grew pained. “Then perhaps we shall require more than one pass through the garden to survive it.”
She laughed again. She took his arm and allowed him to guide her onto the garden path, there was a certain agreement within her soul to his every word, though she was loath to admit to it.
So, she settled into the quiet scandal of walking with a stranger, reminding herself that Susanne’s father was hardly willing to invite anyone to the ball of less than sterling reputation. Perhaps not every rule of society needed to be obeyed in every instance.
Undoubtedly there was enough time for proper introductions later.
Chapter 2
There was a certain thrill in walking in the garden with a stranger on a balmy evening such as this. Of course, they were not alone. Other such couples drifted about, but the distances between them were enough so that conversations became muted things — a half of a phrase heard here, a small laugh there.
Juliana could not remember a time she enjoyed half so much. Perhaps it was because there had been so much tension in the past weeks. The rumors had surfaced at the start of the season. When the post failed to bring invitations, and the callers became fewer and further between, Juliana’s mother had taken to her chambers, weak and ill, crying over their ruination, making the house a silent and maudlin place. Her sisters had escaped the brunt of it, both taking an opportunity for a weekend party in the country at a cousin’s, but Juliana hadn’t wanted to go.
At least, not until her father had started blustering at her.
Overnight he’d become a changed person. His obsession with her and her sisters marrying well had focused entirely on herself, an unexpected demand given that traditionally the youngest should be last to wed. It was with relief that she’d taken Susanne’s invitation to stay with her through the festivities surrounding her betrothal.
But this particular visit had brought a certain amount of pressure on Juliana, as well. The challenge lay in maintaining not only her poise but her dignity when the rumors had risen to a crescendo. Truth be told, she was starting to wonder that Papa’s protestations might hide darker truths that she would have to face come morning. After this ball, her visit would be over. She had been dreading the return home fo
r some time now.
Do not think of that now. Take this moment. Take tonight and enjoy the dance and the moonlight. Let tomorrow be a thing to worry about later.
So, she enjoyed the way it felt to have her hand tucked safely in the crook of his elbow. She inhaled deeply the scent of roses, and let herself just be nobody, in a garden with no one at all.
His voice broke the quiet. “You are suddenly quiet. I had not expected your tongue to still for so long. Have you truly run out of things to say?”
“Perhaps I was simply giving you the opportunity, that you might plant firmly your well-shod foot…”
“My lady, there are gentlemen present!” He tsked, shaking his head slowly. “Such language!”
“I only follow your example, my lord,” she said, pausing upon the garden path that she might drop a pretty curtsey in front of him.
He roared with laughter. “My word, you are good for my soul. Tell me, my lady, what brings you to such foolishness as this ball? You seem not the usual simpering maiden that appears in droves at such gatherings.”
“I shall have you know, sir, that I simper only with those of sufficient breeding. Simpering is a skill best wrought in the presence of large titles, that the effect not be wasted. It is, after all, they who have the largest of egos and require such attentions.”
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