"How do you know? For you do know, don't you?" Caroline's voice was strangled, though she fought to maintain control. Oh, God. She was ruined.
"My brother."
At that, Caroline felt herself relax just a small fraction. It had long been rumored that Nicholas Rosemont, the esteemed and fearsome Duke of Candlewood, worked for the Home Office, something Caroline had never quite been able to verify. If he was a spy, it was not unreasonable to think that he knew the truth about her. And many other ladies of London, in all probability. For a man who was rumored to be as talented as he, it would have been easy enough to ferret out the truth. She also knew that if Lady Radcliffe meant to expose Caroline's secrets, she probably already would have done so.
"So Lord Candlewood..." But Caroline could not bring herself to utter the words that would condemn her socially. Her poor, battered heart had borne too much that day already.
"He knows you are Lady X," Julia finished for her easily. "And unfortunately, he is not the only one, I fear."
Despite the fact that Caroline had known this day was coming, she still fought back the immediate urge to call for her maid to pack her bags so that she might run. To where she did not know, but some place outside of London, that much was certain. There was no way she could remain in town now. "How much does he know? Who else knows?"
To Caroline's surprise, Julia patted her hand before giving it a comforting squeeze as if she meant to help and not hinder. "Nick has known for a very long while. He is... Let us just say that he is well connected. However, he protects those he cares for. I can assure you of that as well."
"He does not know me," Caroline protested, knowing it was true. She had probably spoken not more than ten words to Candlewood in her entire life. Why on earth would he want to help her, protect her secrets?
"But I am his sister. And you did me a great favor. Several of them, in fact, from championing my marriage to helping hide the fact that I was injured in an illegal duel. You also promoted the match between Lady Amy and Dr. Blackwell earlier this season."
Now the complete and complex picture began to take shape in Caroline's mind. Suddenly, Nicholas Rosemont's interest in her began to make a good deal more sense. "And Gibson is a friend of your family. He treated you for your injuries after the duel. Not to mention that Lady Amy is your friend."
Now Julia truly smiled and for a brief moment, Caroline wondered if all might not be lost. "My brother has a soft heart, though he hides it well. He is also fiercely protective of his family and his friends. You, Lady Caroline, by default, have become his friend, even if you were unaware of that fact." She squeezed Caroline's hand once more. "He would not betray you or your secrets. Of that there is no doubt."
"But another would." Caroline now knew that this visit was no mere social call. It was a warning. Not about Marcus at all, but rather, about her past.
"Indeed. Someone is watching you," Julia said, pushing away her teacup even as Caroline moved to refill it. "It is not the Bow Street Runner, Harry Greer, though he watches you as well, most likely at Lord Breckenright's request, though Nicholas is not certain."
Caroline sat up straighter in alarm. "Marcus knows?" Pure terror raced through her body. She wanted to run now for certain but Julia put up a staying hand.
"Nick does not believe so, no. Mr. Greer has only been tasked with tailing you for a day or so. But he does know that you have secrets, Lady Caroline. All of the ton knows. You cannot be that unaware of your situation." Julia looked at her with a bit of reproach. "Yet they do not act upon it and with good reason. To them, the mystery of you is more important than the reality. You give them something to gossip about, to speculate about and it does no real harm to anyone. Not even you, for believe it or not, most of society likes you. The rest of your secrets, whatever they are, can be dismissed as mere rumor with no damage to your reputation."
"Thank goodness for small favors then, I suppose." Caroline did not know what else to say. "Thank you" did not seem entirely appropriate.
Julia leaned forward and this time grasped both of Caroline's hands in hers. "The bigger issue here is this other man who watches you and why he does so. Nicholas only recently discovered the reasons why you are Lady X because someone else has been digging into your past and the matter was brought to his attention. There have been inquiries with various people in Northumbria about your time there."
"Your brother sent you here to warn me." The last piece of Julia's odd, early morning visit fit neatly into place. "He is trying to protect me."
Julia nodded in affirmation. "He feels that if you end the Lady X column now, there is a chance to salvage the situation. According to him, it is very unlikely that society would believe anything about your supposed misdeeds in Northumbria. It is all so very unlikely, tales of you, a lady of good breeding and the daughter of a viscount, being a master forger and what not. Especially since your uncle was a scoundrel of the highest order. All of society was, of course, well aware of that fact."
"But if it becomes known that I am Lady X as well, then some might begin to believe that the other tales are true as well." They were true of course and though Caroline had no idea how Nicholas had obtained his information, she was thankful that he was friend and not foe. "After all, Lady X meddles in their lives, reports upon their actions, and not all of them are happy about it."
Nodding, Julia sat back and rested a protective hand over her stomach, even though she was barely showing. "Precisely. All of those that you have disparaged over the years, even though you only spoke the truth? It is not out of the question to think that they would want revenge upon you. Or worse."
"I shall leave town!" It was the perfect means of escape, especially since Caroline had been planning on fleeing to the country anyway. Now she could depart and not have to fear facing Marcus again. The duke could tell him, in private of course, the reason for Caroline's departure. She would not have to utter a word.
Julia frowned deeply. "Absolutely not. According to my brother, running is the worst possible course of action. Even if society did not know something was amiss, this man, whoever he is, would still be after you. Nick does not know what this man wants, but he doubts it is good. Running away will only delay the man and it will not help you."
"So what would Lord Candlewood have me do?" Caroline's head was spinning. Suddenly, she had bigger problems than finding a suitable bride for Marcus and finding a way to leave him without making a bigger muck of things than she already had.
"Tell Marcus the truth so that he calls off Harry Greer. Or if that is not possible, I suppose Nick could take care of the problem himself. The most important thing is that you end the Lady X column." Julia's direct gaze left no room for debate. "Once that is done, Nicholas will use his considerable influence to see that this other person watching you, shall we say, goes away." Julia inclined her head and Caroline decided she did not want to know how the duke defined "going away." Perhaps he was truly as dangerous as she had always heard.
Frowning, Caroline twisted her hands in her lap. This was exactly what she had been considering doing anyway. Except for the confessing to Marcus part. Why should she feel so put upon? Perhaps because it was not her idea? She had always been stubborn like that.
"And then what? It is not as if Lord Breckenright and I are on speaking terms at the moment. For all I know, he has lost interest in me."
"Somehow, I rather doubt that." Julia clearly did not believe that scenario any more likely that Caroline did. "Even if you two are in the middle of a lover's spat, he will listen to you if he knows the matter is of utmost importance. He is fair that way, despite the rumors otherwise."
Clearly there was no way Caroline was going to win this point, so she conceded it. Even though she did not precisely agree to speak with Marcus either. "Fine. I will find a way to speak with the viscount. On this matter at least, he might hear me out. But there is still a bigger problem." Caroline pursed her lips, still mulling over all of the possible outcomes to this scenario. "S
omeone obviously knows the truth of my past. How can I be certain that he or she will not reveal it once I confess to Marcus simply out of spite? Or a wish to ruin me?"
"You cannot," Julia said simply. "But you can trust in your friends to help you weather this storm, should it arrive on your doorstep. You forget that as a friend of my brother's, you also enjoy the protection of some of the most powerful men in all of England. Men like Lord Covington, Lord Enwright, and yes, my husband as well. They can do much to assure that you remain protected, even though this might merely be a tempest in a teacup. Also, know that Marcus would offer you the protection and respectability of marriage if you needed it. He has loved you since you were children and you would do well to consider his offer." Then Julia gave her a cat-that-ate-the-cream smile. "If he has not offered for you already, I know that he plans to do so."
Caroline did not even bother to question how Julia knew this. Lord Candlewood. Her brother. There could be no other source, and for a moment, she was envious of his talents for gathering information. "He has. Just last evening."
"And you refused him." Julia crossed her arms over her chest as if that went without saying. As if she somehow knew what Caroline had said, the way Marcus had railed at her. Perhaps the other woman did. Marcus' servants had certainly heard the entire ugly mess and servants, even loyal ones, could be bought for the right price.
"I did." Caroline saw no reason to deny it. If Julia did not know now, she would soon enough, most likely by way of her brother.
At that, Julia's expression softened. "Oh Caroline," she sighed, using her new friend's Christian name, "do not throw away love, real and true love, out of fear. Or whatever reason you used to justify turning down Marcus' proposal. You will regret it. I very nearly did the same, refusing Benjamin at first. I thought that he would be better off without me. He could find a proper wife, one that was not whispered and gossiped about every place that she went. One that was not scarred and damaged as I am. I was wrong."
To Caroline's surprise, Julia lifted a hand and traced the fine line of one of the scars that ran the length of her cheek. There was no possible way anyone could ignore the thin yet somehow elegant slashes. However during the entire length of Lady Julia's visit, Caroline hadn't given them much thought at all. In truth, she hadn't really noticed them. "Also, understand that Marcus views himself as less than a whole man. Scars on the outside are far easier to see than the ones on the inside. Each time you refuse him, you make him doubt himself. You make him question whether any woman could love him when you, the woman who has been his friend almost since the day he was born, do not return even a hint of his feelings."
Caroline was not even going to ask how Julia had obtained her information. It was irrelevant now. Instead, she remembered Marcus's anger the previous night when she had turned down his offer of marriage. He had been furious and she had not completely understood why, other than the obvious, of course. There were other women he could marry, certainly. Why her? Why did he feel this need to possess her as his wife?
Because he loves you, you silly, stupid girl, a voice in the back of her mind whispered. And you love him. So what, precisely, is the problem? Is it that you are, quite simply, afraid? Afraid to open yourself up and allow someone to love you? To allow yourself to trust someone enough to care for you?
This could not continue, Caroline decided. She was tired and it was time for all of the misery and nonsense to end for good. It was time she stopped running. It was time to let go of Lady X and embrace a new life with the man she loved. Provided he would still have her, of course. She had to trust that his love for her was stronger than the rage he had felt when she had refused him. Well, she could work on that. She prayed she could, anyway.
"You are right," Caroline finally offered. "About all of it. Lady X must disappear and I need to stop pretending that I am not in love with Lord Breckenright. Though I fear that I may have irrepealably damaged that relationship beyond all hope of repair." An image of Marcus' enraged face rose up before her like a ghost.
Julia smiled serenely, clearly pleased that she had accomplished what she had set out to do. "As I have been told recently, a man in love with a woman will forgive her much, no matter the transgression. I believe you have heard the same advice. I have no doubt that the viscount will forgive you. Perhaps not immediately, but it will happen. Just do not give up."
With that she rose and once more Caroline's gaze strayed to her new friend's abdomen. A child grew there. Was the same true for Caroline herself? A soft voice that tickled the very back of her mind whispered that it very well might be the case. And it might also be the key to allow Caroline to open Marcus' heart to her once more.
"I will not give up," Caroline assured Julia as she rose as well to accompany her guest to the door. "And thank you. Thank your brother for me as well. For everything. I am fortunate to have friends such as you."
Pausing for a moment, Julia turned to grasp Caroline's hand once more. "You have always had us as friends, Caroline. You simply did not allow us, any of us, to get close enough to you to prove it."
Chapter Twelve
Marcus' mood was still dark and angry when he arrived at that evening's entertainment, a musicale hosted by Lord and Lady Coleridge. Though he did not know the duke or his family well, they were old friends of Lord Ardenton's family. And, of course, Ardenton was now his sister's husband. Since Amy and Gibson were preparing to depart for the country soon, Marcus had begrudgingly accepted the invitation to the event, mostly so that he might spend additional time with his sister. He had missed her greatly while he had been away in Bath and now he felt compelled to see her as much as their schedules would permit.
At the moment, however, Marcus was doubting the wisdom of his plan. Instead, he thought it might have been better for all if he had simply sent his regrets, informing his hostess for the evening that he had taken ill.
It would have been a perfectly believable excuse, as there was some sort of malady sweeping through the ranks of London's Upper Ten Thousand. It had even laid the infamous Lady X low, preventing her from writing that morning's column.
Not that Marcus had been paying much mind to Lady X that day. In fact, ever since the previous night when Caroline had come to his bed, he found his fascination with the gossip woman waning. After all, it was difficult to fantasize about an unseen - and quite possibly troll-like woman - when one had a deliciously willing female in one's bed. Except that Marcus no longer had such a female, and it was making him decidedly angry.
Not even the amorous attentions of the lovely Italian soprano Gianna Vienetti were enough to lift his spirits. The beautifully stunning - not to mention usually scandalously dressed - woman had made headlines a few scant weeks ago when she had attempted to seduce Gibson at the Falconridge musicale. That overture had been soundly rebuffed, so besotted was the man with Amy, but that did not stop the lovely Gianna from attempting to snare a different peer for her own gains.
Except that the soprano had been foolish enough to set her sights on Marcus from the moment he had arrived, clearly having read all of the exploits of the infamous "Viscount of Mystery." To just about everyone's amusement, however, Gianna had quickly turned and practically run for the door the first time Marcus had snarled at her, allowing her a good, long look at his ruined eye. After that, the less-than-innocent woman had scampered away, clearly not liking what she saw. Instead, she had begun to pursue Lord Hathaway, much to the dismay of one Lady Diana Saintwood. Marcus would not have been surprised in the least if fisticuffs would have broken out between the two women, no matter how scandalous such an incident would be.
To add insult to injury, Harry Greer, the Runner Marcus had hired had appeared at Cheltenham House that afternoon to inform Marcus that, due to another very pressing matter for the Crown, he was suspending his investigation into one Lady Caroline Turner, especially as there was little information to uncover. Marcus was both relieved and angry at the same time. He had not yet discovered Caroline's secret
and now was not likely too. Then again, he was still furious at her for refusing his proposal so perhaps it did not matter anyway. But he was curious about her time away. He always had been.
That lack of complete information regarding the woman he wished to wed gnawed at Marcus, eating away at him. Not to mention that Greer's resigning from the case was unusual. Harry Greer was a man who saw a job through to the bitter end, no matter how distasteful. He did not quit. If he had this time, that meant that there was someone or something else at work. Someone who did not want Marcus to learn the truth of Caroline's missing years.
And that, in the end, had only served to make him angrier.
Now, Marcus stood in a corner watching his sister and her husband dance a lively reel while he glowered fiercely, almost as if daring anyone to approach him. He was alone. Just as he preferred it.
In his hand he held a glass of champagne, though he longed for something stronger. With a growl, he shoved the delicate crystal flue on a passing footman's tray, very likely cracking the glass as he did so. Not that he cared. In fact, at the moment, he cared about precious little other than getting roaring drunk. Anything that might erase Caroline's blunt refusal from his thoughts.
He had made up his mind to head for the library where he knew Coleridge stored a particularly fine bottle of scotch when a man appeared in front of him. It took a moment for both of Marcus' eyes to focus properly but once they did, the man did not look any more appealing than he had when he was blurry. He also looked vaguely familiar but then, Marcus was a peer and had met a good many people over the years, many of whom he did not remember.
"Can I help you?" Marcus all but sneered, not wishing to engage in conversation with a man who looked as if he had somehow snuck in through the servants' entrance. Which he probably had. Really, did Coleridge not employ better trained staff than this, ones who were intelligent enough to keep out the riff-raff? What was the world coming to that a man could simply barge in off the streets like this?
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