“Do not forget to tell her about the duke and Mr. Crawdon’s attendance too,” Caroline called after her.
Since Rebecca continued to tear up the stairs, Caroline could not be sure whether she’d heard or not.
****
Rebecca had heard and now, hours later, she fairly bounced around the drawing room waiting for Lady Sarah’s carriage to arrive. Edward and Tom would meet them there. Rebecca imagined the hidden walks, the benches under overhanging branches, all of the discreet places she and Edward could steal some moments alone.
At eight o’clock on the dot Lady Sarah’s carriage arrived. The girls bid the dowager a swift goodbye and quickly made their way outside. Even Caroline was caught up in the excitement though she urged Rebecca again to be wary of Lady Sarah.
“I shall be as civil to her as she is to me,” Rebecca had stated firmly. “I am sure we shan’t even speak to each other, there will be so much to do!”
Her excitement had been infectious and Caroline had soon allowed herself to relax and look forward to the evening’s festivities.
The sisters entered Lady Sarah’s carriage a little hesitantly for they were not sure about the reception they would receive.
But the lady was all that was polite and cordial.
“Lady Rebecca, Lady Caroline. I am so pleased that you could join me tonight,” she exclaimed as the girls climbed into the luxurious carriage.
Lady Sarah looked as flamboyant as ever. She wore a headband with such huge feathers Rebecca was half expecting it to take flight. Her dress was an eye-watering pink, the colour picked solely to draw attention, good or bad.
The neckline was scandalous even by the most liberal of standards, and Lady Sarah’s ample curves were fighting what looked to be a losing battle to stay inside it.
Caroline smiled warmly in greeting but Rebecca held back. Lady Sarah certainly had made no outward changes so there was no reason to suppose she’d made any inside either.
“What wonderful news you had for me, Lady Rebecca, when you told me Eddie and Tom would join us. Such charming creatures, and so devilishly handsome!”
Rebecca merely smiled in response though her teeth felt sewn together.
“Of course,” the lady continued, either oblivious to or uncaring of the disinterest from the other side of the carriage, “they were not always so stuffy and staid as they are now. La! The stories I could tell.”
She smiled sweetly, probably anticipating questions from the younger ladies. But neither one was inclined to ask questions they would rather not hear the answers to.
Caroline, wisely, bit her tongue and said nothing. Rebecca, stupidly, let her mouth run away with her. Again.
“I hardly think they are stuffy and staid. Why, Mr. Crawdon’s businesses must require a great deal of attention and as for Ed – I mean, the duke, well I think we’re all aware of just what a big undertaking the Hartridge estates are.”
“How sweet of you to jump to his defence, my dear,” Lady Sarah grinned triumphantly, but Rebecca would not be baited.
“I believe I spoke of both gentlemen, my lady,” her smile felt brittle and pasted on, “to whom are you referring?”
Lady Sarah laughed that ridiculous laugh again and Rebecca clenched her fists.
“Oh you are a coy one,” she said at last, “but we will speak of it no more! Now, tell me, are you very excited about your first visit to the gardens?”
Rebecca was excited but decided that before they went any further in this charade they might as well be honest with each other about where they stood.
“Oh, we are beside ourselves with excitement, my lady,” she answered, “though somewhat surprised at your invitation. I think it is safe to say that neither of us set out to be friends.”
Caroline winced at Rebecca’s bluntness but Rebecca really felt it was better to find out exactly what the lady was up to.
Lady Sarah’s eyes narrowed slightly and she seemed to be thinking over Rebecca’s words carefully. Finally, she let out and sigh and answered.
“I should not be surprised at your bluntness, Lady Rebecca. You seem to have quite the reputation of being — er — unusual. But I have no hidden agenda. I realise that I was rude to you in the park that day and I wanted to make amends.”
Rebecca started to relax a little. That sounded reasonable and even nice. But Lady Sarah wasn’t finished.
“Besides, we have a great deal in common, you and me. I thought it would help you to have a friend in the same situation.”
“I do not know what you mean,” Rebecca said carefully.
“I shall be frank, if I may, since our only companion is your dear sister,” Lady Sarah spared a quick smile for Caroline but it did not reach her eyes. “I have seen the way Eddie is with you. And the way you are with him.”
Rebecca was tempted to deny it but was more interested in what Lady Sarah had to say. She had a sinking feeling that it would not be good.
“I think it is obvious to everyone that there is an attachment forming. I just hope that you are keeping your wits about you. Edward was quite the rake in his day and though he has had to mature a lot, I cannot believe he has changed all that much in essentials. He is attracted to you. Any man would be, I suppose. Though Tom seems more taken with your sister.”
At this, Caroline gasped and Rebecca spared her a quick, surprised glance, before turning back to Lady Sarah.
“He is not a bad man, he just cannot resist a pretty face,” she continued flippantly, “I simply think you should take more care of your reputation.”
Here, she dropped the smile and leaned forward, her face all seriousness.
“Edward will not marry you, Lady Rebecca. He is a duke and will only marry an appropriate girl. One of his family’s choosing, I warrant. You are not dim-witted, so I am sure you are already aware of that.”
Rebecca’s heart sank and she could hardly breathe. Yes, she was aware of it. But she was going to improve. She had already decided to try harder. To change.
Lady Sarah had not finished though. The woman was relentless.
“Oh your lineage cannot be questioned. Nor your wealth. But, really, I think we all know that you would not be exactly in keeping with the idea of a duchess. I only urge you tread carefully. Men, especially men of the duke’s stature will always come out of these things with barely a blemish on their reputations. But women! Well, I think we all know that once you are ruined your life is essentially over.”
“That is enough,” Caroline barked, finally having heard enough of Lady Sarah’s bitter ranting.
Rebecca had paled dramatically and Caroline was afraid she would swoon.
“It is alright, Caroline,” Rebecca assured her.
She turned to Lady Sarah.
“I thank you for your obviously sincere concern,” Rebecca bit out sarcastically, “but I assure you, no warning is necessary. The duke has not made any unwelcome advances toward me.”
“I did not say they were unwelcome,” Lady Sarah interjected.
Rebecca bit her tongue, literally, to stop from lashing out at the lady.
She did not, would not believe that Edward was the type of man who would use a woman so ill. And certainly not her. She believed him when he said he cared for her. She did.
“Regardless of what you think, there is no cause for concern about the duke and I, and I would prefer if you did not allow your imagination to run wild.”
Lady Sarah laughed bitterly.
“My imagination? If only that were the source of my warning. It is not my imagination, my dear but bitter experience.”
Rebecca felt as if someone had slapped her.
“What?” she whispered.
“You would not know, having been tucked away in the Irish countryside. Your precious duke and I were lovers and he broke my heart when he toyed with me then tossed me away deciding I was unsuited to the life of a duchess. And I see history repeating itself before my very eyes.”
The carriage had come to a stop but
none of the ladies made a move to alight.
“What happened in the past is no concern of mine,” answered Rebecca a little shakily.
“The past?” laughed Lady Sarah, “It was right before he went to stay with your family, my dear.”
The door opened and a footman had lowered the steps and still Rebecca’s eyes stayed fixated on Lady Sarah.
“Now, my dear,” Lady Sarah continued, “let us put all of this from our heads and enjoy ourselves tonight. I am glad that I have warned you, I wish someone could have done the same for me.”
She turned and exited the carriage.
Caroline grabbed Rebecca’s hand.
“Oh, my darling,” she cried, “please do not listen to that poisonous woman’s lies. It cannot be true. I’ve seen how Edward looks at you, it is with the purest of love I am sure of it!”
Rebecca listened to Caroline’s words but did not really take them in. Her mind was whirling. Had he said the same things to Lady Sarah as he had to her? Would he use her then drop her? Would he ruin her reputation to save his own?
She thought back on their conversations, their meetings. He’d been so studiously careful not to allow anyone to see them together. He had spoken words of admiration but not love.
Oh God, it could not be true. Surely he would have told her about a relationship with Lady Sarah. He would not have risked her finding out this way, would he? She needed to speak with him at once.
“Do not worry, Caroline. I am well. Let us join the duke and Mr. Crawdon. I believe I have some questions for our esteemed protector.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Edward checked his watch again and bit back a sigh of frustration. They were late.
“You can keep staring, cousin, it will not make them arrive any quicker.” Tom slapped Edward on the back and grinned ruefully at his downfall. “You really have fallen desperately hard, have you not?”
Edward thought about arguing but what was the point? He meant to make his feelings known to Rebecca tonight and ask for her hand in marriage.
He knew that he should speak to her father first but he thought perhaps she would like for them to travel together to Ireland and inform her parents then. He could not imagine that they would object.
A niggle of worry gnawed at him at the thoughts of Lady Sarah and Rebecca being together. But he swiftly pushed it aside. Sarah was eccentric but not dangerous. She might fill Rebecca’s ears with tales of his past escapades but they were not too bad.
He wondered if he should have told Rebecca about Lady Sarah and his past with her but a kiss or two during Sarah’s debut Season was hardly worth mentioning, was it?
Finally, he spotted them through the crowd and had to stop himself from running to her. She looked breath taking as ever. He would never, ever be able to believe his luck if she were to consent to be his wife.
He loved her so much he thought it must be stamped on his head. And he did not care a jot! He smiled as he thought of how much he had changed, in so short a time.
Sensible and practical he may have been, but a sensible duke would not be considering grabbing a lady in front of the entire crowd and shouting his love for her from the rooftops!
The gardens were heaving with people tonight as usual. It was a unique place where classes mixed more than any other and working class folk gained entrance just as easily as the peerage.
Lady Sarah, Rebecca had informed them, had secured them a box right by the Promenade where they could easily see the dancing and musicians playing. Edward hoped that while the others danced and mingled, he could slip away alone with Rebecca and tell her his hopes and plans.
The ladies eventually made their way to Edward’s and Tom’s sides. Tom was quick to bow gallantly over their hands and use the most flowery of terms to describe their beauty. Edward stayed still and watched Rebecca. Something was wrong. She looked pale and drawn and would not meet his eyes.
He stepped forward to take her hand but she stepped immediately back and shied away from his touch. What the devil?
He looked at the other ladies present and noticed that while Sarah looked as flamboyant and happy as ever, Lady Caroline also looked pale and shot worried looks at her younger sister.
What the hell had Sarah done?
“Rebecca,” he made to reach for her again but she jumped away and spoke brightly to the group.
“Shall we find our booth? I am so very anxious to see what the gardens have to offer. I believe they have a quite potent punch that one simply must try?”
Tom laughed and answered cheerfully, “They do indeed, my lady. Though I would caution you against more than a mere taste. It is not for the faint hearted.”
“Ah but I am far from faint hearted, my dear Mr. Crawdon. It takes more than a mere drink or a pretty word to touch my heart.”
Tom wondered a little at the cryptic remark but the meaning was clear to Edward. A pretty word? She meant, clearly, the things he had told her last night.
His temper began to rise. She did not know how difficult it had been to open his heart to her, to be even slightly vulnerable. So long had he remained emotionless and cut off from those around him, the worries and responsibilities of his title leaving no room for the softer things in life. He had begun to think that Rebecca was the one person he could be soft and loving with, someone with whom he could be himself and not have to worry about appearances.
Someone he could laugh with and enjoy life with. Someone he could even climb statues with, he thought with a smile.
But her behaviour now? It was so very different to yesterday’s that he was sure something had happened. This morning they had not been able to talk alone but she had seemed as happy to see him as he was her.
They had at this point reached their booth and Edward was momentarily distracted from his dark thoughts by the expression of wonder on Rebecca’s face. She looked mesmerised by the sights and sounds around her.
The Vauxhall Gardens were certainly a sight to behold for the first time; he remembered witnessing the spectacle himself, albeit in a bit of a drunken haze.
She and her sister clasped hands as they scanned the crowds walking by, watched the dancers and musicians mere feet from where they stood.
He wanted to speak to her. To straighten this matter out. He had envisioned taking her on a stroll through one of the secluded pathways, stopping to watch the fireworks, which he knew she would love.
Suddenly, he could not wait a moment longer. He strode over to her and grasped her arm, turning her to face him.
“Rebecca.”
“Your grace?” she answered coldly.
They were back to your grace? For God’s sake what the hell had happened with Sarah?
“We need to talk.”
“We are talking,” she bit back.
Edward clenched his jaw as his temper rose. He should stay calm and reasonable, be gentle and polite.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Or not.
“Me? Not a thing, your grace. I am merely trying to enjoy the festivities. Be a dear and get some of this famous punch, would you? I believe I would like to dance.”
She turned to Tom and gave him her biggest and most endearing smile.
He looked completely dazzled. The traitor.
“You will dance with me, will you not Mr. Crawdon?” she purred.
When had she learned to purr?
Tom coughed a couple of times, glancing nervously at Edward then back to Rebecca.
“I would be delighted to, my dear.”
They left the box with an apologetic shrug from Tom to Edward. Rebecca ignored him and swept by with her nose in the air.
Edward ground his teeth.
“Well,” started Lady Sarah, “there seems to—”
“Lady Caroline,” Edward spoke over whatever quip Lady Sarah had been about to make, “will you do me the honour of dancing with me?”
Caroline looked a little taken aback at his harsh tone but conceded and took his arm.
“Do not mind me,” called Lady Sarah sarcastically, “I shall be fine left unattended.”
Caroline threw a nervous glance at Edward’s stony profile.
“We really should not leave Lady Sarah alone, your grace.”
Edward turned to address her.
“Since I can only imagine that she is responsible for the change in your sister, I cannot bring myself to behave very gentlemanlike towards her at present.”
Caroline chewed her lip as if unsure whether to answer or not. Funny that she did the same thing as her sister. Of course, when her sister did it Edward felt as if his heart were being squeezed.
“The lady regaled us with stories of your past, your grace,” she finally muttered.
“That does not sound so bad,” said Edward carefully. He was no saint but he had never done anything too horrid.
Caroline looked up and he was surprised to see a blue fire dance in her eyes. Usually they were icy and calm, cold almost. Yet now they were spitting. So like her sister’s in a lot of ways.
“Does it not, your grace?” She packed quite a punch into one little sentence. He felt like a naughty child being reprimanded.
“Er — no?” He said it like a question as he was unsure of where this was leading.
“I had thought that you knew Rebecca quite well, your grace.”
“I do,” he argued.
Caroline sighed and said, “I know my sister acts like nothing bothers her. I know she seems strong as iron. But she is a romantic at heart and she does not and cannot hide her feelings, though she thinks she does. Rebecca hurts deeply, your grace. Especially when let down by those she cares most about.”
Edward frowned in confusion. He felt an icy dread begin to form in the pit of his stomach.
“Lady Caroline, what exactly did Lady Sarah tell your sister?”
Caroline blushed and glanced away before facing him again.
“It would not be proper for me to repeat it, least of all to you. Besides, it is for Rebecca to tell you, not I.”
“Fine,” was all the answer she got before Edward turned and dragged her over to where Rebecca and Tom were dancing. Without a word, he deposited Caroline in front of Tom and took Rebecca away, marching her straight off the floor and down the steps toward the makeshift forest past the booths.
An Unlikely Duchess Page 24