Caroline and Tom both stared in amazement at their retreating forms.
Finally, Tom turned to Caroline with a grin and bowed.
“Shall we, my lady?” he asked and though he sounded as jovial as ever, there was a tightness to his voice.
Caroline stared at his outstretched hand for a moment until, finally, she placed her smaller one in his.
She looked up into his clear blue eyes and smiled.
“I’d be delighted.”
****
Rebecca did not take kindly to being manhandled.
“Just what do you think you are doing?” she muttered angrily as Edward frogmarched her down the path and away from the crowds.
Once they’d reached the relative privacy of the overhanging trees he stopped and turned her to face him.
“Alright. Tell me what has happened,” he demanded.
“I am sure I have no idea what you are talking about,” came the stiff reply.
“The devil you don’t,” his voice was very close to shouting. He did his best to moderate it.
“Last night, we seemed to have been on the verge of— well of moving forward.” He could not bring himself to say what he desperately wanted to. Not while she was so hostile. “And now, now you are acting like a perfect stranger.”
Rebecca knew there was truth in his words but she could not allow herself to act any differently. The only thing keeping her from sobbing was pretending that she was as uncaring and unfeeling possible.
She stared at him for a moment, willing herself not to soften until he told her the truth.
“Let me ask you something,” Rebecca spoke sedately now, calmly. It made him even more worried.
“When you first met me,” she continued in the same flat tone, “did you think I would make a good duchess?”
The question caught him off guard. He knew the answer would hurt her feelings but he would not lie to her. He would never lie to her.
“Rebecca” he spoke gently, wanting to touch her but knowing it would be the wrong thing to do. “When I first met you you’d fallen into a lake because you were chasing a kite,” he said by way of explanation.
He hadn’t directly answered her question but his answer was enough.
She nodded her head quickly, as though in a hurry to get through the conversation.
“What about when you first kissed me?” she asked boldly. “Did you think I would make a good duchess then?”
He did not like where this was going.
“No,” he answered honestly, though it killed him, “but I kissed you because I–”
“And all those other times,” she continued speaking over him, “what about then?”
Well, this was easier.
“Last night I—”
“Before last night.”
He swallowed hard.
“No,” he answered miserably.
“I have only one more question,” her voice was bleaker than he’d ever heard it and it hurt to know he’d made it that way.
“Did you have a relationship with Lady Sarah?”
He stared at Rebecca and could see from her expression that she wanted him to say no. And he hadn’t, not really. But suddenly the few stolen kisses he and Sarah had shared as youths seemed a much bigger deal than they had mere minutes before.
“No,” he answered though honesty compelled him to admit, “we kissed. A few times but it meant nothing. It was not even worth mentioning to you.”
Rebecca closed her eyes and lowered her head but not before he saw the flash of pain.
“So you tossed her aside because she was not good enough for your precious title, is that it?”
“What? No! Of course not. Rebecca she meant nothing to me. Nothing. You are—”
“What?” Rebecca demanded, “I am what? I am not duchess material, you have admitted so yourself. And yet, you have kissed me. You kissed me when you knew that you would not want to pursue me. So it is true then. This is what you do? You— you seduce women, destroy their reputations and then move on to somebody more worthy?”
What the hell was she talking about?
“No, of course not. Why would you even think such a thing?”
“Lady Sarah told me about your sordid little past with her. She told me that you would not think me good enough, and she was right. You do not. And to think I wanted to change. To change everything about myself to just be more worthy of you. Worthy of your damned title.” There were tears streaming down her face now but she did not care.
“Rebecca, Sarah is lying to you if she told you that we had anything more than a mere kiss or two. What I feel for you is—”
“Nothing,” she yelled, “what you feel for me is nothing but lust. We both know I cannot be what you need in a wife. What you want. Yet you paid court to me in front of the whole of London and now, when you find someone you truly want, I shall be a laughing stock.”
“Rebecca, calm down.” He reached for her but she stumbled away.
“Do not touch me and do not tell me to be calm.”
She took a deep breath and spoke again, this time with her voice devoid of all emotion.
“I am glad,” she said, to his surprise. “I am glad to have found this out. What fools we both were, acting as if people would not talk. Would not notice how we preferred each other’s company. Well, better to distance ourselves now. I am not what you want in a wife. And you are certainly not what I want in a husband.”
Edward winced as her words struck him like a blow to the temple.
“You do not mean that.”
“Of course I do. What would I bring to you but embarrassment and scandal? And what would you give me? A cage? A list of rules so restrictive that I would not even be myself? I fantasied that it would work Edward, but truly it never would. There has to be love for opposites to have a successful marriage. And there is no love between us. You do not love me. And I—I do not love you.”
Her words felt like stab wounds as he stood and listened to her so casually deny that there was anything between them, to list all the reasons why they should not be together.
He felt so miserable he could weep and so angry he wanted to punch something.
“Do you mean that?” he finally asked.
She kept her eyes downcast and nodded mutely.
“No, Rebecca. If you will dismiss us, dismiss me so easily, you will look at me while you do it. Do you mean that?”
Her head remained bowed for some moments and in those moments Edward prayed that she would take it back. Finally, she raised her head and looked into his eyes with a cold, emotionless stare.
“Yes, I mean it.”
Edward turned and left without another word, striding from the walkway and from the Vauxhall Gardens altogether.
Had he turned around, he would have seen Rebecca finally lose the last shreds of her control and drop to her knees as heartbroken sobs wracked her body.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Lady Sarah, having completed the second of her tasks while she had been alone in their booth, found Rebecca in a miserable heap on the ground.
Obviously she had done her job well.
“Oh my dear,” Sarah cried rushing over to Rebecca with false concern. “Whatever can have happened to you?”
Rebecca was too distraught to do anything except let Lady Sarah guide her gently to her feet and lead her back toward their box.
“Come now, it cannot be that bad. Let us get you something to drink and you will feel better.”
She poured a dark liquid into a goblet and pressed it into Rebecca’s shaking hands.
“Drink, dear. You will feel as good as new.”
Rebecca drank deeply. She tasted wine but something else too, a cloying sweetness that was at odds with the deep flavour of the wine.
She grimaced as it burned a trail down her throat.
“What is that?” Rebecca asked.
“Why, tis the punch you were so excited about tasting.”
“I am not sure
that I like it. It tastes — strange,” Rebecca choked out as the fire built in her throat. “It is burning. May I please have some water?”
“Of course, but drink up first. Otherwise you will not feel the effects.”
Rebecca’s head began to swim. What was wrong with her? She felt sluggish and incredibly sleepy.
Lady Sarah tilted the rest of the contents of the cup into her mouth and she swallowed instinctively.
Something was wrong. The booth began to swim and the colours were too bright. Everything sounded so far away and even Lady Sarah’s voice was becoming distorted.
“Pl-please get my sister.”
“I sent your sister off to dance with Mr. Crawdon, my dear. She will be quite a while I would imagine. I convinced her that you were perfectly safe with the duke.”
Rebecca felt nauseated. She felt violently ill and scared and she wanted Edward more than anything. But Edward had left because she had pushed him away.
She felt like crying again but her thoughts were so muddled she could not remember why.
“Do not worry, my dear,” Lady Sarah’s voice sounded close to her but she could not distinguish where. “The effects will not last long. Just long enough for you to be taken down a peg or two.”
My God, the woman was insane. Had she poisoned her?
“I want Edward,” were Rebecca’s last words before she began to slip into darkness.
The last thing she remembered was Lady Sarah’s voice again, sounding bitter and cold.
“Don’t we all?”
****
As Rebecca slumped forward, Lady Sarah lifted her head and gave a discreet signal. Within moments George Simons had climbed into their booth and covered Rebecca’s unconscious form with a dark cloak.
“We need to walk her out of here,” he whispered to Lady Sarah. But he hadn’t taken his eyes from Rebecca’s face.
Sarah began to feel uncomfortable. And a little scared.
“Mr. Simons,” she started hesitantly. She did not like the look in his eyes — an almost insane joy while he watched Rebecca’s helpless body. “Remember the plan. You are to leave her alone somewhere. Her reputation is to be ruined.” She raised her voice now as the man did not seem to be paying any attention to what Sarah was saying. “Mr. Simons she is not to be touched.”
Finally, the man turned to look at her and Sarah felt her skin crawl. She did not like what she saw.
“Y-you will stick to the plan?”
George merely smirked but did not answer. He lifted Rebecca and draped one of her arms around his shoulder.
“Help me,” was all he muttered and Lady Sarah rushed forward to do his bidding.
She was beginning to regret her part in this wicked scheme. She had wanted to see the girl knocked from her perch. Everywhere she went it was ‘Lady Rebecca said this’ and ‘Lady Rebecca wore that’ and ‘did you see the duke dance with Lady Rebecca?’
Sarah remembered a time when she’d had society at her feet. Her first Season had been ruined by an indiscreet affair with a married earl and she’d had to marry Robert Whitting, Earl of Salisbury to keep herself from utter ruin. And she’d lost Edward forever…
But suddenly it seemed ridiculous to have done all this to an innocent girl just because they’d shared a few cross words in the park.
“I said help me,” George Simons’ voice cut through her musings.
“I—I am not sure this is a very good idea after all,” she whispered looking around frantically lest they be seen. “Perhaps I should just take the lady home.”
“Did you get rid of the duke?” was his only response.
“What? Yes. Yes of course. They argued about something or other, I do not know what. Anyway I saw him leave in a towering rage. He will not be back.”
“Right, well her sister will be back soon so we need to move her now.”
“But I said—”
“I know what you said,” Mr. Simons interrupted her, and now his expression was so fierce she was terrified. “And for your own sake, I am ignoring it. You will help me see this through or things will get very nasty for you.”
Lady Sarah quivered in fear as she took in his countenance. How had she not seen how utterly deranged the man was?
She moved forward to help him and together they moved slowly through the pressing crowd dragging Rebecca’s slumped form between them.
There were a few knowing looks and guffaws from the crowd at Rebecca’s seemingly inebriated state. Thankfully though they saw nobody of consequence and so were able to move undetected by people who would recognise Sarah.
Finally, after what seemed like an endless trek, they reached the exit. Mr. Simons had a carriage waiting; it looked disgusting and disused. They walked towards it then he picked Rebecca up and dumped her none too gently into the back.
He turned to face Lady Sarah who, at this point, was so distraught that she was visibly shaking.
“Now, you get back in there and you make sure the snooty one don’t come looking for her sister.”
Sarah nodded mutely too afraid to do anything more.
But as he climbed into the driver’s seat her conscience got the better of her.
“Mr. Simons,” she called. “You will still leave her in the hunting lodge won’t you? The one you told me of?”
“You just do as you’ve been told,” was her only answer then he sped off into the night.
What have I done? thought Lady Sarah in despair. But she would keep the secret. She could not tell of her part in it or it would destroy her and if Mr. Simons found out that she had told…
She squared her shoulders and went back inside to see this awful scheme through, wishing to God she’d never started it…
****
Caroline returned to the booth flushed with happiness having enjoyed herself more in these past hours than she had for the entirety of the Season thus far. It was easier somehow to let herself relax here. It felt as if the strict rules by which she lived did not matter as much inside these enchanted gates.
She smiled happily at her companion, Mr. Crawford, as he handed her a goblet of wine.
“I do hope this is not the punch you spoke to Rebecca of, sir.” She smiled shyly up at him
“No, my dear,” her answer came from Lady Sarah, “tis merely a jug of wine I have procured just this moment.”
Caroline glanced around then turned back to Lady Sarah with a slight frown marring her brow.
“Where is my sister?” she asked.
“Still off somewhere with Eddie, no doubt,” Lady Sarah’s voice was brittle as her smile. Her jealously was showing.
Caroline’s frown deepened.
“I should go and find her,” she said, “She has been alone with him for far too long.”
“You do not think you should leave them if they are to become engaged?” asked Tom.
Caroline stared at him.
“Engaged?”
“Of course,” replied Tom, “I should have thought it would be obvious that those were Edward’s intentions. The man’s been driven half mad with wanting to do it since first light this morning.”
“Oh my goodness, this is such wonderful news! Rebecca will be so happy.” Caroline’s eyes shone and Tom had to take a gulp of his wine to wet his suddenly parched throat.
“I hope that she is. I know Edward is worried about her reaction.”
“How could he be? Surely tis obvious to anyone with eyes what her feelings are. And to know that he loves her? Why, it is the stuff of fairy tales.”
“Careful, my lady.” Tom smiled indulgently. “Your romantic side is showing.”
A rosy blush tinged Caroline’s cheeks at his words.
“Oh, I cannot wait any longer. Surely he has had time enough to ask. I must find her.” She rushed from the box and Tom quickly followed grinning at her excitement.
Lady Sarah swallowed nervously. She knew they would not find either Rebecca or Edward.
They returned not long after, both of them now
frowning.
“There seems to be no sign of them at all,” said Tom. “And Hadley’s just told us he saw Edward leave some time ago.”
“How strange,” Lady Sarah responded weakly. “Perhaps they have returned home.”
“I am sure she would not go without telling me,” said Caroline. “I know it seems foolish but I cannot help thinking something has happened.”
“Come now, what would happen to her with the duke? I think we can all agree that she is in the safest of hands. Let us enjoy our night. There will no doubt be an explanation when we return.” Lady Sarah pressed a drink into Caroline’s hand and one into Tom’s.
Caroline was still unsure but she knew Lady Sarah was right. Nobody would take better care of Rebecca than Edward. And the fact that they were most likely now betrothed made it a little more respectable for them to be gone as long as they were.
Besides, she was thoroughly enjoying herself as no doubt Rebecca was.
Lord Hadley came by their booth at that moment enquiring after Rebecca. He soon got over his disappointment at her absence when he caught sight of Lady Sarah’s flirtatious glance.
“Will you do me the honour of dancing with me, Lady Sarah?” he asked as his eyes raked over her.
Lady Sarah smiled coyly and agreed and they both disappeared into the throng.
“Lady Caroline, it looks as if you are stuck with me once again,” Tom spoke softly holding out his hand.
“I do not mind, sir,” she answered shyly.
“No,” he said as he placed her hand into the crook of his arm, “nor do I.”
****
Rebecca awoke to a merciless pain in her head. She had no idea where she was and for a moment, blind panic set in. Surrounding her was complete darkness and the rocking motion she was experiencing was doing nothing to help her stomach, which was roiling alarmingly.
What had happened?
Why did her head hurt so?
And where the hell was she?
Blinking a couple of times to try to clear her vision and her head, she realised with some surprise that she must be in a carriage. A very old and unclean one judging by the smell.
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