“I am going,” Cedric spat, straightening his coat, and stalking out the door.
Julia was shaking so badly, she could not quiet herself. Once Mister Gruger was gone, Jane reached for her sister and enfolded Julia in a hug. Julia did not cry. She had used up all her tears. She stared wide-eyed out of the morning room window at the bright sunshine. She was still shaking, and could not tell if it was anger or frustration.
She had lost everything now. Cedric was right in one respect. If Lord Fawkland did not want her, no one would have her. But it was the right decision. She knew she had been right to refuse Cedric. What the Ton said did not matter. She could never have married him.
“I shall get a cat,” she said again, and Jane squeezed her tighter. They stood together for a long moment.
“I think we should leave Bath,” Jane said at last. “I would rather like to be home.”
Julia nodded mutely. “The house will go to Cousin Rupert,” Julia said softly.
“Shhh,” Jane eased her. “Do not fret over it.”
“I should pack my paints…and the easel.”
“I will have the servants do it,” Jane said, still holding her sister. “They have the rest of the house to pack as well, by the end of summer. Let us leave before the rumors Mister Gruger has planted take root.”
Julia nodded. “Yes. Let us go home, Jane.”
~.~
Chapter Three
By the time morning came, Lord Fawkland had formulated a plan. He had already told Captain Jack. Now he had to find his brother. He decided to check Cedric’s rooms first, but Miss Bellevue was never far from his mind. Cedric was not in his rooms, so Godwin simply paid the bill and let the owner of the hotel know that Cedric would be leaving soon.
Lord Fawkland checked every gaming hall and bawdy house. As he went through his brother’s haunts, he gave each of them notice that he would no longer honor his brother’s debts.
Lord Fawkland stopped his carriage on the front street, at the edge of the rough side of town. He mentally catalogued the pubs he knew Cedric frequented. He was prepared to go through the entire list when he caught sight of the man in question, Cedric. He looked to be in a towering rage. A little rage might do him good, Godwin thought.
Lord Fawkland turned his carriage and followed his brother. Godwin thought that Cedric did not look like a man who had just been happily affianced, which calmed Godwin somewhat. He no longer wanted to kill him on sight. Godwin still wanted to call him out, but the urge was somewhat mitigated. In any case it would not solve the immediate problem. It would not quell the rumors or make his lady rest easier. When at last Cedric entered a pub, Godwin followed after him.
Cedric had just ordered a drink, when Godwin walked into the pub.
“This deuced maggot pie, does not need a drink,” Godwin said grabbing Cedric by the back of his neck.
Cedric would have taken a swing at him, but the angle was wrong, and the footman took offence to the gentlemen brawling inside the establishment.
“If you have some grudge,” the waiter added. “Take it outside.”
“Oh, Indeed we will,” Godwin agreed, giving Cedric a shove towards the door. “By the look of you, brother, the lady has more sense than to agree to your terms.” Godwin was surprised by how happy that fact made him.
“She hasn’t agreed to yours either,” Cedric said sullenly, and Godwin’s heart soared. He hadn’t realized how much the uncertainty had worn on him. He knew Miss Bellevue was a woman of sense.
“I’m going to tell you how it is and you are going to listen.” Godwin gave Cedric another shove. “You have ended my patience, Cedric. You are brought to a point non plus and this is how it will be.”
Cedric scoffed. “How it will be. What are you going to do? You haven’t the bollocks to do anything to me. Shall I blacken your other eye?”
“It is not what I am going to do; it is what you are going to do, Cedric. You are going to offer your services to His Majesty’s Navy… or Army if you prefer. I do not much give a damn as long as you are far from me and Miss Bellevue. I will even buy you a commission if you prefer the army, but that is the last farthing I shall spend on you. You are, as of this moment, penniless. You have no money for your rented rooms after tonight. You have no allowance and no apartments in London. The sooner you sign up, the sooner you may have your military stipend. Do it now, and keep some measure of dignity.”
Cedric straightened his coat. “I am the son of a Baron.”
“As you so readily remind me, our father is dead, so you are not the son of a baron; you are the brother of a baron. The younger brother, which means that I hold the purse strings. And as of right now, you haven’t a sixpence to scratch with. I have sent messages to all of your establishments informing them that I will no longer honor your debts. If you want a glass of wine or a pint of ale you will have to have cash on the line. Mark me. No one will take your vowels. I have bled very freely for you, but no longer, Cedric. This last trick of yours has finished my patience. You have embarrassed me and embarrassed my fiancée. It ends here.”
“The Ton will shun you if you treat me in this way.”
“If I have to, I shall truss you up and put you on a ship myself.”
“You and what army?”
“What Navy,” Godwin corrected. “I am giving you the honor of walking there on your own two feet. If you are still in town tomorrow, I will have you conscripted. In case you were not aware, England is at war.” Godwin paused. “I will leave you the courtesy of the carriage outside, until tomorrow. Use your time well.”
~.~
Godwin met up with his Captain Jack Hartfield about an hour later at one of the clubs in town. “Did you do it?” Captain Jack asked.
“I did. He is my brother, but I can take no more.” Godwin sat at the table with his friend.
“And if he does not sign up?”
“He will be on your ship or another by dawn,” Godwin said. “He is too piss proud to let anyone know that he has no money.”
“Good then,” Captain Jack said. “I will send the shore patrol around at dawn to save you the trouble.” Jack waved the waiter over.
“I think I shall like to see him carted off,” Godwin said as he ordered a drink. “I will feel much better once he is safely away from Bath.”
“And what of your lady?” Captain Jack asked. “How goes it?”
“I know not. I doubt she would wish to see me at all after this mess. I have embarrassed her beyond measure. The rumors are rife. I not only walked her home, all askew, but I have, according to the gossips, invited her alone into my carriage. An incident that apparently occurred the week before either of us even arrived in Bath,” Godwin said.
“The gossips of the Ton are idiots,” Jack agreed, “but fighting rumor is worse than fighting ghosts.”
“Still the other rumors are bad enough. We have also apparently have kissed under every tree in every garden in Bath.”
“Oh,” Captain Jack said, rolling his drink in his glass. “I have heard all those, but the latest is worse.”
“What is worse?” Godwin asked concerned.
“The whole line of rumors from several years ago, about your mistress by the sea has resurfaced.”
Godwin groaned. “She’s not my mistress. She never was.”
“And the latest is that Miss Bellevue carries your child, but your brother was kind enough to offer for her when you would not.”
“What!”
“They are only rumors,” Captain Jack said.
“Lud,” Godwin said, feeling rather sick. How had his brother managed this? Despite his efforts Cedric had still found a way to best him.
“It is not your doing,” Captain Jack said. “As you stated, half of these events appear to have occurred in Bath when neither of you were yet here. Anyone with any sense knows they are lies.” Captain Jack sipped his drink.
“As you have just said, the Ton has no sense.” Godwin groaned. “My fault or not, I cannot fix this,
” Godwin said hopelessly. “He has won. I can do nothing to stop the rumors. My good name and worse, hers, is in tatters.”
Godwin’s face fell, as Captain Jack lifted a glass. Jack hesitated. He sat the glass down again and studied Godwin. “You love her,” he said.
“It does not matter.”
“Of course it matters.”
“I cannot remedy this, Jack. It has gone too far. I do not see how I can marry her. She has not accepted me.”
“Ah, so you have asked her and she is leaving you off just like your brother?”
“Well, no. Not exactly.”
Jack frowned at him. “I do not understand. You just said you loved the girl.”
“Yes. I believe I do.”
“And have you confessed your love?” Jack asked. “How has she answered your suit?”
Godwin lifted a shoulder. “It never seemed the proper time, Jack. I wanted her to get to know me, and I never felt sure…and now…” He shrugged again.
“You have not asked her, then?” Captain Jack surmised. He finished his drink and waved the waiter over for another.
“I have not spoken directly,” Godwin agreed. “But it was a most awkward situation. We were already betrothed by her father’s writ, and…”
“A letter!” Captain Jack interrupted. “And from the solicitors! My good man, were you not the one who told me nothing good ever comes in letters? You must speak plainly and honestly.”
“Why would she hear me?” Lord Fawkland asked, looking into his glass as if for wisdom.
Captain Jack reached over and took Godwin’s untouched drink from in front of him.
“What are you doing?” Godwin asked him as Jack downed Godwin’s drink. “Hey!”
“I am saving you from going to your lady love with the smell of brandy all around you. You need your wits about you, not spirits. Now you must at least give the lady the option to dismiss you. A wise man told me, you must in all honesty confess you love, and lay your pride on her tender mercies. Follow your own advice, Fawkland. Go. Talk to her.”
“I’m afraid it is too late. Nothing will quell the gossip. A speedy marriage will only give credence to the rumors.”
“Blast the rumors,” Jack said. “If you love her, marry her. You do love her, do you not?”
“Yes,” Godwin said miserably. “God help me, I do.”
“Not a speedy marriage then. A long engagement,” Jack suggested. “I know most of the Ton are simpletons, but they can count, at least to ten with their gloves on. The rumors end in nine months and you shall have your lady love.”
“Why would she have me, Jack? I’ve been such a fool.”
“If my Miss Grant could forgive my foolishness, your lady can forgive you. The letter I sent her was nigh unreadable; I was so in my cups, but she still welcomed me.” He shuddered as he thought of it and shook his head. “What were we thinking? Writing to a lady in such a state?” he asked Godwin, with a wry smile, but then continued without waiting for an answer to his question. “As my Miss Lavinia says, love can bear many wrongs.”
“Miss Lavinia?” Godwin said. “You are very familiar.”
The color rose in Captain Jack’s face, but he would not be persuaded. “Go!” he commanded in the voice that ordered men. “Your lady awaits. You can do nothing until you speak with her. Every moment is a moment in time lost.”
Godwin stood and smoothed his cravat. “Wish me luck,” he said as he worried the cut in his lip with his tongue.
“I wish you love,” Jack said and with an inflection that sounded strangely like his lady. He lifted his glass in a toast. Godwin laughed, but he left the establishment, intent to see if Miss Bellevue would have him.
Captain Jack was right. He was being foolish. He had to talk to her. Godwin straightened his cravat again and made himself as presentable as he could be with a blackened eye and headed determinedly toward her townhouse. When he reached the house, however the butler told him that Lady Keegain and Miss Bellevue had already left Bath.
“Where did they go?” he blurted.
“I am sure, it is not my place to say, Lord Fawkland,” Harrington replied.
“I understand,” Godwin said. “But I need to speak with Miss Bellevue.”
Harrington still said nothing.
“You know me, Harrington. I’ve been here with Mister Bellevue, God rest him. Her father was once my friend and I am not my brother.”
Harrington cleared his throat. “I do believe the lady wished to avoid contact with your brother,” Harrington said.
“I concur,” Godwin said. “And I have seen to Cedric. Now did they go to London or to Lord Keegain’s country manor?”
Still Harrington was closed mouthed.
“Pray, do not make me ride in both directions,” Godwin said with an exasperated sigh. “I know my betrothed was upset. I want to make this situation better for her, if I am able, not worse.”
Harrington gave him an appraising stare. “I hear that London is rather uncomfortable in the heat of summer,” Harrington said at last.
Godwin grinned. “Thank you, Harrington. If she will have me, remind me to raise your salary.”
“I shall, my Lord,” Harrington said gravely, and Godwin laughed, his spirits lifting somewhat for the first time all day.
“I do not relish the thought of working for Cousin Rupert,” Harrington added stiffly. “He should probably wish to answer the door himself.”
As Godwin left off speaking with Harrington, he thought about what he should do. The sensible thing to do was to wait until the morrow, see his brother safely away, and then travel himself the first thing in the morning. That was the sensible thing to do. He looked at the sky. The sun was barely past its zenith. Keegain’s country manor was not so far as London. There was much of this day left, and he did not feel sensible.
~.~
Chapter Four
Jane and Julia’s carriage and the other conveyance bringing all matter of items from Bath pulled up in front of the Keegain county house. It was only a small amount of what was actually in the townhouse in Bath. The servants had packed the essentials for the journey and Jane left the rest of the house for them to close, as the sisters had left in quite the hurry. Julia imagined the outrider sent ahead to tell The Earl of their arrival was only an hour or so ahead of them, but at last they had arrived home. Finally, they would be out of the carriage. The footman helped them down, and Julia watched Jane’s shoulders relax with a feeling of liberation as she exited the carriage. This was Jane’s home. She immediately directed the servants and then turned away allowing them to do their jobs unencumbered. They unpacked the carriages with practiced ease and without Jane’s active intervention.
Julia breathed in the fresh country air. She had always loved Bath. Bath was her home, but now this would be her new home. She would no longer have Bath.
Shall we go sit in the garden after dinner,” Jane asked her sister. She took her arm and it was a comfort.
“Do you think the roses are blooming?” Julia asked.
“They were not when I left,” Jane said “But they should be by now.” Jane turned to one of the servants. “Have water brought so that we might refresh ourselves,” she said.
“The maid curtseyed. “Yes, Mi’lady.”
Julia could see that her sister was glad to be home. Everything about her attitude shouted joy to Julia. Jane led the way up the steps to the front landing, her eagerness and excitement causing Julia to smile in spite of herself.
Jane’s husband Randolph Keening, The Earl of Keegain came out to meet them at just that moment. “We were not expecting you quite so soon,” he said. “White hoped to have lemon cakes for tea.”
“That sounds marvelous.” Jane hurried to her husband on the steps and Julia was sure if she had not been there, Lord Keegain would have kissed her. Instead, Jane squeezed her husband’s arm gently. “I am glad to be home,” she said beaming up at him.
“Likewise,” he said smiling down at Jane as if he
wanted to touch her more intimately. Instead, he looked over at Julia with a smile.
Julia did not think The Earl was a handsome man. He was fit but considerably older than his wife and shorter than Julia: not even half a head taller than Jane herself. His hair had prominent spots of grey at the temples and a bit of scalp showed through the sparse hair at the crown of his head. He made up for this lack with a full beard which he kept immaculately trimmed. Even though he was not attractive in Julia’s opinion, his eyes were kind and his face lit up at the sight of Jane and that was enough.
Keegain looked directly at Jane then. A moment passed before he spoke. “And am I paying the solicitors to find a loophole and rewrite the will?” the Earl of Keegain asked. There was no censure in his voice, but Julia felt embarrassed anyway. She blushed and looked away.
“This does not appear to be a happy homecoming,” he said.
“No,” Jane agreed simply. “I am afraid Bath was quite ghastly. I am unaccountably happy to be home.” She squeezed his arm again.
He frowned a little and looked at Jane as if for an explanation, but something in Julia’s face must have warned her sister to not dig up the whole mess just now, and The Earl saw as much with only a look at his wife, and he shrugged off the whole matter quickly.
Lord Keegain smiled at her and Julia felt self-conscious. “Well, do not worry little sister. I am sure my Janey has the matter well in hand. Together, we shall find the best way forward for you.”
They went into the house and considered their next action. Julia desperately wanted a cup of tea. Everything was better with tea, she thought, but it was obvious that Jane and her husband were itching to be alone, and her sister married almost two years. It was almost outrageous, but then it was also sweet and she wanted that for herself. The gentleman who came to her mind was Lord Fawkland. There was no inkling of another, and then quick on the heels of that thought were the nagging remembrances of the rumors which came up in her mind like little demons, his and hers. She had a hard time pushing them away. This was how it would be from now on, she thought. She had to resign herself to that fact.
The Baron in Bath - Miss Julia Bellevue: A Regency Romance Novel (Heart of a Gentleman Book 4) Page 20