“Yes, I am rest assured that the physicians will cure the physical ailment. Nonetheless, that which ails her heart may prove stubborn. ’Tis why this must be done.”
Alan’s head dropped and stayed that way for a while. Then he raised it and swept a hand through his hair. “She would have said something. I know Agnes. She would have sent a letter.”
It was Benjamin who responded. He cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. His voice was calm as he spoke.
“I think we give the Duchess too little acknowledgement. We must bear in mind that there are no limits to the length she will go and act accordingly. We too must prove that we are wiser. As I see it, she is willing to make good on her threats. We must remain two steps ahead of her. I reckon it would be a foolhardy thought if we disregarded them and continued with our plans. It would be a shame if Alan lost his reputation. Redeeming the situation would prove much harder, than preventing it in the first place, to begin with.”
Isabelle nodded, and so did Regina and Alan. Surely, they saw reason in his words. Yet, she wondered about something. “How do you reckon we shall go about that? I suggest that we clear Alan’s name all together where my father is concerned and expose her deeds.” She could speak to her mother about this, but that would only incite Victoria to do more evil. When her mother had it in her head that she was simply doing what was best, there was no stopping her. The only person who could manage to accomplish that was her father. To do that, he needed genuine reasons, a sturdy ground on which to firmly plant his feet. Whatever they must do, they had to, before she entertained thoughts of discussing this with her mother. The best way to beat Victoria at this game was to make her believe that they were clueless, and she remained steps ahead.
“Leave that to me; I shall handle that matter. Before we proceed, I would like to affirm that Alan is still willing to carry on with this,” Benjamin answered.
They turned to look at Alan who nodded in affirmative, and Isabelle felt a wave of relief wash through her. As long as Alan remained willing, they would be fine. So she believed. Benjamin instantly took charge.
“Well, in that case, I want you to leave everything to me. If there is a place you can remain for the time being, I would suggest you go there. Victoria must have watchers at your house to see that you leave London as requested. Isabelle and I shall proceed with the plans. I will go about getting the special license discreetly, and Isabelle will work on informing Agnes of these preparations and getting her ready for the elopement. From now onwards, we shall act as your messengers. Victoria will never suspect a thing. Whatsoever correspondence you may wish to engage in will be delivered by us.” He looked at Isabelle, question in his eyes, and she instantly understood what he was asking. She gave a firm nod. Yes, she was all in. He gave her a small smile, the kind that she was beginning to learn he reserved only for her. It made her feel tingly inside of her, it made her breath catch in her throat.
She gave a small smile in return, but the moment came to an end too quickly. He looked away to address Alan again, and she too did the same before giving too much away. Could this have grown bigger than attraction?
“Alan, you mentioned that you took the records with you … do you by chance, have it here?”
“Yes. Here, you can have it.”
Benjamin collected the parchment but did not bother to flip through the pages. It warmed Isabelle’s heart to know that he had easily trusted Alan upon his word. Hers was a different case. She knew her mother, and she knew Alan. He was a good man, through and through.
“Do you mind if I keep this? Each press work is distinguishable, and I am certain that the Duchess would not have gone to so big a firm. Perhaps, one of these small scales. I shall hire a runner to investigate into the matter. If we can find out who helped the Duchess in this forgery, then we can get him to tell the truth and clear your name.”
“Goodness, Benjamin! That is brilliant!” Isabelle chimed. She had not thought of that, but this young Duke had. She gazed up at him in admiration for every word he had said in this meeting so far had been filled with wit. Her heart gladdened, aware that she had made the right choice. She could not have had someone better than Benjamin on her side; she knew that now.
“Brilliant indeed. I do believe that this will work. Quite an excellent suggestion, My Lord.” Regina’s eyes twinkled, and Isabelle knew that was the look she too had in her eyes.
“I agree with Mother. I must confess, I had not considered that option,” Alan too agreed.
“I am glad that I can be of any help. If we are all in agreement, I believe we can call this a fine meeting and bid one another, a good day?”
A murmur of agreement was the response he received, and they all rose to do just that. Isabelle noticed that Alan did not look so devastated any longer, and he was filled with gratitude as he shook Benjamin’s hands. Witherspoon remained gracious and modest, showing her more agreeable hues of this man. That remained the problem, did it not? She was drawn to Benjamin, even when he was being an arrogant sod and getting on her last patient nerve. She had come to care for everything about Benjamin Witherspoon and therein, laid her doom.
Chapter 29
Nicholas Stamford was pacing in Benjamin’s study when his best friend returned from wherever he had been. As soon as the young Duke entered the study, he halted and turned to address him.
“Ahh there you are! I had reckoned you would not be returning to your own home any longer. I have been here for almost an hour, and that’s not to mention that I dropped by as early as eight o’clock this morning. You were nowhere to be found. I had been informed that you had stepped out for a social call. To the Birmingham’s residence, for that matter! What is this I hear about you courting Isabelle?”
There was a small knowing smile on Benjamin’s face as he shrugged off his coat and loosened his cravat. Not saying a word in response, he walked over to his shelf where he kept his drinks and brought out a decanter containing whisky. Then he grabbed two mugs from the same shelf and filled both with the whisky.
“Isn’t it too early to get drunk?” Nicholas asked, the apprehension in his voice evident. He accepted his cup, nonetheless.
“We are not getting drunk, and you seem to be in great need of a strong drink, my friend. Good day to you too, by the way.”
Nicholas gave a rueful smile as he took a gulp of the drink. Benjamin was right; he did need it. He also felt ashamed for the way he had barraged his friend upon his return.
“Good day to you too, Benjamin. Thank you for this. You are right. I do need it.” He sighed as he went to recline on one of the sofas in the room. Worries plagued his mind, and he was done keeping these things to himself. Benjamin was his best friend, his brother. He could trust him to keep his secrets, could trust him to offer good counsel, and the heavens knew he had never needed that more than he needed it in this moment. However, before proceeding to the purpose of this visit, he could afford to make small talk.
Benjamin beat him to it. “How are you, dear friend?
He was a wreck. He had tried to keep to his word and leave Eleanor be, hearken to her pleas, but these past days had been nothing but hellish! Even as the wedding preparations continued in full swing, he wished every hour that there was some way out of this and things did not have to go as planned. It was so disheartening that he had been counting the days and hours since he last saw her. Whenever he called upon Agnes, with hope of getting a glimpse of Eleanor, he was never so lucky for she managed to stay hidden in her chambers all day long. She was doing stellar work at evading him, and it broke him more than he cared to admit. This was why he had decided that he had to stop wishing and do something. What manner of man was he if he could not fight for his heart’s desire? His father was beginning to recover, and beyond that, he simply wanted to see him married to a Birmingham. What difference did it make which Birmingham it was? Beyond that, he knew his parents cared for him and would that he had a happy marriage. If only he could garner the courage need
ed and let them know whom his heart truly desired. If only he could make them see how miserable he was, in fact, being away from Eleanor … mayhap, then, they would understand and let him go after his heart’s desire. Yet, he was aware of how quickly things could turn around and end up becoming a horrible disaster. In order not to act rashly and end up with nothing but regrets, he had come to Benjamin.
He drew in a deep breath and released it in long streams of air. “Dear friend, we shall get to how I am fairing in a bit. First, you must answer the question which I posed when you arrived. You are courting the Lady, Isabelle?”
There was that smile again on Benjamin’s face. A secret smile, as though remembering a fond memory. Witches indeed. The red-headed one had eventually succeeded in casting his brother under a wicked spell. They were doomed, the lot of them! What laughable tale it would make when they retold it to their children.
“If you heard it, then it is probably true. Of late, I came to the realisation that perhaps it is high time I too found myself a wife and settled down. What better choice than the woman who makes my blood boil and my balls itch? You know how easily I become bored, Nicholas. I have no doubt that that would never happen with Isabelle. Never a dull moment, not with the way she makes me want to spank her this moment and ravish her the next.”
Nicholas chuckled. Although, Eleanor did not elicit such hot-blooded emotions from him, he could understand. The Birmingham sisters with their beauty and wit could prove to be too much for any man to handle. Yet that was where the thrill lay; the constant challenge, knowing that one would not have a wife who wagged their tongues and tail at their every command. “I am not quite certain that those two mean different things for you, Benjamin.”
“Oh, but they do. One would be in punishment of course, although it could also be pleasurable. But the other, ahh … solely for pleasure, dear friend. Now, tell me, what ails your spirit? You look like you have been living in hell.”
“Perceptive as always, I see. I could never hope to get anything past you.”
“Certainly not. Not as long as you wear your heart on your sleeve. You have never been one to hide your emotions, Nicholas. You never cared to learn and not that this is a bad thing but if you are going to rule a dukedom someday, then I would suggest you learn a little bit of the art.”
Nicholas pondered on that for a short while. Benjamin was right. He had to learn how to hide his emotions, but that was a discussion for another time. There was a more pressing matter at hand. “I suppose you are right and soon, I shall come for your tutelage. Ack, Benjamin! I do not know how to tell you this thing. Yet, I cannot keep this weight in my heart, any longer. It wearies me so.”
He sat up at the same time Benjamin rested against his table and crossed his legs at his ankle. “Surely, you are aware that there is nothing you cannot tell me, dear friend.”
The concern in his friend’s voice was all the assurance Nicholas needed to know that he had been right to come to him. He took another deep breath as he considered how best it would be to break this news. After a short while, he concluded that the best way would be just to say it as it was. So, he did.
“I am supposed to be married to the Lady Agnes, as you know. Regardless, I am afraid that my heart belongs to another. This fair lady is none other than the youngest sister of my fiancée, the lady Eleanor. I wonder if your memory serves you right; if it does, then you would recall that you had seen us both in Fortham library that night of the ball, when you came to fetch me. Truly, that was my first encounter with the Lady; howbeit, I was instantly enchanted. Ever since, all efforts to get my heart and head out of this complication have come to naught. I have only ended up falling deeply and irresponsibly head over heels in love with her. A mess, I agree, but it is what it is. For so long now, I have kept this to myself. I cannot anymore.”
He looked up then and was surprised by the expressionless face he found. He had expected a reaction from Benjamin. Shock, amusement, yet he was getting nothing. It caused him to wonder if Benjamin had heard him at all, and if he had, what thoughts were going through his mind.
“I suppose you should also be aware of the fact that these feelings are mutual. Eleanor has a softness for me in return, but she pleaded that I stay away. She loves her sister, and her guilt would not allow her engage in any sort of illicit affair with me.”
He finally got a reaction from Benjamin as he ended. The young Duke’s eyes widened, then as they returned to their usual width, a smirk formed. Shock and amusement, Nicholas was glad. He released a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. He was so relieved that he didn’t even flinch when his friend finally responded.
“A quite amusing situation, would you not say so? I am glad that at least one of you seem to be sensible. She was right to request that you never see her again. What were you thinking, wanting to engage in an affair like that, asking her to sell her soul and betray her sister’s trust?”
“Come off it, Benjamin. You of all people should know it isn’t like that. When you truly care for someone, there is little control one has over the actions that are spun from those feelings. It is merely the same way for I.” It had been almost a grumble, and he hated that he sounded that way; nevertheless, there was no helping it.
Benjamin simply huffed as he walked towards him and planted himself on a sofa opposite from him.
“Why are you only just coming forth with this, now? When the wedding is barely two weeks away and all is almost ready. A lot has gone into what is to be the grandest wedding of the season, and now is the time you think to come forward?”
“Of course not. About a month ago, before I even made an official proposal, I had decided that there was no way I could continue with this marriage while my heart hungers for another. It would not only be unfair to Eleanor and I, it would be also, to Agnes. I would never be able to give her my heart and my all, as she would deserve as my wife. So, I went to the townhouse, eager to tell Mother and Father the truth and request that they allow me marry Eleanor, instead. Unfortunately, that was the day I learned of Father’s illness. He had looked so frail and fragile in his bed and his voice had sounded so broken as he told me that his last wish was that he saw me married to Agnes before his demise.” He paused to swallow as he remembered all the emotions he had encountered that dreadful morning.
“I was devastated at my discovery, but beyond that, I could not bear to break Father’s heart with the truth at that moment. Sadly, I did not feel as strongly as I feel for Eleanor at that moment, so I reckoned this would be an easy feat to achieve, and that with time, I would gain control of my emotions. It was that day I decided to make an official proposal. Now, I see how wrong I was, and like you said, it is almost too late now.”
“It is too late, Nicholas. Perhaps, you have a plan? What is it you intend to do?”
“It’s still the same families. Nothing has to change, except the bride, of course. I have given this a lot of thought, and I think it would be best if I just came forward with the truth now. I would tell Mother and Father and beg for their support. With it, we can break the news to the Birminghams and offer our sincerest apologies.”
Benjamin was already shaking his head in disapproval before Nicholas finished his speech, and his heart fell. If Benjamin would not support this, then how could it hope to go forward with these plans? His hope completely shattered when Benjamin spoke.
“You cannot do that, Nicholas. Think of all the people you would hurt with this. What would society say? The scandal it would cause when word gets out that the eldest sister was replaced by the younger! You know my stand regarding this love madness. It is fickle, unreal, and if you could just manage to put your emotions under control, then mayhap, you would think with a clear head.” He paused to sigh and shook his head as if he could not believe that Nicholas would have considered this under any circumstance. It saddened Nicholas for he had hoped his best friend would see reason and be on his side. If Benjamin would not support him, then who would? Benjamin carried on, un
aware of the thoughts running through his head, and as he spoke further, Nicholas felt as though a spike went through his heart each time.
“Henry would be disappointed as would Elizabeth. Agnes … I cannot even begin to imagine how this would affect her. She would be devastated, and lastly, Eleanor would be scorned by her dearest sister whom she loves, by her entire family, and of course, by the ton. There would be so much to pay, and in the end, you two may end up even more miserable than you are now. Are you certain you are willing to sacrifice all of this?”
A Scandalous Love for the Enticing Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 22