The Wrong Bride

by Cameron May

  Hearing raised voices at midpoint, Winnie hesitated. She recognized them, the voices of Blackwater and Lance, and they were arguing. What on earth? They sounded awfully angry, and Winnie hurried to Lance’s office, hesitating at the door. Lance looked up, his face red and suffused with irritation, cutting short whatever he was about to say. “Winnie!” Blackwater, perched on the edge of his chair in front of the desk, almost leaning on Lance’s it, stood abruptly.

  “What is happening, Lance? I could hear your voices from the middle of the stairway.”

  “It’s nothing I can’t handle. Lord Blackwater was only just heading to bed anyway.” He looked at Hugh Blackwater. “Isn’t that right?” Winnie glanced from one to the other, and knew Lance, if not outright lying, was shading the truth. The look on his suddenly pale face was one of pure misery.

  “Not until I have satisfaction,” Hugh growled at Lance.

  “It cannot wait until morning?”

  Blackwater turned to Winnie, clearly exasperated, his dark eyes raking her from head to toe. “No, it cannot. I won’t be able to sleep until this matter is settled.”

  “Very well,” she said. “I was about to make a posset for myself. Would either of you gentlemen like one?” she asked in a voice she hoped was soothing.

  Blackwater swore, and Lance shook his head. “It’s of a rather delicate nature, Winnie.”

  Much to Blackwater’s consternation, Winnie revolved but not to leave. Instead, she closed the door before turning back to address the two men. “I am, if I do say so myself, quite good at taking care of delicate situations. But, first, please keep your voices down. I wouldn’t want there to be a reason for the servants to gossip. I saw a maid just going off around the corner. If you’ve said anything untoward to each other, you may be sure the news will be all over the house by tomorrow morning.”

  “I apologize,” Blackwater said, “but this has to do with my daughter.”

  The revelation shocked Winnie. “And you surely wouldn’t want her name bandied about,” Winnie said, quickly recovering. What was it, what could it be that would involve Lance and Lady Caroline? “And now it’s come up, I will inform you, Lord Blackwater, I have no intention of leaving until I know what’s going on.”

  “Winnie, please,” Lance said almost under his breath, his face constricted. He looked uncertain, bewildered. Oh, what was wrong?

  “I’m sorry, Lance. I thought we decided to take on all comers together. It has worked up to this point, and now that I’m already unsettled by this news, whatever it might be, you may as well let me hear the rest. I shall likely learn of it sooner or later, if not from the servants, then from another source.”

  Lance’s face was almost gray. He looked at Winnie, considering what she’d said, and finally nodded his head. “It seems,” he said quietly, “that Lady Caroline is with child, and I am being blamed.”

  Winnie’s mouth flew open. Nothing could be worse than this, and she struggled to digest the news, then forced her mouth closed and swallowed. “A moment, please,” she said, her voice uneven, unsure. At the door, hand trembling, Winnie opened it and looked about, but there was no one near or in the halls, as far as she could see. Closing the door again, Winnie confronted Lance. “And, are you guilty of the charge?” The stillness in the room was unnerving, the only sound an annoying ticking of a clock on the wall, the sound growing louder by the second. She waited, not daring to breathe.

  “No, I…cannot be the one.” He looked at Winnie, his expression confused and pleading.

  Heart still beating furiously, Winnie closed her eyes for a moment. She turned to face Lance’s accuser. Her mouth dry, she moistened her lips with her tongue. “When was this…this conjugation supposed to have taken place, Lord Blackwater?” For a brief period, she feared fainting, swayed on her feet, and bit down on her lip to steady herself.

  Blackwater drew himself up, fuming at being confronted with this slip of a young woman. “I cannot discuss the subject with a woman,” he said sharply.

  “But you’ve already apparently done so, likely with your daughter and her mother, and surely more than once. And, as Lord Brevard’s wife, I would have to be told at one point or another, yes?” Her wobbly chin firming, she looked at Blackwater without flinching, but clinching her hands together to control their shaking.

  “Wife! His wife! Everyone knows you live together like brother and sister, sleep in separate beds, separate rooms…”

  “Your voice, please.” Blackwater swore and walked around his chair trying to compose himself, then he stood beside the desk facing Winnie.

  His voice lowered, however. “Everyone knows that divorce between you is eminent, and now there is more reason to hurry it along, to see it finished.”

  “Everyone knows? Goodness, I had no idea. And I’m sure it isn’t true.” She paused for breath. “Would you please be kind enough to tell me when this event happened, and why it could not have been someone other than my husband.” In his chair, Lance bent his head forward and cradled it in his hands. “Besides which,” Winnie said with heat, feeling her face blowing hot and cold, “have you never known a man and wife to bring up the subject in a moment when one of them was feeling uncharitable towards the other?”

  “This is most unpleasant,” Blackwater began, wincing, “but, if you must know, if you insist, it happened the last night at your gathering.” His expression glum, he tried staring her down.

  “Ah, I see,” Winnie said, though she didn’t. Stalling for time, she didn’t know where to go next, what to say. She tried to recall that night, but it wasn’t clear in her mind. She could remember only certain parts of it, and those might be devastating for Lance. “Then,” Winnie said finally, her voice oddly calm, “then it couldn’t have been my husband.” Lance’s head snapped up. His face grim, he looked at Winnie.

  Lord Blackwater lowered his head, glowering at Winnie with a look of pure hatred. “And why not, pray tell, could it not have been?”

  Feeling the very small store of bravado slowly seeping away, she said quietly, “Because he was with me.” She paused to take a breath. “And, when I say he was with me,” he added in a low, husky voice, “you must take the proper meaning,” forcing herself to add, “and not only once, but twice.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Lance rise from his chair.

  “Twice! I don’t believe you,” he said furiously, his voice rising again. He took steps toward her, and Winnie girded herself against the blow that was coming. “You’re only making up the story to save yourself.”

  “Please don’t call me a liar,” Winnie said. “Anyone who knows me would never believe it. I’m sorry if you’re grieved to hear this news, but you must know that I am just as unhappy to have to put you straight. I would rather not have to be more explicit than I’ve already been forced to be, but I will if necessary.” Lord Hugh brought himself up and stared at Winnie, his dark eyes restless and unhappy. The look on his face was tight and inscrutable, as if he were in a nightmare. “So, you must look elsewhere, I fear.” Winnie paused for breath. “You are welcome to stay the night,” she said so quietly Blackwater had to strain to hear, “but I would like you to be gone early tomorrow morning.” Her legs leaden, feet feeling as if they were in sand, she forced herself to move, turned and left the room just as Lance sank down in his chair again. Blackwater turned and looked a last time at his desolate host before leaving with a frown on his face.

  Coming to himself, Lance stood and walked briskly, then up the stairway two stairs at a time. In his bedroom, he opened the communicating door with Winnie. She was standing in the middle of the shadowy room and looked at Lance. “Winnie.” He came to her, put his arms around her, and gently pulled her against him. “Are you alright?” She nodded, then looked up at Lance. At once, his head descended, his mouth came on hers to bestow a kiss, one so tender, so careful, Winnie couldn’t help the wave of feeling that swept the entire length of her. Pulling away, he confronted her dazed face. “I always wondered if you hadn’t feeling
for me. And now I know. But,” he added, a light frown knitting his forehead, “I’m sorry you had to lie. You really shouldn’t have. We would have weathered this without the sacrifice of your honesty.”

  Winnie separated herself from him. “May we speak of this another time, Lance? After our current guests leave, perhaps?” He frowned. Winnie sounded drained of energy, and she must be. “I’d like to sleep now.” She turned away and stepped to the small bed. “Goodnight, Lance.” In the semi-dark of the room, she shrugged from the robe and let it slip to the floor, then crawled under the covers. Lance stood alone in the center of the room before he slowly retraced his steps and quietly closed the door.

  Though Blackwater was gone, Winnie’s family stayed on longer after other guests left. Winnie did her duties mechanically, seeing to the wellbeing of their visitors. But even her own family’s presence weighed on her after a time because of what had happened between her and Lance. A coolness enveloped her that Lance couldn’t bridge. It was as if the truce between them had evaporated, bewildering Lance. Even more puzzling, was what happened after all their company left. He woke the morning after the Alexanders left to find Winnie gone, too, though she’d left behind a note saying she was returning to the old place for a time, was going to check in with the dressmaker and others of the town, visit a few of the notables around and would return as soon as possible. Puzzled, Lance mentioned the matter to the house steward. “Aye, I was told she wished to bring in a tailor or dressmaker to make new clothes for everyone. She also wished to have the tailor give a price on changing out some of the draperies and such.” Webster added, “I must say she’s right about the servant’s clothes. The old man was tight about money. Some of the hangings need only a good cleaning, the lady thinks. Too, she’d looked at the servant’s quarters and wishes to add to their comforts, and, after that, she believes it might be wise to have a small rise in their wages. All of which I heartily approve. Your lady has mentioned several other changes that might be made, but those would be in future and with your approval.”

  Lance was relieved to hear the news. “The lady has been busy,” he said wryly. So, it appeared all was well. “Did she take any funds with her?”

  “Yes, she was advanced sums she deemed adequate, the lady said. Might be back in two or three weeks, perhaps less time, she said.” Lance sighed, vastly relieved. Of course, he realized, Winnie was of such a practical bent, she wouldn’t run away from anything. If she hated him, wanted that divorce, she would face him, not run off.

  “What’s on our plate today?” Lance asked, and Webster began going over the day’s schedule.

  However, something nagged at him. They never had the conversation Winnie said they would, and then suddenly she was gone, something that seemed peculiar to him. But the note held no alarm, seemed almost mundane in its little recital of all Winnie intended. It didn’t appear that Winnie was running off from him. On the other hand, it was still odd. After Webster left, Lance had time on his hands and went back over the past few days, wondering why he felt uneasy.

  What was it Lord Hugh said, that Lance had compromised Lady Caroline the last evening of the holiday gathering? The only memories Lance had of that evening were of changing for bed with Winnie stepping outside the room for modesty’s sake. Then she came back in and they went to sleep. And in the morning, he’d never felt so fine, all snug and warm in bed, the fire lit, his shaving equipment all laid out. It was perfect. Hmm. Perhaps it was too perfect. He frowned. How unlike Winnie to lie, but that must be what happened. Unless, unless…his mind began racing. There was another possibility. Supposing she was telling the truth! But no, that wasn’t possible, either. Unless he were sleepwalking again! The idea brought a moan of pain. But then, a man couldn’t lay with a woman and be unaware, even sleepwalking, could he? And twice? No, that would be most unlikely, surely. The only way to know for sure would be to have that talk Winnie said they would have and to ask her. And if it were true, then, poor Winnie! To be used again, surely against her will. But with Winnie unable to do anything else but to submit for fear of what might happen to Lance…. Jesu!

  He tried to thrust the idea away, almost convincing himself it couldn’t have happened, but Lance couldn’t be sure. The only way to know for a certainty would be to confront Winnie herself.

  Leaving the large, opulent, and depressing Treehill Manor was to breathe fresh air, and Winnie took in great gulps of it until the carriage was well on its way. Winnie needed the time away to think. Her duties at the new manor had grown so large she was turning one way, then the other so fast it was as if she were spinning but going nowhere. In time, she might become used to the rhythm of Treehill, if she were to stay, and that was the question, wasn’t it? The only place to be alone there was the graveyard, and that idea made her shiver. The trip to Greenwood was the perfect excuse, though it was more than that. There was a mystery bubbling about in her old neighborhood. What she wanted were answers. The thing about Lady Caroline had to be settled. Though none of her business in the end, she wanted resolution of it before figuring out her next step. When she left, not if, that was the direction headed in her mind so muddled now it was hard to concentrate, it had to be with a clean slate.

  She craned her neck to watch Greenwood come into view. Her heart swelled with fondness for it, its familiarity so engraved in her being by now, so proud of having taken it in hand to restore it to the quiet jewel it became, not to mention that some of her favorite people lived there. Seeing the carriage, they were coming down the lane from Barnaby’s cottage, all of them, Jem included.

  There were several portmanteaus aboard the carriage, one with books for Jem from the new, fine library, and other items, clothes and shoes and boots in the right sizes gathered from about the new manor. Whenever Winnie saw something useful for her people at home, she knew those at Greenwood could have better use of it than having it sold off or go to the ragman. Some of the coats, waistcoats and trousers had belonged to Lance’s uncle, two full sets of which would fit Barnaby perfectly, and there were enough partial, leftover bolts of fabric for Frances to have a couple of new dresses made.

  After the first hugs and the introduction of Sarah, everyone went into the house through the kitchen door, and Frances set about making coffee or tea for the rather large cake Winnie brought. “Only books?” Jem asked, looking disappointed Winnie chuckled and produced a package of sweetmeats just for him.

  “Where is Isabelle?” Winnie asked after handing baby Freddie to his mother after cooing over him.

  “She’s at home, will be married soon.”

  “I need to visit her. I owe her salary, besides which I have brought a small gift for her.” She showed the set of silver and pearl earrings brought along. “I have inherited a goodly amount of jewelry. I will never wear it all. And so, that box is for Isabelle, and this is for you, Missus Frances.” Winnie produced another box and inside were earrings and a matching pin.

  “Oh, dear,” Frances said. “They are beautiful.” She shook her head. “Never had anythin’ so fine.”

  “Ye’re lookin’ well. Movin’ up in the world hasn’t hurt ye any, it would seem,” Barnaby said.

  “I was anxious to have a spell away from there, though. You cannot imagine the shock, just emerging from our carriage to find Lance elevated. It hasn’t been easy, any of it. And, though I’m officially a countess, in all honesty, I would just as soon be plain Winnie again. We’ve stumbled and bumbled our way through a very awkward time.”

  “Plain Winnie? Don’t think you ever were that,” Barnaby said, joined in the same thought by Frances. “How long ye stayin’?”

  “I’m not sure. It’ll be weeks, perhaps a month at least.” She almost choked up. “You’ll never know how comforting it is to see all your familiar faces. I’ve met more strangers in the past couple of weeks than in my entire lifetime before. We’ve had visits from Lance’s extended family, though I don’t know if they were truly family.” She raised an eyebrow and smiled at that. “There
have been bankers, business associates of Uncle Harry, and my family. I was a little put out with them, Barnaby, to be honest, not letting us know they were coming.”

  “We weren’t sure of what to do with them, tried our best, but,” he shrugged “once they heard the news, they were off like a gunshot. Ne’er heard so much babble, ne’er saw anyone so excited.”

  “Well, of course. Who wouldn’t be at the news? The poor dears were exhausted, traveling here only to find we’d gone away. It’s amusing, I suppose. Oh, I couldn’t be mad at my family long. We made out rather well, all in all.”

  “Would you be wantin’ me to cook fer you?”

  “If you’d be willing, Missus Frances. If you could come, say, late in the mornings and cook for the day, or even several days, I would like that. I have missed your cooking, by the way. I can fill in the rest, and Sarah can cook as well. You might cook here for yourselves as well. Sarah and I will do breakfast. We’ll work it out. We might as well all partake in the kitchen.” Winnie sighed. “I miss the times we all gathered here.”

  “What about yer driver?”

  “Um, I don’t know. You might hire him to help you around the place, you and Jem. Or, depending on what I find in town, I may just send him back with goods. I plan on going there tomorrow. Is there anything I might pick up for you all?” It was familiar and easing, this ordinary enjoyment of news, of passing the time in plain conversation. But there was more to this trip than what went on in the kitchen, and, later, Winnie pulled Barnaby aside.

  “Something came up at Treehill, Barnaby, and that’s one of the reasons I made this excuse to visit.” Barnaby frowned. So, this wasn’t just an innocent call to the old house. “A serious charge has been made against Lance. I’m afraid it won’t fully go away until I make inquiries and find out what’s going on. I don’t want a hint of scandal to mar any of our futures.” And this was the hard part, explaining in simple terms what happened. Winnie didn’t want to alarm Barnaby, but she might need his help.