Dash waved him in, and only once he had supplied his father with a cup of tea, and Chalmers had left, closing the door after him, did he attempt to renew the conversation.
“Now that the ladies have left the room, please explain what all of this fuss is about.”
The Duke waved the newssheet again.
“This! Have you seen the London dailies, this last week or more?”
Dash swallowed, knowing full well that his next words would likely cause another explosion from his father.
“As it happens, I have. What of it?”
The Duke spluttered, as if unable to form words in response, and Dash waited. Eventually, a tirade burst forth.
“What of it!!!??? It is obvious from these scurrilous letters that the person referred to is you! What have you done to allow this to happen? To bring shame on our family by allowing us to be associated with matters so utterly scandalous? Half of the ton are gossiping about this, and embroidering on the tale with every word! To top it off, I received an anonymous letter, sent directly to me, suggesting that I might want to visit my scandalous son, before he brought the entire family into utter disrepute. What could I do but come here? I demand to know just how much of it is true? And what do you intend to do about it?”
“As I haven’t heard every word of gossip spoken, I can’t really tell you exactly how much of it is true, now can I? But I can tell you the truth of my collection, and my intent for it.”
The Duke blustered a moment, muttering, then visibly stilled himself, and sipped the tea.
“I suppose I had best hear that first.”
Dash breathed the tiniest sigh of relief – that response was progress.
“Let me start with the fact that, yes, I do have a collection of books and items, which I have assembled bit by bit during my time overseas, and had shipped back here. And yes, those items are all related to what I describe as the history of human eroticism. It is as valid a thing to collect as any other, and rather more interesting than a collection of tea cups or China porcelain plates, at least from my point of view.”
His father gave a snort of laughter at the latter words. “I can only agree with that sentiment – your mother now has three hundred different tea cups…. three hundred! But still, such a scandalous topic, no matter how fascinating it might be, is simply asking for gossip of the worst kind.”
“I know – but gossip has never stopped me from doing something that I truly wanted to. I did originally aim to get the British Museum to put on an exhibition of the best pieces – but they declined – too scared that their financially generous patrons might be offended. If that had gone ahead, everyone would have decided that it was art, and therefore everything was forgivable – just look at the Elgin marbles….”
The Duke laughed again, shaking his head in amusement, and Dash felt his own shoulders relax in relief.
“You’ve a good point there – those marbles are rather… explicit… in their carved detail in some cases, but no one bats an eye about women viewing them.”
“Yes. So, once Lord Manderforce regretfully declined to arrange an exhibition, I set about approaching it differently. I have purchased a building in London, and aim to open it as a private Museum. It is almost ready – and yes, I was planning to warn you before opening day. These letters to the paper – I believe that they are the unfortunate result of Lord Manderforce gossiping, compounded by one particular person, who has no liking for me, or for my friends, getting wind of that gossip, and deciding to exaggerate the existence of my collection into an imagined orgy of depravity. I saw no option but to get the Museum opened as soon as possible, and to thereby demonstrate to the ton that this is all about art and history, rather than closet debauchery.”
“When you put it that way, it sounds almost sensible. But still… the gossips will whisper about our family, regardless, and your mother will be acutely embarrassed. But I suppose its too late to prevent that, isn’t it? So… tell me more about the truth of this collection – what sort of items does it include? I must admit – and do not, ever, let your mother know that I said this – that the whole idea intrigues me – a bit of erotic stimulation is certainly not unpleasant, if dealt with tastefully – although usually in private!”
It was Dash’s turn to laugh. “You are in agreeance with half the men of the ton there. I keep getting cautiously enquiring letters from gentlemen who would like to arrange a private viewing – even from some who have sent me other letters, obviously written to placate their wives or mothers, deriding my depravity. But in answer to your question - I have everything from books, to assorted carved or mechanical objects designed to decorate or to enhance pleasure in various ways.”
“Books? What sort of books?”
“Dozens of the things – in multiple languages, some illustrated, some not, some written as tales to titillate, some as manuals of instruction – all fascinating – like the example on the desk here, which is written in Russian.”
As he said the words, Dash realised his mistake. His father’s eyes went to the desk, then snapped back to Dash.
“Are you telling me that the book which the young lady was ‘assisting you with a translation’ of is a… manual of erotic instruction… or similar?”
“Errrrmmm… yes.”
The Duke went red in the face in the instant.
“That is beyond scandalous! You have exposed a gently reared young woman to such a thing… to things no lady should see, in some cases, not even a married one? Are you mad? Why did you do such a thing?”
“Well… she speaks, reads and writes Russian – do you know how rare that is, in England? And she was visiting Alex and Selina, who live quite close by. And she volunteered to translate it – because I do not speak Russian.”
“How did she even know about the book in the first place, to volunteer? Her even knowing of its existence is scandalous!”
“Umm… I told her about it, after Alex informed me that she spoke Russian. Initially, in the most indirect of terms – but she was so determined to help… I gave in. And she told me the truth when she asserted that she was not easily shocked.”
“Whether she is easily shocked or not is not the point Dashiell! The point is that you have shown her this book at all. What were you doing when I arrived – you were both poring over it?”
“I was… ummm… helping her by providing English words for some… items… that she had worked out by context, but did not know either the Russian or the English word for.”
“You were what?” The Duke’s face became even redder, and Dash worried that he might suffer an apoplexy. “Did you just say that you were explaining the purpose and the names of various items involved in erotic activities to an unmarried young woman?”
“Yes.”
The Duke gaped at him, in even deeper shock.
“Dash, this just won’t do at all. You’ll have to marry her – there’s nothing for it – you might as well have actually been intimate with her, if you’ve gone so far as uttering such words and… even explaining them!”
Dash felt his mouth fall open in shock, and quickly snapped it shut. Marry Mariel? It was… actually not so terrible a thought, especially given those moments upstairs, when he had brought her to her completion – she had responded so strongly… but… what if she did not care for him? He would not be pushed into marriage simply because his father was shocked! Nor would he push Mariel into marriage – she should have the right to choose her own husband. But… what if she was willing to marry him?
His mind re-ran every moment when they had touched, every moment when they had not, but had been so aware of each other. And then, for the first time, he truly considered what would happen, if her part in this translation became known amongst the ton. Either the worst sort of men would offer for her, wanting a wanton woman in their bed, or no-one would offer for her, all being driven away by their perception of her part in depravity. He could not bear either thought – the very idea of her married to another man e
voked a visceral abhorrence in him, and the thought of her being spurned by society was equally terrible. He could not permit the woman he had come to love to be hurt because of his own selfish desire to have a book translated!
His father was watching him, and he realised that he needed to respond – but what had he just thought? ‘The woman he loved’ – that had been his thought – and it was true, shockingly, painfully true.
He met his father’s eyes.
“I very much doubt that Mariel will see it that way, Father. She is most independent of mind. And no matter what you think I should do, I would never attempt to force her to marry, if she did not wish to do so. And I have no indication that she wishes it. Or that she would wish it with me, if she did.”
Liar, he thought to himself. She told you that she had never wanted to do such things with any man other than you. Surely that was some indication that she would not reject him for himself? But the larger question was whether she truly wished to marry.
“But you must! I cannot allow you to have so corrupted an innocent young woman and not marry her!”
“You cannot force her to marry me.”
The Duke looked at him sternly.
“I may not have that authority, true, but I can certainly bring pressure to bear. I suggest that you think about this very carefully. There will be quite enough scandal once you open that damned Museum, even if that puts a polish on it – marry her before that breaks, or she’ll be ruined anyway, mark my words.”
“I… I’ll think about it.”
“Good. And it’s just occurred to me – there is one way that we can make your damned collection and Museum more acceptable to Society – invite the Prince Regent for a private viewing before the opening, then ask him to officially open it. Everyone knows that he is fond of anything erotic – his private rooms are decorated with the most scandalous and licentious paintings imaginable.”
“Father, that is brilliant!”
~~~~~
After Chalmers had left the office, as Mariel watched from the parlour door, she waited until the hall was empty, then slipped back to stand with her ear shamelessly pressed to that door, listening. It was not hard to hear, for the Duke’s voice was raised significantly.
She heard it all, although the latter part of it was quieter, and harder to hear every word clearly. But what she heard sent her spinning into shock. The Duke wanted Dash to marry her? Just because she had seen his book, and discussed its contents? That was rather silly! Although, if the Duke ever discovered what they had done, upstairs… then his insistence might become overwhelming!
But what did Dash really think? He had not sounded happy with the suggestion, but his rejection of it had been as much on her behalf as his own. Her heart had warmed at his defence of her right to make her own decision. But… what would that decision be, if it was put to her? Would she want to marry him? She loved him, that was true, as she had only just realised, but she had hoped for a match with a man who loved her – did he care for her? Or had his actions just been born of lust, as he had implied might be the case?
What was she to do, if he did ask her? How could she discover if he cared for her, or was just acting out of a misplaced sense of duty?
She slipped back to the parlour, shaken to her core.
Chapter Fourteen
The Earl of Kelsbrook stared at the letter in his hand.
He had been startled when it arrived, for he barely knew the Duke of Cockleigh, and could not imagine why the man might be writing to him. He had been no further enlightened by the letter’s contents. Cockleigh asked that he, with his wife, might come immediately to Longwood Peak, the residence of Cockleigh’s son and heir, the Marquess of Longwood, to discuss a ‘matter of great importance, with respect to their daughter, Lady Mariel’.
How Cockleigh might even know Mariel puzzled him – he did not think that she had ever been introduced to the man. And Mariel was currently staying with the Duke and Duchess of Southolton. Perhaps they might have some idea of why he had received this missive?
He had searched the maps in his library, and discovered that Longwood Peak was but a half hour’s travel from Fortescue Grange, so perhaps the clue was there.
But what was he to do? It seemed ridiculous to simply disrupt himself and Angelique to rush about the countryside.
Then again – how could he not go? Cockleigh was well respected, and unlikely to make such a request without good reason, after all. He sighed, and rose from the chair behind his desk to go in search of his wife, and make suitable arrangements.
His thought, as he left the room, was a consideration of what possible scandal Mariel might have managed to embroil herself in – she was prone to bold and rash actions, and he had always feared that, one day, those actions would lead to ruin.
~~~~~
Mariel spent the next two days in mental turmoil, all the while still working on the book each day. Dash seemed distracted, and spent much time with his father, who had unbent in his attitude at least enough to greet Mariel politely, even though he frowned ferociously when she sat down to work. That frowning presence made her even more aware of the arousing nature of the material that she was translating, and of how much she wanted Dash beside her, wanted his kisses, wanted, if she was completely honest, to receive a declaration of love from him.
She felt rather foolish, and rather lost – for she still had no idea of his true feelings, and of how he intended to respond to his father’s insistence that they marry – an insistence which she had to pretend to be unaware of, for Dash had not mentioned it to her. At the end of each day, when they returned to Fortescue Grange, she collapsed, exhausted, into sleep.
On the third day, she woke late, and they did not, therefore, arrive at Longwood Peak until an hour or two later than usual. When they approached the door, and Chalmers opened it, the butler seemed a little uncomfortable.
“Ah, good day, Lady Mariel, I aah… I must warn you that…”
His words were cut off by a rather strident voice.
“Mariel, what have you done! You promised me, when I allowed you to come to stay with Selina, that it would not end in scandal – you promised! Yet here we are, embroiled in scandal, with you at the very heart of it. You always were too forward, taking terrible risks, and now it ends like this, in ruination!”
The owner of the voice had come rushing out of the parlour upon hearing the front door open.
“Mother…? Why are you here?”
Mariel felt quite certain that there could only be one reason – someone had informed her parents of not only Dash’s collection, but of her role in translating the book – she could not imagine anything less bringing them here in haste. But who?
“I am here to make sure that you do the right thing, that Lord Longwood does the right thing, and that, as much as is possible, scandal is averted. I am not willing to allow you to ruin your brother and sister’s prospects because of your rash foolishness.”
“My foolishness? Do the right thing? What are you talking about mother?”
Mariel was almost shaking, and Selina took her arm, and squeezed gently in encouragement.
“Your foolishness, in actually looking at… at... that highly improper book, and even reading it! You must marry Lord Longwood, of course. It was he who showed it to you – reading such a thing, together – its tantamount to engaging in… physical intimacies!”
Her mother’s face was red with embarrassment as she spoke, and Mariel was torn between the urge to scream in frustration, and the urge to laugh hysterically at her mother’s struggle to speak about fornication and the erotic without saying any inappropriate words.
She went forward, determined to at least move the conversation elsewhere, where it would not be played out to an audience of servants. Her mother grasped her arm firmly, and all but dragged her into the parlour. Dash sat on a couch, and his father sat in a chair nearby, conversing with Mariel’s father. Her heart sank further – she suspected, in the instant, that she
knew how her parents came to be there. The Duke must have written to them, demanding their presence, so that they could help him force Dash and Mariel to marry – had he not said, in his conversation with Dash the day of his arrival ‘I can bring pressure to bear’?
Her mother released her arm, and, defiant, she went to sit beside Dash on the couch. Her mother glared, but said nothing more. Dash met her eyes, and she saw apology there. She smiled at him, with a tiny shake of her head – she understood that he had not chosen to force her into this situation.
The Duke paused in his conversation with her father, and turned his gaze upon her. She felt rather like an insect, about to be squashed, or pinned to a naturalist’s board. Dash took her hand, and gently tightened his fingers on hers.
“Lady Mariel. About time you arrived, my dear. Now, let me get straight to the point – I have discussed the situation with your parents, and we are agreed – there is no option, given all of the circumstances, but for you and Longwood to marry. Nothing else will minimise the scandal effectively, for your family or mine. There will still be scandal, but we believe that we have come up with a way to limit that, with a clever approach to opening Longwood’s Museum in London. But without a marriage, there is no way to save your reputation, or his. I’ll not have my son labelled a depraved rake who ruins innocents. And neither I, nor your parents, would see you ruined, and your siblings’ lives blighted because of it. Do you understand?”
Mariel swallowed, unsure how to respond. As she hesitated, Dash spoke.
“Mariel, I would never force you to do anything you did not choose to do. I am more than willing to marry you, if you will accept me, for I care for you – but it must be your choice. I would not do anything to make you unhappy.”
Her heart beat faster at his words – but… was he simply being noble? Just how much did he care for her? His fingers tightened on hers again. Her mother spoke then, as she still hesitated.
“Of course she understands! Do not be even more foolish, Mariel – accept the inevitable, and be glad that Longwood has the decency to offer for you, under the circumstances.”
Lady Mariel's Scandalous Love: Regency Romance (Regency Scandals Book 2) Page 11