Lady Henrietta's Dilemma: Regency Suspense Romance Book 2 (Lords of Sussex) (2 page)

Bonnet in hand, Lady Phillipa, smiled as she entered the room, only to see her friend collapse in a storm of weeping. ‘Dearest, what is the matter? Tell me?’ She knelt, taking Henrietta’s hand.

‘I can’t – I just – oh. What shall I do?’ Henrietta
could not see her through a curtain of tears. How could she tell her she was frigid, that she refused to consummate her marriage? Phillipa would never understand indeed how could anyone?

‘Is it Vaughan?’ Phillipa asked, pulling a linen embroidered handkerchief out of her reticule. ‘Come tell me,’ she said,
dabbing away the tears on her friend’s face.

‘Yes … he stormed out.
I want to call off the wedding. He never declares his feelings. I cannot marry a man who has no love for me.’ Her chest tightened, she was speaking a load of moonshine. Pippa would think she was befogged.

‘What’s happened?’ Rising from her knees, Phillipa set her bonnet down upon the green marble table
. Although of a nervous disposition, Henrietta was such an optimistic girl.

‘I am desolate
Phillipa; he now says he will not take me to Brussels. ’ she cried, her voice breaking. ‘I am sure he is keeping his mistress.’ She could not bring herself to confess she wold not go to bed with him. That was unheard of. 

‘Surely he has given her up. Tis you he loves.’

‘No – he never speaks of his love for me, only the marriage bed.’

‘What? 
From what I hear men are not like us, they find it difficult to speak of undying love.’

 
‘I told him I loved him – pleaded for him to take me with him. However, he refused and stomped off.  Oh dear, it is all so complicated.’ Henrietta murmured through her tears; the small handkerchief, wringing wet.

‘
Do you want me to speak to him?’

‘No, it’s too late. I’ve been so stupid.’ Henrietta spluttered, the tears running afresh.

‘Stupid – you? Never. Why would you think so?’

Henrietta paused; she rose from the settee and walked over to the white stone fireplace. Looking over to Phillipa, she knew she could not tell her of
her deep fear. It was something she could not divulge, even to her. She had to give an excuse; she said, ‘You know the book he gave me? Tis vile. It has made me more fearful.’

‘What is it, you fear?
Come Etta, you know you can trust me.’

‘You w
ill think me jingle-brained, oh Pippa.’

‘Look, we are like sisters, I trust you Etta,
I trust you with my life. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.’

’I want to
, but I fear you will—

‘Come, didn’t we all promise we would be there for each other
– always, you, me, Isabella and Venetia? Trust me Etta.’

‘I can
not expect you to understand; you – you are so confident and I – I am so weak.’

‘
Never, Etta, you are a sweet gentle girl. We all run to you when we need help. Let me help you now. And in many ways you are strong, it seems it is only this that makes you fearful. So tell me. ’

Biting her lip, her thoughts raced, she would tell Pippa part of the truth. She could live with that.
‘I told him that … I could not make love with him on the wedding night. There I have told you, now you think I am some gammon brained idiot.’

‘You mean you will not consummate the marriage?
’

She nodded, unable to express words.

‘Why?’

‘That I cannot tell you, if I did I would just fall apart, please don’t ask me.’

Phillipa remained silent. She had to be gentle with her dear fri
end. Now was not the time to upset her even further.

Henrietta
rubbed her forehead, ‘I feel ashamed, and guilty, but I cannot change. In any case,’ her voice cracked, ‘he yearns only for my body, not my heart.’ Coming back to the settee, she sat down beside Phillipa.

‘Honestly, dearest, mama told me it was the most beautiful experience in the world.’ Phillipa assured her, stroking the flaxen curls from her friend’s brow. ‘You just let Vaughan lead you into it all. Why I hear women swoon with just a kiss, then long for the man to….’

‘Don’t – don’t tell me.’ Henrietta cried.

‘Hasn’t your mama talked with you about it?’

‘I kn
ow nothing of the male body, or what happens between a man and woman.’ Henrietta murmured, ‘Mama can never speak of intimate things. She said I have to lie there and bear it. That it only took a few minutes.’ 

‘I’m sorry. Oh Etta dearest
, we have to sort this out. He must feel so rejected.’

Henrietta raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed, her gown a crumpled mess. ‘
I was fearful before the book, now I am terrified.’

‘What on earth
is in it?’ Phillipa asked her, eyes wide. ‘Have you got it with you?’

‘Yes
.’ Henrietta said, in a miserable voice. Taking it from her reticule, she handed it to Phillipa. ‘I warn you, tis just awful.’

Phillipa opened the book, her eyes fixated on the drawings.
‘My, oh my.’ Phillipa sat back, biting her lip; in fact, her whole body tingled, no wonder Etta was so upset.

‘It’s wicked is it not?’

‘Oh no,
just extreme at the end.’ Phillipa said, shaking her head, ‘Dearest, some of this is true, at least the first part, but the rest I must admit is astonishing.’

‘So you can see why I cannot go th
rough with the wedding night? I need time.’

Phillipa hugged her close, ther
e was something terribly wrong, what Etta felt was not natural; it was not just the book, it was something deeper. How in heaven’s name could she help her friend? Stroking Etta’s hair she said, ‘You know, to be truthful for Lord Vaughan's sake. I find the first part….’ Aware of Etta’s disgust, she searched for an appropriate word. ‘Instructive.’

‘
That is what he said, but how do I overcome my fear Pippa, how?’

‘
Dearest, mama told me everything in detail. In fact, she said she enjoyed it even though like you she knew nothing of the male and the marriage bed; she and Papa were so in love. In fact, even now, some nights they cannot wait to retire to their bedroom.’

Henrietta sniffed. ‘Well my papa bridles at the least hint of indelicacy.’
She lifted her chin. ‘Yet, he is such a hypocrite – keeps a mistress; Eva Swanson is the latest in a stream of lovers. But with us, he acts as such a prude.

Phillipa pursed her lips.  ‘
Dearest, Vaughan knows you are a virgin. He will be most gentle; I am sure.’ Phillipa murmured, ‘Believe me; mama would not lie.’

Her head against Phillipa’s shoulder, Henrietta mumbled, ‘I honestly thought that I could become with child, just by lying with him, especially with his tongue almost down my throat?’

‘You really must believe me dearest. You will be fine, why you—’

‘
I think I will panic on the night Pippa.  I – I can’t go through with it, not yet. But what if he still refuses to take me to Brussels? Oh dear, I am so confused.’ 

Phillipa remained silent. Her friend was badly frightened; her nerves shattered, not only with the pictures in the book, but also the trauma of the wedding.
She heard a slight tap on the door.

‘Enter.’ Henrietta
said, her voice tense.

A maid appeared, giving a short
curtsey. ‘Beg pardon milady, Her Grace would like you to attend the tea party in her drawing room.’

‘Thank you Milly. Tell her I’ll be there soon.’ 
Pulling at her hair, Henrietta exclaimed, ‘Oh dear lord, how can I go down there looking like this? I feel wretched.’

Phillipa stood, ‘Come I will tidy your hair and just—’

Henrietta ran to the mirror, ‘Mama will know I’ve been weeping, and so will those awful gossips.’ She hurriedly smoothed down her skirt.

‘Worry not,
pretend you have a cold. Become an actress.’

‘I suppose we must go down;
but I’ll pretend I have a megrim, so I won’t stay.’

Phillipa worked on her friend's face, and tidied up the loose curls. ‘There, you look fine.  Do not be too upset, I have an idea, but I shall have to go right now.’

‘Please Pippa, I can hardly bear
it. I think I should tell mama the wedding is off?’

‘
Do nothing until I return. I need time to find a solution. ’

‘How can there be
one?’

‘Promise you won’t say anything just yet?’ Phillipa held her friend’s eyes. 
‘Promise?’

‘Oh very well. But please hurry back.’

Once beyond the door, Phillipa bit her lip. She had to work fast to save Etta’s marriage.

The footman helped her into the carriage
, and then climbed up to ride on the back step. Looking up at the driver, she said, ‘We must make haste George, I have to go home and pick up Mary, and then go to Denning Castle.’ 

Settling back against the maroon squab cushions, she breathed deeply and took out the small book. In her misery, Etta did not notice her slipping the little book into her reticule.  She just hoped Lord Vaughan Bruges was at home.  

As the medieval Denning Castle came into view, Phillipa’s eyes widened.  Turrets with arrow slits, soared through clouds, whilst a multitude of mullioned windows sparkled
like tarnished jewels. The iron drawbridge over a green-coated moat looked huge and menacing.

‘Ooh milady, tis such a grand place,’ her maid cried, clapping her hands.

‘Yes and I hope his lordship is at home.’ Phillipa said, wondering how Lord Vaughan would receive her.   It was a rush, racing home and instructing her maid to accompany her. Although well acquainted with his lordship, the rules of propriety demanded she have a chaperone.

Gazing through the carriage window, she wondered why Henrietta was so frightened; why use the book as an excuse? Surely Lord Vaughan had more sense than to show a young idealistic virgin such coarse etchings
?

As the carriage rumbled over the drawbridge and into the medieval bailey, Phillipa gathered her composure. One of her strengths was in making known her opinions.  Many females would shrink from addressing a male on equal terms, but as a follower of Mary Wollstonecraft’s new movement, she was prepared to
speak up. She must apprise him of Henrietta’s dilemma, otherwise both, he and his new bride faced disaster. A footman jumped down to help her alight from the carriage. ‘Be careful milady the cobble stones are slippery.’

She saw his eyes yearn for her, as usual.  He was indeed handsome, with his
powdered wig and blue livery, his
tendre
for her made for a loyal bodyguard.  ‘Why thank you John. Pray wait here for me. I will not be long I hope.’ In awe, she gazed around her, she always loved this particular castle. However, it looked in sore need of renovation.

She followed the butler up to the first floor, with Mary close behind. On entering the huge drawing room, to her relief
, Lord Vaughan smiled warmly striding towards her, and taking her hand.  Bowing, he kissed the air above her knuckles.  ‘Enchanted, Lady Phillipa – what an unexpected pleasure. Can I offer you tea?’

‘Thank you my lord for receiving me
,’ she said, sinking into a curtsey. As usual, he was immaculate in a navy frock coat and pale blue silk vest; his short blond curls arranged carefully a la Brutus style. ‘That would be very welcome, thank you.’

‘Please take a seat.’ He waved towards an array of aging chairs, some in need of upholstering.  Phillipa sank into a love seat, whilst Mary sat discreetly by a bay of arched leaded light windows.

Although perplexed with the unexpected visit, the marquis engaged in small talk until the maid served tea and petit fours, before gently closing the door behind her. 

‘Shall I pour?’ Phillipa asked, rising from her seat, and straightening the folds of her violet satin dress.

‘Why thank you.’ He was genteel enough not to ask the purpose of her visit.

After another agonizing five minutes sipping tea, and nibbling on cake, Phillipa took a deep breath. ‘Pray my lord, please forgive me for what I am about to say. I come on behalf of my dear friend, the Lady Henrietta. I fear there has been some misapprehension about a certain little book.’ She glanced around at Mary, her maid was party to most of her secrets, however, in this instance,
the matter was far too delicate for her ears. Turning to the marquis, she said, ‘Would you mind if my maid stood outside the door for a few moments?’

‘Hmm –
you think we should be alone?’ he asked, his eyes twinkling.

Biting her lip, Phillipa said slowly. ‘I think on this occasion if the door is ajar, then it would be appropriate.’

‘Hem, demme – so be it.’

Nodding at Mary, she said, ‘Leave us, but keep the door open, and stand some paces away. Thank you Mary.’

Mystified, Lord Vaughan watched the maid rise, and
depart in a rustle of cotton skirts. ‘Pray, why the serious expression?’

‘Please my lord, bear with me.’ Rising, Phillipa began walking to the far end of the huge room, ‘
May we talk a little further away?’

‘But of course.’ Leaving his chair
,  he walked by her side.  

‘
This is not for anyone’s ear, except yours and mine.’ Reaching a seat under a faded tapestry hanging between family portraits, she sat down. Holding his eyes, she said, ‘my dear Henrietta is heartbroken my lord. Tis all to do with that book you gave to her. It has fair terrified her.’

‘Deuce, not the wretched book again.’ Lord Vaughan muttered, clasping his hands behind his back.

‘It harmed her delicate senses. Pray, may I advise you of Henrietta’s sensitivity?’

‘I am aware of my lady’s proclivities.’ Vaughan
muttered the muscles of his face tensing. ‘However, I was most confused with Henrietta’s blind ignorance of anatomy, if I might put it that way.’

‘My lord, I know it is such a delicate matter, but I am forced to speak.  She received no instruction in the marriage bed.’ She looked up, another blush adding to the bloom of her cheeks. ‘However, I fear your happiness
, and hers, depends upon me speaking out. Her mama refuses to discuss any indecorous matters with her daughter.  She left it to the governess, who knew nought.’

‘Deuce, I find this most taxing –
you are too direct my lady.’

‘Not in this instance my lord.
Women have an equal right to speak out.’

‘Hmm, you are indeed audacious
, and intrepid. I wonder what your fiancé Lord Thurston thinks of this?’

‘He is in sympathy
with my views and encourages me in my views, as you know there is a strong women’s movement now with regard to then concepts of equality. But, to come back to Lady Henrietta, she loves you; but is terrified, and now heartbroken that you will not allow her to accompany you to Brussels.’

‘I am a gentleman Lady Phillipa, not a
brute. I care for Henrietta very much….’ he paused, if it were not for the blessed dowry, he would end this façade now, and send the chit packing. 

‘She is disconsolate.’ Phillipa knew she would have to warn him. Henrietta could be inflexible when she made up her mind. ‘I fear she might run away my lord – or—’

‘What?’ he felt his heart jump into his throat.  No, that could not happen, damn – damn.  His whole future was now at stake.

‘Have you not the charity in your heart to take her with you?’
Phillipa asked, unaware of his turmoil. 

‘Leave it with me, my lady.’ he said, his voice gruff. ‘I must consider the matter.
Now, if you will excuse me.’  He strode over to her, and bowing, took her hand, kissing the air above her knuckles.

Watching the carriage bear Phillipa and her maid away down the drive, Lord Vaughan bit his lip.  Deuce what a mess. He could not banish Esther from
Brussels; she was his delight in and out of bed. He would take Henrietta, but he would have to fly on the eagle’s wing. At least, the two women would be streets away from each other. He might just about manage it.