The Mistress of Black Grove Manor (81 page)

              “I’ll see you later?” She asked Luke as he kissed her goodbye.

              “Of course.” He said with an easy smile, but he turned away quickly so she didn’t see the sudden darkening of his eyes.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

She didn’t get a chance to sleep at all once she was back because she was woken up by a flurry of activity. The Clarence family had just arrived! Bella leapt to her feet and rushed to get ready, at last she would see her friend! The servants all clattered out to the front to greet the three carriages, which were just pulling in. To Bella’s enormous shock it was Mavis who popped out of the first carriage.

When Mavis recognized her she screeched in delight and jumped down from the carriage to hug her friend but stopped in her tracks when Bella shook her head quickly. Edith followed her out of the carriage. The two sisters grinned in Bella’s direction and smiled at each other. Edith quickly issued orders for Mrs. Pumps and the children’s nanny before she trooped into the house with Mavis. At the entrance she turned to Bella and asked her to bring in a small valise into her bedroom. Bella meekly obeyed and once they were safely hidden inside Edith’s bedroom the three friends laughed, hugged and asked for explanations.

“When Edith was delayed I begged her to stop in London first and get me because I’ve been dying to see you.” Mavis explained when Bella asked her what she was doing here. The reunion was cut short as Mrs. Pumps needed her urgently but later that night once everyone in the house had gone to sleep Bella made her way to Mavis’ bedroom where the two friends spent hours catching up on all the gossip.

              “Nobody quite knows what to say about your disappearance.” Mavis said to Bella, “Your parents have put out the story that you’re visiting some relatives and will be back well before the wedding. But I don’t think anyone believes that, the nosy matrons know something is wrong but nobody knows what.”

              “So there’s still a wedding being planned?” Bella asked incredulously. “Does the Duke know?”

              “He was the one who insisted that everything to ahead as planned.”

Bella was flabbergasted by this news,

              “How is that even possible? What have my parents told him?”

              “They told him the same story that you’re visiting relatives but he didn’t believe that one bit from what I’ve heard. Jane, your maid told mine that the Duke of Chambray finally got the truth out of your parents and he told them to go ahead with the wedding plans as though nothing had changed.”

              “Well that was foolish because there won’t be a wedding.”

              “Oh Bella, I don’t know about that, apparently he’s a formidable man and he swore to your parents he would not only bring you home but that the wedding would go ahead as planned.”

A bitter anger swept through Bella at the man’s audacity.

              “Doesn’t he care about the scandal? And his own reputation? Have you met him? What’s he like?”

Mavis shook her head, “I haven’t seen him but I guess he’s one of those rare men who doesn’t give a fig about his reputation. To be honest Bella, he sounds a little terrifying from everything I’ve heard…maybe it would be best if you went back home now.”

              “He sounds like a great big bully Mavis. He doesn’t own me; he can’t make me do things.”

              “He is your fiancée,” Mavis pointed out, “legally he can.”

              “And that’s exactly what I don’t want in a husband, someone who will exert legal authority over me to make me do what he wishes. I’m not marrying him Mavis, he won’t find me down here. He can plan a wedding all he likes but when he gets jilted at the altar he’ll have to face the truth then.”

Mavis was both appalled and a little proud of her friend’s resolve. She didn’t like the sound of this Duke too much either but she felt it was her moral duty to stop Bella from ruining her life. She had a feeling the Duke wasn’t the forgiving type and he wouldn’t take kindly to Bella’s insult. She tried explaining all of this to her but before she could finish, Bella dropped her second bombshell.

              “I especially can’t marry him Mavis because I met someone and I’m in love.”

Mavis stared at her blankly, trying to imagine whom Bella could possibly have fallen in love with down in the country.

              “What do you mean? Who did you meet down here?”

              “The groom.”  Bella said with a wide, happy smile.

              “I’m sorry…the what?” Mavis had difficulty forming the words because she wasn’t sure she had heard correctly.

              “The groom.” Bella repeated more firmly, her eyes sparkled with joy and she scooted closer towards Mavis on the bed, “Except he’s not just a groom, he’s also the gardener.”

              “Bella, what are you talking about? You’re in love with a groom that’s a gardener?” Mavis croaked.

              “Yes, I suppose. Well you see he’s the gardener I met in the garden that night, remember? The night of the kiss? It turns out he was employed by Lord Clarence as the groom here. And we’ve spent these last few weeks together and Mavis, I’m in love with him. I love him. I can’t marry the Duke.”

              “Bella, do you realize what you’re saying? You are a lady! The daughter of a Lord. You can’t marry a commoner! Certainly not a groom!”

Bella jutted out her chin stubbornly,

              “I can and I shall.”

              “What are you planning on doing, spending the rest of your life working as a maid? Or do you intend to bring this yours back to London and set him like a gentleman?”

Bella who hadn’t thought this far ahead in to the future was momentarily at a loss for words. She didn’t know exactly how the logistics would work but she knew it was something she had to do. Instead of answering Mavis’ question directly, she said softly,

              “I can’t explain any of it Mavis, all I know is I’ve never been as happy as when I’m with him. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a man. Let’s not talk about this anymore, tell me about what else in going on in London.”

Mavis hated to drop the subject but she also knew Bella well enough to know now wasn’t the time. So she obliged by delving into the latest ton news instead.

It was hours before the two friends were done talking and it was only as the sun started to rise on the horizon did they finally fall asleep.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

Early the next morning Bella made her way to the stables for her morning ride and found that Luke was nowhere to be found. An eerie silence hung in the air and a horrible feeling settled into the pit of Bella’s stomach. She searched every corner of the stable softly calling out Luke’s name. Then from the corner of her eyes she caught sight of a piece of paper pinned to the saddle she normally used for Star. It was from Luke saying he was sorry but he couldn’t commit to marrying her and for her to please forgive him. She read the note over half a dozen times, trying to absorb the words but she felt numb. Had Luke really left her? Had he really stolen her virtue and left her?

Over the next week Bella lived in a haze, only Mavis knew about what had happened. Within a few days a new groom was found since Luke had abandoned his post without explanation or warning. Heartbroken at Luke’s deception and betrayal, Bella didn’t care about what happened to her. All the fight was gone from within her leaving her with a soul filled with bitterness and anger directed towards herself for her foolishness and naivety. She found it impossible to believe she could have been so wrong about someone but Luke’s desertion proved she had indeed been wrong. And what a price she had paid! She cringed every time she recalled the night of their lovemaking when she had given herself to him willingly, wantonly. He had taken what she had given so freely and he had left her.

              “Bella, there’s someone here to see you.”

She turned a listless face towards Mavis who hovered near the doorway, concern written all over her face.

              “Bella?” she repeated softly, “Bel I can tell him to leave if you wish.”

At the word him, hope sprang alive within Bella and she shot to her feet,

              “Is it Luke?”

Mavis’ eyes clouded over in sadness at her friend’s obvious pain and she shook her head.

              “No I’m sorry dear, it’s not Luke…I’m afraid it’s nothing good…its….it’s the Duke.” The words came out in a fearful whisper.

              “But I’m not letting you meet him alone; I’m coming with you.”

But Bella shook her head,

              “No, it’s okay Mavis, I need to do this on my own. He can’t hurt me any worse than Luke did. After everything I’ve done to him, I owe him a truthful explanation.”

Horror filled Mavis’ face,

              “You can’t mean to tell me you’re going to tell him about what happened?”

              “Of course I am Mavis, what choice do I have? He deserves better. Please tell him I’ll be down in a few minutes. I just want to freshen up a little.”

Mavis nodded and left the room, closing the door gently behind her while Bella went to washstand to splash some cold water on face. She changed into a fresh dress, a lovely morning gown of periwinkle blue. She gathered her hair into a knot of curls over one shoulder; a few loose tendrils framed her pale, ashen face. She practiced a polite smile in the mirror but found it hard to form her stiff lips into anything more than a rigid line.

She finished her speech and waited for him to say something or at least turn around. But the man did neither. He stood as still and unmovable as a rock, nothing in his stance betrayed the hint of an emotion. It was as if she hadn’t spoken at all. Bella began to wonder herself if the words she had practiced in her head on the way to the parlor had been spoken out loud to him. She debated whether she should repeat what she had said to him or try to make polite conversations.

              “Shall I call for some tea?” she asked at length when he still hadn’t moved or said anything.

His stiff shoulders moved a little then at her question, and he started to turn around but at the last moment he changed his mind and marched out of the parlor through the open French windows to his left. He didn’t spare even a glance her way.

Bella watched his retreating back with a mixture of relief and confusion. It was clear was angry, any man in his situation would be livid so she felt relieved at having escaped an angry tirade but she felt confused by it at the same time. He had gone to considerable lengths to track her down and yet he had left wordlessly.

Later that evening Bella discovered the Duke hadn’t left so wordlessly after all. A note was delivered to her bedroom shortly before supper.

It was short and terse and left no room for arguments.

             
“My carriage will pick you up tomorrow at noon sharp. The wedding will go ahead as planned.”

It was a completely impersonal note, he hadn’t bothered to address her by name or sign it, but she recognized it by his seal stamped in wax on the bottom of the page.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

Bella packed her own bags that evening, she felt drained and empty. She felt no animosity towards the Duke and resigned herself to accept whatever fate had in store for her as just punishment for her sins. She knew her chances of a good, honorable marriage were over. And she should feel thankful the Duke still wanted to marry her in spite of her actions, especially if she was carrying another man’s child. But she felt was like a blank slate, with no emotions. If anything she hated the idea of being indebted to this man for life, for saving her reputation. And that was the hardest pill to swallow.

Beautiful, spirited, proud Arabella Barrington who had sworn she would never allow a man to dictate her life would now be indebted to one for life. She who had gone to such great lengths to settle for nothing less than love had been cheated by that very emotion. And now she had no more fight left within her so when the carriage arrived the next day exactly at noon, she thanked Edith and Charles for their hospitality, kissed Mavis goodbye before dutifully heading back to London and to home, an obedient daughter at last. Her parents were overjoyed at her return to say the least. And very tactfully avoided any reference to where she was or what she had been up to. The story of her leaving to visit relatives seemed to hold. The wedding was planned for the following week and Bella didn’t care. She continued to live in a haze and the only time she cracked a smile was when Mavis arrived at the house on the morning of the wedding. Everything else felt like a dream. She was unaware of the ride to the church, of the guests or of anything else. She couldn’t even focus on the man standing at the altar, the man who would soon become her husband.