Ambersley (Lords of London) (26 page)

She nestled her head into the fluffy cloud of her pillows and fell asleep with a smile.

~

The transformation from gardener’s son to heiress began the next morning and proceeded non-stop until Johanna’s head spun. Two days after Derek’s arrival, she descended the stairs for breakfast in the first dress she remembered donning. The store-bought creation of pale green muslin fit well and the matching slippers were more comfortable than her boots. Still, Johanna felt naked revealing so much of her unbound bosom and with the skirt billowing around her legs, bare but for sheer stockings. Aunt Bess nodded approval, and Harry drew out her chair for her.

Derek stood across the table, shock so clearly painted on his face, Johanna didn’t know whether to laugh or retreat to her room. He finally acknowledged her after everyone was seated. “You must excuse my surprise, Johanna. It never occurred to me that you would be beautiful.” The hint of his smile made her pulse trip.

Aunt Bess covered her eyes at his words.

Harry laughed. “Now there’s a left-handed compliment.”

But Johanna didn’t mind.

The Coatsworths were generous and affectionate, but the highlight of her days was any moment when she came across Derek. Constantly chaperoned, she missed the freedom she’d enjoyed at Ambersley and the times she’d spent alone in deep conversation with him. Now they were considered social equals, yet she had less access to him, which made no sense to her. But then, her whole life had changed.

For all her petite size and frail appearance, Aunt Bess—Harry’s mother insisted Johanna call her this, as everyone needed family, she said—had a will as strong as Martha’s had ever been. Other than Lady Vaughan, Aunt Bess was the first lady of quality with whom Johanna had ever had contact. She was impressed by the effortless good breeding and knew Paget would approve. Johanna determined to emulate her, for she saw this as a way of earning Derek’s favor. Thus, she willingly partook of Aunt Bess’s lessons on deportment and listened in rapt silence whenever the older woman told her stories of the
ton
.

When Bath’s top dressmaker arrived at the house to measure her and pore over sketches for a proposed wardrobe, Johanna grew nervous at the sheer number of things Aunt Bess ordered.

Aunt Bess silenced her. “Nonsense, child. Derek insists that you be outfitted as your station demands.”

“
But surely I don’t need all of this.” Johanna pointed to the pile of sketches they’d selected. I couldn’t wear this many clothes in a year.”

“
My dear, during a Season in London, you could wear everything we’ve ordered in a week.”

Johanna tried not to gape, and from then on, she kept her doubts to herself.

October was on the horizon when Derek announced he’d be traveling to London and then returning to Ambersley. They were enjoying the end of a quiet supper, and Harry expounded for the ladies’ benefit.

“
Derek’s already written Minton about Johnny’s true identity. Now they must take the evidence before a magistrate and have you declared alive again.” He winked at Johanna.

Aunt Bess paused with a spoonful of trifle in midair. “Derek, you’re welcome to return here and stay as long as you like.”

“
Thank you, but I’ve missed much of the harvest as it is. Besides, my business with Minton will result in a significant change in my finances. I must speak with Broadmoor about the impact it will have on the running of Ambersley.” Derek didn’t mention that telling the staff to economize would be easier than explaining how he’d suddenly found the young woman who should have been their mistress these past dozen years. “When I arrive home, I’ll ask Mrs. North to select a suitable girl to act as Johanna’s personal maid and send her here.”

From her seat, Johanna stared at him. “Will I not be returning to Ambersley with you?” Her voice sounded small and shaky.

The others shared a look before Aunt Bess said, “That’s not possible, child.”

“
Mother and I would like very much to have you live with us for now,” Harry added.

Derek contemplated Johanna’s pale face. “Aunt Bess and Harry, could you excuse us? I think it’s best if Johanna and I discuss this alone.”

Aunt Bess opened her mouth as if she might object, but Harry shook his head at her. Rising, he offered her his arm. With a backward glance, she accompanied him from the room.

Derek moved restlessly around the dining table. “My dear girl, it is impossible for you to live at Ambersley with me unchaperoned.”

“
Why?”

He gave a sardonic laugh. “That very question proves to me you must stay here under Aunt Bess’s tutelage.”

Johanna’s eyebrow lifted at the commanding tone he used with her. He’d never ordered her about so when she was the gardener’s apprentice. “But I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home.”

Derek turned at her entreaty to find she watched him with huge eyes. The boy Johnny had always trusted him, and he hated to fail her. “I’m sorry, Johanna, but I cannot allow it. If you were to appear at Ambersley now, everyone would recognize you as Johnny, and they’d all realize the truth.”

“
Pray, what’s wrong with the truth?”

Knowing Society’s ways were still new to her, Derek tried to explain. “It’s imperative no one know about your upbringing. Minton and I both agree on that. We’re working on a more suitable story to tell the public once we announce you’re alive.”

“
And you expect people like Paget and Mrs. North not to notice any resemblance?” Johanna quirked her brow at him—a clear, if unspoken, challenge to his authority.

“
I expect them not to say anything, just as Cushing and Rory have said nothing.”

“
I’m not your tenant any longer,” she reminded him.

“
No, you’re my ward, and you’ll do as I bid. For now, you’ll remain in Bath with Aunt Bess.” Derek wanted to be firm, but hated himself when he saw unexpected moisture swim in Johanna’s eyes.

Johanna could barely breathe as she realized he didn’t want her at Ambersley. The knowledge hurt more than when he had stabbed her. “Yes, Your Grace.” Crying was a weakness she abhorred, and she fought valiantly to check her tears. Only a telltale sniffle escaped.

Derek recognized it immediately. “Why are you crying?” She remained silent. “There’s no need to be unhappy, you’re an heiress.”

“
I don’t want to be an heiress,” she choked. “I want to go home.”

“
What—you wanted to spend the rest of your life playing a boy?” Derek shook his head. “Don’t talk nonsense, Johanna."
She looked up at him as if he’d slapped her. “Is that what you think it was? Playing? I
am
Johnny. That’s all I remember, being a boy to everyone, and no one gave it a thought. Only now it turns out I’m the daughter of a duke, and suddenly I should forget everything that’s happened to me for the past thirteen years. Now I have wealth and position, and I should be grateful to claim my identity. But has it occurred to you what you’re asking me to relinquish? Everything!” She ended on a sob.

Derek stood numbly during her tirade, but as her shoulders shook, he went and pulled her into his arms. She was so young, so fragile, so
feminine,
the desire to protect her struck him a sharp blow.

Johanna hung on his chest and shoulder, her fingers curling into his coat. When the worst of the storm had passed, she whispered, “I was
happy
. I would have been Johnny for the rest of my life. Now it’s as though he’s dead, and I don’t know who I am. I miss him.”

Derek rested his head atop hers and smoothed her chestnut curls with his hand. “I know,” he whispered in soothing tones. “I miss him, too.”

~

Following Derek’s departure, Johanna resolved not to think about him or Ambersley.

The first week, she received a visit from Mr. Minton. Aunt Bess received him in the drawing room, and when Johanna entered, he bowed to her. She smiled, a little afraid of the dapper solicitor.

Minton adjusted his spectacles as he looked over her face. “I cannot believe how blind we all were,” he said with a rueful smile. “Thank God we can make this right.” He then spoke privately with her regarding the state of her fortune and her father’s will.

Johanna entreated him to let Derek keep the money, but he firmly refused, saying the duke had been adamant about wanting to return her full fortune to her. She understood he and Derek would act as executors of her fortune, and they had arranged for a quarterly allowance to be given to her. She had no idea how she could begin to spend the exorbitant sum he called “pin money” every three months.

Over supper, Mr. Minton reiterated the importance of keeping Johanna’s upbringing a secret. Harry nodded and agreed no one must know Lady Johanna Vaughan had been raised on the Ambersley estate by the gardener and his wife. Johanna felt insulted on behalf of the Ambersley staff and tenants, but knew by now her arguments would meet deaf ears. She listened to the details of the story Mr. Minton and Derek had devised with detached curiosity.
It began with her mysterious arrival at a priory with no memory of who she was. The priory was more than one hundred miles from Ambersley, and it was considered a miracle she’d arrived there unharmed.

Johanna considered it would be a miracle if anyone believed this story, but wisely held her tongue.

Only last year had she started recalling snippets of her childhood, and this had prompted the prioresses to widen the search for her family. Learning of the Ambersley Hall fire, the prioresses
sent a letter to Derek, and he and Minton had traveled to the priory and positively identified Johanna. When presented with facts and names, she’d miraculously recovered her memory. She’d then returned with them to Bath.

“
Which is why you’ve been kept so closely here in the house,” Harry explained.

Aunt Bess smiled at Mr. Minton. “It’s a very plausible story, and will capture the
ton’s
imagination. Did you pick a specific priory?”

“
Oh yes, and Lord Ambersley and I have already been there to make a sizable donation. They assure me they will answer any inquiries with a sincere, ’We’ve been asked by the family not to discuss the matter,’” Minton replied.

Harry laughed. Johanna tried to appreciate the humor, but something else troubled her. “What about Johnny?”

Mr. Minton pushed his spectacles higher on his nose. “His lordship is telling all at Ambersley that Johnny has been shipped off to America. He felt it would be inappropriate for Johnny to ever return to Ambersley when Lady Johanna was unaware of his existence.”

Johanna had to be satisfied, but she didn’t like it.

A month brought no word from Derek other than the arrival of Nancy, Johanna’s new maid. She realized the girl had been the perfect choice. As a second maid for Olivia when Olivia visited, Nancy had never come face to face with Johnny. Johanna tried to appreciate having someone to do every task she bid, but it seemed unnatural. She was more apt to send Nancy away and undress alone in the huge bedroom once occupied by Derek.

Being restricted to the house began to wear on her nerves, and she sought diversion in the most mundane things. When Harry caught her reading a book on animal husbandry she’d found, he suggested his mother take Johanna to the lending library or the Pump Room. Aunt Bess agreed, and so Johanna ventured out onto the Royal Crescent for the first time. The hills surrounding Bath were ablaze with autumn color when she and Aunt Bess strolled down High Street toward their destination.

Aunt Bess told her how she’d tried drinking the waters, believing it would improve her spirits following her husband’s death, but nothing had helped. She patted Johanna’s hand. “But you’ve brought me great joy these last few weeks. I hope you’re as happy with Harry and me as we are to have you as part of our family.”

Johanna blushed and agreed she was most happy.

It being the season for grouse shooting, the Pump Room wasn’t crowded. Aunt Bess introduced Johanna simply as Johanna Vaughan, a cousin. Matrons nodded approvingly at her, and she tried to appear self-assured. She wished Harry had come with them. After tasting the nasty waters, which gave her a fit of sneezing, Johanna followed Aunt Bess to the lending library where they whiled away an hour looking at
The Times
and choosing a novel for Aunt Bess and a book of poetry for Johanna. They admired the many display windows as they strolled along Milsom Street and so back home. Johanna’s feet hurt from so much walking in the thin slippers, but her cheeks glowed with color at having finally gotten some welcome exercise.