Beyond Rubies (Daughters of Sin Book 4) (13 page)

Kitty sat up straight as an idea hit her suddenly. “Actually, I’d like to find my friend Dorcas I told you about. She’s a country girl and has secured a good job somewhere, having had the good fortune to meet on the coach to London a woman who arranged everything. Dorcas said she’d come and see me in Covent Garden, but she hasn’t yet. If I am able to employ a lady’s maid, I’d like to see if I can persuade her to leave Mrs. Montgomery’s employ.”

“Mrs. Montgomery, eh?”

‘Yes, she has a grand establishment in Soho where she has lots of girls working for her, I believe. Dorcas had to sign a very complicated contract to get the position.”

“Surely you’re not talking about Mollie Montgomery’s?”

Kitty was surprised at the explosive reaction her words caused, because before she’d even finished, Lord Silverton was all but spitting out his coffee as he repeated, “Mollie Montgomery of Soho? Your friend thought she was getting a job with her as a....
what
, may I ask?”

“Why, a household servant. Mrs. Montgomery came herself to Mrs. Mobbs’s house, and said how pretty and fresh and healthy Dorcas and I looked. She tried to persuade me to sign a contract to work for her, but Mr. Lazarus came in just then and seemed most put out.”

“Lord, a blessing in disguise.” Silverton shook his head. “Kitty, do you know who Mrs. Montgomery is? What she does?”

“She places girls in work.”

“Indeed she does.” He stood up. “You say Dorcas is your friend, and you’d like her to work for you when you return to Nash?”

“Well, only if she wants to.” Kitty wished he’d tell her what was making him so agitated. He clearly didn’t think Mrs. Montgomery a suitable employer. “I fear she’ll be terribly disapproving when she discovers what I am to Lord Nash.”

“I don’t think she’ll mind a jot about that,” Silverton said grimly.

Kitty rose. “Perhaps you can tell me where I can locate Mrs. Montgomery, otherwise I’ll visit Mrs. Mobbs and ask her.”

To her surprise, Lord Silverton came around the table and put a restraining hand on her arm. “I think you should leave that to me, Kitty.”

“
You’ll
find Dorcas?” The idea that he would concern himself with looking for a household servant on Kitty’s behalf seemed extraordinary.

He nodded. “In good conscience, I would not dare let you loose in even the vicinity of Mrs. Montgomery’s place of work. Give me a description of the girl and any other details you can tell me, and I shall find her myself.”

T
he hours seemed to pass so slowly, Araminta thought as she stared at the furnishings of her London townhouse during one of her sister’s regular visits. She was so bored she could barely attend to Hetty’s prattle.

“So, Araminta dearest, aren’t you looking forward to having a dear little baby to love?” Hetty seemed unable to comprehend the degree of horror and disgust Araminta felt at the entire prospect of anything associated with giving birth. She was looking at Araminta with pity as she sprawled in a chair by the window, gently stroking her belly.

Araminta, similarly sprawled, but with her hands on the arms of her chair as she detested feeling the monstrous mound that was so much bigger than Hetty’s, struggled to smile. She was glad Sir Aubrey had not returned from the library to join the ladies following the meal. He rarely did, as it was well known he and Debenham detested one another, and the truth was, his presence made Araminta highly uncomfortable.

Surely he must suspect the child she carried was his? Perhaps he was afraid she’d say something. Lord, if she did it would be all over for her, and he must know she wasn’t that stupid.

“You’ve always been so much more maternal than I, Hetty darling. Just because I detest losing my figure doesn’t mean I won’t love the child just as much as you will love yours.” She knew what to say, even if she knew she’d never love this child as Hetty would love hers. “As you’ve never been slender, you cannot know the pain I feel at becoming stout like you. It’s not my natural way.”

Hetty extended a hand and said sympathetically, “Poor Araminta; you’ve not been in very good spirits at all the last few weeks. I wish I knew what might cheer you up.”

“I’d like to go to the country, but Debenham won’t hear of it. That would make me happy.”

“You want to go to the country? That’s not like you.”

“I want to have my baby in peace and quiet. I don’t know why Debenham insists I remain here when he’s forever at his club or some gambling den,” she grumbled.

“I’ll speak to him, shall I?”

“Yes, I’m sure he’ll listen to you.”

Hetty didn’t appear to notice the sarcasm, for she said suddenly, “Oh! I met a very pleasant young woman who was asking after you.” She picked up her tatting and set to work, continuing animatedly, “She wanted to know that you and the baby were well, and asked if I’d attended your marriage to Debenham. Miss Hazlett was her name.”

Araminta stared. Was Hetty so ignorant she had no idea of their father’s other family? Did she not know of the brood of bastard offspring he’d sired who had no love for either Hetty or Araminta?

“Good lord, Hetty, she is no friend of ours. Her...protector, for want of a better name...is trying to discredit Debenham, don’t you know?”

Hetty didn’t seem too shocked by this. “My husband could be accused of the same thing.  Oh well...” she rose. “Debenham is returning soon, and I must be off.”

“Do stay, Hetty. I’m so bored, and I’m sure Debenham would be delighted to see you.”

Hetty sent her a long look then finally said, “Lord Ludbridge is coming for dinner. I must oversee matters in the kitchen.”

“Lord Ludbridge?” Araminta put out an arm to detain her sister. “You say he is a friend of Sir Aubrey’s?”

“Yes, a very pleasant gentleman, as you know.” Hetty looked uncomfortable, adding quickly as she detached Araminta’s grip, “Now look after yourself, Araminta.”

“Oh yes, and you go and enjoy your lovely dinner with Lord Ludbridge while I stay here, alone, and endure another tedious evening while Debenham drinks and gambles to his heart’s content.”

Hetty seemed torn, turning with her hand on the door knob. “You know you’re always very welcome to come to dinner, Araminta, only I wasn’t sure you wanted to see Lord Ludbridge, and I’ve sensed you feel uncomfortable around Sir Aubrey.” She dropped her eyes, adding, “Just as I do around Debenham.”

“Well, since we have a lifetime with our respective spouses to look forward to, and we cannot change the fact we’re sisters, I suggest we ought to put the past behind us.” Araminta felt suddenly buoyed by her own advice. She could forget what had happened between herself and Sir Aubrey. She needed to. Her heart gave a little hitch at the thought of Lord Ludbridge. He was her one true love. The one man who could have made her happy if life hadn’t been so unfair.

“Yes, that is true and good advice. And on any other night, I think it would be a wonderful idea, but Araminta, I truly thought you’d not wish to be in company with Lord Ludbridge after....” Hetty was unable to finish her sentence. Indeed, she looked greatly upset.

“Are you trying to stop me from having
any
fun while my husband carouses to his heart’s content?” Araminta hauled herself up, gasping at the pain and silently cursing the cargo she carried. This baby was not going to stand in the way of what she deserved. “Surely I should be as happy as you, Hetty.” She dashed away the sudden wetness on her cheeks, surprised by the force of her emotion. “Am I not as worthy? As for Lord Ludbridge, he knows the wicked, scandalous way Debenham behaved toward me, and that he gave me no choice but to be his wife and to forsake the man I truly loved.”

“Mr. Woking?”

“Lord, Hetty, I’m talking about my darling Teddy.
Lord Ludbridge
. We were mad for each other. Do you truly imagine I’d have
chosen
to marry Lord Debenham if I could have had Lord Ludbridge for my husband?”

“Lord Ludbridge would have been easier to manage,” Hetty agreed.

Araminta didn’t like her doubtful look, and rushed to ensure that her sister knew the truth.

“You don’t believe those awful rumors everyone was whispering, do you, dearest?” she asked, moving with ungainly haste across the soft carpet to detain Hetty. “I mean, what Debenham orchestrated was truly dastardly. You, of anyone, should know that. Especially after he...he threatened you.
With a broken bottle
. I didn’t think I could ever forgive him after that, but when he used those awful threats that forced me to become his wife and to sacrifice my happiness in order to protect you and Papa—“

“What are you saying, Araminta? He threatened
us
?”

Araminta seized her opportunity. She put her hand on her sister’s shoulder and looked earnestly at her.“Debenham was madly in love with me, but when I said I didn’t want to marry him, he said he would ruin Papa and that...that he wasn’t done with Sir Aubrey. So yes, of course I had to marry him.” She swallowed. “To protect
you
. You see why I now wish to put my terrible, tragic past behind me and to find
some
happiness where I can? Even if it’s only spending an evening talking to Lord Ludbridge, whom I wish with all my heart I could have married. Oh Hetty, all I want is to have a brief respite from my misery and to get rid of this baby!”

“Get rid of it!?”

“You know what I mean. Look at you, you’re happy, you were made for breeding. I’m not. I despise the way it’s ruined my shape. I detest the clumsy, awkward way it makes me feel. I won’t pretend to be better than I am, but do afford me some sisterly sympathy. I’m trying to change...and...and be a better, nicer...sister,” she added with sudden inspiration, “but I can’t do it overnight, and I can’t do it without a little understanding...and help...from you.”

She was astonished at the transformation her words had upon Hetty. Immediately, her sister turned and swept Araminta into a fierce hug.

“Oh, Araminta, you truly mean that? Why, I think it’s motherhood that’s changing you. You say you hate breeding, but the truth is that it’s making you a softer, better person, just as you say. Don’t fight it. You
can
put the past behind you, but you can’t do it without compromises, and you mustn’t risk your health or Debenham’s temper. Now that you see the error of your ways, I truly believe you can look forward to a much more rewarding future.”

Araminta didn’t like the reference to being guilty of any error. The only reason she was in such an unhappy predicament was because of Lord Ludbridge’s error in leaving her at such an inconvenient time, and evil Debenham’s calculated ploy to trick her into becoming his wife. Yet, it seemed best not to go over this once more since Hetty had gone from quite prickly to remarkably pliable in such a short time, and Araminta needed her sister’s good offices if she were to get what she wanted, and to find the happiness she deserved. Well, tonight at any rate.

“So you’ll set an extra place for me at dinner?”

Hetty glanced doubtfully at Araminta’s mid region, her eyes widening as Araminta doubled up once more at another painful spasm. “Dearest, I think you’d be best staying at home tonight. You need to rest. You’re carrying two, and you’re very big. Debenham would be cross to hear you’d sought gaiety when you should be looking after his baby.”

“Debenham wouldn’t even know. He’ll return at dawn, totally in his cups, and collapse in his own apartments. I daresay he won’t even ask Jem to check with Jane that I’m not dead in the middle of the carpet in one of the rooms which those lazy servants don’t even bother to dust properly. I’ll probably be a skeleton by the time he remembers he has a wife.”

The thought of how poorly Debenham cared for her compared with the tender solicitude of passionate Lord Ludbridge, brought tears to her eyes and Hetty’s immediate sympathy.

“Yes, of course I’ll ensure an extra place is laid for you, but I’ll quite understand if you decide at the last minute that you’d rather have an early night.”

Ignoring the persistent tugs of pain that assailed her, Araminta farewelled her sister with a smile, mentally wondering which of her gowns would flatter her most in her hideous, bloated state. She might have shied away from seeing Lord Ludbridge if he’d given any sense of being disgusted when he’d sought her out in Debenham’s opera box. Instead, she knew she’d won him over with the tragedy of her story. His love for her was pure, and he was no longer prepared to believe those wicked lies about her. Besides, once Araminta was seated opposite him at the table, he’d focus his attention on her lovely face. No doubt he’d struggle to keep his eyes straying from her rather tremendous bosom. At least, that was one small compensation for her pregnancy...her magnificently enhanced bust.

By the time she was back home and seated at her dressing table, she was so excited by the possibilities the evening had in store that she could barely wait for Jane to answer her summons.

“Jane! Quickly! Help me to decide what to wear for dinner. No, I do not intend staying in tonight and don’t you start haranguing me, or I’ll think you as bad as Hetty, who only cares about appearances. You should know that once I make up my mind, there’s no way to change it.”

L
ord Silverton did not make it his habit to frequent the lower end of town, but he bolstered his reluctance with the knowledge that he had no choice if he was to be anyone’s savior tonight—and that’s what he was determined to be.

He pulled up the collar of his greatcoat, and pulled down the brim of his low-crowned beaver as he reached the front steps of the house he sought.

He did not like the idea of being recognized, and feared that his mission to Maggie Montgomery’s would be misunderstood for he had, in fact, never paid for sex. Never had to. He found his pleasures with willing women from various walks of life. He’d had liaisons with widows of his own class, forward misses from the serving classes and several times, an opera dancer. For some reason, women liked him.

He’d been sorry that pretty Miss Bunting had not returned his regard. She’d have made a very suitable wife, and he’d thought her sweet. But beyond his surprise that she had, in fact, chosen someone else when he’d made clear his intentions and had thought she returned his interest—and several days of feeling less than his usual ebullient self—he didn’t particularly care.