Charming the Duke (24 page)

“I don’t know. We’ve been so very careful, and I haven’t talked to him at all since I saw him at the Lending Library and he told me he could not marry me, that . . . that I was not suitable to be the Duchess.”

“Everything will work out, Alexandra,” Matilda said. “You must trust me in this. Now we must rejoin the party, or surely someone will come looking for us.”

* * *

Thornsby was searching for Matilda when Athena found him.

“I have just seen Millicent speaking to a tall, handsome young man. It must be our footman,” Athena said.

“Will Jones is his name,” Thornsby replied. “I must find Matilda, or this charade will not play out.”

“There she is,” Athena said with a nod to a large bricked area in the gardens. “With her younger sister.”

Thornsby and Athena crossed the sloped yard and Andrew joined them as they neared Matilda.

“Millicent has Countess Marwick on one arm and the Marchioness of Hereford on the other. There near the flower pots. The footman is hanging in the shadows of the tall trees,” Andrew said and pointed as he joined them.

Thornsby made his way through the throng of guests milling about and carrying small plates of food. “Miss Sheldon! Misses Sheldon!” Matilda and her sister turned and Thornsby bowed.

“Would you ladies care to walk towards the lake?” he asked.

“No,” Matilda said and darted her eyes to where Millicent Marsh stood. “Absolutely not.”

The Dowager Countess taped her way up to the group and nodded at Matilda. “Go now, enjoy yourself. Alexandra can help me to a table.”

“Here she comes,” Athena whispered to him from behind. Millicent was escorting the Countess and the Marchioness, and he could see Will Jones making his way through the guests.

“It’s a beautiful day, Miss Sheldon,” Thornsby said and smiled at her, but Matilda was clearly overwrought. She was white-faced, noticeably so in her black dress and bonnet, and clinging to her sister’s hand.

“Please,” she begged in a low voice. “Please leave me alone.”

Thornsby shook his head slowly. “I won’t. You’re going to have to trust me.”

“I can’t. You do not know what is at stake,” Matilda said.

“I know exactly what is at stake. I will not let anything happen to your family. Millicent’s plan will be exposed.”

Matilda’s eyes opened wide, and he smiled at her.

* * *

Matilda’s stomach turned over. Thornsby knew! But what could be done? Who would refute the footman’s tale, and, even if they did, Alexandra’s reputation would be ruined forever! “You must allow me to leave and take my sister before the Countess is any closer. Surely you have enough pity to let us an escape.”

Thornsby shook his head. “I will not. I love you, you see, and wish this to end.”

“You cannot,” she whispered. Matilda stared into the green depths of his eyes and for a moment, a brief respite, she and he were utterly alone. There was a quiet connection between the two of them she’d never felt before as if somehow her troubles and joys and heartache and love, yes, that might be it, love, were his, and his were hers. She took one step closer. “I am afraid.”

“As am I,” he said and stared at her. “Having found you, I am terrified that I will lose you. I could not bear it.”

“Miss Sheldon!”

Matilda turned with a start. Millicent Marsh eyed her from head to toe as she stood within inches of Thornsby and then turned her attention to Alexandra.

She pointed a painted nail. “You, girl! What do you do here with respectable people?”

Alexandra looked right and left as if wondering who Countess Rundel spoke to. “Me?” she asked suddenly.

“Yes, you, girl!”

“Stop this instant,” Matilda said. “Stop it! You will not harangue her.”

Millicent curled a finger and beckoned a tall man in plain clothing towards them. In the distance, Matilda could see Fitz, talking to Mother and Father, and motioning to where she stood among the silent crowd hanging on Millicent’s words.

“This servant has a tale to tell,” Millicent said. “That will leave no one in doubt of her true nature. Mr. Jones! Tell us about the sordid affair you carried on with this young woman while she took sore advantage of her young friend’s affection merely to have her assignations with you.”

The crowd gasped. Alexandra was white-faced and slack-jawed, staring at Millicent. “Whatever are you talking about?” she said in a breathy voice.

All eyes were on the tall and handsome young man in the homespun jacket except Matilda. She turned to Thornsby. “Stop this please!”

Ethel moved forward and pointed her cane at the footman. “What is it you have to say then? Out with it!”

“Ethel!” Matilda said.

Mr. Jones cleared his throat, obviously nervous in front of a crowd of onlookers. Millicent stared at Matilda and slowly smiled. All the Hereford guests assembled were silent, leaning forward, and waiting to hear what was said next.

“I’ve never had anything to do with this young lady,” Jones said. “Only seen her from afar, as she was a guest of Miss Walsh.”

“Whatever are you talking about?” Millicent said and dragged a reluctant Lady Hereford forward. “The Marchioness and Countess Marwick need to hear your story.”

Jones shook his head. “You’re the one that made up the story about this miss. And you told my sister who works in your kitchens, if I didn’t tell it, she’d lose her work.”

“Jones!” Millicent shouted. “Whatever are you talking about? Telling lies about your betters! What right have you to be here?”

“He has every right,” Thornsby said. “I have invited him to tell the truth, and I have invited his sister to apply for work in my household.”

“Threatening servants to do your dirty work,” Ethel said. “How crass, but nothing less than we expect of you, Countess Rundel.”

Slowly, Lady Marwick and Lady Hereford disengaged Millicent’s arm from theirs. All eyes were on Millicent now, and she was red-faced and sputtering foul oaths and threats. For one brief moment, Matilda thought the Countess may launch herself at Thornsby.

“Say whatever you wish about me, Millicent,” Thornsby said in a low growl. “I’ve sins enough but don’t dare repeat what you have said about Miss Sheldon. It would be best if you didn’t show your face in good company again.”

Matilda inched to Alexandra and held her hand. Tears were streaming down her sister’s face.

“Did you hear what she said about me, Matilda?” Alexandra whispered.

“Here come Mother and Father,” Matilda said and patted her hand.

Millicent Marsh pointed at Thornsby. “You will pay for this. I will not be humiliated.”

“Far too late for that, Millicent,” Athena said.

“You should not threaten a peer of the realm in the hearing of their friends,” Andrew said as she stepped in front of Millicent. “One never knows when one’s gaming chits will be called in, eh, Millicent?”

Millicent turned in a flurry, hailing a footman to fetch her carriage, just as Francis and Frances arrived and approached the Marquess and Marchioness of Hereford, who were looking markedly uncomfortable, no doubt a result of the ugly scene that had just taken place in the midst of their garden party.

“Hereford!” Francis said with a great smile and an outstretched hand, “How fortuitous to have found our host and hostess so quickly. Come along, Frances, and you too, girls, and Mother, too. We must make our congratulations to the Hereford’s straight away!”

“Oh, yes, my dear. Come along, Alexandra, Matilda, Mother Sheldon,” Frances said. “It is most exciting, is it not?”

“Whatever are you talking about, Mother?” Matilda asked and then continued in a whisper. “There’s been a dreadful scene. Did you hear?”

Francis was bowing again and kissing Lady Hereford’s hand. “What wonderful news! Don’t you think?”

“We couldn’t be happier!” Frances said and smiled. “Isn’t that right, girls?”

“Mother! Please!” Alexandra said.

“Now, now, darlin,” Frances said and wrapped an arm around her daughter. “You musn’t fret. Juliet is the eldest after all.”

“What has happened to Juliet, Mother?” Matilda asked.

“Why Juliet is affianced to the Hereford’s heir, Mr. George Tramontin,” Frances said.

“George?” Lady Hereford asked. “Engaged to your daughter?”

“Grand news!” Lord Hereford said and shook Francis’s hand again.

“Isn’t it?” Francis asked. “Lady Bisset and I were walking near the lake and saw the Viscount and our Juliet exchange a kiss. I asked him what he was about and he said, ‘I’m about marrying your daughter!’ What a happy surprise!”

“Marrying Juliet?” Matilda asked.

“Yes, my dear,” Frances said and held Matilda by the shoulders and kissed her forehead. “These things usually work out if they are meant to be, don’t you know.”

* * *

“Lord Bisset?” Thornsby said to Matilda’s father. “May I have a moment?”

“Certainly!” he replied and turned back to the assembled crowd. “Mayhap there are two weddings to be planned!”

“Father!” Matilda said.

“What Matilda? Everyone knows that the Duke was a hair’s breath away from declaring himself to you before you sent him on his way.”

Thornsby did not want to discuss what he needed to say in front of the Hereford guests. “I can visit Maplewood tomorrow if that suits your schedule.”

“Tomorrow is fine, but we are among friends, are we not?” Francis said and looked around the still attentive crowd. “What is it you wished to say?”

“Father, please! I have no wish for myself, or any one of our family to be the center of conversation, more than has already occurred,” Matilda said and turned to Thornsby. “I beg of you, please say whatever it is you wish to say to my father in private.”

Matilda was clearly agitated and upset, and had, by design, spent most of her life in the shadows. This public display, regardless of their victory in spoiling Millicent’s plan, must have been extremely uncomfortable for her.

“My apologies, Misses Sheldon,” he said and glanced at Alexandra. “The gardens here are very fine. Perhaps you and your sister would accompany me on a short walk, if it is acceptable to your mother and father.”

“By all means!” Bisset said. “Come along, now, my dear,” he said as he turned to his wife. “We must find Juliet and her Viscount and begin planning this great event.”

Thornsby offered his arm, and the sister latched on immediately. Matilda took her time accepting, but finally he was escorting them through the crowd that was lingering and gossiping. “Remember what Ethel told us, Matilda,” he said and looked down at her. “Chin up. Face them head on.”

“You’re right, of course,” she said finally. Her sister whimpered, and Matilda whispered. “Look up and smile, Alexandra. Do it now, or you will never be able to.”

At last they were away from onlookers and making their way on a quiet, winding garden walk. Thornsby stopped as they approached a bench. Both sisters slipped their hand from his arm and sat down. Finally Matilda looked up.

“What has just happened?” she asked.

“Your grandmother figured it out most of the way with help from her lady’s maid,” Thornsby said.

“Effie?” Alexandra said. “What would Effie know of this?”

“It seems that Effie was sister to a Mr. Brewer,” Thornsby said and looked at Matilda. “And his widow . . .”

“Mrs. Brewer,” Matilda interrupted. “I had forgotten that is how Mrs. Brewer came to work for me originally. She said Effie had mentioned to her that I’d be looking for staff at a new orphanage. But what did Mrs. Brewer say that would explain it all to Ethel?”

“Mrs. Brewer told Effie that Countess Rundel had visited you shortly before I arrived that day for our walk.”

* * *

“I was so rude that day,” Matilda said. “So unforgivably rude.”

“Knowing what I do now of the Countess’s demands, I understand why you did what you did. At the time, I will admit, I did not understand.”

It pained Matilda to envision the look on his face that day, but she did. All the color and liveliness and humanity were gone after she said what she did. It was the first time she considered the effect she had had on him that dreadful day.

“But why would the Countess say what she said about me? Surely that is why William’s mother will not allow us to marry,” Alexandra said as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I am so embarrassed!”

Matilda slipped her arm around Alexandra’s shoulder. “The whole scene was horrible, but it is over.” She turned to Thornsby. “Please tell us the rest of the story. What did Mrs. Brewer say?”

“She heard one snippet as she was going by your office. Something to the effect of, ‘forgetting your sister’s happiness over a man,’” he said.

“’To throw away the happiness of your dear sisters over a man you are not meant to have’,” Matilda said and studied her hands. “I have memorized it, you see.”

“Whatever did she mean?” Alexandra asked.

“As you know, I broke off an engagement with the Countess. She was furious,” he said and stared at Matilda. “If she was not the one to be the next Duchess of Thornsby, then she meant for no one to be.”

“I have always wondered why she viewed me as such,” Matilda said. “There is no understanding between us.”

Thornsby tilted his head. “But you must have known what I intended to ask you that day. Surely, you knew.”

“What one envisions is not necessarily the reality,” Matilda whispered. “I have no experience in these matters.”

“I still do not understand why she said those dreadful things,” Alexandra said and grabbed Matilda’s hand. “Tell me, please!”

“The Countess thought to keep your sister from me by threatening to reveal something about her family. About you, Miss Sheldon. Your sister has avoided me today at every avenue, and I hope that it is because she wanted to fulfill her end of the bargain with the Countess. Stay away from me and the secret about her sister would not be revealed.”

“And the secret was that I was having a tryst with that young man?”

“Yes,” Thornsby said. “She knew or found out about Berfine’s mother’s relationship to the Tramontin’s and thought she could ruin any chances that any one of you would make a good match. I believe she threatened Will Jones’s sister with dismissal if he did not say that you two had been indiscreet. Jones felt as if he had no choice.”