Duke of a Gilded Age (31 page)

“Indeed, Miss Oakhurst’s tireless efforts on behalf of the refugees drew the admiration of all who witnessed them,” Captain Howe said. “Miss Van Eyck was remarkable as well.”

Captain Yarborough lifted his glass to Louise and Belle. “On behalf of the Mount Olympus Shipping Company, I thank you both.”

Mrs. Stilton’s audible sigh indicated her boredom.

Chapter Twenty

Undone

A
FTER
M
RS
. S
TILTON
H
AD
C
ONSUMED
several glasses of champagne and a quantity of artichoke appetizers, she seemed to mellow.

“I apologize for my temper,” she said. “I’m usually not so disagreeable, but after the boiler blew up on the
Apollo
I thought Princess and I would perish. Fortunately we did not, but I left my jewelry case behind on the ship. It contained many fine pieces given to me by my late husband, and they were all I had to remember him by.” She sniffed and touched her napkin to the corners of her eyes.

“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Van Eyck said. “I would be upset too.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Van Eyck. I
do
appreciate all you’ve done for me, Captain Howe…and Miss Oakhurst.” Mrs. Stilton added that last part grudgingly.

“I was merely doing my duty, madam,” Captain Howe said.

“It was my pleasure,” Belle murmured, more out of obligation than sentiment.

“Tell me, Mrs. Stilton, what is your business in America?” Mr. Oakhurst asked.

“My son left England to make his fortune in the New World. I’m to visit him in San Francisco,” she replied.

I wonder if he’ll be happy to see her when she finally arrives?
Belle thought.
Poor man.

As the meal progressed, Mrs. Stilton interrogated Captain Yarborough on how the Olympus Shipping Company planned to make up her financial losses and what she could expect in terms of completing her voyage. Belle’s resentment of the woman grew; she wanted to hear from Wesley and Stephen, not Mrs. Stilton. When the dreadful woman paused to take a sip of wine, Belle seized the opportunity to change the subject.

“Your Grace, I encountered your Italian friend this afternoon…Mr. Matteo. I thanked him for his part in your rescue. Given the language barrier, I hope he understood.”

“Ah, yes, Matteo. He was very helpful with his countrymen on the
Apollo
when I was explaining the need to evacuate,” Wesley said.

“Wesley had a little help from Providence in that regard,” Stephen said. “If not for his Saint Christopher’s medal, I don’t think the Italians would have listened to him.”

Wesley chuckled. “I must write my friend Sergio back in Brooklyn and thank him again for that medal.”

“I find your situation extremely interesting, Your Grace,” Mrs. Stilton said. “Mrs. Van Eyck informs me you are an American who inherited your title just recently?”

“Yes, I inherited it from my late uncle, Septimus Parker. He was the tenth Duke of Mansbury,” Wesley said.

“My husband was Septimus’s younger brother, and predeceased him several years ago,” Lady Frederic said.

“Annabelle’s grandfather is a baronet,” Louise blurted out. “Perhaps she’ll inherit the baronetcy from him someday.”

Belle’s heart began to hammer, and she felt her father’s eyes upon her.

“The title of baronet is not inheritable by females, my dear,” Mrs. Stilton said.

“Ugh! I’ll never understand this business of titles,” Louise said. “How do you British keep it all straight?”

“It’s not always easy to do so, I grant you. Some people count on the ignorance of others to puff themselves up as royalty when they are not,” Mrs. Stilton said. “If you make enough inquiries, the truth will out, sooner or later.”

Belle forced a laugh. “Your Grace, ‘The truth will out’ is a quote from Shakespeare. Can you guess which play—”

“Miss Oakhurst, may I ask the name of your grandfather, the baronet?” Mrs. Stilton interrupted.

“Hamish Heathcliff from Gloucester,” she replied faintly.

“Hamish Heathcliff! Imagine that!” Mrs. Stilton exclaimed. “Why, I have lunch with his wife Maude at least once a month. How is dear Mr. Heathcliff?”

This awful woman knows my grandfather?
The blood left Belle’s body, and the ship shifted…or so she thought until she realized a wave of dizziness had tilted her world.

“I believe he’s in excellent health, Mrs. Stilton,” Belle said.

“It’s very strange Maude Heathcliff never happened to mention her husband is a baronet,” Mrs. Stilton continued. “In all the years I’ve known her, she also never mentioned Mr. Heathcliff had a granddaughter. Of course, Maude is his second wife, so perhaps there are some family secrets to which she’s not privy?”

Mr. Oakhurst cleared his throat. “I believe there has been some misunderstanding. Due to a family rift, I’m afraid my daughter has never had the pleasure of her grandfather’s acquaintance. Furthermore, my father-in-law is not in possession of a title, as far as I know.”

An expression of confusion passed over Mrs. Van Eyck’s face. “I’m sorry, Miss Oakhurst, but I thought Sir Hamish had arranged to have you presented you at court last year. Didn’t you tell me that, Louise?”

A cold, clammy hand reached down Belle’s throat and squeezed the breath from her lungs.

“Oh, Mama, you know how I get everything wrong,” Louise said. “I simply made a mistake.”

Into the ensuing, fragile silence, only Mrs. Stilton dared to wade.

“You see, Your Grace, how a few probing questions can serve to unearth a handful of worms?” she said with cloying sweetness. “Furthermore, in terms of royalty a baronetcy is nothing at all. If I were to tell such a falsehood, I would have chosen a viscount, at least.”

Everyone at the table stared fixedly at Belle. She felt as if she were Hester Prynne in
The Scarlet Letter
…but the scarlet letter burning on her chest was the letter L—for liar.
Now I must mount the scaffold in disgrace.

“No, Louise, you didn’t get it wrong. I misled you and I apologize.” Belle couldn’t bring herself to gauge Wesley’s reaction, but the shock on Louise’s face brought tears to her eyes. She stood. “Forgive me, but I’ve developed a sudden headache. Please enjoy your evening.”

Belle left the captain’s table and walked the entire length of the saloon with her head held high. Passengers were engaged in conversation or in eating, so few took much notice of her departure.
Would that my path be a gauntlet to expiate my sins!
As she passed beyond the double doors, she mounted the stairs to the promenade deck.
I can’t bear to be shut away in my cabin just now. Let the canopy of stars be witness to my shame.

The last lingering rays of sunlight had faded when Belle emerged on deck, and the aurora borealis was rippling and glowing, as if a cosmic fire were about to spill over the northern horizon. A kaleidoscope of luminous turquoise and lilac lights streaked and pulsed in a magical display that would ordinarily have lifted her spirits. At the moment, however, she could barely see the beautiful phenomenon through the tears filling her eyes.

Mrs. Stilton’s sweet triumph was Belle’s complete and utter humiliation. First and foremost, her lies had publicly embarrassed her father. Further, she’d likely lost the affection of her new friends, since even the remaining members of the dance club would soon hear of her exposure. Worst of all was losing Wesley’s respect in a way that would haunt her forever. She gripped the railing with both hands, as if the steel could somehow lend her its strength.
I can’t bear this!

When Belle stood and took her leave, Wesley struggled to his feet in concert with the other men at the table. Mr. Oakhurst immediately folded his napkin and set it next to his plate. “Pardon me,” he said. “I must see to my daughter.”

As Mr. Oakhurst left, Wesley flagged down the waiter. “Please bring me my walking stick, right away.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ve lost my appetite.” Stephen shot Mrs. Stilton a withering glance.

Mrs. Van Eyck caught Stephen’s hand. “Don’t go chasing after the girl!”

“Oh, yes, Stephen, please do,” Louise pleaded. “Tell her I don’t care if her grandfather is a baronet or a bricklayer.”

“She doesn’t deserve your sympathy!” Mrs. Van Eyck exclaimed.

“That’s so,” Mrs. Stilton said.

Stephen ignored Mrs. Stilton entirely. “Mother, Miss Oakhurst was instrumental in saving my life, or don’t you care?”

“‘Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone,’” Captain Howe quoted.

Captain Yarborough nodded his agreement. “Hear, hear.”

“Who among us hasn’t said something silly from time to time?” Lady Frederic said. “I really don’t see that Miss Oakhurst’s assertions were so very terrible.”

“Nor do I,” Louise said.

Helpless without his walking stick, Wesley nodded to Stephen. “Go find her. I’ll follow as soon as I can.”

Stephen hastened off, choosing to take a side route instead of the central aisle, now largely blocked by servers. As soon as the waiter returned with his walking stick, Wesley joined the pursuit. Unfortunately, his limp slowed his pace, and Mr. Oakhurst was delayed by the crush of servers juggling trays of food. Stephen disappeared from the saloon long before Wesley and Mr. Oakhurst managed to reach the exit. By then, Belle was nowhere to be seen, and Wesley punched the air in frustration.

“There are a thousand places she could’ve gone!”

“I’ll check her room,” Mr. Oakhurst said, darting off toward the descending staircase.

“I’ll search the promenade deck,” Wesley replied.

One painful step at a time, Wesley mounted the stairs to the uppermost level. He would look in the nearby drawing room first, and then inside the library. If he had no luck, he’d circle the promenade deck outside before heading to her cabin to consult with Mr. Oakhurst. Belle’s distress had affected him deeply.
I must find her!

The lights in the nighttime sky seemingly gamboled for her amusement, but Belle was oblivious.
I’m completely undone and there’s no escape. I must endure two more days on this ship, with nowhere to hide. Then I travel by train to Mansbury with my father, Wesley, and Lady Frederic. Oh, how they must despise me as a liar!

“Miss Oakhurst.”

Startled, Belle wheeled around to discover Stephen Van Eyck had followed her.

“Mrs. Stilton is a dreadful person,” he said. “Please don’t think about her any further.”

“She
is
dreadful, but it doesn’t change the fact that I lied to you…and everyone else.”

“Are you in the habit of lying?”

“No, not ordinarily. I just wanted so badly to impress Louise.”

“Ha! And Louise has been trying all this time to impress
you
,” Stephen said.

Although Belle knew Stephen was telling a joke, she didn’t see any humor in it.