Fate Is A Stranger: Regency Romance (20 page)

"Well, then, it is better it does not come to pass," said Violet, "We cannot have you completely incapacitated."

"Violet, I’m serious. I want to marry you. I entreat you that when Lord Kelly returns from the north you will inform him that in four months' time, when I attain my majority, I will call on him for your hand in marriage. You will do that, my sweet?"

Jared seemed more in earnest now than he ever had before. What had triggered this? Was it that he feared his uncle would convince her into becoming his mistress?"

She wanted so much to set his mind at ease on this regard, because she was genuinely fond of him. And were she to examine her heart, the idea of becoming Jared's wife and thus escaping the duke was appealing, for she was beginning to fear that she was falling into a quagmire. Her love for the duke was confusing her determination to never again be any man's mistress.

"Well?" Jared pressed her for an answer.

"Your uncle would tie you down before he allowed such a wedding, Jared. I must be frank with you, though. I am very fond of you but you must postpone your offer of marriage for now. I promise to consider it but only if you allow a reasonable amount of time to elapse after you attain your majority. I do not want you to propose to me without a cooling off period once you are able to make your own decisions. You might find out at that time that you feel differently from what you now feel, once you are entirely in possession of your estate."

"Never," said Jared emphatically.

"Perhaps," added Violet, "you might consider the fact that your affection for me might be a lot greater than mine is for you. That should be an influencing factor in your decision, Jared, for even though I am very fond of you it is only as a sweet young friend."

"I’m certain your affection would grow in time. I am not bothered by that, Vi," answered Jared quickly, "and it would become as large as my love for you now is."

"Jared, I beg you to not confuse infatuation with love," said Violet, shaking her head.

"I know that Lord Kelly desires you should marry, Violet," pressed Jared, "and you would wish to please him, as you have always told me how much you owe him."

"Yes," agreed Violet, "Papa would wholeheartedly sanction your suit, Jared. I would make
him
happy if I agreed to it."

"Well, why don't you, then, and make
both
of us happy?"

"Violet?" asked Jared when Violet said nothing. Her heart and her mind in a struggle.

"As I said, you must wait until after you obtain your majority to make an important decision. You will at that time become aware of the storm of protest that will issue forth from your family. If at that time you can withstand it I shall then consider a proposal of matrimony, but I must be certain that your commitment will pass such a test.

"Do recall, if you will, young Lord Dentelbraith's desire to marry a young commoner from Derbyshire he met on Bond Street. Though initially he withstood his family's opposition, he buckled in the end. I followed the story in the gossip column and I felt heartbreak for Miss Sempy, who was pilloried by his family. The marriage, as you well know, was first postponed and then entirely canceled."

"I am not Lord Dentelbraith, Violet. Don’t compare me with that noncock!"

"Let’s leave this subject then and talk of other matters, Jared. In any case, don’t forget that at present, your uncle is your guardian."

"He is my guardian only until midnight of October twenty-ninth, Violet. After that date I am the master of my own destiny and he becomes only one of several trustees of my estate."

"But you know he would be completely opposed to such a betrothal, Jared. How would you withstand the pressure from him as well as from the rest of your family? They would shun you, disown you."

"Uncle Perry would disown me only as far as not speaking to me, if he so chose, but I do not have to have his approval in my choice of bride."

"You are too young to see the ramifications of such an act, Jared. You would be shunned by society as my father was. It would be poison for you to ally yourself to me in marriage. You may not see how this would affect you in a day to day manner. Many that now profess to be close friends would shun you. If you take this step I want you to be completely aware of its ramifications."

"I do not care a fig for that, Violet, I care only for you."

"I believe even the strongest love can be severely tested by such unkind gales, Jared. I don't know if I would have the heart to put you through all that, when it would be so easy for you to look elsewhere, at one of these pretty debutantes who carry no baggage with them."

"Yet I care not a whit for any of them, either. I care only for you."

"Let us not speak of this anymore tonight," said Violet. Jared certainly had not wavered in his wishes at all.

Yet as they danced the last strands of the waltz in silence, Violet determined that she had as much right as anyone to accept a perfectly legitimate offer of marriage. If Jared overcame all the tests that he would be put through on obtaining his majority that were surely like running a gauntlet, she would, with a clear conscience, give serious consideration to his marriage proposal. Jared would be easy to love, she was sure of that, and she was already very fond of him. And once married to Jared, the duke would cease to exist for her.

She ignored the stab of pain that cut unkindly across her heart at this thought.

CHAPTER 20

The ball finally came to its end in the wee hours as the guests began to disperse.

Violet lay in her darkened bedroom alone, for Maribel had taken ill and had asked if she could sleep in a cot in Aunt Bea's room. Maribel was fond of Aunt Bea's soothing teas.

With her eyes closed Violet listened in the darkness to the muted creaking walls of the vast castle and wondered if her mother was all right. She had wondered if she should go look in on her but had decided instead to let her rest as she must surely be asleep and her entrance would disturb her. Violet’s bedroom was near her mother's but the corridor was long and dark and with an eerie stillness. Violet had never stayed in a place of such imposing grandeur.

And just as she had drifted into sleep she heard through the veils of slumber an insistent tapping at the door.

"Who is it?" asked Violet, her heart suddenly hammering in her chest. Why was there someone at her door?"

"Violet, it is Galena. Please open the door at once. It’s extremely urgent!"

"Galena!
You
, here
at this hour
?" asked Violet, as she rushed to the door. But she was reluctant to remove the heavy bar on the door and unlock the bolt.

"What is so urgent? What has happened?"

"Open the door, Violet, for there’s something of great import I must reveal to you at once."

Violet finally opened the door but still only looked at Galena through a slit. Galena's face was illuminated by the light of a single candle.

"Your mother has taken very ill, Violet," said the girl. "You must accompany me at once."

"Mama is ill?" Violet opened the door wide and Galena rushed in. Violet's heart was racing and her mind was reeling.

"What has happened?"

"Your mother is ailing from a severe stomach malady, Violet. She has been taken downstairs to the coach for there is not much time to lose. Please, don some warm clothes at once; I shall help you. And your cloak, also, for the road is cold."

"The road? I don't understand," said Violet, still groggy from sleep, "What’s going on? Where is my mother being taken?"

"Your mother must be taken to the village where a physician resides. We cannot wait for the doctor to come here, for valuable time would be lost," Galena urged.

"Where is Mama now?" asked Violet, wondering through the lifting fog in her mind why it was that Galena was in the middle of this.

"She’s waiting for you downstairs in the carriage. We told her we should take off but she said she wouldn't leave without you. Hurry, Violet, for there is no time to lose!"

In a daze, Violet dressed hurriedly, donned her cloak and her reticule and was about to follow Galena down the corridor when Galena turned around and retraced her steps to the bedroom door.

"I forgot my reticule in your room, Violet," said Galena "Wait for me there, I shall only be a moment."

Galena rushed into Violet's room and placed a sealed letter on top of the dresser.

Earlier, Lady de Compte had given her the letter to leave on Violet's dresser. It was a note in Violet's imitated handwriting that disclosed that she was eloping with Lord Souten.

There was a satisfied smile on Galena's face as she held the letter down with a bottle so it would not blow away or fall down.

Once Lady Kelly was returned to the castle, after the herb tea that made her sick had worn off and she was again well, she would see the note. And it would be too late for the Duke of Hawkinston to do anything about it.

Galena wanted to shout with glee. Soon the field would be cleared of Violet.

Galena could hardly wait to secure the duke for herself. She savored the words that rolled over in her mind:

"Lady Galena, Duchess of Hawkinston requests the pleasure of your company at a ladies’ tea to be held…"

She would soon be a duchess, of that she had not the slightest doubt.

But first she had to remove Violet as a rival…

As Violet ran down the dim corridors of the dark castle tracing Galena's footsteps, she again wondered why it was that Lady Galena was involved in this, but the fear in her heart overruled her reason. It was enough that Galena was concerned that her mother was ill and for whatever reason was being very helpful. Yet in spite of this, she did manage to question her, between puffs, for she was now gasping for air as Galena ran down the corridors as if driven.

"How is it that you found out my mother was ill, Galena?"

"I was on my way to Mama's bedroom, for she, too, is ill with a cold, when I saw Lady de Compte running out of your mother's bedroom and calling out for help!"

"Help?" Violet's voice quivered.

"Yes, your mother had sent her maid for help for she had taken violently ill."

"Dear Lord," Violet exclaimed, "I should have looked in on her before retiring. I just didn't want to wake her if she was resting."

Violet followed as Galena raced down the dark circular steps at the front of the castle and saw that a footman was asleep by the door as they ran out.

Outside, two carriages waited, illuminated only by the light from the full moon that cast a dark blue hue on everything, from the turrets to the ramparts and the gargoyles of the castle, down to the steps and the foliage around. Everything was silent and dark and still.

"There they are, waiting for us," said Galena, pointing to the carriages. "Hurry, Violet."

When they reached the carriage, Violet saw Lord Souten emerge from one of the carriages. A fear shot through her. What was Souten doing here?

"Miss Durbin! Your mother has become extremely ill and has entreated us to help her," he exclaimed.

Lord Souten appeared strangely agitated and Violet suddenly got a bad premonition about this night, now that Souten was involved.

She leaned into the carriage and saw that Lady de Compte sat on one side of the carriage and her mother was on the other, reclining. Sadie's eyes were closed and by the side lamp inside the carriage, Violet saw her mother's forehead wet with perspiration. Alarm and fear invaded Violet and tears formed in her eyes on seeing her mother's slumped body.

"Mama, I am here; what has happened, my dear?" Violet sat beside her mother and tried to straighten her slumped body and lolling head.

"I feel very ill, my dear. I called out and Lady-Lad-" Sadie closed her eyes and said no more. She had apparently drifted into semi-consciousness. Violet got on her knees in the carriage and embraced her unconscious mother, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"We must take her to a physician, Miss Durbin," said Souten, "And the sooner the better. She is extremely ill."

"Where were you taking her?" asked Violet.

"We are taking her to the village posthaste."

"I would like instead to go back to the castle and apply to his grace in this emergency," responded Violet. "I am certain the duke's personal physician would help us in a faster manner. I cannot countenance moving my mother when the journey might make her illness worse."

She hated the idea that Souten and Lady de Compte, with little knowledge of her mother, were making extreme decisions concerning her life and in the middle of the night.

"There is no physician in the castle, Miss Durbin," said Souten quickly. "We have already applied to his grace for help. He advised us to take your mother to the village as quickly as possible—"

"Nevertheless, I must hear those words directly from his grace," interrupted Violet. "I insist on speaking to him about this at once. I cannot agree to have my mother leave the castle in the middle of the night in this furtive manner without obtaining the duke's opinion."

"Vi—Vi—"

"Yes, Mama. What is it? Please, tell me what you feel."

"I must see the physician, Vi, for I fear I will die if I don't get help soon. Please, dear. I cannot wait another moment. Allow them to take me to the doctor. I cannot stand the pain any longer."

At that moment Sadie let out a long wail of suppressed pain and slumped over. Alarmed, Violet shook her head, amazed at the turn their lives had taken.

But she still hesitated, for she trusted neither Lord Souten nor Lady de Compte. The whole thing seemed suspect to her.

"Lady de Compte," said Souten, "a word with you."

Lady de Compte alit from the carriage while Violet comforted her mother.

Souten closed the carriage door and walked a few paces away with Lady de Compte and when he was certain Violet was no longer within earshot asked her,

"Where is Lady Galena?"

"Why, I don't know," said Lady de Compte. "I believe she may have gone back to the castle."

"She was supposed to follow in the other carriage with you." Souten's face in the moonlight was sinister and his moonstone eyes seemed made of white glass.

"There was so much to overlook and so little time to plan," said the woman, "I could not control Galena's actions. In any case, there is nothing to be done about it now. Perhaps she does not want to get involved more than necessary. But I should not worry. Galena will not talk about this with anyone. It would be foolish of her to do so, don't you think?"

"Nevertheless, I would have liked to have spoken with her before she left. I don't like leaving loose ends about."

"I can vouch for her,” countered Vera. "She would not like her involvement in this to come out."

"You may be correct in that assumption," Souten whispered back. "It would go very badly for her if she did.

"All right, let us return to the carriage. Maybe by now Lady Kelly has convinced Violet that she must be taken to the physician. You will travel with me in this carriage and Violet will travel in the other carriage alone with her mother. We'll switch Violet from the carriage she is in to the other one further down the road."

"Yes." Lady de Compte found herself trembling from head to toe under her cloak and was glad that none of this was apparent to Souten, who was concerned with his own problems.

When they returned to the carriage they were glad that Sadie appeared to have convinced Violet that she needed to be taken to the doctor at once.

"Very well, Lord Souten," said Violet with resignation, "I will allow you to take Mama to the doctor. I just hope I am not making the wrong decision. This all seems so furtive."

"There’s nothing furtive about an emergency," said Lord Souten, highly pleased. "You will be with your mother at all times, reassuring her. And very soon all will be well. You will be glad she turned to us in her grief."

Violet nodded and Lord Souten closed the carriage door and returned to the other carriage with Lady de Compte.

They sat in silence opposite each other in one of the carriages as the two carriages rumbled down the gravel road in tandem. The road was dimly lit by the moon and looked fearsome.

Lady de Compte wondered if she would get out of this adventure alive. All she wanted now was to get away from Souten; her whole being called for it. But how to do it? He would surely use force to prevent her if she attempted to flee.

She swore she would never again put herself in such a dangerous situation. She would curb her desire for jewels and gowns and abide by the living she had obtained at her husband's death. Never again would she do anything that would put her in a position where she could be taken to the gallows. If only she lived through this. She shut her eyes and prayed fervently for a few minutes.

She wished she had been able to slip away as Galena had done. Galena only wanted to thwart any kind of a relationship between the duke and Violet but was smart enough not to involve herself beyond that. She had done her vile deed with the minimum involvement. Later, if caught, she would probably say that she had been told Sadie was ill and to call Violet. She would assert she knew nothing beyond trying to help. And she would have accomplished what she had set out to do, to remove Violet from the duke's vicinity for good and forever and leave the field open for herself.

Violet's concern was only for her mother. She was hardly aware of the others. She saw that there was a bottle of water in a hamper. The water was cool so she soaked her handkerchief with water and placed it on her mother's forehead. Sadie's breathing was labored and she was trembling all over. Violet took the rugs that had slipped off her and secured them around her once more, making certain they would not fall off again. Sadie was perspiring heavily and when she opened her eyes briefly, they rolled.

Violet tried to hold her mother to her bosom to keep her from trembling and Sadie, aware at times of Violet, would murmur that she was glad Violet was at her side, that she could not have been able to stand her illness without her.

"Lean against these cushions, Mama," said Violet as the coach tore down the road, for Sadie could not even settle down into a restful position but must move about restlessly.

"How did this come about?" Did you eat something that was spoiled?" she asked her. "Tell me, dear, for we must know what to tell the doctor."

But Sadie was incapable of speech. She appeared to be in a semi-conscious state and when she emerged from it she seemed to be in excruciating pain that made her moan and whimper.