The Mischievous Bride (19 page)

Jane laughed. “No whiskers yet.”

They only had a few minutes to themselves before some older ladies joined their conversation. One was large and round, the other small and skinny.

“Good day, Duchess.”

Jane looked up from her glass. “Good day, Lady Horatio, Lady Philomena. You both know Miss Millicent.”

Lady Horatios’s eyes widened above her plump cheeks. “Ah, yes. Miss Millicent, what a lucky lady you are?”

Milli blinked. “Lucky?”

Lady Philomena chuckled as she sipped some of the waters. “Don’t be so coy, young lady.” The woman’s voice was a high pitched squeak.

Milli looked at Jane and wanted to burst out laughing. These ladies were known as some of the biggest gossips in London. And whatever news they had was going to be past on as quick as a fox running from the hunt.

“Oh, you cannot fool us,” Lady Horatio giggled. “We heard the news yesterday, and all of London is excited. An heiress looking for a husband is quite the thing.”

Milli could see Jane’s eyes smoldering. “Are you speaking of my dear Millicent?” The duchess’s words held a coldness reserved only for people that irritated Jane.

Milli held her friend’s hand, not wanting Jane to defend her. This was supposed to be a time for Jane to enjoy herself. That was the whole point of traveling to Bath.

Lady Horatio smiled as if she had sat on a beehive. “Well, uh, Duchess, I must say you are quite the hostess. We do know Miss Millicent is quite the heiress as well, and only a suitable gentleman will pass her guardian’s approval. But who in the world will deny
that man
?” Her eyebrows rose suggestively.

Milli frowned, not understanding. “Lord Stephen?”

“No,” Lady Philomena said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “You little jester. Lord Marcus, of course.”

Milli stiffened. “What about Lord Marcus?” she asked sweetly.

“Oh, don’t play coy with us,” Lady Horatio twitted, flipping out her fan and looking about, as if all would notice her speaking with the Duchess of Elbourne and the most noted available heiress in England. “You, of all people, know that the duke’s brother is at the top of the list of suitors vying for your affections.”

Milli’s jaw dropped.

Lady Philomena giggled, her thin hands waving wildly in the air. “The man is as handsome as sin. He would give you beautiful children. Perhaps even an heir to the dukedom.”

Jane flushed.

Milli caught the tears building in her friend’s eyes and wanted to throw these two old biddies in the baths, clothes and all. How could they say something like that in front of Jane? They knew her situation. It was too hard to keep secret.

Milli looked about and saw that people were whispering and looking their way.

She was about to say something sharp when Jane gathered her wits and spoke. “Lord Marcus is a wonderful man.”

Lady Philomena lowered her voice. “Of course, he resembles all the Clearbrook men. Tall, and lean, and pure muscle.”

The lady’s eyes smiled at the people nearby, making Milli want to tackle her. What a gossipmonger! Was she trying to imply that Marcus was setting his cap for her? The thought was ludicrous!

 Lady Horatio fanned herself as if she was going to faint. “Well, I can see that Miss Millicent needs some time to think it over. Have a list of suitors, do you? Perhaps, you want to make him jealous.” She winked. “I caught my Horace that way. Must make a man work for it, you know.”

Lady Philomena’s high squeak giggle almost broke Milli’s eardrums.

The duchess, on the other hand, was trying not to laugh. Obviously, Jane had recovered and forgiven them for their slight.

Milli forced a smile. It was a good thing Jane had a sense of humor. Because at the moment, Milli didn’t. But she would not embarrass Jane for the world.

“Ah, you are a smart girl,” Lady Horatio added, looking about. “That is why you are having a string of galas given by Her Grace. You have not quite chosen the lucky man. Or have you?”

Lady Philomena leaned in, trying to catch every word.

Lady Horatio lowered her voice and her fan. “But if I were you, my dear, I wouldn’t let Marcus wait too long. Word has it, Miss Canton has set her cap for him.” The lady shook her head. “Such a dilemma, choosing one’s spouse these days.”

Lady Philomena cackled with laughter. “I would give the man a week and then pounce.”

Milli could only blink in shock. “Pounce?”

The older ladies nodded.

“A man doesn’t like to wait too long, my dear,” Lady Philomena said, pinching her lips. “Heard from Lord Albert that Marcus was interested in you. He just came in from London you know. Lord Albert, that is. Has the gout. The waters should help. He’s bathing right now.”

“My dear,” Lady Horatio said, directing her words toward her companion. “Lord Albert is over three hundred pounds and all he eats is sweets. Gout is the least of his worries.”

Lady Philomena reddened.

Jane looked at Milli and rolled her eyes, not letting the women see. Milli swallowed her laugh.

“Well—” Jane tried to free them from the scene, but Lady Horatio wasn’t about to let her go.

“Lord Albert heard at White’s from Lord Marcus himself.”

Lady Philomena twisted her lips in thought. “If you ask me, I always thought Marcus quite charming. Of course, with your money, he may buy his way into that ambassadorship he wants so dearly. He has his choice of you or Miss Canton, I suppose. But if he wants to marry for love, one never knows who else lurks in the shadows.”

“True, true,” Lady Horatio snickered, darting her fan about her face. “The choices for him are endless. Of course, an heiress is not to be denied either.”

Milli saw Jane stiffen. The smile was wiped from her face.

Milli’s stomach turned, but her anger rose just the same. “How delightful that Lord Marcus has two women to choose from. A gift to women, most certainly.”

Lady Horatio paled. “My dear that is not what I meant at all.”

The huge lady swallowed uncomfortably and stared at Jane whose face was turning hard. “I, uh, meant no disrespect, Your Grace. I hope the duke does not hear of this. We all know how the man is when someone, well . . .” she fluttered the fan about her red face. “I only meant that you are the prettier of the two, Miss Millicent, and you have much more personality. I am certain Lord Marcus thinks of you as family already. Your money probably never entered the man’s mind.”

Milli and Jane left the Pump Room with their ears still burning.

Milli was still in shock at the very thought of Marcus passing on information that he wanted to marry her. It was a horrible joke.

Jane stopped outside the building and frowned. “I cannot believe Marcus would do such a thing. Those ladies will say anything they hear. Even things that are not true. It’s barbaric.”

Milli nodded, too hurt to think of anything to say. Was this another one of Marcus’s lessons? His kisses were playing with her mind. Why was he doing this to her? She had thought he had felt something for her.

Jane must have seen her misery. The duchess took hold of her arm, leading her to the sedan chair. “It must be some terrible rumor. Those silly ladies obviously have their information all wrong. We would have heard something back in London if it were true.”

Milli frowned. Sometimes, the duchess was the last to hear gossip. Perhaps, there was something to the ladies’ tale after all.

The two men stood in front of the Abbey, watching Millicent Shelby leaving the Pump Room with the young duchess. Shadows cast from the afternoon sun kept them hidden from their prey.

The older man frowned. “If you don’t move fast, the chit may be married to Lord Marcus sooner than we know. Perhaps, we should rethink this. All of this, I mean.”

The younger man stared at Millicent Shelby stepping into the sedan chair. “I can handle Marcus. Nothing to worry about.”

“Ha! You think you have the upper hand, but the entire family is staying in Bath together. A young bachelor and a pretty miss like that under one roof. What the devil are you going to do about that?”

The younger man swore as he shifted a dangerous gaze toward the older man. “You know Father, sometimes, I don’t think you believe in me at all. I can do anything I put my mind to.”

“And sometimes you don’t think at all. Didn’t like the way you did Shelby in. Was a monstrous thing to do. I ain’t into killing people. My mama taught me better than that.”

“Keep your voice down, do you want everyone to hear?” They moved to the side of the Abbey, heading toward their townhouse, which was in the same direction as the duke’s Bath home. “Besides, it was you who gave him the poison, not me.”

His father reddened. “I didn’t know,” he sputtered. “Never would have put it in his drink. Thought it was laudanum. It ain’t a sin if I didn’t know.”

His son let out a dark laugh. “Laudanum? That would put him to sleep for a night. We needed him to sleep forever. We owed him too much. The man was greedy.”

The younger man cursed as he followed the sedan chair holding the two women. His Hessian boots clapped hard against the walk as his father tried to keep up. “Seen them stop before. They may walk a bit.”

His father started sweating and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief as their paced increased. The sedan chair was rolling slowly along. “Ain’t liking this at all. Miss Millicent is an innocent. She danced with me at Almack’s last year. Didn’t mind if I was old or not. Quite a pretty little thing. Like a delicate flower. Been thinking about it. Don’t think we should go after her money at all. What about that highland chit? She was left a good sum.”

The younger man jerked his gaze over his shoulder and swore. “If you don’t want to go into debtor’s prison, you had better keep your mouth shut. Millicent Shelby is our way out and I am not going to stop now. Your mind changes like the wind and I don’t like it.”

“Well, confound it. I don’t like this killing stuff. The duke won’t stand still if his brother mysteriously dies. Even if you try to make it look like an accident.”

“Oh, very well. If I can get the chit married to me without killing Lord Marcus, I will do it. Does that satisfy you?”

“Don’t know. What about Lord Stephen? The man is her guardian. Don’t want him killed either. It ain’t right.”

The sedan chair came to a stop. “Look!” the younger man said. “They are going to walk. Must be my lucky day.”

The gentlemen halted. The older man was breathing hard.

The son scowled. “Too much of that bread pudding will kill you.”

“You think that matters to me?” the father said in a low voice. “There are enough Clearbrooks to kill us both.”

“Marrying the girl is the only way. Once she is my wife, she will do whatever I say. She will be my property and none of those snobby Clearbrooks will be able to do a thing. Already decided we won’t be living in England anymore anyway.”

The older man wiped his sweating forehead with his handkerchief. “Her money may still be tied to her name. She don’t have to give it to you.”

His son clenched his jaw. “I have my ways. Just have to get the chit to marry me and all will be well. She will do whatever I want her to do, including putting the money in my hands.”

The older man swallowed, watching the two young women step from their sedan chair. “Don’t like the idea of hurting a woman.”

“What in the blue blazes are you talking about? I haven’t hurt a woman yet, that is, not unless she asked for it. Besides, the Shelby chit is such a little thing, she will do anything I ask.” He snorted. “I could break her in half with just one of my fingers.”

“Don’t you hurt her.”

“The devil! I am not the ogre you think I am. As my wife, a few beatings, and she will do anything I say.” He let out a wicked smile. “But don’t worry, the bruises won’t show at all.”

Jane’s eyes twinkled as they descended the sedan chair. They had decided to walk the rest of the way home. The gossip from the Pump Room had set Milli’s blood boiling, but after a few minutes, it seemed Jane had thought the matter quite entertaining.

“Of course,” Jane remarked, signaling the sedan chair to follow them. “I have always thought you and Marcus would make a brilliant pair.”

Milli pulled to a halt. “How can you say that?”

“We all knew you were in love with the man.”

Milli blushed. “Yes, but for goodness sakes, I was fourteen years old. A lot of things happen in four and a half years. I’ve grown up.”

Jane patted her hand. “Yes, you have, and Marcus or not, you will do the choosing. Do not let anyone, not even Roderick tell you what to do.”

Milli felt a bit better. “Uh, does the duke try to tell you what to do?”

Jane’s blue eyes gleamed. “He may try, but he does not get his way.”

“Oh, what did he try lately?”

Jane looked away.

Milli cringed at the sight of her trembling lips. “You don’t have to tell me. I should never have asked.”

Jane shook her head as tears spring to her eyes. “He says I can no longer try to have children.”

“Pshaw! He’s only repeating what the silly doctor said. You will have children. I know you need an heir, but what about adopting—”

“I don’t care what he says. I am not going to listen to him. I am going to try again, and he can’t stop me.”

Milli drew in a deep sigh. “Jane, dear, I believe he has a part in this.”

“Yes, well, he thought about that too late yesterday. He wasn’t thinking, and who knows, I may be with child now.”

Milli blushed at Jane’s bold words. “Oh?”

Jane frowned. “I highly doubt it. The doctor said if I ever wanted to try again, I would have to wait at least two years to heal, and then it may mean my life. I don’t believe him though. However, Roderick doesn’t’ think we should ever try again. In fact, he told me yesterday was a mistake he wasn’t going to repeat.”

Milli pinched her lips and started walking again. She didn’t think Jane should be telling her this. It was between her and Roderick.

Jane dabbed at her eyes, but she held her head high and smiled at the people they passed along the walk. “The doctor is more on Roderick’s side than mine. What do men know about wanting to be a mother?”