An Unlikely Duchess (30 page)

Tom smiled widely and after dropping his plate on the table beside Caroline, he hurried around the table to plant a loud kiss on the dowager’s cheek.

“That is better.” She grinned.

“So what brings you two here this morning?” the dowager asked.

Edward had moved to the sideboard to fill his plate and Rebecca tried to keep her eyes away from him but she was struggling not to watch his every move. He had not spoken save to give a general greeting to her and Caroline but as he was passing her chair she’d felt the brush of his hand on her shoulders.

“No idea,” answered Tom who had resumed his seat and started to demolish his breakfast. “I was woken with the birds and told to come!”

Edward resumed his seat and looked a little flustered.

“Was there a reason you needed to come so early, dear?” asked the dowager innocently, though there was a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Edward glanced quickly at Rebecca before answering.

“Do I need a reason to want to break my fast with my own mother? Really, mother one would think you did not want us here.”

“My dear, you know you are always sure of the warmest of welcomes from me. It is just a little unusual, that is all.”

Before Edward could answer, Jeffries entered with a silver tray bearing a small card.

“For you, my lady,” he bowed, presenting the card to Rebecca.

Rebecca was a little taken aback. Though they had received plenty of invitations since their arrival, they usually came to the dowager or even Caroline, being the eldest. And their morning calls would not begin for a couple of hours yet.

“There is a footman awaiting your reply,” Jeffries explained.

Rebecca took the envelope and studied the direction. The penmanship was unfamiliar to her though it certainly belonged to a lady. Intrigued, she opened the missive and her jaw dropped in surprise.

“What is it?” asked Caroline curiously.

“An invitation to the Vauxhall Gardens” —Rebecca’s confused look remained on her face— “for tonight, for you and I, Caroline.”

“How nice,” answered Caroline, “though it is a little rude to issue an invitation at such short notice. Who is it from?”

Rebecca gave Edward a loaded look before answering, “Lady Sarah.”

Now everyone looked confused.

“Lady Sarah?” asked the dowager, “Are you acquainted with that lady?”

“As much as I want to be,” answered Rebecca bluntly.

Caroline laughed a little nervously.

“Rebecca and Lady Sarah seemed to have a little, um — clash of personalities, your grace,” she explained.

“She is vile,” said Rebecca, which was another way of putting it, Caroline supposed.

“Good heavens,” said the dowager, clearly amused, “I cannot say I feel anything more than the merest tolerance for the lady but I do not think I’ve ever heard her described as ‘vile’.”

“Oh that is not all Lady Rebecca had to say on the subject of Lady Sarah, Aunt,” Mr. Crawdon piped up with a wide grin. “She also called her old and ugly.”

“I did not,” said Rebecca hotly, “I said her dress was ugly. And she started it.”

The dowager burst into gales of laughter.

“Oh, my dear you never fail to amuse me.”

“Yes, well as amusing as this all may be,” began Edward, who had been silently studying the invitation, “it makes it abundantly clear that Rebecca and Lady Sarah are hardly friends. Why then, the sudden invitation?”

“You suspect something?” asked Rebecca.

“I am not sure. Lady Sarah is mostly harmless, though she does not like to be bested. And you, my dear, put her very firmly in her place.”

“Well, it does not signify anyway, since we will not be going,” said Caroline.

“What? Why not?” asked Rebecca.

Caroline stared at her.

“You cannot
want
to go?”

“Well, if I were to choose a companion it certainly would not be that haggard old b—”

“Ahem,” the dowager’s well-timed cough cut into Rebecca’s tirade.

“But,” Rebecca continued more demurely, “I have always desperately wanted to go the gardens. The dancing, the performers, the fireworks! It sounds so magical.”

“It is also highly improper for a group of ladies to attend unaccompanied. The place itself is barely proper as it is. Besides, she has left it far too late to ask us. I am sure the dowager has plans for us.”

Rebecca frowned. Much as she disliked Lady Sarah, she was intrigued by what the woman was up to. And she did so want to visit the gardens.

But Caroline was right, it would be unspeakably rude to accept the invitation at such short notice when the dowager was bound to have plans for them already.

“Oh do not worry on that score, my dears,” the dowager spoke up, “I had planned a quiet night at home anyway. You should take the opportunity to go and enjoy yourselves. I am sure Lady Sarah would not mind the addition of Edward and Tom who will be happy to escort you, will you not?”

“Yes, of course,” answered Edward quickly. He turned to Rebecca. “If you are going to insist on going, and I realise the futility of arguing the matter with you, then I want to be there to see what she is up to.”

“So we’re going?” Her eyes shone with excitement and Edward wondered how in the world anyone was supposed to refuse her anything. He doubted they ever had. And he was certain that he would never be able to.

“If you want to go, then we’ll go.”

Rebecca turned to Caroline with a questioning look.

Caroline sighed and finally relented.

“Fine. We shall go but I warn you, Rebecca, you are to behave.”

“I will! Oh I am so excited. I shall write our acceptance immediately.”

She jumped from her chair and ran from the room.

“Do not forget to tell her about the duke and Mr. Crawdon’s attendance too,” Caroline called after her.

Since Rebecca continued to tear up the stairs, Caroline could not be sure whether she’d heard or not.

****

Rebecca had heard and now, hours later, she fairly bounced around the drawing room waiting for Lady Sarah’s carriage to arrive. Edward and Tom would meet them there. Rebecca imagined the hidden walks, the benches under overhanging branches, all of the discreet places she and Edward could steal some moments alone.

At eight o’clock on the dot Lady Sarah’s carriage arrived. The girls bid the dowager a swift goodbye and quickly made their way outside. Even Caroline was caught up in the excitement though she urged Rebecca again to be wary of Lady Sarah.

“I shall be as civil to her as she is to me,” Rebecca had stated firmly. “I am sure we shan’t even speak to each other, there will be so much to do!”

Her excitement had been infectious and Caroline had soon allowed herself to relax and look forward to the evening’s festivities.

The sisters entered Lady Sarah’s carriage a little hesitantly for they were not sure about the reception they would receive.

But the lady was all that was polite and cordial.

“Lady Rebecca, Lady Caroline. I am so pleased that you could join me tonight,” she exclaimed as the girls climbed into the luxurious carriage.

Lady Sarah looked as flamboyant as ever. She wore a headband with such huge feathers Rebecca was half expecting it to take flight. Her dress was an eye-watering pink, the colour picked solely to draw attention, good or bad.

The neckline was scandalous even by the most liberal of standards, and Lady Sarah’s ample curves were fighting what looked to be a losing battle to stay inside it.

Caroline smiled warmly in greeting but Rebecca held back. Lady Sarah certainly had made no outward changes so there was no reason to suppose she’d made any inside either.

“What wonderful news you had for me, Lady Rebecca, when you told me Eddie and Tom would join us. Such charming creatures, and so devilishly handsome!”

Rebecca merely smiled in response though her teeth felt sewn together.

“Of course,” the lady continued, either oblivious to or uncaring of the disinterest from the other side of the carriage, “they were not always so stuffy and staid as they are now. La! The stories I could tell.”

She smiled sweetly, probably anticipating questions from the younger ladies. But neither one was inclined to ask questions they would rather not hear the answers to.

Caroline, wisely, bit her tongue and said nothing. Rebecca, stupidly, let her mouth run away with her. Again.

“I hardly think they are stuffy and staid. Why, Mr. Crawdon’s businesses must require a great deal of attention and as for Ed – I mean, the duke, well I think we’re all aware of just what a big undertaking the Hartridge estates are.”

“How sweet of you to jump to his defence, my dear,” Lady Sarah grinned triumphantly, but Rebecca would not be baited.

“I believe I spoke of both gentlemen, my lady,” her smile felt brittle and pasted on, “to whom are you referring?”

Lady Sarah laughed that ridiculous laugh again and Rebecca clenched her fists.

“Oh you are a coy one,” she said at last, “but we will speak of it no more! Now, tell me, are you very excited about your first visit to the gardens?”

Rebecca was excited but decided that before they went any further in this charade they might as well be honest with each other about where they stood.

“Oh, we are beside ourselves with excitement, my lady,” she answered, “though somewhat surprised at your invitation. I think it is safe to say that neither of us set out to be friends.”

Caroline winced at Rebecca’s bluntness but Rebecca really felt it was better to find out exactly what the lady was up to.

Lady Sarah’s eyes narrowed slightly and she seemed to be thinking over Rebecca’s words carefully. Finally, she let out and sigh and answered.

“I should not be surprised at your bluntness, Lady Rebecca. You seem to have quite the reputation of being — er — unusual. But I have no hidden agenda. I realise that I was rude to you in the park that day and I wanted to make amends.”

Rebecca started to relax a little. That sounded reasonable and even nice. But Lady Sarah wasn’t finished.

“Besides, we have a great deal in common, you and me. I thought it would help you to have a friend in the same situation.”

“I do not know what you mean,” Rebecca said carefully.

“I shall be frank, if I may, since our only companion is your dear sister,” Lady Sarah spared a quick smile for Caroline but it did not reach her eyes. “I have seen the way Eddie is with you. And the way you are with him.”

Rebecca was tempted to deny it but was more interested in what Lady Sarah had to say. She had a sinking feeling that it would not be good.

“I think it is obvious to everyone that there is an attachment forming. I just hope that you are keeping your wits about you. Edward was quite the rake in his day and though he has had to mature a lot, I cannot believe he has changed all that much in essentials. He is attracted to you. Any man would be, I suppose. Though Tom seems more taken with your sister.”

At this, Caroline gasped and Rebecca spared her a quick, surprised glance, before turning back to Lady Sarah.

“He is not a bad man, he just cannot resist a pretty face,” she continued flippantly, “I simply think you should take more care of your reputation.”

Here, she dropped the smile and leaned forward, her face all seriousness.

“Edward will not marry you, Lady Rebecca. He is a duke and will only marry an appropriate girl. One of his family’s choosing, I warrant. You are not dim-witted, so I am sure you are already aware of that.”

Rebecca’s heart sank and she could hardly breathe. Yes, she was aware of it. But she was going to improve. She had already decided to try harder. To change.

Lady Sarah had not finished though. The woman was relentless.

“Oh your lineage cannot be questioned. Nor your wealth. But, really, I think we all know that you would not be exactly in keeping with the idea of a duchess. I only urge you tread carefully. Men, especially men of the duke’s stature will always come out of these things with barely a blemish on their reputations. But women! Well, I think we all know that once you are ruined your life is essentially over.”

“That is enough,” Caroline barked, finally having heard enough of Lady Sarah’s bitter ranting.

Rebecca had paled dramatically and Caroline was afraid she would swoon.

“It is alright, Caroline,” Rebecca assured her.

She turned to Lady Sarah.

“I thank you for your obviously sincere concern,” Rebecca bit out sarcastically, “but I assure you, no warning is necessary. The duke has not made any unwelcome advances toward me.”

“I did not say they were unwelcome,” Lady Sarah interjected.

Rebecca bit her tongue, literally, to stop from lashing out at the lady.

She did not,
would
not believe that Edward was the type of man who would use a woman so ill. And certainly not her. She believed him when he said he cared for her. She did.

“Regardless of what you think, there is no cause for concern about the duke and I, and I would prefer if you did not allow your imagination to run wild.”

Lady Sarah laughed bitterly.

“My imagination? If only that were the source of my warning. It is not my imagination, my dear but bitter experience.”

Rebecca felt as if someone had slapped her.

“What?” she whispered.

“You would not know, having been tucked away in the Irish countryside. Your precious duke and I were lovers and he broke my heart when he toyed with me then tossed me away deciding I was unsuited to the life of a duchess. And I see history repeating itself before my very eyes.”

The carriage had come to a stop but none of the ladies made a move to alight.

“What happened in the past is no concern of mine,” answered Rebecca a little shakily.

“The past?” laughed Lady Sarah, “It was right before he went to stay with your family, my dear.”

The door opened and a footman had lowered the steps and still Rebecca’s eyes stayed fixated on Lady Sarah.

“Now, my dear,” Lady Sarah continued, “let us put all of this from our heads and enjoy ourselves tonight. I am glad that I have warned you, I wish someone could have done the same for me.”