Deadly Engagement: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Crimance) (16 page)

“I’ve asked Selina to have a talk with her,” she told him. “I hope Emily will tell her something she wouldn’t say to this old woman. You don’t know how difficult it is trying to be normal. Every time I look at her I want to burst into tears. I don’t know any more this morning than I did last night when you left us. The opiate helped us sleep, thank God. That poor boy, when I think of what we accused him! And Delvin, he’s half out of his mind with anger and worry. He didn’t ask what we all must want to know and I can’t bring myself to find out.” She peeped up at Alec. “What if—what if that monster did indeed rape her and-and has impregnated her?” She covered her mouth to stifle a sob. “Forgive me. I am not behaving myself very well.”

Alec kissed her hand and kept it in a comforting clasp. “There is nothing to forgive, Olivia. And we don’t know exactly what happened last night. We must wait until Emily is strong enough to speak about it.”

“Yes. Yes, of course. I am hoping Emily will confide in Selina. It was selfish of me to ask Selina but she was the same age as Emily is now when she…when she was married off to J-L.”

“Why should Emily confide in Mrs. Jamison-Lewis any more than she would you or one of her aunts?”

The Duchess was not deaf to the note of censure in his voice. She knelt to reposition a wooden stake that strained to remain upright under the weight of its heavy burden of roses, wondering how best to answer him without breaking Selina’s confidence. Alec helped her up then patiently waited while she inspected another flowering bush. Then they strolled arm in arm down a cobbled path that lead to the riverbank.

“If Emily has indeed been raped who better to confide in than someone who has some understanding of her pain and suffering,” the Duchess finally said.

Alec couldn’t help a huff of annoyance and his gaze wandered out across the free flowing river to the opposite bank with its cluster of weeping willows, overhanging branches drooping into the cold water. “Emily’s situation is entirely different. She neither provoked or encouraged her attacker.”

The Duchess turned to face him and wasn’t surprised when he could not meet her open look. “The worst sort of wife didn’t deserve the treatment J-L meted out to that poor girl.”

Alec continued to stare out over her head to the river but his mind’s eye could not erase the vivid picture of Selina’s shapely figure naked to the waist, her long bare legs swinging freely and dark eyes alight with mischief. “I don’t pretend to know the first thing about the Jamison-Lewis’ marriage but one wonders what demon prompted him to take a hand to her.”

The Duchess gaped at him and sighed her impatience. “That was unjustified and unlike you! But I will forgive you your uncharitable thoughts because I understand what motivates your ridiculous logic better than you know. It must be easier to live with yourself if you apportion blame.”

“I beg your pardon, your Grace,” Alec said with extreme but angry politeness. “But I have no wish to unsettle the dust on a most painful episode.”

“Do you know,” she continued, anger causing her to ignore his request, “it took Madeleine’s disastrous marriage before I came to the realization that arranged marriages are all well and good for those civilized persons who abide by the conventions and act accordingly. But I am certainly not in favor of such unions when a young girl is forced to marry a man no decent parent would ever consider for their daughter, and one whom everyone knew to be a sadistic brute. In such barbaric unions exercising one’s conjugal rites is nothing less than rape! Your uncle wrote a pamphlet on the subject. He narrowly escaped an action for defamation.”

“Defamation?”

“Yes. He had the bravery, some would say stupidity, to name Jamison-Lewis as the prime example for his argument. Of course no one would back him—”

“You need not have told me that, Olivia. Uncle Plant—”

“No, not your uncle, my boy. J-L. Not one of his friends would support him and no lawyer would touch the case, so the matter was dropped. Of course no one would say this publicly, but privately we were all pleased as punch J-L got his come-uppance.” She stood before him and waited until he met her eye. “It is the strangest of coincidences but it was less than month after the publication of that pamphlet that J-L was found dead with a bullet through his brain.”

The Earl of Delvin turned his back on the upper story window.

“You see what I am up against, madam?”

Lady Charlotte stayed a little longer at the window, back very straight and hands clasped tightly in front of her. Delvin did not need to see her face to read the disapproval in her voice. “I have always found Mr. Halsey’s personality most volatile. He is hardly fit company for a well-bred girl of impressionable years. Mamma, of course, never listens to my entreaties.”

“I dearly wish she would, my lady. Your counsel is something I value greatly. You are a woman of sense and infinite wisdom. Macara and your children are fortunate beyond price.”

Lady Charlotte permitted herself to smile slightly. Again her attention returned to the Rose Garden two floors below. Her mother and Alec Halsey were walking arm in arm down one of the many paths; the Duchess stopped to correct a leaning wooden stake and he helped her, then kissed her mother’s hand and she touched his cheek and they continued on with their walk and out of her line of sight. “Impudence! Damn impudence!” she breathed, her bosom rising with indignation. She came away from the view, fingers tensely intertwined. “You’re absolutely right about everything you’ve told me. I see it all now. You’ve opened my eyes to things—to things, unpleasant as they are, which must be faced.”

“You are very noble.”

“Nothing of the sort. It’s a question of knowing how to conduct oneself; of knowing what is important in life. There are particular rules that must be followed if life is to be at all tolerable. I have tried to instill these values in my children, so that when it comes time for them to enter society they will do so with a minimum of fuss and in unexceptional circumstances. Far be it for any person to cast a questioning eye on a daughter of mine.” She seemed to collect herself and hastily smiled. “Not that Emily is in any way to blame. She is a lovely girl. She will make a fine Countess of Delvin with just a little prompting in the right direction. She is still young enough to be molded to your will. Once she is married and taken to your country seat, away from all influence, you will see just how compliant she can be. If you want my advice, get her pregnant as soon as possible. A child will give her mind and body occupation.”

Delvin took snuff. “Ah, madam, if only I could be certain…” He shut his gold box with a snap. “Yet, now I am tortured by doubts. You, I know, understand how it is for a gentleman of birth and property. Think how it was for Macara. When he chose you over all others there was never any doubt in his mind as to your suitability to share his life and his—er—bed; to be mother to his children. To
his
children, my lady.”

“The very idea is laughable—”

“Then again, my lady, Macara is not cursed with having Alec Halsey for a brother, is he?”

Lady Charlotte sat down on a spindle-legged chair. “You believe it was he who forced himself on Emily?”

“Can you think of an alternative, madam? I have tried and failed.”

“And the maid? Did she fall down the stairs?”

Lord Delvin made an expansive gesture. “So I am told by her Grace.”

Lady Charlotte shuddered. “Jenny’s death was a shame. It would be unChristian of me not to say so. Perhaps now Mamma will employ a more suitable companion for Emily. Jenny was apt to daydream and she was not a good influence.” She sighed. “I still can’t believe the poor child was set upon. He is an animal. She was always very forward with him which may have led him to believe…I blame Mamma entirely for encouraging his visits,” she said with a sigh, voicing her thoughts. “God knows why. Secretly I think she is infatuated with her godson; Mamma always had a soft spot for a handsome rake.” She smiled thinly at the Earl. “Of course Mamma supervised Emily’s upbringing in the strictest manner. I beg you not to think her in her mother’s image. Her mother, as you are aware, disgraced herself beyond forgiveness. Emily is the product of that disgrace. But she is not a distillation of it.”

“I have every faith in Emily, otherwise I would not have chosen her to be my wife.” He returned her thin smile. “My choice, you realize, has not been without its critics. I am well aware I am marrying far beneath me. But tell me what noble family can boast an unpolluted bloodline? I am not adverse to adding a little water to the wine, but I want that water without taint. It must be pure, unquestionably so. I want to be able to drink it with a free and easy mind. In short, madam: I don’t want to discover it has been sullied with another man’s spittle.”

Lady Charlotte grimaced at his choice of analogy but she agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment. His bluntness could be forgiven. He was coarse because he was angry and he had every right to that anger. “My lord Delvin, I am all in sympathy with you, as you know. Yet, surely, when you spoke to Mamma this morning she intimated…?”

Delvin pretended not to understand. “Intimated, madam?”

“About Emily’s well-being,” she answered brusquely, annoyed with herself for not being able to speak frankly. “She spent the night with Mamma. After such a brutal attack I would assume Mamma asked her certain particulars regarding the incident.”

“If she did, she did not confide them in me.”

“I thought… Surely she gave you her assurance that Emily was—untouched?”

Delvin looked at the gold signet ring on his left hand. “She did not, madam.”

“Why not?”

“How can I answer you?” he said with a sigh. “It leads one to speculate, does it not?”

“But you have a right to know!” said Lady Charlotte in exasperation. “Obviously she is not thinking clearly. She has a bad heart. She needs rest. This business has been most distressing for her. What with the silly maid breaking her neck and the attack on Emily. The strain on her must be intolerable.”

“That is why I came to you, madam. My greatest wish is to leave her Grace in peace. As you say, she is under a great deal of strain and I do not want to burden her further.” He smiled self-consciously. “I am confident that if we put our heads together a simple and relatively painless solution to my dilemma will present itself. Her Grace need never be bothered. As her eldest daughter do you not possess a considerable influence in this household? I await your counsel, my lady.” He went to the window and gazed out, back to Lady Charlotte.

Lady Charlotte’s mind was decided before Delvin reached the window. There was no argument. The Earl was entitled to know the truth. Yet, what if Emily had been raped? Would he still want her, and what if he did not? What a disaster for her marriage prospects! Such an offer was unlikely to come her way again given her bastard blood and the fact the Earl had called off the marriage. Questions would be asked, and almost certainly the truth would come out. And what a disaster for the St. Neots family! She doubted her mother could live through another such scandal. And she, Lady Charlotte, how could she ever hold up her head in society again? She couldn’t bear it if all the old wounds were opened, as she knew they would be, Emily being the natural daughter of the infamous and exiled Duchess of Beauly.

Even if Emily had been raped why hadn’t her mother lied to the Earl? Why stay silent? She could think of only one explanation and it horrified her. Perhaps her mother did suspect Alec Halsey of assaulting her granddaughter but her infatuation meant she could not bring herself to voice her suspicions to his estranged elder brother? But to protect him at the expense of her granddaughter’s future? Lady Charlotte was mortified. No wonder the Earl was beside himself with doubt. It angered her that her mother had put her in such an awkward position. It angered her even more that Emily had been born at all. She stood up. The Earl faced her.

“When I learned of the maid’s accident I immediately sent for Sir John Oliphant. Perhaps you have heard of him? A well-respected and most excellent physician. I know Mamma would prefer there to be as little fuss as possible, but I cannot be easy in my mind about the state of Mamma’s health until Sir John has examined her.”

“My lady, you are a worthy daughter. I commend your caring nature.”

“Thank you. Though I am only doing my duty,” answered Lady Charlotte primly. “As Sir John is coming all this way to see Mamma I don’t see why he can’t see Emily too. Once he is in possession of the facts of this most shocking incident I know he will be only too willing to oblige. He is a discreet man and utterly devoted to his profession. He has attended on Her Majesty. So you may rest easy, my lord.”

Delvin bowed over her hand. “I cannot thank you enough. I was at a loss, I must confess, but I should have known you, madam, with your superior understanding and moral perceptibility, would find the perfect solution. Sir John sounds an admirable choice. May I then leave this matter in your capable hands?”

He pocketed his snuffbox and waited for Lady Charlotte to leave the room ahead of him.

She hesitated.

He raised an eyebrow. “My lady, do you perceive a problem?”

“No. That is, may I be frank?”

Delvin inclined his powdered head.

“Whatever Sir John’s findings, what is your intention, my lord?”

“My intention? To make Emily my wife.” He frowned. “Madam, you did not think… you could not think…” He looked shocked. “I assure you, Sir John’s findings will not alter my desire to ally myself with your family. But you are sensible enough to see that if Sir John does discover in truth that my dearest Emily has been violated then the wedding, it will be postponed until such time as it can be determined whether she has been impregnated. There are methods—I’m certain Sir John will advise us—to deal with such a hideous prospect. Did you think I meant to cry off, my lady?”

“Certainly not!” she retorted. “You are too noble a gentleman not to stand by your convictions. Emily could not ask for a better mate. I only hope she has sense enough to realize it.” She squeezed his velvet sleeve as she went before him out into the passageway. “This conversation remains between you and I. You have my word. And please, do not worry yourself unnecessarily. I will see to everything.”