Lady Eugenia's Holiday (10 page)

“You stay out of it!” she snapped. Eugenia turned
back to her parents, who had for so many years misunderstood her and prayed
that now they would see reason. “Please? Will you not do something?”

Mama took Eugenia’s hand in hers. “Genie, dear, think
of your reputation. Think of the scandal this would bring the family. Think of
your little sister. How will she ever make a successful match?”

What could Eugenia do? Mama was right. Eugenia felt
very sorry. In her selfishness she hadn’t thought of how this would affect dear
Marguerite when her time came to marry.

It was then Eugenia recognized her fate. She knew
without Edmund’s consent or help from Papa to free her, her situation would not
alter.

To her ultimate shock, Edmund and Papa were
heartily shaking hands, laughing and clapping each other on the back only
moments later.

“Welcome to the family, Rothford.” Papa was all
smiles and Mama dabbed the tears from her eyes. Only now she was smiling as
well!

“Best for all concerned, Langford.” Edmund flashed
Eugenia a smile and winked. “I promise to take good care of my new duchess. She
will want for naught.”

“A duchess.” Mama sighed and once again applied her
lace handkerchief.

“You’re taking on a big responsibility, man. And
smite me if you
ain’t
the one to do it!” Papa gave an
ardent roar and clapped Edmund on the shoulder.

Don’t tempt me, Papa.

Edmund rang for champagne. There they were, Mama,
Papa, Edmund, in his dressing gown, and Eugenia, in her chemise and wrapper,
with champagne celebrating her marriage in her bedchamber.

Mama and Papa left two hours later and Edmund saw
them to the door. Eugenia took that opportunity to bolt her door and push her
trunk as well as any piece of furniture she could manage in front of the
adjoining door to their rooms.

When Edmund returned, she could hear the knob
rattle as he tried the door. Then she heard him chuckle. She waited for him to
push his way through the barricade she’d constructed, fearing that it would not
hold, but she did not even hear him make the attempt.

When she woke the next morning, Eugenia thought
last night all a horrid dream. That was until she spotted the two empty
champagne bottles and the three discarded crystal glasses along with her
untouched glass sitting on the low table in front of the hearth of her
bedchamber.

After thinking over the events of last night, she
came to the conclusion that she had been totally abandoned by her parents.
Eugenia had the strangest feeling that Papa might have felt even relieved to be
rid of her, and Mama, her dramatics aside, was pleased to have her daughter
elevated to the position of duchess with a duke as a son-in-law. Did she not
have any compassion for her own daughter?

There was no tea tray to welcome Eugenia that
morning, nor could there have been since every doorway was successfully
barricaded. She slid out of bed and had to dress herself. Needless to say, her
toilette was vastly incomplete, but why spend hours on end to beautify oneself
when there was no one to appreciate the effort?

After washing her face, she brushed the tangles out
of her hair, bound it with a ribbon, and donned her green-sprigged muslin
before venturing
belowstairs
.

She tried to step as lightly as she could and hoped
Edmund was still asleep. If she were tremendously lucky, he might be out and
about on the city streets doing whatever it is he did in the mornings. Were the
gaming hells open at this hour?

Eugenia carefully rounded the corner of the
breakfast room and cursed her ill luck to find Edmund already seated at the
table, just finishing his meal. He launched to his feet and headed in her
direction.

“Good morning, my dear, come in. I was hoping to
see you before I left.”

Fustian, that meant she had only missed avoiding
him by a few minutes.

Edmund took hold of her hand so she couldn’t escape
and used it to draw her near. Eugenia leaned back, retreating from him as far
as she could. She felt relieved when all he did was place a light kiss on the
back of her hand.

“I know you only drink chocolate in the mornings
but you really should eat something, you know. Last night you didn’t touch a
bite.” He led her to a chair and sat her down like a helpless child. “Mrs.
Robertson, the cook, has outdone herself this morning.”

Since Eugenia hadn’t yet uttered a word, Edmund
kept talking.

“We have the matter of deciding which invitations
we should accept, my dear.” He retrieved a basket filled with them. “Gad! I
can’t believe so many have arrived so soon. Everyone wants the new duchess to
appear at their party! Although I can hardly blame them!” Then he set the whole
lot of them next to her. “We should choose only the ones you wish to attend.”

“We?” Eugenia became very interested at the thought
of attending parties but to attend with him was another matter completely.

“The duchess cannot very well appear without her
duke, now can she?”

She would certainly like to try. But Eugenia did
not voice her thoughts aloud. Her newly acquired ranking did make her welcome
in the highest Society circles. She’d be welcomed by a new group of peers,
flying higher than she could ever have dreamed. She was certain Edmund knew
full well this lifestyle would be irresistible to her and he was planning to
use it to keep her content.

Eugenia had to admit he was very clever, very
clever indeed.

“Your parents are expecting us for supper Saturday
night and I’ve taken the liberty to accept Lady Jersey’s invitation for a ball
for next Monday. Is that agreeable to you?”

How delighted Eugenia was to hear this. Truly
something she could look forward to. Life as a duchess was beginning to sound
splendid.

“Charming people, your parents. Your mother is an
absolute angel. I see where you get your stunning looks, and your father,”
Edmund chuckled, “one peach of a fellow.”

“Oh, yes,” Eugenia said but did not wholly agree. “A
peach.”

He retrieved a cup and saucer for his bride from
the sideboard. Without asking, he poured chocolate for her.

Again, probably without knowing he was doing so, he
took advantage of knowing her habits. He fetched her toast and placed upon it a
dollop of jam, knowing that was all she ever ate for breakfast, if she had
anything to eat at all.

Perhaps she would force an egg and several slices
of ham down just to prove him wrong. So she did. Eugenia strode to the
sideboard and filled a plate, adding a heaping spoonful of potatoes to really
set the thing.

She took a bite of ham.

“I did not realize you ever had such a voracious
appetite in the morning.” Edmund just stared at her like a hungry cur, waiting
for her next word or next forkful of food.

Just for good measure she placed a heaping spoonful
of ham and egg into her mouth and sliced another substantial portion on her
breakfast plate. “I suppose you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

That should show him.

That afternoon brought Eugenia’s
abigail
,
Marianne, and three trunks, filled with her clothes and fripperies, to 17
Hanover Square. She supposed Mama and Papa had sent her away in proper fashion
now. At least with Marianne’s arrival, Eugenia could hold her perfectly coifed
head high as duchess.

In her young and foolish youth, Eugenia did not
realize the consequences of having everything her heart desired. Nor had she
ever thought she would truly have the position she craved and a heroic man who
would come to her rescue. It all sounded very romantic but in reality it was
far from that.

Thinking over Mama’s and Papa’s impromptu visit,
Eugenia believed Dawson had instructions to allow them entry to witness the
entire event, which may have been orchestrated by her feckless husband.

For all she knew he might have sent his own
carriage to bring her poor, unsuspecting parents to his townhouse to surprise
them! And then again, perhaps her poor, unknowing parents, or perhaps her
father, had been involved in the whole scheme from the beginning and waited
outside her door for the right moment to step in!

That afternoon, Edmund met Eugenia at the bottom of
the stairs and led her to the library. Even though he had given up his Franz
persona, she noticed many of his mannerisms were the same. More subdued, but
still recognizable.

The series of wide-eyed, enthusiastic gestures told
her he was quite pleased with himself for something he had done, or was it
something he was about to do?

“My dearest, I’ve the most wonderful surprise for
you,” he said, barely containing his glee.

“You’ve changed your mind about the annulment?” She
brightened, hopeful it could be true.

“You wound me, my sweet.” He feigned a look of
hurt. “I’ve sent for the Rothford jewels. I know how much you enjoy sparkling
gems. They should be here this evening.”

“Oh.” Eugenia sighed, disappointed. “Yes, I do.
Thank you, but I would rather not wear them.”

“Appearing with the Rothford jewels will be
confirmation enough that you are the true duchess.”

Exactly. That was the precise reason Eugenia did
not want to appear adorning them.

“Everyone will expect some bauble on your finger.”
Edmund insisted. “After all, you are married to a duke.”

“Thomas never even gave me even the simplest of
wedding bands.” How truly married was she if she could not claim even that?

The fire in Edmund’s eyes flared at the mention of
his late brother’s name. “I wouldn’t want you wearing his ring. I’d have it
melted down and sold for scrap.” Edmund stood and began to pace. “It truly
saddens me, Genie. I have tried everything to woo you. Nothing seems to work.”

Eugenia remained quiet. He could go on thinking
along those lines forever as far as she was concerned.

“You seemed to like me much better as Franz
Mueller. Shall I dress in gold brocade and don the powered wig?” He hunched in
the Franz-like stance and toddled around shaking his head, mumbling in German
in Franz’s voice. Edmund looked ridiculous and she laughed.

It seemed so very long ago, Franz and Brighton. The
image of the musician came to mind. He was so odd, so silly,
so
wonderful.

Franz her ally, Franz her friend.

Edmund was Franz, she reminded herself. Why did
Eugenia find that so hard to believe?

As Franz, he had provided friendship,
companionship, constant comfort, and a shoulder to lean on. Not to mention
saving her life … twice.

On the other hand, Edmund had used her to gain
information about his brother, Thomas, and lied to her a countless number of
times.

That afternoon Eugenia received a letter from her
mother. In it Mama encouraged her to remain with Edmund and face their
difficulties to a passable end.

Her mother was of no help at all. What did being a
duchess truly mean if one’s mother was constantly dashing one’s plans and
pointing out one’s place?

Before Eugenia had finished her evening’s toilette,
the Rothford jewels arrived. In the small chest were an elegant matching set
consisting of large sapphires with smaller diamonds and pearls in coordinating
tiara, necklace, bracelet, brooch, and ring. They were grand beyond her
imagination. Eugenia thought perhaps there might be a more deserving duchess
than she to wear them.

She wore the white satin gown with the French lace.
Now that she was married, she did not need to wear white, meant for her London
Season debut, but it would be regrettable to allow it to hang in the clothespress
unworn.

She sat at her dressing table while Marianne styled
her hair. Eugenia opted to wear the simple golden locket her aunt Rose had
given her. It was very modest, especially compared to the Rothford family
jewels.

She looked upon her fine reflection in the dressing
table glass, fingered the locket, and thought of Aunt Rose. Where
was she
now and what was she doing?

Just as Marianne finished and left, closing the
bedchamber door behind her, a knock at the door announced Dawson with a letter.

Eugenia opened the missive and it did not come as a
surprise that it was from her aunt Rose. The woman was absolutely amazing. She
wrote that she was off to Bath. Was that not just like her? When everyone
flocked to London, she headed in the opposite direction.

There was no mention of Eugenia’s abrupt departure
from Brookhaven or the subsequent letter she had written upon her arrival at
Rothford House. None of it seemed to worry her aunt. What would she have done
if she had known her niece had been kidnapped?

Marianne came bolting into the room.

“Your Grace, your aunt is here.”

“Aunt Rose?”

“Yes,
Your
Grace. Mr.
Dawson has placed her in the drawing room.”

But how … so soon? Eugenia had just received her
letter. How was it possible? She gathered her skirts and rushed off to see the
lovely, elderly relative.

Aunt Rose was real. Eugenia saw her with her very
own eyes. What she found even more surprising was that she had apparently
broken up a positively intimate
coze
between her and
Edmund. What could they possibly have to say to each other?

“My sweet, your aunt is here, isn’t this wonderful?”
Edmund proclaimed.

Eugenia did not know why but he did not seem
surprised by her arrival.

Aunt Rose opened her arms wide to greet her niece.
Eugenia moved toward her and they pressed cheeks in welcome.

“I’m so glad to see you looking well, Eugenia,” she
said.

Eugenia felt horrid. “I suppose I’m baffled at your
presence. I only just received your letter saying you’re off to Bath.”

“Of course, I am off to Bath, my dear Eugenia. I’m
just taking the route through London.” Aunt Rose circled her niece as she
spoke.

Eugenia was not sure if her aunt was inspecting the
result of her toilette or observing her condition as a whole.

“You left Brookhaven without a proper good-bye.”
She glanced at Edmund. “Can you blame me for worrying about your welfare?”

“I do apologize for my abrupt departure.” It wasn’t
as if Eugenia had a choice with Thomas Mallick dragging her off. “I did send a
note.”

“Yes, yes, and His Grace, here, also sent his
personal reassurance that you were well.” Aunt Rose embraced Eugenia lightly
and patted her on the back in the most affectionate way. “I must admit some
confusion regarding the whole incident.”

“Mrs. Templeton tells me she’ll be staying with us
for a few weeks, if that’s all right, my dear,” Edmund interrupted. His eyes
stared at Eugenia, bright and wide.

“That is wonderful.” Nothing could have made her
happier. She was in dire need of the company of a loving family member. “Only
now I’m afraid we’re off to Mama’s.”

“I understand, dear, do not give it another
thought. You and Edmund go right ahead, by all means enjoy yourselves.” Aunt
Rose tugged at her gloves, pulling her hands free.

“I cannot leave you behind like this … not alone.”
Eugenia began to regret their evening plans.

“Do not think of it as leaving me behind. Give your
mama and papa my best and do beg their forgiveness for my absence—simply
mention that I have been traveling.” Aunt Rose smiled one of her most pointed,
knowing smiles. “The day has been a long one for me. I am fatigued from my long
journey and wish only to rest. They will understand.”

Aunt Rose followed the housekeeper, who led her
toward the stairs to take her to her rooms.

“I will see the two of you in the morning. Have a
good time, my dear.” She looked around her niece, at Edmund, and winked. “You
too, Your Grace.”

Eugenia’s mind was in a muddle. Her aunt’s
unexpected arrival had baffled her. Going to Bath through London? Ridiculous,
even for Aunt Rose.

“We should be on our way,” Edmund said from
somewhere behind her.

Dawson brought Edmund’s hat, gloves, and coat.
Edmund held a fur-lined cloak to drape over Eugenia’s shoulders.

“That’s not mine,” she stated, stepping away from
the expensive outerwear.

“Yes, it is. It’s my gift to you.” It was a lovely
dark gray with soft white fur, lining, and trim. “I can’t take a chance you’d
catch a chill.”

Chilled? He created more chills down her spine than
she could have caught had she run through the dead of winter stark naked.

“Very well.” Eugenia turned, allowing him to drape
the cloak about her shoulders. She could feel him near. His warm breath
caressed the nape of her neck, and she held her breath with dread, with fear,
no … with anticipation, of Edmund’s soft kiss.

“I hope you are pleased with it,” he said simply
without any of the terms of endearment he usually added.

She faced him and caught a peculiar look in his
eyes. It left her with a very unsettled feeling. Without a word, he helped her
board the carriage.

They arrived at South
Audley
Street and he escorted her to the front door of her parents’ house, where she
was welcomed not as a returning daughter but as a ranking member of Society.

The greeting was restrained, cool, not at all what
Eugenia had expected. She had hardly recovered from her earlier surprises of
the evening when she was faced with yet another. Her dear friends Miss Cynthia
Penshurst and Lady Penelope Coddington were also in attendance.

The three young ladies fell into one another’s arms
in screams of joyous rapture. It seemed Edmund was responsible for this
delightful reunion, Cynthia and Penelope told their friend, the new Duchess.

With tear-filled eyes, Eugenia stared at her
husband, knowing mere words could not express the gratitude she truly felt. He
returned a small, polite smile on his blurry face.

Eugenia led Cynthia and Penelope to the front
parlor and left Mama and Papa to fawn over their new son-in-law.

“Oh, Eugenia, I can’t tell you what a relief it is
to see you well,” Cynthia began.

“Cynthia, Genie’s more than well, she’s a duchess
now.” Penelope winked, sounding more than pleased for her friend.

“Your Grace!” they chorused and dipped into a deep
curtsy before breaking into unbridled laugh ter. Cynthia and Penelope grabbed
onto each other, nearly toppling over.

“Oh, stop it!” Eugenia scolded them. “I’m still the
same. I haven’t changed in the least.”

How she wished she could return to that time when
the three of them were in Brighton, having the most enjoyable time imaginable,
acting silly and giggling over the smallest amusing detail at the local
assembly.

“How can you possibly be the same, Genie?” Penelope
sent a lingering look out the parlor door toward Edmund, who looked quite
dashing in his evening attire. “The duke is so very handsome. I’m quite sure
his love must have somehow changed you.”

Cynthia followed Penelope’s gaze out the door,
making her own observations. “He has such smoldering eyes, and wonderfully
strong broad shoulders … I am sure it could cause one to—” She stopped and took
a deep breath, fanning the rising color in her face.

“We know that you would never have married him if
you weren’t completely in love,” Penelope whispered.

“Yes, Genie, tell us how it all happened?” Cynthia
had learned her overeager curiosity from the hours she’d spent with Eugenia,
most likely.

“Yes, tell us how you two fell in love!” Penelope
urged.

The two friends giggled then sighed at the very
thought of Eugenia and Edmund’s mutual affection.

Were
she and Edmund
in love?

“Oh, Eugenia, it’s only that we’re quite jealous of
your good fortune,” Cynthia purred.

Eugenia would not claim anything that had happened
to her this past month as with the words good fortune. She led her friends to
the striped sofa where they sat hand in hand in hand.

“When you did not return to the house after we had
split up, we were terribly worried,” Penelope said. “You remember, after our
morning ride? We meant to race back to the stable. Your horse came back to the
barn
riderless
.”

“We were so worried and we did not know what to do.”

Eugenia could see the concerned, anxious look on
Cynthia’s face.

“My parents were on their way to town with Lady
Coddington and your aunt Rose. All the guests searched for you. We had the
servants out, helping us look for you.”

Now Eugenia understood why Brookhaven had been empty.
She had wondered at the time where the staff and all the guests had gone, and
why it was no one heard her cries for help.

“If it weren’t for Franz’s poor riding skills, we
would have never known what happened to you,” Cynthia sighed.

“Franz?” Eugenia managed. But Franz-Edmund had been
with her.

“Did you not know? It was such a trial for him to
sit atop a horse. It took him forever to return to the house. He told us he saw
you leave with Edmund.” Penelope glanced toward Cynthia as if to check that she
had the facts correct.

“Did he, now?” Eugenia looked from Penelope to
Cynthia, thinking what an odd thing it was for him to have said.

“You most probably never saw him.” Cynthia
shrugged.

“Franz said he had taken a tumble off his horse on
the other side of the stream, you see,” Penelope explained.

“He said he felt safer if he walked his mount back
to the stables. To tell the truth I think the poor dear was afraid of horses,”
Cynthia told them in confidence.

“The tall shrubs and trees probably hid his approach,”
Penelope continued. “He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, of course, but had he moved,
he might have spoiled the moment.”

“Ah, yes, the moment,” Eugenia echoed, wondering to
which moment Franz with his very active imagination had referred.

“He told us how romantic it all was.” Penelope
sighed and gazed heavenward.

“Was it? Romantic?” Eugenia believed it was then
she began to feel ill. How could her friends think such a thing when they could
not have been more wrong?

“Oh, yes,” Cynthia fantasized, a dreamy expression
crossed her face. “After years away from his country, Edmund, the returning
Duke of Rothford, was determined to reclaim his title. However, once he laid
eyes on you he fell desperately in love.”

“He first saw you in Brighton, you know.” Penelope
informed her. “Edmund couldn’t allow Thomas to take you away as he had stolen
the title, years before. He learned that you were to go to Brookhaven and
followed, staying in nearby Haslemere.”

Cynthia went on, “Franz overheard the duke—Edmund—say
that he did not wish to make his presence known to the others and meant for you
alone to see him so he could explain his circumstance.”

“He has such high admiration for you.” Penelope
sighed again. “It was so very wonderful.”

The entire scenario was so very silly.

“Edmund watched us ride off in different directions
as we raced home.” Lady Penelope blinked. “Then he began his pursuit while you
were alone. He said that it was very difficult to gallop his horse up to yours.
He was surprised that you were such a bruising rider.”

It was all Eugenia could do not to choke at how
ridiculous that story sounded. A bruising rider, indeed!

“He expressed his undying love for you. He wanted
you to run off and become his duchess!” Cynthia sat forward.

“Then the two of you returned to Brookhaven while
everyone was out searching. You took only a few of your things and left with
the man you love.” Penelope’s breaths came and went in gasps.

Eugenia thought she might expire on the spot.

“Oh, Genie, what is it like to have a man express
his undying love to you?” Cynthia gushed, staring at Eugenia, waiting for her
answer.

“Well …” Eugenia had to think about what she
would say very carefully. “It wasn’t exactly undying love he was expressing to
me.”