Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One (28 page)

            Gilles slouched in his chair. It was hard to
feel excited about having a baby when one's wife was going through hell.

            "Why can't we just cancel? She should
rest." He whined.

            "And when would we reschedule? Elise could
be like this for weeks, months even." Mirabelle scolded.

            "Months!" Gilles pinched the bridge of
his nose and groaned.

            "Try to calm down, Gilles. She's not the
first woman this has happened to."

            "You're not supposed to be discussing this,
let alone know so much." He countered.

            Mirabelle rolled her eyes.

            "Why not? If there's anything a young woman
should know about it's pregnancy. I've known a few stupid girls that could have
saved themselves a lot of heartache and scandal if someone had just explained a
few things to them."

            "I agree." Alastair replied.

            Lucien grimaced.

            "Careful, Mirabelle. Talk like that around
the wrong people and it'll be assumed you're fast." He teased.

            "Fast?" She laughed but it wasn't out
of humor. "I may never get to have a child but at least I'm not ignorant.
I'd rather be considered fast than stupid."

            "Why won't you have any children?"
Lucien looked stunned.

            Mirabelle pushed her chair back and bolted from
the room leaving behind an empty plate a shocked Lucien.

            He turned to Alastair who stood and left the
room. He looked at Gilles.

            Not wanting to have what was sure the be an
awkward conversation he shook his head.

            "I believe they say it's in a woman's
nature to change her mind. We have decided the best course is to give her
time." Gilles got up, deciding he'd try to eat something. He'd need his
strength if he was going to have to rescue Elise from dragons. He was relieved
when Lucien shrugged and quietly began eating.

            Gilles spent the rest of the meal formulating an
excuse to extract his wife from tea with some of the foremost matrons of the
ton.

Chapter 48

            Putting all thoughts of Lucien from her mind,
Mirabelle tried to make herself as useful as possible. She instructed The
Mothers to stay with Elise and met with Ms. Hobbs, the cook and Bennings to
make sure everything was going as planned for tea with the dragons. Mirabelle
made sure the parlor was ready and met with Alice to look over Elise's ensemble
for the afternoon.

            Everything was in order when Mirabelle joined
Elise in her room for lunch. She was definitely not hiding from Lucien. She was
keeping Elise company. Mirabelle was relieved to see Elise having bread and
broth and not looking as pale and wilted as earlier. She was optimistic when
Gilles knocked on the door and carefully peeked in.

            "May I come in?" He seemed so unsure.
Mirabelle thought it was adorable.

            "Of course! I'm sorry Anna scared you
off!" Elise still sounded weak but she brightened when he walked in.

            Gilles carefully stretched out next to Elise and
began playing with her hair. Mirabelle smiled at how tender he was with her.
She felt something in the vicinity of her heart ache and looked down. She knew
she couldn't settle for less than what they had and she suspected she couldn't
have that with anyone but Lucien. Feeling her eyes begin to water, Mirabelle
set her tray aside.

            "I'm going to see how things are going with
Anna and Alice. Try not to disturb her too much, Gilles. She needs to have as
much energy as possible. Did you come up with an excuse to cut her visit
short?"

            He smiled wickedly.

            "I have everything arranged."

            She chuckled. Just before she shut the door she
gave Gilles her most threatening glare.

            "Remember: she needs to rest." With
that she closed the door and marched down the hall.

            An hour later, she returned to Elise's room and
almost whooped to see her almost dressed. She looked a little paler than usual
but otherwise well.

            "How are you feeling?" Mirabelle
asked, jumping out of Anna's way as she rushed past with a shawl and shoes. She
frowned. The last thing Elise probably wanted was to wear shoes but bare feet
would not go over well this afternoon.

            "Much better. Anna was right. Once I was
able to keep something down, it passed. I'm quite hungry right now, actually.
Will there be something more substantial at tea?" Elise asked hopefully.

            "Sorry, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait
until afterwords. Anything more than a bird's appetite will be frowned at. I'll
tell cook to have sandwiches or pies ready. Gilles has arranged your escape,
maybe he can have something in his pocket for you to eat."

            Elise giggled as she dutifully slipped on her
shoes. Mirabelle admired her for going through with the appointment. She was
quite the little soldier. Lord knew, if it were her, she would have cried off
over a sniffle if it meant getting out of tea with those two. Mirabelle knew
that Elise would have been nervous enough without the shock of the pregnancy.
She'd been so harshly judged in the past and knew that so much was riding on
this tea being a success.

            "You know, I'm so proud that you're my
sister." Mirabelle whispered as she put her arms around Elise and looked
at her in the mirror. Taken aback, she nodded and took Mirabelle's hand,
squeezing it gently. "I know this is the last thing you want to do right
now and you have a million things on your mind."

            Elise smiled and cleared her throat.

            "Actually, my mind has been completely
blank all day. I think I'm in shock. Every time I try to focus on something, it
slips away from me. Though I'd be more than happy to sleep all day."

            "I told Gilles to have you out of there in
half of an hour. After that, you do whatever you please." Mirabelle
squeezed her shoulders. "Stay here and try to relax. I'll come for you
once they're settled. I want you to make a grand entrance." She was almost
through the door when Elise stopped her.

            "The thing I wished for most as a child was
a sister. You're even better than I dreamed you'd be." Elise whispered.

            Mirabelle ran across room and hugged Elise. The
stayed that way for a few moments before Mirabelle kissed her cheek.

            "Don't you dare make me cry, Elise!"
With that she swept from the room.

            As Mirabelle was descending the stairs, Lucien
walked out of the study. She considered turning and running back up the stairs
but he looked up before she had the chance.

            "Mirabelle, about this morning..." She
cut him off.

            "Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite will be
here any minute now. I need to join The Mothers in Elise's parlor." She
avoided making eye contact and busied herself examining and shaking out her
skirts. Lucien bowed his head and retreated into the study.

            Mirabelle slowed down before she reached the
parlor and took a deep breath. She needed to be on her best behavior.
Channeling as much grace and dignity as she could, she glided in and stood in
between The Mothers. Mirabelle smiled, the three of them looked as if they were
facing an inquisition.

            "How is Elise?" Madeline asked under
her breath. The bell rang and Bennings walked past the parlor door. He looked
at them and they all nodded that they were ready.

            "Much improved. She's ready and waiting for
me to bring her down." She whispered.

            "Bon! If they think she is totally
dependent upon others, they will forgive her absence more easily. I do not like
making her out to be weak but in this case it will serve." Maman whispered
quickly.

            Madeline and Mirabelle nodded as the parlor
doors were swept wide and Bennings announced their guests.

            "Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite."

            Both women swept in, their gazes swiftly
searching the room. Lady Gasden's eye narrowed. Mirabelle and maman curtsied
and greeted them. They curtsied for Madeline and looked expectantly at maman.

            "Please, have a seat!" She waved them
towards two chairs at the far end of the low table. She was saving the two
lounges. It was agreed that they should have a direct view of the door and
Elise needed to sit in the middle of one and have a spot free for Gilles.

            "We were expecting the
new
Lady
Cambroke to join us." Lady Gasden remarked as she sat. Her chins shaking
with impatience. Mirabelle decided they had to shake with impatience. Lady
Gasden oozed it. While the old tartar was hard to please, she was never cruel
and was generally considered fair minded. She loved to terrorize the younger
set but she could also be an advocate of an underdog. Secretly, Mirabelle liked
her and aspired to be just like her one day. She suspected the feeling was
mutual as the old woman often sought her out at balls and musicales to berate
her hoydenish ways, usually with a smile.

            "I'm most anxious to meet Lady Cambroke, I
understood she was in residence." Lady Hathewaite smiled expectantly at
maman. "I've heard the most unsettling rumors about your son's mystery
bride."

            Mirabelle bit her tongue and held on to her
serene expression. Lady Hathewaite was a rabid gossip, and shameless about it.
But she was known to make sure her information was accurate before she shared
it and rarely passed anything before it wasn't thoroughly vetted. It was one
thing to be known as a gossip monger within the ton but Lady Hathewaite
wouldn't remain at the top of everyone's guest lists if she was thought to be
malicious or a fabricator.

            "We cannot comprehend how such things could
have been printed about such a sweet young lady." Maman made her
displeasure very clear. "No doubt the product of very small, jealous
minds."

            "Indeed, both of our houses will not have
her slandered in such a way. That poor girl has done nothing to deserve to be
treated so." Madeline leveled her most threatening gaze at both women. It
had been agreed that the Clerendon and Spencer position would be made very clear
and any discussion of Elise's reputation would be brought up before she joined
the group.

            "I'm sure it's as you say, ladies but the
lady in question is a complete mystery. Almost nothing is known of her
reputation. All we have heard are vague hints that she might be unacceptable and
that she might have coerced his lordship." Lady Hathewaite spoke carefully
but it was clear she was fishing for information.

            "She has no reputation, I assure you."
Mirabelle stated with certainty. "In fact, she's lived in isolation her
whole life. She's never gone about in society in Surrey and has never
entertained a single visitor while at Longwood."

            "You can't be serious. How can a countess
manage to avoid receiving callers? Even if she had the blackest reputation,
people would still call upon her. We would have heard of her before she married
his lordship if there had been anything serious." Lady Gasden reasoned.

            "She was like a princess locked in a tower
before my brother rescued her." Elise mused with exaggerated sweetness.
"I can assure you, she did not coerce him. If you believe that, you do not
know him at all. In fact, it took a great deal of wooing on his part. It was
love at first sight for him, he's quite taken with her." Mirabelle knew
she was laying it on thick but she wanted to appeal to their romantic sides.

            "And Lady Cambroke? Was it love at first
sight as well?" Lady Hathewaite asked as she leaned forward. She was
hooked, they just had to pull her in. Maman cleared her throat.

            "I'm certain it was a very similar
experience for Lady Cambroke." She stated enigmatically. Lady Gasden and
Lady Hathewaite looked confused.

            "And where is this Lady Cambroke? I'd like
to meet her and judge her for myself." Lady Gasden blustered.

            "That's what we were hoping for, Patrice."
Madeline stated as she nodded at Mirabelle. She rose and curtsied to the room.

            "If you'll excuse me, I'll get Lady
Elise." She turned and did her best to walk calmly as she passed Bennings
with the tea trolley.

            It took Mirabelle only a minute to reach Elise's
room, she ran once she was out of sight of the parlor. Elise looked nervous but
lovely though a touch tired. She assured her everything was going very well in
the parlor and that she would be a success.

            Gilles was waiting at the bottom of the stairs,
out of sight of the parlor. He squeezed Elise's hands and kissed her cheek,
promising she would have them at her feet.

            "Thirty minutes, starting now!"
Mirabelle whispered as she led Elise away.

            Bennings passed them and winked at Mirabelle.

            "You look exceedingly lovely today, my lady."
He said quietly. Elise smiled in his direction.

            "Thank you, Bennings." She whispered.

            When they entered the parlor, everyone stood.
Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite left their jaws on the floor. Mirabelle stifled
a giggle as she guided Elise through the room and around the chaise,
positioning her at it's center.

            "Lady Gasden and Lady Hathewaite, it's an
honor to make your acquaintances." Elise announced in their direction and
curtsied. Mirabelle kept her hand on her arm, exaggerating her role as Elise's
guide.

            "Dear God, the girl is blind!" Lady
Gasden declared.

            "But not deaf." Mirabelle added. Lady
Gasden narrowed her eyes at Mirabelle then smiled.

            "True. My manners are slipping in my old
age."

            "Did you ever truly have them?"
Mirabelle asked with a wicked grin. "I would be very disappointed if you
did." She winked at the older woman.

            Lady Gasden laughed.

            "Miss Spencer, we'll have to see about a
husband for you. Your tongue has gone unchecked for too long!"

            Elise laughed her enchanting laugh and Mirabelle
knew the old dragons were all but hers.

            "Please, let's sit." She smiled as she
carefully lowered herself to the chaise.

            Mirabelle was careful to arrange Elise's tea
just as Gilles always did and handed it to Elise. She smiled and thanked her
before taking a dainty sip. Behind the tea cup she mouthed to Mirabelle.

            "I'm starving!"

            Mirabelle placed a biscuit on a plate, took
Elise's cup and passed it to her.

            "Explain to me how the good people of Surrey
never sought your company or favor, Lady Cambroke." Lady Gasden demanded.

            Mirabelle felt Elise steel herself as she
carefully set the plate on the table. She held her head high and Mirabelle
wanted to cheer her on.

            "The
good people
of Surrey were
uncomfortable with my being blind, they shunned me as a child and I believe
they were very displeased with my marriage to the late earl as he was many
years my senior."

            Lady Gasden sorted and shook her head.

            "It's not as if one can catch blindness and
it's hardly your fault." She said as she waved an imaginary pest away.
"And she's hardly the first girl to marry an elderly man for security. I
can't imagine what else a girl in her position could do."

            Lady Hathewaite nodded vigorously. Maman and
Madeline smiled behind their teacups. Success was imminent.

            "And you've been all alone since the late
earl passed? And no one visited when he was alive?"

            "No one, my lady." Elise confirmed.