The Disappearing Duchess (14 page)

‘Would that suit you, Alice?’

‘Yes, my lady.’

‘Very well, bring her to see me. I think it might work very well. If you take it in turns to dress me, no one will find it odd. You may say that your sister is learning from you, and when you are not with me you may be with the child—and Marie may do the same.’

‘My mother taught us both to dress a lady’s hair and to care for her clothes. She was in service before she left to marry. She would have liked to return to service when we were old enough to work, but the only work open to her is in the fields or scrubbing floors.’

‘That is not right,’ Lucinda said and frowned. ‘Ask your mother to come with Marie. I might find some work she would enjoy doing—if she has some talent in sewing.’

‘Oh, yes, she does fine work, much finer than mine, my lady.’

‘Angela needs pretty clothes. Your mother can make her some dresses,’ Lucinda said and smiled. ‘Now, I shall spend a little time with my daughter—and then you must take her back to the attics.’

‘I thought we might take her in the garden early in the morning? I’ve seen the gardener’s children playing in the kitchen gardens, my lady. I dare say the duke would not notice the difference.’

‘Perhaps not,’ Lucinda said. ‘She must have fresh air, of course. I may join you when I can—but there are many demands on my time and in future I may have less and less to spend with Angela.’

‘You spend more time with her than most ladies in your position,’ Alice said. ‘Children become accustomed to a routine. Nanny is good and kind, but she is too old to give Angela all the attention she needs. When we have Marie to help, Angela will not need to be bored or lonely.’

Lucinda nodded. Angela had come down from the rocking horse now and was sitting with some brightly coloured soldiers. Placing a cushion on the floor beside her, Lucinda sat down and picked up one of the lead figures. She thought that these must have belonged to Justin; they looked as if they had been played with and loved.

Angela glanced at her, but went on playing with the toys. Only a few days ago she would have wept or clung to her mother, but now she simply accepted that she was there. Even when Lucinda placed a kiss on her head and then got up to leave, she hardly looked at her.

How much happier her daughter was here than in the cottage. Lucinda knew that she had Alice to thank for a large part of the change, but it was also the good food that was easily available here and the warm dry rooms that had brought about this little miracle.

Angela might miss her for a while when she went to Paris, but she would not fret as she had. In time she must learn her lessons and though Nanny was able to teach Angela her letters and numbers, she could not give her the accomplishments that a governess would.

Lucinda was thoughtful as she went downstairs. She wanted to consult Mrs Mann about various things and to arrange the fresh flowers that had been brought to the house that morning. It was not one of her at-home days so she did not expect visitors, but Justin might ask her to sit with him in the parlour and play the spinet for him.

Her anxiety over her daughter had eased now that Angela’s health had improved; seeing her playing happily had relieved the pressure on Lucinda. If only she could tell Justin the truth. How would he respond? She’d seen his short temper and he had told her in no uncertain terms that he couldn’t bear her deception. Would he fly into a rage and send them both away?

Lucinda knew that she would find it very hard to leave him now. It would break her heart.

J
ustin had gone out on business. Mrs Mann told her that he had left soon after Lord Lanchester and he was not expected back until that evening.

‘I believe Mr Johnston had bad news about one of the tenants,’ the housekeeper told her. ‘He is his lordship’s agent for such matters, my lady.’

‘Yes, I think I have spoken to Mr Johnston,’ Lucinda said. ‘If he does not mean to return, I shall require only some tea and perhaps a scone in the little parlour for nuncheon. I ate well at breakfast and need little until tea.’

After leaving her housekeeper, Lucinda refreshed the flowers in the main rooms downstairs. She wrote a short letter to her mother, enquiring after her health and telling her that she was at Avonlea. Taking it through to the hall to leave it for franking with the others, she noticed that there was a letter waiting for her. Something
about the writing made her hand tremble as she reached for it, and when she broke the seal she gave a little cry of distress.

Your husband will divorce you if he guesses that the child is yours and not your cousin’s. You are a liar and a cheat and the price for my silence is fifteen thousand pounds. I shall give you one month to find the money and then tell you where to deliver it. Should you ignore my demand, your husband will learn what a shameful thing you are.

Lucinda screwed the letter into a ball. Keeping it tight in her hand, she went into the main parlour, where a fire was burning. She was about to toss it into the fire, but then hesitated. Justin had told her that if she received another blackmail letter she should give it to him and let him deal with it, but how could she? He would immediately want to know more about the child and then he would be furious with her. She had laid herself open to this wicked blackmail by keeping the child with her. Justin would have every right to be angry with her.

This deceit had gone on long enough. She must tell him the truth and then show him the letter. Smoothing the paper out, she tucked it inside her gown and went upstairs to change into a more suitable gown. Justin liked to see her looking pretty and elegant and she must not disappoint him.

* * *

In the event, Justin did not return home until six o’clock that evening. He sent her an apology and went straight to his room to change before they left to dine
with the Lanchesters. The carriage was sent for and there was no time to discuss anything, because any delay would have made them very late.

‘Forgive me for deserting you without warning,’ Justin said as the carriage moved off. ‘One of my tenants died today. His widow has five children under the age of ten and she was afraid that I should turn her from her cottage. Her eldest son should have the farm when he is older, but for the moment he cannot manage it, though he has helped his father for some time. I have been trying to work out a solution to the problem and it took longer than I expected.’

‘Have you done so?’

‘I discovered that the widow has a brother who was working as a labourer. He is to move in with them and run the farm until the boy is old enough to take over from him. I have promised that he shall have ten acres of his own land when the time comes if he treats his sister and her children fairly. These things do not always work as well as it might appear they should, but I think Jed Harper will do right by her.’

‘What happens if she marries again?’

‘If I like her husband, I may sort something out then.’ Justin shook his head and smiled reassuringly. ‘You need not bother your head over these problems, Lucinda. What have you been doing with yourself?’

‘I spoke to Mrs Mann about the menus, arranged some flowers and then sat with a book for most of the afternoon.’

‘You did not wish to go visiting?’

‘I—I had my womanly courses and was in a little discomfort,’ she said, looking away. ‘I shall visit friends tomorrow in the morning, I think.’

‘Yes, you must. I know it is difficult for you, Lucinda. You lived very quietly at home, but you need friends. When we go to London you will want to have some acquaintances to visit and invite to your parties.’

‘Yes, of course.’

Lucinda twisted her hands in her lap. She was not sure that she would still be his wife by the time he visited London for the Season. The blackmail letter had made her realise that she could not keep her secret much longer. She would do her best to forget it this evening and tomorrow—as soon as she had the chance—she would tell Justin about her daughter being in the house. For now she must put her worries to the back of her mind and enjoy this special evening with their friends.

* * *

Justin was thoughtful as he dressed the next morning. Lucinda was clearly feeling a little under the weather. She had claimed it was simply her womanly courses, but he suspected that there was something on her mind—something that troubled her. Perhaps she would confide in him later if he asked what it was? He would not question her unless she wanted to unburden herself, but he believed that things were a little easier between them and if she could tell him about her problems it might drawer them closer.

He must ride out alone this morning. He had noticed
that some of the cottages at the far side of his estate looked to be in need of repair. It was his agent’s job to see that these things were attended to, but he knew that some estate owners refused to spend a penny more than they needed to. He preferred to attack a problem before it became impossible to rectify and he wished to investigate for himself.

When he returned, he would sit in the parlour with his wife and perhaps they could talk…

* * *

Lucinda interviewed Alice’s sister and mother. It was agreed that Marie should bring her things to the house and begin work the following day. Mrs Brown was pleased with the task she had been given and would visit twice a week and work on her sewing at home.

Feeling satisfied that things were progressing as they ought, Lucinda walked up to the nursery wing. She had arranged that both Alice and Marie should have rooms together here. It would be pleasant for the sisters and they would be able to take better care of the child that way. Angela would still sleep in the attics with Nanny, but spend a part of her day in the nursery and she would have a walk in the gardens in the mornings. It was the best Lucinda could do and might only be for a short time since she’d decided to confess everything to Justin that afternoon.

As she entered the nursery, she discovered that Marie and Alice were together and playing a game of blind man’s buff with Angela. Marie flushed as she saw her
new mistress, explaining that she had wanted to tell Alice her news and get to know the child.

‘I am pleased to see that you are eager to begin,’ Lucinda said and laughed as Marie was caught and made to don the blindfold. ‘I should like to join you all, if I may?’

‘Yes, Mama, play,’ Angela said and caught her hand, drawing her into the game. She giggled and pushed her towards Marie so that Lucinda was caught and obliged to wear the blindfold.

Lucinda laughed and began to feel her way about the room, trying to capture someone, but they all managed to avoid her, causing Angela to shriek with laughter.

‘You wait, little miss,’ Lucinda threatened. ‘I shall find you in a moment.’

‘No, you won’t. Can’t catch me,’ the child chanted. ‘Can’t catch me…’

Lucinda heard the sound of her voice, but deliberately moved another way, making the child laugh out loud again. To hear her was such a delight and, for a while, Lucinda forgot the threat of blackmail and exposure hanging over her.

* * *

‘Have you seen my lady wife?’ Justin asked of Mrs Mann as he handed her his gloves and hat in the hall. ‘I should like a word before nuncheon. Perhaps you could hold it back for half an hour?’

‘Yes, of course. I’m not sure where the duchess is, sir. I believe she might be in the east wing—the nursery floor.’

‘The nursery floor?’ Justin arched his brows. What was Lucinda doing there? Since they had not lain together it was unlikely she was making plans for the nursery. It was more usual to leave such things until a birth was certain. He himself had decided against doing anything until Lucinda told him she was expecting their first child, which was unlikely to happen until their present situation was resolved. The reason he had made no preparations was because his mother had miscarried so many times.

He knew that he had once had a younger brother, but the boy had died of a fever when he was but three years old. Several miscarriages had occurred after the tragedy and then it seemed his parents had accepted that Justin would be their only child. He wondered if his mother’s seeming indifference towards him had stemmed from her losses—had she feared to love too much lest an accident befell her only surviving child, and was he too much like her for his own good?

He was thoughtful as he went into the east wing and walked up to the first floor, which housed the nursery. Younger family members used these guest rooms and their governesses and tutors, of which there were none at the moment. His cousins had not yet married and all his uncles and aunts were too old to have young children. Justin had often regretted that he was an only child and that there were no children in his family.

Hearing a sound, which was unmistakably a child’s laughter, he paused at the top of the stairs. He could
not have imagined the laughter. It reminded him of the noise he’d heard in the library the other day. How could a child be here?

Frowning, he walked along the passage and stopped outside the nursery door. Had it not been left open just a crack he might not have heard anything, because the door was stout and meant to stop sound travelling, but now he could hear the sounds of laughing voices. One was certainly a child but the others…that one was Lucinda. He could not mistake
her
voice.

Pushing the door open, he saw that a game was taking place. There were three adults and a child. One of the women was Lucinda’s maid, the second a girl he did not recall having seen before—and the third, his wife. Lucinda was wearing the blindfold, and as he watched, she caught the child. She reached up to remove the blindfold and laughed down at the girl, then something made her look up at him and all the colour drained from her face.

Justin was struck first by the utter despair and guilt in her face, and then, as he looked from her to the child, he understood. The likeness between them was unmistakable. He might have been unsure had she not told him her secret, but the look in her eyes left him in no doubt of her distress at having been caught.

For a moment rage coursed through him, but years of breeding gave him the strength to incline his head and walk away without a word.

His hands balled at his sides and for a moment he
felt as if he could scarcely breathe. His mind was reeling from the shock. Lucinda had lied to him. Again. He remembered distinctly that she’d told him the child had died, though he had speculated that perhaps she had been deceived on that score by her parents. Now it seemed she might have known her child had survived all along. How could she lie about something like that? And to bring the child—her bastard—into his house without so much as a word! What on earth did she imagine she was doing? Anyone who happened to see her with the child would wonder and the more astute would piece the puzzle together very easily.

Had she no care for her reputation or his good name? To bring the child she had born out of wedlock into his house without asking or consulting him was a flagrant breach of his trust. Reaching his study, he slammed the door behind him. His feelings were pent up and needed release. Noticing a brass inkwell that he had suddenly taken an unaccountable dislike to, he snatched it up and threw it into the fireplace, where the glass inset smashed and spilled its contents onto the surroundings.

Justin’s mind whirled. The house could not hold him in this mood. If he did not get out and away, he might explode.

Leaving by the French windows, he walked through his favourite garden without seeing a thing, heading for the stables and the release he needed. A hard ride might help to dissipate the rage inside him, but the problem would not go away. What was he to do with a wife who
had no thought for her husband’s good name or her own—and where did he place a child that could ruin any chance Lucinda had of becoming a woman who was both welcomed and admired in society?

* * *

Lucinda felt as if she had been turned to stone. The look in Justin’s eyes before he turned and walked away had been like a sword thrust to her heart. He was so angry—and he had every right to his anger.

She felt shame and despair wash over her in equal measures. She had behaved in a reckless manner, thinking only of herself—what she wanted, what she thought best for her child. Suddenly, the enormity of what she had done hit her and she realised how this must seem to Justin. He had been angry before, but now he would despise her.

‘Do you think his Grace guessed?’ Alice said, looking at her in shock. ‘It is my fault. I should not have brought her here, but she needed something more than those attic rooms.’

‘Yes, she needs a proper home,’ Lucinda admitted. She felt numb, unable to think or decide what she must do for the best. ‘I must apologise to my husband. Please, take Angela back to her room—and do not look so devastated, Alice. It was I who brought her to the house, not you.’

Lucinda went to her own room first. She washed her face in cool water, tidied her hair and her gown, glancing in the mirror to make sure that she looked
respectable. She must have looked like a hoyden when she was playing with the child, not at all the duchess Justin wanted or needed. He had requested her to remember her position and must be disgusted with her behaviour.

He had reprimanded her once before for her appearance. She’d known what he expected of his wife, yet she had not heeded his wishes and she had brought her daughter into the house without his knowledge and permission.

As she walked downstairs, her heart was racing like the wind. She was afraid to face Justin in his white-hot anger and it was a brief reprieve when she was told that he had gone riding.