The Duke's Bride (4 page)

Both ladies turned scarlet.

Jane narrowed her eyes on the women and nodded. “Good day,
ladies. So nice to see you today. May I fill your glasses?” With lightning
speed, Jane turned and grabbed one of the water pitchers from a passing servant.

The two ladies looked on, their eyes bulging in shock. Their
glasses were already full. But Jane tipped the pitcher of water, letting the
liquid splash everywhere but into their glasses.

Their jaws dropped in horror as water soaked every bit of
their bosom and fabric that covered it. Then, with a quick flick of her wrist,
Jane tossed the rest of the water in their faces. With a satisfied smile, Jane spun
around and handed the empty pitcher back to the wide-eyed servant.

“I daresay,” Jane added sweetly, shifting a hard gaze back
to the ladies. “I do believe that a great deal of talking does increase one’s
thirst.”

The women stood stock still as Jane turned her back on them and
gave them the cut direct.

A small rumble of laughter erupted around them. Ignoring the
crowd, Jane detected Emily’s lavender gown and started walking her way. Her
heart pumped between triumph and tragedy when she recalled the shocked look on
the faces of Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena. Indeed, the waters were supposed
to be good for whatever ailed one. But Jane didn’t think it could cure her
broken heart, or their rabid tongues.

She finally made it to Emily’s side.

Emily, her violet eyes twinkling with life, obviously
unaware of what had just happened, grabbed Jane’s hand and smiled. “Dearest, I
turned to speak to Lady Hawthorne and you were gone.”

Jane let out a shaky smile. “I turned and you were gone
too.”

“Lady Hawthorne was telling me about her last tour of Italy,”
Emily said. “That made me think of Milli and Marcus.”

Jane let out a light laugh, trying to put the gossiping
ladies to the back of her mind. “All I can say is that Milli’s marriage will
never be boring.” After all the whispers and taunts, Emily’s friendly chatter
was heaven to Jane’s ears.

“Do you know,” Emily went on. “I can only guess that our
little Milli is leading Marcus a merry chase about town. I cannot believe it was
only last week when they were married.”

Jane was ready to respond when she froze at the sight of
Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena waving at her from across the room. Were the
ladies daft? Good gracious. Even a pitcher of water did not deter them. They probably
thought they had best make their way toward her to calm any more gossip pertaining
to them. Well, for the love of the king! They had to be the most exasperating
females of her acquaintance!

“Yes, well,” Jane replied to her friend. “Milli is such a beacon
of light, I suppose Marcus won’t have a hard time finding her if she strays off
the beaten path.”

Emily looked over her shoulder and turned back with a frown.
“Oh, Jane. Are you going to let a few gossiping ladies ruin your day? They
cannot wait to cause another stir. And today, I suppose they think it should be
you.”

  Jane lifted her delicate shoulders and smiled.
So, Emily had heard something of the gossip after all. “I dumped a pitcher of
water on them, pretending to fill their glasses. I think they want to be
friends now. Whatever that involves.”

Emily chuckled. “Oh, Jane, you didn’t? You never fail to
amaze me. I suppose that’s one of the reasons Roderick married you. You were the
only person who could face him and tell him
no
to his face.”

Jane reddened. That wasn’t true anymore.

Emily frowned, realizing her mistake. “Forgive me, dearest.
Oh, how I wish I were a man. I would box my brother’s ears. He is being foolish
about everything.”

“I have not been able to give him an heir. I don’t think that
is foolish for a duke.”

Emily’s mouth went grim. “That is not the reason—”

Jane raised her hand, stopping her. “Please. Say no more.”

Emily nodded, but Jane could tell her friend did not like it.

Jane looked about, relieved that the gossiping ladies had
stopped to talk to Lady Hawthorne. It was just as well, she thought, as she
rested a hand on her stomach. Lately, her emotions were up and down like a hot
air balloon bouncing in the sky. But she would not let a bunch of old biddies
ruin this day. She would not.

“I have never understood why people have to be so mean,” she
said, frowning at Emily.

Her friend grabbed a glass of the famous waters from a servant
girl. “Take this and see if it cures what ails you.”

Jane giggled, putting the glass to her lips. “I already had
my waters and they didn’t do a thing but make me burp. Of course, you can
always ask Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena what they think.”

Emily chuckled. “Forget them. They amuse themselves with
nothing but spiteful gossip.”

Jane smiled. Emily always made her fell better. “I think we
should just avoid them. But I hesitate to think what Milli would do if she were
here.”

“Milli?” Emily gave Jane a dastardly smile. “She would be
proud of you. I think you did your duty with that pitcher. However, I can be as
wicked as Milli. If you would like, I could devise something better. To treat
you with such cruel disregard makes me furious. I cannot believe they would
spread such vicious gossip.”

 Jane flushed to the roots of her hair. There was no
doubt now. Emily had heard the hideous remarks too.

Jane swallowed past the lump in her throat, thinking that
Roderick would have known how to deal with such busybodies.

“You know,” Emily said, taking her arm. “I believe we should
return to the country, back to Elbourne Hall.”

Jane bit her lip and looked up. “I am still working on that
new school for young women that Milli and I, um, have invested in. It is here
in Bath.”

Emily’s delicate brows lifted. “You have invested in a
school?”

Jane’s cheeks flamed. Not many people knew of her plan for a
school to educate young women of the
ton
, not even Roderick. Her husband
had been become rather distant after she had lost the baby in London over a
month ago. In fact, she had made the decision to enter this business venture on
her own. And yet, it was more than a business. It was a special undertaking to offer
young women, who might have a great impact on the world because of their
station, a broader education than just studying watercolor and French.

Emily squeezed her arm and chuckled. “Now, now, Jane, you
must tell me all.”

Jane laughed. “Very well. But we did have help.”

“Ah, was it Jared who helped you? Tell me, dearest.”

“Not Jared. Captain Argyle.”

Emily’s eyes widened. “The captain?”

“Yes, he helped us buy the place. And now we are going to
make it the best seminary for young ladies in all of England.”

Emily’s violet eyes gleamed with delight. “I think it
famous! I shall help wherever I can. But I am surprised you kept it a secret from
me.”

Jane licked her lips and looked about. “Would you like to
hear another secret?”

Emily lifted two delicate brows. “Goodness, Jane. You are
full of surprises today. Of course, I want to hear another secret. I am a
woman, am I not?”

Jane giggled and lowered her voice. “Frankly, I have to tell
someone or I think I shall burst.”

“What is this about a secret?” A familiar female voice came
up behind them.

Jane turned and gasped in delight. “Oh, Agatha, when did you
come to town?”

The older lady hooked her parasol on her arm and smiled. “I arrived
last night. Staying with a friend.”

Jane held tight to Agatha’s plump arm. “But you could have
stayed with us. There is plenty of room.”

Jane’s heart soared. Agatha could fix just about anything.

The lady’s gray brows lifted while she tapped her dependable
parasol with her other hand. “I have heard things about that husband of yours,
and I am not pleased.”

Jane’s lips trembled. “He’s, uh, been busy.”

“Busy, my foot.” Another tap of the parasol.

Jane knew the Clearbrook men regarded Agatha’s parasol as a type
of weapon, and at any other time, she would have laughed.

Emily chewed her lip as she gazed warily about the room. “Agatha,
perhaps this is not the time.”

Agatha scowled. “Not the time?” she screeched, glancing over
Emily’s shoulders. “Those two gossipmongers are at it again, and from what I’ve
heard, my lovely Jane is their target for today.”

Jane let out a wobbly smile. “I do not understand why some
people are mean. But they are.”

Agatha curled a hand about Jane’s waist. “Yes, well, I shan’t
do anything while you are looking. That is all I can promise.”

Jane’s laugh was more like a pitiful cry. “Oh, Agatha. I’m
so glad you’ve come.”

“I would have come last month, but I was in France.” The
lady lowered her voice. “Did not hear about the babe you lost until I read your
letter last week.”

Jane cleared her throat. “I missed hearing from you.”

Agatha gave Emily a covert look, but Jane didn’t miss it.
She knew these two ladies had been involved in missions with the Crown during
the war. However, the ladies still assumed she knew nothing.

It was better that way. Yet Jane did wonder how much Agatha
was still involved with Whitehall, even though the war with Napoleon had ended
years ago. She supposed England always had enemies. But why had Agatha been in
France?

“Forgive me, child,” Agatha said, frowning. “I felt dreadful
being away from you during your difficult time. But it was not to be helped. I
did not receive mail while in France. Until I returned to Hemmingly Hall, I had
no notion what was happening with you.” Tears filled the older lady’s eyes.
“You are like a daughter to me. The daughter I never had. Your pain is my pain,
Jane. Please, my dear, forgive me for not being by your side.”

Jane blinked away the hot tears that were leaking from her
eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you are here now.”

Agatha lifted a gloved hand, wiping the wetness from her own
cheeks. “Well, well. I believe we’ve had enough waterworks for today. I want to
hear more about this secret. Let us move to that tiny alcove over there. Hurry
now. Gracious me, those two old biddies are swimming upstream to speak with us.
La, my dears, I cannot stomach their flimsy talk.”

“Why, good day to you, Duchess,” Lady Horatio announced with
a smile that did not quite meet her eyes. “Forgive us. Lady Philomena and I
were not able to finish our conversation with you. Ah, Lady Emily. Miss
Appleby.”

Jane looked up in shock as Lady Horatio moved between her
and Agatha. Lady Philomena wasn’t far behind. Lady Emily’s jaw dropped in
outrage. Jane squeezed her friend’s arm, but immediately had to turn to a
scowling Agatha who was raising her parasol for the attack. Jane forced Agatha’s
hand downward and glared at the two gossiping ladies.

Lady Horatio peered out through hooded eyes. “Miss Appleby,
so good to see you again. And Lady Emily, aren’t you looking pretty today.”

Lady Philomena stood beside her chubby friend, flitting a
silk fan about her scrawny face. Jane could tell that both ladies were seething
at the way they had been treated earlier.

Agatha looked on, sneering. “Ladies, you appear to have
taken too much of the waters. Did you take a bath in it?”

Jane smothered a laugh. Emily let out a giggle.

Lady Philomena’s lips thinned in anger as she regarded Jane.
“Your blue eyes do you justice, Duchess. But perhaps if you ate fewer cakes,
the duke would be inclined to pay more attention to you.”

“Yes,” Lady Horatio added, her eyes narrowing. “I have
noticed that the duke’s tastes have wandered more toward thinner females,
wouldn’t you say that, Philomena?”

Philomena smiled wickedly.

Jane blinked at the women as she held an irate Agatha from
charging the two. Good gracious! These women had been taking more than the
waters! They were foxed!

“Are you saying I am fat?” Jane asked.

She may have put on a few pounds after her loss a month ago,
and she may not be the delicate girl she was when she had married the duke, but
Lady Horatio was twice her size. And what did they mean about her husband’s
tastes?

“Ladies,” Agatha ripped out, ignoring Jane’s warning. “You,
Horatio, can barely walk through the doors. I see no reason for you to be
telling other people that they have put on a few pounds! Your name is that of a
man’s, and you look like one!”

Lady Horatio gasped. “How dare you talk to me that way! I
was only trying to help the duchess. Everyone knows her husband refuses to accompany
her about town anymore.”

Jane’s eyes flashed. “My husband has been quite busy. And you
are sorely mistaken if you believe his actions are your affair. And another
thing—”

Emily gently pulled Jane back and glared at the ladies. “I
believe you have crossed the line, ladies. My family does not take well to
people who interfere in our lives.” Her tone was filled with fury. “I am sure
you understand.”

Lady Philomena blinked. “La, yes, well, a woman never wants
to know when her man is seeing another.”

Lady Horatio lowered her voice and winked at Jane. “But I
daresay,” she whispered for only Jane to hear. “You have caught on rather well
at your young age. Captain James Argyle is quite a catch with that shipping
line. And that chocolate brown hair that curls at his nape makes a woman want
to swoon. Yet, it is the danger that lurks in those emerald green eyes that
makes a lady giddy, don’t you think? Goodness me, if I were ten years younger—”

Jane took another glass of water and dumped it on top of
Horatio’s head. “Good day, ladies!” She grabbed Emily and Agatha and retreated
from the room, not caring a whit about the whispers following in their wake.

Emily stared back in horror at the door to the Pump Room. “I
have never been so insulted in my entire life. What else did she say to you,
Jane?”