True Love's Deception (book 3) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (33 page)

Gregg shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I have not. Andrew will be back shortly, I’m certain.”

She dropped her hands to her sides and stepped away.
“All right.
I will try to be patient a little longer.”

He smiled and turned to his horse.

“One more thing, Gregg.”

She glanced at the house, then back to him. “What
has
you so upset today? I saw you fleeing the house as if wild wolves were on your heels.”

He sighed heavily and shook his head. “I cannot tell you.
Maddie
will have to. But know this from me…your sister and I
are
no longer engaged.”

She gasped and put her hand to her throat. “Indeed? Can you do this?”

“The bans have not been posted, so it can be done.”

“What about Andrew and Nicholas?”

“They agree with my choice.”

She stepped closer. “Gregg? What happened between you and my sister?”

“It’s not my place to tell you.” He nodded toward the house. “Ask your sister. And later, talk to Andrew to hear him as well.”

Fear tightened around Juliana’s throat and made her heartbeat quicken. What has her sister done now? And Andrew knew and hadn’t said anything?

She turned toward the house and on shaky legs, made her way inside. As she passed each room, she peered inside to find
Maddie
. Her sister was in the parlor sitting at the pianoforte, staring at the keys. Her eyes were slightly swollen as if she’d been crying. When she saw Juliana walk in, she quickly turned toward the wall.

“
Maddie
?”

“What?”

“I talked with Gregg outside. He told me your engagement has been called off.”

“Yes,” she mumbled.

Juliana walked closer. “Can you tell me why?”

Maddie
shrugged and turned toward her. “He finally realized we don’t suit, I suppose.”

Juliana shook her head. “He mentioned his choice was made because of something you did.”

Maddie
glanced at her fingernails as if studying them. She didn’t reply.

“
Maddie
?
Did you do something terrible to Gregg?”

“No, not something to him personally.”

“Will you tell me what you’ve done? I think I have the right to know.”

Maddie
flew up her hands and marched to the nearest sofa and plopped down. She still didn’t meet Juliana’s eyes.

“Something happened last night that should not have happened,”
Maddie
said.

“What?” Juliana followed her to the sofa on shaky legs and sat.

“I was awake when Andrew came home last night.” She lifted her gaze to Juliana. “Andrew was so drunk he was knocking things over. I feared he would break something—or harm
himself
, so I helped him to his room.”

Panic tightened in Juliana’s chest. She really didn’t want to know. But her mouth refused to stop
Maddie
from finishing the story.

“Because it was so dark, and because he was so drunk, he mistakenly thought I was you.” She shrugged. “I helped him into bed, and he pulled me with him, pinning me down...and well...things happened that shouldn’t have.”

Juliana’s stomach rolled, and her heart was near to shattering. She couldn’t breathe, yet her angry breaths came out quickly, making her chest ache. “Knowing you as well as I do, you probably did nothing to stop his advances,” she whispered.

Maddie’s
gaze drifted to her nails again, not saying anything else.

Hurt and anger boiled through Juliana and she found the strength to stand. “I cannot believe you would do something that vile to your own sister.” She balled her hands into fists. “You are so coldhearted and deceitful. No wonder Gregg called off the engagement. You don’t deserve a good man like him.” She shook her head. “And to think Andrew tried to do the right thing by you and make Gregg marry you.
How horrible!”

Juliana paced the floor, seething. “You definitely don’t deserve the good family you have now, so from this moment on, you are no longer my sister. I will not tolerate your whorish behavior.”

Tears swam in
Maddie’s
eyes, and she rose to her feet, planting her hands on her hips.
“Fine.
Go back to Scotland. I don’t care. I don’t need you. I never did.”

Juliana walked to her and stopped very close to her face, glaring. “No,
Maddie
. I will not make it easy for you. I will indeed leave and return to Scotland, but you will not stay here. This house is not yours. It’s mine.”

Her sister’s eyes widened. “And pray, when did this happen?”

“When Father gave me my inheritance on the night of my birthday.” She laughed bitterly. “I will give you one month to find somewhere to stay,
then
I’m kicking you out of this place—and out of my life for good.”

Maddie’s
face paled and she shook her head. “You...you cannot do that. Andrew won’t let you. Because he is your husband, it’s his property, not yours. Andrew loves me and will not let me live on the streets like some pauper.”

“Oh, think again.” Juliana chuckled. “There is something else you don’t know, and now is the perfect time to tell you. Andrew and I are not legally married. It’s a farce. A lie I told Father so I could get my inheritance without getting married.”

Maddie
gasped and brought her hand to her mouth.

“Yes, dear
Maddie
, I paid the stable hand to dress as a gentleman and act like my husband. I didn’t want Constance to arrange a marriage for me so I could live in England. I deceived you all.”

“That explains a lot,”
Maddie
whispered in awe.

“Everything is mine—especially this house since it was my mother’s,” Juliana continued, “and because of that, Andrew cannot tell me what to do.”

Maddie
grinned. “I cannot wait to tell Father.”

“Be my guest. Tell him. I don’t care. I’ll be right behind you to explain to our parents why I had to kick you out.”

Her sister’s bottom lip trembled. “You win. I will not say a word. I will keep your secret if you keep mine.”

“I agree. But I’m still giving you one month to pack your things and depart. If you are not gone in thirty days, I will physically kick you out into the street.”

“What will you tell Father?”

Juliana shrugged. “I will have one month to think about it, and I’m most certain I will come up with something clever.” She arched a brow. “I’ll inform him you joined the convent or something. Seems fitting, don’t you think?”

Maddie
shook her head. “You are very cold-hearted.”

Juliana lifted her chin. “And you don’t have a heart at all.” She turned and marched out of the room and up the stairs to her bedroom. Her limbs shook like an earthquake. When she reached her room and shut the door behind her, she fell on her bed and sobbed uncontrollably.

She couldn’t blame Andrew for what her sister had trapped him into doing, but she couldn’t convince her heart of it. If he hadn’t been so intoxicated, he would have known the difference between her and
Maddie
.

Wiping her wet cheeks, she sniffed. She feared there wasn’t anything she could do now. Andrew was lost to her forever.

* * * *

Maddie
stuffed another gown in her satchel, knowing there were things she would not be able to take with her. Sighing, she glanced around the room, not seeing anything due to the blur of tears still blocking her vision. Where would she go? What could she do?

She had to send a note to her parents, but then she would have to tell them the horrid truth. She had ruined the lives of two people, and she would not be able to fix it.
Ever.
But perhaps she could try.

Wiping her wet eyes, she walked to her desk and sat. She pulled out a paper and quill and began to write.

Dearest Andrew. My heart is full of sadness as I write this, and I only hope I can say what is in my heart. I do love you, but now I realize you have never loved me. Juliana is the woman for you, and I sincerely wish the best for you two, because I know she loves you, too. I will not see you after today. I’m traveling away from this godforsaken place. I don’t know where the road will take me, but I must learn to fend for myself since Juliana has kicked me out of the house without any funds.

Before anything else happens between you and Juliana, I need to tell you the truth about the other night when you returned home drunk. I had planned to be in your bed. I had planned to seduce you. What I hadn’t planned was that you would pass out the moment your head hit the pillow. Nothing happened that night. I slept by your side. That was all.

Please forgive me for everything I have put you and Juliana through. I hope the best for the both of you.

Yours always, Madeline.

More tears fell, but she ignored them to fold the paper and put her father’s seal on the outside. She could not take back all of her sins, but perhaps with this letter, Andrew’s heart would not be guilt-stricken. And perhaps God would not punish her too harshly for her misdeeds.

She addressed the letter in care of Matthew Lawrence, Duke of
Grenwick
. Certainly, it would get into Andrew’s hands this way.

After taking the letter to one of the servants for them to deliver, she walked back in her room and looked around one last time. She may never return, even if Juliana forgave her.
Too many memories.
Too much heartache.

She would make the best out of her dire circumstance, and would be the better person for doing so. Perhaps one day she could look back on this day and think it was the first day of her new life.

Perhaps.

But for now, she would leave with a heavy heart and swollen eyes.

She turned and walked out of her room, closing the door for the last time.

Chapter Eighteen

Each day seemed to get a little better for Juliana. She had lost Andrew, and although she feared the pain would never go away, at least she could leave her bedroom without sobbing over everything. When she discovered
Maddie
had left, it made things easier. Juliana had not regretted her decision to toss that girl out. But she did regret not running into Andrew’s arms.

He had not come home the day he met with the Lawrence family, but a note from him had. He told her that his memory had returned, and he was indeed the long lost son. Her heart had cheered for him. He also told her she was welcome to stay with him and his family, because he would not be returning to the Beaumont estate. Her heart had broken then.

Gossip spread like wildfire, and suddenly, Andrew Dean Lawrence, Viscount
Straton
was the hit of London. Juliana stopped going out in public because of all the questions. She was tired of the lies. It was time to stop.