“I agree. True to fact, if you will agree to marry her, I will go with you to the magistrate right now and end this matter once and for all.” The Duke gave him a reassuring smile, but at the same time, there was an air of sadness about the man’s speech.
Evan hesitated, thinking briefly of the letter he’d only moments ago sent to his mother. Had he only known that he would break his promise only moments later, he would have torn the paper to pieces and thrown them on the rubbish heap. Still, the pain of knowing he’d not consulted her would be nothing compared to the pain of loss if they were ruined because of another man’s lies.
He nodded as well, then held out his hand to the Duke to seal their agreement. He did not know this young lady’s name nor anything of her family or fortune. All he did know is that her association with him could prevent a crime from being linked to his name without hope of erasure. There was no question as to which he would rather be sentenced to: a marriage to a lady he’d never heard of or the horror that could befall him if the Marquess of Mortham had his way.
Forgive me, Lady Marjorie, he thought.You knew not that I ever loved you, and now you never will.
* * *
“Here we are, My Lady. Back home where we belong at last!” Diana said brightly as she settled Marjorie in bed then opened the heavy drapes to allow the afternoon sun to filter in, illuminating the room with its pleasant glow.
“Yes, it is certainly a good thing,” Marjorie replied, but her words belied her feeling of dread. All was not right here, and in her state, she did not know how to set about repairing it. “But you have to admit that Lady Lanercost was a devoted, selfless hostess.”
“Oh, indeed! Perhaps that was the source of my discomfort. I knew not what to do with my time since she insisted on tending to you herself!” Diana laughed. “I felt as useless as a carriage without a wheel!”
When Marjorie didn’t respond, Diana turned to look at her. “Are you in much pain, My Lady?”
“Oh no. Tis certainly manageable,” Marjorie replied, still looking absently at the bedcovers in front of her. “I’m only thinking…”
“Yes?” Diana pressed, urging her to explain.
“Everything is ruined, isn’t it?” Her voice took on a faraway tone as Marjorie pondered what would befall them now. “Father is out of his head with these accusations against the Earl. The Duke of Fenworth—a man I never thought I wanted to sit in the same room with, let alone marry—has now spurned me without any explanation. And Harriet… poor, dear Harriet. I care not what happens to me, but my foolishness should not be set upon her narrow shoulders.”
Diana didn’t say anything. Marjorie knew it was unkind to burden her lady’s maid with such talk, as it wasn’t polite to burden the household staff with the private affairs of their family, but she found at that moment that she truly had no one else to speak of these things to.
“I wish my mother was still here,” she finally said, a single tear falling down her cheek and darkening the coverlet.
Diana surprised them both by hurrying to her mistress’ side and putting her arms around her. “I cannot bear to see you so sad, My Lady! Of course you miss your mother! Tis only right, as she was so wonderful.”
“She really was,” Marjorie admitted through her tears. “I’ve tried to be brave for Harriet and to be strong like Mother, but I fear I have not lived up to her expectations for me. That pains me almost as much as her dying, knowing that were she here today, she would be heart-broken at the lady I’ve become.”
“Nonsense, Lady Marjorie!” Diana turned to sit on the bed and look at Marjorie’s face sternly. “Perhaps if your mother were still here, some of the choices you’ve made would not have been necessary, tis all. And I was but a girl only somewhat older than you when her accident took her from you, but the only thing that I remember with full clarity is the love she bore you and your sister. Many noble families are patched-together things created to secure titles and lands and money… but not yours! Your mother loved her husband in a way that most marriages are not afforded, and she loved her children above all else!”
Marjorie smiled, but Diana’s words only made the tears pour forth more freely. Her maid held her tightly as she cried, soothing her soul greatly.
“Come, let me tell you something cheerful now!” Diana said, a wicked grin on her face. Marjorie laughed, wiping at her teary eyes gently. Her maid continued, “Did you not notice that the Earl stayed away from the manor while you were there?”
“I did,” Marjorie admitted. “But it would only be the proper thing to do. After all, the secret is by now widely known that I was masquerading as a young man to work for him, and that he must have known but overlooked it.”
“I think that’s not the reason,” Diana replied, her eyebrows arching as she looked around comically to see if anyone was listening. “I think His Lordship has some affection for you, and could not very well make an offer of marriage if you had stayed in his home while he was also there.”
“Diana! I think no such thing!” Marjorie argued, unable to contain the adamant surprise in her voice. “He only chose to distance himself from what is a terrible scandal. And who would blame him?”
“Oh, is that really what you think? Then perhaps the words of his own staff might sway your mind!” Diana laughed. “What is it you think the staff do while the masters are busy? We sit downstairs and chat about what we see and hear!”
Marjorie knew her maid was only trying to divert her thoughts from darker things, but it was still unnerving to hear that the members of the ton might be as much the subject of gossip downstairs as they were in the parlors and drawings rooms of their fine estates.
“I cannot be a party to idle gossip. It is wrong from a Biblical standpoint,” Marjorie replied aloofly, turning her head and pretending that the very thought was distasteful.
“Oh, of course, My Lady. If you’d rather not hear what Lady Lanercost’s own lady’s maid said that she and the Earl’s mother had personally discussed…” Diana narrowed her eyes and waited.
“Well, if you have this news on such good authority, of course I welcome you to share it. After all,” Marjorie teased, “it’s not idle gossip if it came directly from the source.”
Diana laughed again, and Marjorie was glad that their sorrowful mood had shifted. She’d spent so long trying to be strong for her father’s and Harriet’s sakes that being given leave to fall into despair for a brief time was the balm she truly needed.
“Well then, Mrs. Cather told me that Lady Lanercost has a genuine affection for you, and believes her son does the same. His mother noted how you two spoke at her dinner, though briefly, and said her son had never given any of the ladies she invited his attention. Then, of course, the way he fretted over you while you recovered… his mother seemed to think there was far more to it than mere concern for your health!”
“But Diana, this cannot be true. It must have been misheard,” Marjorie answered sadly. “Do you not remember Lady Catherine coming to visit me there? She made the pretense of being concerned for my health but in truth, her only purpose was to ensure that I knew the Earl belonged to her.”
