A Scandalous Charade (36 page)

Those men were looking for her. She was trapped. She couldn’t leave Gosling Park for fear of running into Morgan’s highwaymen. And she couldn’t go traipsing across the estate for fear of running into Lord or Lady Carteret.

***

Less than a fortnight later, the Carterets took their leave, and how Juliet had managed to go undiscovered for all that time could only be considered a miracle. When their traveling coaches rambled down the path, she took her first sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, that relief didn’t last long.

The next day as Juliet and the children were returning to the castle after a jaunt down to the seashore, a sound sent Juliet’s spirits plummeting. A booming laugh—and only one man sounded like that. The Marquess of Astwick.  “Dunsley,” he bellowed good naturedly, “you’re a sight for sore eyes.”

She forced a smile to her lips. “Actually, I’m not feeling particularly well. Do go on without me. Lady Masten is awaiting you in the green salon.”

“I don’t know.” Peter frowned.

Juliet ruffled the boy’s hair. He really was a sweet lad, and she could no easier imagine the child as a cutpurse than she could Edmund. “I’ll meet you both in the schoolroom later. Do go on.”

After a brief hesitation, Peter took Penny’s hand in his and started for the side entrance that led through the kitchens. Most likely the two of them would charm Cook into giving them something sweet before they reached Lady Masten. Juliet slunk into the shadows of a hedge, all the while keeping an eye on Astwick.

“Masten’s at his stables, no doubt,” the marquess remarked.

“Indeed, my lord,” the butler responded. “And Lady Masten is in the green salon.”

Astwick frowned slightly at that. “Very well, Dunsley.” He started to follow the butler inside the main door. “Tell me, have you heard about these highwaymen that are plaguing Dorset?”

The door shut firmly, and Juliet blew out an anxious breath. What did Astwick know about the highway men?  She left her spot and crept up to the front door, opening it just a hair so she could hear.

“I have heard they’ve been stopping coaches with family crests,” she heard the butler remark.

“Aye,” Astwick continued, “that’s what the innkeeper said too. I thought it was all hogwash, but lo and behold if I didn’t get stopped myself.”

“Indeed, sir?” Dunsley asked. “And they didn’t rob you?”

“Strangest thing,” Astwick agreed before they turned down a hallway and she couldn’t hear them anymore.

Juliet pulled the door open and tiptoed inside, thinking she could catch up to the pair. Then she rounded the corner and ran directly into Astwick’s chest. She sucked in a gasp and didn’t dare to look up. “Please forgive me, my lord,” she mumbled and backed away, running down the hallway.

That was too close! It was time to seclude herself back in the schoolroom.

***

Chet watched the disappearing form of the servant race down the hallway. Huh. She seemed familiar somehow. “Who was that?” he asked the butler.

Dunsley frowned, his eyes also having followed the woman. “The children’s governess, Miss Mitford.”

Governess? Chet scratched his head. That didn’t seem right. She had an air about her, but not one of a servant. But oftentimes, governesses were high-born women who’d fallen on bad luck. Still, there was something about her.

Of course it would be only too easy to focus on Robert’s governess. That would mean Chet wouldn’t have to think about the reason for this little sojourn—the malicious rumors about Lady Masten that were all over Town. Chet didn’t relish telling Robert the news. His friend had a bit of a temper, but still, it had to be done, and he was Rob’s best friend. So, it was up to him.

***

Juliet flew through the door to the schoolroom and then into her own small room and sank to the floor in a heap. Her time was ticking. Astwick had recognized her, she was certain. She waited, barely breathing, for a summons from the countess or the earl demanding answers.

She waited for what seemed an eternity. But no one came for her. Not until Peter and Penny finally returned to the schoolroom and announced that Lord Masten had gone to London with his friend.

Juliet certainly hadn’t expected that.

The next day was Wednesday, her day off, and she decided to put her time to good use. When Edmund returned and they set sail for Boston, they would need a place to stay. So she took out a quill and wrote to her sister.

My dearest Felicity,

I hope this letter finds you well. You cannot imagine how much I miss you, and would love to see your cheerful smile again. To that end, I would like to ask for your assistance. Edmund and I will be coming to visit you in Massachusetts for an extended period of time. Please find us suitable lodgings, something that befits a duke. I will be happy to take care of all payments upon our arrival. It will be truly lovely to see you again, my dear sister. You are always in my thoughts, and we have so much to discuss.

Your loving and devoted sister,

Juliet

She couldn’t bring herself to tell Felicity about Georgie or the circumstances she currently found herself in. Not in a letter. That was something that would need to be done in person.

In Boston.

Before she knew it, Juliet found herself in the library, combing through Lord Masten’s old books. Surely he had something on America. Though Felicity had always been enthralled with the subject, Juliet hadn’t ever been interested. But now that she and Edmund were destined to start life over there, Juliet decided it was time to learn something about the place. She’d only ever thought of it as a wilderness filled with savages. Hopefully there was more to it than that.

“Miss Mitford.” Lady Masten’s panicked voice entered her thoughts. Then she rushed to where Juliet stood near one of the bookcases.

For a moment, Juliet thought her heart was going to pound right out of her chest. Why did the countess have to find her here of all places? Certainly it would strike her memory about Luke. But the countess looked anguished, and she clutched Juliet’s hand tightly. “Thank heavens you’re here.”

 “It is very important that you never leave them alone, Miss Mitford.” Then she sighed. “In fact, would you mind if we moved your bed into the nursery for the next little while so that you can stay with them at night too?”

Stay with them at night too? Juliet was certain the countess had lost her mind. “Sleep with the children as well, my lady?”

“I’m not feeling my best, Miss Mitford.” She went on to explain, “And with Masten gone I’m afraid that if something happened to either Peter or Penny that I couldn’t reach them in time.”

Juliet frowned in response. Really, this wasn’t like the countess at all. “I’m just down the hall as it is, Lady Masten.”

“Please, Miss Mitford, don’t ask me to explain.”

Juliet agreed, of course. She couldn’t risk refusing the countess’ bizarre request. She was on thin ice as it was. However, it then took Juliet no time at all to discover the source of Lady Masten’s discomfort. Her brother, Naval Lieutenant Henry Warner, had arrived at Gosling Park. Though he was tall, tanned, and handsome, there was something sinister about the Lieutenant, as if he possessed a dark soul beneath a charming façade. A dark soul that reminded Juliet of her uncle, which was reason enough to keep the children away from him.

Lord Masten had chosen a fine time to go off gallivanting to London. Did all Beckford men leave when they were needed most?

~ 28 ~

Luke hadn’t slept well. The ugly rumors going around Town had kept him up for half the night, and all previous nights. He could shoot himself for confiding in Cecily Rigsley, but he could shoot her for twisting his words. Thank God he hadn’t mentioned Juliet that night. She’d be ruined if the ton knew she was masquerading as a governess.

Juliet.

Trying to sleep was painful, as he saw her face in his mind whenever he closed his eyes to rest. Her pretty, pink lips quirked up in a knowing grin. Her big, brown eyes twinkling happily. He’d had it all, everything he’d desired in life, and he’d somehow let it slip away from him.

He shaved and dressed, though he had no place to go, no one to see—but it was better than lying in bed and visualizing Juliet next to him.

Suddenly, there was a loud pounding on his door, and Luke was snapped back from his reverie. Surprised to have a visitor this early in the morning, he strode toward the door. The pounding increased in both intensity and force as he neared it.

 “Lucas! Open the bloody door!” bellowed Robert’s voice.

What the devil was Robert doing in London? Luke wrenched open the door and his heart seized when he saw his brother’s anguished face. “Robert?” Then reality sunk in. The rumors had reached Dorset. “Oh, God, you’ve heard.” His eyes dropped to the floor.

Robert roared into the room, pushing Luke’s chest with both hands. “I should kill you on the spot.”

Actually, Luke would welcome Robert putting him out of his misery. He nodded his head in agreement. “Aye, you probably should.”

Robert held Luke’s jacket in his clutches and he growled with an intense fury, “How could you do this to me? How could you maliciously destroy my wife like that?”

Still Luke couldn’t meet his eyes and refused to fight back. His brother was well within his rights to properly thrash him, and Luke wouldn’t blame him one bit. “I have no excuse, Robert. I was deep in my cups, but I shouldn’t have talked to Cecily.”

“Cecily?” Robert spit out, while his eyes flashed with surprise. “What does she have to do with this?”

When Robert released his hold on his lapels, Luke slid noiselessly into the seat beneath him and dropped his head into his hands with a shrug.  “I don’t really know. Though I’m certain she’s the only one I said anything to. But, honestly, Rob, she seemed so concerned.”

“Why would you tell Cecily Rigsley that you got my wife with child?” Robert demanded coldly, bloodlust still in his eyes.

Luke snorted and his head shot up. “I never said that! At least I don’t think I did. I can’t imagine saying such a thing. Honestly, Rob, I don’t know who the father is, but I know for certain it’s not me. If that’s what this is about.”

Robert balled up his fist and spoke through clinched teeth. Luke had never seen him so furious. “Let me make myself very clear to you, Lucas. That is my child. Mine. I sired it.”

How could his intelligent brother be so blind to his wife’s nature? It really was pitiful. “Robert,” he replied wearily, “I know you think so, but—”

Before Luke knew what had happened, Robert lifted him from his seat by his jacket and thrust him against the nearest wall. Hatred blazed in his brother’s eyes. Luke had never been frightened of Robert—not until this very moment.

“I don’t just think so,” his brother bit out forcefully, banging Luke’s head as he spoke. “I have never been more certain of anything in my life. Do you hear me?”

There was no point in arguing with the fool, so Luke nodded, though he cast sympathetic eyes on his brother. Robert loved his wife and that kept him from seeing the truth about her. It was quite sad, really.

Finally, Robert dropped him back to the ground with a thud. Then he explained to Luke, in no uncertain terms, that he would help him set things to rights.

It didn’t really matter if Luke believed Robert’s assertions or not about the paternity of the child. His brother believed the child was his, and the situation was something Luke would just have to come to terms with. Besides, he’d caused this little problem, and he’d do whatever Robert asked of him.

***

A plan was called into action, with Caroline as the architect. After all, who knew better than their sister how to manipulate society to her whims? She was like a field general, directing movement on all fronts. Everyone had a job to perform and a role to play.  Luke and Robert were to be seen everywhere together. Astwick and Staveley took the gentlemen’s social clubs. Caroline was responsible for young matrons, by far the most vicious of harpies. Somehow she’d even roped the widowed Lady Astwick into taking care of the older, most influential members of the ton, though how Caroline managed that Luke had no idea. All groups had a common goal: protect Robert’s small family at all costs.

The costs were to all be paid by Luke, in one form or another.

He accepted his fate with a grudging smile. There was nothing to be done about it. However it did bother him that Caroline could barely look at him. Apparently, she and Juliet were corresponding, and while his sister seemed overwhelmingly concerned with his princess, she didn’t seem to be concerned about him at all. He’d tried to talk to her once, but she leveled him with a stony gaze before turning her back on him completely.

So he focused, instead, on the job at hand.

Since Robert’s unforgiving nature was legendary, they could use that to their advantage. No one would believe that the Earl of Masten would go about Town with the man who cuckolded him, brother or not, and everyone knew it. Therefore, over the next few days, Robert and Luke were seen everywhere together: the theatre, Astley’s Amphitheatre, and at one club or another along St. James.