Fate Is A Stranger: Regency Romance (15 page)

"I will be embarrassed beyond belief," said Galena with an ugly look to her eyes, "if this should ever come out. Perhaps it will stay under cover that way as I don't believe that meddlesome Sir Roland would like to honor those harlots with such a connection. Just don't
you
mention it to anyone, Mama."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Galena."

"Let’s talk of something else," said Galena with an ugly twist of her mouth, "Your revelation has only depressed me. I fear that time is of the essence, now." She felt outraged by her mother's unwelcome information.

Her heart-shaped face fell with worry and her eyes drooped

"I believe I may take Lady de Compte's advice, for I think once the duke begins a liaison with that courtesan it will take up the whole of the season and I will see less and less of him at the balls and soirees."

"Rome was not built in one day, love," said her mother, "but I have every confidence in your ability. You always obtain what you set your heart on. But, what exactly has Lady de Compte suggested you do?"

"Nothing yet, Mama," said Galena quickly. It had been a mistake to mention Lady de Compte. She could see that her mother now had a worried frown. "Never mind Lady de Compte, In fact, I will see less of her, I am sure, for she tires me."

"It should be with young girls your age that you should gad about, my dear. La, when I was your age I had many friends who called on me at all hours."

* * *

"And what have you decided to wear at the picnic, my sweet? Asked Sadie of her daughter.

"I thought perhaps the sprigged yellow muslin and the blue shawl," said Violet.

"Wonderful choice," said Lady Bea, from the window seat.

"Yes, my dear, Bea is right. An excellent choice," said Sadie. "I can’t wait to see you in that new muslin gown, Violet. And as it is still a bit chilly when the sun goes behind the clouds the shawl will come in handy."

"What will you wear, Mama?'

"The deep blue Levantine with the long sleeves, my dear. I haven't yet come out of my cold. I shall also take my heavy wool shawl. I don't want my cold to come back and be bedridden, when I am so enjoying your first social success. I hope your father arrives before the ball, at least, for if he does not I shall be desolate."

Lord Kelly's business journey up north was also to include a visit with his son Charles. Charles and Elaine were expecting their first child and could not come down to the castle house party.

"Mama, this is hardly a success." Violet plopped down on the bed beside her mother. "It's quite obvious to everyone what the duke is after and they cannot be envious."

"That girl, Lady Galena, certainly must be."

"Lady Galena? I don’t know her," said Violet.

"She’s a young friend of Lady de Compte. Or at least lately she is her friend. I had not seen them together before. Yet I was observing her and she seemed not to take her eyes off the duke."

"Many people cannot take their eyes off him," said Violet laughing, "I noticed that myself when I was dancing with him. I could almost feel pin pricks on my back from the many eyes observing us. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling, I can tell you."

"You must ignore that, my dear, for it cannot be helped."

"Do you know that Jared calls the duke 'Uncle Perry'?" Violet asked her mother. "It almost seems as though he is talking of someone else when he says it. I have also seen him address him as 'Uncle Perry' and it seems quaint to me, as he is the only one who calls him thus. He is his grace to most people and 'Hawk' to his friends. He seems somehow less intimidating when referred to by Jared as 'Uncle Perry' but I'm sure that is only a fancy. He certainly seems like 'Hawk' to me. I confess I am awed by him and cannot feel I could really ever come to know him well, no matter that we have had numerous encounters." She suppressed their unfortunate encounter in the wood, replacing it quickly with another thought.

"That seems a curious thing to say," said her mother.

"Mama, you look so pale. I'm being selfish, keeping you here talking. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Now that you say, it my dear, I confess I haven't felt myself since we left London. I don't know what could be the matter. Perhaps it is only melancholy. Your father has been gone for two days and I miss him terribly. He is the anchor of my life, my dear. And I must admit I can never be entirely at ease when he is on the road. Only when he is back again at my side will I feel better. The threat of highwaymen keeps me awake at night."

"I miss him terribly too. But you mustn't think of highwaymen, Mama, it will only upset you.

"I wish Calvin had been well enough to make the trip to the castle with us," she added.

Calvin, Violet's half-brother was a frail young man who was prone to illness.

"He was not well enough but only because of a cold, my dear. It appears
la grippe
is on a rampage throughout the country. But I am at ease, for the physician your father procured for him two years ago has improved Calvin's health so much he is a changed person. That tonic he gives him makes him stronger by the day."

Violet turned to gaze at Lady Bea who was dozing by the window and snoring softly. She took a coverlet and covered the lady with it, smiling at her with affection.

"Yes. We could spend the whole day talking about how wonderful Papa has been to us and it would not be enough, Mama," said Violet, coming back from the window, her eyes misting.

"Would you like for me to ring for a tea tray?" she asked. "I believe it would take your mind off Papa, for a while, at least. He will be coming soon, you must not dwell so much on it. Certainly our stay here provides a lot of entertainment that may keep your mind off worries. And even though you are restrained by your cold, I don't believe fresh air and sunlight as will be provided at the picnic would do you harm.

"Yes, Vi. A cup of tea would make me feel much better, I am certain of it. I do want to be in spirits for the picnic, but only for your sake."

"If it’s only for
my
sake you are going to the picnic don’t do so, Mama, the picnic is unimportant to me. It’s your health that concerns me. I don’t like to see you sad. And I shall not attend either if you do not; I would prefer to keep you company."

"No. That would not make me at all happy," said Sadie quickly. "I will be well enough with the tea. Besides, it’s several hours before the picnic. I have ample time to rest and regain my energy."

Violet left her mother asleep after she had finished her tea. She went to the window seat and looked down at the lawns.

Her mind fled again to her interlude in the wood as her body shook with longing and regret. She realized her heart was broken and it would never mend.

CHAPTER 15

She must not allow herself to be alone with Hawk ever again, thought Violet as she glanced at her mother. It was several hours later and almost time for the picnic. Sadie's cold had not improved. In fact, she seemed paler and more listless than before.

How Violet wished her father's business up north had not taken so much time.

She sighed with exasperation. They had received a letter by express in which Lord Kelly informed them that he would probably miss the entire house party and return only to escort them back to London.

“I do miss him terribly, my dear," said Sadie as she folded the letter, which she had read to Violet. "But at least he will be coming back in time to return to London with us. I cannot feel safe in the highway without him, even with the outriders."

As a child Violet had often wished that her father had not died, for Sadie, unable to tell Violet about Lord Kelly, had told her instead that her father was someone else, someone who had died. Violet's innocent wishes and prayers had been that perhaps her mother had obtained wrong information and that her father had not died when she was born and that someday he would return.

She would fantasize that ogres and monsters held her father captive and that was why he could not come to her, but that once freed he would miraculously work his way and finally reach her. She outgrew those childhood wishes, yet the hurt and the longing had stayed, muted in her soul.

Then God had, incredibly so, granted her dearest wish! How could she not believe in miracles when several had happened in her life?

She had been speechless when her mother confessed to her that Lord Kelly was her father.

"Yes, Mama," she agreed wholeheartedly, coming back from her drift to the past, "at least Papa will return in time to take us back to London. We should not have come, with you not feeling well."

"I insisted on it, my dear, remember?" Sadie asserted. "And do stop worrying about me. It is not the first time I am with a cold."

* * *

"What are you so thoughtful about, Miss Durbin?"

Violet could not disguise the surprise in her voice as Lady Galena approached her and sat by her on the lawn bench.

"Nothing at all, my lady, just enjoying this lovely day."

"Please call me Galena, my friends do," said Galena.

"As you wish," said Violet. "Please call me Violet, my lady." Violet said what was expected of her because she could hardly do otherwise even as she wondered at the girl’s friendliness when before she had ignored Violet.

Perhaps the duke's invitation to Castle Cynweir had broken down some barriers for them in society, if the haughty Lady Galena now sought her company.

But Violet prized her solitude and if this 'acceptance' meant she would have less of it she certainly did not welcome the acceptance for her part. Besides, with the fickleness of society, who knew the reasons for this change? Perhaps they were only waiting to see what others would do.

Violet hardly knew Galena and so had really nothing to say, so she commented on the fine weather for the picnic and then was silent. But Galena was not short on conversation.

"I have been meaning to talk to you Violet, but have hesitated because you seem so withdrawn."

"Talk to me? Of something in particular, my lad—"

"Galena."

“It seems we have a mutual friend."

"Friend?"

"Yes, Lady de Compte has assured me she is well acquainted with your mother and she is particularly fond of you."

"Oh? Well, I…”

"I have been meaning to speak to you about it, Violet, but you always seem so remote. I could not think how to approach you. I then happened to mention this to Lady de Compte and she suggested I speak to you without ceremony and perhaps it will be the first step towards friendship between us. So that is what I did. You are not sorry I did?"

"No, not at all. I'm—glad you told me, Galena," said Violet. She did not want to sound unappreciative of Galena's enthusiasm at seeking friendship with her.

"Would you like to stroll down that path and view the gathering crowd? I believe some people are still arriving that missed the first ball. And how festive it looks," said Galena, and added, "and there is something else I wanted to talk to you about."

"Something else?"

"Papa told me your father is thinking of buying Windsong from me."

"Windsong?"

"My mare."

"That's a nice name for a mare," said Violet. Did you name her?"

"Papa did."

"Yes," added Violet. "Papa mentioned that the best horse for me he had seen was yours. That is, I didn't know it was yours, just that the Earl of Maddington and he had talked about it. Why are you selling it?"

"I don't ride very much," answered Galena, "so Windsong is seldom exercised, except when the grooms take her out. Do you ride?"

"Every day, almost," answered Violet. "But in London I only have access to Lady Bea's mare, Meadow, and that mare is getting very old."

"Then you'll be happy with Windsong." Galena glanced at the crowd. "The day is fine for a picnic."

"Yes.”

"I hear your mother is ill with a cold, as is my mama," she added."

"Yes," said Violet, “Mama is ill. It seems this malady has affected a lot of people."

"Shall we return, Violet?" asked Galena. “I see Mama motioning to me. "They had gone up the hill a little ways along a path.

When they joined the rest of the gathering, Galena turned to Violet. "I hope to see you later."

"Yes, of course," said Violet.

"And what is of such importance that you must make such a spectacle of yourself, Mama, by frantically motioning to me," asked Galena.

"I am to return to London, my love, I do not feel well," said the countess, and indeed she looked extremely pale.

"You know I will not return with you, Mama. It’s bothersome of you to interrupt this soiree for me."

"But Lady Daving has been forced to leave this house party, Galena, because Lord Daving has taken ill, I believe with this
grippe
that has come to us from France. She was keeping an eye on you." Lady Maddington glanced at her spoiled daughter. "You must return to London with me or I shall be forced to stay at the castle, feeling ill as I do. You know that under better circumstances I would not dream of taking you back with me and spoiling your holiday."

"You’re not going to spoil my holiday, Mama, don’t even think it, for I will not return with you. I believe that means that you must stay."

"Galena, can’t you see how ill I am?"

"You can be ill in London as well as here and here you are of service to me, Mama," the girl countered angrily, "What is the difference
where
you are ill?"

"I can’t believe you can be so cold-hearted and cruel to your mother."

"Mama, leave the tragedies for Drury Lane for I will not listen anymore." And with that, Galena advised her mother to return to her room as she would be more comfortable there than outdoors, where she might get even worse, with the cool breeze.

Galena's attention was only partly on her mother as she surveyed the picnic area, on the lookout for her quarry, the duke.

"You will promise to behave properly, Galena?" asked the countess weakly, as she motioned to her maid.

"Most faithfully, Mama," said Galena absently.

* * *

"But Cade, are you quite certain of this?" Lady de Compte ran a hand over her forehead, smoothing out worry lines.

She had never imagined that Souten would take his obsession with Violet to such lengths.

What he was considering was a criminal act in the eyes of the law. What could she do to extricate herself from his scheming now that it had taken a violent turn? One thing was bringing him bits of information to aid him in his pursuit of Violet but quite another was to become a partner in crime with him, as he had proposed.

Lady de Compte realized she was trembling all over and hoped to God Souten would not notice. She had realized too late that Souten was a dangerous man. Why had she entangled herself with him? The answer was obvious: her debts and her illicit acts such as lifting a few pounds from ladies' reticules when they were in their cups, of which he was aware…

She suppressed the horror she felt and succeeded to at least not reveal it in her eyes as Lord Souten continued to disclose his plan to her. They were under an elm, quite apart from the rest of the picnic guests.

"Yes, I am quite certain of it, Vera. I have had to pull up the date. Violet is falling in love with the duke. I cannot allow that to happen; besides, her mother's illness works quite neatly into my plans. No one will suspect anything, as it will only appear that Lady Kelly got a turn for the worse."

"And that woman assured you the herbs will only make a person sick, not put the person's life in any danger?" Vera suppressed a shudder.

"No danger to speak of. Besides, I have used the herbs myself on others, on occasion."

"Others?" asked Vera faintly.

"A recalcitrant mistress or two who could not accept her
conge
with grace, Vera. Being often ill in my company soon convinced them that to make an issue of our temporary relationship was a mistake. And each of those times it was completely harmless."

Vera shivered, even so.

"It still seems like a terrible risk," she said in a small voice. "What if by the merest chance it should go wrong? What if Lady Kelly became
extremely
ill? What would you do then?"

"Stop with the what ifs," said Souten, highly annoyed. "Who exactly would connect me to it? Tell me that? Is there a way that anyone could prove it was I who put the herbs in her tea?"

"Well, no, but what about the servant who is to take the tea? That person would know."

"Not even that maid would know, because she would not realize that I had switched the teas."

"Even so, I still do not understand how you are to take the ailing Lady Kelly out of the castle. How exactly are you to accomplish that?"

"She will be practically in a faint when I take her out," Souten assured Vera, shaking his head in exasperation. "A person in such a state as Lady Kelly will be in will hardly know what's going on. Then, when we have her away from the castle it will be easy for Galena to convince Violet to run to her mother's aid."

"And she will not ask why it is that her mother has left the castle without letting her know she is doing so?"

"Emergencies often make people act in different ways.

“You'll see. I have everything mapped out to the last detail. I spent most of the night planning it. I almost didn't sleep."

"I still believe you are taking terrible risks," insisted Lady de Compte. And involving me in it, she would have added if she didn't fear Souten's reaction to those words.

Vera had gone along with Souten's plans in theory, and had only a hazy idea of what he intended. But now that he had disclosed them to her in detail, she was having a hard time disguising her opposition. Surely if he were caught, and she along with him for aiding him, there would be dire consequences.

"It’s a dangerous scheme, Cade. You must think this over carefully; give it another day or two in which to consider it. Keep in mind that though Violet may have at one time been without protection, she has the protection of her father, Lord Kelly, now, and even the interest of the Duke of Hawkinston."

"The duke will distance himself from her once she becomes notorious, and if she wants to please her father, as we know she does, she will be anxious to agree to the marriage with me, for an elopement is not so out of the ordinary these days," added Souten with self-assurance. "Surely you don’t believe I have not thought of all the ramifications, Vera? I’m not a fool."

He
was
a fool, thought Vera, if he believed this would not have consequences as far as the Duke of Hawkinston was concerned. Hawkinston was a powerful man and quite smitten with the girl himself. The thousands of violets in honor of Violet and this sojourn itself were proof of it. Was Cade insane? And what was more, was
she
not insane also if she allowed Cade to entangle her in his scheme?

Up until now helping Cade had been just a matter of gathering bits of information here and there, things for which Vera had a natural talent. But
this
? What Cade was proposing was a criminal act, something that would have terrible consequences should they be caught.

Vera had a strong sense of self-preservation and she heard loud warnings in her head not to go along with Souten's plans. What was more, she had never participated in anything illegal—other than lifting a few pounds from unsuspecting ladies’ reticules—as this plan surely was.

Souten's obsession with Violet was making him irrational. How did he expect such a harebrained scheme to work? And he expected her absolute compliance in this when it was obvious his obsessive love was making him plan reckless schemes. Yet how was Vera to avoid helping him? She would be in danger herself if he sensed she was backing out of helping him.