Her Grace in Disgrace (The Widows of Woburn Place) (31 page)

“Yes,
Mama. But Mama, if we have the carriage and the coachman, by what means did you
come to Woburn Street?”

“I
came in a hackney,” said Lady Doncaster in disgust.

“Mama!”
replied Lady Joanna, once more astonished.

“One
does what one must for one’s children, Joanna,” her long-suffering mother
declared.

Lady
Joanna cast a longing glance at Lord Charles and walked to the front door with
Miss Parrish in her wake.

Lady
Doncaster turned once again to Charles. “Lord Doncaster has informed me that if
no other suitor makes an offer soon, he will compel Joanna to marry Pelton.
Were I you, lame or not, I would call upon Lord Doncaster as soon as possible
with an offer.”

“But,
My Lady, my suit is laughable, compared to Pelton’s.”

“Perhaps,
but do you not think you should at least try. If you do not care enough to make
the effort, you do not deserve my Joanna.”

Lord
Charles was silent but a moment. “I will come tomorrow morning, My Lady. I
shall send round a note to his Lordship straightaway.”

Lady
Doncaster nodded her head in acknowledgment and sailed out of the room. Isobel
and Lord Charles stood for a moment, each lost in wonder at what had just
happened.

“That
was quite magnificent. I have never seen Lady Doncaster so…so masterful,” said
Lord Charles in awe. “It almost gives me hope.”

“That,
Charles, was a mother tigress protecting her cub,” declared Isobel. Lord
Charles shivered. “Charles, how are you to manage getting to Grosvenor Square
tomorrow.”

“I
am not sure, but I will go if Renfrew has to carry me. I would worry about my
dignity suffering from it but since Lord Doncaster will most likely laugh me
out of his house, it is much less of a concern.”

“You
are the son of a duke, Charles,” Isobel pointed out.

“And
Pelton is handsome and rich and a future Marquess. I hold out little hope,”
refuted Lord Charles.

“Then
you underestimate your Lady Joanna…and her mother.” And me, thought Isobel, as
she devised another scheme.

*****

It was late to make a call, but Isobel,
nonetheless, stood outside of Wren House, her former home and knocked on the
door. She was readily admitted by Sloane and had to wait but a few seconds for
Lady Warwick to join her.

“Miss Kennilworth.” Lady Warwick’s tone
was pleasant as always, her musical accent appealing.

“I am sorry to call so late, Lady
Warwick, but I have come on a matter of some importance.”

“Please sit down. Would you care for
tea?” offered Lady Warwick, though it was long past tea time.

“No, thank you. Just a few moments of
your time.” Isobel’s nerve began to fail her, but she mustered her courage and
continued. “I have come about Lord Charles. I realize that it highly
impertinent of me after what has occurred, to dare ask you for anything, especially
on behalf of Charles.” Isobel paused. Lady Warwick said nothing, but no
impatience or anger appeared on her lovely face. She looked politely
interested. Isobel forged on. “Charles wishes to marry. These past weeks of
forced inactivity and the love of Lady Joanna Doncaster have wrought a change
in Charles. Oh, he was always a dear boy, just misguided. After all, both you
and I know he shared the same devil of a father as Reginald.” She paused again.

“Please continue, Miss Kennilworth, I am
interested,” encouraged Lady Warwick.

“Lady Joanna has encouraged him to turn
Hidenwood into a dairy farm. They have researched and planned. I believe he has
a good chance to make it work. But he needs capital and he needs to rid himself
of debt. If he married Lady Joanna, her dowry would pay his debts and give him
the capital that he needs, but he is loath to be thought a fortune hunter, for
he truly cares for the girl. To further complicate matters, he is in
competition with a much more eligible Lord Pelton for Lady Joanna’s hand,
though Lady Joanna claims she will not have Pelton. Charles has had a difficult
time of it and, though I do not condone his behavior toward you, I believe he
has learned his lesson and is ready to be a responsible adult.”

Isobel hesitated yet again, steeling
herself to reveal the true reason why she had come. Lady Warwick saw the
hesitation and recognized what Miss Kennilworth wanted of her. Unfortunately,
it was something she had promised Reginald she would not give. But, she would
let Miss Kennilworth say her piece. “That is good news, indeed, Miss
Kennilworth. I thank you for sharing this with me.”

“There, is more, Lady Warwick. I know of
the promise you made to Reginald and I understand your obligation to keep that
promise. But I truly believe that if Reginald were here and saw the change and
sense of purpose in Charles, he himself would be moved by it. I have come to
ask if you would reconsider and see your way to pay Charles’ debt. With his
debts behind him, he could go to Lord Doncaster tomorrow with his head held
high. I truly believe if Reginald were alive he would give him the money.”
Isobel stopped. There was no more to say. It remained only to wait for Lady
Warwick’s decision.

*****

Lord
Saybrooke heaved a sigh of relief as he handed Miss Wimpole back to her dragon
of a mother. The poor girl must have been so frightened living with such a
Gorgon, that she was afraid to open her mouth to speak. Or perhaps it was just
that she only knew a handful of words. Yes, My Lord. No, My Lord. Thank you, My
Lord. He scanned the crowd at Lord Bingham’s ballroom hoping to find a partner with
whom he could have some semblance of conversation. His eyes lit on Lady Joanna.
She looked up at that very moment and using her ivory fan, beckoned Saybrooke
to come. Saybrooke smiled. She definitely has conversation, he thought and he
slowly made his way toward her through the crowd.

“Joanna,
you are being too forward beckoning to Lord Saybrooke like that across the
room. Do you have a tendrè for him after all?” asked her very confused mother.

“No,
Mama, I am in love with Charles as you well know. And Lord Saybrooke is in love
with Miss Kennilworth.”

“Is
he truly? I had not heard that. And does she return his regard?”

“Yes,
but both of them are two proud or guilt ridden or both, to do anything about
it. That is why I beckoned to him. Someone must help them along.”

Lady
Doncaster groaned inwardly. “Joanna, what scheme are you hatching now?”

“Do
not fret, Mama. I know what I am doing.”

Along
with her superior smile, Lady Joanna wore a pale green silk gown with roses
embroidered on the hem. A halo of silk roses perched on her tumble of short
red-gold curls that framed her elfin face. To look at her just then, one would
have thought her the perfect debutante, proud, yet demur. One would have been
wrong.

Lord
Saybrooke made his way across the ballroom and stood before Lady Joanna. “Lady
Joanna, how delightful you look tonight. Would you do me the honor of standing
up with me for the next dance.”

“Thank
you Lord Saybrooke, but no.” Lady Joanna heard her mother’s intake of breath
behind her. She went on. “However, I would greatly appreciate it if you would
sit out the next dance with me. I would much rather converse.”

“I
would be honored, Lady Joanna,” Saybrooke replied, wondering if the chit could
read his mind.

“Truth
be told,” Joanna confided in Saybrooke as he guided her to a set of chairs. “Mama
forced me to buy these slippers because they match my dress so perfectly. But
they pinch!” Saybrooke laughed obediently and Lady Joanna continued speaking. “I
have not seen you lately, Lord Saybrooke. Where have you been hiding yourself?
The debutantes have greatly missed you,” teased Lady Joanna.

“Not
hiding, just busy. I have been involved in various charities and, of course, Parliament.”

“And
what are you working on in Parliament at present, Lord Saybrooke. And do not
think you will bore me. I am interested in many things,” Lady Joanna declared
in a worldly tone.

“I
am sure you are, My Lady,” said Saybrooke with an amused grin. “I am working
with Wilberforce and his group to abolish slavery in the British Colonies.“

“I
am glad to hear it, Lord Saybrooke. I, too, support the abolition of slavery,
but I had thought slavery already abolished.” Lady Joanna looked thoroughly
interested. Saybrooke had to admit he enjoyed this unusual creature. She
reminded him of Isobel.

“In
England itself, yes,” he answered her, “but it is still legal and rampant in
most of our colonies.”

“I
had not thought of that,” she replied thoughtfully and suddenly changed the
course of the conversation. “And this has kept you from the festivities of the
season?”

“I
attend a few events to keep my mother happy, but I apply myself to causes to
keep myself happy.”

“You
do not care for Polite Society any more than I, I take it?” asked Lady Joanna
with delight.

“I
care for the members of Polite Society, but not for the institution itself,”
judiciously replied Lord Saybrooke.

“I
do not care much for many of the members of Polite Society either, I am sad to
say. So many of them are so very arrogant and unpleasant.” Lady Joanna’s little
bow of a mouth curved downward into a pleasing frown.

“Everyone
is flawed, Lady Joanna. One must always look for the good in everyone,” said
Saybrooke in his best vicar’s voice.

“Well,
that is a perfectly stuffy and vicar-like thing to say.” Lady Joanna’s impish
grin gave away that she was hoaxing him.

“Am
I sounding pompous again? he replied with his own playful smile. “I beg your
pardon.”

“Not
at all, I was just teasing you.” The mercurial Lady Joanna once again jumped
without warning to a new topic, one that Saybrooke found both fascinating and
painful. “Oh, I completely have forgotten to thank you for giving me Miss
Kennilworth’s address. I have spent many an afternoon at Woburn Place.”

He
hesitated a moment, gathering his composure, determined not to reveal a hint of
emotion. “Have you, indeed? And your Mama permits it?”

“Surprisingly,
yes.” Lady Joanna warmed to her subject. “Woburn Place has become a very active
location! Lord Charles Aiken is staying there. He had quite a nasty accident
and Miss Kennilworth has been kind enough to let him convalesce in her home.
While not technically her brother in law I believe they have that sort of
relationship.”

Saybrooke
stiffened at the news. He had last seen Lord Charles safely ensconced at Wren
House. “Really? I had not thought them very brotherly or sisterly.” Saybrooke’s
voice was icy cold.

“Well,
they are.” Lady Joanna paused. “Can I tell you a great secret?” She did not
wait for affirmation. “Lord Charles and I have formed an attachment. He goes to
my father on the morrow!”

“You?
And Lord Charles Aiken?”

“Oh,
I know, I know. He has been quite a foolish boy in the past, but I am convinced
that he has mended his ways. I am helping him start a dairy farm.”

“A
dairy farm.” It was both a question and an incredulous statement.

“Yes,
on his estate in Derbyshire. Making cheese is all the thing up there you know.
It was my idea,” said the pert little miss proudly.

“How
does Miss Kennilworth feel about your attachment?” Saybrooke did his best to
sound detached, but much depended on her answer.

“She
is quite thrilled about it. She has been our champion, you know.”

Saybrooke
felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Once again he schooled his voice to sound
nonchalant. “How is she? Miss Kennilworth? Is she well.”

Baited,
hooked and caught! thought Lady Joanna. “She is indeed well, though very busy.
She is turning Woburn Place into a home for widows in distress!”

“She
what?”

“Well,
not all of Woburn Place of course, just number sixty five. But, yes, she and
Lady Tyndale…”

“Lady
Tyndale?” Saybrooke voice rose to such a pitch that he garnered unwanted
attention.

“Yes,
they have made it up, you see, since Miss Kennilworth saved Lady Tyndale’s life
after she almost died from the measles. And of course Lady Whitcomb is to be a
part of this venture. Their first widow is young lady named Mrs. Endicott, who
has a little daughter Charis. It is all quite noble and exciting.”

“Indeed,”
said Saybrooke nonplussed. “Quite exciting.”

“Yes,
Miss Kennilworth seems quite content now that she has a purpose. Though how
they all will contrive to live on 800 pounds a year is a mystery.”

“That
will be difficult,” replied Saybrooke, thinking of Isobel at Wren House with
her dozens of servants, her expensive gowns and costly jewels. Very difficult,
indeed, he thought.

“Now,
before I forget, I have a theological question to pose to you.” Saybrooke
inwardly objected. He wanted to continue talking about Isobel and this wild
venture of hers. But Lady Joanna continued with barely a breath. “I was having
a discussion with my sisters’ Governess the other day about the Bible. Why do
you look so surprised, Lord Saybrooke, do you not recommend the Bible as
reading material?”