Her Grace in Disgrace (The Widows of Woburn Place) (33 page)

 This
seemed a likely time to take his leave, having delivered his message and
expressed his thanks. But Lord Charles had one more item weighing heavily on
him. Despite his rapidly decreasing energy and rising pain, he chose not to
take his leave. “Lady Warwick, I cannot leave without once again expressing my
deep regret for the horrible wrong I have done to you. My only defense is
desperation, and it is a cowardly defense at that. I hope one day you can truly
forgive me.”

“Charles,
do you not remember that I forgave you at least three times while you were
still under my roof. I do not excuse you, as I told you then, but I do forgive
you. Please, it is forgotten. I hope we can be friends.”

“I
could not believe you were serious. What I tried to do was despicable.”  Lord
Charles sighed and closed his eyes. He was so weary.

“Charles,
please do not distress yourself. Should I call for your valet?”

“No,
thank you, Lady Warwick. I am fine,” he lied.

“Charles,
if we are to be friends, you must call me Adriana.”

“I
would very much like to be friends, Adriana.”

The
tea while a delayed in its delivery, arrived at the perfect time. Adriana
poured him a cup of the brew, Charles accepted, and they both tacitly agreed to
change the mien of their conversation.

“How
are you getting on at Woburn Place, Charles. Though you look a bit peaked at
the moment, you appear to have much improved over all,” observed Adriana.

 “My
appearance has vastly improved and I have regained the use of my left hand. My
leg will be another two weeks healing, my ribs a bit longer. I am to stay at
Woburn place at least until I can walk out on my own two feet. I shall bravely
endure the house being overrun with females.”

“Overrun
with females?” asked Adriana, curious.

Charles
proceeded to tell Adriana about the widow’s home that had been so recently
begun at 65 Woburn Place. She was astounded and very pleased.

“Well,
you are indeed the bearer of good news today, Charles. What a marvelous idea of
Miss Kennilworth’s.” While Charles agreed in theory, he could not like being so
much in the minority. He gave a wan smile. “But I wonder,” continued Adriana, “How
can they all possibly survive on the small competence that Reginald left Miss
Kennilworth?”

“It
seems daunting. I do believe Lady Whitcomb has a few hundred pounds as well,
but I know Lady Tyndale and Mrs. Endicott are as poor as church mice.”

Adriana
was mulling over that thought when the door to the Blue Parlor burst open and
Reggie and his puppy burst in. “Mama! I have taught Duke how to sit! Do you
want to see.” Before she could answer, Reggie noticed Charles. “Uncle Charles!
You came back. Do you feel better?”

“I
do, you young scamp,” he said as he ruffled the boy’s hair. “Now let us see
Duke’s new trick.”

*****

Adriana
Aiken, Lady Warwick, for the second time descended from her coach and climbed
the three steps to number 65 Woburn Place. She was ushered into the parlor by
Renfrew just as Isobel, Laura, and Lady Whitcomb were finishing their tea.
Serena and Charis were in the upstairs salon playing with newly bought blocks.

Renfrew
at his haughtiest announced the duchess. The three other ladies stood and
greeted Lady Warwick. Isobel introduced Laura to Lady Warwick. “Of course, Lady
Tyndale. I have heard many nice things about you. It is nice to finally meet
you.”

“I
am happy as well,” agreed Laura.

 Isobel
offered Lady Warwick a seat and a cup of tea, both of which she took.

“I
have come to ask a favor, Miss Kennilworth,” said Lady Warwick.

“Of
course, what can I do for you, Lady Warwick?” Isobel was still grateful to her
for her largesse with Charles.

“It
is a little awkward and perhaps a bit forward of me…” she hesitated. Laura and
Lady Whitcomb took that as a cue to leave the other two women alone.

“I
should check on Serena and Charis,” said Lady Whitcomb, sounding like a bad
actress.

“I
will help you,” declared Laura.

“No,
please, stay if you are able, for it involves you as well.” They stayed. “You
see, I have heard of your widows’ home and I would like to be a part of it.”

“But,
you have a home. Two homes,” declared a surprised Lady Maude.

“Three
actually,” chuckled Adriana good naturedly. “You misunderstand me. I do not
mean to live here, but I would like to help to organize it and finance it.”

“That
is very kind of you, Lady Warwick, but why?” Isobel asked. “I do not mean to be
ungrateful; I just do not quite understand.”

“It
is fairly simple. I am a widow, but I am a fortunate one. But, for the grace of
God it could all be different. I would like to help.”

“But
you are a duchess. Once you are out of mourning you will be the toast of the
ton
and therefore very busy,” Laura said.

“I
will enjoy entering society in a few months’ time, but one cannot live solely
for balls and routs. I would enjoy very much being involved in helping people,
in helping widows in distress.”

Isobel
hesitated. It could prove awkward working with Lady Warwick and she was not
sure what to do.

“And
lest you think me high minded, I have another reason. I am lonely and bored. I
would like to feel as if I am doing something useful. I am also in need of
friends. I was hoping you ladies might fulfill that need,” said Adriana, laying
her soul bare.

“After
all I have done?” burst out Isobel, and then covered her mouth with her hand.

“We
have been through all that. It is past, buried. I would like to be involved in
your future and the future of the widows’ home.”

“How
exactly would you like to be involved?” asked Lady Whitcomb.

“I
would like to donate five thousand pounds per annum and be involved in planning
and managing the home. I would like to be a partner.”

The
three other women could not speak. Five thousand pounds! It was too generous.
Niggling doubts began to surface in Isobel’s mind. What would she want for her
five thousand pounds? Seeing Isobel’s skeptical look, Adriana went on to
clarify, “You see, I did say this was awkward. Let me be clear, I would not
want to be the person in charge. I truly just want to be a part of something
good.”

“I
am for it,” announced Lady Whitcomb, beaming from ear to ear.

“I
have no objection,” agreed Laura.

“It
would be our pleasure to have you join us, Lady Warwick,” Isobel confirmed,
still stunned at her generosity.

“Adriana,
please…Isobel.”

“Adriana.
Thank you. We should probably formalize all of this.”

The
ladies spent a long time talking and dreaming. Finally, they agreed to meet in
two days’ time with Mr. Pickens to file all the necessary papers. After Adriana
took her leave, each of the ladies felt a sense of excitement and that a bit of
history was in the making.

*****

Lady
Warwick had just arrived back at Wren House, when Lady Joanna Temple was
announced. The two ladies, though not having been formally introduced, did not
let that hinder their almost immediate rapport. They spoke of Charles and the
upcoming wedding. Lady Joanna was introduced to Reggie, duly admired Duke and
drank a large quantity of tea. At last, Lady Joanna finally raised the true
purpose of her visit.

“You
see, Lady Warwick, something must be done about Lord Saybrooke and Miss
Kennilworth and you are just the one to help.”

Lady
Warwick was intrigued. And thus the plot was hatched.

Two
days later, Isobel, Laura, Lady Whitcomb and Adriana met at Pickens, Walworth
and Pickens to formalize their venture, the Warwick Home for Widows. Mr.
Pickens, though confounded by the camaraderie shared by Lady Warwick and Miss
Kennilworth, was unexpectedly quite pleased by the idea.

There
was a lot of tedious and legal discussion about the structuring of the charity,
Mr. Pickens giving the four ladies the benefit of his many years in the
practice of law. In the end it was decided and legally documented that the four
women shared responsibility and ownership equally. And so the Warwick Home for
Widows was established.

After
they arrived home, Lady Whitcomb left to check on Charis and Serena. Isobel and
Laura, full of excitement and ideas, got to work planning the widow’s home.
They were seated at a small table in the parlor with their notebooks and
inkwells at the ready, sharing thoughts and strategies. Now, with Adriana’s
pledge of five thousand pounds, they could do so much.  Inspired, they sat dreaming
out loud for over an hour, discussing the future of the widow’s home. Laura
could not contain her enthusiasm. Ideas popped out of her mouth in rapid
succession. It warmed Isobel’s heart to see Laura happy. Isobel, too, was very
eager to begin and expand this much needed home for widows. But there was still
an ache inside of her. She had made reparations with Laura, and now even with
Adriana, but something was still amiss. Saybrooke, of course. It hurt so much
to have him disapprove of her, but it also made her angry. He had given her
that rousing speech about coming to grips with his own sins and less than an
hour later he had condemned her again. She must forget him.

“Isobel?”
Laura was speaking to her.

“I
am sorry, Laura. I was woolgathering. What was it you said?”

Laura
was about to repeat it when Renfrew knocked lightly and entered, carrying a
note from Adriana inviting her to tea that very day. The invitation did not
include Laura or Aunt Maude.
How strange,
she thought. And then she had
a moment of panic.
Perhaps Adriana has changed her mind
.

Isobel
explained to Laura that she had been asked to call on Adriana alone. Laura,
too, seemed worried. “Do you think she has changed her mind?” asked Laura,
echoing Isobel’s thoughts.

“I
do not know, but I believe that I should go. If you will excuse me, I will go
and change.” Isobel rose.

“Of
course, I am feeling a little weary, so I will just go and rest for a short time.”

Glancing
at the note, Isobel once again sat down at the table and wrote a brief reply.
She went upstairs to find Manning, her thoughts full of foreboding.

*****

Saybrooke
had just bowled a Yorker to the batsman, the little blighter Robbie, who cut
with an attacking shot, when Daniel, one of his footmen arrived with a note.
The delay in the game caused the young cricketers to grumble. After Saybrooke
had read the note and told the boys he must leave, they booed their
disappointment.

“Next
week, boys, I will try and make it up and stay longer,” he placated. To Daniel
he said, “Run ‘round to Wren House and relay a message to Her Grace that I will
be pleased to accept her invitation and will be there by three o’clock.”

He
mounted Ezekiel and trotted, (that being the fastest pace he was able to
maintain in the congested streets of London) back to Stafford House to change
into appropriate attire for tea at Wren House. Lady Warwick had pressed him to
come. He could not say why her politely worded and abbreviated missive conveyed
a sense of urgency. It merely said:

Lord
Saybrooke,

I
apologize for any inconvenience this might cause, but I would be most grateful
if you would call at Wren House at three o’clock this afternoon.

Sincerely,

Adriana
Aiken, Dowager Duchess of Warwick

Nonetheless,
he felt somehow that it was pressing. So, at three minutes past three o’clock
Saybrooke’s phaeton drew up to Wren House and he alit, his appearance flawless;
even his hair was tidy.

Saybrooke
was received by Sloane, the elderly butler, who motioned him to the door of the
Blue Parlor. Saybrooke smiled, thinking of the last time he had entered this
room. Izzy had been doing away with every breakable object in the room. Sloane
announced him and he entered to find Lady Warwick, Lady Joanna, Miss Parrish,
and Isobel. The first three ladies greeted him as if he were expected, which
indeed he was. Isobel, however, registered only shock and looked as if she
would cast up her accounts. Saybrooke’s expression was not dissimilar.

Lady
Joanna stood. “Lord Saybrooke, while it is undeniably lovely to see you, Mary
and I must be off. She has a fitting at the modiste for her wedding clothes.
She is to be married to Captain Danvers next week.”

“Congratulations,
Miss Parrish,” Saybrooke managed, gathering up his wits. Miss Parrish smiled
shyly in reply.

Goodbyes
were made by one and all and Lady Warwick offered Saybrooke a seat and some
tea. He took both. Saybrooke and Isobel nervously eyed each other in the silent
room. Just as Saybrooke opened his mouth to say some trifling thing to fill the
void, Sloane entered the room.