The Disappearing Duchess (16 page)

‘Was my fortune your reason for accepting my offer?’ Justin asked. She shook her head, not daring to meet his gaze. He was silent a moment, then, ‘What did you hope to gain by bringing the child here? Surely you know what people will say if the truth gets out?’

‘I hoped…if we say she is my cousin’s child, people might believe us. Could you not allow her to stay here—as the child of my cousin? If you accepted her, people would believe you.’

‘Perhaps they might and I might agree—if there were no blackmailer. Do you think he would keep his
silence?’ His gaze narrowed as she flushed. ‘Have you received another blackmail letter?’ As she hesitated, he said sharply, ‘Come, Lucinda, the truth if you please. I would have no more lies. There have been too many.’

Lucinda swallowed a sob. ‘I am sorry. Please believe me, Justin. I did not enjoy deceiving you. I will give both letters to you this evening—if you wish me to stay here. I thought you might prefer me to leave.’

‘You are still my wife. I thought I made my position clear the first time, Lucinda. I am not willing to release you from your vows.’

‘Angela…my daughter, what of her?’

‘I have not yet decided what will be best for her. You must know that she cannot live here as your daughter. If we can convince others that she is your cousin’s child, an occasional visit may be acceptable; she might visit us or you her—but you should move her and your nanny into the nursery. Housing them in the attics was a mistake. It must have aroused suspicions. I shall speak to Mrs Mann and explain that the child was brought to you because the woman in whose care you placed her after her mother died could no longer care for her. You were unsure of what to do with her and did not like to use the nursery for your cousin’s child until I gave permission.’

Lucinda looked at him uncertainly. She had expected a show of temper, but he was calm, controlled and yet implacable. Her eyes brimming with tears, she made an emotional appeal.

‘She needs me—and I love her.’

‘I am aware that the child has come to rely on you, but she will be properly cared for wherever she goes, Lucinda. I am not a monster or without feeling, as you seem to imagine. She is your daughter and will be reared as a young lady. One day perhaps she may be introduced into our family as a distant cousin. I make no promises, but if you give me no cause to suspect you of reckless behaviour I shall allow you to see her occasionally. It is a better future than you could provide alone, I imagine.’

He knew that she could not provide a proper home for her child unless he gave her enough money to live independently—and it seemed he was not prepared to do so. Her experience at the cottage in the woods had shown her how difficult she would find life alone with a small child who clung to her.

‘Do you think that is fair?’ Lucinda asked in a small voice. ‘It will be so hard for her to be taken away from her mama.’

A little nerve flicked at his temple, as though he wrestled with his emotions, but his expression did not change.

‘She did not have you for the first five years of her life. She will soon grow accustomed to her new situation, which will be better than you could provide alone. Besides, what is the alternative? To live openly with the child would bring shame on a proud family name.

You would destroy your own reputation and the child would carry the stigma of illegitimacy for life. Even if
you changed your name and pretended to be a widow, someone would discover your secret. The rogue who blackmailed you will never allow you to disappear while he believes he might wrest money from you—or me.

‘I shall not allow it. Do you not think you owe me some duty, Lucinda? I did not force you to marry me—but you gave your promise before God. As I recall, you promised to love, honour and obey me. As yet I have seen little evidence that you intended to keep those promises.’

‘Justin, forgive me. I did not mean…’ She choked on her tears. He did not understand how much it had cost her to deceive him—and he did not believe that she loved him. ‘I never wished to hurt you.’

‘Your daughter will have a comfortable life and be reared as a lady’s daughter—can you promise her as much? Be sensible and consider what is best for all of us. I do not impose this solution as a punishment. For the moment I can think of no other way. Yes, I am concerned for our good name, Lucinda, but that is but a part of the whole. My way means that one day your daughter might have a chance of entering decent society—if your secret were exposed to the world, she must always bear her shame. I do not make the rules in this society of ours. I may find them cruel at times, but they remain whatever I think or do.’

She felt shamed by him. Justin was being so reasonable and what he said was true. He might have raged at her, thrown her out without a penny to live as best she
could, but he was offering her the chance to retain her place in society and a future for her child. It was more than most men would have offered after the way she had behaved. Lucinda had wed him of her own accord and without telling him the truth; she had lied and deceived him and yet he was still prepared to do so much for her. Some men might have treated her far more harshly. She could have been sent away to a place of correction and her daughter hidden somewhere that she would never find her again.

Hanging her head, she said, ‘Forgive me. I know that I have behaved ill to you—very ill indeed. You have every right to send me away and to disown me. I know that what I have done might have ruined us both.’

‘At least you appreciate the gravity of the situation. I had begun to think you lost to all propriety.’

Lucinda blinked hard. A part of her wanted to defy him, to beg or plead, but in her heart she knew that he was right. Had there been no blackmailer her story might have held, but then she would never have known her child lived. Justin was offering her a civilised way out of her predicament; he was being generous, even kind, but although she knew he was right, it was breaking her heart.

‘What will happen if I accept your terms?’

‘You will continue as my wife. I shall give you your allowance and we shall entertain our friends. You may visit your daughter sometimes, but she must learn to do without you, Lucinda. You have your duty to me and
to the family. For the moment there will be nothing of an intimate nature between us. One day I shall need an heir, but in a year or so you may feel able to accommodate me.’

‘In a year or so…’ Lucinda felt as if he had delivered a death knell. It was to be a cold, loveless union. He had been prepared to forgive her for not telling him her secret, but she had gone too far when she brought Angela into the house. She knew that beneath the icy calm there was a passionate man and that man would need someone to give him the things he did not find in his marriage. He would no doubt take a mistress, as men did when there was no love in a marriage.

He had been in love with Lady Fanshawe once, but she’d turned him down for another. Now she was a widow and something in the way she’d looked at Justin had told Lucinda that she still wanted him. It would be natural if they became lovers—and there was nothing she could do or say.

She had brought this misery upon herself.

‘Do not look so distressed,’ Justin said in a softer tone. ‘You will make friends and perhaps I shall be one of them in time. I shall expect you to give me those disgusting letters, Lucinda. At least I may be able to solve that problem for you—even though you did not trust me to help you with others.’

‘I shall give you them after dinner,’ she said. ‘I—we must keep up a pretence of normality for Lady Fanshawe’s sake.’

‘Mariah will expect you to call her by her name. She is family, Lucinda. Do not be deceived by her manner. She seems careless, but she is careful of her reputation. Do not confide your secret in her for she would be shocked.’

‘I shall be guided by you,’ Lucinda replied. ‘If you will excuse me, I shall tell Alice to move the child to the nursery.’

‘Alice is your maid. The other girl—is she to be the nursemaid?’

‘Yes—they were to share the duty.’

‘I prefer that they have separate duties. You will tell Alice of the change. Please restrict your visits to twenty minutes twice a day—and it is better if you do not play games. Remember you are the Duchess of Avonlea.’

Lucinda inclined her head and left the room. She felt chastened, but disinclined to weep. Justin had not been unkind. Indeed, he was behaving in a civilised and proper manner. Clearly, he did not intend to banish the child at once. He would make sensible arrangements for Angela and she must be grateful for his forbearance.

Her mind told her to rebel, to take her child and run away—but her heart told her she would regret it all her life. She loved Justin. Perhaps one day he might forgive her. She knew that she could not give Angela the kind of future Justin was proposing for her daughter. If she set up a home with Angela, she could barely afford the wage of her nurse, let alone others to take care of the house. Besides, some people would refuse to let
their property to a woman on her own—she might not find anything better than the cottage that had made her daughter ill. Justin was offering to have the girl brought up as a respectable young lady and perhaps sometimes she could have Angela to stay. Her daughter would have a chance in life and might even make a good marriage.

Justin’s way was best for all of them. Lucinda knew that she did owe her husband a duty—the duty to be a respectable wife that he could be proud of. If she left him now, it would bring scandal and shame on them both—and his family.

Raising her head, Lucinda went to her room and rang the bell for Alice. At the moment she was too numbed to realise what she had lost. Despite everything, she still loved Justin. She loved the gentle teasing man she had married and lost through her own recklessness. She regretted the lost love that she had cast away so carelessly. One day she might bear his children, but his manner had been so reserved that she knew she could not hope for more. His affection and respect for her had gone and she had only herself to blame.

I
t was not until after dinner that Lucinda had a moment to be private with her husband. Mariah had kept them entertained with stories of her visit to Italy and her journey home through France.

‘I was besieged by suitors,’ she said, fluttering her long dark lashes at Justin across the dining table. ‘Winston left me a fortune, of course, and word had got out. I believe every fortune hunter on the continent was on the catch for me, so I came home to you, dearest Justin. You can protect me from them.’

‘I doubt you need much protection,’ Justin said, but did not look displeased. ‘We have been living quietly, Mariah, but I suppose now that you are here we must entertain more. Your admirers will beat a path to my door. Besides, it is time we gave the summer party.’

‘Another custom you have omitted to tell me of?’
Lucinda asked. ‘You must tell me—am I expected to provide a theme for that, too?’

‘Oh, no,’ Mariah chimed in before he could reply. ‘We only do that for the balls. We shall eat al fresco, of course. The servants set up tables on the lawns. We have musicians and lots of cold champagne and strawberries. I do hope there is a good crop of strawberries this year?’

‘We had arranged a strawberry picking for next week,’ Lucinda said, remembering. ‘Perhaps that would be a good opportunity for your summer party, Justin—a less formal affair?’

‘Oh, no, she cannot do that, can she, Justin?’ Mariah asked flirtatiously. ‘Tell her that it must be a grand affair as always. I want to invite everyone, let them know that I am home.’

‘Lucinda is the mistress of her own home,’ he said and looked at her, arching his brow. ‘What will you have, Duchess?’

Was he truly asking or merely playing with her?

‘If Mariah wants a large homecoming party, perhaps we shall oblige her,’ Lucinda said. ‘I shall need a list of your friends, Mariah.’

‘Oh, I dare say most of them will be here in a day or so,’ she said and laughed. ‘We always had a house full of visitors when I lived here—did we not, Justin?’

‘I believe it suited Father to indulge you.’

‘Now you are being a bear again.’ She pouted. ‘How can you put up with him, Lucinda?’

‘Oh, we manage well enough,’ Lucinda replied and smiled as she saw her husband discomfited.

‘Your papa was always kind to me,’ Mariah said and dimpled at him once more.

‘My father’s health did not improve after you left. He felt himself too old to marry again and blamed me for letting you marry Lord Fanshawe. He thought I should have married you and kept you here.’

‘Unfair. It was my choice, of course—though perhaps I did have a few regrets. Had we not argued so much, I might have married you, Justin.’

‘You had the knack of putting me in the wrong, Mariah. I do not think you have lost it.’

‘We shall not stay to be scolded,’ Mariah said and rose to her feet. ‘Come, Lucinda, let us retire to the drawing room and leave him to his port. He may join us when he is in a better mood.’

She swept out of the dining room, leaving Lucinda to follow. Only when they were alone did she turn with a rueful smile to apologise.

‘Forgive me, darling Lucinda. I was so often the hostess here that I forgot myself. It was for you to take us through. I am so sorry. I did not mean to undermine your authority.’

Lucinda suspected that it was exactly what she had hoped to do, but she merely smiled and shook her head. If Mariah had hoped to cause trouble between her and Justin, she was wasting her time—the damage had been done long before she arrived.

‘It hardly matters to me. I have not been used to standing on ceremony, but I think Justin will expect you to remember my position when we have guests.’

‘Yes, of course I shall,’ Mariah said and smiled at her, all charm and sweetness. ‘I would not dream of showing you up in public, Lucinda. Everyone would frown on me.’

Clearly, she intended to concentrate her efforts on Justin. Well, she might find him an easier target than she had imagined.

* * *

It was only after she had said good-night to her guest an hour or so later that Lucinda handed both the blackmail notes to her husband. He took them and placed them in the breast pocket of his coat.

‘Thank you. Take no notice of Mariah. She is fluttering her wings, trying to pretend nothing has changed—she will come into line if I tell her.’

‘Please do not scold your cousin on my account. She is more entitled to be here than I am.’

‘You are my wife, Lucinda.’

‘Am I?’ She tipped her head to one side. He looked so handsome and so proud. Her heart caught because she longed for him to smile at her as he had when they walked together by the river. If only he would take her in his arms and kiss her, but he no longer wanted her. ‘If you say so, Justin. Good night. I wish you pleasant dreams.’

‘Thank you. I doubt your wish will be granted.’

Lucinda waited, but he did not elaborate. Turning,
she walked up ahead of him, her chest tight with misery. It was obvious that Mariah had him in the palm of her hand. They would most likely become lovers before more than a day or so had passed.

What else could she expect? She had killed any feeling Justin had had for her at the beginning.

* * *

Justin looked at the two blackmail notes in the privacy of his study before locking them into a drawer where they would not be found by an industrious servant. It seemed the blackmailer had set an ultimatum. No doubt there would be another note arranging for the money to be placed in a certain spot. When that was in his hands, Justin would be ready. In the meantime he would send for his agents and discover what he could of the person threatening his wife.

Whoever it was must live near enough to Avonlea to know what was going on. He mentally reviewed his neighbours, trying to think who the culprit might be. Unless someone in the house was gossiping about his or her mistress, it would be impossible for a stranger to know that Lucinda had brought her daughter here.

Was one of the maids courting a footman or groom in the employ of the blackmailer? There must be some connection, because the note had not been long in coming after Lucinda brought the child to the house. Could her maid have a follower—or was Mrs Mann a gossip?

Pushing the problem of the blackmail to one side, Justin thought about what he ought to do with the child.
If he arranged for her to be cared for by a worthy couple, they would naturally believe he was her father, but it was better that way. A man might get away with having a love child, but for a woman it meant the loss of reputation and respectability.

Lucinda thought he was being hard in sending her daughter away, but she did not realise how harsh the laws of society could be on someone like her. Had she not married into an important family, she might not have been noticed, but as his duchess she would be the butt of every malicious tongue; she would be condemned, spat at in the street and cut by ladies she was entitled to think her equals. If the papers caught a whiff of the scandal, they would hint at it in such a way that everyone would be laughing and pointing at Lucinda. There would be nowhere for her to hide. Finding a respectable position or a decent home would be almost impossible if she left him.

Justin was not prepared to risk that happening to his wife. It was clear that she placed her child above him. He had thought she might truly care for him and the realisation that she had most likely married him for the comfort he could provide had cut deeper than he would have imagined. Despite everything, she had come to mean a great deal to him and he must protect her even though she hated him for it.

Damn it! He was not sending the child away to hurt her. God knew the look in Lucinda’s eyes had made him feel like a rotten swine—but what choice did he have?
If it were up to him, he would say she could keep the child and be damned to the gossips, but it would ruin her and her daughter. No, the child must go away, at least until he could deal with this blackmailer. Perhaps then he might be able to arrange something. There was no reason why he should not take the child of a deceased relative into his home, but she looked so much like Lucinda and if the blackmailer dropped a few hints…

A school might be better than a respectable couple, perhaps. Somewhere that the child would be treated well and yet taught to behave as a young lady of good birth. Lucinda was gently bred and presumably her attacker had been brought up as a gentleman, though his morals were sadly at fault. God damn his black soul! Had he been here at this moment he would have been lucky to escape with his life.

Justin stood up and paced the room, feeling the frustration build inside him. It was little wonder that Lucinda looked at him as if he were one step up from the gutter. She must think him a heartless brute, but that was very far from the truth. Justin suspected that he had this day destroyed his chance of happiness with the wife he had come to care for very deeply. She must hate him for what he was doing, but he could see no alternative.

Lucinda would never forgive him for the way he had behaved—and now Mariah was here, confusing him and making things more difficult.

Mariah was the daughter of his father’s best friend.
She had come to live with them after her parents died, because the late duke had been her guardian and the administrator of her father’s will.

Justin clenched his fists. It had been such a shock to him when he discovered what his father had done: investing the largest part of her father’s estate in a project that had turned out to be almost as foolhardy as the South Seas Bubble.

‘How could you invest Mariah’s inheritance in anything that risky?’ Justin demanded of his father when he told him that not only had he wasted much of his own fortune, but he’d lost more than half of Mariah’s money. ‘What shall you tell her?’

‘She does not need to know the details,’ the late duke had said uncomfortably. ‘Her lawyer will tell her what she has when the time comes—and in the meantime I shall repay what I can of her losses.’

‘You have almost beggared the estate,’ Justin replied curtly. ‘You will leave the administration of her estate to me in future, Father. Fortunately, I was in charge of my own fortune and my investments have been sound.’

‘You will not address me in that manner, sir.’

‘Forgive me, Father—but as I see it, Mariah is owed a great deal of money and you cannot be trusted with managing what she has.’

Father and son had quarrelled bitterly over the affair, and even though Justin had been able to restore a part of what was lost through his own investments, she had not received much more than half of what she was due.
It was because of his guilt over her loss that Justin had begged her to marry him. By giving her a home and marriage he had believed he could make up for his father’s incompetence. She had refused him, telling him that they should not suit, and then married a man twice her age, a man who had more than enough wealth to make up for any lack of fortune on her side, and she had been spoiled and perfectly happy until her husband died. After that she’d taken herself off to Italy because, she said, she needed a change of scene, and in her absence Justin had forgotten his guilt. Now it had returned.

He frowned as he recalled the way she had taken over at the dinner table. Mariah knew perfectly well that she’d undermined Lucinda’s position as hostess. He ought to have reprimanded her immediately, but he felt guilty over the mess his father had made of her affairs.

Lucinda had every right to look at him with disgust. It would serve him right if his wife decided to leave him.

He wondered what had brought Mariah back to Avonlea and why she was flirting with him so outrageously. What could she hope to gain by it?

* * *

Lucinda did not weep into her pillow that night. Her heart ached but she knew that she had brought her disgrace and her grief on herself. Justin had behaved with dignity and forbearance in the face of her transgressions. He might have taken Angela away immediately and sent his wife to a place of correction until she had learned her lesson had he wished. He would not be the
first husband to act harshly when discovering that he had been betrayed.

The arrival of Lady Fanshawe was, Lucinda felt, a blessing in disguise. Despite the way she flirted with Justin and her tendency to act as if she were the mistress here, Lucinda could not dislike her. She was charming, mischievous and amusing company—and her chatter made Justin smile and lightened the atmosphere, which would otherwise have been frosty.

It would be best to make a friend of Mariah, Lucinda decided. The lady would probably flit in and out of their lives at interludes and it would not do to be at odds with her. In the morning, she rose after having slept better than she had imagined and went along the landing to her guest’s room.

Knocking at Mariah’s door, she was immediately invited to enter and did so, finding her sitting up in bed wearing an enchanting lace wrap and looking more beautiful than ever with her dark blond curls cascading over her shoulders.

‘I thought it must be you since my maid never brings my tray before ten,’ Mariah said and yawned. ‘I was always lazy and my husband spoiled me. I miss him very much.’

‘Yes, you must feel very sad,’ Lucinda said and sat on the edge of her bed. ‘But you are here now and we shall do our best to spoil you, Mariah. I wanted to ask your advice about the party. I am not accustomed to
holding large affairs and I think two heads are better than one.’

‘You did very well with your ball, I hear,’ Mariah said, her eyes very bright. ‘I was told that you were both beautiful and brave—and I think that is true. But let us not waste time discussing party plans. I want to learn more about you and how you came to marry Justin. I must say I felt sure he’d remain a bachelor after I turned him down. And that seemed for the best. Justin has a temper. I do not imagine he is easy to live with as a husband?’

Was Mariah testing her? Lucinda was uncertain, but she merely shook her head and smiled, repeating her words of the previous evening.

‘We do well enough together. Ours was a short courtship as we married within weeks of first meeting. I find Justin to be a dedicated and noble husband and I am enjoying getting to learn more about him with every passing day.’ Lucinda was desperate to change the subject; she’d promised Justin she would be discreet about them and their marriage and she’d do him that honour at the very least.