The idea itself was making Bedford shake with anger.
"What did the Earl of Coventry say?" he asked in the calmest voice he could muster despite his anger.
"He agreed to the arrangement. He even seemed pleased by the arrangement," Inese said.
"Was he?" Bedford asked. Of course, Coventry would definitely be elated at the idea of being married to Inese. Any right-thinking man would be happy to have her for himself.
"I don't want to get married to Coventry. He is a beast, and his reputation is a very bad one."
"And so would yours be if you do not agree to marry him," Bedford said.
"What do you mean?"
"This is London—where rumors are spread by idle women. I am confident that every socialite in London already knows what happened between you and Coventry. This has already soiled your reputation enough as no one would want to have anything to do with you anymore."
Inese rose and stamped her foot angrily. "I do not want to have anything to do with anyone in London. They are all a bunch of judging people who would rather spread rumors than make investigations to be sure if what they heard is true."
"It is the way of the ton," Bedford said quietly.
It is the way of the ton, but I hate the ton. I don't want to be part of the ton in any way."
"Have you informed your parents that you have no desire to marry Coventry?" Bedford asked.
"I did, but they are set in their ways. They want me to marry Coventry so that the shame that I have brought to them would disappear. When they realized that I am also set in my way, they decided to send me back to Germany where no one knows about the scandal."
"That's great," Bedford said, "you should be elated, in fact. I know how much you've always wanted to go back to Germany so that you can get a fine German man to marry."
Inese shook her head. "I do not want to go back to Germany either. I know I might sound crazy, but I've lost all my appeal for Germany. Also, my parents are both here and going back to Germany means that I would not be seeing them as frequently as I’m used to. I don't want to be far away from my parents, and I definitely do not want to go back to Germany."
Bedford was a bit relieved. "How then would you convince your parents to allow you stay in London?"
Inese shook her head. "I don't know how to do that. However, I know that if I'm able to prove to my parents that Coventry was never my lover, then they might be able to forgive me and even allow me to stay."
There was a moment of silence until Inese spoke again.
"I know how to prove my innocence to my parents," she said.
Bedford looked at her and caught her smiling.
"What do you plan on doing?"
"I will pay Freya a visit and try to force the truth out of her maid. I believe that Freya's maid was the mischievous one, and that Freya is not a part of the mischief."
"That is a rather good plan. I certainly hope it works so your parents can forgive you."
"Bedford, I feel a lot better now that I've talked to you. Thank you so much for listening to me and not sending me away," Inese smiled at him.
"You are and will always be my friend," Bedford said earnestly.
He knew that the chances of Inese agreeing to marry him were very slim. However, that would not deter him from rendering all the help that he could to her.
"Thank you. I will take my leave now," she said as she rose to her feet, "I do not want my parents to miss me."
Bedford saw her to the door and outside. It was then that he realized that she had not come with any carriage.
"How will you be getting back home?" he asked.
"I walked here so that no one would know of my whereabouts. I'm just going to go home the same way. I cannot risk anyone know that I have been here."
"I will not have you walk all the way home when I have carriages in abundance," Bedford insisted.
"Bedford, please let me go the same way I came. Your carriage has your emblem boldly inscribed on it, and someone might be watching when I leave the carriage. I do not want to bring another scandal to you."
Reluctantly, he had no choice but to agree with her. Seeing her leave his house or his carriage would trigger even more rumors from the people of London, and that would only worsen things. To assure her safety at the late hour, he assigned his footman to escort her.
Chapter 6
Lisa’s Confession
Inese could feel that something was not right with them anymore, right from the time she entered the salon. For a brief moment, Freya had frowned as she entered the room, but she had covered the frown up expertly with a smile.
"Inese," she has said and bounded over to Inese to hug her.
"What are you doing here? Freya asked once she had released Inese from the hug.
"Why do you ask? Can I not come here simply because I want to see you? Are we not friends?" Inese asked.
She was a little shocked that Freya was asking why she had come on a visit. For the five years that they had been friends, Inese had paid her a lot of visits and Freya had done the same without any of them asking what the purpose of the visits was.
"Of course you can visit me," Freya smiled sweetly at her, and Inese's earlier concern disappeared.
"It's been so long since we saw each other," Freya continued.
"Indeed. You have not thought it proper to pay me a visit, and that is why I have come to you."
"I'm so sorry, Inese. I've been so busy with a lot of social outings that I have not had the time to pay you a visit."
"I understand. If I'm unable to attend social outing anymore this Christmas season, at least you should have all the fun that you can."
"What do you mean? Why are you unable to attend social outings?" Freya looked genuinely concerned.
"My parents wouldn't allow me leave the house after the scandal broke out. In fact, I had to beg Father before he allowed me to come here to see you today."
"I'm sorry. That's quite awful," Freya said. "How have you been coping with the scandal?"
Inese sighed. "I've been instructed by my parents not to step outside the house, so I try to make the best of the day by reading. I've read about fifty books these past few days."
"I'm so sorry about that. I definitely hope that the scandal dies off."
"I certainly hope so too. It's been quite awful being the center of a scandal in London," Inese said and sighed.
"So, what do you plan on doing to curtail the scandal?" Freya asked, with concern written all over her face.
"I really have nothing to do. All I can do is hope that it dies off out of its own accord."
"Really? But I heard that your parents have decided to marry you off to the Earl of Coventry," Freya said.
Inese couldn't help but gape at her friend. How Freya managed to know about what she and her parents had talked about in the privacy of their house was beyond her imagination.
"How did you know about that?" she asked Freya.
Freya gave a dry laugh. "This is London, remember? Gossip flies around all the time in London, and I definitely have my own informants who keep me abreast of the happenings in London's social scene. I know and see everything."
Inese shook her head in indignation.
"I believe you are now betrothed to Coventry, yes?" Freya asked.
"Not quite," Inese replied, "my parents would have me marry the Earl of Coventry at all costs, but I would rather die than get married to that beast."
Freya's eyes hardened. "Why don't you want to marry him? He is a fine gentleman, and being an earl, he would make a good husband for you. Try to imagine yourself being married to him. You would have the best of finery and would even be the Countess of Coventry. The Coventry is one of the wealthiest households in London. I'm not ashamed to say that they are wealthier than my household. I would jump at the opportunity to marry Coventry."
"Coventry is neither a gentleman, nor is he an honorable man. He tried to paw at me. I would never be married to a man like that."
&n
bsp; "Are you sure about this, Inese?" Freya asked conspiratorially.
"I'm very sure," Inese replied.
"London is a very judging society, and no one would want to have anything to do with you anymore after this scandal. Do you not have worries that you might end up being unmarried if you refuse to marry Coventry?"
Inese didn't even give the question a second thought. "I would rather stay unmarried for the rest of my life than marry Coventry."
"Your parents would be disappointed at your decision," Freya said imploringly.
"Have no fear. They have decided to reduce the shame that would be coming their way by sending me back to Germany."
Freya's face brightened up. "That is even better. You will shine brighter in Germany."
Inese turned to look at her friend. "You seem happy that I would be leaving London. Wouldn't you miss me?"
Freya laughed. "Of course, I will miss having you around. However, I have to make the sacrifice of letting you go so that you can live a happy life in a society that would not judge you over a scandal."
The reply seemed to please Inese. "I have been pleading with my parents to allow me stay in London. I don't want to travel back to Germany to start a new life."
"Have you gone out of your mind, Inese? You would be foolish to let go of this nice opportunity. You could make your dream of marrying a German man come true," Freya said and shivered as cold air blew into the room.
"It's so cold here," Inese quickly changed the topic.
"I'm really sorry. I wonder why Lisa has not added more coal to the fire. Excuse me, Inese, I will go summon my maid now."
With that, Freya was gone. Moments later, the woman that Inese knew to be Freya's maid entered the salon, bowed deeply to her and went about adding coal to the fire.
"Hello, Lisa," Inese said suddenly. She had decided to get all the information that she needed from Lisa before Freya's return.
Lisa had frozen in her tracks, but she refused to turn and look at Inese.
"My lady," Lisa said, with her back still turned to Freya.
"Could you be so kind as to tell me when Freya would be joining us?" Inese asked. She needed to know how much time she would have to try to uncover the truth from the girl.
"My lady will be back in a moment. She has left for the kitchen to instruct the cooks on what to prepare for the day," Lisa replied.
"Good," Inese said. She didn't know where the kitchen was situated, but she was sure that it was far.
Lisa had gone back to her duties now, and she was busy stoking the fire. Inese rose to her feet and made her way slowly towards Lisa who seemed to have frozen again once she heard her footsteps.
"Lisa," Inese called, in the firmest voice she could muster.
"My... My lady," Lisa stuttered. Inese could see from where she stood that Lisa's hands were quivering.
"Do you think we could have a little of discussion right now?" Inese asked.
"Right now?" Lisa asked in a strangled voice.
"Yes, right now," she said firmly.
"My lady has instructed me to make fire, and she would be angry if I do not do as she has instructed," Lisa said, with her back still turned to Inese.
"Freya is my friend. She will not be mad that you decided to have a small discussion with her friend. Now, turn around and face me, Lisa."
It took Lisa a moment before she finally turned around to face Inese, and even when she had done this, she averted her face quickly so that Inese's eyes and hers would not meet.
"Very good. Lisa, I was just wondering what you knew about the scandal that broke out about me."
Lisa shook her head. "I'm but a lowly maid. I do not know of anything that happens in the noble's social scene."
"I know," Inese nodded, "however, I have a piece of information that can get you arrested if it gets to the right quarter."
Lisa's raised her head. Fear was evident on her face, and her lips quivered a little as she spoke. "Arrested? I have done nothing."
Inese moved closer to Lisa while the maid stepped back, intimated. "Quite a number of people saw you that night when you locked me in, and they are all ready to testify if there is ever a need for a constable."
Lisa gasped.
Seeing that her words were having quite an effect on Lisa, Inese intensified her effort. "Lisa, do you think you will stand a chance against three noble men and women? Do you think that your words would be believed against that of three noble men and women?"
Lisa slowly shook her head and fell on her knees. "I don't want to go to trial, please. Help me."
Inese chuckled. "You are the only person that can help yourself. Tell me what really happened that night and I promise you that you would not be tried."
Lisa sniffed as tears well up in her eyes. "It is my lady. Lady Freya told me to do it."
Inese felt as though she had just been kicked below the belt. She shook her head frantically. She could not believe it; Freya was supposed to be her friend.
"You are lying, Lisa. Freya would never do that."
"My lady, I assure you, I had no pleasure in locking you in that room. My lady was the one who instructed me to do it."
"No," Inese shook her head, "it is not possible. Why would Freya ever want to that?"
"She told me that she wanted to get you in a compromising situation so that she would be free to marry the Earl of Bedford."
"What?" Inese could not believe her ears, "I have no desire in taking Bedford as my husband, and she knows just as much."
"My lady told me to make sure... "
"What is going on here?" Inese could hear Freya's voice say as she entered the room.
Lisa quickly rose to her feet and started looking from Freya to Inese and back to Freya.
"What is happening?" Freya asked yet again when no one was ready to say a word to her.
It was then that Inese decided to dignify her with a response. "Lisa was just telling me about how you instructed her to lock me in the room with Coventry."
Freya's eyes widened with shock, then she covered it up with a smile that now irritated Inese.
"I'm... I'm sure that Lisa is a little under the weather. You were telling me moments ago that you were somewhat ill, weren't you?"
Lisa did not respond.
"I'm quite sure that Lisa is in fine health and that she knows perfectly well what she told me. What do you have to say, Freya?"
"I did not give Lisa any instruction of such. I am..."
"My lady," Lisa cut in, and Freya gasped at the disrespect, "you indeed told me... "
"I forbid you to talk, Lisa. I forbid you to say a word," Freya said so loudly that Lisa's next words were drowned by her voice.
"My lady, I have to..."
Freya bounded over to where Lisa stood and placed her palm over Lisa's mouth. "I forbid you to say one more word. You are ill, and you need to see a physician. If you utter another word, you will lose your position here and I will make sure that no one in London ever employs you."
That seemed to simmer Lisa down because when Freya finally removed her hand from her mouth, Lisa pressed her lips together as tightly as possible.
"Now, leave this room," Freya said, and Lisa walked slowly out of the room.
"Inese, I would like you to take your leave of my house too," Freya said, her lips set tightly.
"Why?" Inese was surprised, "Why don't you let us talk about what your maid has said."
Freya rounded up on Inese. "Why would you believe something so callous of me? Do you really believe that I am capable of something so wicked? You are not worth being called a friend."
Inese was dumbfounded at the turn of events. "It is you who doesn’t deserve to be called a friend," Inese replied angrily. "Do tell me, are the words of Lisa true or not?"
Freya moved over to the door of the salon. "I have no choice but to force you to take your leave."
Seeing that Freya would not be yielding her stance, Inese made for the door.
"I will not stop until
I get to the root of this, Freya," Inese said before she walked out of the salon.
She didn't know what she could do, but she was pretty sure that Bedford would think of a solution. All she had to do is write him and inform him of the newest development.
Chapter 7
The Second Scandal
Bedford had not been himself ever since he received the letter from Inese. Even though he had been able to figure it out himself, he was still shocked that Freya indeed had been the one that orchestrated the whole scandal. From the letter, he had realized that Inese was heartbroken. After all, she had a scandal to deal with, and she had also lost her friend.
However, the most shocking of all the news was that Freya had orchestrated the scandal because of him.
Bedford shook his head in disbelief as he began to remember the number of times when Freya had been too friendly with him. How could he not have known that she had an interest in him?
He read the last part of the letter and ran a hand through his hair.
My parents would not listen to my plea, and they would have me shipped off to Germany in three days. I would love more than anything to see you before my departure in order to say my farewell. However, my parents are becoming increasingly conscious of my movement, and they would not allow me go out of their sight at any moment.
Freya was the only person that could clear her name, and it would be quite hard to get her to agree to the fact that she had orchestrated the whole scandal. He also knew that if he had to do anything to clear Inese's name then he had to set it in motion now.
He picked up a paper as an idea struck him. Inese was his friend, and he loved her deeply. He needed to clear her name, and if it would take him fraternizing with Freya, he would gladly do it. He began to pen the letter.
Dear Freya,
I wish to tender my apology as to how I treated you at the last ball. I have not been feeling well, and it has caused me to be quite disagreeable. I would love it if you can forgive me for my impudence towards you.
A Glorious Christmas of Forgiveness Page 5
