“Oh, dear, I am so sorry.” She was filled with affection for Lady Duncan, but there were still many things that were unclear for her. “My former lady’s maid, Emma, she was living in lodgings with your dismissed lady’s maid. Do you know anything about that?”
“I could not leave Esther, my former maid, with nothing. Not after all she did.” Lady Duncan closed her eyes, breathing deeply and stroking over her belly, soothingly. “I just regret that your Emma got caught in this whole tragedy.”
“What happened?”
“Once Lord Estaria had finished with me, I was absolutely devastated, but then I found out I was expecting. I was sure my life was over, but I was desperate to go to him. I had convinced myself that all would change, that he would love me back if he only knew.”
“In the middle of the night, I ran out in a thunderstorm to go and see him. Esther stopped me, saved me, really. But I was mad at her for preventing me from seeing him. She was dismissed, and then my parents found out about my condition.” Lady Duncan looked miserable as she recounted this.
“You provided Esther with the lodgings?”
“Yes, it was the least I could do for her. She took the fall for me, and she never betrayed my trust. Once I was married, I had the resources to help her,” Lady Duncan replied.
“Is Lord Duncan aware of everything? She asked cautiously. To her surprise, a broad smile spread Lady Duncan’s lips. “I sometimes think I should thank Lord Estaria, for without him, I might not have met my husband. Although the circumstances of our wedding were rather unusual, I could not have married a kinder man.”
Lady Duncan laughed at Caroline’s stunned expression. “I am aware of my husband’s reputation, but it could not be further from the truth. He dotes on me and is very excited for us to become a family.”
“Oh, I’m so very happy for you,” she said.
“Thank you. I am happy, and now I really must leave.” Lady Duncan stood up. “There is only one thing I regret.”
“What is it?” They walked to the end of the room.
“That he will face no consequences for his actions. There are no repercussions for men like him,” Lady Duncan said harshly, before bidding her goodbye.
Caroline watched as Lady Duncan’s carriage rode away from Brighney Manor. She agreed with Lady Duncan vehemently, and it filled her with a burning rage that Lord Estaria would never have to answer for his actions.
Chapter 45
Jasper anxiously waited until Lord Featherstone left to go to the gentlemen’s club he frequented. He had come to visit his sister—his farewell to her, although she did not know it. Early that morning, he had hurried over to Featherstone Manor to join his sister for breakfast.
He desperately wanted to have a moment alone with Selina, but Lord Featherstone did not seem to want to leave them. It had been three days since he and Caroline had decided to run away. He had been busy preparing everything, and now he only had to say his goodbyes to Selina.
“Is Lord Brighney throwing you to the dogs, or what?” Lord Featherstone chuckled. “Some spectacle of yours, I say.”
“Oh, stop this now,” Selina said exasperatedly.
“Fine, fine,” Lord Featherstone replied. “I better get going, none of the other gents will have first-hand experience with the scoundrel that stopped Lord Estaria’s wedding!”
Ignore him, Selina mouthed to him. He smiled and nodded once to Lord Featherstone as he finally left.
“I’m afraid I don’t have much time,” he said to his sister.
“I heard a very curious story yesterday.” Selina walked toward him, speaking quietly. “Apparently, Lord Estaria married Lady Louisa Balfour in a very small and unimpressive ceremony.”
“How about that,” he replied, unable to contain his grin. He knew that the Duke of Aston had been absolutely livid at his son, and clearly, he had no more patience to wait for Lord Estaria to do the right thing.
“Why do I feel as if this does not surprise you?” She stared at him as if trying to read him.
“I cannot speak of the matter, but I cannot deny that this pleases me to hear.”
“This means that Lady Caroline is unattached, does it not?” She gave him a sneaky wink.
“I’m afraid that my actions at the church have forever scorned me in the eyes of Lord Brighney,” he replied.
“He might change his mind?” Selina suggested, hopefully.
“No, he will not change his mind,” he said firmly. “That was quite clear when last we spoke.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Jas.” She stroked his arm sympathetically. “I have been trying to convince Lord Featherstone that we should assist you in rebuilding your practice.”
“Selina, you cannot do that,” he insisted.
“It is my choice, and I want to help you.” She dismissed his objection. “Just give me time. I will convince him to help you.”
“There really is no need,” he said.
Should I tell her that we are eloping? If she enrages Lord Featherstone on my behalf and then I disappear, she could be in trouble.
“I am going away,” he added vaguely.
“What do you mean?” Her tone was anxious. “Where are you going? You cannot let Lord Brighney or Lord Estaria drive you away from London!”
“That’s not the reason for my departure.” They locked eyes, and he tried desperately to convey a deeper meaning to his gaze.
“You’re going with her, aren’t you?” Her question was more of a statement. He nodded his head minutely, and she flung her arms around his neck. “Be safe,” she whispered.
“I promise.”
* * *
Caroline paced around her room, nervously. Two bags lay open on the floor in front of her. For the past few days, she had been surreptitiously deciding what she would take with her once she and Jasper ran away. When she had woken up that morning, Madeleine had brought her a letter from Jasper. It had been a short message, simply saying,
Tonight—at midnight.
The door opened and Madeleine hurried inside. “Did he take it?”
“Yes, My Lady,” Madeleine replied. She had brought Caroline’s letter to Jimmy. Her final secret letter. She had told him she would be ready, but she could not help herself in informing Jasper what Lady Duncan told her. Her aunt had told her that Lord Estaria had married Lady Louisa, and since hearing that, she had been fuming.
Lord Estaria will get away with everything! This makes my blood boil, but there is nothing else that I can do. I only pray that Lady Louisa will be safe with him.
“Did you explain to Jimmy that it is imperative that he brings the letter today?”
“I did, My Lady.” Madeleine nodded her head understandingly.
“Good. Thank you, Madeleine.” She sighed with relief.
The thought that she and Jasper would be starting their new lives together so soon was terribly thrilling. But she was also nervous.
I wonder if I will be permitted to return here again? Will Father’s anger dissipate or will my actions cause him to denounce me?
Her thought turned to Mrs. Wilson. She was going to miss her a lot. She decided that she would find the housekeeper for one last time together.
* * *
The Dowager Duchess walked purposefully to her brother’s library. It was high time that he would listen to her. Caroline’s actions had, of course, not been wise, but her niece’s heart was in the right place. She opened the door and strode inside. He looked up, seeming slightly surprised to see her there.
“We must talk,” she said determinately.
“Can this wait?” He sighed and rubbed his eyes.
“No, we need to talk about your decision.” She sat down in front of him. “Your decision to make Caroline leave London.”
“There is nothing to discuss,” he dismissed.
“I think you are making a mistake!” He looked appalled, but she stood her ground.
“This is not up for discussion, dear Sister.” His tone was icy wi
th contempt, but she knew her brother far too well to be bothered by this outburst.
“Caroline is a remarkable young lady,” she continued. “She is unique, clever and righteous—”
“Are you suggesting I do not know my own daughter?” he spat.
“I am suggesting that you have perhaps not seen the change in her lately,” she interjected. “I noticed that something was different with her. She was happy. I don’t think I have seen her that way before. I had my suspicion, but I never witnessed anything untoward.”
“Mr. Langley corrupted her mind!” he heaved, standing up and turning his back to her.
“She fell in love.” She walked slowly nearer him. “Not only did she become happier, but she has also become a mature woman since meeting Mr. Langley.”
“If you are talking about those damned articles—” he said, turning around.
“Those articles were poignant and had a real influence on society. That you cannot deny. No!” She held out her hand to stop her brother from interrupting. “I know you did not approve of her behavior, but I implore you to try and see past her disobedience. She is so like you, Philip.”
At the sound of his Christian name, he seemed to soften. She was sure he was also thinking about all the antics he got up to when he was Caroline’s age.
“You loved Lady Brighney, I know you did.” Her throat constricted at the mere memory of her deceased sister-in-law.
“Of course I did,” he replied, his voice softer as it always became when he spoke of his late wife.
“I was not that fortunate when my marriage with the Duke was arranged.” She stared at him, begging him with her eyes to understand her meaning. “Caroline’s true happiness lies with Mr. Langley. I worry that if you tear her away from him, she will never forgive you, and she will slowly withdraw from you, me, and in the end, she will be a shell of her former self.”
He looked at her for a long while. She felt flushed, as her words had aptly described her own experience. Still, he did not say anything, but he rang the bell he always kept at his desk.
She sighed quietly as he stared expectantly at the door until the servant appeared. Her attempt to coax her brother to see the truth had failed. He was surely going to ask the servant to accompany her from his office. After all, he had never been particularly loquacious.
“I need you to send a messenger to Mr. Langley,” he said commandingly, to her great surprise. “Tell him that I require to meet with him immediately.”
“Of course, My Lord,” the servant said. “At once.” He bowed deeply to both of them before retreating from the room.
“Oh, Brighney–” she said, but she was unable to speak due to a loud sob.
“Come now, Sister, none of that,” he said with a small grin. But he turned serious again. “Thank you. Caroline is lucky to have you.”
“She deserves a happy life,” she replied.
“That she does, indeed.”
Epilogue
Jasper stood in the small church, with the same stunned expression he had throughout this strange and wonderful month. The church was not nearly full, only their closest friends and family were there. Selina gazed up at him, her eyes filled with tears. But for a long-overdue change, these were happy tears.
In a few moments, Caroline would walk down the aisle, and they would be joined together in blissful matrimony.
I cannot wait!
A month ago, he had just returned home from his visit to Featherstone Manor. Everything had been prepared. At midnight Jasper was supposed to meet Mr. Davies, and they were going to ride to Brighney Manor and fetch Caroline. Then Mr. Davies had agreed to take them in his carriage to Gretna Green.
But then a servant had jumped down from a carriage. “The Lord Chief Justice, The Earl of Brighney, has requested your audience,” the servant had said pompously. He had been stunned.
Can Lord Brighney know? Has he found out that we are running away tonight?
There had been no time to talk or even enter his home. The servant had been very insistent and demanded that he come with them at that exact moment.
Once at Brighney Manor, he had been escorted into Lord Brighney’s library. There had been a slightly awkward silence, but then Lord Brighney said the words that he would remember until his dying day.
“Mr. Langley. After careful consideration, I have to admit that I have made a mistake,” Lord Brighney had said. “It is clear that your affection for my daughter saved her from a life of unhappiness. You made a great sacrifice in the church, as I am sure that you knew well what the repercussions might be—as clever a chap as you are.”
Jasper remembered hearing a strange humming deep inside his mind. Lord Brighney could not be about to say what he thought.
“Lady Caroline will not be leaving London, and you have my blessing to marry her.” Lord Brighney had finished, and Jasper had stood still, looking stunned. But a crashing sound had brought him back to reality as the door was flung open, and Caroline ran inside and nearly knocked her father over as she hugged him tightly.
The music began, and Jasper watched mesmerized as the door to the church opened. Caroline walked inside, and he could no longer breathe. Her beauty had always been apparent to any that saw her, but now she was simply glowing. When she stood next to him, he could not stop staring at her with a dumbfounded look on his face.
I cannot believe this is happening!
He repeated the lines the priest said until he finally got to say the line he had wanted to say since that day in front of the bakery.
“Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?” The priest looked at him, expectantly.
“I will!” Jasper replied.
* * *
Caroline moved with the music, chuckling, and sighing with happiness. Jasper held her tightly, and they moved as one across the dance floor. She could not believe it.
I am married to the love of my life.
The wedding reception was in full swing. Her aunt had demanded to have a party despite the few guests. They were in the country house that Jasper’s sister owned. Being away from London was refreshing, and there was a cheerful calmness surrounding everyone.
They stepped away from the dance floor, and Lord Featherstone bellowed cheers in their honor, his cheeks flushed with one drink too many.
“Lord Featherstone certainly is enjoying himself,” Lady Anna laughed, locking their arms together.
“He certainly is,” Caroline replied. Jasper had been whisked away by her father, and by the looks of it, they were deep in a conversation already.
“This is a lovely reception, sweet Caro,” Lady Anna said.
“I have never been this happy before,” she replied.
“Oh, I have news!” Lady Anna exclaimed. “Mr. Langley’s assistant just told me.”
“What is it?”
“Lord Estaria has fled the country,” Lady Anna said excitedly.
“Really?” She gaped at her friend.
“The Duke of Aston has also publically denounced Lord Estaria. I cannot imagine that he will last for long on the run.”
Not long after her father had his change of heart about her and Jasper, there had come new evidence regarding the fire at Jasper’s office. A terrified witness stepped forward, stating that they had seen a brutish-looking man setting the house alight, and they had seen Lord Estaria nearby as well. They had also said that a brutish man with a scar down his face had threatened them to be quiet—it had been Lord Estaria’s manservant, Mr. Tiff.
As it turned out, Lord Estaria was hiding much more than just his indiscretion with Lady Duncan. After the first witness stepped forward, it ignited a flurry of movement in the case against him. Many young ladies and their lady’s maids, rallied by Lady Sarah, came forth with similar stories. Lord Es
taria had seduced them and promised them love and marriage, only to discard them like trash when he finished with them.
Lady Sarah had shocked the ton when she revealed her story. Once Lord Estaria had finished with her, she had begged him to take her back. But instead of simply refusing her, he had threatened her and her family. She recounted that intimidating men appeared around her house, staring at her from a distance.
Some of these ladies had powerful families, and although it was not likely that a Marquess would have to serve time in gaol, it had evidently scared Lord Estaria enough to leave the country.
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