Miss Taygete’s Sweet Sister’s Society

by Charlotte Stone

  “Lord Edvoy,” the gentleman next to him hissed.

  Hugh turned to him and said, “That dance had always been his as well.”

  This didn’t seem to satisfy the young man, and he walked off in a huff.

  “That was quick,” another voice said from behind him, and Hugh turned to find the last person he’d expected to see there.

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  CHAPTER THIRTY

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  Taygete spun around at the sound of her brother’s voice and gasped to find not only Titan, but her brother Orion there as well. He was dressed in his military uniform but smiling like the carefree man she’d always known.

  She wrapped them both in a tight embrace, Orion’s lasting much longer since it had been almost a year since she’d seen him. Orion’s hold on her was tight and she felt him kiss her hair before he pulled away. She was weeping when they broke apart. “How are you?”

  “I’m well.” He held up his hands to show himself and prove his words.

  “I’m so glad,” Taygete whispered through her closing throat.

  Titan turned to Orion. “I told you to wait at the house until the end of the evening. You’ve ruined Taygete’s face.”

  Taygete reached up to wipe her eyes and whispered, “Thank you,” to Hugh when he handed her his handkerchief. “Electra and Alcyone will be so glad to see you,” she said to her brothers.

  Hugh turned to Titan. “I thought work was keeping you away.”

  “I couldn’t miss my sisters’ debut,” Titan said. “I plan to return to Southampton on the morrow, but I wanted to accompany Orion here. He plans to stay and help chaperone.”

  “And it seems I made it just in time,” Orion said with a grin. Like Taygete, Orion’s eyes were not the pale gray like the rest of their siblings. Instead, Orion’s eyes were a dark gray like the coal the family mined.

  Taygete turned back to the waltz and noticed how happy her sisters looked.

  “Is that Samuel Fortiere?” Titan asked.

  Hugh nodded.

  Titan made a noise of consideration and turned to Hugh. “We must speak.”

  ‘There’s much we must speak about.” Hugh’s eyes moved to Taygete’s before returning to Titan’s.

  Taygete froze, and her brother’s expression turned to surprise. He smiled.

  “Well, you’re not a man to waste time, are you?” Hugh said with a grin. “I thought it would take weeks before you two moved on with your lives.”

  Taygete was caught off guard by the words and Hugh looked the same.

  “You knew?” Hugh asked.

  “This is best discussed in private,” Titan said.

  Hugh looked around and caught Ray’s eyes, signaling him to watch Alcyone and Electra before leading them out of the ballroom. “This way.” His hand held onto Taygete’s as they made their way to the upstairs sitting room that was reserved for family use. The room was empty, and Hugh closed the door behind him before he spoke. “How did you know?”

  “Everyone knew,” Orion said. “Why do you think Mother had Titan write you in the first place.”

  “What?” Taygete whispered then shook her head. “I don’t understand.” Her thoughts didn’t know where to start to piece together what was going on.

  Hugh placed a hand on Taygete’s shoulder and stared at her brothers. “Your mother arranged this?”

  “She told me what to write in the letter,” Titan confessed. “She told me to avoid mention of Taygete so that you would ask after her when you arrived. If you didn’t, then she’d not have let Taygete go to London.”

  “But I was never going to go to London,” Taygete told him. “I planned to stay.”

  “Not with Nicholson on your heels,” Titan told her. “Mother’s invitation for him to join us for dinner did exactly what she knew it would.”

  She’d run.

  Taygete couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that her mother had done all of this. She didn’t understand her mother’s motives.

  “Why?” Hugh asked.

  “Because Mother saw the kiss in the garden,” Orion said. “She saw it from the window in the sitting room, but when she called Taygete, my sister acted as though nothing had happened, so my mother let it go.”

  “There were many things happening at the time,” Titan said. “My father was worried that Maia would not find a match and pushed my mother to arrange it.” Titan’s expression was sad when it fell on Taygete. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know until a few weeks ago when Mother had me write the letter. She’d been distraught about it for years, blaming herself for everything. But especially your unhappiness.”

  Taygete hadn’t known any of this.

  Hugh said, “The fault of the past does not rest on Mary.”

  “Where’s Mother?” Taygete asked.

  “Downstairs in the sitting room with some other mothers,” Orion said. “She asked Titan and I to tell you the truth. She thought you’d be upset.”

  Now her mother’s expression the other day made sense. Mary had been carrying a burden that was never hers to carry. Taygete even remembered her mother asking about Hugh before Maia met him, but Taygete had refused to speak about it. What was Mary left to believe other than Taygete wanted had nothing to do with Hugh?

  “I have to speak to her,” Taygete said.

  “I’ll go with you,” Hugh said. “She’s not to believe I dislike her in the least. I should have been strong enough to ask for your name myself. I was eighteen at the time.”

  Taygete touched his cheek. “Don’t blame yourself. Perhaps it’s time we all stop blaming ourselves.” Her words made her think about what she’d learned from Jennie and what she had yet to learn from Hugh. “When we return, we need to speak about Maia,” she said aloud. “We all deserve to know.”

  “What about Maia?” Titan asked.

  Hugh became stone underneath her fingers, but then he relaxed and nodded. He looked at Titan. “As I said, there is much we must speak about.”

  “I’ll go get Electra and Alcyone,” Orion said with a small grin. “I can’t wait to see their reactions to my presence.” He left, and Hugh and Taygete followed.

  They found Mary sitting with not just any mothers, but Morris and Maura’s mothers. The viscountess and Aunt Tilda looked up just as Hugh and Taygete entered the room, as did Mary. Her eyes said that she knew why they’d come.

  Hugh broke from Taygete and went to her, lifting Mary out of the chair without a word. He cupped her face and bent down, kissing her cheek before he said, “Thank you.”

  Mary’s worried expression changed and tears filled her eyes before they spilled. She grabbed Hugh’s arms and whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

  “There’s no need to be,” he whispered. “Had you not acted when you did, I’d have lost her forever.”

  Taygete’s heart broke at the words, and she ignored Dovehaven and Aunt Tilda’s eyes as she moved toward them.

  Her mother reached out for her and took her hand. “You don’t hate me?”

  “I could never hate you.”

  Mary shook her head and her voice hitched. “I should have known, but I didn’t look until it was too late. By then, Maia and Hugh were already courting. Still, I should have stopped it. I should have told Maia.”

  Taygete shook her head. “No. It’s all right. Hugh and I are together now and that is because of you.” Taygete took her hand from her mother and wrapped her in a tight hold. “I love you, Mama.”

  “Oh, Taygete.” Mary wept in her arms while her other hand still clung to Hugh. “I couldn’t bear the thought of you being alone. Alcyone’s debut was the perfect excuse to bring you two together.”

  Taygete smiled and kissed her mother’s cheek. “It worked, Mama. Hugh and I are getting married. That’s your doing.”

  “You’re getting married?” the viscountess asked. S
he smiled at them before her eyes looked worried. “But, he’s your brother-in-law. The law says—”

  “I’ll break any and every law to be with Taygete.”

  Taygete smiled at him.

  Mary lifted her head and looked at the two. “Let me know if there is anything you need me to do to make this right.”

  Hugh grinned. “You’ve done more than enough.”

  “Let me know if I can help as well,” the viscountess said from her chair, now grinning. “I still have my connections with quite a few men in government.” Her golden eyes glowed with mischief, and Taygete got her first glimpse as to why she’d been called the Grand Lynx before marrying Sophia’s father, the Viscount of Dovehaven. Morris’ mother truly was captivating in every way. Even the way she sat perched on the edge of her seat was worth any painter’s canvas.

  “Thank you, Lillias. That would be appreciated,” Hugh said.

  Taygete was stunned when he called her by her given name.

  Lillias’ eyes glittered as she stared at him. “Anything for an old friend.”

  Taygete looked at them and decided she’d rather not know just how far their friendship had gone, though seeing that Hugh was gorgeous, and Morris’ mother had been known to prey on younger men, Taygete suspected she already knew the answer to the question she would not ask. She was just glad the woman was happily married now.

  “Come with us,” Taygete told her mother. “Hugh has something to discuss with us.”

  Mary nodded, said her goodbyes to the other women, and allowed Hugh and Taygete to leave her upstairs.

  In the room they’d been occupying, Taygete discovered Electra and Alcyone had joined them. They were sitting on the couch on either side of Orion and it was clear by the way they clenched his hands that they didn’t want to part from him.

  Titan stood behind the couch without expression.

  Hugh helped Mary and Taygete into chairs before he went and stood by the open window. The air was warm, but the room much cooler than the ones occupied by the party guests. Taygete was glad that Aaron and Elipha had volunteered to host. It allowed Taygete and her family time to get away without being rude.

  Hugh needed no prompting to speak. “Maia’s carriage accident was not as simple as what I told you. She’d been kidnapped.”

  Mary pulled in a breath. She’d not known what the discussion was to be about, so the words hit her hard. Titan was there in an instant, taking the chair next to his mother and taking her hand. His anger at hearing his sister had been kidnapped was clear.

  “By whom?” Titan asked.

  “I never got his name.” Hugh met all their eyes. “He didn’t leave the carriage alive.”

  Taygete listened to his words and understood his meaning better than anyone else in the room. She recalled his anger at his house earlier that evening and recalled him asking whom she’d spoken with. What Hugh didn’t say was that the kidnapper had died in the carriage accident. What he’d said was the man had not lived.

  Titan asked, “What did he want with my sister?”

  “Money,” Hugh said, anger now etched in his own face. “I believe he meant that he was taking her and Artemis for ransom, but that was all he said before he died.”

  Orion’s eyes were as cold as his voice when he spoke. “I’m glad he’s gone. I’d have finished him off if you hadn't.”

  “Orion,” Mary whispered, though she pressed her lips together and said no more. She couldn’t deny wanting the man dead herself. The kidnapper had ripped her daughter and only grandchild from the world.

  “Was there even an accident?” Alcyone asked.

  Hugh nodded. “Maia had already been on her way to Southampton when the man took her, taking control of the carriage by killing my driver before speeding away. Someone saw what happened, recognized my crest on the carriage, and came to tell me. I followed their trail and when I got there, the carriage was overturned.” Hugh cleared his throat and looked away. He crossed his arms and pulled in a breath. “Maia was dead. Artemis… her body... “

  Taygete stood and went to him. She knew he’d purposefully set her away before he’d spoken, but she could remain still no longer. She moved toward him and placed her hand on his arms. “You don’t have to say anymore,” she told him. It was clear what had taken place. Hugh had not been himself after seeing his child in death. What had happened to the kidnapper had been of his own making and all for money.

  Or was that true?

  Taygete had begun to think that perhaps Maia had gone to Southampton to confront her about the letter after all, but then she recalled Jennie’s words. “I don’t think it was ransom.”

  Hugh was holding her gaze, and his body went tense. “What makes you say so?”

  Taygete turned and looked at Titan. “I’ve seen Jennie.”

  Titan’s face, which had already been tight, became menacing. “You can’t trust that woman.” His words still held pain as though Jennie had left just yesterday, the wound still fresh.

  It was the reason Taygete had always hated her. Titan could never move on because of her.

  She understood why Titan wouldn’t believe anything Jennie said, but Taygete had her suspicions. There had been fear in Jennie’s eyes. Real fear. “Jennie knew Maia’s death had not been an accident and told me that me that the rest of us should leave town.”

  Mary looked ready to faint. Electra and Alcyone looked worried. Orion stood, the conversation obviously getting too intense to sit.

  Hugh turned her back to him. “When did you speak to Lady Adenburg?”

  “This morning,” Taygete told him. “That’s why I tried to speak to you at the townhouse.”

  “Whatever she says can’t be trusted,” Titan said.

  Taygete shook her head at Titan. “No, I saw her fear. She wasn’t lying.”

  “We must speak to her,” Hugh said.

  “I don’t know if she’d be willing,” Taygete said. “And I don’t think it safe to approach Lord Adenburg’s home. She seemed really afraid, Hugh.”

  “Tomorrow,” Orion said. “We have to find a way to get to her.”

  “I can ask Lorena to invite her over,” Taygete said. “They know each other.”

  Titan grunted. “This Lorena woman doesn’t sound trustworthy either. Anyone associated with that woman can’t be trusted.” Titan was blinded by his hate. Taygete saw that now.

  “She is,” Hugh said, not leaving room for doubt. “Lorena is one of the most trustworthy women I know, and she can see this done.” Then Hugh shook his head. “Emmett won’t like me getting her involved, but we’ve no other choice.”

  “Emmett,” Titan said. “You mean the Earl of Ashwick?”

  Hugh nodded. “Lorena is his countess.”

  Titan’s expression changed, but he said nothing.

  “I’ll go speak to Lorena.” Taygete started toward the door.

  Titan asked Hugh, “What if the Countess of Ashwick can’t succeed?”

  Hugh’s reply came just as Taygete opened the door. “You’ll never ask that question again once you meet her.”

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  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

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  Hugh watched Titan pace Lorena’s sitting room. Lorena had gone to retrieve Jennie herself, taking Elipha and young Mary and Lily as bait. Her offer would be for the children to spend time together. Since Jennie’s sons were around the girls’ ages and every woman in London sought a position with the Spinsters, even if they didn’t say so out loud, Hugh had no doubt the woman would readily agree.

  Titan had his doubts and spoke them aloud. “The woman will probably send a maid on her behalf. I’m sure she has better things to do than spend time with her children.”

  Taygete, who’d only seen Jennie twice, said, “I don’t agree. From what I saw at the park, she seems to enjoy motherhood.”

&nbs
p; Titan glared at his sister. “It’s was likely a trick just as this entire ploy. She’s playing us all for a fool.”

  Damn.

  Hugh understood now more than ever why the family hadn’t liked Jennie. He recalled a day when Maia had brought the woman up after Jennie had tried to corner her at a dinner. Maia, who had a heart of gold, had called Jennie a witch and, coming from Maia, Hugh had been inclined to believe her. Hugh had never cared for the Duke of Adenburg. It seemed only right that he’d marry someone just as poisonous.

  And the poison seemed to have run deep in Titan.

  Orion found a chessboard in the parlor and brought it to the sitting room. He was playing with Alcyone, and the action seemed like something they’d done in the past.

  Taygete sat by her mother, holding her hand. Mary looked distraught, and Hugh questioned whether she should have come. When he’d asked Taygete about it earlier that day, she’d told him, “No more family secrets,” and he’d left it alone since then.

  Electra took up Mary’s other side and kept taking glances at her mother, obviously worried.

  Hugh stood on the side of the room, close to where Titan paced in the back. He'd planned his position well. He had a view of everyone’s faces. He didn’t know how Titan would react to seeing the woman who’d all but ruined his life, but Hugh would make sure everyone walked away with as few scars as possible.

  “Oh, I simply had to stop and retrieve my other bonnet. Please do come in. I won’t be but a moment,” Lorena called from the other side of the door.

  “We could have waited in the carriage,” Jennie replied.

  Everyone in the room froze as tension grew. Titan’s breathing became rushed, and Hugh watched him battle his emotions. The anger was replaced by pain, but he controlled his features before they heard rattling at the door.