A Hint of Scandal

by Rhonda Woodward

  The short journey to the place where Bella and her family had worshiped all their lives was made in silence until the carriage pulled up to the wide wooden doors of the church.

  “Bella, before you enter I should let you know that your uncle and I have given Beatrice permission to attend the ceremony,” she told Bella with some trepidation.

  Bella heaved an angry sigh. “Why not? She might as well see the culmination of her handiwork. But if she thinks I shall forgive her because we are in church, she is quite mistaken,” Bella told her aunt with quiet vehemence.

  After Bella had learned of Triss’s deceitfulness, Triss had tried to explain and beg forgiveness numerous times. She had pleaded with Bella to open the bedroom door. She had banged on the bedroom door. She had slid notes under the bedroom door. But Bella would have none of it.

  Her cousin’s duplicitous behavior had cut so deeply, Bella could not imagine anything Triss could say that would make her feel any different toward her.

  The most painful part of this estrangement was that Bella, though she would never admit it, missed Triss terribly. How ironic, Bella thought bitterly. The one person she would normally look to for comfort was the person who had caused this nightmare.

  The carriage door opened and Bella saw that her father was standing outside the church doors, evidently waiting for them to arrive. Before exiting the carriage, she paused a moment and turned to look at her aunt. “My last remaining hope is that the church is empty,” Bella said with a remnant of her old humor.

  “I somehow doubt it, Bella, dear,” Aunt Elizabeth said with a tight little smile.

  Her father approached and first helped Aunt Elizabeth from the carriage. She whispered something to her brother-in-law before quickly slipping into the church.

  Bella’s father turned to her, and she met his solemn gaze before taking his outstretched hand, allowing him to assist her exit from the carriage.

  Breathing in the crisp morning air fortified her as, without a word, he led her up the church steps.

  Suddenly an icy calm descended over Bella’s roiling emotions. For the first time since that horrible moment four mornings ago, Bella found a little hope. Somehow, some way, she would find a way out of this horrible mess, she vowed to herself resolutely.

  It occurred to her that she certainly must have an ally in the duke.

  Her heart lifted a little more as her father opened the church door and they entered the vestibule.

  Bella latched on to the idea that the duke would help find a way to extricate them from such a misalliance. She had heard of the Church granting annulments under certain circumstances. Surely, together they could find a solution. Despite his stated willingness to do the honorable thing, the duke must be as eager as she to be free. After all, he had ladies to meet in atriums, she thought with some asperity.

  She was pulled from her musings when she became aware that her father had stopped just inside the open doorway of the church.

  His eyes were resting on her, and though his expression was still very solemn, there was something else in his gaze.

  “I am deeply pained that you should feel this animosity toward me, Bella, but I have faith that someday you will see that this was the honorable course to take.”

  Bella, with a bitter explanation, threw up her hands in dismay. “Oh, Papa, what does honor matter when I shall be miserable the rest of my life? It is not too late to stop this charade,” she finished on a plea.

  Her father’s expression grew stern, and he put a hand on her elbow and drew her to the nave of the church. “No, Arabella. Do not make this more difficult than need be. After being in his presence for the last few days, I am assured that the duke will treat you with care and respect. He has accepted the necessity of this marriage with great dignity. You must try to emulate him on this,” he said firmly, and moved forward.

  Bella held back and again thought about picking up her skirts and running out of the church as fast as she could. Taking another deep breath, she dismissed the idea almost instantly. She knew in futile acceptance that there was no real solution in fleeing.

  So Bella started the long walk down the aisle with her father. A moment later she heard the strains of a faint but familiar hymn being played on the church organ.

  Looking down the long aisle of the beautiful Gothic church, Bella felt her heart clench at the splendor of the morning light streaming through the numerous stained-glass windows that graced her childhood place of worship.

  Of all the dreams she had had over the years about her wedding day, Bella had never dreamed of a day like this. As they continued moving slowly up the aisle, Bella saw her aunt and uncle, Tommy, and Triss standing in the front of the church to her left. She quickly averted her eyes, lest they meet Triss’s.

  Keeping her gaze firmly fixed ahead, Bella saw that a profusion of ivy, white roses, and lilies covered the chancel rail. Their sweet fragrance reached her, and Bella wondered how her aunt had procured such a display this time of year, and why she had bothered.

  Avoiding the inevitable as long as possible, Bella looked beyond the chancel rail to the vicar. He was staring fixedly down at the prayer book he held in his hands.

  Closer they drew to the front, and Bella found herself gripping her father’s arm, trying to hold on to the calm that had so blessedly enveloped her earlier.

  To her right, on the groom’s side, a single female guest caught Bella’s attention. As she and Papa passed the pew, Bella flicked a surreptitious glance to the lady. Bella took in her fashionable ensemble of a bishop’s blue velvet pelisse over a paler bluish-pink gown. The lady’s bonnet was an exquisite confection of blue velvet and exotic feathers, tilted at a fetching angle above a classically beautiful face.

  In an instant, Bella’s eyes met the lone guest’s, and she felt a mortifying blush heating her cheeks at what this unknown woman must be thinking.

  Bella had steadfastly avoided looking in the duke’s direction, and now was a little surprised to see another man standing next to him at the altar. He was as tall as the duke, with coffee-colored hair and a handsome face with a short, jagged scar on the high plane of his cheek, which gave him the look of a pirate, despite his stern expression. Evidently this man was to act in the role of supporter to the duke, Bella concluded.

  As the vibrating notes of the organ music faded to silence, Bella finally looked up at the duke as she and her father finally reached the steps of the altar. Still clutching her father’s arm, she smelled the poignant scent of the roses and lilies all around her as she bravely looked at the man who was about to become her husband.

  Her frightened gaze took in the duke. She immediately noticed that no sling marred the perfection of his bottle-green colored coat, but he held his left arm stiffly to his side. His nearly black hair only accented the extreme pallor of his complexion.

  Frowning slightly, Bella thought he looked worse than when she had seen him last.

  His expression was unreadable, but his intense gaze met and held hers for a moment before he moved to stand next to her, facing the altar.

  The vicar cleared his throat and the ceremony began. Everything became a blur. Bella felt, rather than saw, when her father gave her away and moved to the front pew with the rest of her family. She was aware of repeating words after the vicar, but paid no heed to what they were until she heard the vicar say, “Repeat after me: I, Arabella Cornelia, take thee, Alexander Arthur Henry George, to be my wedded husband.”

  Her gaze flew to the duke’s grave profile as she muddled his two middle names. A smile touched the corner of his mouth.

  It was only when the duke placed a simple gold band on the third finger of her left hand that Bella feared her hard-won composure would fail her.

  “With this ring I three wed, with my body I three worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” The duke said these ancient words in a deep, firm voice, and Bella felt her hand shake in his.

  In a daze Bella heard the vicar announce them man and wife
, and she gulped in disbelief. There was brief, awkward pause, during which Bella prayed the duke would not attempt to kiss her. After a moment the vicar suggested that they remove to an anteroom to sign the papers.

  The duke nodded, and he, Bella, the man with the scar, and the elegantly dressed lady all moved silently to a side door that led to a tiny room.

  “Let’s see, I believe everything is in order,” the vicar said nervously as he handed Bella a quill.

  Pausing before she signed her name, Bella scanned the documents and saw that the duke would be one and thirty in August. It was a good thing to know one’s husband’s age, she thought with a suppressed urge to laugh.

  After the duke took the quill from her and signed “Westlake” in the proper place, he straightened, turned to her, and said, “Arabella, I would like you to meet my very good friends, the Duke and Duchess of Severly.”

  A little taken aback by the duke’s use of her given name, Bella said hastily, “How do you do?” and managed a curtsy in the small room.

  On her way back up, it suddenly occurred to her that a duchess probably did not curtsy to another duchess.

  “We are very pleased to meet you,” the Duke of Severly told her. Bella wondered at the sincere tone in his voice.

  “We are indeed,” the Duchess of Severly added with a gentle smile.

  “Thank you,” was all Bella was able to say.

  She stood mutely next to Westlake as the duke and duchess added their signatures as witnesses to the papers. Dismally, Bella wondered if she would ever again have anything to say for herself.

  After the formalities were completed, the five of them returned to the main part of the church, where Bella’s family stood waiting, each with a solemn expression.

  Westlake paused and looked down at Bella. He then offered her his arm; Bella looked at it for a moment before placing her fingers lightly upon it.

  They proceeded to walk toward the back of the church, with the Duke and Duchess of Severly following behind.

  Moments later the two couples emerged into the bright morning sunlight, leaving the haunting scent of roses and lilies behind.

  Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle David soon came out of the church with Mr. Tichley and Tommy. Bella noted that Triss was the last to exit, and that she hung well back from the rest of the solemn group.

  “If you would care to come to Penninghurst Park, I have breakfast awaiting us,” Aunt Elizabeth hesitantly said to the group.

  “We’d be delighted,” the Duchess of Severly spoke up after a quick glance to her husband.

  A barouche Bella had never seen, pulled by four perfectly matched bays, rolled up next to them. As the duke handed her into the vehicle, Bella was immensely relieved to see that the Duke and Duchess of Severly were joining them in the plush interior of the conveyance.

  Glancing across the carriage to the other couple as they settled themselves, Bella could not help wondering what this noble pair must be thinking about the extremely odd ceremony they had just witnessed.

  After all, her thoughts continued, the marriage of a duke should take place at Westminster Abbey, or some equally illustrious site, witnessed by hundreds of people, not just seven.

  The tension was palpable as the four of them rode in complete silence for some minutes.

  “My dear Duchess,” the Duke of Severly said in a very formal tone.

  Bella jerked her head up, startled to be addressed by the title.

  “My wife and I,” he continued, “wish to express to you our very deep gratitude for your care of our friend.”

  “Yes,” the Duchess of Severly seconded, leaning forward a little. “Alex has told us how you and your brother saved his life.”

  Bella looked at the beautiful duchess and thought her smile was encouraging.

  “Please call me Bella. But it was Tommy who found his grace. I just did what anyone would have done,” she said simply to the imposing couple.

  “But it was you who removed the slug. I think there are few women who would be brave enough to act so swiftly,” Westlake inserted.

  “I agree, you are a very brave lady, Bella,” the Duchess of Severly said.

  Looking over at the beautiful duchess, Bella thought there was a look of understanding in her gaze. Bella had the feeling that the duchess was not just referring to Bella’s act of removing the ball from the duke’s shoulder. “Thank you,” she said in a whisper.

  Casting a quick glance to Westlake’s pale, gaunt features, Bella thought again how tired he looked.

  Because she had refused to even accept that there would be a wedding, Bella had been unable to look beyond this day. Now she was eager to have a quiet moment with the duke so that she could share her idea of an annulment.

  Annulment! She could not even comprehend that they were actually wed, much less contemplating an annulment. She dejectedly sank back in her seat.

  The small group remained silent for the rest of the journey to Penninghurst Park, and was just as silent as they all filed into the breakfast room and took their seats.

  What little conversation there was during the meal was very stilted. The sounds of forks and knives clinking against china seemed very pronounced to Bella. Pushing her food around on her plate, she kept her eyes averted from everyone.

  As the meal was ending, Bella’s panic grew. What was going to happen next? Maybe the duke would depart and leave her here in Mabry Green; she gave this new thought a great deal of hope.

  At that moment the duke rose from his chair, and Bella held her breath.

  “Mr. Tichley, Lord and Lady Penninghurst, I have much to be grateful to you for, and I thank you for your care and your hospitality,” Westlake stated with obvious sincerity.

  “I beg your leave, for it is time that Bella and I depart for Autley.”

  Bella’s stricken gaze went to his face. Depart! No, no, no, Bella repeated in her heart over and over; it was much too soon to depart.

  Lady Penninghurst saw Bella’s frozen expression, and turned to the duke with great concern.

  “Surely, your grace, your departure can wait until the morrow? I am sure Dr. Pearce would advise you against such a long journey after so trying a day,” she appealed to the duke.

  “Thank you for your concern, Lady Penninghurst, but I believe it best that we leave.” His tone made it clear that he would not be dissuaded from his plan.

  Bella finally looked at her uncle, and then to her father. Her heart sank as she saw by their expressions that neither one intended to oppose the duke.

  “Very well, your grace,” Aunt Elizabeth said very calmly, nodding to the servants to clear the plates. “Shall we all go into the drawing room? Bella, you should change your gown. I shall send one of the maids to pack for you.”

  Bella found she had no voice. Rising from the table, she forced her trembling bottom lip between her teeth before starting for the door.

  “Excuse me?” a young, quavering voice spoke up as everyone was rising from the table.

  Bella turned at the question and saw her little brother looking around the room at all of them with confused, fearful eyes.

  “What is it, Tommy?” Alfred Tichley asked his son.

  “Should not we make a toast? At all the other weddings I have been to, the bride and groom are toasted.”

  No one in the room made a sound.

  “Why don’t you do us the honor, Tommy?”

  Bella was surprised to hear the supportive note in the duke’s deep voice.

  After a shy moment, Tommy nodded. Straightening his shoulders, he picked up his glass, pausing while the others followed suit. “To Bella and …?” Tommy’s face fell as he realized he did not know the duke’s given name.

  “Alex,” the Duke of Severly leaned over and supplied, giving the boy an encouraging smile.

  Tommy nodded and began again. “To Bella and Alex! May your happiness grow from this day forward, and God bless you both.”

  The resounding chorus of “Hear, hears” so touched Bella that
she could only lower her head against her sudden tears. As quickly as she could, she fled the room, with the toast still ringing in her ears.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Bella, sitting at the head of the immensely long dining table, lifted the etched crystal goblet and took another sip of the excellent wine the wine steward had chosen for her. As one footman removed the plate in front of her, another replaced it with a dish of savory hothouse vegetables covered in a French sauce.

  It was her fourth night at Autley, and the first she had spent dining alone in this cavernous blue-and-gold-appointed room. In spite of the elegant surroundings, Bella felt a keen sense of dismay and annoyance.

  Since her arrival, a frown seemed permanently on her brow, and the three servants attending her in total silence wondered at the haunted look in the new Duchess of Westlake’s eyes.

  As Bella took small bites of the delicious dish, her confusion and distress grew as her mind again went over the events that had occurred since she’d come to Autley.

  Situated on a rise in the midst of vast acres of forests, fields, gardens, and lakes, the duke’s home had caused her to catch her breath at its beauty upon her first sight of it.

  She could hardly believe that anyone actually lived in such a massive place, she had thought as the carriage passed through the imposing iron gates. Looking out the carriage window, she could see brief glimpses of a huge mansion with massive gray stone spires and towers as they drove through the turns on the road.

  As they drew nearer, she could see that Autley was built on a quadrangle around a courtyard. She found the place beautiful and awe inspiring.

  When the carriage had pulled up the miles-long drive to the grand columned entrance, it had been late evening on their wedding day. Bella was thankful the duke had slept for most of the journey, giving her time to think and formulate some sort of plan to remove herself from this untenable situation.

  Surely, given some time, Papa and Uncle David would eventually soften. She had consoled herself with this thought as she had watched the duke slumbering across from her, deciding that she was much more comfortable with him this way.