It wasn't until she was well outside that she stopped. She heaved a sigh of relief as she inhaled the familiar smell of Christmas while walking towards her carriage. Nothing could bring her down, she thought to herself, not even a scandal.
Chapter 4
The Scandal
She was wrong after all, Inese thought as she stood before her father. The scandal was on the verge of not only bringing her down but also ruining the happy and peaceful life that she led.
"What on earth has come over you, Inese?" Hans asked.
"I don't understand, Father," she replied. Of course, she did.
Hans responded by slapping the Morning Times into her hand. "I don't suppose I have to tell you what shame you have brought to this family and to my name."
Inese shivered as she glanced curiously at the paper. As much as she knew what she was going to find in it, she was still willing for it not to be true. She could not stand the scandal.
"You have always been of good conduct in all your dealings, Inese. Why have you done this?"
Inese slowly turned the pages of the paper.
"You have not given me a befitting response," Hans said, livid with anger.
"My conduct has not in any way been less dignifying, Father. I assure you," she said earnestly.
"Then how do you account for what I see in the newspaper? You know very well what you have done, Inese. And at Bradley's house too? You have brought shame upon me."
Inese didn't have to read the news to know for certain that the incident of the previous day had managed to find its way into the newspaper. She sighed. "I assume it's the society pages?"
"Aye!"
She opened the newspaper and headed straight for the Society Pages.
Yesterday, at the ball party of Lord Bradley, a certain earl who is the most notorious rake that London has known was found in a compromising state with a bird. It was noted that the bird, who seemed to be quite fond of him, is of a strange species which cannot be found in London. Perhaps, this bird's species might be better known in Germany where she was known to have blossomed.
Inese's blood roiled. She tossed the paper aside and ran a hand through her hair. She had always known that the social scene of London was at times extremely distasteful, what she didn't know was that she would ever be a victim of their degradation.
"I will beg you to confess and tell me the truth about everything that has happened."
Inese flinched. She had a loving father who would do anything to make sure that she was happy and comfortable. However, his anger was just as deep as his love. Presently, he had his lips pressed tightly in a grim line as he regarded her with the most disdainful look she had ever seen him use.
"I did not do have a tryst, Father," she said quietly. Her father was already angry, and any untoward word or actions from her might anger him even the more.
"Inese, is the whole of London lying?"
Inese felt the tears well up in her eyes. Even her loving father didn't believe her. How could Bedford ever believe her then?
"Why have you brought this shame upon me, Inese?" he said in a dangerously low tone.
"I... I... did not do it. I did not have an affair."
"You rejected Bedford and deceived us all into believing that you were never going to take an Englishman only for you to disgrace us all by having an affair with another man."
"Father!"
"Tell me, Inese; who is this man that you were caught having an affair with?" he asked.
Inese opened her mouth but closed it almost immediately. If she gave her father a name, then she had confirmed that indeed, she was having an affair.
"TALK TO ME, INESE!" her Father snapped
Inese shivered. "The Earl of Coventry," she said without giving it a thought.
"The Earl of Coventry is the one you were caught having an affair with?"
"I was not having an affair with him, Father," she was near tears again.
"If you had fancied Coventry, you should have done the honorable thing by getting married to him. I can only imagine how devastated your mother would be when she hears what has happened."
"Yesterday was the first time that I set my eyes upon the Earl of Coventry, and I never had a romantic interlude with him. Nobody seems to believe me, but I will always say the truth."
"No one believes you because you are lying. Tell me, what is your excuse for what has happened?"
"I do not have an excuse, Father. And that is because I never did it. I was on my way to meet with Freya when I entered a room. The room was dark, and there seemed to be nobody there, so I tried to get out. Alas, the door had been locked. It was then that I saw the Earl of Coventry. He made advances at me, and then I pulled the door open. I saw... "
"Enough of this nonsense that you are saying, Inese. I cannot believe that you can stand right in front of me and lie. You have indeed grown more wayward than I care to acknowledge."
"Don't bother, I will announce myself."
Inese groaned when she heard her Mother's voice, and from her tone, Inese could tell that she had already heard what had happened at the ball.
She turned as the footman dashed ahead of her mother, bowing and announcing her presence even as she swept angrily into the room.
"Good morning, Mother," Inese said, her heart in her mouth.
Her mother was a woman of little words, and she was stricter than even her father.
"What have you done, Inese?" Adelheid asked as soon as she was close enough.
"I'm glad you have also heard about how our daughter had disgraced us," Hans said.
"Ever since we started living in London years ago, our family has always been scandal-free. Do you know why? It is because we act in a dignifying manner at all times. You, Inese, have suddenly turned us into objects of mockery in the whole of London. I was at Lady Wilberforce's salon when I was told about what you have done. What shall we do?
Hans gave a dry laugh. "I have already made a decision," he said with a tone of finality, and Inese's insides lurched, "Inese would leave for Germany before Christmas."
Inese gasped. It was funny how life had just turned around to mock her. She had always wanted to go back to Germany, and she had even let her parents know several times. Instead of being ecstatic that an opportunity to return to Germany had arrived, she felt sad.
"No, No! I cannot return to Germany, please," she shook her head frantically.
"You will be living with my distant aunt. I will write her tonight and send the letter tomorrow to inform her that you would be living with her until further notice."
"Please, Father," she pleaded, then turned to her mother, "Mother, please."
Adelheid shook her head. "There is nothing that I can do. You have brought shame and scandal to us. Therefore, the only solution is for you to leave for Germany."
"No, I don't want to go to Germany."
She wanted to stay in London. She wanted to go skating with Bedford. She wanted to dance with him at parties and have him laugh at her jokes. She wanted to sit with Freya in her salon while Freya tells her about the latest gossip in London. She wanted more than anything to be with her parents. Being so far away from them would break her heart, and it would break theirs even more.
"I would do anything that you want, Father, anything at all. Please, don't send me back to Germany."
Hans glanced at Adelheid, and she nodded.
'There is but one condition that you must fulfill if you do not want to be sent back," her mother said.
Her heart leaped. "Thank you, Mother," she said, bounding over to her Mother and hugging her.
She still had her mother in a tight hug when her father spoke. "The condition is that you are to marry the Earl of Coventry. You... "
"What?" she disengaged quickly from her mother and turned to face her father, who had a grim look on his face.
"Yes, Inese," her mother also said. "The only way this scandal can end is if you marry the Earl of Coventry and become his Countess."
> "Yes," Hans nodded, "it is a good position for a maiden of your standing."
"I will not be married to the Earl of Coventry!" she said firmly. "I would rather be sent to Germany and even hell itself than marry Coventry."
"He is a fine gentleman," Adelheid said.
"No," she shook her head. "The Earl of Coventry is a lot of things, but he is not a gentleman."
"Be prepared to return to Germany then. I will send a letter to your aunt tomorrow to inform her," her father said with a tone of finality before storming out of the room
She turned to her mother once Hans was out of sight. "I don't want to go to Germany," she said quietly.
"Then marry the Earl of Coventry and become the Countess," her mother shrugged.
"But he is a beast," she said.
The last sentence was more to herself than to her parents. The Earl of Coventry wasn't the ideal gentleman that she had always dreamed of marrying, and she was not about to lower her standards over a scandal that was sure to blow over before the end of the season.
Chapter 5
A Late-night Visitor
The past few days had been strenuous for Bedford. From his several meetings at the parliament to the numerous social events that he always had to attend. The fact that his heart was also in turmoil didn't help his situation. He was a hopeless romantic, and he had been burned because of it.
Being with people didn't help. He was present at a ball, and even as he navigated the ballroom and exchanged pleasantries with people, he still had the image of her face sketched at the back of his mind.
He only stayed at the ball as long as he could bear it. Everything that he saw at the party reminded him of Inese even though she was not present. The small talk was exhausting to him, and even when Freya came over to sit beside him, he barely heard all that she said.
He stayed at the party only as long as he could bear it. The thought of whiskey lifted his spirits a little since he knew alcohol was going to be his sanctuary tonight. The moment Bedford could make his exit gracefully without seeming suspicious, he did. He bid all his acquaintances farewell and quickly strode out, eager to be on his way back home. He donned his cloak and hat and was just about wearing his gloves when he saw Freya walking towards him.
"My lord. May I have a moment with you?" she asked.
Bedford shifted uncomfortably as he stifled a groan of impatience that was about to escape from his mouth. He, however, could not deny her access to him.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about Inese," Freya said.
His heart beat faster at the mention of her name.
"What about her?" He asked, trying to put up a calm exterior but failing.
"I want to know if you have been able to communicate with her since the scandal?" she asked.
Bedford frowned, he didn't like the direction the discussion was taking. "I've not been in correspondence with her, nor have I seen her. If I have answered all of your questions, I would like to take my leave now." He turned back towards his carriage.
"A moment, Your Grace," she said yet again, and he had no choice but to turn back for the second time. "She is not what you think she is."
"Excuse me?"
"I've always suspected that she was having an affair with Coventry. She just always masked it well with an honorable character. No one could have thought that a seemingly gentle and wholesome lady like her would have done that, don't you think, Your Grace?"
Something brittle snapped inside of Bedford, and he took a step closer to Freya. "I do not take pleasure in hearing anything that has to do with Inese. Now, excuse me."
He strode away from her before she could say another word while impotent fury raged in his veins. He got into the carriage and quickly signaled at the driver to leave.
He was angry, no, he was furious. He was mad more at himself than anybody. How could he have fallen in love so recklessly with a woman that not only did not want him but one whose virtue was highly questionable? As they drove past the skating arena, he looked longingly at the people who were skating happily with no worries. He was once like them, and he would have given anything to have that moment back.
He quickly looked away when he realized that he was beginning to pine after her yet again.
"She does not want you. She is now with Coventry," he reminded himself.
By the time he got home, he was in a foul mood. Somehow, Freya had managed to get him even madder than he already was. He headed straight into his office to pour his aggressions into his work.
However, he had hardly taken a seat when his doorman entered the office. "Someone is here to see you, My Lord."
"I don't want to see anyone," he said without even giving it a thought.
"Shall I tell her to come in the morrow then?" the doorman asked.
"Her?" that piqued his interest. It was late in the night, and it was indeed very rare to see a woman out and about.
"Yes, Miss Strupule insisted on seeing you even though we made her understand that you do not take visitors at this time of the night."
"Miss Strupule?" he was even more amazed. What was Inese doing in his house? A tiny voice whispered it in his head to send her back, but he refused.
"Send her in," he said, and for some reasons that he didn't know, his heart was beating even faster.
Moments later, she entered his office. His heart lurched as he beheld her face. A closer look at her face showed him that she looked unhappy and beaten.
He rose to his feet and offered her a seat.
"Thank you,” she said.
He was tempted to tell her not to use his given name, but he bit down his tongue. He didn't have to sound bitter even if he was.
He sat down and took his time to settle in the chair before finally addressing her.
"How may I help you, Miss Strupule?" he asked. He was determined to be as formal as he possibly could with her. After all, they were no less than strangers to each other now.
“Bedford?" she said in that very familiar voice.
"Why are you here in my house at this time of the night to see me, Miss Strupule?" he said in the calmest voice he could muster, even though he wanted nothing more than to shake her and ask why she had done it.
She looked shocked now. "You do not believe the rumors, do you?" she asked.
"Rumors? Enlighten me, please, Miss Strupule. I'm not quite up-to-date with London's social gossip," he said.
"The rumor that I... that I have taken Coventry as my lover."
He gave a cold smile. "I have no interest in London's rumor mill. However, I was there the night it all came to light."
He could see her blink back tears that were beginning to well up in her eyes.
"It isn't true. What you saw wasn't the truth. I have never seen the man until that night at Freya's party," she said.
The anger rose in Bedford again. He could not believe that Inese was trying to lie to his face again. He had enough problem with the fact that she had chosen another man, however, coming to his house to feed him more lies was beyond the pale.
He rose to his feet. "Miss Strupule, I will have the footman see you out of the house. I do not wish for anyone to see us together as I do not want to have my integrity stained by any scandal."
"My lord!" she said in a broken voice, but he steeled his heart harder, "are you asking me to get out of your house?"
"Thank you for putting it in fewer words. That, exactly, is my intention. I would have you take your leave. My integrity is quite important to me."
Inese shook her head slowly, looking at him as though he had just grown a pair of horns. Bedford was bemused. If there was anyone who should be mad at the other person, it should be him. Yet, she was sitting there comfortably in his office, looking at him like he had somehow offended her.
She rose slowly to her feet and made for the door without a word. She was already at the door when she turned back again to look at him.
"I thought you were different. I thought you would understand me
since you seemed to genuinely care about me ever since we knew each other. I can't believe that you are just as judgmental as everyone else in London. And yes, my integrity is also important to me."
He felt a pang of guilt. "Don't get me wrong. I do not want anyone to see us together at this time."
"You don't have to explain your actions to me, my lord. I was just an idiot to have hidden in the woods, waiting for you to come so that I could have a discussion with the one person that I thought would not be judging."
His heart sank. "Did you just say you hid in the woods?"
"I'm sorry that I was foolish enough to come to your dignified house and try to pollute your dignified and noble self. I will take my leave now, my lord."
In a desperate moment, Bedford made for her, and he caught her hand just as she was about to step out of the room. She stopped short and stared at him. "I'm sorry, Inese. Please stay."
A look of relief washed over her face. Moments later, she took her seat again. There was an uncomfortable silence for about a minute before Inese eventually broke it.
"What you think you saw that night did not happen. I know you may never believe me, but it didn't," Inese said.
Bedford swallowed. He did not believe her, not even in the least, but he had a duty to at least hear her out since they used to be friends.
"So, what happened?"
"Freya had sent her maid to tell me to meet her in the tearoom. I did not know where the tearoom was located, so I started walking about, trying to get to her. When I finally came upon the room that seemed to be the tearoom, I entered only to find myself in the same room as Coventry. Freya was nowhere to be found. I tried to leave, but the door did not budge.
That was when he started to say things to me. Where he tried to paw me and pulled off my hair clip, I pulled the door with all my strength and somehow, the door opened again. I was still in the disheveled state when you and Freya saw me and concluded that I was having an affair with Coventry."
Bedford held his breath. As much as his heart was set to believe that she was indeed having an affair with Coventry, something about her eyes endeared him to her, the more and made him want to believe her.
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