"If you had entered through the door, then why was it hard for you to get out again? I don't think there's any explanation for that," Bedford said.
"This is a question that I have continually asked myself, and sadly, I have been unable to make sense of it. It is quite unbelievable that the door would suddenly be locked just after I entered it."
"That can only be if you were locked in the room," Bedford said.
"But... But that is impossible," she muttered, confused.
For once, Bedford saw just how vulnerable she was and looked. The hopeless look on her face could not be faked, and he knew it. For once, he decided to let go of his earlier prejudice and imagined that she was indeed not having an affair with Coventry.
"There's only one explanation for it," he said slowly. While trying to be as rational as possible, he had somehow stumbled upon a theory.
"What is that?" she looked at him with hope in her eyes.
"The only explanation for this is that someone intentionally locked you in the room with Coventry," Bedford said, watching as her face clouded over.
"But no one could have done that," she said, shaking her head.
"We cannot be totally sure, can we?"
Inese shook her head. "I presume not," she said.
"Now, let us think, who could have done something as foul as that?" Bedford asked.
"I can't think of anyone," Inese said after a moment, "I do not have any enemies, and my parents are quite peace-loving too."
Bedford shook his head. "That is not what I mean. In better words, here is my question: who is in the best position to have locked you in that room with Coventry?"
"I do not know. However, if indeed I was locked in the room with Coventry then the person who did it definitely knew that Coventry was in the room and also that he was going to try to make advances at me."
Bedford nodded, having no choice but to agree with what she had just said. "If your assumptions are right, then the person might be hoping to achieve two things. The person might either want Coventry to paw you or want to ruin your reputation by having people see you come out of the same room as him. Now, who would have done that?"
Inese shook her head. She didn't have to say a word for him to know that she had no idea who the culprit could have been.
Once again, Bedford sank into deep thought and tried to think about the points that Inese had raised earlier. Who could have known that Inese was going to head into the room? Who could have had the knowledge that Coventry was already in the room? Who could have also known Coventry enough to know that he would want to paw at her?
It was then that it hit him.
"Freya's maid," he said without even giving it a thought.
"What?" she looked confused.
He smiled and hit the table with his fist excitedly. He could not believe that he had just had his Eureka moment. Why it had taken him this long to figure it out was what had baffled him.
"Bedford, why did you mention Freya's maid?" she asked yet again.
"Listen to me, Inese," he said, "moments after you left the table, I made my way to the retiring room. I was on my way there when I saw a maid locking a door and quietly slipping away. Of course, she didn't see me. I thought nothing of it at that moment because I believe that the maid was a worker in the house. It wasn't until I was heading back from the retiring room that I saw you walk out of the room with disheveled hair. Now, guess the room you walked right out of?" he wanted to know if she had also been able to figure it out.
"The room that was locked by the maid you saw?" Inese asked.
"You are right," Bedford said, "I was just beginning to interrogate you when Freya came down the hallway, and one of her companions was the maid that I had seen lock the door earlier. I didn't make anything of it then because I was too angry and hurt at the betrayal to even give what I had seen a thought."
Inese looked as shocked as he was at this point. She didn't find her voice until minutes later.
"It was the same maid who had told me to go to the tearoom as Freya had summoned me there," Inese said quietly.
"That leads us to only one conclusion," Bedford said.
"That the maid is set on ruining me. I don't know why she would have ever wanted to do such a foul thing. I have always been kind towards her, and I have never once treated her with disdain," she pursed her lips tightly. "I bet Freya didn't know that her maid is such an awful person. We need to warn Freya before her maid harms her with mischief," Inese looked genuinely worried.
Bedford sighed. If only Inese could really see what their theory was pointing at right now.
"I don't think the maid is the mischievous one," he said.
"What do you mean?" her eyes were hard. "She locked me in the room so that Coventry could paw at me and ruin my name, and you think she is not mischievous?"
"Don't get me wrong, Inese. Think about it carefully: have you had any interaction with the maid?"
"Not quite," Inese shook her head.
"She is but a maid and only knows how to take instructions," Bedford said. "Now who is the only person that could have given her this instruction?"
Inese gasped, frowned then shook her head vehemently. "No. Freya would never do that. She is my friend, and she loves me just as much as I love her."
Bedford chuckled. "The fact that Freya is your friend does not mean that she cannot do that to you. Remember, you do not know her thoughts towards you."
Inese shook her head again. "It's impossible. Freya was the first friend that I made in London when we moved here years ago. She was the only one that treated me with kindness and showed me love. She showed me the way of the ton and even made sure that I made acquaintances of important people in society. In fact, it was Freya who made sure that I made your acquaintance a few years ago. Freya might be a bad gossip, but she is the best friend anyone could ever pray to have."
Bedford nodded. "You are right. However, who do you presume could have planned that mischief—a maid you barely ever have any interaction with or a friend who knows everything about you?"
Inese was quiet. Bedford could tell that she was also beginning to see things as they were.
"I still do not believe that Freya would have done that to me. She is my friend, and I have not done anything to her that would have made her do this."
"I believe we both know who our suspects are now," Bedford said.
Inese nodded and was quiet for a while. "Father wants me to marry Coventry," she said after a while.
"What?" Bedford was shocked.
"Yes," she looked up at him, her eyes brimming in tears.
Bedford didn't know why, but the information that he had just gotten infuriated him to no end. How could Inese marry Coventry? The Earl of Coventry was a very popular socialite in London, and his popularity was not unconnected to the fact that he was an unrepentant rake. He took pleasure in having affairs with as many women in society as possible.
His favorite type of women were the married ones who had tired of their husbands and were looking for excitement and pleasure since they could not leave the marriage. Not once or twice had Coventry been in conflict with angry husbands of these women who he had seduced. The last conflict has almost resulted in Coventry's death as the enraged husband had sent hoodlums after his carriage. That kind of man was not appropriate for Inese, not as a suitor and definitely not as a husband. The worst part of the arrangement was that he could not tell Inese all this about Coventry because it would sadden her even more.
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."
"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 de
cision," 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.
Regency Romances Page 171
