An Earl to Save Her Reputation

by Laura Martin

  ‘May I introduce my sister, Lady Lydia Pershore,’ Harry said as Anna and Lydia came to join them.

  Miss Wright greeted the two women, smiling kindly at Lydia, although Harry noticed she barely spared a glance for Anna.

  ‘You look lovely, Lydia,’ Harry said, taking his sister’s hand and kissing her gently on the cheek. He always felt as though she were a delicate porcelain doll, about to crack at any moment, and as such he knew he treated her with too much caution.

  ‘Anna helped me to dress.’

  For a moment he felt like picking Anna up and twirling her round, and proclaiming himself as her eternal servant. He wasn’t sure how she had convinced his sister to come downstairs, to put on a ballgown and do up her hair, but he would be grateful for ever that she had.

  ‘What a fine gown you are wearing tonight, Miss Wright,’ Anna said.

  For the first time Harry looked at what Miss Wright was wearing, taking in the pale pink dress, rich with embroidered patterns over the bodice area.

  ‘Thank you, Lady Fortescue. Do you like it, Lord Edgerton?’

  Harry murmured an inane compliment, picking up on the tension between Anna and Miss Wright. He supposed in order to entice Miss Wright to the house party Rifield had made Harry out to be completely blameless and chivalrous in the situation he found himself in with Anna. As such, Miss Wright probably didn’t have too good an opinion of Anna, even before you took into consideration her reputation among the ton.

  He was thankful when his butler announced dinner was ready to be served and his guests all started to make their way through to the dining room.

  Without thinking he stepped forward to take Anna’s arm, but before his fingers touched her skin she gave a subtle shake of her head, glancing towards Lydia as she did so.

  ‘Allow me to escort you to dinner, Miss Wright,’ Rifield said, coming up to their little group and taking the young woman’s arm and whisking her away before she could protest.

  ‘Lydia, can I escort you in?’ Harry asked.

  His sister smiled again, placing her hand daintily in the crook of his arm. Together they walked side by side into the dining room. Harry glanced back at Anna, the last one left in the drawing room. She had no one to escort her in to dinner, she would have to walk alone into a hostile environment, and not for the first time Harry wondered how she managed to stay so composed.

  * * *

  Small steps, Anna told herself, one foot after another. It was tempting to run away, to flee upstairs to her bedroom, lock the door behind her and shut out the world, but she knew that wasn’t the way to solve anything.

  Without having to think Anna went through the routine of putting on her invisible armour. Head held high, shoulders rolled back, chin tilted, facial features set into an impenetrable, neutral position. Every day of her marriage to Lord Fortescue she’d done exactly the same thing, from waking up in the morning until she went to bed at night.

  Gliding into the dining room, she saw that everyone else had taken their places; there was just one seat empty, between the new Lord Fortescue and his brother Mr Ronald Fortescue, two of her adoring stepchildren.

  Anna sat, inclining her head in greeting to the men on either side, before turning to face the woman seated directly opposite. She was relieved it wasn’t Miss Fortescue—being completely surrounded by Fortescues would have been too much to bear.

  ‘Antonia tells me you’re still running that grubby little shipping company,’ Lord Fortescue said part way through the first course.

  The eldest of the Fortescue children, the new Lord Fortescue resembled a bull in both looks and temperament. Easy to anger, slow to think, his round face and short neck seemed always to be flushed an unsightly shade of red. He looked much like his father, so much so that Anna had to remind herself it wasn’t her late husband sitting next to her when she caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye.

  ‘Indeed,’ she said.

  ‘I suppose it’s better than whoring.’ Lord Fortescue laughed heartily at his own joke, thumping the table with a beefy fist and making the soup jump off Anna’s spoon.

  ‘I wouldn’t know,’ Anna said quietly when he’d finished laughing. ‘I have only experience of running the company, not working in any other occupation.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Mr Ronald Fortescue said from her other side, leaning in closer so only the three of them could hear what he was saying. ‘Surely only a woman of experience, a professional, could lure three husbands into marriage in such a short time.’

  Ronald Fortescue was the youngest of the three children, but also the sharpest. He was cruel, vindictive and Anna suspected he had inherited many of his father’s worst traits.

  ‘Don’t forget victim number four,’ Lord Fortescue said through a mouthful of soup. He waved his spoon in Harry’s direction.

  ‘How is your wife, Mr Fortescue?’ Anna asked, turning to her left. The new Lady Fortescue, wife to the eldest Fortescue son, was sitting further up the table, but Mr Ronald Fortescue’s wife was not present. Anna suspected she had once again gained an injury she could not easily hide.

  ‘Mrs Fortescue suffers from her nerves,’ he said, adding under his breath, ‘Stupid woman.’

  ‘I suffered from my nerves a lot when married to your father,’ Anna said quietly, her voice hard. ‘But isn’t it peculiar I haven’t suffered at all since his sad passing?’

  Lord Fortescue pushed his chair out noisily from the table and stood up, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ Harry called from the top of the table, interjecting before Lord Fortescue could say anything he might regret. ‘It may be a little unorthodox, but can I propose a little game while we eat.’

  Anna felt Lord Fortescue’s eyes boring into her as he reluctantly took his seat. She flashed a glance at Harry, who gave her a quick, reassuring smile. He might have put her in this situation, insisted that she be thrown in straight away to sit between the two Fortescue brothers, but he was there keeping an eye on things, ready to step in if things got too heated.

  ‘Some of us know each other very well, but others are not so well acquainted. Seeing as we are a small party, I suggest a little game to allow us to get to know one another better.’ He paused as a footman took away his empty bowl of soup. ‘In turn we must each tell the table three things about ourselves, things that not many people would know. Two of those things will be true, the other a lie. As a group, we have to work out which is the lie.’

  A murmur went along the table as the assembled guests discussed the unorthodox idea with their neighbours.

  ‘Let me start,’ Harry said, standing up. ‘I was once attacked by a lion in Africa,’ he said. ‘My favourite drink is champagne. I can speak four languages fluently.’

  Anna felt the shift of focus from her to Harry and allowed herself a small sigh of relief. After living with her last husband she could maintain a composed façade for days on end, but she was a little out of practice and she disliked the scrutiny of the Fortescue children.

  ‘No one can speak four languages, that must be a lie,’ Mr Ronald Fortescue said.

  ‘Wait,’ Mrs Wright called. ‘If that was the lie, then it would mean he’s been mauled by a lion in Africa.’

  ‘Vicious beasts, no one survives a lion attack,’ Lord Fortescue said. ‘I witnessed a man get torn to pieces by a lion as if he were no more than a rag doll during my time in Africa.’

  ‘Lord Edgerton did serve in the army, if my memory is correct,’ the local vicar said. ‘And I think he was posted to Africa.’

  Anna glanced at Harry and saw him give her a conspiratorial wink. She’d been dubious about this whole weekend, worried about gathering together all the people who hated her most in the world, but Harry had promised he wouldn’t let anything untoward happen and for the first time in a long time she was realising she could tr
ust someone to do what they said they would.

  ‘Lord Edgerton did serve champagne in the drawing room,’ Miss Wright said. ‘And I’m sure I saw him take a glass.’

  ‘It’s got to be the lion. That’s the lie,’ Lord Fortescue insisted. ‘Rifield, you must know.’

  ‘I am abstaining from comment. I’ve known Edgerton for far too long for him to have any secrets from me,’ Rifield said.

  ‘And you?’ Lord Fortescue asked, not deigning to say Anna’s name. ‘Do you know anything about your new fiancé?’

  ‘Lord Fortescue, I know which statement is a lie. I won’t ruin the game by giving you the answer.’

  ‘Shall we agree on the lion?’ the vicar asked.

  A murmur of agreement went around the table.

  ‘That’s your final answer?’ Harry asked.

  ‘Yes, we’re right, aren’t we?’ Lord Fortescue said.

  ‘Lady Fortescue, would you like to reveal the correct answer?’ Harry asked.

  All heads turned in Anna’s direction.

  ‘Lord Edgerton can speak four languages,’ Anna said. ‘And he must have been attacked by a lion, as he strongly dislikes champagne.’

  ‘Surely not,’ the vicar’s wife said, her eyes widening in disbelief.

  ‘You must tell us how you survived a lion attack,’ Miss Wright said, her face a picture of concern.

  Anna wasn’t sure exactly why Miss Wright had been invited to the house party. She was a last-minute addition, someone Harry had not even been aware of until she’d arrived with Rifield. At first Anna had assumed she was some romantic conquest of Harry’s friend, but the pair didn’t seem overly interested in one another. Now she was beginning to wonder if Miss Wright had her sights set on Harry and, if so, how he felt about the matter.

  Sitting back in her chair, Anna inspected the young Miss Wright. She was plain but not unattractive, her hair was pulled back sharply from her face and her demeanour was earnest and upstanding. All in all she was the complete opposite of Anna and would make a respectable wife for a man worried about his family’s, and more especially his sister’s, reputation.

  ‘That is a tale for another time,’ Harry said. ‘Who’s next? Miss Fortescue?’

  As Antonia stood Anna realised she was still looking at Miss Wright. She was surprised to find it was jealousy she felt at the idea of Harry turning his attention to another young woman. Not that she saw a future between her and Harry, she knew she could never give up her independence again, couldn’t bear to take her chances in another marriage, but she did care for him.

  Don’t be selfish, she told herself silently. She couldn’t ever marry Harry, so she should be happy for him to find someone to settle down with. Although she doubted Miss Wright was the right woman for him. Harry needed someone who challenged him, someone who made him laugh and shared his interests, not someone who stood meekly by his side, agreeing to everything he said, no matter how respectable she was.

  ‘I’m not entirely sure...’ Miss Fortescue said.

  ‘Just any three facts,’ Harry said, flashing Anna’s stepdaughter his most charming smile. ‘I’m sure whatever you choose will be fascinating.’

  ‘My brothers will have to keep quiet,’ Miss Fortescue said. ‘I can play three instruments, I once broke my ankle when thrown from a horse and I correspond with friends on three different continents.’

  On either side of Anna the two Fortescue brothers looked completely bemused.

  ‘What fascinating facts,’ Rifield said in encouragement. ‘And you are adept at lying for such a respectable young lady.’

  Harry had instructed Rifield to charm Miss Fortescue, in the hope of getting her to open up about her hatred of Anna.

  ‘Three instruments seems rather a lot,’ Mrs Wright mused. ‘My daughter is talented on the piano and has a beautiful voice, but I wonder if anyone could play three instruments.’

  ‘I believe Miss Fortescue could well correspond with friends on three continents. People travel at the drop of a hat nowadays and it is common to have friends in Africa as well as India,’ the vicar said.

  ‘Lady Fortescue?’ Harry asked. ‘Do you have any idea?’

  Anna inclined her head gracefully at her stepdaughter. ‘I do not wish to spoil the game. I’m afraid I am certain of the answer.’

  ‘What do you know?’ Miss Fortescue hissed, causing the whole table to fall silent.

  ‘I was married to your father for a year, part of the family in every way.’

  When she had first arrived in the Fortescue household Anna had tried her very best to fit in. Both Lord Fortescue’s sons lived elsewhere, but Miss Fortescue was unmarried and as such still resided in the family home. Anna had tried to befriend her, tried to forge an alliance with the unhappy young woman. As the weeks passed she’d realised Antonia was almost as spiteful as her father, so the attempts to assimilate had stopped, but she’d still lived under the same roof as the young woman for a year.

  ‘You play the piano, the violin and the cello to a very high standard,’ Anna said, no hint of emotion in her voice. ‘You have a friend in India—Miss Fiona Dotwell, if I’m not mistaken—and a friend in Egypt, as well as many correspondents in this country.’ Miss Fortescue opened her mouth to speak, but Anna carried on. ‘And you were thrown from a horse when you were ten years old, but you broke your wrist and not your ankle.’

  The silence stretched out as Anna finished speaking, none of the assembled guests wanting to come between the two women.

  ‘Is Lady Fortescue correct?’ Harry asked quietly after thirty seconds had passed.

  ‘She is correct,’ Miss Fortescue confirmed.

  ‘I did try to be your friend,’ Anna said quietly, angling her head to Antonia so the other guests wouldn’t be able to hear.

  ‘You seduced my father, betrayed him and may well have killed him. You were never a friend of mine.’ Miss Fortescue’s voice was not so quiet, projecting the accusations down the table. As the silence stretched out two spots of colour appeared on her cheeks and with a jerky, rushed movement she stood, dropping her napkin and pushing her chair back with a loud scrape. ‘Please excuse me, I have a terrible headache all of a sudden.’

  Miss Fortescue left the room, throwing Anna a look of hate on her way out. As the other guests tried to fill the ensuing silence with embarrassed chatter, the Fortescue brothers both turned to Anna.

  ‘You’re a disgrace,’ Lord Fortescue muttered in her direction.

  Mr Ronald Fortescue was looking at her with more curiosity than contempt. ‘Why are we here, Lady Fortescue?’ he asked quietly.

  ‘Would you believe me if I said to mend the family rift?’

  Mr Ronald Fortescue laughed, a spiteful, ugly chortle. ‘I don’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth, dear Mother.’

  ‘Then perhaps it would be better if I said no more.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was another unseasonably warm evening for so early in the spring so Harry had instructed the servants to throw open the doors to the terrace from the drawing room. After dinner the women had filed through, leaving the men in the dining room, discussing whatever it was they discussed when the women left.

  Anna surveyed the room. Mrs Wright and Miss Wright were perched on two straight-backed chairs, talking to the vicar’s wife. Lydia stood awkwardly to one side, as if unsure if she should join in the conversation. She’d remained quiet throughout dinner, barely saying a word, but she had eaten a little, sipped on some wine and answered any questions directed only at her.

  ‘Tell me,’ Anna said, approaching Lydia and taking her arm, ‘what do you think of our guests?’

  A small smile flickered across Lydia’s lips, only present for a second, but welcome all the same. ‘They’re a little odd,’ Lydia whispered. ‘Individually I’m sure they’re all perfectly pleasant.’

 
Anna grimaced—she wouldn’t call Miss Fortescue or her brothers perfectly pleasant in any situation.

  ‘But it is a strange group to be gathered together.’

  ‘Did your brother tell you why he arranged this house party?’ Anna asked.

  Lydia shook her head. ‘A little, but not much.’

  Harry probably thought he was protecting his sister, shielding her from the unpleasantness in the world, whereas in truth he was likely just isolating her more from the real world.

  ‘The three guests, Lord Fortescue, Mr Ronald Fortescue and Miss Antonia Fortescue, are my stepchildren,’ Anna explained, drawing Lydia to one side. ‘They all completely despise me—they have done since the moment I married their father and it has only got worse since his death.’

  Lydia looked at her with wide eyes and Anna wondered if she was doing the right thing. Part of her thought it would be good for Lydia to be involved with the wider world again, to have something to think about other than her own unhappiness, but she also realised she was probably telling Lydia this against Harry’s wishes.

  Quietly she explained about the packages and the letters, about her suspicions that it was one of the Fortescue children behind the campaign of hatred. As they talked she saw Lydia slowly become more animated, more interested.

  ‘Do you think they’ll do something while you’re here?’ Lydia asked after Anna had finished her story.

  ‘That is what we hope. Then we can catch them at it and put a stop to the packages once and for all. Will you keep your eyes open for anything suspicious?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Lady Fortescue.’ A voice behind Anna made both her and Lydia jump. ‘Please forgive me for the interruption.’ It was Miss Wright, smiling sweetly. ‘I was hoping you might like to join me for a stroll along the terrace. It is such a lovely evening.’

  Anna allowed the other woman to take her arm and lead her out to the terrace, checking over her shoulder that Lydia was not too uncomfortable at being left alone.