A Scandalous Secret

by Ava Stone

  “She and James just want to see you happy, I’m sure,” Caroline replied.

  Happy. Hannah resisted the urge to snort. She hadn’t thought about her own happiness in more years than she could remember. “But I doona belong in this world anymore.”

  “Of course you do,” Caroline insisted with a supportive smile. “Just give it time.”

  Time was the one thing Hannah had plenty of. In fact, the last two months felt as if time had stood still.

  Hannah didn’t even realize she was crying until Caroline brushed a stray tear from her cheek. The viscountess had kind hazel eyes, and Hannah felt an immediate kinship with the lady. “I am sorry, ta be such a waterin’ pot.”

  “Completely understandable.”

  Hannah held in a half-sob, half-laugh. “Whenever I cry in Carteret House, Jamie and Beth exchange pitiful glances… They doona ken what ta do with me… And my boys, I try so hard ta be strong for them.”

  Caroline took Hannah’s hand in her own. “I’m sure you do. And as for James and Beth, well, I’m sure they’re simply worried. That’s how they are.”

  Tears fell more rapidly now, and Hannah retrieved a handkerchief from her reticule to dab her eyes. “Jamie’s always been so good ta me, but I’m sure we’re in the way. I doona want ta be a burden, but… Here I doona even ken ye and I’m blatherin’ on…”

  With a kind smile, Caroline squeezed her hand. “I don’t mind at all.”

  Hannah nodded shakily and more tears fell. “I just miss him so much.” She looked up, as if to the heavens. “Malcolm was my whole life. He treated me better than I deserved and loved our children…” She took a steadying breath. “I doona ken what’s ta be done with my boys. They’re angry and miss their father, and…here I sit in some silly shop, lookin’ at drawings of gowns that I’ll never feel like wearin’.”

  With an understanding nod, Caroline offered Hannah another handkerchief. “It’s just that it’s so fresh, darling. You’ll start to feel yourself again. Being around people is the best solution, I’ve always found. It forces you to be human. So order some of these silly gowns and we’ll get you readjusted.”

  “Ye’re very kind.”

  Caroline laughed. “That is not a word that is often used to describe me. Meddlesome, interfering, stubborn…those I hear more often. Though I prefer resourceful.”

  For the first time that day, Hannah grinned through her tears. “I’ll consider myself warned.”

  “Good, because I’ve just decided that I’m going to host a dinner in your honor.”

  Bethany returned then, with a stack of more plates to go through. When she saw Hannah’s tear-stained face, she looked at once panicked. “Oh, dearest, are you all right?” She rushed to Hannah’s side.

  But Caroline jumped up from her spot and intercepted the countess, which sent her golden brown curls bobbing up and down. “I’m afraid I’ve terrified the poor woman, as I’ve threatened to host a dinner in her honor.”

  A horrified expression settled on Bethany’s face. “Dinner?”

  “Well, yes, why not?”

  Beth shook her head. “Just a dinner?”

  Caroline giggled. “I think Hannah would enjoy a dinner, don’t you?”

  ***

  Caroline flounced into the library, where she knew she would find her husband. Staveley was nothing if not studious. He sat in a large, overstuffed chair, and was thumbing through some old, ancient tome. She could never understand how he found such things interesting, but he could very easily barricade himself in the library for days if she didn’t insist he rejoin the world of the living.

  Entranced in his reading, Staveley absently brushed his light brown hair off his forehead. Caroline smiled when her eyes fell on him. Had she been given a choice all those years ago, she would never have married the quiet, reserved viscount; they didn’t have a thing in common. It was a good thing her brother, Robert, hadn’t given her a choice in the matter. Now, more than decade and three children later, she loved her husband dearly and couldn’t imagine life without his steady influence.

  Poor Hannah Campbell. All alone in the world.

  Caroline crossed the floor, picked up the heavy tome from her husband’s hands, and dropped it to the floor with a loud thud. Staveley’s brown eyes watched her with amusement. “Are you looking for my attention, dear?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” Caroline nodded, then dropped herself across her husband’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve decided to host a dinner party.”

  His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Just a dinner party?”

  He didn’t have to look so skeptical about the idea. “Yes, just a dinner party.”

  Staveley wrapped his arms tighter around Caroline and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Whatever will make you happy, my dear, but you must admit that normally your events are on a much grander scale.”

  She nodded in agreement. “That is true. But I went shopping today, and—”

  “Oh, and how much did that little excursion cost me?”

  Caroline playfully thumped his ear with her fingers. “Watch yourself, Staveley, or I’ll go back out tomorrow and spend double what I did today.”

  When he simply chuckled at the threat, Caroline leaned her head against his shoulder. She was so fortunate to have him. “As I was saying, David, I went shopping today with Bethany Carteret and Lady Hannah Campbell.”

  He sat up a little straighter and adjusted Caroline in his arms. “Little Hannah’s in Town already?”

  “Little?” The woman was at least full head taller than Caroline.

  Staveley grinned. “Is statuesque better? James said she’d be arriving, but I didn’t expect her so soon.”

  “So, you know her then?”

  “Of course… She must have been twelve, thirteen when I first met her. The four of us had gone up Briarstrath.” Staveley didn’t have to say who the four of them were. He could only mean himself, James MacFadyn, Simon Greywood, and Alexander Everett. “She was such a spitfire. Never let James get away with anything.”

  “What do you know about the Battle at Vitoria?”

  Staveley paused before answering and furrowed his brow in thought. “Just what was in the papers. It was a few months ago. A decisive victory for the Allies. Wellington was in command…And from what James said, that’s where Hannah’s husband was wounded. Cavalry officer with the Scots Greys.”

  Caroline nodded sadly. “Major Campbell died a week later, apparently.” She clutched her husband’s lapel in her hands. “I’m so glad to have you, darling.”

  Staveley softly brushed his lips across hers. “I’m glad to have you too… Am I to take it that Lady Hannah is the reason for your dinner?”

  Her husband knew her very well. Caroline nodded. “She doesn’t know anyone here except for the Carterets, and you know how tiring Beth can be. I can’t very well have a ball or soiree or something. There’d be dancing, and…well, she’s only two months into her mourning. So I think a small dinner would be appropriate, don’t you think so?”

  “You would know best, my dear.”

  “Do you suppose I could coerce Kelfield into attending? With your sisters, I’ll need to round out my numbers. So even after Clayworth and Astwick, I’m still a man short.”

  Staveley’s muscles tensed beneath her. “That’s a very bad idea, Caroline.”

  Well, the duke didn’t generally attend such mundane events, but she’d asked him for favors in the past. “It’s just one night. He can go back to his debauched lifestyle the next day.”

  “I don’t mean Kelfield.” Staveley frowned. “I’m sure he’d do anything you asked. But Astwick and Clayworth are another matter altogether.”

  That was the most ludicrous thing Caroline had ever heard, and she had heard many ludicrous things in her life. “Don’t be ridiculous. Clayworth is a widower himself, and Astwick lightens the mood of any gathering. Hannah could use a bit of that, I think. Besides, I thought you were fond of both of them.”

  Sta
veley frowned, making him look suddenly serious. “I am fond of them. But James is another matter, entirely. He cannot abide Astwick, and if I’m not mistaken, the feeling is mutual. Your usual gatherings are much larger, and in the past they’ve been able to avoid each other.”

  Strange. It was unlike James to dislike anyone. Especially someone as gregarious and generous as Chet. But now that Staveley mentioned it, she did seem to remember that Astwick didn’t care for James either; her brother, Robert, had said something to that effect at one time or another. But she had no idea what had caused the animosity, Robert had never said. “Do you know why they dislike each other?”

  “Let it be, Caroline.”

  She shifted to look in his eyes. “I don’t want to let it be. You have a close group of friends, and so do I. It’s silly that we can’t all sit down together for dinner. So, tell me, David, what is the problem?”

  Staveley sighed. He could hedge all he wanted to, but after a dozen years of marriage they both knew he’d relent eventually. The question was, how long would it take for him to give in. “You, my dear, have meddled enough in other people’s lives—”

  “David Bertram Benton! I do not meddle. I help. And the only people I’ve helped within recent memory are Robert and Lydia and then Lucas and Juliet. And we both know those stories ended happily, thanks to me. Now, tell me what you know about the situation, Staveley, or I’ll simply ask Chet myself.”

  He pursed his lips. “You are the most stubborn woman. Do you know that?”

  “So Robert tells me. Proceed, please.”

  Grudgingly, he began. “Truthfully, Caro, I don’t know all of what transpired. James never spoke of it. God only knows what he’ll take with him to the grave. But Alex and I believe that it actually has something to do with Lady Hannah—which is reason enough for you not to invite Astwick.”

  Well, that was interesting. She had no idea that her two pet projects knew each other. “How is Hannah involved in all this?”

  “Caroline.” Staveley shook his head and a look of annoyance settled on his face.

  “I consider her a friend. I just want to know,” Caroline pressed.

  “Yes, you always ‘just want to know.’ But this time I don’t have any answers for you. And I’m warning you—don’t go poking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  Caroline thrust out her lip in a pout, but inwardly her mind spun with possibilities…plotting, planning. As soon as she was able, she penned a quick missive to Chet.

  ***

  “What am I doing here, Caro?” Chet asked as he looked out at Lady Pennington’s garden, filled with tables and a throng of young, unmarried women.

  Caroline winked at him and took his hand in hers. “Darling, I’ve seen you around ladies my whole life, but I’ve never analyzed your performance. So today I want to sit back and gather information.”

  Perfect. Chet sighed. All he needed was Caroline to analyze his performance. Made him sound like a dancing circus bear.

  Caroline softly tapped his chest. “Now, tell me, darling, of all these lovely creatures, who most catches your eye.”

  That was a useless question. Chet already knew the answer… None of them. But he appeased her by looking out among the sea of women with a scrutinizing eye anyway. But it was just as he suspected, no one caught his interest. No one had for more than a decade. He shook his head. “A few are lovely enough, but no one makes me all giddy, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Hmm.” Caroline quietly examined the crowd herself. Then after a moment, she turned her gaze on Chet. “Are you acquainted with Lord Carteret’s sister, Lady Hannah?” she asked bluntly.

  Chet choked on a swift intake of air, coughing loudly. God in Heaven. How did Caroline know about Hannah? After he finally caught his breath, he turned his questioning gaze on his companion. “I beg your pardon?”

  With a haughty air, Caroline raised her brow. “I’ll take that little exhibition as a ‘yes’.”

  There was no point in denying it. He could tell from Caroline’s expression that she already knew anyway. Damn the woman. How did she find out? Was she clairvoyant? “I knew her,” he replied tightly.

  “Yes, I believe we’ve already established that. Care to tell me about it?”

  “Not particularly,” he drawled, knowing it was pointless. Once Caroline set her mind on something, she was relentless. How Staveley lived with the woman, he had no idea. “I’ve never even spoken to Robert about her.”

  “Not even to Robert? Interesting.” Caroline’s gaze raked him up and down. “But then, my brother is not as perceptive as I am. Anyway, you may as well tell me about her, Chet. Otherwise I’ll just ask Hannah myself.”

  Chet almost snorted a reply. What would Hannah say if Caroline asked her about him? Did she ever think of him? Had he meant anything to her all those years ago? “Good luck finding her. She’s somewhere on the continent, I believe.”

  “You are ill-informed.” Caroline’s brow rose in a most haughty fashion. “She’s residing at Carteret House with her two sons,” she added cheerfully.

  Sons? Chet’s mouth fell open at the revelation. Though why should he be surprised? Why wouldn’t she have children? It was ridiculous to think that after she married another man, she still pined away for Chet after all these years. No, he was the only one who was that foolish. “She’s in London?” he heard himself ask.

  “With only Beth for company, poor girl.” Caroline nodded. “So are you going to tell me about Hannah, or will you make me resort to asking her?”

  “To what end?”

  Caroline shrugged. “I don’t like secrets being kept from me. Drives me a bit mad.”

  “Heaven forbid you go mad.” Chet chuckled despite himself. “Honestly, Caro, there’s not much to tell. She was a fresh-faced lass just come to London when I met her. I was at some ball, I don’t even know where. There were hordes of us gathered around Bethany Greywood, all clamoring for her attention. And I said something that compared her to Helen of Troy—”

  Caroline rolled her eyes and smirked at that, which caused Chet to grudgingly smile himself. “Go ahead and laugh. Hannah did. That’s when I first noticed her. She’d been standing with Bethany the entire time, I just hadn’t seen her.”

  “Other women are always invisible in Bethany’s wake.”

  That was probably true, though he hadn’t thought about it before. “Anyway, this pretty blonde informed me in her enchanting brogue that Helen of Troy was not a brunette, and I really should get my facts straight before I threw out compliments that didn’t make any sense.”

  Caroline did laugh then. “She didn’t? Did anyone hear?”

  Chet snorted. “Only the entire room. I hauled her out on the dance floor just to shut her up. And then she proceeded to tell me that I was wasting my time with Miss Greywood. That any fool could see she only had eyes for James MacFadyn.”

  With an understanding nod, Caroline smiled. “She still does.”

  “Yes, well, we men are foolish creatures. We see a pretty face and our minds stop thinking rationally.”

  “Hannah is quite lovely herself,” Caroline prodded softly.

  “Captivating.” Chet sat motionless, lost in his memories. He could see Hannah’s twinkling blue eyes looking at him, laughing with him, promising him everything. He remembered how kissing her had always reduced him to mindless idiot. And then the rest came flooding back, holding her gloriously naked body against his…

  He shook his head. Those memories were too painful to dwell on.

  Caroline stared at him with concern etched in her inquisitive hazel eyes. “What happened?”

  Everything. Though he loved Caroline like a sister, there were some things he wouldn’t ever tell her or anyone else. So the general brushstrokes would have to do. “I fell completely in love with her.”

  “Indeed?”

  Chet shrugged. “Of course, Harold didn’t approve at all.”

  Caroline furrowed her brow. “Your brother was still
alive at the time?”

  “Aye, Harold was Astwick. He was wholly unimpressed with Hannah. She was…different. You know how things are. It was the same then, the Town was awash with young girls all trying to say the right thing, do the right thing. Nothing over the top, or they’d never entrap some unsuspecting sap into marriage.”

  Caroline smacked his hand. “Hardly, a woman’s view of things.”

  He smiled despite himself. “But that was never Hannah. She never pretended to be something she wasn’t. She was honest and open, and Harold hated that. Said she was no better than the unwashed denizens.”

  “Not very flattering.”

  Chet shook his head. “That was Harold. You never knew him, but Robert could tell you stories, I’m sure.”

  Caroline’s frown deepened, as though she was putting pieces of a puzzle together. “Hmm. So you ended things with Hannah because of Harold?”

  Hardly. “No, I paid him no attention. Every thought I had was of her. She saw the world in a completely different way than I did. She was like a breath of fresh air…” Chet stared into the past with a heavy heart. “I asked her to marry me.” With a frown, he remembered the rest… How James MacFadyn had discovered him in Hannah’s bed. How Chet had assured him that they planned to marry. How Carteret had insisted on proceeding with great haste and even demanded a special license. How by the time Chet had acquired it, Hannah was gone. “Carteret accepted my offer, but he never had any intention of allowing the two of us to marry.”

  Caroline’s eyes were as large as saucers as she listened. “What do you mean?”

  Chet heaved a heavy sigh. “The bastard gave his consent, and then whisked her off to Scotland behind my back. The servants at Carteret House said they’d gone to York. I followed, of course, but they weren’t in York. It was suggested that they’d gone to Carteret’s cottage in Cumberland instead, but they weren’t in Cumberland either. And by the time I made it to Briarstrath, the blackguard had already married her off to some neighbor—somebody Campbell. And she was gone.”