“It’s Dudley.”
Anxious to hear what he had to say, I opened the door and glanced to the right and left of him, hoping her ladyship was not lurking nearby.
“I’m alone,” he said. “May I come in?”
I hesitated to answer but thought it much safer to allow Dudley in my bedchamber than his mother.
“Yes, of course,” I said, opening the door wide. He stepped inside and closed it behind him.
“I apologize,” he began, “for the angry words you heard us exchange.”
“All I heard were inaudible rants,” I confessed. “Are you all right?” I reached out, touched his forearm, and swiftly pulled it back when I realized my inappropriate forwardness. His eyes lowered to my hand, and he smiled.
“Don’t be afraid to touch me, Mary,” he spoke softly. “I want you to believe me that I have your best interests at heart.”
After seeing his tender adoration again, I found myself taking solace in his protection. After all, what could his mother possibly do to me now that she was facing criminal prosecution?
“Do you know when the grand jury will convene?” I asked.
“Tomorrow at two o’clock. She will no doubt be charged with the moral crime of gambling. As far as anything further, her barrister will, hopefully, plead her case successfully, and no further charges assessed.”
“Plead her case?” I drew back after hearing his words. It felt as if someone punched me in the stomach. Did he actually think his mother deserved to be free after what she had done to Ann and Abigail? Dudley witnessed my abhorrence and swiftly began to defend his mother’s witlessness.
“My mother is, frankly, ignorant of the law. Even though she became indebted to Mr. Crawford, he threatened to sue her for the debts she owed him.”
“Well, why didn’t he?” I asked, thinking that much better than bartering for human lives.
“Because gambling agreements are unenforceable under the law, and he would have never prevailed,” Dudley explained. “My mother was so afraid of being sued and bringing shame on the family, she succumbed to Mr. Crawford’s other demands that could be paid in a discreet manner.”
“I’m sorry,” I said angrily, “but I feel no sympathy whatsoever for your mother. Her behavior was despicable.”
“I totally agree,” he said.
I could tell he wanted to embrace me or perhaps steal another kiss. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as if he could tell what I was thinking.
“You’re a snake,” I said, giggling.
“Yes, you are quite right. I would like to coil myself around you and squeeze you tightly.” He grinned mischievously.
“Then why don’t you,” I whispered.
Dudley pulled me into his arms and swallowed me in another embrace. I tilted my head back and looked at his lips, and he knew what I wanted. A second later he kissed me passionately, igniting my body with fire. My affections swelled in my heart. Perhaps I had fallen in love.
Finally, he pulled away and stroked the side of my face. “I should let you rest,” he said, breathing heavily. “It’s too dangerous standing here in your bedchamber.”
The mystery of whatever a man did to a woman returned. It must have something to do with the aching desires that came alive in my body each time we kissed. I almost wanted to marry him then and there to discover what it was all about. Had I lost my senses?
“Perhaps you better,” I said, stepping backward. Dudley smiled.
“Until this evening at dinner.” He turned and left the room, and I sunk onto the bed, wishing he had stayed.
* * * *
After resting, bathing, and dressing for dinner, I felt ready to face her ladyship. With Dudley’s promise of protection and his assured affection, I felt confident I could handle whatever opposition she would wield. I descended the stairs and headed for the drawing room, discovering her ladyship and Dudley having a quiet moment. He rose upon seeing my entrance and came over to greet me.
“Did you rest well?” he asked.
“Yes, I feel refreshed and hungry, if you must know.”
I glanced over at Lady Catherine, who by now fixed her eyes upon me. She radiated little emotion—neither remorse nor anger, which I found odd. Perhaps Dudley brought her to a place of acceptance regarding my presence at Whitefield Hall.
“Good evening, Lady Catherine,” I said, trying my best to keep my disgust in check.
“Miss Gleadhell,” she replied coolly.
Dudley led me over to the settee and motioned for me to sit next to him. I did not hesitate to show my new position as companion to her son. Whatever my relationship would be with her ladyship from this day forward was yet to be defined.
In an effort to be somewhat defiant, I glanced over at Dudley showing my affection for him outwardly. He responded by picking up my hand and holding it in his, obviously making a point for his mother.
“I’ve asked Miss Gleadhell to marry me.” His joyful announcement sounded as if I already agreed.
“It’s been obvious to me all along that Miss Gleadhell had one purpose in mind when she came to Whitefield Hall—to gain your affections,” she snidely remarked.
“You are wrong, Lady Catherine, as I have told you before.” I objected in a stern voice. “My purpose in coming here was to be your companion and friend, but you spurned and betrayed me.”
Anger took hold of my emotions, but I felt Dudley squeeze my hand as if he were warning me not to start a fight. Perhaps he was right, so I said nothing further about the matter.
“Am I to assume you have accepted my son’s proposal?” Lady Catherine glowered at both of us.
She expertly placed me on the spot to confess either my acceptance or rejection of Dudley’s offer of marriage. I told him I needed time, but now I wondered if I should wait any longer. My heart’s affection had attached itself to him. He made me feel loved and protected, and I had no doubt he would be a good husband.
The only drawback, of course, was his mother with whom I would have to deal with the rest of my life. However, being the baroness of Whitefield Hall sounded very captivating. I would take the place of lady of the house while the dowager would lose her position to exert her authority over me. Once wed, there would be nothing she could do to harm me. In fact, I suddenly saw the wisdom in putting myself under Dudley’s care as a means to protect me further from his mother’s wiles.
I turned my head, looked at Dudley, and saw anticipation written on his face. He wanted an answer now—in front of his mother. Moreover, I was willing to give it.
“Yes, I accept your son’s proposal of marriage,” I said, looking directly into his gleaming eyes. “I wish above all things to be his companion.”
My words brought a broad grin to my future husband’s face. He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. Lady Catherine’s countenance turned pale, and for the first time since my arrival at Whitefield Hall, I saw defeat in her eyes.
Vigilance in the Garden
Lady Catherine returned to Manchester with Dudley the following day. The indictment for the moral crime of gambling was charged against her. A modest fine for retribution was assessed by the court, along with a stern warning.
As far as her involvement in Ann and Abigail’s plight, her barrister accomplished the task of mitigating her involvement. He claimed she had been placed under duress, duped, and threatened by Mr. Crawford and his son. Of course, I knew better and so did Ann and Abigail, who were unable to receive the full justice due them for their suffering. Frankly, I wanted to lock Lady Catherine in her room and withhold meals for a week, but I knew Dudley would not appreciate my humorous remedy.
Dudley made sure his promises were fulfilled to Ann and Abigail. He paid them a year’s wages and procured new positions in a safe and hospitable environment. I felt proud to know he was indeed a good-natured man who kept his word. However, I knew it would take many years to erase the horrors of what those poor girls endured. Miss Wade and I made it a point to keep in touch with the y
oung ladies by often writing and checking on their welfare.
I wed Dudley the following month at the Manchester Cathedral in a glorious ceremony, which I never thought I would experience. Unfortunately, Lady Catherine’s behavior stained the family name as far as society had been concerned. It did not help matters either that the baron decided to marry beneath his status.
On our wedding night, I soon learned the realities of the marriage bed. My body, which had been hidden beneath voluminous dresses as a young lady, finally came alive at the touch of a man. I understood why Dudley made me ache and hoped I would soon become pregnant and give him an heir. Unlike my mother, who repeatedly told me I had duties to perform as a wife, I realized they could be pleasurable and not a burden. How ignorant and sheltered, like other young women, I had been.
Dudley sold his London townhouse out of financial necessity, but Whitefield Hall remained. Miss Wade returned as Lady Catherine’s lady’s maid, but she also served me. The rules of no consorting with the staff had become lenient at my insistence. I garnished a smile from the tall footman in the dining room, whose name I learned to be John Sapsford. Indeed, the entire household transformed since my return assuming the title of baroness.
As far as Lady Catherine was concerned, Dudley set rules that his mother was not to travel to Manchester alone under any circumstances. Her addiction had been curtailed as well as her freedom to involve herself in illicit gaming. I understood the need to keep her under watch because I thought she could easily return to her old ways, given the opportunity.
My relationship with her slowly improved, but it took some time for Lady Catherine to come to terms with my marriage to Dudley. I humored her by asking her to teach me the game of Piquet. Finally, I garnished a smile of approval, giving her the opportunity to beat me at another game she enjoyed. We passed the time together card playing, much to Dudley’s chagrin over my newfound enjoyment.
“We should make the stakes interesting,” her ladyship suggested one day. She just won another hand. “What do you think? Shall we wager a few pence?”
I grinned at her mischievous suggestion, knowing it probably held motives that were not innocent in nature.
“I think not,” I swiftly replied. “You shall not entice me to succumb to your vices, Lady Catherine.”
She merely chuckled over her first failure to lead me to ruinous behavior, and I could not help but wonder what else she planned. A part of me believed the spider still held enough venom to make a deadly bite upon my life. Until her ladyship’s demise, I would need to be diligent not to be caught in her web.
####
About the Author
With Russian blood on my father’s side and English on my mother’s, I blame my ancestors for the lethal combination in my DNA that influence my stories. Tragedy and drama might be found between the pages, but I eventually give readers a happy ending.
I live in the beautiful, but rainy, Pacific Northwest with a pesky cat who refuses to let me sleep. My hobbies include researching my English ancestry and expanding my family tree.
My usual genre is historical fiction with romantic elements and historical romance set in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. I am an award-winning and best-selling author under another pen name, having written six full-length novels. Visit my website at Vicki Hopkins.
About the Novellas
Thorncroft Manor is first of six planned novellas focused on stately homes, mysterious characters, and suspenseful romance. Whitefield Hall is the second.
In future stories, each heroine will bear the name of one of my English ancestors. I cannot think of a better way to honor my heritage than by remembering women of the past who actually lived during this time period.
Future releases of Romance with a Kiss of Suspense are as follow:
· Blythe Court
· Ravenswood Abbey
· Blackshire Castle
· Hardwick Tower
Subscribe to my mailing list for release updates: SUBSCRIBE HERE
Websites
Official Website – NoraCovington.com
Facebook Page – Nora Covington Facebook
Twitter - @Nora_Covington
Whitefield Hall: Novella Page 11
