by Ayles, Abby
“Lady Noelle looked very pretty tonight,” his mother suddenly said to him, breaking him from his thoughts. He’d quite forgotten that she was traveling home with him. She’d been quiet as a mouse at this ball.
He looked over at her and nodded his head slowly. “Really, she always does,” he replied. “I would be very surprised if she suddenly did not.”
His mother was giving him a sad sort of smile. “I know,” she said. “Be careful with that one, love.”
Rodrick raised an eyebrow at her, but he knew what she meant. It wouldn’t do for him to tie himself to Lady Noelle’s star for she would never be able to be with him. I wonder if I might magically meet a woman the way James did.
He still had to wonder if Miss Tate was somehow nobility, she just didn’t know it. He supposed that it should always be a mystery. After all, once she married Jamie, she’d be Lady Edwards anyway.
Will the duchess accept her then? Or will she not because she will always know that the girl came from ‘nothing?’
When their stroll came to an end and they arrived back at Wildhill, he could think of nothing more besides going to sleep and hoping for a new day to begin. He had a fitful sleep, dreaming of only Lady Noelle.
Let her not avoid me now. Her mother has nothing to worry about. I know my place.
He didn’t agree with his ‘place’ but he knew it.
A few mornings later, Lord Edwards appeared at his front door. Rodrick greeted his cousin most amiably, glad to see that James was no worse for wear after that awkward conversation and parting. Indeed, James still smiled as if he was too happy to be hurt by much of anything.
“It’s a blessed day, isn’t it?” Jamie said to him as he came inside Wildhill and sat with Rodrick in the lounge. “I haven’t seen a fairer day in some time.”
Rodrick looked at him amusedly as he sat in a wing chair. “I suppose it is,” he replied. “I haven’t really been out of doors much today.”
Jamie looked as though he had something that he wished to tell his cousin but he didn’t know how to begin. Rodrick examined his expression and knew that what he saw was good news, whatever it may be. I think I have some idea…
“Did you enjoy the ball the other evening?” James asked him expectantly.
Rodrick wouldn’t say no either way, considering that the ball had taken place at James’s estate. He smiled brightly and nodded. “I did. I hope that you did as well.”
He figured that James had enjoyed himself or he wouldn’t be so smiley when he asked about it. Maybe he hadn’t been so hurt by the duchess’s words as Rodrick thought he was. Sometimes James did have a thicker skin than he let on.
Perhaps Miss Tate was able to soothe any sour feelings that he might’ve had after that. At once Rodrick was grateful for her being there. He knew that the young lady could be rather good for him and his broken heart.
Indeed, his heart would not be broken anymore if she could continue being there and soothing it for him… Rodrick’s smile grew.
James was looking at him curiously and blushing as if he could read his mind. “Indeed, I did,” he replied. “In fact, I have some news that I really must share with you.”
Rodrick didn’t have to wonder what this news could be. But it was awfully swift of him. He knew that James had been in such a state and he’d been feeling as if it might somehow be his fault, for not proposing marriage sooner, but Rodrick didn’t think that rushing into anything was a good idea either…
“I am really fond of Miss Tate,” James informed him.
“Yes…” Rodrick said. This was not exactly news.
“I think that I might wish to marry her, but I am not sure if I ought to ask her for her hand already,” James went on. “I am conflicted. But I do think that I ought to tell her how I feel.”
Rodrick smiled at him once more, so relieved to hear that James was still thinking clearly about it after all. “That’s a good plan; there’s no need to rush. I’ve a good feeling that Miss Tate would be willing to wait.”
“Oh, but I won’t wait too terribly long!” James said passionately, unable to keep the smile from his face for even a moment. “I think I shall court her a few months in order to give it some more time and then I shall go speak with her parents.”
Rodrick nodded. “A wise idea,” he agreed.
He was so happy to see his cousin so happy. He had been so worried for his dear cousin after everything that had occurred, so it was truly a blessing to see Jamie come out of it all with the love that he so deserved.
Later on, after James had gone back to Westwood – to send a letter off to his new lady love, Rodrick didn’t doubt – a letter arrived for Rodrick at Wildhill. He received it from Smyth and brought it into his study to read it in private.
It came from Stone Hill Manor.
“Good lord,” he said under his breath before carefully tearing it open.
Dear Rodrick,
I find it necessary to write to you and make it known that Lady Catherine and I were married in Gretna Green. We were not together long at all before we were wed, so you may put aside any incorrect notions about what occurred that night.
This letter is meant to bring comfort to your family as well as the Duke of Salisbury’s family. I of course bear him no ill will, considering who I am now married to. Indeed, we never meant to harm anyone with our affection and love for each other.
Lady Catherine is very well with me. We have been on holiday for some time in Scotland, enjoying the sights there and the relaxation that often comes from time apart from family. It was she who bade me to write to you and let you know that everything is well.
We have now returned from Scotland and we are home at Stone Hill Manor. The new marchioness is quite happy here and my father dotes on her in ways you wouldn’t believe were real, coming from the old grouch. I hope that it shan’t be long before we see you again.
How is your dear cousin? We sincerely hope for the best for him in the future. We never met to slight him in any way.
We are planning to have a party here soon and of course you were the first man I wanted to invite. How strange it is, given that you are not a lord of any kind. You’re the lord and chief among my friends.
Fondest regards,
Lord Drake
“Alfie”
Rodrick could tell that the man was making every effort to appear cordial towards him. He wondered if this was sincere or if he somehow was feeling desperate now. He couldn’t imagine that Alphonse had many friends at this point.
He didn’t want to go to any ball that was hosted at Stone Hill by that man or his new bride. Even if the family and James had moved on, that did not mean that anything was forgiven. It was good to know that they were married and that they’d safely returned from Scotland, but that was the extent of his feelings for them at the moment.
“They hope for the best for Jamie,” Rodrick said in a low, angry voice. “Indeed.”
“Sir?” Smyth asked him.
Rodrick didn’t realize that his butler was standing in the doorway. He looked over at him and gave a false smile, not wishing his servant to feel concerned for something that hardly concerned even Rodrick. “It’s nothing,” he said to the butler, “it’s just a letter from the most scandalous man in England.”
Smyth gave a knowing sort of nod and left the doorway, seeing that he wasn’t needed there for the moment.
I wonder if Mother should know that they have returned, Rodrick thought. He certainly wasn’t going to send word of it to James. Now that his cousin was happy with another, Rodrick didn’t wish to mention that girl again.
Miss Tate was more of a lady than Catherine Fletcher would ever be. He didn’t care that she was a marchioness now. She had no sense of honor or propriety, as far as he was concerned.
He had to wonder if the Duke and Duchess of Salisbury would attend that dreaded ball, however. They likely wished to see their daughter again even if it was under these tarnished circumstances. A daughter was still a dau
ghter; they had not completely cast her out.
In fact, the duchess seems to hold her in high regard compared to Lady Noelle, which I shall never understand.
For a moment, Rodrick wondered if he should send word to this lady, but he thought better of it. There was a high chance that Lady Drake had sent word to her sister anyway. It was far better for Lady Noelle to receive the news directly from her than from an outsider.
Rodrick wished that he could be with Lady Noelle at that moment. He knew that what she was going through couldn’t be very pleasant. Her sister was now married to that man and she had been completely neglected by nearly everyone that was close to her.
As much as he wished to write to her, he thought that it would be best to leave well enough alone. He didn’t want to keep getting mixed up in that family and further alienate himself.
The duchess was never going to like him, and in fact the more she saw him with her daughter, the more she was going to dislike him. Rodrick knew that he’d been asking for that scorn he’d received for some time. He hadn’t truly been surprised by her words; it was mainly the fact that she’d so brazenly said them for all to hear.
Her judgement of Miss Tate was clearly judgement that extended to him as well. The duchess wished for her family to avoid such acquaintances entirely.
Indeed, perhaps it was better that Lady Noelle moved on with her life and he with his. That would be the best way to put this horrible chapter behind them.
Of course, Rodrick had never been the best at taking even his own advice.
Chapter 35
The Duke of Salisbury asked all of his remaining family to meet with him in the drawing room because he had some news to share with them. Noelle couldn’t help but think that this meeting was going to turn into scrutinizing her some more. She’d grown to truly hate those family meetings…
She sat on the couch between Emily and Anna, looking at their father. He seemed so tired and as if he had aged several years since Catherine left. She wondered then if this meeting was about Kitty somehow.
Had there been some news as to her whereabouts?
“I’ve received word from Catherine and Lord Drake.” Her father held up a piece of paper. “Apparently we have been invited to a ball that they’re hosting at their estate.”
The fact that he referred to the place as their estate made Noelle’s flesh crawl a little bit.
“A ball?” her mother asked him, sounding an odd mixture of surprised and impressed.
“Of course, we will not be going to such a ball,” the duke continued, eyeing his wife. “It would be inappropriate to support their nonsense. We wouldn’t want to bring even further undue attention to this family.”
Her mother and sisters – sans Emily, bless her – pouted at this news but Noelle’s heart lifted a bit in her chest. It was surely not a good idea to engage in this sort of thing. She really did wish to stay away from all of the pitying looks.
But then she thought of Kitty… Dear Kitty… She remembered how she had written to her and asked for information about how she was and where she had gone to.
Perhaps this ball was Kitty’s response to her. It did make sense that Catherine would be eager to show off her new husband and her new life as the Marchioness of Fairfax.
As much as it was not the sort of thing Noelle took pleasure in, she actually wished to go to this ball and confront Lord Drake. She could give him a piece of her mind and maybe get some answers from her foolish sister. To be sure, it seemed like the right thing to do in this situation.
“I think that we really ought to go, Papa,” Noelle said. “We shall be expected there, not just by Kitty and the marquess but by everyone else in the ton. We would look far better if we were to go to her and stand by her side than if we were to ignore her.”
Her sisters and mother all looked at her, not believing that she of all of them had spoken up in favor of going.
“People will talk,” the duke said, clearly weakening his guard. “I thought that you of all people would want to be finished with that man.”
Noelle shook her head vaguely. “People will talk no matter what we do. I am finished with that man, Papa, but she is my sister.”
He regarded her a moment, scratching the beard on his chin with his thumb. “Perhaps you’re right,” he said thoughtfully. “I only wish that we could visit with the one without having to see the other. But at least they’re married.”
She smiled at him and immediately went to him, giving her father a big hug. “Thank you, Papa. I’m sure it will be all right now that Lord Edwards has found himself a new lady.”
This made her mother frown, but Noelle was tired of caring about how her mother felt. She was never going to agree with her, so what was the point in worrying about such matters? At least her father and sisters supported her.
They were all a bunch of romantics, really. Apart from the duchess.
The family made arrangements to go to their home in Thornwood in order to attend the ball in Haverhill in a few days’ time. Noelle wasn’t exactly looking forward to returning to that cold cave of a home, but she was willing to visit in order to see Kitty again.
The coach ride to Thornwood was long and uneventful, not helped at all by the steady rain that picked up practically as soon as the family had boarded. Noelle gazed out of the window, wishing that she could draw the sights that she saw – the weathered trees drooping low with the weight of the weather, the rolling fields perfect for a run through muddy puddles – but her pen would not be able to draw a straight line for the rocking and bouncing that their coach continued to put its passengers through.
On the evening of the Fairfax ball, the rain hadn’t let up. So, for three more hours in the coach, Noelle and her family endured – this time dressed in all of their finery – another dreary ride. I do hope that this ball is more fun than I’ve been anticipating, to make up for this completely soaked journey out here.
They were led into the drawing room of Lord Drake’s mansion where they were able to remove their wet coats. A butler and a maid took their wet things and hung them up to dry near the fireplace where there were several other articles hanging. Noelle hugged herself as she stood there in her lilac-colored gown, gazing around the semi-familiar space.
I wonder if this is where it all really began, she thought. Did they know while we were here that they were going to do this?
She didn’t think that Catherine would’ve been able to keep such a thing from her sister, even if she had wanted to.
They all marched out of the sitting room and into the massive ballroom, which Noelle thought appeared just as cavernous and eerie as the other rooms. I wonder where the Earl of Cumberland is…
As Noelle gazed around the room, she realized that there was no sign of Catherine or Lord Drake yet. She so hoped that this entire thing had not been a ploy to get everyone together without their actually being present in the house themselves. What would be the point of that?
She tried not to give into fears of the ominous things that this castle-mansion seemed to always give off. Right as she was about to seek out the refreshments table in order to get herself a glass of champagne, a butler flounced into the doorway of the great room. “Presenting the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland!” he announced.
Noelle was grateful that she didn’t find a glass of champagne for she surely would have dropped it at the sound of this pronouncement. She looked and saw Catherine and Lord Drake come into the room… Had something befallen his father without anyone else knowing?
Happily, Catherine and her new husband came over to Noelle and the rest of the family. Are they really indeed married? Noelle had to wonder, until she saw the glittering gold ring on her finger.
Murmurs filled the room but they had no time for that. “Good evening, Salisbury,” Alphonse said to her father. “I regret that you had to find out this way, but my beloved father just passed away. Your daughter, my Catherine, has been such a comfort to me in this dark time.”
Noelle blinked at him and then looked at her sister, who had a small and slightly sad smile on her face as she nodded along with her husband. Noelle felt something in the pit of her stomach. Lord Drake was now a duke and her sister had completely eclipsed her.
At once, she wondered why she had thought this meeting would be such a good idea. Catherine didn’t need their support, she only wished to gloat and parade in front of them. Noelle could feel her mother’s pride in Catherine as she stood there beside her.
“I can’t believe this,” Noelle said to her sister, giving her a hug in spite of herself. Even though she wanted the same attention that Catherine was now receiving, Noelle could still be happy for her. “My little sister is a duchess.”
Something about that didn’t sit entirely right with her, but she pushed such thoughts away for the time being. The man was old and ill. It’s not difficult to believe that he has died.
“I know!” Kitty beamed excitedly at her. “I assure you that I certainly didn’t set out for this, though I knew that it was an eventuality.”
“It was more than an eventuality,” the new Duke of Cumberland said with a mysterious smile. He remained unchanged since the last time Noelle had seen him, alas. “I knew that he was fading from us.”
Did you indeed? Noelle thought, narrowing her eyes at him. And just how much of that did you have a hand in?
She was not going to try and convict the man for murder. She did not have any proof and she’d had more than enough of thinking about him as it was, so she let this idea drop. “My condolences,” she said instead, lowering her gaze so that she might at least appear sad.
“Thank you,” he replied, taking her hand and giving it a kiss. “You are a dear sister to Catherine and now you shall be a dear sister to me. I just know it.”
The very thought made Noelle feel sick. Still, she graciously smiled at him and gave a little curtsy. “I would like that very much, your Grace.”
The words felt repugnant on her tongue. She wished that Mr. Edwards was at this ball, but she saw neither him nor his cousin. I can’t really blame Lord Edwards for not wishing to attend this…spectacle.
