“How dare you trick me! How dare you take advantage of me!” She stamped her foot in anger and wished she had stomped on his. “How dare you exploit my affections for your brother! My feelings are … private.”
“You had no real affection for my brother.”
Eugenia pulled her hand from his and dashed to the farthest distance she could manage around the settee.
“The point is I am the one you have tender feelings for, not Thomas. It always has been.” He inched slowly in her direction. “I am the one who cultivated your affections.”
“You are wrong. You do not have any idea what you’re saying.” With all the circling around the furniture, events were becoming a muddle in her mind. Eugenia soon had problems deciphering who was who, when.
“The night of the masquerade, the first one we attended, it was I who spotted you from across the room. It was there I approached you for a dance.” Touching his hand to his chest, he indicated himself. “At the time I had no idea he was in Brighton. I wanted to dance with you for selfish reasons. As Franz I found you utterly charming but only as my true self could I approach you in an acceptable manner.”
“You were the man behind the mask?” Eugenia wanted to believe he was relating another encounter he’d seen her share with his brother and weaving it into a tale where he substituted himself for his brother. But she could not stop her gaze from gravitating to his hand. She needed to see if he wore it … the same … the gold signet ring.
It glimmered in the firelight and was exactly the one Thomas had worn. Well, perhaps not the exact one. She realized Thomas’ went down with him into the water.
“The Penshursts were kind enough to sponsor me … Franz … home to England. I returned hoping to find Thomas and reclaim my title. Not until the evening of the masquerade did I learn of his presence.” Edmund chuckled with delight. “I had no idea you would be such a relentless pursuer and chase after my brother.”
“If he was not truly interested in me ….” Eugenia could have sworn he had adored her. Well, there were times when he seemed to care for her then there were times when he ignored her. “Why in heaven’s name would he play along?”
“Thomas took his role of duke seriously. Excuse my expression, but Thomas would not be caught dead in a mask. He was too proud of his identity to hide, even for a single dance. He wanted everyone to know who he was.”
All this was confusing to Eugenia. What exactly did Edmund mean by all this?
“My brother is … was the type of person who loved, no thrived, on attention. You provided him with that attention. Positive attention and much, much more. You are the type of wife he thought he deserved, an earl’s daughter, and he did very little to win you.” Edmund headed to his right. “In that way you were quite irresistible to him. Had he ever kissed you, he would have known what a truly wonderful, captivating woman you are.”
“He had most certainly kissed me!” Eugenia professed, again switching direction to avoid his capture.
“I think not, dear heart,” Edmund uttered with certainty, fueling her anger. “He might have married and done what was expected of him to carry on the family line. He’s always one to uphold his duty. He wasn’t a ladies’ man. Money and power were more to his liking.”
“No, no, you’re all wrong about him. You’re quite wrong,” she said, certain he had no notion of his brother’s likes or dislikes.
Edmund had to be wrong.
“We shared a most delightful tryst.” Eugenia knew, without a doubt, she and Rothford shared the room with no one. “He crept out of Claremont Castle to meet me at Brookhaven in the middle of the night. He kissed me ever so passionately and he had the good sense to restrain himself. But I could tell he wanted to continue.”
“You’re quite right, I did not wish to stop. Again, I had no intention of kissing you at first … but, my sweet, how could I resist holding you in my arms? Stealing just one kiss? You were quite right to stop us. Earl Coddington’s study was neither the time nor the place.”
“The study!” Unless he was present he could not have possibly … She was such a ninnyhammer! “How could you—Are you saying …”
“That too, was yours truly.” He bowed his head, like an actor accepting gratitude for a well-received performance. “May I remind you that it was you who came up with the story of Rothford retiring early and riding across the field to sneak into the manor. That was not a tale of my invention.”
“How did you—” She stopped mid-question to ask another. “And just what did you think you were doing sneaking around in the study?”
“The same as you, I suspect … looking for a book to help pass a sleepless night.” He shrugged. “I did not expect that I should have seen anyone at that time of night so Franz, quite foolishly it seems, dispensed with his wig.”
Eugenia drew in a long breath and closed her eyes in disgust. How could she have admitted to Edmund how much she had enjoyed being with Rothford. She had treasured those memories, but Eugenia never wanted him to know of her feelings.
“We have always enjoyed each other’s company. Now that we are man and wife, I do not see why anything should change between us.”
“You arrogant pig!” Eugenia swung at his cheek and he caught her hand.
“This is a habit we will have to break, Liebling.”
“Do not call me that!” she scolded.
“Anything you say, my sweet.”
“Don’t call me that either.”
He pulled her into his arms and she felt it—the intensity, the passion, it was there … between them.
This was too horrible!
It had been him, Edmund, all along. Eugenia thought she was in love with the Duke of Rothford. As it turned out she was in love with the little heel-clicking, German-spouting, Austrian musician.
How disappointing.
He leaned close and murmured something in German into her ear. Of course Eugenia did not understand nor did she care to. Then the door burst open.
“Thunderation! What the devil’s going on here? Eugenia!”
“Papa!” Eugenia cried out, trying to push away from Edmund and out of his clutches.
“We came as soon as we could!” Mama called from the hallway, fast on Papa’s trail, to their daughter’s room.
“Don’t look, Margaret.” Papa tried to cover Mama’s eyes with his hand but she somehow managed to avoid him and beheld Eugenia in Edmund’s arms.
“She’s disgraced!” Mama staggered back. Papa helped steady her in case she should swoon.
Edmund took his time releasing Eugenia. She stepped away from him and pulled her loosened wrapper around her exposed shoulders.
“Did you invite your parents, Genie? I would have preferred more formal surroundings for our first meeting,” Edmund said with a grand smile and held his hand out to Papa. “You must be Lord Langford. Edmund Mallick, Duke of Rothford.”
Papa glared at the proffered hand and ignored it.
“Your summons has come too late, Genie,” Mama sobbed. Tears sprang from her eyes.
“Oh, no, Mama. You’ve come just in time.” Eugenia rushed to her mother’s side.
“Have you forgotten, Liebling, we were amidst the throes of passion when your parents interrupted.”
“No, no, you’re wrong. There were no throes, no passion.” She shook her head. “Mama, please I want you to take me home with you.”
“My dear, you cannot have been more compromised.” Her mother looked at her in that serious manner Eugenia always hated. The one that always dashed her dreams and brought her back to the world she did not wish to face.
Edmund smiled and straightened his dressing gown.
With a cry, Mama fainted. Papa and Eugenia led her to the settee.
“I ought to thrash you on the spot!” Papa roared at Edmund. Eugenia had never seen her father so angry.
“Thrashing your son-in-law is bad ton, my lord.”
“Son-in-law? Ah, yes.” After Papa took in Edmund’s noble counten
ance, he swung his gaze in his daughter’s direction. “Eugenia, correct me if I’m wrong. I thought you married a Thomas.”
“Well, you see it’s like this, Papa,” she started. Mama opened her eyes and sat up just in time to hear the explanation. “Edmund’s brother Thomas forced me to marry him. But now Thomas is dead and it seems the marriage license is unclear on which Duke of Rothford I have wed, so now I’m married to Edmund.” She looked into her father’s face, hoping just this once to find understanding. “You will help me get out of this, won’t you, Papa?”
His face remained blank. When she had finished he turned to Edmund and exclaimed, “Thank God you’re married then.” Papa sighed. He took a seat next to Mama and rested his head on his hand.
“Oh, Papa, no!” Eugenia turned to Mama for sympathy. “Please, Mama, say something.”
“Your father’s right, dear.”
“No. I don’t want to be married to Rothford,” Eugenia cried, begging for their aid.
“Only moments ago were you not telling me how you delighted in my embrace?” Edmund chimed in.
“You stay out of it!” she snapped. Eugenia turned back to her parents, who had for so many years misunderstood her and prayed that now they would see reason. “Please? Will you not do something?”
Mama took Eugenia’s hand in hers. “Genie, dear, think of your reputation. Think of the scandal this would bring the family. Think of your little sister. How will she ever make a successful match?”
What could Eugenia do? Mama was right. Eugenia felt very sorry. In her selfishness she hadn’t thought of how this would affect dear Marguerite when her time came to marry.
It was then Eugenia recognized her fate. She knew without Edmund’s consent or help from Papa to free her, her situation would not alter.
To her ultimate shock, Edmund and Papa were heartily shaking hands, laughing and clapping each other on the back only moments later.
“Welcome to the family, Rothford.” Papa was all smiles and Mama dabbed the tears from her eyes. Only now she was smiling as well!
“Best for all concerned, Langford.” Edmund flashed Eugenia a smile and winked. “I promise to take good care of my new duchess. She will want for naught.”
“A duchess.” Mama sighed and once again applied her lace handkerchief.
“You’re taking on a big responsibility, man. And smite me if you ain’t the one to do it!” Papa gave an ardent roar and clapped Edmund on the shoulder.
Don’t tempt me, Papa.
Edmund rang for champagne. There they were, Mama, Papa, Edmund, in his dressing gown, and Eugenia, in her chemise and wrapper, with champagne celebrating her marriage in her bedchamber.
Mama and Papa left two hours later and Edmund saw them to the door. Eugenia took that opportunity to bolt her door and push her trunk as well as any piece of furniture she could manage in front of the adjoining door to their rooms.
When Edmund returned, she could hear the knob rattle as he tried the door. Then she heard him chuckle. She waited for him to push his way through the barricade she’d constructed, fearing that it would not hold, but she did not even hear him make the attempt.
When she woke the next morning, Eugenia thought last night all a horrid dream. That was until she spotted the two empty champagne bottles and the three discarded crystal glasses along with her untouched glass sitting on the low table in front of the hearth of her bedchamber.
After thinking over the events of last night, she came to the conclusion that she had been totally abandoned by her parents. Eugenia had the strangest feeling that Papa might have felt even relieved to be rid of her, and Mama, her dramatics aside, was pleased to have her daughter elevated to the position of duchess with a duke as a son-in-law. Did she not have any compassion for her own daughter?
There was no tea tray to welcome Eugenia that morning, nor could there have been since every doorway was successfully barricaded. She slid out of bed and had to dress herself. Needless to say, her toilette was vastly incomplete, but why spend hours on end to beautify oneself when there was no one to appreciate the effort?
After washing her face, she brushed the tangles out of her hair, bound it with a ribbon, and donned her green-sprigged muslin before venturing belowstairs.
She tried to step as lightly as she could and hoped Edmund was still asleep. If she were tremendously lucky, he might be out and about on the city streets doing whatever it is he did in the mornings. Were the gaming hells open at this hour?
Eugenia carefully rounded the corner of the breakfast room and cursed her ill luck to find Edmund already seated at the table, just finishing his meal. He launched to his feet and headed in her direction.
“Good morning, my dear, come in. I was hoping to see you before I left.”
Fustian, that meant she had only missed avoiding him by a few minutes.
Edmund took hold of her hand so she couldn’t escape and used it to draw her near. Eugenia leaned back, retreating from him as far as she could. She felt relieved when all he did was place a light kiss on the back of her hand.
“I know you only drink chocolate in the mornings but you really should eat something, you know. Last night you didn’t touch a bite.” He led her to a chair and sat her down like a helpless child. “Mrs. Robertson, the cook, has outdone herself this morning.”
Since Eugenia hadn’t yet uttered a word, Edmund kept talking.
“We have the matter of deciding which invitations we should accept, my dear.” He retrieved a basket filled with them. “Gad! I can’t believe so many have arrived so soon. Everyone wants the new duchess to appear at their party! Although I can hardly blame them!” Then he set the whole lot of them next to her. “We should choose only the ones you wish to attend.”
“We?” Eugenia became very interested at the thought of attending parties but to attend with him was another matter completely.
“The duchess cannot very well appear without her duke, now can she?”
She would certainly like to try. But Eugenia did not voice her thoughts aloud. Her newly acquired ranking did make her welcome in the highest Society circles. She’d be welcomed by a new group of peers, flying higher than she could ever have dreamed. She was certain Edmund knew full well this lifestyle would be irresistible to her and he was planning to use it to keep her content.
Eugenia had to admit he was very clever, very clever indeed.
“Your parents are expecting us for supper Saturday night and I’ve taken the liberty to accept Lady Jersey’s invitation for a ball for next Monday. Is that agreeable to you?”
How delighted Eugenia was to hear this. Truly something she could look forward to. Life as a duchess was beginning to sound splendid.
“Charming people, your parents. Your mother is an absolute angel. I see where you get your stunning looks, and your father,” Edmund chuckled, “one peach of a fellow.”
“Oh, yes,” Eugenia said but did not wholly agree. “A peach.”
He retrieved a cup and saucer for his bride from the sideboard. Without asking, he poured chocolate for her.
Again, probably without knowing he was doing so, he took advantage of knowing her habits. He fetched her toast and placed upon it a dollop of jam, knowing that was all she ever ate for breakfast, if she had anything to eat at all.
Perhaps she would force an egg and several slices of ham down just to prove him wrong. So she did. Eugenia strode to the sideboard and filled a plate, adding a heaping spoonful of potatoes to really set the thing.
She took a bite of ham.
“I did not realize you ever had such a voracious appetite in the morning.” Edmund just stared at her like a hungry cur, waiting for her next word or next forkful of food.
Just for good measure she placed a heaping spoonful of ham and egg into her mouth and sliced another substantial portion on her breakfast plate. “I suppose you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”
That should show him.
That afternoon brought Eugenia’s abigai
l, Marianne, and three trunks, filled with her clothes and fripperies, to 17 Hanover Square. She supposed Mama and Papa had sent her away in proper fashion now. At least with Marianne’s arrival, Eugenia could hold her perfectly coifed head high as duchess.
In her young and foolish youth, Eugenia did not realize the consequences of having everything her heart desired. Nor had she ever thought she would truly have the position she craved and a heroic man who would come to her rescue. It all sounded very romantic but in reality it was far from that.
Thinking over Mama’s and Papa’s impromptu visit, Eugenia believed Dawson had instructions to allow them entry to witness the entire event, which may have been orchestrated by her feckless husband.
For all she knew he might have sent his own carriage to bring her poor, unsuspecting parents to his townhouse to surprise them! And then again, perhaps her poor, unknowing parents, or perhaps her father, had been involved in the whole scheme from the beginning and waited outside her door for the right moment to step in!
That afternoon, Edmund met Eugenia at the bottom of the stairs and led her to the library. Even though he had given up his Franz persona, she noticed many of his mannerisms were the same. More subdued, but still recognizable.
The series of wide-eyed, enthusiastic gestures told her he was quite pleased with himself for something he had done, or was it something he was about to do?
“My dearest, I’ve the most wonderful surprise for you,” he said, barely containing his glee.
“You’ve changed your mind about the annulment?” She brightened, hopeful it could be true.
“You wound me, my sweet.” He feigned a look of hurt. “I’ve sent for the Rothford jewels. I know how much you enjoy sparkling gems. They should be here this evening.”
“Oh.” Eugenia sighed, disappointed. “Yes, I do. Thank you, but I would rather not wear them.”
“Appearing with the Rothford jewels will be confirmation enough that you are the true duchess.”
Exactly. That was the precise reason Eugenia did not want to appear adorning them.
Lady Eugenia's Holiday Page 10
