Joan turned on Peter, her temper barely controlled, “You are lying! He promised me!”
“Lady Joan, I’m sorry. It is all irrelevant anyway; Robert is dead,” Rosalind said gently.
“I could still have been Duchess if you hadn’t bought your way in! You have nothing to recommend you,” Joan almost shouted at Rosalind.
“Apart from money, beauty and more grace than you’ll ever have if you lived a dozen lifetimes,” Mrs Adams interjected, annoyed that the young woman was speaking in such an inappropriate way.
“Oh who asked you?” Lady Joan sneered. “You are always there in the background aren’t you, causing trouble. Well you’ve sided with the wrong one this time; your precious Duchess is nothing but a working woman prepared to sell herself to the highest bidder!”
Peter and Lady Kettering had both shouted “Joan!” at the same time, but Annie burst through the door preventing further conversation.
Annie was visibly upset, tears pouring down her face, but she marched up to Lady Joan and pushed her hard in the shoulder. “You upset Rosalind; I don’t like you!” she shouted, inches from Lady Joan’s face.
Lady Joan reeled back as if horrified at the touch, but Rosalind had jumped up and put her arms around Annie, pulling her into an embrace.
“Shh, Annie, don’t be upset; I’m fine,” Rosalind soothed, annoyed that once again Annie was upset.
“Get that thing away from me!” Lady Joan screeched from behind Annie’s back.
“Enough!” Peter bellowed, finally pushed beyond his normal endurance. The room silenced at his voice, stunned to hear such anger emanating from the usually placid Peter. “How dare you come into my home and insult my wife and my sister?” he snarled at Lady Joan. “We let you in out of the goodness of our hearts, so that you would not be cast off by those in society who would justifiably support the Duchess, and yet you have done nothing to persuade us that you deserve such forgiveness.”
Rosalind whispered to Annie, “Go with Annabelle my sweet. I will come and see you soon, but I don’t want you to be here. Lady Joan will not upset me anymore, I promise.”
Annie kissed Rosalind’s cheek and allowed herself to be led out of the room. The action brought a sneer to Lady Joan’s face. “You can only receive affection from idiots; you could never receive affection from one of us,” she sneered, unable to stop the venom in a situation where she had lost complete control.
“Out!” Peter shouted, his eyes flashing with uncontrolled anger. “Never come to my door again! You will never receive a welcome here. You will receive no attention from myself or my wife in the locality! I don’t know what you thought you would achieve in insulting my sister in the worse possible way, but you have underestimated me if you thought that I would allow you to do it.”
Lady Joan stood, but she had not finished. “I did actually,” she started, her tone full of hatred. “Robert always laughed at you, saying that you were a weak fool. He knew that you would do the honourable thing and sell your farm even though you loved it. He laughed that you would return to him to be bullied and ridiculed while he continued spending as he had before. He said that Annie would end her days in an institution, and he was not bothered in the slightest. ‘The idiot’, he used to name her, and it looks as if he was right. I will get the magistrate and get the imbecile locked away for hitting me. Do you think I would let her get away with striking me like that?”
Everyone was horrified at Lady Joan’s words. The magistrate would take an assault seriously, and there was no doubt that Lady Joan would exaggerate the case. Even if nothing happened to the complaint, Annie would need to be interviewed, and it would really upset her, which could cause further problems for her.
None of the group noticed Miss Latimer standing up and turning to Lady Joan; they only realised what was happening when they heard the slap ring out in the silent room. “Enough, Joan,” Miss Latimer’s quiet voice said.
“Frances…” Mrs Adams started.
Miss Latimer raised her hand, “No, Mrs Adams! I cannot carry on the farce; it is time to be honest with the Duke and Duchess.”
“No Frances!” Lady Kettering wailed. There was no sound from Lady Joan; she was standing, her complexion ashen, holding her cheek, tears falling down her face.
“Miss Latimer, you obviously have some information that you feel now is the appropriate time to share; I would be grateful if you would continue please,” Peter said, his tone commanding. He had gone from pleasant gentleman to every inch the stiff aristocrat.
Lady Kettering slumped in her seat while Mrs Adams sighed in resignation. Lady Joan sat slowly as if she still could not believe her friend had acted in such a way.
Miss Latimer did not sit but stood facing the Duke and Duchess. “I’m sorry about this; I truly am, but you should know the reason Joan is always so angry.”
“Pray continue,” Peter responded, folding his arms, ready to hear what Frances had to say.
“There was some sort of arrangement between your brother and Joan; you see no one knew that they were involved with each other except me. I would pretend that I was out walking or visiting with Joan when in reality I was at home and Joan was with Robert. Joan was told by Robert that when he returned from his trip, they would be married. He assured her that, since your farm had been sold, the money situation was resolved and he was free to marry whom he wished.”
“And you believed him,” Rosalind said quietly.
“Yes, I believed him!” Lady Joan snapped.
“It was not a problem to start with, but it was soon obvious that Lady Joan was increasing, and there was no sign of your brother returning from Italy,” Miss Latimer continued.
Lady Kettering gasped, but it was obvious to the others in the room that she knew about the baby.
“Robert had a child?” Peter asked in shock.
“A little girl,” Miss Latimer confirmed. “She is nearly three years old.”
“And where is she as she obviously isn’t being cared for in the Kettering household?” Peter asked. His words were said through gritted teeth; everyone in the room fell silent.
“With a family in the next village,” Mrs Adams said when it was apparent that no one else was going to speak.
“You knew?” Rosalind asked the elderly woman, disappointed that such a friend of the family would keep something so important from them.
“Yes, Lord Kettering approached me about what was the best course of action in the situation,” Mrs Adams admitted, aware of what damage she was doing to her friendship with the new Duchess. “I advised him to keep it quiet until Robert returned and then force them into a marriage. Some excuse could be invented that would allow the child to live with its parents, but Robert never returned.”
“And for all this time, you have all known that a part of Robert lives, and yet no one saw fit to mention it?” Peter said, the hurt clear in his voice.
“I’m truly sorry for that, but once Robert had died and the estate began falling deeper into debt, it never seemed like the right moment,” Mrs Adams said quietly. “Once we started the concealment, it was hard to stop.”
“Do you see her?” Peter asked Lady Joan.
“No! I can’t stand the sight of her!” Lady Joan snapped. “She has ruined me. How can I marry now? My secret would be out on my wedding night!”
“You ruined yourself; she is an innocent child,” Rosalind said, the first words she had uttered since the revelation.
“Innocent? She could be afflicted just like Annie is! Bad blood runs through this family!” Lady Joan responded, her viciousness not easing even with her ruinous secret being revealed.
“A pity you didn’t think that while you were bedding my brother!” Peter snapped, making everyone wince at his harshness.
“She is a beautiful, healthy little girl,” Miss Latimer interrupted. “I visit her each week,” she said to the surprised looks. “She’s been abandoned by her mother and her father; I could not leave her without any link to her fam
ily, although I did not know if I would ever be able to tell her where she really came from.”
“Who supports the child?” Peter asked, his mind reeling.
“My husband,” Lady Kettering finally said. “We also visit her regularly, but not every week; it is too upsetting.”
“You visit my bastard?” Lady Joan asked in disbelief. “All the abuse you shouted at me about her, and you go and visit her?” Her tone was incredulous.
“Your fall was your own doing for listening to the words of a shallow man. As Her Grace says, she is an innocent child,” Lady Kettering snapped. “Your Grace, please excuse us; I need to go and inform my husband of today’s developments. We need to decide what to do next.”
“Of course. We all have much to discuss as a result of your visit,” Peter said grimly. The two ladies left; Miss Latimer held back.
“Joan has suffered because of Robert,” Miss Latimer said, defending her long-time friend. “He told her everything she wanted to hear. I’m not saying she’s blameless, but she is not totally at fault, and she will pay for her actions for the rest of her life.”
“She knew his character as we all did,” Mrs Adams said. “She’s still a fool. What did she think by trying to cause trouble between these two?” she indicated Rosalind and Peter.
“You forget how young she was when Robert used his charm. I don’t know what she was planning: perhaps to try and remove Her Grace so that she could become the new Duchess. I have no idea. She was just acting out of panic I think; she knows she can never enter a traditional marriage.”
“Thank you for today, Miss Latimer; we are grateful that you have been honest with us: it can’t have been easy,” Rosalind said, wanting to bring everything to a close. There was lots still to talk about, but she needed to be alone with Peter; he looked stunned.
Miss Latimer took the hint and stood. “I am sorry the day has turned out this way, but I could not stand by and see Joan behave in such a cruel way. What she said about you and Annie was unforgiveable,” Miss Latimer said, directing her words at Peter.
“Thank you,” Peter said.
“I shall leave as well,” Mrs Adams said, standing. “I hope you can forgive a foolish old woman; I was acting in a way that I thought was best for you,” she finished looking at Peter.
“It’s been a shock,” Rosalind said, in lieu of her husband. “Give us a little time.”
“Of course,” Mrs Adams replied, far meeker than usual. The two ladies left and Rosalind and Peter were finally left alone.
Chapter 13
Rosalind looked at Peter with sympathy. He had heard so much in such a short period of time; it was no wonder he looked pale and drawn. She wanted to comfort him but was not sure how to approach him. They were a lot closer than they had been, but they were still relative strangers. She decided that she would act in the way that she would want to be consoled.
Rosalind sat on the sofa next to Peter and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head onto her shoulder. She had leaned back so they were partially reclined, but it meant that Rosalind’s body was touching Peter’s.
Peter moaned gently in appreciation and wrapped his arms around Rosalind’s waist. She pulled him closer and kissed the top of his head gently. “It’s been quite a day for you,” she whispered.
“I can’t believe it,” Peter acknowledged. “I thought I knew Robert.”
“It seems as if he just used everyone for his own advantage,” Rosalind said, thankful she had not been forced into marriage with a man such as the tenth Duke.
“He had no intention of marrying Joan,” Peter continued.
“Yes, that much was obvious,” Rosalind agreed. “I can almost feel sorry for her.”
Peter smiled a little, “She isn’t one who normally generates such sympathy.”
“No,” Rosalind admitted. “She does not help her own cause, but she was used ill by Robert. Do you think he knew of her condition before he left?”
“I have no idea but, hearing what I heard today and knowing what I knew of my brother, it wouldn’t have stopped him going. He was only looking to increase his enjoyment. I don’t even know if he was seriously considering a wife or if he was just using it as an excuse for further pleasure seeking.”
“I don’t suppose we will ever know,” Rosalind admitted.
Peter laughed, but it was a bitter one. “He had me here, working my fingers to the bone, suffering from sleepless nights, worrying about Annie’s future and he was living it up all over the place! I was a complete fool.”
“No you were not!” Rosalind said with feeling. “Do you know what thought I could not shake off throughout the whole of that horrible visit?” Peter shook his head. “I was thinking thank goodness I was married to you and not a man like your brother. You are decent and loyal; you care about people,” Rosalind said, her urge to comfort Peter overcoming any shyness she would normally feel at being so open.
“They are hardly the traits of someone who will be remembered in fifty years, whereas at least people will remember Robert,” Peter said dismissively.
“Oh yes, they will remember the fool who abandoned his sister and brother to face an uncertain future. He threw off the woman who he had made promises to, the result being his own child lives outside her family circle; oh, yes, he will be remembered. I feel that such remembrance would not be what most reasonable people would wish for,” Rosalind responded tartly.
“I have a niece,” Peter said quietly.
“What are you going to do? Are you going to support her?” Rosalind asked tentatively.
“The right thing to do would be to acknowledge her for who she is and offer her a home, but I suppose I should speak to Lord Kettering first,” Peter said, still trying to come to terms with having a relation so close and knowing nothing about her.
Rosalind gently moved herself from her position and walked to the window, overlooking the garden. It was all order and symmetry, something that eluded her thoughts at the moment. Peter watched his wife, a pensive expression on her face; he wondered what was troubling her. He stood and approached the window.
“What is it?” he asked Rosalind gently.
“You will think me the most unfeeling woman if I tell you,” Rosalind said, facing Peter and looking desperately upset.
“Honesty, remember?” Peter said gently, but he cupped her cheek and used his other hand to pull Rosalind towards him. “Tell me,” he said kissing her gently.
Rosalind closed her eyes in agony, but she had to be honest with him. “I don’t want the child to live here,” she said in a rush, trying to withdraw from Peter.
He held her firmly, preventing her putting any distance between them and looking intently into her eyes. “Why?”
Rosalind breathed heavily, “It is not the child; I have nothing against her, and I feel terrible for being the one to say that she shouldn’t come into her family home, but she’s Lady Joan’s child too.”
“I know,” Peter responded looking puzzled.
“I could not face the prospect of Lady Joan taking a sudden interest in the child and insisting on spending much of her time here. I could not bear to be so often in her company; visits have been trying enough,” Rosalind admitted.
Peter moved his hand under Rosalind’s chin and lifted it so she had to look at him. “I wouldn’t put any of us through that,” he said firmly. “Even if we were happy with Lady Joan, the way she spoke about Annie today would prevent her gaining entry into this house again; but it is more than just Annie. She has spoken to us all in a way that is unforgivable; I could dismiss what she said about me, but not what she said about you. I cannot forget that as quickly. As for letting her come into this house, I would not put you in such an untenable position.”
“Thank you,” Rosalind said quietly.
“You’re welcome,” Peter responded, leaning and kissing her fully. There had been enough talk and heartache that morning; it was time that they experienced pleasure, a lot of pleasure.
*
Peter, eleventh Duke of Sudworth never thought to visit one of his neighbours for such a difficult conversation as he now faced. He called on Lord Kettering the morning after the monumental visit had taken place and was led into the Lord’s study. Lord Kettering looked pale with dark rings under his eyes. Peter surmised that the family had not had a restful evening.
“You are aware of the reason for my visit,” Peter said, stating, rather than asking a question.
“I am,” Lord Kettering uttered in a voice of defeat.
“I am only interested in discussing the child that I believe you have been aware of since her birth. I am trying to become accustomed to the idea of having a niece,” Peter said. He was still annoyed that people he considered friends kept something so important from him.
“I have known about her all along. She is well provided for but, after yesterday, things are about to change,” Lord Kettering said.
“Oh?” Peter asked. “Are you passing the responsibility over to me?”
“No,” Lord Kettering replied. He poured a large brandy and swallowed half before placing the glass down on his desk. “Yesterday was the end for Joan; she cannot raise her head in public again. I knew my daughter was foolish and mean-spirited but, until yesterday, I did not realise quite how much. She expressed her feelings towards her friends, acquaintances and even her own parents to such a degree that we cannot carry on in the way we have been.”
“I’m sorry it has come to such a state,” Peter said, genuinely feeling sympathy for the man.
“We decided that a trip to India was in order for Joan; she left this morning.”
“I see,” Peter responded, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice.
“Between ourselves, if she has any chance to marry, it will occur over there; less choice of women makes a man less choosey in his wife,” Lord Kettering said sadly. He was probably never going to see his only daughter again; she was hardly likely to return now that everyone knew her secret. If she did marry, she would not want to bring the child she already had to the marriage for there to be any secure future for her. Abroad she could invent a story to cover the loss of innocence and with no one around her who was connected to the family, she would be in no danger of being revealed. The consequence was that she would never to be able to return home.
Rosalind: A Regency Romance (The Four Sisters Series Book 1) Page 11
