Masquerade Secrets

by Janelle Daniels

  Turning toward her sister, Aubrey wondered aloud. “Why would mother need to delay?”

  “I haven’t a clue.” Charlotte shrugged.

  “I might as well go see if there is anything I can do to help. I don’t relish the thought of staying here a moment longer than necessary.”

  “Good idea. I’ll be a few minutes behind you.” Charlotte took another bite of her toast.

  “All right.” Aubrey turned to leave, making her way down the hall to her mother’s room.

  “Oh, my dear, I’m so glad you’re here!” Her mother came toward her with a handful of books. “Would you mind returning this to his lordship’s library? Bitsy is too busy packing and I haven’t seen another servant.”

  “Of course.” Aubrey looked toward the bed where Bitsy was carefully folding clothes. Apparently, her mother was behind schedule. No doubt she fell back asleep after Charlotte had spoken with her. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”

  “No, no. Just take these books directly to the library.” Her mother seemed a bit brisk, but Aubrey didn’t mind. It was a small task that she could do to help her mother get out the door sooner.

  Books in hand, Aubrey quickly made her way to the library. Fortunately, the house was quiet. With any luck, she would accomplish her task without anyone seeing her. She had no desire to converse with anyone. She didn’t think she could manage the polite façade that was necessary.

  Cracking open the library door, Aubrey was relieved to hear silence. Shoulders slumping, she thanked her good fortune for the small mercy. Quickly making her way across the plush carpets, she placed the volumes on the restacking shelf. The servants would know the correct place for them.

  With any luck, she would be able to make her way back to her room without being disturbed.

  “Aubrey.”

  She closed her eyes at hearing the deep voice. The longing that shot through her was overwhelming, all consuming. She wasn’t strong enough to fight the effect his voice had on her. It was too soon, it was too much. “Go away, Bradford.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, unwilling to look at him.

  “No.” He moved to stand beside her, but was wise enough not to touch her. “We need to talk.”

  “There is nothing to talk about.”

  “You can’t truly believe that I invited Lady Victoria to my room.” Frustration was infused into each of his words.

  “It’s really none of my business.”

  With a step toward her, his hands came up to grip her arms gently. “Yes, it is. I only asked you to come to me. I only want you, Aubrey.”

  “It didn’t look that way.”

  She could see him nod out of the corner of her eye. “I know. I don’t know how Lady Victoria found out, but she knew about us. She knew about the masquerade.”

  A small shock surged through her, and she finally looked up at him. “How?”

  He shrugged. “I can only guess that she overheard us on the terrace that first night.” He seemed to debate something then continued on. “She pretended to be you at the masquerade the other night.”

  Her mouth fell open.

  “She also came upon me after you had fled up the stairs. She must have heard you agree to meet me.”

  Could it truly be as simple as that? Lady Victoria was certainly capable of such a despicable act. But Aubrey wasn’t ready to fully believe yet. Her heart was vulnerable to him, and she never wanted to feel that kind of pain again.

  “What do you want from me?” she finally whispered.

  He was silent, and she felt him will her to look at him. “I want you, Aubrey. For myself. From now on. I want to be with you.”

  Her heart leaped at his words. “Not the masquerade woman?”

  When he shook his head, her heart plummeted again. “I want you both.” He took her hands in his. “Don’t you see, I love both parts of you. The outgoing beauty of the masquerade lady caught my eye, but your humor and friendship were what caught my heart.” His eyes bore into hers, effectively cutting off any doubts. “I love you, Aubrey. I always will.”

  His declaration was like a soft caress to her soul. She could feel his love for her radiating from him into her. He loved her.

  Moving slowly, he knelt down in front of her, still holding both of her hands. “Marry me, Aubrey, my masquerade woman. I love you with all my heart, and there will never be anyone but you. I want to see you every morning when I wake up, I want to hold you in my arms as storms rage outside, and I want to have a family with you.”

  Tears pricked her eyes as she looked at the man she loved. Her heart overflowed with the tenderness that she saw in his eyes, knowing that he meant every word.

  “I love you too.” The joy that lit his face made her laugh in pure happiness. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  More happy than he could express, he let out a shout of joy and stood, lifting her into his arms. He kissed her with all the love and longing he felt, and she felt the truth of all of it deep in her soul.

  Her heart answered his, pouring her love into the kiss, her fingers running into his hair at the base of his neck.

  “You don’t know how I have wanted you,” he finally said, reluctantly ending the kiss.

  She laughed, feeling free. “I think I have some idea.”

  “Let’s get married this week.”

  She laughed again. “If you can convince my mother of that, then I agree. However, I must warn you that she will want a large wedding, with time to prepare for it.” She laughed again, her arms still around his neck. “You have your work cut out for you.”

  “It’s already been arranged.” He laughed when her mouth fell open again. “I met with your parents this morning and told them that I had fallen in love with you and that I intended to marry you. You don’t honestly think your mother had no one else to bring the books down?”

  She laughed with the joy that burned from her heart. “Now that I think about it, it does sound strange.”

  Locked into each other’s arms, they whispered words of love and their hopes for the future. From this moment on, they would never part, and that knowledge filled her pure joy.

  This was the beginning of their lives together, and she relished every moment of it.

  *****

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  SECRETS IN MOURNING (SCANDALS & SECRETS - BOOK 3) - EXCERPT

  CHAPTER 1

  London, 1836

  The wedding breakfast would have been a success if the groom hadn’t slumped over and died.

  The bride, the former Lady Victoria Haveston, had looked all that was fashionable in her white silk and lace overlay gown, opting for smooth, clean lines instead of a ruffled mess that detracted from her generous curves. The late Duke of Norwich, spry and youthful despite his seventy-one years, exuded the grace and dignity his station required. At the table, he remained poised until the moment he slid soundlessly to the side of his chair, falling gradually to the floor as any gentleman should, instead of drowning in his bowl of spiced vegetable soup.

  Victoria sighed, calmly looking to one of the servants. “Please fetch a doctor,” she said, her voice monotonal. Only one quick look was given to the man whom she had pledged herself to a few short hours before.

  That evening, already fitted in a jet gown, the cut a touch too provocative for a grieving widow, Victoria sat beside her brother, waiting for the Duke’s solicitor to arrive for the reading of the will.

  “Are you feeling well?” her brother, Derek Haveston, Viscount Lawrence, asked her quietly.

  She shrugged her delicate shoulders, causing the bunch of midnight curls caressing her neck to bounce with the movement. “Of course, Derek. It’s not as if I actually grieve for the poor man.”

  “He was your husband, Victoria. If only for a few hours,” he scolded softl
y. His deep blue eyes, the same shade as her own, bore into hers.

  “A few hours too long in my opinion. I should have never agreed to marry him. A fact which I would have changed if possible,” she reminded him.

  “Yes, well, try to make the pretense. He was a good man that had lived a full life.”

  She acknowledged her brother’s words with a curt nod. She wasn’t completely unfeeling.

  The old Duke had been a gentleman to her, assuring her that he would not take any liberties until she was ready. Just the thought of it made her cringe.

  But he had never been unkind to her. He had allowed her to continue on, flirting and attracting the attention of other men, regardless of their engagement. He hadn’t been under the illusion that she loved him, and he hadn’t been in love with her. He was lonely, he had told her. He wanted the companionship of a beautiful woman, and was happy to make her a duchess in return for that service.

  Heart tugging in her chest, she tried to force the feeling away. She could have been more attentive to him during their engagement, but once she had realized her mistake in accepting his proposal, she had tried to run away from it all, escape for just a bit before her fate was sealed in wedlock.

  She hadn’t known how long her life would be tied to his, but never in her imagination did she envision that it would be for less than a day.

  And now here she was, dressed in black, a widow, waiting to hear what the departed Duke had left her.

  “I apologize for my tardiness.” An older man dressed in a black suit and wilting cravat entered, sifting through a stack of papers in his hand. “I am Mr. Beckett, the late Duke’s solicitor.”

  “Thank you for coming.” Her brother stood and shook the man’s free hand, clearly surprising the public servant. It wasn’t often that a member of the peerage stooped down to his level.

  “Yes, well, it is a duty that must be done.” The balding man turned his attention to Victoria. “Let me offer my condolences. He was a great man.”

  “Thank you.” Victoria nodded in agreement, suddenly wishing she knew a bit more about the Duke’s life.

  “Why don’t we begin? I have already read the will to his son, the new Duke of Norwich, so he will not be joining us this evening.”

  Trying to sit patiently, Victoria smiled agreeably, wanting this duty over with. She couldn’t imagine there would be much regarding her in the document.

  Seeing the man settle in for a long reading, Victoria held up her hand, hoping to avoid hours of wasted time.

  “Please, Mr. Beckett, if you wouldn’t mind, just read any part of the will that involves me. My brother would be happy to look over a copy of the document in its entirety later.” Glancing to her brother, he nodded in agreement.

  “If you wish. This will was drawn up more than five years ago, and no revisions have been made since then.”

  Victoria bowed her head. It really wasn’t anything less than what she expected. “I see. Well, I appreciate your time, Mr. Beckett.” Victoria made to stand before the man’s words stopped her.

  “Please, if I might have another moment.” Rearranging her skirts, she waved her hand for him to continue. “While you aren’t listed in his will by name, he did made arrangements for any wife he may have at the time of his death.”

  Victoria paused. Was it possible that he had bequeathed something to her?

  “He has left you with an inheritance of thirty thousand pounds, pending some conditions.”

  Her mouth dropped open.

  “Thirty thousand pounds?” her brother asked, his head cocked to the side. “Such a large sum?”

  Mr. Beckett nodded, the extra skin on his face jiggling. “Yes. The Duke was a very wealthy man and erred on the generous side.”

  “I would say so,” Victoria whispered. Thirty thousand pounds. The freedom that that amount of money could give her would change her life. She could do anything she wanted, never would have to answer to anyone again. Not even a husband. “Was his son not upset by this section of his father’s will?” Victoria looked to the solicitor.

  He nodded hesitantly. “He was quite upset upon hearing the sum, but he has been left with much more and has contented himself with the title and property he received. I have also assured him that the document is binding and cannot be undone.”

  There would be no challenge to it. The money was hers. Excitement surged through her body in waves.

  “You said there were stipulations to the inheritance,” her brother prodded the man.

  “Yes,” he glanced uneasily at Victoria and she felt her stomach drop. “To be eligible to receive the endowment, you must spend your time in mourning with his sister, Lady Evelyn, the Dowager Countess of Lynfield at her residence in Scotland and—”

  “What?” Victoria jumped to her feet. “Scotland? You can’t be serious!”

  “Victoria, sit down,” her brother urged her back into her chair. “Listen to what other conditions there are.”

  Her lips pursed. It took every ounce of her willpower to keep silent.

  Clearing his throat, he glanced at her one last time as if he was worried she would attack him. “For the duration of the mourning period, you will help his sister in any way she needs to get through this difficult time. He hoped that with the presence of his wife, his sister would not feel as lonely.”

  “Is that everything?” her brother asked.

  “Yes. If Her Grace fulfills the requirements he has set forth, the fortune of thirty thousand pounds will be hers.”

  Her brother nodded. “When would she need to leave?”

  “Within the week. She is meant to spend as much time there as possible.”

  Victoria shook her head adamantly. “Absolutely not! I can’t go live away in Scotland for a year. I might as well be in confinement.”

  “That is your choice, Your Grace. However, if you choose not to follow his wishes, the entire inheritance will be forfeit.”

  Interceding quickly, her brother gave her a look that would have held the Devil himself silent. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Beckett. We will be in touch with any other questions.” Her brother stood, giving his goodbyes.

  “Where in Scotland is the estate?” she whispered the question.

  “It is in the south, close to the border. The Dowager Countess is residing with her son, the Earl of Lynfield, at Lynfield Hall.” With that, the man nodded, showing himself out.

  Her brother closed the door and turned toward her, his muscular frame leaning against the molding. “I don’t believe for a moment that you will let a year in Scotland stop you from claiming that fortune. Only a fool would.”

  “I was only married to the man for a few hours. How could he expect me to travel all the way to Scotland and live with people I’ve never met? I didn’t even know him for heaven’s sake. How would I go about giving comfort to the woman?” She pushed up out of her chair, pacing in frustration.

  “You’ll find a way.”

  She rounded to face him. “How can you be so calm? Are you truly that happy to see me gone? Have I been so burdensome to you since Father’s death?” she asked, knowing it would provoke him. Eyes narrowing, his raven brows slashed menacingly over the startling blue. Good, at least she wasn’t the only one upset now.

  “Stop with the games, Victoria. You and I both know you are going. You might as well resign yourself to the year ahead of you. Think of it, in one year of comforting an old woman, you will have obtained security for the rest of your life.”

  “Yes, I know,” she snapped. “But Scotland? I don’t know a single person.”

  “I don’t think you will have any trouble wrapping the men there around your little finger.”

  The comment brought a slight curve to her lips. “I have no doubt.” She turned fully toward him, unconsciously making herself vulnerable. “I know it would be foolish to turn down such an opportunity…” she trailed off, lost in thought. “What if I go mad?”

  A rich, husky laugh escaped his lips. “It is only the
country, Victoria. I doubt you will perish there.”

  She arched a brow. “I could die of boredom.”

  “I think not.”

  Heaving a sigh, she finally nodded. He was right. The money wasn’t something she would walk away from.

  “Will you accompany me?”

  He shook his head, the light catching on the inky shine in his hair, and she couldn’t help but think of how much they looked alike. With the same ebony hair, icy blue eyes, and patrician nose, they could be mistaken for twins if he wasn’t several years her senior. “Unfortunately, I can’t. You will have to travel with a servant.”

  “All right, then. I’ll plan to leave in three days. That should give me enough time to say my goodbyes. With my belongings already packed for the wedding, there shouldn’t be much else to do.”

  “I’ll make the arrangements.” Moving closer to her, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, speaking quietly. “I am sorry for all of this. I know it isn’t what you wished for.”

  Her heart lurched. He was the only one who understood her. The only one who knew what had driven her to marry a duke.

  And he knew how difficult it was for her to leave London.

  Chapter 2

  Her brother’s final words haunted her over the next few days and through the rest of her journey to Scotland. His sympathy toughened her resolve.

  She knew she hadn’t been the best of passengers, always demanding that the driver stop or slow down, snapping at him for driving the carriage too roughly.

  She was aware that her behavior was shrewish, but she couldn’t seem to stop. If she were being honest with herself, she would have to admit that her habit of expressing her opinions often did more harm than good. Yet her social circle, taken with her beauty, charm, and social status, had borne her sharpness with patience and grace; hence, Victoria had never really found it necessary to curb her tongue.

  Reclining on the upholstered bench, she closed her eyes, knowing they would reach their destination within a few hours.

  And it wasn’t a moment too soon.

  She continually cursed the old Duke for forcing this upon her, but no matter how uncomfortable she was, she wouldn’t consider relinquishing a fortune. The old woman couldn’t be that much trouble.