by Ayles, Abby
“What is it, Mary?”
“The girl, Miss Joanna, she has said some terrible things about you to the master, my Lord. He is waiting for you in his study. He and the duchess both. They are waiting for you.”
Duke Colbourn’s mood plummeted. What would Joanna have said? What could she have said? He had done nothing untoward, not to her, not to Julia, not even to Annabelle. It was not his way.
“They are in his study?”
“Yes, my Lord.” Mary studied his face. He could tell she was searching for the truth. He looked back at her and she dropped her eyes.
He turned away from her and went toward the duke’s study, his heart hammering in his chest. This was a bad situation.
Not only was his reputation at stake with all of society, his relationship with Annabelle was in jeopardy and it hadn’t even started yet.
Not to mention the paintings he was preparing to buy. They were items he had been searching for at least a year. The paintings meant nothing compared to his feelings for Annabelle.
He took in a deep breath before knocking and opening the door at the call of “enter”.
He walked directly to the desk, where the duke was seated. The Duchess stood next to him. He tried to read their faces but found it impossible. Duke Cartwright always had a kind look on his face.
He was worried, Duke Colbourn saw that his worry lines had come out around his eyes and his forehead. He knew they were worry lines because he had never seen them before. The Duchess just looked coldly at him, giving him a sense of dread.
“You wanted to speak with me, your Grace?”
“Yes, my Lord, please sit.”
Duke Cartwright held out his hand toward the chair Annabelle had been sitting in earlier. Duke Colbourn sat down, settling himself in the chair comfortably.
This was not going to be a nice conversation. He wanted to at least be comfortable while participating in it.
“Something has come to our attention that we need to speak with you about, Duke Colbourn.” His formality made Duke Colbourn more nervous.
“Yes, my Lord.” Duke Colbourn nodded.
The Duchess narrowed her eyes.
“You know to what we are referring?”
Duke Colbourn nodded again, looking up at her.
“One of the maids stopped me to tell me I should come in and speak with you. She said that Miss Joanna has been making some accusations against me. May I ask, please, what it is she claims I have done?”
The look on the Duchess’s face eased somewhat, which was a relief to Duke Colbourn. He was sure she had been thinking his guilt had made him aware of the situation.
She looked away from him, lifting her eyes to stare at nothing. Duke Cartwright was the one who answered his question.
“She has told the duchess you were making crude remarks to her during the croquet game yesterday, propositioning her to meet you in secret.”
An abrupt chuckle came out of Duke Colbourn unexpectedly before he could stop it. He cleared his throat, looking at the two of them with regret. He lifted one balled up fist and put it in front of his mouth to hide his smile unsuccessfully.
“I do apologize,” he said through another chuckle. He lowered his head and let out one more, shaking his head. He looked up.
“Your Grace, you cannot believe such a ludicrous lie. I am ashamed to say such a thing but the girl is not telling you the truth. I have no interest in meeting with her in secret.”
“You have done nothing untoward against Joanna?” the Duke asked.
Duke Colbourn shook his head vigorously.
“No, my Lord. Believe me. I have no interest. She is not the one I would ask for such things, if I were to ever do so. And I would never do so.”
Duke Cartwright stared at him before looking up at the Duchess.
“I believe him. Do you?”
The Duchess was back to staring at Duke Colbourn with cold, hard eyes.
“You are interested in my daughter, Annabelle, are you not?”
Duke Colbourn moved his eyes back and forth between the duke and Duchess, who were now both staring at him. He nodded. “I am.”
“Then it would behoove you to watch your behavior around all other women, would it not?” the Duchess continued.
Duke Colbourn felt like a schoolboy being berated by the headmaster. He forced himself to keep his head high and his eyes on theirs.
“Yes, it would.”
“And you will take care that your behavior is not misconstrued in any way?”
Duke Colbourn’s temper was beginning to rise. She was making it seem like he was guilty and they were just letting him off easy.
“I always do, your Grace. But I must insist that I have done nothing and said nothing wrong. I spent nearly all my time with Miss Rickman and Miss Cartwright yesterday. Miss Joanna was with Lords Balfour. I rarely spoke to her at all, much less did I have the time or inclination to proposition her.”
Duke Colbourn thought the look on Duke Cartwright’s face suggested the Duke was already tired of the whole situation.
“I believe him.” He repeated the phrase, looking up at the duchess. She looked from Duke Colbourn to her husband and back.
Duke Colbourn felt he should say something in his own defense but did not know how to say it without sounding disparaging to anyone.
His nature was to be polite but what Joanna had done was nearly intolerable. Why would she try to ruin his chances with Annabelle, therefore ruining his life?
“I am terribly disappointed that she has said something like this, your Grace,” Duke Colbourn looked at Duke Cartwright.
“I am unsure how to act around her. I do hope that you are not asking me to leave the premises.”
“Your precious paintings are safe, your grace,” the duchess said. The Duke lifted his hand and she clamped her mouth shut, looking down at Duke Cartwright. He shook his head without looking at her.
“I do not believe that your request to stay has anything to do with the paintings. I am aware of your intentions for my daughter and have no objections currently. You may pursue courting her with my permission. However, we are walking on a thin line here. You must remember that. If Miss Joanna tells her tale anywhere else, your reputation will be at stake, as well as ours.”
“How do I rectify that situation, my Lord?” Duke Colbourn asked. He hoped the man would not suggest being nicer to Joanna. That would only lead her to believe he was truly interested in her, which, at this point he was not, even if he ever had been.
Duke Cartwright looked up at his wife.
“The Duchess will take care of the situation. She will have a talk with the girls, all of them.” The Duchess just nodded, her face unchanging.
Duke Colbourn wondered if the woman had ever smiled. Did she approve of his courtship with Annabelle?
It appeared it would not matter, as long as he had Duke Cartwright on his side.
“I will take my leave of you, my Lord, if you do not mind,” he said. “I am anxious to speak with Miss Cartwright. May I ask where she is?”
“She has gone to the city with her sisters.” The Duchess included Julia and Joanna in the word. “She will be back in several hours.”
“Thank you. I will be here for dinner tonight.”
Duke Colbourn stood up and went to the door without looking back. He was a mixture of emotions. The doorknob felt cold under his hand when he turned it. Once on the other side, he let out the breath he’d been holding and leaned over, resting his hands on his knees.
Joanna had nearly done him in. The accusation had come unexpectedly. He’d been blindsided. He felt like he’d been punched.
For the life of him, he could not figure out why the girl would want to do something like that to him. What had he done to stir her ire? He stood straight up, his eyes on the front door.
He was not going to wait the hours till the girls got home. He was going to ride to the city and see if he could find them. He did not care if Joanna saw him or if she was
made uncomfortable by his presence.
He wanted to see Annabelle. Talking to her was the only thing that would make him feel better.
As he rode down the path leading away from the house, he wondered what Annabelle’s reaction had been to Joanna’s accusations. He had neglected to ask the duke. She must have been shocked, dismayed, hurt…
His anger at Joanna rose up again. She had hurt Annabelle, whether she meant to or not. That was not acceptable. He could imagine the emotions running through her.
They had to be similar to the ones he was feeling. Except she may have her doubts. She would not know the truth. She hadn’t spoken to him yet.
His stomach turned over at the thought that she might have believed Joanna. Perhaps that was why she had gone to the city with her? Or she may have been ordered to go by her mother.
There were many possibilities.
Duke Colbourn hurried his horse along, no longer enjoying the bright blue sky above or the beautiful scenery around him. The only thing on his mind was getting to the city and finding Annabelle. He hadn’t asked where they’d gone or the purpose for going into the city.
He shook his head. His anxiety to find her had caused him to neglect important questions.
He would find her regardless. He did not care if he had to stop at every restaurant or shoppe and ask if they had seen the four girls. He was determined to find her.
Chapter 20
Annabelle did not have anything to say to Joanna as they rode to the city. She was upset, unsure whether she should believe Joanna or not. It did not seem possible but she did not truly know the duke. Could he be a scoundrel who would do such a thing?
When they got to the shopping district, the driver stopped and let the girls out. They would walk up the street, cross to the other side and come back. It was a long street. It would take them nearly two hours to traverse the whole thing, if they stopped at every shop and did not purchase anything for lunch.
Annabelle felt a little sick when she immediately saw the Balfour brothers heading toward them. They had seen the girls first and crossed the street to meet them.
She looked at Joanna, wondering if the girl had known they would be there or had told them to meet her there. The look on her friend’s face was one of delight, which made Annabelle sick considering the lies she had been telling that day.
She pulled lightly on Julia’s puffy sleeve, moving her head in the direction of the brothers. Julia turned her head and saw them.
“Oh dear,” she murmured in a voice so low only Annabelle heard her.
“Julia, we should go in this shop. I do not want to speak to them.” Annabelle murmured.
Julia gave her an understanding look. She touched Joanna on the arm. “We are going in here, Joanna. Please give our regards to the brothers.”
Without waiting for a response, Julia pulled Annabelle and Cecilia with her, making it seem like she was the one trying to get away from the brothers.
Looking over her shoulder, Annabelle saw the two Balfours looking their way, only slightly confused. They looked more amused than anything else.
Once they were inside, Julia and Cecilia proceeded to look at the goods and wares around them. It was a shop that sold clocks and other items for the house. Fancy plates and dinner items. Napkins and tablecloths.
Annabelle watched Joanna through the window. She tried to decipher what the three were saying to each other but she did not know how to read lips. The looks on their faces told her only that they were delighted about what they were talking about.
It aggravated Annabelle. She wanted to force Joanna to tell the truth.
“Julia,” Annabelle pulled her friend to the side.
“Do you think she is telling them what she told mother this morning? They will surely go and tell everyone they meet. The lie will damage the Lord’s reputation completely. He will be shunned.”
Julia glanced toward the window where her sister and the Balfours could be seen. She shook her head.
“I do not know, Annabelle. I do not think they would lower themselves to spreading rumors. It would not make them look like gentlemen.”
“I am not sure they are concerned about looking like gentlemen,” Annabelle responded, her anger coming through her voice.
“You are upset with them, as well?”
“Last night when I was playing the pianoforte, they had her in between them and I must say, she looked terribly uncomfortable. I would not have wanted to be her in that moment. They were leaning over her, speaking to each other. She looked like she wanted to run away. She was completely distraught. Now she is talking to them as if they are all best of friends. I am suspicious, Julia, I cannot help it. Something is not right.”
“What can we do, Annabelle? We cannot get someone to do something we want them to do. If she insists on telling these stories, we cannot stop her.”
Annabelle was not satisfied with that. There had to be a way to keep Joanna from ruining Duke Colbourn’s reputation with the ton.
Julia shook her head, taking Annabelle’s hand and squeezing it.
“Annabelle, you must not worry so much about the Duke. He can handle himself. In fact, I am sure he is beside himself with worry that you have believed my sister. I cannot defend her, though I do love her. I do not understand her behavior at all. I am sorry, Annabelle. I know you are in love with the duke.”
Hearing it said aloud made Annabelle feel strange inside. She was coming to accept the reality that she was indeed, in love with the man. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
If that was what he wanted, too.
“You must try to relax. We will see the duke in a few hours.”
“Mother may have made him leave.”
Julia looked doubtful. She pursed her pretty lips and shook her head.
“I do not think she will. Your parents did not look like they believed my sister. The Duke…” She shook her head. “He is friends with Duke Colbourn. He knows the man better than you and I do. He will find the underlying cause of it. And if he does not believe it, he will not allow your mother to get rid of his grace. You are worrying so much and you must not do that. You will have worry lines in your pretty face before you know it.”
“You sound like my aunt,” Annabelle had to laugh softly. “I will try not to worry. Right now, I only wish I was with the duke. I want to know what he is thinking, if he is angry with me.”
“Why in heaven’s name would he be angry with you? You did nothing wrong,” Julia sounded truly confused. She tilted her head and looked at Annabelle like the woman had lost her mind.
Annabelle shook her head. “I… I am not sure. I just feel as though he is mad at me.”
Julia stood for a moment, biting her lips together. She was highly amused. The look on her face irritated Annabelle, who frowned.
“Oh, now you are going to tease me. Do not tease me, Julia. I shall have to smack you.”
Julia stuck out the tip of her tongue quickly. “You would never do such a thing, Miss Annabelle Cartwright. And we both know that.”
Annabelle sighed loudly.
“You are right, of course. I am being silly.”
Julia nodded.
“You are being silly. Are you ready to go out and confront the Balfour brothers now?”
“I suppose I can tolerate their presence for the time being. If I must.” She looked directly at her friend, who blinked rapidly and put on a sober face.
“You must,” Julia said, seriously.
Annabelle’s mood had lifted, which surprised and pleased her. She treasured Julia and her ways. Talking to her always made everything better. She put her arm through Julia’s and squeezed her.
“You are a good friend, Julia.”
Julia grinned wide.
“As are you.”
They went through the door one at a time, Julia leaving first with Annabelle directly behind her. Annabelle felt the satin straps under her chin loosening. A good breeze would surely knock her hat off he
r head.
She put one hand on the top of her head and the other on the straps. Sure enough, the bow had come loose.
“Oh dear,” she said, fiddling with the straps. She could easily retie them but how they would look worried her. She did not want a messy bow under her chin. She stopped Julia and made her look at the straps.
“Please,” she heard to her left. She turned her head and saw Lord Gilbert Balfour approaching, a wide smile on his face. She looked away from the unbrushed teeth to his dark eyes.
They were like pools of black snakes swimming around in mud. She had to avert her eyes again, choosing to look to the side as if she was thinking.
“Allow me to fix your bow, Miss Cartwright.”
Before she could protest, Lord Gilbert was untying the bow and retying it, straightening the satin so that it lay flat against her chin.
“There. That is much better.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so she could look in the reflection of the window. He released her almost immediately but where he had touched her made her feel uncomfortable.
“Does that look better?” he asked. She moved her eyes over the reflection, noting that her face looked like she had just been frightened nearly to death. She forced herself to change the look, making it a more amiable, innocent look. She did not want to seem like a frightened rabbit.
“It does look better,” she said in a voice much more confident than she felt. “Thank you, kind my Lord, for your assistance.”
“It was my pleasure, my Lady.” Lord Gilbert turned away from her, returning to Joanna’s side. He smiled at Lord Leonard.
“That is how you treat a Lady, my brother. If you were not so shy, you would know that.”
“I am not shy,” Lord Leonard said. “I am selective. I choose my words wisely and it leaves me with time to analyze and observe. Something you, my brother, might oblige yourself in attempting sometime.”
Lord Gilbert shook his head, laughter on his face. Annabelle thought Lord Leonard’s comments were on target. It was a shame Lord Gilbert did not take him seriously.
He was intelligent. She suspected he was much more intelligent than Lord Gilbert but let his brother stand in the spotlight so he did not have to. It was much more Lord Gilbert’s nature to be outspoken anyway.
