A Marquess and a Secret

by Joyce Alec

  Isabella begged her father with her eyes to agree to meet with James.

  The three men met in private.

  Isabella’s mother spoke to her in a very concerned tone. “Isabella, you must tell me that you did not do anything improper. Why is Lord Rearden here? I have had quite the challenge trying to distance you from that treacherous murder. Lord Rearden must not create another scandal for you. Although I am sorry to say it, you know that you must marry Lord Vistley.”

  “Mother,” Isabella interrupted her, “I know this to be true. I promise you that I have never been unfaithful to Lord Vistley. He is a respectable man. Although, I have to admit that I have feelings for Lord Rearden. However, I know that I must put those feelings aside and be a dutiful daughter.”

  As she finished speaking, the three men came back into the room.

  James spoke first. “Lady Isabella, I would like to speak to you in private.”

  Isabella looked at her father, and then at Lord Vistley, embarrassed that James would request a meeting that could ruin her reputation. “Lord Rearden, I will have to decline your request. As you remember, I am engaged to Lord Vistley.”

  “Go ahead, my dear,” said Isabella’s father, nodding his head in the direction of James.

  James stepped forward and offered his arm. When they were alone in the study, he did not waste one minute explaining himself. “I love you, Isabella, and I will do all I can to ensure your happiness.”

  Had James just professed his love for her? Could this truly be happening? They had known each other for a very short period of time, but her feelings for him…well, they were for a lifetime.

  “James, I love you, too,” she responded. “But I am engaged, and nothing can be done.”

  “Oh, but something has been done,” said James with a knowing smirk. “I have told your father and the baron that I am in love with you. I have also told them about your help in solving my father’s murder.”

  Isabella’s heart rate sped up and her palms began to perspire from her nerves. Was she nervous about James professing his love, or that the baron would think she had accepted another man’s affections while engaged? Oh, the scandal that would ensue!

  James seemed to read her thoughts. “I have told your father and the baron that you have been the perfect example of propriety. They both know that you have not made promises to me, or offered your affections, while still being engaged. You need not worry about your reputation.”

  Isabella exhaled, relief coursing through her body.

  “There is more,” said James. “I offered Lord Vistley the same amount of your dowry, so your father will be released of any financial obligation.”

  Isabella frowned then. “You cannot purchase me,” she said, annoyed that he would think she was for sale, like some trinket. “I am not anybody’s property.”

  “Do not think of it like that, my love,” James argued. “I did not purchase you. I bought your freedom.”

  Isabella bit down on her lower lip, trying to hold back the tears from falling.

  “Will you marry me?” asked James. Before Isabella could answer, James continued, “Even if you choose not to wed me, I will still pay Lord Vistley the dowry, and you are free to marry whomever you wish.”

  Her tears began to fall, hard. “I choose you, James. I would choose you a million times.”

  James lifted Isabella’s chin and gazed into her eyes before planting a soft, sweet kiss on her waiting lips.

  “That went better than expected,” James remarked excitedly as he slid an arm around her waist, pulling her toward him once more. “Now, all we must do is make this official. The banns are to be called this week and then two weeks hence. I shall make all the arrangements.”

  “Is this truly happening, James? It is like a dream.”

  “It is a dream come true for me, and I will spend the rest of my days making you the happiest woman alive.” James pressed his lips against Isabella’s lightly. “I promise you will never regret the day that you consented to be my wife.”

  She kissed him again as happiness overwhelmed her. “I never regret anything when it comes to you.”

  The End

  Part IX

  An Earl and a Wedding

  By Caroline Johnson

  1

  England, 1818

  Lady Virginia Croft was having breakfast with her mother, Sophia, The Dowager Countess of Deyonne, who was worried about her daughter's countenance.

  "Ginny, darling, why don't you go for a ride this morning?" she suggested. "It would do you a world of good to return to normal. It's been six months now, and I think it's time that you began to live your life again."

  Virginia, or Ginny, as she was known to her family, squirmed in her seat. She had been expecting this day to come, and no matter how she prepared herself, she was still surprised. Ginny lowered her head. It wasn't the done thing to become visibly upset, but she couldn't help herself as her throat tightened. Her voice was quiet as she spoke.

  "Yes, Mama, I will try. But I do not feel ready to ride today. Perhaps some other time."

  Ginny placed her knife and fork on her plate. The dowager countess shook her head as she had watched Ginny move her breakfast from side to side on the plate without eating a single bite. Worryingly, she hadn't been near the stables since that fateful day either. Not even to see her horse, Bathsheba, whom she had for years.

  "Ginny, your brother returns home today with his new wife, so we must welcome your new sister into the family."

  Ginny was in no humor to be welcoming. She was stuck in a time warp while the rest of the world moved on. Her brother, Charles, was Earl of Deyonne, and his new bride was an American heiress he had met in London. Life was supposed to have been different. Ginny was supposed to be Countess Lanzaby, but life didn’t turn out how she had planned.

  No one ever knows what's around the corner, she thought. One minute someone is there, life is going to plan, and the next thing, they're not.

  Excusing herself, she went to her bedroom. It was her sanctuary. As soon as she closed the door, she began to cry. How could she possibly be happy for others when her love was taken from her? She remembered that day when Henry, her fiancé, had arrived. There was a gathering at the house for a hunt and she rode out on Bathsheba with Henry by her side. All she thought that day was how in another few weeks, they would be married. Life was perfect that morning.

  As they dashed across the fields, Ginny was laughing as she was ahead of Henry. She jumped over a difficult hedgerow that was decidedly deceptive in its width. She turned around to smile at her beloved only to see him flung from his horse who hadn't taken kindly to the jump. She jumped off Bathsheba and ran towards Henry, but she knew by the way his neck was twisted and his eyes wide open that he was severely injured. It all happened in slow motion. Others gathered around him, and Ginny made her way through. She remembered calling his name as though willing him to jump up and come back to her. But he was dead.

  Ginny hadn't ridden since, nor even visited the stables. As a child, she would always disappear to them, telling the horses her secrets and fears. It used to be her haven, but now it was too painful a place to visit.

  Bathsheba had been the first one to know of her love for Henry, whom she had met at Almack's the previous year. It was her debut to society, and she had enjoyed every moment of the balls, the gowns, and visiting Paris beforehand. Bathsheba had been the first one to know when Henry told her he wanted to marry her, and she had described to her horse their new home.

  “It will be wonderful,” she remembered saying. “So much happiness after so much sadness.”

  Her father had died two years previously, and her mother was anxious for her to marry as soon as she came of age so she would not be a burden on her brother.

  Now Charles was returning home with his wife, and Ginny would be expected to perform.

  She was awakened from her thoughts by a knock on her door, and Ginny dried her eyes and said, "Come in."

 
; It was her lady's maid, Dawson, whom she had acquired during her shopping trip to Paris.

  "Excuse me, m’lady," she said. "But Her Ladyship has asked me to prepare you for His Lordship's return." Dawson curtsied to her.

  "Dawson, could you come back later?" Ginny replied. "I need to rest."

  "Do you have another headache, m’lady?" Dawson came over to place her hand on Ginny's forehead. "You don't feel clammy, but I will help you to bed and come back in a little while. Do you wish anything else?"

  "No, thank you, Dawson."

  Ginny pulled the covers over her head as Dawson closed the curtains. With Dawson gone, Ginny's crying returned. She cried for Henry but also for the loss of the life she was going to have. Ginny was lucky that she had loved him. She hadn't wanted to marry just for life security. She was a romantic at heart. She knew her mother wanted her to get past her sadness, but how could she ever love again? She couldn't open her heart to that kind of heartbreak again. The mourning period was over, and it was time for Ginny to return to normal. She reckoned it was probably easier if there was no love between people. Time hadn't healed anything for her.

  "M’lady, it’s almost time. We have received word that the earl and the countess will be here within the hour."

  "Oh, Dawson, I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?"

  "Time to get up, m’lady, or you won’t hear the end of it. Her Ladyship was quite annoyed when I told her you needed to rest."

  "Very well, Dawson. What has Mama chosen for me to wear today?"

  Ginny’s mother had already chosen her ensemble. The new countess may have been a Southern belle, but the dowager countess was now going to show her the hospitality of the British.

  Ginny made faces as Dawson pinned her hair. It had been so long since she was formally attired that she had forgotten the rigors of dress. However, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she had to admit it was nice to be dressed up again.

  "Dawson, you have done a splendid job."

  Dawson smiled at her mistress.

  "You have lost so much weight, m’lady, that I had to take your dress in at the sides."

  "I didn't notice."

  There was a lot Ginny hadn't noticed in her grief, but there was no time to dwell. She joined her mother and the staff as they prepared to welcome the newlyweds. As if on time, the carriage came up the long drive. Ginny felt butterflies in her stomach and looked to the sun and closed her eyes to steady herself. It was good to feel the warmth of the sun on her face.

  The carriage stopped, and the footman opened the door. The earl stepped out.

  "Mama, Ginny, how beautiful you both look!" He greeted his mother and sister.

  "I am pleased to introduce my wife, Annabelle, the Countess of Deyonne."

  "Charles, my, my, you didn't do this place justice. I believe I'm living in a real life castle." Annabelle looked up at the castle in awe.

  "Pa would love this." She didn't seem to notice the staff. And worse still, she didn't notice Her Ladyship or Ginny. Ginny rolled her eyes at Charles who pretended not to take any notice.

  "Belle, come and meet Mama and my sister."

  "Do forgive my manners, Your Ladyship. It is a pleasure to meet you, and you must help me with becoming a countess. And Virginia, I do hope we can become sisters."

  Ginny wasn't convinced as her new sister-in-law walked off again. It was not going to be easy dealing with the new energy in the house. In fact, Ginny had isolated herself so that she no longer received any visitors. Her friends didn't know how to be so sad in her company, especially when they had news to tell her, and they had grown weary of upsetting her. Her grief took some of the happiness from their news of engagements and marriages. They wanted to discuss the latest fashions and gossip about each other. Ginny wasn't fun anymore.

  Realizing that the new countess wasn't truly interested in her, Ginny returned to her room. One small step at a time, she told herself. The American way would take some getting used to.

  The following two weeks passed in a breeze. Ginny had seen little of the new countess, who was busying herself on making changes to the castle. Charles was in love and agreed to whatever his wife wanted.

  All the dowager countess could do was squirm at her home being overturned, but it wasn't her home now. She lived there at the humor of her son and his wife. She was still worried about Ginny being in the changing environment. Something would have to be done for her daughter. It was the only power she had left.

  2

  Ginny had become withdrawn again. It was the way she was just after Henry's death. It distressed her mother to see her regress, but her plan was in motion. If Ginny had a familiar face to draw her out of herself, it would benefit her wellbeing, and who knew what might happen in that case.

  Sitting in the drawing room working on her embroidery, Ginny could hear horses’ hooves on the gravel outside. She didn't even bother to look out of the window. It wouldn't be for her in any case, so she kept her head down.

  There was a knock, and Carlton, the butler, opened the door.

  "Lady Jane…." He was cut off by the door bursting in and a raven-haired beauty bounced through towards Ginny.

  "Carlton, there's no need for formality here. Ginny, why are you looking so dull? Come and give your cousin a hug."

  Ginny was startled, taking a moment to recognize the woman who stood in the middle of the room with her arms outstretched waiting for a hug.

  "Jane, what brings you here?" Ginny finally said.

  Then she stood and stepped forward to embrace her favorite cousin. As children they were inseparable, always happiest when they were together. But as they grew older, their lives went in different directions. Jane's mother, Ginny's maternal aunt, had married a duke following her husband's first death, and Jane had moved to the North of England.

  "Well, all in good time, cousin," Jane said. "I've made note that your mourning period is now over. Poor Henry." She paused for a moment in reflection, but didn’t hesitate long. "But now it's time for you to join me. I need your help. But firstly, tell me about our American. How is she? Is she ghastly? ‘All money and no class,’ my mama says. And I have no doubt that Aunt Sophia says the same!" Jane began to laugh, and Ginny realized how much she had missed her. She was the closest thing to a sister she had.

  "She's settling in," Ginny said. "I keep out of the way just in case she wants my clothes changed or some such thing." Ginny gasped at her own words and put her hand to her mouth. Jane had a way of bringing her out of her shell.

  "That wasn't very nice of me to be so indiscreet, Jane." Ginny hurried to correct herself. "I do not know her well enough to make a judgment. But I do know that Annabelle makes Charles happy. And that's the main thing."

  "Yes, keeping our men happy," Jane smiled. "That is our job in life."

  The arrival of the dowager countess disrupted their flow, as the ladies settled down for more formal conversation and Carlton served tea. But soon, Jane knew all about Annabelle and her ideas for change. She had already fired some of the staff to hire Americans in their places. She wanted to feel at home, and hiring staff was one of her duties when she lived with her Pa, she had informed the family. In the dowager countess’s mind, she would slowly erode their whole way of being.

  "Jane, you haven't told me why you're here. It is lovely to see you, but it's been so long," Ginny said.

  "I know. I felt utterly horrid for not being in England when poor Henry passed. Well, I have been holding out on you," Jane said with glee. "Aunt Sophia and Ginny, I have news." She looked from one to the other. Then she said, "I am to be married."

  Ginny looked aghast as her mother smiled at Jane.

  Jane continued, "My intended is William Travers, Marquess of Lynlithglow. I'll be Marchioness of Lynlithglow. Mama is delighted."

  Her news shook Ginny. They had done their first Season together, and while Jane had some romances, none had come to anything. She had told Ginny she envied her engagement to Henry and of her ability to fall
in love with, quite literally, with the first man she had met and to have found true love.

  "Ginny, I need you more than ever. Mama will drive me insane with the wedding preparations. I need your sanity. I know it can't be easy, but we promised to stand for one another. Remember?"

  Ginny’s sense of duty overrode her emotions, and she clasped Jane's hands.

  "I would be happy to help you, dear cousin. Your happiness makes me happy."

  "That's settled then. You will come home with me, well, when I say home, I mean to the Carvingham estate. The duke has insisted on us staying there. Home is too far away to make the arrangements from there. There is much to do. Aunt Sophia, you will come too, won't you?"

  "If your mother doesn't mind," the dowager countess said.

  Ginny and Jane gave each other a look only they understood. Jane's mother would love to rub her younger sister's nose in the good fortune of her daughter. The rivalry between the sisters had gone on a lifetime.

  "The wedding itself will take place at the Duke of Carvingham's estate. You will love him, Ginny. He's a kind, wonderful old man with no family of his own and insisted that William and I marry there. William is best friends with his heir, James Pelham, Earl of Collingford. The duke's wife died in childbirth as did the child, and he never married again. He's on the frail side and not up to traveling. We will have the most wonderful time. William is a treasure, and you will adore him, Ginny. Now, let's go and meet my new cousin-in-law and have some fun."

  Ginny's snickering would have annoyed her mother, but today it was good to see how Jane brought out her devilish side. Ginny needed to get away from here even it meant enduring her overpowering sister, the dowager countess thought to herself. The girls would have a merry time at the new countess's expense.