“Your Prunella just announced to me that they are to leave first thing tomorrow morning. I asked her why and she said, in a very nasty tone, that you must be the one to explain.”
Thomas could not help but chuckle slightly. “Oh, yes… First of all, she is not my Prunella. I have come to the conclusion that she is not the right lady to be the Duchess of Pemberton. Before leaving the house, I made it clear that there would be no proposal of marriage from me. She took this information badly, I presume, and so they have chosen to return to London, where I know she shall be a great deal happier than spending any more time in the rundown Pemberton House.”
Grandmamma could not repress a slight smile. “I see. Hmm. And who have you chosen to be Duchess of Pemberton, might I ask?”
“No one, Grandmamma. At this time, I have decided to put all my focus and effort on the horses. I will build a fine business for the estate, and until I achieve that goal, I will not think further about finding a wife.”
“Oh, Thomas… what am I to do with you?”
“And I am glad you are here, for I wanted to tell you I am off to London tomorrow to meet with Wilcox. I thought you might want to know in case you wished to send him any correspondence.”
“You know for certain he is in London?”
“Yes, at Marshalsea.”
“Oh, poor Wilcox. I hear it is a terrible place.”
“I am not certain any other prison would be better, Grandmamma. But I hope to meet with him and find out if he has spoken against Lord Comerford. As of this time, there have been no inquiries or charges brought against his Lordship.”
“Yes, I should like to send a letter to Wilcox. And do you think they would allow a parcel of some warm clothing and perhaps some food?”
“I have no idea, but prepare it, and I will try to take it to him.”
The Ladies Alderman decided to take all their meals in their rooms until they were to leave the next morning. Cordelia, however, showed up at all the family gatherings and was delightful and entertaining.
The next morning, Thomas was preparing papers for his trip to London when his study door opened, and the two Ladies Alderman appeared in their traveling cloaks.
“Your Grace,” the elder Lady said, “We are soon to depart. We wanted to thank you for your generous hospitality and wish you well in your business endeavor.”
“Then you do not regret investing in our project?” he asked with a slight smile.
It was Prunella who responded. “We have seen your fine horses and believe we stand a good chance of seeing a return on our investment. At least for now, we wish to retain our investment with you and Mr. Edgerton.”
“I am pleased to hear that. And I do assure you, we will do our very best to make our venture successful.”
The two ladies nodded. “We are certain you will,” Prunella replied.
“Have a good trip home,” Thomas offered as the two turned and left the room and then the house.
Chapter 35
Thomas was escorted through the dark and dank hallways of Marshalsea prison toward his uncle’s cell. The walls were not only damp, but moss and mold could be seen growing in between the stones. This place represented one of the worst examples of the British penal system. Thomas had to hold his handkerchief up to his nose to alleviate the stench coming from the cells along with screams, shouts, and curses hurled at anyone who passed along the hallways.
“You have half an hour,” the jailor said, as he took out his keys and opened the cell door.
Thomas went inside. There was no light except from a small barred window high on the wall that omitted no view, except for a patch of sky.
“Uncle?” Thomas said as he scanned the cell.
“Thomas?” a weak voice called up from a dark corner. Wilcox stood up from the frame that supported a straw mattress. “Why have you come? You must be so disgusted with me,” Wilcox said plaintively.
“I came to see how you are, and to bring you this letter from Grandmamma. She sent a parcel, as well, but they would not allow me to bring it to you. They said they needed to check the contents first, but I have every expectation that it will disappear before you will ever see it.”
“Yes, that sounds about right.” Wilcox reached out and took Thomas by the arm. “Oh, Thomas, what is to become of me? I have made some terrible decisions. Is there any way you can help me? Please.”
“Tell me everything, and then we can assess what is best to do.”
Wilcox said, “I have no chairs, just this bed. It is the only place to sit. It is all I can offer. They would not allow me to have Munson standing by to offer you a glass of sherry.”
“I see you have still not lost your sense of humor.”
“What else can one do? I can either laugh or cry. And I much prefer a good barb to a self-pitying blubber.”
“Then let us sit on the bed and tell me your entire tale—honestly.”
“I will.”
Wilcox then explained his entire operation and laid out in detail exactly what had happened.
Thomas then asked, “And I expect you know it was Lord Comerford who alerted the police.”
“Yes, I do.”
“And he has told George and me that he agreed to his end of the operation because you blackmailed him about his dealings in France.”
“That is true.”
“Then what puzzles me is why you have not informed the authorities about his French affair? For no one has questioned him or brought any charges against him. Did you tell them? Did you try to save yourself by informing on him? Tell me truthfully.”
“I did not.”
“Why, Wilcox? It seems so out of character for you.”
“Yes, I know—the bad egg, the black sheep, the rotten apple. I am all of that and more.” He hesitated but then added, “I just could not do it. I have lost everything, Thomas. I have betrayed the two people I love most in the world, and I just could not take another step into perfidy. I have finally come to the end of the road. I know I shall lose my estate, my London house, any remaining semblance of decency, and I cannot tell you what a relief it is to let go and accept my miserable fate.”
Thomas was silent for a long moment before saying, “You still have your mother and me. And I will engage my solicitor to represent you. I assume you have no funds for your defense?”
“That is correct. I have nothing. And now I will never be able to pay you or mother anything of what I have stolen from you.”
“But we cannot abandon family, Wilcox. I know your mother would want me to help you if I can.”
“But you have no money either,” Wilcox said.
“But our new business is developing, and we expect to do well. I will manage. We will deal with this and, in the end, you will always have a home at Pemberton.
Sunday afternoons after church and the family meal, Jenny usually enjoyed reading, but she was surprised to find she had read all the books Helena had lent her and she had nothing new to read. She went into the kitchen where her mother and Sally were putting away the dried dishes.
“Mama, I should like to walk over to see Helena. I need to borrow some more books. Do you need me for anything?”
“Not that I can think of. Please say hello to her for me.”
“I shall.”
“Could you borrow a book or two for me as well,” Sally asked.
“What would you like to read? Romance? Adventure? What?”
“Travel memoirs. I love the idea of traveling the world.”
“I will see what she has.”
The sky was clear, and there were no storms threatening, like the last time she took this walk. And that reminded her of the Duke, so kindly, giving her a ride on the back of his horse to Springford. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the warmth of his body as she held tightly to his waist and leaned her head against his strong back. But this was useless thinking, and she opened her eyes and shook off the imposing thoughts.
She increased her pace, pulled h
er wool hat more snuggly down around her ears, and soon reached her destination.
Helena was in her room, still in her dressing gown, seated at a table by the window working on a jigsaw puzzle.
“Oh… she said, “You caught me being unconscionably lazy on a Sunday afternoon. Want to help me with the puzzle?”
“I am surprised Georgie is not with you.”
“No, I banished him for today. I wanted a day to myself.”
“Oh, I am sorry. I can leave,” Jenny said a little flustered.
“Not you… You are always welcome. You are the other me.”
Jenny laughed. “Well, then, I am here to return these books and borrow a few more. Also, dear Sally would like to borrow some travel books if you have any.”
“Hmm,” Helena made a thinking face and said, “I might have a few, but I think Father is more likely to have some of those. I will check.”
“Do not bother yourself. Just let me browse your shelves and then I will help you with your puzzle.”
“No, I do not mind. I will go to the library and look for travel, and then I shall order us some tea. Take your time browsing. I shall be back before you know it.”
Earlier that afternoon, Thomas joined his Grandmamma for tea in her rooms after he returned from London. He was surprised to see how forlorn she looked and wanted to cheer her up.
“I send you a kiss from Wilcox,” he said brightly. “He sends his heartfelt best wishes and wants you to know he is bearing up.”
“I am glad to hear that,” she said, affecting a smile. “Would you like some tea? I knew you were back and hoped you might join me, so I ordered a second cup.”
“Would love some.” He sat opposite her by the fire.
“Tell me truthfully, how is he doing?” she asked as she poured Thomas’s tea.
“As I say, he is bearing up. I will not lie, it is a horrid place, but I have engaged my solicitor to help him, and I expect he shall be moved to trial very soon.”
Thomas detailed his meeting with Wilcox and added, “I have welcomed him to stay with us after all of this is over. He will have nothing left by the end. I know that is what you would want.”
He looked into her sorrowful eyes as she said, “Thank you, Thomas. How I bless having you as a grandson. Wilcox has been such a disappointment, but at least there is you.” She handed him his tea and passed him a plate of sandwiches and teacakes.
He took the plate and stared down at the plate for a moment. There… there were Jenny’s teacakes. He picked one up and thought, she touched these. She made these with her own hands, and with her love, and skill. Jenny made these for me.
He put down the plate and stood.
“Grandmamma, I must leave. I have something important I must do right now. I shall be back later this afternoon.”
“Oh, what is it, dear?”
“I will let you know when it is done.”
Jenny was kneeling in front of the bottom shelf of one of Helena’s bookcases when she heard the chamber door open.
“Did you find any books for Sally?” she asked.
But no one answered. She turned and was struck speechless.
“I have no books for your sister, Miss Jenny. But I have come to speak to you,” Thomas said, pale and shaking.
Jenny immediately stood up. “Your Grace, I believe Helena should be back any moment.”
“No, Jenny, I have come to see you.”
“But… how did you know I was here?”
“I went to your home first. Your mother told me where I could find you.”
“I do not understand. Why are you looking for me?” Now she found that she was breathless and shaking too.
He moved right up to her and took her by the shoulders. “Because I have something very important to ask you. Will you hear me out?”
“Of course, Your Grace,” she said her voice quivering.
“Thomas. You must call me Thomas, now,” he said.
“You came all this way to tell me I must call you Thomas?” she asked, her mind in a cloud of confusion.
He laughed. “No, Jenny, what makes you think I would come all this way to do that.”
“Then what? Have I done something terrible? Were some of my teacakes ruined?”
Again, he laughed. “Not a single one. No, Jenny I have come to tell you that I can no longer deny or repress my deep feelings for you.”
Jenny pulled away and stepped back. “I do not understand. You are to marry the Lady Alderman. Everyone says so. What are you saying? Is it my pastries you appreciate? I can understand that. But feelings? What feelings are you talking about?”
Just then Helena came back into the room with several books.
“Oh, look what I have found for your sister,” she blurted out before she saw Thomas. “Oh, hello, how lovely to see you,” she said. “You will stay for tea, will you not? I have just ordered it, and I can ask for another cup.”
“Stop. Stop,” he cried out. “I did not come for tea. I came to tell Miss Jenny I totally, one hundred percent love her, and I came here to ask her to marry me and be my Duchess.”
“Oh…” Helena said, dropping the books and taking a step backward.
Thomas turned to Jenny and with his fiercely loving gaze said, “Jenny I have struggled for months with my feelings for you. It is you I love. I have sent Lady Alderman packing and there is no one else I want in all of Great Britain—in all of the whole world—that I want to marry except you. Will you marry me, Jenny Barnett, and be my wife?”
Jenny threw her hands up to her mouth and with her heart racing cried out, “Oh, no, I could never to that!”
Epilogue
Thomas was struck silent by her refusal and fled the room.
“Jenny! What are you doing?” Helena cried out, falling on her knees in front of Jenny. “Are you totally out of your mind? You just refused marriage to Thomas Haddington, the Duke of Pemberton? He just offered for you to be his duchess. What are you thinking?!”
Jenny was frozen with her mouth open and unable to speak. Her eyes were glazed, and she just seemed to be staring out into space. Helena had to take her by the shoulders and violently shake her.
Jenny suddenly snapped out of her daze and looked at Helena. “What just happened?” she asked in the voice of a child.
Helena was quiet and said firmly, “Thomas just asked you to marry him, and you refused.”
“I did?” she asked putting her hands to the side of her head.
“Why?” Helena asked.
“I have no idea. Everything went blank. I could not hear anything. I could not understand what anyone was saying.” She paused and looked intently at her friend. “Thomas asked me to marry him? Is that true? He did that?”
“Yes, yes, yes, Jenny. And he just rushed out when you refused him. Shall I call him back? He cannot have left yet.”
And, of course, she changed her mind. Or rather, Helena helped her to reconsider.
After scrambling outdoors in her dressing gown, Helena caught hold of Thomas’s sleeve just as he was about to mount his horse.
“Thomas, dear friend, come back inside—please. Do not run away.”
He turned and stared at her. “But she refused me, Helena. My dearest Jenny said no.”
“Come,” she pleaded, pulling at his sleeve again. “I think this can be sorted out. What you need is a nice cup of tea.”
Thomas came hesitantly back into Helena’s room and stood facing Jenny.
“Did you remember what I asked you?” Thomas asked.
“No. Tell me again.” Jenny said standing straight and unmoving.
“Jenny Barnett, will you marry me and be my wife?”
She did not answer for the longest time and then said, “Yes, I think I would like that. If you really mean it.”
“I do mean it, Jenny Barnett, I really do.”
Jenny rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck and leaned forward and they kissed—gently, lovingly, and then passionately.
&
nbsp; “Woah,” Helena cried out. “There is far too much heat in this room.”
Jenny took a step backward and said to Thomas, “I have been waiting to do what I thought would never be possible. Thank you, dearest Thomas.”
A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke_A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 27
