That evening when her party entered Lady Merton’s ballroom, Anna had still not told her aunt about the house party. The only reason she could think of as to why she had not was that she didn’t wish to listen to the older woman natter incessantly about the propriety of Anna attending a house party without a companion other than her father. Yet, she had been assured by Caro that only people Anna had already met would attend. Which meant there were sufficient matrons to watch over her. As if she needed watching over at Caro’s house.
A few minutes later, the evening took a decided turn for the worse.
“Your Grace.” Lord Markville bowed. “I trust I am not too late to claim a dance. Preferably a waltz.”
What was the man doing here this early? He always arrived late, much later than she or her friends did. Aunt was adamant that Anna be on time. The exception was at her first ball when she was meant to make an entrance. And, now that she thought about it, Quartus had not requested the first waltz and the supper dance as he normally did.
Still, she’d been caught, and there was only one answer. She affixed a polite smile on her face. “Of course, my lord.”
By the time Quartus arrived, she only had one dance left. A country dance. He claimed it, but it appeared he did so reluctantly. What was the matter with the man? Neither gentleman was doing what she wanted them to do. Markville had too many dances and Quartus not enough. Maybe she should plead a headache and leave early. First she would find out what was the matter with Quartus.
She made her way over to Meg. If anyone would know what was going on with him, it would be her. Anna greeted Hawksworth before pulling Meg aside. “Is Quartus feeling quite the thing?”
“There is something wrong.” Meg made a face, scrunching up her nose. “Unfortunately, I have no idea what it is. He was so late getting ready that we almost left him at home.”
That was odd. “He is normally so prompt.”
“It may just be that the Season is taking its toll. He’s not used to so much gadding about.”
Anna wondered if he had been invited to the house party. Yet, she could not ask Meg in the event that she had not been invited.
An hour later, after almost fighting to keep a proper distance between herself and Lord Markville during the waltz, she skirted the ballroom, making her way back to her aunt and father. If she was careful not to be seen coming from the direction of the retiring room, there would be no lecture of going off on her own.
Just as she stepped behind a large potted palm, two gentlemen stopped in front of it.
“I see that you still have requested a set with the duchess,” Markville commented in an angry tone. “I told you to stay away from her.”
“You will have to take that up with my sister-in-law. I, for one, would rather upset you than her.”
“Speaking of sisters, when you wed mine, you shall leave Town immediately.”
“That will not be a problem.”
Wed Markville’s sister? Anna fought the tears pricking her eyes. All this time, she thought Quartus was coming to care about her, and he was betrothed to another woman. It was not that he only had short bits of time to spend with her, he needed to dance attendance on another lady was well.
A sick feeling lodged in her stomach. What a fool she’d been, practically throwing herself at Quartus. She straightened her shoulders. Well, she would be one no longer.
As for Markville, he could go jump in the Thames and drown. She would not stand up with him again.
Once the men had gone their separate ways, Anna found a footman and ordered her carriage. She could send it back for her father and aunt. Right now, she just needed to be alone.
“What have you heard?” Somerset asked his secretary.
“Nothing as yet, Your Grace. However, Mrs. Grayson sent a note saying she had decided the rumor would be better spread by servants instead of her. When she saw Lord Quartus and the Duchess of Wharton at the museum earlier, she thought he might have remembered her name.”
“The damned fool. What possessed the stupid slut to use her own name?”
“Her idea about using the servants might work,” Belling said. “It is well known that most of the ton’s secrets are spread below stairs. A maid is much more likely to spread an unfounded rumor than a lady.”
“That’s all.” Somerset turned back to his correspondence.
Belling cleared his throat. “There is one other matter.”
“Go on.”
“Lord Markville wishes to set the date of the wedding for two weeks hence. He also wishes to be assured that the property Lady Sarah brings to the marriage will be used by her and Lord Quartus as their home.”
“Tell him it will be as he wishes.”
“Have you decided to have someone else take over Lord Francis’s duties.”
“I have not. What Markville wants does not concern me. Once Quartus is married, his lordship shall have no say in the matter.”
“As you say, Your Grace. I shall draft a letter immediately.”
Three days after the disastrous and last ball Anna attended, Annot, the maid who had been hired for Anna when she had arrived in England, entered her study.
“Your Grace, I need to tell you something, and you’re not going to like it.”
That wasn’t surprising. She hadn’t liked most of what she had heard this week. “What is it?” The maid wrung her hands together for so long, she finally said, “Just tell me. If it is that important, it’s better that I know.”
“It is about Lord Quartus, Your Grace.”
Anna tried to keep the look off her countenance that scared even her brothers. “Go on.”
“There is talk going around that he is a womanizer. A man who likes innocent ladies, ruins them, and leaves them.”
Could that be the reason he had not been interested in her? She wasn’t young enough for him? And what of the young lady he was to wed. Markville’s sister would be devastated. Clutching for the chair behind her, she sat down hard. “What proof do you have? Is there the name of a young lady he harmed?”
“No, Your Grace. No lady has been mentioned. It’s said he does it up in his home county.”
That did not make any sense. He was a rector at home. Surely he would have been called to account. Unless no one believed the young women because he was the rector. Or, perhaps, they were afraid of the duke. She hoped no one would be so afraid of her that they would fail to tell of such a crime.
Did Meg and Hawksworth know about Quartus’s reputation? No, they could not have. Meg said that her husband had not been home in years, and she had never been there.
But Quartus of all people. He was so kind and easy to talk to. She firmed her lips. Yet that was exactly the kind of person who could take advantage of a young lady. And her maid had said ‘lady.’ Servants did not use that term indiscriminately. A lady was a woman of Quality. If this rumor was true, some father would have demanded that Quartus marry his daughter.
Anna stood and began to pace. If the allegations were correct, Quartus should be punished in some way. But what if the rumors were false. Who would benefit from spreading such an unspeakable lie about a clergyman?
Well, someone had to ferret out the truth, and she had just been handed the duty. “I want to know everything. From whom did you hear the rumor?”
The woman sniffed. “As you know, Your Grace, I would not stoop to gossip with the lower servants. Mr. Puller told it to me in confidence. I believe he had it from the under-butler, who had it from Cook, who heard it from one of the maids, who was told by someone she met at the market.”
That the butler had carried the story to Anna’s maid was significant. Tortola might be small, but she was well aware how a story could change with many tellings. “I wish to speak with the maid who originally heard the talk.”
Annot’s eyes flew open. “Your Grace, you’d scare the poor girl to death. It might be better for Cook or Mrs. Flowers to speak with her.”
Well, drat. Annot was right. Anna was st
ill not used to how her rise in status affected others. “Does she work in the kitchen or in the household?” And to whom the maid answered to, Cook or her housekeeper, Mrs. Flowers, was important in the hierarchy of the household.
“I believe Mrs. Flowers sent her to Cook after one of the kitchen maids was unable to work this morning.” Annot added helpfully.
“I shall leave it to you.” Anna rubbed her forehead attempting to relieve the aching that had begun. “I wish to know all I can discover about the teller of this tale.”
“I’ll see it done, Your Grace.” Annot left the room, and Anna sank onto a sofa.
When she’d discovered all she could, she would send a message to Meg. Her friend needed to know whether she harbored a criminal or an innocent man someone was attempting to discredit. Although, who would spread such detrimental gossip was beyond Anna’s comprehension.
Sometime later, Annot handed Anna a note written in her housekeeper’s neat hand giving her the direction of the servant who had related the tale to her maid.
Sally, the tweenie went to the market this morning as one of Cook’s girls was not feeling well, and the other was already making breakfast. When she was buying potatoes, a maid comes up and asks where Ruth, the regular maid was. Sally told her and this other maid starts telling Sally about a Lord Quartus and how he was dangerous to young ladies and other young females. She must have heard his name mentioned, because she came straight to me and told me what she’d heard. As was my duty, I discussed with Mr. Puller what was to be done and he spoke with Miss Annot. Sally made sure to get the maid’s name, Susie, and the address, number six Hill Street.
Sally has been assured that you are not angry. If you have any other questions, Your Grace, she will answer them.
Mrs. J. Flowers
Anna was thankful she had decided to have the upper servants talk to the tweenie. It was not nearly as complicated as her maid had originally made it sound. Still, she must tell Meg Hawksworth about this immediately.
“I shall want my carriage as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
As she was in the hall pulling on her gloves, someone plied the knocker.
It Takes a Hero: Chapter Eight
Meg lost no time entering the hall. “May we speak in private?”
“Yes. Indeed, I was just about to have a missive sent to you.” Anna said. It was probably better that the lady was here. That way she could answer her questions. There were sure to be several. The tweenie was here as well.
“Your Grace, will you still require the coach?”
“If we need to go anywhere, mine is waiting,” Meg handed her gloves to the butler.
“Come with me.” Anna led the way to her study in the back of the house, overlooking the garden. “I have some disturbing news.”
“First, tell me.” Meg’s forehead pleated with concern. “Have you been ill? No one has seen you since the Flowers’s ball. At first I thought you might be a little fagged from all the parties, but Quartus said that he has not seen you either.”
“As if he would want to bother with me when he is marrying another.” Anna did not wish to have the conversation. “Nevertheless, it is about Lord Quartus I had written to you.”
“Marrying another? Oh, good Lord!” Meg folded her lips together and shook her head. “And of course my sapskull brother-in-law did not tell you about Lady Sarah.”
Anna’s legs threatened to give way, and she quickly lowered herself onto the sofa, motioning Meg to sit as well. “Lady Sarah. That is her name?”
“Yes but he is not going to wed her. She has been betrothed for years to another gentleman.”
The headache that had threatened earlier moved to her temples and started to thrum. This was worse than she had thought. He was playing with a woman who was already taken. “Does Markville know?”
“Markville and my father-in-law planned it.”
But Markville had said . . . Wait, none of this was making any sense at all. “I think you had best tell me all of it from the beginning. But first, wine or tea?”
“Wine, please.” She glanced at the door. “We will not want to be interrupted.”
Wishing it was rum, Anna poured two glasses of the red burgundy her predecessor preferred over claret.
“Excellent,” Meg said after she had a sip. “Now, let me tell you what this is about. Somerset decided to see Quartus married to a lady he chose. Markville agreed that his sister and Quartus would suit. The only problem is that she is already betrothed, and has been for four years . . .”
Before Meg had finished, Anna had drained her glass and refilled it. She was definitely ordering a supply of rum. She had been right about not encouraging the marquis. How could he be so cruel to his sister? “So when I heard Markville talking to Quartus, it was not what it seemed. Well as far as Markville knew it was, but Quartus is actually assisting Lady Sarah to marry her intended.”
“Precisely.” Meg nodded. “We are in the process of working out a way for them to wed without either the duke or her brother discovering what we are doing until after the deed is accomplished. Everyone agrees that one or both of them would attempt to stop the wedding.”
How Machiavellian. Anna’s esteem for Meg grew. “How will you do that? If you can tell me, that is.”
“We have arranged a house party where Lady Sarah and her betrothed will marry. He will arrive with a special license. It is all perfectly legal as her father signed the agreements before he died.”
A house party? The only event of that sort Anna knew of was . . . “At the Huntley’s estate?”
“Yes.” Meg glanced at her almost empty glass and grinned. “I know you were invited. Do you plan to attend?”
“My maid is packing as we speak.” This might work out very well. She would have a whole week with Quartus and without her aunt and Markville interfering. “I’d better tell you my news, and as my maid said to me, ‘you are not going to like it.’ This morning . . .”
As she related what she’d heard, Meg’s eyes narrowed and her lips formed a thin line as she grew angrier and angrier. “That is all I know.”
“That insufferable commoner.” She set her glass down with a loud snap. “That care-for-nobody here-and-therian.”
“The duke, I take it.”
Meg nodded. “If Quartus doesn’t murder him, Hawksworth will.”
Anna poured her friend another glass of wine. “I am loath to mention it, but patricide as well as killing a duke is against the law.”
“After all that devil has done, no one could possibly be blamed.” Her friend took a large drink of wine.
“Are you so sure it is Somerset?”
“Who else could it be? There is no way Quartus could have engaged in that sort of behavior and his mother not discover it, and she would have told my husband. Not only that, but my grandmother Featherton would have heard about it as well.”
“I agree, it is damning, however, what must be done immediately is to scotch the rumors.”
“We have enough friends and allies to accomplish that in short order. By the time we return from the house party, all will be right.” Meg rose. “Now, where were we going?”
“To a house on Hill Street where the maid works.”
“Hill Street?” Her jaw dropped for a second then snapped shut. “There is one house on that street that neither of us will wish to be seen visiting. Unfortunately, I do not know the address.” Meg placed the bonnet she’d removed back on her head, tying the bow off under her ear. “We should speak to my husband and brother-in-law first. Quartus deserves to know what is being said about him.”
Anna did not even bother to argue. If her friend said that the house might not be an appropriate place for a lady to be seen, it must be notorious. Duchess she may be, but it would not be prudent to risk her reputation. “Very well, but I’m coming with you.”
“I would not attempt to stop you.” Suddenly, Meg gave Anna a conspiratorial smile. “You might even be able to mee
t Lady Sarah. She has been spending a great deal of time at our house sending and receiving letters from her betrothed.”
“I imagine the visits also serve to convince her brother and the duke of Quartus’s interest in her.” And make Markville believe that his sister and Quartus would actually wed.
“That is part of the scheme.”
If everything Meg had said was true, and Anna had no reason to believe it was not, then she would have to find a way to convince Quartus that she was not going to marry Markville. The problem was how to do that and not look as if she were asking for a proposal. And could she do it in the space of a week?
As Quartus brought the curricle to a halt in front of Lord Markville’s house, he noticed Sarah’s hands clenched together. Beneath the gloves her knuckles were most likely white with apprehension. “Your brother has said you could attend the house party, has he not?”
“Yes.” She nodded slowly. “Yes. As long as I bring Mrs. Potter and my maid, of course, he does not object.” Sarah glanced at him. “I am just so afraid that something will go wrong.”
Quartus tied the ribbons off and covered her hands with one of his. “You must trust us. We will see you and Jeremy through this.”
“You are right. I’m being nervous for nothing.” Her grip relaxed and her lips tilted up slightly even if they wobbled a bit. “After all, he will be better able to further his suit with the duchess if he does not have to concern himself with me.”
And that was the one thing that worried Quartus. Despite all of Markville’s advantages, or what appeared to be his advantages, Quartus could no longer see Anna wed to a man who would run roughshod over her as he was trying to do with Sarah. Yet, for the nonce, there was nothing he could do about it. When he returned from the country, and if she was not already engaged, he would do his best to tempt Fate and court her in earnest.
For now, he had to help Sarah and Jeremy. “It will all work out. It always does.”
Her Perfect Gentleman: A Regency Romance Anthology Page 37
