“Dreadful.”
“Poor thing.”
“Makes one wonder if she has a curse.”
“Lost five babies in the last two years, she did. Perhaps Lord Marcus will have a son. He is next in line. That’s why he married so quickly, you know. Second oldest. Some thought he would never marry.”
Jane cringed as she stepped further away from the women. She thought the gossip had died down, but the latest Clearbrook wedding had stirred a hornet’s nest. Many thought Lord Marcus Clearbrook had married to provide an heir. But Jane knew that wasn’t true. The man was head over heels in love with his young bride, the former Millicent Shelby.
The grand wedding ceremony had been held at Bath Abbey only a week ago. In fact, right now, the loving couple was in Italy enjoying wedded bliss.
Wedded bliss, Jane thought, feeling her heart crack. What was that anymore?
She had once thought her marriage invincible. But now, it was pure chaos. Nevertheless, she was delighted that Roderick’s three brothers and only sister were happily married. There had been challenging obstacles to those unions, but love had prevailed.
She let out a bittersweet smile, recalling how Lord Clayton Clearbrook had thought a marriage of convenience would suit him well. Yet Miss Briana Garland, now his wife, who had loved him forever, seemed to have had other things in mind.
And when Roderick’s youngest brother, Lord Stephen, married Miss Elizabeth Shelby, Millicent’s older sister, Jane recalled their acquaintance had originated with a wager on a card game.
There were of course the star-crossed lovers, Emily and Jared, the Earl of Stonebridge. Their hurdles had been quite lively indeed.
The siblings were all so dreadfully in love with their spouses that Jane felt her heart squeeze. She had once thought she and Roderick had that same kind of love. But now, she wondered.
She swallowed against the bile rising in her throat. Perhaps Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena were right. She was cursed. Her marriage was crumbling just like her parents’, and whether she wanted to face it or not, by Society’s measure, she now had a marriage of convenience
Not one of the Clearbrook brothers had a son, and that included Roderick. Although Emily had six-year-old Gabrielle from Jared’s first marriage, and four-year-old Richard with Jared, they were not heirs to the dukedom. Clayton and Briana had little Victoria, but they had no son. And as the duchess, it was Jane’s duty to produce an heir.
Jane stiffened as the ladies’ cruel words continued to bang against her ears. Roderick had always protected her, yet now he kept his distance. He was polite and cordial, but anything intimate between them was gone. However, to be fair, he probably had no idea how Society’s vicious gossip was affecting her now. But without her husband by her side, her stance in Society had seemed to crumble.
It was not as if she didn’t have a backbone to fight. But what good would it do? Though she had the crazy urge to slap the women silly, she immediately felt guilty for even thinking about it. She would never do that. Besides, what kind of gossip would that spread, she thought sadly.
Despair welled up inside her as she looked about the room, searching for an escape. She caught sight of the crowd’s wide-eyed looks and wanted to sink into the floor. Many seemed both horrified and intrigued as Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena’s conversation increased in volume. It seemed the ladies were struggling to be heard over the music.
A fiery heat coursed through Jane’s veins as she desperately tried to hold herself together. She forced another smile and picked up a glass of the famous waters, letting the metallic-tasting liquid slip past the tightness in her throat.
She took in a fortifying breath, lifted her chin, and inched her way through the crowd, trying to distance herself from the two gossipmongers and anyone who had heard their hateful words.
Her heart sank when she could not find a friendly face in the crowd. Even Emily was nowhere to be seen. Oh, Em, please, where are you?
With a family as large as the duke’s, she was certain she would have seen one of her sisters-in-law today. The entire Clearbrook family had been staying at the mansion they had rented in Bath, all except for Roderick’s mother and her new husband, Lord Bringston. At breakfast, Briana and Elizabeth had mentioned they would be setting out for the Pump Room later in the day, but they were nowhere to be seen.
“Broad shoulders,” came the high-pitched squeak from Lady Philomena. “Tall muscular build. And I daresay, those gray eyes look like liquid silver.”
Jane flinched. Were the ladies following her on purpose?
A musty odor drifted toward her as she brushed against an older gentleman. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness consumed her. The noisy crowd seemed to be closing in on her. She wanted to run. But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. She was the wife of one of the most powerful dukes in the land. If she retreated now, the gossips would never stop hounding her.
“Women flocked to his side. Before he married her, that is,” Lady Horatio said, raising her voice again.
“Ah, but dearest, I hear he still draws the women.”
The offensive snicker set the hairs on the back of Jane’s neck on end. She closed her eyes, trying to gain her balance. Indeed, there was no other poor creature they were talking about.
Her emotions seemed quite unpredictable these days. But it was just as well, because her self-pity had suddenly turned into red-hot anger. But she could not let fury get the best of her when she approached the ladies.
She started counting inside her head. One, two, three…
“Ooooh, you know, Philomena, that black hair makes him look all the more powerful, don’t you think? A regular pirate on the high seas.”
Another giggling sigh. “Lady Trayton used to think so. Was called Miss Susan Wimble then. She almost married the man, don’t you know?”
“Ah, no, tell me more…”
Jane gritted her teeth. Seven, eight…
“Hear the duchess sees too much of that Captain Argyle, if you ask me. The man has some Scottish blood, don’t you know. Quite handsome, but heard he killed someone with that knife of his.”
Lady Horatio let out a dramatic sigh. “Ooooh, a dangerous gentleman, to be sure. Heard she and her sister-in-law mix with those loose women too. Disgusting thought. Having babies out of wedlock. Not the thing at all.”
Philomena agreed. “Girls should be whipped, having babies outside of marriage. Terrible sin.”
Jane’s brows rose in anger. That was the outside of enough. Talking about women who were in delicate positions and who had no other help! Who did these ladies think they were?
Jane spun around, glaring at them. Waiting.
“Well, my goodness,” Lady Horatio’s orange turban bobbed as she continued her little speech. “If a husband won’t treat her like a wife, what’s a—”
Lady Philomena squeaked in dismay. “Shhh. She’s right here.”
Both ladies turned scarlet.
Jane narrowed her eyes on the women and nodded. “Good day, ladies. So nice to see you today. May I fill your glasses?” With lightning speed, Jane turned and grabbed one of the water pitchers from a passing servant.
The two ladies looked on, their eyes bulging in shock. Their glasses were already full. But Jane tipped the pitcher of water, letting the liquid splash everywhere but into their glasses.
Their jaws dropped in horror as water soaked every bit of their bosom and fabric that covered it. Then, with a quick flick of her wrist, Jane tossed the rest of the water in their faces. With a satisfied smile, Jane spun around and handed the empty pitcher back to the wide-eyed servant.
“I daresay,” Jane added sweetly, shifting a hard gaze back to the ladies. “I do believe that a great deal of talking does increase one’s thirst.”
The women stood stock still as Jane turned her back on them and gave them the cut direct.
A small rumble of laughter erupted around them. Ignoring the crowd, Jane detected Emily’s lavender gown and started walking her way. Her hear
t pumped between triumph and tragedy when she recalled the shocked look on the faces of Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena. Indeed, the waters were supposed to be good for whatever ailed one. But Jane didn’t think it could cure her broken heart, or their rabid tongues.
She finally made it to Emily’s side.
Emily, her violet eyes twinkling with life, obviously unaware of what had just happened, grabbed Jane’s hand and smiled. “Dearest, I turned to speak to Lady Hawthorne and you were gone.”
Jane let out a shaky smile. “I turned and you were gone too.”
“Lady Hawthorne was telling me about her last tour of Italy,” Emily said. “That made me think of Milli and Marcus.”
Jane let out a light laugh, trying to put the gossiping ladies to the back of her mind. “All I can say is that Milli’s marriage will never be boring.” After all the whispers and taunts, Emily’s friendly chatter was heaven to Jane’s ears.
“Do you know,” Emily went on. “I can only guess that our little Milli is leading Marcus a merry chase about town. I cannot believe it was only last week when they were married.”
Jane was ready to respond when she froze at the sight of Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena waving at her from across the room. Were the ladies daft? Good gracious. Even a pitcher of water did not deter them. They probably thought they had best make their way toward her to calm any more gossip pertaining to them. Well, for the love of the king! They had to be the most exasperating females of her acquaintance!
“Yes, well,” Jane replied to her friend. “Milli is such a beacon of light, I suppose Marcus won’t have a hard time finding her if she strays off the beaten path.”
Emily looked over her shoulder and turned back with a frown. “Oh, Jane. Are you going to let a few gossiping ladies ruin your day? They cannot wait to cause another stir. And today, I suppose they think it should be you.”
Jane lifted her delicate shoulders and smiled. So, Emily had heard something of the gossip after all. “I dumped a pitcher of water on them, pretending to fill their glasses. I think they want to be friends now. Whatever that involves.”
Emily chuckled. “Oh, Jane, you didn’t? You never fail to amaze me. I suppose that’s one of the reasons Roderick married you. You were the only person who could face him and tell him no to his face.”
Jane reddened. That wasn’t true anymore.
Emily frowned, realizing her mistake. “Forgive me, dearest. Oh, how I wish I were a man. I would box my brother’s ears. He is being foolish about everything.”
“I have not been able to give him an heir. I don’t think that is foolish for a duke.”
Emily’s mouth went grim. “That is not the reason—”
Jane raised her hand, stopping her. “Please. Say no more.”
Emily nodded, but Jane could tell her friend did not like it.
Jane looked about, relieved that the gossiping ladies had stopped to talk to Lady Hawthorne. It was just as well, she thought, as she rested a hand on her stomach. Lately, her emotions were up and down like a hot air balloon bouncing in the sky. But she would not let a bunch of old biddies ruin this day. She would not.
“I have never understood why people have to be so mean,” she said, frowning at Emily.
Her friend grabbed a glass of the famous waters from a servant girl. “Take this and see if it cures what ails you.”
Jane giggled, putting the glass to her lips. “I already had my waters and they didn’t do a thing but make me burp. Of course, you can always ask Lady Horatio and Lady Philomena what they think.”
Emily chuckled. “Forget them. They amuse themselves with nothing but spiteful gossip.”
Jane smiled. Emily always made her fell better. “I think we should just avoid them. But I hesitate to think what Milli would do if she were here.”
“Milli?” Emily gave Jane a dastardly smile. “She would be proud of you. I think you did your duty with that pitcher. However, I can be as wicked as Milli. If you would like, I could devise something better. To treat you with such cruel disregard makes me furious. I cannot believe they would spread such vicious gossip.”
Jane flushed to the roots of her hair. There was no doubt now. Emily had heard the hideous remarks too.
Jane swallowed past the lump in her throat, thinking that Roderick would have known how to deal with such busybodies.
“You know,” Emily said, taking her arm. “I believe we should return to the country, back to Elbourne Hall.”
Jane bit her lip and looked up. “I am still working on that new school for young women that Milli and I, um, have invested in. It is here in Bath.”
Emily’s delicate brows lifted. “You have invested in a school?”
Jane’s cheeks flamed. Not many people knew of her plan for a school to educate young women of the ton, not even Roderick. Her husband had been become rather distant after she had lost the baby in London over a month ago. In fact, she had made the decision to enter this business venture on her own. And yet, it was more than a business. It was a special undertaking to offer young women, who might have a great impact on the world because of their station, a broader education than just studying watercolor and French.
Emily squeezed her arm and chuckled. “Now, now, Jane, you must tell me all.”
Jane laughed. “Very well. But we did have help.”
“Ah, was it Jared who helped you? Tell me, dearest.”
“Not Jared. Captain Argyle.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “The captain?”
“Yes, he helped us buy the place. And now we are going to make it the best seminary for young ladies in all of England.”
Emily’s violet eyes gleamed with delight. “I think it famous! I shall help wherever I can. But I am surprised you kept it a secret from me.”
Jane licked her lips and looked about. “Would you like to hear another secret?”
Emily lifted two delicate brows. “Goodness, Jane. You are full of surprises today. Of course, I want to hear another secret. I am a woman, am I not?”
Jane giggled and lowered her voice. “Frankly, I have to tell someone or I think I shall burst.”
“What is this about a secret?” A familiar female voice came up behind them.
Jane turned and gasped in delight. “Oh, Agatha, when did you come to town?”
The older lady hooked her parasol on her arm and smiled. “I arrived last night. Staying with a friend.”
Jane held tight to Agatha’s plump arm. “But you could have stayed with us. There is plenty of room.”
Jane’s heart soared. Agatha could fix just about anything.
The lady’s gray brows lifted while she tapped her dependable parasol with her other hand. “I have heard things about that husband of yours, and I am not pleased.”
Jane’s lips trembled. “He’s, uh, been busy.”
“Busy, my foot.” Another tap of the parasol.
Jane knew the Clearbrook men regarded Agatha’s parasol as a type of weapon, and at any other time, she would have laughed.
Emily chewed her lip as she gazed warily about the room. “Agatha, perhaps this is not the time.”
Agatha scowled. “Not the time?” she screeched, glancing over Emily’s shoulders. “Those two gossipmongers are at it again, and from what I’ve heard, my lovely Jane is their target for today.”
Jane let out a wobbly smile. “I do not understand why some people are mean. But they are.”
Agatha curled a hand about Jane’s waist. “Yes, well, I shan’t do anything while you are looking. That is all I can promise.”
Jane’s laugh was more like a pitiful cry. “Oh, Agatha. I’m so glad you’ve come.”
“I would have come last month, but I was in France.” The lady lowered her voice. “Did not hear about the babe you lost until I read your letter last week.”
Jane cleared her throat. “I missed hearing from you.”
Agatha gave Emily a covert look, but Jane didn’t miss it. She knew these two ladies had been involved in mission
s with the Crown during the war. However, the ladies still assumed she knew nothing.
It was better that way. Yet Jane did wonder how much Agatha was still involved with Whitehall, even though the war with Napoleon had ended years ago. She supposed England always had enemies. But why had Agatha been in France?
“Forgive me, child,” Agatha said, frowning. “I felt dreadful being away from you during your difficult time. But it was not to be helped. I did not receive mail while in France. Until I returned to Hemmingly Hall, I had no notion what was happening with you.” Tears filled the older lady’s eyes. “You are like a daughter to me. The daughter I never had. Your pain is my pain, Jane. Please, my dear, forgive me for not being by your side.”
Jane blinked away the hot tears that were leaking from her eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you are here now.”
Agatha lifted a gloved hand, wiping the wetness from her own cheeks. “Well, well. I believe we’ve had enough waterworks for today. I want to hear more about this secret. Let us move to that tiny alcove over there. Hurry now. Gracious me, those two old biddies are swimming upstream to speak with us. La, my dears, I cannot stomach their flimsy talk.”
“Why, good day to you, Duchess,” Lady Horatio announced with a smile that did not quite meet her eyes. “Forgive us. Lady Philomena and I were not able to finish our conversation with you. Ah, Lady Emily. Miss Appleby.”
Jane looked up in shock as Lady Horatio moved between her and Agatha. Lady Philomena wasn’t far behind. Lady Emily’s jaw dropped in outrage. Jane squeezed her friend’s arm, but immediately had to turn to a scowling Agatha who was raising her parasol for the attack. Jane forced Agatha’s hand downward and glared at the two gossiping ladies.
Lady Horatio peered out through hooded eyes. “Miss Appleby, so good to see you again. And Lady Emily, aren’t you looking pretty today.”
Lady Philomena stood beside her chubby friend, flitting a silk fan about her scrawny face. Jane could tell that both ladies were seething at the way they had been treated earlier.
Agatha looked on, sneering. “Ladies, you appear to have taken too much of the waters. Did you take a bath in it?”
The Duke's Bride: Book 5 (The Clearbrooks) Page 3
