by Lucy Langton
“My Lord, please rise, I cannot stand to see you like this,” she said, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions he had put on within the short period. His sister’s condition combined with whatever relationship he was building with her would surely give a man like him a huge blow and unbalance while trying to comprehend whatever it was he was feeling.
She helped him rise to his feet, their gaze remaining on each other’s without wavering. She lifted a hand to his cheek caressing it to comfort him.
“Oh Lord William, if only you could comprehend how much love this heart of mine has for you and Lady Beatrice. I would never do anything that would hurt either one of you.”
“I know that now my love,” he said, letting his lips brush against her palm.
Rachel stood by the door, peeping through the keyhole and overhearing the conversation between the Baron and the lady that ruined her plans. How could the Baron be so gullible by that woman? Why not her? That was supposed to be her; she was supposed to be the one the Baron confessed his undying love to. She had been with him for years, tended to his wounds, been there to help him when he was unwell, and this lady had come to steal him away from her. She was not going to give up without a fight.
“Think Rachel, think,” she mumbled to herself. She needed to act fast; soon the Baron would be blind to whatever it was that she said or did. She would become more invisible that she was before because of this woman that stood there.
It was time to pull out her trump card; it was bound to work and cause a commotion.
Without caution, she pushed the door open and walked in, clearing her throat for their attention.
“My Lord, I have great news! I’m afraid I cannot hide this any longer,” she said completely ignoring Isabel’s presence.
Lord William furrowed his brows wondering what announcement she would have to make this time.
“What might that be?” he asked.
“I am pregnant with your child.”
“That’s impossible!” he scoffed.
“Oh My Lord, it is not. Have you forgotten that glorious night when you came home in an almost drunken state and made love to me? Why I have not been with another man since then, so the baby could only be yours,” she countered.
“That’s impossible! It never …” He scratched his head in confusion, having a vague memory of him kissing Rachel.
“I’m afraid it’s true, My Lord, we’re going to have a child,” she said with glee.
Isabel looked back and forth between the two of them; her head felt light at the news. She could see their lips moving in slow motion, but she could not hear them anymore. The thought of the Baron that she had given her heart to with another woman was too much for her to bear; she knew he was wrong for her, but she had been one of the Baron’s conquests. She could feel her legs give way beneath her as her body crumpled to the ground as her world did with the news.
“Isabel!” the Baron screamed, seeing her on the floor. “Get out! Get out of the room now!” he snapped at the maid while he lifted the love of his life off the floor.
Blood rushed through his ears as he tried to process the news. Could it be that the maid was carrying his child? That they had made love to one another when he was barely conscious of himself and could not remember?
Could he have been so stupid at any point in his life to have done such an act and not even remember it? Could this be the end of the fairytale he was living with Isabel?
***
Yesterday …
George was taking his usual stroll through the streets of the city. With Aunt Mariam gone, he had no companion to walk around the streets and go to one of the dinners with. He knew few people would be around at this time, hence the temptation to drink and gamble would be less to none.
He placed an order for fruit of the vine and some bread after taking a seat at one of the tables. He brought out his notebook and began to note down ideas he had for a small story. He had seen some children running down the streets and wondered about the life of the street children. How difficult it must have been to grow up without a roof over one’s head, but despite that, they still looked happier than some of the nobles he had met.
George Montgomery was not one to be called a social butterfly, but for the first time in a long time, going to a ball did him some good and presented the beautiful maiden to him.
Her name was Lady Elizabeth William, the only daughter of Lord Victor William II. They had met at a ball the Duke hosted on behalf of his daughter’s party and instantly bonded over their love for art and literature.
A while after their conversation, they had decided to meet up at Le Bonsuier, a famous French restaurant in the city. Seeing her come on a horse by herself reminded him of his sister Isabel. He could not wait to have another conversation with her the minute she came down from the horse.
“So tell me, a beautiful young lady with love for literature and art that rides a horse like a fierce warrior…where have you been hiding all my life?” he pondered with excitement in his voice.
“Alive of course.” Her voice was soft but firm all the same, one that he knew he had to write a poem about sometime.
“And witty too,” he said, biting into his fish.
“What I bet you would be reading, Jane Austen?”
“Why definitely, but that would be second to William Shakespeare.”
“Hmm, I see… you write?”
“Yes, a few pieces, nothing groundbreaking, I’m afraid.”
“Oh save the modesty, how I wish I had the talent of turning words into stories.”
“Are you alright?” a strange man said taking a seat opposite him.
“Why yes, and you are?” he asked, curious about the tall ginger bearded man that stood before him.
“I’m Gregory Wordsworth, but you can call me Greg if you like to.”
“Pleasure meeting you, Greg.”He smiled. There was something intriguing about this man and his aura.
“Pleasure is mine,” he said ordering a beer.
“You have a striking resemblance to your sister, that face is a Montgomery signature, I’ll say.”
“You’ve met my sister?”
“Why yes. Worked with the Baron a few weeks after the lady came in. Left there a couple of weeks ago even, started my own tea shop down across the street,” he said taking a swig of his beer.
“Oh yes. She’s a companion of Lady Beatrice. I trust they’re faring well?”
“Miss Montgomery is, but I’m afraid for Lady Beatrice’s life. I hear her condition is getting worse by the minute.”
“What condition?”
“You don’t know? The Lady’s been sick for the past month, physicians have never seen an illness such as that. It’s such a pity, the Lady’s such a pleasant person.”
“Oh my Lord! I hadn’t gotten news about that. I’m sure Isabel did not want me bothered.”
“Very sure that’s it. You best be careful these days, one can’t trust people anymore,” he added.
“And why’d you say such, Greg?” he enquired.
He looked back and forth before speaking. “There’s a rumor going on that the maid is the one poisoning the Lady. The servants know there is something quite fishy about that woman, but there’s no proof, and nobody wants to lose his job, right?”
“That’s right, but what do you think? Could the maid be capable of such?”
“Hell, yes! I remember the last place we worked in together. She poisoned the Lord’s wife. They threw her in prison, but she seduced her way out of there. Sour woman!”
“And the maid now works with the Baron?”
“Yes, I believe she still does.”
“Meet me at this address at dawn tomorrow morning, Greg. Let’s hope we can save Lady Beatrice from this vile woman’s hand,” he said writing down his home address. The horror of how true this might be sent chills to his bones. His sister could be in danger, and he would not have known.
***
Her brother’s scent was one
she could not miss even in her sleep. She opened her eyes to see him staring down at her.
“Hello,” he said, smiling teasingly. His sense of humour at odd times never ceased to amaze her.
“George!” she exclaimed as much as her dry throat allowed her.
“Here have some water,” he said, handing her a silver chalice.
“Thank you.” She took it from his hands and gulped it down in an unladylike manner.
“You’re very much welcome, sister.” He touched her hair then stared into her eyes.
“What are you doing here? I was not aware you would be arriving anytime soon.”
“My apologies for not sending word out, my dear, but I hurried down here when I heard about Lady Beatrice. I came with my physician to have a look and diagnose it as well.”
“Thank you, that was very kind of you.”
“Anything for a friend, my dear.”
“How are you?” The genuine concern in his face nearly broke her.
“I don’t know, George. The past few days have not been the most pleasant.”
“Tell me all.”
“Lady Beatrice’s health has been terrible; the physicians do not know what is wrong with her, or the cure for it. She has not woken up for the entire day even,” she said choking on a sob.
“Hmm, so I heard when I came in. Are you sure that is the only thing troubling you?”
She stared at him; she could not hide anything from her brother. It would have been much worse. She had come to trust him more after the loss of their parents; he was all she had.
“Lord William and I are lovers.” She sniffed.
“Well that was expected, I could see the way in which he looked at you from my last visit. It was only a matter of time.” He smiled. “You love him?”
“Yes, but he does not trust me. He accused me of poisoning his sister, and now the maid claims to be pregnant with his child, and I do not know what to do.”
“Which of the maids would that be? The one that served us the last time?”
“Miss Bryn, yes. She’s in charge of Lady Beatrice’s well-being.”
“I knew there was something odd about that woman. The way she threw daggers at you with her eyes and stared at the Baron like he was some sort of trophy.”
“How did you notice and remember all these things?”
“The curse of an introvert, dear Isabel. We observe every detail around us.” He chuckled. “Leave everything to me, my dear. We will conduct a proper investigation on matters with the poison.”
“What about the pregnancy? What if she is carrying his child?”
“Then we will know what to do after an investigation. We shall take it one step at a time, alright?”
She nodded. His calmness gave her the assurance that she had been searching for.
***
“Lord William, may I see you privately please?” George asked peeping into his chambers.
“Of course. How is Isabel faring? Has she woken up yet?” he asked.
“Yes, she has. I told her to get some rest.”
“I hope you do not mind, but I brought my personal physician to have a look at Lady Beatrice.”
“Of course not, that was very thoughtful of you. I pray he can diagnose what this illness is and find a cure before it is too late.”
“I hope so too, My Lord.”
They stood there in silence for a minute or two.
“My sister says you think Lady Beatrice was poisoned,” George said breaking the silence.
“Miss Bryn, the maid suggested it. Her suspicion was on Miss Isabel, but it does not make any sense that she would hurt my sister in anyway.”
“Have you thought that Miss Bryn might be the culprit?”
“No, why would she do that? She’s been working with us for years now, and she has done nothing of the sort.”
“I believe an investigation would be necessary in this situation.”
“I believe so as well.”
“I can oversee it thoroughly. I have a witness that claims she has done something similar before coming here. We might at least need to know what kind of poison for a cure.”
“Very well then, search her chambers, let us be sure.”
“My sister says Miss Bryn claims to be pregnant with your child?” he lifted a brow.
“That was what she said. I am very uncertain how true it is.”
“Were both of you lovers before? Was she one of the women you bedded?”
“I am uncertain. She claims we made love when I returned home drunk and I may have been too drunk to remember it happen.”
A knock on the door interrupted them.
“Come in.”
“Your tea, My Lord,” a maid said coming in with a tray.
“Thank you; you can set it on the table there.”
“Yes, My Lord,” she replied.
“I’ll have the physician do a pregnancy test as well.”
“He can do that?”
“Yes, he’s one of the best.”
“I hope she is lying; there is no one I want to spend the rest of my life with apart from Isabel.”
“Um…Pardon me, My Lord. If I may intrude, there would be no need for the physician to check, she is lying.”
“And you know this how?” George asked.
“I share the same quarters with Miss Bryn,” the maid said. “She has been having her monthly courses, so it is impossible for her to be carrying a child,” the lady said more firmly. It would be such a shame to see Isabel go because of the vile woman that Rachel.
The maid had never seen the Baron this happy since Miss Isabel came into his life. She did not have the stomach to watch it crumble when she knew she could do something about it. She hoped this would help in some way.
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth, I appreciate your honesty,” the Baron replied, letting out a sigh of relief.
“It is a pleasure, My Lord,” she said then left the room.
“It is like this is the first good news I have received in a long time,” the Baron said smiling to himself.
“Don’t worry, My Lord, all will fall into place,” he said with a nod then left him to himself.
George knew it was his responsibility to look out for his sister; he needed to protect her well-being and her reputation as well. He could not allow her to take the blame for another lady’s action.
He took the physician to Lady Beatrice’s room first. The man specialised in poisons and dangerous toxins for the body. If there were anyone who would know if it were a poison caused the disease, it would have been him. He called his sister to stay with Lady Beatrice and the physician while he went with Greg to search Miss Bryn’s chambers.
