The Lady's Fate (The Reluctant Grooms Volume II)

by Anne Gallagher

  Jane, now spent from all the drama, lay against Violet like a wilted flower.

  “Come now, dearest, we must get you out of these clothes,” Violet said and lay the girl down on her bed. She took off her own soiled overcoat, turned it inside out, and laid it on the floor.

  “Imma no leave Jane?” the child asked weakly.

  “No, not yet, my love. I should like to get you cleaned up first. ‘Twas a most horrible ride from Fairhaven, was it not? Your poor stomach could not take all the jostling, I’m afraid. And then seeing Papa….” Just the thought of Haverlane in another woman’s arms made Violet want to vomit as well. Violet undressed Jane and found another dress and pinafore in her closet that were much too small, and would never do.

  The maid returned with the toweling and warm water. Another entered with a tray of food. Mary followed with Brown.

  “Oh, Lady Violet, I apologize for not helping,” Mary said. “The lady in the library was in such a state when she saw Brown. You’d a thought she’d never seen a cat before. She kept screeching for me to find it.”

  “Tis quite all right, Mary. Tell me, has everything settled down stairs?” Violet asked.

  “Well, the lady is not screaming any longer,” Mary said. “Lord Haverlane is very angry and Mr. Manning is distressed about the stain on the carpet.”

  A small pinging noise drew Violet’s attention to the windows. The rain had turned to sleet. She addressed the first maid.

  “Could you find Lady Jane’s trunks and have someone bring them up. Also, ask Mr. Manning when he has a free moment to attend me.” She picked up her soiled coat, thought about its cleaning and how much she hated the old thing, then handed it to the other maid. “Thank you for all your help. Please dispose of this. I’m afraid there is nothing to be done for it now, and then you may return to your other duties.” The maids curtsied and left.

  “What shall I do, Lady Violet?” Mary asked. “Should you wish me to help you?”

  “No, Mary. I shall attend Jane. Why do you not find your way to the kitchens and see if there is anything for luncheon. Remember to take the back staircase. We are no longer at Fairhaven. Then I’m sure Mr. Manning will show you to your room for a rest. I’m afraid this homecoming was not what any of us expected.”

  Mary placed Brown on the bed and left.

  Violet washed the spew from Jane and settled her under the blankets until her trunk arrived. “Would you like some soup, dearest? Or would you rather sleep a little?”

  “Who Papa kiss?” Jane asked.

  The question took Violet by surprise. “I do not know, dearest.” Violet wondered if her assumption about the red-headed lady was correct.

  “Papa no kiss her. Papa oh-ny kiss Imma,” Jane said.

  “I’m afraid, Jane, Papa may kiss any woman he desires and there is nothing you or I can do about it.”

  “No!” The little girl said. “Papa oh-ny kiss Imma. My Imma.” Jane put her hand on Violet’s cheek. “Imma no leave Jane?” Her little lip quivered again.

  “No, dearest. This is all a bit overwhelming for you now, is it not? I confess ‘tis a bit overwhelming for me also. There now.” Violet gently pushed the little girl’s hair off her forehead. “Sleep. I shall be right here when you awake.”

  “Imma sing me. Sing Jane sleep.”

  Violet smiled at the child and sang an old Scottish lullaby Mrs. Jeffers had taught her. By the time Violet had finished the first verse, Jane was asleep.

  Violet took the basin of dirty water and placed it outside Jane’s room on the hall table. Manning walked toward her and Violet met him down the hall.

  “Lady Violet, forgive me, it is only this moment I could away,” he said.

  “It is quite all right, Mr. Manning. Pray, I wonder if you know, has my mother enquired here of my return? Do you know if she expects me back this very day?”

  “She sent a note round Thursday last and I believe Lord Haverlane replied the first week of March, my lady. He purposely left it vague due to the weather.”

  “Tell me then, is this room next to Jane’s unoccupied? I believe I shall have to stay the night with her. Even though we have talked about my leaving, I’m afraid she does not comprehend my departure.”

  “Is she well?” he asked.

  “Overset with nerves, is all. She will be fine after a rest and something to eat.”

  “This room is not used and I shall send the maids to bring fresh water and coals. I shall have your bags sent up as well.” He flicked a glance at her dress.

  She looked down and saw some of the remains from Jane’s recent upheaval. “Thank you, Mr. Manning. That is very kind. Do you know if Mary found her way to the kitchen?”

  “She did indeed. Cook made her luncheon and she was shown to her room above stairs little more than half an hour ago.”

  “Good. I’m afraid this is a novel experience for her, being so far from home. She is used to Fairhaven where we are not troubled with such high strung females who are afraid of kittens and small sick children.” Violet smiled when she remembered the lady’s shriek of terror.

  Manning coughed back a smirk. “Lord Haverlane wonders if you would care to join him for luncheon.”

  “Does the lady still remain?” Violet would not sit at table if she were present.

  “No,” Manning said. “She departed as soon as her spirits were restored.”

  “Tell Lord Haverlane I shall be down as soon as I have changed.”

  “I shall send your trunk directly.” He bowed.

  “Thank you again, Mr. Manning.” Violet returned to Jane’s room and waited for her clothing.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ellis paced in his study. Of all the damn fool situations to be caught up in. He knew Georgiana was up to something when she arrived. If he had only shown his restraint. But he hadn’t and it cost him. How much, he couldn’t be sure, wouldn’t be sure until he saw Violet again. The look on her face when he’d been caught in Georgiana’s embrace. Damn it all! What had he been thinking?

  Georgiana was beautiful, and used her feminine wiles as easily as Lady Jersey. He knew mixing business with pleasure would lead to his downfall, but he had needed all the help he could get with her father, Lord Axminster, for his signature on the new factory. He’d thought squiring Georgiana around Town would get him what he wanted from the old Earl. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

  Now Georgiana had decided she wanted something more from him. The gossipmongers paved the way for their nuptials, and if they had their way, he would be married to her by the end of this Season. Only Haverlane knew that was not going to happen, but Georgiana had become bolder in her advances. Showing up at his house, unannounced, on the day his daughter arrived home, had taken more than cheek. Georgiana was pressing for an engagement before her father signed the contract, but Ellis was damned if he would give it to her. His heart belonged to Violet.

  Ellis stopped his pacing and stared at the portrait of Violet and Jane. Manning had found it on the floor of the library and brought it to him. Ellis wondered who had painted it. The clarity of their faces mesmerized him. Every line, every detail was perfection. Whoever the artist, had captured his daughter’s innocence beautifully and Violet’s love for Jane. He would cherish it as long as he lived.

  Manning knocked and entered without waiting for a response. “Lady Violet has Lady Jane settled and will join you for luncheon as soon as she changes her gown.” He did not look Ellis in the eye and turned to go.

  “Manning,” Ellis said. “I apologize for this morning. I did not mean for things to become so out of control.”

  “My lord.” Manning stood within the doorframe. “There is no need to apologize.”

  “Manning, I can see your disappointment.” It should not matter to Ellis, but it did.

  “My lord, it is certainly none of my business how you conduct your affairs. I believe it is Lady Violet and Lady Jane who are owed your apology.”

  “Yes, of course, and I shall take care of that directly. I r
ealize my actions were deplorable and I regret them most especially. Still, there is no excuse.”

  “My lord, may I be frank?”

  Ellis nodded.

  “It is not my place to say, nevertheless…. I do not think Lady Baxter is the right woman to take the place of Lady Anne as Lady Jane’s new mother.”

  Ellis gave a short bark of laughter. “I can assure you, Manning, that will never happen. Georgiana Baxter, although beautiful, is a conniving, intolerable woman who is a means to an end and nothing more. I have used her cruelly, but I will not apologize for it. She means nothing to me other than as a way to get to her father.”

  Manning nodded once and turned to go.

  “Tell me, Manning, how does Lady Violet seem?” Ellis asked. “Is she angry?”

  “I cannot say, my lord.”

  “Surely, you would be able to tell if she were angry.”

  “She did seem a bit put out, my lord.” He paused. “Although, she also seemed rather amused at the fright Lady Baxter took during the chaos that reigned.”

  Amused. That was certainly an interesting way to look on it. If it hadn’t happened to him, it would be quite comical indeed. He prayed the incident would not reach his club. There would be no end to the ribbing he would take from his contemporaries.

  “Thank you, Manning.”

  Manning nodded and left the room.

  Ellis paced some more. He needed to tell Violet it was all a mistake. He had to make her understand Georgiana Baxter meant nothing to him. He flung the door open intending to go to her.

  Violet stood there with her hand raised ready to knock.

  “My lord,” she said.

  “Violet.” The breath left his body. He could not believe the transformation. The gown was undoubtedly one of his sister-in-law’s, but fit Violet in all the right places. It had been a month since he saw her last, and his insides crashed to the floor. Her face had filled out, the blue circles under her eyes gone. She had gained some weight back, but not as much as she had weighed previously. He stood transfixed. He had loved her before, for herself and not her appearance. He loved her for her letters and her generous soul. He loved her for her gentle care of Jane. Now, as he stood there, he knew he loved her, not for who she had become, but for who she had always been.

  “Manning indicated you wished to dine,” Violet said tersely. “Shall we? I should like to return to Jane as soon as possible.” She did not meet his eyes.

  “Yes. Of course.” He led her down the hall to the dining room.

  After they had taken their seats, he asked, “How is Jane?”

  “She is well. I’m afraid the carriage ride from Fairhaven was the culprit. That is something you should remember, my lord. She is fine for short drives. However, I do believe long rides should be broken up. I would have suggested we stop for luncheon this afternoon, but Mr. Corbett worried about being trapped in the nasty part of the storm.”

  “Yes, of course.” Ellis nodded to the footman to begin serving.

  “Violet, may I say you look very well in that gown.” The light pink creation brought color to her cheeks.

  “Thank you, my lord.” She dipped her spoon into the soup.

  “My sister-in-law has exquisite taste.”

  Violet said nothing and continued eating.

  “How is Mrs. Jeffers getting on with the new help?” Ellis was desperate to talk with her, discuss things as they had done before at Fairhaven, as they had done in their letters, but Violet shut herself off from him. After his display with Georgiana, he couldn’t fault her.

  “She is well. There was a bit of a run-in with Flint in the beginning, but they have worked it out.” She took a sip of lemonade.

  “What sort of run-in?”

  “He insisted on serving us in the main dining room. Mrs. Jeffers refused to allow it. ‘Twas a waste of wood for the fire, as the room is so large for just the five of us.”

  “Five?”

  “Myself, Jane, Mrs. Jeffers, Mary, and Grennan.” She pushed her bowl away. A footman came and took it away.

  “I see.” Ellis pushed his own bowl away.

  A second footman placed a fish course in front of them.

  Violet speared a small bit on her fork and then placed the fork forcefully on the rim of her plate. “My lord, I must speak plainly.”

  Ellis waved his hand, dismissing the servants. The agony in her eyes broke his heart.

  “Your display this afternoon has upset Jane greatly. She does not understand the affection between adults and has no notion why you would be embracing that woman. I suggest if you were to remain attached to her, you would do well to keep it as private as possible. At least until Jane is better able to understand.”

  Ellis sat back in his chair. It seemed Jane was not the only one upset.

  “I assure you, I will never be found in such a position with Lady Baxter again.”

  Violet’s eyes grow round and a small ‘oh’ formed on her lips. “That was Lady Baxter?”

  “Yes,” he admitted. The tone she used implied she knew of their liaison. Who could have told her?

  “I see,” Violet said softly. She pushed back her chair. “Forgive me, my lord. I seem to have lost my appetite.” Rising, she quit the room before he could say another word.

  *****

  That was Lady Baxter! Violet felt sick to her stomach. Violet had always maintained she could never compete with another woman’s ghost, but Lady Georgiana Baxter was a different ilk altogether – stunningly beautiful, with all the right accoutrements of money, style, and Haverlane’s heart. There was little use in comparing herself to Lady Baxter. She knew who would win. Violet dashed upstairs to Jane’s room.

  She found Mary sitting on the bed with Jane and Brown.

  Mary jumped up. “My lady, are you well? Has something happened? You look very ill indeed.”

  “I am well, perhaps still a little shaken from the carriage ride. I did not rest.” Violet looked at Jane, sitting on the bed with her little cat. Tears pricked her eyes. She did not want to leave Jane, but she would not stay in Haverlane’s house one moment longer.

  “Mary, would you be kind enough to run downstairs and ask Mr. Manning where the portrait is I painted for Jane. I need it.” Violet sat on the bed.

  “Dearest,” she said to Jane. “Do you remember how we talked when you were coming home to Papa and I would go home to my own mother?”

  Jane nodded.

  “It is time for me to leave. You are home and Papa is here. I have not seen my own mother in a very long time and I do miss her very much. Do you understand?”

  “Imma misses her Mama,” Jane said.

  “Yes, Jane and it is time for Imma to go home to her own family.”

  Jane’s lip began to quiver.

  “Now, dearest, you know how much I love you, do you not?”

  Jane nodded.

  “Well, that is how my own Mama feels about me. She loves me just as much and I must go and see her.”

  “Imma come back?”

  “I will come and visit when I can, but I cannot live with you here. You have Mary now to take care of you. You love Mary very much, do you not?”

  Jane nodded.

  “And she loves you. And in the summer you will go back to Jeffie and Grennan.”

  Mary returned with the painting and handed it to Violet.

  “Dearest,” Violet said to Jane. “This is a picture I painted for you. See, it is the two of us.”

  Jane touched the part of the portrait that was Violet’s face. “Imma.”

  “Yes, that is me, and you shall never be without me. I will always be there looking over you and loving you, the same way I do now. But I must go home to my own family.”

  Jane, fascinated by the painting, showed it to Brown. “See, Imma and Jane,” she said to the kitten.

  Violet got off the bed, leaned over, and kissed Jane’s forehead. “Now you must be a good girl for Mary, she loves you as I much as I. I will see you very soon, I promise.�
�

  “Imma, come back soon?”

  “Yes, I promise. Now give me a kiss and say good night.”

  “Goo-night, Imma. Jane loves you.”

  “And I shall always love you.” Violet kissed the child again and ran from the room, uncontrollable tears coursing down her cheeks. Escaping into the room she had intended to sleep in, she closed the traveling case full of gowns from Lady Penny. She would write and ask Manning to send them on to her mother’s house. Violet found her reticule and the little money Mrs. Jeffers had pressed upon her before departing Fairhaven. She hoped it was enough for a hackney and prayed she would be able to find one in the storm. She had to get away from Haverlane, even if she had to walk.

  Violet stole down the back stairs. The kitchens were quiet. No one was about and Violet ran to the pegs that held the coats and outerwear that belonged to the servants. Her luck held as she slid someone’s coat over her shoulders. She would send it back on the morrow. Winding a scarf around her head and neck, she opened the back door.

  “Lady Violet?”

  She turned to find Manning, staring at her, his mouth agape.

  “Mr. Manning, please I beg you. I must leave at once. I’ve explained to Jane and given her our portrait. She will be fine with Mary. I would be obliged, however, if you could send my trunk round to my mother’s house when the weather clears.”

  “Lady Violet, I must protest. You cannot go out in the storm.”

  “Mr. Manning, please. I must. I have money for a hackney and if there are none about, I shall walk. I am determined.” Violet opened the door wider and felt the cold sting of the sleet on her face.

  Manning came forward and shut the door. He gazed at her and seemed to wrestle with himself. “Wait right here. I shall drive you myself.” He turned and bounded up the back staircase. Returning a few minutes later, he wore a thick greatcoat, hat, and gloves. He handed her another pair.