A Vixen for a Viscount: Book 2: Hyacinth - Clean Regency Romance (A Duke's Daughters - The Elbury Bouquet)

by Arietta Richmond

  “That is, if I may say so, a very wise and clever solution to the problem. For you are right – they are not at all forgiving.”

  “I came to terms with that. I could not, completely, change who I am – hence my reputation for shrewishness, yet I managed to remain ‘barely acceptable’. And things went on that way, until just a few weeks ago. Until that day when you first called upon me. That morning, I had been foolish – I had taken my journal, and my pencil - for carrying ink about is not wise - into the fenced park in the square, to sit in the sun and write. I was there when you arrived. When the footman came to summon me, I hastily pushed the journal out of sight – into my pockets, I thought.”

  “You thought? So that was not where it actually was?”

  “No. But I did not discover that until much later. I rushed back to the house, changed, and came to talk to you. It was only when I returned to my room, after you had departed, that I discovered that the journal was not in my pockets. I was horrified. I searched everywhere – in my room, in the house, on the way to the park, and in the park – but it was gone. I was frightened – what if someone found it? But at least it did not have my name written in it anywhere – there was only a very blotchy attempt at a watercolour of a hyacinth, which I had done as a small child. Then, in the park, near the bench where I had been sitting, I found my pencil – but not the journal. The only conclusion I could make, was that someone had found the journal, and taken it. I was very afraid that whoever had found it might, somehow, work out that I had written it, and might condemn me amongst society for it. But what happened was far worse than just that.”

  “Worse? Because your writings were published? But… do you know who found it, who has done this?”

  “I did not at first, but I do now.”

  “Then tell me, please – surely there is a way that we can stop them?”

  She gave a bitter laugh, and shook her head.

  “It is not so simple. I did not know that my words had been published, until you spoke to me of the ‘Gossip Gazette’. I had the worst feeling about it, so I obtained a copy. And yes, they were my words. At that point, I had no idea who had done this, but I was horrified all over again. What if someone worked it out, if they remembered that I had been present on all of those occasions?”

  “But why would they think it was you?”

  “For the same reason that you did. Because of my sharp tongue, and my reputation for that. They would think ‘who would say such things, this way’ and I would be a likely person to come to mind. So I spent many days simply terrified – I stopped speaking to people at social events, unless I absolutely had to. I resolved to never write my thoughts down again. Then, a few weeks ago, as we were all caught up in Lily’s wedding preparations, I discovered who it was who had done this – in the worst possible way.”

  “Who is it? And how did they reveal themselves? What do they stand to gain from doing this?”

  “What do they stand to gain? At a minimum, profit. But what they had hoped to gain was me, as both a wife, and a permanent source of gossip writing.”

  Kevin was silent, staring at her in shock – ‘as a wife’? Was that the ‘worst fate’ that she had referred to, when saying that marrying him would not be the worst fate?

  “Who?”

  It was almost a demand – he could hear the anger in his own voice.

  “Lord Puglinton. He has taken a house across the square from ours, for the Season. He must have walked in the park, and found it. And it seems that he is at least a major investor in that dreadful paper. Somehow, he worked out that it was me. He threatened me – gave me an ultimatum. I had a few weeks to choose – either marry him, and keep writing for him, or not marry him, but still keep writing for him, or refuse, and be revealed to society, and have my sisters’ reputations ruined.”

  “The cad!”

  “I would, perhaps, use worse words than that, if ladies were permitted to swear. He seemed to think that, of course I would marry him, for he believes that no fate could be worse than living life as a spinster. But I told him quite clearly that, whilst I would continue to write for him, because I saw no other way to protect my sisters, I would not marry him. I told him that last night. And he laughed, and said that he ‘would accept that for now, but that I had best do exactly as he wanted, or he might rethink his generosity, and require marriage as the price of his ongoing silence’. That was what sent me fleeing towards the ladies’ retiring room, once he had walked away from me. For I cannot but imagine that he will choose to do that, sooner rather than later, so that he can have my dowry, and my person, as well as my words. The very idea revolts me to my core. But I can see no way to escape this trap. The only idea that I have had, which might at least prevent him from forcing me to marry him, is the fact that such a thing would be impossible, if I were already married to someone else. But that would not stop him from forcing me to write for him.”

  Kevin sat, the sun warm on his face, the horses walking quietly along through the Park, the day perfect around them, and allowed her words to sink in. She was right – he could see no other immediate way to lessen the risk to her, nor could he see a way to remove the threat entirely – but he was resolved to find one. ‘If I was already married to someone else’ – suddenly, the very idea of Lady Hyacinth married to anyone else seemed utterly abhorrent. He had to save her – but could he…?

  “That is, truly, a terrible situation in which you find yourself. But there must be a way out. There must be!”

  “If there is, I do not know what it may be.”

  “Neither do I, right at this moment. But I will think upon it, and I will not rest until I discover a solution for you.”

  “I thank you for your care for me – although I do not think that there is a solution to find. I am trapped in this situation by my own foolish carelessness, and I must live with the consequences.”

  Kevin looked at her, filled with an intense desire to hold her close, to kiss her, to somehow, magically, make the difficult situation disappear. But he could not. They drove on, the day perfect around them, but neither of them in a state of mind to appreciate it. Something, however, niggled in Kevin’s mind, about the whole thing. There was something about the ‘Gossip Gazette’ some piece of information that he had heard, which now seemed important to him, but which he could not immediately recall. He would worry at that until he did recall it. But for now, all he could do was return her to her home, and hope that Puglinton did not become totally unreasonable, too soon. For he needed to go back to Chester Park the following day, as Charles and Maria’s wedding day loomed close.

  <<<< O >>>>

  Hyacinth did feel somewhat better for having spoken of it all, yet it was clear that Lord Kevin agreed with her analysis – there was, at least at present, nothing to be done, but for her to keep writing for Lord Puglinton. Lord Kevin had paused for a long time, immediately after she had admitted to her idea of marrying someone else to protect her from being forced to marry Lord Puglinton. Had he realised that, in her mind, and, if she was honest, her heart, she wished that person to be him?

  She was not sure if she wished that he had, or he had not. The days loomed ahead of her, depressingly threatening, but the fact that someone else now knew of her plight had made it, just a little, easier to bear.

  <<<< O >>>>

  As the carriage took him to Chester Park yet again, Kevin worried about leaving Lady Hyacinth – not that his presence could, in any way directly reduce her troubles, but still, it felt like abandoning her. Eventually, he slipped into a half-doze, lulled by the steady rocking of the carriage. Thoughts flitted through his mind, almost dream like.

  Then, as if finally choosing to answer the question he had been asking himself since the conversation in the Park, with Lady Hyacinth, a memory surfaced. He snapped awake. There had been that conversation with his father, some time ago, where they had mentioned the ‘Gossip Gazette’ – what had his father said?

  ‘There was some bad business
with that one, a year or so ago, if I remember aright. It used to be more of a respectable newssheet, but the man who owned most of it ran into trouble, with gambling, or some such, and the ‘Commentator’ changed hands. I assumed that it had been used to pay off a debt. But there were rumours – which suggested that the card games involved had been rigged in some way, that the man had been set up to lose. He lost everything, and left the country to escape his other debtors. Very bad business that. But no one ever proved anything, that I know of, and the new owner has made it much more of a scurrilous scandal sheet than anything else.’

  And if Lord Puglinton was now the primary owner of the ‘Society Commentator’ – commonly known as ‘The Gossip Gazette’, then that would make him the man who had won it, from the previous owner, in a potentially rigged game of cards. Given the man’s blackmail of Lady Hyacinth, Kevin had no difficulty believing him capable of intentionally ruining a man, so that he might get his hands on the man’s assets.

  And if that was true…

  Then, with a little digging by Kevin’s friends, many of whom had been, or were, spies for the Crown, then evidence to that effect might be uncovered.

  Kevin contemplated that for a while, as the countryside rolled past outside the window. The question was – if he could obtain such evidence, what would he do with it?

  The immediate, most logical thought, was to blackmail the blackmailer. The very idea made him feel dirty, yet… what better way to free Lady Hyacinth from the trap in which she found herself?

  For, if Puglinton had done such a thing once, it was quite likely that he had done it a number of times – and depending on the exact circumstances, he may well have been considerably beyond the law in doing so. If evidence of such was revealed, Puglinton might lose everything, not simply society’s approval. It was tempting, very tempting.

  Kevin held the idea carefully in mind. He would set things in motion through his friends, and also question his father further – perhaps his father already knew enough to allow them to know where to look for more evidence. And, there was one other thing which he could do…

  He could marry Lady Hyacinth, if she would have him.

  For having to leave her, now, when she was so distressed, and so alone, had made him realise just how much he wanted to be with her – made him realise that, somewhere in the last few months, he had come to love her.

  Even if nothing came of his investigation into Puglinton, marrying her would at least in part protect her.

  But… could he convince her that he wanted to marry her, because he loved her? For he was quite certain that she would immediately assume that he was ‘sacrificing himself’ and doing the noble thing to protect her. He would need a way to convince her that his personal wishes, and that need, coincided.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Charles and Maria’s wedding was done, and they had departed for the north. Now, two days later, Kevin sat with his father again – it was time to ask the questions about the ‘Gossip Gazette’ and Lord Puglinton. Watching Charles and Maria together had made Kevin even more certain that he wanted that sort of happiness with Lady Hyacinth – and that he wanted to be back in London, as soon as possible.

  “Do you remember, Father, what we spoke of, when I was here a month or so ago? About the bad business you knew of, that had gone on with the ‘Society Commentator’? I am interested to know more of it, for it seems that the whole mess has affected some friends of mine.”

  “Oh, that’s not a good thing. I hope they weren’t taken in by that card shark – didn’t lose anything major, did they?”

  “No, nothing too bad, fortunately. But you implied that everyone thought that cheating was involved? Who was it – you never did mention a name?”

  “Didn’t I? Well, I don’t like to malign a man when it was never proven, but still, it seemed entirely too neat not to be true. It was Puglinton. Spent a year or so playing cards hard after his wife died. Always seemed to win – and always from men who had property or business assets. He oh so kindly accepted those assets in payment of the debts. Not long after he got his hands on the paper, he just stopped playing.”

  “How many of the ton know about this? It seems the sort of thing that would get around.”

  “Not many. He was mostly careful, but a few of us knew – friend of mine understands how to cheat at cards, even if he doesn’t – and he watched Puglinton a few times, and told me never to play with the man, for he was sure that he cheated.”

  “I see. Are you willing to put me in contact with that friend?”

  “Certainly. I’ll write down the name and direction for you, before you go back to London.”

  “Thank you. Now, on a completely different topic – now that Charles and Maria are wed, and off on their wedding trip, will you do as you promised and see a physician? You look paler and more worn every time that I see you.”

  His father looked away, fidgeting with his brandy glass, then looked back with a sigh.

  “Yes, alright. It is time, although I warn you, there will be nothing he can do.”

  “I will wait to hear his opinion, before I believe that.”

  “Well and good, I’ll send a letter, asking him to come.”

  <<<< O >>>>

  The June sun was hot, and London’s streets were beginning to have a very distinct aroma, at least in the poorer districts. Yet the sun felt good on Kevin’s face as he drove his curricle towards Elbury House. He had spent the day before yesterday visiting his sister, Nerissa, the Duchess of Melton, and speaking quietly with her husband about the information he sought, on Lord Puglinton’s less than savoury past with gambling. Hunter had been a spy for the Crown during the war, and still had all of the required contacts. For all that Kevin knew, he might still be on call by the Crown. Kevin did not ask – he simply accepted Hunter’s word that investigation would happen, and quickly.

  He had, yet again, been left almost jealous by observing others’ happiness. Nerissa was expecting, and had been stubbornly still attending society events, seeing no reason to hide away from the world. She hoped, she said, to start a new fashion for enceinte women still socialising. He had to admire her courage.

  This morning, a messenger had come to Chester House, with a note from Hunter. All it said was ‘there is evidence, and a witness’. It was all that Kevin needed to put his plan into action. He had not gone to Lady Hyacinth since returning to London, no matter how much he had wanted to - for he had wanted to have something to give her hope, before speaking to her. Now, he was more than eager to see her.

  When he drew up before Elbury House, the usual footman came down to take his horses heads.

  “Will you be long, my Lord? Should I take them around to the mews?”

  Kevin smiled at the man.

  “No, thank you – I hope to be taking Lady Hyacinth for a drive shortly. If that is not possible, I will send someone out to let you know.”

  “Very good, my Lord.”

  Kevin almost bounced up the steps, so eager was he to see her, and Marks, the butler, could not repress his smile at the enthusiasm as he opened the door.

  “Good day, Lord Kevin. The young ladies are in the green parlour – shall I show you through?”

  “Yes, thank you, Marks. I trust that Lady Hyacinth is with her sisters?”

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  The butler closed the door after him, and led him through the house, then announced him at the parlour door. The conversation in the room stopped, and six sets of eyes focussed on him. Suddenly, he felt a little overwhelmed – what did her sisters think of him? Would they approve, if – no, when – he asked her to marry him? Lady Hyacinth came forward, and suddenly, he no longer cared what the others thought.

  She was beautiful, as always, but her face showed the strain – she looked tired, and almost nervous – an expression that he had never seen on her face before.

  “Lord Kevin! It is good to see you. I had wondered if you had abandoned London for the summer, already.”


  “Most definitely not. I was, however called away on family matters. Might I persuade you to allow me to take you for a drive, now that I am back?”

  Her eyes lit up with pleasure at his words, and it transformed her face for a moment – this was the Lady Hyacinth that he knew!

  “I would be delighted. Just let me fetch a bonnet.”

  He bowed, and she sped past him, and up the stairs. He turned back to the room, to find the others studying him curiously. Camellia came forward, and spoke very quietly.

  “She has not been happy, these last few weeks. Yet she smiled for you just now. I hope that you can make her keep smiling.”

  Kevin met Camellia’s eyes, and nodded.

  “So do I, very much.”

  “Good.”

  Camellia went back to her sisters, and they all went back to their previous conversation, leaving Kevin standing there, feeling a little lost. He stepped back out into the hallway to wait for Lady Hyacinth. He did not have to wait for long – she was soon standing before him, a very fetching bonnet tied over her hair. He offered her his arm, and led her out to the curricle.

  Once again, they were silent until they reached the Park, where he could slow to a very sedate walk, and give her his attention. Suddenly, he was not entirely sure where to start – he had so much to say, and so much to ask of her – a thread of fear knotted his stomach – what if she did not, in the end, care enough for him to consider his proposal? He pushed it aside – this was no time for cowardice. He reminded himself, mentally, of everything that he needed to say, then took a deep breath and began.

  “Lady Hyacinth, I must first apologise for having been away so long, leaving you with no idea of where I was, or what I was doing. I have much to tell you, and much to explain. Last time we spoke, you gifted me your trust, and told me of your terrible predicament. I hope that nothing has worsened in that matter, while I have been away?”