But now, on the way back to Summers Glade, Ophelia couldn’t help thinking she might have made matters worse with Sabrina, and that’s why she was annoyed with herself when she shouldn’t be. She was not going to feel guilty about lying to Sabrina. The chit had deserved it, for trying to steal Duncan from her. But she did want Sabrina to be her friend again, so she probably should have tried to find out why the timing of her confrontation with Duncan had seemed so important to her, instead of lying about it.
When she returned to the mansion, she found a summons from Lord Neville. She didn’t know how long he had been waiting on her, since she hadn’t been there to receive the summons, but she went straightaway now to his sitting room, where she was directed.
She had been expecting a talk with him much sooner than this, but he, too, had been ignoring her since the announcement. Yet an apology was in order. After all, she was the innocent party in this, and would have been seriously wronged if she didn’t want to marry Duncan, but was now forced to because he’d compromised her. Fortunately, she did want to marry him, but that didn’t need to be mentioned until after she had the apology owed her.
She was quite mistaken, however, in the reason for this meeting. She no sooner sat down in the chair across from Lord Neville’s desk than he stated in a hard tone, “Aside from the fact that your parents have been informed of what occurred and will be arriving shortly, we have a few matters that I feel need immediate discussion.”
“Certainly,” Ophelia replied with some misgiving, since his tone implied she probably wasn’t going to like this discussion as she’d thought.
“I have been informed, by a number of different sources, that you have a bad habit of starting gossip and rumors.”
She took immediate offense. He was going to give her a scolding when they weren’t even related yet?
“Everyone gossips, Lord Neville,” Ophelia pointed out stiffly.
“Not everyone, but those who do don’t usually do so with malicious intent. I am merely letting you know, Lady Ophelia, that this sort of behavior won’t be tolerated. Once you marry into this family, you will conduct yourself in a manner that is above reproach.”
She was shocked and insulted now. Malicious? Her? The very idea. She might find it necessary to put people in their place occasionally, she might have to exact revenge occasionally, too, but maliciously? Hardly.
But he was no doubt referring to her campaign to make Duncan a laughingstock so that she could get out of an engagement she hadn’t wanted at the time. That incident, he would take personally. But she hadn’t been malicious about it, and it hadn’t actually hurt Duncan in the least. It had merely been a means to an end.
“If you find my behavior objectionable, sir, simply say so, but don’t accuse me of something that—”
“My dear girl,” he interrupted calmly. “If you have been listening, you would have heard that I do find your behavior objectionable. The very fact that I have had numerous people point out to me your habits speaks for itself. You are being gossiped about, and that is unacceptable. Sit down!” he barked when she stood up indignantly.
Ophelia dropped back into her chair. Her cheeks were now burning. If he weren’t such a high personage, she would have marched out of there immediately. It was only that that kept her there. It certainly wasn’t that he frightened her with his harsh tones and quelling looks.
“Do not misunderstand,” he continued in that calm, if implacable, tone. “This conversation would have taken place previously if Duncan hadn’t refused to marry you after first meeting you. You need to understand that marrying into this family entails a great responsibility on your part that you may not have been trained for or were expecting.”
“I am the daughter of an earl,” she replied haughtily. “I assure you my education was not lacking.”
The look he gave her was entirely too skeptical to soothe her ruffled feathers, and in fact he continued in the same vein. “Your parents have lived in London for most of your life, so the education you received may not have been the one that will serve you here. This is a working estate. As the future marquise, you will have specific duties that will take up a great deal of your time and bring you into contact with a wide assortment of individuals from chimney sweeps to vicars to the queen herself. But no matter who you will have to deal with, you will conduct yourself as befitting the Marquise of Birmingdale.”
“What sort of work?” she asked, frowning.
“The normal duties associated with an estate this size. I assume you have at least been trained in the running of a large household? My secretary will instruct you in the actual estate duties, which will be in addition to your household duties. Suffice it to say, you will have very little time for leisure, entertaining—or gossip.”
“No entertaining?” she asked incredulously.
He couldn’t be serious. She associated a peer of his stature with lavish entertainments on a regular basis. The ladies of his rank in London were the premier hostesses of the city, their invitations highly sought after. Of course she had envisioned taking her place among them, and being the queen of the lot.
But he was serious, or certainly sounded so as he explained further, “We are not in the habit of entertaining here, far from it. This current gathering was a rare exception for a specific purpose. It won’t be repeated. Nor do we keep a house in London, which would be a frivolous expense, when we never go to London.”
“I have family in London,” she reminded him. “Of course I will vis—”
“Your family can visit here,” he cut in. “I was quite serious when I said you wouldn’t find time to travel or entertain. Nor will Duncan, not that he would want to. You will need to readjust your thinking in that regard. Consider yourself country now.”
She knew what he meant by that, unfortunately. The gentry who lived on their country estates, rather than just visiting them from time to time, rarely left them. They shunned London. They didn’t participate in the gay London Season. They more or less gave up any claim to sophistication and became country. They gained new interests; weather, crops, market prices. The London ton, at least those of her circle, scorned such nobles and likened them to the working class.
Ophelia pinched herself, hoping she was just having a nightmare. She wasn’t. And this was not what she had taken for granted when she had decided that Duncan would do for her after all. His future title and good looks were not worth the horror that Lord Neville had just described.
But she realized, with growing despair, that she was now stuck with Duncan whether she liked it or not, and simply because she had made an enemy of Mavis. If Mavis were still her friend, she would agree to never say anything about that scene she had walked in on. Of course she would agree, particularly after she was assured that nothing had really happened.
Ophelia wasn’t really compromised beyond repair. It wasn’t as if she and Duncan had actually made love. But Mavis would never agree to silence. Why would she, when she despised Ophelia? And the only thing keeping her quiet now was the engagement and forthcoming wedding.
To end that, a second time, was out of the question, since it would give Mavis free rein to spread her sordid gossip.
“You don’t look very well,” Neville said, breaking into her chaotic thoughts.
“I don’t believe I am,” Ophelia replied miserably. “If you will excuse me?”
She didn’t wait for his permission. In fact, she nearly ran out of the room.
Chapter Thirty-six
The door slammed shut on Ophelia’s exit from Neville’s sitting room, making him wince at the unexpected sound. But then he leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful look, wondering if he hadn’t overdone it a bit with the girl.
“Having second thoughts, are ye?” Archibald asked when he poked his head around the large reading chair by the window where he had sat unnoticed, at least by Ophelia.
“Second, third, and fourth is more like it,” Neville said in a tired tone.
“Och, dinna fash yerself,
mon. If yer thinking she’s the innocent in all this, yer dead wrong. She did something tae enrage the lad, or he wouldna hae taken his anger tae her, throwing caution tae the winds.”
“Did he ever tell you what that was, or at least what started it all?”
Archibald sighed as he changed chairs, putting himself on the other side of Neville’s desk. “He willna speak o‘ that night, no’ e’en tae me. Believe me, I’ve asked, but he just gets angry again each time it’s mentioned. He blames himself, and his temper, for the whole mess. And it’s breaking m’heart tae see him sae miserable.”
“You think I like this any better?” Neville asked. “You were the one who claimed it didn’t matter what the girl was made of, as long as she was beautiful. You see now that it does matter?”
“Ye dinna need tae belabor the point,” Archie grouched. “Why d’ye think I suggested ye hae that talk wi‘ her? She was looking tae bluidy pleased wi’ the results o‘ this fiasco. Now she isna, and if anyone can figure a way oout o’ this, it’ll be a schemer like her. And ye did nae more’n tell her the truth, or did ye embellish a wee bit?”
“Embellish, no. Overstressed a bit, indeed. Of course, I already knew she would never fit in here. Knew that after first meeting her, which is why I was so glad Duncan was able to see past her pretty face.” Neville sighed at that point. “I just don’t think that what was said here today is going to make any difference. There simply is no way to get out of this. The girl can’t break the engagement even if she does now wish she could. Her reputation will be shredded beyond repair if that little incident in her bedroom ever gets out. She knows that as well as we do.”
“But ye’ve heard nothing yet aboot it. The lass who walked in and saw them together in the bedroom, wherever she went, hasna spread any gossip aboot it. Did ye consider she just may no‘ be the type tae spread gossip? Even though she might hate Ophelia and relish her downfall as the lass claimed was the case, her scruples may prevent her from getting revenge in such a despicable way.”
“That isn’t something that can be left to chance, Archibald, and well you know it. Whether Mavis Newbolt would have started the scandal or not is redundant. We had to assume the worst and take the steps to prevent it, which we did. We’ve heard nothing because it’s passe gossip now, due to the announced engagement. What would have been shocking, now might only raise a brow or two. The engagement completely took the scandal out of the equation.”
“And ye’ve still had nae luck finding this lass?” Archie asked.
Neville ran a hand through his white hair in frustration. “Completely disappeared, and now her parents as well.”
Archibald frowned, hearing that, and speculated, “Are they merely afeared o‘ ye?”
Neville snorted. “I wish that were the case, but no. Lord Newbolt is the type of man who doesn’t like to be questioned—about anything, and most particularly when he doesn’t have the answers. I’ve been informed that he was quite livid when my man showed up at his door for the fourth time, refused to speak to him again, and soon after, took him and his wife out of London so they wouldn’t be bothered further. If they did know where their daughter went when she left here, they aren’t about to say so. My guess is that she hasn’t let them know where she is, and that is one reason Lord Newbolt blew up about it.”
“Och, why in the bluidy hell does this hae tae be sae difficult? How hard can it be tae track down one wee lass? Are yer hirelings utter incompetents?”
Neville ignored the last question, remarking, “It could simply be coincidence that we haven’t found her yet. But I’m beginning to think otherwise, that she’s gone into hiding instead. If she has, then we had better start turning our discussions into how to keep our future great-grandchildren away from the influence of their mother.”
Archibald waved that aside. “Ye’U simply send them tae me sooner than ye planned tae. She’ll no‘ be wanting tae come tae the Highlands, believe me.”
“That is not an option,” Neville growled,
“Sae we’re back to bickering amongst ourselves, are we?” Archibald shot back.
“Not at all,” Neville replied stiffly. “I’m merely pointing out that Duncan’s children will be English, will learn a love for this country, will sound like Englishmen before you get your hands on them.”
“Dinna insult me more’n ye hae tae, mon, or I may be thinking ye dinna like me anymore,” Archie remarked with a chuckle.
Neville scowled at him. “I’m glad you got the point, though how you can find anything amusing about this situation baffles me.”
“The situation is no‘ the least bit amusing, but ye are when ye take on yer English airs. Now, dinna get all up in arms again, mon. We are on the same side in no’ wanting the Reid lass in the family. Sae why do we no‘ just delay the bluidy wedding until the other lass can be found?”
Neville was back to sighing. “Because the same outcome applies. If the girl is sitting on the scandal because it will do her little good to spread it just now, with the wedding pending, then what do you think she will do with the information she has if she suspects the engagement is just a farce? She might start spreading the tale then, and that will guarantee an immediate wedding.”
“D’ye ken who it is we’re trying tae protect here, tae the detriment o‘ yer family and mine?”
“If you are suggesting that we let Ophelia Reid take her own chances, and throw her to the wolves, so to speak, I have considered that, since she does hardly deserve our efforts to protect her after what she did—at least in my own opinion. I even alluded to it with Duncan, though indirectly. Now, tell me, what do you suppose his reaction was, when he considers himself responsible?”
It was Archie’s turn to sigh. “He’s a good lad, Duncan is. E’en hating her, he’d nae see her harmed through a fault o‘ his. Sae that still leaves us searching for the Newbolt lass,, or hoping Lady Ophelia herself can think o’ something tae get oout o‘ marrying Duncan, now ye’ve given her good incentive tae work on it.”
“You may think she’s devious enough to come up with something, but I’m not counting on it, and will double efforts to find Mavis instead. Believe me, if I can find her, I will do whatever is necessary to gain her silence—pay her off, threaten her, plead with her, whatever it takes. But I have to find her first, and our time is running out.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
With his wedding fast approaching, Duncan was finding it almost impossible to talk to anyone at Summers Glade without snapping at them, so he made an effort to avoid the remaining guests as much as possible. Fortunately, he was no longer the “main attraction” and thus didn’t need to be in constant attendance anymore. This let him escape, which was how he saw it, for long periods each day, without causing too much comment about it when he returned.
His grandfathers, the both of them, pretty much left him alone now. They had what they wanted—a bride, though neither seemed all that happy with the one he’d ended up with. Perhaps they found it as galling as he did, that she was the very last woman he would have chosen—if he had had a choice.
He had never felt so trapped, and despondent, in his life. Not even finding out that he had to come to England to live with a grandfather he didn’t know, or care to know, had affected him this adversely. That had enraged him. This having to marry a woman he didn’t even like, and knew he never would, was eating him up inside with hopelessness.
He needed cheering. He needed Sabrina. But he was beginning to think he’d never see her again, and that was adding greatly to his misery.
He was afraid he’d lost her friendship, that she was deliberately avoiding him because she despised him now. And he couldn’t even blame her. He’d taken advantage of her when she was greatly upset and most likely not thinking clearly. In reflection, she could hate him now for that. Worse, he’d gone from making love to her to getting engaged to another woman. He couldn’t imagine what she thought about that, but it couldn’t be to his good. Yet he’d been unable to explain—b
ecause she wouldn’t see him.
He’d gone to her house, he’d left notes. He’d been told she was indisposed, which could mean any number of things, including simply “go away.” And though she was reputed to enjoy walking so much mat she took long walks every day, sometimes twice a day, he hadn’t found her once out in the countryside. And he’d certainly tried to come across her. He traversed the road to Oxbow more than once each day, passing by Cottage by the Bow. He sat for hours on the hill where he first met her, hoping she’d take that path again. But not once did he see her, even from a distance.
And then there she was, walking down the road far ahead of him, the winter wind whipping at her hair, bundled up in her thick coat, which hid her nicely rounded curves. He set his horse into a gallop to reach her. He kicked up dust when he did. He wanted to draw her into his arms and never let go of her, yet he found himself shouting down at her instead, all his frustration and worry and dread pouring out at her.
“You’re oout in this cold when you’ve been sick? Or have you no‘ really been sick? Why the devil would you no’ see me when I came tae call on you?”
She gave him a strange look. She opened her mouth to reply, closed it, opened it again, closed it yet again, tightly this time, and walked on. Walked on?
He stared after her incredulously. But it gave him a moment to realize just how accusing he had sounded, and that anyone, even someone as carefree and effervescent as Sabrina was, or usually was, might take offense at it.
He sighed and cantered after her. “Wait up, lass.” She didn’t. “At least talk tae me.”
She stopped, said simply, “We shouldn’t be seen talking together, Duncan.”
“Why?”
“You’re engaged now. You have no business calling on other women—or detaining them on the road. If witnessed, it might give the wrong impression and get back to Ophelia, and we wouldn’t want that, would we?”
She walked away again, which infuriated him enough that he overlooked the bitterness he’d just heard in her tone. “Bedamned what she thinks,” he growled. “I’ll call on my friends if I choose tae, or are we nae longer friends?”