Beth took a seat next to Georgy. “How are you feeling after your illness, my dear?”
“Sometimes I get a little tired.”
“Yes, you appear much thinner than you did before you went to Scotland,” Beth said with sympathy. “You gave us quite a scare, my dear.”
An hour later, Earl and Countess Grey arrived, and the conversations were repeated.
That afternoon, Jack included his younger brothers Henry and Cosmo in the hunt. Even Alex was given permission to accompany the men, though for everyone’s safety he was allowed no weapon.
The ladies gathered in the Duchess of Bedford’s blue drawing room, where they indulged in Christmas confections, champagne, and gossip.
The prime minister’s wife, Mary, kept them enthralled with stories of King William’s illegitimate offspring. “Though Queen Adelaide accepts them without a qualm, the Duchess of Kent, Princess Victoria’s mother, does not. John Conroy has informed the king that his bastards should be banned from Court, to protect the morals of young Victoria. Can you imagine such bare-faced hypocrisy, when all London knows Conroy is the Duchess of Kent’s lover?”
“Because she has no children of her own, Adelaide enjoys young Victoria’s company,” Georgina remarked. “The queen will be devastated if she is deprived of her niece’s company.”
“William and Adelaide are the king and queen for God’s sake,” Lady Holland declared. “They should rule the Court as they bloody well please!”
“It’s because Princess Victoria is heir to the throne that the Duchess of Kent acts so high and mighty. She pretends her farts smell of roses,” Mary said vulgarly.
Beth laughed. “When the season begins you should throw a masquerade ball and invite the Duchess of Kent and the king’s by-blows. Think of the fun we’d have when the masks were removed at midnight!”
Louisa kept a watchful eye on Georgy. When she began to look fatigued, Lu set down her glass and made their excuses. “We’d better find Johnny and finish writing the play. We’re going to give Rachel a walk-on part.”
When they left the drawing room, Louisa urged her sister to go up and lie down until it was time for the Christmas Eve dinner.
At the evening meal the conversation naturally gravitated toward politics. It was Lord John’s opportunity to discuss the reform bill with the prime minister away from Parliament and get the input of both his father and Lord Holland, who fully supported it.
“Though I’ve tried often enough to introduce a bill to reduce election bribery, I’ve never been successful,” Johnny said ruefully.
“That’s because it would reveal too many skeletons in too many closets,” Holland remarked. “Present company excepted, of course.”
“I have a feeling the time is ripe to get the reform bill passed in the coming session,” Johnny declared.
“There will be no problem getting it through the Commons,” Earl Grey assured them. “It’s the damned Tories in the Lords who will be the stumbling block.”
The Duke of Bedford warned both his son and the prime minister, “You shouldn’t send it on to the House of Lords until you are absolutely sure it will get enough votes to get it passed. I will go to London in January and rally support for it. Henry will help me. It won’t be the first time we’ve used our influence to bring about much needed change.”
The Duchess of Bedford smiled at the prime minister. “Your son’s friend Charles Bennet is a Tory. I’m sure Lord Ossulston will give you his vote. I should have invited him for Christmas. When we visited you at Howick, he was quite enamored of Georgy. And of course you can count on our dear friend Abercorn’s support.”
Johnny threw a glance at Louisa. “I’m so sorry James Hamilton decided to go to Ireland for Christmas. I was looking forward to his company.”
The Duke of Bedford nodded. “As soon as he returns I’ll be in touch with him. I’ll invite him to sit with me in the Lords when they debate the reform bill.”
Louisa finished her dessert and sighed. O Lord, not long after Parliament is in session, the season will start and once again Georgy and I will be put on the marriage market. She closed her eyes and made a wish. I hope Georgy receives a proposal, and I hope that I escape the marriage trap!
For Louisa, the Yule festivities seemed to go by in a flash. Jack, as Lord of Misrule, made sure the days were packed with fun and games. Christmas morning was taken up by the exchange of presents and followed by the traditional presentation of gifts to all the people who served Woburn. Jack made sure that the servants enjoyed themselves every bit as much as the Russells and their titled friends. In the evening there was the customary feast, followed by Christmas carols.
On Boxing Day, the Russell siblings performed their annual play for their parents and friends. They used old scenery that Edwin Landseer had once painted, reproducing the Old Bailey. Lord John, with a thick German accent, acted as the judge, while his brothers and sisters were brought before him on various charges of breaking the law.
Louisa, wearing a policeman’s hat and a mustache and wielding a truncheon, brought in the culprits, while Georgy played ominous notes on the harpsichord.
Henry and Cosmo had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly, and were still inebriated when they arrived at Court. The judge could see nothing wrong with their behavior. “Zey look pervectly normal to me. Caze dizmizzed!”
The audience cheered the verdict.
Alexander, carrying a doctor’s bag and a stethoscope, was charged with practicing medicine without a medical degree. The judge held up his hand. “I have ze cold and ze cough. What do you prescribe, Doktor?”
Alex put the stethoscope on the judge’s chest and then, stroking his long beard, declared, “An enema every hour on the hour. A dripping bum is the only antidote for a dripping nose.” He opened his bag and pulled out a rubber syringe. “Bend over.”
“Guilty as charged!” roared the judge. “I zentence you to a doze of your own medizine.”
Louisa confiscated the syringe and hauled Alex behind bars. When the prisoner held his hands over his bottom, the audience was helpless with laughter.
Next, Louisa escorted Jack before the judge. He was wearing a farmer’s smock and a floppy bumpkin’s hat. Under his arm he carried a mounted stag’s head purloined from his father’s library. Louisa read the charge: “Hunting game out of season.”
The judge pointed to the evidence. “Wrong game! Zis zeason, only game allowed iz spin ze bottle!”
Jack grinned in agreement and produced a bottle of champagne, spun it, and immediately tried to kiss the policeman. Louisa hit him with her truncheon and hauled him behind bars. She tore off his smock to reveal a convict’s black and white stripes.
“Just az I zuspected . . . a repeat offender. Zeven years hard labor!” The judge picked up the champagne, offered the policeman his arm, and the pair exited the stage.
The minute they left, little Rachel appeared carrying a cake. She set it on the floor in front of the prison bars and pulled a huge key from the confection. She mimed turning the cardboard key in the cardboard lock, and the prisoners escaped.
When the audience cheered, Rachel walked to center stage and took a bow.
The young people called for the adults to perform, and the Duchess of Bedford went up on the stage to sing. She was soon joined by Lady Holland and Mary Grey, and the trio raised their voices in Handel’s Messiah. Not to be outdone, the men sang a rousing rendition of “Good King Wenceslas.”
Finally, at everyone’s urging, Lord John recited his favorite passage from Shakespeare’s Henry V: “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.”
He finished to deafening applause, and his audience demanded more. To everyone’s delight he moved on to the next act of the play and recited “This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.”
The prime minister declared, “My boy, if you present the reform bill as if you were delivering Shakespeare, we’ll have no trouble getting it passed.”
In February, the D
uke of Bedford received a letter from his son that filled him with elation. He called the family together to share the news.
“Johnny informs me that the reform bill has passed its second reading in the Commons!”
“Father, that’s wonderful,” Louisa declared. “I shall write him a letter to congratulate him on his accomplishment.”
“The bill will be sent to the Upper House next month and I fully intend to be there for the debate.”
“Darling, are you sure you’re up to sitting through the long hours of debate?” his wife asked. “You could simply attend when it’s time to vote.”
“I wouldn’t miss this debate for all the tea in China. I never felt better in my life.”
“Then we shall all go up to London.” She looked at her daughters. “Our wardrobes need refurbishing before the season starts.”
“I shall write to Abercorn and invite him to attend the debate with me.”
When her husband headed to his library, Georgina spoke to her daughters. “I don’t like him to go alone. Louisa, are you feeling recovered enough for a trip to London?”
Louisa glanced at her sister. She felt guilty and virtuous at the same time. She hated deceiving her mother, but protecting her sister was both worthy and admirable. “You must stop worrying about me, Mother. I feel quite well, thank you.”
“It is my responsibility to worry about you Louisa. In the past my duty toward you may have lapsed, but I have no intention of shirking it in the future.”
When their mother left the room, Louisa said, “I hope I gave the right answer. Are you feeling recovered enough for the trip to London?”
“Yes I am, Lu. I can’t wait for the season to start. This time it will be different. I’ll have a new wardrobe, and I won’t be as generous with my sexual favors. Lu, why do you think Teddy Fox treated me badly and refused to marry me, when I gave him everything he wanted?”
“Georgy, most men think themselves superior to women. If you have sex outside marriage, your value is diminished, while theirs is not. You must value yourself more.”
“You are right. From now on the price for my sexual favors will be marriage.”
That isn’t what I meant. But I suppose we all have our price. Mine was performing on the stage at Covent Garden.
The Duchess of Bedford found her husband at his desk. “John, darling, since you are writing to Abercorn, why don’t you invite him to Woburn? Then he can return to London with us. I warrant Louisa was most disappointed that he didn’t visit us at Christmas.”
“Good idea. An invitation may hint that we approve of the match.”
Trust me, darling. Most men need more than a hint.
James Hamilton had just returned to his townhouse on Half Moon Street. He and his brother had spent Christmas and January in Ireland. Claud was exploring the possibility of running for Member of Parliament for County Tyrone, and James had spent time with Rowan Mahoney, his Irish attorney, going over the income and investments from Barons Court. He brought him a letter of introduction from Angus Murray, his Scots attorney, so they could coordinate his business affairs in both countries.
Abercorn was interested in buying an estate in the Scottish Highlands. The idea had come to him on his short visit to the Doune and Kinrara, where the magnificent vistas were breathtaking, and he had seen how much Louisa Russell loved the beautiful mountains and lochs of the Cairngorm region.
“Here’s a letter for you bearing the Duke of Bedford’s crest.” Claud Hamilton handed the envelope to his brother and waggled his eyebrows.
James laughed at his brother’s gesture and opened the letter. “It’s from the duke. Lord John’s reform bill has passed its second reading in the Commons, and he thinks it will go to the Upper House next month. He invites me to attend the Lords with him for the debates.”
“A political invitation, when you were no doubt hoping for a personal one from Lady Louisa. It’s too bad you missed spending Christmas at Woburn to further your pursuit.”
James held up his hand. “There’s more. He tells me both Lord John and Lady Louisa were disappointed that I was unable to spend Christmas at Woburn. He also says that the duchess was most upset with me but is willing to forgive me if I pay them a visit before they come up to London.”
“Well, well. It seems the Duke and Duchess of Bedford think the sun shines out your arse, James.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. But I can’t deny that I get on very well with the Russell family. I have reason to hope they will look favorably on my suit to wed their daughter. I shall reply, accepting their invitation and let them know I’ll arrive a week from today.”
When the Duke of Bedford received Abercorn’s reply, he told his wife that James had accepted their invitation and would be arriving at Woburn on Monday. The duchess was glad that Jack would be away, taking Henry and Cosmo back to school. She kept the news to herself and didn’t even inform the steward until the day Hamilton was to arrive.
“Mr. Burke, when James gets here would you bring him into the blue drawing room? I’d like a visit with him before my husband gets a chance to monopolize him.”
“Very good, Your Grace.”
Georgina took Rachel’s hand. “Let’s go and find your sisters.”
She found them still in the breakfast room. Louisa was reading, while Georgy was on her third helping of French toast. “I’m so glad you have your appetite back, darling. When you are finished I want you both to go through your wardrobes and decide what you will take to London. Each of you make a list of the new clothes you’d like and bring it to the drawing room.”
Two hours later, the Russell ladies were having an animated discussion of how many ball gowns were necessary for the London season, when Mr. Burke escorted the Marquis of Abercorn into the blue drawing room.
“James, I am delighted you came.” The duchess rose and greeted him warmly. “It’s been far too long since you visited Woburn.”
“Your Grace.” He kissed her hand. “The pleasure is mine.” He saw that both Louisa and her sister were surprised to see him.
What on earth are you doing here? Louisa felt her pulse race and her cheeks grow warm. It’s obvious that Mother was expecting you, but she never said a word!
James spoke to Georgy first. “I am so glad to see that you have recovered your health, my lady.”
“Thank you, my lord,” she murmured politely.
He smiled at Louisa. “You look radiant, as always, my lady.” He could see that she hadn’t been told he was coming.
When Rachel recognized him and began to chatter, the duchess picked her up and handed her to Georgy. “Take her up to the nursery, darling. I’d like a private word with James.” When Louisa got to her feet, her mother said, “I’d like you to stay, my dear.”
Georgy carried Rachel from the drawing room and the duchess closed the door. “Do sit down.” Her smile was enigmatic.
He glanced at Louisa and their eyes met and held.
The Irish devil is so darkly handsome that my insides are melting.
The duchess sat down facing the marquis. “I was most upset when you didn’t come for the Yule holidays, James. The week before Christmas when you were off enjoying yourself in Ireland, Louisa lost your child in a miscarriage.”
The blood drained from Louisa’s face, utterly devastated at her mother’s words. She saw the look of stunned disbelief in Abercorn’s eyes. Then she saw it change to raw, black fury. “Mother! How could you?”
“Very easily, I assure you, darling. I love you deeply. Your well-being is my first priority. I realize you are far too reticent and shy to even broach the subject, but James has every right to know. I am certain he will wish to do his duty.”
Abercorn jumped to his feet and towered above them.
The duchess stood. “Her father is in complete ignorance, and that is the way it must remain. The news would kill him. It will be our secret. No one else must know.”
I thought Georgy’s nightmare was behind us. I thought th
e tragic secret would never be mentioned again. How utterly naive I was! As her mother left the room, Louisa’s heartbeat thundered in her ears at the thought of being alone with Abercorn. Clutching her hands before her, she stood up to face his terrible wrath.
Chapter Nineteen
The silence in the room was deafening.
Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true. James tried to control his anger but failed completely. Inwardly, he knew it was a good thing. His black fury obliterated the earth-shattering pain that had smote his heart and threatened to fell him.
“Who did this thing?” His hard features were set in stone.
Louisa pressed her lips together, closed her eyes, and shook her head in anguish.
“I will kill him.”
Her eyes flew open. His dark face told her that he would keep his promise.
The irony was not lost on Abercorn. Since I was nine years old I’ve had a consuming desire to make Louisa Russell my wife. Lady Lu has steadfastly refused every proposal. Now she will be forced to marry me . . . if I’ll have her.
Her breasts rose and fell from distress, her lips trembled, and she lowered her lashes to her cheeks.
James asked himself if he wanted to marry her. The answer came back a resounding yes! If this was the only way he could get her, then so be it.
She had been his exquisite ideal for so long he would not, could not, let her go. Her plight gave her an ethereal beauty, yet at the same time lent her an earthy quality. Her vulnerability cried out to him, so he put an iron clamp on his emotions. I’ll be damned if I’ll propose to you again, Lady Lu. You are prideful enough to throw it in my teeth.
Abercorn allowed the silence to stretch between them, waiting for her to look at him.
Finally the long hush compelled her to raise her lashes.
“I shall go and ask your father for your hand in marriage.” He bowed formally and left the drawing room.
Louisa ran to the door intending to throw it open and scream, “No! No! No! I will not marry you, Abercorn!” But when her hand touched the doorknob she stopped. If she obeyed her impulse she knew she would have to betray Georgy and she could not bring herself to do that. Her love and loyalty to her sister were inviolate. She could not go back on her sacred promise, no matter the tangled web that their deception would create. Georgy couldn’t face the scandal. She would try to kill herself again. God only knows what that would do to Mother. Father could have another stroke . . .