Page 40 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess
Julia’s mouth dropped open and for a moment, she didn’t speak. Then, a smile lit up her face. “Ah. It is what I had hoped for.”
Kate wrinkled her nose in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Julia gave her a conspiratorial smile. “Do you really think I would send you into the Lavender Room with Lord Radford? I sent the note to the Duke of Devonport making it look as if it was in error. I always doubted he was the source of the gossip about Nicholas.”
“How?” Kate frowned.
“The duke has never been one to gossip. At the time, I believed Harry’s lies about Nicholas, but I never believed they came from the duke.” Julia’s green eyes filled with tears once more, but she wiped them away. “It doesn’t matter. I have made terrible choices, and marriage to Harry is the penance for my sins.”
Kate clutched Julia’s hand. “You don’t have to marry him.” She straightened. “You could stay here with me. We can be two spinsters in the castle. We shall grow quite mad, and all the gossip will be about us wearing unfashionable gowns and riding horses at midnight. It will be marvelous.”
“You are a dear friend, Kate, and as much as I long to take you up on your offer, I have a duty to my family. No, I shall marry Harry tomorrow.” Julia stood abruptly before Kate had a chance to protest and said, “Pardon me, ladies. I just forgot that I wanted to add a bit of lace along the edge of my handkerchief that I will carry with my posy of flowers tomorrow. I shall just go and grab it.”
Julia could have sent one of the servants to fetch the handkerchief for her. Kate suspected she simply wanted to escape the curious looks from Lady Uxbridge and the darted glances from the DeClancy sisters. Kate longed to follow her friend and assure herself that she was fine, but Eliza Chambers, the lady Nicholas was courting, came and sat down next to her.
“Miss Avery, I had hoped to speak with you,” Eliza said.
“Miss Chambers, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I’m afraid we did not have the opportunity to be formally introduced.” Kate smiled. None of the things that had transpired were Eliza’s fault. It would be unhospitable to be unkind to her.
Eliza leaned forward, and her expression was eager. “Yes. I told Nicholas that he should properly introduce us, but he has been quite out of sorts since our arrival. As you know, he has been courting me for some time, and I believe an announcement will be forthcoming. I have always wanted a sister!”
Kate’s smile faltered.This is an even bigger disaster than I thought. Nicholas didn’t tell me that he had called upon Eliza Chambers.“I was unaware, Miss Chambers. I have been quitebusy with Julia’s wedding and have had little opportunity to speak with my brother. This is surprising news.”
Eliza’s cheeks grew pink and added to her charm. “I am being bold, but your brother is the most dashing and honorable man I’ve ever met. Mother is beside herself with happiness over our prospect of marriage.”
“And what of the rumors that have swirled about my brother’s name? Does this not give you cause for concern?”
“Not at all. Mother hates gossip. She was acquainted with your father and mother and said any son of the Viscount of Pembrooke is a man of honor. She dismissed the rumors about Nicholas immediately.” Eliza’s eyes sparkled.
At that moment, Kate felt trapped between two choices, and neither would be easy for her to accept. She could let Julia and Harry’s marriage move forward without protest, or she could tell Nicholas of Harry’s deceit and her brother would break Eliza’s heart in his pursuit of Julia. Would either choice be right?
Kate set her needlework aside and stood. “I apologize, Miss Chambers. I must speak with my servants. I still have a few more items to see to before the wedding tomorrow.”
Eliza’s smile faltered, but then she nodded. “Of course. Everything has been marvelous so far. Tomorrow’s wedding should be spectacular.”
As she hurried away, Kate hoped that she would be forgiven for her small lie. Julia’s revelation that she had meant to send the note to Andrew had startled her. Even more startling was the news that her brother had been calling on Miss Chambers so much that she expected an engagement soon. She slipped into her library and made sure it was empty before she collapsed onto her chaise, glad of a moment’s respite and chance to think.
Andrew hadn’t gone shooting with the rest of the gentlemen. Instead, he had secreted himself away in his bedchamber and taken a much-needed nap. If he were to stay awake until the wee hours of the morning with Kate, he wanted to be rested and prepared.
Earlier, he and Nicholas had spent a long time in conversation. When he had informed the viscount that it was his cousin Harry, not he, who had spread scandalous gossip, Andrew had to restrain Nicholas to keep him from finding Harry and thrashing him.
“The earl and I have been acquaintances for years. To have him betray our friendship is disturbing. To know that he wanted Julia for himself is something I never expected,” Nicholas said, pacing across the stable. He and Andrew had walked down to the stables in order to have privacy from the prying ears of other guests.
“Miss Roves is a beautiful woman filled with intelligence. I understand from your sister that you have known her sinceyou were children,” Andrew reached out and patted one of the horses.
Nicholas’s face brightened. “She and I played with Julia here at Renwood.” His expression darkened. “It was to be us married here at the castle. It had long been Julia’s wish. I never dreamt it would be to a man like the Earl of Winfield. Dash it all to hell, man! I’m going to lose the woman I love in less than twenty-four hours.”
Andrew rested his hand on Nicholas’s shoulder. “I think I can help.” He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. As he spoke, Nicholas’s dark expression faded and was replaced with determination.
Chapter Eighteen
“Grandmama, what should I do?” Kate wailed. She had found her grandmother sitting in her bedchamber’s small sitting room. She had told her of Eliza’s declaration that she and Nicholas would soon be betrothed.
Her grandmother watched her, a bemused look on her face. “You are making your complexion as red as a beet, Kate. Do sit down!”
“How can you be so calm? Nicholas and Julia are about to make a huge mistake. They will spend their lives unhappily married. Is that what you want for your only grandson? I am—” Kate’s voice grew strident.
“Enough of this caterwauling and nonsense!” The Dowager Viscountess said. She never raised her voice. Her tone was enough to stop Kate in mid-sentence. “If you will take a breath and use the sense the good Lord gave you, you will see that it is not up to you nor I to decide Nicholas’s and Julia’s fate.”
