Chapter Nineteen

"The Duke has been rather reserved these last two days, I must say."

Edith nodded, glancing sidelong at Lady Eaveswood. "You understand why, I am sure."

Lady Eaveswood nodded, though her smile was a little sad. "Yes, of course. Though I do think that it is a good thing to have the Marquess of Frankton and his wife with us. I cannot help but think that there must come something of a reconciliation between the two of them, given that they will not be able to escape one another's company!"

"Though, alas, the Duke is doing all he can to do precisely that," Edith sighed, quietly. "He has not only been reserved, he has been notable by his absence – and absent even from my company."

"I am sorry for that."

"There are only four days left of the house gathering," Edith continued, lifting her shoulders and then letting them drop low again. "I do not know whether he is contented with me, whether he wishes for me to take my place as his bride or if our engagement is to come to an end! He has not made any such things clear to me though I am now afraid that this… quietness of his means that we are no longer to be engaged. I feel as though he is pulling back from everyone, including myself, which is such a great pity as things were beginning to improve between us."

Lady Eaveswood stopped and, given that they had been walking together, it took Edith only a moment to turn around and look at her friend. "What is the matter?"

"You… it cannot be that you have an affection for him, can it?"

Heat rippled up into Edith's face. "I do not know," she said honestly, choosing to tell her friend the truth. "We have more in common than I realised. When he told me about the orphanage, when I learned about all he had done for it, my heart certainly did begin to soften towards him. We have shared more conversations of late than we have ever done and I have seen him smile more and more… though since the arrival of his brother, he no longer does so."

"Good gracious." Lady Eaveswood blinked and then, perhaps seeing Edith's red face, waved one hand vaguely. "Now, do not think that I am surprised at this as though it is a bad thing. Rather, it is more that it was unexpected, that is all!"

"It has been unexpected for me also," Edith laughed rather ruefully as her friend took her arm again so they could continue their promenade around the grounds. "To see that there is a generous, compassionate, caring gentleman there- is more than I ever expected to see in him."

"And he is still there," Lady Eaveswood said, softly. "Albeit a little hidden at the moment." She looked at Edith steadily. "Might you consider speaking with him? Telling him of what you feel and what you see?"

Edith shook her head, nervousness flooding her at the idea.

"But if you do not, then you will not know where you stand," Lady Eaveswood said softly. "And mayhap, in speaking with him, you will find that the gentleman will open up to you a little more. He has not had anyone to listen to him these last few years and I wonder if he is simply unused to it."

"He has had his mother."

Immediately, a frown crossed Lady Eaveswood's face. "I would be cautious around the Duchess, my dear. I do not say that lightly but only because we are friends and I care for you a great deal. I have watched the Duchess a great deal and, to my mind, she is always scheming, always making certain that what she wants is what takes place."

Edith opened her mouth to refuse this, only to close it again and then shake her head. Her friend was correct in that regard, she had to admit. Had not the Duchess shown that trait many a time, including when it came to Edith's violin performance?

"Speak to him," Lady Eaveswood said, quietly but with great determination in her voice. "I think it is the only thing you can do."

***

"Miss Tidemore?"

Edith turned, having just been about to step into the drawing room, only to see none other than Lady Frankton step out from the shadows. The lady had been somewhat absent these last two days, though Lord Frankton had told them all that she was a little unwell, though it was nothing to be concerned about. Edith herself had not known what her relationship ought to be with Lord and Lady Frankton and had not found a way to discuss it with the Duke and so, now found herself in something of an awkward position.

"Lady Frankton." Edith forced a smile, her breathing quickening. "Good evening."

"I know that there is an evening's entertainment planned and you are about to join the others but I did wonder if we could speak for a few minutes? It would mean a great deal to me."

Edith hesitated, not certain whether she ought to agree to do so or not. What would the Duke want? What would he think if he saw the two of them talking together?

" Please ," Lady Frankton said with a good deal more fervency this time. "I understand that you may be reluctant but I can assure you that there is a good reason for my request. It could affect the rest of your life with the Duke here."

Edith's eyebrows lifted in surprise, a little uncertain as to whether or not the lady spoke the truth but as she looked back into Lady Frankton's eyes, she found herself being convinced. There was a clear determination in the lady's expression and there was no hint of a smile at the corner of her lips nor even the smallest glimmer in her eyes that spoke of deceit.

"Very well," she said slowly, as the lady closed in her eyes for a moment in evident relief. "But you cannot ask me to stay for more than a few minutes. I must return here very soon."

"But of course. I thank you." Gesturing to the room to her left, Lady Frankton made her way towards it. "It will only be a few minutes, I assure you."

Edith followed after her into the small parlor, finding herself a little curious now as to what the lady was to say.

"Thank you, Miss Tidemore. Given that we are soon to be family, I thought it best to advise you on something which you must be cautious of." Lady Frankton knitted her fingers together, turning to look directly into Edith's face. "Believe me, I have wrestled with whether or not I ought to say anything to you but I have decided that yes, I should." She took in a deep breath and set her shoulders. "Miss Tidemore – Edith – you must not trust the Duchess."

The shock which wrapped around Edith's chest was so tight, she could barely breathe for some moments. Lady Frankton looked back at her without so much as flinching, her eyes searching Edith's, perhaps afraid that she would not be believed.

"The…the Duchess ?" Edith repeated, her voice a little hoarse now. "What can you mean by such a thing?"

Instantly, Lady Frankton's eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. "I do not know what you have heard about me and the situation that was to go before but I will tell you regardless." She sniffed but kept her gaze fixed. "The Duchess did not much like my courtship with the Duke of Fairglen."

Edith frowned. "Whyever not? You are the daughter of an Earl and from what I understand, the Duke cared for you."

The lady smiled. "And I for him," she said, softly, "though those feelings are long gone now, for I find myself quite madly in love with his brother." She offered another small smile, then shook her head. "But at the time of the wedding, the Duchess made it very clear to me that I was not to marry her son. She went as far as to offer me payment, should I end the engagement. She also suggested that she would be able to make certain I had an excellent match elsewhere, so that there would be no shame or other difficulty."

The astonishment of all that was being said was so great, Edith could barely take it in. She stared back at the lady, hearing nothing but truth in her voice. "But why? That does not make any sense to me."

"It did not make sense to me either," the lady replied, "until the Duchess explained that the only lady she deemed worthy for her son would be the daughter of either a Duke or a Marquess. As the daughter of an Earl, I was not deemed worthy enough."

"Goodness." Edith blinked furiously. "But I am only the daughter of a Viscount and she has not seemed to be particularly angry towards my match with her son."

Lady Frankton put out her hand and grasped Edith's tightly for a moment. "Which is why I have come to warn you," she said, fervently. "Do you not understand? I was entirely unaware of this until the moment that the Duchess took me aside – a sennight before the wedding – and told me that I was to break the engagement. She offered money first and thereafter, threats. I told her that I cared for her son very much and that I would not like to step away from him and that nothing she said would prevent the wedding. You can imagine my shock – my disgust, even – that this was what was said to me, but the Duchess did not seem to care. Instead, she simply offered more and more and more and I continually refused."

"But… but I thought you had been long encouraging a tryst between Lord Frankton and yourself," Edith interrupted, her face flushing suddenly as she realised just how bluntly she had spoken. "Forgive me, I did not mean – "

"That is what happened." Lady Frankton smiled sadly, no anger in her voice. "I was found with Lord Frankton but it was not as the Duchess described. He came to my aid. He came to help me."

"Help you?"

Lady Frankton nodded. "I was deceived. I was tricked into entering a parlour one evening, when I was in attendance at a ball. Instead of my injured friend waiting for me, as I had been told, there was, instead, a rogue waiting – Lord Venables. This gentleman, this scoundrel , shut the door the moment I came in and with strong hands, gripped my wrists and pulled me to him." She shuddered violently, the color draining out of her face, and Edith's heart tore a little. "I cried out, begged him to let me go, having no understanding as to what was taking place. It was only then that I saw someone else grab at him, practically throwing him from me. My vision was blurred with fear and fright, my heart pounding and sending such weakness through me, I had no other choice but to sink down. This gentleman demanded that the scoundrel take his leave and then came to make certain I was quite well."

Slowly, understanding began to fill Edith's mind. "That gentleman was Lord Frankton."

"Yes, it was." Lady Frankton's smile, this time, was one that spoke of an affection for the very gentleman she was speaking of. "But at the very time that he was making certain I was quite well, the Duchess herself came into the room. She was seemingly rather shocked and instantly, of course, the Marquess explained what had happened."

"But she did not believe you," Edith said softly, as Lady Frankton nodded. "She saw an opportunity which she could not help but take."

"More than that." Lady Frankton's voice had dropped to a whisper. "It was an opportunity that she herself had caused to come into being."

For a long moment, Edith did not understand what was being said. It was only when Lady Frankton closed her eyes tightly and let out a ragged breath that it finally made sense.

"You believe that the Duchess was the one who organised the whole thing? It was she who sent you to that parlour, albeit indirectly?"

Lady Frankton nodded, her chin wobbling a little at the clear emotion which wrapped over her. "The Marquess found Lord Venables some time thereafter and demanded to know the truth and from what he said, from what he told him, it became clear that the Duchess was the one who had arranged it all."

"And you think that now, she will try and do something similar to me?" Edith asked as Lady Frankton nodded. "I do not understand why she would do so when she has appeared so delighted with our connection thus far."

"As I have said," Lady Frankton reminded her, "you are in the very same position as I. The Duchess appeared to be quite contented with the marriage up until one particular moment."

"And thus far, I am not certain I even shall be Duchess," Edith murmured, half to herself, seeing the curiosity spark in Lady Frankton's eyes. "The Duke states that he must determine whether or not I will be able to do all the duties required of a Duchess, but the truth is, I think, that he seeks to know whether or not I can be trusted."

Lady Frankton let out a small sigh. "I am sorry for that."

"It is not your doing. Not directly."

The lady's eyebrows lifted. "Then you believe me?"

Edith found herself nodding before she had even had the chance to think about what it was she was going to say. "Yes, Lady Frankton," she said, quickly, "I think that I do. There have been some things that the Duchess of Fairglen has said and some that she has done which, now that I consider it, could be an attempt to break apart my connection with the Duke. Why, only before dinner, I was in conversation with the Duchess about final preparations for the ball. All that she said and the sharp looks and small, rather wry smiles she sent towards me were not encouraging."

Lady Frankton reached out and took Edith's hand again, though this time, Edith did not mind in the least. "I am so grateful to know that you believe me. It has filled my heart with a great deal of relief. Though the Duchess has attempted to ruin her son's happiness once, I am hopeful that she will not be able to do the same again."

Edith pressed the lady's hand back with a gentle squeeze. "Thank you for telling me. I am truly grateful."

"Thank you for listening to me." Lady Frankton let out a small, rather heavy sigh. "I am sure that the Duke of Fairglen would be most displeased with our conversation but – "

"He does not know the truth, does he?"

Hesitating for a moment, Lady Frankton shook her head. "No, he does not though my husband has attempted to write to him on more than one occasion to explain it all. He was not successful in that."

Something tugged at Edith's mind and she frowned. "But you said that you had both accepted an invitation from the Duchess to come here. Why would you do such a thing if you knew that she was, mayhap, manipulating it all? It is clear to me that she wrote on the Duke's behalf without either his agreement or his awareness."

"Because it was the only way we were going to be able to speak with the Duke of Fairglen face to face," came the reply. "It has been our only note from him in the last three years! There is a way for us to make this right, to help him see and understand what we are saying is true and in that he ought to be on his guard. Even though he clearly was not expecting us, even though he very obviously does not want us present, we must make use of this opportunity."

"I see." Edith nodded slowly, understanding everything that Lady Frankton was saying. "And you would like me to try and talk to the Duke about it all?" Seeing the lady nod, Edith hesitated, wincing as she did so. The Duke would, most likely, not take her word for it and mayhap that was a good thing. Mayhap that was what she herself ought to do, perhaps choosing not to simply accept everything that the lady had told her but leaving it to the Duke himself to decide. No doubt he would wish to speak to his brother about the matter and, mayhap his mother also. "I do not know what he will say. He and I have begun a closer connection, certainly, but in this matter, I do not know what his response will be. I do not think that he will want to speak to me about it for even with your husband's presence here – and I do not say this to injure you - has meant that he has withdrawn again. He has already become colder towards me than he was before."

Lady Frankton's shoulders dropped. "I am sorry about that."

"It is not your fault." Edith smiled briefly. "As I have said, it is not your doing and I do not say it to upset you only to state the truth." Letting out a slow breath, she shook her head. "I do not know what he will do but I will say this." Lifting her chin, she looked back steadily at Lady Frankton. "By this time tomorrow, I will have done my best to speak with him about it. I promise you that."