Chapter 14

Chapter 14

"Miss Tabitha Howe, Your Ladyship," the butler announced, as Tabitha stepped into the drawing room, greeted by Johanna who had sprung to her feet at the announcement.

"Oh, Tabitha, I'm so pleased to see you!" Johanna exclaimed, throwing her arms around her friend and kissing her on the cheek.

"I'm so pleased to see you, too. I thought I'd wait a day or so. Is everything all right? Between you and Edmund, I mean? There's talk of an annulment. But none of it is true, is it? It's all Lavinia's doing—her and that awful mother of hers," Tabitha said.

Johanna led Tabitha to sit with her by the window, and now she explained what had happened after she and Edmund had fled the scene.

"He doesn't believe a word of it—he knows it was a setup. What's more, Lavinia hasn't got what she wants. She thought he'd fall into her arms as the great comforter. But he didn't. He believed me, and that's all that matters. But who's talking about an annulment? What's happened?" Johanna asked.

She had shut herself away for the past two days, not going out, and having no one call on her. She knew nothing of what was being said or of what lies Lavinia and her mother were spreading.

"I'm afraid it's the talk of the ton. I was at a luncheon party yesterday—Lord and Lady Coatbridge. Everyone was talking about it. They say the newly married Countess of Beaumont was caught in the gardens of the home of the member of Parliament for North Hampshire in a position of compromise—caught red-handed," Tabitha said, shaking her head sadly.

It was shocking—though hardly surprising. Had Lavinia and her mother not used the apparent facts against Johanna and Edmund it would have been a miracle. But as for the advantage they would gain…

"And they think an annulment is going to come from it, do they? And what's going to happen then? Is Edmund suddenly going to realize his love for Lavinia and fall into her arms?" Johanna asked.

Tabitha looked at her sympathetically.

"It's a terrible situation, Johanna. I feel so sorry for you both. Getting married was supposed to prevent a scandal, not cause one. You must feel...trapped. Perhaps an annulment would be best," she said, but Johanna shook her head.

Since explaining to Tabitha the reasons behind her marriage to Edmund, Johanna's feelings toward him had changed—a great deal had changed. This was no longer a marriage of practicality or convenience. Johanna felt something for Edmund, just as she now knew he felt something for her, too. She was falling in love with him—the pain she had felt at the thought of losing him was proof enough of that.

"No, it wouldn't be. I don't want to lose him. I love him, Tabitha, and he loves me, too. He's saved me twice from ruin now and tarnished himself in the process. But I couldn't imagine my life without him, not now," Johanna said, taking hold of Tabitha's hand as tears welled up in her eyes.

The thought of losing Edmund was unbearable, but in that thought was also the realization of all she had gained through him. There was no longer any convenience in their marriage—not in Johanna's mind, at least. Together, they would present a united front, and whether ruined or vindicated, they would still have one another.

"Oh, Johanna...how pleased I am to hear you say that. I did wonder if there was more. You certainly made a delightful pairing at the masquerade, until...well, you and Edmund deserve your happiness, and no one has the right to take it away from you," Tabitha replied.

Johanna sighed. She was grateful to her friend for her words, but it seemed the ton would not allow the matter to rest so easily—not if Lavinia and her mother had anything to do with it, at least.

"But I fear they're going to try," Johanna said.

Tabitha paused, furrowing her brow as though thinking hard.

"You have to be seen together. That's the way to counter the rumors about the annulment. I know it would be so much easier to shut yourselves away and have nothing to do with anyone. But if you can show yourselves together as the happily married couple you are...Well, it'll prove to everyone that Lavinia and her mother are wrong. They might still believe you were caught in a compromise, but they won't believe you and Edmund are finished," she said.

Johanna thought about this for a moment. Tabitha was right. If she and Edmund became recluses, the rumors would continue to circulate, and if she disappeared from society entirely, the rumors about her being with child would only grow stronger. But to be seen together in public—as difficult as it would be to endure the harsh stares and whispered comments—would prove to everyone they were happily married and would not be going their separate ways.

"It's a good idea...but where would we be seen at? I doubt we'd be welcome at any of the balls or dinners in the next few weeks, and my mother-in-law has decided to cancel the Beaumont Dinner. She thinks no one's going to come to it," Johanna replied.

Tabitha nodded.

"Yes, I see the problem...oh, but it's simple. You don't have to be invited anywhere. You could promenade in the park. We could have a picnic—you, me, Edmund, the dowager, perhaps even your brother…" Tabitha said.

Johanna had heard nothing from Roger since the night of the masquerade. She did not know if he had remained long enough to be privy to the events that had unfolded, though she felt certain he would know about them now.

"I haven't heard anything from Roger. Have you?" Johanna asked.

"He sent me a bouquet—roses. They were beautiful," Tabitha said, and Johanna smiled, glad to know her brother had done the right thing in turning his attentions away from Lavinia.

"I'm glad to hear it. I was hoping...well, you deserve to be happy, Tabitha. And I hope my brother realizes that," Johanna said.

Tabitha squeezed her hand.

"And you deserve the same, too, Johanna. We'll both find the happiness we deserve. I'm sure of it," she said.

At that moment, the door out into the garden opened, and Edmund appeared. He smiled at the sight of Johanna sitting with Tabitha and crossed the garden to where they were sitting beneath the shade of an apple tree.

"Ah, I was wondering where you were," he said, greeting Tabitha as she rose to her feet.

"I should be going now—I have errands to run. But you won't forget what I said, will you, Johanna?" she said, and Johanna shook her head.

"No, I won't—I think it's an excellent idea. I'll send you a note to make the arrangements," she said, and kissing her friend on the cheek, they parted ways.

"She didn't have to leave on my account—I hope she doesn't think badly of me for some reason," Edmund said, but Johanna shook her head, and now she explained to him what Tabitha had told her, and what the solution to their problem might be.

The earl listened, nodding in agreement as Johanna suggested how they might begin to restore their beleaguered reputation.

"If we're seen together, it'll prove to everyone we're not intending to separate, and perhaps even show there's no truth in the rumors Lavinia and her mother are spreading. We won't be invited to any social events, but plenty of people go out to promenade in the park, don't they? If we're seen having a picnic with your mother and my brother—Tabitha, too—word will soon get out," Johanna said.

She hoped he agreed with her—that the two of them could present a united front in this unfortunate trail of events, and put a stop to any rumors before they got out of control. Edmund's mother was right—this was a storm to be weathered, but a glimmer of light had now appeared on the horizon. Edmund nodded.

"Yes, I think it's a good idea, Johanna. And thank goodness for Tabitha, too," he said.

"She's been a dear friend to me. Even though we've not seen one another for so long. But it's not her we need to convince. It's the rest of the ton. Now, let's think about the arrangements," Johanna said, knowing this would be their one chance to prove Lavinia and her mother wrong.