Chapter 34

A Double Debut

Willmington Manor, London

Six Day Later

“Lady Hannah Bolton, the daughter of the Earl of Ramsbury, and Her Grace, the Duchess of Walford!”

Beatrice walked in with her sister, and her stomach churned. She was excited to see her husband again, but she was nervous about the very same thing. She was worried she might throw up when she came face to face with him.

She tried her best to concentrate on Hannah—it was her formal debut, after all—but all she could think about was Edwin.

Why do I have to be so stubborn?

She could have spoken to him when he visited her at Harriet’s house, but she had been too emotional. She was too emotional, and he was not emotional enough. If he had only confessed his love to her in the first place, they would not have been in this mess.

Beatrice had not married him for love, but she could not be with him now except for love. If he could not admit his love or did not love her, then there was no future for them, and he would be far better off with Agnes.

“Oh! There is Lady Elizabeth!” Hannah gushed.

“Keep your composure,” Beatrice reminded, for her benefit as well as her sister’s. “There will be many men watching you, and you must remain composed and elegant.”

“Yes, I will,” Hannah said.

Beatrice had never seen her sister more nervous, but she had been in the same position and could recall how nerve-racking it had been.

“Let’s visit with them,” Beatrice murmured.

Hannah had no idea about Beatrice’s problems with the Duke, and she did not know that her older sister had barely spent one night at his residence in the past two weeks.

Elizabeth looked equally excited as Hannah, and the two women met in the middle of the hall and embraced each other gently. Elizabeth showed some restraint too, just as Beatrice had taught her.

“Your Grace,” Elizabeth said to Beatrice, making sure to use her title in the formal setting. “I hope your visit with your sister is going well, and I wish for you to return soon so I can spend more time with you.”

“Thank you, Lady Elizabeth,” Beatrice replied.

“Yes, you must return soon,” Edwin added.

Beatrice felt tears well up in her eyes. She could not look at him for fear she would burst into sobs. It had been hard enough to be without him, but this made it harder. She was not sure what to expect. That he would run up to her and declare his love immediately? She knew that would not happen in public, but she still wished for it.

“Are you still staying with Charlotte?” Hannah asked.

“I wish for her to have a smooth pregnancy,” Beatrice said, which wasn’t a lie.

Hannah took the comment in her stride, not knowing that there was more behind it. She got caught up with Elizabeth, both of them comparing dresses—they each looked stunning—and talking about who they might dance with and who they hoped would ask them.

Edwin moved beside his wife and leaned in so close that his breath tickled her ear. “I need to speak with you.”

“I am bored of speaking,” Beatrice muttered. She wanted to kick herself for such a petulant reply, but she was angry at him.

“I tried to see you,” he informed her.

“Yes, I am aware.”

“You must return home. We did not get to finish what we started,” he added sternly.

Beatrice finally looked him in the eye, and her resolve weakened a little. She knew it would, that’s why she had put off facing him as long as possible. She didn’t care if he begged her to come back—a marriage without love was an impossibility.

“You were very sure of yourself,” Beatrice remarked.

She didn’t want to talk to him, but she did want to kiss him. She wanted to feel something other than this misery in her heart.

“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked.

“It means whatever you wish it to mean,” Beatrice replied, being petulant again.

She was conflicted, as she knew she would be. She wanted to be held by him again, to touch his body and feel his lips on hers. If she gave in to her desires, she would end up in bed with him, and then she would agree to go home with him again, and she would be right back where she started.

Beatrice had run away again, but this time, it was not the same. She had run away because she needed distance. Now, she was back and facing her problems, and she would not give in.

“I miss you,” Edwin murmured.

You miss me, but do you love me?

“Lady Hannah, we must thank our hosts before the ball begins,” Beatrice told her sister.

“Yes, let’s thank them, and then I will need advice when it comes to filling my dance card.”

Beatrice looked at her husband but addressed her sister. “I shall be with you all night to offer advice and guidance.”

Beatrice and Hannah bade goodbye to Edwin and Elizabeth and then waited patiently as the Viscount Willmington and his wife conversed with an older couple. The Viscount shook hands with the man before the couple left.

“Lord Willmington, we wish to thank you for having us at your ball,” Beatrice said, pushing her sister forward a little.

“Yes, it is a magnificent event,” Hannah added. “I am overjoyed to be here,”

Beatrice was happy with her sister’s words.

“I must thank you, Your Grace,” the Viscount said. “When my daughter informed us you were to attend with your sister, we felt a great honor.”

“We did, indeed,” the Viscountess agreed. “We never meant for this ball to be the event of the Season, but with you and your husband attending… well, we certainly have guests of honor tonight.”

“Oh, stop gushing, Mother,” a familiar voice said from behind Beatrice.

Beatrice wanted to spin around and slap Agnes, but she kept her composure for now.

“Mother, would you keep Lady Hannah company for a moment? I must ask my dear friend a question.”

“Yes, dear,” Lady Willmington murmured.

Beatrice knew Agnes had some power within the ton, but she had never imagined she also held such power over her parents.

Agnes did not ask Beatrice and merely took her by the arm and pulled her away. “It really is so nice to see you here today, Your Grace. We are very lucky to have you.”

“What do you want?” Beatrice spat.

“I would watch your tongue,” Agnes warned. “Who do you think you are talking to? You do remember that I have the power to ruin you and your precious Duke. Where have you been as of late, Your Grace? Anywhere nice?”

Beatrice really wanted to slap Agnes, but she could not do it in front of so many people. But she did not give her the pleasure of a response. Agnes had tricks up her sleeve, but she could keep them. The more Beatrice spoke to her, the more the awful, spoiled woman would draw her into petty games.

“Don’t worry, I know exactly where you were,” Agnes continued. “When I came up with the Runaway Bride moniker, I thought it was very clever, but I never expected that it would be so fitting. You really don’t like marriage, do you?”

“This is a fine event,” Beatrice replied instead.

“What were you doing out there?” Agnes asked. “I created the rumor about you having a secret child, but now I wonder if I was not far from the truth. Why did you have to run so far? Is the Duke as ruthless as they say, or were you visiting your little baby? How old is the little critter now?”

“Yes, my sister will have some fine gentlemen to dance with,” Beatrice said, not rising to any bait.

Agnes smiled knowingly. She was excited to be playing her game with Beatrice. “Running away, having a child, and all the other rumors I started will not matter when we hear what the Duke has to say.”

It should not have affected her, but Beatrice became interested in what Agnes would say next.

“He informed Mother and Father that he had an announcement to make. Hmm, I wonder what that could be?” Agnes tapped her chin.

Beatrice felt her heart thunder in her chest and could barely breathe. She worried she would faint in the middle of the hall.

“An announcement in my home. Ah, yes, I remember now. Perhaps he did not tell you, Your Grace. He has grown sick of you, and I can see you have grown tired of him, since you do not even live with him anymore. I shall cause no such problems for His Grace. He will soon announce that he has decided to divorce you and then marry me so that he can finally live a full life. And, if you don’t mind my saying, a happy and simple life devoid of the problems only you can create.”

If Beatrice had not been stunned by the words, she would have slapped Agnes, but she was frozen to the spot. Agnes took her hand and squeezed it. She smiled and looked like the cat who had not only got the cream but the cheese, the mouse, and whatever else it was that cats desired and craved.

Beatrice faintly heard someone call out to her.

“… Your Grace.”

She turned around to see a maid standing before her. “I am fine, I don’t need anything,” she replied. “Please, leave me alone.”

“No, it is me, Sally. You spoke to my brother in the tavern.”

“What?” Beatrice sputtered, still not understanding.

“My brother,” the maid repeated. “You wanted information about Miss Jennings. I have information to pass on, and I shall give it to him.”

Beatrice was not sure it mattered anymore. The Duke was to announce the end of their marriage, and Agnes had won. There was no reason for Agnes to attack her anymore when she had gotten what she wanted. And there was no reason to clear her name. The divorce would be damaging enough, and everyone would believe Agnes over her.

The maid pressed a slip of paper into Beatrice’s hand. “He said you must come alone, and he will tell you everything.”

“All right,” Beatrice responded.

There was nothing else she could say. She slipped the note into her reticule.

The maid left her side, and when she looked back at her sister, she found Agnes watching her intently. Just seeing the spite in Agnes’s eyes made her want to find out the truth. She didn’t care what happened now—she wanted Agnes to suffer just as she had.

Beatrice returned to her sister, and they left their hosts to move closer to the dance floor. She did not immediately see Edwin but eventually spotted him across the dance floor. He was looking at her intently, as if it would be the last time they looked at each other.

Beatrice wanted him to approach her and ask her to dance, but she knew it wouldn’t happen. He had made up his mind because she had been foolish enough to leave and not give him a chance to speak. He had come to speak to her, and she had rejected him, so he had turned to Agnes instead.

He wanted to talk to her that evening to explain what he was about to do, but he didn’t have to. Agnes had explained it for him, and while she was the most horrible person Beatrice had ever met, she had shown her some mercy. When the Duke made his announcement, it would not come as a surprise.

Beatrice would have slipped out of the hall if it were not for her sister. Besides, she was facing her problems now, not running away from them.

The night went splendidly for Hannah. She danced with some fine gentlemen, and she smiled more than she ever had before. She behaved with decorum at all times and conversed with some ladies and gentlemen while holding her head high and keeping her shoulders back.

It was not a dazzling debut, but it was never meant to be. Hannah made a great impression on many people.

Then it came.

Beatrice heard the Duke’s name being called loudly, and it did not register that it was time for his announcement until he stood on the stairs. She remembered to close her mouth and promised herself that she would not cry when it was over.

Agnes stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at Edwin.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I shall not keep your attention for long. I know there are far more exciting things to attend to, especially for our young ladies and gentlemen. Some of you may know that I have an announcement to make, and I shall make it now so that you are not kept waiting eagerly the whole night.”

He looked across at Beatrice, and her heart melted and exploded simultaneously.

Why does he have to look so handsome?

He had the entire hall in the palm of his hand. They knew his reputation, and some likely knew that there was trouble brewing between them if Agnes had anything to do with it. They did not know what was coming next, but it would be gossipworthy, and no one wanted to miss out.

“As many of you know, my wife has been with her sister these past two weeks to help with her pregnancy. That only showcases her highly caring nature. Many of you—no, all of you, I am sure, have heard rumors about my wife before we got married and during our marriage. I am here to admit the truth once and for all. My wife does not have a secret child.”

Edwin laughed. “I am sure you did not believe that—only a fool would. And she has never run away from a man she was betrothed to. You can speak to anyone you like, and I assure you that they will say the same thing. I have spoken to some of these supposed noblemen, and they will confirm what I now know. One such man was Lord Mutton. Supposedly, my wife was promised to him. I have spoken to Lord Mutton, and he remembers no such thing.

“You might have heard a rumor about my wife liking to sneak out at night dressed like a man, and I ask you to think about that. Really think about it! Perhaps she is also the Loch Ness Monster, or she is a witch who has cast a love spell over me.”

That elicited laughter from some of the guests, and Beatrice immediately looked up at Agnes. She almost burst out laughing when she saw the look on her face.

“I have always wished for excitement in my life, but as much as it pains me to say it, my wife does not bring that excitement. If you want the truth, my wife and I have a very traditional, boring marriage. You might ask why I would admit that publicly, and it is only because my boring marriage makes me the happiest man in the world. I have fallen in love, and I cannot think of a better person to spend the rest of my life with.”

Beatrice almost fainted. The only thing that kept her upright was the thought of being in the Duke’s arms again. She ran across the hall, not caring that she had shoved a guest or two, and leaped into her husband’s arms.

“I love you, too,” she declared.