Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Every time I come back to London, I realize just a little more how much I dislike it,” Alexander said, as he followed Gregory into Pickford’s Club.

The journey from Norfolk had been long and uncomfortable – the heat in their carriage had been quite unbearable, and the inn they had lodged in overnight had been the most inhospitable Alexander had ever had the misfortune to stay in.

He had insisted on going straight to their club for refreshment, hoping a large brandy would restore his humors before he and Gregory called on Juliette and Emily. He had not stopped thinking about her since the day they had said goodbye in Norfolk, and he was anxious to see her as soon as possible.

“But you’ll be glad to see those who reside here,” Gregory replied, and Alexander nodded.

“Yes, I will – as will you,” he said, as they entered the club room.

Pickford’s Club was a home away from home, with its paneled smoking room and elegant dining room, a place where periodicals could be read in the comfort of a large armchair, before drinking a glass of brandy and playing a game of cards.

It was here Alexander had won back Gregory’s ring, lost in a game of cards to Reginal Harper, who had been proved to be a cheat and scoundrel. But today, Alexander was interested only in refreshment, and with their brandies summoned from the steward, the two of them sat down behind a group of men, who were discussing matters of finance.

“Penniless – that’s what they say. I say it’s impossible. But that’s the rumor. There’s no smoke without fire. I heard he lost it all at a game of cards,” one of the men was saying.

“No, that’s nonsense, Sidney. Bad investments – that’s what he’s made. It’s all just bad investments. Old money-making poor business decisions. That’s why the likes of you and I are on the up. We know how to make money, and we didn’t need anyone to die for us to get it,” another of the men said, and they all started laughing.

Alexander was mildly curious – interested to know who it was the men were talking about with such obvious glee. A man who had lost his fortune was to be pitied – if the loss was not of his own doing – but by the sound of what the men were saying, this particular man had brought it on himself.

“And then there’s the woman he’s betrothed to. I doubt she’ll be happy to learn she’s being left without a penny to her name, even before they’ve made their vows,” another of the men was saying.

“Her mother certainly won’t be. They don’t have anything themselves, or so I’ve heard. It was quite the stroke of luck for her to find such a rich man to call her own – but it seems Nicholas Humphrey isn’t all we believed him to be. Where did you hear all this?” another of the men said.

At the mention of Nicholas’ name, Alexander’s heart had skipped a beat – it was an astonishing account, but to hear it concerned someone with whom he was so intimately acquainted was quite remarkable. Nicholas was one of the richest men in England, but to hear he was now as poor as a church mouse was quite incredible – unbelievable, even.

“Did you hear that?” Alexander whispered, leaning forward to Gregory, who nodded.

“But it can’t be true,” Alexander replied, and now he turned back, listening to the conversation in the hope of learning more about Nicholas’ apparent fall from grace.

“Well, one just hears things, doesn’t one? I didn’t hear it from anyone in particular. But people talk. My wife mentioned something after one of her salons – it’s quite the talk of the ladies,” the one called Sidney said, shaking his head.

Alexander could resist no longer, and now he rose to his feet, turning to the group of men with an enquiring look on his face, even as he tried to maintain his composure.

“Forgive me, gentlemen. But I couldn’t help but overhear you mention Nicholas Humphrey. Is he really as you say he is?” he asked, and the men nodded.

“That’s what they say, at least, yes – his money’s all gone, and I suppose his chance of happiness is, too. His betrothed won’t want him now,” the one called Sidney said.

Alexander nodded. It was an astonishing revelation – one of the richest men in England reduced to a pauper. The man was right – Lavinia would not want to marry him now, whatever her previous motivations had been. But there was something else, too – a more pressing concern, and one that made Alexander feel decidedly worried about.

If Lavinia broke off her betrothal to Nicholas, it might prove Juliette’s undoing. Had she not waited for just this opportunity to arise? She had told him she no longer had feelings for Nicholas, and yet knowing he was once again a free agent, able to court and marry someone else, might her mind be changed again.

“No, I suppose she won’t, will she?” Alexander replied, and thanking the gentlemen, he returned to sit opposite Gregory.

“Do you really believe it?” Gregory asked, and Alexander nodded.

“There’s no smoke without fire,” he replied, and suddenly the thought of seeing Juliette again filled him with trepidation.

***

“I must say, I didn’t think we’d be quite as successful,” Emily said, blushing, as she took a sip of tea.

Juliette smiled.

“Well, the ton loves a rumor – particularly a scandalous one. I’d say we gave them just what they wanted,” she said, and Emily nodded.

It had been easy to plant the rumor of Nicholas’ apparent descent into financial ruin. They had mentioned it casually to one another in the fashionable shops where they might be overheard by other women, and elaborated on the details at a ball and soiree they had attended earlier in the week.

Whispers had spread, and now they had it on good authority that Nicholas’ perilous financial position was the talk of the ton. Henrietta, too, had played her part, having made a point of being seen at a dress shop where only the most penny-pinching of debutantes would shop, thus adding to the rumors of her brother’s misfortune.

“Absolutely, yes. It’s worked rather too well, I fear,” Emily said, and Juliette shrugged.

“Well, if it puts a stop to Lavinia’s plans, it’s all well and good, isn’t it?” she said, even as she wondered what Nicholas himself would say when he discovered the apparent truth about himself.

But despite being pleased at what they had achieved, another thought preoccupied Juliette’s mind at that moment – the question of Alexander. She knew he was in London – Gregory had told her as much – but as for his coming to see her, she had heard nothing from him, despite being eager for him to do so. It was a curious situation; one she was uncertain as to what to do about.

“Absolutely. But I wonder if Lavinia knows anything about it yet?” Emily said.

But before Juliette could answer, a knock came, and the drawing-room door opened, and the butler announced a visitor.

“Miss Lavinia Brewer, my lady,” he said, and Juliette and Emily looked at one another in surprise.

Juliette’s heart skipped a beat, and now she feared Lavinia had discovered the rumor was false, spread by them to force her to break off the engagement to Nicholas. But to her relief, Lavinia now entered the drawing room in a flood of tears, and with the look of a woman in need of solace for having lost everything.

“I’m sorry… I just didn’t know who to come to. I couldn’t talk to Lavinia… oh, it’s too awful,” she exclaimed, sinking down into a chair as Emily hurried to her side with a handkerchief.

“Oh, Lavinia – what’s happened?” Emily exclaimed in such a convincing tone as to make Juliette believe she did not know anything of the reason for Lavinia’s unannounced visit.

“I’ve lost everything. It’s terrible. Oh, it really is. I just can’t bear it. You must’ve heard the rumors,” she exclaimed, and both Juliette and Emily shook their heads in a feigned display of innocence.

“Rumors? No, has something happened?” Juliette asked, and Lavinia dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.

“It’s Nicholas… I thought… well, I’ve never pried into his affairs. I’m not like that. But I was invited to take tea with some ladies of my acquaintance, and… they told me how sorry they were to hear of my predicament. I didn’t know what they were talking about, and then they explained… oh, it was too awful.

They told me Nicholas had lost all his money. He’s penniless. I thought he was one of the richest men in England. But he’s not. He hasn’t got a penny to his name – not anything,” she exclaimed, and now she began to sob uncontrollably as Emily patted her on the hand.

“There, there, Lavinia – how terrible for you,” she said, and Lavinia sniffed loudly.

“I just don’t know what to do. How can we get married now? It’s impossible,” she exclaimed.

Juliette glanced at Emily. Now was the time for the final act – the performance necessary to convince Lavinia to abandon her designs on Nicholas and relinquish her claims – and threats – over him.

“Sadly, Lavinia, it’s true. We’ve heard the same. Henrietta’s a good friend of ours, as you know, and she’s told us just how bad the situation is. We didn’t like to say anything, of course – in case it wasn’t true. But it seems certain it is,” Juliette said, shaking her head sadly.

Lavinia burst in fresh sobs, and Juliette might almost have felt sorry for her, had she not known just how unpleasant Lavinia’s behavior had been. She had blackmailed an innocent man – a foolish man, but an innocent man. Nicholas had given Henrietta his word there had been no impropriety between him and Lavinia, and Juliette believed him, even as the fact of the split no longer made any difference to her feelings.

“We’re really very sorry, Lavinia. It’s terrible for you,” Emily said, as Lavinia sobbed uncontrollably.

“I thought we’d be… happy,” she said, as Juliette and her cousin exchanged another glance.

“Oh, but… money isn’t everything,” Emily said, with an innocent tone in her voice.

Lavinia looked up at them and shook her head.

“That’s not what my mother said. She’s furious, of course. She keeps telling me I’ve been nothing but a fool. And I have been. When I met Nicholas in Paris, I thought he had everything. He was so generous – anything I wanted, I had. But I fear it was all a ruse – he was only getting more and more into debt. The very thought of it… oh, it’s too terrible,” Lavinia exclaimed.

Juliette took a deep breath. It was all lies, and it was all she could do not to reveal the truth. Angry over what Lavinia had done. But the tables had been turned, and it seemed Lavinia now truly believed the man she had blackmailed had nothing to give her.

“And what does your mother propose you do now?” Emily asked, and Lavinia sighed.

“Oh, she says I’ll have to find someone else to marry – someone with money,” she said, and Emily looked at her in surprise.

“You mean to say you’re going to call the whole thing off?” she asked, and Lavinia nodded.

“What choice do I have? There’s no one else to look after us,” she said.

Had Lavinia not gone about things as she had, Juliette might have felt a modicum of sympathy for her. There was no doubt it was Lavinia’s mother, and not Lavinia herself, who was to blame for the dirty and underhand scheme they had played.

Lavinia was a pawn in an attempt to gain what her mother believed should be hers. But if Lavinia had been more proficient in working her charms, perhaps threat and blackmail would not have been needed, and as it stood, Juliette was only too glad to see them both reduced to desperation.

“Well… does Nicholas know about it? Have you spoken to him?” Juliette asked.

This was the crux, and Juliette knew Nicholas would find it very strange to learn of his apparent financial disgraces, even as she hoped he would realize they were to his advantage if he truly wanted to rid himself of Lavinia and her mother once and for all.

“Not yet… I was waiting to speak to you. I was worried the rumors might just be a lie to discredit Nicholas in favor of his marrying another. One never knows, you see. That’s why I came to see you. You’re both so happy in your courtships, and you, Emily – now betrothed. But if there was another woman, perhaps – one who wanted him for herself…” Lavinia said, her words trailing off.

Everything had happened as Lavinia might have hoped it would. Had she still been in love with Nicholas? It was a strange thought, but one she could not deny, even as she was glad to see the betrothal broken for Nicholas’ sake alone.

The reason for her ruse with Alexander was to make out as though she was now a disinterested party, and could be trusted. And it had worked. But seeing Lavinia before her did not bring any particular joy apart from a sense of relief on Nicholas’s part. Her thoughts were on Alexander.

“I don’t think that’s the case, is it? He’s madly in love with you, pauper or not,” Juliette said, but Lavinia shook her head.

“No… I can’t marry him. He promised me so much, and now… I realize it was all false,” she said, as now she began to sob again.

Emily rang the bell for tea, and they continued to console Lavinia for the rest of the afternoon. It had been the perfect ruse – another “perfect” ruse – and the rumor of Nicholas’ spectacular fall from grace had spread far and wide.

Its consequences sat before them, though Lavinia had not as yet admitted she cared only for the fact of Nicholas’ wealth. Nevertheless, she was adamant the betrothal was to be called off, as much as she feared her mother’s plans for an alternative.

“But what will you do now? You won’t be able to marry just anyone, will you?” Emily said when Lavinia finally showed signs of leaving.

“Well, you say that, but… there’re ways, aren’t there?” Lavinia replied, rising to her feet.

Juliette suddenly had the terrible realization that one man’s misfortune might now be replaced by another equally unfortunate victim. It was all too common, unfortunately – a brandy too many, a forgotten night, a claim in the morning, and a marriage that lasted a lifetime. But such thoughts were secondary. The plan had worked, and it seemed Nicholas would be saved from the unfortunate situation in which he had found himself.

“Take care of yourself, Lavinia,” Juliette said, as she showed her out.

“I don’t know what I’ll do next. But I know I’ve got to talk to Nicholaas, haven’t I? I can’t go on avoiding him forever, can I?” she said, and Juliette shook her head.

“No, certainly not. He deserves that much,” Juliette replied, and now they wished Lavinia goodbye.

As she closed the drawing-room door, Juliette turned to Emily and shook her head.

“Well, that worked, didn’t it?” Emily said, smiling at Juliette, who still could not believe they had got away with it.

“It did, yes, but at the expense of so much. I almost felt sorry for Lavinia. She’s beholden to her mother, and I can’t imagine her mother allowing her to get away with not marrying someone. Even if it’s not Nicholas,” Juliette replied.

“Oh, but it doesn’t matter now, does it? She’s not marrying him. Besides, why feel sorry for her? She’s pretty enough – she doesn’t need to resort to blackmail to secure a husband,” Emily retorted.

Juliette nodded. Her cousin was right. Lavinia had brought it on herself, and now she was to suffer the consequences of her actions.

“You’re right. She’ll never be happy, will she?” Juliette said, and Emily shook her head.

“I don’t think she will, no. But Nicholas could be. After all, he’s rich – plenty of women would be delighted to be courted by him,” Emily said, and Juliette smiled.

“Yes… and what happens when Lavinia finds out it really was a false rumor?” she said, and her cousin shrugged.

“She was the one who broke off the engagement. Well, it seems certain she’s going to – she’s probably on her way there now,” she said, shaking her head and smiling.

Juliette wondered what would happen when Lavinia explained why she was breaking off the betrothal. Would Nicholas argue with her? Or would he realize the rumor had worked in his favor? What would happen then? Nicholas had said nothing about his intentions had he never met Lavinia and become entangled in her games. Had he done so, Juliette might have had an idea as to what was to come next.

“And then what happens?” Juliette replied, and Emily smiled.

“Everyone’s happy. Come along, we should get ready. They’ll be here to collect us soon,” Emily said, rising to her feet.

Gregory had invited Emily to go to the theater with him, and by way of extending the invitation, he had invited Juliette and her mother, too. Juliette did not know if Alexander would be there, too, for she had still not seen him since his return from Norfolk, and she was beginning to wonder if he was purposefully avoiding her.

“Do you know if Alexander’s coming, then?” Juliette asked, as the two of them made their way upstairs to change.

“Gregory said he wouldn’t take no for an answer when he invited him. But I don’t know for certain if he’s agreed or not. I’m looking forward to the performance, though. I do so love a Midsummer Night’s Dream ,” Emily replied.