Chapter Twenty-Eight

“I see her,” Mama said. “She is speaking with Lady Pance.”

Mirella and Aunt Matty turned slowly so as not to be obvious.

“Lady Pance is a talkative creature,” her aunt said. “I will sacrifice myself in the interest of helping Lady Hall to escape not only her husband but the countess. If I am still engaged in conversation with her after an hour, I expect to be rescued.”

She giggled. “We will not leave you stranded, Aunt Matty.”

They moved to where Lady Hall stood with Lady Pance and greeted the pair. Slowly, Aunt Matty skillfully turned her body and that of Lady Hall’s over a few minutes of conversation, allowing Mirella and Mama to free Lady Hall.

“We must speak of urgent matters,” Mama told the viscountess. “Come with us.”

Her mother did not give Lady Hall a chance to protest. She slipped her arm through the other woman’s and guided her away from those gathered in the ballroom.

Mirella followed, saying, “Do not leave the ballroom, Mama. We mustn’t cause anyone to be suspicious.”

“Suspicious?” Lady Hall said, a worried look on her face. “Oh, is this a test? Did my husband send you?” True fear was visible on this woman’s face.

“No, my lady,” Mama assured her. “We are going to save you.”

They stopped in a corner of the room, next to a large, potted plant which partially obscured them. Mama maneuvered the viscountess so her back was to the room. Mirella knew why her mother did so because Lady Hall’s face would give away the scheme.

“Why have you brought me here, Your Grace?” Lady Hall asked, visibly trembling.

Mama slipped her arm through the other woman’s. “It is Mrs. Andrews now. I am a widow, now married to a former sea captain.”

Mirella kept her expression bland since she faced the crowded ballroom and said, “We wish to reunite you with your daughter.”

Lady Hall started. “You know Verity? How? How is she?” Tears misted in the woman’s eyes.

“I am betrothed to Lord Bridgewater,” she explained. “The younger brother of the man who took advantage of your daughter. My fiancé has been paying for the house Verity and Amity stay in and—”

“Amity?” the viscountess interrupted. “The babe was a girl?”

She realized Verity had had no contact at all with her mother since being forced from her father’s house.

“Yes. Amity is five now, and I assume exactly how your daughter looked at that age.”

Lady Hall’s mouth trembled. “They are well?”

“We do not have much time,” Mama cautioned. “You never know who might see us and get word back to Lord Hall.”

Mirella nodded. “Listen carefully, my lady. You are being given a choice. I am to wed the marquess next Tuesday in Kent at my childhood home. Lord Bridgewater’s country estate is also in Kent. The two of us wish to have Verity and Amity come to live with us in the country. They have been here in town since you last saw your daughter. They are traveling tomorrow. More than anything, Verity wishes you would leave Lord Hall and join her at Bridgewater.”

Lady Hall sadly shook her head. “He would never allow it, Lady Mirella. Hall is cruel. He would hunt me down and force me to return. Not that he wants me. He never did. I was merely a hefty dowry to him. A worthless woman who could never provide him with a son.”

“Lord Hall will not have the resources to locate you, my lady,” she assured her. “My betrothed and brother—the Duke of Seaton—are very angry at how your husband cast Verity from her home and declared her dead. Verity has told us how you love her and would have supported her, despite the terrible mistake she made.”

Mirella paused. “Amity is certainly no mistake. Your granddaughter is bright and beautiful. And she needs you. Just as your daughter does. Because of your husband’s cruelty, His Grace and Lord Bridgewater are going to make Lord Hall pay.”

Lady Hall gasped. “How? Why?”

“The how is unimportant,” Mama said. “The why is because we believe in family. Amity is Lord Bridgewater’s niece, and he wants her close to him and my daughter. Verity, too.” Mama paused. “I am a mother, the same as you, Lady Hall. If it were me, I would accept the help being offered and escape town and the vicious gossip to come. My stepson and Lord Bridgewater will ruin Lord Hall. They possess all his markers and will call them in. He will be left penniless.”

“And he won’t have a clue where you have gone,” Mirella added. “Or who helped you. The question is, are you willing to break away from him?”

Lady Hall bit her lip. “If what you say is true, I would be a fool not to accept your help. Hall is already an angry man who beats me regularly. If he is broken financially, he will probably kill me.” She smiled weakly. “Besides, I would do anything to be with Verity and Amity.”

“Then you must say nothing to him,” Mama cautioned. “Go home and pack. Do it yourself. Not even the servants should know.”

“Only take what is absolutely necessary,” Mirella warned. “Lord Bridgewater will replace anything you leave behind.”

“May I bring my lady’s maid?” Lady Hall asked. “She has been with me for years. I cannot allow her to suffer Hall’s wrath. He very well could beat her to death, trying to get out of her where I have gone.”

She and Mama exchanged glances, and Mama nodded. “Yes. You may bring her. Tell only her what is going on when you return from the ball. Have her undress you from your finery and then dress you again in a day gown. While your husband goes to bed at dawn, slip out, through the kitchens, and you and your maid will be met.”

Mirella had learned that James would have three sailors from Strong Shipping meet Lady Hall and take her to Verity’s. The captain was sending another three men from the Neptune Shipping warehouse to Verity’s, and they would accompany the women to Bridgefield in an unmarked carriage.

“By the time your husband awakens tomorrow, you will already be in Kent,” she assured the viscountess. “With your daughter and granddaughter.”

A sob escaped from Lady Hall, and Mama quickly led the woman from the ballroom, skirting the crowd and exiting out a door leading to the terrace. Mirella chose not to follow and draw unnecessary attention.

The plan was in motion now. All that remained was to ruin Viscount Hall.

*

Byron and James finished signing the marriage settlements at Mr. Pilsbury’s office. They had requested that their appointment be moved up to this morning. Already, James’ men had reported to the duke that they had retrieved Lady Hall and her maid and driven them to her daughter’s house in St. John’s Wood. From there, the captain’s men had loaded the two women into the waiting carriage containing Verity and Amity. A separate carriage with their things and two of Verity’s servants had already left for Bridgefield.

The documents now official, James received his copy, while Pilsbury provided Byron with a copy for himself and one for Mirella. He had wanted her to have one of her own. By now, his fiancée should also be packed and ready to leave for Shadowcrest with the duke and duchess. Her mother and the captain would journey to Kent tomorrow, while Byron, Mama, and his aunt and uncle would leave for Bridgefield.

Byron had asked that all servants be cleared from the breakfast room this morning, and it was then that he had broken the news to his relatives of the child Dawson had fathered. His mother had wept, but she said she was eager to meet her granddaughter. He explained how Verity would continue to be known as Mrs. Smithson to all the servants, both here in town and at Bridgefield, and that they would claim she was a distant, widowed cousin. He shared how he hoped one of their neighbors might recognize Verity’s goodness and offer marriage to her, allowing her to find happiness and remain in the neighborhood so they might see her often.

He empathized how they must address Lady Hall as Mrs. Hall. Without going into any detail, he said he and the Duke of Seaton were assisting Lady Hall to be reunited with her daughter. He could tell from Mama’s face that she had read the announcement of Verity’s supposed death and why Lord Hall had disowned his daughter. Mama even mentioned how divorce would be out of the question since the process was quite expensive. Byron revealed that Lord Hall would be an impoverished man by the end of the day.

No one asked him how he knew this, but Uncle Hugh had given Byron a nod of approval.

“Anything else, Pilsbury?” he asked his solicitor.

“No, my lord. I will see that the lease on Mrs. Smithson’s house is not renewed. In fact, I will notify its owner that the house has already been vacated. While I am not expecting him to refund the remaining portion of the rent for the rest of this year, he will be free to lease it again.”

Byron and Mirella had discussed where Verity’s servants would go, and arrangements had been made regarding them.

“I suppose that is it,” he said. “I will be at Bridgefield until next Season. Write if you have need of me.”

He left the offices, climbing into the grand ducal carriage, sitting opposite James.

As the carriage took them to Lord Hall’s townhouse, Byron said, “Thank you. You have involved yourself in my affairs. Without your help, I doubt I would have thought of this plan, much less been able to pull it off with such speed.”

James smiled, and Byron could see more of the sea captain than duke in him.

“You are family,” the duke said. “You love my sister. That is more than enough.”

They arrived at the viscount’s townhouse, and his butler told them, “Lord Hall just left for White’s, Your Grace. My lord.”

“Then we will speak with him there,” James said easily before adding, “If I were you? I would pack my things and tell all the servants to do the same. Your employer will not have two farthings to rub together by the end of this day. I will be happy to write references for any servants who request one. Spread the word amongst your staff to report to the Strong Shipping offices next Wednesday if those references are needed. I will take time to write them personally myself. I would do it earlier, but I have been called out of town for the next several days.”

The butler’s eyes widened in surprise. Recovering, he said, “That is most generous of you Your Grace. I will inform the staff.” He paused. “Thank you.”

They returned to the carriage, and Byron said, “That was most generous of you, James.”

“No reason for hardworking servants to be caught up in the scandal, much less have a hard time finding employment. Lord Hall does not strike me as a man who would bother to write references in a time of crisis. It would be unfair to punish the servants for their employer’s sins.”

When they arrived at White’s, Byron saw his future brother-in-law smile. He was glad he was on the good side of this powerful duke.

They entered the club, one which Byron had never visited, and were greeted profusely.

“Ah, Your Grace. It is good to see you,” said a nattily dressed man who was obviously in charge of the establishment.

“This is the Marquess of Bridgewater,” the duke said easily. “We are looking to speak with Lord Hall. Might he be here?”

“Yes, Your Grace. He is in the second Morning Room. Might I bring you coffee? Tea?”

“No. We will not be here long, I am afraid, but thank you kindly.”

The servant must have understood that the duke had business. Byron watched him nod politely and scurry off. He accompanied James into a room filled with gentlemen who perused the newspapers or sat chatting idly, drinking coffee or tea.

“Where is he?” James asked quietly, scanning the room.

Byron located the viscount. “At the second table near the windows. Sitting by himself.” Not quite certain what the duke had in mind, he added, “I will follow your lead.”

James strode toward Lord Hall, and Byron noticed the duke’s commanding presence had drawn the eye of every man in the room. He glanced over his shoulder and saw other gentlemen gathering at the doorway to the room, ready to relish the verbal blood they anticipated being shed.

Approaching the table, James asked, “Lord Hall?”

The viscount glanced up from his newspaper, his eyes going wide. Springing to his feet, he said, “Your Grace. It is an honor.”

James indicated his companion. “This is the Marquess of Bridgewater.”

Turning to look at Byron, Lord Hall said, “Ah, yes. I knew your brother well.”

“I suppose you knew him from the gaming hells, my lord?” he inquired.

Hall smirked. “Why, yes, I did. Bridgewater was quite charming and enjoyed the turn of a card.”

“As do you, my lord?” James asked, and Byron sensed his soon-to-be brother-in-law moving in for the kill.

The viscount chuckled. “I do enjoy card play, Your Grace. Perhaps we might spend a night together in the gaming hells. I have never seen you in the establishments I frequent.”

“You won’t be frequenting them ever again,” James said flatly. He paused, and Byron knew it was time for him to step up and take the lead.

“You are finished, Lord Hall,” he told the viscount. “His Grace and I have purchased all your markers.”

The man blanched. “ All of them?”

“Yes,” Byron said. “It took a bit of doing because I do not think there is a gaming hell you have not frequented, running up large debts at each of them. His Grace and I are now in possession of every marker.” He paused, staring at Hall. “Every. Single. One.”

The viscount visibly trembled. “Is.. is there a reason? Why you would purchase these?”

“You have behaved very poorly,” Byron said, not wanting to mention Verity or Lady Hall by name. “ Very badly. You have put a blight on your family’s name. Your dead daughter is mostly likely rolling in her grave, seeing what her father has done.”

Understanding slowly dawned in the viscount’s eyes. Byron knew this man comprehended why they were here.

“Bridgewater?” he croaked. “This is because of . . . that . . . business?”

“Yes. I am now Lord Bridgewater. And I take care of my family. All my family.”

He hoped he conveyed—without naming Verity and Amity—exactly whom he meant. Byron glared at the man a moment, watching him squirm under the scrutiny. He turned, nodding as James dealt the final blow.

“Bridgewater and I will be calling in your markers, Hall. Today. Every last one of them.”

“But . . but . . . they number . . . I owe . . . in the thousands,” the viscount protested weakly.

“You are correct,” James said, glaring at the man who was now breaking apart before their very eyes.

“I cannot pay the full amount, Your Grace,” Hall said hoarsely.

“Then sell anything that isn’t entailed. Property. Furniture. Artwork. Immediately. Lord Bridgewater and I will not be kept waiting. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the viscount whispered.

James looked to Byron. “I could use a strong cup of coffee, Bridgewater. And one of my cook’s scones.”

“That sounds heavenly, Your Grace,” he replied, doing his best to keep a straight face as dozens of eyes peered at them.

The duke glanced about the room, as if only now noticing all the gentlemen eavesdropping on the conversation.

“Bridgewater is to wed my sister, Lady Mirella, in a few days’ time,” he announced. “Our family is most pleased with the match.”

Murmurs filled the room and as he and James left White’s, dozens of men shook Byron’s hand or gave him a friendly pat on the back, offering him congratulations.

Only when they were inside the carriage and it pulled away from White’s did both men burst into laughter.