Chapter 26

Matthew sat in his study; his mother perched primly in a nearby chair. The room’s other occupants were Nicholas Jones, Matthew’s favoured solicitor, and his clerk, Mark. Although Jones was an experienced man and an expert in all legal matters, he had not—as it happened—ever handled a situation quite like this one. It seemed that wives did not often return from the dead. “This will ensure that everything is in order,” Jones said. “I do not foresee the courts disagreeing in this matter, Your Grace. It is quite apparent that the Duchess of Hillsburgh abandoned your marriage, and no one would contest a divorce.”

“I appreciate your reassurance, Jones,” Matthew said, “but I want to be certain about every aspect of this situation. I have a new wife, after all.”

He had not spoken to Tabitha since Rosemary’s arrival, but he had received word that she had chosen to stay at her parents’ townhouse. Matthew knew that he would need to speak to her soon, for she was surely as conflicted and confused by the matter as he, but he did not wish to do that until he knew that Rosemary was undeniably and irrevocably out of their lives. Having the mystery of Rosemary’s disappearance solved at last was strange. It had all ended so suddenly and quietly; he had not heard a word from her since she had left the townhouse.

Geoffrey, Matthew’s butler, entered the room. “Your Grace, Lady Haywood has arrived.”

That was Rosemary’s great-aunt. “She is here?” Matthew asked.

He had sent a letter to Lady Haywood, enquiring after Elaine’s well-being, and Matthew had anticipated a response to come soon. Matthew had not, however, expected that the lady herself would arrive.

“She is, indeed. She has requested to speak with you at once, Your Grace.”

“Please,” Matthew said, gesturing to the room.

Geoffrey left and returned moments later with a woman who bore such a resemblance to Rosemary that it nearly took Matthew’s breath away. This woman was at least sixty years old, and her black hair was streaked with silver. Her eyes were dark, like Rosemary’s, and something about the shape of her face was similar. “Your Grace,” she said, curtseying.

“Lady Haywood,” Matthew greeted. “I did not expect your arrival.”

“Given the matter at hand, I felt it would be better for us to speak in person,” Lady Haywood said.

“Please, be seated,” Matthew said. “I believe that I am nearly finished with business here.”

“Indeed,” Jones said, gathering his papers. “I believe I have everything I need here. If there is anything else, I will send Mark to you.”

The clerk nodded.

“Excellent,” Matthew said.

The two men departed, and Matthew turned his attention to Lady Haywood. “My mother,” he said belatedly. “The Dowager Duchess of Hillsburgh.”

“A pleasure,” Lady Haywood said, clasping her hands in her lap.

“Likewise,” Matthew’s mother said, her tone clipped.

Lady Haywood took a deep breath. “I feel as though I owe you an apology, Your Grace, but I first want to assure you that I had not the faintest idea of what Rosemary had done. I am not sure if you are aware, but I spend most of my time in the country since my husband died. I was only in Bath because my health has become somewhat poor of late; I had hoped to benefit from the spas.”

Matthew frowned, uncertain if he believed her. He had no concrete reason to doubt this woman’s word, but it was difficult to believe anyone after what Rosemary had done to him.

“Can you tell us what you did know?” Matthew’s mother asked gently. “Or what you thought you knew?”

Lady Haywood nodded. “Rosemary told me that her husband had decided to journey to the Americas to check some of his business investments. Before then, I had never spoken to Rosemary. I knew of her, of course, but her mother and I were not affectionate with one another. After my husband’s death, I spent most of my time enjoying the solitude of the country, estranged from my relatives.”

“So, you did not know who Rosemary was wed to,” Matthew surmised.

“Indeed,” Lady Haywood said. “And besides, why would she lie about something like that? I had no reason to distrust her. She told me that she intended to journey with her husband and asked if I would be willing to raise her daughter while they were abroad. She told me that it was her husband’s wish that Elaine be raised in the countryside, and she felt that having a child around might be good for me.”

“And you have raised my daughter all these years,” Matthew said.

Lady Haywood nodded. “I received letters from you both, thanking me for looking after Elaine.”

“Letters?” Matthew asked.

“From him?” his mother added.

“Yes,” Lady Haywood replied. “After reading His Grace’s letter, I thought to bring them with me.”

She reached into the folds of her gown and produced a small bundle of letters. Matthew unfolded one, his eyes darting to the signature. It was his name and even a close copy of his own handwriting, but he had never penned the missive. “A forgery,” he said, furrowing his brow.

Had Rosemary written these, also? It seemed as though she had thought of everything with this scheme. “How bizarre,” Matthew’s mother said.

“So you see,” Lady Haywood said, her voice shaking, “I have raised Elaine as I thought you wanted for these many years while I thought you were in the Americas.”

He found that he believed her.

“And I do not wish to take her away from you,” Matthew said, “and from the only life she has ever known. Of course, I would like to see her, but we can make arrangements for that. I will provide everything you both need.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Lady Haywood said. “You are welcome to join us in Bath if you prefer, or I can bring Elaine to you in London. I would have brought her with me, but she was visiting a friend when I received your letter. I made all haste to London.”

“That was thoughtful of you,” Matthew said. “I appreciate a difficulty that can be quickly resolved.”

The door to the study burst open, and Miriam opened it so forcefully that it slammed against the wall. “How could you do this?” Miriam asked.

Matthew arched an eyebrow. “Do what?” he asked.

Miriam’s eyes passed only fleetingly over the startled Lady Haywood. “Why are you letting Tabitha leave?

“Colin said that she is preparing to leave for the country this very evening! She is buying some supplies with her friend Bridgette and then going to the country. I do not know how long, but she believes you will choose your love for Rosemary over her! I know that Rosemary has betrayed you, but even if you have decided you no longer wish to be wed at all, you must tell Tabitha!”

“How do you know this?” Matthew asked.

“Who is Colin?” their mother enquired.

“A … a jockey,” Miriam replied, her cheeks growing pink.

“And why does a jockey have this information?” Matthew asked. “Why would he share it with you?”

“Because it involves my family,” Miriam said quickly.

“And he just felt the need ...” Matthew trailed off, certain that his sister was not saying something.

“You need not worry about why I was talking to him,” Miriam said. “Neither of you. There are more important matters to be handled, like Tabitha! You cannot let her leave London believing you will abandon her for Rosemary! She must be beside herself with dread.”

“Who is Tabitha?” Lady Haywood asked helplessly.

“His wife,” the Dowager Duchess of Hillsburgh said.

Lady Haywood made a strange, choking sound. “Oh, no ...”

Matthew frowned. His sister’s recurring disappearances suddenly seemed increasingly suspicious, coupled with the familiar way she spoke of this jockey, who evidently knew her well enough to discuss intimate details about her family with her. Miriam was right, though. There were more important matters at hand, like Tabitha.

“Tabitha is good for you,” Miriam continued. “She is clever, thoughtful, and bold, and I know that you like her, even if you have not always shown her the warmth she deserves. You cannot let her leave. If you do, you shall regret it for the rest of your life.”

She was right. He realized it at once. Tabitha made his world brighter, and the thought of enduring a future without her in it was a bleak one. Matthew had been so consumed with ensuring that he was separate from Rosemary that he had scarcely considered how upset Tabitha might be. His chest ached. He was a fool for not thinking of her happiness sooner.

“I know where her family’s country estate is,” Matthew said.

“No,” Miriam said, sounding pained. “Do not wait. She is shopping on St James Street. Prevent her from leaving. Prove that you are willing to fight for her!”

Miriam was right. If Matthew cared for Tabitha, he needed to prove it to her in a way that no one could doubt, and he would do just that. A sense of purpose rushed through him. He could see his future spread before him like an open book. He imagined himself and Tabitha blissfully married. Without Rosemary between the two of them, they would flourish.

“I will,” Matthew said, inclining his head towards Lady Haywood. “Apologies, but this is not a matter which can wait.”

She smiled ruefully. “I understand.”

“We will be here when you return with Tabitha,” Matthew’s mother said, smiling. “Lady Haywood, it seems you are my only niece’s guardian. You simply must tell me all about her. Shall we have tea?”

As he left the study, Miriam trailing him, Matthew heard Lady Haywood agree. At least, she seemed to be a reasonable woman. Matthew hurried down the stairs, Miriam’s slippers a soft murmuring behind his own heavier steps.

“I have questions,” Matthew said.

“As do I,” Miriam shot back. “Who was that?”

Matthew quickly explained. His sister whistled between her teeth and shook her head. “This story becomes stranger by the minute.”

“It does,” Matthew said. “After I find Tabitha and persuade her to stay, I intend to speak with Lord Fatherton. I am not entirely sure what his role in this whole scheme was, but it is obvious to me that there was some involvement on his part. Otherwise, I cannot imagine how he would know about Rosemary’s return.”

“They must have remained in contact after their affair ended,” Miriam said.

“Indeed,” Matthew replied. “But I should like to know in what capacity. I think he told her to return to London, and I should like to learn more about that.”

Miriam nodded. They reached the entrance of the townhouse, and Matthew ordered that his carriage be prepared. As appealing as the idea of running to St James was, it was too far to traverse on foot. The carriage would be faster despite how long it would take to prepare.

“And once that is settled, I want to know everything about this Colin you mentioned,” Matthew said.

Miriam’s face was suddenly unreadable. “Fine.”

Matthew had no time to linger on his sister’s sudden change in mood. Instead, he rocked back on his heels. His blood was heated with the anticipation of seeing Tabitha again and ensuring she was well. He would not make another mistake with her. Matthew felt as though he ...

He loved her. Perhaps he had always loved her and had simply refused to acknowledge it, so great was his desire for Rosemary. Now, she was gone from his life forever, and Tabitha was his whole future. If he could just convince her to stay, she would be his beloved Duchess of Hillsburgh, and he would be her doting husband for as long as they both lived.