Chapter 29

"Now, what is it I must do?" Juliet asked, her expression showing just how perplexed she was. Beside her, Thomas held her hand and looked nervous.

"Frances, I don't like this in the slightest," Anthony growled from where he stood by the front window, his arms crossed defiantly in front of his chest.

"Yes, you've mentioned that a few times," Frances returned.

"But what if something happens? What if she's hurt on my account? I shall never live with myself!" Abigail cried, holding tightly to Juliet's other sleeve.

Frances smiled at them. At long last, she had a family of her own. Anthony, scowling in disagreement. Juliet, seated on the sofa and proud to help but unsure. Thomas, her husband, wanting to be helpful but fearful of the outcome, and Abigail, willing to endure almost anything so long as the people she loved were not even inconvenienced, let alone harmed.

Bringing all of them together had been no small feat.

"Are you sure she won't find me an intruder?" Juliet had asked as Frances led her up to Abigail's apartments.

"No. On the contrary, she's terrified that you'll think of her as nothing more than a sickly girl with nothing interesting to talk about," Frances had promised her.

Within minutes of the introductions, Juliet and Abigail had become inseparable best friends. Frances had even slipped out of the room and returned downstairs when she realized their conversation wasn't going to halt any time soon. She'd nearly collided with Anthony as she closed the downstairs door behind her.

"You're certain that your cousin can keep my sister's secret?" he'd asked, staring over her shoulder at the door as though he wished to spy what was happening.

"You cannot be serious. My cousin kept the man she was in love with a secret for two full years before escaping to Scotland to marry him, and you're questioning her abilities?"

Anthony had actually smiled, and Frances' heart had melted a little bit more. She'd taken his hand and held it tightly, leading him out to the garden and away from his sister's rooms.

"All will be well soon. I promise," she'd said as the warm sunshine lit her face. "When this is behind us, Abigail can return downstairs and live among us again, and Juliet will be her closest friend. I'm already sure of it."

"But what of this plan of yours? How will our scheming bring an end to Sir Perry's torment?"

Just as Frances had begun to explain, she'd lost her footing on a crumbling stone stair. She let out a small cry of fright as she began to fall, but Anthony had scooped her in his arms. As he landed on the stair instead, Frances had been cradled close to him, protected at last. She'd looked up at him and seen the concern on his face, not only for those around him but for her as well.

"Thank you," she'd said softly, touching his hand. "You're my hero."

"I'm afraid I'm not very good at it," Anthony had answered.

"I didn't fall, did I? I think you're rather accomplished. I know Juliet must feel the same way after a lifetime of providing for her happiness."

"Then why does it still feel like a struggle? Every day, I still have to wake in fear that I will fail to keep others safe."

"But you don't have to feel that way, not anymore. I'm here to help you now, and we'll struggle through it together," Frances had replied, reaching up to touch Anthony's cheek. He'd leaned into her palm, closing his eyes briefly as if savoring the warm comfort.

When Anthony opened his eyes once more, there was an intensity to them that Frances had never seen before. This was an awakening, a realization happening right before her eyes that he had found something that he'd never even known he was searching for. With the slightest touch, he'd lifted a lock of hair away from her face, holding it like it had been spun from gold, letting the silky feel of it soothe him somehow.

"Frances, I know this has not been easy for you," he'd said quietly, still watching her intently. "But I want you to know that you are so much more to me than a mere ploy. You are my wife, my duchess, and I love you fiercely."

Frances had felt as if she'd forgotten how to draw breath. Anthony's declaration had been so unexpected that she could only sit with his words and let them wrap themselves around her heart, bringing her the sort of happiness that she'd long feared she would never find. When she could think again, she gazed back at him, her feelings nearly bursting inside of her.

"I love you, too. I have since the very first time we danced."

"I refuse to believe that. I was so odd," he'd replied, wincing before beginning to laugh.

"You were refreshing," Frances had corrected. "No games or pretense or demands for certain manners. You knew what you wanted, even if it was for your own reasons, and you sought to go after it."

When Anthony kissed her, the moment their lips met with such longing but reserved hesitation, Frances knew her entire world was about to change forever.

The memory of that kiss—and of all the ones that had come after—still crept into Frances' mind at the strangest times. Now, though, her thoughts were consumed with protecting Abigail and taking this terrible weight off of Anthony.

"Juliet, it is quite simple. And despite the duke's misgivings, I assure you that you will not be in any danger," Frances explained. "We will simply invite Sir Perry to call and explain to him that the decision is entirely yours by Anthony's own statement. You will refuse to marry him, and that will be the end of it—all while you are pretending to be Abigail."

"What purpose would that serve?" Thomas asked hesitantly.

"It is how we will expose Sir Perry as a fraud. You see, I have the suspicion that Sir Perry doesn't actually wish to marry Abigail. Instead, it is the funds he is after."

"How so?" Anthony asked, warming up to the idea slowly.

"If he had a valid contract and you simply refused to honor it, he could have hauled you in front of the magistrate by now. No, it's simply the money that he's extorting that is his aim. By calling him out and saying you'll agree to it if your sister agrees, then he will either have to give up this fool's errand or attempt to marry someone who is already wed. Juliet is the perfect ruse, for she is already married and cannot legally become his wife."

"That is brilliant, Fran!" Juliet cried out, nodding happily to Abigail.

"But what if this man doesn't confess that the contract isn't valid? What if attempts to force my wife to go with him?" Thomas pressed, his worry growing obvious.

"Then you will step in from where you've been hiding and demand that he release your wife at once. We can even reveal to Anthony at that very moment that his dear sister secretly married without his knowledge and therefore, she cannot marry. That would leave Anthony blameless in this scheme for he had no knowledge of it. Prior to his arrival, Vickers will have brought a constable just in case, all so we can ensure that everyone is safe."

"I'll do it!" Juliet announced proudly, sitting up taller. "Anything to make Abby free from this monster."

"Are you sure, Jules? I cannot have it on my conscience should something happen to you!" Abigail replied mournfully.

"Nothing will happen. We will call him out and make him tear up that damnable piece of paper for good."

Frances beamed confidently, but it took the others a few minutes to come around to her plan. Juliet was obviously the first to approve, followed by a still-reluctant Thomas. He looked at her with such a mixture of pride and adoration that Frances felt a surge of happiness for how everything had turned out for them. Abigail still looked wary, but she nodded for Juliet's sake, which left Anthony as the lone holdout.

"I don't like the thought of that man in this house," he said, taking Frances in his arms after everyone had left the impromptu meeting.

"I don't either. But I despise more the thought of your sister living in hiding or worse, actually having to marry that man. This scheme will work, Anthony. It has to."

Anthony grimaced, and his lips were pressed into a thin, white line. Eventually, he nodded and relaxed only slightly, pulling Frances closer and letting his chin rest against her hair.

"I trust you. I don't have to like it, but I do have to admit that it's a far better scheme than anything I've been able to think up. And if your young cousin can do her part bravely, so can I. Only tell me what I must do."

"You will have to go to great lengths to control your temper," Frances cautioned, looking up at him. "Sir Perry seems to be the vilest man to ever draw breath, and I'm certain he will wish to appear as though he's triumphed over you. Do not let him rile you, not even for Juliet's sake. For now, you'll need to send word to him that you've come to a decision about your sister and this contract. Tell him it will be her decision entirely, and if he can agree to accept her answer once and for all, you will refrain from interfering."

"What if he doesn't agree, but rather insists that I force her to go through with it?" he asked.

"Then we'll inform him that your solicitor will come for all the funds that have been paid so far. Those funds were in payment for breaking the contract, and you're now free of any obligation."

Anthony smiled at her. "I wish I'd thought to take that step a long time ago."

"You couldn't have. You had your sister and her health to consider. Posturing as though you were prepared for a fight in the courts would have been dangerous, for a judge could decide that the contract stands and Abigail must comply."

"What's different now?" he asked, looking alarmed again. Frances smiled reassuringly.

"You have me. And I happen to have a very tricky secret weapon."

"Should I be afraid of you?" Anthony asked with a wry smile, the mistrust on his face almost comical.

"Always," Frances answered, laughing softly. She stood on her toes and kissed him quickly. "But for now, we have a letter to write. I assume you know where to find Sir Perry?"

"He keeps an office on Vale Street. He's often not there, but I can leave it for him."

"Please promise you'll take Vickers, or better yet, a footman or two. I don't like the thought of you being alone where this scoundrel has the upper hand." Anthony nodded, and Frances let go of the breath she'd been holding.

That was easier than I expected, she thought, her suspicions aroused. Perhaps Anthony truly does have reason to fear this terrible man.

"Good. Then let's see to this letter."

"Not so fast," Anthony said, taking her arm gently and pulling her back. He looked bashful once again and said, "We've had enough of treachery and schemes for one morning. Let's see to this list of yours for a little while."

"My list?" Frances asked, knitting her brow. "Oh, for the repairs? I assure you, it can wait until all of this is behind us and Abigail is safe."

"But it's what I want to do, at least for a little while. I want to think of happier things for now, even if it's to be short-lived."

Frances was awestruck at the sentiment. She took Anthony's outstretched hand and they began to walk the house, going room by room. It was truly as though he was seeing these things for the first time, but what actually moved Frances was the stories he could tell in each room.

"As you know, my father passed when I was very young. As such, my mother didn't entertain elaborately, at least not very often. But I remember that every year at Christmastide, it was as though all of her missed events and parties came together into one chaotic collusion. There were visits from friends and relatives, elaborate dinners, intimate parties that would go on through the night until breakfast time, and so much more. Ribbons and garlands were strung everywhere, and I would think there couldn't possibly be a candle left in all of London for every last one of them had to be in this house," he said, smiling to himself.

"It sounds lovely," Frances added softly, longing to hear more.

"Pardon me, I'm sorry for going on about it when you likely didn't have any sort of celebration like that," Anthony stammered, clearing his throat.

"Our celebrations at school were subdued, but they were quite meaningful. Of course, Emma and Agnes returned home for Christmas each year, and I would take turns going with each of them. I don't know that my aunt and uncle ever even found out I wasn't at school! It became something of a game to see how close we could get to the house without them ever learning I was in the city."

"So, you were a fearless, brazen schemer even then. It's no wonder you concocted such a ruse as the one to trap Sir Perry!"

"Whatever it takes to survive," Frances teased lightly. She became serious once more and said, "It is my fervent hope that Abigail's circumstances are corrected immediately and we commence repairing the house, then… we shall host a Christmastide celebration such as the ones your mother adored. We will bring that spirit back to this house."

"I would like that," Anthony said, though he sounded reserved. "I fear that after so much time living with a shroud of grief and secrecy over the house, I wouldn't know how to carry myself with people around."

"There shall be only as many people as you wish, both you and Abigail. And only those of your choosing," Frances promised.

"You won't long for grandeur and opulence instead of moderation and a scattering of friends?"

"Never. I already have all the grandeur I need with you and Abigail, with Juliet and Thomas. And I'm certain that Emma and Agnes are more than sufficient to make up for any others! I don't know that you've sat through an entire tea with the pair of them chattering away. It can be overwhelming if you haven't practiced."

Anthony laughed again, and Frances was delighted to see his heavy mood begin to lift. She was determined to do whatever it took to ensure that his darkened spirit never returned.