Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

" R ise and shine, Your Grace!"

Seraphina jerked, hitting her head on the headboard as her lady's maid drew the curtains, letting in the morning light.

She groaned. "Must you do that right now?"

Leticia hummed as she bent over beside Seraphina's bed. "You'll feel better after your bath, if you'll forgive my saying so."

Seraphina opened one eye and then almost screamed as sunlight assaulted her eyes.

She burrowed under the blankets moaning in misery as she listened to her maid drag out the chamber pot from under her bed, the nauseating scent of vomitus filling the room. She heaved and swallowed spit holding her breath until she heard the door open and close.

Her head was pounding as if an entire marching band was drumming beneath her skull. She clutched her temples trying to rub the pain away, her eyes scrunched closed. She could feel the sunlight on her skin.

Where's a nice dark cloudy morning when you need it?

The thought of opening her eyes and experiencing daylight was almost too much to bear. She would have berated herself for her behavior that night before —drinking so indiscriminately —but she lacked the energy to do so.

The door opened again. "Your bath is ready Your Grace," her maid announced in what Seraphina considered was an unnecessarily loud voice.

She nodded very slowly, crawling out of bed like an infant and then standing still to let her maid relieve her of her nightgown, and then lead her slowly towards the bath.

She sank into it with a sigh of relief, having managed thus far without opening her eyes.

Leticia, her maid, very gently soaped her up, taking special care to massage her head as she washed Seraphina's hair.

As she rose out of the bath, Seraphina tentatively blinked her eyes open, allowing herself to squint as she got used to the light.

"Thank you, Leticia," she murmured gratefully, as her maid dried her slowly before going to the wardrobe to choose a suitable morning gown.

Seraphina remembered that her husband was in residence, she blushed deeply, remembering how she'd spoken to him the night before. She had no excuse, except that she was rather annoyed at him for his abandonment of her.

This was not what she had signed up for.

Everyone in the Bon Ton pitied her—everyone knew how neglected she was.

It was embarrassing to say the least.

She hated that even with all that, when he had bothered to grace her with his presence it had been to berate her. Who did he think he was to judge her? All she had done was have some dinners, buy some clothes, and replenish the wine cellar. How dare he call her extravagant for that? She happened to know that he had all his suits handmade by a specific designer in London. Just one of those suits was enough to feed the entire household for a month. She didn't understand where he got the nerve.

By the time she was finished stewing, her headache had disappeared, helped along by the special tea brought to her by Leticia, and brewed by the housekeeper.

The irony was that it was she who had taught the housekeeper to make the tea, having had many an occasion to make it for her father. It filled her with horror to do anything that could be taken as following in her father's footsteps—another thing she had to blame Gerard for.

She straightened her gown ready to go out and face her husband, but then Leticia came back into the room, a note in hand.

She held it out to Seraphina, "This came from Pennington House, Your Grace. The messenger said it was urgent."

Seraphina slouched the note from her and opened it quickly, her eyes flew over it, chest constricting and fear.

Darling girl,

I need you. I don't know what to do. You have to help us. Please come now.

Tessa.

Seraphina's stomach dropped. There wasn't much in the note to tell her what the matter might be so of course her mind took her to the worst things that could have happened.

At least I know that Tessa is still alive or was when she wrote this note.

She pushed past Leticia grabbing her cloak. "I have to go. Should His Grace ask after me, tell him I don't know when I'll be back."

Leticia curtsied. "Yes, Your Grace."

She swept out of the room and down the stairs.

"Good morning, Uncle," Gerard said as he entered the dining room and took his seat at the head of the table.

His uncle, the Earl of Astor and his late mother's older brother, was already sitting at the foot of the table, nursing a coffee.

Lord Astor was not much of an eater in the morning, but he was a stickler for making an appearance at the breakfast table.

"Morning Gerard. I understand from my valet that there was some kerfuffle with your wife last night. I take it you beat her into submission?"

Gerard rolled his eyes as he indicated with a nod that the footman should indeed pour him coffee. "I think she will suffer enough this morning from the hangover she undoubtedly has. No need to cause her more pain."

"I thought we arrived in the city to remind her of her place. Surely, you're not about to abnegate?"

Gerard gave a put-upon sigh. "Of course not, Uncle Erasmus. Do not be obtuse."

"Well then? How do you intend to handle her?"

"That is certainly none of your business."

"Is it not? Well then, fine. What of the harvest? While you gallivant about the city, are you sure of the hands you've left that job in?"

"Harrison has been my steward for years."

"Indeed. But he never expected he'd be serving a duke . Irondale is a much larger proposition than Hampshire ever would have been."

Gerard glared at him. "Are you saying he's incapable?"

"I am saying you should be there, supervising."

"Do you not think I know that? But I must deal with this woman before she spends all the money I have yet to make."

He looked up to see the subject of their conversation walking past the dining hall.

He stood up and called to her, "Your Grace?"

Seraphina stopped short and peered into the dining hall, a frown on her forehead. It cleared when she saw who was there.

"Your Grace," she said, taking a step towards the door, "Lord Astor. Good morning," her voice was subdued, a very different aura from the one she'd exuded the night before.

"Good morning," Gerard answered, his gaze sweeping over her frame, from her expertly coiffed brunette hair to her square cut, periwinkle blue morning gown, her black walking boots and white gloves. "Are you going out?"

She straightened up and lifted her chin. "Yes, I am."

"Where are you going?"

Pink spots appeared on her cheeks. "I do not believe that is any of your business."

"I have no interest in your beliefs, merely your activities. Where are you going and how much is it going to cost me?" Gerard demanded, feeling a surge of anger go through him at her refusal to divulge her plans.

Is she meeting a gentleman?

"Such rudeness is uncalled for," she said coldly.

He laughed, walking towards her. "Rudeness? You mistake me. I merely meant to emphasize to you that I am in earnest. Where are you going?"

She took a deep breath looking annoyed. "I am headed to my father's house. I shall be back before dinner."

"Your father?' Gerard said skeptically. "I thought you hated the man."

"What has that to do with anything?"

"Why would you go there? Tell me the truth!" Gerard's voice echoed with the force of his ire.

He felt compelled to grab onto Seraphina and forbid her to go anywhere. To remind her who she belonged to.

He could not fathom where this need had come from.

Seraphina's face twisted, "Are you calling me a liar? I assure you sir, I am not. Now if I am to be back before dinner, I need to go. Excuse me," she said curtly before turning away and marching off.

Gerard looked after her in disbelief.

Who was this woman he'd married?

Seraphina felt quite offended at the way her husband had spoken to her.

What reason have I given for him to be suspicious of me? She thought resentfully as she walked along at a fast clip down the street to the main road.

She could have taken the carriage but with Gerard's suspicions, she didn't want to. She flagged down a hackney instead and took that to Pennington House.

There was no footman at the door and when she hit the knocker, it took a while for someone to come and let her in. With her anxiety spiking, she opened her mouth to ask for her sister.

"Seraphina!"

She turned to see Tessa hurrying down the corridor and held her hands out towards her sister. "Tessa! What's wrong?"

Tessa clasped her hands, breathing hard. "Come with me." She pulled her towards the drawing room.

"Where's Father?" Seraphina asked in a low voice.

"Passed out in his study. He's ape-drunk from dipping deep all last night and this morning." Tessa's face twisted with disgust.

Seraphina felt a pang of remorse because of her own imbibing. "Is that what's the matter? Was he…a nuisance?"

Tessa gave a deep sigh. "Father making a fool of himself is normal but this morning, we got a letter from the accountants today essentially telling me to reconsider having a Season. There's no money for it! There's no money for anything!" she burst into tears.

Seraphina held her close, patting her hair and murmuring soothing words as Tessa cried, while also trying to think of a solution to this dilemma.

When Tessa had graduated from sobbing to hiccupping, Seraphina put her aside, searching her face. "Tell me exactly what happened."

Tessa took a deep breath. "Well, Father was his usual dissolute self, drinking and gambling and bleeding freely of cash he really didn't have, over and over. It's gotten worse since you were wed, Seraphina. I didn't want to tell you because you had escaped this hell but if I am honest…" she sighed, "We can't pay the maids, we had to let go of all but one footman, we have just a cook instead of a chef and housekeeper. It has not been easy. And now…I am to be denied the chance to escape too?"

A single tear escaped her eye.

Seraphina rubbed her sister's shoulder absently as she tried to think of a way out of this quagmire. Aside from the anger she felt at her father for squandering what should have been their inheritance, she knew she couldn't leave her sister alone in this house for much longer. She did not need Tessa to paint her a picture to know that the viscount was as abusive as ever.

"What happened last night that made you change your mind about telling me what was happening?" she asked Tessa.

Her sister hiccupped and then sniffed wiping the tears from her eyes. "Yesterday when he came home, he was shouting a lot, throwing things about and cursing at me. I was so scared Seraphina."

"Did he hit you?" Seraphina asked with concern, her eyes flying over her sister's frame looking for any sign of injury.

Tessa shook her head. "No, he didn't touch me. He didn't have to. It was terrifying enough watching him tear the house apart accusing us of all sorts of things. I didn't know what to do."

Seraphina rubbed her back harder, "You were right to call me. There's nothing we can do about him. But I promise you I will get you out of this house."

"How? I cannot have a season with no money."

"My husband and I will sponsor your season," Seraphina said with her confidence she was not really feeling.

Her husband's words from that morning echoed in her mind. She would have her work cut out for her to convince him to go along with this idea, especially since he already thought she spent too much of his money. Now she would be proposing to spend more.

She shrugged inwardly.

It's not as if there's an alternative. I cannot leave Tessa in this house to be consumed by the evil that dwells here.

" Are you sure?" Tessa asked, looking at Seraphina so hopefully that it broke her heart.

"I am more than sure. I promise you I will make this happen for you. By the end of this season, you will have a husband and leave this house forever."

Tessa sighed with relief. "Thank you," she said. "Thank you so much."

Seraphina gathered her sister into her arms. "Of course, darling. There's no need to thank me. I am happy to do this for you. And so will my husband."

She crossed her fingers, hoping her lie wasn't too great.