Page 24 of Betting on a Baron
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Fingers knitted togetherbehind her back, Daphne waited for her host, Lady Osbourne, to join her in the gazebo. She and her family had been summoned early to the house party while the majority of the guests, including Ambrose and Alice, were scheduled to arrive within the next few days. Even her father had decided to attend Lady Osbourne’s affair, a rarity for he preferred to stay at home to hunt in the latter months of summer rather than cross the countryside to visit Bath, which was overcrowded with families this time of year. Despite their promise not to force her to marry, Daphne suspected her parents were colluding with Lady Osbourne to find her a match.
Lady Osbourne, dressed in a luxurious lavender silk with a fine lace overlay, appeared in the distance. The matron walked steadily toward Daphne down the long and winding path. Her heart began to race as Lady Osbourne’s smirk came into view. Daphne suspected that her meeting with Lady Osbourne wasn’t to discuss whether or not she was to wed but rather to whom and when.
Daphne backed up and curtsied as Lady Osbourne stepped up into the gazebo.
“Take a seat, my dear.” Her host pointed her cane to one of the two iron chairs that flanked a table with tea and cucumber sandwiches were set upon it.
Daphne didn’t dare argue, and promptly sat in the chair.
Lady Osbourne withdrew an object from her sleeve and handed it to Daphne. “Read it.”
She unfolded the parchment that had been neatly folded into a square and read.
Dear Lady Daphne
Allow me to introduce myself.My name is Amy Silvermoore, but you and the others in your social circle know me as Madame Sinclair. I’m writing to you in hopes you will understand how lucky you are.
Daphne’s fingersgripped the paper. Lucky! How could this woman call her lucky when the man she loved had betrayed her. Daphne refused to read the rest of the missive and began to refold the paper.
“Lady Archbroke went to great lengths to obtain that.” Lady Osbourne pointed her chin in the direction of the half-folded note. “Out of respect for the lady, I suggest you read it until the end.”
Daphne heaved in a deep breath and straightened her spine to fortify herself against what she expected was to be the painful truth behind Ambrose’s meeting with Madame Sinclair.
At the requestof Lord Archbroke, who has been a confidant and friend to me for many years, I agreed to meet with Lord Harlowe for the sole purpose of providing him with information, and not to engage in any pleasures of the flesh. I can assure you that Lord Harlowe’s intentions were entirely honorable and to my surprise the man never wavered. It is rare to find a man who has a strong enough will not to cave to his baser needs.
You can imagine my utter astonishment when I discovered that Lord Harlowe had decided long ago, well before our meeting, to devote his heart, soul and body to only one woman. That lucky woman is you, Lady Daphne.
I offer you my felicitations, and best wishes for the future.
Yours,
Amy S, aka Madame Sinclair
Daphne closedher mouth that hung agape. She read over the letter in its entirety again before murmuring, “I don’t understand.”
“I’m going to hazard a guess that you have been disabused of whatever notion had you ignoring Lord Harlowe for the better half of a year,” Lady Osbourne said.
“Do you understand the meaning of this?”
Lady Osbourne gasped. “Good gracious girl, I’d never dare interfere or read a missive from a PORF…” Her host covered her mouth and then shook her head and continued, “Forget what I said. I mean I’d never read a missive that wasn't intended for me.”
Daphne hadn’t a clue why Lady Osbourne would have used such an unflattering name to refer to Lady Archbroke, but she pushed the peculiar reference and puzzle from her mind and focused on the content of the letter. “The author of this…” Daphne waved the parchment in the air. “Claims Ambrose has been in love with me long before he declared his love to me.”
“Wait. Harlowe declared himself in love?”
“Why do you look so astonished?”
“The boy is a bookworm. Much like my godson Richard. I honestly didn’t think either of them paid any attention to the fairer sex.” Lady Osbourne sat back and sipped upon her cup of tea. “However, if one reflects upon the past…”
Daphne’s head snapped up at the clink of porcelain hitting the table. Lady Osbourne pinned her with a glare that made her want to jump out of her seat and escape the monologue that was surely to follow. But she wouldn’t be able to run fast enough. Though Lady Osbourne was decades older, Daphne was certain the matron would still be able to chase her down and catch her.
Lady Osbourne settled back into her chair and smiled. “Let’s play a game, shall we?”
“What type of game?”
“I shall share a scenario and you determine if it is True or False.”
