Page 40 of Forgetting the Earl
Humming to herself, Honora clutched the cloak he’d lent her, burrowing deep inside as much to hide her disheveled appearance as to revel in Gideon’s scent. It was early enough that Loretta and, indeed, most of the household, would still be abed.
One of the young footmen opened the door, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He offered to take the cloak, so tired he didn’t so much as blink at her attire, but Honora waved him off. She yawned and quietly made her way up the stairs.
Reaching the safety of her room, Honora shut the door behind her, unable to stop her face from splitting into a grin. Happiness, the kind that suffused you from inside out, filled her. She danced like an idiot around her bed.
Nothing could ruin this day. She simply wouldn’t allow it.
*
Much later, afterhaving a bath and sleeping nearly until it was time for tea, Honora moved quietly down the hall, not wishing to alert Loretta to her presence. The less time she spent in her mother-in-law’s company, the better. She didn’t wish to be drawn into their usual pattern of hurled insults and anger. Honora was far too joyful. A note from Gideon was probably waiting for her in the silver tray by the door.
As she passed the drawing room, Honora caught the scent of freshly baked scones. Her stomach growled, stating the toast, tea, and poached egg she’d had while waiting for her bath hadn’t been nearly enough after the previous night’s activities.
“Harlot,” Loretta hissed from the depths of the drawing room, catching sight of Honora. “Still sneaking about, I see.”
Honora searched for one drop of kindness to douse her rising irritation toward her mother-in-law. She conceded that their current contentious relationship was not wholly Loretta’s fault. Striding into the room, Honora faced the spiteful old woman before her, determined to be polite.
“Good afternoon, Loretta.”
“Scheming whore.”
Honora steeled her resolve. “I can see you’re in a pleasant mood today. Shall I ring for a maid to help you to your room?” Honora snatched a scone from the tray and calmly poured herself some tea. Now would be the time to confess her lovers had all been imaginary, conjured up solely to annoy her mother-in-law, but she doubted Loretta would believe her. She would give Loretta this house, explain her own actions in lying about having a horde of beaux, and move on from all things Culpepper.
With Gideon.
“You’ll grow fat again.” Loretta followed the movement of the scone into Honora’s mouth.
“That isn’t your concern.” Honora nibbled on the scone.
“You know what is my concern, Honora? The Culpepper family name. Which I will no longer allow you to disgrace. I won’t have you in this house, sullying my family and my son’s memory. Prostituting yourself with any man who pays you the least bit of attention. I know everything you’ve done.”
There was another teacup, half-full, sitting on the table before Loretta’s. An empty plate filled with crumbs sat off to the side. A sign Loretta had had a caller while Honora had slept away part of the day.
“I haven’t actually done anything.” Loretta must be listening to the tales being peddled about Honora by Tarrington. He’d been spewing gossip regarding her since her dismissal of him in full view of every guest at the Pemberton ball. Taking a small bite of the scone, she said, “There are things we need to discuss. Things you should know.”
“I agree.” An ugly smirk widened Loretta’s mouth, showing a row of yellowed teeth. “Allow me to start. My son was much too good for you, but he wanted your father’s copper mines. He was to get a child in you, possibly more than one. Then we were going to have you put away due to your fragile state. Locked away for your own safety. I planned on telling everyone you were a danger to yourself and others.”
The scone tasted like dust in Honora’s mouth. “No one would have believed that.”
“Your mother did, as did the rest of your family. They believed every word I said. Especially after your delicate sensibilities wouldn’t allow guests.”
Honora tried to swallow the bit of pastry stuck in her throat and found she could not. “My cousin Emmagene would never have believed you or allowed you to send me away.”
“Yes. Miss Stitch. Horrid girl. Speaks very loudly. Easy to overhear.”
“You’ve been eavesdropping when she visits?”
Loretta only smiled. “I always thought you pathetic. Good Lord, you were so unattractive the first time I caught sight of you I wondered what Dalward was thinking.”
“Not so now,” Honora snapped.
“At the very least, I thought you could provide a child or two. Dalward was disgusted by you. That never changed. But he knew his duty to provide an heir.Barren.” She hissed the word. “Your womb is as putrid as the rest of you.”
Honora clenched her fists, the first stirrings of panic making her heart beat wildly within her chest. How much had her mother-in-law overheard during Emmie’s visits? Too much. Likely everything Honora had planned for Tarrington.
And Southwell.
“Woodridge, Belmont. Tarrington.Montieth,” she spat. “Destroying gentlemen for your own amusement. I heard all about what you did to poor Tarrington after seducing him, you strumpet. Now Southwell, a fine gentleman of great renown, is in your clutches. You entertained Belmont only moments before leaving for Lady Trent’s ball.”
