Page 62 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart
“I do not understand. You did not complain of any malady whilst we were getting ready for the party. You seemed to be looking forward to it.” Grace closed the door softly behind her and approached Caroline.
She took her sister’s hands. “Oh, Grace,” she whimpered. “I do not know what to do. All I know is I cannot stay in this house withthat mananother moment.” She turned away, covering her mouth with her hands to muffle the sobs that were threatening to come boiling out of her.
Grace sighed. “Not this again. I thought you had settled this in your heart–to stay with James and work things out.”
Caroline swung around on her heel. “I am not referring to James, although he was not much help,” she began. Anger flared to the surface. “It is Lord Highclere.”
Grace frowned. “Your father-in-law? What on earth has he done? I know that you have felt uncomfortable with him ever since the wedding, but it may just take some more time for you to get to know him–”
“It is not that. I did not know why I had felt so uncomfortable around him. At first, it was the way he looked at me. Then it was the preference he showed to Lady Beatrice and the maddening way he put her wishes before that of his son and our marriage. But I have learned something this night that made it all too clear that I can not remain in this house.”
Grace cocked her head to the side, looking as if she were about to lecture a belligerent child. “Caroline, things cannot be that bad. Lady Beatrice has gone from the house, and I dare say she will never return.”
“Lord Highclere cheated!” Caroline blurted. Tears once again sprang to her eyes, only this time, they were born of anger and regret. It was all so unfair. She had wed James to save the family, and Lord Highclere had been lying to them all this time. Caroline stilled.
But could she really regret her marriage to James? Things had been good between them at Pembroke Manor. And she had begun to think they could be that way again if only they could be left alone.
Shaking her head, she began to pace the length of the room, needing an outlet for her emotions.
Grace sank into a chair. “What are you saying?” she asked softly. Evidently, the shock of the news was as strong for Grace as it had been for her.
“You heard me correctly. I overheard Lord Highclere in the smoking room just now, boasting to his friends about his game with Father. Apparently, he was cheating the entire time. Father ran out of money to barter, and so he first bid Pembroke. When he lost it and had nothing left to give, he offered Lord Highclere my hand in exchange for cancelling the debt.”
Grace’s face dissolved into one of complete and utter horror. “No! I cannot believe it.”
“I can. Lord Highclere may seem a decent man, but underneath that cool exterior is a devil.”
Grace sprang to her feet. “If he cheated, then, then….” Grace stuttered. Finally, her outrage at the situation seemed to fit the circumstances. “Your marriage to James–”
“I know,” Caroline lamented. “All for nought.”
“Do not say that. I have seen how you look at James, especially tonight. It is not his fault that his father lied to all of us.” Grace came to stand beside her, gripping her arm. As if that would change Caroline’s mind.
“Be that as it may, I cannot stay here. Lord Highclere enacted our family’s ruin and then used it as leverage to get a wife for his son.” Caroline hurried to the wardrobe and removed a carpet bag from the bottom drawer. She began stuffing her more simple attire into the bag, not caring if they rumpled.
Grace followed her, standing aside with her hands splayed. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“I am going home. There is no telling if James will decide to go up against his father in this, and I cannot wait around to see if he will rise to the occasion.” Caroline continued to pack her bag.
“But he dealt with Lady Beatrice. Does he not deserve credit for that?” Grace asked.
Caroline left the end of the bed where she had propped her bag and went over to the writing desk. She rummaged through the desk flatware and found her journal. She took it out of the drawer and retrieved a few letters from her mother and friends. Grace had followed, right on her heel. Caroline turned, glancing over her shoulder.
“He told Lady Beatrice to leave without consulting his father in the middle of the night. How can I know he will do the same when faced up against his father in the light of day?”
“But it is still night,” Grace said.
Caroline huffed. “You know what I mean. James is terrified of his father. I doubt very much he will have the wherewithal to go against him face-to-face.”
Caroline walked over to the bed and stuffed the bundle of letters and her journal into the bag. Grace did not follow this time. Her shoulders slumped. “Very well, then I am coming with you.”
Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. “Let us be off before the party ends. I do not want to risk seeing Lord Highclere again.”
Grace nodded. “I shall just pack my things.”
“I will ring for Hammond; she can help you with anything you require.” Caroline finished packing her small bag. It would not do to pack everything, for she did not expect to leave James forever--only until she could figure out her next course of action.
While Grace was packing, Caroline went downstairs and called the butler over. Thankfully most of the guests were in the ballroom, dancing the night away or enjoying the refreshments. She motioned the butler over, and he hurried to come to her, standing on the bottom step of the grand staircase.
