Page 66 of The Dreaming Beauty
“Iris,” Aster hissed. “Calm yourself.”
“Filth?” Mr. Robinson scoffed. “Madam, I am the guest of honor today, or did you not hear?” His eyes went to Tansy’s. “If you had married me, it would have been a great favor to you, if for no other reason than to be rid of these outspoken relations of yours.”
Tansy had done her best to put her frustration for the man behind her and had even felt quite forgiving, until this moment. Her hands fisted at her sides.
“Marry you?” His Grace scoffed. “What an idea!”
“And why not?” Mr. Robinson asked. “Surely a duke would have no interest in her. She’s the daughter of nobody knows who.”
There it was. The statement she had suspected he would throw at her months ago was now blurted as plain as day for the eager ears around them to hear. A wave of dizziness washed over her.
“Your accusation is false, Mr. Robinson,” Iris growled.
There were at least a dozen people creeping closer to them, and more who stood from their blankets to catch what was going on. Daisy whimpered and cowered behind Tansy. This was supposed to have been a safe place for her, outside with the crowd spread out on the lawn. Tansy took Daisy’s hand and squeezed it.
“If she has a parentage to claim, then tell me,” Mr. Robinson demanded. “Tell us all.”
Tansy’s heart pounded in her chest, and her eyes went to the ground in humiliation. Why would her aunts not speak up? Were the secrets they had guarded so long worth keeping even after such public disgrace? What little reputation she had was about to be slaughtered.
“She is the daughter of a duchess,” Marcus said.
Tansy’s head shot up.
He smiled at her, his confidence shining in his eyes.
“A duchess?” Mr. Robinson balked. “That’s ridiculous.”
Marcus nodded to verify his claim. “I have a wedding-date record and a wedding portrait to prove it. Her aunts here can confirm what Miss Tansy and I already know.”
Iris’s chin trembled, but no words came out. Aster had grown pale.
Mr. Robinson laughed, breaking the deafening silence. “Next you are going to tell me that her father was the duke and she isn’t the product of a wayward mother.”
Daisy stepped forward. She was still hunched in fear, but her eyes met Mr. Taylor’s, her voice small and shaking. “But he was a duke. Her father was Richard Knightly, the eighth Duke of Westmorland. He was killed before she was born.” Her gaze turned to Mr. Robinson, and her whole body began to tremble. “Will you leave her alone now? My dead sister was no woman of sin, and she deserves your respect.”
Tansy’s hand covered her mouth, and she forgot to breathe. Daisy’s bravery had revealed the secret Tansy had longed to know. She had a father. His name was Richard, and he had kind eyes. The kindest eyes. A tear raced down her face. She opened her arms and threw them around Daisy. “Thank you. Thank you for telling me.” Choking on a sob, she pressed her face close to Daisy’s and kissed her cheek. Tansy had gone from being orphaned to being a daughter again. The name of her father meant a surname, a family, a heritage.
* * *
The truth was finally set free. Marcus watched Tansy embrace her young aunt and wished he could erase the pain that would follow this revelation. With all the rejoicing of having her past come to light, there would be an equal amount of regret. Even with the stories and the paintings of a bygone man, the father she longed to know was still dead. He knew what she would suffer, because his own father was lost to him long ago.
Marcus met his brother’s shocked eyes.
“How is this possible?” Simon asked.
It was hard to explain in their current situation, and it was Tansy’s history to share. Instead of responding, Marcus examined the man next to him who had been the instigator behind this scene. He’d gathered his name was Mr. Robinson, and he did not know the man, but what he saw he did not like. He also did not like that this special moment for Tansy was being shared with half the town.
He put his arms above his head and waved to the other attendees hovering closer and closer. “Return to your picnic, everyone. There is nothing more to see here.” He put his hand on Simon’s arm. “Help me get this family out of here. They need some privacy to process everything.”
Simon nodded and went to Tansy and Daisy. Marcus’s instinct was to pull him back, but his stomach soured with the realization that his brother probably had more of a right than he did to comfort Tansy now. He had never been jealous of his brother, which was rather amazing considering everything Simon had that Marcus did not, but he certainly was now. He stepped into action and took Iris’s elbow. She appeared small and dazed. Aster was shaken too, but she was more alert. She nodded at him and followed them toward the Bellvues’ house.
Once the family was seated around the drawing room, much as they always sat at Rose Cottage—all squeezed onto one sofa, though the order was slightly different, with Tansy sandwiched between Aster and Iris—Mrs. Bellvue flew into the room. “I demand to know what has happened to ruin my party. Your Grace? Please tell me you have an explanation.”
Simon turned to Marcus for help, but then he cleared his throat. It seemed that for the first time he was going to take the initiative. “Mrs. Bellvue, we have a sensitive situation here. Might we borrow this room for just a moment to take care of it?”
Her thin eyebrows launched upward as if this sort of news was more exciting than a disruption to her party. “What sort of situation?” She looked to each of them for an answer.
Simon put his hand on her back and ushered her from the room. “We will be but a few moments. Please, see to your other guests.” He shut the door on her as he finished the last word, preventing any argument. Placing his back on the handle, he sighed. “I do hope someone can explain to me exactly what just happened. Is Miss Tansy my cousin, or am I imagining what I just heard?”
