Page 145 of Harpy of the Ton
“No!” Lawrence cried. “For devil’s sake, woman—can’t you understand? She’s gone!”
She turned. “Gone? What do you mean, gone?”
“She’s left us.”
“Bella? Has she taken the children?”
“No—they’re in the garden.”
Sophie shook her head. “No,” she said. “Not Bella—I could understand if it was that Mrs. Duffy from the other end of the village—she’s got a right wanderin’ eye. Lord knows how many different men have fathered them kids of hers. ButBella? No.”
“Oh, fuck,” Ned growled.
“Uncle Ned!”
“Sheknows, doesn’t she?” Ned said.
Lawrence nodded.
“Did you tell her, or did she find out?”
“She found out—and now she’s gone.”
“You fool,” Ned growled. “You bloody, fucking fool!”
“Uncle Ned, what’s—”
“I bloodytoldyou, didn’t I? I said this would happen if you continued to deceive her.”
“For heaven’s sake!” Sophie said. “Will one of you tell me what’s happened to my friend?”
“She’s back with her fiancé,” Lawrence said, wincing at the bitterness in his voice. “She decided that a life of a duchess, withbig houses and fancy clothes, was better than a life with them that love her.”
“Shewhat? You’re making no sense.”
“He speaks the truth, Sophie,” Ned said.
“Uncle?”
“It’s not my confession to make, Sophie, love. Go on, Lawrence—tell my niece what you’ve done.”
Lawrence’s head throbbed and he pressed his fingertips against his temples—but the pain persisted.
“Bella… She’snotBella,” he said. “She’s Lady Arabella Ponsford. And she’ll soon be”—he drew in a sharp breath as bile rose in his throat—“she’ll soon be the Duchess of Dunton.”
“You’re jesting,” Sophie said.
“Of course he is, Sophie, love,” Sam said. “Aren’t you, Mr. Baxter? What would a duchess be doin’ with the likes of us?”
“I speak the truth,” Lawrence said. “Bella had no idea who she was until this morning. She…”
He drew in another breath.Sweet Lord, this was hard!
“Sh-she lost her memory in an accident.”
“I know,” Sophie said. “She said how you were helping her to remember everything. But…”
The color drained from her face.
