Page 63 of The Duke of Scandal

I’m a working man and I’ll be damned if I care what he thinks of my appearance. But, I would not disgrace Rebecca. So, I will make as much effort as I can.

It went against the grain. Appearances did not translate to character. But Edward was a Duke and Rebecca, from the family of a Duke.

“Is it Edward?” Lucius asked, head high and face unafraid.

Rebecca looked at him, stricken. He took her hand, stroking it comfortingly.

“Remember. I am your husband. Nothing can change that. If he wants to shout and bluster, then we will endure it as we do a storm on the lake. And just like the storm, he will blow himself out and be on his way.”

“I do wish the two of you would get along,” Rebecca said plaintively. “It would make life so much easier. He is my brother after all.”

“There will be no quarrel on my side,” Lucius told her, holding her hand to his chest. “I will bow and grovel if that is what he wants. Anything for you.”

“He will not want that. Just…oh, I don’t know what he wants anymore. After that advertisement in the newspaper, he clearly has decided to get married himself. And to a Worthingham also!”

“Exactly. He cannot be critical of you for marrying below your rank if he has done the same thing,” Lucius said soothingly.

“Edward may not see it like that,” Rebecca said, chewing her lip.

“Then I will face his wrath, man to man, and if he will not see reason, then ask him to leave.”

There came the sound of someone moving through the house and then the back door opened. Rebecca jumped at the sound and then burst out laughing as the Dowager Countess, all dressed for travel, stepped out.

“Lady Worthingham!” Rebecca exclaimed. “I thought you were my brother!”

“Edward? Oh, he had not even heard of this place when I left to come here. Your secret is safe, my dear.”

“Not anymore, Lauren,” Olivia said. “Rebecca gave him the name of this house and the district it was in. He will be coming.”

Lauren put a hand to her chest. “Oh my! Oh dear dear dear. That was not part of the plan, Olivia dear. However did you allow that to happen? We agreed that this meeting should take place on neutral ground. Why, coming to Greyhame might let your particular cat out of the bag.”

Lucius went into the kitchen and emerged with a chair for the Dowager Countess. He was only following half of their conversation, if that.

“What cat would that be, Lady Bolton?” he asked.

A quick glance at Rebecca brought a shrug of confusion from her.

“Never you mind what cat,” the Dowager Countess said sternly. “Cats should stay in bags until they are ready to be let out. That’s my motto. No better-kept secret than one which has never been spoken. That’s another.”

“It all sounds very conspiratorial, I must say,” Lucius commented.

“Do you have any idea where Edward is or when he might arrive?” Rebecca said.

“No, child. I was strictly adhering to the plan,” the Dowager Countess said airily.

“Our plan?” Lucius asked.

“Our plan.” Olivia and the Dowager Countess said simultaneously.

“And the first part of it has worked like a dream,” the Dowager Countess crowed. “It was a stroke of genius, Olivia, to put the announcement into the newspaper. I could never hope to forge Harriet’s handwriting, but her cousin Eleanor did so beautifully. Though I must say, she was all too pleased to acquiesce. I do believe that devilish girl has been practicing.”

“Wait, you’re saying that the announcement of Edward and Harriet’s engagement was written by…the two of you?” Lucius asked incredulously.

“Yes, of course. We needed a way of pushing those two wayward young people together. Harriet was set on marrying some frightful graybeard for the sake of the family, and Edward was not much better.”

“The silly boy would have married for the same reasons as your daughter and been just as miserable,” Olivia volunteered. “Plain as the nose on your face they were meant to be together.”

Rebecca was half-gaping and half-smiling. Lucius knew how she felt. He couldn’t believe the sheer audacity of the two women. It was more than he would ever have dared.

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