Page 10 of The Redemption of the Shrew

Chapter 3

Gloriana left for London the following day. If everyone, including Philippe de Bellechasse, saw it as a flight, so be it. In London, there was honest work for her, whereas in Lancashire, she would have to be polite until he left, after which she would most likely mope for a bit and then return to London anyway. Much as she loved her family, she preferred to mend her battered heart far from their amused or irritated eyes.

And also away from the lamentations of the elderly relation who acted as her chaperone in London. She wanted a fresh start on her own. “I’ve decided to dispense with Cousin Maria,” she told her brother. “She fusses and frets me to death. I’m old enough to do without.”

“Unwise,” he said. “People look askance at a single woman living alone.”

“Yes, and I have no patience with it,” she said. “As long as I don’t receive gentleman callers, why should there be any objection?”

“There shouldn’t,” Miles said, “but nevertheless there will be. And although I don’t anticipate any scurrilous gossip on Lord Hythwick’s part—he is not such a fool as that—the very fact that he did not ask you to marry him will give rise to talk.”

He was right, drat the man. She rolled her eyes. “And people just love talking about us. Honestly, the only difference between the Warrens and many other families is that we sow our wild oats in public. If they choose to think he decided against me because I sowed mine elsewhere, so be it.”

He couldn’t disagree. He’d created a huge scandal years earlier, as had Daisy, and their cousin Colin had been quite a rake before his marriage. Their ancestors had been much the same.

“Cousin Maria doesn’t do much chaperoning,” Gloriana went on. “She’s tired or unwell much of the time, so I have to go to balls and other entertainments with friends, such as Alice Stowe. I’ll continue to do so.”

“Nevertheless, it’s the appearance of having a female companion that counts,” he said. “Why not keep Cousin Maria for now but retire her at Christmastide? I daresay she’ll be happy to join her sister in Kent. By then, the talk should have died down, and you can reconsider this decision.”

He was a dear, protective brother and a dratted nuisance. “No, I want to get rid of her now. She’s in Kent for the summer. I shall simply write and tell her to stay there. I’m sure she’ll be relieved.”

Exasperated, he said, “I only want what’s best for you, love. It’s highly unpleasant being shunned, as Daisy and I can both attest.”

“But you both got your happy endings.” Whereas I never shall. “Society won’t shun me. I’ll tell everyone Cousin Maria was too unwell to remain in London, and that I am looking about me for a replacement. After a while, people will become accustomed to my living alone and think no more about it.”

“That’s wishful thinking, and you know it.” He gave an exasperated sigh. “I wish you had let me call Hythwick out. I would have made short work of him.” Miles had arrived just as the earl was climbing into his carriage. He would have dragged him right back out if Gloriana hadn’t got in the way, shouting to the coachman to drive off.

“After which you would have to flee the country? Don’t be absurd. What about Melinda and the children? And don’t say Julian Kerr could just as well have called him out, for he and Daisy are about to marry! I refuse to let my unfortunate experience with Hythwick cause harm to anyone in my family.”

“Philippe looked as if he would have been happy to finish the job.”

She felt herself redden. Seriously annoyed now, she retorted, “He had half-killed him already.”

“Rightly so,” Miles said, “but now we shall all be obliged to pretend that nothing happened. How do you propose to behave when you meet Hythwick in public?”

She thought about it. “I suppose that depends on him. He will mostly likely be distant and polite, since he is obsessed with propriety—”

Miles made a rude noise.

“The appearance of propriety, then, and won’t want to risk arousing my family’s enmity any more than he already has. I come off far worse in this situation, for everyone will see me as a rejected spinster.” Better than a ruined one, which would be the result of a duel and the ensuing scandal. “If I can tolerate that, then so must you.”

He grunted reluctant acknowledgement, and she hugged him.

What a pity she couldn’t escape Elspeth as well. God only knew why her maid was in such a foul mood. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she seemed subdued. In any other woman, Gloriana would have suspected a hearty bout of tears, but Elspeth never wept.

“For God’s sake, cheer up,” she told the maid. “I need comfort, not surliness. I should leave you here in Lancashire.”

“As you wish, Miss Gloriana,” Elspeth said in a wooden voice. Gloriana stared, realizing that Elspeth wouldn’t at all mind staying behind. Being addressed as Gloriana rather than Glow was particularly ominous.

“I don’t wish to leave you here,” Gloriana protested. “It’s just that we have a long way to go, and it’s easier with a pleasant traveling companion.”

“I beg your pardon, Miss Gloriana,” Elspeth said, “but it is beyond me to be pleasant just now.” She spread a gown on the bed and folded it methodically.

“Why? You’re not the one who was almost violated. You’re not the one who drove away the only man you ever loved.”

Elspeth’s lip wobbled. Something must have seriously upset her, for ordinarily she would scold Gloriana about her mistreatment of Philippe. She’d done it often enough in the past.

“Is something wrong? Because if it is, just tell me and get it over with.”