AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At this point, she wanted to block out the world. Forget the past fortnight, forget the last six years of her life. Perhaps in Venice, she would use an assumed name and become someone completely different. Jack would never find her then, even if he could afford to follow her, which she knew he never could. A new life was in order. A new Tessa.
~*~
Finally, after two days of grieving and wallowing in self-pity, she relented to Roberts’ pleas to allow her family to see her. Louisa raced into the room and swallowed Tessa in a tight hug. Tessa watched as her mother and Emma entered the room with far more reserve.
“Why haven’t you let me see you?” Louisa cried in her ear. “I have been so dreadfully worried about you.”
“I am sorry, Louisa. I needed some time alone.” She pulled away from her sister’s hold and stared at her mother. “How are you?”
“As well as can be expected after discovering what the duke had done.” Her mother gave her a short hug. “I am sorry, Tessa. I had no idea of his plans. He had always treated us with such kindness...I just thought he was a gentleman with a big heart to help us the way he did.”
“As did I.” She turned toward Emma who had barely looked at her since walking into the room. “Emma, I am sorry. I know this has made your first Season very difficult.”
Emma only nodded. “Yes, it has but Mamma has made me understand that none of this was your fault.”
Except, watching her sister, Tessa could see the pain on her face. Emma didn’t completely believe this wasn’t Tessa’s fault. She hoped Emma would come around. She needed time, just as they all did, to grieve their losses.
“How bad is the gossip?” Tessa asked as a footman brought in a tray of tea and biscuits.
Her mother waited for the servant to back out of the room before saying, “It is not good, Tessa. Our names are being bantered about town as if we contrived all this to happen. Poor Emma’s Season is over before it barely began.”
Emma pressed her lips together as if to keep from saying something.
“It will all be over in a week,” Louisa stated with confidence that wasn’t quite believable. “At least they are no longer calling you the Cursed Countess.”
“A small blessing indeed,” Tessa replied. There was no curse. It hadn’t dawned on her until her sister had stated it. Tessa could fall in love and marry without concerns of him dying within a month or two. Jack’s face appeared in her mind as she thought about love. She shoved his deceitful face out of her mind. She refused to consider herself in love with that man any longer.
“I have decided to travel for a month. To get away from all the gossips and memories here.” After making her announcement, Tessa sipped her tea and watched their reactions. They all appeared slightly relieved. “Louisa, would you like to accompany me? I believe you always wanted to see some of the world and Venice should be lovely at this time of year.”
Her mother sipped her tea before replying, “We have been invited to Lady Huntley’s estate in Kent, including Louisa. Lady Huntley thought we might need to get away from town for a while.”
“I see.” And yet, she didn’t see why Louisa couldn’t accompany her. “Louisa, you could still go with me.”
Louisa shook her head.
“She is going to Kent. Lord Huntley will be in attendance and is a very eligible young earl,” her mother decreed.
“Of course,” Tessa muttered.
A knock on the front door gave Tessa a start. She prayed it wasn’t the one man she had no desire to see.
“Who could that be at this hour?” her mother complained.
“My lady, Mr. Raynerson is here to see you,” Roberts said at the threshold.
“I am not at home for him. I have told you that before, Roberts.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“The nerve of that man trying to pay a call on you after what he did,” her mother said with a shake of her head. She rose and indicated that Louisa and Emma should stand as well. “Enjoy your travels, my dear. Pay a call on us when you return.”
Both her sisters gave her long a hug. Louisa whispered that she was sorry but she had no choice but to go to Kent. Emma said nothing but Tessa understood that Mamma had trained her for the past five years on the importance of her first Season and obtaining a good husband. Good, as in, a wealthy, titled husband.
“Good day, Tessa,” her mother said without a look back.
As they left, Tessa sat back in her seat and wondered what now. If Louisa could not travel with her, she supposed a companion must be hired. Even as a widow, she shouldn’t travel alone. How did one hire such a person? She had no idea. “Roberts?”
The sound of footsteps announced the butler’s arrival. “Yes, ma’am?”
