AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After straightening the room and packing her baggage, Felicity descended to the taproom to await whoever would be coming to fetch her. If Rathnelly had sent for her family, Felicity doubted she would have very long to wait, despite it being some distance for any of them to travel. She should have asked him who he had summoned but realized he might not have bothered to tell her, even if she had thought to ask.
It was mid afternoon before she finally heard the clatter of a sudden arrival, and Felicity’s patience had been stretched quite thin.
“Wexford, I should have known you would be the one to come for me,” she said by way of greeting.
“I could barely believe it when that ridiculous coxcomb Mr. Carrington was insisting he had seen one of my sisters-in-law in company with the Barrington children, but when we began to make inquiries, I’m sure you can imagine our surprise when it became obvious that no one in the family actually knew where you were. In fact, no one had seen you for months. And then, of course, Rathnelly sent word.”
The terrible calm of Wexford’s voice made anxiety pool in Felicity’s midsection, but her only outward response was to lift her chin a notch higher.
“I do apologize for putting you to the trouble, Your Grace.”
“Putting me to the trouble,” he repeated, apparently dumbfounded. “You have no idea the stir you’ve caused. You’re only lucky that it is I who has come to collect you and not your father.”
“I am sure that was never even a question, Your Grace, so you needn’t make such a threatening statement. You and I are both fully aware that Father wouldn’t be able to tear himself away from little Augustus for something so insignificant as a fourth daughter.”
She must have allowed a little too much pent up emotion to show in her words, as they were met with a stunned silence from Wexford for the briefest moment.
“Lady Felicity, come now, surely you realize your family loves you and would not support such a start as this. Going into service? What would happen to Lady Grace’s prospects if word got out what you have been up to? Because now that Carrington knows, you can be sure that it is a distinct possibility.”
Heat was rising within her once more, but Felicity refused to give in to it. She knew quite well that Gracie didn’t care in the least, as they had discussed it at length. But since trouble had arrived, Felicity didn’t want to include her sister in it, so she held her silence. If Grace’s involvement in her scheme hadn’t yet been revealed, Felicity had no intention of doing her sister the disservice.
“Wexford, Your Grace, I truly appreciate your concern, but this is my life to live. I did not wish to make my debut. I was clear about that, but no one would listen. I needed something far more fulfilling to do with myself. This position was exactly what I was looking for. I only wish I had been allowed to keep it.”
“Have you run mad?” her brother-in-law demanded. “You are a young lady of noble birth. You are doing a disservice to Rathnelly and his family by your very presence. Surely, you are not so simple-minded as to not realize the scandal that will attach itself to everyone involved if this becomes known, which I can assure you it will.”
“You could prevent it from becoming known,” Felicity insisted.
“Felicity,” Wexford broke in, “was this your convoluted way to avoid a Season? Did you think to compromise Rathnelly into marriage so that you wouldn’t have to make your debut?”
Feeling as though all her blood were pounding into her face, Felicity felt lightheaded for the briefest moment as she stared at her brother-in-law in horror.
“I can assure you that being compromised into an inconvenient marriage was and is the furthest thing from my mind.” She managed to utter the words as firmly and proudly as possible, even though a part of her merely wished the ground would open and swallow her to end the awful moment.
“Well that hardly matters, as it is what will have to happen, regardless of what your wishes might have been. I have only stopped here to make certain you hadn’t run off once more before I go to assure Rathnelly of exactly what must take place.”
Felicity was finally struck mute for a moment before she was filled with purpose once more.
“No, Wexford, Your Grace, I beg of you. I thought you had come to collect me home. You cannot speak to Rathnelly. He is furious with me, and I suppose rightly so, as I told him so many lies. Surely, you wouldn’t wish to see me wed with a man who hates me. You cannot force me upon him, it wouldn’t be right or fair.”
“Well, you should have thought of that before you dragged everyone into your adventure, my lady.”
“I have done nothing of a compromising nature, Wexford, and you needn’t stand there casting judgment upon me.”
“Have you never been alone in the same room with the duke, then? In your role as, what was it? Companion to his daughter? Did you never have to seek direction or instruction from him or discuss any sort of situation involving his daughter?”
Hot colour splashed across her cheekbones, but she held her chin firm and met her brother-in-law’s gaze.
“Nothing untoward ever took place, Your Grace, and well you ought to know it.”
“That is neither here nor there, my dear, and wellyouought to know it. Your presence there without a chaperone compromised you the moment you set foot in his house.”
“Could we not ignore it? Brazen it out? No one need know. My conscience would certainly be clear, as we all know nothing happened.”
“I’m trying to keep my patience uppermost, my lady, as I’m aware your family has neglected you in the last year or two, but surely, you must have known this could only lead to disaster. In fact, you ought to be grateful Rathnelly is going to offer for you.”
“But he isn’t going to offer for me. He brought me to this inn and sent for you to come collect me. You could surely prevent the gossip, couldn’t you?”
“Trying would only make it worse. Have you no sense?”
