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Even so, Belle didn’t feel any less guilty. She hoped that Lord Winchfield would at least allow her to bring Tom along with her when she moved into his home. That would be a thin silver lining to their marriage.
“Perhaps you should try to get some rest, My Lady,” Hannah suggested kindly. “The Marquess of Winchfield will be joining you for dinner later this evening, will he not? It would be wise to gather your strength before then.”
“Thank you, Hannah, but I don’t think any amount of rest will prepare me for that. I only hope that I do not lose my appetite.”
Hannah only responded with a worried look. Belle patted her hand, forcing a smile onto her face.
“Where is Mother?” she asked the lady’s maid, simply to change the topic to easier things.
“She has accompanied your Father to Lady Crumpton’s tea party.”
“Father?” Belle gasped. “For what reason would he attend a tea party of all things?” And the day after he brought me back home, too.
“I am not sure, My Lady. Perhaps it has something to do with his business.”
“You’re right,” Belle gasped when it dawned on her. “I wouldn’t doubt that there are a few potential business partners at that tea party. Father never misses an opportunity to expand, after all.”
Hannah nodded but Belle barely saw it. Her eyes drifted away from her maid as possibilities sprouted in her mind.
“My Lady, you cannot,” Hannah said softly, her eyes wide. Belle’s thoughts must have been clear as day on her face. “His Grace made sure to let everyone know that you are not to leave the manor grounds.”
“I won’t be long, Hannah, I promise! I can tell them that I’m going to Hyde Park.”
“My Lady, I don’t think...”
But the idea had already rooted itself in her mind and Belle did not want to let go of it so easily.
“You can come with me,” she said quickly. “They won’t think I am trying to run away again if I have you by my side.”
“But what of the coachman? He will know you did not go where you said you would.”
“But by that time, I will already be back home. Father will have grounds to be mad, but he cannot truly do anything since I am still here. And I will make sure that you are not affected at all. I will tell him that you did not know of my plans.”
“My Lady...”
“It is a solid plan, is it not?” Shooting to her feet, she ignored the pinch of pain in her ankle. “Come, let us go before my parents return.”
Hannah lost all her fight. She reluctantly rose to her feet and helped Belle put on a more suitable dress, Belle already anxious with the thought of what she was going to do. It took mere minutes for her to be ready and as she made her way down to the front entrance, she braced herself to deal with the butler.
“My Lady?” he called before she had the chance to escape through the door. “His Grace has informed us that you should not leave this manor.”
“You needn’t worry,” she said, turning to face him. She pretended to be carefree, as if what she was about to do required no thought at all. “I am only going for a walk in Hyde Park.”
“But, My Lady—”
Belle cut in, trying to reassert her dominance as his master. “If you wish to inform my Father about this, then so be it. But I will not be kept in his manor like a prisoner. I am not running away again, and Hannah will be by side the entire time.”
The butler glanced at Hannah, who nodded. Belle was pleased by how calm she looked. He straightened. “Very well, My Lady. But His Grace will hear of this.’'
Belle turned on her heels “I would expect no different,” she called over her shoulder.
She breathed a silent sight of relief as she approached the carriage, but it wasn’t until they had finally taken off that she allowed herself to relax.
