AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Thirty-One
No one had spoken in a while. Since everything happened yesterday, her parents and Julia had barely said anything to each other, and Lily could not bring herself to speak either. The shock ran deep and they were all trying to sort through everything they had found out.
Lily ran her fingers over the keys of her pianoforte. Behind her, Julia sat with one of the poetry books Hannah—Lady Belle—had favored. She wasn’t reading however, simply flipping through the pages.
Now and again, Lily pressed a key and let the sound fill the silent living room. There was an empty space in this home ever since Lady Belle was taken away. Nothing felt the same anymore.
She looked up at the sound of the loud knock she heard from the living room, but then she looked back down. She supposed that might be Stephen. Lily had been waiting for him to arrive ever since her father had gone down to see him. As for what her father had revealed to them about who he truly was, Lily hadn’t even given herself the time to think on it.
To think they had both lied.
“Girls,” their mother called from the doorway. Both Lily and Julia turned expectantly toward her. Lily instantly knew something was wrong.
“Mother?” she asked, coming to a stand.
“Someone is here to see us,” Anne said, and she stepped further into the room, allowing someone else to enter.
It was Lady Belle, in all noblesse glory. She was dressed much different than the last time Lily saw her, in a pale-yellow day dress. It looked to be of the same style as the one Stephen had bought for her. Her hair was no longer in braids, but was done in a updo with ringlets falling down around her face. Standing by her side was a simple looking girl in a grey dress. Her maid, Lily presumed.
“Hannah?” Julia gasped.
The girl by Lady Belle’s side widened her eyes in surprise. Lily took a step forward. “You are Hannah?” she asked the girl.
She didn’t get the chance to respond. Lady Belle sighed, drawing the attention back to her and she came further into the room. “I’m terribly sorry for intruding like this. I...wasn’t sure you would care to see me again.”
“It seems to me you’re here to give your explanation,” Lily said. She chose to sit in one of the armchairs, motioning for her to sit as well. “Very well.”
“Would you like a cup of tea, My Lady?” Anne asked her and Lady Belle quickly shook her head.
“There is no need to refer to me so formally,” she said. “I would much rather you call me by my given name, as we have been doing all along. Although, a cup of tea would be lovely. Thank you.”
Anne didn’t seem to know how to respond to that. Lily saw the conflict in her mother’s eyes before she left toward the kitchen.
Lady Belle finally chose to sit, her servant sitting by her side. She looked nervous, her eyes darting everywhere but Lily and Julia. Julia came to Lily’s side, facing Lady Belle.
Lady Belle cleared her throat. “First, I would like to apologize for all the lies I have told you over the past few weeks. I had a reason for it all, however, which I am here to explain.”
At that moment, Anne re-entered the living room with a tray of tea. Lily was not surprised by her mother’s swiftness, considering it was clear she was eager to hear what Lady Belle had to say as well.
“Thank you, Anne,” Lady Belle said with a fleeting smile. She accepted the cup and her nervousness returned. Lily held back her comforting words, waiting for her to continue.
“Second, I want to properly introduce myself.” Lifting her chin, Lady Belle rested the cup on the table before her, rose and curtsied deeply. “My name is Lady Belle Sinclair, and I am the daughter of the Duke of Auldwood. By my side is Hannah Brown, my lady’s maid.”
Lily shifted her eyes to the maid who had not risen. The girl bowed her head in an elegant manner.
Lady Belle retook her seat. She quickly picked up the cup of tea and took a hasty sip. “I’m certain you are all confused about these turns of events, but I promise there was a reason for my dishonesty. My Father has forced my betrothal to a gentleman I do not wish to be married to.”
“Is that not custom between nobles?” Julia asked with genuine curiosity in her voice.
Lady Belle nodded. “Perhaps, but I do not wish to be the same as other nobles. My Father sent me to attend last year’s London Season, after all, and when I failed to secure a husband, he was not pleased. It is clear he believes me to be too defiant.”
“So you decided to leave your home after you discovered you were betrothed to someone you do not know?”
“Oh, I know him,” Lady Belle said quickly. “Or rather, I know of him. He is rumored to be quite the rake and I have not heard many positive things regarding his dealings with other ladies. Not only that, but my Father wishes for us to be married so that he may merge the Marquess’ company with his own. He is using me, in the end.”
“Ah, I see.” A worried look passed over Anne’s face. “Well, I suppose that would be terrible for anyone.”
Lady Belle nodded. Lily didn’t miss the acute sadness in her eyes as she spoke, even though it was clear she was trying to hide it. “I could not stand the thought of being married to such a man, and so my Mother helped devise a plan to send me to Scotland. I left in the dead of night, without my Father’s knowledge, and as fate would have it, a storm was brewing that night. My horse was frightened and I was thrown off her back. Stephen found me.”
