Andrew interjected before Gerard could respond. “No, Mother. The Earl has refused to do right by Ellen, and now, I must duel him.”
“After all I have done for you, you ungrateful child!” Lady Bamber cried, turning to face Ellen. “Now, you will have to marry any old gentleman who needs young blood to sire an heir. Or worse, you will become a spinster. Oh, we are utterly ruined!”
Lady Bamber walked toward her daughter and pulled her by the arm. “Come inside the Manor now. I knew that that godforsaken book club would be the death of us,” she gasped.
At Ellen’s stunned expression, the Dowager continued, “You thought I did not know? You foolish child. You are just like your father. Everyone in London knows about the stupid book club that fills women’s heads with nonsense. You shall never go out again!”
Ellen struggled to break free of her mother’s grasp. “You are hurting me, Mama. Let me go!” she cried.
“Ellen Bamber, come into the Manor right this instant!” her mother yelled.
“No, Mama,” Ellen said, yanking herself free from her mother’s grasp. “I do not care if my reputation is ruined, or if the Earl will not take me as a wife,” she sobbed, looking Gerard square in the eye. “I want to travel the world and write beautiful books of poetry and wondrous stories of how vast the world is, Mama. I want to dance in the streets of France. I shall not be shacked into a loveless marriage because of duty. Because of you.”
“Have you gone utterly mad, Ellen?” her mother gasped.
But Ellen was not to be daunted. “Admit it, Mama! You have also had dreams and goals of yours. Is there not something you have always wanted to do? Did you not spend your life pining for Father only to clean his mess afterward?”
“I will not have you speak about the memory of your father in that manner.”
“How would you have me speak of him, then? He ruined you! He ruined this family. Did you not say earlier that I was just like him? I guess we both have something in common then.”
“Keep quiet, Ellen.”
“Or you will hit me in the face again as you did? Or you will marry me off to the first suitor? Or you would shut down the book club singlehandedly? Which is it, Mother?”
“You know, all I truly did was do the best for you and this family”
“No, Mother, all you did was do the best for yourself. Everything you have taught me and done was not for my good; it was for your place in Society. For your reputation.”
Selina Bamber shook at head regretfully. “I am ashamed of you.”
At first, Ellen stopped, stung by her mother’s words, but then she straightened and turned to leave.
“Ellen Bamber, if you leave, never come back.”
Ellen turned to face her mother. “Do you possibly detest me that much, Mother, that you would not want me to be happy?”
“It is because I love you that much that I do what I do.”
“I find that hard to believe, seeing how you crucify me for the same thing your own son is guilty of.”
The Dowager looked confused. “What do you mean by that?”
“Ask Andrew, Mama. Ask Andrew if he has not been having an affair with Marjorie, and he still has not done the honorable thing by her.”
“That is a lie; Andrew would never,” Lady Bamber said and then turned to Andrew for confirmation, but he looked away.
“And what is worse, Marjorie is with child. That is your grandchild, Mama, and your son will not do right by her because of you.”
“Marjorie is pregnant?” Andrew gasped. He had not known that she was pregnant. It must be why she had been avoiding him. But damn Ellen for announcing it now, especially with their mother there.
The Dowager went as white as a sheet. She had no reason to believe that Andrew and Marjorie were having an affair. He sorely despised the lady, perhaps even a little more than she did. But her son had done nothing to refute the allegations leveled against him. “Andrew, is this the truth?” Lady Bamber asked. “Tell me this cannot be true. That you have enough sense not to soil the family’s name! You know you have a duty to the family.”
Lady Bamber’s shock was not to be quantified. It seemed that both of her children had grown to become strangers overnight. She barely recognized either of them.
Andrew averted his eyes as he answered his mother’s query. “It is the truth, Mama, but I was not aware that Marjorie was with child,” he said, glaring at Ellen.
“I am disappointed in you, greatly disappointed! You know better Andrew. You do! Marjorie cannot become the Duchess of Grant! It is impossible. Oh! Whatever shall we do? You must make no claims to the baby. Here’s what you must do. You will ignore her completely, and if she ever tries to pin the responsibility of the child on you, you will refuse to be the father. You cannot have an illegitimate child as your heir. I will see to her upkeep and make sure that she and the baby are comfortable for the rest of their lives. Is that understood?” the Dowager said, speaking quickly.
