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“I would as well. I was never more surprised than to hear Percy would marry. He seemed to scorn the idea,” Bella added.
“Bella! Your brother knows his duty. As do you,” her mother said, placing a quick kiss on the cheek. “He is an obedient son, and I am looking forward to having Lady Emmaline as a daughter.”
“Perhaps we can invite Slade . . . I mean, His Grace,” Bella spoke, hoping her mother would not object.
“He is in mourning,” her mother tutted.
Bella frowned, realizing it was true. His mother and sister had also joined him in London, so they would all be together for the holiday. She knew they would not be able to attend.
“However, men are not as limited with mourning,” her mother continued. “I suppose he might join us. Let me find out more about what the theaters offer before we decide on a play. I will speak to your father.”
“Yes, Mama.” Bella reached over and grabbed her book, placing it in her skirt pocket. “I will go back upstairs and see if Mary is finished sorting through my gowns. She was pressing them and mending a few tears I obtained, although I thought I had been careful.”
Lady Rothmore leaned in and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “Run along, Bella. I plan to finish this stitchery today. It is for your brother’s betrothed.”
Bella went upstairs and found that Mary had long since finished working with her clothing.I must have been reading longer than I had imagined. The book was the one that Mr. Greene had recommended, and she found it quite good. Her mother had tempered her elation over tomorrow’s ride in Hyde Park with talk of dresses and such. The reference to her brother’s engagement reminded Bella that they had seen little of her brother since his announcement. He was probably making a last sweep of his favorite haunts with his friends. He had not minded Slade’s courting of her. That made her happy. Her brother could be strict about things when he wanted to, but he had always been more interested in her happiness and did not mind she liked his friend.
“Lady Bella,” Mary’s voice broke her reverie. “I have your dresses pressed and ready for you.”
“Mary,” Bella said, acknowledging her maid. “I got an invitation from the duke a little while ago. We shall go to Hyde Park tomorrow. I am very excited!”
“That will be a good time, milady,” Mary returned in a strange voice. “I shall make sure that your muff is cleaned and ready. I think the last time you used it, it ripped. I had quite forgotten about it while going through your clothing.”
Bella noticed her maid’s face. “Mary, what is wrong?”
Mary sat on the edge of the bed. “This morning I accompanied the cook to help her with her shopping, milady. I had already done what I needed, and you were absorbed in your new book. I did not bother you earlier, but I have been concerned. A woman jolted me and handed me a note while I was in the market. I would swear she bumped into me on purpose and then handed me the missive. I read it.”
“You look miserable. What could it have said to upset you, so?” Bella asked. She always worried that the man from the park would appear one day and take her friend away, even knowing the ridiculousness of such a happening all these years later.
“I opened it,” she said, fishing into the pocket of her gown. She handed the wadded note to her mistress.
Bella straightened the crumpled paper and read.
Tell your mistress he cannot be hers.
“Who can they be talking about, milady?” the maid asked, wringing her hands.
“I do not know for sure. Could they be referring to Lord Hertford . . . I mean, His Grace?” Bella constantly found herself getting tongue-tied over Slade’s titles. The sadness of it all was cruel, and the confusion of his titles added to it.
“That is what I thought, milady,” her maid said. “We should tell your father and brother.”
“Yes, although I do not want a big thing made of this,” Bella said, unease flooding her stomach.
“Big thing made of what, my dear?” Papa asked, sticking his head into the room.
“Papa, someone handed Mary this cryptic note in the market this morning. I cannot think we can make much of it,” she said, handing it to her father and hoping he would agree.
Her father’s face became a mottled shade of red. “Can you describe the woman, Mary?”
“Not really, my lord. She was the same height as me, but a brown scarf covered her face and kept it shadowed. She walked hunched a little and carried a cane,” Mary said.
“What do you mean, carried a cane?” he persisted.
“My lord, she walked off not using it, but carrying it, as if it was not needed,” Mary said wanly.
“I cannot imagine the intent of such a horrible note, but I will discuss it with His Grace, as he is the only man courting you,” the earl blustered. “I cannot imagine why my daughter is being threatened. We shall sort this out.”
Bella groaned inwardly as her father sent a footman to Slade’s townhouse to alert him. An involuntary shiver shook her. She had been looking forward to tomorrow’s ride through Hyde Park.
