Page 21 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess (Wallflower Season #3)
Chapter Thirteen
A t eleven o’clock, a carriage bearing the seal of the Earl of Winfield arrived at Renwood Castle. Kate and Julia waited eagerly inside the drawing room for Harry.
Julia peeked out the window and said, “Harry does cut a fine figure, doesn’t he? He will make me a good husband I believe.”
Something in Julia’s voice made Kate sharpen her gaze and search her friend for something amiss. However, Julia gave her a bright smile, so Kate nodded. “I am sure he will. I am simply happy you have found love again after your heartbreak with my brother.”
Julia’s expression darkened. “It is a wound I cannot forget.” She held up her hand when Kate started to protest. “No. As they say, there is no smoke without a fire. The gossip would need some tinder to spark it. It is no good, Kate. I shall never forgive Nicholas for his betrayal.”
Kate tightened her lips lest her words of protest burst out.
Now that she knew the Duke of Devonport was innocent of taking part in the scandal, it was her duty to discover the culprit.
Who hated her brother so much as to do him harm?
Nicholas wasn’t prone to fits of anger nor did he gamble to excess.
He paid his debts and was a good friend.
There would be no cause to harm him. Whoever had besmirched his name had done it out of simple malice and that spoke volumes about the person’s character.
Mr. Scoville entered the drawing room to announce the Earl of Winfield had arrived. Harry swept into the room with the ease of a man who seemed to have conquered the world. He rushed to Julia’s side and grasped her hands in his own.
“Julia, you are more beautiful each time I gaze upon you. I am most fortunate to call you my beloved.” Harry smiled down at Julia’s upturned face.
Julia’s smiled up at him, but Kate noticed it did not reach her friend’s eyes.
As she suspected, something was amiss. What was it?
She had no time to worry about it because Harry turned to her in greeting.
“Miss Avery, you have done us a great honor hosting our wedding. I cannot ever repay your kindness. I hope that you and my cousin encountered no issues with the planning. I know he can be a little stubborn at times,” Harry said.
“Lord Winfield it was my pleasure. You are correct in your appraisal of your cousin. He holds quite strong opinions, however, I found him astute and able to concede on some points.” Kate smiled.
“Shall we join our guests? They are on the lawn playing Battledore and Shuttlecock while the weather is still pleasant. I fear we are due for a storm later today.”
“It would be my honor to escort two lovely young ladies to the games,” Harry said and bowed. They moved to the lawn where the guests were engaged in a rousing game. Guests not playing served as spectators or strolled throughout the garden and engaged in quiet conversation.
“What is he doing here?” Harry growled.
“Who?” Kate wrinkled her brow trying to determine the source of Harry’s ire.
“Lord Radford. I find him distasteful.” Harry’s face darkened.
“He is a friend of my father. I couldn’t exclude him. I am surprised to hear you speak ill of him. Lord Radford has always been most pleasant when in my company,” Julia said.
Harry’s frown evaporated and he turned to Julia. “I am sure you are right, Julia. I am simply in a foul mood from the carriage ride. Forget that I even said anything. I shall try my best to be pleasant to the man.”
They moved away from Kate, and she found herself searching the lawn for Andrew. When she failed to find him, she spotted Verity sitting with her mother. For once, she was not surrounded by potential suitors. Kate made her way to the girl and sat down next to her.
“Miss Waithe, your gown is quite becoming. The pink is an excellent color for your complexion,” Kate said.
“You are most kind. Mother had the modiste make it just for the wedding.” Verity blushed prettily and touched the ribbon that streamed from her bonnet. “I festooned my bonnet with new ribbons to match.”
“It’s lovely,” Kate nodded. “I hope you are having a good time.”
“Oh, yes. Mother has introduced me to many eligible bachelors. I hope the wedding sparks an interest in marriage from one of them.”
“Any man in particular?” Kate asked, watching the players on the lawn hit the shuttlecock.
“Perhaps. The Duke of Devonport is very handsome. Mother would be over the moon with joy if I was able to capture his heart,” Verity said.
Kate’s stomach clenched at the thought of the duke marrying Verity. It wasn’t that she had an issue with Verity. It was more that she knew if the Duke of Devonport affianced himself to the girl, their dalliance would end, and she felt a pang of sadness.
Verity gave her a quizzical look, and Kate realized that her face had probably expressed her confused feelings. She cleared her throat and said, “I am sure the Duke of Devonport would make a fine husband. It would be an advantageous union for both of you.”
Verity seemed content with Kate’s response.
Their conversation turned to other guests and their attire.
Verity nattered on and Kate found her mind drifting to her earlier concerns regarding Julia and her impending marriage.
Something still niggled in her head, but she couldn’t determine what made her feel something was wrong.
She looked for Harry and Julia amongst the guests and spotted Julia speaking to Lord Radford near the edge of the game. Harry watched his betrothed from across the garden. A dangerous look was on his face. One of jealousy.
The promised storm arrived and was more powerful than Kate or Andrew could have predicted. As the winds whipped the ribbons from the trees, servants dashed about trying to gather as much as possible before the downpour drenched and ruined it all.
Inside, guests gathered in the drawing room while a few had retired for a nap after lunch. Kate played a lively tune and a few of the girls sang a song to entertain each other. When she finished, Kate rose from the stool and gave a small curtsy.
“Bravo, Kate. That was fantastic!” Julia exclaimed.
Kate eyed her friend. Her eyes were too bright and her praise too effusive for a simple song. She saw Julia bite her bottom lip and drew close to her friend.
“Come with me to the library. You and I need a moment alone,” Kate said. She tugged Julia from her seat and excused them.
Closing the library door behind her, Kate confronted her friend. “What is wrong? You have been excessively gay even for someone about to marry.”
Julia turned away and sighed. “You did not see Nicholas arrive?”
“I did. I had hoped he would see the error of his presence and leave, but clearly, I was wrong. He had promised that he would stay away from Renwood until after the wedding.” Kate realized she should have cornered her brother earlier and insisted he leave.
Had Nicholas come simply to spy upon his former betrothed and create drama?
“If only he had. And there is more.” Julia stifled a sob.
“Whatever is the matter, Julia?” Kate frowned and laid a hand on Julia’s shoulder. “Tell me. I am your closest friend. We have no secrets.”
“I am being petty and childish. I overheard one of the other women say he arrived with Miss Coates in tow. It appears he is courting her.” Julia slumped onto a chair. “I shouldn’t care.”
“No, you shouldn’t since you claim to be happy with Harry,” Kate said. Julia seemed to want to protest, but Kate continued before she could. “But you are still in love with Nicholas, aren’t you?”
Julia nodded, unable to speak. She sniffed and said, “I am a horrible person, aren’t I?”
Kate moved swiftly to sit next to her friend and hugged her shoulders. “You aren’t horrible. It was simply a shock. You must put it from your mind and focus on your nuptials. Harry will be a good husband and soon you will forget all about my brother.”
Julia turned tear-stained cheeks to her. “Do you think so?”
Kate nodded. “I know so. Now, come. Wipe your tears and put on your brightest smile. It wouldn’t do for the guests or Harry to know you are so aggrieved over Nicholas’ arrival.”
“You are so smart. Thank you, Kate.” Julia gave her a watery smile. “Kate, I…”
“Yes?”
Julia shook her head. “Never mind. It is of no importance. Shall we return to the guests?”
The two women exited the library arm-in-arm and wandered to the ladies' sitting room where some of the women had retired to gossip by the fire in an attempt to ward off the afternoon chill.
They found the Dowager Duchess of Devonport and the Dowager Viscountess of Pembrooke deep in conversation.
Kate grew suspicious when they abruptly stopped talking at the sight of her and Julia.
“Grandmama, is there something you wish to share?” Kate cocked a brow.
The Dowager Viscountess shrugged. “Her Grace and I were simply recalling our youth. We were such rivals then, yet we married vastly different men.”
The Dowager Duchess chimed in. “But they were both good men, were they not?”
“They were. If only our grandchildren could make as advantageous matches as we did.” Kate’s grandmother put on a forlorn expression.
Kate laughed. “Grandmama, you look like a kitten who has lost its mouse. Quite sad.” Her grandmother harrumphed and turned back to the Dowager Duchess. Kate and Julia wandered to the other side of the room where some of the younger women sat.
Viola and May DeClancy twittered their greetings. Viola leaned forward and said, “Miss Avery, I noted that Lord Radford took quite an interest in you during the Pall Mall game. Is there a courtship in the making?”
“He was simply being kind,” Kate demurred.
“I don’t think Lord Radford has an interest in Kate,” Julia said, her voice sharp.
Kate was shocked at the tone of Julia’s voice. It had an edge she hadn’t heard before. Her shock must have shown, and Julia hastened to add. “I simply meant he is a known rake, and everyone knows you are an honorable woman.”