Page 21 of An Unexpected Marriage with the Earl (Noble Gentlemen of the Ton #8)

Chapter 21

Johanna and Edmund left London for Hampshire later that week. They wanted to get away from the London scene, with its intrigues and gossip. The fact of Lavinia’s shaming had put paid to any rumors about them, but Johanna still felt the bitter taste of having been the subject of so much vitriol. She wanted nothing to do with the ton, or their ways. She was content with returning home to Hampshire and fulfilling the duties of a countess. There was the orangery to see to, and Johanna’s plans for it were extensive. She had thrown herself into the project and was now overseeing the final developments. It was exciting, and at last, she was beginning to feel as though she was finding her place.

“I don’t know why I ever thought going to London was a good idea, Mary,” Johanna said as she gazed out of the window across the gardens at Beaumont Abbey.

It was late September now, and although the flower borders were no longer at their best, the gardens still looked spectacular with the dew lying on them and the sun rising on the horizon. The maid smiled.

“I thought you didn’t want to go, my lady. You only did so because His Lordship suggested it,” Mary pointed out.

Johanna turned back from the window and smiled.

“Yes...you’re right. I didn’t want to go at all, did I? But society had to be satisfied, and so did the dowager,” she replied.

Edmund’s mother had been devastated at their leaving. She had begged them to stay, but Edmund had told her he, too, had had enough of London society.

“You could always move back to Hampshire,” he had told her, and his mother had looked at him incredulously.

“Some society is better than no society, Edmund,” she had replied—though she had promised to visit in the coming months, hinting at the prospect of a grandchild.

But in returning to Hampshire, one question had remained unanswered—what exactly was the nature of the arrangement in which Johanna and Edmund now found themselves. Johanna had confided in Tabitha to her confusion over it.

“He defended my honor to the last, and he’s proved himself time and time again. But as for our being in love…” she had said, after Tabitha had told her how very much in love she was with Roger, and he with her.

“It’ll take time, I suppose,” Tabitha had said, and there had been some reassurance in that.

But Johanna was still confused as to her own feelings toward Edmund. Or rather, she was confused as to whether those feelings would be reciprocated or not. Falling in love was not something easily discernible. She had great affection for Edmund and could not imagine being married to anyone else, and there was the testimony of Lord Fitzroy, too. He had told her how Edmund had told him of his love for her. But it was one thing to hear a person loved one, and quite another to be told it by them. In London, he had told her everything was over, that it was just the two of them now, and yet ever since, he had kept a formal distance from her, always polite and kind, but never expressing that affection that was his right. Johanna wanted to hear Edmund say it, to hear him tell her his feelings for her, and since their return to Hampshire, he had seemed somewhat distant.

“I think I’ll wear the blue today,” Johanna said as Mary held up a dress for her to choose.

“With the lilac shawl, my lady?” the maid replied, but Johanna shook her head.

“No. I’m going to be on my feet all day. There’s a lot to do in the orangery. The new chairs are arriving, and I’ll have to be on hand to direct the footmen where to put them,” Johanna replied.

She was looking forward to showing Edmund her progress with the orangery. It had been completely redesigned, and various plant specimens—all manner of citrus fruits—had been brought from Kew. In a few years, the orangery would be one of the finest hothouses in England, and Johanna felt proud of what she had achieved in such a short space of time. She had plans for the garden, too, and intended to create a sunken water garden like those she had seen in Italy.

“You’ll certainly leave your mark on the house, my lady,” Mary said, after Johanna had finished dressing.

Johanna nodded, but she felt somewhat heavy hearted, too—sorrowful even over her confusion as to Edmund’s feelings.

“Yes, and the earl, too, I hope,” she replied.

***

“And that’s the last of the letters I need to write finished...I’m sorry, Roger. I’ve kept you waiting,” Edmund said, looking up from the envelope he had just sealed to find Johanna’s brother watching him from his place by the hearth.

They were sitting in Edmund’s study at Beaumont Abbey, and Edmund had just finished writing a letter to a tenant, promising him an extension on the rent he owed. Since returning to Hampshire, he had been busy. The affairs of the estate waited for no one, and he had found many pressing matters awaiting his attention.

“It’s quite all right. I know you’re busy. I’ve hardly seen you since you and Johanna returned from London,” Roger replied.

“Yes...I’m sorry...I’ve just had so much to do. I’ve hardly seen Johanna, either,” Edmund replied.

“That’s who I came to see you about, actually,” he said, and Edmund looked at him curiously.

“Is she all right? I must confess, I’ve not had as much time to spend with her as I might’ve liked,” he replied, and Roger nodded.

“That’s what she said to Tabitha, too. Well...not in so many words. I don’t want you to think I’m sharing gossip. The two of you have had quite enough of that to contend with. No...it’s just something she said in passing when the two of them were taking tea. She said she hoped you’d be pleased with the orangery, though you hadn’t asked about it, and it seemed...well, it seemed to Tabitha as though Johanna was rather sad about the fact,” he replied.

Edmund felt a sudden sense of guilt as to his friend’s words. He was right, he had not asked about the orangery, preferring to leave it to Johanna before the promised grand unveiling. The affairs of the estate had taken up a good deal of his time, and there had been evenings when he had dined alone in his study, rather than joining his wife in the dining room.

“Ah, yes...I’m sorry about that. I’m just so wary...well, she’s been through a terrible ordeal, and I don’t want her to feel pressured in anyway over the fact of our marriage. I was only too willing to defend her honor, and the fact of my affection for her is...unquestionable. But I just wonder...is she happy?” he asked.

Roger pondered the question for a moment and nodded.

“I think she is, yes. But I can’t help but feel she’d be far happier if her husband paid her a little more attention,” he replied.

Edmund nodded. He knew when to take advice, and he was not the sort of man to arrogantly believe he possessed the upper hand in all things. But to hear Roger’s words and to think he might’ve hurt Johanna unintentionally filled him with sorrow. He had not known how she felt, as much as there had been a growing affection between them, brought about, in part, by their shared goal of overcoming Lavinia’s cruel intentions.

“You’re right...and I’m sorry, Roger. You must think me a terrible man. It’s just...I’ve been so busy, and...well, it’s no excuse, is it?” he said, and Roger smiled.

“I can hardly blame you, Edmund. You’ve been through a considerable ordeal. What of Lavinia? Have you heard anything more from her?” he asked.

Edmund shook his head. On that front, there was mercifully little by way of news. Lavinia had retreated from society. Her father’s name was ruined, and it seemed likely he would not be asked to stand again as the parliamentary candidate for the district. Her mother, too, had largely disappeared from the social scene, and it was rumored she was planning to take Lavinia to Florence, where the two of them could live quietly for a few years until the scandal died down.

“Nothing, no. And I don’t wish to, either. I’ve no desire to hear from her ever again. If anything, I feel rather sorry for her. Not that I pity her in the sense of wanting to help her, but I can’t help thinking she could’ve been happy if she’d simply accepted the fact of my marriage to Johanna. There were plenty of men who’d have fallen in love with her. But she chose the path of jealousy, and it was the wrong path for so many reasons,” Edmund replied, shaking his head.

“Well, I suppose you don’t have to think about her again. I heard she’s gone to Florence,” Roger said, and Edmund nodded.

“And I’m sure they’ll welcome her with open arms,” he replied, raising his eyebrows as he spoke.

But his thoughts were not on Lavinia. He was thinking of Johanna, and feeling guilty at the fact of his having somewhat neglected her over the past few weeks. It had not been intentional, but he had still felt uncertain as to how to proceed in their relationship. He did not want her to feel pressured in any way—as though the fact of his having saved her from scandal was a matter of a debt owed. He was loyal to her and had a great affection for her beyond anything romantic. But his heart told him something else. It told him he loved her, and after Roger had left, Edmund went to seek out his wife in the orangery…