Page 22 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous (Matchmaking Mischief Makers #2)
C aroline was exhausted by the time she and Henry arrived back in London, yet joy and elation were her primary emotions as she stepped out of the hired carriage and hurried up the front steps to her brother’s home.
They had been delayed by necessity. First by Henry’s insistence that they formulate a proper plan before confronting the web of lies surrounding Venetia, and then by Caroline’s need to change out of her theatrical costume once they had reached Henry’s home and entreated Charlotte’s help in the matter of a change of clothes.
When Caroline had assumed Henry would accompany her to explain matters to Frederick, he had suggested that his presence after so long an absence on Caroline’s part might prove a liability.
“Remember, your mama is likely to be tearing her hair out with anguish and no doubt will have relayed all her fears and suspicions to Frederick. Thanks to my sister, we hopefully will have provided you with an alibi. Charlotte was very ready to say, if asked, that you had spent the night with her, having hurt your ankle after you slipped away to supposedly visit her. My presence will simply muddy the waters.”
Accepting Henry’s wise counsel and buoyed by the fact that during their final hour of planning they had settled upon a strategy to discover Windermere’s motivations, Caroline was not expecting all hell to break loose the moment she walked through the front door.
“Where have you been these last twenty-four hours, Caroline!” Her brother Frederick emerged from his study before the butler had even closed the front door.
“I thought you had grown up, but it appears you are as wayward and thoughtless as you ever were. Do you ever think of anyone other than yourself?” he raged.
“Please, Frederick, I—”
“I don’t have time to hear it! Poor Amelia has been sending discreet notes to anyone who might be able to throw some light on your unconscionable behavior—or should I say disappearance.
In her condition, she has better things to worry about than my thoughtless little sister, who thinks only of her own pleasure! ”
Caroline’s heart constricted at the accusation.
To think that Frederick—who had always been her champion—viewed her as nothing more than a selfish child was almost unbearable.
“Please, Frederick, it wasn’t like that at all!
” Finally, Caroline managed to interject as she was propelled down the corridor and out of hearing of the servants.
“I was trying to help Venetia. A terrible thing happened—she was kidnapped by Lord Windermere, who wants to marry her for reasons unknown.”
“Caroline, are you feverish?” Amelia had appeared in the doorway, shadows under her eyes making her look pale and wan.
“Frederick, please don’t shout,” she entreated, running the back of her hand across her forehead before sinking into a seat by the fireplace.
“I know you are out of your mind with worry, as we all are, but surely Caroline has some acceptable answer for what has happened.”
“Yes, I just told you,” Caroline began, but her brother rounded on her.
“Do you really expect us to believe such nonsense? Why, you must have sucked this out of your thumb, my girl.”
“No! Venetia’s Aunt Pike is an evil woman, and she conspired with Lord Windermere to kidnap Venetia. I tried to rescue her—in fact, I did rescue her—”
Frederick laughed, the sound harsh and mocking. “Well, that excuse is the lamest I ever heard. Venetia is in no danger whatsoever.” He turned to his wife. “Perhaps, my dear, you would like to tell Caroline what you learned in the course of your frantic investigations.”
Caroline looked between them, her chest tight with dread. Her brother truly believed she was a liar? And Amelia supposedly had proof Caroline had fabricated everything? Her throat burned with unshed tears, and her hands trembled as she realized how completely she had miscalculated this homecoming.
“Your friend Venetia is in no danger from Lord Windermere,” Frederick went on, for it appeared Amelia had not the energy to speak. She was leaning back in the chair, a pained look on her face, one hand placed gently on her swollen belly.
“Oh no, your Venetia is in fine hands, for word is all over town that she is to marry Henry Ashworth.”
Caroline blinked stupidly. “But I saw Henry only—” She stopped herself and went on carefully, “I saw him very recently, and he made no mention of it.”
“No?” Frederick cocked an eyebrow. “It appears his behavior has left something to be desired. A certain Mr. and Mrs. Gascoyne discovered the pair of them in a compromising situation. Of course, Mrs. Pike is trying to put the best face on it that she can, but she has ever been disappointed in that girl, as she is so ready to tell us all—”
Amelia finally seemed to find the energy to speak. “Venetia is a lovely girl. I am sure there has been a terrible misunderstanding to see her name maligned as it appears to be.”
“That’s only because Lord Windermere—”
“Will you stop this nonsense regarding Lord Windermere!” Her brother all but shouted, causing Amelia to put out her hand and say in soothing tones, “Please, Frederick darling, I know you have been worried to death about Caroline and that you’re shocked to hear the news about Venetia.
I think perhaps we should let Caroline go to her room.
There is plenty of time to talk about this later. ”
“But there is no time to talk about it later!” Caroline cried, desperation making her voice crack. “Henry cannot marry Venetia because…”
This time, she was not cut off, but rather let her words trail into silence as Frederick and Amelia looked at her inquiringly.
She took a deep breath and swallowed. This was not the time to tell them that she had, in fact, spent the previous hours in Henry’s company and that he was going to marry her . Not Venetia.
No, Caroline needed to make them understand that Venetia was the victim of a grave plot by Lord Windermere and that she and Henry greatly feared he would not rest until he had made her his wife.
But when she opened her mouth for one final attempt to be heard, Frederick simply put up his hand.
Closing his eyes in the attitude of one whose patience has been tried beyond endurance, he said, “Do as Amelia says and go to the blue room where you can reflect on what has been said, Caroline. I have no more patience with you and your childish flights of fancy. We will talk about what you have really been up to later. Thank goodness your sister-in-law has managed to mitigate the severest of damage to your reputation.”
Caroline gasped, but remained silent. She turned toward the stairs, her vision blurred with tears she refused to let fall.
So! She and Henry really were on their own in this fight to save Venetia.