Page 14 of Lady Waldrey’s Gardening Almanac for Cultivating Scandal (Love from London #3)

“Please sit.” Devonshire led him into a large study and nodded at the chairs facing the enormous desk.

Devonshire took the one next to James after he sat—a kind gesture—and levied a serious look at him. “I have my suspicions as to why you’ve arrived so early with flowers in hand, but my dear wife constantly reminds me that I don’t know everything. Therefore, I think it’s best to hear it from you.”

Now that he was here, James didn’t know quite how to begin. On the ride over, he’d devised a hundred things to say, a hundred questions he wanted answered. Now he was concerned that any question from his quarter might stir up gossip of the worst kind.

He pressed his lips together.

Devonshire nodded as if perfectly reading his expression.

“I’ve always liked you, Canterbury. You show a patience and dignity that few of our peers possess these days.

However, I would also observe that perhaps it is your patience that has brought you to this point.

In matters of the heart, perhaps patience is overrated. ”

James arched an eyebrow in warning. “I beg your pardon.”

“Begging will not be necessary.” Devonshire leaned forward and plucked an open letter from the surface of his desk.

“Percy gave me great leeway when it comes to his personal affairs, which might have been because he was anxious to start his honeymoon. However, I don’t think it’s out of bounds to share this information with you, provided you use it to rectify both of our wrongs. ”

“What is the wrong you think I’ve committed?”

“Patience,” Devonshire repeated enigmatically. “However, I fear that my offense is far greater than yours.”

Devonshire tapped the letter maddeningly against his knee. James clenched his jaw and waited.

As if coming to a sudden decision, Devonshire turned and and met his eyes. “Did Candace ever tell you how she came to be engaged to Shelbourne in the first place?”

“She mentioned you, actually.”

“I am partly to blame, but when I share the story, you’ll undoubtedly see how I arrived at the decision I did. Though a story of such a nature might be difficult to receive, especially for one in your position.”

“And what position am I in?”

Devonshire smirked. “Please don’t make me embarrass the both of us by saying it aloud.

Suffice it to say that if your sin is patience in this matter, then mine is observance.

I see much more than I ever share. Though I hardly regret anything more than what I observed one particular evening many months ago at the Baron De Gournay’s ball. ”

James stiffened, and Devonshire nodded as if he’d asked a question.

“You must swear never to repeat what I’m about to say, to anyone.

Not even to the lady herself. It would cause great embarrassment, as well as putting a flame to her reputation and any hope of a future within noble society if it got out. ”

“Upon my honor, I’ll never repeat this.” James could not have sat more stiffly if his veins had suddenly been filled with iron.

Based upon Devonshire’s preliminary words, he could guess at what he was about to hear. It was no different than many a story that had been whispered over brandy in any private club in London, but to hear it about Candace was a different thing altogether.

Devonshire nodded. “I was taking air in the gardens as I’m fond of doing at balls.”

He paused, and James nodded at him to continue. It was well known that Devonshire wasn’t fond of society and, until his marriage to his duchess, had eschewed it altogether.

“I came around the corner and caught the Marquess Shelbourne kissing Lady Candace.”

James’s hands curled into fists on the arms of the chair. He’d braced himself for it, but the molten jealousy that erupted in his chest still surprised him.

“Just kissing?” he choked.

“I assure you, Canterbury,” Devonshire said in a deadly, low voice, “if it had been more than kissing, Shelbourne would have met me at dawn.”

“Continue.”

“Forgive my indelicacy, but there is no subtle way to put this. It was clear to me upon walking up to them, that while the marquess was experienced in such matters, the lady was not. She did not participate with enthusiasm.”

“He was forcing himself?—?”

“No.” Devonshire slashed a hand through the air.

“No. I’m telling you this because I think it’s important for you to hear.

You, specifically. Though the lady didn’t appear to be there under duress, neither did she exhibit any…

action , for lack of a better term. She was standing there, her hands down at her sides.

She wasn’t fighting him or struggling to get away, but she wasn’t moving closer, either. ”

James thought he might be sick upon the carpet.

Though Devonshire’s words were meant to comfort him in some way, they were having the opposite effect.

They brought forth an image of Candace and Shelbourne in a moonlit garden, and though Devonshire claimed it wasn’t so, the imaginary Candace clung to Shelbourne’s frame desperately, her hands roaming over his waistcoat. . .

James clenched his eyes shut and shook his head viciously to rid his mind of the image. Devonshire ignored him; James was grateful.

“When I made my presence known to them, she was shocked. It was as if she hadn’t contemplated possible repercussions from their actions.

When I suggested marriage as a solution to this issue, I couldn’t rightly say who was more surprised and horrified—Candace or Shelbourne.

She recovered more quickly than he did, resigning herself to the fact that marriage was the only option in such a scenario, in order to avoid scandal. ”

Devonshire paused, shook his head. “I should never have suggested it. I should have punched Shelbourne in the face, told her to stay away from him, and left it at that. I swear, in some ways, my marriage has made me soft.”

“Are you saying your wife made you react the way you did?”

“Not at all. When I told her what I’d done, I thought I would be the one sporting a blackened eye. She was furious, and rightly so. Societal decency should not be used to entrap innocent young ladies into marriages with cads who lead them out into the gardens.”

There, they agreed. James took a deep breath and tried to absorb this information. Would he have done any differently if he’d come across the scene? Undoubtedly, if he’d happened across Candace and Shelbourne, Shelbourne would have been lucky to leave the gardens alive.

But would he have done anything differently if he came across another young miss in a garden in the embrace of a man? That he couldn’t answer.

Finally, he took a deep breath. “I understand why you acted as you did. In your situation, I might have done the same.”

“I thank you for the sentiment, but until her situation is pleasantly settled, I fear I’ll never forgive myself. The idea that I stole a happy future from Lady Candace has kept me up many nights this past year.”

“It’s for the best that the match was dissolved.”

“Agreed, but now I’m concerned about what comes next.” Devonshire handed the letter over to Canterbury.

James shook it out and began reading.

Dear Percy,

I’ve no doubt by the time you read this, I’ll have sent multiple letters, but I feel obliged to send this one as well. I’ve broken my engagement with Shelbourne, who was an absolute villain, and I’ve absconded to your estate in Devon.

Don’t worry; I haven’t gone alone. Hortense is bringing her iron-handled umbrella, and we’re travelling with several of the largest footmen. I will be quite safe and plan on staying indefinitely.

You may come visit me upon your return.

Your Affectionate Sister,

Candace

PS. I don’t regret breaking the engagement, but I do heartily regret any damage that comes to our family name because of it. I sincerely hope you can forgive me .

James winced at the last two lines of the letter. They were hastily scrawled; the pen had pressed deeply, as if with great emotion.

He cast about for something to say while he recovered from Candace’s words. “Was the engagement in writing?”

Devonshire shook his head. “His word was enough assurance to all involved.”

“All for the better. It’s not my understanding that the lady wishes to sue.”

“Of course not. She has her own fortune, her brother’s protection. She’s hardly left destitute by the dissolution of such a match. And she very well may wish to enter into an arrangement of marriage with a different gentleman altogether.”

Devonshire’s eyes were shrewd on James’s face as he said the last. The man obviously suspected James wished to be the happy second party in such an agreement; James had always thought Devonshire too smart for his own good.

“I doubt her mind has travelled down that road of possibility,” James said carefully. “There will be a long period of grief before she even thinks of such things, I’m sure.”

“Very well put. Let us also not forget that it will take a very specific kind of gentleman to overlook her previous engagement. Like it or not, in the eyes of many, she will be tarnished.”

James bristled. “Society may say what it likes. Anyone familiar with the matter knows that the couple only met once after their engagement, and that was to attend the very public event of your wedding.”

Devonshire nodded. “I believe he left for Paris the very next day. I’ve wondered whether attending our wedding impressed upon him the permanence of such a decision.”

James grunted. He didn’t really care whether Shelbourne had been scared off or not. The man was a reprobate, and had treated Candace abominably.

“I trust you’ll make use of this information.” Devonshire stood.

“Indeed. Thank you.”

By the time James was seated upon his horse, he’d compiled a mental list of tasks that required completion before he could leave the city. He put gentle heels to his horse and smiled. Springtime in the Devon countryside—what could be better?