Page 1 of One Scandal Too Many (Havenwood Academy #1)
T he Havenwood Academy was nestled against a thick forest on one side and surrounded by a black fence along the rest of the property’s border. An old castle had been renovated to form the academy, but the changes had done nothing to erase the gloominess that enveloped the building. The shrubbery alongside the castle’s foreboding stone walls had been neatly trimmed, and several trees towered over the tall black barriers designed to keep the young ladies in as much as to protect the inhabitants of the castle. Climbing ivy spread across the exterior, clinging to every inch of it.
The school’s founder, one Mrs. Grace Havenwood, had established the institute for young ladies after her husband died at Waterloo, and it had been accepting ladies with scandalous pasts for four brief years. In short, in comparison to other finishing schools for ladies, this one bordered on infancy.
Lady Charlotte Beckett knew all of this because her father, the Duke of Claremont, had explained it in explicit detail. The entire trip from London had been one continuous lecture on what he expected from his only daughter. She’d let the family down, and this was her punishment. Exile. This academy was meant to teach her a lesson. One she didn’t think she fully deserved. It hadn’t been her fault—not entirely, anyway. Her brother should carry some of the blame. She’d done what she had because he’d asked her to help him, after all. In their father’s eyes, though, her brother Warren couldn’t possibly have had a hand in any of it. He could do nothing wrong. He was the future duke and current Marquess of Finley; therefore, his name couldn’t ever be tainted by scandal.
Charlotte allowed herself to indulge in an inner eyeroll. She couldn’t actually perform that action, or it would add to the lecture she was currently receiving from her father. He so liked his lectures...
“Are you listening to me?” her father chastised.
Charlotte glanced up at him. His hazel eyes were filled with the same disappointment that dripped through each word he spoke to her. She sucked in a breath as if she’d been punched in the gut. The last thing she’d wanted to do was let her father down. That didn’t mean she thought attending a school that had been dubbed the academy for unmarriageable young ladies agreeable. “Yes, father,” she said in a compliant tone. She turned her attention to the castle. They were inside the gates now, and soon the carriage would stop at the entrance. Then she would have to face the truth. Her father fully intended to leave her there. What would she do if he did? What choices would she have?
Entering and exiting the property would not be easy if one hoped to circumvent its confines, and yes, Charlotte perused all possible escape routes. A lady could never be too careful, especially one with a scandal hanging over her head. As her father reminded her, she already had one scandal too many attached to her name.
She would have to explore the wooded part of the school’s border. It seemed like the easiest way to disappear from the school if she wished to leave; however, she didn’t know how dangerous the area might be. It was best she be as careful as possible. There was no need to run... yet.
“You will do everything Mrs. Havenwood says and to be obedient in all ways. Do not sass any of the teachers either.” He hit each word succinctly and with enough force to make it clear how little he thought of her. “When you leave this academy, you will be the young lady society expects, and when your debut is set, you’ll be prepared to find a suitable match.”
That was what he wanted more than anything. To have her find a husband and wash his hands of her. There was a small chance that he’d already selected a husband for her. It wouldn’t surprise her if he had. Sometimes she wondered if her father loved her or thought of her as a burden. One that he’d been saddled with after her mother had died giving birth. He’d had an heir, but had failed to get the spare. Having been born female instead of male had left her at a disadvantage. She never measured up and had always been an afterthought. Which meant she was always trying to do something, anything, to gain her father’s approval. That was never going to happen now. She was damaged in the duke’s estimation. But hadn’t she always been that way? Her birth had taken away the love of his life, and for that she’d been deemed irredeemable from her first breath.
“Of course, Father.” She wouldn’t argue with him. All her previous attempts had proved disastrous, and to do so now would be a waste of her breath.
The carriage came to a stop at the entrance. Up close she could see the entryway with more clarity. The ivy had invaded a little there too. The green foliage drenched the archway and hung over it like a waterfall of leaves and vines. The door itself was a rich dark brown with black handles. She’d thought the castle gloomy on the drive up, but she had to reconsider that assessment. Something about the old stone fortress seemed to call to her. Perhaps it would not be so terrible to be left there. At least she wouldn’t have her father towering over her every day admonishing her about all her failures.
Her father exited the carriage, then turned to assist her out. She stepped closer to the castle as her father barked orders to the driver and one of the outriders. The heavy brown door opened with a slight creak, and a woman stepped out. She was tiny in stature with rich auburn hair streaked with gold pulled back in a simple chignon. Her gown was a blue so dark that on first glance it seemed black. She walked toward them and smiled at Charlotte. “Hello,” she greeted her. “I’m Mrs. Havenwood. Welcome.”
She was a strikingly beautiful woman. If she’d wanted to, she could have easily remarried. Why had she decided to remain unattached and open this school? Charlotte’s curiosity could be her undoing at times. She should leave this mystery alone, but she had never done as she should. Why should she start now?
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Charlotte said and curtsied. Politeness was a necessity. Especially in her father’s presence.
Her father joined them. “Mrs. Havenwood,” he greeted her. He ran his hand over his light brown hair as he met her gaze. “Thank you for accommodating my daughter on such short notice.” School had already been in session for several weeks. None of the other schools had made the necessary arrangements to admit her. They didn’t have the room, but this school, in all its newness had space available. Her father liked the idea of it regardless. So here they were, and he would abandon her on Mrs. Havenwood’s doorstep and never look back.
Her father had never met the proprietress of this academy before that moment. He didn’t offer any niceties. That was beyond the Duke of Claremont. He jumped right into the matter and expected everyone around him to fall in line with his needs. The more she thought about her circumstances, she was glad her father was exiling her. This might be the reprieve she desperately needed. Without his constant disapproval perched over her she might find a way to finally be more than the girl that breathed disappointment.
“Of course,” Mrs. Havenwood said in an amicable tone. “We will take care of her. You have my word.” This woman couldn’t be as serene as she appeared. What was her secret? Charlotte struggled to remain composed, and the proprietress did it with such ease.
Mrs. Havenwood didn’t attempt flattery, and she certainly didn’t treat her father as if... well, as if he were a duke. Not once since they started talking had she addressed him as “your grace” as she spoke. Charlotte found that quite intriguing.
“After her trunks are unloaded I’ll leave her in your care, then. Is there anything else you require from me?” the duke asked.
Wait. Had she missed something? He was leaving immediately? Her strict, demanding father wasn’t even going to tour the school? How could he leave her without doing that at the very least? Charlotte didn’t know if she was appalled or glad he planned to leave so soon.
“I believe we discussed everything in detail through our correspondence. I’m satisfied I know what you wish and that we are able to deliver what is needed for Charlotte’s care.” Mrs. Havenwood did sound confident.
They were discussing her as if she was nothing more than a child. No, worse than that. A child would get more consideration. She was an unwanted animal of some sort. A stray dog or cat given minimal upkeep. Should she consider herself lucky that they didn’t make a room for her in the stables?
Two more ladies came out to join them. One was a little taller than Mrs. Havenwood. She had blonde hair and blue eyes so pale they were like ice during a cold winter day. The other one was even shorter with raven hair and green eyes. She was so tiny she could be a pixie and blend into her surroundings.
“This is Miss Spencer,” Mrs. Havenwood gestured toward the blonde. “She teaches deportment and dancing.” She motioned toward the raven-haired beauty. “This is Miss Abernathy, another of our teachers. She was one of the first students to attend the academy. Her father is a vicar.” Interesting that she gave more information about Miss Abernathy than Miss Spencer. Did her father need to know all that? Was it because she was so young? Miss Abernathy couldn’t be more than a handful of years older than Charlotte. “Our other instructor, Mrs. Smith, is with the rest of our students. She is a former governess.”
Her father inclined his head. “If that is all, I’ll leave my daughter in your care now.” Her trunks had been unloaded and stacked in front of the door. “I trust that she’ll learn everything that is proper during her sojourn at Havenwood Academy.” He almost seemed bored with everything Mrs. Havenwood had told him.
“I promise that she will,” Mrs. Havenwood said. She smiled at the duke, but Charlotte didn’t think it reached her eyes. Did the proprietress dislike her father? She didn’t blame the woman if she did. Her father could be difficult on a good day.
The duke didn’t say another word. He turned on his heel and strode back to the carriage. After the carriage was well on its way down the path away from the castle, she realized he hadn’t bothered to say goodbye to her. That shouldn’t surprise her, and yet, it did. He must truly loathe her and had found some sort of relief in being rid of her. Why hadn’t he dumped her at a school sooner?
“Come inside, dear,” Miss Abernathy said to her. “One of the servants will bring your trunks to your room. I will introduce you to your roommate. I think you’ll get along well. Her father is an earl, and much like you, she’s running from a scandal.”
Weren’t they all? Charlotte sighed and followed her inside. The difficult part was complete. She’d survived the trip to the academy with her father. Now she could settle in and perhaps learn something. They had to teach more than deportment and dancing. She hoped they would provide a more well-rounded education. She wouldn’t mind learning more history, and she adored literature—most of the time anyway. As far as becoming a dutiful daughter—she would never be that again. Charlotte wouldn’t try to be the daughter her father wanted any longer. She would never be able to comply with his exact expectations, and she was done trying. From that point on, she was going to be the person she wanted to be, and the rest of the world be damned.