Page 29 of Surrender to the Earl (Brides of Redemption #2)

“Then I’m glad for you. But I think, now that I’ve met and accepted Louisa, perhaps my servants will at least realize I mean them no harm.

I’ve told them she could visit anytime, and now maybe they’ll believe me.

” She gave Molly a smile. “Are you hungry? They’ll be bringing up a tray soon that we can share. ”

“I could eat in the kitchen,” Molly grumbled. “I’ve started standing up, just to test my legs.”

“And how are they working?”

After a faint pause, she said, “Better.”

“Hmm, why do I not believe you?”

“You could at least let me begin to write for you.”

“Lord Knightsbridge has volunteered.”

“Now that’s a fiancé,” Molly said with admiration.

He was far too wonderful to her, Audrey agreed silently. And too dependable.

“I’ll let his lordship take over for me another day or two,” Molly teased.

Audrey wasn’t sure how much longer she could let that happen.

At dinner that evening, Blythe pleaded a headache and retired to her room, leaving Audrey to entertain Robert. He had Francis leave the serving dishes, then close the doors behind him.

Audrey felt a little thrill at being alone with him. “That’s not very nice of you.”

“We have much to discuss,” he insisted. “We didn’t have a chance while I was writing your letters—not that there were many.”

“Just to my father and brother,” she insisted.

“And short ones at that, although I do understand.” He paused. “You had no female friends to write to?”

“None,” she said, keeping her voice brisk and impassive. “But that is about to change. I’ve already met Mrs. Warton and Mrs. Edgeworth. Louisa Roebuck is about my age, although it might be inappropriate to cultivate her friendship. But she is a widow, too.”

“Louisa Roebuck?” he asked blankly.

“Oh, I forgot to mention it while we were writing letters.” She lowered her voice.

“Or to be more accurate, I chose not to mention her until I was certain we were alone. Mr. Sanford was trying to distract me from his widowed daughter and grandson. I believe they might all have worried I would punish them for seeing her.”

“Do you think that’s what all the fuss has been about?”

Audrey hesitated. “I don’t know. Today’s attempt at distraction made some sort of sense, but causing trouble for me? I don’t know what purpose it serves.”

“To drive you away?”

“By now they must know I won’t go.”

“Unless they escalate their attacks.”

“Attacks? This is not a battleground, Robert,” she said, shaking her head.

“They’re making it into one,” he said coldly.

Just hearing his tone of voice made her not want to get on his bad side. But the fact that he was so concerned on her behalf gave her a feeling of safety she’d never known before.

It was temporary, she reminded herself sternly. She had to discover her own safety.

“You’ll be happy to know your missing ledgers turned up.”

“Where?” she demanded.

“In your study, beneath a stack of books. I know they weren’t there before.”

“How frustrating! Did you have a chance to glance through the most recent one?”

“Yes, and if memory serves, at least the last few pages seemed identical to Mr. Drayton’s copy. It may have simply been another prank to annoy you. But we’ll do a more thorough comparison the next time he visits.”

“Speaking of pranks, you said your shooting adventure went well, but did you mean it?”

“It was fine. Mr. Sanford was knowledgeable of the grounds and the hunting. It appears it really was just a ruse to keep all of us away. I don’t like it. Why is this daughter so fragile? Did she seem morose?”

“No, simply shy, and embarrassed that her little boy was misbehaving. The next time she visits, I’ll make more of an effort to converse with her.”

“If they let you,” he mused darkly.

But she didn’t want to consider that. “I’m going to discuss in detail with Mr. Drayton the idea of having a feast for my tenants. Can you think of some suggestions?”

She could tell he didn’t like being distracted from his concerns, but soon he was just as involved in the idea as she was.

But her own concerns continued to simmer.

The next day, Audrey received an invitation for tea at Mrs. Edgeworth’s.

On the following day, she and Blythe went at the appropriate hour.

Blythe had been quite insistent that Audrey didn’t need Molly or Lord Knightsbridge, and Audrey told herself she was like any normal woman, attending an event with her sister.

It was actually a good feeling, and so rare. She didn’t know what was going on with Blythe’s conscience, or how long her sister intended to visit, but Audrey wasn’t questioning it.

Robert had had to go to London on business, so it had been a quiet few days without him.

Blythe still seemed to think Audrey’s days could be spent in ladylike relaxation and pastimes, and Audrey was feeling a bit frustrated with her.

Didn’t her sister realize that someday she’d have her own household?

Mrs. Edgeworth lived in a little stone house within the village boundaries.

Audrey already knew from Mrs. Sanford that the woman was a widow who considered herself one of the village matriarchs.

She was stern but fair, and tireless in her volunteer work.

She sounded like the perfect person for Audrey to get to know.

There were four other ladies in attendance: Mrs. Warton, the vicar’s middle-aged wife; her daughter, Miss Warton, newly engaged, whose voice rang with happiness that still sounded surprised about her good fortune; Lady Flitcroft, the wife of a local baronet, who was so quiet Audrey often forgot she was in the room; and Miss Yardley, a young friend of Miss Warton’s, who was mostly focused on her coming-out next Season in London.

Audrey had sensed their curiosity as she and Blythe entered the parlor, but they’d seemed eager to know her. Her status as the blind future countess must be very intriguing. She hoped to win them over as herself, so that when she broke off the engagement, they’d be sympathetic friends.

When Mrs. Warton went off to see why the sandwiches she’d ordered hadn’t arrived, and Blythe was speaking to Miss Warton on her other side, Audrey spoke to Miss Yardley, seated to her left.

“I’m sorry that Mrs. Warton is embarrassed by her servants,” Audrey said, shaking her head. “We can be so dependent on them. At least I am, although I imagine that is obvious.”

Miss Yardley lowered her voice and seemed to lean nearer. “If you don’t mind a little gossip, I am very curious about your servants.”

“Why is that?” Audrey asked politely.

“I heard that Louisa Sanford is trying to say she went away to be married.”

“I’ve been told her name is Louisa Roebuck,” Audrey said cautiously.

“My mother’s housekeeper claims that is all fiction to try to protect her reputation. She was never married!” Miss Yardley’s voice was breathless with the intrigue.

The tea seemed to settle uneasily in Audrey’s stomach. “You are claiming the child is illegitimate?”

“My housekeeper insists it is so! She says Louisa was always fast and sadly reaped what she sowed. She should have left Hedgerley permanently, but apparently Mrs. Sanford didn’t wish to force her, so she returned with this fiction of a dead husband.”

“That is very sad,” Audrey murmured. “I hope it is not true.”

Miss Yardley, probably sensing that Audrey wasn’t going to add any gossip, turned to the lady on her other side, leaving Audrey to think troubled thoughts.

Was this the secret that the Sanfords had been hiding, their daughter’s shame? By driving Audrey away, did they think they could move Louisa back to Rose Cottage with them?

After light sandwiches, iced cakes, and more discussion of the Female Aid Society’s next fund-raising dance in the local assembly room, Audrey and Blythe rode home in the curricle.

Blythe had been delighted to drive, and Audrey found herself teasing that someday Blythe would have to let her drive on a flat, open road.

They spoke briefly about the various guests, and Blythe seemed more cautious than Audrey about Audrey’s acceptance.

“I know they probably stared at me,” Audrey said. “I don’t mind, since their behavior put me at ease. Though you had difficulty accepting my blindness, others might be able to see past it.”

And then Blythe burst into tears, and Audrey wondered if she was going to have to take over the reins anyway.

“I’m sorry,” Audrey said. “Do dry your eyes, Blythe. We’re putting the past behind us, remember? I should not have brought it up.”

But although Blythe was able to finish driving home, she was not to be consoled that day, and fled to spend the rest of it in her room. This sensitive side to her sister was new, and Audrey didn’t know what to make of it.

She played mournful tunes on the piano and tried to consider what she should do about the rumors concerning the Sanfords’ oldest daughter and wished she could discuss it with Robert.

She missed him far too much for a woman who firmly believed she could live without a husband.

Was it her place to confront them, so they knew what people were saying?

Or perhaps they didn’t care, as long as they misled her , the woman who had the power to let the entire family go.

Then, how would they support their grandchild?

By nightfall, she’d decided to do nothing—their shame wasn’t her business, and perhaps the gossip wasn’t even true. Yet, it would make more sense, why they were trying to mislead her …

Wouldn’t it?