Page 34 of The Quiet Wife (Stately Scandals #2)

Speke Hall – Liverpool

Frederick recovered from the shock swiftly. He snarled and grabbed Frances’ arm, bending it and her backwards.

Lizzie screamed and attempted to yank him away from her sister. Jemie’s mother shouted at him to stop and let Frances go.

When he didn’t, Jemie seized Leyland’s arm. It took considerable effort. The damned man was a good six inches taller than him, but Jemie fought dirty and squeezed on the pressure point by his elbow, forcing him to let go of his wife with a surprised yelp.

“Let her go!” Lizzie shouted and pulled Frances away. “You’ve hurt her, you brute.”

Jemie wanted to weigh in, but his mother’s words rang in his ears. He watched as Leyland collected himself with an air of momentary uncertainty. He studied the red fingerprints on Frances’ arm and frowned.

“I… I apologise. I did not mean to harm you.” The words were stilted and awkward.

Anna stepped forward and spoke softly. “Everyone is overwrought,” she said. “Perhaps we should sit down?”

Lizzie led Frances to a sofa where they both sat so Jemie followed suit, followed by his mother, and eventually Leyland sank into a chair. He kept staring at Frances’ arm as though shocked by his own actions.

Frances cleared her throat, and everyone turned to her when she spoke.

“We have had a very difficult few hours. Yesterday, Elinor’s fever returned, and Doctor Emslie feared she would not make it through the night.

” She regarded her husband. “We sent word for you to return.” Her chin quivered, but she held herself together.

“I sat with her. I thought we were going to lose her.”

Leyland said nothing and looked unmoved by his wife’s account.

“The doctor has just told us she seems to have weathered the worst of the storm. She is not out of the woods by any means, but today he is more hopeful. However, for a long time, I thought she was going to die.” She swallowed and blinked as she kept her gaze fixed upon her husband.

“I thought my baby was going to die. Hence my… outburst just now.”

“Why was I not informed of this?” Leyland asked calmly.

“We wrote you a note,” Lizzie said. “A footman delivered it late last night.” She paused. “He had some difficulty locating you.”

Leyland twitched. “He most certainly did. I never received any note.”

Jemie would have bet his life that Leyland was lying through his teeth, and judging by their expressions, so would Lizzie and his mother, but Frances appeared shocked.

“You didn’t receive it?” she floundered.

“No, but as usual, you jumped to conclusions. Now, if you would excuse me, I would like to see my child.” He heaved himself from the chair and stalked from the room, slamming the door.

Frances fiddled with the rings on her fingers, clearly shaken. “You are all probably wondering what on earth prompted me to behave so badly?”

“It wasn’t bad behaviour,” Lizzie said vehemently. “He deserved everything.”

Frances watched her with measured consideration. “But if he didn’t receive the note, then he did not know Elinor was so ill.”

Lizzie glanced up at Jemie, an element of despair in her eyes before answering her sister.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Frances, you don’t believe that do you? Of course he received the note. The footman said he delivered it to him.”

“Why would he lie?” She hesitated, her voice cracking. All the colour drained out of Frances as she understood.

Lizzie looked at Jemie tearfully, clearly hating to see her sister so upset after being treated so appallingly.

Frances placed a tentative hand on Lizzie’s forearm and took over.

“I should explain why he said what he did. I spoke with him before he left for Liverpool, and I was… furious. Very upset, and very frightened to think he was leaving at such a time. That he seemed not to… not to care. I was very sarcastic and asked if he would like to be notified if any of his children died.” She cleared her throat.

“It was an awful thing to say to him. I thought he’d ignored the note we sent so when he came in and said what he did… ” she shrugged. “I reacted badly.”

Jemie could not remain silent a moment longer. “Good for you. That’s all that I can say. And I agree with Lizzie. If he didn’t get that note, I’ll… eat my hat.”

“James!” His mother’s tone and use of his full name snapped him to attention, but he refused to be sorry for his words. It was damned well true and everyone but Frances could see it.

“I think we need to be calm. For Elinor’s sake,” his mother said.

Frances climbed to her feet. “I should let cook know Frederick will be with us for luncheon,” she said before turning to her sister. “He’s never going to forgive me for that, is he?”

***

Later in the day, Jemie sauntered towards the kitchen and found the footman, Albert, if memory served, heading towards the dining room.

“Aha, just the man!”

Albert stopped and smiled. “Can I help you with something, sir?”

“Indeed. Was it you who took the letter last night to Mr Leyland?”

Albert shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, sir.”

“Where did you eventually locate him? I believe it took some time.”

A soft pink tinged Albert’s young cheeks. He swallowed. “I… ah… I…”

“Just between us.”

Albert relaxed a little. “Well, I couldn’t find him at first. I went to the offices like I was told, but he’d left.

I visited the flat in Liverpool where he usually stays when he’s there, but they told me he’d gone out for the evening.

I waited and waited, but he didn’t come back.

After a while, I think they felt sorry for me and one of the grooms came and had a word. ”

Jemie nodded. “Go on.”

“Well… well, he said… please don’t say anything to Mrs Leyland, but he told me he’d driven him to a hotel in Liverpool to meet someone and that he wouldn’t be returning until the morning.”

“Which hotel?”

Albert sagged a little more. “He went to the Queen’s Hotel. The one by Lime Street railway station.”

“Did you hand the letter to him yourself?”

Albert shook his head. “I spoke to a man on the desk. He said that Mr Leyland had taken a room but given instructions not to be disturbed. I explained his daughter might be dying and it was important that he went home. The man said I could go up. I went to his room, and he answered the door. He was not best pleased; I can tell you. In fact, I thought he was going to sack me on the spot. I handed him the letter and ran.”

“Good lad,” Jemie patted the boy on the arm.

“Do you think so, sir? Is Miss Elinor on the mend?”

Jemie nodded. “She is stronger, so her mama is hopeful. Mr Leyland is home now, so all is well and there is nothing for you to worry about.”

Albert looked unconvinced.

“Have you ever read any books by a chap called Dickens?”

Albert shook his head. “Can’t say I have, sir.”

“Well, as the inestimable Mr Dickens once said, all’s well that ends well.”

Albert appeared faintly baffled but nodded and hurried on his way.

Jemie plunged his fingers through his hair and sighed. It was exactly as he’d feared.

***

Frederick’s punishment for poor behaviour had always been to ignore Frances completely.

As a young woman, a young wife in the early days of their marriage, it had caused her a great deal of distress, and she’d tried all manner of things to earn his forgiveness.

To make him smile again. To get into his good graces.

As she grew older, she learned to deal with it.

She fared well enough without his attention, but it didn’t do to let him realise it.

So, after the argument, she made a few attempts to speak to him, to make peace, and let him brush her aside to play the part he expected.

She headed for breakfast and was relieved to find Anna, Jemie, and Lizzie in there already with Frederick. At lease she wouldn’t have to deal with him alone. She helped herself to toast and sat down.

“Tea?” Lizzie offered, holding up the pot.

“Thank you.”

She watched as Frederick ate a piece of bacon, then dabbed at his mouth with a napkin and put it down.

“Whistler, I’m thinking that I would like to make progress with the work on the Prince’s Gate house. Jeckyll is ready to start on the dining room. Are you ready to begin the hall panels?”

Jemie nodded. “I’m ready whenever you want me.”

“Then you’ve finished my wife’s portrait?”

“Not completely, but I can do both. It would be no trouble.”

“Very well.”

Jemie nodded but didn’t look at Frances. “Are you thinking of returning to London soon?”

Frederick sipped his tea. “In the next few weeks. Things will be picking up and many of the people I need to see are based down there.”

“Are you planning to stay for long?” Frances asked, wondering if she were to be consulted on his plans.

Frederick shrugged. “Probably until the New Year.”

“We can begin to plan the older two girls’ season for the spring,” Frances said, not looking directly at him. “I imagine hosting balls and parties in the Prince’s Gate house will be something to behold. I presume you will have completed everything with Mr Bibby by then, too?”

Frederick just snorted inelegantly.

They finished the rest of breakfast with forced civilities. Frederick was the first to leave, and Anna and Jemie followed. Frances smiled as she watched him go.

“You like him, don’t you?” Lizzie asked quietly once the door closed behind them.

“Who? Jemie? Of course I like him. He’s been wonderful.”

Lizzie looked uncharacteristically serious. “I mean more than like him.”

Frances swallowed. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?” she fiddled with her napkin. “Even if I did, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m married to Frederick and that’s that.”

“You’re not…” Lizzie gestured vaguely.

“Not what?”

Lizzie sighed and spoke more boldly. “Are you having an affair with Jemie?”

Frances was stunned. She opened her mouth and shut it again. Did a kiss constitute an affair?

“No. I am not,” she said. Guilt making her snap.

“Hmm.”

“I sincerely hope you are not going to suggest that I do.”

Lizzie shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

Frances nodded. Telling herself she was pleased to hear it.

“An affair for a married lady should be light-hearted and fun. No huge feelings involved. If you had an affair with Jemie, you’d end up in love with him and, probably, him in love with you.

It would be a disaster. Nothing but heartache.

My advice would be to simply stay friends,” Lizzie said wisely.

Frances couldn’t speak. She knew Lizzie’s advice was well meant, but it was getting harder and harder to stay away from him. It also was delivered too late. She had already fallen in love with him. For the first time in her life, she understood what love was and she had no idea what to do.