Page 30

A PRESENCE CLOSE TO HER face had Vivienne’s eyes flying open to Charlotte standing over her with her arms crossed, scowling at her.

“Seems someone had a busy night. Would you care to enlighten me, Lady Larkby?”

Vivienne moaned as she swung her feet from the bed, her head hammering. It always did so after a spell. “What time is it?”

“It’s nearing ten in the morning. I couldn’t sleep, so I’ve been keeping myself busy embroidering one of your reticules.

Sir Sebastian tells me you are wed. I want to hear it from you.

Tell me what is going on this instant. Employer or not, so help me, I will throw you in a carriage myself and take you back to Draycott Castle if you two have another fabrication in the works.

Though, I do not know how one forges a wedding certificate.

So that leads me to believe that you have finally fallen in love with him, or he pressed you into a marriage.

But what would he get out of it if he did? ”

It took Vivienne nearly an hour to convince Charlotte that she was of a sound mind and hadn’t been forced into a marriage, while skirting the topic of love. But after their very lengthy conversation, Charlotte was satisfied and finished dressing Vivienne.

Charlotte added a lace shawl over Vivienne’s shoulders. “If you want any chance of a deep relationship with Mrs. Larkby, I suggest you confess everything this very morning, or this will be the worst decision of your life.”

“I had much the same thought.” She ran her hands over her hair, ensuring each pin was in place. A conversation of this magnitude required her to be as put together as possible. “I’ll do some writing while I await her in the parlor.” Vivienne grasped her notebook and pencil.

“Not her bedroom?”

“Yesterday, she mentioned wishing for a change of scenery to the maids, who told me, and I think the environment will be more conducive to my confessing all. If I see her lying in bed, looking pale, I may rethink the truth.”

Charlotte gave her an encouraging smile. “You can do this, my lady. Truth is best.”

Vivienne trudged down the stairs and spied a maid. She paused in the parlor doorway and requested tea to be brought once she pulled the cord. “Have you seen Sir Sebastian this morning, Bridget?”

The maid bobbed her head. “He’s training Cerberus near the kennel, my lady.”

She nodded her thanks, curled into the window seat, and flipped open her book to the scene that had been giving her no end of trouble, but that she needed to conquer before the end of the week if she was to meet her publisher’s timeline.

She attempted to write while she waited for Grandmother to appear, but no sentences came across as she intended.

Her mind was too muddled with the conversation to come.

Grandmother’s voice floated down the stairs.

Vivienne shot to her feet. She readied Grandmother’s seat with her current embroidery project and pulled the bell cord, summoning the tea.

It was time to confess. Even if the charade was no longer a charade, the lie between them was causing her breathing to be painful, and she hated the idea of keeping such a secret from the kind woman.

The footman slowly lowered Grandmother at the threshold.

She leaned heavily on her cane, her smile faltering when she saw Vivienne’s pained expression.

“I see we are to have that talk now.” She sighed.

“And I hear the rattle of the tea cart. Perhaps a bracing cup would be best to hold on to, to steady us both for what is sure to be ill news, given your state.”

“I’m afraid it is as you fear.” Vivienne assisted Grandmother onto the settee as the footman rolled in the cart and placed the tea tray on the side table.

Pouring the drink and handing out treats that would turn to dust in her mouth if she endeavored to eat them now, Vivienne wrapped her hands about her teacup and looked straight at Grandmother. “Our marriage is not what it seems.”

Grandmother lifted her gnarled hand. “I know, my dear. You do not have to explain.”

Her lips parted. “Y-you … know? What do you know about the marriage?”

“Everything.” She smiled, patting her on the arm.

“I may be old, but I am not a fool. Sebastian has never mentioned you before. I well remember our conversations of me asking him to marry and his stout refusal. I know the only thing that would move him to marry would be a great love.” She chuckled, popping a biscuit into her mouth.

“I never thought that great love would be me.”

Shame filled Vivienne’s belly. “I am so sorry I deceived you.” She dipped her head.

“We both love you. It nearly destroyed us both to be harboring such a lie for so long. We didn’t wish for you to become ill again whenever we did tell you, so we kept delaying on the hope that you would make a complete recovery.

And when you did, there was no other excuse left to hide behind. ”

“While I do not condone lying, I can see how you had both chosen to do so in the name of mercy and love. I forgave you both long ago.” She rested her hand on Vivienne’s scalding cheek before brushing an errant curl from her forehead. “I only wish that you were my granddaughter by marriage.”

Vivienne caught the dear woman’s hand and kissed the top of it. “On that account I may give you peace. We are indeed married now.”

Grandmother gasped, her hands flying to her lips, her teacup rattling in its saucer and then tumbling to the floor as she scrambled to standing. She wobbled without her cane as she cried out, “You are? I have a granddaughter?”

“Indeed!” Vivienne caught the woman’s arms, balancing her as Grandmother bobbled a little jig.

“My prayers have been answered. Hallelujah!” She lifted her hand heavenward before clasping it over her heart.

“I should have known the Lord would have answered my dearest prayer before I went home. He always waits until the last minute to answer a God-given desire of mine. I believe He enjoys the drama of it all—making certain that all know it was brought about by His hand alone.” She pressed her forehead to Vivienne’s. “You do love each other, don’t you?”

“I am fonder of him than of any man I have ever met.” Vivienne helped her return to her seat. “Sebastian is kind. He married me to keep me safe from my stepbrother and an unwanted betrothal to a cruel, twisted man. As a result, I am your granddaughter by law.”

Grandmother wrapped her in her arms. “I was so fearful that I would lose you after only just finding you, my dear. And as for your husband, love will soon follow. I’ve seen the way Sebastian treats you. He has never shown such deference to a woman before. But tell me, how did this come about?”

Vivienne quickly explained all, beginning with her poor research to claim a forgotten title as her pen name years ago and ending with Sebastian’s foresight in requesting a special license.

The door opened, and the butler bowed. “My lady. Mrs. Larkby. There is a caller here for Lady Larkby. He claims to be Lady Larkby’s—” He looked askance and shook his head. “He claims to be her betrothed.”

The joy from moments before fell aside as her vision swam. She gripped the decorative pillow at her side.

“I explained that it was impossible for you to be betrothed, as you are wed to Sir Sebastian, but he would not be deterred from his preposterous claim. As a result of his impudence, I left him on the porch. Shall I show Sir Josiah Montgomery inside?”

Grandmother clutched Vivienne’s hand. “No. He must be mad to make such a claim.”

A scuffle sounded at the door, and Sir Josiah pushed past the butler, shouting, “I will not be kept from my intended! You have no right to leave me, a titled lord, on the front steps as if I am an errand boy at the wrong entrance.”

Grandmother rose, standing before Vivienne, shielding her. “How dare you enter my house uninvited. Ladd, fetch Sir Sebastian at once.”

“I mean no harm.” Sir Josiah bowed to her. “Forgive me, Mrs. Larkby, but I am overcome with the pressing need to speak with my future bride.”

“I am not your future bride. I am wed.” Vivienne rose, placing her hand on Grandmother Larkby’s elbow, guiding her to sit once more.

Sir Josiah plucked a biscuit from the tray.

“As I stated at the Sydney Hotel last night, there are facts that do not align with your tale, and I doubt you are truly married to the man and your marriage certificate is forged. I will take you back to your stepbrother’s house now.

” He smirked. “Take comfort in the fact that I will not hold your naivete against you. But if you require a show of my devotion, I shall be taking part in Mr. Waterbury’s annual tournament for charity tomorrow and will wear your colors as I attempt to claim the generous prize money for our wedding trip.

” He bowed, extending his hand. “Might I have your lace shawl for a token?”

She crossed her arms and frowned at him. “My husband shall be wearing my colors and no one else.”

“He is to take part?” Sir Josiah’s eyes sparked.

“He is now,” Grandmother interjected.

“I would enjoy taking the knight down a peg and maiming him in the process.” The fool man had the gall to laugh.

Vivienne lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. “He is not merely going to take part. He is going to win. And if you have the desire to remain able-bodied before the tournament, I suggest you take your departure before my husband returns and takes leave of his manners as he shows you to the door.”