Page 8 of Until the Rake Surrenders (Rogue Rules #5)

M in had arrived in Bath just over a week ago at her mother’s house, a charming stone-fronted terrace in the Circus. It was strange to think that this was her mother’s new permanent residence and that the duchess would not be returning to Henlow House in London or Beacon Park in Bedfordshire. But it was for the best. Though her parents avoided each other if they happened to be in residence at the same time, it was still a stressful environment for everyone. Having completely separate households would guarantee peace.

Not peace , exactly. At least Min wouldn’t have that, not with her mother’s marriage demands becoming more strident than ever. She was particularly frustrated with Min for how things had gone at the Longleat house party.

Lady Bath had written a letter to Min’s mother, explaining how Min had spent much of the party caring for Evan. The duchess had been displeased and had harped on missed opportunities with potential suitors at Longleat. Today, however, it seemed her mother was ready to change her focus. Probably because tonight was the first ball of the Season.

The duchess had come into Min’s bedchamber to select the gown Min would wear that evening. They stood surveying the three new evening gowns that had just been delivered from the modiste. Min’s mother always insisted she have new garments for every Season, and these three were only the beginning. Her mother had purchased a subscription to the Upper Rooms, which meant Min would be attending two balls each week, one on Mondays and one on Thursdays. The fancy ball was held on Thursdays, which was tonight.

There would be dozens of evening gowns, since Min’s mother would not want her to wear the same one twice. It was too much, but Min’s attempts to convince her that she could surely wear the gowns she’d just worn in London in the spring had been shut down.

Ellis was lucky in that her presence was not required—not in choosing what to wear nor in attending the balls, apparently. In a break from the past, the duchess had announced that the subscription to the Upper Rooms did not include Ellis. Min was livid; however, her protests had been as successful as her complaints about the unnecessary wardrobe enrichment.

Min’s mother had never made a secret of her disapproval of Ellis, which had always grated on Min. The duchess hadn’t wanted Min’s father to take Ellis in after her parents had died. It didn’t matter that Ellis’s father’s family and the duke’s family had been friends for generations.

Not that Min had known of her mother’s attitude at first, because she’d been all of five years old when Ellis had come to live with them as Min’s companion. Indeed, Min could barely remember a time when Ellis hadn’t been in their household. And that made Ellis like a sister to Min, even if her mother treated Ellis as if she were an interloper.

“I think you should definitely wear the ivory,” her mother said, gesturing to the gown that hung in the center. It was flanked by a dark pink and a daffodil yellow. Seeing the colors together reminded Min of Evan’s floral dungeon at Longleat. She quashed a smile.

Min preferred the pink, but she’d learned long ago to choose her battles with her mother. In the end, Min didn’t care what dress she wore tonight.

The duchess went on, “The color says you are serious about marriage. It denotes purity and innocence and a readiness to become a wife. I truly believe the time has finally arrived, Min. I know how important it is to you to find the right bridegroom, and I think you will find him here in Bath.”

“I wish I shared your confidence, Mama.” Min was just glad that Jo was in Bath and would attend at least some of the balls since Ellis could not. It was too bad that none of their other friends had been able to come to town. Persephone and Tamsin were at their country estates, and while Gwen had planned to be there with Somerton, she’d sent a letter saying she was ill.

“You should.” Her mother gave her an earnest look. “Tonight, I want you to pay special attention to the Viscounts Barswell and Spilsby. It will be the battle of the viscounts,” she added with a laugh. “Do stay away from the Viscount Claxton, however. He’s a fortune hunter.”

“I met Claxton at Longleat,” Min said. “I can assure you, I have no interest in him. Who is Spilsby?”

“That is Mr. Eberforce. Was Mr. Eberforce,” her mother corrected. “He inherited his uncle’s viscountcy over the summer. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Min was familiar with Eberforce, and he was a jackanapes. He’d humiliated Min’s friend Gwen, Evan’s sister, at Almack’s in the spring. Again, Min chose not to start an argument with her mother. Instead, Min would do her best to steer clear of Eberforce. Or Spilsby. She suddenly laughed.

Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

Spilsby was the most perfect title Mr. Eberforce could ever have inherited, for he’d made a spectacle of poor Gwen when she’d tripped at Almack’s and spilled orgeat on Eberforce’s garish waistcoat. Honestly, it was the best use of Almack’s terrible drink as it transformed Eberforce’s equally horrid garment into a more tolerable color.

“I was just recalling something humorous that Mr. Eberforce, rather Lord Spilsby, said last spring,” Min lied. Her mother would not appreciate the irony of Spilsby’s new title. Min could not, however, wait to tell Ellis, who would be greatly amused.

“That’s encouraging,” her mother said with enthusiasm.

“I met a pleasant gentleman at Longleat—Mr. Jarvis,” Min added. “I told him I would dance with him in Bath.”

The duchess frowned. “I have no idea who that is. Don’t dawdle with him. You must focus on the men who are worthy of you.”

“Those are the men you mentioned?” Min asked, thinking Spilsby was no more worthy of her than a slug. Actually, she would find a slug far more tolerable.

“Yes,” her mother replied, somewhat impatiently.

“And what makes them worthy?” Min shouldn’t prod her like this, but it was as close to defiance as she would dare this afternoon.

“Their titles and their social standing,” her mother said with a hint of exasperation. Then her eyes lit, and she clapped her hands together. “I don’t know if he will be coming to Bath this autumn, but you might also consider the Earl of Banemore.”

Min kept her jaw from dropping. There was no situation in which she would ever consider Bane. He had thoroughly ruined her dear friend Pandora Barclay. Min hoped he would not be coming to Bath, since Pandora lived here with her aunt. Pandora did not participate in the Marriage Mart—Bane’s treatment of her ensured that she had no prospects, despite being the daughter of a baron and the sister of a duchess. That Min’s mother would suggest Bane as a match for Min was shocking, though it should not have been. The duchess would overlook his extraordinary shortcomings because he was heir to a dukedom.

“He will be looking for a new wife,” her mother said with confidence. “His father is ill, and everyone expects Bane will inherit the dukedom soon. Taking a new wife and begetting an heir will be top of his priorities, I’m sure.”

One should not presume to know what Bane’s priorities were. He’d carried on with Pandora in Weston two years ago while he was already apparently betrothed to the woman he’d eventually wed. His priority had clearly not been Pandora. Sadly, Bane’s wife had died in childbirth, as had the child. Min detested the man but would never have wished such a tragedy upon him.

As Min once again considered whether to oppose her mother, she realized she often took the path of least resistance with her. It simply wasn’t worth the aggravation to do anything else. In this case, however, Min believed it was.

“Mama, I must tell you that I would never consider the Earl of Banemore. Since you mentioned unworthiness, I would argue that he is absolutely not worthy of me, given his past behavior.”

The duchess waved her hand. “If you’re referring to that tiny scandal with that silly chit in Weston, that is ancient history.”

A wave of anger swept through Min. “That silly chit is sister to the Duchess of Wellesbourne. She’s also a very dear friend of mine whom I will be seeing while we are in Bath. It is not ancient history to her or to any of us who were witness to his perfidy. She believed they were to wed. He misled her. I am sorry for what’s happened to him, but he’s horrible, and I would never marry him, so just put that from your mind.”

Narrowing her eyes at Min, the duchess set a hand on her hip. “My dear, you are past the point at which you may be selective. The reason your choices are these two viscounts and anyone else we might hunt up here in Bath is because no one believes you are serious about marriage. Better prospects have moved on. Indeed, some of them even married this past Season, and you missed out entirely. I daresay you’re going to have to accept the next marriage proposal that is offered.”

“Even if it’s Mr. Jarvis?” Min asked sweetly.

The duchess blew out a breath and threw up her hands. “Don’t be ridiculous. You must choose someone with a title.”

Min was saved from further discussion by the arrival of the housekeeper.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Mrs. Barker said. “Lord and Lady Shefford have arrived. They are waiting downstairs in the library.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Barker.” The duchess grimaced faintly before glancing at Min. “We’d best go welcome them.” She departed the bedchamber.

Min followed her mother, eager to see her brother and his wife. Jo was also Min’s good friend and was expecting a child in the new year. The prospect of becoming an aunt was most exciting, especially since Min doubted she would marry and have children of her own.

She followed her mother into the library. Jo sat in a chair, and Sheff stood beside her.

“I’m so pleased to see you,” Min said. She hurried over to hug Jo, who stood as Min approached. As they embraced, Min felt Jo’s bump against her belly and glanced down between them. “Are you feeling well?” she asked with a smile.

Jo nodded. “Quite, thank you. Your brother makes sure of it.” She looked over at Sheff, who, though he wasn’t smiling, possessed an air of pride and joy that was unmistakable, at least to Min. She’d never seen her brother so happy and was very glad for him.

“Did you just arrive in Bath?” the duchess asked.

“Yesterday,” Sheff replied. “We’ve taken a house in Portland Place,” Sheff replied. “It’s well-appointed, and the butler keeps an organized household.”

“That is most satisfying,” the duchess said. “I have finally rounded out the retainers here, and I do hope things will begin to move more smoothly now that we have a full complement. Will you be attending the ball tonight?” She glanced at Jo’s midsection.

Sheff edged closer to Jo. “No, but I did purchase a subscription. I want to support Min.” He smiled at his sister.

Their mother inclined her head. “That is very kind of you, Sheff. Your sister needs all the support she can get. I’m afraid she’s run out of time on the Marriage Mart. This is her last chance. Unfortunately, the options here in Bath are not extensive. Alas, it will have to suffice. I am confident she can find someone who is worthy.” She gave Min a pointed look before her gaze drifted toward Jo. The unspoken message was clear: Sheff had not chosen someone who was worthy, and Min must not make the same mistake.

“You must excuse me,” the duchess said. “I’ve a meeting with the new cook.” She swept from the library, and it was as if the air in the room lightened.

“My apologies,” Min murmured to Jo. “You needn’t come here anymore. I can visit you.”

Jo gave her a smile. “It’s all right, I can put up with your mother.”

Sheff looked to Min. “We were hoping you might take a walk with us to call on Father. His house is just over in Catharine Place.”

Min was surprised. She knew her father was coming to Bath, but she wasn’t sure when. Her mother would be angry, but hopefully, their paths wouldn’t cross. It was perhaps too much to hope, as Bath was not large.

“Let me just fetch my hat and gloves,” Min said. “And Ellis—if she wants to come.”

“Actually, could you not invite Ellis?” Sheff asked. His expression seemed uncertain or perhaps tinged with discomfort.

Min found his request odd. “Why?”

“You’ll understand why when we get to Father’s.”

Frowning slightly as she tried to puzzle why Ellis’s presence wouldn’t be wanted, she quickly fetched her hat and gloves. A few minutes later, they left the house and walked from the Circus onto Brock Street toward the Crescent, where Pandora’s aunt lived. However, they would turn right before that to make their way to Catharine Place.

“Now don’t be shocked,” Sheff said. “Father is not living alone here.”

Min’s eyes rounded briefly. “Mrs. Welbeck is with him?” That was his new mistress, whom he’d met in Weston this summer. Sheff had said their father was smitten.

Min hadn’t met her yet. “I still can’t believe he has a mistress who has lasted more than a month.”

“Mrs. Welbeck appears to be different.” There was a sparkle in Sheff’s eye. “But Father is also different.”

“So you’ve said,” Min replied.

“He hardly drinks at all anymore,” Sheff continued. “He and Mrs. Welbeck like to take rambling walks about the countryside. With her dogs.”

“ Our father does that?” Min was agog.

Sheff chuckled. “I know it’s hard to believe.”

As they neared their father’s house, Jo gently touched Min’s arm. “We have something important to tell you when we arrive, and I just want you to know that you must have whatever reaction you feel, and I am here to support you.”

Min grew alarmed.

“Don’t worry,” Sheff said. “It’s nothing terrible—well, I mean, it is somewhat awful, but we’ll all manage.”

Stomach clenching, Min stopped. “Father is going to divorce Mother, isn’t he? Has he found proof of adultery?”

“We are not aware of any divorce plans.” Sheff’s brow darkened. “Though, I see why you would think that. I do wonder if Father has considered divorce.” He frowned slightly, his features contemplative. “He could… I won’t say more until we go inside. The house is just there.” He gestured to the next terrace.

A friendly butler called Jurgens greeted them and showed them to the drawing room upstairs. Min’s father, the Duke of Henlow, rose from a chair as they entered. He looked very well. His nose had lost its typical redness, and his midsection appeared to have diminished somewhat.

“My dear Minnie,” he said with a smile and held his arms open for her. He hadn’t done that in years. She walked toward him and stepped into his embrace. She closed her eyes as she leaned her cheek against his chest. For a fleeting moment, she was eight years old again.

They separated, and he surveyed her a moment. “You look well. How was Longleat?”

“It was quite tolerable, Papa.” She didn’t want to exchange pleasantries when there was a revelation of import hanging in the air. “What is this critical thing you must tell me?” Min looked from her father to Sheff and back to her father again.

“Let us sit.” Their father went back to the chair he’d vacated while Sheff and Jo sat together on a settee. Min perched on a chair near her father, across from Jo and Sheff.

The three of them looked at each other, and Min began to grow frustrated. “You’re starting to worry me.”

“This concerns Ellis,” her father said slowly, almost hesitantly. “We’ve learned some information about her that is vital and surprising. It concerns her parentage.”

Min’s pulse picked up speed with the mention of Ellis’s parentage. The parents who’d raised her until she was nine when they’d died had adopted her. The identity of her true parents was not known—at least not to Ellis or to Min.

Over the years, many people suspected the duke was Ellis’s father because of the way he’d welcomed her into their household when she’d been orphaned. The duchess’s disdain for her presence supported the suspicion, but the duke had always maintained he was not Ellis’s father. And since he’d just said what they’d discovered was surprising, the information clearly didn’t involve him.

“What have you learned?” Min asked, her body rigid with tension.

Jo exhaled. “There’s just no easy way to say this. Ellis is my half sister.”

Of all the things Min might have expected, that was not it. She stared at Jo and tried to make sense of it. “I have many questions.”

“I’m sure you do,” Sheff said. “Let us try to explain. I think many have assumed that Ellis is our father’s by-blow.”

Min nodded and looked to her father. “But she is not your daughter.”

“No, she is not, as I have always said.” The duke’s face creased with concern. “She is, however, your half sister too.”

That only left one explanation… She gaped at Sheff. “Our mother is Ellis’s mother?”

Sheff pressed his lips together as he inclined his head.

Min’s jaw dropped completely, and she made an incoherent sound as words failed her for a long moment.

What Sheff had said about their father being able to consider a divorce made sense. If Ellis was their mother’s daughter, the duchess would have had an affair while married to Min’s father. And since Jo was Ellis’s half sister, that meant the duchess had conducted a liaison with Jo’s father. To think her mother had the nerve to lecture Min about the worthiness of people based on their social standing! By Mother’s own measure, Jo’s father wasn’t “worthy,” yet she’d betrayed her husband with him and borne a child.

Min sagged back against the chair as she finally snapped her mouth closed. This was going to take some time to comprehend. She thought of Ellis. What would she think? What would she do ?

Whenever Ellis heard the oft-repeated rumor that the duke was her father, she denounced it immediately. He had told her years ago quite firmly that he was not her father, and she’d believed him, regardless of what anyone said. Min believed it was because he’d always welcomed Ellis into their family, whereas the duchess—Ellis’s actual mother—had treated her horribly. Ellis felt a strong loyalty to him.

Ellis would be devastated.

But there was also a sense of joy, for Ellis was Min’s half sister. That made her smile.

“That is not the reaction I was expecting,” Min’s father noted, his brow furrowing as he studied Min.

“I was just thinking it’s nice to know that Ellis doesn’t just feel like my sister. She is my sister. That will be the only thing about this that will make her happy,” Min added. She narrowed her eyes at all of them. “Why are you telling me before her?”

“We thought it best you know in advance so that when we—all together—do tell her, you will be able to anticipate what’s coming,” Jo explained. “If I were Ellis, I would be grateful to have someone at my side who I know cares about me.”

Min nodded. That made sense. “Who else knows?”

“No one,” Sheff replied. “That includes Jo’s father and our mother. Well, Mother knows, obviously, but she doesn’t know that we know.”

Jo grimaced faintly. “My father isn’t even aware there was a child, let alone who it could be.”

“How awful,” Min said softly, shaking her head. “I’m struggling to reconcile the mother who raised me with this person who committed adultery and had a daughter and has treated her so poorly.”

In recent years, the relationship between Min and her mother had deteriorated as the duchess had become increasingly demanding with regard to Min’s duty to marry. Still, Min had loved her and believed her mother had wanted the best for her. Now, however, Min felt nothing but anger and betrayal, primarily for how she’d treated her own flesh and blood. To think she’d had two daughters in her household and treated them so differently was unconscionable to Min.

There had been so many things over the years—the vast differences in their wardrobes, that Ellis’s chamber wasn’t just much smaller than Min’s, it was located on the same floor as the servants, or even, most recently, not purchasing a subscription for Ellis. In every way, Ellis had been excluded, and why? She could very easily have been accepted into their family and been given the same opportunities as Min. She should have been Min’s “adopted sister” rather than her companion.

“Why does she hate Ellis so much?” Min whispered.

“Because I made her accept Ellis into the household,” the duke said.

Min blinked at him. “You knew Ellis was her daughter?”

“I did. I did not know the identity of her father until recently, but I knew your mother had a child and that she wasn’t mine. We’d stopped sharing a bed after your brother was born.”

Min froze. “Does that mean you are not my father either?”

“No, no,” her father assured her. “After Ellis was situated with her adoptive parents, which I coordinated, your mother felt beholden to give me another child, and I am delighted she did, because that is you, my beautiful Minnie.”

“Why didn’t you make her accept Ellis as a member of the family instead of just the household?” Min demanded. “She should have been given everything I was.”

Her father’s face fell. “I could not convince your mother to do that. I should have insisted. Instead, I made a bargain—that Ellis could stay so long as she was your companion and nothing more.”

“Why would you agree to that?” Min was so angry at him.

“I was still hopeful your mother and I might find a path to reconciliation.” His mouth curled into a brief, sad smile. “I loved your mother far longer than I should have.”

“You had a terrible way of showing it,” Min snapped.

“Min, you don’t know everything about their marriage,” Sheff interjected.

She turned her head toward her brother. “Then tell me.”

Sheff glanced at their father, and it was he who responded. “I married your mother because I loved her beyond reason, Minnie. However, she did not reciprocate my affections. She married me for my title, and once we were wed, she made that quite plain. She hated my rakish behavior, all while pretending to be enamored. Still, I tried to woo her—with no effect. I was lonely, and I decided that once a rake, always a rake. I am not proud of how I’ve acted over the years, but my heart was broken for a long time.”

Min was shaking now. In the span of a quarter hour, everything she knew had completely changed. She could scarcely believe all that had been revealed. And she could not imagine how Ellis was going to react.

“We need to tell Ellis as soon as possible,” Min said. “But we’re going to the ball tonight at the Upper Rooms.”

“We’d thought to tell her and my father together,” Jo said. “He is here in Bath. We invited him to come so that we could tell them, and they could get to know one another.”

“What if Ellis doesn’t want that?” Min didn’t want Ellis to be put into any position she didn’t agree to. “We mustn’t force her to do anything.”

“I agree.” Jo looked at Sheff. “Perhaps we shouldn’t tell them together.”

“I think that would be for the best,” Min said. “We need to tell Ellis tomorrow.”

She didn’t really want to wait at all, but there wouldn’t be time before Min would need to start preparing for the ball. And she agreed that they needed to all tell Ellis together, away from their mother’s house. “We should do it here.”

“Yes, of course,” Sheff agreed. “Tomorrow afternoon.”

Min’s mind was churning. She didn’t know how she would keep the secret from Ellis until then. Whenever she thought she could not tell Ellis something, she invariably did, just as she had last week at Longleat after kissing Evan. Keeping this secret in particular from Ellis would be torture.

Min rubbed her hand over her brow. “I don’t know how Ellis is going to react to this.”

“She’s going to be upset,” Jo said gently. “But we will be here for her.”

“I expect she won’t want to stay in your mother’s household anymore,” the duke noted. “She’s welcome to come here.”

Min’s gut twisted. “No, she won’t want to stay with us,” she said softly, which meant Min would be alone. The life she had loved and had taken for granted was now over. She thought of what Ellis might want. Would she still wish to run a school for girls?

Min looked to her father. “You must give her whatever she wants. She deserves that.”

He nodded. “I agree. However, I don’t think she can have a Season or seek a husband on the Marriage Mart. That would raise too many questions after she’s been your companion for so long.”

Min doubted Ellis would want either of those things, and not just because people would assume—definitively—that the duke was her father.

“The truth of Ellis’s parentage cannot be revealed beyond our family,” Sheff said. “No one can know that Ellis is the child of Jo’s father and our mother. She must continue as your companion who was orphaned by friends of our family.”

“I don’t think she’ll want to continue as my companion. I imagine she’ll want to be as far away from our mother— her mother—as possible.” Min wanted that for herself too.

“I can settle a dowry on her,” the duke said. “It’s very possible she could find a husband, if that’s what she wants. Do you know what she wants, Min?”

“I can’t possibly,” Min said. “This changes everything. I’m not sure she’ll know what she wants. I don’t think I would.”

But Min wasn’t in Ellis’s position. She was dealing with the expectation that she wed. And now more than ever, especially after hearing her father’s heartbreaking revelation, she didn’t want to marry someone whom she did not love completely, and who did not love her in return.

However, now that she knew she could at least feel passion, she’d begun to accept the notion of marrying for that, if nothing else. The only person with whom she felt that, though, was Evan. She pushed him from her mind. Now was not the time to think about him.

“What is our plan for tomorrow, then?” the duke asked.

“We’ll meet here tomorrow afternoon,” Sheff replied. “Early, before the social hour in Sydney Gardens.”

Min wanted to laugh. As if she or Ellis would want to walk in the gardens after what Ellis would learn.

“Are you all right, Min?” Jo asked tentatively, her face full of concern and love.

“Not entirely,” Min replied. It would be difficult to be with Ellis and not tell her the truth.

Tomorrow could not come soon enough.