Devoted to the Duke, page 21
“And that means having the truth come out.”
Catherine watched as her sister digested this information.
“The longer I waited, the more damaging the gossip would be. Especially for the St. Clairs.”
Tears streamed down Leah’s cheeks. “You love Jeremy enough to give him up.”
“Yes. I want to protect him. The annulment does that. Naturally, there will be gossip when the scandal breaks, but he is a duke. A handsome, eligible man with a lofty title will be forgiven almost anything. I knew once our marriage was dissolved, Statham would tell what he knew to the ton. Not only would I be ruined, but you would never have a chance to wed. By leaving England, we give the St. Clairs some peace, knowing we’ll never see them again, while you and I can forge a new life. Americans aren’t interested in titles. We both have a chance to find husbands and lead a life not bowed by shame.”
Leah wiped her cheeks. “What will we live on?” she asked, worry creasing her brow.
“I have the earnings from my children’s books. Mr. Bellows promised to continue to buy my stories. He said there’s a strong possibility of having them also published in America. If times grow hard, I will sell my sapphire necklace.”
“No! Catherine, you can’t. What would Papa say?”
“He would be proud that I had the fortitude and foresight to do so. It is worth a great deal. We could probably live off of what it fetched for several years.”
The coach began to slow. She saw fear and uncertainty in her sister’s eyes. They came to a stop and Strong jumped down and opened the door.
“I see you’ve told her,” he said, sympathy in his eyes. “Don’t you worry, Lady Leah. I’ll make sure no harm comes to you or your sister.”
“You’re going with us, Strong?” Leah asked hopefully.
He winked at her. “I couldn’t very well let you sail across an ocean on your own now, could I?”
Strong helped them from the coach and said, “It’s a little after ten. We have tickets on the next mail coach which leaves at one. I know we’re early but I needed to get you and your luggage here and go back across town to return the rented horse and carriage.”
Catherine made a quick decision. She opened her reticule and withdrew a folded handkerchief. Pressing it into Strong’s palm, she said, “I want you to sell my necklace. I believe I will get a better price for it in London than Boston. With the money, we will be able to buy a small home for the three of us. Would you have time to find a jeweler once you return the carriage?”
He nodded. “I have just the right buyer in mind.” He slipped the handkerchief into his pocket. “Let me get your luggage.”
Strong retrieved Leah’s valise and Catherine’s trunk that rested atop the carriage. She’d only packed simple things to wear during her week at Eversleigh, with no ball gowns or fancy items included. The wardrobe in the trunk would be much more suitable for her new life and she could buy Leah whatever she needed once they arrived in Boston.
“You’ll need to stay with these,” Strong advised. “I will be gone for a few hours.”
“But you will make it back in time to board the mail coach?” Catherine asked.
“I’ll be back, my lady. Hopefully, in time to bring you something to eat before we depart.”
Leah took Catherine’s hand and, together, they watched the loyal servant depart.
*
Jeremy entered the small office, his anger barely contained. A clerk looked up, blinking rapidly several times and leaped to his feet.
“The Duke of Everton. I’m expected.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the clerk said nervously. “If you’ll follow me.”
He led Jeremy down a narrow hallway and paused to rap on the doorframe. A man looked up and, like the clerk, shot to his feet, looking flustered.
“Your Grace. Please. Come in. Have a seat.”
Jeremy sat in the available chair placed in front of the desk and glared at the solicitor.
“You’re Davidson? The one who sent me the message?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Her Grace has already come and gone this morning.”
His heart sank. He hadn’t thought Catherine would act so quickly in filing for an annulment, much less have already committed her signature to the document. He had to find her and tell her what a grave mistake he’d made, hoping to change her mind before he gave up on their marriage.
“Did Her Grace mention where she was going when she left your office?”
If anyone might be able to point him in the right direction, it was this man. He prayed the solicitor could reveal Catherine’s whereabouts.
“Only that . . . she would be traveling,” Davidson managed to get out. “She didn’t say where.” He pushed some papers toward Jeremy, his eyes pleading for the duke to sign the documents.
Jeremy smiled. Catherine would never go anywhere without Leah.
And Leah was at his London townhome.
He stood quickly, knowing how urgently he needed to get home. No wonder Catherine had Davidson send the message for him to come sign at once. It was because she needed to spirit Leah away. He decided to take the annulment agreement with him—unsigned—and see if he might somehow get Catherine to tear it up.
When he reached for the papers, his eyes fell to a folded page on the desk. It bore his name.
“What’s this?” he asked and picked it up.
Panic filled Davidson’s face. He reached for it and quickly withdrew his hand when Jeremy glowered at him.
“Th-that’s . . . not for you, Your Grace,” the man sputtered.
“I beg to differ. My name appears on it.”
“Yes, it does, but it’s not for you. Not now. Her Grace was most specific about that.”
“Oh, she was? Do tell, Davidson.”
The poor man looked as if he might collapse. “She was adamant that you be summoned to sign the annulment papers this morning. She wanted the annulment to go on record today.” He cleared his throat. “And the letter she left was to be sent to you in exactly one week. Not any earlier.”
“Do you know what it states?”
The solicitor looked appalled. “Certainly not.”
“I will take it with me now,” he said firmly.
“Will you wait the week, Your Grace? I would hate to disappointment—”
“Are you married, Davidson?” Jeremy asked suddenly.
“Y-yes. Yes, I am.”
“Do you love your wife?”
A smile emerged amidst the dismay. “I do.”
“Well, I love my wife, too. I need to make sure she knows that before I sign your document.” He scooped up the papers Davidson had previously offered. “I’ll take these with me. If Catherine still wants an annulment after I’ve spoken with her, I will return tomorrow and sign them before you. And if she doesn’t? I hope never to see you again, Davidson.”
Jeremy folded the papers and slid them inside his jacket. He still clutched the letter Catherine had written him in his hand. “Good day.”
With that, he strode from the office and back to his carriage. He instructed his driver to get him home as quickly as possible and then climbed inside. As the coach took off, he opened the single page.
He raced through the contents once and then read it again more slowly. The letter thoroughly confused him.
What rumors did Catherine refer to? She said she’d married him under false pretenses and made some veiled reference to her birth. She mentioned not wanting to embarrass him or his family and begged him to find a more suitable wife. Who would be more suitable than Catherine Crawford? She was the daughter of an earl. Beautiful. Well spoken. Intelligent. He was more confounded now than before he’d read it.
She did write that disclosing whatever she needed to might have caused him to withdraw his offer. In his heart, Jeremy believed nothing she could ever have revealed would be so awful as to make him set her aside. Apparently, she thought it would—so she had withdrawn from the marriage herself.
Once again, hope sprang within him. If she didn’t love him, she wouldn’t have sacrificed her own happiness to free him from their union.
He folded the page. No rumors had reached his ears but Catherine had believed they would in a week’s time. Who would know something so awful about her and use the information to destroy her reputation?
Statham.
He was the only choice. The only family she had left. If anyone knew some vile secret that Catherine felt would embarrass him and his family, it would be her cousin.
Jeremy determined that once he found Catherine and learned the truth from her, he would confront Statham—and destroy him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The coach hadn’t come to a complete stop when Jeremy flung open the door and jumped to the ground. He raced to the front door and barreled through it.
“Catherine!” he shouted. “Catherine!”
Racing up the stairs, he headed for Rachel’s room. When Leah Crawford moved in, she’d taken up residence with Rachel instead of moving to her own bedchamber.
Catherine had to be there. She had to.
Jeremy threw open the door, only to find Rachel sitting in the window seat, a book in her hand. He turned in circles, desperation filling him.
She looked at him. “Why are you here? You’re supposed to be at Eversleigh.”
“Leah. Where is she?”
“I haven’t seen her this morning. I had a headache last night so she decided to sleep across the hall.”
He ran from the room and found the bedchamber empty. He went back to Rachel’s room, fearful Catherine had already come for her sister.
“Get up. Look around. See if Leah’s clothes are gone.”
Rachel looked at him as if he’d gone mad but did as he asked. She opened a trunk and combed through it and then went to the wardrobe.
“Her blue gown is missing. And a yellow one trimmed in green.”
“Jeremy?” Cor stood in the doorway.
“Cor. Have you seen Leah? Or Catherine?”
“No.”
“Damnation!”
He left the room and hurried downstairs. Matthew emerged from the study, concern on his face.
“What’s wrong, Your Grace?”
“Have you seen Lady Leah this morning?”
“I did when I arrived. She was going outside as I came in. When I didn’t see a maid accompanying her, I asked where she was going. She told me Rachel was unwell and she was going to pick a few flowers for her in order to cheer her up.”
“Well, she didn’t bring me any,” Rachel grumbled, having come downstairs. “What’s going on, Jeremy?”
Before he could answer, the doorbell rang. He ran to it blindly, hoping against hope that Leah or Catherine would be standing there when he opened it.
“Your Grace, I need to speak with you at once.”
“Strong?”
The former valet pushed his way in. “You must listen to me. Time is of the essence.”
If anyone might know where Catherine was, it would be this loyal servant.
“I ask for ten minutes of your time.” He glanced around. “In private, Your Grace.”
“Do you know where Catherine is?” Jeremy demanded.
“I do.”
“Then take me to her!”
“No,” Strong said. “Once I speak my piece, if you still wish me to bring you to her, I will gladly do so. If you choose not to accompany me, I will never tell her that we spoke.”
Jeremy studied him. “You know what she referred to in the letter.”
“I do.”
“Come along. All of you.”
When Strong hesitated to follow, Jeremy said, “This is Catherine’s family now. They will hear what you have to say.”
The servant nodded. Jeremy led the group to the library and indicated for Strong to sit.
“I ask for ten minutes, Your Grace. You’ll understand by then. But please, no questions while I speak.”
He thought the servant bordered on impudence but kept his mouth shut because he so desperately wanted to know where his wife was.
“I worked in the Crawford household for many years, most of them as valet to Lord Statham. There are only a handful of us who know the real story,” Strong began. “It was no secret in society how much Lord and Lady Statham loved one another. Even to the night Lady Statham died, if you saw the two together, you would know they were deeply in love.”
Jeremy hid his impatience, wondering what this man was working up to.
“After ten years, no child had come. Both the earl and countess were bitterly disappointed. That’s when Lady Statham told the earl she needed a baby. His baby.” Strong paused. “Even if it meant coming from a different woman.”
His head reeled in surprise as Rachel gasped.
“The Stathams had always been fond of going to the theater. Lady Statham particularly liked the looks of an actress who played a few minor roles. She had me approach the woman and invite her to tea. That afternoon, the actress agreed to have the earl’s child—if she were properly compensated.”
Strong ran his hands through his hair. Jeremy went and poured out a drink. He handed the whiskey to the servant, who tipped it back.
“The Season was ending so Lady Statham returned to the country. Lord Statham stayed in London long enough to ensure the actress was with child and then he retreated from London, as well. I returned to the city and brought the woman back to Statham Manor. An unoccupied cottage had been prepared for her. Two days before she gave birth, I smuggled her into the household. Lady Statham had spent the past several months in her rooms. Word was put out that the pregnancy was a difficult one and that she was on bedrest.
“When the time came, the local doctor was summoned. He was in on it, of course. Lady Catherine was the result. The actress, knowing she didn’t have the talent to remain on stage, took the settlement from Lord Statham. I drove her back to London, where she took a mail coach to her childhood home.”
Strong stood and began pacing. “Lady Statham remained home that Season to care for the child while Lord Statham went to the session in Parliament. They returned the next Season to London with Lady Catherine in hand and were quite happy.” He paused. “Until Lady Statham found herself with child. She lost the baby at six months and almost her life. That’s when she begged the earl for another child, hoping this time for a boy. He’d still be of Statham’s blood and inherit the title since all of society would think the child theirs.”
The valet took a seat again. “We’ve no time for the details. Suffice it to say that another woman was found and Lady Leah was the result.”
When Strong fell silent, Cor asked, “Why is this coming out now?” She looked to Jeremy. “Is this the source of the trouble between you?”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Jeremy replied. He looked to the servant. “This is why she left me? Does she think her being a bastard makes any difference to me?”
“It’s the blackmail, Your Grace.”
He stilled. “Is it Statham?”
Strong nodded in confirmation. “Lady Catherine never knew any of this while her parents were alive. Statham is the only one who could have told her. He was going to take Lady Leah away from her, asserting his rights as her guardian.” The servant’s eyes flicked to Rachel. “And the earl demanded that when she made her come-out, Lady Catherine must guarantee him that Lady Rachel would be his bride.”
“What?” Rachel cried. “That’s horrible.”
“He is a horrible man, my lady,” Strong agreed. “Lady Catherine couldn’t live with herself if she forced Lady Rachel into marriage with Statham. That meant in two years, the ugly truth would come out. She didn’t want to shame you, Your Grace, or your family. Thus, she pushed for the annulment.” He paused. “They’re leaving London today. Bound for Bristol. From there, they’ll go to America. That way, you—and the ton—would never have to see her again and be reminded of the scandal. It was a way to make a new life for her and her sister. We’re to leave on the one o’clock mail coach.”
“We?” he asked.
Strong shrugged. “I couldn’t let them go off on their own.”
Jeremy couldn’t believe the depth of sacrifice Catherine was willing to go to. All for him and his family. Yet he knew how much family had meant to her. How sad that her only living relative had betrayed her so cruelly.
“Take me to her. At once,” he demanded, seeing Cor’s nod of approval.
Strong retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Jeremy.
“She sent me to sell this so we’d have enough to purchase a small place in Boston. I think it only right that you return it to her, Your Grace.”
He unfolded it and found Catherine’s sapphire necklace. His throat grew thick with emotion.
Placing his hand on Strong’s shoulder, he told the valet, “I owe you a debt I may never be able to repay.”
“I just want to see her happy, Your Grace.”
Jeremy said, “Horseback will be quicker. Follow me in the coach, Strong. We’ll need a way to bring them home.”
The servant beamed. “Certainly, Your Grace.”
*
Strong hadn’t returned. Catherine tamped down her fears, trying to appear confident for Leah’s sake. She watched as their coach arrived and passengers disembarked. Once the luggage was unloaded, the team of horses was traded out and a man called for those leaving to begin boarding.
“What are we to do, Catherine?” Leah asked anxiously.
“We’ll go to Bristol. I’m sure Strong is trying to get the best price possible for my necklace. He knows where we’re headed. We’ll wait for him there.”
She summoned one of the men who was gathering luggage and indicated her trunk and Leah’s valise. When the last of the luggage was strapped down, she took her sister’s arm and moved them toward the carriage. They were the last passengers to board. Leah went up the stairs and entered the coach. Catherine stepped onto the first rung.
A commotion caught her attention. Someone was shouting and riding a horse hell-bent in their direction. Catherine drew a sharp breath. Her worst nightmare had come to pass.
