Confessions of Lady Tabitha, page 15
“Why don’t you sit with me, my dear?” said Leo, already tugging on her arm.
Tabitha wished to tell him where to put his demand, but she went along with him for the sake of not drawing attention. She inwardly groaned when she realised that she would be sitting with a group that included Ellie. Why did Leo insist on throwing them together when it was evident that his sister did not like her? Perhaps the man was an imbecile.
“Gentlemen, I’m sure you all know my fiancée?” said Leo.
The men in the group greeted her, and Tabitha responded with politeness in turn. Just because she despised Leo didn’t mean she had to be rude.
“How do you do, Mr Lyttle? How is your wife? I do not see her tonight.”
“She could not come,” the man replied. “She is heavily pregnant with child at the moment.”
“I see. Congratulations.”
“Not just yet,” said Mr Lyttle. “I don’t know if it’s a boy or girl. If it’s another girl, I’ll be ruined.”
“Are daughters such a burden to you?” she asked.
“They are when you have no sons to inherit, and your land will fall into the hands of a cousin I hardly know.”
“Is there some sort of clause stipulating that a daughter cannot inherit your property, Mr Lyttle? Are you not in charge of your own land?”
Mr Lyttle’s face changed as he turned to Leo. “Your fiancée has a loose tongue, Bazeley. Best you learn how to break her in early.”
“Do not worry about that, Mr Lyttle,” Leo answered. “I shall take care of Tabitha, and you take care of your wife.”
Take care of her? Goodness! How she was excited to be leaving this place and this man. Tabitha knew it was just a matter of days before she and Jeremy would leave this land and she could finally gain her freedom. Lord Bazeley and her father would come looking for her, but Jeremy would know how to handle that.
Another man joined their group, sitting down near Ellie. Tabitha barely took notice of him until he suddenly started coughing. At first, she thought he possibly had something in his mouth, but he appeared to be looking at Ellie while trying to catch his breath. The man’s face was a deep red by the time he was done with his violent coughs, but he still kept staring at Ellie. Did they know each other?
“Ellie Whittier,” Tabitha heard the man say.
“Mr Clyde,” Ellie returned, moving her chair closer to the man.
So they did know each other! Tabitha didn’t know why this was significant, but she found herself listening to the pair’s conversation intently. She had no idea what she expected to hear, but perhaps they would be more interesting than talk about politics.
“I never thought I’d find you here,” the man said, sounding surprised.
“I’m here on business,” Ellie replied.
Since when was her brother getting married ‘business’? Tabitha found that a strange way of putting it.
“The last I saw of you was when you were in that gaming parlour fleecing people for all their worth. How is that going?”
A gaming parlour? Ellie had worked at a gaming parlour? No wonder she seemed so abrasive and unladylike. Why would Leo’s sister work there when he had so much money? Unless the gaming parlour belonged to Leo and Ellie was merely taking care of it.
“It has been a little sad without you there, Mr Clyde,” said Ellie. “I enjoyed prying your money from your fingers.”
Mr Clyde had been a former customer at the gaming parlour; that much was clear. What sort of people had her father brought into their home? It took a moment for Tabitha to realise they were her father’s type of people. He was also a gambler and had probably frequented the same types of gaming parlours as Mr Clyde had.
It left her with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Tabitha found that she no longer wished to be part of this gathering anymore or anywhere near these people. She stood up, quickly stepping away when Leo put his hand out to her.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To my room. I do not feel well this evening.”
Leo snorted. “That is a lie, and you know it.”
“You can think all you want, Leo, but I am going to my room. The atmosphere in this room is nauseating.”
Leo looked stunned as he pulled his head back and stared at her with wide eyes. This was the first time she had ever seen him at a loss for words. Tabitha felt some satisfaction in knowing that she had managed that. She walked away, only noticing that Leo was following her when she left the drawing-room. Tabitha rounded on him, ready to give him a piece of her mind.
“Come back to the room, Tabitha,” Leo demanded. “Everyone will begin to wonder where my fiancée is.”
Tabitha snorted. “Do you think that I care what they think? Let them know that I have run out on you before we are even married. Let this be a sign of what is to come.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“Only that I will never marry a man like you. You are a despicable creature, and your sister is no better. I cannot believe I ever thought you were charming.”
Leo laughed, shrugging his shoulders. “I do not deny who I am, but you are wrong about one thing, my dear wife-to-be. You will marry me, and there is nothing you can do about it. I am a man accustomed to getting my way, you see, and you are the key to what I want. I will not allow some spoilt little girl to keep me from what I deserve to have.”
Tabitha didn’t know what Leo was about at this point, but she knew that she would burst out crying and be humiliated if she didn’t leave.
She turned on her heel and fled, running so fast that her knee sent out little twinges of pain. It hadn’t healed completely yet, but Tabitha barely noticed it during the day. Now, it was protesting the pace she had set for herself, not happy to stop until she had reached her door and shut out the man behind her.
Reaching her door was taking far longer than usual, but when Tabitha finally did, she sagged with relief and all but fell through the doorway.
“Tabitha!” Mandee cried.
Tabitha had forgotten that Mandee had promised to stay in the room until she got back. She was so relieved someone would be with her that she started weeping, falling into her friend’s arms.
“What on earth happened?” Mandee asked. “Speak to me, Tabitha.”
“One moment,” she gasped.
Why was she even crying? Perhaps Tabitha was still too much of a sheltered child to take on the evils of the world, and Leo knew that. He had probably counted on her innocence to get his way. If Jeremy didn’t finalise their plan soon, Tabitha was afraid Leo would win.
It took a moment or two, but she was able to calm herself down to an occasional hiccup. Why had she allowed Leo to see her weak and distressed?
“Will you tell me what happened?” Mandee insisted. “I have no fingernails left to bite while I wait.”
They both settled on the bed before Tabitha told her about what had transpired in the drawing-room. Tabitha thought Mandee would be surprised by it all, but the woman only nodded in understanding.
“I expected as much,” the woman admitted. “The woman seems rough and mean as though she deals with similar characters all day. She reminds me of a serving woman in a tavern or brothel house.”
Tabitha coloured when Mandee mentioned the brothel house. She had only recently learnt what that was, and by mistake as well. The next time she would not be so nosey and listen to servants’ gossip.
“She isn’t much of a lady,” Tabitha commented. “I do not understand how she can be Leo’s half-sister. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Stranger things have happened, I suppose,” said Mandee. “Perhaps Leo’s mother was a lady, but Ellie’s mother was a wench. It happens.”
It still seemed odd to Tabitha, but she nodded. “I suppose so.”
“Does your father suspect anything suspicious? I know that he was taken aback by Ellie’s behaviour the other day.”
Tabitha laughed miserably. “Leo is a manipulative piece of work. I have no doubt that he wangled his way out of any suspicions with a few of his stories. My father is under his spell just as much as I feel helpless. Leo must feel he is on top of the world.”
“Do not give him the satisfaction of thinking he will have a docile wife just by scaring you,” Mandee advised. “Men like him love power and quickly lose their control when they feel they no longer have it. If you show Lord Bazeley that you are not afraid of him, he will think twice about trying to mould you into whatever he has in his mind.”
But Tabitha didn’t want him to get that far. “You speak as though I am going to marry him. Have you lost all hope already?”
“That is not what I meant.”
Tabitha frowned at the quilt on her bed, running her hands along the lace pattern. That had indeed sounded like what Mandee had implied. Did her own friend think that she would not escape Leo’s clutches?
“Tabitha, that is not what I meant,” Mandee said again. “I can see what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. Lord Bazeley still has to be dealt with while we figure out a way to save you from him. That is why I suggested you show him you will not submit to him. It might deter him or even make him postpone the wedding.”
Tabitha doubted that would work. Although she had explained what had happened downstairs, there was no way Tabitha could describe the feeling Leo had given her. Tabitha had felt trapped and suffocated, which had distressed her to the point of unwelcome tears. She had had a taste of what awaited her in the future if she didn’t get away from Leo.
“Nothing will deter him because he knows that he’ll be able to force me to do anything once I marry him,” Tabitha explained. “My only option is to somehow stop the wedding, run away, or get Papa to see Leo for who the man really is.”
Tabitha waited to see if Mandee would say anything about the running way part, but her mind seemed occupied with something else.
“I’ve asked some friends for help,” she said. “They know Lord Bazeley’s world better than we ever could. Perhaps they’ll find some information on him.”
“Perhaps Jeremy will be able to help me as well,” Tabitha said carefully. “He is an intelligent man and might have a way to get me out of this marriage.”
“Did you speak to him about it?”
“A little. I really admire his patience and ability to listen to a person.”
Mandee said nothing. Didn’t she agree? She knew Jeremy just as well as Tabitha did, if not more. The woman seemed to be acting a little odd, so Tabitha decided to keep any other comments on Jeremy or information about the plan to herself.
“I should go to bed,” said Mandee, sliding off the bed.
Usually, the woman would stay to help her undress, but she was ready to go. Tabitha was puzzled about her friend’s behaviour. Had she said something wrong?
“Good night, Mandee,” Tabitha eventually said. “Oh, and would you let the housekeeper know that I need to speak to her in the morning? She is always running around on errands, and I can hardly catch her.”
“I’ll do that. Good night.”
Tabitha waited for the soft click of her door before taking her evening attire off and replacing it with a nightdress. Tomorrow was a big day for her, and she wanted to be wide awake and bushy-tailed for it.
“You will not win, Leo,” Tabitha whispered as she settled into her bed.
Jeremy wouldn’t let him.
Chapter 13
Tabitha bent backwards, wishing her hair were loose so it could fly through the air as she swung on her swing. Unless she took out the pins that Mandee had used to keep the hairstyle in check, it was going to remain unmoved. How did the woman manage to do that? Tabitha could shake all she wanted to, but the hair would stay in place save for a few wisps of hair. The curls framing her face didn’t count.
Kicking back up, Tabitha considered taking off her shoes and feeling the grass with her bare feet. Someone had filled in the groove her feet had dug and put a patch of grass over it, saving her shoes. Scuffing the front of her shoes just seemed foolish when Tabitha knew her father’s money woes. Why ruin them and be forced to buy a new pair?
As it was, she needed all the nip money she had left and then some to run away from home. Jeremy had promised to take care of it, but Tabitha couldn’t leave the subject alone. She could help; she knew she could help. Maybe Jeremy would think differently if Tabitha showed him proof of her ability to help.
Pushing away from the ground, Tabitha gave herself up to enjoying the air whipping past her body but was careful not to have her dress fly with it. It would do her no good to have her undergarments displayed and earn a sound scolding from her mother. It was bad enough that her parents were not impressed with her attitude towards the marquess. Tabitha felt her mood dip just thinking about the man.
“No,” she told herself. “I refuse to let him take away my joy today. I’m going to escape, and that’s all that matters.”
It had been a while since she had felt any hope, and Tabitha wanted to hold onto it for as long as she could. Tabitha still felt some fear that the escape plan would be discovered, and she would be barred from leaving the house, but that was normal. Every risk carried hope and fear, but the trick was to have the hope outweigh the fear.
She paused when she heard the rhythmic thud of hooves hitting the earth. Tabitha didn’t bother looking, assuming it to be one of the workers, and continued to swing with her head back. That feeling of rushing through the air and suddenly dipping was a heady one and sometimes made Tabitha feel like she was made of liquid. When the horse drew closer, Tabitha was forced to stop and stare at its rider.
“Jeremy!” she exclaimed.
Why did she react like that? Tabitha had sounded a little too happy to see the man. Perhaps it was pure excitement.
“Good day, My Lady,” he said, smiling.
“Good day,” Tabitha replied, glad that her voice sounded normal. “Are you doing your afternoon rounds?”
“Not just yet. I have a few more errands to complete, and then I’ll start my rounds.” Jeremy briefly looked around them and dipped his voice. “How are you?”
“Interested in knowing how the plan is coming along,” she admitted. “It’s all I ever think about.”
Jeremy nodded and slid off his horse. He didn’t come too close but encouraged his horse to eat some grass. He kept his head bent as though talking to the horse, but Tabitha knew his attention was on her.
“Everything is coming along well,” Jeremy said. “A little slower than I expected, but I would rather it be slow and precise than rush everything and leave gaps.”
“Progress is progress. Have you found anyone willing to help us?”
“I’ve sent two letters to my good, trusted friends and expect to hear from them within the next three days. They live in the first two towns we’ll stay in until we reach our destination.”
Hearing about the details of their escape was making everything seem more real to Tabitha. She didn’t know whether to be excited or apprehensive. So many things could go wrong, but she knew that Jeremy wouldn’t allow them to. The steward was meticulous about everything he did.
“What is our final destination?” she asked.
“I haven’t decided yet, mainly because we have to change our identities. I want to ensure that no one can possibly know either of us.”
