Never Fall for your Fiancée, page 29
Only love.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“I’ve made sure the servants are scarce, Miss Minerva.” Payne deposited the tea tray on the table in the morning room. “Will there be anything else?”
“It might be prudent to remove the breakables.” She smiled without humor, dreading two conversations that were destined to be difficult, though for decidedly different reasons. She had decided to talk to Diana first, knowing she would take the news of their father much better than Vee, but also knowing she would take the news about Hugh worse. Usually they were so close, the bond between them unbreakable as they battled the world together, but things had been strained between them since the day she had escaped to the beach. Now Minerva would have to admit she had lied about her relationship with Hugh while simultaneously trying to convince Diana to find the grace to accept it. “And if you hear screaming, try to ignore it— unless it’s me, in which case, send in the cavalry.”
“I already have the militia standing by. Men with muskets are just one bloodcurdling scream away.” He patted her on the shoulder as her sister arrived. “I’ll be down the hall if you need me.”
“What is going on?” Diana was never one for unnecessary preamble. “Because something clearly is if we need to have an emergency meeting in secret.”
“Our father is back.”
“For money, I suppose?”
Minerva nodded. There had never been any flies on Diana. “He has separately tried to blackmail both me and Hugh.”
“Separately?”
She winced, knowing this next bit would not be easy. “He approached me at the assembly, demanding seventy-five pounds for his silence.”
“And it didn’t occur to you to tell me this Saturday night?” Diana shot out of the chair to pace. “I wish you had! What a nerve that wastrel has! I’d have sent him off with a flea in his ear and a couple of black eyes for his trouble!” Then anger turned swiftly to suspicion. “Why have you kept it from me for so long?”
“Because things have been”— Minerva huffed out breath— “complicated.”
Her sister paused, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Because of Hugh?”
“Yes . . . no— not just because of Hugh. There’s Olivia and Jeremiah, too, and a whole host of other things to consider, but . . . you see the thing is, Hugh and I . . .” She watched Diana’s fists clench and realized it was all about to explode in her face unless she handled things properly. “Could you sit down? Please? I have so many serious things I need to talk to you about, I’d rather tackle it in order because I have some important and pressing decisions to make, then I promise you can shout at me once it’s all done.”
Because it was easier, she told Diana all about her father first, from the day Payne had hidden him to the Runner’s discovery of the counterfeiting, to Hugh’s timely interference two nights ago alongside the discovery it had all been kept from her, too. Being more cynical about their father than even Minerva, Diana took it all in stride— it was Hugh she had the most issue with.
“Why didn’t he tell you our hideous father was back a week ago?”
“Hugh thought he was protecting us by keeping it quiet.”
“Hogwash! He was protecting himself!”
“That’s what I thought when I found out at the assembly. . . . But we had a dreadful argument that day at the beach and I refused to speak to him and . . .” Her face must have given her away, because Diana’s mouth gaped.
“Oh God . . . I was right, wasn’t I? You did have your head turned. . . . There was something going on between you.”
“Not then . . . or, not exactly. We had only kissed twice at that point . . .” At Diana’s horrified expression the words tumbled out because she had to defend Hugh, and if she didn’t take her portion of the blame from the outset, her protective sister would assume the worst of him. “There’s always been an attraction between us and we both have tried to deny it, but these past weeks have . . . well, they have mostly been rather wonderful, if you must know.” Minerva clasped her hand across the table. “I love him, Diana, and he loves me.”
“He’s a scoundrel, Minerva. A charming one, I will grant you— but still a scoundrel who will only break your heart again.” Her sister had been her rock and only confidante in the dark days after both their father and then Minerva’s sweetheart abandoned her in quick succession. “Can’t you see that?”
“He isn’t. He only thinks he is. If you only knew him the way I do . . .”
“What, clandestinely? Behind everybody’s backs— including your family’s?” Diana tugged her hand away. “Stop being so naive, Minerva. If his affections are genuine, he would have no cause to keep them secret. Yet instead he’s had you sneaking around, running away on day trips so he can have his wicked way with you, convinced you to keep secrets.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Isn’t it?” Diana folded her arms. “Has he proposed?”
Explaining Hugh’s darkest fears felt too disloyal now that she understood them. “Not yet. But he will.” Minerva had seen the love in his eyes. Seen it and felt it everywhere. “Once he sees what I see . . .”
“You won’t change him! Leopards don’t change their spots.”
“I know.” Hugh’s spots were perfect. She knew that now. “Just as I also know he is loyal and kind, generous, good-hearted.” All obvious traits that even the cynical Diana couldn’t deny. He had never let her down, and she knew in her heart he never would. “He loves me, Diana.”
“And that’s enough?”
Minerva smiled and nodded. “It is enough for now.”
“But . . .”
“I love him, too, Diana. So very much. And I trust him to do right by me, which is staggering all things considered, but the truth. Hugh makes me happy.”
Her sister took her hand and sighed. “Then I shall be happy for you, too, because you deserve all the happiness in the world, Minerva, and I will give Hugh the benefit of the doubt for now because I trust you.” She smiled, then narrowed her worried, wary, still-so-cynical eyes in mock affront. “But be warned, if he doesn’t propose to you soon, he’ll have me to answer to.”
“Hugh is lying! Papa is not a blackmailer!” Angry tears coursed down Vee’s face. Unlike Diana, she took the news of Minerva’s relationship with Hugh in stride but was devastated about their father.
Minerva would be as tactful as she could, but no amount of tact in the world could lessen this awful truth. “There is a warrant out for his arrest, dearest. He is officially a wanted man.”
“ ‘Wanted’ isn’t the same as ‘guilty,’ though, is it? There would have to be a proper trial. The Runner could have lied. Hugh could have paid him to lie . . .” Vee’s face was ashen as she racked her brain for excuses for the inexcusable. “How do you know your precious Hugh is telling the truth? Who appointed him both judge and jury?”
Minerva stayed Vee’s outburst with her hand.
“Hugh wants to do whatever we decide. As far as I see it, we have two choices. If he comes back, we alert the authorities . . .” She tried to ignore her little sister’s sharp gasp at that implication. “Or we threaten him with the authorities and send him running, making it clear he can never return to London to bother us again.”
“As much as I know he deserves the former, I cannot willingly send him to the gallows. But I do want him out of our lives, so I shall vote for the second option.” Diana’s pragmatic answer was assertive, echoing her own thoughts.
“I agree.” Minerva had had much longer to think about it and didn’t have a cold enough heart to hand him over to the authorities either. “In a strange sort of way, I’m glad I finally know where he has been and what he has been up to, as it removes all residual doubt.”
Diana gave a half-hearted shrug. “By that you mean it justifies hating him, when I confess I had reached that point long before he left. I was quite happy to never see or hear from him again.”
“I do not believe what I am hearing. . . . He’s our father! Does he deserve no sympathy?” Frustrated tears coursed down Vee’s face as she clutched at Minerva’s arm. “No understanding?”
“What is there to understand? He’s a crook . . . a forger. A man who would sell his daughter for his own selfish gain. He left us because he had no morals and never looked back.” Diana said exactly what Minerva was thinking as she tried to comfort Vee. “You were a child. We protected you from the worst of it, but he was not a good man. He was a drunkard and a wastrel and . . .” There was an odd look on her face, one that suggested she could say more, but was holding back. “And I, for one, rejoiced when he went.”
“If you send Papa away, then I shall go with him!”
“He won’t take you.”
“He will! And you cannot stop me!”
There was no point in arguing with her baby sister’s misconceptions. Vee would have to learn for herself exactly how cold and calculating their father was, and doubtless she’d be the one to pick up the pieces. But Minerva would cross that bridge when she came to it. Because it would come to it. “So we are agreed?” Minerva took both of her sisters’ hands, keen to stop them going round and around in ever decreasing circles. “I shall tell Hugh we will not report our father to the authorities but let him know in no uncertain terms his presence here is unwelcome.” Diana instantly nodded. Vee’s agreement took longer and was begrudging, but at least they had her confirmation. That was one thing off Minerva’s mind. “In the meantime, keep your wits about you in case he approaches you. If he does, speak to me or Hugh immediately.”
Now all she and Hugh had to do was work out a way to tell his mother the truth. They had agreed to do that together this afternoon but still hadn’t worked out exactly how to do it. They would discuss all that as soon as Hugh came back from his ride— if Vee ever stopped crying.
As she wrapped an arm around her sobbing sister’s quaking shoulders, the butler poked his head around the door, looking worried.
“I am really sorry to interrupt at such a difficult time.” He looked at Minerva with a pained and entirely put-upon expression. “But I am going to need some help with the actress . . .”
Chapter Thirty
As soon as they turned the corner, blasted Sarah, her husband, and her mother had all turned to wave a cheery hello as they also made their way down the drive. His drive. Which only led to his house.
“What are they doing here?” Because frankly, the Peterses were the last thing he needed today. He dragged everyone out for a long ride to give Minerva the privacy and space to talk to her sisters, but had been on tenterhooks the whole time wondering how Diana and Vee had taken the news of their father and, more importantly, how they felt about him courting their eldest sister.
“I invited them for tea, dear.” His mother waved back, and Hugh realized why she had been so determined to be back home before two. “I thought it was high time they met Minerva and her family properly. Sarah says she’s hardly seen you these past few years. I take it Minerva knows you have a sister?”
“Of course she does! Minerva and I have no secrets.” Or at least they didn’t anymore . . . apart from the big one they were keeping from his mother. “But I haven’t apprised her family of the connection, so your little impromptu tea party is insensitive. It’s really not the sort of conversation one should have over tea.”
“Nonsense . . . The Landridges are not the least bit judgmental. Why would they be when they’ve had their own fair share of scandals? It’s not as if Sarah is a deep, dark secret.” More was the pity. “The whole county knows she is Hugh’s daughter. The pair of you are two peas in a pod.” Oh, how he hated that term. “And besides— it is much too late to change plans now. We can hardly turn them away from the front door. Not when they were so thrilled to receive the invitation.”
She kicked her horse into a trot and went off to greet them.
“Did you know about this?”
“Do I look as if I knew about this?” Jeremiah did seem a little confused. “Your mother is a law unto herself. Heaven forbid she tell me what’s afoot. I know they chatted at the assembly the other night and your mother has always gotten along well with Charlotte and Sarah . . . but did I know she had orchestrated a quaint English tea to enlighten the Landridges with the unorthodox peculiarities of the Standish family? No.” He shrugged in a what-will-be-will-be sort of way. “It will be all right. Minerva’s family are good people . . . or, at least her sisters are. The jury is still out on the mother— although between you and me, I much prefer her drunk than sober. . . . Come on. Let’s make the best of it.”
Hugh had no choice but to grin and bear it. As the groom relieved him of his horse, he offered pleasantries to his father’s favorite mistress, marveling at how his mother could natter away with her like they were old friends rather than bitter rivals. He stiffly greeted Sarah and Captain Peters, then trailed after them all as they wandered back toward the house.
It was surprisingly quiet inside, thank goodness, which made him hope the revelations hadn’t been too traumatic. A maid, rather than Payne, hurried forward to take their coats, and was swiftly dispatched by his mother to fetch tea. “Shall I bring it to the morning room, my lady?” There was something about the maid’s fraught expression as her eyes flicked nervously between his mother and him that made Hugh a little anxious. They rarely sat in that room in winter.
“Oh no . . . It’s always much too chilly in there even with the fire. We shall have it in the drawing room. Can you also send word to the ladies we have company?”
The maid bobbed a curtsey and dashed off, and always the perfect hostess, his mother led the way to the drawing room and ushered them all in.
Too late, Hugh saw the unmistakable shape of Lucretia DeVere fast asleep in the chair by the roaring fireplace, her mouth wide open and her silly riding hat at an odd angle. As if she sensed she had an audience, her eyes blinked open and slowly focused, then she shuffled to sit straighter and failed miserably.
“We are so sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Landridge.” Like him, his mother was looking for any damning evidence that might suggest their rotund and theatrical houseguest had partaken of a little nip of spirits unsupervised.
“I apologize profusely. I must have fallen asleep. . . .” She certainly sounded lucid enough. “This chair and fire are much too cozy.”
“I am just glad you feel at home.” Nothing fazed his mother, who beamed. “Mrs. Landridge, might I introduce you to Mrs. Edgerton, her daughter, Mrs. Peters, and Captain Peters, her charming husband. They are particular friends of our family.” She glanced at Hugh, her expression letting him know she was being subtle so he could break the truth his way.
“Mrs. Edgerton . . . Mrs. Peters . . . Captain . . . What a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” As regally as any duchess, the actress greeted the new guests from the comfort of her wingback. “Has somebody summoned my daughters? Only I have three girls, Mrs. Edgerton. The eldest, Minerva, is betrothed to darling Hugh here.”
Beside him, he felt his mother relax, too, just in time for a flustered Minerva to skid into the room with Diana.
“You are back . . . and with guests.” Both ladies had overbright smiles pasted on their faces. “How lovely . . . my love.” She squeezed out the endearment through impressively gritted teeth, her expressive emerald eyes boring into his. He instantly picked up her cue but was powerless to act upon it while the introductions were about to be made.
He smiled weakly.
“Minerva . . . Diana . . . meet Mrs. Edgerton.” They bobbed a polite curtsey. “And as Minerva has already had the pleasure of meeting Sarah and her husband, Captain Peters, it is only you who needs to be introduced, Diana. And Vee, of course.” He looked to his intended. “Is Miss Vee on her way?”
“She was finishing the chapter in her book but will doubtless join us shortly. In fact, I shall check on her now.”
She spun on her heel and disappeared back through the door. Hugh left it all of twenty seconds before he could think of a lackluster excuse to follow while the others took their seats.
“I think I will just chase the tea tray. Riding is such thirsty work . . .”
Thankfully, Minerva was waiting for him, appearing from behind a suit of armor as he was about to dash up the stairs. She grabbed his hand and dragged him into the closest room. “Lucretia is intoxicated! What possessed you to allow her to ride home alone?”
“She said she felt ill and needed to go back to bed.”
Although, she hadn’t looked particularly ill. Hugh had let her go because it seemed like the ideal opportunity to speak to his mother and inform her of the truth. Get it over with and return home unburdened of all the lies and ready to start a new chapter with the angel who had stolen his heart and didn’t deserve to share the blame for all his stupidity.
Except he hadn’t. He’d procrastinated like a coward, couldn’t find the right words, and felt thoroughly wretched as a result, convinced he was doomed to be a disappointment forevermore if he had fallen at the first furlong. Then the appearance of Sarah and her mother had plunged him into a considerably worse mood.
“Well, she managed to avoid her bedchamber and wandered to yours, where she found brandy and drank the lot. We couldn’t budge her from the drawing room and left her to sleep it off.”
“How long ago?”
“Two hours— or thereabouts. Not long enough for her to be entirely sober! That’s for sure. She demolished an entire decanter of brandy in a very short space of time.”
“Oh dear.”
“And Vee has locked herself in her room and refuses to come out.”
