Turning away from the door as it closed she looked at her dear papa and brothers and said in a loud voice that brooked no argument, “I believe this is a matter between my husband, myself and his previous mistress. We will discuss it in the study, the three of us, and return shortly.”
Sherbourne was not to be dissuaded. He moved closer and shouted, “You will not remain married to the scoundrel.”
Looking him straight in the eye, she said evenly, “If Blixford is a scoundrel because he had a mistress, then I’d warrant at least three other men standing in this hall are also scoundrels.”
For perhaps the first time, at least the first time she’d ever noticed, her father looked shocked. He fairly shook with indignation. “Daughter, you go too far. I will not stand by and allow you to ruin your life with that man. Go upstairs and let me handle this.”
Blixford stepped between them, almost as tall as her father, practically nose to nose with him. “We will speak privately, Sherbourne.”
“Yes, I believe we will. Shall we adjourn to the garden?” He turned and stalked away, Blixford on his heels.
Her husband of less than two hours called over his shoulder, “Miriam, you will await my return in the study.” Then he was gone.
“Good heavens. Will there be fisticuffs?” Lucy asked, looking horrified.
“Certainly not,” James said, turning to offer his arm. “My apologies, ma’am. You are distressed, of course. Please accompany me to the drawing room and I’ll have tea brought up.”
Lucy thanked him before she looked toward Jane. “Will you come along?”
“I think not, thank you. I’ll stay and have a visit with . . . ” She looked to the woman beside her, who was still sobbing a trifle hysterically. “Madam, you are overset. Stop it, at once.”
She did. Staring at Jane, she stiffened her spine and dabbed her eyes with the edge of her handkerchief. “I beg your pardon, m’lady. I’ve created a scene, haven’t I?”
“Yes, quite.” She touched the woman’s arm and nudged her toward the study, across the hallway from the dining room. “I must beg your pardon, madam, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
“Miriam,” she whispered. “Miriam Wendover.”
Jane kept urging her forward. “Rothschild, if you would be so good as to bring tea to the study as well, I’d be most appreciative.”
Lucy went up the stairs with James and Jack and the rest of her brothers while Jane stepped into the room and closed the pocket doors. Miriam moved toward the window and stared out at the street, affording Jane the opportunity to study her. Her walking gown was the first stare of fashion, a pale pink affair with two flounces, a high neck, and lace around her wrists. Her little hat was a dear thing, a confection of pink and white, with a short, jaunty feather. With her golden hair and fair skin, pink was just right. Jane experienced a stab of something she decided must be jealousy. Or resentment. Here was a woman who’d seen Blixford without his clothes on numerous occasions, had, in fact been extremely intimate with him. Enough to conceive his child. Jane suppressed the instinctive urge to rush forward and snatch the woman’s hair from her head.
“I’m terribly sorry, m’lady,” his mistress said. “Please understand, it wasn’t my intent to upset your wedding day, except that you have married the father of my child. I sent a note round to him this morning, but he didn’t respond. I assumed he was ignoring me, and I was hurt and angry. I went to his house, and was told he was not home. After I demanded to know where he’d gone, his valet arrived and said he was here, marrying you.” She wheeled around, head held high. “Blix always said if I became with child, he would marry me. That day is now, and he has promised.”
Jane didn’t believe it for an instant. “Please, won’t you sit down?” She waved her toward a chair and followed suit as soon as the woman took a seat. “Now, suppose you tell me the whole of it, so I may decide for myself what course I should take.”
Miriam’s pretty green eyes widened. “Do you mean to say, you really would seek an annulment?”
“Oh, but of course! If the duke promised to marry you in the event you conceived his child, most certainly he must honor his word.”
She clutched her handkerchief as though it would save her from drowning. “I didn’t believe you could do so. Get an annulment, I mean.”
“I most certainly can, and will. Please tell me exactly when the duke made his promise.”
“Well, it was more in the manner of a jest, you see, but all the same, he did say he would do right by me.”