Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady(49)
“Has it been all but forgotten?”
“No one seems to remember. It’s a miracle what an elevated position in society will do for you. My husband is a well-connected man.”
As was Leo, she thought. But still, how could she ever trust him again after his betrayal?
They walked at a slow pace over the lawn and toward the stables.
“Lord Barrington won’t let you languish long.” The countess gave her a grin that was full of wickedness and Genny felt her tear-stiffened face reciprocate the gesture.
“Lord Carleton and I took an extended honeymoon on the Continent immediately after our marriage. Two months to be precise, and enough time to let the gossip die down.”
Genny sighed wistfully. Lady Carleton was simply offering up advice should Genny ever reconcile with Leo. “It’s a rather romantic story.”
“Yes, quite. And he tells me often that there isn’t a day that goes by where he can’t imagine not having married me.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because, dearest, I already told you, you are the daughter I would have wanted, and I’ll do everything in my power to help you overcome this scandal.” The countess pushed open the door to the stables.
There was a lamp on and someone stood to attention on seeing her ladyship. “My lady,” he said.
“Good evening, Oliver. Have the blacks readied for a trip to Town.”
“Right away, my lady.” He bowed and went to do the countess’s bidding.
“You know, the sentimentality of that unmarked carriage resides in the farthest stall in this stable. My husband and I travel to Scotland in it once a year.” Lady Carleton brushed some of the hair away from Genny’s face. “It’s in excellent working order. More importantly, no one will know that I was the one who aided you if that is your worry.”
Genny threw her arms around the woman, more tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’re doing for me.”
Lady Carleton rubbed her back in a motherly fashion, saying, “Tut, tut, let’s get you on the road before anyone notices your absence.”
Genny squeezed her in a hug a while longer, then reluctantly released the older woman.
“Irene has prepared your bags and will no doubt be down shortly. The carriage I had pulled out yesterday and readied for a journey.”
Genny was so shocked by her hostess’s generosity that she stood there dumbfounded. Lady Carleton turned to her and said, “Though I cannot offer more assistance than this right now, if you need anything, simply get the message to Oliver and it will be done. Do you understand me?”
“I do.” Genny had to wipe the water from her eyes again. “I’m sorry about all my tears. I can’t seem to control them.”
“I’m doing nothing your mother wouldn’t do if she were alive today.” Lady Carleton engulfed Genny in a consoling hug. “Now go and bring that rascal, Barrington, in line.”
It wasn’t Barrington she needed to bring in line, but she understood that the countess wanted her to start on the right foot in her life of ruin. And that would mean marriage to the man who had ruined her. She wasn’t ready to take that step, she wasn’t sure she would ever be ready for that kind of forgiveness.
“I hope you are right.”
Lady Carleton released her and smiled warmly. “I am. Your bags are loaded and the carriage ready. We’ll see each other soon enough.”
“Your kindness means more than I can ever put into words.”
The countess smiled and patted Genny’s face again before giving instructions to her stable hand.
“Oliver, I’m leaving Miss Camden in your ever capable and trusting hands. Take her wherever she needs to go. Stable the horses at our London residence and wait there a few days in the event that Miss Camden needs your assistance for anything.”
One of the young stable hands took her hand and helped her up the steps of the carriage. When she settled herself inside she drew the blind.
Lady Carleton nodded approvingly. “Keep the curtain drawn when you are closer to London.”
With one final nod, Genny gave directions to the driver. She had to confront the dowager countess, because no one could act in the manner that woman had acted and not deal with any consequences. And now that she couldn’t protect Charlotte, she had to make the other woman realize the wrong she’d committed, and hopefully, sway her onto a less destructive path where others were concerned.
Perhaps it wasn’t her place to do such a thing, but if she didn’t, how could she ever live with herself if Charlotte ended up being an old spinster? Genny would ensure that her cousin married Mr. Warren.
Chapter 22
The Dowager F___ received not one but two midnight visitors last night. She’s more usually found out and about town gambling through the wee hours of morning, but this new habit is unlike her. Could this have something to do with her short sojourn from society just after her husband’s funeral? Is this a new game that she’s caught up in? Oh, the secrets and lies I crave to uncover where she is concerned.
The Mayfair Chronicles, August 8, 1846
The carriage ride lasted a few hours, the pace remained steady but not rushed so the horses weren’t overexerted. Genny thought she had dozed for an hour or two in the even rut of the road, and woken with the first rays of morning light.
As instructed, she shut the blinds when they neared Town. It was quite early in the day, and Genny wondered if the dowager countess would even be awake.
What if Genny wasn’t given admittance to the dowager’s residence?
It was a silly thought brought on by her exhaustion. She simply would stand outside the dowager’s house until she was allowed to enter if she was refused.
It felt as if she had had no time to prepare what she wanted to say before the door to the carriage was opened, and Oliver was offering his hand to help her down the steps. Gathering her courage, she pulled her hood forward on her cloak before she took his hand to be let down the steps.
“I’ll be waiting here for you, miss. Till someone comes out and tells me where you’ll be staying this evening. I’ll be taking you back to my mistress’s house if you haven’t a place to stay. My lady’s orders.”
“You’ve already done so much for me. You must be as exhausted as I am if not more. Lady Carleton’s house is only around the corner from here. I’ll be able to find you should I need you. And I might be here for some hours. Please, go and rest.”
“I hope you’ll understand when I say I can’t leave you, miss. Wouldn’t be right at this time of the day. Asides, no one will know it’s the Carleton carriage waiting outside for you.”
He gave her a charming wink.
Genny reached out and squeezed Oliver’s callused hands. “Thank you.”
She lifted her skirts slightly so she didn’t trip on her hem traversing the stairs. Once at the top, she rapped the knocker firmly and stepped back.
A young man dressed in a tailed black suit opened the door.
“If that is Mr. Warren again, tell him I’ll have someone tie his balls off before he can so much as scream for his mother.” The dowager came into view as the footman opened the door fully. She wore a Chinese robe in scarlet, which was decorated with little gold dragons dancing across the sash and hems. Her hair was unbound and fell in a long braid over her shoulder. She’d been about to shout out some other obscenity, Genny was sure, but paused when she saw it was not Mr. Warren at the door.
“And who are you?” The dowager raised one brow at Genny.
“Miss Camden, my lady.” She gave a bow, even though this woman deserved no courtesies, and lifted her chin as she gazed back at the woman who had helped ruin her life.
“Do I know you?”
“No, you don’t. But I know a great deal about you. If you would.” She indicated with a motion of her hand that she wished to enter. “I have a private matter to discuss with you.”
The dowager peered around Genny’s shoulder and stared at the unmarked carriage. “Who sent you?”
“I came on my own after learning of your scheme to ruin my cousin’s engagement to Mr. Warren.”
The countess rushed forward, pulled her through the door without preamble, and slammed it behind Genny’s confused and slightly shaken form. “Let’s not announce our misdeeds to the world, Miss Camden.”
Genny raised her chin and scowled at the woman before her. “They were not my misdeeds.”
“Where did you come by this information?”
“Barrington told me what you planned.”
“Leo? Why would…” The countess had an odd look about her as she accessed Genny with renewed interest. “Come, we’ll take this to the parlor.”
Lady Fallon turned and left so quickly that Genny was forced to catch up to her at a near jog. The room they entered was dark with all the window shutters closed tight. A single lamp on the center table was the only illumination.
“Please excuse the state of the house. I go from loving and hating it alternately. When I hate it, things are broken, so we’ve left the windows dark.”
Genny wasn’t sure how to respond to the countess’s honesty.
“Sit, please. We may be here a while.” The countess lounged on a chaise. She motioned to the chairs and settee across from her when Genny stood frozen to the spot.