She gave him a seductive smile, thrilled to have his undivided attention at last.When that sappy Lady Gallwey sees us together, she’ll run away with her tail tucked between her legs, she thought with secret glee, edging a little closer to him.
“My, oh my!” The dowager said.
Endora wanted to scream out her frustration. The dowager seemed to be watching her like a hawk.
“I thought what I heard you say yesterday was the mad ranting of a desperate woman,” the dowager continued. “But do I stand corrected? Are congratulations in order?” The older woman thumped her cane on the ground as she approached.
Endora paled. She had not realized the devious old woman had overheard her rants to the modiste. “You must have misunderstood…”
“Oh, dear! Have I spoiled your betrothal announcement?” the dowager asked, clearly feigning mortification. “You see, it was quite a surprise to me to hear you bragging to Madame Soyeuse about your upcoming nuptials with Lord Latham.”
Endora was mortified to see they were attracting a crowd. She laughed to stall for time. “Yes…I mean, no… We are attracting undue attention, Your Grace. Of course, there is no announcement,” Endora bit out, wishing she could slap the smug smile off the old crow’s face. “You misheard, Your Grace.”
“My dear, I can assure you, I hear perfectly.” The dowager narrowed her eyes and thumped her cane to punctuate her point. “It seems you’ve certainly gone to a great deal of trouble to secure Lord Latham’s attention, but I believe you’ve gone a bit too far with your scheming.”
“I am shocked at your insinuation, Your Grace,” Endora said, a hand to her chest.
“This is the first I’ve heard of any association between myself and Lady Deville,” Thomas said, a frown on his face.
“It is the first I’ve heard of it as well,” Lady Gallwey added as she joined Thomas’ side.
Damn! The blonde twit is back and my plan is going awry.Endora was furious.That harridan is ruining everything!“You are spewing lies about me, Your Grace. I must insist you stop.”
The Duke of Clarence suddenly appeared at his mother’s side along with the duchess, his wife. “Lady Deville, I must inform you that Barry, one of our footmen, handed me these notes earlier,” he said in a steely voice. “I believe you addressed them to Lady Gallwey and Lord Latham. Barry told me you paid him a sovereign to deliver them.” The duke handed the sovereign to his mother.
The dowager took a step closer to Endora and said in an accusing tone, “Lady Deville, I heard your rant…allof it. I was in the changing room next to yours and couldn’t help but hear. My, how confident you sounded as you congratulated yourself for putting an end to your first two marriages—something that I hope shall be investigated by the authorities. And I heard you muttering about a scheme to separate Lord Latham from Lady Gallwey so that you could have him for yourself. And may I reiterate that you did indeed try to wheedle your way to convince Madame Soyeuse to extend your credit by telling her that you and Lord Latham were planning to announce a betrothal very soon and that it would be the event of the year.”
Gasps echoed around them as the crowd of onlookers had grown.
Endora felt faint. She reached out to grip the trellis to steady herself.No, no, no!This can’t be happening.
“As these notes are addressed to Lord Latham and Lady Gallwey, I shall see that the sovereign is fully earned,” the dowager said. “Lady Gallwey, this one is for you. And Lord Latham, this one has your name on it. Perhaps you should read them aloud so that we might learn of Lady Deville’s true intentions.”
* * *
Thomas opened the note and stared at it. “Lady Gallwey, may I confirm that you did not send this note to me?” he asked, passing the note to Frankie. He needed no such confirmation but only wanted everyone around them to know the truth. He glanced up and saw that his mother, sister, aunt, and cousin had joined them and were standing behind the dowager. His mother nodded and in her eyes, he saw the support and love she’d always given him. He cleared his throat and read:
Meet me at the swing. I shall be there waiting.
Frankie
Frankie shook her head. “I did not send that note,” she said in a clear, strong voice. Once again, Frankie’s graceful demeanor made him admire her even more.
“Allow me to read the note addressed to me,” she said, opening the vellum. “The note is identical, except for the name.” She showed it to Thomas.
Meet me at the swing. I shall be there waiting.
Thomas
“How odd,” the dowager said. “If I were a devious sort, based on what I overheard yesterday, I would say that you planned to throw yourself at Lord Latham and have Lady Gallwey walk up on that scene.” She tutted.
“May I add,” the duke said, that Barry had been instructed to give Lady Gallwey her note after Lord Latham’s.”
“Oh, well done, Endora,” the dowager said. “You’d timed it perfectly didn’t you, so that Lady Gallwey would arrive after Lord Latham, thus ensuring your plan to have Lady Gallwey witness your so-called embrace.
Thomas felt his blood boil at Lady Deville’s sheer audacity and deviousness. He glanced at Frankie and noted the flush of anger tinting her cheeks.
“Before you attempt to deny your actions,” the dowager continued, “We have already spoken to the footman who confessed that you intercepted a missive written by Lord Latham to Lady Gallwey five years ago and it appears you have done so once again. But this time you paid a forger to falsify the signatures.”
