CHAPTERONE
Early May, 1817
St.Albans House, London
“As they are all unaware, and will remain so, at your request, you must allow me to be the one to thank you for everything you have done for my mother and sisters since my father died,” Georgiana told the gentleman seated across from her behind the wide mahogany desk.
That gentleman was the Duke of St.Albans.A man who was a close friend of the Prince Regent.A man not known for hiskindness,but who instead was either feared or respected—in some cases, both—by other members of theton.
Georgiana inwardly admitted to being slightly in awe of him too, despite the fact he was now married to her good friend Lily and was father to another of their close friends, Chloe.
Like Georgiana, both those ladies were among the six founder members of the Spinsters Alliance.A group they had formed with the idea of supporting each other so that they were not forced into accepting a marriage and husband who did not love them and whom they did not love nor wish to spend the rest of their lives with.
That alliance was only of two months’ duration, and already, two of its founder members had fallen in love and were deeply loved in return.Lily was happily married to the Duke of St.Albans, and Chloe would shortly marry the Duke of Hellsmere, that couple also deeply in love with each other.
The duke, impeccably and fashionably clothed as usual in the dark attire he preferred, now studied Georgian through narrowed lids for several long minutes.
Long enough for Georgiana to begin to fidget.Until she realized what she was doing and put a stop to it by clutching her velvet reticule protectively against her chest as she met that steely gaze.
“And what makes you think I have done anything for your mother and sisters?”St.Albans finally drawled.
She gave a derisive laugh.“My mother may choose to believe that my father’s cold heart suffered a sea change before he died.That because it had, he has left sufficient finances for my mother to buy a house for them all to live in comfortably together.”
“But you do not believe it?”
“Of course not,” Georgiana scorned.“In private, my father was not just unpleasant, he was cruel toward all of us, my mother especially.Simply because she gave birth to three daughters rather than the sons he desired.He never forgave my mother for it, and he despised the three of us simply because of our gender.To a degree I doubt he gave a second thought to what would happen to any of us after he died.Perhaps he had even hoped to outlive my mother and take a second wife who might give him sons,” she added bitterly, the thought having just occurred to her.“In any case, I know he did not provide for any of us.”
St.Albans’s jaw tightened.“I had no idea of his unacceptable behavior toward all of you until my Lily told me of it.”His voice softened noticeably as he spoke of the young lady who was now his beloved duchess.
“It’s water under the bridge now that he is dead,” Georgiana dismissed briskly.“I have never seen any point in dwelling on a past which cannot be changed.”
She was more interested in the future.Now that her mother and sisters were comfortably and safely settled, it was Georgiana’s own future she wished to concentrate on.A future which, if possible, would not include continuing to accept charity from the Duke of St.Albans.
“Indeed.”The duke nodded.“What led you to the conclusion thatImust have had something to do with your family’s change of fortune?”
Georgiana smiled.“Having thought the matter over, it was the only conclusion possible.Especially knowing how you have helped another of our friends escape a difficult family situation.”
She referred to her friend Rose Appleby, the fourth member of the Spinsters Alliance, and so also a friend of Lily, St.Albans’s new duchess, and his daughter, Chloe.Rose’s home situation had become dire several weeks ago, but she had been safely removed and hidden from that danger.By St.Albans.
“My father was respected by his peers but not universally liked, so I knew it could not be one of his friends who had stepped in,” Georgiana continued.“He had also ensured that my mother did not have close friends, probably with the desire to prevent her from ever discussing his unkindness toward us with those friends,” she added tersely.
The duke’s jaw tightened.“I am truly sorry you have all had to suffer in this way.”
“You are not responsible for the way in which Society functions,” she dismissed.“But those facts did lead me to the conclusion that it must be one of my own friends who was helping us.As I have stated, Rose does not have the necessary funds to help herself, let alone us.”
“No,” he confirmed abruptly.
“Amanda and Julia left London for the country last week, upon the death of their mutual maternal grandmother.”She referred to the two cousins, who were the fifth and sixth members of the Spinsters Alliance.“They will both, once Lady Roxburgh’s estate has been settled, become heiresses in their own right.But that is currently not the case.That left only Lily and Chloe.To that end, I spoke with the two of them.Together.Because of our friendship, they admitted the truth to me.”
He frowned.“Ah.”
“Please do not be angry with either of them,” Georgiana pleaded.“They are my closest friends, and I appreciate them telling me the truth.”
St.Albans chuckled.“Believe me when I say that I adore my duchess and my daughter far too much to ever be cross with either of them for more than a few minutes.”He eyed her curiously.“I noticed you did not include yourself amongst the members of your family who might wish to thank me.”
Georgiana moistened her lips before speaking again.“I assure you, I am most grateful for all your assistance to my family, financial and otherwise.”
As well as the duke’s financial largesse, her family had benefited socially from the Duke and Duchess of St.Albans calling upon Georgiana’s family every week since their marriage.As an indication to the rest of thetonthat St.Albans dismissed any possibility of the countess and her daughters being involved in the scandal that had surrounded the earl’s early demise.
