He went quickly to the duke’s suite which was around the corner. Aknock on the door brought no one, so he opened it. In the three roomsthere was no sign of the duke. His bed was turned down, his nightshirtlaid out, his washing water cooling and unused.
The marquess walked slowly back past his mother’s rooms and unashamedlylistened again. The sounds were faint but quite unmistakable. A smilebroadened to a grin. Thank God he’d been wrong all these years. In somequite illogical way, he felt the evidence of his parents’ ? he hesitated amoment over the word in his mind and then let it lie ? his parents’intimacy gave hope for his own marriage.
He was soon deep and dreamlessly asleep while elsewhere in the bighouse the duke and duchess scarcely slept the whole night long.
Beth felt like a doll the next day, her wedding day. She was moved andplaced by others. As she was supposed not to see her bridegroom before theevening wedding, she was confined to her rooms. She felt some slightdisgruntlement that he doubtless was free to go where he wished, but infact the arrangement suited her well enough. She was in a fine state ofnerves and was sure she would disgrace herself in public.
The duchess spent some time with her in the morning and seemed to be inquite extraordinary spirits, despite looking tired and even yawning once.Beth also received a flying visit from one of the marquess’s sisters, LadyGraviston. The former Lady Maria was petite and very smart but not of ananalytical nature. She appeared to accept her brother’s choice of bridewithout question, said all the right things, then talked for twentyminutes about her three lively children. She then kissed Beth’s cheek andannounced she must be off if she were to look her best for thewedding.
The marquess’ other sister, Lady Joanne Cuthbert-Harby had previouslysent a polite note of regret as she was “expecting an interesting event”at any moment. It would be her fifth child. All this evidence of fecunditydid little to soothe Beth’s nerves.
The duke visited her. He, too, seemed to be in marvelous spirits butthen he was seeing the fruition of his plans. He brought with him themarquess’ bride gift, a splendid diamond parure, far grander than the oneshe had rejected. It included a tiara with diamond drops which swayed andtwinkled in the light. Beth tried to balk at the tiara but was soonpersuaded it was appropriate to her position. She found, faced with theawareness of the night to come, she had no heart for minor battles.
Even Miss Mallory, when she arrived, was little comfort. There was sucha vast gulf between them now, made greater by deception, that Beth foundher time with the lady more trial than support.
“I have to confess,” said Miss Mallory, as she sipped her tea, “that itis delightful to travel in such comfort. So kind of the duke to send acarriage just for me. And this house is very beautiful.”
“You must come to visit Belcraven Park sometime, Aunt Emma,” said Beth,not without a touch of dryness.
Miss Mallory did not seem to notice. “I have heard it is famous. Youlook very fine, Beth.” She showed her principles had not been totallyundermined by wealth, however. “Are you happy, Beth? There is still timeto change your mind if you have doubts.”
Doubts, thought Beth. Doubts was a mild word for it. For her aunt’ssake, however, she smiled and lied. “Very happy. The marquess and I getalong remarkably.”
“Well, I am relieved. Though I could understand the duke’s predicament,I did not like his solution, and I was very surprised you so quicklyagreed. I was afraid you had been swayed by worldly considerations, andperhaps,” she added in a whisper, though they were quite alone,“lust.”
Beth could feel herself go red. “Certainly not!”
“Of course, of course,” said Miss Mallory, quite pink herself. “You sawin the marquess the finer feelings. You are wiser than I. How unfair it isthat when we see a handsome man or a beautiful woman, we are inclined tothink them shallow or thoughtless.”
Beth could not face more discussion of her marriage. “How is theschool? I do miss it,” she said, then added quickly, “even though I am sohappy here.”
“And everyone misses you, my dear. I have had such a time finding areplacement. The applicants are either quite silly or too harsh. I believeI have one now who will do, however. Little else has changed, except thatClarissa Greystone has left at last.”
“Really? How came that about?”
“Her family’s fortunes took a turn for the better. She should be herein London now, making her curtsy. After all the fuss she made, the sillygirl seemed quite tearful to be leaving us.” The lady rose to her feet.“Well, I suppose I must find the way to my room and prepare for all thisgrandeur. I could hardly believe it when the duchess said the Regent is togive you away!”
“Is it not incredible?” agreed Beth, though in truth, she had longsince grown numb to surprises, and would probably not even blink if adragon were to invade the room and gobble up Miss Mallory whole.
The older lady’s eyes twinkled. “I tell myself it gives me a familyconnection to royalty. I hope to heavens the duke’s arrangements for yourfictitious background hold up though, Beth, or there will be a dreadfulscandal now royalty is involved.”
“Arrangements?” queried Beth.
“Did you not know?” said the woman. “I suppose they thought you hadenough on your plate.”
She sat down again and leaned close. “You could not be admitted to beMary Armitage’s daughter, Beth, because she had five other children and awide family, none of whom has ever heard of you. A check of your birthdatewould show you to be illegitimate. Fortunately, Denis Armitage ? Mary’shusband ? had a scapegrace brother who wandered all over the place, livingon his wits. An utterly hopeless case. This Arthur Armitage married acurate’s daughter in Lincolnshire and then deserted her. The duke hasapparently had all the records fixed so that the wife ? what was her name?Marianna ? gave birth to a baby. Mary, so the story goes, placed her niecein my care and paid for your raising.”
“And what happened to my ‘parents’?” queried Beth, not altogetherpleased at this new genesis.
“Marianna Armitage died of fever when you were less than two. Arthurfell into the Wash when drunk and drowned. About ten years ago, I believe.It should all hold up.”
“Do you know. Aunt Emma,” said Beth quietly, “I wonder if I will everbecome accustomed to making life fit my wishes, as they do.”
“They?”
“We,” Beth corrected, forcing a smile. “The rich. The highest levels ofSociety. Go and pretty yourself up. Aunt Emma. The Prince will doubtlesswant to shake your hand.”
Miss Mallory took alarm at this and hurried away.
