CHAPTER 24
Afierce wave of shock rolled through my stomach.
I jerked my head to Mrs. Everard. She was grinning at me, and gave me a quick nod, as if encouraging me to play along with her ridiculous charade.
What was wrong with her? She was clearly losing her mind.
When I moved my gaze to the two young ladies in front of me, Alice was staring at me with round eyes and a hand over her mouth. Miss Lyons watched me with downturned brows and compressed lips. And a challenge.
“I—um . . .” I struggled for words that would deny what Mrs. Everard had said, but I was hopelessly mute, and could not think clearly for my life. What on earth was Mrs. Everard hoping to achieve with her lie? My head spun.
“She is very shy about the ordeal,” Mrs. Everard inserted with quick precision. “She hopes the news will not come as a disappointment to anyone here.” She turned her gaze to me and placed a hand on my other shoulder. “We could never be disappointed to have Miss Downing join the family.”
I started shaking my head, but Mrs. Everard cupped my cheeks between her hands. “She and her brothers have been a delight.”
I stared at her, my jaw slack. She blocked me from the view of Alice and Miss Lyons, casting me a stern look. How could I accuse her, a woman above me in both age and station, of lying? Mrs. Everard would have my head if I spoke against her.
Mrs. Kellaway turned toward me in shock. “Annette? Why didn’t you tell me this morning? That is delightful news!”
Once again, Mrs. Everard spoke for me. “She asked me to keep it a secret until the other guests arrived.” She patted my cheek and released me. I looked down at my brothers, who were observing silently. I prayed they didn’t realize what was happening.
Mrs. Kellaway stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. She squeezed tight. Her blue eyes were misty when she stepped back. “I am so happy to know that you will be my daughter-in-law. I couldn’t have dreamed that Owen would choose someone as wonderful as you. I should have forseen these circumstances. I have never seen him happier than he has been since you arrived here.” She hugged me again, and I caught a glimpse of Miss Lyons’s expression over her shoulder.
She watched me with narrowed eyes before looking down at the floor with an arched eyebrow. Alice’s forehead was pinched, her hand resting on Charlotte’s upper arm as if to silently console her.
Mrs. Everard had just dashed the dreams of both young ladies with her ridiculous sham. My heart raced as Mrs. Kellaway released me. My pride screamed at me in protest, but I had to deny Mrs. Everard’s claim before it spiraled out of control. I spoke in a quiet voice. “Mrs. Kellaway…I?—”
Before I could finish, Charles tugged hard on my skirts. “I need the chamber pot,” he whispered. He bounced up and down, a desperate look on his face. “I need it right now.”
“Excuse us,” I muttered, pulling Charles away from the watchful eyes in the entry hall. My face burned. I left Peter with Mrs. Kellaway as I hurried Charles to the nearest retiring room.
I paced the floor on the other side of the screen as Charles used the chamber pot, my mind racing. My stomach lurched, and I felt ill enough to vomit. I had lost my chance to deny the engagement! Doing so later would be even more awkward. Did Mrs. Everard realize the uncomfortable position she had put me in? Frustration bubbled up in my chest, and I wanted to scream.
A few minutes later, I took Charles by the hand and crept into the corridor. Thankfully Mrs. Kellaway and the other ladies had left the entry hall. I heard voices on the floor above, so going back to my bedchamber was not an option.
My skin prickled as I caught sight of Mrs. Everard shuffling down the corridor toward me. She had Peter in tow…and an infuriating grin on her face. She passed my brothers off to a maid, and I didn’t object.
It was best that they not witness this confrontation.
As soon as they were out of earshot, I crossed my arms over my chest. “I am not engaged to Owen!” I tried to keep my voice quiet, but my frustration was peeking through.
“Yes, yes, I know that.” Mrs. Everard waved a hand in the air as if swatting unseen flies.
“Then why?—”
“Because,” she interrupted, “I thoroughly despise Lady Pembury, that is why.” A little hoot escaped her pursed lips. “I find the ruse quite brilliant actually. If Miss Lyons thinks that you are engaged to Owen, then she won’t stay for long, and her mother may not have the satisfaction of having a daughter married to one of the wealthiest men in town.”
I put a hand to my forehead. I was feeling quite faint now, and nothing made sense. Owen was not wealthy. He was adoctor. “What about all the others? What about when Owen returns?”
She shrugged. “Then I suppose I will have no choice but to confess to my scheme.”
A wave of despair nearly knocked me over. I couldn’t even imagine the embarrassment, especially after the way Owen and I had parted. He was likely still cross with me, and returning home to learn that I was pretending to be his betrothed would not make him like me any better.
“Oh, do not fret!” Mrs. Everard exclaimed. “It is all in good humor. We shall all laugh about it together once Miss Lyons is gone.”
I took a steadying breath. “I told you I have no wish to come between Owen and Miss Lyons. If they share an attachment, I would hate to take part in ruining their happiness.”
Mrs. Everard sighed. “That is the part you do not understand. Miss Lyons isnotattached to Owen. She is attached to his wealth and possessions. I know Lady Pembury, and I know that she secured her own husband by hiding in his bedchamber at a house party and ensuring she was seen as he walked her out. He was forced by honor to marry her. I have no doubt that she has trained her daughters well in the art of ensnaring a man.”
