‘But you are giving away everything I have,’ said Thea.
George came closer, making her heart stutter. ‘You have nothing, everything youhavebelongs to your husband,’ he said quietly. ‘It is a weapon in my arsenal and I will do with it as I wish.’
Thea tried to take another calming breath but the rage came quicker. ‘We agreed,’ she hissed. ‘We had an arrangement. You would have this,’ she waved an arm in the direction of Miss Bellegarde, ‘and I would have my study. You have taken every bit of my pride, you stole what was mine to send to him and you almost ruined my friendship with Lady Foxmore.’ She thumped a fist down on a side table, causing the brown liquid in a carafe to sway and swill around its insides. Then she stilled. She hadn’t meant to let on that she knew about the letters.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Why does that bother you so? You have a hundred women available to you in society.’
Thea swallowed. ‘But nobody as capable at growing.’ He raised an eyebrow. Hopefully she hadn’t said too much. The last thing she needed was him suspecting their relationship. She would be in the madhouse sooner than you could say ‘convenient excuse’.
George’s eyes flicked to the carafe and then back to Thea. ‘Careful,’ he said, in the tone that usually warned her to be cautious, but her anger dulled her care.
‘You cannot persist with it,’ she said,’ I must have my half of the bargain.’
George now placed his glass on the table and walked towards her, coming too close for her comfort. She gritted her teeth but did not retreat. ‘I do wish you would listen,’ he said quietly. ‘As I said, you must have nothing, because I am the master of this household, and you should remember that. I will not toleratethis much further. I would request that you only interrupt me in my personal quarters if the matter is something important.’
Thea’s heart thudded in fear, but she knew that if she backed down, she would not forgive herself. ‘It is important,’ she said. ‘They are plants, but you know the weight they hold. For me and for others.’
He breathed in through his nose. ‘I did know it,’ he said, peering down at her and not giving any space. ‘But I have to say I hoped that you would be more reasonable. Do you know of the trouble I had when you sent that blasted flower to the palace before Knatchbull sent his? The odd piece of information kept him sweet before you brought on that renegade ginger gardener and started producing all sorts. I have been far too lenient with you these past few months.’
Thea faltered. ‘Are you saying Knatchbull is threatened by us?’
George laughed through his nose. ‘You show up the men who are trying to engage in this activity in a serious manner, and it is not to be tolerated. I have paid off the mortgages for your miserable family and continue to support them. I have allowed you your hobbies although you continually overreach yourself and cause me problems. I have permitted you an advisor for the garden in order that you don’t embarrass yourself and the Hartford name with a team of women. I have overlooked your leaving without my permission and your petty societal outbursts. And still you demand more, and to know my business. I am consistently undoing the damage you cause. I should have reined you in long before now.’
‘Reined me in?’ asked Thea, almost shouting. ‘I am not one of your horses, George.’
‘Most lamentably not,’ said George. ‘They know their place. I fear you begin to see yourself as my equal.’
‘As your equal?’ asked Thea, quiet now. Her vision had blurred a little with the anger, and she knew that she should stop. Walkaway while he calmed down, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself talking. ‘That was what you said you wanted. And I have held up every part of my side of the agreement. I have run your house, borne your children, stocked your garden, played the wife and turned a blind eye to each and every mistress, and yet you seek to belittle me at every opportunity.’
‘I seek to keep you in check,’ he shouted, spittle specking her face. ‘Perhaps I should remind you of your duty as my wife?’
Before she could think to respond she felt a hand around her neck and then was pushed back by the tender flesh until the backs of her knees hit the chaise. Her hands grappled at his but suddenly the pressure released as she was shoved backwards, losing her balance and finding herself sprawled exactly where George had been when she entered the room. To her horror, she saw him start to unbutton his breeches and made to stand but he held her down with a knee.
‘It is your duty to submit to me,’ he snarled. ‘And you should remember that. Perhaps I should insist that you join myself and Miss Bellegarde on occasion?’ He motioned to his mistress and Thea’s eyes flicked to her. Her teacup was stationary, and her eyes showed no emotion.
Thea felt George’s weight shift as he turned to Miss Bellegarde. ‘Well come on,’ he said, snapping his fingers. ‘Join in with me and my wife. You can help me to teach her a little respect like you did with that whore in Covent Garden.’
Thea cried out as he started to ruck up her skirts as he grunted, shifting on top of her, his weight and the smell of him repulsive. She forced her head sideways, only trying to be as far from his face as possible, but then a shadow fell over them both and she saw Miss Bellegarde staring down at her. Good god, she thought. Would the indignity never end? She squirmed, but his weight held her firm. She waited to see where she would be touched next, her skin crawling at the thought. She felt Miss Bellegarde’shand on her chest and tensed against it, but then she felt George’s weight retreat a little.
‘We don’t need her,’ came the voice of Miss Bellegarde. She opened her eyes to see that the mistress was trying to prise them apart, but George’s eyes were still full of venom and trained on Thea.
Miss Bellegarde’s hand left Thea’s chest and turned George’s face to hers. ‘Darling, I don’t want to share you, not with her.’ She grasped at his cravat and pulled him to his feet, his instinct seemingly being to obey her.
‘She has to learn,’ he growled, almost pleadingly.
‘I think she understands,’ she said. ‘And I would rather have you to myself. I believe that Her Grace will be more careful of your feelings in the future?’ Then she looked directly at Thea and flicked her eyes to the door, indicating that she should leave.
Thea ran while she had the chance. Out of the door, through the hall of busts and down the corridor to the back stairs. The tears came so freely she didn’t see Martha until they collided.
‘Oh, thank goodness, I thought you might be… Thea?’ Martha asked, when Thea only clung to her.
She dropped to her knees and sobbed, and Martha held her.
Chapter 29
September 1765
It was about ten thirty in the morning when the letter came. Thea was in the cool end of the glasshouse dividingHepaticaswith Frankie when Sanders rushed through the door.
