They had not been seated long when the butler announced the gentlemen. Both entered, and Hampshire’s eyes went directly to Nora before settling on Frederica.
To her very great astonishment, he came to her first and wrapped her in his arms, despite Frederica’s presence. Did that mean there had been some discussion between them? That there might be hope for the ending of their engagement?
“How do you fare, Hampshire?” she asked, looking up at him. “Are you still in significant pain?”
“I will not pretend that it is not agony to move,” he replied, with a rueful smile. “However, given that I was saved from a most painful death, I am determined not to complain in the least.” His eyes searched hers. “Are you well, Nora?”
She nodded and smiled. “I am. To know that both yourself and Frederica are saved from Rathbone’s dark intentions has brought me very great relief.”
Lord Broadford stepped forward and greeted Frederica warmly, then settled into a chair near the fire. Nora sat down in the chair nearest to Lord Hampshire, seeing how Frederica smiled at her as she did so. Might it be that the lady had changed her mind? That she would now be glad for Nora and Lord Hampshire to join in matrimony? “You look very well, Miss Longleat,” Lord Broadford smiled as he sat down. “You have recovered from your ordeal, yes?”
“I have.” Frederica took in a deep breath, then spread out her hands. “However, I see now that I have not been honest about Rathbone. I fear now that I was foolish in that endeavour, choosing to keep the secret, just as my father had begged of me.”
“Your father?” Lord Hampshire’s eyebrows lifted. “You mean to say that my uncle kept something to himself with such secrecy, he told you not to speak to me of it, even though we were to wed?”
Frederica dropped her gaze to her hands as Nora watched on, wondering what this great secret was. Evidently, the lady believed that she ought to know of it, and Nora could not help her curiosity. “This secret involved Rathbone, yes?”
With a nod and a sigh, Frederica lifted her head and looked directly at Lord Hampshire. “Rathbone and my father had a pact. It was not one that I was aware of, not until much later.” Her eyes grew damp. “It seems that Rathbone became aware of one of my father’s youthful indiscretions. There was — there was a child.”
Nora sucked in a breath, trying to keep her astonishment out of her expression. Frederica dropped her gaze to her hands as Lord Hampshire shifted in his chair, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
“You did not know of this, then?” Frederica asked, as Lord Hampshire shook his head. “It was many years before I was born, when my father was a young man. The mother was a woman of no particular standing, and when she discovered who he was, she demanded coin to keep the matter quiet. From what I understand, the demands grew over the years and threatened to ruin him. Rathbone assisted my father — providing a settlement and a living for the child, and subsequently making certain that no further demands were asked for.”
Nora tugged her lips to one side. “I presume that you did not know how those demands were silenced?”
“Nor do I want to even think about such a thing,” Frederica replied, closing her eyes and shuddering lightly. “Not now that I know precisely the sort of person that Rathbone is.”
“So your father was helped by Rathbone,” Lord Broadford said slowly, clearly taking in all that had been said thus far, “but then Rathbone threatened him? He used what he had done as a way to manipulate your father in some way?”
“Precisely.”
For a moment, Nora feared that Frederica was, once more, about to break down into tears of sorrow and sadness, only for her to draw in a long, steadying breath and lift her chin, her gaze steadying once more on Lord Hampshire.
“He told my father that he wanted not only to marry me but also to be given a substantial amount of wealth, land, and a suitable house so that he might lift his station in the world. If he did not do as was demanded, then Rathbone had every intention of telling all of society all that my father had done in his past.”
Lord Hampshire began to nod slowly. “Thus, he used the codicil as a way to force not only my hand but to prevent Rathbone from being able to marry you.”
“Yes, that is what he told me.” Frederica pulled out her handkerchief and began to dab at her eyes. “It was a sorrowful situation indeed, I confess, for I did not want him to injure you in all of this, Hampshire. At the very same time, however, I could see how he was doing his utmost to protect me.”
“He was a man who thought only of you and your safety,” Nora said, gently as Frederica returned that remark with a wobbly, grateful smile. “He wanted to protect you in any way he could.”
“I do believe that to be true. He told Rathbone that he could not permit the marriage, as I was already to be engaged to Lord Hampshire. At the very same time, he stated that the land and coin would be given to him once I had married and notbefore.” Her smile slipped. “I think he hoped Rathbone would be satisfied with land and wealth. Rathbone was not, however, since my father then became ill and subsequently… ” She sniffed, her words catching in her throat. “There was nothing Rathbone could do once my father was gone from this earth. Save to threaten me.”
Lord Hampshire blew out a long breath and dragged his hands down his face, one after the other. “Why did you not tell me of this, Frederica?”
Frederica’s throat bobbed, and Nora leaned forward, looking Lord Hampshire straight in the eye. “Rathbone threatened her also, I think. When he could not threaten your father, he instead went to you.”
“Yes, he did.” Frederica’s voice was a whisper now. “He told me that I had to break the engagement and marry him instead. He demanded it; he threatened all manner of things when I continually refused. I dared not be at the estate alone for fear that he would do something quite dreadful to force my hand, so I came to London, never expecting that he would follow me.”
“I was your safety,” Lord Hampshire said, as Frederica wiped at her eyes again.
“He threatened you also,” she said, worrying her handkerchief. “If I told you of what I was enduring, then all manner of harm would come not only to you but to anyone that you were close to. I was much too afraid to go against that – yet I clung to our engagement for it was the only way I could see that kept me away from him.”
Nora’s heart broke for the lady. She did not feel any sort of upset, anger, or frustration at all that she had endured, held nothing against her for the silence that had been the barrier between them, all knowing the truth. She could not imagine what it must have been like for Frederica to suffer through such trouble and fear.
“He stole you away, but then sent a demand to Hampshire.” Lord Broadford spoke gently, no doubt seeing the torment and upset on Frederica’s face.
“He did not think to take you to Scotland, then? He did not try to force your hand in that way?”
