Page 21 of The Duke and the Spinster

Chapter Eight

Juliana breathed a sigh of relief when she slipped unnoticed back into the parlour. She stepped to the side, where she was sheltered by a convenient potted palm, and searched out her mother and sister. They were in a group of women on the other side of the room, obviously completely absorbed in the conversation. She wondered if they had even noticed her absence at all.

Sighing, she moved quietly across the room towards them, conscious, as she did so, of the faint sound of the door behind her. A small smile crossed her lips. The Duke was true to his word. Now that she considered it, after seeing the disgust on his face when she had explained Lady Prudence’s words about him, she wondered how she could ever have doubted him.

She reached her mother, and nothing changed – no acknowledgement of her presence. Perhaps that was for the better. The conversation around her was all of fashion, and of the eligible gentlemen that the younger women thought worthy of consideration. From Juliana’s point of view, totally boring.

Still, boredom was better than being trapped by such as Lord Fondleton. She had no wish to ever be in such a situation again. After a short while, the Duke approached the group of ladies, greeting those he knew, and finding himself rapidly introduced to the rest. The degree to which the girls almost fell over themselves to stand before him was rather pathetic.

Juliana’s eyes met his, and she suddenly felt overheated, her cheeks flushed. There was such warmth in his eyes. She looked away. She was being foolish again. Just because he had rescued her, did not mean that he cared for her. She was in no way a suitable match for a Duke. The next hour or more was rather torture, for he stayed talking to them, or close by, the whole time. Her eyes followed him, despite her best intention to look away. She was grateful that he was doing as he had promised, yet wished herself away, for watching him without being able to truly speak with him was far harder than she had expected.

Finally, the evening was drawing to a close. Juliana realised that she needed the ladies retiring room, before they set off back to Hardcastle House, or she would be extremely uncomfortable in the carriage. She excused herself, and went through the connecting rooms to the correct room. It was empty, and the moment of quiet was a relief after the chatter outside. She quickly did what she needed to, and was about to leave the room when the door opened.

Lady Prudence. Juliana stiffened, and went to brush past her, but the woman put out a hand to stop her.

“Lady Juliana. I wanted to speak to you. It appears to me that you did not take my friendly warning seriously. You really should have done so.”

There was an edge to the woman’s voice that made Juliana shiver. When Juliana did not respond, Lady Prudence went on.

“If you do not begin to avoid my soon-to-be betrothed, I will be forced to explain to interested parties that you seem to have a habit of disappearing from social occasions to spend illicit time alone with gentlemen. I am sure that your already sordid reputation would not be improved by that becoming common knowledge. And it would, of course, destroy your sister’s prospects. I do hope that you understand what is required, my Lady.”

As Juliana gaped at her, dread curling through her at the threat, Lady Prudence stepped aside, and waved her to leave, as if nothing had been said. Juliana swallowed, her mouth dry, and nodded once, before leaving the room. The fear did not leave her once she was out of Lady Prudence’s presence. Instead it grew stronger, wrapping itself around her heart, leaving her full of despair.

What could she do? It seemed that her mere presence was a threat to her family, to her sister’s future – and, whilst Eleanor could be utterly annoying, she was still her sister… Juliana was barely aware as she collected her wrap and climbed into the carriage beside her father – everything was focussed inwards, on the impossible situation she now found herself in. Two people were determined to ruin her, and held the threat of harm to her family over her. There had to be a way out, but none was obvious to her.

By the time they reached Hardcastle House she was no closer to a solution, and her head ached unbearably. She took herself to bed as soon as possible.

Sleep was elusive – she would drift into the edges of it, only to wake with a start, momentarily imagining that Lord Fondleton still had her in his grasp, or that Lady Prudence stood before her, speaking threating words as if it was the most natural thing in the world. But, somewhere in the depths of the night, an answer came to her. She was going to run away.

Not very far, but far enough. If she left here, she would be away from the Duke, so Lady Prudence would have no need to harm her family with vicious gossip. And she would be away from Lord Fondleton, who would get no benefit from destroying her reputation if he could not find her, to take advantage of her. She would go to the only person, apart from her close family, who had actually been kind to her, even during that terrible Season.

Her great-great aunt, Lady Bellinghaugh, was wont to spend her summers in her townhome in Bath – surely, Juliana thought, she could manage to get to Bath by herself! If she was honest, that thought terrified her – but not as much as the idea of staying here, in Upper Nettlefold, and being blackmailed into doing what others wanted, or seeing her family destroyed.

She rose, dressed herself in her plainest gown, and chose two dresses to take with her, in her little valise. Nothing that required help to get into, just simple things. She slipped what money she had into her plainest reticule, and let herself silently out of Hardcastle House. She considered leaving a note, but decided against that – for it would make her too easy to find, which would make the whole thing pointless.

She walked down the predawn dark street to the larger Inn, and enquired about a ticket to Bath.

“You’re in luck Miss, the mail coach will be through in the next half hour or so, and goes from here straight to Bath – you’ll be there late this afternoon.”

She thanked the ticket clerk, and paid the fare, settling herself onto the bench he indicated, to wait. True to his words, the coach arrived within a short time, and she was on her way. The early start meant that there were few passengers, and her fear eased when she discovered that her only companion in the coach was an elderly woman, who promptly went to sleep.

Upon arriving in Bath, she immediately flagged a cab, and provided the address of her great-great aunt’s home. The cabbie looked at her, unsure if such a plain and ordinary woman should be going to a house on such a wealthy street, but did not argue when presented with her coin. Soon, she stood upon the doorstep of one of the most imposing houses she had ever seen.

She raised her hand and knocked.

~~~~~

Lady Delbarton woke with a start when her maid came rushing into her bedroom. From the look of the light from the window, it was somewhat earlier than the time she normally chose to rise.

“My Lady! I’m sorry to wake you early, but… my Lady, its Lady Juliana - she’s not here!”

“What do you mean, Mary ‘not here’?”

“Not here, my Lady. Not in her room, not anywhere in Hardcastle House, and no-one has seen her.”

“That’s ridiculous! She must be here. perhaps she couldn’t sleep and went for a walk in the gardens.”

“No, my Lady, I checked, my Lady. I looked everywhere. And… once I’d checked, and went back to her room, I noticed – her valise is gone, and some clothes!”