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A few hours later, Tessa knocked on her mother’s front door with trepidation. Now instead of just discussing her relationship with Jack, Tessa would have to impart all the information on Lady Langport’s death, assuming the gossipmongers hadn’t already gotten to them yet.
“Good morning, my lady,” Davis said as he opened the door. “Your mother is expecting you.”
“Is she in the salon?”
“No, she is in her bedchamber waiting to speak to you in private.”
“Thank you, Davis.” She walked up the steps to her mother’s bedchamber observing the overall quiet in the house. No commotion from her usual rambunctious sisters. No sound at all, save the ticking of the clock from the entry. Deadly quiet. She rapped on her mother’s door and was bid entrance.
“Oh, Tessa, have you heard the news?” her mother cried as Tessa entered slowly.
“About Lady Langport?”
Her mother nodded. “She seemed quite well last night.”
“Not exactly,” she said as she took a seat across from her mother.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“She and Langport stopped by my house last night after they left the duke’s home. They only stayed a few minutes but she was complaining of her stomach and head hurting. Langport rushed her home to call the physician.”
Her mother’s face turned down. “You know I am not one to speak ill of the dead.”
“Of course not,” Tessa lied but managed not to roll her eyes.
“That woman probably brought back some heathen disease and now poor Langport will get it and then the duke next.” Her eyes widened. “Oh my, we might catch it too. We dined with her last evening!”
“Mamma, she has been here for a fortnight and after a very long voyage. I doubt she brought something with her from India.” Tessa sighed. “It is far more likely she caught something here that she had never had before.”
Like a poison.
Her mother nodded slowly but with a frown on her face. “I suppose you are right.”
She did not want to tell her mother everything but felt she had to before it was on every gossipmongers’ tongue. “There is more, Mamma.”
“What do you mean? Have you heard something else regarding her death?”
“The investigator believes she might have been poisoned,” Tessa said softly.
“Oh no,” her mother mumbled before looking over at her. “And how do you know what the investigator thinks?”
“He paid me a visit at five this morning.” She relayed most of the story, leaving out the part about Jack being there too.
Her mother clasped her hand over her mouth in horror. “I shall never get Louisa and Emma married off now,” she moaned as she moved her hand to her forehead.
And that would be her mother’s first thought. Tessa pressed her lips. How she wished her mother cared for her as she did her damned reputation. “There is nothing to this as you well know. Besides Sabita did not eat or drink while in my home. Langport can attest to that so there is nothing to worry about.”
“Except, as you should know all too well, gossips don’t care about the truth.”
Tessa nodded.
“Enough of all this dreadful talk. What are you doing with this Mr. Raynerson?”
For a few moments, Tessa had thought she might be able to evade that particular discussion. “Mamma, I do not involve myself in your affairs with his lordship, so I don’t believe you should delve into my affair with Mr. Raynerson.”
“Theresa Marie, I am your mother!”
“And while I am a widow, you are not,” she whispered harshly in case her sisters were listening. “Therefore, if either of us has a right to take a lover, it would be me.”
Her mother’s lips pursed in distaste but she remained silent for a few moments. “I see,” she finally replied. “There is another issue I need to speak to you about of far greater importance.”
More important than marrying her sisters off? “What is it?”
“I had a letter from Mr. Chatsworth’s office in Cornwall. He said your father’s debt will be paid off with two more payments.”
“Already?” Two more payments. Tessa head spun with the idea of what all that meant. If he came to London, everyone would learn of their deception. Louisa and Emma would never have a chance for marriage. “What are you going to do?”
“Me?” she asked with a tinge of shock in her voice. “You are the one making the payments.”
“But I am not the one pretending to be a widow. And there are Louisa and Emma to think of and how this will impact their lives.”
As much as she hated all the lies, Louisa and Emma might be devastated to discover their father still alive, but Tessa believed they had a right to know. Many times, she had this discussion with her mother, but now was the time to press the issue. “It is time to tell them.”
“How can I after all this time?” her mother cried. “I only wanted to protect them.”
“They are both adults now. I think they will understand why you wanted to protect them, but he is their father. They have a right to see him if they so choose.” Tessa rose and paced the room. “And he might wish to see them. Emma was only twelve when the lies started, he wouldn’t even recognize her now.”
“He lost the right to see them when he embezzled that money.”
Tessa stopped her stride and stared at her mother. “He did that for you! He loved you and wanted to please you.”
“No, he did it for you.” Her mother crossed her arms over her chest.
“I never cared about having a Season, Mamma. I told you that many times before you started planning it.” She couldn’t believe her mother was bringing up this topic again after all these years. Her mother had forced the issue of a Season with her and her father. Still, Papa had been a fool to let Mamma make plans when they hadn’t the money.
“You needed a husband from good Society. Not something you would find in Cornwall. I wanted the best for you.”
“I understand, but I doubt this is how you expected my life to turn out. It certainly isn’t what I wanted. I’m twenty-five and have been widowed three times and now have no prospects for finding a man who will love me, marry me and give me the children I so desire.” She had never said that aloud to anyone, save Jack.
Her mother wiped away a tear. “Don’t you think I know that, Tessa? That is why I can’t allow him back here. I will write to him and tell him we will not make the last two payments unless he agrees to stay away from London and us.”
Tessa was done trying to reason with her mother. As much as she’d tried over the years, her mother had never listened to her. “Do as you like, Mamma, but Louisa and Emma have a right to know. I will take my leave now.”
“Do not mention this to your sisters,” she warned.
“Heaven forbid they discover the truth,” Tessa muttered as she closed the door. She walked down the steps as Louisa and Emma rushed inside. “Where have you two been?”
“Calling on Lady Colchester,” Louisa said as she removed her bonnet and handed it to the footman. “Is it true, then?”
“Is what true?”
Emma grabbed Tessa’s hand and dragged her into the receiving salon. Louisa followed and closed the door behind them. Once Emma released her, Tessa sat on the settee while her sisters took chairs across from her.
“Did an investigator actually call on you this morning to find out if you had poisoned Lady Langport?” Emma asked excitedly.
Oh Lord, it was out in the gossip rounds already. How was it possible that someone could know that news already? Jack wouldn’t have said a word. It had to be that despicable constable, Downing. “Yes, a constable stopped by and asked me what I knew about last night.”
“I don’t understand, Tessa,” Louisa commented. “She was fine when we left the Duke’s home so why would an investigator come to see you?”
Tessa lowered her voice to a mere whisper. “They believe someone poisoned her. Langport told the man that they had stopped by my home before they returned to their home last night.”
“Why would they have paid a call at that hour?” Emma questioned.
“Sabita wanted to apologize for what she’d said about Mr. Raynerson. Then she said she wasn’t feeling well and they left.” Every time Tessa thought about last night, her stomach roiled. Sabita had already been poisoned when she saw her.
Emma’s blue eyes widened. “Is it true about you and Mr. Raynerson?”
“Emma,” Louisa scolded. “You should never ask such questions.”
“But she is our sister so we have a right to know,” Emma said with a pout. “As long as you are not going to tell me about Mr. Raynerson, I will go get a bite of luncheon so I am not ravenous at the ball tonight.”
As soon Emma closed the door behind her, Louisa jumped out of her seat and sat down next to Tessa. “You and Mr. Raynerson? How is that?”
“You just admonished Emma for asking the same thing!”
“She’s still a child,” Louisa retorted with a laugh. “Now tell me.”
For the first time all day, Tessa laughed. “Yes, but not a word to Emma or anyone else. And he’s wonderful but I fear it is now over.”
“Why?”
“I cannot have my name bantered about with his. You and Emma need every opportunity to find a match.”
Louisa rolled her eyes. “I am so tired of everyone trying to find me a husband. I believe I am bound for spinsterhood.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I honestly don’t know any longer, Tessa. There is no one that makes me think a compatible marriage is possible.” Louisa paused and stared at her hands. “Perhaps I made a mistake by rejecting Blakely. At least he would have been a kind husband and given me a family to love.”
“Compatible? You should marry for love,” Tessa cried. “I married for compatibility and title and money, and it was the worst decision of my life.” And now her heart was breaking because she might never see Jack again. Maybe compatibility made more sense.
“There is no one I see myself married to, Tessa. Not a single man in Society.”
“There will be someone perfect for you. I just know it.” Was Jack her perfect match? She doubted that but she desperately wanted to see him just one more time. Even if she knew she shouldn’t.