Chapter Twenty-Six

Finally, a Bit of Truth

By the time the viscount arrived at Lady Sheffield’s town house, Lady Ravensdale had been joined by her youngest son, her daughter, and her husband. Lord Ravensdale and Lady Natalie sat on the sofa with the countess. Mr. Joseph Spencer, on a loveseat beside his betrothed. He held her hand affectionately in his.

In a large cushioned chair, Lady Eleanor presided over them all.

Jarvis announced the new arrival and backed slowly into the foyer, closing the double doors as he did so.

In what appeared to be a gallant effort at cheerfulness, Lord Danbury stepped inside and greeted them all with his usual charm.

And then, never a man to beat around the bushes, he proudly announced, “I have come to offer for Lady Beauchamp.” He glanced around the room, a perplexed frown marring his forehead. “Is the lady at home?”

Lady Eleanor pinched her lips before answering. “My niece, overset by the article, has gone out for a walk. We are awaiting her return.” She glanced at a small timepiece and then added, “She has been gone a worrisome amount of time already.”

Danbury located another chair. Pulling it closer to the group, he spoke matter-of-factly. “Then I shall wait with you.” Before sitting, he made his bow to the ladies present and raised both eyebrows. “That is, as long as no one objects?”

As Lady Eleanor assented with a nod, Lady Natalie chose that moment to speak up. “I have been telling Papa this morning that Lady Beauchamp did not wish to marry the baron, her first husband. She told me she did so only to please her father. It’s all a dreadful mistake, Papa.” Her eyes implored the earl to see reason where her brother was concerned. And something else flickered in her gaze as well.

Broderick Spencer, the Earl of Ravensdale, cleared his throat and then responded with his usual authority. “Be that as it may, if Danbury offers for her, she will be spared censure.”

“No, Papa.” Lady Natalie spoke firmly to her father. The flicker in her eyes began to burn brightly. “Lady Beauchamp does not wish to marry Lord Danbury. And, truth be told, Lord Danbury does not wish to marry Lilly.”

But she did not stop there.

“Just as His Grace does not wish to marry me—and I have no wish to marry him! It is not Danbury, but Cortland who is in love with Lady Beauchamp.”

“Be quiet, girl! This is hardly the time to be spewing such nonsense!” He bolted out of his seat.

Lady Natalie and her mother rose to calm him. Reaching for her husband, the countess pulled him back to the settee until he was again seated beside her. Lady Natalie, however, paced the room.

“And…” Joseph Ravensdale spoke up as though his father had not made any comment at all. “The only two people in this room who do wish to marry are myself and Glenda. And you, you, are impeding our match. I won’t have it, Father, I won’t! And If Natalie does not wish to marry Cortland, I will stand by her as well!”

Ravensdale was a proud and stubborn man, both as a barrister and then later in life, as a high-ranking member of the aristocracy.

He was also, however, a father. Who, as unlikely as it might be…loved his children. He looked at his two youngest with hurt in his eyes.

His wife lovingly placed her hand upon his. “We must listen to them, Broderick. It is their lives, their marriages.”

He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and looked over at his daughter. “Why, allow me to ask, Daughter, have you waited until now to inform me you do not wish to marry Cortland? And what makes you believe he does not wish to marry you? Has he said something? Done anything? I will kill him!”

Lady Eleanor sat up straight upon hearing his words. “I had thought the couple’s feelings were in the past, but it is possible…Perhaps they never stopped loving one another. They were nearly betrothed years ago…” She then went on to tell him of the season of 1815 and the circumstances which had ended the young romance.

“I knew it!” Lady Natalie said out loud. Danbury glanced sideways at her, cocking one eyebrow and putting his finger to his lips as though to shush her.

The room fell silent for a moment as they all absorbed this new information.

Finally, shaking his head from side to side, the earl made a decision. “That is neither here nor there. We have a betrothal. Contracts are signed. We have one scandal on our hands, and we don’t need another. The viscount can marry Lady Beauchamp, and everybody will just damn well have to learn to get on together. Where is that gel anyway? Shouldn’t she be back by now?”

Lady Eleanor asked the maid to check in Lilly’s room and for Jarvis to check the garden. When both returned and reported her still absent, an aura of concern descended upon the room.

The issues which had come into the open would be set aside so the gentlemen could go in search of Lady Beauchamp. Most likely, she was simply wandering in the park. But be that as it may, it would be best to locate her and assure themselves of her safety. Lady Eleanor appeared very tense as they discussed where they would search.

Danbury and the earl told her not to worry and then both disappeared onto the streets of Mayfair themselves.