Chapter 20 #3
She couldn’t bear to see David marry a woman who would disrespect his family, but she wasn’t in a position to tell him otherwise.
That would just result in David saying he wished he could marry her instead, and Caroline didn’t want to go along with their conversation and turn him down again.
It had pained her to push him away the last time.
At least she was trying to remember her place. David seemed to forget.
“This is something I’m going to bring up with the duke before we get married,” Lady Mary went on, walking over to the window and staring at the lawn. “You’re clearly a distraction for him, and I don’t want that for my future husband.”
“What if the duke doesn’t want to marry you?”
Caroline could see Lady Mary’s smirk in the reflection of the window.
“Oh, he’s going to marry me. He knows it’s the right thing to do. I am suitable for him, after all.”
“And you’re confident that I won’t tell him what you said about his sisters if he doesn’t know already?”
“Once I’ve worked my charm on him, he will listen to anything I say.”
“From how he acted after you left, I don’t believe that will happen.”
Lady Mary turned to her, her expression cool, and she openly looked Caroline up and down. Caroline shifted a little, trying not to squirm.
“You may have had a previous friendship with him, but you are not a friend anymore. You’re the governess.
A servant.” She said the words like they were dirty.
“I’m going to be the one marrying the Duke of Bayntree, and once I become the duchess, things will change around here.
If you don’t want to be exposed as a harlot trying to seduce someone way above your station, I suggest you leave. ”
Caroline’s mouth dropped open.
“You would spread lies like that?”
“And I doubt you’ll be able to argue against it.
After all, you’re the spinster who was unable to get yourself a husband before you got too old.
Now you’ve been reduced to being a servant and want to get back to what you were.
” Lady Mary tilted her head to one side.
“Given you don’t socialise with anyone in the ton, do you think anyone will listen to you when you protest? ”
Caroline had witnessed her doing this before and seen the aftermath of those lies. Lady Mary was angelic and sweet when she needed to be, but that mask was gone once she didn’t need to wear it.
She was surprised that she didn’t keep the persona of a delicate young lady while ingratiating herself into David’s family; if she wanted a harmonious marriage, whether for convenience or not, she would be keeping herself on the girls’ good side. And Lady Mary hadn’t done that.
She was partly hoping that David would return now, just so she could get away from this woman. She managed to look Lady Mary in the eye and spoke as calmly as she could.
“There is nothing between the Duke of Bayntree and me. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I think I have plenty to worry about. Especially if you stay in the house along with those two brats.” Lady Mary wrinkled her nose and jerked her head towards the door.
“I saw how they were with you, and they clearly like you. They would ask him to marry you if they had any say in the duke’s life. That’s not going to happen.”
“Then why not keep them sweet? If their opinion matters to the duke …”
“I don’t want to have children decide my fate. They shouldn’t be seen or heard, and the duke needs to let them go.”
“Lady Gwendolyn is only ten years old! She’s got no parents!”
“And that’s nothing to do with me, is it?
” Lady Mary sauntered over to her, and Caroline did her best not to back away.
“Even if you stay, you know that he will marry me. Duty, and all that. Of course, Mother and Father will be pushing for me to marry and become a duchess. It’s what I want, and I will not have an old maid getting in my way. ”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a warning. If you’re still here, I’ll ensure you won’t be for much longer.”
Caroline didn’t doubt that. Lady Mary was showing that she would do anything to get what she wanted. While she didn’t think David would be too happy with how his potential bride treated his sisters, he would marry her because he had to.
She felt sick knowing that.
“I think you need to leave now, Lady Mary,” she said tightly, stepping around the woman and heading towards the door. “You’ve said what you need to say.”
“I don’t have to leave because a servant told me to.”
“The Duke of Bayntree isn’t here, and he’s not likely going to be here for several hours.” Caroline cast her a stiff smile. “Of course, Lady Gwendolyn and Lady Henrietta are at home. They could entertain you until then since nobody else is present to do so. Shall I go and fetch them?”
Lady Mary’s eyes widened. Then she strode towards the door.
“Don’t bother. I’ll leave.” She paused by Caroline, her eyes glittering.
“Just remember what I said. If you wish to remain as a servant with a good background, you should do the right thing and leave. You won’t be needed once the girls leave, so it will happen either way. Preferably sooner rather than later.”
Caroline didn’t respond, staring back coolly until Lady Mary faltered, not getting the reaction she wanted.
She turned away and snatched her coat from Hadleigh, holding it out to her maid without looking.
The maid caught the coat before it hit the ground, and she put it on her mistress.
Without another glance at Caroline, Lady Mary and her chaperone left.
Hadleigh closed the door after her and frowned at Caroline.
“Are you alright, My Lady?”
“I’m fine, Hadleigh. It was just … something private.”
But Caroline was feeling far from fine.