Chapter 10
A Rock and a Hard Place
The entire family was seated in the dining room for supper. Eleanor stood. She held a wineglass, which she tapped with a spoon. All eyes turned her way. “I have something to say,” she announced.
Lizzie had been lost in her misery, incapable of thinking now about anything or anyone other than Tyrell and his shocking proposition.
She had thought that she knew him well, but she had never realized how autocratic he could be.
And why did he wish for her to be his mistress?
Why not choose someone beautiful, seductive and experienced?
She glanced glumly at her aunt. She had not a clue as to what Eleanor wished to discuss, but maybe she would be distracted from the tangled web of lies which she herself had conceived.
“I must return to Merrion Square. I have matters to attend to at my home,” Eleanor said.
In that instant, Lizzie was aware of how attached she had become to her aunt and how much she had relied on her in the past year and a half. Selfishly, she did not want Eleanor to go. But Eleanor had sacrificed her own life for her and Ned and it was time for her to take care of herself again.
And then Eleanor looked directly at her. “I am sorry, Elizabeth, but this situation has gotten entirely out of hand,” she said gravely.
Lizzie tensed in alarm. What did Eleanor mean?
“Perhaps, one day, you will thank me for my audacity. Perhaps not. But I must do what I think is best for Ned, his father and even, I dare to hope, for you,” Eleanor said as if to Lizzie alone.
Lizzie shot to her feet, trembling. “Eleanor, no, please don’t!”
“I am sorry, child. But I must follow my conscience now.” She faced Mama and Papa. “Tyrell de Warenne is Ned’s father,” she said.
Mama gasped; Papa turned white.
“How could you betray me like this?” Lizzie demanded, beyond shock. “You made a promise to me!”
Eleanor seemed sad, terribly so. “I promised not to tell Tyrell that he is the father, and that I have not done. You knew, my dear, that eventually the truth would come out.”
“Oh, how you mock your vow now! And I knew no such thing! I will never forgive you for such treachery!” Lizzie cried, a vast anger beginning to rise. “I will never forgive you for this!” In that moment, she knew that her life would never again be the same. She was suddenly afraid.
Georgie touched her hand. “Lizzie, I also think that this is best.”
How could this be for the best? The secret was out, and sooner or later, Tyrell was going to discover that he was Ned’s father. When that day came, Lizzie was going to face her worst nightmare come true—Ned would be taken away from her. “How can you turn on me now, too!” Lizzie shrugged free.
Mama heaved herself to her feet. “This cannot be true. Is this a jest? A terrible and cruel jest?” she gasped.
“It is no jest, Lydia,” Eleanor said, sitting back down. Lizzie refused to look at her.
Mama gaped at Lizzie.
“You can’t, Mama. You cannot tell Tyrell!
Don’t you understand? Once he discovers that Ned is his son, he will take him away!
” Lizzie’s horror grew. She must convince Mama and Papa to remain silent on this subject.
Lizzie could not even begin to imagine what would happen if she was ever brought forth with Ned.
After all, Tyrell knew that they had never made love.
If she was forced to confront him, she was going to have to reveal the fact that she was not Ned’s mother.
Anna’s secret would be uncovered and she would be ruined.
But if she had the courage to insist that she was Ned’s mother, he would merely deny he was the father. Tyrell would take one look at her and laugh in scorn and disbelief.
Mama had faced Papa, excitement beginning to express itself on her face. “Papa! Can you believe this? Tyrell de Warenne is the father of Lizzie’s child!”
Papa was also standing. He remained stunned.
“Papa! Recover your wits!” Mama exclaimed in a rush. “The earl and countess are in residence—I heard Lord Harrington arrived today with his daughter and that the betrothal is to be announced at the week’s end at a ball. We must seek an interview immediately! Perhaps even tonight!”
Lizzie sank into her chair. Did she dare try to hold on to her claim of being Ned’s mother?
Did she dare face Tyrell with such a claim?
Didn’t Anna deserve her life, her happiness?
Ned could be told the truth when he came of age, couldn’t he?
She only vaguely felt Georgie clasping her shoulder, offering some small comfort.
Lizzie could not imagine Ned being taken away from her now.
Papa said, “No, Mama, we will go to Adare tomorrow at noon. Have no fear. The earl will speak with me and his son shall do the right thing by our daughter.”
This was getting worse and worse by the moment! Lizzie leapt up. “You do not mean…?”
“Marriage,” Papa said fiercely. “I mean marriage, Lizzie. He got you with child and he will marry you now!”
Lizzie somehow shook her head, aghast at the mere concept of being paraded to Adare as the mother of Tyrell’s child.
She desperately wanted to stop this carriage wreck before it ever began.
“He will never condescend to marry me. You said yourself he is about to be engaged to an English heiress. There is no point in confronting Tyrell! He will never admit that Ned is his child,” Lizzie said.
Then she added firmly, “He will deny it.”
“You are descended from Celtic kings,” Papa cried vehemently. He shook his fist. “Your ancestor, Gerald Fitzgerald, was the earl of Desmond—he ruled the entire southern half of Ireland in his day!”
“And lost his head because of it,” Georgie muttered, but only Lizzie heard her.
“Your blood is far bluer than that of any de Warenne,” Papa shouted, his cheeks red. “They are not even Irishmen. You bring royalty to the de Warenne line!”
Lizzie had never seen her father so passionately moved and she could only stare at him.
He clearly believed his words. Had he lost his mind?
“He will never marry me,” Lizzie said in desperation.
“Papa, you must listen to me! Tyrell will not admit that Ned is his son! There is no point in pressing him now. There is no point in telling him! We can raise Ned ourselves. Please, do not do this!”
“He will hardly deny his own son! Oh, no, he will marry you, Lizzie, or my name is not Fitzgerald,” Papa said fiercely.
Georgie quietly entered the bedroom. Lizzie knew it was her without looking up. She lay on her side in her bed, Ned asleep in her arms, tears staining her cheeks. She was mortified for the sake of her parents, she was afraid Ned’s future claims were in jeopardy…and she was also afraid of Tyrell.
He seemed to want her now, but his feelings would surely change when she was brought before him, claiming to be the mother of his child. She closed her eyes in more misery. When he denied her claim, her parents would think Tyrell the worst of unconscionable men, when she was the unconscionable one.
Georgie came to sit down on the bed’s foot. “Can we talk?” Georgie asked, clasping her ankle.
Lizzie stifled a sob. She no longer had a confidante in her aunt, when she desperately needed one. “Yes.”
“Eleanor adores you, Lizzie,” Georgie said, reaching up to stroke her hair. “She did what she thought was right.”
Lizzie sat up carefully, so as not to awaken her son. She faced Georgie, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. “She promised secrecy. Do not speak of her now or ever again! Besides, Tyrell is going to deny being Ned’s father.”
Georgie hesitated. “Why are you so certain of that? He is hardly stupid. He need only look at Ned to see the remarkable resemblance.”
Lizzie shivered. Georgie had to be wrong! “He will never believe that I have had his son.”
“I don’t see why not. Oh, Lizzie. Maybe he will marry you. He is so taken with you!” Georgie exclaimed.
Lizzie gazed at her sister. She had to confess all—she had no one else to turn to. “He doesn’t want to marry me, Georgie. I can hardly believe you would suggest such a thing when you are so sensible. In fact, he asked me to be his mistress.”
Georgie gasped.
“So you see, he intends to marry properly.” Oddly, she was hurt. “As he should,” she added firmly. Marriage had never been a part of even her wildest dreams.
“What a cad!” Georgie exclaimed. She stood, flushed with anger now. “He gets you with child, abandons you for almost two years, then expects you to leap back into his bed, while he marries the beautiful Lady Blanche!”
Lizzie was surprised by Georgie’s anger—until she realized its true source. Georgie had problems, too. And in that moment, she realized how selfish she was being. She slid to her bare feet and went to her sister and embraced her. “I am sorry. What happened with Mr. Harold?”
Georgie’s chin lifted but tears filled her eyes.
“He loves me in spite of a most unfortunate family connection,” she said bitterly.
“And he would never abandon me because of my relations. I think I shall die on our wedding night,” she said, and then she flushed scarlet.
“Oh, how your friend Mr. McBane did enjoy seeing him grope me!”
Lizzie was mildly surprised. “I doubt that Rory would enjoy any woman’s discomfiture,” she said.
“Oh, you are so wrong! He stared most rudely at me when Mr. Harold was caressing my arm. Why do you tolerate an acquaintance with that dandy?”
Lizzie started. “Rory has been nothing but kind to me! He is also amusing and clever. He draws the most witty cartoons for the Dublin Times, as well. Why would you call him a dandy? Did you not notice the elbows of his jacket? They were threadbare.”
“So he is a poor imitation of one.” Georgie shrugged. “If his cartoons have been in the Dublin Times, then I have surely seen them.”
“You have seen many of them, I am certain,” Lizzie exclaimed, wanting Georgie to like Rory as she did.
Georgie made a scoffing sound. “He hardly seems that clever.”