Chapter Fourteen
Miranda had raced upstairs and was now appalled by her actions.
There she was in her study with Solway, about to give him unimpeded access to her body because she ached so badly for his touch, while Gwenys might have been stolen straight out of her home.
And now Gwenys’s stepmother was going to resurrect the nightmare Miranda had spent fifteen years attempting to overcome, destroying her reputation, subjecting her to ridicule, and making her a laughingstock among the ton.
She could not believe this was happening again, just when she wanted to give Gwenys the enjoyment of a London Season.
What was the use? And who cared about the costs of Gwenys’s new wardrobe, even though the gowns had cost a king’s ransom? Her safety was more important than anything else.
Miranda took a moment to collect her thoughts, then splashed water on her face to refresh herself and wash away her tears.
“Where is Solway?” she asked upon returning to the parlor.
“He’s gone,” Gwenys replied, her own tears now dry. “Why did you chase him away? He loves you and wanted to protect us both. Now, neither of us is helped.”
Gideon shook his head. “He’s gone to call upon Homer Barrow to set up a watch over Gwenys.
Bonham and I,” he said with a nod toward Suzanna’s husband, “will send over some of our own men to stand guard if Barrow does not have enough of his own guards to assign here. Ours are not professionals, but they’re diligent and will put up a good fight if those miserable Lawsons try this again. ”
Berry nodded. “We’ll also have our footmen stay on alert these next few weeks. We’re a small enclave, and strangers will be noticed immediately if they dare to enter our square.”
Miranda appreciated all that her friends were doing for Gwenys, and thanked them. She wished to express the same gratitude to Bram, and was disappointed he had already left her home to seek out those Bow Street men. “Do you know if Solway is coming back tonight?”
“No idea,” Gideon said.
Miranda realized he would have to return if he’d left his pouch of invitations here—the very invitations they were supposed to be comparing before they got distracted by their improper urges and accomplished nothing at all.
She hurried into the study to look, and then let out a breath of relief upon noting the pouch was still here. Besides, he had been invited for supper and must still be hungry.
She returned to the parlor, now heartened that he would have to return.
Her friends remained with her and Gwenys for another hour before returning to their own homes. Before leaving, Gideon and Bonham made certain her footmen were put on watch, and then each sent over a footman from their own households for added protection.
She and Gwenys finally dined as the hour approached ten o’clock. Neither of them ate much because they were too overset to do little other than pick at their food.
“He isn’t coming back,” Miranda whispered, her heart aching because she had been wrong about everything.
Gwenys heard her talking to herself because the dining room was painfully silent. Neither of them felt like talking, which was quite something, because they always had something to chatter about—especially Gwenys, who could run on like a little songbird at times.
Gwenys set down her fork with a clatter against her plate.
“Aunt Miranda, he was willing to marry you and you rejected him in front of everyone. Why did you refuse his offer? It was the perfect solution, protecting me, and it would have also stopped the crude gossip my stepmother intends to spread about you. It is time you got over this fear you have of making another mistake in marriage.”
Miranda stubbornly shook her head. “You don’t understand. I—”
“Oh, I clearly understand. It is you who refuses to take off her blinders. Can you not see that Solway is nothing like your awful husband? All you are doing by hiding in your shell and remaining a spinster is denying yourself happiness with a good man who adores you.”
Miranda stared down at her plate because she could not find the words to respond. They were jammed in her throat quite painfully.
And what could she say? Gwenys was right about all of it.
Gwenys sighed. “I’m sorry. I should not have said that. It is your life and your heart. I’ll support you in whatever you choose to do.”
“Thank you, Gwenys. Will you be all right in your bedchamber tonight? Do you want to come into my bed instead? It might be wise, at least until the Bow Street guards are put in place.”
She nodded. “Yes, I’d much rather stay with you than be on my own. I liked that we shared quarters while traveling to and from Scotland.”
“So did I,” Miranda admitted. “As for our upcoming schedule of balls, teas, and musicales, we can cut back on a few this week and stay closer to home for now.”
“What about Berry and Gideon’s soiree tomorrow?”
“No need to send our regrets for that. Their party ought to be safe enough for us. In truth, it is important that we support our friends and attend. I’ll also be curious to see how their guests respond to us. Then we’ll know just what we are facing for the upcoming events.”
Gwenys took her hand. “Who cares if these pompous boors give us the cut direct? We have each other, and our loyal friends and neighbors who will never abandon us. You know Gideon is not going to put up with any ton games played in his home, especially if they are waged against us.”
“I know.” Miranda cast Gwenys a smile. “I’m glad that’s settled. What are you going to wear to the soiree?”
“I thought the apricot silk. It shimmers nicely by candlelight. And you?”
Miranda had no idea. “Perhaps the pale-blue silk.”
Gwenys nodded enthusiastically. “It’s perfect. Solway will melt when he sees you in it.”
“Assuming he is invited.”
“Oh, he will be. Berry assured me she would send over an invitation with a personal note imploring him to attend.”
Miranda hoped so. Or would he rip it up because she had rejected him in front of everyone?
They retired to Miranda’s bedchamber shortly afterward, and Miranda was comforted by Gwenys’s familiar tossing and turning. The girl was slight and slender, and yet managed to take up three-quarters of the large bed.
Despite it all, Miranda slept deeply and woke up early, looking forward to seeing Bram and the Bow Street Runners he’d retained on her behalf.
However, she hid her disappointment when morning came and only a Bow Street man by the name of Homer Barrow arrived at her front door.
She knew him because he had helped Gideon save Berry from a desperate fortune hunter several months ago.
For this reason, she welcomed him graciously. “And will the Duke of Solway be meeting you here?”
“No, m’lady. He was busy this morning and left the matter of your niece’s protection to me. Rest assured, my men will do an excellent job.”
“You were brilliant in saving Lady Berry from that horrible viscount. I have no doubt you’ll do all in your power to protect my niece, too.”
She summoned Gwenys to join them, and all three settled in her study to establish their course of action.
Of course, she could not look at the small table in the corner without blushing.
Not that she had done anything naughty there, but it wasn’t from lack of hoping Solway would wantonly ravish her on the neatly polished tabletop.
She cleared her throat, turned her back to the table, and addressed Mr. Barrow. “Have you a plan in place for my niece’s protection? I’d also like to know what all this will cost me. Shall I give you a retainer for your services?”
He shook his head. “No, m’lady. His Grace has taken all the charges upon himself. You aren’t to concern yourself.”
“I see.”
This was yet another thing to discuss with Solway. She would not make a fuss about it now, since there was no point in arguing the matter. She could see Gwenys’s tension ease as the two of them went over their schedule of activities with Mr. Barrow and got his advice on which to cancel.
“My men are experienced and know how to remain discreetly in the background while you go about your daily chores and visits. Your niece will be well guarded no matter where you choose to go, but it would make their job easier if you stayed away from crowds as much as possible.”
“We will,” Gwenys assured him. “We have only just returned to London and have yet to respond to most of our invitations. We can keep to the smaller dinner parties and afternoon teas for now. Our first ball is not for a few weeks yet. Hopefully, all will resolve by then.”
She stared pointedly at Miranda, as though to tell her to stop dawdling and take the duke up on his offer of marriage.
Well, she would see him tonight and thank him for all he was doing. This assumed Berry had sent him an invitation to her soiree, that he saw it, and responded with an acceptance.
Since they were discussing invitations, Miranda briefly considered having a look at the ones Solway had received, for they were still in the pouch he had left here last night.
She was burning with curiosity, but ultimately decided against peeking. They were his invitations and he had a right to privacy. They were his to show her, not hers to snoop.
Once their meeting with Mr. Barrow was over, Miranda spent the remainder of the morning reviewing her financial affairs.
After a light luncheon, she and Gwenys settled in the library rather than run around Town as they might have done on a nice spring day.
While Gwenys devoured one of those notorious novels Miranda ought to have forbidden her from reading, Miranda took out her knitting.
She had promised to knit scarves and mittens for the orphans at St. Brigid’s Orphanage, which Berry’s family had sponsored for generations.
She knitted these every year for the newly arrived orphans, and always made a few extras because the older children, especially the boys, were prone to losing a mitten or scarf and needed replacements.