Chapter 35
Lavender forced her eyes to remain on Lord Chilcott and not allow them to roam to the corner where Tom stood, listening. To have this conversation with Tom in the room was the worst sort of torture, and yet, there was no avoiding it if she wanted the opportunity to see the Duke of Fenleigh.
She watched Lord Chilcott’s eyes roam her face as he smiled. “I believe my intentions have been quite clear from the beginning.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “But your attitude about those intentions seems to have changed over the course of time.”
Lord Chilcott looked rightfully chagrined. “You would be correct.” His gaze shifted to the other ladies that were there. “Would you like to continue our conversation during a walk around the garden?”
Lavender felt her stomach tighten. Even after she’d told him about not wanting to be around bees that day at Gunter’s Tea Shop, he would ask this of her?
It was a lowering thought. But she hadn’t come to him because of this thoughtfulness.
She came here because this was one of her last available options.
“Do you recall that gardens make me quite nervous during the day? There are so many bees about.”
“Come now, how often does one get stung by a bee?” He smiled at her.
“Far more often than I’d like,” she muttered.
Miriam cut into the conversation. “Perhaps it would be better if you remained indoors and the dowager and I waited by the door?”
Lord Chilcott nodded. “Thank you. I do appreciate the privacy.”
Miriam laughed. “Oh, the door will remain open. And I will be listening. I am her chaperone after all. Unlike Miss Dalrymple, I understand the importance of such things.”
“Of course.”
The dowager and Miriam stood and walked toward the door. The dowager motioned for Tom to follow them out. Lavender relaxed a little. At least Tom wouldn’t have to be in the room while she begged for a proposal.
“You asked about my intentions,” Lord Chilcott began. “I intend to court you, to see if we make a good match.”
Lavender nodded and did her best to forget that Tom could likely hear their conversation. “Have you made up your mind on the matter?”
Lord Chilcott clasped Lavender’s hand. “Is there a rush?”
She nodded. “I’m afraid there is, my lord. It is my father’s dying wish to see me happily married. I do not know how much longer he has to live.”
“I see,” he ran his thumb across her knuckles, but no tingle ran up her arm, no feeling of contentment settled over her.
“What is it that makes you hesitate?”
Lord Chilcott shifted to sit on the sofa beside her. “My feelings for you are growing every day, but I cannot make you an offer of marriage right now.”
“Would you be able to provide me with any reason not to sever our acquaintance now? I’ve discovered you with an unmarried woman: you will forgive me if I have my doubts about your growing affections.”
Lord Chilcott’s eyes flicked between hers, clearly at war with what he wanted to say. “Miss Dalrymple has proven herself to be helpful to prove that Fenleigh is guilty.”
“In what ways? Could I not also be of assistance?”
“Let me think on it. There may be a way you could help me. Would you meet me in Hyde Park tomorrow at eleven?”
Lavender’s throat closed off for a moment. If she was correct, this would be the time Lord Chilcott was going to publicly humiliate her. Little did he know that his efforts would be in vain. “I could arrange that.”
“I need to see Fenleigh behind bars,” he whispered. “Until that time, I am single-minded.”
“You would choose him over me?”
His chest deflated. “It sounds awful, I know. But I cannot rest until I see this through. Could you be so kind as to give me three more days before you give up on me?”
No, she absolutely would not. Lord Chilcott was perhaps the most selfish person she’d ever met. She would marry Mr. Lanscombe before she considered Lord Chilcott in earnest. “I will take things one day at a time, my lord.”
He nodded. “I will do my best to make things clear between us by tomorrow. You have my word.”
Unfortunately, she trusted him on that score.
Tom helped Lavender back into the carriage and squeezed her hand once more, but she couldn’t look at him.
Not after what she knew he’d just witnessed.
He knew her heart was his alone, so maybe she was wrong in thinking he actually loved her.
How could he stand by and watch her practically beg another to marry her?
When the carriage door clicked shut behind her, Lavender could not keep the tears at bay.
She’d failed. She was no closer to knowing anything about the Duke of Fenleigh than she had before the ill-fated trip.
And with each passing day, she was certain her parents were growing more agitated by her lack of ability to secure a safe future.
“I’m going to be sick,” Miriam said from across the carriage.
The dowager shook her head. “I blame your breakfast.”
Miriam placed her hand atop her stomach. “Yes, I do as well. But also, Lord Chilcott is the most despicable man. How could he choose revenge over you, Lavender?”
Lavender looked out the window, allowing her tears to trace down her cheeks without wiping them.
“I don’t actually want him to choose me.
But I had hoped that if he thought I was on his team, he would open up his plans to me.
And aside from that, I admit it is painful that he is still determined to ruin me.
Aside from that, I am accustomed to being overlooked. ”
The dowager pulled Lavender to rest her head on her shoulder. “Don’t you give up, yet. Tom was busy while you were in conversation with the baron, and he didn’t leave Lord Chilcott’s home empty-handed.”
Miriam sucked in a breath. “What did he find?”
“Some letters in the library.”
Lavender sat up. “Did he take them?”
“Only one of the many copies of the forgery they’d been working on. Your dear neighbor does not like you, Lavender.”
Miriam scoffed. “That would be putting it lightly. But why didn’t Tom take all the letters?”
“He didn’t want them to suspect we know what they are up to. She held up the paper to show Miriam and Lavender. “We will keep this copy of the letter as evidence should the Duke of Fenleigh need it.”
“Why was I not aware of what Tom was doing?” Miriam asked her mother-in-law.
“You were far too engrossed at listening to the conversation at the door.” The dowager smiled across the carriage at Miriam.
That letter could change everything. From what Lavender understood, the Privy Council was about to drop the case altogether, so their investment in the scheme was already losing steam.
If they had this letter to solidify that Lord Chilcott’s efforts were a farce, the Duke of Fenleigh was bound to show up again soon.
But if Lord Chilcott intended to publicly ruin her and her family tomorrow, she needed to be far from London.
It was time to run . . . and she knew precisely where to go.
Tom helped the ladies down from the carriage, but Lavender refused to acknowledge him: it might weaken her resolve. Her trunks were packed, so all she needed now was Jack’s help.
A knock on the door to Lavender’s bedchamber made her jump. She quickly pushed her traveling trunk behind the bed so it wouldn’t be visible from the doorway. “Come in,” she called.
Jack’s head of red hair popped into view. “What can I do for you, my lady?”
“Oh, Jack, it’s you!” Lavender looked over his shoulder into the corridor which was empty. “I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Anything, you know that.”
Lavender smiled at the young man. “Jack, can you keep a secret?”
He nodded.
“I need you to prepare a carriage for me as quickly as possible, and I need to go without anyone else knowing I’ve left. Do you understand?” Lavender whispered.
Jack’s brows pulled together. “You’re leaving?”
“It is the only way to protect myself and my family.”
“But what about Tom?”
Lavender felt like a dagger was plunged into her heart. She supposed that everyone in the household knew about her romance with Tom. “Tom doesn’t want me, Jack. My remaining here is a burden to everyone.”
“That’s not true. We all love you here.” He gestured to himself.
A stray tear slipped down Lavender’s cheek. “And I love all of you. But things between Tom and I are impossible.”
“Where are you going?”
Lavender hesitated for a moment, but she trusted Jack. “If you’ll drive me, I want to go to the Duke of Fenleigh’s estate.”
The boy pinched his lips between his teeth, even while a hint of a smile played in his mischievous eyes. “That’s a long trip, my lady.”
Lavender nodded. “I could use a long trip, Jack. I’ll be bringing my lady’s maid, so I won’t be alone, but I do wonder if you would be the driver? I will leave a note for Miriam telling her that you will return.”
“If that is what you wish, I’ll do it. You were my greatest comfort when I burned my hands.” He bowed his head. “I won’t let you down.”
She put a hand on his cheek. “Thank you, Jack. I have one more request.”
He smiled at her. “You can’t make it easy on me, can you?”
“You must promise not to tell anyone where I am going . . . including Tom.”
He opened his mouth as if to argue with her, but she cocked her head and raised her eyebrow at him.
He nodded. “I won’t say a word. Except maybe for a purple frog.”
Lavender laughed. “I do hope no one produces a purple frog in the next half hour, or my plans will all be foiled.”