perforce charming.”
“But why is he a rake, Miss Langley?”
Miss Langley lowered her voice even more and cupped her gloved hand over her mouth. “Listen to this, Miss Rolland. His poor wife died but eight or nine months ago, in childbirth. He left England immediately, scarce after her funeral, and traveled to Italy. His exploits with the Italian ladies were all the talk of London. Indeed, I have seen him with a new mistress; he flaunts her all about London in the most high-handed way. Haven’t you seen them, Miss Rolland?”
“Only from a distance, Miss Langley.” Elizabeth had died in childbirth? Surely Miss Langley must be mistaken, for had Elizabeth not married Lord Oberlon only seven months before her death? Hetty said, “Who was Lord Oberlon’s wife, Miss Langley? How sad that the poor lady died so quickly after their marriage.”
“Elizabeth Springville was her name. She and I were both in our first season last year. She was loose, Miss Rolland, and a flirt. I suppose that she was pretty enough, but I can’t excuse her easiness with the gentlemen, no lady could. Lord Oberlon was only one of several gentlemen dangling after her. When he suddenly married her by special license, and then removed her immediately from London to one of his estates in the West Country, there was much speculation. I will tell you, Miss Rolland, that I don’t need to speculate. My mama is Lady Melberry’s best friend, and she is, of course, Lord Oberlon’s aunt well, I know for a fact, that Elizabeth was in the family way. She was pregnant with Lord Oberlon’s child.”
Hetty said, “Then it would appear to me, dear Miss Langley, that Lord Oberlon behaved in a most honorable way. Surely a rake wouldn’t have married the lady.”
Miss Maude looked pityingly at Hetty. Hetty wanted to smack her. “You didn’t let me finish, Miss Rolland. It was rumored that after he took his bride to the West Country, he left her and returned to his old ways. Shocking, is it not? I only pray that my own sister won’t fall into the same dire predicament that led poor Elizabeth to her death.”
Much later that night, Hetty said to Millie as she pulled her nightgown over her head, “She is a spiteful, jealous cat, Millie, and I’m not at all certain that I can believe all that she told me.” Hetty fumbled with the buttons on her nightgown, forcing them into their proper holes. “But you know, the fact of the matter is that Lady Langley is Lady Melberry’s best friend and what with Lord Oberlon being her nephew, well, it does make some sense that Miss Maude could find out that Elizabeth had been pregnant. Oh my God. Millie, you do not think, do you, that perhaps the child was Damien’s?”
“Well, it may be the truth, Miss Hetty. You remember that we couldn’t understand why Elizabeth would have no choice, as she put it in her letter to your brother. It would appear that she wished to avoid a scandal by marrying herself off as quickly as possible. You told me yourself that her father, Old Colonel Springville, was a stiff, proper curmudgeon. Probably curl up his toes were his daughter to disgrace him in such a way. Probably shoot her if he could get away with it.”
“Poor Elizabeth. I can see it all now, Millie. She loved Damien, and though I can’t condone her behavior, or my brother’s, for that matter, they must have planned to marry.”
Millie was silent a moment, staring thoughtfully over the top of Hetty’s head. “Do you think it’s possible that Lord Oberlon married Elizabeth without knowing she was pregnant?”
Hetty nodded, her eyes sad. “Yes, she must have kept silent to protect herself. When Lord Oberlon realized she was pregnant with Damien’s child, he practically deserted her, just as Miss Langley said. It’s ironic, is it not, Millie? He sent Damien to his death, thus winning the lady, only to discover that she had used him. How Damien must have suffered, knowing that she carried his child and he
“But why is he a rake, Miss Langley?”
Miss Langley lowered her voice even more and cupped her gloved hand over her mouth. “Listen to this, Miss Rolland. His poor wife died but eight or nine months ago, in childbirth. He left England immediately, scarce after her funeral, and traveled to Italy. His exploits with the Italian ladies were all the talk of London. Indeed, I have seen him with a new mistress; he flaunts her all about London in the most high-handed way. Haven’t you seen them, Miss Rolland?”
“Only from a distance, Miss Langley.” Elizabeth had died in childbirth? Surely Miss Langley must be mistaken, for had Elizabeth not married Lord Oberlon only seven months before her death? Hetty said, “Who was Lord Oberlon’s wife, Miss Langley? How sad that the poor lady died so quickly after their marriage.”
“Elizabeth Springville was her name. She and I were both in our first season last year. She was loose, Miss Rolland, and a flirt. I suppose that she was pretty enough, but I can’t excuse her easiness with the gentlemen, no lady could. Lord Oberlon was only one of several gentlemen dangling after her. When he suddenly married her by special license, and then removed her immediately from London to one of his estates in the West Country, there was much speculation. I will tell you, Miss Rolland, that I don’t need to speculate. My mama is Lady Melberry’s best friend, and she is, of course, Lord Oberlon’s aunt well, I know for a fact, that Elizabeth was in the family way. She was pregnant with Lord Oberlon’s child.”
Hetty said, “Then it would appear to me, dear Miss Langley, that Lord Oberlon behaved in a most honorable way. Surely a rake wouldn’t have married the lady.”
Miss Maude looked pityingly at Hetty. Hetty wanted to smack her. “You didn’t let me finish, Miss Rolland. It was rumored that after he took his bride to the West Country, he left her and returned to his old ways. Shocking, is it not? I only pray that my own sister won’t fall into the same dire predicament that led poor Elizabeth to her death.”
Much later that night, Hetty said to Millie as she pulled her nightgown over her head, “She is a spiteful, jealous cat, Millie, and I’m not at all certain that I can believe all that she told me.” Hetty fumbled with the buttons on her nightgown, forcing them into their proper holes. “But you know, the fact of the matter is that Lady Langley is Lady Melberry’s best friend and what with Lord Oberlon being her nephew, well, it does make some sense that Miss Maude could find out that Elizabeth had been pregnant. Oh my God. Millie, you do not think, do you, that perhaps the child was Damien’s?”
“Well, it may be the truth, Miss Hetty. You remember that we couldn’t understand why Elizabeth would have no choice, as she put it in her letter to your brother. It would appear that she wished to avoid a scandal by marrying herself off as quickly as possible. You told me yourself that her father, Old Colonel Springville, was a stiff, proper curmudgeon. Probably curl up his toes were his daughter to disgrace him in such a way. Probably shoot her if he could get away with it.”
“Poor Elizabeth. I can see it all now, Millie. She loved Damien, and though I can’t condone her behavior, or my brother’s, for that matter, they must have planned to marry.”
Millie was silent a moment, staring thoughtfully over the top of Hetty’s head. “Do you think it’s possible that Lord Oberlon married Elizabeth without knowing she was pregnant?”
Hetty nodded, her eyes sad. “Yes, she must have kept silent to protect herself. When Lord Oberlon realized she was pregnant with Damien’s child, he practically deserted her, just as Miss Langley said. It’s ironic, is it not, Millie? He sent Damien to his death, thus winning the lady, only to discover that she had used him. How Damien must have suffered, knowing that she carried his child and he
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