Scandal's Daughters

Chapter 10

“You cannot be serious.”

William stared at his mother, who stood near the library fireplace, wondering how he had ever thought she might be gracious about his sudden marriage. He loved his mother. He always had. But she was a difficult woman. So, truly, it was his fault for wishing that she behave differently than she always did.

“I am serious, Mother,” he replied calmly. “I’ve married Lady Felicity.”

“How can you be such a fool?” she hissed coldly.

He forced himself to not rise to her anger, so he queried, “To be a gentleman?”

“She is the daughter of a madman.”

It took all the patience he had not to become cold himself. Penworth was a radical who had always been unusual. That was all. “The earl is not mad.”

“No?” His mother folded her hands before her mauve skirts. “Are you certain? Are you prepared to have mad children? What if she goes mad as well?”

He ground his teeth. “Lady Felicity is the picture of reason. A bit more experienced in life and more clever than most ladies of our acquaintance, but there is nothing mad about her. And we will not have mad children.”

As if he had said nothing, she demanded, “Can you be certain?”

“Nothing is certain.”

“I like certainty,” she said flatly.

“Well, one thing is certain,” he declared firmly. “She is my wife and you must accept her as the new marchioness.”

His mother pressed her lips together, rolled her eyes heavenward then burst out, “You know she will ruin your sisters’ hopes of good marriages.”

He laughed. It was impossible not to. “Now, it is you who are foolish.”

“Am I? The scandal of her family is not to be borne. Why could you not marry a girl of good birth and fortune?”

“She is of good birth,” he stated. He wouldn’t let his mother conveniently forget. “Her family is an ancient one. With lords fighting at Agincourt for God’s sake. We only go as far back as Henry Tudor.”

“And, my marriage portion isn’t to be winked at.”

He whirled to the sound of Felicity’s voice in the doorway.

“Do forgive me,” she said with a bright smile. “I was looking for you, the door was not shut, and I heard your voice.”

God, he loved the sight of her. Her light blue gown complemented her dark hair and violet-blue eyes. It also emphasized her beautiful body. He couldn’t help thinking of how perfectly she’d fit in his arms as they’d slept. Another first for him, as he’d never slept the night through with a woman.

“This is your home,” he replied. “You will be welcome in any room.”

The slight noise of derision from his mother sent a blaze of fury through him but he faced the woman who had birthed him with remarkable calm. “Would you like to inquire into the dower townhouse, Mother?”

His mother’s face whitened.

“That won’t be necessary, will it Lady Marksborough?” Felicity said as though the room wasn’t thick with rancor. “You and I shall get along splendidly. I’m certain of it.”

William’s heart nearly dropped into his stomach. From her stressing of that word, it was clear she had overheard a good deal of their conversation. He was immensely grateful he had said nothing to be ashamed of. His mother, on the other hand, had been cruel. He would have liked to have thought it was only privacy that allowed her to be thus, but he wasn’t convinced.

Even so, his mother was not a stupid woman and as she swung her gaze from him to his new wife, her face transformed with understanding and sudden graciousness.

“Of course, we shall get on my dear. Of course,” his mother amended. “We must host a dinner in your honor. This very week. All our friends will, no doubt, wish to look at you.”

“Mother, we shall allow Felicity to give whatever parties she desires. After all, she is the Marchioness of Talbot now.”

There was a long silence and a hardness pulled at his mother’s face.

“I would be honored if your mother was to host a party welcoming me to the family.” Felicity crossed into the room and slipped her hand into his. “I have not had a mother in many years as mine died giving birth to my youngest sister. It will be wonderful to have someone so kind again.”

He nearly choked on a laugh for he didn’t believe Felicity to be so naive as to think his mother would wrap her into her bosom and offer her the love a daughter might require.

After all, Felicity had clearly heard his mother’s cutting comments about her possible madness. Still, Felicity had said it with wide-eyed innocence.

He adored her for it and he adored the feel of her hand in his, not to mention the way she had so boldly taken it.

His mother seemed to realize she had been outplayed and so she acquiesced, shrugging ever so slightly. “My dear, nothing should give me greater pleasure than to offer you the succor I offer my own daughters. And yes, we must show all of London how welcome you are.”

William felt a hint of tension at those last words. His mother could be damned difficult if she got it in her head to be so.

“I’d very much like to meet my new sisters,” Felicity suddenly said.

This time, William felt genuine warmth in her words.

“They are all eating breakfast,” he said.

“And I am hungry! How fortuitous,” replied Felicity. “Will you show me the breakfast room, William?”

The intimacy of his name gave him pause. It was only because, for some inextricable reason, her use of it filled him with a great deal of pleasure.

“Good morning, Mother,” he said as he took Felicity’s hand in his and led her into the hall.

“Well done,” he whispered, once again loving the feeling of her hand in his.

“I’m glad you think so.”

“She can be most prickly and you mustn’t let her push you about.”

“I sense that she wouldn’t take to a wilting violet,” Felicity admitted.

Finally, a laugh boomed out of him. “You are correct.”

The din of his sisters’ voices met him and he felt a moment of pride as he guided Felicity into the breakfast room. He knew none of his sisters would say something as cruel as his mother had done.

The moment they entered, they were met with silence.

All three girls gaped, their teacups aloft.

Elizabeth bounded out of her chair. “It’s you! It’s you!”

“Is it?” teased Felicity lightly. “Are you certain?”

“Oh yes! You’re the one that had to be saved.”

William winced.

But Felicity merely laughed, a delightful bell sound. “It’s true, I did. And like in stories of old, your brother charged to my rescue, though I must warn you, I am no sad maiden waiting patiently in a tower.”

Elizabeth’s nose wrinkled. “I’m very glad to hear it. Maidens in towers sound very boring.”

“They do, indeed,” replied Felicity.

“And yet, that is how maidens are supposed to behave,” Mary pointed out as she stood and smiled.

“Who says so,” Elizabeth demanded.

Felicity sighed with exaggerated drama before she winked. “Society, my dear.”

Elizabeth considered this then said seriously, “Society is very troublesome.”

“It is, but we don’t have to let it ruin all the fun,” said Felicity.

“What do you like to do for fun?” asked Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth, let our new sister choose her breakfast,” cut in Jane.

“I can help,” piped Elizabeth before she eyed Felicity. “Mayn’t I?”

“Of course! You can tell me which are the best things to choose. What is your cook’s breakfast specialty?”

“The sausages,” informed Elizabeth with all seriousness.

“I adore sausages.”

Elizabeth grinned and ran to the sideboard to fetch a plate.

As Felicity followed his littlest sister, his heart did the strangest thing. It warmed with a sudden and deep affection. It had never occurred to him how much it would matter that his wife fit in with his sisters. And it seemed to him that Felicity was going to fit in very well, indeed.

***

Felicity put on her bonnet and clasped her parasol. She started for the foyer but when she spotted Mary sitting in the morning room looking rather bored, she hesitated.

After several days, learning the workings of the exceedingly large townhome, Felicity felt at ease now and was eager to return to her daily constitutional. She had noticed that Mary and the other girls rarely ventured outside. It had struck her as rather odd, but she knew it common for young women to remain indoors awaiting callers, playing the piano, and embroidering cushions.

She found the very idea appalling. For one moment, she hesitated but then stepped into the morning room.

Mary looked up from her needlework and smiled welcomingly. “Are you to join me?”

“Actually, I wished to ask you to accompany me.”

Mary tilted her head to the side. “Are you going shopping?”

“No.” She loathed shopping, actually. “I’m going for a long walk.”

Mary blinked. “A walk?”

“Yes.”

Mary blinked again. “Why?”

Felicity grinned and tapped her parasol to her thigh. “To stretch my limbs.”

“Ah.” Mary nodded. “You need a companion.”

Felicity corrected gently, “I’d like your company but I need no companion if you mean in the official sense.”

“But ladies don’t go out on their own,” Mary protested.

Felicity laughed. “No, I don’t suppose they do, generally. But I am very capable and all my sisters and I are wonderful with a parasol.”

“You mean to keep your skin fair?”

“Oh.” It struck her then that Mary had absolutely no idea what she meant. Likely it had never even been a viable consideration to the other young lady. “No! I mean I can bash anyone with it if they try something they shouldn’t.”

Mary paled.

“Oh dear.” Felicity swallowed. She didn’t wish to overly alarm her sister-in-law. “Have I overstepped the mark?”

“I cannot imagine committing such an act,” admitted Mary.

There were many people she wished to bash over the head but Felicity kept that to herself. “Can you not?”

“No.”

“It is very satisfying.” Felicity softened her voice. “Have you ever been made to feel uncomfortable by unwelcome tension?”

Mary flinched. “What lady has not?”

Felicity sighed. “How true and how unfortunate. You know, I can teach you how to brandish a parasol. . . Or stomp on a booted foot most effectively.”

Mary considered this and put her needlework down. “I don’t know if mother would approve.”

“Tosh. I’m sure William would.”

“It would be nice not to feel at the mercy of a man.”

“Exactly,” crowed Felicity. “And after, we shall go for a walk in the park. One needs strong legs to stomp properly.”

Mary giggled. “I imagine.”

“Stand up then.”

Felicity held her parasol firmly. “Now, I will show you a few things to try. My parasol is reinforced, so not merely decoration. We shall have some made for you.”

Mary’s eyes widened but she nodded.

Clearing her throat, Felicity raised her arm. “You can, of course, bash someone in a good downward stroke.”

She demonstrated, bringing the closed parasol down in a clear arc.

“You can also jab with the pointy end,” Felicity explained. “To do this, you draw your elbow back to your side, place your feet firmly, twist and thrust!”

Felicity grinned as she performed the action upon an imaginary opponent.

“You can also do the same downward jab onto a man’s foot. This is wonderful for outdoors,” Felicity clarified. “Clearly, when one is at a ball or such one doesn’t carry a parasol, hence I will show you stomping.

“Goodness.”

“You see,” Felicity rested her parasol against her side. “My father made no mystery about the fact that not everyone is an honorable sort. In fact, there are a good number of blackguards about.”

Mary blushed. “I see.”

“He wanted his daughters to be able to protect themselves.” Felicity stopped. “I say, am I shocking you too much?”

“Smelling salts are not necessary but it is all bit surprising.”

“Is this terribly bad?” Felicity asked carefully.

“Most definitely not. I think it marvelous.”

“Good. Let’s give it a go.”

Mary put her needlework down then took the offered parasol.

Felicity backed out of range. “Stand near the center of the room, until you feel in control. We shouldn’t wish to bash any of your mother’s vases.”

Mary held the parasol tentatively and swung but then she did it again, and again, each swing growing more determined.

“Now the jab,” urged Felicity.

Mary nodded, her face growing serious with concentration. She wound her arm back then thrust forward.

“A perfect attempt!” cheered Felicity.

“I do beg your pardon, but are you two fencing?” William asked as he strode in.

Felicity tensed. She suddenly realized that, perhaps, she was making a very bad mistake. What if William didn’t want his sister learning such a thing?

“Hello, William. Felicity was just teaching me to defend myself against bounders.”

He smiled kindly. “Do you know many?”

Mary’s mouth straightened. “A few.”

William’s eyes narrowed. “Who? I’ll have a word.”

Mary sighed.

Felicity cleared her throat. “That is very kind, William, but it is also good if Mary can defend herself, no?”

He turned and stared at her. He cocked his head to the side. “Like you?”

She nodded, praying it was something he liked about her.

His face darkened for a long moment. “If I hadn’t been in that room and you hadn’t known how to take care of yourself, Trumbold. . .”

“Yes, but I did and you were,” she reminded.

Turning to his sister, he declared, “I think it wonderful that you’re learning, Mary.”

Mary beamed. “We are going for a walk after we finish.”

William’s eyebrows lifted. “You aren’t one for constitutionals.”

“Felicity said it’s important to be strong.”

William returned his stare to his wife but instead of accusation, she saw approval.

“Felicity has the right of it,” he said. “My afternoon is suddenly free. A meeting has been cancelled. Would you two like company on your walk or do you fancy time alone?”

“Oh, I think we could just manage to bear the extra company,” Felicity teased, thrilled that her husband not only approved but wished to spend time with her.

“Especially if we all stop for an ice,” added Mary.

William nodded. “I can think of no better way to spend my time than with two such intelligent and independent women.”

As he glanced into Felicity’s eyes, she felt his consideration as if he weren’t entirely certain what to make of her. She felt her heart skip then. For she wanted him to approve. And while he seemed to at present, she felt as though she were holding her breath waiting to be told she was too much. But for now, she’d enjoy the afternoon and not worry if her upbringing would eventually bring his censure. After all, things were going far too well for that.

***

Guests milled about the packed ballroom and Felicity forced herself to beam at them despite the fact she felt as if they’d all come to gape at her.

The dinner had evolved into a full-fledged evening of the most important members of the ton. Two hundred guests had been invited including the Prince of Wales and his set.

She couldn’t believe how quickly she’d gone from being at the center of society, to the outskirts, then back to the center again. She did rather wonder if her mother-in-law was as stunned as she was by the large turnout of guests who were all drinking and having a marvelous time.

After several days, it had become clear that her mother-in-law was going to be a small difficulty. However, if the Dowager Marchioness thought she was going to ruin Felicity’s happiness, the older but attractive lady was very much mistaken.

At least, Felicity was fairly certain that her mother-in-law’s general unwillingness to be truly welcoming was her genuine distrust of Felicity’s family and reputation.

Still, it hadn’t stopped Lady Marksborough from being fairly unpleasant, even if it had all been behind a smile.

Felicity was determined, however, to win the woman over. She refused to be a wedge in the family, especially since she had not been her husband’s choice but rather a wife forced upon him.

To her dismay, William had been often gone, but she was proud of him. He hadn’t been going racing or fooling about as so many gentlemen of the ton did. Oh no, he had been at Parliament every day and was often in meetings at his club or bringing other serious looking gentlemen into his study, discussing the future of Europe.

Her husband was an important man who seemed to think that marriage was merely a positive step towards accepting the responsibilities of his title.

Some of his friends had eyed her strangely when they had come to the house, but so far all had been pleasant enough.

Now, she stood overseeing the crowd, a glass of champagne in hand.

“You’re a triumph, dear girl!”

Lady Melbourne’s strong voice punctured her reverie and Felicity turned. “I’m certain you’ve had a great deal to do with that.”

“Not a bit of it, my dear,” denied Lady Melbourne generously. “I merely opened the gates. They’ve all flooded in to know you.”

“They’re all whispering that I’m going to be as mad as my father.” She couldn’t forget that moment when she’d stood outside the library and William’s mother had voiced her cutting concerns.

She’d always known what society was thinking but it was another thing to hear it.

“Your father isn’t mad, he’s just very different.”

“To some, I think that’s just as damning.” She drew in a fortifying breath. “At least, that isn’t hereditary.”

“Isn’t it?” Lady Melbourne queried lightly. “You aren’t like so many of the other young women about. None of your sisters are. I shouldn’t like you so much if you were.”

“Thank you. But I worry. . .”

“Yes?” Lady Melbourne arched a questioning brow.

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

Even now, her sisters were all dancing with different gentleman, all of whom were highly placed. Lady Melbourne could stop assisting them if she wished. Felicity’s marriage had locked her and her sisters back into a reasonably good status.

“If you are worried, you should share the burden, Felicity,” Lady Melbourne urged.

“It is nothing. Truly.”

The fact was she was growing more and more concerned that her husband wouldn’t like her if she was truly herself. It was something she daren’t give voice to. Oh, she hadn’t been pretending at being someone else, but they spent so little time together and, frankly, they had little chance to converse. When they did it was all pleasantries.

She longed to speak intimately with him. To discuss poetry and politics, but perhaps he thought a wife wasn’t meant for such things.

She couldn’t complain if he did. Most men felt that way. At least, he was kind.

And his sisters adored him! My goodness, if she’d ever needed evidence that William was a good man it was there in the way his sisters fairly worshipped him.

In turn, he adored them.

It had heartened her greatly.

Thankfully, his sisters had welcomed her with open arms and, over the last days, Mary and she had begun to converse more about real things than lace and bonnets. Perhaps, Mary had a bit of a bluestocking beneath her seemingly perfect person.

“Might I intrude, Lady Melbourne?” William’s wonderful, deep baritone filled the air. “I should very much like to dance with my wife.”

Lady Melbourne waved graciously.

Felicity placed her drink on a passing tray and allowed herself to be swept away in William’s arms.

It wasn’t her imagination as she realized almost every set of eyes within their vicinity was watching them.

Was it because William was so handsome? So charming? He certainly seemed to be a darling of the ton. In fact, she always felt her heart flutter and her spirits lighten in his presence.

So, it was impossible to blame the ton for feeling the same. Still, she didn’t like the way the ladies eyed him. The married ladies. As if he were a sumptuous meal to be eaten.

He belonged to her!

It was, perhaps, entirely irrational, but she did feel as if he belonged to her. Somehow, since that night in which he had come to her rescue, she’d decided that even if she might not be exactly what he wanted in a wife, he was what she desired in a husband.

And she was determined to prove a perfect wife.

The music swelled and the dance that began was a rather intimate one, with twirling and hand clasping. He took her gloved hands in his and began the dance with easy confidence.

Her ruby gown swirled about her and brushed his legs as they made their way about the ballroom.

“Do you approve of the evening?” she asked.

“Without doubt, it is very pleasant. I commend you. May it be the first of many.”

She smiled. “I am delighted to be your hostess.”

“I’m glad.”

Here it was. A chance to show she wished to be more than an ornament. “Perhaps we should host a dinner for your parliamentary friends.”

He laughed. “I don’t have friends in Parliament. Not really. They’re all crusty old men, except for a few. So, I think you’d find it very boring.”

“I doubt it,” she continued, determined not to be brushed aside. “And I want to help you in any way I can.”

His brow furrowed. “Truly? You wouldn’t mind?”

“I should love it,” she enthused. “I promise I am more than simple decoration.”

“There is nothing simple about you.” His tone indicated he was paying a compliment. “But the dinners can be long and tedious. I don’t even know if you agree with my politics.”

“Does it matter?” she asked.

He blinked, clearly surprised. “One would think so.”

“The ability to debate? To converse? To engage one’s mind? That is what matters,” she said. “We do not have to agree on everything to admire each other or care for each other.”

“How right you are,” he agreed, his face beaming with pleasure. “I feel this is a sentiment your father must have espoused.”

“It was. He held very firm views, but he would listen to others with genuine interest.”

“Your father did make many enemies.”

Ruefully, she replied, “Because of ladies, gambling, and drink, but not because of his politics.”

William laughed. “I do not think I have ever met a woman like you, Felicity.”

Her mouth dried. “That may not be a good thing.”

“Do not worry yourself,” he assured as he turned her about the floor, easily navigating the other couples. “I know you will settle into being my marchioness over time and if you wish to host political dinners for me, I’d be grateful. A supportive wife is an excellent thing for a man to have.”

“I wish to make your life easy.”

“My dear girl, easy is overrated.”

As the music came to a halt, he pulled her across the floor and into a dark hallway. The sounds of their guests and music followed then dimmed.

“We haven’t long,” he whispered, “But I have thought of nothing but this since I first spotted you in that scandalous gown of yours.”

William leaned down and kissed her passionately before she could protest that her gown was no more scandalous than any other lady in the room.

The soft yet demanding press of his lips drove her wild with desire. How did he have such power over her? It seemed unfair for she couldn’t imagine she made him feel so nearly undone.

When he ended the kiss, she could have sworn she was floating but she knew she had to come back to earth.

“William,” she whispered. “Our guests.”

“Damn our guests,” he replied, his voice low.

“I am too close to scandal to abandon them,” she pointed out.

“You know, I almost don’t give a fig. I want you as I’ve never wanted anyone before.”

His words gave her sudden hope that perhaps they might see eye to eye in many things. That perhaps she would be able to be herself one day. She certainly hoped so. But if not, she’d find a way for them to be happy. She would.