“It seems we shan’t have to toss Miss Claremont out after all. Lady Belsham is as mortified by her niece’s behavior as I. She and her charges shall be departing within the hour.”
Chapter Nine
L
iliana floated down the guest hallway on a happy balloon of self-satisfaction. By the time she’d left the field, several persons had come up to praise her for her ingenuity. Even some of the ladies had expressed their congratulations, though Liliana suspected they did so only out of relief that she obviously no longer posed competition for Stratford’s affections.
She turned the knob and slid into the room. “Pen, where did you run off t—”
Liliana nearly stumbled in her shock, saved only by her grasp on the cool bronze door handle.
The room buzzed with activity as maids in their black dresses and streamered caps flitted around, shaking out garments. Only had their ruffled aprons been yellow would they look more like worker bees in the hive.
Leather trunks splayed open on every available surface, covering the celadon counterpanes, the rich mahogany tables, even the expansive window seat that looked out over an Italianate garden fountain.
Penelope, however, was nowhere to be seen. Aunt Eliza’s harried voice filtered through the adjoining sitting room that separated Penelope and Liliana’s chamber from her own. Liliana’s breath strangled in her throat as she picked her way through both rooms to Aunt’s door.
“…never been so humiliated in my life. Did she think Stratford would overlook such an insult?” Aunt shrieked.
Dear God. They were being evicted from Somerton Park.
Panic fisted in her chest, mingled with outrage. He’d been the one who’d insulted her. Well, all right, she’d nettled him first, but only to dissuade his attentions. What kind of gentleman loses a wager and then tosses the victor out on the street in a fit of temper?
Liliana released a pent-up breath and tried to apply some logic to the situation. Stratford undoubtedly employed strategy here. If he had been involved in her father’s death, or knew someone in his family had been, he might suspect she’d come to discover the truth. And if, as rumor had it, he had political aspirations, he’d want to banish her from his home as soon as possible, before she could find any proof.
Fool that she was, she’d given him the perfect excuse. And for what? Her pride? Moisture stung her eyes. Deep inside she knew that if she left Somerton Park today, she’d never uncover the truth.
Liliana blinked, keeping her frustrated tears at bay. Could she fix this somehow? If she were mistaken about his intentions, if he were removing her just to assuage his pride, would an apology buy her a reprieve? It would gall her to do so, to apologize for being herself, but she would do it.
However, first she’d need to determine how severe the situation was. She pushed open the heavy wooden door to Aunt’s room.
Penelope sat, leaned forward on an armchair, an anxious, pursed expression on her normally cheery face. Pen’s usual pink cheeks were more the color of the cream stripes splitting the cornflower fabric of the chair. Aunt Eliza paced at the foot of the ornately carved bed, the massive piece dwarfing the woman in size, if not ostentation. Her plump face snapped up at the intrusion.
Aunt’s matronly features, already mottled, colored a deeper shade of red. Liliana could see the gathering storm in Aunt Eliza’s eyes. The room fairly crackled with it.
“You,” Aunt muttered, and the wealth of distaste, disapproval and worse—disappointment—packed into that one little word pierced Liliana with a sharpness that stole her breath. God help her, she’d thought herself beyond being hurt at Aunt’s inability to understand and accept her.
Not that Aunt hadn’t tried, in her way, to care for and nurture her brother’s orphan. But every time Liliana’s actions had been contrary to what Aunt Eliza expected, Aunt took it as a personal failure. Even the subsequent tongue lashings had never completely removed Liliana’s own sense of guilt for letting down the only “mother” she’d known.
“This! This is the thanks I get for securing you the most sought-after invitation in a decade?” Aunt cried, flailing her arms in Liliana’s direction. “I wash my hands of you. You and your theories…” Her lips flattened, as did her voice. “You’re an embarrassment. I don’t know why I ever thought you’d change.”
Liliana’s throat constricted as she swallowed the defensive words that shot up. A tendril of unease snaked up her spine. Aunt had been angry in the past, but she’d never threatened to be done with Liliana completely, and in such calm tones.
“I convinced myself that three years on your own had brought you to your senses,” Aunt said. “That after living in that drafty, bare cottage on the meager funds your father left, you’d be eager for a husband and act accordingly.” Aunt turned her face away. “I had such high hopes for this party.” She huffed. “I’d never dreamed you might interest Stratford, but I’d thought you might catch the eye of a nice country squire. But now…”
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that.”
“Ha!” Aunt stepped nearer to Penelope, waving a hand. “Have you considered how your distressing behavior taints your cousin?”
Liliana’s heart twisted, and she glanced at Pen, who subtly shook her head as if to say “Don’t worry about me.” Liliana truly regretted any embarrassment to Penelope. She, too, was being asked to leave. That wouldn’t do. “I will apologize to Lord Stratford,” Liliana offered. “Try to convince him to let us stay. I do not wish for you or Pen to be punished for my actions.”
Aunt turned back to face Liliana squarely. “Stratford did not demand our departure—which is a credit to him. Credit me, however, with knowing when we’ve overstayed our welcome.”
“Then you’ve initiated our departure?” Hope leapt in her chest. Perhaps Aunt might be made to see reason and they wouldn’t have to leave after all. “Please. Don’t draw more attention than the situation deserves. Any gossip should blow over quickly and not touch Penelope at all. Besides, I actually received several kind compliments…”
Aunt narrowed her eyes, but Liliana rushed on.
“And Lord Aveline praised me effusively. I don’t think he was just being kind. I think he quite liked me.” Rather desperate—to throw another potential suitor in the mix—but she’d use anything at her disposal. “I promise, I shall be on my best behavior if you change your mind. Please.” Liliana crossed her mental fingers. She couldn’t remain here alone without Aunt’s support and chaperonage. “Please let us stay.”
Aunt Eliza’s face contorted. “No. You have no ‘best behavior.’ Never have. I can’t risk you making us more of a laughingstock. And I must seriously consider the wisdom of allowing Penelope in your company in future. You’re a bad influence.”
Liliana felt her blood drain to her toes.
“Penelope?” Aunt directed her daughter with a flick of the wrist. “I suggest you oversee the packing of your things.” Aunt turned her back on Liliana.