Chapter Eighteen
Twelve days before the wedding . . .
“You were remarkably quiet last night,” Camille said in an entirely too casual manner and tore off a piece of lightly buttered toast.
“It’s really not at all like you.” Teddy sat across the table from Camille.
“I’m glad to see the two of you are back to your usual selves.” Delilah moved to the sideboard and perused Mrs. Dooley’s breakfast offerings. Nothing looked particularly inviting today. Still, she heaped her plate with eggs and sausages and a bit of everything available. “I must say, I’m surprised to see the two of you at this hour.”
“It is rather late,” Teddy admitted.
“It’s nearly eleven and you are usually an early riser.” It was later than usual for Delilah as well but then she’d had no sleep to speak of. And no idea if doing the practical thing, the intelligent thing, was doing the right thing.
“Or are you surprised because we managed to bravely rise from our sickbeds even though we are still exceptionally weak?” Camille popped the toast in her mouth. “And exceptionally hungry.”
“Yes, I can see that.” Delilah took her place at the table and at once realized what was different. “Good Lord, it’s all back to normal today, isn’t it?”
“Why yes, I believe it is.” Camille smiled. “The servants are back at their usual stations, performing their usual duties. Clement said Lady Fairborough’s servants left the first thing this morning. And Grayson is with Sam at the carriage house. Apparently there’s a problem with the motorwagon. There was an accident yesterday.”
Delilah sipped her coffee.
“Oh, I’m sure Sam and Mr. Moore will put it right.” Confidence rang in Teddy’s voice.
“I don’t know.” Camille shook her head. “Grayson didn’t sound optimistic. The vehicle sustained a lot of damage.”
Teddy’s brows pulled together. “How bad is it?” “Bad enough that their plans have been set back. And it appears Sam will have to extend his stay in England.” She slanted a quick glance at her sister. “Fortunately, Grayson and I weren’t planning on a wedding trip until spring. I suspect he would feel inclined to cancel a more immediate trip at this point. Although I can’t imagine he’d be of much help. As far as I know he’s not the mechanical sort.” She paused. “Although it’s entirely possible he knows much more about such things than I’m aware of.”
“When did you talk to Grayson?” Delilah asked.
“Last night.” Camille smiled innocently. “He too is feeling much better. He popped in to see how I was getting on.”
“Good,” Delilah said with a half-hearted smile, ignoring the thought of exactly what popping in might entail.
Camille studied her sister casually. “Grayson said Sam hit his head in the accident.”
“He’s fine,” Delilah said shortly.
“That’s right,” Camille said slowly. “He said you were there.”
Delilah nodded.
“Grayson said Sam was thrown out of the vehicle.”
“Good Lord.” Teddy’s eyes widened. “That must have been dreadful.”
The horror that had twisted Delilah’s heart at the sight of Sam flying through the air again stabbed her. She ignored it. “He’s fine.”
Teddy and Camille traded glances.
“Yes, you said that.” Camille stared at her.
Delilah shrugged.
“I understand you and Sam are getting along much better,” Teddy said in an offhand manner.
Delilah nodded and pushed the food around on her plate. She really wasn’t hungry.
“Camille told me you and Sam have become friends,” Teddy began. “She says you’ve been spending a great deal of time together.”
“The rest of you were indisposed.”
“I also mentioned that you like him,” Camille said.
“Of course I like him.” Delilah forced a light note to her voice. “There’s really no reason not to like him. He’s a very nice man. Intelligent, amusing, well read—”
“Charming, dashing,” Teddy added.
“And quite handsome.” Camille grinned. “I find his dark eyes coupled with his blond hair to be nothing short of delicious.”
“Why, I certainly wouldn’t have minded being the one forced to spend a great deal of time with him.” Teddy smirked.
“It wasn’t by choice,” Delilah said in a sharper tone than she had intended.
Camille’s eyes narrowed. “What is wrong with you? Yesterday afternoon you were positively lighthearted. But last night you scarcely said two words.”
“You were preoccupied and obviously concerned about something. And today . . .” Teddy pinned her with a firm look. “You’re not eating. That’s not like you.” She glanced at Camille. “The one sure way to know when something is bothering Dee is to watch whether or not she eats.” She nodded at Delilah’s plate. “You haven’t taken a bite.”
Delilah could deny it but it was pointless. Besides, she needed their help. Unfortunately, the price for their assistance would no doubt be complete honesty. She set down her fork and sighed. “You’re right.”
“It has something to do with Sam, doesn’t it?” Camille said.
Delilah’s gaze shifted between her friend and her sister. “I need to talk to you both. I have a, oh, a problem and I need your help.”
“What kind of problem?” Camille asked
“What kind of help?” Caution edged Teddy’s voice.
Delilah huffed. “Does it matter?”
“No. Of course not,” Camille said. “It doesn’t matter in the least. However, if this help was of an illegal or immoral nature I would have to think twice.” She smiled slowly. “But I would still help you.”
Teddy nodded. “As would I.”
“Still, I would prefer not to be arrested or jailed before the wedding.” Camille wrinkled her nose. “That would be most awkward so I do hope it’s not terribly illegal. However, I have no qualms whatsoever about immoral. Although Beryl is much better at that sort of thing.”
“It’s neither illegal nor immoral.” Delilah pushed her plate away and drew a deep breath. “And I have a plan . . . of sorts.”
“A plan of sorts? Oh dear.” Teddy grimaced. “Your plans are even worse when they’re not well thought out.”
“Nonetheless, it is a plan. Or at least the beginning of a plan,” Delilah said. “Life is always so much better when one has a plan.”
“I’ve always been fond of plans myself.” Camille smiled. “Are you going to tell us or are we going to have to guess? I have a very fertile imagination and there are any number of things that would come to mind if I had to guess.”
“Of course I’m going to tell you. But not here where we could be overheard by anyone coming in for breakfast.” Delilah stood. “I’d much prefer to have this discussion in Mother’s parlor.”
Camille’s eyes widened. “This is serious, then.”
Delilah nodded. “Quite serious.”
Teddy looked from sister to sister. “I don’t understand.”
“Whenever we had discussions of a serious nature, Mother would always call us into the small ladies’ parlor,” Camille said. “It’s much more conducive to revelation and confession and has been the site of all manner of unexpected disclosures in the past. At least among the female members of the household.”
“Serious matters involving Father or Uncle Basil are usually conducted here in the dining room,” Delilah added.
“Mother told us Father was dead in the ladies’ parlor,” Camille said.
“And we learned he was alive in the dining room.” Delilah shrugged.
“I see.” Teddy nodded.
“I beg your pardon, Lady Lydingham, Lady Hargate, Lady Theodosia,” Clement said, stepping into the room. He looked fully recovered but he did appear older to Delilah’s eyes than he had only a few days ago. Millworth Manor would not be the same when the dear man finally decided to pass the mantle of authority to a new butler. “Lady Lydingham, Mrs. Gilbert and her assistant have arrived with your gown.”
“Oh, how wonderful.” Camille jumped to her feet. “Would you see them to the upstairs sitting room please and tell them I’ll be there in a moment.”
“As you wish, my lady.” Clement nodded and took his leave.
Teddy started toward the door. “I can scarcely wait to see—” She stopped and looked at Delilah. “Oh, but you—”
“The gown can wait,” Camille said with a nod. “Delilah’s problem is much more pressing.”
“Don’t be absurd.” Delilah waved off the comment. “Besides, I am just as eager for you to try on your gown as you are. Teddy and I have only seen a drawing of it after all.”
“If you’re certain.” Doubt battled with eagerness in Camille’s eyes.
“Of course I am.” Delilah was in no great hurry to reveal everything she had kept secret up to now. She hooked her arm through her sister’s elbow and started for the door. “Disclosure of my plan can wait a few hours.”
“Well, if you insist.” Camille practically dragged her to the door.
A scant half an hour later, Camille stood in the sitting room all three sisters had shared in their youth. A tall mirror had been brought in from a dressing room and reflected Camille in the gown she would wear when she promised to share Grayson’s life forever. The seamstress and her assistant stood off to one side beaming. Teddy and Delilah perched on a settee and stared. The gown fit like a kid glove and the overall effect was one of perfection itself.
Mr. Worth had outdone himself. The gown was magnificent, trimmed with ecru-colored lace and edged with tiny pearls. Peach-colored satin rosettes, as perfectly crafted as if they were real roses, were gathered on either side of the waist and trailed down the back of the gown. As a widow, Camille would never wear white but the blue silk was perfect for her. The color was a pale version of the blue of Camille’s eyes. A small diamond brooch that Mother had worn when she had married Father was pinned to the center of the bodice. With the fair color of Camille’s hair and the deep blue of her eyes, her sister was every bit as magnificent as the gown.
“Well?” Camille studied herself in the mirror. “What do you think?”
“It’s quite simply stunning.” Teddy stared. “It’s perfect, Camille. Absolutely perfect.”
“Delilah?” Camille pulled her gaze from the mirror and glanced at her sister. “Will it do, do you think?”
For a moment, Delilah was again a young girl staring at a beautiful older sister in a glorious ball gown who, on those rare occasions, didn’t mind the presence of a younger sister. Then, she never would have cared what Delilah thought. Now, well, now was different.
A lump lodged in Delilah’s throat and she swallowed hard. “You look like a princess in a fairy tale.”
“I do, don’t I?” Camille laughed with delight and her gaze met her sister’s. “Thank you.”
Delilah cleared her throat. “Thank you for . . . for letting me be part of this.”
“You’re my only younger sister and you should be part of my life. That you haven’t been in the past is nearly unforgivable. This is long overdue and I am so sorry.”
Delilah nodded and choked back what felt suspiciously like a tear.
“Goodness, I’ve never seen the two of you being at all sentimental,” Teddy said in a teasing manner, then sobered. “I need to apologize as well.”
Camille’s brow rose. “Oh? Do you too have a younger sister you treated abominably in the past?”
“No, I don’t have sisters, but . . .” Teddy blew a long breath. “Dee has been my dearest friend for much of my life. I must confess I have always resented the way you treated her.”
“You have been a good, true friend to her.” Camille studied the younger woman. “She was lucky to have you.”
“And I was lucky to have her,” Teddy said. “And, while I admit I was skeptical when she told me you and Beryl and she had agreed to be better sisters to one another, this time spent with both of you has shown me that I was wrong to doubt you.”
“Thank you, Teddy.” Camille paused. “So are we friends as well now?”
“I’d like that.” Teddy smiled.
“Apparently, there’s nothing like an exquisite, expensive Paris gown to bring sisters and friends together,” Delilah said wryly.
Camille and Teddy stared at her for a moment then all three burst into laughter.
Mrs. Gilbert cleared her throat. “I beg your pardon, my lady, but we do need to make certain of a few more things and then we must take our leave if we are to return to London today.”
“Yes, of course, my apologies. Besides . . .” Camille met her sister’s gaze directly. “We have matters of a serious nature to attend to as well. Delilah, why don’t you arrange for tea to be served in the parlor and Teddy and I will join you as soon as we’re finished here.”
“Excellent idea. I’m famished.” It was amazing what having a plan, even one somewhat less than solid, could do for one’s appetite. She took a step toward the door then paused. “Camille, you are positively glowing in that gown.”
“That’s what marrying the man you love does for you, dear.” Camille grinned. “But an extravagantly expensive Paris gown helps a bit too.”
Delilah laughed, bid Mrs. Gilbert and her assistant good day, then headed toward the stairs. It wasn’t nearly late enough for tea, but biscuits and some of Mrs. Dooley’s dainty sandwiches and perhaps tarts if they were available would be lovely.
It was hard not to envy Camille her happiness. She was at long last marrying her true love. For Camille love was the beginning of happily ever after.
Delilah heaved a heartfelt sigh. In her own case, love would surely destroy everything.
“Lady Hargate.” William hurried toward her and met her on the stairs. “Mrs. Dooley needs some instruction as to dinner tonight.”
“Yes, of course.” Delilah started toward the kitchen. Camille had been managing the house but apparently she was only recovered enough to be the bride. She winced. Now that was rude. She really did have to try to be a better person. She’d always thought she was quite a nice person until recent months.
Until her blasted adventure!
Now, in one way or another, the man was going to ruin her life. Or she might ruin his. It scarcely mattered, she’d soon be rid of him. It would hurt but it would be over quickly. And she could continue with her life as planned. No reason why she shouldn’t begin immediately. She raised her chin slightly. She used to be quite pleasant. She certainly could be again.
It took far longer than she’d anticipated to talk to Mrs. Dooley. In the course of recovering from the ill effects of the tainted food, the cook had had a dream that something dire was going to happen. Mrs. Dooley confided her vision in the dark and forbidding tone of a Shakespearean witch. Given what surely was some sort of premonition, she wanted to be prepared and go over any possibility. One could hardly fault her for that. Or stop her. Any number of disasters might well befall Millworth Manor but Mrs. Dooley’s culinary offerings would not be one of them. Delilah resisted the temptation to mention the food poisoning.
By the time Delilah finally arrived at the small parlor, Teddy and Camille were already there. As were sandwiches and cakes and tea. They were gracious enough to keep their curiosity in check until she had eaten a biscuit.
“Well, here we are,” Camille said in the manner of an older sister. “Now, how can we help you?”
“What kind of plan?” Teddy’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“This is very difficult for me. I rarely have anything to confess and I hardly ever have, well, secrets.” Delilah looked from her sister to her friend and back. “I’m going to tell you this story once. I don’t want to be overwhelmed with curiosity and queries; this is hard enough as it is. Therefore, I will only answer one question from each of you. Do you understand?”
They nodded.
“Very well then.” Delilah rose to her feet. This did seem the sort of thing one should stand for.
“Well?” Camille smiled encouragingly. “Go on.”
Perhaps sitting was best after all. Delilah sat back down in one of the matching chairs that had been in this parlor for as long as she could remember. Camille and Teddy shared the settee and waited expectantly. Delilah drew a deep breath. “I did meet Sam in New York.”
Teddy choked.
“I knew it,” Camille said under her breath.
“He and I . . . well . . . we had . . . oh, I don’t know . . . an adventure you might call it.” She braced herself. “Of an amorous nature.”
“You?” Camille stared. “Do remind me never to ask you to chaperone again.”
Teddy’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me?’
“Are those your questions?” Delilah said sharply.
Teddy and Camille exchanged glances then shook their heads.
“No,” Camille muttered.
“Not at the moment,” Teddy said. “Please continue.”
“I thought I would never see him again. Then, of course, he arrived here. Needless to say I didn’t want a reminder of my adventure, which is why I wasn’t as pleasant to him as I should have been.” Entirely true as far as it went. “But the more I got to know him the more I realized he would break my heart if I let him.” Because she realized as well that she loved him and probably had from the first. And he was so very wrong. “So I want you to help me get rid of him.”
Camille crossed her arms over her chest. “What exactly do you mean by get rid of him? And that’s not my question but part of the plan you have yet to explain.”
“When we said we would do something illegal, neither of us meant murder,” Teddy said.
Delilah stared. “Do you honestly think I would kill the man?”
“No, of course we don’t. Do we, Teddy?”
“Absolutely not,” Teddy said with scarcely any hesitation at all.
“Well, I wouldn’t.” Delilah sighed. “He’s quite a wonderful man, really. He’s just not the right man for me. And the longer he stays here the harder it is going to be to see him leave.” She shook her head. “Make him leave I mean. And really, I wish him nothing but the best. But I also wish him gone.”
Both her sister and her friend stared as if she had gone mad before their very eyes.
“Well?”
“I’m more than a little confused,” Teddy said.
“We’re more than a little confused.” Camille frowned. “You think he’s a wonderful man yet you want nothing to do with him?”
“Is that your question?”
Camille huffed.
“We have no common ground. We’re entirely different people. We envision our lives, our futures, differently. How can I expect love to succeed between two people who have no commonality of background or desires or ambitions when love can fail between two people who are completely perfect for each other?”
Teddy stared and realization washed across her face. “Oh.” She nodded. “I see.”
“Well, I don’t but I do have my question.” Camille’s gaze met her sister’s. “Are you in love with him?”
“Oh, no.” Delilah shook her head. “You had your question a moment ago.”
“That wasn’t my question! I didn’t—”
“Never mind, I still have my question.” Teddy’s gaze bored into hers. “Are you in love with him?”
“Does it matter?”
“I think so, yes,” Camille said.
The door to the parlor flew open.
“What kind of family meeting could you possibly have without me??? Beryl stood in the doorway resplendent in an aubergine-colored traveling dress. A fashionable feathered hat perched on her head. As always her posture was perfect, her presence commanding, and there was a slightly wicked gleam in her eye.
“We didn’t know when you were coming.” A dry note sounded in Camille’s voice. “If you would be so good as to give us some notice or indicate in a manner that wasn’t as vague—”
“I said I’d be here before the wedding.” Beryl pulled off her gloves. “And, unless I’m mistaken, it’s still over a week away.” She nodded at Teddy. “Lovely to see you again, Teddy.”
Teddy smiled. “I’m delighted to see you as well.”
“Delilah.” Beryl’s gaze met hers. “You look tired. How are you getting on?”
“Better than one might expect.” Delilah cast her a grateful smile. “I’m glad to see you.”
“I knew you would be.” Beryl smiled in a satisfied manner and studied the other women. “You two look rather pale.”
“It was something we ate,” Teddy said.
“But we’re fine now,” Camille added.
“Good. Now that the pleasantries are out of the way . . .” Beryl took off her hat, tossed it onto a table, and seated herself in the chair beside Delilah’s. “What is going on here? When Clement told me you were all in Mother’s parlor I knew there was something afoot and I came directly upstairs.” Her gaze skimmed the gathering. “Well?”
“Delilah needs our help,” Camille began. “With Mr. Russell.”
“Oh, does she?” Beryl’s gaze shifted to Delilah. “Have you told them everything?”
Delilah nodded. “More or less.”
“Very well then.” Beryl considered her younger sister. “Are you keeping him or are you getting rid of him?”
“I’m not keeping him,” Delilah said firmly.
Camille shook her head. “I still don’t understand why not. Certainly, he’s not what she had planned but he is something of a catch.”
“Nonsense, Camille.” Beryl sniffed. “He’s not at all what she wants. He might well be handsome and obscenely wealthy—”
“And a good man,” Delilah murmured in spite of herself.
“But the fact remains that he is all wrong for her.”
“I don’t see why.” Camille huffed. “Yes, he’s American and they don’t see eye to eye on any number of—” Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know any of this?”
“I know everything,” Beryl said smugly.
“I saw Beryl when I was in London,” Delilah said quickly.
“And I was a great deal of help.” Beryl cast her younger sister what appeared suspiciously like a look of affection.
“Were you?” Camille looked from one sister to the other. “Imagine that.”
Beryl smirked.
Camille frowned and continued. “As I was saying, even though Delilah claims they have nothing in common, I’m fairly certain she’s in love with the man. Are you going to deny it?”
“Yes,” Delilah snapped.
“None of us believes you.” Camille shrugged and turned her attention back to her twin. “So her desire to get rid of him makes no sense—”
“Come now, Camille.” Beryl reached over and patted her younger sister’s hand. “Delilah is simply protecting herself. It’s entirely logical that she would wish to avoid love with a man who is all wrong. After all, she fell in love with Phillip who was an utterly perfect match and he broke her heart. One can’t blame her for wanting to avoid heartbreak again.”
Teddy grimaced.
Camille stared at her younger sister. “Is that true?”
“Which part?” Delilah asked weakly.
“Apparently, this is one detail she failed to mention, an oversight on her part, I might add, as this particular detail explains all the rest of it.” Beryl shook her head. “She loved Phillip and he couldn’t love her back.”
“I never told you that.” Delilah stared at her older sister. “I said he didn’t share my feelings, not that he couldn’t.”
“My apologies, Delilah, if I extrapolated but that part was obvious. At least to me. I didn’t especially know Phillip but I knew of him. How to say this?” Beryl thought for a moment. “When a gentleman in our world manages to get through his life before marriage without so much as a whiff of gossip associated with him—no failed love affairs, no broken engagements, no scandals with actresses or other women of a questionable reputation, nothing of that sort—and then he finally marries a young, lovely, unsullied girl from a good family only to then lead somewhat separate lives, the conclusion is that he’s simply not especially interested in what else she has to offer.” Her gaze locked with her younger sister’s. “He wanted the perfect wife or at least a wife who would appear perfect to anyone who cared to look. He was not looking for love. And in any number of marriages, that’s acceptable to both sides.
“He never expected love from you. It was not what he bargained for.” Beryl’s gaze met Delilah’s. “I for one don’t blame you in the least for not being willing to risk your heart again. After all, the odds of you and Mr. Russell being able to overcome the differences between you are extremely slim.” She shook her head slowly. “It’s a wager I would never take.”
“I don’t blame you either,” Teddy said staunchly. Of course, until recently Teddy was the only one who knew that Delilah had fallen in love with her husband. “And I am willing to do whatever you need from me to get rid of Sam.”
“I think this is stupid.” Camille glared at the others. “Love is entirely too rare to throw away.” She pinned her younger sister with a hard look. “You said you and Sam had an adventure. It seems to me one of the necessary ingredients to any adventure is risk. Love, above all else, is worth the risk.”
“You’re looking at this through the starry eyes of someone who is finally about to marry her true love.” Beryl’s brow furrowed in annoyance. “You can’t possibly see it logically. Delilah and Mr. Russell are entirely wrong for each other. Hearts are bound to be broken. Hers or his or, more likely, both. The sensible course is to avoid this match altogether.”
“Sensible has nothing to do with love!” Camille glared at her twin.
Beryl glared back. “And therein lies the problem!”
“So what is your plan?” Teddy said in an obvious effort to stop the twins from coming to blows.
“Sam was engaged once, to a woman he was in love with. As it turned out, she was more interested in his position and his wealth than she was him. He has vowed to avoid fortune hunters.” Delilah drew a deep breath. “I intend to prove to him I am exactly what he doesn’t want.”
“How very clever of you.” Beryl favored her with an admiring smile.
“And how do you intend to do that?” Camille snapped.
“I don’t know, which is precisely why I need your help.” Delilah thought for a moment. “I had thought that I might, well, throw myself at the first wealthy, titled gentleman I saw. But as tonight’s party has been cancelled, there is no one available to throw myself at. Although, there are any number of guests who will be staying at the manor and Mother made certain their number includes several eligible gentlemen.”
Teddy shook her head. “But most of those won’t be arriving until a few days before the wedding. I daresay you want to put your plan into effect as soon as possible.”
“Actually, she has a bit of a reprieve.” Camille sighed in surrender. “Grayson says he and Sam will be spending all their time at the carriage house until the motorwagon is repaired. So Delilah should have no difficulties avoiding Sam.” She glanced at her younger sister. “Which I assume you prefer.”
Delilah nodded.
“What’s a motorwagon?” Beryl asked.
“A horseless carriage,” Teddy said.
“Really?” Beryl’s eyes widened. “How very interesting.”
“It’s not at all easy to find an eligible gentleman when you need one, you know,” Teddy pointed out. “Although, I suppose we could hire an actor.”
All three sisters stared at her.
“No! Absolutely not.” Horror shone in Camille’s eyes. “Actors will not do. Actors are not at all dependable. There will be no actors.”
“I don’t know,” Beryl said in an overly innocent manner. “That might be a possibility.”
Camille leveled a scathing look at her sister. Beryl bit back a laugh.
“An actor won’t do.” Delilah sighed. “And this is the only plan I can think of.”
“It shouldn’t be discarded simply because there is a tiny problem,” Beryl said. “It certainly isn’t insurmountable.”
“As much as I don’t agree with what you’re doing—I do like Sam after all—it is a clever idea,” Camille said in a grudging manner.
“Then you will help me?” Delilah said to Camille.
“Of course I will,” Camille said with a sigh. “You’re my sister and my first loyalty is to you.”
“I knew you would come around.” Beryl nodded smugly. “And aside from this one difficulty, I think it’s a brilliant plan.”
“How delightful.” A familiar voice rang from the doorway. “I do so love it when one of you has come up with a brilliant plan.”