The duke cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. “Yes, well, perhaps the announcement I was about to make will help clear matters up a little.” There was a long pause as the duke collected his thoughts, and all in the room turned to look at him expectantly. “As you all know, the highwayman that had been causing such terror in the neighborhood was apprehended last night. What most of you do not know is that he was also involved in espionage, spying for the French. My son and his friend, Sir Marcus Reddings, were forced to assume another identity in order to help apprehend the traitor. Unfortunately, this meant that we had to deceive you all, as well. For that I am truly sorry. The gentleman who you have assumed to be my son, Lord Wesleigh, is in actuality, Sir Marcus Reddings. And the gentleman that has introduced himself to you as Mr. Alexander Williams, is my son, Lord Wesleigh.”
There was a shocked silence as all in the room attempted to digest these words. When they had, their reactions were so diverse and unexpected as to be comical.
Lady Smithfield was quite disappointed in losing Sir Marcus as a son-in-law. When he stood next to his friend, arrayed in such vibrant colors, with his golden curls tousled and the jewel in his cravat catching the sunlight, she felt that the true Lord Wesleigh paled into insignificance beside him. However, as it was obvious Lydia did not care for Sir Marcus, maybe the match had a chance of proceeding with a different groom.
Lydia was completely thrown by the announcement. As Sir Marcus had appeared in all her musings as the monster intent on tearing her from the arms of her true love, it was disconcerting, to say the least, to discover he had never had such an intention. And as she had noticed Lord Wesleigh, in his role as curate, had paid far greater attention to Emily than herself, she was totally at a loss to know how to proceed. She felt as an actress would were she to walk out on stage to discover the cast was performing in a play to which she had not learned the lines.
Emily, whom Alexander was observing intently to gauge her reaction, was simply horrified. Her first thought was that she had boasted to this man that she intended to marry him for his title and his fortune. She was thoroughly embarrassed, and wanted nothing more than to run from the room and pursue her thoughts in solitude. Her next thought was that he had asked her to marry him, and she had refused, and he would never believe now that she did so because she thought him to be a highwayman. He would, of course, think it was because she was more concerned about rank and fortune than mutual love and esteem. Oh, why had she not told him her suspicions last night in the carriage! Now it was too late, as he would never renew his addresses to a female he suspected would marry him merely for the sake of his money. She had to use all the self-control in her possession to school her features into an appearance of calmness, as she was conscious that she must maintain her composure so that no one in the room would suspect anything was amiss.
Alexander was unable to tell what Emily was thinking. Her face, expressive as ever, had registered shock, maybe even embarrassment, but she had only looked once in his direction, and in that moment, it seemed to him her eyes were filled with pain. She had looked away almost at once, and now would not glance his way, gazing intently down at her hands instead, which were folded in her lap.
After allowing the shock of his first bit of news to subside, the duke continued. “Another happy result of the masquerade was the discovery that Miss Smithfield appears to have formed a prior attachment which, of course, would nullify any match between her and my son. I am sure that her mother and I never had any intention of causing unhappiness when we fostered the idea of an engagement between Miss Smithfield and Lord Wesleigh. On the contrary, we only want the happiness and contentment of our children, and of course that could only be found by marrying where your heart leads you.”
Lady Smithfield heard the second announcement with far more shock than she had the first. She would be a laughingstock. All of her dreams, her plans for her daughter, had come to nothing. Her beautiful daughter, the pride of her mother, was to marry a vicar. How Lady Abernathy would crow. But then Lady Smithfield happened to look at her daughter. Lydia had at first been sitting in stunned disbelief, but soon afterward an expression of such sweet happiness transformed her face she was more beautiful than she had ever been. Certainly, when Lady Smithfield compared her current expression with what it had been the past week or so, it was obvious that she had not been looking out for her daughter’s best interests. And Sedgewick was a handsome fellow, she thought, looking him over critically. She really did prefer fair-haired gentlemen. Perhaps Sir Marcus might be persuaded to give Sedgewick the name of his tailor . . .
After a few minutes, Lady Smithfield was so reconciled to the match that she persuaded Lydia and Sedgewick to retire to the morning room, where they might enjoy some privacy from the rest of the group. She also began to think of asking the duke when the living at Silverden, his country estate, would be available, for that was a far more prestigious living than the one there in Stonehurst, and he might be persuaded to give it to Sedgewick. When she finally did get the opportunity to ask him, she was quite disappointed to hear that the current occupant was in robust health, and only forty years of age at the very most.
When Lydia and Sedgewick left the room, Emily felt she, too, could leave without occasioning any comment, and she soon took her leave of the gentlemen, murmuring something about some chore she had to perform.
It was obvious to Alexander that Emily was laboring under some strong emotion, but, as he was convinced it was no more than her regret in losing out on his fortune, he was not too sympathetic. He would allow her to suffer a little, as he had suffered by her refusal, but, in the back of his mind, he felt he would marry her in the end. He soon took his leave, and, when Lady Smithfield issued him an invitation to stay, he thanked her but told her he was quite comfortable with Sedgewick. Lady Smithfield was somewhat relieved by his refusal, as her small house was almost filled to capacity with her current guests and their retinue of servants. Sir Marcus, on the other hand, was happy to agree to an extended stay, at least until after the Abernathys’ ball, which he had every expectation of being invited to once he paid a call at Rothergate. He soon took his leave as well, mentioning that he had to travel to London immediately, but he would be returning the next day. His departure left the duke and Lady Smithfield by themselves.
“Well. It was quite a morning for surprises,” said Lady Smithfield.
“Yes, indeed,” the duke agreed. “I hope you were not discomposed by the announcements.”
“Well, I must admit, I was a little peeved just at first. I daresay it slipped your mind, but you assured me only yesterday that your son was in love with my daughter.”
“And so he is,” the duke said affably.
Lady Smithfield looked at him in wonder, thinking perhaps he was as mad as old King George. “You just made an announcement to the opposite.”
“Lady Smithfield,” the duke said, quite gently, “you do, I believe, have two daughters?”
It took Lady Smithfield a moment to grasp the significance of this statement, and, when she had, she was beside herself. “My dear duke, you mean he loves Emily? Why, I never once suspected. But, then, she was not herself yesterday, and I did wonder when you said that about young girls in love, with whom Emily could be in love. Oh, my, I cannot take it in. Both my daughters married! And I will no longer have to fear what Lady Abernathy has to say. As if your son could be the least interested in that cold niece of hers! I knew it was a falsehood from the very start.” Lady Smithfield’s exclamations and rhapsodizing went on for a good five minutes, until the duke interrupted her to tell her there was nothing settled as of yet, and she was not to mention it to Emily, or anyone else.