A Devil Named DeVere (The Devil DeVere)(43)

"Did you not? Do you know he has ordered the entire house to be closed up?"

"Is that so?"

"Yes. The servants were amazed, given that he had only recently taken up residence. But they had little to grouse over as he provided them all with a generous severance."

"He must mean to reside in London, then." Diana hoped her terse answer would end the discussion. She was so very tired of all the pretense and polite conversation when she only wanted to be alone to weep.

"No, indeed!" Annalee said. "He has now taken it into his head to travel! Do you recall the ignoble Baron Baltimore he spoke of at dinner the first night? Well, DeVere seems to have the queerest obsession with the man. He has taken a notion to follow Lord Baltimore's travels to Italy and Constantinople."

"He does what?" Diana was aghast.

"He said he may be gone for years! But who knows what could befall him in the hands of those Turkish heathens. Can you even imagine such a thing? Hew was beside himself about it until he learned his brother finally agreed to buy his commission. He'll soon be joining the dragoons."

Though Annalee continued her prattle, Diana heard nothing more. He had had shown her passion, awakening emotions she had previously locked away deep inside. For two blessed nights, she had abandoned herself to him completely, and just as suddenly, it was over. He was gone from her life. Just like that.





PART II:


The Devil's Match




Once burned… twice shy…





Chapter Thirteen


Thornhill Park, Yorkshire, 1783



"I just can’t believe it!" Vesta wailed. "Papa just pops off to London a fortnight ago and returns a sennight later with a wife? How could he? And without even consulting me! And that—that...hussy is barely older than I am!"

"Vesta, dearest, I quite understand how you feel after having been his only joy for so long, but it’s hardly the end of the world." Diana made a concerted effort to contain her own bitterness. Edward's purported object in going to London a mere fortnight ago had been to secure a house for Vesta's season, but then he had returned with his own bride in tow! In truth, Diana was as shocked as Vesta that after three years of mourning dear Annalee, Edward had taken a London stage strumpet to wife.

"To be fair, you must not despise your father for remarrying. After all, he’s mourned your mother far longer than most men would have done. Besides, he’s still a young man and no doubt has renewed hope for an heir...especially given such a young bride."

Vesta took on an expression of repugnance. "Is that why he’s wed her, do you suppose? Simply to sire an heir?"

Diana took particular care with her answer. "I don’t doubt that’s part of his reason."

"But must he act such a besotted fool over her?" Vesta asked, near to tears. "Phoebe this and Phoebe that and my darling, sweet Phoebe. It’s enough to make me cast up my accounts."

Diana couldn't agree more. "But by all indications, darling, it does appear a love match." Love, indeed! It is positively indecent how they can hardly keep their hands off each other. The knowing little baggage had clearly bewitched the poor devil.

Ensconced in the amorous arms of his young wife, he seemed to have forgotten all about Vesta's come-out, a happenstance the girl had great reason to resent. Secretly desiring to throw a screaming tantrum of her own, Diana watched in empathy as Vesta flung herself onto her bed to fully indulge her histrionics. "I know. I know." Diana embraced the distraught girl, soothing her, stroking her hair. "It must be terribly hard on you, my lamb, but you must at least try to be happy, for your father’s sake."

After several minutes of racking sobs, Vesta bolted upright, her hazel eyes red-rimmed, her dark ringlets in disarray. "But what about you, Aunt Di? I hadn’t even considered how greatly this alters your position."

Until now, Diana had not even considered it. For three years following Annalee's death, she been mistress of the house in all but name, running the household, playing hostess, and acting as surrogate mother to Vesta. Until now it had proven a suitable arrangement for all, but with Edward’s unexpected marriage, more than just Vesta’s world had turned upside down.

Realizing with a painful wrench that things would never be the same, Diana determined to talk with Edward at the earliest opportunity.

***

"Are you quite sure about this, Diana? Vesta is a headstrong girl and may prove a greater responsibility than you wish."

"I foresee no trouble with Vesta. She and I have developed a very good understanding over the past three years. You know, she has become almost a daughter to me."

He studied her in a long moment of thoughtful consideration. "You aren’t really leaving because..." He looked flustered. "You see, I had hoped you and Phoebe..."

"Would become friends?" she finished with a forced smile. "But of course we shall!" When hell doth freeze over.

"I am so pleased," he said. "You have been such an important part of our lives. I had feared..." He gave a helpless shrug.

"Don’t be absurd, dear Edward." She emitted a brittle laugh. "I am delighted that you are so happy." I just hope you don’t soon expire of a heart seizure out of zeal for your new husbandly duties.