The Bad Luck Bride (The Brides of St. Ives #1)(69)

Christina’s brows furrowed. “That doesn’t sound like something Papa would say,” she said thoughtfully. “Do you think it’s possible that Papa misinterpreted what he saw? That he thought perhaps Mr. Southwell was making unwanted advances? I know Papa can be a bit of a snob, but I find it difficult to believe he would say such a thing to Mr. Southwell. We all like him.”

Pressing the heels of her hands against her tear-swollen eyes, Alice said, “It doesn’t matter. Either way, Papa will never contemplate a match between us. A true gentleman would never have kissed me that way.”

To her surprise, Christina burst out laughing. “Really, Alice, for someone who’s been engaged three times, you can be so na?ve.”

“What are you saying?”

“You know Aunt Agatha adores genealogy.”

Alice gave Christina a confused look at her abrupt change in topic. “Of course. She’s the keeper of the family tree.”

Christina got an impish look on her face. “It just so happens that I was helping Aunt Agatha two summers ago. You remember when I went to visit her? It was dreadfully boring, but I discovered the most shocking and interesting information.” She paused. “About Mama and Papa.”

“What?” Alice asked, not truly believing her sister would say anything of interest.

“Perhaps the next time you visit Aunt Agatha’s library, you should pay close attention to Mama and Papa’s wedding date. And Joseph’s birth date.”

Alice’s mouth opened in disbelief at what her sister was implying. “No. Really?”

“Unless Joseph was born a full three months early.”

Nothing could have surprised Alice more. Her mother and father, who had always schooled her to be proper at all times, had done that before they were even married? It was unthinkable.

“Are you absolutely certain?”

Christina gave a sharp nod. “Aunt Agatha swore me to secrecy, but I do believe this is a special circumstance. Aunt Agatha felt as the keeper of family information, she could not lie. Three months, Alice. Three.”

Alice gave her sister a scowl. “You’re too young to be thinking about such things.”

“Aunt had no such qualms and that was two years ago. I think she was rather relieved that she wasn’t the only one holding on to such a secret. I do believe Mama would be livid if she knew the true dates were listed in that book. Can you imagine? I think Mama would have a heart attack too.”

Shaking her head, Alice said, “I cannot imagine why Aunt Agatha felt it was so important not to fib a little, but I have to say I am glad. Not that I could bring that up to Mama and Papa. Not now. Nothing has truly changed.”

Christina wrapped one arm around her shoulders and gave her a tight squeeze. “When Papa is feeling better, perhaps you can speak to him about Mr. Southwell. It would be a tragedy to keep you apart.”

Alice swallowed heavily. “Yes, it would.”





Chapter 15


Three days later, the family physician pronounced that Lord Hubbard would not die, then ordered him to remain in bed for two weeks. It was gratifying for everyone in the family to hear Richard complaining loudly about the bed rest.

Elda had summoned Oliver from London, and he arrived to find his robust father pale and abed. Though he’d put on a brave front when visiting his father, he broke down upon leaving Richard’s room, only adding to the heavy weight of guilt already on Alice’s shoulders. Her mother still had not spoken a word to her, and it was, frankly, driving her mad.

Three days of silence. Three days of wondering if she would ever be forgiven, if she would ever see Henderson again. It was only when Richard began complaining that the shroud of uncertainty was lifted from Tregrennar. For now, Papa would live.

Alice spent most of those three days in her room. She had not visited her father. The one time she’d ventured to his door, Papa’s valet, Mr. Tisdale, had quietly told her that her father was not up to seeing her. The fact that Christina and Oliver had visited with him earlier that day only made Alice’s heart ache all the more. If she could turn back time, she would, but she couldn’t. The first two days, all Alice could think of was that she would not be able to tell her father she loved him and that she was sorry before he died. By the third day, Alice had stopped her self-flagellation and was able to view what had happened with slightly less emotion. She concluded two things. One: Yes, she had been wrong to go out onto the terrace with Henderson. Two: Her actions had not caused her father’s heart attack. She could accept some blame, but not all of it, and the fact that her mother refused to speak to her, that her father would not even see her, fueled a growing anger. Of course, the knowledge that her mother and father had actually had relations prior to their marriage and that a pregnancy no doubt accelerated the wedding only added to that fuel.

One might think she’d been caught on the terrace with a married man. Naked.

A few hours after the physician departed, Alice was in her room reading when her mother entered quietly. She seemed subdued and so unlike the woman she’d been not four days prior. Alice longed to go to her, but sensed her embrace would not be welcome.

“Your father told me what happened, Alice. Once he is fully recovered, we will commence with your wedding arrangements to Lord Northrup, who thankfully is still willing to marry you.”