The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(77)

“Jane, dear, what is it?” Lucy asked as she hurried into the room moments later.

“Lucy, it’s terrible. Mama found out about the scandal and now she’s demanding to confront Mrs. Bunbury. What shall we do?”

Lucy merely nodded. “How did she find out?”

“Apparently, Lady Elrod told her,” Jane replied.

Lucy’s pretty face crumpled into a scowl. “What does Lady Elrod know about it?”

Jane tossed her hands in the air. “It doesn’t matter. The fact is, Mama knows and she’s incensed. She says she plans to ensure Mrs. Bunbury doesn’t work in this town again. She refuses to give her a good reference.”

Lucy clucked her tongue. “Not much of a threat, dear.”

Jane shook her head. “Also, not the point. Mama demands to see her.”

Lucy pursed her lips. “Well, that’s not possible.”

Jane struggled to keep from raising her voice. “Of course it’s not possible. The question is, what are we going to do?”

Lucy shrugged one shoulder. “Stall her.”

“The time for stalling is over, Lucy. Mama is beside herself. I’ve never seen her so angry. I managed to tell her that I had to write to Mrs. Bunbury and ask her to pay us a call. Then I came here, but Mama won’t believe me for much longer. If I don’t produce Mrs. Bunbury soon, she’ll know it’s all a ruse.”

Lucy tapped a finger against her cheek. “It seems we have only two choices.”

“And they are?”

“To produce Mrs. Bunbury or admit she doesn’t exist.”

Jane pinched the bridge of her nose. “Heaven help me. Which of those two do you suggest?”

“Let me think on it a bit. Don’t worry, dear. We’ll sort it out. Perhaps Mrs. Bunbury can die in a freak accident. Or leave suddenly for France.”

Jane ignored her friend’s prattling. She had something even more pressing on her mind. “There’s something else I need to tell you, Lucy. Something I should have told you long before now.” Jane bit her lip. “It’s about Garrett.”

Lucy raised both brows. “You’re calling him Garrett now?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, this is serious.”

“I went to his town house alone yesterday.” She paused. “Why didn’t you tell me he had a giant library?”

“If you think that’s giant, you should see the one at his country estate. What were you doing at Garrett’s town house?”

“He invited me.”

“Invited you?”

“Yes, to borrow a book and I—I wanted to see him, too, if I’m being honest. Oh, Lucy, you won’t believe it.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks.

“Believe what, dear?”

“I think you need to sit.”

Eyeing Jane carefully, Lucy sat.

Jane spent the next twenty minutes telling Lucy every single sordid thing that had happened between her and Garrett. Well, not every sordid thing. She left out the more private details, but shared enough for Lucy to get the essence. Afterward, Jane dropped her head into her hands. “Lucy, what am I to do?”

“This is not surprising to me in the least,” Lucy said.

“It’s not?”

“I’m not surprised you and Garrett have shared a tendre for each other. I thought as much during the house party. That’s why Cass and I did what we did.”

Jane groaned. “But you didn’t know for certain.”

“True. I only had my suspicions. I admit, those often get me into more trouble than they should. At any rate, I agree with you that Mrs. Langford is behind whoever locked Garrett in the wine cellar.”

“He says he’s going to confront her about it, but he’s already committed to marrying her. Apparently, he did so because of a letter.”

“A letter?”

“Yes, from Harold Langford. Captain Langford asked Garrett to take care of Isabella if anything happened to him.”

“Why would Garrett do that?”

Jane tugged at her sleeve. “Because Harold Langford took a bullet that would have ended Garrett’s life. The letter means a great deal to him.”

“I’ve always known Garrett feels terribly guilty over something that happened in Spain, though he’s never told me what that was,” Lucy said. “I think his guilt is severely clouding his judgment. Captain Langford couldn’t possibly have known he would die in that fashion. We must find out more about this. I have a feeling Mrs. Langford is behind that letter too.”

Jane nodded. “I don’t doubt it, but how could we ever prove such a thing?”

Lucy tapped her cheek again. “We must see the letter for ourselves. Did you borrow your book?”

“No. I didn’t find it and then Garrett told me the story about Isabella and the wine cellar and I completely forgot about the book. He did say I could come back whenever I wished, however.”

Lucy smiled slyly. “That’s perfect. Return to Garrett’s house to borrow that book, and while you’re there, look for the letter.”

Jane gasped. “I can’t do that.”

“Whyever not?”

“You want me to root around in his private things?”