The Duchess and the Highwayman (Hearts in Hiding 1)

“What is your idea, Ada?”

“If you stop sounding so condescending, I might tell you.”

He resisted the impulse to reprove her for speaking to her brother in such a fashion, for it was pleasing she was finally breaking free of the shame and sorrow that had made her a shadow of the girl she’d been.

“Wentworth was married before I knew him. Yes, you have every reason to look shocked. I was when I learned it.” Ada sent him a look of triumph as she put her hands on the desk and leaned close to him. “Mr Wentworth is married, and now he is Lord Cavanaugh. I imagine he’s doing all he can to keep his first marriage secret since clearly it’s one he wishes dissolved.”

“Good Lord, Ada, why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“If you remember, Hugh, I couldn’t talk to you about anything, much less Mr Wentworth after what he did to me.” She took a deep breath. “Yes, I know you felt partly responsible. After all, you’ve tried to teach me right from wrong after Mama and Papa died, but when it came to Mr Wentworth, I lost sight of all common sense. He was so utterly charming and believable. I truly thought we would be married. But then I learned to my horror he was married already, only it was too late, and I couldn’t tell you. But now I know it’s important to find out who his wife is so she can announce it to the world. She’s probably some low-class woman he wishes to keep in ignorance of his new status. He probably abandoned her years ago, though she could be dead, of course.”

“But what has Phoebe to do with all this?”

Ada smiled. It was the first time Hugh had seen the glow that transformed her from a rather wan little creature into an extremely pretty young woman. If she’d glowed like this for Mr Wentworth, Hugh could well imagine the effect she’d have had on him. He clenched his fists into tight balls.

“Hugh, Phoebe is a marvelous actress and clearly able to convince anyone she’s a lady. As a servant, she’d be able to question Mr Wentworth’s staff on their level. But she’d also be able to deport herself in good company. I feel sure she’s the best person to discover who it was Mr Wentworth married all those years ago. Please, Hugh?”

“I don’t know what you’re pleading for me to do, Ada, when you’ve just said Phoebe is in the best position to find out about Wentworth’s wife, though you know I don’t approve of you having anything to do with her.” He felt a traitor, but it was the truth.

“You need to give Phoebe some money and some clothes, so she can do what she needs to do to discover Wentworth’s wife and then expose her to the world. Phoebe only has two dresses.”

“And one of them cost me a pretty penny.”

“You had to give her something in return, though,” he sister said reasonably and without a blush. “I’m well aware that everything in this world is a trade. And now I’m trading with you: do as I ask and I’ll meekly return to Aunt Belcher’s and let you live your life as you choose.”

Hugh shook his head, not in the least liking to hear his sister talk like this. “I don’t think Phoebe will be too enamored of the idea. She’s afraid.”

Ada sighed. “I know. She didn’t want to do it when I asked her, but I thought you’d be able to persuade her. Offer her something. Dresses, money. A woman like that would never say no to such enticements.”

“I’ll thank you not to speak of her in that manner, Ada,” Hugh said grimly, not liking to hear his own uncharitable reflections articulated by his sister. “Regardless of what you might think of me, Ada, I am trying to do what’s best for Phoebe, just as I once did for you. She has no family or friends and no funds since she fled Blinley Manor. I can understand she’d be afraid of having anything to do with the household after witnessing what she did.”

“You mean the terrible murder Lady Cavanaugh committed? I’ve heard it’s not the first time Lady Cavanaugh tried to kill her husband. I know Phoebe is full of loyal vengeance, but the duchess sounds like a terrible woman. The worst kind! She was immoral and devious, and she had numerous lovers behind her husband’s back. Not just Wentworth. Don’t look at me like that. I overheard the servants talking about it. She will hang when they find her, won’t she?”

Hugh felt uncomfortable in the face of his sister’s blind acceptance of Lady Cavanaugh’s guilt, considering Phoebe’s insistence that her mistress had been wronged.

But then, Phoebe’s faithfulness was one of the reasons he loved her.

He hoped she’d be as faithful a mistress to him as she had been a faithful servant to Lady Cavanaugh.

“So you’ll offer Phoebe something to do as you ask?” Ada was like a dog with a bone. “Tell her you’ll buy her a necklace. She won’t be able to resist that. Women like that need to take what they can get, when they can, so they have some security for their future, since she knows she can’t marry you.”

“Stop!” Hugh put up his hand and strove for forbearance.

Surprised, Ada looked at him.

Hugh closed his eyes and drew in a breath. “You’ve just said Phoebe is faithful. It’s true. She’s a good woman, and I don’t like to hear you speak in this manner. You should not!”

“It’s only the truth.”

“Phoebe does not need to shore up her future for I have promised to protect her, look after her. We are going to London at the end of the week, and you are going to Aunt Belcher’s.” He sent her a warning look when it looked like she might interrupt. “After that, I don’t want you ever to mention Phoebe again.”

“You’re getting rid of her?”

“Lord, no!” He was surprised at what a jolt his sister’s question occasioned. “To the contrary, I’m very much looking forward to the future we will fashion together in the anonymity of London, but she is not someone you are to mention, ever again, for you should know nothing about Phoebe and women like her.”

“Goodness, Hugh, you do sound fierce. Does she fee

l as strongly about you in return?”