Deceived

am truly sorry.'

Valerian Hawkesworth shook his head. 'It is not your fault, George, and I am glad that you and Aurora are here at last. We will remain in London a few weeks, but then we will return to Hawkes Hill. Calandra will come, too, even if I have to drag her by the hair on her head. I have had enough of her childishness! Enough of her friends! Men like Trahern, whose reputations are not the best. Calandra seems to have no sense where her friends are concerned. The time has come, however, for her to do her duty by Farminster and give me an heir. She will not return to London again until she has!'

The two men talked awhile longer by the fire, sipping the amber whiskey in their glasses until it was gone. Then the duke escorted his brother-in-law to his bedroom, and bid him good night.

'Wickham,' George said when he was alone with his servant. 'Do you know what room Miss Aurora is in?'

The valet nodded. 'Aye, sir.'

'Go and learn from Martha whether my sister is still awake.'

The valet hurried out, returning a few moments later. 'She's still up, sir. Follow me.' And he led his master down the hall to Aurora's room, knocking on the door, and then opening it for his master.

George entered the room to find his sister sitting up in bed in her nightgown, a nightcap on her head, sipping more tea. 'Still cold?' he asked her, noting the down coverlet on the bed.

'I'm finally warming up,' she said. 'What did the duke have to say? What is the matter with Cally? Martha, bring my brother a chair, and then remain to hear what he has to tell us.'

George sat in the chair that the servant supplied and then told the two women what the duke had reported to him. 'Valerian has been very patient, and most understanding, I feel,' he concluded.

'We should hear what Cally has to say,' Aurora told him.

'It will be but her opinion of how she is treated, and have nothing to do with the facts of the matter,' George responded. 'You yourself were shocked by her behavior today, Aurora.'

She nodded. 'I was,' she admitted, 'but this is all so unlike Cally.' She sighed. 'Still, the dowager's words to me but confirm the duke's more intimate tale to you. What a coil.'

'You should have married him the way your papa planned,' Martha said grimly. 'But you would have your own way, and now look what has happened.'

'It is too late for regrets,' Aurora said. 'Let us sleep on it, and then we will see how we may help Cally and the duke to mend fences. Surely there is something we can do.'

'The last time you three did something…' Martha began.

'Don't scold us, Martha,' George said, arising. Then he bent and kissed his stepsister. 'Good night, Aurora.' As he opened the door, he gave Martha a quick kiss on the cheek too, and then was gone.

'Young devil!' Martha muttered, but she wasn't angry.

***

Calandra had not changed her habits of childhood, and would not awaken much before noon, Sally informed them. She was prettily attired in gray with a white lace cap, and looked very smart. But like her mistress, she, too, had changed. She was superior and sharp with Martha, which did not please the older woman.

'Gotten a bit above herself, I'm thinking,' Martha said dourly. She settled a breakfast tray on Aurora's lap. The tray was set with exquisite fine china and heavy silver service. It contained poached eggs in a heavy cream sauce with peppercorns grated over the top, lovely pink country ham, fresh bread, butter, and honey. 'I've set the tea on the sidetable, miss,' Martha said.

Aurora ate with greater appetite than she would have thought she had. Everything was absolutely delicious, and seasoned to perfection. When she had finished every single scrap, and was sipping her saucer of tea, there came a knock upon the door. Outside was the duke's man, Browne. The duke wondered if Miss Aurora would like to take a carriage ride to see some of the city. Her brother, of course, would accompany them, Browne said seriously.

'Tell him yes,' Aurora said to Martha.

Her bath was filled, and she bathed, then dressed, Martha carefully arranging her hair, which was clean and free of salt for the first time in weeks. The servant then set her mistress's fur-lined cape upon her shoulders, drawing the hood up carefully, and handing her a pair of fur-lined gloves.

'Now, you make certain you keep warm,' she cautioned.

George arrived, and escorted his stepsister down into the wide lover where the duke was awaiting them.

'Good morning,' he greeted the pair. 'The carriage is waiting for us outside. As I am certain that you will want to spend some time with Calandra this afternoon, Aurora, I have arranged for us to have a drive through Hyde Park. You must yet be tired. Is there anything in London that you would like to see?'

'Could we go to the British Museum?' she asked.

'Of course,' he said, not telling her that the museum was open only three hours a day, and that tickets must be obtained weeks in advance. He was certain he could pull a string or two so she might visit this relatively new wonder.

Farminster House was located on the west side of Grosvenor Square. It had been built in 1740. Of redbrick with stone dressings, it stood three stories high, atop which were attics for the servants.

'If it were warmer,' the duke said as they settled themselves in the vehicle, 'we should ride in an open carriage, but I believe you will be able to see enough through the windows of this coach.'

The horses stepped smartly around the square and onto Upper Grosvenor Street, which led right into Hyde Park. Aurora was delighted to see how close they were to this beautiful greensward with its watercourses. From Upper Grosvenor they turned onto Park Lane. The park, the duke explained, had once been a royal hunting ground, but had been opened to the public in the previous century. Deer of several varieties could still be found within Hyde Park's brick walls. The late Queen Caroline had been something of a landscape gardener, and working with the finest architects of her day had done many things to increase the beauty of the park. Among her accomplishments was having the river Westbourne damned to form the Serpentine, an exquisite lake.

'We will just drive about the perimeter of the park today,' Valerian said. 'It is still too cold for you to walk abroad. My grandmama would be quite put out if I should be responsible for your getting a chill. Not to mention how angry Calandra would be, for she has great plans, I am certain, to take you about to all the most fashionable parties.'

'I do not believe I shall find the parties as fascinating as I will find the museum,' Aurora replied. Then she said, 'George has told me of the estrangement between you and my sister. I will do my best to convince Cally of the errors of her ways.'

Valerian Hawkesworth shook his head. 'You are kind, Aurora, but I fear your task an impossible one. I know you little better than I knew Calandra when we were married, and yet I believe you would have made me a far better wife than your sister. What a pity that you were not the heiress I was to wed.'

Aurora flushed a bright pink.

'Forgive me,' the duke said hastily. 'I have embarrassed you, and I certainly did not mean to do so.' He took her gloved hand in his. 'Will you forgive me, Aurora?'