An Unexpected Marriage with the Earl: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (Noble Gentlemen of the Ton) by Bridget Barton

Author:Bridget Barton [Barton, Bridget]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Regal Quill Publishing
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“I was so foolish, Edmund. I believed what Wilhelmina said—she even had a note from you, well, I thought it was from you. I’ve been so naïve,” Johanna said, after she had explained her version of events to him.

Edmund shook his head, the light of the lamp burning in the carriage illuminating his features. He looked terrible—pale and withdrawn, as though the shock had been overwhelming.

“You’re not to blame, Johanna. I knew what they’d done the moment Wilhelmina came running to find me. A cruel trick, but one with unfortunate consequences for us both,” Edmund replied.

“But we know what happened—you know I wouldn’t ever...well, it’s unthinkable,” Johanna replied, still feeling utterly relieved at knowing Edmund believed her.

“Yes, but it’s not just us, is it? It’s the ton. They already have their suspicions about our marriage—that it was too hasty, that you were with child, that we were caught in a compromise in the woods together. It might all have died down, but if Lavinia and her mother put it about that...well, you were caught with another man,” he said, shaking his head.

Johanna had not thought of that. She had believed Lavinia’s plans had been thwarted—that her attempt at being the sympathetic shoulder had failed. But this…

“They’ll hold it over us, won’t they? Lavinia wanted you for herself. She’s jealous, and now she’ll stop at nothing to ruin us both,” Johanna said, and Edmund nodded.

“I’m afraid we’re in for a bumpy ride, Johanna,” he said, and now he reached his hands across the compartment, taking hers and sighing.

Johanna was grateful to him for what he had done—for believing her, and for standing by her. She had been terrified of losing him, and in that terror, she had come to realize the depth of her feelings toward him. She was falling in love with him, and to think there were forces acting against them, trying to drive them apart, filled her with sorrow.

“I’m so sorry, Edmund. I was naïve. I thought it was you behind the mask,” she said, but Edmund only squeezed her hand, a weak smile coming over his face.

“You weren’t naïve. They played a cruel trick on you—a terrible trick. On us both. I’m sorry for my own naivete. I thought I could maintain an acquaintance with Lavinia—that she’d accept my having married and be done with it. I thought Roger had intentions toward her, though I can only hope he’ll put them aside,” Edmund replied.

Lavinia had played them all for fools, but as for getting what she really wanted, she was now further away than ever. Johanna knew there was no question of Edmund looking elsewhere, and in that, at least, she could take comfort. Their reputation in the ton might well now be ruined, but they would weather the storm together. In that moment, Johanna felt closer to Edmund than ever before, and as he held her hands in his, she knew she would never have even looked at another man as she now looked at him.

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