Part 10 (1/2)

He mentioned this to Felicity as they caught up with her, and she immediately agreed.

They returned to the pale green sitting room, and Felicity said, ”Thank you again, Charlotte, and now I must be off. I have so many-”

”You can't leave, darling,” the earl interrupted swiftly. ”When I told you earlier I wanted you to see the South Wing, I also explained that Charlotte wished to speak to us. About something important.”

The countess looked at Charlotte, frowning. ”Do you have some sort of problem?”

”No, I don't, my lady. You and the earl do. And when the Inghams have problems, so do the Swanns.”

”What is it, Charlie?” the earl asked, reverting to his childhood name for her, suddenly aware of her troubled expression, the worry flooding her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she replied, ”I think it would be a good idea if you both sat down...” Her voice trailed off.

Felicity appeared to hesitate, obviously longing to go about her own business, but Charles knew instinctively that something was awfully wrong. ”Come along, Felicity, sit next to me here on the sofa,” he insisted.

Reluctantly, Felicity did so, her eyes now riveted on Charlotte. ”What is it you want to discuss? Surely it can't be that bad?”

Lowering herself into a chair next to them, Charlotte answered quietly, ”It is indeed very bad, Lady Mowbray. You are both facing a situation that is almost insurmountable. It could be ruinous. It could easily bring down the House of Ingham.”

Felicity was gaping at her, her eyes filled with bafflement, obviously unable to come to grips with such a preposterous suggestion.

Charles Ingham, the Sixth Earl of Mowbray, trusted Charlotte Swann with his life. He knew she was not exaggerating. That was not her way. His face paled and apprehension filled his light blue eyes as he focused on her.

”Let's have it, Charlotte,” he said, bracing himself.

Twenty.

Taking a deep breath, Charlotte said, ”Daphne's pregnant.” Her eyes did not leave their faces as she uttered these fateful words.

They fell into the room like an exploding bomb.

For a moment Charles and Felicity could not say a word, so stunned and shocked were they. They looked at each other in alarm, and then gaped at Charlotte, obviously filled with total disbelief, based on the expressions on their faces. It was as if they couldn't comprehend what she had announced so bluntly.

”No! No! That can't be!” Charles exclaimed in a loud, angry voice. ”Not Daphne! That's not possible! She doesn't know any men. So how can she be pregnant?” He shuddered as he said that word, shaking his head vehemently. Charlotte is mistaken, he thought; she has to be. There is no truth in her statement. Daphne cannot be pregnant. Not my Daphne.

Felicity found her voice at last. ”I agree with Charles,” she exclaimed, her voice shrill, harsh. She brought a trembling hand to her mouth in an effort to stifle the sobs bubbling up in her throat.

”She would never break her code of honor, or let us down. She is part of Charles's plan; she wants to marry the son of a duke. She has integrity, and it's true, she doesn't know any men, other than Julian Torbett, but-”

Felicity could not control her raging emotions, and she began to sob once more, tears coursing down her cheeks.

Charles moved closer to her on the sofa, and put his arm around her, endeavoring to calm her. But she was distraught, just as he was himself. He was still suffering from shock, and he felt as though his strength had drained away. For the first time in his life he was floored, so startled by this horrendous news that he was undone.

Holding his weeping wife in his arms, he looked across at Charlotte helplessly, and cleared his throat. His voice shook when he finally asked, ”Who did this to her?”

Charlotte swallowed, and answered unsteadily, ”I don't know. We don't know, and-”

”Do you mean she hasn't told you who her ... lover is?” Felicity cried, the pitch of her voice higher than ever, her face white as bleached linen.

”There is no lover, your ladys.h.i.+p. Daphne did not have a liaison with a man. She is the innocent victim. She was either attacked by a stranger, or forced by someone she knew. She was raped.”

”Are you saying Julian Torbett raped her?” Charles exclaimed, his voice echoing with anger. He was astounded, and added, ”Surely not Julian ... he was so meek.”

”I don't know that it was him. She hasn't been very forthcoming about what actually happened-”

”When did this take place?” Charles demanded.

”On the Sat.u.r.day you had lunch with her and the girls. May the third. She went to Havers Lodge after lunch-”

”I remember that!” he interrupted, cutting her off. ”Daphne told me she was going to Havers Lodge to see Julian, to tell him that he could invite Madge Courtney to come to the annual summer ball. Perhaps I'm wrong about him. Maybe he did force her; yes, that's what happened.”

”You're right, Charles, I concur with you,” Felicity said quietly, now endeavoring to control herself. ”It must have been at the lodge, when she was there.”

”No, no,” Charlotte interjected. ”It was in the bluebell woods...” She let her voice trail off when she saw the shock on their faces once again. This was hard for them to bear.

”On our land!” Charles shouted, his usual constraint evaporating. His anger was spiraling once more.

Felicity, looking thoughtful, murmured in a low voice, ”I know Julian was engaged to Madge Courtney, but mostly that was because Daphne never showed any interest in him romantically. Her heart was set on following the plans Charles had made for her. However, I always believed Julian was enamored of her. In my opinion, Madge was second choice. Anyway, Madge is rich, let's not forget. The Torbetts favor women with great fortunes, you know.”

There was a long silence.

Charlotte broke it when she said, ”I think I should tell you everything I know. After that you must talk to Daphne. She is terrified, and beside herself with grief and sorrow. She's trying to keep up a good front, encouraged by Alice to do so. But she really needs you, needs your comfort, your love and understanding.”

”Of course she does,” Charles agreed, endeavoring to calm himself. The shock had not entirely receded. ”Daphne is a wonderful young woman, and obviously she is totally innocent. We must rea.s.sure her that we are on her side, and that we will help her in every way we can.”

Felicity took a deep breath. ”We will make sure she gets through this, Charlotte, but what are we going to do about her condition? How will we keep it a secret? Hide her pregnancy? Lead a normal life? What if the secret leaks out? She'll be ruined. The family will be ruined, as you warned. And what about next year? She's supposed to come out as a debutante, be presented at Court? What can we do to sustain the family's reputation?”

”I've come up with a plan. First, I would like to fill you in about Daphne's ordeal.”

”Yes, do that, Charlie, tell us everything.” Charles sat back, waiting, an expectant expression on his face.

Charlotte, leaning forward, her hands clasped together, did exactly that ... told them everything they had to know, however unpalatable this was.

Once she had concluded her story, Charles rose. After thanking her, he looked at his wife. ”We must now go and find Daphne to console her, and give her our support. She must be beside herself.”

”Yes, she must be.” Felicity also stood up, but at that precise moment there was a knock on the door of the South Wing. It was Charlotte who ran to open it.

Daphne was standing there, looking truly beautiful in a pale blue outfit, and it was obvious she was apprehensive.

”Come in, come in, Lady Daphne. Your parents were about to come looking for you,” Charlotte told her with a wide smile. ”They understand you are totally innocent,” she finished in a slightly lower tone.