Part 10 (2/2)
Daphne stepped into the gallery. Her mother ran to her at once, embracing her. Charles followed swiftly, and put his arms around both women, holding them close to him protectively.
After a moment, Charlotte said quietly, ”I shall be in the lavender bedroom, here in the South Wing. And when you are ready to hear them I will tell you my plans for Daphne. For the moment you must be together to discuss this problem, and comfort each other.”
Charles simply inclined his head, half smiled at Charlotte. ”Thank you,” he murmured softly, and turned back to his daughter and his wife. His concern for them was apparent, as was his deep love.
Sitting at the small antique writing desk in the lavender bedroom, Charlotte used this time to refine the plans she had made in her head over the last few days. She thought they would work; she prayed they would. Once they were put into operation, she believed she and the Inghams could save Daphne, and their reputation as a family. That was her aim, and her duty. She was a Swann. And there were other Swanns to a.s.sist her.
A short while later, Daphne found Charlotte in the lavender bedroom and they went back to the sitting room together. She could tell that the Inghams were supportive of their daughter, very loving with her. Daphne was more relaxed, and looked relieved.
Once they were seated, Charles asked, ”Who else knows about this situation, Charlotte?”
”The four of us, and Alice and Walter.”
”So we're safe, it's a secret.” He glanced at Daphne. ”You haven't told any of your sisters, have you?”
”No, Papa, I haven't. Mrs. Alice told me that I shouldn't ... she said, Tell no one. Trust no one in this house, except your parents and the Swanns.' I listened to her, and I did as she said.”
”I'm glad to hear that, Daphne.” Turning to Charlotte, he asked, ”So, what plans have you developed?”
”Maintaining the secret is the first vital rule,” Charlotte replied. ”If you feel the need to talk, if you're troubled-” She looked pointedly at Daphne and Felicity, then continued, ”Talk to each other, or to Alice, or me. Try to speak in a private place where you can't be overheard. All right? Remember, there must be no gossip about you, Daphne.”
They both nodded, and Charlotte went on. ”The next thing is your demeanor. You must behave as normally as possible. All of you. Not one single person should think something is wrong or amiss. That is especially important as far as you're concerned, Daphne. As Alice told you, please keep up that happy front.” She sat back in the chair, and paused for a second before saying, to Charles, ”Your father once told me something I've never forgotten, and it's this: Never show weakness, never lose face.”
Charles nodded. ”He said the same thing to me, and it's good to remember his words, and to follow his advice.”
”Now, let's get to the pregnancy. The attack on Daphne was May the third, today is July twelfth. By my calculation that's around two months into the pregnancy. So, for the next four months I feel certain we can conceal Daphne's condition.”
”How is that possible?” Charles asked, raising a brow questioningly.
”Daphne will be able to wear the clothes she has now, and for quite a few weeks. During that time Alice will make some very well-cut outfits for her, that will hide her condition. Also, Daphne is tall and slender like her mother, which helps. As I recall, her ladys.h.i.+p didn't show for a long time.” As she said this, Charlotte looked at Felicity for confirmation of her statement.
The countess nodded and said to Charles, ”I didn't actually show until at least six months into my pregnancies. Let's hope Daphne is the same.”
He was silent, hoping his wife and Charlotte were right.
Charlotte leaned forward, and focused again on Felicity. ”I believe Daphne can safely stay here at Cavendon through the summer season, and attend all of the events without anyone knowing a thing, your ladys.h.i.+p. The clothes she wears, her demeanor, and the way she's built will all work in her favor. Don't you think?”
”I certainly do, and it's good that things continue in a normal way.”
For a moment Charlotte sat thinking, before finally saying, ”Daphne will have to disappear at one moment, and I came up with another idea. Why not have her take a European tour? Many young women do that before becoming debutantes, and being presented to the king and queen at Court.”
”That's an excellent idea,” Felicity replied, and glanced at Charles. ”Don't you agree?”
”Yes, I do. But who will accompany her?”
”If you wish, your lords.h.i.+p, I could do that, act as a chaperone and companion. I do think there will come a time when Daphne must leave here, when she begins to show.”
”I would like her to do a European tour,” Charles answered, finding himself more at ease the more Charlotte talked this out with them. ”How do you feel about it, darling?” he asked Daphne, smiling at her, resisting the impulse to grab hold of her, keep her close, and safe, always.
”I would like that, Papa, and anyway there aren't many other solutions. I couldn't live at the Mayfair house, because of the staff. So this tour sounds like the answer.” Turning to look at Charlotte, she added, ”I would enjoy being with you, Miss Charlotte, and certainly it would mean I could relax. Because I would be showing by October, don't you think?”
Charlotte nodded.
”And after the tour?” Felicity asked, eyeing Charlotte. ”What is the next step?”
”Perhaps Daphne could come home to Cavendon for a couple of weeks, and then she would tell you she would like to attend a finis.h.i.+ng school in either Paris or Switzerland. Obviously, she won't be going to a finis.h.i.+ng school, but she will have the proper tutors, and will learn a lot. We would be using a.s.sumed names.”
”And Daphne could come home in the new year well polished, with French on the tip of her tongue, and a bit of real Parisian chic?” Charles threw Charlotte a questioning look.
”That's exactly what I had in mind, Lord Mowbray.”
”Where will Daphne give birth?” Charles inquired quietly.
”In a good hospital in the south of England, maybe in Kent, one of the southern counties, anyway. And again, under an a.s.sumed name.”
”And what happens to the baby?” Felicity asked in a low, troubled voice.
”That's up to the family, but I think you have plenty of time to make a decision about adoption. I'm not sure you have any other choice,” Charlotte answered gently.
”Well, I think you've helped to ease our worries,” Charles said, giving Charlotte a faint smile. ”We're very grateful to you. We'll be discussing things and making the right decisions when the time is appropriate. Now, Charlotte, won't you join us for lunch?”
”Thank you, your lords.h.i.+p, but I did make an arrangement with Alice that is a bit hard to break. However, if you like, I could come to tea this afternoon. Would that be all right? I would love to see Guy.”
”That would be perfect,” Felicity said swiftly. ”Aunt Gwendolyn is coming; in fact the whole family will be present. And naturally you are welcome.”
Twenty-one.
Later that afternoon, Charles Ingham, the Sixth Earl of Mowbray, climbed the moors to an outcropping of giant-sized rocks. They dated as far back as the glaciers that had covered Yorks.h.i.+re in the time of the Ice Age, and they were known as High Skell.
The monolithic rocks were formed in a semicircle and created a secluded and protected area. It was a place Charles had always favored since his childhood.
The weather had clouded over slightly, and as he strode toward the rocks he glanced up at the sky. Despite its leaden aspect, he knew it wouldn't rain. He went and sat down on one of the flat stones and leaned back against a wall of rocks, closing his eyes for a moment, relaxing his taut muscles. He thought of High Skell as his private place, where he could think more clearly and sort out all of the machinations rumbling around in his head.
In this vast and desolate stretch of moorland, he found a certain tranquility, a deep sense of peace. There was nothing here but sky and moors, and the keening of the wind coming off the North Sea when the weather was inclement.
The vast emptiness was a blessing. Nothing intruded. He had only his thoughts to contend with. Here he could sort them out, find the focus to solve his problems. And so he had come up here to be alone. And to mourn.
He had been shaken to his very core by Charlotte's revelations a few hours ago. What had happened to his beloved daughter, his darling Daphne, had been a million-to-one chance. For a child of his to be raped on his own land was unimaginable, utterly appalling. It had broken his heart today, destroyed all of his plans and dreams for her. And her dreams as well.
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