Page 41 of Brazen Rogue
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Reign walked into Lord Chilsten's library the following morning and found Julia with her husband, looking at her expectantly. "Come, sit," Julia said, a warm smile on her face.
Her friend had been the epitome of comfort these past days, and she did not know what she would have done without her. She had allowed her to cry on her shoulder and to vent when she needed. A truer friend she could not have asked for.
Reign sat, folding her hands in her lap, and wondered what this impromptu meeting was about.
"Reign, as you know, you came into an inheritance from your late uncle. One whom you did not know," Lord Chilsten informed her.
She nodded, having already expected this information to arise now that she was in London, and since it had been some weeks since his passing. "Yes, that is right. I was informed of his passing before we left Derbyshire, but there were few details at that stage as to what I would inherit. I believe the sum to be a hundred pounds or thereabouts," she said, hoping that was still true. It would certainly help her not feel so dependent on her friends until she left.
"Well, yes, that is partially true. There is a hundred pounds coming, but there was an error on the missive that reached Lupton-Gage, and the actual sum you and your distant cousins will be receiving each is ten thousand pounds."
"Excuse me?" Reign stuttered. She clasped her chest, sure her heart was about to beat out of her body. "That cannot be right. He could not have been so generous, surely?" she asked, laughing at her question and the absurdity of it.
"It is indeed true, Reign. You're an heiress and independent from this day forward. I know it does not repair what was between you and Lupton-Gage, but you are no longer dependent on anyone. You may do as you wish, maybe find love once more and marry."
"Or I could be happy on my own, back in my cottage in Grafton, if I can purchase it back," she said, the idea of returning to her small village, hiding away and allowing her heart to heal more tempting than anything else.
"Or you could do that," Lord Chilsten agreed, his smile full of pity.
And that was the crux of staying here in London. Everyone would look at her with pity except for Lady Lupton-Gage, who would be as smug as she had been during their coming out year.
"Would you like me to see if you can purchase your cottage back?" his lordship asked her. "It may not be too late."
Hope, an emotion she had not felt in several days, ran through her, and she nodded. "Please, if you would. I would be most grateful. Returning to Grafton will allow me to heal and gather my thoughts. I'm not certain what the future holds, but I know it does not include marriage to Bellamy."
"Oh, Reign," Julia cooed, coming over to her and wrapping her arm about her shoulders. "Time will heal your wound."
Reign glanced up at her friend, knowing Julia meant well, but the words held little comfort. They grated upon her, taunted her, and hurt her more than she could say, knowing how false they were. That her life was not as she had wished it. "If you were to lose Lord Chilsten, would your heart heal, Julia?" she asked her, patting her friend's hand on her shoulder.
Julia stared at her, and Reign could see that she did not need to answer the question to know what she thought. "I think I shall return to my room. I'm terribly tired. It has been a long two days."
"We shall see you at dinner," Lord Chilsten said, empathy still shadowing his gaze whenever it lighted on her.
Reign nodded. "Thank you, yes," she said, leaving them alone. A way of life she, too, would need to get used to, for she would never marry now. That dream was lost to her just as Bellamy was.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Reign had been able to avoid Bellamy for the week after their betrothal announcement, which had ended with Lady Lupton-Gage returning from the dead to ruin all her hopes.
She supposed she could not blame the woman for wanting to return to England and try to salvage some of her past, but the thought of her being under the same roof as Bellamy left a cold ache where her heart used to beat.
She missed him. Wanted him still, married as he was, and tonight at his ball, which had once been meant for them and their happiness, was now in celebration of Lady Lupton-Gage's return.
All of society would be there, if only to watch the games afoot regarding the marchioness. Reign had little doubt the woman would heed the advice and remain chaste and proper. She had never done so before in her marriage, and Reign knew she would not start now.
Poor Bellamy would have to try to keep up with her to smother any scandals the woman would cause all over town.
Reign entered the ballroom with Lord and Lady Chilsten, who had recommended she attend, if only to show publicly she had not meant to cause strife between the marquess and his wife by becoming betrothed to him when she was still alive. Reign held her head high, not wanting to be pitied for the rest of her life.
"You will do wonderfully, Reign. I know tonight will be difficult for you," Julia said yet again, possibly for the tenth time already this evening. "But we shall be by your side."
Reign smiled, trying to put her friend at ease, who seemed more nervous than she was. "Truly, I shall have to face them eventually if I'm to stay in town. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I did not know she was alive, and nor did Lord Lupton-Gage. Much better to find out now instead of after our wedding night."
Julia gasped, covering her mouth with her silk-covered hand. "Do not even say such a thing. You would have been ruined for sure had such an occasion occurred, even if it were not your fault."
"Life is unfair, and more so for the female sex," Lord Chilsten drawled as they moved through the throng.
