Dangerous in Diamonds - Madeline Hunter [120]
“And miss this? I’ll give birth in the reception hall first.” Audrianna looked around. “Oh, good, the bishops came.”
“I thought Latham would die when they walked in,” Daphne said. She could not enjoy the show quite the same as Audrianna. The real drama had not begun yet. Its success would depend on her.
Lord Sebastian had brought up his wife, scowling with annoyance that she had insisted on this odd visit when her time was past due. Now he looked around, curiously, his gaze resting on those bishops and on several matrons known to see themselves as bulwarks of society.
He turned that speculative gaze on his wife. “Do we own this house now? Or did we only rent it?”
“Neither,” she said. “Verity provided the money for the lease. Do not tell Hawkeswell, please. It is really none of our business, if you think about it.”
Summerhays thought that amusing. “It is a very expensive party that you have helped Mrs. Joyes host.”
“We expect it to cost someone else a good deal more than it cost us, before it is over,” she said blithely. “Oh, here is Celia and Albrighton. Is everyone here now, Daphne?”
“Yes.” She could be excused for hoping Celia would be delayed. She had no doubts about her course of action, but she did not relish walking onto the stage.
From across the drawing room, Verity caught her eye and subtly nodded. All who are coming are here, her gaze said. Have heart. We are with you.
Daphne walked to the center of the chamber. Latham, standing with his uncles the bishops, gave her a very private, very angry look.
She raised her voice and began a welcome of her guests. Talk drifted off and silence fell as attention came her way.
“You may wonder why you are here. The invitations from my friends hinted at a great spectacle, and perhaps some of you anticipate a virtuoso at a violin or the demonstration of some startling new invention. Those of you who read those letters closely, however, may have guessed that the spectacle would result from an amazing revelation and make for excellent gossip and scandal.” She turned to the bishops. “Not you, of course.”
A gentle laughter flowed at that. One of the bishops, a plump, hearty fellow, smiled. The other, thin and wizened and much older, scowled.
“Some of you know me as Mrs. Joyes. I have provided flowers for your garden parties or weddings, or greenery for your conservatories. I must tell you now, that is not my name. I am Daphne Avonleah, and I was never married. I took the name Mrs. Joyes to explain a peculiar period in my history. Of significance is that my father was a gentleman of Shropshire county named Michael Avonleah. He was a friend of the last Duke of Becksbridge, who took me into his household upon my father’s death.”
Her composure wobbled. She looked at Celia, Audrianna, and Verity for reassurance and strength.
“You must tell them,” Celia said clearly. “There has been silence for too long.”
A little rumble of voices reacted to that. Daphne noticed some white by the doorway. Margaret rose on her toes and looked over shoulders, her eyes burning.
“While I was in the duke’s household,” Daphne continued, “his son, the Earl of Latham, seduced me, and took my innocence despite my pleas that he stop.”
“Lies,” one of the bishops exclaimed.
“Nonsense,” a voice on the other side of the chamber muttered.
“Believe what you will about me, but there were other unfortunates before and after me, for whom there was no seduction but only brute force.”
“This is slander of the most insidious kind.” Latham pretended to be much shocked and distressed. He looked to his uncles for sympathy. They nodded and speared Daphne with dangerous glares.
“Be most careful, Mrs. Joyes, or whoever you are. Accusing a man of a crime in this way is most serious, and you could well find yourself in Newgate Prison,” the old, wizened uncle threatened.
“She is friends with wives of some political opponents,” Latham said sadly. “That men would go to such extremes to silence my voice is the real scandal.”
“Best that you be careful now, Latham,” Hawkeswell said. “There