Chapter Ten
“You want to do what?” asked Lucy, her eyes wide with incredulity.
“I must say, Artemis, it sounds a trifle risky,” added Jane.
Artemis regarded her friends across the afternoon-tea-laden table in Mr. Delaney’s parlor. “I know, but if I can make this work, with your help”—she caught each of her friends’ gazes in turn—“I will be truly free to pursue my goal of finding a patroness for my academic college at long last. And because Aunt Roberta will have washed her hands of me, she’ll focus all her attention on finding a husband for Phoebe instead.”
“Your reasoning is sound and no one could doubt your motives, Artemis, but…” Jane, always the sensible one, looked unconvinced. “It could all go horribly wrong.”
“There won’t be any issue at all with you staying with me as a companion once your aunt disowns you, Artemis,” added Lucy. “So I don’t want you to worry on that score. But have you thought about how you will persuade the Duke of Dartmoor to go along with your plan? Do you think that he will?”
Artemis had already disclosed her attraction to the duke and their prior encounters, including their tryst at the Castledowns’ ball the night before. “Well, as I mentioned, he did ask to see me again.”
“Yes, but for a romantic liaison, Artemis,” said Lucy. “What you are suggesting is something else entirely.”
“In the interest of full disclosure, I think you must tell him about your scheme and ask for his consent to participate,” added Jane. “He has a right to know what he might be getting himself into.”
“Because he’s a man—and a nobleman at that—the risk to his reputation is minimal,” said Artemis. “But you’re right. I should ask him if he’s willing to be involved.” She tried to imagine what the duke might say to her proposition but couldn’t. Would he say yes or dismiss her outright? He might even laugh at her. Oh, how lowering that would be.
“I’m glad you agree,” said Jane. “Now, the next important step in your plan is to work out strategies to minimize the risk to you. As you said, this needs to be a strategic ruination.”
“Yes. I can’t actually be ruined in a public sense,” agreed Artemis. “If my reputation is destroyed in truth, there is no way on earth that I will be able to open my college. Who would send their daughter to an establishment with a hussy for a headmistress? Aside from that, I don’t wish to spoil Phoebe’s chances at finding a match. That wouldn’t be fair.”
“Have you thought of telling your aunt that you are already deflowered? I meanweknow you’re not,” said Jane. “But if she believes your white lie, she might disown you outright anyway.”
Artemis’s cheeks grew hot. Oh, if only her friends knew that she’d lost her virginity long ago! But to make such a confession would mean recounting her affair with Guy de Burgh, and she couldn’t do it. The humiliation would be too much. “Icouldfabricate a story for Aunt Roberta,” she said at length, “but I don’t think it would make a difference. Because no one else knows that I’m not as pure as the driven snow, it wouldn’t really matter to her. Unless I fell pregnant. But of course I’m not with child so…” She shrugged.
“Hmmm. I see your point,” said Lucy. “It’s thethreatof a public ruination that is important here, not the actual deed. Still, it will certainly be a delicate operation.”
Jane tapped her chin. “What if we lead Lady Wagstaff to where Artemis and her duke are having their tryst, and she discovers them in flagrante?” she said. “Then, all you and I have to do, Lucy, is make lots of noise along the lines of ‘Oh no, look someone’s coming this way. What if they see something? What if someone tattles to one of the gossip rags?’ You know, make a bit of a kerfuffle that impresses upon Lady Wagstaff that word about the trystwillget out and that imminent social disaster is nigh, even if it isn’t.”
Lucy clapped her hands. “Excellent idea. This might just work. Now, all we have to do is decide which ball this staged ruination will take place at, arrange invitations for all of us, and you, my dear Artemis…”
Artemis sighed. “I need to speak with the Duke of Dartmoor. And pray that he agrees.”
Jane settled her green gaze on her. “I have to ask the question though… Have you thought of approaching the duke and asking him to be your school’s patron? You could avoid risking your reputation altogether if you could obtain the funding you need. Then you can do what you like.”
“I have. Briefly but…” Heat flooded Artemis’s cheeks. “After our encounter last night, it feels odd to be asking the duke for money. I worry that I’ll come across as mercenary and perhaps even a little grubby doing so. Of course, we’ve only exchanged kisses but…” She shrugged. “A woman who so readily agrees to romantic trysts at the drop of a hat with a man she barely knows is hardly a paragon of virtue. And I can’t help but think he might not want to support a controversial cause given his own notoriety. And vice versa. No doubt the public endorsement of a forward-thinking noblewoman of influence might serve me better than that of a man known as ‘the Dastardly Duke.’”
“Hmmm, true, but surely it couldn’t hurt to mention your project to him,” said Jane. “He could be a silent partner if nothing else.”
“I suppose I could do that, and if he makes an offer to help of his own volition, I’d seriously consider it. But if he doesn’t”—Artemis gave a wry smile—“I must forge ahead with my ruination scheme no matter what.”
“And there’s no chance at all your aunt would consider becoming a patroness of your college?” asked Lucy.
Artemis shook her head. “Never. She firmly believes that all women should marry and that a finishing school education is all that is necessary. That it’s against the laws of nature to do otherwise.” She released another sigh. “Even if the Duke of Dartmoor or indeed someone else offers to invest in my school, I suspect that my aunt will continue her crusade to see me wed. I’m equally certain my sister will never get her Season until I capitulate. Yes”—Artemis gave an emphatic nod—“Aunt Roberta must disown me completely. This needs to be a clean break. And the only way to achieve that end is for her to catch me red-handed. It’s the shock of seeing me in the arms of a man, along with thethreatof a monumental scandal that will do the trick. She’ll be so horrified by my lack of remorse and refusal to wed that it will be the last straw.”
***
Dominic always enjoyed having dinner at Northam House, even though the occasions were few and far between. His sister employed a damn good cook and her husband, Edward, kept an impressive cellar.
He also enjoyed seeing his two youngest nephews, Teddy and Jasper, high-spirited twins aged seven years old. The two older boys—Rupert and Henry—were now at Eton, but Dominic always made time to visit the nursery to chat with the twins, even though it was a bittersweet exercise. As he listened to the boys prattle away about their favorite toys and games and books and what mischief they’d been up to, he tried not to think about all the might-have-beens with Juliet. It was only natural that the tight reins on his control would loosen, and he would find his thoughts wandering to the son they would never have.
The babe they’d lost… If things had been different, he would have been almost old enough to attend Eton too.
Dominic was always grateful that Horatia and Edward’s company was most diverting at dinner. Edward’s claret during the meal, followed by a nip or two of French cognac, always helped to dilute his grief, at least for a little while.
Just like a certain flame-haired siren who had the ability to make him forget about his all-too-painful past whenever he was with her. As he accepted a third glass of cognac from Edward, he wondered if she would actually agree to meet with him again. Would she be insulted that he’d propositioned her? He would understand entirely if she was.