A Defiant Liaison

XV

"After all, when a stone is dropped into a pond, the water continues quivering even after the stone has sunk to the bottom." Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

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XV.

Belle knew enough of written English to recognise her name. She could read and write that well enough and was clever enough to know that her name was quite plastered all over the newspaper that the duke had had delivered to Ashwood House all the way from London.

"Thank the Lord that Susanna and Alex are away on their wedding journey," Grace murmured as she read over Adam's shoulder, taking in what the newspaper had to say.

The duke did, indeed, look very seriously displeased as he read. Belle did not think that she had ever seen the duke appear so serious and angry. How she wished that she could read the newspaper, too. Selfishly, she wanted to know what they had said about her. She wanted to know what they were writing. If her name was in conjunction with Susanna's, then Belle worried that it was not good. Surely, they were speaking negatively about a lady, such as Susanna, marrying a black freedman. Certainly, they would have a similar view on her black wedding gown designer.

"Ignorant twits, the lot of them," cursed Adam. "How dare they write of Susanna in such a way and cast Alex in such a poor light. What do they know? I have half a mind to set Mother on them all."

"Cecily does have a copy of the same newspaper up in her bedroom with her breakfast. I would wager she might be halfway to London by now," replied Grace. "You know what they are like in London. As soon as any of the gossip mongers catch a taste of a scandal, they run with it, spreading it about like wildfire without a care for the damage caused. They did the same thing when you married me, don't you recall?"

Adam's face, if it could be believed, fell even deeper into a furious expression. "Yes, I do remember what these bloody rags said about you, Grace," he said through gritted teeth.

Belle had become aware of the fact that before she had become Adam's wife, and the Duchess of Ashwood, Grace had been employed as a maid in this house. Learning that had been of great comfort to Belle, to know that there were truly good masters.

But clearly, as evidenced by the obviously negative story about Susanna and Alex in the newspaper, the London press had not received the news of a servant duchess well.

"It will die down just as soon as the newest scandal erupts," Grace assured her husband. "And while I would never wish for misfortune to befall anybody, it is inevitable that it will. When the press realise that they will not get any more of a story from Susanna and Alex, as they plan to make their lives quietly here, they will move on."

Belle knew that it was not right, that it was highly selfish and inappropriate, to ask the duke to read the newspaper aloud. She remained silent as she consumed her breakfast, while their small party was joined by Jack, who was dressed very casually in a light pair of breeches and a lazily buttoned shirt.

"And what a merry party we are this morning," Jack commented as he swiped a pear from the tureen of fruit before plopping down into a chair beside his brother. "Who died?"

"Our sister's reputation," muttered Adam as he folded the newspaper shut and discarded it on the table. He then reached for his cup of tea and drank the lot in one go.

Jack bit into his pear. "What fun is a good reputation anyway?" he asked, his mouth full. "I, myself, have a little experience with scandal."

"No, really?" asked Adam facetiously.

Jack smirked. "It's healthy to break the rules now and then. It keeps society on their toes. Pushes them in the right direction, you know?"

"I am glad that you are so optimistic," returned Adam.