Page 89 of An Ill-Made Match

“You think me lacking the ingenuity of course, but as I said in the letter, the scheme was of my own making...”

Eden held up a finger. “The drug,” she said.

“From a hawker I met outside the cathedral,” said Lenora quickly.

“But you said ‘he assured me there would be no after-effects’,” Eden reminded her.

Lenora licked her lips. “I meant the hawker of course.”

“No. No I do not believe you would dose me with a drug you had bought from a hawker. Besides, you said ‘Lord Vawdrey assured me’.”

Lenora’s expression was chagrined. “Oh bother!” she exclaimed. “Maybe I am as dim as everyone thinks me!”

Eden glanced again at Lord Vawdrey, who had a smile playing about his lips. “The truth, if you please,” she said crisply.

“The truth is,” interjected Oswald smoothly, “That your cousin and I found ourselves of the same mind on this matter. I too felt that drastic action was required to spur my brother into taking the right course of action. He had been, quite frankly, mooning over you for months. Since that kiss you shared at Midwinter…” Eden made an involuntary movement. “But alas, Roland has never been... shall we say, very self-aware?” Eden felt herself bristle at the criticism. “It’s true, you know,” he said regretfully. “It’s actually something of a family failing, when it comes to matters of the heart. All three of us brothers had something of a blind-spot in this regard. We stumble around in the dark with our feelings, when we should be dragging them out into the open sunlight. At least, until we find the right woman.” He gave his first genuine smile. “Then it all falls into place.”

Eden sat reeling. “But how did you even hatch up such a scheme? How could you drug your own brother?”

“The Lady Lenora and myself simply found ourselves stood next to one another at some function and started talking.” Oswald said reasonably. “As like-minded people do, we found our common ground and our discussion bore fruit.”

Eden didn’t believe that for a minute. She imagined him sidling up to Lenora and planting the seeds of the dastardly plot into her cousin’s mind. But perhaps Lenora had been ripe for such mischief, she thought looking back at her cousin, who was regarding her with anxious eyes. Who would have dreamt that Lenora would act thus?

“I can scarcely believe all this,” she said, closing her eyes. “All this time, I thought I sleep-walked myself into Roland’s bedchamber.” A stunned silence greeted her words.

“That did not occur to me,” said Lenora looking upset. “You have not done that for years!”

“Is Roland aware you thought as much?” asked Oswald looking intrigued.

“No,” said Eden, slumping in her chair. “He simply thinks I set about entrapping him.”

“He would of course,” sighed Oswald.

“Pompous thing!” cried Lenora indignantly. “Well, one good thing can come of our confession, and that is that you can set him right at once!”

Oswald winced. “Perhaps you could postpone such a confrontation, until after the hearing has concluded?” he suggested.

Lenora turned her blue eyes on him. “You don’t think we should take the opportunity tomorrow to confess all to the Queen?”

Oswald looked pained. “I do not think that would be at all constructive,” he said cautiously. “Unless…” he left a pause. “Annulment is the outcome you are hoping for, Eden?”

Eden gave a start. Annulment? Her hand flew to her mouth and she stared down at her feet.

“Are you very unhappy, dearest?” asked Lenora, looking even more distressed. She twisted her handkerchief in her lap. “I vow, I will never try to help anyone ever again! I wrought far less damage when I thought only of myself!”

Eden opened her mouth, but before she could answer, Oswald Vawdrey spoke.

“It is a shame,” he said thoughtfully. “That you were not permitted to hear the testimonies given this morning to the King. They would have set your mind at rest a little I think. People have such very strange views about women’s delicate sensibilities.” He hesitated. “Is there any point that I could qualify regarding the evidence I gave yesterday to the Queen?” he offered. “I think you should know that when I said Roland never once spoke your fair cousin’s name in connection with the betrothal, I spoke the truth. Your name however, has been on his lips many a-time in my hearing. And since that Solstice Eve, I would say, almost constantly.” He gave her a shrewd look as Eden’s cheeks grew pink. “I do not wish to be indelicate, my dear,” he said ruefully. “But I think you should know that at Hallam Hall, Roland told me quite categorically that he would not marry Lenora, solely for the fact she was not you.” Eden stared at him. “I would swear my life on that,” he said quietly. “And if you do not believe me, you may ask Mason. He himself gave this information to the King in sworn statement this morning. And he is not so adept at lying as I.” He smiled at her again. “I for one am very happy to have you in the family. And I am not the only one. My wife is thrilled and Linnet also. One of my father’s last wishes was to see Roland married to a woman of character and sense.”

Eden looked to Lenora but she not did not look remotely offended. “Lenora has a good deal more to her than just a pretty face,” she retorted, and meant it.

“I am sure that is true,” Oswald conceded, with a nod to Lenora. “But I think even she would agree, she would not have brought Roland to heel.”

“He does not need bringing to heel,” Eden responded tetchily. “He’s my husband, not my hound!”

Oswald turned his head aside and covered his mouth as if to suppress a sneeze or cough. Eden felt an uncomfortable suspicion that he was smothering a laugh. “Of course,” he agreed hastily. His face when he turned back was quite composed, but his eyes were still alight with laughter. It crossed her mind, that her dear friend Fenella must have her work cut out for her with this man for a husband.

“I think I will just go and take a look out of the window,” said Lenora decisively, as she stood up and wandered in that direction.