The door slammed open, making both Juno and Marina jump. Lady Wetherby stood at the threshold, anger emanating from her person.
This was bad.
The countess moved inside and closed the door with more force than was necessary. Her gaze landed on Marina and then shifted to Juno, who stood on wobbly feet.
“Is something wrong?” Juno managed to ask, though the question was ridiculous since something was clearly quite wrong.
“The duke has just informed me that he will not be offering for Marina.” She cast a livid stare at her daughter. “He said you do not suit.”
Marina said nothing but dropped her gaze to her book. Juno could see the young woman’s shoulders quaking.
“He also said you agreed,” the countess said through clenched teeth. “Is that true?”
An unintelligible murmur slipped from Marina.
“What’s that? Speak up, gel!”
“She said it is,” Juno answered. “I was going to speak with you after the treasure hunt. They both did try, but I’m afraid they mutually agreed the match would not benefit either of them.” The fib fell easily from her tongue as she sought to smooth this over as best she could.
“Not benefit them?” the countess shrieked. “Marrying a duke would be most beneficial to my daughter! She had to have done something to turn him away. But there’s no help for it. This has been a complete failure.” Lady Wetherby’s irate glare landed on Juno. “You have been a complete failure. Your employment is terminated immediately.”
“No, Mama!” Marina leapt to her feet, the book clutched to her chest.
The countess curled her lip. “And you have a book. You aren’t supposed to have any books.”
“It was part of the treasure hunt,” Juno said, her own anger rising. “Marina has done nothing wrong. The duke is a surly, unpleasant gentleman. Marina has avoided a lifetime of distress.”
Lady Wetherby sucked in a breath. “She would have been a duchess! That is worth at least a modicum of distress.” She held her hand out. “Give me the book. We’re leaving first thing in the morning. We’ll dine in our rooms.”
Marina handed her the book and sent her mother a mutinous glance.
“Ungrateful chit,” Lady Wetherby muttered. “You’re going to end up married to the rector if you can’t manage to pull yourself together.” She turned her attention to Juno. “You will not be returning home with us, of course. It is up to you to find your way wherever you wish to go. I’ll have your things sent to your residence in Bath. I will not provide a reference. Indeed, if asked, I can’t recommend you at all.” She clucked her tongue. “So disappointing since you were highly recommended.”
With a final glower at both of them, the countess spun on her heel and left.
“Oh, Juno, I am so sorry.” Marina’s voice caught, and she covered her face with her hands.
Juno put her arm around the younger woman. “Don’t cry over me. I’ll be fine. Truly.” Hopefully, Lady Cosford wouldn’t mind letting her borrow a coach to return to Bath. That was the least of her worries, however. Far more troubling was how Lady Wetherby’s anger would affect Juno’s future prospects.
Also vexing was how Lady Wetherby’s anger would affect poor Marina. Juno wished she could take the young woman with her. She’d be better off. She could read to her heart’s content, and no one would pester her to marry anyone.
“I’m sorry your mother doesn’t understand you,” Juno said softly. “Look at the bright side. At least you don’t have to marry someone you don’t want to.”
“For now,” Marina said bitterly. “She’ll find someone else who’s possibly more loathsome.”
“You didn’t really find the duke loathsome, did you?” Juno was finding him quite the opposite. Not that it mattered. Tomorrow, she would leave the house party and hopefully find a new position. If she moved quickly, she could secure something before Lady Wetherby had a chance to impugn her character.
Marina hugged her tightly, surprising Juno. “I’m going to miss you terribly.”
“You haven’t seen the last of me,” Juno said with a smile. “I’ll find a way to help you—if you want it.”
“You’re so very kind.” Marina stood back and wiped her hand over her eyes. “The kindest person I’ve ever known. And the bravest. I wish I could be like you. I’m going to try. Starting with telling my mother I refuse to have another Season—at least not this year. She should focus her attention on Rebecca.” Marina’s younger sister was seventeen and could perhaps make her debut.
“Perhaps I’ll run away to Scotland or Oxford. Yes, Oxford, where I can disguise myself as a man and steal into lectures.”
Juno laughed, feeling slightly better at having to leave her charge. She’d managed her mother this long and would be fine. Not that Juno had any choice in the matter.
Marina exhaled and clasped her hands together. “I’m feeling quite better about things. As you said, at least I don’t have to marry the odious duke.”
“I actually named him the rigid duke,” Juno said wryly, provoking a rare giggle from Marina.
“That fits him perfectly.”
Juno had thought so, but after their passionate encounter in the orangery, she wasn’t so sure. Nor was she going to find out.
And that left her with a twinge of disappointment.
Chapter 7
After dining in her chamber—not with Marina, who’d had to dine with her mother in the countess’s chamber—Juno slipped from her room in search of a glass of brandy or port or whatever she could find. She was pleased to see the upstairs sitting room had a bottle of madeira set out with several glasses. Juno poured a small amount and situated herself in a chair to ponder her next move.
Cecilia strolled by the open doorway, and Juno called to her. “Care to join me?”
“I would, thank you.” Cecilia went to pour herself some madeira before taking a chair near Juno’s. “You were missed at dinner, as were Lady Wetherby and Lady Marina.”
“Does everyone know they’re leaving?” Juno asked.
“Yes. And it is just them?” Cecilia asked. “That’s what Lady Wetherby told the butler.”
“That is correct. I am not leaving with them because I am no longer in Lady Wetherby’s employ.” Juno pursed her lips before sipping her wine.
Ceclia’s brow furrowed. “I am quite sorry to hear that. Their failure to suit wasn’t your fault.”
“I doubt you’d convince Lady Wetherby of that,” Juno said wryly. “She let me go without a reference. I’m afraid I shall have to ask you for transport to Wolverhampton so I may catch a coach to Bath.”
Waving her hand, Cecilia gave her a warm smile. “Nonsense, you must stay for the remainder of the party. Then I’ll send you to Bath in one of our coaches.”
“That’s awfully kind of you, but I couldn’t impose.”
“It’s no imposition. Furthermore, I’d be delighted to recommend you. As I said, none of this is your fault. Some people are not meant to be together.”