George did not look as though he was happy with the idea, but he nodded and tried to smile. It came out more like a grimace, but the Earl appreciated the attempt. Prescott handed them their keys as he returned to his carriage, already dreading the meeting that he was about to have.
Chapter 4
Grosvenor House came into view, and Hugh inwardly groaned. He still had not figured out what to do about Huntington’s gambling debt. Since he was no longer accepting the girl’s hand in marriage, he had to find another way of addressing the debt. It’s not that he was overly concerned about it – he was a wealthy man, after all – but if he let the gambler off the hook, he would spread it about town soon enough. Hugh didn’t want to be known as the man who allowed matters such as this to fall to the wayside; it would cripple his reputation of being a ruthless man. He was far from it, but no one else need know of that.
“I wouldn’t be in this damned mess if Jasper hadn’t got me involved in the first place!”
His friend was a serial gamer and was often found in gambling halls, spending money that he didn’t have. Hugh often had to bail him out, scolding his friend about his habits, but no sooner would he say it than he would find Jasper at another gambling house again. The night he had played with Huntington was a means of trying to get Jasper out of The Golden House, but he had been trapped into playing.
“He should be in my place right now. Maybe I should have passed the girl onto him.”
But he wouldn’t wish a Huntington on his worst enemy. The man was as insufferable as a wet blanket. Hugh usually made sure to steer clear of him, but he had failed to do so that night, and it was all because of his childhood friend. At least the journey had been fascinating, what with the event of coming across a trio of strangers who acted as if they had something to hide. Hugh was going to enjoy figuring out their secret, for he was sure that there was one to be found out.
The carriage came to a stop, and before he had even stepped out, Huntington came running towards him, his coat flapping behind him. The man looked unsteady on his feet; Hugh expected him to topple over, but he managed to remain upright. The man reminded him of an untidy giraffe galloping across the Sahara. Hugh had actually had the pleasure of seeing one during one of his spy missions.
“Perhaps comparing this man to such a beautiful creature is an insult. No, Mr Huntington is in a category all of his own.”
Prescott kindly asked the man to step back and opened the door for his Master. Huntington immediately came forward, grabbing Hugh’s hand as he stepped down, drawing, no, dragging him closer to him. Hugh’s body was jerked up and down by the man’s vigorous handshake, rattling his teeth. Hugh pulled his hand away and feigned the need to scratch his brow.
“Good day, Mr Huntington. I trust that I find you in good health?”
The man was clearly drunk and reeked of spirits, but it would be impolite of him to remark on that. Huntington gave a hiccup and tried to focus his gaze on him. Harry’s eyes were bloodshot and his cheeks rosy – just how long had the man been drinking for?
“Yes, yes, Lord Scarborough. Well indeed! Please, come in, come –,” Hiccup. “In.
Hugh allowed himself to be pulled into the house by an unsteady Huntington, tripping slightly as the man unexpectedly jerked to the side. He removed the stumbling man’s hand from his arm, grateful to be free of him.
“I will walk unassisted from here, Mr Huntington. The front door is only a few steps away. I must compliment you on the state of your grounds; they are well-kept and full of life.”
“That is most gracious of you to say, My Lord. Of course, Grosvenor House cannot compare to Pemberley Manor! I hear that your land is vast and quite magnificent. However, you mainly live in your townhouse, am I right? Or should I say mansion? Scarborough House is a sight to behold.”
Hugh nodded. “Yes, I find that I prefer the Town residence to the countryside, but that is not to say that the country life does not have a certain charm about it.”
Before they reached the door, it was opened by a robust man who looked to be in his early fifties.
“Jenkins!” he said and turned to Hugh. “Let me introduce my butler to you, My Lord. He will take care of your every need while you are in my humble abode.”
Jenkins bowed. “Shall I have the carriage taken around to the stables, Master Huntington? Perhaps the horses could do with some refreshment.”
“Wonderful idea, Jenkins!” Huntington exclaimed. “Yes, do direct the driver and return swiftly – we need excellent refreshments for the Earl.”
“Yes, of course, Master Huntington. I have laid out refreshments in the drawing room. I will return soon.”
Jenkins bowed again and left them. Hugh would lief have had the butler with them than the stumbling man beside him, but there was nothing to be done about it. He stepped into the entrance hall, hoping that the visit would not bring him a headache. Rumours of Mrs Huntington’s need to showcase her daughters was well-known among their circles, and although Hugh did not venture out much, even he had heard of their little musical act.
“We have a treat for you, My Lord. My daughters have prepared something special just for Your Lordship.”
*****
Madelene had not stopped pacing the room since they had entered it. Maria had tried to calm her down but to no avail.
“It’s him, Maria. The very man that I’ve been trying to run away from! At first, I thought that I was wrong to have assumed that he was the Earl, seeing as how young he is. I foolishly assumed that the real Earl was old! But he’s not, is he? He looks strong enough to pick me up and fling me on his back!”
Despite his pain, Giles laughed. He was abruptly silenced by a stern look from his wife.
“Ma cherie, you must calm down. The man does not know you. As far as he is concerned, you are a young man with an odd accent.”
She stopped. “An odd accent? He said that?”
“Oui,” Maria said. “He was asking questions about us, too many for my liking.”
Madelene did not particularly like the fact that the Earl was asking questions about them. They were too close to making a full escape to have this man step in and ruin things for them. Even if he is handsome. She started at the realisation that she found the Earl good looking. Even the scar along his jaw added to his overall look. What could have caused such a deep gash? It had to have been a sharp blade in a heavy hand. He had limped as well, she remembered. Not heavily, but she imagined that the limp would become more pronounced as the day progressed.
“What did you tell him about us?” she asked.
“Not much,” Giles answered. “I was listening to the whole conversation. It would have been good if you had let us know of our new names, Miss Madelene. Poor Maria was quite befuddled when the Earl addressed her as Mrs Wickham.”
Madelene shrugged her shoulders. “What could I have done? He requested a name, and I gave him one. I gave one to the both of you as well – my mother and father’s names. I think it best that we stick to those names from now on until we step onto the ship. It’s safer that way.”
Giles nodded. “I agree, Miss Madelene. Mr Huntington could have people looking for us right now.”
Maria laughed. “I wonder what that spineless uncle of yours will tell the Earl. He doesn’t look like a man that can be trifled with, but he seems generous enough.”
The Earl was generous, Madelene admitted. Too generous. At one point, she had believed that the carriage was going to try and pass them, but it had stopped. Probably because we were in the way. But still, the man had paid for their lodging, securing good rooms for all of them. Giles and Maria had their own room, but it seemed that she was to share a room with Prescott. Of course, they thought her a boy, so it wasn’t necessarily wrong, but she wasn’t a boy. She was a fully grown woman who could be described as a great beauty by most. However, right now she was filthy and reeked of dirt and sweat that was not her own. The bandits had smelled as though they had not washed in months, and unfortun
ately, that stench had rubbed off onto her. She couldn’t go to sleep smelling like this.
“Do you suppose that I’ll be able to have a bath run for me?”
Maria looked at her, raising an eyebrow in question.
“And bathe where? You cannot bathe in this room, and you cannot bathe in your room – what if that steward was to walk in on you? He will be able to see that you are a woman within seconds.”
Maria was right, but still, she couldn’t stand the stench coming from her clothes any longer.
“I stink, Maria. I cannot sleep like this, let alone eat dinner with this stench in my nostrils.”
“I believe that there’s a stream nearby, Miss Madelene,” said Giles. “Perhaps you can take a dip in there – fully clothed, mind you. You should feel right as rain after that.”
It was light enough outside to venture out on her own, but what if the bandits were lurking around? She would be vulnerable as she couldn’t take her weapons into the water with her.
“I couldn’t possibly go alone! What if those bandits are still around?”
“You’re right, Miss Madelene,” said Giles. “I would go with you, but my knee ...”
“Yes, of course, I understand, Giles. I would never ask this of you in your present state.”
It looked like she would need to live with the stench for another day. Madelene heard Maria fiddle in their belongings, pulling out an oval bar of Pear’s Soap.
“I am also in need of a bath, ma cherie, we can go together. And if anyone was to ask, we can just say that you are my son and you are accompanying me to the stream to preserve my honour. We can take turns keeping watch.”
The idea pleased Madelene, but Giles didn’t seem too happy about it.
“If someone was to discover you somehow, how will I be able to protect you both? Maria, my love, you are not a fighter.”
Maria planted her hands on her hips and gave her husband a hard stare.
“I’m not as weak as you think I am, Mr Sweeney. Those men just took us by surprise – they will not do so for the second time!”
Giles raised his eyebrows at his wife before looking at Madelene. His unspoken request was clear: take care of his wife. Madelene nodded.
“Very well, my tigress, go and have your bath. I, on the other hand, will have to remain filthy and pungent.”
Madelene laughed, for Giles did smell rather ripe. They left the room, eager to clean themselves of the day’s dirt. And if Madelene were completely honest with herself, she would admit that she wanted to smell fresh for the Earl as well.
*****
If he had to sit through another song, he might as well cut off his own ears. Hugh could not stand another terrible rendition of what he lightly assumed was a Beethoven sonata, or watch one of Huntington’s daughters – introduced to him as Letty – sing a song about unrequited love while giving him moon eyes. I appear to be the unwanted recipient of a young girl’s affections. Hugh found it amusing, especially considering the fact that the girl was to be wed. The other daughter, the one that he had likened to a beanpole, seemed determined to pretend that she had not the slightest interest in his presence. However, he had caught her sneaked glances more than once. Must be the scar. The music drew to an end, to which Hugh immediately stood up and gave three polite claps.
“Marvellous, simply marvellous. I am far too overwhelmed to hear another note played – you have given me a lifetime of musical splendour. I beseech you, play no more.”
Perhaps he had been overly generous with his words, but Mrs Huntington appeared to soak them up readily. She left her seat and came to stand beside her daughters, her smile wide and proud.
“You are too kind, Lord Scarborough. Surely a man such as yourself has heard far better?”
Hugh was of the mind to agree with her, but he was not in the mood to suffer her ire.
“Mrs Huntington, your daughters are talented young women. I would not speak it if it were not so.”
The woman preened her feathers, while her daughter stood silently by, darting stolen looks.
“Perhaps my Netty and Letty can play you another piece? They are quite knowledgeable of the day’s favourites.”
Hugh kept his grimace in check. He would lief take his chances in shark-infested waters than sit through another poem, sonata or song.
“I’m afraid that I must decline. I have business elsewhere that simply cannot wait. May I speak with your husband?”
The man had conveniently disappeared soon after the first music sheet was played. The woman’s countenance changed, so much so that Hugh sensed that something was indeed wrong.
“Is there a problem, Mrs Huntington?”
The woman smiled. “Oh no, Your Lordship. Allow me to search for him – I am sure that he has not gone far.”
Hugh would have followed her, but the woman exited the room at such a rapid speed that he was forced to remain behind and endure the ministrations of the twins. He had no desire to strike up idle conversation with the young women, but propriety made it a necessity. Hugh returned to his seat, taking care to select one closest to the door. Two pairs of eyes followed him, only looking away once he fixed his attention on them.
“Allow me to congratulate you both on your betrothment.”
“Thank you, Lord Scarborough,” the pudgier one gushed. “How kind of you to say so. Is it not so, Netty?”
She gave a curt nod. “Yes, quite so. Thank you, My Lord.”
Hugh had nothing else to say, his eyes becoming fixed on a painting depicting a horse and its rider. There was an amateur quality to it, but he appreciated the vigorous brush strokes that gave it a slightly wild appearance. Hugh started when Letty appeared at his side.
“Mother so does love to paint. It would please her to know that a man of your fine taste has taken an interest in her work.”
The young woman stood closer than was decent. What is she playing at? Does she mean to trap me into marriage? Hugh wisely moved away, ensuring sufficient distance between them.
“Yes, this is a good piece of artwork. I imagine that your mother has painted more?”
Netty appeared to his left, taking his arm. Hugh immediately stiffened. He would have a scandal on his hands if he did not escape these women.
“Yes, My Lord. There are other works scattered around the house. Some less arresting than this one, but they still have a certain charm about them. Shall we take you on a tour?”
Hugh instinctively knew that this would be a mistake. The two women were up to something, and he did not care to experience any repercussions from their scheming.
“No, no thank you. I suddenly feel that I must take in some air. Would you please excuse me for a moment?”
He firmly removed Netty’s hand, gave a slight nod, and all but ran to the door. If their cousin was anything like these two, then he was glad to be refusing her hand.
*****
Letty was furious. Her plan to embroil the Earl into a compromising situation had just been foiled by her very own twin sister. She watched the Earl and his fortune walk out of the door, and with it, her dream of becoming a Countess.
“You fool!” she hissed. “Why did you have to interfere?”
Netty laughed. “Dear sister, what did you think? That I would allow you to usurp me? Lord Scarborough was fair game. After all, I am the eldest–”
“By all of two minutes!”
“– and I should be the one who the Earl will marry.”
A Lady for the Forsaken Earl: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 8
