The Marquess's Christmas Runaway

by Josie Bonham

  Georgie gasped. She stared at Augusta who regarded her steadily. “Yes I am. That probably had a lot to do with my decision.”

  “Thank goodness for that. I would hate to see Max in a loveless marriage.” Augusta’s eyes narrowed, studying her. “Now tell me what else happened. All of it.”

  Georgie kept her eyes on the floor and stuttered though a halting description of their encounter at the inn. She grimaced and looked up. “I’m afraid someone saw Max kissing me.”

  “I thought there was something you were holding back. Don’t look so embarrassed, it wasn’t your fault. I heard from Eliza that Max went home early from Simon Pryce’s house party because of a row with his Aunt Selina.” Augusta frowned. “That woman is a menace. I see now why Max offered you marriage. I was afraid he had made the offer simply to get back at his aunt.”

  There was a knock at the door and a maid came in with a loaded tray. Georgie concentrated on pouring the tea.

  Augusta sat back with her cup and absentmindedly nibbled on a cake. “Before we go any farther, I should apologise for calling unannounced like this. I’m not normally so ramshackle but we’re in a serious situation.”

  She put her cup on a side table and caught one of Georgie’s hands. “All sorts of lurid stories are flying around the Ton.”

  Georgie gasped. “How could there be? We’ve only just arrived.”

  “I don’t know, we only arrived yesterday ourselves. I came here looking for clues. Cathlay was passing when your carriage pulled up and he came straight home to tell me.”

  “It has to be Mrs Powell. Mr Breakwell escorted her to London when Max dismissed her. My maid insists that Mrs Powell worked for lady Lovell before she moved to Hargreaves. If she’s correct and Lady Lovell is in London it makes perfect sense.”

  “Mrs Powell was the housekeeper at the Hall as I recall. Why get rid of her?”

  Georgie felt heat rush to her cheeks. “She thought I was a woman of ill repute when I arrived. Even after I married Max she was so insolent Eliza advised me to tell Max to dismiss her. I was afraid she’d be angry enough about losing her job to stir up trouble. We agreed to leave her in post for a while longer and then Max decided to dismiss her straight away without consulting me.”

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Max ran up the stone steps to his club and entered the marble floored entrance hall. He handed his outdoor clothes to a porter. He needed some time to think before he went to see Augusta and there might be a friend or two about who could tell him if news of his marriage had reached London. There was a hum of voices in one of the saloons, which was surprising so early in the year. He walked in and the room fell silent. Oh Lord, his hasty marriage must be the latest on-dit in Town. Hardly surprising after what he had overheard in Porchester.

  The tall figure of Gervase, Viscount Ashbrook, jumped up from a dark leather armchair near to the roaring fire and walked towards him. Max was too stunned to move until Brook, as his friends called him, grasped his arm and propelled him out of the saloon into a smaller, unoccupied, room. Brook stopped to ask a porter to mind the door and then shut it firmly behind them.

  Max walked across to the fire and crossed his arms. “I was afraid there would be rumours but it seems it’s worse than I thought.”

  Brook grimaced. “I know you hate gossip. Lady Lovell was very vocal in her criticism after you left Simon Pyrce’s house party. Simon’s uncle, Welford, managed to get her away from everyone and I hoped he had quashed any gossip. Then I arrived in Town, after a family Christmas at my sister’s place, to find you had been tricked into marriage by the daughter of a lawyer’s clerk.” Brook laughed. “That’s the most repeatable version. There are others involving abduction and irate fathers and I don’t know what.”

  Max ground his teeth. “What! Georgie was brought up by her uncle, now deceased, who was a clergyman and she was happy to accept my proposal.”

  He ran a finger inside his collar, which suddenly felt tight. Had she been happy to accept or had he forced her hand?

  Brook’s mouth dropped open. “You are married then?”

  “Yes. To Miss Georgina Sherborne. We married the day she reached her majority. It’s a long story but she ran away to avoid a forced marriage.”

  Brook held up a hand. You can tell me another time. Our priority is to stop the rumours. Do I detect the work of Lady Lovell?”

  Max considered. There had been local talk but the villagers had been too happy that he had married someone known to be good natured for it to have turned vicious.

  “I think it has to be. There is the complication of Georgie’s guardian, a distant cousin, and her lawyer friend who Georgie is afraid of. Although, I can’t see what they would gain from spreading gossip.”

  “They sound unsavoury. I’m still working for the War Office when they need me. I’m officially in London to open up Ashbrook House for Mama but they want me to oversee a secret investigation, which had to be put back until next week. I’ve got investigators kicking their heels. Send the details around of Lady Hargreaves’s former guardian and this lawyer and I’ll have them looked into. We can’t have them making trouble on top of Lady Lovell’s efforts.”

  “Thanks, Brook. I’m going round to see if Aunt Selina is at home. I’ll try and persuade her to say no more. The Cathlays should be in London any day now and Augusta might have some ideas.”

  Brook put a hand on his shoulder. “Gossip like this is your worst nightmare, isn’t it? We’ll all stand by you.”

  Max couldn’t look at him. His voice shook. “I’m glad you’re in Town. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

  Max strode out into the hall. He reclaimed his coat and gloves and ran down the stone steps to the street. He marched off in the direction of his aunt’s London home, head down to avoid eye contact with anyone who might know him. His head was spinning. Before he met Georgie, he would have agreed with Brook that being the butt of gossip again was his worst nightmare. But it wasn’t. Being rejected again was. He could only hope he hadn’t ruined his relationship with Georgie beyond repair.

  A young footman answered the door when he arrived at the house Selina shared with Bertie.

  “The Marquess of Hargreaves to see my aunt.”

  “I’m afraid she isn’t at home, my lord.”

  “She’ll be at home to see me.” Max strode into the hall.

  The footman stared at him, looking puzzled. “She won’t, mmy llord. She’s not in London.”

  “What!” Max’s voice dropped down to a growl. “I don’t believe you for a minute.”

  Another footman joined them. “It’s true, my lord. Mr Lovell is in residence but he’s gone out for the evening.”

  Max shrugged and walked out. He wasn’t going to bandy words with servants but he’d thought Selina had more courage than to refuse to see him. Ah well. Perhaps it meant she realised she had gone too far and the talk would die down. He reached his house and ran up the steps. A footman took his hat and coat and he noticed a fine, fur trimmed pelisse. Who on earth could be visiting them? He could hear voices in the drawing room and ran to investigate. Augusta was chatting, apparently calmly, to Georgie.

  They hadn’t noticed him and he edged into the doorway to hear his wife tell Augusta about Mrs Powell. They seemed to be on friendly terms. Max stepped into the room and they both looked up at him.

  “I’m sure Selina is behind the rumours I heard in my club, Augusta. My cook recommended Mrs Powell to me. Charles had gone to visit his sick uncle and I didn’t bother to check her references. Jepson told me, on the way here, that Mrs Powell was dismissed by Selina and asked Cook to recommend her to me. I expect Selina heard I was looking for a housekeeper and asked Mrs Powell to try and get the job. Mrs Powell saw an opportunity to cause trouble and went straight to Selina. My stupidity has caused an enormous scandal and I don’t know how to right it.”

  “Oh, sit down Max.” Augusta waved him to a chair. “Everyone knows Selina lives to denigrate you.”

 
“You don’t know the worst of it.”

  “I do. Georgie has told me everything. As long as you persuade her cousin to confirm your story of a longstanding engagement, your drunken assault will be ignored.”

  Max winced. Put like that it sounded awful. “It won’t be enough Augusta. It’s the talk of the town and the country after what I overheard in Porchester.”

  “It’s not like you to be so defeatist, Max. Now I know Selina is behind it, I’m sure all will be well. I’ll take Georgie shopping tomorrow and see how the land lies. Cathlay wants to talk to you tonight. We dine at eight, don’t keep us waiting.” Augusta swept out of the room in a flurry of apricot skirts.

  Max moved towards Georgie. She looked exhausted and who could blame her. “Georgie, I owe you an apology.” His shoulders slumped. How could he have been so stupid?

  “Not now, Max. You believed I’d schemed to force you into marriage, didn’t you?”

  He hung his head. What could he say?

  “I need to lie down for a bit before we go out to dinner.”

  “Forget Augusta. We’ll send a message and dine at home if you’re tired.”

  “The servants already know we’re dining out. There are so few of them they’re exhausted getting the house ready at short notice. It wouldn’t be fair. Besides, whatever Augusta said to you, she looked seriously worried to me. We should do what she says.”

  He started to argue.

  “For goodness sake, Max. Her husband is a prominent politician. How would an unresolved scandal affect him?”

  Georgie walked out.

  Max stalked across to the window and stared out at the rain splashing off the pavement. What a fool he was. He had better start listening to Georgie. That said, if things were too bad, he would take her back to Hargreaves Hall and to hell with the Ton, Augusta and everyone else. As long as it wasn’t too late to make things right with Georgie, he didn’t care about them.

  His biggest fear was Georgie getting the cut direct. He didn’t mind for himself, he deserved it, but Georgie had already suffered enough at his hands. Seeing her talking to Augusta had opened his eyes. Her reaction after Mrs Powell’s dismissal hadn’t been guilt. It had been anger. She hadn’t flown into a rage or anything so melodramatic. She had quietly gone about things as best she could, burying her anger. What sort of man did she think he was?

  He sat in a chair with his head in his hands. That day in the library he had been so angry she had flinched away from him. Did she fear violence? How would he ever make it up to her? She was right, of course. They had to work with Augusta and try and face the scandal down. He sat bolt upright. Augusta had been on the best of terms with Georgie. Why had everyone but him seen what a good person she was? He didn’t deserve her.

  There was one thing he could do. It would be humiliating and it might not work but he had to try it. That footman had said that Bertie was in Town. He would hunt him down and beg him to make his mother retract all her accusations. Bertie’s father had left everything to him, some in trust until he was thirty, but both properties were his. Selina was in his power if he could be persuaded to exercise that power.

  He jumped up and then sat down again. It was more than likely true that Bertie was out. He had to obey Augusta’s summons to dinner. She was in the best position to protect Georgie in places he couldn’t go, like the dressmakers and milliners. He needed her help. He knew most of Bertie’s haunts and should be able to track him down later.

  ***

  They arrived at the magnificent Mayfair residence of the Duke of Cathlay at eight o’clock sharp. Cathlay was his usual urbane self but Max was under no illusions. They were the only guests and he would get a grilling once the ladies left them to their port. He sat through all five courses of the meal with all the patience he could muster.

  The ladies withdrew and Cathlay passed him the port. “You’re in some difficulty then, Hargreaves. Augusta tells me Georgina is a fine young woman so I expect it will be worth the trouble. She’s very prettily behaved but rather quiet for my taste.”

  Max flew to Georgie’s defence. “She’s tired tonight and it must be a shock for her to find out she’s the subject of wild gossip. She’s never moved in fashionable circles and …”

  Cathlay raised a hand. “I’m glad to see you standing up for her. Augusta says she has plenty of spirit and the courage to escape from an attempt to force her into a marriage for her money. Selina’s a meddling piece. She always wanted your father, you know, but she was much too young for him. Once he met your mother that was never going to happen.”

  Max was momentarily diverted. “I never knew that.”

  “From what m’father said about her I think the woman is a little unhinged. All this business about Bertie being your heir with you not yet thirty proves it if you ask me. Still once everyone knows she’s behind the rumours it will all die down.” He leaned closer and gave Max a sympathetic smile. “I shouldn’t worry too much.”

  It was past midnight before they were able to leave. Georgie stumbled as they reached the coach. He put his hands around her waist and lifted her in bodily. The feel of her under his hands sent shockwaves through him. She was gossamer light. He doubted she had gained any weight since moving in with him. She must have been too upset to eat properly. Now he thought about it, ever since the Mrs Powell episode she had picked at her food at dinner. Even tonight she hadn’t eaten a lot. Guilt gnawed at him anew. He would make it all up to her somehow.

  Jepson regarded him with a thunderous expression as he changed into more subdued evening clothes. Perhaps he ought to go to Georgie, but she was exhausted and a good night’s sleep would do her good. The sooner he found Bertie the better. He would buy his help if he had to. He ran downstairs and threw a dark evening cloak on top of his outfit followed by dark gloves. He selected a walking cane and tested the mechanism. A wicked looking blade slid out silently when he found the raised bit in the handle. Knowing where Bertie was likely to be, he couldn’t be too careful.

  He felt tired himself and he could be in for a long night. He decided to start at the venues in the more salubrious parts of town and work downwards. His luck was in. He found Bertie at the second place he tried, a gambling hell. Max shuddered at the smell of alcohol and stale bodies. The walls of the main saloon, where he found Bertie, were decorated in shades of red and gold. The amount of gold making the effect seem tawdry. Bertie was at a table against the wall, raking in a large amount of money. Damn, if he was in funds it would be harder to buy his co-operation.

  Bertie spotted Max straight away. He stood up and left the table.

  “I wouldn’t have expected to find you here, cuz. I heard you had a lovely new wife to keep you occupied.”

  There was a ripple of laughter from Bertie’s friends and Max scowled.

  “I would appreciate a word with you, Bertie.”

  “Walk back with me then, Max.”

  Bertie sounded completely sober, which was promising, if unusual. His friends muttered their disapproval.

  “I’ve lost enough money to you lot in the past. I’m going home a winner tonight.”

  Max followed him out into the hall. The family resemblance was strong. Bertie had the deep blue eyes and height of the Lovells but his hair was lighter. They collected their outdoor wear and made their way into the street.

  “What are all these strange rumours I’m hearing, Max?”

  Max checked no one was in earshot. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. It’s true I’ve just got married but all the outlandish rumours are being spread by your mother.”

  “Ah, from Simon Pyrce’s house party?” He sounded sympathetic. “I’ve told her to stop thinking about me being your heir and let it lie for years. She’s made herself a laughing stock.”

  Max decided to tell him at least some of the truth. “The problem is this time there is some substance behind her nasty gossip, enough to be dangerous. My wife deserves better than to have her reputation ruined when she’s done nothing wro
ng. I know you won’t want to get involved but I’m begging for your help.”

  “I don’t see how Mama’s outburst at the party could have caused those sorts of rumours. From what I heard people were laughing at her as usual.”

  They arrived at Bertie’s house. “Come on in, Max. I have some good news for you. Although in the circumstances it might be bad news.”

  He sounded puzzled and Max allowed himself to be ushered indoors. Bertie took him into the library and offered him a brandy. Max refused. He needed to keep a clear head. Bertie wasn’t making any sense. He sat on a comfortable looking, leather armchair near the fire. This must be a room Bertie used regularly to have a fire burning so late.

  Bertie poured himself a drink and dropped into the chair next to Max, stroking his chin. “I wonder if that housekeeper I made Mama get rid of, after I caught her whipping the parlour maids for the second time, could be involved? She was here the other day looking for Mama. Awful woman but incredibly loyal to my mother. There was quite a scene when I insisted on dismissing her.”

  Max leaned towards him. “That would be Mrs Powell. My cook recommended her to me when I needed a new housekeeper. If I’d known she had worked for you I would never have taken her on. I knew your mother was behind this mess.”

  “Woah there, Max.” Bertie raised a hand. “If you’ve got rid of the Powell woman, I expect she went to one of Mama’s cronies when she found out Mama wasn’t in London.”

  Max banged his fist onto the arm of his chair. “Doing it too strong, Bertie, if you expect me to believe your mother isn’t in London.”

  Bertie raised laughing eyes to his. “You can believe what you like but Mama should be in Northumberland by now. I have some news for you.”

  “Northumberland? I’m sure that’s a place she has always longed to visit!” Max rubbed the back of his neck to ease the tension in his shoulders.