Graham nodded. “That would be a good idea. I just needed to know the whereabouts of a guest.”
“Oh,” the woman said as if she were very curious. She dipped into a curtsey and hurried through a door behind the counter that led to the couple’s private quarters.
Graham waited. Sure enough the innkeeper, a pudgy man that Graham vaguely remembered the name of. “What can I do for you, Lordship?”
“I was wondering if Lord Stanhope was still staying here.” Graham eyed the couple expectantly.
The innkeeper bobbed his head. “Yes, Sir. He said he would be leaving today. Seemed rather put out if you ask me.”
Graham had not been asking, but the idea that Lord Stanhope was inconvenienced gave Graham hope that Amanda had not yet found him. “Thank you. Do you know by any chance where he would be?”
The innkeeper’s wife said, “Oh, he was muttering about going to the carriage house.”
Graham nodded his thanks before leaving. He did not want to risk the two of them getting wind of a scandal. He went out of the building and sighed up at the driver. “Is Tilson’s Livery still running that carriage house?”
“I believe so, Sir,” the driver said with a nod. “That where we are headed?”
Graham nodded as he got in. He leaned back in the seat and prayed that when he got there, he would find only Lord Stanhope. He looked out of the window of the carriage as they rode through the town. How long had it been since he had been there?
People stopped and looked at the carriage as he passed. Some he recognised, some he did not. Graham hit the top of the carriage as he spied a familiar form crossing the street. The carriage pulled to a stop and Graham was out before the driver could ask why.
“Wait here for me,” Graham instructed as he pulled on his jacket to straighten it. He turned away from the carriage and headed to where he had seen Lord Stanhope.
When he caught up with the man, he was looking over some fruit at a vendor. “Lord Stanhope,” Graham said when he got close enough for the man to hear him. It was unseemly to yell and Graham did not want to make any more of a scene than he had to.
Lord Stanhope looked around at him, surprise streaked across his face. “Lord Easterly,” he said with a forced smile.
Graham noticed the way the man tensed. Was he hiding Amanda somewhere? “I was wondering if I could speak to you?” Graham waved his hand to indicate that perhaps they should walk.
Lord Stanhope looked around at the vendor and nodded. As they walked further down the road, away from the gawking vendors, Lord Stanhope whispered, “There is less privacy here than in London. I do not know how you stand it.”
“I thought you wanted to marry my sister and inherit lands, which would put you out here,” Graham said with a measure of amusement.
Lord Stanhope sneered. “I thought you had already hedged against me.”
“Make no mistake that I will never give approval to you to marry my sister.” Graham met the man’s eyes. He held nothing back from his gaze and let him see his full disapproval.
Lord Stanhope shook his head. “I was deep in my drink. I have sobered and see the error of my ways. Is there nothing I can do to earn your good graces?”
Graham was sure now that Lord Stanhope had not seen Amanda. He could tell by the way the man was talking that he had no idea that Amanda was still willing to marry him. “My good graces are not the ones you need to be seeking.”
“Is your sister very cross with me? I swear, I never meant for her to be hurt,” Lord Stanhope said with such earnestness that Graham almost believed him. Almost.
Graham listened to the rocks crunching under their boots and made the man wait for an answer. “I was not referring to my sister, Lord Stanhope.” Lord Stanhope gave Graham a confused look. “Miss Browne came to call right after you left.”
The look on Lord Stanhope’s face was priceless. Graham had not intended to call him on his behaviour towards Miss Browne, but now he was glad he had done so. Lord Stanhope’s mouth opened and closed.
“Cannot find the words?” Graham asked helpfully. “Let me tell you that Miss Browne is under my protection, as much as my sister. I will not stand for her being abused in any manner.”
Lord Stanhope raised his hands as if to ward off an attack, although Graham was perfectly calm. “You have to hear me out. You would believe her over your own peer?”
“We are not peers,” Graham said vehemently. “We are nothing alike.”
Lord Stanhope’s face fell into a smirk. “You above anyone should understand that I am just a man like you. After all, you and Miss Browne already have got to know each other quite well.”
Graham barely stopped himself from reacting. Instead, he growled out, “Nothing happened between me and Miss Browne. The only person at fault that night was a bored innkeeper’s wife with too little to talk about.”
“And nothing happened between Miss Browne and me,” Lord Stanhope countered. “I told her of my affections, that is true, but I never accosted the girl.”
Graham stopped talking and turned toward the man. Miss Browne had not actually mentioned Lord Stanhope hurting her. “She never mentioned that. Odd that you chose to, Lord Stanhope.”
“Well, of course, she did not! That is because nothing happened!” Lord Stanhope was flustered, and Graham saw right through him. He had done something to Miss Browne.
Graham glanced around and saw the vendors still leaning out of their stalls eyeing them curiously. “Of course,” Graham said complacently. He motioned for Lord Stanhope to step towards a path that led off the road. It was just a little dirt path, but Graham vaguely remembered it from some distant childhood memory.
Lord Stanhope accepted the change of direction with no second thought. They walked a few steps before Graham caught the man by his well-tailored jacket and slammed his back against a nearby oak.
“What is this now!?” Lord Stanhope’s eyes went wide.
Graham remembered the battlefields. He remembered the men yelling. This man had been there, probably safely away from the fighting. “Taking advantage of young women is not behaviour befitting a ranking member of the military, Lord Stanhope.”
“This is hardly the war,” Lord Stanhope spluttered.
Graham growled, “And what was it that you did in the war? Did you ever drag your friends as they bled to death?”
“I–I– well, no,” Lord Stanhope admitted.
Graham leaned in closer. “I did, Lord Stanhope. I fought in that war, not just earned a pretty medal. Let me make something very clear to you. When I say that Miss Browne is under my protection I do not mean that I will snub you at parties like the frivolous members of society.”
“I understand perfectly, Lord Easterly,” Lord Stanhope promised. “I did not harm her, I swear! I was simply taken by her beauty and was overcome by emotions!”
Graham let the man go. He turned on his heel and made his way back to the road with Lord Stanhope behind him. The vendors all looked up at their reappearance.
Lord Stanhope dusted off his jacket, despite there being nothing on it. He fell into step beside Graham as they headed back to Graham’s carriage. Now that he knew Lord Stanhope had not seen his sister, he need not waste any more time with the man.
However, Lord Stanhope seemed intent on following him. “I cannot wait to get out of this backwater.”
Graham tried to stamp down the rest of his anger and let the words of the arrogant imbecile slide right off him. It was still possible one or the other of the women might actually forgive the idiot. Shame welled up in him for not schooling his temper better, but what was done was done.
The time had waxed too long while he had been hunting down Lord Stanhope. The vendors were packing up for the day as the shadows stole across the road where they walked. At this rate, he would not find Amanda before it got dark.
Graham reached his carriage and turned to Lord Stanhope. As he did so, he spied in the distance two familiar figures on horseback. The relief filled
his heart at the sight of Amanda and Miss Browne.
He had not thought that she would seek out Miss Browne. His eyes went to Lord Stanhope. His back was to the approaching ladies and so he did not see the approaching. “Did you mean what you said about being overcome with emotion around Miss Browne?”
Lord Stanhope replied, “Of course.” He straightened his jacket as if Graham’s words had reminded him that his jacket had been accosted.
Graham nodded and then spoke up so that his words would drift to the ladies as they approached. “Miss Browne has a dowry. I know this because I put it in place myself. If she chooses to do so, she is free to marry you.”
Lord Stanhope’s eyes lit up at the word dowry. “I would be delighted to marry Miss Browne. Do you think there is a chance she might accept me still?”
“Love is a funny thing, Lord Stanhope,” Graham said, and then he lifted his hand to acknowledge the ladies as they came to a stop behind Lord Stanhope. “Miss Browne, I see that you have found my wayward sister. I was just coming to find her.”
Amanda glared at Graham as she dismounted from her horse, clearly not caring one bit about decorum at the moment. “How dare you?”
Graham frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I will deal with you later,” Amanda spat at her brother. Then she whirled on Lord Stanhope. “Is money the only thing that matters to you? Do not answer! Get out of my sight!”
Lord Stanhope had the good sense to duck and run. Graham watched the man beat a hasty retreat back to the inn. Miss Browne had not bothered dismounting and remained silent as Amanda spun to face Graham. “Of all the petty, low things to do, I never expected you to be the one to do them.”
Graham shrugged. Amanda’s rage did not bother him. He had shown her the truth of Lord Stanhope and his aim had been accomplished. “Why? I had a very good teacher in you, my beloved sister.”
“I have half a mind to ride all the way to London!” Amanda stomped to her horse.
Graham rolled his eyes. “I have no interest in chasing you to London. If you wish to go then just wait and take a carriage in the morning.” Graham turned on his heel. “I’m rather tired and wish to go home.”
“I suppose I will be going now,” Miss Browne said from her horse.
Graham looked at the woman in surprise. “It is dark. I insist you come to Berwick Manor at least for the night. It is the least I can do for you keeping my sister safe.”
Miss Browne looked as though she was going to protest, but Amanda cut in. “Come on, Lotte. I think we shall take the carriage and my gallant brother can ride one of the horses.”
Graham waited as Miss Browne dismounted before he took their horses’ reins.
Miss Browne frowned. “I do not think it right that you ride while we take the carriage.”
“Trust me. It will be more peaceful if I ride,” Graham assured her. Reluctantly the young woman joined Amanda who was already waiting in the carriage.
*
Amanda fumed all the way home. Her brother had made her look like a fool. Her eyes cut to Charlotte as they neared Berwick Manor.
“Why do you look so glum? You had given up on the prospect of marriage and yet here is an opportunity,” Amanda said to her gloomy friend.
Charlotte looked at Amanda as if she had forgotten she was there for a moment. Her face held nothing of relief in it. She gave a soft laugh. “I suppose you think me foolish for not being overjoyed by the prospect of marrying a man whose affections turn on a dime.”
“When spoken in that manner, it does not sound very appealing. The situation with the scandal might limit your prospects.” Amanda softened her words with a sympathetic smile and a hand on Charlotte’s arm.
Charlotte sighed heavily. “I know that I should be grateful I even potentially have someone who might marry me. To have someone of his status willing is something I should want. But I do not know if I can marry a man that I cannot trust.”
“You are to be a spinster then? I have seen you with those brats at the vicarage. You would make a wonderful mother.” Amanda gave her arm a squeeze. “Perhaps my brother could seek out a match. Surely there might be others who would be tempted by a dowry.”
Charlotte laughed, but the sound of it was not amused. Her laughter held bitterness. Amanda had never thought her friend had the capacity for such a dark emotion. “I have had quite enough of the charity that society has to offer. I would rather make my own way, even if that means spending years tending to Mrs. Wilson’s brood.”
“Graham would never treat you as I have,” Amanda assured Charlotte. “My brother is many things, but he is not without a merciful heart.”
Charlotte shook her head. “I suppose it was a mercy showing me that Lord Stanhope would marry me in such a manner?”
“I think Graham’s aims were more to pay me back for how I have behaved as of late.” Amanda pleaded with her, “Do not write Graham off. He will help you. I know he would.”
Charlotte’s eyes left Amanda and went to the carriage window. Somewhere out there, riding in front of the carriage, was Graham. Amanda wondered what her brother would say about her offering Charlotte help once again. Yet, was she not supposed to act with charity toward others? Graham did not directly say that it was wrong for Amanda to make promises in Graham’s stead, but she was sure that her brother would make the same offer.
They fell into silence and upon reaching the manor Amanda let Charlotte out of the carriage first. Graham was embroiled in a conversation with the steward as soon as they arrived. Amanda did not mind that. It gave her the perfect opportunity to slip past him and into the house.
Once she was home, she told the housekeeper to show Charlotte to a room. As soon as that was done, Amanda excused herself to go upstairs. She walked into her bedroom and found Katrina waiting nervously.
“Miss, I am so glad to see you are well!” Katrina clasped her hands together and it warmed Amanda’s heart to see the genuine relief etched on the girl’s face.
Amanda gave Katrina a smile. “I went to visit with Charlotte.”
Katrina whispered, “I heard from the maids what happened with Lord Easterly. Did you work things out?”
“Well, I am not marrying Lord Stanhope,” Amanda said with a sigh. “I see the question already forming on your face and I really don’t know what to say to them. Let us just say that Lord Stanhope showed his true colours and I did not think they suited me.”
Katrina frowned and came over to put her arm around Amanda’s shoulders. “You can do better than him. Always thought he was a bit pompous.”
Amanda nodded. “Yes. You are right.” Amanda yawned and laughed. “I guess my adventure has left me more fatigued than I thought.”
“Then you should rest. We can talk again tomorrow if you wish,” Katrina gave Amanda’s shoulders a squeeze. “Let’s get you out of this dress and ready for bed.”
Thankfully Katrina worked swiftly and silently, and soon Amanda was left in her room in her nightgown. She sighed in relief at finally being alone. There were only so many things that she was willing to show others and it was difficult to keep them inside.
She collapsed onto the bed. As she lay hugging her pillow, the tears ran hot and salty over her cheeks and dampened her pillow. Amanda was not mourning the version of Lord Stanhope she had dismissed angrily in the street. She was mourning the man she had thought he was.
That lovely, funny and attentive man had caught her heart. Amanda felt foolish. What if Graham was right and she was not truly ready for marriage?
“What if I am never ready?” Amanda asked the question to the pillow that held her tears. It did not offer any ready suggestions. Amanda sat up and tossed the pillow away from her. It landed against the wall and lay there. “Serves you right,” Amanda told it.
Under the Seductive Lady's Charm: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 22
