FortunesFolly

by Barbara Miller

  Harding shook his head. “I do not aspire to her hand. Besides, I just asked you to marry me. I should not now be talking of another woman.”

  “You should not be talking nonsense. Captain Harding, if you were to marry someone who didn’t love you, you would regret it for the rest of your life.”

  “You would feel the same if you were to make a match for reasons other than love.”

  “You mean money. I am used to disappointment and sacrifice. I’m used to the idea of not having a future. If only I can make things easier for Fredrick, I am willing to marry without love so long as the man doesn’t love me either.”

  “I suspect your brother might find your abject devotion and self-sacrifice misplaced as well. Did you ever discuss it with him?”

  “Yes and you are correct in your opinion of him, but his work is important.”

  “So is your happiness.”

  “I have been so long unhappy, I’m not sure I could handle happiness at this late date. This is terrible lemonade. I think we would do them a favor by not fetching any.”

  Spencer wanted to go to Miss Whitcomb to find out what had discomposed her but he could not leave his sister. He saw Sir John watching from the box across the way and wondered if the man’s gaze had upset her.

  Miss Whitcomb was quiet for the rest of the performance but regained her poise by the time they braved the crush of people to get to his carriage.

  “What is on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Shopping in the morning, Vauxhall Gardens at night,” Holly answered. “What time shall we come for you, Roxanne?”

  “Whenever it is convenient.”

  “Ten o’clock then and Mother has invited you and your aunt to luncheon.”

  “I’m sure Aunt Agatha will be delighted. I know they wish to talk more.”

  Tanner observed Roxanne until they delivered her to her aunt’s door. She seemed so lifeless compared to her usual vivacity.

  “Are you indeed well?” he asked as he gave her his arm up the steps.

  “I am perfectly fine. But Holly is right about society and wise for someone so young. You are going to have to be careful, Tanner, that she is not preyed upon by a man who doesn’t really care about her.”

  “You face the same danger.”

  “No, the dangers I face are entirely different. Good night.”

  He went back to the carriage, stunned by her parting words. What possible danger could Miss Whitcomb be in? His puzzlement must have shown in his face.

  “What is it, Spencer?”

  “Is there something I don’t know about Miss Whitcomb? She seems to think she is in some kind of danger.”

  Holly thought before she answered, her sweet face puzzled in the faint lamplight that occasionally glinted in the window as the carriage moved through the streets. “She took her father’s death badly and her mother absconded to Europe, by what I can make out. She has only her brother and aunt left to her. London is scary enough for someone like me, with all the servants who guard me.”

  “I don’t think that’s what she meant, that she was afraid to go about in town.”

  “She feels she must marry to support her brother’s inventions if she cannot find an investor. I would dislike it terribly if she had to barter herself in such a way. Do you think that you might be interested?”

  “In fact I am.”

  “Good, then you can invest in Fredrick’s machines and Roxanne won’t have to marry. She doesn’t really want to.”

  Tanner mentally staggered at this misinterpretation of his intent. “Oh, I see.” He didn’t know much about women but he guessed this would be a bad moment to declare that he wanted to marry Miss Whitcomb, not just invest in her brother’s plans. How could he have read Roxanne so incorrectly? She had seemed genuinely interested in him.

  But what Holly had just told him smacked of servant’s gossip. What if she were wrong and Miss Whitcomb did wish to marry? He had best not close any doors until he had a genuine talk with either her or her brother. How was it done when the father was dead? He would at least wait for the brother to appear.

  Chapter Four

  The next day, Roxanne recalled on waking that she should prepare for a shopping expedition. As she poured hot water into the flowered washbasin, she decided it was rather dreary having Aunt Agatha buy things for her. She would much rather use up her small store of coins than be forever dependent on a relative who told each store clerk to send her the bill. Her aunt seemed delighted to be showing her off. Otherwise Roxanne’s conscience would not allow so much charity.

  After she dressed in yet another new walking dress, this one of mint-green muslin, she went downstairs, anticipating some hot tea. Aunt Agatha’s butler Greeves sent Roxanne a warning look as she placed her hand on the knob to the morning room.

  “What?”

  “Captain Vance and his cousin have called.”

  “Oh no. That’s all I need. What is he doing in London?”

  “They did not say, miss.”

  “Are they alone?” she whispered.

  “Lady Sherbourne is with them.”

  “A coward would grab her pelisse and run to the lending library.”

  Greeves inclined his head as though giving her permission. “Shall I call a footman to escort you?”

  “No, I am no coward and I shall have to confront him sooner or later.” She wrenched open the door and went in.

  “Ah, Roxanne.” Vance did not rise on her entrance but flung up his arm in a theatrical manner. “I believe you have not met my cousin Ian Stone.”

  “No. I did not recall you having a cousin.” She curtsied and Stone left the mantel where he had been leaning, took her hand roughly and kissed it. He did not resemble his cousin much. But that was to his advantage. Stone had lank blond hair but he was not oily and snakelike. He looked rough and desperate, his smile nervous and his eyes anxious. Roxanne could relate to him being ill at ease. He must not have sold out of the army as Vance had, since Stone still wore the scarlet uniform of a dragoon. Probably on half-pay.

  “Your aunt tells me you make an expedition of Vauxhall Gardens tonight,” Vance said.

  Roxanne realized she had been staring at Stone so she swung back to Lucius Vance and seated herself beside her aunt. “Yes. Is my mother in town?”

  “Yes, she needed to consult with her physician.”

  “I had thought you were fixed at Paris. Are there no physicians there?”

  During her interrogation, she noted that Stone seated himself and did not take his gaze off her.

  “Come now. It is only a few days by carriage and a short trip in my yacht. Did you think we would not hear of your come out?”

  “We saw no need to write,” Aunt Agatha said. “Besides, I think your presence will only remind people of the gossip we had hoped died down.”

  Vance laughed unpleasantly. “If you think three years is enough for the ton to forget a suicide, you are naïve. Now answer my question, Roxanne.”

  “I am going to Vauxhall with a few friends.” She was beginning to feel unnerved by Stone’s gaze. “Is Mother at the town house?”

  “Yes. You should call on her.”

  “I shall.” She was determined not to let him get the better of her.

  “When she is feeling better,” Vance added, his eyelids drooping over his serpent-like gaze.

  “Tomorrow, perhaps. If you only just arrived, she will need time to get settled.”

  “She will be well enough for your ball.”

  “What is wrong with her?”

  “Nothing serious. We were surprised to hear of your come out. We thought…” He paused.

  “Yes?” She refused to finish his sentence for him.

  “We thought perhaps it was too early for such a move.”

  “Fredrick is nearly of age. The lease on the estate is almost up. He will be getting on with his life and so must I.”

  “I suppose the die is cast so we may as well make the best of it.” He tur
ned to his cousin. “I’d like Stone to accompany you tonight. Just for your own protection.”

  “Are you telling me Vauxhall Gardens is dangerous?”

  “Only to your reputation. And you must be very careful with yours.”

  “That’s hardly my fault. I have been very careful but I can’t help thinking your arrival may bring up past memories for everyone.”

  “My arrival?” He placed one hand on his chest as though nothing could be his fault.

  She stared back at him. “I mean with Mother.”

  “She wants to see you. It’s been two years since we left London.”

  “I am of Mr. Tanner’s party, to which Stone has not been invited. However, if we meet there by chance I do not think Spencer Tanner would take it amiss for you to join us.” She turned to Stone but did not smile at him.

  He grinned. “What time should I encounter you?”

  “We are going by boat. We should be there by seven.”

  “Ah, taking the water route,” he said in his husky voice. “Sorry to miss that part of it.”

  They were scarcely out the door before Roxanne drew a sheet of paper toward her and penned a note to her mother. It was difficult to know what to say after two years.

  She could not possibly convey any of her aunt’s reservations about her mother and Vance’s appearance in London. She did her best to make her mother feel welcome even though she’d had no word from her in all this time. She had written to her as long as she had an address—that is, until they had left England. After that there had been no way to contact her. The question that remained in Roxanne’s mind was why her loving mother had not sent her word, not even a small note of explanation as to why she married Vance.

  Roxanne still loved her mother but time and distance had made her feel abandoned. She tried to defend Mother to Fredrick, who attributed the marriage to weakness, but until Roxanne talked to her, she could not know. Just because Roxanne could figure out no reason for the marriage did not mean there wasn’t a good one.

  Seeing Vance again and hearing the way he referred to the Silverloo as his yacht, Roxanne began to ponder more sinister motives for her mother’s capitulation. Did Vance hold something over her head?

  None of that could go into the note of welcome. Often the weightiest issues in life could never be openly discussed because they were too like opening a wound. Instead a fog of small talk cast a veneer of normalcy over the most awful situations. She was not satisfied with what she penned but it would have to do. She rang for the footman rather than carrying it round herself, then braced for a tiring day of shopping.

  * * * * *

  Roxanne found boating to Vauxhall charming. Part of her delight was sitting beside Tanner as Harding stood in the prow of the skiff giving directions to the oarsmen. It brought back memories of her father’s yacht, the Silverloo, and what wonderful sails they used to take out of Exeter. She had thought herself the luckiest girl alive. If she loved sailing so much, she wondered why she wasn’t more attracted to Harding. But Tanner had more going for him than competence. She sensed a dogged determination that burned inside.

  Mrs. Tanner had agreed to chaperone them. This seemed both wonderful and frightening to Roxanne, who worried the health of Holly’s mother might not be up to the expedition. Then she recalled that Holly’s mother was Tanner’s responsibility, so she was able to breathe easier—he would not have let her come if there was any danger. And he could take care of her in any event.

  Roxanne could not say why she had such ultimate confidence in him but he seemed aware in a way her brother was not. He did not need her nurturing and that meant he could take care of her for a change, if that was what she wanted.

  She enjoyed Harding’s narration of their journey as they were rowed along the river. The lantern swinging on its pole lent a holiday feel to the trip and the seats were not damp, as Aunt Agatha had feared, but covered with cushions.

  Perhaps she was enjoying herself because Captain Harding seemed so confident and Tanner now trusted him. The two men were on the way to being friends, as far as she could see, and that would fit into her plans for Holly and Harding.

  They arrived without mishap and took their seats in one of the alcoves to enjoy the concert. Roxanne managed to sit beside Tanner again, with his mother on the other side. That meant Holly and Harding were seated together.

  Her aim had been to throw them together but to feel Tanner’s strong presence beside her again was comforting and exciting at the same time. She had not realized before that how she went about armed mentally to defend herself against gossip, insult and even physical encounters was such a robbery. None of those things could hurt her with Tanner beside her.

  He excited her beyond what she thought possible and she didn’t know why. Perhaps it was his potential to do or say the unexpected. He was like a large bomb and she did not know what would light his fuse.

  A break in the music gave Stone his opening and he approached the box. Reluctantly, she introduced him. As Roxanne had predicted, Tanner raised no more than an eyebrow, the one with the scar over it, about the inclusion of a soldier to the party. Stone stayed with them through the light supper but he drank more than he ate.

  When Holly and Harding wished to stroll the grounds, Stone suggested the four of them should go together for propriety. Tanner stayed to entertain his mother. Roxanne saw his qualms about being left out and volunteered to stay in his place.

  “But you will miss seeing the gardens,” Stone said. He took her hand in a compelling grasp and raised her to her feet.

  “Just don’t get lost,” Tanner warned.

  Roxanne did not see how this could be possible with so many lanterns and so much of the vegetation planted in rows but she nodded her agreement.

  Stone had a long stride but he reduced his pace to let the other couple draw ahead, laying his hand over Roxanne’s small one on his sleeve. Roxanne thought it was unwise to fall behind yet made no objection to giving Harding an opportunity to talk to Holly in private. But she wanted to make sure they did not get out of sight or Tanner might complain of her not watching Holly.

  “You don’t find the music romantic?” Stone asked.

  “I’m not a schoolroom miss, entranced by music or beautiful gardens or even a blood-red uniform. Why does your cousin want to throw you at my head?”

  He twitched his head sideways to stare at her. “That’s frank. I suppose he wants you to marry someone and he doesn’t think you will find anyone in London.”

  “He doesn’t know Aunt Agatha.”

  “So who do you plan to marry? You have to get Vance’s permission, you know.”

  Roxanne stared warily at him. “I have to get Mother’s permission.”

  “Do you forget that Vance is your guardian?”

  “Since I haven’t seen much of his guardianship, yes I did forget.”

  “He thought taking your mother away would scotch the scandal.”

  “Of my father’s death or her second marriage?”

  She caught his snort of laughter. He seemed armed for any attack she might make against him.

  “You don’t understand how it was during the war. Friends in the army always took care of the survivors. Many the soldier married his friend’s widow within the week to offer her protection.”

  “In case you have not noticed, the war is over. In fact it was over long before Vance married my mother.”

  “Lucius did wait a year. Why are you so angry at him?”

  “I’m not sure. I suppose he reminds me of the very worst day of my life.”

  “Three years. You should be over that by now.”

  She replayed the shot in her mind. It was the sort of noise your dream state tried to find an explanation for in the moment before you awoke but she knew right away something fatal had happened. Running downstairs to the library, pounding on the door, hearing Vance say she must not see this, then going to get her mother… The servants would have stormed the library had not Vance finally op
ened the door. “It’s as though it happened yesterday.”

  That got his attention. He gazed at her intently and one hank of blond hair fell across his brow. “Just remember I am here for you.”

  “I’d have trouble forgetting that since I seem chained to you.”

  He dropped her hand. “I am not your guard.”

  “You’re not?”

  “I am in a manner of speaking but I have your interests at heart. If we were to marry, I could take care of you.” He swaggered as he said this, with one hand on his sword hilt.

  “It is not every woman’s ambition to be cared for.”

  “What, you don’t want to live at a great estate and be the lady you were meant to be?”

  “What great estate?” She stared at him since he hardly looked prosperous.

  “Whitcomb Hall. Lucius said I shall be the manager.”

  That stopped her, but seeing Holly and Harding make a turn ahead of them impelled her forward. “That would be up to my brother.”

  “True, but would he deny me the position if we were married?”

  “Probably not. He doesn’t pay much attention to estate matters. I was always allowed to run his household.”

  “Then there is no impediment.” He pulled her off the main walk, under a trellis with benches beneath it.

  The aroma of roses was oppressive. She tried to wrench free but he seized her by the shoulders and kissed her. He would have continued his assault except she managed to clip his jaw with the heel of one hand. Her tiny blow scarcely knocked his head aside and he laughed.

  “You beast. Never try that again.”

  “Do you forget?” He tightened his hold. “You marry me or no one.”

  “Then no one.”

  Roxanne was still trying to kick him in the knees when a large dark form hit and carried Stone away from her. The two men landed on one of the benches and smashed it. At first she thought it was Captain Harding but then she recognized Tanner in the bars of moonlight that pierced the screen of trees. Her heart gave a surge of pure joy. She had known she could count on Harding but to be rescued by Tanner was above anything she expected.