The Mysterious Miss Fairchild (HQR Historical)

by Sarah Mallory

  Her interests, too, differed wildly from those of his nephew. Freddie was still finding his way in the world, whereas Natalya read widely and she had definite opinions. Marriage between them could only end in disaster. He was too much the boy and she needed a man.

  Such as yourself, I suppose?

  The thought brought him up with a jolt. He wanted to laugh it off, brush it aside, but there was more than a grain of truth in it. She attracted him—not just her beauty, but her lively wit, the humour that made her eyes sparkle with mischief, her readiness to argue her case, yet she was still willing to consider opposing points of view. Whatever else she might be, she was no milk-and-water maid, to knuckle down meekly beneath her husband’s thumb and he was convinced that husband should not be Freddie. In fact, Tristan realised, he disliked the idea of anyone marrying Natalya.

  With something like a growl, he shook off the disturbing thoughts and made his way into the house. The footman who opened the door was startled into silence by having his master’s hat, riding crop and gloves thrust at him and commanded in terse accents to have a decanter and glasses fetched up immediately.

  Tristan strode on, not waiting for the man to reply, and went in to the drawing room almost without check, only to come to a halt just inside the door.

  ‘Ah, there you are, Tris.’ Freddie jumped from his chair, grinning. ‘I have been waiting for you!’

  Chapter Six

  ‘Freddie.’ Tristan pushed his wayward thoughts to one side and nodded at his nephew. ‘When did you get back to Bath?’

  ‘This morning. Your letter to Mama, telling her you had taken a house in Bath for the summer, could not have been better timed. I had been there for nearly a fortnight and was desperate to get back here, so I told her I was coming to join you. I have seen Hurley and he has arranged everything, prepared rooms for me and my man and had the bags taken up. I asked for wine to be brought in, too. I hope you do not mind, Tris, but you must be rattling around here all alone and cannot object to putting me up.’ He noticed his uncle’s hesitation and flushed slightly. ‘I can always find a room at the White Hart, or the Star, if it is inconvenient.’

  ‘It is not inconvenient at all,’ replied Tristan. ‘I would have preferred you to give me a little notice, that is all.’

  ‘Excellent! I did not like to presume and told Platt not to unpack my bags until I had spoken to you,’ came the sunny reply. ‘But I will do so, as soon as we have drunk a glass together. What will it be, Tris, Madeira? Or the claret is very good, I tried a glass while I was waiting for you.’

  ‘Claret, then. And it should be good. It is from my cellar at Dalmorren Manor.’ He waited until Freddie had supplied him with a glass of wine before speaking again. ‘How is your mother?’

  ‘In fine spirits. I took your advice and did not mention Miss Fairchild to her, although I did prepare the ground, telling her I thought it was time to settle down.’

  ‘Oh? And how did she take that?’

  ‘Not well. She started planning parties for me at Frimley, to introduce me to the families there, but I told her I was not in that much of a hurry. I said it can wait until my birthday in October.’

  ‘Did you, by heaven! And what excuse did you give her for coming back to Bath? Oh, of course,’ drawled Tristan, his voice heavy with sarcasm. ‘You were coming to visit me.’

  Freddie beamed at him. ‘Yes. Has it not worked out well? But tell me, Tris, have you met Miss Fairchild? What do you think of her?’

  Tristan took another sip of his wine and pretended to savour it. He had been expecting the question, but still felt unprepared to answer.

  ‘She is very pretty,’ he said at last.

  ‘Pretty! Tris, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen!’

  ‘Ah, but then, you have not seen very many yet, have you? Now don’t fly up into the rafters, my boy, I am only stating the case. Very well, let us agree that Miss Fairchild is beautiful.’

  ‘And is she not accomplished?’

  ‘Extremely.’

  Freddie’s brows snapped together. ‘You are going to add a rider,’ he accused his uncle.

  ‘Merely that we know nothing about her birth.’

  ‘What does that have to say to anything? I love her!’

  ‘As you have told me, on numerous occasions,’ retorted Tristan. ‘However, as your guardian, it behoves me to know something more about the lady.’

  ‘Then approach the Pridhams and ask them. Tell them Lya and I want to be married.’

  ‘They do not encourage young gentlemen to dangle after their ward.’

  ‘As I am very much aware! However, once they hear from you that I am serious and that I have the means to support a wife, they will come around, I am sure. And besides, Lya will be of age soon, then we will not need their consent.’

  Tristan said cautiously, ‘Have you spoken to Miss Fairchild of your feelings?’

  ‘Well, not in so many words. She is always so hedged about by chaperons that we have not been able to speak plainly, but she must know of it.’

  ‘She has never slipped away to meet you in secret?’

  Freddie looked shocked. ‘Good Lord, Tris, Lya would never do anything so...so improper. How could you even think it?’

  ‘No, forgive me. But she has given you reason to hope your suit would be successful?’

  For the first time in the interview, Freddie looked unsure.

  ‘Not as such. I did come close to declaring myself on several occasions, but for some reason or another the moment was never propitious. And her aunt and uncle are always so vigilant, we had no opportunity to converse alone for more than a few minutes at a time. However, now that you are here to support me, I will get to it as soon as maybe.’ He grinned at Tristan. ‘And I have another ally! I told Grandmama about meeting Mrs Ancrum in Bath and she has written a letter that I am to deliver to her. That will put me in credit with the old lady, I am sure!’

  ‘But not necessarily with the Pridhams,’ murmured Tristan. ‘Or my sister, when she learns of the reason for your return to Bath.’

  Freddie dismissed this with a wave of his hand.

  ‘You mean my marriage to Lya? Mama will come around, when she sees how much in love we are. What objection can there be?’ Freddie finished his wine and pushed himself out of his chair. ‘Now, I’d best go and tell Platt to look out my evening coat and we can sit down for a snug little dinner together.’

  Freddie hurried away, leaving Tristan to pour himself another glass of wine. Natalya had assured him she was not thinking of marriage. Until today. When he had asked her directly if she would accept an offer from Freddie, she had prevaricated. Was she waiting to know what her own fortune might be?

  He shifted uncomfortably. He had not thought her mercenary, but if she was penniless then any marriage would be preferable to destitution. And then there was that portrait she had drawn of Freddie. It was too intimate and far too handsome, portraying Freddie as the man he might become, rather than the boy he still was. Surely she could not have drawn that if she did not feel something for the boy.

  Tristan decided he must observe them together. If they were truly in love, then he would have to reconsider, but his instinct was to dissuade Freddie from proposing marriage to Natalya, to do everything in his power to prevent the match. The problem was, he suspected his judgement was flawed, because he himself felt a strong attraction to the lady.

  Not that anything could come of that. He would not, could not become his own nephew’s rival for Natalya’s affections.

  * * *

  ‘Well, well, my lord, do they not make a handsome couple?’ Mrs Ancrum nodded towards Freddie and Natalya, who were making their way on to the dance floor.

  Tristan did not answer immediately and the old woman chuckled. ‘If one believed in Fortune, one might think it was more than mere chance that has laid Mrs Pridham
low with a sore throat. When Mr Pridham told me that was the reason she was not at the morning service yesterday I was very sorry, of course, but then I saw your nevvy and Miss Fairchild stealing a few words together and saw how I might do the young lovers a good turn, so I sent a note to Sydney Place, saying I had a notion to look in at the ball tonight and offering to bring Natalya.’

  ‘Allowing him to stand up with her for a second time might not be the wisest thing, ma’am.’

  ‘Oh, tosh, there can be no harm in it. Why, you did the self-same thing yourself.’

  ‘Aye, and I am aware of the gossip that created!’

  Another fat chuckle. ‘I told you, my lord, a man cannot sneeze in Bath without it raising comment, not but what everyone believes you came to approve your ward’s choice of a bride!’

  ‘The devil they do!’

  ‘And why not? Young Erwin never made any secret of his preference for Natalya. Speculation is rife. If you listen to gossip, which I never do.’

  He grinned at that. ‘But you are not averse to fuelling the gossip by allowing Miss Fairchild to dance all night with my nephew, is that it?’

  ‘It is my belief that the more they know of one another the better. That way the affair will either fizzle out when they discover they are not suited, or they will make a match of it.’

  An elderly couple was bearing down upon them and, with a nod and a smile, Tristan excused himself and moved away, leaving Mrs Ancrum to talk to her friends uninterrupted. She was right, confound it, they did make a very striking couple and danced well together. Freddie was tall, although still showing some of the lankiness of youth, and his partner, with her deep brown eyes and her raven-black hair, lustrous in the candlelight, was the perfect foil for his classically fair good looks.

  The Pridhams were sure to hear that Freddie had been showing their ward an undue amount of attention. Tristan gave an inward shrug. He was not the boy’s keeper and Mrs Ancrum was right to let them have more time together. They needed to discover their true feelings and better they should do it here, in public, than stealing time alone together. He turned away. Good luck to them.

  * * *

  For Natalya, standing up again with Freddie was a mixed blessing. She knew her aunt would want her to refuse, but Freddie danced well and he begged her so charmingly that she succumbed to the temptation, especially since she could see Lord Fossbridge bearing down upon her and the thought of spending two country dances with him, listening to his ponderous compliments and enduring his even more ponderous dancing, was not to be borne.

  If it had been Lord Dalmorren coming to solicit her hand, she would have refused Freddie, but Tristan had not approached her all evening, save to greet her when she arrived with Mrs Ancrum. Not that it mattered, she told herself as she skipped along beside her partner. She did not care in the least whether he danced with her or not.

  ‘By Jove, that was lively,’ declared Freddie, as the last bars of music died away. He held on to her hand. ‘Shall we sit out the next? I want to talk to you.’ He squeezed her fingers. ‘Please say you will, Lya. I do not know when we may get another chance like this.’

  Natalya felt a momentary panic. He was going to propose to her and she would much rather he did not. When Tristan had asked her bluntly if she would marry Freddie, she had felt so uncertain about her future that she had seriously thought she might do so, even though she did not love him and doubted if he was truly in love with her. But when the two men had entered the ballroom together this evening, all her doubts had disappeared. She had known then that she could never marry Freddie.

  Now he was smiling down at her, his face alight with hope, and her heart sank. However, there was no avoiding it now, so they had best get it over. She allowed him to lead the way to two chairs set a little apart from their neighbours. Natalya fanned herself nervously while Freddie, looking equally ill at ease, fidgeted beside her.

  He laughed suddenly. ‘This is not how I envisaged this moment, Lya, but if I do not speak now heaven knows when we may have another opportunity.’

  ‘Oh, please, Freddie, please say no more.’ He looked at her in alarm and she went on, with some difficulty. ‘Am I—would I be correct in thinking you mean to offer for me?’

  ‘Well, yes, but I am making such a mull of it, aren’t I?’

  She reached out and touched his hand. ‘Dear Freddie, that is not why I stopped you. You see, I do not want—that is, I do not think you should propose to me.’

  ‘Are you afraid your aunt and uncle would object, or that my own family would refuse to allow it?’

  ‘I am sure of it, but I would not let that stand between us, if...if I loved you.’

  ‘And you don’t?’ His blue eyes were fixed on her. ‘Are you sure you could not learn to love me, in time?’

  She shook her head. ‘I like you very much, as a friend, Freddie, but I do not love you. And I do not think you really love me. Not the deep, lasting love that is required for a happy marriage. No, let me finish,’ she said quickly, when he opened his mouth to protest. ‘I fear we should not suit, my dear friend. Our interests are so different. You do not share my love of art, for instance, or astronomy. And you only enjoy music if you can dance to it. You fell asleep during the last concert you attended in Bath, did you not?’

  ‘Confound it, Lya, what is that to say to anything? True, I do not like reading, as you do. And I cannot understand your interest in old stones or...or history, but I would be happy to go with you to visit the Royal Academy or the museum in London, or even if you wished to travel around England looking at ancient monuments and the like.’

  This was said with such an air of dogged determination that she laughed. ‘I can see by your expression that the very idea of it fills you with horror.’

  ‘No, no, you mistake me,’ he said hastily. ‘I could learn to love these things, as you do.’

  ‘Perhaps you could, but why should you do so? I am sure you would be happier with someone else.’ She flicked a little glance at him. ‘Jane Grisham, perhaps. You have been friends for so long I think you would suit very well.’

  ‘No, how could you say that?’ he protested. ‘Lya, I knew from the first moment I saw you that I wanted you for my wife! I know what it is, you have seen how easy Jane and I are together and you are jealous. That shows you care for me!’

  Smiling, she shook her head and reached up to put a warning finger against his mouth.

  ‘Hush now, Freddie. The fact that I am not at all jealous tells me quite the opposite. I am very flattered by your offer, but believe me, I cannot love you.’ He looked downcast and she reached out to take his hand. ‘I hope we can remain friends.’

  ‘I hope so, too.’ He sighed. ‘Ah, well. I suppose there would be a deal of opposition to our marrying now. However, in a few months we will both be of age. Who knows but I might persuade you to change your mind by then? And such a show of constancy must weigh with my mother, as well as with the Pridhams. No, you will not make me give up hope just yet.’

  ‘Very well.’ Natalya knew she was being cowardly in not making her rejection absolute, but Freddie was looking so much more cheerful she could not bear to dash his hopes. Also, she was very sure his infatuation would soon fade. ‘Let us agree to remain friends, then. In truth, I should not like to fall out with you, Freddie, I have so few real friends in Bath and I count you as one of them.’

  ‘I am honoured you should think so.’

  He was still holding her hand, but when he would have lifted it to his lips, she gently pulled away, saying with another smile,

  ‘We have been sitting together for a full quarter of an hour and I think you should escort me back to Mrs Ancrum, before she grows anxious.’

  * * *

  Tristan was determined not to stand and watch Freddie and Natalya going down the country dance, but he could not prevent his eyes from straying back to the dance floor. He had just
decided to take a look in the card room when a jovial voice at his shoulder made him turn quickly.

  ‘If it isn’t Tristan Quintrell. Never expected to see you in this place!’

  ‘James!’ Tristan put out his hand, genuinely delighted to see his old friend. ‘Last time I heard, you were in the Peninsula. You had just made major.’ He looked around. ‘Is your wife with you?’

  James Moffatt pulled a face. ‘You don’t think I’d come to a ball of my own volition, do you? Dolly is here somewhere, chattering with her friends.’

  Tristan laughed. They had been at school together, but had lost touch in recent years and he was content to spend several minutes catching up on the past.

  ‘So, you have sold out,’ he said at last. ‘What brings you to Bath?’

  ‘Old wounds. Took a bullet in the leg, old boy, and one in the chest that just missed the lung. It has left me devilish weak, I can tell you. In fact, this is one of my first outings. Dolly decided retiring to Bath would be just the thing for us, so she packed up everything and moved us here. Had to sell my hunters. I don’t ride much now, y’see.’

  He placed one hand on his chest, looking glum.

  ‘I did not bring any of my riding horses to Bath,’ Tristan replied. ‘I did not think I’d need ’em.’

  In truth, he had not expected to be in Bath so long. He had anticipated being here a week or so, to make Miss Fairchild’s acquaintance and pursue his enquiries about her family. The only reason he had taken the house in George Street was in order to bring his mother and Katherine here, should an alliance between Freddie and Natalya prove inevitable.

  ‘I should like to explore the countryside around Bath,’ said the Major, interrupting his thoughts. ‘but Dolly won’t countenance any exertion until the sawbones says I am well enough and he’s not keen on my doing anything more than taking a gentle airing around the city at present. Dolly won’t even let me drive up to Lansdown, where I believe the view is well worth the effort.’