Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance

by Rochester, Miriam

  As Felicity left Thorndale in Green Street, her heart was pounding. She walked with dignity down the street but as soon as she turned the corner she ran like the wind down Park Lane and did not stop until she reached Upper Brook Street. Lady or not, she did not care who was watching her. If Thorndale opened the package straight away he would be sharp on her tail and there would be no getting away a second time. He would want to know everything and then she would be undone.

  Alex looked at the package in his hand and returned into the house to put it on the hall table but his curiosity got the better of him. His outing could wait for a moment until he opened it. He broke the string and removed the brown paper wrapping to discover the familiar black velvet pouch he knew so well. He opened it and to his consternation, the Stansfield necklace dropped out sparkling luminously in his hand. ‘Good Lord,’ he cursed under his breath and looked up. He hurriedly stuffed the necklace into his pocket and ran back out into the street. He ran in the direction that the unknown Lady had taken and rounded the corner but she was not there. His eyes scanned the perimeter of Hyde Park but all he could see were a couple of people walking their dogs. Thorndale cursed in frustration for she had completely disappeared. He should have succumbed to his baser instincts and never have let her leave. It was the second mistake he had made in just a week. ‘I must be going soft in the head,’ he thought to himself as he turned and walked slowly back to the house. He remembered the note and opened it hoping that it would enlighten him but it revealed nothing.

  He should have been happy and he did feel a sense of relief to have the necklace back in his possession, but he could still not be satisfied. The whole thing was a mystery and he did not like mysteries. His mind was racing and the more he thought about the mysterious Lady in grey, the more he had the feeling that he had met her before, but he could not for the life of him put a finger on it.

  Chapter 8

  Lady Lancaster’s Ball

  Saturday had arrived and it was the night of Lady Lancaster’s ball. Felicity decided to wear a gown of white crepe with a low sweetheart neckline and puffed sleeves. The skirt fell to her feet in three gathered tiers and decorated with small cerulean blue silk rose buds. To finish the look she wore a pair of three quarter length white heavy laced evening gloves. Sarah was putting the finishing touches to her hair, which she had styled into ringlets and decorated with cerulean blue flowers to match the gown. ‘You look very fine Milady, if you do not mind me saying so, just let me place this one last flower here.’ Sarah stood back to admire her handiwork.

  Felicity gave an absent smile, she was secretly wondering if Lord Alex Sheraton would be there. She had mixed feelings about his presence. His strange behaviour on the doorstep only served to heighten her curiosity and her awareness of him. She found him attractive and somewhat mysterious and desired to be near him but at the same time, she lived with the constant fear of discovery. Would he by some quirk of fate recognise her as the youth who had burgled him or the mysterious Lady in the grey pelisse? She found the possibility of detection unnerving and yet exciting at the same time. She could always deny it of course but she did not think herself a very good liar.

  The Lealholme carriage arrived at Lady Lancaster’s London Mansion along with many others. Felicity alighted along with Richard and her mother and they made their way into the hallway amidst the thronging crowds. Lady Lancaster was obviously abreast with the times for instead of candles lighting up the rooms and passages she had installed gas lighting. The innovation was relatively new. Westminster Bridge had been lit up only a few years before in 1813 but it was still relatively new in homes. Felicity looked about in wonder for they still had not such a luxury in Upper Brook Street. The ballroom itself was ablaze with light, highlighting the many landscape paintings that adorned the wood panelling. Lady Lancaster was obviously an ardent admirer and collector of art. The ballroom was awash with the colour of autumn flowers planted in ornamental stands and situated in the alcoves. The flowers gave off a wonderful fresh, sweet aroma and added to the ambience of the room. The atmosphere was thrilling and expectant and Felicity was excited.

  The Countess spotted her friends Mr and Mrs Haswell with their daughter Patricia standing beside one of the flower displays half way down the ballroom and together with Richard and Felicity; she weaved her way through the crowd to meet them. The music had not yet started but the musicians were limbering up to start and people were standing in groups happily chatting, drinking and arranging their dance partners.

  Felicity had just granted Mr Haswell her hand for a country-dance when Alex Sheraton walked up to the little group. As he had not been introduced to most of the company, he addressed Richard. ‘Good Evening Lord Lealholme. I am pleased to see you looking well, would you be kind enough to introduce me to your charming family and friends.’

  Considering the occurrences of this last week, Richard could hardly refuse and made his introductions. Felicity of course he already knew, but for the sake of appearances, Richard made the introduction anyway and presented the others in turn. Thorndale gave the Countess his most boyish, charming smile and asked her if she would honour him with a country-dance. After Richards’s portrayal of him the previous week, The Countess was slightly taken aback and looked at her son for some indication that she should refuse. None was forthcoming, and not wishing to appear rude she reluctantly but gracefully accepted. As they had just arrived, her dance card was free and the first dance of the evening was to be a Minuet. She pencilled in the Marquis’ name and nodded her thanks.

  Thorndale after having procured dances from Mrs Haswell and Patricia respectively turned his attention to Felicity. Felicity took out her dance card which of course had only one entry, that of Mr Haswell, and she was just about to suggest her preference when Thorndale held out his hand. ‘May I?’ he asked as he took the card from her hand. He ran his keen eyes swiftly through the list and marked his name next to all three waltzes of the evening. Handing the card back he gave her a mischievous smile and kissed the laced fingers of her gloved hand. His unorthodox behaviour had not gone unnoticed and Lady Ellingham gave Richard a disapproving look. Thorndale noticed and grinned, The Countess would have to get used to his ways but it would not hurt to treat her with the respect she deserved in the hope that she would warm to him. He would have to be his most charming and what better place to start than with a Minuet.

  Thorndale escorted the Countess onto the dance floor. As soon as he was out of earshot, Mrs Haswell turned to her husband. ‘Well George, I really think you should have said something. I do not think that I am quite happy that our little Patricia is to dance with that rake and I could hardly refuse him.’ Her husband looked embarrassed. ‘Well dear if Richard did not see fit to object, I do not see that I needed to. I really do not think that you have very much to worry about.’ He gave Richard a sympathetic glance. ‘I think that worry lies with Lord Lealholme here.’

  Richard just smiled. ‘Oh I think the Marquis is a little misunderstood. You have no need to concern yourself over him. I can assure you my eyes are quite open and I am well in control of the situation.’

  Mrs Haswell was of mixed feelings and although her indignation had been somewhat feigned, she was secretly pleased that Thorndale had honoured her daughter with a country-dance. Dancing with a Marquis could only add to her consequence, even this Marquis and if her Patricia could win a Marquis for a husband on her first season that would be a fine accomplishment indeed. Not that in this instance she could entertain the idea, for although her daughter was by no means plain, she was very much in the ordinary way. What chance did she have against the classic beauty of Lady Felicity Ellingham?

  Forty minutes into the evening, the music for the first waltz struck up and Thorndale approached to claim his Lady for the dance. He led Felicity onto the dance floor, pulled her close and took her in a firm waltz hold. She looked up at his suave dark face and felt herself tremble in his arms. The man was an enigma. He had the reputation of a rake and he
ld her much closer than the regulation twelve inches. He had thought her a woman of easy virtue when she had met him anonymously on his doorstep, and really, who could blame him. Her behaviour had been most irregular. For a frightening moment, she thought that he was going to accost her and drag her inside his home. Would he have done so? She wondered what he would have done if she had not been able to convince him that she was not a member of the muslin company.

  On the morning she had waylaid him on Hampstead Heath he had told her clearly that she was very lucky that he had a pressing engagement. Yet despite his words, he never actually got around to acting in accordance with them. In fact, he had acted honourably in all his dealings with Richard. She looked up at him and he was grinning at her, his humorous dark brown eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘A penny for your thoughts Lady Ellingham, I am hoping that you may be warming to me and that you approve of what you see.’

  She looked up. ‘Approve? I do not know what you mean.’

  ‘Your assessment of me Lady Ellingham, now that we have cleared up our misunderstanding, I hope I appear to you in a better light.’

  Felicity bit her lower lip. ‘I have already apologised for that but as for your question, I neither approve nor disapprove, and after all I hardly know you sir.’

  Thorndale manoeuvred her expertly across the floor. He was a superb dancer and it was easy to follow him. ‘We will have to remedy that but you already know one thing about me,’ he replied. She frowned. ‘What is that?’

  He laughed, ‘that I always get my way. You swore that you would never dance with me, ‘not ever’ were your exact words if I remember correctly but here you are my sweetheart, in my arms.’

  Felicity looked embarrassed. ‘You are unfair sir. Circumstances have changed. I could hardly refuse you but I must say it was rather unscrupulous of you to mark every waltz on my dance card. You have put me in a predicament and people will talk.’

  ‘I do not concern myself about meddling busybodies and they can say what they will.’

  ‘Well I do!’ Felicity retorted. ‘A man can get away with a reputation for being a rake but females are not usually the recipients of such benevolence, I will be thought fast.’

  Thorndale gave a low chuckle. ‘After your antics this last week I am surprised you have any such scruples. Myself I think that you quite intrepid.’

  ‘If you are referring to my outing to Hampstead Heath, there was a purpose to my actions. The situation demanded drastic measures. I do not court censure just for the sake of it!’

  Thorndale found her scruples quite charming and pulled her even closer to him. She could feel the hard muscles of his thighs against her own, the heat of his body against hers and his hot breath on her neck. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt breathless in his arms as she melted against him. She looked up to his smiling face as he spoke. ‘Ah but I do like to court censure. If you give me a kiss I will consider giving you a reprieve.’

  Felicity gave him a disapproving glare and deliberately stood heavily on his foot. ‘Ouch!’ he muttered as he momentarily stumbled. ‘You did that on purpose you little wretch. Now I demand two kisses.’

  Felicity gritted her teeth. ‘You will be lucky if you get your two remaining waltzes sir. I know that I have been in the wrong. I have apologised for it, and Richard much to my annoyance, paid any debt that might have been owed on Hampstead Heath. You announced yourself satisfied, so I do not consider that I owe you anything.’

  ‘Oh I have held you excused since you upset my carriage that morning. After my initial annoyance, I found you quite enchanting. The sight of you sitting in a muddy puddle did a lot to lighten my humour. You owe me nothing and I know it. I just thought that you might indulge me out of the goodness of your heart and maybe because you could like me a little.’

  Felicity was mortified by the recollection, as she could hardly have appeared at her best. She gave him a reproving stare. She was extremely attracted to him but could not decide if she liked him and doubted very much if she could really trust him. She found him strangely alluring and her fascination got the better of her. She secretly wondered what it would be like to be kissed by him. Their close proximity was sending waves of desire through her and she was secretly cursing the reaction of her treacherous body.

  Alex looked down at her flushed face and whispered in her ear. ‘Do not you concern yourself my Lady Felicity, consider yourself reprieved, I will dance only one of the remaining waltzes with you. Now does that make you happy?’

  Strangely, it did not, she was irksomely disappointed but Felicity nodded her head in approval anyway. It was the only thing she could do. And damn the man had he just called her by her Christian name? In her confusion, she could not be quite sure.

  The waltz ended and Thorndale returned her to her mother. Richard was standing waiting for them and whispered into Thorndale’s ear. ‘Alex, a private moment if you please?’ He turned to the company. ‘If you would excuse us ladies.’ The Countess gave an absent nod of the head but Felicity was curious. She supposed she would have to wait but she would certainly be asking Richard later.

  Having drawn Alex aside, he whispered. ‘I did not wish to broach the subject in front of the others, but this business about Flick’s dance card. Alex I shall have to request that you confine yourself to just two dances.’ Alex gave a long slow chuckle. ‘Already sorted Richard. Your sister wasted no time in telling me off in no uncertain terms. I will resign the last waltz to you.’

  Richard sighed with relief. He really did not want another confrontation with this man because he found that he really quite liked him. As far as Flick was concerned however, his opinion remained the same and he could not consider Alex as an appropriate suitor. He grinned. ‘Thank God the chit has some common sense in her cock loft as I swear Alex she just lives to torment me.’

  ‘Alex laughed. ‘Your twin I believe, and which of you is the older?’

  Richard rolled his eyes. ‘She is, by 11 minutes and she never hesitates to remind me whenever it suits her. She is spontaneous, has an independent nature and therefore finds herself in trouble more often and not. Now that my father is dead, she is my responsibility. He had some influence over her, more than I have it would appear, but I do not intend to allow her to appear fast in public. I will be happy when we are back in the country where she can be more of her natural self, for she finds the restrictions of London intolerable. I must ask you Alex not to take advantage of her naive good nature.’

  Alex bowed. ‘No need to worry, I shall act all that is proper in public. I like you Richard, so I feel free to warn you that I find your sister extremely attractive. As you say, she is unaffected and quite artless. She appears to be completely unaware of her natural beauty. Unlike other society ladies I have met I find her totally refreshing and I cannot promise you my friend that I will not try to attach her.’

  Richard frowned. ‘And what makes you think that you would make a good husband. You have mistresses littered all over London. I must warn you that under such circumstances I could not countenance your suit.’

  ‘Oh come now Richard.’ Alex smiled, ‘are you telling me that you have not had your share of fair Cyprians? I would not believe it if you said so.’

  ‘Certainly not to the extent that you seem to enjoy, if any of the rumours I have heard are true. Since my father died, I have had to pick up his gauntlet; I have not the time for such extracurricular activities, neither the desire. I would prefer to find a Lady of good virtue, with whom to spend the rest of my life, not like that ladybird that you have been keeping Russell Square.’

  Alex leaned forward and whispered as if conveying a secret. ‘If it is any consolation I got rid of that ‘light o love’ a few months ago. I pensioned her off very generously. She was not nearly as upset as I would have hoped, as she quickly found a replacement for me. I am not nearly as wicked as people would believe, but I would ask you Richard to keep it to yourself. I believe my reputation protects me a little from the interfering old tabbies
who are forever throwing their daughters at my feet. You must know what it is like Richard. You are tauntingly eligible yourself.’

  Richard could be nothing but sympathetic because he did know what it was like. In fact, it was worse for Richard, for he was the epitome of respectability and pretended to be no other. He could not however appear to weaken his resolve and merely answered, ‘Never the less I cannot have you seducing my sister, so you must be warned.’

  Alex clapped Richard on the back and chuckled. ‘All I can say to that Richard is that I cannot feign disinterest but you have my word that my attentions will be honourable. You will have to satisfy yourself with that. Shake hands on it?’ Richard gave Alex a long and hesitant look then took his hand. He knew him well enough to accept his word and if he was as innocent of his reputation as he claimed, his suit would not be entirely unacceptable. However, that remained to be seen.

  Richard and Alex parted company and Richard went off to find Bernadette Livingstone, the Lady to whom he had promised the next dance. He could hear the quadrille striking up and he would have to be quick if he were to find her in the crush. Alex on the other hand had another agenda. He found Felicity a few feet apart from her company and studying a piece of art on the wall. It was a copy of a river scene by Peter de Wint painted in 1810.

  Thorndale crept up surreptitiously behind her and remarked over her shoulder. ‘A fair admirer of art I see, and do you like it?’ Felicity nearly jumped out of her skin. ‘For goodness sake your Lordship, do you normally creep upon people like that.’