Never Too Late

by Christina Courtenay

  ‘Pawn shop? Whatever for?’

  ‘So that I can exchange my mother’s diamonds for some money.’

  ‘Absolutely not! Wear them.’

  With that order and without waiting for her reply, he left the room and Maude could only stare after him.

  She ought to be pleased that someone wanted to provide her with some decent clothing at last. For years she’d waited for there to be enough money left over for her, but Edward had squandered it all. He’d thought nothing of ordering exquisite silk waistcoats for himself, as well as every other item of apparel he thought necessary for his London sojourns, but Maude’s needs never came into it.

  ‘What do you want with new gowns?’ he’d sneered. ‘You never go anywhere.’

  Which was true, but then one thing was dependent on the other to a certain degree. In the end, Maude had resigned herself to looking dowdy. It didn’t matter. But now here was Luke offering – no demanding – to buy her a ball gown. How could she possibly accept? She didn’t want his charity, and yet, she could see that his argument was perfectly sound and she ought to attend that ball.

  What could she do other than thank him for his generosity?

  Luke had been appalled to find that Eliza was right about Maude’s wardrobe. Although he’d looked through everything in there, he’d found nothing that wasn’t old-fashioned, made over or plain worn out. It would seem that Edward had thought of no one but himself, spending even his wife’s allowance – if she’d had one, which Luke was beginning to doubt – on gambling. It made him mad as a hornet.

  He was therefore determined to make up for his cousin’s shabby treatment and when he ushered Maude and Anna into a dressmaker’s shop, he told the woman in no uncertain terms that he expected to be shown only the best she had to offer. Maude tried to protest, but he shook his head at her.

  ‘I won’t have it said that I’m mean to my relations,’ he stated firmly, and she couldn’t argue with that.

  As well as a ball gown in shimmering mauve watered silk, he ordered several new day dresses for Maude and three for little Anna. He allowed them to choose the colours for themselves, but steered them away from the cheaper materials Maude tried to insist on. ‘That is false economy and you know it,’ he said. ‘Especially when it comes to children.’

  ‘Yes, but I can’t hope to repay you for any of this unless ...’

  ‘Maude, I told you already. I won’t have you pawning any of your possessions, especially not something you’ve inherited from your mother. Trust me, I can afford this.’ He looked deep into her eyes to try and convince her and she finally relented, lowering her gaze.

  ‘Very well. Thank you, you’re very kind.’

  The day of the ball dawned fair and the weather held so that they were able to set off without damaging the ladies’ delicate silk slippers. Anna was left in the capable hands of Mrs Mason, the cook, although she was allowed to come and wave them off so that she could admire their finery. Maude knew she looked her best in the beautiful mauve gown that Luke had said suited her colouring, and which was set off by her mother’s diamonds. She felt happy for once and excited about an evening’s entertainment. Thomas sent her an appreciative glance, blinking at the sight of her dazzling jewels. The only fly in the ointment was Eliza, who seemed to be in a sour mood.

  ‘You never told me you had a diamond necklace,’ she grumbled, obviously put out because it outshone the amethyst one she had no doubt hoped to show off with. ‘And should you be wearing colours? You’ve not been widowed that long.’

  ‘You’ll have to blame me, I’m afraid,’ Luke put in. ‘It was I who insisted on a bit of colour. Black or grey is so boring.’

  ‘Besides, we’ll be among friends so I don’t think anyone will mind me wearing mauve just this once,’ Maude added, annoyed that Eliza was ruining things. She’d only been widowed just over a year herself and she was wearing bright pink, which incidentally didn’t go well with the amethysts.

  ‘Perhaps you’re right, although you know the tabbies will always talk,’ Eliza replied airily, and Maude could tell she was still out of sorts.

  Sir Henry and Lady Wallace received them at the entrance to the ball room, both of them singling Maude out for special attention.

  ‘My dear, how lovely to see you out and about at last.’ Sir Henry defied convention and kissed her soundly on both cheeks. ‘Past time you were enjoying yourself again. Are you well? I heard about the accident.’

  ‘I’m fine, thank you. I have a hard head.’ She smiled at him.

  ‘Well, you take care of yourself, my dear. We wouldn’t want any harm to come to you. Isn’t that so, eh, Hexham?’ Sir Henry turned to his other guests, as if finally remembering their presence. Maude saw Eliza frown again, but there was nothing she could do to appease her. Sir Henry had always had a soft spot for Maude and treated her like the daughter he’d never had.

  ‘Indeed, sir,’ Luke replied. ‘We are taking good care of her now and I have the carriage and horses carefully checked before we go anywhere just in case another sharp burr manages to insert itself under the harness.’

  ‘Good, good, glad to hear it. In you go then, the musicians are just striking up the first tune.’

  As they entered the ballroom, a footman stood just inside the doors handing out dance cards and Eliza wasted no time in holding hers out to Luke. ‘Might as well ask you to sign this now,’ she said. ‘No doubt you’ll soon be besieged so it’s my only chance. Oh, and you too, Mr Hexham,’ she added as an afterthought to Thomas. Both gentlemen scrawled their names on her card, but Maude noticed they only claimed one dance each.

  ‘Aren’t you dancing, Maude?’ Luke asked, looking at her hands which were holding nothing but her reticule and a fan.

  She shook her head. ‘No, it’s too soon. Wouldn’t want people to gossip too much. As Eliza said, I’ll give them more than enough to talk about by wearing this gown.’

  Luke glanced at Eliza, who was busy scanning the room for other likely dance partners, but only said, ‘I see. Can I fetch you a glass of champagne at least?’

  ‘Thank you, yes, that would be lovely.’

  Luke did his duty and danced with just about every eligible young lady in the room, as well as all the wallflowers. He’d always wondered why other men didn’t take the trouble to at least dance with the dowdier girls. Even if they didn’t wish to marry them, the effort required was always repaid a hundredfold by the gratitude in the ladies’ eyes. There was only one woman he really wanted to lead onto the floor, however, and she spent the evening sitting in a corner with some boring matrons. But even hidden away like that, she drew his gaze, time and again.

  He gathered from snippets of conversation he overheard that everyone was pleased to welcome Maude back. From what he could understand, she’d barely socialised at all during the last few years and everywhere he went, he heard veiled comments about Edward’s mistreatment of her.

  ‘A right shame, carrying on like that when you have a diamond of the first water waiting for you at home ...’

  ‘She never complained though, held her head high ...’

  ‘And well she should. Wasn’t her fault now, was it? Did her best, under very trying circumstances ...’

  And so it went on. Luke began to realise that she was well liked and respected and couldn’t possibly be the heartless liar he’d thought she was. It made him wonder even more why she’d chosen Edward instead of him because it simply didn’t make sense. He couldn’t ask her though, he had his pride. If she’d wanted to marry him, she would have kept their assignation. He’d love to know why she’d changed her mind, but perhaps if he spent more time with her, he’d find out eventually.

  To that aim, he went to seek her out.

  ‘Lady Hexham, you look a bit pale. Would you care to take a turn about the terrace?’

  Maude looked up and found Luke standing in front of her, with his hand held out as if he knew she wouldn’t refuse. She felt her cheeks heat up, but the ladies she’d been t
alking to were all fanning themselves and seemed not to notice. It was awfully warm in the ball room after all.

  ‘I ... yes, thank you, that would be nice.’ She stood up and took his arm. Very soon, they were out on a wide, stone-paved terrace, lit only by a few randomly placed lanterns. To her surprise, there was no one else there and she could only surmise everyone was dancing.

  The music could still be heard through the open French windows and Maude noticed the orchestra strike up a waltz. Before she had time to comment on this, Luke took her in his arms and began to dance with her, his steps in perfect tune with the lilting melody.

  ‘Luke!’ she protested, using his given name without thinking. ‘No, really, I shouldn’t ...’ But her feet had begun to move of their own accord, her body following gracefully.

  ‘Hush, no one will see us here.’ His voice was low, soothing, and she allowed herself to be seduced by the feeling of being in his arms, twirling the way they’d done so often that wonderful summer eight years previously.

  Neither of them said anything until the music came to an end. Maude found that by then they were at the far end of the terrace in virtual darkness and there was still no one else outside. Although he’d stopped dancing, Luke didn’t let her go. In the faint light of the full moon, she saw his eyes searching hers for a moment, and felt her own widen. She didn’t know what he was looking for, nor whether he found it, but in the next instant he bent his head and captured her lips in a delicate kiss.

  So soft was his mouth on hers, that at first it was a mere whisper of skin on skin, but he didn’t stop there. When she didn’t move or protest, he deepened the kiss and her traitorous mouth returned it in full measure. She remembered all too clearly how wonderful it felt to be kissed by Luke and she responded without thinking. This was what she’d longed for, this felt right.

  He pulled her closer and she felt his heart beating against hers. She inhaled the scent of him, so achingly familiar, stirring up memories best forgotten. A part of her knew she should break away from him and run back to the safety of the ball room, but her limbs refused to obey. This was where she wanted to be.

  This was heaven.

  An almighty crash made them spring apart and Maude heard Luke swearing under his breath while he hopped on one leg. ‘Hell and damnation,’ he muttered. ‘What on earth ...?’

  He looked at a broken plant pot lying on the ground only inches away from where they had been standing. It had shattered into a thousand pieces, which were scattered all around together with the soil and a few bits of roots and leaves. Luke scowled and stared upwards, scanning the roof line as if searching for evidence of some sort.

  ‘Wh-where did that come from?’ Maude stammered, then noticed a gash in Luke’s breeches. ‘Your leg, are you hurt?’

  ‘Yes, but it’s nothing, a mere scratch. A shard must have gone into my skin.’ He didn’t seem concerned and continued to scan the roof above them. ‘This has gone beyond a joke, though. I will not tolerate it any longer.’

  ‘Tolerate what?’ Maude blinked at him in confusion.

  ‘These so called accidents. There have been too many now for them to be mere coincidences. Someone is trying to do away with one of us and I intend to catch the culprit. I won’t stand for it.’

  ‘They’re t-trying to k-kill us?’ Maude found that she was shivering uncontrollably now and Luke must have noticed because he shrugged out of his jacket and draped it round her shoulders.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he murmured. ‘I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I’ll get to the bottom of this, never fear. Come, let me take you inside. Perhaps there is somewhere you can lie down for a moment.’

  ‘I don’t want to rest, I’m fine.’ She put a hand on his arm. ‘Please don’t do anything rash. You might be hurt.’

  He stopped and gazed into her eyes. ‘Do you care?’

  Maude drew in a harsh breath, but looked away. ‘Of course. You’re ... family,’ she mumbled.

  ‘Family? Is that all I am?’ He waited a moment, as if he expected her to look at him again, but she couldn’t without giving away the feelings that were rushing through her.

  ‘Well I ... yes, but ...’ She couldn’t get the words out, couldn’t tell him how she really felt. He probably still despised her and after the way she’d just melted into his arms, what must he think of her? She was supposed to be mourning his cousin and here she was, allowing him liberties. But she was so afraid for him, so scared of losing him again. Even if she couldn’t have him herself, she wanted him to be alive. The alternative didn’t bear thinking about.

  He sent her another searching look, but gave her no further chance to explain what she meant.

  ‘Let’s go,’ he said. He put his arm around her waist and propelled her towards the doors. ‘I want you somewhere safe.’

  Chapter Eight

  Luke was wrong and his ‘mere scratch’ turned out to need stitching. He refused to allow Maude to send for a doctor, however, and insisted on having Stetson perform the necessary procedure.

  ‘He’s done this before and I trust him,’ was his explanation and Maude could see that he meant it. They’d been through so much together in the Peninsula, she guessed this wasn’t the first time either of them had needed such treatment. It was a miracle he’d survived at all.

  ‘Very well,’ she said, ‘but please let me bandage your leg when he’s finished. I’ll bring the necessary linen.’

  Luke submitted to her ministrations once Stetson had done his part. ‘I have to admit you have a lighter touch,’ he managed to joke, although she was sure she must be hurting him every time the bandage came into contact with his torn skin. He was so pale, she wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him again until he forgot about the pain. The short interlude on the terrace had been heaven and, at the same time, sheer torture because she was sure the kiss had only been a moment of madness and he’d meant nothing by it. But how she longed for him to take her in his arms and do it again.

  She concentrated on her task so that he wouldn’t see her overheated cheeks at these inappropriate thoughts. ‘Stetson seems like a good man,’ she ventured, hoping a normal conversation would help her keep her composure. ‘Were you always in the same regiment?’

  ‘Yes, I met him on my very first day and we’ve rarely been apart since. We fought together on many occasions and there’s no one I’d rather have watching my back. I owe him my life.’

  Maude was sure Stetson probably owed Luke his as well, but Luke was too modest to say so. She admired his loyalty and knew that whoever won his trust and affection would have it for life, unless they betrayed him. That was obviously what he thought she’d done and she had no idea how to convince him that it wasn’t true.

  Would he listen to her if she tried or was it entirely too late? Could she find a way to explain? At first it had seemed he didn’t want to talk about it, but after that kiss, she held a faint hope that perhaps he was softening a little and would be willing to hear her side of the story. Now didn’t seem like the right time to broach the subject, with him all but fainting with pain, but as soon as he was better she resolved to try and find an opportune moment. They really did need to talk and if there was any chance ... well, time would tell.

  ‘Mama? Can I go and see the kittens again?’

  Maude looked up from the household accounts, which she’d been adding up. She was happy to see that it all tallied and she was looking forward to showing them to Luke. He had given her funds to replenish the stores of food in the larder, and she had managed to do so and still have some money left over. She hoped he’d be pleased. At least he hadn’t expected her to conjure food out of thin air, the way Edward always had, labelling her a bad housekeeper when he and his friends weren’t served the sort of dishes he expected. In vain she’d tried to tell her husband tradesmen wouldn’t deliver any goods unless they were paid occasionally.

  ‘That’s your problem,’ he’d snarled. ‘You should be able to make the money go further. What do we have a
home farm for?’

  But the farmer there was sick and tired of being asked to provide extra items and Maude refused to ask him. It wasn’t fair to the man’s own family.

  She drew in a deep breath and banished Edward from her mind, concentrating on her daughter instead. ‘The kittens? Yes, I don’t see why not. Just be careful, dear, they have such sharp little claws.’

  As Anna skipped out of the room, Maude realised she should have asked who Anna was going with, but assumed Mrs Mason was taking her. The kittens were only in one of the stables after all, so it wasn’t as if they were far away. Anna would be fine.

  She picked up the accounts and went in search of Luke.

  ‘Dash it all, I’m not an invalid! There’s no reason why I should stay in bed on such a fine day just because of a few stitches in my leg. I can still ride and let the horse do all the walking. Give me my Hessians, please, they’ll protect the leg and perhaps offer some support too.’

  ‘Very well, my lord, but don’t blame me if you tear the wound open.’

  Stetson left the room with a distinct sniff after he’d helped his master pull on the tight boots and Luke glared after him. The man may be the best of fellows, but sometimes he took too much upon himself. The leg was healing just fine and after three days of boredom, nothing on earth could keep Luke cooped up in his bedroom. He picked up a cane that Stetson had left for him, just to humour the man, and made his way downstairs. He refused to acknowledge that the pain was more than bearable whenever he put any weight on the left leg. That would have been tantamount to admitting defeat.

  As he reached the bottom step, Maude came towards him carrying a sheet of paper. Her expression changed from one of contentment to instant alarm at the sight of him.

  ‘Should you be up and about?’ she asked, glancing at his injured limb.

  ‘Not you as well,’ he groaned. ‘Why won’t anyone trust my judgement? If I was on my deathbed, I’d damn well stay in my room, but as I’m not, I have work to do.’

  Maude’s lips twitched as if she was hiding a smile, but all she said was, ‘Very good, my lord. Then perhaps I should show you the accounts later?’