The Elusive Earl

by Anne Herries

  Merry sensed her pleasure. However, the girls had little time to talk, for the other guests were beginning to arrive, and Lady Melbourne was only just in time to join them as the first large party entered. Four gentlemen and six ladies had come together, and as they were greeting them, another six came in at the door. The waiters began circulating with their trays, and the musicians played a soft background music.

  After twenty minutes or so the rooms were beginning to overflow with guests, and the evening was declared a success when some of the guests were heard to say that it was a sad crush. The girls were released to join their guests after twenty minutes of helping to greet the new arrivals and were immediately besieged by hopeful partners as the dancing began.

  Merry had written the Earl of Sutherland’s name into two spaces on her card, the last before supper and one much earlier in the evening. As yet he had not arrived, but a stream of other gentlemen had, and her card was full when Sir George fought his way through the crowd about her. She was able to refuse him with a smile of regret, though she felt a quiver of fear as he went away, his expression one of anger. Merry prayed that the earl would arrive for her mother would demand an explanation if she was forced to sit out, and here there was no escape for her.

  However, her prayers were answered halfway through the evening when she saw Sutherland’s impressive figure across the room. He stood for a moment surveying the dancers, his eyes lighting on her. When he smiled and began to make his way towards her, Merry’s heart leaped. She had missed him dreadfully, and now that he was here she felt the dark clouds that had hung over her beginning to lift.

  He arrived seconds before her next partner, his eyes meeting hers in a quest she understood. ‘The next dance but one,’ she told him, a little breathless, ‘and the last before supper.’

  ‘I look forward to taking you in afterwards,’ he said as her eager partner whisked her away from beneath his nose. Merry smiled, wishing that she might have had more time to speak with him. But he was here. She would dance with him later, and even when she saw that her mother had come into the ballroom and was speaking with Sir George, she could not stop smiling.

  She could hardly wait for the earl to claim her for his dance, her heart thundering against her ribs as she saw that her mother was sending her meaningful looks. However, she did not arrive to prevent the dance, and Merry went to his arms with a lightness that she had not felt for days.

  ‘I was not sure that you would come,’ she told him.

  ‘I meant to keep my word if I could,’ he assured her. It had surprised John Sutherland to discover that he had missed seeing her this past week. ‘I believe your aunt has succeeded, Miss Hamilton. I do not think another person could be squeezed in anywhere. I think she has rivalled Lady Jersey this evening.’

  ‘Yes, it is rather warm in here, isn’t it?’ Merry said. ‘I hope that Jane is all right. She almost fainted the other evening.’

  ‘It is enough to make anyone feel a little faint,’ he said and smiled at her, making her heart race once more. ‘Perhaps after supper, we might take a turn on the terrace?’

  ‘Yes, perhaps,’ Merry said, and her heart fluttered. Did he mean that he wished to speak privately with her? ‘I think that would be pleasant, sir.’

  She gazed up at him as he whirled her about the room, a feeling of happiness flooding through her. From the corner of her eye, she saw that Annabel was dancing with Viscount Wrexham for the second time that evening. She could see that her friend was laughing, clearly enjoying herself.

  * * *

  Annabel was surprised at how well Harry Wrexham danced. She knew his background, and sensed that he must have worked hard to acquire the manners and graces that came naturally to gentlemen who had been brought up to know what was expected of them. All this must be new to Harry, and she suspected that he was not sure he truly belonged in a room filled with the cream of high society.

  ‘It is very warm in here, is it not?’ he asked when their dance ended. ‘Shall we go outside for a few minutes, Miss Hayes?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ she replied, her heart beating very fast for this was what she had been hoping for and the reason she had kept a space clear after her dance with him. ‘It would be nice to take a little air.’

  They walked to the open French windows, venturing out to the terrace. It was an exclusive establishment quite close to the river. The gardens were well lit, and shut off from the part of the hotel that was open to other guests. The lawns looked inviting, leading down to a summerhouse and a small, ornamental lake.

  ‘Shall we walk as far as the lake?’ Harry said. ‘I find these overcrowded rooms suffocating at times…’

  ‘Yes, I know what you mean,’ Annabel replied. ‘It is not that I do not enjoy myself, but sometimes I would rather be away from all the noise and bustle.’

  ‘Would you really – or are you merely being polite to please me?’ Harry stopped walking and turned to look at her, his eyes dark with some emotion she did not quite understand. ‘My father wanted to turn me into a man of fashion, someone fit to inherit his title and his fortune. He had no children of his marriage, and he loved my mother. She was very beautiful when she was young, and I think if she had lived he might have wed her when his wife died – but she was already in her grave.’

  Annabel gazed up at him, her heart beating wildly. ‘What are you saying to me?’

  ‘I am trying to tell you that I am not the right man for you,’ Harry said, his eyes so intense now that they seemed to burn into her. ‘I must speak plainly for I would not hurt you for the world. God knows I find you desirable, Annabel. I want you in the way a man wants the woman he intends to wed – and I would never offer you less. But it cannot be. I am not of your class…’

  ‘You are Viscount Wrexham,’ Annabel said, her throat tight for she could see the denial in his eyes. ‘Your father is a Marquis and you will inherit his title and his seat one day – why should you not be good enough for me?’

  ‘I am not your equal. I taught myself to read before my father decided that he would acknowledge me, and since then I have learned to speak as he does, and to behave as a gentleman – but I am not that inside, Annabel. Inside me, there is an ignorant gypsy boy, a raw savage who lived by his wits and hated all my father stood for. Don’t you understand what that means? You should marry a cultured man, someone who would treat you as you should be treated…’

  ‘No!’ Annabel’s eyes were wild with pain as she looked at him. ‘Don’t you know that I love you? I have loved you since the first time we met – since I saw the way you took the pain from that fox-cub. If I cannot have you I shall not marry.’

  ‘Do not be a fool,’ Harry said gruffly, seizing her by the shoulders. His fingers dug into her flesh as he shook her. ‘You know that it would be wrong. Your family would never allow it. We should have to flee to Gretna Green to be wed, and that might finish us in society. You would be cut off from all that you enjoy…all that should be yours.’

  ‘But if you love me…’

  Annabel’s words were cut off in mid flow as he drew her against him, and then his mouth covered hers, crushing her lips in a kiss so hungry and desperate that it robbed her of breath. When he released her, she saw the fire smouldering in his eyes.

  ‘You do love me!

  ‘I have loved you since you were a child and looked at me with those big eyes of yours,’ he said ruefully. ‘You never saw me again for I took good care that you should not – but I watched you. I watched over you in the woods, protecting you from those who would have hurt you – and sometimes I crept into your father’s gardens and I watched you with your governess.’

  ‘Why did you never tell me you were there?’

  ‘For the same reason as I have spoken the truth to you this evening. I am not for you, Annabel. You are too far above me. I should drag you down, ruin you…’

  ‘No!’ Annabel said, her throat tight with tears. ‘Please do not put yourself down, Harry. I love you. You will break my he
art if you say we can never be together.’

  ‘Better that you feel some pain now than that you learn to hate me when you realise all that you have given up.’

  ‘No, do not think it. I should never regret it.’

  ‘You would run away with me?’ Harry looked deep into her eyes. ‘Is this moon madness, Annabel? Are you sure you would not regret it?’

  ‘Never! Please, take me, Harry. Let us go tonight…’

  ‘No, I shall not give into your pleading, tempting as you are,’ he said and laughed huskily. ‘But if you still feel this way in a few weeks, then I will speak to your father. I will ask his permission, Annabel, and if he says yes, then we shall be married with his blessing.’

  ‘And if he says no?’ She gazed up at him with anxious eyes.

  ‘Then – if you still wish it – we shall run away.’ He seemed as if the words had been dragged from him, for he was well aware that it was unlikely they would receive her father’s blessing, and if he acted as he ought, he would walk away from her now. Yet something, some invisible chains, held him to her.

  ‘Oh, Harry,’ Annabel breathed, her face alight with happiness. ‘You do love me. You really do love me?’

  ‘How could you doubt it?’

  ‘I am not the only young lady here who looks at you with anticipation. You may not think it, but I believe you could take your pick of them. Some may look askance at you, but most will accept you for your father’s sake – and the sake of his fortune.’

  ‘And I must take you back inside for I am promised to one of them for the next cotillion,’ Harry said. ‘I think we must be careful for the moment, Belle. I must not pay too much attention to you, and you must not show partiality for me. Your aunt does not approve of me. She is only one of those who think that my father was wrong to adopt me and teach me to be a gentleman.’

  ‘Yes, I know. I must be careful for she might banish me, and she would not stop there. I should have all my freedom curtailed to stop me seeing you. Only if you can win my father’s approval can we marry with her blessing. She will give it then, if grudgingly.’

  ‘Then I must see Lord Hayes,’ Harry said. ‘But not yet. I want you to be sure, Belle. You must think of what I have said carefully. I know that I give an impression of being the perfect gentleman, I learn these things easily, but remember what lies beneath the surface. Sometimes I grow tired of this and then I disappear into the woods for days at a time. Sometimes I forget to speak properly, and my education is not as far reaching as that of others you might wed. I have no knowledge of Greek or Latin, and very little French.’

  ‘Do you think that matters to me?’ She reached up to brush her lips over his. ‘I shall never change my mind. You are the only one for me, Harry – my love, my life. I would go with you now, but if you ask me to wait, then I shall wait.’

  ‘So be it,’ he said and offered her his arm. He had spoken to her of his doubts for her own good, and he intended that she should have time to be certain of her heart. ‘We had best go back to the ballroom, Miss Hayes, or your aunt will be looking for you.’

  Annabel gave a gurgle of laughter, taking his arm and allowing him to lead her back to the brilliant lights and the heat of the overcrowded rooms.

  Neither of them saw the shadowy figure, who had been listening to their conversation. He had come out to smoke a cigar and withdrew into the shrubbery when he saw them approach.

  Steven Forrest ground the stub of his cigar beneath his heel. He was furiously angry, for he had hoped that he might persuade the girl to marry him. She was perhaps not the richest young lady at the ball that evening, but her maternal grandfather had left her a sizeable fortune, which would be hers when she married. His if he succeeded in securing her, for a woman’s property belonged to her husband unless it was secured to her and then her children. Annabel’s would be hers entirely on her marriage, which would put an end to his debts.

  Yet from what he had heard of her, and from the way she had been avoiding him of late, he had little chance of getting his hands on it. Unless he could come up with a way of forcing her hand…

  * * *

  ‘I have something to tell you,’ Annabel said when she had a moment to speak with Merry. It was impossible to tell her more for they were both about to be claimed by their next partners. ‘I shall come to you in the morning.’

  ‘Yes, do,’ Merry said and squeezed her hand. She could see that her friend was very excited, and she was feeling a little like that herself. Sutherland had made a point of saying that they would take the air after supper, and she could not help wondering if he meant to propose to her. Her mother would surely not try to force her to marry Sir George if the earl asked her to be his wife.

  The evening had been a wonderful success. Merry had not sat out once all evening, neither had Jane or Annabel. Indeed, because so many gentlemen had actually turned up for the event, very few of the girls had been forced to sit and watch. Jane had told her that Teddy Hythe had proposed to her, and he was going to speak to Lord Melbourne, who had come up for his wife’s ball, in the morning.

  Merry knew it was her aunt’s intention to continue in London for at least another two weeks, but after that she would quite likely take Jane to stay with Lord Hythe and let the young people get to know each other in the privacy of their homes. And that meant that Merry would probably have to go home. The thought sent a shudder through her, for she did not know what she would do if her mother continued to threaten her.

  However, she was determined not to let her fears overshadow the evening, and she looked forward eagerly to her second dance with Earl Sutherland.

  The moment came at last, and she went into his arms with a feeling of delight. It was a waltz, and as she had previously been given permission to waltz by one of the influential patronesses at Almacks, she was not afraid of being censured for doing so that evening at her own dance.

  Being in his arms, held so close to his body, was like being in heaven, and Merry wished that the music might go on and on. They hardly spoke for the magic of the moment held them both as they whirled about the floor, her head hardly above his shoulder. When the music ended, Merry was reluctant to move away, but he released her, smiling down at her oddly as he bowed.

  ‘Shall we go into supper now?’ he asked. ‘I think we should make an appearance before we slip away, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ she said, though she would have been glad to go then, at that very moment. She wanted to be in his arms again, to be kissed, and she hoped that that was what he had in mind. However, she took his arm and allowed him to lead her into the supper room.

  ‘Sit down while I fetch you some trifles,’ he said.

  ‘Not too much,’ she replied. ‘I am not very hungry.’

  ‘A syllabub then, and a glass of champagne.’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’ Merry sat down at a table in the corner. She saw that her cousin and aunt were talking animatedly together and smiled. Annabel waved at her, but was with her mother and some others and did not venture across to her. And then a shadow fell across her and she looked up, frowning as she saw that it was Sir George Rowe.

  ‘You are alone, Miss Hamilton?’

  ‘For the moment only,’ she replied stiffly. ‘I am engaged to Earl Sutherland for supper, sir.’

  ‘Yes, I observed you with him,’ Sir George said a sour twist to his mouth. His narrow set eyes held a menace that made her shiver and she looked towards the buffet tables for help, but saw that the earl was in close conversation with someone. ‘However, your mama sent me to find you. She is feeling most unwell and asks you to go to her. I believe she wishes to go home and needs you to accompany her.’

  ‘But I cannot…’ Merry’s heart sank. How could her mother do this to her at such a time? It was her special evening, and she had arranged to have supper with the man she loved. She had hoped that after their walk in the gardens her problems might be solved. Yet she knew that she must respond to her mother’s request. She glanced towards the ea
rl but he showed no sign of coming to her. ‘Would you be kind enough to tell Earl Sutherland that I have been obliged to go to my mother please, sir?’

  ‘Certainly, of course,’ he said and his expression was such that it sent shivers running through her. ‘I give you my word that the earl shall know what has happened.’

  Merry glanced doubtfully at the earl once more, and then walked hurriedly from the room. She was weighed down with disappointment and anxiety for she knew that her mother’s headaches were little more than a means of getting her own way. She wished that she had been brave enough to refuse Lady Standen’s order, for it had been an order, but she knew that it would have led to a severe punishment.

  Hurrying upstairs to the bedchamber where her mother had lain down for a while earlier, she discovered that Lady Standen was wearing her cloak and a pained expression.

  ‘Ah, at last,’ she said in a sharp tone. ‘I thought you would never come. I have ordered the carriage to take us home for my head is very bad and I can stay no longer.’

  ‘I am sorry that you are in pain, Mama,’ Merry said. ‘But must I come too? I have promised dances to several gentlemen and…’

  ‘You ungrateful, selfish girl,’ her mother said furiously. ‘All you think of is your own pleasure – and you have flouted my instructions for you refused Sir George a dance and yet granted more than one to others. I have warned you before, daughter. Do not imagine that my threats are empty. You will obey me or you will find yourself shut up in a house where they know how to treat mentally unstable girls.’

  ‘Mama…’ Merry’s face drained of colour for she had not fully understood her mother’s threats until now. ‘You would not…’ Her hand crept to her throat for an asylum was a terrible place, and, she had heard that its inmates were treated abominably. Surely her mother would not do such a thing? And yet as she saw the implacable expression on Lady Standen’s face, she knew that she would carry out her threat if she did not obey her. ‘Why do you hate me so?’