‘I suppose this is where we say goodbye, Mr Bastion—’
‘Not quite. I remain your guardian until Michaelmas and there will be legal matters to attend to, regarding your forthcoming marriage.’
‘Oh, yes, of course.’ She swallowed. ‘About last night—I owe you an apology. I am very sorry for the way I behaved.’
‘I am glad to hear it. I hope you have learned your lesson and in future will behave with much more circumspection.’
* * *
Drew felt a twinge of pity as she bowed her head, meekly accepting his strictures. He had treated her abominably, but he hoped the experience might protect her in the future. Footsteps could be heard crossing the hall and Elyse raised her head. A stab of something he could not identify cut through him when he saw the hopeful look on her face. She was expecting to see William Reverson, but it did not take her hastily concealed disappointment to tell Drew that the fellow who came into the room was not her fiancé. He was a thin, soberly dressed individual and Drew guessed he was not a day under forty. The man made them a low bow.
‘Good evening, sir, madam. I am Settle, the viscount’s secretary. His lordship sends his apologies for not being here in person to greet you, Miss Salforde, but he and the family have been called away.’
Drew glanced around the cold, lifeless room and his brows snapped together.
‘Do you mean they are no longer in London?’ he demanded. ‘But I have the viscount’s letter saying he would be here.’
‘A sudden bout of illness made it necessary for Lord Whittlewood to go to Bath without delay, sir, to take the waters.’ Settle gave another small bow. ‘He has instructed me to escort Miss Salforde there.’
‘The devil he has!’ exclaimed Drew.
‘Oh.’ Elyse sank down on to a chair, looking bewildered. ‘And has Mr Reverson gone with him?’
‘All the family are removed to Bath, miss.’ Settle turned his attention to Drew. ‘Our lawyers are expecting you tomorrow morning, Mr Bastion. All the necessary papers have been drawn up and are waiting at their offices for you to sign in the morning. His lordship will assume responsibility for Miss Salforde from here.’ He crossed the room and tugged at the bell-pull. ‘A room had been prepared for you, miss, and dinner will be brought up to you—’
‘One moment.’ Drew put up his hand. Warning bells clamoured loudly in his head. Something wasn’t right. ‘So you are taking Miss Salforde to Bath.’
‘That is correct, sir. We set out in the morning. I shall assign the second housemaid to accompany us, since I have ascertained that Miss Salforde has not brought her maid with her.’
His look and tone indicated severe disapproval at this lack of a personal maid, but Drew ignored it.
‘I think I would prefer to take Miss Salforde there myself.’ If truth be told he would prefer not to go within a hundred miles of the place, but he had promised Harry.
‘There is no need for you to trouble yourself, sir. Lord Whittlewood is anxious that you are not inconvenienced any further in this matter. Miss Salforde will be perfectly safe in my care.’
‘Nevertheless I mean to accompany her. I shall come with you.’
‘But we leave at first light. There are papers to be signed—’
‘I am sure you can arrange for them to be sent on to Bath, or new ones can be drawn up there. I am not prepared to leave Miss Salforde until I have at least seen the viscount.’
The merest flicker of annoyance crossed the secretary’s face.
‘If that is your wish, sir, you are welcome to come with us, but it will be very cramped.’
‘Then leave the maid behind,’ snapped Drew. ‘Miss Salforde has managed perfectly well without one thus far.’
Settle’s lips closed tightly for a moment while he regained his composure.
‘Very well,’ he said at last. ‘We will be leaving here promptly at seven o’clock tomorrow morning. I am sure Miss Salforde is anxious to complete the journey and join her new family.’
The slight upward inflexion demanded a response from Elyse, who was still looking shocked.
‘I am, of course,’ she managed. ‘But I should very much like my guardian to come with me.’
Drew gave a little bow. So she, too, was uneasy at this unexpected turn of events.
He was somewhat reassured by the homely, smiling countenance of the housekeeper who appeared in answer to the bell and requested that miss should follow her upstairs. Elyse rose and gave Drew her hand, accompanied by a tremulous little smile.
‘Until tomorrow, then, Mr Bastion.’
‘Until tomorrow.’ He squeezed her fingers. ‘I shall find myself lodgings for the night and send you word of where I shall be, in case you need me.’
‘Thank you.’
He watched her follow the housekeeper out of the room, then turned back to the secretary.
‘The viscount’s departure is very sudden.’
Settle inclined his head.
‘His lordship was most put out that he could not stay to welcome you.’
‘I would have thought he might have spared one of his family to be here. Miss Salforde’s fiancé, for instance.’
‘Mr Reverson was desolated that he could not remain, but he has put his faith in me to bring his bride to him in time.’
‘In time?’
Drew’s eyes searched the man’s face but the smooth mask did not slip for an instant.
‘In good time, I should say, sir.’
* * *
Drew took his leave, his mind working on what possible motive the viscount could have had for leaving town so abruptly. The first one that came to mind was that he was trying to wriggle out of the marriage contract. After all, if Reverson cried off then the debt would have to paid, in full, but if Elyse failed to arrive... The viscount’s letter had stipulated that Elyse should be delivered into his care by Michaelmas if the contract was to stand. But Michaelmas was almost two weeks away and Elyse would be in Bath in three days, five at most.
Unless something unfortunate occurred on the road.
Drew shook his head, laughing at himself.
‘I am growing far too suspicious and seeing villains at every turn,’ he muttered. ‘This is nothing more than the precocious whim of a rich man.’
He knew the road to Bath well—too well—and had his own reasons for not wanting to go there, but he had promised Harry that he would see his daughter safely installed with her new family, and he would have to do so, whatever the consequences.
* * *
Drew arrived early at the Whittlewood mansion the following morning. There had been no opportunity to visit his bankers, but if he was travelling as Lord Whittlewood’s guest then he should not require much money for this journey, and it would be easy enough to draw funds once he arrived in Bath. A travelling chaise was ready and waiting at the door when he arrived and at the stroke of seven he escorted Elyse from the house.
‘I had the distinct impression Settle was disappointed to see me,’ he murmured.
She showed none of her nervousness of the previous day and a sparkle of mischief lit her eyes.
‘He said if you were late we would have to go without you.’
He raised one quizzical eyebrow.
‘And would you have minded that? I thought you could not wait to see the back of me.’
‘That is true, of course, but I have no doubt if we had set off you would have come after us, and that would not have improved your temper one jot!’
He laughed as he followed her into the carriage, glad she had recovered her spirits.
* * *
The first leg of the journey was accomplished in almost near silence. Elyse seemed preoccupied, possibly anxious about her reception at her new home, thought Drew, or perhaps it was merely the dour
presence of Settle sitting opposite them. When they made the first stop to change horses Drew followed the secretary out of the coach and took the opportunity to stretch his legs. Knowing how quickly the ostlers could accomplish their task he merely walked a little way around the inn yard. As he made his way back to the carriage he noted that there was no crest upon the door. Settle was in earnest conversation with the coachman and instead of climbing aboard Drew waited for him.
‘If I were Miss Salforde I might be aggrieved that the viscount has not put one of his own carriages at her disposal,’ he remarked as Settle came up.
‘The viscount keeps only one travelling carriage in town and he had need of that himself,’ came the reply. ‘I can assure you no slight is intended to Miss Salforde.’
‘I hope not,’ said Drew. ‘I notice you have no outriders.’
The secretary spread his hands.
‘Outriders are not necessary since we are travelling in an unmarked carriage.’
Drew’s brows rose. ‘The road to Bath must have improved considerably since the last time I travelled it.’
Settle’s face remained a polite mask.
‘I have no doubt it has, sir.’
* * *
Elyse watched the two men talking outside the carriage and was aware of her growing unease. She did not know what she had expected to happen when she arrived in London, but she had thought at least that Lord Whittlewood and his family would have been there to greet her. Settle was perfectly civil but she could not like him and was thankful that Drew had not washed his hands of her. The idea of travelling all the way to Bath in the company of the cheerless secretary had been very daunting indeed and after her disastrous attempts to flirt with Drew she was wary of showing too much friendliness to any man.
They set off again and were soon crossing the bleak expanse of Hounslow Heath. Mr Settle’s observation that the guard sitting up beside the driver was armed with a blunderbuss gave her some reassurance, but she was relieved when they had left the infamous heath behind them.
* * *
She could not fault the inn chosen for their first overnight stop, but Drew took exception to the secretary’s assertion that they need not bother with a private parlour.
‘And where are we to dine?’
‘When I made the arrangements I assumed Miss Salforde would take dinner in her room, since she was travelling alone and I would not presume—’
‘No, I hope you would not,’ retorted Drew. ‘However, Miss Salforde is not travelling alone now, and she will dine with me.’
Elyse might think Drew far too autocratic but in this instance she was pleased that he had overridden the secretary’s plans, as she told him when at last they were alone in the private parlour the landlord had found for them. She was very conscious of their previous dinner together and was anxious to make amends.
‘I would have had a very miserable journey if I had been obliged to travel alone with Mr Settle.’
‘He is not the most stimulating company is he?’ Drew grinned. ‘I imagine he is enjoying a bowl of thin gruel in his room even as we speak.’
Elyse giggled. ‘Poor man. I only hope he will not be in trouble with the viscount for this extra expenditure. I cannot think Lord Whittlewood meant any discourtesy, but if he has been taken ill then perhaps he was not thinking too clearly.’
‘Perhaps not, but surely his family might be expected to consider your plight.’
She had been thinking the same thing and did not wish to dwell on it. She sought quickly for another subject.
‘How long will it take us to reach Bath do you think?
‘We should be there the day after tomorrow, travelling in easy stages.’
‘You sound very confident of that, sir. Do you know this road well?’
‘Well enough, although it is more than ten years since I travelled this way.’
‘Was that the last time you were in England?’
‘Yes.’
His short answer made her look searchingly at him, but his impassive countenance had a hard, closed look that did not invite further enquiry. Since she had no wish to antagonise him again she introduced another topic of conversation and he obligingly followed her lead.
The evening continued thus until Elyse bade him goodnight and retired to her room, confident that although she and Andrew Bastion might never be the best of friends, they could at least be civil to one another.
* * *
The following morning she arrived downstairs to find a crowd gathered in the coffee room and at the centre of it was Mr Settle, perched on the edge of a chair with his arms wrapped about his stomach. Drew was standing beside him, his face thunderous.
The secretary addressed him in a querulous voice. ‘I am very sorry, sir, but I dare not set out.’
‘Come man, it is most likely wind,’ snapped Drew. ‘Take a little brandy and you will soon feel better.’
Settle began to rock back and forth on his chair, his face creased in pain.
‘No, it is not wind, sir, I can assure you.’
‘I have sent for the doctor,’ put in the landlord, wiping his hands on his apron and gazing in consternation at the miserable figure hunched before him. ‘He should be here within the hour.’
‘Very well, we will wait and see what he says.’
‘Yes, yes, we will see what he says,’ repeated Settle. He waved to one of the footmen. ‘You, come here and give me your arm. I must lie down upon my bed.’
With a great deal of puffing and panting and the occasional wince of pain Settle was helped to his feet and staggered out of the room. He was almost bent double and would not have paid any heed to Elyse if she had not addressed him.
‘Why Mr Settle whatever is the matter?’
‘Pains, Miss Salforde, agonising pains throughout my body. I fear I shall not be able to travel further with you.’
He hobbled away with the footman’s help and Elyse approached Drew. He was still frowning, but when he saw her he took her into the private parlour, where a breakfast of rolls and cold meat was laid out in readiness for them.
‘It would appear that whatever ailment has afflicted Lord Whittlewood’s family has been passed on to his secretary.’ He pulled out a chair for her. ‘I only hope you do not contract it, having spent the night at the house.’
‘I feel perfectly well,’ she reassured him. ‘But poor Mr Settle, I do hope it is nothing serious.’
‘It is my opinion that the fellow is shamming.’
Elyse put down her knife and fork and stared at him.
‘Why should he do that?’
He was looking very serious, but after a moment he shrugged and said lightly, ‘Do not mind me, I am very impatient of illness.’
‘But if it is serious we shall have to delay our journey.’
‘Oh, I do not think it will come to that,’ he said, filling their coffee cups. ‘Let us wait and see what the doctor says.’
* * *
They were finishing their meal when the landlord came in to say that the doctor had arrived and was with Mr Settle.
‘Very well,’ said Drew grimly, ‘Let us go and see what he has to say.’
He followed the landlord out of the room and Elyse was left alone to while away the time as best she might. It was some fifteen minutes before Drew returned.
‘Well?’ She went over to him immediately. ‘How is Mr Settle?’
‘The doctor is baffled, but agrees with Settle that he should travel no further until he feels better.’
‘What? But how can that be?’
‘Precisely.’ Drew nodded, meeting her eyes with a sombre look in his own. ‘He prodded and poked the fellow but has no idea what is the matter with him, and can only concur with Settle’s own decision to keep to his bed.’
‘Does that mean we cannot continue?’ asked Elyse.
‘Oh, no, I shall take you on to Bath alone.’
She gave a long sigh of relief. ‘Oh, thank you, Mr Bastion. That is wonderful news.’
‘Is it, though?’
She gave him a questioning look and his thoughtful mood vanished. He smiled at her.
‘Go and finish packing up your things. We have already lost a couple of hours but I hope we can still reach Marlborough this evening.’
* * *
Elyse was afraid that being shut up in the carriage with Drew for hours on end would be difficult, but in fact Mr Settle’s absence seemed to lessen the constraint. She remarked upon it as they bowled along, making good time on the excellent roads.
‘There is no doubt about it, we go on much more comfortably without the secretary do we not, Mr Bastion?’
‘I think so. And it’s Drew.’ He grinned. ‘My friends call me Drew.’
She brightened immediately.
‘Are we friends now?’
‘I should very much like us to be.’
His words sent a rush of pleasure through her.
‘Then you should call me Elyse.’
‘Very well. Elyse.’
She laughed.
‘If we are truly friends then you must tell me all about yourself.’
‘If we are truly friends then I will not bore you with such trifles.’
‘Then, will you please tell me about my father?’ she asked, a little shyly.
She observed his hesitation, but he did not refuse and he whiled away the journey by telling her something of their adventures on the Continent.
‘It all sounds very exciting,’ she remarked, when he had finished. ‘Papa’s letters were so infrequent, you see. He told us almost nothing of his life abroad.’
‘Perhaps he did not wish to make you anxious,’ suggested Drew.
She chuckled. ‘It is more likely that he thought we would be shocked if we knew how he lived. I suspect you have given me a heavily expurgated version of events, but I am glad to have any information of my father, however little.’
Harlequin Historical September 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: The Lone SheriffThe Gentleman RogueNever Trust a Rebel Page 52
