“Miss Smithwood, might I offer to take you to wherever it is you are heading for, pillion upon my steed,” Duncan called, his voice full of amusement.
“No, you may not,” she shouted back.
The last thing she needed was to be that close to him. She could already feel her pulse racing, just at the sight of him. She most certainly did not need him to know that his slightest touch would be enough to set her aflame.
“Are you sure?” he said, dismounting and, still leading his horse, following her along the road.
“I am quite certain,” she said, through gritted teeth, not wanting to even turn and look upon his amused countenance. “But, please, if you would assist Arthur to affix the wheel and get the carriage back to the house, I would be forever in your debt.”
“I don’t want you in my debt, Georgina,” Duncan said, his voice husky. “I want you to turn and face me, and look upon me with a smile. That is all I want. Yours is such a beautiful smile.”
Reluctantly, Georgina turned. When he beamed at her, she was unable to hold back a grin.
“That is better,” he said, moving to take her hand. She tried to pull away from him, but he held it tight, turning it over and pulling the fabric of her glove back from her wrist, where her pulse beat against his lips. Reverently he covered the spot once more, and looked up. “You seem determined to avoid me, Georgina. Is there something I have done to upset you?”
“No, of course not,” Georgina said, too quickly. “I just need to get to Anna’s, immediately.”
“Then, here,” he said offering her the reins of his horse. “Take Midnight. He’ll get you there safely.”
“But… I cannot ride astride,” she gasped.
“Why ever not? I’ve seen you do it a million times when you were a girl – borrowing Gus’ breeches!”
Georgina blushed.
“Nobody was supposed to know of that,” she said.
“You are an excellent rider,” Duncan said. “Now, do you want me to help you into the saddle, or not?”
Georgina nodded and hitched up her skirts. Duncan bent down. Georgina placed her foot in his cupped hands, feeling the warmth and strength in them as they closed around her boot.
“On your mark,” he said with a smile. She nodded, and bounced once and then felt the extra push from his strong arms boosting her upwards. She flung her leg over Midnight’s back, and let her derriere come to rest on the saddle. Duncan adjusted the stirrups for her, leaning closely against his horse’s flanks, tenderly moving her feet into the correct position.
“Be careful,” he said, as he slapped Midnight’s rump gently, and the horse moved forward along the road.
The horse had a gait as smooth as silk, and Georgina almost regretted that she must stop riding him when she reached the winding driveway that led to Havering House. She raced to the front of the house, leaping off Midnight’s back, tossing his reins to the startled gardener and running up the stone stairs to the front door. She pulled the iron handle to ring the doorbell, and waited for Daniels to admit her.
“Miss Smithwood, a pleasure to see you. Everyone is in the library,” he said. Georgina almost laughed out loud at the disdainful look he passed over her mud-stained gown and boots.
“My carriage lost a wheel on my way,” she explained. “Would you mind awfully, taking care of Mr Crawford’s horse for me? He was kind enough to lend it to me in my hour of need.”
“Certainly, Miss Smithwood,” Daniels said. “I shall go at once.”
The library doors were ajar, and Georgina could hear a number of voices all talking at once. She pushed the heavy oak doors wider and slipped inside.
“Georgina!” Anna cried and hurried to embrace her.
“So, Gus found your father, then?” Georgina whispered, as she realized that not only were the Haverings present, and her own papa, but Gus and his friend Christopher Engles, too.
“He did, and Papa knew nothing at all about the boxes in the attic and is quite livid,” Anna whispered back, as they moved closer to the fireplace and took a seat next to Anna’s Mama.
“So, do you have a plan to catch these lawbreakers?” the Earl of Havering asked Gus.
“No, my Lord. I do not. We laid traps, to try and deter them from coming up to the house last night, but I doubt that will be enough to keep them from their contraband,” Gus said.
“They were only badger traps, my Lord,” Christopher added.
“We need to call in the Militia, Michael,” Georgina’s father suggested to the Earl. “The place needs to be watched around the clock.”
“Can they be discreet? Scarlet uniforms aren’t ideal for keeping intentions hidden.” The Earl scratched his chin as he looked around the room.
“We can have them wear plain coats, Michael,” Mr Smithwood said.
“Then I suggest that we call them in immediately. I will not have my house and my family name brought into any further disrepute.”
Mr Smithwood rose from his seat and gave them a polite bow.
“I shall go at once.”
“Whoever do you think would have the gall to use another man’s house for such a thing?” the Countess asked her husband.
“I do not know, my dear, but we shall find out,” he said grimly.
“I have a ghastly headache, the worry of it all is quite too much for me,” the Countess said, putting her slender hand to her temples, and rubbing them gently.
“You should go and lie down, Mama,” Anna said, moving to her Mama’s side and helping her up.
Georgina knew that Countess was not in the best of health, but today she looked almost deathly pale, with dark circles under her eyes and an almost grey pallor to her skin.
To Georgina’s sharp eyes, her gowns looked too loose, hanging from her too slender frame in a way that made the Countess seem very small and frail. She looked as though even the tiniest puff of wind might knock her over.
“Anna, my darling, can you think of anyone that might have access to the east wing? Did any of the servants perhaps leave, taking a key?” the Earl asked when Anna returned to the library.
“Nobody would need a key, Papa, the house is always open. We’ve never needed to lock the doors, nobody roundabouts would dream of living otherwise.”
“But, whoever is in charge of this must be someone who knew that the entire east wing was unused,” Georgina said. “Doesn’t that make sense?”
“Who would know such a thing?” Anna exclaimed. “I certainly do not make it a point to tell everyone that there are entire areas of our home we don’t use.”
“That is true,” Georgina noted. “Anna had not even told Gus and myself of it, and we are her best friends. My Lord, is there anyone you might have spoken with about your situation?”
“Not that I can think of, but, then again, I am ashamed to admit that I have been in my cups most days this past year. I might have said anything to anyone and never even known it.”
He hung his head in shame and self-disgust.
“Then we are still no closer to a suspect,” Gus said, ignoring the man’s self-pity. “We shall have to hope that Papa and the militia can wait the culprits out, and bring them to justice.”
“And we must carry on life as normal,” the Earl said. “Nobody must suspect that we are aware of what’s going on.”
“So you will be returning to Bath?” Anna asked her father sadly.
“I suppose I shall have to, or it will look terribly suspicious,” he said.
“But, you would surely have been returning to the county for the All Hallows’ Eve Ball tomorrow?” Gus said suddenly.
“I suppose I would have done,” the Earl chuckled and slapped Gus on the back. “Of course, I would. I would, indeed!”
“Then we wait and see,” Georgina said. “However will we attend a Ball, and pretend that everything is the same as ever it was? Our hearts are heavy and we’re on edge, to be sure.”
“I don’t know,” Anna said. “But, we shall have to find a way to
do so.”
“You have your costumes and your masks?” the Earl asked the girls.
They nodded in unison.
“We do. It is so exciting that it is to be a masquerade. I do so love it when everyone removes their disguises at the end of evening,” Georgina said. “Though, of course, now we have our own masquerade to uncover that is far more exciting and utterly personal.”
Chapter Nine
The Assembly Rooms had never looked so gay. The committee of ladies who arranged the All Hallows’ Eve Ball each year had outdone themselves. The walls were festooned with flower arrangements in all the shades of autumn. Flowers of russet and gold blended with emerald green foliage and rich chocolate brown ribbons. Over the dance floor, bunting and paper decorations were strung between the chandeliers creating an intricate pattern of light that was almost eerie.
“It looks like we are in an enchanted forest,” Anna breathed, as she and Georgina entered, their black satin and lace covered masks firmly in place.
A string quartet was playing a lively tune, and there were already a number of couples dancing as the master of ceremonies called out the steps. The girls made their way through the crowds to an alcove where the refreshments were being served. They both took a cup of fruit punch and sipped at it thoughtfully as they looked around them to see who was in attendance.
“I do hope that you plan to dance with Gus tonight, Anna” Georgina teased her.
“I would be honoured to dance with him, though it will be hard to know who is under all of those masks, don’t you think? I am terrible at seeing past them.”
Anna looked nervously about the room.
Her stomach was churning and she felt almost sick. Tonight should have been a night to treasure, to look forward to, and yet, for her, it would mark the beginning of the end.
“Gus is wearing a royal blue coat, a tricorne hat with a green velvet trim, and a simple black mask. I doubt you will find it hard to recognize him,” Georgina said, with an impish smile. “He has never quite taken to the masquerade Ball with the enthusiasm it deserves.”
“You can be ever so cruel to him sometimes,” Anna said. “He deserves far more credit than you give him. Just look at how wonderful he has been, helping Papa with this terrible smuggling business at the house.”
“So, is your heart warming to my brother, at last?” Georgina asked. “Or do you still pine for Crispin Crawford.”
“Georgie,” Anna said and gave her friend a stern look. “Tonight is not the night for any of that.”
Just for once, she wanted to enjoy an evening with Georgina when she did not complain about the Crawfords.
“I agree, tonight is for dancing and forgetting our troubles,” Georgina said. But Anna got the distinct impression that her friend had not given up, and that the subject would be bound to come up again later in the evening.
As it turned out, Georgina had been right. Gus was easy to spot. He was the first to request a spot on her dance card, claiming the dance before supper and the one immediately after, so he might escort her into the meal and sit with her. The slots were typically those claimed by a prospective suitor. Anna couldn’t help but feel a little angry at his presumption, but decided to keep those thoughts to herself. She was sure Georgina had set him up to do so, in order to ensure that Anna did not spend that critical time with Crispin Crawford.
Anna watched as the Crawford sisters entered the ballroom, their extravagant masks not doing anything to hide who was underneath. Everything about their dress and their entrance screamed of their need to see and be seen. Anna took a deep breath to steady herself as she saw that Honora was wearing the very green silk gown that had caused so much discord between Anna and Georgina.
She hoped that her friend would not make such an issue of it again tonight.
Crispin and Duncan entered behind their sisters. Duncan was smiling, looking utterly delighted to be there. Crispin was scowling, his mouth stretched in a disdainful sneer. Anna could feel a knot in her stomach, and wished that Gus had not already claimed the dances she was sure that Crispin would have assumed were his by right.
“They look very handsome!” Anna whispered in Georgina’s ear, trying to instil some kind of animation into her tone.
“They certainly do,” Georgina admitted. Anna noticed that her friend’s cheeks were flushed, and she wondered if Georgina was still angry with Honora and Clementine, or if it was because Duncan was here, looking so undeniably dapper. She was willing to bet it was Duncan who was responsible for her friend’s rosy cheeks.
Anna moved forward to greet Honora and Clementine. They did not gush over her as they had in the dressmaker’s, but greeted her with polite coolness, ignoring Georgina completely. Georgina walked by them without even so much as a glance. She went straight to Duncan, ignoring Crispin, too. Anna wished, yet again, that her best friend could be a little more forgiving. It would make things very difficult for Anna, if Georgina could not bring herself to be more friendly towards the Crawfords in the future.
“Good evening to you, Mr Crawford,” Georgina said, curtsying to him. He bowed at the waist, a wide smile on his face.
“Good evening, Miss Smithwood, Lady Anna,” Duncan said, giving them both a welcoming smile. “You both look quite lovely this evening.
“As do you all,” Anna said quickly, looking from Honora, to Clementine, and finally letting her eyes linger on Crispin.
“I do hope you have saved a space on your dance card for me,” Crispin drawled, taking it from her.
“I assure you there is space on my card for you.” Anna smiled brightly and then her smile faded as she looked up at his face.
He scowled and shook his head in disbelief.
“I see that the best dances have been taken. I am disappointed. I expected you to save the best for me.”
Anna looked at him, then looked away nervously.
“Oh, my. Well, I am sorry, Crispin. I was not sure if you were going to attend. You did say that you might have to be in town this evening.”
“No need to fret,” he said swiftly, placing a reassuring hand upon her arm, though his eyes were as cold as ice. “I will take the final dance, and then I will escort you home.?”
His voice was light, but he squeezed her arm hard as he spoke. Anna feared he might leave a bruise on the tender skin.
She nodded, feeling more than a little concerned as to what manner of mood he might be in by the end of the evening, given his demeanour at this moment. He turned and walked briskly away, disappearing into the crowds without so much as a backward glance at her. Anna wondered if she would ever be able to please him.
She turned back to see that Duncan had taken Georgina’s dance card and was busily scribbling his name against almost every dance. His possessiveness and lack of concern as to what the Bristol gossips would make of such behaviour made Anna smile. Seeing her friend happy almost made her forget about the rude and insolent behaviour she had just experienced from Crispin.
“Now, Mr Crawford, you cannot monopolize me for every dance,” Georgina said, her tone flirtatious. “It will ruin my good name. The grand dames of Bristol will slander me, and say that I am a fearful flirt and that you must marry me at once.”
“I can, and I have,” Duncan said with a grin. “Are you truly going to cross out my name from even one of them? Since when do you care what the silly old women of Bristol say about you?”
“I do not, but neither do I wish you to be forced into a marriage because of spiteful gossip,” Georgina said, giving him a wink.
“There are worse fates that might befall a man,” Duncan said, his eyes sparkling.
He offered Georgina his arm to escort her onto the dance floor for the first of many reels they would dance together that evening.
Anna was glad to see her friend look so flushed and happy. Georgina might still be fighting the thought of marrying into the Crawford family, but Anna was sure that it would not be long before it happened. It was so obvious that Georgina and Du
ncan were besotted with one another, and they would make a good match. Georgina would inherit a goodly sum, and a share of her father’s holdings and Duncan was already in charge of a number of profitable enterprises. Anna was certain that Mr and Mrs Smithwood would be delighted at such a marriage and would not hesitate to give the couple their blessing.
The room was stuffy, and, as nobody had claimed the first few dances on her card, Anna made her way out to the terrace. She perched upon the stone balustrade, and closed her eyes. If only her own future looked as rosy as Georgina’s. But, Anna would likely be saddled with marriage to a man she not only did not want, but, in truth, actually despised.
But, there was no other choice.
Anna had tried her best to make everyone think that she was in love with Crispin Crawford. That she was fawning over him because of genuine feeling, however misguided it might seem to her friends and family. But she was not. She could barely stand the sight of him.
However, he had made her a proposition that Anna had been unable to refuse. He would take her as his wife, and so obtain the country estate that was to be her dowry. It was the only piece of unentailed property that her father had not sold. Anna had not quite understood why he wanted it so much, and he had not explained. Papa’s debts would be paid and Havering House would be restored to its former glory. Crispin would announce the engagement tonight. She dreaded seeing the looks of disappointment on Georgina and Gus’s faces when they found out, but even more she dreaded the wedding in London in just a few days’ time. Her fate would be sealed and her dreams of love and happiness would be over. Forever.
“Penny for your thoughts,” a soft baritone voice asked. Anna opened her eyes, and stared up into Gus’s handsome face.
“They aren’t worth that much,” she admitted. “I was just enjoying a moment’s peace and quiet.”
“Anna, I have something I must say to you, and I hope that you will not be offended by my being so bold,” Gus said, wringing his hands then wiping them on his waistcoat.
“Gus, I do hope that you will always feel that you can tell me anything. I think of you as one of my very best friends. I hope you know I always will.”
Love in the Moonlight: A Regency Romance All Hallows' Eve Collection: 7 Delightful Regency Romance All Hallows' Eve Stories (Regency Collections Book 6) Page 31