A Lord In Disguise

by Fenella J Miller

  His lips compressed at her peremptory instructions but he did as she bid without comment. Once he had gone she scrambled upright and still enveloped in the comforter ran into the bedchamber where she found everything she needed laid out neatly on his bed. When she removed the nightshirt, it was to discover that her twisted ankle had been carefully bound by someone.

  Once she was decently clothed her heart began to slow and she recovered her equilibrium. She prayed that it had been Mary who had covered her up and attended to her injury and not Edward himself. She would die of mortification if he had seen her dressed as she had been.

  The only problem now was what to do with her waist-length, still damp, hair which had a distinct smell of vinegar – hardly an attractive perfume. The best she could do was braid it and leave it hanging down her back.

  When she emerged from his bedchamber she heard a longcase clock strike seven times. She could hardly credit that she had been asleep for so long. She never took to her bed during the day unless she had a fever.

  If she didn't put her weight on it her ankle hardly hurt at all. She had only walked a few yards when Edward strolled up and without a by your leave picked her up in his arms.

  'You cannot possibly negotiate the staircase with a sprained ankle, my love, so I intend to carry you down. There is a cold collation set out for us on the terrace. I am sure that you are hungry – I know I certainly am as I have not eaten since God knows when.'

  She took a deep breath intending to protest then decided she rather liked being carried by him. She rested her cheek against his topcoat and inhaled his unique smell. Lemon verbena soap, she thought it was, mingled with something else she did not recognise.

  A gurgle of laughter escaped and once that was out she started to giggle and couldn't stop. He put her down gently but kept his arm around her waist. 'Now what? I cannot carry you when you are laughing so much.'

  Tears were streaming down her cheeks and all she could do was shake her head. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall waiting for her to recover. It took several minutes but he had not become impatient.

  'I beg your pardon, Edward, but it was the thought that whilst you smell of lemon soap I smell of vinegar – hardly an attractive perfume.'

  His hand came out slowly and she froze. His fingers brushed her cheek and then slid smoothly over her plaited hair. He raised the braid and sniffed it thoughtfully. 'I had wondered why I could smell pickles and now I understand. I take it this is a family remedy for crawlers?'

  'It is what Nanny used when my brother and I became infested after playing with Romany children.'

  'I take it you have quite recovered from your merriment and it will be safe to transport you the remainder of the way?'

  'I have no intention of being transported anywhere. I turned my ankle slightly, I'm quite capable of walking downstairs without your assistance.' To prove a point she dodged past him, picked up her skirt and all but skipped across the gallery and down the staircase. He made no attempt to stop her and she wasn't quite sure what she would have done if he had intervened.

  She rather regretted having put her entire weight on her injury by the time she reached the chequered hall. He arrived smoothly at her side and this time when he picked her up she was grateful.

  'Thank you, sir, my ankle is not as robust as I had thought. Perhaps there is a bath chair somewhere I can use so you will not be obliged to carry me about the place?'

  'I am content to do so, sweetheart. You are far too thin, if you were the correct weight for someone of your height then it would be a different matter.' This was said with a straight face but for a horrible moment she thought he was serious. Then his lips twitched.

  'You are outrageous, Mr Trevelyan, I am not thin but fashionably slender.'

  They had now arrived on the terrace and he carried her across and put her carefully down on a waiting chair. She forgot their badinage and looked around in wonder.

  'I had not realised how spectacular the vista is from this terrace. With the sun setting over the lake turning the water to liquid gold it is quite stunning. Thank you for arranging this for me.'

  'It was not my idea, Penny, I have not a romantic bone in my body. One view is very like another to me. One of the staff came up with it – more because it is too hot in the dining room than for any other reason I suspect.' He gestured towards the table set out with a variety of cold cuts, pasties, pies, and other tasty items. 'What would you like me to fetch you?'

  *

  'Whatever is there will be fine. However, I would prefer to have the savoury items separate from the sweet.'

  He filled two plates and carried them over. He had ensured that they would be alone as there were things he wished to discuss with her that could not be overheard by anyone, even staff as loyal as those he was now employing.

  He poured himself a glass of claret but she shook her head and had lemonade instead. 'What is it you wish to speak to me about, Edward? Has something catastrophic occurred at Brook Farm?'

  He nodded. 'You are too observant, my dear, but I think we shall eat before we talk.'

  She was happy to acquiesce and did not indulge in idle chit-chat whilst they ate but concentrated on her plate. She was so like him in so many ways. She was the perfect match for him and yet she could never be his.

  He forced himself to swallow what was in his mouth. His throat had tightened and he was unmanned at the thought that he was in love with the girl and almost certain that she reciprocated his feelings, but they could do nothing about it.

  She dropped her cutlery with a clatter and he looked up. 'I am replete. You appear to be having difficulty finishing your meal so why not abandon it?'

  The fact that she didn't ask why he was unable to eat was yet further proof that she understood him perfectly. He came to a decision. The things he had intended to say to her were no longer relevant.

  'Sweetheart, I shall not burden you with my problems, but I want to ask you something. Do you love me enough to live beside me as my wife without the benefit of God's blessing?'

  'More importantly, do you love me?'

  He kicked back his chair and was at her side before she finished speaking. He turned her chair so she was facing him and dropped to one knee in front of her.

  'I believe that I fell in love with you the first day that I met you. I have no right to ask this, but I find I cannot bear the thought of you marrying Thorogood…'

  'Marrying Thorogood? What maggot has got into your brain to make you think I should do such a ridiculous thing? He would do for Mattie when she is older, but if I cannot be with you then I shall remain a spinster.'

  He took her hands and was touched to find them trembling in his. 'Would you do me the inestimable honour of becoming my wife? It will be invalid legally…'

  'Fiddlesticks to that! If we exchange vows in the sight of God, despite what you said earlier, we will have his blessing. The fact that we cannot be married using your correct title is nothing to me. As far as my family are concerned I will be Mrs Trevelyan, the wife of the wealthiest gentleman in the vicinity.'

  He regained his feet and pulled her up as he did so. She fitted perfectly into his embrace as if she had been born to be there. He kissed her thoroughly and she responded with such passion he could barely restrain from snatching her up and carrying her to his bedchamber.

  'We had better sit down, as far apart as possible, or this will continue to its natural conclusion, something which we would both regret in the morning.'

  She resumed her seat, her cheeks were becomingly flushed and her eyes radiant. Bentley had intended to ruin his life. In this the earl had failed miserably as now Edward was the happiest man in the kingdom. His only regret was that his father could not share in his good fortune but must remain isolated and alone in that mausoleum of a house.

  Chapter Twelve

  'I cannot stay here with you unchaperoned, Edward, my love, not now that we are officially betrothed. As my legal guardian it was almost permissible
for us to be alone, but now, definitely not. I insist that we return to the Lodge immediately.'

  'Before we leave there are things I must tell you about today. For some unknown reason we have not got around to that as yet when it was the prime purpose of my keeping you here.'

  She waited and his expression became grave. Her heart was trying to escape from behind her bodice. What could be so bad that it made him look as he did. Her hands clenched in her lap and she braced herself.

  'There is no easy way to tell you this, darling, so I shall be blunt. One of the men that you hit has died. The other is saying it was an unprovoked attack and that they had merely ridden over to speak to you.'

  Her dinner threatened to return and she gulped convulsively. She was a murderer. She looked around expecting the constables to arrive at any moment to arrest her.

  He was at her side and lifted her from her seat and carried her inside to the daybed. There he sat cradling her, offering her the support and comfort she so desperately needed. She sobbed into his shoulder and he stroked her back and murmured soothing words.

  'Come, sweetheart, do not distress yourself. The man would have danced at the end of a rope if he had not died already. I was inept in my announcement. I should have said at the outset that the villain's story was not believed and that Mary confirmed that you had been attacked.'

  She sniffed and he pushed his handkerchief into her fingers. She blew her nose noisily and wiped her eyes. 'I'm not to be taken away?'

  'Of course you're not, you pea-goose, you are to be congratulated for your bravery and quick thinking. Both Brook Farm and Eastwick have been cleared and now Farmer Turner has control of the land.'

  She rested her head against his damp shirt and sighed. The fact that the man she had killed would have died at the hands of the law did not make her feel any better about it. To have taken another's life was a dreadful thing. Whatever he said to the contrary she was a murderer, a woman no gentleman should have anything to do with.

  Sadly, she untangled herself and stood up. 'You do realise that I can no longer marry you? I am not fit to be any man's wife and especially not someone as honourable as yourself.'

  'You have quite mistaken the matter, my love, but I shall not attempt to dissuade you tonight. You are shocked and upset. Tomorrow, when you are rested and thinking more clearly you will realise how this makes no difference.'

  'Take me home, please. I have no wish to discuss it any further. As you say by tomorrow things will be clearer in my head.'

  'Bruno is here, if you are prepared to ride pillion I can have you back no time. However, if you prefer to wait for the carriage…'

  'No, I shall ride with you.'

  'Wait for me in the hall and I will fetch him. It won't take me long to saddle him myself. That poor beast you rescued has become a firm favourite and I believe will make an excellent farm horse once he is recovered.'

  'It would please me if you could rescue all the animals that were on that place. They did not deserve to be treated as they were.'

  She put her arm round his neck without him asking and he whisked her into the hall. The sun was almost down but it would not be dark for a few hours yet. Time enough for her to put her plan into action.

  On the return journey she leaned against him knowing this was for the last time. He lifted her down on their arrival and she waited for him to dismount and hand his reins to a waiting stable boy.

  'Please do not say anything about what has happened between us to my family.'

  'I give you my word they shall hear nothing from me.'

  'Thank you, I love you, I just wish things could have been different for us.'

  She stepped into his arms and tilted her face to receive his kiss. It didn't matter that they might be observed by a lurking groom, tomorrow she would be gone and what had happened today pale by comparison.

  Gently she pushed on his chest and he released her. 'Good night, my love, thank you for tonight.'

  'I love you, sweetheart, and whatever you might think now, I intend to marry you.'

  He made no attempt to stop her as she hurried into the house. They both knew it had been quite unnecessary for him to carry her, that it had just been an excuse for them to be closer than they should be.

  The voices of her sisters and mother drifted from the drawing room. If she went in to speak to them she would break down and they might possibly guess her intention. Once she was safely in the privacy of her bedchamber she rang for her maid.

  'Mary, I must thank you for your courage today. I have the most dreadful megrim – I am going to retire and must not be disturbed under any circumstances until I ring for you. These headaches can last for a day or more so do not be surprised if I do not call you until lunchtime tomorrow.'

  'Shall I bring you a receptacle in case you cast up your accounts? I shall move the jug of barley water to your side table so you can reach it if you need to.'

  The shutters were closed and the curtains drawn at the windows and around her bed. There was no point in attempting to leave whilst it was still light. She would sleep if she could as she would need all her strength tomorrow.

  *

  When his beloved failed to appear at breakfast Edward was concerned. He sent word up to her room and was reassured when the message returned that she had a megrim and would be remaining in bed today whilst she recovered.

  He wasn't surprised she was unwell. He could not imagine another girl in the country who could have done what she did. To have saved herself and her maid from being violated certainly, and murdered possibly, was the most courageous thing he'd ever heard of.

  It might take a little while to convince her that the fact that the man had died from the blow she had given him did not make her guilty of anything apart from being brave and resourceful. He would have killed both of them with his bare hands and not thought twice about it.

  He spent the morning with Thorogood going through his plans to improve the land and the lot of his villagers. 'I'm content where I am. I know nothing of society and do not believe I should be comfortable rubbing shoulders with the ton. My wards will make brilliant matches without going to London to parade at Almack's like prize mares.' No sooner had he finished his sentence than he realised he had made a catastrophic error.

  Thorogood's expression changed. He stared at him and Edward knew he had revealed his true self.

  'That was stupid of me. I am about to trust you with my life, sir. I hope my judgement is not faulty.'

  'Nothing you reveal will ever be spoken of by me.'

  Edward explained the whole and his companion nodded as if unsurprised. 'I had my suspicions that you were not the person you are purporting to be, but it had not occurred to me you could be Lord Stonham. From what you have said you have been accused of something you did not do. I intend to put matters straight.'

  'I don't see how you can do so without alerting the authorities that I am still in the country.'

  'You must write everything you have told me down as if you are writing a letter. Address it to me, although we were not acquainted, there is no reason why we should not have known each other despite the fact that you are several years my senior. We moved in the same set after all.'

  'That is an excellent notion. You must state that the letter was delivered to you by hand.' This was a brilliant scheme and as he spoke he realised that this might actually work. 'Say the letter travelled from Rome and was eventually brought to you by the good offices of a Cornish fisherman. Everybody knows that most of those are also smugglers and are frequently back and forth to France illegally.'

  'I am certain this would work. As far as anyone here is concerned I am in London on business for you. In fact, it might be a good idea for me to take the chest of treasure to a bigger concern than the one you are dealing with in Ipswich. Possibly not your family bank but another one of equal importance.'

  Edward sat back and for the first time since the duel he could breathe easily again. He could see that very soon he would
be able to take his place in society and Penny would become Lady Stonham.

  He surged to his feet and clapped the young man on his back. 'I have the utmost confidence in you. I should like you to be the first to congratulate me. Miss Bradshaw and I are betrothed. I must go to her at once and give her the good news.'

  He took the servants' staircase much to the shock of a maid coming down with an armful of dirty linen. Even more surprised was Mary who was busy attending to some mending in the dressing room.

  'Excuse me, but I must speak to Miss Bradshaw.'

  'She is still sleeping, sir, she gave me strict instructions not to wake her but to wait for her to ring.'

  'I shall wake her.' He strode past the girl, ignoring her horrified expression, and called out as he entered the bedchamber. 'Darling girl, I have the most wonderful news for you.'

  There was no answer. For a moment he was unable to move then he threw back the bed hangings and as he had feared the bed was empty. Penny had run away. There was a letter addressed to him resting on the pillow.

  He opened it and cursed himself for being a gullible fool as he read the contents.

  Dearest Edward

  I cannot tell you how sorry I am to be leaving you. You must understand that I would never do so if I had any other choice. I love you and I always will but you cannot marry a murderer. One day you will be restored to your rightful place and being attached to me would ruin your life.

  Please do not look for me as it will put your own life in danger and I could not bear to be the cause of that.

  I hope you will explain to my sisters and mother why I have left. Tell them not to worry as I am quite capable of taking care of myself. They will realise that for me to remain would taint them by association so they will be relieved that I am gone once they have got over the shock.

  I have just over ten guineas in my reticule which will be more than enough to set me up in a new life.

  Forgive me, my love, and find someone who is worthy of you.