Lord Rowan’s presence undoubtedly had a calming influence. The Eldons, though competent themselves, were grateful to have his support. But their concern was minimal in comparison to the anxiety which was about to befall them, when the race had been on for some seven weeks and the ships were about three-quarters of the way home. Poor Giles was inadvertently the cause of the disaster.
The families continued to lead their normal lives as far as possible and Giles was accustomed to frequenting a Gentleman’s Club in the city. Although he had attended little of late because of the extra pressure of business, as the tension increased he sought to put all thoughts of the race from his mind, if only for a few hours, and spent an evening at his Club. He dined with friends, who though idly speculative upon the race were not greatly interested in it. Giles played cards with them until midnight and was leaving the Club when a carriage drew up beside him and to his surprise a voice hailed him.
‘Eldon—Giles Eldon.’
He turned.
‘Eldon—here a minute, if you please.’
Giles could not recognise the voice which was that of a young man. He hesitated, shrugged and decided that no harm could come of it and approached the carriage cautiously.
‘I say, Eldon, could you spare a fellow a moment’s conversation?’
Giles strained his eyes in the darkness and saw then that it was the face of Roderick Kelvin, Lavinia’s brother, peering at him from the carriage window.
‘What do you want, Kelvin?’ Giles said none too graciously.
‘I say—look here—step in here a moment, won’t you? I’d like to talk to you.’ He opened the door. Again Giles hesitated, but, now intrigued, he gave way and climbed up to sit opposite Roderick in the darkness of the carriage.
‘I’ll drop you off home, if you like—we’ll talk on the way.’
Before Giles could protest, Roderick gave directional instructions to the driver.
‘What is all this about, Kelvin?’ Giles asked sharply.
‘I’ll come straight to the point, Eldon. I’ve never liked what my parents did to Lavinia, you know, and whilst I doubt they’ll ever be reconciled with her—not the way they talk about her,’ he simpered, ‘I don’t like being estranged from her. You may not believe me, but I do assure you I’m very fond of her, always have been and I’d like to see her again.’
‘Why don’t you call on her then?’
‘What, at Grandfather’s? Out of the question, old fellow, he’d fling me out, I know that.’
‘Not if you explained the position to him—especially if you are prepared to leave your parents too.’
‘Oh, I ain’t prepared to do that—good Lord no—maybe I don’t agree with them, but—well—I am provided for, you know.’
Giles merely grunted.
‘Look—all I’m asking is for you to tell Lavinia what I’ve said and if she agrees, I’d like to meet her, say In the gardens tomorrow at three o’clock, just to talk to her. Will you tell her?’
Giles thought for a moment. ‘I don’t know,’ he murmured doubtfully, unable to trust Roderick.
‘Oh do, please do, at least tell her—let her decide. If she doesn’t want to …’ he shrugged and sighed expressively, ‘then at least I’ll have done my part towards reconciliation.’
‘All right,’ agreed Giles at length though still somewhat reluctantly. ‘I’ll tell her at least—but I shan’t advise her in any way what to do—it will be her decision.’
The next morning, Giles arose late and his father and Jonathan had already left the house. Giles breakfasted hurriedly and left for Lord Rowan’s house to see Lavinia. He found her in the morning room.
‘Giles—how nice,’ she cried and came forward to greet him.
‘Vinny, the most extraordinary thing— where’s your grandfather?’ he began in his usual hasty manner.
‘Gone to meet your father and Jonathan. Why?’
‘Last night as I was leaving my Club, your brother was waiting for me.’
‘Roderick! Whatever for?’
‘It seems—at least this is what he says—that he has never agreed with the way your parents have treated you, that he himself is very fond of you and wants to meet you to make it up with you.’
‘Roderick—fond of me?’ Lavinia laughed. ‘Never. The only person he is fond of is himself.’
‘Then you don’t believe him?’
‘I don’t know—to be serious. After all, it is more than two years since we met. He may have changed a great deal,’ she laughed again. ‘I have, so it’s possible he has too.’
‘I suppose so,’ Giles said doubtfully. ‘ I suggested he called on you here, but he didn’t want to, because of Lord Rowan. You see, although he says he wants to be reconciled with you, he’s not prepared to break with his parents.’
‘So—what did he want?’
‘He wants you to meet him in the Gardens this afternoon at three o’clock.’
Lavinia thought for a moment.
‘Shall you go?’
‘I think I will,’ she said slowly. ‘I should like to know exactly what it is he wants.’
‘Then I shall come with you,’ said Giles firmly.
‘Very well,’ she smiled. ‘We’ll solve the mystery together.’
But Giles’ good intention was thwarted for when he arrived home at ‘ Eldon House’, his mother met him in the hall.
‘Your father has sent an urgent message for you to join them at the office, Giles, immediately.’
‘Very well, Mama,’ Giles turned on his heel and left the house at once.
His father, it seemed, wished him to meet a business contact who, they had been informed, was arriving unexpectedly by train that afternoon at one-thirty.
‘Shall I be free again for two-thirty?’ Giles asked worriedly, not wishing to confide in either his father or his brother, and certainly not in Lord Rowan who was present, of the reason for his question.
‘I expect so,’ Lord Melmoth agreed reluctantly. ‘But what is so important? You know we rely on you keeping yourself available, Giles, especially just now.’
‘Yes, Father, I know and I’m sorry. But it is important, or I would not ask.’
‘Oh—very well then.’
Circumstances seemed to conspire to delay Giles. The train was late and when’ it did arrive, Giles could not find the man he had to meet. He spent an anxious half-hour making all sorts of enquiries about the gentleman from the north who had been travelling on the train, but no one had heard of him or indeed noticed anyone who could have been such a person.
Giles returned to the Keldon Shipping Line office in a state of agitation. Not only had he failed to carry out an important meeting with a client, but also he was on the verge, if he was delayed much longer, of failing to accompany Lavinia as he had promised. To add to which, some inexplicable uneasiness made him feel that it was imperative that he should go with her to meet her brother.
Lord Melmoth, knowing nothing of the reason for Giles’apparent lack of interest in the affairs of their business, was irritated by his son’s attitude. He came close to being angry with Giles until Jonathan intervened.
‘Father, I am sure Giles made as many enquiries as possible, and as he appears to be anxious to be off, pray let him go. His reason is, I am sure, important.’
Giles cast an appreciative glance in Jonathan’s direction.
‘What is it, my boy?’ his father asked in less angry tones. ‘ You’re not in any scrape are you?’
Giles grinned momentarily. ‘No,’ he hesitated torn between disloyalty to his father and brother and to Lavinia. ‘If you must know, I promised to take Lavinia to the Gardens. She—she wants to meet someone and I don’t think it wise for her to go alone.’
He was thankful that Lord Rowan had left, for he may have asked embarrassing questions. Giles was, however, surprised at the reactions of his father and brother. The former chuckled and nodded.
‘I see, playing chaperon, eh? Well, well, my boy, in that cas
e you cannot break a promise, especially to Lavinia. Off you go.’
Jonathan said nothing but the bleak, hopeless look which crossed his face shook Giles considerably and he was still thinking about it when he turned his brougham in the direction of Lord Rowan’s house.
When he arrived there, he was now more than twenty minutes late for it was almost five minutes to three. To his dismay he found that Lavinia, presumably thinking he was not coming and not wishing to miss her appointment with Roderick, had left. Fortunately Lord Rowan was not at home either, immediately, Giles made all speed to the gardens. The rendezvous had been fixed for the fountain in the centre of the park. Nearing it, Giles scanned the strolling figures—there was no sign of Lavinia, of Roderick, nor of any conveyance which either of them may have used. As the Gardens were no great distance from Lavinia’s home, Giles presumed she had probably walked. He cursed himself for not having asked the servants as to how and when Miss Kelvin had left the house. As always, he had not thought of it at the time. He waited for what seemed an interminable time, but in fact only a quarter of an hour. Then he drove around the vicinity of the fountain, and, at last, in desperation he toured most of the paths of the gardens. By the time this was done it was over an hour since he had arrived there.
With one last look round the area of the fountain, he returned to Lord Rowan’s house and, finding that neither Lavinia nor Lord Rowan had returned home, he went back once more to the Keldon offices. Giles was feeling sick with fear, positive that something had happened to Lavinia and that he had been instrumental in causing it to happen.
He burst into the room where he had left his father and Jonathan over an hour before, to find them almost as he had left them, discussing business and dealing with paperwork on their desks.
Giles stood for a moment in the doorway to regain his breath. He seemed to have been running and hurrying ever since lunch. Lord Melmoth and Jonathan looked up immediately on his entry. Jonathan stood up and came swiftly towards him.
‘What is it, Giles? What is wrong?’
‘Oh dear, what can have happened?’ panted Giles, incoherent with anxiety now.
‘Lavinia—is it Lavinia?’ Jonathan asked urgently. ‘ Tell me!’
Giles nodded. ‘ Oh dear,’ he said again, ‘I should have told you before, only she seemed to want to go—why didn’t she wait for me? Where can she have gone?’
‘Tell me,’ repeated Jonathan shaking Giles’ arm.
‘Giles, you’re making no sense,’ Lord Melmoth interrupted. ‘Sit down, calm yourself and tell us exactly what has happened.’
Jonathan opened his mouth to say more, but seemed to change his mind, for he remained silent and let his hand fall from Giles’ arm. Giles rubbed his arm absently where Jonathan had gripped it with such intensity.
He told them then, swiftly, beginning with his meeting with Roderick right up to the very moment he had returned to the office, a few moments before. They heard him out in silence, but he could not fall to see the anxious glances his father and brother exchanged, nor Jonathan’s increasing agitation. As Giles finished his story, Jonathan, unable to restrain his anger any longer burst out,
‘You fool, Giles, you absolute and utter fool! You know Roderick can mean Lavinia no good.’
‘But …’
‘But nothing—you should have known. Giles, if anything has happened to her, I’ll—I’ll horsewhip you!’
Jonathan strode from the room, whilst Giles fell miserably silent and Lord Melmoth gaped after his elder son in astonishment at the intensity of his emotional outburst.
Chapter Ten
Jonathan drove his gig at a furious pace through the streets of London, causing pedestrians to scatter in alarm, and carriage drivers to curse him whilst they struggled to calm rearing horses frightened by the commotion his speed caused. But Jonathan cared not. At last he drew up before a house in a quiet, select neighbourhood and jumped down before the vehicle had stopped entirely. He bounded up the steps three at a time, rang the bell and hammered on the door, which opened after a moment’s pause. Jonathan strode in, ignoring the protestations of the butler.
‘Lady Anthea—where is she?’ Jonathan demanded of a servant.
‘Not at home, sir, I do assure you.’
‘I’ll see for myself.’ Angrily he opened the door of a room to the right and began methodically to search each room leading off the hall.
‘Are you looking for me, Jonathan?’ a voice came from the top of the stairs, and he turned to see the elegant figure of Lady Anthea, regarding him with a look of surprise, but with pleasure at this unexpected visit from her former admirer. But the look of triumph died a little when, coming down the stairs, she became aware of his expression, his eyes dark with anger, his lips pursed, his face pale and the ugly scar standing out a vivid slash down his cheek.
She was as lovely as ever, even though she was dressed completely in black in mourning for her husband. But Jonathan appeared to notice nothing about her.
‘Where is she, Anthea?’
‘My dear Jonathan,’ she tried to pacify him, coming towards him with outstretched hands—invitingly. ‘How lovely to see you. It’s been so long—too long, Jonathan,’ she murmured softly, close now.
Jonathan remained totally unmoved by her wiles.
‘Where is Lavinia?’
‘Jonathan—I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why should I know where the girl is?’
‘I think you know very well what I’m talking about—far better than I do myself.’
‘I assure you I do not.’ For a moment her eyes glittered dangerously, then she forced herself to laugh and put her hand on his arm.
‘Come and sit down, Jonathan, and …’
‘Tell me what you have done with her,’ his voice trembled with rage and anxiety which he was trying so hard to control. He grasped her wrist suddenly and twisted her arm. She gave a little scream more out of surprise than pain.
‘Jonathan! You’re hurting me.’
‘Where is she?’ he said between his teeth.
‘I don’t know—I don’t know.’
‘You’re a good liar, Anthea. I know to my cost. I believed your lies once before, remember?’
She looked into his eyes and read the coldness there, she saw at once that there could never be another chance of recapturing his affection. Angrily she shook herself free.
‘I don’t know where she is,’ she said sulkily.
‘But you do know what has happened to her, don’t you?’ He grasped her shoulders and shook her fiercely. ‘Don’t you?’
For the first time in her life she felt a pang of fear. Lady Anthea had never been so roughly treated by any man, much less one she had thought her willing slave. She realised now that his love for her—if it had been that and not merely boyish infatuation—was completely dead now. Now, from the look on his face it was apparent that he despised her.
Instead of answering his question she asked softly, regretful, almost, that she had not valued this man’s affection, that she had made such a mess of her own life when it might have been so different …
‘Do you love her, Jonathan?’
She saw the pain flicker across his face and his eyes, already angry and anxious, take on a haunted look.
‘That’s none of your business—just answer my questions.’ But his reactions had answered her question.
She sighed. ‘ Her brother arranged for her to meet him in the gardens and take a drive with him.’
‘And?’
‘We guessed your brother would perhaps come with her so it was arranged that a message should be sent to your office about the business man arriving on the train—we know Giles does that sort of job.’
‘And we fell for it,’ muttered Jonathan bitterly.
‘Roderick was to drive her to a certain place—I don’t know where, I swear it. Her father and Lord Myron would be waiting.’
‘Myron—oh my God,’ Jonathan’s voice was a strangled whisper.
; ‘It’s not that, Jonathan, not this time,’ she said swiftly. ‘Lord Myron’s no longer interested in her. He—he’s asked me to marry him and I have accepted.’
Despite his anxiety for Lavinia, Anthea’s words caused a look of incredulity to cross his face, and even the ghost of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
‘Good grief, Anthea, you have a talent for marrying old men for their money.’
Her hand struck his scarred cheek, but his faint smile only broadened. ‘Trying to inflict more wounds upon me, Anthea? Believe me, you no longer have the power.’ Then, swiftly, his thoughts turning once more to the person uppermost in his mind. ‘Have they kidnapped her?’
Lady Anthea nodded.
‘Why—in Heaven’s name?’
‘They want to blackmail you into losing the race.’
Jonathan nodded. ‘I see.’
‘It isn’t so much you, Jonathan, whom they are trying to blackmail as Lord Rowan. No one guessed you’d care enough about her to put her before your precious steamship.’
‘What?’ he paused, surprise crossing his face. ‘Is that how I appear to people, totally unfeeling except for my own interests?’
‘Nowadays, Jonathan, yes. Ever since this,’ and her fingers touched the scar on his cheek again, but gently this time.
His shoulders sagged, the defeat in his eyes was pitiful to see, even for a cold-hearted woman of Lady Anthea’s nature who only used her beauty and men’s affection for her to her own advantage.
‘Then what must she think of me,’ he muttered and turning on his heel, he left the house without another word.
Lady Anthea Thorwald watched him go with a feeling unusual for her, of regret. Clearly, she saw her own life mapped out before her. She shuddered—it was not a pleasant picture.
Jonathan drove to ‘Eldon House’ more slowly. So many emotions crowded his mind. He did not know which way to turn to look for Lavinia. He believed, however, that Lady Anthea had told him all she knew, that she did not know where the kidnappers had taken Lavinia.
Portrait of Jonathan Page 13
