Kissed in the Dark

by Gloria Gay

  “You gave us quite a start, my dear,” said her father, taking her hand. Had it not been for Lord Arandale here, I would have continued to believe you were at the ball, for I fear I dozed off.”

  Cecilia, extricating herself from Lady Rolande, turned to Lord Arandale.

  “Thank you, my lord.” Her eyes said, thank you for caring enough to look for me.

  Lord Arandale smiled. “Now, Miss Sentenell, perhaps I can accompany you back to the ballroom and you can catch up on time lost.”

  “But the poor child looks exhausted and seems ready to turn in,” Lady Rolande interposed. “You cannot force her into a gayety she obviously isn’t up to, my lord. What Cecilia needs is to rest. Tomorrow is another day and more occasions for festivities and dancing. As her sponsor in her season I must insist she retire.”

  “Perhaps, Lady Rolande,” said Lord Arandale curtly, “we should ask Miss Sentenell what her wishes are.”

  Cecilia looked at Lady Rolande, at her father and then finally at Lord Arandale.

  “It is my wish to partake of what’s left of the ball, my lord. Would you escort me to the ballroom after we take Papa to his bedroom?”

  “I shall be happy to do so, Miss Sentenell,” said Lord Arandale and wondered at himself, for not even his biggest night at White’s could compare to the triumph he felt at this moment. He also realized that Miss Cecilia Sentenell had a steel backbone to her, and quite able to withstand the obnoxious Lady Rolande.

  “Ah—and Lady Rolande,” said Cecilia, turning back and glancing at Lady Rolande, “I wonder that you didn’t notice I was not at the ballroom for near three hours!”

  “I became engrossed with the troubles Lady Esterbrooks was recounting to me, child, and in great detail,” said Lady Rolande, appearing frustrated. “You can understand one does not interrupt a Patroness if one doesn’t want one’s vouchers to Almack’s revoked!”

  “Yes, I understand perfectly,” said Cecilia, glancing at Arandale and feeling a little burst of joy at sharing the moment with him. They would have both laughed at that moment, right in front of Lady Rolande. But instead, they walked briskly away, and after settling Sir Geoffrey in his comfortable room once again, Cecilia kissed her father and promised not to stay up too late.

  Once they returned to the ballroom where few people had noticed anything amiss, Lord Arandale, after a few words with his sister, asked Cecilia if she was hungry. She was, she admitted. “I’m famished, my lord. At first I did yell out many times, and knocked on the door. That took a lot of my energy.”

  “Well, then, you must allow me to pile a plate high for you. I promise you won’t have to carry it. People will believe it was for me.” Lord Arandale had also missed the supper, as he had been looking for Cecilia. The buffet tables were still laden with food.

  After getting plates piled with breast of veal with stewed peas, fricassee of chicken, lobster patties and vegetable medley, Lord Arandale led Cecilia to tables that were still set for such purpose and which were now empty as couples danced.

  “Thank you again for rescuing me, my lord,” said Cecilia when they had sated their appetites. “I might still be there but for you. I am very grateful.”

  “It was a pleasure. And now, Miss Sentenell, since we missed the supper dance, may I write in my name on the next waltz? I know I have the last waltz but I would also like to make up for the dance we missed.”

  “Certainly. With pleasure,” said Cecilia standing up.

  As Arandale led Cecilia to the dance floor, she noticed Lady Rolande to one side, whispering to Hedra.

  “Lady Rolande does not seem very truthful to me,” said Lord Arandale bluntly, so that Cecilia was a bit startled. Yet she, also, had come to that conclusion about Lady Rolande some time back.

  “I cannot say I believed her story about the bolt being stuck,” said Cecilia. She just didn’t sound truthful to me.”

  “I, for one, do not believe it, period,” said Arandale. “She fumbled with it a bit and when I took the key from her and put it in the keyhole, it turned perfectly. I can assure you that my sister sees to these things, Miss Sentenell, she is a stickler for the details. She would never put one of guests in a room that is lacking in any detail. What’s more, your father said that Lady Rolande and her daughter had been placed in other rooms near you and she insisted she be moved. Do you know the reason she gave?”

  “I believe she said there was humidity.”

  “I wouldn't trust her if I were you, Miss Sentenell. I don’t know what her motive might have been, but I believe she wanted to keep you locked in that room and away from the ball.”

  Her motive, thought Cecilia, was that she wanted to help Hedra in her pursuit of Arandale. Lady Rolande probably figured that if Cecilia did not attend the ball, Hedra would have a better chance of dancing with Arandale. In future, she would be more careful around Lady Rolande.

  Lord Arandale was right about her.

  Lady Rolande was not to be trusted.

  Cecilia would remember the last waltz of that ball the rest of her life. And she had reason to call it “the last waltz” in her mind, for the events that unfolded the following week made it stick in her mind.

  CHAPTER 24

  Cecilia was sorry their house party at Rolling Hills had come to an end. But on the other hand, her father had not looked too well these last two days. Perhaps it was better their stay at Rolling Hills had ended, for Lady Rolande was to secure the meeting with the physician for Sir Geoffrey on their return to London, a meeting she had re-scheduled again and again.

  Lady Rolande and Hedra had left already, for they were to take possession of their leased house in London and must be there for that purpose. It was obvious Lady Rolande did not like having to leave a day earlier than the other guests but there was no way out of it, however much Hedra protested and tried to dissuade her.

  “Do send word as soon as you reach London, Cecilia,” Lady Rolande admonished, “for I must arrange for the meeting with the physician once you are back in London.”

  “Yes, my lady,” said Cecilia eagerly, “I am most anxious Papa begin his treatment as soon as possible.”

  * * *

  Cecilia spent the rest of the afternoon in packing and staying close to her father, keeping him company. She became increasingly worried that Sir Geoffrey seemed worse than the day before and Cecilia was anxious that they start their journey the following day as early as possible so that they should not have to stop at an inn before reaching London.

  “Thankfully we have a well-sprung carriage and you will be able to lie on one of the cushioned seats as comfortably as in your bed or near it, for as you know, they are your height in width.”

  “Yes, Cecilia. That was a good purchase I made last year. That large chaise box is as comfortable as any found in Rolling Hills and as large as the mail coach.”

  But even though they had wished to leave early, a problem with the carriage axle detained them at Rolling Hills for several hours, making it necessary for them to spend a night on the road, something on which they had not planned on.

  “Jonathon is now getting our luggage in the carriage my dear,” said Cecilia to her father, and added, “I’m glad you were able to sleep while they repaired the axle of our carriage. Lord Arandale was very helpful when he found out about our problem with the carriage. He immediately put the head coachman at Rolling Hills in charge of the repair. Had he not done so, we would not have had the carriage repaired in such a short time.

  “I worry over Papa, Mary,” said Cecilia as she helped Mary to put away Sir Geoffrey’s toiletries in his small case. “He does not look as well as he did yesterday.”

  “It is the discomfort of being away from his own place, mum,” said Mary. “You’ll see, Miss Cecilia, once in London, his face will change.”

  “I do hope you’re right,” said Cecilia, sadness clouding her eyes. “I wish Papa had not convinced me to come to this house party. It has not helped his health, Mary.”

  Yet even as
she spoke, the image of Lord Arandale appeared in her mind and she could not convince herself that she had not enjoyed that part of her stay. It amazed her how much her dislike of him had eased, to the point that he often came unbidden to her mind, and in a very pleasurable way.

  Mary opened the door to Ethan who had come to help them with Sir Geoffrey, to assist him down the wide stairway of Rolling Hills, for the medicine he was taking made him a bit dizzy when he walked.

  Finally, they left Rolling Hills, Jonathon seated alongside Sam Coachman in the ample driver seat, while Ethan sat in the Tiger’s seat. The large new carriage was such that even their servants traveled in comfort.

  Inside the relative safety of the cushioned new carriage, and while both her father and Mary slept, Cecilia had been looking out the window. She turned to look fondly at her sleeping father and her heart went to him.

  Cecilia finally dozed off and for a few hours she slept in uneasy sleep and was awakened by Ethan, on arriving in Huntingdon.

  “We are arriving at The Blue Raven Inn, Miss Sentenell,” said Ethan from the back of the carriage, glancing at the sleeping Sir Geoffrey, “and I believe we should stay the night here, as night is falling.”

  “Yes, certainly, Ethan, let us do as you suggest. We have stayed before at The Blue Raven Inn, as you will remember, and it is not a bad inn. If I recall, it has a very large clean taproom, does it not?”

  “Yes, Miss,” said Ethan, “and a good hearty fare too. Sir Geoffrey does not look too well. A strong beef stew will revive him.”

  “Yes. There, we are arriving, Ethan. I shall wake Papa.”

  Cecilia woke her father, who seemed extremely tired, even after having slept several hours. Cecilia felt a shiver of apprehension run through her. What would she do if she lost her father? She felt that there was no one in the world, more alone than she if she lost him! She said a silent prayer while she waited for Ethan to help her father down from the carriage.

  Please, dear Lord, keep my Papa with me. I would not bear it if I lost him!

  And no matter how much she disliked Lady Rolande and Hedra, she thought, Lady Rolande was trying to help her father by arranging a visit to a physician that she said was so important his schedule was overcrowded.

  Yet each time Lady Rolande spoke thus about the physician they had still not seen, Cecilia forced herself not to roll her eyes.

  She could not let her suspicions of Lady Rolande interfere with the cure that could be obtained for her father. Her father’s health must be uppermost in her mind. That was more important than anything else was.

  Yes, she was certain Lady Rolande had locked her in her room so she would not attend the ball. Her view of them had changed for the worse. If before she was wary of them, she now distrusted them completely. She was anxious for them to move out of the house.

  But for now she must put those thoughts aside and concentrate her energies in getting to London and obtaining the coveted visit with the physician in London.

  “Miss-Miss!” Mary, who had gotten down from the carriage, had hurried back to it.

  “Yes, Mary, what is it?”

  “That gentleman—Sir Geoffrey’s cousin“

  “Alex Shackel?”

  “Yes, him, Miss. He’s here, at the Inn.”

  “Here?”

  “Yes, Miss. He came by carriage also and seems to be staying at the Inn for the night. I overheard him talk to the hostler, when he was getting his carriage and horses settled.”

  Cecilia marveled at the coincidence. Yet Shackel was very persistent, she doubted it was a coincidence and the thought unsettled her mind. Cecilia remembered that Lady Rolande had arranged a meeting between her and Shackel for the following Friday. He was apparently on his way to London, even as they were. He had not been at Lord and Lady Dalmont’s house party, so apparently he had had business further north that now brought him back.

  “Did he see us, Mary?”

  “Yes, Miss he bid me tell you he would like to dine with you and Sir Geoffrey. Then he wrote it down.” Mary brought out a folded note from her pocket. “He gave me this for you, Miss.”

  “Oh,” Cecilia said, and read the note. “Well, I’m glad I have an excuse to decline. I had thought to dine in a private room near the tap room and stretch our legs, but Papa is far from well, Mary, so we shall be taking our supper in our rooms. There’s Ethan. I shall let him know that, before he makes arrangements for our supper.”

  “I have secured your rooms, Miss,” said Ethan brightly, “and I have asked that they put a cot in the room for Mary, as you asked.”

  “What about you, Ethan?”

  “Sam, Jonathon and me are going to settle down in a small room off the tap room. It’ll be noisy—so close to the tap room, but at least it’s clean and private.”

  “I’m glad of that, Ethan, although I would have wanted you closer to Papa. Cecilia had come to depend on Ethan to help her with her father even in London, for Sir Geoffrey’s valet, Elgin, was getting on in years himself. Ethan was young and strong. “He is not feeling himself at all,” added Cecilia. “This journey has not improved his health.”

  “I’m happy to say that your rooms are right above that little room where we’re staying, Miss,” said Ethan cheerfully, “so I’ll be able to hear you if you should need me. You can just lean out the window and call my name!”

  “That makes me feel a lot better, Ethan. Well, shall we go to our rooms then? I shall need help with Papa, Ethan, as you can see. And Ethan, do you know Shackel?”

  “Yes, Miss, he’s here. I saw him a minute ago.”

  “Can you tell him we shall be unable to dine with him in the tap room because Papa is not feeling well?”

  “Certainly, Miss. I’ll tell him right after I carry Sir Geoffrey upstairs,”

  “Thank you, Ethan. I hardly know what we would do without you!”

  “Thank you, Miss!” Ethan smiled broadly. Mary went upstairs to prepare the room for Sir Geoffrey as Ethan carried him upstairs. Sir Geoffrey had again fallen into a slumber. Cecilia followed behind them.

  CHAPTER 25

  “Miss Sentenell!”

  “Oh!” Cecilia started at being literally accosted by Shackel as she stopped by her bedroom door after Ethan walked in, carrying Sir Geoffrey, with Mary following behind. “I had just told Ethan to inform you we will be unable to dine with you, Mr. Shackel. As you can see, Papa is in no condition to dine downstairs. We shall have our dinner brought up.”

  “That is very unfortunate indeed,” said Shackel, looming above Cecilia. He was large and portly and had a pointed goatee and sideburns. His skin was blanched against the dark of his whiskers and beard.

  “Perhaps you will do me the honor of dining with me, Miss Sentenell? You see, I had already secured a private dining-room.”

  “Thank you but I must decline,” said Cecilia, and wondered at the breach in his manners that forced her to decline twice in the space of two minutes.

  “Perhaps in London, when Papa is improved in his health, we shall invite you to dinner, Mr. Shackel. Lady Rolande has arranged for you to visit us in London. That meeting I believe we can fulfill, although as you can see, it will depend entirely on Papa’s condition. I hope I shall not have to postpone our meeting.”

  “I am a brute,” said Shackel, reconsidering, “Of course Sir Geoffrey must be your uppermost concern. I had hoped only to have a few words with you, Miss Sentenell.

  “Some very strange gossip is going on in London, and I thought that perhaps I could be of help.”

  While Ethan and Mary made Sir Geoffrey comfortable, Cecilia continued talking with Shackel at the door.

  “What sort of gossip, Mr. Shackel?” asked Cecilia, a shiver of apprehension running through her.

  “I had thought to discuss it with you while we dined, Miss Sentenell.”

  “I 'm sorry, Mr. Shackel, but as I have stated, I am unable to dine with you. Please to excuse me.”

  “Good night then, Miss Sentenell, said Shackel wi
th a glance around the room, “I hope to see you in the morning. Perhaps Sir Geoffrey will have recovered enough for us to partake of breakfast together.”

  “Good night, Mr. Shackel.”

  Cecilia sighed with relief as Ethan joined her at the door.

  “Mr. Shackel is a very insistent man,” said Cecilia with a sigh of relief to Ethan as they saw Shackel walk down the hallway. She then rushed over to Sir Geoffrey.

  “That he is, Miss,” said Ethan as he brought a footstool to the chair where Sir Geoffrey slumped and lifted Sir Geoffrey’s feet and placed them on the stool.

  “I will now see to your supper, Miss,” said Ethan. He handed Cecilia the keys to the two connected rooms, one of which had a small sitting room. “Lock the doors that lead to the hallway until I return, Miss,” he said as he left.

  Cecilia turned the keys on the doors of both rooms and placed them on the night table by her bed.

  “Well, Mary, this has been an exhausting day!”

  “Yes, Miss, it has. But thankfully,” she added thoughtfully, “Ethan is here to help.”

  “Yes, Mary, I agree wholeheartedly with you there. Ethan is a great help. What would we do without him? When Papa was in good health I didn't have cause to worry, for he easily took charge of everything. I can very well take his place in a lot of things, but there are places where women cannot go alone without causing a commotion, unfortunately so, because were it not so, there would be few places where I wouldn’t go. Ethan paves the way for us in many ways. He secured these two rooms for us very quickly and the room where he, Sam and Jonathon are to stay, as well. He helps a lot, does he not?”

  “Yes, Mum, that he does!”

  “At the moment he has gone to procure our supper. Were he and Jonathon not with us, Mary, you and I would have to go down and speak with that unpleasant inn-keeper who is so rude to his wife.”

  “Not a pleasant man, mum, I noticed he was huddled speaking with your cousin, Mr. Shackel.”

  “He is not my cousin, Mary, but rather, Papa’s cousin. I hope that by the time we go down to breakfast tomorrow he will have gone. I believe I thought better of him when I was not aware he is so close to Lady Rolande.”