Finally, when she realized that she was a prisoner, she decided to escape. But the servants wouldn't harness the horses to a carriage. Nor would they saddle a horse. Kingston berated her, and told her that she would never leave the estate alive.
A year passed, and then another one. Nothing changed, and Anne's hopes for her marriage ended. She'd made up her mind to escape on foot, when suddenly Kingston's death freed her.
Anne shuddered, and thrust the memories aside. Remembering Kingston was pointless. Her father had, as Catherine always pointed out, sold her and Catherine into marriage to pay his gambling debts.
Now she was free, but she couldn't stop thinking about the pistol. What would have happened if… She couldn't imagine threatening Kingston with a pistol. It had amused him to teach her to shoot, during those brief times when it seemed as if he were ashamed of his treatment of her.
During those times he'd give her presents too. Once he gave her a horse, twice, after he'd been away, to London, or to one of his other estates, he'd given her jewelry.
She'd been too cowed ever to threaten Kingston. But now… She smiled as she realized that she was feeling more like herself, like the person she had been before Lord Kingston. She dashed away a tear which rolled down her face.
Kingston was in the past. She needed to think about Eva's come out, and make plans.
Eva liked Talverne, and he seemed to like her. However, if he knew that she had tried to pick the locks on Lady Kingston's desk drawers he would take her in dislike, she knew.
He was very fond of Lady Kingston.
Talverne's family home at The Oaks was close by Gostwicke Hall. So he'd known all the Eardley ladies from the cradle. Unfortunately for Eva, he seemed to see the Eardleys via a golden glow of pure affection. She realized that she would never be able to turn him into an ally.
She thought that Wallwood might be an ally, but he'd left Wallwood House the previous day. Eva sent Beatie to talk to Wallwood's servants, but none of them knew where he'd gone. They were a stupid lot too. Beatie said that they'd made up a silly story about Lady Kingston shooting his lordship.
Eva snorted at that. Lady Kingston shoot someone? She was a perfect lady, like a china doll. Beautiful and completely boring… They were city servants. Beatie was a country maid, so they made a game of her.
Perhaps Wallwood had left for a country house shooting party on a friend's estate. He might even have gone up to Scotland. Or he'd headed for Melton country, to hunt. The hunt season was starting. He could be anywhere, and he might not return to Wallwood House until the start of the next sitting of parliament, which wouldn't happen until next spring.
So Eva found herself at a stalemate. She had no allies, and hadn't managed to discover any of Lady Kingston's secrets. But she would, she told herself. She inspected the library at least once a day, either at night, or during the day — she'd told Lady Kingston that she loved to read; a convenient fiction. One day, Lady Kingston would forget to lock one of her drawers. If the drawers remained locked, she'd just have to pick the locks.
Somehow, she would force Lady Kingston to allow her marriage to Robert.
Eva faced one threat. She sensed a developing intimacy between Lady Kingston and Delmere. That couldn't be allowed to continue.
Her mother had told Delmere that Eva must make a London marriage. Her mother had even told Delmere about Eva's wish to marry the steward. She recalled what her mother had said: "it's just a young girl's fancy of course, because Eva has been nowhere at all. A few months in London, under Lady Kingston's guidance… and a season. She'll soon forget such an unsuitable man."
Of course, Delmere had never mentioned her mother's conversation with him. As far as she knew, neither had he said anything to Lady Kingston about Eva's determination to marry Robert. If they became close friends however, he would tell Lady Kingston… And Lady Kingston would have a powerful ally in him.
Then, one morning while riding in Hyde Park with Talverne, she found someone who might be useful to her. Not an ally, but definitely someone she could use to distract Lord Delmere from Lady Kingston. She hadn't missed the way that Lord Delmere had looked at Lady Kingston. It would be the outside of enough if Lady Kingston married Delmere. True, his lordship maintained that he wouldn't marry again, but Lady Kingston was not only beautiful, but elegant; everything a lady should be.
If Delmere formed a connection with Lady Kingston, Lady Fraser would be enraged. Delmere was wealthy beyond belief, and according to her mother, Lady Kingston was much too wealthy already.
Beautiful Belinda Wentworth would provide the perfect distraction. Eva had been introduced to her at Blackwood House. Lady Jane told her that the Wentworths claimed a distant connection to Sommerforth, which meant that Lady Merrill was forced to receive them.
"But Lady Merrill won't do anything for Belinda Wentworth," Lady Jane had muttered to Eva. "If Mrs. Wentworth imagines that Lady Merrill will sponsor young Belinda, I fear that she'll be disappointed. Mrs. Wentworth is too much of a challenge."
Eva could see Lady Merrill's point. A large woman, Mrs. Wentworth dressed in a muslin gown that was not only too tight in the bodice, and too short, but also skimped on material. The dress — too young for Mrs. Wentworth by 30 years — rode her hips, outlining her square buttocks.
Eva doubted that men would care about Mrs. Wentworth however — they'd be too dazzled by her daughter. Belinda Wentworth's beauty was real, and so startling that men stopped to stare at her. Eva had seen that in St. Jame's Square when they left Blackwood House. Male passersby stood with their mouths agape when they saw Belinda Wentworth.
Talverne had already spotted Belinda. His hands had tightened on the reins, making his horse toss his head, and dance in annoyance. "Do you know her?" He asked Eva urgently. "Who is she?"
"That's Belinda Wentworth — I met her at Lady Merrill's." Eva guided her horse alongside Talverne's and spoke quietly.
Belinda, riding with another lady Eva didn't know, and two grooms, was too far away to hear them, but she didn't want her own groom to overhear. "She's new to town — I think her mother's hoping that she'll be snatched up, even though she's poor. I understand that her mother can't afford a season for her. Want me to introduce you to her?"
"She's an angel," Talverne breathed.
"An impecunious one," Eva said tartly. "I daresay I should not — Belinda Wentworth is a young innocent, and you're an experienced man… You've been engaged."
Beatie had passed on servants' gossip about Talverne's engagement to Lady Burnley, an heiress. Apparently the lady had broken off the engagement. Eva was well aware that Lady Kingston would never countenance a connection between Miss Wentworth and Talverne. And Talverne's mother would be horrified.
Talverne grinned at her — he didn't mind being called "experienced" she realized. "Introduce me, or I'll never allow you to drive my grays."
"So you'll allow me to drive them? When?"
Talverne glared at her. The effect was spoiled by his boyish face, so she laughed.
"Tomorrow — for ten minutes."
"Half an hour."
Finally he agreed, and when they reached Belinda Wentworth and the other young lady, Eva introduced Talverne to Belinda. In turn, Belinda introduced them to the other lady, a Mrs. Smythe, who was older than Eva had supposed.
Talverne rode ahead with Belinda, while Eva made conversation with Mrs. Smythe. "You are new to town?"
"Yes. Mrs. Wentworth asked me to come to town with them. I had a season myself, so I hope to be useful to Belinda. She's very young."
Mrs. Smythe had to be over 30, judging by the fine lines at the corner of her eyes. Eva was no one's fool, so from Mrs. Smythe's questions about Talverne she quickly realized that Mrs. Wentworth and Mrs. Smythe had formed an alliance to fire off Belinda. No doubt they had hopes of finding a man with fortune enough to maintain them all.
"How large an estate is The Oaks?"
"I don't know," Eva admitted.
If Mrs. Smythe were
to judge by Talverne's horses, his dress, and his connections, he was a wealthy young man. However, she doubted that Talverne would appeal to the fortune-hunting trio. Talverne was too young. At 25, he was guided by his uncle Lord Linton, who would never countenance a match with someone like Belinda Wentworth.
Mrs. Smythe put herself out to be pleasant, complimenting Eva on her riding habit, and her horse. Eva followed her reasoning easily — Miss Bywater knew Talverne, and lived with Lady Kingston. If Talverne took Belinda about, then she'd meet other men, both young men like Talverne, and older men too.
Eva knew that she had a stronger personality than Talverne. She had a choice. She could hint Talverne away from Belinda Wentworth, or she could encourage him. Her mother had always said that men lost their wits around pretty women. If Eva became friends with Belinda, then Delmere would meet her.
She knew something of Delmere's reputation. A widower twice over, he'd had widows and high flyers in his keeping over the years, her mother had said. The Wentworth fortune hunters would be angling for a fortune and a wedding. However, they might be quite happy to settle for the fortune without the wedding if they trapped Delmere in their coils.
That evening, Anne invited Talverne to join them at dinner. She was amazed when both Eva and Talverne fizzed with excitement about the beauteous Miss Wentworth.
Anne forbore rolling her eyes. She knew that Pierce was hinting that she invite the Wentworths to dinner at Kingston House, but she would do nothing of the kind. Lady Talverne would be outraged if Anne encouraged Pierce's connection with — judging from what Talverne didn't say — a young lady who had looks but no fortune. Doubtless Mrs. Wentworth hoped that the former would snare the latter for her daughter.
On the other hand, she was pleased that both Eva and Talverne were happier. Eva was chattier now that she had a friend in Talverne, and Talverne seemed more like himself. His bad experience with Lady Burnley had affected him. She realized that despite appearances, Talverne was a sensitive young man.
"Belinda is poor, but she's not a fortune hunter," Eva told Anne later that evening, after Talverne had departed.
Anne, Lady Jane, and Eva were in the second floor sitting room. Anne was repairing a small tear in Eva's riding habit. Lady Jane stitched embroidery on a reticule, while Eva was engaged in writing a duty letter to her mother.
"Of course not," Anne responded, even though she knew that that precisely described Miss Wentworth. She didn't have to meet the young lady to realize that.
"You're fond of Miss Wentworth?" Lady Jane asked Eva.
Anne caught Lady Jane's quick glance at her, and shook her head slightly in response. Lady Jane had taken Miss Wentworth's measure too. However, Anne knew that any hint of disapproval of the young lady would merely ensure that Eva pursued the friendship, just to be contrary.
She bit her lip. She had a choice. She could ignore the friendship, or encourage it. If she encouraged it, she was certain that Eva would drop Miss Wentworth. "If you like Miss Wentworth, you may ask her to call, if you wish."
Eva glanced at her, but Anne kept her gaze on her mending. Then she asked Eva whether she'd enjoy a trip to the theatre, where Anne had a box. Lord Kingston had maintained it for years.
Mrs. Wentworth and Mrs. Smythe called on Anne the next day. On this first visit, Belinda wasn't with them.
"She's a mushroom," Lady Jane said to Anne later that day. "An unfortunate connection, ma'am."
She and Anne were in the library. Anne was working on her accounts. Lady Jane had asked to see her. She knew that Anne had an eye for fashion, and wanted to show her some samples of material which Madame Lola had given her.
Anne knew that Lady Jane was referring to Mrs. Wentworth. She fingered an exquisite sample of painted silk. It would be perfect for Eva. "I know — but I also know that if I were foolish enough to warn Eva away, she would be all the more determined to make a friend of Miss Wentworth… I like this silk. Please ask Madame Lola to set aside enough for an evening gown for Eva."
Lady Jane shrugged. "You're right, of course. That's the attraction." She smiled. "Miss Bywater is trying to outrage us both."
"So we shan't take the bait," Anne said firmly.
Mere days later however, Anne realized that she'd made a serious mistake. She had been wrong to encourage any familiarity with Miss Wentworth. No good could come of it. Lady Talverne would be outraged if she knew that Anne had been so careless of her son.
The girl was lovely — by far the prettiest young lady Anne had ever seen. She had pretty manners too. Inwardly, she groaned. Talverne was certain to have his head turned, and Eva seemed to adore Belinda. Belinda was very young, she thought. The girl wasn't yet 20.
She knew that she must discourage the friendship between Eva and the girl — but how?
Worse, Belinda, her mother, and Mrs. Smythe called on one of Anne's At Home days. How vexing. Since she and Lady Jane had been taking Eva about and making calls, several ladies and gentlemen were there when Belinda arrived.
Those ladies who had young girls they would be launching on society were not pleased. Each and every one of the gentlemen was thrilled. Anne found herself the recipient of raised eyebrows, and in one case, a ferocious glare, from the ladies.
"This is badly done of you," an older lady, a friend of Lady Merrill's, muttered to Anne as she was leaving. "You've set a cat among the pigeons, no doubt of that."
She meant, Anne knew, that now that the Wentworths had been introduced to Anne's callers, they'd been given a social imprimatur. And it was all her fault.
She had to do something about Belinda Wentworth, but what?
If only Catherine were in town. Anne realized that she needed an ally.
5
The very next day, Anne found herself with an ally she hadn't expected.
Henry arrived.
Anne was working in the library, when Thomas opened the doors for Weston. "Ma'am, Miss Henrietta has —" Weston didn't have a chance to say more than that.
Henry swept into the library. "Miss Henrietta has arrived!" Henry finished for him. She smiled broadly at Anne, and held out her arms. "How's my favorite sister?"
Anne rose from her chair behind her desk, and blinked. She couldn't believe the vision she saw in front of her. "Henry? What are you doing here? I thought you were still in York?"
Henry hugged her, hard. To her surprise, Anne found that Henry had grown and was slightly taller than she was. She found herself looking up into a pretty face, with high cheekbones and chocolate-dark eyes. "I can't believe it." She stepped back from her sister to inspect her.
"Elegant, mais non?" Henry posed, then turned slowly, in order to allow Anne to inspect her. She winked. "See? Am I not wonderful? I wrote to Catherine and wagered that none of you would believe it — that I'm a proper young lady now. Catherine and Mother will be very pleased — and Melly and Elaine. But are you?"
"I don't know." Anne frowned. Henry's claim of elegance was accurate. Her carriage dress of pale green wool, decorated with a military braid, had been expertly tailored to show off her sister's trim figure. A tiny hat perched among her glossy auburn curls.
This new vision didn't seem like Henry at all — she was almost a stranger. When she'd last seen Henry, she'd been slim and awkward. Although she had moved gracefully enough, she'd also slouched and ambled, and was far from the sophisticated vision she appeared now.
Anne took Henry's hand, and led her sister to a sofa. "Sit down, and let me look at you — you've changed so, I would not recognize you in the street!"
Henry chuckled. "Weston says that Talverne's in town, and has been taking Miss Bywater about, and that Lady Jane Vernon's here too. I met Lady Jane, you know, in York. She's most formidable, and very hard to acquire. How did you manage it?"
"Does Catherine know that you left York?"
"No, but I shall write to her."
"My dear, you know that Catherine —"
"Nonsense. I got bored," Henry said firmly. "My best friends all lef
t the school, and the younger girls are annoying. Since I didn't come home last Christmas, and everyone was upset, I came back early — you're all alone in London, and you do need help with Miss Bywater, don't you?"
Anne hugged Henry again. She hadn't realized how much she had missed her, and found that she was blinking back tears. "I am very glad that you're here, dearest — now, tell me. How did you travel from York? Who accompanied you?"
"Everything was très convenable, je t'assure. Our own dear Colonel Marsden called on Bunny, so I traveled back with him, and one of Bunny's friends, Mrs. Kenilworth, and two maids. One is my own maid, Barbara… Bunny hired her for me. She said that you'd speak with her, and if you don't like her, you can send her back to York and Bunny — she'll find her another place."
That evening, wearing pearls, and dressed in a evening gown of pale blue silk, Henry looked poised and charming. When Talverne entered the drawing room where Anne was chatting with Henry, he stumbled on the threshold.
He gaped at Henry. "My word — what? Sport, you brat! It's you. Let me look at you!"
Anne smiled fondly when Pierce engulfed Henry in a strong hug, then seized her shoulders, looking down at her. His shock was very real, Anne realized.
"Let me go, you ruffian!" Henry pulled away from him, a flush pinking her cheeks. "Really, Pierce," she straightened her skirt and adjusted her pearls. "I'm a young lady now, so you must call me Miss Eardley, if you please."
"Don't be silly, sport. Why would I do that?"
Pierce reached out to pull one one Henry's curls, and she slapped his hand away. "Stop it, idiot."
Hiding her smile, Anne called the two young people to order. "Henry, dearest — and Pierce. Do try to behave yourselves."
A moment later, Eva and Lady Jane Eva entered the drawing room. Lady Jane had met Henry at her school in York, but Anne was wondering how Eva would react to her sister.
The Lady And The Man Of Fortune_A Wicked Secret_The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 3 Page 5
