* * *
In the event, Sir Adam and Lady Roffey were kindness itself on their arrival. They entered the house in a flurry of cold air and hugged Arabella with unreserved affection before they went upstairs to remove their outdoor clothes. It was not until they were all seated around the fire and glasses of Madeira had been served that Arabella had an opportunity to begin her confession.
‘Now we are alone there is something you should know.’ She stopped, wondering how best to phrase it. ‘I am afraid I did not tell you the whole truth, about my visit to Devon, but now it has become necessary.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Esther Hatcliffe fluttered a nervous hand. ‘Perhaps you would like to be alone?’
‘No, no, Esther, you should stay. You will hear it soon enough, if you remain in town, so it is best you know the truth.’
Haltingly, and with many interruptions from her auditors, Arabella told her story. The only thing she did not tell them was about the night she had spent with Randolph in his rooms at Mivart’s Hotel. That was too special to share with anyone.
* * *
By the end of her recital, Sir Adam was pacing the floor, his usually cheerful countenance sober.
‘You pretended to be the Earl’s wife? And when he discovered you living in his house, he continued the masquerade? By heaven, I have never heard the like!’ He stopped and bent a frowning glare upon Arabella. ‘What did he ask of you in return?’
‘Nothing. You may ask Ruth. She was with me the whole time. Lord Westray was most honourable. I had told him why I was there and he wanted to help me.’
‘An honourable man would have sent you packing! It is all of a piece with the fellow, I suppose. I read the reports in the newspapers, when he succeeded to the title. A criminal! By heaven, I have a mind to call him out, the scoundrel!’
Lady Roffey reached out and touched his arm. ‘Pray, my dear, do not work yourself into a rage,’ she beseeched him. ‘To challenge the Earl would only add to the scandal.’
‘Hmmph, I suppose you are right. But, by heaven, I should like to give him a piece of my mind!’
‘Lord Westray has said he will call upon you tomorrow,’ Arabella informed them. ‘I am sure, once you have met him, talked with him, you will realise he is a good man.’
‘A good man!’ Sir Adam spluttered with indignation. ‘The fellow should never have allowed such goings-on, and when he comes here tomorrow, I shall take him to task over this, and make no mistake!’
‘The blame is mine, sir,’ said Arabella. ‘I went searching for the truth about George’s death. In the end, I found it here, in town, from those he called his friends. They told me about his—his need for laudanum.’ She fixed her eyes upon Lady Roffey. ‘Why did you not tell me?’
‘What’s this?’ Sir Adam stopped his pacing. ‘Laudanum? Nonsense. George did not have need of such stuff!’
Lady Roffey flushed and looked for a moment as if she would deny everything, but then her eyes filled with tears.
‘I am afraid he did, sir.’ She hunted for her handkerchief. ‘It was evident, when he came home for that last time. You were recovering from another bout of angina and Dr Philps and I thought it best not to distress you with the information.’
‘But why did you not tell me?’ Arabella asked her. ‘I was not ill and I was his wife.’
Lady Roffey gave her a pitying look. ‘Oh, my dear, I wanted to spare you the pain of it. And the humiliation.’
She wiped her eyes and Sir Adam came across to drop a clumsy hand on her shoulder.
‘There, there, my dear. It is all over now. Nothing can bring our beloved boy back to us. ’Tis a pity poor George couldn’t father a child before he died, but there we are.’
Arabella knew they intended to be kind, but her father-in-law’s words brought a fresh wave of guilt.
She had lain in the marital bed, waiting for George, but there had always been some excuse why he would not share it. Now she knew the truth. He had married her for her money, but he had never loved her enough to lie with her and truly make her his wife. She thought sadly that she must be very unattractive after all, if he could not even bring himself to consummate their marriage.
Her thoughts drifted to Randolph, how he had responded when she begged him to take her to bed. She remembered how wonderful she had felt when he made love to her. Beautiful. Cherished. She felt even more grateful for what he had done for her.
* * *
When Ran paid his morning visit to the Roffeys’ townhouse, he was shown directly into the drawing room. His eyes went immediately to Arabella. She was pale but composed, sitting close to Lady Roffey on a small sofa. Her hair was hidden by a white lace cap and she wore a demure gown of soft dove-grey. The only colourful thing about her was her eyes. Even in her sorrow they gleamed, green as a cat’s. It was an effort to look away, but he managed it and glanced about him. Sir Adam and his wife and daughter-in-law were in the room, but there was no sign of Mrs Hatcliffe, the companion, which suggested the family wanted to talk privately.
Ran’s neckcloth suddenly felt a little tight. Civilities were exchanged; the Earl was invited to sit down while refreshments were brought in and served. Once the servants had withdrawn the mood changed.
‘Well, my lord,’ barked Sir Adam, ‘I believe we are about to be embroiled in a scandal.’
‘I fear so, sir. Lady Meon plans to tell the world that Mrs Roffey was my mistress while we were together in Devon. I assure you, it was not the case.’
‘Salacious gossip,’ exclaimed Lady Roffey. ‘How can people believe such lies?’
‘But we know it is not a complete lie,’ said her husband, his voice grave. ‘Our daughter-in-law was masquerading as Lady Westray and living with the Earl in his house. That alone is enough to damn her.’ He turned on Ran. ‘And let us be clear on this, my lord. It is Arabella’s good name that will be destroyed.’
‘I am aware.’ Ran met his angry eyes steadily. ‘I will do whatever I can to put that right.’
Arabella gave a little hiss of displeasure.
‘If you mean by marrying me, Lord Westray, then you have already had my answer. It is no.’
Shocked, Lady Roffey looked at Ran, her brows raised. In response to her unspoken question he nodded.
‘It is true, madam. Mrs Roffey has refused me.’
‘Indeed?’ She turned back to Arabella. ‘If Lord Westray is offering you his hand, with all the status and protection that would bring, then you should consider carefully, my dear.’
‘I have considered carefully,’ Arabella replied, not looking at him. ‘I do not think a marriage of convenience would make either of us happy.’
Ran opened his mouth to object, but Sir Adam cut him off.
‘I will not have my daughter-in-law bullied or browbeaten into anything, my lord. She and my son were sweethearts from childhood. Such deep affection is not easily replaced.’
Arabella’s head was bowed and she was clinging to Lady Roffey’s hand. Ran had come to Park Street prepared to dislike the Roffeys. From all he had heard, all he knew, he had thought their affection for Arabella was based upon greed and the fact that she was still a wealthy woman, but perhaps he was wrong. He sensed there was genuine fondness between them all.
They would look after her, which was all he wanted, wasn’t it? To be assured of her safety. He should go, his presence here unnecessary. Arabella did not want him here.
He was about to take his leave when Lady Roffey spoke.
‘There is also the matter of your own character,’ she said, choosing her words carefully. ‘Your...history, my lord.’
‘Madam, no!’ Arabella’s whispered protest went unheeded by all but Randolph.
He said stiffly, ‘I am aware, madam, that my past is far from unblemished. There is no excuse for what I did in my youth, but I was pardoned and given an opportunity to prove myself. I hav
e come back determined to fulfil my duties as Earl of Westray.’
Sir Adam coughed. ‘If I may say so, my lord, you ain’t begun on a very good note, have you? You have not been in the country six months and already you are involved in a scandal.’
‘The Earl is not to blame for that!’ Arabella’s quick defence warmed Ran’s heart. ‘I will not allow you to take all the blame, my lord. I was in the wrong to go to Devon, to trick my way into your house, pretending to be your Countess. This is all my fault.’
Sir Adam gave a growl of exasperation. ‘For heaven’s sake, girl, he is a murderer!’
The words rang around the room and hung there, resonating like the chimes of a death knell.
‘I was in London at the time of the trial,’ Sir Adam went on. ‘I remember it well. It caused a sensation, a young lord killing a counterfeiter.’
Ran saw dawning horror in Arabella’s eyes, but there was nothing he could do about it. Perhaps it was best. He had known from the start she could never be his.
He said quietly, ‘Not a day goes by that I do not regret my past, most bitterly.’ He waved a hand. ‘But that is by the bye. The immediate problem is how best to protect Mrs Roffey’s good name.’
Lady Roffey looked up. ‘We shall say, if anyone has the audacity to ask us about this matter, that our daughter-in-law was too grief-stricken to know what she was about. As for the wider society, well, little said is soonest mended. There is always another scandal just around the corner.’ She turned to Randolph. ‘Thank you for your candour, my lord, and for your concern. We will take care of Arabella now.’
He was dismissed. Arabella was surreptitiously wiping away a tear and Lady Roffey was comforting her. There was nothing more for him to do but give a little bow, assure Arabella that he was hers to command, now and always, and to take his leave.
* * *
Miller was waiting to relieve him of his coat, hat and gloves when he returned to his rooms.
‘Well, my lord, how were you received by the Roffeys?’
Ran threw himself down into a chair by the fire.
‘Arabella is safe, Joseph, which is all that matters.’
‘Is it, though?’ He eased off the first of Ran’s boots and shot him a look from under his brows. ‘What do we do now?’
‘We go to Oxfordshire.’ He gave a savage laugh. ‘I was dismissed, Joseph. For all the world as if I was a suitor!’
Joseph pulled off the second boot.
‘Well, are you not?’ He held up the pair of Hessians and studied them, turning them this way and that, looking for scratches. ‘You and Mrs Roffey make a handsome couple, my lord.’
‘What’s that got to say to anything?’
‘Only that anyone seeing you together could be forgiven for thinking you was besotted with the lady.’
Joseph turned to carry away the boots, but as he reached the door Ran called out to him.
‘Is that what you think, Joseph?’
His man looked at him and a slow smile spread over his craggy features.
‘I’ve known you since before you was breeched, Master Ran. I don’t think it. I know!’
* * *
‘I heard the front door,’ remarked Ruth, when Arabella went up to change out of her morning gown.
‘Yes. Lord Westray has gone.’
‘Oh? I thought you might have invited him to stay for dinner.’
‘It was not my place to do so.’
‘Did Lady Roffey not ask him?’
‘No.’ Arabella turned so that Ruth could unbutton her gown.
‘But he confirmed that I had chaperoned you all the time you were in Devon? And you told them how he has looked out for you since you have been in town, how he saved you from Charles Teddington’s unwanted advances?’
‘I merely told them I was the cause of their quarrel.’ She tried to keep her voice light. ‘There were so many witnesses they were bound to hear something of it.’
‘Hmmph. From the state of your gown you were lucky to escape with your virtue intact,’ replied Ruth, alarmingly forthright.
Remembering what had followed in the Earl’s rooms brought a hot blush to Arabella’s face and she was glad she had her back to the maid, who was far too observant at times. She sought to change the subject and quickly.
‘You had best start packing up my clothes, Ruth. Esther is to return to her own house in the morning. Poor thing, I believe she is very relieved that she need no longer feel responsible for me! Sir Adam says we shall return to Lincolnshire within the next few days. We shall live quietly at Revesby Hall until the scandal has died down. He and Lady Roffey were most shocked by my behaviour and, in all honesty, I cannot blame them. I do not know what prompted me to embark upon such a madcap scheme.’
‘Because you heard Mr George’s ravings and believed him,’ retorted Ruth. She sniffed and added more quietly, ‘As I believed the poor young master. That, together with the amount he spent in his last months, was of great concern to you and no wonder.’
‘Yes.’ Arabella sighed. ‘I thought at the time George’s parents were too grief-stricken to act, but I know now that Lady Roffey knew something of the life he was leading. She knew he was not blameless. If I had not been so set on justice, if I had listened to her, I could have saved everyone a great deal of pain and trouble.’
‘And what of Lord Westray?’
‘We—we decided it would be best not to meet again.’
‘I see.’ Ruth twitched the grey muslin up and over her head. ‘When you say “we”, does that mean you and His Lordship agreed it between you?’
‘Why, yes.’
‘I did not think the Earl would be so happy to abandon you.’
‘He has not abandoned me! I have Sir Adam and Lady Roffey. I no longer need him.’
She shivered and pulled on her wrap. Randolph had not argued when she had declared she would not marry him. Then Lady Roffey had brought up his own history and she had learned that he had killed a man.
He had said he regretted it and she believed him. She did not doubt there was a very good reason for what he had done, but it had made her realise that they could never marry. With such a thing in his past, it was imperative that his bride was a woman of spotless reputation. Someone from his own rank to provide him with heirs. Not a disgraced widow.
‘You might no longer need him, madam,’ remarked Ruth, breaking into her thoughts. ‘But do you want him?’
Arabella sat down at her dressing table and began to pull the pins from her hair, taking refuge in anger.
‘Let me remind you, Ruth, that I am still mourning my husband. A husband I loved very much.’
‘Oh, I ain’t saying you didn’t love Mr George, in a childish, infatuated sort of way, but if you pardon me for saying so, I think you’ve outgrown that now.’
‘I will not pardon you!’ Arabella’s fingers shook so badly that it was as much as she could do to remove the final pins and pull off her cap. ‘That is absurd. I still love George!’
‘That’s not what it’s looked like to me these past weeks, Miss Arabella, the way you talk about the Earl when you return from an evening’s entertainment. Even when we were in Devon, I saw how you looked at him. How your eyes followed him whenever he was in the room.’ Ruth began to brush out Arabella’s gleaming curls. ‘No one watching you could doubt you was a fair way to falling in love. Of course, I can’t say the same for the Earl, not knowing him as I do you, but I’ve a strong feeling he is in the same case. After all, he was the one to come to your aid when that wicked Mr Teddington attacked you. And then to get Joseph to mend your gown and to bring you home with no one the wiser. That ain’t the actions of someone who don’t care about you.’
The memory of that night brought the colour rushing to Arabella’s cheeks.
‘You are quite, quite mistaken,’ she replied, her voice falte
ring. ‘We were friends, nothing more.’
Arabella looked at her reflection. The colour had ebbed away, leaving her face pale and wan. Aye, that was the rub, she thought miserably. Randolph felt nothing more for her than friendship. True, he had taken her to his bed, but he had said nothing, shown no desire to do so again.
She could only conclude that he had discovered what George had known years ago. That she was unlovable.
Chapter Fourteen
Long after he had finished his dinner Randolph sat in the little parlour, alone, staring into the fire. Several times he was tempted to ring the bell and call for a bottle of brandy to be sent up, but he never stirred from his chair. He would not go back to those dark days of living a half-life, his mind permanently fogged by drink or opium. But he could not deny that part of him would have welcomed the blessed oblivion, to shut out the memories of Arabella. Living with her. Laughing with her. He had not realised how much he had enjoyed her company, until now, when he knew it was over. Irrevocably.
Strong spirits might provide some relief from the nagging ache of unhappiness within him, but it would only be temporary. He had learned from experience that keeping busy was the best way to keep the cravings at bay. He must look to the future. There was plenty of work to keep him occupied on the Westray estates. He glanced at the invitation cards littering his mantelshelf. To quit town precipitately could cause gossip and no little offence. He would stay another week or so, honour his obligations, but then he would leave London. He would return to Oxfordshire and forget Arabella.
Joseph’s words kept ringing in his head, taunting him. Had he fallen in love with her and never known it? Was that why he had such an ache inside him, why he felt that leaving town would be like leaving a part of himself behind?
His Countess for a Week Page 18
