Parfit Knight

by Riley, Stella

  THE

  PARFIT

  KNIGHT

  A Georgian Romance

  Stella Riley

  The Parfit Knight

  Stella Riley

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2012 Stella Riley

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  Cover Portrait

  Gerard Cornelis van Riebeeck

  Mattheus Verheyden 1770

  PROLOGUE

  Surrey 1762

  The day was hot and the sky a vast, uncharted ocean of blue. Beneath it only the brook seemed awake while, quiescently tranquil and lulled by the sun, the rest of the world spun languid dreams or was shrouded in sleep. Curving down from the quiet post-road, the lane was a dappled haven of hypnotically swaying foxgloves and the shimmering air was disturbed by nothing but the whispering murmur of leaves and the silver song of the water.

  The child on the bank rolled lazily over to gaze into the clear, bubbling stream, so close that her shining fall of hair brushed its surface. A dragonfly hovered nearby and she lay very still, smiling as if it shared her joy in this very special day; for the dragonfly, the full sum of its brief existence and, for the child, her very last day in single figures.

  Tomorrow she would be ten years old; and that was exciting, of course – birthdays always were – but it did seem that once you arrived in double figures you stayed there for a very long time. Even Great-Aunt Maria had not managed three yet and she was very old indeed. The girl gave a tiny gurgle of laughter as she tried to imagine herself with a skin like a wrinkled apple and a toothless grin. Then she felt a twinge of conscience for surely it was not at all funny for Aunty who had to be helped wherever she went and could not even read her own letters any more. Not that she seemed to mind it particularly – but perhaps that was something to do with having had so many adventures on account of somebody Uncle George disapprovingly called the ‘Old Pretender’; and that just went to prove that Aunty hadn’t always been an old woman. A fact that was as hard to believe as the other.

  The sun beat down on her back through the leaf-green taffeta of her gown and she wondered idly where she had left her hat. She supposed that she ought to go and look for it since its loss would make the third in as many weeks and Mama would undoubtedly scold; but on such a lovely day a hat seemed a matter of small importance and Mama never scolded for long. She closed her eyes and, laying her cheek on her arm, dabbled the fingers of her other hand in the cool water.

  ‘Rosie-rose is a lazy doze! Come on, you sluggard – or are you going to lie there all day?’

  The taunting call shattered the afternoon’s peace and the girl’s eyes flew open. Then, without even glancing round, she closed them again and said, ‘Yes. Go away.’

  There was a mocking laugh and the next instant her hat sailed over her head to land in the water with a splash.

  ‘Ugh!’ The girl leapt up in a flurry of laughter and damp taffeta as her lost hat floated serenely down-stream. ‘Just you wait, you beast! I’ll – ‘

  ‘Who’s waiting?’ teased the boy as he vanished into the trees on the far side of the lane. ‘If you want to catch me, you’ll have to run.’

  It was unnecessary advice. Almost before the words were out, she had snatched up her skirts in both hands and was racing across the springy turf.

  ‘Faint-heart! But I’ll catch you – see if I don’t!’

  Weaving his way into the heart of the copse, the boy heard her shout and, in the same moment, became aware that a gradual crescendo of distant sound was distant no longer. He stopped and swung round, struck by a sudden premonition.

  ‘No, Rose – wait!’

  The girl neither answered nor checked her pace but darted up the lane, skirting the trees. It was silly of him, she decided, to think he could fool her so easily; a coach and travelling fast – but on the post-road, never this lane.

  It was her last conscious thought as the team of blood chestnuts swept round the bend on top of her. There was a sensation of falling through aeons of painful, swirling blackness … and then nothing.

  Plunging wildly back in the direction he had come, the boy emerged in time to see the horses being dragged to an abrupt standstill while a man jumped down from the inside of the still-moving chaise; and then his horrified gaze took in the crumpled leaf-green form at the roadside and he felt suddenly sick. His legs refused to obey him so that, instead of running, he could only stumble across the intervening space, dumbly terrified of what he would find.

  The gentleman from the chaise was before him. Heedless of silks and laces, he knelt in the dust, one hand seeking the child’s pulse while his eyes anxiously scanned her still, white face. Then he laid her wrist gently down, the sun striking sparks from the emerald on his finger and looked up at the equally white-faced youth beside him.

  ‘Your sister?’

  The boy nodded, his eyes fixed on the girl and his brain obsessed by the foolish thought that there was no blood. She could almost have been asleep except that she was so pale. She didn’t look hurt. It should have made him feel better but somehow it didn’t.

  ‘It’s alright.’ The gentleman saw the question in the frightened blue eyes and answered it. ‘She’s been very lucky, I think – but will be the better for seeing a doctor.’

  Blinking back an unexpected rush of hot tears, the boy said baldly, ‘Are you sure she’s not dead?’ And was ashamed of the tremor in his voice.

  ‘Quite sure.’ Younger than his powdered head made him appear, the gentleman tactfully affected not to notice the tremor.

  Behind them, the coachman hovered, wringing his hands.

  ‘I tried to swing over, sir,’ he said unhappily. ‘But there was no warning – her being round the bend as she was. No one’d have stood a chance of avoiding her; not at - - ‘ He stopped abruptly.

  ‘Not at that pace,’ finished his master with a sort of grim placidity. ‘Yes, Pierce. I know.’ He lifted the girl very carefully in his arms and directed a briefly reassuring smile at her brother. ‘Which is nearer – your home or the doctor’s house?’

  ‘The – the doctor’s. It’s that way.’

  But mere directions, it seemed were not what the gentleman wanted and, young though he was, he had the habit of command. Dazedly allowing him to take charge, the boy found himself perched on the box beside the coachman while his sister lay on the seat within and he did not demur until they drew up outside the doctor’s house and he was told to stay where he was.

  ‘I don’t want to leave her,’ he said mutinously, preparing to descend.

  ‘No. I daresay you don’t,’ agreed the gentleman with crisp amiability as he lifted the girl out of the coach. ‘But your parents should be informed and Pierce will need you to guide him. Pray convey my compliments to your father and beg him to make use of my chaise.’

  ‘My uncle,’ the boy corrected automatically. Then, ‘Sir, it’s all very well but - - ‘

  Already half-way to the door with his fragile burden, the gentleman turned with a swiftly controlled loss of patience.

  ‘It’s not very well if you persist in wasting time in pointless argument,’ he said deliberately. ‘There is nothing you can do except that which I’ve bidden you. Now go. And if your uncle requires my name, you may tell him that it is Ballant
yne. Dominic Ballantyne.’

  ~ * * * ~

  TWELVE YEARS LATER

  IN 1774 . . .

  He never yet no vileyne ne sayde

  In all his lyf unto no maner wight

  He was a verray parfit gentil knight

  Geoffrey Chaucer

  ONE

  Although it contrived to appear very much as usual, the gaming-room of White’s wore a faint air of disapprobation. Beginning as no more than a watchful glint in the eyes of some of the older members, it had gradually deepened to something approaching scorn and finally found expression in low-voiced murmurs of contempt.

  ‘The stakes are up again. By God, I’d not have thought it of Amberley.’ Colonel Harding stared balefully at the large table where a game of dice was in progress.

  ‘Nor I,’ replied Mr Cardew, following his gaze. ‘But if a year in France has taught him nothing but how to pluck a pigeon, then he’d best have stayed there.’

  Viscount Ansford adjusted the position of his elaborate wig and gave an irritating titter.

  ‘Perhapth my lord thuffered ill-luck in Parith and theekth the meanth to mend hith fortuneth.’

  Not for the first time, Jack Ingram wondered how it was that the decorative Viscount never failed to construct sentences filled with the one letter he was incapable of pronouncing. Annoyed, though not because of the lisp, he allowed his eyes to dwell appreciatively on his lordship’s blue-powdered head and said sweetly, ‘Utter nonsense.’

  Gripped by a moment of horrid doubt, the Viscount was too stricken to reply.

  ‘Well, I hope so,’ said Mr Cardew with blunt significance, ‘but you can’t deny that it don’t look well. The play is devilish deep and Amberley has been accepting the boy’s vowels for the last hour and more.’

  Jack spared a brief glance for the youthful person of Robert Dacre, observing his flushed cheeks and the slight unsteadiness of the hand engaged in writing yet another promissory note. His mouth tightened a little and he turned back to Mr Cardew with a sardonic smile.

  ‘It has perhaps escaped your notice that Mr Dacre’s presence at the table is solely due to his own rather heated insistence,’ he said evenly. ‘Amberley didn’t invite him.’

  The Colonel snorted. ‘No – but he’s damned quick to take advantage. The boy’s little more than twenty – still green. And Amberley knows it!’

  A look of distaste crossed Mr Ingram’s pleasant face as he rose unhurriedly from his seat and shook out the full skirts of his brocaded coat.

  ‘He also knows – as do we all – that this isn’t young Dacre’s first season. He’s been on the town a full two years and is therefore old enough to know better.’ He sketched a slight bow. ‘Your servant, gentlemen.’

  Viscount Ansford watched him go with a distinct feeling of resentment.

  ‘No fineth,’ he said peevishly. ‘Doubtleth he and Amberley are prodigiouthly well-thuited.’

  Apparently oblivious to the comment and feelings of animosity that his play was arousing in the conservative breasts of his fellow-members, the most noble Marquis of Amberley pushed a fresh pile of guineas to the stock already in front of him and called serenely for the next bet.

  To the casual observer, he appeared much like any other gentleman in the room; a trifle more modish, perhaps – but in one so recently returned from Paris that was easily explained. No London tailor had fashioned that exquisitely-cut coat of moss-green velvet extravagantly laced with gold or designed the elegant floral vest that lay beneath it; and the folds of snowy lace that adorned both throat and wrist were the finest Mechlin.

  Yet the quiet air of distinction that clung to the Marquis had little to do with his apparel. It was, perhaps, most obvious in his rejection of wig or powder, rouge and patches. Instead, he wore his own hair neatly but simply tied back in long ribands of black, against which it gleamed pale as silver-gilt in the candlelight; and, innocent of cosmetics, his face was lightly but undeniably tanned – as were the well-shaped tapering hands, half-hidden beneath their foaming ruffles. And there were other differences for the discerning eye and ear accustomed to fashionable boredom – for no cynicism shadowed the grey-green eyes and no languid drawl marked the pleasant tones. Indeed, both eye and voice held more than a hint of lurking amusement and the firm-lipped mouth as much humour as resolution.

  The Marquis of Amberley was rich, assured and thirty-four years old, with the reputation of being a law unto himself; and, in addition, he was possessed of a certain elusive charm which even his well-wishers were inclined to regard as frankly disastrous.

  Just now, his careless dismissal of public opinion was causing his nearest well-wisher a good deal of disquiet and, from his position at the side of the room, the Honourable Jack Ingram stared irritably at his friend’s face. As if aware of his scrutiny, the Marquis suddenly glanced across at him, laughter tugging at his mouth and brimming wickedly in his eyes. Then he lifted one brow in quizzical sympathy and restored his attention to the game. Jack relaxed; whatever else Amberley was, he was certainly not a fool.

  ‘Why so thoughtful, my dear?’ asked a soft, drawling voice from behind him. ‘One would almost think you upset to see the bantling lose a few of his feathers.’

  Jack turned to meet the Duke of Rockliffe’s mocking gaze.

  ‘Hardly,’ he said. ‘Though I wish it was somebody else collecting them.’

  ‘Ah yes.’ The Duke raised his glass with characteristic languor and levelled it at Amberley. ‘But you can’t deny that it has a certain … poetry. And he does it so well.’

  ‘Practice makes perfect, in fact,’ snapped Jack sarcastically. ‘You have only to add that both Amberley and Paris are expensive and you’ll have said what everyone else is saying.’

  ‘Unworthy, Jack.’ His Grace lowered the glass to make a haughty, sweeping gesture. ‘I never run with the herd, you know.’

  Mr Ingram gave way to unwilling laughter.

  ‘I do, of course.’ He paused for a moment. ‘Very well. If you don’t believe Amberley is fleecing young Dacre in an attempt to recoup his fortunes – what do you think he’s up to?’

  ‘The same as you,’ replied his Grace, lazily amused. ‘He believes himself – mistakenly, in my view – to be teaching the boy a useful and well-deserved lesson. And the Honourable Robert, of course, joined the table for much the same reason.’ He produced an enamelled snuff-box and offered it. ‘Aurora, by Ravenet of Battersea. Quite pretty, don’t you think? Though not, perhaps, best suited for evening use.’ He sighed. ‘How vexing. More an afternoon box, wouldn’t you say?’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Jack, used to and undeceived by this by-play.

  ‘Yes,’ repeated Rockliffe with a faint smile. ‘Now … where was I? Ah yes. Friend Robert, you must be aware, has neither forgotten nor forgiven Amberley for succeeding where he failed with the so-delectable Fanny. One cannot but see his point. But his dreams of retribution – so melodramatic! – have gone sadly awry; for instead of breaking Amberley’s bank, I’d estimate him to have lost some three thousand guineas.’

  ‘Hell!’ said Jack, startled. ‘As much as that?’

  ‘Oh – easily. Experience, as they say, is never bought cheaply.’ The Duke turned to go and then looked back to say blandly, ‘Amusing, isn’t it?’

  The Honourable Robert Dacre did not think so. And neither, if his expression was any true guide, did the tall young gentleman in blue who stood behind him, one hand resting on the back of his chair. Robert had left sobriety behind him and with it any clear idea of his losses. Only one resolve remained and that grew stronger with every bottle – a fact which was beginning to dawn on his watching companion. The blue-coated gentleman cast a dubious glance at the Marquis, unknown to him before this evening, and encountered a look which made him suddenly very angry. The fellow knew; he knew he had only to pass the bank to another for Robert to stop playing – had known it all along and yet done nothing.

  His fingers closed hard on his friend’s shoulder and he said urgently, ‘
For God’s sake, Bob – come away. Haven’t you lost enough?’

  Robert shrugged the hand off and over-bright brown eyes swivelled to meet worried blue ones. ‘No. No, damn it. I haven’t,’ he replied thickly. ‘But you don’t have to stay, Ver. Quite ca … cap … I can manage without you.’

  Captain Lord Philip Vernon, late of His Majesty’s army, had more than one reason to doubt this but nothing in his four-month experience of London society had taught him what might be done to alter the situation. He was, however, familiar enough with Mr Dacre to be fairly sure that the morrow would see him seeking a loan to cover tonight’s losses; and he was also uneasily aware that his betrothed might well expect him to come to her brother’s assistance.

  Philip was not, as yet, very well-acquainted with his future bride. The match had been hatched between her father and his uncle; and when Uncle George had died, forcing him to resign his commission and take his place as head of the family, Philip had decided that he could do worse than follow the old gentleman’s wishes and offer for Isabel Dacre. But Uncle George, he thought grimly, could never have foreseen the possibility of Robert who – though pleasant enough in the ordinary way – was wildly extravagant and bidding fair to become a hardened gamester. Not that Robert’s excesses were any excuse for the Marquis, whose honour should recoil from the thought of winning large sums from a foolish boy.

  Help was at hand and from an unexpected source. Even as Lord Philip debated the wisdom of appealing to Amberley’s better nature, always supposing that he had one, the matter was taken out of his hands by a tall and rakishly elegant gentleman in purple who strolled to the Marquis’s side to gaze down at him out of mocking dark eyes.