Eugenie and the Earl

by Marina Oliver

  'Of course, but do your best. Perhaps if we could find the housekeeper she could help.'

  'Mrs Robson may know where she went.'

  'Meanwhile I am going to send for some of my people, and if you agree they can start to put the house and the gardens back to rights.'

  'You are very kind.'

  'I think that, despite my disagreements with Eugene, I should have kept a better eye on his property, but he assured me Tonks was reliable.'

  'It was none of it your fault.'

  Eugenie spent a doleful two days trying to remember what had been in the various rooms. Then some of the Duke's servants arrived, and she thankfully left them in charge. The goods Tonks had removed to his new house would, when he had been convicted of their theft, be returned, but all that she could leave in the capable hands of the Duke's steward. They returned to Castle Tempus.

  Arabella was delighted to see them, saying it had been odd not to have their company.

  'And George, is he back?'

  She shook her head, and the Duke sighed.

  'Then I will have to go down to Serena's. I must see him before we go to London. We'll go as soon as I return.'

  'It's Caroline's birthday, and we promised her a party. She has friends here, but not so many in London.'

  'Then we will aim to go straight afterwards. Send some of the servants up in advance. And I assume you will take Mrs Johnston, to finish the gowns she is making?'

  'Of course. I could not possibly do without her.'

  The little girls showed a flattering pleasure at Eugenie's return, and to forget the devastation of her home she threw herself into preparations for the children's party. On the day it was a great success. The weather was fine and the little visitors, children of families nearby, were able to play out of doors.

  'Can we play hide and seek in the ruins?' Caroline demanded.

  'No, darling, of course not. You know some of them are not safe.'

  Caroline pouted, but soon recovered her good temper when Eugenie started a new game. Eugenie wasn't sure whether she or the children were most tired at the end of the party, and she and Arabella collapsed into chairs while the governess and nurse took the girls to their beds.

  'London will not be nearly so exhausting.'

  Eugenie laughed. 'And you tell me we will have several invitations for the same night, and must try to attend everywhere.'

  'You are looking forward to it, are you not?'

  Eugenie nodded. It would take her mind off what had happened at Beechcotes, and perhaps prevent her from fretting too much about what could not be righted.

  'Yes, I will enjoy it. Mama used to tell me so much about when she was a girl and spent time in London, and met Papa there.'

  'And perhaps you will meet someone you will marry.'

  Eugenie smiled but did not answer. She had a sudden recollection of Hugues. The mystery surrounding him would never, she suspected, be resolved.

  *

  The Duke went to visit Serena the next day, and rather to Arabella's surprise he walked in on them when they were having tea the following evening.

  'Didn't you stay with Serena?' she asked.

  'She wasn't there. She's gone to London, and taken George with her to Mount Street.'

  He sounded very angry, most unlike the kindly uncle Eugenie had come to admire, even love.

  'She knows you have forbidden him to go to London!'

  'Your sister, my dear, will not hear a word against him. She thinks me a tyrant, and George a maligned angel!'

  'You can send him home as soon as we get to Grosvenor Square.'

  'He has apparently been making up to young Lady Jane Fitzjames.'

  'The Earl of Lyndhurst's sister? But she is only sixteen!'

  'And an heiress. It was the landlord of the inn told me. He has been going to her house almost every day, and when her aunt, for she has no parents and her brother is away, took her to Berkeley Square George persuaded Serena he had to follow.'

  'Then we must set out tomorrow. We are almost ready. Unless you are too weary after two whole days in the chaise?'

  'No. I want to get to London and deal with George before he does something even more foolish.'

  'I suppose Serena has been giving him money, and he'll be in one of those gambling hells.'

  'I hope not, but it's something else I'm more concerned about. I spoke to the Rector, and he told me young Jane and her aunt have been at odds. She is not the chit's guardian, her brother is, but he cannot be found. Jane told the Rector's daughter a few days before they left that she thought marriages at Gretna Green were romantic.'

  'And you think – Jerome, they mustn't! It would ruin her, and he cannot afford a wife! We must get there as soon as possible and stop it!'

  'I mean to.'

  They set off early the following day. The Duke rode, saying he was too restless to sit in a chaise. Arabella and Eugenie rode in the chaise, while the children and their attendants followed more slowly in the big travelling coach, and the servants in another with all the baggage.

  'We'll be there hours before they can reach Grosvenor Square, but fortunately there is always a skeleton staff, because Jerome comes up so often,' Arabella said, 'and Jerome will no doubt go to see Serena at once. I don't think I would like to be there when they meet. They have never liked one another, and Serena was against our marriage.'

  'Why? Didn't she like Uncle Jerome?'

  She giggled. 'It wasn't that. She was jealous, I truly believe, because she said she was closer to Jerome's age than I was. And pointed out that she had met him first, as though that mattered. But he wanted me, and it wasn't just because I could give him children and she was probably too old.'

  'But she married, I thought?'

  'Yes, a man even older than Jerome, but he was wealthy and had no children by his first wife. And he very considerately died a few years after the wedding and left her his fortune with no strings attached.'

  'And she is your only sister'

  'Yes, and I had no brothers. Mama had several babies who were born dead after Serena, and so I was a bit of a miracle, when they thought there would be no more children. I suppose I was rather spoilt because of that, and Serena always resented it.'

  'Your parents are still alive.'

  'Yes, but very old now, so they will never come to London, unless, Papa says, there is to be a coronation! And they only visit us as Castle Tempus when I have had a baby! But even then it has to be in the summer, when the roads are dry. They only just made it when Caroline was born in September, and only stayed two days in case winter suddenly descended. We go up to Shropshire quite often to visit them.'

  'Do you know this Lady Jane?'

  'I've met her once a few years ago, when we visited Serena. She was a lively child even then, and I can well imagine her thinking Gretna Green would be exciting, and not considering anything else, even what it would be like married to George who has no money. And I understand she cannot have her inheritance, from some godmother, until she is five and twenty. So how do they propose to live? I suspect George has told her he has money, and is hoping Jerome will come to the rescue. If they really are planning to elope to the Border.'

  'Would he rescue them?'

  'I imagine he would make them live at Castle Tempus. There are a few cottages we usually give to the outdoor staff, but one is empty. I can just see George's face if he is told to live there, but it would not do for them to live with us. Let's hope we are in time to prevent such an escapade.'

  *

  Chapter 6

  It was too late to do anything when they reached London, but the Duke went out early the following morning. He returned to Grosvenor Square when Arabella and Eugenie were having breakfast, poured himself a cup of coffee and came to sit with them.

  'Did you see George?' Arabella asked.

  'No, I did not! Your feckless sister has supplied him with money and permitted him to take rooms but does not know where they are. She has not seen him since the day a
fter they arrived in London, and is feeling aggrieved towards me for the manner in which I treat the poor boy. It is, naturally, my fault that he behaves in such a manner.'

  'She's becoming more and more ridiculous!' Arabella said. 'If anyone is to blame she is for the manner in which she spoils him. But what of the girl?'

  'There, at least, we can be easy. The Earl has returned home, I saw him in Berkeley Square and I have made him aware of the situation. Lady Jane will be left in no doubt of what will be her fate should she succumb to George's blandishments.'

  'And her aunt?'

  'Cowed. He told me she wept and maintained she had no choice but to bring the chit to London, for Jane had threatened to run away if she did not. How the wretched woman thought she would be able to control her better here than in Hampshire I do not know.'

  'So are they returning there?'

  'No. As he will be in London for some time Hugh felt it would be better to keep his sister under his own eye. Serena, I gather, is to return to Hampshire and Hugh will employ someone better able to control the child. An elderly dragon of an aunt, I believe. He has already sent for her.'

  Eugenie had started at the name, so similar to that of her Paris rescuer, then she shook her head. A mere coincidence. It must be. Hugh, or Hugues, were ordinary names. Many men had them, here and in France.

  'What of George?'

  'I'll ask an old friend to try and trace him. Philip has worked for me before. He can go to all the unsavoury places I could not be seen at, since I am too well known, and ask at all the new hells. He should find him within a few days if George follows his normal practice. And I think I have frightened Serena sufficiently so that she will inform me if George goes to her for money, as he probably will soon enough!'

  'Let us hope Philip finds him.'

  He poured more coffee. 'Have you made any plans for today?'

  'We were deciding between Bond Street and the Park,' Arabella said. 'It's a lovely sunny day, so the Park beckons. We'll have to drive, until we can acquire two riding horses, but I mean to ask Wilson to buy two at Tattersall's. He's the best groom, he has a special way with horses. But Eugenie needs to purchase the things Mrs Johnstone cannot make, such as slippers and reticules and shawls and fans and gloves and hats and stockings – '

  'Please,' the Duke said, laughing. 'Will a week be sufficient time for all that?'

  Arabella laughed. 'Of course we don't need a week, but we need to go to Grafton house and look for new fabrics, and trimmings I did not have at home.'

  'I don't need so much,' Eugenie said, but knew that once Arabella was determined nothing she could say would halt her. 'I have only the money you advanced me, and as I said I do not wish to spend it on frivolities,' she added, but knew it would not deter Arabella.

  'You will soon have all the money that wretched Tonks has stolen, or as much of it as we can recover,' the Duke said. 'Meanwhile, as I promised, I will give you the same allowance Arabella has, so please buy whatever you fancy.'

  'You are so good to me!'

  'We need to bring you out into Society,' Arabella said. 'You should have been a debutante three years ago, but it's not too late, and I mean to find you a rich, handsome and kind husband.'

  Eugenie shook her head, but could not help laughing at Arabella. 'Do such paragons exist who are not already betrothed?'

  'Of course. There are men who are most particular, who turn up their noses each Season at all the prettiest girls. I'll hazard at least three will be courting you within a month. It will be like bringing one of my own girls out.'

  'Good practice, you mean?' Eugenie teased her.

  Arabella gave a mock groan. 'I will have to do it four times, and even more perhaps if I do not start to produce boys!'

  The Duke had been listening to them with a grin. 'Just permit Eugenie some say in who she'll have for her husband,' he suggested. 'Don't pressure her. Remember she's had no experience of English men. Though I suspect you have already formed your plan of campaign, and made a list of the most eligible men.'

  'Naturally. This is not something we can leave to chance. We'll drive in the Park this afternoon if we have finished our shopping, and leave cards and pay some morning visits tomorrow. I thought we could have a dinner party next week, and maybe we can go to the theatre one day before then.'

  'Arrange things as you wish, my dear,' the Duke said. 'I know you have a talent for organisation.'

  *

  Two days later they went to the theatre. Eugenie was entranced with the brilliant scene, illuminated by many chandeliers with hundreds of candles reflected in the gilt about the rows of private boxes. Her mother had taken to Switzerland a collection of plays by Shakespeare, and Eugenie had read them all with her mother, while she was well enough. She had longed to see such plays performed on a stage. The Duke had a private box, and while they waited for the play to begin Eugenie stared round in delight.

  It was not one of the Bard's plays, and Arabella said she had never seen it before. After it began Eugenie was rather surprised to see many people coming late to the theatre, and to find most of the audience talking to their companions, and although their box was at the front of the auditorium, the noise of conversation was so loud at times that it was impossible to hear the actors on the stage.

  'Don't they come to see and hear the play?' she whispered to Arabella, who laughed and shook her head.

  'Of course not! We come to see and be seen. And during the intervals we can visit our friends, or hold court in our own boxes.'

  Was she serious? Eugenie did not know, but when the first interval came and three young men appeared in their box she accepted Arabella's explanation. Going to the theatre was a social occasion just as much as walking or driving in the Park, which she had been told was one of the best ways of meeting friends and advertising to the ton one's presence in town.

  When the next Act began, and the noise was even greater due to the many more people who had arrived after the play began, Eugenie gave up attempting to follow the somewhat complicated plot. She began to study the people in the boxes opposite. Would she meet them on other occasions? Most of them were dressed in the height of fashion, and she began to consider what she herself needed to buy. Then, as her gaze moved along the lowest tier of boxes she gave a sudden start. Surely that man was Hugues! If not, he was her rescuer's double.

  She did not need to strain her memory to recall his face. It was imprinted on her mind. But this man was dressed in impeccable evening dress, not dirty breeches and a torn shirt. His cravat was tied in what she had come to know was a complicated arrangement, for Arabella had pointed out some of the methods fashionable men used in a magazine picture. A diamond pin gleamed amid the folds, and another was in a fob that was suspended from his watch ribbon. As he lifted his hand she saw a ring with a great emerald, and another that looked like a gold signet ring. It could not be her rescuer! And yet, he had spoken perfect English. She wanted to ask her uncle who the man was, but did not like the notion she might be seen to be credulous, seeing her rescuer in a fashionable Englishman.

  She turned her gaze to his companions. There was a girl, a most beautiful one with golden hair, and an entrancing smile which she was turning up to the man. Another couple sat beside them, but they seemed absorbed in each other, and Eugenie ignored them.

  At the next interval she turned to Arabella, determined at least to ask who the people were in the box opposite, but when she looked across the box was empty. She bit her lip, and sighed with frustration.

  'What is it, my dear?' the Duke asked. 'Are you bored?'

  'No. No, of course not, but I wish I could hear the actors more clearly.'

  He laughed. 'It is always the same, I fear. Perhaps, as the evening goes on, people will have said all they wish to, be tired of talking, and we might hear the end of the play.'

  'And know what it was all about,' Arabella added.

  'I see some people have already left,' Eugenie said, indicating the box opposite, and being incapab
le of not at least mentioning that she had noticed the occupants.

  'Do you wish to go?'

  'Oh no, that wasn't what I meant! You said there was a farce at the end of the evening, and I have never read any, so am intrigued.'

  Perhaps, she hoped, the occupants of the opposite box had simply been visiting friends, or walking in the corridor behind, and she would see them again and try to make sure whether the man was, or was not, Hugues.

  *

  The next few days passed quickly. Eugenie was dizzy with an orgy of shopping. She relished the times they drove or rode in the Park, when she could relax and enjoy the pleasant scenery. She had difficulty in remembering the names of all the people Arabella introduced, both there and during the morning calls they paid.

  Then came the day of Arabella's first dinner party. There were to be twenty guests, and to help, Arabella said with her usual giggle, she had made a list for Eugenie.

  'You can memorise the names. I have underlined the ones we have met, but they are mainly the women we have paid calls on. I've put notes against the other names.'

  Eugenie read the list of names, and laughed. 'You don't expect me to carry this list around with me tonight, do you?' She began to read. 'Red hair and a huge stomach. So small he wears high heels. This must surely be a wig, no one has hair this thick. His tailor makes him. Ah, this one sounds better. The most handsome man in Mayfair. Oh, but he's Lady Jane's brother, the Earl of Lyndhurst. Is she coming?'

  'No. Jerome tells me her new dragon of an aunt forbids any social engagements. She will spend her days visiting the British Museum, and in other educational pursuits. Plus a tutor to improve her French has been engaged, and visiting teachers of drawing and music. I almost pity the poor child!'

  'It would not be surprising if she did run away! Has my Uncle's man found George yet?'

  'No. He says Philip has been to all the likely places, tried the stables that rent out riding horses, and asked a good many landlords about the rooms they have let, but he suspects George is using a false name.' Arabella sighed. 'It's bothering him more than he shows. But with the dragon in charge let us hope Lady Jane is kept confined and not able to meet him.'