Eugenie and the Earl

by Marina Oliver

  'I wonder when Jerome will be back?' Arabella asked when they had returned to the house and were sitting in the study, which Arabella usually preferred to the much larger drawing room. It was, she said, cosier and warmer.

  It reminded Eugenie too much of her meeting with the Earl, but she forced herself to forget.

  'It will no doubt depend on how quickly he can arrange matters for George, find a regiment going soon to Canada.'

  Arabella sighed. 'That wretched boy! How could he become such a trial? I hope my children don't grow up to be like him!'

  *

  It was several days before the Duke returned, days during which Eugenie fretted with impatience to learn what had happened, whether George had left, or whether the Earl had somehow prevented it. When he did come he looked unhappy, and admitted it had been hard to part with George, necessary as it had been to send him out of England.

  'I may never see him again,' he said after dinner on the first day he was back, when they had retired to his study. 'He could be killed.'

  'It is that or being hanged as a traitor,' Arabella said, and Eugenie thought she had never before heard Arabella speak so tartly. She began to realise the difficulties Arabella had faced as a second wife, when there was a child of the first one who had resented her and was jealous of her own children.

  'Did you see the Earl?' she asked. 'I think he intended following you to London.'

  'How do you know?' Arabella asked, and Eugenie realised she had never told Arabella of the Earl's visit.

  'He came here,' she said now, and explained. 'I didn't want to worry you, so didn't mention it. I'm sorry. And, Uncle, he had the key George dropped when he was escaping from the Excise men.'

  'We had Compton nail up the door,' Arabella said. 'Did Hugh leave the key?'

  'No, and I forgot to ask him for it. I was so bewildered. But if he comes here again, we can ask. Did you see him in London, Uncle?'

  'Yes, briefly. He won't be here for some time, he's going back to France to try and warn the other agents and help them get back to England.'

  Eugenie was aghast. 'Going back to France? Now? But he'll be in even more danger than usual!'

  'He told me you did not think there was much danger,' her uncle said, and Eugenie bent her head in some distress.

  'Of course there is danger, always, for all of them,' Arabella said. 'Why did you think not?'

  'I didn't think the French authorities would really be interested in finding a few Englishmen.'

  'They are fanatics, my dear, the ones that support Napoleon. We must pray Hugh does not come into conflict with them.'

  'How – how many agents does he hope to contact, to warn?'

  'About twenty, but they are scattered, in different parts of France. It will mean a good deal of travelling, and if the weather there is a bad as here, it will delay him. And he will also try to speak to our French friends, tell them to destroy anything incriminating. George has put so many men and women in peril, but I had to help him.'

  It was an appeal for understanding, and Arabella put her hand on his arm.

  'Of course you had to, my dear. No one will blame you.'

  He shook his head. 'Some already do. There were suspicions when I helped George enlist so quickly, and a few people asked me what he had done to be hustled out of the country. I was able to fob them off, and I doubt anyone knows the truth, but there will always be unanswered questions.'

  *

  A month passed. The Duke returned to London on Government business. He said he would ask around to see if anyone could suggest a suitable chaperone for Eugenie, for she would soon be returning to Beechcotes, and she would need a suitable one there as well as if she went to London for the Season. No news of the Earl came to Castle Tempus. Eugenie tried to stifle her fear for him, telling herself that he had survived in Paris before she met him, and there was no reason to believe he would not again. Arabella tried to tell her he would be safe, but Eugenie simply shook her head.

  'We don't know. That fishing boat he came in, when the Excise men caught the Frenchmen in it, perhaps they have relatives or colleagues who discovered he was not one of them.'

  'Eugenie, how could they?'

  'Well, perhaps the French have spies here who know. Or there might have been two boats and only one was caught.'

  'You are talking nonsense! Why should they have spies in Lymington? If they wish to discover war plans they will be in London, or trying to infiltrate army barracks, not some distant part of the country.'

  It made no difference. Although Eugenie ceased to voice her fears, she did not stop worrying. Tommy was now better, and he and George's guardian valet had returned to London. Eugenie made a point of visiting Meg occasionally to ask if she had heard anything of Hal, but the woman shook her head.

  'I don't know what's happenin' to my Dickon,' she said. 'Can ye find out fer me?'

  Eugenie promised to do her best, and left some money with Meg. With both her husband and brother away, she had very little money except what she could earn doing occasional jobs helping at the Rectory and a few other of the bigger houses in the area, but it was not enough for her to live on. Arabella refused to employ her at Castle Tempus, saying that without the help of her men perhaps George would not have been so foolish. Eugenie swallowed her denial. Women were, she thought, often given to odd fancies when they were breeding, and Arabella, though she did not care what happened to George, did care for the distress his actions had caused the Duke.

  It was the middle of March, and the Duke was back at home when Arabella suggested they attend an Assembly to be held in Winchester just after Easter.

  'Do you not feel a lack of social occasions, Eugenie?' she asked. 'We would, in most years, have had visitors to stay, but with my not feeling well, and the trouble with George, we have not even had any parties here.'

  'I am happy to do whatever you suggest,' Eugenie said, pleased to see that Arabella was looking better.

  'Good, then we can go, and stay in the town house. It is too far to drive back afterwards.'

  'I didn't know you had a house there.'

  'Just a small one, mainly for when we visit the town. We'll go up a day or so beforehand, and perhaps do some shopping. I need new slippers, and it will be good to get out again. And we can stay for a few days.'

  Making plans for the visit occupied them. They looked at their dresses, and Arabella had some of hers let out to accommodate her expanding waist. Eugenie chose to take one of the gowns the Earl had admired. The thought of him, wondering what he was doing in France, whether he was safe, made her solemn, but Arabella's anticipation of the treats in store soon lifted her mood.

  It was decided not to take the girls, but Arabella promised to bring them new toys, and she began to wonder what they might like.

  'The two oldest would enjoy dissected maps,' she said. 'I think Sophie is old enough for a simple one.'

  'What are they?' Eugenie asked. 'I've not heard of them.'

  'A map of England, or Europe, which is cut up in pieces, and the idea is to put it together to make a picture of the whole. The pieces are cut in the shapes of the counties, or countries. It helps to teach children some geography in a fun way.'

  'How ingenious.'

  'And perhaps for Amanda a kaleidoscope. She prefers something more energetic. And I think Charlotte could manage to try wooden building blocks.'

  'You are making me envious,' Eugenie said. 'I never had such toys, so I will love to help them play!'

  Arabella laughed. 'So will I. And if I have a boy I will start to buy him toy soldiers, so that when he is old enough to play with them he will have a large army.'

  *

  Eugenie was changing for dinner two days before they were to go to Winchester when she heard footsteps and laughter outside her room. Someone was in the bedroom next to hers. She peeped out into the corridor, and saw a procession of maids and footmen carrying cans of hot water. Clearly a visitor had arrived, but as far as she knew no one had been expec
ted.

  There was no one else in the drawing room when she went down. After a while Compton came in, looked around, gave her a smile, and departed. She glanced at the bracket clock on the mantelpiece and saw it was the time he normally announced dinner was served. Where were her uncle and Arabella?

  At last they came in together, and as Eugenie was about to ask what was happening they were followed by the Earl. He was impeccably attired in evening dress, his waistcoat of white with a faint silver stripe, and an immaculately tied cravat.

  'You see, Jerome, I said I could be ready on time.'

  Arabella smiled at him. 'In just half an hour you have bathed and dressed?'

  'Your servants are admirable, they brought hot water, unpacked my trunk, pressed my evening clothes, and made sure I was not delayed for one moment. I don't take six hours to tie my cravat, like Mr Brummell. Good evening, Eugenie.'

  'You're back from France,' she muttered, and felt stupid for saying the obvious.

  He grinned at her. 'Two days ago, and glad to be here.'

  'What happened?' she asked, but at that moment Compton came to announce dinner, and she had to control her curiosity until afterwards, when the men joined her and Arabella in the drawing room.

  The Earl came to sit beside her. 'It was not such a calamity as we had feared. I was able to contact all the agents, and they in turn went to warn our French friends before they left the country. As it happened, I managed to see the list George had copied, and he had clearly done it in haste, and carelessly. Several of the names were spelt incorrectly, so the French would not be able to find the real people. And the list was not as complete as we had feared. I suspect he was interrupted before he could finish it.'

  Eugenie breathed a sigh of relief. 'So not a great deal of harm was caused. Thank you for telling me.'

  'No, not a great deal of harm, but the intention was there, and that he did it for money rather than conviction makes it even more despicable.'

  She nodded, and when he asked what she had been doing for the past few weeks was able to respond coherently. Then Arabella spoke.

  'Hugh, we are going to the assembly at Winchester. You will come with us, won't you? We'll be staying at the town house, and there is room for you there. For Jane too, if you wish to bring her.'

  'Thank you, I would like to join you, but I think I won't bring Jane. She has settled down again at home, and I don't wish to distract her. I must go there first, but I will join you in Winchester. I'll look forward to having more time together.'

  Did he mean more time with her, Eugenie wondered, but rather thought not. Although he had been pleasant during dinner, and explained that less harm had been done than he had feared, she sensed he was still angry with her. Yet he was clearly fully reconciled to her uncle, who had been instrumental in sending George out of the country, and away from retribution. No doubt he had accepted a father's need to protect his son.

  He left early the following morning to go to his own home, and she had no opportunity of private talk. Then she had to turn her attention to the coming visit to Winchester. She had already chosen a ball gown the Earl had once admired, but now she decided to take her favourite day dresses too. She pushed the reason to the back of her mind. She simply wanted to look her best when they met Arabella's friends, as they surely would, for most of the local gentry would be at the Assembly.

  *

  Chapter 12

  Eugenie enjoyed Winchester. She had been in such a fret to reach Castle Tempus when she had first arrived she had not explored very far. It was good to see a small town, unlike the vast sprawl of London, and the Cathedral was like nothing she had seen before. She knew there were even more magnificent cathedrals in France, but had been so intent on reaching England she hadn't given a thought to them.

  The shops were better than she had expected in a provincial city, and she and Arabella were tempted at almost every shop. Eugenie suddenly decided her ball gown needed refurbishing, the silver net overskirt was, she insisted, looking tired. Arabella laughed at her, but helped her choose a different net, still silver, but spangled to look like stars.

  'I will help you replace the other,' she said, 'and I will buy you that Norwich shawl we were admiring.'

  'Oh, that is generous! Thank you.'

  Eugenie had received some money from her uncle, and he assured her that her affairs to do with Beechcotes were being sorted. Luckily much of the money stolen by Tonks had been recovered, but what he had given her had not lasted as long as he obviously expected. She felt guilty. In the throes of having a good deal of money to spend for the first time in her life, she had, she thought, been extravagant, and she hesitated to confess this to the Duke.

  The Earl did not arrive until the day of the Assembly, and Eugenie tried to conceal her impatience, and worry that after all he might not come, there might be important matters he had to deal with. But in the middle of the afternoon he arrived. They sat down for dinner, and Arabella chatted about the people she had seen in Winchester, and who were coming to the Assembly.

  'That Miss Hamilton will be there,' she said.

  'Who do you mean? I don't think I recall anyone of that name.'

  'Oh Hugh, how can you have forgotten her? She is that beautiful redhead you admired when we were last here. You said she was the loveliest girl in Hampshire, and you took her driving.'

  'Did I?'

  'Yes. You said she was lovelier even than Lady Emily.'

  Then she must indeed be beautiful, Eugenie thought, and lost some of her pleasure in going to the Assembly.

  'Oh yes, I recall her now. It's been a long time,' he excused himself. 'Isn't she betrothed yet?'

  'No. I met her mother yesterday and the poor woman is in despair. Natalie has had a dozen offers, some of them very flattering, but the wretched girl has refused to listen to any of them. And she is already twenty, soon she will be on the shelf.'

  'I suspect she is waiting for a certain Earl,' the Duke said, and laughed. 'I remember how she tried to make sure she was always near you during the dances.'

  'Doesn't she have a brother?' the Earl said, looking embarrassed.

  'Yes, Alexander. He's a Major, in the Peninsula now, I believe.'

  They went on to talk of other people, friends they expected to meet, but Eugenie did not listen. She knew none of these people. Was the Earl's apparent forgetfulness genuine, or was he attempting to deflect suspicion about his interest in this girl? He was almost thirty. He had a duty to marry and provide himself with an heir. She had no idea about his family, apart from the fact he had no brothers, but there would be cousins, someone who would inherit his title and wealth if he had no son. Then she told herself it was nothing to do with her, and tried to look as though she was interested in the conversation until it was time to set off for the Assembly.

  *

  She saw the beautiful Miss Hamilton as soon as she entered the room where a country dance was taking place. The redhead was truly lovely. Tall and slender, appearing so fragile that the slightest breeze would whisk her away, she had a heart-shaped face, white skin, but with a tint of pink in her cheeks, brilliant green eyes, a pert, straight little nose, full lips, and hair the colour of mahogany. It wasn't really red at all except when the gleams from the candles made it so.

  She was standing near the door, and came across to the Duke's party the moment they entered the room. It seemed to Eugenie that she floated rather than walked, a wide smile showing gleaming small white teeth.

  'My darling Duchess!' she exclaimed, seizing Arabella's hands and bending forward so that Arabella could kiss her cheek. 'I was so hoping you would come, and even though Mama said you intended to, I have been on tenterhooks in case something prevented it.' She turned to the Duke. 'And my very favourite Duke! I do hope you will dance with me, and I know it is forward of me to ask, but we danced together last year, and I am sure you are the best dancer in the south of England!'

  He laughed, flicked a finger at her cheek, and somehow seemed to shrink
back, away from her. 'I'm too old, my dear, but I have brought Hugh Fitzjames, he'll be delighted to dance with you.'

  She turned towards Hugh, and gave him a slow smile. 'I do declare I didn't see you, as you were hiding behind the Duke. But I won't insist on you taking his place in case you don't wish to dance with me.'

  The Earl smiled.' Of course I will dance with the most beautiful girl in the room. How could I not wish it?'

  She gave a trill of laughter, and Arabella took the opportunity to draw Eugenie forward.

  'Miss Hamilton, this is our niece, Miss Daubney, who is staying with us.'

  The girl turned to smile at Eugenie, and clasped her hand. 'How delightful to meet you, and what a lovely gown. I do like those spangles. My mother told me she had met you. And do call me Natalie. May I call you Eugenie? I'm sure we are going to be great friends.'

  Eugenie found she could not help liking the girl. Either she was a very clever actress, or she was a genuinely friendly girl delighted to meet them all. She linked her arm through Eugenie's and drew her apart.

  'I want you to meet my brother,' she said. 'He's on furlough after a wound he received in the Peninsula, but it's much better now, he doesn't even limp, and he'll be going back in two weeks, which is a dreadful shame. Here he is. Alexander, this is Miss Daubney, she is staying with my darling Duke and Duchess. She is Arabella's niece, which I find quite unbelievable!'

  Her brother was tall, as tall as the Earl, muscular, and with dark red hair, but as good looking as his sister was beautiful. Fleetingly Eugenie wondered if there were any more in the family, and whether they all had such striking looks. Then the music stopped, the dancers left the floor, and Eugenie was being asked for the next dance by Alexander, while the Earl, who had followed them to greet the Hamilton family, led Natalie into the set just forming.