The Lords & Ladies Box Set

by Fenella J Miller

  Charlotte slipped him a coin for his trouble and he vanished as silently as he had arrived. She hurried through the passage emerging on the pavement opposite the building she sought. This street was less hazardous to cross than the main thoroughfare having less traffic; she gathered her skirts and dodged through the traffic to arrive a trifle breathless at the bottom of the steps. The brass plate reassured her she was in the correct location.

  There was no necessity for her to knock, the door opened and a wizened clerk bowed. 'Can I be of assistance, madam?'

  'Kindly tell Mr Ditchin, Lady Charlotte Siddon wishes to speak to him on a matter of urgency.'

  The man bowed a second time almost to his knees, backing away from her as if in the presence of royalty. 'This way, my lady, if you would care to wait for a moment in this parlour, I shall inform Mr Ditchin that you are here.'

  She scarcely had time examine her surroundings before a tall, thin man, with abundant grey locks and sharp, intelligent eyes, came in. 'Lady what a most unexpected pleasure. How can I be of service?' He closed the door behind him and waited expectantly. She should be seated, but she was too nervous to take the chair to which he gestured.

  'I wish to know, sir, do I inherit a substantial amount when I reach my majority in December?'

  'You do, my lady. Your maternal grandmother left a vast fortune to you. The principal cannot be touched by anyone apart from yourself. The interest has been going to Lord Siddon since your father died. However, when you come of age, the interest shall be paid into your account.'

  The matter was as she had suspected, it was her money that her brother was seeking so frantically. 'I shall have free access to the principal?' He nodded vigorously. 'If I were to be married before that date, my husband would then control my fortune?'

  He shook his head. 'No, indeed not. Your maternal grandmother arranged things in such a way that the money would remain in your name alone. I will not mince words, my lady, your father was a wastrel and your brother a profligate. If they had been able to access your trust fund it would have been spent.'

  'I thank you, Mr Ditchin.' It was imperative she explain the circumstances she found herself in, he needed to know everything in order to assist her. Once seated he followed her lead. 'Mr Ditchin, am I to understand that anything I say to you is in absolute confidence?'

  'That goes without question, my lady.'

  'Then I must tell you how things are.' When she completed her story he nodded, not shocked by her revelations.

  'I knew it must be something of the sort, for when I visited Siddon the place was in uproar. I refused to release this quarter's money without your signature. Lady Charlotte, were you not aware that you were signing away your fortune each quarter?'

  'I knew that I was signing something to do with my inheritance. Lord Siddon told me it was a formality, it merely allowed him a little extra to pay for my keep. I naturally assumed the interest was his by right.'

  'It's as I thought; the interest from your trust fund alone is substantial. You are an immensely wealthy woman, I believe that your brother would do anything to keep your trust fund within his grasp.'

  'It is my intention to remain where I am, not reveal my identity until after my name day. I understand that this is reprehensible, unforgivable, but I can see no other way. If I reveal my identity to Doctor Hunter then I shall have to return to Siddon. I'm sure I'll never be given the opportunity to escape again. Indeed, and it might be fanciful to be thinking this, I fear my life might be endangered if I do not agree to sign away my fortune.'

  'You are not being fanciful, my lady. It's long been my fear that something untoward might occur. In the event that you have no daughters the fund will settle equally on to your two nieces. It can only be passed on the distaff side, but the interest will remain within your brother's grasp until they reach their majority.' He nodded sagely. 'You might recall, my lady, but you've only been obliged to sign documents this past year?'

  'Yes, that's correct. Does this mean, in the event of my death, that until Beth and Jennifer are my age my brother can spend the money as he pleases?'

  'It does. I cannot believe he has so lost his reason that he might attempt to dispose of you, but I believe it would be wise to stay out of his grasp.'

  'I must also ask you, sir, not to reveal my whereabouts to anyone. I shall come here again after December the first. Once I've control of my fortune, I intend to set up my own establishment.'

  'But Lord Edward must return, there will be a hue and cry very shortly. Can he be relied on to hold his tongue?'

  'Indeed he can. He would do anything to protect me and his sisters. However, it will be difficult to accomplish his homecoming without revealing my own identity.'

  'Leave this to me. As soon as Lord Edward is well enough to be moved I shall come for him. I shall make up some nonsense; state that he is the son of a gentleman of my acquaintance who resides abroad. I shall say the boy was unhappy at his boarding school and I have come to return him. There is no reason for Dr Hunter to suspect this is a fabrication.'

  'Thank for your discretion and assistance. Perhaps you could visit the day after tomorrow? I shall prime my nephew beforehand. He is a natural dissembler, I'm sorry to relate.' She stood, shaking out the skirts of her pelisse. He bowed and she nodded. 'I must return, my abigail will be waiting most anxiously for me. I do not wish her to raise an alarm at my absence.'

  Charlotte hurried back through the passage. Her maid was peering from the doorway of the emporium. 'Daisy, I do beg your pardon, I hope you have not been here long. Do you have the nightshirts?' The girl nodded. 'Excellent, we still have an hour before the carriage returns. Shall we stroll along Bond Street? I'm sure there will be somewhere I can buy George a small gift to cheer him up.'

  She had in her possession one hundred pounds in banknotes. Mr Ditchin had insisted she take it, it appeared it was a fraction of the money she was due. As the interest had not been paid this quarter to her brother, the cash was hers to do as she wished with. For the first time in her life she was a woman of independent means. She found it reassuring to have her own funds, but the money was yet another deception. What would happen if James were to discover it?

  Charlotte took longer over her preparations that night than she was accustomed to. Ned had asked that she come in and show him how she looked in her new gown. James had insisted she had a new wardrobe sewn and that she not appear in future in borrowed finery.

  'Miss Edwards, you look as pretty as a princess, if you don't mind me saying so. That buttercup yellow silk with the gold sarcenet overdress, brings out the colour of your hair and eyes.'

  The dress had only arrived that afternoon, she had resigned herself to wearing the gold silk she had worn several times before. She touched the décolletage, was it a trifle low? The modiste had assured her it was de rigueur, but she wasn't at all sure that exposing so much of her bosom was quite decent. With matching elbow length gloves and evening slippers she was confident she could hold her head high in any company.

  When she had told Ned of her visit to the lawyers he had been thrilled. He was more than happy to keep up the charade that he was Master George Jones, a runaway from a London boarding school. Knowing that in less than five weeks his beloved aunt would be in full control of her fortune, and then be able to take care of himself and his sisters, was enough to make him glow with happiness.

  'It's a quarter to six, I must not be tardy on this important evening.' She held up her left hand to admire her engagement ring, fortunately her gloves were fingerless and the ring showed to perfection. 'I'm going to visit Master George, as he expressed a desire to see me before I greet the guests.'

  Ned's reaction was everything she could have hoped for. 'I say, Aunt Charlotte, I've never seen you look so fine. Shall you send me up some supper, later on?'

  'I should hope that you will be fast asleep by then, young man. However, I shall come myself after dinner. If you're awake then you shall certainly have a sample of everything
placed upon the buffet table.'

  'How do you avoid tripping over the dangling bit at the back of your gown?'

  Laughing, she demonstrated how a small loop of ribbon slipped over her wrist to hold up the demi-train. 'I must go, Daisy says she will come and play cards with you after she has eaten.'

  James was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes widened as she descended. 'Sweetheart, you look enchanting. I shall be the envy of every gentleman present.' He raised her hands to his lips, his hot breath sent shivers down her spine.

  'And I, James, shall be the envy of every lady. I declare we shall be the handsomest couple at the party.'

  He chuckled at her riposte. 'As long as we are the happiest, that's enough for me.'

  Her eyes prickled, how could she continue to deceive him? He was the kindest, most wonderful man, and he did not deserve to be treated this way. But if she told him who she was, he would send her away – however great his love, it could never overcome his hatred of her class.

  Chapter Six

  Charlotte was the belle of the ball. She basked in the praise and admiration of the guests; both James and his mother could not have made it plainer that she was now a much loved member of their family. Cook had excelled herself with the dinner, several courses and removes were served, but she tasted none of it. She was too elated to eat. Every time his eyes met hers, her heart somersaulted. No, one could doubt this was a love match, for one night she would pretend everything was as it should be.

  There was scarcely time to slip upstairs to check on Ned, she was relieved to find him sound asleep. Now was the time to greet the guests who were arriving for the ball. The house did not possess a ballroom, but the main drawing-room was more than fifty feet in length. With the carpet rolled back and the furniture removed the chamber was more than adequate for the dozen or so couples who wished to dance.

  'My darling, I intend to dance with you all night.' James chuckled at her expression. 'No don't frown at me, tonight we shall defy convention. After all, I'm sure the rule of dancing only twice with the same partner does not apply to an affianced couple.'

  She had no idea if this was correct but was happy to acquiesce. After several country dances the quartet struck up for one of the new, daring waltzes. The steps of the country dances had returned to her, but she was unsure if she'd ever learnt how to waltz. 'I don't think I know how to do this, James. If you lead me out I am bound to trip over my feet and embarrass us both.'

  He smiled, at his most charming. 'Then we shall retire to my study; we can hear the music if we open the doors, there I shall teach you the steps.'

  What the other guests thought of their disappearance she had no idea, but tonight she cared nothing for convention. After all this might be the last time she would be with the man she loved so deeply.

  James quickly lit the candles and flung open the doors leading on to the terrace. 'Listen, we can just hear. Are you ready, my love?'

  Without hesitation she stepped into his arms. He placed one hand in the small of her back and with the other clasped hers. 'This dance is remarkably simple, if I can master it, then I am quite sure you can. 1 – 2 – 3… follow my lead, you'll soon pick it up.'

  The empty space at the far end of the room was scarcely adequate for dancing, but she cared not, she treasured these brief moments held close to his heart. By the time the music in the drawing-room ceased she was confident she could waltz without disgracing either of them. 'We had best return, James. I'm sure it has been remarked that we are absent from the proceedings.'

  She turned towards the door but he gently restrained her. 'One more thing, my love, and then we shall depart.'

  His eyes burned and before she could protest his arms tightened and his lips pressed firmly against hers. She was too shocked to move – such intimacy was surely the prerogative of a husband? She was tempted to struggle, but then a delicious warmth flooded through her limbs and she relaxed against him. He deepened his kiss, his lips slid down her cheek to nibble gently at her ear. With a sigh he held her at arm's length.

  'That must do, my darling. I have already overstepped the mark, I'm sure you must realise how strongly I feel about you? I love you and I cannot wait to make you my wife.'

  Her face coloured, his meaning was unmistakable. Even she was not so unconventional she could allow him to talk of such things.

  'I wish to return to our guests, James. In future I shall make sure I'm not alone with you until we are married.'

  His eyes flashed in the candlelight. 'And when will that be, sweetheart?'

  Her mouth opened and the words tumbled forth. Somehow she agreed to a wedding. 'In the New Year, my love, we shall be married then. We shall have known each other more than four months. I'm sure Mr Peterson can somehow circumvent the requirements and provide us with the required certificate.'

  'If you say you are one and twenty there will be no problem at all. Do you think that you might be that age already?'

  She looked away, hiding her deceit. 'I believe that I must be that at least, I can scarcely be younger as I have been working as a governess.'

  With a shout of triumph he swept her up and twirled her around like a child. 'I shall speak to the vicar on Sunday, after matins. You have made me the happiest of men, I had not thought I would ever meet a woman I could truly love.'

  They returned to the drawing-room and Charlotte insisted he partner some of their guests, he promised he would be back to claim her for the supper dance, which was to be another waltz. A group of matrons seated on chairs in front of a large floral arrangement were talking animatedly. She was aware that their glances were constantly turning in her direction. Was there something amiss in her appearance? Had her embrace in the study left her hair in disarray?

  With flushed cheeks she retreated and ran into the breakfast parlour where there was a glass. She was pleased to discover she was in no way dishevelled, her cheeks a trifle flushed perhaps, but that could be due to the heat and not her encounter with James. On impulse she decided to return through the dining room, see what delicacies Cook had provided for their supper. She'd eaten nothing at dinner and was beginning to feel a trifle faint.

  The double doors from this room opened into the drawing-room, she hesitated, screened from the dancing by the handsome floral arrangement. She was now within earshot of the group of women she had fled from a few moments before. She was about to turn away when one of the women mentioned her name.

  'Miss Edwards is a remarkably lovely young woman. James is quite besotted with her.'

  Charlotte's shoulders relaxed, the adage that you heard nothing good of yourself when eavesdropping, was obviously incorrect. Then another voice spoke. This time she regretted having remained where she was.

  'That is true, Mrs Blondel, do you know, there's something about the girl that is quite familiar. Although I do not move in the highest circles, I have attended lectures and musicales since I was a green girl and often these were frequented by members of the ton. Miss Edwards reminds me of someone I once met. Lady…. I cannot recall the name, but I can see her in my mind's eye quite clearly. This was more than twenty years ago, but I remember being envious that she had married so well.'

  'That's quite possible, Mrs Winterton, but dear Miss Edwards must be a poor relation of the woman you mention. She was working as a governess before her accident.'

  'Yes, quite possibly. Let me think, the name is coming to me. Yes, Lord Siddon. He was a handsome man and the young lady was quite enamoured of him. It's very sad, you know, he turned out to be a gambler and very shortly after that his wife came no more to town.'

  Charlotte pressed against the wall. She was all but discovered. It could only be a matter of time before this information was relayed to James or his mother. When he confronted her, she would have to admit her memory had returned and her life would be in ruins.

  'My dear girl, why you hiding in here? Are you unwell, you look as pale as a lily flower?'

  She hastily brushed away
her tears forcing herself to smile. 'Oh, Aunt Marianne, I do feel a trifle unsteady. It must be the unaccustomed exercise and excitement; also I have not been sleeping well. Please could you give my apologies to James, I believe I shall retire. Thank you so much for making this evening so perfect for us.'

  Not giving her time to time to protest Charlotte almost ran the length of the dining room and back into the wide passageway. She was halfway up the stairs when the sound of pounding feet alerted her. James arrived at her side his face etched with concern.

  'My love, you should have told me you were unwell, I am a medical man you know.' Without a by your leave he swept her into his arms and carried her to her apartments. He shouldered his way into her sitting room and placed her tenderly on the daybed. 'Sweetheart, you have been overtaxing yourself. Have you eaten anything at all today?' She shook her head, she did not deserve his sympathy. 'I thought not, it's hardly surprising you are faint. You have been scarcely eating enough to keep a child alive. Stay here, my love, I shall fetch you some supper. We will eat together in here.'

  Daisy appeared a little flustered to find them there. 'I was in the dressing room, Miss Edwards, doing some mending. Are you not feeling well?'

  James answered for her. 'Your mistress is fatigued, nothing more serious. Come with me, girl, you shall return with a supper tray.'

  The last thing she wanted was to eat. 'No, James, it would be a wasted journey. I promise you, I shall eat tomorrow. But I have a megrim and need to lie down; a good night's sleep and I shall be recovered. I hope you will explain my absence to our guests.'

  He dropped to his knees beside her, staring anxiously at her. 'Not eating enough, in my opinion, can be a cause of these sick headaches. In future I shall make it my business to ensure you eat regularly.' Ignoring the presence of her abigail he raised her fingers and kissed each tip in turn. 'Goodnight, my love, I shall see you in the morning.'

  Twenty minutes later she was still awake; the strains of the music, people laughing and talking on the terrace outside the window, reminded her of what she'd lost. The pleasure in the day had gone. Like Cinderella, her life would turn to ashes the following morning. It seemed an age before the final carriage departed and James and his mother retired. Once sure the house was quiet she scrambled out of bed. She must speak to Ned, it could not wait until tomorrow. If her identity was about to be revealed she would leave when Mr Ditchin came to collect her nephew. Hopefully she would not be evicted before them.