Courting Lord Dorney

by Sally James

  ‘Wait a moment. If Lord Dorney has made a point of formally asking whether he may call, he may be intending to speak. Could that be it?’

  Bella stared at her, her mouth slightly open, a sudden wild surging hope showing in her eyes.

  ‘Could it be?’ she breathed. ‘Oh, Jane, could that be the reason?’

  ‘He may wish to speak to me first,’ Jane mused. ‘He may regard me as your guardian. But he’ll certainly wish to meet your father. What have we said?’ she asked, becoming agitated. ‘How on earth are we going to explain it to Lord Dorney?’

  Bella sighed. ‘I don’t know, but if he speaks first I know it will be all right. If he does love me for myself, it won’t matter. Why should it? How could he possibly object to having a fortune as well as a wife, especially when he wasn’t looking for one? A fortune, I mean,’ she added distractedly.

  ‘Would it be better to confess to Lord Dorney straight away?’ Jane asked hesitantly.

  ‘Not unless he offers!’ Bella exclaimed. ‘It would prevent him from offering, for he’d loathe to be thought a fortune hunter!’

  ‘But what about this Mr Salway?’

  ‘I must somehow contrive to keep him quiet for a few days. Even if it means appearing to agree to whatever he suggests.’

  ‘I don’t like it.’

  ‘Nor do I, but what other course is open to us?’

  They discussed the problem over and over, but could find no way round it. Bella at last went to change out of her old woollen gown. She put on a fresh muslin dress in a pretty shade of green, and took especial care brushing her hair, ready to entertain whichever visitor might come first.

  She was descending the stairs when a sharp knock at the front door made her jump then run hastily past Lizy as she came from the kitchen to answer it. She arrived breathlessly in the drawing room with just sufficient time to seat herself on a small, brocade-covered sopha, before Lizy announced the visitor.

  Chapter 7

  ‘Mr Salway!’ Bella gasped, the anxious hope dying from her eyes. She took a deep breath. If no miracle in the shape of Lord Dorney and his offer intervened she would have to use her own wits. ‘Lizy, pray tell Lady Hodder Mr Salway has arrived,’ she ordered crisply.

  ‘Yes, Miss,’ Lizy said cheerfully. ‘Would you like me to bring some wine?’

  ‘Yes, please, but after you’ve informed Lady Hodder.’

  ‘Good morning, Miss Trahearne, you look charming as usual,’ he said smoothly, crossing the room to try and take her hand in his.

  Bella glared at him as she moved behind a small table and evaded his outstretched hand. She caught Lizy’s surprised glance as the maid backed from the room and closed the door.

  ‘What do you want?’ Bella demanded bluntly.

  ‘What have I ever wanted since first I set eyes on you?’ he responded.

  ‘Rather since your aunt told you the size of my fortune!’ Bella retorted bitterly. ‘You all but snubbed me at our first meeting. Though that was far preferable to your fawning attempts to ingratiate yourself later,’ she added reflectively. ‘Why are you in Bath? Did you somehow discover I was here?’

  ‘Oh, no, I came here by chance, but now I’ve met you again I’ve not quite given up hope of persuading you to accept my suit,’ he replied calmly, ignoring her strictures.

  ‘I have nothing to say to you,’ Bella said, but without much hope that he would accept this.

  ‘However, I have things to say to you,’ he replied with a smirk. ‘But first, let me explain how I come to be here. After you left Harrogate I met a far more accommodating lady, a trifle older than you, to be sure, but still attractive. A widow, whose husband made a fortune running some deplorable manufactory in Birmingham, I understand. Since you declined to honour me with your hand I naturally turned to someone else. She wished to come to Bath and I offered to travel ahead and book rooms for her.’

  ‘Then if you have such advantageous prospects why do you continue to persecute me?’

  ‘In the first instance her income is unfortunately only a quarter the size of yours, my dear Bella. And in the second, to speak the truth, she’s a little too old for my taste. Also I confess to a desire to make you eat your words. They were most hurtful, you know, almost contemptuous, when you spurned my very sincere offer.’

  ‘You’re contemptible!’ Bella declared, ‘and what you’ve just said abundantly confirms it! How can you treat anyone so badly, especially some poor deluded female who’s depending on you?’

  ‘I shall book her rooms, and I’ve promised nothing more,’ he replied with a smile that set Bella’s teeth on edge. ‘Is it my fault if I renew acquaintanceship with a lady I’d once loved and thought lost to me? If I discover, to my joy, I was mistaken, and she favours me after all?’

  ‘I do not favour you!’ Bella said slowly through gritted teeth. ‘Your first offer was unwelcome, and I have not changed my decision, and never will.’

  ‘I accept the first, and it’s unfortunate, I confess, but before you dismiss me entirely, remember that you’ve not yet heard my new proposition,’ he reminded her.

  ‘I don’t need to. I’ll not agree to any odious scheme of yours.’

  ‘Why are you masquerading in Bath under a false name?’ he asked, with a sudden change of subject that caused Bella to frown.

  ‘That’s my business,’ she snapped.

  ‘Also, surely, the business of any prospective husband,’ he said quietly. ‘I haven’t been wasting my time since I arrived, my dear. It’s common gossip that Lord Dorney is about to offer for you. What will he say when he discovers you’ve deceived him?’

  ‘It’s no deception!’ Bella protested. ‘At least, not in the way you mean! I’m not trying to gain anything by it which will be a disadvantage to anyone else. The opposite, rather!’

  ‘You want to be valued for yourself alone,’ he sneered. ‘You despise men like myself who have inadequate means and take the only way open to us of improving the situation.’

  ‘You have means enough to live better than most people, even if you’re not wealthy,’ Bella said heatedly. ‘Why can you not make yourself content with that, or find a position with a salary, as your aunt did, instead of trying to marry an heiress you don’t love?’

  ‘Who says I don’t love you?’

  Bella snorted inelegantly. ‘You wouldn’t have given me a second glance if you hadn’t discovered I’m rich!’

  ‘Would you be content to exist in a couple of mediocre rooms, without a servant other than a drab, and no way of enjoying the finer things of life?’

  ‘Yes, if I had to,’ Bella answered. ‘My father is far from rich, and I never expected to be.’

  ‘But he has a house and an estate. He didn’t lose it all as my father did by gambling.’

  ‘I can hardly be expected to replace your father’s lost estates,’ Bella began indignantly, but he interrupted curtly.

  ‘It is considered entirely acceptable, even estimable, for a girl to aim to wed a fortune,’ he went on, disregarding her, ‘yet a man must never be guilty of such despicable mercenary considerations!’

  ‘With regard to what is acceptable men have certain other advantages over mere females,’ Bella commented drily. ‘However, I’m growing bored, and I fail to see what all this has to do with your visit here.’

  ‘I came to lay two alternatives at your feet,’ he replied. ‘Either you bestow your hand and fortune on me, or you make over to me half of your capital in exchange for my silence. I believe there are no tiresome restrictions on how you might dispose of your capital.’

  Bella was staring at him in complete amazement.

  ‘I don’t believe it!’ she whispered. ‘It’s monstrous! Half my fortune simply to buy your silence? It’s incredible! As for the other, I’ll never even consider marrying such a despicable little toad!’

  He winced. ‘I rather expected that would be your attitude,’ he confessed. ‘But you did hear correctly,’ he assured her. ‘Isn’t it worth half your really
rather disgustingly large fortune, which Lord Dorney knows nothing about and would despise if he did, to buy my discretion?’

  ‘And afterwards you could marry your widow and take her money too!’

  ‘And she would appreciate me,’ he agreed. ‘That course has its attractions, although her fortune is so much less than yours. Yet she is too malleable for my taste. I have a certain curiosity to see whether I could tame you. On the whole I prefer all your fortune, and you and your spirit with it.’

  ‘Get out!’ Bella almost screamed at him. ‘Go away and never come here again! I wouldn’t marry you if - if I were forced to the altar at gunpoint!’

  He turned to walk towards the door.

  ‘You’re becoming hysterical, my dear. I’ll return in a couple of hours for your answer. I trust you’ll have seen reason by then.’

  * * * *

  He opened the door to find Lizy about to come in bearing a tray with a decanter and wine glasses.

  ‘I’m sorry, Miss, Mrs Dawes hurt herself and I had to help her,’ Lizy said breathlessly.

  ‘No matter, I cannot stay,’ Mr Salway replied, and with the briefest of bows towards Bella left the room and let himself out of the front door.

  ‘Oh, dear, I’m sorry, Miss, I hope the gentleman’s not offended?’ Lizy asked anxiously.

  Bella bit back her answer that she hoped he was, and reassured the flustered maid.

  ‘Is Mrs Dawes badly hurt?’ she demanded anxiously. ‘What happened?’

  ‘No, it’s not bad. The pot slipped, and some hot water splashed over her arm,’ Lizy reported. ‘Lady Hodder heard her cry out as she was coming here, and came down to the kitchen to see what was the matter. It were the shock most of all, and a bit of a scald. She’s gone to have a lay down.’

  ‘Take the wine away now, Lizy,’ Bella said, and as the maid left the room she dropped onto the sopha and stared blindly in front of her.

  She was determined never to sink so low as to marry the despicable Mr Salway. And although her fortune was so large she was equally determined she would never submit to his blackmail and give him a penny, let alone half of it. She needed if for her orphans. Her one hope of getting out of the scrape she’d brought on herself was for Lord Dorney to arrive and make his offer within the next two hours, so that she could confess all and throw herself on his compassion. Then Mr Salway would present no threat.

  She began to pace distractedly up and down the room, going to look out of the window every few minutes to see whether Lord Dorney was approaching. Her mood swung between hope, despair, fury and frustration. After what seemed hours Jane came in to find her with her nose pressed against the pane, staring blankly along the road.

  ‘Bella, what in the world happened? What did he say?’

  Bella pithily related the gist of the encounter.

  ‘And I’m afraid Lizy heard him call me Miss Trahearne,’ she ended angrily. ‘Did she say anything?’

  ‘No, but she was big with some sort of news she wanted to tell Mrs Dawes. That must have been it.’

  ‘Can we stop them gossiping?’

  Jane shook her head. ‘Better just ignore it, I think, and then they’ll soon forget. At least there’s no chance of them discovering the truth.’

  ‘Jane, what shall I do? Lord Dorney hasn’t come and he said he would.’

  ‘But he didn’t give a time, and it’s still early.’

  ‘Whatever happens I will not submit to that odious wretch’s blackmail!’

  ‘Then you must tell Lord Dorney the truth whether he offers or not. I’m sure he’ll understand your reasons.’

  Bella shook her head dolefully. ‘I wish I could be as certain of that. And I can’t speak unless he offers, it would look so coming of me!’

  Jane finally went away to deal with various household duties, having insisted that Mrs Dawes rest after her accident. A few minutes later she put her head back into the room to say she was going shopping to fetch a few items Mrs Dawes wanted for dinner.

  ‘She won’t rest until she has them, and Lizy is busy so I promised to go. I won’t be long, and if Lord Dorney comes he can speak to you alone!’

  * * * *

  Bella resumed her anxious pacing, not at all sure she wished to face Lord Dorney alone. Jane had not returned an hour later, however, when Lord Dorney’s smart curricle drew up in front of the house. He sprang down, tossing the reins to the groom, and strode up the steps towards the front door.

  Bella retreated further into the room as soon as she saw him and sank down onto the sopha. She didn’t know which emotion was uppermost in her mind, relief that he had finally arrived, or apprehension about the confession she must make.

  Lizy once more showed a gentleman into the drawing room and offered to fetch wine. This time Bella could not ask for Jane to be told, and she wondered if she imagined the sly look Lizy cast at her.

  ‘My lord,’ she began, and then came to a halt, her mind a blank. It was as impossible as she had feared. How could she mention the subject of marriage unless he did first?

  ‘My dear Miss Collins,’ he replied. ‘May I sit down?’

  ‘Oh, yes, of course. I’m sorry,’ Bella was confused, and when he took a seat beside her on the sopha it took all her resolution to remain there.

  Seeking to put her at her ease, he chatted about the ball the previous evening, and seemed unconcerned at her monosyllabic responses. When Lizy brought the wine he rose to pour two glasses and handed one to Bella.

  ‘Your health and happiness,’ he said, standing in front of her and raising his glass in a toast before drinking.

  Bella tried to smile, gulped some of the wine, and developed a fit of coughing.

  By the time he’d taken her glass, set it and his own down on a side table, patted her on the back, and handed her his handkerchief, Bella had recovered. She smiled at him through a screen of tears which the coughing had brought into her eyes, and he took her hand gently in his.

  ‘My dear, when you look so vulnerable I cannot remain silent! I’d intended to visit your father, or at least speak first to Lady Hodder, who is in some way your guardian, but I understand she is out. I should properly beg her permission to approach you, but it’s impossible to wait any longer! Bella, you are adorable!’

  He sank onto one knee before her, but before she could reply there was a discreet knock on the door.

  ‘C - come in,’ Bella managed as Lord Dorney, with a barely suppressed oath, rose to his feet and stepped across to the table where he had deposited their wineglasses.

  ‘I beg pardon, Miss, but the gentleman wouldn’t take no - ‘ Lizy began, but was unable to continue.

  She was pushed aside with scant ceremony and a red-faced, ruffled Mr Salway stormed into the room.

  ‘Sir!’ Lord Dorney protested coldly. ‘How dare you burst into a lady’s house in such a manner!’

  ‘Lady?’ Mr Salway sneered. ‘Does a lady masquerade under an assumed name, hoping to entrap an honest man into marriage? After she’s promised to someone else, but thinks she might better herself! It was fortunate I saw you, my lord, and could warn you in time. For shame, Bella, trying to escape from your promises to me like that!’

  ‘Miss Collins, who is this fellow? Shall I throw him out?’ Lord Dorney, grim faced and with hands clenched into fists, asked.

  ‘Miss Collins, that’s a whisker!’ Mr Salway laughed, but moved prudently away from Lord Dorney, who was the same height but of considerably heavier build, and moving now as though he was perfectly capable of carrying out his threat.

  ‘Be silent!’ Lord Dorney ordered, moving impetuously forwards.

  ‘Ask her first whether Collins is her real name! Ask her whether she’s truly Lord Hodder’s cousin! Ask her whether she knew me in Harrogate!’ Mr Salway gabbled. ‘Very well indeed, she knew me,’ he added with a smirk.

  Lord Dorney glanced at Bella, and at the guilty expression on her expressive face began to frown.

  ‘Is any of this true?’ he demanded. ‘M
iss Collins - Bella, do you know this fellow?’

  ‘Yes, unfortunately!’ Bella found her voice.

  ‘And is your name Collins?’

  ‘No. My lord, I can explain - ‘

  ‘Full of lies, she is. She was promised to me earlier in the year, and then decided I wouldn’t do for her, she wanted a title!’ Mr Salway went on. ‘I came to Bath when I heard where she was, going under a false name, trying to buy a title with the fortune her uncle left her.’

  ‘That’s untrue!’ Bella gasped. ‘Yes, I knew you, and you offered for me, but I never promised anything, I told you to go away! And I don’t want a title!’

  ‘You’d best leave, sirrah!’ Lord Dorney commanded, and moved towards Mr Salway in so determined a fashion that he cravenly edged out of the door and pushed past Lizy, hovering avidly on the threshold, on his hasty retreat to the front door.

  Lord Dorney watched him go, closed the door on the flustered maid, and came back towards Bella. He placed both hands on her shoulders and she shivered with a combination of despair and a wild, crazy impulse to throw herself into his arms and sob weakly on his chest. But Bella had never given way to tears and she wouldn’t now, she vowed, however feeble her legs had become, and however tinglingly aware of him she felt.

  ‘I think I deserve an explanation,’ he said abruptly. ‘Since you admit some of the fellow’s accusations are true perhaps you’d better tell me the whole of it.’

  * * * *

  Bella stared helplessly at him, overwhelmed with dismay at the cold, implacable expression in his eyes. She remained mute. What could she say?

  ‘Let us start with your name,’ he prompted impatiently, shaking her slightly. ‘It is not Collins?’

  Bella miserably shook her head. It was far, far worse than she had ever anticipated, for his eyes were like flints, cold and sharp in a grimly hard face which promised no mercy. Normally she cared nothing for the anger of others, but this was terribly, searingly different, and she was shattered at the realization of how much his anger distressed her.

  ‘So what is it?’