Courting Lord Dorney
Page 18
‘Whoever it was probably thought they were paste!’ Mary said angrily.
‘Not surprising,’ Bella said, and found her voice was trembling. ‘They do look too good to be true! But let’s go through the rest.’
They went through with the utmost care, and even looked under all the furniture, in case something had dropped unnoticed, although Mary swore the box had only been opened the previous evening when Bella had chosen the pearls to wear, and they had all been present then. At last Bella sat down on her dressing stool.
‘Not just the ring, but a pair of pearl earrings,’ she said slowly.
‘And you had three pairs of those, different sizes. I suppose whoever it was thought you’d be less likely to miss them. What about the ones in the drawer?’
They locked the box, and Bella hung the key on a simple gold chain which, she said, she would keep on her person in future. Then they checked the other jewelry. That was all accounted for.
‘They thought it was all in the locked box,’ Mary said furiously. ‘What will you do, Miss Bella? Can we search the house?’
Bella shook her head. ‘It would take hours, and how could we explain it? No, first let’s try to find out where everyone was last night. Go and ask Jackson to come up here, please. Try not to let the rest know I’ve asked for him, but if any of them ask, I want to consult him about some sort of problem with one of the horses. They won’t know better, they won’t have seen the horses.’
‘To your bedroom?’ Mary looked so scandalized that even in her concern Bella smiled.
‘I’ll dress first,’ she said.
When Mary ushered Jackson into the room a few minutes later Bella was decently gowned in a simple morning dress, with her hair tied back simply.
Swiftly she explained, and Jackson was all for searching the servants’ rooms at once.
‘Not yet, Jackson. Think. Could any of them have had time to come in here and search? It would have taken more than a few minutes to find the box and the key. You were in the house last night. I didn’t need you to drive me, the Major called for me. After I went out, what did everyone do?’
He frowned. ‘After the dishes were washed, we all sat round playing cards until Cook made us all some tea. Then the women went up to bed, and the men played on for a bit. Now I think of it we were all together until you came home. I suppose one of the maids might have slipped in after they’d gone upstairs, but it wasn’t ten minutes before you came in, and Mary was a minute of two after you. Where had you been?’ he asked, suddenly turning to her.
‘With Joan, at Mount Street. You know we got to be friends while we lived there. You’re not accusing me, are you?’
‘Course not. I just wondered, whether you were out with Tom footman from there. He was sweet on you.’
Mary tossed her head. ‘I wasn’t. But Miss Bella, if it wasn’t the servants, it must have been Miss Perkins. She was here on her own, in her room upstairs. No one would have heard her moving about.’
* * * *
Lord Dorney met the Major outside Whites.
‘How do you do, Major? I haven’t seen Frederick around for some time.’ And I hope he has lost interest in Felicity, he added to himself.
‘Frederick? Oh, he’s in the throes of some new piece of nonsense. He said he would be ready to read it out to us all at the soiree tonight. I hope Miss Trahearne is well enough to attend.’
‘Is she unwell?’
He suppressed the flicker of concern he felt at the news.
‘She was a little abstracted at the theatre last night, but this morning, when I called to drive out with her, she sent a message to say she was indisposed. I trust whatever ailed Lady Fulwood was not catching.’
‘I think not. My godmother is getting old, though she normally refuses to admit it. She was tired, knocked up by all the activities she insists on undertaking. I just hope she is less energetic in Brighton!’
‘How is your nephew? When is the wedding?’
‘I don’t know. Major, can I have a quiet word with you?’
They found a quiet corner in the library, and Lord Dorney began to explain.
‘Alex is very unhappy at Felicity’s behaviour,’ he said. ‘And I fear it is because of your brother, who is paying far too particular attentions to her. She’s had her head turned of course, but does Frederick have any serious intentions towards her?’
‘My brother does not confide in me, any more than I in him,’ the Major said with a shrug. ‘But I doubt if he has any wish to marry, especially a girl as young as Felicity. He’s never shown the slightest inclination for the married state. I suspect it’s because he knows no woman will be able to love him as much as he loves himself.’
Lord Dorney gave a crack of laughter that had an elderly military gentleman snoozing in an armchair nearby glaring at him and muttering about inconsiderate young pups.
‘That’s an honest assessment,’ he said.
‘I’ve no illusions about him. He’ll leave me to carry on the family name, for he cares about that as little as he cares about the silly chits he plagues with his tedious verses.’
‘Are you planning to marry?’ Lord Dorney asked. ‘If so, I must give you my good wishes.’
‘Well, she hasn’t said yes yet, but I have hopes.’
‘May I guess? Mrs Ford?’
The Major frowned. ‘I somehow don’t think Mrs Ford and I would suit,’ he said curtly. ‘Now pray forgive me, I must be on my way. I’ll give Frederick a hint, but I can’t promise my opinion will influence his behaviour. It never has yet.’
He departed, and Lord Dorney sat staring after him. He’d been expecting an announcement of betrothal between the Major and Mrs Ford for weeks, and he was sure many other people had noticed the growing friendship between them. What had gone wrong? And if it wasn’t Mrs Ford, who else had the Major been interested in?
The answer hit him suddenly. Bella Trahearne. The Major had been planning to drive with her that very morning, and now he had thought of it he recalled seeing them together at every ball or assembly. They’d been to the theatre together only the previous evening. He stood up abruptly and began to pace the room, to the renewed irritation of the military gentleman. Surely Bella would not want to be married to a dry old stick like Major Ross? He might be only a year or so older than he was himself, but he behaved as if he were twice as old. He’d never been known to kick up a lark, or indulge in racing his curricle for a wager. She’d be bored to tears within weeks. But through his own stubbornness he had lost her, and it was all his own fault.
* * * *
Bella decided that Mary should search Miss Perkins’ room while she kept the lady occupied in the drawing room.
‘Jackson, you can keep watch on the back stairs and make sure Mary is not interrupted by any of the maids. And Mary, if you find the jewels, call Jackson in before you touch them, so that he can vouch for where they were. Then fetch me.’
Mary helped her to dress in a plain grey walking dress, which Bella said made her feel like the headmistress of a very stern seminary for delinquent girls, and arranged her hair in as severe a style as she could. Then she went down to the drawing room and sent the parlourmaid to ask Miss Perkins to join her.
Bella wondered if she imagined Miss Perkins’ slight wariness when she entered the room, but the woman smiled, brightly asked how she had enjoyed the play, and sat down with a piece of embroidery. She decided to attack without any warning.
‘Miss Perkins, I have discovered that some jewels of mine are missing. Do you know anything about them? You were in the house on your own last night and had every opportunity to search my bedroom.’
The woman paled and dropped her embroidery as she sprang to her feet.
‘Oh, how dare you! I thought you were an honest woman, but I see I was mistaken! How could you accuse me of such a thing? Me, the daughter of a clergyman, who has been brought up to respect truth and honesty above all things!’
Bella remained seated and tried to speak ca
lmly. ‘The jewels were there when the box was brought to this house. Did you try on some of my gowns last night?’ she asked, suddenly knowing why they had seemed creased. ‘Perhaps you wanted to see how the jewels looked with them?’
‘Oh, this is monstrous! I can’t stay here to be so insulted! I’m going to pack my bags and leave at once! And you can be sure I will inform the registry of your accusation, and warn them not to send anyone else here! It is no doubt your maid who has stolen them! If indeed any have been stolen and you are not simply making this up!’
‘Mary has been with me for some time, with ample opportunity for theft if she was so inclined. And she was out last night.’
‘Then the other servants here. You don’t know them. I think the parlourmaid has a very sly look about her.’
‘They were all together last night. They had no opportunity.’
There was a knock at the door and Mary, followed by Jackson, came into the room. Silently Mary held out one hand, and Bella saw the missing jewels. Mary then held out her other hand in which were a couple of pairs of kid gloves and an ornate ivory fan.
‘Those too?’ Bella asked. ‘Where were they?’
‘The fan was in a drawer underneath some shifts, and the jewels in a hollowed-out Bible,’ Mary said, her voice full of disgust.
Jackson held out the book, and as Bella made to take it Miss Perkins lunged forward and attempted to seize it.
‘That’s mine! I use it to keep my own jewelry safe! How dare you search my belongings!’
Bella waved her to be silent. ‘You clearly came prepared for anything you could find to steal. I wonder how many other of your employers you have robbed? Jackson, fetch the magistrate, please.’
Miss Perkins broke down then, throwing herself on the floor and grasping Bella’s ankles, moaning and wailing. ‘I’ve three children to provide for,’ she sobbed. ‘I’m a widow, and my husband left a mountain of debts! I’m trying to pay them off, to clear his name.’
‘By risking your own? You go about it in an odd way,’ Bella commented.
‘Oh, please, what will become of my little ones if I’m hanged or transported?’
‘Perhaps you should have thought of that first. Very well, pack your bags and leave this house within the hour. Mary, you and Jackson go with her and make sure she doesn’t have anything else which doesn’t belong to her.’
Bella saw that neither Mary nor Jackson approved of her leniency, but if it were true that three children depended on the woman, she could not bear to be the cause of their losing their mother. She would do without a companion, she decided. Let the polite world condemn her, she cared nothing for their opinion.
* * * *
On the following evening Bella went to a small concert at the home of a lady she had met only a week before. She knew several of the people there, but as soon as she walked into the room her attention was taken by the sight of Alexander Yates and Frederick Ross sitting either side of Felicity. Frederick was leaning back in his chair, his head flung back, and looking from half-closed eyes at Alexander, a smile playing over his lips. Felicity was clutching to her bosom a rolled sheet of paper, and casting worried glances from one man to the other. Alexander was talking urgently to her.
The trio of musicians began to tune their instruments, and Alexander, with a sigh of frustration, sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, closing his eyes and pursing his lips.
Felicity glanced at him, stretched out her hand as if to touch his arm, and then drew it back hurriedly as Frederick murmured something to her.
‘Hush!’ a woman sitting behind them said, just as the opening phrases of the music began.
Bella was sitting on a chair against one of the walls, and a moment after the music began a young man slid into the chair beside her, giving those round about an apologetic smile. When there was a break for refreshment he turned to Bella.
‘My apologies for my late arrival, ma’am. I trust I did not disturb your concentration?’
Bella had found the musicians less than perfect, their playing somewhat uninspired and she had detected several wrong notes. ‘It was of no importance,’ she replied.
He looked round. ‘May I escort you into the supper room? That is, if you are not engaged with anyone else.’
None of the men Bella knew had approached her, all of them apparently with ladies, so she smiled at the young man and nodded.
‘My name’s Lambert, ma’am. William Lambert, at your service.’
‘Bella Trahearne,’ she responded, and they moved towards the aisle between the rows of chairs.
Opposite them she saw Alexander hold out his arm to Felicity. Frederick Ross on her other side did the same, and the girl blushed, looking from one to the other in dismay.
‘Oh, please!’
Bella caught the whisper. Why does she not take both and make a joke of it, Bella thought, irritated with Felicity’s gaucheness. But she could hardly leave them in such a state of indecision. They were almost the last to leave the room apart from the musicians, who were stowing their instruments, and Alexander was looking as though he’d like to murder the older man. She halted, murmuring an excuse to her escort.
‘Felicity! Why don’t you join us? Alexander, Mr Ross, how good to see you. Do you know Mr Lambert?’
In a flurry of introductions she got them out of the room. Mr Lambert bustled away to find them a table, and Bella briskly sent off the other two men to fetch food and drink from the buffet.
‘Where is your sister?’ she asked. How did it happen that Felicity was here unchaperoned?
‘She couldn’t come. I came with Lady Shaw, but she developed a headache and she asked Alex to escort me home. She knew I was particularly anxious to hear the concert.’
Then she had as little discrimination in music as she did in men, Bella thought in disgust.
Should she say anything to Felicity? Yet what could she say apart from scold the girl about the way she was treating Alexander? She had no right to tell the child to behave herself, to stop being so taken in by a long-haired pseudo poet. Then she laughed softly. She had no idea whether Frederick’s poetry was good or bad. Not all men who scribbled verse were bad poets.
‘Something amuses you, Miss Trahearne?’
She looked at Mr Lambert and shook her head. ‘I have a feeling we have met somewhere,’ she said, wrinkling her brow. ‘Your voice, there is something familiar about it.’
‘Not my face or my figure?’ he asked in mock dismay. ‘I am sure I have not had the pleasure of meeting you. I could not have forgotten.’
Smooth, Bella thought, amused. She turned to direct the conversation with the others so that Alexander and Mr Ross did not come to blows, which, judging from Alexander’s expression, was what he would dearly love.
At the end of the concert she bade farewell to the attentive Mr Lambert, and saw with relief that Lady Andrews’ footman was waiting for Felicity. As she waited for Jackson and her own carriage, she watched Felicity being handed into hers, and Mr Ross walking away. Alexander stood watching him, then turned and strode off in the opposite direction. Bella breathed a sigh of relief. For the moment, there would be no bloodshed. And surely Alexander would cool down when he could think rationally.
* * * *
‘Lady Belstead and Mrs Ford,’ the butler announced the following morning.
Bella had been writing letters, but she laid down her pen and went to welcome her visitors.
‘Do come in. Will you take tea, or would something cold be more welcome? It’s a very hot day.’
‘Tea will be refreshing,’ Lady Belstead replied, and until the tray had been brought and the tea made and poured, they spoke of trivialities.
Lady Belstead sipped the tea, and then put down the cup.
‘My dear Miss Trahearne, I’m fully aware that you will consider I take an unwarranted liberty in speaking to you, but I have a great regard for Lady Fulwood, and I know she would be saying the same if she were here. It will not do.’
‘Your living here alone. Young ladies of good family cannot set themselves up in their own houses, without an older lady to give them countenance. It looks most peculiar.’
‘Lady Belstead, I appreciate your concern, but I did have a companion.’
‘A hired woman you did not know, and for whom I doubt you had a character. And you dismissed her within a day or so when she stole from you. That will merely convince people that you did not properly consider what you were doing.’
‘I’m not sure how my business comes to be common knowledge,’ Bella said curtly, reining in her temper with an immense effort. How dare these women come and chastise her as though she were a schoolgirl? The fact that she had been taken in by Miss Perkins simply added to her sense of outrage.
Lady Belstead smiled, and shook her head. ‘Not common knowledge, yet,’ she said. ‘But I can assure you it soon will be.’
‘Your groom patronizes the same drinking tavern as my footman,’ Mrs Ford said gently. ‘Knowing you had been staying with Lady Fulwood, he was interested He told my maid and she told me.’
‘Servants’ gossip! It’s none of their business to criticize me,’ Bella exclaimed. Nor is it yours, was the unspoken thought, and she knew the ladies had recognized it.
‘I can understand your desire to remain in London for the rest of the Season,’ Mrs Ford said. ‘And you are an independent young lady who can afford to do whatever you wish. However, you will be ostracized by most people if you continue in this way.’
‘Pray reconsider, and come to stay with us,’ Lady Belstead added. ‘We can put it about that your chaperone had to leave suddenly for family reasons, and you were suddenly left unsupported. If you move to my house today or tomorrow your reputation will not suffer.’
‘Thank you, Lady Belstead, for your kind offer, but I cannot put you to that inconvenience. I may be leaving London in a few days, and the upheaval of packing twice would be too great an inconvenience.’
And I will look after my own reputation, she thought silently. She knew that people of great wealth, as she was, could be forgiven much that would be condemned in lesser mortals. She would be the eccentric Miss Trahearne.