‘Leaving aside Lord Glynde, was there anyone else whom Annabel favoured?’ Jemima asked.
‘Hardly. Annabel was convinced that all the gentlemen were bewitched by her.’ Fiona snorted. ‘They were too, even though she seldom spoke two sensible words in succession.’ Fiona flapped a hand. ‘Take no notice of me. I am talking of your sister in the past tense and I apologise. I’m sure she is still very much alive. It probably sounds as though I am being catty but I can assure you I am not. We cannot all be raving beauties and some gentlemen prefer a lady with whom they can conduct an intelligent conversation.’ Fiona’s plain face lit up, leading Jemima to suppose that she had met such a man. ‘Anyway, it is a relief to express my views to someone who will not mistake them for jealous spite. Annabel could be…I mean is, very good company when she puts her mind to it. But if anyone crosses her, denies her anything that she wants, then heaven help them.’
Jemima glanced out of the window, taking a moment to digest Fiona’s candidly expressed view, wondering why she had not voiced it to those looking for her supposed friend. Jemima was seeing an aspect of Fiona’s character that she had not displayed in public before. It was clear that she saw through Annabel’s giddy and guileless behaviour to the calculating and determined creature that lurked just beneath the attractive surface. Fiona’s mind was sharper than Jemima had given her credit for. She was level-headed and pragmatic, able to think the situation through analytically—and Jemima already liked her more as a result of that discovery.
‘So, you consider that Annabel had formed an attachment to a man who would not meet with my mother’s approval? Someone other than Lord Glynde.’
Fiona allowed herself a small smile. ‘You know your sister’s character better than I do, and do not approve of her vanity either.’
Jemima lifted one shoulder. ‘She has been fussed over and admired since the cradle. I suppose one cannot blame her for her for believing that she stands out in a crowd. After all, she does.’
Fiona stared pointedly at Jemima and refrained from comment, compelling Jemima to greater transparency. She sensed that it would be the only way to encourage a responding candidness from Fiona. She knew more than she had thus far said and required assurances regarding Jemima’s complicity before she told what she knew.
‘Her character is far from sweet, as you seem to be aware,’ Jemima conceded. ‘Annabel is spoiled and indulged, accustomed to having her own way in everything. If she has met a man who either does not return her regard or who she knows would not meet with parental approval, it is easy to imagine that she would want to pursue that interest.’ Jemima leaned back on her elbow, her pose relaxed and contemplative. ‘But eloping with him…spoiling her reputation and losing the opportunity to shine within society’s ranks.’ Jemima shook her head. ‘Somehow I can’t imagine her going that far. Unless, of course, the gentleman in question was wealthy in his own right and not English.’ She case a considering look Fiona’s way. ‘Am I right?’
‘I think so,’ Fiona said slowly. ‘She said very little on the matter to me. She said it was better if I didn’t know but from one or two snippets that she let slip—’
Jemima allowed herself a wry smile. ‘Annabel is almost incapable of keeping a secret.’
‘Well, she kept this one, but for the odd slip of the tongue. However, I do think the gentleman was from foreign parts. She mentioned the New World—’
Jemima’s body jerked upright. ‘America?’
It was Fiona’s turn to shrug. ‘Hardly new anymore.’
Even so, Jemima felt a surge of excitement, conscious of the fact that she had discovered something significant. The man who had captured Annabel’s interest could only be the loquacious Irishman, Quinn, now resident in Boston. Proving it, of course, would be another matter entirely. Besides, there was also the question of Fiona’s reliability. She admitted that she didn’t know the man’s actual identity, or even that he existed. She had also shown her resentment of Annabel, which Jemima couldn’t blame her for. Especially if Annabel had taken advantage of Fiona’s loyal friendship, using it as cover to make clandestine arrangements to elope with Quinn.
‘Anyway,’ Fiona said with an exaggerated sigh, ‘Annabel seemed very pleased with herself, so it stands to reason that a gentleman must have been responsible for her felicity.’
‘Why are you so friendly with Annabel?’ Jemima asked. ‘It’s clear to me that you don’t have a high opinion of her, so I cannot help wondering…’
‘Why someone of my ilk would spare her the time of day.’ Fiona shrugged. ‘I have often asked myself the same question, although I should have thought that the answer would be obvious to you.’
‘If it was, I would not have asked.’
‘Well then, I will try to make myself plain. Not that much effort will be required in that area. I am plain, and easily overlooked.’
‘There are a lot of plain girls in society and they don’t find it necessary to forge faux friendships in order to find their way.’
‘It’s easy for you to criticise,’ Fiona replied, an edge to her voice. ‘But I am plain and don’t have much by way of a dowry in order to make potential husbands overlook that unfortunate fact of nature.’
‘Ah, now I understand.’ Jemima nodded and wished she had not raised the subject. ‘Being friendly with Annabel ensured your inclusion in the most popular circles.’
‘Precisely.’ She spread her hands. ‘Pathetic, is it not? Well, I expect you think so, but you seem content to remain unmarried. I, on the other hand, am an only child and it is my mother’s dearest wish to see me well married. Mine too, for that matter. Single women are looked upon as objects of pity and I cannot abide being pitied.’
‘One becomes accustomed to it,’ Jemima said softly.
‘Well, at least being constantly in Annabel’s company meant that her disappointed suitors attached themselves to me, if only to lament their lack of progress with her or in an effort to have me promote their causes. I sympathised with them all and hoped that if they got to know me better then one of them might come to appreciate my less obvious attributes, such as they are.’ She lifted a shoulder. ‘As I say, pathetic, especially since I was well aware that Annabel only befriended me because I represented no competition to her ambitions and because she assumed I would be grateful.’
‘And because most of the other young women preferred to avoid her.’
‘That too. No one else could shine if they were in the same group as Annabel. She made sure of that.’
A maid tapped at the door and put her head round it.
‘Your pardon, miss, but Miss Aitken is needed downstairs urgently.’
Jemima jumped up, shared a look with Fiona and the two of them made their way downstairs. Olivia was in the hall, waiting to leave.
‘A message from Jake,’ she explained. ‘We are needed at once.’
The took hasty leave of Lady Farrell and her daughter, promising to let them know if there was any news of the fugitive.
*
‘What the devil…’ Ros hovered behind Jake as he leaned over Annabel, checking to see if she was still alive.
‘She’s breathing, but erratically and her pulse is weak.’ He sent Ros a worried look. ‘Send a boy for a doctor. My doctor.’ He reeled off his name and address. ‘We can depend upon his discretion. Send another to Grosvenor Square and have Parker brought here. Quick!’ There was an urgent edge to his voice ‘Every second counts.’
‘Right!’
Ros sprang into action and carried out Jake’s orders. Having sent his messengers on their way he returned to his rooms and found Jake attempting to shake Annabel awake.
‘How did she get here? What’s wrong with her?’
‘Someone is trying to force your father’s hand. Or yours,’ Jake replied grimly. ‘As to what’s wrong with her, I’ll wager she’s been poisoned.’ He felt her forehead and then pulled back one of her eyelids to examine her pupils, which were
dilated. ‘She has a fever and her muscles are twitching. She’s also muttering.’ He leaned in and smelled her breath. ‘Almonds,’ he said, his features taut with concern. ‘It’s arsenic.’
Ros swallowed down his fears and pushed the demand for explanations to the back of his mind. ‘What can we do for her?’ he asked curtly.
‘I dealt with a case of poisoning once before and I seem to recall that we tried to wake the victim and make him sick.’ Jake looked disconcertingly unsure of himself, which further unsettled Ros. Jake was never anything other than cool and competent in a crisis. ‘In the absence of a better suggestion, I suppose we should try that now. We must do something. If she goes into a coma then she will be beyond our help.’
Ros ground his jaw. ‘She will die in my bed.’
‘Precisely. You are usually at Westminster all day. Had we not called in when we did, it would have been too late for her. It might already be. Help me to get her to her feet. Annabel.’ Jake gently slapped her face and she mumbled incoherently. ’Annabel, can you hear me? You have to get up.’
She continued to mutter, clearly incapable of hearing what was being said to her. Jake and Ros pulled her to her feet between them, but her legs gave way beneath her. Ros sent Jake a helpless look.
‘What do we do now?’ he asked.
‘I have absolutely no idea. Let’s pray that the doctor gets here quickly. In the meantime, keep talking to her. Keep shaking her. Something might…’
A combination of a groan and a cry escaped Annabel’s lips moments before she vomited all over Ros’s boots. And then again over his bed.
‘That’s my girl,’ Jake said encouragingly.
But Annabel, clearly still delirious, didn’t hear the praise.
‘Sorry about your boots,’ Jake said, wrinkling his nose at the smell, ‘but with great good fortune, spewing will have saved her life.’
‘Because we woke her and made her move?’
Jake shrugged. ‘I would imagine so.’
‘Then a decent pair of boots is a small price to pay.’
‘Let’s hope that’s all this sorry business costs you.’
They kept walking Annabel up and down, supporting her as she lapsed in and out of consciousness. It seemed like an eternity before a commotion heralded the arrival of Parker, who took in the scene at a glance.
‘Blimey,’ he said calmly. ‘Doctor’s just pulled up outside.’
‘Show him in, then send someone round to Lady Farrell’s to have Olivia and Miss Aitken return here.’
Parker went off to do as he was asked. Jake’s doctor was calm and competent. He pulled back the girl’s eyelids, checked her breathing and heart rate and confirmed Jake’s diagnosis of arsenic poisoning.
‘Fed to her over a period of days, is my guess,’ he said, continuing his examination of the unconscious girl. ‘She has vomited, which gives us hope.’
‘What can you do for her?’ Jake asked.
‘Precious little until she regains consciousness.’ He gave a significant pause. ‘If she does. When that situation occurs, she must drink copious amounts of water and wash the poison out of her system. She will have stomach cramps and feel terrible for several days, but that is a vast improvement upon the alternative, I can assure you.’
‘Should we keep walking her?’ Ros asked.
‘No point. Put her back to bed, wait and hope.’ The doctor closed his bag. ‘Sorry I am not able to do more.’
‘You have reassured us,’ Jake replied, shaking the man’s hand. ‘Can she be moved?’
The doctor thought for a moment, appeared to understand the delicacy of the situation and nodded. ‘As far as Grosvenor Square perhaps. Shall I call there to check upon her progress tomorrow?’
‘If you would.’
Parker removed the soiled bedding and found fresh sheets from somewhere. Ros marvelled at the swift efficiency with which he remade the bed. The man’s talents appeared endless. Annabel was, incongruously, still wearing her shoes. Ros removed them and Jake lifted her between the fresh sheets. Ros removed his own boots, threw them outside the door to join the soiled linen Parker had placed there and the odour in the room immediately improved.
‘What’s to do, Jake?’ Ros asked, scratching his head as the two men watched the young woman tossing and turning, mumbling but not opening her eyes.
‘That is precisely what I would like to know. Presumably whoever did this saw your landlady leave to attend a confinement and took advantage of the vacant house to break in and leave your uninvited guest.’
Ros shrugged. ‘Possibly,’ he conceded.
‘There are no servants in the house?’
‘A girl comes in early each day, I believe, but Mrs Gaunt is the only person who enters these rooms, and then only when I or my man are here. I insist upon that. I sometimes have sensitive papers here that I bring home to read, you see. Can’t have just anyone wandering in and out.’
‘Well, there you are then. Annabel was supposed to die in your bed and, in return for your co-operation, she would then disappear with no blame attaching to you.’
‘It must be my father’s arm they are attempting to twist,’ Ros said, rubbing his chin in a contemplative manner as he endeavoured to tamp down his anger at the depths the radicals were prepared to stoop to in order to get their way. Angry people did not make rational decisions. ‘If it was my cooperation they were trying to force, there would be nothing to prevent me from agreeing to put my weight behind their cause at Westminster and then reneging the moment Annabel was removed from my rooms. Besides, I am not a member of parliament.’
‘But you could influence Aitken. He relies on your opinion.’
‘Perhaps, but he also has to toe the party line.’
‘Maybe others in positions of influence are being leaned upon too.’
‘God, I hope not! How many young women can they abduct?’
‘Let’s hope we never have to find out.’ Jake stretched his arms above his head and sighed. ‘Even so, I suspect you are right and it is your father they are attempting to strongarm through you. Parker, have people keep a discreet watch on this house.’
‘Already done.’
‘Of course it is. The perpetrators won’t be watching it now, I don’t suppose, because they won’t be expecting Ros to return until the end of the day. By which time,’ Jake added with a dour look, ‘Annabel would most assuredly have been dead. I suspect it is only our having made her stand that caused her to momentarily regain her senses and vomit that saved her life. Anyway, they will have to be around when you return and discover the horrible scene, just so that they can put their terms.’
‘How could they be sure that Mrs Gaunt would not return first and find her?’
‘I suspect that the requirement for Mrs Gaunt’s services was bogus. She has been sent, probably to the other side of London, on a fools’ errand and will be prevented from returning home until they are ready to permit it.’
‘Then perhaps I shall be seen returning at the appropriate time so that we can see what they have to say for themselves.’
‘Sorry,’ Parker said, having just received word from one of the men watching the house. ‘I hear tell there was a cove watching already but he saw the doctor arrive and scarpered.’
‘Damnation!’ Jake strode the length of the room in a state of considerable agitation. ‘That means we have lost the advantage for now.’
‘Will they have…will she have been…?’ Ros nodded towards Annabel.
‘I’m afraid it’s very likely,’ Jake replied with a grim nod, ‘just in case you failed to co-operate. And then, not only would a young woman who’d taken a liking to you in public be found dead in your bed, but the post-mortem would also reveal that she had lost her virtue. Your career and reputation would be in tatters.’
A commotion heralded the arrival of Olivia and Jemima. Jemima gasped and fell upon her sister, holding her hand in hers but remaining commendably calm as
she and Olivia listened to Jake’s explanation.
‘You saved her life,’ Jemima said softly, touching her sister’s brow but fixing a suspicious gaze upon Ros. Surely she couldn’t imagine that he had…
Clearly she did. Ros shook his head in denial, disappointed by her willingness to stand quite so rapidly in judgement of him. The rest of society wouldn’t hesitate to condemn him, were the facts known to them, but he had thought Jemima more enlightened than that. But there again, it was her sister they were discussing and even though Jemima had given him the impression that they were not close, he was well aware that in times of crisis blood inevitably proved to be thicker than water.
‘We were lucky,’ he replied. ‘Besides, she isn’t out of the woods yet.’
‘We ought to call Mama,’ Jemima said. ‘She will want to be here.’
‘Better not,’ Jake replied. ‘I cannot persuade myself that she possesses your presence of mind. But your father must be summoned. See to it, if you please, Parker. Discreetly. Have him come to Grosvenor Square.’
‘I’ll go myself.’
‘Poor Annabel,’ Jemima said softly as the door closed behind Parker. ‘She has been duped…used in the worst possible way.’ She went on to reveal all that Miss Farrell had told her. ‘There can be little doubt that Quinn must be behind her abduction, and has engineered this cruel attempt to sacrifice her in pursuit of his ambitions.’
She shared a baleful glance with Jake and Ros. Ros experienced great sympathy for her but also unmitigated relief because it was clear that her initial shock had worn off and she had already revised her opinion regarding his complicity in Annabel’s abduction.
‘But how will we ever prove it?’ she asked, reserving her entreating look solely for Ros on this occasion.
Elegance and Grace Page 10
