An Earl’s Agreement

by Joyce Alec

  “That would be wonderful, Lord Swinford. We shall see you after luncheon,” Henrietta accepted for both of them. She smiled as she saw Amelia's cheeks and décolletage flush with redness.

  The men left the room, and Bartley looked particularly pleased.

  “You are not so immune to his charms, as you'd like me to think, Amelia,” Henrietta teased.

  “I really don't know what you mean, Henrietta. Shall we wait for them to leave before we look upstairs?” Lady Amelia went to the window.

  It was her first view of the city in daylight, and while there was something romantic about snowfall and the silence it brought, now all she saw was the dirty slush on the road. It would make walking impossible. However, she was quite taken by the sounds of the city. The hustle and bustle of the street traders. At home, there was birdsong, whereas now, it was the sound of people going about their business.

  “I must write to Papa and tell him all is well. I shall see you shortly, Amelia,” Henrietta left Amelia alone.

  Amelia was alerted to the sound of a whisper. What was it? She turned around to see Bartley standing at the doorway.

  “Lady Amelia, please do not be alarmed,” he said as Amelia was very aware of being alone in his company. “I just wanted to say that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I will not get the opportunity to declare my love when we are in company. You have stolen my heart,” he leaned forward in an effort to continuing whispering, but Amelia stepped backward.

  “My Lord, have you taken leave of your senses? Please step back. We have only just met; it is not possible that you can have that depth of feeling towards me. Especially when I have not reciprocated any such feelings,” Amelia was rather alarmed by his ardor.

  “My apologies, my lady, I did not mean to cause you alarm. It is just when Venus herself stands before me, what is a mere mortal supposed to do?”

  “Ahem. Do you need anything, m’lady?” Andrews announced himself as the earl quickly bid Amelia farewell.

  “I shall join Lady Henrietta shortly, Andrews. Actually, we may need your assistance. We wish to explore the duchess's quarters.”

  “I would advise against it, m’lady. His Grace has not said it may be occupied,” Andrews said.

  “It is not my decision, Andrews. Discuss your concerns with Lady Henrietta. I shall be along shortly.”

  Alone again, Lady Amelia couldn't help but smile as she watched the earl leave the townhouse. She watched his footprints left in the snow. He looked up at the window and blew a kiss, but she stepped back, not wanting to encourage him. However, she had to admit she was very flattered by his attention. Despite her best efforts, a giggle escaped. As Lady Amelia Harrington, she was of excellent breeding. Her father, the Marquess of Stannington, had been trying to encourage her to marry, but she didn't trust the suitors who showed an interest in her. Even though they declared their love, Amelia knew they were more interested in her money and her father’s title. While she pretended not to be romantic, she really did want to fall in love. Amelia believed that people confused infatuation with love, and she suspected this to be the case with Henrietta and the duke. Their courtship was very brief, and Amelia did not believe one could fall in love so quickly.

  Doing her best to recover her composure, Amelia made her way upstairs. She could hear Henrietta giving orders to Andrews. As the soon-to-be Duchess, Amelia believed she should have full access to the house. Suitably admonished, Andrews agreed to help.

  “Look, Amelia. Isn't it the most beautiful room,” Henrietta exclaimed as Mary, her lady's maid, opened the shutters, and the sunlight flooded the room.

  Amelia looked around the room. It was exquisitely decorated. The fireplace was ornate, and the gilded mirrors allowed the light to bounce around.

  “It is so beautiful. Mary, tell the maid to prepare this room for me. I wish to sleep here tonight.”

  Andrews' eyebrows looked like as if they were about to jump off his forehead. Amelia had to admit to feeling as if Henrietta’s behavior was inappropriate. While it wasn't long until she would be the duchess of the house, she was still a guest.

  “Are you quite sure of that decision, Henrietta? Surely you should discuss this with John. It is still his house, after all,” Lady Amelia shivered as a draft rushed through the room.

  “Amelia, you of all people! Like you ever asked permission to do anything. John will understand.”

  Henrietta's mind was quite made up, “As the room is being prepared, let’s sit by the fire in the study.”

  The fireplace radiated warmth as the women enjoyed its comfort. Henrietta questioned Amelia about her feelings towards Bartley.

  “We have our carriage ride in Hyde Park later, but I may feign a headache, and Lucille can act as chaperone,” said Henrietta, who was working up a plan in her mind.

  “Please do not do such a thing, Henrietta. I have no wish to be alone with the earl. Promise me,” Amelia knew that once Lady Henrietta was scheming, nothing was going to stop her.

  Henrietta wanted a match between Bartley and Amelia, and this would be the perfect opportunity for a romance to develop. Christmas lent itself to romance, Henrietta thought to herself.

  Henrietta's new quarters were ready for occupation. She insisted that she and Amelia have tea in the room.

  “We must make ourselves comfortable. This is essentially my house now,” she told the skeptical Amelia.

  “M’lady, the Earl of Swinford has arrived. He said you were expecting him,” Andrews announced.

  “Yes, you must go, Amelia.” Henrietta turned to Andrews, “Do tell his Lordship that I am unwell, and it will just be Lady Amelia and her lady's maid.”

  “Very well, m’lady.”

  “No, you promised me,” Amelia said as she became very flustered at the thought of being alone in the earl's company, much to Henrietta's amusement.

  “You will be fine. Enjoy yourself,” said Henrietta, as she embraced her friend and kissed her on the cheek. “Do be kind to him. He is my future husband’s cousin, after all.”

  Amelia smiled and left the room to meet Bartley.

  With time to herself, Henrietta took delight in her new surroundings. The dressing table was intricately carved with roses trailing up the leg. The mirror was crafted from silver with the same rose pattern. The furniture was made from walnut, and the sofa and chaise were covered the same blue upholstery.

  “I wonder if this room has any secrets,” Henrietta said aloud, as she examined everything the room had to offer.

  Chapter Three

  Much to John's dismay, Lady Henrietta didn't want to leave her room. It was with great effort that she attended dinner. She was right; he didn't mind one bit that she had changed rooms.

  “There's just something very soothing about the bedroom. I do believe I could stay there forever,” she exclaimed at dinner.

  “You can change anything you want. It is your home now,” John told her.

  “Well, perhaps there are some things I would like to change, but not the room. It is perfect,” Lady Henrietta grinned like a Cheshire cat from the freedom she was just awarded to redecorate anything she wanted. She turned to Amelia and inquired about her carriage ride with Bartley.

  Amelia found it very difficult to hide her discomfort, and her cheeks had failed to return to their normal color.

  Not wanting to speak ill of the duke’s cousin, Amelia chose her words carefully, “The carriage ride was lovely. Lord Swinford was right; London is beautiful at Christmastime. Lord Swinford was—”

  “…charming, handsome, sincere in his feelings,” Henrietta chuckled as she finished Amelia’s sentence.

  Amelia smiled, “I was going to say, Lord Swinford was an excellent host.” She paused, then continued, “I have never known a man to declare his love so…vehemently. I suspect he is trying to throw me off course by pretending not to know who I am,” she said with a hint of disappointment.

  “Lady Amelia, I have not revealed your heritage to my cousin, if tha
t is your concern. He is as sincere as they come. There are no hidden agendas with him. On that count, you can be assured,” John answered.

  Henrietta offered, “I have only discussed you in terms of your beauty and grace, Amelia. The fact you are a marquess's daughter has not been mentioned by me either. I know you want someone to fall in love with you, not your position. So, what do you think of him? I do so hope you give Lord Swinford a chance.”

  Amelia brought her finger to her mouth, in a motion to warn Henrietta to be quiet. She didn’t want to engage in any sort of gossip in front of the duke.

  Henrietta waved her off, “Do not deny it. We have been friends for too long, and I can see it in your eyes. You enjoyed the carriage ride,” Henrietta said.

  Amelia was quiet. It was rather wonderful to have a man declare his love. She didn't like being suspicious of his intentions, but it was her nature to be cautious. Perhaps tomorrow she would behave more favorably towards Bartley now that she was certain that his admissions of love were for her, and not her position, but how could he really love her?

  “I am feeling rather tired. Do you mind if we postpone our card game until tomorrow, dear Henrietta? It seems I have much to think about,” Lady Amelia said as they finished dinner.

  The lack of sleep from the night before was catching up with her.

  “Not at all, Amelia. We shall meet in the morning for breakfast and make a plan of action with regards to the earl.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes at her friend while smiling.

  Lady Henrietta was feeling very happy as she retired to her room. Things were working out beautifully. In a few days, she would be the Duchess of Kentonville, and perhaps another wedding in the Springtime was on the cards. She was waiting for her maid, Mary, to return, but as she sat in her chair, she thought about the last duchess who never got to see the room in all its splendor.

  The light of the lamp was playing a strange game with Lady Henrietta's mind. The reflection of light in the mirror was mesmerizing, and then she noticed how it bounced off the other mirror. Henrietta thought it was odd to position two mirrors across from each other.

  As she stared at the mirror in front of her, she could make out the strangest shape in the mirror behind her.

  “I wonder…” she said as she turned to the mirror behind her. There was a pattern carved into the beautiful walnut wood that framed the mirror. The light from the oil lamp highlighted the intricacies of the carvings, and Henrietta couldn’t help but touch them to examine their fine detail.

  ***

  “M’lady, I can't open the door,” Mary knocked on her mistress's door, but there was no reply.

  As Lucille helped Lady Amelia change, they could hear Mary's pleas.

  “Mary, please go find out why Lucille is so upset. Whatever is the matter with her?” As Lucille opened the door, Mary came rushing in.

  “Begging your pardon, m’lady, but I can't open the door to Lady Henrietta’s bedroom. I have called out to her, but there is no reply. It's locked, but that cannot be as the key is on the outside. m’lady was expecting me,” Mary said in one breath.

  “Lucille, call for Andrews and His Grace. We need some man power. Mary, you come with me,” Lady Amelia's heart was racing. Whatever renovations had been carried out must have interfered with the door, causing it to stick.

  Andrews put his shoulder to the door, trying to push it open.

  “Take care, Andrews, the door may open suddenly, and you will fall through,” Amelia warned him as John came running, his worried face gaunt in the light.

  Then as Lady Amelia had warned, the door opened, and Andrews fell to the floor.

  “Andrews, are you all right?” asked John as he offered his hand to help Andrews up.

  “Henrietta, where are you?” Amelia called out.

  With only their lamps for light, John began to panic and frantically ran from corner to corner of the room.

  There was no sign of Lady Henrietta anywhere. She was gone.

  “But how can this be? Andrews, you must send someone to fetch an inspector at Scotland Yard,” ordered John, who continued to search every corner of the room. “Did someone break in? I don’t understand where she could have gone,” John said with worry in his voice.

  “She didn't need to go anywhere. She was quite content to stay here,” Lady Amelia was trying to remain calm. There was enough panic in the room.

  She looked around. Nothing seemed out of place other than the fact the room had been plunged into darkness when they opened the door. Lady Henrietta would not have turned out the lights. She had been afraid of the dark since they were children and always had a light source. The curtains weren't even open to let the moonlight in. Something bad had happened.

  Andrews lit the oil lamps around the room, so they would not remain in the dark.

  Amelia believed she was in a real-life mystery. She was an avid reader with a particular fondness for mysteries, but there was no joy in this situation. Henrietta was missing, and Amelia was frightfully worried. Poor John was not going to be easily calmed.

  “Perhaps we should convene to the living room? I am sure the police do not wish us to crowd the room. Perhaps one of the footmen could stay by the door while we wait for the police to arrive. In the meantime, let’s recruit the help of every servant to search the house,” Amelia said to John. The duke nodded in approval.

  ***

  The police arrived, and a tired looking man, Inspector Grimshaw, seemed to be suspicious of John immediately. Amelia noticed the way the inspector was quizzing John on his whereabouts, and who had seen him. Why the need to visit London? Question after question as though John had some hand in his fiancée’s disappearance.

  “Lady Amelia Harrington, your bedroom is across the corridor from Lady Henrietta's room. Is this correct?” When Amelia nodded in confirmation, Inspector Grimshaw continued, “It seems strange that you did not hear anything out of the ordinary.” His eyes were piercing as he looked in her direction.

  “No one entered her room; that much is for sure. I wonder, Inspector, if you would rather spend your time searching for His Grace's fiancée rather than lingering here asking us useless questions,” Amelia’s tone was harsh, but still polite. “She may even have been kidnapped. Perhaps you should consider that rather than accuse the duke of wrongdoing.”

  “I can assure you that every available man is searching for Her Ladyship, but the window does not appear to have been breached. If no one entered from the hallway, then you can see, perhaps, the reason for my questions. I am anxious to return Lady Henrietta Blythe to you. Now, if you’ll please excuse me,” said the Inspector. “Bloody toffs, think we've nothing better to do before Christmas than to go on a wild goose chase,” he muttered under his breath as he left the group alone.

  “Your Grace, there’s a gentleman at the door saying he's the Earl of Swinford,” another policeman had come through to the living room much to the Inspector's annoyance.

  “Yes, he is my cousin. Thank you, constable,” said John as Amelia went to greet Bartley.

  “Whatever has happened? My business ran later than planned. Why so many police? They wouldn't tell me what transpired.” Bartley looked around the room, “Where is Lady Henrietta?”

  “Lady Henrietta has gone missing from her bedroom,” Amelia said.

  “Oh, poor John. And their wedding is in just a few days. This cannot be happening,” said Bartley. “Lady Amelia, are you quite well? Did you see anything?”

  Amelia didn’t answer, and her face suddenly lost its color, as she began to lose her balance. Bartley caught her in his arms just before she melted into the floor.

  “Lady Amelia! Andrews, get the smelling salts,” Bartley had her in his arms and gently placed her on the chaise.

  “Lady Amelia, please come back to me,” he waved smelling salts under her nose.

  Amelia began to respond, and her eyelids fluttered.

  “You've had a big fright tonight. I'm here now, and I will take care of ev
erything,” he said reassuringly.

  Amelia couldn't help but smile up at him. She admired a man who would take charge and not collapse at the slightest panic.

  The inspector returned, and spoke directly to the duke.

  “Your Grace, I'm afraid there is no sign of Lady Henrietta anywhere on the streets or around the house. The snow would have revealed footprints, but there is nothing on the ground near Lady Henrietta’s window. I have called the search off until daylight, so we can further examine her room and the surrounding area in more detail.” The inspector paused and carefully considered his next words, “Are you sure she wasn't in any way distressed? She still wanted to go through with the wedding?”

  “Inspector, how dare you imply such a thing? Remember who you are speaking to,” said Amelia, who was incensed by inspector’s audacity to say such things to a duke.

  “The inspector has to ask uncomfortable questions. Let him do his job,” Bartley counseled before continuing, “Inspector, have you any objections to us staying in the house?”

  The inspector shook his head. There was no reason for them to leave, but he would leave some policemen in the house and outside for protection.

  Amelia had to admit she had a new admiration for Bartley. His easygoing nature allowed him to take charge, without seeming forceful. Even though John outranked Bartley, the inspector was more deferential towards the earl.

  John was distraught, as was expected. The duke’s reaction had Amelia believing that his feelings towards Henrietta were love, and not just infatuation. Amelia felt bad for John; he hadn't even married Lady Henrietta, and now gossip would be rife about what happened. The truth would not matter. It was a mistake to come here, but Henrietta just had to have her way.