The Lady And The Man Of Fortune: A Wicked Secret: The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 3

by Penelope Redmont

  She'd hoped that the salacious story would never come out. But what if it did? What if Wallwood came back to town, and told all his friends what she had done? Not only would Eva's season be ruined, but it would harm Henry as well. And if Henry had it right, that Lord Delmere had issued Wallwood a challenge…

  She cleared her throat. "Very well, ma'am, thank you for your kind invitation. We will join you at Peyton Park."

  "Thank you. You will save my foolish son from himself in more ways than one. Whatever do you mean, ma'am, by allowing a friendship to grow between your ward, and Miss Wentworth?"

  "Miss Bywater is not my ward, and —"

  "The silly chit's under your guardianship, whether you admit it or no," Lady Tertsville glared at her and paused, to allow the full weight of her displeasure to sink in. "And I hear that young Talverne is making a show of himself, running around after the Wentworth chit. But rather than being satisfied with him, Miss Wentworth has fastened onto my son."

  She paused, and sighed. "Nick doesn't want to marry again. He won't, but you know how these gold-diggers operate — I have no doubt that Mrs. Wentworth will ensure that Nick finds himself having compromised the chit. He won't marry her no matter what happens, but it will cause gossip, and I won't have it."

  Anne took a deep breath. She knew that Lady Tertsville had a right be angry. Henry had told Anne that Mrs. Wentworth and Belinda put themselves everywhere that they felt Lord Delmere might be. He was a gentleman, so he was kind to them, but he must be aware of the growing gossip too.

  Indeed, Henry had said Mrs. Wentworth went about telling everyone that she was in expectation of an offer from Lord Delmere, because he was overcome with admiration of her chick.

  Apparently Lady Tertsville blamed Anne for that disaster. Anne felt more than a little cross with Eva. If she didn't know better, she would have thought that Eva had engineered the situation specifically to annoy her.

  "I have no control over Miss Wentworth," Anne said stiffly.

  "She met Nick at your house ma'am — I wish that Catherine would come back to town. She'd soon set Miss Bywater on her heels. Well, never mind. You're doing the best you can I suppose. You were married to Kingston, a wretch if ever there was one — your father has a lot to answer for. But I mustn't speak ill of the dead. Get along with you now, and I'll see you and your charges at Peyton Park."

  With that, Anne had her dismissal, so now she and Henry, Lady Jane and Eva, and the Wentworth trio, were all at Peyton Park.

  Anne was recalled to where she was when her maid entered the sitting room from Anne's bedroom.

  "Ma'am," Marie said and curtsied. "Everything's unpacked, so if you'd like me to send for a bath?"

  Anne nodded. "Thank you, Marie. Henry, tell Barbara that you're to wear the pale yellow silk, with your pearls, at dinner tonight. Now go along to your rooms and prepare for this evening."

  Henry left without argument. Anne knew that it would take time for her bath to be organized, so she left her rooms and asked Thomas to show her to the long gallery.

  Lady Tertsville, in an effort to be kind, had told her that she must see the reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry, which hung in the long gallery at Peyton Park. "I know that you're interested in stitchery. Angarad's always boasting about your skills. Nick commissioned the embroidery as a birthday present for me, because I've long admired it."

  Of course she had never seen the original tapestry, but Anne found herself engrossed in the reproduction. She touched the stitches gently, wondering how many embroiderers had been involved in creating this charming commission.

  "Lady Kingston."

  Anne looked up at the sound of Delmere's deep voice. The gallery was carpeted, and she hadn't heard his step. For a tall man, he moved lightly. Her heart jumped, and when she smiled, she realized that she'd been looking forward to seeing him again. "My lord. Your mother told me of the tapestry. I had to see it."

  "I'm glad that you could come. We're hunting tomorrow. Miss Eardley tells me that you enjoy hunting."

  "I do, but for one reason and another, I've not hunted seriously in years." She hadn't had the opportunity when she was married to Kingston. He wouldn't allow it. Then, when she returned to her family home at Gostwicke Hall, it was as if a dark cloud hung over her. She'd refused Melly's offers of hunters for the season even after her year of mourning was over. She had even refused to ride in the Boxing Day Hunt, which was an Eardley tradition.

  She realized that she'd been punishing herself, and didn't know why. She had done her best with her marriage, but no matter what she did, Kingston had not been happy with her. It was long past time to stop rehashing the past. It was done.

  "Thank you," she told Delmere. "I look forward to the hunt." Henry had insisted that she pack two riding habits.

  Delmere kept pace with her, as she admired the tapestry. He told her that although he'd chosen three hunters for her, she could command any of his hunters and hacks while she was at Peyton Park.

  "What do you think of the house?" He asked her suddenly.

  When she looked up, she saw that he was staring at her. His eyes were warm, and she felt a odd frisson of tingling warmth when she met his gaze. She looked down immediately, and then up at the tapestry. "It's very comfortable, for such a large house," she said. "But imposing."

  He chuckled. "You'll let me know at once, if you need anything."

  "I will, thank you. Now I think I must go and ready myself for dinner."

  He held out his arm, and she laid her fingertips on it. He chatted pleasantly while he returned her to her rooms.

  Her bath was ready. "It's growing late, my lady," Marie said. "We shall need to hurry. I've laid out your dress."

  While she bathed, Anne found herself thinking about Delmere. He was a large man, and tall, but she hadn't felt threatened by him. Indeed, she thought, she felt safe when she was with him. And he was much more attractive than she'd considered the first time she met him.

  She sat up in the bath, and began to scrub. Such foolishness, she thought. Delmere was a friend, that was all. She had to stop mooning about him as if she were a young girl. She was in his house, but she was sure that she wouldn't see much of him during the house party. He had many guests, and most of those guests were more important than the Eardleys.

  "There you are," Lady Tertsville advanced on Anne when she entered a large salon where the guests were gathering before they went in to dinner. "I'm pleased to see you. Now, this reprobate has begged an introduction — he's determined that he'll sit beside you at dinner too, ruining my placements… May I present Major Baker-Cornhill — he's a close friend of my son's."

  "Ma'am", the major bowed over her hand.

  Anne liked the major immediately. He was a large man, like Lord Delmere. Black curls and a smiling mouth gave him a boyish look, although he had to be well in his thirties. His sharp grey eyes lingered over her figure with blatant appreciation.

  She frowned at him. He winked.

  Lady Tertsville said that the major had served with Delmere on Wellington's staff.

  Obviously, Baker-Cornhill's reputation as a flirt was well deserved, Anne decided. He flattered her shamelessly, his grey eyes warm. As soon as she was seated beside him at the dinner table, he monopolized her conversation completely.

  Lord Delmere was seated at the head of the table; his mother at the foot. With so many guests, several tables had been set up in the house's main dining room. She heard a lady telling her friend that Peyton Park had three formal dining rooms, and that when the Regent had stayed the guests dined off gold plate.

  Guests were seated by consequence. Anne was nervous, because she couldn't see her charges; they'd been seated at another table. This was Miss Bywater's first outing in the full glare of the ton. She knew that Lady Jane was seated at the same table as Eva and Henry. She comforted herself with the thought that Henry had promised to behave herself, and hoped that Eva would be too intimidated to — what?

  She shook her head at her ow
n fears. Of course Eva would behave well, she told herself.

  To her surprise, when she glanced at Lord Delmere at the top of the table, she found that he was glaring at his friend. Baker-Cornhill chuckled. "I don't think Delmere's pleased with me at all — he's jealous."

  Anne blushed at the hot look in the major's eyes when his gaze returned to her. "Pardon me," she realized that she had been rude, and hurriedly turned to her neighbor on her other side. That worthy was a vicar, and she quickly learned that he was an old friend of Colonel Marsden's, so they had a comfortable chat.

  After dinner the ladies retired to a large salon, where a young lady played a harp. Anne knew that there was to be dancing; she'd heard an orchestra tuning its instruments. When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies after lingering at their port, Lady Tertsville announced that the ballroom was open for an informal dance.

  The younger guests, and the young ladies' chaperones, streamed out, buzzing with excitement as they made their way to the ballroom immediately.

  The older guests opted for the card rooms, or in the gentlemen's case, for one of the games rooms to play billiards.

  Anne found Eva and Henry with Lady Jane. "Do you wish to dance, my dears?"

  "Yes, let's dance," Henry said immediately to Eva.

  "Miss Bywater is ready to dance?" Anne murmured to Lady Jane when they followed the two young ladies to the ballroom.

  "Yes ma'am. Her lessons have prepared her, so this informal jollification is a good chance for her to practice her steps. She's not out, so no one will be paying any attention to her."

  "Lady Kingston." Major Baker-Cornhill appeared in front of them, and bowed over Anne's hand. "Will you dance with me?"

  Anne was about to refuse, but thought better of it. Neither Henry nor Miss Bywater would appreciate her acting as a stern chaperone, standing at the side of the ballroom and glowering. "Thank you, Major."

  After her country dance with the major, Lord Delmere approached her for the next dance. Since the dance was informal, none of the ladies had dance cards. He bowed deeply and smiled at her. "My lady?"

  "Lord Delmere," suddenly Belinda Wentworth appeared at his side, and looked up at him, then lowered her eyes shyly. "I did think that this is our dance, my lord."

  Anne saw the young lady glance at her from the corner of her eyes, and the look she received wasn't a pleasant one. She hid her smile. She hoped that Lady Tertsville wouldn't see Miss Wentworth's pursuit of her son. She knew that that lady would be angry, but she found Miss Wentworth amusing.

  "Miss Wentworth, I've asked Lady Kingston to dance — perhaps you will do me the honor of dancing with me later?"

  "Lady Kingston won't mind giving up this dance, sir, she is a chaperone."

  "No, indeed, she is not," Delmere said firmly. He held out his arm, and Anne rested her fingertips on it. They walked away, and Delmere chuckled ruefully. "Young ladies… How are you managing with your charges?"

  "My sister warned me that I would find dealing with a young lady difficult. She was right."

  The music began. Lord Delmere held Anne loosely, but she was very conscious of him, and of herself. She felt warm, and her entire body tingled. He was an expert dancer, and guided her around the room, in and out of the figures of the dance. When she looked up into his face she saw that he was watching her.

  She looked a question at him. He shook his head and grinned. Anne smiled back at him. She realized that she enjoyed dancing with him, and inhaled deeply. She was excited, but also very calm. She was enjoying herself and she hadn't expected that she would.

  "I hope that you will ride with me at the hunt tomorrow," Lord Delmere said.

  Anne was startled. Her eyes widened. His guests at the house party included many men of consequence. Not only powerful men from the nobility – she had counted three dukes – but also political men.

  "I'll make sure that Miss Bywater and Miss Eardley are accompanied by experienced grooms."

  She wasn't concerned about the two young ladies at the hunt. "They'll be safe. They're both good riders."

  "Then you'll ride with me?"

  "Thank you, my lord, I will."

  As soon as the dance was over, Delmere took her to his mother, who smiled at Anne, and asked her to play whist. Anne knew that she could hardly refuse a direct request from her hostess.

  Suddenly Major Baker-Cornhill appeared, and asked Anne for the next dance. She was startled. Another dance with the handsome major?

  "Major — I —"

  "She's playing whist with me, Kelly, so take yourself off and find another partner. You've already danced with her," Lady Tertsville said, glaring at the major.

  "Kelly," Lord Delmere said to his friend.

  "Now see here — I wanted to dance with Lady Kingston again."

  "Well you can't, can you? She's playing whist with my mother," Delmere said shortly.

  Did Anne imagine it, or was there satisfaction in Delmere's voice?

  "Come along, my dear," Lady Tertsville took her arm.

  Anne saw that she was gaining attention. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw that guests had turned to look at her and Lady Tertsville. Several women began whispering to their friends.

  "Ignore them," Lady Tertsville said shortly. "I should warn you against the gallant major, who's something of a rake, I suppose. … But it's hardly necessary, you're not a young chit to have her head turned by a handsome man."

  7

  "That, Nick, is my future wife," Kelly Baker-Cornhill said, as he watched Nick's mother lead Lady Kingston away. "She's lovely, completely lovely."

  Nick felt hot anger rise. He stared into Kelly's slate-grey eyes. "You've never said anything about marriage before. And Kelly, I warn you now, if you attempt to turn my lady into your mistress, I'll have something to say about that," he glared at his friend.

  Kelly looked startled. "What? Are you warning me away from Lady Kingston?"

  "I am," Nick replied.

  Miss Wentworth arrived at his side. "Lord Delmere, our dance," she commanded. "You haven't forgotten?" She twined her arm around his possessively, and he choked down a groan.

  "Miss Wentworth," Kelly bowed deeply. He winked at Nick. "Lord Delmere was about to go looking for you. He's been telling me how much he admires you."

  Next morning, Henry arrived in Anne's bedroom at seven o'clock. "Up, get up, Anne — we're hunting today!"

  Anne sat up and blinked at her sister. "Whatever's the matter with you?" She glanced at the clock on the small table beside her bed and yawned. Lady Tertsville hadn't released her from their games of whist for several hours. "The hunt's not until ten o'clock…"

  "I've chosen our horses, but you need to get up and come down to the stables with me. Some of the gentlemen are already up, choosing their mounts."

  "What does that matter, if you've chosen our horses?"

  Henry put her hands on her hips and glared at her sister. "You must reserve them — I can only reserve my own mounts. I've chosen yours, but you have to come with me so that you can claim them from the stable master yourself. Mr. Walls said that I can't do it for you … Of course, if you're prepared to take anything that they give you, there's no more to be said."

  Anne tossed aside the covers. "Wait — of course I'll come."

  To her relief, Marie entered the room. "Quickly, Marie. My plum wool walking dress, and a cloak."

  "I'll pin your hair. Brush it quickly." Henry hurried into Anne's dressing room and came back with her brush.

  Anne had worn her hair cropped for years, but was allowing it to grow out. She brushed the unruly curls hard. They now reached her shoulders, and surrounded her head like a wild golden halo until she smoothed them.

  Chivvied along by Henry, Anne had never dressed so quickly in her life.

  Steam rose from the breath of men and horses in the chill air.

  The stables were busy, with horses kicking at their stalls and neighing. They sensed the excitement. Grooms chatted with guests, and fed and groomed h
orses.

  As Henry had said, some of the guests were already at the stables too, talking earnestly with grooms and stable lads, their own servants bustling to and fro, carrying their saddles and other personal equipment.

  "Here she is — my sister, Lady Kingston." Henry took Anne to the stable master, who was checking saddles in the enormous tack room.

  "My lady," he bowed deeply to her and Henry. "Miss Eardley selected several horses for you, but she said that you're a rider who expects more from her mounts, so I thought you might like to look at a special horse."

  He guided them from the tack room to another wing of the stables.

  "Special?" Henry snorted. "Huh — what's special? Raymond Walls, if you're trying to fob off some wretched animal that's all good looks and no ability on my sister just because she's fashionable, and a titled lady, I warn you now that —"

  "Settle your feathers, Miss Henry! It's not like that at all. I've a prime 'un here."

  He lowered his voice, so that Anne and Henry had to move closer to him. "He's new to us, we just got him a week ago. He comes from a gentleman who's found himself a little below the water line, as you might say, so his lordship bought him… Follow me. I locked him up with his lordship's own mounts, so that none of the gentlemen spot him."

  Walls led them to into the stable block, and nodded at a groom. "Bring out Midnight for her ladyship."

  As his name suggested, Midnight was deep black. His coat gleamed like silk when his young groom led him out into the stable yard.

  "He's ah — he had a little trouble with his former owner," Mr. Walls said, standing with his arms folded looking at the horse. "Might have kept him as a stallion, with a more sensible owner, but there you are, eh? It's a shame what people do to horses…" He shook his head. "So, that's Midnight. What do you think, my lady? I've had him out several times. Wonderful manners, and a good mouth… you'll see he's on a snaffle, you won't need anything else on him."