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

by Penelope Redmont

  Lady Jane would dearly have loved to say that Belinda had slid to the ground of her own accord, and that she'd wager £100 that the chit didn't have a single bruise on her. But she couldn't, of course.

  A moment before the older lady had dismounted, she'd been about to do the same. Now she decided against it — why become entangled in Miss Wentworth's machinations?

  And why was Belinda Wentworth playacting?

  "Boy," an older groom said to a young groom mounted on a pony. "Find Lord Delmere. His lordship said we're to let him know at once if there are any accidents. Go on — go find him at once."

  Suddenly everything was clear to Lady Jane.

  Lord Delmere. The little lady adventurer thought that she could entangle Delmere in her coils. But that man was no one's fool. Delmere might make Belinda Wentworth his mistress, but he would never marry her — and it was marriage that Mrs. Wentworth was angling for.

  She had to admire Belinda and her mother. What they were doing took considerable insouciance and a lot of sheer gall.

  The air had turned slightly warmer; the low clouds meant rain. Lady Jane had had enough. She decided that she and Eva would return to Peyton Park.

  8

  That night, while Marie helped her to dress for dinner, Anne pondered Delmere and Midnight. She was becoming attached to Delmere, and he'd seen it.

  Anne's face flamed when she remembered his offer. What had he been thinking? She'd thought him a friend, at least, but now… The gossip had started already. Women stopped speaking when she walked by, then put their heads together again as soon as she was out of earshot.

  They had to leave Peyton Park. They'd go directly to Sommerforth Abbey. As soon as she saw her, she'd ask Lady Jane to prepare Eva and pack. Eva might be disappointed because of her friendship with Belinda Wentworth. Henry however wouldn't argue. Henry liked Delmere's stable, but Sommerforth had an even better stable, and some of Henry's own horses were at the Abbey.

  Marie put the finishing touches to Anne's hair, then went to the door to answer Thomas's knock.

  "Lady Jane's compliments ma'am," Anne heard Thomas say. "She wonders whether she might speak with my lady before dinner."

  "Of course," Anne called.

  She smiled when Lady Jane entered. She nodded approvingly at the older woman's becoming dress. "Very nice, my dear." Lady Jane's pale green gown was draped with dark green gauze, the bodice filled with a fichu of cream lace.

  Anne was startled when she realized that Lady Jane was pretty. She decided then and there that she would do something for Lady Jane when Eva had her season.

  "If I might have a few moments my lady?"

  Anne realize that Lady Jane wanted to speak with her alone so she asked Marie to leave them.

  "You heard about Miss Wentworth's accident?" Lady Jane asked.

  Anne nodded.

  "She staged it. She just slid off her horse onto the ground."

  Anne listened to Lady Jane's description of what had happened with amusement.

  "She's just trying to draw herself to Lord Delmere's attention," Lady Jane said. "I don't care what the Wentworth women are up to — I'm worried about Miss Bywater."

  "In what way?" Anne asked calmly, although she wasn't feeling calm.

  "Miss Wentworth and Eva are plotting something." She hesitated. "I went in to see how Miss Wentworth did, and Eva was in her room. They were whispering together and Eva colored up when she saw me. She's formed a connection with Miss Wentworth — I admit, I have no idea how to dissuade her from it."

  Anne adjusted the position of the two diamond combs which Marie had placed into her hair. "Henry's told me that she suspects Eva of plotting something with Miss Wentworth too. Let's leave Peyton Park and journey on to Sommerforth Abbey — tomorrow. Can you prepare Eva? I know that it's sudden, but it's for the best. The situation disturbs me — we need to remove Eva from the Wentworth ladies."

  Anne realized that she missed her sister Catherine. With Catherine, she always had someone to advise her. She decided to let Lady Jane into her confidence. "You're aware that I refused Lady Tertsville's invitation to Peyton Park."

  "Yes. Then his lordship's mother persuaded you to come."

  "There are whispers, Jane… You don't mind if I use your name, my dear?"

  Lady Jane flushed pink.

  Anne smiled. Yes, Lady Jane was pretty.

  Jane looked down at the carpet. "If you'll forgive me, my lady, people are saying that you're Lord Delmere's latest flirt. I know I shouldn't repeat gossip, but I thought that you should know."

  Anne smiled grimly. "Of course I forgive you — I welcome your frankness, and I'm aware of the growing gossip… It's annoying, especially when I have a young lady to bring out. We'll leave. We can make up some story about a letter from the duchess — that Elaine's not feeling well or some such tale, and would like me to go to her."

  Thomas knocked on the door again.

  Lady Jane answered it and handed Anne a letter.

  Anne looked at the seal in surprise. "It's from my sister Catherine. Will you forgive my rudeness while I glance at it? Just to make sure that there is no bad news?"

  She scanned the letter quickly. "No bad news and some good news. Catherine is at Sommerforth Abbey. My mother is still in Scotland… Catherine was about to go to London when she heard that we were at Peyton Park, so she traveled to Sommerforth Abbey directly… Elaine is well… There's some additional family news." Her heart jumped with delight. "My sister Lady Linton is carrying! How wonderful. Well — that's two nieces, or nephews."

  Anne folded the letter again, and set it on her dressing table. She'd answer the letter tonight, after dinner. "We'll leave Peyton Park in the morning. I'll tell Lady Tertsville tonight."

  Then she wouldn't need to see Delmere until he arrived at Sommerforth Abbey for the duke's Christmas house party. The Abbey was large, so she knew that she could avoid him with ease.

  "Will I tell Miss Bywater?"

  "Yes, do." Anne hesitated for a moment. "Jane…" She decided that she had to speak.

  "Yes?"

  "You mustn't let Eva get the better of you. You're in charge of her, and I've heard her speaking unkindly to you at times. If I thought she'd mind me, I'd mention it to her… But she's more fond of you, than she is of me. Please realize that I have all confidence in you — punish her when she's rude."

  "Thank you, my lady."

  "No, you must call me Anne, if I'm to use your name… I've come to depend on you a great deal." She had, she realized.

  Anne looked down at the letter. She felt as if a weight had been lifted from her. She hadn't realized what a burden Eva had been. Catherine would know what to do. She wouldn't accept any bad behavior from Eva.

  When she glanced in the mirror, she saw that one of her combs had slipped. She couldn't adjust it herself. "Thank you Jane — will you send Marie to me? I'll see you downstairs."

  Ten minutes later, Anne was in Lady Tertsville's private sitting room. She'd sent Thomas to beg a moment of her ladyship's time before dinner.

  "Come in my dear," Lady Tertsville said kindly, smiling at her. "You look a picture… I wish I'd had your looks when I was younger."

  "Thank you my lady. I won't take a minute. I just wanted to thank you for your kindness… We've enjoyed our visit, but we'll be leaving for Sommerforth Abbey in the morning. My sister Mrs. Grove has just arrived at the Abbey — I've had a letter from her."

  Lady Tertsville's demeanor changed at once. She straightened in her chair and stared. "I see." Her gaze narrowed. "Very well. I can't prevent you leaving. Go and see Catherine. She doesn't need to shoot men to keep them away from her."

  Anne's mouth dropped open at her ladyship's words. "I'm sorry —"

  "What about?" Lady Tertsville said, her eyebrows lifting. "You refused my son's gift of a horse, and now you're running away. No need to apologize. No, nothing to apologize for, at all."

  Anne gaped at Lady Tertsville. Her ladyship was wearing an old-fashioned
wig of powdered horsehair. Her grey eyes glittered at Anne.

  Anne cleared her throat. She nodded to Lady Tertsville and left the room. Although she was confused, she was well aware of her ladyship's anger.

  "What was that about?" She murmured aloud.

  "My lady?" Thomas was at her heels.

  "Nothing, Thomas. Nothing at all." The sooner they left Peyton Park, the better.

  She wanted to avoid dinner, but she knew that she couldn't do that.

  Late that night Anne lay wide awake in bed, thinking.

  She couldn't sleep, and decided to get out of bed to find her brandy flask when someone knocked abruptly on her bedroom door.

  Anne sat up in bed. "Marie?"

  "My lady, I need your assistance."

  A male voice — Delmere.

  Three jumped out of her basket, hurried to the door, and scratched at it.

  What on earth? Was someone ill? "Just a moment."

  A small lamp burned on the mantelpiece, and although the fire had burned down to coals, Anne could see well enough. She tossed aside her bedclothes, and padded across the carpet to turn up the wick on the lamp.

  Her banyan lay on a bench at the bottom of her bed. She slipped into it.

  "My lady?"

  "Yes, yes…" She nudged Three aside with her foot, opened the door a sliver, and peered at Delmere. He was fully dressed.

  "My apologies for disturbing you, my lady," he said, his deep voice gravelly. "I need your help."

  He glanced at her quickly, from her head to her toes, then looked away again.

  Unwelcome warmth flushed her entire body. Unconsciously, she grasped the lapels of the banyan at her throat."Certainly my lord… what is it — is someone ill?"

  "Please come with me — I didn't know whom to ask. I know it's imposition."

  "Why — what's happening? Is it Lady Tertsville?"

  He shook his head, and rolled his eyes. "You'll see. Will you come?"

  She heard annoyance combined with amusement in his tone.

  "Just a moment." She closed the door again. She could only imagine that Lady Tertsville was ill. However, he'd looked both annoyed and amused — hardly the demeanor of someone fetching her because his mother was ill.

  "Three, into your basket — quickly, now."

  The dog gave her a black look, but obeyed.

  "Stay!" She commanded, sliding her feet into slippers.

  She adjusted the banyan, tightening its belt around her waist. How could she allow him to see her this way… She fought down her embarrassment.

  A quick glance in the oval mirror above the mantelpiece told her that her hair was a mess. She smoothed it back with both hands, then scowled at herself in impatience. What did it matter what her hair looked like? "Stay, Three."

  When she left her bedroom he was standing in the middle of her sitting room. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know who else to ask. You're very sensible, which is more than I can say for the majority of ladies, and I certainly didn't want to disturb my mother."

  Anne waited for him to continue.

  "If you'll accompany me to my rooms."

  She gaped at him. "Your rooms? Certainly not. How dare you ask such a thing?"

  "I'm sorry my lady. I must ask you to trust me. I wouldn't ask if it were not of the utmost importance." He paused. "Well, in all honesty, not importance. Perhaps — delicacy."

  "I –" Anne hesitated. It was well after midnight, but she knew that many of the guests were still awake. They were in the gaming rooms, playing cards until the early hours of the morning. If she accompanied Delmere to his rooms, and they were seen, it would be beyond scandalous.

  She'd be hopelessly compromised.

  "Please." He ran a hand through his hair. "I would never compromise you my lady, it's just that I do need your help — I don't know what to do."

  It was as if he could read what she thought, but then she realized that her face must be showing her thoughts plainly. "Very well." She shrugged. Something had upset him. With any other man, she would have gone back inside her bedroom, and locked the door.

  She told herself shouldn't be afraid of Delmere. He wouldn't be in her rooms in the middle of the night if the matter were trivial. She straightened her shoulders.

  "Thank you," he said.

  She followed him out of her rooms, and closed the door behind her. She was aware that the family's rooms were in the main wing of the large house, on the second floor.

  At the end of the corridor, instead of taking the staircase down to a lower floor, he opened the door on another staircase that she hadn't known was there.

  "Servants' staircase," he muttered. "Most of the servants have long since retired… we'll take the servants' stairs to my rooms."

  No one saw them, because after leaving tables set out with cold meats, slices of pie, cheese and other delicacies, the servants left the guests to their pleasures and went to bed. They had to be up early to light the fires and clean the public rooms.

  She couldn't believe that she'd agreed to accompany him. She was in her banyan and slippers, prowling secretly through the long corridors of Peyton Park with Delmere.

  He didn't speak, and neither did she. She thought grimly that when they reached his rooms, he'd better have a good explanation for his behavior.

  Surely he didn't mean to compromise her? Why would he do such a thing? She dismissed that silly notion at once. She was a widow, not a young miss. However, if anyone saw them it would cause no end of gossip, and there was enough gossip already. She was risking both Eva's and Henry's futures.

  Finally they reached a set of large double doors. He opened them, and stood aside so that she could enter.

  His sitting room.

  She glanced around quickly, taking in the comfortable elegance, then looked at him expectantly.

  He pointed. "Through that door. My dressing room, and beyond it, my — " he washed his face with his hands. "Ah — I should have asked you to bring some clothes, but use anything here, a cloak… Anything."

  He paused, shook his head, then inhaled deeply. "I must go. Please, get her out of my rooms. Take her back to her own rooms — or to the devil. I'll find your footman, and I'll send him to you here. You must get her out, please."

  She was puzzled — a "she"?

  "Thank you," he muttered.

  Then he was gone. She gaped at the closed door. What?

  She threw her hands up in bewilderment. Someone was in his bedroom. A female someone… and she was to remove her.

  What on earth…

  Whatever Anne had been expecting, it wasn't Belinda Wentworth kneeling on top of an embroidered silk coverlet on Delmere's bed.

  The girl was in Delmere's bed…completely naked.

  Naked… Anne blinked. She blinked again, but the vision remained. Then she looked away quickly, flooded with embarrassment.

  Even after she closed her eyes, she could still see the girl in the center of the bed. She was all rosy cheeks and breasts, with her blonde hair tumbled about her form — but not hiding it.

  Anne could never have imagined such a thing. She had no words. Belinda didn't speak either.

  Silence lengthened.

  Whatever she'd been expecting, it wasn't Belinda Wentworth. Slowly her mind began to work again and she realized that this was Mrs. Wentworth's doing. She had sought to compromise her daughter, in order to force Lord Delmere to marry her.

  Mrs. Wentworth didn't know Delmere, Anne thought. Now she knew why Delmere had come to her rooms.

  Slowly she gathered her tattered wits. She was both affronted and amused — he expected her to deal with this. To her amazement, she giggled. She squeezed her eyes closed even more tightly and crammed down a sudden temptation to hysteria. She had to be calm, she told herself.

  After pausing for a long moment, and taking yet another deep breath, she forced herself to speak. "Miss Wentworth. Come down from that bed at once. I'll find a cloak for you in Lord Delmere's dressing room… Then I'll take you bac
k to your own room. You can't stay here."

  "My lady, not meaning to disobey you of course, but my mother said that I was to stay here until she came back for me," Belinda said primly.

  She didn't sound embarrassed at all, Anne thought crossly.

  "Why are you here?" Anne asked. She attempted calm, but it was a challenge. "I'll have a thing or two to say to your mother tomorrow, but please do as I say now. Get out of that bed at once."

  "Not meaning to disoblige you ma'am, but I can't do it. My mother would beat me until her arm was tired — she said to stay, and I'll stay."

  Her dog Three was more obedient than this girl, Anne thought bitterly.

  She had to do something, but what? She sighed. A cloak, Delmere had said. Keeping her eyes closed, she turned, then opened her eyes and hurried into his dressing room. The dressing room was enormous, quite as large as an ordinary room in Kingston House.

  Everything was perfectly arranged. She found the cloaks at once. Seven of them, hung on hooks. She chose a heavy riding cloak. But she wasn't tall enough to reach the hooks.

  Finally she found a step ladder.

  Feeling like a fool, Anne picked up the ladder and removed the cloak. She shaded her eyes with her hand when she went back into the bedroom. She didn't want to stumble, but neither did she want another look at Miss Wentworth's breasts. Were her own breasts as large, she wondered?

  She tossed the cloak onto the bed. "Please wrap yourself in that, and climb down out of that bed at once. I'll take you back to your room. And I'll speak to your mother."

  "You can do that now," Belinda said.

  "Lady Kingston, why are you here?"

  Anne turned. She hadn't heard Mrs. Wentworth enter. Lord Delmere's carpets were thick, and his doors opened and closed soundlessly.

  She inhaled, then glared at the woman, who was completely dressed. Thank heavens. She waved a hand at Belinda. "Your daughter, Mrs. Wentworth. Remove her from Delmere's bed at once."