Mary Blayney - [Pennistan 03]

by Strangers Kiss

  “Go on.” Not all the mud holes had been filled yet this spring and the winter had been one of freeze and thaw. Easy enough to lose a wheel if you drove over the same bad spot as many times as they had while giving the boy the feel of a coach and four.

  “There are still mud holes. Could that be it?”

  “For now, Wilson, tell me what happened. We will speculate on the cause later.”

  “Yes, sir, Your Grace.” He thought a moment. “When we reached the party house, one of the maids come out and invited us in for cake. The coachman made the second groom stay with the carriage and the rest of us went. It was a cozy kitchen and there was a fire and maybe we stayed longer than we shoulda. But I took some cake out to the second groom like John Coachman told me, and he was asleep inside the carriage.” Wilson did not raise his head but did move his eyes so that he could watch for the duke’s reaction. “I ate his cake, sir, Your Grace.”

  “I would have too.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, then I would have rocked the carriage to wake him up and run and hid as fast as I could.”

  The boy did not even try to deny this summary. “Do you think that’s how the wheel broke?”

  “No, I do not. I think that the dark made it hard to see the wheels in the stable in the mews. And since no one suspected trouble no one looked too carefully. They did as they were told, in a hurry to be on their way so I would not be kept waiting.”

  “I suppose.”

  Having established that his employer was not about to dismiss him or hit him for simply telling the truth, the boy walked with more confidence. His too-big shoes still slapped the street, but he had straightened and held his head high.

  “Tell me what you think happened to loosen the wheel.”

  “I think someone broke it on purpose so it would come off when you were in it, and the reason it came off sooner was because John Coachman was training me.” The boy’s voice shook with anger and then he watched the duke with uncertain eyes. That wild opinion had drained Alan Wilson of his newfound assurance.

  “An interesting opinion, Mr. Wilson. I will investigate it.”

  “What do you think happened, sir, Your Grace?”

  “I think the wheel came loose for some reason we will never know and we need to inspect all the carriages more carefully in the future.”

  “Yes, sir, Your Grace,” the boy agreed. “But I still think the coachman should carry a pistol from now on.”

  They walked the last block in silence.

  GOD HELP US. What an evening.” Meryon handed Garrett a glass of port and invited Magda to sit next to him.

  “Everyone is all right,” Garrett said. Olivia’s endless optimism seemed to be contagious. “The carriage can be repaired.”

  “Replaced. Its alignment is ruined.”

  “Replaced. And you can afford it, Lynford. Did the grooms or John Coachman have any idea how it happened?”

  “No. The coachman and Wilson insist that when they inspected it before leaving everything was as it should be. That kind of flaw is hard to miss, so I expect they are right.”

  “So something must have happened on the way to the party or while the coachman was training Wilson. Or when the carriage was unattended. Lyn, it could have been sabotage.”

  “Wilson agrees with you, but there was someone with it all the time. No, it was an accident.”

  “Humor a suspicious old soldier and have your coachman carry a pistol.”

  “Again Wilson is one step ahead of you with that suggestion. I thought him bloodthirsty. I’ll keep one in the carriage as well.”

  “Thank you.” They sat in silence for a while. “Do you fancy a chess game?”

  “You left the Straemores’ because you were tired and now you want to play chess. Men of God are not supposed to lie.”

  “I was tired. Tired of making conversation with people I do not know well enough to be completely honest with them. Diplomacy does not suit me at all.”

  They settled at the game table and Garrett made the first move.

  They played in silence for twenty minutes. All the while Meryon debated telling Garrett what he had learned about Elena Verano. When Meryon lost his queen to a bishop, he sat back in his chair and held up his hands.

  Garrett’s shock was sincere. “You never lose. You never concede. Are you sure you were not knocked on the head tonight?”

  “In a way I was, and I’ve debated for an hour whether to tell you or not.” He returned the pieces to the starting point as he told Garrett of his conversation with Elena Verano and his supposition that she was Bendas’s bastard daughter.

  “Lynford, you have spent too much time among The Gossips. There could be a dozen reasons why the Signora and Bendas do not speak.” As he numbered them he tipped over the pieces that were still standing. “Bendas insulted her husband. His wife insulted Signora Verano. She had an argument with him over Lord William. Bendas criticized her singing ability. He embarrassed her in some other way. I could go on and on but I’ve run out of pieces to topple.”

  “She said that they have a ‘connection.’ That means something more than an insult.”

  “So now we are going to debate the definition of the word? Where do you keep Mr. Johnson’s dictionary?” Garrett did not move from his seat. “If the connection is one of blood, what we should be discussing is whether you will continue to woo her.”

  “I do not need to discuss that. It does not matter to me who she is.”

  “For God’s sake, Meryon, you hate the man you now believe is her father. And you can honestly tell me that it makes no difference to you. I do not believe it.”

  “Believe what you will. I want her and I do believe that she wants me.”

  “Then this is about no more than lust? There is nothing noble in that, Meryon.”

  “I am not pretending there is.”

  Garrett steepled his fingers and waited, but he did not have to speak for Meryon to see the disapproval that had taken root. “So, when you are done with her, it will be no more than another element of revenge against her father.”

  “No!” Garrett made him sound like some cad from one of Georges’s plays. “If her relationship to Bendas mattered to her she would have told me about it. Our friendship is completely separate from that.”

  “As long as when it is over, she believes that as well. And Lord William. The two of them are very close. Hurt her and you hurt him. And the other way around.”

  “Stop the sermon, Garrett. I know what I am doing.”

  “Yes, I’m sure you think you do.”

  ON WEDNESDAY, BY the time the clock chimed five-fifteen Elena had completely shredded her handkerchief. As she tossed the useless bit of cotton onto the sideboard near the front door, she realized that despite her nerves she was more angry than relieved that he had decided not to come.

  It was clear to her that she had no straightforward sensibility where the Duke of Meryon was concerned. Except for the attraction that was a genteel word for lust.

  She peeled off her gloves and was untying her bonnet when there was a knock at the door. The butler opened it and Meryon hurried to her. He held himself still for a moment then bowed to her.

  “My deepest apologies, signora.” The words held a wealth of embarrassment. “I would prefer to blame the number of conveyances and people on the road, but honesty compels me to admit that I did not leave enough time. I hope you consider me merely fashionably late by Roman standards.”

  His red face, his obvious sincerity, made her smile.

  “I understand, Your Grace.” She spoke with all the sympathy she could muster. “Bloomsbury is not that far from Mayfair, but Tinotti was telling me the streets are full of people today.”

  As she retied her bonnet and pulled her gloves on, she lectured herself. This is much easier than singing to a room full of strangers. It was a perfectly ordinary ride in the park with a duke. It was not his rank that made her nervous.

  The touch of his hand at her
back ended her self-lecture.

  He did not seem to feel her tremble. Or was that why he spoke as if it were the chill that made her shiver?

  “I brought the cabriolet in case it should rain, but have left the cover down as it does appear that the sky will lighten.”

  “You have a cabriolet?” So there was a little bit of adventure in the man. “No wonder it took longer than you expected. I imagine everyone wanted a look at it.”

  As they approached the carriage, she stopped to examine it herself. It was not as big as a curricle, and was less elegant, with a small boy called a “tiger” instead of a groom and, more notably, a single very beautiful horse instead of the usual pair.

  “I’ve heard of them but this is the first one I’ve seen, much less been invited to ride in.”

  While the duke did not smile, he did seem gratified by her appreciation.

  “We will raise the top in case the weather turns on us.” He gestured to the tiger, who jumped to attention even before the duke turned to him and proceeded to do as bid.

  “And I want to assure you that every wheel has been thoroughly inspected.”

  “I never doubted it.”

  Meryon used the one high-placed step into the carriage and then turned to help her up. The tiger scurried around from the back with a neat little set of steps that made it easier for a lady to climb into the seat.

  Meryon held out his hand, offering completely necessary support, which she accepted. Gathering her skirts with her other hand, she climbed up and into the box, where they stood face-to-face.

  He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of her wrist. Even with the leather of her glove between her skin and his lips, she could swear she felt the warmth of his breath on her hand.

  She smiled and looked at him from beneath her lashes as she took the seat he offered.

  The duke drove carefully, the cabriolet just the right size for the narrower streets of Bloomsbury. Elena let him concentrate on the road and let herself concentrate on the feel of him beside her. It was distraction enough. He did not need conversation any more than she did.

  The weather cleared as if on order from the duke. Hyde Park was crowded with carriages, horsemen, and ladies in groups, some with servants following discreetly behind.

  Elena had never been on Rotten Row before and was hard-pressed to see it all. Without taking her eyes from a peacock of a man carrying a monkey on a lead, she laughed. “It is a kaleidoscope of color and sound. The first place I have seen here that reminds me of Rome.”

  “Seeing it through your eyes makes it all new to me.”

  She gave him her attention and found that he was barely watching the road, his eyes intent on her mouth.

  “I have done this too many times to count and have never found it as entertaining as I do watching you enjoy it.”

  They smiled. She was sure it was the kind of smile that some poet had called “the smile of two hearts yearning.” Who knew how long they would have done so if a voice had not hailed them?

  “Signora Verano! Meryon! Well met!” Lord William pulled his horse up beside them and bowed from his saddle.

  “Good day to you, my lord,” Elena called out. “This is marvelous! Did you see the man with the monkey?”

  “Lord Vilforth? Yes, we all avoid him for he insists that we shake hands with his pet and the monkey’s manners leave much to be desired. But if you would like to meet him or Lord Vilforth I’m sure that the duke would introduce you. Is that not so, Your Grace?”

  “No, it is not. Vilforth will want to discuss his animal’s last meal, and next one, and where they are going for the evening.” The duke turned from William to face her as he added, “That is not how I would choose to spend my time with Signora Verano.”

  Elena could not look away from the warmth of the duke’s eyes. He did not look away either, even as he addressed Lord William. “Do feel free to give Vilforth’s monkey our regards.”

  If it was a hint for William to leave he did not take it. He stayed and then another gentleman rode up to join them. He seemed on very familiar terms with Meryon and Elena enjoyed the camaraderie between them. Meryon introduced him as Lord Kyle. Three more much younger men came along and were also introduced.

  They all greeted her with enthusiasm, but the cabriolet was what they were really interested in. As they discussed its general design and merits, William urged his mount around the carriage, admiring it as he made the circuit. He stilled his horse right next to Elena, where he could speak to her while Meryon’s friends held his attention on the other side of the carriage.

  “Elena.” William spoke quietly but with determination. “Save those gazes for the bedroom. Both of you are too experienced to succumb to …” He waved his hand as if afraid to voice the word he was thinking.

  “Desire.” She finished for him.

  Meryon had his back to them and William lowered his voice even more. “Be careful, cara. He is a duke.”

  “Are you warning me? You, who do not know the meaning of the word caution?” She let the disapproval show in her voice but kept it at little more than a whisper. “Attend to your own business, William.”

  Before William could respond, the duke, and perforce his friends, turned to include her in their conversation.

  “When will Miss Castellano be in society, signora?”

  William’s horse sidled and Elena knew that her nephew did not like that question at all.

  “She will play the pianoforte at the Monksfords’ musicale the Thursday after Easter, and the Metcalfes’ ball will be her first opportunity to dance.”

  “There, gentlemen,” Meryon said. “She is a lovely lady, and she loves to dance. Or so she tells me.” Meryon gave Lord William a smile that was not overly friendly. While the others laughed among themselves, the duke turned fully to Lord William. “You interfere in my personal life and I will interfere in yours, my lord.”

  They nodded at each other and Elena remembered that William had promised there would never be another duel between a Pennistan and a Bendasbrook. Apparently he was referring to the kind with pistols.

  “Lord William, join us,” Lord Kyle called. “We are going to a balloon ascension in Green Park.”

  “Indeed, it sounds an adventure,” William said. To Elena he added, “What a shame that Mia is not able to join us.”

  “We both know she would find a way to be included in the ascent. Go and have fun.”

  “Good day to you both.” Lord William called out to the others and rode hard so he could catch up with them. Elena wanted to pull the carriage robe up over her face, for it was obvious that Meryon had heard William’s warning.

  19

  PERHAPS WE SHOULD GIVE William a seat among The Gossips.” Elena tried to sound amused, rather than annoyed.

  The duke laughed. “We both put him in his place. I think that should count as punishment enough.”

  “You are more generous than I would be.”

  He began driving again. “Your friendship with Lord William seems odd to me when you consider that his grandfather caused you such pain.”

  “I would think it makes perfect sense since they are so rarely in accord.”

  The duke nodded in reluctant agreement and Elena decided it was her turn to ask a difficult question, if only to distract him from pursuing the subject of her relationship with Bendas. “The Gossips say that there is no love lost between you and Bendas either.”

  “I hate him. I have called him incompetent, dangerous, and a disgrace to his rank. To his face.”

  “Oh dear, and I was afraid you did not know how to speak honestly.”

  The duke laughed as she hoped he would, then asked, “Has Lord William told you nothing of the cause of this antipathy?”

  “He told me that he knew you better after something that happened last year, but had promised you that he would not discuss it.”

  They rode on in silence for a while. “If you will promise me discretion, I will tell you the sto
ry. I value your word, since it involves more than my own reputation.”

  “Of course, and I am honored.” This offer of trust did as much to seduce her as a kiss.

  “Bendas wanted Lord William to marry my sister, Lady Olivia. She is short, which had obvious merit in Bendas’s eyes, and altogether delightful. During her Seasons they seemed well suited, so I asked her how she felt about him.

  “When she was obviously not interested in his courtship I sent a letter informing Bendas. He was not pleased, and arranged for her to be abducted—”

  “Stop, Meryon.” She could not see his eyes, but he must be teasing her. “You are making this up.”

  “I am not, though I know it sounds preposterous.”

  He was so offended that she had to believe him.

  “I can count on two hands the number of people who know the whole truth,” Meryon added.

  “Bendas must be insane.”

  “I’ve concluded the same. He aimed to ruin Olivia’s reputation so that no one but Lord William would marry her. As soon as William found out he came straight to Pennford. But by that time Olivia had been rescued and found her way back to us.”

  “The poor girl.” Elena could still remember how frightened she had been when she had been sent away, even though she had a home to go to. To be taken away by force would be a hundred times worse.

  “It does have a happy ending, no thanks to Bendas. She married her rescuer.”

  “Mr. Garrett?” He seemed such a quiet, gentle man. How very interesting. “Before he arrived on the scene it must have been a hideous experience for her.”

  “Yes, and for us who had no idea where they took her or how to find her. Not long after that my wife died and I hoped that by the time I came back to the social scene Bendas’s son would have taken control of the estate. He had not, so I took matters into my own hands.”

  He told her about the duel and the death of his groom.

  This was even worse than the way Bendas had treated her, Elena thought. How could her brother not have taken steps to remove him?