‘Because she called Lucy “an ungrateful bitch!” her words, you understand.’ He smiled again. ‘Please don’t sack her, she’s been of enormous help today and is probably very tired.’
‘I shall have a word with her. And my daughter.’ She shook her head. ‘I brought her up to find the best qualities in somebody, before condemning them as the gossips do.’ She sighed. ‘I saw enough today to know what a kind and compassionate man you are, and Lucy would be stupid to turn down your proposal, when you make it.’
‘Well, I think she’s going to.’ He smiled at Evelyn. ‘I must just speak to my mother and then I’m going to sleep until lunchtime!’ He nodded as he moved away.
‘Where have you been?’ Evangeline almost demanded, but Wilfred just kissed her on the cheek.
‘Later, Mother. I’ll tell you tomorrow.’ He sauntered off up the stairs, undressed quickly and was asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.
*****
Robert was in the drawing room with both of the de Lacey sisters and Howard Cuthbertson, chatting and flirting when Evelyn and Evangeline returned.
‘I think, Robert, you will have to go to the Dower House tomorrow.’ Evelyn said thoughtfully. ‘I think your sister is going to prove that she is stupid after all.’
Both girls gasped and Robert looked up at his mother. ‘What makes you say that?’ Caroline asked inquisitively.
‘Your brother has spent the day making sure Lucy survived the rather nasty fever she picked up last evening when she ran out into the snow.’ Evelyn explained softly. ‘And all the thanks he has received for his selfless devotion, is to be called a debaucher of sick girls!’
‘The ungrateful…’ Eleanor left the rest of her indignant sentence unsaid, making Howard snort with laughter.
‘Eleanor! One day you’ll be able to finish a sentence without censure.’ He blurted and patted her hand.
‘Only if I’m in your company.’ She said hotly. ‘I’m disgusted that Wilfred should be so accused!’
‘There isn’t a kinder man in this world!’ Caroline said faithfully.
‘But, you have to admit that he has not tried to stop the gossips from feasting on his private life.’ Evangeline admitted honestly.
‘That may be so,’ Howard said defensively, ‘but a lot of the gossip is just rumour and there is no truth to it, like Harriet Saunders being his mistress.’
‘Was that the friend that got hurt?’ Eleanor asked softly and Howard turned compassionate eyes on her.
‘Yes and you don’t know what he saw that day,’ Howard said with a sigh, ‘and you don’t want to know!’
‘If she looked anything like poor Edith Parfitt,’ Caroline added, ‘I know exactly what she looked like.’ She shuddered.
‘Believe me Edith Parfitt did not incite the Duke’s ire as Harriet did. There is no comparison between the two.’ Howard said. ‘I was there with Edith Parfitt and I asked him afterwards if Harriet Saunders had looked like that and he said “in comparison, Miss Parfitt was knocked about a little”!’
Caroline paled at that quotation as she vividly recalled Edith Parfitt’s bloody hands grabbing her pristine white gown and seeing the blood on her face and body. ‘That was horrid.’ She whispered as Robert picked up her hand to pat it and she clutched at it. He smiled softly as he left his hand in her grip.
‘Well, Wilfred has not made an offer of marriage, yet.’ Evelyn said firmly, ‘and now I doubt he will get the opportunity.’ She looked firmly at Robert. ‘You must go and see Lucy tomorrow and explain her limited options.’
‘Maybe we can sweep this under the carpet?’ Robert ventured hopefully.
‘No.’ Evelyn said firmly, her spine rigid. ‘Phyllida Allen has already expressed her disappointment that the Earl will have to marry your sister, in the most vitriolic manner, of course, at dinner. Her reputation will be non-existent by the time this house party is finished.’ She speared Robert with her hardest glare. ‘You will have to impress upon her that her second season is over, before it’s begun. She will never find a wealthy, titled husband if she turns Buxton down!’
‘But Wilfred would never deflower an innocent.’ Howard murmured.
‘We know that, Howard,’ Evangeline said gently. ‘But the ton will vilify him for it,’ she looked at Robert, ‘and if you wish to retain Lucy’s reputation, you will have no alternative but to call him out!’
‘I don’t really want to resort to that,’ Robert mused softly, ‘but I will if Lucy proves too stubborn.’
‘Would she rather see her brother dead than marry a man who has already compromised her?’ Caroline almost shrieked in a whisper. ‘For Wilfred is an excellent shot.’
‘Well, that is something I shall try and avoid, my dear.’ Robert rumbled deep in his chest and Caroline shivered as he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss gently to her knuckles. Her heart threw itself against her ribcage in an effort to burst out through her chest and dance for Robert. Her cheeks flushed delicately and her breath caught in her throat. Evelyn and Evangeline watched in fascination as Caroline’s feelings were displayed for everyone to see. Both of the mothers were well pleased at that moment.
Next morning, Wilfred actually made his way to the breakfast room before eight o’clock, to find Robert already there.
‘Good morning, Bassett.’ He said calmly and approached the sideboard to inspect the fare on offer, smiling as he started to fill his plate with bacon, eggs, kidneys, black pudding and mushrooms.
‘Good morning, Buxton.’ Robert frowned, flicking the paper shut. ‘I don’t think I shall ever get used to calling Earls by their title name.’ He muttered as he looked down on the breakfast the footman had laid in front of him before Buxton arrived.
‘Of course you will,’ Wilfred snorted. ‘Be thankful that you won’t have to change again.’ Wilfred sat down with his full plate and waited as the footman poured out some fresh tea for him. ‘Soon enough I shall be Dovedale and that will be even more disconcerting.’
‘Is the Duke ill?’ Robert asked solicitously.
‘No, but he is not young anymore and it only takes a fever to weaken him and he could be gone, just like your Uncle.’ Wilfred sighed and tucked into his breakfast. There was no conversation, each man concentrated on filling their bellies. Talk resumed after satisfying their hunger.
‘So, do you think we will be facing off tomorrow?’ Wilfred asked jovially, to take any threat out of his words.
‘Not if I can help it.’ Robert grumbled. ‘Silly little bitch!’ He sighed then. ‘I have to go and see her. Mother has insisted I explain her lack of options.’ He looked at Wilfred kindly. ‘The gossip has already started. Phyllida Allen is spitting blood that she missed out on the opportunity to catch you in a parson’s mousetrap!’ He laughed suddenly and it lit up his whole face, making it more animated than Wilfred had ever seen it. ‘Imogen is positively sulking and Christina Avery is sitting about sighing.’
‘What about Markham?’ Wilfred asked softly and Robert sobered immediately.
‘My brothers and I have been keeping an eye on him.’ Robert said stiffly. ‘He hasn’t so much as looked at your sisters yet, but he is certainly disgruntled because you were at the Dower House with Lucy.’
‘Maybe he will offer for her.’ Wilfred murmured under his breath, but Robert heard him and his head jerked around, his eyes focusing sharply on Wilfred.
‘I wouldn’t let that man near the worst cur in the canine world, let alone my sister.’ His voice was gruff with supressed emotion. ‘I would rather face you at dawn than let him touch her!’
‘Well, let’s hope that Lucy will listen to your counsel.’ Wilfred said with a smile. He stood. ‘I have to go and see my father, now.’ Wilfred went towards the door and turned with his hand on the handle. ‘And just what are your intentions towards my sister?’
‘Honourable, I assure you.’ Robert said with a wistful smile.
Wilfred nodded. ‘Just make sure you tell my father that befo
re we leave or he might just arrange a marriage for her with another.’ He smiled softly as he went out.
Robert went to the stable and rode over to the Dower House. Jenkins started as soon as he got in the door about the housekeeper’s treatment of the Earl. Robert soothed and placated as he went through into the kitchen to find Mrs. Herbert, Abigail and the cook at the large table.
‘How is my sister, this morning?’ He asked and watched Abigail scowl, Mrs. Herbert shake her head and the cook went over to the range and put the kettle back on the heat.
‘I would say your sister is in fine fettle this morning, My Lord.’ Mrs. Herbert said evenly. ‘She has already threatened Abigail with dismissal, because she praised the Earl’s behaviour yesterday, and she has tried to dismiss me and thrown a full plate of breakfast at Jenkins.’ Mrs. Herbert sighed. ‘I believe cook will not feed her again, as it was a waste of good food.’
‘Really?’ Robert asked, dumfounded to hear his sister be so petty. ‘Are we talking about the same sister?’
‘If you wish to visit her yourself, My Lord, you will see she is almost foaming with rage.’ Mrs. Herbert said calmly.
Robert nodded calmly and went out, mounted the stairs and wondered just how stupid his sister really was going to be. He found out when he opened her door and heard glass shatter against it.
‘GO AWAY!’ Lucy screamed. ‘I DON’T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY!’
‘What, not even me?’ Robert asked as he pushed the door open and stepped over the glass infested puddle that was soaking into the carpet. ‘Lucy you will have to refurbish Aunt Edith’s house at this rate.’
‘I don’t think I’m talking to you either!’ she spat as Robert approached the bed.
‘Why not?’ He asked. ‘Is there something that you won’t talk to me about?’ He insisted. ‘After I spilled the beans about Markham?’ He shook his head and held up his hand, palm towards her. ‘I know!’ He continued, ‘there is one rule for you and another for us!’
‘I’m not marrying him!’ she said firmly. ‘So don’t try to convince me.’
‘Really?’ Robert sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Why is that?’
‘He’s a fiend!’ She said hotly, ‘He practically raped me yesterday!’
‘Who said so?’ Robert asked calmly. ‘Did anyone witness this almost rape?’ Lucy was silent. ‘Or are you just venting your frustration at a target that can’t fight back.’
‘He can fight back.’ She said coldly. ‘He’s a man!’
‘Yes, that’s right and as another man I have to decide what to do about my responsibility to you.’ He said coldly and looked away.
‘What do you mean?’ Lucy asked in a whisper. ‘What decision?’
‘I have two choices, at the moment.’ Robert said with a sigh. ‘I can force you to marry Buxton or I can face him on the field.’ He turned doleful eyes back to his sister, ‘and I can imagine that all my chances of marrying Caroline de Lacey will go up in the smoke of my pistol, whether I kill her brother or not!’
‘That’s preposterous!’ Lucy spat, but he could see realisation beginning in her eyes.
‘So you’re telling me that you would marry a man that had just injured or killed your brother?’ Robert demanded suddenly looking more ferocious than Lucy had ever seen him. ‘I think that would be impossible for you, Lucy. You would more likely pick up your pistols and offer him to another duel, instead of a kiss!’
Lucy was quiet as she watched the expressions flit over her brother’s face, dread being one of them. ‘Are you afraid?’ She asked in trepidation.
‘Of dying?’ He asked and as she nodded her head he said, ‘no. I’m not afraid of dying, I’m afraid I will lose Caroline’s affection and respect if I challenge her brother.’ He sighed deeply, ‘but you aren’t going to give me any choice, are you?’ He kissed her quickly on the forehead. ‘You would rather spend your life secluded here.’ He murmured as he stood to leave.
‘Why would I be secluded here?’ Lucy frowned at him.
‘My dear baby sister.’ Robert said patiently. ‘The scandal will reach monumental proportions once this house party is finished. You will be labelled a harlot and Buxton will be vilified as a debaucher of the innocent.’ He sighed as he reached for the door handle. ‘It’s a very nice way of you to say thank you for him saving your life.’ He looked at her as he depressed the handle, ‘and he did save your life. If you want to know exactly what he did while you were fever ridden, just ask Abigail, as she was here practically the whole time. Anyway, Betsy should be here in a while.’ Robert went out and slammed the door. He saw Abigail once more before climbing on his horse and riding cautiously back to the Hall.
Half an hour later Betsy arrived at the Dower house and attempted to calm Lucy’s severely abraded nerves.
‘I can’t think what all the fuss is about, Miss Lucy.’ Betsy said evenly. ‘You were very sick, by all accounts and the Earl saved your life!’
Lucy was still angry that Wilfred de Lacey had been alone with her more than once over the course of the day. She tried to come to terms with it, but she was so indignant about it that she inadvertently took her anger out on everyone around her. Betsy was the only one capable of making Lucy aware at that point. She sighed deeply. ‘He’s such a handsome man.’ Betsy murmured in awe, as if she was talking about a God.
‘Devil’s usually are.’ Lucy muttered.
‘Do you know, miss. I’ve looked after you for nigh on fifteen years and I’ve never heard you talk such twaddle before.’ Betsy said harshly. ‘He is to be your husband, if you ever want to show your face in Society again.’
‘Who wants to be in society, anyway!?’ Lucy spat in defiance.
‘Happen your brothers might like it, at least if you marry Lord Buxton they will get to choose wives for themselves.’ Betsy said thoughtfully as she unpacked the valise of the few things she had brought for Lucy. ‘I don’t suppose Master Timothy will enjoy missing out on the London entertainments and I’d be surprised if the Earl will be able to show his face at the House of Lords until after the Duke of Dovedale passes away.’ She sighed, ‘and only then if the Prince Regent will let him take his seat.’ She rummaged in the bottom of the valise and removed a pair of walking boots. ‘I understand that Buxton is a personal friend of the Prince and he might be a bit miffed if your brother kills him.’ Betsy turned and looked at her for the first time and Lucy’s stomach went hollow at her next words. ‘Of course, should Buxton win the duel, I don’t think your mother would ever forgive you and certainly Mister Richard will be angry at having to leave his profession to become the next Earl!’
‘But I don’t want to marry him.’ Lucy said sulkily.
‘You should have thought about that before you ran out into the snow and made matters worse.’ Betsy said firmly. ‘What possessed you to do it?’
‘He called me one of Markham’s whores.’ She said defensively. ‘He had no right to make such an assumption.’
‘Do you like the Duke of Markham?’ Betsy asked her in horror as they had discussed what Robert had told her.
‘No!’ Lucy said in disgust.
‘Then it must be the Earl that you like, despite your insistence that he’s a lecher and a fiend!’ Betsy laughed out loud, bending at the waist to hold her knees as the expressions of disgust, discomfort and dismay flicked across Lucy’s face. ‘Yes! I see it, now. You are in love with the Earl and are trying to deny it!’ She laughed again, uproariously. ‘You should never lie to yourself, Miss Lucy. It only causes distress at the end of the day.’ She grabbed the water jug as she left the room and Lucy could still hear her laughter until she closed the sitting room door. She folded her arms under her breasts and harrumphed like a petulant child, her bottom lip protruding in a pout.
She sat and thought about the Earl. He’s certainly handsome. She thought about how he had looked after he’d climbed out of the Oak tree. ‘Mmm. So…more-ish!’ She muttered as her heart picked up speed at the thought of stroking her palms over that hi
rsute, firm flesh. That’s positively wicked, Lucy! She castigated herself. She thought about him cramming his man part into her woman’s passage and she felt her thighs go weak with desire. There was a distinctly hot, achy feeling at the apex of her thighs and Lucy investigated with her fingers. ‘Oh!’ blurted from her as she felt her desire flood her own fingers and yanked her hand away in surprise and shame. What would it feel like if Wilfred touched me there? She asked herself and her heart accelerated to pounding as it tried to get out of her chest. HEAVEN! came the reply as she tentatively stroked her fingers over her aching flesh. She stopped as she heard the sitting room door open and folded her hands on the bed as Timothy came in the bedroom. Thankfully he didn’t notice the flush in her cheeks, or if he did, he put it down to her recent fever.
‘Lucy! How do you feel?’ He demanded.
‘I feel better.’ Lucy said. ‘I should be back at Bassett Hall tomorrow morning.’
‘Well, you should probably take your time. I understand Lady Phyllida is very angry with you for snapping up the best catch on the marriage mart!’ He laughed jovially, ‘and as I understand it, if you don’t marry him, your reputation will be gone!’
‘Why is everybody finding this so funny?’ Lucy asked unhappily. ‘My reputation is in tatters because of that lecher!’
Timothy sat down and just looked at his sister. ‘Do you know, Luce? I never thought you were stupid.’ He said softly. ‘I know you’re wilful, disobedient at times and a hoyden in the saddle,’ he looked at her sadly. ‘But I never thought you were stupid or so selfish that you wouldn’t care how your behaviour affects the rest of us.’ He held up his hand. ‘Yes, yes, I know. We are men and life is much easier for us.’ He sighed deeply. ‘But you would rather see the Bassett line die out, than do the right thing?’ He sighed as he got up and went to the door. ‘If father were alive, there wouldn’t be any discussion about this, you know. He would have had you married by special licence this morning!’ He stopped at the door, turned and walked back. ‘What’s wrong with the Earl, anyway?’
Pride and Retribution Page 16
