The Blackmailed Beauty

by Ilene Withers

  “Good morning,” Noel greeted, doffing his hat, as they passed the two grooms and came up on either side of the girls.

  “I wouldn’t have expected to meet two such lovely ladies out this early,” put in John.

  Noel noticed the teasing look Miss Dutton gave Miss Stuart before she replied to him. “I wouldn’t miss a morning’s ride,” she then said.

  The earl drew Miss Dutton’s attention away, telling her he thought she possessed a fine beast. Noel took this opportunity to study Miss Stuart. Her riding habit was a pretty rose color, which brought out the pink in her cheeks. A matching hat, trimmed with a small grouping of feathers, shaded her pretty face. She was as exquisite as he’d remembered. He wanted to tell her so but couldn’t find acceptable words. It was best to settle for a safer compliment, he decided.

  “You ride quite well,” he told her.

  She did not reply. She had snubbed him! He saw her eyes firmly fixed on John. He had an unaccountable urge to beat his best friend to a bloody pulp.

  “Roydon!” He found himself saying harshly, stinging from her inattention. Noel waited for his friend to look up at him before he spoke. “We had best be getting on.”

  ****

  Claire wondered what she might say to draw the earl’s attention to her. He and her cousin were discussing the merits of one horse breed versus the other. Then suddenly, Willa gazed at her and frowned.

  “Roydon,” the duke’s voice broke through her thoughts. “We had best be getting on,” he finished.

  Claire watched as Lord Roydon glanced over at his friend with an expression of obvious confusion on his face. She followed the earl’s gaze and found the duke’s face sported a rather thunderous countenance.

  “Of course,” Lord Roydon answered after a moment or two. “If you will excuse us, ladies,” he continued. “It’s been a pleasure.”

  “Yes, a pleasure,” the duke agreed with him, although the tone of his voice sounded as if he meant it was anything but enjoyable.

  Both men tugged the reins and rode back the way they had come.

  “How pleasant,” Willa broke the silence. “Lord Roydon is so knowledgeable about horses. However, I do wonder why you ignored the duke so.”

  “I am sure I greeted him genially,” Claire replied.

  “Yes, at first,” Willa agreed. “It was when you snubbed him of which I am speaking.”

  “What?” Claire stared at Willa in bewilderment. She surely had not! One did not snub a duke, especially if she must gain the favors of his best friend. “Surely I did not.”

  “He had given you a compliment on your riding skills,” Willa said, “and you ignored him.”

  “I did not hear,” Claire said. “Whatever shall I do?”

  “I shouldn’t worry about it if I were you,” Willa said. “I am sure he is most impressed with you. Although, you might apologize when you next meet him,” she suggested.

  “I will apologize,” Claire promised, “but I do not believe he was being anything more than polite.”

  As they rode on in silence, Claire thought about what her cousin had said. She was, in fact, quite worried the duke might be infatuated with her. Of course, he must only be attracted to her beauty. No more than he had seen her and conversed with her it surely was nothing more. Even so, it was a nuisance. Every time he was around, she was ill at ease. Furthermore, she must stay focused on the earl and dare not let obstacles stand in her way. It was practically a life or death matter.

  “Shall we turn and go home?” Willa asked.

  Turning her attention back to her cousin, Claire agreed. It was getting late and the ball the previous evening had been tiring. In fact, she now wished she had stayed abed. The hoped for encounter with the earl had not been at all what she had needed it to be.

  It took only a few minutes for them to arrive back at her uncle’s town home. The grooms helped the girls dismount and then disappeared with the horses. As the door opened and she and Willa walked through it, Claire was astounded to find bouquets of flowers filling the hall.

  “Dunley,” she addressed the butler, “where have all these come from?” She indicated the bouquets with a broad sweep of her arm.

  “From admirers I would presume, Miss,” he said. “I daresay more will arrive.”

  Willa glanced around at them. “More? Wherever will we put them?”

  “I have given the maids and footmen instructions to disperse them throughout the house. First, however, you each might select the ones you would like placed in your chambers,” he said kindly. “I have placed yours, Miss Dutton, on the far side of the room and yours, Miss Stuart, on this side.”

  She walked toward the groupings of flowers the butler indicated were hers. She felt drawn to a large bouquet of pretty spring posies. Picking up the accompanying card, she read it silently. “These reminded me of you, Lamberton.” Claire knew she must pick other arrangements for her room. If the duke came to call and did not see his bouquet, he might assume it was in her chamber. She dare not let him think it was special to her.

  Claire read the other cards. She recognized the names as those of the young men she had danced with at the ball. The last bouquet was a perky grouping of pansies. Lifting the card, she was excited to read the simple greeting “My best, Roydon.”

  "Place only the pansies in my chamber," she told Dunley decisively before turning to admire her cousin’s bouquets. She noticed Willa had an identical bouquet of pansies and wondered if these were from the earl as well. She hoped not.

  Claire had no time to spare the rest of the day. She would have loved a nap, but her aunt reminded them of their appointment at the modiste's for fittings. By the time they finished, went to the lending library, picked up new gloves, and stopped for a bit of lace and ribbons, they needed to dress for dinner.

  Lord Helmsley's reception was already crowded by the time they arrived. Willa and Claire followed the viscountess into the room as the viscount immediately slipped away to the card room.

  "What are we supposed to do?" Willa whispered to Claire.

  "I think we mingle," Claire said softly, trying to remember to smile. Her mother had always told her one drew more bees with honey than with vinegar. In her mind, it was worth a try.

  The viscountess had started slowly around the room, stopping to chat with several matrons within the first few feet.

  "There is Miss Adams," Willa said, discreetly indicating a tall brunette who was standing not far away. "She is the daughter of our local squire," she continued. "Would you mind if I went to speak to her?"

  "Of course not," Claire replied. Standing quietly to the side of the group of older women, she surveyed the room. She had just decided she recognized several people from the previous night when there was the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her. Then she saw Lady Regina standing not far back.

  Claire thought about ignoring her but knew she did not dare. It would be inviting censure from far more than Lady Regina. Instead, she moved away from the group of women and joined the other young woman.

  "I do hope you have remembered our bargain," Lady Regina said.

  "Of course," Claire replied. "It is difficult to forget."

  “The earl came to call today,” the other young woman complained. “He is to be calling on you,” she finished firmly.

  “Lady Regina,” Claire began bravely, “this is but the second event I’ve been to. I danced with him at his mother’s ball, I met him this morning in the park while we were riding, and he sent me flowers. Furthermore,” she added angrily, “he will be here tonight. I do not remember you putting a time limit on this. I should have all season.”

  Lady Regina frowned. “I do hope you hurry,” she stressed and then added, “I did see the Duke of Lamberton hovering over you a lot at the ball.”

  “Yes, well, I am sure it was just coincidence,” Claire responded, and then she got up her nerve, turned her back to Lady Regina, and walked away.

  Chapter Five

  It wasn’t
but a few minutes after Claire left Lady Regina when she sensed someone’s presence behind her again. Turning slightly she saw Lord Roydon standing there. She greeted him with a smile.

  “My lord, it is a pleasure to see you this evening,” she greeted.

  “As it is you, Miss Stuart,” he replied genuinely.

  “Thank you for the pansies,” Claire said. “I do so love them. I believe pansies to be one of the season’s delights.”

  “You are most welcome,” he said. “It seems to be quite a squeeze this evening, does it not?”

  “Oh yes,” Claire agreed, “and I admit to knowing hardly anyone.”

  “While I, unfortunately, know too many,” he said with a wry grin.

  “Isn’t it difficult to remember everyone’s names?” Claire asked quietly.

  The earl laughed. “It is,” he agreed. “Staying in the country much of the year doesn’t make it any easier to remember, either.”

  “I agree,” Claire said. “I don’t believe I shall ever remember the names of all those I am introduced to.”

  “You will eventually,” Roydon said, “but it may take a while. Until then smile and call them ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’. I dare say beautiful young women find themselves forgiven easily.”

  “What good advice,” Claire replied, happy with his compliment. “I promise I shall remember it. It was most pleasant to see you and His Grace in the park this morning,” she ventured.

  “Yes, Lamberton insisted we ride out,” he said with a smile. “Although I did not convince him to attend this evening.”

  “Oh?” Claire found herself more interested than she should be.

  “He said he wanted an early night.”

  The earl chatted a few more minutes before moving on to other acquaintances. Willa joined her soon after, and they spent the evening visiting with other young people in attendance. Yet, oddly, the event seemed flat to Claire. She was quite glad when her aunt and uncle came to collect them and escort them home.

  Claire woke late the next day. The sun was high in the sky, and the room was warming nicely from its rays. She sat up and looked at the clock. Disgusted with herself for sleeping so late, she slid out of bed and rang the bell.

  The maid entered the room with a tray of chocolate and toast. “Good morning, Miss.”

  “Good morning, Molly. I suppose my cousin has been up for hours.”

  “No, Miss, she is still asleep.”

  “I’m surprised,” Claire told the maid. “Thank you for the chocolate. It looks wonderful. I believe I’ll relax a bit and will be ready to dress in half an hour perhaps.”

  “I’ll bring hot water then, Miss,” Molly said and then left the room.

  Claire picked up the chocolate, took an appreciative sip, and thought about the day ahead. They were to go calling with Aunt Blythe today with the goal of obtaining vouchers for Almack’s. Tonight they were to attend a musicale held by a friend of Aunt Blythe’s. She was to play the harp followed by the pianoforte while she and Willa performed a duet.

  She hoped the earl would be there. Unsure how to attract more of his attentions, Claire contemplated the pretty pansies at her bedside. Happy to have had the time the previous evening to visit with him alone, she felt there was still much that was beyond her control. Meeting Lady Regina at the events also kept her on edge.

  A slight knock sounded at her door, and Willa stuck her head in. “Oh, chocolate.” She pulled the bell rope and climbed onto the bed with Claire. Molly appeared in an instant to take an order for more chocolate.

  “You must have slept late, too,” Willa commented. “I was tired from getting up early yesterday and needed to catch up a bit.”

  “Yes, I was as well,” Claire said. “Perhaps society stays abed for a reason,” she finished with a smile.

  “No doubt,” Willa agreed. “Are you nervous about tonight?”

  “Do you mean performing?” Claire asked.

  “Yes, you goose!”

  “No,” admitted Claire.

  “How can you not be?” Willa asked. “I am scared to death!”

  “I am accustomed to performing in public,” Claire said. “I remember how scared I used to get, and I do hope you do not allow yourself to be so nervous. It wasn’t fun!”

  “I promise to try not to be,” Willa said, “but knowing all those gentlemen will be out there watching us does petrify me. I’m trying to impress them so I want our performance to be perfect.”

  Claire reached over to squeeze her cousin’s hand. “If it’s not, they will never notice. They will be too in awe of your beauty.”

  “I can only hope!” Willa exclaimed with a grin. “But I’ll try to think they are.”

  Molly entered with the extra cup and another pot of chocolate. Willa jumped up to pour, refilling Claire’s cup and filling her own. “I am excited about our calls today,” she said. “Let us hope we receive our vouchers. I am so looking forward to Almack’s.”

  “You will certainly get one,” Claire assured her. “I may not, but I’ll understand if that happens.”

  “Fiddlesticks,” Willa said, “you are just as likely to receive them as I am.”

  Indeed, it was true. The Viscount and Viscountess of Amhearst were quite well thought of and visiting the lady patroness was just a formality. After the visit, the day sped by. They made several calls, staying the appropriate twenty minutes at each house. By the time they stepped into their coach after their last call, Claire clutched her stomach.

  “I am drowning in tea,” she said. “I actually believe I slosh!”

  Willa laughed, “Me, too, and if I have to eat another tea cake today we shall all be quite sorry.”

  In the privacy of their coach, the viscountess looked at them both with amusement. “You will both learn the art of sipping quite slowly, nibbling only a little, and nodding politely. It is a survival tactic.”

  Back in their home, the girls prepared for the evening’s entertainment. With new gowns arriving each day, Molly helped them select complimentary dresses for the evening.

  Willa chose to wear her new peach batiste. Solid in color with tiny puffed sleeves, it featured a round neckline and a white ribbon at the bodice. Rows of the same ribbon adorned the hem. Her cousin’s gown was made of a striped lawn. The pure white background boasted stripes of the lightest pink . Claire’s gown bore pink ribbons as decoration.

  The musicale did not lend itself to socialization until refreshment time. Instead, Lady Amhearst led her charges into the large room and seated them near the front where they would have easy access to the performance stage. They spoke only to those around them and did not have long to wait until their hostess, Lady Suffield, rose and called for her guests’ attention.

  Miss Vivian Suffield opened the night’s entertainment with a lovely rendition of “Greensleeves.” Miss Ackerman followed this with a pianoforte piece. A young man, unknown to Claire or her relatives, entertained the crowd proficiently on the violin. Then it was time for the girls to perform their selections with her harp solo coming first.

  Claire rose alone and walked to the stage. She sat calmly behind the harp, which the hostess provided, and letting her hands rest in their positions, confidently plucked the beginning notes. She learned long ago not to look at the audience while playing. Instead, she kept a polite smile on her lips and allowed her thoughts to flow with the music. When she finished she did rise and curtsy slightly. Walking across to the pianoforte she stood until her cousin joined her. Only then did she seat herself on the bench.

  Standing next to her, Willa smiled and waited for her to finish the short musical introduction. Then, as though they had practiced it forever, both of them began to sing. Their voices blended and grew until they filled the room with the words and notes. Claire stumbled once over the keys but was sure only the most accomplished musicians would have noticed. Between verses, she played a few measures before they sang again. The applause was enthusiastic. She rose from her bench and grasped her cousin’s hand befo
re they made their curtsies and left the stage to return to their seats.

  “You were wonderful,” the viscountess told them both quietly as they sat down next to her. The girls thanked her, and then Willa leaned over to discreetly whisper to Claire.

  “I was positively scared stiff,” she admitted.

  Claire whispered back, “No one would have known. Even I did not notice.”

  “Well, I am glad it’s over,” Willa said.

  The musicale lasted for another three performances. All were quite talented and the viscountess pronounced it to be an evening of unusually good entertainment. When the last selection’s final notes faded away, the audience rose collectively and slowly moved toward the refreshment room, greeting the peers they met along the way.

  Claire unobtrusively searched the room. Her eyes landed on the dark handsomeness of the duke, and her heart leapt unexpectedly causing her to frown. She was pleased to see Lord Roydon next to him, but noticed her body did not react at the sight of him. Confused, she looked away. She did not see Lady Regina, which allowed her to relax some. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself, recognizing how on edge she had been. No doubt the idea of two performances had made her unusually nervous.

  Inside the reception room, she and Willa followed the viscountess through the buffet line. “Claire, Lady Suffield has provided tea cakes,” her cousin pointed out mischievously.

  “You mustn’t have any,” Claire said, unable to keep from grinning. “You might try some of these lobster patties instead.” She reached over to choose one for herself. After the multiple servings of tea and cakes that afternoon, they ate little at the light supper the cook provided for the family before their evening out. Now Claire found herself more hungry than usual. Spying some delicate cream puffs, she took one of them and was eyeing the loaded table for her next selection when someone spoke to her.