by Mary Nichols
‘That was the Loscoe coach,’ Donald yelled as they rattled past, but the horses were out of control and they could not stop.
‘James!’ Lavinia screamed, as the hurtling vehicle passed within inches of them. ‘Oh, James.’ He had been driving so fast, he had not recognised the coach and did not know she was inside. She began to weep silently. Tears coursed down her cheeks unchecked.
Edmund laughed crazily. ‘He did not see us, but he has done us a service and scattered the mob so they have lost interest in us. Now you must settle for me, my dear.’
‘Never! He will come back.’
‘Give me leave to doubt it. He obviously has other things on his mind. Lady Rattenshaw, perhaps, though she is no lady.’
She was diverted enough to look sharply at him. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You did not know the so-called lady is an actress?’
‘That’s nonsense. You are mad.’
‘Not at all, my dear. Shall I tell you her name? It is Marianne Doubleday, one-time paramour of Sir Percival Ponsonby. They thought they had tricked me, but I was at the whore’s house one day, waiting for her—we were going out for a drive into the country—when I saw a playbill, rolled up on a bookshelf. I undid it, out of curiosity, you understand, and there she was, as large as life…’
‘I am sure I do not know what you are talking about.’
‘The plot Sir Percy and the Earl of Corringham hatched to discredit me. They dangled the actress in front of me, hoping to divert me from my purpose.’
‘What purpose?’
‘To marry you, of course.’
‘I told you I would not marry you.’ His revelation, intriguing though it was, mattered little against her need to convince him. ‘Can’t you understand that? Take me home at once.’ She tried to sound firm, in control, but her head was still pounding and she knew that if it came to it, she was not strong enough to fight him off.
‘Oh, no, my dear. You are too valuable a commodity to hand over without some kind of recompense for my pains. If I cannot have your dowry, I shall have your ransom. Now settle down and go to sleep, we have a long drive ahead of us.’ He put his head out of the window and called up to the coachman. ‘It is safe enough to proceed now.’
‘No!’ Lavinia shouted. ‘Tom, you are not to move an inch.’
Infuriated, Edmund scrambled up on the driving seat. Lavinia seized her opportunity, jumped from the coach and ran, heading for the departing crowds. She would be safer among them than with her abductor.
Lord Wincote abandoned his attack on Tom and set off in pursuit. He did not look before dashing across the road in front of a coach and horses galloping at breakneck speed towards them. Lavinia, hearing the terrible sound of screams, splintering wood and neighing horses, turned just in time to see Edmund flung into the air like a rag doll, and the coach veering crazily, before embedding itself in a tree. Then there was a terrible silence.
She stood as mesmerised as she had been when Lord Wincote took her from the house. Some of the crowd turned and began to run towards the scene, taking Lavinia with them. Those at the front went to Lord Wincote. He lay in a crumpled heap, his lifeless eyes staring into nothing. ‘He’s dead,’ they said.
Lavinia stood looking down at him, unable to believe what had happened. She had been frightened by him, terrified of his strange power, but never had she wished him dead. What was that other coach doing travelling so fast? ‘Leave him,’ someone said, drawing her away. ‘Can’t do nothing for him now.’
She looked up as the now sober crowd ran to the crashed carriage, its wheels still spinning. Some ran to free the horses, others to look for the occupants. She saw Major Greenaway pick himself up from the ground and shake himself almost as the same time as she recognised the Corringham coat of arms on the door. ‘James!’ she screamed, starting to run. ‘James.’
He had been thrown off by the impact and was lying in a mass of broken branches. She thought he was dead too and her panic to reach him gave her the strength to push past everyone, tearing her costume on the splintered wood. ‘James!’ She sobbed his name as if repetition would bring him back to life. ‘James, oh, James.’
When she reached him, Donald was kneeling beside him. He looked up at her. ‘He’s alive,’ he said quietly.
‘Oh, thank God!’ She fell on her knees beside him, just as he moaned and tried to sit up. ‘I thought you had been killed, too.’
He forced a grin. ‘No…winded, that’s all.’ He reached up and touched a bump on the back of his head, wincing. ‘I shall have a headache tomorrow.’
‘Are you sure that is all?’ Lavinia, with tears running down her face unchecked, threw herself into his arms. ‘I do not know what I would have done if anything had happened to you.’
‘I shall be as right as ninepence directly.’ Still shocked, he looked round at the devastation and saw her torn dress, the scratches on her arms and his own aches and pains faded to nothing. ‘You are hurt.’
‘No, not at all.’
‘What happened to Wincote? Did…?’
‘It was not your fault,’ Lavinia said. ‘He ran right under your horses’ hooves. Oh, you do not know how glad I am to see you. When I saw you galloping past and you didn’t stop…’
‘I could not. It took nearly half a mile to pull the horses up and calm them before they could be persuaded to turn the coach and bring us back. I was so distraught with worry, I drove hell for leather. I tried to pull up when I saw the man in the road. What was he doing there?’
‘Chasing me. I was running away from him. James, he was horrible. I am sorry he is dead, but I was so frightened…’
‘Dead?’ He looked from Lavinia to Donald.
‘Afraid he’s a goner,’ the major said.
‘Oh, my God! I killed him.’
‘It was no more’n he deserved, my lord.’ Tom had left their coach and run to help. ‘After what he did and the way he treated Lady Lavinia, I have no pity for him. I’d have strangled him with my own hands if you hadn’t come along.’
‘That’s all very well,’ James said, hauling himself to his feet and brushing leaves and twigs from his clothes. ‘A man has died a violent death and I am to blame.’
‘Brought it on hisself,’ Tom insisted. ‘You should have heard the things he was saying to her ladyship and her in such a state—’
‘You can tell me later,’ James said, looking down at Lavinia, who had put his arm round her shoulders to support him. He was perfectly able to stand, it was Lavinia who needed support. There was no doubt she had had a terrible fright; she was quaking like a leaf with shock. ‘First things first,’ he said, taking off his torn coat and draping it about her shoulders. ‘Tom, take Lady Lavinia back to her carriage. I will join you directly when I have seen what I can do for Lord Wincote.’
But there was nothing to be done. His lordship lay where he had fallen. Someone had straightened his limbs and shut his eyes so that he looked as though he were asleep, except for the pool of blood under his head.
‘I’ll see he gets to the mortuary and inform the authorities,’ Donald said. ‘You take Lady Lavinia home. We can send someone to salvage the carriage tomorrow.’
He thanked his friend and made his way to the Loscoe coach, limping a little. Now the numbness was wearing off he felt as if he had been in a gruelling bout with Gentleman Jackson and come out the worse for wear. But he was better off than Wincote and whatever the man had done, he could not rejoice in his death. He went to join Lavinia.
She was sitting in the coach with the door open. In the meagre light, coming from the street lamps, he could see her face was paper white. ‘Vinny, are you sure you are all right?’
‘Oh, yes, now you have come.’ She held out her hand to help him into the coach. ‘My shining knight. You were coming to rescue me?’
‘Someone had to pull you out of the bumblebath you had fallen into.’ He managed one of his old smiles, then called out to Tom who was sitting with the reins in his hands, to take
them to Corringham House.
‘Corringham House?’ she queried, as he pulled the door shut. ‘Don’t you mean Stanmore House?’
‘No. You can hardly go back to that party looking like that and neither can I. Besides, I mean to have a few minutes alone with you, without interruption.’
‘Oh.’
‘I expressly asked you not to speak to Wincote until you had heard what I had to say. Why didn’t you stay in the ballroom with the others?’
‘I didn’t feel like it. I wanted to be alone to think.’
‘About Lord Wincote’s offer?’
‘No. I told him two weeks ago I would not marry him. I wanted to think about what I should do now the play was over.’
‘You had already rejected him?’ He could not conceal his astonishment. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I tried, more than once, but something always happened to prevent it and when I realised you were in love with Lady Rattenshaw—’ She stopped suddenly. ‘Lord Wincote told me she wasn’t a lady but an actress.’
He turned in his seat so that he was facing her. ‘Vinny, what are you saying?’
‘Lady Rattenshaw is an actress. He told me her real name but I have forgotten it. He said you knew…’
‘I did, but that was not what I meant. What do you mean, you realised I was in love?’
‘You are, aren’t you? Isn’t that what you were going to tell me?’
‘No, by heaven, it was not. At least, not that I was in love with Lady Rattenshaw. Wherever did you get that idea?’
‘You often had your heads together and smiled at each other and… Oh, I don’t know. I was confused.’
‘Oh, Vinny, Vinny, how could you think I could love anyone but you? You are in every breath I take, waking and sleeping. You are part of me, my heart and lungs and head…’
Her thoughts were in a whirl and her heart was singing, she could hardly believe what she was hearing. ‘Not your sister?’
‘No, you goose.’ He took both her hands and cupped them in his. ‘I love you as a man loves a woman, and have done for years—ever since I set eyes on you when you were a spoiled, opinionated sixteen-year-old.’
She punched him playfully on the arm. ‘I never was.’
‘Still are.’
‘No, I am not.’
‘There you are,’ he said, though he was smiling. ‘Case proved.’
‘I am no longer sixteen.’ She was suddenly serious. ‘You said you were waiting for me to grow up.’
‘I did. And an unconscionable time you have been about it.’
‘Growing up was painful. It was easier to stay as we were and you did not help, roasting me and treating me like a little sister.’
‘I thought that was what you wanted. But it was definitely not what I wanted, believe me. I wanted a grown woman.’
‘James, I have done my growing up all in a hurry. And now—’
‘You are the perfect age. May you never grow older. May you never change. I love you just as you are. Always and forever.’
It was unbelievable and she could not quite take it in. ‘Do you mean it?’
‘I was never more serious in my life.’ He put his arm about her and drew her nearer to him, savouring the feel of her so close, her head on his shoulder. He could smell the scent of her hair and feel the warmth of her body against his as his coat fell from her shoulders.
‘James, don’t ever let me go again.’
He laughed, suddenly light-hearted. ‘I would have to put you in chains, it is the only way, you know.’
‘Don’t be silly. I need no chains to stay at your side. A simple gold band would do.’
He turned to her in astonishment. ‘Does that mean you will marry me?’
‘You have not asked me.’
‘Dear me, how could I have overlooked such a simple thing as asking the lady I love to be my wife?’ He smiled down at her, with such tenderness that she was knew he was not joking, in spite his bantering tone. ‘So, my love, will you marry me?’
‘Oh, yes, please.’
He kissed her then, properly, mouth on mouth as a man kisses a woman—and it was all she could have hoped for, tender and sweet, but full of passion. They were still locked in each other’s arms when the carriage came to a halt.
He helped her out and instructed Tom to go to Stanmore House and tell the Duchess what had happened. ‘Let her know Lady Lavinia is unharmed and ask her to send some clothes for her,’ he said. ‘Say we will join the party later. I can rely on you to do it discreetly.’
‘Yes, my lord.’
They watched him set off and he took Lavinia’s arm to escort her indoors. The house was quiet, only a single lamp lit the hall. ‘I told the servants not to wait up,’ he said, leading her into the drawing room.
‘Then don’t wake them,’ she replied. ‘I need nothing until my clothes arrive.’
He lit the lamp which stood on the table by the hearth. Its warm glow illuminated only a part of the room, but she did not need to see it. Her eyes were filled with the sight of the man she loved, turning to face her, his arms outstretched. She ran eagerly into them and he held her tight, kissing her over and over again.
‘Oh, James, I can’t believe it. That we are here…’
‘Which we shouldn’t be, of course. We are alone in my house, in the middle of the night; if word gets out, your reputation will be in tatters.’
‘I am sure it already is. After all, I went off with Lord Wincote.’ She shuddered at the memory. ‘I think—I am sure he must have mesmerised me. I have no recollection of anything until I came to my senses in that carriage. Oh, James, I was terrified.’
‘It is all over now, my love.’
‘Yes, and he is dead. I can’t quite believe that. Such a waste of a life.’
‘I regret that,’ he said quietly, reminded of the story of Wincote’s brother. Had Edmund really murdered him? They would never know now, but if he had, he had been punished for it. ‘But it was truly an accident. I did my best to avoid him.’
‘I know, and risked your life to do it. Oh, what will Papa and Mama say about it?’
‘They will be told the truth, but as far as the rest of the world is concerned it was no more than a tragic accident.’
‘But what will everyone say when we tell them our news? There will be a dreadful scandal, coming so quickly on Lord Wincote’s death.’
‘Are you saying you want to postpone an announcement?’
She looked up into his face and her heart turned over all over again; he was gazing down at her with such love and tenderness in his eyes. ‘What do you think?’
‘I do not want to delay a single minute longer than I have to before I make you my wife.’
‘That sounds good. Say it again.’
‘My wife.’
She giggled suddenly. ‘I can’t believe it. Won’t everyone be surprised?’
‘I doubt it,’ he said, smiling at her indulgently. Whatever she wanted, he would do his best to give her. But holding back would be hard. ‘I have, according to Little Mama, been wearing my heart on my sleeve for weeks. She advocated laying it at your feet.’
‘She knew?’ she asked in surprise. ‘She never even hinted, though she did tell me not to give up on you.’
‘She said something of the sort to me. I had decided to take her advice and tell you after the play, but Wincote got there first.’
‘We will not talk about him. Kiss me again.’ She lifted her face to his and he obliged willingly, holding her close against him, feeling her heart beating through the flimsy material of the torn gown. His body responded uncomfortably as desire coursed through him, his passion doing battle with his innate sense of chivalry, which was not helped by the way she was kissing him back. There was an abandonment about it that told him she was a passionate woman who could and would satisfy him.
But it was not only passion but tenderness that held him in thrall, tenderness for her youth, for her feelings which could so easily be bruised
. He wanted a good beginning to their life together, he wanted her happiness above his own desires. He held her gently away from him, as they heard a carriage drawing up outside. Tom was back.
‘The party will be over,’ she said, hearing it too and reluctant to come back to earth from the cloud she had been floating on.
‘I doubt it,’ he said, smiling. ‘I believe it is set to go on all night. We need to change our clothes and make ourselves tidy, but if we are quick they might not even have missed us. We have been absent for less than two hours.’
Two hours! Was that all? It had seemed like the whole night, a year, a lifetime. But her life was before her and she was happy. She smiled and took his hand as they faced their future together.
Historical Note
The so-called trial of Queen Caroline was resumed on the third of October when Lord Brougham made a masterly speech for the defence, which everyone, even his opponents, applauded for its persuasion and eloquence. It made such a strong impression that many peers, hitherto for the motion, debated whether to continue to support it.
Defence witnesses were every bit as convincing as the prosecution and the trial lasted for fifty-two days. The majority in favour of the bill on its second reading was twenty-eight. On November the eighth, the divorce clause, the most contentious of the issues, was carried and on Friday, November the tenth, the bill came up for its third reading. This time there was a majority of only nine. When the result was announced, Lord Liverpool rose and announced that had the third reading been passed with the same majority as the second, the Government would have felt it their duty to send it to the Commons. However, with the opinion so evenly balanced, it was his intention that the question ‘that bill do now pass’ be changed to say ‘this day six months’, a procedural device which had the effect of abandoning it. His motion was carried, amid loud cheers.
Given the ferment of support for Queen Caroline in the country, it was the wisest, perhaps the only thing he could have done. In effect, the Queen had been found guilty but had escaped the punishment of divorce. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that revolution had been avoided and the population went wild with celebration. The Queen, her victory a hollow one, was refused a palace and went to live in seclusion at Brandenberg House while the King, not altogether pleased by the result, put in hand the arrangements for his coronation which took place on July the twenty-ninth, 1821.
