The Scandalous Lord Lanchester

by Michelle Styles

  ‘It is a little strange. He asked me for the dance before supper, but did not come to claim me. I think he has something important he wishes to tell you, Andrew.’

  Andrew muttered something under his breath, looking annoyed. ‘If he has, he should come to me rather than hint something to you at such a time. Conversations may be overheard and misinterpreted at an occasion like this.’

  ‘Oh, I assure you that he said nothing anyone could pick up or understand—he was quite mysterious, but I guessed more than he said.’ She gave him a wicked look. ‘Did I not tell you that I should get to the bottom of your mystery?’

  ‘Please do not meddle in something you don’t understand. It might be dangerous, Mariah.’

  ‘Lieutenant Grainger said something of the sort.’ Mariah frowned and looked about her. ‘It is a little strange that he forgot our dance—you do not suppose that something has happened to him?’

  ‘Good grief, no,’ Andrew said. ‘Why should anything happen here? I should have thought it was the last place…’ He shook his head. ‘I dare say he just became bored and decided to leave.’

  ‘Without his aunt and uncle?’

  Andrew frowned at her. ‘He has probably gone out for some air. Excuse me, I must take something for my headache. I doubt I shall return. Do not concern yourself with my welfare. I have had enough of wearing this stupid costume.’

  ‘You have not danced with me this evening.’

  ‘Did you expect me to in this thing?’ He scowled. ‘You have partners enough. I dare say there will be other occasions. Unless you intend to make your home in Italy?’

  ‘No, I do not think so,’ Mariah said. ‘Please go and rest. You should not have bothered to attend. Everyone would have understood—and Sylvia is looking for me, I think.’

  Sylvia had found a table near the window and was signalling to Mariah. She inclined her head and began to walk towards her when she heard a slight commotion and saw that one of the servants was in apparently urgent conversation with the count. The man was gesticulating and speaking rapidly, the look on the count’s face turning from astonishment to shock and then anger. Instinct told Mariah that something was wrong. She changed direction, going up to the count in time to hear him say, ‘Do not tell anyone else, Carlo. I do not want my guests upset. Deal with it as I told you and I shall speak with you later.’

  ‘Is something wrong, sir?’ Mariah asked.

  The count turned with an expression of annoyance, which changed to a false smile as he saw her. ‘Just a small domestic matter that my servant felt I would wish to know. Nothing to worry about, Mariah.’

  ‘You seemed distressed.’

  ‘Annoyance merely,’ he said. ‘I trust you are enjoying the evening, Mariah?’

  ‘Yes, very much. If there is nothing wrong, I shall join Lady Hubert for supper.’

  Mariah walked away. He was lying, of course. It was quite obvious to her that something had happened, but of course she was to be excluded. Men were so very provoking. They imagined that ladies need to be protected when it was far more exciting to know what was going on. If Andrew would only tell her what he knew, she would find the whole thing less frustrating.

  Bother! She would not let herself be provoked. Yet glancing round the supper room to discover that Lieutenant Grainger was nowhere to be seen was a little worrying.

  * * *

  ‘What is the matter?’ Sylvia asked as she joined her at the supper table. ‘The count looked a little disturbed.’

  ‘A domestic matter he claims.’

  ‘Ah…’ Sylvia nodded. ‘You haven’t seen Lieutenant Grainger, I suppose? Lady Jenkins was looking for him a few minutes ago.’

  ‘No. He was engaged to dance with me for the last dance but one before supper, but did not claim his dance. I have not seen him since early evening.’

  ‘It is a little odd,’ Sylvia said, ‘but gentlemen often become absorbed in their card games, though not many would forget engaging you for a dance. I thought he rather liked you.’

  ‘Perhaps…’ Mariah frowned.

  Would Lieutenant Grainger turn up if she kept their appointment the next morning?

  * * *

  ‘Mariah—where are you going?’

  She paused in the magnificent hallway, glancing over her shoulder in surprise as she saw Andrew coming down the stairs towards her the following morning.

  ‘I was going for a little walk,’ she replied. ‘How are you feeling today?’

  ‘Much better, thank you. It was a slight wound, as I told you, and I had no fever.’ He frowned. ‘I do not think you should walk out alone, Mariah. Would you permit me to accompany you? Where did you wish to go?’

  She hesitated, then, ‘Did you happen to see Lieutenant Grainger last night after we spoke?’

  ‘No. I think he must have returned to wherever he and his friends are staying.’

  ‘He told me that he had something important to tell you and he wanted to tell me something, too—about the count, I believe, though I am not certain quite what he had in mind. He asked if I would meet him outside the Duomo at noon, which I was about to do—but I see no reason why you should not accompany me if you wish.’

  ‘I should feel easier if you did not go alone,’ Andrew admitted. He offered her his arm as they went out into the warm sunshine. ‘I hope you will not be cross with me if I do not tell you what is going on, Mariah. It is not that I wish to exclude you, merely that I fear there might be some danger and I would not like you to be harmed. You suffered enough when you were abducted.’

  Mariah shivered despite the warmth of the sun, her hand pressing on his arm for comfort. ‘It was an experience I should not wish to repeat,’ she agreed. ‘However, I have recovered from it, Andrew. I might understand if you told me just a little. Lieutenant Grainger spoke of knowing something that might concern you—does that mean anything to you?’

  ‘Perhaps. He may have information I need,’ Andrew replied. ‘I had an idea that Grainger might be involved in some business I am looking into. He pretended to know nothing of the affair, but may be involved in some way, which he feared to reveal.’

  ‘He did tell me that Lady Jenkins’s younger sister died a year or so ago and that she had clung to him more since. I do not know if that has any bearing on what he wished to say to you.’

  ‘I cannot see how.’ Andrew looked serious. ‘It may or may not, but hopefully the mystery will be solved quite soon.’

  ‘I hope it will, for you may then have less to worry you.’ She looked at him, a wistful note in her voice. It was so pleasant when he really talked to her. He was a man she thought she would never grow tired of seeing each day. ‘You asked me if I knew about the costumes last evening. Count Paolo planned them himself—it seems he makes many plans without consulting others.’

  ‘What do you mean? Is something worrying you?’

  ‘He has told me that he wishes me to be his wife—and refuses to take no for an answer. He seems to imagine that because he wishes it, it must happen.’

  ‘Damn the impudence of the fellow!’ Andrew gave her a shocked, incredulous look. ‘Did he truly have the effrontery to say such things to you?’

  ‘Perhaps not quite in those words, but he seemed to imagine I would welcome his advances since I have no family to protect me.’

  ‘How dare he?’ Andrew stopped walking and looked at her, a furious expression in his eyes. ‘I shall call the rogue out!’

  ‘No, no, my dear friend.’ Mariah laughed, pleased with the reaction she had provoked. ‘I believe he thought me lonely, a widow looking for excitement.’

  ‘And are you?’

  ‘Perhaps.’ Mariah gurgled with laughter as she saw the disapproval in his eyes. ‘No, no, Andrew. I assure you I have no intention of becoming the count’s wife or his mistress. He is a very physical, attractive man and I might perhaps have been tempted had he courted me longer and not shown his impatience—but there is something about him that I think I should find distasteful. He is a m
an who expects to have his way in all things…perhaps a little dangerous?’

  ‘Dangerous? Yes, I think he might be if he were crossed.’ Andrew looked thoughtful. ‘You must be careful not to walk out alone with him, Mariah. How soon were you planning to return to England?’

  ‘We may leave as soon as next week,’ Mariah told him. ‘Sylvia was talking of a brief visit to Venice and from there we intend to travel to France. We shall visit Paris and then make our way home after buying some clothes.’

  ‘I shall accompany you myself. I know you trust your friends—but they clearly believe the count a man to be trusted and might not be the best placed to protect you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Mariah hugged his arm. ‘I am glad the count was wrong—I do have some good friends, Andrew.’

  ‘You should know that Avonlea and my sister and her husband are always concerned for your welfare.’

  His eyes were warm as they rested on her, a little concerned—even protective, as if he might truly care for her.

  ‘Yes, I suppose I do know, but I should not like to be a trouble to them, Andrew. Avonlea has Lucinda and his child to care for and Jane is recently married. I know that you have much on your mind…’

  They had been walking for some time and were now close to the ancient palace. Mariah glanced at the little gold watch she had pinned to her pelisse and frowned.

  ‘It is almost the appointed time,’ she said. ‘I can see no sign of Lieutenant Grainger.’

  ‘It wants five minutes to the hour,’ Andrew said. ‘You are certain this is where he wished to meet?’

  ‘He said that he wished not to be overheard.’

  People were strolling in the sunshine, admiring the beauties of the ancient palace and other buildings of architectural interest. It was the ideal meeting spot, because no one particularly noticed anyone, everyone being more interested in taking in the sights.

  They heard a church clock striking somewhere and then another, the bells ringing out, summoning the faithful to prayer. Andrew led Mariah to a little wooden bench beneath the shade of a tree and she sat down. He stood behind her, looking about him. There were several people passing but although they waited for some minutes Lieutenant Grainger was not one of them.

  ‘It seems as though he has changed his mind,’ Andrew said. ‘You did agree to the meeting?’

  ‘Yes. I thought it odd when he did not claim his second dance last evening,’ Mariah said and looked anxious. ‘Do you think something has happened to him? You said this affair might be dangerous…’

  ‘I must be honest and say that I do not know,’ Andrew told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. ‘I know Grainger said he was attacked at the lakes, but I thought that might be a lie to cover something else…’

  She turned her head to look up at him. ‘To cover what—you are hiding something more from me, are you not?’

  ‘Someone attacked me at the villa a couple of days before we had the picnic at the lake. I took a pot shot in the dark and I think I winged the rogue. I wondered if Grainger might have hired the rogue to frighten me off—and that his claim to have been attacked himself might be a ruse, but perhaps I misjudged him.’

  ‘Why should he want you to be frightened off?’

  ‘If I knew that, I should have the answer to my problem. I may be entirely wrong, of course. Indeed, his disappearance leads me to believe I was misjudging him. I thought he might be covering for a friend—now I think there is something far more sinister involved.’

  ‘I suppose you will not tell me the whole.’ Mariah stood up. ‘I think I shall tell Sylvia that I would like to leave for Venice almost at once. Please, Andrew, tell me what is going on—as much as you can. I think I have the right to know.’

  ‘Perhaps you do. There might be more to this business than I realised.’ Andrew frowned. ‘I have an enemy. He is set on ruining me and may not be satisfied unless he has my life.’

  ‘Andrew!’ Mariah was horrified. ‘Do you know who your enemy is?’

  ‘My commanding officer believes it may be a junior officer I was forced to reprimand some years ago.’

  ‘Why did he do nothing then—why now?’

  ‘I wish I knew,’ Andrew replied. ‘I heard he might be in Naples, but my search came to nothing. If I am unable to find him—or even the identity of my enemy—I may be in serious trouble.’

  ‘You cannot tell me more?’

  ‘For the moment I should prefer not to, Mariah. I will say that I am accused of something I did not do. I need to prove my innocence or I could face an official hearing.’

  ‘Is this to do with an accusation of theft? Count Paolo hinted that you were about to be ruined, but I took his words for spite, believing he hoped to discredit you in my eyes and make me turn to him. But it’s true, and now you face a court-martial?’ She was shocked when he inclined his head in assent. ‘That is ridiculous. I know you would not…do anything dishonourable.’

  ‘Thank you for your faith in me, Mariah. I can assure you that I have never stolen anything in my life and it means a great deal that you believe in me. Major Harrison feels the same way, but without proof there will always be a doubt—a shadow hanging over me.’

  ‘Yes, I see.’

  She saw a great deal that had not been clear to her before.

  Andrew was not telling her the whole truth, but Mariah knew that he was telling her far more than she could ever have expected—and that must mean he thought she needed to know.

  ‘You are warning me, because you do not wish me to be affected by your shame—is that not so?’

  ‘If I cannot clear my name, I could not offer marriage to any lady—especially one I cared for.’

  ‘Ah, now I understand.’ Mariah nodded. ‘My very dear friend. I should not care for a little scandal. I would be prepared to live abroad if you found it intolerable to live at home.’

  ‘I could never ask such a sacrifice of you.’

  ‘It would not be a sacrifice,’ she assured him. ‘But where does Lieutenant Grainger come into this—unless he is your enemy?’

  ‘I think not. I believe he knows something he thinks I ought to know and has concealed it until now. However, I cannot see how you come into this, Mariah. Why should he warn you of the count in the same breath as telling you he had something to tell me? It makes little sense.’

  ‘He warned me the count was dangerous. I believe it may have had something to do with the countess’s accident…but he was afraid to say last night lest he was overheard.’

  ‘I believe Count Paolo may be a dangerous man, Mariah. You must be careful, because he will not like being refused—but there can surely be no connection to this other business. No, the two are quite separate.’

  ‘Yet Lieutenant Grainger spoke to me last night of something important he wished to say to you, which I believe did concern Count Paolo. He thought I might be involved with him, because of the costumes. However, he had something more he wished to tell me. I believed it concerned the attacks on you both.’

  Andrew glanced about the square. ‘Well, whatever it might have been, it seems Grainger is not coming. Perhaps we should return to the count’s home?’

  ‘Yes, perhaps we should.’ Maria took his arm. ‘Is this mystery the reason why you asked me to wait until we were in England to make my decision, Andrew?’

  He turned to her with a smile. ‘I have been in some turmoil, Mariah. Yes, of course. I have had it in mind to ask you if you would do me the honour of becoming my wife, but I could not speak while this shadow hangs over me.’

  ‘I assure you I do not regard a little scandal, Andrew.’

  ‘It was not only that,’ he replied. ‘I am not yet certain who is behind this, Mariah. I would not like you to be caught in the crossfire if things become dangerous.’

  ‘I did think once last summer that you might ask me to marry you, but then you withdrew and I wondered if I had displeased you—that business of the shooting…?’

  ‘You were very brave and undoubted
ly saved Lucinda’s life,’ he said. ‘You have done nothing to displease me, Mariah. I am almost certain we should suit. I do not think either of us requires a love match particularly, but there would be no lack of respect or passion on my side. As yet I am not free to ask and may never be, but if I can clear this scandal that attaches to my name then I should like to discover how we feel about each other. We are friends, but do we wish to be more to each other and should we suit? I need a wife who is content to give me children, but should not wish her to remain always in the country if she wished to travel or even to live in London.’

  Mariah kept her face turned away. So he thought her a suitable wife, but his implication was clear—he was not in love with her.

  Well, she supposed she might live with that, though she had hoped for far more. Deep inside her there was a little hurt voice that demanded she weep, but she held it at bay and forced a careless laugh.

  ‘Oh, I think I could manage that, Andrew. I might even live in the country for a few months each year, but I certainly wish for children.’ She smiled up at him, a hint of challenge in her eyes. ‘If we should discover that our feelings were involved, and you should ask me, I see no reason why the answer should not be yes.’

  ‘Then we have an understanding,’ he said and nodded.

  Mariah turned to him with a smile. ‘Yes, we have an understanding.’

  They had an understanding of sorts.

  It seemed her future might be in a way to be settled at last, because she knew that she cared deeply for Andrew, far more than she had expected to care for anyone. If he offered her passion, respect and children, it would be enough.

  She turned to him, gazing up into his face. ‘You may kiss me if you wish.’

  ‘In public?’

  ‘No one will notice.’

  Andrew laughed, caught her about the waist and drew her to him. He lowered his head, taking her lips softly, but with a hint of passion.

  ‘You are a temptress, Mariah. Do not imagine I have not been tempted. I am a man like any other and I have oft wanted to kiss you until the breath left your body and you surrendered to me.’