The Scandalous Lord Lanchester

by Michelle Styles

  ‘Yes, I dare say you do,’ he said and reached for her hand, pressing it to his lips. His action, though casual, sent a ribbon of fire through her, making her long for much more. He had large shapely hands and she imagined how good it might feel to lie close to him and feel his fingers stroking her flesh. ‘I am certain we shall be good friends as well as husband and wife, Mariah. I have been aware of a lack in my life for a while. I think, if you are agreeable, we shall announce our happiness quite soon. Just give me a week or two once we are home so that I may settle my affairs.’

  ‘Are you able to clear your name?’

  ‘Nothing has changed since we last spoke. As yet I have no clues as to the identity of my enemy. However, I shall speak to my commanding officer, tell him that I believe the letter to be slander and little more. After all, there can be no proof for I know that I am innocent of any crime against my regiment. The regiment must decide whether to take my word or court-martial me. I have tried to find Lieutenant Gordon, but for the moment I have no idea of where else to look.’

  ‘It is a matter of your word against an anonymous letter?’

  ‘I fear it is all I can do at this moment. I have hopes that the matter will be dismissed.’

  ‘Dismissed, but not completely resolved? Will you be happy with that outcome?’

  ‘It is the best we can do in the circumstances. If I submit myself to my fellow officers’ judgement, I shall stand or fall by their decision.’

  ‘Supposing there is more behind this than an attempt to blacken your name? Your carriage was attacked on your way to the count’s house in Milan—and you were attacked at the villa. Your enemy may want more than your disgrace.’

  ‘You are suggesting that he hates me enough to kill me?’

  ‘Has that not crossed your mind, Andrew?’

  He stared at her for a moment, then laughed softly. ‘How astute you are, Mariah. Yes, I have wondered if my life is in danger. That is why I have hesitated to speak of marriage. I should be distressed if harm were to come to you because of me.’

  ‘I think that is hardly likely.’

  ‘If I have a ruthless enemy, he might well feel the best way to strike at me is through you.’ He reached out to touch her cheek. She sighed and moved closer. Andrew bent his head, his lips caressing hers softly, making her tremble with sudden need. ‘If you were harmed, I should never forgive myself, Mariah. I just wish I knew who sent the letter…’

  ‘You have no idea?’

  ‘None at all, unfortunately.’

  ‘You have not broken a lady’s heart? That kind of trick is something a spiteful woman might do. Did you allow someone to think you meant marriage and then withdraw?’

  ‘Apart from a few convenient arrangements, which were ended by mutual agreement, there have been no significant ladies in my life—until I met you. I do not suspect you of having sent it.’

  ‘Are you sure of that, Andrew?’ Mariah inclined her head teasingly. ‘The letter is one thing, but the attack on your life is quite another—and why did Lieutenant Grainger wish to tell us both something?’

  ‘I believe it concerned the count,’ Andrew said. ‘We have discussed this before. Yet I fail to see how the two are connected. If he knows something incriminating about Count Paolo, it may account for his disappearance—but can have no bearing on my problem.’

  ‘There can be no possible reason for…’ Mariah shook her head. ‘This Lieutenant Gordon still seems the most likely culprit—does he have friends or family who might blame you for his disgrace?’

  ‘I suppose that is a possibility. I believe he might have had a widowed mother and a younger sister.’

  ‘Could one of them have been the writer of the letter?’

  ‘Yes, that is possible,’ Andrew admitted, looking thoughtful. ‘You have given me some fresh ideas. As you say, that kind of letter might be a woman’s weapon. I shall discover what happened to them after he left the service. If they are in trouble, I will offer to help them. Perhaps they may know where he has gone.’

  ‘Yes, they may be able to help.’ Mariah nodded. ‘I do not know why—but I must tell you that I feel the mystery is more complicated than we yet realise.’

  His eyes quizzed her. ‘Because you wish it to be? You enjoy solving puzzles, Mariah. I recall that as a girl you loved to get lost in Avonlea’s maze for hours. The old duke had it pulled down in the end because you spent too much time there and he was afraid you really would get lost one day.’

  ‘I was a contrary girl and utterly spoiled,’ she admitted with a laugh. ‘Are you changing your mind, Andrew? I may not be the most convenient of wives.’

  ‘I have no illusions concerning you, Mariah. You have been thoroughly spoiled for most of your life. I dare say you will expect to have your own way in most things.’

  ‘Do not look so cross,’ Mariah said and laughed even though she felt hurt inside. Did he really have such a poor opinion of her? ‘They all enjoyed spoiling me. I assure you I can be perfectly sensible if I choose.’

  ‘Yes, I am certain you can.’ He smiled and her heart jumped because in that moment she felt that he truly cared for her. ‘If I am honest, I dare say I like you as you are, dearest Mariah.’ He reached out to caress her cheek with one finger, bringing her body leaping to life and pulsing with the need to be in his arms once more.

  It was the closest he had come to showing affection for her in an age, but though his eyes seemed to convey a need of his own, he did not take advantage of the moment to kiss her. What a very annoying gentleman he was, to be sure! Mariah’s throat closed with emotion, but she tossed her head and refused to let herself cry.

  Since Sylvia had come up to them at that moment the mood had been broken and it had not been repeated, because for the rest of their journey to Paris they were never alone.

  * * *

  ‘So many pretty dresses,’ Sylvia said as she stroked the material Mariah had chosen for a ball gown with the tips of her gloved fingers. ‘You will hardly wear the half of them this Season. One never does in the winter at home.’

  ‘Oh, I think I may find a use for them,’ Mariah said. ‘I have been clinging to the colours I wore after Winston died for too long. It is time I wore the rich colours that suit me—and, of course, white with spangles is always so good in the evening.’

  ‘Well, I have decided to be sensible and buy not more than six new gowns,’ Sylvia said. ‘I shall not need to be bang up to the mark for my period of confinement, you know—and there are bound to be new ideas for when we go up to town next year.’

  ‘Yes, I am certain there will be,’ Mariah agreed.

  She spoke to the seamstress once more about the delivery of her gowns, which were to be brought to Avonlea by the lady herself. For a customer of Mariah’s importance such a journey was necessary—imperative—so that any last-minute alterations could be made. Lady Fanshawe’s patronage would bring many new clients to her door, for she was much admired.

  ‘It should be no longer than two weeks, milady. Of a surety all my girls will work on your order and I myself shall do the special embroidery on the ball gown.’

  ‘Then I am certain it will be perfect. The last one you made me has been much admired, madame.’

  ‘Ah, yes, when you came here with milord—a gentleman most fine and comfortable.’

  ‘My husband was a good, kind and generous man,’ Mariah agreed.

  She took her farewell with Sylvia, who had chosen to have her gowns made elsewhere so that the orders should not bring a conflict of interest. They left the exclusive establishment, going out into a pleasantly warm afternoon despite the advanced time of year.

  ‘We shall know the difference when we are home again,’ Sylvia said. ‘After so much sunshine the winter will seem long and dull.’

  ‘Oh, I quite enjoy Christmas around a log fire,’ Mariah said. ‘I think it will be rather special this year and I am looking forward to seeing Lucinda and Justin’s baby.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Sylvi
a brightened. ‘I have my baby to look forward to and I must be at home for that, of course—’ She broke off and clutched Mariah’s arm, directing her to glance towards a certain café. ‘Do you think that rather odd man is following us? I noticed him when we arrived. It is strange that he should still be here.’

  Mariah glanced at the table outside one of the many cafés in the area. The man had long dark hair, a black patch over one eye and was wearing a large coat that looked too big for him. He was sipping a glass of wine, seemingly minding his own business, yet she felt that he was aware of them staring at him.

  ‘He does look odd,’ she agreed. ‘However, I cannot imagine why he would wish to follow us, dearest. He is just enjoying a bottle of wine in the sunshine.’

  ‘Yes, of course. How foolish of me! It was all that nonsense in Milan, of course.’ Sylvia shivered. ‘I cannot tell you how glad I shall be to be home again.’

  ‘Well, we are leaving tomorrow,’ Mariah comforted. However, she made up her mind to tell Andrew about the rather odd man, as soon as they returned to the hotel.

  * * *

  ‘I dare say it was just coincidence,’ Andrew said when Mariah recounted the incident. ‘I should not let it worry you.’

  His innocent air made her suspicious and she caught his arm as he would have turned away. ‘Are you having me watched? That ridiculous hair and the patch—really, Andrew! Surely your man can do better than that? Sylvia noticed him at once.’

  His face reflected amusement. ‘He does look a trifle obvious. I shall find someone less intrusive when we are home, but I did not want to forbid you to go shopping with your friend without an escort or to alarm you. However, I should have known you would find me out.’

  ‘Do you think I am in danger of being abducted again?’

  ‘It has crossed my mind.’ He frowned. ‘I am almost certain we were watched on our journey—and I think we were followed to Paris.’

  ‘Count Paolo’s men?’

  ‘Yes, possibly. I cannot think of anyone else who might be following us, can you?’

  ‘Was it one man all the time?’

  ‘He changed his appearance, but, yes, I would say it was just one man.’

  ‘Why would the count do such a thing?’ Mariah shivered as the tiny fine hairs on the back of her neck stood up. ‘I refused him and he said he would see me in England—but to have us watched…’ She shuddered. ‘It is unnatural.’

  ‘It is certainly obsessive. The count is a man who likes his own way and there is nothing so very wrong in that—but perhaps he goes to extremes to get what he wants.’

  ‘He did say something odd. I dismissed it as nonsense, but it made me feel uneasy. He spoke of seeing me with Winston when I was first married and never forgetting me. I think he may have been having me watched for a long time, even before our visit to the lakes.’

  ‘Do you recall precisely what he said?’

  Mariah shook her head. ‘At first I thought he was flattering me, dallying with me, and I laughed. It wasn’t until he made me that outrageous offer that I began to dislike certain things in his manner.’

  Andrew looked thoughtful. ‘I think I shall continue to have you watched for your own sake, Mariah—but I will ask my man to be more discreet. If, of course, it was my man…’

  ‘It could have been the count’s spy.’ Mariah felt slightly sick. ‘I shall be glad to be home again, Andrew.’

  ‘Yes…’ He hesitated, then came to a decision. ‘If you think we shall suit, I believe we shall tell our friends at once, Mariah. Should there be a scandal, you could always withdraw…’ She shook her head. ‘Very well, I shall send a notice to the papers and I shall hold a ball, at which you will be my hostess. It may be best to get the business of our marriage out of the way. Until we marry you will always be at the mercy of fortune hunters. Even Count Paolo must give up when we are married.’

  ‘Yes, I believe you are right.’ Mariah smiled and leaned forwards to kiss his cheek. ‘Thank you, my best of friends. I shall not want a wedding trip that takes us abroad. Perhaps somewhere quiet where we can be alone for a while? I shall make no demands that take you from your affairs, for I know you have a great deal on your mind.’

  ‘We could go up to my maternal grandfather’s hunting lodge in the lowlands of Scotland. It belongs to my cousin, but he will loan it to us should we wish,’ he said. ‘By the time the banns are read I should have settled most of my affairs. I think I have dragged my feet too long. I should have asked you months ago, then much of this unpleasantness could have been avoided for you.’

  Mariah said nothing because her friends had just entered the private parlour and it was time to order their supper. In the morning they would take a carriage ride to the coast, board the ship for England and there they would go their separate ways. Mariah thought that when she saw Sylvia again she would be married.

  She was conscious of a tiny ache inside because her marriage was to be a matter of convenience. Andrew was being kind and she knew he felt something for her, but she wanted him to sweep her off her feet and carry her to his bed. She wanted him to declare that he was madly in love with her and could not live without her—but it seemed unlikely to happen. She knew him to be a passionate man and could only think that some part of him still remained devoted to Lucinda Avonlea.

  She tossed the hurtful thought aside. Andrew would make her happy. She would have companionship and children—what more could she want?

  * * *

  It was very late when their travelling carriage drew up in the courtyard of Avonlea, but lights were blazing from all the windows in the house and all the candelabra had been lit. They were expected and both Justin and Lucinda had stayed up to welcome them home.

  ‘Mariah, my dearest,’ Lucinda cried and came running to embrace her as she stepped down from the carriage. ‘We had begun to think you would not arrive before morning. Did you have an accident?’

  ‘No, not at all,’ Mariah assured her. ‘The roads were not good, but we made reasonable time once we left Dover. There was some delay before our luggage was released and one of Sylvia’s trunks was missing. We could not desert her until everything was sorted out, of course. She and her husband have been so good to me.’

  ‘Yes, your letters were so informative,’ Lucinda said. She glanced towards Andrew. ‘Is it settled at last, Mariah? Justin wasn’t sure from Lanchester’s message, but it seemed to imply that we should expect to read the notice of your engagement in the papers.’

  ‘Yes, we are to be married,’ Mariah replied and was swept up into a warm embrace. ‘Andrew thinks I need a husband to protect me.’

  ‘Andrew adores you, of course, as we all do,’ Lucinda said and drew her past the gentlemen, who were greeting each other on the doorstep. ‘Was it wonderful in Italy? I should like to travel so much more than I have. Justin says we may take Angela and little Harry and spend some time in Italy or Greece next spring, before it becomes too hot.’

  ‘Yes, the spring or late autumn would be best—the summer is too hot for a baby.’

  ‘Then I shall not go until the autumn,’ Lucinda told her. ‘Harry is such a darling and Angela adores him. She spends hours playing with him.’

  ‘Justin does not resent her?’

  ‘No, not at all. He wants to adopt her and says we must not think about the past or the brute that forced himself on me. Angela is my daughter and Justin treats her as affectionately as he would his own child.’

  ‘I am so glad. It is time you had some happiness. You were treated badly by your parents and that awful man.’ Mariah slid an arm about her waist. ‘You do not let what happened bother you now?’

  ‘Oh, no, I have put it from my mind.’ Lucinda looked at her intently. ‘And you, Mariah? Have you truly recovered from what that wicked man did to you? I was sorry not to be able to come with you when you went to Italy. I thought about you so much, even though I was confined and had my baby to consider.’

  ‘You are a good friend.’ Mariah smiled at
her. ‘I am glad we shall be neighbours when I am married. It means we shall see each other often.’

  ‘Yes, it does. I think Jane will visit often, too. Lord George has just purchased a small house no more than twenty miles distant. He was left an unexpected bequest from an uncle he hardly knew and decided that Jane should have a house of her own close enough to her brother and us to visit when she chose, though I think she is too much in love to care where she lives at present.’

  ‘Yes, she is and that surprises me. Jane was always so certain that she did not wish for marriage. She was always so independent and so very sensible, never in scrapes as I was when we were younger.’

  ‘Love comes unexpectedly and cannot be denied,’ Lucinda said. ‘Justin swept me off my feet, for I did not think I ought to marry. But despite everything I have found such happiness—and I am glad that you will, too, dearest Mariah.’

  ‘Yes. You are like a sister to me,’ Mariah said and looked at her lovingly. ‘Now tell me, when may I see Harry?’

  ‘If we are very careful, we may tiptoe in and peep at him now,’ Lucinda said. ‘We must not wake him, for his nurse has only just settled him after his feed.’

  ‘I shall be as quiet as a mouse,’ Mariah said. She glanced back at Andrew. ‘Goodnight, my dear friend. Thank you for bringing me home safely. I shall go to bed after I have seen Harry.’

  ‘Yes, of course. Justin insists that I stay the night and so I shall see you in the morning.’

  Mariah smiled and nodded, then went up the stairs with Lucinda. She felt content to be with her closest friends again. At Avonlea she must be safe from Count Paolo’s spies, especially since Andrew would have warned the duke to alert his men to strangers. Within a few weeks she would be married and that rather awkward episode in Milan could be forgotten.