A Most Improper Proposal

by Gail Whitiker

  'Sebastian, I told you, Desiree did not tell me anything about where she was going, other than to say that it was to a wealthy family in Yorkshire where she would be employed as their governess. I did not wish to interrogate her on the subject.'

  'But did she say that she would write?'

  'No, my dear, she did not. I hope that she will keep in touch, of course, but I do not expect to hear from her for some time. Sebastian, you do seem unusually disturbed by Desiree's departure.' Lady Charlton's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. 'Why should her leaving London to secure other employment bother you so much?'

  'Because I am the one who let her down,' Sebastian said heavily. 'After all, it was my idea to bring her to London in the first place, and now she has left it because of me.'

  'What do you mean she's left because of you? Desiree told me that she was leaving because of me. She told me she felt she wasn't earning her way and that I was treating her more like a friend than a companion. Which I suppose I was,' Lady Charlton acknowledged ruefully. 'But I really couldn't help myself. I liked Desiree and I wanted to help her.'

  And I love her, Sebastian thought desperately. And now because of him and the things he had said, she was gone.

  But what was he to do? How in God's name was he to find a young woman who clearly didn't want to be found? She could have gone to any one of hundreds of small villages dotted throughout the dales. Or she could have gone to a wealthy family in one of the towns: Sheffield or Wakefield in the south; Middlesborough or Northallerton in the north. She might even have gone to the cathedral city of York. How was he to find her then?

  Where did he start his search for what could turn out to be the proverbial needle in a haystack?

  Chapter Eleven

  Sebastian set out for Yorkshire the following day. He did not tell anyone where he was going, though he had a feeling his aunt suspected. She seemed to have a funny, knowing look in her eyes since he'd returned from Hertfordshire. But Sebastian didn't care. He wouldn't have bothered to deny his feelings for Desiree even if his aunt had asked. The fact that she hadn't simply allowed him to keep the knowledge to himself until the time was right to share it.

  If, he reminded himself, the time would ever be right.

  Not surprisingly, the trip north seemed endless. Sebastian had mapped out the route he intended to take, and stayed at coaching inns he knew along the way. And at every one, he asked the same questions. Even so, by the time he arrived in Kettlewell, near Skipton, Sebastian was weary of the road. He walked into the local inn and then headed for the bar, casually pulling out his purse as he did. 'I am looking to make enquiries,' he said in a voice loud enough for the innkeeper to hear.

  The burly, red-faced man looked at Sebastian's heavy purse and all but licked his lips. 'Aye, my lord, and what kind of information would you be looking for?'

  'I am looking for a young woman. She would have arrived about a week or so ago.' Sebastian made a show of opening up the neck of the bag and removing a coin. 'She has light brown hair and green eyes, and she is exceedingly lovely. Do you recall having seen anyone like that?'

  The innkeeper's eyes turned shrewd. 'I don't recall seeing any young lady like that, my lord, though there's plenty of them come through here. Maybe I need a bit more reminding.'

  Knowing the game, Sebastian drew another coin from the bag. 'She was going to a big house to be a governess. Apparently the family is quite wealthy.'

  'Now, I could be remembering a young lady who came about a job,' the innkeeper said slowly. He tapped his finger against his cheek. 'But I'm just not too clear about which family she was going to.'

  'No? Pity.' Sebastian began to close his purse. 'I was willing to pay well for the information.'

  'Oh, now wait a minute, my lord, I—'

  'Would you be willing to pay anyone for the information, my lord?' a young woman asked suddenly. 'Because I remember seeing a young lady who looked like the one you're referring to come through here last week.'

  Sebastian turned to see a girl of about eighteen standing behind him. She was remarkably pretty and there was a gentleness about her that seemed strangely out of place in this rough and tumble place. But her face was already beginning to show signs of age and her hands were rough and reddened from hard work. 'You saw her?'

  'Aye, m'lord.'

  The landlord frowned darkly. 'Nobody was talking to you, Jenny, my girl. Go on back to the kitchen. There'll be plenty o' pots waiting.'

  'No, just a minute,' Sebastian said, stopping her as she went to turn away. 'My money goes to anyone who can supply me with the information I need.' He reached for her hand and put the two coins into her palm. 'Now, Jenny, what did you see?'

  Jenny glanced nervously at the man standing behind the counter, then at the money in her palm, and then anxiously bit her lip. 'A young lady like you described came through here late last week, m'lord. But she wasn't here long. They came to fetch her.'

  'They?'

  'Aye. One of t'lads from Banksburgh House. They came with the trap.'

  Sebastian pulled another coin from the bag. 'And where is Banksburgh House, Jenny?'

  'Now, my lord, I can supply you with that bit of information,' the innkeeper said hastily. 'You've given our Jenny more money than she's seen in her entire life. No need to be giving her more than she'll have need of.'

  'Are you her father?'

  The man shook his head. 'Nay, I'll not say that I am. But she's worked for me for nigh on four years now, so I tend to think of myself that way.'

  Sebastian ignored him and placed the coin in Jenny's palm. 'Jenny?'

  Hardly able to believe her good fortune, Jenny's eyes widened. 'It's on down t'road, m'lord, then left at Miller's Cross. It's a big place, is Banksburgh House. You can't miss it from t'road.'

  'And the owner is?'

  'Mr Clyde. They have two daughters, a Miss Caroline and young Sarah. It's for them that Mrs Clyde was wanting a governess.'

  It was all Sebastian needed to know. He put away his purse and, drawing out one of his cards, pressed it into her hand. 'Thank you, Jenny. The information you have given me is very important and I am forever in your debt. If you ever find yourself in any kind of trouble—' Sebastian glanced pointedly at the innkeeper, 'I want you to get in touch with me at that address. Do you understand?'

  Jenny took the card and her eyes grew even wider as she read the name printed upon it. 'Aye, m'lord.'

  'Good. And I shall stop by whenever I am passing through the area to enquire after your health,' he added, again with a look for the burly man standing beside her. Then, satisfied that he had done all he could for her, Sebastian turned and left the coaching inn, heading for Banksburgh House.

  The afternoon had turned uncommonly warm and Desiree decided to take her two young charges outside to enjoy it. The grounds around Banksburgh House were surprisingly well tended, given the relative barrenness of the surrounding area, and Desiree had walked more than once to the farthest reaches of the property. At least there she was able to escape the overbearing presence of Mrs Clyde.

  Fortunately, Desiree got on reasonably well with the rest of the staff. The housekeeper, a stern-faced woman by the name of Mrs Hagerty, was accommodating if not friendly, and life on the whole was tolerable. But her spartan room was a far cry from the comfort and charm of the Green Room at Lady Charlton's. Nor were her lovely clothes of any use to her here. Mrs Clyde insisted on Desiree wearing the drabbest of garments and had provided her with two highly serviceable gowns, one in grey and the other in a dull shade of brown.

  Desiree almost felt as if she was back at the Guarding Academy again.

  It was wearing her unbecoming grey gown that Sebastian came upon her that afternoon. Quite by chance, he spotted Desiree and her two young charges as he was making his way up the long drive. Rather than announce himself to the lady of the house and formally ask permission to see the governess, however, he stopped the carriage at the side of the drive and made his way across the field to where she w
as standing.

  'Good afternoon, Desiree,' Sebastian said, removing his shining black beaver as he swept her a bow. 'I don't expect you ever thought to see me again.'

  Desiree, who had indeed been rendered speechless by the sight of the man walking across the field towards her, now struggled to find her voice.

  'Lord... Buckworth! Yes, I confess, I am... astonished at seeing you here.'

  'Miss Nash, who is this gentleman?' Miss Caroline Clyde asked imperiously.

  This is the man I love, Desiree wanted to tell her. The man who has come all the way to Yorkshire to find me, and hopefully to take me back to London. All she said, however, was, 'This is a...friend of mine from London, Caroline. Lord Buckworth, may I present Miss Caroline Clyde and her sister, Miss Sarah Clyde. Girls, this is Lord Buckworth.'

  The elder Miss Clyde seemed suitably impressed that a titled gentleman had come to call, and she bobbed a pretty curtsey. Sarah, bless her heart, merely smiled her winsome smile and held out her hand to him. 'Have you come to see our governess?' she asked sweetly.

  Sebastian grinned at the colour which suddenly bloomed in Desiree's cheeks. 'As a matter of fact, I have, Sarah. Is that all right with you?'

  Sarah thought about it for a moment, and then nodded, setting her blonde curls dancing. 'Yeth.'

  'Good. Now, Miss Caroline,' Sebastian said to the elder girl, 'perhaps you would be so good as to take your sister back to the house. Miss Nash will be along... directly.'

  'But Mama says that Miss Nash is to stay with us at all times,' Caroline told him stubbornly. 'Isn't that right, Miss Nash?'

  'Well, yes it is—'

  'But I am sure that your mama will not mind if you walk back alone just this once,' Sebastian interposed smoothly. 'We are in clear sight of the house and you have only to follow the path back through the gate there.'

  Surprisingly, it was Sarah who took her sister by the hand and started dragging her back in the direction of the house. 'Come along, Cawoline. I think we should go.'

  To Desiree's astonishment, Caroline actually went. 'Oh, very well,' she grumbled. 'It was very nice meeting you, Lord Buckworth.'

  Sebastian offered her his most charming smile. 'The pleasure was all mine, Miss Clyde.'

  Desiree bit her lip as she watched the two young figures retreat. 'I really shouldn't let them walk back alone, Lord Buckworth,' she said anxiously. 'Mrs Clyde is most particular—'

  'They will be fine, Desiree. We are well within sight of the house.'

  'Yes, I know. Which is why I should not have let them go back alone. Mrs Clyde may see them walking on their own and she has made it very clear that the girls are to be accompanied at all times.'

  Sebastian took her by the shoulders and gently turned her to face him. 'Desiree, I want to talk to you. And I could hardly do that with two young girls listening to every word I said, now could I?'

  Dismayed both by the touch of his hands and by the softness of his voice, Desiree reluctantly inclined her head. The thought of having to talk with him in the presence of the Misses Clyde was decidedly unwelcome, but the thought of being alone with him was not much better—especially given that she had thought never to see him again.

  She watched her two young charges until they reached the safety of the house and felt marginally better once she saw them go inside. Now it was time to face her other problem.

  'To say that I am...surprised to see you would be something of an understatement, my lord,' Desiree began carefully. 'You must have gone to considerable trouble to discover my whereabouts.'

  'I hardly knew where to begin,' Sebastian admitted. 'But once I arrived in Yorkshire I happened upon a bit of luck. A young lady at the coaching inn in Kettlewell remembered seeing you and was good enough to point me in the right direction.' He glanced at the scenery all around them, and then turned back to gaze deeply into her eyes. 'Are you happy here, Desiree?'

  'I find the work...satisfying.' How can I be happy when you are so far away? 'Caroline can be somewhat trying at times, but her sister more than makes up for it.' Desiree's mouth curved in an affectionate smile. 'You saw for yourself what a delight Sarah is.'

  'I did indeed. And your employers?' Sebastian enquired, his eyes turning to the nearby bulk of a house. 'Are they as delightful as their youngest daughter?'

  The thought nearly made Desiree laugh. She doubted anyone who knew the Clydes would have called them delightful. 'I do not see a great deal of Mr Clyde, as he is mostly occupied on business in the north. Mrs Clyde, however, is typical of her kind. She does not put up with nonsense from her children or her staff, and I think most of the maids go in fear of her.'

  'And you?'

  'I know what my job is and I do it,' Desiree said, careful not to allow the slightest inflection into her voice. Why had he come? There had to be more to his visit than a desire for polite conversation? Surely he would not have troubled himself to travel all this way if that was all he had in mind...would he?

  'My lord, I must be returning to the house—'

  'Desiree, forgive me for interrupting, but there is something I must ask you,' Sebastian said abruptly. 'Something which has been on my mind ever since I left London. Indeed it was part of my reason for coming.'

  Desiree found that her hands were suddenly trembling. She clasped them together in front of her and strove for a casual tone. 'And what is that, my lord?'

  'Before I left, I had occasion to speak to...Lord Perry,' Sebastian said quietly. 'It was not a pleasant meeting and he told me things which I found most disturbing. Things which, quite frankly, I did not know how to take.'

  At the mention of Lord Perry's name, the trembling in Desiree's hands grew worse. 'And what has your...disturbing conversation with Lord Perry to do with me?'

  'It has everything to do with you.' Sebastian stopped walking and turned to face her. 'He led me to believe that the two of you had spent some time together while you were at Guarding's. He said that...after having done so, he could understand my fascination and desire for you. And he said, in front of others, that if it was not my intention to set you up as my mistress, that he would very probably do so hiniself.'

  Desiree listened with growing dismay, until in the end, the depth of her grief went far beyond tears. Truly, it was worse than she had imagined.

  They had been discussing her as though she were little more than a used piece of baggage; something to be picked up by one when carelessly cast off by another.

  She stared into the distance and felt a sudden chill in the afternoon air. 'And what did you tell Lord Perry in answer to his question, Lord Buckworth?'

  'Damn it, Desiree, what do you think I told him?'

  'I have no idea.' She turned to face him with eyes that were curiously devoid of expression. 'Because the fact that you came here today and told me what you have leads me to believe that you doubt my integrity as well. The fact that you would even consider Lord Perry's story to be the truth tells me what you really think of me.'

  'The fact that he was known to you in Steep Abbot, and that you hold him in such abhorrence makes all manner of things possible, Desiree,' Sebastian said harshly. 'Because I now believe that whatever happened between you and Lord Perry was the cause of your leaving the Guarding Academy. The reason you were...asked to leave.'

  Desiree closed her eyes. 'And you think that I...brought this on myself? That I invited Lord Perry's attentions?'

  'That is not what I said. I am asking you to tell me what happened, and to explain why you left London so abruptly. God knows, I hold Perry in no higher esteem than do you. In fact, it was only through the intervention of a good friend that I did not challenge him on the spot. But I am asking you now to tell me what passed between the two of you at Guarding's. Because the manner of what Perry told me led me to believe that the two of you had had...an intimate encounter.'

  His words hung heavy in the air between them and Desiree suddenly felt a coldness spread through her body, as though the blood in her veins had turned to ice. So he
had not followed her all the way to Yorkshire to declare his love and to take her back with him. He had come on a fool's journey to find out whether or not a rumour told to him by a man he admitted disliking had any truth to it.

  'Very well, Lord Buckworth, you shall have your answer,' Desiree said in a voice that was as bleak and as barren as the hills all around them. 'Lord Perry was the reason I left the Guarding Academy. He caught me in my classroom at the end of the day and he...he...'

  'Tell me, Desiree,' Sebastian said quietly. 'Please.'

  'He t-told me that he had been waiting to get me alone for a long time. And he asked me to be his mistress. When I refused, he lunged at me and...tore my gown.' Desiree closed her eyes against the painful memory. 'I tried to resist, but he was too strong.'

  A muscle tensed in Sebastian's cheek. 'What happened then?'

  'I was fortunate. The door opened and Mrs Guarding walked in. She had one of the other teachers and two of the students with her. But they all...saw me in Lord Perry's arms.'

  'How did Mrs Guarding know to come and find you?'

  'Apparently Helen had been waiting for me,' Desiree said slowly. 'She knew that I had planned to go back to my classroom after dinner, and when I didn't return to my bedroom, she began to worry. So she went down and got Mrs Guarding. I have no idea how Miss Perry and her friend came to be there—'

  'Miss Perry?' Sebastian's dark brows lifted in surprise. 'Lord Perry's daughter?'

  'Yes. Perhaps she knew what was afoot, I don't know,' Desiree said wearily. 'All I know is that she was there and that she saw what happened.'

  'And you left because of that?'

  'I was asked to leave because of it,' she said tersely. 'With two of the girls there to witness my ruination, I had no choice. Mrs Guarding had to consider the reputation of the school.'

  'So that is why she did not provide you with a reference.'