The Mistress of Hanover Square

by Anne Herries

  He had married Lisette while still feeling resentful. She had thought he must care for her but it seemed he hadn’t loved her. When he spoke of her he seemed deeply disturbed. He had spoken of Lisette’s terrible unhappiness, which drove her to take her own life. He said that he could not give her what she needed…would it be the same when they married? Or had Gerard been unable to love his wife because in his heart he still wanted Amelia?

  His kiss had been passionate and hungry. She had felt that he truly wanted her. Perhaps he did love her in his way…

  ‘I trust your judgement completely,’ Gerard said after Amelia had explained why she had asked Marguerite to come to them. They had met once again in the library so that they could be alone for a few moments before dinner. A fire had been lit and the candles burned brightly, giving the room a warm, intimate feeling. ‘It is a sad thing that Miss Ross should have been treated so badly. I did not remember her when we spoke earlier, but I have been thinking and I seem to recall a young woman with a similar name.’ He frowned, an odd, slightly uneasy expression in his eyes. ‘Was not Lucinda Ross Marguerite’s sister? I think Lucinda Ross was the young woman who killed herself some years ago?’

  ‘Yes, that is correct. Lucinda was in some trouble. It happened during that summer. I thought at one time—’ She broke off and shook her head. ‘Northaven…I know that he had been to the house a few times. I once saw him flirting with Lucinda in the gardens.’

  ‘Both Harry and I were also invited to some functions at the home of Mr and Mrs Ross—but Harry would never dream of seducing a young woman of good family. Nor would I, come to that, but at the time I could think only of you. It was you I loved, Amelia.’ He frowned, hesitated, then, ‘I do recall the name, but not Lucinda’s face, though I remember meeting her. I might have liked her sister more for I believe I danced with her a few times, but there was nothing more than politeness between us. Indeed, I could not recall her when we met, but she may have changed. That gown and hairstyle are not becoming to a young woman.’

  ‘You do not mind that I have invited her to stay with us for a while? She is not beautiful, but I think she would be attractive wearing the right clothes. I hope that she may meet someone she likes who will offer for her.’

  ‘Playing matchmaker again?’ Gerard teased.

  ‘No, for I have no one in mind for Marguerite. I merely wish to give her the chance she has been denied so long. Besides, she loves children and she will be a big help to me.’

  ‘Then I am delighted she has come,’ Gerard said and smiled. ‘Are you looking for ward to the ball, my love?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Amelia moved towards him, her breath catching as she gazed up at him. ‘We shall be able to dance together as often as we wish. Once our engagement is announced no one could lift a brow if we danced all night—though I suppose it might be thought rude to ignore one’s friends altogether.’

  ‘I think it would be pistols at dawn if I dared to monopolise you completely,’ Gerard said teasingly. He turned his head and frowned, then strode towards the door and threw it open.

  ‘Is something the matter?’ Amelia asked.

  He turned to Amelia, frowning. ‘I thought someone was eavesdropping outside the door. If someone was listening to our conversation, he or she fled before I could discover who it was.’

  ‘Listening to our conversation?’ Amelia stared at him. ‘Surely not? In this house…who would spy on us, Gerard?’

  ‘I wish I knew.’ Gerard’s eyes darkened. ‘It is foolish, but since we came here I have grown more uneasy.’

  ‘You expected an attack on the road, did you not?’

  He nodded. ‘We were prepared for it, but it did not happen. Therefore our enemy has something else planned—something more devious and perhaps more dangerous. I have men watching the grounds, Amelia. I can shoot a man who tries to abduct you, but I have a feeling that something more sinister is going on.’

  ‘What are your reasons? What has changed?’

  ‘I do not know, but I trust my instincts. They served me well in Spain and at other times.’

  A shudder caught Amelia and for a moment she was afraid of something she could not understand. ‘I must confess that frightens me…’

  ‘Won’t you withdraw before it is too late? I could go away—take the danger with me, for I feel it is directed at me. However, you may be hurt, because this person will use you to get to me.’

  ‘No! I have already told you nothing will keep me from you. Would you go away and condemn me to a life of solitude?’ Amelia demanded. She moved towards him, clutching at the lapels of his immaculate coat. ‘Will you let me die a maiden—unfulfilled and regretful?’ Her eyes were fearful, desperate. ‘Have you no idea of the feelings I have for you—the longings I know must seem immodest in an unmarried lady?’

  ‘My dearest one! You cannot believe me indifferent? You are beautiful. Any man would be grateful to have such a woman as his wife.’ Gerard caught her to him, kissing her with a fierce hunger that set her pulses racing. She clung to him, her body melting into his as the raging desire swept through her. ‘I would leave you only to protect you, believe me.’

  ‘If you do, I may as well die.’

  ‘Never!’ Gerard gazed down into her wild face, a thrill of laughter and triumph sweeping over him as he saw the passion he had always believed was in her. ‘I shall not give you up, Amelia—and nothing shall part us for a second time.’

  ‘Do you swear it?’

  ‘Is wear it with my life. Only my death will part us.’

  Amelia pressed herself against him, lifting her face for his kiss. As he took her mouth, she parted her lips for him, meeting his tongue in a delightful dance of sweet desire. Her body flamed, tingled with the need to know him, to lie with him.

  ‘Gerard, I want to be truly yours.’

  ‘I burn for you, my love.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I would we were at Ravenshead. I could come to you there without ruining your reputation, Amelia. Here, I hesitate to abuse our hosts’ hospitality.’

  ‘Once we are at Ravenshead we shall not wait,’ Amelia said. ‘Nothing must part us now, for I could not bear it.’

  Gerard kissed her, but this time softly. ‘We must wait for the moment, but I agree that nothing shall part us, my dearest.’

  Hidden behind a heavy curtain, the eavesdropper sat curled up on a deep window ledge and listened. For a moment it had seemed that Ravenshead had discovered the presence of a third person, but he had gone to the slightly open door, thinking the listener was outside. Seeing no one, he had believed himself mistaken. He was mistaken only in the location. What good luck that quick thinking had prevented discovery the instant they entered the room!

  A smile touched the lips of the hidden one. Gerard Ravenshead thought himself so clever, but revenge was close. It was like the taste of honey on the tongue of the person who hated him. A smile hovered. Soon now. Soon the debt would be paid…

  Amelia went to bed feeling happier than she had been for years. She could no longer doubt that Gerard felt a strong passion for her. He might not love her as he once had, but he was certainly not in different. They would not lack for passion in their marriage. She longed for the time when they would be at Ravens-head…when she could at last become one with him.

  She had lingered downstairs for as long as she could, but Gerard had been caught up in a discussion about politics with some of the other gentlemen. He had thrown her an apologetic glance, telling her by means of a look that he longed for some time alone with her, but it was impossible. She knew that they must be patient; in a few days they would leave Coleridge and then…

  A smile on her lips, Amelia sat down at her desk and took out her writing box. She opened it and took out some sheets of vellum, then dipped her pen in the ink and began to write a letter. She was not yet ready to sleep and she wished to tell several friends her news, for she knew it would please them.

  After she had been writing for some half an hour or so she sanded and sealed
her letters, four in all, leaving the one addressed to Marguerite’s mother on the top of the pile. In the morning she would take them down to the hall and place them with others to be franked by Max and taken to the receiving office with any other letters his guests wished sent.

  Amelia brushed her hair, washed her face and hands and then went to bed. She blew out the candle and settled down to sleep, but her mind was busy and it was a while before she settled. She was resting, but not sleeping, when the sound of her door opening startled her. For a moment she lay listening, thinking that she must be mistaken. She had not locked the door to her dressing room for it was that way the maid entered in the morning, but her maid would not creep unannounced into her darkened bedchamber at this hour.

  ‘Who is there?’ she called and sat up in bed, her hand reaching for the candle by her bed. It was a moment or two before she secured it and some seconds more before she could strike the tinder. ‘Who are you?’ she cried as a dark shadow fled through the dressingroom door.

  Amelia lit her candle and got out of bed. She went through the door to the dressing room. The intruder had left it open in his haste and she saw that the door that led from the dressing room to the servants’ stairs was also open. Whoever had been in her room must have come and left by that means.

  Amelia knew that her own maid would not have reacted in such a way. No other servant ought to have been there at this late hour and would not be on their lawful business. Yet someone had come to her room—why? What were they searching for? Amelia’s jewellery was locked away in her dressing case, which she kept by the bed as she slept. A brief glance told her that it was still there and untouched. So what had the intruder been doing?

  Amelia felt chilled, because this was something she had not expected. What might have happened had she been asleep? She wondered if she had been meant to die—or was it merely an attempt to rob her? She shivered, feeling uneasy and anxious. Ought she to send for someone? Amelia hesitated, but it was past midnight and she did not wish to make a fuss at this hour. However, in future she would make sure that the dressingroom door was locked—at least until they were safe at Ravenshead. Her maid could knock if Amelia were still asleep when she came, but it was more likely that she would be wide awake!

  Amelia returned to bed. She was not unduly frightened now that the door was locked. She would not be disturbed again this night, but the incident had shocked her more than she liked. She would have to tell Gerard about the intruder in the morning—and of course Max would have to know. He would wish to make enquiries amongst his servants. It did not seem that anything had been taken, but it could quite easily have been simply a bungled robbery. He would have to warn his people to be vigilant.

  ‘You are certain that the door to the hall was locked?’ Max asked the next morning when Gerard asked him to meet in private. ‘Whoever it was came from the servants’ stairs?’

  ‘Amelia tried the door leading into the hall and it was locked. She is positive that the intruder came and went by means of the servants’ stairs. Indeed, she saw the shadow escape that way, though it was too dark to be certain whether it was a man or a woman.’

  ‘It would be easy enough for anyone to come that way once the servants have retired for the night. However, I gave strict instructions that all the outer doors and windows were to be secured at night.’ Max frowned. ‘I am loathe to think that any of my people would do such a thing, Gerard—but of course our guests have brought their own servants.’

  ‘It is difficult to point the finger at anyone,’ Gerard agreed. ‘We had a guard outside Amelia’s room and Miss Barton’s room. Nothing untoward was seen.’

  ‘And we have men patrolling the grounds…’ Max swore softly. ‘Are you thinking…?’

  ‘That the intruder must have come from inside the house.’ Gerard nodded. ‘ Amelia suggested that it could have been an attempt to steal her jewels, but I am not so sure.’

  ‘I dare say she does not wish to think it anything more. It is fortunate that she was not asleep.’

  ‘Very.’ Gerard looked grim. ‘I have been aware that something had changed, but I cannot put my finger on it, Max. I know only that I am uneasy.’

  ‘What does Amelia feel?’

  ‘She says that her maid must knock if she is not awake. She will lock her dressingroom door at night.’

  ‘She is very composed about this, Gerard.’

  ‘Perhaps too much so for her own good. Amelia trusts everyone.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Max’s gaze narrowed. ‘Has something occurred to you?’

  ‘Yes…at least it is just a little seed of doubt. Something I cannot quite place…’ He shook his head as Max lifted his brows. ‘I am not certain therefore I shall lay no blame, but my instincts are telling me I am right.’

  ‘You do not wish to tell me?’

  ‘Yes, of course. You have the right to know—but you will not tell Helene or anyone else except Harry when he arrives, for I may be wrong.’

  Amelia wandered around her bedchamber. She was looking for something, but she was not sure what it was. Her dressing case was there and the contents were intact. Her silver evening purse was lying on the dressing table where she had put it last night before she undressed. What else had she done before she went to bed? Ah, yes, she had written some letters.

  The letters were missing. She had left a small pile on the desk. They had gone and she had not taken them downstairs herself when she went down to speak to Gerard earlier, for she’d had other things on her mind. She frowned as the door opened and her maid entered carrying a gown she had pressed.

  ‘Martha—did you by chance take my letters down to be franked this morning?’

  ‘No, Miss Royston. I saw them lying on the desk when I woke you first thing, but I was not certain you wished for them to be sent yet. You would have asked had you intended me to do it for you.’

  ‘Yes, I should,’ Amelia agreed. ‘It is most odd, for I did not do it myself. I wonder if Emily…’

  ‘Miss Barton did come to your room earlier, miss. I saw her leaving as I came to collect your gown for this evening. It needed pressing and I had taken some other things to be laundered earlier so I returned to fetch the gown and Miss Barton was leaving. She asked if I knew where you were.’

  ‘Perhaps she took them down. I shall ask her later.’

  Amelia picked up a book she wished to offer Lisa as more interesting reading than those Nanny Horton had considered suitable and left the room. As she went into the nursery, she saw that both Emily and Marguerite were before her. They were playing a game of Blind Man’s Buff with Lisa and another child and the children were screaming with laughter.

  Amelia watched, smiling as Marguerite allowed herself to be caught by Lisa and accepted the blindfold from her hand. She stopped suddenly, as if becoming aware of Amelia.

  ‘Oh, we are playing a game. I hope you approve?’

  ‘Melia…’ Lisa cried and came running to hug her. ‘Marguerite has been teaching me games and Emily has been playing with us. Have you come to join us?’

  ‘I came to bring you this book. It is a bestiary and there are lots of pictures of animals and birds. I thought you would like to have it—but you may look at it another day. Go on with your game, my love.’

  ‘I would rather look at the book with you,’ Lisa said and took hold of her arm, pulling her towards a sofa. ‘It is just a silly game and the book is beautiful.’

  Glancing at Marguerite, Amelia saw her flush and smiled, shaking her head. ‘Now that is unkind, Lisa—and Marguerite was very good to play with you.’

  ‘Thank you, Mademoiselle Ross—and Emily…’ Lisa tilted her head, a beguiling smile in her eyes. ‘I like to play, but I like books with pictures best.’

  ‘Well, you have run us ragged and we must rest,’ Emily said, laughing. ‘Next time I shall bring a picture book, miss.’

  Lisa giggled and shot a look of mischief at her. ‘I like to play sometimes.’

  ‘You won’t get
round me that way,’ Emily teased. ‘Is there anything you need, Amelia?’

  ‘No—oh, yes, one thing. Did you by chance take my letters down to the hall this morning?’

  ‘No. I would not without asking you first. You might not have finished them.’

  ‘But your letters were downstairs earlier,’ Marguerite said and looked at Emily oddly. ‘I wrote a letter to my mother and placed it in the hall for franking, as Lady Coleridge said I might. I saw a letter from you to Mama, Amelia—and some others. If Emily did not put them there, your maid must have done so. Was there something you wished to alter?’

  ‘No. They were ready to go, but Martha says she did not take them and I did not for I had other things on my mind…’ Amelia was about to mention the intruder, but changed her mind. Emily had already suffered a bad experience and she did not wish to make her nervous. ‘Someone else must have done so. Perhaps one of the other maids went in to clean and saw them there. Well, it does not matter.’ She smiled at Lisa. ‘When I was young I used to look at this book with my nanny. I believe you will like it.’

  ‘Let me see…’ Lisa pulled at her hand. ‘Let me see.’

  Amelia smiled and sat down, taking the child on to her lap. The small boy who had also been playing with them looked on shyly until Amelia beckoned to him. He came and leaned against her shoulder, his eyes fixing hungrily on the pictures she was showing to Lisa. After a few moments, both children fired questions at her and she was so engrossed with them that she did not look up for sometime. She saw that Emily had gone, but Marguerite was still there, watching, a strange, halfenvious expression in her eyes.

  Thinking that she understood, Amelia handed the book to Lisa and allowed the children to look through it alone.

  ‘Children are such a blessing,’ she said to Marguerite and went to stand next to her by the window. ‘I thought once that I should never have my own, but now I have hopes for the future—and already I have a daughter to love.’