by Anne Herries
‘No!’ Amelia looked at Gerard; the doubts were in her eyes now. She did not want to believe what Marguerite was saying, but Michael also believed that Gerard was Lucinda’s lover—and for a moment she had seen guilt in Gerard’s eyes. He had broken her heart once—how could she be sure that he was not lying to her now? ‘Please—it cannot be true.’
‘I tried to warn you,’ Marguerite cried. ‘I told you that he was not to be trusted but you would not listen.’
‘Damn you!’ Gerard moved towards her in a threatening manner. ‘You will leave my house, witch. Your sister was a wanton, but I was not her lover. I believe that she did not know the name of her child’s father, for she had more than one lover—’
‘Gerard!’ Amelia moved to protect Marguerite from his anger. ‘Do not speak to her thus. Lucinda was my friend. She could not have been as you describe her.’
‘You would take her word above mine?’ Gerard’s eyes blazed with fury. ‘I shall not tolerate that woman in my house another day, Amelia. I will arrange for my coach to take her home, but she leaves today.’
‘Do not bother to defend me, Amelia,’ Marguerite said. ‘I was coming to tell you that I was leaving. Mama has need of me.’ She turned and walked from the room, leaving silence behind her.
‘Well—’ Gerard’s tone was harsh as he looked at Amelia ‘—do you believe her or me?’
Amelia was silent. He was so angry…bitter almost. She hardly knew him. This was not the charming man she had fallen in love with. Her tender lover of the previous night had disappeared, in his place a cold and angry stranger. She wanted to believe him, because if she did not her love became ashes—but she had seen a flicker of guilt in his eyes. He had admitted that he had kissed Lucinda.
‘Gerard, I…’ She faltered, the words stuck in her throat and she could not go on.
‘If she believes you, she is a fool,’ Sir Michael said. He glared at them both. ‘I’ve said my piece, Amelia. If you choose to marry him now, I wash my hands of you. Do not expect me to attend your wedding.’
Amelia blinked away the foolish tears, looking at him proudly. ‘You will always be welcome in my house—providing you behave as a gentleman.’
Sir Michael inclined his head, turned and walked from the room. Amelia moved away, looking out of the window at the view. The rain had stopped and the sky was getting lighter but it was as if a dark cloud hung over her.
‘I am waiting for an answer.’
Amelia could not look at him. ‘I am trying to believe you, Gerard,’ she said, without turning her head.
‘Trying!’ He took hold of her shoulders, swinging her round to face him. His eyes blazed with fury. ‘Good grief! You cannot think that I would ravish a young girl of good birth and then kill her when she tells me she is with child? What kind of a monster do you think I am?’
‘She told Marguerite you were her lover…’ Amelia drew a trembling breath. ‘I know you would not kill her. I believe she took her own life, but—’
‘You think that perhaps I was her lover? You think I played with her emotions, took a despicable advantage at the same time as I courted you—and then destroyed her? You believe that I drove her to her death.’ Gerard’s face was grey with shock, horror in his eyes. ‘You swore you did not blame me for Lisette’s death, but perhaps you lied? You do think me capable of these things…and Lisette did die because I hurt her, because I could not love her. I am innocent of all else, but perhaps you prefer to believe your friend?’ His tone was scathing, flicking her on the raw.
Amelia shook her head. It was impossible to answer. She did not want to believe that Gerard had done the things he was accused of, but the seed of doubt had been planted. She was too shocked, too stunned to think clearly.
‘I am sorry—’ she began, but was interrupted by the arrival of Emily followed by Toby. One look at their faces was enough to tell the world how they felt. ‘Emily…’Amelia wanted to tell her that this was not the time but before she could speak Gerard had walked from the room. ‘Gerard…’
Amelia choked on the words. She wanted to call him back, but did not know what she would say if she did, because she was still reeling from the shock of Marguerite’s accusation. Had it been only her brother, she would have dismissed his claim, but Marguerite’s accusation had the ring of truth. Oh, but she did not want to believe her! She must be lying…
Smothering her desire to weep, Amelia turned to face Emily. She forced herself to smile.
‘So, my love—is it all settled?’
‘Toby has found my daughter,’ Emily told her. Her face was glowing, her eyes lit from within. ‘He says she has not been well treated, but she is quite healthy. She was neglected, but not harmed physically. Her adopted parents did not love her, because they had children of their own and they had long spent the money they were given to take her. They gave her up readily and Toby has taken Beth to his parents. He says that his mother will adopt her. I shall be able to see her every day. I shall look after her, love her and teach her to be happy—but her birth will remain our secret.’ Her cheeks turned pink as she glanced up at Toby a little shyly. ‘He has explained it is for my sake and not because he is ashamed of me…he loves me truly…’
‘If you wish it, we will tell the world,’ Toby said stoutly. ‘But for your sake, my love, it will be better if Beth is brought up as Mama’s adopted daughter. No one will think any thing of it if you love her—and one day you may tell her the truth if you wish.’
‘And does Toby know the truth of what happened to you now?’Amelia asked.
‘When I thought about it, I guessed what must have happened,’ Toby answered for her, his hand reaching to take Emily’s in his own. ‘I love her. I should not stop loving her whatever the truth, but when I discovered how she had been treated, I knew what I must do.’
‘And how did you discover that?’
‘Harry Pendleton wrote to me. He knew how I felt about Emily and once you told him her story, he thought I should be informed. It was simple enough to find the child, for no one had bothered to conceal her whereabouts. Harry’s agent met me and told me what he knew and the rest was easy.’ He reached for Emily’s hand and kissed it. ‘I am taking Emily home to Mama. We shall stay for a couple of weeks and then come back for your wedding, Amelia. Emily would not want to miss that for the world.’
Amelia wondered if there would be a wedding. She was not certain how she felt, but she could not cast a cloud over her friend’s shining happiness.
‘I am very pleased for you both,’ she said. ‘When are you leaving?’
‘Almost immediately. I thought Emily could pack a small bag for now. Perhaps you would have her things sent to her at my mother’s home?’ Toby said with his customary eagerness.
‘Yes, of course. I shall be happy to do so. Martha will see to her packing.’ She moved to kiss Emily on the cheek and then Toby. ‘I hope I shall be invited to the wedding?’
‘You will be the guest of honour,’ Emily told her. ‘Toby says we shall hold a ball and announce our engagement in a few months from now. We may be married in the summer. It should not be sooner, because of his father’s death. Besides, I am going to live with his mama and we shall see each other all the time…’She hesitated, looking anxious. ‘You will not need me, Amelia? I know it is short notice, but you have Marguerite to keep you company now.’
It was impossible to tell Emily that Marguerite was leaving under a cloud—or that she might be forced to return home alone. ‘Yes, of course. You must not worry about me, my dearest. I am delighted at the way things have turned out for you. I wish you both every happiness.’
‘I am so very fond of you,’ Emily said and embraced her. ‘I would not leave so suddenly, but I know that you are happy and settled.’
‘Yes, of course I am,’Amelia said. ‘Go and pack your bag now, dearest.’
‘My mother is anxious to become acquainted with Emily,’ Toby said after she had gone. ‘Harry told me that you intended to search for Emily�
��s child. I am grateful, because his agent was able to save me some time in locating the child.’
‘She was so very unhappy after you left. I felt I must do something.’
Toby looked a little uncomfortable. ‘I did not behave well, but I must admit Emily’s revelation came as a bolt of lightning. Had my father not died, I should have returned sooner. As soon as I could, I went to Pendleton and then in search of the child.’
‘I dare say Emily will forgive you. She has not been well, but I believe she will soon be better now.’
Amelia left Toby to prepare his curricle for the journey. She went upstairs to her room. Discovering that the key to the dressing-room door had been put her side, she locked it. She sat down on the bed, bending her head and covering her face with her hands.
Amelia did not cry. Her distress was too deep for tears. She did not know how she felt about things at the moment. She had begun the day feeling on top of the world, but a few spiteful words had turned her world upside down. Her thoughts went round and round in her head as she tried to come to terms with what she had been told. She raised her head, a look of determination in her eyes. She must think about this calmly. It would be foolish to give way to emotion.
Michael had been certain enough of his beliefs to have Gerard beaten. He had acted in a high-handed manner to prevent her marriage at that time, but it seemed he had meant to protect her from a man he believed a rogue. He ought to have told her the story and let her discover the truth for herself. Yet perhaps he had acted as he thought best.
Amelia stood up and began to pace the room. The most terrible accusations had come from Lucinda’s own sister! Marguerite was convinced that Gerard was her sister’s lover. She had not been lying. She truly believed it.
Marguerite had sworn that her sister had told her that Gerard was her lover. The evidence seemed damning. Amelia had always known it was possible that it could have been Gerard who was Lucinda’s lover, if only because he was one of several men visiting the area at that time, but, as time went on, she had completely exonerated him. She had believed that Lucinda’s lover was Northaven, but then she had begun to wonder if she had misjudged him too. Now two people had told her that Gerard had seduced and deserted Lucinda at the time he was supposed to be courting Amelia. A shudder of horror went through her, for if Gerard were capable of such an act he would not be the man she loved. No, no, it could not be true! Everything she knew of him denied it. Besides, something was deeply wrong here…
If Marguerite believed that Gerard had seduced her sister and then driven her to her death—why had she come to this house? She had known that Amelia was going to marry him, for she had told her, asked her to come and help take care of his child. Why would she do that if she were convinced of his guilt?
Amelia frowned as she began to revise the theory she had previously held. She had believed that Gerard’s enemy was Lieutenant Gordon—that he wanted revenge because of the way Lisette had met her death. She had imagined that he was the instigator of the plot to kidnap her, possibly persuading Marguerite to help him. She had wondered if Marguerite had fallen in love with Gordon. How ever, if Marguerite had had reasons of her own to hate Gerard…
She would never rest unless she knew the truth!
Amelia decided she would speak to Marguerite before she left. She went along the landing to Marguerite’s room, knocked at the door and then went in. She saw at once that things had been snatched from the armoire and from the chest. A stocking lay abandoned on the floor and the gowns Amelia had given Marguerite were lying on the bed—each of them had been torn with a sharp instrument, rendering them useless. The glass dressing-table set had been knocked to the floor and some silver items were missing. The mess caused had clearly been done out of spite. Marguerite had vented her anger on anything to hand.
Amelia felt slightly sick at the sight of such wanton destruction. She was seized with fear and hurried to the nursery. Relief swept over her as she found Beattie playing with Lisa while Mary stood folding a pile of clean linen and smiled as the child laughed. Lisa was safe! Amelia schooled her features to a pleasant smile.
‘Have either of you seen Miss Ross in the past hour?’
‘No. She came earlier, but not in the last hour,’ Nurse Mary said. ‘Is something the matter, Miss Royston?’
‘Miss Ross is leaving us. I do not want her near Lisa again.’
‘I’m glad she’s gone and that’s a fact,’ Beattie said. ‘She gave me the creeps—and that’s the truth.’
Amelia didn’t ask her to elaborate. She accepted that she had made a mistake in asking Marguerite to come here on the basis of a few letters. Had anything happened to Lisa because of her error she would not have forgiven herself. If Marguerite was consumed with hate for Lisa’s father, she might well have constituted a danger to the child. Amelia felt guilty for having brought her to the house.
She was on her way back to her room when she saw Emily walking towards her with a bag in her hand and a cloak over her arm.
‘I wanted to say goodbye,’ she said. ‘This is your cloak, Amelia. You were kind to lend it to me, but after I was kidnapped while wearing it I did not wear it again.’
‘I do not think I shall wear it,’Amelia said. ‘I may give it to one of the maids, for it is warm and comfortable.’ She leaned forwards to kiss Emily’s cheek. ‘I wish you lots of happiness, my love.’
‘I am very happy—but a little nervous. Supposing Beth does not like me…?’
‘How could that be?’ Amelia shook her head. ‘She will come to love you, as I have, dearest. Go on now. Toby has his horses waiting.’
‘Yes, I must not keep him. I shall write often—-and we shall be here for the wedding.’
Amelia nodded and let her go. She took her cloak into the bedroom and threw it over a chair. She glanced uncertainly at the locked dressing-room door. As she did so, she saw the handle move.
‘Amelia…are you in there? Open the door please. I would like to talk to you.’
Amelia hesitated. She wasn’t ready to talk to Gerard yet because she was not sure what to say to him. Picking up the cloak she had discarded, she put it around her shoulders and went out of her room. She ran down the stairs and left the house by a side door. The rain had stopped and the wind had blown itself out, though the sky was dark and it was very cold.
She did not mind the cold. She wanted some fresh air—and she needed to be alone for a while.
Chapter Ten
Damn it! How could she think him capable of seducing a young woman and deserting her—and at the same time as he was courting Amelia herself?
Gerard was so angry when he left the room that he was afraid he might do or say something he ought not if he remained. When he saw Toby and Emily come in, he had felt there was no other option than to leave, because he could not speak as he wished with them present. Amelia was clearly in a state of shock and distress. He could only hope that she would come to her senses after a moment or two of reflection.
He was in his own bedchamber when he thought he heard sounds coming from Amelia’s room. He went through the dressing closet and tried the handle of the connecting door, calling out to her. She did not answer, yet he was certain she was there. Why would she not speak to him?
It was an impossible situation! How could she believe those vile allegations? She could not if she loved him.
Gerard vaguely remembered the scene in the woods near Amelia’s home some years previously. He had been on his way to visit Amelia when he met a young woman. She had been visiting her friend, for she told him that she had just come from the Roystons’ house. She was carrying her bonnet by its ribbons, her long fair hair loose on her shoulders. The sunshine suited her—her skin had turned a pale gold and she wore no pelisse, her muslin gown clinging to her shapely form.
‘I have been visiting Amelia,’ she told him, laughing up at him with her soft ripe lips and her blue eyes filled with mischief. ‘It is so warm today. I think I shall go for a swim in the river.’
Gerard struggled to recall his reply. It was something like, ‘It is certainly warm enough. You should take care, Miss Ross. The river is deep and there are reeds that might catch your skirts and drag you down.’ Yes, he remembered saying something of the sort. The scene was becoming clearer now. He had dismissed it as unimportant, but now he thought it imperative that he should remember exactly.
‘I shall not be wearing clothes…’ She licked her lips, an invitation in her eyes. ‘Why do you not come with me? We could swim and…’ Her laughter was husky and seductive. ‘Who knows what else we might find to do, Gerard?’ She moved towards him, the perfume of roses wafting from her skin. ‘I have always thought you one of the most handsome men I know.’
‘You should not say such things, Lucinda.’ Gerard could not help smiling, for she was a lovely young woman. He was in love with Amelia, but a light dalliance was no sin on a summer afternoon. ‘Some men might take you at your word.’
Had his manner challenged her—encouraged her? He had not meant it to, but perhaps he had been at fault for her reply had been swift and bold.
‘I should like you to take me at my word…’ Lucinda threw herself at him, winding her arms about his neck and pressing herself against his body. He put up his hands to hold her arms and push her away, but she pressed her lips against his in a wild, passionate kiss that shocked him and for just one moment he had responded. He was, after all, a young man with red blood in his veins. ‘Take me swimming…lie with me this afternoon…make love to me, Gerard.’
‘No!’Gerard had pushed her away as the moment passed and he realised what she was asking. He did not want her. He was in love with Amelia Royston. This wanton girl was beautiful and he had been tempted by her kiss, but now her boldness revolted him. ‘Behave yourself! Think of the disgrace to your family if you were seen swimming naked.’
Lucinda laughed mockingly. ‘I do not know why Marguerite thinks herself in love with you. You are such a righteous bore, Gerard Ravenshead. I do not want you. I already have a lover and he does not scruple to take me swimming and then lie with me on a summer afternoon.’
