Last Gentleman Standing

by Jane Ashford

  “They’ve found him,” said Mr. Aldgate. “He was searching the park for you, it appears. He is in the kitchen, devouring a large bowl of scraps. I thought you would wish him fed first of all.”

  “Oh, yes,” said Tony. “Then can I see him?”

  Mr. Aldgate nodded and smiled, as did Elisabeth. She rose. “I should write to my family in London and tell them I’m all right, else they may think I’ve also been kidnapped,” she said. “And I’m so tired from the long ride today, I believe I’ll retire early. Now that Growser is found, and all is well, I will say good night.”

  “Of course,” answered Aldgate, bowing slightly as she turned to go.

  “Don’t forget to give your direction,” called Tony.

  Elisabeth turned back, wrinkled her nose at him, then threw up her hands helplessly. She left Tony laughing heartily and went to the chamber she had been given.

  She didn’t wake until nearly noon the next day, and when she first moved, she felt all the effects of her unusually long ride. Her legs and back were stiff and sore, and she was still tired, despite her long sleep. She rose slowly and rang for hot water, moving gingerly to sit before the fire. Soon, two maids entered, one carrying a large can of steaming water, and the other bearing a tray on which sat a pot of tea, a plate of buttered toast, and a large dish of marmalade. They curtsied briefly, and the second girl said, “Mrs. Deal thought you might be hungry, miss, it being so late.”

  “Thank you,” answered Elisabeth. “That was very kind of her.”

  “Shall I help you dress, miss?” asked the other girl. She had set the hot water down on the washstand.

  “No, thank you. I’ll manage. And I believe I’ll have some tea first. I suppose there hasn’t been time for my clothes to arrive from town?”

  Both girls shook their heads. “But your message went off first thing,” volunteered one. “They should be along any time.”

  Elisabeth dismissed them, sitting down before the fire once again and pouring herself a cup of tea. She was just spreading a slice of toast thickly with marmalade when she heard horses approaching the house. Thinking her clothes had come, she went to the window, which overlooked the drive in front of the house. A curricle was sweeping up at a very rapid pace, and as it came closer, she recognized Derek Wincannon on the box.

  He was driving so fast that she feared he wouldn’t be able to stop, but right in front of the door, he pulled up his team sharply. He paused, surveying the house, and saw Elisabeth leaning from her second-floor window.

  “You are here,” he said, very loudly and harshly. “I couldn’t believe you had been so bird-witted.”

  Elisabeth blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “To ride off alone, following that ridiculous dog. You might have had a fall or been kidnapped yourself or met God knows what kinds of ruffians on the road. I thought you had a little intelligence, a little judgment. But you’ve proved me utterly mistaken.”

  “I found Tony,” snapped Elisabeth, thoroughly angered by his tone, “which is more than you could manage to do, even assisted by half of London.”

  Derek’s hold on the reins tightened alarmingly. His horses sidled and tossed their heads. “Indeed. No doubt that is why you declined to take me into your confidence when you discovered something at last. My ineptitude.”

  “No,” said Elisabeth quickly, feeling guilty for her last remark. “It was just that I had done nothing. I had been so helpless. I…I wanted to…”

  “You wanted to hold us all up as fools, and you did. Smartly. I salute your enviable sagacity.” He lifted his whip in a bitterly mocking gesture.

  “Oh, that’s not fair,” she cried, “I…” At that moment, the front door opened, and Mr. Aldgate appeared in the drive. He greeted Derek, and following his gaze, saw Elisabeth in the window. He bowed to her gravely. “This young man is here in response to your message?” he asked.

  “Yes, yes,” replied Elisabeth distractedly. “This is Mr. Derek Wincannon. Mr. Lucius Aldgate, the owner of this house, who has been so kind to Tony.” She trailed off in some confusion, suddenly becoming aware that she was leaning out the window in her nightdress, curls all about her face in disarray.

  The gentlemen greeted one another. “I’ve brought Miss Elham’s things,” said Derek curtly.

  Mr. Aldgate nodded. “I’ll have someone fetch them. Won’t you step down and come in?”

  But Wincannon shook his head. “No. I must hold my horses.” He pulled a valise from behind his seat and handed it down to Aldgate.

  “Surely you will stay a moment,” put in Elisabeth from above. She had partly withdrawn from the window; only her head showed. She’d been about to retire entirely when she heard Derek’s pronouncement.

  “I have pressing business,” replied Wincannon. Mr. Aldgate looked from one of the young people to the other and said nothing.

  “But Tony will wish to see you,” continued Elisabeth urgently.

  “I cannot see why he should.” And with one piercing glance up at her, Derek turned his curricle and drove back the way he had come.

  “Well,” said Elisabeth, gazing after him with wide eyes.

  Mr. Aldgate also followed the carriage with his eyes for a moment, then he glanced up at Elisabeth, shook his head, and walked back into the house carrying her valise.

  Elisabeth spent several days at Steen. She wished to see for herself that Tony was mending. When she left at the end of the week, in her own carriage this time with Lavinia and Belinda, who had driven out to spend the day with Tony, she was satisfied that he would be able to return home soon. On the drive, she thought again of Derek Wincannon and the abrupt way he’d left her. Why had he come at all, if only to be so rude? She felt angry when she remembered his harsh reproaches, but mostly she wished that he’d stayed for a little while and allowed her to explain herself. She found that it mattered very much to her that he understand.

  There had been no further word from him, and Lavinia and Belinda hadn’t seen him. As they rode back to town, they talked of other friends, particularly those who’d asked for her or sent messages to Tony. They had put it about that Tony had been hurt while supervising some construction at Willowmere.

  Belinda now thought of little but wedding clothes. She’d decided to be married in London at the end of the season, and all of her attention was taken up by preparations for that event. Lavinia entered into her enthusiasm unreservedly.

  The sun was just setting when their carriage pulled up before the house, and Elisabeth jumped down gratefully. Ketchem stood by the open front door, arms crossed, glowering, but Elisabeth was happy to see even her and greeted her affectionately. Ketchem sniffed, but her expression softened; and she took charge of the luggage with no more than a muttered complaint.

  Elisabeth strode into the hall and smiled at Ames, who was hovering there. “Well, I’m home,” she told him unnecessarily. “And none the worse for my adventure.”

  “Yes, Miss Elham,” he replied, continuing to look worried. “And very glad we all are. But I’m afraid there’s a gentleman waiting to see you, miss. He insisted upon coming in, though I told him you were out of town. ‘She’s coming soon, isn’t she?’ he said. ‘I want to welcome her back.’ Very abrupt, he was.”

  “Is it Mr. Wincannon?” asked Elisabeth quickly.

  “No, miss. It’s Mr. Jarrett.”

  Elisabeth frowned. “Mr. Jarrett?” she repeated. “What can he want? Where is he, in the drawing room?” At Ames’s nod, she started up the stairs. “I’ll just say hello, but I’m not in the mood for callers.”

  Mr. Jarrett was standing with his back to the drawing room fire, his hands behind him, looking contemplative. When Elisabeth entered the room, he smiled and came forward eagerly. “Hello,” he said. “I called to welcome you back to London. It has missed you sorely. I couldn’t resist being the first to tell you so, since I believe I am on
e of the ones who felt it most.”

  Elisabeth greeted him rather coolly and sat down on the sofa. He joined her and sat for a moment watching her face. “Are you angry with me?” he asked finally. “I couldn’t keep away. I wanted so much to see you and to tell you how glad I am that your cousin is found and safe.”

  The girl softened a little. “That is kind of you. I am only a little tired; I just this moment arrived home, you know.”

  He hit his knee with a loose fist. “And I have been rude to insist upon seeing you now. I beg pardon.” He sighed, frowning. “When will I learn to keep the bounds? I have never thought myself a stupid man, but I admit that the conventions of polite society seem to escape me with a startling regularity.” He smiled at her. “Let us admit that life abroad has ruined me and be done with it. I continue to let my feelings be my guide, and I continue to come a cropper.”

  Elisabeth returned his smile, her eyes held by his for a long moment. “It is of no consequence,” she replied.

  Jarrett shook his head. “You say so because you are the soul of politeness. Well, I can only promise to do better.” He shrugged. “I shall try, at any rate.” There was a short pause. “And so your cousin is found,” he continued. “I congratulate you most sincerely.”

  “Thank you. I am very grateful for it.”

  “I know how you have been worrying.”

  Elisabeth inclined her head. “Yes, it is good to have it over. We only hope now to avoid talk about the whole horrid incident.”

  “Of course, I shall say nothing. Have you found out who was responsible?” Elisabeth looked up, startled, and he added, “Your cousin told me that it was definitely a kidnapping. I was never more shocked. And how I wished I’d been of some help to you. You have no idea how helpless I felt, watching friends in trouble and unable to do anything.”

  Elisabeth had been a little uneasy about Mr. Jarrett’s knowledge of their trouble, but this sentiment, so much like her own feeling during the incident, reassured her and struck a responsive chord. She smiled up at him warmly. “You were a great help. Indeed, I must thank you. My cousin has told me what comfort you gave her through this time.”

  He brushed this aside. “It was nothing. Anyone might have done the same.”

  “No, indeed, I do not allow that to be true at all. Very few people would make such a sustained effort. We are all grateful.”

  He shrugged. “It was not to elicit your gratitude that I spoke; let us talk no more about it. When does Tony come home?”

  “Soon, I hope. I’m not precisely certain.”

  “Is he badly hurt?”

  Elisabeth shook her head. She didn’t wish to go into the details of Tony’s injury even with this kind friend. To her relief, he didn’t inquire further.

  “Well, if I can be of any assistance—taking messages to him or escorting him home—you have only to say so. I hope you will.”

  “Thank you. You are a good friend.”

  Jarrett looked at her seriously, then reached over and took her hand. “I should like to be a better one,” he said. “I’ve done so little, when I would do anything.”

  Elisabeth gazed into his pale eyes and was transfixed for a moment; his tone was very unsettling. She took a breath and gently pulled her hand away. “I…you are very kind. But all is well now, you know. There’s no need for you to be concerned.”

  He continued to look at her intensely for a short space, then he nodded. “Of course. And that is a matter for much rejoicing.” He rose. “But you will be wishing me at the devil for keeping you when you want to rest. I came only to welcome you back, after all.”

  Elisabeth rose also. “And I thank you.”

  They walked toward the door together. “I hope I will see you again soon,” said Jarrett when they reached the head of the stairs.

  “Well, I’m not precisely certain of our schedule right now. But we shall meet soon.”

  He bowed slightly and started to go. But before he had descended two steps, he turned back to her. “I hope you aren’t offended,” he said. “My feelings sometimes carry me further than I mean.”

  Elisabeth looked down. “I am not offended,” she answered.

  Seeming satisfied, he nodded quickly and continued down the stairs.

  When he was gone, Elisabeth returned to the drawing room and sat there by herself for a time. She breathed a sigh, partly of fatigue, partly of relief. What is there about that man, she wondered? He disturbs me. She sat back, shaking her head.

  She rubbed her temples wearily. She had hoped that Derek Wincannon would call to welcome her home, and instead it had been Jarrett. When would she find an opportunity to explain to Derek? There had been no word from him since the confrontation at Steen, and this seemed strange to her after their almost daily contact in the previous weeks. Evidently, he was still angry with her.

  Cousin Lavinia entered the room. “Belinda has gone upstairs to rest,” she said. “You should do the same. We’ll probably have callers this evening to welcome you back.”

  Elisabeth nodded. “I’ll go in a moment. Mr. Jarrett was just here for that very purpose.”

  Her cousin nodded. “I met him on the stairs. He’s been to see me several times in your absence. I begin to think he’s dangling after you, Elisabeth. It’s rather worrisome. I’m not just sure what I should do, you see. I’ve been cogitating, and I simply do not know.”

  Elisabeth smiled slightly. “I can manage for myself, cousin. You needn’t get yourself into a pucker.”

  Lavinia looked shocked. “Oh, dear me, of course you can, my dear. Such a composed young woman as you are, I would not dream of…no, my dear, it isn’t that. But I have begun to suspect that Mr. Jarrett was never a close friend of William’s, and it has worried me a vast deal. What am I to do?”

  Elisabeth sat up straighter. “What do you mean?” she asked.

  Lavinia looked at her. For the first time, Elisabeth noticed that she had dark circles under her eyes. “He always tries to avoid talking about William. I had seen that. But sometimes I insist. He thinks I don’t notice the discredences. In fact, he thinks me a fool.” Lavinia looked down at her hands, folded in her lap. Her usual cheerful air seemed to have deserted her, Elisabeth saw with concern. “Many people do,” she continued without looking up. “But I am not, you know.” She raised her head with a simple dignity and met Elisabeth’s eyes squarely. “And I can tell when someone is hedging about a subject I know very well.”

  Elisabeth reached out and took both her cousin’s hands. She was at a loss for the proper words, and so was forced to be content with, “Of course you can. No one with any sense ever thought you a fool. But you look burnt to the socket, Cousin Lavinia. You are the one who must rest. I have been putting too much work on you lately.” Elisabeth felt remorseful as she gazed into her cousin’s tired eyes.

  “Nonsense,” replied Lavinia more brightly. “I want to be of help. That’s why I tell you not to be taken in by Mr. Jarrett. I believe he claimed acquaintance with William just to incinurate himself into our family.”

  Elisabeth nodded. “I’ll remember. And now, you are going up to your bedchamber for a good nap before dinner.” Lavinia protested, but finally let Elisabeth propel her to the stairs. She went slowly up to her room, making the younger girl feel even sadder at the weariness in her gait. Elisabeth resolved to do something particularly nice for her cousin.

  With a sigh, Elisabeth let her head droop on the sofa pillow. There was so much to plan. She must make arrangements for getting Tony home and for the wedding. Gradually, her head sank lower and her eyelids dropped. In a few minutes, she was asleep on the drawing room sofa, curled up at the end, looking completely comfortable.

  Eighteen

  The evening seemed very short to Elisabeth. As Lavinia had foretold, they did have several callers. The duke and his mother were the first to arrive, just after dinner. He’
d been making a habit of this whenever Belinda was at home, and tonight his mother accompanied him. The duchess immediately seated herself next to Elisabeth.

  “Well, and so you are back,” she said when she had arranged her skirts. “You have had quite an adventure. Tell me all the details.”

  Smiling, Elisabeth said, “Surely you have heard them ere this?”

  The duchess shrugged. “Of course I know all about it. Belinda tells John everything, and we are one family now, after all. But I’m never sure she has gotten it right, you know. I wish to hear it from you.”

  Elisabeth’s smile broadened a little. “Well, you’ve heard of my ride with Growser, I know, and that I found Tony.”

  “Yes, yes. Come, girl, you can certainly tell a better story than that.”

  Elisabeth laughed. “I shall tell you about Mr. Aldgate, then.”

  The duchess seemed astonished. “Aldgate? No, it couldn’t be.”

  It was Elisabeth’s turn to show surprise. “Do you know him? Mr. Lucius Aldgate? He lives at a house called Steen.”

  The duchess’s eyes widened. “Did you know him, Judith?” asked cousin Lavinia. “Fancy that. I should have told you his name.”

  “Lucius Aldgate,” repeated the duchess in a strangled voice. “I thought him dead these twenty years.” She shook her head as if to clear it, made as if to rise, and fell heavily back onto the sofa in a dead faint.

  “Judith!” cried Lavinia, jumping up and rushing to her friend’s side.

  Elisabeth also rose. “Your Grace!” she exclaimed. She took the duchess’s hand and began to chafe her wrist. “Water,” she called imperatively, and the duke hurried out of the room.

  There were some minutes of confusion as people ran in and out and offered various remedies to the stricken woman. Soon, she regained consciousness, and though she seemed to have suffered no ill effects, Elisabeth and the duke insisted that she lie still on the sofa.

  “The vapors,” she said in strong accents of disgust as she complied, “and at my age. Disgraceful.”