Last Gentleman Standing

by Jane Ashford

  Jane raised her eyebrows and turned away slightly. “No, I suppose I can’t. No one has ever offered for me.”

  Elisabeth looked at her a little impatiently. “And Lord Darnell would never have made me an offer had I not been rich.”

  Jane shrugged, and after a few moments, she rose. “I am afraid I must excuse myself now,” she said. “I have promised an article for this afternoon, and I haven’t yet begun it.”

  Elisabeth rose with some relief. Jane really was becoming hard to talk to lately. She hoped that a rest in the country would help.

  Her two cousins had once again been out shopping during the morning, and Elisabeth was treated to an exhaustive account of what they’d bought. She could muster little interest until Lavinia mentioned the duchess.

  “Is she all right?” Elisabeth asked her.

  Lavinia nodded. “I went to inquire early this morning. Judith seems fully reconstituted. But it is strange…” She trailed off, her tone puzzled.

  “What?” asked Elisabeth.

  Her cousin looked up, a frown wrinkling her brow. “She refuses to discuss her fainting spell or Mr. Aldgate or anything about them. It isn’t like her; she usually talks to me quite freely.”

  “You didn’t know Mr. Aldgate also?”

  “Oh, no. When Judith left school, she came directly to London, you know. I went home.” Lavinia paused, still perplexed. “We wrote a great many letters, and she told me of the people she met after she came out. I can’t remember them all after such a time, but Mr. Aldgate’s name doesn’t seem familiar.” She continued to look concerned. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen Judith act so. I cannot completely expurgate it from my mind.”

  Belinda rose impatiently. “I don’t see that it is at all important,” she said and left the room.

  Elisabeth watched her older cousin for a moment, then reached out to press her hand. “I don’t think you need to be really worried,” she said. “I’m sure it’s something logical and trivial. We’ll laugh when we find out.”

  Lavinia smiled weakly up at her. “Yes, of course you’re right. I mustn’t fall into the dismals over such a small thing.”

  After luncheon, Elisabeth settled herself in the drawing room to write cards of invitation for her evening party and await Derek Wincannon’s call.

  She wrote dutifully at first, working through Belinda’s list and beginning on the one she’d compiled of her own friends, but as the time Derek had set grew closer, Elisabeth began to feel nervous and spent more time looking out the window or staring unseeing at the drawing room wall than writing. After she had caught herself several times, she shook her head angrily. This is ridiculous, she thought. I am acting like a mooncalf again. Resolutely, she turned back to the pile of invitations and finished them.

  It was not long afterward that she heard the bell and Ames ushered in Derek. Elisabeth rose and held out her hand. He took it briefly and bowed.

  For a moment, Elisabeth feared she couldn’t speak. Once more, her heart was beating rapidly and her mind was in a turmoil. With a strong effort, she controlled herself and gestured toward the sofa.

  As she sat down, she said, “I’m glad you were able to come. I’ve been wanting to speak to you about our last meeting.” Her voice sounded remarkably even, she thought.

  Derek looked both relieved and a bit uncomfortable. “Indeed,” he replied. “I was pleased to receive your note. I’ve wanted to speak to you as well.”

  Having established this, neither appeared to have anything further to say. A silence fell and lengthened.

  Finally, Elisabeth took a deep breath. “I wished to explain…” she began.

  But at the same instant, Wincannon said, “I must apologize…”

  Both broke off, laughing awkwardly. “Pardon me,” he said.

  Elisabeth shook her head. “This is foolish. I merely wished to tell you why I went off so precipitously and alone to find Tony. I didn’t mean to make you angry or exclude you.”

  He held up a hand. “Whatever your reasons, I had no right to speak to you as I did. I have very much wished to apologize to you since, but I didn’t know whether you would see me.”

  Elisabeth looked blank. “But of course I would. You can’t think I would have refused even to talk with you.”

  “I’ve never spoken so to any lady,” answered Derek. “I feared I had offended you irretrievably. I’d been so worried, you see, and I allowed my emotions too much license.”

  “You were right to rebuke me. It was foolish to ride off alone on such an errand. It turned out well, but not through any efforts of mine. I was lucky.”

  “That does not excuse me,” he answered.

  Elisabeth smiled slightly at his serious tone. “Well, now that we have rated ourselves soundly, do you think that we might forgive each other and cry friends again?”

  He looked at her, surprised, then smiled. “I suppose I have been coming it rather strong.”

  Elisabeth nodded, suppressing a laugh.

  Derek did laugh. “Very well. Let us forget the whole matter.”

  “Good. And the next time I set off on my own to have an adventure…” She broke off, laughing, at Derek’s quick change of expression. “I’m only bamming you. No need to look so thundery.”

  “I’m not sure I can promise to ignore your ‘adventures,’ as you call them. I’d worry about you.” This last was said very seriously, and Elisabeth’s pulse quickened once again.

  “You needn’t,” she said a bit unevenly. “I’ll leave the adventuring to others from now on.”

  There was another short silence. Elisabeth took a breath. “So,” she continued, “that is settled, and we are friends again. You can’t think how relieved I am. And now I can give you this.” She rose and went to the writing desk, returning with an envelope addressed to Derek.

  “What is it?” he said as he took it.

  “An invitation to my evening party for Belinda and the duke. I sent the others, but I thought I would either give you yours myself or throw it away, depending on how you behaved today.” Her eyes were twinkling once more.

  “I’m fortunate to have passed muster, I see.”

  “You don’t know how fortunate,” she responded with a laugh. “This is to be the occasion for inviting all my odd friends, you know. Your father was much taken with the idea, by the by, just as you said he would be.”

  “You’re asking all these eccentrics to meet your cousin and her fiancé?”

  “Oh, no. I’ve invited a great many of their friends as well. And I haven’t met so many eccentrics as that. I’ll keep them apart in a corner and introduce them only to my special friends.”

  “I hope you number me among them then. I shan’t be able to resist the spectacle.”

  “You shall meet them all, to be sure. But I suppose it will present a strange appearance. Perhaps I’ll have to scatter them about the room.”

  “To leaven the group, as it were,” suggested her companion.

  “Exactly,” agreed Elisabeth. “How well you understand. Of course, it may be difficult to hide Mr. Aldgate.”

  “Aldgate?”

  “Yes, you met him. He’s the man who rescued Tony. He’s to escort him home late next week, and I shall beg him to stay with us for a while and attend the party.”

  “And what is his particular eccentricity?” asked Derek. “Is he hunting-mad perhaps? Or has he invented some new method of estate management? It’s difficult to see how a country squire could achieve sufficient oddness for this party.”

  Elisabeth stared. “But you spoke to him for quite five minutes. You must have noticed.”

  Derek shook his head. “I remember talking with someone, that’s all. Does he have a lisp?”

  “No, no,” she cried, half amused and half exasperated. “You are singularly unobservant. He dresses in the style of thirty years a
go.”

  “What, powdered wigs and satin coats? Is that all?”

  “Well, the Duchess of Sherbourne falls into a dead faint at the mention of his name,” added Elisabeth.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Elisabeth recounted the history of the duchess’s attack to him, after warning him to keep silent about it. “So you see,” she finished, “there is some mystery there.”

  “Indeed.” He smiled at her warmly. “And if anyone can discover what it is, you can.”

  Elisabeth colored slightly. “Do you think me a tiresome meddler, then?”

  “Not at all. Merely a very determined and curious woman. I shouldn’t like to try keeping something from you that you wished to know.”

  “Well, I hope I never pry. I certainly don’t mean to plague the duchess if it is clear that she doesn’t wish the matter known.”

  At this moment, Lavinia entered the drawing room in search of some wafers, and their private conversation came to an end. Derek politely stayed a little longer, but soon he rose to take his leave. Elisabeth went with him to the hall, holding out her hand as he stood ready to depart. “I am so glad we’ve put things right,” she told him. “It is a great relief to me.”

  He bowed his head. “Perhaps you will go driving with me next week to seal the bargain?”

  “I should be delighted,” she answered.

  Twenty-one

  Elisabeth was completely occupied for several days after that. Tony returned home with Mr. Aldgate, who insisted upon opening his own townhouse rather than staying with them. At luncheon the day they arrived, Elisabeth couldn’t resist saying, “We found last week that one of our friends claims acquaintance with you.”

  “Really?” replied Aldgate. “Who might that be?” He didn’t seem astonished.

  “The Duchess of Sherbourne,” answered Elisabeth.

  Lavinia was watching Mr. Aldgate anxiously. “Judith Chetwood,” she added. “She was, I mean. Before she married, you know.”

  “Ah,” responded Mr. Aldgate.

  There was a short pause. Elisabeth watched her guest, but she could find no clue in his expression. “You did know her, then?” she asked finally, determined not to be put off so easily.

  Aldgate looked at her and smiled a bit. “Judith Chetwood I knew, yes. I was in town the year she made her come-out.”

  Lavinia frowned, but said nothing. Elisabeth tried to be encouraging. “Really? How interesting. You’ll meet her again at my evening party next week, you know. I hope you still mean to come?”

  “Indeed. I look forward to it.”

  “It will be nice to see an old friend again,” the girl suggested.

  Mr. Aldgate merely bowed silently. Before Elisabeth could press him, Tony interrupted. “You should have seen Growser in the country, Cousin Elisabeth. He went nearly wild. He even sniffed out a fox one day and chased it across the property line into the next stand of timber. I think he’ll make an excellent hunting dog. I shall try him when we go down to Willowmere.”

  Elisabeth was smiling. “What sorts of game did he bring you?”

  “Oh, well, as to that, he never actually brought in anything.” Tony was airily unconcerned. “But he has the instinct, you see. The fine points can be taught him.”

  Elisabeth laughed. “I daresay. But I believe Mrs. Lewis keeps chickens. You must see that he is trained not to molest them.”

  “Oh, he wouldn’t,” exclaimed Tony, indignant at this slur on his pet. “He’s not so rag-mannered. And besides, chickens!” His expression showed contempt.

  “You’ve asked nothing about my wedding, Tony,” Belinda interrupted. “It is rather more important than your horrid dog, I should think. You are to give me away, you know.”

  Tony looked aghast. “What! I shall do no such thing. Fancy me making a cake of myself marching up the aisle with you.”

  “But you must.” Belinda’s eyes widened. “Who will do it if you don’t?”

  “I don’t care a farthing. I shan’t do it.”

  Belinda’s eyes filled with tears. “But Tony…” she began.

  Elisabeth intervened hastily. “I’m sure we can come to some agreement. We’ll talk of it another time. Has everyone finished? Shall we return to the drawing room?” She rose, as did Mr. Aldgate, and they managed to quell the rising quarrel. When they got back to the drawing room, Aldgate took his leave, promising to call again after he had gotten settled.

  Belinda was engaged to go walking with Amelia Wincannon, and Lavinia was off on her never-ending errands, so Elisabeth and Tony were left alone. She looked at him, smiling. “You will do, I think,” she said. “You seem almost wholly recovered. Are you tired?”

  Tony shook his head. “At first, I was tired all the time, but I hardly notice it now.” He raised his eyes challengingly. “Will I have to be in Belinda’s wedding?”

  “Well, if you really don’t wish it, I suppose we might make other arrangements. But Belinda particularly wants you, and you are the man of the family, of course.”

  This gave him pause. “Oh. But there is my uncle; he would do much better than I.”

  Elisabeth nodded. “We could ask him. The family will be down for the wedding. But as I said, Belinda hopes to have you beside her.”

  Tony looked mulish. “I don’t see why. I’ll probably make a mull of it.”

  Elisabeth smiled. “I’m sure you won’t. And we’ll have instructions in what to do, you know.”

  “What, are you to be in it too?”

  She nodded. “I’m to stand up with Belinda as a…a sort of bridesmaid.”

  Tony gave a shout of laughter. “Very well. If you are to be there, I’ll undertake to endure it. What fools we’ll look.”

  “Good. That is settled.”

  She was about to go on when Ames came into the room. “Mr. Jarrett is below,” he said in response to Elisabeth’s inquiring look.

  “Mr. Jarrett?” echoed Elisabeth. “Oh dear, he chooses such awkward times to call. Tell him that I am occupied and cannot see him now, Ames.” The butler bowed and went out, and the girl continued. “I wish to talk more about your kidnapping, Tony, while we are private together. Did you see the house Mr. Aldgate thought to be the one where you were held?”

  “Yes. And he was right. But there was nothing left to help us. They were too careful.”

  Elisabeth frowned. “You must keep thinking over the incident. Perhaps you can remember something that would lead us to the kidnappers.”

  Tony shook his head. “So I hoped. But I’ve gone over and over it a thousand times. There is only the maid. I daresay I could recognize her, but they’ve gotten her well away by now, I wager.”

  “Yes.” Elisabeth struck her knee with a closed fist. “It galls me. They go free after what they did to you, and we have no recourse.”

  Tony agreed.

  Elisabeth rose from the sofa and turned, feeling the need to pace about the room. But as she stood, she saw Mr. Jarrett standing in the drawing room doorway, his hat in hand. “Mr. Jarrett!” she exclaimed involuntarily.

  The man bowed. “Excuse me,” he said. “I overbore your butler inexcusably. I wished urgently to speak to you. But I see I have chosen a bad moment.” Jarrett spoke very abruptly; he seemed agitated about something.

  Elisabeth raised her eyebrows, annoyed at this intrusion. “You might have realized that when I refused myself,” she said coolly.

  “Indeed, I should have. But I am… I was…” He paused a moment and put a hand to his forehead.

  Jarrett looked up. “If I might come tomorrow?” He looked at Elisabeth.

  “M’cousin is engaged tomorrow,” said Tony belligerently.

  “Tony,” said Elisabeth. She looked at Jarrett apologetically. “I’ve been much involved in planning an evening party, you know. You received the card?”

  “Yes
, yes, I did, I believe. But I…”

  “Well, then, you can see my cousin there, can’t you?” put in Tony.

  “Tony, please,” said the girl, “you are being rude.” Tony looked unrepentant.

  Jarrett didn’t seem to notice Tony’s remarks at all; he continued to gaze intently at Elisabeth. “I must talk to you,” he said. “It is vitally important.”

  His tone unsettled her. She dropped her eyes in the face of his piercing stare. “I’m sorry,” she continued. “I have no time before the party; it takes place in a very few days, you know, and there is much still to be done. But we will have a good conversation that evening, I promise you.”

  Jarrett didn’t relax. “It’s difficult to be private at a party. I need to see you alone.”

  At this, Tony again took exception. “I believe you heard the lady say she was busy,” he said.

  The scene was becoming too much for Elisabeth. “Later next week, perhaps,” she put in hurriedly. “Or…or…oh, I do not know precisely, but I assure you we’ll find some opportunity to talk.”

  Mr. Jarrett opened his mouth to speak, thought better of it, then started again. But before he could say anything, Elisabeth walked toward the bell pull. Jarrett frowned, made a quick gesture, then bowed and strode out of the room.

  Tony followed. “I’ll just see that he really leaves this time,” he said over his shoulder, making little effort to lower his voice.

  Elisabeth sat down again, and Tony returned a moment later. “He’s gone,” he said. “I don’t like that fellow. A queer customer. I saw Ames as I was coming back up. Jarrett didn’t push past him at all. Ames said he showed him out. Must’ve waited outside, then come back in once Ames had left the hall. Dashed havey-cavey way of visiting.”

  “He is a strange man,” agreed Elisabeth. “But he has lived in the Indies for many years. Perhaps their conventions are different.”

  “Did he, by Jove? Well, I doubt if sneaking into people’s houses is fashionable even there. I don’t like him, I tell you.”

  Elisabeth shook her head. “No, I begin to think I don’t either.”

  The next morning, Elisabeth drove into the City to see her banker one last time before leaving town. It was not a lengthy visit. In less than half an hour, she returned to the street. She had started to climb into her carriage when she heard someone call her name. Turning, she confronted a small dark man hurrying along the pavement in her direction. “Miss Elham,” he repeated. “I wish to speak to you, please.”