* * *
Later that evening Sir Henry was sitting alone in his library, still debating the options available and finding little comfort in them, when Blandish came in with a card.
‘Lord Aldhurst? I can’t see him tonight. Ask him to come some other time.’
‘His lordship was quite pressing, sir. He said the matter was urgent and private.’
Antonia had been out with Aldhurst earlier in the day. What could the man possibly want? Sir Henry sighed and said, ‘Very well. You’d better show his lordship in, Blandish. The ladies are out at a concert tonight, are they not?’
‘Yes, sir. They left half an hour ago.’
‘You can bring in some wine. Or brandy might be better. Whatever Lord Aldhurst wants.’
James came in, refused an invitation to sit down, but accepted a glass of Sir Henry’s finest brandy. He was perfectly at ease, but not altogether sure where to start.
‘How can I help you, sir?’ asked Sir Henry after a pause.
James put his glass down and said abruptly, ‘I would like to have your permission to pay my addresses to your daughter, Sir Henry.’
Whatever Sir Henry had expected it was not this! He began to wonder what other shocks the day might have in store for him. He said cautiously, ‘This is a surprise. You hardly know her!’
‘Would you object otherwise?’
‘I don’t think so. I can’t claim to know you any better than you know my daughter, but from what I’ve heard you’re a man of character. You’re certainly very eligible. The world would think she was making an excellent match. No, I would have no objection. I can’t answer for my daughter, of course. You may have perhaps noticed, Aldhurst, that she’s a young lady who knows her own mind.’
‘Indeed! And if I were to ask her at the moment she would very possibly refuse me. I would like to…to wait until she feels she knows me well enough. But I have hopes—’ He stopped, then after a moment’s pause he said slowly, ‘I have something to tell you, Sir Henry. But before I begin I would like you to promise me you will keep it from your daughter. In return I will assure you of my own silence, whether she accepts my proposal or not.’ In response to a slight frown he went on, ‘It sounds mysterious, I know, but you will understand what I mean when you’ve heard what I have to say.’
Even in his present state of distress Sir Henry found this amusing. Today seemed to be a day for confidences. He wondered what the devil Aldhurst had to say. He nodded and again invited his guest to sit, hoping that, whatever it was, it would be less sensationally unpleasant than what he had heard that morning.
* * *
James sat down, took a gold chain out of his pocket, and laid it on the table between them. ‘I believe your daughter was recently involved in an accident. Has she…has she told you about it?’
Sir Henry examined the chain and looked up with a frown. ‘Of course she has! But what do you know about it, sir? And where did you get this chain?’
James smiled and shook his head. ‘Believe me, Sir Henry, I mean no harm. It was found at the scene and brought to me by the person who found it. It was knotted round the ring you are wearing on your finger.’
He paused, but there was no reaction. Sir Henry’s face was totally without expression. ‘Really?’ he said.
‘You said that I hardly know your daughter, but you were mistaken. I love her, and more than anything in the world, I want to make her my wife.’ He paused again but when Sir Henry remained silent James went on, ‘The accident took place some time ago now. Do you know what happened afterwards?’
There was a silence. Then Sir Henry shook his head in resignation. ‘I had hoped the world need never learn of it,’ he said heavily. ‘But you obviously know or have heard something.’ He paused again then said, ‘Antonia has no memory of what happened to her between the accident to the coach and the day she arrived in London. If you know any more, I should like to hear it.’
‘The accident took place not far from my grandmother’s house at Hatherton. Miss Calverley escaped from the coach and was given shelter there until she was strong enough to set off for London.’
Sir Henry lost his mandarin-like composure. ‘What?’ he exclaimed. Then he gathered himself together and said coldly, ‘If what you say is true, I am surprised that Lady Aldhurst did not see fit to tell us.’
‘My grandmother didn’t know. She wasn’t there. Apart from the servants Miss Calverley and I were alone.’
Sir Henry rose to his feet. ‘I don’t believe you!’
James also stood up. ‘It is true, sir.’
‘The two of you? Alone? Together? Are you telling me, that you kept her with you for all that time without a word to her family?’ Sir Henry spoke quietly, but his voice trembled with rage. ‘And now you come here tonight proposing to put it right by offering to marry her?’ He walked away, then turned and said icily, ‘I was wrong about you. I considered you a gentleman, a man of honour!’
James said steadily, ‘And so I am.’
‘You must allow me to tell you, sir, that I think you are neither! Can you explain why the devil you didn’t restore a decent girl straight away to her family, why you didn’t even bother to let them know where she was? I can’t believe she was seduced into staying with you willingly! Come, sir! I would very much like to hear your reasons for behaving so…so dishonourably.’
James was pale, but he continued calmly enough, ‘You’re very naturally concerned for your daughter. But before you insult me any further, let me tell you that I am a man of honour, Sir Henry, and have treated Miss Calverley with all the respect and care she deserves. I want to marry her because I love her and for no other reason. But I’m not a miracle worker.’
‘What am I to understand by that?’ demanded Sir Henry.
‘We couldn’t restore her to her family because she couldn’t tell us who she was! We found her lying unconscious on the drive of my grandmother’s house. When we carried her inside it soon became obvious she had been running away from someone who had held her against her will, and that she had met with some sort of accident on the way. But she was quite unable to remember her name or how she came to be lying on the drive. She was obviously very unwell, so we kept her at Hatherton, where she was cared for by my grandmother’s housekeeper.’
‘But how could she have forgotten so completely?’
‘We think it happened when she fell and hit her head.’ James smiled wryly. ‘It is not the only trick her memory has played. Since she came back to London she has forgotten everything about her stay at Hatherton. Including me. I…I fell in love with her when she was there with me, and I thought…I was sure she loved me in return. It’s…hard for me to understand that she doesn’t remember anything of that.’
‘I see…’
‘She left Hatherton last week, suddenly and without my knowledge. I set out at once to search for her, and could hardly believe my eyes when I saw her last night at Lady Carteret’s ball. As I said, for the moment she doesn’t remember anything at all about me or her time at Hatherton.’
Sir Henry looked at him searchingly. ‘Are you sure she wants to?’
‘I think she still loves me. I hope she does.’
‘You must ask her, Aldhurst. Tell her the truth.’
‘Believe me, there’s nothing I should like to do more. But while she was with us at Hatherton, I took medical advice on cases such as hers. I was strongly recommended to let her memory recover by itself, and now I suppose the same applies.’
Sir Henry said thoughtfully, ‘It was good advice. I remember now there was a case in Vienna…The specialists there recommended much the same treatment…’ He shook his head ruefully. ‘I can see it must be hard for you.’
After a silence he went on, ‘I apologise. I spoke too hastily before. You obviously did what you could for Antonia and I’m grateful. But…how can you be so sure she loves you? A week is hardly long enough to form any lasting passion.’
‘I think now a day was long enough for me,’
said James with another wry smile.
‘Hmm.’ Sir Henry sat down again. ‘So, what do you suggest we do now?’
‘If you approve, I should like to try to win Antonia’s love as I won Anne’s.’
‘Anne?’
‘It’s all she could remember of her name, so that is what I called her.’
‘Curious. Anne was her mother’s name. Well, I won’t stand in your way. But I told you—Antonia makes up her own mind.’
James grinned. ‘I wouldn’t have her any other way, sir. She was lost and fragile when she was at Hatherton, but still full of spirit.’
Sir Henry nodded with a smile and gestured towards a chair. James sat down and asked, ‘Do you know how she fell into the hands of the two men who had abducted her? Now that I know her background, I suspect it was Croxton’s work. Am I right?’
Sir Henry told James the story he had heard just that morning from Antonia herself. At the end of it James paused, then asked, ‘Do you believe she is still in any danger?’
‘I hardly think so. Croxton is a spent force. He’s lost his power over the Prince and I think he is soon to leave England for good. The damage to his career has already been done—what can he gain by hurting me or mine?’
‘Satisfaction? He lost a great deal through you. I wouldn’t say I know the man well, but from what I’ve seen and heard he isn’t likely to forgive or forget very easily.’
Sir Henry smiled. ‘I think you’ll have worries enough with Antonia without borrowing any more, Aldhurst. Croxton’s claws have been well and truly clipped, and Lawson will see that Antonia is safe. Well, I have to say I am easier in my mind than I was when you arrived. I hope you’ll forget my harsh words earlier. But now I’d like you to tell me about my daughter’s stay at Hatherton, if you will.’
James’s account of Antonia’s life at Hatherton was of necessity not complete in every detail, but it reassured Sir Henry. This was no trifling affair. James Aldhurst really loved the girl he had rescued in the storm. He said at the end, ‘My daughter was lucky in her rescuer in more ways than one. You kept her safe for me, and…’ he smiled ‘…I would be more than happy if you looked after her for the rest of her life. I hope she will let you, Aldhurst. Will you drink to that?’
* * *
After the two men had spent an hour in a conversation that ranged widely over Sir Henry’s work, James’s service with Wellington in the French wars, the situation in Europe, Sir Henry was impressed and very relieved. There was more to James Aldhurst than he would have suspected. Beneath his amusing conversation and delightful manners he had a serious and well-informed interest in the world and its politics. In other words, he was exactly the sort of son-in-law Sir Henry would have chosen.
James found that his host had a lively, if ironic, sense of humour, very similar to Antonia’s. In fact, much of what appealed to him in Antonia’s character could be seen in her father, too. Time passed quickly until James finally announced that he had to go. ‘The ladies will soon return,’ he said. ‘The last thing I want is that Antonia should see me here tonight. By the way, sir, I’ve asked her to ride with me again tomorrow. In fact, I’d like to make it a regular engagement.’
‘Did she accept the invitation?’
‘She did, but I’m not sure she would commit herself to more than one. I hope to persuade her, however.’
‘My dear fellow, if you are able to persuade my daughter to do something she is not sure she wants to do, then your success is guaranteed. You’re as good as married! And you have my word. I shall say nothing of what you have told me tonight to her or anyone else.’
* * *
The next day Lady Pendell came in to Antonia’s room, carrying a basket of late spring flowers. ‘These are for you. Aren’t they lovely, my dear! I wonder if William Chatteris has sent them. He seems much taken with you.’
She was less pleased when Antonia handed her the card which had come with them. ‘Lord Aldhurst! Oh, Antonia! I knew no good would come of these rides with him!’ Antonia tried to reassure her.
‘Truly, Aunt Pendell, Lord Aldhurst has been very correct and not at all…not at all flirtatious. I’ve really enjoyed talking to him—he knows a lot about the places Papa and I visited. He is amusing, of course, but he can be quite serious.’
‘That’s just his way,’ said Lady Pendell bitterly. ‘Oh, he’s so clever! He can see you are not to be cozened with sweet words and compliments, so he flatters you by appealing to your intelligence. Don’t be misled, Antonia!’
‘These aren’t meant to appeal to my intelligence, ma’am,’ said Antonia, sniffing the offending flowers. ‘They definitely appeal to the senses. They bring to mind gardens full of bright colours, sheltered from the harsh winds of winter…’
The scent of the flowers was quite strong. She suddenly saw a walled garden full of flowers. And a path leading to a shadowy figure on a bench…She had to see who it was…
‘Antonia! Antonia!’ Her aunt’s voice broke into the vision and it was gone. The scent of flowers was all that was left. She sighed, braced herself and said firmly, ‘Really, Aunt Pendell, you can surely trust me not to be bowled over by a few flowers! Gentlemen have sent me bouquets before—it’s quite customary abroad. And these are lovely, as you said. I hope you aren’t going to suggest I don’t ride any more with Lord Aldhurst. Please don’t forbid it—I enjoyed yesterday’s ride so much!’
‘That is exactly what worries me!’ Lady Pendell was so worried that she spoke to her brother about it. But he was quite clearly in favour of Antonia’s excursions, and Lady Pendell gave up. She did not comment when a small bunch of sweet-smelling violets arrived after Antonia’s next outing with Lord Aldhurst, but was unhappy to see Antonia take them up to her room, and would have been even unhappier if she had seen Antonia arranging them next to the mirror on her dressing table with a secret little smile.
In fact, poor Lady Pendell remained unhappy until a note arrived from Lady Aldhurst inviting the Calverley family to dine with her the following week. Then, for the first time, she began to wonder if James Aldhurst might be more serious than she had assumed. His grandmother was not the sort of woman to let herself be used in a casual flirtation. As far as she knew, none of the young women whose names had previously been linked with Lord Aldhurst had been invited to dine with her! Had Antonia succeeded where London’s débutantes had so often failed?
Chapter Fourteen
Antonia would not have liked her aunt to know just how much she looked forward to her morning rides. She found James Aldhurst by far the most stimulating and amusing person she had yet met in London. He took care not to make her feel at all uneasy or threatened in his company, though just occasionally, when he held her hand or helped her to dismount, there would be a moment when her heart would race and she found herself short of breath. But she could hardly blame him for that.
But one morning when she was feeling relaxed and happy, even laughing at some remark he had just made, a huge dog suddenly burst out of the bushes at the side of the Row and made for them, teeth bared in a terrifying snarl. The unexpected attack startled Antonia’s horse, which reared up and took off down the track at full gallop. Antonia was taken by surprise, and wondered briefly whether she was going to keep her seat. But much to her relief, after a few hair-raising seconds she was once again firmly in the saddle with the reins tightly in her hands. For the next few minutes she had to use all her skill and strength to hold the mare steady until the frightened animal slowly began to respond and finally came to a panting halt not far from a clump of trees. Lord Aldhurst came racing up towards her, threw himself off his horse and was at her side all in a single movement. She stayed where she was for a moment, not quite sure whether her legs would hold her if she tried to get down.
‘Don’t worry,’ he said, looking up at her. ‘I’ll catch you.’
‘I…I’m perfectly all right,’ she said. ‘You needn’t—’
‘Antonia, my love,’ he said softly. ‘Come down! Now!’<
br />
She was only vaguely aware of his words. Reaction had set in, and she was shaking when she slid obediently from her horse into his arms, noticing with surprise that he too was trembling. He didn’t release her immediately, but with a smothered exclamation lifted her up like a child and cradled her, his face close to hers. Her frightening experience was forgotten and she felt secure, cherished. Their eyes met, grey eyes looked deep into blue, and Antonia was sure he was about to kiss her…She wanted him to…She longed for it…But then the moment passed and she was suddenly confused and ashamed. ‘P-please!’ she said desperately. ‘You must put me down, Lord Aldhurst. This instant!’
His look of intense disappointment took her by surprise and she thought for a moment he was going to protest. But then he took a deep breath and he said calmly enough as he set her carefully on the ground, ‘Of course, I’m sorry. I was still recovering from that mad gallop myself. I…I expected to see you come off at any moment. Are you sure you are not hurt?’
Lawson arrived, he and his horse both out of breath. ‘Miss Antonia,’ he said, ‘are you all right? I thought you’d be safe now the Croxton business is finished, but—’
Antonia was shaken but at this she pulled herself together and threw him a warning glance. ‘Nonsense—that dog appeared from nowhere.’
Lawson was still shaken, out of his usual discretion. ‘I’m not so sure, not with Croxton still about. Your father trusts me to keep you safe. After what happened in Portsmouth…’
Reawakening Miss Calverley Page 17
