An Adventurous Lady

by Valerie King

  “Well, if Sir Edgar is to be believed, very soon indeed.”

  “Oh, Evie,” her mother said. “You are making my head swim. Why does Sir Edgar believe as much, and to what are you referring about Rotherstone’s kindness to you and William? Why did none of us know of it? And was it Rotherstone who was, er, hugging you?"

  Where to begin? “I suppose I must tell you all.”

  “Indeed, you must,” Sophy said.

  “Well, two nights past I very unwisely crossed onto Rotherstone’s land just past midnight. I had found the map so recently, and truly all I had meant to do was to look for the gate in the hedge. But having found it—”

  “You found it,” the ladies once more said as one.

  By now the twins were standing in front of her. “Did you also find the buried treasure?” Sophy asked.

  “Will you not take us to it? Were there many jewels and crowns?” Alison’s eyes glowed with excitement.

  “My dears, do sit down and pray do not ask so many questions, at least not yet.” She then related the rest of the adventure and, except for giving her mother and Mia a brief, penetrating glance, said that the reason Will thought Rotherstone had been hugging her was because she had fallen and he was helping her up and afterward ascertaining if she had been injured.

  “On your lips?” he asked, appearing quite bewildered.

  Mia pressed a hand to her mouth, but Lady Chelwood could not keep a gasp and a laugh from escaping hers.

  The twins appeared equally confused, until a knowing look came over Sophy’s face. Her sister whispered, “What do you know that I do not?”

  “Enough,” Lady Chelwood finally commanded. “So, after Lord Rotherstone so obligingly came to your aid, what happened next?”

  “Will came to my rescue, if you must know, for he was under the mistaken apprehension that Rotherstone was doing me some injury. And I must say,” here she grew thoughtful, “Rotherstone was ever so considerate toward William, even though he was quite nasty to me today. Why, he carried Will on his shoulder all the way back to the hedge.”

  Evelina glanced at Will, as did all the ladies. The scowl deepened on his face.

  “Are you angry that the man who helped us was Rotherstone?” she asked.

  He shook his head. The scowl became a serious pout. “Now Mama knows,” he whispered, as though Lady Chelwood would not be able to hear him.

  Evelina did not know to what he was referring. “I do not take your meaning, dearest. What does she now know?”

  He rose from his knees and drew near in order to whisper in her ear. “That I was not in my bed.”

  Evelina could not help but laugh. “I suppose she does, but I do not think she will be much aggrieved with you.”

  The look of surprise on his face was quite precious. “Truly?” he queried.

  Evelina nodded. “I strongly suspect she will be thinking even now that a little adventure would serve you no harm.”

  He slid onto Evelina’s lap and looked at their mother. Evelina thought that no more tender expression had ever existed on a mother’s face than in this moment as Lady Chelwood regarded her youngest son.

  “Are you angry, Mama?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “I should not be a proper mother if I objected too strongly. Besides, I know you would not make a habit of it.”

  “No, Mama, of course not. I only stole from the house because I saw Evelina leave.”

  “Just as I thought. If I have any disappointment in this moment, it is in your sister.”

  Will twisted around and smiled broadly up at Evelina. “I suppose you are satisfied,” she said, “now that I am in the basket.”

  When he nodded, there was nothing left to do but to begin tickling Will all over again.

  ***

  Chapter Four

  The next day, Sir Edgar made his promised call. Evelina introduced him to her family, and much to his credit, he offered to play a game of cribbage with Will.

  After Sir Edgar had permitted Will to win his third game in a row, Evelina suggested a turn about the gardens, for the day was very fine. Sir Edgar agreed at once. Mia and Will followed them out, though lagging behind.

  Once among the roses, Evelina began, “I consider it a great kindness, Sir Edgar, that you have attended to Will this morning as you have. He misses his elder brother, Harry, very much. After his last term at Oxford, we expected him to come home, but he is at that age when his acquaintance is expanding, and though I can understand his desire to be yachting at Plymouth, William cannot.”

  “Your brother is delightful,” Sir Edgar said quite sincerely, “as are your sisters. I have always thought it most unfortunate that Rotherstone grew up in such a lonely house. No brothers or sisters. I have seven myself and have quite the opposite problem as my friend. I could never escape them, even when I have wanted to. With four sisters desirous of seeing me wed to any number of their acquaintance, I find that I often seek refuge at Blacklands.”

  “Something, I am beginning to believe, that must be of great benefit to our solitary neighbor. I do not know how he manages without the benefit of society.”

  “He does go to London a lot, however, and he does have a great deal of acquaintance there. Still, I must say he was not always so bad as he is now.”

  “That is very frank speaking.”

  “Do I sound disloyal?”

  “A little, perhaps.”

  “Regardless, I thought he used you abominably yesterday.”

  “Quite disloyal, but in a most charming manner.”

  “My friend was very rude, and you and I were having such a pleasant conversation.”

  “Did he repair his neckcloth sufficiently to please you?”

  “Of course. In truth, he is generally a great deal more fastidious. I was merely shocked that he had entered his drawing room in such a state. He never does, you know.”

  Evelina laughed. “He was aggravated that I dared to call on him.”

  Sir Edgar smiled broadly. “I was very right about you.”

  “I do not take your meaning.”

  “You have no fear of him, and that is a very good thing, for both of you. However, I can see that I have put a blush on your cheeks, and rather than distress you further, let us turn to a different subject.”

  “One moment, Sir Edgar,” she said. Glancing behind her called out to her brother, “Will, hold steady or you will put a tear in your sleeve. Mia, do help him. He has been snagged by a rose.”

  Euphemia turned about. “Will, do not tug on it,” she said and came to his assistance.

  Evelina begged pardon for having interrupted her guest.

  “Completely understandable.”

  “Now, tell me what it was you wished to say.”

  “Only that I have not ceased thinking about your map. Do you believe it genuine?”

  “I do.” She tucked a curl behind her ear.

  “And that somewhere on Blacklands is a buried treasure?”

  “So it would seem, at least by all indications, particularly since I found ‘Devil’s Gate.’ ”

  Sir Edgar laughed. “Do not tell me one of the places was actually named such. I must confess it rather sounds like a made-up name, a bit theatrical.”

  “Perhaps,” she mused. “On the other hand, it is very likely that the smugglers of two centuries past were as set against the owner of Blacklands as are lord Rotherstone’s neighbors today.”

  Sir Edgar chuckled. “But what of you? Do you dislike my friend so very much?”

  “No, not precisely.” She frowned slightly. “I will admit his conduct yesterday was rather ungenerous, but I am afraid it supports quite dreadfully how he is perceived by our community.”

  “Has he made himself so unwelcome?”

  “I am sorry to give you pain, but so it is.”

  She saw by his present frown that he was attempting to understand the situation. “But is there something specific that has occurred to bring about such animosity? For I promise you Rother
stone has said nothing of a past incident that would explain either why he is contemptuous of the local gentry or why they have reason to dislike him.”

  Evelina thought for a long moment. “I do not recall anything of a specific nature,” she said. “However, I had not been in Kent but a day before I was warned against Rotherstone. That I have not even seen him these many months did nothing to dissuade me against the opinions of the surrounding gentry. He even refused Mary Ambers’s request for a donation to an orphanage.”

  He seemed astonished. “Mary . . . that is, Miss Ambers resides near Maybridge?”

  Evelina heard the slip of his tongue, but even if she had not, the sudden gentling of his tone bespoke a certain affection. She found herself intrigued. “Why, yes, at Victory Cottage in Maybridge. I believe she took the house a month before my arrival. I apprehend that she is known to you, and I can only wonder that your friend said nothing of her presence in our community.”

  “Mary in Maybridge,” he murmured beneath his breath. Giving himself a slight shake, he said, “I daresay he must have had his reasons for not telling me, although I believe them to be high-handed.”

  Evelina remembered that Miss Ambers had also had a visible reaction when she learned Sir Edgar was to stay at Blacklands. She could not help but wonder at their shared history. She did not, however, feel she could discuss it with him, a circumstance that left her feeling profoundly curious.

  “I see her frequently in society,” she stated grandly, more for his benefit than anything else. “She is a very fine young woman, much given to good works. Whenever my sister and I call on her, she is engaged in sewing for the poor. I like her and admire her very much.”

  Sir Edgar sighed. “And Rotherstone refused his assistance. What a hopeless fellow he is become, but I promise you he is the very best friend I have ever had.”

  “How do you explain him then?” she asked, surprised at her own audacity in even posing the question. “For I, too, have witnessed his kindness, but then in the next moment he behaves like a perfect cretin.”

  Sir Edgar laughed heartily. “Do you know, yesterday, when you were speaking with Rotherstone, I had the profound sense that you were the right woman for him. Indeed, I came here today to ascertain as much. Though I believe I may set you to blushing anew, I am now convinced I am right. Consequently, I wish to encourage you not to let his ill humors discourage you overly much. At his heart, he is a good man, no matter what is said of him, and at times he is even a great man. I have had my own experience in the matter.”

  “And will you tell me in what way?”

  “No,” he said, smiling and shaking his head. “For if you knew, I daresay you would refuse to acknowledge our acquaintance further, and for the present, I am come to believe my happiness may depend on securing your friendship.”

  She felt certain he was referring to Miss Ambers.

  “And now,” he said, “I wish to ask a favor.”

  “Of course.”

  “Will you show me your map?”

  “With pleasure,” she said.

  * * * * * * * * *

  “You were certainly gone a very long time,” Rotherstone said. He was seated in the library enjoying a glass of sherry and the latest Waverly novel when Sir Edgar finally made his appearance. He had been expecting him to return hours ago.

  “I suppose I was,” Sir Edgar said, glancing out the window as though he was just noticing the hour. “Lady Chelwood asked me to stay for nuncheon. I would never have refused. I daresay the afternoon slipped away.”

  “Lady Chelwood?”

  “The dowager, Lady Chelwood. She is an invalid, and it would seem your neighbor has taken the younger members of her family, as well as her mother, into her house.”

  “Indeed?” he murmured. “That was quite good of her.”

  “Yes, it was, and you all but chased her from your home.”

  Rotherstone narrowed his eyes at his friend. “You know very well I do not countenance the interference of my neighbors—any of my neighbors.”

  “So you have said,” Sir Edgar stated. “At any rate, they are quite a happy lot. William asked after you. You seem to have made a friend in the boy.” He moved to the table where the sherry sat and poured himself a glass.

  Rotherstone nodded. The mere mention of William brought several memories strongly to mind. One in particular he set aside as quickly as he could. “How is the lad?” he asked.

  “In excellent spirits, though he seems to be missing his next-eldest brother, Harry, not unexpectedly. Harry is yachting near Plymouth. Of course, the whole of the arrangement is a reflection on Chelwood.”

  He took up a seat adjacent to Rotherstone and stretched out his legs.

  “Chelwood is cut from his father’s cloth, by all report,” Rotherstone said, “and the estate is very nearly sold off by now, I would suppose.”

  “So I have heard.”

  “Did Lady Evelina speak of her eldest brother?”

  “No. She seems to be a loyal sort of person, very devoted to her family. Do you know, I now recall that Chelwood tried to marry her off to that Wadly fellow, the one who has a fortune in trade.”

  Rotherstone frowned. “How odd, for I met a man by that name in London, Monday last. He was quite foxed, and I believe he had lost a thousand pounds at hazard by the time I had entered the establishment.”

  “Then I would say our Lady Evelina did very well in rejecting the match, although I imagine Chelwood was not happy about her refusal.”

  Rotherstone laughed. “I am certain he was not. There can be no doubt that the settlement for her hand in marriage would have been extraordinary.”

  “A very pretty tuppence, no doubt.”

  “At least she appears to be a woman of some sense.”

  “Indeed, I believe she is,” Sir Edgar said. “She spoke at length of the many improvements she is determined to make at Wildings, beginning with repairs in the attic. Do you know that she found the treasure map because her foot went through a rotten board?”

  “Indeed?”

  Sir Edgar chuckled and sipped his sherry. “Shall I tell you more of my visit, or are you bored of the subject already?”

  In truth, Rotherstone found himself far more interested than he felt he ought to be, and only with the strongest effort had he refrained from asking all the questions that slipped into his mind. He had no cause for such strong curiosity, except perhaps that he was having some difficulty in keeping a certain red-haired female from taking possession of his mind two minutes out of three. Worse still, his conscience had been prickling him all morning about his conduct the day before. He had been rude, which was not precisely an unusual mode of behavior for him when it came to dealing with his neighbors, but his initial encounter with her had somehow made his abrupt discourteousness less than acceptable.

  Sir Edgar sank further into the chair and sipped his sherry a little more. He appeared profoundly content. “I like this room very much,” he said.

  Rotherstone glanced about the four walls. The library was one of the first chambers Rotherstone had refurbished when he took possession of Blacklands. He had been acquiring books for a very long time and every shelf was filled to overflowing. The air was redolent of snuff and fine leather for there was not a piece of silk muslin or brocade to be found in the room. Even the windows bore only simple shutters to keep the western light from damaging any of the precious volumes. This was his room, a gentleman's room. “In that, then, we are in perfect agreement,” Rotherstone said.

  Sir Edgar sipped again. “Faith, but Lady Evelina is beautiful. I vow I could look at her for hours. Would you not agree?”

  “Would I agree that you could look at her for hours? I could not possibly say.”

  Sir Edgar chuckled. “So, what do you mean to do?”

  “About what?” Rotherstone queried, although he had a strong suspicion just which direction this conversation was headed.

  “About the buried treasure. You will certainly not be allowed t
o keep your neighbors at bay forever.”

  Rotherstone sighed and finished his sherry. “I suppose not, although I have a right to do so. This is my property.”

  “But what if the map is correct and there is treasure buried somewhere on your land, would you not wish to find it?”

  Rotherstone shrugged. “It is an old country legend. I hardly put the smallest store in it, and what of the map? A few clever drawings, soak the paper in tea or at least throw tea on it, wrinkle it up, hold a candle beneath it in a few well-chosen places and you have an antiquated parchment.”

  “I can see your reasoning, Rotherstone, and I commend your imagination, but in this case I believe you to be wrong. I have seen the map.”

  “She showed it to you?”

  “Whyever not? Of course, she had something to gain in doing so, since I am your friend and perhaps might be able to persuade you to change your mind. Although I must say, I did not give her much hope that you would do so, since I have never known a time when I had the smallest influence on your mulishness.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I was not offering a compliment. I think it no great attribute of yours that you do not allow your friends to be either of use to you or to hint you in better directions.”

  “I prefer to determine my own course.”

  “As well I know.”

  “So you thought the map genuine, then?”

  “It crumbled as though it were.”

  At that, Rotherstone began to wonder. From the first, he had thought the whole business a ruse of some sort to entangle him in the neighborhood’s comings and goings. A crumbling map, however, would not have been so easily constructed.

  His friend sighed. “We took a turn about the rose garden. She wore a pretty bonnet of straw, but the scarf was embroidered with little green apples.”

  “Good God, I do begin to think you are smitten with her,” he said.

  He watched his friend shift in his seat and cross his legs, but he did not meet his gaze.

  “Perhaps I am. Oh, but I nearly forgot.” He reached into the pocket of his coat and withdrew a missive. “Lady Evelina asked me to give this to you.”

  Rotherstone took it. “An apology, I suppose.