by Diane Gaston
* * *
Lucien watched her face fall as if disappointed at this news.
He thought she would be glad that Lord Stonecroft resided in such a desirable location.
The Royal Crescent was an imposing sight. What lady would not want to live in such a beautiful location?
She set her chin. ‘I suppose this is a very good address.’
What could he say when every part of his body wanted to keep her with him longer? He was used to protecting her, that was it. But he’d posted a letter to the Admiralty, telling them he would be in London in a few days.
She smiled wanly. ‘I am a bit apprehensive.’
For that brief moment she looked very apprehensive.
‘I will call upon him with you,’ he said impulsively.
She looked relieved. ‘Will you? I was not certain.’
He had not been certain either.
She smiled again, this time bravely. ‘I am sure all will be well. I only wish I could remember. I must have wanted to marry him, do you not think? Otherwise why would I have agreed?’
What was the likelihood of it being a love match? Lucien thought. Members of the ton married for advantage, did they not? On the other hand, what if she did love Stonecroft, and he, her? Is that not what Lucien would most wish for her?
So why did that thought bring Lucien no comfort?
‘It is very hard not to know,’ he finally said, but he was not sure if he was speaking about himself or about her.
‘How long before we must call upon Lord Stonecroft?’ Anxious lines creased her forehead again.
He pulled out his watch. ‘Two hours.’
She averted her head, almost as if the words had slapped her on the cheek.
‘Do you wish to return to the inn?’ he asked. Perhaps she wished to freshen up before meeting the man to whom she was betrothed.
‘Only if you wish it,’ she replied.
‘I am content to walk,’ he said.
She nodded and they turned and retraced their steps, making their way back towards the Abbey.
When they walked past one building, she said, ‘This is the Pump Room. You must try the waters before you leave Bath.’
‘Would you like to go in now?’ he asked, wanting in these last moments together to please her.
She shook her head. ‘It is always full of people and I do not wish to be around people right now.’
They walked instead to the river and watched the boats travel on its water.
‘We have been through much together, Lucien,’ she remarked, not looking at him. ‘I must, while I have this opportunity, thank you for all you have done for me.’
He felt his throat tighten. ‘You saved me, as well, remember.’
She turned and looked up at him. ‘You did more than save me, Lucien.’
It was Lucien’s turn to avert his gaze. ‘It was my pleasure.’
Emotions he was not quite sure how to name churned inside him. Parting from her would be more difficult than he imagined.
She looked up at the sky. ‘We are lucky it is not raining.’
Although rain would suit his mood.
They looked out on the River Avon again. Its expanse was so narrow in comparison to oceans, he felt as if he could jump it.
He stole a glance at her, looking lovely in her green dress and colourful shawl. The green of her hat framed her face and those changeable eyes of hers matched her clothes.
A memory of her lips against his returned to him and desire stirred inside him. He should not desire this woman of all women. Because of her status. Because of her family. Because he was delivering her to the man she was supposed to marry.
Because he needed to get back to the sea.
He pulled out his watch again. ‘We should walk back.’
Chapter Thirteen
They did not speak much on the walk back to the Crescent. Claire held Lucien’s arm, very aware that this might be the last time she could touch him. She again recounted her memories of him in her mind, determined not to forget a single detail.
Too soon they stood at the doorway of Number Five.
Lucien sounded the knocker and the door was opened by a footman in livery.
‘Lady Rebecca Pierce and Captain Roper,’ Lucien told the man. ‘Lord Stonecroft is expecting us.’
The footman stood aside, holding open the door. They entered the hall with its white and black marbled floor. Straight ahead was a staircase with an arch above it. All the doorways on this floor were also arched.
It did not look like a place she had ever seen before.
‘I will announce you,’ the footman said.
They followed him up the stairs to the drawing room.
Claire’s heart was pounding in her chest and she found it hard to breathe.
The footman knocked on the door. A voice on the other side answered and the footman opened the door. ‘Lady Rebecca Pierce and Captain Roper.’
Claire stepped inside first.
Seated on a sofa was a grey-haired gentleman. He rose and gestured with his hand. ‘Come in. Come in, my dear,’ he said.
Could this be Lord Stonecroft?
He looked to be in his fifties. Not unpleasant in countenance, but so much older than she’d imagined.
Claire took only a step forward.
On a chair nearby was a woman near to his age.
The woman rose and crossed the room to her. ‘Lady Rebecca, how delighted we are to see you. Goodness! We thought you had drowned.’
Claire turned to Lucien, grasping for a lifeline. ‘This is Captain Roper. My rescuer.’
The woman smiled at Lucien. ‘Captain Roper? How nice that you have brought Lady Rebecca to us.’
Lucien tilted his head. ‘Forgive me. You are?’
The woman laughed. ‘I am Miss Attwood. Stonecroft’s sister.’ She glanced to the man.
He must be Stonecroft.
‘Lady Rebecca, come to me.’ Stonecroft patted the back of the sofa.
She gave what must have been a panicked look to Lucien. She did not move.
‘How much do you know about what happened to Lady Rebecca?’ Lucien asked.
Lord Stonecroft shrugged. ‘Keneagle wrote that she had not drowned and would be travelling to London. Of course, I was not in London, but the letter reached me here. Then your message came that you would be in Bath today.’
‘You need to know what happened to her.’ Lucien told a shortened version, glossing over the sleeping accommodations on the fishing boat. And the kisses.
‘My goodness!’ Miss Attwood exclaimed. ‘How very dreadful.’ She gestured to the chairs and sofa. ‘But do let us sit. We should be getting tea.’
Claire wanted to sit with Lucien, but Lord Stonecroft patted the space beside him on the sofa. ‘Sit next to me, my dear.’
She lowered herself there.
‘There is one more thing you should know,’ Lucien said.
‘What is that, Captain?’ Miss Attwood responded.
‘Lady Rebecca has lost her memory.’ He glanced at her, his gaze giving her strength to endure this interview. ‘When we were swept out to sea, some debris struck her head, rendering her unconscious. When she woke up on the raft, she remembered nothing from before that moment.’
‘Unbelievable!’ Miss Attwood exclaimed.
‘You remember nothing?’ Stonecroft asked her.
‘I know things. Like about the war. About how things work,’ she explained. ‘I remember places, but I cannot remember myself being in them.’
Stonecroft looked annoyed. ‘You remembered we are betrothed.’
‘No, my lord.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I did not remember. My brother told me. I do not remember anything about you.’
‘Pffft!’ Miss Attwood made a dismissive gesture with he
r hand. ‘Surely this loss of memory is temporary.’
The footman brought in tea.
‘Would you like to pour, dear?’ Miss Attwood asked her, then looked worried. ‘Do you remember how to pour tea?’
‘Yes, I remember those sorts of things.’ Claire reached for the teapot. ‘How do you take your tea?’
They told her and she busied herself pouring the tea.
‘Where are you staying, dear?’ Miss Attwood asked.
‘The West Gate Inn,’ Lucien replied as Claire handed them each a teacup.
Lord Stonecroft’s brows rose. ‘West Gate, you say? No. Not the best place. All sorts stay there.’
It seemed to Claire like a fairly normal coaching inn, like many where they’d stopped on this trip.
‘Stonecroft.’ Miss Attwood’s expression brightened. ‘We should have Lady Rebecca stay here. It would be entirely respectable, because I am here to chaperon. And you are to be married anyway.’
‘Yes, that would do.’ Stonecroft nodded. He turned to Lucien. ‘You will have her things sent here.’
Lucien stiffened. ‘Only if Lady Rebecca wishes it.’
What other choice did she have? If she moved in with Lord Stonecroft, Lucien would be free to go to London.
‘It is the perfect solution, dear,’ Miss Attwood went on. ‘Where else would you stay? Unless you have a relation here.’
Lucien replied in a taut voice, ‘She cannot remember if she has a relation here. Her brother did not speak of any relations.’
Stonecroft waved his hand. ‘Well, she cannot stay at West Gate Inn.’
Miss Attwood put down her teacup. ‘Really, dear, you must stay with us. We have a lovely room that will be perfect for you until the nuptials take place.’
Claire’s stomach clenched.
She was supposed to marry this man. She’d never expected him to be old enough to be her father. Or to seem so much of a stranger, but marrying him had been already arranged and she’d already agreed to it.
It was just so difficult to think of moving into this gentleman’s house.
And being apart from Lucien.
Lucien turned to her with a troubled expression. ‘Do you wish to stay here?’
She took a sip of her tea and could barely meet his gaze. ‘It appears to be the best solution.’
She had to release Lucien; she knew that.
‘Excellent!’ Miss Attwood said. ‘I will show you your room and the house as soon as we finish tea.’
Claire quickly added, ‘I must have my maid with me. I insist upon that.’
‘You have a maid?’ Miss Attwood said. ‘Was she in the shipwreck, too?’
Claire felt the pain of that poor maid lost in the shipwreck. ‘No. This maid is new, but I must have her.’
Immediately she felt guilty. She’d be separating Ella from Cullen, but Lucien might not need Cullen to go to London with him. Perhaps she could also insist Cullen be employed.
‘Her maid is at the inn,’ Lucien said.
Stonecroft rose and walked over to a bell pull. He addressed Lucien. ‘I will arrange for my carriage to take you back to that inn. You will arrange for Lady Rebecca’s things to be sent back with the carriage. And this maid, of course.’
Claire felt her face heat. How dare this man command Lucien as if he were a servant!
Lucien stood. ‘No, sir. I will walk back to the inn. And I dare say I will reach it before your carriage can be ready.’
Stonecroft shrugged.
All Claire could think was Lucien was leaving! She panicked inside. ‘I will walk you out.’
She rose, as did Miss Attwood and Stonecroft.
No! She did not want them anywhere near her when she had to say goodbye.
‘Please.’ Her voice rose. ‘I would like to say goodbye to the Captain alone.’
Stonecroft glanced away.
His sister said, ‘Of course you would, dear. We will wait here. Come back when you are finished.’
‘Good day.’ Lucien bowed to them both.
She followed him out the door and closed it behind her. They were private for that moment in the hallway at the top of the stairs.
He turned to her. ‘Are you certain you wish to stay here?’
No! she wanted to cry. ‘It seems a good solution, does it not? It is what I was bound to do before—before the shipwreck.’
He nodded and turned to the stairs.
She caught his arm. ‘I—I do not wish to say goodbye, Lucien. After all this time—’ The whole of her memory. Her only anchor.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close and she luxuriated in the familiarity of his warmth and strength. She felt safe in his arms, as he’d kept her safe on the open sea.
He eventually released her. ‘You will be able to reach me through the Admiralty. If you need me, you have merely to ask.’
If she asked him to stay with her longer, she knew he would do so. He would never abandon her. But she cared about him too much to ask that of him. The sooner he returned to London, the sooner he could be back in command of a ship, where he most wanted to be.
He descended the stairs and retrieved his hat and gloves from the footman attending the hall. The footman opened the door.
Before he crossed the threshold, he turned and looked up at her standing at the top of the stairs. Their gazes caught and Claire thought her heart would stop.
He walked out the door.
* * *
A fine mist of rain met Lucien as he stepped on to the pavement in front of the Royal Crescent terrace house. He filled his lungs with the cool air, wanting it to refresh him. But nothing eased the turmoil inside him.
He detested Lord Stonecroft.
The man was everything he despised about aristocrats. And it was not merely because he had commanded Lucien to do what he expected. He detested that Stonecroft exhibited no sympathy for Lady Rebecca having endured a shipwreck and the loss of her memory. Lucien imagined the man would have shrugged off learning of the attack by the highwaymen had Lucien told him about it.
Plus he was old. An old nobleman coveting a young, vital woman.
Stonecroft would touch her, bed her.
It made Lucien churn with rage.
But he had no right to feel such emotions. She’d made her decision to marry the man before Lucien had ever known her. It was what ladies of her status aspired to and better than to marry a man whose first love was the navy and the sea.
He and Lady Rebecca were merely attached to each other through what they’d endured together. He could admit that he’d admired her. Desired her. But they belonged in two different worlds. Once her memory returned, she would realise that.
He strode down the pavement, past the Circus where Sir Richard lived. He’d promised to call upon the man the next day. So he would not start for London this day.
He’d been pleased to see his former Captain, who had been so instrumental in making him the navy man he was. Who knew when he would ever see Sir Richard again?
One more day’s delay could not matter.
He walked swiftly, and when he reached the West Gate Inn, he searched for Cullen and Ella and found them in the public rooms having refreshment.
‘Have you need of me, sir?’ Cullen jumped to his feet as soon as he spied Lucien.
Lucien gestured for him to sit. ‘Let me join you for a moment.’ He pulled up a chair and signalled for the tavern maid to bring him a tankard of ale. ‘Lady Rebecca is at Lord Stonecroft’s.’
‘At Lord Stonecroft’s? What time will she be returning?’ Ella asked.
‘She will not be returning. She will be staying in Lord Stonecroft’s house.’
Ella’s face fell. ‘No!’
‘She would like you to come to her,’ he told Ella. ‘To be her lady’s maid.’
&nbs
p; Ella frowned and looked over at Cullen. ‘What about Cullen?’
Lucien had forgotten about Cullen.
Cullen’s face shone with disappointment. ‘I will miss serving you, sir.’
Lucien felt the impending loss harder than he expected. ‘I will miss you, too, Cullen. You are a good man.’
The tavern maid brought Lucien’s ale and he took a long sip of it.
He placed the tankard on the table and turned to Cullen. ‘You are welcome to come with me to London, if you prefer. I can use your services until I go to sea.’
Ella gave Cullen a pained look. ‘I do not want us to be separated.’
And Lucien hated the idea of separating them.
‘I am not leaving yet,’ he told them. ‘Tomorrow I call upon my old navy commander. Perhaps he can assist in finding a position here for Cullen.’
Ella and Cullen exchanged uncertain glances.
Lucien added, ‘And I intend to stay until I am certain Lady Rebecca is settled.’ Where had that decision come from? He turned to Ella. ‘Lord Stonecroft is sending a carriage for you and for Lady Rebecca’s things. If you wish to go to her, that is.’
Lucien could not bear the thought of Lady Rebecca not having Ella with her, but it had to be Ella’s choice.
She nodded. ‘I do want to stay with Lady Rebecca. Not remembering things is hard on her. Someone must help her.’
Lucien felt as if he was making Ella do his duty. ‘She wants you. And I would like you to be her lady’s maid. You will be able to tell me if she does well there.’
Ella brightened. ‘I could be a spy for you!’
Essentially, yes.
She shot up from her chair. ‘I had better pack her things, then.’
Cullen stood. ‘May I have your leave to assist her?’
They were facing a parting of their own of sorts, except, if Cullen found a position in Bath, they’d have opportunities to be together. ‘Of course you have my leave. I’ll be in my room after I finish my ale.’
Although Lucien had the feeling he would be consuming stronger spirits before the day was over.
* * *
Lord Stonecroft quickly excused himself for an engagement with some other gentlemen at the Pump Room, leaving Miss Attwood to show Claire the house. She began by assembling the servants so that Claire could meet them all.
