by Diane Gaston
She’d tell him anyway. ‘I cannot remember the clothes I lost or what is in fashion. When we reached Ireland, I had to wear a dress the innkeeper’s wife provided. It was very generous of her. It was also very generous of Captain Roper to buy me my present clothing at a second-hand shop in Dublin.’
She loved every item Lucien purchased for her.
He glanced up. ‘A second-hand shop? Clothing discarded by its owners?’ His gaze assessed her anew. ‘Second-hand clothes will not do. Order whatever you need from the modiste and when we go to London, you will be able to fill your wardrobe with the latest fashions.’
The food tasted like dust in her mouth. She did not need sympathy for what she’d been through, but she certainly wished to see some semblance of feeling from him.
She had to force herself to keep eating.
Had this man been understanding with his beloved wife? Had he seen her sorrows? Soothed her disappointments? Comforted her in her losses?
She had promised not to ask.
He appeared to be reading his newspaper, but he spoke again. ‘Shall I stop by the Abbey and arrange to have the banns read?
Her head snapped up. That would mean marrying in three or four weeks. ‘So soon?’
He gave her a severe look. ‘You were supposed to arrive two months ago.’
It became difficult for her to breathe. ‘My lord, the delay was not my fault. I was in a shipwreck. And I cannot remember anything but these last two months. I do not remember you. I did not remember my brother. I did not know my name. Everything but these last two months is like an empty slate—’ An image of a little girl writing on a slate flashed through her mind. Again. And it was gone so quickly she did not know if she’d really experienced it.
‘Oh, come. You must remember something,’ he said.
‘Nothing connected to me. I have been in Bath before. I know this, because I knew of the Circus and the Crescent and how to walk here, but I cannot remember ever being here.’
‘That does not make sense to me,’ he said.
‘It does not make sense to me either!’ she cried. ‘I want time to recover. I want to have my memory back. I do not want to have the banns read until my memory returns.’ She surprised herself by speaking so forcefully. It seemed out of character.
He frowned. ‘Very well. We will wait. But I do hope you will not announce to the whole of society that you have lost your memory.’
‘I have no wish to speak of it to anyone,’ she said. But she would expect to receive more sympathy from others than Lord Stonecroft showed.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and rose. ‘If you will excuse me, I must leave. My sister will see what can be done about your wardrobe.’
He bowed and walked out.
* * *
That morning Lucien walked to the Circus and knocked at Number Fifteen. His head ached and his mood was foul. Not the best way to meet an old friend.
The door opened and he followed a footman to Sir Richard’s study. The Admiral shot to his feet upon seeing Lucien.
‘Prompt as ever, eh, boy?’ Sir Richard grinned and pumped Lucien’s hand.
He invited Lucien to sit and poured them both a brandy, although the hour was early and Lucien had consumed enough brandy from the night before.
‘Now let me know all about how you are alive and about that lovely lady you were with yesterday,’ Sir Richard insisted. ‘I am disappointed she is not with you.’
How was Lucien to tell of Lady Rebecca? ‘First tell me how is your wife? In good health, I hope.’
‘Very good health, thank you. She is visiting her sister in Brighton. Taking part in all that Brighton frivolity. Not for me at all.’ He seemed unconcerned about his wife’s absence. ‘Now about the Lady Rebecca...’ He lifted his glass to his lips.
Lucien told him about the shipwreck, about saving Lady Rebecca and himself from drowning. He told of their rescue by the fishing boat and about escorting her back to England.
‘Remarkable story,’ Sir Richard said. ‘Remarkable.’
‘There is more.’ Lucien decided to tell Sir Richard about Lady Rebecca’s amnesia. He could trust this man. ‘But I must have your word that you will not speak to anyone about this.’
Sir Richard’s brows rose. ‘You have my word.’
‘Lady Rebecca was knocked unconscious from debris from the shipwreck. When she woke, she had no memory. She remembers nothing of her life before waking on the raft. I thought it would be temporary, but so far she has not recovered it.’
‘Nothing?’ the Admiral asked.
‘Nothing. She did not remember her brother. She does not remember being betrothed.’
‘Betrothed?’ Sir Richard frowned. ‘To whom?’
‘Lord Stonecroft.’
‘Stonecroft?’ Sir Richard’s voice rose. ‘Why, he is as old as I am.’
‘You are acquainted with him?’ Lucien asked.
‘Acquainted. Yes.’
Lucien leaned forward. ‘Then tell me what you think of him.’
The Admiral shrugged. ‘He is a decent sort. Pays his gambling debts. Not one to chase skirts. A bit...’ He looked as if he was searching for words. ‘A bit standoffish, if you know what I mean.’
If he meant an autocratic stiff-neck, Lucien knew precisely what he meant.
Lucien took a sip of his brandy. ‘I—I feel a duty to Lady Rebecca.’
‘A duty, you say.’ Sir Richard looked amused.
‘A duty,’ Lucien insisted. ‘Because of her amnesia. Because of the shipwreck. I feel a responsibility to make certain she is where she belongs. I delivered her to Lord Stonecroft. She is residing there, but I find I cannot leave until I know she is well settled.’
‘Leave? For where?’ the man asked.
‘For London. To the Admiralty,’ he responded. ‘I was promised a ship.’
‘A ship?’ Sir Richard’s brows knitted. ‘That would have been months ago. You realise they would believe you dead?’
‘I wrote to them.’ Only recently, however.
‘My dear boy, the navy is ridding itself of ships. Like your Foxfire.’
There would not be many commands to be given, he meant. ‘I know. But I cannot leave now. Not until I know how Lady Rebecca fares.’
Sir Richard gave him a knowing glance. ‘This lady has become important to you.’
‘We have endured much together,’ Lucien admitted. ‘But she is the daughter of an earl and eventually she will remember how that matters to her. And I am determined to have another ship.’
‘Even if all you can get is a merchant ship?’ his friend asked.
Lucien lifted a shoulder. ‘I want the navy.’
Sir Richard poured Lucien and himself more brandy as their conversation turned to their experiences in the war.
Finally a clock chimed. They’d been talking for three hours.
Lucien stood. ‘I should leave. I am overstaying my welcome.’
Sir Richard rose as well. ‘It has been my delight to converse with you.’
He walked Lucien to the hall where Lucien retrieved his hat and gloves. Lucien then remembered Cullen. He’d forgotten to ask Sir Richard about finding a position for Cullen.
It felt too late to do so now.
They shook hands once more and Lucien turned to leave.
Sir Richard stopped him with a hand on Lucien’s shoulder. ‘Wait, my boy. I have an idea. Come stay with me. I am rattling around in this house alone; I would welcome the company.’
He started to tell Sir Richard that it would be too much of an imposition, but then he realised it was the perfect way to show Cullen’s worth. ‘I have my valet with me.’
‘A valet?’ Sir Richard laughed. ‘We can accommodate a valet. You would do me a favour to be my guest.’
‘Perhaps...’ Lucien said.
&
nbsp; Sir Richard gave his shoulder a fatherly pat. ‘I have always thought of you as the son I wished God had given me. I would delight in having more of your company.’ He lifted a finger. ‘Consider this. There is to be an Assembly in tomorrow night. It is the sort of event Stonecroft attends. I would wager he will be there with your Lady Rebecca. You may come as my guest. It will provide you the chance to see for yourself how she gets on.’
Lucien nodded. ‘Then I am grateful to accept your kind invitation.’
‘Excellent!’ Sir Richard beamed. ‘Come to me with your valet before the day is out. I have no plans. I will tell Cook to prepare a meal for two and to expect another servant at the servants’ table.’
‘I will make the arrangements as soon as I return to the inn.’
This might be the very way he could see the three people newly in his life settled. Their welfare—especially Lady Rebecca’s—had become important to him.
Chapter Fifteen
The night of the Assembly arrived and Claire wore a blue silk dress with a gauze overdress trimmed in lace. It was lovely, but, because Miss Attwood directed everything about its creation, Claire felt as if it was more hers than Claire’s. The seamstresses were putting the final touches on the gown while Ella arranged her hair under the watchful eyes of Miss Attwood. When she finally donned the dress and put her pearl earrings in her ears, Miss Attwood declared her ready.
She and Miss Attwood walked into the drawing room where Stonecroft waited for her. He again gave an assessing scan of her from top to toe, but this time his eyes revealed an admiration she found equally disturbing.
‘I am pleased you are prompt,’ he said, looking over her again. ‘Of course your jewels are lacking.’
‘I only possess the pearl pendant and earrings,’ she said.
Miss Attwood wrung her hands. ‘Oh, dear. I did not give jewellery a thought. Shall I run upstairs and select some of mine?’
‘No time,’ Lord Stonecroft said. ‘The sedan chairs are waiting.’
‘Sedan chairs?’ Claire could not imagine making men carry her such a short distance. The Upper Assembly Rooms were right behind the Circus.
Stonecroft escorted her to the hall where two footmen stood ready to help them on with their outer garments. Claire wore the cloak Lucien had purchased for her.
Lord Stonecroft eyed it disapprovingly. ‘Is that from the second-hand shop?’
It was a perfectly serviceable red cloak made of a good quality wool. ‘All my clothing was once worn by someone else, my lord. Except this gown, of course.’ And her Kashmir shawl.
One of the footmen held open the door.
‘We should not need such outer garments in the summer.’ Lord Stonecroft gestured for her to walk out first. ‘It is unseasonably cold.’
The footmen followed them out.
In the street were two sedan chairs, white with gold embellishments and a crest on each side. She assumed the crest was Stonecroft’s. Four burly men stood next to the chairs. One of the footmen helped her climb into the second chair.
She hated the trip to the Upper Assembly Rooms. So silly to be carried a few streets away.
When the chairmen put down the chair in front of the Assembly Rooms, Claire opened the door and exited herself, so eager was she to be out. She waited at Lord Stonecroft’s sedan chair until he emerged.
‘What sort of event is this?’ she asked as she took his arm and they walked to the door.
‘A private party,’ he responded.
They entered and walked through the ballroom, a huge room lit by five magnificent crystal chandeliers. At one end was a balcony where musicians would play for a ball. Here and there in the room groups of people stood in conversation or sat in the chairs that lined the walls.
Claire could almost imagine music and lines of dancers, but she could not remember ever being there.
In the Octagon Room tables were set up and men and women were intent on their card play. Only a few looked up as they passed.
The Tea Room was the actual setting for the party and the hostess stood near the entrance receiving greetings from the guests. She was of an age with Lord Stonecroft.
He brought Claire over to her. ‘Lady Milliforte, may I present Lady Rebecca Pierce, daughter of the Earl of Keneagle.’
Claire curtsied.
‘Earl of Keneagle, you say?’ Lady Milliforte asked.
‘An Irish peer,’ Stonecroft explained.
‘Delighted to meet you, Lady Rebecca,’ the woman said kindly.
‘Thank you, ma’am,’ Claire said.
Stonecroft leaned towards Lady Milliforte. ‘No formal announcement has been made, but Lady Rebecca has consented to be my wife.’
‘Oh?’ Lady Milliforte looked at her with more interest. She turned back to Stonecroft. ‘Well, Jonas, I am glad you have at last come to your senses.’
‘I am telling only my dearest friends,’ he said to her.
‘I do understand.’ She smiled from Stonecroft to Claire. ‘I am gratified to be so considered.’ She patted his hand. ‘Is Honora with you?’
‘Not tonight,’ he responded. ‘You know how my sister abhors crowds.’
‘This is not a crowd,’ she exclaimed.
Claire thought there were plenty of people there to make it a crowd, but she did not listen to the rest of their conversation. Obviously they were close friends to be using given names, but she could tell no more than that.
Lady Milliforte took Claire’s arm. ‘Let me present you to my husband, Lord Milliforte.’
The Baron was conversing with two other gentlemen who stepped away. He and Stonecroft exchanged pleasantries. Another old friend, Claire surmised.
She felt quite separate from the people surrounding her. Perhaps if she had her memory she would recognise the names and titles of these people. Most seemed to be contemporaries of Lord Stonecroft. There were very few guests who looked to be around Claire’s age. It seemed odd to her to be around so many older people.
Was that a memory of sorts?
Lady Milliforte tapped Stonecroft on the shoulder. ‘Jonas, introduce Lady Rebecca around. She must not know a soul.’
But she did know someone.
A gentleman in naval uniform strode over to her. ‘Good evening, Lady Rebecca,’ he said cheerfully.
‘Sir Richard, how lovely to see you again.’ He was connected to Lucien and that made her feel less alone.
Stonecroft turned, then, and stepped away from the host and hostess. ‘Sir Richard.’ He nodded in greeting.
Sir Richard laughed. ‘You are wondering how I know this young lady, are you not, sir? Captain Roper introduced us the other day.’
Claire’s insides fluttered at the mention of Lucien. She wanted to ask the Admiral if Lucien had called upon him, as they’d arranged. Did he know if Lucien had left for London?
He must have done, she thought depressingly.
Stonecroft took her by the elbow. ‘If you will pardon us, Sir Richard. I wish to introduce Lady Rebecca to my friends.’
‘I do not mind at all,’ Sir Richard said, although Claire thought Stonecroft’s words were rude. Sir Richard winked at Claire. ‘I trust we will meet again, my lady.’
‘I do hope so,’ she responded.
Stonecroft took her around the room and introduced her to many people. She tried to remember each one, but he pulled her to another group before she could fix the names in her memory.
He brought her to yet another older lady, whose costume was more colourful than most with a turban that she wore slightly askew.
‘Lady Rebecca Pierce?’ the lady cried. ‘Not the Lady Rebecca Pierce?’
‘I—I am not certain what you mean,’ Claire responded.
‘I was just reading about you!’ Her voice rose. She turned to those people standing near her. ‘Everyone! She is here. This i
s Lady Rebecca Pierce who was thought drowned in the Dun Aengus shipwreck!’
It seemed as if all eyes turned to her.
Stonecroft frowned. ‘How do you know this, my lady?’
‘It was in the Morning Chronicle. From London,’ the lady said. ‘Did you not receive the Chronicle?’
‘I read the Post,’ he said.
‘What did the article say?’ another lady asked.
‘That she was swept out to sea and rescued by a fishing boat. Everyone thought her dead and then she appeared in Dublin.’ The lady’s eyes grew larger. ‘But her rescuer is here! I met him not a few moments ago.’ She stood on tiptoe and called, ‘Captain Roper? Captain Roper?’
Claire felt the breath knocked out of her.
He was here. He had not left.
‘Someone calls me?’ The crowd parted and Lucien appeared.
The lady took his arm. ‘This is the man who rescued her! Captain Roper is also a war hero. Captain of the Foxfire. Is that not grand?’
‘Lucien,’ Claire murmured.
His gaze was on her. He smiled.
‘Do tell us of the shipwreck!’ one of the ladies cried. ‘What happened?’
Half the room was attending. Lucien described being swept out to sea and finding the door to use as a raft.
‘Were you not terrified?’ another lady asked Claire.
‘It was very frightening,’ she admitted, leaving out the extra terror of not knowing who she was or how she came to be in the middle of the sea. ‘The Captain kept me calm.’
They asked more questions about the fishing boat. ‘It must have been horrible to be stuck with all those fishermen for all that time.’
Claire answered. ‘Not at all. They were the kindest, most generous people I have ever met.’ Or could remember. ‘I adored each one of them.’
Some of the faces looked approving, but others, including Lord Stonecroft, looked horrified.
When Lord Stonecroft had walked her around the room introducing her, most of the guests showed polite interest, but learning she was rescued from drowning in a shipwreck by the handsome young Captain made her and Lucien objects of great interest.
