A Little Deception (12 page)

‘It’s addressed to Lady Chesterfield.’ Edith’s tone was
uncertain as Arabella handed the cigar-shaped box to her sister-in-law, who
frowned as she scanned the accompanying card before thrusting the parcel at
Rose.

‘A paean to Lady Chesterfield’s golden tresses, etc etera,’
she said with disgust, ‘which would suggest it was not intended for
this
Lady Chesterfield.’

Heart thumping, Rose lifted the lid, then gasped as she
beheld the magnificent gift: a diamond necklace composed of alternating flowerheads
and entwined oval links.

‘Oh Rose, I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. Why, no man
would give such a gift if he didn’t intend to make an offer,’ gabbled Arabella,
who immediately put her hand to her mouth, blushing. ‘But of course, Lord
Rampton doesn’t know he’s free to make an offer. Why, you must tell him—’

Edith cut in sharply, ‘Miss Rose will not be accepting the
gift.’

One look at Edith’s grim look stayed Rose’s objection, but
it was Helena who said, frowning,
 
‘I believe I’ve seen it before.’

All eyes turned upon her as she reached for the priceless
article and studied it carefully. ‘I don’t believe it’s paste, either,’ she
gasped. ‘But why…?’ she shook her head and Rose, desperate to know what she was
alluding to, asked, ‘Are you sure? Where have you seen it?’

Slowly Helena handed it back, still frowning. ‘You are very
fortunate to have won the esteem of such a gentleman, Rose. You will indeed
make all our fortunes.’ Suddenly she smiled. ‘As for where I’ve seen it, I
believe it was displayed in the window of a jewellery shop. Yes, I’m sure of
it.’ She turned to Edith. ‘And why must Rose not wear it? It is but a trinket
compared with what Lord Rampton is owed, yet it would offend him if his gesture
were refused … and Rose seems willing to go to any lengths to please our
esteemed friend.’

Edith’s voice was tight. ‘I will not see Miss Rose
compromised over this.’

In the tense silence Rose caressed the intricately fashioned
gift while her insides churned. Was Lord Rampton in the habit of such
generosity? Could he really admire her so greatly as to believe her worthy of
such extravagance? She knew the answer already. Lord Rampton considered her
favours worthy of such extravagance, but Edith was right. She’d gone too far
already and it was time to focus on Aunt Alice’s avenues of repayment. However
much her own body yearned for Lord Rampton’s caresses and her mind considered
the risks worth taking, she could not compromise herself and thus her family.

‘You are harsh, Edith, when no Chesterfield woman has
received anything as fine as this,’ Helena complained, fingering the thin gold
chain around her neck.

The argument that followed was short and decisive. ‘Miss
Rose will not have her reputation besmirched in order to repay your debt, my
lady,’ Edith said, pointedly.

But it seemed that Helena was not too chagrined to make her
own generous offer to Rose later that evening when visiting her in her dressing
room.

‘After all, you’re on a mission to repair the damage I’ve
caused so I must support you,’ Helena said, offering Rose the diaphanous
goldand-green silk and net gown she’d not yet worn. ‘Charles has said how
important it is to keep Lord Rampton on side while Aunt Alice secures the funds
to repay him.’

Rose took the gown Helena proffered and stroked the lustrous
fabric while she waged an internal war between wanting to accept the loan while
at the same time wondering at Helena’s motives.

‘You don’t trust me, do you?’ Helena asked after a silence.
‘You can’t believe I’d lend you my most fashionable gown and meekly accept the
role you conferred upon me while you masquerade as me the entire season.’

Rose sat down on the bed, the gown across her knees. ‘No.’

Helena never acted charitably without an ulterior motive.
Helena hated Rose. Rose had known this deep within her since the day Helena had
become Charles’s wife. She wasn’t certain why. Surely it wasn’t that she was
jealous of Rose. Helena was far more beautiful than Rose and Charles doted on
Helena, lavishing clothes, jewellery and attention upon his wife while barely
catering to Rose and Arabella’s needs.

‘Perhaps it would appear more in character if I told you I’m
enjoying being Charles’s sister far more than being his wife.’ Helena’s voice
was cold. ‘As his unmarried sister I can flutter my eyelashes at every eligible
gentleman who takes my fancy and know I’m driving Charles mad with jealousy.’

The syrupy sweetness of her smile stuck in Rose’s craw. Her
first instinct was to leap up, grip Helena’s shoulders and shake her, demanding
that she speak of Charles with respect. Taking a deep breath, she straightened.
‘Charles married you, Helena, despite the whispers that were circulating about
you,’ she said in a low voice. It took all her self control to maintain her
composure. ‘You owe him everything.’ With difficulty she swallowed. ‘Charles
loves you more than anyone ever will.’

Helena’s eyes blazed. ‘What is that worth when everything I
ever wanted has been torn from me?’ Her bosom heaved. ‘What does it feel like
to love Lord Rampton? Well, I loved a man a thousand times more than that, and
those whispers, as you so lightly refer to them, became the rumours that were
fanned by
you
, Rose.’

Her words were like a slap in the face. Rose had no idea
what she was talking about; only that Helena’s sense of injustice was very
real. In a faint voice, she said, ‘I don’t know what you mean. I never meant to
cause you any harm—’

‘It no longer matters.’ Angrily, Helena pushed the garment
into Rose’s hands before marching to the door. She turned. ‘I married Charles
and must make the best of things. A woman’s lot is to make the best of things,
isn’t it?’ Her eyes glittered while her mouth twisted in a smile. ‘So you must
wear a gown that does you justice so
you
can make the best of things. You need to keep our dear Lord Rampton sweet so
that my little debt doesn’t ruin us all. I’m counting on you, Rose.’

Rose bit her lip, her mind churning over the identify of the
gentleman to whom Helena referred. Had she really been responsible for rumours
which had ruined Helena’s happiness? If so, she’d had no idea about it at the
time.

‘Helena, I’m sorry if—’

Helena raised her hand for silence. ‘It’s in the past,
Rose,’ she ground out. ‘But just remember this, ‘every woman must pay for her
happiness. It is our punishment.’

***

With disquiet Rose donned the green silk for the ball that
evening before Edith arrived to fashion Rose’s thick chestnut-coloured hair
into the graceful, flattering style which had won her such approval lately. Why
had she never realized the difference clothes and hair made to a woman?

But inevitably this reflection was tainted by the thought
that life would soon be very different once she was back in the West Indies. And
of her reflections over what Helena had said, though she tried hard to dismiss
that as she did most of what Helena said in order to make everyone else feel
they were responsible for the bad hand she obviously felt life had dealt her.

No, Rose knew that when they returned to the plantation hard
work would take precedence over all. As her mind turned to the next few weeks, the
familiar knot of worry lodged in her throat. What was to be done about the debt
to Lord Rampton?

Not for one moment could she happily assume her great-aunt
would leave her a groat.

Lord Rampton himself refused to discuss the matter. She had
tried to broach it on the dance floor but he just laughed that deep, sardonic
laugh of his and changed the subject. Then he tightened his grip on her.

It left her confused. He seemed to be reading from a subtext
she couldn’t quite understand, though increasingly the thought of tomorrow’s
sitting to Mr Felix terrified and excited her. The wanton longings of her body reminded
her she must be careful and that she should take comfort in the knowledge that Lord
Rampton’s brother and mother would be in attendance. Whatever happened,
preserving her reputation and good name was just as important as repaying
Helena’s debt.

Later that night, with just an hour before they were due to
depart for Lady Barbery’s ball-assembly, Rose met Helena in the passage. Her
exotic sister-in-law looked like an exquisite bird of paradise, dressed in
celestial blue lutestring with gold trimmings and for a brief moment Rose was
filled with envy. Helena never suffered pangs of guilt or momentary loss of
countenance. Why, at this very moment, Rose’s insides were churning with fear
and indecision as to how she would best negotiation her dealings with Lord
Rampton while Helena looked as fresh as a gardenia.

‘Why aren’t you wearing the necklace Lord Rampton gave you?’
Helena’s tone was sharp as her eyes skimmed Rose from head to toe. There was no
approval in her look.

‘You heard Edith. What she said was true.’

‘Do you think Edith knows more about the rules of society
than you—or I?’

She touched the modest chain that hung at Rose’s throat. ‘I
would never have lent you such a beautiful gown if I’d known you’d insult it
with such an inferior jewel. Who gave you that?’

Before Rose could express her anger – for Helena knew
perfectly well that Charles had given the gold chain to her – her
sister-in-law gripped her arm.

‘Come!’ She dragged Rose up the passage to her own room and
pushed her on to the bed before rummaging in the drawer of her dressing-table.
 
Rose heard her muttering under her breath
before she turned, brandishing a velvet pouch. ‘For one terrible moment I
thought Charles might have found it. There!’ she said, triumphantly as out of
the pouch tumbled an exquisite confection of gems linked by a gold chain.

‘Where did you get this?’

‘It was given to me.’

‘Charles…?’

‘Of course not!’ Helena’s tone was impatient. ‘You’re not
the only one to have admirers.’

‘You should never have accepted it!’ Anger replaced Rose’s
fear.

Helena tossed her head and began to pace the room. ‘I wish
you and your loyal retainers didn’t share such outmoded scruples,’ she said,
before conceding with a sigh, ‘Of course I can’t. If I could, you’d no doubt
insist I sell it to repay Lord Rampton… though it wouldn’t go far. But I think
you have an obligation to the rest of us to wear Lord Rampton’s diamonds.’

When she brandished the velvet-lined box that had arrived
earlier in the day Rose reared back in anger. ‘You heard Edith, how can I
possibly wear a gift that—?’ but Helena cut her off, her tone bitter. ‘Oh
yes, you have too much honour to accept a token which is nothing to the giver
but which would go a long way to ensuring we all retain a roof over our heads.’

Rose heaved in a breath. Again, this argument had its roots
in past history.

‘I will not have you accuse me of ruining all our lives once
more, just as I supposedly did when I refused Sir Hector’s offer all those
years ago.’ Rose thrust the necklace at Helena.

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Helena snapped. ‘Do you think I blame
you for refusing to sacrifice the rest of your life because your brother is too
pathetic to provide properly for the rest of us? This is different. It’s a
piece of jewellery, a token of someone’s esteem.’

‘A married woman ought not accept gifts from admirers.’

‘The woman Lord Rampton admires is not married.’

Rose gasped and Helena laughed, saying bitterly. ‘Look at
us. You’ve been given a gift that you can flaunt to the world to remind them
that we Chesterfields are people of substance. If you don’t wear your diamonds,
then I shall wear my gems.’

‘Of course you can’t! What would Charles say?’

‘Do you think me such a fool?’ Helena snorted. ‘Of course I
can’t possibly wear the thing, and this—’ again, she touched the simple
thin gold chain at her neck, ‘is all I have to set off my gown.’ Her bosom rose
beneath her tight, lace-edged bodice. ‘All I’ll ever have,’ she said, bitterly.
‘Oh, I know you think I’m extravagant with my silks and laces, but at least I
can make the most of my youth with some beautiful things, and I’m fortunate to
have such a skilful seamstress … but beautiful jewels will always be beyond my
reach. You, however, can wear this tonight. Put it on after Edith has finished
attending to you and tell Charles you borrowed it from Aunt Alice. It will
raise the tone of your ensemble and surely put our family on a better footing
in the eyes of the ton.’ Her shoulders slumped as she ran the back of her hand
across the tassel fringing the faded curtains. ‘While it is common knowledge
that Arabella comes with little enough of a dowry we don’t want to be
distinguished by our penury.’ Rallying, she draped the diamonds around Rose’s
throat and fastened the clasp.

Rose turned to the cheval mirror and gasped. The glittering
diamonds set off her ensemble more exquisitely than she could ever have
foreseen. The string of stones nestling against the creaminess of Rose’s throat
became an object of fire and brilliance and Rose felt the confidence of a queen
course through her veins.

‘Show Lord Rampton what you’re made of.’ Helena’s whisper
tickled her ear. ‘You are worthy of his attentions as a proud and beautiful
woman … not a supplicant who depends on his benevolence.’