A Matter of Duty (21 page)

I
t was evening and she was dressing for dinner. She hadn’t seen Kit since their argument, for he’d gone out for a ride that had kept him away from the house for hours, and when he’d returned, he’d been closeted alone in the gun room with his grandfather. He was still there.

She knew the earl was worried about the race with Rowe and wanted it stopped. She was very anxious indeed for Kit’s safety too, for what with Rowe’s singularly unpleasant reputation and the fact that he considered he had a number of grievances against Kit, it was impossible to believe the race would be conducted by the rules. According to the earl there were many places along the course – including the rocks where the
Mercury
had foundered – where any number of deliberately dangerous maneuvers could bring about another fatal shipwreck. It didn’t seem likely that Rowe was spurred by the prospect of the
Cyclops
coming in first; it was the prospect of extinguishing his hated rival forever that was driving him, and the earl intended to do all he could to dissuade Kit from taking part. She doubted very much if Kit would agree to such a thing, for to do so would be to lose face and would call his honor into question.

She looked at her reflection in the dressing-table mirror. Pattie was pinning up her hair, and the dark-red tresses glinted in the fading sunlight as the day drew to a close. The maid deftly twisted the hair up into a complicated knot, teasing one long curl out so that it fell to the nape of her mistress’s neck. A jeweled comb from the Highclare collection was placed in the knot, and it sparkled brightly at the slightest movement. She wore the Marchioness of Holworthy’s beautiful blue silk evening gown, which had a low-cut square neckline and tiny puffed sleeves, and a hem that was heavily embroidered with silver threads and spangles. Her thoughts drifted back to Geoffrey’s assault upon her on the marsh. She’d had a long bath, but still she felt soiled and tarnished by his touch.

The door openly suddenly behind her, and without ceremony Kit came in. He looked immediately at Pattie. ‘Will you bring me Lady Highclare’s riding habit?’

Louisa’s lips parted. She’d hidden it at the back of the wardrobe because it was so torn and dirty. Why was he asking for it? There was only one answer: the earl had told him what really happened on the marsh, and now he’d come to check for himself whether there might be a grain of truth in it.

The maid searched as instructed, but then turned in puzzlement. ‘I – I can’t find it, my lord.’

Louisa lowered her eyes. ‘You’ll find it on the floor at the very back.’

The maid stared at her and then searched again, slowly drawing the squashed, ruined garment out. Seeing the state it was in, she looked askance at Louisa.

Kit took the riding habit and then dismissed the maid. As the door closed behind her, he turned to face his wife. He’d wronged her. In this he’d wronged her very much indeed. ‘Will you tell me what happened?’

‘What point is there? You won’t believe me because you’ve already decided I’m guilty.’

‘My grandfather told me Lawrence attacked you, but that’s
all
he told me. He said I must learn the rest from your own lips.’

‘And if I tell you, will you then declare that there’s no smoke without fire and I must have encouraged everything?’

He looked away guiltily, for at first that was exactly how he had reacted. Dear God, if only things were different between them, if only jealousy and pride didn’t fill him, and if only she hadn’t given him so much cause to feel both destructive emotions … But she had, except that in this particular instance he’d misjudged her. ‘Just tell me what happened, that’s all I ask.’

‘Very well.’ She told him everything, but couldn’t look at him while she did so. Dull color stained her cheeks and she toyed nervously with the hairbrush Pattie had replaced on the dressing table. Her voice shook, for with each word the assault returned to her; she could feel Geoffrey pressing down on her, taste his lips, and hear the ugly sounds of his lust.

Kit remained very still throughout. His face was very pale, and his eyes bright with anger. There was no doubting she was telling the truth, it was written so clearly on her face. He despised himself for having said what he had earlier. She’d been subjected to a dreadful attack, and he’d accused her of going gladly to meet her attacker. She hadn’t gone to meet Lawrence, he’d waylaid her. But had she met him before, at Lawrence Park? Had she gone gladly enough then? Doubts milled in his head, and with a curse he flung the riding habit across the room. ‘I’ll have his vile heart out for this,’ he breathed, his voice tightly controlled.

She turned toward him. ‘Aren’t you going to accuse me of inviting his attentions?’ she asked coldly.

‘I was wrong to say what I did earlier, and I ask you to forgive me.’

‘Do you ask my forgiveness for ever having doubted me?’

His eyes met hers. ‘For that I’d have to forget the existence of the locket.’

‘Then I don’t forgive you for anything, sir. Things remain as they are between us.’

He nodded slowly. ‘I fear they must,’ he said softly. ‘I also fear that Lawrence must be made to pay for what he did today.’

‘He isn’t worth bothering about, Kit,’ she said quickly, suddenly sensing the level of his anger.

‘I cannot and will not let it pass. I’ll have his sickening life for this.’

‘Please don’t do anything rash, you’ll only regret it.’

‘I won’t regret anything.’

‘You’re not above the law, Kit.’

‘Nor is he. You’re my wife, Louisa, and today he would have raped you, so do you really expect me to stand idly by and do nothing about it? I’m going to make him suffer, both for what he did and for what he would have done.’

‘You’ve made your opinion of me quite clear over the past week or so, Kit, and now I can only believe your reason for wanting to punish Captain Lawrence is that your insufferable male pride has been bruised because he laid hands on me.’

‘Is that what you really think?’

‘Yes,’ she replied without hesitation. ‘What else should I think after all you’ve said and done since the arrival of that cursed locket? You’re not concerned about me right now, you’re concerned about yourself.’

‘It’s your prerogative to think what you like, just as it’s my grandfather’s to request me to cravenly stand down from the race against Rowe, which is what he did this evening. You’re both wrong in your judgment of me, Louisa, as I trust you’ll both know in the end. Good night to you.’ With a curt nod of his head, he turned and walked out.

As his footsteps died away, tears shone on her lashes.

It was dark as Kit rode along the lane toward the Rowe villa. The gates were closed and the lodge was in darkness, but he could see the French windows of the drawing room standing open, the light of the candles within shining palely over the shadowy lawn.

He left his horse in the usual place, climbing the tree and dropping down the other side of the wall. He could hear piano music, and Thea’s sweet voice singing. He made his way across the lawn, pressing back against the wall at the side of the terrace before the drawing room. Moths fluttered in the pool of light from the bright chandeliers within, and Thea’s singing was clearer now.

By turning his head a little, he could see the room reflected in the great gilt-framed mirror on the wall close to the windows. Thea was wearing her damson silk gown, with plumes in her golden hair. Rowe was leaning on the piano, his face cold as he watched her. His black coat was resting around his shoulders, and Kit could see how gingerly he held his arm, wincing now and then as it pained him. His face was sallow, lacking even its usual pale color, and it was quite obvious that he’d suffer the legacy of Tom Cherington’s lucky shot for some time to come.

Geoffrey was standing by a console table. He wasn’t wearing his uniform, it needed drastic cleaning after the dowsing he’d received on the marsh, and he looked a lot less impressive in a plain dark-blue coat and beige trousers. There was a large glass of cognac in his hand, and as Kit watched, he drained it, turning immediately to replenish the glass with another generous measure. He didn’t look at all relaxed; in fact, he looked very ill at ease, suddenly putting the glass down and taking a letter from his pocket. It wasn’t a long letter, and its contents evidently upset him a great deal, for he closed his eyes for a moment before folding it and putting it away again. Then he drained the second glass.

Thea’s singing came to an end and she smiled sweetly at her husband. ‘It’s so pleasant to be here with you like this,’ she said untruthfully.

He wasn’t at all impressed. ‘Indeed? You do surprise me,’ he murmured acidly, straightening and turning to Geoffrey. ‘What in God’s name
is
that damned letter you’ve been looking at all this evening?’

‘It’s from my father.’

‘Do all his communications have this effect on you? You’ve been as sick as a dog ever since it arrived, sicker than you already were after the latest fiasco with the governess.’

‘You read it and see if you still think it’s amusing,’ snapped Geoffrey, thrusting it into his hand and then pouring himself yet another liberal glass of cognac.

Rowe glanced at him. ‘You’re very generous with my brandy,’ he observed coolly, managing with some difficulty to unfold the letter because of his wounded arm. He began to read aloud. ‘ “Sir, This is …” ’ He broke off in surprise. ‘Sir? A little formal for a father to his son, don’t you think?’

‘Just read it.’

‘Very well.

Rowe handed the letter back. ‘Dear me, you have made a mess of things, haven’t you? Tell me, are you capable of doing anything properly?’

Geoffrey colored. ‘Damn you,’ he breathed, reaching for the decanter again.

Rowe stopped him. ‘I think you’ve had enough. Why don’t you toddle outside for a little fresh air?’

For a moment Kit thought Geoffrey would balk at being denied the cognac, but then with a muttered curse he put his glass down and came toward the open windows. Kit pressed farther back out of sight as he came out onto the lawn. Thea began to play again, her trilling voice drifting out into the darkness.

Geoffrey stood on the edge of the light from the house, reaching into his coat for a cigar and his lucifers. He didn’t see Kit, he didn’t know anything until a hand suddenly came from behind, clamping roughly over his mouth and almost ramming his unlit cigar down his throat. With a muffled cry, he struggled violently as he was dragged toward a shrubbery and pushed out of sight of the house. He whirled about immediately, swinging his fist at Kit’s chin and almost connecting. Kit jerked back just in time and kicked the other’s feet from under him, so that he fell heavily to the ground. Instinct made Geoffrey dangerous; he grabbed a handful of earth and tossed it fully into Kit’s face, blinding him for a moment. With an oath, Kit struck out, catching him squarely on the chin.

Geoffrey’s eyes became glazed and he went limp. Seeing him lying there, Kit almost forgot himself, reaching out to seize him by the throat and shake him furiously for all he’d done to Louisa.

Geoffrey moaned, recovering sufficiently to try to pull the choking hands away, but Kit was remorseless, his rage and contempt so great that his only thought was to continue until the other was no more. But then Louisa’s words returned to him. ‘He isn’t worth bothering about, Kit … Please don’t do anything rash, you’ll only regret it.…’ She was right. Slowly he relaxed his hold and for the second time that day Geoffrey gulped great breaths of air he’d thought never to breathe again.

Kit stood over him. ‘I want you off this island on tomorrow morning’s packet, and if I hear a single whisper connecting your name with my wife’s, I swear I’ll finish off what I started today. Do you understand me?’

Geoffrey stared mutely at him.

Bending, Kit seized his lapel and shook him like a rat. ‘Do you understand me?’ he repeated.

‘Yes,’ rasped Geoffrey, terrified. ‘Yes, I understand!’

‘You’d better mean it, my friend,’ said Kit with soft menace, ‘because if you don’t, you’ll be very, very sorry.’ He flung him disdainfully away, looking toward the house where Thea sang on, not knowing that her lover was so close. Then he slowly melted away into the shadows, leaving Geoffrey lying there.

It was a minute or so before Geoffrey crept out of the shrubbery and stumbled back to the house. He stood swaying weakly in the candlelight and Thea’s singing halted on a scream.

By the time, a furious Rowe had gathered some servants to search for the intruder, Kit had long since gone.

T
he following morning, carefully following the earl’s instructions, Louisa breakfasted alone in her room and then dressed to go to Cowes. Kit still knew nothing of the intrigue going on behind his back. His grandfather hadn’t said anything to him, and he certainly didn’t know anything from Louisa, for he’d ignored her existence completely since returning to Highclare after his confrontation with Geoffrey.

She waited by the bedroom window, toying nervously with the drawstring of her little pink reticule. Her white muslin gown was scattered with pale-pink spots, and over it she wore a rose velvet spencer that was left unbuttoned to show off the intricate ruching decorating the gown’s high-waisted bodice. Her gypsy hat was tied on with wide white ribbons, and Pattie had once again dressed her hair so that a long curl tumbled down over her left shoulder.

Outside the sun was shining from a clear sky, and there was a light breeze stirring through the trees in the park. On the Solent there were a number of private yachts, their sails billowing as they sped over the blue water. It was perfect weather for sailing. She stared unhappily out. Fate hadn’t answered her silent prayers; there was no gale to force a postponement of the race, and soon Kit and the
Spindrift
would be sailing out to whatever vile revenge Rowe had planned. Her heart tightened. Please let him come safely through it. Please.

A carriage drove from the stables, its gray-lacquered panels gleaming in the bright morning light. The team of perfectly groomed strawberry roans tossed their fine heads, their harness jingling as they came to a standstill below the terrace. She drew a long breath. It was time for her to go down to the breakfast room, where Kit would be faced for the first time with his wife’s intention to accompany him.

He was seated at the breakfast table with his back toward the door as she entered. The earl rose immediately, coming around the table toward her. He wore a pea-green coat and beige breeches, with shining top boots, and his hair was tied back with a dark-green velvet ribbon. He smiled, giving her a secret wink to signify that Kit wouldn’t be able to do anything about her presence. ‘Ah, there you are at last, my dear.’

Kit got up the moment he realized she was there, and his expression was far from pleased. A chasm yawned between them this morning after all that had been said so coldly the night before. She’d said she couldn’t forgive him, and he knew he couldn’t forgive her.

The earl kissed her. ‘I understand you’ve already breakfasted, my dear, so we can leave immediately, but first I must have a brief word with Newton. I’ll see you both in the carriage.’ He squeezed her hand encouragingly and then hurried out.

Kit faced her. ‘I imagine that you and my grandfather think yourselves very clever for manipulating the situation like this. Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I really do not care if you come to Cowes now or not; it’s of no consequence to me where you are or what you do. Well, that’s not quite so, for it matters to me that you conduct yourself with dignity in society. Do I have your word?’ He put his hand up immediately to stop her from replying. ‘Perhaps you’d find it easier to comply if I reminded you that any misconduct today will take place in front of my grandfather, and I doubt if you’ll wish to embarrass him.’

‘You’re quite right, sir, I have no wish at all to cause the earl any disquiet.’ Oh, how she hated being like this. She hesitated, suddenly looking earnestly at him. ‘Kit.… ’

‘Spare your breath, you said enough yesterday.’

‘And so did you.’ She held his gaze. ‘No matter what we may think of each other, it makes no difference to the fact that this race today is the height of madness. Rowe isn’t worth it, so don’t give him the ultimate satisfaction of putting an end to you. Please, Kit.’ Without warning she found herself on the verge of confessing her love, and with a huge effort she bit the words back. What point was there in telling him, he didn’t love her and never would.

‘I have no intention whatsoever of standing down from the race, Louisa. Now, then, shall we go?’ He offered her his arm.

Slowly she slipped her hand over his sleeve, and they left to cross the entrance hall and emerge into the morning sun. The breeze played with the brim of her gypsy hat, and her muslin gown fluttered prettily around her ankles as they reached the carriage and he assisted her inside, where the earl was already waiting. When Kit had taken his seat and closed the door, the vehicle drew away.

Very little was said as they drove through the park and then emerged through the gates into the road. She sat with her hands clasped in her lap, very aware of Kit as he sat opposite, his leg brushing the folds of her skirt. He wore a navy-blue coat and buckskin breeches, and his boots were the tall ones he used for sailing. His top hat was tilted back on his fair hair, and he rested one elbow on the windowsill, a gloved hand before his mouth as if to conceal the expression on his lips. As she looked at him, he glanced down for a moment, just as if he were lowering his guard; it made him seem suddenly very vulnerable. She wanted to reach out to him, but knew he didn’t want her comfort. He didn’t want anything from her.

He felt her eyes upon him and met her gaze. She was so near, and yet so very far.

It seemed they reached Cowes all too quickly, the carriage rattling down through the narrow cobbled streets toward the quay, where everyone had gathered in readiness.

Not having been present the day before, Louisa and the earl were taken aback by the excited crush, and they looked out in astonishment as the carriage made its slow way along the cobbled quay to where the
Spindrift
was moored forward of the
Cyclops
. The breeze had begun to stiffen, rocking the yachts and flapping their rigging audibly against their masts. Farther along the quay the Mermaid Inn was doing brisk trade, and the usual sound of music was drowned by the clamor of a flock of sea gulls around a fishing boat that had just come in. The birds’ cries echoed along the crowded quay as the Highclare carriage came to a standstill alongside the
Spindrift
.

The earl alighted first, and his appearance caused an immediate stir, for he hadn’t been seen outside Highclare for years.

Kit was about to alight as well when Louisa put her hand on his arm. ‘Kit.…’

‘Yes?’ His blue eyes swung toward her, veiled and offering no encouragement.

‘Please don’t go through with this race.’

‘I’ve already said all I’m going to say on the matter.

‘Is your pride worth your life?’

He shook his arm free and stepped down, more disturbed than he liked by her last words, for hadn’t he said virtually the same thing to her brother before the duel? Taking a deep breath, he turned to look at her again, holding out his hand.

Her fingers trembled as she alighted, and she was conscious of the surge of interest as everyone craned their necks to see the noteworthy new Lady Highclare.

The earl was very aware that there would have been a great deal of speculation about his reaction to such an unexpected bride, and so he seized the opportunity to convey his attitude to them all. He drew her away from Kit, smiling at her and dancing very deliberate attendance as he introduced her to person after person.

She moved automatically among them, murmuring empty politenesses and giving smiles that meant nothing at all. She wasn’t interested in any of them; her thoughts were entirely with Kit, but he made no move to follow her. From time to time she glanced around for a glimpse of Rowe or Thea, but as yet there seemed no sign of them, they certainly weren’t on board the
Cyclops
, nor was there any sign of their landau. She also glanced around for Geoffrey, but she couldn’t see him either, for which she was immensely thankful; he was one person she never wanted to see again.

Along the quay the sea gulls were becoming more and more quarrelsome, swooping and diving around the fishing boat, their cries filling the air. The two yachts swayed at their moorings, and on the
Spindrift
the crew were beginning to get ready to sail, but on the Cyclops there was still no sign of activity as they waited for Rowe to put in an appearance.

At last another carriage was heard approaching, its clatter only just audible above the noise of the sea gulls. Thinking that it must be the Rowe landau, Louisa turned to look in the direction of the sound, but by the respectful stir of the crowd she swiftly realized that the new arrivals weren’t the Rowes, but the Duke of Gloucester and his sister, Princess Sophia. Her pulse quickened. Was she about to be presented to royalty? Her eyes fled nervously toward Kit, who was coming quickly over to her.

The royal carriage, a splendid black-and-silver vehicle drawn by cream horses and sporting liveried footmen, came slowly along the quay, the duke and his sister acknowledging the cheers of the crowd. It drew to a halt alongside the Highclare vehicle, and the duke opened his door to lean out and look at Kit. ‘Ah, there you are, Highclare. Going to give us a run for our money, eh? What?’ He raised a quizzing glass to his rather bulbous eyes, surveying Louisa with considerable interest.

Kit drew her forward. ‘Your highness, may I present my wife.’

The duke continued to survey her. ‘Charmed,’ he murmured. ‘Absolutely charmed.’

The princess leaned out then, graciously inclining her head and smiling.

Louisa had already sunk into a low curtsy, which she hoped was as graceful as it was respectful. ‘Your highnesses.’

The princess looked chidingly at Kit. ‘Fie, sir, you should not be staying out at Highclare; you should be here in Cowes so that we may enjoy your bride’s delightful company more often. I trust you’ll be attending the ball?’

It was tantamount to a royal command, and Kit had no option but to consent. ‘We will, your highness.’

‘Good. I trust too that you’ll keep a dance for me, for I’ve a mind to be seen treading a measure with the most handsome man in town.’

‘Your highness.’ Kit bowed.

The royal pair sat back again and the duke closed the carriage door, rapping his cane on the roof so that the coachman urged the cream horses on again.

The earl slid over to stand next to Kit and Louisa. ‘Well, my boy, I think you can be proud of your bride, for she acquitted herself very well just then.’

‘Yes.’ The single word was clipped.

‘Is that all you have to say? Don’t tell me you’re in a pet because you’ve got to attend the ball, after all? I don’t know what’s got into you, but I do know that your recent conduct is most out of character. What’s the matter? I can’t believe that you’re still hankering after that Rowe hussy, not when you have a divinity like Louisa.’

Kit was caught completely off guard by his grandfather’s revelation that he knew about Thea. His glance went accusingly toward Louisa.

The earl shook his head sternly. ‘Don’t blame her, boy, I’ve known for some time. I also know all about your sham of a marriage, I wormed it out of Louisa when you made her cry yesterday. You don’t come out of this very well in my eyes, Kit, but I’m prepared to concede that you must have a very good reason for behaving as you do.’

With this, the earl took Louisa’s hand and once again drew her away from Kit, leading her through the crowd to continue meeting the bewildering succession of titled people who all seemed eager to make her acquaintance. Quite suddenly, her attention was snatched away by the utterance of a single word: Lawrence.

It was one of the Misses Carpenter who said it. She was seated in the Grantham landau with her sister and Lady Grantham. ‘Lawrence Park must have been in turmoil,’ she was saying, her voice barely audible above the continuing noise of the sea gulls. ‘Poor Sir Ashley received the news very badly indeed.’

‘What news?’ inquired Lady Grantham.

‘That Captain Lawrence and Lady Lawrence were lovers.’

Lady Grantham was startled. ‘How terrible! How did he find out?’

‘Quite by accident. Do you know Lady Dales?’

‘Your aunt? Yes.’

‘Well, she was driving through Brentford recently when her carriage drew up next to Sir Ashley’s. He asked her if her health was now fully recovered. She replied that she hadn’t been ill, to which Sir Ashley responded that he thought she’d been most unwell and had been visited overnight by Lady Lawrence. My aunt knew nothing of this and said so. Sir Ashley drove home, evidently in a great stew, and when he got there, he found a most peculiar communication waiting for him. It was anonymous and informed him that his wife had a lover.’

Miss Carpenter sat back, pausing for dramatic effect. ‘Well, the note may have been anonymous, but the sender could be identified easily enough because the paper reeked of the special Spanish cigars Captain Lawrence had made specially for him. Thinking that his son was trying to break news of Lady Lawrence’s infidelity with someone else, Sir Ashley faced her with the note’s charges, at the same time mentioning from whom the communication had come. She broke down immediately and shocked poor Sir Ashley to the core by confessing all, including the fact that her lover was none other than Captain Lawrence. It seems there’d been some bad feeling; she’d done something the captain resented very much, and he’d thought only to punish her by sending the note, instead of which it all came back on his head as well.

‘Sir Ashley wouldn’t believe her at first, accusing her of vindictiveness, but she told him that she and the captain had stayed overnight at the Green Dragon in Brentford. Sir Ashley checked and found that this was indeed so. He acted swiftly after that, throwing her out of the house and disinheriting his son. Now his little daughter is his sole heir. Captain Lawrence is leaving the island on this morning’s packet, I saw him embarking a few minutes ago. No doubt he hopes to win his father’s affection back, but I don’t think he will succeed.’

Lady Grantham sat back, amazed by it all. ‘But how on earth do you know all this?’

‘Well, after encountering Sir Ashley, my aunt Lady Dales was concerned that she might have said something out of turn, and so she went to Lawrence Park. She had it from Sir Ashley himself, so you may believe that every word is true.’