A Shameful Secret (4 page)

“Your Mama is not against a marriage to this gentleman?”

“Not if it is what I truly want.” It was Geraldine’s turn to blush, which she did very prettily. “But I have agreed to wait until after my season.” She laughed. “You will think me very forward, Miss Weston. I do not know what has gotten into me this evening! I have been chattering on, and you will think me a featherhead.”

“No, no, I think you delightful,” Hester assured her for she had seldom felt so drawn to a new acquaintance. “But, please, will you not call me Hester?”

“Oh, I should love to, and I am Geraldine.” She tossed her spun-gold ringlets, and her green eyes were alight with excitement, for it had been a truly wonderful evening for her. “Now, you must come and meet my friends.”

Hester was very willing to be drawn into Geraldine’s charmed circle, for though the evening had been pleasant enough thus far, she was aware that she had no real friends.

Geraldine led her towards a group of three people. Two were gentlemen, with one of whom Hester was already slightly acquainted. The third was a very attractive young girl with bright, inquisitive eyes.

“These are my particular friends,” Geraldine announced with delightful candor. “Hester, I would like you to meet Miss Lucinda Mowbry, Captain Josh Farnham, and Captain Paul Crawford.” Her smile embraced them all. “Miss Hester Weston is my new friend. She has just repaired my gown, and I asked her to join us.”

“That was kind of her,” Lucinda said. Like Geraldine, she was very pretty with soft pale hair, a sweet mouth and a merry smile. “You are very welcome, Hester. I noticed you earlier, for you have such an air about you that I thought you must be a lady of some distinction.”

Hester’s laughter was instant and dismissive of any such claim. “I assure you, Lucinda, I am no one in particular.”

Her heart was behaving very oddly, and she had no idea why—unless it was because she had recognized Captain Crawford. Although, of course, he would not remember her for they had met only fleetingly.

“That I cannot accept,” Josh put in and grinned. “He laid a possessive hand on his fiancée’s arm. “Lucinda is right. There is something about you this evening that makes you stand out, Miss Weston. And I am delighted that I can claim a prior acquaintance.”

“Oh . . .” Hester blushed. “I assure you that I have no wish to stand out, sir.”

“You are embarrassing, Miss Weston,” Paul said, his gaze thoughtful as it rested on her face. “You must forgive them, Miss Weston. They are newly engaged, and I fear they are much taken with themselves.” His grave expression belied the sparkle of humor in his eyes.

“You wretch!” Lucinda cried. Her eyes were alight with laughter as she looked at Hester, not one whit put out by his comment. “Let me warn you of this wicked tease, Hester. He is the dearest man, and I adore him for he once saved the life of the person most important to me in the whole world, but he is a terrible flirt. You must not be taken in by him!”

“Lucinda, my love,” Josh reproved with an air of mock reproof. “You will send Paul into the depths of despair, and reprobate though he may be, he is still my very best friend.”

“You may rephrase that in the past tense, sir!”

Everyone laughed at Paul’s air of outrage, which was as false as his demand.

“How are you, Miss Weston?” Josh said. “We knew each other as children, I believe?”

“Yes, of course.” She would not have claimed the friendship lest it should be denied. “I must congratulate you on your engagement, sir. And I wish you the best of happiness, Lucinda.”

“Oh, I shall be happy,” Lucinda replied, looking at her fiancé with a confident air.

Hester was about to offer a comment when she sensed a change in the atmosphere. Geraldine gave a little gasp of dismay, the color leaving her cheeks.

“Oh no,” she said in a voice of doom. “I was hoping he would not be here this evening. What shall I do?”

“Dance with me, Miss Holbeach.” Josh offered his hand. “Miss Weston, I shall hope to dance with you later.”

Hester watched as the couple walked away. She wondered who had caused Geraldine to panic, and then her breath caught in her throat as she saw him. He had hesitated a moment as his quarry was snatched from beneath his nose, but then he came on, apparently undisturbed.

Hester felt a surge of panic inside, wishing that she might flee.
He
was the last man she had expected to see this evening, for she believed him safely out of the country. She wished that the floor might open and let her through, for once he saw her, her attempt to be accepted into polite society would surely be over. Yet, something deep down inside her refused to let her run from the inevitable confrontation.

He
had stopped before their little group. He bowed his head, his darkly handsome face arrogant, his smile a leer of outrageous confidence.

“Miss Mowbry, Captain Crawford.” He inclined his head, the mockery in his eyes. “It is a pleasure to meet you this evening. I understand you have been looking for me, sir? Perhaps we may meet in private one day?” He looked at Captain Crawford, a hint of challenge in his dark eyes.

“Tomorrow at your earliest convenience at your lodgings,” Paul said, his expression one of such loathing that Hester was shocked. The polite gentleman who had teased Lucinda had disappeared behind a frozen mask.

             
Hester stood as if turned to stone as Richard Mortimer’s eyes went over her and passed on. The grandson of an earl, she knew that his taste was for pert pretty girls, like Lucinda. Indeed, she had seen that spark in his eyes that told her, her friend had caught his interest. Fortunately, she was spoken for already.

“In the morning at ten,” he said, inclining his head to Paul and then walking away once more.

Hester felt so weak with relief that she thought she might faint. Unbeknown to her, the color had left her cheeks, and her eyes had reflected the fear and loathing she felt inside. Yet, her overwhelming feeling was one of joy. He had looked at her, and he had not known her!

“Are you feeling quite well?” Paul asked, looking at her in concern. “You are a little pale, Miss Weston.”

“Thank you, sir. I believe it was a momentary thing,” Hester said and summoned a smile as her breathing returned to normal. “Perhaps you should dance with Miss Mowbry? I shall seek my cousin.”

“Lucinda’s partner for this dance comes now, though somewhat tardily,” Paul said and moved to take her arm. “May I take you out to the balcony for a little air, Miss Weston? You still look pale.”

Hester decided that it was easier to agree than to refuse. It would be perfectly respectable for the balcony would be in full view of the company and was well lit with tiny lanterns.

“You are very kind, sir,” she said, allowing him to take her arm and steer her effortlessly through the crowded room.

“Something upset you when Mortimer came up to us,” Paul said the moment when they were alone. “That gentleman is a person I believe to be guilty of crimes too despicable to speak of to a lady, Miss Weston. Please, tell me, have you some knowledge of him that might assist me in my attempts to have him placed where he deserves to be?”

Hester stared at him. She was not truly surprised for she had sensed his loathing for Richard Mortimer at their meeting. “I knew him once a long time ago,” she said in a faint voice. “Pray do not ask me to say more on the subject for I cannot. Suffice it to say that I do not care for him.”

“He did not remember you,” Paul said thoughtfully. “But you remembered him with some distress, I think?” His eyes were on her face, intent, searching, as if trying to read her mind.

“He was once responsible for causing me some pain,” Hester replied with dignity. ”That is all I may tell you, sir.”

“I see. . . . Then I have no need to warn you of him?”

“None at all, sir. I doubt that he would notice me these days.”

“I have warned both Lucinda and Geraldine to treat Mortimer with extreme caution. He seems to have set his sights on Geraldine, who, if she has not already told you, is my cousin. Fortunately, she is a sensible girl and unlikely to have her head turned by him.”

Hester recalled that her new friend had told her about a gentleman she liked very much, but she did not feel at liberty to reveal such a confidence to Geraldine’s cousin.

“I dare say some young girls may find him attractive,” was all she would allow herself to say.

“Then he may transfer his attentions elsewhere, for he will not be allowed near Geraldine if her family can help it.”

“I am sure she will stay well clear of him if she can,” Hester replied. “Though, a man like that can be charming and persuasive if he wishes.” A shiver ran through her because simply thinking of the man who had first seduced her with kisses and then forced himself on her, robbing her of her innocence, was enough to bring back memories of all the pain and distress his callous behavior had caused her. “But should she be tempted, you may rely on me to counsel against him.”

“Then I must ask no more questions,” Paul said. “Are you feeling any better, Miss Weston? It is a little cool out here after the heat of the ballroom.”

He had noticed her shiver, but he could have no idea of the cause. Indeed, Hester would ruin all chance of an enjoyable visit if she revealed her terrible shame. She knew that she would probably never have another chance like this one, and she wanted to make the most of it. For as long as Richard Mortimer continued to have no memory of her, she was safe. After that, she would be forced to retire to the country once more. She had no chance of making a marriage of any kind. Her father had made it quite clear that any decent man would turn from her in disgust if he once learned her history, and Hester believed him.

“Yes, thank you, sir,” she said. “I have recovered my composure now. I thank you for your concern and would ask you to say nothing of my past . . . knowledge of that gentleman to anyone.”

“Naturally, what you have told me is in confidence, as would anything else be that you might care to tell me in the future,” he said. “I shall not press you, Miss Weston, but let me say that I believe that man deserves either to be hanged or imprisoned.”

“Perhaps you ought not to tell me that, sir,” she said. “Clearly you do not have the proof you need, and were it to be overheard, you might be liable to prosecution for slander.”

“I thank you for your consideration, but I know you will not repeat my words, and we are quite alone.” Paul smiled at her. “And now I shall return you to the ballroom before our friends think I have kidnapped you, Miss Weston.”

She smiled, for his presence had been reassuring and she liked his smile. Lucinda had warned her that he was a terrible flirt, though without a trace of malice. He was therefore not a rake for the girl would never have spoken in such a way had he been guilty of such behavior. A flirt was acceptable, even amusing to know, Hester thought. And as she had no intention of being foolish enough to give her heart to any man, she could enjoy a friendship with him without harm to either.

* * * *

Paul escorted Hester back to the group of gentlemen and ladies gathered around Lucinda and Geraldine. He saw Josh’s brows rise but merely smiled in a bland way that made his friend shake his head in amusement.

“Miss Weston is not the widow of your dreams, my friend,” Josh said when Hester had accepted an offer to dance with someone else.

“No, indeed,” Paul replied urbanely. “Nor do I intend making her an offer of any kind. She is a very interesting young woman, but I do not believe she is here looking for a husband.”

“No? That surprises me,” Josh said. “She must be twenty-five or thereabouts. If she does not catch a husband soon, it may be too late for her.”

“Do you think so?” Paul’s brows rose. “I imagine Miss Weston would make a pleasant enough companion for life, but as I have previously told you, I do not think she looks for a husband.”

Paul was privately of the opinion that Hester had suffered some kind of disappointment or hurt. She was clearly wary of Richard Mortimer, and she disliked him. Perhaps he had hurt her as a young girl in some way? It was possible that he had led her to believe he cared and then gone off without saying good-bye to her. Perhaps he had broken her heart, and she had never forgiven him?

It was common knowledge that Mortimer’s father had banished him abroad for various misdemeanours, although the Earl had now invited him back as the prodigal son by all accounts.

Paul knew that he was the man who had offered him the contracts for the faulty cannon, that he had lied and given a false name was clear. Yet, even being able to identify him was not enough to have him arrested and sent to prison, if not hanged. Hanging was Paul’s favorite option, but he knew that he could not yet prove his accusations. Mortimer’s word might be taken above that of Edward Hanwell. Paul believed that the cannon had not come from Hanwell’s foundry, but it would be difficult to prove. Each piece had borne the foundry’s stamp and it was a case of one man’s word against another’s. When one of those men was the heir to an earldom, it was unlikely that the commoner would be believed.

He needed something more, though he knew that it would take a great deal of searching to find it. Mortimer was now his grandfather’s heir, which meant he was unlikely to become involved in such a fraud again. Yet, he was arrogant, sure of himself, and his arrogance would possibly lead him into trouble. Paul did not particularly care how he was brought down, as long as he could be adequately punished for the lives he had so wantonly destroyed.