A Suitable Bride (5 page)

‘There, Miss DuPont,’ Dr Adams said as he stepped away. ‘You need to wear a dressing on the gash for today, but if there is no infection then you can remove it tomorrow. I believe you will be able to arrange your hair in such a way your injury will not be visible.’

‘Thank you, I shall remain in my rooms until I am fit to be seen. When will you return to remove the sutures?’

‘I shall call in tomorrow as instructed by Lord Sheldon and make my decision then. I should think they can come out next week, or possibly sooner.’ He dropped his instruments into his bag and collected the used swabs and these followed. He must have seen her surprise. ‘I have nothing else of importance in my bag today and I like to take away everything I’ve used.’

She was about to stand up when he waved her back. ‘Stay where you are, you might feel a little lightheaded and it’s far better that you rest. I’ve asked the kitchen to send up a jug of watered wine – I find this very beneficial after blood loss.’ He pulled down his waistcoat and then turned to the mirror in order to straighten his stock. He then pushed a few stray strands of hair into place before nodding as if satisfied with his appearance.

He was remarkably vain for a man of his years for he must be over forty at the very least. Although his figure was reasonable, his complexion clear and he had a decent head of mouse-brown hair, he certainly wasn’t an attractive gentleman.

However, he wasn’t here for his charm and good looks, but for his proficiency as a medical man and she’d no complaints about his skills. He picked up his bag, nodded politely, and departed promising to be back before noon tomorrow.

‘As I am to remain incommunicado for the next twenty-four hours I might as well retire. I do feel rather lethargic and my head hurts abominably.’

‘An excellent notion, my dear girl, you look a trifle wan. I shall spend the time settling myself into my own accommodation. It would appear that I’m now to occupy the room originally intended for you. I’m more than satisfied and if I use the backstairs I can be here within a few minutes.’

Grace told her maid she could continue to unpack the trunks as with the curtains drawn around the bed she wouldn’t be disturbed by anything going on in the adjacent dressing room where the wardrobes and closets were.

She was drifting into a light doze when someone coming into the bedchamber disturbed her, but she was too sleepy to open her eyes and investigate.

Chapter Five

Bennett sent the doctor on his way and was about to join the gentlemen who were playing a lively game of billiards, when an unaccountable urge to check for himself that this troublesome new guest was indeed suffering no ill effects from her accident overcame him.

He had no wish to announce himself, in fact had no wish for anyone to know he’d even been back to the apartment. He paused outside the sitting room until he was satisfied the room was empty then moved silently to the bedchamber door which was fortunately ajar. Entering this room was a shocking breach of etiquette, but he couldn’t help himself.

If he remained in the doorway, with one foot firmly in the sitting room, then hopefully this would be considered acceptable if anyone ever heard of it. Slowly he pushed the door wider until he could see across to the bed. The curtains had been partially drawn but not on the side that faced him.

She was lying on her side, her eyes were closed and he could hear the regular rhythm of her breathing. He stepped back and carefully pulled the door shut and then, satisfied he’d done no lasting harm by his actions, returned to join the guests.

The rise and fall of the conversation of the ladies coming from the grand drawing room gave him pause; he would leave them to their gossip and find more convivial company. Beau waylaid him before he reached the billiard room.

‘How is Miss DuPont?’

‘Amazingly, she appears to have suffered no serious harm apart from the gash on her head. Doctor Adams advised she rest today so she won’t be coming down again. I blame myself for the accident. The stallion was just trying to protect her, I was being unforgivably rude and the animal must have picked up on my anger.’

‘I was just going out to inspect this horse myself – why don’t you come with me? It’s scarcely credible that an animal of this size and power is the property of that young lady.’ Beau smiled. ‘You might be interested to know that I checked the rules you drew up for your races and there’s nothing there that would prevent her from entering if she so wished.’

‘I know, and from the brief time I spent with her I can say with the utmost certainty she will definitely wish to enter. I suppose you heard about the wretched dogs?’

‘I’m afraid to tell you, brother, that every detail of both incidents is already the main topic of conversation inside.’

‘It serves me right. I have an unfortunate tendency to forget I’m not still Colonel Sheldon and bark orders expecting them to be instantly obeyed.’

As always word had travelled ahead and they were expected in the stable yard. When they enquired about the stallion it was to be told that he, and the carriage horses he’d arrived with, had been turned out as he’d objected strenuously to being put in a loose box.

Beau wandered off on an errand of his own and Bennett was on his way around the house to the terrace when Madeline called his name. At first he couldn’t see where his sister was, but then saw she was beckoning to him from the shrubbery.

What the devil was she doing over there and behaving in such a secretive manner? He increased his pace concerned that something else untoward had occurred.

‘What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why are you hiding out here?’

She grabbed his arms and drew him into the shadows where they couldn’t be observed. ‘You’ve caused the most frightful fuss by moving Miss DuPont into the accommodation set aside for Lady Penelope, the Earl of Swindon’s eldest daughter.’

He shook his head in bewilderment. ‘There are plenty of other rooms available; surely Lady Penelope can have one of those? As she’s not actually here, how can she object?’

‘I know that, it’s the fact that a commoner has been given precedence over a member of the
ton
that’s causing all the discontent. Anderson and I spent hours going through the guest list and making sure everyone was in their proper place and given the chambers appropriate to their station. Miss DuPont might be a perfectly pleasant young lady, but she’s a nobody as far as society is concerned. She cannot remain where she is.’

Bennett held onto his temper with difficulty. ‘I don’t give a damn what any of our guests think is appropriate. I allocated the rooms in order to recompense for the injury Miss DuPont sustained because of my behaviour. You may tell those who are complaining that the girl intended to remove herself to her original room but I refused to allow it.’ He stared at his sister and she got the message. ‘Therefore, if they wish to complain they must do so to me, otherwise there will be no more said about it. If I hear Miss DuPont is being treated unfairly because of this then you will have me to answer to.’

His sister’s surprise at his vehemence warned him too late that he’d served to make matters worse, rather than improve them. His interest would be misconstrued, the tabbies would already be linking his name to Miss DuPont and she was the last person he would consider offering for.

‘No doubt there will be much said about this, but you can inform anyone who mentions it that I’ve no interest in making an alliance with a young lady who doesn’t come from a similar background to ours.’

‘I’m relieved to hear you say so and believe that will be sufficient to stem the rumours and allow Miss DuPont to enjoy her stay here. I’ve no wish for anyone to be ostracised through no fault of their own.’

‘Now this has been settled satisfactorily, can you tell me why you’re lurking in the shrubbery like an unwanted visitor?’

‘I’m not exactly lurking, several guests have said they’ve seen a trio of strange animals here and I thought I’d better come and investigate.’

‘It’s those wretched dogs. I’d quite forgotten about them and I expect that those supposed to be looking after them have done so as well. Remind me, Madeline, did we extend our invitation to include pets and companions?’

She shook her head. ‘Of course we didn’t. I cannot think how Lady Peabody thought it would be acceptable for her goddaughter not only to arrive a day early, but to bring a menagerie with her.’

‘Having met the young lady I would hazard a guess that Miss DuPont included them without asking for permission. I’ll find the dogs and have them put in a barn where they can cause no further harm.’

His sister hurried off and he watched her go with a fond smile. She might be only nineteen years of age but she ran the household as well as his mother had ever done. Madeline would make some lucky gentleman an excellent wife, but hopefully not for another year or two. Her debut had been postponed because of the death of their father and until the coffers were refilled she refused to contemplate going to London for the Season.

It would help him find the animals if he knew their names, but he supposed he must make an effort anyway. He walked through the shrubbery into the edge of the wood and whistled loudly. Immediately there was crashing and snapping branches, and then he was surrounded by three tail-wagging dogs.

‘Sit. Stay.’ To his astonishment they did as he bid, their eyes fixed on him, their long pink tongues lolling and their ears pricked. The gentle swish, swish in the leaves indicated their tails were still moving.

He moved away expecting them to follow but they remained put, waiting for his instruction to move. ‘Come.’ They were at his feet and sat down without being prompted.

He wanted to dislike them but they were in fact delightful creatures. The animals were obviously from the same litter, and identical in shape and size, but they were quite easy to distinguish as one was grey and black, the next a reddish colour and the third a mixture of the three.

‘Well, if you promise to behave perhaps I won’t banish you after all. However, I’ll take it up with your mistress when she’s recovered as to why she thought it permissible to bring her pets to visit.’ He grinned and they smiled back. ‘Come with me, boys, I’ll show you your new home.’

They followed him, not barking or misbehaving, and he was impressed. He met an anxious groom as he was about to enter the stable yard. The man bowed.

‘I’ve been looking for them varmints this past half-hour, my lord, and beg your pardon if they’ve been causing further trouble. They’ve never been away from home before and are a tad overexcited.’

This was certainly a day for surprises. Bennett was unused to being spoken to so informally and at such length by a minion. The dogs had sat in a row at his feet. ‘What are their names?’

‘That’s Ginger, the grey and black’s Buster and the other’s Toby.’ The man hesitated and then continued. ‘Begging your pardon, my lord, but I’m Peterson and it’s my job to take care of these three.’ He scratched his head. ‘I ain’t ever seen them so quiet and well-behaved. They must know they ain’t popular.’

Bennett was warming to this garrulous groom. He reminded him of his sergeant who’d spoken to him in a similar fashion. ‘I like them, but they must be kept away from the guests and certainly not come into the house. In case you haven’t heard, your mistress is not seriously injured and will be up and about as usual tomorrow.’

The man’s delighted expression said it all. ‘Thank you, my lord, we’ve been that worried. The lad who was riding Rufus has broke his arm, but it weren’t too bad and I’ve set it for him. I reckon Miss DuPont will want to know.’ The man touched his cap, snapped his fingers and walked off, the three dogs trotted behind him.

*

When Grace eventually woke up the room was dark but she was still in her petticoats. She was also ravenously hungry. She waited a few minutes for her eyes to become accustomed to the darkness and was then able to see enough to scramble out of bed and pull on her bedrobe.

She crept across to the shutters and pulled one back letting in a shaft of moonlight. From this she found her way to the dressing room where the commode was situated.

When she was comfortable she searched for a tinderbox and located one on a shelf. She was adept at using this and soon had several candles lit and the room bathed in a flickering, golden glow. Now she saw that the time was just after midnight – small wonder she’d been abandoned.

Her head was sore but apart from that she was perfectly well. Having slept for the better part of a day already she was wide awake and had no wish to return to her bed. What she did want was something to eat and she could hardly go in search of food at this time of night.

She made her way into her sitting room and was delighted to discover a tray, the contents carefully covered with a damp cloth, waiting for her on a side table. She devoured the contents with relish and when she was done was ready to get dressed. She was perfectly capable of finding her own ensemble and so there was no need for her to wander about in her state of undress until her maid arrived in the morning.

There was an oil lamp in the dressing room and she quickly removed the glass, trimmed the wick and lit this. It gave a safer and better light in which she could go through her garments and find herself an outfit that would not require the services of Annie.

Before she dressed she washed and removed her bandage. The doctor was right, she could arrange her hair in such a way that the stitches were almost invisible. As she intended to exercise Rufus at first light she put on her riding habit. She wore men’s breeches beneath the skirt as this meant she could ride astride or side-saddle without revealing an indecorous amount of ankle.

Obviously she never rode astride when she was likely to be seen. She hoped the dogs were being taken care of in her absence and that the three servants she had brought with her had been given decent accommodation outside.

Her ablutions and dressing had only taken an hour and it would be another four hours at least before she could venture downstairs. Good grief! She’d no idea in which direction to go when she left this apartment as she’d had her eyes closed when she’d been carried here. Did this mean she must remain where she was until there were servants around to direct her?

She’d noticed an escritoire and if this held the necessary items for letter writing she would spend the time penning a missive to her best friend, Charlotte, and also to Collins to ask him to keep her informed about the progress of her brood mares and foals. She would send a short note to her parents informing them that she’d arrived safely.

When she’d finished her task she folded each letter and sealed the back with a blob of melted wax. Then she wrote the address for each one on the front. At DuPont Manor there was a silver salver kept on a table by the front door for outgoing mail. She supposed there must be something similar here, but being a peer of the realm, the duke could frank her letters and they would go without extra cost.

She wondered, in retrospect, whether she had said rather too much about Lord Sheldon in her letter to Charlotte – would her friend misinterpret this and think she was really in the running for the position as his wife?

Although she had taken her time with her task the hour was still too early to leave her chambers. Perhaps she could go at five o’clock – surely someone would be around by then to let her out of the house and direct her to the stable yard?

What should she do for the next two hours? Perhaps there was something of interest in one of the glass-fronted bookcases that stood either side of the door that led into the passageway. There were certainly plenty of books to choose from so there must be something there that would keep her busy until she could leave.