Arabella (6 page)

             
Helen had drowned herself in the river close to the house of the unkind guardian to whom she had been sent in order to conceal her shame from the world.  And her child had been left to starve and die.  Gervase would never forgive his father and great-aunt for the cruelty they had shown Helen and her child.  And he could not forgive himself for not being there when his sister and nephew had needed him.  The grief and pain their deaths had inflicted dwelt within him now and seldom let him rest.

             
Sometimes the hatred he felt for Harry Sylvester burned in him so fiercely that he was tempted to take a horse whip and thrash him – to see him bloodied and spent on the ground at his feet, and then to kill him.  It would be easy to pay someone to plunge a knife in Sylvester's back as Jack had suggested.  Gervase had seen the rogue drinking too heavily night after night at the gaming tables.  A simple matter then to have him followed and… but that would bring Gervase down to Sylvester's level.

             
Devil take his conscience!  Gervase's humour was partially restored as he regretted the principles that would not let him take unfair advantage.  He would do better to be more like Jack… who was seldom troubled by the right or wrongs of his actions.

             
A smile touched his lips as he thought of his friend's frustration the previous evening.  Jack had made no headway with his pursuit of Lady Eliza.  That lady had made it clear that she was more than willing to renew her relationship with Gervase – but that was out of the question!

             
At the beginning of their liaison, he had made it clear that he would not tolerate betrayal of any kind.  Lady Eliza had taken Sylvester into her circle, and therefore Gervase had broken with her.  He suspected that she might have invited his enemy into her confidence as well as her boudoir – if not her bed.  As far as he was concerned, that was the finish of their relationship, though he continued to acknowledge her whenever they met.

             
She had never been a passionate lover, but she was intelligent and he had enjoyed her company.  It was inconvenient more than anything else, Gervase thought as he made his way to the mews where his horses were stabled.  He must either look for another mistress or remain celibate, for his taste did not run to whores.

             
On occasion he was persuaded to accompany a party of friends to one of the high-class brothels that flourished in St James and the fringes of Mayfair.  Madame Elizabeth le Prince had run her
Maison de
Tolerance
in Great Marlborough Street until a year or so earlier, when she had moved to South Molten Street.

             
Her house was particularly elegant, styled in the French manner and intended to pander to the more discerning.  She was patronised by nobility, though even the wealthy winced at the extortionate prices she charged for her girls.  However, since sometimes she numbered wellborn ladies amongst them, she was entitled to charge for their services.

             
Gervase preferred a private arrangement.  He would in time seek out a lady, who would accept his protection, though for the moment he had seen no one who appealed.  Except that wilful red-haired wench from the country…

             
He smiled as he recalled the spark of temper in her eyes when he'd foisted himself on her and her friends the previous evening.  She had wanted to strike him, restraining herself only because they were in company.  What a pleasure it would be to tame such a fiery beauty!

             
It was a pity she must marry a wealthy cit before she indulged herself in an affair, he mused as a groom led out his horse and helped him to mount.  The first man to bed her would be a fortunate fellow.  He was almost tempted …but no, that was going too far.  Gervase had no desire for marriage.  One cause of the friction between him and his father had been Gervase's refusal to do his duty by the family.

             
'I have cousins, Father,' Gervase had replied.  'If I am killed in action Matthew will be only too delighted to step into my shoes.'

             
'You are an unnatural son!' the then Lord Roxbourne had raged.  'Have you no pride in your name and family?'

             
'Pride – for what?  We came to the title through a king's whore,' Gervase replied.  'We have done nothing to earn our fortune – except grow rich on the labours of others.  I see no reason for excessive pride, sir.'

             
'Insolent dog!'  Lord Roxbourne had struck out with his riding whip.  Gervase still bore a small scar at his temple from that particular blow, though there were others received as a child that did not show on the outside.

             
He was not sure why he had provoked his father that time – for it was before he left to join the army, before his sister's death.  He had disliked his father and all he stood for, for many years, but the hatred did not come until after he discovered what had been done to Helen.  Gervase's father had been a hard cold man.  A man who had enclosed land and seen his villagers starve for want of a bit of common land to graze their cow or pig.

             
Gervase had righted that wrong as well as others when he became Lord Roxbourne, but he had not been able to bring Helen back to life – or her son.

             
He was scowling as he urged his horse to a canter through the silent streets.  Sylvester must be brought to pay for his crime.  Gervase had let things drift these past years, but that could not continue.

             
His thoughts returned to the red-haired wench.  He smiled as he wondered when their next encounter would be…

*

Her first ball!  Arabella glanced about her with interest, entranced by the glittering scene that met her gaze.  She had attended several small private affairs over the past two weeks, but nothing as elegant or wonderful as this.  Such clothes!  Such jewels!  She felt a flutter of excitement as she realised she was being scrutinised by both ladies and gentlemen alike.

             
One of the first gentlemen to approach them was Lord Sylvester.  She had known he would be here, and had promised to save two dances for him.  He wrote his name down for a cotillion and the supper dance.

             
'That is to make certain I escort you into supper,' he told her with a look that made her heart race.  'You are more beautiful than ever this evening, Arabella.  That colour green becomes you well.  But then, anything you wear would become perfect.  You are perfect and I have scarce slept for thinking of you.'

             
'You are a flirt, sir!'  Her eyes challenged him.  'You have sweet words for all the ladies.'

             
'Ah yes,' he acknowledged.  'But I mean them only when I say them to you.'

             
Arabella laughed, pretending not to be taken in by his flattery, but her heart sang because of it.  Surely he did care for her?  He had become a frequent visitor to the house, and though he had not tried to kiss her again he lost no opportunity to touch her.  Just a brush against her arm, or the lightest caress of a finger on her naked shoulder.

             
Arabella knew that he did these things deliberately, that he was trying to seduce her with his eyes, but she also knew that she must resist or she was lost.  It would be heaven to lie in his arms, to feel his lips on hers – but if she gave into him she would be ruined.

             
However, Lord Sylvester was not the only gentleman to be intrigued by Arabella, and within a very short time her card was full.  Sir John had of course asked to be excused almost as soon as they arrived, taking himself off to the card room, where he stayed until supper.

             
Lady Mary did not dance that evening.  She sat gossiping with her friends, watching with approval as both her cousins took the floor with their partners.

             
'You must be proud of your charming cousins,' Lady Eliza said to her.  'The red-haired gel is a beauty.'

             
'Yes, I believe she is generally held to be so.'  Lady Mary smiled, though she found this woman cold and proud.  'I have hopes for both of them.'

             
'I dare say you will get plenty of offers for Miss Arabella, but you will do well to marry the other one off to the first bidder.  She is pretty enough – but I think her sly.'

             
'Do you?'  Lady Mary was surprised.  'I had not particularly noticed it.'

             
'I observed her the other evening at Vauxhall.  She was making up to Sir John.  You will lose him if you do not take care.'

             
'Ah yes.'  Lady Mary smiled once more.  'I believe she likes him.'

             
Her smile vanished as the other woman moved away, but was untouched by what she believed was merely spite.  Lady Eliza was still suffering from being given her conge by Roxbourne.  Yet it would not suit her to lose Sir John altogether.  She had thought to choose his bride in order to retain his friendship, but perhaps she ought to steer him away from Nan.  Arabella would certainly not be a complacent wife!  She would not welcome his advances, and soon send him running to his mistress.

             
Her eyes sought out the younger of her two cousins.  Arabella was dancing with Harry Sylvester.  It was clear that she was fascinated with him, but there was no fear of an involvement there.  Harry could not afford to marry the gel, and he would not seduce her.  He owed Lady Mary money.  She had helped him pay his debts on more than one occasion.  She was sure he would do nothing to disoblige her.

             
Her gaze moved round the crowded ballroom, lighting consideringly on various gentlemen.  If her arrangement with Sir John were to end it could make her life uncomfortable.  She would need to find another protector.  Unfortunately, there was no one that she felt as comfortable with as Sir John.  Lord Martlesham was reputed to have finished with his mistress recently, but he had a reputation of meanness.  Her eyes travelled on, coming to rest at last on Roxbourne.

             
She had always admired Roxbourne from a distance, and had willingly hosted a ball for him.  She had been married to her third husband then, and Randall had been a close friend of the marquis.  There had been no question of anything between them at the time, but the case was different now.  Yes, she believed she might be content to replace Sir John with Roxbourne – if he were interested, of course.

             
She saw that he was frowning, his intent gaze following someone – Arabella!  Yes, she was almost certain of it.  He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he had not answered when the Earl of Whytton spoke to him – and they were firm friends!

             
It would be wonderful if Roxbourne could be brought to offer for Arabella!  Her thoughts of beginning a relationship with him herself were soon brushed aside in her excitement.  It would be such a coup if Roxbourne married her cousin.  It was surely time he married after all – he must be past thirty by a year or so.  He must be thinking of getting himself an heir, though he was at least ten years younger than Sir John, of course.

             
He wanted Arabella.  She could see that by the way his eyes constantly followed the chit.  Yes, he was on fire for her – but could his lust be exploited?  A good many hopeful mamas had cast covetous eyes on Roxbourne these past years, but all in vain.  He showed no sign of wanting to take a bride.

             
Some ladies said that he had no heart, others, who had had personal experience and knew better, said that he preferred to keep his freedom.  Yet a clever woman might be able to snare him.  Had Arabella the wit for it?

             
She was certainly beautiful enough, Lady Mary decided generously.  And there was no reason why she should not succeed – if she would be guided in this by her cousin.  It would not be easy, but there were ways of ensnaring a gentleman, and Roxbourne was certainly that – of the highest order.  He was said to be hard and ruthless in business, and had certainly increased his fortune since coming into his estate – though no one knew exactly how – but he was also said to be scrupulous in matters of honour.

             
Yes, it would suit very well.  Lady Mary smiled as she made her way unhurriedly across the room towards her quarry.  She was giving a dinner party the following week, and she would take this opportunity to invite him – which meant that she would not invite Lord Sylvester.  However, that might be just as well in view of Arabella's partiality for the younger man.

             
Unaware of her cousin's plans for her, Arabella went happily into supper with Lord Sylvester.  It was as he went off to procure food for her that she was disturbed to discover Lord Roxbourne at her side.

             
'You would do well to avoid the company of a rogue like Harry Sylvester,' Gervase said.  'Be careful, mistress.  He will never marry you.  He has other plans.'