Connie (The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 3) (15 page)

That earned her a lop-sided smile. “No such thing, I assure you. Just… a little boxing, that is all.”

“Boxing? For sport? But why did you allow your opponent to hurt you so? It must give you great pain.”

A slightly broader smile. “My pride is injured more than my face, Miss Allamont.”

“Will you not let me attend to it for you? A little raw steak—”

“No, no, you must not trouble yourself. I shall do very well, I assure you.” Again he backed away, leaving Connie quite bemused.

Just then, the door opened and the Marquess strode in, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. “You here!” he said in stentorian tones to Lord Reginald, for all the world as if he were a stranger, and not his own brother who had every right to be there.

“Yes, yes, I am going,” Lord Reginald said crossly, hands raised in mock surrender.

The Marquess held the door open for him, his brother sauntered out, and the Marquess shut the door again rather more forcefully than Connie thought strictly necessary.

“There, that is far better,” he said in satisfaction.

“You cannot expect me to agree with you, my lord,” Connie said indignantly. “Do you have no sympathy for Lord Reginald, who has been grievously injured by some wicked person?”

To her astonishment, the Marquess laughed. “Oh, very wicked, Miss Connie. You have a tender heart, but do not waste your compassion on my worthless brother. He deserved every bruise, and more.”

“Worthless? You forget yourself, sir! The man you describe as your worthless brother is my future husband.”

But he just laughed all the more. “Nonsense! Let us have no more of this tomfoolery. Your betrothal is all a sham, and we shall hear no more of it, if you please. You are not to marry Reggie—”

“But—”

“—because you are going to marry
me
.”

16: A Glass of Brandy

Connie’s head was spinning. What could he possibly mean? “But what about Jess?”

“Oh, Jess and I — that is all a sham, too. You see, I wanted to be absolutely sure before committing myself. There was a young lady—” He threw himself into a chair, legs stretched out. “Well, that was a few years ago, but it has made me excessively cautious. I needed to be certain that you would
do
before rushing to the altar, do you see? This way, I could get to know you, and watch how you went on in company and at Drummoor and so forth, without any awkwardness.”

“Without awkwardness,” she said faintly.

“Without any
expectations
on your part. If you believed me already betrothed, then you would be entirely yourself and I could judge your character without any falsity on your part.”

“Judge my character,” she repeated in disbelief. “Falsity…”

“Exactly so!” He smirked in a self-satisfied way. “Is it not a clever scheme? It was all my own idea, you know — well, mostly, for Reggie may have had a hand in it, just a little. He played his part very well, do you not agree? Until the end, at least — he did get a trifle out of line there, and I had to take him down a few pegs, you know. But the bruises will heal soon enough.”

“Bruises…”

“What, did you think he walked into a door?” He chuckled. “No, he walked into my fists.”

“I thought he had been set upon by footpads,” she said indignantly.

He laughed uproariously, as if she had made some great joke. “I shall tease him about that, you may be sure. Footpads! Ha! Poor Reggie. No such thing. Your sympathy is quite misplaced.”

“I do not agree,” she said hotly. “He has been severely injured, and at his own brother’s hands! It is quite monstrous, sir!”

“Oh, monstrous, is it?” he said, sitting a little more upright. “Well, it is not surprising if you have grown to like Reggie, since you have been thrown together rather, and you may continue to do so, you know, after we are married.”

“It would serve you right after all your scheming if I had fallen in love with him, and he with me!”

“But you have not,” he said smugly. “You love
me
, for why else would you try to seduce me with poetry, and wild flowers, eh?”

She flushed uncomfortably. “How would you know anything about that?”

“Ah, because Miss Dulcie told me. Trying to be helpful and throw us together, I dare say, but she put me quite on my guard, so I knew exactly what you were about. It was most entertaining to watch your efforts to attract me. It was largely because of your little tricks that I felt obliged to protect myself, you know. But it did not make me think worse of you, so you need have no fear that I shall reproach you on that score when we are married.”

“When we—!” She was so angry that she could barely catch her breath.

“So that is all settled. I shall put the notice in the Gazette next week.”

“No, you shall not!” she hissed.

“What? Why ever not? Oh, you want me to ask your mama first, is that it?”

“No, that is
not
it! Never in my
life
have I met such an arrogant, high-handed…
obnoxious
man as you are, my lord! Notice in the Gazette, indeed! Such presumption!”

“There is no need to take that tone with me, madam! What is the matter with you? Here I am offering to marry you, and all you can do is hurl abuse at my head like a washer-woman. You had better be careful, or I shall decide not to marry you after all. It will hardly enhance my comfort to have you shout at me over the breakfast table.”

“Enhance your—!” She paused, too stupefied to order her thoughts for a moment. “You are dreadful, quite dreadful! It is of no possible interest to me what you may decide to do. Please go away.”

“Go away? In my own house? Now you are being foolish.”

“Then I shall go.”

He stood up, his face suffused with anger. “Now, this has gone far enough! I have no notion what bee is buzzing in your bonnet, but it will not do. You will calm down, like a good girl, or I shall be forced to withdraw my offer.”

“You have not
made
me an offer, my lord. You have told me that I must marry you, but you have said nothing of love or respect or honour or… or any of the proper things, and you have not once asked me what
I
want.”

“Good God, Connie, of course I love you and all the rest of it. That is what this is about, after all. And I already know you want to marry me so—”

“I do
not.
Why should I want to marry anyone as horrid as you?”

“Because I am a Marquess, you goose.”

“You could be the King himself, and I would not marry you!”

“Really, Connie—”

She stamped her foot in frustration. “Do not
dare
to call me that. You have no
right
. Oh — you are
impossible
! I am leaving at once.”

Her anger carried her out of the room, onto the landing and down the stairs. In the entrance hall, she stopped, uncertain. A footman turned in surprise, and then bowed.

The Marquess galloped down the stairs after her. “And just where are you planning to go, without a coat or hat, in the rain?”

She had not yet thought that far, but the answer rose into her mind without effort. “I shall go to my sisters,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster, although she shook from head to toe. “Milford, pray tell Annie to fetch my brown pelisse and bonnet, and to bring her own cloak and bonnet.”

“Yes, madam.” The footman bowed deeply, face impassive, and disappeared down the service stairs.

“Connie… Miss Allamont, this is not necessary. You are making a great piece of work about nothing.”

“I shall send for my boxes later. Pray thank your aunt for all her kindness.”

“Pfft. This is ridiculous.”

And with that he stamped back up the stairs, leaving her standing alone in the hall, shaking, fighting back tears and waiting for Annie to appear.

~~~~~

“Dev? What was all the shouting about?” Reggie’s battered face peeked out from the library door.

“What is it to you?” the Marquess snapped. As if it was not bad enough to have Connie getting uppity with him, now he supposed that Reggie would be exultant over his failure.

“Is Connie all right? My God, Dev, you look like you need a drink.”

The Marquess gave a bark of laughter. “That would be just the thing.”

“Come in then,” Reggie said, opening the library door a little wider. “What is it to be — Madeira? Or is this a job for brandy?”

“Definitely brandy. The Devil take all women, brother, for I swear I cannot understand them at all. What sort of woman would turn down a Marquess, eh?”

Reggie paused, decanter in mid-air, and looked at him in astonishment. “She turned you down? Good God! But why?”

“That is the worst of it, I have not the least idea. I thought she liked me well enough, but she got all hoity-toity, and shouted at me, if you please, and I have no idea what has got into her.”

Reggie poured two generous portions of brandy, then, after a moment’s thought, poured some more. “Here, get that inside you. It will help.”

The Marquess took a large gulp, and then, almost at once, another. Settling in a worn leather wing chair, one long leg over the arm, he said, “You have two minutes to gloat. I will allow you that.”

“By God, Dev, what sort of a brother do you take me for? Whatever has gone wrong, I am sorry for it, for your sake. I know how much you love her.”

“I
do
, it is very true. She is the sweetest little thing, and she warms my heart whenever I am with her. I had almost despaired after that last business, but Connie has quite restored my faith in womankind. I had so much looked forward to— And I thought she wanted me, too. Well, there is no use repining. She will not have me, and there is an end to it.”

“But what did she say?”

“She said no. The rest of it hardly signifies.”

Reggie was silent for a minute, sipping his brandy and frowning. “Hate to disagree with you, brother, but I think it
does
signify. Because
I
thought she wanted you, too. The way she looked at you, sometimes, and the charming way she became a little conscious when she talked to you. She was never like that with
me
, and when she fell against me last night— yes, yes, I know, but hear me out — she fell against me, I say, and I pulled her close by instinct, you know, as anyone would, and she was quite angry with me. She thought I was making love to her, I expect.”

“Well, that is exactly what it looked like to me, too,” the Marquess said testily. “But we will not go over old ground.”

“Good, for I should not like to repeat that argument,” Reggie said, ruefully stroking his bruised face. “Point is, it seems to me that you had Connie in your hand and you scared her away, somehow. Perhaps if you think over what you said and what she said, you might work out what you did wrong.”

“It hardly matters now,” the Marquess said gloomily. “I can scarcely run round after her like a lovelorn goatherd. The Marquess of Carrbridge has a position to maintain. I have to consider my dignity.”

Reggie was silent for a long moment, twirling the brandy in its glass. At length he nodded. “Well, if that is how you feel, you will not mind if I try to win her, will you?”

~~~~~

Connie had not thought to bring an umbrella. As a result, her pelisse was soaked and in all likelihood her bonnet was ruined. Annie had forgotten her gloves, too, but she had not cared to wait any longer. Now she felt quite improperly attired, as if everyone must be staring at her. She could not see them, fortunately, for tears blurred her vision.

Twice she made a wrong turning, but Annie called her back and steered her in the right direction. Brook Street was so close, and yet how easy it would be to lose herself in the multitude of identical streets in London. But at last she arrived and ran up the steps to ring the bell. As soon as the maid opened the door, Connie ran past her into the hall.

“Is Mrs Ambleside at home? Or Mrs Burford?”

“No, madam. Only Mr Ambleside.”

“Oh, pray take me to him at once.”

She could not wait a moment, following the maid up the stairs, with Annie trailing behind. She was shown into a small library, and there he was, jumping to his feet in alarm at her bedraggled appearance and tears.

“Good God, Miss Allamont, whatever has happened? Come, sit here. Peggy, some brandy at once.” He knelt at her feet, chafing her hands. “You are so cold.”

“So sorry…” was all she could manage through her sobs. “So very sorry to burst in like this.”

“Nonsense. Here, drink a little of this. Careful! Let me hold the glass for you. There! That will do you good. Peggy, send the boy for the physician—”

“No, no! Just… just want to see Amy and Belle.”

“Of course you do! Peggy, send the boy at once to Mrs Cavendish’s house — do you know the direction? Good. Mrs Ambleside and Mr and Mrs Burford must return home at once, for Miss Allamont is taken ill.”

“Oh, do not alarm them so! I am quite well, only—”

“Of course,” he said. “Say only that Miss Allamont is arrived unexpectedly and wishes to talk to them at once. There, Miss Allamont, they will be here directly. Have a little more brandy.”

“Thank you. You are so kind.”

She sipped the brandy, with his steadying hand on the glass. He asked her no questions, but held her hand and talked constantly in a soothing monotone, and gradually his calm good sense brought some abatement in her sobs. Indeed, his behaviour was in such marked contrast to that of the Marquess, that she was moved to say, “
You
may call me Connie. We are good enough friends, surely.”

“I should be very honoured… Connie. And if you wish, you may call me Will, for no one uses my full name, you know.”

“Wilberforce,” she said, smiling through her tears.

“Indeed. I cannot imagine what my parents were thinking, and Mama always used the name in its dreadful entirety.”

In this comfortable way, a quarter of an hour passed, and then the door burst open and Amy and Belle rushed in, with Burford behind them. That started the tears all over again, and it was some time before she could speak a word.

“Dearest, can you tell us what happened?” Belle said. She had taken over Ambleside’s spot at Connie’s feet holding one hand, while Amy sat beside her on the sofa holding the other.

“Marquess…” she managed. “Proposed… but… so
obnoxious
. Could not marry such a man.” And gradually, as Amy and Belle gasped and murmured “Oh no!” and “How dreadful!”, she told the story.

“Well, that was indeed very bad of him,” Belle said at length. “To presume in that way… no, that is not at all right. And although you had some thought of marrying him at one time, there is at least this consolation, sister, that your affections are not engaged. You are not in love with him, after all.”