Damsel in Distress (7 page)

“If that is the impression I gave, then I am sorry, but I did tell you
—
”

“Don’t you dare say ‘I told you so,’ in that perfectly odious way,” she said angrily.

His lips drew together and his nostrils pinched in disdain. “Then perhaps you will be kind enough to tell me why I have been summoned here when I am really extraordinarily busy at the House.”

“I thought I ought to tell you your daughter was at the Pantheon last night and returned home in a carriage with a man, unaccompanied by a chaperon,” she said bluntly, purposely avoiding the kinder word, “gentleman.”

Dolmain’s color heightened from tan to a flushed rose. “Nonsense,” he said firmly. “You are mistaken. I might have known you had not the sense to go home, when you were snubbed by society, but only exacerbated the matter by running off to the disreputable Pantheon, to mingle with rakes and rattles and lightskirts.”

“And your daughter,” she added coldly.

“My daughter was not there, nor should you have been. Julian was always a deal too lax with you.”

She was on her feet, eyes shooting sparks. “I am surprised you think me out of place with lightskirts. And how dare you criticize my husband! He was not a toplofty bore like you, to be sure. He knew how to enjoy life. And for your information, I never attended the Pantheon when Julian was alive.”

Dolmain did not stand up, but put his hand on her arm and lightly pushed her back onto her chair. “Then it is strange you should go now. It is no fit place for anyone who calls herself a lady.”

“I agree it is not the thing, but if it was questionable for a lady of my years and experience to attend, accompanied by a trusted cousin, then you must own it was much worse for a debutante to be there with a man no one has ever heard of.”

“Helen attended a musical soiree last night with Miss Blanchard, her French instructress, who makes her home with us. The concert was in aid of the French émigrés. Helen interests herself in their cause, because of her mama.”

“So that is who Miss Blanchard is!” Caroline exclaimed. “But why on earth did she send Helen home alone?”

Anger, and perhaps fear, momentarily robbed Dolmain of common sense. He said in a loud voice, “I don’t know what you hope to gain by spreading this malicious slander, but if you repeat it outside of this room, I shall
—
”

“Accuse me of stealing your necklace?” she shot back. “You have already done that.”

“I did not accuse you! I have told everyone who quizzed me that I was convinced you are innocent.”

“They never would have suspected me in the first place if you had not gone bruiting it about town. And if I planned to spread the truth about your daughter’s being at the Pantheon, I would hardly have called you first to inform you. I acted out of the kindness of my heart, for I felt you would naturally want to put a stop to it. She was there, I tell you. I followed them to see the scoundrel did take her home, and not spirit her off to Gretna Green
—
or worse. This is the thanks I get.
”

“This is impossible,” he said, flinging his hands about in consternation. “Helen hasn’t a mischievous bone in her body. Anyone will tell you she is a studious girl, well behaved.”

“And headstrong. What I say is true. Mr. Newton was with me. You can ask him. There was a Miss Blanchard there, but she did not return to Curzon Street with them. The man
—
Bernard was his name
—
took Lady Helen home. Not in your carriage, by the by. She let herself in with a key. The butler must have seen her.”

“My butler was ill in bed last night. Miss Blanchard took the house key with her. Helen was aware of it, of course. I did not question what carriage Miss Blanchard planned to use. I assumed it would be my older town carriage, as I had taken my new one myself when I went out.”

“There was no crest on the carriage. We tried to follow Bernard when he left your house, but lost him at the corner. Are you interested to hear what else I learned?”

His darkling stare was enough to send chills down her spine, but she tossed her head boldly and stared him down.

“What is it?” he demanded impatiently.

She told him about the money Lady Helen had mentioned, and that she hoped to see someone, some woman or girl, in London. “Have you any idea who it could be?”

He tossed up his hands in confusion. “There was a neighbor who was repining that she could not make her bows, but Helen is hardly in a position to send her that kind of money. And how would Mary explain it to her mama? No, it cannot be that. You must have misunderstood. How did you come to overhear this conversation?”

She was reluctant to tell him, but no other means of having overheard it occurred to her, so she told the simple truth. He stared at her as if she were a Bedlamite. When she finished, he hardly knew whether to thank her or tell her she was mad. But he did believe she was telling the truth. What had she to gain by such a bizarre story?

“If Miss Blanchard has so far abandoned her duties as to do what you say, then naturally I shall dismiss her. It is hard to believe she would behave so irresponsibly. She came to us highly recommended and has given three years of more than satisfactory service.”

“I am only telling you what I saw, and heard.”

He rose stiffly. On this occasion, Caroline had not offered him coffee. “I thank you for your
—
intervention,” he said, biting back the word
interference.
“In future it will not be necessary for you to follow my daughter. I cannot like to think of you pelting through the streets, hiding behind hedges and eavesdropping on private conversations on my account. I shall undertake to see that Helen behaves properly.”

“
You are welcome,” she said, and mentally added, It will be a cold day in hell when I put myself out for you or your daughter again, sir.

Before leaving, he stopped a moment, then said, “Was Helen wearing a mask last night?”

“Yes. I don’t believe anyone else recognized her, but it was most assuredly Lady Helen.”

His face, which had already shown signs of strain when he arrived, was positively haggard now. He drew a deep sigh and rubbed a hand over his jaw.

“I am truly grateful that you kept an eye on Helen, and told me. I simply do not understand what she can have been doing there. It is entirely out of character.”

Caroline felt a weakening urge to console him. “Perhaps there is some simple explanation,” she said.

“There must be an explanation, but I doubt it can be simple. I really am extremely sorry I made such a pother about the necklace
—
that I mentioned your name, I mean. In the turmoil of losing it, I was demmed indiscreet in my questioning of Lady Castlereagh and her servants. It would ease matters for you if you would let me escort you somewhere tonight. I should enjoy it. Let us go out together,” he said eagerly.

She was tempted by his persuasions, but to go out with him again could only spell trouble. Because, in spite of the way he had treated her, she was still attracted to him. It was impossible to look at his rugged face and strong body without feeling some physical attraction, and his troubled state appealed to her womanly compassion.

“I do not consider myself quite sunk yet, Dolmain. I have arranged to attend the play at Covent Garden with Lady Georgiana this evening. I cannot like to disappoint her.”

“I have hired a box for the Season. May I do myself the honor of joining you at intermission?”

This would show society she enjoyed his friendship without the necessity of further entanglement. “I look forward to it.” Her tense face eased into a rueful smile. “I must warn you, you will probably be the only caller.”

She read an answering softness in his reply. “Was it very bad last night?”

“Wretched. What were people saying after I left?”

“That Countess Caro was always a hurly-burly girl. There was talk of heavy gambling losses at Waite’s gaming hell.”

“I lost my quarter allowance there five years ago. I have not been back since. What long memories people have. I expect the inference was that I had taken to nabbing my friends’ jewels to make up my losses?”

“Something of the sort. If worse comes to worst, I shall have a paste copy of the necklace made and have Helen wear it a few times. That, along with our being seen together on the best of terms, should squelch the rumors.”

“Hmm, and make it very easy for the thief to sell the genuine necklace,” she cautioned.

Dolmain tilted his head to one side and peered at her. “I had foreseen a different difficulty. Folks would say I had managed to recover it from your grasping fingers, and you had used your wiles to convince me to sponsor you back into society.” She could do it, too. The lady was an enchantress, part innocent girl, part vixen. He could not decide which Caro he preferred.

“That is just what they would say! It is odd how the aroma of disrepute hangs on, once it has been acquired.”

“If you are trying to make me feel guilty, Caro
—
” He stopped with a conscious look when he realized he had used her nickname.

Caro looked surprised, but did not reprimand him. “Perhaps it is your conscience that is doing that,” she said. The air grew still as they stared at each other. Neither spoke, but he read the accusation in her gaze, and felt, suddenly, not only guilty, but small. Then she put her hand on his arm and accompanied him from the room.

“I think you should leave before we come to cuffs again, Dolmain. We have pulled one crow already, and it is only nine o’clock. You must keep some of your bile to spurt at the illustrious members of the Horse Guards.”

“Is it nine o’clock already? How time flies when we are enjoying ourselves,” he said, with a deprecating grin.

“Yes indeed. If you had come with a summons for my arrest, I daresay we would be rolling in laughter by now. When they clamp me in irons, I expect you will have a ball to celebrate.”

“A ball would be no pleasure without you, Caro,” he said. He had meant to use a light tone, and was surprised at how sincere he sounded. Caro looked at him with a question in her eyes.

Before she could think of an answer, they had reached the front door. Crumm’s scarred face peered around the corner. Caroline shook her head to indicate he was not required.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Dolmain said, rather wistfully. “I wish we could drive into the country again. I have the whole day booked. If I hope to make it to the theater for the first intermission tonight, I had best get to work.”

“I did not realize your only reason for going was to redeem my reputation. You must not let that interfere with your work, Dolmain. England’s safety takes precedence over my reputation.” Yet she was touched at his efforts on her behalf.

“Redeeming your reputation is not the only reason. After looking at York and Hotchkiss and the rest of the ugly members of the Horse Guards, my poor eyes deserve a reward.”

“I hear Esmée, the new actress, is quite lovely.”

“Very likely, but I had not actually planned to remain for the play.”

She made a playful curtsey. “A pretty compliment, sir.”

She opened the door. Dolmain pinched her chin, said, “Don’t give up. We’ll solve this riddle yet.” Then he was gone.

Nothing had really changed much, yet Caroline’s heart felt lighter. A problem was not so heavy a burden when it was shared. She wished with all her heart that the necklace had not intruded itself into their lives. It had seemed, for a day or two, that she had found someone to replace Julian....

At ten o’clock Lady Georgiana came to breakfast and was told the gist of Dolmain’s visit.

She just shook her head. “I used to think you were one of those ladies who attracted trouble and attention, as honey attracts flies, but I was mistaken. You go to meet it halfway, Caro. It was not necessary for you to follow Lady Helen home, though it was proper of you to notify Lord Dolmain today.”

“Something might have happened to her,” Caro pointed out.

“So it might, and it was kind of you to watch her, but to go creeping behind bushes, and then to tell Lord Dolmain you had done so! He will think you no better than a hoyden. You must not forget discretion in your wholesale acts of kindness.”

“Dolmain was grateful. He will make a special trip to Covent Garden tonight to visit our box, to show his support.”

“Let him come, and let him accompany you to some formal do to show the world he trusts you. He owes you that much. After that, leave Dolmain to handle his own troubles. It seems to me there is something havey-cavey afoot. You are best out of it.”

“You have done your duty, shrew,” Caro said, softening her words with a smile.

“Who am I to give advice? I have made a confounded mess of my own life.”

“How can you say so? You have never been in a pickle.”

“That is precisely what I mean. I have lived vicariously. It is comfortable, but there is no denying it can become boring at times. Now that I am older, I wish I had a few scrapes and pickles to look back on.”

“You are welcome to share mine,” Caro said ruefully.

“I am afraid I must pass. It is time for my daily constitutional, accompanied by
my beau,” Georgie said. This was a joking reference to the footman who would accompany her. Lady Georgiana was one of the sights of Rotten Row, where she rode for an hour every day, rain or shine, mounted on a bay mare.

Georgie had no sooner left than Newton was shown into the saloon. “What are you up to today, Newt?” Caroline asked.

“Thought I might stop off at Manton’s and culp a wafer
—
or miss it, more like. Then a round at Jackson’s Parlor to refresh my science.”

“Setting up as a Corinthian?” Caroline asked. Neither shooting nor boxing had ever featured in his life before, except as spectator sports. “Who is she? It must be a lady who has driven you to this extremity.”

No effort was too great when Newt was on the scent of a new love. He had once studied the piano for six months to woo a musically inclined lady. Another time he had turned Methodist, and given up dancing and music entirely. The object of his affection on that occasion had abandoned her strict religion and run off with a caper merchant.