Lady Star (21 page)

“Aye, I suppose in my heart I knew…but, it
would solve so many problems.”

“And create new ones. We shall figure out a
way, Vern…we must,” Star said.

“I still think I should make a push to have
Georgie.”

“Vern!” Star said in exasperation. “She wants
someone else!”

“Does she, by God? Who? Who, Star?”

“I can’t tell you,” Star said and laughed at
his expression. “I don’t know why it is I have to go around holding
everyone’s secrets in my head. It is most uncomfortable. What I
need…what we need, is some afternoon tea and cakes.”

“Deuced good idea and then you can tell me
who Georgie wants instead of me.” He put his hand to his heart, “I
shall never get over the pain of losing her.”

She laughed at him, “Vern, you can’t lose
what you never had.”

Chapter Seventeen

FARLEY HAD ALWAYS heard there was a heart
beating in Romney Marsh and that it was to be found in the east of
Rhee Wall. Legend described this stretch of marsh as the fifth
quarter of the globe. Its length of swampy flatland was
unattractive to one at first glance. To those that troubled, as he
did, to look again, found the inexplicable, the air of mystery and
a place that held and kept one’s soul.

It was covered in dikes, which intersected
the countryside and was often laced with low hanging mist-filled
clouds. Now and then a hill rolled through a sprinkling of trees,
some were misshapen and eerie to look at, but Farley loved looking
at this stretch of land and it was where he had made his home.

His was a one room thatched cottage, gray
from age and lack of care, but its lonely location served him well.
Deep in thought, he sat by his small hearth, rubbing his hands in
front of the fire. With a heavy sigh he sat back and touched his
scarred nose. A knock sounded at his door and he called out, “Come
in lads.”

His men were punctual. He liked that in them.
He was in a foul mood. His plan to take on the young lord’s sister
had not gone well. He had been surprised by that flash gent that
had arrived and intercepted his plans. Their funds were low and
something would have to be done to keep his crew together.

“Right then Farley, do we cover the highway
tonight?” One of them asked as he sat at the round table in the
middle of the room.

He hadn’t worked the highway with them in an
age and Farley was leery about reentering that field. High tobys
were getting snatched up by the law in this area but it would
appear they would have to go out just one more time. “Aye,” he said
slowly, not turning to look at them when he spoke. “That we do
lads…but let me think on it a bit. We gots to do it right.”

“We could prig the first carriage that passes
through on the Dymchurch Road, we could,” another man stuck in.

“Chucklehead!” the chubby man to his left
said derisively. “The Dymchurch Road, is it? Wit every nook of it
covered by the land excisemen looking for a smuggler on his way to
deliver his goods to London!”

“Well, we ain’t smugglers. They wouldn’t
bother with us,” the man answered him.

The chubby man took off his wool cap and
smacked the man’s shoulder, “Whot now, are ye naught but a
twiddle-poop?” Then to no one in particular, he said, “A snirp. I’m
dealing with a snirp!”

Farley got up from his chair near the fire
and put his fists on the table, “Aye, Oi think we best stay clear
of the free traders’ routes.”

“The other roads ain’t traveled that well by
the swells…” offered another man.

“Oi know. That’s why we gave up riding the
highway in the first place. If it isn’t a free trader in our way,
it’s the excisemen. Well Oi don’t mean for us to bump into either
of them.”

The chubby man shook his head and said as he
held out a mug he had fetched from a side table, “Lor’ bless ye,
man. Drop a bit of firewater in that, will ye?”

Farley grinned, took up a bottle of gin and
poured a generous amount into the man’s mug before sliding it
across the table to the others. “Now, there is a well traveled road
that goes into Hastings. It might be nicely traveled this time of
summer by some of the swells, what wit the flash coves giving their
routs and small balls here and there.”

“Well, whot then and when?” asked another of
his men.

“
Right
. Listen up, then, lads, listen
up.” Farley’s grin was wide for he had it now planned out in his
head just what they would do.

* * *

“Did Star seem unusually preoccupied to you?”
Georgie asked Jules as they slowly rode their horses down the road.
He had been attentive in a gentlemanly manner, but aloof ever since
he had walked into Vern’s bedroom and appeared shocked to find her
so close to Vern.

She knew how it had appeared and had been at
pains, with off-handed remarks designed to display that she and
Vern were like brother and sister. Had it worked? Apparently not,
for he still seemed to hold himself apart.

He frowned and said without committed
interest, “Quiet, perhaps. She seemed quiet, but then, Georgie, you
know her so much better than I do.”

“Ah, so you say…”

“Well, don’t you? You seem to be very close,
you and Star, as I see you are to Lord Berkley.”

“Vern? Yes, I hold him in great affection,
like the brother I never had,” she said pointedly.

He eyed her for a long moment before he
smiled, “Indeed. He seems to have a different notion.”

“Oh yes, but not because of any passion for
me. He is in need of making a ‘good connection’ and bringing
Berkley back.” She sighed, “You must see that?”

He seemed to give this some thought and
nodded and with an obvious show of relief before asking, “What do
you really think is going on? I agree with you, something is off
with those two.”

Georgie was relieved for she was sure he now
believed that she thought dearly of Vern but only as a friend. She
sighed over his question and said, “Yes, a great deal is off, but
when I asked her what in particular occurred earlier today, she
would only sigh and say naught.”

“And you don’t believe that nothing
occurred?”

“No, sir. I do not believe her at all.
Something has happened…since last night, I think on her ride this
morning. I am certain of it, but I can’t think what it might be. At
first I thought it might have something to do with Sir Edward.” She
bit her lip thinking she had said too much.

Jules’ brow went up. “What do you mean? Why
would Sir Edward…I mean…?” He faltered then and she hurriedly waved
this off.

“I am speaking nonsense. Pay me no mind.”

“Yes, but Georgie…,” he started.

“I am only worrying for nothing,” she cut
in.

“So then what we have is the fact that you as
her friend did not believe her when she told you nothing was
wrong,” he mused out loud.

“Precisely so, sir. I did not believe her.
Something is very wrong.”

“What do you think it is?” he asked frowning
over the problem. “Her brother’s health?”

“No, he is on the mend. Oh Jules, you see,
when I pressed her she told me she had bumped into Sir Edward
during her morning ride. She was about to tell me something more
when she suddenly bit her lip, turned away from me and would not
meet my eye.” Georgie shook her head. “I must get to the bottom of
this before she and Vern plunge deeper into…into whatever it is
they have already muddied their feet in.”

“Muddied their feet? Whatever can you mean?
Do you think Edward might have upset her somehow when she met him
during her ride?” he pursued.

“No, I do not. In fact, when she spoke of Sir
Edward, it was the only time I truly saw her smile. No, this is
something else altogether, something horrible, but I cannot fathom
what.” She looked around and saw that he should have turned off
toward the left if he was headed for either Stamford or town and
said, “Oh sir, you needn’t see me all the way to my house. Thank
you for listening to me and coming this far out of your way.”

“I have not come out of my way, since my way
was anywhere
you
chose to go,” he said gallantly and his
eyes glinted brightly.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his eyes
and for a moment, found it difficult to breathe. She said on a
scarcely audible whisper, “You are too kind.”

“Why, for grasping at the pleasure of your
company?”

“Thank you, but honestly, I can see myself
home,” she countered. A part of her was irritated with him. He
openly still seemed to be looking to court Star. How could he
blatantly flirt with her if it was Star he wanted? She did not
think he wanted Star in earnest, but even so, she would not be
caught in the middle of this.

“But, I insist on doing that for you.” His
smile was warm, his voice low and she thought intense. How could
he? How could he switch from one woman onto another?
Who did he
really want?

Suddenly swept up in a moment of agitation so
foreign to her that she felt at a loss for words, she said with a
touch of annoyance, “Jules, I am quite accustomed to roaming at
will between Madison and Berkley.” Bolstered by her own words, she
eyed him challengingly. “If my mother does not object and
she
does not
, how then, can you?”

“Indulge me,” he said cajolingly. “I should
like
to see you safely home.” His voice was soft, caressing,
his eyes full with the sincerity of his words.

“You are all that is chivalrous…”

He cut her off, “I am only being selfish, my
dear.”

“How so?”

“It affords me that much more time in your
company.” He laughed at her expression and added, “Now don’t go
pulling one of your cynical looks at me, my girl. I swear, I mean
every word.”

The next words that spilled out of her mouth
came without brain function. “As you are most sincere when you say
the same thing to every maid in your company, I am sure.” As soon
as the words were out and she heard them, she wanted to sink into
the ground. Why had she said such a thing?

He was surprised. “Is that what you think of
me? You have me confused with Miles, I believe and you wrong me,
Georgie.”

“I wrong you?” Had he not been chasing her
dearest friend Star? Had he not shown a preference for Star? The
words had come because it was what she felt. Georgie never stomped
her feet. She couldn’t now because she was on horseback, but she
had the urge to stomp a foot at him. “How can I wrong you when I
have heard you speak thusly to my dearest friend, Star?”

“Indeed, that does not mitigate my sincerity
when I speak to you,” he countered unwisely. Evidently he had been
trapped in the moment and had not been able to think of a
defense.

Infuriated now, Georgie put up her chin, “I
take leave to tell you that you are an outrageous flirt.”

“I am not, I swear to you…” he answered
turning a bright shade of red.

She didn’t know what was wrong with her. She
never was so emotional. Why was she now? She said, “I cannot
believe that you are not aware that you have made Star, the object
of your attentions for some weeks now.”

“Yes, but then…” he stopped himself and
regarded her speculatively, unable to continue.

“Precisely, sir.” With which Georgie rode off
toward the bridle path that would take her the remaining distance
to Madison Stables. She wanted to cry and rant at herself. She had
been unable to stem the flow of her words and tone. What was wrong
with her? That was no way to win a man. But, she didn’t want to win
a man. She wanted him to freely love her as she loved him. She
didn’t want to play at games. She didn’t want to flirt and be coy
and tease. She wanted him to feel for her, want her, love her above
all others. She wanted him to know his mind and she wanted his mind
and heart to see only her.

She loved Jules Stamford with all her being,
and this total realization made her burst into tears.

* * *

The Berkley library was a cozy scene, Star
thought as she looked around. Candles burned softly in their
holders and the summer evening had brought a cool chill, so that
she had closed the windows and lit the fire in the hearth. She
watched her brother push the logs around in the grate while Miles
told him he wasn’t stacking them correctly and laughed.

Miles had joined them for an early dinner. He
had stayed on while the sun went down and had kept them entertained
with anecdotes.

Star plopped onto the sofa while she waited
for the men to finish their ‘work’ at the fireplace and take up
their drinks and join her.

Miles came to sit beside her and sighed
comfortably as he sipped his brandy and advised her happily, “Good
stuff this. I’d wager it never saw the inside of the customs
house.” He found this amusing and chuckled.

Star gave him a soft smile. She was really
only half listening as her mind was elsewhere. Vern left the
fireplace, downed his brandy and paced by the window and with his
hands clasped behind his back and asked Miles, “How much do you
think that old relic of a yacht would fetch me?”

Miles screwed up his mouth as he thought
about this, “I don’t quite know…but do you really want to part with
it?”

Vern shrugged, “I can remember my father
standing at the helm…but sentimentality has to be discarded at
times like these. Do you think it might fetch a handsome coin?”

“As a matter of fact, it is in fairly decent
condition. Yes, yes, I think it might. Shall I take care of the
matter for you? I’ll send my man to attend to it, Vern.”

“Would you, Miles? Best of good fellows…”

“Yes, we shall get the finances in hand, you
and I, now that I am aware of the problem, but we have to do
something about Farley. We cannot allow him to threaten Star. That,
my friend is punishable by death, as far as I am concerned.” Miles
announced strongly.

“Yes, I quite agree. Mean to find him and run
the fellow through as soon as I get stronger,” Vern answered
staunchly.