Lord Clayborne's Fancy (14 page)

Clayborne could think of little to say to her. The vision of her in his bedroom the night before seemed implanted on his mind. “Is your ankle satisfactory this morning?”

“Yes, it’s fine. Can we pick up anything for you while we’re out?”

“No, thank you. I cannot think of a thing.”

Chapter Ten

While the sisters shopped, Meg, in her simple pleasure that things seemed to be going better with her sister’s marriage, managed to convey most of the conversation she had had the previous day with Clayborne. Rebecca was amused and chagrined at once, for it immediately occurred to her that Clayborne was seeking information on a possible lover in her background. Trying to rattle any skeletons in my closet, she thought. Will he never come to believe me? Unhappily she thrust all thought of him from her and entered her sister’s enthusiasm for a pair of white kid gloves with bows at the elbows.

Mary was not the least put out that she was too young to attend the rout, but since her sisters were busy with shopping and Miss Turnpeck had gone off to visit her own sister, she found herself with time on her hands. Clayborne felt sorry for her as she wandered aimlessly about the house and offered to take her to the park for a driving lesson. Overconfident in her enthusiasm, Mary nearly sideswiped a high-perch phaeton which pulled up directly, while its occupant imperiously beckoned to Clayborne. He excused himself to Mary, ordered the groom to stand at the horses’ heads and strode over to the other vehicle.

The lady therein, dressed in the most elegant and revealing semi-mourning Mary had ever seen, did not trouble to lower her voice as she mocked, “Playing nursemaid, Jason?”

Clayborne bowed and took her hand, which he conveyed to his lips and let go. “My wife’s sister, Mary Farthington. She is in town with us for a few days.” Although he lowered his voice, Mary, now very interested in the conversation, strained her admirable hearing to catch his next words. “Alexis, I have not seen you in months, not since Gerald died. How are you?”

“His family are smothering me. I cannot take a step without their being aware of it,” she complained petulantly. “God, I could almost wish he had not died, if I am to suffer this much longer.” She ignored his frown to continue, “But his mother is at last taking herself off tomorrow, and his sisters I can handle myself. I’ve never seen such a batch of teary-eyed dullards, with Gerald in his grave these six months past. Today is the first they have countenanced my driving in the park, and they would not hear of my doing so at the fashionable hour, of course!” Her voice softened. “I have missed you, Jason. When can we meet?”

Clayborne cast a hurried glance toward the curricle, but Mary was pointedly practicing with the whip. “Drive in the park tomorrow at the same time. I shall be here. I cannot stay longer now.” With his voice raised to a normal level, he took his leave to return to Mary. His distraction was more than evident to her, however, as he completely forgot that they were in the middle of a driving lesson and took the reins and whip from her automatically to drive straight home.

Much disturbed by this incident, Mary nevertheless scorned talebearers and decided to make no mention of it. To be sure, Rebecca is better off not knowing, she thought sadly. And such a rival to have! Far too old to be wearing such revealing clothes. How dare she call me child? I turned seventeen months ago and she would probably give her eye teeth to be my age again. Mary sniffed disdainfully as she went to her room to change for tea.

* * * *

There were link boys to light the carriages on the gravel drive, a red carpet flowed up the entry stairs, and hundreds of dots of candlelight flickered in all the windows. Rebecca felt elegant in a white sarcenet tunic dress with a key design in scarlet, the robe crossing her bosom alluringly low, and Meg looked charming in a pale blue, long-sleeved jaconet gown, embroidered with tiny pink rosebuds and edged with lace ruffles. Clayborne had complimented them both with exquisite gallantry and Meg could tell that Rebecca was pleased.

The party was warmly greeted by Lord and Lady Stonebridge, and Meg and their daughter Althea fell into each other’s arms as though they had not seen each other for a year, instead of a month. In the crowded salon they were immediately besieged by old and new friends, including the two captains. Reminding Rebecca of her promise of the first waltz, Clayborne strolled off to some acquaintances of his own and was soon lost from sight, not to be seen again until his dance approached.

“It is astonishing what an hour at such a function will reveal,” Rebecca confided when they were effortlessly drifting along. “Here we have been in London some five or six days, and did you know I had not heard that Lady Doolittle has purchased a new phaeton, nor that Lord Carlisle has acquired his fourth wife? I feel sadly remiss and shall probably spend the better part of the evening catching up on the latest on dits.”

“I cannot see when you will find the time. You haven’t missed a dance so far, I’m sure,” Clayborne remarked lazily.

“Well, that’s no problem. Most of my information has come from my partners. Not that they would gossip, you understand. Far be it from them. They have merely heard, and wonder if I have, that so-and-so has lost his fortune at the gaming tables and has had to sell his cattle to raise the wind for something or other.” She giggled.

“Rebecca, how much champagne have you had?” he asked suspiciously.

“I do not recall, my lord. Should you like me to figure it out for you?” she asked pertly.

“Please do.”

“Let me see. Captain Hardcastle brought me a glass just before the first set. But I did not finish it, you know, and it was gone when I returned. Mr. Trimble brought me a glass just after the quadrille. I did finish that, and a footman refilled it for me. When that was gone Captain Gray felt sorry for me and lifted another from a passing footman. I should think that is all. No, wait. Just a moment ago Meg handed me a glass as she went off somewhere and I believe I drank it, too.”

“My God,” he exclaimed, appalled, “you must be half-sprung.”

“I don’t think so, sir. I feel marvelous.”

“No doubt,” he retorted dampingly.

“I seem to have no trouble waltzing,” she informed him, peering owlishly up into his troubled face.

“Pride goeth before a fall,” he declared pompously, but his eyes belied this sternness. “Come, I will find you a seat a bit away from all the racket and bring you a cup of coffee or tea, if I can find one.”

“You know, I am feeling the least bit dizzy. Perhaps you are right,” she admitted handsomely. He laughed and directed her to a seat in an adjoining room, where she gladly seated herself and wondered how her legs could have stopped taking orders from her. “I will be back directly I find you something less stimulating to drink than champagne,” he said, and she nodded slowly, as she tried to focus on his departing figure.

When the dizziness began to pass, she realized that she was able to comprehend the dialogue between two dowagers on the other side of the doorway, who were obviously not aware of her presence.

“I tell you I saw her in the park with him this very day. And not at the fashionable hour. I had the coachman take us through the park, as my youngest girl was feeling ill from the heat and crowds in the silk warehouse, and I thought it would do her good, you know. Not that it did,” she said with some asperity. “For we had to stop for her to be sick all the same. And there were Clayborne and Alexis having a very cozy tête-à-tête.” She laughed and nudged her companion.

Rebecca tried to escape but her legs would not support her, and she sank back into the chair, wanting to cover her ears, but unable to force herself not to listen.

“Terribly ironic, I think. After hanging about her for five years like a whipped puppy, he finally married that young chit,” the other dowager remarked, “and then Hillston up and pops off within five months. Ridiculous to die of measles at his age. He couldn’t have been more than thirty-five or so. Hillston’s mama has kept Alexis tight to her side since then, but I hear the old dragon left for the North this morning.”

“Did she indeed? Then no doubt Alexis will soon find her way back into society, for she is not one to hide her light under a bushel, so to speak.” And the two ladies laughed and proceeded to discuss Brummell’s flight from England.

Rebecca now felt very ill indeed. Her head throbbed and her stomach curdled, her cheeks were white and her mind refused to operate. In a daze she watched Clayborne approach her, balancing a plato and cup in the most natural manner. In slow motion she watched him set down his burden, take her hand and peer anxiously at her.

“You look very ill, Rebecca. Shall I send for the carriage?”

“It is early,” she answered numbly. “Perhaps if I could lie down for a while.” Her large eyes burned with unshed tears.

“It would be better to go home. Come, I shall help you up.”

“Just see me to a room where I may rest for a while. I do not wish to go home yet.”

Clayborne supported her to the hall where a maid led them to a retiring room and offered to bring her a cool cloth for her forehead. When Clayborne had her settled on the bed, the maid returned with the cloth, and he thanked and dismissed her before stroking back Rebecca’s hair from her forehead to place the soothing cloth there.

“Leave me now. I shall return to the ballroom after a bit,” she said dully.

“I shall stay with you for a while.”

“Leave me now, Jason,” she commanded quietly.

Clayborne eyed her speculatively, but obeyed. She lay numb in the silent room, refusing to allow the tears to come, her eyes locked unseeing on the French floral wallpaper opposite the bed. Some time later there was a light tap at the door but she did not answer. The door was pushed open slowly and Meg peered anxiously in.

“Jason said you were feeling poorly, Becka. Can I get you something?”

“I am better now. If you will assist me with my hair, I shall come straightaway. I fear I have sadly crumpled my dress.”

“Oh, no, it will shake right out,” Meg protested, wary of the remote look in her sister’s eyes. “Are you sure you would not rather go home now? Do not stay because of me.”

“I shall return to the party,” Rebecca said firmly, rising from the bed and proceeding to the mirror. “I fear I had a bit too much champagne, but the dizziness has passed.” She smiled at Meg’s concerned look. “Really, Meg, I am the biggest goose. I even drank the glass you handed me.”

When the sisters returned to the ballroom, Rebecca smiled and chatted with acquaintances but felt completely numb. She had not the slightest difficulty in maintaining this state through the entire evening. When Clayborne inquired after her health, she assured him that she was completely recovered. When Captain Gray, Lord Beavens, Captain Hardcastle and Sir Paul Barton requested dances, she conducted herself exactly as was expected of her. When Mr. Carson took her in to supper, she ate with good appetite.

And when she was at length in her room at Clayborne House she instructed Harpert to bring her hot chocolate and breakfast in bed the next morning at eleven. Then she turned over and went immediately to sleep. She did not hear Clayborne enter to assure himself of her well-being nor feel his hand on her hair as he bid her sleep well.

In the morning she awoke with a slight headache and a general feeling of heaviness about her body, but she instructed Harpert to lay out her riding habit and to inform the groom that she would ride in half an hour. In addition Harpert was instructed to tell her sister Mary that she would be riding and would welcome her sister’s companionship. Then she dismissed the maid and dressed herself, pulling the long black hair back and tying it with a red velvet ribbon. Mary promptly joined her in the entry hall and without a word to anyone they departed.

As they picked their way through traffic, Rebecca gave Mary a slight smile and said, “I shall now instruct you in the ways of the
ton
, my dear. You may ride or drive in the park at any time, but the fashionable people are there only after five. The outing is not for the exercise but for the purpose of seeing and being seen by others of the
ton
. And you must never on any account gallop your horse while you are there,” she concluded as they entered Hyde Park. “It would be quite useless in any case, because the park is then so jammed with carriages, and people walking and on horseback, that it would be highly hazardous.”

Mary remarked graciously, “I appreciate your coaching me, Becka, for I should never have known.” The sisters shared a laughing glance, and set their horses to the gallop. There were few people about to remark on this, and neither sister at present cared in the least if they did. Their ride was long and strenuous and when at last they drew in to a walk, Rebecca’s pale face had regained some color.

“Mary, did Clayborne take you driving yesterday?”

“No, it was the day before.”

“And did he stop to talk with anyone that day? Perhaps a lady in mourning.”

Mary keenly regarded her sister. “Yes, and Becka, I have never seen the likes of her outfit! I am sure that it was meant to be mourning but, dear God, it was barely decent!”

“Did you overhear their conversation, Mary?”

“Yes,” she replied, staring straight ahead between her horse’s ears.

“I am sorry to ask it of you, Mary, but I must know what they said.”

Mary hesitated for only a moment and then repeated, practically word for word, the conversation she had overheard. She did not look at her sister once, nor did she make any comment on the scene she had witnessed.

“Thank you, Mary,” Rebecca said softly. “It accords well with something I myself inadvertently overheard last night. I may need your help in this matter, and I know I need not ask for your discretion.”

“You know I shall help you in any way I can, Becka. Clayborne has been very good to me, but you are my sister.”

Rebecca reached over to pat her hand and smile encouragingly at her. Then the sisters rode back to Clayborne House without another word.

Since Mary was more comfortable with horses than people in town, she naturally gravitated to the Clayborne House stables and was soon on friendly terms with the coachman and grooms. Perhaps her family would not have approved of this association, but she found it enjoyable and came to no harm there. It was because of this inclination, however, that she was able to provide her sister with some interesting information.