Lord Deverill's Secret (28 page)

Authors: Amanda Grange

BOOK: Lord Deverill's Secret

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CHAPTER THREE “Lord Deverill,” she exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here?” “You left the supper room very quickly,” he said, looking at her intently. “I wondered whether anything was the matter?” “No,” she said hurriedly. “Nothing at all.” He did not immediately reply, but by the way he was looking at her she could tell that he did not believe her. Then he said, “I wondered if Elwin had said anything to upset you.” “Of course not. What could he possibly say that would upset me?” She spoke with a show of bravado, but she was becoming increasingly aware of the fact that he was not deceived. She did not want to tell him what Mr. Elwin had said, however, because it was too humiliating. “I don’t know,” he replied. “That’s what I am asking you.” “He didn’t say anything,” she said defiantly. “In that case, why did you stand up in the middle of supper?” “Did I?” she prevaricated. “Yes. You did. You flushed, then looked angry, then half rose from your seat, as though you meant to walk

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR The following morning dawned bright and fair. Cassandra woke at five o’clock, with the sun streaming in at her window. She was used to country hours and, despite her late night at the assembly rooms, she had no desire to stay in bed. She rose, washed and dressed, and then went downstairs. Moll brought her a breakfast of chocolate and hot rolls and she ate it by the open window in the parlour. When she had finished she looked at the clock. She had almost four hours before Maria called for her, and she meant to put the time to good use. She had a lot to do if she wanted to prepare the house for sale. “I thought we would make a start on the attic today,” she said to Moll. “It will have to be cleaned at some time.” “You should hire some more servants, Miss Cassie,” grumbled Moll. “It’s more than the two of us can see to.” “You know there’s no spare money for servants. It has taken nearly everything we have just to come here. But we will manage.” She and Moll went down to the k

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE Despite her misgivings about Maria’s tendency to matchmake, Cassandra found herself looking forward to the soirée. It would be one of her last few chances to enjoy herself and she meant to make the most of it. She also had to admit to herself that she was looking forward to seeing Lord Deverill. She looked through her gowns, trying to decide which one would be the most appropriate for the evening. The white muslin she had already worn, which left the blue spotted muslin or the jonquil satin. Knowing how much Maria disliked the jonquil, she decided on the blue spot. It was a little short, but it was otherwise unexceptionable. Its short, puffed sleeves were edged with lace, and there was a matching row of lace decorating the high waistline. With a scoop neckline and a long, narrow skirt, it was fashionable enough, and with her blue satin shoes it would make a passable outfit. She slipped her chemise over her head then put on her drawers and corset, standing still whilst Moll

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX The same thoughts were troubling her the following morning. She had slept badly and awoken unrefreshed, so that she was only too glad to get up and start the day. Going downstairs, she went into the parlour. To her plea sure, she found something to break her low mood, because there, propped up on the breakfast table, was a letter. She recognized the scrawling handwriting at once. It was from her sister, Lizzie. She picked it up and carried it over to the window to read. A shaft of sunlight fell on the uneven letters, which trailed across the paper like a drunken spider. Each page was crossed and difficult to make out, but Cassandra at last managed to decipher it. “I’ve brung you chocolate and rolls,” said Moll, carrying a tray into the room. “Thank you, Moll.” “You’ve seen it, then?” she asked, setting the tray down on the table. “Yes,” said Cassandra, scanning the closely written pages. “Is she enjoying herself?” asked Moll. “Yes, very much. Sit down, I’ll read it to you,”

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN Cassandra’s thoughts were perturbed as she dressed for the picnic the following morning. “A picnic?” snorted Moll. “Just you make sure you sit on a blanket, Miss Cassie. I don’t hold with this sitting on the grass—it’ll be damp, I shouldn’t wonder—” “You needn’t worry about that. The picnic is to take place on the beach,” Cassandra said. “Nasty wet places, beaches,” said Moll. “You’ll catch your death of cold for sure. All this eating out of doors. Why can’t people eat inside like sensible bodies? You make sure you wear your shawl, and keep your gloves on. And mind you don’t get your feet wet. You’ll get your death from wet feet.” “I’ll keep them dry,” Cassandra promised her. “And make sure Miss Maria doesn’t neither. She was looking tired yesterday. I hope Mr. Harry’s taking care of her.” “He is,” said Cassandra. Having grumbled herself out, Moll disappeared to find Cassandra a handkerchief, for if her mistress departed without one then the heavens would surely fall. Cas

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT Cassandra passed a restless night and rose with the dawn. Moll, already awake and busy about the house, brought her hot water and helped her to dress. Cassandra made a poor breakfast crumbling her roll and leaving most of it on her plate, then said “I am going for a walk.” “I’ll just get my bonnet,” said Moll. “No,” said Cassandra. She wanted to be alone but knew that with someone trying to kill her, it wasn’t wise. Although Justin had told her he had set someone to watch over her, she did not want to take a risk of going out unaccompanied. “I’ll take John. Moll grumbled, but was content to let her mistress go out in John’s charge. Donning her spencer and bonnet, Cassandra left the house, but it was not to the sea front or the shops that she went. Instead she turned her steps towards the church where Rupert had been buried. She had not visited it since the day when, just over a year before, she had seen her brother laid to rest. There was an early morning mist, making eve

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE Cassandra set off early the following morning, before fashionable Brighton was astir. The coach rolled through the streets and out of town. The fields were fresh under the early morning sky, with dew still clinging to the grass. After the blue of the sea, it was refreshing to be surrounded by green fields again. They stopped once, at an inn, where they partook of a light luncheon, and then pressed on, reaching her house late in the afternoon. She felt a surge of happiness as the coach rolled in between the stone gateposts and went up the drive, turning a last bend to reveal her much-loved home. It was a gentleman’s residence of ample proportions, and from a distance there was no sign of decay. Two storeys tall, it had large windows arranged symmetrically along the front. There was a small parapet concealing the bottom of the hipped roof, and there were windows set into the roof. They shed light on the servants’ quarters, although the quarters were now empty. The servants h

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN It was early evening by the time the coach rolled into Brighton once more. Cassandra instructed John to stop at Justin’s house on the Steyne. “You must come inside with me,” said Cassandra, as he opened the door and let down the step. “I can’t go in alone.” “I should think not, Miss Cassie,” said John, horrified at the mere thought of it. He closed the door behind her and the two of them approached Justin’s house. Cassandra rapped on the door. A moment later Manby appeared, looking as haughty as ever. When he saw her, he relented slightly. “Yes, miss?” he said. “I am here to see Lord Deverill.” “I’m sorry, miss, but Lord Deverill is not at home.” “Not at home?” This was a blow. “No, miss He has gone out for the evening.” “Do you know what time he will be back?” she asked. “No, miss, I’m afraid I don’t.” “In that case, would you give him a message for me?” “Of course, miss” “Would you ask him to call on me at his earliest convenience?” “Yes, miss. I’ll give him the message a

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN Cassandra found herself looking forward to Anne’s ball. She had spent the time since her return from her estate in cleaning the remaining rooms, beating the rugs and polishing the furniture, so that now the house was ready for sale. As soon as the ball was over, she meant to speak to her lawyer and make the necessary arrangements. It was good to have the ball to look forward to, a cheerful event to offset the gloom of parting with her house. She had no new gowns to wear, having worn every respectable dress she possessed, and so she had accepted Maria’s loan of a dress. The two of them were almost the same size, and although Cassandra was the taller of the two, the dress had swept the floor on Maria so that, as Cassandra looked in the cheval glass on the evening of the ball, she was pleased to see that it still reached the ground on her. It was made of pink silk, with a pretty trim of roses round the high waist, and a cluster of roses on the short, puffed sleeve. To match

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE Cassandra looked into the cheval glass and could hardly believe what she saw. Her new gown moulded itself round her form and fell in soft folds to the floor. Made of satin, it had an overskirt of white gauze, with short puffed sleeves and a modest train. Moll had piled her hair on top of her head in an elaborate chignon which glistened in the candlelight, then wrapped a string of pearls round the base, to match the pearls at her throat. They had belonged to her mother and were the only form of jewellery she possessed, but to night she wanted nothing more. “You look like a fairy,” said Moll gruffly. Cassandra smiled and kissed her. But as she pulled on her gloves and went downstairs, she reminded herself that she was not going to an evening’s entertainment. She was going to try and catch a killer. Anne’s carriage arrived promptly and Cassandra left the house. The night was fine, with just a suggestion of a breeze. A few stars sprinkled the darkening sky as she entered the

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN Cassandra looked about her, trying to get her bearings. She found that she was in the Chinese Gallery and did not know which way to go. She looked around for a footman, meaning to ask if he had seen Justin, but there was no one in sight. The gallery was empty. It was probably only the effects of her overstretched nerves, but she found the atmosphere oppressive. The Chinese mandarins set into niches no longer seemed exotic, they seemed ominous. Their faces were bland and their eyes were staring. Their robes were grotesque, making it seem as though at any moment they might come to life. She felt her heart begin to beat more quickly as she began to traverse the empty gallery, her footsteps falling softly on the thick carpet. What if she lost her way in the strange corridors? What if she couldn’t find Justin? Even worse, what if Mr. Goddard followed her into the gallery? She glanced over her shoulder nervously, but it was empty. She continued in what she hoped was the righ

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN “Tell me all about it,” said Maria the next morning, as she stripped off her gloves and untied the strings of her bonnet. “I mean to have the full story from you before you leave. You have no idea how envious I am! What was it like? Was it splendid, or was it vulgar? Was the Prince charming? What did you eat? What did you do?” “It was splendid and vulgar,” said Cassandra, helping Maria off with her spencer. “I’ve never seen anything like it. There were dragons everywhere, and lanterns, and bamboo….” Maria was agog as Cassandra told her all about the Pavilion’s lavish decorations, and she was positively astounded as Cassandra told her about the target practice. “Well! I’d heard some strange things went on at the Pavilion, but this is too much. I used to long to go, but now I think I am content with the assembly rooms.” “They are much more enjoyable, and much safer,” Cassandra agreed. “And how was your dress received? Did you have any compliments?” asked Maria, as she se

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EPILOGUE

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