Midnight Bride (51 page)

Before Miller could hand these to her, Dunstan walked in, handsome as always in his favorite dark blue with a white waistcoat and knee breeches, sapphires sparkling from his cravat and his hand. He carried two boxes with him. Elizabeth stood up to welcome him. "Do you always find blue to match your eyes?" she teased.

"Always," he answered. He held out his hand to her, telling her to turn around. "Beautiful," he said a moment later, his eyes telling her more. "These are for you." He exchanged a knowing look with Miller, the maid having told him what her mistress planned to wear.

Elizabeth sat down quickly. She opened the first box, a long, thin one. Inside was an ivory fan mounted on gold sticks. "Dunstan," she breathed as she slipped it over her wrist and opened it once or twice, looking at him coquettishly over its edge.

"Go on," he urged.

The second package was bigger. Elizabeth looked at him and then opened the box, her eyes growing wider. "Will they do?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes, oh yes!" She pulled the topaz and diamond ear drops from the box and fastened them into her ears. Miller took the matching brooch and clipped it into place on the ribbons in her hair. After pulling her gloves on, Elizabeth put on the matching topaz and diamond bracelets, turning her wrists to catch the sparkle. "You spoil me, my dear," she whispered as she stood up to put her arms around his neck, marveling at how wonderful one man could feel.

Fashionably late, the earl, Elizabeth and Dunstan strolled into the drawing room only minutes before the guests arrived. For the next few hours they chatted with their friends, not really noticing the excellent dinner that was put before them. When the ladies left, reminding the gentlemen not to linger too long over their port, Dunstan moved closer to his grandfather. Under the cover of the general conversation he asked, "Are you certain you will be able to force him into action if he is the one?"

"No. But at least we will have given it a shot." Lord
Ramsburg
glanced over at the earl. The older man nodded. "Drink up. It is time to rejoin the ladies."

Until the guests had been received, neither Dunstan nor his
grandfather were
able to put their plan into motion. They smiled and clasped the hands of those people arriving, accepting their wishes for happiness. Occasionally Dunstan would look at Elizabeth and smile. Laughing with a friend from Brighton, assuring him that his name, of course, was not forgotten, Elizabeth made a charming picture, all flashes of white and gold. Only her hair and eyes gave a contrast.

Just a short time before Lady
Ramsburg
gave the signal for the band to begin playing, Hartley walked in. He was all graciousness to his host and hostess. The mask rather slipped when he reached Elizabeth. Surveying her in her gold, topaz, and diamonds, he smiled harshly and hurried past, merely nodding his head before going on to the earl. Dunstan was so angry that he took a step after him, but Elizabeth pulled him back, her hand resting on his arm for a few minutes until he calmed. Then it was time for the opening dance. Leading Elizabeth to the center of the floor where their set was forming, Dunstan walked proudly. "Joining them there were Lord and Lady
Ramsburg
, the Earl of Clarendon and Mrs. Louisa
Beckworth
,
and Charles
Beckworth
and
Miss Cecile
Westin,
a young lady just come
to town," wrote one of the gossips to a neighbor who had been unable to attend. "My dear, they glittered." And they had. With every eye on them they danced the first measures. Then everyone joined them in the dance.

The sight was not a pleasing one for Hartley. Charles had been surprisingly cool of late, perhaps because of the beauty
who
was on his arm in the dance. He looked besotted, thought Hartley. The thought made him brighten for a moment. Then Elizabeth turned, her face animated as she looked up at Dunstan. She laughed at something he whispered. Hartley's face grew hard as he thought how the two of them had managed to cheat him out of half of his share of the manor. The money had lasted such a short time.

Before the evening was over, the earl had his answer. Trusting his luck, Hartley walked about the ballroom sowing seeds of discontent. Matchmaking mothers were usually his target. And in them he found ready soil. Disgruntled already because of the loss of the viscount, they gazed with anger upon the wealthy Mr.
Beckworth
, known for dancing only once with any young lady, as he danced again with Miss Westin.

The next afternoon Dunstan, Charles, Elizabeth, and the earl met, Charles's presence being the hardest to command. He had promised to ride with
Cecile
that afternoon. Only the earl's command had worked. Charles grudgingly appeared.

Quietly the earl explained what he had learned. His friends had volunteered to help and had been stationed about the ballroom, changing places occasionally so that they would not be noticed. Hartley had been busy spreading discontent, his friends had reported. "But Hartley is my friend," Charles protested. Only when he was told that Hartley had made disparaging remarks about
Cecile
did his protests stop. "Why did he do that?
Cecile
has just arrived in town. His remarks could ruin her."

"No. I spoke to Mr. Westin and Lord
Ramsburg
. Both are talking steps to assure it does not. You are determined to marry
Cecile,
aren't you, Charles?" the earl asked. "That is what you told me earlier." Charles nodded. "When the announcement of your engagement appears in the paper soon, that talk will soon die down. The matchmaking mamas know when to stop talking, you see. No one enjoys the town laughing when the man you were hanging out for is engaged to another. Speak to Mr. Westin and
Cecile
tomorrow, Charles."

"But why would Hartley do such a thing? I thought we were friends. He helped to arrange my commission so that Mama would not find out until it was too late."

"You never told us that," Dunstan said angrily. He looked at his grandfather for his agreement.

"How?" the earl asked.

"What do you mean?"
Charles asked, his face puzzled.

"How did the transaction work?"

Quickly Charles explained. He had told Hartley what regiment he wanted and given him the money. The commission had followed.

"How did you give him the money?"

"A draft on my bank.
The funds for the manor had just been turned over to me. I was plump in the pocket." Charles sat down, his face angry.

"Did Hartley know that, too?" Dunstan asked, knowing Hartley's reputation.

"Yes. I had to pay off a bet to him. He had to wait for the money until the manor was sold."

"It must have been a considerable sum," Elizabeth said, her face disapproving.

"It was. Do you really believe it was he?"

"Yes. It had to be someone who knew you well, someone who knows the
ton,"
the earl said. "Have you been unaware that Hartley resents anyone who has money?"

"Not really. He was certainly angry enough with Dunstan for winning so often at the house party. Said some foul things about your luck. But never thought he resented me," Charles said slowly. Dunstan and Elizabeth exchanged glances. "But why would he try to blackmail me?"

"What better way to get more money from you? You have not received another letter from him, have you?" the earl asked.

"No. At least I do not think so. I left to go on duty before the post arrived today. Porter always goes by
Ramsburg
House sometimes before noon and picks it up. He had not returned when I left after changing."

"Does Hartley know the way your trust works?" Elizabeth asked, crossing to look at him. With the three of them opposite him, Charles felt as though he were on trial.

'Yes. I used to complain about it all the time. And he knows that I have spent
all my
ready blunt on a stable of horses, which I do not need simply to parade in the Park or ride through the streets." Charles glowered at all of them.

"Poor little brother. Shall I tell
Cecile
you are still longing for excitement on the Peninsula?" Elizabeth asked as though he were still in dresses.

"Ask away. Mama will never let me go, and
Cecile
knows it. Maybe by my serving here in England, it will release someone else to fight," he said calmly, raising both Dunstan's and the earl's opinion of him considerably.

"Well done, brother," Dunstan said, clapping him on the back. Charles flushed. "You have more bottom than I gave you credit for."

"Thought I would sell out, did you? I thought about it. Then I decided that was no way for a
Beckworth
to act. Besides, if Hartley sees that my name is brought into this scandal, I will be asked to resign," Charles said, ruthlessly honest for once.

"Can this inquiry by the full House continue much longer?" Dunstan asked his grandfather.

"In the Commons one never knows.
Handled badly.
That is what I told your stepfather the other day.
Should have been handled in a committee.
This dirty linen should have been kept in the basket. The woman is an obvious liar," the earl said forcefully. "We must work quickly. Send Hartley another letter at the old address telling him you have discovered his identity. Ask him to meet you." He looked from his grandson to Charles. "You set the place. Not too seamy but far enough away from society so that neither of you will be recognized. Tell him you will reveal his perfidy if he persists."

The next two days were nerve-racking ones for the four involved. As more people returned to town for the Season, their social obligations increased.
Dunstan, hoping for some time alone with his wife, arranged to work at home in order to be on hand if he were needed.
But Elizabeth's days were filled with visits and luncheons, which, once accepted, could not be canceled. The afternoon she did arrive home early, she found Charles already there, waiting for the earl's return. "It was Hartley, then?" she asked as she walked into the room where Charles sat with a letter in his hand.

The turquoise dress she wore was one of Dunstan's favorites. Its neckline was modest, and Elizabeth's hair always seemed brighter when she wore it.

"He does not admit it. But then I did not mention his name in mine either. We are meeting later today. I had to cancel another drive with
Cecile,"
Charles said despondently.

"Then she will be even happier to see you tonight. Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked. When Charles mentioned a musical evening for which they had sent regrets, Elizabeth said, "You must find time to bring her here. We have hardly seen her since she came to town."

"Her grandmother keeps her very busy.
Always taking her someplace new.
I will bring her soon." Charles looked at the clock again.

"What time are you meeting him?" Dunstan asked.